Welcome everybody to Midday magazine for this January 20th 2025. Have your host James here
We're joined right now by our good friend Nicole Menzel library director over at the Lester Public Library of Rome
Nicole, it is good to have you here. It's been a while since we had in studio. Yeah, I was saying I called in last time
So it's really nice to be back. I braved the the cold
And here I am. It's what I wanted to start with. Thank you
But I appreciate that and we appreciate so much our local libraries
The Lester
Library is one of our favorites around here. We love talking about and love any chance
We get to put the spotlight on you guys and talk a little bit about the work that you're doing over there
And we really appreciate it because we're doing a lot of really awesome things and so it's really great when we get to get the word out
And lot people know what we're what we're doing and invite them to come stop in
Real quick. I didn't want to let the audience know that if you are looking for new unique fun things to do this winter
Check out your local libraries. Yes, some of the most creative ideas and creative things are happening at our local libraries
It's it's really cool to see and I am so proud of our local libraries
Taking that initiative and really going above and beyond doing a lot of this stuff
I so many of our our libraries are one of volunteers
And it's really appreciative that so many people that put so much of their time and effort into these events
Yeah, and libraries pivot to become what communities need and so they
Especially around here in the winter when there's less and less things to do
They'll kind of pick up some of that slack and offer a lot of really awesome things and in all of their libraries in our area are
Great about doing that. So make sure you stop in and see what's going on
Nicole, where would you like to start when it comes to events and things going on over at the library?
Yeah, so we at the library have a few things coming up
One thing next week for for all people if you really want to we target it more towards kids and families
But we have our Lego challenge week all week long
So you can stop in during the week whenever you want and you'll be able to take part in that
then
for
adults and I guess teens could come to we have a graphic design for all tutorial on using Canva
Which is a free online program that you can use
And that's January 24th at 3 p.m. So that's this Friday
It's just going to be an introductory program on on using an online tool for graphic design so you can make your own posters and
Christmas cards and you name it
And we've got a whole bunch more stuff with all on our website which I will
www.roampubliclibrary.org so if you want to check that out you can see all the things that we've got going on
When it comes to one of the things that are you mentioned a perfect word for this conversation and pivoting and how our libraries have done that and so much and
We've talked a lot about you know the tech world getting introduced into this and how much
Smoothed that is made it for a lot of librarians and being able to share books around the state and some of these things
That's really cool for readers as much as for I imagine people working in the industry
I know my mom on her last couple of years talked quite a bit about that in McMillan and how much that has benefited them as
As librarians let alone just as a community
Yeah, it allows us not only to just serve our communities but to band together with other libraries in the state to
Greater serve our local communities and then also help out other communities
So we have access to I think 60 plus different libraries materials
But beyond that it's given us ebooks and audio books
Which are not only convenient but has offered accessibility for a wide range of folks who maybe would not have had access to a library before
So just tons of really cool things and I know we get a lot of people and I had someone in last week who is
Like oh, I missed the card catalog. It just made things so much easier
And I was like, you know, there are some gives and takes right like some things are a little more complicated
But you can always ask us for help. We're happy to help you and it's opened doors for a whole lot of other great things that we can do
Because we don't have to use just a standard card catalog anymore
So and that's that is another thing that people probably don't realize half of what we do is help people with tech stuff
At the library
We help people set up their new phones. We help them use a computer. We help them
Navigate and setting up an email address
I help you download apps if you want me to just lots of I mean as long as we know how to do it will help you with it
We will also tell you when we have no idea what you're asking us to help with and maybe find the answers together
Yes, totally
Again to the pivoting point and we've seen how the tech industry has really helped librarians and libraries in general doing all these things
Now is the next step of that and in above would be beyond step I think
Nobody thinks of libraries
Well, this is their job that's like no, but libraries have taken this on to be their job. It is our job now
Yeah, yeah, really is and and that's so unique
So again to the lester area the people in the nacuse area and stuff that had those questions and want to know more about
Any of these things you go and ask you go and ask and find out there's no
The hoops to jump through or cure our code to scan or something like that
Just go and ask the questions. Yes
And I I encourage so much of our senior population to do this
I talk a lot about my papa and how he was the first person I knew with a PC, you know and and how
How that added years to his creativity to his life to his energy
I encourage you to do that everybody
Yeah, and people get really frustrated about technology especially when they don't have experience with it
And it shouldn't be something that frustrates you like learning something new is always a little difficult
But we try to make it as painless as possibly might joke around about how hard things are to learn sometimes but
It's really kind of our mission to make people be able to use those things because you know a lot of times you look
I don't want to and I'm like oh, but if you did
So many endless opportunities. It's okay to embrace some of that new stuff
And it's say you embrace it or you take it in you learn some things and it's not for you now, you know
Exactly, and then we're there to help you out with it
We love people who call and ask us to
Reserve or you know to put their books on longer because the due dates coming up
And then we've got people who do it on their own and we will happily be there for either of us too
With when it comes to these these things too
It's so important to be able to get out there check this out. It doesn't cost you anything
It's in it can benefit you so much. I look oftentimes at the the ceiling in the floor for something
What is the the lowest expectation? What is the highest expectations and something like this
If you enjoy this could open up literally worlds for you. Yes
Of just interesting things and stuff to check out and really work that creativity and really have some fun with it
Totally
There's other events as as Nicole was touching on there really for all ages
There are story times that wanted to mention as well. Yep
We've got story times. We have a weekly card group that means we've got a fiber arts
They do knitting and and crocheting and embroidery. I mean anything with fiber that you art
Can be done at this or you can just hang out. It doesn't actually matter
They're very welcoming
We've got some bigger things coming up our friends of the library group is doing
This is going to be in March on fat Tuesday, which is March 4th at 6 p.m
We're having our second annual chocolate celebration
So that's going to be kind of a Marty garage slash chocolate
Thing
Last year we had tons of treats and trivia and games
And people had a really really great time with cookie decorating and so I think every year we're going to try to make that a little bit bigger and better
Um, that's something that our friends in the library group actually puts on and that's a volunteer group through the library
So it's one of those partnerships that you kind of had mentioned earlier, which I think is is really cool for us to have
That's a really is. Yeah, it's again another one of those unique things that you guys are able to do over there
There's also the uh neat the idea too that while we're talking about a bunch of cool things if you have cool ideas
Reach out and let us know
Yeah, one of actually the the big projects the library is currently working on um, it started out as a secret garden idea
And this was brought up by a library patron um, who's in some of our volunteer groups because if you've ever been to shaboy in
There's a place called bookworm gardens and it is this volunteer run magical place where they have like
170 different books represented and they've got
um
hands-on activities and just like it's it's acres to explore
Now we're not going that big because
That's not in the budget
But um, we were like how can we take that? We've got extra land. We're on two acres the library is itself
So how can we take that and how can we do something at our library with it?
So we got a group together um, it's all volunteer-based
A committee and we are actually working on that right now setting that up to start this spring
Um, and we've kind of transitioned it to a secret forest or a book forest
So we've got a bunch of books that picked out and it's going to to be a
We'll have a path and different stories are going to be represented hands-on activities for kids families adults
Wimsical happy and something that we can continue to add on to year after year
So there will be some gardening, but since it's in the woods
We can't plant a lot of things because they kind of need sunlight to grow. Um, I read that
Somewhere. Yes
So we're working on that right now and we're still welcoming anyone who wants to help out with that to get involved
It's it's really exciting and it will be cool to see what it does. That's going to be a really cool event
I I that'll look forward to this, but in years to come as you can fine tune it and really get it to where you want it
But that's going to be a cool event. Yes
Um, there's uh, there's also weekly events uh going out of the library wanted to make sure we mentioned coffee with friends
Uh, that sounds like my kind of thing
Nicole, I really feel like that's if I'm doing a morning show. I want to be there. That's a really fun time
That's our friends of the library started that because they noticed in the wintertime
There's not a lot of social activities that happen in our area
So every Friday they bring treats and they have coffee and they sit by the fireplace and it has like expanded itself
There are like 20 some people there now every Friday just chatting and that's the whole point of it is to just
Hang out with some new friends old friends chat about life about things that are happening not happening
Sometimes somebody will bring in activity for people to do. It's very laid back
But that has been one of our highest attended programs that we've had and it's like it's fun
It's just really fun
It's a great opportunity especially in these colder months uh to get out of the house
Do some get some socializing in yeah, we have um all talked about and we had seen many reports on isolation
And how much that is becoming more and more of an issue for our rural communities
Get out there
As as much as we can have these events we still need you to do meet us halfway
You got that you got to attend the event, you know and everything
So we really do one encourage you to do that get out have some fun maybe make some new friends or see some old ones
That haven't seen in a while. Yeah, um and and with that it's the same type of thing with the yoga with friends or yeah
Yoga at the library. Yes, that's another one. It's with friends too. It is also with friends
Yeah, we actually have a woman Lisa Brazil from
Wisconsin Rappus. She has a studio here
But she comes and we offer yoga every Friday at 11 a.m. Um at the library and the summers
It's at the farmers market and then when the farmers markets are over we take it over at the library
We ask for a $5 donation just to help cover the cost
But no one is ever obligated to have to pay at all. There is no expectation of that
So if you do not want to if you cannot it is totally fine. Um, you can come move your body. It's a very um
I would say it's it's a lot more focused yoga practice where she takes things slow and really helps you develop your
postures and your your positions
um and
Goes at the pace that the group wants to go at so if you're more advanced
She'll help give you some advanced things to work on if you're a beginner
She will help give you some beginner things to work on um and that's been we've done that we started it last year
And I think people would have write it if we didn't bring it back this year. So um she's got a really good following and in lots of people who enjoy doing that
And uh, you know, I don't I wouldn't pretend to do I'll tell a lot of this but I learned some yoga over my life
In part because of my workouts and some of the routines that I like to do and um, you know, stretching is a huge part of before you dive into a workout
I found the old yoga is a great way to get that in yes, but what I
Didn't expect is how much it can help your mental health. Yes
We focus on you hear yoga and I think a lot of people immediately think of the body and it certainly helps the body quite a bit
But it is just as beneficial to your mental health which is something we talk a lot about nowadays
Yeah, it's a mindfulness practice
like with along with body and
um
This goes back to my other
Life and my degrees and counseling and things but breathing is a huge part of people who are going through anxiety
depression and talking about breath and focus and
Mindfulness and so when you're doing a yoga practice most of the yoga practice centers around breathing
It's your core. It's everything comes out from there. So your breath is the first thing you work on
So you're right. It is it's it's physical. It's mental. It's all of those things
Um, and I it's one of those where you don't realize all the benefits that come from it
And I love when people can start doing something and be like oh, I'm also getting this other
beneficial piece. It's very well-rounded
When uh can people attend coffee with friends if they'd like to Nicole? Yeah every Friday starting
I think I started 915 930 um and then they usually hang out until yoga and then some of them do yoga
And some of them go home
And yoga usually Fridays at 11 yes
And uh where these events take place and and uh how the library is around and we're going to kind of wrap a little bit on that
Where is the library located for those that may not known Nicole? Yeah, we are located at 1157 Rome Center drive
Um, our address isn't a kusa because Rome does not have its own mailing address, but we are in Rome um if you know where
uh
Quick trip is it's down the road from quick trip towards Adam's friendship if that helps people. Oh, yeah
You know get a pick. That's how I do directions because it's me that's epsilon
You're not alone on that. You are not alone. I guarantee there's a lot of people. Oh, yeah, I know exactly where it is
And this is run as a municipal library. Yes, it is run as a municipal library
Which means our town decided that they wanted their own library
So we're not a branch of the county library. We do work with the county library
collaboratively on some things
Um, but we're a separate library and with that in mind
We that's why we encourage donations and invest and I we say donation
But to me that we're I hear investment. Yeah, that's an investment in our future
That's an investment in our kids. That's an investment in our the betterment of our community. Yes, it is and
We are very grateful to live in a community that supports its library not every community does that
So I I hope that our community continues to do that and if you don't live in our community
And you have a library in your own community support your library
It means so much when you have the people who live there giving back to you
Just as much as you are trying to give to them. We have so many
Incredible people working hard to keep our libraries around keep them creative keep them fun
Again meeting them halfway and attending these events promoting these events on your social media accounts and everything
Go so much farther than we really put into words. Yeah, and certainly volunteering where you can
Whether it's a ed to these events or just in general
It's a big part of how life libraries really survive is the volunteers out there. Yeah, totally
Half of the programming we do we would not be able to do without volunteers a lot of our weekly community programs are run
By community members and saying we want the community to be a little to have an open invitation to these things
So we use the library as the space, but they are the ones who coordinate
And we would not be able to do what we do without any of those groups and
When's the last time you picked up a book, you know
Everybody it's a great opportunity the winter months are built for reading. Yes, they are
If you're though wondering
Like if you're not like my mother and have like 20 books on your list of what I'm gonna read this one this month
This one this month or something like that and you're looking for something to read
That's another thing that don't feel like we get to touch on with our libraries nearly enough is boy if you're looking for suggestions
They got them. Yes, that's my favorite thing to do people always come in and they're like I mean not to bother you
I'm like no, no, I want to talk about books. Let's do that
I still that's one of my my favorite things to do if you give us things that you've read and enjoyed things that you've read and not enjoyed
um
Topic areas that you like subjects even just really simple like I want something
happy
We can usually work with that and help you find something that hopefully you'll enjoy and if you don't enjoy that
I always say
Life's too short to read a book that you're not enjoying come back and we'll find another one
And but Nicole before we let you go and we give people the information of how they can find out more and catch up with you
If they need to or ask follow questions
As we're talking about supporting our libraries and reading and all this
I didn't want to include as well that extends to our local bookstores
Yes, and encourage you to support your local bookstores out there everybody and keep them thriving. Yes. Yeah
I
Books everywhere. I always say
Libraries help support authors bookstores help support authors if you want books to continue to be written
um both of those things are important and you know
I'll have people who come into the library and they're like oh, I just it's silly for me to pay for books and I'm like
You sometimes yes, but also remember that you are supporting the people who create the books too
So um, you're also supporting your local communities
So keep art and literacy alive
And support literature in any way you can I think this is one of those things too where there is the
This is one of the most unique things to me about reading and about books
And it's as oldest you know the first book published in everything when you have a book that you really like and that's really great
And you know, maybe you give it to a friend or something like that maybe even buy a copy for somebody
But then there's that book that means something to you. Yes
I still have the two books the first two books given to me Uncle Tom's cabin and the complete collection of uh
Sherlock Holmes. Oh, and uh
Edgar Allen post keep my grand father gave me those books and I've still got them
They're they're they mean so much to me. They're so clay. I don't look through them all the time
But I just was moving things around yesterday and came across them again
And there's something about having those books uh, so when it comes to yes
Maybe checking something out seen if you like it the library is a great resource for that
But you want the copy of that go to your local bookstores. I know you can get things online nowadays take the time reach out
Go to a bookstore um, if even if it does cost an extra buck or two
That's an investment. That's that's money. You just put back in your community. You kept a local business alive
Um, encourage you to do that everybody. There are wherever you're listening to us
There are local bookstores near you
Courage to find out more about them
Well, one of the cool things. There's a website called bookshop.org that you can go on to
And it will find all of the bookstores in your local area
So even if you want to shop online you can
And it you can then choose what bookstore you want that to go to
So if you anywhere you live it will pick the nearest bookstores to you that you can support or let's say you live here
But you have a friend who owns a bookstore in another state you can shop online and support them as well
And Nicole as we're wrapping up I want to remind everybody that all these events and different things going on
There's even more next month in the month after that
Well, we don't get to hang out every month or anything want to remind you that there's always stuff going on over at the library
There definitely is and we would love for anyone to stop in you don't even have to live in Rome to come to Rome line
So please stop by
And if you want to find out more information or reach out to Nicole, how can they do that?
Yes, you can go to our website
www.RomePublicLibrary.org
Or you can give us a call 715-325-899-0
And we will be happy to chat with you
Looking forward to talking and chatting with you again real soon Nicole
Thank you so much for joining us today
Thanks James
And we'll have more midday magazine coming up for you throughout the week
Everybody right here at 97-5 FM 13-20 AM WFHR. We are locally grown radio
