Yippee! I finally spotted my first pair of robins. The red-winged black birds are staking out their territories in the ditches and some of the goldfinches are sporting a few bright yellow feathers. Although we could still endure some chilly weather, I think spring has arrived.
    April will be a busy month at the library. We have several events planned, so mark your calendar. April 13-19 we will be celebrating National Library Week with two great programs. On Tuesday, April 15 at 7 p.m. Cresco Chief of Police Mark Kissinger will present a program on Identity Theft. Chief Kissinger will discuss how to safeguard your financial information and also relate how thieves use your private information for their benefit.
    Saturday, Aril 19 at 2 p.m. the Iowa Humanities Speakers Bureau and the Cresco Public Library will present "Harker's Barns Visions of an American Icon." Photographer Michael Harker will present a slide show of his Iowa barn photos and discuss the history of the barn, why they are disappearing from our landscape, and what can be done to save them.
    On Wednesday, April 23 at our regular 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. story hours, Officer Friendly and his pal, a.k.a. Cresco Police Officer David Godman and his partner, Grando, a dual-purpose K-9 dog, will visit. Officer Godman will talk about his job, safety issues, and how Grando helps him in many ways.
    The annual Friends of the Cresco Public Library book sale will be Thursday, April 24, 5-8 p.m.; Friday, April 25, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; and Saturday, April 26, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. in the program room in the lower level of the library. A great selection of fiction and nonfiction books for adults and children will be available for $1.00 or less. Proceeds of the sale benefit the library.
    Finally, here's a bit of trivia. April 21-27 is National T.V. Turnoff Week. Maybe we should all give this a try. Instead of heading home to channel surf all evening, take a leisurely stroll or drive over to the library. Check out a couple books. Relax in our comfy chairs by the fireplace and read a newspaper or magazine. Visit with a neighbor or our friendly staff. We are open till 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and evenings are a good time to browse our collection or use a computer. Stop in sometime and see what we have to offer.

NEW ITEMS:

FICTION: Biting the Moon; The Secret Between Us; Carrot Cake Murder; Just Beyond the Clouds; Honor Thyself; The Silence of the Loons; Dream Makers; Change of Heart; Fast Track.
NONFICTION: Parenting with Love and Logic; Schulz and Peanuts.