Have lunch in a foreign language at the library!

In 2008, we thought that we'd try a new idea for those of us who would like to revive our rusty foreign language skills:

LUNCH IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE
AT THE KELLOGG-HUBBARD LIBRARY
Starting January 8th, 2008

Want to brush up on your foreign language skills? Come to the Kellogg-Hubbard Library with a bag lunch and a dictionary. We’ll open the Hayes Room to a different language group each day, from 12 noon to 1 p.m. This is a do-it-yourself program. Tell your friends! (Monday is still open to another language group upon request.)

Monday : (to be announced)

Tuesday: Italian

Wednesday: Spanish

Thursday: French

Friday: German

Snow!

The library will close at 5:00 today (Monday Dec. 3) due to the weather conditions.

Early closing on Saturday

The library will close at 1:00pm on Saturday December 1st so that we can set up for An Evening at the Library which starts at 7:00pm.

Silent auction

What follows is a list of silent auction items that are on display at the library. The first dollar amount is the value of an item and the second is the minimum bid. Final bids will be accepted this Saturday night, December 1^st, at An Evening at the Library. Bid early and bid often to support the Kellogg-Hubbard Library!

Silent Auction

Glass Jewelry Box by Gail Lacy $150 $75

Flower Bouquet Quilt $600 $250

Polar Bear Whistles by Mary Stone $250 $125

Three Teddy Bears $75 $30

Painted Pet Portrait by Jody Stahlman $50 $20

Pond Village Home in Brookfield - rental $575 $200

72 piece Set of Polish Bone China $250 $100

Craftsman Chainsaw $160 $60

Norton Pond Cottage- rental $400 $150

2008 Betty Lord Wedding Planner $2,500 $900

Clay Pet Portrait by Georgia Landau $85 $42

Dessert of the Month for a year by J. McCullough $250 $75

Nine Dozen Cookies from KHL staff priceless priceless

Ansel Adams at 100, book $40 $15

Mountaineers family season pass $100 $40

Grand View Winery event for 10 $60 $20

Doug Wilhelm Book Mention priceless priceless

Wardian Case $200 $75

Royal Tour of Statehouse with David Schutz priceless priceless

Plaster Sculpture of Ceres by Jerry Williams $200 $75

Two Hours of Plumbing, Fred Blakely $188 $65

12 personalized T-shirts, Beavin & Son's $126 $45

Reeve & Anne Morrow Lindbergh Adult Books $75 $30

Marlowe and Barnaby Rudge, books $35 $15

Abstract painting by M.F. Bartlett $1,000 $400

Reeve Lindbergh Children's books $140 $65

Native American Doll by Charlene McManis $75 $30

Trip for Two to Montreal Food Markets $200 $80

Holland Pewter Tea/Coffee set $160 $70

An Evening Out Print by Christa Kieffer $80 $30

A Gift from the Sea 1st Ed. by Anne Morrow Lindbergh $25 $10

Ski Tour with Paul Costello $150 $75

Merchant of Venice, book $100 $50

All Men Are Brothers, book $35 $15

Gingerbread House by Roberta Tracy $200 $100

NBA Sports Bag Collection $200 $100

Evening at the Library Honors Reeve Lindbergh

This Saturday, December 1st at 7 p.m., the Kellogg-Hubbard will be fortunate to host its second annual "Evening at the Library", hosted by Lola Aiken. Last year we honored the beloved children's author Katherine Paterson. This year, we'll be honoring another noted Vermont author, Reeve Lindbergh. Both Katherine and Reeve are not only outstanding authors. They were each chosen as the evening's honorees because they have been outstanding in their support and promotion of reading, libraries and literacy.

Reeve Lindbergh lives in St. Johnsbury and is an accomplished author of family memoirs, novels and children’s books. She is the youngest daughter of aviator Charles Lindbergh and writer Anne Morrow Lindbergh. Reeve is Honorary Chairman of The Charles A. and Anne Morrow Lindbergh Foundation and she has had deep involvement in supporting public libraries. Reeve and her husband Nathaniel Tripp were recently chosen as the Northeast Kingdom Chamber of Commerce's 2007 Citizens of the Year.

We are all looking forward to lighting up this beautiful building and opening it to one of the most inspiring events of the year. If you don't have your ticket yet, call 229-0912 to have tickets held for you.

Montpelier Flood 80th Anniversary

The following post is from Claire Gilbertson who oversees Kellogg-Hubbard's Vermont collection.

November 1927-2007, 80th anniversary of the 1927 Flood

Eighty years ago a natural disaster happened in Vermont that still marks it as a major event in Vermont's history. People in the community who remember the 1927 flood say it's something you won't ever forget.

Two storms, a cold one from the west and a warm one from the south locked over Vermont. The rain they produced after a very wet summer and fall caused 10 to 12 feet of water at the corners of State Street and Main Street in Montpelier. The Kellogg Hubbard Library has a medallion next to the adult circulation desk that marks the height of the water in the library on the first floor, over 5 feet.

Many of Vermont's rivers overflowed their banks and caused an incredible amount of damage, roads washed out, houses pushed off their foundations, lives lost. But the pictures speak for themselves. We've blown-up 5 historic postcards of the flooding in Montpelier. They are set-up in the room that houses the Vermont Collection at the library.

Just in time for the 80th anniversary, Deborah and Nicholas Clifford published an incredible book on the flood, 1927-1931. They have the pictures and first-hand narratives but also include an analysis of what it took to get Vermont back to normal. This important work explains how the flood changed the landscape and the people of Vermont.

For information on the flood, the following is a list of some of the items the library has.

VERMONT 974.3 C Clifford, Deobrah Pickman. The troubled roar of the waters: Vermont in flood and recovery, 1927-1931. Lebanon [NH]: University Press of New England, 2007.

VERMONT 551.489 M Minsinger, W.E. M.D. The 1927 Flood in Vermont and New England November 3-7, 1927, an historical and pictorial summary. Blue Hill Meteorological Observatory and Science Center, 2003.

VIDEO VT 551.489 V Vermont Public Television. Vermont's great flood. [videorecording]. Vermont Public Television, 2003. "In 1927, a huge flood swept away houses, roads, railways and farms. Torrential rains flooded the rivers, which rushed through towns as high as 18 feet above normal…"

VERMONT REF 974 K623 Kinnison, Harvey Banks, 1890- The New England flood of November, 1927. Washington: Govt. Print. Off., 1929.

CD VERMONT 551.48 R Remembering hell and high water: the flood of '27: the 75 anniversary radio special. Using interviews of people who experienced the 1927 flood and author Pat Belding, Michael Thurston retells what happened during the flood and how people were affected by it.

VERMONT 551.489 J Johnson, Luther Burnham, 1869- The '27 flood. Randolph Center, Vt.: Greenhill Books, 1996, c1928.

New Releases at the Library

This is a sampling of new releases at the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. A completed and updated list is posted monthly on our web site.

NON-FICTION

Wohlforth, Charles P. The whale and the supercomputer: on the northern front of climate change.

The best American essays, 2007.

Ward, Geoffrey C. The war: an intimate history, 1941-1945.

BIOGRAPHIES

Alther, Lisa. Kinfolks: falling off the family tree: the search for my Melungeon ancestors.

Michaelis, David. Schulz and Peanuts.

FICTION

Follett, Ken. World without end.

Russo, Richard. Bridge of sighs.

Vargas Llosa, Mario. The bad girl.

MYSTERIES

Hammett, Dashiell. The Maltese falcon.

Mayor, Archer. Chat.

Mosley, Walter. Blonde faith.

LARGE PRINT

Francis, Dick. Under orders.

Robbins, John. Healthy at 100: the scientifically proven secrets of the world's healthiest and longest-lived peoples.

Parker, Robert B. Now and then.

AUDIO

Friedman, Thomas L. The world is flat.

Grisham, John. Playing for pizza.

Great speeches of the 20th century

YOUNG ADULT MATERIALS

Graphic natural disasters. Tsunamis & floods.

Sís, Peter. The wall: growing up behind the Iron Curtain.

Teen Ink Magazine.

CHILDREN'S NON FICTION

Prieto, Anita. B is for bookworm.

Cole, Joanna. The magic school bus and the missing tooth.

Dixon, Dougal. The discovery of T. Rex.

CHILDREN'S FICTION

Abbott, Tony. Pirates of the Purple Dawn.

American Girls. Nicki.

Winkler, Henry. My dog's a scaredy-cat.

EASY READERS

Awdry, W. Thomas-saurus rex.

Butler, John. Can you growl like a bear?

Rey, H.A. Curious George plants a seed.

PARENTING BOOKS

Odean, Kathleen. Great books for boys.

Lester, Barry. Why is my baby crying?

Snow shoveling

Help wanted at the library!

With winter right around the corner we are looking for someone to shovel the front and back walk and stairs in the morning as needed, before the library opens at 10:00 am. Must be reliable! If you are interested please phone Marcy at 223-3338 extension 302 for more information.

Big Week at the Library

From The Big Read to The Inuit to Soap Bubbles Circus we have something for everyone this week at the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. There is no reason to stay home when you can be part of many different exciting programs at the library - no matter how old or young you are! On Monday we have two programs: the film Nanook of the North at 3:30pm and afternoon program for children and adults and Living in Navajoland with Suellen Howley at 7pm. On Tuesday we have The Lost Nation Theater continuing their dramatic reading of The Maltese Falcon in the periodical room at 7pm. Refreshments will be served. On Wednesday we continue with our Inuit series with Bill Fitzhugh of the Artic Studies Center from the Smithsonian Institute. We anticipate a large crowd and have moved this program to the Trinity Methodist Church next door. This is also a First Wednesdays program through the Vermont Humanities Council. On Thursday, the WORLD PREMIERE of the Soap Bubbles Circus with Rob Mermin will entertain children at 7pm. Don't stay home - go to the library!
*Update* I forgot to mention that we also have the Dark Knight Comics club that meets every Tuesday afternoon at 3:30pm.

Managing your Money

Do you wish that you could do a better job of managing your money, planning for retirement, investing your savings, or saving for college? Here are some resources at Kellogg-Hubbard:

• In our newspaper collection: Financial Times and Wall Street Journal.
  
• In the magazine collection: Barron's, Money Magazine and Smart Money.
  
• From your home computer through the Vermont Online Library: Business Resource Center. Pick up the flyer "Tapping the Hidden Web" for more information.
  
• New in the book collection:
  

  Estate Planning Basics by Denis Clifford
  

  The Little Book of Common Sense Investing by John Bogle
  

  Women and Money: Your Personal Finance Guide by D. Lee
  

  The Only Three Questions that Count: Investing by Knowing What Others Don't by K. Fisher
  

  Last Chance Millionaire: It's Not Too Late to Become Wealthy by Andrew Douglas
  

  Women and Money: Owning the Power to Control Your Destiny by Suze Orman
  

  Long Term Care: How to Plan and Pay for It by Joseph Matthews
  

  Credit Repair by Robin Leonard
  

Nanook of the North - movie and discussion

For the second program in our series, The Inuit, we will view the movie, Nanook of the Northfollowed by a discussion led by Kathleen Osgood Dana, scholar with the University of the Arctic and Stephen B. Young, scholar with the Center for Northern Studies at Sterling College. This movie, originally released in 1922 was directed by Robert J. Flaherty and documents a year in the life of an Inuit family. Join us on October 18, 2007 at 7pm in the Hayes Room at the Library.

Banned Book Week

September 29-October 6 is Banned Book Week. This American Library Association event "celebrates the freedom to choose or the freedom to express one's opinion even if that opinion might be considered unorthodox or unpopular and stresses the importance of ensuring the availability of those unorthodox or unpopular viewpoints to all who wish to read them."

According to the ALA, these are the ten most challenged books in 2006:

• "And Tango Makes Three" by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell, for homosexuality, anti-family, and unsuited to age group;

• "Gossip Girls" series by Cecily Von Ziegesar for homosexuality, sexual content, drugs, unsuited to age group, and offensive language;

• "Alice" series by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor for sexual content and offensive language;

• "The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things" by Carolyn Mackler for sexual content, anti-family, offensive language, and unsuited to age group;

• "The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison for sexual content, offensive language, and unsuited to age group;

• "Scary Stories" series by Alvin Schwartz for occult/Satanism, unsuited to age group, violence, and insensitivity;

• "Athletic Shorts" by Chris Crutcher for homosexuality and offensive language.

• "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky for homosexuality, sexually explicit, offensive language, and unsuited to age group

• "Beloved" by Toni Morrison for offensive language, sexual content, and unsuited to age group;

• "The Chocolate War" by Robert Cormier for sexual content, offensive language, and violence.

The Inuit at the Kellogg-Hubbard Library

In the Stone Age, the Inuit adapted to life along the Arctic edge, creating technologies to make use of marine resources in extreme climatic conditions. Now, in the postmodern era, the Inuit again face tremendous challenges adapting to globalization and climate change. With slides, lectures, films, and speakers, this series on the Inuit will look at their capacity for change and the ways in which Inuit realities impact our own worldview.
Join us on Thursday, October 4, 2007 at 7pm for the first in a six-part series.

THE NATURE OF BAFFIN ISLAND
Naturalist Nona Estrin always dreamed of going north, and in the early 1990s, she and naturalist husband Charles Johnson documented the first organized commercial walking trip to the Soper River Valley and Inuit villages of the area. The Nature of Baffin Island will feature slides of two trips they took as guides for Country Walkers, and will discuss their experiences, and the culture and natural history as it was 14 years ago, just before Baffin became part of Nunavut, the Inuit province of Canada. The evening will also include a short introduction to the series and the Inuit.

I have worked with two people to organize this series, Kathleen Osgood Dana and Kristina Bielenberg. It has been a great experience working with two people who are truly passionate about the arctic and the Inuit people. We hope that many people will be inspired by these programs.

Program support has come from: Artctic Research Consortium of the United States, the Tamarck Fund, National Science Foundation, Office of Polar Programs, an anonymous donor, The Vermont Humanities Council for the First Wednesdays program (Bill Fitzhugh)and KHL.

Where in the World is Kingdom County?

The 2007 First Wednesdays series, a Vermont Humanities Council program, debuts with Vermont Author Howard Frank Mosher on Wednesday, October 3, 2007 at 7pm at the Kellogg-Hubbard Library.

In this program Mosher tells the story of how he first came to the Northeast Kingdom and discovered a fragment of a much earlier New England and Vermont, left over from the Depression and Prohibition eras, full of wonderful stories from the lives and times of some of the last independent-minded individualists in America.

Howard Frank Mosher is the author of nine books of fiction, among them his latest book On Kingdom Mountain. He lives in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont with his wife Phyllis.
Copies of his book will be on sale.

Counting on Grace Author Visit at the Library

On Thursday, September 27, 2007 at 7:00 PM Elizabeth Winthrop will present a program with slides called THE SEARCH FOR ADDIE: SPINNING VERMONT HISTORY INTO FICTION. This program is open to the public and will be followed by a book signing.

In this talk about her creative process, Elizabeth Winthrop will tell the story behind her new novel, COUNTING ON GRACE, (Random House, 2006) set in North Pownal, Vermont. Inspired by the haunting Lewis Hine photograph of a 12-year-old mill girl in 1910, Winthrop created Grace Forcier, a French Canadian spinner who is proud to work by her mother's side as a doffer. But when Hine arrives at the mill to document the horrors of child labor, Grace becomes his secret ally, a decision that brings both devastating repercussions as well as the possibility of a different life for this one child.

In a presentation with slides that runs like a historical detective thriller, Winthrop will introduce us to Grace, while, at the same time, showing us in scenes from the life of a small Vermont town, the riveting story of her painstaking and finally rewarding search for Addie, the real child in Hine's photograph.

COUNTING ON GRACE is the VERMONT READS selection (A Vermont Humanities Council program) and the Jane Addams Peace Prize Honor Book for a novel of excellent literary quality that highlights social justice issues. In the spring of 2007, the novel was read in weekly installments every Sunday night on Vermont Public Radio. For more information call the children's room at 223-4665.

The New York Times

The New York Times web site has a "letter to readers" announcing that they will no longer charge a fee for access to parts of their site:

Effective Sept. 19, we are ending TimesSelect. All of our online readers will now be able to read Times columnists, access our archives back to 1987 and enjoy many other TimesSelect features that have been added over the last two years – free.

This is welcomed news for those of us who want to read Times' columnists such as Frank Rich, Paul Krugman, and Nicholas Kristof.

Book reviews, including the Sunday Book Review, are available for free, and the paper also a blog about books, Paper Cuts.

You can read the New York Times here at Kellogg-Hubbard the old fashion way: on newsprint.

Public Libraries and the Internet

The American Library Association (ALA) and Florida State University have just released a study on public libraries and internet usage. To quote from the ALA press release:

The study, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and ALA, found that more than 73 percent of libraries report they are the only source of free public access to computers and the Internet in their communities.

A growing number of U.S. employers are recruiting online. Nearly three-quarters (70 percent) of the top 100 U.S. retailers accept online applications for hourly positions, up from 41 percent in 2004, and 16 percent only accept online applications, according to a 2006 study from Taleo Research.

Nearly 100 percent of public libraries offer free public access to the Internet. However, despite increased patron demand for technology services, libraries have not seen a corresponding increase in their budgets. As a result, many libraries are challenged to provide enough computers or fast-enough connection speeds to meet community need. In fact, more than 58 percent of libraries reported that they have no plans to add computers in the coming year; less than half (46 percent) plan to replace computers. [Emphasis added.]

The Boston Globe ran an article on the ALA study on September 12.

Kellogg-Hubbard patron accesses the Internet:

Tips for Using the Kellogg Hubbard Website

http://www.kellogghubbard.org/

Our Catalog- did you like the book THE SPIRIT CATCHES YOU AND YOU FALL DOWN? Type the title into the search bar in the online catalog (or even the first part of the title), click Title, and then click on one of the subject headings. If you want to search by Author, type last name first, then first name (no comma necessary), then click Author. Want to browse a list of our DVDs? Type in DVD and click Call Number. (Watch out though- you'll get 700+ titles. You could refine your search by using Power Search; for instance, type "DVD" in the top search bar and "horses" in the second one.) Have a look at the Events tab too!

Site Index- can't remember where on the website you found the Internet Use Policy for Kellogg-Hubbard? At the bottom of every page on our site is a link to the Site Index, an alphabetical list of all the pages in our website.

Past Loves Day Celebration - Monday, Sept 17th!

On Monday, September 17 at 7pm meet the couple who originated National Past Loves Day and find out why they initiated this new holiday. Authors Kate Harper and Leon Marasco invite you to join them in the first public celebration of Past Loves Day. They will discuss where past loves and current intimacy meet in today's relationships. Reading of stories which won first and second place in the 1st Annual Past Loves Story Contest will be read. Kate and Leon will talk about their book, If Only I Could Tell You... Where Past Loves and Current Intimacy Meet.
This is what Vermont Author Tim Brookes had to say about this book:

Kate Harper and Leon Marasco have found an interesting and significant subject: not only the importance of past loves, but the nature of intimacy itself. The book would be worth reading for the interviews alone, which are both moving and profoundly thought-provoking. Denying the importance of one's past loves, it becomes clear, is not only one strike against any present love and the struggle for intimacy, it's also a strike against the unity of the self.

Join us at the library for a fun evening - complete with refreshments!

AmeriCorps*VISTA Opportunity Kellogg-Hubbard

Position re-opened:

Interested in an exciting service opportunity with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library in Montpelier? The library seeks a motivated and creative person to help expand the library's capacity to provide programs and outreach services to community members. For more information, contact Amanda White or Nicholas Nicolet at the Youth Service Bureau, 802-229-9151 or e-mail servevtyouth@comcast.net.

Library/Teen Center partnership

Rosa Keefe, Kellogg-Hubbard Library's AmeriCorps*VISTA member, prepared the following post:

Over the past 6 months an innovative relationship has budded between the Kellogg-Hubbard Library and the Basement Teen Center of Montpelier. The collaboration hopes to make teens more aware of the fun, safe activities available at the Basement, which is located on the side of the City Hall building at 39 Main Street in Montpelier.

The first step towards the partnership was taken in March 2007 with the creation of a teen bulletin board in the Young Adult section on the mezzanine in the Library. The bulletin board includes information about the Teen Center, a schedule of activities, and an interactive portion that encourages teens to add their own materials such as art and poetry.

Several months later, in May, a month long program called "Teen Movies in May" was initiated. Over the course of 5 weeks, movies were shown every Thursday afternoon and Teen Center staff were present to inform teens and encourage those attending to sign up for free membership with the Teen Center. In all, 42 teens attended the "Movies in May" program, and about 15 signed up for new membership with the Basement Teen Center.

Once teens heard from their peers that the library was showing big screen movies, and the Teen Center was providing tons of snacks, attendance at the programs really shot up.

An anime film that was shown one week during "Movies in May" turned out to be so popular that teens specifically requested that lots more anime be shown in the future. So, at this request, the Library and Teen Center once again partnered to provide a special anime presentation at the beginning of August, called "Teen Anime Fest." "Teen Anime Fest" featured two anime films shown back to back along with a display of Manga and Japanese comics available for teens to check out from the Library. One of the anime films featured a love story set in a library, which the teens thought was really cute and appropriate to show at the Kellogg-Hubbard.

Although no more of these special collaborative programs are planned at this time, the Library hopes that the Basement Teen Center will keep up its presence at the Library though the teen bulletin board and use of library meeting space for future teen programs.

"The collaboration between Kellogg-Hubbard Library and the Basement Teen Center has helped both organizations gain more acceptance with youth in the community. I am sure that there will be collaboration in the future, and hopefully youth in the community with take advantage of these opportunities," George Karpoff, Director of the Basement Teen Center

For more information on the Basement Teen Center visit: http://www.youthservicebureau.info/programs_services/prevention/basement_teen_center.htm

Or contact Teen Center Director George Karpoff at 229-9151.

Photo: "Inside the teen center there is a pool table, games, couches, TV, internet, snacks, and many activities all free to teens."

The Flowers in the Planter

So many people enjoy the beautiful flowers at the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. The list of the plants used in these photos was compiled by Georgia Valentine one of our Master Gardeners responsible for the gardens. Jane Lendway is the other Master Gardener who cares for the gardens and coordinates other volunteers to weed, water and mulch. These gardens are a gift of love from the Washington/Orange Master Gardeners!


Click on photo to enlarge.

ANNUALS IN THE PLANTER OUTSIDE THE HAYES ROOM – 2007
This year’s plants came from Arcana Gardens and Greenhouses in Jericho. They have an amazing selection of annuals, perennials, herbs and vegetables, all organic. Check their website by clicking on their name above or stop in at 175 Schillhammer Road, off Rte 117 N from I-89, Exit 11 (Richmond Exit).

In the back: Snapdragons – Royal Bride (white) and Double Azalea Apricot

In the front:
Diascia – Diamonte apricot (looks like a little sedum)
Petunia – Tidal Wave (Well named – it is about to submerge everything else)

Grasses:
Fiber Optic (guess which one!) (this little one is just barely holding its own)
Bunny Tail

That fuzzy plant: an ornamental sage– we lost the label so don’t know the exact name 

In the middle:
Flowering Maple – Bella Vanilla (we hope that the 15’ on the label is a typo…)
Oxypetalum Tweedia – supposedly the only annual with turquoise blue flowers…
Osteospermum – African Daisy
Lettuce – Black Simpson

This planter is Hot and Dry, so we try to water it frequently, and mix in plenty of compost and “Water Grabber” crystals to keep the soil moist.

Ben T. Matchstick Joins Library Staff

Welcome Ben!
The Kellogg-Hubbard Library is proud to announce the appointment of Ben T. Matchstick as the new children’s programming coordinator. Ben is well-known in the community as the founder of the “Cardboard Teck Instantute” and as a beloved children’s entertainer, known for his interactive puppet shows and art projects using recycled materials. In the past, Ben has been at the center of some very popular children’s events at the library, and has also volunteered his time to help with a number of library projects. We are delighted to have Ben as a member of the staff. Join him at story time which returns from its break beginning September 4th on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 10:30 a.m.

In the photo, Ben is standing in front of his creation, "The Little Library That Could", which highlights the ongoing financial support for the Children's Library. The goal is for the engine to reach the top of the hill when we receive a total of $10,000!

Volunteers Needed

For two weeks in September we will be surveying library patrons to find out what town they live in. Currently, we only know someone's hometown if they check out a book or other material. If someone is coming to the library for a program, to use a computer, to read, or for a meeting we don't know their hometown. As we prepare for town meeting day next year, we would like to have a better sense of where our patrons live. (The survey will be anonymous; we won't ask anyone for their name.)

We will ask visitors three brief questions. During each of the times below we need three volunteers: two for the front door and one for the back.

Please e-mail me (mhahn@kellogghubbard.org) if you are able to volunteer for this important library project. (Note that I'm on vacation next week, starting August 20.)

Thank you!

Tuesday September 4th, 10:15am-12pm

Wednesday September 5th, 2pm-4pm

Thursday September 6th, 4pm-6pm

Friday September 7th, 10:15am-12pm

Saturday September 8th, 11am-1pm

Monday September 10th, 6pm-8pm

Tuesday September 11th, 4pm-6pm

Wednesday September 12th, 10:15am-12pm

Thursday September 13th, 2pm-4pm

Friday September 14th, 3pm-5pm

Saturday September 15th, 10:15am-12pm

Montpelier Downtown Community Association

At the MDCA web site you can sign up for a very useful listserve for weekly updates on what events are taking place in Montpelier. (You can also visit Kellogg-Hubbard's web site for links to activities in our service area.)

Current Book Displays in the Library

Have you ever noticed the books displays in the front lobby? This month's displays feature True Adventure, On The Water and Egyptology. The list of books that were on the display earlier today are listed below. Hilari organizes these displays each month.

TRUE ADVENTURE

--"Breaking the Limit: One Woman's Motorcycle Journey Through North America" by Karen Larsen
--"Escape from Lucania: An Epic Story of Survival" by David Roberts
--"Around the World in 80 Days: Outward Bound," a movie written and presented by Michael Palin
--"Passage to Juneau: A Sea and Its Meanings" by Jonathan Raban
--"Hell or High Water: Surviving Tibet's Tsangpo River" by Peter Heller
--"The Tragic History of the Sea: Shipwrecks from the Bible to the Titanic" edited by Anthony Brandt
--"Trawler: A Journey through the North Atlantic" by Redmond O'Hanlon
--"The Devil's Teeth: A True Story of Obsession and Survival among America's Great White Sharks" by Susan Casey

ON THE WATER

--"Fifty Places to Fly Fish Before You Die: Fly-Fishing Experts Share the World's Greatest Destinations" by Chris Santella
--"The Complete Book of Swimming" by Dr. Phillip Whitten
--"Inland Passage: On Boats and Boating in the Northeast" by David W. Shaw
--"Classic Northeastern Whitewater Guide: The Best Whitewater Runs in New England and New York—Novice to Expert" by Bruce Lessels
--"The Connecticut River Boating Guide" by the Connecticut River Watershed Council
--"Fishing Vermont's Streams and Lakes: A Guide to the Green Mountain State's Best Trout and Bass Waters" by Peter F. Cammann
--"The Complete Angler: A Connecticut Yankee Follows in the Footsteps of Walton" by James Prosek

EGYPTOLOGY

--"The Egyptologist" by Arthur Phillips
--"The Last Camel Died at Noon" by Elizabeth Peters
--"Mystery of the Nile: The Epic Story of the First Descent of the World's Deadliest River" by Richard Bangs and Pasquale Scaturro
--"Skeletons on the Zahara: A True Story of Survival" by Dean King
--"Decoding Egyptian Hieroglyphs: How to Read the Secret Language of the Pharaohs" by Bridget McDermott
--"Guide to the Valley of the Kings" by Alberto Siliotti
--"Valley of the Golden Mummies" by Zahi Hawass

Read a good book lately?

The Times Argus is running a fun ongoing piece in which they ask some local "celebrities" what they are reading and ask people to post their own summer favorites. Follow this link:

"Under a tree. In a hammock. On the beach. In a porch swing. There's no end to the places you can settle into a good book in the summer. As for what to read - we asked several well-known Vermonters what they're paging through in this season of long (mostly) sunny days."

A Message From Megan

To all the wonderful patrons and friends I’ve made during my time here:
It’s nearly impossible for me to write these words, but I would like share with the children and families of the children’s library that I am leaving my position here. I’ve accepted a position as the new school librarian at the Moretown Elementary School. My children, Josie and Bergen, are both students there and I am looking forward to this opportunity to be more connected to them and this incredible school. That being said, I am incredibly sad to be leaving the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. The staff – my co-workers – are imaginative, inventive, and committed to library services in ways that have surpassed my expectations. They’ve also become dear friends. The board of trustees works diligently behind the scenes and I thank them for their vision and support. And our patrons – you – have welcomed me into the lives of your children and I feel so blessed to have been a small part of your child’s journey. I will continue to patronize my beloved Kellogg-Hubbard – where else can one find an equal collection of such depth, a building of such architectural beauty, and a staff as dedicated as this? Cheers, my friends, and may your journey through life continue to be enriching, joyful, and full of books.

Moments of the Day

Working as a volunteer this past Saturday for the Onion River Century Ride brought great moments throughout the day. Jan Schlosser and I staffed the second food stop in Barton at the Sugarmill Farm. Jeannette, the owner, is incredibly friendly, helpful and generous. Her grandson's dog, Tucker, was a big hit with the riders this year. Although he wasn't suppose to eat our food (due to allergies) he stayed close at hand to clean up any crumbs that hit the ground.

The surroundings at Sugarmill Farm are really beautiful like this big, red barn. It makes a great backdrop for the cyclists.
The cyclists are a fun and varied crew, too. I especially enjoyed the riders who suggested that we have contests among the food stops next year. Which food stop is the most fun - contest. We got points for having Tucker the dog, and for holding an umbrella over the riders when we had a few raindrops. Many riders commented on the vast array of good food. We aim to please!

Memorable moments: Watching Mary Hooper, Montpelier's Mayor ride 113 miles! Kudos to you, Mary. Watching Nina Otter ride 113 miles after very little training! Watching Jacob Klein ride 60 miles - his first time out on his bike this year! Tom celebrating his 50th birthday by riding 113 miles! Two of the riders doing head stands at each food stop to drain the blood from their feet! (Click here to see photos of the headstands from the Montpeleir Matters Blog.)



We stopped to save a 10 inch turtle in the middle of the road. Others saw a moose on Rt12.



The camaraderie among the cyclists and volunteers was great to behold! Volunteers -get your bid in for which food stop you want at next year's Century Ride! I call the Barton Food Stop!

ORS Century Ride Raffle Winners

The winners of the Onion River Century Ride Raffle are:

Jay Kimberley - Onion River Sports Car Rack System
Joel Page - Capitol Plaza Hotel - One overnight for 2 people with movie passes
Bob McCullough - Sarducci's Restaurant - $40 gift certificate
Meg Scherbatsky - Bear Pond Books - $35 gift certificate
Matthew Lavey - Julio's Cantina - $25 gift certificate
Cameron Cope - Coffee Corner $25 gift certificate
Gerrie Dennison - Buch Spieler $20 gift certificate
Seth Dunn - Capitol Video $10 gift certificate
Kerrin Kritchmar - Rhapsody $10 gift certificate
Dell McDonough - Lake Elmore State Park two half day boat rentals.

Congratulations to these winners! Please support these local businesses!

Haiku. Do you?

Okay, so I like making up haiku. We all have failings. They're really fun, though: short and, once you get the rhythm down, easy to compose. [De-composing? That's harder.] Here's how they go:

Haiku

Are five, seven, five
Syllables, that is. Titles?
You just make 'em up

A Strange Library Meteorological Phenomenon Observed

Rain pours down. Thunder
roars, lightning crackles overhead.
Must get videos.

And on a mostly unrelated note I'm reading Little Heathens. It's a memoir of growing up on an Iowa farm during the Depression years by a woman named Mildred Kalish and it's wonderful.
She writes of old family recipes and cures, of favored animals and relatives, and of the sheer joy to be had from working hard and living simply. AND she's a listmaker on the level of E.B. White, which I find quite enjoyable. The book's available here at the library and there's only one person after me on the hold list. Reserve your copy now...

George

Library fundraising report

This is the latest update on our local fundraising. (Remember, a secure donation to Kellogg-Hubbard can be made online.)

Summer Reading Grand Slam at the Mountaineers!

The Barre Altrusa International Club's Summer Reading Grand Slam Vermont Mountaineers Night was rained out on July 9th. The good news is that the rain date is Monday, July 23 and kids still have time to participate in this fun event. Kids get in free with their completed list of nine books read (one book for each inning), receive a free book from the Altrusa Club, and get their names entered into a drawing for six $50 gift certificates from local book stores. The kids should arrive at the Montpelier Recreation Field at 6:00 pm with their list in hand. They will go out onto the field to be recognized when the Mountaineers players' names are called. To get your reading list form click here. You even get to meet some of the players!

AmeriCorps VISTA position at Kellogg-Hubbard

Kellogg-Hubbard seeks a motivated and creative person for an AmeriCorps VISTA position. The position is available mid-August and lasts for one year.

The A*VISTA member will have three primary responsibilities. (1) Assist program and development coordinator with an active and exciting array of library events for the public. (2) Assist library outreach coordinator with start-up tasks for a new program of outreach and home delivery to underserved populations in the community. (3) Research sources of financial support for the library.

This will be a rewarding position at a great library! The full position description is available here (this will download a MS Word file). Follow this link for information on the AmeriCorps VISTA program.

Questing in Montpelier

Questing: Discovering Hidden Treasures in Your Town!
On Tuesday, July 17 at 2:00 PM at the Kellogg-Hubbard Library.
Hiding in our communities are special places and hidden stories: Want to discover treasures? Learn how to create treasure hunts that map Montpelier’s treasures. With Steven Glazer from Valley Quest. Check it out! For people ages 8 and up. For more information you can call the children's library at 223-4665.

*Updated July 14, 2007: This program is co-sponsored by the VT Department of Libraries. DOL also co-sponsors the Summer Reading Program, "Get a Clue"!

Creating a Natural Garden

Judith Irven, of Outdoor Spaces Landscape Designs in Goshen, Vermont will be presenting a gardening program on Tuesday, July 24, 2007 at 7pm at the Kellogg-Hubbard Library in the Hayes Room. Vermont’s spectacular rural landscape—with its mountains, farms and canopied forests-- inspires gardens that reflect these surroundings. In this talk, using a rich mix of photographs, we explore the influences of the rural landscape on creating a natural garden. These range from design aesthetics and sustainability to plant selection and cultural practices. Co-sponsored by the Washington-Orange Chapter of the Vermont Master GardenerProgram.

ORS Century Ride and Raffle

This is the fourth year that Onion River Sports hosts a Century Ride and Raffle to benefit the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. Carrie, ORS’s special events person, has organized a raffle that includes several great prizes. The big raffle prize is a car rack system. Other prizes include a boat rental at Lake Elmore; an overnight stay for two at the Capitol Plaza, and several gift certificates to Montpelier restaurants and businesses.
Tickets are $5 each or 5 tickets for $20. You can buy them at Onion River Sports or at the Kellogg-Hubbard Library.
Drawing is Saturday, July 28, 2007.

We are grateful to Onion River Sports and all the businesses that contribute to this fundraiser for the library!

For more information or to register for the Century Ride click here.

The History Expo

So, I'm just now recovering from the Vermont History Expo this past weekend and wanted to say - again, but online this time - what a great event it was: Tunbridge Fairgrounds, two days of great weather, and everywhere you looked, happy, happy History Geeks [of which I would be one]. I think the theme this year was ostensibly transportation, but really it's more an opportunity to get together, look at other towns' exhibits, and wander aimlessly around the grounds. Which this year weren't so very crowded but by all rights should have been. I think my favorite event the last few years [the Expo's been going for eight years now] has been the parade. It's random & a teeny bit disorganized [but in a good way - sometimes the parade participants are so far apart that spectators get sucked into the march] and wends its way through the entire Midway. The first year it took place there were animals involved, too: cows, calves, oxen, sheep, goats & such. About halfway through the parade route a small goat decided it really didn't want to walk any more and plopped itself firmly on the ground. Whereupon its owner [a youngish person not really very much bigger than the goat] tugged hopefully on the halter a couple of times, shrugged, picked the goat up, and lugged it the rest of the way. It's that kind of parade, and, in every good way, that kind of Expo. Long may it run...

And I guess if one needed to tie this in with our library somehow [because this is after all a library website] I would point out that there are, umm, a lot of Vermont History books here? Yeah yeah, that's it. Well, there are...Have fun, Rachel.

George

Books on Wheels - StoryTime goes on the Road

Rachael Grossman, KHL's Outreach Coordinator, has teamed up with the Children’s Library staff to bring story time out to our surrounding communities. Here is the information should you want to talk this up in your communities:
BOOKS ON WHEELS HOSTS SPECIAL SUMMER STORY TIMES!
It’s a quiet morning in late July. The kids are cranky and you don’t want to turn on the TV. Don’t despair! The Kellogg-Hubbard Library’s Books on Wheels program is bringing story time to your community! Kids of all ages are welcome to join a fun-filled hour of stories, crafts, and songs. Afterward, there will be plenty of picture books on hand to check out. There will also be a limited selection of books for older children. For kids participating in the summer reading program, this will be a great time to stock up on exciting new books to add to your list. Check the schedule below for dates, times, and locations.

July 24th at 9:30 – Story time at East Montpelier Elementary School with Megan Allison.

July 25th at 11:00 – Story time at the Worcester Town Hall with Megan Allsion.

July 26th at 10:00 – Story time at the Adamant Methodist Church with Mary Jane Manahan.

July 27th at 10:00 – Story time at Rumney Memorial School with Megan Allison.

DVD Review - A Conversation with Kenneth Turan

Rick Winston of the Green Mountain Film Festival, 2007 (and The Savoy Theater), donated “A Conversation With Kenneth Turan” on DVD to the Kellogg Hubbard Library.

One of the best pieces of the Green Mountain Film Festival that is held in Montpelier in March is the interview Rick Winston has with a well known film critic. This year, the interview was with Kenneth Turan, the film critic for the Los Angeles Times and NPR's Morning Edition, a teacher and author of "Sundance to Sarajevo: Film Festivals and the World They Made" and "Never Coming To A Theater Near You". Obviously, they both love films, and their joy of talking about films both the good ones and the awful ones are fascinating to listen to.

There is so much information shared in this 1 hour plus conversation. They talk about their favorite film festivals, why Turan won’t watch “slasher” movies, and how it’s a critic’s job to help films find an audience. His best advice--see a film early so your friends can’t tell you about it before you get to see it.

Just a sample of Turan’s expertise might be that the “Rules of the Game” is one of the best films ever made. Other favorites are “Touch of Evil” and “Lives of Others”.

If you didn’t have a chance to see the interview in person this year, be sure to take out the library’s DVD copy of it. You’ll definitely get some terrific suggestions for your “Movies to Watch Someday” list.

DVD Review by Claire Gilbertson, Vermont Collections Librarian at the Kellogg-Hubbard Library.

Lawn party, July 3rd

The Kellogg-Hubbard Library’s annual Independence Day lawn party is Tuesday July 3^rd, from 1:00-3:00. Join us for lots of fun: crafts, games, African drum band, refreshments.

Free fun for all ages!

For a list of Montpelier’s Fourth of July activities, visit the Montpelier Downtown Community Association web site.

(Photo courtesy of the floating away blog.)

Charitable gift annuity

I've been working on an ad for the Montpelier Bridge to let people know of the opportunity to support Kellogg-Hubbard through a Charitable Gift Annuity and I found this cool website that has a calculator that illustrates the benefits of a gift annuity.

Learn How to Prune Lilacs and other Shrubs at the Kellogg-Hubbard Library

This Wednesday, June 20 at 5:30pm, Jeff Young will give a presentation on pruning shrubs followed by hands on instruction and demonstration on the library grounds. Jeff is the Lilac Curator of UVM Horticulture Farm. Young lives in St. Albans where he is the Chairman of the Taylor Park Commission and the Tree Warden. He is on the Board of Directors of the International Lilac Society. Jeff is a VT Master Gardener, who serves on the state advisory board and the Northwest Chapter steering committee. He is also the Master Gardener liaison for Shelburne Museum. Jeff does about 40 workshops a year on lilacs, flowering shrubs and trees, hedges, and park and open space development. He is retired from the federal government and now runs his own business, Lilac Torr, LLC. Co-sponsored by the Washington-Orange Chapter of the Vermont Master Gardeners and the Montpelier Tree Board. This program will meet in the East Montpelier Room, downstairs, next to the Book Sale.

Two billion served

Excerpt from a 4/17/07 press release from the American Libraries Association:

Ten years after some experts predicted the demise of the nation's system of libraries as a result of the Internet explosion, the most current national data on library use shows that the exact opposite has happened. Data released today by the American Library Association (ALA) indicates that the number of visits to public libraries in the United States increased 61 percent between 1994 and 2004.

According to the 2007 State of America's Libraries report, there were nearly two billion visits to U.S. libraries in fiscal year 2004.

"Far from hurting American libraries, the Internet has actually helped to spur more people to use their local libraries because it has increased our hunger for knowledge and information," said Loriene Roy, president-elect of the American Library Association. According the ALA report, virtually every library in the United States - 99 percent - provides free public computer access to the Internet, a four-fold increase in the percentage of libraries providing such free access over the last decade. By comparison, Roy pointed to another study released in March showing that only 69 percent of U.S. households have Internet access.

Even as libraries continue to evolve their services in response to changing needs and technologies, the report shows that people continue to go to their public library to read or check out a book in record numbers. Overall circulation at public libraries in the U.S. rose by 28 percent during the decade, partly driven by significant growth in circulation of children's materials, which grew by 44 percent. Attendance in library programs for children was also up 42 percent for this same period.

Roy pointed to the report's findings from studies in Florida and Ohio that provide a compelling case for the return on public investment in libraries. Every dollar of public support spent on Florida's public libraries produced an increase of $9.08 in gross regional product and an increase of $12.66 in total state wages. A similar study of nine public library systems in southwestern Ohio reported an annual economic impact nearly four times the amount invested in their operations. Other data in the report describes how public libraries build a community's capacity for economic activity and resiliency.

The report also highlights the library community's continued work in defense of the First Amendment against intrusive legislation, including the USA Patriot Act, and to refute challenges that would restrict the free flow of information and ideas to all adults and children.

A full copy of the 2007 State of America's Libraries is here.

What's happening in central Vermont

One evening last winter, my wife and I took the all-to-rare step of getting a babysitter and planned a night on the town. We wanted to go out to dinner in Montpelier and then to a movie or to hear music. We discovered that it was very difficult to find out what was going on in town. The local papers carried some venues and not others. There are online calendar sites, but I found them difficult to navigate.

The staff at Kellogg-Hubbard have compiled a brief list of bookstores, movie theaters, clubs, etc. that we hope will make finding out what is going on easier. We're not going to maintain a calendar, only a link to other sites.

We do this for a simple reason: to increase the number of visitors to our blog and web site. This information can also be found as a page on our website and I've added a link on the right side of this page.

If you would like to suggest an addition or if you find a bad link, please leave a comment on this post. Note that venues must be located in our service area (Berlin until July 1, Calais, East Montpelier, Middlesex, Montpelier, or Worcester).

• Bookstores
• Bear Pond Books
• Book Garden
• Rivendell Books

• Nightlife
• Black Door
• Charlie-O’s (call 802-223-6820)
• Langdon Street Café
• Positive Pie

• Theater
• Lost Nation Theater
• Montpelier Theatre Guild
• Vermont Opera Theater

• Calendars
• City of Montpelier
• Montpelier Downtown Community Association (MDCA)
• Seven Days
• Times Argus
• Virtual Vermont

• Community Arts & Performance
• Adamant Music School
• Maple Corner Community Center
• Unadilla Theatre, Calais

• Galleries and Studios
• Afterimage Photography Studio & Gallery
• Artisans Hand
• Lazy Pear Gallery
• T.W. Wood Art Gallery

• Movies
• Capitol Theater
• Green Mountain Film Festival
• Savoy Theater

• Newspapers
• East Montpelier Signpost
• Middlesex Occasional
• Montpelier Bridge
• Times Argus
• Washington World
• Worcester Grapevine

• Other
• Farmers' Markets
  

New DVDs on Parenting in the Children's Library

DVD reviews from Claire, our Children's Librarian who catalogs all the materials in the Children's Library:

The Baby Human: Geniuses in Diapers
(JDVD PARENT 155.42 B)
This award winning DVD is educational and fun to
watch. From before a baby is born until the age of
about two the DVD covers the most up to date thoughts
on how babies learn to walk, to think and to talk.
Did you know for instance that a new born baby knows
to recognize his own parents' language and proves it
by becoming animated and sucking more on the pacifier
when hearing a recording of that language? Do you
know how important it is for a child to point to an
object before the child can learn to talk? These and
many more amazing experiments are demonstrated and
explained in 150 minutes.
The Glove and Mail said, "Darn entertaining and
often very funny-and you do learn quite a bit
about the little creatures."


Happiest Toddler on the Block by Harvey Karp, M.D.
(JDVD PARENT 649.12 K)
The subtitle on this DVD is "Eliminate up to 90% of
the tantrums in just days!" and "The new way to stop
tantrums and raise a happy, secure child." Dr. Karp
has a loyal following with parents of young children.
He emphasizes "Toddler-ese" a way to communicate with
young children. Again, this is a fun DVD to watch
with his common sense approach to interacting with
children. We watch as the parents in the DVD use Dr.
Karp's suggestions and are amazed and thrilled that
the suggestions work and eliminate the problems.
(Running time approximately 69 minutes.)

Laugh and Learn about Newborn Baby Care
(JDVD PARENT 649.12 A)
How does a newborn get a bath? What do you wash
first and what do you wash last? This DVD has the
very basics in new born care. Sheri Bayles, BSN, RN,
shows new parents how to change a diaper and dress or
undress a newborn, then how to do the same things for
a 3 month old child. (Running time approximately 40
minutes.)

Visit the Children's Library to check out these DVD's,
Monday through Friday, 10am to 5:30pm and Saturday 10am -1pm.

Kellogg-Hubbard and the Town of Berlin

Berlin voters declined to support Kellogg-Hubbard on town meeting day, and the Times Argus has an article today on the library board's decision to start charging Berlin residents for a library card. (It must be a slow news day. The article is on the front page above the fold.)

Another Book Group Selection

Ruth's book group is currently reading Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro. Ruth and I sit across from each other and often share our book titles. Both of our groups wait until books come out in paperback. My group meets on Sunday mornings. We share breakfast, then discuss the book. What is your book group reading and what are some of their practices?

Which Books are You Reading?

My book group just read, The Worst Hard Time: The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl by Timothy Egan. This was not an easy read, but it was very good. It was amazing to read about the ecological destruction that occurred, dust blizzards that enveloped six states and eventually blew to New York, deaths of so many people due to dust pneumonia, eating tumbleweed...I learned so much from reading and listening to this book. Our book group agreed that this was a good book to read and discuss. We also agreed that if it were not a book group selection we would not have read it, excepting one member. The book that we are reading for this month is Barak Obama's Dreams From My Father. I've only read a few chapters at this point, but I'm impressed with "Barry's" early years. There are so many book groups in this area - tell us what you're reading!

May Gardening Galore Raffle Winner

 Andrea Gould is the winner of the KHL Gardening Galore Raffle. She won all of these great prizes:
$75 gift certificate from Boulevard Gardens
*Two Hours of Garden Consultation from Layne’s Garden Design
*$25 gift certificate from von Trapp Greenhouse
*Two Tickets to Goddard College Greatwood Gardens Tour and Tea
*Perennials for American Gardens by Ruth Rogers Clausen and Nicolas H. Ekstrom,donated by The Book Garden
*Gloves and knee pads from Gardener’s Supply
*Two 20-quart bags of manure compost and one 6-quart bag of Compost Plus from Vermont Compost
*$15 gift certificate from Highland Gardens (Vendor at Montpelier Farmers’ Market)
*Assorted seeds and Garden Frogs in Tub
We are grateful to the individuals and businesses who donated these items to the library for this raffle!