Kimball Library News 1/8/18

“Library Buddies” is one of the exciting events that has been bursting at the seams for the past 9 years!  This *crowd-pleasing event will be happening for 6 weeks on Wednesdays from 4-5 PM on the following dates: February 7th, 14th, 21st and March 7th, 14th and 21st. Each week teens (youth in grades 6-12) will be assigned to little buddies in kindergarten through grade 3.  Library buddies will read or be read to for the first 30 minutes alternating with puzzles, games, and/or coloring activities for 30 minutes.  This is a great opportunity for the younger set to practice listening to books of their choice or for emerging readers to try out their skills on an older buddy. Big buddies will practice their leadership and mentoring skills. Fun will be had by all! You can join us but you must register as seats are limited. 
Need a library buddy?  Want to be a library buddy?  We need your children to participate and experience the joy of being a literary mentor or participant.  You may register on the online calendar or call us and ask for the Youth Department (603) 362-5234 x224, or drop in and personally speak to Kathy Watson, Youth Services Director.  All interested BIG buddies must speak with Kathy directly and be committed to an early arrival time.

The buddy program does have age restrictions.  BIG buddies must be in middle or high school.  LITTLE buddies must be in kindergarten through grade three.

*Due to the high demand for this program, all buddies must be registered and committed for all six weeks.  Exceptions will be made for the t/ween buddies as long as they get approval in advance.

ASK A MUSLIM ANYTHING: Arab-American Muslim Robert Azzi is an Exeter based photojournalist and columnist who spent several decades working in and writing about the Middle East. He put together the 'Ask a Muslim Anything’ program to increase awareness and reduce misunderstandings about Islam. This program, taking place on Tuesday, February 13^that 6:30 PM, is an opportunity for conversation about identity, conflict, interfaith relations, international affairs, Islamophobia, or whatever comes up.  He welcomes questions on Islam, on being Muslim, on issues related to terrorism and on the geopolitics of the Middle East as he has experienced and understands them. Please register to join us online or by calling us at 603-362-5234.

An Arab American Muslim, Mr. Azzi writes on issues of Identity, Conflict, and Islam, particularly as they apply in the Middle East and the Global South.  Born in New Hampshire, he’s lived in Beirut, Cairo, Athens, Jeddah and New York. 

Azzi has been a Nieman Fellow in Journalism at Harvard University, a member of the Leadership Council of the Harvard Divinity School, an advisor to Tufts University’s Fletcher School committee on Islam and South-West Asia and a board member of ACLU-NH. As a photojournalist his work has appeared frequently in such publications as Life, Time, Newsweek, National Geographic, Fortune and other domestic and international publications.

At Phillips Exeter Academy he once served as advisor to the Middle East Society and to the Muslim Student Association (MSA). During the 1990s war in the former Yugoslavia, Azzi initiated a project that brought 85 students from Bosnia-Herzegovina to live with American families, empowering them to continue their education until it was safe to return home.

Today, Azzi is a columnist whose work appears in The Concord Monitor, Foster’s Daily Democrat (Dover), and The Portsmouth Herald – where he attempts to contextualize, for an 'Outside-the-Beltway’ audience, Islam and the Middle East by speaking in the voice of The Other. “People don’t know what they don’t know,” Azzi tells his audience. “I want to open up new perspectives for my readers – especially for those who don’t often agree with me – and expose them to points-of-view, I believe are important and which they might not have previously considered.”  Most recently, he appeared on NHPR with Peter Biello.  

HOLIDAY CLOSING: Please take note that we will be closed on Monday, February 19^th, honoring Presidents Day.  Stock up accordingly, and remember that downloadable books from Overdrive, Digital Hoopla, and Tumblebook Library for kids are open on our website 24/7.  

MORE INFO: Go to www.kimballlibrary.com and not only read the posts on the page, but also click the calendar icon and see each event for the current month and months to come.  Please also ‘like’ us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter, Flickr, Blogspot, and Instagram.  Just send your email address by text message: text KIMBALLLIBRARY to 22828 to get on our newsletter mailing list.  You may also call us Monday-Friday from 10-8 and on Saturday from 10-3 at 603.362.5234.