A T-Shirt With A Mission
Here I am, a bright yellow “Fox Cities Reads 2008” T-shirt with a mission to promote the Fox Cities Reads community read, sponsored by area libraries, and the first Fox Cities Book Festival scheduled for April 16-20. The problem is getting my owner, Carol, to wear me during one of our worst winters for snow and cold. Short sleeves are not her forte. However, I lucked out. Carol and her husband took me along to Honolulu, Hawaii for three weeks. I enjoyed hours walking on Waikiki Beach where visitors from numerous countries and many states read my message.
While exploring several hotels – the 107 year-old Moana Surfrider and the Royal Hawaiian Hotel (Pink Palace) I discovered a unique place at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. Nestled among the upscale shopping boutiques is the Obana Library and Reading Room. This library is unlike any other in the United States and possibly the world. (Internet search failed to find any.)
The Obana Library is a privately owned library whose main objective is Read-Borrow-Buy. In the comfort of the Hawaiian decorated reading room I could browse through current newspapers, magazines and books. Keiki (children) and grown-ups can play board and card games while listening to Hawaiian music. There are also shelves of books available for checkout.
In the next room are books, magazines, newspapers, puzzles, CD’s and DVD’s for purchase. According to Mary, the manager, the emphasis of the library is to provide an opportunity for visitors to learn the rich history of the Hawaiian Islands and the culture and crafts of Hawaiian people. While Mary read my message and Carol explained the Fox Cities Book Festival, several people settled into the overstuffed chairs to read magazines. One lady checked out a book and several visitors were browsing through the Hawaiian books for purchase.
Mary was impressed with our upcoming program and thought Kaukauna sounded like a Hawaiian name.
Well, here I am back home and it is a little chilly - - no downright cold. But April is almost here so Carol has promised me more exposure so I can continue spreading the word about Fox Cities Reads, and the Fox Cities Book Festival.