Vol. 9; No. 35 October 4, 2007

OFF THE SHELF
A WEEKLY LIBRARY NEWSLETTER
Vol. 9; No. 35 October 4, 2007



QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"I am not the same having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world."

Mary Anne Radmacher Hershey
Poet/Artist



TRAVEL TALK!
To many of us, the Middle East is both mysterious and misunderstood. What do we really know about this land? How are we alike and different? What do we know of the daily lives of the people? Is the clash of civilizations a myth --- or reality?

On Wednesday evening, October 10, you are invited to experience a photographic tour of the exotic Middle Eastern country of Morocco. World traveler Joan Nelson will take you on a grand adventure through Morocco’s cities, Kasbahs, and beautiful Islamic monuments. She will show you the wild landscapes and natural beauty of the High Atlas mountains, and provide insights into the lives of the nomadic Berber people.

Join us for good company and a fascinating look at a place most of us will never see for ourselves. This program is free… all you need to attend is curiosity about our world and its people! The program begins at 7:00 p.m.

The Travel Talk series 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.



ELEVATOR NEWS
I am happy to report that there is progress! This week, the new part is being installed. This will take several days, and will unfortunately be accompanied by some unavoidable noise. We hope that the installation and repair will be completely finished by next Friday. The end is now in sight!

Please feel free to call the Library if you would like to check on the status of the elevator before coming over. And please don’t hesitate to ask for assistance when you are in the Library. Library staff will be happy to retrieve materials from other floors for you.

Thank you to everyone for their patience and good will during the time that the elevator has been out of service!



CLEANED OUT (RIGHT DOWN TO THE TOILET PAPER)
Don’t forget! Bibliobabblers, the Library’s Adult Book Discussion group will meet on Tuesday evening, October 9 at 7:00 p.m. Sheila Young will lead the discussion of The Clothes They Stood Up In by Alan Bennett. This perfect little book is a cautionary tale on the strange nature of possessions...or the lack of them. What would it be like to suddenly lose all of your belongings? Who are we without the things that define us? Join the group for a lively conversation on this and other provocative questions! All are welcome.



NEWS FROM THE CHILDREN’S ROOM
By Corinne Fisher, Head of Children’s Services

HORN BOOK AWARDS
The Boston Globe–Horn Book Awards are among the most prestigious honors in the field of children’s and young adult literature. Winners are selected in three categories: Picture Book, Fiction and Poetry, and Nonfiction.

The Reading Children's Librarians are excited to have been invited to attend this year’s Awards Ceremony next week! A truly stellar selection of children's and teen books will be honored. The library owns most of these, check them out!

Fiction
The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Vol. 1:
The Pox Party by M.T. Anderson (Teen)
Clementine by Sara Pennypacker
Rex Zero and the End of the World by Tim Wynne-Jones.

Non-Fiction
The Strongest Man in the World: Louis Cyr by Nicolas Debon
Tracking Trash: Flotsam, Jetsam, and the Science of Ocean Motion by Loree
Griffin Burns
Escape!: The Story of the Great Houdini by Sid Fleischman.


Picture Book
Dog and Bear: Two Friends, Three Stories by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
365 Penguins by Jean-Luc Fromental, illustrated by Joelle Jolivet
Wolves by Emily Gravett

The Awards ceremony will be held at the Boston Athenaeum in Boston,Massachusetts. The honored authors and illustrators are expected to be on hand to accept their awards and deliver their acceptance speeches.

For more information about the Horn Book Awards and other awards in the field of children’s literature, go to http://www.hbook.com/resources/awards/default.asp



GOODBYE TO BEN
Local historian and resident Ben Nichols has been called the “town’s grandfather”---and for good reason. He has been a lifelong resident of Reading, and in his case, it’s been a very long life! Ben celebrated his 99th birthday last year by donating nearly four acres of forest land to the Town. Ben’s birthday donation is right in character--- he has dedicated much of his life to both the outdoors and to the Town of Reading.

Ben has participated in Town government as a member of the Land Bank Committee, the Reading Open Land Trust, the Town Forest Committee, and as a Town Meeting member. Throughout his life, he has been guided by his love of nature and his desire to share that love with others.

One of the many ways that Ben has found to contribute to the community is through his involvement with the Boy Scouts. He first joined Troop 702 in 1921 when he was a boy himself. He has remained involved ever since, both as a troop leader and through his efforts to insure that the Boy Scouts would always have access to town forests. He has mentored hundreds of young Scouts, and has also spent countless hours giving tours of the town forest to local children.

A reporter for our local paper once asked Ben why he spent so much of his life this way. He pointed to a picture of children on a hike in the woods. “See these kids? They’ll do the same thing for someone else someday. It’s like a drop of water on a pond. It spreads out and goes on and on,” he said.



Ben has given this town much: He has served as our local historian, conservationist,mentor, dedicated Boy Scout, tireless community volunteer, outstanding citizen. On Saturday, October 13, there will be a reception for Ben at the Reading Senior Center on Pleasant Street. This is an opportunity for the residents of Reading to say thank you, and also goodbye. Ben will be moving soon to Pennsylvania, to be closer to his daughter. If your life has been touched by this special man, I hope you will be able to stop by and wish him well. The reception will be from 2:00-4:00 p.m.



FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY CONCERT SERIES OCTOBER 20
Piotr Buczek, violinist and Don Krishnaswami, violist
Buczek and Krishnaswami will be performing Bach's unaccompanied Violin Sonata in G Minor, Hindemith's Sonata for Solo Viola and Mozart's Duo in G Major for violin and viola. This wonderful concert is free and open to the public. It will take place at the Library 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
FALL IN NEW ENGLAND

http://www.yankeefoliage.com/
Yankee Magazine provides this guide to places to visit, upcoming events,and scenic drives. View the Yankee Tree Cam and enter the "Leaf Drop" Contest. Check out the “dos and don’ts for leaf peepers.” foliage photo tips, and fall foliage forecasts. Search for fairs, festivals, and family fun. This website has all the information you need to have fun this fall!



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.



WHAT’S HAPPENING @ YOUR LIBRARY!
All events listed take place at the Reading Public Library, 64 Middlesex Avenue, Reading, unless otherwise noted.

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 to the majesty of the Atlas Mountains. 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.