I finally have a chance to ramble a little here because I am copying from one machine to another prior to reformating one of the very old machines I have here in the library. It only has a 10 mb Ethernet card so it is copying very slowly. I have been very busy and have not written in over a month and so you are behind in my activities.
The Internet center is open now and things are settling into a pattern. There is still much to do here to get it running well and truly. The opening was a smashing success mainly because it was combined with the 150 jubilee of the library.
	A representative of the US embassy came to the opening to help the Mayor cut the ribbon. The ribbon cutting is a very festive affair with costumes, dignitaries, distinguished The children recited poetry, the mayor spoke, the Embassy rep spoke and the ribbon was cut. The protocol here is very precise and I regret to say that the US rep did not adhere to the protocol. It is set that each cutter make two cuts so that the ribbon does not fall until each has a piece of the ribbon. The Mayor took the ribbon in his hand and cut without dropping the ribbon but Michael just cut it and let it fall. The Major was careful to correct this mistake and not let it touch the floor. He made his second cut and then cut a piece which he handed to Michael before they turned around. Then they and four carefully selected readers entered the hall to start the machines for the first time. We had to set the desktops to the local web site for the city because of the mayor but when he was done we reset them for the worktop that I and my students had designed with many helpful links and addresses that we recommend. It was fun to do and it looks good to have our own start page complete with photos. visitors, gifts speeches and entertainment.
The party followed with the important guests invited to the circulation room for caviar, champagne and live music. There we had more speeches and many gifts to toast. The food was a large cut above what we normally have and the wine and vodka were first class. Out in the vestibule it was fashette as usual but it was enjoyed just the same. Then we trooped to the buses and went to the Palace of Culture for the Jubilee festivities.
A video, speeches, accordions, singers, a girls dance troop and a children’s dance troop. We were joined by Harry Potter and Marry Poppins and we all took the stage for introductions then we got to sit down for the rest of the show, presentations, speeches and dances. At the end when the three young ladies came out lip-syncing to the libraries song, which I did not know about, we all trooped back onstage for the finale. We did the wave, bowed and it was over for the public.
We then went up the central staircase to a room with a beautiful mosaic wall and lots of disco lights but when we got there we were redirected back down and to a second set of stairs where we ascended to a less beautiful room full of tables loaded with food and drink. More entertainment, more speeches and more gifts. 5 sq meters of flooring for the center, a clock, art for the walls, books, you name it we got it as a gift. We even got a toaster for the library. The food fun and feasting went on for many hours and we finally got home at about 11. That made for a long day as it started with a meeting at 8. The internet center was closed for two days while everyone got over the party and we opened officially on Monday.
		I have included just a few photos I put together for the web. I took over 500 photos and threw away 200 but the directors son gave me a couple of hundred, the bookkeeper gave me more so I HAVE ALMOST 700 PHOTOS. Now we have to adjust our work schedules among the people who know what to do so that we have coverage. I will work different hours but it will not be a problem. That’s it for today. I want to post this and I have to get back to work.
Mark April 18^th 2006