Manchester City Library » manchester

Front Doorway Closed for Renovations.

Yvonne — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:00:15 +0000

The front door of the main branch will be closed on Tuesday, February 7th from 8:30 am to 2:30 pm as we complete a renovation project. Please enter and exit the building using the children’s room entrance on the Concord Street side of the building. Thank you for your cooperation and your patience as we work to maintian this beautiful, historic building.

April in Reykjavik

Mary — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:00:22 +0000

It was Easter Sunday and instead of the customary egg cracking contest among relatives I was getting pelted by horizontal swaths of hail. This was a typical, late spring day in Reykjavik, Iceland. Despite the rigors of changeable Arctic weather, Iceland proved to be a fascinating vacation destination. And there were practical reasons for visiting as well. For one thing, it’s close—Just 4 ½ hours from Boston on Icelandair. And it is small—roughly the size of Kentucky—so with limited time you can see a good portion of the country.

To see the country’s major highlights we booked a “Golden Circle Tour” with the first stop, Thingvellir National Park. Although it was a blinding snowstorm that April day, our trilingual guide (he spoke French, English and Icelandic) pointed out the valley rift where the North American and the Eurasian tectonic plates are pulling apart from each other, adding 2 centimeters to the landmass every year. Because of its precarious geologic position on a major fault line, Iceland is literally seething with constant volcanic activity. That’s not all bad news since the resulting geothermal activity provides 96 % of the country’s energy needs. From the National Park we visited Gullfoss, a spectacular, 2-tiered waterfall. Next up was a warm drenching from Geysir hot spring, as we hadn’t timed its eruption to our casual stroll around the area.

The following day we headed off to the Blue Lagoon—a geothermal spa set in a bleak, lava-strewn landscape. We whiled away the grey afternoon happily floating in the powder blue, 99 degree saltwater. We also popped in and out of saunas, and got our backs massaged by the force of the spa’s waterfall. For good measure we slathered on the white mud lining the pool— It’s a concoction of minerals that are great for your skin, although you look a little odd while it dries to a bright pastiness.

Even though Icelanders speak perfect English you may want to try your hand at Icelandic—a language that resembles the Old Norse spoken by the Viking immigrants over 1100 years ago. Try Teach Yourself Icelandic.

Curious as to why that modest looking lunch costs so much? You might be interested in Michael Lewis’s latest book Boomerang: Travels in the New Third World. The first chapter describes what led up to Iceland’s banking collapse in 2008.

Where should you stay? Start with the Icelandair website for special package deals. Or get a few ideas from Frommer’s Iceland 2011. We stayed at the Hilton Nordica, a 4 star hotel of sleek design with a complimentary full breakfast buffet that included all manner of smoked fish and meats that you wash down with shots of fish oil for good health.

Iceland is intriguing on so many levels—for one thing, its people are all related. Descended from Vikings and their Celtic slaves, this isolated and homogenous population is lately the subject of several genetic studies. Then there is their unflappable belief in “Hidden People”—elves, dwarves, gnomes who inhabit deserted regions—which means that they are pretty much everywhere.

And according to author Eric Weiner in The Geography of Bliss it is one of the happiest places on earth. “There’s no one on the island telling them they’re not good enough, so they just go ahead and sing and paint and write.” If only we all had their confident yet playful perspective on life. Spend a few days on this unusual island and that quality may rub off on you.

Mary O.

Introduction To The Internet Class

Eileen — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:00:53 +0000

Have you wondered what the Internet is or what do these strange sounding terms mean? Manchester City Library will have a basic Introduction to the Internet class on 14 February (Tuesday), from 2:30 to 4:00 PM in the Winchell Room. During the class period, we will discuss basic terminology, how to move around in the Internet, how to search for information, some of the things to watch out for and how to create an e-mail account. Laptops will be available for use during the class session. There are limited seats available for the class, so you must register to take the class. You may register by calling 624-6550 ext. 320 (Information Desk) or by using the calendar on the library’s homepage at www.manchester.lib.nh.us If there are questions, please contact Eileen Reddy at 624-6550 ext. 320 (Information Desk).

Manchester City Library $5 Bag Book Sale

Eileen — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 10:00:11 +0000

On January 28^th(Saturday), Manchester City Library will hold its first $5 Bag Book Sale for 2012 in the Winchell Room, from 10:00 AM to 1:30 PM. There are thousands of materials to choose from. Books for all ages and interests are available; also VHS video tapes, music CDs, DVDs, 33 1/3 Long Playing Records and other odds and ends. For this sale, we have a good supply of used Large Print Books, mostly fiction.

Please bring your own empty bags, and fill them with the many possible treasures that you may find in the Winchell Room, located on the lower floor of the library. As you leave the Winchell Room, you will pay $5 for each bag that has materials from the sale. If you have any questions, please contact Eileen A. Reddy at ereddy@manchesternh.gov or by phone at 624-6550 ext. 320 (Information Desk).

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Yvonne — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 10:00:45 +0000

The Manchester City Library will be closed on Monday, January 16th in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. We will reopen on Tuesday morning at our normal time. See you then!

N.H. Newspapers

Emily — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 12:20:15 +0000

Did you know you can access New Hampshire newspapers online? With nothing more than internet access and your library card you can search articles from the Concord Monitor, the NH Union Leader, the NH Sunday News, and America’s News Magazine using the library’s New Hampshire Newspapers database. Also, browse through stories using the Hot Topics and Current Events options. Stay up to date through your favorite newspapers . . . without leaving the comfort of your browser.

A Year of Wonders

Yvonne — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 08:00:33 +0000

The Thursday evening book group will be discussing “Year of Wonders: A Novel of the Plague” by Geraldine Brooks. In the year 1666, as an isolated English village quarantines itself to prevent the spread of the plague, a housemaid named Anna Frith and her fellow villagers confront fear, death and superstition. This discussion will be held on January 12th, from 7-8:30 PM in the Winchell Room of the Main Branch. For more information contact Sarah Basbas at 624-6560.

So long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen …

Dawn — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 09:00:38 +0000

The literary world bid a sad farewell to many familiar names during the course of 2011. Among them: Dick King-Smith and Florence Parry Heide, known by thousands of children for their memorable characters such as Ace, the very important pig and Princess Hyacinth. The animals of Redwall said a final goodbye to creator Brian Jacques, whose beloved stories have been translated into twenty-eight languages. More recently, adult science fiction/fantasy fans lost Anne McCaffrey, whose Pern series started won her both the Hugo and Nebula award, and earned her the honor of being the first female science fiction author on the New York Times best seller list. And who can forget Mad-Libs? A subtle way to teach parts of speech, pulled out at many a party, geared toward all ages, and guaranteed to cause many laughs. Co-creator Leonard Stern, who passed away in June, was also a television screenwriter for such classic shows as Get Smart and The Honeymooners. Many a budding artist was taught to draw by Lee J. Ames, who wrote 26 books in all as part of his Draw 50 … series. One other notable that has had a huge impact on the literary world was Michael Hart. While he may not have been a household name, his invention certainly is – he invented the electronic book, or ebook. To all the writers we lost this year, on behalf of your many fans throughout the world, thank you for your wonderful stories. You will all be missed.

Happy New Year!

Yvonne — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 08:00:48 +0000

The library will be closed on Saturday, December 31st through Monday, January 2nd in observance of the New Year. We would like to wish everyone a peaceful and prosperous year.

And The Winner Is…You!

Amy H — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 19:22:38 +0000

New Audiobook Titles to Look Forward to in 2012:

The following audio book titles have been nominated or have won awards in 2011. They are on order here at Manchester, so be on the look-out to put a hold on these babies, soon!

Author: William Shakespeare

Reader: Full Cast

Blackstone Audio, Inc., 2011.

In this classic Shakespeare play, a tormented prince seeks revenge for his father’s death, facing tragic consequences along the way. 2011 Grammy Nominee for Best Spoken Word Album.

Author: Michael Crummey

Reader: John Lee

Blackstone Audio, Inc. 2011

When a whale beaches itself on the shore of the remote coastal town of Paradise Deep, the last thing any of the townspeople expect to find inside it is a man, silent and reeking of fish but remarkably alive. The discovery of this mysterious person, soon christened Judah, sets the town scrambling for answers as its most prominent citizens weigh in on whether he is man or beast, blessing or curse, miracle or demon. Kirkus Reviews Best fiction of 2011.

Reader: Bronson Pinchot

Blackstone Audio, Inc. 2011

Author: Elizabeth Letts

Harry de Leyer first saw the horse he would name Snowman on a bleak winter afternoon between the slats of a rickety truck bound for the slaughterhouse. He recognized the spark in the eye of the beaten-up horse and bought him for eighty dollars. On Harry’s modest farm on Long Island, the horse thrived. But the recent Dutch immigrant and his growing family needed money. He reluctantly sold Snowman to a farm a few miles down the road. But Snowman had other ideas about what Harry needed. Goodreads Choice Awards.

Author: Dan Savage & Terry Miller

Reader: Marguerite Gavin, Paul Michael Garcia

Blackstone Audio, Inc. 2011

In the wake of a bullying epidemic that has seen LGBT students targeted with abuse around the world, authors Dan Savage and Terry Miller offer this inspiring collection of essays to help bullying victims overcome their mistreatment. Goodreads Choice Awards.

Author: J. R. Ackerley

Reader: Ralph Cosham

Blackstone Audio, Inc. 2011

J. R. Ackerley never considered himself an animal lover. However, when he came into possession of a German Sheppard, he embarked on a sixteen-year companionship that changed his life and gave him a newfound perspective on relationships. Audible’s Best of 2011: Editor’s Picks & Customer Favorites.

Author: Jean Thompson

Reader: Cassandra Campbell

Blackstone Audio, Inc. 2011

At Anita’s wedding in 1973, fissures start to form within the Erickson family. Her brother Ryan dreams big and plots his escape from Iowa. He is joined by a traumatized veteran who shows him the ups and downs of freedom. Torrie, the youngest daughter, also wants to escape. However, her decisions bring about dire consequences for the entire family. Kirkus Reviews Best Fiction of 2011.

Author: Karleen Koen

Reader: Karleen Koen

Blackstone Audio, Inc. 2011

Karleen Koen chronicles Louis XIV during his first year as King of France. Told through the voices of young Louis and his mistress, Koen’s novel captures the essence of seventeenth century France and its court politics. Library Journal’s Best Books of 2011.

Author: Ben Ryder Howe

Reader: Bronson Pinchot

Blackstone Audio, Inc. 2011

When his wife, the daughter of Korean immigrants, decided to put everything she had in a deli as a gift to her parents, Ben Ryder Howe’s life was forever changed. Now, Howe is living with his in-laws, spending his days at his job with the Paris Review, and spending his nights working at the deli. Here, Howe reveals how owning a deli transformed his life and gave him a new perspective. Amazon.com Best Books of 2011.

~Amy H.~