Selections from the October 2002 Library Lookout

From the Library Director

September welcomed our new Children’s Librarian, Katherine Connell, to our library. She’s working out wonderfully, with a great deal of creativity and enthusiasm.

The staff and the Friends of the Library have been involved in many activities during September: Sept. 14, Book Signing; Sept. 10, Maine Info Net online training; the Assistant Librarian is taking classes Wednesdays for online cataloging; Sept 19/20, Book Sale, $272 taken in; hosted CMLD meeting on Sept. 26; and attended SPARKS Meeting, Sept. 25.

We have a display of decorative and tole painting by Linda Longley for the month of October. Also, we are celebrating Curious George’s birthday on Oct. 19th. Come into the library and purchase a new Curious George book for the Children’s Library and we’ll give you a bannana donated by Hannaford’s Super Market of Skowhegan.

To date, we have issued 139 library cards to children. We already have five (5) classes scheduled for visits to the library.

See you next month. – Blynn Currier

From the Children’s Librarian

The Library has undergone substantial changes since June 3. Currently, we are busy familiarizing ourselves with, and weeding out our current collections. In the children’s area we have found some hidden treasures, and some treasures that should have remained hidden. We need your help.

On October 19, we will be celebrating Curious George’s 60th birthday. Our collection of Curious George books is sparse. As with the successful Dr. Seuss “book raiser”, the Library is asking for the donation of new or gently used Curious George books to rejuvenate our collection. When you come to the library you will find several titles with the rates offered to us by Mr. Paperback. Please come in and pick a title from our Curious George birthday cake. With your donation a “donated by” sticker will be put in each book you donate.

Come in and visit your rearranged children’s area. Our new computer upstairs is ready for young users. Plan to spend some time and explore!

Textbooks and worksheets for home school students and others are now available.

Wanted .... Suggestions! Please remember this is your library, and we welcome your input! Gently used musical instruments, to create a music area for the children. Volunteers for special events, and story hour. Please contact Blynn or Katherine at 474-9072.

Many Thanks to our 2002 summer reading program volunteers and supporters. Be on the lookout for our winter reading program.

READ AND BE AMAZED – Katherine Connell

Latest News

Compiled by Jim Foster

THREE ATTEND FOML CONFERENCE

Skowhegan Friends’ Vice President Jim Foster and Secretary Marcia Granville, and Library Director Blynn Currier, attended the Annual Friends of Maine Libraries Conference in Augusta on September 27. The keynote speakers, children’s book author Margy Burns Knight and illustrator Leane Morin, gave a very enjoyable presentation. We then split up to attend as many different workshops as possible. Among the workshops we attended were one on Libraries & Civil Liberties, given by Jay Scherma, the Director of Thomas Memorial Library in Cape Elizabeth, How to Build a Friends Group, given by Celeste Shinay, a Board member of the Friends of Scarborough Public Library, and Marketing Your Library Programs, by Anastasia S. Weigle, the Director of the Warren Memorial Library in Westbrook. We came back with many ideas for programs which we can try out here in Skowhegan.

LIBRARY VISITS

At the last meeting of the FOL Executive Board, it was decided that each member would make an effort to visit several other libraries during the next few months to observe how others have solved such problems as shelving, computer space, and bulding accessiblity . This would enable the Friends to make constructive suggestions and recommendations as the Skowhegan Library faces the challenge of renovations. Corrilla has mailed a list of some neighboring libraries with their open hours to each board member, although a visit to any library of any size can be productive. If any other Friend or library patron wiishes a copy of this list, please call 474-3949.