FROM THE DIRECTOR’S DESK: The
Athenaeum has received
an LSTA Community Languages Grant from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners
in the amount of $20,000.00. This grant
will be used mainly to buy materials in the foreign languages most commonly
spoken in Westfield. Books, audio
books, videos and music are included.
We were among only eleven libraries statewide to be awarded this grant
and received the maximum and amount available.
Based on recent high circulation
figures, and the future arrival of new titles, the books in Russian have been
moved from the second floor, to a more prominent place in the main reading room.
Donald G. Buckley, Jr.
Acting Director
OCTOBER EXHIBIT IN THE
JASPER RAND ART MUSEUM:
The
month of October will feature the photography of Bob Griffen and the carvings
of Bill Ullrich. The public is invited to
view the exhibit during regular library hours.
DECEMBER BOOK DISCUSSION:
The
book, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, by Betty Smith will be discussed at 1:00
PM in the Elizabeth Reed Room on
Thursday,
December 5. Please reserve your copy
now.
Public
Service Videos. The Athenaeum has a wide variety of
public service videos that teach and entertain. Covering topics as diverse as car body repair, knitting, square
foot gardening, sign language, reflexology, yoga, and building a deck, these
videos just might help you finish or start an often-pondered project. For those rainy intellectual weekends, we
also have numerous series of videos: The
Silk, Road, Queen Elizabeth, Civil War, Carl Sagan’s Cosmos,
ABC’s The Century, and Ken Burn’s The West, Baseball, and Jazz. If you are considering a vacation, check out
the video on India, the Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, Sydney, Venice, or New York
City. Enjoy!
2002
Ballot Questions. In the reference department, you’ll
find “The Official Massachusetts Information for Voters” pamphlet to help you
understand the ballot questions put before us this November. Please come help yourself; the pamphlet is
also available in large print and Spanish as well.
Adaptive
Technology. Do you know anyone who learns
better by hearing information than just by reading the book, has trouble
reading their favorite magazine, or finds it difficult to write that paper,
book or lab report? The Athenaeum,
through a generous grant from LSTA, has a special computer that can read aloud
a book, magazine or the Internet at various speeds to assist those who have
trouble reading. With its built in
dictionary, thesaurus, and syllabification ability, the Kurzweil program
promotes smoother reading. This program
also allows sticky or voice notes and colorful highlighting to assist the
reader in keeping track of main ideas.
Through this grant, we also have programs that permit a blind person to
surf the web, a magnification program that not only enlarges print of any
document; it can show the type in contrasting colors and smooth the edges of
the type so that it is easier to read.
Inspiration and Kidspiration (available in the Boys & Girls Library)
help students write essays or homework by using clip art and icons. Since most children are very visual, they
find it easier to conceptualize with visual aides rather than just words on a
paper. If you are interested in using
these programs, please come by the reference desk for a tutorial.
Did
you know? During the Civil War, the USS
Westfield was a side-wheel steam ferryboat bought from Cornelius Vanderbilt
and commissioned in January 1862 with Comdr. William B. Renshaw in
command. The USS Westfield saw
duty in helping other ships cross the bar to enter the Mississippi River,
protecting a coastal survey party developing alternate ways to attack Forts
Jackson and St. Phillip, blockading the coast of Texas, and leading a
successful capture of the Galveston port.
On January 1, 1863 the ship was attacked by two Confederate warships and
was scuttled
to avoid capture.
Pictures of the USS Westfield
are available on line at www.history.navy.mil
and more details
are available in the Dictionary of American Naval
Fighting Ships and
www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/print/WW/qtw3.html.
Many thanks to Bob Gravel in the Circulation Dept. for his work in researching this.
OCTOBER PROGRAMS IN THE
BOYS AND GIRLS LIBRARY:
Tuesdays, October 1, 8,
15, 22 & 29 - 10-10:30 AM - Mother
Goose Time for babies
up through age 2. All children
attending must be pre-registered for the series. It is recommended that one adult attends with each child
attending.
Wednesday, October 3, 6:30-7:30
PM – Young Adult Short Story Contest Winners’ Reception. Contest winners, family and friends are invited to this
reception to acknowledge the Short Story Winners!
Thursdays, October 10, 24
and
Fridays, October 4 &
18 – Open Story Time, 10-10:30 AM, for ages 2 – 5 years. No advance registration is required.
Friday, October 4 – Young
Adult Advisory Board meeting, 3:30-4:30 PM.
Saturday, October 5 &
19, 10-11:00 AM, for
grades 6 & 7. This hands-on “meet
the artist” art program is designed for the parent and the child to do
together. Each will make a
project. Advance registration required.
Saturday, October 5 is the last day to place a book
order for “My Louisiana Sky” by Kimberly Willis Holt for the YA Book Discussion
!
Mondays, October 7, 21 & 28 at 4:00 PM – Parent/Child Art Series. This
series for grades 3, 4 & 5 will focus on different painting techniques. Both parents and children will make a project.
Saturday, October 12, 9:00 AM-3:00 PM – Craft Table
Day. Materials
will be available for children of all ages to make crafts throughout the day –
as long as supplies last.
Tuesday, October 15- Friday, November 8: Sign up for November 2’s Too, Story Time
Plus & Mother Goose. Mother Goose, for baby through age 2, will be held
on Tuesdays at 10 AM and 11 AM. 2’s Too
is for children who are 2 years old and meets on Thursdays at 10 and 11
AM. Story Time Plus is for children
ages 3-5 years old and meets on Fridays at 11 AM.
Advance registration is required for all programs.
Wednesday, October 23 Book Discussion for grades 5 &
up from 6:00-7:00 PM. Sign up now to be part of the book discussion for
“My Louisiana Sky” by Kimberly Willis Holt.
Books may be purchased at the library for $3.00 each. Orders for books must be placed by October
5.
Thursday, October 24 – Open Halloween Story Time for ages
2-5 years from 10:00-10:30 AM. No advance registration required.
Wednesday, October 30, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, Halloween Craft Table Day.
Materials will be
available for children of all ages to make a special holiday
craft throughout the day
– as long as supplies last.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31 – Costume Trick or Treat for Baby through Grade 5. Children are invited to come to the Boys & Girls Library in costume throughout the day and “Trick or Treat”.
11:00 AM – Costume Trick or Treat Parade through the Library. Children are invited to come to the library in costume and join the “Trick or Treat” Parade promptly at 11:00 AM.
LIBRARY
HOURS:
Monday-Thursday 8:30
AM – 8:00 PM
Friday & Saturday 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
LIBRARY
TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
Adult Library 568-7833
Reference Dept 562-0716
Boys & Girls 562-6158
CONTRIBUTING
TO THIS NEWSLETTER: Kate Deviny, Editor, Mary Ann
Tourjee and Bob Gravel.