Center for the Book - 603-271-2866

The Center for the Book at the NH State Library and the New Hampshire Humanities Council are in the process of finishing up a grant application to the National Endowment for the Arts Big Read project. We are planning a program in October 2007 to focus on Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451. I have been in touch with many of you over the past few weeks about plans for this project. At this point I want to make sure that I have included everyone who wants to be involved in the grant application.

These are the libraries & schools that I have on my list as planning to participate in our Big Read project in October 2007  if we get the NEA grant:

Baker Free Library (Bow)
Barrington Public Library
Canaan Town Library
Chesley Memorial Library (Northwood)
Concord High School
Derry Public Library
Dunbarton Library
Durham Public Library
East Kingston Library
Gilford Public Library
Hills Memorial Library (Hudson)
Howe Library (Hanover)
Keene Public Library
Kelley Library (Salem)
Lincoln Public Library
Manchester City Library
Milford High School
Minot-Sleeper Library (Bristol)
Nesmith Library (Windham)
Pillsbury Free Library (Warner)
Philip Read Memorial Library (Plainfield)
Portsmouth Public Library
Richards Free Library (Newport)
Somersworth Public Library
Tracy Memorial Library (New London)
Wiggin Memorial Library (Stratham)

IF YOU ARE NOT ON THIS LIST AND WISH TO PARTICIPATE IN THE NH BIG READ PROJECT YOU NEED TO CONTACT MARY RUSSELL BEFORE FRIDAY APRIL 6, 2007.

If you are on the list but have not let me know how many copies of the book you will need to send me that information right away.

We have set up a website for the project at http://bigreadnh.blogspot.com where you can learn more about what we are planning and how you can participate.

Library Development Services - 603-271-2865 (Concord) - 1-800-462-1726 (Lancaster)

A Children's Book Review will be held at the Richards Free Library in Newport. The Review will be held during library hours from Tuesday, April 10 through Saturday, April 14. Librarians are invited to come and preview new titles in children's and YA fiction and nonfiction. All attendees will receive free books following the review.

Explore modular classes and other continuing education opportunities offered by the state library. See the Training and Events Calendar at http://www.nh.gov/nhsl/calendar/wc042007.htm

The application for the Kids, Books and the Arts grant is available on the state library's website at www.nh.gov/nhsl/services/librarians/kids_books.html. The deadline for grant applications is Wednesday, April 18.

A committee, led by Sean Fleming, Ways and Means Chair of the New Hampshire Library Association, has been meeting since the fall with the Community Relations Managers of the four Barnes and Noble bookstores in NH. Barnes and Noble is running promotional bookfairs in all New England States during National Library Week. The company will give up to 20% of the price of any book purchased with a voucher to NHLA to support the Great Stone Face Award.

This year the stores are arranging several events to bring people into the store, from a poetry slam at each store with a $50 prize, to several author presentations and signings and various craft projects. Our project is to promote the event and pass out vouchers to our patrons. The following is a generic press release that some of you might be able to send to your local papers or place on your local cable channels to let people know about the fundraiser. Barnes and Noble always has customers - it's our task to let these people know that on these two days anyone with a voucher can help public libraries. NHLA is printing a quantity of vouchers and distributing them to the larger libraries near the stores. Smaller libraries may obtain vouchers from them or by contacting Sean at the Lebanon Library or me at the Lane Library.

Book Fair

Support New Hampshire Public Libraries

During National Library Week, the four NH Barnes and Noble Bookstores in Salem, Nashua, Manchester and Newington are teaming up with public librarians to raise money for the Great Stone Face Award. A percentage of the purchase price of any book purchased with a NH Libraries voucher on April 20th or 21st in any of the four stores will be donated by Barnes and Noble to the NH Library Association for promotion of the Great Stone Face Award.

The Great Stone Face Book Award, a special award unique to NH, was established in 1980 and was named after the natural rock formation formerly found in the White Mountains. The purpose of the award is to promote reading enjoyment, to increase awareness of quality contemporary writing, and to allow children a chance to honor a favorite author. NH librarians review new books yearly and compile a list of the best. Students in grades four through six are encouraged to read from the list and to vote on their favorite books, either at their local library or at participating Barnes and Nobles bookstores. The award is given annually to the author whose book receives the most votes from students in grades four through six throughout the state.

To promote the book fair, each Barnes and Noble store is preparing several free special events for Friday April 20th and Saturday April 21st. Each store will feature a poetry slam Friday evening and a series of authors and craft events on Saturday. Check your local store for your specific events and authors.

Book Fair Vouchers are redeemable at any NH Barnes and Noble store and may be obtained from your local library or printed from the NH Library Association website, nhlibrarians.org.

The New Hampshire Library Trustees Association will hold its 50th Anniversary Gala on 11 May. Tickets are $55.00 each. For more information, visit www.nhlta.com/anniversary_2006.htm.

Preliminary public library statistics for 2004 and 2005 are now available on the state library website at www.nh.gov/nhsl/lds/public_library_stats.html.

Please see the CHILIS website at www.chilisnh.org for the NH Summer Reading Program order forms for t-shirts and tote bags.

A word about the small library distribution program:

It's been quite a while since my last update so for all of you who are new, or who may have forgotten, let me (re)-introduce you to the small library distribution program. Most small libraries cannot take advantage of freebies offered on line because the freebies are snapped up so quickly and the odds of a small library being open and on line during those few moments when the book is available is very slight. However, if you would like to ensure that some of your freebies go to these smaller libraries, you can send your books to me and I then distribute them to (at this point) nine other libraries. The number and identities of these smaller libraries have changed over time but the one consistency is that they tend to have small collections and small budgets.

Each month I type up a list of the books I've received (typically about 500 books) and send them to each of my smaller libraries. They then send the lists back with the books they want highlighted. I then pack up the books and send them off via the van. Any books the small libraries don't want are added to our own collection or, more often our book sales and, unfortunately, ultimately might end up in the dump.

The most important factor in deciding what to send is the book's condition. Especially with kids' books and paperbacks, if they're not in very good condition, don't bother sending them. I don't want anything with ripped spines or severely water damaged, etc.

As to what I will take, I will take fiction or non fiction, hard cover or soft, books on tape, cds, videos (dvd or vhs), adult or youth. What I absolutely don't want are any Reader's Digest abridged collections, high school text books, or foreign language books. Most likely I don't want Tower or Gale directories of Manufacturers, publishers and the like. Every now and then one of my libraries actually will take such a book but so infrequently it is best to email me first rather than send the books along (and they tend to be big and heavy as well).

I don't mind books that you've weeded although I don't want to be a dumping ground for such books (see initial comment about the condition of the books). If you have any questions, just email and I will be happy to answer them.

Please don't all of you immediately go and pack up half a dozen boxes for me, but please do keep the program in the back of your mind and think about donating some of your freebies in this manner.

Thank you one and all. Steve, Libbie Cass, Springfield
e-mail: spfldlibrary@emlot.com