By Drew Cerino 

A chill ran down my spine as the lion locked eyes with mine. One wrong move and she could be on me in a matter of seconds…

As I tell my son this story from my past, I can see his idea of who I am as a person expanding beyond the one-dimensional parent he usually sees. Our kids don’t often see us as real people who lived different lives before they came along. Each and every one of us has a story worth telling; not because we were famous or did amazing things, but because those moments, big and small, led to who we are today.

By Jeremiah Walter 

Volunteers are an essential part of any library. Their time and dedication make a huge difference not only for staff, but also for the communities they serve.

“Our staff are extremely thankful for all of our volunteers,” says Mariah Martin, senior library assistant at Monument Library, who coordinates volunteers at that location. “They help us with our day-to-day operations so much.”

When Kate hosted a party for her son Rory’s first birthday, she booked the Venue at Library 21c, a space with plenty of room to set up tables, a small ball pit, and a play area.

“The Venue at Library 21c is great for the kids, because it’s so big, and they like to run around,” she says. “It’s a lot more space than we have at home.”

Kate reserved the room for four hours, allowing two hours for the party, plus an hour prior for setup and an hour afterward for cleanup.

It's the first Thursday of the month, and I am excited, embarrassed, and feel a little guilty. Life got the better of me, and I didn’t finish the book. Luckily, my group doesn’t take this whole “Book Club thing” too seriously. Creating a book club can be a great way to foster a love of reading while connecting with others…. and just having fun!