Get to Know Us — Anita Vogel

 

 It has been said that the “Best Things in Life are Free” AND that“Money can’t buy the Most Important Things in Life.”  Some of these FREE things that I enjoy in my life are:

 

Free Learning…

 

At Northwestern I learn something new everyday.  This learning comes in variety of ways —student and faculty research, community people sharing stories and projects, new books arriving at the library, Kathleen Norris, Minding Place workshops….the list is endless!!!  Libraries are the best place in the world—FREE to everyone with no discrimination allowed — a wonderful place that supports lifelong learning!!

 

Free Events…

 

Northwestern students, faculty, and special guests sharing their gifts and talents through music, theatre, and athletic events, lectures, discussions, poetry readings, not to mention host family activities, Ethnic Fair, SSP & SOS stories….all FREE!

 

Other Free Things I Enjoy in my Day to Day Life

 

Nature – Outdoor activities such as flower gardening, long walks, bicycling, camping, as well as Iowa vistas and sunsets.

 

Conversations – with grandchildren, friends, and family and listening to the wisdom of our elders.

 

Comfort food – Cooking old family recipes and trying new recipes.  When my granddaughter asked me, “What is a cannoli?’ (which was mentioned in a book she was reading) we had to give a new recipe a try and we were delighted with the results.

 

Random free things we can give away—smiles, laughter, honesty, kindness, compassion, gratitude, acceptance, and making a difference where we can.

 

The Best things in life are really FREE!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Book Review

This winter I read a wonderful book called Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson. It was published in 2007 and is the true story of one man’s journey as he climbed K2, (the second highest peak in the world) located in northern Pakistan.

After failing to reach the summit he descended through the mountains feeling sick and lost. He ended up in a remote rugged mountain village in Baltistan. The people of the village took him in and showed him great kindness. Seeing their isolation and poverty, when he left Greg promised to return and build a school for their village. Back home Greg worked very hard to raise the money to build the first school. His personal sacrifices and dedication in keeping his word to the villagers inspired him to follow through and build the school. Greg and his organization have built many more schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan in the last decade. Three Cups of Tea is an amazing story and I highly recommend it!

Murder in the Stacks 

A Mystery Writing Event Celebrating the Minding Place Symposium

Do you like to write? Do you like mysteries? Would you like to write the first chapter of a mystery? The staff of Ramaker Library invites you to submit the first chapter of a mystery that is set in a library—the library in your hometown, the library of your alma mater, the library of your imagination, or even Ramaker. The title for this event comes from the 1934 book, Murder in the Stacks by Marion Boyd Havinghurst.  Havinghurst wrote most of her mystery in the library at Miami University (Oxford, OH), and she sets the murder in a library similar to one at Miami University.   Havinghurst opens her work by writing, “In a particularly charming spot in one of our maligned middle western states…”   

Sound familiar?  With the time, place and characters set out before you, she concludes the first chapter with the discovery of a body in the stacks and leaves you wanting to read on.   You, too, can write the first chapter of a mystery.  All students, staff, and faculty are invited to submit a first chapter.  A panel of library staff and others from across campus will select three pieces to be dramatically read on the Day of Learning in Community.  On the afternoon of April 9, during the workshop sessions, three of the submissions will be read to an audience in the library.      

Please submit your chapter as a Microsoft Word document to Dan Daily ddaily@nwciowa.edu by April 1.  When submitting…  

·        Include your name and e-mail address 

·        Limit your piece to 1,000 words ·        Indicate if are willing to have your chapter read at the Day of Learning in Community (April 9).   

·        Indicate if you are willing to have your chapter included in a collection of submissions that will be kept in the library and available for others to read. 

Murder in the Stacks by Marion Boyd Havinghurst is on reserve in Ramaker Library.        

Welcome from the Director

Welcome to the Ramaker Library Blog!  Library staff will post information about library hours, new books, new electronic resources and other news. Yet, READBlog is more than news.  We welcome discussion, comments, and questions from the Northwestern community.  Please feel free to share thoughts about what you are currently reading, comments on library services, and other random musings. Last, but not least, keep an eye out for facts, trivia, nonsense, and otherwise about Ramaker Library and the staff who work in it.  For example, learn which library staff member has experience in firing missiles and why I have an affinity for bow ties!   -Dan