New StoryWalk™ going up in Hubbard Park

A new StoryWalk™ book will be posted in Montpelier’s Hubbard Park beginning November 21 and lasting until December 8, 2008. The book, South, by award-winning cartoonist Patrick McDonnell is a great little book. When a little bird awakens to find that all of his friends and family have gone south for the winter, it takes a surprising friendship with Mooch the cat to help him find his way. This is a wordless and profoundly moving story--by the creator of the beloved comic strip Mutts--that explores being lost and found, crossing boundaries, saying goodbye, and broadening horizons. Bring your family for a walk after Thanksgiving and enjoy a good book and nature.

The Kellogg-Hubbard library has this book in our collection in the children's department. Check it out!

The StoryWalk™ Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, Vermont and developed in collaboration with the Vermont Bicycle & Pedestrian Coalition and the Kellogg-Hubbard Library.

Historic Photos tell Montpelier's History

Anyone interested in Montpelier's history will want to take a look at the new book, Montpelier: Images of Vermont's Capital City, put together by Paul A. Carnahan and Bill Fish. The book is full of historic photos of Montpelier and the people who lived here beginning with a sketch of our little city that was done by Sarah I. Watrous in 1821. There are photos of floods and fires, parades, street scenes with horses and buggies, and some of the businesses that used to thrive on State Street and Main Street.

Ever wonder what the school looked like that educated Montpelier's children before Union Elementary School? It's in the book. Did you know that Montpelier's bridges at one time were covered bridges? Can you imagine the hill behind our State House without any trees?

Still, some of the photos look as if they were shot yesterday except that the cars in the setting are from the 1920s and 1930s.

From snow rollers and sleighs to the trolley that ran in Montpelier, this book will give a whole new perspective on how Montpelier has changed and yet stayed the same over its 200+ year history. Be sure to check it out.

Stuntology at the Kellogg-Hubbard this Saturday.

On Saturday, October 18, my personal hero Sam Bartlett will be coming to the Kellogg-Hubbard to show off his newest compilation of tricks, gags, and general feats of strange behavior to the unsuspecting citizens of Montpelier. The new book is called The Best of Stuntology, and within its pages you will find some of the simplest, and most effective stunts to play on friends and family. But not just practical jokes, Sam also shows you how to speak in "Bing Crosby" and how to make broken toothpicks come to life. If you have ever had a moment of boredom in a restaurant, and feel like making some tabletop mischief, this book is for you. Sam is also a world-class banjo plucker, so maybe he'll treat us to some of that as well. On top of all of this, Sam is a great illustrator, whose distinct style allows him to bend and contort his characters to the demanding backwards bending of Stuntology. Sam professes his Stuntology at 10:30 am on Saturday October 18th in the East Montpelier Room. All ages are invited. FREE!
Yours in Stuntology,
Ben t. Matchstick

Marie Countryman's Photos of Church Steeple Renovation

One of the events we watched in Montpelier from October, 2007 to April, 2008, was the renovation of the Trinity United Methodist Church steeple. In the snow, rain, and sleet (you know what Vermont weather is like) the steeple jacks could be seen on what looked like thin threads dangling high above the treetops, first taking off the old wooden shingles, then replacing them with "Grace Ice and Water Shield" underlayment. Finally, the slate was attached, designed with the colored stone in stripes, hearts, zigzags and a cross. The final installation will be enjoyed by Montpelierites for at least 150 years.

While the steeple jacks were amazing to watch, probably what most of us missed seeing was the talented photographer, Marie Countryman, standing on the sidewalk below. She faithfully took photos of the church steeple as it was renovated. With some of these photos and 2 articles from The Montpelier Bridge newspaper about the steeple, she created a photo document binder for the library to share with our patrons. Her 34 beautiful photographs tell the story from the staging of the site to the final design. She introduces us to the guys who did the work, plus a page on the slate that was used and why.

We are lucky that Marie was so devoted to capturing this project with her camera.

Please take some time to look at her work. It is located at the Adult Circulation desk.
OFFICE VT REF 287.6 C

Hathaway Award winner for Vermont history

Sort of the “Academy Awards” for best Vermont history, the Vermont Historical Society each year gives an award for “the most outstanding contribution to Vermont history in any medium” produced during the previous year. The award is named for Richard O. Hathaway, longtime history teacher and enthusiast of all things Vermont who died several years ago.

This year there were two titles honored. They are both extremely well done works, worth a look if you haven’t checked them out. Both titles are in our collection.

1. “If Stone Could Speak [videorecording]: A Documentary,” by Randy Croce, in cooperation with the Labor Education Service, University of Minnesota.

This DVD tells the story of the granite carvers who came to Barre (and Montpelier) from Italy. Croce interviewed many of the artists and their families, some who stayed here in Vermont and some who returned to Italy. It’s an amazing look at the immigrants who have added a colorful story to the art of the granite carvers and the monuments they created.

2. “The Troubled Roar Of The Waters: Vermont In Flood And Recovery, 1927-1931” by Debora Pickman Clifford and Nicholas R. Clifford.

Just in time for the 80^th anniversary of the 1927 flood, this book gives an academic but very readable explanation of how the 1927 flood changed Vermont. It wasn’t just the huge damage that the flood caused, but also the way Vermonters bounced back and even charged into the future. The historic photos of the amazing power of the flood waters help explain the dramatic stories of the Vermonters who were tested. “The Troubled Roar Of The Waters” is sure to become the classic on how Vermonters pull life back together after a major natural event.

Congratulations to the two “outstanding contributions” for this year’s Hathaway Award!

Programs at the Library

It's that time again! In September we will host quite a variety of programs, speakers, series, authors and just plain fun!

The Healthier Living Worshop, a six week series, will be offered for the second time here at the library beginning Thursday, September 4th from 1:30pm to 4pm. Moderators, Anne Ferguson and Bonnie Alexander from the Vermont Department of Health, will be on hand to teach you how to deal with frustration, fatigue, and pain, improve strength, flexibility, and endurance, manage medications, learn healthy eating habits… and much more. Since space is limited you have to register ahead of time by calling the Central Vermont Medical Center Community Health and Education Department 802-371-4198 or email galena.magee@hitchcock.org.

Johnson State College Professor Frederick Wiseman will show a movie, Darkness Falls, and discuss the discovery of Lake Champlain in 1609 by Samuel Champlain from a native perspective. This is part of Vermont Archaeology Month a partnership between Vermont Archaeological Society and the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation.

Two authors will talk about their books: Madelyn Holmes and Ann Micou. Holmes' book, Students and Teachers of the New China, will be interesting in light of what television viewers saw during the Olympics. Micou's book, A Guide to Fiction Set in Vermont for Children & Young Adults, presents descriptions of 441 picture books, easy readers, and children’s and young adult fiction with a Vermont setting and published between 1838 and 2007.
Holmes will be here on Wednesday, September 17 at 7pm and Micou on Thursday, September 25 at 7pm.

On Wednesday, September 10 at 7pm poet and essayist Jim Schley will talk about why he still loves Robert Frost. He will tell us why this complicated poet (and difficult, cantankerous man) continues to engage his and other modern sensibilities and imaginations.

We have something really fun for Displaced Southerners! We are looking for folks raised in the south that miss their southern friends, food, accent and culture. So, if you or someone you know is a “displaced southerner” and feels the need to visit with folks that share their heritage or just want to eat and “tawk” with other folks who know what pink eyed purple hull peas are, mark your calendar for September 23 at 6:30pm.

Another three-week series on Mondays at 6:30pm is called, DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS ABOUT AGING –for elders and those who care for and about them. This free series will show you how to have“less difficult” conversations with your family members that resolve crucial issues related to aging.

6:30-8:30pm
Monday, September 15: Get a grip on family history so you can talk about the money
Monday, September 22: Deal with fears lurking in discussions about health
Monday, September 29: Sort out the relationship between home and identity.

Co-sponsored by Montpelier Community Justice Center, Central Vermont Council on Aging & KHL

Don't forget to pick up a program schedule at the Kellogg-Hubbard Library!

Working at the Kellogg-Hubbard

I just finished a book entitled, Museum: Behind the Scenes at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, by Danny Danziger. Danziger took time to interview people who worked at the museum, from cleaners to curators to security officers to trustees, giving each person a chance to tell their story. It's a great book.

Something in the author's preface jumped out at me: "I was struck by the level of commitment from everybody whose life is touched by the Met, whether it's the time and money that the trustees voluntarily give, or the pride and commitment that the employees feel. Perhaps there are employees nursing cynical and harsh feelings toward their places of employment...But in this place, it is as if Oberon had sprinkled fairy dust over the lot of them...."

This is the way I see theKellogg-Hubbard Library. In July alone we saw the July 3rd parade, the annual lawn party, Senator Leahy's visit to the Comics Club, Warner Bros. Pictures special screening of The Dark Knight, and the Onion River Century Ride to benefit the library. It's as if everyone who comes into contact with the Kellogg-Hubbard gets a sprinkling of Oberon's fairy dust - staff, volunteers, patrons and donors. In terms of patron support and staff commitment you'd have to look very far indeed to find a library as loved and as supported. It's an honor to be part of it.
Hilari Farrington,
Library Director

ORS Century Ride July 26, 2008

It looks like we'll have a great day for the 5th Annual ORS Century Ride tomorrow. Carrie Baker Stahler, Marketing Director at Onion River Sports, and Pinky, Montpelier's own Citizen of the Year, were busy this morning putting the food boxes together for the five food and drink stops along the route for the cyclists. Folks from the Kellogg-Hubbard Library(the beneficiary of the funds raised from this ride), and ORS will be on hand tomorrow morning beginning at 7am, at the Montpelier Rec Field for registration. Registration is $65 which includes tickets to the end-of-the ride BBQ. There are two routes, 100k (62 miles) and 110 miles. Both routes start and end at the Montpelier Rec field. The 62 miler goes to Hardwick, Morrisville, Elmore and back to Montpelier. The 110 miler goes to Hardwick, Barton, Irasburg, Albany, No. Wolcott, Elmore then back to the rec field. The scenery is gorgeous.

We are still looking for some people to work at the BBQ at the rec field, 1-3pm and 3-5pm. If you are interested in helping out please call the library at 223-3338.

New this year is having WDEV broadcasting live during the ride. So if you're not riding or working on the Century Ride you can still hear what's going on by tuning into WDEV, AM 550 or FM 96.1. Tom Beardsly will tell you all about the Century Ride!

Martin, Janet and Gustavo in India

We received an email from Martin and Janet telling us of their arrival in India. They are living in Kodaikanal at a boarding school for the next 9 months. Martin will be working in the development office, Janet will be teaching English as a second language and health sciences to 12 year olds. Gustavo will be attend school with classmates from around the world.

Here is an excerpt from their email:

Like everyone else who visits India from the west, it is impossible to not comment on the excruciating poverty. We have seen mostly an agricultural economy: people (mostly women) working the fields by hand; transporting or selling produce. The old, unemployed, and less physically able are left to fend for themselves and it is a stark sight.

But we are thrilled to be here. Gus is learning to play cricket (his new “favorite” sport) with all his new friends. He is fascinated by the monkeys and the wild bison (we’ll tell you more in another letter) and looking forward to starting school. One of his subjects will be Tamil (the local language). All of us are enjoying the scenery, the food, and the chance to live a different life.

THE DARK KNIGHT WAS A BRIGHT LIGHT

Barry M. Meyer, Chair and CEO of Warner Bros. Pictures summed it up: "I think I can safely say that this is the first time Warner Bros. has had a world premier in Montpelier, Vermont." Raucous applause followed from the sold out audience in the second theater as the anticipation continued growing for the nation's first public viewing of The Dark Knight, this summer's blockbuster Batman film. What followed was nearly two and one-half hours of gripping special effects, dialogue, acting and audience engagement that confirmed the other pithy comment made by Meyer, "I guarantee you have never seen anything like this." All this took place to benefit the Kellogg-Hubbard Children's Library in Montpelier.

It began a couple months ago when Warner Bros. approached Senator Leahy to ask if they could do this for him, knowing of his great affection for the library. The Senator is known for taking his original tattered library card from his wallet to make the point that he attributes any success or civic or national contributions, to his early experiences in the Children's Library. It was during those early years when he became a Batman comic fan. Through an interesting story we will not elaborate here, he made his way into earlier flicks and landed a cameo appearance in this one. He has worked through the years to ensure that other youngsters have opportunities to become avid readers and envision a productive future for themselves and others.

We began planning a special meeting of The Dark Knight Comics Club and Super Girls Comics Club, which were established by KHL's own Ben T. Matchstick. That happened on the afternoon of July 12. Great exchange between the club members and the Senator.

Corporate sponsors from Vermont and around the country contributed to support this event and other supporters from the area made a generous gift to attend a special reception at the Capitol Plaza Hotel prior to the watching the movie. Let's salute the Capitol Plaza Hotel staff and the Capitol Theatre for a little "above and beyond" effort adding to this successful evening.
Of course the entire Library Staff was involved for several weeks, while still working on their primary mission of patron service.

The Library, Montpelier, central Vermont and the State received a lot of national attention in the press. A number of the folks and VIPs we spoke with were so impressed with the area, that they plan to return for a longer visit.

As for the movie itself? It officially premiers July 18, and you should experience it yourself. Meanwhile, KHL and the Children's Library are here to welcome your many visits. Come!