LIBRARY HAPPENINGS

NEWS FROM

Barrington - On October 21, 2004, Patricia McCormick, author of Cut will be at the Barrington Middle School to accept the Isinglass Teen Read Award. She has graciously accepted our invitation to accept her award in person, give a short speech to the student body, and then have a small luncheon with 7th and 8th grade students so they may have time to ask her questions and get books signed. Her book, a novel about a young girl bring treated for self-mutilation, won the award overwhelmingly last year. We had six communities vote in 2004, including Rochester, Dover, Barrington, Durham, Stratham, and Newmarket. So far, 17 communities have expressed interest in voting for the 2005 winner. The list, geared for students in 7th and 8th grade is posted on the Barrington Public Library website: www.barringtonlibrary.com, under the Teen page. Those interested in voting may contact Amy Inglis at blibrary@metrocast.net for voting sheets and bookmarks sent via e-mail.

Brentwood - Check out the Mary E. Bartlett Library's website, www.brentwoodlibrary.org and see our new addition. It is totally completed and we are justifiably proud of the results. Thanks to terrific support by our townspeople, a great group of Trustees, an unparalleled Friends of the Library group, the Brentwood Garden Club, workers who went way above and beyond the call of duty, and a Clerk of the Works, Gary Raymond, who never missed a trick, we have an addition that is so much more than we ever dreamed about that we are still in a state of shock.

Chester - The Chester Public Library Board of Trustees and Staff would like to announce that Director Judith Balk is retiring. After 23 years at the Library, Judy is leaving to spend more time with her family. She will be missed! There was an Open House on Friday, August 27th to say good-bye and wish her well in her retirement. At this time the Board of Trustees would like to announce that Melissa Rossetti, the current Assistant Director will be the Library's new Director.

Peterborough - Yoko Kawishima Watkins, author of So Far From the Bamboo Grove and its sequel will be with the 7th grade student body here at the South Meadow School Library, Peterborough in October to speak to the children of her escape from Korea with her mother and sister during the Korean occupation. They were Japanese living in Korea at that time and had to run for their lives. Her father was working in Manchuria and her brother was working in an ammunition factory near their home. It is a true story of courageous determination and love of family. The 7th grade student body reads this book, do multicultural activities and come together with her for a talk they'll never forget. She has been coming to Peterborough for four years and the up-coming 7th grade class alway looks forward to meeting her. The 8th graders come streaming down to see you again and get a smile and hug.

At the end of October, Marcia Wilson from Eyes on Owls will be here in the South Meadow School library to do an owl presentation...a slide show her husband has put together and then a live owl presentation. Marcia does a fantastic presentation and our 6th grade student body comes with great anticipation!

Salisbury - Marie Harris, author, and Karen Holman, illustrator, will come for a book signing on Tuesday, December 7, 2004 at 4:15 p.m. at the Town Hall on Route 4, Salisbury. Their new book is Primary Numbers: A New Hampshire Number Book. The library will take advance orders for books. Please call 648-2278. All are welcome!

Washington - The "Sheddettes" marched again in the Hillsboro Balloon Festival and made a big hit with the cadence song! We held our Grand Re-Opening on July 18th to celebrate our refurbishing. "Twas a gloomy summer day, but it brightened considerably with all our visitors, including the illustrious Michael York and a surprise visit from "Sarah Shedd" herself.

Story Time has been started up again due to a young teacher and a new mother staying at home, Sheila Munson. It's such a pleasure seeing little ones in the library again!

Besides typing and distributing a monthly town calendar of events, we began in July to write up Shedd news on the back. This has been well received (including a monthly Book Review of a recently acquired book).

Our recent exhibits were great hits. Summer brought us Antique Doll Beds & Coverlets and this fall we have fishing lures, "The Lure of the Flies"!