Kimball Library News 12/9/19

Do you know where your DNA is?

The genetic future is now. It is very likely that some commercial, medical research, or governmental entity has either your DNA sample or your genetic information. You don’t know it and may not even know that they have collected and stored it. This presentation takes you through the current state of forensic DNA technology, genetic genealogy, familial searching and wrongful convictions based on post-conviction DNA testing among the many and varied uses of genetic information. Join us for this informative program about DNA in today’s world.

This class will be presented on January 13, 2020 at 6:00 PM by Albert E. Scherr, Professor of Law at UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law in Concord, New Hampshire. As a law professor, Professor Scherr teaches courses in Criminal Procedure, Evidence, International Criminal Law & Justice and Expert Witnesses & Scientific Evidence. As a lawyer, he has been litigating forensic DNA issues in state and federal courts for 25 years.

Registration is required.  This eye-opening event is sponsored by the Friends of the Kimball Library.

KINDERGARTEN CODING JAM: Back by DEMAND, more coding classes are on!

This time we have a 5 week session that tackles the youngest school-age future engineers. Future engineers in kindergarten are invited to try out hands on coding with Gail Ramsay (Code & Circuit, Amesbury) and Kathy Watson (Kimball Library) with generously donated Blue-bots (robots designed for kids) and NEW coding with OSMO including Coding with Awbie, Coding Duo and Coding Jam.

Coding Awbie teaches logic skills and problem solving, and it helps kids succeed in an increasingly digital world. Coding Awbie is the easiest way to introduce coding to your child.  Explore with Awbie, make music with Jam, and solve challenging puzzles with Duo. Awbie brings science, technology, engineering, and math into the classroom for even the youngest students and helps build foundational skills for lifelong learning. Advanced coding puzzles, cooperative game play, and a compelling quest make Coding Duo an awesome challenge. Kids will also get to know coding’s creative side with Coding Jam while developing an ear for rhythm, melody, and harmony.  Blue-bots will also be introduced and explored. Creating a program on-screen, sending it to Blue-Bot, and revising as desired provides an additional conceptual level of understanding that further develops algorithmic thinking skills.

Typically it costs $200 to send one child to a coding camp for 8 weeks. Due to donations and sponsorship from the Library Board of Trustees, this 5 week program is available for $25 per child. Registration is required in person and is complete when the fee is paid. Class size is limited to 8 children. Unattended classes are not refunded.  We have one snow make-up date schedule for March 3, 2020.  (NOTE: We will have class on January 28 even though school will not be in session.)

Class will take place at the library on Tuesdays from 3:30 to 4:30 from January 21 to February 18. Children may take the bus from Atkinson Academy to the library if parents make arrangements with pick-up patrol. (The library is not taking responsibility for the transportation, we are only letting you know that there is a bus (126) that stops here.) Please pack them a snack that they can have before 3:30. Children usually arrive hungry and eager!

This program was made possible by the generosity of the Blue-Bots donation from the Atkinson Women's Civic Club along with the Library Board of Trustees.  The Library Board of Trustees also generously donated iPads and Osmo kits.

*Non-residents have a delayed registration that is 1 week before the program starts with a different pricing structure.

FAMILY SNOW FUN: Ever want to try snowshoeing? 

Just check out the assortment of snowshoes for adults and children available to borrow.  Kimball Patron Card holders may borrow these for 1 week.

Perhaps you’re more of an ice skater. For the 6th season you can go ice skating at Strawbery Banke! As always, the rink's schedule is weather-dependent; please check the Strawbery Bank website http://www.strawberybanke.org or the Strawbery Banke Facebook page for updates!  Strawbery Banke Museum members receive half off their skating tickets! Just stop by the library for a Strawbery Banke Museum pass in order to receive your skating discount.

SPECIAL HOURS: Due to the holiday season we will have some special hours in December.  Please be aware that on December 24^th (Christmas Eve) we will be OPEN from 10-2 only.  We will be CLOSED on December 25^th (Christmas Day). We will be OPEN December 31^st (New Year’s Eve) from 10-3 only.   We will be CLOSED on January 1^st. Overdrive Downloadable Books, the Libby App, Kanopy, and Hoopla are open 24/7 with a library card in good standing.  

Happy holidays to the best patrons in the world!

MORE INFO: Go to www.kimballlibrary.com to register for events or use the data bases. You may also call us Monday-Friday from 10-8 and on Saturday from 10-3 at 603.362.5234 to register with a ‘human’. Miss a news article?  Go to https://kimballlibrary.blogspot.com to read each and every one!