February 25, 2019

9:30 – 10:30  MONDAY INTEREST GROUPS 

BOOK DISCUSSION  The Girl from Venice by Martin Cruz Smith Heritage Room

This historical novel set in Venice in the waning days of WWII details the encounter and subsequent relationship between a fisherman and the daughter of a wealthy Jewish family who is on the run from the Wehrmacht. It takes place amid the world of partisans, random executions, the arts of forgery, high explosives and the black market.

GREAT DECISIONS       Presidents’ Hall

Topic:  Decoding United States – China Trade

The United States uses centuries-old data to measure trade with other countries which leads to misunderstandings about realistic practices. They also give rise to bad policies that kill United States” jobs and cede market share to China. Learn about available tools that can be employed to counter China’s unfair trade practices

HANDWORK/ CRAFTS  Topic: Painting        Dining Room

Jan will demonstrate painting with alcohol ink on Yupo paper, and will give all participants a chance to give it a try. It is a fun and creative medium.

KNOW YOUR DEVICE    Minneapolis Room

This users group will answer each other’s questions about smart phones, iPads, and technology mysteries.

10:45 – 11:45  LITERARY PURSUITS

What Makes and Award-Winning Book?
An Inside Look from a Committee Member

Speaker: Lisa Von Drasek, Curator, Children’s Literatur Research Collections, University of Minnesota

Von Drasek is curator of the Kerlan Collection, of the the leading children’s literature archives. She is alo a book reviewer and librarian. She will give a behind-the-scenelook at what it is like to be a judge on the most prestigious award committees such as the National Book Award, the Newbery Medal, and the Caldecott Medal.