The warm weather has set in and soon summer will be here.  I don’t know about you, but there’s nothing I like better than sitting on the beach with a book in hand. I tend to read lighter fiction during the summer months.  I want something that entertains but doesn’t take me forever to get through.  Romance and Thrillers fit the bill for me.  I also really enjoy reading Women’s Fiction  over the summer.  I enjoy authors like Lynsay Sands, Barbara Kingsolver, Elizabeth Adler, Mary Kay Andrews, Amanda Stevens, and Lisa Jackson.

While I enjoy a quick-read in the summer, I know many folks prefer to pick up those weighty tomes that they don’t have time to read during the rest of the year.  A summer vacation with your family or without might be a great time to pick up a meatier book. Perhaps you have been waiting to revisit Gone with the Wind or the Harry Potter series. Whatever your reading preference, the Dracut Library is here to hook you up; whether you want your book in print, audio, or eBook format.  Do you have a student who has required reading over the summer? We’ve got the lists and books.

Don’t forget to visit us for any of the great programs being offered this summer.  There’s something for everyone!

Looking for something to do with the kids? Why not check out a Museum Pass to an area museum, zoo, or park.  These passes are provided by the Friends of the Dracut Library.  They would love to know what passes you are using, or if there are passes you would like to see offered.  Why not take out a moment to fill out our Museum Pass Survey?

Lastly, I would love to hear from you.  Is there a program that you would like to see offered? A book you would like to have us purchase?  Would your community group like to partner with us on a program?  Drop me a line.

Kennedy shot! Amelia Earhart flies solo over the Atlantic Ocean! Lindberg baby kidnapped! Titanic sinks! U.S. sends man to the moon!

These events changed how we think about the world and our place in it.

Join us June 24th through August 30th for a summer of Groundbreaking Reads.  Dig into not only fiction, but also topics such as gardening, philosophy, and current affairs.  What you choose to read is entirely up to you!  You can register to participate any time, beginning June 24th.

Each week, log in to enter your reading.  Each book you read gives you a chance to win one of eight prizes.  You will also receive an entry for each library program that you attend from 6/24/13 – 8/30/13.  On August 30th, we will randomly draw eight winners from all entries received. Prizes will be on display in the lobby throughout the summer.

For a list of recommended titles, visit our Groundbreaking Reads board on Pinterest.

Our summer reading program is sponsored by the Friends of Dracut Library, the Massachusetts Library System, the Boston Bruins, and the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.

Children’s Summer Reading Program

Dig into a summer filled with books, prizes, music, performers, science programs, crafts, Legos and more… with an “Underground” theme!Each summer we reward children for keeping up with their reading skills during their summer vacation.  It’s so important for children to read on a regular basis.  Studies show that children who read a few minutes each day will start school in September ahead of those who don’t.  That’s why we will reward children for reading a minimum of 15 minutes per day.  Starting June 27th, children can earn prizes after five days of reading.  Up to 10 prizes may be earned over the course of the summer.  Check out our list of recommended reads.This program is for children ages 2 through those entering grade 5.   Pre-readers may count books read to them.  Our High School volunteers will be here to hand out prizes at the following times:

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday – 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Thursday, Friday – 10 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Need something to do with the kids? Why not bring them to one of our great summer programs, including musicians, stories and crafts, bingo, a stuffed animal sleepover, and a sensory story time for children who have an autism spectrum disorder or other special needs, to name a few.

Beneath the Surface

Teen Summer Reading Program

Teens entering grades 6-12 are invited to join us for a summer of fun.  Beginning June 27th, visit the library or register online to participate.  The first 25 teens to sign up for the program will receive free summer reading pins and bookmarks.

Complete 5 or more books (only one school required reading book will count toward your total), and receive a prize! Check out our list of recommended reads!

We are also offering a variety of teen programs this summer.  Visit our Calendar of Events to find out more about any of the following programs:

Movie Nights : City of Ember & Tremors
Anime: Vampire Knight
Henna Tattoos
Game Day: Zombie Flux
Altered Book Craft

Quick Links

Visit Our Website

Friends of the Library

Register for a Program

Museum Pass Survey

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

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

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!

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.

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

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.

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.

Whatever you’re in the mood for, we’re sure to have it on our shelves.  So stop by, pick up a film or two, then head home and start popping the popcorn!