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BUS-eum Press Release

 Traveling Exhibit about Midwest Prisoners of War in Nazi Germany Coming Soon

     Hardly anyone alive today is aware that the first U.S. troops sent to fight in WWII came from the Upper Midwest, or that the region’s 34th “Red Bull” Division served the longest uninterrupted duty in U.S. military history—about 600 days. Even fewer know that, as some 1,800 mostly Midwest soldiers were captured in one night in North Africa in February 1943, until the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944 the most U.S. POWs in Nazi-German camps came, per capita, from the same region.

     “Behind Barbed Wire”, touring seven Midwest states in the spring and summer of 2008, including Illinois, Missouri, Indiana, Ohio and Michigan, explores the experiences of Midwest prisoners of war (POWs) who were imprisoned in Hitler’s Third Reich, and the human context in which their experiences took place. The St. Paul-based, non-profit educational organization TRACES created this exhibit. The exhibit, housed in a converted school bus, will reach nearly 120 schools, libraries, and historical societies along the way.

     Barring unforeseen difficulties the BUS-eum will be in [TOWN] from [TIME AM/PM] to [TIME AM/PM] on [DAY OF WEEK], [MONTH/DATE] 2008; it will be at the [NAME OF INSTITUTION], at [STREET ADDRESS]: the local contact person is [NAME], at [PHONE NUMBER] or [EMAIL ADDRESS].

“Behind Barbed Wire” poses five primary questions:

—why did some Midwest POWs survive certain conditions or experiences, while others did not,

—what roles did art, freetime and religion play in helping those men who did survive imprisonment by the Nazi regime,

—why did some Germans or Austrians assist Midwest POWs, while others did not,

—how did the liberated POWs later come to terms with their own experiences, and

—how do countries once in armed conflict reconcile with each other: how do nations and the individuals who constitute a nation get beyond war?

     As the opening panel of the exhibit reminds viewers, “The prisoner of war experience is one few men or women know directly. Being taken prisoner is, in itself, neither dishonorable nor heroic. Capture is largely an accident; often, it comes as a complete surprise and is frequently accompanied by injury. Usually, the confinement is painful; too often, it is fatal. In war, not everyone is lucky: some lose. Those taken captive are part of the unlucky ones.”

      As the exhibit’s first text explains, “There were three main waves of Midwest POWs: those captured in North Africa in 1943, those pilots shot out of the sky during the air war over Europe, and those soldiers captured at the Battle of the Bulge, near the war’s end. Each wave of Midwest POWs in Nazi Germany had its own experiences. All of the men who survived them, however, left a provocative legacy for those alive today—one involving the very nature of war itself: how does armed conflict between groups of people play out, face-to-face, when the guns are lowered; how ‘should’ humans treat each other and, ultimately, live together?”

Books/BUS-eum/Farmers Day

 LIBRARY HAPPENINGS  (Sept. 13)

New books have arrived this week and there will be more next week.  Some on the list are Body Work by Sara Paretsky;  Freedom by Jonathan Franzen;  Last Night at Chateau Marmont by Lauren Weisberger;  Lost Empire by Clive Cussler;  Maybe This Time by Jennifer Cruise;  Nothing Happens Until It Happens To You, a Novel Without Pay, Perks, or Privileges by T. M. Shine;  and 2 biographies on Edward Kennedy and John Ritter.

The BUS-eum, an extension of the TRACES Museum in Saint Paul, Minnesota, will be at the Kimball Public Library Parking Lot on Thursday, September 23, 2010 from 2:00 – 5:00 p.m.  The bus will contain the exhibit Behind Barbed Wire: Midwest POWs in Nazi Germany.  “As surviving Midwest POWs—let alone those community members with living memories of WWII—become fewer in number literally every day, a BUS-eum visit is a perfect time to record local history.”  from TRACES website.  The exhibit is free to the public.  The Friends of the Library are sponsoring the visit to Kimball.  The BUS-eum is stopping in several other towns, especially visiting the schools, and will be at the Kimball High School in the morning hours.

On Farmers Day, Saturday, September 25, the Friends of the Library will open for their Annual Book Sale with lots of books for adults and children and many VHS movies some of which are still popular.   The Friends are also offering some framed pictures through a silent auction.  They will be on display and open for bids starting next week.   In the Cultural Room, there will be a display of paintings by Rachelle Eversole of Broadwater, NE, a Certified Instructor by Bob Ross Studios.  In addition, there will be a display of some older local pictures and other items that will bring back memories.  Please come see these pictures and help identify the people in them.

The Seasons of Giverny -- "Papillon" This sixth floral view is an audiovisual presentation that was done with drive-by videography much like the first two Musical Views that were "shot" near the end of July. However, this video was panned from the back of our moving pickup—producing a higher viewpoint with much better visibility of our gardens. Comparing this recent Musical View with those done a month ago, you will notice, overall, a greater floriferousness ("flower power") than before. During the month of August, the daylilies, veronica, and delphinium have ceased blooming. The roses and foxgloves are at their floral low point! Even though our gardens were battered by two severe hailstorms (June 24th and July 4th), most flowers have now recuperated so that they are at their peak of floral density and beauty. The perennial goldenrods and gloriosa daisies are really putting on a dominant, ostentations display. However, most of the kaleidoscopic show of color is produced by hundreds of home-grown blooming annuals -- especially the petunias, impatiens, zinnias, salvias, and marigolds. The warm-season ornamental grasses are just now starting to send up their beautiful inflorescences (flowers/seed heads). The ornamental grasses, especially those of the genus Miscanthus (Japanese silver/maiden grass), will put on a spectacular display by the end of September, continuing to add beauty and interest throughout the winter!! To visit our YouTube Channel again, Google: Kimball ne meyers gardens

BUS-eum

On September 23, (Thursday), The BUS-eum will be at the Kimball High School in the morning and at the Kimball Public Library in the afternoon.  The BUS-eum will exhibit Behind Barbed Wire: Midwest POWs in Nazi Germany.  As the time gets closer, I will publish the hours it will be open to the public at the library.

Sweet Potato Pie

Have you read Guernsey Literary and Sweet Potato Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer?  It tells a personalized story about a writer and her new friends on Guernsey Island after WWII.  The author brings out the experiences of the people during the German occupation of the Island through a series of letters.  A unique format for a novel, but it draws you in and clearly depicts the characters in the story.  An excellent book for a book club selection.

New books this week are Spider Bones by Kathy Reichs; and Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins. 

The Library Board meeting will be held on Sept 7 at 5:00 p.m.

Interstate 80 Eastbound Rest Area

Coop is hiring for a part time cook in the Deli!

Summer isn't over

We had some nice days to enjoy the outdoors, but today it is hot again.  It is still August.

The library has been busy with check-outs and computer use.  Our computers are used for homework and on-line college classes.  They are also used for relaxation after school and keeping in contact with friends and relatives.  We are happy to provide this service for the public.

New Books this week:  Losing Charlotte by Heather Clay;  The Island by Elin Hilderbrand;  The Passage by Justin Cronin;  Heart of the Matter by Emily Giffin;  Fly Away Home by Jennifer Weiner;  and As Husbands Go by Susan Isaacs.

The library staff is working toward doing a through inventory in the next couple of weeks and then add many new items.  Something to look forward to. 

Classic books

Have you read a classic lately?  Since we don’t have any new books arriving this week, come in and browse the shelves for something – a book that you always thought you would get around to reading someday.  We have classics by authors such as Mari Sandoz, Willa Cather, Stevenson, John Updike, Steinbeck, Jane Austin and many more.  We also have a good collection of local and state history books.

There are many events coming up in the next few weeks that I will be writing about.  Look forward to more information on Downloadable Audio books, and a special display on Banned Books – you will be surprised at what is on the banned book list.

The Farmer’s Day book sale is right around the corner.  If you have books to donate, please bring them in soon.  And Thanks to all the people who have donated already.

Around and on Farmer’s Day, the Library will have a display of paintings by Rachelle Eversole of Broadwater, NE, a Certified Instructor by Bob Ross Studios will be in the Cultural Room.  In addition, there will be a display of some older local pictures and other items that will bring back memories.  Be sure to add the Library displays and the Book Sale to your Farmer’s Day rounds.