Telescopes in New Hampshire libraries

Posted on | July 29, 2014 | No Comments

The best thing that we’re put here for’s to see; the strongest thing that’s given to us to see with’s a telescope. Someone in evry town seems to me to owe it to the town to keep one. In Littleton it may as well be me. ~ Robert Frost

These words excerpted from Frost’s poem ,”The Star-splitter”, eloquently summarize the thinking behind the NH Astronomical Society’s Library Telescope Program. Spurred by Marc Stowbridge’s vision, NHAS began to place telescopes in libraries in 2008 to be checked out just like a book. The first telescope was donated to Cook Library in Tamworth in 2008 because Tamworth is Marc’s home town. Recently, in 2014, NHAS placed its 100th telescope in a New Hampshire Library! We are proud of being the first library to lend a telescope and also proud of our Marc Stowbridge for having the vision for this terrific collaboration with NH libraries.

This post is based on an article in Astronomy Beat No 125- July 15, 2014

Artist of the Month: Wendy Ketchum

Posted on | July 14, 2014 | No Comments

Wendy’s Artist Statement

The paintings, prints and print collages in this show were created in response to daily observations of the aquatic flora and fauna at the pond on my farm.
I am particularly drawn to the close-up environment versus expansive landscapes with a horizon line, and the three oil paintings and two large framed pieces of woodcut prints reflect this view. The remaining works are constructed from pieces of woodcut prints that are collaged on board with encaustic medium. Encaustic medium is composed of beeswax and damar resin crystals, providing a unique and alternative adhesive, as well as a protective finish for artworks. It needs to be heated and melted, in order to brush it on the substrate. Multiple layers can be applied, using either beeswax and damar alone or beeswax with pigments mixed in for color. As layers of beeswax are built up, interesting textures and transparent effects can result.

You can see more of Wendy’s work at the Patricia Carega Gallery in Center Sandwich, and at her website, http://wendyketchum.com

Category: News
Tags: artist of the month > collage > encaustics > local art > local artists > printmaking > Tamworth artists

Jay is retiring in Winter of 2015

Posted on | July 7, 2014 | No Comments

July 1, 2014
Jay Rancourt, beloved librarian of the Cook Library in Tamworth, New Hampshire has announced her retirement, effective March 31, 2015. Jay has worked at the Cook Library for nearly 19 years, beginning as the Children’s Librarian in the fall of 1996 and becoming Library Director in 1999. Jay has overseen two renovations to the library: the addition of the Alt Children’s Wing in 2001 and modernization of the existing building, and the renovation of the ground floor into usable space including the multi-purpose meeting room, the Ulitz Center and two bathrooms in 2005. Jay has always tried to be on the cutting edge of technological change. The Cook Memorial Library was one of the first libraries in New Hampshire to have wireless access, to sign up for Overdrive for downloadable audios and ebooks, and to provide Netflix movies to patrons. It was named Library of the Year for the State of New Hampshire in 2003-2004. In 2013, Jay implemented KOHA, an open source automation system and in general, has succeeded in creating a library that is one of the best in the state. Her foresight and willingness to look towards the future have resulted in a warm, well-stocked, and informative place to read, gather information, and to check out books, DVDs, magazines, and other material. Jay has been pondering retirement since October, 2013, and is looking forward to the next phase of her life: “a happy creative, active retirement, with time for grandkids, adventures, art work, reading and puttering in my gardens.”
As the Search Committee and the Cook Memorial Library Board of Trustees begin to look for a new librarian, we will strive to hire someone with as much enthusiasm for and love of libraries as Jay Rancourt. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I would like to thank Jay for her many years of service, and wish her good luck and happy trails in her retirement.

Sincerely, Anne Chant, Chairman, Cook Memorial Library Board of Trustees

PDF of Jay’s retirement announcement

A Search Committee has been formed to find a replacement, and has had their first meeting.
Search Committee June 26 Minutes
Any questions, contact Chris Clyne, staff member or Anne Chant, Chair of the Board of Trustees.

Category: News
Tags: library director search > search > search committee > search for new director

News for NH Overdrive users

Posted on | June 24, 2014 | No Comments

We’ve changed the way NH Downloadable Books authorizes your library account. Now OverDrive, the online platform used by NH Downloadable Books, queries our database automatically. If you’ve got a card with us in good standing (i.e., not expired, nothing checked out that is wildly overdue), you should be able to log in.

If you are having trouble signing in to borrow ebooks or audiobooks from NH Downloadable Books, please make sure you have an up-to-date library account (with a 14-digit library card number beginning with a 2) with Cook Memorial Library. Call us at 323-8510 or email cooktamworth@gmail.com to verify your information.

If you have any questions, or need some help resolving an issue, please contact us. We’ll figure it out.

Category: News, Services
Tags: downloadable audions > econtent > NH downloadable books > overdrive

TED talks are fascinating and free

Posted on | June 18, 2014 | No Comments

TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) is a global set of conferences owned by the private non-profit Sapling Foundation, under the slogan: “Ideas Worth Spreading”. TED talks address a wide range of topics within the research and practice of science and culture, often through storytelling. The speakers are given a maximum of 18 minutes to present their ideas in the most innovative and engaging ways they can. Past presenters include Bill Clinton, Jane Goodall, Malcolm Gladwell, Al Gore, Gordon Brown, Richard Dawkins, Bill Gates, Bono, Mike Rowe, Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, and many Nobel Prize winners. Since June 2006, the talks have been offered for free viewing online, under Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs Creative Commons license. As of April 2014, over 1,700 talks are available free online. As of Tuesday, November 13, 2012, TED Talks had been watched one billion times worldwide.

Here’s one on New Yorker cartoons, and another one on “The Theory of Everything”.
Try them out but heed a warning – they may become addictive.

Category: News
Tags: ideas worth spreading > TED talk > videos

The 2014 Summer Reading Program Fizzes!

Posted on | June 11, 2014 | No Comments

Bookmark of these summer programs for your refrigerator.

Tuesday 10:30 am storytimes are presented by guest storytellers at the library unless otherwise noted
July 1 Marion Posner
July 8 Touch-A-Truck All Ages in the town parking lot
July 15 Lindsay & Her Puppet Pals (Kids, Books and the Arts Grant)
July 22 Tracy Nudd-Homeyer
July 29 Jennifer Kampsnider
August 5 Gail Marrone
August 12 Special Guest!
August 19 Heidi Fayle
August 26 Tara Schroeder: Kid Yoga

Programs for all ages:
Fri July 4 8:30 AM Ordination Rock 5K race. Start at Ordination Rock, walk, jog, run to Brett School
Wed July 9 1:00 PM Magic of Science: A Great Magic Show for school-age kids
Mon July 14 5:00-7:00 Ages 12-14 Bibliomaniacs
Tue July 15 2:00 PM Amazing World of Tropical Bats, presented by Rachael Page for school-age kids
Wed July 16 2:00 PM Animal Defenses, presented by Tin Mountain for all ages
Wed July 16 7:00 PM Comics in World History &
Culture, presented by Marek Bennett (NH Humanities Council grant), Marek Bennett presents a whirlwind survey of comics from around the world and throughout history, with special attention to what these vibrant narratives tell (and show) us about the people and periods that created them. Bennett engages and involves the audience in an interactive discussion of several sample comics representing cultures such as Ancient Rome, Medieval Europe, the Ancient Maya, Feudal and modern Japan, the United States in the early 20th century, and Nazi Germany during World War II. The program explores the various ways of creating and reading comics from around the world, and what these techniques tell us about the cultures in which they occur.
Mon July 21 5:00-6:30 Ages 7-8 Bookworms
Tue July 22 2:00 PM School age Sunspots & Telescopes with Marc Stowbridge
Wed July 23 2:00 PM All ages
Magic of Bubbles
Claes Thelemarck
Mon July 28 5:00-7:00 Ages 9-11
RATs
Wed July 30 2:00 PM KABOOM! Blowing up stuff with Kathy Flaccus 4th grade & up
Wed July 30 7:00 PM Buffalo & Tough Cookie: Hiking & NH’s 52 With a View: Dan Szczesny, for all ages
Sat August 2 1:00 PM All ages
Ultimate Frisbee and ice cream, with Jeff Landesman
These programs are presented with the generous support of the Friends of Cook Memorial Library

Category: News
Tags: 2014 reading program > kids reading > reading > srp > summer reading program

We love our Friends and Altrusa

Posted on | June 4, 2014 | No Comments

Our hardworking Friends of Cook Memorial Library and Altrusa presided over another successful perennial and book sale on Saturday morning, May 31st. After days of organizing, they turned out to sell plants, books, raffle items, dispensing cheer and gardening lore. We are so proud of the hard work they do on the library’s behalf. Thanks too to all the local businesses and individuals who donated raffle items: NH Mushroom Farm, Karl’s Chickens, Bearcamp Gardens, Designed Gardens, Tamworth Farmer’s Market,Terry Packard, Judy Taylor, Geoff Burke, Andrea Kennett, Donna Whipple, Rachel Anderson, Bill Fullam, Cathy Shotanis, Dorothy Wondolowski, and Katy Thompson.
The winners of the raffle items are posted on the circulation desk at the library.
Pictured below are Marge, Cathy, Judy and Sue.

Category: News
Tags: Altrusa > FoCML > friends group > perennial sale > plant sale > raffle

Book it for Cook! Ordination Rock 5K Family Race on July 4th

Posted on | May 27, 2014 | No Comments

The Ordination Rock 5K Family Race on Friday, July 4th through Tamworth Village starts at 8:30 am.
Race day Registration & number pick-up: 7:00-8:00 a.m. K.A. Brett School, Tamworth, NH
Registration Form
Spread the word!
Start: Ordination Rock – outside Tamworth Village up Cleveland Hill Road
Finish: K.A. Brett School
Course: A scenic run through quaint Tamworth Village to include Remick Country Doctor Museum & Farm (Binsack Trail), Captain Enoch Remick House, The Tamworth Historical Society, The Barnstormers Theatre, & Cook Memorial Library; winding over the Swift River, turn by Tamworth Veterans’ Memorial and a straight final run down Rte 113 to the School.
Safety: Medical aid provided courtesy of the Tamworth Rescue Squad. Course safety supervised by/courtesy of the Tamworth Police Department.
Water Stops: In front of the Tamworth Historical Society building & at the finish line.
This race benefits Cook Memorial Library.
Send by mail or drop off Registration Form at: Cook Memorial Library, 5K Race, 93 Main St, Tamworth NH 03886
Any questions? Call 603-323-8510 or email: chris@tamworthlibrary.org. Suggested Donation of $15: checks must accompany registration and be made out to “Cook Memorial Library.”

Category: News
Tags: 4th of July race > 5k race > July 4th race. family day > race

Kick-off Event: Come sing with the Nields

Posted on | May 20, 2014 | No Comments

The Nields, a dynamic folk-rock sister duo are coming to Tamworth to work their magic at the library on Saturday, June 14th, at 11 am. This is the Kick-off Event for the Summer Reading Program.
Katryna and Nerissa Nields have been performing for 22 years, have produced 16 CDS, several books, and a DVD. They both have children and have developed a lively family program full of fun and audience participation for all ages. Their concert will take place during the Farmer’s Market so after you’ve made your purchases, walk down to the library with your kids for their HooteNanny! The Nields have been making music for children and their parents to sing together for many years. They will get us all a singin’ and a jumpin’. If you would like to get a taste, Cook Library has their CD, All Together Singing in the Kitchen and their DVD, Organic Farm.

The Chicago Tribune says;
The marvelously expressive Katryna and Nerissa Nields provide vocals sounding at various times very much like the Bangles, the Roches and …Alanis Morrissette…a delightful discovery

Category: For Kids, News
Tags: family music > farmer's market > folk-rock music > Hootenanny > The Nields

The Tamworth distillery is going up nicely

Posted on | May 7, 2014 | No Comments

The new distillery’s construction on the site of the Tamworth Inn is progressing nicely.

The exterior of the westernmost section of the old inn is being restored to appear much as it did (the interior will be gutted), and in exactly the same location. Mr. Grasse hasn’t decided what this building will house, but he mentioned the possibility of a small pub & restaurant featuring locally sourced foods.
The other two sections to the east will be torn down completely. A new building in a similar architectural style will be constructed to the east of the preserved building, with a twenty foot space (required fire separation) in between the two. The new buildings will house a distillery and tasting room, a small ‘parfumerie’ for production of perfumes, botanicals and essential oils, and a shop space. Pollution control and water use for these businesses have been carefully addressed.