| Show T Library L 1 t r r More rr Than n Books and n Brenda Lewis Contributing Writer Libraries are quiet Libraries are somber Libraries are dignified A library is where the studious go to ponder and explore NOT Every other Saturday I volunteer at the Welcome Desk for the Salt Lake City Library located at East and South While getting a latte before r h t t I T J r rh heard rrt my lilY s sa ami lUU i i ia VY over a woman tell her friend This is a happening happening happening hap hap- pening place In and around the library on this particular particular particular ular Saturday there was the Great Salt Lake Book Festival Fiesta Mexicana and anda a small but seaworthy celebration of National Talk like a Pirate Day The Urban Room is a large area at the library on the street level This day it was buzzing with activity associated with the Great Salt Lake Book Festival hosted by bythe bythe bythe the Utah Humanities Council The Festival is an annual event that brings writers in all genres to the state to talk about reading and writing Sam Wellers Weller's Barnes Noble and Kings King's English sold books by the authors who were appearing Companies publishing publish publish- ing everything from Bibles t to romance novels promoted themselves Hands Handson on activities like making paper operating a printing press and binding books were available for the restless Downstairs writers lectured answered questions and autographed autographed autographed auto auto- graphed books for collectors People hovered around the silent auction table to see what treasures were available Humanities Council members members members mem mem- bers at the registration table just inside the east entrance corralled writers and volunteers volunteers volunteers volun volun- while handing out tickets for events A river of people waiting to get in the auditorium to hear the guest speaker snaked throughout Pippa Keene director of the winning award-winning family literacy literacy literacy litera litera- cy program stopped youngsters to ask if they were coming outside to meet Pat Mora and Governor Olene S. S See Happening Place continued on page 7 Happening Place continued from page 3 Walker Walker was there to sign books with Mora and promote her Read 20 minutes min min- lI minutes n- n utes a day project On the way to the area where Mora and Walker chatted chatted chatted chat chat- ted with the young a tent housed groups who promote reading Intermountain Therapy Animals who sponsor sponsor spon spon- sor sot the READ program had several red four- four legged volunteers in atten atten- dance The outdoor amphitheater Ii held ld an av avid d audience for Mary Sojourner who presented a writing workshop to the tune of mariachis mariachi's warn warming ng up Fiesta Mexicana was coming coming coming com com- ing alive on 2nd East wl which ch was closed to traffic between and South In celebration celebration celebration tion of Mexican Independence Day the Mexican Consulate provided entertainment artisans crafts and food far into the night Back on the second floor of the library itself patrons were welcomed by research librarians librarians librari librari- ans in pirate hats Jolly Roger flags and a tall patched eye-patched fellow who was fond of the letter R. R If anyone cameto the H ID y ip Wv quiet et pr Pf to p study that Saturday it wasn't going to happen Too many other things were |
