Bent Northrop Memorial Library

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Calendar ~ View the events calendar here.

Happy New Year! January 2012

BNML Lecture Series ~ Sydney Lea
Thursday, January 12 @ 7pm
Sydney Lea is the Poet Laureate of Vermont. Lea has been described as “a man in the woods with his head full of books, and a man in books with his head full of woods.” His affection for story, moreover, an affection derived in no small measure from men and women elders in New England, colors his poetry, just as a relish for the musical properties of the word colors his prose. His lifelong passion for the natural world informs almost his every utterance.

Parents Night Out:
Friday, January 20, 5-7:30pm
Please join us at the Bent Northrop Memorial Library on Friday, January 20th from 5-7:30pm for a FGI Bookmobile Kids Night Out Event! After 2 successful events at the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Swanton, we are bring our themed event night to Fairfield! An evening of fun for the kids- and a night out for you! Price is $10 per child. Enjoy an evening to yourself for a change while we entertain the kids! This month’s theme is: Beach Party! Please RSVP by Friday, Jan 13th by contacting the staff of the FGI Bookmobile at: jljohnson.ucsc@gmail.com or call our office at 868-5077. Please include your child’s name, age and any allergies or special needs they may have so we can better cater to them. See you all there!

WeDos Afterschool:
Tuesdays, January 10-31, 3-5pm, Grades 2 and 3
This fun program combines children’s literature and the building of basic robots. Each week youth work in teams of two to create a robotic model of a character in the featured story and then program it to move. Wedos and Literature teaches basic science, engineering and literature skills in a fun inquiry based program. This program is a cooperative effort between the University of Vermont Extension and the Bent Northrop Library. Enrollment limited to 12 youth. Sign up at the library or online.

FRC Gaming Club Afterschool
Twice a month on Wednesdays from 2:45 – 4:15 pm, First date January 11
Do you like playing strategy games? Would you like to try out some Xbox Kinect games? Then come join the . We have many different games to choose from including the new Lego Heroica, D&D Wrath of Ashardalon and Castle Ravenloft, Pirate’s Cove, Settler’s of Catan and Seafarers of Catan, and 4 Kinect games. The club meets twice a month on Wednesdays from 2:45 – 4:15 pm. We will be meeting in the Community Room at Bent-Northrop Memorial Library. The dates are: January 11th & 25th, February 8th & 22nd, and March 14th & 28th. The club is geared for ages 9 – 12 and there is a limit of 10 participants. Placement will be based on a first come, first serve basis. There will be a waiting list for those who don’t make the first session. Sign up here!

FRC Photography Workshops!
Sundays: January 8, February 12, March 11, April 15, and May 6
Want to learn how to take better pictures using your Digital Camera? Professional Photographer Melanie Webb will lead a hands-on workshop to show you how to get the most out of your camera. We will also discuss editing pictures using Photoshop Elements. Bring your digital camera: Any brand or model, Digital SLR, Point & Shoot, no idea what the heck it is, just bring it in! Please be sure to have a fully charged battery. Call Rick Haag @ 524-7528 with any questions.

Fairfield KnitWits ~ Jan. 19
Meets monthly on the third Thursday in the loft.
Calling all knitters, needlecrafters and fiber artists! This group welcomes new faces and all skill levels. Drop in to enjoy the company, advice and inspiration of other knitters in the community. Bring your own projects and materials. Email Mary Alice with questions at melbaum@gmail.com.

Franklin County Beekeepers ~ Jan 19
Meets the third Thursday each month in the Community Room. For more information contact Janice Girard – 849-2494

FCF Girls Club  **(PLEASE NOTE-TIME CHANGE)
Saturday, January 14 @ 11-12:30pm
We will be having a Sledding Party!!! Please bring snow clothes and a sled (if you have one). We will decorate mugs for our Hot Chocolate! We have a few mom’s donating cookies to go with our Cocoa, but I’d love to see if we could arrange some crackers and cheese, and fruit or veggies since we’ll be working up an appetite for lunch. Please let Deanne Haag know if you’d be willing to donate-THANKS! Hope to see you there! As always, bring friends!

Playgroup
Wednesdays, 10am-11:30am
Meet new friends, play games, do crafts, have a snack, and listen to stories each Wednesday from 10:00 am to 11:30. All kids ages 0-6 and their adult caregivers are welcome.

Breastfeeding Support Group ~ Jan. 7
First Saturday of each month, 9:30am
Come join other moms, babies and families at our regular breastfeeding support/social groups. The groups are offered by the Vermont Department of Health and are FREE to all. You can ask questions, get help, join in discussions, and (most importantly) meet Moms just like you to share your experiences. For more information, call: 802-524-7970

Mahjong
Playing in the Loft on the first, third & fourth Tuesday of each month, 6:30 – 9:00pm. 
Tiles Clacking, People Laughing, Conversation, Relaxation… Beginners and new faces welcome!

Book Club ~ Jan. 10
2nd Tuesday of the month at 6:30 in the Loft.
January’s book: The Night Circus by Erin Morganstern. Kindle copies available

Other neat stuff…

Message for all teen movie makers!
Don’t forget that the deadline for the Own the Night Teen Video challenge co-sponsored by the Department of Libraries and the Collaborative Summer Library Program is March 2, 2012. The idea is to create a short Public Service Announcement to promote the summer theme, “Own the Night,” reading and libraries. The winning teen or teen group will receive $275, with an additional $150 worth of prizes for his/her sponsoring public library. All the rules and information you need are here: http://libraries.vermont.gov/libraries/srp/childrenteen/teenvideocontest. Need some assistance on how to do this? Check out the helpful list of library video resource links on Ellyssa Kroski’s blog

eHealth: Finding Credible Health Information Online
Tune in to 30-minute webinar sessions January 4, 6, or 9 
How do you find the best health information without spending hours searching the Web? Join us for a 30 min webinar to review some basic strategies to help you find high quality health information online. We will also review some of the best health websites on the Web. Presented by Vermont State Colleges librarian, Larraby Fellows. To attend, click on “Join Webinar” at www.e4vt.org on the date and time of your choice from any computer with a high speed Internet connection. Free. No pre-registration required. If you have trouble logging on from e4vt.org, try the direct link: http://vscmymeeting.adobeconnect.com/evtwebinars/ We encourage you to log in 5 min. before the session begins. You will need to turn on your computers sound/speakers. Webinar Dates: January 4, 6:00 – 6:30 pm; January 6, 12:00 – 12:30 pm; January 9, 12:00 – 12:30 pm

*You can attend the Friday, January 6th webinar at the library!

Kindle Compatibility
Checking out books for your Kindle is as easy as pie! Check out a Kindle eBook like you check out other eBooks. Call the library for your number, then begin at our website. When you get to the final step, you’ll be directed to click on “Get for Kindle” link. You will then be directed to Amazon.com to redeem the ebook you are borrowing and you may be asked to login to your Amazon account. Choose to read the book on your Kindle device, free reading app, or Kindle Cloud Reader. Borrowing a Kindle book requires an active Wi-Fi connection for wireless delivery. Alternatively, both Mac and Windows users can manage Kindle content through a USB connection.

Universal Class
Learn something new today! Over 500 free, online non-college credit Continuing Education Courses offered through the library and the VT Dept. of Libraries. These are non-credit courses and are provided for your personal enrichment.
• You will need to create an account and have a valid e-mail address to sign up for courses.
• You are welcome to enroll in up to 5 courses.
• You have up to 6 months to finish each course.
• You have access to your course 24/7 via the Internet.
• Attend class and do assignments on your schedule.
• Each course has a real instructor with whom you communicate via e-mail.

Fairfield Farmers Market Online
The Fairfield Farmers Market is a way to connect neighbors with neighbors. Jess sells pies, jams, and chutneys. Brian sells chicken. Jonathan sells beef. The Gervais sisters sell a variety of cheese and breads. Nicole and Luke sell honey. Kerri and Debbie sell eggs. Angie sells sourdough pizza dough. Scott and Laura sell cookies. Nance sells biscotti. Jim sells potatoes. And Cranberry Bob sells, well, cranberries! There are many more vendors and the menu changes weekly! Support your local farmers – these are your friends and neighbors! You buy directly from them online 24 hours a day! Customer sign up is free and quick – and you can add money to your virtual account using your credit card. Have a question for the farmer? Feel free to contact them directly! The market is taking a break for January, but runs year round otherwise! The next pickup at the library is Thursday, February 2nd – but you can peek at the offerings and sign up as a customer all month long. Sign up today and see what is for sale at www.yourfarmstand.com – be sure to sign up for the Fairfield market!

Sign Contest
BNML is holding a contest for the design of our permanent outdoor sign to be installed on the corner of Park Street and South Road. Entries must include: Full name of BNML (Bent Northrop Memorial Library), materials, dimensions, installation and cost estimate. We value: collaboration, locally sourced materials, aesthetics, durability, maintenance free, and readability. Prizes to include certificates to local merchants and a KINDLE for winning sign. More info? Call Julie @ 933-4592 or drop her an email.

By the way, have you “liked” your Library, yet? BNML has its very own FB page!!

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December Happenings
December hours follow the new schedule (Mon: 2:30-5, Tue and Thur: 2:30-8, Wed and Fri: 9-5, Sat: 9-1)

Please note the Holiday exceptions! Dec. 23^rd, 9am – 1pm, Closed Dec. 24-26^th, Closed Dec. 31^st and Jan. 2^nd

December 3^rd

Breast feeding Support Group ~ Come join other moms, babies and families at our regular breastfeeding support/social groups. The groups are offered by the Vermont Department of Health and are FREE to all. You can ask questions, get help, join in discussions, and (most importantly) meet Moms just like you to share your experiences. For more information, call: 802-524-7970

December 4th 
FREE Photography Workshop ~ Want to learn how to take better pictures using your Digital Camera? With the holidays coming, this is the perfect time to learn something new. Professional Photographer Melanie Webb will lead a hands-on workshop from 2pm to 3pm to show you how to get the most out of your camera. Bring your digital camera: Any brand or model, Digital SLR, Point & Shoot, no idea what the heck it is, just bring it in. Please be sure to have a fully charged battery. *Sponsored by the Fairfield Recreation Committee. Call Rick Haag @ 524-7528 with any questions.

December 10^th
FRC Fairfield Girls Club ~ Join us monthly for team building, community service, outdoor exploration, and fitness. The activities are geared towards ages 5-10, but others are welcome. Parent participation required. Please contact Candi Branon or Deane Haag with questions. Thanks to the FRC for their support!

December 15^th
The Fairfield Knitwits ~ Calling all knitters, needlecrafters and fiber artists! Meeting monthly on the third Thursday in the loft. This group welcomes new faces and all skill levels. Drop in to enjoy the company, advice and inspiration of other knitters in the community. Bring your own projects and materials. Call or email Mary Alice with questions. 802-393-5270 or melbaum@gmail.com.

December 16^th
Winter Carnival! ~ Join us 6:30 – 9:00 pm for a Holiday themed movie and winter inspired activities. Co-sponsored by the Fairfield Recreation Committee. More details to come…

Weekly stuff:
Learn to Crochet continues to meet Tuesday afternoons from 3pm – 5pm. If interested in learning to crochet, please contact the library for future classes.

MAHJONG! Tiles Clacking, People Laughing, Conversation, Relaxation… Playing in the Loft Tuesday evenings, 6:30 – 9:00 pm. (except the 2^nd Tuesday of each month) Beginners and new faces welcomed and encouraged! Please email Jessica Kittell with questions. jkgaudette@yahoo.com

New Stuff:
Huge thanks to the Fairfield Recreation Committee for their recent purchase of snowshoes which are stored here at the Library!! You can now check out snowshoes like you check out a book. Contact Rick Haag with any questions.

Keep your eyes peeled for information on a few new events beginning in January: Book Club will be meeting the 2nd Tuesday of each month beginning in January with “The Night Circus” by Erin Morgenstern, FRC Game Club, WeeDo Robotics, and Teen Coffeehouse.

By the way, have you “liked” your Library, yet? Bent Northrop Memorial Library has its very own Facebook page! Just another resource to help you find out what’s up!

Happy Holidays, Everybody!

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November at the Library
HOLIDAY HOURS: Wednesday, November 23, 9am-1pm. Closed Thursday and Friday. Resuming normal business hours Saturday, November 26.

LEARN TO CROCHET this winter with Jacquie! Beginning November 22nd, meet once a week for 5 weeks at BNML on Tuesday afternoons from 3pm – 5pm. You will be taught the fundamentals, and by the end of the course, you will have a completed scarf to keep or gift. (Just in time for the Holidays!) Open to kids grades 3 through 8, though high schoolers are welcome too. All five classes and materials are included for $20. Space limited to 10 participants. *Payment due the first class. Sign up with this link!

Playgroup/Storytime – Meet new friends, play games, do crafts, have a snack, and listen to stories each Wednesday from 10:00 am to 11:30. All kids ages 0-6 and their adult caregivers are welcome.

The Knitting Circle meets November 17 in the loft. This monthly group welcomes all skill levels. Drop in to enjoy the company, advice and inspiration of other knitters in the community. Snacks and hot beverages provided. Bring your own projects and materials. Call or email Mary Alice with any questions. 802-393-5270 or melbaum@gmail.com.

New stuff coming: Book Club, Mahjong, Game Night… more info soon!

Other November Notes:

Senior Meals are offered each Tuesday at the Fairfield Community Center beginning at Noon. $3 for Seniors, $5 for all others.

The Food Shelf at the Fairfield Community Center will be open every Tuesday from 1:00pm – 1:30pm (after Senior Lunch) and again from 3:00pm – 5:00pm.

Northwest Farmer’s Market will be held at St. Albans City Hall Gymnasium Saturday, November 19 from 10:00am to 1:00pm. EBT/Debit Cards Accepted. Buy Local, Eat Fresh.

 *FREE YOGA CLASS with Denise Smith each Sunday afternoon from 3:00pm – 5:00pm at the Fairfield Town offices in the Chester A. Arthur Conference Room. Classes run November 6 through December 11. *Free to Fairfield Residents; $5fee per class for non-residents. Classes geared toward developing strength and flexibility, as well as relaxation and stress relief. Please bring your own mat. Beginners are welcome! Adults 18+ only. Contact Rick Haag with any questions. 524-7528

e-Communities in a Digital Age – An all day workshop for community leaders and learners scheduled for Saturday, November 19 at Lyndon State College, Lyndonville has been rescheduled to February 16, 2012 at Vermont Technical College. We apologize for any inconvenience. The registration site has been updated so you may register for the new date at http://evermontworkshop.org. Please contact Joanna Cummings, Workshop Coordinator for more info. 802-859-3090 or joanna@snellingcenter.org.

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Harvest A Book Sale
Friday 10-5
Saturday 9-1
Sunday 5-7 (During Trunk or Treat)

Join us for our annual used book sale!
$0.10 for paperbacks
$0.25 for hardcovers
Bring your own bag and fill it for $2.00

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Trunk or Treat ~ Community Halloween Party
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Park Street, Fairfield
5pm – 7pm

Join us for some Halloween Fun!
Kids come in costume and trick or treat from the decorated trunk of your car/truck/van! There will be prizes for the trunk that sports the best decoration! (Vehicles participating in Trunk or Treat must arrive by 4:30)
There will also be:

• Bobbing for Apples
• Popcorn
• Light Fare for Dinner
• Making Luminaries and Spider Webs
• Harvest-A Book Sale

Co-sponsored by the Fairfield Recreation Committee, Fairfield Center School PTO, the Outdoor Classroom, and Bent Northrop Memorial Library.

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UPCOMING STUFF IN OCT & NOV

Regional Google Events ~ We’re pleased to announce that Google will be hosting seminars all over the state to provide free tools and resources for Vermont businesses to get online and succeed online! These are free seminars for small businesses run by real Google employees.

At the seminar, small business owners will learn: How to get a free website • How to run their business online • How to get their business found online for free • Best practices on marketing their business online.

While 97% of Americans look online for local products and services, 63% of America’s small businesses do not have a website or online presence. These businesses are virtually invisible to many potential Customers. Vermont Get Your Business Online is an easy, free, and fast way for Vermont businesses to get online. With professional templates and a few easy steps, businesses can create and publish a website in less than 60 minutes. See below for upcoming events – more are being scheduled all the time:

10/19/11 – Vermont Technical College – Randolph

10/25/11 – Vermont Historical Society – Barre

11/03/11 – Town Hall Theater – Middlebury

11/04/11 – Lyndon State College – Lyndonville

11/18/11 – The Firehouse – Bennington

For more information, or to register for the seminar, go to http://sites.google.com/site/vtgybo/registration-pages

Can’t make it to the seminar? Get claim your free website and hosting online at http://www.vermontgetonline.com

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Babysitting Certification Class ~ Are you between the ages of 11-15? Whether you are just starting to babysit or would like to become more qualified, this day long class gives you all the skills needed to be a responsible and prepared babysitter. This class covers topics such as:

• How to care for children and infants • Making good decisions and solving problems • Keeping the children you babysit for safe • How to be a good role model • Handle emergencies like illness, injuries and household accidents • How to write resumes and interview • And much more!

You also get a babysitting trainers pack that you can bring home after the class – it contains valuable information and resources that you will want to remember!

The Babysitting Training Class will be offered on Saturday October 22nd from 9am – 3pm at The Fairfax Community Library.

FREE OF CHARGE

This is an excellent value and a limited opportunity to attend this workshop at no cost! Must Pre-register at the Library. Please contact Chantal Marlinski for more information: Email~ cmarlinski@fwsu.org or call~ 849-2420

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Nature Art ~ Four weeks of inspiration and creativity! Families will discover the world of art & nature with Exordium Adventures! Mr. K will help find us find materials found in nature for the first two weeks, and Art Teacher Lisa Bird will guide us through creating unique pieces of jewelry for the last two!  Families are encouraged to attend together! Cost is $60, Space limited to 10 participants. Questions? Contact MrK@exordium-adventure.com

Saturdays, OCTOBER 29 – Nov 19th from 10 am – 12 pm

For children of all ages, though children under ten must be accompanied by a parent or responsible adult.  Sign up for nature art here!

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e-Communities in a Digital Age ~ Saturday, November 19th; 9am – 4pm ~ Lyndon State College

Visit www.e4vt.org for more information and registration link.

Join community leaders from around the state to share ideas and best practices for using online tools to create jobs, reinvent schools, attract visitors, improve civic involvement, and enliven Vermont communities.

Anne Galloway of VtDigger.org will be the keynote speaker. Session topics include mobilizing community resources for emergencies big and small, a hands-on lab exploring online tools for business, a showcase of how technology is expanding the classroom for 4-6th graders, a look at conducting a town meeting in the digital age, and ways to increase public Internet access in your town (and why).

Registration is $20 and includes course offerings, refreshments and lunch. For more information about the day and the e-Vermont program go to e4vt.org. Register online, by phone 802-859-3090, or by e-mail joanna@snellingcenter.org.

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Learn to Crochet! ~ Learn to crochet this winter with Jacquie Schwartz – just in time to make a scarf for a family member or friend! Meet once a week for 5 weeks at BNML on Tuesday afternoons. Jacquie will teach you the fundamentals and you will have a completed scarf for a gift! Open to kids in grades 3 through 8 (though high schoolers are welcome too!). All materials are included for $20. Space limited to 10 participants. Questions? Contact jackie@buckhollow.com

Tuesdays, Nov 22 – Dec 20th from 3-5pm ~  Sign up for crochet here!

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Hey 4th-8th Graders!
Here’s something just for you!

ART-ON-THE-BRAIN
Starts Thursday, September 29th
from 3:00-5:00
in the Art Room at Fairfield Center School

Come to the Art Room after school, enjoy a snack, and roll up your sleeves! We’ll be making homemade journals, printmaking, painting and scrapbook making. This is all about having fun and making art together – an d not about whether you are ‘good’ at it! Don’t be shy and sign up today! Hurry, space limited to the first 16 students!

Cost: Just $16 /class includes all materials and snacks! (Some scholarship money available)

Sign up by calling Nance @ 827-6626 or online now by following this link!

FYI…This program was previously advertised for older students…
Fairfield Gardeners!

We are getting ready to plant flowers, bushes, and trees around the new Bent Northrop Memorial Library to make it an even more beautiful and pleasant place to be! We would love your help!

Below is a link to a list of plants we would like to include in the landscape. If you are able to donate any of these plants from your own gardens or would like to contribute funds to purchase them from local nurseries, we would greatly appreciate your generosity! Please use the online form (also below) to let us know what plants you might be able to donate!

Stay tuned for the first planting day in October. Other plants will be established in the spring. Please contact Rowen Gorman with questions or concerns. Also, please fill out the online form by Oct. 5th if you would like to donate!

Plant Wish List

Online Plant Donation Form for BNML

BNML Lecture **Tomorrow
Holocaust: It’s Not a Bird by Rick Potash
Thursday, September 8, 2011 7pm
In 2006, Rick received an Alfred Lerner Fellowship to study the Holocaust at Columbia with Holocaust survivors and world renowned scholars of the Holocaust through the Jewish Foundation for the Righteous. Rick has taught Holocaust Literature in Vermont High Schools for many years.

Calling all Fairfield Girls!
Saturday, September 10, 9:30-11
Candi and Deanne are forming a club just for you! Join us monthly for team building, community service, outdoor exploration, and fitness. This month, plan to make muffins and placemats for Senior Meals! The activities are geared towards ages 5-10, but others are welcome. Parents participation required. Please contact Candi or Deanne with questions!

Bloomin’ Bucks for BNML

Tuesday, September 13th, 6-9 PM

Knitting Club
Thursday, September 15th 6-8 pm
This monthly knitting circle (other fiber artists and needle crafters welcome too!) meets to enjoy the company, advice, and inspiration of other knitters in the community. All skills levels welcome. Bring your own projects and materials. Questions? Contact Mary Alice!

Franklin County Beekeepers
Thursday, September 15th 6:30-8 pm
Mike Palmer will give presentation on over-wintering your bees and hives. For more information contact: Janice Girard @ 849-2494

Landscaping Day
Saturday, September 17th 10-3 pm
Please join us for the second BNML Landscape workday! Bring food to share for a potluck lunch and any shovels, rakes, buckets, and wheelbarrows you can to help us move and place drainage stone around the library foundation. Yah – moving stone! Please contact Kristen Hughes or Rowen Gorman with any questions.

Teen Coffehouse
Friday, September 23rd, 7-9pm
No coffee, but lots of great music from area teens! Join us to just listen or share your own music! If you are a poet, artist, or writer, feel free to share your talent too! Ongoing taste tests of locally brewed root beer! Contact Wendy with questions!

Designs in Nature Camp
Wednesdays, 3-5 pm @ BNML
Ages 5-10
Beginning September 28th with Kurt Valenta
Kurt will encourage the curious mind to explore in an environment that is safe, supportive, cooperative and productive. Through student interaction, imaginative play and participative learning, Kurt’s 6-week session allows kids to study nature’s designs. Participants will view intricate designs of nature and discover how these forms contribute to the organism’s chances of survival. Designs in Nature will focus on the core subject and theme of science and environmental literacy while teaching the 21st century skills of reasoning effectively, making judgments and decisions, and using systems thinking. Kurt will also work to expose kids to the environment right around them – solidifying their role as stewards of their community. Open to 16 students, $15/class, or $75 for all 6 classes.
*Registration and more details to come!

Teen Art
Thursdays, 3:30-5:30 pm in the FCS Common School Art Room
Students 7th-12th grades
Beginning September 29th with Jamie Bedard
Through use of clay, painting, drawing, mask-making and fabric collage techniques, students will explore the joys and challenges of life in rural Vermont, and the transformations that teens go through as they find their place in the world. Open to 16 students, $15/class, or $75 for all 6 classes. Contact Nance at the FCC with more questions!
*Registration and more details to come!

BNML Lecture Series
Join us this Thursday, September 8, 2011
Bent Northrop Memorial Library

Rick Potash, Fairfielder and Holocaust Scholar

The Holocaust: It’s Not a Bird
*You’ll know what it means that night!*

In 2006, Rick received an Alfred Lerner Fellowship to study the Holocaust at Columbia with Holocaust survivors and world renowned scholars of the Holocaust through the Jewish Foundation for the Righteous. Rick has taught Holocaust Literature in Vermont high schools for years. The literature focused on survivors and rescuers.

7.30.11  Basic Bike Maintenance
Bring your bike and learn the basics – made for the whole family!
8.8.11
The Holocaust: It’s Not A Bird.
You will have to wait until the 8th to find out what it means.  Join Rick Potash who taught Holocaust Literature in Vermont high schools for six years.  He previously received an Alfred Lerner Fellowship through the Jewish Foundation for the Righteous, to study the Holocaust at Columbia with Holocaust survivors and world reknowned scholars of the Holocaust.

******Don’t forget we loan the Vermost State Parks Pass for sunny days, and the ECHO discount pass for less-than-sunny days!  Contact Kristen at the library with any questions!

Summer Fun @ BNML July 6th-9th

Wednesday, July 6th @ 1pm

School Age kids can join Mr K of Exordium Adventures as he leads us for Tales told in Animal Tracks.  Mr. K (Kurt Valenta) will talk about signs in nature that tell a story…the tracks of animals and the tales that can be interpreted from them. There will be “hands-on” participation.  Dress for play and be ready to be outside if the weather cooperates!

Thursday, July 9th @ 3pm

Fairfield Farmers Market: Online  Order today for pickup at the library Thursday!  Sign up and order at yourfarmstand.com

Friday, July 8th @ 10am

The youngest Fairfielders and their caregivers can join us for great stories and fun crafts celebrating One World, Many Stories.

Friday, July 8th @ 7pm

Families can join Jeh Kulu, African Dance and Drum Theater for an outside show!  Bring a blanket, picnic, and perhaps a few chairs – enjoy the new patio at the library and experience great music!

Saturday, July 9th @ 11am

Pick up your Passport and travel self guided throughout town in search of stamps!  Jump in the car and try to find 8 different sites throughout town using the provided clues!  This is cross between letterboxing and a scavenger hunt!

Looking Ahead….

7.16.11  Family Tie Dye
Save your tshirts, sheets and old socks for a family favorite!
7.22.11 Teen Coffeehouse
Participate or just enjoy incredible local talent – out on the patio if weather cooperates!
7.30.11 Basic Bike Maintenance
Bring your bike and learn the basics – made for the whole family!

More than Books: Reflections on Libraries, Community and Historic Preservation

This Thursday @ 7pm in the Community Room of the new Bent Northrop Memorial Library, 164 Park Street, Fairfield.  Call 827-3945 for more information!

As a museum scholar, preservationist and photographer, Bill Hosely has visited hundreds of libraries.  This program traces almost 200 years in American library practice with a special focus on new England and its many municipal, historic and specialty research libraries.  This armchair tour and discussion of library history reminds us of the richness of New England’s heritage and the commitment of our states to life-learning and access to ideas.  Join us in Fairfield’s newest Community Space!

Free, accessible to people with disabilities and open to the public

A Vermont Humanities Council event hosted by the Bent Northrop Memorial Library

Community Memoir Project

Learn About the Community Memoir Project

Thurs, Feb 10th, 2011 Fairfield Municipal Bldg Chester Arthur Room 7pm

2011 BNML Lecture Series

Lifting the Yoke: Local Food Solutions to America’s Farm & Food Crisis

Ron Krupp

Ron Krupp has been involved with local farm and food issues in Vermont for 39 years. He started one of the first farmers’ markets in the early 70s in Brattleboro. Years later, he tried to create a year-round enclosed public market on the waterfront in Burlington. The market never got off the ground.

Twenty-nine years ago, Ron published The Green Mountain Farmer , a monthly Vermont newspaper dedicated to farm and food issues. He was a commercial organic/biodynamic vegetable grower for 10 years. He coordinated the 3-acre 165 plot Tommy Thompson Community Garden in the Intervale for 15 years. Ron currently teaches gardening to interns at Heartbeet, a farm community in Hardwick for adults with disabilities.

Ron has also been doing farm and garden commentaries on Vermont Public Radio for 12 years. He loves to tell stories and weave anecdotes as he did in his first book, The Woodchuck’s Guide to Gardening. Lifting the Yoke – Local Solutions to America’s Farm and Food Crisis is his second book.

Join us to hear Ron talk about his new book and the farm and food crisis, then meet the Fairfield Farmers who are making local work.

***Please note the time change from the regular lecture series!

Losing the Trail: Wandering the Barrens of the Quebec/Labrador Highlands

Join Al Stirt and Wendy Scott for their annual travelogue! If you haven’t seen them before – make this the year!

Forrest Holtzapfel: A Deep Look at a Small Town

Photographer and oral historian Forrest Holtzapfel conceived of A Deep Look at a Small Town in response to the work of 19th century rural village photographers. The exhibit pairs black and white images of the residents of the town of Marlboro, Vermont made with an 8″ x 10″ view camera with audio interviews conducted by Holzapfel in 2000 and 2001.

As Holzapfel explains, “In 1999 I photographed two hundred different Marlboro families standing in front of their houses and compiled short biographies of each family. The town of Marlboro is both my hometown and a place I’m defining through my photographs. The sum of all my work will create a balance between documentation of our present time and an ‘imaginative history’ of this 230 year-old town. My objective is to create a rich and complex sense of place.”

In the words of author Howard Frank Mosher, “A Deep Look at a Small Town: Marlboro, Vermont, is marvelous: original, important, full of striking images, and alive with history, a great sense of family, and of the connection between the land and the people.”

Please join us for an opening reception on November 11th from 7-8:30pm. The Fairfield Gallery located at the Fairfield Municipal Building is open for visitors on Mondays 10am-3pm, Thurdays 3pm-6pm, and Fridays from 10am-3pm. The exhibit will be open from November 17^th through December 31^st. The exhibit is also open by appointment for school groups to self guide. Please contact Kristen at BNML for more information.

Parent Workshop November 6

Tired of reading the same story over and over again? Learn how to pull new pieces out of the same story to help your 3-5 year old prepare for school! Join Jen Miller of the Stern Center on Saturday, Nov 6th from 10-11am for shared reading ideas and activities!

Space is limited to 12 people and you will each receive a book! Register early!

Letterboxing!

Letterboxing is an outdoor hobby that combines elements of orienteering, art, and puzzle solving. Letterboxers hide small, weatherproof boxes in publicly-accessible places (like parks) and distribute clues to finding the box in printed catalogs, on one of several web sites, or by word of mouth. Individual letterboxes usually contain a notebook and a rubber stamp. Finders make an imprint of the letterbox’s stamp, either on their personal notebook or on a postcard, and leave an impression of their personal stamp on the letterbox’s “visitors’ book” or “logbook”. There are 11 letterboxes within 10 miles of Fairfield!

Kids can experience letterboxing and work to make their own letterbox in this five session workshop geared towards kids ages 7 through 12.

Session 1: Friday, October 29th, 3-4:30pm. Kids will meet afterschool and travel in cars to a nearby letterboxing site.

Session 2: Saturday, Nov 6th, 10-11:30am. Participants will work to create their own letterboxing stamp that identifies them to other letterboxers.

Session 3: Saturday, Nov 13th, 10-11:30am. We will take a second trip to find another letterbox a bit farther away – this time kids will be able to use their personal stamp to sign in!

Session 4: Friday, November 19th, 3-4:30. Kids will work to create their own letterbox. In the workshop, they will assemble a box and brainstorm places to locate their box. Over the Thanksgiving break, participants will be responsible for hiding their box and writing the clues for others to find. Kids may need a bit of help from adults!

Session 5: Friday, December 3rd, 3-4:30. Participants will enter their box into a letterboxing website so that letterboxers throughout the continent can find it!

Enrollment is limited to 12 participants. You must register ahead of time! There is a $10 fee to cover supplies. First come, first serve!

***We will also need a parent driver or two to help with the field trips!

Night Under the Stars November 12

The Vermont Astronomical Society will bring back their telescopes of all shapes and sizes and show us the wonders of the night sky! The evening begins at 6:30 and goes until you get cold! Think clear skies and dress warm!  Open field by the playground.

BNML Groundbreaking

The Bent Northrop Memorial Library broke ground on a 4100 square foot building Monday, August 23rd. The Bent Northrop Memorial Library Building Committee, Board of Trustees, Librarian and community members helped turn the dirt in a groundbreaking ceremony heralding the beginning of construction for the new Bent Northrop Memorial Library.

Julie Wolcott, BNML board member, welcomed the community beginning with thanks to the Northrop sisters who left an endowment to build a public library in honor of their father, Bent Northrop. Connor Construction has been selected as the Construction Manager. Architect Mike Dugan has designed a wood frame building that blends with the surrounding community. The construction costs are paid for by the endowment and the project is scheduled to be completed in 2011.

Those that held the golden shovels included Ann Howrigan, representing her late husband Harold, who whispered into Consuelo Northrop Bailey’s ear regarding gifting funds to the Town of Fairfield for a municipal library; Virginia Howrigan, who represented her late husband Robert, who cultivated the relationship with the Northrop sisters; Tom Howrigan, who represented his father Francis, who kept his finger on the pulse of the endowments; and Barb Branon whose vision and work seamlessly merged the town and school libraries.

Book Club is Back

Book Club meets next Thursday, Sept 16th at 6:30 at BNML to discuss Allegra Goodman’s Intuition.

As we send our kids off to school and pack up the swimsuits for the year, mark your calendars for the return of Book Club!

Jessica and Charon have set us up for the next four months.  I have interlibrary loaned several copies of Goodman’s Intuition – let me know if you want one!

The theme for the next few months is “prolific writers that might not have caught the group’s attention – with the thought if you like the book chosen you might read more of the particular author”

Allegra Goodman – Intuition

Set in an east coast bio lab – book deals with scientific ethics and interpersonal relationships.  She is prolific.  Her newest just came out called The Cookbook Collector – others are Katterskill Falls, The Family Markowitz, Paradise Road (or Valley) and some others.

Ruth L. Ozeki – My Year of Meats

This should catch the local-vore imagination big time – although it was written over 10 years ago.  She is not particularly prolific.  She has one other novel All Over Creation which also speaks to the whole corporate food issue, but she is young and probably will continue writing.

Margaret Drabble – The Waterfall

This is an old book but the neat thing about Drabble is that her female protagonists age as the author ages – so this one is about a young woman.  She is very prolific and a wonderful writer.

Roddy Doyle – either A Star Called Henry or The Woman who Walked into Doors

Henry is the beginning of a trilogy about a boy who becomes an IRA gunman and finally leaves Ireland for America.  The last book of this trilogy was just published this summer.  The Woman is a stand alone book about a an abused woman which is very good – not too depressing because Doyle’s characters are too well rounded.  Once again Doyle is a very prolific writer – he has another stand alone called Paddy Clark Ha Ha Ha and another trilogy (all of which have been made into movies) – The Commitments, The Van, and the Snapper.

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BNML Lecture Series

The BNML Lecture series takes place every second Thursday of the month at 7pm in the Chester Arthur Room of the Fairfield Municipal Building.  All events are free and open to the public.