Friday, April 19, 2024
Jennifer Logsdon
HOOD COUNTY LIBRARY
Hood County Library Director Jennifer Logsdon is a former public school educator of 23 years, earning a master’s degree in Library Science during that time. She enjoys spending time with her blended family of five children, baking and of course reading.
As people grow older, or suffer from an accident, memory loss and confusion can become a daily struggle. I grew up with a special bond to my maternal grandmother. She was my Memaw. Memaw could make everything better. Just being in the room breathing the same air with her brought me an indescribable peace.
However, as she grew older, the sneaky thief of Alzheimer’s slowly took her from me. She went from knowing me, to thinking I was my mother, to understanding that I was someone she loved, to me being a stranger. It was heartbreaking. With her, I learned how to become a part of her new world through music, pictures, and familiar objects from her past.
Because of this experience, research, visiting other libraries, and understanding the demographics of this community, I decided that the library would be a good place to house relevant resources for those who take care of people grappling with memory loss (i.e. Alzheimers and dementia).
These new resources launch the first week of October. “Remember When” kits have items and activities that will encourage those with memory loss in their self-expression, and involve your loved one in conversation. Each kit has a central theme, and contains music, puzzles or games, pictures, movies, and objects to spur interaction. Also included are support materials for the caretaker. The library houses five “Remember When” Kits that can be checked out for three weeks at a time, one kit per household beginning in October. The library hopes to add more kits as funds allow. Our wish is that these kits will unite family members by helping those with memory loss make connections to the world they live in and with the people they love.
SPECIAL GUEST
The Hood County Library is hosting a local and #1 New York Times Best-Selling Author, Charlaine Harris. She will be here Oct. 13 at 6 p.m. to speak to our patrons. Charlaine Harris is a true daughter of the South. Born in Mississippi, she has lived in Tennessee, South Carolina, Arkansas and Texas. Her career as a novelist began in 1981 with her first book, a conventional mystery. Since then, she’s written urban fantasy, science fiction, and horror.
Harris has been featured on bestseller lists many times, and her works have been adapted for three (soon to be five) television shows. Charlaine now lives at the top of a cliff on the Brazos River with her husband and two rescue dogs. She has three children and two grandchildren. One of Hood County Library’s circulation clerks is a Harris fan and recommends the novels “Dead Until Dark” as well as “Grave Sight.”
SPECIAL PRESENTATION
The Hood County Library will present a program concerning the life of King Tut. The discussion honors the 100 years since the excavation of his tomb in 1922. More than 5,000 artifacts were found, and the program will include a display of museum replicas buried with the king. The presenter of this program is Rollin Phipps. He retired from teaching at UTA in 2003. His collection of museum replicas is unique and provides excellent visuals for his presentation.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Oct. 4 and 18 - Tech appointments available
CHILDREN EVENTS
Wednesdays 10:30 a.m. Storytime & Craft (Preschool)
Thursdays 4:30 p.m. Code Club (8-11 years)
October 18 4:30 p.m. Explore Flight & Space
TEEN EVENTS
October 20 5:30-6:30 p.m. Escape Room: The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
October 29 2-4 p.m. Teen Coding (ages 12-18)
ADULT EVENTS
October 4 6 p.m. Craft Night Studded Pumpkin with recycled sleeve (registration
required)
October 25 6 p.m. Book Club “The Bullet that Missed: a Thursday Murder Club
Mystery”by Richard Osman
FAMILY EVENTS
October 1 10 -5:30 p.m. STEAM Saturday
October 5 10 AM-5:30 p.m. STEAM Saturday
October 28 7 p.m. Movie Night at the LIbrary: Showing “Haunted Mansion”
jlogsdon@co.hood.tx.us | 817-573-3569
