Arbor Day

Do you know Connecticut's connection to Arbor Day?

Arbor day is a holiday where individuals and groups are encouraged to plant and care for trees. It originated in Nebraska City, Nebraska during 1872 by J. Sterling Morton. On the first Arbor Day which was held on April 10, 1872, an estimated 1 million trees were planted.

Okay, here come the Connecticut connection ---- Birdsey Northrop of Connecticut was responsible for globalizing Arbor Day in 1883 he promoted his Arbor Day and Village Improvement message to other states and even foreign countries. The American Forestry Association made Northrup the Chairman of the committee to campaign for Arbor Day nationwide in 1883.

To check out more information on Arbor Day visit the Arbor Day Foundation at http://www.arborday.org/ and to learn more about Birdsey Northrop go to http://www.ctgov/dep/lib/dep/forestry/urban_forestry/arborday.pdf. Oh and ----- GO PLANT A TREE!!!!!!

Take our Daughters & Sons to Work Day!

April 28th is Take our Daughters & Sons to Work Day

According to the Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Foundation this day is "designed to be more than a career day, the Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work program goes beyond the average "shadow" an adult. Exposing girls and boys to what a a parent or mentor in their lives does during the work day is important, but showing them the value of their education, helping them discover the power and possibilities associated with a balanced work and family life, and providing them an opportunity to share how they envision the future and begin steps toward their end goals in a hands-on and interactive environment is key to their achieving success. Each year, we develop new interactive activities and partnerships that will assist us in taking girls and boys to the future they dream of."

Check out the foundation's website more information at http://www.daughtersandsonstowork.org.

Adminstrative Professionals Day and Week

Happy Administrative Professionals Day and Week!!!

Yikes, the economy has even affected celebrations! According to the International Association of Administrative Professionals website, this year's theme is: This year, celebrate all office professionals.

The site states, "For Administrative Professionals Day 2011, we're veering away from the traditional celebration of the day which is centered on administrative professionals. The recession has hit everyone in the office. Downsizing has forced all of us to pull together and work harder, not just the administrative professionals in the workplace. IAAP recognizes the hard work and sacrifice from everyone."

To learn more about the week, day and this organization, check out their website at http://www.iaap-hq.org/.

So this year, we celebrate all office professionals!!!!!! Thank you for all you do!!!!!

Celebrate Earth Day 2011

Earth Day is a day to celebrate and inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth! Earth Day was founded in the United States by Senator Gaylord Nelson as an environmental teach-in first held on April 22, 1970, today it is globally celebrated and coordinated by Earth Day Network. Check out their website at http://www.earthday.org. Happy Earth Day!

National Poetry Month and National Library Week

Poetry and Libraries --- I think I see a connection --- do you, I hope so because I am going to use the two for this blog entry! Okay, here goes:

Books, books again, and books once more!
There are our theme, which some miscall
Mere madness, setting little store
By copies either short or tall.
But you, O slaves of shelf and stall!
We rather write for you that hold
Patched folios dear, and prize "the small,
Rare volume, black with tarnished gold."
~ Austin Dobin

Going to the Library
By Jessy Randall

In the library there are pathways
you follow to find out what you want to know --
imagine - somewhere in all these books
or on the face of the computer or in parentheses
at the back of a magazine, there is
the perfect sentence, the answer to your question,
the words all around you like
the tornado in the Wizard of Oz never
go home Dorothy -- Dorothy, never land --
language can be your bed, the
beautiful wonder of all possible poems.

Poem
My Library
By Varda One

It's only a room with shelves and books,
but it's far more magical than it looks

It's a jet on which I soar
to lands that exist no more.

Or a key with which I find
answers to questions crowding my mind.

Building my habit of learning and growing,
asking and researching till I reach knowing.

Here, I've been a mermaid and an elf
I've even learned to be more myself.

I think that I shall never see
a place that's been more useful to me.

With encouraging kind friends with wit
Who tell me to dream big and never quit.

It's only a room with shelves and books,
but it's far more magical than it looks.

WOW ---- stirring words ---- when are you coming in? Happy National Poetry Month and Happy National Library Week! Hurray for both!

April is Autism Awareness Month

In order to highlight the growing need for awareness about autism, join us in helping celebrate National Autism Awareness Month. The United States recognizes April as a special opportunity for everyone to educate the public about autism and issues within the autism community. This celebration has been going on since the 1970s. Check out the information at the Autism Society website at www.autism-society.org and the Autism Speaks website at www.autismspeaks.org. Check out the resources available at the Library by following this link to our catalog, http://serc-verso.auto-graphics.com/Iluminar/home.asp?lid=serc#Iluminar and put autism in the quick search box on the upper right corner or the page.