Vol. 9; No. 32 September 6, 2007

OFF THE SHELF
A WEEKLY LIBRARY NEWSLETTER
Vol. 9; No. 32 September 6, 2007


QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“I grew up in a small town with a very small library. But the books in the library opened a large place in my heart. It is the place where stories live. And those stories have been informing my days, comforting my nights, and extending possibilities ever since. If that library had not been there, if the books - such as they were - had not been free, my world would be poor, even today.”

Marion Dane Bauer
Children’s Author



WB2S (WELCOME BACK TO SCHOOL) GET SMART! HAVE FUN!
The Library welcomes students Back to School (WB2S)! Students of all ages are invited to discover our resources and join our fall activities!



HOORAY FOR SUMMER READING
The Children's Room would like to thank the Friends of the Library for making M.A.G.I.C possible and wishes come true! M.A.G.I.C. was the Children's Summer Reading Program this year which motivated 1161 children to read for nearly 17,000 hours! Thanks to the Friends' generosity, as children read, they also voted to help the Make-a-Wish Foundation with providing a trip for a sick child to Disney World.

It was a truly magical summer with the excitement of Harry Potter, magic shows, fantasy clay sculpture, geocaching, live owls and many other programs! 5681 children attended the 70 programs organized by the staff of the Children's Room!

With September, comes the Fall Storytime season in the Children's Room. Drop-in storytimes for children 2-3 start Monday, Sept. 17th at 9:30am. Children ages 4-6 may drop-in for storytime at 10:15, starting Monday, Sept. 17th also. Drop-in groups will meet Sept. 17, 24, Oct. 1, 22, 29 and Nov. 5th.

Sign-up for Registered Storytimes will begin Sept.18th. Check the library website for details on the specific age groups at http://www.readingpl.org/kidsstorytime.html



TEENS AND TWEENS GRANT
Every day eager and hopeful teens and their younger counterparts, tweens, enter the Library looking for a place to be with their friends, to relax, to work on homework. They may also be seeking an opportunity to expand their world, volunteer in the community, or pursue new projects. The Library welcomes our teen and tween users. We want them to have a space that feels friendly and comfortable, and also to participate in programs that are innovative, exciting and relevant to their lives.

How to make our dreams for teens and tweens come true? Especially given the Library’s limited financial resources? The Reading Public Library is happy to announce that we have been awarded a $20,000 LSTA grant from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. This grant will focus on providing new and innovative services to Reading teens and tweens, along with funding for new furnishings and additional technology.

Congratulations to teen librarians Amy Lannon and Susan Beauregard! Amy wrote the grant application and Susan and Amy worked together to develop teen involvement, created a pre-grant survey, and collaborated on many cooperative outreach activities to lay the groundwork for a successful proposal! The Reading Public Library is one of fifteen libraries in Massachusetts to receive a “Serving Teens and Tweens” grant. The grant is expected to begin in October, so watch this space for details of new programs and improved teen space!



BASEBALL AND MORE
On Tuesday, September 11 , join us for Coffee and More. This month’s program features local author (and Reading Town Moderator) Alan Foulds who will speak about his fascinating book on the history of baseball and other Boston sports, Boston's Ballparks and Arenas. Please join us for coffee, refreshments, and lots of sports talk, history, tidbits, and trivia. The program begins at 10:00 a.m. and all are welcome.

Coffee and More is funded through a federal LSTA (Library Services and Technology Act) grant, administered by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.


WEBSITE OF THE WEEK
PAINT YOUR OWN JACKSON POLLACK

http://www.jacksonpollock.org

Would you like to paint your own Jackson Pollack mural? This website gives everyone the opportunity to create a fascinating work of art (and it’s fun!) Left click and hold the mouse down-it will change colors. You have to try this!

LEARN MORE ABOUT JACKSON POLLOCK
From Grolier’s Online Encyclopedia

http://go.grolier.com.proxy10.noblenet.org/
(You will need your library card number to log in)

Jackson Pollock: A Biography by Deborah Solomon.
Jackson Pollock was neurotic, self-absorbed, and forever locked in an epic struggle with alcoholism. This is the story of how the painter perfected his art, despite his personal failings.

Pollock
Starring Ed Harris as Jackson Pollock and Marcia Gay Harden as Lee Krasner. This movie has been described as a “complex study not only of the man himself but also of the woman who stood beside him through most of his troubled life.”



DID YOU KNOW?
When a plant contains a lot of chlorophyll it appears green, but there are also other pigments present such as purple, red and yellow; these pigments are masked by the green chlorophyll. During the fall, the production of chlorophyll decreases due to the change in temperature. This is when the other pigments appear and the leaves display brilliant colors.



BE A FRIEND!
The Friends of the Library will be holding their first meeting of the new school year on Monday, September 10 at 7:30 p.m. All library supporters are invited! Wouldn't now be a great time to join the Friends? The meeting will be in the Library’s large upstairs meeting room.



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, September 7: 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, September 10: Monthly Book Delivery to Peter Sanborn Place. 2:30 p.m.–3:00 p.m.

Monday, September 10: Friends of the Library Meeting. All are welcome to attend the first meeting of the season. Come and get involved in new activities that support the Library! 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, September 11: Live Wires: Coffee and More. Grab a cup of coffee and let's talk! Featured speaker for today is Alan Foulds, author of Boston's Ballparks and Arenas. Alan will present a sports history of Boston as told through its ballparks and fields. This program is free and open to all. 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Wednesday, September 12: Mother Goose Lapsit. Storytime for children under 2 and their caretakers! Register for a 4-week session at the Children's Room Desk. Call 781 942-6705 for information. Sessions at 9:30 or 10:15 a.m.

Monday, September 17: Drop-In Storytime for 2's and 3's and their caregivers. No registration necessary 9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

Monday, September 17: Drop-in Storytime for ages 4 - 6. No registration necessary. 10:15 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.

Tuesday, September 18: Storytime Registration for 2 Year Olds. Register for a six-week series of storytimes. Programs are on Tuesdays or Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m. in October/November. Storytimes are for caregiver and child and run 30 minutes in length. Registration begins at 9:00 a.m. in the Children’s Room or call 781-942-6705.

Wednesday, September 19: Storytime Registration for 3 Year Olds. Register for a six-week series of storytimes. Programs are on Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. in October/November. Sessions are 30 minutes in length. Registration begins at 9:00 a.m. in the Children's Room or call 781 942-6705.

Wednesday, September 19: Storytime Registration for 4 & 5 Year Olds. Register for a six-week series of storytimes. Programs are on Wednesdays at 10:15 a.m. or Thursdays at 1:30 p.m. in October/November. Sessions are 45 minutes in length. Registration begins at 9:00 a.m. in the Children's Room or call 781 942-6705.

Wednesday, September 19: Mother Goose Lapsit. Storytime for children under 2 and their caretakers! Register for a 4-week session at the Children's Room Desk. Call 781 942-6705 for information. Sessions at 9:30 or 10:15 a.m.

Wednesday, September 19: Computer Class — “Geek Out, Don’t Freak Out! –Digital Cameras.” Stop by with your digital camera and the user manual for this hands-on, how-to workshop. Do you know a digital camera expert? Bring them by to share their tips! Pre-register at the Information Desk, via e-mail, or call 781-942-6703. 7:30 p.m.–9:00 p.m.

Thursday, September 20: Evening Storytime Registration for 4 – 6 Year Olds. Register for a six-week series of storytimes.Programs are on Thursday evenings from 6:30 – 7:00 p.m. in October/November. Registration begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Children's Room or call 781 942-6705.

Thursday, September 20: The Not-Too-Stuffy Book Group for Seniors meets to discuss The Last Days of Dogtown by Anita Diamant. Led by Ron O’Keefe. 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, September 20: An Evening with Liora Kasten. Liora will share her experiences as Director of the American Anti-Slavery Group and co-editor of Enslaved: True Stories of Modern Day Slavery. This event is sponsored by the LINKS: Online @ the Library Grant. 7:00 p.m.

Thursday, September 20: Conversation Group. 7:00-8:45 p.m. in the Conference Room.



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.