As part of the process for the big exhibits we get here at the library, such as Discover Space: A Cosmic Journey we have to compile a huge 37 page long final report, as well as a summary! We thought you might be interested in reading some of the final statistics, and hope that it will give you a better idea of what goes into getting one of these exhibits here at your library. The report and this summary were written by Jennifer Rife, project director and design & humanities coordinator for Laramie County Library.Read More
Ensemble: Inspiration and the Artist Book
Image: “Ensemble: Thirteen Stories for One Orchestra” by Linda Toigo
Introduction from exhibit curator, Sue Sommers:
What is an ensemble?
In music, an ensemble is a group of people who weave the sounds of their instruments into a unified whole. In fashion, an ensemble is a coordinated outfit created from separate pieces of clothing.
In this book art show, you will find artwork that mixes the idea of “book” with lots of other objects and ideas, to arrive at something new. Here are ensembles made by artist teams; by artists collaborating with writers, musicians, family, or history; and by artists combining materials that may surprise you.
But in every case, the completed ensemble is stronger because each individual part speaks to the other parts and joins in one voice. When we say the “whole is greater than the sum of its parts,” we are defining a successful ensemble.
This year, thirteen artists from Wyoming, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Washington, Arizona, and England accepted our challenge to submit artwork on the theme. However, the number of actual participants is much higher, because half of our invitees collaborated with others – sometimes many others!
I hope you enjoy spending time with these innovative ensembles, and find inspiration in the many ways individuals and ideas blend to make to make strong and original art.
Exhibiting artists:
Katie Christensen & Josephine
Camellia El-Antably
Daniel Mayer & Mary McCann
Sue Sommers & Holland Dutton
Ellen Ziegler & Molly Tenenbaum
LCLS launches the First Steps: Early Literacy Begins at Home program
The Laramie County Library System is excited to launch the First Steps: Early Literacy Begins at Home program to increase opportunities for the most at-risk children in our community.
Our goal is to make early literacy a high priority throughout the County.
So we can reach at-risk children who are not touched by Library or other early literacy programs, we’re partnering with other organizations that are already out in the community to reach kids in their homes. We’re also reaching kids and families at familiar places like grocery stores, doctors’ offices, playgrounds, and laundromats. And, we’re bringing more at-risk children in to the Library to benefit from our existing early childhood resources.Read More
Spend more time outdoors!
Take some knowledge from the library along with you. Laramie County Library has partnered with the Wyoming State parks and you can check out a backpack loaded with guides, tools and a pass for day-use entry into any Wyoming State Park or State Historic Site. The backpack is available to check out soon! The gear is to inspire youth and families to get outdoors and experience Wyoming’s state parks, historic sites and trails. Check out a backpack at the library, learn while you go and have some fun.Read More
Upcoming Movies Adapted From Books
Hollywood continues to mine the bookshelves in their quest for new and creative storylines. Over a dozen upcoming releases are adaptations of books. These “literature-inspired” films range from thrillers envisioning dark, future worlds to historical tales, emotionally intense coming-of-age stories, wild comedies and intense literary novels.Read More
My Journey Down the DNA Rabbit Hole
The field of consumer DNA research is exploding, with more and more companies popping up all the time, offering different tests and services. Since I first read about it, I’ve been fascinated by the idea of DNA analysis. As a result, I have spent several hundred dollars pursuing information about my genetic makeup. I’d like to share some of the things I’ve learned.
Over ten years ago, after reading several books and articles on ancestral DNA testing, I had my husband’s Y-chromosome DNA tested. This traces the males in your line (but only the males) back through the generations. I also had our mitochondrial DNA analyzed. Mitochondrial DNA comes from your mother, so this test traces your genetic heritage back through the females (and only the females) in your ancestry.Read More
Pale Blue Dot
Come along on a journey with me. We start by sitting in a rocket preparing for liftoff. We can experience this vicariously through the astronauts who have gone before us. Once you arrive in space, gravity allows you to float unencumbered through the ship. Earth gazing is a pastime during a space flight that astronauts all savor. What experiences do humans feel in space and what could we learn from the astronauts?Read More
Thoughts on Grief
Your coworker’s mom died, your cousin had a miscarriage, your friend’s brother has terminal cancer. There is no one-size-fits-all advice for seeing a friend through grief. Grief is very individual and everyone will heal in their own way in their own time. Something that comforts me may bother someone else. But here are a few ideas that may help in most cases.
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Ever Wondered About Albania?
What to blog about? While contemplating this question I thought I’d turn to our library’s mission: Serve the people of Laramie County by encouraging and supporting lifelong learning and adventure. So what shall it be today, people of Laramie County? Learning? Or Adventure? Well here’s a way I can provide both. This is a topic I know something about!
Albania.
(psst, it’s a country) The country of Jim Balushi, Mother Teresa, and the bad guys on the movie Taken, it is also where Voldemort was in hiding for 12 years!Read More
Health DNA Testing
In recent blogs, we discussed DNA testing as a tool for exploring your genetic heritage. But the biggest boom in DNA testing isn’t about discovering your ancestry. It’s about discovering YOU. There are numerous companies offering tests that analyze genetic markers related to your health and physical well-being.
There is a lot of controversy surrounding this type of DNA testing. One concern is with keeping the data secure. If your test results reveal you are likely to get a serious disease, you probably don’t want that information leaked to your employer (present or future) or to potential health insurance providers. Although all the companies doing DNA testing promise confidentiality, no computer system is immune to being hacked. Once the testing is done and the information stored, it is theoretically at risk of being stolen and used in ways that could negatively affect you.Read More