The Creston library will be hosting two events this week.
The first starts Tuesday and your input is needed as Creston Library Board is hosting a design charrette with architectural firm FEH Associates of Des Moines at Gibson Memorial Library.
The goal of the charrette is for architects to gather input from the community for the design of a new addition and renovations to the current city library. The charette is slated 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday in the library’s genealogy room.
Architects will be sitting at tables over the two days drawing freehand on paper and responding to what community members are telling them they want and don’t want in the library addition. Architects will then post the drawings on the wall in chronological order.
“The community can come and go as they please over the two days,” said John Karrmann of FEH Associates. “The drawings will be pinned up on the wall. So, if they can’t make it the first day, they can look there and catch up on what’s been designed so far. We will be taking broad ideas and working them into a fine layout as the hours progress. We will have review times during lunch and early evening each day.”
Review times will be noon and 5:30 p.m. each day.
Karrmann said, by the end of the two days, they will work toward building consensus from the community on what the final concept should be for the addition. Karrmann said 3D computer model images can be produced following the charrette.
The second event is hosted by the Friends of the Library. It’s an afternoon tea set for Aug. 7. The featured speaker for the tea will be author Joy Millard Johnson, graduate of Creston High School class of 1956. Throughout high school and community college Joy worked in display advertising at the Creston News Advertiser. Joy credits the CNA as the source of cutting her “writing teeth.”
Today, Joy is a nationally-known speaker and has written or edited more than 100 books on grief, mostly for children.
During the afternoon tea, Joy will speak to her most recent experience as the author of a fun set of fictional books featuring four “Burned Out Old Broads” affectionately called the BOOB Girls. In these books Joy shares the exploits of these quirky septuagenarians and their friends, demonstrating that seasoned women are beautiful too.
The tea scheduled for 4 p.m. Aug. 7 at Adams Street Espresso. The event will be catered by the Upper Crust. Tickets may still be purchased for $20 each by calling the library, or a member of the Friends of the Library Board. Though seating is limited. Proceeds will go to the Friends’ of the Library book fund.
Boob Girls Books I- VII will be available for purchase. Joy will be signing books at the conclusion of the tea.