Shopping? Sharing?

How do you spend your holidays? Do you get together with friends and family, or enjoy scanning the malls, or bake your heart out? Or do you prefer a little solitude, curled up by the fire with a good book?

This year library staff will have more time to spend on their favorite holiday traditions. The library will be closed all day Dec. 24, 25 and 26 to allow us time for festivities and some R&R. Due to short staffing and vacations, library staff has been working extra hard, and having those three days (plus Sunday, or course) will give us a real break!

The following weekend, the library will close at noon on New Year's Eve and be closed all day January 1. However, we will re-open with regular hours on January 2.

Hope you enjoy your holidays as much as we will!

Plan Ahead....

Because this year the North Adams Public Library will be closed on Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 26) AND the following Friday and Saturday, Nov. 27 and 28. We will reopen Monday morning, Nov. 30, at 9 a.m. as usual.

Book Blowout!

Get real deals this Saturday, Nov. 7 from 9 to 2 at our book sale redux at Notre Dame church. Everything must go -- so you'll get even better bargains than are available at our regular book sales. The event is sponsored and run by the Friends of the North Adams Public Library

Veterans' Day

Next Wednesday, November 11, is Veterans' Day, and the library will be CLOSED. Let's remember to honor all those who have served in the past, and those who are serving today. Whether or not we agree with the current military direction, these women and men have given up home and family to serve the greater good.

Annual Book Sale!

The Friends of the North Adams Public Library's Annual Book Sale is this weekend. This year it is being held in the Community Room at the former Notre Dame church up E. Main St. The sale is open Thursday night, Oct. 22, from 5 to 9 and Friday and Saturday, Oct. 23 and 24, from 9 to 5. Lots of goodies -- so get there early for the best selection, and return toward the end for super special deals.

October is . . .

Health Month at the North Adams Public Library. Keep watching our calendar and front page for activities and events, and check out our online and print resources on the subject. The Reference Staff is available to help you find resources to answer your health-related questions.

Knitting Class / Knitting Circle

The Knitting & Crochet circle is back in action! The group meets every Monday (except holidays) from 6 to 7:30 in the front parlor. Everyone is welcome, and instruction is available for beginners. Hope you'll join the fun!

Computer Classes

We've just learned that our volunteer will not be offering computer classes this September and October.

If we were to approach our computer training differently, what would you want to see? Remember, these are general classes, so please do not ask for anything specific to what you do or your industry: We are seeking information about general classes that y'all would like to see.

Thanks!

Changes, changes

Our current director, Marcia Gross, is retiring effective Friday, August 14. Wish her well, as we do! Meanwhile, Rick Moon will take on the Interim Director responsibilities in addition to remaining our Tech Guy. Congrats to both!!!

Congratulations, Kim DiLego!

Following Marion Grillon's retirement, Kim DiLego has been appointed as Youth Services Librarian, with Kirsten Rose joining the staff as Youth Services Assistant! We're sure they'll make a great team.

Question of the Week:

What three United States Presidents visited North Adams between 1880 and 1920?
(Answer next week).

Honoring Marion Grillon

Our Children's Librarian, Marion Grillon, is retiring this Wednesday, July 8. Last week there were public and in-house celebrations of her service with us. If you see her around town during library hours, don't be surprised - just say "Congratulations!"

A Starship Adventure

Yup -- that's the theme of this year's Summer Reading program here at the North Adams Public Library. Sign-ups begin this week, with a grand kick-off party on Saturday, June 27. We'll start at 10:00 Saturday morning with a craft project, followed around 11:00 by Gregory McAdams and his family program of magic and mayhem. Come join the fun!

Yes! It's true!!

The LIPPIZAN STALLIONS are coming to North Adams at the end of August. Stay tuned for more details.

Happy Bookers Move

The Happy Bookers book discussion group will move its meetings from the second Tuesday of each moth to the second Monday, beginning at 6 p.m. June 8. That evening they will discuss Truman, by David McCullough. The group welcomes new participants, and there are copies of the book in various formats at the library.

Through the grapevine

The wind has whispered that the Lippizan Stallions may return to North Adams this fall. Do you think it will happen? How do you feel about that?

Muffins for Memories

Remember the '50s? Or stories about them told by your family? Well, then you are invited to come to "Muffins for Memories -- The 1950s" this Thursday, May 14 at 6 to share some home-baked muffins and reminisce together. Sponsored by both the library and the North Adams Historical Society, the gathering will be held in our third floor Community Meeting Room. See you there!

Free movie nights!

Our movie nights have been so popular that they have become a monthly event! This month it will be on Friday, May 15, at 6 p.m. We'll be showing "Hotel for Dogs" and hope you will join us. All adults must be accompanied by a child.

What a turnout!

The line for Friday's Pajama Party started to form by 5:30, and very shortly we were full to capacity! Well-E was a big hit, along with the popcorn and juice. And nearly everyone cleaned up after themselves and put their bags and juice containers into the trash -- Thank You!

With this success under our belts, we now are considering a line-up of parties for various age groups and interests. So stay tuned to find out what is coming next.

kc

PJ Party

There seems to be lots of interest in the Pajama Party at the library this Friday evening. We're going to watch Wall-E and share free popcorn and juice. Unfortunately, fire code only lets us welcome 60 people into our Community Room, so come early if you want to get a spot. Bring your pillow and blankets -- because we ask that those who can will sit and relax on the floor (there will be a few chairs around the perimeter for those of us who find it difficult to get down and then back up again). Doors open at 5:45 and close at 6 p.m. promptly (or sooner, if we meet our maximum). Don't forget to wear your (family appropriate) pajamas!

Need a good chuckle?

Then come to the library on Monday, Feb. 23 at 6:00 to hear Johnnie Carrier -- columnist for The Transcript (among other things). He's always good for a laugh!

Pssssssssssssssssst!

There's going to be a movie night / pajama party at the library sometime soon. . . shhhhhhh -- check back here or on the library's website where more will be posted soon . . .

Do you have a Toddler?

A second Toddler Time has begun in the Children's Department of the North Adams Public. It is held Thursdays at 9:30 a.m. The Tuesday Toddler Time, also at 9:30 a.m., continues -- so now you have a choice!

Monday night knitting & crochet circle resumes

Our popular drop in gathering of needle and yarn hobbyists has reconvened! Whether you are highly experienced or brand new, you will find a welcome at this informal group. See you there?

What happened to January!?!!

We resolved to post more often, and here it is the end of January and we've already broken that resolution. Well . . . we're only human. We'll try harder from now on.

Happy New Year, Everyone!

We resolve to update this blog more frequently! And we hope you will resolve to visit the library more often.

Bruce Harley's presentation, mentioned in our last post, was postponed until January 15 because of the weather. So if you thought you missed his insights on how to cut your energy bills, you've got another chance. That's Thursday, Jan. 15 at 6 p.m. in the library's Community Meeting Room. Free! Following the presentation, he will hold a book signing for his recently released book on the subject.

The Happy Bookers will discuss M. William Phelps' Nathan Hale next Tuesday, January 13 at 6 p.m. There's still time to read the book, and they'd love to have you join them.

Brian Isaac's photo exhibit will be on view until January 12, so if you haven't checked out the images yet, do it soon.

That's it for this time. Check back in a few days for more info about the doings here at the library.

kc