Wild for Wildlife

Photo by Flickr user feck_aRt_post

Do you wonder why you don’t see Eastern meadowlarks anymore?  Are you curious about the sighting of lynx tracks in northern New Hampshire several years ago?  Would you recognize the call of the northern leopard frog if you heard it?

            On Monday, March 19, a volunteer from the Speaking for Wildlife Program will present “Wild History: 350 Years of New Hampshire Wildlife," from 7:00pm  to 8:00pm at the Boscawen Municipal Complex.

            The presentation, part of the Speaking for Wildlife Project, will take you on a virtual journey through New Hampshire’s past, focusing on changes in the land and how wildlife populations have responded over time.  You’ll learn why changes in habitat in our past are behind the decline of many of our rarest species today, and what you can do to help.

            This program is free and open to the public.  For more information contact the Boscawen Public Library at (603) 753-8576 or email at boscawenpl@gmail.com.

            The Speaking for Wildlife Project is a volunteer effort of UNH Cooperative Extension, the NH Coverts Project and NH Fish & Game, with funding provided by the Wellborn Ecology Fund of the NH Charitable Foundation.

Staff review: Celebrity in Death by JD Robb

plot summary (from book)
Lieutenant Eve Dallas is no party girl, but she's managing to have a reasonably good time at the celebrity-packed bash celebrating The Icove Agenda, a film based on one of her famous cases. It's a little spooky seeing the actress playing her, who looks almost like her long-lost twin. Not as unsettling, though, as seeing the actress who plays Peabody drowned in the lap pool on the roof of the director's luxury building. Now she's at the center of a crime scene-and Eve is more than ready to get out of her high heels and strap on her holster and step into the role she was born to play: cop.

first lines
With frustration and some regret, she studied murder. It lay in the quiet room on a sofa the color of good Merlot with heart blood staining a pale gray shirt beneath the silver bolt of a scalpel.

my take
Once again, JD Robb stole my weekend. With over thirty books in the series, Eve Dallas is a serious favorite of mine. This book might not be the best for a new reader to step into, depending as it does on the reader knowing what happened in Origin in Death and New York to Dallas. The camaraderie between the main characters and the satisfying development of the mystery are hallmarks of this experienced writer. If anything, my only complaint is that the mystery came together too easily. Peabody and McNab have a major moment early in the book. I'm excited to see where that leads and also what changes take place in Eve's and Roarke's life. Book number 35 coming this fall!

Geek out @ your library® during Teen Tech Week 2012

Local teens will be tuning in at the library as we celebrate the annual Teen Tech Week March 4-10, 2012. They join thousands of other libraries and schools across the country who are celebrating this year’s theme, Geek Out @ your library®.” Teen Tech Week is a national initiative of the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) aimed at teens, their parents, educators and other concerned adults. The purpose of the initiative is to ensure that teens are competent and ethical users of technology, especially they types offered through libraries. Teen Tech Week encourages teens to take advantage of the technology at libraries for education and recreation, and to recognize that librarians are qualified, trusted professionals who can help them achieve greater digital literacy.  

Getting teens into libraries is essential. Offering gaming, access to computers, and online homework help is important, and letting them know that we can help educate them on how to use these resources will get them in the door. Once they’re in the door, we can show teens that with technology at the library, anything is possible.

Recent studies from Pew Internet & American Life Project show the majority of teens own cell phones and mp3 players. Ninety-three percent of teens regularly use the Internet — 73 percent of all American teens go online to use Facebook or other social networking sites. Three-quarters of American teens send text messages every day. Nearly 40 percent of teens share something online that they created themselves, like artwork or a video.

Teen Tech Week is a way for librarians and educators to collaborate with and educate teens about technology. Over the last several years the library’s role in increasing digital literacy has become more and more important, equal to that of reading literacy.

Teens are encouraged to celebrate Teen Tech Week. Tech Tuesday on March 6 at 6:30 will feature the library databases. Honestly it’s more helpful and interesting than it sounds! Check out the display at the library too.

Teen Tech Week is held annually the second week of March. For an updated list of sponsors and supporting organizations, visit www.ala.org/teentechweek.

Civil War event postponed

Due to the weather, NH Towns and the Civil War will be postponed until March 29.

Harry Potter ebooks soon!

Overdrive announced today that the Harry Potter series will be added to its catalog in both ebook and digital audiobook formats! They should be coming around the end of April, so keep checking NH Downloadable Books! 

And just last week, J.K. Rowling announced her first book for adults. No release date or plot summary, though.

March 2012

February new materials

Just a few of the new materials this month. Remember you can reserve any of these in our catalog!