The image of miners with their children at a Labor Day celebration in Silverton, Colorado in 1942 comes from the American Memory Collection America from the Great Depression to WWII, which features the work of photographers from the Farm Security Administration-Office of War Information.

Photo credit: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, FSA-OWI Collection, [reproduction number, e.g., LC-USF35-1326].

Other Labor Day links:

• History of Labor Day from the US Department of Labor
• Proclamation of the Eight-Hour Workday
• Meeteetse Labor Day Photos from the McCracken Collection
• Wyoming labor laws (Title 27, or search for labor)
• Wyoming Department of Employment

Rising from the Plains by John McPhee
Book Available: Tuesday, August 24th
Discussion Date: Tuesday, September 14th

What You See in Clear Water by Geoff O’Gara
Book Available: Tuesday, September 14th
Discussion Date: Tuesday, October 12th

Windmill: Essays from Four Mile Ranch by David Romtvedt
Book Available: Tuesday, October 12th
Discussion Date: Tuesday, November 9th

Where Rivers Change Direction by Mark Spragg
Book Available: Tuesday, November 9th
Discussion Date: Tuesday, December 7th

The discussion leader for this series is Michael Konsmo, an Instructor of English at Northwest College. All discussions will be held from 6:00-7:00 p.m. in the Fireside Room of the Powell Branch Library. Make sure to sign-up in advance at the library as space is limited to 20 participants!

Creator of the Sheriff Walt Longmire literary mysteries, he will be the guest of the Park County Library System August 21-22 in three free public programs.

Johnson begins his tour at the Park County Public Library in Cody at 12 noon on Saturday, August 21, following up at the Meeteetse Chocolatier at 7 p.m. the same day.

On Sunday, August 22 at 12 noon, Johnson goes to the Powell Branch Library for a pizza party.

Although not a native of the state, Johnson adopted Wyoming as home about 20 years ago. He settled in Ucross and eventually got serious about writing the Longmire stories, with the first book, The Cold Dish being published in 2005.

Junkyard Dogs, the latest in the series, came out in June this year.

An acclaimed writer and popular speaker, he is invited to appear around North America and Europe, but he said in a recent conversation with the Cody library that going to Wyoming towns and libraries gives him back a lot, partly because “it happens to be what I write about.”

He does not require a fee when he appears at Wyoming libraries, noting that the state’s libraries are a source of pride, and also that “we’re in this literacy thing together.” He said the best part of giving a talk is interacting with the audience when they pose questions.

Johnson has avoided writing “straight ahead westerns.” He explained that he “likes combining genres and writing in the fringes.”

His publisher, Viking/Penguin, allows him a lot of freedom in his novels and only requires that he write a mystery that has Walt Longmire in it, Johnson said.

The result is stories that are infused with humor while at the same time delving into social issues and crime, mostly against a background somewhere near the Big Horn Mountains. Some novels go to other scenes, such as Philadelphia, carrying the main characters to new environs.

Johnson said a television series based on his novels is currently in development with Warner Horizon Television and the TNT channel.

Jack Black plays a down-and-out rock star  in debit and desperate for money, becomes a substitute music teacher and the adventures begin. This movie is rated PG-13 and will be shown in the Fireside Room. Refreshments will be served.

Powell Branch Library will be hosting a Summer Reading Prize Party to celebrate the end of summer reading! Come to Plaza Diane on Wednesday, August 11 anytime between 1:00pm and 4:00 pm and join the celebration. We will have live entertainment, cookies and loads of fun. You will also be able to pick up any prizes that you won during summer reading. So, keep reading and don’t forget to turn in those tickets by Thursday, August 5th!

Our Children’s Librarian, Toby Sapp, will have storytime from 11:00-11:15 a.m. for our younger audience. Teens can enjoy Rick Riordan’s newest adventure The Red Pyramid with Young Adult Coordinator Amy McLain. Join her each day from 11:15-11:30 a.m. as the adventure unfolds.

Remember to join us at the fair as we will not have our regularly scheduled storytimes at the library!

Orientation sessions to help you learn how to access the Foundation Center database will be held 12:00 – 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, July 14; 1:00 – 2:00 p.m., Thursday, July 15; 12:00 – 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 17; and 1:00 – 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, August 18 at the Park County Public Library.

Participants may bring their own lunch if they wish. They are asked to contact Carmela Conning ahead of time at 527-1880 so the library can arrange tables and seating.The library system has been accepted as a Cooperating Collection of the Foundation Center, which compiles detailed information on grantmakers and how to apply for grants.

Collaboration among the library system and several county non-profit groups has made the service possible. The non-profits will underwrite the annual subscription fee for the Foundation Directory Online while the libraries provide the infrastructure.

Established in 1956, the Foundation Center compiles comprehensive data about philanthropy, how to apply for funding, where and to whom grants have been awarded, and more.

The online directory may only be used in the library on the public computers. For now, it’s only available at the Park County Public Library in Cody, but will be expanded to the Powell and Meeteetse branches soon.

In addition, the Foundation Center has provided other reference materials in print that are on the shelves now at the Cody library.

Researchers will discover how to probe the directory from various aspects, such as by grantmaker name, company, topic, region, and many other ways that can help them locate applicable funding sources.

Wondering what else you can do with quilling? How about decorate gift boxes, embellish scrapbooks, make fun three-dimensional items, Christmas decorations and more! Jeanna will guide you through your first quilling experience in the Fireside Room of the Powell Branch Library. This program will be held Thursday, July 15th from 6:00-8:00 p.m.. Please call 754-8828 or stop by the library to notify us of your intent to attend.

This movie is rated PG. The program will be held in the Fireside Room, and refreshments will be served.