Jonathan Bourne Public Library

Well, long time, no write!

2006-09-12T15:41:00.000-05:00

For those of you who had been keeping updated on Bourne Library's activities via the blog, we sincerely apologize for the very long hiatus. We are back, though, and will not abandon you again!

The crisp fall days that we love so much on the Cape seem to be here early, so now's a great time to switch gears from beach books to items to read by a crackling fire. If you have any suggestions for good books to read during a chilly Sunday afternoon, feel free to post them here. In the meantime, here are a few books on some JBPL staff''s pleasure reading list:

The Guy not Taken, by Jennifer Weiner. This Philadelphia native does her first foray into short stories, and they are great. Witty, sad, romantic, wistful, Weiner's stories offer glimpses into the lives of women whom you will recognize, in yourself or in someone you know. Weiner had previously enjoyed success with Good in Bed and In Her Shoes, among others. Weiner is a talented author whose works rise above the dismissive "chick lit" moniker.

Beacon of Support (Business Sponsor)

2005-07-16T10:31:00.000-05:00

Falmouth Hospital Rehabilitation Services at One Trowbridge Road in Bourne is the sponsor of the month for July. Kiki Tura of the staff is pleased to announce three separate programs during July:

“Standing Tall in the Face of Osteoporosis” at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, July 19.

“Sitting Pretty: How to Set up Your Computer Workstation” at 10 a.m., Thursday, July 21 on the Mezzanine;

“A Helping Hand: How Adaptive equipment Can Make Everyday Life Easier” at 1 p.m. Thursday, July 27 in the Program Room downstairs;

All programs are free and open to the public. For more information about them, please call Falmouth Hospital Rehabilitation Services (508-457-4620)

Stats to go

2005-07-16T10:30:00.000-05:00

165 children and adults enjoyed the puppet show by The Tanglewood Marionettes July 7th at Crain Hall, our alternative program site when rain threatens.

Book Club browsings

2005-07-16T10:27:00.000-05:00

A discussion of Queen Noir’s autobiography, Leap of Faith, will take place during the monthly meeting of the Wednesday Readers next Wednesday, July 20th, in the program room at the Library. Copies of the book are still available if you wish to join this group.

Off the Shelves (Book Recommendations)

2005-07-16T10:17:00.000-05:00

Last Friday, as I was getting into my truck to drive to work, I put my favorite ceramic mug, filled with fresh coffee, on the vinyl cover of my truck bed to balance while I put my bag in the front seat. I walked around the truck, got distracted by my cats who were NOT supposed to be outside, and backed out of the driveway. I stopped to pick up some mail that had been scattered on the ground (who knows why mail gets out of a closed mailbox??) and continued down my street, turned right, right again, drove just a little over the speed limit (45 mph) along Rt 130 and Rt 6A until I reached the Gallo Ice Arena, where it suddenly occurred to me that I had started out with a cup of coffee. (You’ve probably guess where this is going by now, but I’ll tell you the end just in case you’re wondering if I’ve completely lost my mind this week!) I looked back in horrified fascination in my right side rear mirror to see the cup, still balance happily on the cover of the truck bed! When I arrived at work, it was to find the cup perfectly intact with only ¼ of the coffee gone! Why this story? To introduce a book that I should have read before I left the house that morning: How to Remember Not to Forget, by Joan Who? And Adam Rosensomething, actually, Joan Houlihan and Adam Rosenbaum (153.12 HOU pap.)! I can’t use the excuse that I am getting older, as I have been forgetful all my life, but I really wish this book had been written when I was in my 20’s, as I would now have a great excuse for leaving the house and driving my coffee to work on the back of my truck. The only problem is that the authors promise that “your memory can be just as sharp as it was twenty years ago”, so I’m not sure it will help me, but I’ll recommend the techniques anyhow. Some of the strategies are simple, like using mnemonics (the famous Stars’ quip “Be My Little General--in the Marines works wonders for remembering who wears 4-General and who wears 1-Brigadier), but some of the reasons for memory loss may come as a surprise. These include such things as having too much clutter around one, not getting adequate deep sleep, and even snacking on the wrong kinds of foods. The authors offer tips for remembering why one entered a room to the names of current statesmen. A small book of only 90 pages, this is as much of a gem for those of us who have always had memory problems, as those who are fearful that advancing age will soon see their memories as a thing of the past. (Just remember that the NEW books are on the back shelves and you’ll be able to find this one!)

While you’re looking for the memory book, take a glance at Nancy Pearl’s newest book of reading recommendations. If one is at a total loss for what to read, this is THE book to have around. Ms. Pearl, a Seattle librarian and sough- after consultant for reader’s advisory has followed up her first book with a second title, More Book Lust, 1,000 NEW reading recommendations for every mood, moment and reason (011 PEA). The author’s “Pearls” of wisdom about what to read are doubled in this “non-sequel” to her first book, Book Lust, (reviewed last year-hmmmm, I think I forgot exactly when…), with added categories and more wonderful annotations about what she terms “her eclectic collection of titles”. Although I can’t claim to have read all the items she suggests, I know that each one will find a good home in some reader’s hands. Her index is short but complete, with titles of books in bold type to make it easier to check the pages one wants if one needs a specific review. She also has a detailed table of contents with such catchy chapter headings as “Men Channeling Women” (always a good pick if only to see how well men can “get inside a women’s head”) and “Plots for Plotzing” which is a category for books which have such bizarre plots that only a dedicated reader will be able to wade through them. All in all, reading the recommendations takes on a life of its own-making the reader realize that even a book about books can be a special experience.

Flea Market at the Library, July 30th

2005-07-12T13:47:00.000-05:00

Summer wouldn’t be the same without yard sales, craft sales, outdoor art sales and book sales!

July 30th, the Friends of the Library will be holding another “Last Saturday of the Month” Sale on the library lawn (weather permitting). Tables are $30.00 each to sell any art, craft or “whatever”. Or, you may donate items (used items welcome, if they are clean and in good condition) to the Library table. All proceeds are to be used for the renovations. Set up is between 8 - 9 a.m., with the sale running from 9-1. Please call Vicki Coates for more information.

Beacon of Support (Business Sponsor)

2005-07-12T13:40:00.000-05:00

Falmouth Hospital Rehabilitation Services at the Bourne Health Center (Cape Cod Healthcare) at One Trowbridge Road offers a variety of outpatient physical therapies. This month, the staff will be presenting a program about posture screening for osteoporosis. Check the Bourne Enterprise newspaper for times and dates.

Children’s Services

2005-07-12T13:37:00.000-05:00

What has 10 beautiful paintings of animals, 2 bales of hay, several colorful hanging piñatas, over 5,000 items of interest to readers, 2 exceptional librarians and over 200 children?

The Bourne Library Summer Reading Program in the Children’s Room, that's what! Although the Canal Kids project is about as full as it can get, space is still available for the Bourne Book Buddies Program, which takes place every Wednesday, from 1-2 p.m. This summer, the Book Buddies, led by Library Assistant Terry Colon are writing their own books. The program will culminate with an author tea in August. This group is for rising 2nd - 4th graders.

Pre-K thorugh 4th graders are also still welcome to sign up for the regular reading program, in which they read one book, design a new book cover for the title and have this design placed in a notebook in the Children’s Room. For every “newly designed” book cover, the Friends of the Library will donate one dollar to Heifer Project International.

If none of the above appeal, why not try the Annual Guessing Game? This year, the child who guesses the exact or closest to number of beans in the bowl (behind the barn in the children’s room), will win a gift certificate to Whistle Stop Ice Cream Shop in Monument Beach. This contest ends July 23rd, so get in to the library and put your guesses in the box!

Don’t forget to bring your blankets and lawn chairs to the side lawn this Thursday, July 14th for the magic of “Marcus the Magician." 7 p.m. is show time for this extraordinary free show.

Stats to go

2005-07-12T13:36:00.000-05:00

To date, 261 children are taking part in the Summer Reading Program. 193 have signed up from grades pre-K to 4 to read a book and send an animal through Heifer Project International; 25 Canal Kids are learning videography; 18 Book Buddies are writing their own books; and 25 infants and pre-schoolers heard stories this week.

Off the Shelves

2005-07-12T13:35:00.000-05:00

What would summer be without barbeques and vegetable salads, key lime pie and steamers? Dull and boring that’s what. But how does one find new and different or even old stand-by recipes to grab the attention of family and friends? One way is to check out the shelves of the cookbooks in the library-new to our taste buds are the delicious, mostly simple recipes of The Beach House Cookbook, by Barbara Scott-Goodman. From the first photographs by Rita Maas through the last pages of the incredibly detailed index, this summer cookbook is a must read and possibly a must have for all those who aspire to easy cooking and great eating. Each recipe has a highlighted list of ingredients, making the gathering part of cooking a joy, with some containing an explanation from the author about how or why the recipe came to be included in her culinary repertoire. I have it on the best of authority (relatives at our Fourth of July celebration at the family’s “Big House” in Brant Rock) that the Key Lime Pie is "scrumptious” and almost as good as that of the premier chef in our extended family and she has been making it for over 40 years. I decided that this is the cookbook to recommend this week-if I can take a recipe from the book and make it well enough to pass muster with the multitude of great cooks in our family, the book must be good!

While you’re looking for cookbooks that are slightly out of the ordinary, glance at The North End Italian Cookbook, 5th edition, by Marguerite DiMona Buonopane. This exceptional book is not only a feast for the mouth, but also a beautifully written toast to a special part of Boston. I liked this one so muc,; I am buying a copy for my daughter-in-law who loves to go to different North End restaurants. Written by a former restaurant owner and now, Boston Globe food columnist, the pages fairly beg one to try the recipes even if one cannot boil water accurately! So, this week, instead of take-out at the local clam shack, check out the CLAMS catalog and choose a great cookbook.

On the Mezzanine

2005-07-12T13:34:00.000-05:00

Patrons who are just arriving for the summer have one more week to see Farren Williamson’s beautifully creative photos of “The Gates” Exhibit in New York City. The photographs are on display on the Mezzanine until July 21st.

What’s new

2005-07-12T13:31:00.000-05:00

I’m in a questionable mood as I write today, so here is another question of the week: What would you like to see on the library’s website? Since the advent of the site, we haven’t been particularly happy with the interface, but have had so many other pressing matters, that we haven’t paid attention to this as we should have. Consequently, the other day when I was looking over the site again, I realized just how out of date we are-we still have the 2003 summer reading lists as a link---ARG! With this in mind, we are asking for your help with the design of the new site. We have a wonderfully creative volunteer, Chris Dwight, who has designed a children’s page to rival most others, but we need help with the adult side. Rather than a survey, which can be off-putting to some, we would like to hear your opinions or read about them-let us know what we can do to improve the content of the site as well as the way it is laid out. We can’t guarantee that all of your ideas will be incorporated, but we will consider every one that comes to us in writing!

Reference question of the week

2005-07-12T13:28:00.000-05:00

Is “facto” a real word?

Answer of the week: Actually, no, it isn’t, but it is fun to use it in a Scrabble game to see if anyone else will challenge it, as was done this past weekend by a relative of one of our patrons!

Beach Books!

2005-07-07T14:45:00.000-05:00

These titles, as recommended by some of the staff here the Bourne Public Library, can be enjoyed anywhere--not just the beach. All titles can be requested via the CLAMS website:

From Lee Savard (Circulation Assistant, Paperback Maven and NASCAR enthusiast):

Two Dollar Bill by Stuart Woods--the latest in the Stone Barrington novels, with the ex-cop turned lawyer involved in another twist-filled adventure.
Broken Prey by John Sandford. This novel takes Sandford's popular investigator Lucas Davenort to London, where he must solve a string of grisly murders.
A Good Yarn by Debbie Macomber. A sequel to 2004's A Shop on Blossom Street, Mascomber's book once again focuses on the friendships formed by women taking a knitting class.
Idiot : Beating "The Curse" and enjoying the game of life by Red Sox centerfielder and hearthrob Johnny Damon with Peter Golenbock. The life and times of Johnny Damon.

From Sandy Cortese (Circulation Assistant, Jill of all Trades, proponent of Freecycle.org):

The Third Secret: a Novel of Suspense by Steve Berry. Sandy believes this novel, a Vatican-centered conspiracy thriller, could be the next Da Vinci Code.

From Carrie Tobey (Circulation Assistant, maintainer of this here weblog, and fan of cheese):

Ice Haven by Daniel Clowes. This graphic novel from the author of Ghost World was serialized in Clowes' comic Eightball, and centers on the lives of a bunch of misfits in the town of Ice Haven.
Assassination Vacation by Sarah Vowell. Fans of American History and/or This American Life will love this travelogue/history lesson from Sarah Vowell, who waxes rhapsodic about the events surrounding the assassinations of presidents Lincoln, Garfield and McKinley. Witty and informative, just like Vowell herself!

Shuffle Up and Deal!

2005-07-02T09:02:00.000-05:00

Don’t forget “Texas Hold-Em Poker Night” on July 6th, at the Weary Travelers Club in Monument Beach.. Players still needed for this great fund-raising and fun night out. Call Carol (508-759-5070) or Fran (506-563-7938) to volunteer. Applications are at the circulation desk in the library.

This fundraiser is being organized by the always-industrious and indefatigable Friends of the Library. Thansks for your unflagging support!

Children’s Services

2005-07-02T08:58:00.000-05:00

Come on down to the farm; the McBourne Farm at the Children’s Room that is. This week, Librarians Terry Colon, Judith Blaisdell and Fran Bogden transformed the children’s Department into a farm to represent this year’s theme for summer reading, “Bourne Children Changing the World One Book at a Time."

What do farm animals have to do with changing the world? That was the focus of the talk given by Rachel Brown of Heifer International this past week. Ms. Brown explained how Bourne Library children who read at least one book can contribute to the project that matches people from around the world with farm animals. For this year, the Friends of the Library will donate one dollar to Heifer for every book read by a child in the program.

Watercolor paintings of the various animals that are donated through Heifer have been given to the library by artist, Frances Bogden. The paintings which are on display as part of the McBourne Farm theme will be auctioned in a silent auction throughout the six-week program. Children are also asked to make a “new” book cover for the book which they have read. All children from pre-school through grade 4 are eligible to take part in the “Changing the World” program.

For those in grades 5-8, Mrs. Jennifer McDonald will be teaching “The Art of Film Making” from 1-3 p.m. each Thursday. The program starts July 7th and will run through August 10th, when all participants will show their “masterpiece” at a special premier. This is the Canal Kids program for the summer and space is limited so sign up soon.

Bourne Book Buddies will meet every Wednesday afternoon, beginning on July 6th from 1-2 p.m. 2nd-4th graders may participate in this book and activities club.

For the toddlers and infants, the library will hold a drop-in story hour from 9:30-10:30 a.m. on Wednesdays beginning July 6th.

Crafts will also be a part of the summer at the library, with a drop-in crafts program running from 1-3 p.m. each Tuesday afternoon at the library. This program starts July 5th. Pre-school and first graders are encouraged to stop into make a different craft every week.

Last but far from least, next Thursday, July 7th, the Tanglewood Marionettes will return to the library lawn to perform “The Sleeping Beauty” puppet show. The show starts at 7 p.m., with door prizes given at the end. Bring a blanket or lawn chair to the Children’s Garden and enjoy these great performers. In case of rain, the show will be held at the Bourne United Methodist Church.

Beacon of Support (Business Sponsor)

2005-07-02T08:57:00.000-05:00

We welcome a new supporter this month--Falmouth Hospital Rehabilitation Center, located at 1 Trowbridge Place, Bourne in the Medical Complex, 508-457-4620.

Falmouth Hospital Rehab is a division of Cape Cod Healthcare specializing in individualized outpatient services for all ages. Rehabilitation services include physical, occupational, speech and aquatic therapy, cardiac rehab, hand therapy, lymphedema and many other therapies. Please check out their programs when visiting the library.

What’s new

2005-07-02T08:55:00.000-05:00

This week has been bustling as summer folk return to the Cape and students are finally out of school. With that in mind, the Trustees have voted a revised policy for Internet use-decreasing the amount of time one can use the computers to ½ hour with one computer designated for those who need a word processing program and one for e-mail only, as well as the two for OPAC usage. With the increased usage of our services, we have found that a one hour time slot is simply too long, thus the change. The policy change was voted at a special meeting Thursday, June 30th at which other agenda items such as the upcoming town override and its implications (should it not pass) were discussed. Copies of the policy are available for review.

In another move that I was reluctant to make, we have changed the location of the DVD collection. In the past week, four new DVDs have “gone missing” from the library. Although I am hesitant to place blame on any one group of patrons, all of these items are new and would appeal to a certain age. No questions will be asked, we simply would like to have the DVDs returned and request that ALL library materials be checked out when leaving the building. Although this is a FREE public library that loans items, the emphasis is still on the “borrowing” part of that concept--our intent is never to provide persons with materials that they wish to own!

Reference question of the week

2005-07-02T08:54:00.000-05:00

I am researching a local artist, Otis Jerome Tripp. Do you have any information about him?

Answer of the week: Unfortunately, after an exhaustive search of the entire art literature collection, general encyclopedias, American Biography and the Internet, no information was found other than a birth and death date (1950-1976). The patron was advised to called the New Bedford Genealogical Society, as she mentioned that the painting was a local New Bedford fishing scene. If anyone has any information about this artist, the library would be pleased to find out!

Stats to go

2005-07-02T08:53:00.000-05:00

The cost of running the library at the present level of services is $42,000/month (based on the FY2006 budget). Any reductions in this budget would mean closing at least one day more per week.

Book Club browsings

2005-07-02T08:52:00.000-05:00

All books are at the circulation desk for both book clubs. Please call if you would like to become a member of either club, Ex Libris (second Tuesday of the month at the Bourne Community Building) or Wednesday Readers (third Wednesday of the month at the library).

On the Mezzanine

2005-07-02T08:49:00.000-05:00

Not many folks were able to travel to New York City this past February to see the exhibition in Central Park entitled “The Gates”, by the artist Christo. Thanks to Farren Williamson, daughter of Theo Giordano and Simon Williamson, patrons will be able to view this exhibit through her photographs. The photos will be on display on the Mezzanine from June 21-July 16th. For more info on this art installation, please visit The Gates website.

Friends of the Library

2005-06-18T13:11:00.000-05:00

Finances are the talk of the town this week, as the deadline for an override approaches. Thanks to the Friends’ fundraising efforts, the library is moving ahead with plans for the new building, despite the aura of doom and gloom at Town Hall.

A big event is planned for next month, but we need some help. If you have ever dealt a poker hand, we need dealers for our Texas Hold-Em Poker Night on July 6th. Dealers will be “taught” the proper way to deal for the event, so don’t hold back if you have any experience at all. Call Carol (508-759-5070) or Fran (506-563-7938) to volunteer.

Spaces are still available if you’d rather play than deal too! Applications are at the circulation desk in the library.

Children’s Services

2005-06-18T13:08:00.000-05:00

The Children’s Room staff will take a much needed break next week to finish planning for the Summer Reading Program and to do some outreach in the Bourne Schools. Miss Judith and Miss Terry have been traveling to the various grammar schools to give out Scholastic Books to students and to promote the summer reading program. June 28th is the official kick off of this year’s program which will promote helping children throughout the world by reading at home.

No programs will be held until June 28th.

What’s new

2005-06-18T13:07:00.000-05:00

After an exhaustive four months, all of the Mass Market paperbacks have been re-labeled and moved to their new shelving home in the front of the library (to the right around the circulation desk as you enter the library). Many thanks are due to Lee Savard who is in charge of this collection for the work she did to bring all of our paperbacks to one site. Mass Market paperbacks are what most patrons think of when one says “Paperback”-the kind of book that can be stuck in one’s pocket or beach bag and whose print becomes harder to read as one gets older! Trade paperbacks are the slightly larger, usually more classic literature (think, Hemingway and Faulkner). Our trade paperbacks are still shelved with the regular hardcover fiction and non-fiction. If you have any questions about a title, please ask or check the online catalog for a call number. Mass Markets will have a PB in the call number, while the Trades will not. Although this shelving arrangement will separate some authors’ works (e.g., Nora Roberts) the scheme will be beneficial to those who prefer browsing only paperbacks and will make shelving and finding these materials much easier for both patron and shelver.

Stats to go

2005-06-18T13:05:00.000-05:00

In 1964, the book budget for the library was $6,000. This year’s budget was $62,500, slightly more than 10 times the 1964 total, but the cost of books rose more than 19 times the cost in 1964. We’re still not up to the standard we need to be. According to the most recent stats from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, Bourne ranks lower than average in all categories of municipal spending for libraries in the state--from population group (15-25,000) to Statewide average. Current figures and charts are available at the library or on the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners website

Off the Shelves (Book Recommendations)

2005-06-18T13:04:00.000-05:00

Although the weather doesn’t know what season it should be, the brisk increase in circulation and Internet usage tells us that it is getting close to summer on the Cape. Now is the time to kick back and read all those “frivolous” titles you didn’t think you should be reading over the winter. Several titles that practically fell off the shelves as I walked by this week are the focus of my musings. All the titles happily blurred together with one objective; they are all about the ocean or, in one case, what happens to those who make their living upon it. A new, 50th anniversary edition of the classic meditation, Gift From the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh was the first to catch my eye. Written when she was on vacation by the sea, this timeless little book has much to offer us, men and women alike, even though Ms. Lindbergh wrote it from the viewpoint of women’s issues. The anniversary edition has a new forward by Reeve Lindbergh, the author’s son. If one has never read this gem of inspiration, now is a good time to capture the rhythm of the ocean in the prose of a writer whose words bring calmness to the spirit and hope for the future.

Another title that speaks of life rhythms is by Matthew Kelly, titled (not to be redundant!) The Rhythm of Life: Living Each Day With Passion and Purpose. Kelly’s book although more of a modern look at lifestyle challenges, can be read with the same sense of hope as Lindbergh’s book. Both titles will make a good start for those who are anxiously trying to alter a chaotic pace, whether young Mothers and Fathers who are “program challenged” by too many activities for their children and themselves, or empty-nesters who are on the verge of retirement but don’t know what to make of an imminent life change.

On the Mezzanine

2005-06-18T13:01:00.000-05:00

Lily’s Lion Collection is ferociously fun -come in to see what she collects; all items are on display in the Children’s case.

Star Wars are erupting all over the Adult Display Case. Catch of good glimpse of Darth Vader and the gang, thanks to Anthony Cortese.

Summer Reading Lists

2005-06-14T18:44:00.000-05:00

It’s that time of year again when school reading lists are showing up in book bags across the town. We have been fortunate this year to secure the lists early (thanks to Lyn Weeks of the Middle School and the Reading Dept. of the Bourne High School). Titles which are changed from last year have been removed from the Summer Reading list notebook and shelves. All titles for the schools should be in place this week. Parents are reminded that although the teachers require the book to be taken to class on the day of the testing in September, library books have to be returned after two weeks. We have limited copies of titles and wish to be fair to all students who use the library.

Children’s Services

2005-06-14T18:42:00.000-05:00

Gearing up for Summer Reading this year has been a great deal of fun (as well as a lot of work!). As the Children’s Department staff closes the “Spring Fling” story hours, they are already well into planning for the summer programs. The last Spring Fling story hour will be Friday, June 17th.

“Barn Babies”, a special program in which children are able to learn about and hold baby animals will be presented on Friday, June 17th (a busy day!). As we have over 100 children signed up for this treat, registration is closing fast. There are still a few spots left, so call ahead (508-759-0644) if you wish to participate. Time slots are from 11:30-12 and 12-12:30.

Beacon of Support (Business Sponsor)

2005-06-14T18:40:00.000-05:00

June’s sponsor is Eye Healthcare & Optical of Bourne, Kathleen T. Cronin, M.D.

Dr. Cronin will present a program entitled "The Aging Eye" at the library tomorrow, Wednesday June 15th at 7 p.m. Her business, which is located at Trading Post Corners Medical Complex is family owned and run. We welcome Dr. Cronin into the Bourne community and thank her for her sponsorship of the library.

Web wanderings

2005-06-14T18:39:00.000-05:00

Although I was not able to attend a recent workshop about a “new” technology called RSS, I have been able to examine some of the precepts behind it thanks to the wonders of a Powerpoint presentation on the web. The concept is one that will appeal to those who have little time to rummage around the thousands of websites that bring news and views to us in this too-fast paced world. Several names are given for the RSS –the most useful seems to be “Real Simple Syndication”. The purpose of the RSS is to gather all the (or selected portions of) a topic in one place, so that one is not forced to look everywhere for news about the topic. Many sites do this as part of their own news gathering process (e.g., The New York Times, Yahoo, etc.), but some are content “gatherers” unto themselves, such as http://www.findarticles.com. Most useful to those of us who have to disseminate information, these sites can be customized so that one need only look at articles that are a few hours to a few days old—thus ensuring a constantly new perspective on a subject. I do find that this is helpful for keeping up with the oftentimes manic pace of book publishers, but it would also be useful to those in business and education.

On the Mezzanine

2005-06-14T18:33:00.000-05:00

The Bourne Grammar Schools’ Art show will conclude this week. The artists from grades K-8 have done an amazing job with different media and deserve a look! I particularly like the ceramic shoes—come in to view them, before these wonderful creations leave next Monday.

The Bergeron Family has graced our Children’s Display case this month with Lily’s Lion Collection. Thanks to her creative display of “all things Lionized”.

Thanks also to Anthony Cortese, son of Sandy Cortese, who has shared his extensive “Star Wars” collection with us as the final movie is making its way through local theaters. I must admit that the blinking Darth Vader and R2D2 catch me off guard whenever I glance at the case, but the collection is well worth examining. One small patron was disconsolate that he couldn’t “buy” the items.

Need a Card or Cool Gift?

2005-06-09T16:05:00.000-05:00

Handmade cards on display from "The Painted Ladies" are on sale for 3/$10. Choose a packet for yourself and one to frame or send to friends; the pictures range from exquisite Cape landscapes to lifelike renderings of local flora and fauna.

We also have our famous Bourne Library tote bags, available for $15, and classy baseball caps with the library logo, for $10. Supplies are limited; come to the library to buy your Bourne Library merchandise!

Proceeds of the sales will benefit the Library Building Fund.

2005-06-09T14:37:00.000-05:00

Friends of the Jonathan Bourne Public Library will be holding a

No Limit Texas Hold 'em Tournament
Wednesday, July 6, 2005

(Net proceeds to benefit The Library Building Fund)

Weary Travelers Club, 77 Valley Bars Road,
Monument Beach, MA 02553

Check-in 6pm - Play begins at 7pm
Directions - South from the Bourne Bridge, South on Route 28 (MacArthur Blvd.)
Turn right on Clay Pond Road, then left onto Valley Bars, Weary Travelers is at the end of the road on the right.

Donation is $100 per player.
Registration is open to the first 150 players; must be 18 or over to play.
Please register in advance (stop by Bourne Library for a registration form)

Prizes paid to the top 8 places:
1st place - $3000, 2nd place - $2500, 3rd place - $1200, 4th place - $850, 5th-8th place - TBA (based on number of players)

For more information, contact:
Carol at (508) 759-5070 or Fran at (508) 563-7938 or visit www.caponespokertables.com

If you have what it takes at Texas Hold 'em, come on down and show your stuff, and help support The Building Fund of the Jonathan Bourne Public Library!

2005-06-09T14:23:00.000-05:00

The Friends of the Library are busy bees this spring! In addition to their normal fundraising and booster activities, they are sponsoring a:

Flea Market and Arts and Crafts Fair, to be held:

Saturday, June 25

Saturday, July 30

Saturday, August 27

on the lawn in front of the library. Hours are 10am-2pm.

If you have wares to sell (or extra household stuff from your spring cleaning), tables can be reserved for $30.

If you are interested in reserving a table for any or all of the above dates, please call Vicki at (508) 759-5034

See you at the Flea!

Friends of the Library

2005-05-28T08:32:00.000-05:00

Due to the unfortunate weather, the first Arts, Crafts and Flea Market scheduled for this weekend is canceled. The next will be June 25th.

Children’s Services

2005-05-28T08:31:00.000-05:00

Bourne the Builder Day is Saturday, June 3, from 10 -12 in the Children’s Garden. Vincent Michienzie will provide large construction equipment and local architect Greg Siroonian has graciously allowed us the use of an architect’s model and building plans to show the children the beginning stages of building.

The Friends of the Library have purchased bird house kits for each family to make and Sue Reilly will teach youngsters how to make garden stones. All tools will be provided. Please bring safety glasses.

Beacon of Support (Business Sponsor)

2005-05-28T08:29:00.002-05:00

June’s sponsor is Eye Healthcare of Bourne, Kathleen T. Cronin, M.D.

On the Mezzanine

2005-05-28T08:29:00.001-05:00

The Bourne Schools’ art exhibit from K-grade 8 is next week through June 11. The high school show was so good, I’m not sure they can top this one, but it is will be lovely to have more art hanging on the mezzanine.

What’s new

2005-05-28T08:29:00.000-05:00

Some shelving changes have taken place in the Children’s Room over the past few weeks. New titles have moved around to the back of the video shelves, with beginning readers and the Parents’ Collection in the former NEW section. Videos have been weeded and several are available for purchase in the on-going book sale, but if you can’t find something that we formerly had, please ask!

Off the Shelves

2005-05-28T08:25:00.000-05:00

An unfortunate car accident last Thursday left my friend and co-worker, Terry Colon and I bruised and aching but not more seriously injured and gave me an opportunity to do a bit more reading than I normally do. I owe Terry’s good driving and the use of seat belts and air bags my life in this case, and I feel blessed to be able to also marvel at the way in which we are sometimes handed opportunities to look at life in a whole new light.

Although I am not at all happy that parts of my anatomy resemble a bad Picasso painting, nor that the person who caused the accident still has not acknowledged his wrongful driving, the whole incident has given me a renewed perspective about the goodness of strangers (the woman who helped us immediately afterward, the wonderful response of the Bourne police and paramedics) and let me spend a few days curled up non-guiltily with literary blessings such authors as Susan Wiggs, Anne Perry and Mary Balogh. I have been catching up on missed titles, as I mentioned last week and this weekend’s forced withdrawal to the couch with heating pad and ibuprofen gave me ample opportunity to read several new novels by these favorite, gifted writers. Each seems to have been “saved” for this week as a reminder of aspects of life that I had let go to a certain extent. One unexpected irony of this past week is that a title I had decided to peruse for this column turned out to be a novel concerning a much more serious car accident and the consequence of one’s actions on another’s life! Another title deals with the real problem of whether it is best to live a life of “contentment only” or whether one should throw caution to the winds to reach for heights that can only be achieved if one is willing to also know its depths. And a third, examines the extent to which one must sometimes go in pursuit of justice.

Mary Balogh’s newest, Simply Unforgettable, the first in her third series, is a remarkably complex examination of the differences in a life lead to the fullest vs. a life led to be merely “content”. Though wrapped in the romance genre, which by definition, will have an ending that guarantees the triumph of true love, the characters generate much more intricate thoughts than one expects of this type of story. At one point in the plot, the two protagonists are walking in a rainy garden, having been brought together again by a seeming coincidence, and one asks the other if she believes in fate. The answer is that she believes, “…that some unexpected things happen to catch our attention and what we do with those moments might affect or change the whole course of our life.” I ruminated on this when I came to reading it and had to agree that I am in agreement with the character. The story progresses from there with similar insights that force the reader to stop and examine the series with the hopes that Balogh will continue to remind us of some basic tenets that affect relationships.

Anne Perry, also a woman of intricate characters helped me while away the time this past weekend, too. Her newest Charlotte and Thomas Pitt novel had some eerie echoes of present day politics masked but not too well in the Victorian mystery, Long Spoon Lane. The Pitt novels are one of three sets of mysteries which Perry has written over her long career, and I find the latest as engaging as the first. In this one, the story line is continued from the previous, Seven Dials, but can be read on its own without having to begin at the beginning of the series. The ideas in this particular title are reminiscent of a Taylor Caldwell novel in which a select government agency is causing chaos in order to further its own ends. I shuddered a bit as I read, because the idea seems a little too close to reality these days, but read on despite the close parallel (or perhaps because of it!).

The third title, Susan Wiggs' Table for Five, another, at first glance, predictable romance, is a marvel of understatement about the ways in which we find ourselves changed by another’s actions. Her main characters are thrown together to take care of three children left orphaned by a car accident in which their parents are killed. This was a bit too close to home for me at first, but I found that as I read it, unexpected glimmers of hope and reassurance came out of the tragedy. The book jangled my already tense nerve endings with ideas that we are not always able to provide what we wish for our children, and that our own sometimes selfish actions reverberate much further that we know. Despite those uncomfortable reminders of my own faults, the book also spoke to me of the very real nature of love and what it means to commit to loving someone despite their faults. Wiggs has a lovely way of bringing one to tears in a paragraph that ends on a note of rueful laughter, as the reader recognizes the simple truths from her characters. Reading all of these books this past weekend reminded me of my first college English professor, who when asked about what to read (the questioner having the ulterior motive of a need to back up his own reading of only non-fiction), remarked that novels were sometimes the best way in which to get a true feel for life. The three novels which I read this week have certainly shown his words of over 30 years ago to still hold true.

"Get Well" Wishes

2005-05-21T08:59:00.000-05:00

Our Assistant Director Diane Ranney and Assistant Children's Librarian Terri Colon were involved in an auto accident this past week. We are truly thankful that neither suffered major injuries. Diane and Terri are both home recuperating, and we all wish them a speedy recovery.

Friends of the Library - Programs and Fundraisers

2005-05-21T08:57:00.000-05:00

Cards on display from "The Painted Ladies" are on sale for 3/$10. Choose a packet for yourself and one to frame or send to friends. Proceeds of the sale will benefit the Library Building Fund.

May 25th is program night at the Library. Join the Friends at 7:30 p.m. in the program room for a stirring account of Ned Handy’s time in Stalag 17, a German prison. Mr. Handy is the author of the book, The Flame Keepers. Copies of the book will be on sale at the program. If you wish to read it beforehand, a circulating copy is available at the library.

Children’s Services

2005-05-21T08:56:00.000-05:00

Mark your calendars for another fun day of building at the library. June 3 from 10-12, the Second Annual Bourne the Builder Day will be held in the Children’s Garden. Vincent Michienzie has once again offered a backhoe on which children can climb; with this year’s buildables to include bird houses and garden stones.

Come to Thursday night crafts and get a head start on summer fun! 6:30-7:30 every Thursday evening from now until June 17th, the Family Story time has been combined with the Bourne Book Buddies for crafts and fun. Next week’s theme will revolve around Memorial Day-join the group and take home a patriotic craft to display for the holiday.

Stats to go

2005-05-21T08:55:00.001-05:00

The library has over 40 volunteers who help keep the shelves neat, put books away, process items for circulation, call patrons about reserved books and help with children’s and adult programs.

Call us if you need a little something different to do this summer.

On the Mezzanine

2005-05-21T08:55:00.000-05:00

May 26th is the last day to enjoy the Bourne High School’s amazing display of artistic talent. Don’t miss it!

Check out the center shelf for the Friends of the Library display-after a very successful Volunteer Appreciation Night, there were several baseball caps left over. Caps with the Jonathan Bourne Public Library log are now on sale for $10.00 each as well as bags for $15.00 each. There are limited supplies of both, so get in to the library to purchase yours now. Proceeds will be shared between to the library programs and building funds.

What’s new

2005-05-21T08:54:00.000-05:00

The crystal award and copy of the $25,000 check on display on the main floor of the library represents a significant step toward our new building. Eastern Bank, which has taken over Plymouth Savings, presented 40 local groups, with funding grants. The Friends of the Library received the check to add to our building fund. We thank the Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation for this significant gift.

We are hoping that with other substantial gifts, the building project will continue on its scheduled course. Anyone who wishes to make a contribution to the building fund should contact library administration or a Friend of the library (508-759-0644).

Question (and Answer) of the Week

2005-05-21T08:53:00.000-05:00

Where is the Tobey Club House?

This question, via telephone, was answered with the combined efforts of two librarians and a volunteer! The question came from a woman whose daughter had seen a postcard on Ebay that was a picture of "the Tobey Club House Pocasset 1908". After mulling over several locations that they thought it might be, the woman called the library for an answer. After asking volunteer Flo Prince (a long-time resident of Bourne), and looking at the Atlas of Barnstable County (which showed Tobey Island and mentioned the Tobey Club), we were able to find definitive proof in the oral history, From Pocasset to Cataumet, recollections by Elmer Watson Landers that the Tobey Club House really was in Monument Beach on Tobey Island. The clubhouse unfortunately burned in 1941, leaving nothing but memories.

Off the Shelves (Book Recommendations)

2005-05-21T08:50:00.000-05:00

Summer is creeping up on us even though it feels more like early Spring than the middle of May and it is almost time to think about summer reading projects and lists. There are shelves of new titles at the bookstores and we’ve been busy ordering the latest of popular authors, but what about the titles that are one the "back shelves" (this would comprise just about anything that isn’t labeled "NEW")?

I found that as I was looking for a few titles to take to Charleston a few weeks ago, that I had missed some great authors who had started their careers as paperback writers or had jumped from one genre to another or were writing under a pseudonym in another genre. I had also been skipping some of my favorite authors in an effort to broaden my literary horizons and in the process realized that I had missed some good writing in the past year! Writers like Dinah McCall (Mimosa Grove, Bloodlines, Chase the Moon, etc.), who writes mysteries under this pseudonym and romances under the name Sharon Sala, are a good example of the different genre/pseudonym writing. Bloodlines, the book I took with me to Charleston, is an intriguing story of a woman who was kidnapped as a child but returned unharmed to the family and as an adult suddenly finds herself the object of a witch hunt by someone who now wants her dead. The author has a deft touch with words, creating a sense of suspense, even as she is revealing the plot. Sometimes, this type of plot can be boring, particularly if the author lets the plot unfold too soon, but McCall knows just how much to let loose on each page, with a very surprising twist at the end. I’m eager to see if the rest of her mysteries are as engrossing.

Nancy Thayer is one of those whom I had neglected. Although her latest is under the NEW column (The Hot Flash Club Strikes Again), I realized that I hadn’t read the original Hot Flash Club, an endearing look at four women who are entering what the French so delicately call "a certain age". This is a funny, sometimes heart-catching look at those lives that could so easily mirror some of ours. I can’t wait to try the new one!

Joe Lansdale is a best bet for the summer, also. His country westerns have lively characters, catchy dialogue and some downright unbelievable plots (but then, I read the local papers and think that Lansdale is closer to the truth in his writing than some of the scenarios that are unfolding in our own town!). He also has a "NEW" title (Sunset and Sawdust), but I’d recommend any of his older novels as a great way to get acquainted with "Good Ole Boy" mysteries. Whatever you choose this week, why not take a tour of the stacks as well as the NEW shelves to see what you may have missed!

Friends of the Library Programs

2005-05-14T09:43:00.000-05:00

Two great programs are being held in May at the library. The first, on May 18th, is a talk by Mr. William Taylor (of Taylor’s Point) who will speak of the “Glory Days” of Buzzards Bay.

The second, on May 25th, is a program by the author, Ned Handy, who wrote of his survival inside the infamous German prison Stalag 17. Mr. Handy will discuss his book, The Flame Keepers.

Both programs will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the program room at the library.

On the Mezzanine

2005-05-14T09:42:00.000-05:00

Color reigns again on the railings and walls of the Mezzanine, as the Bourne High School Art Show is hung for the next two weeks. The talent of these young people is amazing and not to be missed. All art is on display during regular library hours.

In the Children’s Display Case, Logan Bergeron has placed his car collection. Over 100 “Cool Cars” are lined up and look as though they could easily swoop down a miniature race track at a moment’s notice! Check out both displays this month.

Web wanderings

2005-05-14T09:40:00.000-05:00

One of the interesting parts of my job is networking with other librarians via what are known as “listservs". As a member of one that is based in Great Britain, I was happy to make note of a new website that encourages young men to read. As every teacher and most parents of male children know, getting boys of a certain age to read can sometimes be next to impossible. This site, created by two young teens even acknowledges that fact, but pushes reading anyway. The site, www.fabfiction.moonfruit.com, won a prize for best new website by a teen in England.

Though it has some grammatical errors, the layout is exceptionally advanced for the age of the designers. They have used Flash (a type of scripting for websites that allows one to have animation), but their basic layout is clear and the site is easy to navigate. They also have separated their reviews into genres and kept the “hype” out of the reviews, which seems to indicate that they have actually read the materials about which they write. A “Comments” section similar to the “blog” technology lets readers interact with the web designers. The site has a visible counter so one can see how many people have visited, rather fun for those who like to be included in statistics for the entire world to see. It also has completely current information, as the site appears to be updated daily, a feat that is necessary to hold the interest of today’s “change in a blink” generation. All in all, boys between the ages of 10-14 should be interested in this site. Parents and teachers might suggest its use if they are tired of cajoling reluctant readers into books.

Question (and Answer) of the Week

2005-05-14T09:36:00.000-05:00

One of the library circulation clerks, Lee Savard, received an unusual request for a recipe for Anise Bread. The patron needed a copy of a recipe which she had made in the past, but couldn’t locate again.

Lee, who works at the circ desk and has a myriad of other duties including Interlibrary Loan duties, took the request, getting all the details that the original had come from a Watertown Sons of Italy Cookbook from the 1970’s. Lee then e-mailed the interlibrary loan department of the Watertown Library and stated her need for the recipe. Much to her delight, the librarian in Watertown not only knew of the book, but also the family who had created the original recipe. She got in touch with the daughters of the woman who had done the original and the recipe was hand-carried to the Watertown Library, then e-mail to us! Now that’s going the extra mile for a reference request--thanks Lee!

Stats to go

2005-05-14T09:35:00.000-05:00

The CLAMS network borrowed 871 items from other “off-Cape” libraries last month, through the Virtual Catalog. Ask about this new service if you can’t find the title you want in the CLAMS catalog.

Children’s Services

2005-05-14T09:33:00.000-05:00

McDonald’s Frequent Reader Bonus Club is in full swing. Children should be sure to have their cards “punched” when they visit the library. After 5 visits, the card may be taken to the Macarthur Boulevard MacDonald’s for a free Happy Meal or Extra Value Meal.

Bourne Book Buddies and Family Story Hour have been combined for the “Spring Fling” drop-in craft sessions on Thursday evenings from 6:30-7:30. Bring the family to participate in learning a new craft.

No registration, group drop-in story hours and play groups are in session every morning except Wednesday. Call the library for times and age group.

Arts & Crafts Fair and Flea Market - Coming Soon!

2005-05-14T09:32:00.000-05:00

With the School Committee’s endorsement of the field layout at the School Committee Meeting last week and the vote to proceed, we are now in a position to work on fund-raising on a grand scale. To that end, The Friends are sponsoring several Arts and Crafts “Markets” this summer.

Starting on May 28th and running the last Saturday of every month through August, one can sell ones wares on the library lawn! The Arts & Crafts Fair and Flea Market will run from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. 10 ft. X 10 ft. spaces will be rented to those who wish to sell items, with space assigned on a “first-come, first-served” basis. The library will also have a space and donations to this table may be brought to the library ON THE DAY of the sales until 10 a.m. Please call Vicki Coates if you wish to rent a space!

What’s new

2005-05-14T09:31:00.000-05:00

Town Meeting may have been a bit of a fiasco, but library staff and trustees are VERY grateful to all who turned out to vote a resounding “yes” to continue the renovation and expansion project. Particular thanks go to Selectmen G. Barlow and LaFarge for their encouraging comments on the project. (And added thanks go to all those who spoke from the floor whose names I didn’t catch!)

Who Wants a Free Happy Meal?

2005-04-30T10:33:00.000-05:00

A new program sponsord by McDonald's allows children to get a free Happy Meal or Medium Value Meal after they have visited the library five times.

Billed as "McDonald's Frequent Reader Club," the program promotes reading with McDonald's as a reward.

Each child is entitled to a Frequent Reader Card (available at the circulation desk), which will be punched by a librarian upon each visit. After five visits, the card may be taken to the MacArthur Boulevard McDonald's to in for the Happy Meal.

The library staff thanks the owners for this opportunity to serve up books on every child's menu!

Children’s Services

2005-04-30T10:30:00.000-05:00

Well-rested and rearing to go, the Children’s Department staff will start the spring session with drop-in story-hours and playgroups next Monday, May 2, from 9:30-11:30. Although Miss Terry will be finishing a collection development class and Miss Judith will be attending a seminar on reference databases, Miss Kathy will take the class on Tuesday as well so that we can offer the group stories and crafts from 9:30-10:30 on that day.

Wednesday’s registered “Crafter’s Time for Parents’ is all “sold out” (there is a waiting list), but Thursday will bring more drop-ins with a “Babies Only” class from 9:30-11:30, playgroup for infants up to 15 months.

Friday is Toddler Time playgroup and Pre-School Story hour (concurrent classes) from 9:30-11:30 for toddlers and 9:30-10:30 for pre-schoolers.

Beacon of Support (Business Sponsor)

2005-04-30T10:28:00.000-05:00

Adventure Isle on Rt. 28 MacArthur Boulevard, Bourne has a wide variety of party packages for all ages. They can be reached at (508)-759-2636 or on the web at www.adventureisle.com. A free coupon is printed on the back of each library bookmark. Pick them up through May 28th.

Off the Shelves (Book Recommendations)

2005-04-30T10:08:00.000-05:00

I haven’t been titillating our readers’ tastes with fiction lately, so this week, I hauled a few authors off the shelves to test their mettle. A surprisingly delightful romance by Marion Chesney caught my fancy on Monday and by Tuesday, I had raced through it, laughing all the way at her sometimes not so flattering descriptions of characters in the Edwardian mystery, Sick of Shadows. Her books are usually written in series, such as The School for Manners, and this new one is no exception to that, but it is set in a different time period (late 1870’s vs. Regency) and the author seems a bit more inclined to leave the reader hanging than in pervious titles. The heroine is a socialite who doesn’t quite fit the mold, as she is constantly trying to justify her existence through bringing justice to the under classes, which sets her parents in a dither. Her romantic counterpart is a member of the aristocracy as well, but had to “repair his fortunes”, which he did by becoming a “detective”. The manners and mores are true to the time even if Chesney’s writing style can be a bit abrupt. I had forgotten that she also writes under the name of M.C. Beaton, of Agatha Raisin fame. Those mysteries of the “cozy” variety (a genre that revolves around mysteries in quaint villages, with the “detective” usually an older woman who is known for her wisdom) are quite fun to read as well as the Regency and Edwardian ones. We have an entire shelf of Chesney’s works if you find that they are to your liking.

History may not be your cup of tea, but perhaps chocolate animal mystery is. Joanna Carl has come out with a new one in her “Chocoholic Mystery” series. This one, The Chocolate Puppy Puzzle, following in the footsteps of The Chocolate Frog Frame-up, The Chocolate Bear Burglary, and the first in the series, The Chocolate Cat Caper, features the sleuth, Lee McKinney, manager of her aunt’s chocolate business in the tiny town of Warner Pier, Michigan. Of course, the villain of the piece has a lovely Chocolate Labrador, but I don’t want to give away any of the sweet clues that readers might enjoy. Suffice to say, the mystery is as tasty as some of the treats described in the books!

In a departure from the mystery trend one may think I’m on, my third choice for this week is a departure also for the author. Maura D. Shaw, a known author of young adult books has ventured into the somewhat perilous waters of adult historical romance writing with her new novel, The Keeners. I probably should have been writing about this one last month, as it involves the Great Potato Famine of Ireland in 1846 and a lass whose calling is in the ancient art of keening (or, in modern terms, a professional mourner). Margaret Meehan, who had expected her life to follow much the way her mother’s and grandmother’s before her is thrust suddenly into the strange world of New York in the mid-1800’s, when her intended husband becomes a wanted man after the murder of a landowner is discovered. Ms. Shaw’s prose is lyrical if slightly simplistic, but the story holds one’s interest, even as the historical events unfold coincidentally to tally with the plot. As a first novel, this is a good start, but I would like to see the author expand upon her lesser characters a bit more.

Gregory Galloway, on the other hand, another first novelist, has written an eerie tale that grips one like the frozen cold about which he writes. The story is simple enough in the beginning, but rapidly takes the reader down a series of rabbit holes that rival anything Alice (from Alice in Wonderland) ever saw. As Simple As Snow, is a mesmerizing tale of a girl whose life was a series of seemingly unconnected events that add up to murder in the end and the friend who tries to reconstruct what happened to her. I am happily awaiting Mr. Galloway’s next venture into his ordinary macabre world.

On the Mezzanine

2005-04-30T10:07:00.000-05:00

Last day to see the brilliant art show by local artists, Gloria Carson, Shirley Craig, and Gladys Von Fuchs on the mezzanine. Please stop into see this display before it is gone (today!!!).

The Painted Ladies are showing and selling original water-color note cards to raise money for the new building. Please feel free to ask about special packets if you don’t wish to purchase any of the packets as they appear on the display.

What’s new

2005-04-30T10:05:00.000-05:00

After an early morning meeting with the School Building Facilities sub-committee, we are happy to report that all seems a bit clearer to both sides in the ongoing renovation project. Many thanks are extended to Superintendent LaFleur and the four members of the sub-committee for “hearing us out” as we try to work out new ways to accommodate the need for a bit more land behind the library and the unquestioning need to keep both the soccer and softball fields intact. Please come to Town Meeting to support the articles that will be advanced for this project.

Off the Shelves (Book Recommendations)

2005-04-23T14:39:00.000-05:00

The beautiful weather earlier in the week prompted me to look at our gardening collection, both old and new. Surprising even to me, we have over 7 shelves of gardening titles. They range from the specific to the general, including title such as Natural Insect and Pest Control (632.9) to Gardening Under Glass (635.93). Many titles are specific to the area as in Seaside Gardening (635.95/JAM).

All the newer gardening books appear to be checked out, with only one (and this is stretching it a bit to fit the category!), 100 Sunrooms by David Wilson remaining on the shelf. This is a lovely sourcebook for designs and products that enhance the gardening experience. Quarry Books, a small press publisher engaged Mr. Wilson to do this book. His expertise on both British and American design for garden rooms gives the reader a delightful sense of both the historical and contemporary use of sunrooms as an enhancement of outdoor living space. Anyone planning to add on to an existing home (or even designing a new one) should check out this title before building.

Baseball is in the air too--literally and figuratively. Our latest additions to this collection include the 27th edition of Beckett’s Baseball Card Price Guide (REF 796.357 BEC and NEW 796.357 BEC) and the Book of Baseball Records (2004 edition) (REF 796.357 BOO and NEW 796.357 BOO) Copies of the title are so popular that I decided to order one for each collection--circulating and reference this year. (The method to my extravagance is to offer a circulating copy with the hope that the reference copy will not “disappear”). Other new titles in our non-fiction “Spring Collection” include books about golfing, poetry, Asperger’s disease, taxes, motherhood in the “age of anxiety”, baseball memoirs, the Supreme Court, essays, the presidency (past and present) and know-it-alls. If there isn’t something to satisfy your reading tastes this week, please check in with me!

Stats to go

2005-04-23T14:38:00.000-05:00

This year, the library subscribed to over 100 magazines, 13 newspapers and a variety of subscription services (such as the stock report, Valueline). The cost of periodical subscriptions has risen dramatically in the past five years, up an average of 12%, which cuts into our buying power. Last year, the library paid over $4,000 for the magazine subscriptions.

Reference question of the week

2005-04-23T14:36:00.000-05:00

Reference question of the week: “I am looking for the article that mentioned unclaimed monies from the state-I think it was in the Cape Cod Times from either March or April.”

Answer of the week: This question was the type of question that Library Science professors often use to illustrate the need for an “in-depth reference interview”. The first part of the patron’s inquiry was for the actual newspapers but upon further questioning, I was able to elicit the above true reason she needed them. When I had ascertained her real need, I was able to access the Massachusetts government page online (www.mass.gov) where there is a section regarding “abandoned property” with a claim form, information about the Abandoned Property Act and several FAQs which proved to be most helpful to the patron.

On the Mezzanine

2005-04-23T14:35:00.000-05:00

This is the last week to meander into the children’s room to see the lovely collection of miniature soldiers and British double-decker buses that Matthew and Cory Mason have so generously lent us this month.

Our “Painted Ladies” note card display is also currently available. These note cards are selling for 3 cards/$10, with all proceeds to be donated to the Building Fund.

Also of note is the display of information, books and pamphlets about Domestic Violence. April is the month dedicated to informing people about domestic violence. We are grateful to Independence House of Hyannis for their pamphlets. All the books on display may be checked out.

Children’s Services

2005-04-23T14:33:00.000-05:00

Next week will be a time-out for the Children’s Staff as they re-organize the craft room, catch up on paperwork and attend some classes. There are no story-times, playgroups or programs scheduled until May 2nd. From May 2nd thru June 17th, drop-in story hours and playgroups will be held on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. The Wednesday Parents’ Crafters Class scheduled for 9:30-11:30 is full, but a waiting list has been started. If any parent is interested in attending this class, please check with the children’s staff or Upper Cape Family Network coordinator, Kathy Gattoni.

What’s new

2005-04-23T14:31:00.000-05:00

We are currently filled to capacity with donations and are taking a few weeks to sort through those that will be offered in the regular sale and those that will be added to the collection or sent the “Hands Across the Water” literacy project. If you have hardback donations, please hold them until the second week in May when we will have space in the “storage area”. Paperbacks are always welcome, as are magazines.

Speaking of magazines, we’d like to thank Madeline Virbasius, who donates money for a subscription to a current magazine. If anyone is interested in becoming a donor (we have had several in the past), please speak to me about it. With funds getting tighter every day and costs rising, each subscription is scrutinized to be sure we really need it. Stats about the cost of magazines and newspapers can be found further along in the column, but if anyone would like to discuss the details, Assistant Director Diane Ranney would be happy to discuss them.

On a slightly different note, we were upset this week to notice that someone had taken down all the tags at the end of the book stacks. This is an ongoing pastime of certain people who think it is funny to either change the names around or abscond with the tags that show what is located within the stacks. Although I have no intentions of prosecuting the culprits (and yes, we could--according to the law, defacing library materials is punishable by a fine and/or jail time!), I would like to ask that whoever did it come back to the library to help up put the markers back where they belong. At best, the labor involved in recreating the tags costs the townsfolk about $60.00, but the confusion that ensues while we get the tags back up is more costly. There must be better things to do in the library than create chaos. If the persons involved need a project to while away their obviously wasted time, I’m sure we can find something useful for them to do!

Coupon for Adventure Isle Available

2005-04-20T16:03:00.000-05:00

Adventure Isle is offering a free $5.00 off coupon as part of its April Business Sponsor of the Month at the library. Come in to receive this special offer on the back of each April bookmark!

Library Renovation Update

2005-04-16T10:28:00.000-05:00

Despite a slight setback Tuesday night as the Board of Selectmen declined to take any action, now, on the article for the library building project, the Building Committee is moving full steam ahead. If anything, the comments made by one Board member about Abraham Lincoln’s perseverance in the face of adversity will serve as a spur to library administration to go forward in the face of apparent negativity on the part of the Board.

Meetings between the School Needs Assessment Committee and the full School Committee are scheduled for April 25th and May 4th, when the Library Building Committee will present alternatives to the current plan for the reconfiguration of the fields. We are indebted to Bourne School Superintendent Ed LaFleur, for his careful assessment of the current plans and his support for the full project, pending the changes to the outside fields.

Library design plans are on display in the reading alcove on the first floor.

Off the Shelves (book recommendations)

2005-04-16T10:23:00.000-05:00

Where to begin this week is the problem of the hour! We have so many new titles spilling off the shelves that I am loath to recommend only a few, but limited as I am to time and space, I’ll try to do a shortened version of several titles, rather than an involved description of a few.

Many wonderful non-fiction books recently arrived from our book jobber, including a must-have for all volunteer coaches—The Confident Coach’s Guide to Teaching Basketball, by Beverly Breton Carroll (NEW 796.3232 CAR). Although we have just passed the highlight of the basketball season for schools, this book is a sure-fire winner for those who are currently coaching or anticipate the job in the future. The instructions for each phase of the game are well-covered and the book includes highlighted “boxes” of information that the author feels is essential to a coach. My only complaint is in the photographs, which tend to show less than one might need to explain a drill or particular shot, but the diagrams that accompany the drills are very clear. The book was written with the assistance of Boston Celtics Assistant Coach, John Carroll; with the Celtics’ record looking up, the coaching style bodes well for the amateurs to find a winning streak using this title.

If sports are not your thing, perhaps haunted violins can tempt you. Edward Lodi, a well-known local author and publisher is back with another anthology of New England ghost stories, titled, The Haunted Violin: True New England Ghost Stories (NEW 398.25 LODv). Although Lodi is more a re-teller of stories, his comments and historical research into the origins make fine reading. A few of the stories take place on the Cape and one even in the country of New Brunswick (which is tied to New England by way of Massachusetts history, a very interesting tale by itself).

Two novels, one a debut piece and another from a fairly well situated author, round out this week’s picks: The Coal Tattoo by Silas House is a beautiful example of regional writing that speaks to the entire world. The story is of two sisters so opposite in ways and manner that even they cannot conceive of being together, but are forced to do so when they are left orphans at an early age. House’s prose is as eloquent as any poetry as he brings their tale to the pages of this beautifully written novel. Pam Lewis, on the other hand, in her debut novel, Speak Softly, She Can Hear, writes of two women joined by a macabre secret that will destroy them and all they love if it becomes known. Although I am certain that the physical cover of this book will annoy the living daylights out of those who read it, the content of the book is of much higher caliber! Ms. Lewis’ earthy prose will win converts to the psychological mystery, even as the hardiest readers shiver through the matter of fact prose that conceals and reveals terror on a grand scale.

Reference question (and answer) of the week

2005-04-16T10:18:00.000-05:00

Can you find me a description of the weather from April 5 & 6, 2004?

This question came from a local lawyer who needed to determine if the ground was muddy on those particular days. Using the weather (as reported on The Weather Underground), the lawyer will try to instill reasonable doubt in the minds of the jury.

And for those who need the real answer, the weather was mostly clear with a high of 51 degrees and a low of 28 degrees on April 6th and cloudy with light rain and snow, a high of 43 degrees and a low of 30 degrees on April 5th.

Children’s Services

2005-04-16T10:16:00.000-05:00

Registered groups are over for this year. After a two-week break, the children’s department will be holding drop-in story-hours and playgroups on the following days:

Monday from 9:30-11:30 all ages are welcome to attend story hour and playgroup;
Tuesday from 9:30-10:30, all ages for story hour and playgroup;
Thursday is Babies Only (infants to 15 months) from 9:30-11:30;
Friday is Toddler play group from 9:30-11:30 with preschool story-hour from 9:30-10:30.

No children’s groups will be held on Wednesday. All drop-ins will start May 2nd and run through June 17th.

Beacon of Support (Business Sponsor)

2005-04-16T10:15:00.000-05:00

Adventure Isle, a great place to have fun with the entire family! Call them at 1-800-535-2787 to arrange a visit or a birthday party. The game room, snack bar and indoor area are open year round; the outside go-carts are a special summer attraction.

Greeting cards for sale, from local artists The Painted Ladies

2005-04-13T16:33:00.000-05:00

Starting this Thursday, The Painted Ladies, another extremely talented art group, will be selling greeting cards printed from original watercolor paintings Subjects range from crabs to lighthouses in one set, flowers and scenic views in two others. Each set of 3 cards will sell for $10.00 with proceeds to be given to the Library Building Fund.

On the Mezzanine - Lovely Paintings!

2005-04-13T16:28:00.000-05:00

Many thanks to the trio of women artists who are sharing their works with us this month: Gloria Carson, Gladys Von Fuchs, and Shirley Craig. Their works will be on display on the mezzanine through April 30th. We are sorry that those who cannot manage stairs will not be able to see these lovely pieces of art, but with a new library, all of the facilities will be accessible.

April is National Poetry Month

2005-04-07T14:25:00.000-05:00

Free reference site Infoplease has a slew of information on April's National Poetry Month.

The site includes definitions of poetry terms, links to biographies of poets, and quizzes. How well do you know poetry? Visit the site to see who wrote this all-too-appropriate poem about spring weather:

The sun was warm but the wind was chill.
You know how it is with an April day
When the sun is out and the wind is still,
You're one month on in the middle of May.
But if you so much as dare to speak,
A cloud comes over the sunlit arch,
A wind comes off a frozen peak,
And you're two months back in the middle of March.
And you're two months back in the middle of March.

Book recommendations

2005-03-30T14:45:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite bloggers, Gael Fashingbauer Cooper of Pop Culture Junk Mail, is also an Arts & Entertainment columnist for MSNBC.com. She recently reviewed a bunch of fiction and non-fiction titles, many I had not yet heard of. My "To-Read" list has now grown by a half-dozen or so!

Gael's fiction reviews: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6848768/
Non-fiction: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6848769/

Children’s Services

2005-03-19T10:29:00.000-05:00

Annual Egg Hunt on Friday, March 25th-rain or shine! Bring a container for your eggs and have your picture taken with the Bunny! The Egg Hunt starts at 10 a.m. -rain or shine. It will be held indoors if the weather is too cold and/or the snow doesn’t melt by then!

Off the Shelves (Book Recommendations)

2005-03-19T10:22:00.000-05:00

What are we reading this week? Between racing off to seminars, fixing computers and answering reference questions, I haven’t had a lot of time to scan the new shelves for titles, but some that might appeal are also on lists, so I hesitate to recommend them (after all, if everyone is reading them, you don’t need my recommendation!). Instead, I’d like to point out some titles that might be overlooked in the mad scramble to get the latest Daniel Steel (which by the way, for those who read romances, contains the predictable Steel story of a love triangle, thwarted by time and then-of course, a happy resolution). The title is Impossible and it is probably that adjective that best describes my attempts to read this author, even though I am an avowed romance reader.

Aside from that, I have noticed lately, that we have many people who read large print. With over 5000 titles on our shelves, we hold the largest collection of large print on the Cape and Islands, so I’ve chosen a few to entice others to check out this collection and perhaps find some things that are not on the regular shelves. I’ve chosen two titles that are completely opposite in flavor, but quite true to each other in morale content this week, as well as a collection of stories that seem to fit the week’s holiday (St. Patrick’s Day). The first, Ron McLarty’s Memory of Running is at first a depressing tale of one man’s stultifying life, but in reality is a story of redemption and faith. The “hero”, Smithy Ide, a middle-aged drunk has nothing for which to live, until tragedy literally propels him to seek a different life by pedaling his ancient Raleigh bicycle across America. The writing is sometimes difficult to follow, hard as the character about whom it is written and ultimately beautiful in its ability to bring humanity’s best and worst home to the reader. If one can put aside preconceived notions of what a redemption story should be, this novel will bring new insights about what matters most in one’s life. Completely removed from the reality of today is my second LP choice for the week: My Forever Love, by Marsha Canham is on the surface, a typical historical romance. Like Memory of Running, the hero is scorned by his peers and has almost given up hope of ever coming to terms with the events that placed him in exile. Although the writing styles are much different, the books carry the same message-hope exists when all else seems lost. Love is an eternal cure, whatever the vehicle and when one least expects it, life can become sweeter for having faced and overcome adversity. Canham is new to the genre, as is Ron McLarty, but both seem to have the ability to bring the essence of good storytelling to their tales. It might be enlightening to read both books, with an eye toward seeing if one can glean anything from one title that is not in the other. I would be interested in readers’ reactions. If you are not in the mood for moral tales this week, try Joanne Harris’ Jigs and Reel: stories. Her collection of 22 different stories deal with all sorts of scenarios from an “ugly sister” who wants to be Cinderella to a futuristic think-tank where one isn’t sure if the machines are in charge or the inmates. All are thought-provoking, quixotic and short reads that lend themselves well to days when one can’t put a lot of time into reading. All three titles are in the “NEW” large print section of the library.

Web wanderings

2005-03-19T10:21:00.000-05:00

In keeping with last week’s seminar, I was not surprised to find that the library which was mentioned as “the 21st century library” by both keynote speakers (Paco Underhill and Jim Gilmore), has a great website. One of the changes that will be coming to the library soon is a more interactive, up-to-date website, so we are looking at all the different ways to bring information to people in a short time and in the best possible configuration. Check out http://www.ci.cerritos.ca.us/library/library.html to see what Californians are getting for their tax dollars these days. Of course, we are hardly suggesting the same for Bourne, but some of the ideas are easy to follow and would help our patrons keep up with current events here and in town. I was particularly struck by the idea that Cerritos, a “planned town”, didn’t even have a library in 1956 and just two years ago, opened a $6.6 million facility! The story of the library is in the history of the library link, something that we can adapt very easily. The website itself is a great example of using simple photos, clear text, links that lead one to the exact place that they say they will and concise writing for each linked page. It’s a fun site to look at and, for librarians, a dream of things that can be done when all the community gets behind a great project.

Stats to go

2005-03-19T10:19:00.000-05:00

This is one of the few times that a “zero” statistic is good-Bourne had no items stuck on the Virtual Catalog requested list last month. It means that librarians are doing a very good job of keeping up with the demanding work of Inter-library loans.

What’s new

2005-03-19T10:12:00.000-05:00

The Pennies for PAC jar has a new name: Dollars for Doorways! This name appeared to be much more enlightening to those who were asking about the jug. Same principle applies--any money donated will go toward our new building.

Some kinks are still being worked out in our new computer server this week, so we ask your patience when we seem to be running a little slow. We are also trying to replace very old computers and have had to shut down one on the mezzanine this week until we can get a new power supply. Computer time is always in short supply, so please remember to sign-in when you sit down and spend only one hour on the terminals.

Children’s Librarian Judith Blaisdell and I spent two days last week participating in a seminar designed to bring better customer service to our patrons. The program, sponsored through SEMLS and funded by a library services grant (your federal tax dollars at work), was exciting and exhausting, and we have many new ideas to help our library service become better. Look for little changes now and big changes in the new building! Some of these ideas will be presented at the Trustees’ meetings in the coming months. Please feel free to join this group on the third Thursday of each month at 4 p.m.

Beacon of Support (Business Sponsor)

2005-03-17T15:59:00.000-05:00

This month’s business sponsor is Bridgeway Realtors. Please patronize the business sponsors: 127 Main Street Buzzards Bay; www.bridgewayre.com (508-759-6262)

Children’s Services

2005-03-17T15:57:00.000-05:00

Join the Easter Bunny for the annual Egg Hunt on Friday, March 25th! Bring a container for your eggs and have your picture taken with the Bunny! The Egg Hunt starts at 10 a.m. (and will probably be done by 10:10).

Drop-in story times are listed on our voice mail as well as in the Bourne Bookworm. Although most groups are registration only, we do have a Friday morning (9:30-11:30) and a Thursday evening (6:30-7:30) story-time.

Bourne Book Buddies meet on Thursday evenings at 6:30 for stories and crafts (grades 2-4) and the 5th-8th grade Canal Kids will meet tonight, March 17th, at 6:30.

Library Renovation Update

2005-03-17T15:53:00.000-05:00

A recent cautious endorsement of our new building plans by the Finance Committee has given us hope that the rest of the town will embrace the concept equally if not more so! We would like to extend our thanks to both the Board of Selectmen and the Finance Committee for letting us present the Power Point show that gives the reasons we are currently lobbying for a renovation and expansion of the library. Knowing that finances in town (and all over the Cape and Islands) are tighter than ever before, we will be starting a series of “Getting to Know Your Library” meetings to show the town exactly what they will be getting for their money and why we need to do it now! Although we are hoping for funding to fall into place quickly, we realize that it often takes a while to find the money for necessary projects. With that in mind, we are also starting to ask for donations--a small way to donate is tossing change into the very large “Pennies from the PAC” jug that is located at the circulation desk. The “PAC” is the parent support group of the Upper Cape Family Network (Bourne contingent) and they are helping us to raise funds for the new library. Thanks to Kathy Gattoni for her support in this endeavor.

Question (and Answer) of the Week

2005-03-17T15:50:00.000-05:00

Question of the week: Do you have any information about a ragdoll cat?

Answer of the Week: After ascertaining that the question was a legitimate one, I started searching our shelves for cat encyclopedias and found (much to my surprise) that this breed, developed in the late 1960’s truly exists and is exactly what its name implies! The Cat Fanciers’ Association Cat Encyclopedia (636.8 CAT) contained an article on “Rag Doll Cats” that mentioned the cats’ ability to go completely limp when picked up. Additional information about the breed was found on the Internet using a google.com search for “ragdoll cat”.

Off the Shelves (Book Recommendations)

2005-03-17T15:47:00.000-05:00

With the lovely quilts warming our walls this month, I felt that a look at some of our most recent acquisitions in print might help spur readers to tackle this craft themselves. If not, then reading the history of the women (and men) who brought these works of art to life is also something that can bring additional meaning to the art. The Quilt that Walked to Golden (NEW 746.46 DAL) by Sandra Dallas is not just a history of quilts and quilting, but also contains a riveting history of the era and time of the “Westering Movement” including the Colorado Gold Rush, the California Gold Rush and the general migration of Americans toward the frontier after the Civil War. Using diaries, letters, personal memorabilia and stories handed down from generation to generation, the author presents a picture of a timeless craft from the early days to the present quilting society times. Beautifully illustrated with pictures of the quilts mentioned in the text and photographs of the people of the era, this is a book to enjoy even if you can’t quilt or don’t care to try. Come into see the quilts and then take this one home to further your education in stitches. If collecting fabric items interests you, Antique Quilts and Textiles: a Price Guide to Functional and Fashionable Cloth Comforts (NEW 746.46 AUG), by Bobbie Aug and Gerald Roy, is the book to choose this week. This fair small (190 pages) price guide is actually page after page of colored photographs--from Amish socks to antique quilts. The authors give prices, ways to identify actual antique cloth, care of fabrics, evaluations of what is collectible or not and a general commentary on the business of collecting cloth items. A guide such as this one would be no good at all without an index and I am happy that the authors have not only indexed extensively, but also provided a detailed table of contents that allows one to zero in on specific topics quickly. The photos are good quality too, with details pointed out to help the novice as well as the seasoned collector to find exactly what one needs. Although not as interesting in the presentation as the Dallas book, I would highly recommended text for collectors.

If any of my readers is not at all in tune with collecting antiques or otherwise, I have a novel that will make one stop and think about time in an utterly new fashion. Dean Koontz' latest, Life Expectancy, is the story of a man who enters life at the exact minute his grandfather leaves, but before that happens; the grandfather foretells a chilling tale. The hero, Jimmy Tock (and yes, there is significance in the name!), will undergo “five dark days” in his life and what happens after that is left for the reader to find out. For Koontz readers, this one surpasses all of his others and for those who have not read him, perhaps you should try something else if you don’t wish to be up all night and part of the next day finishing the novel in one sitting! Not to give away any of the story, but I was particularly enamored of the first “terrible day” that the hero undergoes, as he is taken hostage by an “entity” in a library. I do love books that use my profession to make a point! I will say no more on this subject so as to simply whet the appetite, but whatever your reading preference this week, check it out at the library.

On the Mezzanine

2005-03-17T15:45:00.000-05:00

"Time in Stitches,” a comprehensive pamphlet describing Judith Crossman’s quilt show, is available at the library now through March 31st. Many thanks are due Sandy Cortese for her work on this explanation of the current show.

In the Children’s Room, we have a magnificent display of model helicopters and tanks. Thanks to Christopher Davis, age 6, for this display.

Library Closing Early

2005-03-08T19:09:00.000-05:00

Due to the worsening weather conditions, the library will be closing at 7:15PM this evening.

Reader's Advisory

2005-03-08T17:49:00.000-05:00

A UK survey conducted in conjunction with World Book Day on March 3rd reaffirms that word-of-mouth is the strongest force in book sales alongside recognizing and wanting to read another book by a favorite author. Twenty-five percent of people responding said the last book they read was based on a personal recommendation from someone else (with the percentage rising to nearly a third among people under 35).

So, have you read any good books lately? Let us know in the comments!

Quilts, quilts, quilts!

2005-03-05T13:34:00.001-05:00

Don’t miss the beautiful, prolific display of handmade from the collection of Judy Crossman. They will hang over the railings through March.

Stats to go

2005-03-05T13:34:00.000-05:00

The library’s budget request this year is a modest $29,364 increase over FY 2005. Most of the increase is needed to cover utility costs and increases in book prices.

Question (and Answer) of the Week

2005-03-05T13:32:00.001-05:00

A patron called looking for a copy of “The Saturday Evening Post” in the early 1900’s. The patron was actually interested in the article about a Cape Cod author from that magazine and wanted to know if we could get it for him. This was a request that he thought had been made a few weeks ago and was calling to verify.

Thanks to some detective work, the ILLIAD (Interlibrary loan) system from the Boston Public Library and the Southeastern Mass Region, the original request was located and we determined that although we had held the photocopy since November, 2004, we could not get in touch with the patron and had just recently recycled it! We have since re-submitted the request and are confident that he will soon have this article.

Off the Shelves

2005-03-05T13:32:00.000-05:00

Mea culpa for missing the deadline last week! Home with bronchitis for three days, I re-surfaced to the world of the living on Friday morning and realized I had not posted the week’s column! Unfortunately, as I write, I’m still dreaming of a Caribbean cruise and nowhere nearer to it than two weeks ago, but the books are beckoning and we can all dream together while reading this week’s picks.

And so--the cruise books, two similar-sounding titles with vastly different content, are Tropical Cruising Handbook by Mark Smaalders and Kim des Rochers (NEW 797.1246 SMA) and Vacation Cruises (for Dummies) by Fran Wenograd Golden (NEW 910.202 GOL 2004). Although I simply abhor the use of “For Dummies” in this extensive series, I have to admit that the content and layout of the books are fabulous for those who don’t know where to start (no matter what the subject). The book, subtitled: A Travel Guide for the Rest of Us! Is chock full of everything (and more) that one needs when setting off on the vacation of a lifetime (or perhaps, just a little cruise in the Bahamas). This one includes prices, ship sizes, planning the cruise, what to wear, how to dine, etc., etc. but also covers every detail one could imagine - from what not to bring on a cold-weather cruise to how to buy a carpet in Turkey. I must say I was impressed with all the little boxes and of course, the usual tiny faces of a man in a circle for the “heads up” sections of each area of the book. Although the authors tend to overdo the alliteration for chapter headings (yes, even for me, the alliteration went a little overboard…), the content of the book is factual and easy to navigate whether one is an old hand at cruises and merely wishes to see what is new this year or whether one has never slapped a sandal on deck. Maps abound and if one is looking for a specific topic, the table of contents is so complete, I found myself reading it through before even leafing the actual text. On the other hand, the authors of Tropical Cruising… did not seem to need such detail in their initial contents’ listing, with only 2-1/2 pages of topics, vs. the 12 for the “Dummies” title. The books are written for completely different audiences though, so perhaps the authors didn’t think they needed to be comprehensive in this area. The scope of Tropical Cruising…is to prepare the amateur sailor for his/her trip in the warmer waters of the Caribbean and surrounding areas. Although the information seems comprehensive, I found the writing to be a bit disconcerting. This may be due to the fact that the authors are not native English speakers, or it may have been the fault of the editor, but such phrases as “Reefs present problems when underway as well” brought me instant visions of several coral reefs sailing across the Pacific, unfettered by their usual attachments to the ocean floor. (Of course, I have been known to leave some participles dangling, which may be why I picked up on the inconsistencies so easily!) Overall, the book gives good information and for sailors who are attempting their first or even their fifteenth cruise in warm waters, this title might be a good one to pack before leaving the dock.

As a great contrast to these two books, there is also a newly released copy of Four Short Blasts: the Gale of 1898 and the Loss of the Steamer Portland, by Peter Dow Bachelder and Mason Philip Smith (NEW 910.453 BAC), a wonderfully comprehensive retelling of the famous snowstorm that caused one of New England greatest shipping disasters. As it doesn’t seem that winter has left us yet, pick a title which appeals to your mood and happy reading until next week!

Children’s Services

2005-03-05T13:31:00.000-05:00

Despite the snow on the ground, Easter is just a few short weeks away. That means that the Easter Bunny will be visiting the library again during the Annual Egg Hunt on Friday, March 25 at 10 a.m. Please bring a container in which to hold your found eggs and a camera to take pictures of your child with the Easter Bunny.

Bourne Book Buddies will meet on Thursday, March 10th at 6:30.

Family story nights are held Thursday evenings (6:30-7:30)

Toddler Play group (drop-in) is held on Friday mornings from 9:30-11:30.

If You Like...

2005-03-05T13:29:00.000-05:00

Reader’s Advisory is the big topic in library circles these days, but it is not really new in Bourne. Our experiment in Reader’s Advisory is to find a different way to connect books with people. As you wander through the stacks next week, you may notice “If you like…” notes next to certain authors. These suggested reading “bookmarks” have been placed beside a few well-known authors (we’re starting with mystery authors) to see if they help the casual browser to hook-up with a different author. The hardest task of any reader’s advisory service is to keep up with the demand for materials. Most genre readers (those who read only a certain type of book) love to discover new authors who write the same or almost the same way their favorites do. The “If you like…” bookmarks are also available at the front desk in case you need to take one home for those times when the library isn’t open and you want to make requests online. By all means, don’t hesitate to ask for suggestions for reading--we have a wealth of different readers on staff who can suggest similar authors and titles when your chosen author has finished writing for the year!

Library Opening at Noon Tuesday

2005-03-01T11:50:00.000-05:00

The library will be opening at noon today, Tuesday, March 1st.