Potluck Book Club and Library News

The Solomon Wright Library in Pownal held a potluck for its December meeting. Members discussed books they had read and would recommend to others for enjoyment and gifts. Good discussions and good company!

The Library benefits three ways– a feel good program without much work in December; a list they can post and distribute with community choices; an easy newsletter article featuring readers at the library.

Here is the list of books discussed:
Two books by Michael Cox, published in paperback in 2009 Gothic thrillers, a bit of Dickensian style:

Glass of Time and Meaning of Night

Saratoga Trunk- Edna Ferber( who won the Pulitzer Prize for “So Big”)…. romance and a look at nearby Saratoga in the 1800′s… Gary Cooper and Ingrid Bergman were in the movie. An oldie but a goodie read!

Last Lecture by Randy Pausch “We can not change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand…..”

Have a Little Faith -Mitch Albom –Inspirational read.

19 Minutes: Jodi Picoult–Again Picoult addresses a contemporary issue (bullying and school violence) and her readers can work on their views of the problem as they read her novel.

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver–Eating food grown locally and seasonally…. inspirational gardening.

Wishing, Hoping: Christmas Story by Wally Lamb

Christmas Train ( 2004) by David Baldacci

Cellist of Sarajevo -Stephen Galloway Inspired by an actual event, Canadian author Galloway writes of how 4 people try to survive in war torn Sarajevo.

Half the Sky-Turning Oppression into Opportunities for Women worldwide: difficult read but awareness of these policies by governments and/or nationalities against women.

I remember nothing- Nora Ephron. Short read, humor and biographical., Harry meets Sally author.

At Home: Short History of Private life by Bill Bryson–Again you chuckle with this author as you learn these oddities that changed life at home… Bryson is fascinated with why….. and brings you along as one who wants to know also. All of his books are enjoyable nonfictions!

I Still Dream About You- Fannie Flagg Upbeat novel, happy ending, enjoyable and fast read

Small Island by Andrea Levy: won 3 prizes and deserves them! Great characters in England during and after WWII, characters from the “small” island of England and Jamaica. Author uses actual events to portray and propell the actions and illustrate the challenges in life at that time.

Sarah’s Key -Rosnay –novel about the fate of the French Jews in 1942 and how the story of one little girl affects a family 60 years later.

” We go as Captives: the Royalton Raid and the Shadow Ware on the Revolutionary Frontier ” by Neil Goodwin Learn a bit more about Vermont history, captive Zadock Steele, good research.. just published this fall.

You are welcome to come and read with us…. 7pm at the library 2nd Thursday of each month.

Bring your coffee, tea, and enjoy the informal discussions…

Linda Hall, Director
Solomon Wright Public Library
Serving the Community !

Museum Passes

Vermont State Parks, Vermont Historic Sites, and the Echo Museum have created passes for public libraries. Many libraries also have passes to local museums and historical sites around the state available for lending. To advertise the passes and explain reserves, policies and usage, Lawrence Memorial Library in Bristol created a brochure for patrons.

Lawrence Memorial staff contact area museums by email or letter and most supply a free pass. In return for the free pass, the Library tracks use and reports to each museum. Two sites, Chimney Point and Mt Independence, gave permission to the Library to design a pass for the site allowing admission. The Library works on this project in the spring, before families come looking for weekend entertainment.

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Kindle Contract

We previously posted about how libraries are now lending expensive equipment (such as Kindles, MP3 players, Flip cameras, etc.).  Here is a Kindle Contract that Barton Public Library has patrons sign before they can check out a Kindle.

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Sharing on the Front Porch

Front porch somewhere...

Libraries around the state are using local networking on Front Porch Forum to spread the word. Victoria Tibbits at the Westford Public Library posts a half page announcement every week about what’s new. Linda Hall at the Solomon Wright Public Library in Pownal uses Front Porch to ask for volunteer barcoders, promote the library book club and announce the library’s museum passes.
Front Porch Forum operates on a community basis, a moderated forum just for Vermont residents.

Banned Books Week

Take a tip from Vermont librarians last year, and try an easy exhibit to celebrate Banned Books Week, September 25−October 2, 2010. For more information, see the official ALA link. Here’s a short list of some ideas.

Springfield Town Library, pictured above, went for brown paper bag covers and a challenge,”Don’t READ these books.”

The St Johnsbury Academy put together a display of banned/challenged books blocked with Police Do Not Cross tape. Several students and faculty checked out books from the display.

At the Waterbury Public Library, the display of books included red buttons with the message “I read banned books.” Any patron checking out a banned book was given a button to wear.

Marilee Attley at Brattleboro Union High School created a Caution banner with “Ideas inside” “May be eye-opening” to highlight Banned Books and about 10 titles with the reasons they were challenged.

The Rockingham Free Public Library created a circus poster frame for a live action display showing local people reading banned books.

Adopt-A-Dewey Program

Grafton Public Library held an “Adopt-A-Dewey” Program to fill in empty areas of their nonfiction collection.

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Rapid Reviews redux

Mary White, director of the Howe Library and previously of the library at Marlboro College, has used the Rapid Reviews format in two different libraries. The Marlboro College version: faculty members and library staff choose favorite books to talk about. The presentations happen before final exams– when students need a quick break.

Mary revamped the idea for outreach in Hanover, NH. She created a program for the Rotary Club by having staff choose favorites a few months in advance; making sure the library had a copy of every book; creating a list in alphabetical order; and then holding the program. At the Rotary meeting, staff members reviewed their books, moving down the list in order. After the reviews, Rotarians could check out any of the books on the spot. (Staff just noted names and did the actual work back at the library.) Everyone went home with the list of the books– which included room to jot notes as the reviewers went along.

The Rapid Review format is a quick positive book talk, just enough information to whet the reader’s appetite. Allow about one to two minutes for each book.

Swine flu, H1N1, and public libraries

Vermont 2-1-1 is working closely with the Vermont Department of Health and Vermont Emergency Management to help provide public information about H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu). General questions about H1N1 Flu or other health concerns related to the outbreak can be answered by dialing 2-1-1. Use the Vermont 2-1-1 link to reach other useful medical websites with information on Vermont and the world. The Vermont Department of Health link includes Vermont health alerts as well as good planning advice.

The CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has a long informative webpage on the vaccine, H1N1, and related issues. CDC free resources include public health posters on hand-washing and coughs, which the Norman Williams Public Library in Woodstock uses in their public restrooms.

Should public libraries ask patrons to leave if they are sick? LibraryLaw Blog says no. Librarians cannot diagnose H1N1. So, post signs, wipe down keyboards, and offer hand sanitizer and kleenex.

The Rockingham Free Public Library last year distributed a notice to parents. The message: if you’re too sick to be at school, you’re too sick to visit the library. Librarian Sam Maskell offers to select materials for pickup and reminds users of the themed bookbags with audio, video, and books. Sam is considering health programming, with a storytime about hand washing (“Germs are Not for Sharing”, by Elizabeth Verdick, “Wash your Hands!” By Tony Ross, or “Don’t You Feel Well, Sam?” by Amy Hest).

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Add Video to Your Website

YouTube and other video channels offer immediate gratification. Vermont librarians experimented with Windows Movie Maker, iMovie and Audacity to create these library promotional features September 2, 2009. The software is free, so the major library expense is time. “RFPL, What Can We Do for You?” was created by Sam Maskell and teens at the Rockingham Free Public Library.

Created by Barb Shenton at the Rochester Public Library.

Created by Sam Maskell at the Rockingham Free Public Library.