I find myself at least once a week exclaiming aloud "I just learned something new! I love my job." I am exposed daily to a wide array of subjects, resources and people, but lifelong learning is a state of mind that everyone can have. Curiosity and an inquisitive attitude, plus a rich environment is all it takes.

Conceptually, I've known the life cycle of a butterfly since early grade school, but thanks to the Shorewood Monarch Project and children's librarian, Heide Piehler, this year I'm actually a witness to the butterfly life cycle. So far, Heide has raised fourteen Monarch butterflies from a speck of a caterpillar to a Very Hungry Caterpillar to a shiny green chrysalis to a majestic butterfly. In addition to the butterfly habitat, the display at the entrance to the children's room has appropriate books, an explanation for determining gender and an on-going count of the Monarchs that have completed most of their life cycle in the library. Heide announces when she is releasing the butterflies and often has children gently handle them as they fly into the neighborhood.