Help with HealthCare Choices Feb. 4

      Are you uninsured or confused about changes to the health care system? Are you seeking health insurance that fits your needs and budget? If so, you are invited to attend an informational session at the Dover Public Library  on Wednesday February 4, 2015 from 6:30 to 8:30pm. Learn what the Affordable Care Act means for your family:  what to consider in choosing a health plan, how to get discounted costs, and how to enroll during open enrollment (November 15^th 2014 to February 15^th 2015).

     After a short presentation by Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, a certified in-person Navigator Organization, there will be the opportunity to get personal help with applications or the ability to schedule a future appointment with a certified assister. There is no charge for any of these services.

     Can’t make this presentation? You can make an appointment to meet with a local Navigator at one of PPNNE’s six NH locations. Call 1-866-476-1321, visit www.ppnne.org, or email getcoverednh@ppnne.org. For further information about this program, call the Dover Public Library at 516-6050

Folk Concert with Sarah Jane Nelson on Tuesday, January 20

The Friends of the Library are pleased to welcome New Hampshire folk artist and multi-instrumentalist Sarah Jane Nelson for a concert at the Dover Public Library on Tuesday, January 20, 2015 at 7pm.  

           Sarah Jane is an old-time fiddler, guitarist, and vocalist who writes and sings songs in the Anglo-American ballad tradition and plays music from the Appalachian region. She has been playing traditional music for folk festivals, New England contra dances, and other regional events for over a decade. She performs solo, and also with the High-Strung Strummers, Banjos & Old Lace, and as a member of Gypsy Minor, a dance band regularly featured at the New England and Down East Folk Festivals. When she’s not playing, Sarah writes about traditional music for such publications as New Hampshire Public Radio, The Concord Monitor, Fiddler Magazine, The Old-Time Herald, and American Craft.

        This past September, Sarah won the second place prize for Twin Fiddling at the Lowell Banjo and Fiddle Contest.  She also plays at regional farmers’ markets, judges fiddle contests, and writes songs for children. She is a former staff member of the Manchester Community Music School and is a certified Music Together instructor.

       Please join us for this lively evening of traditional American folk music. Friends of the Library programs are always free and refreshments will follow. For more information, call the Dover Public Library at 603-516-6050.

Meet mystery author KD Mason on January 21

Local author K. D. Mason will be speaking at the Dover Public Library on Wednesday January 21 at 7pm. Copies of his books will be for sale and can be signed by the author at the event.            

A lifelong runner and sailor, K.D. Mason lives on the New Hampshire seacoast with his wife of over 40 years and two cats, Molly and Sweet Pea. They have two grown children. Recently retired from a lifetime of working in the restaurant business, he now weaves compelling tales of mystery, romance and suspense set on the NH Seacoast. Years of sailing in the Caribbean and New England, as well as hanging out with an active running community, have given him a wealth of story ideas. 

Each of his books begins and ends in the fictionalized town of Rye Harbor, NH. Locale plays an important role in each of his stories, ranging from Newport, RI to Belize, to the White Mountains and Massachusetts North Shore and southeastern Maine. Readers are drawn into the lives of Mason’s core cast of characters, who populate each of his books, as they deal with life, love and each other while they handle the mystery and suspense that accompanies the discovery of an occasional dead body.

K.D. Mason’s sixth book, “Unexpected Catch”, joins “Harbor Ice”, “Changing Tides”, “Dangerous Shoals”, “Killer Run”, and “Evil Intentions” in his popular Jack Beale mystery series. He has just started work on his seventh book scheduled for release in November 2015.

This program is free and open to the public. Contact the Dover Public Library at 603-516-6050 with any questions.

Tax Forms

Seems like every other person is asking us for tax forms! At this point, we are as frustrated as our customers! We are unable to get an answer from the IRS as to when the forms will arrive. They did email us, however, that they will not ship any 1040, 1040A, or 1040EZ instruction booklets this year. Gee, thanks.

They "encourage" taxpayers to download and print forms and booklets online at irs.gov/orderforms. Of course, many people do not have Internet access or the digital literacy skills to perform this download. This puts an additional burden on libraries, because we, of course, will do it for you. But you'll have to pay for the printouts (lots of very unhappy customers protesting that.) Thanks again, IRS.

Please do not blame the library for the lack of paper forms and booklets. We are at the mercy of this IRS decision to limit printed copies.

Please also remember, that our Tax Help Assistance program from the VITA volunteers starts on February 3. They will be here every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 9-12 to help you. There's walk-in service or you may make an appointment by calling 211.

New Art Exhibit at the Library

Local Artist

John LeCours is a N.H. based painter who holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Industrial Design from the Rochester Institute of Technology.  John takes       inspiration from the natural beauty of his native new England and often takes Master classes to improve his craft and learn new techniques.  John most often works in oils and acrylic.  When he is not painting, John works as a Project Manager at Applied Graphics in Amesbury, MA.  He lives in Danville, NH.  Visit John's web site at  http://johnlecoursartist.wordpress.com/ 

Museum Monday

Our latest feature for Museum Monday is the gem in our own backyard--The Children's Museum of New Hampshire.  The Children's Museum is the perfect place to let kids be creative--they can be a dino detective, go for a deep-sea dive in a submarine, explore the music matrix, or my favorite Build It - Fly It, just to name a few.  But not only does the Children Museum have lots of cool exhibits--check out their calendar for great upcoming family programs, such as the mini-iron chef competition on Saturday, January 18!  The Library has 2 passes to the Children's Museum, allowing for reduced admission, so reserve online or give us a call at 516-6050.

"Mother Goose on the Loose" Story Time

The Children’s Room staff is excited to announce that a new story time for babies has been added to our story time line up.  “Mother Goose on the Loose”, an award winning early learning program designed primarily for babies from birth to 24 months, will be held on Fridays @ 10:00-10:30a.m. during the six week story time sessions scheduled throughout the school year.   

Created by a former children’s librarian, Betsy Diamant-Cohen, this program blends tried and true story time techniques with innovative methods tested by the latest research in early literacy.  It utilizes rhymes, songs, book reading, musical instruments, finger plays, puppets, repetition, and more to help children develop early literacy skills in a fun-filled thirty minute story time with their parent or caregiver.  

For more in-depth information about this program, visit the "Mother Goose on the Loose" website @ http://www.mgol.net. 

The next story time session to be held @ Dover Public Library will begin the week of January 12 and continue for 6 weeks.  Registration begins on January 5 @ 9:00a.m.  Register in person or by calling the Children’s Room @ 516-6052.