News, Information, and Fun Things to Do
from the
Middleborough Public Library
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Library Lines
September 2, 2020
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Adult Programming Returns!
It seems like it's a long way off, but October will be here in about four weeks. Mark your calendar now and plan to join us online for these upcoming free virtual classes and presentations.
Look for program details and registration instructions in our next newsletter on Wed., Sept. 16.
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Middleboro favorite chef Liz Barbour returns on Wed., Oct. 7 at 6:30 p.m. for an online class, "Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes." We'll have lots of "seats" available so grab your spouse, your partner, your kids, or your friends and join the fun. |
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This program is made possible through the CARES Act funding to Federal Institute of Museum and Library Services as administered by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. Additional support is provided by the Friends of the Middleborough Public Library. |
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David Martin, chairman of the Education Committee of the Cape Cod Genealogical Society, will conduct a three-workshop series on Zoom for anyone interested in getting started on their own genealogical research. It's suggested, but NOT required, that you attend all three sessions.
Classes will take place on Zoom on Wed., Oct. 14 and 28 and November 18, from 1:00-3:00 p.m.
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Paranormal guru Tim Weisberg will offer a Zoom presentation just in time for Election Day titled, "Presidential Paranormal." Learn about paranormal activity at the White House and its famous residents like Lincoln, Eisenhower, and Carter.
Scheduled for Wed., Oct. 28, watch the next newsletter for more details.
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We need your input to help us develop new online library resources and determine the direction of future virtual programming for kids.
Please take a minute to complete this Children's Services survey. The more participants, the better we can shape our services to meet your needs.
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New E-Books in Overdrive for Kids and Parents
We've just added quite a number of e-book titles to our kids' collection in Overdrive, including resources to help parents who've decided to homeschool this fall, and fun titles for your kids to enjoy.
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Never thought you'd find yourself homeschooling your children and anxious to find some good advice from the experts?
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Also be sure to check out Karen's Roller Skates in the Baby-Sitters Little Sister graphic novel series by Ann Martin. |
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Miss Lori's Fun Friday Puzzle Challenges
Fri., Sept. 4: Celebrate Sewing Month! One great way to get started is to visit Creative Bug, the Library's new online crafting program. You'll find all kinds of fun sewing projects to try. You can also find many different sewing books for kids here in the Library.
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Fri., Sept. 11: Today's activity is to celebrate your grandparents in honor of Grandparents Day on September 13. Call, email or text them something special, or visit if you're lucky enough to live close by them. Try this Grandparents Day Word Scramble.
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Wondering who the winners of our summer reading programs were this year? See below for the names of those who were awarded local restaurant/business gift cards, new books, and more. |
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Children Winners
Cameron F.
Ryan K.
Olivia M.
Charlie N.
Lily P.
Jr. S.
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Teen Winners
Colby M.
Evan L.
Logan D.
Tyler K.
Cora B.
EJ W.
Gabriel D.
Tawny M.
Jamie B.
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Adult Winners
Heather B.
Kelly C.
Shannon H.
Melissa M.
Kevin O.
Sharon S.
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"Library To Go" Bundles For Adults
Have you tried our "Library to Go" book bundle service for adults? Use this "menu" to request a book bundle consisting of three books and one DVD chosen from the adult collection based on your order. Choose from among themed bundles such as "Best Sellers," History Makers" (biography/memoir), or "You Can't Make This Stuff Up" (nonfiction).
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Book Bundles for Kids
The Children's Room also offers book bundles for kids. If you want to borrow books about a certain subject and don't have specific titles in mind, our librarians will select them for you. Fill out the "book bundles" form, and we'll be in touch to work out all the details.
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You've got options! You can either visit us to pick up your bundle at the Main Desk or, if you prefer, request curbside pickup by scheduling a time at your convenience. Just remember to bring your library card.
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This Week's Marvelous Museum Passes
Labor Day weekend is coming up, and we're celebrating the re-opening of a number of area museums and zoos. Passes are once again available for many of your favorite destinations so look below and make sure to read the new guidelines.
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This laminated pass is good every day EXCEPT Saturday and Monday.
Passes must be taken to the zoo with your ticket that you've purchased online in advance of your visit. A promo code on the pass itself can be used when purchasing online tickets, and will also be visible on our online reservation system when you book the pass with us.
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This laminated pass is good for the museum (open daily except Mondays and Tuesdays), and for the ship (open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
Passes must be taken with your ticket that you've purchased online in advance of your visit. A promo code on the pass itself can be used when purchasing online tickets, and will also be visible on our online reservation system when you book the pass with us.
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Your paper pass MUST be picked up at the Library prior to purchasing your tickets online and, on it, you'll find directions on how to receive the discount.
The museum is now closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
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This disposable pass MUST be picked up at the Library prior to purchasing your ticket online.
You'll find a promo code on the pass itself, and will need to enter it during the checkout process on the Zoo New England website, to receive the discounted price.
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After making your reservation, you'll receive a promo code to be used when ordering your tickets on the Heritage website.
There is nothing to pick up at the Library.
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Don't forget the MA Parks Pass is still available. Reserve your pass today, then get out there to enjoy everything our state parks have to offer while the weather is still glorious.
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Please remember:
- You may pick up your pass any time during the three days leading up to your visit.
- Non-disposable passes are due back the day after your visit (but will never be due on a Friday or Sunday).
- If picking your pass up curbside, you'll need to fill out the agreement form in the parking lot and hand it back to us after showing staff your library card.
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Curbside Pickup Reminders
Schedule your own Curbside Pickup appointment using your SAILS library card number and PIN. Start at our Curbside Pickup Portal, log in, and choose an available date and time to pick up items you have waiting for you at the Library.
Once booked, you may change your appointment if needed, and can even check in with us when you've arrived at your scheduled time.
Please note: appointments must be scheduled at least an hour in advance of your desired pickup time to give staff adequate time to prepare your materials.
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Click here to read our full curbside pickup guidelines.
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"Book Blurbs" -- What We've Been Reading |
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Every few weeks, we bring you a brief Book Blurb from the staff about what we've been reading. This week we offer a pair of suggestions read by Library Director Randy Gagné.
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In the madness of World War II, a dutiful Russian soldier is wrongfully convicted of treason and sentenced to 10 years in a Siberian labor camp. So begins this masterpiece of modern Russian fiction, a harrowing account of a man who has conceded to all things evil with dignity and strength.
Considered one of the most significant works ever to emerge from Soviet Russia, illuminating a dark chapter in Russian history.
Click on the title above to place a hold for the e-book or digital audio book copy.
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The Opium War, 1840-1842, by Peter Ward Fay (1975).
The fascinating story of the war between England and China that delivered Hong Kong to the English, forced the imperial Chinese government to add four ports to Canton as places in which foreigners could live and trade, and rendered irreversible the process that for almost a century thereafter distinguished western relations with this quarter of the globe-- the process that is loosely termed the "opening of China."
It remains the most comprehensive account of the first Opium War through western eyes.
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Musical Moment of the Week
Boston-based drummer Chris Georgenes brings us another online collaboration with this hauntingly beautiful cover of Marvin Gaye's "Mercy, Mercy Me," performed by Georgenes and his musician friends.
He notes, "The use of color in this video was a nod to Marvin Gaye who sang a lot about racism. Although 'Mercy Mercy Me' is about the environment, I wanted to show how we are all different colors, yet at times we can become the SAME color (hence the bridge section)."
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Book News from Around Town |
Avid library patrons and Middleboro residents Hank and Jill Levesque are proud parents these days. Daughter Emily Levesque has just had her first book (for the general public) published and the reviews are stellar. (See column to the right.)
Emily grew up in Taunton, where her first experience with astronomy was seeing Halley’s Comet from her backyard when she was two years old. As an undergraduate she discovered the three largest stars in the universe, and in 2014 she led a research group in discovering a completely new type of star.
Emily is an award-winning astronomy professor at the University of Washington in Seattle.
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Humans from the earliest civilizations through today have craned their necks each night, using the stars to orient themselves in the large, strange world around them.
Stargazing is a pursuit that continues to fascinate us: astronomers throughout history have spent their lives trying to answer the biggest questions in the universe. Now, Levesque shares the stories of modern-day stargazers, the people willing to adventure across high mountaintops and to some of the most remote corners of the planet, all in the name of science.
Library Journal wrote, "Levesque does a wonderful job explaining the science behind astronomy as she conveys the awe and beauty of the universe, the dedication of the people who study it, and the excitement of discovery in this fascinating account..."
Click on the book cover above to check out the ebook in Overdrive, or click here to put a hold on the print copy.
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COVID-19 Critical Content |
We know you've got lots of sites where you can go to get information on the Coronavirus pandemic, so each newsletter, we'll provide links to a few trusted and respected sources. |
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1. The Georgia Institute of Technology has created an interactive map tool to assess the risk level of attending an event, given the event size and location.
The risk level is the estimated chance (0-100%) that at least 1 COVID-19 positive individual will be present at an event in a county, given the size of the event.
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2. What Makes One Mask Better Than Another?
Researchers ranked more than a dozen masks on how well they might protect wearers and those around them from COVID-19.
Cotton mask or neck gaiter? Look here to compare the effectiveness of all the different kinds of available offerings.
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