Vol. 9 No 6 February 8, 2007

OFF THE SHELF
A WEEKLY LIBRARY NEWSLETTER
Vol. 9 No 6 February 8, 2007


QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“If you wish to make anything grow, you must understand it, and you must understand it in a very real sense.”
The Education of a Gardener
- Russell Page


LIVEWIRES: COFFEE AND MORE THINKING ABOUT TOMORROW
Legal issues can be intimidating. Sometimes you need to hire an attorney, but often all you need is good legal information. Even if you plan to consult a legal professional, it helps to do some homework ahead of timeon the topics you want to discuss.

This month’s Coffee and More event features “Legal Issues for Boomers and Beyond,” a program which will discuss common legal issues facing people at midlife (and beyond). This program will answer many commonly asked questions such as: How do I get a health care proxy? Do I need a living trust? How do I protect my income?

Brian Snell, principal attorney of the Law Office of Brian C. Snell located in North Reading, will facilitate the program. Attorney Snell concentrates in Estate Planning, Probate and Trust Administration, Guardianships and Elder Law. Mr. Snell will provide an overview of the issues and prepare you with information that will help you make the most of your attorney visits.

“Legal issues for Boomers and Beyond” will take place on Tuesday,February 13, at 10:00 a.m. Join us for coffee, refreshments, and aninformative look at the law. Grab a cub of coffee and let’s talk!

P.S. The Library and Attorney Snell wish to advise participants that the purpose of this program is to provide an overview of the legal issues, not to give specific legal advice.


CONFEDERATES IN THE ATTIC
Bibliobabblers, the Library’s Adult Book Discussion group, will meet on Tuesday evening, February 13, to discuss Confederates in the Attic, a fascinating look at the Civil War and its continuing influence. You are invited to join the discussion! The program begins at 7:00 p.m. and will be led by Peggy White. Books are available at the Library.


THE NOT TOO STUFFY BOOK CLUB
The Not Too Stuffy Book Club for Seniors will meet on Thursday, February 15 at the Senior Center. The book chosen for this month’s discussion is Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand. Seabiscuit is the extraordinary tale ofthe American public's romance with a horseracing legend. The time is the 1930’s, a time when America needed a hero. An unattractive thoroughbred, trained by a long-time cowboy, owned by a car salesman, and ridden by a jockey blind in one eye, stepped up and captured the hearts and minds of the public. This is a great read even for those who have never attended a horse race! Join the discussion at the Senior Center at 1:00 p.m. Deirdre Reilly will lead the group.


LIVEWIRES PRESENTS: NIGHT GARDENING
Our next LiveWires Presents event will be a discussion of the book Night Gardening by E.L. Swann. It is the story of Maggie Flaherty Welles and how her garden brought her both joy and self-discovery.

As the novel opens, Maggie's life has fallen into ruin. A "cerebral drama," her own description of her debilitating stroke, has left Maggie shaky in mind and body. She cannot walk. She can barely talk. And she finds herself reluctant to make the monumental efforts necessary to improve her situation. The beautiful garden Maggie created years ago behind her house is also in disrepair. Even the old stonewall which hasprovided privacy is crumbling away after decades of harsh Boston winters.

On the other side of the ancient stonewall, a talented landscape architect has been hired to create a stunning new garden for Maggie's wealthy neighbors. Tristan glimpses Maggie's garden and is entranced by its potential. He meets Maggie and is enraptured by what he describes to himself as "ghosts of wildness." The two begin to meet secretly after sundown for what they both come to call their “night gardening.”

As the garden begins to flourish with this care, so does Maggie. She learns that what she is doing in the garden, she can also do in her own life. E. L. Swann has created a book for us not only to learn from, but also to treasure. It is a story of growth, hope and second chances that will surely resonate in the hearts of readers.

LiveWires is the Library’s new program for people age 55 and up. If you are a “boomer or beyond,” this program is for you! The discussion will be held on Tuesday, February 27 at 7:00 p.m. and will be led by Marie Ammer, Town of Reading Social Worker. This event is free and noregistration is necessary. Light refreshments will be served. I hope to see you there!


CALLING ALL BOOK GROUPS!
On Monday, March 5 at 7:00 p.m. the Library will be hosting a very special event: Author Mary–Ann Tirone Smith will be HERE to discuss her best-selling book, Girls of Tender Age. Read the book now, and discuss it with the author! You can reserve a copy by calling 781-942-6703. The event will also feature the opportunity to find out what other book groups are reading, and tips on how to find the best book discussion questions. It’s a book group gala!

The event is free, but space is limited. Free tickets (limit of two per person) are available now at the Circulation Desk. You do not need to belong to a book group to join in the fun.

Here’s what the Washington Post had to say about Girls of Tender Age:
“with intelligence, disarming humor, and deep affection for the families and neighborhoods of the 1950’s, Girls of Tender Age speaks eloquently on behalf of children and confronts the crippling silences that damage us in any era.”

The Boston Globe calls it a “beautiful memoir….riveting, suspenseful”

Sounds great, doesn’t it? So mark your calendars, and get your tickets today!


MAGAZINE GIVEAWAY
The Library’s annual magazine giveaway will be held Saturday, February17, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Magazines are grouped by title, and will be offered free of charge on a first come, first served basis. So--- all you craft, car, or travel buffs, you nursery school, home school, or public school teachers, you scout troop leaders and recreation directors, ---here’s an opportunity to stockpile hundreds of photographs, articles, advertisements, and artwork, all for free!

Publications include Consumer Reports, Cooking Light, Gourmet, In Style, The New Yorker, Oprah, Reader's Digest (Large Print), Old House Journal and more. Come early and please bring your own bags!


NEW SEMINAR OFFERING ON GLOBAL WARMING
The Reading Advisory Committee for Cities for Climate Protection (ACCCP) is delighted to sponsor a 4-week seminar on “Global Warming: Changing the CO2URSE.” Developed by the Northwest Earth Institute (NWEI) in Portland, Oregon, the course will begin on Tuesday, February 27 and run for four consecutive Tuesdays culminating with a celebration evening on Tuesday, April 3.

The location will be the upstairs lounge at the Reading Senior Center, 49 Pleasant Street. The time is somewhat flexible according to the wishes of the participants, but will run approximately from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. The cost of the course is $15.00, which covers the informative reading material provided by the NWEI.

The four sessions titled “Off Course,” “Collision Course,” “Changing Course,” and lastly, “Setting a New Course,” each contain six to seven readings by acclaimed authors on the subject. At each session, participants discuss the readings and share their personal experiences. Ideas are shared in a friendly, dynamic setting. All views are respected; all learners gain from hearing and sharing the ideas of others.

If you would like to join the group, please telephone Ron D’Addario at 781-439-9146. Please leave your name and number, and someone will return your call.


FIVE BOOKS ON GLOBAL WARMING: CHECK THEM OUT!
An Inconvenient Truth: The Planetary Emergency of Global Warming and What We Can Do About It by Al Gore. (2006). Also available in DVD.

Field Notes from a Catastrophe: Man, Nature, and Climate Change by Elizabeth Kolbert. (2006). Also available on CD (unabridged)

Hell and High Water: Global Warming - The Solution and the Politics - and What We Should Do by Joseph J. Romm. (2007)

The Ravaging Tide: Strange Weather, Future Katrinas, and the Coming Death of America's Coastal Cities by Mike Tidwell. (2006)

The Weather Makers: How Man Is Changing the Climate and What It Means for Life on Earth by Tim Flannery. (2005). Also available as a downloadable eAudiobook.

To reserve any of the books listed above, call 781-942-6703.


JUST DROP IN!
The Children’s Services Department is piloting a series of drop in storytimes during the month of February. Programs include songs, fingerplays, puppet play and other activities, as well as lots of wonderful stories. Drop in storytimes will be held on Mondays. Two years olds and their caregivers are invited to drop in at 9:30 a.m. Three-year-old storytime starts at 10:15 a.m. Each session is approximately 30 minutes. No registration necessary.


LAST CALL FOR VALENTINES
Children who attend REAP (Reading Extended -Day Activities Program) have created some lovely hand-made valentines which are for sale at the Library. Valentines are $1.00 each . Proceeds from the valentine sale go to support the Library's programs and services. So…look for the valentine display at the Circulation Desk!


WEBSITE OF THE WEEK
Black History Hotlist
http://www.kn.sbc.com/wired/BHM/bh_hotlist.html
This Black History month you can investigate dozens of Internet sites on the Black History Hotlist. Explore links to sites on various topics, issues, incidences, people, poetry and historical events. Interesting websites include those about Buffalo soldiers, the Million Man March, church burnings, Martin Luther King, Jr. speeches and Rita Dove’s poetry. The hotlist is from the AT&T Knowledge Network Explorer education program.


NEW BOOKS, MOVIES, AND MORE
To see the list of library materials purchased this month, follow this link: http://www.readingpl.org/lists.html


WHAT’S HAPPENING @ YOUR LIBRARY!
All events listed take place at the Reading Public Library, 64 Middlesex Avenue, Reading, unless otherwise noted.

Thursday, February 8: Conversation Group for English Learners. 7:00 p.m.– 8:45 p.m.

Saturday, February 10: Chess for Kids. Bring a chess set. An experienced high school chess player will be on hand to answer questions and suggest strategies. No registration necessary. For grades 2 and up. 2:00 p.m. –3:00 p.m.

Monday, February 12: Drop-in Storytime for 2 year olds and their caregivers. No registration necessary. No Storytime if school is cancelled for inclement weather. 9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

Monday, February 12: Drop-in Storytime for 3 year olds and their caregivers. No registration necessary. No Storytime if school is cancelled for inclement weather. 10:15 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.

Tuesday, February 13: LiveWires: Coffee and More. Grab a cup of coffeeand let's talk! Today's featured speaker is Brian Snell, a local attorney, who will discuss legal issues for 'boomers and beyond.' Please join us for a casual cup of coffee and some great conversation. 10:00a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Tuesday, February 13: Bibliobabblers (Adult Book Discussion Group) meets to discuss Confederates in the Attic by Tony Horwitz. Led by Peggy White. Copies of this book are available at the Circulation Desk. All are welcome and no registration is necessary. 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Thursday, February 15: The Not-Too-Stuffy Book Club for Seniors meets to discuss Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand. Led by Deirdre Reilly, local columnist and radio show host. Copies of the book will be available at the Senior Center Book Nook or at the Library. 1:00 p.m. at the Senior Center Lounge

Thursday, February 15: Conversation Group for English Learners. 7:00 p.m. – 8:45 p.m.

Friday, February 16: Infant Toddler Sing-along with Peter Sheridan. No registration necessary. Sponsored by the Friends of the Reading Public Library. 10:15 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.

Saturday, February 17: Annual Magazine Giveaway. Come early and bring a bag to take home older magazine issues that are being discarded by the Library. 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Monday, February 19: Library Closed for President’s Day Holiday

That’s all for now,
Elizabeth

LIBRARY HOURS
Mondays 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Tuesdays 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Wednesdays 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Thursdays 1 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Fridays 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Saturdays 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Please drop us a line at rplfeed@noblenet.org to let us know what you think. Visit the RPL website at http://www.readingpl.org/