Vol. 9 No 19 May 10, 2007

OFF THE SHELF
A WEEKLY LIBRARY NEWSLETTER
Vol. 9 No 19 May 10, 2007

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"That I can read and be happy while I am reading, is a great blessing. Could I have remembered, as some men do, what I had read, I should be able to call myself an educated man."

Anthony Trollope
English novelist, 1815-1882



BEYOND SILVER BUCKLES
Every tribe has a creation myth and America's creation myth is the story of the Pilgrims. What do you think of when you think of the Pilgrims? Devout Englishmen and women in funny hats and square buckled shoes? Smiling Indians proffering peace pipes? In grade school, we were presented with a story that was inspiring and positive, one that emphasized the struggles of the Pilgrims and the friendship and assistance of the local Indians. Although some of what that mythology tells us is indeed true, the full truth is vastly more complicated.

"Beyond the fairytale images of the First Thanksgiving, most basic American history skips from the Mayflower's 1620 landing in Plymouth to the American Revolution, glossing over the rich and brawling century-and-a-half spanning these two events. In Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community and War, author Nathaniel Philbrick zeroes in on the first half-century, stripping away the myths associated with the Pilgrims and laying bare a fascinating tale of courage and deceit, of trusts forged and broken, of politics, religion, brutality, and war."

Philbrick indeed tells a story of courage and community, but also one of turbulence and violence, totally unlike the comforting story we know. As the author says in the preface to the book, "Instead of the story we already know, this is the story we need to know."

Mayflower is a fascinating book, and we are excited to have its National Book Award winning author, Nathaniel Philbrick, as this year's Helen Nigro Speaker. The Helen Nigro Speaker series is sponsored by the Reading Public Library Foundation and was named for Helen Nigro, in honor of her many contributions to the Library and to the community. Tickets are on sale at the Library now. The price is $10.00 for adults, $5.00 for students. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Library's endowment fund.

" An Evening with Nathaniel Philbrick" will take place on Friday, May 18, at 7:30 p.m. Please note that the event will be held at the Parker Middle School. Mr. Philbrick's books will be available for purchase at the event, and a book signing will follow (What a great gift idea for Father's Day!)


DRIVER SAFETY: GET THE FACTS!

Fact: Older drivers have the 2nd highest (crash) death rate per mile driven - only teens have a higher death rate resulting from car crashes.

Fact: Safety for older drivers is a public health issue. The more safe drivers there are on the road, the more everyone is safe.

Fact: The AARP Safe Driving program has helped millions of drivers to become better educated and remain safe on today's roads.

As we age, we all experience physical and mental changes, but sometimes these changes are not noticeable to us. We may be unaware that our reaction time is slower than it used to be or that certain medications may affect driving ability. Also, newer cars have features such as anti-lock brakes which require a change in driving habits, and can be hard to get used to.

The Library will be offering the AARP Safe Driving course this June at no charge to the participants. Although the usual cost for this program is $10.00 per person, the program is being offered free as a service provided by the LiveWires grant.

The AARP driver safety program will help you to:
•Tune up your driving skills and update your knowledge of the rules of the road.
•Learn about normal age-related physical changes, and how to adjust your driving to allow for these changes.
•Reduce the chances of having an accident that might cause injury to yourself or others.

The course consists of two classroom sessions which will be offered at the Library on June 9 and June 16. The instructor for the class will be Reading resident, Nancy Doherty. Each session is from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Coffee and light refreshments will be provided, or participants may bring their own snack to eat during the break

Please note that this is a classroom course. There is no actual driving and no test. There are only two days left to sign up! THE DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION IS MAY 11 (5:00 P.M). So call today to reserve your spot! To register, please stop by the Information Desk, register online, or call 781-942-6703.


FILLING THE EMPTY NEST
Mother's Day is this Sunday. It is a joyous day for many, a sad day for some, and for many women whose children are grown, it can be a time for mixed emotions. Children leaving home is a major life transition that can create many problems and challenges, as well as new opportunities in a marriage.

For a look at the lighter side of empty nest syndrome, join us for the next LiveWires Presents Book Discussion. The selected title is Second Honeymoon by Joanna Trollope. It is the story of Edie Boyd, a middle-aged, part-time actress and London mother of three, whose youngest is packing up and moving out. Husband Russell is delighted with the chance to rediscover and retune their marriage, but Edie can't quite face life (or herself) without being "Mum" on a daily basis. Not to worry: the children are soon overwhelmed by a series of romantic problems and financial troubles, and Edie is delighted when her wish to have her family back is suddenly granted. But of course, things don't go exactly as Edie had expected.

Trollope's plot examines the different stages of contemporary life and confronts some of the difficult realities: twentysomethings returning home and still dependent on their parents, women trying to reconcile babies and careers, men dealing with women who earn more than they do, and all the complications these engender. Although the book deals with many serious issues, it is funny and charming; its characters are flawed, but loveable.

Livewires Presents will meet on Tuesday evening, May 15, to discuss Second Honeymoon. The discussion will be facilitated by Mary McDonough,Social Work Chief at Beth Israel Hospital. The program begins at 7:00 p.m. and refreshments will be served. Books and films in the LiveWires Presents series are especially chosen to be relevant to people age 55 and up, but all adults are welcome. I hope you will join us!


BE A FRIEND!
Wouldn't now be a great time to join the Friends? For information about how to join the Friends, go to

http://www.readingpl.org/membership.html



CHILDREN'S ROOM CHANGES
The Children's Room has been rearranging things in order to make more space for even more great books for kids! All audiobooks (both CD and cassette) are now in the hall across from the Meeting Room. The Large Print collection is now next to Biography. New Books have taken over both shelving units near the main entrance to the Children's Room, pushing the International materials to the first section of Reference. As always, if you have any trouble locating what you need, just ask! We love to help you!


LAST CALL FOR VOLUNTEENS
Applications for the Summer Volunteen program must be submitted by this Saturday, May 12, at 5:00 p.m. Enrollment is limited for this extremely popular program.

To be a Volunteen, a student must be willing to work a minimum of ten hours during the summer. Students will work the same two-hour shift each week, and may choose to work in either the Teen Spot or in the Children's Room. In addition to helping with the Summer Reading programs, duties may include shelving books, word processing, photocopying, filing, creating decorations, and helping with activities and events. All participants will be invited to an end-of-the-summer pizza party and will receive
certificates of appreciation.

Participating in the Summer Volunteen program is fun, provides an opportunity to make new friends, and give teens real work experience. If you (or someone you know) is interested in being a volunteen, submit your application today!


WEBSITE OF THE WEEK
The British Monarchy
http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/Page1.asp
Many Americans were fascinated with Queen Elizabeth's recent trip to Jamestown, Kentucky, and Washington D.C. Read more about this historical visit at the official website of the British Monarchy. You can also learn about the queen's daily life and official duties. The site includes biographies, photos, videos, and audios of the royal family and also images of the crown jewels, the royal art collections, and the stately palaces. Enjoy a virtual visit to all things royal!


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.

Friday, May 11: Registration Deadline for LiveWires AARP Driving Refresher Course. This free CLASSROOM safety course will be held in the meeting room and is designed for people aged 50+. (The usual $10 per person fee will be paid by the LiveWires grant.) Part I will be held on June 9 and Part II on June 16, each from 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Please register in person, online from the library calendar, or call 781-942-6703

Saturday, May 12: 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.

Saturday, May 12: Deadline for Volunteen Applications. All applications must be returned to the Library by 5:00 p.m.

Tuesday, May 15: Monthly Book Delivery to Longwood Place. 11:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

Tuesday, May 15: LiveWires Presents. LivesWires is a monthly series of programs for active, older adults featuring books, movies, and special guests. Discover new options for the next chapter of life! Tonight's program features a discussion of the book, The Second Honeymoon by Joanna Trollope. The discussion will be facilitated by Mary McDonough, Social Worker at Beth Israel Hospital, Boston. Light refreshments will be served. This event is free and open to all. 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.

Wednesday, May 16: Computer Spring Cleaning Part 2. The second part of the series will cover how to backup your computer using your Windows XP utilities, as well as backup storage options, so that you have a clean and tidy copy of your data to fall back on just in case. Pre-register at the Information Desk, or call 781-942-6703. 7:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Thursday, May 17: The Not-Too-Stuffy Book Group for Seniors meets to discuss Welcome to the World, Baby Girl by Fannie Flagg. 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, May 17: Conversation Group for English Learners. 7:00 p.m.-8:45 p.m.


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 www.readingpl.org