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Library Lines May 6,
2020
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Updates to Your Due
Dates
and Loan Periods
With Governor Baker extending the state-wide stay-at-home order until May 18, SAILS has updated all materials to now be due by Thurs., June 18. Pickup dates for available holds have been extended to Thurs., May 28. If your library card had expired, we also have extended the privilege expiration date until Wed., July 1. SAILS wi
ll consider extending all of these dates again if the stay-at-home order lasts longer than May 18.
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Everything You Always
Wanted
to Know
About OverDrive
But
Were Afraid to Ask
If you're new to borrowing e-books and digital audio books from the Library's OverDrive collection, start
at the "Help" pages. For personal assistance, email Reference Librarian
Libby Fox
and she'll get back to you and try to help.
Although you may have to place a hold on some of the most popular titles in our collection, there are several options that are always available with no waiting list and which allow multiple users to borrow simultaneously. These include our new, more extensive magazine collection, and the first Harry Potter book.
1. SAILS offers a digital magazine collection of 50 titles ranging from food and cooking to news and entertainment, and finance and home improvement. Here is just a sampling:
2.
Harry Potter #1 Limitless Availability Extended Through May
Both the
ebook and audio book
versions of
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
, the first book in the beloved series, will continue to be available in our digital collection for unlimited, simultaneous use throughout the month of May.
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Hooray! Hooray! It's Finally May!
Here's Children's Librarian Miss Amanda's collection of weekly online activities for your kids to have fun with until the Library reopens.
Wednesdays at 1:00 p.m. -
- Story time on
Facebook
! This week, on May 6
,
join
Miss Amanda live for a virtual tea party! Dress up and grab your favorite cup. We'll be reading Tea with Grandpa by Barney Saltzberg and Tea Party Rules by Ame Dyckman. Learn how to make a tea-themed card for someone special (Mother's Day is Sunday) out of items around the house.
Tech with Tiny Tots on Thursdays --
I
f you've got a
baby or toddler at home, take a lunch break with Miss Amanda this week at noon on May 7 for her Zoom group. Enjoy a short story, rhymes and songs plus time to socialize with other caregivers. Learn tips on how to encourage early literacy skills appropriate for your child's brain development and gain support during this difficult time. Crying, hungry, tired and sleeping kids are all welcome! Everyone will be muted during the story time part of the program.
Please register
here
.
We'll meet every Thursday through May 14.
Friday Fun with Miss Lori's Puzzle/Challenges -- We had so much fun with the Elephant and Piggie Mad Lib last week, I thought we could try another one to celebrate Star Wars. I loved reading the last group of stories and can't wait to see what you come up with this week. Starting May 8, Miss Lori wants you to print out this Star Wars Mad Lib and post a picture of your completed story in the comments section of our Facebook page. You can also email Miss Lori who will share it for you.
Miss Amanda's Monday Musings -- On May 11, check out the Library's Facebook page for a storytime yoga with Mrs. Oddi-Morrison. Miss Amanda will be reading Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Car by Kate Dopirak. Then Mrs. Oddi-Morrison will teach us a yoga routine to help kids calm down and relax before bed. Check out some great materials about yoga for kids on OverDrive such as the book Little Flower Yoga for Kids by Jennifer Cohen Harper and videos like Yoga for Kids: Outer Space Blast Off by GAIAM.
Tuesday Lego Challenges -- This week, on
May 12, le
t's honor our local heroes with a creation based on our essential workers--could be doctors, nurses, grocery store workers, public works employees, police, fire and anyone else working hard to help us all. Post your photos on the library's
Facebook page or send your photos to
Miss Amanda to be used on social media.
Be sure to look for another newsletter, coming out on
Wed., May 13, for next week's fun programs with Miss Amanda!
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News From the
Children's Department
1.
1000 Books Before Kindergarten
Program Now on Beanstack
Studies have shown that young children who are read to regularly can read and write their own names earlier and count higher than those who were not. Help your child develop a love of reading early on with the Library's 1000 Books Before Kindergarten program. Kids from birth to age 6 and their caregivers can log books and earn prizes. Keep track using the online database or the exciting new Mobile App called Beanstack Tracker which is free to download in your device's app store.
Read 250 books and get a library book bag.
Read 500 books and earn a book to keep.
Read 750 books and earn a book to keep.
Read 1000 books and receive a backpack for Kindergarten.
All prizes will be held until the Library is open. Ready to get started? Register or log in
here.
Happy reading!
2.
Mother's Day is Sun., May 10 -- Kids won't be
bringing Mother's Day gifts home from school this year, so here are a few ideas on how to make the holiday special for mom.
- Check out an e-cookbook on OverDrive and whip up something special.
- Visit the Library's YouTube page for crafting videos.
- Kids can make easy, printable coupon books for mom. Click here.
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Teen Reads, Tips & To-Dos
Each week, we'll share new and notable books, tips on topics and resources relating to you, or themed craft and activity ideas to help you get through this tough time.
Tips on Photography: Beyond Instagram
With a smartphone within arm's reach 24/7, it's easy to find yourself constantly snapping and posting pics. Whether you want to learn how to improve the quality of your everyday photos, have fun with photo editing, or dive deep into the world of photography, here are some free apps, tips, and online sites you may want to give a shot.
BEST PHOTO EDITING APPS
A Color Story
- create fresh, colorful images using lots of filters, trendy effects,
and other tools that help to simply customize your photo's look
Adobe Lightroom - pro-level camera features plus an intuitive photo editor with amazing preset filters that can be easily applied to all your photos at once
Fotor - an excellent, easy-to-use photo editor and collage maker (also available for Windows)
Google Snapseed
- for beginners and experts alike, this professional-level app can be used for quick edits or for crafting the ideal image
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| Prisma |
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Pixlr - a comprehensive photo editor for quick results (also available for Windows)
VSCO - easy to use, impressive features and filters, with photo sharing capability [ages 13+]
Note: Some of these apps require you to purchase add-on features or upgrade to a premium version for sound and other visual effects.
TIPS ON TAKING PICTURES
- Always keep your camera with you for the unexpected photo op. Find a place that inspires you--out in nature or an urban environment, for instance.
- Learn the basic rules of composition. For a quick overview, watch Joshua Cripps' video on 7 simple principles of photography.
- Experiment taking pictures in different lighting.
- Try shooting an object or scene from different perspectives and angles; macro shots (close-up) are especially fascinating.
Want to learn more? Borrow The Beginner's Photography Guide by Chris Gatchum for a step-by-step manual for getting the most from your digital camera.
Check
ebook
availability.
For teens interested in purchasing a dedicated camera for photography, here are some places to start your search: c
heck out the Library's Consumer Reports
Camera Buying Guide
(free with your library card) and this list of best cameras for teens from MommyHighFive.com.
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"Your Two Cents Worth"--Quick Tips to Help Manage Your Account
Look here for tips to help you manage your library account from home.
Did you know you can customize your library card's PIN number? If you'd like to select your own PIN, you can create one using any combination of upper case letters and/or numbers. Log into your library account
with your pre-existing pin, go to "My Account" and scroll down to the bottom of the Contact Information screen to get to the "Change PIN" option.
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"Silly Shots" Photo Contest
Wednesdays in May we're continuing our photo contest so go to our Facebook page to post a picture depending on the week's theme. You'll have seven days to post your pic, and every submission will be entered in a drawing to win a $10 Amazon gift card, to be awarded once we re-open.
In the first week of our May contest we're looking for all you foodies out there. Post a picture on our Facebook page of something you've whipped up in your kitchen or something you love to eat made by someone else or by your favorite takeout place, starting Wed., May 6.
Categories for the upcoming weeks are below, so start thinking about your entry:
May 13 -- Living Life in Our PJs
May 20 -- I Heart Reading
May 27 -- Mask Fashion
One entry per person per week, please. Keep your eye out for snaps from our staff, too.
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"Museum Pass"
May is in full bloom, and gardens around the world are sharing their blossoms with the rest of us virtually. Click
here to visit some of the most spectacular tulip gardens on the planet, the Keukenhof Flower Exhibit in the Netherlands.
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| Senior Matt Desrosiers at his home with the donated MHS Class of 2020 sign. |
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Spotlight on Local Heroes: Middleborough High School
Sign Volunteers
For high school and college seniors across the country, disappointments have been piling up since the first stay-at-home orders went into place in March and schools closed. Middleborough High School (MHS) seniors are no different, but a group of local parents and volunteers are trying to bring some joy to those teens with proms, end-of-year celebrations and even graduation cancelled.
In past years, the senior class purchased signs reading, "Proud Home of a Middleborough Senior," to be sold as a fundraiser. But this year, MHS administration and staff spent a recent weekend delivering the already purchased signs to every senior family in town. With more than
175 seniors, spread out over 72 square miles, this was no small effort, and has been greatly appreciated b
y the students and their families.
Middleboro resident and library patron,
Melissa Dones, coordinated an additional project to have signs made for sale to
anyone who wished to show support for the MHS class of 2020. Keep your eye out for signs all over town, including this one displayed in front of the Main Ingredient to show their support of the town's soon-to-be graduates.
Thanks to these hero volunteers who've done their part to spread a little cheer.
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Boredom Busters
Several times this month, we'll be offering you something silly and/or fun to do here.
This week we've got something for all of you fans of shows
like "Top Chef," "Chopped," and "Iron Chef." If you've ever watched the contestants whip together magical meals out of nine or ten fancy ingredients and thought, "I could never do that," well now's your chance to learn from them while they prepare a much simpler dish.
Professional chefs like Tom Colicchio and Eric Ripert have all taken to Instagram to show at-home cooks delightful meals in a few easy steps with just a handful of ingredients. Read more about it at
The New Yorker.
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"Book Blurbs" --
What We've
Been
Reading While Home
Every week, we're bringing you a brief Book Blurb from the staff to fill you in on what they've been reading under quarantine.
Library Technician Meg Desrosiers --
The Things We Cannot Say, by Kelly Rimmer (2019)
In this riveting read, the author tells the story of two young women--one in modern times, and another living through WWII in Nazi-occupied Poland. Reading about the struggles of people living through terrible times helps me to keep things in perspective now with the current pandemic.
Place your hold on this ebook or audio book here.
Reference/Adult Services Librarian Libby Fox --
The Library of Lost and Found
by Phaedra Patrick,
narrated by Imogen Church (2019)
Those of you who are fans of audio books will be familiar with that experience NPR once called, "driveway moments"--when you've been listening to a book on your commute home and you sit in the car in your driveway or garage because you're at a good part of the book and just can't turn it off to go inside.
Prior to our stay-at-home order, I routinely spent more than an hour a day driving to/from work. Listening to audio books has helped make my commute bearable, so I've missed spending so much of my day with authors and books while working from home. Not wanting to give them up entirely, I've been walking and listening to audio books with the Libby app. I
discovered Patrick Phaedra with her 2016 debut,
The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper, and fell in love with her quirky characters and unusual story lines.
The Library of Lost and Found is another good "read" with a British narrator whose voice is so soothing and delightful that you'll want to seek out other stories she's narrated just to get to hear her again.
Look for Phaedra Patrick's audio books and ebooks
here.
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Musical Moment
of
the Week
Ukuleles. You know they're out there. Maybe you or your child attended one of
our "Learn to Play Ukulele" sessions a few summers ago. But did you know there's a Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain and they
've played to sell-out crowds in London's Royal Albert Hall? Like musicians around the world, they're producing online musical collaborations while social distancing. Check out their five-video series called "Ukulele Lockdown," including pieces filmed in their bathtubs, and this gem, "Higher and Higher," by clicking here.
Also not to be missed is their 2010 live performance of The Who's "Pinball Wizard," where the eight-member groups sings an a capella version of the song, sounding more like an Irish sea shanty than a British rock opera.
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Book News From
Around t
he Country
You Want To."
We liked author Janet Potter's judgment-free philosophy
and suggestion that there really shouldn't be pressure to read certain books before you die. She writes,
"...one of the greatest rewards of a reading life is discovery. In my 10 years working at bookstores, no one ever came in and asked me what they should read before their death - they would ask me what my favorite book was, or if there were any great new books no one was talking about, or they would just want me to leave them alone so they could explore on their own."
In the interests of space, we include some of her suggested books. Click on the article link above for more.
1.
You should read the book that you hear two booksellers arguing about at the registers while you're browsing in a bookstore.
2. You should read the book that you see someone on the train reading and trying to hide that they're laughing.
3. You should read the book that you see someone on the train reading and trying to hide that they're crying.
4. You should read the book that you see someone reading for hours in a coffee shop -- there when you got there and still there when you left -- that made you envious because you were working instead of absorbed in a book.
5. You should read the book that you didn't read when it was assigned in your high school English class. You'd probably like it better now anyway.
6.
You should read the book that you find on the library's free cart whose cover makes you laugh.
7. You should read the book about your hometown's history that was published by someone who grew up there.
8.
You should read books about historical events you don't know anything about.
9
. You should read books you can't stop hearing about and books you've never heard of.
10
.
You should read prize-winners, bestsellers, beach reads, book club picks, and classics, when you want to.
Most importantly, you should just keep reading.
*Excerpts from themillions.com
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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 here are links to a few trusted and respected sources.
1.
Extra Precautions for High Risk-Individuals -- The CDC offers a dedicated
webpage of suggestions and guidelines for those in high-risk categories such as older adults or people with asthma.
2.
Massachusetts Affected Government Services -- The Mass.gov website offers updates and information about a variety of state government organizations/departments and how their services may be affected by COVID-19 and the current stay-at-home order. Click
here for information about the RMV, MBTA, courts, state parks, and more.
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Lost Your Card?
If you've lost your library card, or just can't find it right now, and want to tap into all of the great online library resources,
SAILS has got you covered. You can register online for a temporary card that will work for two months. Click
here
to register for a temporary card. Once we open, you'll have to come visit to get a permanent card, but this will allow you to access all we have to offer in the meantime.
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Middleborough Public Library
102 North Main St., Middleborough, MA 02346
508-946-2470
Currently -- Closed until further notice, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
When we re-open:
Monday--Thursday: 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Saturday: 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Sundays: noon - 4:00 p.m.
Closed on Fridays
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