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TIDINGS
eNewsletter
of the EPL
Chatham, MA
Spring 2024
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"Connecting Chatham to the World" | |
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News from the Trustees
As winter grudgingly begins to give way to spring, I’m reminded once again of the continuing generosity of the Chatham community, and I’d like to address a question that I often hear from our patrons and donors, that being: What is the difference between giving to the Trustees’ Annual Fund or supporting the Friends of the Library; and in each case, where is my donation going?
In fact, both the Trustees and the Friends are two distinct entities, each with its own board, each with it own responsibilities, and both dedicated to sustaining the strength of the Library. On one hand, the Trustees are responsible for maintaining the financial stability of the institution, for the functioning of the staff, and for the condition of the building itself — a big job — and one we share with the town which also provides a generous amount to our yearly budget. In this regard, our Annual Fund is a critical factor because it ensures the stability of the Library and its potential for growth.
A donation to the Friends of the Library (FEPL) is different in that it provides “the icing on the cake,” the critical support for the many programs and features that distinguish the Library and make it stand out — like the Learning Series, the Youth Services area, technology services, and community outreach efforts. In a given year, the Friends may be buying new computers, museum passes, new chairs for the Forgeron Room or upgraded PA equipment for the Learning Series among other necessities.
Needless to say, we are delighted when our supporters donate to both groups - and many do - but we also want you to know that a great deal of time, thought, attention, and dedication is devoted by both groups to the ongoing strength of the Library we all value so much.
Kerry Brown
President, EPL Board of Trustees
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News from the Friends of EPL | |
On February 6th the Friends hosted a Valentine Tea. Friends Board members were on hand to meet with members of our Friends community and those looking to join. We had about 50 people stop in to enjoy homemade cookies, tea and lemonade. Thank you to our Board and those who joined us for a lovely afternoon.
I hope you have had a chance to look at the Spring Learning Series offerings. There are many exciting new courses and presenters. All classes are in person and located at the Library. This is your chance to learn the story behind the Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, the future of Democracy, or tap your foot along to the tunes of Frank Sinatra and John Williams. You can find all the course descriptions on the Library website, along with registration information.
Spring is right around the corner and we have some exciting events on the horizon. Coming up in April the Friends will host a “Thank You” event for our dedicated volunteers and library staff. It’s a wonderful opportunity for everyone to meet and share ideas.
The FEPL Annual Meeting is Tuesday, June 11th. We are pleased to announce that following a brief FEPL business meeting, our speaker will be Bob Staake, who will talk about his career as an illustrator, artist, writer and more! For more information on Bob, you can check out his website. Mark your calendars and stay tuned for registration information.
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Books in Bloom returns on Sunday, June 23. This year we will have even more amazing arrangements from talented floral designers who will interpret the book of their choice through flowers. Delicious food and floral displays will be located throughout the Library. The cost this year will be $20. We hope you’ll join us for this unique community event. More details, including ticket information, will be available in May.
Mary Ann Chamberlain
President, Friends of the Eldredge Public Library
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A Message From Youth Services | |
Greetings from Youth Services!
There was Frozen fun and snowy surprises this winter at the Eldredge Public Library, now we are excited to spring forward to warmer weather and new adventures with all our library friends. March is bursting with exciting programs at Eldredge Public Library's Youth Services! For our youngest community members, we're offering Baby Yoga to nurture development and bonding moments for caregivers and newborns through crawling infants.
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As we continue to champion literacy, we're thrilled to see families engaging in our 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program, generously supported by the Friends of Eldredge Public Library. We recently celebrated with a young reader who has completed 800 books! Our March Madness Battle of the Books brackets have been set as our readers vote to crown the best picture book through weekly matchups. Books, brackets, and ballots are available for your participation in Youth Services.
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Mark your calendars for the Bluey Bash, a celebration of our favorite cartoon Australian blue heeler pups with games, crafts, and family fun. And for emerging readers and their caregivers, our new book group “New Kids On The Book” provides a fantastic opportunity to build reading skills and foster a love of literacy together. But the excitement doesn't stop there! Our ongoing programs such as S is for Storytime and Wee Read continue for our toddler and preschool friends. Older children can enjoy Lego Block Party, Game Day, our second Teen & Tween Open Mic Night of the year, and new collaborations for book groups with our local schools!
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As always, we invite families to explore our imaginary play space (which is a very busy Post Office at the moment), our science center, the AWE early learning computers, and our train table. These enriching experiences wouldn't be possible without the invaluable support of the Friends of Eldredge Public Library! For more details on these programs and to register, visit us in Youth Services or check out our website at www.eldredgelibrary.org. We can't wait to see you at the library!
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Spring 2024 Learning Series
Chaucer, the Big Bang and the Future of Democracy are just some of the topics explored in the Friends of the Eldredge Public Library Learning Series. Registration for all 12 programs is now available at the Library and on its website at www.eldredgelibrary.org/learning-series/.
The series will kick off on March 11 with the Library’s new Circulation Supervisor, Mike McCartney, leading a three-session course on Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. On March 18, trombonist George Schar will begin a two-part program on the music of John Williams, whom he calls a modern-day Mozart.
Starting on March 20, Chronicle sports reporter Brad Joyal and Chatham Anglers general manager Mike Geylin, will explore how changing rules are making college sports a new game and business. The month closes out with a Big Bang when Jamison Smith and Dr. James Lynch explore the wonders of astronomy. Jamison will demonstrate how to take pictures of the night sky, and Woods Hole scientist Lynch will examine the origins of the universe.
Further programs will feature favorites including Beth Stein exploring the art of the Wyeth family, John Whelan the music of Frank Sinatra, and Joe Marchio the classical music and performances of the great conductors. The series closes out in June with a serious examination of “The Future of Democracy”, with former Attorney General Scott Harshbarger leading a discussion of the strength and fragility of American democracy and political scientist Maxwell Sterns offering a possible solution based on his new book Parliamentary America.
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FEPL Book Sale
Make sure to visit the FEPL Book Sale located downstairs in the Forgeron Room! Home Improvement Books are on sale downstairs 2 for $1 throughout the month of March. There are many good books to choose from. Call ahead for book sale hours @ 508-945-5170.
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In celebration of the 45th Anniversary of the Friends of the Library, we look forward to a number of upcoming events. Stay tuned!
Not a Friend yet? Join today!
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See ALL of our upcoming programs - including the Virtual Speakers Series (which includes Nina Totenberg, Christopher Paolini and Madeline Miller) | |
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Our ongoing programs for March include:
Please see our March Adult Calendar for dates, times and registration information.
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