The Public Libraries of Birmingham/Jefferson County

the READER

Captain’s Log
The Good Ship Read-A-Lot 

By April Moon, Emmet O’Neal Library

Saturday, 31^st May
Calm seas. Pleasant skies. No sign of trouble.

Sunday, 1^st June
Crew getting restless. Seas are too calm. Seasoned crew becoming nervous. All eyes on the horizon. Everyone resting up for the coming invasion.

Monday, 2^nd June
Battening down the hatches. The first invasion wave came through early this morning. Short, scruffy looking ruffians. Fierce war cries that could curl your hair. Crew managed to ward them off with finger-plays and songs. A few, unwilling to leave our ship, were bribed with stickers. Preparing for second wave tomorrow. 

Tuesday, 3^rd June
The attack was stronger today. Ruffians were older and larger. We had to bring out the stories and puppets. Some crew members were forced to clean up spills left over from the snack we had to provide to save our hides. When night came, and the last one left, crew fell exhausted into their beds. I can only imagine what it will be like tomorrow. 

Wednesday, 4^th June
We had to call in reinforcements. Wave after wave appeared. It seemed the horizon was covered with miniature pirates, looting and pillaging our clean, orderly shelves for books and materials to take back to their pirate hideouts. We tried to provide entertainment, to please and sooth their savage personalities, but even the magician eventually jumped overboard. Finally managed to contain the ruffians and give them what they came for. They finally left, appeased somewhat, but vowing to return. I shudder at the thought.

Thursday, 5^th June
We heard today that this assault could go on for several more months. I am trying to prepare the crew for daily invasions by encouraging talks and extra sea rations. Seasoned crew members know what to expect and seem to be resigned in their expectations. Rookie crew members have already developed that glazed look in their eyes. I fear some of them may not last the summer.

Friday, 6^th June
Calmer seas today. Only a few determined stragglers attempted to remove our treasure. We were able to deal with them appropriately with minimal crew. Hoping for a calm weekend, but know the invasion will be even stronger in the coming weeks. Thinking of resigning my commission after this voyage.

The captain of the imaginary ship above seems to regard the invading ‘pirates’ with fear and trepidation. However, the ‘captains’ of your local library ‘ships’ have a strong love for the little ‘pirates’ and ‘buccaneers’ that invade their domain each year, and will go to great lengths to ensure a pleasant voyage for all involved. The librarians actually look forward to the invasion! All public libraries in Alabama have adopted the Books Ahoy! theme as their Summer Library Program for 2003 and have planned many exciting programs with that theme in mind. Their ‘ships’ (libraries) have been polished (decorated) and cleaned in readiness for that first ‘invasion’ of greedy reading pirates!

Jump on board your local Good Ship Read-a-Lot and discover the many treasures waiting for you, because as book lovers, we learned a long time ago that books are treasures. Loot your public library for your share of the treasure today!

Summer Library Kick-Off Dates (Municipals)

Adamsville - June 5, Th, 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Bessemer - June 4, W, 10 a.m.

Emmet O’Neal (Mtn. Brook) - May 27, Tu, 3:30 p.m.

Fultondale - June 4, W, 10:30 a.m.

Gardendale/Martha Moore - June 3, Tu, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Graysville - June 2, M

Homewood Children’s - May 29, Th, 10:30 a.m.

Homewood Young Adult - May 30, F, all day

Hoover Children’s - May 31, Sa, 10-12noon

Hoover Young Adult - May 31, Sa, all day

Hueytown - June 3, Tu, 11:30 a.m.

Irondale - May 28, W, 10:30 a.m.

Leeds/Jane Culbreth - June 16, M, 10 a.m.

Midfield - June 10, Tu, 10:30 a.m.

Pleasant Grove - June 11, W, 2 p.m.

Tarrant - May 23, F, all day

Trussville - June 3, Tu, 10 a.m.

Vestavia Hills - June 2, M, all day

Walter J. Hannah (Fairfield) - June 2

Warrior/Evelyn Thornton - May 30, F, 9-11 a.m.

Birmingham Public Libraries
Central and all branches - Kick-Off - May 27, Tu