Cover to Cover

It's raining its pouring — you never know when it's coming! That's been our summer hasn't it? But I'm ok with it — everything is beautiful and green! Plus what am I going to do if I'm not ok with it? Complain? Nah, not worth it.

But I could get a good book from J.H. Robbins Memorial Library and read while it rains. You can steal my idea if you would like. Then while you are at the library getting your book maybe you would like to sit and work on the puzzle where it is nice and cool or read a magazine or just visit.

We are winding down the summer program. I would like to thank Deb Habiger at the Health Department and all of the people that she got to do programs for the kids. Also Jessica Kootz at the K-State Extension office for her programs that she did each week.

Next week is our last week of programs but the Free Summer Food Program will be going for another two weeks. They have had great food (I smell it everyday!) and a good number of kids. Love to see the kids come up with full tummies and smiling.

Tutoring is also winding down and we would like to thank Alisha Kempke and Melanie Sippel for being willing to work with the library to help the kids of the community stay SMART through the summer. I cannot forget to thank Sarah Klein for being a wonderful Miss Sarah the story hour lady and my helper with other programs. Her bright smile always makes everyone happy. Hope to have her back next summer.

We are waiting to hear when the company from Salina is coming to deliver our new microfilm reader and teach us how to use it. Pretty excited. We will also be getting Ancestory.com the library edition after we get the microfilm reader set up. I'll keep you up to date as things happen or you can come in and see us to find out.

The "Last Wednesday Walk" is about UV Awareness and is from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, July 31, at Krizek Park (we do this with the Health Department, Ellsworth County Medical Center and K-State Extension office). There will be water, snacks, information on UV awareness and prizes.

As the summer activities come to an end, we start planning for the fall and winter activities. We would love to have your thoughts and ideas of what you would like to see for programs.

We are sponsoring OCCK in August to do a 5 week program called LEAP (Lifestyle Empowerment for Alzheimer's Prevention). This Brain Health Bootcamp workshop is based on the latest research, and offers practical information on lifestyle changes you can make to promote brain health. We'll cover topics like physical activity, nutrition, sleep, stress, and more. The classes will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. every Thursday in August. Let us know if you are interested in learning more and once we receive the information, we will get it to you. I'm excited about this program and feel we may be able to build other programs off of this one. There are so many benefits we get from keeping our brain healthy.

Talking about keeping our brain healthy, let’s keep it healthy by reading and here are a few of our newest books. Again, But Better by Christine Riccio, The Big Kahuna, by Janet Evanovich, Blessing in Disguise by Danielle Steel, The British Are Coming: The War for America Lexington to Princeton by Rick Atkinson, Next Girl to Die by Dea Poirier, Past Tense by Lee Child and Sacred Duty: A Soldier's Tour at Arlington National Cemetery by Tom Cotton. Plus so many more.

Thank you for using the library and Happy Reading!

Colleen Sippel is the director of the J.H. Robbins Memorial Library. She can be reached at

(785) 472-3969 or 219 N. Lincoln, Ellsworth, Kan. 67439.