Check out our Online Calendar or Attend Page to see what events will be happening during the Summer Reading Program. Sign up for those you wish to attend and that require registration.

FROM THE DIRECTOR

Hi Readers!

We are excited to announce a series of events in May to celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month. Join us for Chalk the Walk, an inspiring community event where participants can express their creativity and share positive messages through sidewalk chalk art.
Additionally, we are thrilled to host Dog Therapy with Libby Karssen on May 12 from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm. This recurring event is perfect for anyone looking to feel more comfortable around dogs, needing a little extra love, or simply loving dogs. Therapy dogs provide comfort, reduce stress, and bring joy to all who interact with them.
Don't miss out on these wonderful opportunities to support mental health and connect with our community. 

Happy reading, Lisa Johnson

FEATURED THIS MONTH:

Libby: The Library Reading App

• Classica – Enjoy stunning performances of classical music, opera, and ballet from around the world.

• Craftsy – Whether you're a seasoned maker or just starting out, find inspiring tutorials and resources on fabric and yarn crafts, baking, drawing, and more.

• iNDIEFLIX – Stream a wide variety of movies, including pop culture favorites, box office hits, award-winning films, documentaries, and shorts.

• Qello Concerts – Experience full-length concerts and music documentaries featuring legendary artists and rising stars.

• The Great Courses – Level up your learning with engaging lectures from top professors and experts on topics like history, science, self-improvement, language learning, and more.

All of these amazing resources are free to you thanks to vital federal funding provided to the State Library of Iowa by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).

Help keep these resources available! Contact your congressional representatives in Washington, D.C., and let them know how much these services mean to your local library. Encourage them to support continued federal library funding.

BOOK TALK:

Book Review: Everything is Tuberculosis

As a historian by training, I find that Green’s work stands out within the broader landscape of historical writing. In many ways, it is clear that the author is not a historian. His sources are often mentioned and seem credible, but the book lacks a full bibliography, for instance. In an academic context, I might hesitate to use this book; if I did, I would likely focus on its primary source elements, where Green describes what he personally has witnessed in the world of tuberculosis care today.

The strength of Green’s work--and another aspect that sets this book apart from many works of history--lies in his writing style and structure. Historians usually write toward an argument about how to interpret evidence of the past. Green also constructs an argument, but one less about the past than about the present and future. He argues that tuberculosis is no longer simply a disease caused by a bacterium. Rather, tuberculosis is a “disease of injustice.” To make this argument, Green draws on his strength: storytelling. He chronicles tuberculosis from its earliest known appearances in human history, but he also shares the contemporary story of his friend Henry, who nearly died from the disease due to inequitable circumstances.

In these pages you will find interesting anecdotes about the history of tuberculosis. As the title suggests, everything in human history seems to touch this devastating disease. You will become familiar with the basic contours of tuberculosis and tuberculosis care. Most importantly, you will find human complexity: suffering and innovation, greed and selflessness, despair and hope, injustice and action.            -Submitted by Abby

MAY EVENTS

Visit our website for more details on these events and others coming up.

READ FOR MAY:

National Mental Health Awareness Month