Art of the Book Exhibit

2009 Festival of Reading
Art of the Book Exhibit
Lake County Historical Museum
February 2nd through March 27th
Free admission

The public is invited to attend a special reception for Award winning author/illustrator Janeen Mason who will be our featured artist for the 2009 Festival of Reading “Fantastic Florida”. This exhibit, “The Art of the Book” is collaboration with the Lake County Historical Museum and the Lake County Library System. The reception will be held on February 2nd from 3 until 5 p.m. in the Historical Museum, located on the first floor of the Lake County Historic Courthouse, 317 W. Main St., Tavares. The exhibit will run through March 27th with free admission.

This is a once in a lifetime chance for Lake County residents to view a kaleidoscopic array of the aquatic and the astronomical. Mason’s paintings are from the popular children’s books “Ocean Commotion: Sea Turtles” and “Going around the Sun: Some Planetary Fun.”

Janeen Mason is an illustrator or author/illustrator of eight children’s picture books with two more titles due for release in 2009. She was appointed by Senate President Ken Pruitt to serve as a member of the Florida Arts Council – a fifteen member council which advises the Secretary of State on matters pertaining to Arts and Culture in Florida. In 2007 she received two major awards: The U.S. Maritime Literature Award for her book titled “Ocean Commotion: Sea Turtles!”, and, a Lifetime Achievement in the Arts Award. www.JaneenMason.com

Kudos for Janeen’s work include “…bright double paged illustrations in brilliant shades of blue, Mason draws attention to the astonishing science of turtle migration and survival.” ~ Booklist
“…and the illustrations are gorgeous” ~ Publisher’s Weekly “…with swirls and skewed perspectives, the illustrations immerse the reader in the marine environment.” ~ Kirkus

For additional information please refer to our website www.mylakelibrary.org or call 352-253-6167.

Stacked in the Lake Libraries

What is the public perception of librarians – smart, helpful, polite? We help people find books and information in a welcoming environment rich in resources. And yet young and old still think of the stereotypical librarian with a bun, glasses, sensible shoes and pursed lips uttering “SHHH” to the noisy masses. A perception we all strive to change. Therefore it came as a bit of a surprise when a concern was expressed in the Orlando Sentinel, November 25, 2008. The Ticked Off column featured the following:

Ticked off! @ the stacked in the Lake library stacks

“The Lake County librarians wear revealing shirts. In a public office, they should be stricter on attire.” Of course this comment generated many immediate responses to the Orlando Sentinel website. Here are samples of the responses.

· AAARRRRGGHH from Tampa, FL says “Hey, I’m going to the Lake County library!”

· Pamela from Titusville, FL responds “You can join my husband. He’s on his way there now.”

· Pinkerton on the case from Orlando, FL adds “Hey, I can wear my tops how I like to. 1958 just called – they need you back!”

· I like Tonka from West Palm Beach, FL requests “Can someone post directions to the Lake County library? I wanna go check out some *** books.”

· And not to be outdone, Pamela from Titusville, FL responds “Straight out Highway 50 past Highway 27. Keep going straight until you see the sign that says “Downtown Clermont” Turn right and it’s on the left. You can find my husband there trying to pretend he doesn’t know how to check out books.”

The response to this brief statement was remarkable, much more than to your average well thought out library campaign. And as hard as we looked for that culprit with the risqué shirt, we could not find the guilty librarian. Professional attire is expected of anyone dealing with the public but perhaps librarians, influenced by thousands of years of knowledge and infinite imagination, should change the public perception and go with what works.

Authors @ the Library Presents Bob Gandt

Thursday, January 15, 2009 at 6:30 p.m. at the Paisley County Library Bob Gandt will talk about his book Intrepid.

The USS Intrepid is a 27,000-ton Essex-class aircraft carrier that has sailed into harm’s way around the globe. At Leyte Gulf, the largest naval battle in history, she sank Japanese warships and endured kamikaze and torpedo attacks. She fought at Okinawa, surviving to be the recovery ship for America’s first astronauts and later returing to action in Vietnam.

Authors @ the Libraries Presents Janice Sims

Saturday, January 24, 2009 at 11 a.m. at the W.T. Bland Public Library in Mount Dora, FL. She will be talking about her new book Seduced By Moonlight.

A moonlit angel–that’s what Harrison Payne sees when he wanders onto the balcony of his resort. The former pro quarterback knows nothing about the sensuous, intriguing stranger basking in the night air, except that he wantes to know her much better. Harry intends to use every means available to win the woman he knows belongs in his life forever….