Help! NOW!! Vote being held APRIL 1st!!

The state budget currently under consideration imposes dramatic cuts on libraries at all levels. It is scheduled to be voted on April 1. It is very possible that our regional system, which performs numerous essential services supporting your library, will be dismantled. The Bookmobile is already discontinued, after decades of service to smaller libraries. Interlibrary loan (borrowing from other libraries throughout the state) may be next. Many research databases which are offered free to library cardholders will have to be cut. A collaborative system of training and mutual support will be destroyed. And all this at a time when library use throughout the state has increased: In North Adams use has gone up 16% in the last two years alone!

Please write, call, email, fax and/or all of the above to our State Representative Dan Bosley protesting these dramatic cuts. Contact Rep.DanielBosley@hou.state.ma.us or (413) 663-7486.
Other people to contact include:
* House Committee Ways and Means Chair Rep.ChalresMurphy@hwm.state.ma.us
* Ways & Means Vice Chairs mailto:Rep.BarbaraL and Rep.StephenKulik@hou.state.ma.us
* Gov. Deval Patrick (888) 870-7770 or (617)725-4005 ~ Fax: (61& 727-9725

Postcards and letters may be sent to any of the above at State House, Boston, MA 02133.

Thank you!

Gardens Ahoy!

With the snow melting and the sun shining bright, are you beginning to dream of gardening? The North Adams Public Library has dozens of books on the subject, from how to improve the soil, to varieties of fruits, vegetables and flowers, to composting and mulching, to harvesting and putting up for the winter. Come check out a few!

And for those of you who are dreaming of getting out on the wonderful Berkshire rivers and lakes (once they thaw), we also have books on sailing, canoeing, kayaking, and power boats.

Dreaming of camping? We have that too, whether you want to camp in the Berkshires, along the Appalachain trail, or elsewhere.

Is building a back yard swing set, shed or chicken coop in your future. We've got those, too.

So whatever your Spring dreams, we have something to help make them a reality. See you here!

Two movies coming right up!

This Friday is Family Movie Night at the library. Our feature? Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. The free admission includes one drink and a snack.

And then the following Wednesday, Feb. 17, is Youth Night. The movie will be the first film in the Twilight series. A free ticket, which you get at the door, will get you the movie, a drink, a snack, and a ticket for the raffle, which will relate to the theme of the evening. Dress in costume if you wish!

Both events begin at 6 p.m. in the library's third floor Community Room.

It's Twilight Time

Do you enjoy the Twilight series? We'll be showing the first episode of the movie here at the library on Wednesday, February 17 at 6 p.m. Hope you'll join us.

Suggesed author

One of my new favorite authors is Geraldine Brooks. First I read her historical novel March, the story of Jane Austin's Little Women's father. Civil War soldier, loving husband and father, Mr. March's experience is vivid and lively. There's a lot of good Civil War history in there, too. Highly recommended.

Following that I read her People of the Book. This story traces the history of an ancient Haggadah, introduced by the archivist hired to stabilize and prepare the book for exhibit. Through traces she finds in the binding (a dehydrated butterfly wing, piece of string, small indentation, etc) , her curiousity is aroused, and we, the readers, learn how those traces and bits actually record the history of where the book has been over the centuries and how it came to be saved during the Inquisition, when so many Jewish codexes were burned. As a Special Collections librarian, I naturally am interested in archival stories, but I think this books appeal is far wider than that, because the story is so well presented.

I look forward to reading her earlier novel, Years of Wonder. The context is the great Plague, but somehow I think I'll enjoy it anyway.

New Year, New Mayor, New Director

Time to look forward rather than backward. Time to cooperate and support, rather than complain and tear down. Time for hope and action, rather than discouragement and lethargy. We only get as much out as we put in.

All rather trite sayings,perhaps, but trite often is true. May you have a productive year, actively support our new mayor's efforts, and visit the library often!