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.