Welcome to our winter newsletter, with information about Friends of the Norwell Public Library events and activities; Norwell Public Library programs, museum discount passes, and other timely topics that fit.
NEWS FROM THE FRIENDS
FRIENDS PURCHASE NEW LAPTOP FOR THE LIBRARY
On Wednesday, November 23, 2011, the Friends of the Norwell Public Library formally presented a new DELL laptop computer to the Library. The Library has had several desktop computers available for patrons to use “in place” at the Library. By starting a program of loaning laptops, we hope to both give Library patrons an option on where to sit (!) and an opportunity to try a different format computer.
Patrons may borrow the laptop at the circulation desk. The laptop has a Windows 7 operating system with Microsoft Office software. Google Docs is also available through the laptop, enabling creation and storage of documents in the cloud. The laptop carrying case contains the power cord to charge the laptop battery, a wireless transmitter and a wireless mouse for patrons who prefer using a mouse to using the laptop touchpad. Note that the wireless mouse can be used to control slides if and when you give a talk using PowerPoint slides.
The Library has a box of new/unused earbuds (small headsets, shown in front of the laptop) and flash drives (removable storage) available for purchase by patrons who have not brought their own equipment. Patrons are encouraged to store documents in the cloud or to email documents back to themselves at their home computers. Documents will not be retained on the laptop. Patrons are encouraged to be aware of the public nature of all of the Library’s computers and to take care with their personal information.
Additional information about the laptop is available at the Library. One-on-one computer instruction is available to patrons and can be scheduled at the Library.
TREASURER’S NOTE
Charitable donations from the residents of Norwell have enabled the recent purchase of a laptop by the Friends of the NPL, which is now in use by Library patrons. In addition, in mid-January, the Friends will be funding the repainting and installation of additional lighting in the Library’s Community Room. These are exciting extra projects, which couldn’t be completed without the generosity of our members.
We thank the residents of Norwell for your thoughtful donations; because of you we can continue to help our Library in new and creative ways. The Norwell Public Library has a bright future.
We invite everyone to attend our monthly meetings to learn more about the ins and outs of the Friends purchases and grants to the Library. We always look forward to seeing new faces.
It is a pleasure to work with the Friends of the NPL! We have a wonderful group of volunteers (growing in number every month) who are always ready to give our Library their all. It is rewarding and fun to be part of the Friends! Thank you.
- Tracy White, Treasurer
MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
The Membership Committee of the Friends of the NPL conducts an annual membership drive in the spring. This drive aims to increase participation in the Library’s programs and activities and to raise annual funds for underwriting the Library’s programs and museum passes. In the past, the membership drive was limited in scope and the level of membership participation dropped. After the tumultuous “Library Closing Crisis” of 2010, the realization of the Library’s importance galvanized people and response to the membership drive skyrocketed. When residents voiced their commitment to one of our most important cultural and social institutions, many people joined together and we were able to put a halt to an ill-conceived plan.
The energy and support of town residents are critical parts of our strategy to improve and strengthen what is already an excellent Library.
We’ll be contacting you in the spring to renew your membership, and we hope you will continue to support the Norwell Public Library. Thank you for your support; we couldn’t do what we do without you!
- Kathleen Fitzgerald, Membership Chair
A NOTE FROM OUR CHAIRMAN
Hello all, and what a fall it was for the Friends!
We had a very successful Bake Sale led by membership chair Kathleen Fitzgerald. The Friends bakers really outdid themselves this year. The accompanying fall closing sale for Fred the Shed led by the intrepid Daune Haskill was equally successful. Having the Bake Sale and Fred the Shed closing in conjunction with the Library Card Sign Up day added to the fun.
Coordinated by Mary Cole and Russ Paulin, we purchased a new laptop computer for the Library.
After much discussion as to the mission of the Friends, we voted to provide funds to paint and update the lighting in the Community Room. Although it is not part of the Friend’s mission to provide maintenance or improvements to the Library building (this is the town’s responsibility), we realized the town was not in the position to make needed Community Room improvements. The Friends felt these enhancements would significantly improve the Library experience for all and so we voted a one-time donation for such use. Painting is scheduled for mid-January.
The Friends also nominated the Norwell Public Library for the Best Small Library in America award. This is an annual award sponsored by the Library Journal and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to highlight and celebrate the efforts and accomplishments made by small libraries. If there were doubts about whether Norwell does have the best small library in America, they were put to rest by compiling the nomination papers. We were hard-pressed to fit all that the NPL does, with a small budget, building, and staff into the given nomination format. If you are curious a copy of the nomination papers are available for your perusal at the Library. Win or not, we are extremely proud and thankful for our Library and all its dedicated staff does for our town.
Of course, we have other ongoing projects: (1) coming up with a logo for the Friends continues; (2) developing the “Sponsor of the Month” program – a new fundraising idea we hope to initiate; (3) establishing an on-line book selling effort to supplement Fred the Shed during the winter months; (4) researching another Appraisal Day or alternate fundraiser for the spring; and (5) continued research into more computer/e-reader/tablet purchases (let us know what device you would most like to see the Library have – please email me at ppww@comcast.net).
To make scheduling your time a little easier, from January to June of 2012 all meetings of the Friends will start at 6:30 pm on the 3rd Tuesday of the month. Please drop by and join us. The meeting schedule is shown on the Friends website calendar.
Although it is a lot of work, and many emails, to make all these efforts happen, it is very gratifying when we reach completion on one. As always, the Friends wish to thank all of you who have helped with your donations, your time, and your ideas. They are very much appreciated.
- Penny Wilson, Chairman
LIBRARY IS COLLECTING BOX TOPS & LABELS FOR SCHOOLS
You may have read in the Norwell Mariner and the Patriot Ledger that the Norwell schools participate in the General Mills Education program and the Campbell’s Labels for Education program.
Now those of us who no longer have school age children can help by using the drop box at the Library (in the front entry). General Mills box top symbols are each worth 10 cents to the schools and Campbell’s Soup labels count toward purchasing school products through the Campbell’s catalog. Friends volunteers will distribute the box tops and labels to the schools.
Of course you can still turn in the box tops and labels to the Cole or Vinyl school collection boxes found in the school lobbies. Box tops for the Middle School can be given to the staff at the front office. These programs help the schools with everyday classroom costs.
A+ School Rewards through Stop & Shop
From October 7 to March 30, shopping at Stop & Shop can also benefit the Norwell schools. To register online, log onto www.stopandshop.com/aplus and you will see Designate Your School on the right. Enter your Stop & Shop card number and choose the Cole, Vinal, Middle School, or Charter School. That’s all you have to do! In 2010, for example, the Cole School received $1,097.
LIBRARY NEWS
NEW DRIVE THROUGH BOOK DROP
You may have noticed the Library now has a drive-through book drop. No longer will patrons have to leave the baby in the car or walk up an icy path to return items to the Library. The book drop is near the main Library entrance, on the driver’s side as you circle around the Library driveway.
NEW PARKING LOT LIGHTING
The old, dimly-lit parking area is a thing of the past. The Library parking lot is now much brighter and more eco-friendly with LED streetlights. LED lights are brighter than traditional streetlights and require a fraction of the power to run them!
MUSEUM PASS UPDATES
The Museum Passes are funded through the generosity of Friends members like you, and partners like the Norwell Women’s Club who fund the New England Aquarium pass. The Museum Passes are all described on the Friends of NPL website at: http://friendsofnorwellpubliclibrary.org and on the Norwell Public Library website, where you can reserve a pass online: http://www.norwellpubliclibrary.org/museum.html
Museum Passes available at this time are:
- Adams National Historical park
- The New England Aquarium
- Boston By Foot
- Children’s Museum of Boston
- Fuller Craft Museum
- Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston
- Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
- Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
- Museum of Science, Boston
- Peabody Essex Museum
- Plimoth Plantation
- Pawtucket Red Sox Baseball Club
- Roger Williams Park Zoo
- South Shore Natural Science Center
- USS Constitution Museum
- Zoo New England
Gardner Museum Reopening January 19, 2012
The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum has been undergoing an impressive renovation and will reopen January 19th. The very modern new addition includes a performance hall and new special exhibition gallery space. This is something everyone will want to see!
Museum of Science Pompei Exhibit through February 12, 2012
“A Day in the Life of Pompei” exhibit at the Museum of Science is excellent, as it follows the shocking changes that developed in a single day to erase a city, and in doing so preserved it for centuries. The man reaching out to comfort his wife in their last moments was especially touching.
BANK OF AMERICA’S “MUSEUMS ON US” PROGRAM
This is in no way an endorsement for Bank of America, but if you have a BoA ATM card, it is good for free access to more than 100 museums nation-wide on the first full weekend of each month. The next weekends will be January 7 + 8, February 4 + 5, and March 3 + 4. Massachusetts sites include the EcoTarium in Worcester, the Danforth Museum of Art in Framingham, the DeCordova Museum in Lincoln (wonderful outdoor sculpture park), the Harvard Museum of Natural History in Cambridge (see the glass flowers!), and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. For more information, follow this link.
NEWS FROM THE CHILDREN’S ROOM
Hundreds of children of all ages turned out for programs in November and December, from singer Mama Steph’s Friday morning sing-alongs to Story Times, author visits, Lego, Youth Library Council, and more!
Friends’ support went a long way toward financing edible supplies for 40 delectable snow scenes made by little hands in the “Let It Snow-Man” story/craft program for children ages 4 – 9.
Buckets of colorful Lego blocks were purchased to supplement a loaned collection for a new and already popular Lego program. Miss Nancy asks anyone who would like to donate Legos to please drop them off at her desk. They will be used again and again, and greatly appreciated!
It was a special delight to be able to host not one but two children’s authors this month, David Ira Rottenberg, who read from his new picture book Gwendolyn the Graceful Pig, accompanied by graceful ballerinas from the Dance Workshop of Hanover.
Author/illustrator Dean Morrissey (shown below) led a drawing lesson for children following a reading of his new picture book The Wizard Mouse. The books were available for purchase at both events, which parents appreciated, heading into the holidays.
December kicked off with a fabulous Saturday-morning program featuring adventure girl Dora the Explorer, for 2- to-6-year olds and their families. The costumed Dora character came as a representative of the state “UFUND” college savings program. This traveling literacy program is making stops at public libraries all over the state. Keep an eye out for our next UFUND visitor in a few months … Buzz Lightyear!
Library Story Times on Wednesday and Thursday mornings continue to be popular with 3-to-5-year olds and their caregivers. Fridays at 11:00 is when children, parents, grandparents and caregivers enjoy “Books & Bubbles” with Miss Nancy, or Mama Steph. These “happening” literacy events are laying a foundation for future readers—come join us!
Next time you’re in the library, notice the winter-themed bulletin boards and displays assembled by our Youth Library Council members – they are awesome (the displays AND the kids)!
Looking ahead to January:
We’ll welcome storyteller Big Ryan on Saturday, January 7th, at 10:30, and on
Wednesday, January 18th, at 4:00, Charlotte Anne Dore of Rosalita’s Puppets presents a marionette show called “Sea Story,” suitable for ages 6 and up.
Our favorite family singer, Mama Steph, performs every Friday in January, at 11am!
Watch for Annie Wu Nelson’s Chinese New Year dragon, on display in the Children’s Room all month.
- Nancy Perry, Children’s Services Librarian
LIBRARY PROGRAMS
UPCOMING EVENTS ON THE LIBRARY CALENDAR
Please visit the Library’s website at http://www.norwellpubliclibrary.org and click on Calendar to view program schedules.
A quick look at upcoming events on the Library’s calendar for January, 2012 reveals children’s events described above and the January 25th Dinner and a Movie: Gran Torino. Released at Christmastime in 2008, Gran Torino eloquently critiques the urban heritage of Dirty Harry and his violent brethren. The movie is a savvy meditation on America in a particular historical moment, racially, economically, spiritually. A disgruntled Korean War vet sets out to reform his neighbor, a young Hmong teenager, who tried to steal his prized possession: his 1972 Gran Torino.
THE DIRECTOR’S CORNER
Are you interested in your family heritage? NPL subscribes to Ancestry.com and this resource is available to you. You do need to visit the Library to conduct your searches in person. With this wonderful program, I was able to see my grandparents’ signatures when they arrived on Ellis Island over eighty years ago and I was able to see the ships they sailed over from Germany and Italy! You must investigate this wonderful resource.
And for those of you interested in expanding your repertoire of language, NPL has purchased the BYKI (Before You Know It) language program. It includes a culture feature, charts your progress through the lessons, and assists you with learning the correct pronunciation. Soon you will be conversing like a pro. These valuable resources are free with your Library card. Go to the Norwell Library website: www.norwellpubliclibrary.org and click “Learn a New Language” on the homepage.
A few short notes:
Circulation for November, 2011 is up 15% year over year compared to 2010.
24,000 patrons walked into the Library in November, 2011. That’s 5,000 visitors per week!
Museum Pass use is the highest it’s been in 3 years!
Freegal is available to enable you to download up to 3 (three) mp3 songs per week from the Sony inventory of songs. Each Library Card can be a separate freegal member.
Consumers Checkbook is a local consumer reviewing service available to Library patrons.
The secret… is to go the Library’s REFERENCE section and look around. There are lots of online reference materials you may find helpful.
RACE TO NOWHERE: A concerned mother turned filmmaker aims her camera at the high-stakes, high-pressure culture that has invaded our schools and our children’s lives. This remarkable, award winning film will be shown January 12th from 7 pm to 9 pm at the Norwell High School, located at 18 South Street, Norwell, MA. This is collaboration between the Norwell High School and the Norwell Public Library. To register and print your free ticket, visit: http://rtnnorwellhs.eventbrite.com/
For additional information about the film, you can visit http://www.racetonowhere.com/ or http://www.endtherace.org/
- Becky Freer, Library Director
A MESSAGE FROM THE TRUSTEES, December, 2011
Dear Friends and Patrons,
The Trustees are so pleased with the recent improvements to NPL. New lighting was installed in the parking lot which greatly enhances visibility and safety. You may have also noticed the new drop box for returned Library materials. This box will allow patrons to return materials without having to leave their automobiles. We were also delighted to accept a Dell laptop from the Friends for in-house circulation. We continue to be grateful for all the Friends do to support NPL.
We call attention to the sale of calendars during the month of December. Proceeds benefit the Norwell Library Foundation. These funds form the basis for future building construction needs. Great prizes have been generously donated by local merchants. We thank our business community for its continuing support of NPL. Calendars are available for purchase from Friends, Trustees, and at the Library.
As of September, several hours of operation were restored for this fiscal year. NPL has seen an increase in materials circulated an increase in the number of patrons using library services up to 5,000 people weekly, and an increase in the use of Museum Passes. When our Library is open, people use it. In order to continue to provide the best possible Library services to Norwell residents, all households will receive a library use survey in early January. The survey will also be available online at the NPL website. This survey will, in part, assist Trustees in establishing hours of operation that best suit the needs of residents. While we clearly hope to maintain the current number of hours, it would be foolish in this current economic climate to assume that we will be able to do so without increased funding.
The Trustees wish all a joyous holiday season. Patronize NPL to check out the new books, latest technologies, Museum Passes and unique programming. 2012 promises to be another challenging budget season, but with your continued support, your NPL will continue to thrive.
- Jeanne Hagelstein-Ivas, Trustee
NEWS YOU CAN USE
THINGS YOU CAN BORROW AT THE LIBRARY
A Voltage Meter is available for loan to patrons. This tool is vital when working with electrical circuits and useful for the home electrician with only an occasional need for the equipment. The Library has e-readers to loan. These will be Sony readers or Nooks. Patrons can visit the Library’s website and go to “Overdrive” to download books for free. Downloads are useable for two weeks. And, of course, the Library now has a laptop you can borrow for use inside the Library building.
FRIENDS OF THE NORWELL PUBLIC LIBRARY WEBSITE
While the Friends do an e-newsletter roughly four (4) times a year, we update the group website on an as needed basis. We try to provide up-to-date information on upcoming meetings, fundraisers, events, and activities involving the Friends.
If you would like to be notified whenever a new item is posted to the website, there is a space to enter your email address. If you do this, any new website entry will be automatically emailed to you, so you will never have to actually go there to see what’s new. Unless you wish to do so, of course! We welcome visitors to the website since that’s where we store information about the museums in the Museum Pass Program and so on. The Museum Pass Program and some of the other information about the Friends is provided on the Norwell Public Library website, maintained by the Library staff. The two websites overlap only slightly and we encourage you to subscribe to our automatic update service while you’re here!
ODDS AND ENDS
LETTERS ABOUT THE LIBRARY
For many, the Norwell Public Library is not just a place to enrich your mind and soul but a place to interact with other members of the town. The Library is the one place in town where you truly can feel a sense of community. The Public Library for me is an important part of what makes Norwell a place where I like to live and feel proud of. I have been a Norwell resident for almost 18 years, I always speak with pride about our wonderful Library, the wonderful dedicated people that work for it, the volunteers involved, and all the services and programs we can receive from it. We are so fortunate having in town such a wonderful place.
- Victor M Posada, 154 Main Street
DO LIBRARIES REALLY DESTROY BOOKS?
Libraries have limited space and limited funds, but they face a constantly growing supply of books and other media. The careful culling of books is painstaking work. From selling to donating to destroying, NPR looked at the options when every book cannot be kept on the shelves. See the full story here.
THE PHANTOM LIBRARY SCULPTOR
Somewhere in Edinburgh, Scotland, there is a talented lady sculptor and friend to libraries. She has done several intricate, beautiful pieces and left them anonymously at libraries and museums around Edinburgh. The story was carried by NPR and the link is here. My favorite is the Tyrannosaurus Rex created out of an old copy of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s THE LOST WORLD. Note the little tail sticking out of the spine of the book.
If you find this intriguing, you can see what appears to be most of them at this link. A paper cinema. A dragon egg hatching. A tree made out of a book of poetry, and so much more. The second website mentioned is now closed to contributions and may disappear at some point, so go visit soon. The web can be ephemeral, too.
DID YOU KNOW?
According to a 2007 article by Margaret Jakubcin, librarian….
US libraries circulate about the same number of items as FedEx ships each day, i.e., about 5.3 million items.
Numerous studies have confirmed that school libraries staffed by qualified library media specialists make a measurable difference on student achievement.
There is research to support what librarians have always said: libraries are busier during hard economic times.
Five times more people visit US public libraries each year than attend US professional and college football, basketball, baseball, and hockey games combined. (1.1 billion vs. 204 million)
Public libraries are good for the economy. Studies have shown that public libraries have an economic impact that greatly exceeds their cost, returning somewhere between $4 to $6 to the local economy for every $1 invested.
LIBRARIES IN POP CULTURE NEWS
In July of 2010, NPR did a piece called Why The Next Big Pop-Culture Wave After Cupcakes Might Be Libraries. They referenced one of my favorite TV shows of days gone by: The Librarian with Noah Wyle, Bob Newhart, and Jane Curtin. How can you NOT love that cast? The series had the flavor of the Indiana Jones movies and is available through the Old Colony Library Network on DVD.
And, although NPR didn’t mention it, there’s a wonderful series of books about literary detective Thursday Next by Jasper Fforde, each better than the last. Thursday is able to move in and out of different books and has a dodo for a pet. How cool is that? Check out The Eyre Affair, that’s Eyre as in Jane Eyre! The other five books in the series are: The Well of Lost Plots, Lost in a Good Book, Something Rotten, First Among Sequels, and the latest (2011) addition: One of Our Thursdays is Missing. They’re quite addictive. All are available in several formats through the Old Colony Library Network. A treat for book lovers!
Library-related YouTube videos
Two videos involve the new Old Spice guy: one from the Harold B. Lee Library at Brigham Young University with nearly 3 million views (!), and one generally promoting libraries which is very strange. The Old Spice dude has some seriously strange videos up there on the web.
If you’d like to listen to some Library-related music video parodies, try Librarians Do Gaga from the University of Washington libraries.
And from the Central Rappahannock Regional Library in the great state of Virginia, there’s a great video with a cast of librarians, representing their many branches, and a parody of the pop song I Will Survive: Libraries Will Survive. How appropriate! And you know what? They will, too. Enjoy.
All Hail Tolkien
The University of Kansas presents The Lord of the Libraries: The Return of the Book.
Before winning an Emmy for his work on “Heroes” then-student Chris Martin wrote and directed this little video: The Lord of the Libraries!
It turns out Bilbo Baggins checked out The Book of Power while in school and . . .
…but you’ll have to watch the video! All 18 minutes of it.
Very cute.
Libraries! They’re hot pop culture! Outside and In!
FRIENDS OF THE NORWELL PUBLIC LIBRARY OFFICERS
Chair – Penny Wilson
Vice Chair – Karen Yee
Secretary – Susannah Murphy
Treasurer – Tracy White
Membership – Kathleen Fitzgerald
Publicity, Newsletter, Website – Mary Cole
Fred the Shed – Daune Haskell
Library Director – Rebecca Freer
Tags: 2011, newsletter, winter, winter 2011
