New Hampshire Authors

New Hampshire Authors Database is a great database created and supported by the New Hampshire Center for the Book. You can use this database to search Authors who were born, buried, or currently have residence in New Hampshire. Try your town-- any writers living in your back yard?
The Center for the Book also has information on statewide programs including book sale listings, a bibliography of books about New Hampshire, and the literary tradition in New Hampshire.

Birds, Gardens, and Farmers

I had a garden lover's week!

Friday, I finally finished weeding and mulching my large flower bed. Whew, what a lot of work! My husband laid in many bags of white stones as a drainage ditch at the back side of the garden. I only have to reset the brick edging and come Fall, plant in some bulbs and I will be satisified that the garden is respectable. Another exciting event in our gardens -- my beloved foxgloves have grown new shoots and are blossoming again!

I also attended a meeting of the Canaan Bird and Garden Club this week. I was invited to talk about the library's extensive collection of materials on gardening and bird life. The Club gifted the library with five new books for our collection in memorial of past Bird and Garden Club members. The titles include: Tea Gardens by Ann Lovejoy, The Well-Tended Garden by Tracy DiSabato-Aust, Planting with Trees by Andrew and Rosamond McIndoe, The Sibley Guide to Birds by David Allen Sibley, and Rodale's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening.

And finally, on Sunday my husband and I took full advantage of the Canaan Farmers' Market. Vegetables are in full swing and every vendor has something lovely and yummy. We were intrigued by Sandy's Trombone Squash which tasted delicious sauted with garlic, onions, summer squash, fresh basil, and cherry tomatoes. Doesn't it almost look like a Swan?

What your books go through, before you find them on the shelf

Check out this great flickr slide show of all the steps it takes to get a book on the shelves at the Hatcher Graduate Library, University of Michigan.
It's not quite the same process we have, but if you've wondered why there are always so many stacks of books "sitting" around this will be enlightening.

On a completely different topic -- Yes, I did go to my reunion, although there were whimpers of dissent all the way to the ticket window. I had a wonderful time, and it was great to see some of my old friends. As one friend said, it was more than a high school reunion, because so many of us had met in nursery school. Curiously enough, no one was surprised that I was a librarian, was I a librarian-in-training that long ago and didn't realize it?

High School Reunion Time

So tonight's the night. My 15th high school reunion. I have a new outfit and I may even "do" my hair. Am I excited to go? Ummmm, not exactly. I have been so lucky to remain close friends with my high school chums, that a reunion is not necessary to catch up with them. I see them all the time, well except that one friend who just moved to California!
I loved high school, and I am curious to see my classmates, but there is this little voice in my head saying, "play sick, tell 'em the car broke down, say the dog ate my tickets (which could actually be true, I haven't seen them in awhile)".
The reunion is taking place on the Mt. Washington, which will be wonderful, the weather is perfect for a cruise on the lake.
So in honor of the "big night", here is a list of my favorite High School books that we have at the library, with a few movies thrown in for fun! Think of me as you are in the comfort of your own home, reminiscing about lockers, gym class, and science class!

Star Girl by Jerry Spinelli
The Plain Janes by Cecil Castellucci
The World According to Garp by John Irving
Avalon High by Meg Cabot
Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot
10 Things I Hate About You
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Freaks and Geeks

Three Great Book Discussion Opportunities!

Our library has a wonderful book discussion group called the "Basement Bookies". To find out where the name came from, you've got to come to a discussion! The "Bookies" meet once a month and read everything including biography, nonfiction, bestsellers, classics, and whatever else we can get our hands on! You can see what the Bookies have been reading in 2007 by visiting the library's calendar page. The following announcements are for those of you currently in the book group and those of you who were formerly in the book group and have been missing us. They are also an invitation to all of you who would like to see what a relaxed and cooperative is like! Join us for one or all of the following events, or come to a monthly discussion, we'd love to have you!

Announcement #1
Tuesday, August 14, 6pm at the library we will be hosting a Harry Potter pot luck discussion. Come ready to talk about the whole series and how it turned out!
Annoucement #2
The New Hampshire State Library have received a grant to do a Big Read. A Big Read is a chance for a whole state to read the same book. The Big Read is happening in October and the book is Farenheit 451. Check out the Big Read blog! I have ordered 25 copies of the book, so if you have a friend or two you are trying convince to join the book group, entice them with a free copy of the book!
Announcement #3
READS-TO-GO has arrived! What's READS-TO-GO? It is complete book discussion kit in a bag! Visit the state library's online catalog and search by keyword READS-TO-GO or go to the READS-TO-GO website and see the list of available kits! This is a program I was honored to be able to help create for the New Hampshire State Library Association, I hope we can get some use out of it ourselves.