LIBRARY HAPPENINGS

RYE PUBLIC LIBRARY WELCOMES NICOLE ANDERSON
by Sherry Evans, Director
Rye Public Library

The Rye Public Library is pleased to announce that Nicole M. Anderson joined the staff as an Adult Services Librarian in December 2001. She recently completed the requirements for a Masters of Library Science degree from Simmons College and brings experience in both academic and public libraries. As an Adult Services Librarian, she will be assisting patrons with reference questions, teaching Internet classes, editing the newsletter and purchasing for the video collection. Nicole lives in Portsmouth with her husband and young son.

KEENE PUBLIC LIBRARY RECEIVES ALSC/BOOK WHOLESALERS SUMMER READING GRANT
by Ann Hoey, Youth Services Coordinator
N.H. State Library

The Keene Public Library is the 2002 recipient of the Association for Library Services to Children (ALSC)/Book Wholesalers Summer Reading Program Grant. The award is presented by ALSC, a division of the American Library Association (ALA).

The $3,000 grant, donated by Book Wholesalers, Inc., provides financial assistance for public libraries to develop outstanding summer reading programs for children. The grant also recognizes ALSC members for outstanding program development.

ALSC member Gail Zachariah submitted the winning grant application. Featuring the theme Go Wild! Read, the program is notable for its partnerships with other community organizations, including the local Housing Authority, Head Start Centers and a mental health agency, as well as for the library's commitment to outreach. The library will offer a Mother Goose Meets Mother Nature training program in order to teach childcare workers, social service caseworkers and families how to use books with children.

NEWS FROM THE PILLSBURY FREE LIBRARY, WARNER
by Nancy Ladd, Director
Deann Hunter, Assistant Director

The library has new hours: Tuesday, Thursday 9-12 and 1-8; Wed 1-5; and Sat 9-2.

The book discussion group meets at the library on the second Tuesday of every month at 7:30 p.m.

If you have never finished high school and you want to find out if you should, try taking the G.E.D. test, come to the free G.E.D. clinic at the library on Wednesday, April 3rd at 6:30 p.m. A pretest will be offered as well as advice on how to study for the G.E.D., and how to sign up. Free tutoring will also be arranged, if needed. Susan Jenkins from Project Second Start will be running the clinic. Space is limited so please call 456-2289 or stop in to sign up.

PORTSMOUTH PUBLIC LIBRARY BREAKING NEWS
by Susan McCann, Assistant Director
Portsmouth Public Library

On February 4th, after a 3-hour public hearing on whether to bond $7 million for a new library building, Portsmouth City Council passed the bond in a 7 to 2 vote. Only one speaker was against the bonding! At the public hearing seven New Hampshire librarians who are Portsmouth residents spoke or wrote letters. Thank you for your eloquent support - Barbara Bolko, Librarian, McIntosh College; Joan Christy, Librarian, Portsmouth High School; Janice Gallinger, (retired) Plymouth State College Library; Lesley Gaudreau, Director, Wiggin Memorial Library, Stratham; Bobb Menk, formerly at Lane Memorial Library, Hampton; Claudia Morner, Director, University of New Hampshire, Dimond Library; and Catherine Redden, Director, Lane Memorial Library, Hampton.

The public hearing was a tribute to the library staff who do a terrific job providing excellent library service each and every day.

COME CELEBRATE NATIONAL POETRY MONTH AT THE PETERBOROUGH TOWN LIBRARY

April is National Poetry Month, Celebrate at the Peterborough Town Library, Wednesday, April 3rd, 7 p.m. MOLLY PEACOCK, Of Poetry in Motion, on buses & subways of New York City.

Wednesday, April 17th, 7:00 p.m., Town of Peterborough notables, Your friends and neighbors read from their favorite poems.

Wednesday, April 24th, 8:00 p.m., MACDOWELL COLONISTS, Our guests read from their works.

Saturday, April 27th, 8:00 p.m., DIANA DER-HOVANESSIAN, Armenian American poets reads from her books.

Thursday, May 8th, 7:00 p.m., MARY JO SALTER, Her only poetry reading in New Hampshire.

Celebrate at Palace Theatre, Manchester, Tuesday, April 30th, 7:00 p.m., ROBERT PINSKY, former N.H. Poet Laureate, gives a free reading. Refreshments provided for all library events, 2 Concord Street, Peterborough, N.H. For more information call (603) 924-8040.

WEARE PUBLIC LIBRARY RECEIVES GIFT
by Chris Hague, Director

The Weare Public Library received a memorial gift from Ruth Jones, the widow of our late trustee Ed Jones. Ed saw us through our 1990-1993 building project. The gift of $25,000 in cash and stocks, will establish a library development fund, to be used for physical expansion in the future or other kinds of development as needed. We are grateful and appreciate the life of service Ed Jones gave to his community.

BOND REQUEST FOR PHILIP READ MEMORIAL LIBRARY, PLAINFIELD - PASSES
by Nancy Norwalk, Director

At Town Meeting 2002, the trustees of the Philip Read Memorial Library, Plainfield, requested a bond of $400,000 for the expansion of the 81-year-old library. It passed after 90 minutes of debate by a two-thirds vote - Yes 200, No 91 for a winning margin of 6 votes (194 votes needed to pass).

This is after 8 years of work and a negative vote last year at Town Meeting. The plan was scaled back for this year and received the support of the Selectmen, the Town Finance Committee, and a NEW Study Committee appointed by the Selectmen. In addition to the $400,000 bond approval, the library has $111,500 in the Capital Reserve Fund and $250,500 in the Friends of the Library Building Fund (from privately raised funds and grants). The plan is that we will build a building footprint and mechanicals and finish the main level. The basement level will be left unfinished until we have raised privately the additional money necessary to finish it (approximately $200,000). This is the compromise we made to receive approval. This is a two-story addition to our beautiful brick two-story library built in 1921. We currently have 1,800 square feet and will be adding 5,000 square feet.