Public Libraries aren't just good for your mind; they're good for business!

I received this info on a library listserv:

"A couple of recent reports show that tax funds for public libraries are an excellent investment by the county and the state. Such taxes not only are worthwhile for the improvement of the quality of life of thecommunity, but also add directly to the community's prosperity. A recent examination of the benefits of public libraries in Florida show that public libraries return $6.54 for every dollar invested inthem, and one job is created in the county for every $6,448 that is spent on public libraries from public funding sources. See:http://dlis.dos.state.fl.us/bld/roi/index.cfm
Another recent report from South Carolina show that half the businesses in the state use the library as a primary resource for business and research information; 3/4 of them said the public library contributed to their success and that not having a public library would have a negative impact on their business. Nearly half of the personal investors surveyed said that investment information from the public library definitely contributed to their financial well being.
See:http://www.libsci.sc.edu/SCEIS/home.htm."

Cool, huh? Now I just need a public library to hire me!

What I'm reading

I've decided to change the format of my blog a tiny bit. On the sidebar where I used to list what I was reading I'm now listing what I'm knitting. I'm going to share what I'm reading as a post. This way, I will be able to go back through past posts and see what I was reading when. If I ever get to work as a librarian again, it's useful to remember books you've read, because you never know when someone is going to ask for "a good book" or "a book like so-and-so" or "what was the best book you read recently?"

So, today I am starting The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis. While I have read and enjoyed Lewis before (Mere Christianity is a favorite and I just read The Screwtape Letters this spring), the only fiction book I've read by him is Till We Have Faces: A Myth Retold. I love children's literature, but I've never read the Chronicles of Narnia. (The Magician's Nephew is book 1, although I believe it was the last written. It's the prequel, I guess.)

Hopefully, I'll like it.

Three Forks Trail

Yesterday we went hiking - we haven't been in awhile because of the cold weather. (It snowed on Sunday before and during church. It's April in the mountains, folks.) We tried out Three Forks Trail and found these amazing rushing waterfalls on Holcomb Creek.

More falls on Holcomb Creek

We'll go swimming here this summer!

Just upstream from the huge falls is this little cascade and a nice pool.

$18.69

Surprise! My undergraduate university has apparently decided that at some point over 3 years ago I overpaid them for something because they sent me a refund.

Yeehaw! I'm gonna buy some yarn from Knitpicks.com.

What should we do?

Our second wedding anniversary is coming up. Eventually people will have to stop calling us newlyweds, but it really does seem like just yesterday we were running down the aisle and Matt was spilling cheesecake on my dress while trying to feed me and we were smiling, smiling, smiling.

We were pretty poor for our first anniversary last year, having just finished grad school and Matt with the promise of a full-time job but only part-time paychecks coming in and a big old apartment to continue paying rent for. The celebration was minimal, and would have been almost nothing if someone hadn't given us some Steak and Ale gift certificates.

Anyway, we just realized that maybe we should plan something for this year. We're limited to a weekend outing since Matt will still be teaching. Here are the options:

1.Go to downtown Greenville to eat at a restaurant with my name and wander the "cute stores" district.
2. Go to Six Flags and then stay at a nice inn or bed and breakfast.
3. Go to New York City. As I type this, I realize it is completely outlandish. With the flying and the not taking off work, we'd hardly be there at all. Plus the cost! Good Galatians!
4. Stay here and eat at Isabelle's, where we've been wanting to go for awhile, and save the excess money for a rainy day (or new shoes or our future house fund or dry cleaning or whatever).

So, anybody have any opinions on this one? What should we do? Is there something we haven't thought of?

Teenagers talk about books!

Yes, it's true, folks. There is a boy and girl upstairs right this minute going through the fiction section and talking about books they've read, books they've loved, and stuff they've heard about books. They've been there about 15 minutes, ever since they asked me for help in locating The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, which the guy wants to read before the movie comes out.

It's beautiful. My little librarian heart is aflutter.

Sunday morning fun

"Hm...sure are a lot of Baptists here. Well, you know, we like to say Baptists are just frustrated Presbyterians..."

-Pastor Steve

Orange Sweater is Done!

This isn't the first sweater I've finished, but it's the first one I'll wear! (does my hair look goofy?)

The HolyLand Experience

There is six inches of snow in Highlands today so church was cancelled. I'm making up for it by reviewing our visit last week to "The Holy Land Experience" theme park in Orlando, FL. It wasn't as cheesy as we thought it would be - most of it was tasteful and even educational. I've actually been to Israel and seen the real stuff so I expected to be entirely disappointed, but I wasn't at all. This is the entrance, a model of one of Jerusalem's gates.

Matt and Mo on the streets of "Jerusalem"

The empty tomb (with singing disciples)

The Temple

Model of Jerusalem A.D. 66

"Little known to most historians, the temple was actually destroyed by a giant in blue trousers." ~ Matt