Alcott and Hawthorne and Thoreau, oh my!

In the quiet town of Concord, Massachusetts lies a treasure trove of history.  Something many do not realize is that much of it has nothing to do with the American Revolution! Concord was the home of some of the most prolific writers of the mid-to-late 19th century.  There are so very many one could name, but 4 stand out in my mind: Louisa May Alcott, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne and Henry David Thoreau.

Louisa May Alcott is most famous for her novel “Little Women” (which is set at Orchard House, a museum on Lexington Road that you can visit even today!), but there is far more of her work available here at the library. Some of her other books include “Little Men”, “Jo’s Boys”,   “Eight Cousins”, “Rose in Bloom”, and “Hospital Sketches” (this one was originally published under the pseudonym A.M. Barnard). Her very first novel, “Flower Fables”, was published in 1854, and dedicated to Ellen Emerson, daughter of Ralph Waldo Emerson; both families were extremely close.

One reason they may have been so close is that they lived only a 5 minute walk away from each other! Ralph Waldo Emerson (whose home, Emerson House, can also be toured in the summer months) is known far and wide for his philosophical and “transcendental” writing.  The Transcendentalist movement swept through the region, and soon Emerson was leading the charge for this new way of thinking with his work.  You can find many examples of his introspective and far-reaching thoughts here. Why not see what this Transcendence is all about?

Next door to Orchard House sits Wayside, the home of another friend to the Alcotts and Emersons; the Hawthornes.  Nathaniel Hawthorne’s haunting (and sometimes gruesome) tales are read by nearly every student of American Literature.  While “The Scarlet Letter” is his best-known work, this is the mere tip of the iceberg. His novels and short stories are more than enough to keep the mind occupied for at least a year. Some of my favorites include the novel “The Marble Faun” and the short story “Rappacini’s Daughter”. Give them a spin and save a few for Halloween!

Of course, Henry David Thoreau’s life in Concord runs like a ribbon through the entire town, connecting everyone.  Thoreau spent time with all of these writing families, as a tutor, confidante, and friend. His work “Walden” is a must-read for many nature, philosophy, and Massachusetts enthusiasts. Thoreau experienced the outdoors and simple living for 2 years, 2 months, and 2 days on Walden Pond. You can go here to find many other works  from both before and after his time on the Pond.

There is so much wonderful writing to be discovered just by coming to the library and trying out even one book on this list! Check out one of Alcott’s novels, and read it with your children. Enjoy a walk in the sunshine and bring along a copy of essays by Emerson or Thoreau. You could even take a stroll through the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Concord and have a haunted experience of your own with a good Hawthorne story.  The possibilities are endless.

~written by Laura Sanscartier

The Oncoming Storm: 50th Anniversary of “Doctor Who”

One cannot surf the internet, watch television, or visit a mall without stumbling upon a glimpse at the world of “Doctor Who”.  This show is now in its 50th year, nearly unprecedented in the world of television.  As a self-professed “Whovian”, I am delighted to let you in on a little secret: you need not pay a dime to experience the fascinating world of The Doctor.  It’s all right here at your public library!

First off, nearly the entire series featuring Doctors 1-8 (from its pilot episode in 1963 starring William Hartnell as “The First Doctor”) is available on DVD format through the MVLC.  From cavemen of the earliest days of humans on Earth, to the dreaded Daleks, you can enjoy almost 50 years of aired (and UNAIRED!) episodes.  Check out some of the original series here.

“Doctor Who” accelerated into popularity again in 2005 with the introduction of the Ninth Doctor, played by Christopher Eccleston.  New special effects, companions, and monsters came along, and the Tenth Doctor, David Tennant, brought the show to new heights.  The Eleventh Doctor, played by relative newcomer Matt Smith, is now in his third season, and the show currently airs here in the States on BBC America.  You can see all seven of these new seasons through us by clicking this link.

TV on DVD is not all the “Doctor Who” your library has to offer!  There are many new adventures available through novelizations and graphic novels. The novels come in a great compact hardcover, easy to bring along on your own travels! Find some new favorites in our catalog.

“You want spinoffs? I’ll show you spinoffs!” There are two wonderful series that come right from the adventures of “Doctor Who”, following the travels of Captain Jack Harkness (sometimes companion to the  Ninth and Tenth Doctor) and Sarah Jane Smith, a former companion from earlier days of the show. These series are available through us as well! Find Sarah Jane and Captain Jack in “The Sarah Jane Adventures” and “Torchwood”.

Taking a long car ride? Take in the sights of the Universe as a Doctor’s Companion with an audiobook! Many of these titles are read by actors from the series, and a few by The Doctors themselves. Click here to begin searching for new favorites.

Phew! Now that you’ve brought yourself to “Whovian” status yourself, you can pop to the mall for your favorite T-shirt! And all because of your local public library. Enjoy! And keep an eye out for the TARDIS.

~written by Laura Sanscartier

Dog Bite Prevention Month

May is National Dog Bite Prevention month.  According to the American Humane Association more than 4.7 million dog bites occur each year – 65% of those involving children.  One way to prevent dog bites is to educate yourself and your dog. The Dracut Library has dog training books and DVD’s to help you embark on your canine’s higher education.

We have compiled some material on our Pinterest page under Animal Ark http://pinterest.com/dracutlibrary/animal-ark/  You can also use your mobile device to scan the QR code below to bring you to that page. From there, you can click on the links to check availability or to reserve material. We want you and your children to be safe this summer. So after you get that new canine family member, visit us – and avoid visiting the emergency room!

Exciting Happenings!

Mark your calendars! The next two months the Friends of the Library will be sponsoring some not-to-miss free events! It starts this Monday, March 25th at 6:30 pm when Maureen Stanton will talk about her book, “Killer Stuff and Tons of Money: An Insider’s Look at the World of Flea Markets, Antiques & Collecting”.  Yes, spring is here – and that means it’s time to cruise those flea markets! Find out how you can turn a profit from your weekend finds.  After all, everyone could use a little extra cash.

On Monday, April 8th at 6:30 pm, we are proud to have the author of “Three Junes“, “The Whole World Over“, “I See You Everywhere“, and “The Widower’s Tale“.  Get your book group and friends together to meet and hear Julia Glass!! A resident of Marblehead, Massachusetts, she is a past winner of the National Book Award for her debut novel, “Three Junes”.  She has described her characters as being her “alter egos”, and her favorite word is “widdershins” – she is a fascinating person that you have to meet!

Two days later, on Wednesday, April 10th at 6:30 pm, Richard Howe and Chaim Rosenberg will be talking about their new book, “Legendary Locals of Lowell“.  This is sure to be a fun evening! You may recognize some of these legendary locals – perhaps it will be a walk down memory lane! Either way, come and meet Richard Howe, a great friend of the Dracut Library!

Are you interested in the Whitey Bulger case? Sure, you can read the papers, but why not hear first hand from Kevin Cullen and Shelley Murphy, authors of  ”Whitey Bulger: America’s Most Wanted Gangster and the Manhunt That Brought Him to Justice”? Make plans now to be here Wednesday, May 22nd at 6:30 pm – their insights are sure to be a hit!

All events are sponsored by the Friends of Dracut Library. They are free and open to the public.

Downloadable Books – The Next Generation

Have you checked out audio or eBooks from the Library’s Overdrive collection? If you have, you know how difficult the process can be.  Don’t despair – the next generation of Overdrive is here!  The new interface became available on March 14, 2013. Overdrive has made it faster and easier for you to connect to the books you want to read.

You can connect to the Overdrive console via the library’s website at http://www.dracutlibrary.org  Once there, select the “Books and Media” tab at the top of the page.  A drop-down menu will appear.  Choose “Overdrive e-content” from that list.  You will be re-directed to the Overdrive Media Console.  From the homepage, there are several ways to find titles to enjoy.

1. Select a cover image from any of the lists.
2. Click a link from the menu.
3. Enter a search for something you want.

You can quickly tell which titles are available and which ones you can place on hold by the format icon in the top-right corner of a cover image. If a title isn’t available, the icon will be greyed out.

The Menu bar is available from any page—just click the icon to expand or collapse it.

You can drill down search results by subject, rating, language, and more.

Borrowing and reading titles is much easier. It takes only a few seconds to find a title and start reading. Accessing any borrowed title from your Bookshelf only requires a few clicks or taps.

1. eBooks – Click Borrow then Go to Bookshelf (you may be prompted to sign in) to read the title in your browser or download. If you want additional borrowing options, select a different format from the Bookshelf on your Account page.
2. Audiobooks – Select the title you want, click (or tap) Borrow, then download it from your Bookshelf.

From your Account page, you can view your Holds, Lists (Wish List, Rated titles, and Recommendations for you), and change your lending period(s) from the Settings page.

Click the ribbon below a title to add or remove it from your Wish List.

GETTING STARTED WITH OVERDRIVE READ

OverDrive Read is a new in-browser eBook reader. It works just like any eBook reading app, except you don’t need to activate or install extra software.

All you need is a computer, tablet, or mobile device with a modern web browser. If you’d like to learn more about compatibility, please check out the OverDrive Read website.

Once you’ve borrowed a title, click the Read button next to a supported eBook on your bookshelf to open it in a new tab or window.

TITLES FOR DRACUT RESIDENTS ONLY

The titles that we currently offer are available to you via the library’s membership in the Merrimack Valley Library Consortium. These titles are shared by residents of all 35 area libraries.  This can make waiting for a new title particularly frustrating, as copies can be checked out for up to 3 weeks. Next week, we will begin our subscription to OverDrive Advantage. This feature gives libraries that are members of a shared collection the ability to offer popular titles — exclusively for their patrons. The Advantage collection is integrated with the same single download website that you already use. Our subscription to OverDrive Advantage will result in:

1. Reduced waiting lists
2. A Custom collection – tailored to the tastes of Dracut residents
3. Access to both the shared MVLC collection, and the Advantage collection

Location, location, location

It use to be that the only address we needed to give people was our physical location at 28 Arlington Street in Dracut, Massachusetts. That was before the digital age and the need to have a 24/7 presence. Let’s face it, we don’t live on a 9-5 time table anymore. We want to reserve DVD’s at ten o’clock at night. Or register for a library program long after the librarians have gone home. We want (and sometimes need) to access these services with mobile devices. I’m no exception. I’m never without my smartphone and want the places I frequent to be where ever I am.

That’s why I’m happy to announce that you’ll be seeing a lot more of us. Not only do we have our website but we are becoming more visible on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. We plan on using these formats to not only keep you informed about library programs, but to provide you with suggested reading lists, as well as entertainment. Another upgrade you’ll be seeing is our use of QR codes for mobile devices. These special barcodes are made for use with your smart phone. They will bring you to reading lists (did you ever want to know what the second book in a series was?), our event calendar (so you can register right from your phone), as well as our social media outlets. Don’t be afraid to use your smart phone in the library – surprises may await you! And when you’re not in the library, book mark us on your phone. In your pocket or your purse – we are your mobile librarians.

Geek the Library

geek /gēk/verb

1. To love, to enjoy, to celebrate, to have an intense passion for.
2. To possess a large amount of knowledge in.
3.To promote.

I recently attended a workshop on a national campaign called “Geek the Library.”  This public relations campaign is sponsored by the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation and is intended to let libraries know our residents better.

The concept evolved from a theory that a community‐centered public awareness campaign—one that uses similar strategies to many ‘super’ brands—could be an effective approach for libraries to make an impact locally. Like other brands, public libraries are also challenged to create an effective message, identify the appropriate audience, and change perceptions in a way that will impact current and future behavior.

The campaign is simple one.  It asks residents one simple question; “what do you geek?” Everyone has something that they are passionate about—something they geek. Maybe you geek football or hip hop. Maybe you geek organic gardening or volunteering. Or maybe you just geek the weather. Whatever you geek, fun or serious, the library supports you.

We intend to kick off our “Geek the Library” campaign this coming June.  Look for posters, book marks, banners, buttons, t-shirts and more!  Join in on the conversation.  By learning what you “geek” we start a conversation about the ways the library can support everyone, no matter what their passion.  It will also help  us focus our programming and resources on the things that matter to you.

I would love to hear from you.  You can contact me at any time at nhill@mvlc.org, or at 978-445-5474, extension 301.