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Home My WebLink About2018 March Programs Monthly ReportCity of Port Townsend Monthly Library Program Report March 2018 2018 Program name: Community Read 2018 Report: My Old Man and the Mountain by Leif Whittaker Date: February 28-March 29, 2018 About the Author: Leif Whittaker was born in Port Townsend, Washington, at the foot of the Olympic Mountains. He reached his first major summit when he was 15 years old; he has since climbed many of the world's tallest mountains. A writer and a photographer, Leif's work has appeared in Powder, The Ski Journal, and Backcountry. Leif lives in Bellingham, Washington, and is a seasonal USFS climbing ranger on Mount Baker. Visit him online at leifwhittaker.com. City of Port Townsend Monthly Library Program Report March 2018 2018 About the Book: In 1963, the world followed the first American Mount Everest Expedition, and watched as "Big Jim" Whittaker became the first American to stand on top of the world. He returned home a hero. My Old Man and the Mountain is Leif Whittaker's engaging and humorous story of what it was like to "grow up Whittaker"―the youngest son of Jim Whittaker and Dianne Roberts, in an extended family of accomplished climbers. He shares glimpses of his upbringing and how the pressure to climb started early on. Readers learn of his first adventures with family in the Olympic Mountains and on Mount Rainier; his close, yet at times competitive, relationship with his brother Joss; his battle with a serious back injury; and his efforts to stand apart from his father's legacy. With wry honesty, he depicts being a recent college grad, still living in his parents' home, and trying to find a purpose in life―digging ditches, building houses, selling t- shirts to tourists―until a chance encounter leads to the opportunity to climb Everest, just like his father did. Leif heads to Nepal with all the excitement, irony, boredom, and trepidation that are part of high-altitude climbing. Well-known guides Dave Hahn and Melissa Arnot figure prominently in his story, as does "Big Jim." But Leif's story is not his father's story. It's a unique coming-of-age tale on the steep slopes of Everest (Tibetan name, Chomolungma) , and a climbing adventure that lights the imagination and fills an emotional human endeavor with universal meaning. "Whittaker writes as he climbs mountains, with courage, grace, and a dash of humility. The result is an utterly compelling tale of a young man who bravely tackles two great challenges-- one made of rock and ice and one made of doubts and fears. It's a great read." --Daniel James Brown, author of The Boys in the Boat Presenter: Leif Whittaker, Jim Whittaker & Dianne Roberts, Melody Sky Eisler, Janette Force, Mayor Stinson, Shelly Randal, Bev Moore, Christian Coxen, Nathan Barnes, Hilary Verheggen, Danny Milholland. City of Port Townsend Monthly Library Program Report March 2018 2018 Program’s intended age group: Mostly adult programs with one family program and three teen programs Attendance: 937 total attendance for 15 events. 9 special events, 3 high school class visits, and 3 community book discussions – see details below Program Attendance and Circulation: Community Read 2018 Program Statistics Program Attendance Date Kickoff Film 200 2/28/2018 Art Opening: Wind & Water 200 3/3/2018 Northwind Juror's Talk 15 3/5/2018 Book Lovers' Café 20 3/5/2018 Felicity Ann 35 3/8/2018 Community Book Discussion Alchemy 4 3/13/2018 Community Book Discussion Velocity 6 3/20/2018 Chris Coxen Nature Photography 75 3/15/2017 PT Shorts 9 3/15/2018 Story Trail 37 3/17/2018 Class visit Tom Gambil's English Class 30 3/28/2018 Meet the Author 250 3/29/2018 Class visit Chris Pierson's English Class 30 3/29/2018 Class visit Chris Pierson's English Class 20 3/28/2018 AAUW Bookclub 6 3/19/2018 Total attendance: 937 My Old Man and the Mountain Circulation Books Lifetime circulation Year-to- date Book 178 129 Read and Release circulating through community N/A 275 copies Total circulation 453* *Imprint reported selling many copies of My Old Man and the Mountain Also, the Read and Release copies may be read and shared multiple times so this is a low estimate of circulation. Location: Carnegie Reading Room, Northwind Arts Center, Velocity Coffee, Alchemy Wine Bar and Bistro, Port Townsend High School, Wheeler Theatre, Kah Tai Lagoon. City of Port Townsend Monthly Library Program Report March 2018 2018 Sponsored by: Friends, other: please specify This program is funded by the Friends of the Library, the books are funded through the Library Foundation, with additional support from: Kris Nelson’s Family of Restaurants: Sirens Pub, Alchemy Bistro, and The Old Whiskey Mill, and individual donors. Thank you to our community partners: Port Townsend Film Festival, Imprint Books, Port Townsend School District, Port Townsend Jefferson County Leader, Peninsula Daily News, Northwind Arts Center, Key City Public Theater, KPTZ 91.9 FM, Alchemy Bistro and Wine Bar, Velocity, and Mountaineer Books. Description The City of Port Townsend has proclaimed March as the official "Reading Month." Community Read is designed to promote closer ties among community members through the shared experience of reading, sharing and discussing the same book and ideas related to topics raised by the book. • A limited number of free copies of the book will be available at the Port Townsend Public Library on a first-come first-served basis. Additional copies will be available at the Library on two-week loans, or you may purchase a copy at Imprint Bookstore. City of Port Townsend Monthly Library Program Report March 2018 2018 • Read the book, then pass it on to others. • Prepare for a discussion about the book with your own book group or join in the groups listed below. A brochure with discussion issues and questions is available at the Library. • Attend the many related events in the community during the month of March. Press coverage/pictures / feedback My introduction to the Meet the Author Event, captured the spirit of the most successful Community Read the library has had in the last four years. The staff have told me it is one of the best in our 13 years of planning Community Reads. From my introductory remarks on 3-29-18: This month the City of Port Townsend Public Library has encouraged our community to come together through the shared experience of reading Leif Whittaker’s wonderful memoir My Old Man and the Mountain and honored hometown heroes. When I told Leif that his book selected he was thrilled and hoped his book would help “leave no child inside” and inspire love of the wild and the library has help inspire that this year. When Leif visited the library, he made us tear up as he expressed how honored and humbled he has been to have his community reading My Old Man and the Mountain. From people sharing with us their own mountain climbing adventures to sharing how they once babysit Leif we could not have planned a better book for this year Read. Community members are still thanking the library for choosing a book that had such a wide appeal, celebrated our own hometown hero, is inspiring and above all else a great read. The library is so grateful to our amazing supporters and partners. It literally takes a village to put together the Community Read and the Friends of the Library and the Library Foundation’s generous support make this program possible. Thank you! Leif Whittaker wrote the following thank you to the library: “Wanted to say one final thanks for a wonderful visit to Port Townsend! As I mentioned in my talk, all the community support was incredibly inspiring and motivating to me. Not to mention it was just a really fun time! You are excellent at what you do. Keep up the good work.” City of Port Townsend Monthly Library Program Report March 2018 2018 Quotes from a couple of emails about the Community Read: “ …kudos on an inspiring event tonight. Every little adversity was well handled. I'm so glad I took my son; he loved the film. Jim and Dianne were charming. So were you!...” “Thanks for your leadership in selecting Leif’s book, and for helping facilitate the connection with the schools. I enjoyed the film and talk… ” Links to press coverage: Books and Beyond debut article in the Leader: http://www.ptleader.com/arts/community-read-kicks-off-feb/article_d4876f72-1bfd-11e8-b1f5- 53a4ae3a618c.html Christian Coxen in the Leader http://www.ptleader.com/arts/capturing-true-grit-in-nature/article_fe3c0d82-2706-11e8-88ed- af7ca3bc3eab.html Community Read in the PDN: http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/news/port-townsend-native-tells-of-mountain-climbing- in-memoir-chosen-as-2018-community-read/ Melody and Hilary pose with the Whittakers City of Port Townsend Monthly Library Program Report March 2018 2018 Kickoff film event 2-28-18 City of Port Townsend Monthly Library Program Report March 2018 2018 Meet the Author event at the Port Townsend High School 3-29-18 City of Port Townsend Monthly Library Program Report March 2018 2018 Courage to Climb Exbibit and Juror’s Talk at Northwind Arts Center City of Port Townsend Monthly Library Program Report March 2018 2018 Program name: Book Lovers’ Café : My Old Man and the Mountain Date: 1st Monday Presenter: Melody E. Program’s intended age group Adults Attendance: 20 Location: Pink House Sponsored by: Library Foundation- they sponsored the Community Read books for 2018 Description In 1963, the world followed the first American Mount Everest Expedition, and watched as "Big Jim" Whittaker became the first American to stand on top of the world. He returned home a hero. My Old Man and the Mountain is Leif Whittaker's engaging and humorous story of what it was like to "grow up Whittaker"―the youngest son of Jim Whittaker and Dianne Roberts, in an extended family of accomplished climbers. He shares glimpses of his upbringing and how the pressure to climb started early on. Readers learn of his first adventures with family in the Olympic Mountains and on Mount Rainier; his close yet at times competitive relationship with his brother Joss; his battle with a serious back injury; and his efforts to stand apart from his father's legacy. With wry honesty he depicts being a recent college grad, still living in his parents' home and trying to find a purpose in life―digging ditches, building houses, selling t-shirts to tourists―until a chance encounter leads to the opportunity to climb Everest, just like his father did. City of Port Townsend Monthly Library Program Report March 2018 2018 Comments/Press Coverage Program name: Fiber Arts Night Date: 1st and 3rd Tuesdays Presenter: Kathi J. & Joan W. Program’s intended age group: Kids, teens, adults, all ages/family Adults Attendance: 24 Location: Pink House Sponsored by: Friends, other: please specify Friends Description Come and enjoy an evening of working on handiwork projects with other fiber artists (from knitting to quilting to weaving all fiber arts projects are welcomed). Please bring your own supplies. Program name: Changeling Shakespeare Reading Group Date: 2nd and 4th Tuesdays Presenter: Bob DeWeese Program’s intended age group: Kids, teens, adults, all ages/family Adults Attendance: 19 Location: Pink House Sponsored by: Friends, other: please specify Friends Description CHANGELING will meet twice monthly to read and discuss the plays of William Shakespeare. Readers will alternate roles scene by scene, “so that everyone gets a chance at the juicy parts,” Bob DeWeese said. The group will decide together about which plays to read, and everyone is welcome to join. City of Port Townsend Monthly Library Program Report March 2018 2018 Program name: Menu for the Future Date: Feb. 24 (six week discussion course- meets Saturdays through March 31) Presenter: Honey Neiman Program’s intended age group: Kids, teens, adults, all ages/family Adults Attendance: 10 each week Location: Pink House Sponsored by: Friends, other: please specify Friends and Local 20/20 Description Over the last century, the way we grow, harvest, transport, and consume food has changed significantly. It’s easy to overlook the impact this process has on our environment. Menu for the Future helps you explore the connection between food and sustainability. Participants learn more about the many cultural, social, and ecological implications of what we eat and discuss the importance of our eating habits. Together, you will discover food choices that are good for you and the health of our environment not to mention, the local economy. NWEI’s self-led discussion courses are designed to spark shared learning, shared stories, and shared action. Each course book also includes tips and guidelines to help facilitators organize a course. A detailed list of articles and resources included in the Menu For the Future course book are available in the Table of Contents. Feedback: The attendees have been getting together to share home cooked meals once a month and are an excellent example of how the library builds community through the shared experiernce of reading. City of Port Townsend Monthly Library Program Report March 2018 2018 Program name: Babytime Date: Every Wednesday Presenter: Jeanne S. Program’s intended age group: Kids, teens, adults, all ages/family Babies and their caregivers Attendance: 63 Location: Library Sponsored by: Friends, other: please specify Friends Description Babytime uses a warm, caring atmosphere to make parents of very young children comfortable in the library and in singing and playing with their babies. The emphasis is on modeling and teaching simple games, rhymes, songs and sign language that can help build very early literacy. Comments/Press Coverage Program name: Preschool Storytime Date: Every Tuesday Presenter: Jeanne S., Hilary V Program’s intended age group: Kids, teens, adults, all ages/family Preschoolers and their caregivers Attendance: 110 Location: Library Sponsored by: Friends, other: please specify Friends Description Preschool storytime brings early literacy to kids and their caregivers with songs, rhymes, and activities. The emphasis for this age group is on kindergarten readiness and fostering a love of reading. Comments/Press Coverage City of Port Townsend Monthly Library Program Report March 2018 2018 Program name: Pajama Storytime Date: March 5 Presenter: Ashley K. Program’s intended age group: Kids, teens, adults, all ages/family Children and families Attendance: 2 Location: Library Sponsored by: Friends, other: please specify Friends Description Children ages 0-5 and their families can join us for stories, songs, movement, rhymes, and more. Everyone is welcome to come in their pajamas, and bring a stuffed animal friend as well. Comments/Press Coverage Program name: Toddlertime Date: Every Thursday Presenter: Hilary V. , Jeanne S. Program’s intended age group: Kids, teens, adults, all ages/family Toddlers and their caregivers Attendance: 67 Location: Library Sponsored by: Friends, other: please specify Friends Description Toddlertime builds pre-reading skills like vocabulary, phonological awareness, and sequencing. Young children and their caregivers share fun rhymes and songs and very short stories. The emphasis is on modeling for caregivers how to build literacy skills in very young children. Comments/Press Coverage City of Port Townsend Monthly Library Program Report March 2018 2018 Program name: Outreach to Grant Street Elementary Date: March 14 Presenter: Hilary V. and Joy W. Program’s intended age group: Kids, teens, adults, all ages/family Pre-K Attendance: 24 Location: Library Sponsored by: Friends, other: please specify Friends Description Monthly visit to Grant street. Each Month, Hilary is visiting a different 3rd grade class. We read a book about architecture, and used straws and connectors to build something they could fit inside. Comments/Press Coverage City of Port Townsend Monthly Library Program Report March 2018 2018 Program name: Sing-A-Ling with Keeth Apgar Date: March 15 Presenter: Keeth Apgar Program’s intended age group: Kids, teens, adults, all ages/family Pre-K Attendance: 44 Location: Library Sponsored by: Friends, other: please specify Friends, $75 presenter fee Description Sing-A-Ling gets toddlers, preschoolers, families and the greater community into our bodies and singing together. Part story time, part sing-along and fully loaded with laughs, the select songs and rhyming stories in this show combine finger play, movement, picture books, uplifting acoustic music and an engaging, highly-interactive banter between audience and presenter. In this early literacy-infused program children (and their grownups) will create original rhymes and lyrics to traditional American folk songs, raise their voices to play with the alphabet’s many amusing sounds, and sing along to the words of favorite children’s books. Comments/Press Coverage City of Port Townsend Monthly Library Program Report March 2018 2018 Program name: YMCA Visit Date: March 8 Presenter: Jeanne S. Program’s intended age group: Kids, teens, adults, all ages/family 6-13 Attendance: 10 Location: Mountain View YMCA Sponsored by: Friends, other: please specify Friends Description This month we read Rosie Revere Engineer and made catapults using tongue depressors (aka craft sticks) and clothes pins. Press coverage: City of Port Townsend Monthly Library Program Report March 2018 2018 Program name: Storytrail @ Kah Tai Lagoon Date: March 17 Presenter: Hilary V. Program’s intended age group: 0-8 Attendance: 37 Location: Library Sponsored by: Friends, other: Friends - $120 Community Read Comments/Press Coverage City of Port Townsend Monthly Library Program Report March 2018 2018 City of Port Townsend Monthly Library Program Report March 2018 2018 Program name: Blue Heron Outreach Date: March 12 Presenter: Hilary V. Program’s intended age group: Kids, teens, adults, all ages/family Middle school students Attendance: 34 Location: Blue Heron Middle School Library Sponsored by: Friends, other: please specify Friends $20, snacks & supplies Description Monthly visit to Blue Heron. Students learned how to make book hedgehogs Comments/Press Coverage City of Port Townsend Monthly Library Program Report March 2018 2018 Program name: PTHS Outreach Date: March 19 Presenter: Hilary V. Program’s intended age group: Kids, teens, adults, all ages/family High school students Attendance: Location: PT High School Library Sponsored by: Friends, other: please specify Friends Description Our monthly visit to Port Townsend High School, Students made book hedgehogs Comments/Press Coverage City of Port Townsend Monthly Library Program Report March 2018 2018 Program name: PTHS Outreach w/ Leif Whittaker Date: March 28, March 30 Presenter: Hilary V. Program’s intended age group: Kids, teens, adults, all ages/family High school students Attendance: 70 Location: PT High School Library Sponsored by: Friends, other: please specify Friends Description Leif Whittaker visited 3 Classes at PTHS as part of the 2018 Community Read. Comments/Press Coverage City of Port Townsend Monthly Library Program Report March 2018 2018