Rotary club, library team up on Novel Night Gala

“Loved the costumes and emphasis on literature! Any book lover would enjoy the event,” one person commented after attending A Novel Night Gala last year. It’s time again to start imagining what literary character you will dress as when you attend this year’s gala on Saturday, April 14.

For the second year in a row, Rotary Club of Sandpoint and the East Bonner County Library District are partnering to host the Novel Night Gala to benefit Your Library Transformation. Specifically, funds will go toward outfitting the Teen Lounge/Maker Room inside the expanded Sandpoint Library with the remainder of proceeds benefiting Sandpoint Rotary Club community projects and services. Last year, the event raised $30,000 qualifying Rotary to sponsor the teen lounge.

We are thrilled that Novel Night Gala has become one of the most anticipated charitable events of the year. Last year’s attendees gave us some great feedback to make this year even more fun (is that even possible?). Rotary will use Greater Giving software to process all of the transactions during the event for a seamless check-out experience at the end of the night. Tickets can be purchased on that platform which is accessed from www.novelnightgala.org.

I should give you a heads up that the link to the ticket sales is not very obvious when accessed from a mobile device. In the upper left hand corner, you’ll see a small gray box with three lines. Click on that to purchase tickets. My direct line is listed at the bottom of the home page if you have any questions.

The event starts with a mixer sponsored by the 219 Lounge with live music from Bright Moments Quartet at 5:30 p.m. in the atrium at Columbia Bank. Silent auction items include gift baskets created and donated by local nonprofit organizations. The mystery Wine Wall is a fun way to try to score a premium label for a bargain. The gourmet meal will be catered by Tango Cafe (includes a vegetarian option) with a dessert raffle featuring confections crafted by 22 different culinary artisans. Count on a steady flow of laughter with emcees Dyno Wahl and Pierce Smith who will introduce special guest speaker, Liam Loper, SHS Senior and Library IT Staffer. The Library’s own Gina Emory will host the live auction featuring epic experiences, art, and more when she is not mingling with guests and taking keepsake “framed” photos. At the end of the night, everyone is invited to the afterparty – in costume - at the 219 Lounge featuring music by Molly and the Rift Hangers. The event is sponsored by Alliant Americas, Schweitzer Mountain Resort, and 219 Lounge. Lone Tree Creative is the marketing sponsor.

If attending a fancy dress party is not your cup of tea, we added a new feature to the event this year that you may be interested in. When you visit the Novel Night Gala website, you will see the option to purchase tickets, make a cash donation, or “Fund an Item.” There you will find a wish-list of items that The Library would like to purchase for the Teen Lounge/Maker Room (to clarify – the Maker Room is not for teens only; it just happens to be located in the same area as the Teen Lounge). You can participate in supporting the overall goal of the event from your living room sofa by sponsoring an item.

Your Library Transformation is slated to be complete in just a couple of months. We are keeping our regular open hours throughout construction, which has resulted in some inconveniences. Thank you for your patience and for asking our friendly staff for assistance finding materials. Stay tuned for your invitation to the grand opening event that will include a special announcement.

We are still busy serving up inspirational classes and workshops during construction.

EBCLD weekly schedule:

- Daily – Visit eBonnerLibrary.org daily to make sure your materials are available during construction. We will be moving stacks over the next several weeks and some materials will be temporarily unavailable for check-out. Computers have been moved upstairs. An elevator is available on the west end of the Circulation Desk.

- Friday, March 16 and March 23 — American Sign Language course. 9:30 a.m. at the Sandpoint Branch. Due to popular demand, a second course is starting: American Sign Language from Certified Instructor Susan Schaller. For more information, contact Susan Schaller, susan.schaller@gmail.com.

- Saturday, March 17 and 24 — American Sign Language course, 11:30 a.m. at the Sandpoint branch. This is an ongoing course in progress. For more information, contact Susan Schaller, susan.schaller@gmail.com.

- Saturday, March 1 — Luck O’ the Irish Writer’s Contest. 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Calling all authors! Come and share your story or poem with a 5-minute reading of your original material. Mingle with other writers and listen to their work. No registration necessary for this free event that includes brunch. All ages, genres and experience levels are welcome. Presented by the Sandpoint Chapter of the Idaho Writers League and The Library. This program takes place at the Heartwood Center, 615 Oak St., Sandpoint. More information: Sandy Anderson, 775-790-4443 or Mike Bauer 265-2665.

- Monday, March 19 — Teen Center Game. 3:30 p.m. at the Sandpoint Teen Center, 104 S. Division. Teen Librarian, Morgan Gariepy hosts a library-sponsored game or STEAM activity for teens. For more information about the current week’s theme, call Morgan at 263-6930 ext. 1245 or morgan@ebonnerlibrary.org.

- Tuesday, March 20 — Mother Goose. 10:15 a.m. at Creations on the Cedar St. Bridge. Stories and singing for babies and toddlers 0-3 yrs and caregivers.

- Tuesday, March 20 — Preschool Story Time. 11 a.m. at Creations. Stories and crafts for kids ages 2-5 yrs. Info: suzanne@ebonnerlibrary.org.

- Tuesday, March 20 — Robotics with Lego Mindstorm. 3 p.m. at the Clark Fork Branch. Subject to cancelation. Please call the Clark Fork Branch Library, 266-1321 before attending.

- Wednesday, March 21 — Clark Fork Stories & More. 10:30 a.m. at the Clark Fork Branch. Story time, crafts, prizes, and snacks for kids ages 3-8. Call 266-1321 for information.

- Wednesday, March 21 — Make It at the Library. 2 p.m. at the Clark Fork Branch. Kids make a variety of age appropriate projects. For more information, contact Morgan Gariepy 263-6930 ext. 1245 or morgan@ebonnerlibrary.org.

- Wednesday, March 21 — RaspberryPi Workshop. 3-6 p.m. at the Clark Fork Branch. A workshop for teens to learn about the amazing mini machine - RaspberryPi. Code in Python and physical computing. Registration is required: 266-1321. For information about the workshop, contact Morgan Gariepy at 263-6930 ext. 1245 or morgan@ebonnerlibrary.org.

- Thursday, March 22 — Clark Fork Crafternoon. 3 p.m. at the Clark Fork Branch Library, 601 Main. Free family fun with an artisitic craft to take home! For more information call 266-1321.

- Saturday, March 24 — Furry Tales. 11 a.m. at Panhandle Animal Shelter, 870 Kootenai Cutoff Road. A fun pet day for kids with pet stories, dog training demonstrations, a behind-the-scenes shelter tour, and volunteer projects. For more information contact Suzanne Davis at 263-6930 ext. 1211 or suzanne@ebonnerlibrary.org.

- Saturday, March 24 — Organic Seed Saving. 1– 3 p.m. at Sandpoint Branch. Come and discuss organic gardening and seed saving. Bring food and seeds to share if you can. If you can’t, come anyway! Information: Camisse Nitkowski 263-6248.

- StoryWalk — A partnership of The Library, Kaniksu Land Trust, city of Dover, and city of Ponderay. Pages from a children’s book are posted along a trail for a fun, family experience. At Dover City Park, read “Poof” by John O’Brien. At McNearney Park in Ponderay (behind Panhandle Animal Shelter), enjoy “King Bidgood’s in the Bathtub” by Audrey Wood. For more information, visit ebonnerlibrary.org or call Suzanne Davis, Children’s Services Librarian, 263-6930 ext. 1211. Enter to win a $25 grocery gift certificate by visiting a StoryWalk now-April 15. For more info, visit Facebook/Bonner StoryWalk.