Hoarding

There are five baby squirrels living in the tree just outside my window at the library.  Every day at about 3:30pm, they emerge from a big hole in the side of the tree to race up and down the trunk and out to the edges of the branches and back again.  Mom and Dad Squirrel remain close by watching the action.  I have never really seen squirrels at this close range previously and I am fascinated by their antics.  One of them loves to go to the outermost part of the branch where it is thinnest.  Another is an acrobat who loves to whip himself around and around the branch.  They love to chase each other up and down the tree.  Their tails are bushed right out full to help protect against the cold.  They look so cute and fluffy.  I could watch them for hours.

This morning, I was treated to a morning romp on the tree from my friends.  One of the babies sat directly across from my window eating an acorn.  He sat there for probably fifteen minutes, munching and munching at the nut.  I watched as Dad carried acorns to the nest in the tree…up and down he went at least four times today alone.  I hope that Mom and Dad Squirrel have enough nuts and other goodies stored away for the long winter ahead of us.  Squirrels hid their cache in lots of different places as well as their nest, apparently.  I guess you could call them “hoarders”.

As I watched the squirrel eat and thought about the long winter ahead, I thought about what I store away for the winter.  You may have already guessed what I have stored away, it is books!  I guess you could call me a book hoarder.  I have books that I keep meaning to read and never seem to have the time to do that.  I have books that friends have recommended.  There are books that I found on Amazon for my kindle.  The Annual Friends of the Library Book Sale also added a few books to my coffers.  Between my kindle and the books I’ve been saving from friends and the sale, I have about twenty books waiting for my undivided attention!  And, that doesn’t count the ten books that I have on my reserved list through the MidYork Library System.

Are you a book hoarder too?  Come to the library…we can help you.  Instead of buying books, you can borrow them and then return them.  Me?  I am going to do away with my book hoarding obsession right after I finish reading my stockpile!

Childrens and Teens Programs Begin Again

          Children are the future.  At the Canastota Public Library, Children and Teen Programming is at the forefront of all that we do.  We recently renovated the Children's Area on the second floor of the library to better enhance our programming efforts for today and for years to come.
       
          October is always a busy month for us at the Canastota Public Library.  Our children and teen programs begin again in full force.  Every year we hold Baby & Me Lapsit with Miss Angela for our babies up to age 24 months, Storytime with Mrs. Liz for preschoolers and our Librateen group for students in grades 6 and up.  This year, we are adding a special American Girl Reading Club for girls, ages 8 to 12 years of age and their mothers.

       

          Baby & Me Lapsit with Miss Angela introduces your baby to the wonderful world of books at the library.  This program is for babies, from birth and up to age 24 months, and their caregivers.  The weekly Wednesday morning program will begin on October 16th and run for ten weeks until Wednesday, December 18. Miss Angela begins the program at 10am with fingerplays, songs and stories.  The program ends with the babies interacting with each other!          

          

            Storytime with Mrs. Liz will begin on Thursday, October 17th and run for ten weeks until December 19th.  In this program, preschoolers enjoy read-aloud stories, games, crafts and a snack.  The fun begins at 10am in the Children's Area of the library.

          

            The first session of the American Girl Book Club will be held on Monday, October 7^th  at 6:30pm for girls, ages 8 – 12 and their mothers.  This first session will be a planning meeting to talk about the club, including meeting dates/times/etc. Each session will include book discussion, an activity and light refreshment. The first book will be available to borrow at this initial meeting.  The first book will be “Meet Caroline” by Kathleen Ernst, a fascinating story of a young girl growing up in Sackets Harbor during the start of the War of 1812.  Girls are welcome to bring their American Girl Dolls to the club!

        

           Librateens, the group for students in grades 6 and higher will begin their meetings on Wednesday, October 16th at 3pm.  As always, during the initial meeting, we will brainstorm our activities for the year.  Currently, there are several meetings already planned including the following:  Oct 16-Planning Meeting    Oct 23-Speaker Matt Lowery from Safe Place for Youth (Liberty Resources)     Oct 30-Day of the Dead Celebration (Mexican Holiday)      Nov 6-Speaker Jeanne Arnold who is an author.  Her book, "Stubborn" is scheduled for a January 2014 release. Other activities planned and held over from last year include an Iron Chef competition and a scavenger hunt at the library.  The group meets every Wednesday that school is in session from 3 - 4:30pm.

               The CPL hopes that you will bring your child and/or encourage your teen to get involved in library activities and programs.  If you have any questions, please contact us at 315.697.7030.  We hope to see you....at the library!

Renovations @ The Canastota Public Library

    

     As you may have heard, the Canastota Public Library's second floor is under renovations!  Thanks to the generosity of anonymous donors as well as the gifts from several of our library's clubs (the Bridge Party Group, The Knitters and The Friends of the Library), we are getting a facelift!  The facelift is long overdue as it's been about thirty years since the room has been updated.

     Two weeks ago, our staff began the process of boxing up our books in the Children's area and the teen area of the library.  That took us about a week.  We then pulled apart the old metal shelving units and they were donated to another library within our Mid-York Library System who had a need for them.

    Last week, the painters came in and painted the room a nice soft colored green!  We thought the room looked so much bigger once the shelves and books were moved out to the Carnegie Room.  And, the new color just adds so much to the room.  Following the painting, the old carpeting was pulled to reveal beautiful hard wood underneath our feet.  So, we have workers coming in this week to start refinishing the floor to bring it back to its' original luster.

     What will the changes be?  We had some of the old wooden bookcases removed and are having them rehabbed into window seats that will have book storage in their bases.  Our walls are crisp and clean with fresh paint. We purchased rolling book shelves for our books so that we can use the room as a multi-purpose room for presentations and parties.  We are having the floors refinished.  Our Toddler and Children's Area will be moved to a far corner, away from the staircase and our Teen Area will move into the main room.  The former Teen Room will become a meeting room and will be available for tutoring or general meetings.

     We are hopeful that our renovations will be complete by the end of August and the new area will be open just after Labor Day.  Our Facebook page will chronicle the changes as they happen if you'd like to watch our progress. 

     The Canastota Public Library is open during this renovation.  A selection of Children and Teen books are available on the first floor and we are happy to help you find other books that you may need during this renovation process.  We are hopeful that the renovations will continue to meet the needs of our patrons for many years to come!   

Budget Vote May 7 at Canastota Public Library

The Board of Trustees of the Canastota Public Library announces that it will hold a budget vote for fiscal year 2013-2014 on Tuesday, May 7, 2013 from Noon to 9PM at the Library in the Lawson Community Room located in the lower level.

The budget amount is $328,257. This is a 5.5 % increase over our previous budget amount of $311,036 which has been in place since our last election in 2006. The increase is primarily due to the large increase in the library's contribution to the New York State Employee Retirement System (it increased from $13,000 last year to $27,000 this year) in which we are required to participate as a Civil Service entity.

Voter registration will be held on Monday, April 15, 2013 from 9am to 8:30pm at the Main Desk of the Library. Any qualified voter who has not registered in the Canastota School District for the General Election held in November 2012 must present himself personally to the main desk of the Canastota Public Library for registration during the hours the library is open as follows: Monday 9am to 8:30pm. No person shall be entitled to vote whose name does not appear on the registration of the election district in which he claims to be entitled to vote.

The Canastota Public Library is located at 102 W. Center Street in the village of Canastota, New York.

New YA Book Set To Launch

The Complete Tales from the Edge of the Woods

Launches Soon

At the Canastota Public Library

By Author and Guest Blogger, Rachael Z. Ikins

From the chapter entitled "The Messenger" from the upcoming book to be released, " The Complete Tales from the Edge of the Woods" (Icarus Aloft: SLM Bookworks, Selkirk, NY) by Rachael Ikins:

".....Next to their cottage stood a weather-beaten barn. It sheltered Merthwyn’s workshop, a dozen hens led by a majestic striped rooster who went by the name of Papi and a black pot bellied pig named Pucky. His nose disc sported a pink dot and his hooves, four white socks....."


The oil painting illustration is by RoseMarie S. Langley. She happens to be 88, previously unpublished though she majored in art at Syracuse University in the 1940s. She is my mother. With her, I combed the woods and fields of my childhood at our summer camp in Skaneateles.  The camp encompassed  60 acres of pristine forest, field and lake shore and I was always in search of faeries, witches and other magical creatures when visiting there. The barn in Mother's college painting stood next to our driveway. Once we drove past that barn, station wagon crammed full of pets, kids, food, suitcases and dreams for a summer of 8 weeks in the wild, we knew we'd almost arrived.

Many of the protagonists in The Complete Tales are elder members of a society. The above quote is from the chapter, also published by Aurora Wolf Literary Journal in 2010 and a winner of a third place award in that year's Rebecca Eddy Memorial Writing Contest, held by the Canastota Public Library.  I selected the quote as it introduces us to one of the book's most entertaining individuals, Gabriella. Gabriella is a retired messenger dragon troubled with myopia or nearsightedness. She lives a depressed and lonely life on the far side of Fire Mountains in her cold, messy cave.  Gabriella constantly removes her goggles, which were made to help her see better, and sets them down on piles of stuff.  Later,  she realizes that she is bleary eyed and desperately searches for the very goggles she cannot see to find.

Against all odds, as can happen to any of us on any given day, Gabriella awakens one morning to a surprise: the desperate ultrasonic and magical broadcast "SAVE THE BABIES! SAVE THEM NOW!" She imagines some young dragon rocketing off a cliff to rescue whoever these babies might be. Still the message blares on.  Her head aches with the noise. She wonders will nobody respond? Is there no dragon out there to answer it? And then, she realizes something she had long ago forgotten. The dragon who hears the message is the one who is to answer the call.

Stiff and clumsy, wings floppy from disuse, Gabriella musters herself to fly. She stuffs her mail pouch, which is on the front of her belly like a kangaroo's, with sweet Timothy grass to keep the babies warm, once she has them safely inside it. Goggles jump into her paws for once, and heart pounding as she teeters on the lip of her cave in the sunset, ready to vault into the clouds and stars, she marvels at the beauty detailed beneath her. She harbors a tiny bit of doubt and anxiety that she will get lost and confused among once familiar constellations and skyways, because it has truly been a very long time.

But then, on faith, she unfurls her great gorgeous wings and thinks to herself, "I may fail, but at least I will go out trying if I do."

On April 30, Tuesday evening at 7:00 p.m. come to Canastota Public Library to hear Rachael read from The Complete Tales, to meet both author and publisher. To share tasty treats, fine literature and maybe to find out what happens next, to learn how the barn enters Gabriella's story...            

Do You Have The Card?

There's an important card I have that helps to save me money...it isn't a credit card or a debit card or a "get out of jail free" card...It's my library card!  And, I didn't realize what a savings it would be to me until I started making other cost-cutting efforts around the house. 

In an effort to save money, one of the first things we did was pull the plug on our cable television. We did this about six months ago. It has been a savings to us but we've also found that we are no longer held captive to the television set! I suppose, like most Americans, we didn't realize how captive we were until, well, we weren't.
I can tell you that I do not miss game shows, soap operas or movies depicting violence, profanity and horrific acts. I do not miss the news. I do not miss re-runs of shows that I never watched when they were on the tube for the first time. I do not miss commercials. I do not miss the ads for the newest in prescriptions to prevent depression, heart disease or any prescription where the side effects are worse than the original disease. I do not miss commercials for cleaning products, dog food, cat food, or any other type of food, especially snack food that only makes me hungry. I do not miss commercials for car insurance, house insurance and life insurance. I do not miss reality television that illustrates life as a pregnant teen, life in a rich, large or bigamist family. I do not miss shows about hoarders, addicts, drug dealers, gun runners, apocolyptic endings or what I should or shouldn't wear.
I am spending more time at the library. I know. I work there. But, I am finding that I am saving money by using library resources that are available to anyone in the community.
I am reading more. I've been able to read several newly released books since we've turned off the television. To purchase these books, I would have spent close to $25 - $30 per book.  I have also been able to go back and read some books that I wanted to read again! Again, the savings were significant.  And, my favorite magazines are available for me to borrow from the library.   The magazine I read regularly  is Writer's Digest which costs $5.95 per edition.  I read about six each month so the savings would be about $30 - $40 per month.  The garden is a project that we are planning for the spring and the library has been a wealth of resources with books on planting vegetables, landscaping, and helping us to learn how to compost.
Next on my library list to borrow are books on crafting. My dear mother, before her passing, was a huge crafter. She left me with several quilts to finish and skeins and skeins of yarn. Not being a quilter, the library was my obvious source for information on quilting. As well, the library has two knitting groups...as soon as I'm finished reading, I'll be there learning how to knit on Thursday nights.
As well, I'm borrowing movies that I'd like to see--both newly released videos and some of my old favorites. All of this is free--with my library card.
Do you have a library card? They are very easy to procure. Just stop in to your local library with some form of Identification and fill out a form. Within minutes, you will have access to all of the resources of your local library!   And, I have to tell you...it's the most important card in my wallet!

January Is Renewal Time For Many

   

     January is a time for renewal for many of us. It is a time to reconsider our lives and perhaps make changes or slight tweaks to our daily schedules. The Canastota Public Library is offering some great programs during the month of January to keep you informed and involved in many new projects!


     For many years, the library has been the site for the Canastota Canal Museum’s Canalside Talks. Leading off the Seventh Annual Canalside Talks on Monday, January 14, will be Ann Hopkins. Mrs. Hopkins, an avid postcard collector and recently retired Alliance Banker, will present, “Greetings from Madison County, A Postcard History.” This program will be a chronology of the picture postcard with regional and local examples. The program begins at 7pm in the Library’s Children’s Area on the second floor. The program will last one hour and include a question and answer period. Light refreshments will follow the program.

     Our artists for the month of January are Sandra Zeigler and Shirley Thomas. This dynamic duo will display their beautiful quilts as well as handcrafted jewelry and purses. Both women are members of the Canal Town Quilters and have been creating art for many years. Their exhibit will be held all month in the Lawson Community Room. An Artist’s Reception will be held on Thursday, January 10 at 7pm for the public to come and view the exhibit and meet the artists!

     The library has a variety of groups that meet regularly at the library that may be of interest to folks looking to make some changes to their schedules. All of the groups are open to the public and are free of charge.

     If you are interested in joining a book club, why not consider our Book Chat Club? The Book Chat meets the last Wednesday of every month. On Wednesday, January 30 to discuss the book, Devil in the White City by Erik Larson. Anyone interested in reading and attending this month’s Book Chat should stop in to pick up a copy of this month’s novel at the Library. The Book Chat Club meets in the Lawson Community Room.

     The Canastota Public Library Writer’s Group will continue with their regular meetings on the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month beginning at 3 pm in the library’s Lawson Community Room. Additionally, the Evening Writer’s Group will meet on the fourth Monday evening this month from 6:30 – 8:30pm.

     Scrapbooking is a group that meets at the library on the second Monday evening of every month beginning at 5:30pm. Scrapbookers bring their projects to the library, including their photographs and supplies and meet with other scrapbookers to share ideas and new techniques. The group meets in the Lawson Community Room.

     Bone Builders, a program of RSVP, will meet each Tuesday afternoon at 1pm in the Library’s Lawson Community Room. If you are interested in joining, come on Tuesday afternoon and talk to the coordinator, Christine Crandall.

     Party Bridge is played every Thursday afternoon at the library at 1pm. Participants should be experienced Bridge players and not beginners! Party Bridge is an open group and welcomes players to attend whenever they are available.

     Thursday Night and Friday Morning Knitting Groups welcome both new and experienced knitters to join them for fun and fellowship. The Thursday Night Knitters meet at 6pm and the Friday Morning Knitters meet at 10am. Both groups meet in the Lawson Community Room.

     For more information on these events and our regular weekly programming, go to www.canastotalibrary.org and click on the Mid-York Calendar of Events. Or, just stop by the library on the day/date listed and let us know that you are interested in joining us!

A Little Help From Our Friends

         


          The Beatles sang about getting by with a little help from their friends, Thomas Jefferson said that friendship is precious and Mark Twain was quoted as saying, “Good friends, good books, and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life.” Friends are important to all of us for all kinds of reasons. This is true at the Canastota Public Library, too. We want to thank our “Friends” (volunteers) for their spectacular book sale that took place at the end of October. Over $3,600 was raised from the sale of donations, weeded library materials, raffle baskets and used equipment.


          Countless hours were spent by our Friends sorting, pricing and organizing to prepare for this sale. Our Friends gave selflessly of their time and energy to convert our lower level into a mecca for shoppers. Happy customers left with great books, tapes and DVD’s at bargain prices. The basket raffle winners were especially pleased with their wonderful treasures. Patricia Baldwin won the “Women’s Pampered Reading” basket, Dawn Schoeck won the “Wine and Books” basket, Ruth VanRy won the “Garden Basket”, Carol Tefft won the “Christmas Basket”, Eleanor Bajohr won the decorative Christmas trees, Vanessa Loomis won the “Vampire Basket”, Juanita Collins won the “Smart Baby Basket” and Linda Roseman won the “Princess Basket”.

          The Friends who planned this sale deserve an extra thank you and they are Natalie Gustafson, Eleanor Bajohr and Mickey Kissane. They are an amazing trio of women who volunteer year round to keep our “Ongoing Book Sale” shelves stocked and to organize our annual sale. Mary Blanchard also deserves special thanks for her weekly sorting and shelf stocking efforts. Many additional Friends—Mary and Jim Murray, Ted Boutis, Claudio Paulini, Jean Smith, Norma Harling, Gisella Hammer, Chris and Jeff Crandall, Joyce Miller, Leslie McIntyre, Sharon Costie, Ann Pulverenti, Rita Smith, Laura and Carole Lang, Suzanne Amlaw, Mary Keck, Naomi Mayers, Barbara Woodarek, Mary Ramsdell, Jeanne Dunn, Pat Emmi, Linda Lake, Rosie Argentine, Ann Marie Rossi, Patricia Dickinson, Kari and Nels Youngstrom-- worked to set up the sale, restock and reorganize books during the sale, serve as cashiers, and help customers load their vehicles. We are grateful to each and every one of them for their hard work and dedication to our library. As in past years, seven sturdy display tables were generously donated by Tom Ralston of Ralston Supply Center, Inc. to hold all our books. We thank them for their kindness.

          This year some of the funds raised have been used to purchase an outdoor shed to store miscellaneous seasonal items like our garden bench, tax form racks, and artificial Christmas tree. This attractive, maintenance free shed was just delivered to the back corner of our parking lot.

          As we enter this season of thanksgiving, I am personally grateful for the extraordinary efforts of our Friends and thank them for being so generous to our library. I also wish to thank everyone who donated materials to our sale, everyone who made purchases at our sale and our terrific library staff members who provide excellent service each and every day.



Most Sincerely,

Liz Metzger
Director of the Canastota Public Library

When I Grow Up....

Have you thought about what you want to do when you grow up? I am in my mid-50s and wonder that all the time lately! I have a nice career in public relations and marketing. I’ve worked for some great non-profits now and before I came to the library. A few years were spent as a free-lancer, writing articles for the Oneida Daily Dispatch and some other publications. Still, I often spend time thinking about my retirement and just what I will do during that time of my life.

 

While, I’m sure “writing” will be a part of that, painting or another creative endeavor might be fun. I might even take up another type of hobby like knitting or scrapbooking. Playing Bridge might be an activity that I will be interested in learning to do. Needless to say, I know I will want to keep learning about our history and new trends and developments in technology, the arts, education and our environment.

The library is a perfect resource for all of those activities! We have two writing groups that meet here at the library, as well as two knitting groups and a scrapbooking club. Our Party Bridge group meets every Thursday afternoon. The library is a constant resource for those wanting to learn about new businesses, new opportunities and new developments in our world!

 

So, when one day I retire, I hope to still be here…at least some days…at the library. Learning. Meeting. Creating. Enjoying Life….When I grow up….

 

CPL's Annual Friends of the Library Book Sale Nears

 

The Friends of the Canastota Public Library are busy preparing for this year's annual book sale.  The sale, which will be held on October 25, 26 and 27 is certain to be one of the largest sales yet.  The money raised through this sale will benefit the library's programs, collection and/or enhance the building and services that the library offers.

 

The Friends of the Library is made up of volunteers who have helped us to prepare for the sale and work the many hours of the sale.  Several of our "friends" make raffle baskets to donate which are then raffled off for additional revenues.  The library knitters have joined in the fun this year and have made some hand-crafted scarves, mittens, hats and other beautiful knitted items available for sale during the months of October and November.  As well, Ralston Supply Company, a local business, is donating tables to be used for the event.

 

Although the library has a year-round ongoing book sale, this annual sale has a larger volume of items available.  The sale offers patrons a chance to meet with old friends and purchase from a great selection of books, DVDs, VHS tapes, Audio Tapes and CDs.  Individuals and families can also show their support of the library by joining the Friends of the Library.  Membership for Individuals is just $3, while families can join the Friends group for $10 annually.

 

We hope you will come out to support your community library in Canastota!  The times for the sale are:

 

October 25:  9am - 8:30pm

October 26:  9am - 5pm

October 27:  10am - 4pm

Fundamentals to Football, Sports and Life

          My Dad is an exceptional guy!  He has worked hard throughout his life to support his wife and four kids.  Many times, he worked two jobs!  But, he always had time for his favorite activities--sports.  And, he took the time to be sure that his family enjoyed those pastimes as well.
          Dad was a little league coach, a Pop Warner coach and didn't miss a junior high or high school event that my brothers played throughout their academic times.  As well as being a coach, Dad was able to share life lessons with his family and his players.  He taught us responsibility, caring and how to support each other both on and off the field.
          This year, the Canastota Public Library is offering a program that my Dad would recommend to every young man or woman that he knows!  We are hoping that you and your teen athlete will join us for "Fundamentals to Football, Sports and Life."  Scheduled for Tuesday, Oct 2 at 6:30pm, this program is designed to help student athletes (in grades 7 - 10) achieve their best on the playing field and in life.  A parent is encouraged to attend along with their student.  Space is limited so please contact the library at 697-7030 to reserve your spot!  This program is free and refreshments will be served.

For Women Only! A Financial Presentation!

A newly released 2012 study by Prudential reveals that women are more in control of their finances than ever, but are facing challenges with financial decision making. The study finds that both younger and baby boomer women identify themselves as financial beginners, though they feel empowered to call the shots on their own. Additionally, the study noted that only one in ten women breadwinners said they felt knowledgeable about financial products and services.


If you are a woman who is interested in learning more about financial options regarding investments, savings, annuities, retirement accounts or just finances in general, the Canastota Public Library is offering a session entitled, “For Women Only! A Financial Presentation.” On Wednesday, September 26 at 7pm, financial planner, Richard McMahon will talk to women about the importance of financial decisions. McMahon, an attorney and financial planner, is a registered representative of and offers securities through MML Investors Services

Those planning to attend should register by calling the library at 697-7030. The library is asking that when you call to RSVP, you also indicate what specific questions you have so that the session can be tailored to those attending.

NYS Sets Standards for Digital Literacy

         

           New York State recently set standards for Digital Literacy and has asked libraries to assist in helping people become digitally literate.  Literacy represents a person's ability to read, write and solve problems using both spoken and written language.  Digital literacy is the ability to apply those same skills using technology such as computers, ebook readers and smartphones. 

         

          Being digitally literate allows people to interact using the tools and technologies that are increasingly being used at home, in school and in businesses.  For example, a digitally literate person can:

• Communicate with family, friends, coworkers and prospective employers via digital technology
• Search for information including advice related to health care 
• Confidently engage in online banking and online shopping
• Use technology to complete job applications and other online forms
• Understand how information is accessed and transferred using various digital devices

          The Canastota Public Library can help you learn the technological skills to perform all of these activities.  With qualified staff and volunteers available, we hold regular classes or can tailor a specific training to meet your individual needs.  Please stop by and talk to one of our staffmembers or call us today! 

Our New Dog Needs A Name

          Jessica Carrigan, is pictured with Canastota Public Library Director, Liz Metzger and the giant stuffed dog she donated to the children’s room. Jessica is a Chittenango graduate who currently works at Fayetteville Manilius Schools but will soon be relocating to another state. She won the dog at the NY State Fair at the Wacky Wizard Game and decided it was time to find him a new home. Jessica is a wizard at the game and has won a number of giant animals, all of which she is donating to local charities or organizations. The library is a grateful recipient of this nice gift that will be a fun addition to our Baby Lapsit and Pre-school Storytime programs.
          Our new Dog needs a name!  Please help us by either emailing us your ideas or stopping by our Circulation Desk and telling us what name you think fits our newest addition.  Dog joins our moose, Chocolate Mousse! 

Director's Musing from The CPL

This summer, I visited my favorite place, The Chautauqua Institution, on Chautauqua Lake in southwestern NYS.  The Institution was founded in 1874 by inventor Lewis Miller and Methodist Bishop John Heyl Vincent as a teaching camp for Sunday school teachers. It has evolved into a unique mix of fine and performing arts, lectures, interfaith worship and programs, and recreational activities that take place over the course of nine weeks in the summer. 

I visited the first week in August. The theme for the week was “Ethics”. I heard several lectures from amazing speakers like Duke University Professor Dan Ariely, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent Erroll B. Davis, Jr. and Theresa Sullivan, President of the University of Virginia.  The speaker that affected me the most was Dr. David W. Orr, the Distinguished Professor of Environmental Studies and Politics at Oberlin College. His compelling speech titled, “Creating Cultures of Honor and Integrity in a Hotter Time” focused on the issue of global climate change. He asked the audience, “Can we build a civilization that works in the boundaries of nature? The answer is yes!”

We have the science; we just need the will to get it done. But we need to start now and everyone needs to do their part.  We must all act with honor and integrity so that future generations will enjoy the same beautiful earth that has nurtured us. So, I am now re-examining my energy consumption, food choices, purchases and life style with a focus on reducing, reusing, recycling and doing without.  I do it happily, so that the generations that follow me will look back and say that I acted ethically. You can read more about this in Dr. Orr’s book “Down to the Wire”, available at the library.

Readers Quilt Donated

Sandra Zeigler of Canastota is shown with the beautiful quilt she made for the Children's Room at the Canastota Public Library.  The quilt says, "Readers Are Leaders," a sentiment that Sandra believes to be true.  She is a retired attorney who recently moved to Canastota and along with a friend, joined the Library's Night Time Knitters Group.  She explained to Director Liz Metzger that she had this quilt project for a couple of years and didn't do anything with it.  But, as soon as she saw our library, she decided that this would be a perfect home for the quilt.  She presented it to the CPL in July and it graces one of the walls of the Children's Room on our second floor for all to enjoy!

We really love these donations that are made from the heart!  Thank you, Sandra, for being a part of the Canastota Public Library Family.  We are so happy that you chose Canastota as your new home!

Summer Planning

When I think of summer, I think of early mornings on my deck, drinking in the dawn and my coffee. I love the wild life that gathers in my yard…we see rabbits, wild turkey, birds of all types, as well as deer, raccoons and fox. I love that quiet time—just before the world has awoken.

Summer also brings to mind that the kids are out of school and looking for things to do every minute of every day. It seems we can’t keep them busy enough! At the library, we’ve seen lots of reports showing that kids who read during the summer months do better academically when they return to school in the fall. That’s one of the reasons the library has always held our Summer Reading Program! We love to see the kids come in during the summer months and leave with arms full of books. Every year, we offer incentives for those who read and we offer a variety of programs for children of all ages.

The Children’s theme this year is “Dream Big, READ.” Our scheduled activities include a visit from Leon Etienne, the magician who wowed us all last year; a puppet show by Nancy Sanders; an evening with Dan the Snake Man and his friends; a performance by jugglers called “Gravitation Bowl”; craft times, storytimes and more!

For teens (grades 6 and up), the theme is “Own the Night.” We have planned an evening of ghost hunting at the library with our friends from Scientific Paranormal. We’ll also be reading some extra books during Teen Reads, writing with author Rachel Guido deVries during a week-long writing workshop, learning about self-defense moves from a karate instructor, as well as making some really awesome crafts.

If your kids are looking for something to do this summer, the library is sure one of the great places to be. So, while you are sitting on your porch in the early mornings working on a plan for your day, be sure to stop by the Canastota Public Library and pick up a summer calendar of events. We hope you’ll be visiting us soon!

Off The Shelf

 

 

 

This week's guest blogger is Book Chat member, Deborah Rickard

The last Wednesday of almost every month, the Book Chat Group meets at 1 pm in the Lawson Room, for about an hour. This year, as the newsletter indicates, we are reading a variety of classics. For April, we have just finished The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbech. Almost everyone knows about this book, but some of the group members had never read this classic and/or have never seen the movie version (which reportedly closely follows the story line of the book).

Part of our group discussion centered around questions from a study guide as well as similarities of life styles in the ‘30s and now. Again today, jobs are scarce, homes are lost and people are displaced. College students starting off often are facing huge student loans and no employment or low wages in their chosen field. Hence, they struggle just as the displaced people in Steinbech’s book.

We also briefly looked at a map of the USA to get a sense of the geography of where the journey took place. Many of the places mentioned in the book were easily found on the map.

Most of the group enjoyed this book and Steinbeck’s style of writing. The first one hundred pages are descriptive and may be slow reading for some people. Steinbeck has devoted several pages to a chapter to describe such things as a turtle moving along or how terrible the climate was during the drought.

In addition to the group discussion, each month we spend a little time discussing other books that we are currently reading. The members are willing to share comments of so many different authors of both fiction and non-fiction. This sharing is such an enjoyable part of our meeting.

We check out the next book selection after the Book Chat, so there is ample opportunity to read it through leisurely, or in a rush if the month flies by! The next book is Eye of the Needle by Ken Follett. Yes, he wrote The Pillars of the Earth (also a TV miniseries), but this book is a different genre.

If you can, join us next time for a lively discussion and a cup of tea. Stop in and ask for the Book Chat selection for May at the library desk. Even if you can’t read every page, you are welcome to join us! Hope to see you in May!

Dolly Parton Imagination Library Comes to 13032

The Canastota Public Library is signing up children in the 13032 Zip Code to be a part of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library! The Dolly Parton Imagination Library is made possible through the Madison County Literacy Coalition and a grant from the Central New York Community Foundation.  Through the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, preschool children and their families in the Canastota area (zip code 13032) will be able to receive the gift of a specially selected book each month. This program is targeted to help those with early literacy skills.

There is no cost for this program and families will be able to sign their children up for this great resource at the Canastota Public Library. The only requirement is that the children be between the ages of birth and five years old and reside in the 13032 area code. Interested parents and children should stop by the Canastota Public Library for more information and to register their children (102 W. Center Street in Canastota).

Dolly Parton began this program in her county in 1996. Since that time nearly 17,000 communities in the United States and Canada are involved in Dolly-sponsored library/literacy programs. By mailing high quality, age-appropriate books directly to their homes, Dolly wanted children to be excited about books and to feel the magic that books can create. Moreover, she could insure that every child would have books, regardless of their family’s income.


Canastota was selected as the initial site for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library by the Coalition. Since there are so many day care providers and day care centers in the area, the Dolly Parton Imagination Library could really make a difference in the lives of children in this community. Currently, the Dolly Parton Imagination Library for the 13032 area code is possible through a grant to the Madison County Literacy Coalition from the Central New York Community Foundation.

Bombarded

How do you stay up to date on current events? Do you read a newspaper? Listen to the evening news? Or, perhaps you read the news online? Today, we are bombarded by different media keeping us current with the latest in politics, science, entertainment, war, peace, religion and more. We are even able to play games online or via our cellular phones in real time! You can text anyone at anytime and generally reach them and receive an almost immediate response.


I find that lately, I am attached to my cell phone, my iPod, my kindle fire, my car radio, television and computer far more than I ever have been in my life. If my battery for any of these items runs low, I am in fear that people won’t be able to reach me in an emergency. I worry that I might miss something of national or international importance. I might not learn who won American Idol this year! As the onslaught of information bombards me daily, I feel more and more irritable and anxious.

Last week, a friend was telling me that her daughter was on a “silent” retreat. This experience, through her college, was one in which there was no verbal communication. There were no cell phones, televisions, radios or computers. Cell phones were checked at the door as were other forms of electronics. The students gathered several times a day for song and they could speak to the counselor who was assigned to them during this weeklong retreat.

As my friend was telling me about this experience, I kept thinking, “I want to be there!” I remember life without all these electronics. It seems simpler and a bit happier then. Life didn’t seem so complicated. I guess I miss those days.