Montpelier's Commercial History Along the Winooski RIver

Local historian, Manuel Garcia, will present a slide show called, THE HISTORY OF MONTPELIER'S COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY Along the Winooski River Valley, Thursday, March 22, 2007 at 7pm. Garcia will share photos of many of the earlier business establishments, large and small, along the Memorial Drive, Berlin Street, River Street, Barre Street area neighborhoods. The presentation includes the Manufactured Gas and Electric Generating plants along with some pictures of the Railroad, and Trolley systems that traversed this valley, and the early single span bridges that crossed the Winooski River. This program is for those of you who love local history.

Flood planning at the Library

In preparation for a possible flood, we have moved our outreach book collection out of the basement and transferred everything moveable (supplies, computer equipment, etc.) to a higher level. Our biggest concern is the heating and telephone systems: impossible to move and expensive to replace. Keep your fingers crossed!

Our Children's Library is now high and dry on the second floor. This is quite an improvement over 1992 when the staff and many community members rushed in to save the children's collection which was then housed in the basement. It was in the nick of time; the basement flooded to the ceiling. Without our local heroes, the collection would have been destroyed. When some people ask us why the library had to expand in 2000, we remind them of that flood. Taking the children's collection out of harm's way was the compelling reason for the expansion.

On the bright side, the temporary postponement the flood risk has let us proceed with our book sale. It starts today, so stop in and buy lots of books! Because the book sale is located in the basement this fundraising event could be at risk should we find ourselves in a flood situation.

If our river floods while the library is open, any children who are unattended by parents or guardians will be escorted by the children's staff to Vermont College. The staff is also ready to drive anyone who is unable to walk to higher ground. Again, we will use the Red Cross center at Vermont College.

If you have further questions or concerns, don't hesitate to let me know.

Nature Girl

Some of you have probably read Carl Hiaasen's newest book called Nature Girl. One of the characters is Honey Santana. She's featured on the book cover, kayaking. When you read the book you learn that Honey lives in Everglades City, Florida and kayaks in the mangroves of the Ten Thousand Islands. Honey can't stand the incivility of telemarketers and is trying to teach one very obnoxious telemarketer named Boyd Shreave to change his ways. Her methods are creative to say the least.

This ribbon snake is on the boardwalk at Big Cypress Bend in the Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve not far from Everglades City. I saw a black snake in the water along side the boardwalk.
I love Everglades City and was there last week kayaking in the mangroves. I was a bit dismayed that there were so many tourists and new condos built since my last visit. The everglades is a special place - a wilderness like no other.

Tonight's Movie at the Library

The Kellogg-Hubbard Library is showing the fifth movie of six in the FINNISH FILM SERIES, tonight, Thursday, March 15, at 6:30 p.m. The movie is Invisible Elina (2003), directed by Klaus Härö. Set in 1952 on the Finnish/Swedish border of Lapland, this film follows young Elina who is sent back to school after recovering from tuberculosis. There Elina finds herself in a battle of wills against a stern teacher who punishes the children if they speak Finnish in her presence. As her mother and the “modern" teacher attempt to mediate between our little heroine and her rival, Elina finds herself racing off into the dangerous bog to have conversations with her deceased father. 74 minutes. Scholar Kati Dana will speak before the movie to give context to the time period and location in Finland. This movie if free and open to all.

An Evening with Vermont Women of Mystery

Last night at the Kellogg-Hubbard Library we had a great time with four Vermont mystery writers in celebration of the 20th Anniversary of Sisters In Crime an organization that promotes the professional advancement of women mystery writers. The organizer of the "Evening" was Robbie Harold a former KHL Trustee, theater buff, and author of a mystery(not yet published), organizational consultant and member of Sisters In Crime. Our four authors were Nancy Means Wright, Carla Neggers, Sarah Stewart Taylor, and soon to be published author, Jennifer McMahon. Each author read from her most recent book and then, as a panel, answered questions about character development, story ideas, research, the dual role of mother and writer, favorite authors and the importance of libraries in their life. Sarah Stewart Taylor recounted her local librarian's angst at informing young Sarah that there were no more Agathie Christie novels left to read. She had read them all! Carla Neggers, author of more than 50 novels, started writing at a young age sitting up in a tree with pen and pad. Nancy Means Wright used a real life murder in the Northeast Kingdom as her story line with her neighbors as the characters in the book. Nancy's first mystery was written when she was 9 years old with the main character an obnoxious brother. Her mother destroyed it! Jennifer, whose book will be published on April 10th, said that this is her fourth book and the first that's published. Following the program we enjoyed a "Death by Chocolate" reception in the dimly lit library. It's always fun to be in the library after hours sipping coffee and eating dark chocolate cake, cookies, brownies, and biscotti. Today I received emails from Sarah Stewart Taylor with a link to her blog where she talks about our program last night, and one from Jennifer McMahon with a link to her "grog". Jennifer plans to blog on last night's program next week. This program came together with the help of a lot of people: Robbie Harold, Wayne Fawbush, Susan Reid, Marjorie Strong, Roberta Downey, Rachael Grossman, George Spaulding and all four authors and their families. If you missed this program you'll be able to watch it on the local access television channel. Once again the wonderful community-minded people at Onion River Community Access taped this program. The library has books by all four authors - we'll receive Jennifer's soon. Check them out or buy a copy at Bear Pond Books that's been authographed by the author.

Gagged by the government

Gagged by the Government—
Two Librarians Tell How
They Resisted the
USA PATRIOT Act

March 20, 3:30-5 p.m.
Bailey/Howe Library, University of Vermont
Free and open to the public

In the summer of 2005, a Connecticut library consortium called Library Connection was served by the FBI with a National Security Letter demanding patron information. The board decided to resist and filed suit, with help from the ACLU. After being gagged from saying anything about it for more than eight months, the “John Doe” librarians can now tell their fascinating and moving story.

Don’t miss this chance to learn how the USA PATRIOT Act is really being used.

Co-sponsored by Vermont Library Association and
University of Vermont Libraries

Click here for event flier.

Vermont Women of Mystery

In honor of Sisters In Crime 20th Anniversary the Kellogg-Hubbard Library is celebrating with a program called The Vermont Women of Mystery, featuring Nancy Means Wright, Carla Neggers, Sarah Stewart Taylor and introducing Jennifer McMahon. Readings will be followed by a “Death by Chocolate” reception and book signings with the authors. Wear your trenchcoat and fedora, cloak and dagger or dress as your favorite sleuth, villain or mystery author. We will also sell raffle tickets for a bag full of autographed books by these four mystery writers as well as books by Lisa Scottoline, G.H. Ephron and local favorite, Sarah Strohmeyer.

Town Meeting Day perspective

I feel truly fortunate to work in a community that loves and values its library enough to give it strong support, even in a tough budget year. Thank you to the voters in Montpelier, East Montpelier, Calais, Worcester and Middlesex for supporting your library this year! And thanks also to those in Berlin who voted for library funding, losing only by a slim margin.

Out of fairness to our taxpaying communities, we won't be able to continue providing free cards to Berlin residents, and we will give more information on that following our next board meeting. But we hope that those in Berlin who value this service will work in their community to pass library funding in the future. The more partners we have, the more affordable our library will be.

By the way, did you know that Vermont is one of very few states in the U.S. that does not provide state funding to its public libraries? Do you think that this is (as we say in the library world) OVERDUE? If you'd like to support libraries in Vermont, please call your legislators and let them know.

Town meeting day results

The Kellogg-Hubbard Library asked voters in six towns for taxpayer support. These are the results:

Berlin was asked for $9,845. This was defeated on a vote of 181-204 (Australian ballot).

Calais was asked for $19,200. This was approved on a voice vote.

East Montpelier was asked for $25,321. This was approved 401-200 (Australian ballot).

Middlesex was asked for $20,027. $16,000 was approved on a voice vote.

Montpelier was asked for $230,483. This was approved. The petitioned amount of $34,822 (this is included in the $230,483) was approved 1,071-627 (Australian ballot).

Worcester was asked for $13,124. This was approved by voice vote.

Of our total request of $318,000, $304,128 was approved.

Thank you for your support of the library!

Martin

Library closings in Oregon

It does not speak well to our national priorities if libraries are forced to close their doors. The San Francisco Chronicle has an update on the crisis that is brewing for libraries in Oregon. One quote:

"I wish we could call FEMA; this feels like a natural disaster to me," said Ted Stark, interim library director for Jackson County.

"Libraries are so much more than just libraries in rural areas. This is where all the town meetings are held, where all the kids come after school, where everything -- everything -- happens," he said. Indeed, today's libraries have evolved from merely loaning out books to providing Internet access, reading hour for babies, community meeting centers and art galleries.