Hear the Story of How Durham Said No to an Oil Refinery

Local author David W. Moore will be speaking at the library on Wednesday, December 5 at 6:30pm about his recent book “Small Town, Big Oil: The Untold Story of the Women Who Took on the Richest Man in the World – And Won” which tells the story of the attempt in 1973 by Aristotle Onassis to build the world's largest oil refinery in the town of Durham, NH.

But three women vehemently opposed the project– Nancy Sandberg, who founded Save Our Shores; Dudley Dudley, the state rep who took the fight to the legislature; and Phyllis Bennett, the publisher of a local newspaper. “Small Town, Big Oil” tells their story. 

David W. Moore is a senior fellow of the Carsey Institute at the University of New Hampshire. A former senior editor of the Gallup Poll, where he worked for thirteen years, Moore also served as professor of political science at UNH and is the founder and former director of the UNH Survey Center. He lives in Durham, New Hampshire.David will sign copies of his book, which will be on sale at this event. Join us!

Two special Christmas films at the Library Dec. 17 & 18

Join us at the Dover Public Library on Monday, December 17 at 6:30pm as we sing, shout, and snack along to an interactive showing of the uproariously funny Will Ferrell movie, “Elf”!  The movie is free, but preregistration is required as each audience member will receive a prop bag full of surprises and instructions on how to interact with the movie as it plays. Please sign up for “Elf Interactive” on our website: library.dover.nh.gov or call 603-516-6050. All ages welcome!

Then, the next night, on Tuesday, December 18, also at 6:30pm, the library will be screening the Hallmark Channel movie, “Christmas Incorporated” which is set in Dover, New Hampshire!  No preregistration is required for this film. Have you ever flown out of the “Dover Regional Airport”? It really does exist in this holiday story of Dover’s fight to save its struggling toy factory, housed in the gigantic downtown mills.

Yes, it’s fiction, but you can delight in Hollywood’s interpretation of the Garrison City at this free Dover movie premiere. “Christmas Incorporated” involves a young woman, Riley Vance, who lands a job with wealthy entrepreneur William Young. He is poised to close Dover’s toy factory just before Christmas, which would devastate the entire town. Riley must convince him otherwise! 

           Do Riley and William find love in Dover, NH? Well, duh! No spoilers, but it’s a Hallmark Christmas movie so of course everything turns out fine! It was filmed in California so there are no real Dover scenes, but it’s a lot of fun to watch this sentimental interpretation of our fair city.  Scriptwriter Brook Durham grew up in the Seacoast area and says that the old mills in downtown Dover inspired the story. 

           Two films, two nights: you must preregister for “Elf Interactive” on December 17 but no registration is required for “Christmas Incorporated on December 18. Please call the Dover Public Library for more information at 603-516-6050.

         

The Library will be closed on Friday, December 7

The Library will be closed on Friday, December 7 for our annual Staff Development & Training Day. (Open Saturday 9-5 and Sunday 1-5 as usual.)

Friends of the Library Program, Butterfly – Life of artist James McNeil Whistler Postponed

Tonight's program on James McNeil Whistler by Stephen Collins, has been postponed due to the snowstorm. It will be rescheduled to a later date. Here are the details of the program:

Butterfly”, is a one-man show about the life and times of New England native, James McNeil Whistler, the Volatile American artist who struggled for personal freedom and artistic expression mostly in Victorian England. He was a leading proponent of the credo, “art for art’s sake”. The play depicts Whistler at two phases of his life – first, as a bankrupt artist on commission in Venice in his forties, and then the established yet lonely legend in his sixties in London.

The title of the play is drawn from the artist’s signature on his paintings which was in the shape of a stylized butterfly possessing a long stinger for a tail. The symbol combined two aspects of his personality – his art which was characterized by a subtle delicacy and his public persona which was combative. Whistler blended his work with music by entitling them “arrangements”, “harmonies”, and “nocturnes”. The play ends with a pointy description of how Whistler came to paint his most famous painting, Arrangement in Grey and Black No. 1, which is commonly known as Whistler’s Mother – the revered portrait of motherhood.

Thanksgiving Hours

Thanksgiving hours @ the Library:

Mon-Tue 9am to 8:30pm
Wed. 9am to 5:30pm
Thu-Fri CLOSED for Thanksgiving holiday
Saturday 9am to 5pm
Sunday CLOSED for Holiday Parade

Stephen Collins performs as artist James McNeill Whistler on Tuesday, November 20, 7pm

      The Friends of the Dover Public Library are once again pleased to host actor and stage performer Stephen Collins on Tuesday, November 20 at 7pm in the Library’s Lecture Hall. His one-man show, “Butterfly”, will focus on the life and times of New England native, James McNeil Whistler (1834—1903), the volatile American artist who struggled for personal freedom and artistic expression. Whistler was a leading proponent of the credo, “art for art’s sake”. Collins depicts Whistler at two phases of his life – first, as a bankrupt artist on commission in Venice in his forties, and then as the established, yet lonely, legend in his sixties in London.

The title of the play is drawn from the artist’s signature on his paintings, which was in the shape of a stylized butterfly possessing a long stinger for a tail. The symbol combined two aspects of his personality – his art, characterized by a subtle delicacy, and his public persona, which was combative. The portrayal ends with Whistler describing how he created his most famous painting, “Arrangement in Grey and Black No. 1”, commonly known as “Whistler’s Mother” – the revered portrait of motherhood.

Stephen Collins is a classically trained actor. He has performed twice earlier this year at the Dover Public Library as Walt Whitman, and, in a program on justice, as William Lloyd Garrison, John Brown Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Hardy.

He currently performs nine one-man shows and has received rave reviews for over a decade. Mr. Collins’ performances brings poets, artists, statesmen, and playwrights to life on the stage. Join us for this free theatrical performance at the Dover Public Library! For more information, call (603) 516-6050.

Remembering Dover's Ace Pilot

Joseph McConnell, Jr. was born January 30, 1922 in Dover, NH. At 19 years old he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps. He was a navigator in a B-24 Liberator during World War II and had an exemplary war record. After the war, he decided to make the Air Force his career. He became a pilot in the USAF in 1948.

During the Korean War he flew combat missions over Korea.  During McConnell’s very first mission in Korea, in January 1953, he shot down an enemy MIG-15. Captain McConnell was shot down April 12, 1953 over the Yellow Sea in a skirmish with several MIGs. He was able to eject safely and was rescued by a helicopter. He returned to combat the same day. He shot down three MIGs during two separate missions, making him a triple ace (fifteen kills). He shot down 16 MIGs in just four months, becoming the highest scoring ace of the war. He still ranks as the top ace in US military history.  His actions in combat earned him a Distinguished Flying Cross and Silver Star.   He later became a test pilot at Edwards Air Force Base. On August 25, 1954, during a test flight, his airplane suffered a malfunction. Captain McConnell attempted to fly the plane back to the base but was forced to eject several miles short. He had waited too long; the parachute did not have time to open. Captain Joseph McConnell died upon impact.

Hollywood memorialized Captain McConnell and his exploits in The McConnell Story, starring Alan Ladd and June Allyson. The movie had its premiere at the Strand Theatre here in Dover on August 15, 1955.

The library will be closed on Monday, November 12

The library will be closed on Monday, November 12 for the Veterans Day holiday. Open as usual Saturday 9-5 and Sunday 1-5.

Vote Smart Program

The Library is very pleased that we have been selected to be the only stop on a national tour by VoteSmart.org president Richard Kimball on Thursday November 1st at 7pm. Richard Kimball  is touring the country to promote the research offered by his site VoteSmart.org and to let people know about the free access to the site which will give everyone who accesses it clear, up-to-date, and non-partisan information on every single candidate on the ballot this fall. Richard Kimball will speak in the McConnell Center Cafeteria located down the stairs at Door #2 at 61 Locust Street in Dover, NH at 7pm on Thursday, November 1. The event is co-sponsored by the Dover Democrats and the Stafford County Republicans. 

Vote Smart allows people to access files on every candidate in six key areas: Biography, Values, Positions, Ratings, and Speeches and Funding. Access is available free at the website http://votesmart.org or via toll-free Voter’s Research Hotline (1-888-VoteSmart). Copies of the Vote Smart’s 2018 “Voter’s Self-Defense Manual” will be available free to those who attend this program. Get there early to make sure you get one before they run out.

Get Lit Wednesday, November 7

Join Dover Public Library's brand new book club as we discuss Ginny Moon by Benjamin Ludwig. Enjoy a specialty cocktail and discounted food courtesy of Sonny's Tavern. Copies of the book are available using Hoopla Digital and NH Overdrive. All are welcome! Wednesday, November 7, 6:30—7:30 PM at Sonny's Tavern

 

 

 

Friends of the Library Annual Booksale

Doors open at 9am on Friday, October 26 for the Friends of the Library’s annual, two-week-long, gigantic fall booksale at the Dover Public Library. Only library cardholders will be able to purchase items on the first day of the sale so be sure to bring your Dover borrower’s card with you on the 26th! The sale opens to non-cardholders and the general public at 9am on Saturday, October 27.

Thousands of paperbacks, hardcover books, and media items for all ages will be available at prices from $.50 to $2.00. Many of the sale items are books donated to the library, while others are items discarded from the library’s collections. Booksale prices will be further reduced on Wednesday, October 31, and during Week #2 of the booksale, November 5-11, the remainder of the items will be sold for the bargain price of just $1.00 per bag or boxful. Any leftover books will be given away for free beginning Tuesday, November 13.

The library requests that no further book donations be made after October 8. Donations will again be accepted after November 18.

All proceeds benefit the Friends of the Library, a 501(c)3 charitable organization which last year donated over $15,000 to the library for museum passes, children’s and adult programs, furnishings and equipment. Applications to join the Friends of the Library are available at the library’s circulation desk.

Membership is $10 annually or $7 for seniors. Friends who work at the booksale receive a 50% discount on purchases.

For more information, please call the Circulation Desk at 603-516-6050.

Library hours are Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 9am to 8:30pm; Thursday and Friday 9am to 5:30pm; Saturday 9am to 5pm; and Sunday 1-5pm. The Library will be closed on Monday, November 12 for the Veterans Day holiday.

How Sweet It is! The Exciting Life of the Honey Bee on October 16, 7pm

The Friends of the Dover Public Library are pleased to present a fascinating slide program by renowned local beekeeper Wendy Booth on Tuesday evening, October 16 at 7pm in the library’s Lecture Hall.

          Wendy will share her passion for honey bees in “How Sweet It Is: the Exciting Life of the Honey Bee”.  Learn and laugh as you are amazed by these tiny insects that produce such a delicious sweet syrup. Come and hear about the bees’ division of labor, the many processes that result in their creation of honey, and the roles of Her Royal Highness the Queen, the workers and the drones.  

          Wendy Booth is past president of New Hampshire Beekeepers, 2018 Beekeeper of the Year NH, and has been featured on WMUR’s New Hampshire Chronicle and with Laura Kinoy on NH Public Radio. She has many published bee photos to her credit.  All ages are welcome to attend and honey tasting will be offered.  For more information, call the Dover Public Library at (603) 516-6050.

We Have a New Book Club!

Get Lit! A New Book Group for Adults

Wednesday, September 26 6:30—8:00 PM at Sonny's Tavern

Join Dover Public Library's brand new book club as we discuss Tangerine by Christine Mangan. 

Enjoy a specialty cocktail and discounted food courtesy of Sonny's Tavern. 

Copies of the book are available on Hoopla Digital.  

All are welcome!
For more information, call the library at (603) 516-6050 or e-mail Emily Fortin at e.fortin@dover.nh.gov.

Lecture and Book Signing with Julie Boardman, Author of Death in the White Mountains

Julie Boardman, author of the book Death in the White Mountains, will present a program based on her book at the Dover Public Library on Wednesday, September 26 at 6:30pm.

Death in the White Mountains is the first book to focus on fatalities in the entire region. Boardman points out that “a great deal has been written about deaths on Mount Washington, yet in recent years, more people have died elsewhere in the White Mountains. I wanted people to realize that dangers exist in many areas.”
   Using a variety of sources, she compiled a list of 219 hikers, climbers and backcountry skiers who have died.Each of the first nine chapters of the book is devoted to a cause of death. These include falls, hypothermia, natural causes, avalanches, drowning, lightning strikes and freak accidents, lost hikers who were never found, hypothermia, and murder. 

Julia Boardman is the author of When Women and Mountains Meet, a book about the women who shaped the interesting history of the White Mountains. Her work has appeared in Appalachia (the journal of the Appalachian Mountain Club), Sierra (the magazine of the Sierra Club), Connecticut Audubon and many other publications. Since moving to New London, New Hampshire in 1990, she has hiked extensively throughout New England and climbed all the peaks in the region that are over 4,000 feet high.

Copies of Death in the White Mountains will be for sale at the event for the special price of $15. She will be pleased to inscribe books also.

Musician Cormac McCarthy entertains on September 18 @ 7pm

     

The Friends of the Dover Public Library are pleased to host a performance by noted musician and poet Cormac McCarthy on Tuesday, September 18 at 7pm. Hitch a ride into small town life through McCarthy’s original songs and stories from his fifth recording, “Collateral”.

     Meet the slightly odd townsfolk enjoying a Saturday night dance at “The Marigold Hal”; the homeless man who gets himself thrown in jail seeking a warm bed for the winter in “Adrift in the Mountains”; the weary millworker in “River Round the Bend”; and “The Cadillac Man” who lives in his Coupe de Ville at a campground.

     Cormac portrays a variety of characters on the edge of society, giving focus to the social fabric around them. His presentation is filled with insight, humor, and poignancy. One music critic has called McCarthy “the closest thing New England’s ever come to having our own Woody Guthrie.”

      Come join in this musical celebration of the common heart of America.  Everyone is welcome to attend in the Library’s Lecture Hall. For more information, please call the Dover Public Library at 603-516-6050.

The Library Will be Closed for the Labor Day Weekend

The Library will be closed Saturday, September 1 through Monday, September 3 in honor of Labor Day. You can still download books, audiobooks and magazines from NH Downloadable Books or movies, audiobooks, books, and music from Hoopla while we are closed.

The Dover High School Yearbooks Are Online!

No doubt it has been sad for past students and teachers of Dover High School to watch the final days of the old school building. I am happy to announce that the old DHS will live on in the cyber world. The Library's Dover City Directories database now includes Dover High School year books from 1915-1916, and 1940-2013. You can search by name, by year, activity or sport. Anyone is welcome to use the database, there are no passwords or restrictions. It's so much fun to look through them, give it a try and spread the word to your old classmates! http://dover.advantage-preservation.com/

Celebrate Harry Potter at the Library on July 28!

Eternal glory awaits you at the Dover Public Library’s third annual Harry Potter Day!

   

Join us and participate in the Triwizard Tournament on Saturday, July 28 from 9am to 12pm for an early celebration of Harry Potter’s birthday. The event will end with a Harry Potter trivia competition at 12pm.

Attendees will be whisked away to Hogwarts through Platform 9 ¾ where their personality traits will help to decide which house they belong to. After they are sorted, they will represent Hogwarts in the 2018 Triwizard Tournament against rival schools Durmstrang and Beauxbatons. Their training will begin with picking out the perfect wand at Ollivander’s; practicing “nox”/“lumos” spells by making a light switch cover; and creating an owl companion to help them along the way.

Champions will try their hand at several “extremely dangerous” tasks. They must attempt to steal away an egg from a dragon in a Quidditch match; locate lost Hogwarts objects in a Scavenger Hunt for a chance to enter a raffle for a Harry Potter prize; navigate a maze to find the Goblet of Fire and put their name in the cup; and challenge Voldemort to a duel in the photo booth area. A Harry Potter-themed Escape Room will also be available throughout the day for those who pre-register for a spot. Attendees can then celebrate at the Yule Ball with some butterbeer and other refreshments.

Individuals dressed in their finest witch and wizard wardrobes are invited to participate in a costume contest to win a special Harry Potter prize at 10am. The contest is for all ages and a panel of judges will decide the winning costume. Another Harry Potter prize will be awarded to the winning team in the Harry Potter trivia competition.

In addition, witches and wizards can help “Feed the Muggles!” by bringing one non-perishable item with them to donate to the Harry Potter Day food drive. Each person who brings an item will receive a lightning bolt keychain while supplies last. The food drive will continue at the library until Saturday, August 11. All donations will go to the Community Action Partnership of Strafford County’s food pantry. The drive is sponsored by OWLS, a local community service group affiliated with the library, and a chapter of the Harry Potter Alliance.

Harry Potter Day festivities continue on Tuesday, July 31 at 6pm when the library will be showing a special Interactive Movie version of “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” in the Lecture Hall. Those registered to attend will receive a gift bag filled with props, and a script to help act out the scenes in the movie. Costumes are encouraged and registration is required. To sign up, call or visit the library’s website.

Harry Potter Day is free and open to the public. For more information about the celebration activities, visit http://library.dover.nh.gov or call the Dover Public Library at 603-516-6050. Library hours are Monday-Wednesday 9am-8:30pm, Thursday-Friday 9am-5:30pm, and Saturdays 9am-1pm.

Attention All Cooks!

In conjunction with “Dover Dines Restaurant Week”, the Friends of the Dover Public Library will hold a special “Cookbooks Only” booksale for one week at the library’s main desk from Monday, July 16 through Saturday, July 21.  Prices will range from $1.00 to $3.00 and the stock will include a very large selection of softcovers and hardcovers, local community cookbooks, exotic foreign cuisines, and everything in between.

The sale will take place during regular library hours: Monday---Wednesday 9am to 8:30pm; Thursday---Friday 9am to 5:30pm; and Saturday 9am to 1pm.  Proceeds from the sale will help the Friends of the Library continue to fund special library programs, museum passes, equipment, and furnishings.

Join the Scavenger Hunt!

Wednesday, July 18 from 10am to 7:30pm
Grab some friends and join us for a Scavenger Hunt through the city of Dover.  Teams of 2 or more will be asked to find landmarks, take pictures in certain locations, and be tested on their knowledge of their home town.  This is an all-ages event, but we will have prize winners in 3 categories:  preschool to 5^th grade, 6^th grade to 12^th grade, and adults. Fastest team in each category wins a $25 Cowlicks Dairy Bar gift card!  Your team will register at the library any time after 10am but you must be back at the Library before we close at 8:30pm.  I would suggest leaving at least 1 ½ hours to complete the course.