Thursday, August 30, 2012

Thursday September 6th at 7:00 pm


Carol Leonard is a New Hampshire certified midwife and a writer. She was the first midwife licensed to practice legally in New Hampshire. She is the author of the best-selling memoir, Lady's Hands, Lion's Heart, A Midwife's Saga, which was awarded the Mother's Naturally award of excellence for Outstanding Book, 2008.

Leonard's new book, Bad Beaver Tales, Love and Life on a Sustainable Homestead in DownEast Maine, chronicles her and her husband, Tom Lajoie's informative and funny journey building their dream homestead on 400 acres of wilderness in Ellsworth, Maine. Bad Beaver is a tree farm where they are doing sustainable harvesting and Tom has a saw mill and a 19th century shingle mill there. Carol and Tom are also raising about a hundred beavers which they argue about on a daily basis.

Ms. Leonard will be reading excerpt's from both books.

This program is free and open to all. Join us!

Monday, August 27, 2012

Library Events for September 2012

Book Sale a HUGE SUCCESS!

Many thanks to all who donated, sorted, lugged, displayed, and purchased books for our annual book sale. We’re still counting up the total take but it looks like a banner year this year! Special thanks to Nancy Daniels and Jane Richards-Jones, co-chairs of the book sale, who went above and beyond in their duties. We couldn’t have done it without them and the many volunteers they recruited to help. Thank you all so much!

The First Tuesday Book Club is now the First Wednesday Book Club but will not meet until October 3rd at 7:00 pm in the Daniels Room. All are welcome to join at any time for any length of time. October’s book will be Deception Point by New Hampshire author Dan Brown. Copies of the book will be available in early September.

Saturday September 1st – 11 am – 12:30 pm
Combat Cane: Defensive Tactics with a Cane


Join Sensei Marc Mosher in a class devoted to learning how to use your cane as a defensive weapon. We all know that anyone at anytime could become dependant upon a cane to help them get around, no matter age or physical condition. The cane is the only self-defense weapon that can be carried anywhere in all 50 states, including airplanes and courtrooms. The cane is an easy but effective weapon that all ages can learn. Marc’s Defensive Cane Class teaches simple, basic, and effective strikes and blocks that will keep any person of any age safe and confident. Please register by calling the library at 525-4411. This class is free and open to all.

Thursday September 6th 8:30 – 9:45 am
Kripalu Yoga with Margaret Gurney


Join us for beginning yoga with Margaret Gurney. Gentle, relaxing class – you’ll feel better afterward! Wear comfortable clothes and bring a yoga mat and a blanket. Cost is $10 per session. Register by calling the library at 525-4411.

Thursday September 6th at 7:00 pm
A Midwife’s Tale with Carol Leonard


Carol Leonard is a New Hampshire certified midwife and a writer. She was the first midwife licensed to practice legally in New Hampshire. She is the author of the best-selling memoir, Lady's Hands, Lion's Heart, A Midwife's Saga, which was awarded the Mother's Naturally award of excellence for Outstanding Book, 2008. (The library has a copy to lend if you’d like to read it before the program.) Leonard's new book, Bad Beaver Tales, Love and Life on a Sustainable Homestead in DownEast Maine, chronicles her and her husband Tom Lajoie's informative and funny journey building their dream homestead on 400 acres of wilderness in Ellsworth, Maine. Bad Beaver is a tree farm where they are doing sustainable harvesting and Tom has a saw mill and a 19th century shingle mill there. Carol and Tom are also raising about a hundred beavers which they argue about on a daily basis.Ms. Leonard will be reading excerpts from both books. This program is free and open to all.

Thursday September 27th at 7:30 pm
The Hourglass Readers Present The Rivals by Richard Brinsley Sheridan


The Rivals was Sheridan’s first play. First performed in 1775, the play is a satire on the sentimentality and didactic moralizing that had come to characterize the plays of comic writers and that had inspired Oliver Goldsmith to write She Stoops to Conquer. Sheridan and Goldsmith wanted to return comic writing to its old purpose of teaching by laughter. The Rivals has the distinction of being one of only three plays written in the 18th century that are still read with delight and revived with success in our own time (the other two being She Stoops to Conquer and Sheridan’s later play School for Scandal). The Hourglass Readers is dedicated to performing readings of classical works in abridged versions, allowing actors and audiences to explore works not often performed. The Hourglass Readers is a performing partner with The Edge Ensemble Theatre Company of Keene. All performances are free and open to the public.


From the Children's Room
Rennie Timm, Children’s Librarian


THANK YOU EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED IN OUR ‘DREAM BIG’ SUMMER READING PROGRAM
This year’s summer reading program was a huge success. Enrollment was up over 50% from last year, with 69 children participating. Over 773 hours were read by all. Awesome!!!
We had a number of new programs this summer; Archery, Theatre and a Parenting Course co-sponsored with The Grapevine. Programs were well attended and enjoyed by all. Our final performance by ‘Norman Ng the Magician’ broke our all time record with 107 in attendance.

Just arrived are plenty of new books for all ages. Come in and check out the new titles.

SAVE THE DATES FOR UPCOMING PROGRAMS IN OCTOBER.

First Tuesday of the month at 3:15–4:15pm
Block Party:Lego®


Join us for an afternoon snack and let your imagination run wild. Hands-on learning opportunity for children to explore how things work. LEGO® bricks are provided by the library. No registration required, feel free to drop in anytime.

Every Thursdays at 10:30am
Laptop Toddler Storytime


Walking and talking, this toddler story time is an interactive program for all pre-schoolers and their parents or care providers. We’ll share books, rhymes, songs, finger play & movement. Our goal is to foster an early love of books and literacy. At the end of the program, there will be playtime for parents and caregivers to share books, puzzles, or other literacy activities with their toddler. Dress comfortably as we will be sitting on the floor in the Children’s Room. No registration required, feel free to drop in anytime.


Wednesday, October 17 at 3:15 - 4pm
Arts and Crafts


Creative fun crafts for all ages to make and take. Enjoy a snack and embrace the spirit of the season. Recommended for elementary and middle school students. Parents are encouraged to join in the fun with younger children. Registration at Children's Room desk. Last minute drop-ins welcome.

Friday, October 26 at 7pm
Halloween Family Entertainment to be announced.


Wednesday, October 31 at 2:30-4pm
Halloween Activities to be announced.


Requesting donations of gently used puppets, wooden puzzles, board games, or toys for toddlers. Please drop off in the Children’s room.


Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Saturday, August 11, 2012

Book Sale August 17 & 18





The annual Friends of the Hancock Town Library Book Sale is coming up and you won't want to miss it! We've got thousands of books at insanely reasonable prices (just .50 for a mass market paperback, $1.00 for a trade paperback, and $2.00 for hardbacks).

Friday August 17th is the Early Bird Sale from 5 - 8 pm. Free to current members of the Friends of the Hancock Town Library, all others must pay $10 to be admitted.

Saturday August 18th the book sale is open from 9 am to 4 pm - Free admission!


For more information on the image above (oh, how we'd love to set up the book sale as a labyrinth!) click here.

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Summer Reading Program Finale Was a Hit!





Last Friday night, August 3rd, was our Summer Reading Program Finale and it was a huge success. Over 100 people showed up to help with Squash Bug Removal in the Library Pumpkin Patch and then watched Norman Ng's amazing magic show. Afterwards we all enjoyed ice cream from the Mountain Treats ice cream truck.

Winners of the Summer Reading Program Grand Prizes were:

Gavin Codman who won the giant stuffed giraffe and the book, If All the Animals Came Inside by Eric Pinder.

Brianna DeBanico who won the iPod and $10 iTunes card.

Evan Shippee who won the Nook eReader!

Winners of the Grown-up Summer Reading Program Grand Prizes were:

Hunt Dowse who won a $50 gift certificate to Fiddleheads Cafe.

Robin Mose who won a massage from New Life Body Work & Massage.

Marc DeBanico who won dinner for two at the Hancock Inn.

Many thanks to the Friends of the Hancock Town Library who fund our programs and prizes all year long. Your support for the Friends of the Hancock Town Library is much appreciated.

Monday, August 6, 2012

Minutes from July 24, 2012 Library Trustee Meeting

MINUTES
HANCOCK LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
July 24, 2012


Present: Mary Garland, Amy Markus, Laurie Bryan, Peter Ryner

The meeting was called to order at 12 noon.

The previous minutes were approved.
Treasurer's Report. Some budget areas are now exceeding budgeted amounts, especially in program expenditures and audio-visual materials. Amy indicated that this in part is a result of the excellent work of the new children's librarian and strong public interest in dvd's. Overall the library is experiencing very strong use. Trustees agreed that the building is often full of patrons and that overall there is a wonderful energy and vitality reflected in both children and adult usage.
The Treasurer's report was approved.

Director's Report

Trust Fund Revenues. Amy reported that Hunt Dowse has revised upwards the previous trust fund revenue estimates provided at the Board's last meeting. While the estimate is less alarming (Hunt estimates that in 2013 the Library should be able to count on approximately $15,000 of revenue), that still represents a dramatic shortfall of about 25%.

2013 budget. The operating budget of the Library, for which the Town provides no funds, has remained essentially unchanged for the last 10 years. Both adult and children's programs are creating strong demand for library services, as reflected in an increase in budget expenditures, and there is also a strong demand for audio-visual materials. After some discussion the Board agreed in general terms that the 2013 budget will need to be increased, and requested that Amy provide the Board with a preliminary 2013 budget by mid-September.

There was then a discussion of how to provide increased operational funds at a time when Library revenues are projected to experience a substantial reduction, due to a sharp decrease in interest and dividend income. The Trustees will work with Amy to establish a budget that reflects the reality of reduced revenues and increased demands.

Signage. Amy reported that she has received a proposal for the creation of a new building sign, which may represent a solution the the Board's concerns about the present Library building sign. It was agreed that Mary and Peter would review the proposal and report back to the Board at its next meeting.

Painting. The Board voted unanimously to authorize Amy to proceed with having the entire building painted by Jerome Varnum. It was also agreed that by the end of the year the Board will adopt purchasing guidelines, in particular establishing a dollar amount above which multiple written proposals will be required. It was further agreed that Mary and Peter will work with Mr. Varnum to select an appropriate paint color. The next meeting will be the last Wednesday in September.

Submitted by Peter Ryner

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Magic Show Friday Aug. 3 @ 7:00 pm




Our Summer Reading Program Finale is Friday August 3rd at 7:00 pm. The fabulous and amazing Norman Ng will treat us to a magic show here at the fabulous and amazing Hancock Town Library! Don't miss it! Free and open to all.