Staff celebrities at Reedsburg Public Library

For years, the American Library Association’s Celebrity READ Campaign posters have promoted reading in libraries across the country. Well-known personalities such as Danica Patrick, the Jonas Brothers, Stephen Hawking and Yo-Yo Ma have been photographed while reading their favorite book. Now Reedsburg Public Library staff becomes stars too!

An ALA Read graphics program, and the talents of circulation staffer Alyssa, allowed for the creation of the sixteen posters featuring library employees, their book selections and the iconic READ heading. In the same way that the official American Library Association posters feature a variety of celebrities, the Reedsburg Public Library photos highlight a staff with diverse backgrounds and interests as evidenced by their choices of materials, and their reasons for selecting them. These posters can be seen from the sidewalk on the windows looking into the library’s Community Room.

Youth Services staff chose titles appropriate to their specialty with Miss Jess recommending Madeleine L’engle’s “A Wrinkle in Time,” and her co-worker Maxine lauding “The World Needs More Purple People” by Kristin Bell and Benjamin Hart, as the perfect picture book for these times.

In adult fiction, Tammy recommends “Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind” by Ann Ross, which follows the eccentric Miss Julia on madcap adventures. The historical fiction “Sarah’s Key” by Tatiana de Rosnay is Karen’s choice.

Mystery author Peter Swanson is Kris’ new favorite. Science fiction aficionado Alyssa suggests “Queen of Blood” by Sarah Beth Durst, while Josh says of “The Hobbit” by J.R.R. Tolkien, “sometimes the best journeys in life are the ones you didn’t know you needed to go on.”

Among true life journeys, Janet praises Wisconsin author Ben Logan’s farm memoir “The Land Remembers.”

Glen says of his pick Nathaniel Philbrick’s “Valiant Ambition,” --“I love nonfiction books; I learn more about history than I was taught in school.”

In appreciation of the outdoors, Tanja recommends the classic “Nature” by Ralph Waldo Emerson. Wendy identifies her next sojourn in the “Atlas of the National Parks.”

Crafters Jill and Kathy suggest an issue of “For the Love of Quilting” and the book “Metal Jewelry Workshop,” respectively, indicative of their hobbies and also a wide variety in the library’s “how to” collection.

Liz and Jo’s choices also represent a variety of available formats. Liz says of the “Atlantic” magazine, it is always “insightful and illuminating.” Jo’s poster, which states “Listen,” instead of “READ, features the sound recording of Brene’s Brown’s “Dare to Lead.”

Finally, Library Director Sue Ann Kucher, appropriately, longs to read “How to Relax” by Thich Nhat Hanh.

Stop by the Reedsburg Public Library and see your local library staff as celebrities, and be inspired to READ!

For questions about any library service or program, call the library at 768-READ (7323).