Wednesday, October 19, 2005

Helping Gulf Coast Libraries Rebuild

During the week of October 24-30, the Greenfield Library will be accepting contributions that will be sent directly to the Louisiana Library Disaster Fund and the Rebuild Mississippi Library Fund. Greenfield will be joining with Massachusetts libraries statewide to support efforts to rebuild Gulf Coast libraries. Cash or checks payable directly to those groups may be left at either the main desk or the children’s desk during the week.

Library buildings and book collections were among the many casualties of Hurricane Katrina. In Louisiana and Mississippi, at least 25 libraries are gone or damaged beyond repair. Still unknown is the extent of damage to collections, computers, and furniture. Despite these losses, public libraries have been providing an amazing variety of services in this emergency. In evacuation centers, librarians solicited computers from libraries nationwide and set up hundreds of PCs to help evacuees find information about missing loved ones, shelter, emergency health care, relocation, employment, government aid forms, and other information. Librarians held impromptu storytimes to keep children occupied and set up TVs in the library to watch reports as they unfolded. Bookmobiles delivered books and magazines to hospitals and shelters. Libraries have served as temporary nurseries, mental health clinics, and headquarters for handing out phone cards. In responding to the havoc wreaked by Hurricane Katrina, public libraries demonstrated that they are essential to their communities in times of emergencies.

Those who recognize and support the role of libraries in their community are encouraged to stop by the Greenfield Library and make a donation to rebuild Gulf coast libraries. This project is sponsored by the Greenfield Library in collaboration with the Massachusetts Library Association. For further information, please call the Library at 772-1544.

Tuesday, October 18, 2005

Ready, Set, Boo! @ the Greenfield Public Library

Get ready for Halloween at Greenfield Public Library!

Friday, October 28, from 3 to 5 p.m., join us on the front lawn of the library for pumpkin carving and decorating with Kay Lyons and parent volunteers. Sign up by Thursday, October 27 to have a pumpkin provided by the library (we will have 20 to be reserved). If you have not signed up, or you want to do more than one pumpkin, you are welcome to come and “B.Y.O.P.” – bring your own pumpkin! If you would like to contribute a jack-o-lantern to the display on the common on Halloween night with the library pumpkin, we invite you to decorate your jack-o-lantern as a character from a book. We will show you how and provide some materials for book character pumpkins, using felt pieces and markers.

For further information and sign-up call the children’s librarian at 772-1544 ext. 5. This activity is free of charge and is made possible by the Friends of the Library.

More on Open Season

If you have ever wanted to achieve literary fame here’s your chance. Raffle tickets are available to become a character in one of Archer Mayor’s upcoming novels for $5 each or 3 for $10.00. This is also a great gift idea for the someone who has everything. The drawing will take place on Saturday, November 12 during an "Open Season" on Archer Mayor from 7-9pm at the Greenfield Public Library. The Friends of the Greenfield Public Library is hosting this event. Tickets are $10 and the evening will feature cocktails and dessert, music, a silent auction of an assortment of gift baskets-perfect for holiday gift giving. In addition to all this Mr. Mayor will be on hand to speak with and at the end of the evening sign books. A collection of his books, including his latest novel, "St. Albans Fire" will be available to purchase during the evening courtesy of the World Eye Book Shop. Tickets for the event and the raffle can be purchased at the library or at the World Eye Book Shop. This event is sponsored by Northeastern Foundation for Children and the Greenfield Savings Bank.

Friends of the Greenfield Public Library is a non-profit group that reaches out to the library in many different ways. The “Friends” have provided $10,000.00 towards the library’s new-book budget and $3500.00 towards children’s programming, which includes the summer reading program, the Tuesday morning story hours with Sally Ahearn and museum passes that library users may borrow for free museum admissions. Also paid for by the group is a six hour per week volunteer coordinator, who works with 40 library volunteers and money given for the library to remain open on Saturdays during the summer.

Tuesday, October 11, 2005

Anime Club

Are you a fan of Pokemon, Robotech, or Azumanga Daioh? These well-known films represent a growing presence in American culture – Japanese animated films, otherwise known as anime. The Greenfield Public Library and Greenfield Youth Commission are joining forces to start an anime club for teens at the library. The club will get a jumpstart with an anime film fest to be shown at the library on October 28 (My Neighbor Totoro), November 4 (Princess Mononoke), and November 10 (Spirited Away) from 1 – 3 to coincide with early release from school on those days. Club meetings will be held once a month on early release Fridays from 1:00 – 2:30 starting on November 18. Registration for the club is required. Forms and a schedule of meeting days can be picked up at the library, the Youth Center or at one of the movies. Check the library’s website at http://www.greenfieldpubliclibrary.org/ or call Lisa Prolman at the library at 772-1544 x 13 or Jennifer Johnson at the Youth Commission at 772-1553 for more information.