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No, it's not Santa's helpers - it's librarians Sulema Oltivero (left) and Gaye Reily (right) peeking out from a Pandemic 2020 Tree.
A "Pandemic 2020 Tree" graces our facility here at Rhoads Memorial Library. The 7' tall Ficus plant that has seen better days is adorned with colorful copies of face masks and festive lights, among other decorations. This is a departure from erecting our graceful 9' tree for the Yuletide occasion, which once delighted parents who take photos of their youngsters alongside it.
Instead, we decided to downsize this year, recognizing that we and the rest of planet Earth are dealing with COVID-19, a new Coronavirus known as SARS-CoV-2, that is responsible for a once-in-a-100 years' pandemic. Hopefully Christmas 2021 will see the return of the big tree and traditional decorations amid more festive times.
A newly released book that has arrived here and is ready for checkout is "The Arctic Fury" by Greer MacAllister. Based on a true story set in the 1850's, the book focuses on eccentric Lady Jane Franklin's obsession to find her husband and his lost expedition. Frustrated that four parties have failed to find him, she decides to put women in charge. Lady Franklin engages adventurer Virginia Reeve to lead a dozen women into the inhospitable Arctic for another search.
One year later, Virginia stands trial for murder. The five survivors of the expedition publicly support her. The question is, what happened out there on the ice to the rest of them? Critics note that MacAllister uses Lady Franklin's "tireless attempts to find her husband's lost expedition as a jumping-off point to spin a tale of bravery, intrigue, perseverance, and hope."
As always, we appreciate donations of books, audiobooks, and movies that may be incorporated into our collection for checkout or offered for sale. This time of year sees an uptick of activity, as people decorating for Christmas come across items they no longer want. Of course, we observe COVID-19 protocol and sanitize the items before determining their fate. We plan to conduct our annual book sale during the last week of January 2021. Watch this space for more details! It is
It is also that time of year where we will dismiss late fees for cans of food that can be donated to our local food pantry. "Food for Fines" will be in effect until Jan. 31, 2021.
We will be closed Thursday, Dec. 24 through Monday, Dec. 28 for Christmas. We will re-open at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 29.
Later that week, we will close on Friday, Jan. 1, 2021, for New Year's Day. We will re-open on Tuesday, Jan. 5, delighted to be finished with 2020 and eager to see you in the new year!
Until next week, stay safe and read happily!