Beautiful Libraries and Beautiful Quotes About Them

I've been an avid reader all of my life, since I learned to read, and all of my life, I've been a member of whichever library system was closest to where I live. I can't buy ALL of the books I read, so I check many out of the library and read them at home before returning them for others to read. Libraries are so vitally important to their communities for so many reasons and deserved to be lovingly funded and maintained.

I ran across this post recently: 28 Beautiful Quotes About Libraries. Read them, then go make a donation to your local library, and if you don't yet have a library card, get one!

Are Your Books in Libraries?

I'm blogging over at Inkspot today, the blog for Midnight Ink authors, about finding books in libraries, even when they aren't on the shelves. And, I'm asking Inkspot readers, "What's the rarest book you were able to find and read from a library?" I hope you'll visit the blog and participate in the discussion!

Library Appearances

As part of the local celebrations of National Library Week, I appeared at three library author events in Colorado during April. First was the Pikes Peak Library District's Mountain of Authors. Here I am at the event, holding the cover art for my upcoming June release, Fatal Descent.

I had a great time reconnecting with Colorado Springs friends at the event, including librarians, readers, and fellow authors. At the next event, the Longmont Library's Colorado Author Open House, I got to sit next to mystery author friend Linda Berry and hear all about her adventuresome trip to Antarctica. After the event was over, Linda and I met up with librarian Sherri Jennings and her husband to share a bottle of wine and swap stories. What an interesting day!

The final event last weekend was the Englewood Library's Colorado Author Open House. While there, I shared a table with friend and fellow author Jeanne Stein. She has her pitch fine-tuned down to three words, "Urban fantasy, vampires." If people look interested, she continues. I'll have to figure out how to follow her lead!

I talked to both Jeanne and fellow mystery author Mike Befeler about avenues for self-publishing. More and more traditionally published authors are considering turning to self-publishing for standalone titles, backlist titles, short story collections, or other projects outside of their mainstream traditional projects. It's a whole new world out there! Below is a photo that Mike took of Jeanne and me, and below that is a photo of all the participating authors.

Being a Friend to Your Local Library

As an adult, wherever I've lived, I have immediately joined the local library soon after moving in--and joined the Friends volunteer organization for the local library. My latest home, Summit County, is no exception. I have a Summit County Library card, and I am a member of the Friends of the Summit County Library.

Today, I am volunteering to man the Friends' used book sale booth at the Dillon Farmers' Market from 8 - 11 AM. Next month, I have volunteered to help set-up for the library's annual August book sale at the Main Branch in Frisco, Colorado. I am a firm believer in supporting and volunteering at your local library. It's often the only source of reading materials and Internet access to impoverished citizens of your local county and town.

I know as a child, the local library fed my voracious reading habit, and I gleefully participated in summer reading programs. As an adult, I check out books for my monthly book club reads, to research locations for trips, for my own reading pleasure, and to research my own mystery novels. Libraries are extraordinarily valuable community resources and deserve your support.

Are YOU a friend of your local library?

Speaking at Libraries

I am blogging at Inkspot today, with an article about "Speaking at Libraries." I hope you'll head over there to read it and let me know what you think!

A Review from the 2000 Year Old Librarian

Doris Ann Norris is affectionately known by her many, many friends as the "2000 year old librarian." A retired library director, she is renowned in the world of mystery fiction. She served for five years as the Library Liaison on the national board of Sisters in Crime. She will be feted at the 2012 Bouchercon conference as the Fan Guest of Honor. I first met Doris Ann at a Mayhem in the Midlands mystery conference in Omaha, Nebraska, and I immediately felt a kinship with her as we swapped recommendations of favorite mystery books and authors.

When Doris Ann speaks, people listen, because she's known to have impeccable taste in mysteries. That's why I was absolutely thrilled when she posted a glowing review of my recent Deadly Currents release on the DorothyL email discussion list of lovers of the mystery genre. When I emailed her to thank her and ask her if I could share the review on my blog and website, she said, "You're welcome and you can certainly print any part you want. I'm looking forward to the next one..."

So, I won't copy her whole review here (you can search the DorothyL archives for that), but here are my favorite parts:

"Beth Groundwater has left wicker for water in Deadly Currents. Her new series features a river ranger (and former guide), Mandy Tanner of Salida, Colorado as she helps to make the Arkansas River safe for tourists and casual and more ardent adventurers who love (or just want to try) whitewater rafting.
...
Fast-moving and exciting, Deadly Currents is a most enjoyable mystery with a strong heroine of whom I wish to see more. From the blurb on the back of the book, I had no trouble seeing Beth as a 'river rat' and find these adventures more entertaining than gift baskets. Get on board for this series."

- Doris Ann Norris, the 2000-year-old librarian


Thank you, Doris Ann! In a related note, over 180 library systems that subscribe to the Worldcat Interlibrary Loan network already have copies of Deadly Currents on their shelves. Pick up a copy from your favorite bookstore or library and read it now!

The Colorado Springs Winter Book Group Roundup

Last Thursday evening, I attended the Colorado Springs Winter Book Group Roundup held at the East Library of the Pikes Peak Library District. The Roundup was a free event that included wine and snacks and conversation about books for the members of eighty-two invited book groups in the Colorado Springs area. I went as a representative of my personal book club of thirteen neighborhood women who meet monthly to discuss books.

When representatives from the book clubs sent in their RSVPs, they also sent in the title and author of their group's favorite book that they would recommend to other book clubs. The library staff whittled those suggestions down into the top ten that are listed below. I've read some of them, and the others are going on my to-read list.

After some eating and socializing, the hundred and seventy or so of us took our seats. Library staff talked about the book club program at the library and how to reserve book club sets of popular books for your group to read. Then the guest speaker was introduced, English Professor Susan B. Taylor from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs. Her talk was "Hunger, Rebellion, and Rage: Charlotte Bronte and Jane Eyre". In actuality, it covered the lives and literature of all three Bronte sisters, including Emily and Anne. It was a fascinating presentation!

The library plans to host two of these events every year, one in August and one in January, and I'm looking forward to attending future ones. Here's the list of recommended books:

The Room by Emma Donoghue
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks
Cutting for Snow by Abraham Verghese
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
The Gift of Rain by Tan Twan Eng
My Antonia by Willa Cather
The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jaime Ford
Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson
The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton