Library411 : R.I.P

Yes, we've discontinued our Library411 eZine. Staff time is stretched to the limit, and something had to go. Since there were only about 30 subscribers, it was decided that we would put that project on indefinite hold. For those of you who subscribed, Thank You.
kc

Reporting back

There were 26 of us at last week's "Muffins for Memories" program. Marcia Sarrouf baked muffins made from recipes in a 1940s cookbook found in the library's archives, and they were far less sweet than the muffins in today's cookbooks! She also arranged for others to bake modern muffins to share. The library provided coffee and tea.

Stories abounded. Emcee Justyna Carlson read articles from the May 3, 1948 North Adams Transcript, and related stories about each article. Her stories got the group talking, and one shared memory led to the next, and on and on. Some participants were surprised by how much they could remember of those long-ago days!

Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. Participants suggested we do more "Muffins for Memories" programs. Library and Historical Society personnel are considering schedule one reflecting on the 1950s in North Adams. Stay tuned for further information.

Muffins for Memories : 1940s on the Home Front

Come reminisce with us, and share your stories or the stories you've been told about North Adams in the 1940s this Thursday, May 21, at 6 p.m. in the library's third floor Community Room.

Library and Historical Society staff have gathered images, stories, and other ephemera to jog our memories. These include ""Where did you do business?" (shops & government), "Do you remember?" (ads and prices), "Anything here look familiar?" (local photos that need identification), and "What was your favorite recreation?" (movies, books, etc.)

We hope you'll join us!

kc/rm

A week of vacation!

Vacation is just over the horizon! What are you planning to do?

REACH is offering two great programs in the library's Children's Department during Vacation Week.

On Tuesday, April 22, "Northern Berkshire Grows" - plant some seed to nurture and watch, and they'll be planted in the library's garden when the weather gets warm enough. At the same time you can learn about Community gardening!

Then on Wednesday, April 23, "Healthy Kids on the Mooove! presents "Cowabunga Calcium. Can you guess what this will be?

Both programs will run from 11 a.m. to noon. They are free and open to everyone!

Meanwhile, I'm heading out of town for a relaxing week with friends. Let's all enjoy great vacations!

The Robert Frost program last night was lots of fun -- wish more of you had been there! Which reminds me, the local Poetry Slam is coming up on April 22 at 6 p.m. here at the library in the third floor meeting room. Whether you are a poet or an appreciator, do join us -- it's sure to be a fun time. And the winner of our slam goes on to compete in the Regional Slam!

kc

Goodreads, too

Librarything looks like a great way to share your book reviews and keep track of what you've read. Another good site is Goodreads , which several library patrons use as well. Please share with us which you prefer, and why.
kc

LibraryThing

A couple of our fans put us as their library on LibraryThing, so we went to check it out. We set up an account, and hope you will become "friends" and share your book reviews and suggestions with us. We also are posting the book for the next Book Discussion, and you can add your reviews there as well.
Here's the link:
http://www.librarything.com/
jswidget.php?reporton=naplibrary&show=random&header=
1&num=5&covers=small&text=all&tag=alltags&css=1&style=
1&charset=&version=1"

Any other LibraryThing users out there? How do you use it? What do you think about it?

kc

We like this one!

The Jane Austen Book Club, a movie based on Karen Joy Fowler's 2004 novel, is making the rounds among the library staff, and the in-house reviews have been excellent! You don't need to know a lot -- or anything! -- about Jane Austen's books to enjoy this movie. Some claim it is a "chic flick" -- but many men enjoy it as well, and Austen fans will delight in the references and parallels.

We have one copy of the book and one copy of the movie (DVD) at the library, and can order the movie from other libraries if ours is out. Give it a look and let us know what you think!

napl

Who is your favorite Sleuth?

This month's Book Discussion was to talk about our favorite sleuths or investigators. Not too many folks showed up, so we thought we'd open up the question to our blogfolk: Who do you like best? Why?

We'll post ours after a few of you have posted -- we don't want to influence anyone too much ;-)

kc

Ceiling leak

Materials in the vault will be unavailable until further notice, due to several leaks in the vault ceiling.

kc

Library Closed Mon., Feb. 18

Hear ye, hear ye! The library will close for Presidents' Day on Monday, Feb. 18. Pick up your books and videos early, and avoid the rush!

New Chess Program for Youth

Our high school intern has begun an after school chess program for teens! It meets every Wednesday through March from 2:30 to 4 p.m. in the Young Adult area upstairs. Teens of all ages and chess experience are welcome. Come check it out!!

Tech Challenge: Online Genealogy

We held our first session about using Ancestry.com and FirstSearch this week. We should have waited. There were several technical problems logging all 8 computers onto our licensed Ancestry site, so we really couldn't do what we had hoped. Instead, we worked with folk on FirstSearch, the LDS free website, and did some demonstrations on Ancestry.

The good news is that we have fixed the problems. Our next class should work out better. We've offered a few spots in the next class to folks attending the first class, since it was a bit of a bust, but there are several registration slots still open. We will begin taking registrations on Monday, Jan. 28 at 662-3133. The class itself will be held Tuesday, Feb. 5 from 6 to 7:30.

Yes, even librarians are not infallible ;-)
kc

Update on yarn and craft opportunities at the library

Our knitting group has multiplied! Contrary to prior reports, our Monday group will continue in addition to our new Thursday group!

The Monday group will welcome all crafters whose hobby can be portable and not too messy -- the library prefers not to have glue or glitter or tiny beads or anything that can easily scatter brought in. But punch needlers, embroiderers, Temari ball makers, counted cross stichers and such are welcome to join with the Monday group.

At this time the Thursday group will stick with knitting and crochet, and hopes to grow to include everyone from beginner through advanced.

Both groups meet at 6 p.m. on their respective nights, and are to finish up by 7:45. Both meet in our main parlor.

Muppets at the library, pt 1

Found this youtube video on "Love the Liberry" - hope you like it (please keep the volume down within the library).

Knitters, Unite!

After the first of the year, our weekly knitting circle will switch to Thursday evenings. There is no January 3 meeting, so the new schedule will begin on the 10th at 6:00 p.m. in the library's front parlor.

Knitters of every level, from total beginners to lifelong yarnaholics, are welcome. Join the circle when you can, and don't feel bad if you cannot make it every week.

There are several experienced knitters in the circle, so if you are a beginner just bring your yarn, needles, and a simple pattern if you have one (we have several) and come at 6:00 on Thursday evenings, beginning January 10, 2008. And if you can't make it at 6, come when you can. It's over about 7:45.

kc

North Adams Public Library's blog is back!

Yup. We've decided to give it another try.

So ... have you signed up for our library electronic newsletter yet? Library 411. You can do so right from the library's webpage: www.naplibrary.com. It has been coming out monthly, although now and then we may send out a special edition.

Please let us know what kinds of materials and programs you would like to see at the library. This winter we will have a series of workshops on ancestry.com, one of the major genealogy research sites. If there are other trainings you would like us to offer, just reply here or drop us a line at naplibrary at verizon dot net.

See you 'round the net!

kc

Library 411 is alive!

Yes, the first edition of the North Adams Public Library's eZine was distributed August 30. We're learning as we go. Anyhoo, if you'd like to subscribe, just send an email message to news411-subscribe@naplibrary.com -

kc

We're switching!

Much as we enjoy your feedback and ideas, we've decided to switch from a blog to an online library newsletter (eZine) as a way to communicate with you. We hope you will continue to send us your thoughts and ideas (naplibrary@verizon.net). If you feel the blog should continue, just let me know and we'll reconsider...

The subscription link for the eZine will appear on the library website's front page within a few days (www.naplibrary.com). This will be your vehicle for getting the inside scoop on what is happening at the library in more depth than we can put on the website, as well as book reviews, tech info, etc.

Meanwhile, thanks for sharing with us. See you at the library!

kc

eZine

The library wants to start an eZine. It will be a free subscription newsletter, distributed once or twice a month, that will inform folk about what is going on at the library -- not just programs and events, but anecdotes, staff picks of favorite books, movies, or music in the collection, and information about how to use some of our services, like ebooks and downloadable videos. We want to reach out to the online community, but do not want to spam everyone who has supplied their email address as part of their library record.

The problem is that I don't know the process of creating an eZine. I gather I need some kind of subscription program -- okay, I've found that. I gather lines should be no longer than 65 characters -- okay, we can do that. But what are the mechanics beyond that? Anyone willing to help me out here?

Thanks.
kc