Friday, September 25, 2009

Kimball Library News 9/22/09

Kimball Library’s “The Great American Art Caper” attracted lots of “art sleuths” who answered the mystery questions on our art posters. Thanks again to those patrons who participated. There is STILL time until the end of this month! If you’d like even more information on the paintings or photographs in our American Art series, check out the corresponding books and DVD’s in our main display case. Also, make sure to attend the reception for Paul Wainwright’s collection in our large meeting room on Thursday, October 1, from 6-8pm. Expand your cultural horizons right in Atkinson.

Expand your mind and your knowledge of history, also. In a brief 30 year period in the early 19th century, the New Hampshire countryside became home to hundreds of thousands of sheep. Production of wool became a lucrative business, generating fortunes and providing the only era of true agricultural prosperity in the state's history. It left behind a legacy of fine architecture and thousands of miles of rugged stonewalls. Farmers overcame enormous challenges to make sheep husbandry succeed, but forces from beyond NH were to doom the industry, with social consequences that would last a century. Be prepared to be in attendance for the upcoming program “The Great Sheep Boom and Its Enduring Legacy on the New Hampshire Landscape” on Tuesday, October 13, from 6:30-8pm. This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Kimball Library and the Atkinson Historical Society.

Find it difficult to get out to and select your materials to expand your mind? Kimball Library is introducing “Homebound Services” where we bring the library home to you. This program provides adult services for those who are unable to get to the library due to short/long term illness, non-driver status (senior), or physical challenge. Benefits of the program are longer lending periods, no overdue fines, and materials will be delivered to your home. There are a variety of materials available through this service. Please contact the library for more information and get started by filling out a patron profile sheet indicating what type of materials you would like to receive. In cooperation with the Atkinson Elderly services, it is our desire to serve you.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Kimball Library News 9/17/09

Paul Wainwright is a photographer based in Atkinson, NH, who works in a traditional manner utilizing sheet film, a large-format camera and silver gelatin printing. He is a mostly self-taught photographer who brings to his images an eye for space and light, subtle details, and an appreciation of history. Wainwright has been making black & white photographs for more than 45 years. We at Kimball Library are proud to host a reception of Mr. Wainwright’s collection in our large meeting room on Thursday, October 1, from 6-8pm.

Wainwright’s first book, The Colonial Meetinghouses of New England, will be published in early 2010 with support from the NH State Council on the Arts, Mass Humanities, and the NH Charitable Foundation. His current endeavor is to produce and tour a major traveling exhibition of this work. New England’s colonial meetinghouses embody many of our nation’s ideals such as participatory government and freedom of religion, yet are not well known. Through his photography, Wainwright aims to bring to a wide audience the rich heritage and artistic beauty of these milestones of our heritage. The Colonial Meetinghouse project will be featured in the November/December edition of Yankee Magazine. Do not miss the opportunity to be part of the reception.

Also, don’t miss your opportunity to drop in on Saturday, September 26 from 8am-3pm for our Book, Bake, and Flea Sale. This is a great day to see friends from town and collect some items at an advantageous price as well. Bargain shoppers and browsers will enjoy a chance to look leisurely through our numerous sale books, bump into some familiar faces, and pick up some delectable goodies en route. Make it a priority to take home some delicious baked goods, flea market items, as well as stocking up on some good value books, CDs, audio books, or DVDs. Come early for the best selection! If you would like to donate books for this event, please drop them off at the library on Thursday, September 24th until 8pm or Friday, September 25th by 3pm. We’ll be here rain or shine, so follow the signs to Kimball Library in Atkinson where old-fashioned values are never out of style.

Friday, September 11, 2009

Kimball Library News 9/11/09

Did you know that it’s possible to take books with you virtually anywhere? That you can even whistle while you physically work while you’re taken spellbound to another land? All you need is an MP3 player or an Ipod along with a library card and you have access to hundreds of audio book downloads from NH Downloadable Audio Books right off the www.kimballlibrary.com website. You can easily transport novels to your device and then you’re set to listen while you vacuum, take a brisk walk, travel on an airplane, or relax on the veranda. The website is excellent in the fact that it gives you easy step-by-step directions on how to download. We have yet to have a call from anyone who has actually attempted and not been successful. You’ll be surprised as to the variety of titles and genres. All you need to access these digital materials is a valid library card, internet access , a computer or device that meets the system requirements for the type(s) of digital materials you wish to check out, and free software for the computer or device on which you wish to use the materials available at this site. Check it out!

Hawke is a wonderful 7 year-old Labrador retriever who lives in Plaistow with her family and sister and brother Labs. Come meet Hawke, and her owner Barb, on Wednesday, September 16, from 4-5pm in the Children’s Room and learn more about dogs. Barb will talk about caring for her animals. Some of the topics may be how much food and water they should have, walking and brushing them, dog safety, and more. There is a lot to learn when you have a pet and this program would be fun and educational for pet owners and non-pet owners alike. Hawke is a certified therapy dog with Therapy Dogs International. Hawke has a history here and loves visiting with new and experienced readers, and she really enjoys her trip to Kimball Library. Come meet her and see.

Let's all make the winter a warmer time for lots of children in need. Please bring the little ones to “A Warm and Fuzzy Night” on Friday, September 25 from 6:30-7:30pm. This story night is sponsored by The NH Federation of Garden Clubs and the Kimball Library. There will be special readers and The Atkinson Garden Club will bring great cookies just for the program. Cold winter nights will soon be here! Please help children in our state stay warm and also learn about nature. Come to our story night and please bring along: a pair of warm children's pajamas (they must be new, warm, and flame retardant, all sizes will do), and/or a new nature or gardening children's book, paperback or hardcover, all age ranges. Please come in your PJs with your favorite stuffed animal. Please for admission to this program: BRING THE NEW PJS OR BOOK WITH YOU. If you would like to learn more about the Pajama Program you may go to their web site at www.pajamaprogram.org.

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Kimball Library News 09/01/09

Want to delve into a DaVinci Code caper? Feel like discovering the “hidden meanings” in well known paintings? If you’d like to test your art history “savvy”, check out the Kimball Library’s “Great American Art Caper”. For the month of September, Kimball Library will be showcasing famous American art adorning the library walls. View 18th, 19th, and 20th century artwork, probe for further information, find the hidden pictures (if you can find them…), answer key questions and show us your skills! All “Dan Brown”esque patrons can apply. Answers to the questions can be dropped in our official “answer jars”…and yes…there will be prizes!! A first, second, and third place winner will be picked at the end of September. So show us your knowledge of Historical American Art! This commercial presentation was brought to you by Carol Scherer, our resident in-house artist.

Is it your time to learn later and live greater? On Tuesday, September 15, at 6:30pm you’ll have opportunity to listen to Pelham, NH author, Nancy Merz Nordstrom, present a program based on her book “Learning Later, Living Greater: The Secret for Making the Most of Your 'After-50' Years. This is a book that will introduce people over 50 to the ideas and benefits of lifelong learning. It will challenge them to become involved in meaningful new avenues of productivity: educational programs, travel, community service and more. Nordstrom emphasizes learning for the sheer joy of learning and to stay mentally and physically active. She’ll tell us that her guidebook is “for transforming the after-work years into a richly satisfying period of personal growth and social involvement.” The program is sponsored by The Friends of the Kimball Library and is free and open to the public of all ages. It’s not too early to get proactive regarding the September years.