Vol. 9; No. 33 September 13, 2007

OFF THE SHELF
A WEEKLY LIBRARY NEWSLETTER
Vol.9; No. 33 September 13, 2007


QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"The computer can help us find what we know is there. But the book remains our symbol and our resource for the unimagined question and the unwelcome answer."

Daniel J. Boorstin
Librarian of Congress, 1975-1987



STORIES ON THE GO
If you have a pre-schooler at home, you can drop in to the Library on Monday mornings for a story time program that is perfect for families on the go. No registration is necessary. Storytime for two and three year olds is at 9:30 a.m. Four and five year old storytime starts at 10:15 a.m. Each session is approximately 30 minutes.

Drop in Storytimes will be held on the following Mondays:
September 17, 2007
September 24, 2007
October 1, 2007
October 22, 2007
October 29, 2007
November 5, 2007

If there is no school in Reading due to inclement weather, there will be no storytime on that day.



YOU’VE GOT HOMEWORK? WE’VE GOT HELP!
A library card is the most important school supply of all. Kids can come to the Library to check out books, but they can also explore our many online resources. In addition to our books, reference materials, and helpful library staff, our online resources page at http://www.readingpl.org/onlineresources.html is chock-full of information. Click on "Homework Help” to find it all at your fingertips: high-quality local, state, and regionally funded databases with thousands of full-text newspaper and magazine articles, biographical and literary databases, and much, much more. All you need to gain access to this treasure trove of information is your library card.

Need help with a report on human rights, global warming, or the Internet? BigChalk eLibrary is a full-text database of popular magazines, books, newspapers, newswires, television and radio transcripts, photographs and maps. It's very easy to use, and provides information on all subjects.

Doing research on life in colonial times or during the Civil War? Check out Greenwood Daily Life Online. This database provides a tour through history from ancient times to the present. Helpful research features include organization by time period, region, topic, and historical overviews.

Need help with a science project? Click on Access Science. Here you will find biographies, fully illustrated articles, and the latest science news.

Groliers Online Encyclopedia is another terrific resource with information, pictures, animation and video. Click on Atlas to find up to 500 maps covering the entire globe. The Feature Showcase presents exciting multimedia presentations on high interest topics, and News Now explains the events that shape our world today.

For Social Studies, you will also want to check out two more great resources, ABC-CLIO World Geography and ABC-CLIO American History. The Library currently offers more than 25 research databases that can provide you with all the information you need. Visit your Library and our web site frequently to find out all of the different ways that the Library can help with "back to school!"



NOT TOO STUFFY BOOK CLUB

“Set in early 1800s Massachusetts…Diamant reimagines the community of castoffs—widows, prostitutes, orphans, African-Americans and ne'er-do-wells—all eking out a harsh living in the barren terrain of Cape Ann.” --From Publishers Weekly

On Thursday, September 20, The Not-Too-Stuffy Book Group for Seniors meets to discuss The Last Days of Dogtown by Anita Diamant. The group will meet at 1:00 p.m. at the Senior Center. Everyone is welcome to attend meetings, which are held once a month. The discussions are informal, lively, and are based on personal reactions rather than an academic approach. We would love to see some new members as we start a new year. So drop by and join the discussion! This month’s discussion will be led by Ron O’Keefe.



ELEVATOR WOE
If you have been to the Library lately, you already know that the elevator is still not working. We are distressed that it is taking soooooooo long for the manufacturer to construct and ship the necessary part. As you know, we have closed the book drop during the hours that the Library is open, which is an enormous help in getting returned books back on the shelves more quickly!

Thank you for bringing your books into the Library, and for bearing with us in dealing with the inconvenience and frustration. Your cooperation, understanding, and good humor are really appreciated!



TECH TIP: (COMPUTER) CLASS IS IN SESSION!
by Andrea Mercado, Reference & Techie Librarian

The eagerly awaited schedule of library computer classes is now available on the library web site. To see the quick list and information about registration, click here:

http://www.readingpl.org/referencequestion.html#classes

You can read detailed descriptions about each class, as well as register online for a class, by clicking on the [DETAILS/REGISTER] link next to each class name, which will take you to the library's online calendar. You can also check these listing to see if a class is full, or if a class is canceled or postponed for some reason (NOTE: classes with an enrollment of 2 or less will be canceled or postponed).

If you prefer, you can also register through the Information Desk by phone at 781-942-6703, by email at rdgref@noblenet.org, or in person. The librarians will add you to the roster and answer any questions you may have.

Also remember that our Netguides service is here to help you with basic computer, Internet, and application learning through individualized training sessions on your schedule. The Netguides are also handy if you can't make it to a scheduled class! More information on this program and
how to make an appointment is available. Just go to:

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

Our first class, Geek Out, Don't Freak Out! -- Digital Cameras, is coming up next Wednesday, September 19 from 7:30 - 9:00 pm. If you have a digital camera, and not the slightest idea how to use it, or if you're shopping for a camera and need a few pointers, register for this free hands-on session. Digital photography experts are also encouraged to attend this session and share their knowledge of picture taking and digital photo technology. See you in class!



MODERN DAY SLAVERY SPEAKER
Former Director of the American Anti-Slavery Group, Liora Kasten, will speak at the Reading Public Library on Thursday, September 20 at 7:00 P.M. Ms. Kasten co-edited the critically acclaimed book, Enslaved: True Stories of Modern Day Slavery. According to Ms. Kasten, “Enslaved is a collection of stories of survivors of slavery who have escaped slavery and are now coming out as activists.” Enslaved contains the accounts of seven former slaves and one former slaveholder. Their stories come from Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and the United States.

Ms. Kasten knows the power of these modern day slave narratives, “More than anything what I wanted to do was to take their stories and bring them back to the United States, bring them back to the American people. They can see what slavery is really like, through the eyes of a child, through the eyes of anybody who is being held against their will and abused and forced to work.”

Ms. Kasten’s co-editor, Jesse Sage, shares their expectation for the book, “The goal and the hope is that readers will be captivated by their shocking and amazing stories, their heroic stories and will also be motivated to act.” The book’s final chapter explains how readers can help wipe out slavery around the world.

Ms. Kasten has designed and implemented advocacy and aid campaigns aimed at eradicating modern day slavery. In 2005, she traveled to India to work with former child slaves and later that year testified at the Massachusetts State House in support of a bill to divest from Sudan. In 2006, Ms. Kasten traveled to Southern Sudan and Darfur on a fact-finding and humanitarian aid mission, meeting with Southern Sudanese President Salva Kiir, refugees, and rescued slaves. She currently serves on the board of directors of the Nivasa Foundation, a non-profit organization providing direct aid to survivors of human trafficking in Sri Lanka.

This program is free and open to the public. Copies of Enslaved are currently available at the Library and will be available for sale on the evening of the program. Ms. Kasten’s visit is provided as part of the Reading Public Library grant, LINKS Online @ the Library. Head of Information Services, Lorraine Barry, will be on hand to share tips for locating more information on this important topic via Reading Public Library free online resources. This program is federally funded with LSTA funds through the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.



WEBSITE OF THE WEEK
EARTH ALBUM

http://www.earthalbum.com/

Earth Album allows you to view some of the most stunning photos in the world courtesy of Google Maps and Flickr. Just click on a spot on the giant map and you'll see pictures other users have uploaded to the photo-sharing service flickr displayed immediately. To begin, just click anywhere on the map. Then click again to see pictures, or zoom in for more specific peeks into people's lives. You might want to bookmark this site as the images change every few weeks.



DID YOU KNOW?
APPLES
-are a member of the rose family.
-are the second-most valuable fruit grown in the U.S.
-contain 25% air...that is why they float.
-are fat, sodium, and cholesterol free.
-are a science. The science of apple growing is called pomolgy!

Facts courtesy of http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/apples/facts.html



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.

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. 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.