New Museum Pass

Thanks to the Friends of the Dover Public Library, we now have passes to the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center (formerly know as The Christa McAuliffe Planetarium) available for borrowing.

The library passes allow free admission to the Discovery Center Exhibit Area for up to 4 people (prices without passes are: Adults-$9, Student/Senior-$8, and Child-$6). The Exhibit Area features "fun, educational, scientific hands-on exhibits to explore and enjoy".

Planetarium shows are an additional cost of $3 per person (see their website for show details and schedules). Stop by the Children's Room or call us at 516-6052 for more information.

To see a list of all museum passes available at DPL click here.

Love And Taxes

I was amused by the Circulation Librarian's new Valentine display. Hugs and kisses and hearts over.... tax forms.

You Can Help Dover Be a Beautiful Place

Tuesday night at 6:30 PM, Jon Batson, Master Gardener, will be here to teach you how you can adopt and landscape one of Dover Main Street's Adopt-A-Spots. He will discuss choosing the best plants, adding curb appeal and visibility, and proper care and maintenance of your spot. With this excellent guidance, you may then sign up (optional, of course) to adopt your own spot and help beautify downtown Dover. Sponsored by Dover Main Street.

Do You Read Cover to Cover?

Do you read the preface of the book you are reading? I always do. Sometimes it is just a dedication to an author's loved ones, or helpful friends. Sometimes it is a bit more intriguing. The most unusual dedication I have come across yet is in the historical novel I just picked up by Jane Borodale, "The Book of Fires," which reads, “with thoughts spared for all those condemned to death by hanging at Tyburn.”

Kind of makes you wonder, doesn't it?

Beware!

This Saturday, January 23 at 2:00pm the library will be overrun by a pack of armed guinea pigs. We will try to keep them contained to the Library Lecture Hall, but consider yourself forewarned. The guinea pigs, of course, are the stars of our weekly Saturday matinee. G-Force is rated PG, and is described as follows:

Armed with the latest high-tech spy equipment, a covert team of highly trained guinea pigs discover that the fate of the world is in their paws. Tapped for the G-FORCE are guinea pigs Darwin, the squad leader determined to succeed at all costs; Blaster, an outrageous weapons expert with tons of attitude and a love for all things extreme; and Juarez, a sexy martial arts pro; plus the literal fly-on-the-wall reconnaissance expert Mooch, and a star-nosed mole Speckles, the computer and information specialist.

As always our movies are FREE and open to the public!

ThingsThat Keep Us Going

It was my good fortune to be working at the Circulation Desk this morning. Two patron comments really lifted my spirits.

One man paid double his overdue fine and said with a smile, "keep the extra for the cause".

Another woman told us that she wants to volunteer here after she retires, she "couldn't have survived without the Library".

Award Winners Announced!

The American Library Association recently announced the winners of the Newbery, Caldecott, and Printz Awards. Here are the 2010 winners:

John Newbery Medal for most outstanding contribution to children's literature:
**Winner**When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
* Newbery Honor Books*
Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice by Phillip Hoose
The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin
The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg by Rodman Philbrick

Randolph Caldecott Medal for most distinguished American picture book for children:
**Winner**The Lion and the Mouse illustrated by Jerry Pinkney
*Caldecott Honor Books*
All the World illustrated by Marla Frazee
Red Sings from Treetops: A Year in Colors illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski

Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in literature written for young adults:
**Winner**Going Bovine by Libba Bray
Charles and Emma: Darwins' Leap of Faith by Deborah Heiligman (on order)
The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey
Punkzilla by Adam Rapp
Tales of the Madman Underground: An Historical Romance, 1973 by John Barnes

Wish You Were Here....

I am still cataloging the album full of Dover photos and postcards that came in last month. I am working on a postcard that made me stop and wonder about the sender when I read the inscription he wrote.2-24-15 Lots of exciting events, man stabbed and robbed on Court St back of the Sawyer Farm. Another fellow fell off a team got cut up, took him to hospital hour later he jumped out on them. 9:30 last night another lady had her hand bag snatched from her at Washington and Myrtle St. Matt Towle died last evening. Got up on time, it is lonesome around here. Nibs.

I am looking forward to finding more cheery postcards from Nibs.

Take the Guesswork Out of Charity Giving

When a disaster strikes, such as the earthquake in Haiti, many peoples' first thought is "How can I help?" For many the help comes in the form of a financial contribution, but where is the best place to donate? What organization will make the best use of your money? The following is a list of web sites that take the guesswork out of charity donations. These web sites allow you to look up a charity to make sure it is legitimate, find out what their mission is, find out how much money goes toward administrative costs, etc. Many of these web sites also currently have a list of charities helping in the Haitian relief effort.

Charity Navigator: Your Guide to Intelligent Giving

GuideStar

Just Give

Network for Good

Bon Appetit!

I can't believe it has been 5 years since I read (actually listened to the book on CD) of Julie and Julia by Julie Powell. For anyone who isn't familiar with the book, or now the movie, Julie Powell took on the yearlong task of cooking every recipe from Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking. She chronicled this journey on her blog, and she quickly became an Internet celebrity. The book was hilarious--though I did feel like I gained 10 pounds just listening to the descriptions of meals which all seemed to be dripping in butter. The movie, starring Meryl Streep and Amy Adams, is now out on DVD and we will be screening it for our matinee this Sat., Jan. 16th at 2:00pm in the Library Lecture Hall. As always our movies are free and open to the public. Bon appetit!

Harry Potter™: The Exhibition

Hedwig is delivering this message:

You are invited to experience the magic of Harry Potter™: The Exhibition at the Museum of Science in Boston (the only place in New England to host the exhibition and the second place to do so worldwide) at a discounted rate when using the library's museum pass.

This exhibit features more than 200 authentic props and costumes from the Harry Potter films, all displayed in settings inspired by the film sets -- including the Great Hall, Hagrid's hut and the Gryffindor™ common room. See Harry's glasses, his original wand, the Marauder's Map, and Hermione's Yule Ball gown or try pulling a screeching Mandrake from its pot and tossing a "Quaffle."

The library pass entitles up to 4 people admittance to the museum's general exhibit halls for $5 each. For library pass holders, tickets to this special exhibit will be an additional $16 for adults, $14 for seniors and $13 for children 3-11 years old (with a maximum purchase of 4 tickets per library pass). This is a savings of $10 per person off the regular ticket price.

For more information or to reserve the Museum of Science Library Pass, stop by the Children's Room or call 516-6052.

Don't "Do It Yourself" with these books!

Publisher Oxmoor House has recalled 951,000 home improvement books because of errors. Faulty instructions in the books could lead to shocks or fire hazards for those installing or repairing their electrical wiring. The books were published over three decades from 1975 through 2009. Here are the nine titles:

• AmeriSpec Home Repair Handbook


• Lowe's Complete Home Improvement & Repair


• Lowe's Complete Home Wiring


• Sunset Basic Home Repairs


• Sunset Complete Home Wiring


• Sunset Complete Patio Book


• Sunset Home Repair Handbook


• Sunset Water Gardens


• Sunset You Can Build---Wiring

The Library had two of these titles and we've since withdrawn them from our collection!

"Dover Reads" 2010

"Dover Reads" is a citywide reading project, sponsored by the Dover School District Community Involvement Committee, which encourages everyone to read the same book to promote a sense of community and the joy of reading. This year, the committee has chosen Zachary's Ball by Matt Tavaras. In the story, Zachary goes to his first Boston Red Sox game with his Dad where they catch a ball and something magical happens.

Join us for a fun-filled kick-off bookfair celebration at Barnes and Noble in Newington, NH on Friday, January 22, from 4:00-8:00 pm. No purchase is necessary to attend but a portion of all sales (with voucher you may pick up in the Children's Room) will go to support Dover Reads 2010. This is a great time to use those holiday Barnes & Noble gift cards!

The schedule of events is:
4-8 pm---Meet Matt Tavares, author and illustrator of Zachary's Ball
4-5 pm---Listen to barbershop quartet sing old time tunes
4-8 pm---Kids' crafts (make and take a baseball pennant!)
6 pm---Story time (hear the author read his books, Zachary's Ball and Henry Aaron's Dream)

The Dover Reads Committee has donated 10 copies of Zachary's Ball to the library. All copies will be available for check-out by January 22. Reserve your copy today!

If You Need a Laugh

Who doesn't need a good laugh this time of year? Craig Ferguson's American on Purpose is just the ticket. You know you are in for an amusing, irreverent ride when the book begins by describing the sighting of Laura Bush's underpants at an official function. "Mrs. Bush was wearing an elegant silky frock, but when she stood with the light behind her you could see her undies. Big comfortable knickers, what are known in enlightened circles as passion killers, in what looked like a floral pattern. Ideal for a long night of smiling and nodding and being a good sport at the annual press, showbiz, and politics bunfight that is the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner." Imagine this all being discussed with a Scottish accent. Craig Ferguson narrates his book on CD and it completely makes the story.

Its not all fun and games in this book. It is the story of Ferguson's life, beginning in a poor and violent neighborhood in Scotland. There are lots of drugs, alcohol, failed relationships, and salty language. You wouldn't want to listen to this with your kids in the car. Ferguson has a knack for making the diffcult circumstances in which he finds himself funny, and always interesting. I enjoyed this audiobook so much that I am tracking down the films he made. I highly recomend it!

It's Raining Meatballs at the Library!

Or it will be on Saturday, Jan. 9th for our matinee--Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs. All of our movies are FREE and open to the public. This is an animated family adventure where a scientist tries to solve world hunger only to see things go awry as food falls from the sky in abundance.

Worried About Your Carbon Footprint?

Don't forget about our two-part series on Alternative Energy--the first workshop is scheduled for this Monday, January 11th, and will focus on Solar Hot Water & Why Everyone Should Consider It. Learn about type of collectors, storage options, and back-up heat sources. Workshops will be conducted by Jack Bingham, owner of Seacoast Energy Alternatives Inc. There are many reasons why you should consider alternative energy and here are just a few:

• Reduce your carbon footprint
  


• Fix a portion of your energy costs for the next 20-30 years



• Increase the value of your home
  

Hope to see you there!