As we celebrate 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the library is bringing an exciting program to explore a part of our history many people may not be as familiar with. Most people have heard of the founding fathers, George Washington, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and, of course, Alexander Hamilton. However, what about the women behind the founding of our country?
Laura Keyes, from Historic Voices, will be at the library on July 10 at 6:30 p.m. to share stories of the “Mothers” of America's history, their bravery, and their surprising legacies. The “Founding Mothers” are the women whose influence on the early years of the United States reverberated for centuries afterwards. While many of us remember reading something about Martha Washington and Abigail Adams, there are so many more women to admire. Whether they assisted in the years-long Revolutionary War, or had one brief moment of heroism, their actions had long-lasting and nation-building effects. Learn about soldiers, writers, printers, scholars, farmers, artists, and spies – all women, and all vital to our nation’s history.
This Illustrated Lecture focuses on the remarkable women who had a first-hand view of the founding of our nation, and whose stories need to be shared. Join Laura Keyes as she shares their history, their bravery, and their surprising legacies.
New Community StoryWalk®: Two is Better Than One
Reading is good for your brain and spending time outdoors is good for your mental health. The Fort Madison Public Library has combined both reading and the outdoors at two StoryWalk® locations at the library and Ivanhoe Park.
StoryWalk® was created in 2007 by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT, in collaboration with former Kellog Hubbard Library Vermont staff member Rachel Senechal. StoryWalk® now exists across the U.S. and worldwide in 13 countries including Germany, Canada, England, Bermuda, Russia, Malaysia, Pakistan and South Korea! To create the StoryWalk® in Fort Madison we have placed permanent sign holders around the edge of the library property and at Ivanhoe Park, along the PORT trail heading to bluff road. Pages from picture books are placed in these sign holders in order and anybody can walk past and read the story as they go. For the most part, we will put a new story up every month. However, the story will be changed more often at the library during the summer reading program.
We have included a QR code at the end of each StoryWalk® and want to hear back from you. Use the QR code to let us know if you enjoyed the book as well as offering suggestions for future books for us to include. You can also send us suggestions by email, calling the library or sending us a message through Facebook.
Upcoming Books that Will be Featured in the Storywalk™
1. Jump by Scott M. Fischer (EF FIS)
2. Walter’s Wonderful Web by Tim Hopgood (EF HOP)
3. I really Want to be a Cat by Helen Hancocks (EF HAN)
4. Seasons on the Farm by Chelsea Tornetto (EF TOR)
5. There is Not Usually a Hole by Daisy Hirst (EF HIR)
6. How to Say Thank You by Jean Reagan (EF REA)
7. Green is for Christmas by Drew Daywalt (EF DAY)
8. The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats (EF DAY)
9. Miss MacDonald Has a Farm by Kalee Gwarjanski (EF GWA)
10. Just a Worm by Marie Boyd (EF BOY)
Upcoming Events at the Fort Madison Public Library –
The Library will be closed on Friday, July 3 and Saturday, July 4 for the 4th of July holiday.
Summer Reading continues – track your reading to win prizes. We have a special prize for the person who reads the most minutes before the end of summer reading activities. Minutes must be turned in by 5 p.m. on July 17 to be counted.
Friends and Family Game Night – 5:30-8:30 p.m. July 1. Stop by the library for board game fun. We provide the games, instructions for playing them and snacks!
Founding Mothers – Friday, July 10 with Laura Keyes from Historic Voices. Learn about the women who played a crucial part in the founding of our country.
Teen Snack and Craft –July 14 3pm-5pm, Paint a flower pot and learn how to make tortillas from scratch and enjoy quesadillas.
Water Color Night – 6pm-8pm for teens and adults. Create your own watercolor art and learn some basics of watercolor fun. Watercolors are a great art medium because there is a low cost for supplies to get started and they are a lot of fun.
Pre-School/Toddler Story Hour –Wednesday mornings at 10:30. Last summer story hour will be July 15 and we will take a break until September.
Minecraft –3:00-5:00 pm Mondays for all ages through July 13.
Thursday Crafternoon – 3:00-5:00 pm every Thursday through the end of July.
Geri-Fit – Senior exercise class Monday, Tuesday and Thursday mornings beginning at 10:30. No class on Mondays until July 20 due to summer reading activities. Newcomers always welcome. Though the exercises are targeted toward older adults, there are no age restrictions for this program.
All Booked Up! - The library's book discussion group meets on the first Thursday of the month at 1:30 p.m. On Thursday, July 2, we will discuss, “Gwendy’s Button Box” by Stephen King and Richard Chizmar. The August book will be “Silent Witness” by Richard North Patterson.
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