Vol. 9 No 26 July 12, 2007

OFF THE SHELF
A WEEKLY LIBRARY NEWSLETTER
Vol. 9 No 26 July 12, 2007



QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"To me, the greatest pleasure of writing is not what it's about, but the music the words make."
Truman Capote



HOW TO 'TOON
Teen Summer Reading Program will be offering a Cartoon Workshop this Saturday, July 14, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. In this three-hour workshop, students will work on the development of a short story with their own character designs. Students, create your own superheroes, wonder women, evil villains, fabulous beasts, and supporting characters. It’s a fun way to spend the afternoon…so get creative and express yourself!

The class will include cartooning basics, outlining, and coloring as well as character and story development. Students must be entering grades 6-12 and be a Reading resident. To sign up, please stop by the Information Desk, or call 781-942-6703.



WHAT’S YOUR STORY?
These days, journalism takes many forms: the written word, photographs, radio reports, video clips, online articles, news blogs, podcasts, even poetry or musical compositions. Whatever the format, the news plays an extremely powerful role in enlightening and informing people in our society.

Over four weeks this summer, high school students in Reading will have an exciting opportunity to be a part of the world of local and national news. The Reading Public Library will be partnering with NBC News and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to present a journalism contest for students ages 13-18.

Students are invited to create a piece of original work that relates a local Reading story to a larger, national news story. Participants will receive assistance from NBC news producers, and are encouraged to create their story using either a traditional format or a non-traditional format such as video, audio or computer software (garage band, flickr, blogger, etc) Their stories will be judged by top NBC News personnel, possibly including Nightly News anchor Brian Williams or Meet the Press host Tim Russert. First prize is a trip to the set of NBC nightly news in New York City!

To find out all about it, students should come to a Sign Up Meeting which will be held on Monday, July 16, 2007 at 6:00 in the Library Meeting Room. (Students who cannot attend that session, can get more information about the competition by emailing MIT researcher Jason Haas @ jhaas@mit.edu, or by contacting the Reading Public Library Information Desk.) The competition will run from July 16 to August 13 and is open to high school students who either live in or go to school in Reading. The sign up period will close July 20th.

The Library is proud to be part of this creative and exciting program! Maybe your teen will be the next Tom Brokaw or Barbara Walters!



SUMMER READING ROLLS ON
The Children’s Summer Reading program continues with lots of great reading and events! This week children ages 4 to 8 are invited to enjoy a visit from Michele DeMartinis, director of Michele's Music School, as she presents a program of singing, movement, hands-on instrument play, simple music theory activities, drama and more! Just drop in! The program is on Tuesday, July 17 from 10:15 to 11.a.m.

Also coming up next week is the Annual Family Picnic on Thursday evening, July 19, starting at 6:00 p.m. Bring your own picnic supper and join us on the Library lawn for outdoor games and fun. Keep your fingers crossed for good weather! Event will be canceled in case of rain.

For other upcoming Summer Reading events, including geocaching and sign up for the Readers Theater, please check the calendar below or the Library’s website:

http://www.readingpl.org/kids2007SRPschedule.html

Don’t forget: Saturday, July 14, is the deadline for the Certainly Woods Creative Writing Contest! Authors should write their name, grade in the fall, and phone number on the back of their stories. Stories must be turned in at the Children Room Desk by 5:00 p.m.



GET THE SCOOP!
On Thursday, July 19, Librarian Nancy Aberman will be presenting a special program on new books for summer reading. This is a fun program and a wonderful opportunity to find out about great new books, personally recommended by Nancy!

Here are just a few of the titles and authors that Nancy will be discussing:

Burning Bright by Tracy Chevalier
The Woods by Harlan Coben
Lean Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich
Body Surfing by Anita Shreve
Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult
Kabul Beauty School by Deborah Rodriguez
The Diana Chronicles by Tina Brown
And lots more!

The program will be held at the Senior Center, is open to all, and will begin at 1:00 p.m. Stop by to get some cool suggestions for summer reading---and a cool ice cream treat!



COUNTDOWN TO MAGIC
Join the party on July 20 at 11:45 p.m. Harry Potter fans of all ages will want to stay up late and be the first to read the last installment of the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling! All ages, children through adults, can join the fun by coming dressed as a favorite Harry Potter character. If you have already pre-purchased a copy of the new book at the Library, you can pick it up at midnight. Please bring your coupon!

Also, the Library will contact the first group of customers who have "holds" on library copies of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, so that they can check out their books at midnight. (You will be called by the circulation staff or notified by email if you are a member of this lucky group). Other Harry Potter happenings include live readings, an opportunity to take a quiz to see which "house" you belong in, Potter puzzles, and of course, butterbeer! So take a nap and spend midnight at the Library!

There’s only eight days to go! For those of you who are counting the hours, go to http://www.scholastic.com/harrypotter/activities/index.htm. This site provides a countdown clock you can download to your desktop!


COLOR GUARD INTRODUCTION
Did you know that 7th & 8th graders can join COLOR GUARD? You don't need any special skills to join. Anyone can learn how to spin a flag! Join members of the championship RMHS color guard at the Reading Public Library on Monday, July 23 from 2:00-3:30 p.m. for a free clinic to see what it's all about! (Rain date 7/30)



EVERY DAY IS SATURDAY
“I awoke at the usual time and went downstairs. My wife was cooking breakfast. We ate breakfast and small talked about how yesterday’s day went. She asked me about my last day at work. We chatted about our three children. In about 45 minutes, we covered every possible topic we had in common. I glanced at my watch. It was 8:30 in the morning, and I couldn’t think of a single subject with which to engage my wife in conversation. It was my first day of retirement."

Pat Paciello
Has Anyone Seen My Reading Glasses?

When Pat Paciello began planning his retirement he read lots of books and articles, but found most of them to be dry, somber, and complicated: “almost like reading college textbooks.” So he began working on his own version of a retirement guide, one specifically geared to baby boomers. The result was Has Anyone Seen My Reading Glasses?: the Humorous and Slightly Informative Chronicles of a Retired Baby Boomer, a book filled with anecdotes and funny stories as well as practical information.

On Tuesday, July 24, LiveWires presents author Pat Paciello who will provide a lighter look at retirement by sharing his experiences, advice, insights, tips, and stories. From financial strategies to physical fitness, Pat Paciello will both educate and entertain you. Bring your sense of humor! The program begins at 7:00 p.m. We hope to see you there!



WEBSITE OF THE WEEK

Games to Play on the Go
http://www.kidsdomain.com/craft/_travel.html

Although this site is busy with ads, there are some great ideas for games to printout or make ahead for those long travel times in the car. Although it requires some planning ahead to print out and create some of the activities, the planning time required is well worth it when you can cut down on the “Are we there yet?” whine time!



BE A FRIEND!
The FRIENDS welcome new members and need your support. Won't you join the Friends today? It's only $15 for an individual membership and $25 for a family. And you can also support the FRIENDS by buying a book bag for $15.00-it makes a great gift! For information about how to join the FRIENDS, go to

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


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,

Friday, July 13: Preschool Films. Enjoy some great short films based on picture books! For preschoolers and caregivers. No registration necessary. 10:15 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.

Saturday, July 14: Cartoon Workshop for Reading Teens. In this 3-hour workshop, students will work on the development of a short story with their own character designs. This is a hands-on drawing workshop class. All students will receive a handout and other inspirational materials will be available for students to browse. REGISTRATION REQUIRED (Limit 18). Students must be entering grades 6-12 and be a Reading resident. 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Saturday, July 14: Deadline for Children’s Writing Contest. Sponsored by Certainly Wood and the Reading Public Library Children’s Room. For children entering grades 2-6. 5:00 p.m.

Tuesday, July 17: Sing, Move, Create & Groove! Enjoy a visit with Michele DeMartinis, director of Michele's Music School, as she presents a program of singing, movement, hands-on instrument play, simple music theory activities, drama and more! For ages 4-8 and adults too! Free, no registration necessary. 10:15 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Tuesday, July 17: Monthly Book Delivery to Longwood Place. 11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Wednesday, July 18: Registration Begins for Reader’s Theater (8/1 and 8/22). For children entering grades 3 to 6.

Wednesday, July 18: Geocaching for Families. Go on your own quest and find treasure in the woods! Learn about geocaching, the game/sport that uses GPS or direction-following and hiking to find a hidden cache. Experienced geocacher, Andrea Mercado, will tell you just how to do it! For children entering grades 3 and up with their families. 7:30 p.m. - 8:15 p.m.

Thursday, July 19: “Get the Scoop.” Want to “Get the Scoop” on some good reading for the summer? Visit the Senior Center where Nancy Aberman, Adult Services Librarian at the Reading Public Library, will bring some new books, fiction and non-fiction, and tell a little about them to whet your reading appetite. Enjoy free ice cream too. 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Thursday, July 19: Teen Crafternoon. Join us for an afternoon of creative crafts. This is a FREE drop-in event for students entering grades 6-12. Stop by, bring a friend! THIS WEEK: Marble Magnets 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Thursday, July 19: Summer Picnic for Families. Bring your dinner and picnic on the lawn of the Library. Games and fun will follow! (Sorry, no rain date) 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Thursday, July 19: DDR for Teens. Drop-in DDR (Dance, Dance Revolution) for students in entering grades 6-12. Stop by, bring a friend and have some fun! Refreshments will be served! 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 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.