That Smells And Tastes Good

Essential oils were the subject of the April program.  Michelle Bekala was our guest speaker, and attendees were able to smell and sample a variety of essential oils, as well as learn about their unique origins and uses.
We also celebrated the 45th anniversary of the establishment of the Metro West Branch. Charter members Marty Elstrom, Irene Helland, and Betty Owen did the honors of cutting and serving the cake.

Did the Chinese Discover America?

The February luncheon meeting at Parkshore Place provided a delightful surprise with Marguerite Ragnow, a Ph.D. history professor and curator of the James Ford Bell Library at the University of Minnesota, which includes maps and related historical materials related to exploration.  Speaking without a microphone, she discussed the controversy over Gavin Menzies book 1421: The Year China Discovered America.  Using slides of maps from the library collections, she gave us an illustrated history lesson about lots of explorers who “discovered” America before Columbus.  We learned a lot about seamanship and ocean currents assisting early  navigators. And the lunch was delicious too. 😋

Little Free Libraries

There are more Little Free Libraries per capita in the Minneapolis St. Paul area than anywhere else.  That was one tidbit attendees learned from Margaret Aldrich at the January 21st luncheon at Parkshore Senior Community.

In fact, there are 50,000 Little Free Libraries around the world, and they are found in all fifty states and seventy other countries.  It is estimated that sixteen million books are shared each year.

Future projects coming from the Little Free Libraries organization include: 1) action book clubs, where current book clubs add a ‘positive action’ aspect to their program, 2) an impact fund to set up four Little Free Libraries each month at no charge to the host, and 3) a program where police use Little Free Libraries to connect with their communities, and especially with children and youth to build literacy.