Vol. 9; No. 34 September 27, 2007

OFF THE SHELF
A WEEKLY LIBRARY NEWSLETTER
Vol. 9; No. 34 September 27, 2007



QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“No human being ever spoke of scenery for above two minutes at a time, which makes me suspect that we hear too much about it in literature.”

Robert Louis Stevenson



ALL ABOUT THE ELEVATOR
The good news is that the elevator part which needed replacement has been produced and the installation is scheduled for next Monday, October 1. The bad news is that installing this part will take approximately two weeks and will include some unavoidable noise. We are so sorry for the inconvenience this problem has caused, and are just as anxious as you are for it to be resolved! Please bear with us a little bit longer!



TRAVEL TALK!
On Wednesday evening, October 10, the Friends of the Library will present "Images of Morocco," a slide show with Joan Nelson on her trip to Morocco. As you view Joan’s slides, you will learn about this world of date palms and desert, walled villages and Berber families, a country full of contrasting images, exotic sights, and strange smells. It is a world that most of us will never see and may even find hard to imagine. Travel to the Land of 1001 Nights! The program begins at 7:00 p.m.

Travel Talk is sponsored by the Friends of the Library in memory of the late Bill McLaughlin, who was very active with the Friends during his lifetime, and was for many years host of the Library’s Coffee Hour program.



LAMBDA ALPHA GAMMA?
Lambda Alpha Gamma stands for Library Advisory Group, a forum for students in grades 6-8 to help innovate, plan, and present programming and services for their fellow tweens with the guidance of the Young Adult Librarians and other library staff. The group will contribute to everything, from what to buy for the collection to planning fun programs and events just for tweens. It’s a great chance for tweens to get together with friends, make new friends, AND make a difference! The first meeting of Lambda Alpha Gamma will be held on Saturday, October 13 at 11:00 a.m.


SIGMA LAMBDA ALPHA?
Sigma Lambda Alpha stands for Senior Library Advisors. Students in grades 9-12 are invited to be part of this new and exciting group at the Library. Teens will have a chance to contribute to the collection, work on special projects, and create and manage innovative programs. Time spent working with Sigma Lambda Alpha is a terrific way to earn community service and volunteer hours! The first meeting of Sigma Lambda Alpha will be held on Saturday, October 13 at 3:00 p.m.

To join either advisory group, please contact Young Adult Librarians Susan Beauregard or Amy Lannon at the Library or by email at rdgteen@noblenet.org. You can also just show up at meeting.



READ TO ME!
Kids, come hear awesome stories, songs and have a visit with Cocoa Moose! There are still a few slots available for children who would like to attend the fall storytime series. You can still register your child for one of the following sessions:

Morning Storytimes (For Ages 4-5) Wednesday at 10:15 a.m.
Afternoon Storytime (For Ages 4-5) Thursdays at 1:30 p.m.
Evening Storytime (For Ages 4 – 6) Thursdays at 6:30 p.m.

To sign up, call 781-942-6705 or stop by the Children’s Room.
Storytimes begin the first week in October.


DROP IN AND HAVE SOME FUN!
In order to provide more access to the educational benefits of storytime, the Children’s Department is offering a new series of storytimes for preschoolers which will be on a drop-in basis (no registration necessary). Drop in storytimes will be held on the following Mondays: October 1, October 22, and October 29. There will also be a drop in storytime on Monday, November 5. Storytime for two to three year olds is at 9:30 a.m. Four to six year old storytime starts at 10:15 a.m. Each session is approximately 30 minutes.


NOT TOO STUFFY BOOK GROUP MEETS ON OCTOBER 18
SECOND GLANCE BY JODI PICOULT

This month’s selection is an intricate tale of love, haunting memories,and renewal. Second Glance begins in current-day Vermont, where an old man puts a piece of land up for sale and unintentionally raises protest from the local Abenaki Indian tribe, who insist it's a burial ground. When odd, supernatural events begin to plague the town, a ghost hunter is hired to investigate. Enter Ross Wakeman, a suicidal drifter who has never recovered from the death of his fiancée in a car accident. In the process of his investigation, Ross meets the lovely Lia Beaumont, who has some mysterious connection to sinister goings-on 70 years before.

Thus begins Jodi Picoult's enthralling story of love, fate, and a crime of passion. Hailed by critics as a "master" storyteller (Washington Post), Picoult has created a tale of suspense and the supernatural which is sure to inspire a great discussion.

The NOT TOO STUFFY BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP will meet to discuss Second Glance on Thursday, October 18 at 1:00 p.m. The discussion will be led by Ron O’Keefe, and will be held at the Senior Center. The discussions are informal and lively. All seniors are welcome!



OOPS!
Last week in Off The Shelf, I listed the dates for the upcoming book discussion groups, the titles being discussed and the leaders for each session. On February 12, Betty Vanasse will be leading the discussion, but has not yet decided on the title. I inaccurately reported that she would be leading a discussion on My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult.



FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY CONCERT SERIES OCTOBER 20
Piotr Buczek, violinist and Don Krishnaswami, violist. Don’t miss this intimate performance by these highly talented musicians as they perform solo and duo works by two masters.

Mr. Buczek was born in Poland, but left his birth country in 1986 to continue his music education in the United States. He received his Master’s Degree at the Chamber Music Institute in Milwaukee where he studied with Pinchas Zukerman, Yo Yo Ma, and others. He has performed throughout Europe, Asia, and the Americas with the Penderecki Quartet. Currently he is studying under Roman Totenberg at Boston University while completing his doctorate in violin performance.

Violist Don Krishnaswami is active in the Boston area as an orchestral and chamber musician. He has toured domestically from coast to coast with the Boston Pops, including appearances at major music festivals such as Tanglewood, Ravinia, Wolf Trap, and Interlochen. Mr. Krishnaswami holds a Master of Music degree in viola and a Bachelor of Music degree in composition from The Juilliard School.

Click on the link below to hear a short clip from a recent performance by the duo at the Carriage House at Gore Place

http://www.gofish.com/player.gfp?gfid=30-1139458

This wonderful concert is free and open to the public. It will take place on Saturday, October 20 at 8:00 p.m. The concert series is sponsored by the Friends of the Reading Public Library.



WEBSITE OF THE WEEK
INTERNET SLANG TRANSLATOR

http://www.noslang.com/
This site translates Internet acronyms and terms commonly used in email, chat rooms and text messaging into readable text. POS? GTG? W/E? IF these terms mean nothing to you, you’ll want to check this out. This site is especially useful for people whose children and grandchildren are now talking in virtual tongues while communicating online.



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.
Just fill out the form and mail it with your donation to “Friends of the Reading Public Library,” 64 Middlesex Avenue, Reading, MA 01867. Proceeds go to fund the many programs and services provided by the Friends of the Library.



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, September 27: Conversation Group. 7:00 p.m. – 8:45 p.m.

Monday, October 1: Drop-In Storytime for 2's and 3's and their
caregivers. No registration necessary 9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

Monday, October 1: Drop-in Storytime for ages 4 - 6. No registration
necessary. 10:15 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.

Monday, October 1: Monthly Book Delivery to Peter Sanborn Place. 2:30
p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Thursday, October 4: Conversation Group. Is English your second language? Improve your English by conversing with other advanced English learners or practice your writing in a relaxed, welcoming, friendly atmosphere. 7:00 p.m. – 8:45 p.m.

Friday, October 5: 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.

Monday, October 8: Library Closed for Columbus Day Holiday

Tuesday, October 9: Bibliobabblers Book Discussion Group. Sheila Young will lead a discussion of The Clothes They Stood Up In by Alan Bennett.
No registration is necessary. 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.

Wednesday, October 10: Friends of the Library Travel Talk in Honor of Bill McLaughlin. Joan Nelson, a seasoned traveler of the Middle East, will share stories and slides of Morocco—from Casablanca on the Atlantic shore through the market city of Fez to the majesty of the Atlas Mountains. Come and hear her stories of the hospitality of the nomadic Berber people, of the open markets, and of the charms of this country and its people. 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Thursday, October 11: Conversation Group. (see October 4 event for
details). 7:00 p.m. – 8:45 p.m.

Saturday, October 13: Teen Advisory Groups. Join our groups and make a difference, not just at the library, but in our community! Fun, Food and
Friends... see you there!Lambda Alpha Gamma for Grades 6-8. 11:00 a.m. – Noon
Sigma Lambda Alpha for Grades 9-12. 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Wednesday, October 17: Computer Class — “Microsoft Word: Tables & Graphics.” Learn about using tables and graphics to format your Word documents. Requires basic Microsoft Word skills. Need basics? Make a Netguide appointment to learn basic Word before you register. Patrons should be comfortable using a mouse. Pre-register at the Information Desk, via e-mail, or call 781-942-6703. 7:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Thursday, October 18: The Not-Too-Stuffy Book Group for Seniors meets to discuss Second Glance by Jodi Picoult. 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, October 18: Conversation Group. (see October 4 event for
details). 7:00 p.m. – 8:45 p.m.



That’s all for now,
Elizabeth Dickinson
Assistant Director



LIBRARY HOURS
Mondays 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Tuesdays 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Wednesday 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.