Letter from the Director: Wrapping up the Summer

Dear Greene County Public Library friends and family,

The end of summer is upon us and there are a few loose ends I want to wrap up.

In my last letter I wrote about the many takes on George Gershwin’s “Summertime” from Porgy and Bess. One reinterpretation I mentioned was Sublime’s “Doin’ Time.” I’m happy to report that another iteration of the song has been added to the mix. Lana Del Rey, a modern-day crooner with a voice like melting wax, has covered the Sublime song in her forthcoming album. She smooths out the hard edges of the biting 1996 ska punk version and takes it to the beach. Her version is dulcet and sultry and languishes in the setting sun like the last days of summer. I highly recommend it. When the album drops in August, you can rest assured we will add it to our collection. 

In our last edition of Library Links, we had a list of Ohio astronauts. The list was apparently not comprehensive enough. A Fairborn library patron read the article and immediately asked, “What about Gregory H. 'Box' Johnson from Fairborn?” 

What an oversight! Though he was born in the UK, Johnson graduated from Fairborn High School in 1980 and piloted two shuttle missions, including the final flight of Endeavor. Following the Columbia accident of 2003, Johnson was part of the investigative “tiger team” that eventually determined the cause of the disaster. At the moment, Johnson is the President and Executive Director for the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space. We are certainly proud to claim him as one of Greene County’s finest.

While summer winds down, I have to say there’s a lot to look forward to in the coming months. September is National Library Card Sign-up Month. We’ll be celebrating by promoting a limited-edition Toy Story card. Then, on October 1, the Greene County Public Library Foundation will host its annual fundraiser, Raise a Glass to Reading (formerly Books & Beer). If you’re over 21, come out to Caesar Creek Vineyard for an evening of libations and a love for literacy.

Karl Colón, Director