The Fair features booksellers displaying their old, rare and out-of-print books and ephemera for public sale. All types of material and price ranges were available. Fresh food and beverages will be available on the premises. For more information about the Fair – check out their website: http://www.goldrushbookfair.com

The Friends of Nevada County Libraries will have a booth at the Fair again this year. The Friends will have a variety of older, rare and interesting books as well as some newer collectable titles. The proceeds of this sale, as well as monthly book sales will go toward materials such as books and DVDs for the County’s libraries or educational programs.

The Nevada County Reads Planning Team would like to extend a huge “Thank You” to Jordan Fisher Smith; Judy Hess, President and CEO of Citizen’s Bank; Ranger Mike Lynch; The Friends of the Nevada County Libraries and Janet Cohen of SYRCL for helping to make our 2008 community read, Nature Noir: a Park Ranger’s Patrol in the Sierra, an unqualified success.

In its fourth year, Nevada County Reads, a collaborative venture among the Superintendent of Schools Office, Nevada County Library and many interested community members, continues to promote community-wide reading.

This year we were honored to receive funding from Citizen’s Bank to promote all of our events with signs displayed prominently on two Gold Country Stage buses, book marks and wonderful posters designed by David McKay. Jordan’s presence at all of our events including our ranger led walk of the proposed Auburn dam site and high school visits wrapped up a series of activities that reached over 248 attendees, not to mention all of those who purchased books or checked them out from our libraries. We are thankful to our local book stores, Harmony Books, Book Seller and Words on Paper for carrying extra copies of Nature Noir, to our Friends of the Nevada County Libraries for purchasing 20 copies of the book for our libraries and to our local radio stations, KNCO and KVMR and The Union newspaper for publicizing our programs. We look forward as many of you do to Jordan’s next great read.

Stan Miller, Associate Superintendent of Curriculum Instruction
Mary Ann Trygg, County Librarian
Nevada County Reads Planning Team

At Nevada County Library Literacy Service we are celebrating Ten Years of our free program helping adults improve their reading, writing and math skills.

Each year our wonderful volunteer tutors work with English-speaking adults to help them reach their goals and fulfill needs they have to improve their lives. Most of these are people who, for one or more reasons, didn’t connect well with some of the 3 R’s while they were in school. Maybe their family moved too many times, or they were sick a lot, or there was abuse taking place in their family, or an unpleasant divorce, or they were hampered by a learning disability. As you know, when you are young, all sorts of things influence the way you will turn out as an adult; good and bad. What it usually ISN’T is a lack of intelligence.

Our tutors and students meet each week for about 1 1/2 hours to work on strengthening the students skills in reading, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, writing and math. Without these vital skills, a person’s access to knowledge is severely limited. Low literacy skills lead to social problems such as unemployment, welfare, poverty and crime. One-on-one tutoring has proven highly successful during the past 50+ years in over 1,200 programs throughout the U.S.

If you are a relative, friend or employer of someone who needs help with literacy skills, please encourage them to contact Alan or Linnea at 470-2772 to discuss our free, confidential program. Over 20,000 adults in California are helped by library literacy programs each year.

A national study of the general public and interviews with national and local civic leaders is reported in
Long Overdue: A fresh Look at Public Attitudes About Libraries in the 21st Century

While Americans give their public libraries and "A" more often than any other community services, few are aware of the increasingly tenuous financial picture faced by many libraries.

Findings Show:
• Libraries are highly valued and get the best grades of any community institution, including public schools, police and the local news media.
• Libraries are important 21st century resources. Public considers having computers and internet access in libraries essential, and many also want other multimedia resources as well.
• Voters love libraries. Nearly 3/4 of voters have a library card.
• More then 3/4 of library users believe libraries spend tax dollars wisely.
• The public welcomes a greater role for libraries.
• Four key areas noted:
  • A safe and engaging place for teens.
  • Literacy skills for a strong workforce.
  • Center for community information.
  • Greater access to technology.

The Madelyn Helling Library offers free display space for community groups or private individuals to display upcoming events, art, etc. Display cases are used at the risk of the individual or organization and items must be on display for a month from the first day to the last day of the month, excluding Sundays. We have a few spaces left for 2007. If you would like to use one of our display cases located in the lobby of the Madelyn Helling Library, or know someone who would, please call Cherie at 265-1407.