Siouxland Libraries promote 6th annual 'One Book Siouxland'

Morgan Matzen, Sioux Falls Argus Leader
·3 min read

Sioux Falls area residents will have the chance for the sixth year to read and discuss a single book title together through One Book Siouxland, a series of events and programs at local Siouxland Library branches.

This year’s title is “Accidental Rancher” by Eliza Blue, a collection of short stories about Blue’s life on the plains of northwestern South Dakota, in which Blue brings a new voice and a musician's viewpoint to the culture of rural America.

Blue will speak about the book and perform original songs at 11 a.m. April 22 at the Old Courthouse Museum.

As part of the programming, readers can sign up for kits to facilitate conversations. The kits include discussion questions, an exclusive “Accidental Rancher” herbal tea blend from The Spice and Tea Exchange and shortbread cookies from Hello Sweets.

The downtown Siouxland Libraries location.
The downtown Siouxland Libraries location.

Kim Koblank with the Ronning Branch Library said librarians always look forward to bringing all 13 branches together with one book title.

“Getting curious, excited, and together is what Siouxland Libraries does best,” Koblank said in a press release. “From introducing our Seed Library partnership to the custom tea blend Spice and Tea Exchange made for our reading groups, this year's programs are centered around heritage and community.”

Reading programs in April also include the following:

  • Stamp your Quilt Challenge: Library customers can earn stamps with every program they attend or by visiting the FarmHer: South Dakota display from the South Dakota Agricultural Heritage Museum at the Downtown Library, by visiting the Prairie Scenes by Bethany Noordman’s exhibit at the Ronning Branch Library, or by tagging social media posts with #OBSL23. Guides can be picked up at any library branch.

  • One Book Siouxland Kick-Off: Sustainability Expo: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. April 1 at the Downtown Library. In celebration of “Accidental Rancher” and in partnership with Dakota Rural Action, browse local vendors highlighting their sustainability practices. Take part in storytime, children's activities, and the FarmHer: South Dakota display from the South Dakota Agricultural Heritage Museum.

  • Pioneer Experience: 3:30 to 5 p.m. April 11 at the Ronning Branch Library. Registration required. Siouxland Heritage Museum Education staff dressed in historic clothing will talk about what it was like to homestead in Dakota. Firsthand accounts from diaries and letters as well as historic reproduction props will be used to tell the pioneer story.

  • A History of Traditional Western Music by Allen and Jill Kirkham: A Musical Performance: 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. April 15 at the Downtown Library. Registration required. The Kirkhams present a mix of oral history and live music (acoustic guitar, bass fiddle, mandolin, and harmonica) of public domain traditional western music from the 1840s to 1920s (trail drives and Black Hills mining era, Charles Badger Clark era), key classic western movie era 1930s to 1960s, contemporary western and original western music, with background and history behind the songs.

  • An Introduction to Common Roots Seed Library: 6 to 7 p.m. April 19 at the Ronning Branch Library. Registration required. Learn about the role seed libraries play in resilient communities and food economies, and how to use it for your gardening needs.

  • Songs from the Soil: Author Talk with Eliza Blue: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 22 at the Old Courthouse Museum. Registration required. Eliza Blue will perform music and read from her book “Accidental Rancher.”

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Siouxland Libraries promote 6th annual 'One Book Siouxland'