From the Kansas Room, By: Lucia Flaim, Kansas Room Librarian, Hays Public Library

The 4th of July is one of the most important and celebrated holidays in my family. For years my mother’s entire extended family would gather at a lakeside cabin and celebrate our nation’s independence. The day was marked by pork steaks, homemade ice cream, and of course, fireworks. My brother and I would save our allowance for weeks before the 4th of July making lists of our favorite fireworks and planning what to buy. Later we’d arrange and rearrange our purchases, strictly adhering to a rule of never setting off any fireworks before the 4th. This lasted well into our college years.
This year will be my first 4th of July in Kansas and my first without setting off fireworks. It’s hard for me to imagine an Independence Day without bottle rockets and sparklers. However, the drought won’t last forever and I’m sure in future years the sale of fireworks will again be permitted in Ellis County.
To soothe the loss of one of my favorite traditions, I’ve decided to replace it with another. On July 3rd at 6 PM in the Schmidt Gallery the Kansas Room will be showing the classic movie The Wizard of Oz. Bring the whole family to enjoy this iconic film that immortalized the line “…we’re not in Kansas anymore.” There will be free popcorn, candy, soda and air conditioning.
Another of my favorite ways to celebrate our country’s freedom is by doing something to help someone else. One way to help someone else this July is by giving blood. The Red Cross has to collect 500 units of blood every day in Kansas and the need for donors often rises in the summer months. On July 17 the Kansas Room is sponsoring an Express Blood Drive through the American Red Cross in the Schmidt Gallery from 2:15 PM to 5:15 PM in the Schmidt Gallery to help meet this need. I still have several appointments available so if you’re interested stop by the library’s front desk or call 625-9014 to get your name on the list.
Some of you may know that the library offers several book clubs each month to people interested in cozy mysteries, books made into movies and books that feature exotic locations. This month, the Kansas Room will be sponsoring a different kind of book club. On July 29th at 5:30 PM in the Schmidt Gallery the Any Book Group will meet. Anyone who’s read any book recently is invited to attend. We’ll be providing free food and an informal setting for discussing books of all genres. Tell us why you loved a book or tell us why you hated it. Meet others who like the same books as you or begin building a list of recommended titles. Read a book and come to the Any Book Group…it’s as simple as A.B.G.!
Throughout the month of July the whole community will have the opportunity to participate in a photo scavenger hunt. Visit the library’s website or stop by the front desk to pick up your clue sheet and then solve ten clues that will lead you to different locations around Hays. Snap a photo of yourself at each location, then submit your photos via email or in person to Lucia Bain in the Kansas Room ([email protected]). All participants will have a chance to win a $25 Chamber Cheque but must submit their photos by July 31!
The Kansas Room is open from 9 AM to 6 PM, Monday through Friday and by request. If you wish to contact me, you may do so by calling 625-9014 or by emailing [email protected].