For a PDF of the Summer 2024 Newsletter, click here.
Summer Events at the Library
We have all kinds of fun and educational programs planned for this summer! We hope to see you at the library soon. Be sure to check stanley.lili.org/events for updates to the schedule.
- Stanley Mayor and wildflower expert Steve Botti will lead our Wildflower Talk and Walk this year. On Friday, May 31 at 5:00 p.m., Steve will talk about local flora and the Sawtooth wildflowers guidebook he’s working on. The next morning, June 1, we’ll meet at the library at 11:00 a.m. and drive to local hotspots with Steve to see what’s blooming.
- Join us for BINGO Night at 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 5. If there is enough interest, we’ll continue monthly BINGO programs throughout the summer.
- Do you love to cook? Looking for some fresh ideas? Show us your go-to recipes and bring a dish to share at our Favorite Cookbooks program on Wednesday, June 12 at 6:00 p.m.
- Our annual Community Yard Sale is Saturday, June 15, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. We appreciate your donations! Please be sure items are in good condition (no clothing or electronics, please). Bring items to the library the day before or Saturday morning. Our Used Book Sale is set for 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Saturday, July 6. Proceeds from both events fund library services and programs. Please call 208-774-2470 or email [email protected] if you can volunteer to help for either event.
- In cooperation with the Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve, we are offering several astronomy-related programs this summer, including How Dark Is It? on Saturday, July 6 at 5:00 p.m., when UCLA student researchers will share results of their studies of light pollution in the Sawtooth Valley. On Wednesday, July 24 at 5:30 p.m., come Paint & Sip with Astronomer in Residence Lauren Osburn and local artist Karen Lesser. Join Osburn in the courtyard for stargazing at 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 1. She will also present a lecture, “Revealing the Unseen: Deciphering Telescope Imagery,” on Wednesday, August 7 at 5:00 p.m.
- Come enjoy refreshments and chat about books at our Book Club Social on Thursday, July 11, at 5:30 p.m. We’ll also decide what we want to read during this winter’s discussion series.
- Susan Kim will present two programs about genealogy: “How I Fell into the Rabbit Hole and Should You? An Introduction to Genealogy” on Monday, July 22 at 5:30 p.m., and “What Can You Learn from DNA Testing in Genealogy? The Pros and Cons of Testing” Monday, August 19 at 5:30 p.m.
- Our 14th annual Stanley Library Author Luncheon will be Sunday, September 8 at the James Beard-nominated Stanley Supper Club, featuring poet and Idaho Writer in Residence Kerri Webster. Tickets are $35 and will be available in August. Book Club will meet Tuesday, August 27 at 5:30 p.m. to discuss Lapis, Kerri’s latest poetry collection.
Summer Reading
Hey kids! Stop by the library and pick up your Summer Reading Packet with “Adventure Begins at Your Library” activity choices. Complete at least 2 and turn into the library by August 1 to earn prizes.
All participants also receive a Youth Explorer Ticket to Adventure for FREE access to any Idaho State Park.
The Power of Democracy
During this election year, we’re highlighting democracy and voting in our summer display. If you have any items to contribute, such as historical campaign buttons or posters, please bring them to the library—we promise we’ll take good care of your treasures. No contemporary partisan campaign materials, please.
Community Closet
Don’t forget, you can check out physical items from our Community Closet, including a metal detector for summer exploring, a food dryer for summer bounty, a solar charger or sunshade for your camping trip, and much more!
Summer Hours
Expanded summer hours begin June 24 and continue through August 31:
- Monday: noon – 6 p.m.
- Tuesday: noon – 6 p.m.
- Wednesday: noon – 6 p.m.
- Thursday: noon – 6 p.m.
- Friday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- Saturday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Wi-Fi is available 24/7.
You’ll see some familiar and new faces at the library this summer. Our new Library Director, Liesl Schernthanner, has been a substitute at the library since 2018 and Library Assistant since October 2021. Our new Library Assistant, Kelsey O’Kelley, has lived in the Stanley area since 2014 and values the sense of community the library fosters. Drop by and say hello as the library begins its next chapter! And once again, congratulations to Library Director Jane Somerville on her retirement this spring after more than 25 years of service to the library and community.
Got Your Library Card?
Property owners within the Stanley library district and year-round residents who are registered to vote have full library privileges. Fees are charged only to out-of-district borrowers: 6 Month Card – $15 Individual, $20 Family; 12 Month Card – $25 Individual, $30 Family. There is no charge to use public access computers or 24/7 Wi-Fi.
New Library Email
The library has transitioned to a new email. Please use [email protected] if you need to get in touch, and add it to your contacts to ensure library newsletters don’t get caught in your Spam folder.
Winter and Spring Programs
The library offered something for everyone this winter!
- We partnered with the Sawtooth Interpretive and Historical Association (SIHA) for a popular series of local oral history programs. These are now available on SIHA’s YouTube channel. Look for more oral histories next winter!
- Bill Peters spoke about the beautiful precious stones and lapidary collected by William A. Peters that was on display at the library.
- Our library participated in Ketchum Community Library’s Winter Read of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Book Club also discussed six books that have been frequently challenged or banned in the United States.
- The library provided Cookies and Cocoa during Winterfest and welcomed many new visitors. We appreciate the Girl Scouts for providing cookies!
- Lara Antonello spoke about what she learned in Churchill, Manitoba, the polar bear capital of the world.
- Lots of people enjoyed monthly BINGO nights, with some truly great prizes. Lisa Muscavage taught folks to play the board game Wingspan. We hope to offer more game nights next winter.
- Our Reading Challenge group created a new list of book categories for this year’s Challenge. They’ve met twice and will meet again in September to discuss the titles they’ve read.
- Several people had a great time at Paint & Sip with local artist Karen Lesser, and went home with their very own paintings!
- Crafty folks learned a lot about basic embroidering techniques in Elizabeth Bjerke’s two-part class.
- Stanley School students had regular library visits along with Read ‘N’ Feeds, where they read a book, then enjoyed a meal of foods mentioned in the book, and related activities.
- Our youngest patrons practiced skills while having fun during weekly Story Time, which is on hiatus for the summer. We are excited to host children’s book author Leslie Patricelli when we kick off Story Time again this fall!
Embroidery Class with Elizabeth Bjerke (top) and Paint & Sip with Karen Lesser (bottom)
2023 Statistics
Usage of the library continues to climb. During our last fiscal year (October 2022 – September 2023), we had 607 registered users and 5,650 visits. The library held 5,540 books and other materials, with access to nearly 54,800 digital assets through the Idaho Digital Consortium. Nearly 5,000 items were circulated. We more than doubled our programs, with 87 children’s and adults’ programs and nearly 1,100 attendees.
Summer Events
- Friday, May 31, 5:00 pm Wildflower Talk with Steve Botti
- Saturday, June 1, 11:00 am Wildflower Walk with Steve Botti: Meet at library and carpool
- Wednesday, June 5, 5:00 pm BINGO Night
- Wednesday, June 12, 6:00 pm Favorite Cookbooks: Bring a dish to share
- Saturday, June 15, 11:00 am – 3:00 pm Community Yard Sale
- Tuesday, June 18, 5:15 pm Board Meeting
- Wednesday, June 19 Library closed for Juneteenth
- Monday, June 24 Summer Hours begin
- Thursday, June 27, 5:00 pm Waiting for Ice Part 2: Story Telling with Lara Antonello
- Thursday, July 4 Library closed for Independence Day
- Saturday, July 6, 11:00 am – 3:00 pm Used Book Sale
- Saturday, July 6, 5:00 pm “How Dark Is It?” with UCLA student researchers
- Tuesday, July 9, 5:15 pm Board Meeting
- Thursday, July 11, 5:30 pm Book Club Social
- Monday, July 22, 5:30 pm Lecture by Susan Kim: “How I Fell into the Rabbit Hole and Should You? An Introduction to Genealogy”
- Wednesday, July 24, 5:30 pm Paint & Sip with astronomer Lauren Osburn and artist Karen Lesser
- Thursday, July 25, 11:00 am and 5:30 pm Talk Saves Lives, Suicide Prevention Education
- Thursday, August 1, 9:30 pm Stargazing with Lauren Osburn
- Wednesday, August 7, 5:00 pm Lecture by Lauren Osburn: “Revealing the Unseen: Deciphering Telescope Imagery”
- Thursday, August 8, 5:00 pm Bear Aware with Lara Antonello
- Monday, August 19, 5:30 pm Lecture by Susan Kim: “What Can You Learn from DNA Testing in Genealogy? The Pros and Cons of Testing”
- Tuesday, August 20, 5:15 pm Board Meeting and Budget Hearing
- Tuesday, August 27, 5:30 pm Book Club discussing Lapis by Kerri Webster
- Monday, September 2 Library closed for Labor Day
- Tuesday, September 3 Regular Hours resume
- Sunday, September 8, 12:00 pm Author Luncheon at Stanley Supper Club, featuring Kerri Webster (tickets available at the library in August)
Regular Hours (until Summer Solstice)
Monday 12-6
Tuesday and Wednesday 12-4
Thursday 12-6
Friday and Saturday 10-6
Closed Sunday
Summer Hours
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday 12-6
Friday and Saturday 10-6
Closed Sunday