It is with a heart full of gratitude that I thank the citizens of Grand Rapids for making their voices heard about the importance of funding libraries well.

Through all of your efforts, we were able to release frozen state funding and libraries will receive the rest of their state aid for the year. I am thrilled that legislators have been paying attention. I am certain that you understand that we cannot let up in the coming budget year. We will do everything we can to keep services at a high level for our patrons for as long as possible.

Thank you again for your efforts on behalf of your public library.

-Marcia Warner
Library Director

Posted by Marcia at 03:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

I have been invited to speak at the annual Hollyhock parade on July 4th. I am honored. I am thinking of wearing a librarian costume. You know, bun, half glasses and sensible shoes. But then again, perhaps no one would get the joke.

For 72 years the Ottawa Hills Neighborhood has presented a 4th of July parade for area families. It is low key, patriotic, and fun. It was started originally by parents to help their children understand what being a part of this country is all about. It starts at 8:30 and is usually over, including the ceremony afterwards, by 9:30-10:00. Elgin Vines & Co. provides jazz before and after the ceremony...the neighborhood committee provides coffee, popsicles, and cookies.

Carol Johnson usually sings the Star Spangled Banner and other appropriate songs, accompanying herself on a guitar.

Each year there is a "speaker of the day" at this brief ceremony after the parade. We have over the years had Jerry Ford, every sitting mayor and other elected officials, community activists, artists, etc. Vern Ehlers always takes part in the parade, as do our state elected officials. We do not allow anyone who is running for office to speak: it is not a political moment.

Posted by Marcia at 03:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I have been reading a great deal lately about simplifying life. The library got me started actually by offering classes on voluntary simplicity. The book Graceful Simplicity captured the spirit of the movement for me in this quote "Just Enough is Plenty, every person lives within a household and the household has its economic needs - but the point is to attain only what is sufficient to enable one to turn away from money-getting and undertake the real activities of life"

Like many philosophical ideas, for me, the longer you think about them the less you understand, but perhaps Aristotle summed it up best in the goods of the soul...fortitude, temperance, justice and wisdom.

Perhaps it's just reaching middle age, but being released from all the getting, collecting and having is becoming pure joy. Of course from the looks of eBay, I'm standing alone on this one.

Posted by Marcia at 06:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)