Vol. 9 No 27 July 19, 2007

OFF THE SHELF
A WEEKLY LIBRARY NEWSLETTER
Vol. 9 No 27 July 19, 2007


QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"I was born in Manchester's Central Library. In the Crime section."

Steven Patrick Morrissey
English singer and songwriter



SUMMER PICNIC TONIGHT!
Bring your own picnic supper and join us on the Library’s lawn for outdoor games and fun, starting at 6:00p.m. Keep your fingers crossed for good weather! Event will be canceled in case of rain.



REPORT IT NOW! MIT-NBC JOURNALISM COMPETITION - SIGN UP BY MONDAY, JULY 23
If you couldn't make it to the Kick-Off meeting on Monday night (as mentioned in last week's issue of Off The Shelf), there's still time to get involved! To sign up, stop by the Information Desk at the library and pick up a packet, fill it out, make sure your parent or guardian signs it, and return it to us by Monday, July 23.

If you picked up forms at the Kick-Off meeting, please return your signed forms to the Information Desk at the library by Monday, July 23.

Once we have your information, you'll be added to the "MIT-NBC/Reading Public Library Journalism Competition" Facebook group (which is limited to competition participants, MIT competition administrators, and NBC producers/journalists ONLY), where all ongoing information about the competition will be posted.

Don't forget, there are office hours TONIGHT, July 19, from 5-7 p.m. Jason Haas from MIT will be around to help. If you have any questions, feel free to contact librarians Susan Beauregard at rdgteen@noblenet.org or Andrea Mercado at mercado@noblenet.org.

*Mark Your Calendars!*
Length of the entire competition: July 16 - August 13
Deadline to sign up: Monday, July 23

Office Hours - Stop by, ask questions, brainstorm ideas, get help
Thursday, July 19, 5-7 p.m.
Wednesday, July 25, 2-4 p.m.
Thursday, July 26, 5-7 p.m.
Wednesday, August 1, 2-4 p.m.
Thursday, August 2, 5-7 p.m.

NBC Producer workshop sessions - A producer from NBC in NYC will present a program on journalism here at Reading Public Library, with time afterwards for questions and advice for participant projects.
Tuesday, July 24, 5-7 p.m.
Tuesday, July 31, 5-7 p.m.

PROJECTS DUE: August 6, 6 p.m.
Judging period: August 7 - August 12
Winners Announced: August 13, 6 p.m.!

Some lucky teenager from Reading will be winning a trip to New York City and a visit to the set of NBC News!



WILD ABOUT HARRY!
Everyone is wild about Harry Potter! As the date of the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows draws near, the excitement is building. Friday night is the night, and the Reading Public Library is the place to be.

The Library will close at its usual time (5:00p.m.) and will reopen at 11:45 p.m. There will be live readings, an opportunity to take a quiz to see which "house" you belong in, Potter puzzles, butterbeer and other refreshments, and of course, at exactly midnight the opportunity to pick up your copy of the latest and last installment in the Harry Potter series.

People who have pre-purchased copies of the book at the Library should bring the coupon that they were given at the time of purchase. Their coupons will be redeemed for books at the stroke of midnight. 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 library staff or notified by email if you are a member of this lucky group)

Feel free to dress in your Hogwarts best!



SUMMER SATURDAYS
What do you do on summer Saturdays? Go to the beach? Check out some yard sales? Work on the lawn? Do chores around the house? We want to remind you that the Library is open on Saturdays all summer long. So add “Stop by the Library” to your list of good things to do on a summer Saturday!

Library hours are 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday through Wednesday; 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Thursdays; and 9:00 a.m. to 5:00p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Select some books for vacation reading, choose a great film for weekend viewing, pick up audiobooks for those long trips in the car, or use our computers to catch up on your email and web browsing. Books, films, technology and help---it’s all @ your library!



LIFE (PART 2)
Retirement conjures up various emotions and thoughts for the Boomers of today. Many of us are viewing this milestone with a curious mixture of anticipation and anxiety. As much as we enjoy dreaming of the day when our time is our own, we also fear the unknown and worry about finances, health issues, and how we will find meaningful activities and fulfillment.

Relax! Meet Pat Paciello! Pat retired at the age of fifty and is the author of Has Anyone Seen My Reading Glasses?: the Humorous and Slightly Informative Chronicles of a Retired Baby Boomer. Pat will be our guest when LiveWires presents a look at “Humor in Retirement,” on Tuesday evening, July 24 at 7:00p.m.

From financial strategies to physical fitness, Pat Paciello will both educate and entertain you. Bring your sense of humor! This program is sure to be informative, helpful and fun!! Be there! Copies of Mr. Paciello’s book will be available for sale at the event (cash or check only). An autographed copy would probably make a great gift for someone you know!



AUTHOR! AUTHOR!
On July 26, at 7:30p.m., there will be an Ice Cream Party to celebrate the great stories written by approximately 100 young authors who participated in this year’s Magical Story Writing Contest, co-sponsored by Certainly Wood and Reading Public Library. All participants and their families are invited to attend the party. Prizes will be awarded to the winners in each age group, and lots of great stories will be read!

Other events coming up next week in the Children’s Summer Reading Program include preschool films, pajama storytimes, and Harry Potter Party #2 (pre-registration required) Registration begins for Tea Party at the Castle on Wednesday, July 25.

Children who have not already registered for the Summer Reading Program, may still sign up. Registration will be ongoing throughout the summer, at the Magical Academy (Children’s Room Desk)!



THINGS FOUND IN BOOKS
I have read that one of the strangest things found in a library book was a piece of bacon! As far as I know, we have never had anyone use bacon as a bookmark here, but we have had family photos, tickets stubs, blank checks, a maple leaf, Popsicle sticks, Q-tips, and even dental floss!

Most recently we found a sum of money and a letter from “Mom” to her daughter in a returned volume of Catch 22 by Joseph Heller. If you were reading a library copy of Catch 22 recently and think that the money might belong to you, please call Library Director Ruth Urell, at 781-944-0840.

Have you ever found a really odd item in a library book? Please email me at rplfeed@noblenet.org. I’d love to hear about it!

P.S.: Free bookmarks are available at the Circulation Desk, compliments of Reading Co-operative Bank. As well as helping you mark your page, these handy bookmarks also provide the Library’s hours, telephone number, and website address.



ANSWERING THE CALL
The Library is very fortunate to have a number of wonderful volunteers who help out with a wide variety of tasks. Currently we are looking for people who would be willing to serve as volunteer drivers for the senior delivery program.

Volunteer drivers deliver books and other library materials once a week to homebound library patrons and return their materials to the library. It is likely that there will be between 3 and 5 deliveries each week. If you are interested, please contact me at dickinso@noblenet.org, and please also fill out a volunteer application form the next time you are in the Library. (These are available at the Information Desk.)

This program makes Library materials available to those who might find coming to the Library difficult, or even impossible. Being a volunteer driver is easy, rewarding, and a great way to give back to your community!



TECH TIP: WHAT DOES "IN TRANSIT" MEAN?
by Andrea Mercado, Reference and Techie Librarian

Patrons often ask us "What does 'IN TRANSIT' mean as the status of a library book in the catalog? The online catalog can tell you many things about an item in our collection: the title, the author, where it lives on the shelf (the "CALL NO."), which NOBLE library owns the book (the "LOCATION"), how many pages are in the book, and more. But most importantly, it tells you whether or not the item is actually on the shelf, listed under "STATUS."

If an item is "IN TRANSIT," that means that the item is physically on its way from one library to another. IF you have a PIN number for your library card (you can obtain a PIN in person at the Circulation Desk),you can place a hold for the item through the online catalog. Or, you can call or visit the Information Desk, and we'll take care of it for you.

As for those other mysterious STATUS notations, here's a cheat sheet of definitions:

* ON SHELF - It's available! Or, it is at the moment.

* DUE mm/dd/yy - It's checked out, and due on the date listed.

* ON HOLDSHELF - It's already reserved at Circulation for someone else to pick up.

* LIB USE ONLY - It's for reference use only, can't be checked out.

* MISSING - It's AWOL, and we're looking for it.

* MENDING - It's damaged and is being repaired, so it's not available for checkout.

* DISPLAY - It's on a special display.

* RETURNED TODAY - It came back today. If you don't see it on the shelf, ask a librarian to help you

* STORAGE - It's in a special storage location which may or may not be readily available, depending on the library.


Please feel free to drop by the Information Desk for more information. Or, if you'd like a personalized tour of the catalog, sign up for a Netguide appointment at

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


WEBSITE OF THE WEEK
It’s Summer… Get Grilling! Here are a bunch of websites to get you going!

Grilling Basics - from Better Homes and Gardens
Weber.com - grilling techniques for propane and charcoal
Greener Grilling - your grilling and the environment
Vegetarian and Vegan Grilling - techniques and recipes
Grilled Fruit Recipes (delicious!)


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.! 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,

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) 6:00p.m. – 8:00p.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! 6:30p.m. – 8:00p.m.

Friday, July 20: Late night with Harry Potter. The library will be magically open for this very special event! Join us for live readings, refreshments, and the “The Sorting Hat” quiz, and pick up your pre-purchased copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows at midnight. Patrons in the first group of holds for library copies will be notified by e-mail or phone and can also pick up their copies that evening. 11:45p.m. - 12:30 a.m.

Friday, July 20: 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.

Monday, July 23: Pajama Storytime. Wear your PJs to the Library! Bring your teddy too and enjoy some great stories! For ages 4 - 7. No registration necessary. 7:00p.m. - 7:30p.m.

Tuesday, July 24: Harry Potter Party #2. Haven't had enough Harry Potter? Come celebrate the film and last book at our party! Quidditch, Honeydukes snacks and lots of fun for Muggles! Kids entering grades 3-6 can register starting July 10 in the Children's Room or by calling 781-942-6705. 3:30p.m. – 5:00p.m.

Tuesday, July 24: LiveWires Presents. Come hear Pat Paciello, the author of Has Anyone Seen My Reading Glasses? The Humorous and Slightly Informative Chronicles of a Retired Baby Boomer, offer his unique and fresh approach to the subject of retirement. With a great deal of humor, Pat will simultaneously entertain and educate the audience. This event is free and open to all. 7:00p.m.

Wednesday, July 25: Registration begins for Tea Party at the Castle (8/9). For children entering Grades 1 to 5.

Thursday, July 26: 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: Hemp & Bead Bracelets 3:00 p.m. – 4:00p.m.

Thursday, July 26: 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! 6:30p.m. – 8:00p.m.

Thursday, July 26: Ice Cream Party for all Writing Contest participants and their families. (see 7/14 deadline) 7:30p.m. – 8:30p.m.

Friday, July 27: 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.

Tuesday, July 31: Word of Mouth. Informal monthly discussion of what people have been reading lately 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m


That's all for now!

Elizabeth


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