Boscawen Public Library

A Year of. . . Experimental Journalism

2012-02-01T13:24:00.000-05:00

You're a writer, and you're interested in something-- say, like an odd historical fact, a burning existential question, a new way to "go green" or save money. What do you do? Well, you can research in dusty archives, visit places, interview people and produce a perfectly good book. Or you can take an increasingly popular path and insert yourself into the narrative.

What happens if I do this for a year?

The Happiness Project, or why I spent a year trying to sing in the morning, clean my closets, fight right, read Aristotle, and generally have more fun Gretchen Roth
The Year of Magical Thinking Joan Didion
The Know-It-All: one man's humble quest to become the smartest person in the world A.J. Jacobs
Helping Me Help Myself: one skeptic , twelve self-help programs, and one whirlwind year of self improvement Beth Lisik
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks Rebecca Skloot
The Art of Eating In: how I learned to stop spending and love the stove Cathy Erway
Julie and Julia: 365 days, 524 recipes, 1 tiny apartment kitchen: how one girl risked her marriage, her job, and her sanity to master the art of living Julie Powell
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: a year of food life Barbara Kingsolver
Following Atticus: forty-eight high peaks, one little dog, and an extraordinary friendship Tom Ryan

Save the Date! February at the Boscawen Library

2012-01-23T14:12:00.000-05:00

February 2012 calendar

Sneak Peek: Some of the new titles this month!

2012-01-18T14:09:00.001-05:00

Read all Winter

2012-01-07T14:00:00.000-05:00

Tis the season of resolutions. If your resolution is to read more, we've got some motivation. Read all Winter! and win a prize. (From January 9 to February 29)

Children: In order to participate, children need to pick up a reading log. On the front of the log is a snowman to decorate! Read 3 books and write them down in the reading log. Bring back the completed log to receive a prize and place your decorated snowman on display. Teens and Adults: Teens and adults need to read 3 books of their choice and then either complete the reading review brochure (available at the Circulation Desk) or complete the reviews online. Once you have turned in 3 reviews you can stop by the Information Desk to receive a prize.

Read All Winter Use this link to participate online!

Friends of the Library Book Campaign 2011

2011-12-29T13:42:00.000-05:00

Nearly twenty books were added to the Library through the generousity of our Friends. Thanks to all who participated!

Thank you all, and Merry Christmas

2011-12-22T13:41:00.001-05:00

Picture by Flickr user Leo Reynolds

CLiF: new children's books

2011-12-14T15:52:00.000-05:00

Thanks to the Children's Literacy Foundation, the Boscawen Library has $2000 worth of new children's books. CLiF is active in literacy efforts in NH and VT; this is the third time Boscawen has received this grant. I want to share some of the book covers with you.

Passes

2011-12-05T14:44:00.000-05:00

Now that the weather has turned colder-- or is supposed to have turned colder-- it's time to remind you that we do have museum passes still available. The Squam Lake Science Center has closed for the season, it's true, but there are still three INDOOR places to visit courtesy of the Library and the Friends.

The SEE Science Center in Manchester is hands on science fun seven days a week. There's a giant bubble maker, a moon walker, a submarine visit and the LEGO Millyard, an exact scale replica of Manchester's giant red brick mills. Open Monday through Thursday 10-4 and weekends 10-5. One pass gets everyone living under one roof in for FREE!

The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center recently had to scale back hours, but is well worth the visit. There are models of a Redstone rocket and the space shuttle as well as planetarium showings. Our pass gets you free admission to the exhibits and four people pay just $4 apiece for a planetarium showing. They're open Thursday through Sunday 10-5 with evening hours on Friday. There are special hours during school vacations.

The Currier Museum and Gallery offers lots of programs in addition to art and local interest displays. Children under 17 are always free and our pass gets two adults in for free as well. The Gallery is open Sunday, Monday and Wednesday to Friday 11-5, Saturday 10-5 and the first Thursday of the month 11-8

Friends of the Library Book Campaign

2011-12-01T15:39:00.000-05:00

Every year there are good books we don't have the budget to get. Please help us increase the collection so that you and your neighbors can count on us to have what you want.

The Book List is available at the Library or at Amazon.com. Simply pick up the book during your holiday shopping or order online or give a cash gift at the Library. Each gift is tax deductible and a bookplate will acknowledge your gift.

The Friends of the Boscawen Library

The Friends of the Library was founded in the late 1990s to assist the Boscawen Library in providing cultural and educational materials to the town. The Friends have sponsored the summer reading program, special speakers, and museum passes Join the Friends! We meet the third Thursday of every month and all we ask is your presence.

Coming next month!

2011-11-23T14:51:00.002-05:00

Power Point

Book Review: The Scorpio Races

2011-11-16T12:27:00.000-05:00

Summary from Publisher:

Some race to win. Others race to survive. It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die. At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them. Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn't given her much of a choice. So she enters the competition - the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen. As she did in her bestselling Shiver trilogy, author Maggie Stiefvater takes us to the breaking point.

My Take : I read this because I liked Shiver, Linger, and Forever, Stiefvater's werewolf trilogy, but this book reminded more of her other two Ballad and Lament, probably because of the setting. It's modern times or somewhat near (Puck's brother owns a Morris car) on an island off the British coast. The water horses, vicious, carnivorous, and beautiful, set this island apart. Sean saw his father killed in the Scorpio Races and Puck's parents died when water horses swamped their boat. The development of the characters, the pacing of the plot, the vivid descriptions all make this a great book to read, especially this time of year with its hint of winter approaching.

Reading with a Kid

2011-11-01T17:00:00.000-04:00

So your child loves books! And he's being taught reading in school! You can relax and slide through! The experts are taking care of it. . .but like all things parenting, the situation is a bit more complex. Your kindergartener to second grader still needs your help.

Continue reading to your son or daughter. Picture books, chapter books, the back of cereal boxes, it all emphasizes the importance of reading in everyday life.

Encourage your child to sit down with a book of his own -- and let him see you doing the same. Consider instituting a "family reading time."
As her reading skills grow, you may be tempted to push her to read harder and thicker books. Let her go at her own pace! Some kids need a while to feel comfortable with chapter books.
Stories aren't the only way to improve literacy skills. Encourage your kid to read non-fiction books about interesting things. The text is often broken up in small chunks and brightened with pictures.

When you bring you child to the library:

Sign them up for their own card and give them a sense of ownership.
If you're not sure about a book, try the Rule of Three: open to a random page and have your child read starting at the top. If he stumbles over more than three vocabulary words on the page, it may not be the best book at the moment.
Ask a librarian. We're happy to share new series or arrivals or introduce your new reader to old favorites.

Note: Library books are not organized according to Lexile levels or other leveled reading approaches, but we'll get you that information if we can.

Some books your 5 to 7 year old might enjoy:

A few new books and other things. . .

2011-10-24T14:20:00.000-04:00

Just some pictures of things that recently came in.

Storytime Fun: Reading at a Young Age

2011-10-13T16:56:00.000-04:00

Children are preparing to read long before they enter school. Every experience your child has with books during the first five years lays the foundation for learning to read. Educators call this "early literacy", and chances are you're doing it without even being aware.

Here are some ideas:

Make time to read with your child every day. Even five minutes allows cuddle time and emphasizes the importance and fun of books.
Let books be an option during playtime. Put a couple on the shelf with the puzzles and LEGOs.
Try out nursery rhymes. "Baa, baa black sheep" and "Jack and Jill" introduce vocabulary and the rhythm makes them easy to memorize.
Point out letters in the stores you're in. "Look, there's a 'g' at the beginning of that word, just like in 'Grammie'."
Come to library storytime! We deliberately include pre-literacy skills in lapsit and preschool storytime.

Educators talk about the six essential pre-literacy skills.

Vocabulary: knowing the names of things. A five year old can know between 3,000 and 5,000 words.
Print motivation. Does your child enjoy and value books? Hint: seeing you read regularly will reinforce reading's value.
Print awareness. Reading follows a lot of rules. Does your child turn pages one at a time? "Read" right-to-left and top-to-bottom?
Narrative skills. Encourage your child to describe a favorite story instead of listening to you read.
Letter knowledge. Letters have names and make different sounds. Draw letters in sand or point out and read signs.
Phonological awareness. Knowing that words are made up of sounds. The ability to rhyme is one indication of this. Try making up nonsense words by substituting a letter at the beginning of a word: ant, cant, pant, rant, sant, mant, dant.

SAVE THE VANS!

2011-10-08T11:25:00.000-04:00

The Interlibrary Loan (ILL) service offered by the State Library is at risk due to a request by the state legislature to report on the possibility of using the federal funds that support this program for other undefined purposes. The New Hampshire State Legislature recently passed an amendment to the state budget that required that the state library “review the federal program guidelines for which it receives federal dollars to support library programs and seek to amend its 5-year plan to use the funding that has been designated to support 3 of the interlibrary vans for other purposes”.

We are strongly opposed to reducing the funding for the library vans, which are used to support the Inter Library Loan (ILL) program, for the following reasons.

1. No service of the State Library has as much impact on our patrons as Inter Library Loan. It provides New Hampshire with a "virtual state wide library" allowing borrowers at smaller libraries with smaller collections and budgets access to the same materials that are available in larger towns, and provides everyone access to a larger collection of material. Removing three of the vans would only leave one van to support the entire state, effectively killing the ILL program.

2. The vans are funded directly by a Federal grant, and not by state tax revenues. The average cost to move a book/video/cd, etc. is about 44 cents. The average cost to purchase that item is about $20.00. This savings means a significant reduction in the cost to New Hampshire taxpayers for their library service. In order to have access to the same materials, taxpayers would pay substantially more in the absence of this program. This is a highly efficient use of resources, with an enormous payback.

3. The ILL program is one of the most widely used services in our libraries. More than 800,000 items are transferred annually. It is popular with students who require reference and research materials to complete school assignments; with seniors who do not have the resources to purchase materials that may not be available at their library, and to patrons who have specific interests that may not be supported at their local library.

4. This is Federal Funding that was targeted specifically at improving library services. It is the judgment of the state library that these ILL vans represent the best use of these funds. Our library staff and our Board of Trustees support this judgment, and so do the patrons who have signed this petition.

As citizens and taxpayers in the State of New Hampshire, we request that the funding for the ILL vans not be changed and that the program be maintained at its current level of service.

A petition is available at the library or contact your representative before November 1.

Taken from the NH Library Trustees Association website.

Libraries Have E-books?: Kindle for Overdrive!

2011-10-01T15:53:00.006-04:00

nh.lib.overdrive.com

Here's some help on how to do it.

From the press release:

In a move highly anticipated since its initial announcement in April, public libraries and schools in the U.S. can now lend eBooks for the Amazon® Kindle. OverDrive (www.overdrive.com) announced today that it has begun adding Kindle compatibility to all of the U.S. public and school libraries in its network and expects to have all sites updated within days. This is a very significant step in a series of OverDrive WIN platform enhancements to streamline user experience and help libraries meet the increased demand for eBooks.

OverDrive, the leading multichannel digital distributor of eBooks, audiobooks and other digital content, supplies 15,000 public and school libraries worldwide and more than 11,000 in the U.S. To see if your local library is a member of the OverDrive network, visit OverDrive Search.

"Kindle compatibility will allow public and school libraries to serve millions of new readers and extend their valuable community role while providing an outstanding reading experience," said Steve Potash, CEO of OverDrive. "This addition helps public libraries accelerate their drive to become the first online stop for eBooks, where visitors can browse, discover and sample new and popular titles and authors in virtually all subjects."

The process for borrowing a public library or school eBook for Kindle is similar as for other devices. Most eBooks already in the library's catalog supplied by OverDrive are compatible with Kindle, so users simply browse or search for "Kindle Book," check out a title with a valid library card, and then click "Get for Kindle." Access to the Kindle Book will occur at Amazon's website after signing in and selecting delivery to the user's Kindle device or any of the free Kindle reading apps. As with all eBooks and other digital content at OverDrive-powered libraries and schools, titles are available 24/7 and incur no late fees because they automatically expire at the end of the lending period. For more details on Kindle compatibility, including the availability of Amazon's Whispersync technology, please visit OverDrive's Digital Library Blog.

Online Homework Help!

2011-09-26T13:17:00.000-04:00

Have you noticed that the library might not have older editions of magazines and newspapers in the library? It doesn't mean that you can't find the article you need! Instead of keeping (and storing) hundreds or thousands of magazines on the shelves, the articles are available to you through the New Hampshire statewide subscription to EBSCO and Newsbank.

These websites require a username and password. Please contact the library for your login information.

Full Suite of EBSCO Databases

Our subscription to EBSCO offers a wide range of information. You can do everything from find information for homework assignments to read the latest article in your favorite magazine!

Fiction from EBSCO

Love to read? Check out NoveList to see book reviews, get read-alike suggestions, and learn more about fiction.

Visit NoveList K-8 to find read-alikes, series lists, and recommendations for kids books!

Newspapers from NewsBank

Read the full text articles for free from the Concord Monitor (10/2002-current) and Union Leader (1/1989-current) from our NewsBank subscription.

Homework Help from EBSCO

Need to find magazine, journal, or newspaper articles for a homework assignment? Make the Student Research Center your first stop for finding just what you need.

Information for the youngest students can be found through the colorful Searchasaurus site.

Check out Kids Search for magazine and newspaper articles for the younger student.

Wow! MAS Ultra for high school students contains full text articles for 500 high school magazines and 360 reference books, 85,670 biographies, and a half-million photos.

Health from EBSCO

Looking for health information? Health Source contains full text for nearly 190 journals including Consumer Reports on Health and Men’s Health.

Have a medical question? Consumer Health Complete is a full text database covers topics such as aging, cancer, diabetes, drugs & alcohol, fitness, nutrition & dietetics, and more.

Genealogy Research

Use HeritageQuest Online to research your family history through census, birth, and death records.

An Excerpt from Crossed

2011-09-20T10:32:00.000-04:00

Entertainment Weekly has an exclusive excerpt from the sequel to Matched by Ally Condie.

For Cassia, nothing is left to chance--not what she will eat, the job she will have, or the man she will marry. In Matched, the Society Officials have determined optimal outcomes for all aspects of daily life, thereby removing the "burden" of choice. When Cassia's best friend is identified as her ideal marriage Match it confirms her belief that Society knows best, until she plugs in her Match microchip and a different boy’s face flashes on the screen. This improbable mistake sets Cassia on a dangerous path to the unthinkable--rebelling against the predetermined life Society has in store for her. As author Ally Condie’s unique dystopian Society takes chilling measures to maintain the status quo, Matched reminds readers that freedom of choice is precious, and not without sacrifice.

What's New?

2011-09-14T14:49:00.000-04:00

What's new in our collections?
Thanks to the Friends of the Library, we were able to pick up $150 of new materials at the Borders liquidation sale. These seventeen items include three kids and teens audiobooks and some new software and programming guides, as well as adult fiction.

Darth Paper Strikes Back in the sequel to Origami Yoda, while we are Wonderstruck by the new venture from Hugo Cabret author Selznick.

Sherlock Holmes triumphs again in The Pirate King, while Linda Howard returns with new Prey. Eoin Colfer of the Artemis Fowl series makes his adult debut with Plugged.
Several classics have been added to our DVD collection including Disney's Cinderella and Lady and the Tramp, Charade (with Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant, and E.T.

If you're a Dragonball or Pokemon fan, we've got new books and movies for you.

My personal favorite of the new materials this month is You will be my Friend, a picture book detailing the lengths to which Lucy the bear (ofChildren make terrible pets) will go to make a friend.

$2000 for reading

2011-09-08T14:33:00.002-04:00

The Boscawen Public Library has been awarded a CLiF Library Award. The Children's Literacy Foundation supports libraries in NH and Vermont to inspire young readers and writers. We are one of twelve libraries this fall to receive

$2000 worth of brand-new children's books,
a storytelling presentation at the elementary school and
classroom book collections for three local preschools.

Thanks to the hard work of CLiF staff and the generosity of donors, the children of Boscawen will enjoy more great new books. This is the third grant the Library has received from CLiF.

I Love My Library Card

2011-09-01T11:50:00.002-04:00

You’re eligible if you’re a Boscawen resident 6 or older. Fifteen and younger need a parent’s/guardian’s signature. Just bring in proof of residence.

You can get that at the library?

2011-08-30T15:56:00.001-04:00

In my reading, I came across this link to a Chicago Tribune article promoting the value of libraries. (Thanks RA for All!) It's a list of some suprising things you might find at your local library.

E-books: Check out NH Downloadable Books. Use your library card to download books to read and listen to.

Equipment: The Boscawen Library has four kilowatt meters to measure your electricity use and find a way to save you money.

Museum tickets: We offer passes to the Squam Lake Science Center, the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center, The SEE Science Center, and the Currier Gallery.

Internet Use any of our six public access computers or use your own device on our free WiFi.

Live Entertainment Our calendar of events includes items for all ages, from infant storytime to instructional computer classes. LEGO club starts September 10.

Entertainment media Yes, we have movies!

Online databases Access our state library databases for magazine articles, encyclopedias, reading recommendations, and lots more.

Librarians I'll just quote.

Perhaps the greatest resource of all is free access to an information expert, your local librarian, who, coincidentally, can turn you on to all the new offerings the library has.

Library Card Sign-Up Month

2011-08-24T13:40:00.001-04:00

As students head back to school this September, the Boscawen Public Library wants to make sure that all children have the most important school supply of all – a library card.

Owning a library card provides students the resources they need to compete academically. Most public libraries (89.6 percent) provide students free access to databases of news articles, encyclopedias and books, as well as homework help and resources. In addition, public libraries are the number one access point for free Internet access, an important resource for families without access at home when 96 percent of school districts require students to use the Internet to complete their homework.

Each person who signs up for a card during Library Card Sign-up Month gets a book added to the collection in his name.

“Today’s libraries provide all types of students with the tools they need to succeed,” says Eileen Gilbert. “Libraries provide young readers with exciting and engaging programs that make learning fun. It is for these reasons that now more then ever, a library card is most important school supply of all.”

Getting a library card is easy. All Boscawen residents six and older are eligible. Parents or guardians must sign for those under sixteen.

Library Card Sign-up Month is a time when the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries across the country remind parents that a library card is the most important school supply of all.

For more information on how to sign up for a library card, visit the Library in person or online at www.boscawenpl.org.

News Flash! Grownups are not limited to the Adult Fiction section!

2011-08-18T12:00:00.000-04:00

I know that sounds silly, but really, how many of us look past the New Books rack or the AF section when choosing a book? It’s so easy to get stuck in a rut when it comes to reading; so easy to stick with the authors you know! With this in mind, I promised myself that I’d step out of my ‘comfort zone’ and do some reading from the YA (Young Adult) shelves this year. In doing so, I have found some excellent books. Many of the stories reach outside the limits of life as we know it, and are very thought-provoking to an adult reader. There are also stories based on historical events or time periods which offer a glimpse into the past. Some are just plain fun! Here are two that I enjoyed, and a trilogy which is on my reading list:

UPRISING by Margaret Peterson Haddix
This story is based on tragic real life events, namely the Triangle Shirt Factory disaster in 1911 New York City. It tells the story of three girls from various social strata's who are brought together by an unusual set of circumstances. Chapters alternate between each of the girls and the reader gains an understanding of the plight of factory workers subjected to low wages and unsafe working conditions from the individual perspectives of each of the narrators. The workers organize and strike for better pay and safer working conditions at the Triangle Shirt Factory, but it is only a disastrous fire at the factory that costs the lives of hundreds of people that ultimately brings changes to the American labor movement and gives birth to organized unions.

WALK TWO MOONS by Sharon Creech

This novel was originally published in 1994 and won the 1995 Newbery Medal. It follows the story of Salamanca (Sal) Tree Hiddle traveling with her grandparents to Idaho in the hopes of bringing her mother back with her. Along the way we meet her friends, Phoebe whose mother also left her, and Mary Lou, whose family is a rambunctious crowd of crazy wonderful people. It not only deals with the painful realities children experience when a parent leaves, but it also provides glimpses into families that are rock solid in their love and devotion. Creech somehow is able to convey a wisdom that goes beyond Sal's own understandings and words. The ending may catch you completely off guard if all of the tiny clues are missed during the story.

HUNGER GAMES; CATCHING FIRE; MOCKINGJAY by Suzanne Collins

This trilogy takes place in the future. The USA has been destroyed; in its place is Panem, which consists of thirteen districts and a Capitol city. Before the series begins, the districts revolt against the Capitol and are defeated; the thirteenth is completely obliterated. As retribution for their crimes, each district is now required to send a boy and girl, called tributes, to participate in the annual Hunger Games. The games are centered on survival; there can only be one winner. Reviews describe the characters as very rich, detailed and forever memorable. In the second book, Catching Fire, there is a lot of unease and anger in the districts when the year's Hunger Games take a twisted turn and past winners are forced to battle it out for survival. The final book, Mockingjay, consists of a full out rebellion; the districts are at war with the Capitol and its do or die in an explosive showdown.

Mooseplate Grant

2011-08-13T12:37:00.004-04:00

The Boscawen Public Library has been awarded a 2012-2013 Conservation License Plate Grant. This state grant supplies $7710 toward the preservation of the Boscawen Select Board Reports 1883-1903. The records will be microfilmed and the original copies will undergo archival processing. Microfilm copies will be kept at the State Archives and the State Library.

The idea of the Conservation License Plate started with fourth grade students at the Holderness Central School in 1993. In 1998, the New Hampshire General Court passed legislation creating the Conservation License Plate Program to supplement existing state conservation and cultural heritage funding.
All funds raised through the purchase of Conservation License Plates are used for the promotion, protection and investment in New Hampshire's natural, cultural and historic resources.
The Conservation License Plate program supports the protection of critical resources in New Hampshire, including scenic lands, historic sites and artifacts, and plants and wildlife. Revenues from the sale of Conservation License Plates are distributed to designated state agencies for the purpose of:
Preserving and/or purchasing significant, publicly owned historic properties, works of art, artifacts and archaeological sites

Researching and managing non-game wildlife species and native plant species, and educating the public about these species

Providing grants to counties, municipalities and non-profits for resource conservation projects

Expanding roadside wildflower and lilac plantings

Administering the Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP)

The New Hampshire Conservation Number Plate Advisory Committee, a committee of legislators and staff from state agencies, oversees the design of the plate and the distribution of the plate's revenues. The Committee reports annually to the General Court, summarizing the number of plates issued, revenues collected, and program accomplishments.

This preservation project has been made possible through funds received from the sale of the NH Moose Conservation License Plate and administered by the NH State Library, a division of the NH Department of Cultural Resources.

Falling into programs

2011-08-06T12:00:00.002-04:00

It's August, and thoughts of beaches and heat, pools and playgrounds are swirling in your head. Maybe the merest glimpse of school starting again has appeared on your horizon. Before the leaves turn, I want to telll you about the noteworthy programs we've developed for fall.

Tech Tuesday New last year, Tech Tuesday is an hour and a half hands-on class to make some of this technology easier to handle. On the first Tuesday of every month, Wendy Heath will be sharing the intricacies of e-mail, the finer points of web searching, or the joys of digital photos. Check with us for the specific subject each month and sign up soon, because class size is limited.

LEGO Club New this year! Bring your preschooler through middle grader (and your inner child) for some fun with the popular building blocks. Drop in the second Saturday of the month starting in September from 10-12.

Preschool Storytime The classic library children's activity introduces younger children to pre-literacy and classroom skills. Don't worry, we do let them have fun-- and each session ends with a craft! Wednesdays at 10:30.

Lapsit Think your child's too young to sit through storytime? Lapsit is designed for kids two and under. Books are a part, but we concentrate on movement, rhymes, and song. Enjoy with your kid Thursdays at 10:30.

Craft Club Monday afternoons between two and four, join a group of adult crafters. Bring your own project or learn a new skill. We've had knitting, crochet, embroidery, paper crafts, and even spinning. We'd love to have an evening group as well, so let us know what fits into your schedule.

Book Group We meet on the third Tuesday of the month to discuss a book. Some of the participants have been coming for over four years! The boks range from current fiction to non-fiction and classics. Everybody votes on the selections. September's book is The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. You can pick up your copy at the library.

Passes to Squam Lake Science Center, the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center, the Currier Gallery and the SEE Science Center in Manchester.

One World, Many Stories: a recap

2011-08-01T15:23:00.002-04:00

For the first part of our review, see here. It's been a great summer thanks to our loyal readers! Nearly forty percent of our participants claimed at least their first prize. About twenty kids completed their twenty one hours of reading! You can continue to bring in reading logs for smaller prizes until the middle of August.

40 people attended 400 Miles Down the Connecticut River on July 25. Michael Tougais shared some history and travel advice with us. Thanks to the NH Humanities Council for their support.

Forgot my camera, but we had a crowd here Saturday morning for the ice cream. Thanks to the Friends and to Franklin Savings Bank for working with the library this summer.

Hunger Games the movie

2011-07-28T11:58:00.001-04:00

Cross-currents of Change -- staff review

2011-07-23T12:42:00.000-04:00

Cross-currents of Change: a history of the twentieth century in Concord is well worth everyone's reading. It is divided into many chapters, each handling one major subject area such as agriculture, air power, the railroads, education, athletics and recreation, religion, the military during several wars, politics, industries and health care. There are numerous pictures to provide some visual background.

Sections were written by various contributors [some of whom use our library]. Although Concord is not the largest city in the state, it has certainly been the center of many state-wide happenings during the past 100+ years.

[We have two copies of this book, one circulating, one not.]

400 Miles Down the Connecticut River

2011-07-18T15:22:00.000-04:00

July 25 at 7pm

The Connecticut River originates in New Hampshire and forms its western boundary. This 400 mile long river played an important role in New Hampshire's development during the days of the first settlers, the French and Indian Wars, and other key historical moments. Today it represents an environmental success story. Michael Tougias is a lecturer and award winning author of eighteen books: Fatal Forecast: An Incredible Tale of Disaster and Survival at Sea, Ten Hours Until Dawn: The True Story of Heroism and Tragedy Aboard the Can Do in the Blizzard of 78, and on a lighter note, There's A Porcupine In My Outhouse: Misadventures of a Mountain Man Wanna-be.

Some of you might remember Michael Tougais from November 2009, when he presented his Fatal Forecast program. We're looking forward to hearing from him again. This event is sponsored by the NH Humanities Council's Humanities on the Go and is part of the Library's summer reading theme, One World, Many Stories.

One World, Many Stories in the middle

2011-07-11T15:06:00.029-04:00

Three weeks in, three weeks to go! Thanks for turning out June 25 to Andrew Pinard in Alejandro's Old Time Magic Show. I know the 65 people ranging in age from 3 months to 80 years had a good time. It was great to see all those kids participating -- and signing up for summer reading afterward! We also appreciate the guys from Fish and Game who conducted the Compass and Map workshop the previous Thursday. It was a little wet, but they practiced their new skills outside anyway.

All our regular events are happening too. Preschool storytime can be a blast, and we've made some very unique crafts in the last few weeks. I'm just getting into the book discussion read, The Return Journey. Set in Ireland, this collection features stories by Maeve Binchy. Stay tuned for more about the NH Humanities Council event, 400 Miles down the Connecticut River on July 25.

Nearly one hundred people are participating in this year's summer reading so far. Remember that you don't have to be a kid to sign up. Even those who aren't reading for themselves are welcome! Remember, on those long summer car trips, audiobooks count too and really help pass the time.

Patriotic Reads

2011-07-04T02:49:00.000-04:00

photo by flickr user brittanylynae

How to Bake an American Pie by Karma Wilson Rhyming text and illustrations present a recipe for how to bake a pie from all the things that make America great.

American Flag Questions and Answers by Sarah L.Thompson Test your knowledge of your country's flag.

A Day in the Life of the United States Armed Forces created by Matthew Naythons and Lewis J. Korman. Photographed by 125 of the world's leading photojournalists on a single day, October 22, 2002.

A profile of a media empire

2011-06-30T12:34:00.000-04:00

Here's one magazine's estimate of the worth of the book and media series (Eighth movie comes out July 15). Come fall, you can check out Pottermore!

Link Love

2011-06-25T10:30:00.000-04:00

I came across this post in my reading. Jen Robinson is an active blogger and always has something to say about children and literacy. She has links to reviews for some really great books (Hello, Squish Super-Ameoba!) and helpful tips for encouraging summer reading. Here's a quote.

Summer reading should be a joy. Summer vacation should be a time to stretch out on a hammock or curl up in an armchair and dive deep into a fun, engrossing, fabulous read. Kids who spend time reading during the summer go back to school in the fall with their reading skills improved. This will help them in school, and help them later in life. But even more importantly, kids who read during the summer will form life-long memories and make powerful connections with books.

Alejandro's Old Time Magic Show

2011-06-20T13:48:00.003-04:00

Saturday June 25 at 10am

Alejandro’s Olde Tyme Magik Showe is a wonderful one-man stand-up show with an emphasis on audience participation, visual magic, and physical comedy guaranteed to enchant and amuse the whole family. Blending classic magic and comedy with a little help from volunteer assistants, Pinard draws spectators into his zany world of wonder. Thanks to the Kids, Books, and the Arts grant supported by the Byrne Foundation, CHILIS, the Cogswell Benevolent Trust, the NH Library Association and the NH State Library.

One World Many Stories

2011-06-15T16:52:00.001-04:00

This year's summer reading invites all ages to participate. Read 21 hours starting June 13 to receive an invitation to the Ice Cream Bash with its door prizes. Children from birth to those entering sixth grade receive prizes for each five hours of reading. All reading counts, including magazines and online articles, reading to others and audiobooks. Walk the Town Forest's Interpretative Nature Trail, find the hidden stamp, and mark your map. Bring in the completed map for a prize. Thanks to the Conservation Commission for their co-operation.

Events this summer:
June 23 1-4pm Beginning Navigation Workshop
June 25 10am Alejandro's Old Fashioned Magick Show with Andrew Pinard
July 19 2:30 or 7 book discussion The Return Journey by Maeve Binchy
July 25 7pm 400 Miles Down the Connecticut River, Michael Tougais, a NH Humanities Council event
July 30 Ice Cream Party for those who make their reading goal

Every week:
Take-home craft
Mondays 2-4 Adult Craft Club
Wednesdays 10:30 Storytime
Thursdays 10:30 Lapsit

Dreams of Joy by Lisa See

2011-06-13T16:37:00.002-04:00

Summary from publisher:

In her beloved New York Times bestsellers Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, Peony in Love, and, most recently, Shanghai Girls, Lisa See has brilliantly illuminated the potent bonds of mother love, romantic love, and love of country. Now, in her most powerful novel yet, she returns to these timeless themes, continuing the story of sisters Pearl and May from Shanghai Girls, and Pearl’s strong-willed nineteen-year-old daughter, Joy.Reeling from newly uncovered family secrets, and anger at her mother and aunt for keeping them from her, Joy runs away to Shanghai in early 1957 to find her birth father—the artist Z.G. Li, with whom both May and Pearl were once in love. Dazzled by him, and blinded by idealism and defiance, Joy throws herself into the New Society of Red China, heedless of the dangers in the communist regime. Devastated by Joy’s flight and terrified for her safety, Pearl is determined to save her daughter, no matter the personal cost. From the crowded city to remote villages, Pearl confronts old demons and almost insurmountable challenges as she follows Joy, hoping for reconciliation. Yet even as Joy’s and Pearl’s separate journeys converge, one of the most tragic episodes in China’s history threatens their very lives.Acclaimed for her richly drawn characters and vivid storytelling, Lisa See once again renders a family challenged by tragedy and time, yet ultimately united by the resilience of love.

First Lines: Everything I thought I knew about my birth, my parents, my grandparents, and who I am has been a lie. A big, fat lie.

My response: What a mesmerizing read! I've been a fan of Lisa See since I read Peony in Love for the library book group. The way See creates compelling characters is nothing short of amazing. The people in this book are deep and rich with complex motivations and a capacity for decisive action. The setting is vividly drawn yet immediately understandable to those with no background in Chinese history. I recommend reading Shanghai Girls first, but Dreams of Joy can stand on its own. I appreciate the insight and depth of historical research into Mao's "Great Leap Forward" which resulted in the death and suffering of many. I rejoice in the optimistic and truly satisfying ending. Another great book.

The King's Speech: How One Saved the British Monarchy

2011-06-03T00:00:00.000-04:00

Can't get enough of the British Royals? Here's a piece of history you may not have known about. Based on the recently discovered diaries of Lionel Logue, The King's Speech: How One Man Saved the British Monarhy recounts an inspiring real-life tale of triumph over adversity, when an Australian taught a British king with a crippling speech defect how to speak to his subjects.

At the urging of his wife, Elizabeth, the Duke of York (known to the royal family as "Bertie") began to see speech therapist Lionel Logue in a desperate bid to cure his lifelong stammer. Little did the two men know that this unlikely friendship, between a future monarch and a commoner born in Australia, would ultimately save the House of Windsor from collapse. Through intense locution and breathing lessons, the amiable Logue gave the shy young Duke the skills and the confidence to stand and deliver before a crowd. And when his elder brother, Edward III, abdicated the throne to marry for love, Bertie was able to assume the reins of power as King George VI - just in time to help steer the nation through the dark waters of the Second World War.

This title is now available in book, audio book or DVD at our library.

Summer Passes

2011-06-01T11:45:00.000-04:00

Through the generosity of the Friends of the Library and two local businesses - Eliktrisola and Ross Express - the library is pleased to be able to offer the following passes:

Squam Lakes Natural Science Center Easily our most popular pass, it allows two free trail admissions and four discounted trail admissions at $7 apiece. The Center is open daily from May 1 to November 1 9:30am- 4:30pm, with the last admission at 3:30pm. Visit their website for more details and information about special programs.

McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center Right near here, the Discovery Center has been recently renovated. The library pass allows four free admissions to the exhibits, with planetarium showings a mere four dollars per person. Reservations are recommended for planetarium showings. The schedule is posted on their website www.starhop.com.

See Science Center This Manchester destination explores the wonders of hands on science with young children. SEE is open seven days a week: weekdays from 10am-4pm and weekends from 10am-5pm. Each pass allows all members of an immediate family living in one household to get in free. See their website for more details.

Currier Museum of Art New this year, the Currier passes allow two adults in free. Children under eighteen are always free. Visit www.currier.org for hours and information.

Free audio books and epub books for your e-reader!

2011-05-26T16:31:00.000-04:00

Did you know that you can borrow audio books and/or epub books for e-readers from the Boscawen Public Library? For FREE? Yup, it's true. All you need is a library card.

I love to read, but often don't have the attention span to sit and read uninterrupted. That's when the audio books come in handy. Just yesterday, (the first day of sunshine in weeks) I was outside doing yard work while listening to a book by James Patterson. Before I knew it, the yard work was done and I had listened to quite a few chapters of the book.

After all the yard work was done, I wanted to relax and just read. So I went to the Boscawen Public Library website again and downloaded the same book in epub format for my e-reader. I sat on the deck for hours, continuing right where I left off, reading on my Nook Color e-reader. The best of both worlds. All in all, a very productive day.

The Boscawen Public Library is adding new audio books and epub books everyday so make sure you've got your library card handy and check it out! Just go to www.boscawenpl.org and click the link to "download audiobooks - ebooks." Enjoy!

Author of the Week: Rick Riordan

2011-05-19T14:53:00.001-04:00

Look, we don't have time for long introductions. I need to tell this story quickly, or we're all going to die.

The Throne of Fire

Who is Rick Riordan?

Rick Riordan is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, the Kane Chronicles, and the Heroes of Olympus. He is also the author of the multi-award-winning Tres Navarre mystery series for adults. He has worked on the 39 Clues series.

If you haven't heard of at least one of these, where have you been hiding? They've made mythology exciting to many readers from middle grades on up.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians The gods of Olympus are alive and well in the 21st Century! They still fall in love with mortals and have children who are half-god, half-human, like the heroes of the old Greek myths. Percy Jackson is one.

The Heroes of Olympus A new Great Prophecy, a new generation of demigods – the adventures have just begun! In this new five-book series, expect to see your old friends from the Percy Jackson books along with a great new cast of main characters, as the heroes of Camp Half-Blood embark on their most dangerous challenge yet.

The Kane Chronicles In ancient times, the magicians of Egypt were recognized as the best in the world. Each god’s temple had a branch called the House of Life, where magicians were trained to battle monsters, duel enemy sorcerers, and when necessary, even do combat with the gods themselves.What if the House of Life still existed? When a magical accident unleashes the Egyptian gods into the modern world, Carter and Sadie Kane discover that they are descended from the most powerful Egyptian magicians, and only they have the power to set things right!

The Silver Boat

2011-05-02T12:00:00.002-04:00

Dar McCarthy is expecting her sisters, Delia and Rory, to join her in Martha's Vineyard for a final visit to the family home before it has to be sold for taxes. Each of the sisters has taken a different path, and Dar is the only one remaining on the island. The house has been in the family for generations, and as the sisters reunite to pack up mementos, they broach the one subject that has haunted them, the disappearance of their father when they were young. Michael was an Irish immigrant shipbuilder, while their mother came from a prestigious New England family. Michael always maintained that his family had a land grant from the king of England on Martha's Vineyard. Driven by the need to prove his worth, he sailed to Ireland to look for the original deed. After unearthing love letters between her parents, Dar and her sisters go to Ireland on their own quest. Popular Rice, in her mellifluous style, captures the essence of family and sisterhood as each character deals with love and loss.

From Booklist

Preservation Week

2011-04-24T16:57:00.001-04:00

Some 630 million items in collecting institutions require immediate attention and care. Eighty percent of these institutions have no paid staff assigned responsibility for collections care; 22 percent have no collections care personnel at all. Some 2.6 billion items are not protected by an emergency plan. As natural disasters of recent years have taught us, these resources are in jeopardy should a disaster strike. Personal, family, and community collections are equally at risk.
ALA encourages libraries and other institutions to use Preservation Week to connect our communities through events, activities, and resources that highlight what we can do, individually and together, to preserve our personal and shared collections.
Find resources specifically designed for library users: families, children, and teens, on the preservation@yourlibrary site: www.atyourlibrary.org/passiton.

Toys

2011-04-17T12:00:00.002-04:00

The one with the most toys—dies!

Hays Baker and his wife Lizbeth possess super-human strength, extraordinary intelligence, stunning looks, a sex life to die for, and two beautiful children. Of course they do--they're Elites, endowed at birth with the very best that the world can offer. The only problem in their perfect world: humans and their toys!

The top operative for the Agency of Change, Hays has just won the fiercest battle of his career. He has been praised by the President, and is a national hero. But before he can savor his triumph, he receives an unbelievable shock that overturns everything he thought was true. Suddenly Hays is on the other side of the gun, forced to leave his perfect family and fight for his life.

Now a hunted fugitive, Hays is thrown into a life he never dreamed possible--fighting to save humans everywhere from extinction. He enlists all of his training to uncover the truth that will save millions of lives--maybe even his own. James Patterson's Toys is a thriller on a hyper plane--with a hero who rivals both James Bond and Jason Bourne.

National Library Week

2011-04-10T16:50:00.006-04:00

LEGO Alphabet

2011-04-02T12:05:00.000-04:00

This is a great example of literacy in real life. Remember that the library has both Star Wars and LEGO books!

Here's the link to the rest of the alphabet.

Taking Stock

2011-03-26T11:01:00.000-04:00

I just have to comment on an activity that's taken up a great deal of staff time in the last four months. It's something that comes around every two years and yet always shows us something new. We took inventory.
Inventory is an underappreciated word. We took stock, counted items, touched every single thing you can check out in the library, some multiple times. As a result, I can tell you with relative certainty that the library owns just over 17,400 physical items, including books, magazines, audio recordings (books and music), DVDs and videos. We proceeded section by section and each staff member soon learned her own favorite technique. Picture book inventory was the least favorite, maybe because we saved it for last, or maybe because the slim books left behind easily fell as we removed them for scanning. A small number of items left us puzzled: "I've never seen that before" and there were even some items that somehow missed barcoding three years ago. One audiobook was caught in the music CDs and several spine labels were replaced. I want to thank Bonny, Donna, Florence, Samantha, and Wendy (alphabetically, of course) for their hard work and diligence.

One of Our Thursdays is Missing

2011-03-21T16:15:00.000-04:00

Summary from Goodreads:

The newest tour de force from The New York Timesbestselling author of Thursday Next and Shades of Grey.
Jasper Fforde's exuberant return to the fantastical BookWorld opens during a time of great unrest. All-out Genre war is rumbling, and the BookWorld desperately needs a heroine like Thursday Next. But with the real Thursday apparently retired to the Realworld, the Council of Genres turns to the written Thursday.
The Council wants her to pretend to be the real Thursday and travel as a peacekeeping emissary to the warring factions. A trip up the mighty Metaphoric River beckons-a trip that will reveal a fiendish plot that threatens the very fabric of the BookWorld itself.
My Take: Great as usual, but make sure you read the other ones first! This is the sixth book in the Thursday Next series and depends heavily on the reader knowing what went on in the other books, not so much for the story itself as all the background. Jasper Fforde keeps the logic fantastical, the literary references topical, and the books utterly enjoyable. My favorite new character is Sprockett, the written Thursday's faithful mechanical butler.

If you're looking for more Jasper Fforde, Jack Spratt stars in the Nursery Crime series, and Eddie Russett is the hapless hero of Shades of Grey.

Minding Frankie

2011-03-16T15:25:00.000-04:00

I was excited to see a new Maeve Binchy book. This is an author who feels like an old friend to me. Every time I pick up a 'Maeve' book, it’s like catching up with ‘family’ and all my favorite characters from her previous books.

Minding Frankie tells the story of Noel, a single father who must take on the care of his infant daughter after the death of her mother. Before he learns of his daughter, Noel was a drifting loner, bored out of his skull with his life and finding solace in alcohol. Then one day, a former flame contacted Noel and told him that he's the father of her unborn child. Noel, who had just decided to stop drinking and do something with his life, was stunned and overwhelmed, but with the support of his parents and his American cousin, Emily, he agreed to raise the motherless baby. It turns out that it takes a ‘village’ to raise this child. Noel’s story is told through the perspectives of numerous characters, many of whom we have met in previous Binchy novels. It’s interesting to see how their lives have progressed. Some play a minor role in Noel’s story, but their lives are all intertwined, in taking care of Frankie. As usual, Maeve Binchy is gifted at creating a cast of appealing characters and bringing their stories to life. I hated to see the book end!

What Dr. Seuss books are really about

2011-03-10T15:03:00.000-05:00

Just something fun for you:

Buzzfeed honored Dr. Seuss's birthday last week with a few title changes. Thanks to 100 Scope Notes for the link.

Assorted Info about NH Downloadable Books

2011-03-05T11:33:00.000-05:00

Wondering how to take best advantage of your Overdrive privileges through your library card? Here are some helpful hints and news stories that affect your library use.

HarperCollins has put limits on the number of times an ebook can circulate before the license expires. They compare it to replacing a hardcover book when it wears out. Librarians say it's going to hurt book budgets all over the country. Read the article and decide for yourself.

The Wall Street Journal tried to download a book from Overdrive. Here's their story.

NH Downloadable Books has a new feature: browse only what you can check out right now! Talk about instant gratification!

The King County Library System has created a video tutorial to walk users through the process of downloading Adobe Digital Editions and transferring a title to their device. Patrons can also watch video tutorials on downloading to Apple and Android portable devices.

2011-03-01T16:21:00.000-05:00

Did you hear that teens could help win up to $3,000 for your library?
The Why I Need My Library video contest for teens launched at the ALA Midwinter Meeting by ALA President Roberta Stevens. The contest encourages teens ages 13 to 18 to create original videos on why they think libraries are needed now more than ever.
Prizes will be awarded in two age categories – ages 13 to 15 and 16 to18 – to a school or local public library selected by the winners. In each age category, two second place finalists will receive $2,000 each for their selected library and three third place finalists will receive $1,000 each for their selected library. The winning contestant or group of contestants from each age category will receive $3,000 for their selected library. In addition, each member of the winning group will receive a $50 gift card to an online bookseller.
The contest runs through April 18. Check out this video created by teens at the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library for more information on the contest and to help spark ideas.

Friends Silent Auction

2011-02-22T12:14:00.002-05:00

The Third Annual Friends of the Library Silent Auction is going on now! Come into the library to see and bid on the items, including gift certificates for local businesses, decorative items, and more. All proceeds go to the Friends of the Library, a 501(c)3 organization which supports library programming and activities, including the summer reading and museum passes.

Contributing local businesses include:

Bradley's Restaurant
Marshall's Florist
MJ's Auto Service
Smitty's Auto Servie
Studio 44 WEst
Not Necessarily Antiques
Pustizzi Fruit Farm
Buster's Service Center
Kapelli's Pizzaria
Alan's of Boscawen
Richardson's Farm
CC Tomatoes
The Hair Clip
National Lumber
(edit) Black Forest Nursery

Liberty is our Motto!

2011-02-17T12:33:00.006-05:00

FEBRUARY 24 7PM

Liberty Is Our Motto!: Songs and Stories of the Hutchinson Family Singers

Originally from Milford, NH, the Hutchinson Family Singers were America's most popular musical entertainers for much of the mid-19th century. They achieved international fame with songs advancing social reform and political causes such as abolition, temperance, women's suffrage, and the Lincoln presidential campaign of 1860. Chautauquan, musician and singer Steve Blunt (in character as John Hutchinson) tells the Hutchinsons' story and shares their music in this chautauqua living history program. Selections include: ″The Old Granite State,″ ″Get Off the Track!″ and ″Tenting Tonight on the Old Campground.″ You'll help sing the chorus, perhaps, ″Huzza, Huzza, Huzza!″ This program is recommended for audiences age 10 and up.

Movie Tie-in

2011-02-11T12:21:00.000-05:00

Thanks to a donation from a regular patron, we own Rosemary Sutcliff's novel The Eagle of the Ninth. This book, first published in the 1950s, is the basis of the movie The Eagle, in theaters today.

Channing Tatum stars as a Roman soldier who ventures into unconquered Scotland to learn the fate of his father, a Roman commander who disappeared with 4,000 soldiers, and to retrieve the lost legion's emblem, the Eagle of the Ninth. Directed by Kevin Macdonald (The Last King of Scotland), The Eagle also features Donald Sutherland.

Call Me Irresistible by Susan Elizabeth Philips

2011-02-07T12:16:00.000-05:00

Summary from publisher description:

R.S.V.P. to the most riotous wedding of the year . . .

Lucy Jorik is the daughter of a former president of the United States.

Meg Koranda is the offspring of legends.

One of them is about to marry Mr. Irresistible—Ted Beaudine—the favorite son of Wynette, Texas. The other is not happy about it and is determined to save her friend from a mess of heartache.

But even though Meg knows that breaking up her best friend's wedding is the right thing to do, no one else seems to agree. Faster than Lucy can say "I don't," Meg becomes the most hated woman in town—a town she's stuck in with a dead car, an empty wallet, and a very angry bridegroom. Broke, stranded, and without her famous parents at her back, Meg is sure she can survive on her own wits. What's the worst that can happen? Lose her heart to the one and only Mr. Irresistible? Not likely. Not likely at all.

And that just about covers it. Meg goes through quite a bit in this enjoyable romance by an established author. Philips doesn't disappoint her fans. Putting aside some amazing co-incidences and some very accommodating minor characters, the two leads are just meant for each other. Being married to a golf player, I particularly enjoyed Meg's undermining of Ted's VERY important golf game.

Will there be a snow day?

2011-02-01T15:11:00.000-05:00

Here's a link I came across in my reading today:

The developer of the web site, David Sukhin, uses weather.gov and additional information provided by the user to predict the probability that a school will be closed in the next two days. Some of the information provided by the user is subjective so the probability may change depending on how the user answers these questions: leniency of the administration, special event or activity and hype for a snow day.

Thanks to Points of Reference for bringing this to my attention.

Weather Closing

2011-02-01T13:17:00.001-05:00

The Library will be closed Wednesday due to the weather.

An edible book

2011-01-26T14:36:00.000-05:00

Just when you thought you'd seen it all. . . Thanks to A Fuse #8 Production for the link.

Kill-A-Watt!

2011-01-20T11:00:00.000-05:00

Energy prices are rising! Learn how to measure your energy use as a first step to saving some money and living greener.

The Kill-a-Watt meters allow you to measure the energy used by electronics in your home.We have four meters waiting to be put to use. These meters check out individually for two weeks at a time, just like other materials.

The Kill-a-Watt meters come to us through the generosity of the State Library, which has partnered with all four public utilities (PSNH, National Grid, NH Electric Co-Op, and Unitil) to provide kits to all public libraries in the state.

We hope you will use these devices to make more informed energy decisions and (ultimately!) save money.

Weather Closing

2011-01-18T10:20:00.001-05:00

The Boscawen Public Library will not be open today because the town offices are closing at noon.

Weather-related Closing

2011-01-11T15:01:00.002-05:00

The Library and Town Offices will be closed tomorrow because of the storm warning.

ALA Youth Media Awards

2011-01-10T14:44:00.000-05:00

The Newbury and Caldecott Awards were announced today, along with a host of others. The full list is available at www.ala.org/yma. There are some books the library needs to order (who's heard of the Newbury winner, Moon over Manifest?), some that are on order like Kakapo Rescue, and some that are here right now. We are in a Book by Mo Willems, Caldecott winner A Sick Day for Amos McGee, Turtle in Paradise by Babymouse author Jennifer Holms, The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake, and Room by Emma Donoghue. Congratulations to NH's own Tomie DePaola for winning the lifetime achievement award, the 2011 Laura Ingalls Wilder Award.

Flume Award

2011-01-04T12:13:00.006-05:00

The Flume Selection Committee is currently accepting nominations for the
2012 Flume Award list.  We have received nominations of 22 titles to
date, so we would like to invite anyone interested to begin reading the
selections and to add comments on the Flume wiki.  You can find the wiki
at http://flumeaward.wikispaces.com/.  You do not need to join the wiki
to comment on titles, but you are welcome to do so if you wish.
 
We really appreciate your help in reading these books and we rely on
your comments made on the wiki to come up with the final list of 13
titles.  Please visit the page soon and select a book to read.

The Flume: NH Teen Reader's Choice Award was created in 2005

in response to a New Hampshire teens' request to have a book

award geared towards high school students.

This award is a state-wide venture led by a collaborative effort from

school and public librarians. Each year teens nominate titles, published

within the last two years, they think deserve to be recognized. Librarians

then narrow the group of titles to a  list of 13. Teens then vote for the

winning title from the list of 13. Titles must be nominated by teens in

grades 9-12, can be fiction or nonfiction books, with appeal to this age group.

They must have a publication date within the last two years (no older than 2008). If the 
book is part of a series, it must be able to stand alone, meaning a 
reader doesn't have to read the other books in the series to understand 
what's going on. More information is available at http://www.nashua.lib.nh.us/YALS/Flume.htm

Friends Buy-a-Book

2010-12-30T14:40:00.003-05:00

Thanks so much to all who participated in the 2010 Friends Buy-a-Book this December. It's the third year the Friends have made this opportunity available to the public. Because of your generosity, eighteen new books have been added to the collection, ranging from some early readers all the way up through teen graphic novels to adult bestsellers. The library staff and the Friends appreciate the support from the community!

1/3/11 -- One more book came in! The Ghostwriter Secret will soon be on the shelf!

Winter Weather Closing

2010-12-27T09:14:00.002-05:00

The Boscawen Public Library is closed today because of inclement weather.

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-23T15:37:00.001-05:00

From my favorite library comic strip:

Thank you, Unshelved!

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

Wish You Well

2010-12-20T14:35:00.000-05:00

I love to go through the stacks and find a book which has been on the shelf for a while. Some true gems are often found when browsing through the titles. This is just one of those that has become a favorite of mine (Bonny).

When I first picked up David Baldacci’s “Wish You Well” I didn’t know what to expect. Instead of his usual fast-paced thriller, I found a beautifully written human drama which takes place in the Appalachian mountains of Virginia. It is the story of the Cardinal family, as seen through the eyes of twelve year old Louisa Mae Cardinal, known as Lou, whose father is a highly acclaimed writer of great literary distinction but little commercial success. The lives of Lou and her younger brother Oz are forever changed after a tragic accident takes the life of their father and leaves their mother in a catatonic state. They have no choice but to go and live with their only living relative, Louisa Cardinal, the great-grandmother whom they have never met.

High up in the rural mountains of Virginia, where Lou’s father was brought up, is where Lou and Oz will now grow up. They are strangers in a strange land, big city kids now living on a farm without electricity, running water, or central heating. The lessons of hard work and simplicity bring to light the strength and determination of those that make their home in the shadow of the Appalachian Mountains. It is here that Lou and Oz get a large dose of the good, the bad, and the ugly in life as well as life lessons in friendship, loyalty and family love. While there, big business threatens their way of life and pits the townsfolk against each other in a struggle for survival. The book ends in a courtroom drama as the interests of a formidable natural gas company and those of the Cardinal family clash. Things are eventually put to rights for the family but not without the loss of their now beloved great-grandmother, Louisa. Although the outcome of the story is somewhat expected, the story did not disappoint. The story is based on some history and actual family events in the author's family and is well written and easy to read.

Holiday Staff Picks 3

2010-12-13T10:35:00.000-05:00

Our librarians would like to suggest a few of their favorite Christmas books to share this holiday season.

Wendy's favorite:

Little Women - movie (1994)
A stirring look at life in New England during the Civil War, Little Women is a triumph for all involved. We follow one family as they split into the world, ending up with the most independent, the outspoken Jo (Winona Ryder). Remember the scene where the girls share their Christmas meal?
The library owns this movie as a VHS.

Samanatha's favorite:
Frosty the Snowman

The holiday classic based on the Christmas carol.

Holiday Staff Picks 2

2010-12-09T14:12:00.001-05:00

Our librarians would like to suggest a few of their favorite Christmas books to share this holiday season.

Florence's favorite

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Dickens's classic A Christmas Carol has had significant influence on our ideas about the Christmas spirit, and the season as a time for celebration, charity, and memory.

Donna's favorite
The Christmas List by Richard Paul Evans

"As I began to write this book, I had two objectives: First, I wanted to explore what could happen if someone read their obituary before they died and saw, firsthand, what the world really thought of them. Their legacy. Second, I wanted to write a Christmas story of true redemption." -Richard Paul Evans

Holiday Staff Picks 1

2010-12-06T17:14:00.000-05:00

Our librarians would like to suggest a few of their favorite Christmas books to share this holiday season.

Eileen's favorite:

The Twenty-Four Days Before Christmas by Madeline L'Engle
Vicky Austin’s family does one special thing each day of December to prepare for Christmas. This year, they’re also preparing for the birth of a new brother or sister, due after the New Year. Vicky is worried that the baby will come early—what kind of Christmas Eve would it be without Mother to help them hang up stockings and sing everyone to sleep with carols?

Bonny's favorite

Mrs. Miracle by Debbie Macomber
Practical advice from his new housekeeper helps Seth Webster, a widower with six-year-old twins, rebuild his life after the loss of his wife.
(The library owns this on audio CD; the sequel Call me Mrs. Miracle is available as a print book).

Coming soon: picks by Florence, Donna, Wendy, and Samantha.

Friends Buy-a-Book

2010-11-29T12:11:00.004-05:00

The staff of the Boscawen Public Library has put together a list of books. This list comes from patron requests, needs in the library collection, and reviews. You can see the complete list at the library or at Amazon.com. Take a tag from the Christmas tree. Fill out the dedication on the second card and give it to a librarian. Tell us how you plan to purchase the book. Donations to the Friends of the Boscawen Library are tax deductible.

The Friends of the Boscawen Public Library was founded in 1999 to “establish closer relations between the Boscawen Town Library and the people it serves . . . to support and cooperate with the Library in developing library services and facilities for the community; . . . and to support the development of a program for the extension and improvement of the Library’s services and resources.” We are a 501(c)3 tax-exempt non profit. The Friends meet on the third Thursday of the month most months. Any resident of Boscawen is welcome to become a member, and there are no annual dues.

The Friends’ activities support the Library in a variety of ways. We have

Sponsored the Summer Reading Program including the kickoff event

Solicited donations to provide passes to the Squam Lake Science Center, SEE Science Center in Manchester, the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center, and Canterbury Shaker Village

Volunteered at and provided refreshments for various library events

Decision Points

2010-11-20T11:19:00.000-05:00

Decision Points by George W. Bush

"That is the nature of the presidency. Perceptions are shaped by the clarity of hindsight. In the moment of decision, you don't have that advantage." -G. Bush

In a lot of ways this statement just about sums up the book. The President of the United States, maybe more so than any other person on the face of the Earth, has his/her every decision microscopically analyzed by just about everyone - after the fact, when the results are known and more information is available. The book doesn’t come across as an apology nor does it come across as an excuse. President Bush gives you the situation as he saw it and lets you make your own decision.

Even if you are not a huge fan, it would be difficult not to come away with some empathy for this president. Can anyone truly grasp the reality of being the president during ‘normal times’, let alone during the turbulent eight years served by Bush. Maybe things could have been done better – maybe things could have been worse. How many of us couldn't apply those phrases to our own lives?

If you are a Bush fan, I'd almost guarantee you'll like the book. If you aren't a fan - you'll probably find some more ammunition to bash him.

National Library Gaming Day

2010-11-08T15:54:00.000-05:00

Come in November 13 from 9-1!

Obscuring the meaning

2010-11-06T11:00:00.002-04:00

I just came across this site. Save the Words is sponsored by the Oxford English Dictionary. According to them, of all the millions of words in the English language, we regularly use only about 7,000 to communicate. Adopt an obsolete or obscure word and use it on a regular basis! They'll even e-mail you a word-a-day so you can enjoy words like pamphagous, veteratorian, or flosculation.

You read! You score!

2010-11-01T13:51:00.000-04:00

First off, Happy National Family Literacy Day! Sponsored by the National Center for Family Literacy, it serves as a reminder that a child's most important literacy influence is not the local library or school, but family and community. Read to your child or have them read to you!

And as an incentive, the Manchester Monarchs are giving away tickets to young readers. Anyone under 18 is eligible. Just read five books and write down the titles for us. Turn the list in to the librarian, and receive a voucher for ticket to one of three different games this season: December 19, February 13, or April 8. It's that simple.

Using Novelist

2010-10-25T17:45:00.000-04:00

Mr. and Mrs. Dursley of Number 4, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much. They were the last people you'd expect to be involved in anything strange or mysterious, because they just didn't hold with such nonsense.

Those are the first two sentences from the history-making series Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling. I was recently rereading the whole series and wanted to know more. So I went to Novelist K-8. This database (and yes, that's a scary word) is available as a service from the NH State Library.

What did I learn?

1) Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone was published in September 1998 to positive reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, Publisher's Weekly, and Kirkus.

2) The recommended reading age is between second grade and seventh, with a Lexile score of 880.

3) Information about the 21 awards the book has won.

4) And. . . a list of recommended reads if you liked Harry Potter, including The Sea of Trolls by Nancy Farmer, The Spiderwick Chronicles, the Charlie Bone books, The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett, and the Septimus Heap books by Angie Sage. Not to mention Percy Jackson! All of which are available to you from your own library!

Great for school reports, great for finding out what to read next! Use Novelist.

Teens Top Ten available at the Boscawen Public Library

2010-10-19T16:10:00.000-04:00

Teen readers across the country chose “Catching Fire” by Suzanne Collins as their favorite book in the annual Teens’ Top Ten vote, sponsored by theYoung Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA). Teens cast more than 8,000 votes online between August 23 and Sept. 17, with the official list announcement during Teen Read Week™, October 17-24.

The 2010 Teens’ Top Ten is:

“Catching Fire” by Suzanne Collins
“City of Glass” by Cassandra Clare
“Heist Society” by Ally Carter
“Shiver” by Maggie Stiefvater
“Hush, Hush” by Becca Fitzpatrick
“Beautiful Creatures” by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
“Along for the Ride” by Sarah Dessen
“If I Stay” by Gayle Forman
“Fire” by Kristin Cashore
“Wintergirls” by Laurie Halse Anderson

See the webcast of the announcement at www.ala.org/teenstopten. This info is taken from the American Library Association press release.

Reading to a dog?

2010-10-13T15:13:00.000-04:00

What? Why bring a dog into the library for kids to read to? Does it really do any good?
Our new reading therapy dog, Valek, provides a welcome and uncritical audience to encourage kids' reading skills. Valek and his handler Carrie participate in Reading Tails through the Concord-Merrimack County SPCA.

From the Concord-Merrimack County SPCA website:

The mission of Reading Tails is to assist children with literacy skills. Children are given the opportunity to share a book with a registered pet therapy dog and their owner. The concept of a child reading to a canine friend incorporates a child's love of animals and his or her desire to read.
The reading program works with children who may have low self esteem, find the task of reading difficult, and are sometimes intimidated to read in the presence of their peers and/or family. Pet therapy dogs are temperament tested and up to date with vaccinations. A pet therapy dog is one that willingly sits or lies quietly by the child that is reading. The child often pets the dog while reading, which produces a relaxed atmosphere. Owners and their canines donate their time, offering a child a willing audience. This program promotes opportunities whereby dogs and their human companions can make a difference in a child's life. The dogs are the most beneficial aspect of the program since they are non-judgmental. This brings a positive influence into a child's life, not only with reading, but his or her life as a whole.

Valek and Carrie are here every Tuesday from 4:30-5:30. Readers can be kindergarten to fifth grade, and read for 15 minutes per child. Sign-ups are requested, but drop-ins are welcome.

Shake Things Up

2010-10-06T14:21:00.000-04:00

Every so often, our library changes. Sometimes it's big things (our very first automation system went live in June 2008), sometimes it's little (did you notice when the card catalog was replaced with a computer one?) In the spring, adult fiction and non-fiction shifted to give the novels some breathing room.This past summer, all our DVDs and CD audiobooks changed from being shelved in the order we got them to being in alphabetical order by title. (Ariel put weeks of work into this project, changing labels altering computer records.)

Just this week, we noticed that our YA books were getting a little crowded. Problem was, the end of the shelf was occupied by the YA, J, and E graphic novels. Where are those going to go? Well, there's a little space over by the J fiction, but not enough for the whole collection. Then we noticed that the Nancy Drew and Hardy boys series together took up six shelves by themselves. Let's take them over here-- but wait, the Dear America series is in the way. Oh, let's put it under the American Girls books. There! Enough empty shelves for everything. Then we shift, moving all the series books, then all the J fiction books, then the J and E graphic novels over here, the YA ones at the end of the newly elongated YA section. Today we're moving the YA nonfiction into the adult collection, and finally starting work on the original problem, getting some breathing room into the YA section. All to make the books easier to pull off the shelf to see if you want to read it!

And you thought we read books all day long!

Book Banning and such

2010-09-30T12:13:00.000-04:00

This is Banned Books Week, which has been sponsored by the American Library Association since 1982 to remind us of the importance of our freedom to read. 125 years ago, the Concord Massachusetts public library banned The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain. Why? Readers had discovered its "systematic use of bad grammar" and judged the content "immoral" and "flippant."

Mark Twain wrote the library board a note, part of which read:

. . . a committee of the public library of your town have condemned and excommunicated my last book and doubled its sale. This generous action of theirs must necessarily benefit me in one or two additional ways. For instance, it will deter other libraries from buying the book; and you are doubtless aware that one book in a public library prevents the sale of a sure ten and a possible hundred of its mates. And, secondly, it will cause the purchasers of the book to read it, out of curiosity, instead of merely intending to do so, after the usual way of the world and library committees; and then they will discover, to my great advantage and their own indignant disappointment, that there is nothing objectionable in the book after all.

A reminder that usefulness and greatness, like beauty, can be in the eye of the beholder.
Thanks to Reader's Almanac for the information.

Printed Books are the Way to Go

2010-09-27T11:47:00.000-04:00

"Giving children access to print materials is associated with

positive behavioral, educational, and psychological outcomes."

This is the one sentence conclusion of a meta-study just released by Reading is Fundamental.The study, well, err, studied 108 previous studies about young children's access to physical books and came to some conclusions about its educational benefit.

Access to print materials:

Improves children's reading performance especially among kindergarteners
Is instrumental in helping children learn the basics of reading such as letter and word identification and phonemic awareness
Causes children to read more and for longer lengths of time including sharing reading with family members
Produces improved attitudes toward reading and learning among children

No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency

2010-09-21T18:32:00.001-04:00

The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency

The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency is a story about the one and only lady detective in Botswana, Africa. This first book in the series by Alexander McCall Smith, introduces us to Mma Precious Ramotswe as she establishes the agency to ‘help people solve the problems in their lives’. Immediately upon setting up shop, she is hired to track down a missing husband, uncover a con man and follow a wayward daughter. This is not a ‘typical’ fast-paced detective story, but rather a series of entertaining vignettes full of observations about everyday life which transcend culture and geography.

Mma Ramotswe is an very likeable character who has a knack for getting to the heart of a problem. Her quiet, unassuming demeanor make many of the people she meets unaware of her innate ability to pick up on the real story. She and her ‘very well qualified secretary’, Mma Makutsi, become involved in some cases which lead to unexpected and sometimes amusing results. Along the way, we learn about the conditions in modern day Botswana, a prosperous country in southern Africa, and the love of this country by its people.

I enjoyed the book very much and have since gone on to read several more in McCall-Smith’s series about the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency.

Reading Tails

2010-09-21T12:20:00.000-04:00

Starting this week, Boscawen Library is teaming with the Concord-Merrimack Valley SPCA to give kids the opportunity to read to a dog. You ask why? I was going to write a post on it, but Publisher's Weekly's "Shelftalker" blog beat me to it. Check out what they have to say about early reading skills and the effect this kind of encouragement can have on your kid. Come on in Tuesdays from 4:30-5:30.

Clockwork Angel by Cassancra Clare

2010-09-16T15:29:00.001-04:00

Clockwork Angel features sixteen year old Tessa, newly arrived in Victorian London and looking for her brother. Taken captive by the Dark sisters, Tessa learns that she possesses a special kind of magic desired by the sinister Magister. She escapes with the help of Will and Jem, two underage Shadowhunters. The Shadowhunters have an uneasy truce with the Downworlders (vampires, werewolves, and others) which Tessa’s arrival helps unbalance. Can Tessa trust anyone in this world?

This is book one of the Infernal Devices, the prequel to Clare’s Mortal Instruments trilogy, City of Ashes, City of Bone, and City of Glass. Clockwork Angel is worth reading, but I would recommend trying the Mortal Instruments first. Victorian London is well evoked, and the steampunk technology adds to the atmosphere. There’s an everpresent sense of danger and discovery which makes this book an addicting read.

September-- Get the Smartest Card!

2010-09-13T12:25:00.005-04:00

Good New Stuff for September

2010-09-07T15:19:00.000-04:00

Don't have anything to read/watch/do this month? We can help!

The library has just added a bunch of new DVDs to the collection.

Thanks to some generous donations and an order that finally come in, we offer you:

new episodes of Go Diego Go! , Dora the Explorer, Curious George, and Strawberry Shortcake, --

the original Star Wars trilogy on DVD --

Gran Torino, Mona Lisa Smile, 500 Days of Summer --

and for those of you nostalgic for earlier days --

the Graduate and the Goonies.

Book Recommendations:

Well, Jonathan Franzen's Freedom just came out.

He was recently the first living author in a decade to appear on the cover of Time magazine.

Oprah's adding to her book club: the announcement will be made September 17.

Audrey Niffenegger, author of The Time Traveler's Wife,

just released a graphic novel called The Night Bookmobile.

Sarah Gruen (Water for Elephants) has a new one called Ape House.

Cassandra Clare's contribution is The Clockwork Angel,

a prequel to The Mortal Instruments trilogy.

Suzanne Collins completed her Hunger Games trilogy with Mockingjay.

Stuff to Do:

We're kicking off two new events in the next two weeks.

Homeschool Lunch-in (Thursdays at 11:30) will be part book club, part library activity.

Bring your lunch!

Tech Tuesday brings you a different aspect of technology every month.

September 14 at 6:30pm, it's all about basic internet practice, and future topics include Google, computer maintenance, digital cameras and more!

Friends Float in the Old Home Day Parade

2010-09-02T15:01:00.000-04:00

Congratulations to the Friends for placing in the Old Home Day parade float contest. "Boscawen Naturally", covered in trees and beautiful bushes, featured some very cute kids who were thrilled to ride in the parade!

Friends raffle winners

2010-08-30T16:38:00.000-04:00

The Friends summer raffle came to an end on Saturday, Old Home Day.

Congratulations to the following winners:

Lucas Hartshorn

Alyssa Ishii

Lorrie Carey

Lisa Lane

Laverne Blonquist

Nichi Hoar

Pictures from the parade tomorrow! The Friends float was in the parade.

ALA report on e-books

2010-08-18T13:54:00.001-04:00

The Public Library Funding and Technology Access Study 2009-2010 says that 65.9% of American libraries now offer access to e-books.We are part of that majority! Thanks to the forward-thinking people at the NH State Library, NH Downloadable Audiobooks has a small but vibrant e-book collection. All you need is a library card to download one today. Read it on the computer, an e-reader, or other compatible device.
Thanks to Booklist Online for the link.

Summer Reading Success

2010-08-07T11:11:00.000-04:00

Thanks to all who participated in Make a Splash--Read! Overall 117 children from birth to grade six signed up to read (and receive a free ice cream from Kapelli's!). The library hosted 39 programs ranging from lapsit through storytime, elementary and teen events, and adult book discussions. Special appearances included a master gardener, Scott Jameson the magician and Simon Brooks the storyteller.

Adults and teens participated for the second year. More than 2700 items were checked out! All together, residents of Boscawen recorded 760 hours of reading. Thanks to the Friends of the Library who volunteered and to Franklin Savings Bank for their help.

Curious George for Libraries

2010-07-29T12:39:00.000-04:00

Here is some new library publicity featuring the old library favorite (70 years since his first adventure!): Curious George! Thanks to the Ad Council and the Library of Congress for putting this together.

My two year old loves Curious George!

Come to the library for Curious George books and videos!

ALA Great Websites for Kids

2010-07-27T15:29:00.000-04:00

From the press release:

Last month, the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), added recommended Web sites to Great Web Sites for Kids (www.ala.org/greatsites), its online resource containing hundreds of links to outstanding Web sites for children.

Great Web Sites for Kids (GWS) features links to websites of interest to children 14 years of age and younger, organized into diverse subject headings, from astronomy and space to zoos and aquariums, from games and entertainment to geography and maps. There is also a special section with sites of interest to parents, caregivers and teachers.

Not Yet Out

2010-07-26T15:11:00.000-04:00

I like being a librarian because I get a sneak peak at all the fun materials that come in. For example:

The new Artemis Fowl Atlantis Complex by Eoin Colfer.

Tagline: Artemis Fowl has lost his mind. . .just when the world needs him most. (out August 3)

The Red Queen by Philippa Gregory.
The story of Margaret Tudor, mother of Henry VII. (out August 3)

Ridley Pearson's In Harm's Way.

Blurbed by Lee Child as a candidate

for the Thriller Hall of Fame. (out August 3)

How Rocket Learned to Read by Tad Hills
The Author of Duck and Goose focuses on a dog and his teacher (out July 27)

The Search by Nora Roberts

2010-07-19T15:57:00.000-04:00

In Nora Roberts’s latest book, The Search, Fiona Bristow finds much needed peace and purpose on Orcas Island in the Northwest Pacific. She and her three dogs: Peck, Newman, and Bogart coexist with love and respect and a constant interruption when other dogs and their humans go to Fee for training. These four companions’ lives get interrupted when they’re needed to search for lost people in the vast woods of Washington State. For Fee, this way of life has saved her sanity after surviving a serial killer and her fiance’s death. And when sparks fly after meeting Simon Doyle (and his incorrigible puppy, Jaws), cranky wood artist, Fee decides she’s ready for an affair.

But the serial killer, though put away for many lifetimes, is not finished with Fiona. He sends his protégé after her.

The suspense rivets you and the tension binds you to this latest story from Nora Roberts. Whether you’re wondering how Fiona and Simon could possibly delude themselves into thinking the other is just a lover? Or when, when, will RSKII strike again, and why not Fiona first? And the tension just mounts, the closer you get to the climax. And let’s not forget that this is Nora Roberts, because not enough authors can mix humor so well into a story where a serial killer reigns as the antagonist. By the time you’re at page 30, you’re hooked. You have to keep reading if only to see what else Jaws’ll eat by the end of the book.

~Ariel

Hear Ye! Hear Ye!

2010-07-13T17:05:00.000-04:00

Most of us first listened to stories before we learned to read. Even now, listening is an essential skill that connects us with a wider world. Audio books can let us escape tedium while working or commuting, finally get a chance to read that new bestseller, or share a story with family.

The Boscawen Public Library gets you audio books in many way:

1) The physical collection at the library: about 400 titles on CD and tape. Check the catalog for specific titles

2) NH Downloadable Books: just having a library card lets you download books for free!

3) SYNC: the Audio Book Community, a social networking site, is offering free downloads of specific titles during July and August.

4) Remember, we do inter-library loan. If it's in NHU-PAC, we can request it for you.

Studies show that audio books are great for beginning and reluctant readers. Take one travelling or sit and listen. "Maximize" your reading time! You'll be glad you did!

Scott Jameson July 1 program

2010-07-06T18:13:00.000-04:00

Scott Jameson performed magic last Thursday evening. Thanks to the Kids Books and the Arts grant sponsored by the NH State Library, the Byrne Foundation, CHILIS, Cogswell Benevolent Trust, and the NH Library Association.

The Graveyard Book

2010-07-01T11:24:00.000-04:00

Neil Gaiman's book makes him the first to win the Newbery and the Carnegie Medals for the same book. Read about it here.

Liar by Justine Larbalestier

2010-06-29T17:00:00.000-04:00

Seventeen year old Micah is a liar, and she's the first to tell you so. She's lied about almost everything in her life, but in this book she swears she's telling the truth. Her secret boyfriend, Zach, dies violently, and her untruthful life comes unraveled. Who is she? What is she? What did she do? Why does she lie? And can we believe her now?

Channie Waites is the perfect narrator for this book. And hey, it's almost the last day of National AudioBook Month!