LIBRARY HAPPENINGS

NEWS FROM -

Hampton - On August 21, 2003, the Lane Memorial Library hosted its first International Patron Day Reception. We celebrated the rich diversity of our summer population with coffee and cold drinks, light snacks, and gifts of pens and key chains. Signing our guest book were 38 visitors from 11 foreign countries: Slovakia, Bulgaria, Belarus, Czech Republic, Lithuania, Romania, Canada, China, Greece, Italy, and Vietnam.

There are many overseas youth that come to work in the Hampton area each summer; they use the library's computers as a means to keep in touch with family and friends, and borrow books, movies, and music CD's. Last fall, recognizing the need for additional staff to deal with the summer influx of customers, we budgeted for a 12-week seasonal position. We advertised this spring for someone with a proficiency in a second language and found someone with Spanish and a little German. That seasonal staffer started a Spanish conversation group, which meets at the library and it is ongoing. Also in the spring, Jeanne Gamage of Adult Services and Stan Olson of Reference Services collaborated on a literacy grant application to Sam's Club. They were successful and were able to purchase English as a Second Language CD sets for many different languages. They cleared a centrally located bookcase and mounted a world map on the bulletin board above. Visitors were invited to stick a pin in their country. Jeanne and Stan have now started a world language book collection; books are labeled both by language and as a part of the World Language Collection, which will be housed with the ESL CD's in that special bookcase.

Madbury - The Madbury Public Library is up and running!! After being housed in a closet in the Town Hall for the past two years, the library moved into its own building in May 2003. The library has built a collection primarily through donations of books from the community, and has added over 5,000 items to the collection, with more being added on a regular basis.

The library gained momentum when they received a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for four new computers and a server. One requirement of the grant was there needed to be space to house the computers. Timing was in the library's favor as the town had just completed building a new safety complex for the police and fire departments, leaving the old police station (a one story ranch home) vacant. An enthusiastic team of volunteers pulled together over a two-month period to renovate the building just in time for the computers to arrive.

Kristin Cooper Rainey, a resident of Dover, was hired in July as the Library Director. Kristin will be completing her MLIS degree from Simmons College in Boston at the end of this year and is excited to take on the challenge working at a brand new library in a wonderful town.

The library holds a weekly pre-school storytime and has held successful programs for both children and adults over the past few months, including an Ice Cream Social as a special thank you for the volunteers. The Interlibrary Loan service is up and running with the Lee Public Library helping out as the van drop-off point. The children's room, with beautiful under-the-sea themed murals, has books for all ages and will have more shortly as the library has recently been awarded a grant from the Children's Literacy Foundation.

The library would like to thank everyone who made the Madbury Library a reality - all of the volunteers, the local librarians, and the community. We look forward to serving the community and meeting many new smiling faces. The library's website is found at www.madburylibrary.org for additional details. Northwood - The Chesley Memorial Library celebrated L2L@CML (Library To Library At Chesley Memorial Library) on Saturday, September 6th with an open house to celebrate the cooperation between the public and school libraries. School librarians Wendi Colby (Coe-Brown Northwood Academy) and Melissa Moore (Northwood School) attended the open house as special guests and received certificates of appreciation from Chesley Memorial Library's Board of Trustees. It was a wonderful opportunity to thank the school librarians for promoting the love of reading to the students visiting their libraries. The library holds an open house every year during September to promote Library Card Sign-Up Month and chooses a different individual or organization to honor as special guests. Past honorees include former trustee Nathalie Wall and the Harvey Lake Womens Club.

Sanbornton - Priscilla Bodwell is retiring from the Sanbornton Public Library, where she has been working for 30 years. She originally started her career as a volunteer and has worked her way to the Directorship. She currently job-shares her responsibilities with Diane Mitton of Gilford. Diane is also ending her career with the Sanbornton Public Library after a three-year history. Both women have seen significant changes over time and it is with a fond farewell and a feeling of love that the town sees them into their retirement. These women have served the community so very well. Priscilla has requested that, instead of a retirement party, she really wants a shower of cards. She has a scrapbook dating many years back and would like to update it with cards and notes about a memorable event, a shared experience, or a wish of good luck. They will be greatly missed.

Christopher Finer of Bristol has been hired as the new Director. He was most recently employed by the Newfound School District as a middle and high school librarian and teacher. He will be working closely with the trustees to finish the building project that has been underway for several years. Chris' goals include bringing technology to the library and implementing new programs.

Plainfield -

The Philip Read Memorial Library Bookcart Drill Team made its second annual appearance in Plainfield's 4th of July parade. We were again greeted with cheers and laughter and deemed the best entry in the parade. Members of this year's drill team were Nancy Norwalk (Director), Beth Williams (Trustee), Sarah Gillens (former Trustee), and Diane Rogers (Library Aide). Maneuvers performed were cross-overs with a book pass, twirlies and a pinwheel. The drill team really is a fun thing to do.

Warner - The Pillsbury Free Library in Warner has a new Children's Librarian. Nancy Ladd, Library Director, has announced that Betty Lovejoy of Warner was approved by the Library Trustees and has accepted the position held previously by Deann Hunter. Deann left in mid-September to take a full-time position at Laconia Public Library after just over two years as Children's Librarian in Warner.

Betty is a long-time area resident who has previously worked as an Art teacher for grades K through 12 in the Hopkinton and Kearsarge area schools. She is an artist and weaver, who had a store in Warner for five years, called the Rain Barrell Craft Shop, and sold her work through the League of N.H. Craftsmen. Most recently, she was Activity Director at Clough Center in New London, where she developed activities for seniors that often included the children from the hospital daycare.

"Betty has worked with children of all ages, and comes to us with high recommendations for her hard work, creativity, organizing skills, and warm personality," said Ladd. "We had many interesting and well-qualified applicants to choose from, but she topped them all. As an added benefit, we were very pleased to be able to offer the job to someone who already knows our community and our library."

Westmoreland - The Westmoreland Public Library was awarded a grant from the Children's Literacy Foundation (CLiF). They will be visiting us this fall, and bringing children's books to enhance our collection. The children in grades K-6 from Westmoreland School will visit the library for the presentation of the books. No date has been set.