MESA COUNTY LIBRARIES
MAY 2019
Space-themed Summer Reading
at Mesa County Libraries launches June 3
Prepare to blast off into a universe of stories with Summer Reading at Mesa County Libraries!

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing, this year’s Summer Reading adventure is space-themed! The fun begins the week of June 3 at all eight Mesa County Libraries locations. Be sure to visit your nearest library branch to enjoy family-friendly entertainment, fun activities, and a self-paced reading program that lets you set your own reading goals!

With categories for all ages, Summer Reading at Mesa County Libraries welcomes participation by the whole family! Create your own reading goals, earn books as prizes along the way, and participate in grand-prize drawings. Grand prizes include kids’ telescopes, space science kits, literature kits, gift certificates, and more.

This year, it’s easier than ever to sign up for Summer Reading at Mesa County Libraries! Sign-ups begin June 3 at mesacountylibraries.org/srp or at any convenient Mesa County Libraries location. Set your own reading goals and chart your progress on an easy-to-use tracking sheet, then turn it in for a chance at a grand prize. As always, there’s no charge to participate in Summer Reading!


SUMMER ENTERTAINMENT SERIES
The Summer Entertainment Series is back this year, with popular magicians, musicians, and puppeteers ready to amaze and delight fans of all ages!

We are proud to welcome magician Cody Landstrom , local author and entertainer Sarahndipity , percussion musicians Embodying Rhythm , and puppeteer/ventriloquist Megan Casey with Rocky Mountain Puppets . Find their full schedule of performances here .

Many more awesome events are in store for Summer Readers of all ages, and times and dates will be announced soon. In the meantime, make plans to sign up for Summer Reading at Mesa County Libraries!

Mesa County Libraries thank our generous Summer Reading sponsors for their support: the Mesa County Libraries Foundation; Friends of the Mesa County Libraries; Del Taco; the Grand Junction Rockies, and KREX News Channel 5 CBS.
Michelle Boisvenue-Fox selected
as new library director
Michelle Boisvenue-Fox photo
Michelle Boisvenue-Fox, a library administrator with a two-decade record of driving innovation and creativity in library settings, has been selected as the new director of Mesa County Libraries.

The Mesa County Libraries Board of Trustees made the announcement May 9.

Boisvenue-Fox currently serves as director of programming, outreach, and collection services for the Kent District Library in Comstock Park, Michigan. For the past five years, Boisvenue-Fox has focused her career on user experience and bringing the community’s voice into more library decisions. This process has resulted in some dynamic results for the library, and her experience will now benefit Mesa County Libraries. She is scheduled to start July 22 as director of Mesa County Libraries.

Letterpress and paper artist Devan Penniman
is new 970West Artist in Residence
Devan Penniman, a creator who specializes in paper, printing, and bringing people together through art, is the new Mesa County Libraries 970West Artist in Residence.

Penniman will host open studio hours at the 970West Studio from 4-6 p.m. every Tuesday through the end of her residency Aug. 12. She also has scheduled a variety of public classes and workshops throughout the summer. 

Penniman is a baker, letterpress printer, zine creator, co-director of the Colorado Mesa University Art and Design Alumni Chapter, and overall creative problem solver. She lives in Fruita with her partner, their husky, and an abundance of plants, old things, and books. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in graphic design and has hiked the Pacific Crest Trail.

Mesa County Libraries to close May 25-27 for Memorial Day holiday; summer hours at Central Library begin after May 19
All Mesa County Libraries locations will be closed Saturday, May 25, through Monday, May 27, 2019, for the Memorial Day holiday weekend. 

In addition, please note that May 19 is the final Sunday until fall that the Central Library will be open. After May 19, the library shifts to its summer operating schedule, which means the Central Library will be closed Sundays until after Labor Day.

During the holiday, patrons can visit the library’s website, mesacountylibraries.org , to place holds, renew materials, and use eResources such as Mango Languages, the OverDrive Digital Library, and Lynda. 

A complete list of library locations and hours is available here .
Poetry Contest winners announced;
public reading set for May 21
Congratulations to winners of the 2019 Mesa County Libraries Poetry Contest ! As usual, we had lots of great submissions this year. If you missed entering this year, keep an eye out for our 2020 contest.

At 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 21, please join us in the Central Library Community Room to hear the winning poems from the contest!

Best of the Blog
Check out local history and events on the library blog
The library blog, which you can find on the Mesa County Libraries home page , contains a variety of posts on topics ranging from library events to local history.

Here's a sample:




Check out all of the blog posts here !

Mesa County Libraries seek talented performers for 2019 Culture Fest
Performers of all types are invited to apply for an opportunity to entertain audiences Nov. 2 at the 2019 Mesa County Libraries Culture Fest, an annual event celebrating western Colorado’s cultural diversity.

Successful performers will be selected on the basis of artistic expression, overall community interest, cultural relevance, and special needs, costs, or requests associated with their performance.

Panel ideas and exhibitors sought for
2019 Mesa County Libraries Comic Con
Mesa County Libraries Comic Con is still months away (it's set for Saturday, Oct. 12), but now is the time to get involved!

Do you have a great idea for a panel at Comic Con? Apply now to host it yourself! We are looking for great panels covering topics like comics, anime, sci-fi, fantasy, games, representation, cosplay, literature, film making, and art demonstrations. Interested? See the MCL Comic Con web page for application info.
 
Similarly, exhibitor applications are open for Comic Con! Apply now to show your products and services related to comic books, comic art, pop culture, science fiction, fantasy, anime, books, graphic novels or movies. See the MCL Comic Con web page for more info.
Contact Mesa County Libraries at 970-243-4442 or visit mesacountylibraries.org