Manchester City Library

It’s easy to take the things that we’re used to for granted. Lately we’ve been much more aware that things like affordable gas or, for some of us, electricity are not as dependable as it once seemed. Well, the same could be said for libraries. Most communities in this country have at least one public library. As of 2007, NH boasts over 230 libraries.

Our NH libraries receive between $1 and $10 per capita annually to buy new materials - books, videos, cds, databases, what have you. That’s how much we spend, but did you ever wonder what we get back?

I was thrilled to find an article about just that in the Bangor Daily News recently:

Molly Larson, director of the Rockport Public Library and president of the Maine Library Association, recently pointed out the Maine State Library’s online tool known as the Library Use Value Calculator… This user-friendly tool allows you to note not only how many books, magazines and movies you borrow in a typical library visit, but also whether you asked a reference question, read a periodical, used a conference room, attended a children’s or adult program, and more.

I recorded my latest library visit, during which I asked one reference question, attended one library program, used the library database, and borrowed one music CD, one film and five books. The value added up $233. And all I needed to receive these services was a library card.

I estimated that in the month of December I took home 15 books, 2 movies, 1 cd, 10 Interlibrary loans, and logged 3 hours of computer time. So, in December the Library provided me access to materials and services worth over $965! That’s even a conservative estimate for a busy month; I usually use far more than that.

Play around with the calculator; see what you’re saving. It makes me really appreciate all of the people and organizations that support us. The Library is truly a community asset. It belongs to all of us.

The Manchester City Library Foundation is pleased to announce that Jane K. Cleland, author of the Josie Prescott mysteries, will be our guest at our Seventh Annual Spring Fundraiser. The new Josie Prescott novel, Killer Keepsake, is to be released in April, so please join us for our first official book launch! Part of this year’s experience will be an interview of our guest author by Rebecca Rule.

Please note that the event will be held on Wednesday April 15th, 2009 during National Library Week. Tickets will go on sale in late March.

from the latest edition of MCL Notes.

    Now that Thanksgiving is over, the Christmas season is upon us with a vengeance. If you’re like me and find the traffic jams, the holiday music in every store, the mammoth “Toys R Us” flyers a little annoying try a different take on the season. Here’s how the library can help…and you don’t need to spend another Christmas dime. Just remember to bring your library card.

1. Save money by making your own gifts…fast:
   Visit the Art Room on the 2^nd floor and check out Christmas in Minutes: Festive Crafts in Less Than an Hour. Or how about Last-Minute Christmas Gifts: Crafting Quick and Classy Presents for Everyone on Your List.
2. Watch a Christmas movie:
   How about checking out some of our favorites like Elf, It’s a Wonderful Life, A Christmas Carol, Alvin and the Chipmunks etc.
3. Get Inspired with Christmas Entertaining books:
   You may not be Martha Stewart but you can get a few good ideas on baking perfect cookies or decorating that bare-looking mantle. Christmas with Southern Living will show you how to dress for dinner, make gifts from your kitchen and bake mudslide brownies. Country Living: Merry and Bright–301 Festive Ideas for Celebrating Christmas will even show you how to make “Spitzbuebe”.
4. Attend a Holiday Program:
   Come to the main library’s rotunda at 1 p.m. on Friday, December 19 and enjoy the soothing, nostalgic sounds of Holiday Music with harpist Lisa Washington Calvo.
5. Dance, sing, reminisce to our Holiday Music CDs:
   Are you fond of traditional classics like Nat King Cole’s The Christmas Song or would you prefer Simple Gifts-A Windham Hill Collection or how about the not-so-traditional Christmas Rap Music?
6. Compare brand ratings before you buy your Christmas gifts:
   Don’t know which Flat Screen TV or GPS system is the best buy? Be an enlightened shopper and read “Consumer Reports” (magazine or buying guide) at the Periodical Desk or search our online databases here or at home for many product comparisons and ratings.
7. Keep the kids entertained while you cook, clean, wrap etc. with one of our Video Games:
   Check out a “PlayStation” or “XBOX” game at the Main Library or a Wii game at the West Branch.
8. Listen to one of our Books-on-CD, Books-on-Tape or Audio Downloadable Books as you bake, drive, decorate, etc.:
   Instead of watching this holiday film why not listen to Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol? MCL owns both the audiocassette and the CD version.
9. Escape the hustle and bustle by spending some time at a local museum:
   With your library card you can check out a museum pass to the Currier Museum of Art or the Millyard Museum. Both the Main and West Branch libraries have passes that will get you into a number of museums for free or for reduced rates.
10. Investigate winter holiday traditions in other countries and cultures:
    This time of year is celebrated in many other cultures. Our books, films, music CDs etc. will help you broaden your horizons.

Happy Holidays!

~Mary~

I’m not a big reader - well, not books. I do follow a collection of blogs and news sites. This morning, though, I ran across a blog post that inspired me to reconsider. Apparently NPR ran a story this morning about author Stieg Larsson, whose first novel, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was published posthumously. Here’s what Denise at the Dover Public Library had to say about it:

…Stieg Larsson died in 2004. When Knopf picked up the rights for publishing it in the United States they needed to use some inventive marketing techniques since they had an unknown author who could not do book tours. First they starting giving out advance copies to booksellers, and basically to anyone who asked. They went so far as to take an ad out in the New York Times Book Review telling readers if they wrote asking for a copy they would get one in the mail. They also made use of bloggers. The books were already popular in Europe and so getting the book into the hands of some influential book bloggers was important. When the book was finally published it had glowing blurbs on the back from Michael Connelly, Lee Child and Harlan Coben, and debuted at #4 on the New York Times Best-Seller List.

The reviewers in our catalog have given it mixed reviews (”The first 200 pages of this novel was like watching grass grow….”) but it is currently #17 on the NY Times Best Seller list so I bet there’s something to it.

         John Michael Crichton died unexpectedly on November 4th ”after a courageous and private battle against cancer”. Crichton was a well known novelist and filmmaker, famous for works like: “The Great Train Robbery”,  ”Coma”, “Jurassic Park”, “Lost World”, “Timeline”, “Congo” and the hit television series ER.  One of my fondest memories is one of those rare moments;  a sibling adventure whereby my brothers and I went to see Jurassic Park together in the new theatre multiplex in Concord.  Together we watched a furious and berserk Tyrannosaurus rex trash the museum and scientific laboratory that created it.  My younger brother watched in awe as the dinosaurs that he loved to study came to life in front of him–his bag of Reese’s Pieces forgotten in his tensly clutched hand.  One wonders how the Museum of Science in Boston or the Currier Museum would fare against such a T.rex onslaught???  Crichton excelled at weaving stories that melded futuristic science with fantasy, adventure and added a dash of thrill and horror that could leave readers on the edge of their seats or hiding under their beds. The worlds and scenarios that Michael Crichton brought to life on page and screen were rich and descriptive and his stories were engrossing, compelling and adventurous.  I hope that I am not alone in thinking that the world is a somewhat smaller and darker place without Michael Crichton and his creative talent in it. 

                                                                                        ~Yvonne~