Family-Friendly Schubert Concert

Family-Friendly Schubert Concert at the

Dover Public Library on February 23

On Saturday morning, February 23 at 11am, the Dover Public Library will host the second in a series of free classical music concerts featuring live performances of well-known pieces by Austrian composer Franz Schubert (1797—1828). Schubert wrote more than 900 pieces during his short 31-year life and this family-friendly tribute to the composer will include famous pieces such as "Little Rose of the Field", piano music, and the "Trout Quintet". The concert’s length will be just 40-45 minutes, so that children may attend and enjoy the music too. The performers’ goal is to encourage classical music appreciation among all ages.

Performing will be: Soprano Sharon Baker, Sally Wituszynski on viola, Melissa Waterhouse on violin, Gary Hodges on cello, Ken Godel on bass, and Ichiko Harju and Naho Bessho on piano. Please visit our web site for complete information and performer biographies.

A New Look for NH Downloadable Books

Have you been to the NH Downloadable Books lately? It has a whole new look to it.  Whenever you click on a link to view a genre or collection the titles are sorted from newest to oldest. It's great to see what's new, but what if you want to check out a book right now? There's a simple solution: Click the "Available Now" button to sort to available titles. It's quick and easy to see great titles that are ready to read or listen to immediately.

 

After you click the "Available Now" button, the way the titles are sorted changes from "Added to Site" to "Relevancy." For best results, consider re-sorting the collection by "Most Popular" (this is a great way to find yesterday's best sellers you might have missed!) or "Added to Site" to catch the newest titles that just became available. 

 Now you see a collection of popular, available titles to check out! 

Early and Often

I just read an article, New Reading Standards Aim to Prep Kids for College, about the Common Core Standards Initiative, which believes that "it should be clear to every student, parent, and teacher what the standards of success are in every school."  The article was focused on reading and what would happen under the new standards--"by the last couple years of high school, about 70 percent of what students read across all subjects must be nonfiction."  When I read this my librarian heart skipped a beat--what about Shakespeare, Harper Lee, Mark Twain, Charles Dickens--to name just a few.  At the end of the article the first reader comment made me feel a whole lot better.  "All reading and thinking starts at home.  Poor or rich, the library is free.  Get your kids in there early and often.  Our local library system has been in my kids lives since they were toddlers.  Whatever standards the school sets for my kids, Common Core or otherwise, they will have had plenty of time to absorb the written word and discuss their thoughts at home.  Schools can only do so much.  I feel it is my job to turn off the videos at home and allow my children a chance to explore and discover the classics and non-fiction at home.  Between school and home, my kids should do okay."  Beautifully said, and I think this persons words would make a great slogan: "Get your kids into our Library early and often".  What do you think?

The Library Will Be Closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day

The Library will be closed on Monday, Jan. 21st in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

"Book A Librarian Appointments Now Available!

         There are so many wonderful new resources available at the library these days, and many of them are online and accessible right from your home! But there is sometimes a bit of a learning curve to master them. For instance:

• Do you have questions about how to download free library eBooks to your Kindle or Nook? Or get audiobooks for your iPod/iPhone?

• Would you like to be able to access the library catalog and place holds directly from your Smart Phone?

• Can’t figure out how to add a header and footer to your Word document? Or design the proper  formula for your Excel spreadsheet?

• Must you create your own email account so you can apply for that job? Need to figure out how to print out your Southwest boarding passes?

• Want to know how to use any of the library’s databases? E.g.:  Novelist for book recommendations, Ancestry.com for genealogy, Mango for foreign language lessons, or Learning Express practice tests to prepare for that exam.

     Our librarians answer such questions and give instructions on a daily basis, but sometimes it’s difficult to spend a lot of time with any one patron when other customers are waiting.  For that reason, we have established the “Book A Librarian” program!

     If you have questions about any library resource, call the Reference Desk, 603-516-6082, to set up a 20-minute appointment with one of our helpful staff. We’ll invite you to come in for a one-on-one lesson with the librarian who is most expert in handling your questions.

     Of course, this doesn’t mean that you can’t ask questions “on the fly” if you’re in the library or on the phone with us; we still highly encourage that! But with a scheduled appointment we will be able to spend more time with you and lead you, step-by-step, through the mechanics of access to all library resources.

Please call us at 603-516-6082 to “Book A Librarian” if we can help!  Appointments are available Monday through Saturday at mutually-agreed-upon times. 

Don’t be shy! Remember: there are no dumb questions, except the ones you never asked!  Call us!

STAT!

"A lot of young boys are starting to shy away from reading as if it's not cool, so I wanted to express ... how important reading really is to them. I remember when I was their age, going to the bookstore I went to, the first book that had any type of athlete on the book — whether it was Jackie Robinson or whether it was Bill Russell or what have you — whatever book I saw that had an athlete on it, you know, I bought that book and I read that book, and then that started to spark my mind to want to read more, so I want that same effect to continue on." This is a quote from my new favorite NBA player, Amar'e Stoudemire. I will admit that I am not a basketball fann and have never had a "favorite", but there is a first for everything. It would have been even better if he had mentioned going to his library, but I am getting greedy.  Listen to the full interview at the NPR web site.   Mr. Stoudemire has written 3 books for middle school kids, the STAT series (standing tall and talented)  that are on order at the library. Look for them soon!

Job Opportunity at the Dover Public Library

WANTED: PART-TIME LIBRARY ASSISTANT

CHILDREN’S ROOM CIRCULATION DESK

Part-time Library Assistant I, Children’s Room Circulation Desk:

Average 12 HOURS/week: rotating weekly schedule includes some morning, afternoon, evening, and Saturday hours (availability for occasional extra subbing a plus).

We are seeking an outgoing person with experience in storytelling or performance for children, either in a library or classroom setting. This person will be responsible for conducting Wednesday morning Drop-In Story Times at the library, year-round for 2-5 year olds in groups up to 25. Responsibilities also include pre-planning of themes, selection and recitation of stories, performing songs and fingerplays.
The ideal candidate will also have a good knowledge of children’s literature, a background (academic degree or practical experience) in early childhood education, well-developed customer relations skills, and familiarity with computer technology. Public library experience not required, but highly desirable.
Other duties include checking library materials in and out, registering new borrowers, providing readers’ advisory services, guidance in locating library materials, and assisting patrons in the use of computers. Duties may also include creating displays & materials to promote reading.

Hourly rate is $12.09

Position is open until closed.

Starting date: February 18, 2013

Benefits include vacation, holiday and sick leave on a proportional basis.

The job vacancy announcement is available in the Children’s Room or at http://1.usa.gov/ULqSPB A supplemental job description may be read at: http://1.usa.gov/VWyl1v

Applications may be picked up at the City Manager’s Office at City Hall, or downloaded at http://1.usa.gov/UFYAbS . All completed applications must be returned to the City Manager’s Office or mailed to:

Employment
Office of the City ManagerCity of Dover

288 Central Avenue

Dover, NH 03820

(Completed applications may not be faxed or emailed.)

All About Bees with Kagen Weeks

Please join us on Tuesday evening January 15 at 7pm in the Library Lecture Hall for a talk by bee enthusiast and bee-giver Kagen Weeks.  Mr. Weeks founded and launched “Hive At Your Home”, a one-man business building and delivering homemade hives – and a couple thousand bees to go with them – around the state and region.

Kagen Weeks is fascinated by bees. He takes great interest in knowing the insects work as a collective and make decisions as a group. “I find it inspiring to see that in my own backyard — a few thousand individuals able to sort stuff out,” Weeks said. He grew up spending summers on the family farm in Pittsfield where his grandfather kept bees. His presentation at the library will touch upon the genetics and anatomy of honey bees, beekeeping tips and techniques, bee diseases, pollination, and local food systems. 

Come to this  program presented by the Friends of the Dover Public Library and learn more about bee culture in support of agriculture.

Check Out Our Museum Passes

We just received our 2013 annual passes to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston and the Currier Museum of Art in Manchester, both glorious facilities with recent additions/renovations now completed. You may borrow these passes (or ones for 14 other area museums) with your library card and save a lot of money on admissions! For more info:http://www.dover.lib.nh.us/PatronServices/MusuemPasses.htm

We have had a lot of questions already about tax forms, but because of all the political wrangling most forms will be quite late this year. Here is the statement posted on the IRS web site on Jan. 3:

"The IRS is currently reviewing the details of this week's tax legislation and assessing what impact it will have on this year's filing season. The IRS will soon make available additional information on when taxpayers can start filing 2012 tax returns."

Happy Birthday, Early Learning Station!

Thanks to The Friends of the Dover Public Library, the Children's Room has had a computer learning station for our young patrons for one full year. The Early Literacy Station is a self-contained
educational computer for children ages 2-10. This easy to use system allows the child to select from a wide range of carefully chosen programs by clicking the child-sized mouse or by touching the screen. During this first year, patrons have logged on for 3,396 sessions and have played 5,960 games!
Come in and give it a try!

"All About Bees" January 15, 7pm

The Friends of the Library will present a talk by bee enthusiast and bee-giver Kagen Weeks on Tuesday, January 15 at 7pm in the Library Lecture Hall. The Nashua man has founded and launched “Hive At Your Home”, a one-man business building and delivering homemade hives – and a couple thousand bees to go with them – around the state and region.

Kagen Weeks is fascinated by bees. He takes great interest in knowing the insects work as a collective and make decisions as a group. “I find it inspiring to see that in my own backyard — a few thousand individuals able to sort stuff out,” Weeks said. He grew up spending summers on the family farm in Pittsfield where his grandfather kept bees. His presentation at the library will touch upon the genetics and anatomy of honey bees, beekeeping tips and techniques, bee diseases, pollination, and local food systems.

He hopes to help others gain an appreciation for bees and educate the public on how to improve the health and habitat of the dwindling bee population through his “Hive At Your Home” project.  “I want to be able to bring the benefits of bees (pollination, honey, and more) to people in New Hampshire. Through his program, a hive can reside on other people’s property, but will be maintained by Weeks’s service. “Hive at Your Home” also offers opportunities for adopting or partially sponsoring hives at worthy public spaces. Weeks’ business builds on the idea that keeping hives natural and local is important to community gardens, growing centers, organic Community Supported Agriculture efforts and connections with the larger agricultural community.

“The plight of bees, I think, is wrapped up in the systems of agriculture we have in our society,” Weeks said. “The way to help the bees, part of that, is to give the bees systems that don’t apply those stresses.”  He is hoping to add 50 more public spaces this spring. "I want to provide basic skills for people so they can have their own bees. By making the hives simple and making the bees happier, I'm hoping that more people will become 'bee-havers" says Kagen Weeks, the “bee-giver”! Come to the library’s program and learn more about bee culture in support of agriculture.

This program, a part of the Friends of the Library’s Cultural Series, is free and open to the public. Please call the Library, 516-6050, for more information.