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[JULY 25, 2002]  Did you ever come across a bookmark in a library book and look for something really important on that page? Or wonder if a reader got bored there and didn’t finish the book? Now at Lincoln Public Library District there is another possibility: The book may be a staff pick.

Staff picks are the brainchild of library clerk Bobbi Reddix, who thought it would be "fun to have the staff interact with choices of patrons," according to library director Richard Sumrall. Reddix said patrons ask for recommendations on books, and sometimes staff members do not think of the best choice until later. "Everybody reads different genres," like mysteries or science fiction, she explained, and people have preferences within those genres, such as not too much blood. To sort through all the factors may take a little time.

Reddix designed and made four bookmarks for each of eight participating staff members, though some are down to two or three of the tasseled rectangles. Designs reflect the various job titles, personalities and interests. For example, Sumrall’s pictures a "librarian-type guy," in Reddix’s terms, and features a quotation from Francis Bacon: "For all knowledge and wonder (which is the seed of knowledge) is an impression of pleasure in itself." Youth services associate Linda Harmon has a castle with a quotation about children reading. Reddix gave herself a comical beaver to represent her sense of humor and a baby because she has a 2-year-old. Both characters hold books. "I’ve been reading since I was 4," she said. "It’s like, everybody has to read."

The staff members then chose books to recommend from among the library’s collection and inserted the bookmarks. When a marked book is checked out, the bookmark is returned to the staff member to make a new selection.

Sumrall began placing his bookmarks in April. Other staff members started in May. Not surprisingly, Sumrall has the most selections that have circulated — five. Reference librarian Caroline Kiest is second with two books checked out. Reddix said the program will continue indefinitely.

Though Sumrall is the front-runner, one of his original choices has languished on the shelf from the beginning. He is puzzled. The book, "Killing Monsters: Why Children Need Fantasy, Super Heroes, and Make Believe Violence" by Gerard Jones, got great reviews, he explained. Aimed at parents, it defends fantasy violence in children’s programming. Sumrall still believes it’s a good book with a potential audience in Lincoln.

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He makes his selections from new nonfiction, based on reviews. His choices, therefore, can be found on the new-book shelves in the library’s main building. Other staff members choose older works, fiction and children’s books, so staff picks are in both buildings and in a variety of sections. "They’re all over," Kiest confirmed.

Other participating staff members are circulation manager Deb DeJarnette, library clerk Leslie Duncan, technical services librarian Sue Rehtmeyer and youth services librarian Pat Schlough. Reddix said she intends to make bookmarks for eight more library employees, including the evening shift.

Reddix, who never recommends a book without reading it first, says she picks "along the middle" in terms of subject content among books she considers excellent. She prefers fiction but has one nonfiction choice about Alzheimer’s disease, David Shenk’s "The Forgetting." Rehtmeyer said she reads mostly fiction but sees new nonfiction books in her work, so her selections run the gamut. Harmon and Schlough usually pick children’s books.

With the passing of Oprah Winfrey’s highly successful book club, some readers may be looking for book recommendations beyond the library staff’s suggestions. Sumrall said he understands that Katie Couric on NBC’s "Today" is starting a book club. In addition, he advised readers to check amazon.com, where listings often include reviews from Library Journal, Publisher’s Weekly, Kirkus and other sources. Lincoln Public Library District offers several sources of published reviews, including The New York Times Book Review, Library Journal and, for children’s literature, Hornbook and School Library Journal.

Lincoln Daily News provides both locally written reviews in Book Look and reviews from other news reporting services in Book Reviews Elsewhere. Lincoln bookstore Prairie Years sponsors both features. See Reddix’s review of Tim Cockey’s mystery "The Hearse You Came In On" in a recent Book Look.

[Lynn Shearer Spellman]

[JULY 24, 2002]  ^"Ruby Holler." Sharon Creech. HarperCollins, 2002. 310 pages. Grades 4-7.

Newbery Medal winner Sharon Creech has written another jewel of a book. "Ruby Holler" has everything children like in a good story: unique characters, adventure, mystery and humor.

Dallas and Florida are orphan twins who were left as babies in a box on the steps of the Boxton Creek Home for Children. The Trepids, owners of the home, named the twins for places found on the travel brochures in the abandoned box. By the time we meet the twins they have been in and out of many temporary homes and have learned to mistrust adults because of years of bad experiences.

Eventually, Dallas and Florida are sent to temporarily live with an eccentric older couple who are looking for someone to accompany them on a trip. Sairy and Tiller are unlike any adults the children have ever known. For the first time they are accepted and loved and become part of a real family.

Sairy and Tiller are getting ready to take separate trips — Sairy hiking to the mountains, because that’s what she likes to do, and Tiller paddling a boat on a river trip, because that’s what he likes to do. They went to the Boxton Home in search of a companion for each of them on the trips.

As Dallas and Florida help with the trip preparations, many problems arise. They had been called the "trouble twins" by the Trepids at the home, so every time they accidentally broke something or made a mistake, they thought they would be severely punished or sent back to the home. Instead, Sairy and Tiller offer an accepting atmosphere where the twins can grow and learn.

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Even when the children decided to run away during the night and hop a train to "anywhere," taking new camping equipment with them, Sairy made a "welcome back breakfast." It was complete with wonderful-smelling bacon, and then she told them they were the smartest kids she knew, "coming up with the idea to try out the new equipment." When she told them she discovered they were gone when she went to their room to check on them before going to bed, the twins were astounded. No one had ever cared that much about them before.

Later, the plot thickens when they all decide to take a day trip — Sairy and Dallas hiking, Tiller and Florida paddling. Many things go wrong, including a near-drowning, but they all learn to trust and appreciate one another. A subplot told in alternate chapters involves Mr. Trepid’s search for money that belongs to Sairy and Tiller and was buried under stones in the woods. Dallas’ plan of trickery is full of humor.

This story will be enjoyed by all 9- to 12-year-olds who like the mix of mystery and humor. The chapters are short and there’s plenty of action. There are also some surprises that seem to indicate the story of Dallas and Florida could continue in a future book. "Ruby Holler" is definitely a special place.

[Patricia Schlough, Lincoln Public Library District]

• Lincoln Community Theatre

• Logan County Arts Association

LCT cast for ‘The King and I’

[JULY 20, 2002]  Lincoln Community Theatre’s final production of the summer season, "The King and I," is fast approaching.

The musical play, set in the royal palace of the King of Siam in the early 1860s, creates a dramatic, richly textured tale of an attractive English widow summoned by the King of Siam to serve as tutor to his many wives and children. Along with a dazzling Rogers and Hammerstein score, the musical weaves a tale of East versus West, incorporating both laughter and tears.

Jennifer MacMurdo, formerly of Lincoln, will direct the Aug, 2-10 production of "The King and I."

The two leading roles feature Rob Siebert of Mount Pulaski and Betsy Buttell of Lincoln as the King of Siam and Mrs. Anna. Other Lincoln cast members include Tom Swanson as Prince Chululonghorn, Ben Herrington-Gilmore as Louis, Jim Newsome as Captain Orton, Jason Steffens as Sir Edward Ramsay and Patrick Perry as Interpreter/Guard.

Elizabeth Eigenbrod of Mason City will appear as Lady Thiang, Greg Runyard of Minier as Lun Tha, Paul Cary of Springfield as The Kralahome, Alison Maske of Mount Pulaski as Tuptim and Tony Crawford of Clinton as Simon of Legree/Guard.

Appearing as the king’s wives are Nanette Turner, Kirsten Knutilla, Nickel Hays, Mary Kay Lohrenz and Tina Mayer. The king’s children include Rachelle Cravens, Rachel Kasa, Rebecca Kasa, Audrey Maske, Brianna Skaggs, Abbey Derstine, John Paul Runyard, Nicholas Cody Runyard, Moses Rogers, Christopher Jones, Taylor Erwin, Annie Sheley, Katy Langdon and Crystal Quint.

Assisting in the production of the musical is Catherine Bailey of Lincoln as technical director. Jerry Dellinger of Lincoln and David Mankey of Clinton will handle the lighting and sound design and direction. Wendy Hurst is serving as stage manager.

Season ticket holders may make their reservations at any time. General admission sales will be available beginning July 27. Ticket prices are $9 for adults and $6 for students through eighth grade. The box office, located in Johnston Center for the Performing Arts on the Lincoln College campus, is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.

For further information call (217) 735-2614 or go to the LCT website: http://www.geocities.com/lincolncommunitytheatre.

[Judy Rader, LCT publicity chairman]

Movie classics

Logan County Arts Association upcoming films

All upcoming monthly features in the Logan County Arts Association series of classic films will start at 7 p.m. at the Lincoln Cinemas, 215 S. Kickapoo.

Thursday, Aug. 8

John Ford’s "Fort Apache" (1948)

John Wayne, Henry Fonda, Shirley Temple, Ward Bond, Victor McLaglen

In John Ford’s somber exploration of "Custer’s last stand" and the mythologizing of American heroes, he slowly reveals the character of Owen Thursday, who sees his new posting to the desolate Fort Apache as a chance to claim the military honor which he believes is rightfully his. Arrogant, obsessed with military form and ultimately self-destructive, Thursday attempts to destroy the Indian warrior Cochise after luring him across the border from Mexico.

Thursday, Sept. 12

"Breakfast at Tiffany’s" (1961)

Audrey Hepburn, George Peppard, Buddy Ebsen, Patricia Neal

Based on Truman Capote’s novel, this is the story of a young jet-setting woman in New York City who meets a young man when he moves into her apartment building.

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Thursday, Oct. 10

Horror/sci-fi double feature

"Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (1931)

Frederic March, Miriam Hopkins

Based on the story by Robert Louis Stevenson. Dr. Henry Jekyll believes that there are two distinct sides to men: a good and an evil side. He faces horrible consequences when he lets his dark side run wild with a potion that changes him into the animalistic Mr. Hyde.

"The Day the Earth Stood Still" (1951)

Michael Rennie, Patricia Neal, Hugh Marlowe, Sam Jaffe

An alien (Klaatu) with his mighty robot (Gort) lands their spacecraft on cold-war Earth just after the end of World War II. He tells the people of Earth that we must live peacefully or be destroyed as a danger to other planets.

Tickets will be available at Serendipity Stitches, 129 S. Kickapoo; the Lincoln Public Library Annex; at the door; or by calling (217) 732-4298. Ticket prices are $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and $2.50 for children 13 and under. These features are one show only, with limited seating.

[Logan County Arts Association ]

Lincoln Community Theatre’s box office, phone 735-2614,  is open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Saturday for the summer season. The office is located in the lobby of the Johnston Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of Lincoln College.

Performances of "Dearly Departed" are scheduled for July 12-20, and "The King and I" will be presented Aug. 2-10. Show times are 2 p.m. on Sundays and 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

The LCT mailing address is Lincoln Community Theatre, P.O. Box 374, Lincoln, IL  62656; e-mail: lincolncommunitytheatre@yahoo.com.

Visit the LDC website at www.geocities.com/lincolncommunitytheatre/index.html. Pictures from past productions are included.

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