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

Did you see that Bruce Harley is going to be here at the library this Thursday? He really knows his stuff! He's going to talk about ways we can save energy (and $$$) in our homes. I'm sure he'll have a few tips that you haven't thought of before.

So please plan to be here at 6 p.m. this Thursday, Dec. 11, up in the third floor Community Room. I think you'll be glad you came.

kw

It's been awhile...

Whew! It sure has been a long time since we posted anything on this blog. Sorry about that folks. Hope you're still with us.

There's a great concert coming up next Monday, Nov. 24, here at the library. Gospel / blues singer Robin O'Herin will offer free performance beginning at 6 p.m. The concert will last an hour or a bit longer. Hope you can make it.

Just a note: The library will be closing this Wednesday, Nov. 26 at 1 p.m. so that staff can get ready for Thanksgiving (my favorite holiday!). The good news is that we will be open our regular hours that Friday and Saturday.

Best to you and yours for the holiday!
kc

Craft Circles Reconvene

The library's Thursday evening "Knitting and Crochet Circle" and Monday evening "Handcrafts Circle" are starting up again for the fall/winter season. Each drop-in group meets weekly on its respective night from 6 to 7:30 in the library's Main Parlor. What a way to get inspired and motivated to work on making your holiday gifts!

The Monday group welcomes anyone whose handcraft is portable and not too messy; the Thursday group is for yarn workers. Both groups offer mutual instruction and support. Feel free to come when you can -- just bring your own project and supplies.

kc

Book Sale!

Don't forget that the library's book sale is this coming Friday and Saturday, September 26 and 27! On Friday it is from 9 to 5; on Saturday from 9 to 1. This is your chance to get some great deals on those volumes you've been wanting!! Also it includes books on tape and CD, and videos.

Have you read . . .

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon? What an interesting book! Of it, BookPage says, "Imagine having the capacity to calculate every prime number up to 7,057, but an utter inability to express anger, love or fear. That's the brilliant, bewildering reality for Christopher John Francis Boone, the 15-year-old narrator of Mark Haddon's whimsical first novel, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time."

Haddon's small volume will be the focus of the Happy Bookers book discussion on Tuesday, October 4, at 6 p.m. at the library. Copies of the book are currently available at the library. It's a quick read, and we'd love to hear your opinion!

Free Movies!

Did you know that you can download nearly 300 PBS videos through our digital catalog using your library card?

And how do you reach the digital catalog? There's a link on the library homepage in the right-hand menu, about half-way down, "Electronic Books and Movies Catalog," that will take you there. Or you can go directly the the site by clicking HERE - but be sure you have your library card handy, because you'll need that to get access. Your number is right below the barcode on the back of your card. You also can download audio books from that site. Just one more service brought to you by the North Adams Public Library and the Central & Western Massachusetts Automated Resource Sharing Network (C/WMARS)!

Happy July!

It's a new month, and time to consider summer reading.

Are you planning a vacation? The library has tons of books on travel, both within the US and elsewhere. Driving? Take along a book on tape or CD.

Time at the beach or the lake? How about some light reading -- if you tell the reference staff what authors you like, they'll help you find other authors whose work you also may like.

Time for look into your family's history? The library offers free access to Ancestry.com and NEHGS databases, as well as loads of information on local folks. Did you know we have the Transcript back to 1844? Local births, marriages and deaths from c. 1781 to about 1906?

Summer time is reading time, and we've got lots to offer. Or, for those ranier days, we have hundreds of movies and dozens of topics on non-fiction DVDs. Hope you'll be in soon to check it out.
kc

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