LIBRARY HAPPENINGS

NEWS FROM -

Chocorua

ANNUAL BOOK & BAKE SALE -- We are now collecting book donations as well as volunteers for our annual book and bake sale to take place on Saturday July 26th from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. If you have books to donate, please drop them off at the library during open hours or phone 323-8610. We are also seeking volunteers to lug, organize, sort, and bake. We need help the few days before (for set up), during the sale, and after (for breakdown and cleaning). Or just bake a goodie for us to sell. If you're willing to help, there's a sign-up sheet at the library or phone 323-8610. All proceeds from the Book and Bake Sale benefit the library.

KARLY'S CORNER -- The family of Karly Margaret Bullen Goodson has made a donation to our Children's Collection. Many of you know Karly's Corner - our children's section honoring this special little girl who is still sorely missed. We are very grateful and are using the donations to expand and improve our children's collection for all area residents. Look for new elementary and junior fiction and non-fiction as well as children's videos, marked with a '+' in the New Items list!

HERITAGE CORNER -- Our Heritage Corner, celebrating the library's history is now a reality. It is just behind the circulation desk and features photos of and tributes to people who have worked so generously to secure our library's future. We are one of the very few predominately privately endowed public libraries. We are supported directly by the community we serve and we should all be very proud of the library's continued success. Special recognition should be made to Chocorua Public Library's Board of Library Trustees who put in all the work to create the beautiful corner. They painted the walls, framed the photos, and made sure it was perfect. They are the living examples of the intent of the founders. Thanks to you all!

SUMMER READING PROGRAM -- The Chocorua Public Library held their Kick-off Event for the Summer Reading Program on Monday, June 30th at 2:00 p.m. The afternoon featured Walt W. Williams and Mrs. Moose who led the attendees in sing-alongs, dances, and some sign language. The performance was sponsored in part by a grant from the N.H. State Council on the Arts, the N.H. State Library, and donations from the Byrne Foundation, the Cogswell Benevolent Trust, and the Verizon Foundation. The lively party rounded out with refreshments and Summer Reading Program Sign-Ups. Sign-Ups are still open and those who participate will receive a sticker for each day they use the library between now and August 14th. They'll get to choose a free book for every fifth sticker and a great prize for every tenth. Prizes this year include passes to Storyland, Heritage, Christa McAuliffe Planetarium, Lost River Gorge and Boulder Caves, Six Gun City, Santa's Village, and Attitash Bear Peak - Perfect Summer. And as if that weren't enough, for every book participants read, they'll throw a rock into a prize jar featuring a T-Rex puppet! Whoever guesses closest to the number of rocks in the jar at the wind-down party on August 14th at 11:00 a.m., wins T-Rex!

Also, don't forget our Summer Story Times:

July 10th 11:00 a.m. -- Storyteller Extraordinaire Marion Posner for Story Time

July 17th 11:00 a.m. -- Melissa Grady of Jackson for Story Time

July 24th 11:00 a.m. -- Summer Resident and Summer library personality, Jeff Landesman for Story Time

July 26th 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. -- Annual Book and Bake Sale

July 31st 11:00 a.m. -- Kalley Cooper of sunny California for Story Time

August 7th 11:00 a.m. -- Actress & Conway Children's Librarian, Olga Morrill for Story Time

August 14th 11:00 a.m. -- Wrap-Up Ice Cream Social and awards ceremony!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR FUND RAISING ACTIVITIES -- The Friends of Lincoln Library are looking for people to Chair and become members for two fund-raising activities. Pot Luck Supper and Premiums. We could really use your help to make this happen! Please volunteer if you could assist in helping our library provide more programs and services for the community. Please contact Fred Fink, 745-3605 or fnfink@adelphia.net, or leave your name at the library desk.

Merrimack -- The eighth annual Merrimack Library Cardboard Boat Festival will take place Saturday, September 6th on Naticook Lake at Wasseman Park in Merrimack from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (raindate: September 7th).

The first racers will paddle off at 1:30 p.m. Trophies will be awarded for first, second and third place in youth, junior, adult and business categories in both single and team divisions. Additional trophies will be awarded for Best Looking Boat, Most Original Design, People's Choice, Most Spectacular Sinking, the Bob L'Heureux Trophy (for the crew with the biggest heart), and the Merrimack Cup.

Besides boat races, there will be a used book sale, raffles, face painting, food, children's sand castle building contest and mile carton boat races as well as other activities and surprises. The entertainment schedule includes musical performer Scott Kepnes at 11:00 a.m., magician B.J. Hickman at 11:45 a.m., and the juggling antics of the Spoof Gabbling Circus at 12:30 p.m. This year's limited edition cardboard boat race t-shirt, designed by "The Merrimack Journal's" political cartoonist, Bill Green, will also be on sale. Free transportation to and from the waterfront will be provided by Laidlaw Transit shuttle buses.

Bring your family and come see for yourself that a full size boat made entirely of cardboard will hold people and float!! All proceeds from the Festival will go to the Library Development Fund.

A Cardboard Boat Information Seminar will be held on July 31st at 7:00 p.m. at the Merrimack Public Library. Experienced cardboard boat captains will explain the rules and offer cardboard boat building hints and tips. In addition, there will be a slide presentation of prior Festivals.

For boat applications, Festival information or directions, call Festival Chair Pat Heinrich at (603) 424-4663 or visit the library's website at www.merrimack.lib.nh.us or Janet Angus, Director, Merrimack Public Library, at (603) 424-5021.

Pelham -- The town of Pelham passed a warrant article for $120,000 to pay for shelving and furnishings and equipment for our new library which is scheduled to open in early summer. Also passed was a warrant article for a part-time reference librarian. Our book budget increased $10,000.

Windham -- Alberta Corvi, Head Cataloger at the Nesmith Library in Windham, will retired on June 30, 2003. Mrs. Corvi has been a dedicated employee serving patrons of the Nesmith Library for over 20 years!

Over 4,100 people passed through the doors of the Nesmith Library on June 7th during the 21st Annual Strawberry Festival sponsored by the Friends of the Library of Windham.

The Nesmith Library held a free vision screening on June 20th in collaboration with The Windham Lions Club. The Lions Club Operation Kidsight, and The Links to Early Learning Project.

Elizabeth Strauss, Youth Services Librarian at the Nesmith Library, has been selected by the N.H. Library Association Executive Board to participate in the First New England Library Leadership Symposium sponsored by the New England Library Association.

The Nesmith Library Writers' Group was recently organized following a four week writers' workshop presented by author Norman Abelson.

A majority of the Nesmith Library Board of Trustees attended the recent Annual N.H. Library Trustees Association Conference held in Concord, N.H.

Franconia -- On July 5th, Franconia celebrated its annual 4th of July festivities with its traditional parade. This year the theme of the parade was Storytelling and Reading and the Grand Marshall was former Abbie Greenleaf Library Director, Amy Bahr, who was being honored for her many years of services to the town of Franconia. Executive Councilor Burton was at the parade and presented Amy with a copy of the New Hampshire Redbook. At the conclusion of the parade, I read a proclamation from Governor Benson commending Amy for her years of dedication to the people of Franconia and her work of many professional and civic organizations.