|
Turee Pond Sunset
Photo by Eric Anderson
| |
|
Summer afternoon—summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.
-Henry James
Summer afternoons at Baker Free Library are not to be missed! Last year, 1,064 children and 510 adults participated in our 49 Summer Reading Program events. This year’s Summer Reading Program kicks off on June 17 with our spectacular Touch-a-Truck event – featuring a police cruiser, a fire engine, a garbage truck, and so much more! Kona Ice will be at the event with delicious treats for sale. June also sees the return of our popular Ruff Readers program where children can gain confidence and improve literacy skills by reading aloud to certified therapy dogs. Readers of all abilities are welcome! The theme for this year’s Summer Reading Program is Find Your Voice, and what better way to beat the summer heat than to enjoy a free family sing along movie at Baker Free Library. On select Wednesdays this summer, find your voice with the movies Sing, Encanto, Annie, and Coco. If you prefer pen and paper, find your voice at our comic workshop with the award-winning cartoonist and graphic novelist Marek Bennett.
Summer at Baker Free Library is not just for children. There are plenty of opportunities for the young-at-heart to enjoy a summer afternoon at the library. In June, BFL joins with the Bow Garden Club for Books in Bloom – a program where participants create a floral design representation of a book. The designs will be displayed in the library for the community to enjoy – and to vote on the People’s Choice. There are so many ways to find your voice at Baker Free Library this summer. Check our website for all the summer fun.
| -Martin Walters, Library Director | |
|
|
Summer Reading Program
Find Your Voice | June 17- August 10
Explore music, theatre, storytelling, language and communication of all kinds. Registration for the program will begin on Saturday, June 17, and continue throughout the summer. Visit our website for a full schedule of programs and special events!
| | | |
Touch-a-Truck! Summer Reading Kick-Off
Saturday, June 17 | 10am - 12pm
Meet with members of Bow Police and Fire while exploring a police cruiser, a fire engine, a garbage truck, and more! Kona Ice will also be on site with delicious treats for sale. All vehicles will be parked in the Baker Free Library parking lot from 10AM-12PM.
*While you're here: all age groups can register for the 2023 Summer Reading Program, Find Your Voice! Visit the Main Desk to pick up your program. Registration for the Summer Reading Program will continue throughout the summer.
| |
Summer Reading Weekly Programs | |
Maker Mondays
Every Monday starting June 19th | 2:30pm
Throughout the summer, join us for a drop-in craft session every Monday afternoon from 2:30-4:00pm. Make a guided project led by one of our librarians, or create something totally unique using the library’s collection of craft supplies! Various materials will be available while supplies last.
| |
Drop-in Stay & Play
Tuesdays starting June 20th | 10:30am
One morning a week, join us for an hour of open play time in the library’s MCSB Room. The library's collection of toys and manipulatives will be available for children to use. The room will be open for an hour; feel free to drop by for any or all of our play time. Recommended for ages 2-6, but all are welcome.
| |
Shimmy & Shake Storytime
Thursdays starting June 22nd | 10:30am
A weekly storytime for active bodies and minds! Explore stories, songs, and activities that address attention, coordination and movement, while promoting early literacy concepts. Each storytime includes music and songs, instrument play and movement activities, and ends with a family dance party! Designed for ages 3-5, but siblings of any age are welcome to attend.
Drop-in anytime this summer to join us.
| |
Ruff Readers
Every Thursday starting June 22nd | *Times Vary
Children can gain confidence and improve literacy skills by reading aloud to a one-of-a-kind audience! Reserve a 15-minute time slot for your child to read to one of our canine volunteers, certified through Therapy Dogs International.
*Registration required through our Online Calendar.
| |
Summer Reading Special Events for Families | |
Summer Movie Sing-Alongs
Wednesdays 6/21, 7/12, 7/26, 8/9 | 2:00pm
Beat the heat with a free family movie on select Wednesday afternoons. Join us in the MCSB Room for a musical movie, and come prepared to sing along! Refreshments and popcorn will be provided. A schedule of movie titles and ratings is provided below:
June 21: Sing (PG)
July 12: Encanto (PG)
July 26: Annie – 1982 Version (PG)
August 9: Coco (PG)
| |
Comics Workshop with Marek Bennett
Wednesday, June 28th | 4:00pm
Come create comics with award-winning cartoonist and graphic novelist Marek Bennett at this special workshop for kids! No experience needed. Recommended for ages 7 and up. Please register to reserve your spot!
Registration Required. Visit our Online Calendar to reserve your space.
| |
2023 Books in Bloom Exhibition
Opening Reception - Friday, June 23 | 5-7pm
Exhibition on Display - Saturday, June 24 | 10am-2pm
Books in Bloom Exhibit is back at Baker Free Library! In collaboration with the Bow Garden Club, we invite you to browse the Exhibition featuring creative floral designs paired with books. The theme this year is "Find Your Voice" to correlate with the BFL Summer Reading Program.
Light refreshments will be served at the Opening Reception on Friday evening from 5-7pm. Each book with its accompanying floral arrangement will be displayed in the Lower Level of the library on Saturday from 10am-2pm. The designs are displayed in the lower level of the Library and open to the public for viewing on Saturday, June 24 from 10am-2pm.
*Registration is required if you would like to create an arrangement for the event. Registration Deadline is June 16th. Participants will need to select a book that fits the yearly theme and create a floral design representation for that book. The floral arrangers can draw their inspiration from some facet of the book they have chosen - the title, the characters, the book jacket's color and/or design, etc. All floral arrangers need to incorporate either fresh or dried flowers (no artificial flowers please) within their floral arrangements and they should feel free to add decorative items or embellishments.
| |
Managing Hemlock Woolly Adelgid in NH
Thursday, June 22nd | 6:00pm
Join the Bow Conservation Commission and Ryan Crandall, NH Forest Health Specialist to learn how to identify, report, and prevent the spread of the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid as well as other invasive pests in your community.
| |
Beat the Librarians Trivia Night
Thursday, June 29th | 6:00pm
Join us at Litherman's Limited in Concord to test your trivia skills. Create a team of 4-6 players, and compete against a group of librarians made up of staff from the Baker Free Library and Concord Public Library. Bookish trivia will appear alongside questions about science, sports, pop culture and more. Prizes for the winning team!
| |
Whodunits
Thurs. July 6th | 1:00pm
Love mysteries? Join the Whodunits to sleuth through a new one every month! This mystery-exclusive book club meets at White Rock Senior Center on the first Tuesday of every month. For more information on joining this group, contact Amy at [email protected].
July Book Discussion:
The Kill Artist by Daniel Silva
| |
Book Talk at BFL
Tues. July 11th | 12:30pm & 6:30pm
Do you love to read? Are you willing to try books outside your comfort zone? Do you enjoy talking about books with others? Then our monthly Book Group is for you!
July Book Available Now:
The Stranger in the Lifeboat by Mitch Albom
| |
White Rock Book Group
Tues. July 18th | 1:00pm
Do you want to read outside of your comfort zone? Do you enjoy talking about books with others? Then our monthly Book Talk at White Rock Senior Center is for you!
July Book Available Now:
The Stranger in the Lifeboat by Mitch Albom
| |
Copies of Book Talk books are available at the Circulation Desk at the Library. For more information on joining one of the Book Talk groups, contact Amy Bain at [email protected]. | |
Adult Craft Club
Tuesday, July 11th | 6:00pm
Tuesday, August 1st |6:00pm
Join us for a Summer Edition of our monthly Adult Craft Club! 'Find Your Voice' and express your creativity through the art you create. Registration is required for each session. Space is limited. All art materials are provided by the library.
July 11th - Mixed Media Mantras
August 1st - Watercolor Wonders with artist, Christina Landry-Boullion
| |
|
|
BFL Seed Library
The Seed Library is back at Baker Free Library! Browse the seed library database and find the seeds you need. Fill out the Sign Out Form located next to the database. Bring your seeds home to plant!
We offer a wide variety of vegetables, herbs, fruit, and flower seeds that are suitable to grow in the Northeast regional zone. Seed availability subject to change.
| | | |
Summer Exhibit - Christina Landry-Boullion
June 17 - August 25
As an international Artist and Art Educator with years of experience teaching and creating nationally and globally, Christina is thrilled to be here in Bow. She grew up in the humid hot south which had prepared her well for West Africa and Southeast Asia adventures. These experiences have influenced her love of nature and cultural arts. As a new Bow community member, she is inspired by seasonal changes happening within her garden, engaging in a dynamic community while helping others explore new creative skills and sharpening existing ones in the various classes and workshops she conducts.
“Having my work and the work of my Student Artists exhibited in The Gallery is an honor. The collection of work is from 2022 and 2023. I work in tandem with the seasons and try to offer that experience to those who take my classes. I’m in awe of the diversity and ability in my students. It is no small feat as an adult to try something new and explore something different. You have to be courageous to put yourself out there, knowing that you might fail. These students do it with grace and enthusiasm. I have seen them grow, change and blossom, and it is just as spectacular as anything my garden could produce.”
| | |
If you are interested in being a Featured Artist in the Gallery, contact Amelia at [email protected] | |
|
Baker Free Library is pleased to offer museum passes to the following institutions in New Hampshire and Massachusetts.
Children's Museum of NH (Dover)
Currier Museum of Art (Manchester)
Historic New England (New England)
McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center (Concord)
New Hampshire State Parks
Seacoast Science Center (Rye)
SEE Science Center (Manchester)
Squam Lakes Natural Science Center (Holderness)
Museum of Science (Boston)
Museum of Fine Arts (Boston)
There is no fee to borrow a pass, but the borrower must have a current Baker Free Library card in good standing and be at least 18 years of age. Give us a call or stop in to reserve a pass today!
| | |
Explore the digital resources Baker Free Library has to offer. Free to Baker Free Library card holders, get access to a large variety of ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, comics, movies, and even historical documents from HeritageQuest and Ancestry Library Edition. If you have any questions or trouble logging on, give us a call at (603) 224-7113 |
|
|
Baker Free Library
509 South Street
Bow, NH 03304
(603) 224-7113
| |  |
|
|
Town Updates
The Town of Bow has worked diligently in providing up to the minute notification of all that is happening in the community. In order to stay informed, visit the website Town of Bow or follow on Facebook @bownewhampshire
| |
|
Bow Young at Heart
Bow Young at Heart is a social club open to all residents 55 and older. The public is always welcome to attend any meeting or event. Meetings begin at 11:30 am with a social hour, followed by a speaker at 12:30 pm. Bring your own lunch, dessert is provided. Held at the Old Town Hall.
June 14, 2023 12:30 pm
Isle of Shoals: How New Archeology is Changing Old History presented by J. Dennis Robertson
Sponsored by NH Humanities Council. The public is invited to attend.
There will be a book and jigsaw puzzle swap at this meeting, bring one to share or pick up one to borrow.
June 28, 2023 11:30 am - 2:30 pm
Summer Potluck Luncheon
| |
|
Bow Rotary Club
2023 Bow Rotary Summer Concert Lineup
This year the summer concerts have moved to Thursday evenings instead of Sunday. This year concerts will start at 6:30 pm and end at 8:00 pm. In the case of inclement weather, they will move inside the Community Building.
7/13-Bowzos Band
The Bowzos Band consist of five Bow High School musicians who play a variety of musical genres ranging from Classic Rock to Indie/Alternative. Michael Sardella, Eli Wilkening, Sam Cooper, Benjamin McDowell and Addaline McGraw are certain to entertain your whole family. They are very excited to have this opportunity to play for the Town of Bow.
7/20-Supernothing
Supernothing is a Reggae/Rock 5-piece band that draws influences from artists such as Sublime, Bob Marley, The Elovaters, The Movement, Dirty Heads, and more! They occasionally bring elements of hip hop, funk, ska, and punk to the table as well. Be sure to have your dancing shoes on for upbeat tempos turning into heavy punk bridges.
7/27-The Freese Brothers Big Band
The Freese Brothers Big Band is in its 42nd year of keeping the sounds of swing and classic Big Band music alive in New Hampshire.
The band offers a lively program that incorporates the classic sounds of Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Count Basie, Frank Sinatra, the Dorsey Brothers and Glenn Miller, with contemporary tunes specially arranged for Big Band performances.
8/3-Mr. Aaron
Mr. Aaron is a multi-instrumentalist performer and composer making music and videos for kids and their grown-ups, ages 0-100. He's a proud father of three amazing girls, and a longtime professional musician with a career playing in bands, musical theatre, and more.
8/10-Bow Junction
Bow Junction is a quartet based in central New Hampshire delivering a diverse blend of hard driving bluegrass and folk with a touch of Celtic and gospel. Combining a respect for tradition with an ear for innovation, this seasoned New Hampshire band has been entertaining audiences at town fairs, church halls, and concert stages since 2003.
8/17- Rockin’ Daddios
The Rockin’ Daddios bring back some of the best loved songs of the fifties and sixties that bring us back to a more innocent time of our lives when kids didn’t grow up as fast and the influence of the media was not as prevalent. Sung in a doo-wop style with the accent on harmonies and fun, their performances are family friendly and guaranteed to warm your heart and bring a smile to your face.
| | | | |
