SERIES AT LIBRARY BRINGS AREA RESIDENTS' TRAVELS CLOSER TO HOME

Several world travelers from the Cape Girardeau area help bring foreign cultures to local residents through a program at the public library.

The Cape Girardeau Public Library is sponsoring the Travelogue Series, which features programs presented by people from the area who have visited interesting places in the world.

"The number of world travelers in this town is really great," said Dr. Dan B. Cotner, a retired dentist who helps recruit speakers for the library's programs.

Cotner is responsible for the revival of the series, which had been discontinued by the library in previous years and was brought back in January.

Rhonda Chamley, Adult Services librarian, coordinates the programs with Cotner.

"Dr. Cotner came in and said he had worked with the library with Travelogue before and that response was good," she said.

The Travelogue Series, which is free and open to the public, is a monthly program, according to Chamley.

The only requirements are that the programs be amateur productions and that they be interesting, according to Chamley.

"We'd prefer they have something to show. Just make sure it's something of interest to the general public," said Chamley.

The next presentation will feature Paul and Dorothy Miles of Cape Girardeau. They will discuss their 1986 trip to Easter Island. They will also include a slide show as part of the program about the tiny South Pacific island.

The Mileses will present their program about Easter Island at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Hirsch Community Room of the public library.

Dorothy Miles said, "We had read of the mystery of Easter Island, about the stone forms carved centuries ago.

"Seeing these huge stone figures they had mounted on stone pede~stals was absolutely breathtaking. They had used red rocks to make hats for the figures. It's just mind boggling how they did it.

"They transported the figures from the mountain where they had been carved down to the shore. These things weigh tons."

The couple have presented another program in the series at the public library, which was about their excursion to Antarctica.

"We've always said Antarctica was the most unusual of the places we've visited," Dorothy said. "The penguins come right up to you. They don't know an enemy."

In the past 35 years, Dorothy and her husband have visited every continent in the world and about 140 different countries, she said.

"Each place is interesting on its own. I wouldn't say there was any place we just disliked. Of course, you don't have to go back. But we've returned to many of the places we visited.

"It's quite an experience and very educational," she said. "It's a pleasant way to learn."

Most recently, the Mileses have gone to Morocco, where they stayed for three weeks in April. They also rode the Trans-Siberian railway, cruised the Amazon river and went on a photographic safari in Africa.

A program by Dr. and Mrs. Robert Kuster on East Africa is scheduled for June 18. Pamela Brakhage will discuss her trip to Spain July 16.

Anyone interested in talking about their travels to interesting places can call Chamley at the Cape Girardeau Public Library at 334-5279.