Friday, April 24, 2009

Library Events - May 2009

From the Children's Room...

Saturdays May 2, 9, & 30 from 1:00 - 2:30 pm
Birds in Spring Art Class with Char Russell & Pamela Hanna


We'll do some felting, weaving, and painting while learning about birds in springtime. Open to 1st - 4th graders. Taught by Char Russell & Pamela Hanna. There is a fee of $45 for all three Saturdays. Stop by or call 525-4411 to register as class size is limited.

Saturday May 9th from 10:00 - 11:30 am
World Tales Art Classes with Melody Zahn Russell


Every class includes a story, a demonstration and an art activity inspired by different cultures. There will be watercolor, drawing and collage opportunities. Suggested ages 5 - 10. There is a $15 fee per child per class. Call the library at 525-4411 to register. The last class in this series will be held Saturday June 6th instead of Saturday June 13th as originally scheduled.

For the Grown-ups...

Monday May 4th from 6:30 - 8:00 pm
Kind & Firm: Setting Limits for Your Young Children


In this discussion for parents of children under 6, we will be talking about what makes a reasonable limit for kids this age regarding use of language, play behavior, following directions, understanding family rules. We'll discuss the importance of creating a positive environment, of being clear about expectations, and of following through consistently . We want children to take their parents seriously without parents having to be "mean" about it! Please call the Grapevine Family Center at 588-2620 to preregister. This program is free thanks to the Friends of the Hancock Library.

Tuesday May 5th at 7:00 pm
First Tuesday Book Group


Join us as we discuss the book Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky. Next month's book will be Jonathan Harr's The Lost Painting: The Quest for a Caravaggio Masterpiece. Copies of the book will be available at the front desk after May 5th. All are welcome!

Thursday May 7th at 7:00 pm
Cows & Communities with Steve Taylor
A NH Humanities Council Program
Co-sponsored with the Hancock Historical Society


In this program Steve Taylor explores the impact of cattle on New Hampshire’s past, present and future. Cattle were essential to the survival of the earliest New Hampshire settlements and their contributions have been central to the life and culture of the state ever since. From providing dietary sustenance to basic motive power, bovines have had a deep and enduring bond with their keepers, one that lingers today and is a vital part of the iconography of rural New Hampshire. Where are New Hampshire’s cows today? What are they doing for us now? Some answers will surprise you. Steve Taylor is a farmer, journalist and longtime public official. He operates a dairy and maple farm in Meriden Village, has been a newspaper reporter and editor and served a quarter century as New Hampshire’s commissioner of agriculture. He is a lifelong student of the state’s rural culture. Come early to get a good seat - last time Steve Taylor spoke here we had 105 people in attendance!

Friday May 8th at 7:00 pm at the Harris Center
Arrivals & Departures


A celebration of life's great and small changes in poetry, prose and music. Following up on their popular performances of Thoreau, Dwelling, the Flower Power Hour, Birdfest, and Walt Whitman's Song of Myself, Jane Eklund, Howard Mansfield, Sy Montgomery, Julia Older and Steve Schuch will read poems and stories about arriving in a new city, birth, friendship, epiphanies, leaving, migration, aging, and what endures. The readings will be accompanied by Steve Schuch, of the acclaimed Night Heron Consort, on violin and guitar. Co-sponsored by the Harris Center in loving memory of Walter Clark and Thelma Babbitt.

Friday May 15th at 7:00 pm
Film: Enemy of the State

Great action thriller starring Will Smith and Gene Hackman. Free admission & popcorn thanks to Friends of the Library.

Thursday May 21st at 7:00 pm
The Hourglass Readers present Cyrano de Bergerac


This highly romantic play was written in 1897 and first starred the famous Coquelin in the title role. The story of the man with the big nose and the long sword who wins the lovely Roxanne for another man, but pines for her himself, has been beloved by generations of theatregoers. The eloquent and witty translation from the French by an American, Brian Hooker, is itself a work of art. The Hourglass Readers are dedicated to performing readings of classical dramatic works in abridged versions. Performances are always free and open to the public.

Thursday May 28th at 7:00 pm
Judith Stout's Tour with the Peace Corps


Hancock resident Judith Stout is a retired nurse who spent the last 14 months in South Africa working for the Peace Corps. She'll show us her photographs and tell us what it was like to live and work in a different culture. All are welcome!

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The library now loans an MP3 player (you provide the earbuds) and a Kill-A-Watt (measures the electric use of various appliances/devices). Stop by anytime to borrow these items.

Don't forget that we will take your donations of food to the Food Bank in Peterborough. Drop off anytime the library's open!

Minutes from Trustee Meeting 4.22.09

Hancock Library Trustees Meeting
Minutes April 22, 2009
Present
Laurie Bryan, Mary Garland, Amy Markus, Roberta LaPlante, Hunt Dowse, Peter Ryner

The meeting was called to order at 11:00 am. Roberta LaPlante was welcomed as the Board of Selectmen’s new Library liaison.

Trustees of Trust Funds Update
Hunt Dowse summarized the Library’s sources of funding. A series of gifts have been given to the town in support of the Library going back as far as 1872. The Trustees of Trust Funds oversees two types of library funds: common funds and expendable funds. In total, the Town oversees approximately $482,000 of funds which presently generate an annual income of approximately $21,000. Additionally, the Library Board of Trustees oversees a long-term capital fund of approximately $87,000. Hunt indicated that the Trustees of Trust Funds were very comfortable with how the Library is managing its funds as well as the overall picture of how the Library is funded. The Town pays for Library personnel. The Library Trustees most of the annual operational budget from the interest generated by its Trust funds. The Friends of the Library provide important additional support.

There followed a general discussion during which Laurie Bryan pointed out that it was becoming increasingly difficult for the Library to operate under the present budget, which has remained at essentially the same level for several years. Things appear to work so well in part because the Library has delayed or cut back. Fairly soon an adjustment will be required. Hunt was thanked for the presentation and for his continued assistance.

Tombstone Territory
Everyone agreed that the April 16TH downtown meeting went very well. It was agreed that the next step should be to meet with the Selectmen, on May 4th at 4:00 pm.

The March minutes were accepted.

The Treasurer’s Report was accepted.

Director’s Report
Amy summarized a variety of activities that the Library will be sponsoring in May. Britton Kennedy will start working 30 hours per week in July. This reflects a shift in staffing that Amy has been working on for some time and which was approved as part of the 2009 budget. 2010 will mark the 150th anniversary of the Hancock Library, and Amy suggested that it is time to start thinking about how that anniversary should be celebrated. It was agreed that one element should be a fundraising effort, to build on the donation provided by Walter Clark. Amy reported that an area of the walkway needs to be fixed, and this led to a more general discussion of how library maintenance should be handled. It was agreed that this would be discussed further at future meetings. It was agreed that the next meeting will be May 27th at 11 am.

Submitted by Peter Ryner

Saturday, April 4, 2009

Library Use Calculator

The Hancock Town Library provides Hancock citizens with a wide variety of materials and programs throughout the year. Ever wondered how much you would pay out of pocket if you bought all the books, movies, magazines, newspapers, audio books, tickets to programs and more that is offered by the library? Use the library calculator to make your calculations. You might be surprised! Click here for the link: library calculator.