In celebration of the 15-year anniversary of the Seward Memorial Library building, the library staff is planning programs with guest speakers, a month’s worth of author visits and a street party.
Sunday, Sept. 16—From 4 to 7 p.m. families can enjoy games, face painting by the Concordia Art Club, a bounce house and inflatable slide and giveaways on Fifth Street east of the library. Live music will be provided by the Ukeladies at 4 p.m., the Seward High School drum line at 5 p.m. and the Firehouse Five+ at 5:45 p.m. Food will be for sale. From 7 to 9 p.m., dance to classic songs played by The Avid Readers band who entertained at the Summer Reading kick-off party.
Sunday, Sept. 23—The library will host Ted Kooser, former U.S. Poet Laureate and Pulitzer Prize winner, for “A Chat About Writing and the Writing Life” at 2 p.m. Kooser teaches poetry writing at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. He will have an informal conversation with library patrons over coffee and cookies.
Thursday, Sept. 27—Dr. Brent Royuk will share the background of another building, his historic home located at 142 Seward Street. His presentation will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the library.
Sunday, Sept. 30—Award-winning food writer and investigative reporter Ted Genoways will speak at 2 p.m. about his most recent book, “This Blessed Earth,” which won the Stubbendieck Great Plains Distinguished Book Award. The book tells about a York County family using modern farming methods to survive amid encroaching pipelines, groundwater depletion, climate changes and shifting trade policies. The book will be available for purchase and signing.
Friday, Oct. 5—Decor Days kicks off in the lower level conference center. Shop for home decor items and support the Friends of the Seward Library with a freewill donation.
Sunday, Oct. 7—Nebraska fiction author Victoria Alexander will speak at 2 p.m. about “An Author’s Journey: the good, the bad and the awkward.”
Sunday, Oct. 21—Author Stephanie Grace Whitson will speak at the library at 2 p.m. about her newest novella, one of three in a holiday collection.
Monday, Oct. 22—All three of the Seward Memorial Library’s book clubs will meet together at 7 p.m. in honor of National Reading Group Month. This includes the New York Times Bestsellers club, the Midday Mysteries club and the Random Reads club. Anyone interested in joining a book club or learning more is invited to attend.
Sunday, Oct. 28—The Nebraska Writers Guild will join with the library to host a Nebraska Authors Showcase, with six local authors discussing their latest books. The presentation will be from 2 to 3:30 p.m. in the lower level conference center.
Additional details on all upcoming events may be found at the library’s website, www.sewardlibrary.org, or by calling (402) 643-3318.
