We’re kicking off 2010 with "Get Excited About Reading!" It’s simple enough — we want you to take time to enjoy the excitement of finding a great book, discovering a new author, exploring a completely new genre. Come down to the library and check out the collection and speak with our staff who are highly trained in helping you find something truly special. We’re kicking the campaign off with a "humor" theme (of course you’re welcome to read anything you desire).

Mark your calendars with these two outstanding programs; the first will tickle your funny bone, the second will explore the power and drama of non-fiction writing. In either case, you won’t want to miss "Charlie Williams: The Noise Guy Presents The Age of Disco" at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 23, and the unbelievably talented author Philip Gourevitch at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 28.

Okay parents: are you REALLY ready for the science fair this year? Don’t let this annual project create stress in the household. Thanks to educator Tom Farrell, we’re offering two workshops to help parents and students thrive when it comes to creating and presenting science fair projects. You can join either session: 2 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 10, or 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 13.

I hope you’ve had a chance to enjoy The Library Café lately, especially the tasty monthly specials (one of January’s features is a caramel latte). You can even get gift cards and coffee mugs, not to mention some truly fantastic soup and sandwiches.

Here’s something pretty fascinating — the Wyoming Library Association has created a link — http://wyla.org/roi/— to show you the return on your tax investment when it comes to using your library. I know that times are economically hard for so many of you, but this resource really offers a positive glimpse into the value of your library.