Old cars, historical buildings, and archival maps await you. Take a trip back in time, and check out our May display by Smithville's Historical Society.
Have you ever wondered where Smithville's train depot was located? What about the route of the historic Jefferson highway that meandered through Smithville on its way to Winnipeg? Come take a look. You might even see someone from your family tree seated in an old Model-T or perched atop a wagon.
If you are not sure what to read next, you might find some inspiration at the Raytown Branch. In addition to our Most Requested Authors table, we have New Books and MRA shelves in adult fiction and non-fiction. There are also New Books shelves in the Young Adult and Children's sections.
Come by and see the new display of Modra pottery here in the Midwest Genealogy Center on loan from the collection of Charlotte M.
Modra, a city in the Bratislava region of Slovakia, has been one of the leading craft centers of Slovakia since the 17th century. The ceramic and marjolica production started in the 19th century. After being hand-thrown and fired in the kiln, the pottery is whitewashed and then hand painted without the use of patterns. The designs are all freehand.
If it's June, it must be watercolor paintings! Come check out works by the talented artists in the Smithville Watercolor Class. The group meets every Wednesday at the United Methodist Church and includes a wide range of skill levels, from beginning to advanced. This month's paintings feature light houses, local tractors and barns, flowers and other unique images. If you are interested in the Watercolor class, call 532-3722.
Things Military seems to be the theme of our display cases here at the North Independence Branch. In conjunction with the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, July 4th, and simply the great convergence of folks wanting to display their collections of militaria, these items will remain on display through November 2011. Please be sure to stop in to see what people have contributed to us for your viewing pleasure.
Come check out Smithville's eye-catching August displays. There's a cornucopia of handmade baskets in our glass entryway display case. Nearby, a table-top Marilyn Monroe display features a poster of her reading the classics along with a fresh selection of some of her favorite books and authors.
Summer vacation may be drawing to a close, but we haven't seen the end of those high temperatures yet. Still searching for a way to stay cool? Settle down with one of the chilling mysteries from the new teen display at the Blue Springs North Branch, and feel the blood in your veins turn to ice! Whether you prefer your villains with monocles or chainsaws, you will find something to your liking from the wide variety available from MCPL. To get you started, I've included a list of my top picks from a handful of the teen mystery sub-genres.
Who's that man? Who's that Fireman? The children have a new playmate. Needless to say, the kids are fired-up about him. He doesn't get out much, but the kids love to talk to him and read to him. Thanks to a generous donation, we have a fully suited Fireman on display in the Children's Area. (I thought that it might be scary for the little ones, but what do I know.) He's a hit, and we're glad to have such a grand addition to our "Working History of Independence" display for the children.
Have you ever wondered what Excelsior Springs looked like in the past? So did we! That is why local history buff and library employee Lance Lamb put together an intriguing and thought-provoking display of pictures of Excelsior Springs from the past, and placed them alongside pictures from the present. This display has pictures that go as far back as the 1890s. Do not miss this chance to get a rare glimpse at the city from the past, and compare it to the present. The display will be at the Excelsior Springs Branch until August 22.
