Vol. 11, No. 24 November 20, 2008

Vol. 11, No. 24 November 20, 2008

OFF THE SHELF
A WEEKLY LIBRARY NEWSLETTER
Vol. 11, No. 24 November 20, 2008


QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“Let us remember that, as much has been given us, much will be expected from us; and that true homage comes from the heart as well as from the lips and shows itself in deeds. We can best prove our thankfulness to the Almighty by the way in which on this earth and at this time each of us does his duty to his fellow men.”
Theodore Roosevelt, Proclamation - Thanksgiving, November 2, 1901


LIVEWIRES
Filmmaker at the Library
On Tuesday, November 25 from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m., join LiveWires in presenting “Gloucestermen” and historical filmmaker Dan Tremblay for a viewing of his documentary film about the Gloucester fishing industry past and present, including historical film footage, cuts from the making of the film, The Perfect Storm, and more. Questions and answers will follow the film. This event is free and open to all.


Morning Musical Montage
On Tuesday, December 9 at 10:00 a.m., the monthly “Coffee & More” program will present special guest singer Tony Rossano with piano accompaniment by Richard Demone.

Mr. Rossano, who sings standards from the Great American Songbook, has performed at many area venues. His accompanist, Richard Demone, is an accomplished pianist who often plays for stage events and is a regular performer at the Continental Restaurant.

This program is presented by LiveWires. The event is free of charge and funded by an anonymous donor. Coffee and refreshments will be available at 9:30 a.m.


Bibliobabblers
The monthly meeting of Bibliobabblers, the Reading Public Library Adult Book Discussion Group will take place in the Library Conference Room on Tuesday, December 9 at 7:00 p.m. The title for discussion will be Little Heathens: Hard Times and High Spirits on an Iowa Farm during the Great Depression by Mildred Kalish. Kalish's memoir of her Iowa childhood, set against the backdrop of the Depression, captures a vanished way of traditional living and a specific moment in American history in a story both illuminating and memorable. One reviewer said, “Now that cell phones are a way of life, you won’t find a better way to participate in the Good Old Days. Whether you are of farm origins or not, Little Heathens is a bit of history begging to be borrowed. Like a neighborly cup of sugar, it will sweeten your modern-day life.”

Peggy White will lead the discussion. Copies of this title are available at the library. All are welcome and no registration is necessary. The group meets in the Reading Public Library’s Conference Room. For further information, call the library at 781-944-0840.



LOVE AND FORGIVENESS
Let’s Talk about it: Love and Forgiveness at Reading Library
The Reading Public Library will host a free five-part reading and discussion series called “Let’s Talk About It: Love & Forgiveness.” The series explores the themes of love and forgiveness in everyday life through classic and contemporary literature.

“We are delighted to have been chosen to host this unique series that will allow patrons a chance to discuss the themes of love and forgiveness with fellow community members and with the help of a well-qualified scholar,” said Ruth Urell, Library Director, who will also be directing the series. “We are the only library in Massachusetts that is taking part in this prestigious national grant program.” The library is one of 30 libraries nationwide receiving grants to host the series developed by the American Library Association and the Fetzer Institute’s Campaign for Love and Forgiveness.

The first program will explore Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen and will be held on Wednesday, January 7 at 7:00 p.m. Four additional books will be discussed once per month at the library. Future titles and dates include: The History of Love by Nicole Krauss on February 18; A Winter’s Tale by William Shakespeare on March 18; The Essential Rumi (poems) on April 15 and Atonement by Ian McEwan on May 13.

Ann Murphy, Ph.D., a Professor of English at Assumption College and adult educator, will lead a discussion of the book at each session. Dr. Murphy is a recipient of the Distinguished Teaching Award from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. She is also an instructor in the “Changing Lives Through Literature Program” with the Dorchester District Court. Her particular scholarly interests are in the meaning of friendships in literature and investigating the ways literature conveys the experiences of war.



THE NOT-TOO-STUFFY BOOK GROUP
On December 18 at 1:00 p.m. at the Senior Center, The Not-So-Stuffy Book Group will be discussing The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice In A Small Town by John Grisham.

John Grisham's first work of nonfiction, an exploration of small town justice gone terribly awry, is his most extraordinary legal thriller yet. In the major league draft of 1971, the first player chosen from the State of Oklahoma was Ron Williamson. When he signed with the Oakland A's, he said goodbye to his hometown of Ada and left to pursue his dreams of big league glory. Six years later he was back, his dreams broken by a bad arm and bad habits-- drinking, drugs, and women. He began to show signs of mental illness. Unable to keep a job, he moved in with his mother and slept twenty hours a day on her sofa. In 1982, a 21-year-old cocktail waitress in Ada named Debra Sue Carter was raped and murdered, and for five years the police could not solve the crime. For reasons that were never clear, they suspected Ron Williamson and his friend Dennis Fritz. The two were finally arrested in 1987 and charged with capital murder. With no physical evidence, the prosecution's case was built on junk science and the testimony of jailhouse snitches and convicts. Dennis Fritz was found guilty and given a life sentence. Ron Williamson was sent to death row. If you believe that in America you are innocent until proven guilty, this book will shock you. If you believe in the death penalty, this book will disturb you. If you believe the criminal justice system is fair, this book will infuriate you.

No registration is necessary; everyone is welcome. Books will be available at the desk in the Senior Center or at the Reading Public Library.



CHILDRENS ROOM
Sign up for Gingerbread Workshop begins Monday, November 24.
The Gingerbread Workshop is a very popular program for children in grades 2 through 5. It will be held on Wednesday afternoon, December 10 from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Children will create a small gingerbread house using graham crackers and candies, held together with royal icing. The Library will provide the supplies, children should bring their imagination! Drop by the Children’s Room desk or call 781-942-6705 to register as long as space is available.


TEEN SPOT
Immediately following the children’s gingerbread workshop, Teen Services will offer a workshop for students in grades 6 through 12. All the goodies will be provided! Pre-registration is requested by calling 781-942-6703, e-mailing rdgteen@noblenet.org, or stop by the Information Desk. Come join us and create a masterpiece!


MEETING SPACE AVAILABLE
Would your non-profit organization like to book the Reading Public Library meeting rooms from the comfort of your own home? Do you need to use the Business Center and want to see what times are available? Now, with a valid library card you can do just that.

Non-profit organizations and individuals with a valid library card will be able to book the library meeting room, conference room or business center from their own computer. You will be able to go to the Reading Public Library website – www.readingpl.org and click on the “Reserve a Room” link. From here you can click on your desired date to check for availability, review room information and complete the reservation process.

The Meeting and the Conference Rooms can be reserved three months in advance, while the Business Center can be reserved up to a week in advance.

As always you can contact the library in person or by phone to book any of our available rooms. There is a ten dollar fee to use the Meeting Room and Conference Rooms. There is no fee to use the Business Center.

The Meeting Room is the largest room available. It seats 80-100 people and has a galley kitchen available for use to serve light finger foods. The smaller Conference Room seats 10-15 people.

The Business Center is a small business office with special equipment and a PC with business related software. Special Equipment includes a scanner, shredder and typewriter. A maximum of 2 people are allowed in the Business Center at once and you may book it up two hours per day. Photographs and complete room information are available on the Room Use Request Page of our website.



TEXT CATALOG RECORDS TO YOUR CELLPHONE
Let’s say you’ve searched the NOBLE catalog and you are viewing the records and find the exact book you wanted. You could:

* Print it out, which is a waste of paper and toner,

* Get a scrap of paper, find a pencil buried somewhere in your briefcase or purse, write down the call number and hope you don’t misplace it, OR

* Use our new catalog feature for texting this information to your cellphone or BlackBerry!

Simply click on the “Send via Text Message” button, enter your 10-digit number (no dashes), select your carrier, and click on the “Send to Phone” button. The message will contain all the information you need to retrieve the book at Reading Public Library: location, call number, and title.

Carrier charges may apply. Happy texting.


OVERDRIVE IS FINALLY HERE!
With your library card, access to the Internet, and some free software, you can be listening to downloadable books in a matter of minutes. Listen to titles on your PC, transfer to supported MP3 players (including iPods) or burn some titles to CD. To check out the vast collection of best-selling, classic, teen and children’s books, go to:

http://overdrive.noblenet.org

Four books at a time can be checked out. Now, 24/7 you will have access to an online catalog!



WHAT'S HAPPENING AT YOUR LIBRARY?
All events listed take place at the Reading Public Library, 64 Middlesex Avenue, Reading, MA unless otherwise noted.

Ongoing:

Mother Goose Lapsit Signup. 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 a.m. or 10:15 a.m., and a new session at 6:00 p.m. are now available.

Open Sundays, 2-5 p.m., October – May

Tuesday, November 25: Word of Mouth. Informal monthly discussion of what people have been reading lately. 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Tuesday, November 25: LiveWires Presents: “Gloucestermen.” Join historical filmmaker Dan Tremblay for a viewing of his documentary film about the Gloucester fishing industry past and present, including historical film footage, cuts from the making of the film, The Perfect Storm, and more. Questions and answers will follow the film. This event is free and open to all. 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Thursday, November 27: Library Closed for Thanksgiving

Monday, December 1: Join Us For Lobster! Read the book Last Night at the Lobster, and then join us for a discussion with the author, Stewart O’Nan. The author will also talk about this latest book. His books will be available to purchase and have signed. Free tickets can be picked up at the Circulation Desk. Hurry in, space is limited. 7:00 p.m. in the Meeting Room.

Tuesday, December 9: LiveWire Presents: Morning Musical Montage. The monthly “Coffee & More” program will present guest singer Tony Rossano with piano accompaniment by Richard Demone. The event is free. Refreshments will be served. 10:00 a.m. in the Meeting Room.

Tuesday, December 9: Bibliobabblers. The monthly meeting will gather in the Conference Room to discuss Little Heathens by Mildred Kalish. Peggy White will be leading the discussion. 7:00 p.m.

Thursday, December 18: The Not-So-Stuffy Book Group. Held at the Senior Center, the book being discussed is The Innocent Man by John Grisham. 1:00 p.m.


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

Tuesday 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.

SUNDAYS 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. (Oct. – May)


Thankfully,
Susan L. Beauregard
Young Adult/Reference Librarian