Library news & updates
Director's Note:

As a 35-year-old, my "good old days" were definitely the nineties. Everything seemed OK in the nineties. Bill Clinton was president, dent-resistant Saturns were the automobile du jour, computers were for playing Oregon Trail, our phones didn't control us, and punk rock was still fresh. But most of all, the Discovery and History channels were awesome. When my grandparents first got Primestar satellite TV, it was a big deal. I could sink into one of their suede recliners, pop open a Mello Yello, turn on the giant CRT television set you could hear activating from a mile away, and consume all the fact-based documentary television I wanted as long as I finished my homework first and got all the chickens back in their pen after.

This was before the History Channel became ancient alien conspiracy central and Discovery turned into reality TV for commercial fishermen and gold miners. Those things have their places, but I miss being able to count on immediately hearing the voice of David Attenborough whenever I wanted. It was a golden era when you could enjoy learning entirely more about cichlids in Lake Victoria than would ever be relevant to your life and gain a cursory understanding of nuclear fusion all while enjoying your TV dinner.

Turns out that John Hendricks--founder of the Discovery Channel--was also nostalgic for that era. So he created CuriosityStream: the ultimate subscription-based collection of fact-based documentary video that you can stream unlimited online. I am extremely excited that the Library is now offering this service to our patrons for free. Read more below!


Thanks for Reading,

Justin Snook, Director
CuriosityStream is Live

We are excited to offer unlimited streaming to all patrons of the Library. Simply click on the CuriosityStream icon here, register with your email address, create a password (it doesn't have to be the same as your library account email and password), and go to town. Select from thousands of documentaries or watch their ongoing stream for pre-selected programming reminiscent of a cable channel. They are constantly adding additional titles from publishers such as BBC and NHK and produce original content as well. Created by the founder of the Discover Channel, this online video platform will give you a very similar vibe.
Deb Hudgins is Virtually Back

Music and Movement was our most popular weekly program before the pandemic, and we know a lot of you have missed Deb Hudgins and her guitar. So beginning today, we will be sending a Youtube link with the week's program out via this newsletter list that you can open and watch with your children at your convenience. This week's theme is All About Pets!

Next week's program will be Back to School, so stay tuned and stay subscribed to the newsletter to see it next Thursday.

This program is sponsored by YFCP : The YMCA Family & Community Partnership (YFCP) is funded by the Massachusetts Coordinated Family & Community Engagement (CFCE) Grant and awarded to the YMCA of Central Massachusetts by the Department of Early Education and Care. 
Fall Online Auction

The Friends of the Library fall online auction will commence on October 3, so get ready to bid on some really cool stuff. Rather than try to pull off an in-person book sale this year, there will be bundles of books in the online auction that you can bid on to have delivered or held for you at the Library. Learn more here!

We will have a link to the auction soon where you can preview items up for bid. We already have 66 offerings and are adding more daily. If you have a special service, talent, attic treasure, artsy item, antique, time-share, horde of hand sanitizer, or anything else you think would be a desirable auction item, contact Donna Kmetz at donnakmetz@charter.net. The deadline for submissions is September 18.
SciFi Book Club

We’re finally done with Dune…and Dune Messiah…and Children of Dune. September 26th is your chance to jump into our Saturday morning SciFi book clubs! Interesting discussion, interesting books, and interesting people! 

September’s book is After Atlas by Emma Newman. Technically it is the second book in a series, but it has next-to-nothing in common with the first book and reads perfectly well as a stand-alone. The only thing you need to know is that a colony ship left Earth 40 years ago and it was a pretty big deal. That’s literally the only thing the two books have in common. Check the website for the Zoom details!
Ultimate Red Sox Presentation

Also on September 26, we're celebrating the legendary Red Sox vs. Yankees game in Soldier's Field with a lunch-time journey through Boston Red Sox history with Martin Gitlin, author of the Ultimate Boston Red Sox Time Machine Book.

This presentation features videos and photographs of the greatest and most fascinating players, teams, events and moments in franchise history, including the day the Sox hosted their arch-rival Yankees right here in Douglas.

The program also includes trivia questions for patrons to ponder and covers Sox history from the Royal Rooters, who launched Red Sox Nation, to the 2004 World Series championship that broke The Curse and all the way to today. It will conclude with a question-and-answer period.

Author Martin Gitlin will have autographed and personalized copies of his book available online following the program.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Library! Check the website for Zoom details!
Don't forget that you can still sign up for home delivery and we'll bring your holds to you every Thursday! Give us a call or send me an email to get on the list.
Brought to you by the Friends of the Simon Fairfield Public Library.