LIBRARY HAPPENINGS

NEW ON THE STATE LIBRARY'S WEBSITE

The latest information about the Great Stone Face Award - http://www.state.nh.us/nhsl/ldss/RGyouthservices.html

Public performance information on showing videotapes in your library - http://www.state.nh.us/nhsl/ladd/RGvideosppr.html

Directory of New Hampshire Libraries, 2002 - http://pierce.state.nh.us/libdir/

Fall 2002 Education Courses offered by the State - http://www.state.nh.us/nhsl/libed/modules.html

N.H. Public Library Annual Report (NHPLAR) - Fiscal Year 2002 - http://www.state.nh.us/nhsl/ldss/state.html

From the CONWAY PUBLIC LIBRARY - Renovation and expansion of the Conway Public Library will begin in the spring of 2003 with completion expected by November 2003. The project was approved by the voters in 2001 but was delayed by a lawsuit filed by residents of Amherst, Exeter, Lee, Weare, and Winchester which challenged the constitutionality of the provisions that in SB2 towns three-fifths of the voters were required to approve bond articles compared to a two-thirds requirement in towns with traditional town meetings. The courts repeatedly upheld the three-fifths exception for SB2 town with several appeals.

The project, which include an 8,000 sq. ft. two story addition will double the size of the present 1901 building. Tom Wallace, of Tenant/Wallace Architects AIA PA, has been working with library trustees on this project since 1991. The addition has been designed to maintain the library's historical architectural design. Cost, not including furnishings, is estimated at $1.57 million.

Trustees, building committee, fund raising committee, staff, and friends are ecstatic and anxious to finally move on the construction phase of this long awaited project. - Margaret Marschner, Director

From the HAMPSTEAD PUBLIC LIBRARY - Following a disappointing vote at the March 2002 Town Meeting, the Friends of the Hampstead Public Library chose to step in to try to raise a substantial portion of the additional money needed to finish the vast, echoing void that is now the second floor of the Hampstead Public Library building. On May 7th the first meeting of the Friends Fund Raising Committee came together at the library to brainstorm ways and means for making a lot of money before the warrant for the next Town Meeting will be finalized early in 2003.

Many suggestions were floated to the group for consideration before a second meeting at which some firm choices were made. What finally emerged was a three-pronged approach. One part consisted of a variety of ongoing projects. Another aspect focused on a few major events. The third side was a capital campaign.

For part one, coin jars were placed at the library and a local branch bank. The Friends sponsored tables at every possible town event where they sold book bags, note cards, and other items and also promoted the library and the Friends organization. A number of raffles were held with all the proceeds going to the fund raising effort. Individuals also contributed not just money but their talents and interests to the campaign. Portions of the receipts from the sale of Tupperware(tm) and Avon(tm) products were donated. A local author gave a percentage of the receipts from sales of his books about the area at the Friends tables throughout the duration of the project.

The first and most important major event was a Riding for Reading Bike-a-thon proposed by a long time library supporter, Bob Turner. Bob offered to ride from Northport, FL, the home of former Hampstead director Becky Rooney, to Hampstead. The Riding for Reading Subcommittee put out a brochure explaining Bob's mission and soliciting donations and pledges for his ride. Donations were sought from area businesses as well. Members of the Friends and the library staff sported T-shirts promoting Bob's ride and sign boards sprouted up all over the major roadways in town. Bob's travels were covered on the library's web site, on maps posted in the library, and in the local newspapers. This was the single most important event in the fundraising campaign and generated unbelievable enthusiasm and interest among many different segments of the community. A super welcome home party, complete with police escort, met him on his return to town on September 25th.

Other special events included both the Friends' annual auction and their biennial Holiday House Tour. A local collector of vintage ladies hats who is also a loyal member of the Friends hosted an elegant Tea in the town's historic Old Meeting House. The Friends also participated in the annual town wide yard sale for the first time, selling clothing left over from the Thrift Shop and books from the annual library book sale.

The capital campaign offered specially created levels of membership in the Friends of the Hampstead Library and opportunities for donating money to purchase specific items of furniture or equipment for the new space once it is completed. Study areas and the big meeting room may be named for donors. Donors may buy sections of shelving, pieces of furniture such as easy chairs, study carrels, and other relevant items.

As of September 15th, the Friends had raised over $16,000 towards the completion of the library building. - Judith Crowley, Director.

From the GAFNEY LIBRARY, SANBORNVILLE - The library is helping to launch an exciting community program called The Traveling Suitcase. The Town of Wakefield, in which Sanbornville is a village, will have the chance to have a rich cultural exchange with a village in southern Russia through the library. Jeannie Ferber of Alton, who works with an organization that opens libraries in rural schools in Russia, will present two lively workshops to introduce Wakefield to its sister village of Proharovka, Russia. Wakefield residents will work together to send special items to their sister village...the challenge is to decide what will convey the uniqueness and beauty of New England life and...fit in one small, carry on suitcase. The suitcase will be taken to Russia in October when Jeannie goes to Proharovka to buy the village new library books. The suitcase will return with items from Proharovka especially chosen for the Wakefield community. The items will be kept in the Gafney Library. The two workshops were held September 17th and 24th at the library, and the follow-up workshop, when the suitcase is returned filled with items from Proharovka, is Tuesday evening, November 19th at 7:00 p.m. Currently, proceeds from the book Six Inches to England: An Anthology of International Children's Stories, compiled by Jeannie Ferber and Priscilla Harper and edited by Margaret Robinson Millar, published by Andover Green, are donated toward the purchase of books for remote Russian villages to replace communist textbooks that are still being used. It is hoped that the program will continue indefinitely. - Beryl Donovan, Director.

From the PHILIP READ MEMORIAL LIBRARY, PLAINFIELD - The library had a unique and different entry in Plainfield's Fourth of July parade this past summer.

Six fun-loving volunteers (the librarian, the library aide, one trustee, and three members of the Friends) formed the "Library Bookcart Drill Team". Bookcarts were borrowed from neighboring libraries and the Drill Team practiced in secret. The Drill Team was well received by the crowd with cheers and laughter. The Drill Team was a smash hit!

The Drill Team performed two maneuvers - one moving and one stationary. We did have to get to the end of the parade. Among our moves were "twirlies" with the bookcarts, the "book pass," and the "librarian's shush."

We did have a lot of fun and are already thinking about next year. The Library Bookcart Drill Team has been the hot topic of conversation in town this past summer. The Philip Read Memorial Library is a fun place. - Nancy Norwalk, Librarian.

From the LINCOLN PUBLIC LIBRARY - An exhibit called The Great Experiment: George Washington and the American Republic was presented in Lincoln, N.H. from August 15th to September 26th. The program was opened daily at no cost to the public at the Upper Pemigewasset Historical Museum

A six week patriotic celebration was centered on this traveling exhibit of photographs of manuscripts, rare books, prints, engravings and artifacts from the collections of the Huntington Library and was organized in association with the American Library Association. The program was made possible, in part, through a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, with additional support from the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History and Mr. and Mrs. Charles T. Munger.

The Exhibit traced the development of a victorious military genius who relinquished the glory of power to return to farming, a reluctant statesman who forged the institutions of a popular government that has enduring for two centuries.

The Lincoln, N.H. sponsors, the Lincoln Public Library, the Lincoln Arts Council, North Country Center for the Arts, and the Upper Pemigewasset Historical Society plan to present numerous related events dealing with the American struggle. An encampment and Re-Enactment of British and American forces were held on September 6-8, 2002. Children were invited, at a small cost, to a hands-on course related to the enactment - The Junior Militia. Workshops in basket making and candle dipping; concerts, lectures and portrayals of life in the 1700's were presented by scholars and artists. A six-week program was developed to include educational and fun opportunities for children and adults such as Quill-Pen Writing, a cherry pie eating contest, a patriotic concert, blacksmith demonstrations and more. A tea was hosted by Martha Washington. Mr. Washington walked the streets of Lincoln chatting with the people.

Since Lincoln is the only town in New England to host this exhibit, and one of only 40 in the country, all New England neighbors were invited to this patriotic celebration.

CONCORD PUBLIC LIBRARY DIRECTOR RETIRES

After 23 years as Director of the Concord Public Library, Lou Ungarelli left the Concord Public Library on June 19th to take a position as Director of the Nantucket Athenaeum. We wish Lou good luck in his new position.

City residents are excited to see a new city library moving closer to becoming a reality. About 30 residents turned out for a public information meeting Wednesday, September 25th offering praise and a few suggestions

Concerns of the residents were focused more on what their individual ideas were of what a library should be.

Sherm Pridham, Library Director, reviewed the design concept. He said the needs of the library for the next 20 years were factored into the design.

Some residents wondered who would have access to the meeting rooms, "Your tax dollars will build the library so it is completely for resident use," Pridham said.

Promising there will be many more meetings for the public, O'Leary finished the meeting by saying, "This is our library and we want it to be reflective of that.