New Year's Closings

We will be open
Saturday, December 30, 2006.

The Lucy Robbins Welles Library in Newington, CT
will be closed on

Sunday, December 31, 2006 and Monday, January 1, 2007.

-vicky

Amy Rogell visited the library on Dec. 28, 2006

Animated Amy visited the Lucy Robbins Welles Library Thursday Morning December 28. She had the kids singing, clapping and moving with her entertaining music.

-vicky

Sam Pasco's Orchestra is playing right now!

I am in the collection management office enjoying the tunes from Sam Pasco's Orchestra.

Here are some pictures from their concert this afternoon.

-vicky

While our webpage is down...

While our webpage is down you can still check your holds, review what you have checked out, renew materials and search our catalog. Look to the top of this blog and at the column to the right and you will see links to search the catalog, renew materials and review you account.

We are still talking with our web host about getting our site up an running.

-vicky

Bubble-Mania Friday, Dec. 29 @ 2:00 p.m.

Join Casey Carle at the Newington Senior and Disabled Center (new venue) for a unique program.

Free tickets for family members 5 to 95 are available at the children's department.

Casey Carle advised Cirque du Soleils' on the bubble sequence in their new Beatles show.

Read about Casey's book Bubbleology.

Watch videos of Casey's act for a preview of Friday's performance.

-vicky

Magic the Gathering 2:00 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.

Magic the Gathering!
Here at Lucy Robbins Welles Library on Saturday, December 30, 2006.

The program is free but call to register at 665-8700. Open to all kids in grades 7-12. Experienced or newer players welcome. We will learn from each other and from Jack Aveline.

-vicky

Webpage Repairs in Process

You may have noticed our webpage is down. We do apologize for any inconvenience this causes. Our webpage host is working on the problem and we should be up soon.

-vicky

Library Closings

The library will be closed over Christmas Weekend.

We will close at 5:00 p.m. Friday December 22 and reopen on Tuesday December 26 at 10:00 a.m.

You can access many of the library services at our webpage http://www.newington.lib.ct.us.

-vicky

Web Forms are Down

The forms on our web page are not working correctly. We are not receiving contents of the forms. So if you have filled out a form for an interlibrary loan, a meeting room, a reference question or an assignment alert and have not heard back from us, please call the library at 665-8700.

We apologize for any inconvenience.

We are trying to solve this problem as soon as possible.

As usual you may email us with questions or book requests. Or try our new Info Anytime for reference assistance.

Thank you for your patience.

-vicky

Magic the Gathering

Take part in a fantasy role playing card game open to teens in grades 7 -12. You can learn more about Magic the Gathering here.

Experienced and newer players are welcome. Prizes and refreshments will be provided.

The program is free, but registration is necessary. Sign up at the Adult Information Desk or by calling 665-8700.

Sue S.

Henna Tattoos for Teens

Attention all Teens!

Join local Mehndi artist, Smita Dave, on Tuesday, December 26th for an afternoon of learning and fun. Have Ms. Dave design a henna tattoo for you, choose a design you like from a book, or create your own!

Materials and refreshments will be provided.

Sign up at the Adult Information Desk, or by calling 665-8700. We look forward to seeing you there!

Sue S.

Technical Difficulties Solved

Our technical difficulties with the blog feed to the webpage are solved.

-vicky

Pre-Wrapped Gifts at the Friends Corner

This year the Friends of the Lucy Robbins Welles Library have pre-wrapped gifts, their cookbook, the Book Lover's Calendar and the Friends note cards.

The cookbook, Friends' Favorites - Food For Thought, has many interesting features. Look in the back for many helpful tips. Did you know that soaking a potato in salt water for 20 minutes makes it bake more rapidly? Thyme thrown on the coals shortly before the meat is finished grilling adds a nice flavor? Dip a spoon in hot water before measuring oil or shortening and it will slip off more easily? Learn to fold a napkin into a rosette.

Cyndi just said "Are you going to highlight some of the recipes?" "How about Hot Cranberry Punch? That's very festive!" Mexican Pizza only takes about 20 minutes to cook with refried beans for the sauce. Or try Grandma Lil's Plum Cake.

Technical Difficulties

We are experiencing technical difficulties with the feed to our webpage today. If you are reading from our webpage cut and paste this address http://lrwlnews.blogspot.com into your browser window to read our events blog.

we hope to have the problem fixed in the next day or two.

-vicky

Create your own invention!

Read Brainboy and the DeathMaster by Tor Seidler - the last nutmeg book. Then come to the library and discuss it on Wednesday December 13 @ 7:00 p.m.

You'll create your own invention or conduct a science experiment!

Call 665-8700 to register!

-vicky

What's RSS?

What is that orange rss button on the bottom of the Library News and Events section of the webpage?

RSS is a feed to a news reader. ok yes what is a news reader! A news reader will collect all the blogs you read together on one webpage. It scans your favorite blogs and indicates that there is a new posting on the blog. Then you only have to go to one website to keep up with all your blogs.

How do I add the Library News and Events Blog to a news reader?

Click on the orange rss button on the webpage.
Choose one of the news readers.
Follow the instructions to subscribe.
Visit the website once or twice a day to keep up with the latest info in your blogs.

-vicky

Library Updates Webpage

Sue Schneider and Vicky Chase have recently finished the update to the library webpage.

We wanted to put more of the features of our webpage at your finger tips. Across the top of the page we added links to popular sections of the site. You can now directly search the catalog, review your account or renew materials from every page on our site. And we added some bells and whistles that we hope make the page more functional for you - the users.

Take a look http://www.newington.lib.ct.us and let us know what you think at Survey Monkey.

-vicky

Red Hatters Visit LRW Library

The Red Hat Society visited the Lucy Robbins Welles Library on
Thursday November 30 for the French Chocolate Creations Program.

Chocolatier Maria Poirier Brandriff demonstrated the art of making the truffle. Everyone, including the library staff after the meeting, enjoyed samples!

-vicky

Nutmeg Books

Are reading the Nutmeg Books?

If so get ready for January when we bring in a voting machine. You can go to the children's department during the month of January.

Check to see if we have any copies on hand.

Grades 4-6

Becoming Naomi León by Ryan, Pam Muñoz
The boy who saved baseball by Ritter, John H
Brainboy and the Deathmaster by Seidler, Tor
Gifts from the sea by Kinsey-Warnock, Natalie
Granny Torrelli makes soup by Creech, Sharon
Half and half by Namioka, Lensey
Kensuke's kingdom by Morpurgo, Michael
Macaroni boy by Ayres, Katherine
Thunder from the sea by Harlow, Joan Hiatt
The Warriors by Bruchac, Joseph

Grades 7-8

Airborn by Oppel, Kenneth
For freedom : the story of a French spy by Bradley, Kimberly Brubaker
Inventing Elliot by Gardner, Graham
Jumpman : rule #1: don't touch anything by Valentine, James
Mortal engines by Reeve, Philip
Milkweed by Spinelli, Jerry
Mississippi trial, 1955 by Crowe, Chris
Say yes by Couloumbis, Audrey
Under the same sky by DeFelice, Cynthia C
Vampire High by Rees, Douglas

Thank You, Friends!

A big thanks to the Friends of the Lucy Robbins Welles Library for purchasing us a PowerShot A530 Digital Camera. Most of the pictures you see on this blog were taken with this generous donation.

This is one of the ways the Friends uses your donations and the money from the book sales.

-vicky

Are Libraries Obsolete?

Saturday on Morning Edition the director of UMass Amherst's library was interviewed. Listen to this thoughtful discussion about the value of libraries in the age of the internet.

My experience here at LRW Library and at the other libraries I have worked in is that the library is a meeting place either in the academic world or in the town. There will always be a need for community gathering places and the library is a warm and welcoming place for that to happen.

-vicky

Brown Bag It with a Film

Bring a bag lunch and join us for a biography of Maureen O'Hara on Tuesday, December 5 @ noon. Then come back on Tuesday, December 19, @ noon for that holiday classic, staring Maureen O'Hara - Miracle on 34th Street.

Dessert and drinks will be provided.

Playaways arrive in the Children's Dept.

Our first shipment of Playaway digital children's audio books is just about ready to circulate. Look for classic titles such as Charlotte's Web, Where the Red Fern Grows, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Island of the Blue Dolphins; as well as modern favorites Hoot, Inkheart, Eragon and Eldest. If you ask, an earbud will be supplied at your first checkout - but any headphones you would use for an mp3 player or other audio devices will work!
p.s. you DON'T need to return the earbud! :)

Curious Creatures a SUCCESS!

Over 120 kids and kids at heart enjoyed the
Curious Creatures presentation at the Library on Saturday November 25.

New Additions To Our Collection

Sit back, relax, and take a look at the brand new additions to our collection. If you see an item you are interested in, you can click on "Check Availability". A new window will open; you can see if the item is on the shelf or checked out. If it is checked out to someone else, you can place a hold on it using your library card number and your PIN (if you don't know your PIN, try using: changeme). Or, call our Information Desk (665-8700) to reserve a copy of the item.

Enjoy!
Sue S.

America the Beautiful: Tips for Traveling with Your Pet

TODAY Dec 4 @ 7:00 p.m.

Join Christine Apruzese, Newington resident, avid traveller and chairperson of the Newington Greenways Alliance who will present a slide show of some of the more scenic views in our country together with tips on talking road tripswith dogs and on traveling alone. Handouts will include maps of routes, names of motels/hotels and general travel tips.

No reservations required.

-vicky

Newington Information Packet - 2007

Be one of the first to see the Newington Information Packet. Download the PDF of the 2007 edition today! The Packet is a profile of the Town of Newington. New residents use it to familiarize themselves with the town. Real Estate agents share it with prospective clients. And longtime residents refer to it to keep up with changes in the town.

If you like the packet thank the Lucy Robbins Welles Library Information Services Department.

Download it today!

-vicky

Photos from the Fall 2006 Parent Child Workshops.

Watch for information on our Spring Parent-Child Workshops.

Connecticut History Online

Jeanette Mercure, Head of Circulation/Collection Mangement and Vicky Chase attended a presentation on digitial collections. Check out Connecticut History Online to see what the State of Connecticut is doing to digitize collections.

- vicky

Focus Group - Iconn.org

Have you used iCONN?

Would you like to share your experiences?

The group will meet at the
Lucy Robbins Welles Library in Newington, CT.

December 5, 7:oo p.m.

The focus group will consist of approx. eight iCONN users and a neutral, third-party facilitator from the Center for Social Research at CCSU. The focus group will last approx. 60-90 minutes. As a thank you for your time you will be given a $40.0 gift certificate for Amazon.com.

Contact Sharon Brettschneider
860-757-6665

sbrett@cslib.org

-vicky

Telebration 2006 - Saturday, Nov. 18

Tellebration is a worldwide storytelling event.

Come to the Lucy Robbins Welles Library

and listen to storytellers

Sara deBeer - Aaron Greenberg
Keith Hughes -- Carol Mon -- Paul Recker

Reacquaint yourself with the magic and art of storytelling

Advanced tickets $8.00

At the door $10.00

You can pick up tickets
at the Adult Information Desk at the library.

- vicky

Puzzle Swap starting November 4, 2007

In conjunction with the library book sale, the Children's Department will debut a jigsaw puzzle swap that will be ongoing throughout the year.

Bring in any puzzle (please make sure it has all its pieces!) that you no longer want and you can swap it for another.

You may bring them in anytime prior to November 4, so there will be plenty to choose from.

Library Opening on Sundays

The Lucy Robbins Welles Library in Newington will be open on Sunday afternoons starting November 5, 2006. Hours will be 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Stop by for a visit.

-vicky

Fall Fiction Book Sale - November 4th

The Friends of the Lucy Robbins Welles library will hold thier annual fall book sale on Saturday, November 4 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the Community Room. Fiction only, including romance, mystery and sci fi for all ages.

• Hardcovers are $2.00
• Softcovers are $1.00
• Paperbacks are $.50
• Children's hardcovers are $1.00
  Children's paperbacks are $.50

Admission is free and open to the public.

-vicky

Library Hatches Monarch Butterfly

Jeanette Mercure and Kathie Merlino hatched a monarch butterfly this fall. Roy Zartarian supplied the tracking tag. Jeanette collected the larva at her home in Harwinton, CT. She nursed many monarchs to life at her home. We all interested in her stories so she said she would bring one in to work. Kathie Merlino tended the chrysalis at her desk. Thursday Sept. 21 they released the new born monarch into the wild. It should be flying south now!

If you are interested in raising monarchs check out these websites.

Sharon's Monarch Butterfly Site

Butterfly Rearing

Education World's article on Monarch Butterflies: Join the Migration!

-vicky

Jarhead

The Thursday evening book discussion group is reading Jarhead by Anthony Swofford. Stop by Thursday evening October 5 at 7:00 p.m. for a lively discussion of this book.

New York Times Book Review of Jarhead

-vicky

Indian Cuisine Thursday Sept 21, 1:00 p.m.

Indian cuisine is not all curries. Come to the library next Thursday to learn about all those interesting spices and textures that make up Indian cuisine.
Call the reference desk to register 665-8700.

Get a head start and check out these books.

Great Indian Feasts

Indian Home Cooking






Cuisines of India:The art of regional indian cooking







-vicky

Museum Info at the Library

The Brown Bag it with Art sounds so interesting. I'll have to go to the next one.

The Hill-Stead is a beautiful museum. I have visited the grounds often to take photos.

If you want to reserve a pass to the Hill-Stead go to our museum passes reservation page.

-vicky

For the Love of the Red Sox

So I hold in my hand a "newer" Boston Red Sox Book, For the Love of the Red Sox: An A-to-Z Primer for Red Sox Fans of All Ages. I say "newer" because Johnny Damon is shown still wearing a Sox uniform when we all know he's wearing Yankee pinstripes now.
Those who work with me are surprised to see me with this book, because they know that I'm a Jersey girl and forever a Yankee fan. Some of them also know however, that my husband is a huge Red Sox fan so I thought I'd rub it in...er....I mean...bring it home for him!
Why do I bring this up here? Just a personal frustration with publishers that take so long to produce timely books about sports teams and players for kids. We sit with books about football teams that aren't even in existence anymore on our shelves and wait for updated series. And, as much as I like him, Derek Jeter isn't the only player on the Yankees. Let's get some more sports figure biographies for those reluctant middle school boys!
For the Love of READING....
Helen

Playaway Digital Audio Books

The library has a new format of audiobooks called Playaway books. Read a review of Playaway at Gizmodo.com.

Jeanette and I saw this at PLA in April and we said "THIS IS IT!". It's so much better than downloadable books. Much more durable and secure than a CD or a cassette. No more downloading books from the internet and wondering if it will work with your MP3 player. It's in the perfect portable package.

The book is in a small case about the size of a cassette. The title, author and jacket are on one side and the controls are on another. Try this tutorial to learn how to use it. We will give you the first set of earbud headphones or you can use your own standard head phones to listen. Carry the book around in your pocket and off you go!

We are purchasing more and they will be available in the near future.

- vicky

Family Storytime - Thursdays 6:30 p.m.

Sept. and Oct. family storytimes sound like a lot of fun. Kathy Hoefer just gave me the fall themes.

September
7 Art Smart
14 Gear Up
21 Fall Favorites
28 Special Delivery

October
5 Weather or Not
12 Mice are Nice
19 Hoot, Hoot, Hoot
26 Pumpkin Patch

Playtivity at school summer reading recognition assemblies!

So another summer reading program is done and once again I'm headed to the Newington elementary schools to hand out certificates of achievement. Next week I'll visit Elizabeth Green and Ruth Chaffee Schools on Wednesday and Anna Reynolds and John Paterson Schools on Thursday. (This is a change from the schedule listed on our calendar of events.) With me will be the duo known as Playtivity (shown left). Craig and Virginia are fantastic storytellers and assured me that a pirate tale or two will be in the mix! Looking forward to a fun week! Helen

We Have LibriVox - Books Recorded by Real People

The net is getting more and more interactive. Now you can read your favorite book published before 1923, post it to LibriVox. Or you can collaborate with another reader and work on a book together. The books are free and you can download them to your mp3 player and listen.

Read more about it at About Literature:contemporary or link directly from our website on the downloadable books webpage.

-vicky

Searching for a college or a new career? Taking an entrance exam?

Take a look at our new Testing and Education Reference Center online database. You'll find everything you need to begin a new career including a career assessment quiz, career search, resume writer, college search, practice tests for entrance exams, test prepareation e-books, financial aid search, and scholarship search.

You'll need your library card number to enter the database.

Bus Trip to Tanglewood

Join the Friends on August 12 for their annual trip to Tanglewood and Lenox. Enjoy the pre-rehearsal talk and rehearsal concert featuring the music of John Williams. Spend the afternoon in downtown Lenox.

The cost is $45 which includes the pre-rehearsal talk and the concert.
Register at the Adult Information Desk.

Are you looking for a new book or movie?

Take a look at the new materials we purchased this month. When you find a book or movie that you like, click on the Check Availability link to see if it is on our shelf. If not, you can place a hold and we'll let you know when it is available for you to pick up.

Get reference help 24/7!

Have a question after the library closes? We now offer reference 24/7 though our website. Give it a try and let us know what you think.

Register for Adult Summer Reading Online

Register here for our adult Summer Reading raffles. After you register, enter one raffle ticket for each book you read between June 15 and August 24. Each week during the Summer, one lucky reader will win a large themed gift basket. Be sure to fill out your raffle tickets at the Information and Circulation desks in the library.

Enjoy your Summer reading and good luck!