Monday, September 24, 2018

Ventress Voice - Fall 2018


VENTRESS VOICE

Newsletter of the Ventress Memorial Library

Marshfield, Massachusetts

FALL   2018         Volume 25,   No. 2
Ventress Library Goes Fine-Free!
From the Director…
The Ventress Memorial Library is closing the book on overdue fines! We are excited to announce that we are going fine-free beginning in September (National Library Card Month): general overdue items will no longer accrue fees. We determined as a library that we wanted to open up the opportunity for as many passionate readers and library users to borrow our materials as possible. After the success of removing fines for senior citizens in the last few years, it was an obvious choice to eliminate the barrier of overdue fines for all of our materials.  You might be wondering--what does this mean for me? Books, DVDs, puzzles, and CDs from the Ventress Memorial Library will accrue no overdue fines. Patrons will still be charged for books that are marked as LOST or DAMAGED. The fines for LOST items may be removed if items are returned in good condition within a year.
The Library will still charge fees for lost or damaged items, and materials requested and/or checked out from other libraries in our network will accrue fines if they are late. Museum passes and special equipment checkouts (such as hotspots, Kindles, or ukuleles) will still incur $5 per day fines when they are returned late, and rental books will incur a 25 cent per day fine when returned late.
September is a special month for many reasons: it is National Library Card Month around the country, it is the start of the school year here in our town of Marshfield, and it is a time to remind parents and caregivers that a library card is the most important school supply of all. In celebration of National Library Card Month, we will ALSO be offering unconditional amnesty to Marshfield youth for the entire month of September--during the month of September only, everyone age 17 and under who owes fines and/or charges for lost items and comes to the library to borrow materials will be given a clean slate. The library will include current students aged 18 and older in this special September amnesty.  The Ventress Memorial Library would like every child in Marshfield to have a library card!
Now is the perfect time to get a new Marshfield library card if you don’t currently have one, and to take advantage of our National Library Card Month celebration and get your children’s fines cleared if they have any items outstanding on their accounts! We’re looking forward to seeing you at the Ventress Memorial Library all September long!
Children’s Corner
With Kelsey Socha, Youth Services Librarian, ksocha@ocln.org
Kelsey reports that September is off to a spirited start in the Children’s Room with a special “Dads and Donuts” Saturday storytime, attracting local children and their caregivers in for stories and activities while socializing and enjoying treats together. This fun family event was closely followed the next week with a special “PJ Storytime: Stuffed Animal Sleepover.” Children brought in their special animal friend to leave here and spend the night in the library – and what adventures they had! Check our Facebook page for photos of the stuffed animals doing activities, having snacks, and frolicking while the library was closed!
So many other programs and activities are planned for a busy fall including: a range of storytimes for ages 0-6 years old; a monthly art program for 18 month olds--4 year olds,; a bi-weekly Lego Club and bi-weekly opportunities to practice reading with Gurnet, a local therapy dog! For the first time this fall, we are also offering a Young Authors Club and Tween Interest Group for 4th--6th graders, as well as “Girls Who Code” (boys are welcome!)  classes for 6th-8th graders.
WOW!! Stop in to the Children’s Room to pick up a calendar of activities and learn more about those in which you and your family would like to participate. Follow us on Facebook for updates and announcements.
Ventress is the place to be!!

Circulation Chat
With Nikole Kelleher, Circulation Supervisor, nkelleher@ocln.org
Nikole reports that last summer was one of the busiest ones in years at the Circulation Desk. Both year-round residents and summer visitors came into their library to take out books, DVDs and more for their leisure enjoyment. Many also took advantage of obtaining books, movies and music on their devices using Overdrive, Hoopla and RBdigital apps. A big change at the Ventress is that we are going “fine-free”; details are provided on page 1 of this newsletter. We are all really excited about this positive and innovative change (first in OCLN library network to do so!)  Some exciting changes are planned for the Circulation area in the coming months, including a new and reconfigured desk is on the way! Watch for a streamlined self check-out station that uses an iPad. We also welcome some new faces on staff.  Just a reminder: if you need more information on any of the library’s programs, policies and materials, please don’t hesitate to ask. We are here to serve you, and always with a smile!
Thanks to all for being our treasured library patrons!
Adult Book Groups
        Non-Fiction Book Group, first Tuesday of the month from 6-7:30 pm, Historical Room - Adult Services Librarian Nancy Hickey (nhickey@ocln.org) facilitates this group.
        Contemporary Book Group, second Wednesday of the month from 7-8 pm, Historical Room – Library Director Cyndee Marcoux (cmarcoux@ocln.org)  facilitates this group.
        Classic Book Group, second Wednesday of the month  from 4:30-6 pm, Historical Room – Assistant Director Chris Woods (cwoods@ocln.org)  facilitates this group.

New members always welcome; contact each group leader for more info!

Attention Local Area Book Groups: Did you know that the Ventress Library has bundled book kits for you to use for your book group? Contact Adult Services Librarian Nancy Hickey at nhickey@ocln.org  or 781-834-5535 for more information or to reserve a kit for your group!


Teen News
With Charlie Gluck, Young Adult Librarian, cgluck@ocln.org

Charlie Gluck, our new Young Adult librarian, started in June and is up to speed, and then some! 2018 is an exciting time to be a teen in Marshfield; so many new activities and programs are going on at the library!! In addition, a new teen space is coming your way to be completed within the next year thanks to a $15,000 LSTA grant awarded to the library recently (see details below). Charlie shared with us some of the programs she has planned for local youth with the help of the new Teen Advisory Group (TAG), including ongoing programs “Dungeons and Dragons” and “Girls Who Code”, as well as an Early Release Day “Banned Books Special Event” on September 27!  New members are welcome to join our TAG group – next meeting is September 20 from 5-6. Bring your ideas!! Stop by the library to pick up a Teen Services Calendar to stay up on all the events from students in 7th-12th grades.
Join in the fun with friends at your library!!


Ventress Library Awarded LSTA Grant
With Kelsey Socha, Youth Services Librarian, ksocha@ocln.org

Ventress Memorial Library was recently awarded a federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant for $15,000 from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC).  “This year’s grants illustrate the vibrant and dynamic ways that libraries connect with their communities, “said Robert Favini, Head of Library Advisory and Development at the MBLC. “The grants help libraries expand service offerings, impact lives and demonstrate why libraries continue to be a vital part of the civic landscape. We are proud of the work that is done by Massachusetts libraries through the LSTA grant program.”
Ventress Memorial Library plans to use this two-year grant for developing and enhancing services to tweens and teens. The library will create a defined teen space in the library, update certain areas of the young adult collection, and organize a series of programs for the teens and tweens in the library. In order to better serve Marshfield’s youth and ensure that this grant is being best used for their needs, the youth services department plans to develop both a Teen Advisory Group (TAG) and a Tween Interest Group (TWIG) to help plan and implement young adult programs and assist in the creation of a teen space.


Ventress Library Cultural Series Kicks-off 2018-2019 Season
With Chris Woods, Assistant Director, cwoods@ocln.org
Come into the library to pick up your cultural series brochure with details of all these programs. Also, follow us on Facebook and check the library website’s EventKeeper Calendar for more details on the performers and program updates!

Season Kick-off Performance, Wednesday Night Program, September 19, 2018, 7-8:30 p.m., “Sailing Towards My Father”, a one-man play presented by actor Stephen Collins, written and directed by Carl Rossi.

Season Kick-off Concert, Saturday, September 22, 2018,  2:00 p.m., (doors open at 1:45 p.m.), performed by Hungrytown, a folk duo featuring Rebecca Hall and Ken Anderson. Visit www.hungrytown.net

Saturday Concert, October 13, 2018, 2:00 p.m., (doors open at 1:45 p.m.), performed by Paul Speidel Jazz and Blues Duo. Visit www.paulspeidel.com

Monday Night Author Talk/Book Signing, October 22, 2018, 7-8:30 p.m., "Engaging Archaeology: 25 Case Studies in Research Practice”, presented by Stephen Silliman, Ph.D., Anthropology Department Chair and Professor, UMass Boston, and author. Visit http://www.faculty.umb.edu/stephen_silliman/

Wednesday Night Program, October 24, 2018, 7-8:30 p.m., “Welcome to the Graveyard: A Tour of Marshfield’s Cemeteries”, presented by Brenda Sullivan of the Gravestone Girls. Visit www.gravestonegirls.com

Saturday Concert, November 10, 2018, 2:00 p.m., (doors open at 1:45 p.m.), “Flamenco Guitar!”, performed by Gladius, composer and instrumentalist.

Wednesday Night Author Talk/Book Signing, November 14, 2018, 7-8:30 p.m., “The Black Cats of Amherst,” presented by Jim Hamilton, author. (Part of Ventress Library’s “Veterans Day Stories” programming.)

Saturday Concert, December 8, 2018, 2:00 p.m., “Home for the Holidays”, performed by cabaret singer John O’Neil. Visit www.johnoneilatlast.com

Monday Night Author Talk/Book Signing, December 17, 2018, 7-8:30 p.m., “Christmas Traditions in Boston,” presented by Anthony Sammarco, author.

Ventress Memorial Library, 15 Library Plaza, Marshfield, MA 02050 781-834-5535
Library hours:  Mon-Th 9-8, Fri/Sat 9-4:30,  closed Sundays visit www.ventresslibrary.org
Newsletter staff:  Chris Woods/Editor   Jaclyn Robinson/Illustrator