The following article was submitted by Susie Menk, the Youth Services Librarian at the Manitowoc Public Library.
Manitowoc Public Library and Manitowoc Public Library Foundation are partnering with Manitowoc Public School District, Courthouse Pub, and Capitol Civic Center to present “An Evening with Sarah Vowell.” This program is one of many events that the Library has undertaken in an effort to generate interesting and unexpected outreach within our community.
Library buildings that are quiet tombs of study and silence have become a thing of the past. Manitowoc Public Library’s mission is “to promote a culture of reading and to provide access to information. Through services we strive to foster an environment that meets the educational, recreational, and cultural needs of the community.” As we continue to evolve alongside our community, we’ve made a concerted effort to create a welcoming safe space for everyone, one that offers programs featuring various local cultures and present programs that allow children to engage in various hands-on activities in the Youth Department.
These are important changes that have helped to make us a focal point in the community, but there’s more to community engagement than waiting for people to come into the Library. Sometimes, it’s simply better to go out into the community. Library staff can now be found holding storytimes at local parks or businesses, offering Summer Reading Program sign-ups at a local brewpub or an ice cream parlor, and showing off tech toys at the area’s robotics clubhouse.
So, continuing in this vein of bringing things to the Lakeshore that definitely aren’t more-of-the-same, MPL is pleased to announce that we’ve created a New York Times bestselling author event simply called “An Evening with Sarah Vowell.”
Ms. Vowell has written several non-fiction titles that focus on the history and culture of America. Lafayette in the Somewhat United States looks at the American Revolution. Unfamiliar Fishes deals with the Americanization of Hawaii and Assasination Vacation takes the reader on a tour of the people and places involved in the assassinations or attempted assassinations of three U.S. presidents.
While writing is Sarah’s passion, she’s also been a contributing editor for National Public Radio’s This American Life, appeared on several late-night talk shows, and served as board president for a youth writing center in Boston. Younger audiences—or fans of animation, in general—will probably most recognize Ms. Vowell as the voice of Violet Parr in the Pixar Studio’s hit movie series, The Incredibles.
Ms. Vowell will be appearing at Capitol Civic Centre on Thursday, July 14, at 6:30 PM. Local entrepreneur and online talk show host extraordinaire, Tina Prigge, will serve as the on-stage interviewer for this exciting event. Tina is well-known for her installments of Coolest Coast-Manitowoc County’s “Coffee on the Coast” and has a charming and engaging style. The audience will also have the opportunity to become more acquainted with Sarah during a Q&A session, which will follow the interview portion of the evening. Afterwards, there will be a book signing in the CCC’s Mertens Lounge. Should you not own a copy of Assassination Vacation and would like to purchase one at the book signing, Bev Denor from LaDeDa Books will be on-hand with copies of Sarah Vowell’s books.
Susie Menk
In addition to her appearance at CCC on the evening of July 14, MPL is overjoyed to announce that Sarah will also be offering a writing workshop for middle schoolers and high schoolers the afternoon of Thursday, July 14, at 1 PM in the Library’s Balkansky Community Room. Registration for people between the ages of 11 and 18 is required and space is limited! Online registration is open now! Just head to www.manitowoclibrary.org/event/write-young-writers-workshop-sarah-vowell to secure your spot. Sarah will help youth evaluate their writing compositions and apply writing techniques and strategies to their own writing. Questions about writing, storytelling, and research will also be addressed. Additionally, Sarah will share stories regarding her own writing process and about finding her voice as a writer.
Make “An Evening with Sarah Vowell” part of your July 14 night out on the town. Tell your friends and family, meet new friends, and make it a night to remember. This community event is being offered free of charge and is open to the public. Make plans to attend this fabulous program sponsored by Manitowoc Public Library Foundation, Manitowoc Public School District, Courthouse Pub, and Capitol Civic Center.
For more information and details for “An Evening with Sarah Vowell, click here: www.manitowoclibrary.org/event/evening-sarah-vowell-author-event.
