March 2021
NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
DIRECTOR'S NOTE
Hello LPL community,

The LPL has begun its work on our first strategic plan in years, and we are excited for the process. Completing the plan will help us be eligible for additional state and federal funding, and the resulting document will help guide our actions over the next few years. We hope you'll be willing to participate when we call on you. At the beginning of March, we will hold a handful of focus group discussions with library stakeholders and randomly selected community members. If you were not invited to be a part of those discussions your next opportunity to help will be our community survey later in March. Keep an eye on our newsletter and website for more information about the survey. If you have questions about the process or how you might help us, please reach out to me. I will be happy to discuss it with you! We are looking forward to continuing to provide vital services to Lunenburg!

Cheers,
Muir Haman, LPL Director
Spring into a new season with a reading challenge on Beanstack for adults. Log your minutes or select books meeting the activity badge criteria to earn tickets that you can put towards winning one of three spring themed prizes. Log in to your Beanstack account and start tracking your reading hours!
Staff Picks
SUSAN'S PICKS
Susan is our new teen librarian. She joined the LPL staff in November. Susan says, "Libraries and books have played a large role in my life since childhood and it’s truly a dream job to be a librarian." When she's not reading, she enjoys taking her dogs out for a hike or trying out a new recipe in the kitchen. Keep an eye out on the website for Teen Programs.
The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune
 
Susan says: "I would give this ten stars if I could! What an absolutely delightful and quirky novel. Klune’s characters are wonderful, and the storytelling is superb. Linus Baker is a quiet man who lives a bland life in a rainy city where he does his job well. Linus works for an agency that oversees government-run orphanages for unique children. He follows the rules, his life is colorless and utterly unexceptional. That may sound slightly boring, but stick with it, because when a work assignment takes him to the orphanage on Marsyas Island, his experiences there will cause him to rethink everything. Sure Klune’s novel has a gnome, and sprites, and a 6 year old antichrist, but at the heart of it, this book is about humanity and it packs such a powerful message. This is a book that if given the time, I would have read in a single sitting it’s that good. It’s rare for me to find a book that I’m positive I’ll read again, this book has officially made it onto that list."
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
 
Susan says: "This book is gothic horror perfection. This is everything I love about the genre and Silvia Moreno-Garcia has just proven to all of us that she can be a master storyteller. High Place in its remoteness and level of decay is the perfect setting for this tale. It might not be the moors of WUTHERING HEIGHTS, or a house where Jane finds a madwoman in the attic, but High Place and its inhabitants have just enough off about them to make a reader wonder what’s really happening in the house. Noemí is sassy and smart, but has weaknesses of her own that makes her an even more enjoyable heroine. I thought I had the mystery figured out - but what I didn’t realize was that Moreno-Garcia lofted a softball of a hint to readers to set us on the wrong path, making sure that we didn’t discover the actual truth until she wanted to reveal it. It was brilliant. And even after the reveal, there was still more to discover and it wasn’t over until Moreno-Garcia decided it was over." 

They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera
 
Susan says: "Adam Silvera will rip your heart out, mend it, and then tear it all apart again. If you could know that you were going to die in the next 24 hours, what would you do on your last day? This is a story about that. But it’s also a story about the bonds of friendship and about figuring out the person you want to be. It’s about being honest with yourself about who you are and the life you lived. This is not an easy book to read, the two main characters are teenagers who will not be alive tomorrow. They should have their whole lives ahead of them, but they don’t. And yet, through the Last Friend app, they are able to connect and help each other be the best version of themselves as they make the most out of what they’ve been dealt. Even though the title tells you what happens, I was still holding out hope that somehow Silvera was going to throw readers a lifeline and make everything be ok in the end. But if that had happened... this story wouldn’t be nearly as impactful as it is. This is a book that will stay with me for a long time."
March Programs
In this presentation, Mr. Farrar will lead us through a brief introduction of the National Parks system, highlighting what to look for and what to expect from the over 419 parks available to explore.

This series is presented in partnership with Clinton Bigelow Free Public Library. Register here to attend.
Tuesday, March 16, 2021
6:30 PM to 8:00 PM
No Irish Need Apply: The History of the Irish in Boston with Christopher Daley

If you've ever wondered what it was like to be an Irish immigrant in Boston, then have we got the program for you!

This 90 minute presentation explores how Irish immigrants adapted to their new lives in Boston from the colonial period through to the 20th century. Learn more about the reasons, experiences, and challenges for Irish immigration over the centuries of American history in our state capital -- just in time for the city's St. Patrick's Day celebrations.
 
Christopher Daley has been lecturing all over New England for over 25 years on historical topics of interest; at libraries, historical societies, schools, and all sorts of clubs and organizations!

Register here to attend. A zoom link will be included in your confirmation email.
Thursday, March 18, 2021
6:30 PM to 7:30 PM
Zoom

Traditions and Norms of the United States Government

In the wake of the Trump administration, many Americans are reexamining political traditions and norms which they previously took for granted.
 
In this 60 minute program, explore the importance and function of traditions and norms in the federal government. Participants will review several examples of historical and modern traditions and norms across all three branches of the federal government, as well as political figures who broke with established traditions and set new norms through their actions. Participants will also have the opportunity to ask questions of Kennedy Institute staff.
 
Register here with an email address to receive the link for the Zoom presentation in your confirmation email. Space for this program is limited, so please notify staff as soon as possible if you are registered but cannot attend. 
Film buffs, movie lovers, and cinephiles rejoice!

Virtual Short Film Discussion Club
Wednesday, March 31, 2021
7:00 PM to 8:30 PM

For March we are watching and discussing the short film: Orbit Ever After (2013) Nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best British Short Film
 
Please register here for every meeting that you plan to attend. A link to the Zoom event will be sent in your confirmation email.
NOTES FROM THE CHILDREN'S ROOM
For all of March's programs - check out the Children's CALENDAR
In the Children's Area-

“ Al Fresco Story Time” our weekly preschool and toddler storytime will remain virtual for now- but wait, the nice weather is coming...  Story times are recorded and viewable on our YouTube channel beginning Monday mornings @ 11:00. We are sharing stories and activities about some of my favorite authors this month- hopefully they will become favorites of yours, too! Contact Miss Debbie @ dlaffond@cwmars.org to arrange a curbside pickup of our weekly crafts that go along with the stories and let me know if I can add in a few books for you by the author of the week. 
LPL Kids Book Club for kids ages 10+ via Zoom on Tuesday March 9th at 4:00.
For March we are reading Pie in the Sky by Remy Lai.  "Like salted caramel, a perfect balance of flavors, this deftly drawn story is a heartfelt treat." ―Kirkus Reviews, starred review. 
Copies of this book are available now via curbside pickup; call 978 582-4140 x 17 to arrange a pickup. Registration is ongoing and new members are always welcome. So sign up today to join this great group of kids who love to read- and talk about- books!
STEM Activity Monday March 15, 2021  4:00-5:00 via Zoom 
Registration has started for our March STEM activity with Chris Rodrigues of https://renaissancekid.org/. This month Chris will be making motorized fan cars with the kids! According to Chris; “It’s a motor with a propeller on it that’ll push a car, it’s similar to the car we made for the crash cars. We could also add some lights to it”        This program will be presented by Chris via Zoom and a take home kit will be available for curbside pickup 1 week prior to the event. As we only order 12 kits after registration, if your plans change please let us know ASAP so that we can pass your kit on to the next child on the waitlist- thanks! Due to manual dexterity required and level of information presented, this activity is best suited for kids ages 8+ Adult supervision/ support will optimize this experience for your child.
Another great activity for your older kids grades 4+: Among Us Virtual Game Event, March 1st at 3:30-4:30.
Join your fellow crewmates in a multiplayer game full of teamwork... and betrayal. Can you tell who is sus? You can download the Among Us app for free to play in a private match hosted by the library. We'll meet on Zoom to talk. You'll need access to both in order to participate. This event is for grades 4-12.  Registration is required. If you're signing someone else up, please use participant's name when registering.

Note: This is an online event via Zoom. An invite will be sent at least an hour prior to the start of the program to the email given at registration. Code to join the private match will be shared in Zoom at the start of the event.
St Patrick’s Day Kits: Register for a fun St Patrick's Day Craft Kit for your child ages 2-8. Kit will include a cool craft and a few activity pages! Kits will be available for pick up starting Monday March 8th. Sign up here to request a kit for your child or email Miss Debbie dlaffond@cwmars.org to request your kit for your 2-8 yr old. Then call the library at 978 582-4140 to arrange your curbside pickup.  For the older kids ages 9+, there is a craft that is more detailed and challenging. For older kids register  here or email Susan at selbag@cwmars.org for the older kids craft.  
NOTES FROM THE TEEN ROOM

Among Us Virtual Game Events!

Join your fellow crewmates in a multiplayer game full of teamwork... and betrayal. Can you tell who is sus? The library will be hosting two Among Us events in March!
These events are for grades 4-12.

We'll meet on Zoom to talk. You'll need access to both the game and Zoom in order to participate. Registration is required. Click on the date to register for the event.
 
 
St. Paddy’s Day Take Home Craft Kit!
 
Sign up for a make your own 3D paper shamrock take home craft kit for St. Paddy’s Day! Kits will be available for curbside pickup starting on March 8th.
 
Open to grades 4 and up! Registration is required.

Click here to register.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can I browse in the Library?

In-Browsing Appointment Times
**Registration is Required**

There will be two blocks of appointments for up to 10 visitors each day- Mondays through Thursdays and on Saturdays. The first set of appointments each day is reserved for high-risk and vulnerable patrons. Reservations can be made through the library website’s calendar at lunenburglibrary.org.

Monday 6-6:30 pm
7-7:30 pm

Tuesday 2-2:30 pm
3-3:30 pm

Wednesday 10-10:30 am
11-11:30 am

Thursday 2-2:30 pm
3-3:30 pm

Saturday 10-10:30 am
11-11:30 am

How do I take advantage of Curbside Pick-up?

  • Place your holds online or by calling 978-582-4140. Don't know what you want? Call us - we can help! (You can also find recommendations on our website!)
 
  • When you are notified that your holds are ready to pick up, give us a call at 978-582-4140 to set up a pick-up time.
 
  • When you arrive, call us and we'll bring your items out to you!
 
  • A slip with the due dates will be included with your items and our book drop (located at the right side of the main doors) is open when you're ready to return!
 
It's fast, easy, and convenient!
I returned my library books. Why are they still on my account?


All library returns are quarantined for a minimum of 3 days. Returns will be checked in ASAP after they are quarantined. We know how important it is to have a process for returning books and other physical items that protects the health of our staff and keeps you and your loved ones safe.
Is the library accepting donations?

At this time we are NOT accepting donations. Donations are organized by volunteers who are not able to be inside the library at this time. We are evaluating donations of brand new books and children's items on a case by case basis. Contact lgravell@cwmars.org about possible donations.