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The Holiday Spirit Lights Up Rotary Park
Photo by Eric Anderson
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I am excited to be addressing the Bow community with my first director's message. As we enter the last month of the year, it seems only fitting to speak to "new chapters". As BFL closes the chapter to 2024, I am delighted to be a part of all that lies ahead in 2025 and beyond! I have always felt that librarianship is more than a job but is a life's calling. I have been fortunate to spend nearly the last 20 years pursuing this calling. I have worked with amazing communities in both school and public libraries, and it is an honor to carry on this work in Bow at BFL. Community input and feedback is always welcome, so please stop in, introduce yourself and tell me your favorite tidbit about BFL!
When I am not working to build strong library communities, I can usually be found chasing after (or more accurately....driving around) my teenage son and daughter. These travels usually take us to running and music events where I love being able to cheer them on in this chapter of their lives. I also enjoy beekeeping and curling up with a good book after a long day (don't ask which genre....I could never choose!!).
As for December at BFL, I wanted to draw your attention to a couple of things. Once again, the ever-popular Polar Express event (hosted by Miss Julie) will be the highlight of the month!! We can't wait to watch the magic of the season unfold for some of our youngest patrons. Additionally, we are excited to now be circulating board games!! Come in and grab one to enjoy with family or friends over the holidays. And finally, on December 6th, I look forward to a director's meet and greet event. I am excited to meet even more of the community- stop in and say "Hi"!!
Wishing you all a wonderful Holiday season,
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Kaitlin Camidge, Library Director | |
Director Meet & Greet
Friday, December 6 | 3 - 6pm
Please join the BFL Staff and Trustees in welcoming Kaitlin Camidge to Bow!
On Friday, December 6th from 3-6pm in the 1914 Room, we invite the wonderful Town of Bow to come meet Baker Free Library's new director!
Registration is required. Light refreshments will be served.
Register here.
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Kaitlin Camidge, BFL's New Director
Photo by Eric Anderson
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2025 Visions of Bow Calendar
Purchase today!
Baker Free Library is back with our second annual calendar fundraiser! Featuring exclusive photos from Eric Anderson of unique spots around Town, this year's calendar is a stunning collection of local landmarks. Calendars will be sold at $15 each while supplies last.
All proceeds will directly benefit Baker Free Library.
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100 Acres More or Less by David Bundy. Now at BFL!
Purchase today for $20!
Baker Free Library was established in 1914... but did you know that was almost 200 years after the Town of Bow was first founded?
Back in the 60s, David Bundy published a book titled '100 Acres More or Less' as a way to share the Town's rich history and backstory, and we are so excited to announce that this book is now available for purchase at Baker Free Library! All proceeds will directly benefit the Bow Heritage Commission, and support them in their mission of preserving Bow's past.
For more information, visit the library's circulation desk.
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The Giving Tree at Baker Free Library
December 3 - 31
This year, Giving Tuesday kicks off on Tuesday, December 3.
"Giving Tuesday is a global generosity movement unleashing the power of radical generosity. Giving Tuesday was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. Since then, it has grown into a year-round global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity."
-via givingtuesday.org
Support the library with a donation this season, in any amount. Next time you visit, choose which category of services you'd like to support by selecting a slip of paper that matches the color of the category you would like to donate to. Categories will be divided into three options: Adult, Children, and Miscellaneous. There will be various subcategories for each. Write the subcategory on the slip of paper you choose and bring that to the circ. desk with your donation.
We appreciate your support, now and always!
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Polar Express Holiday Party
Saturday, December 14 | 10:30am - 12:00pm
Wear your pajamas and hop on board to hear The Polar Express, read by Santa and Mrs. Claus! After the story, enjoy a cup of hot chocolate while making a holiday craft. And don’t forget to bring your wishlist— you’ll have a chance to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus and take a holiday picture! Registration is not required for this event, but supplies are limited.
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Art • Lab
Wednesday, December 4 | 3:30pm
A program for young artists and creators! Take part in sensory, art, and engineering activities designed to inspire our creativity and curiosity. Activities may include mixed media projects and painting, so come prepared to get messy. Recommended for Grades K-4, in the company of a parent or caregiver. Younger children may need assistance with certain projects.
Please register each month to reserve your spot.
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Nature Explorers
Wednesday, December 18 | 4:00pm
Become a nature explorer with this after-school club, meeting on the third Wednesday of every month. This group will learn about plants, animals, weather and the natural world, and explore the great outdoors with hands-on art projects and activities. Recommended for Grades 2 and up.
Please register each month to reserve your spot.
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Book Talk at BFL
Tuesday, December 10
12:30PM & 6:30PM
Book Talk is BFL's long-running monthly book club. If you love to read, enjoy talking about books, and are willing to read outside your comfort zone, join us! Two meetings are offered each month for your convenience.
December Selection:
The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by
James McBride
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White Rock Book Group
Tuesday, December 17
1:00PM
Enjoy great books and even better conversations with this extension of the Book Talk book club, offered each month at White Rock Senior Living Center. This group meets on the third Tuesday of each month at White Rock.
December Selection:
The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by
James McBride
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Whodunits
Tuesday, January 7
1:00PM
Love mysteries? Join the Whodunits to sleuth through a new one every month! This mystery-exclusive book club meets at White Rock Senior Living on the first Tuesday of every month. Members select the next book.
January Selection:
Tourist Season by
Carl Hiaasen
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Copies of Book Club books are available at the Circulation Desk at the Library.
For more information about joining one of the book groups, contact
Amy Bain at amy@bakerfreelib.org.
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Kira North hates Christmas. Which is unfortunate since she just bought a Christmas tree farm in a town that’s too cute for its own good. Bennett Ellis is on vacation in Dream Harbor taking a break from his life in California. And most importantly, taking a break from his latest run of disastrous dates.
After a run in with Kira in her fields, Ben has no intention of offering to help the grumpy owner set up her tree farm, despite the fact she’s clearly got no idea what she’s doing. But somehow, fate finds Ben at Kira’s farm once more, and as Kira watches him swing an ax at the first tree, she finds herself appreciating his strength and questioning why she refused help in the first place.
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Frank Szatowski is shocked when his daughter, Maggie, calls him for the first time in three years. He’s even more surprised when she invites him to her upcoming wedding in New Hampshire. Frank is ecstatic, and determined to finally make things right.
He arrives to find that the wedding is at a private estate. It seems that Maggie failed to mention that she’s marrying Aidan Gardner, the son of a famous tech billionaire. Feeling desperately out of place, Frank focuses on reconnecting with Maggie and getting to know her new family. But it’s difficult: Aidan is withdrawn and evasive; Maggie doesn’t seem to have time for him; and he finds that the locals are disturbingly hostile to the Gardners. Frank needs to learn more, but if he pushes too hard, he could lose Maggie forever.
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A witty, warmhearted novel about coming to terms with grief, taking a chance on unexpected connections, and finding family in time for the holidays. For wedding singer Mel Hart, the holidays have always retained a certain magic. Her mother, Connie, always managed to pull off spectacular Santa hijinx that convinced Mel to keep believing in Santa way longer than other kids. Those moments meant everything to Mel because the rest of the year, life was unpredictable because of her mother’s alcohol use. But two weeks before Christmas, Mel gets a call from the her mother has died. Then a woman shows up on Mel's doorstep, claiming to be Connie's estranged best friend, promising to tell Mel a different narrative—one in which Connie was almost a famous country music star, if only a man hadn't gotten in the way. | |
December Exhibit:
Local Looks from the Archives
by Christina Landry-Boullion, Eric Anderson, Ashley Audet
Local artwork, photographs, paintings, and drawings
from some familiar faces around town.
About the Artists:
Christina Landry-Boullion: I am an international Artist and Art Educator and Baker Free Library’s own Youth Programing Assistant. I don’t want you to just fall in love with Art. I want you to fall in love with the process of making art. I want you to see that your failures are just as important as your successes. To see that process is more than just a finished product. This statement is evident if your child has attended any of the Art Lab or Nature Explore programs at Baker Free Library.
Ashley Audet: I am an Illustrator and Designer, who works in both Graphite and Ink. I am also your Baker Free Library morning Circulation & Technical Services Assistant! At a young age I had always been encouraged by family to practice and improve my skills in art. As a child who often found myself moving towns and starting new schools, I was able to work with many new art instructors. These educators are who I credit my skill developments to. At the age of 18 (my senior year in High School), I had a still life drawing hung in an art exhibit at Plymouth State University. During that same year, I had two pieces published in the Lakes Region Community College’s art publication. I credit this push from my Laconia High School art teacher, Linda Danielovich, to be the thing that got me where I am today. As well as the never wavering encouragement I received from my mother. In March of 2019, I created my own brand called A Door Unlocked and started taking on commissioned requests. Just a few weeks in, I was able to call myself an international designer after landing my first commissioned logo design from the UK. From there I have consistently had projects lined up and continue to add products to my e-commerce site, where you can purchase prints and other items featuring my work.
Eric Anderson: My tie-in with the Baker Free Library is currently that of a BFL Trustee, serving as its Treasurer. Historically, I have served two prior terms as a BFL Trustee including its chair from time to time. I served on the BFL Lower Level Building Committee and helped raise $300,000 privately of the $600,000 total raised for the Lower Level project. In addition, I was a founding member of the BFL 501-c-3 Foundation that continues today to help meet some of the needs for improvements at the BFL. As an aside, I have routinely provided photographs to the BFL Monthly Newsletter since its inception. As a BFL Staff fundraising initiative, I have also provided photographs taken throughout the Town of Bow, illustrative for each of the twelve months. I believe that I may have been the first BFL one-person photo exhibitor years ago and several times since. And finally, I am the chair of the Bow Heritage Commission having an interest in overseeing the Henry Baker collection on the Lower Level.
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Baker Free Library will close early on Tuesday, December 24th at 4pm, and will remain closed until Friday, December 27th at 10am. | |
Baker Free Library will close early on Tuesday, December 31st at 4pm, and will remain closed until Thursday, January 2nd at 10am. | |
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Baker Free Library
509 South Street
Bow, NH 03304
(603) 224-7113
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5,457 (84.9%) of the checklist of registered voters turned out to vote in the 2024 Presidential Election here in Bow.
Photo and caption by Eric Anderson.
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Baker Free Library Room Reservations
As the winter season rapidly approaches, BFL staff would like to remind patrons to keep an eye on the forecast and check the library’s website, social media pages, or WMUR for closings or delayed openings. Additionally, if you have reserved a meeting room outside of the library’s regular hours during winter weather advisories, please look for an email or phone call from the Library Director. In the event the library is going to be closed for the day, all room reservations will be cancelled, as the parking lot and sidewalks will not be safe for the public if we are not open. Your safety is our top priority!
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Bow Rotary Club
Bow Rotary Christmas Tree Sale
The Bow Rotary will be selling Christmas trees in the Community Center parking lot starting November 30. Trees will cost $60 and sales will continue until they are all sold.
Wreaths also will be sold for $35. Rotarians will be selling the trees Monday-Friday from 4-7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Money raised from tree sales goes to the Bow Rotary Foundation, which supports the local community.
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Bow Young at Heart
Bow Young at Heart is a social club open to all residents 55 and older. The public is always welcome to attend any meeting or event. Meetings begin at 11:30 am with a social hour, followed by a speaker at 12:30 pm. Bring your own lunch, dessert is provided. Held at the Old Town Hall 91 Bow Center Road
December 11, 2024 | 11:30 am - 2:30 pm
The club will hold a pot luck luncheon. Guests are welcome…you don’t have to be a member to join us for lunch. For more information about the club and joining us for our meetings, or how to become a member, contact Peter Cherici at (603) 774-7682 or email at fairfield_a@hotmail.com.
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Town Updates
The Town of Bow has worked diligently in providing up to the minute notification of all that is happening in the community. In order to stay informed, visit the website Town of Bow or follow on Facebook @bownewhampshire.
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