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Banned Books Week

by | | Special Events • Topsham Tales

stand-up-badge-2I have always thought of Topsham Public Library as a place to go and relax and enjoy programming and find books and talk with others about books and ideas and enjoy garden spaces and check out books on gardening and get good movies and bad movies too, but as I was thinking about Banned Books week, I realized Topsham Public Library, and all libraries really, are Defenders of my rights as well. Libraries, and the American Library Association, defend our “freedom to read.”

If libraries didn’t defend our right to read and to make sure books aren’t banned, I never would have been able to read Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson, or Summer of My German Soldier by Bette Green or Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien or The Holy Bible which was in the top 10 of 2015’s most challenged books.

There are some books I won’t read, and there are some books that you won’t read. It’s what makes us individuals, and that’s how it’s supposed to be. Topsham Public Library provides me with the books that I want to read, just like it provides you with books that you want to read, and it defends our right to read what we want. There are some people who will strive to control what books are available, and libraries will strive to defend people’s right to read.

Emma has a display of banned books. Are any of your favorites there?

What’s Happening This Weekend? Let Me Tell You!

by | | Something to do • Special Events • Staff Picks • Topsham Tales

It’s fast approaching, folks! Do you know what this weekend is? It’s the Friends of the Topsham Public Library Book Sale! If you are a member of Friends of the Topsham Public Library, there is a preview sale open to you on Friday, September 23 from 5pm-7pm. (If you are not a member and would like to become a member, you may purchase a membership at the door.) Then on Saturday, September 24 from 9am-4pm and Sunday, September 25 from 10am-2pm the book sale is open to the public. Sunday is the brown bag sale!

I look forward to this sale every year as I stock up on books I’ve already read and want to own and discover unique books  or authors that are new to me. I asked members of the staff of Topsham Public Library if there were any special books that they had found at the annual book sale over the years, and here is what they said:

One of Cyndi’s favorite finds is Nightmares in the Sky text by Stephen King and photographs by F-Stop Fitzgerald. This is a collection of spine chilling photographs of gargoyles that will leave you feeling a little creeped out.

wutheringEmma’s unique find is an illustrated edition of Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. Not only is Wuthering Heights one of her favorite books as it is set in Yorkshire where she (and the Brontes) are from, but the book is illustrated by Fritz Eichenberg with wood engraving, a printmaking technique that Emma is fond of.

Just last year, Mariah was excited to find the ENTIRE Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket. That’s thirteen books!

perenialsAnd Julie says, “My favorite and best pick from the book sale is the Pictorial Guide to Perennials.  I look at this book all the time. I dream about some of the plants being in my own garden.  I say dream because I can never find the time to actually get the plants into my garden!  Or I might have some of the plants ( I can tell because the pictures actually look like my plants!) but I just wish I could spend more time enjoying them.  But this book does not mess around.  It has a picture of the plant, it’s Latin classification names, common names, descriptions of the plant, what kind of soil it prefers, how it ‘winters’, which zones are best for growing it, spacing of the plants and how to propagate them. That’s just some of the information it gives!  It really is a fantastic book and I glad I found it at our book sale!”

As you can see from this small sampling, there is something for everyone: non-fiction, fiction, scary, educational, inspiring, and a grand selection of children’s books as well. So clear your calendars and come see us at the Friends of the Topsham Public Library Annual Book Sale!

You can find a flyer here: book sale poster 2016.

 

 

 

Our Garden is Yielding Results!

by | | Garden Programs • Library Gardens • Topsham Tales • TPL Gardens • Update

Below is an update by Jim Demosthenes about the gardens at Topsham Public Library. The gardens are maintained by a talented group of volunteers. 

Our demonstration gardens behind the library are producing vegetables to help support food security needs in our community.

Last October seed garlic was planted on the keyhole garden, a round mounded garden area that includes a compost bin to naturally provide soil nutrients to the plant roots. Individual cloves were separated from the bulb and planted in the soil. Photo Sep 03, 9 07 46 AMNewspaper and straw was applied on top of the mound to help prevent weeds from growing and to protect moisture content in the soil. The cloves began to grow roots in the fall. After overwintering, the garlic began to grow green shoots out of the soil and the root system, established in the fall, began to mature. In June garlic scapes were harvested. Scapes are the flower bud of the garlic plant. They can be used as an addition to a flower bouquet, and they are delicious to eat! By removing the scapes, the plant energy is directed to the root system to produce larger garlic bulbs. In early July the green shoots began to die indicating that harvesting the garlic bulbs would need to be completed within the next few weeks. Otherwise, the cloves contained in the bulbs would start to separate and garlic storage could be compromised. In mid July the bulbs were harvested, allowed to naturally dry for several days, and then cleaned and cut.  A total of thirty one bulbs were harvested. Five bulbs were set aside to replant in October as seed garlic for next year’s crop (avoiding the cost of purchasing additional seed garlic). The remaining garlic bulbs (similar to the one on display) were donated to the Midcoast Hunger Prevention Program (MCHPP) in Brunswick.

Within the same garden are onion plants which are growing nicely. They will be harvested in the fall and donated to MCHPP as well.

The construction of the keyhole garden (with compost bin) helps to maintain moisture and provide food for the plants. No additional watering, artificial fertilizers, or weeding was needed. This demonstration garden shows how easily food can be grown and also shows one of the many ways the Topsham Public Library contributes to the needs of the community.

Joy of the Pen Opens Saturday

by | | Something to do • Special Events • Topsham Tales

JOPIt has been fun and encouraging to see the number of submissions grow each year and the new categories that have been added since its launch, and we are excited to see how Joy of the Pen will continue to flourish this year as well.

Saturday, September 3, 2016, Topsham Public Library begins accepting submissions to this year’s Joy of the Pen. For those of you who may not have heard of Joy of the Pen, it is a free-to-enter annual writing competition sponsored by Topsham Public Library, The Cryer Online, The Friends of the Topsham Public Library, Just Write Books and the TPL Teen Room.

The categories are: fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, Maine related nonfiction, and a teen category for writers aged 11-18 years old. For all the details and the application click here.

Meet the New President of the Board of Trustees

by | | Topsham Tales • Update

LarrysmallerSix times. He has tried six times, but this time Larry Fitch is determined to get through James Joyce’s Ulysses. Intrigued by all the layers and interwoven threads that Joyce melds into the story, Larry is resolute in his pursuit to finish this story by one of Ireland’s greatest writers.

Books and libraries have always been a part of Larry’s life. He remembers getting his Boston Public Library card (Allston Branch) when he was a child, and in high school, he utilized the library to do his homework every night. But one of Larry’s proudest achievements was when he, as a workforce innovator, in conjunction with Bonita-Sunnyside Branch of the San Diego County Library, developed a career center in the library. They have designated space, computers, and resources for the career center. They offer workshops and Larry did labor market analysis to connect people with companies in need. After he retired, they decided to move to Maine, and Larry became involved in Topsham Public Library and is now serving on the Board of Trustees, and this year he is President of the Board.

Larry is a great advocate for libraries and the services they provide. He considers libraries to be “a great equalizer”; regardless of economic background, race, gender identification or education level, libraries treat everyone as equals. Libraries are an important tool that signifies quality of life, according to Larry, and they are places where you not only get to attend lectures and programs and enjoy gardens, but they are places where you can be serene and thoughtful and where you gain understanding about your self, your community, and your world.

Though he can’t pinpoint a first favorite book from childhood, Larry recalls many that he enjoyed: Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes, Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame, Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne (which he also read in Latin), The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien. Now, Larry enjoys historical fiction because the reader is given the historical context without the dryness of non-fiction. Science fiction is another favorite genre of his, and Isaac Asimov is one of his favorite sci-fi writers.

If Larry could invite anyone to dinner, historical figures included, he would like to spend time with Albert Einstein, not just for his brilliance, but because of his good sense of humor; John F. Kennedy because he inspired Larry’s generation to do good and because of their Boston connection; Ray Bradbury because of his imagination; Anita Diamant, with whom he attended a Boston Red Sox game and is another Boston child; Margaret Chase Smith not only because of her important role in the women’s movement, but she was also a politician that could engage in true dialogue with those who saw things differently than she did; Carl Sagan because he made science fun and available to the masses; Kurt Vonnegut because Larry thinks Slaughterhouse 5, is one of the best books of all time; and Sigmund Freud so he could psychoanalyze everyone.

Photography is another love of Larry’s. He is a member of First Light Camera Club and enjoys the variety of outings they go on. As well as serving as President of the Board of Trustees for Topsham Public Library, he is also on the Topsham Development, Inc board. He endeavors to serve Topsham and help shape Topsham into the community it wants to be.

Larry is excited and honored to fulfill his duties, and he has a real heart for our shared community. When you see him, be sure to say hi.

 

Get Your Bookmarks Done!

by | | Special Events • Topsham Tales • Update

beach paintingDidn’t school just let out for the summer? Didn’t we celebrate the Fourth of July just last weekend? Where has the summer gone? It feels like summer is just beginning and it’s hard to believe September is only two weeks away.

As summer comes to an end, so does Topsham Public Library’s summer reading program. Are you still working on a bookmark? August 27 is the final day of our summer reading program, so make sure you get those finished up and turned in!

Teens, are you looking for some additional ways to earn some extra raffle tickets? Don’t forget this Saturday, August 20, 2016 from 10am-2pm you can create your own beach scene with the Sea and Sand Painting craft.  This will earn you 3 more tickets! You can also drop by Topsham Public Library anytime and check out the Fast Arts (Farts) ideas in the YA room.

No matter how many bookmarks you have completed, we hope you have enjoyed this year’s summer reading. We have thoroughly enjoyed all of you coming in and excitedly marking off the progress on your bookmarks and participating in the many summer programs.

 

The Fair is Coming!

by | | Something to do • Special Events • Topsham Tales

626_2016_POSTERTopsham is home to a few gems, and the Topsham Fair is one of them. Entering its 162nd year, festivities begin Sunday and Monday with free harness-racing at 5pm, and then the full fair schedule unfolds on Tuesday with special events and entertainment all week long.

Some of the highlights: Tuesday at 2pm, the Coastal Cloggers will be performing, and then at 6pm enjoy a concert with The Mallet Brothers Band; Wednesday, Madscience Marvels at 4pm, and the Demolition Derby at 7pm; Thursday, let yourself be entertained by Jeff Herbster Bagpiper at 2pm and you might want to plug your ears ‘cuz its Monster Trucks at 7pm; Friday, the pig scramble is at 5:30pm and Monster Trucks are back at 7pm; Saturday, enjoy Saltwater Hillbilly at 3pm, then Mike Preston and the Buckstop Band featuring Kim Curry at 5:30, and stick around for the fireworks at 10pm.

There is so much more like cooking contests, all kinds of animal shows and 4-H demonstrations and an exhibit hall full of quilting, knitting and crafting entries. Check out their website for a full schedule of events and more information: www.topshamfair.net

Wednesdays Are Back Happy Hour!

by | | Something to do • Special Events • Topsham Tales • Update

galaxy owlRemember our burst pipes and how we had to cancel the happy hour scheduled to celebrate that Topsham Public Library is open again on Wednesday evenings? Well, we have rescheduled!

Please join us, Wednesday, August 3, 2016 (next Wednesday) at 5pm for mocktails in the gallery. These are special mocktails made with Tang – the drink of astronauts everywhere. Then, if you want, stay for a special Show and Tell with a Space Pioneer at 6pm!

Mr. George Krassner is a Topsham resident and a space pioneer. His designs were used in the world’s first communication and weather satellites and for the fuel control system in the command module of the Apollo spacecraft. He will share insider stories, secrets, and goofs of the space program, display memorabilia and play the taped recording of President Eisenhower’s message of peace to the world from the first communication satellite, using the electronics designed by Mr. Krassner. You don’t want to miss it!!

If you can’t make it for this special event, please, don’t forget Topsham Public Library is now open Wednesdays until 8pm. Our schedule is: Sunday/Monday closed, Tuesday – Thursday 9am-8pm, Friday 9am-5pm, and Saturday 9am-4pm.

If you’re a teen and would like to make awesome galaxy art like the one featured in this blog post, register now by emailing cyndi@topshamlibrary.org to take part on Saturday, August 6 at 1pm!

See you at Topsham Public Library!

We Missed You, Too!

by | | Topsham Tales • Update

As many of you know, we had an unexpected closure last week. Unfortunately, we had a water pipe burst, and as it seems to happen (at least in my experience with my house that is a fixer-upper and needs more fixing than it’s been upped) the repairs weren’t quite as straightforward as we would have liked. Though the break happened in a back corner of Topsham Public Library where the public seldom is, when a public building does not have water, the public building must stay closed.

Though it was discouraging for us to be closed, we have been so encouraged by the community’s show of support and the fact that we were missed during our shutdown. Here are some numbers that prove my point. After being closed in the early afternoon on Friday, July 1, 2016, we were not able to open again for business until Thursday, July 7, 2016. On that Thursday that we re-opened 484 people came through our doors, Friday 318 people, and on Saturday, we had 249 people enjoy our facilities. That is a total of 1,051 patrons in just three days! That is big for us.

Our community is home to many writers of all ages. One of those budding writers, Anneke Stewart, diligently worked on a poem for us while we were closed and I am sharing it with you below.

 

Catastrophe at the Library

by Anneke Stewart

What a catastrophe!

We can’t go to the library.

For now what will we read?

Lots of library books we need!

What keeps us away?

A pipe that will leak every day.

That large pipe must be fixed!

Our feelings toward plumbers are mixed.

The plumbers seem too slow.

To the library we must go!

 

It is so nice to know we were missed. We are nothing without our community, and you should know that the entire staff here at Topsham Public Library missed you too! Thank you, Topsham! Thank you, Anneke!

O Canada

by | | Topsham Tales

While many of us were celebrating the Fourth of July this past weekend, there was a quiet few celebrating Canada Day (July 1). Amongst that quiet few was our own library director, Susan Preece, and I had the privilege of talking with her before she departed for the great white North (Any Bob and Doug McKenzie fans out there?).

Susan was born in Canada – Winnipeg, Manitoba to be specific. She moved to the United States at a young age, but once a Canadian, always a Canadian, eh. She still has family in Canada and she enjoyed some well deserved time away and vacationed with them on Amherst Island, on Lake Ontario for the Canada Day weekend.

little house The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton was Susan’s first favorite book. She remembers reading it to her sister. Now she enjoys fiction over non-fiction, especially fantasy which she would choose over literary fiction. As much as she likes both of them, she would choose A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness over The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. She would rather read a Bronté than Jane Austen, and she is one of the few on our staff who you might find reading with an e-reader, but like the rest of the staff, Susan will tell you there is just not enough time to do all the reading she would like.

When I asked her what literary character she would be if she could, she did not hesitate and said, “Albus Dumbledore.” I also asked her what character would she like to meet. She thought a little before she said that she would like to meet Celia Bowen from The Night Circus. Celia intrigues Susan because she thought Celia was a victim of circumstance, but that Celia took life’s difficulties and challenges on with heart and soul.

Probably due to the Canadian blood that runs through her veins, Susan would rather watch a hockey game than a football game, and – hold on to your Patriots’ cap and jersey – if she does watch a football game, more than likely she’s cheering for the Giants! (She lived in New York for a number of years, so forgive her please!)

When it comes to who Susan would like to surround herself with at the dinner table, it’s all family and friends. Her guests would include grandparents (Cook and Bridges), Jane, who her children call Aunt Jane and is one of Susan’s best friends, Tullia, Mary Lou, a friend who died too young, and a brother-in-law who also was gone too soon. There is one person on her guest list that Susan doesn’t know, but would like to meet and that is Gordon Lightfoot, a fellow Canadian and musician.

And food! The entire staff loves food, but Susan is probably the biggest foodie of us all – especially when it comes to Italian food. She would choose lobster over steak, dessert instead of drinks, Chinese food before Mexican cuisine, and chocolate over vanilla.

I like Susan. I know you think I’m probably just saying that because she’s my boss, but I’m not. She’s funny, she’s caring, and she does a great job as Director of Topsham Public Library. She handles tough situations with calm and fortitude and grace. Canada is lucky to call her their own.