Lake Travis Community Library

(512) 263-2885 • 1938 Lohmans Crossing, Austin, TX 78734 • www.laketravislibrary.org

Check out the May Calendar of events!

May 2014

First time local author Rick McGee will present a book talk at the Lake Travis Community Library on Tuesday, May 20th at 7pm.

Rick McGee is the author of Yardstick, a character driven novel following Bob, a University football coach, and a group of six male friends as they experience career, relationship and family fluctuations. Easy going and likable Bob thoughtfully takes stock along the way, measuring his successes and failures against those of his friends. More than just a football book, Yardstick is good story telling—reflective, sincere and original.

Although this is McGee’s debut novel, it is not his first experience as a writer. McGee spent his career in business marketing, where writing was limited to short phrases. He has deftly made the transition from the art of business communications to the craft of developing a full length narrative with complex characters and authentic personal relationships.

“Writing a book was a great test to see if I could transition from business marketing that relied too much on sound bites to a full novel that had to be an interesting read based on deep characters and their relationships,” said McGee. “[It was] a completely different way of communicating a message than my business career.”

Lake Travis readers may find that there are more than a few familiar personalities among the cast of characters. In fact, McGee reveals that his main character, Bob, is based on a family friend.

“A good friend gave me the idea though he did not realize at the time it would turn into a book. I had not seen Bob in a number of years when we spent a weekend at his lake house in Michigan. At some point he made the comment, ‘I wonder what life would have been like if I had been a football coach,’” said McGee. “That comment stuck with me and a year or so later the flash hit me in the head: ‘Bob a football coach, hmmm there’s a story there.’”

McGee is fast at work on his second book. The follow up tale will be a continuation of Coach Bob’s story, but in an exciting and unforeseen new direction. For avid readers there is an important hint revealing his next adventure at the end of the epilogue in Yardstick.

Rick McGee will read from his novel and take questions at the library on Tuesday, May

20th at 7pm. Visit the author’s page for more information at rickmcgeeauthor.com.

Author Event: Rick McGee

Lake Travis Community Library Newsletter / May 2014 Page 2

• Hola-Hola! Story Time - Saturday, May 3rd at 10:30am - This story time is in Español! Join Ann Benson from SOMOS AMIGOS for stories, songs, and fingerplays in Spanish. All ages and languages welcome!

• Little Yoga - Thursday, May 8th at 10:30am - This class is for ages 3 to 6. Experience exercise in a quiet, calming environment. Let’s get moving!

• Mother’s Day Crafts - Saturday, May 10th from 1:30pm to 3pm - Stop by the library to make a special gift for the most important lady in your life. We’ll have everything you need to create a craft for Mom.

• Taste Buds - Tuesday, May 13th from 4:30pm to 6pm - Ages 10 and up are invited to this hands-on cooking class. Learn a new hobby and make some tasty dishes!

• Bow Wow Reading - Saturday, May 17th from 10:30am to 1pm - In partnership with the Austin Dog Alliance, the library offers Bow Wow Reading for 6 to 12 year olds. Please sign up in advance for an individual 15 minute session.

• ABC’s of Cooking - Tuesday, May 20th at 4pm - This cooking class is for 5 to 10 year olds. Come prepare healthy snacks and learn fun facts about food and nutrition. Please see library website for attendance details. Bon appétit!

• Pajama Story Time - Tuesday, May 20th at 6:15pm - Wear your pajamas, have some milk and cookies, and snuggle in for bedtime stories at PJ Story Time. All ages are welcome!

• Kinder Fencing Demonstration Class - Saturday, May 24th from 10:30am to 12pm - Kinder Fencing is a brand new program designed to teach young kids the basic fundamentals of the sport of fencing. The fencers will use equipment designed specifically for ages 5-11 by Tim Morehouse, 2008 Olympic Silver Medalist. The program is safe and fun with games, exercises, drills, and plenty of sparring.

• Family Flicks - Tuesday, May 27th at 4pm - Join us for a fun family movie and popcorn! This month we will watch Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2.

• Chess Club - Mondays from 4:30pm to 6pm - All ages are welcome!

Children’s Programs

Teen Volunteers Needed for Summer

We are now accepting teen volunteer applications for the summer. Volunteers must be 13 years or older, have a mature attitude, and be responsible and dependable. Scheduled shifts are two to three hours per week, and require a minimum commitment of at least one month. If you’re interested in volunteering this summer, fill out an application or contact Volunteer Coordinator Danielle Wilson at (512) 263-2885 or dwilson@laketravislibrary.org for more information.

$1,000 Friends Donation

The Friends of the Library donated $1,000 to help Lake Travis High School art students travel to New York City for the Scholastic Art and Writing national awards ceremony at Carnegie Hall. You can donate too by visiting: http://tinyurl.com/helplaketravisartists

Stuffed Animal Sleepover Bring your favorite furry friend or doll to the library for PJ Story Time on Tuesday, May 20th at 6:15pm (or anytime on May 20th), then tuck them in and say good night! Pick up your friend between 10am and 6pm the next day and find out about their wild night at the library.

Memorial Day Closure

The library will be closed on Monday, May 26th in observation of Memorial Day. The Air Force Band

of the West will perform in tribute to the fallen at the Performing Arts Center at LTHS on May 26th at noon.

Page 3 Lake Travis Community Library Newsletter / May 2014

Annalee Buckingham: Photography Exhibit

The library welcomes artist Annalee Buckingham for a photography exhibit

in the month of May. Ms. Buckingham’s pieces showcase her love of

nature and travels near and far, as well as her curiosity for the unusual

and unexpected right here in Austin. Since receiving her first camera at

the age of 11 from a family member, photography has always been her

passion. “It has been a wonderful way to share my unique perspective and

interests with a broad community,” said Buckingham.

Buckingham’s exhibit will be celebrated with a reception open to all on Saturday, May 3rd from 2-3:30pm. A portion of the proceeds of the exhibit sales will benefit the Lake Travis Community Library.

Butterfly Garden Presentation

with Eileen Houston

Wondering what kinds of butterflies are flitting around your garden, and how to keep them there? Then come to the library on Tuesday, May 13th at 2pm to learn all about these beautiful, jewel-like creatures. The talk will be followed by a tour of the butterfly garden, located by the

library patio. The garden is full of labeled, butterfly-

friendly plants, and garden committee members will be present to answer your questions.

Author J. Patrick Rick

Join us on Thursday, May 15th at 2pm to hear author J. Patrick Rick discuss his book The Abbey & Me: Renegades, Rednecks, Real Estate & Religion. In his historical work, author, filmmaker and former monk J. Patrick Rick documents the story of how a mansion, converted into a monastery, was raided in a hostile takeover.

Rick joined the Alexian Brothers, a catholic order of men that operates health facilities, after graduating high school in 1966. However, before he had to make a life-long commitment to the brotherhood and religious community, Rick left and pursued a family and career of his own. Over three decades after leaving, he returned to Wisconsin to find his monastery in ruins. Rick decided to make a film The Novitiate and it was so popular with audiences that it was turned into a book.

Rick believes the interesting story will attract students of Native American history, and that the book will evoke the memory and evolution of today’s Catholicism for a broad audience of curious readers. Visit the author’s page at theabbeyandme.com for more information.

Summer Reading Program Kickoff

Join us for the 2014 Summer Reading Program Kickoff on Saturday, June 7th from 10:30am to noon. We will have the Nowhere Men Beatles cover band, Tiny Tails to You! baby animal petting zoo, interactive exercises with Be Healthy Lake Travis, and Hola-Hola! Story Time with SOMOS AMIGOS for all ages. Also, have your face painted, get a tattoo, do crafts, and enjoy refreshments. Be sure to pick up the summer calendar and plenty of reading logs to last you throughout the summer. See you there!

Page 4 Lake Travis Community Library Newsletter / May 2014

Volunteer Spotlight

If you frequent the library on Tuesday evenings, you will surely meet one of the nicest people in Lakeway—

Patty Chimene. A native Texan, Patty hails from Kenedy, in the southern part of the state. “I came to Austin for college. I only left for a short time and returned about 2 ½ years ago to Lakeway,” she explains. Patty’s outgoing social nature led her to volunteer at the library so that she could meet members of the community and stay busy while recovering from hand surgery. When asked about her family, Patty says, “I married late in life and have 3 step-children, the youngest is still in high school. We have two adorable dogs, Bella and Shadow. They are Shorkies and sort of run the house!” Patty works from home as a bookkeeper and has owned her own business since 1995. When she’s not working, she enjoys a number of interesting hobbies including bee keeping, photography, jewelry making and gemology, following Texas sporting events and, of course, reading. Her reading preferences include “mystery and romance with an occasional historical fiction thrown in for good measure.” Patty and her husband JB recently bought 32 acres of land just outside of Johnson City. They are in the process of putting in roads, wells, electric, septic and all that other fun stuff. Patty explains, “it will be a very long process, but we hope to have a house out there in a few years.” The longer it takes, the longer we get to enjoy Patty’s company at the library. Come on by and say, “Howdy” to our friend Patty!

More Programs at LTCL

• Friends Book Club - Tuesday, May 6th at 10am - Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie: A Flavia de Luce Mystery by Alan Bradley

• Memoir Writing Group - Tuesday, May 6th at 3pm

• Downton Abbey Tea Time - Wednesdays May 7th and 14th at 2pm - last two episodes of season four

• Classics Book Club - Monday, May 12th at 1pm - Lives of Girls and Women by Alice Munro

• Friends of the Library Meeting and Luncheon - Thursday, May 15th at 10:30am

• Glass of Wine Book Club - Monday, May 19th at 7pm - Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

• Knitting Club - Tuesday, May 20th at 1:30pm • OverDrive Digital Library Training - Thursday, May 22nd at 9am

• Library Board Meeting - Thursday, May 22nd at 2pm

• Bottle of Wine Book Club - Wednesday, May 28th at 7pm - Defending Jacob by William Landay

• Computer Help - Thursday mornings at 9am, by appointment • Genealogy Group - Friday mornings at 9am