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Medieval Games, Book Discussions and Hike at The Library This Week!
By Jean M. Clarke, June 30, 2008

On Thursday, July 3 children and their parents are invited to discover one of the hidden gems of Gilford with a hike to Lockes Hill.  Originallythe estate of Concord businessman Benjamin Kimball, the Kimball Wildlife Forest is now set aside as a preserve for the study and enjoyment of wildlife.  Join Gilford geologist Dan Tinkham on this 2 mile round trip loop over the summit of Lockes Hill offering panoramic views of Lake Winnipesaukee and the Ossipee Mountains.  We’ll meet at the library at 10 a.m. to carpool to the trailhead.  Pre-registration is required by calling Tasha LeRoux at 524-6042 or stopping by the Children’s Room at the library.  Be sure to wear comfortable hiking shoes and plan to finish by 12 noon.   

 

“Catch a Dragon by the Tale” the theme for this summer’s Children’s Reading Program continues on Wednesday, July 9 with Medieval Games.  Come to the new library site on Potter Hill Road and play some ancient and some brand new games.  Join the tournament and try your hand at jousting, tug-of-war, and other games of strength and skill.  The tournament begin at 4:30 p.m.  Just to be safe wear clothes that you don’t mind getting a little dirty!  Jousters are required to sign-up by contacting the Children’s Room staff.   

 

The book discussion for the month of July is “Lobster Chronicles” by Linda Greenlaw.   Bestselling author of “The Hungry Ocean” and swordboat captain by trade, Ms. Greenlaw decides to return home to a small island 7 miles off the coast of Maine to become a professional lobsterman.  In “Lobster Chronicles” she shares tales of life at sea and on land that are sure to entertain.  Two book discussions are offered:  Thursday, July 3 at 11:30 a. m. (bring your own bag lunch) and Thursday, July 10 at 7 p.m. (an evening discussion with refreshments served).  If you have ever wondered what it would be like to live on an island, this is the book for you! 

 

What exactly is Guitar Hero?  If you’re wondering, we have some performers that can show you!  Come to the library on Wednesday, July 10 from 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. to enjoy memorable performances by local musicians.  Singers, bassists, guitarists, drummers, and dancers and anyone who loves rock ‘n roll is welcome to join in! 

 

Please note that the library will be closed on Friday, July 4th to celebrate the holiday, but re-open its doors on Saturday, July 5th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 


SUMMER READING PROGRAM COMING TO THE LIBRARY!
By Jean Clarke, June 16, 2008

Beginning June 30th you can “Catch a Dragon by the Tale” by joining the children’s Summer Reading Program at the Gilford Public Library. 

Why should children participate in a summer reading program?  According to the American Library Association, numerous studies indicate that students participating in a summer reading program are more likely to read at their grade level or above and are more likely to retain those skills into the next school year.  And there’s more good news!  The amount of time children spend reading out of school is linked with significant gains in reading achievement.  Even reluctant readers can benefit from a summer reading program geared towards reading for the fun of it.  Summer library programs take advantage of children’s natural curiosity to introduce new subjects and different genres – things kids might not study in school but are interested in.  Summer reading programs can open up a whole new world and you can be part of it all!

Calling all teens!!  How will you be spending your summer vacation?  The Gilford public librarians could use your help!  As the summer begins, we anticipate a significant increase in the number of children coming to the library.  If you would like to volunteer your time, come to the Volunteer Orientation Breakfast on Thursday, June 26 from 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.   You’ll meet your fellow volunteers, learn about your responsibilities, and enjoy a light breakfast!  All you need to bring is a completed Volunteer Registration Packet (available in the Children’s Room) and your enthusiasm for summer reading!

 

The kick-off event for the Summer Reading Program is scheduled for Monday, June 30, 2008 beginning at 11 a.m.  The library has joined with the NH Audubon Society to bring children and their parents a special program focusing on the peregrine falcon.  Known in medieval times as the king’s falcon, participants will be introduced to this bird of prey, learn a variety of peregrine facts and have plenty of opportunities to see and even touch these amazing creatures of the sky!

 

So swing by the Gilford Public Library, sign-up for the Summer Reading Program, and immerse yourself in the magical world of fire breathing dragons and mystical lands, courageous knights and enchanting queens where a new adventure is just around the corner.


Annual Friends of the Gilford Library Meeting
June 9, 2008

The Friends of the Gilford Public Library announces its Annual Meeting on Wednesday, June 25, 2008 at the library on Belknap Mountain Road beginning at 6:30 p.m.  New and returning officers for the Friends include:  Kate Hamel, President; Sue Cutillo, Vice President; Steve Geer, Treasurer; Sue Dalton, Secretary; Jayne Fernholz, Hospitality; Thelma Phillips, Membership; Mary Collins, Publicity and Newsletter Editor and Dorothy Piquado, Online Book Sales.  With over 250 volunteers involved in book sales, auctions, special events, and Old Home Day, the Friends organization plays an important role in supporting the library. 

 

As the construction of the new Gilford Public Library winds down, the Friends are gearing up for an exciting summer.  What does it take to move a library?  Lots of planning and hard work!  The first two weeks in August have been designated as “Moving Weeks” and the library will be closed for regular programming and services.  Closed, but not quiet!  Staff and a cadre of volunteers are expected to move hundreds of books, magazines, DVDs, CDs, and other materials into the new location on Potter Hill Road.  Once settled into the new library the Friends plan to expand their fundraising efforts with a gift shop featuring library merchandise and an ongoing book sale.

 

Save the date!  Tuesday, August 19, 2008 a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony will take place to celebrate the official opening of the new building.  All Gilford residents and friends are invited to come and celebrate the Grand Opening.  Refreshments will be served and more details will follow.


Anytime, Anywhere...Digital Audio Books are Available!
By Jean Clarke, June 2, 2008

Anytime, Anywhere……Digital Audio Books are Available!

 

The Gilford Public Library comes right to your doorstep with New Hampshire Downloadable Audio Books.  Available to all library patrons, this new service offers the latest audio books straight from the bestseller lists.    With a library card in hand and internet access, your home computer opens the door to hundreds of great titles.  Go to  http://nh.lib.overdrive.com, browse through the collection, transfer the audiobook to an MP3 player or burn some titles onto a CD, and begin listening to your favorite authors or titles.   Using your library card has never been more convenient – immediate access, no late fees, and automatic check-in at the end of the one week loan period. 

Audio book titles include fiction, nonfiction, biographies, juvenile and teen, and much more.   Here is a sampling of some titles you’ll find online:

First Degree:  An Andy Carpenter Series Book 2 by David Rosenfelt; Ladies of Liberty:  The Women Who Shaped Our Nation by Cokie Roberts; Plum Lucky by Janet Evanovich; and  Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver.

Your library is now open all the time!  So don’t wait, download your audio books and start listening in your car, at the beach, or just about anywhere.


Storytime at the Village Field Gazebo
May 19, 2008

The month of June is just around the corner!  Time to get outside and enjoy these warm and sunny days!  And what better way than to head to the library, pick out a fabulous book and settle into that comfy hammock for a quiet read?

Children’s storytimes and babytime programs are going “outside” too!  In June children and their parents are invited to meet at the Gilford Town Gazebo for action-packed activities that will have everyone jumping, clapping and singing!  Located next to the tennis courts, the Gazebo is the perfect place to get out and have some fun with all your library friends. 

Hot off the press - the newest selections are waiting for you at the library!   For the youngest patrons author Mo Willems’ picture books will captivate young minds with his unique sense of humor and engaging artwork.   And for young adults “Audrey, Wait!” by Robin Benway is an excellent choice for its’ likeable characters and light-hearted storyline.  On the more serious side, adults can choose between “Unknown Means” by forensic specialist and novelist, Elizabeth Becka or “Devil’s Peak” a suspenseful novel set in South Africa written by Deon Meyer.  For young and old the latest DVDs are sure to entertain including “The Golden Compass” and “Charlie Wilson’s War”.  The newest releases for 2008 are here, so come to the library any time and walk away with an armload of fun!
Children's Book Week at the Library
May 5, 2008

Children’s Book Week

Celebrating Children’s Book Week has become a long-standing tradition in libraries throughout the country.  Since 1919 parents, teachers, and librarians have acknowledged the importance of books and reading in children’s lives. Attitudes toward children, books and libraries have gone under considerable change since the inception of that first Children’s Book Week, but it all began with the idea that books can change lives. Franklin Matthiews, librarian of the Boy Scouts of America enlisted the help of Frederic Melcher, the visionary editor of Publishers Weekly (the publishing industry trade journal) to sponsor the first Good Book Week. This has evolved to what we now know as Children’s Book Week.

  Many of us have had the privilege and pleasure of growing up reading books by a favorite author.  Days spent traveling west to the prairies with Laura Ingalls Wilder, dreaming of solving crimes with Nancy Drew or spending time learning to tie perfect knots with our Boy Scout Book.  Whatever time we spent with books as a child surely enriched our lives in ways we never imagined…memories and lifelong information that we remember and appreciate as adults. 

The need for Children’s Book Week today is as essential as it was in 1919, and the task remains the realization of Frederic Melcher’s declaration: “A great nation is a reading nation”.

Celebrate Children’s Book Week May 12-18.  Here are a few ideas to add to the fun.

·        Share a favorite childhood book with your son or daughter

·        Write a story for someone you love.

·        Visit the library and attend a kid’s program

·        Find a special spot to read to your child.

·        Read a children’s book at breakfast.

·        Give a child a book.  You never know where it may take them

·        Read together, every day.

 

In honor of Children’s Book Week, the Gilford Public Library will host an “All About Me” book building party.  Bring your child to the library Tuesday, 13 May, from 3:30-4:30 p.m. and help them create a book that will encourage their creativity and love of books. 


Guitar Hero at the Library

New library gaming format attracts diverse users

Gilford Public Library to host Guitar Hero on Thursday April 24, 6:00-7:30 p.m.

 

Libraries are bridging generations by offering a new educational and recreational format - gaming. Hundreds of libraries throughout the country will attract new users by hosting gaming programs and events in April 2008, in celebration of gaming @your library, celebrating the popularity and educational value of games.

"Libraries are changing and dynamic places, and are continuously offering new formats and innovative programs and services that educate, entertain and expand interaction with their patrons," said ALA President Loriene Roy. "Expanding a format such as gaming is yet another example of how libraries are reaching diverse users."

Historically, libraries are well known as key providers of print resources, but as libraries continue to change to meet the needs of their communities and users, so do the formats they offer. Libraries still provide traditional services, but continue to enhance services by offering CDs, DVDs, e-books, videogames and programs like family gaming nights.

Public libraries are holding video tournaments and creating Gaming Clubs, bringing in gaming equipment, video screens and providing a social experience not found elsewhere in the community. A sample of the types of games offered are "Dance, Dance Revolution," " "Guitar Hero," and "Rock Band." As a result, library attendance among some of the hardest to reach demographics - kids, teenagers and college students - is growing.

Three generations have grown up with videogames (Generation X, Generation Y, and Millennials), and Baby Boomers and members of Greatest Generation are now playing games more than ever before.

Not all games are right for every library user. Just as with television shows, movies and books, parents need to take an active role in observing the gaming activities their teen/child participates in at the library. While there are some games making headlines for their violent content, the truth is that 85% of the video games sold in 2007 were aimed at kids 16 and younger and considered 'family friendly.'


Gaming is like any other extracurricular activity and it should be practiced in moderation in the same way as television, movies, and Internet usage. Kids often play video games at home, but playing them at the library makes it a more social experience they can share with their family and friends.

We invite you to visit the Gilford Public Library for our, hugely popular, “Guitar Hero” program and see what “gaming” is all about. And join us Tuesday, April 23 at 11:30 a.m.  We’ll be celebrating Earth Day by creating a craft from recycled materials. 
 Remember, there is no story time during school vacation week beginning April 21.   Happy Spring! See you at the library.


National Library Week
By Jessie Tanner, Library Correspondent

Join the circle of knowledge @ your library: celebrate National Library Week at the Gilford Public Library, April 13-19

 

It’s National Library Week, a time to celebrate the contributions of libraries, librarians and library workers in schools, campuses and communities nationwide - and the perfect time to discover how you can join the circle of knowledge @ your library.

 

The Gilford Public Library is celebrating National Library Week by hosting an after-school craft. Get ready for spring by visiting the library on Tuesday, 15 April 3:15-4:30 p.m. We'll decorate sun catchers to welcome back the flowers, butterflies and sunshine. (Old clothes recommended!)

 

“Everyday, libraries in big cities and small towns, colleges and universities, in schools and in businesses help transform their communities,” says Katherine Dormody.  “At our library, people of all backgrounds can come together for community meetings, lectures and programs, to do research with the assistance, to get a job or to find homework help. Each month we host an adult book discussion. This month's discussion book is "Memory Keeper's Daughter" by Kim Edwards. Books are available at the Library. We’ll meet Thursday, 17 April, 7:00-8:00 p.m. to share our thoughts on what we’ve read and enjoy some refreshments.”

 

First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries across the country each April.