Library Hours This Holiday Weekend

The library will be closed Saturday, July 2 and Monday, July 4 for Independence Day. Make sure to come in today and Friday to stock up for the long weekend!

When you visit the library, take the time to stroll by the garden on the front side of the building. The families served at Easter Seals--The Family Place (at the McConnell Center) have once again created a beautiful space. Walk through the garden's path and see the creatively placed rocks & plants. Beautiful! Thank you to all from The Family Place.

First Library Card

Here at DPL, children are able to get their own library card when they turn 5 years old. Some children are so excited about their first card that they come in on their birthdays! We are always excited for them, too, and delight in giving them their first card and special gift packets.

If your child is five years old, bring him/her in to the Children's Room to sign-up for their very first library card. The Summer Reading Program, One World, Many Stories, begins next week and all library card holders are eligible to join!

Another Source for Free eBooks

If you have an eReader and are looking for another source of eBooks other than NH Downloadable Books, try a blog called Books on the Knob. It lists Bargain reads, free ebooks, and book reviews for the Amazon Kindle, Nook, Kobo, Sony and other eReaders, as well as other items people with eReaders may find useful.

Cochecho Readers' Award Nominees 2011-12

The Cochecho Readers' Award, sponsored by the Children's Librarians of Dover, New Hampshire, is named after the Cochecho River which runs through the heart of Dover. It is given each year to an author whose book receives the most votes from third and fourth graders in Dover. Children are required to read or listen to at least three of the 20 titles on the list in order to vote for their favorite in the Spring.
The nominees for the Cochecho Readers' Award for 2011-12 have been chosen--just in time for summer reading!

Click here for the new 2011-12 nominees list and start reading!

Reading the Classics

Due to a space crunch here at the DPL we were forced to move classic works of literature to basement storage. The upside of this is that people ask us to get the books for them and we can see just how well loved they still are. I frequently  have to fetch works by the Brontes and Jane Austen. One man made me smile when he asked for anything by F. Scott Fitzgerald, he wanted lighter reading. Don't try to burst my bubble and tell me its just required reading for school; while some readers are students, others are clearly reading for the love of literature. Well done, Dover!

One World, Many Stories

We have some great Summer Reading Programs lined up for kids of all ages this summer. One World, Many Stories is the theme for ages 5-12, and You Are Here is for kids 12 and older. Registration begins July 5. There is so much going on in the Children's Room this summer besides the Summer Reading Program--movies, entertainers, crafts, games--that we had to create an entire newsletter dedicated to it. Read all about it here!

No need for "Juvenoia" at the Library

Every attempt is made at our library to ensure the safety of kids using the Internet on our public PCs. Frankly, whenever we've had a problem with "inappropriate" use of the web (which thankfully is rare), the culprit is usally a middle-aged male.

That's why it was reassuring to read this article http://www.netfamilynews.org/?p=30220 summarizing the findings of Director of UNH's Crimes Against Children Research Center, David Finkelhor. Dr. Finkelhor says that it’s one thing to say that the Internet has dangers on it; it’s a very different thing to say that the Internet increases dangers. This paranoia about kids' Internet safety is deemed "juvenoia".

He puts forth a very different hypothesis: that the Internet just might be protective. “Maybe, on balance, it’s deviance-dampening rather than deviance-amplifying,” Finkelhor said.
So how could the Net be protective?

Here are some features of the Net that could be antidotes to behavioral and social problems -----Reduction of boredom and alienation – the Internet is engaging to kids; it may help distract them from negative emotional states; those who don’t feel a sense of mastery in other environments may feel mastery online.

---Changing patterns of independence exploration – armchair adventuring; the actual risks/dangers may be less immediate online; on the Internet, a few more steps need to occur before things happen, “interactions are more drawn out, given to less impulsiveness”.
---Increased deviance detection – the offense, whatever it is, has a trail of evidence; bullying becomes not just a rumor or hearsay; maybe because of anxiety lots of parents are having more norms-improving discussions with kids than they’ve had before.
---Surveillance effect – we’ve all had to abdicate some degree of privacy, but that may not be all bad; the knowledge you can be tracked has discouraged deviance as well. It allows parents to be more in touch with children and children with one another, which might reduce some kinds of dangers.
“It’s very possible things got better for young people in spite of the Internet,” not because of it, Finkelhor said – “it’s all very speculative right now. But I like throwing these out to move the discussion forward.”

So why are we still so afraid for our children? Finkelhor answers that question too, in part two of the article here: http://www.netfamilynews.org/?p=30266.

Very interesting stuff...

Now Hear This

I read Vanity Fair's interview with Rob Lowe and it piqued my interest.The article revealed him to be an intelligent man who knew many interesting people so I picked up his audiobook, Stories I Only Tell My Friends. I like the way Lowe tells stories; describing the person and what happened with them, then revealing who they were. That awkward blind date- Sarah Jessica Parker, the talented kid with soulful eyes- John Cusack, the intense young actor Lowe punches in the face-Tom Cruise. Rob Lowe does a terrific job narrating his book. It's getting hard to get out of the car-the audiobook is so interesting I don't want to shut it off!

History for the Ages

With all focus on new-fangled technology in libraries these days, sometimes it’s easy to forget that a library is still a unique repository, a place where the collective memory of a community can reside in perpetuity, and where researchers can explore the records of our past. During the past two weeks, this fact was reinforced with me when I participated in four different projects which delved into Dover history. Over the course of my many years at the library, I have learned a lot about our city’s evolution since its founding in 1623 and am often asked historical questions about Dover. Most of these inquiries can be solved by books in our Historical Room, but these events were a bit different.
· Last Tuesday I was filmed for a Dover High School AP History class documentary. I was interviewed about Dover history by one student while a second student ran the video camera. Lots of fun and the kids had good questions and were very engaging.
· On Wednesday, I visited with about two dozen residents at Maple Suites, a nearby senior living community. Most of them are not from Dover originally, so I brought along a Show ‘N Tell style exhibit of old Dover photographs and told them exciting (I hope!) stories about the events portrayed. They seemed to enjoy it and at least no one fell asleep!
· On Thursday, I conducted two walking tours of downtown Dover for about 80 Woodman Park 3rd graders (2 groups of 40). The kids loved hearing about various fires, floods, hangings, and other disasters that had happened in Dover. We had beautiful weather for the tours and I got my exercise walking around Dover twice before noon!
· This Wednesday I participated in a soon-to-be-shown segment about Dover for WMUR Channel 9’s “NH Chronicle” television show. The Chamber of Commerce got me involved in this one and we filmed in the Cocheco Courtyard, talking about the history of the mills and why they’ve been influential in making Dover into the community it is today. Did you know that the first strike by women in the US happened right there in December 1828? You go, Dover mill girls!
While I talked about a lot of similar topics during each instance, what intrigued me the most was how I had to tailor my message to four different age groups (8 to 88 years old) and to fit four different settings (my office, a community room, on the streets with a big group, and facing a large camera while speaking off the cuff because I didn’t know the questions in advance!) The stories which intrigued the kids were not necessarily the ones which the seniors enjoyed; and talking to a camera, you don’t really know who your audience will be on the other end! Regardless, the point of all these outreach efforts is to promote the plethora of local historical information at the library and make people aware that while we have mobile apps, online databases, eBooks and Wi-Fi, we also still concentrate on our important role as a valuable historical repository for our city.

Edgar-nominated Mystery Author at DPL June 27!

Mystery novelist and editor-in-chief of Down East magazine, Paul Doiron, will visit the Dover Public Library on Monday, June 27 at 7pm for a book signing and a reading from his second “Mike Bowditch” novel, Trespasser, which will be published June 21 by Minotaur Books.
Trespasser is the riveting follow-up to Doiron’s Edgar Award–nominated first novel, The Poacher's Son. Maine Game Warden Bowditch is back on the job, and once again he's tripping over bodies. He’s called to an accident scene in which a car hit a deer, but when he arrives neither the deer nor the driver are there. Though instructed to leave the matter to the state police, the situation continues to haunt Bowditch. Where would a young woman go on a cold, snowy Maine night? Devastated when the truth is revealed, Bowditch risks all to finally bring a killer to justice.
Paul Doiron leapt from the editorship of Down East magazine to the big leagues of crime writing with his soulful debut novel, The Poacher’s Son, which was nominated for an Edgar Award, Anthony Award, Strand Critics Award, International Thriller Writers Award, a Barry Award, and Kirkus’ Best Mysteries of 2010 list.

Now in Trespasser, Mike must reopen old wounds in order to catch a killer with friends in high places. Reviewers of Doiron’s second novel have called it “altogether impressive”, “perfectly plotted” and “incredibly evocative” of the Maine landscape.
Paul Doiron is a Maine native. He attended Yale University, where he graduated with a
degree in English, and he holds an MFA in creative writing from Emerson College. Paul is a
Registered Maine Guide specializing in fly fishing and outdoor recreation and lives on a trout
stream in coastal Maine.
This is a free author event at the Dover Public Library and everyone is welcome to attend.
For more information, call 516-6050.

Quiz Time!

I love quizzes and I love books(of course...)so when I read that Marie Claire's website had a quiz that would find the best summer beach read for your personality, I had to take it. FYI-this is a gals only quiz unless you enjoy wearing tinted moisturizers and black eyeliner(one of the questions). I also asked several co-workers take the quiz so we could compare results. The first question kind of stumped me as we had to choose which beachy type vacation would best suit us and none of them appealed to me. I finally decided on laying on the beach at a friend's house in the Hamptons. I figured I could always ditch the friends if I wanted to be alone. I went on answering questions nonchalantly and finally received the results. I read "trendsetter" Fiction. Really? Hmmm. Well I have read Stieg Larsson's "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" which was one of the suggested titles but as for the others...not so much. My coworkers results were hit or miss. Two were satisfied with their fantasy recommendations and the other with her nonfiction personality. However one, who shall remain nameless, was most offended by her chic lit designation. Try it and see if you like your personality.

Why DO people litter?

I love being a Reference Librarian. I love hearing the questions and having access to so much information in order to find the answer. It used to be that I came to work answered lots of questions and went home to rest and relax to prepare for another day. Ahhh... those were the days. Now I go home to more questions that I ever get in a day at the library! The real problem is that as the little question asker is getting older the questions are getting harder--I mean should I know off the top of my head at what mach speed the Concorde used to travel? Which part of the truffala tree was used to make the thneed? (I am assuming it was the top but it's Dr. Seuss for goodness sake!) Why do people litter? (I'd like the answer to that one) Questions, questions, and more questions.

A Mysterious Gift

This seems to be our week to receive gifts of old and rare Dover historical items. Yesterday, someone put a very carefully packaged laserdisc copy of The McConnell Story starring Alan Ladd and June Allyson in our book drop. The film is a biography of Joseph McConnell, Korean War Flying Ace, who was from Dover. He was credited with shooting down 16 Russian MiG-15s.The McConnell Center is named for him. Thank you, mysterious donor!

A Glimpse into the Past

We received an interesting donation today from the Rumney, NH library. It is a printed catalog of all the books owned by the Dover Public Library in 1891. Instead of looking in a computer or card catalog, you would look up the book you wanted in this book. Anybody interested in reading "Ninevah & its remains; with an account of a visit to the Chaldean Christians of Kurdistan, & the Yezidis, or devil worshipers; & an enquiry into the manners and arts of the Ancient Assyrians"? Other page-turners include "Tobacco. Its history and associations", and "Bird-nesting. A handbook of instruction in gathering and preserving the nests and eggs of birds for the purposes of study". I wonder if those books were as popular as the John Grisham and Jodi Piccoult books we carry now.

I also enjoyed looking at the stilted, formal rules of the Library. " Any resident of Dover, and those residing out of Dover who are by law entitled to the benefits of the Library, having signed a promise to obey the rules established by the Trustees, and having given satisfactory references as to his good character and responsibility, may take books from the Library and occupy the Reading Room." Look below to read up on the other rules you would have had to obey in 1891.

A Hanging in Dover

This day in Dover history, June 3, 1788, is the anniversary of the first hanging in Dover. Elisha Thomas was executed for the murder of Captain Peter Drown. "In February of the year 1788 , at the tavern of Mr. Randall in New Durham, Elisha Thomas, a veteran of the Revolutionary War, got into an altercation with another man, both were badly under the influence of old New England rum. Captain Peter Drown of New Durham, a fine Revolutionary officer, tried to separate them; in so endeavoring he was stabbed by the knife of Thomas and he died a few hours later. Thomas expressed his regret and deep grief at the death of this friend whom he had not intended to wound but he was arrested, brought to old Dover jail,  leaving a wife and six children at home. Some little time later, she came to Dover with the youngest child being left at a neighbor’s house, and stayed over night at the jail. In the night the house in New Durham, with the five other children in it asleep; caught fire, and four were burned to death, the oldest one alone escaping." Check the online history section of our website for the rest of this tragic story.

Read All About It

The Dover Public Library eNewsletters for the month of June are now available! Follow the links below to find out about our June author visit, Summer Reading Programs, museum passes, art exhibits, and much more.

***Children's Room Newsletter
***Dover Public Library Newsletter

Want to receive our eNewsletters delivered to you via email? Easy peasy just click here to sign up.

A Library Through Other Eyes

Currently I am reading Among Others by Jo Walton. I am really enjoying the story of a young Welsh girl, Morwenna, who finds herself in an English boarding school after a mysterious incident which killed her twin sister and left her estranged from her mother. Morwenna is an avid reader and finds solace particularly in Science Fiction stories. She spends a great deal of time in her school library as well as her public library looking for new things to read. Readers of SF will enjoy all the allusions to famous authors of Science Fiction. I loved the following quote, and wanted to share it with you.

Interlibrary loans are a wonder of the world and a glory of civilization.

Libraries are really wonderful. They're better than bookshops, even. I mean bookshops make a profit on selling you books, but libraries just sit there lending you books quietly out of the goodness of their hearts.

I think I am really going to like this book!

Happy Birthday

I picked out a picture book to take home for my son called "The Firehouse Light" by Janet Nolan. (You can't go wrong with firetrucks!) It relates the story of the early days of firefighting in a small town and how the equipment was kept in a small shed. The townspeople would have to light gas lanterns in order to find the equipment so finally a local businessman donated "a wire burning inside a ball of glass" or as we might say a light bulb. The story goes through the next 100 years, and the changes to the town and fire station. The one constant is the light bulb which has never burnt out--true story. There is even a web cam on the lightbulb (kind of like watching paint dry but still kind of cool). The bulb will be celebrating its 110th birthday on June 18th!

A Happy Poet

When the library held its Ninth Annual Evening of Poetry, the winner for category K-2, Miss Kennedy, was sick and unable to attend. She was so upset that she wasn't able to get all dressed up and read her poem for an audience that we asked her if she would like to come in for a "private" reading. So, here she is (with her pretend microphone) reading her poem to the librarians in our staff room. Great job, Kennedy!

Writers on a New England Stage

The Portsmouth Music Hall has some interesting authors on tap for the summer as part of their "Writers on a New England Stage" series--Ann Patchett, Neil Gaiman, David McCullough.... Follow this link to see the full line up--some good ones in the fall as well!

New eBook Purchases This Week

The newest update to the OverDrive Media Console app for iOS (iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch) Blackberry, and Android will let you return eBooks early! No more workarounds with the Bluefire Reader app or having to remember to redownload the eBook to Adobe Digital Editions on a computer.

The Abortionist's Daughter by Elisabeth Hyde
Absolute Power byDavid Baldacci

Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen
Bad Dog by Martin Kihn
The Butcher's Boy by Thomas Perry, Michael Connelly
The Charmer by Madeline Hunter
Dangerous in Diamonds by Madeline Hunter
Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris
The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
Doc by Mary Doria Russell
Embassytown by China Mieville
Every Last One by Anna Quindlen
The Final Storm by Jeff Shaara
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson
In Too Deep by Jayne Ann Krentz
The Informant by Thomas Perry
Last Man Standing by David Baldacci
The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly
The Long Quiche Goodbye by Avery Aames
No Less Than Victory by Jeff Shaara
The Other Side of Dark by Joan Lowery Nixon
The Primal Blueprint by Mark Sisson
The Rising Tide by Jeff Shaara
Rules of Deception by Christopher Reich
Rusty Nail by  J. A. Konrath
Saving Faith by David Baldacci
Shadow of Betrayal by Brett Battles
The Simple Truth by David Baldacci
The Sinner by Madeline Hunter
Sleeping Dogs by Thomas Perry
The Snowman by Jo Nesbo, Don Bartlett
The Steel Wave by Jeff Shaara
Strip by Thomas Perry
The Heart and the Fist by Eric Greitens
Unlocked by Ryan G. Van Cleave
When You Dare by Lori Foster
You Believers by Jane Bradley

Partners in Literacy

Just read a great blog post,"Publishers as Partners in Literacy", about First Book Marketplace, a nonprofit that sells new books, at very reduced prices, to schools and reading programs serving low income kids. Many readers were outraged because they felt the program was competing with libraries. I don't agree, but read the article and tell me what you think. This is my favorite quote from the blog: "There is nothing about reducing the price of books that competes with promoting the use of libraries; these efforts are not mutually exclusive; they are complementary."

Gloomy Sunday

The weather yesterday reminded me of a song my college professor told me about long ago. It was called Gloomy Sunday, and she said it had been banned from being played on the radio because it was so depressing that people were killing themselves after hearing it. I borrowed the Library's CD, 16 Most Requested Songs by Billie Holliday, which had the song on it. It is a beautiful CD, with some wonderful songs, but Gloomy Sunday certainly didn't make me feel like offing myself, even in conjunction with the horrible weather we are enduring. I did a little research, (what else would a Librarian do?) and found out that that the evidence linking the song to suicides is inconclusive. Snopes.com's Urban Legends page does have some very interesting things to say about Gloomy Sunday. If you're curious, this you tube video has the lyrics as well as Billie Holliday singing the song.

To a Library Vandal

Dear Library Vandal,

If you don't have the ten cents it would take to make a photocopy of the information you wanted in the latest issue of DownEast magazine, please pick up a pencil and paper which are scattered conveniently all through out the library.  That way you will not have defaced City of Dover property and stolen information from all the people who looked at the magazine after you.

I simply can't fathom the self-centered, uncaring perspective of someone who does things like this.

And One More Award Winner...

The winner of the Cochecho Readers' Award for 2010-11 is P. J. Petersen for...
Wild River, the story of twelve-year-old Ryan, considered lazy and unathletic, who discovers a heroic side of himself when a kayak trip with his older brother goes horribly awry, received the most votes from Dover children in grades 3 & 4 who voted for their favorite book from the list of 20 nominees.

Isinglass & Flume Teen Read Award Winners Announced!

The winner of the 2011 Isinglass Teen Read Award is:

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

The winner of the 2011 Flume: NH Teen Reader's Choice Award is:

Paper Towns by John Green

Great Stone Face Award Winner

The Great Stone Face Book Award is sponsored by the Children's Librarians of New Hampshire and is given each year to an author whose book receives the most votes from fourth through sixth graders throughout the state. Each year a committee chooses 25 recently published titles, which children then use as a guide for voting. The vote takes place every April during National Library Week, and the winner is announced in May. The purpose of the award is to promote reading enjoyment, to increase awareness of contemporary writing, and to allow children to honor their favorite author.

And the winner for 2010-11 is...

Murder at Midnight by Avi

The list of the Great Stone Face Nominees 2011-12 is now available in the Children's Room and on our website (click here to view).

Library Job Opening! Librarian II--Systems & Technology

LIBRARIAN II -- Systems & Technology
(40 hrs/week; $20.68--$29.28 per hour)

The Dover Public Library is accepting applications for a “Systems and Technology Librarian”. We are seeking an innovative, enthusiastic, results-oriented professional with a background in both automation and technical services to provide vision, leadership and expertise related to library technology. This person will oversee all aspects of the library's current automation system (SirsiDynix Horizon), and lead developments to enhance the library’s web-related activities. The successful candidate will be able to identify, evaluate, implement, and teach the use of new technologies which facilitate information access and community-driven services.

Responsibilities

Serve as the Systems/Technology Coordinator:
· Manage, plan and administer all aspects of the library's ILS.
· Plan and execute all system hardware and software upgrades, purchases, and replacements.
· Lead the library in exploring, evaluating, and adopting emergent technology products and solutions.
· Redesign, expand and maintain the library’s website and content management systems.
· Manage and support the library's population of staff and public computers.
· Supervise the library’s Technical Services Office workflow (Acquisitions & Cataloging).
· Run regular reports and create customized reports using SQL.
· Maintain library's databases (online catalog and patron database).
· Train staff and patrons in the use of new technologies that facilitate library use and information access.
· Liaise with the City’s IT Department and serve as library representative on the City’s IT Committee.
· Lead and collaborate with five Dovernet public school libraries in troubleshooting ILS issues.
· Track and supervise the Acquisitions budget.
· Work regular assigned shifts at public service desks.

Knowledge, Skills and Ability Requirements

· Demonstrated experience managing an integrated library system.
· Experience working in a public library service setting.
· Broad knowledge of technical services (including AACRII and MARC tagging).
· Ability to develop, configure, and run reports using SQL.
· Ability to test, install, and evaluate hardware and software.
· Experience working with, and supporting, various types of clients with all ranges of technical expertise.
· Experience with Microsoft Office applications.
· Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, both written and oral.
· Demonstrated ability to think critically, analyze problems, and develop and implement creative solutions.
· Evidence of a high degree of initiative and versatility, and customer-service focus.
· Working knowledge of HTML, XML, PHP/MySQL and Java Script. C, C+, C++ programming helpful.
· Ability to maintain effective working relationships and to deal with service problems courteously.

Education Requirements

Master's Degree in Library or Information Science from an American Library Association (ALA) accredited college or university; minimum of 3-5 years professional library experience with a concentration in technology required. Experience with ILS administration critical. Interest/experience with open source library software desirable.

If you are committed to collaboration and wish to join a library that believes in continual improvement and exemplary customer service, your next job may be at the Dover Public Library. To see the complete job description and download the job application, go to:
http://www.dover.nh.gov/employment.htm. Responses received by June 30, 2011 will receive priority consideration; open until filled.

"Vintage Voices" Concert Tuesday evening!

The Friends of the Library will host a musical concert by the trio Vintage Voices on Tuesday evening, May 17 at 7pm. In period evening dress, the three classically trained singers of Vintage Voices and their accompanist will perform music you might have found on your great-great-grandmother’s piano circa 1890. From the sparkling gaiety of “Vive La Compagnie” to the martial gravity of “Star of Liberty” ; from Stephen Foster’s simple melodies to the urbane satires of Gilbert and Sullivan, Vintage Voices transports audiences to a late Victorian parlor for a highly enjoyable, creatively staged concert.

Marya Danilhel is the alto and artistic director of the group Victorian popular song combines the performance genres Marya likes best: operetta-style singing, storytelling, and comedy. After many years of exploring this delightful repertoire and giving solo concerts, she founded Vintage Voices in 2006. Marya has entertained at many New England sites, including the Longfellow National Historic Site, Old Sturbridge Village, Historic Deerfield, Strawbery Banke Museum, and the Museum of Our National Heritage. On the theatrical stage, she has performed with the American Repertory Theatre, the Boston Summer Opera Theatre, the Cambridge Christmas Revels, and the New England Light Opera.

John Stromgren, baritone and music director, plays a smattering of instruments, but turns much of his musical energy toward choral singing, especially the unaccompanied kind. In addition to providing music direction to Vintage Voices, John participates in music and liturgy at St. John's Episcopal Church in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

Anne Corriveau, soprano and stage director, has worked with world-renowned musical coaches including Martin Isepp, distinguished pianist/conductor and head of music at Glyndebourne Opera (England). In recent months she has performed on Maine stages in the role of Anna in The King and I (Waterville Opera House) and Diana Devereaux in Gershwin’s Of Thee I Sing (Gaslight Theatre).

This performance concert in the Library’s Lecture Hall is free and refreshments will follow.

Evening of Poetry

The Ninth Annual Evening Poetry, the culmination of the annual Poetry Contest, was held last night. It is always so much fun to watch the young poets read their poems. We will be putting some videos of the Evening of Poetry on the blog for those of you who weren't able to attend.

This poem is entitled 7:30 and is the winner of  category 3 & 4.

Take a Memorable Day Trip This Summer

Canterbury Shaker Village opens this Saturday for the season. It is a lovely place to explore and learn the fascinating history of the Shakers. The Library has a discount pass that will admit 2 adults with a $6.00 service charge. There is a $3.00 service charge for children.

Canterbury Shaker Village is an internationally-known, non-profit museum and historic site with 25 original Shaker buildings, four reconstructed Shaker buildings and 694 acres of forests, fields, gardens and mill ponds under permanent conservation easement. Canterbury Shaker Village "is dedicated to preserving the 200-year legacy of the Canterbury Shakers and to providing a place for learning, reflection and renewal of the human spirit."

Visitors learn about the life, ideals, values and legacy of the Canterbury Shakers through tours, programs, exhibits, research and publications. Its renowned restaurant, The Shaker Table, serves traditional Shaker lunches and dinners spring, summer and fall. It is a wonderful day trip, you will feel like you have gotten away from it all. Reserve your pass today!

Click here to see what other museum passes the Library offers.

Come to The Evening of Poetry This Tuesday

Don't miss the Evening of Poetry tomorrow night at 6:30. Students who participated in the 9th Annual Dover Public Library's Poetry Contest are invited to share their poetry at our "Evening of Poetry". The general public is encouraged to come and enjoy the readings.

Time Travel

I am reading an interesting historical novel, Trades of the Flesh by Faye L. Booth. It is about a girl forced into prostitution in 18th century London. The main character mentioned "matchgirls whose faces had been made monstrous by phossy jaw". It peaked my curiosity so I had to find out what phossy jaw was. It turns out that exposure to the yellow phosphorous that made matches light caused a painful deterioration of the jaw bone,including swelling, loss of teeth, exposed bone, abscesses, which resulted in disfigurement and sometimes death. White phosphorus was cheaper than the red phosphorus so manufacturers of matches didn't want to switch to the less dangerous chemical. Laws had to be enacted to save countless lives from phosphorous poisoning.

I also just finished Made in Dagenham, a film about the struggle by women machinists in England to force Ford to pay them the same as the male machinists for doing the same job.  I loved seeing the colorful clothes and hair of the the 1960s, as well as hearing the music, even the architecture was very reflective of the time. The film has the same director as The Calendar Girls; both share a feel good sensibility with strong, likable female characters who work together for a common cause.

Both of these offer intriguing looks at another time period. Take your pick and time travel to 1968 or to 1888.

This Day in Dover History

May 4, 1779- One of the most violent thunder storms which was ever known in the maritime parts of New Hampshire, occurred this day, at noon. A cloud rose in the N.W. and another in the S.W. at the same time: they crossed each other, and the former passed very near the earth; a very black darkness came on, the lighting was an incessant glare, and the thunder a continual peal for about an hour. Many trees, several barns, mills and dwelling houses were struck; cattle and sheep were killed in the pastures in several towns; and a valuable new house built for religious worship, at Somersworth, was set on fire and consumed. Its steeple had a metallic vane and spindle, but no conductor to the earth. The bell was melted and fell while in a state of fusion, and no piece of it larger than a musket ball could be found.

From  Notable Events in the History Of Dover, N.H. by George Wadleigh.

Coming Soon! Books into Films!

Here's a short list of movies you may see this spring/summer that were derived from books:

"Invisible Sign" (Jessica Alba) --- based on An Invisible Sign of My Own by Aimee Bender

"Something Borrowed" (Kate Hudson, Ginnifer Goodwin, John Krasinski) --- based on the book of the same title by Emily Giffen

"Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" (Johnny Depp, of course)--- based on On Stranger Tides by Tim Powers

"Too Big to Fail" (William Hurt, Ed Asner, Paul Giamatti) --- based on the book of the same title by Andrew Ross Sorkin

"Mr. Popper's Penguins" (Jim Carrey, Angela Lansbury) --- based on the classic 1938 children's story by Richard Atwater

"Project Nim" --- based on Nim Chimpsky by Elizabeth Hess

"One Day" (Anne Hathaway) --- based on the book of the same title by David Nicholls

"Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows, Part II" --- based on the 2nd half of the last book by J.K. Rowling

"Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" (Hugh Jackman) --- based on the book of the same title by Lisa See

"Winnie the Pooh" (voices of Craig Ferguson, John Cleese) --- based on the original stories of A.A. Milne

"Sarah's Key" (Kristin Scott Thomas, Aidan Quinn) --- based on the book of the same title by Tatiana de Rosnay

"Zen" --- in July on PBS Masterpiece Theatre --- based on the 10 Aurelio Zen mysteries by Michael Dibdin

"The Help" (Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Sissy Spacek) --- perhaps the most-awaited film of the summer, based on the book of the same title by Kathryn Stockett

But remember, the movie is NEVER as good as the book!

New eBooks Are Available at NH Downloadable Books

More new ebooks have been added to NH Downloadable Books.

44 Charles Street by Danielle Steel
The Abortionist's Daughter by Elisabeth Hyde
Breaking the Rules by Suzanne Brockmann
Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang by Chelsea Handler
The Cleaner by Brett Battles
Clouds without Rain by P. L. Gaus
Crimes by Moonlight by Charlaine Harris
Dead Beautiful by Yvonne Woon
The Dry Grass of August by Anna Jean Mayhew
Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Jumping Frogs by Donald J. Sobol
Every Last One by Anna Quindlen
First Comes Marriage by Mary Balogh
Friendship Bread by Darien Gee
Frozen Assets by Quentin Bates
The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen
The Jungle by Clive Cussler, Jack Du Brul
A Lady's Guide to Rakes by Kathryn Caskie
The Land of Painted Caves by Jean M. Auel
Live Wire by Harlan Coben
Love You More by Lisa Gardner
Lover Unleashed by J. R. Ward
Mortal Kiss by Alice Moss
Ninth Grade Slays by Heather Brewer
Nobody's Darling by Teresa Medeiros
Oil and Ice by Peter Nichols
Only the Good Spy Young, Volume 4 by Ally Carter
The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen
Please Look After Mom by Kyung-Sook Shin
Quicksilver by Amanda Quick
Red on Red by Edward Conlon
Rules of Attack by Christopher Reich
Rules of Deception by Christopher Reich
Rules of Vengeance by Christopher Reich
Runaway Hit by Lara Bergen
Simply Unforgettable by Mary Balogh
A Terrifying Taste of Short & Shivery by Robert D. San Souci, Katherine Coville
Then Comes Seduction by Mary Balogh
The Tiger's Wife by Tea Obreht
Tinker Bell Junior Novel by Disney Book Group
The Tragedy of Arthur by Arthur Phillips
The Uncoupling  by Meg Wolitzer
Unlimited by Jillian Michaels
A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
When Blood Calls by  J.K. Beck
Wild Surprise by Helena Mayer
Wonderland by Joanna Nadin
World War Z by Max Brooks

I recommend the Peach Keeper and World War Z. Happy reading!

Celebrating the Royal Wedding

Today we celebrated the royal wedding in our own way.

a Piece of Dover History Arrived by Mail

We were delighted to receive this pen and ink sketch from someone who was cleaning out a house and thought the artwork should return to Dover. The 1986 Heritage walking Tour booklet explains the history of the Varney Ham house. 

In 1696, Ebenezer Varney, a blacksmith and devout Quaker, built his home at the foot of the west side of the Great Hill (now known as Garrison Hill). Varney was a great friend and benefactor of the local Indians, and his home and his family were never in any danger during the Indian turmoils that plagued Dover in the 1700s. The hill eventually became known as Varney's Hill during the eighteenth century. In 1829, John Ham purchased Varney's property and by 1834, the name had changed to Garrison Hill. The Varney-Ham house remained in the Ham family until about 1920 when it was sold to Philip Daum. The house was taken down circa 1970 when the large apartment complexes in that area were constructed.

 You can find photographs of the Varney Ham house here.

Magnolias in Bloom

Make sure to come down and see the Library's beautiful Star Magnolias while they still have blossoms on them. The wind is doing a job on the delicate, fragrant petals today.

You Are Here

The Collaborative Summer Library Program sponsored a You Are Here Contest inviting teens to create a video promoting their library and reading. There was a NH winner, Hannah Crowell, from the Pease Public Library in Plymouth. Watch Hannah's video on youtube or visit the CSLP to see some of the videos from other states--very creative!

Biography in Context

Dover Public Library cardholders now have access to a new database--Biography in Context. The database contains biographical entries for hundreds of thousands of notable and historical persons from around the world. It has a combination of 1,000+ volumes of Gale reference sources including Contemporary Authors, Encyclopedia of World Biography, Newsmakers, Contemporary Theatre, Film, and Television, Contemporary Musicians, Historic World Leaders, Notable Twentieth-Century Scientists, Contemporary Black Biography, Religious Leaders of America, International Dictionary of Art and Artists, Writers Directory, among others. In addition to biographical entries, you can access full-text articles from 300+ magazines and newspapers including American History, The Christian Century, Saturday Night, U.S. News & World Report, The New York Times, and USA Today.

To access it from home you will need the password--please ask next time you are in the Library.

And the Winners Are...

The winners of the 2011 Peeps Show contest are:

Kids Division: The Very Hungry Caterpeeper by Jeremy Giguere

Youth Division: Harry Peeper by Elena Chan

Teen Division: The Crucible by Lauren Wansker, Merritt McLaughlin, Selina Demers and Brenna Clinch

Adult Division: The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawpeep

Congratulations to the winners, and thank you to all the artists who participated. We were astounded by the level of detail and creativity in this year's entries. Special thanks to the Friends of the Dover Public Library who generously donated the prizes.

Spelling Match!

Did you know that two former Dover City Halls used to include Opera Houses? They were Dover's 2nd & 3rd City Halls, and were really entertainment centers for the city. We have a binder of historic programs for concerts, plays, humorists, spelling matches, and more that played at the City Hall & Opera House. One such program (pictured at left) took place on this day in 1875. The event was a Spelling Match between the Dover Library Association and the Portsmouth Mercantile Library Association. Perusing the papers from that time period made me realize that spelling matches were a pretty common occurence. Each church seemed to have evenings for spelling matches. What do you think they would make of our current trend towards abbreviated text--np, tbh, imo, ttyl, etc.? I think they would be lol.

Peeps Show Contest

We have 85 entries in the Peeps Show Contest this year, the highest number yet. Entries run the gamut from  Madeline's Rescue and The Hunger Games to Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and Unbroken. At times the Library seems more like an art gallery as people move from exhibit to exhibit.

You have a few more days to come visit the Peeps Show. Judging will be held Monday afternoon. All exhibits must be picked up by Thursday or we are threatening to eat them, although no one seems very enthusiastic about doing that! If you can't make it in by next week, you can enjoy the Dover Public Library's Peeps Show Contest slideshow here.

Thrilling, Chilling Reads

If you like serial killer plots or just plain murderous thrills in your mysteries try these books:
 
Dead Like You by Peter James
Delirious by Daniel Palmer
Anniversary Man by R.J. Ellory
Cypress House by Michael Koryta
On Borrowed Time by David Rosenfelt
Love You More by Lisa Gardner
Afraid of the Dark by James Grippando
Bone House by Brian Freeman

New Poet Laureate

The Library would like to congratulate John-Michael Albert, one of our long time Poetry Contest judges (he has done all 9 years!), for being named the Portsmouth Poet Laureate! This is very exciting--congratulations Mike. The photo to your right is Mike reading a poem at last year's Evening of Poetry.

Come See the Peeps Show

We have 85 entries for the Peeps Show Contest ranging from "Madeline's Rescue" to "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas". The entry for "127 Hours" is getting a lot of comments and laughs. At times the Library seems more like an art gallery as people move from exhibit to exhibit. Peeps will be on display through April 25, when the judges will make their difficult decisions.

We Have a Winner

Congratulations to Frances Chickering, the lucky winner of the Nook eReader! Many people participated in checking out downloable audiobooks and eBooks during National Library Week leading to one of the highest circulation rates of the NH Downloadable Books we have seen yet.
Special thanks to the Friends of the Dover Public Library who donated the Nook eReader.

Time For Peeps Show Entries Is Running out

You have today and Saturday to get your Peeps Show entries to the Library. Remember, this year's theme is literary, your entry can be about a favorite book or character, anything to do with books. The winner of each division will be awarded a $25 gift card to Target. We only have one teen entry so far, so if you know of an artistic teen, tell them to enter!

Animals Gone Wild at the Library

The 3rd Annual Teddybear Sleepover was this past Monday evening and fun was had by all. The slideshow above shows some of the hijinks that the animals got up to once the library closed!

Hats off to Library Volunteers!

It's almost symbiotic that National Library Week and National Volunteers Week always share the same seven days in April. Libraries rely on the community spirit and do-goodedness of the volunteers who help us with many behind-the-scenes tasks.

At this library presently, we have a core group of eight extremely motivated and capable volunteers. These unsung men and women show up every week for 1-6 hours each and donate approximately 850 personhours per year. Each has a specific task or project and they tackle their work with single-mindedness and determination. Most have been with us for over four years, the longest over 17!

Over the years, we estimate that these volunteers have donated over 7000 hours to the Dover Public Library and we celebrate them for their dedication and we honor their work on behalf of the library. Congratulations and a big thank you!

One Day in the Life of NH Libraries

Today libraries across New Hampshire are participating in Library Snapshot Day by collecting information, comments, and photographs from events in a typical library day. Please help us record how important your library is to the community by sharing your comments about your library.