Rob Casper interviews Francie Ruebel-Alberts in Sturgis, SD

ROB: Alright, so tell me your name please.
FRANCIE: Francie Ruebel-Alberts. Many syllables.
ROB: Wow, and tell me your relationship to the Sturgis Public Library.
FRANCIE: I use the Public Library a great deal. I am treasurer of the Arts Council and the Arts Council financially gives money to the library. Plus, I just believe libraries are very necessary for any community. 
ROB: Most definitely. Can you tell me about the arts programming that happens here in Sturgis? 
FRANCIE: Our Arts Council, right now we’re hosting a children’s theater where we bring a group in from outside, and that performance is tonight, or last night and tonight. We also do a musical in the summer. We do concerts, we have a big band concert planned for right after Valentine’s Day. We have Colcannon, which is an Irish group, that’s going to play. When you join as a member of our Arts Council you can give an additional amount of money to the library. We usually present that in October to them. They can use it however they want to. There’s an art display downstairs that is changed monthly. We work with the library on that so that we have a display of art, and they’re regional artists. The one right now is a young lady, but she has the most interesting art down there that looks late European. It’s just very, very interesting. She was from Spearfish but she had originally lived here. Other things come up – last year we applied for a One Book grant, and so the Library and the Arts Council and the Chamber went together and we talked about Tim O’Brien’s book and brought him in to speak to us. So, we had all kinds of activities, and the library is an integral part of all of that. With this, we’re also bringing in Craig Johnson, the author of Longmire. He’s coming in on the 19th, we’re working with the library on that and hosting that event. He’ll be here speaking and showing part of his show. So, we just do a lot of things because that’s part of what the community is and making our community better. 
ROB: It seems like you’re very active. But, tell me, have you had other poets come through? Have you done a lot with poetry? 
FRANCIE: No, we haven’t. That’s why this is so exciting. We’ve had authors – and a poet is an author, I understand – but we’ve had authors who do nonfiction and fiction. We do One Book South Dakota, which has never been a poet. So this is really a treat. And the fact that she’s U.S. Poet Laureate is just absolutely delightful all the way around. And I’m not good at poetry, but I’ve heard people read poetry and it’s just one of those things that grabs you and makes you really think about what’s going on. That’s why I’m so excited to have her here.  
ROB: Well, we’re very excited to be here. Thanks for talking to us.
FRANCIE: Oh, you’re welcome. Thank you!