Manchester City Library

Folklore and Urban Legends

September 5th, 2021 · City Library, Main Branch

Have you ever wondered what is inside Area 51? Why is it called Area 51, anyway? No one seems to know. It’s remained a great mystery for many years, at least since 1955 when the air force base opened. No one is allowed in and the CIA has only recently admitted that it exists. It’s suspected of harboring UFOs and aliens. Employees are flown into the area by plane. What do you think? Learn more about this and many other weird phenomena by checking out the Rotunda display on Folklore and Urban Legends.

What about the Curse of the Bambino? The curse, as I’m sure you all know, refers to Babe Ruth leaving the Red Sox for the Yankees in 1920. The Red Sox wouldn’t win the world series for 86 years after the Bambino left. As we all know, the curse was broken in 2004 when the Red Sox won the World Series. Ya gotta love broken curses! I’m told there were many “reversed curse” parties that year.

And because this is my favorite legend maybe of all time and easily the craziest bit of folklore I’ve ever heard, I must, must mention the famous Mikey and pop rocks legend. It’s too deliciously stupid not to. And besides, I can actually recite the entire commercial by heart (I’m not proud of it). Anyway, Mikey was the name of a little boy in the Life Cereal commercial which came out in 1974. Mikey was just 3 years old. Legend has it that little Mikey perished by eating a colorful, rock shaped sour candy, popular at the time, called Pop Rocks. This legend was straight-up not true. I’m happy to inform you that Mikey, whose real name is John Gilchrist (posing below right) is alive and well and living in Pelham, New York with his wife and 3 kids. Go Mikey!

Hey wait! What about the Loch Ness monster or Big Foot or the secret messages when playing Beatles songs backwards?

Check out all things paranormal, cursed, or just insanely stupid at the September/October Rotunda display and have fun.

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Fall 2021 MCL Notes newsletter

September 2nd, 2021 · City Library, Main Branch, News, Newsletter, West Branch

The Fall issue of MCL Notes is here! Catch up on what’s been happening at the libraries—there is plenty to read about! Get the scoop on the programs we have planned from now through November.

We welcome you to sign up to receive this quarterly newsletter by email.

Fall 2021 mclnotes v17-02

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Beyond the First Dance

September 2nd, 2021 · City Library, Events, Main Branch

Join the Manchester City Library on Thursday, September 30^th at 5:00pm for an In-Person event! Stop by the Auditorium for a presentation on how you can strengthen your relationship with your significant-other.

In Beyond the First Dance, Susan McKeown encourages couples to look closely at the habits they establish in the early years of their relationship. These are the dance steps that will prevent a couple from repeatedly stepping on each other’s toes and help them stay in sync. Learning to face the challenges that many married couples experience is what builds a lasting partnership and emotional intimacy.

Susan is an author and speaker promoting healthy relationships, strengthening marriage, and preventing divorce. She has worked with families as a nurse practitioner for over forty years and is a Certified Prevention Specialist, educating and advocating on issues of mental health and substance misuse. Susan published her first book, Beyond the First Dance-A Guide for Couples to Think Beyond their Wedding Day, for those contemplating marriage. Her second book Beyond the Tango- A Guide for a Thriving Marriage while Juggling Careers, Kids, and Chaos is now available through independent bookstores, her website, and Amazon.

Visit her website Beyondthefirstdance.com for more information and to sign up for her blog.

For questions, call Susan Harmon at 603-624-6550 x3320 or email sharmon@manchesternh.gov

Signup for this program is not required, but if you’d like a reminder email, you can sign up through our library calendar! Visit www.manchesterlibrary.org and click on “Upcoming Events” to view the library calendar. Click here to be taken directly to the event, or copy and paste the link below into your browser.

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DIY Pumpkin Scented Candles

August 31st, 2021 · Adult Take & Make Crafts, City Library, Events, Main Branch

Usher in fall to your home with these fun, easy, pumpkin scented candles! This little craft is simple to make and a great way to decorate your home. Made with soy wax, essential oils, and real mini pumpkins, it’s eco-friendly and vegan, too!

These fragrant kits will be available for pickup starting September 14, 2021. These kits are for adults only and are available while supplies last. For more information, call Sue Harmon at 603-624-6550 x 3320 or email sharmon@manchesternh.gov.

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Labor Day Weekend

August 30th, 2021 · City Library, Events, Holidays, Library Hours, Main Branch

The Manchester City Library will be closed Saturday, September 4th through Monday, September 6th, in observance of the Labor Day holiday. The West Manchester Branch Library will be closed that Monday as well. We will reopen on Tuesday at our normal times. We hope you all have a safe and happy holiday weekend.

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Spark Joy Webinar

August 26th, 2021 · City Library, Events, Main Branch

The Manchester City Library invites you to Spark Joy in your life with a virtual webinar on Thursday, September 23, 2021, at 7:30 PM.

In this inspiring virtual presentation, you’ll learn what it means to lead a life that Sparks Joy. Shannon Honeycutt will share the KonMari philosophy and principles needed to tidy once and for all. You’ll leave feeling motivated to Spark Joy in your home, office, and life! Bring a t-shirt and pair of pants for the folding demonstration and download the tidying checklist and bring it with you to the program: bit.ly/TidyingChecklist

Attend for a chance to win a 3 hour virtual tidying session with Shannon!

Shannon Honeycutt, a certified Silver Level Konmari Consultant, will bring the life-changing magic of tidying to you!

For questions, call Susan Harmon at 603-624-6550 x3320 or email sharmon@manchesternh.gov

Signup for this program is required and space is limited! This program will not be recorded. You will be contacted 3 days before the program to confirm attendance. Non-responses will be removed from the signup list and any waitlisted registrants will be contacted. Once attendance is confirmed, you will be sent the zoom link.

Visit www.manchesterlibrary.org and click on “Upcoming Events” to view the library calendar. Click here to be taken directly to the event, or copy and paste the link below into your browser.

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A system upgrade – catalogs temporarily unavailable Thursday August 26th

August 24th, 2021 · Books, City Library, Events, Library Hours, Main Branch, News, Technology

On Thursday, August 26th, our public catalog will be down for a system upgrade. Access to eBooks, music, movies and access to our electronic resources (databases) will likewise be unavailable. The exception is that cloudLibrary will be available during the upgrade.. The Internet will still be available to patrons.

For assistance please call us at 624-6550 ext. 3319 or ext. 3320, use our chat service or email us a library@manchesternh.gov.

We thank you for your patience as we work to improve our online resources.

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Reading Road Trip

August 22nd, 2021 · Books, City Library, Main Branch

Have you ever wanted to travel cross country in an RV and see all the different National Parks? Or even just see more than the beautiful scenery of New Hampshire? What about meeting new people and trying new food? Or maybe you have taken on a 50 State Reading Challenge for yourself (there are many to choose from)! Well, why not try getting away in one of these books. Reading can be a great way to learn about the culture of an area without actually going there.

All 50 US states are represented in the selected books which include both fiction and non-fiction, but no travel guides. Each title on the rotunda display has a bookmark with the state the book takes place in. For more titles, check out the carousels below!

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New Hampshire Cemeteries and Gravestones

August 17th, 2021 · City Library, Events, Main Branch

The Manchester City Library invites you to an informative program on Cemeteries and Gravestones on Tuesday, September 14, 2021, at 7pm EST via Zoom.

Rubbings, photographs, and slides illustrate the rich variety of gravestones to be found in our own neighborhoods, but they also tell long-forgotten stories of such historical events as the Great Awakening, the Throat Distemper epidemic, and the American Revolution. Find out more about these deeply personal works of art and the craftsmen who carved them with Glenn Knoblock, and learn how to read the stone “pages” that give insight into the vast genealogical book of New Hampshire.

Glenn Knoblock is an independent scholar and author of fifteen books and over 100 articles. He is also the author and historian on projects relating to Northern New England bridges, New Hampshire cemeteries, brewing history, and African-American military history. Knoblock has served as the main military contributor to Harvard and Oxford University’s landmark African-American Biography Project. He holds a BA in History from Bowling Green State University.

This program is sponsored by New Hampshire Humanities.

For questions, call Caitlin at 603-624-6550 x3320 or email cdionne@manchesternh.gov.

Signup for this program is not required, but if you’d like a reminder email, you can sign up through our library calendar! You’ll also receive an email with the Zoom meeting link! Visit www.manchesterlibrary.org and click on “Upcoming Events” to view the library calendar. Click here to be taken directly to the event, or copy and paste the link below into your browser.

https://www.libraryinsight.com/eventdetails.asp?jx=i1&lmx=%CF%60%60%26%AF%ACt&v=3

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