Don’t Forget…
…there is a new program taking place at the Downieville Library on Thursdays, 3:00 – 4:00 PM: Español a la Biblioteca (Spanish at the Library). The instructor is Laura Ruiz, and she is reaching out especially to children (but also youth and adults) who want to learn how to read and write Spanish. It begins today, December 5.
…Library@Night is happening again next Monday, December 9, 6:00 – 8:00 PM. We will continue reading Ray Bradbury’s The Halloween Tree — and will begin with a brief synopsis, for those who weren’t here for the earlier readings.
A New Librarian!
As regular readers of this column know, the libraries in Sierra County (Alleghany, Downieville, Loyalton, Sierra City) are stations of the Plumas County Library. As of this past April, the Plumas County Library has a new librarian: Dora Mitchell. I reached out to her for this column, and have decided that you might as well hear from her in her own words:
“I have a long history with the Plumas County Library — my grandmother was the Assistant County Librarian in the 70s, and I’ve been coming to the library my entire life. I volunteered as a teen, then worked as a library aide until I left for college. I obtained my master’s in library and information science from San Jose State University, then returned to Quincy and was hired as the Youth Services Librarian. I remained in the position until 2018, then left the library field for a few years to work as a freelance copywriter and author/illustrator. Just as I was getting tired of freelance work and started thinking about returning to libraries, the County Librarian position opened up. In April 2024, I was appointed County Librarian for the Plumas/Sierra County Library system.
I love libraries and books for the way they can change lives and broaden minds. I’m hoping that as the Plumas/Sierra County Librarian I can help bring our amazing services to more people in our communities. I think many people still don’t realize just how much we offer to everyone at no cost: literacy services, children’s story time and other activities, computer classes, eBooks and audiobooks available instantly from our website (https://www.plumascounty.us/2842/Our-Collection), even streaming movies, TV, and recorded theatre productions.
It’s one of my primary goals to work more closely with the staff at the library stations in Sierra County to grow library use in those communities. I hope we can build more robust collections at each station, with a regular supply of new books and materials for the public to enjoy. I’m seeking grant funding to help us develop those collections (https://bit.ly/4g06Qk4).
In the meantime, I’d like Sierra County residents to know they can request most materials we have available on our online catalog (there are a few items that are difficult to transport to Sierra County, such as our new stargazing kits that include a 40” telescope!). But all books, DVDs, audiobooks, and most other materials can be requested by Sierra County residents and mailed to your local station. In addition, the Zip Book program delivers requested books directly to the patron via Amazon, and it’s open to anyone with a Plumas/Sierra library card.”
A couple of notes:
The books for which Dora is author/illustrator are:
The Haunted Serpent
Nine Crow
The Puzzling Fate of Millicent Graves
We’ll have to see about getting them onto our shelves.
Dora also wrote, “I have a soft spot for Downieville. It’s such a fascinating little town! My husband and I take a trip over and stay either there or in Sierra City every year. “
Hopefully, we’ll be able to schedule a time when people in this part of Sierra County can meet Dora at the library. We’ll keep you informed…