I had the privilege of being the guest speaker at the Friends of the Le Sueur Library annual meeting on Friday evening. And I stumbled upon one of the best organized groups of people committed to providing the best library services for their community. Library budgets are tight these days, but the Friends group makes it a mission to fill in the financial gaps so the public doesn’t see any decrease in service or programs. All libraries should be so lucky, right?

More than 500 kids were in the summer reading program, and two free books were given to 430 individual kids as part of a giveaway funded by the Friends. A donation also helped the library purchase a color copier/scanner–the first color copier in the city of Le Sueur, available to the public.

More than 35 people attended the meeting and my reading/discussion that followed, which is a great showing for a Friday night in a small town. The library has a Facebook page. I’m sure they’d love it if you liked it!

I talked to a retired doctor from Le Sueur (he said he read my book in one sitting!). Dr. Joe asked me if I knew Dr. Hergott, a Waseca physician for many years. “He delivered me!” I said. Dr. Hergott and his wife, Carol, are from Le Sueur, and I met one of the Hergotts’ nieces at the library. I also think of my fourth-grade teacher, Mr. Hayford, whenever I’m in Le Sueur because that’s his hometown. I remember we had a silly quiz one day in class and that’s where I learned to spell Le Sueur!

I also discovered I am not the only one who grew up with a poem taped on the wall across from the toilet! Thanks for making me not feel so alone, Diane! But this suggests to me that there are a whole host of people out there who also grew up with “toilet poems.” I think an anthology is in order!