Tuesday, February 28, 2006

Magazine survey

Measuring patrons' use of materials and services is a form of data collecting that is used routinely by libraries, and the information gathered is utilized primarily to evaluate and manage the various collections, and to improve service to the users.
From March 6-10 the staff of the Lane Memorial Library will be gathering statistics on the in-house use of the library’s magazine collection. While some patrons check out magazines, there are others who prefer to read the periodicals at the library. It is the latter group’s use of the collection that will be the focus during this time.
Rather than reshelving the magazines as they usually do, readers will be asked to place them in baskets that will be in the reading area. Signs will be prominently displayed to remind patrons.

Friday, February 24, 2006

Story hour signups

Story hour signups will begin on February 28th for the next 6 week session, which begins on March 14th. The 15 mos. to 3 year olds sessions will meet Tuesday or Wednesday mornings at 9:30 am. The 3 year olds will meet Wednesdays at 10:30 am and the 4 & 5 year olds are Thursdays at 10:30 am. Stop by the Childrens Room to register for these storytimes or call us at 926-4729 if you have any questions.

The library's hours are Monday through Thursdays, 9-8 and Friday and Saturday from 9-5.

Wednesday, February 22, 2006

What Are the Most Popular Books So Far This Year?

I thought people might like to see a list of our most popular titles so far for 2006. In fiction, the top ten "best-sellers" at the library have been:

1. Mary, Mary / by James Patterson.
2. Chill Factor / by Sandra Brown.
3. The Camel Club / by David Baldacci.
4. "S" is for Silence/ by Sue Grafton.
5. A Wedding in December / by Anita Shreve.
6. At First Sight / by Nicholas Sparks.
7. Blue Smoke / by Nora Roberts.
8. On the Run / by Iris Johansen.
9. School Days / by Robert B. Parker.
10. The Divide / by Nicholas Evans.

In Non-Fiction, the top ten are:

1. The Year of Magical Thinking / by Joan Didion.
2. Here's Johnny! / by Ed McMahon.
3. My Friend Leonard / by James Frey.
4. What Remains: A Memoir of Fate, Friendship and Love / by Carole Radziwill.
5. The Man Behind the DaVinci Code: an Unauthorized Biography of Dan Brown / by Lisa Rogak.
6. Never Have Your Dog Stuffed: and Other Things I've Learned / by Alan Alda.
7. You--the Owner's Manual: an Insider's Guide to the Body That Will Make You Healthier and Younger / by Michael F. Roizen.
8. 1776 / by David McCullough.
9. 700 Sundays / by Billy Crystal.
10. Creating Great Guest Rooms / by Carol Donayre Bugg.

Many of these books are so popular that they will have waiting lists. Did you know that you can place a hold on items in our collection from your home computer? To do so you'll need a library card and a special PIN number. If you don't have a PIN number yet you'll need to come to the library to get it in person. Once you have that, just log on to our online catalog at http://www2.hampton.lib.nh.us/ and search for the title(s) you want. Once you find one, you simply click on the "Place Hold" button and fill in your library card barcode number and your PIN number to place the hold.

While you are in the catalog you may notice a big red "My Account" button. From here you'll be able to see what you currently have out and it will give you the option to renew them if they are renewable. We have a new blue button here as well that reads "New Arrivals." Click on this and you'll go to a web page that will allow you to search and get lists of the newest items received by the library in many different categories, such as fiction, non-fiction, teen, audiobooks, movies, music, large print, and nine children's categories. The lists that come up can be sorted by author, title or publication date, and at the bottom of each search page you will be presented with ways to refine or narrow your search for more specific items or for different date ranges (other than the last six months). These lists are continually updated whenever we receive anything new so you'll have an easy way to find out what new items we have been receiving.

Monday, February 13, 2006


In preparation for Valentine’s Day, the Friends of the Lane Memorial Library hosted their second annual Sweetheart Tea on Saturday, February 11th at the library. It proved to be a sweet time for all who attended. This free program was open to children and their families for two fun-filled seatings in the Lane Room. They were treated to three Valentine’s stories read by Joanne Mulready, tea, juice, fruit and scrumptious desserts. Later, the children created home-made Valentines. Friends Vice-President Arlenea Batchelder was the director of this wonderful event.

The Teen Group from the library was a big help. The Lane Room was transformed into a veritable utopia of red, pink and white. They blew up balloons, artfully arranged the desserts on plates and served our guests. Two “Sweetheart-themed” baskets were crafted by Friends member Sammi Moe. They were raffled to lucky winners Marjorie Smith and Amy Gallant. The door prizes went to Maya Sanders and Andrew Menke. All of the winners were very excited.

Through this free program, the Friends’ goal was to promote a memorable family activity while utilizing the library’s resources. The Friends are always looking for new members. The small membership fee of $10 for individuals and $15 for families is what will help grow the group so similar kinds of activities can be planned.

For more information about membership opportunities with the Friends of the Lane Memorial Library, please visit http://www.hampton.lib.nh.us/library/friends/index.htm or pick up an application in the library.

Story and photos by Linda Libbey

Thursday, February 09, 2006

February Teen Time Movie

The Lane Memorial Library Teen Time Movie of the month will be Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, based upon the books The Bad Beginning, The Reptile Room, and The Wide Window, by Lemony Snicket. Rated PG. Escape the trials and tribulations of your own daily life and join us in the Lane Room as we savor the misadventures of the Baudelaire orphans. Show date and time: Thursday, February 16th at 2:30 p.m.

Teen Time Movies are open to students in grades 6-12. For additional information, or to obtain a permission slip for the monthly movies, please contact Cheryl in the children's room: 926-4729.

Wednesday, February 08, 2006

Hampton Academy opens Art Show at Lane Memorial Library


Hampton Academy has an art show going on at the Lane Memorial Library throughout the month of February. The opening night reception was held on February 2nd. This is the fifth year that Jane Copp’s art students have shown their work at the library and the first year that 8th grade work is included. The purpose behind having the show at the Library is to allow the community an opportunity to see the wonderful work that is done at Hampton Academy. The library’s function room is a perfect space for art displays. Mrs. Copp borrowed display panels from WHS to add a dimension to the show this year. She likes to have an “Opening Night” reception to mimic what it might be like to be an artist in NYC having one’s work on exhibit for the first time. The art show represents each student in her art classes. Everyone has at least one piece on display. This is very important concept for her—that every student be represented and that excellence in the visual arts is attainable.

This year, the 6th grades have Oaxacan sculptures displayed in the case outside the function room. These were made with Model Magic compound and are part of an integrating unit on the art and culture of South and Latin America. Paper folding landscapes, Harlequin Mask mobiles, colored pencil drawings of flower vases and birds are also part of their display. Birch tree watercolor paintings are the result of an introductory unit that teaches many skills such as wet-on-wet washes, underpainting and spattering. India Folk Art Paintings explore the culture and motifs used in that region of our world.

7th grade displays involve new materials such as the gummed paper used to make
symmetrical designs. Islamic designs using a cool color palette are part of an integrated unit on world religions. Automobile and Primitive landscape drawings were also on display. The landscapes were composed after studying the work of Charles Wysocki and using the principles of pictorial perspective.

The wonderful watercolor paintings of trout, butterflies and seashells were done by 8th grades as they developed more skill and vision in how to use this medium. Mask designs were developed using colored masking tape in a mosaic fashion. Candy bar wrapper drawings were drawn in colored pencil with an emphasis on realism, shadow and highlights. Pen and ink barn landscapes were composed after studying the work of American artist Eric Sloane. Elongated form and expressionism were developed in 8th grade Modigliani inspired portraits.

Mrs. Copp graduated from UNH with a degree in Art Education. She has been teaching for 21 years. This is her 5th year at Hampton Academy. She came from a family of educators. Her father was a professor at Dartmouth for 32 years and her grandmother taught in a one room school house in Montana. Mrs. Copp recalls that greatest influence in art came from living in Switzerland as a middle school student and visiting all the art museums in Europe.

Story and photos by Linda Libbey

Friday, February 03, 2006

More Cindy in the News

Our former children's librarian Cindy Stosse has made it into the papers again. Seems her new library in Pembroke was just voted Library of the Year by the NH Library Trustees Association. You can read the article here.

Thursday, February 02, 2006

Self-defense and child protection lectures at the library

Mr. Andrew Moores, of Atlantic Karate & Training Center, is working with student Nicholas Gray on a basic blocking technique used in self-defense.
This month, the Friends of the Library will be sponsoring two free lectures by local self-defense expert Andrew Moores.

The first lecture, scheduled for Thursday, February 16 from 6-8 p.m. in the Lane Room will be for men and women and will be a basic introduction to the emotional and psychological aspects, innate survival signals and tactical options one has to use when dealing with a violent attack. The goals of the lecture are to increase awareness, focus, fear management and their ability to defend themselves.

The program is designed to empower the individual regardless of size, gender, or age by creating tactics that are generic, gross motor oriented, function during high stress and adrenaline overloaded incidents and also respect the body’s survival system, signals and responses.

The second lecture will be for parents regarding child safety and child abductions. It will cover the following topics:
• Stranger Danger vs. Strange Behavior; why "stranger danger" doesn't work anymore
• Listening to gut instincts and how they can save lives for both parents and kids
• Child Lures; the most popular lures a predator will use to lure the child away from a safe area
• Easy ways to teach kids how to physically protect themselves in case of danger

This lecture will be given on Thursday, February 23 in the Lane Room from 6:30-8 p.m. Based upon questions and concerns from parents, a follow-up lecture will be designed and geared to children and given at the library at a later date.

For materials purposes or to register for one or both of these programs, call the Lane Memorial Library at (603) 926-3368.

Andrew Moores is director of training at Atlantic Karate and Training Center located in the World Gym in Seabrook. Moores is well known and highly respected for his work with personal safety, threat assessment and violence prevention programs for children, women and men. He has been involved with the martial arts for 12 years and has found much success in the tournament arena with most recently finishing second in Kumite (sparring) and first in Kata (forms) at the World Uechi Championships. In addition, Moores finished first at the 2003 Tsuruoka Canadian National Championships in Kata (forms) and was a proud member of the United States team which finished second in team Kumite (sparring).

Moores, a Master’s degree candidate within Boston University’s Emergency Management and Organizational Continuity program, is a member of Blauer Tactical Systems’ Personal Defense Readiness team. Blauer Tactical Systems is one of the world's leading consulting groups for combative and defensive tactics training. Blauer Tactical has been involved in the research, development and design of programs for law enforcement and military trainers for more than 20 years.

Three New Library Newsletters

The library's publishing mill has been active of late. First to come out was the second issue of "Zoom Into Chompas". the library's literary magazine written entirely by local teens and edited by our teen librarian Cheryl French. Cheryl also produced the February issue of the Children's Room newsletter. And last but not least, the Friends of the Library finished their own February newsletter today, and that is also now available on our website. All three newsletters are issued in Adobe PDF format, so you'll need the free Adobe PDR Reader in order to view them.

And speaking of the Friends, they are planning to hold another children's book sale this Spring and are asking for donations of "gently read" books to sell. Check your kids' bookshelves soon and bring in whatever you no longer need to the library, as long as it is in good condition.