Good News! Remember when...?

Welcome to The G.A.R. Memorial Library's newsletter!

We're excited to be able to keep you informed and hope you'll be able to use these newsletters to get even more enjoyment out of your local library. Please use the links at the right to get more information from our website, which is updated regularly.

Sincerely,

The Staff of the

G.A.R. Memorial Library

Remember when you used to go to the library to get your books?

Well, we're hoping to bring that back soon.

The Board of Library Trustees, Library Director, Town Administration and Public Health officials are actively working on a plan to reopen the library. We are planning for changes in work flow and services provided by the G.A.R. Library and its staff in order to ensure the health, safety, and well-being of both our staff members and our patrons.

To maximize safety for library patrons and staff, reopening will take place in phases. The first phase is expected to allow for curbside pickup only and will likely begin mid-June. The Library building is not expected to be open to the public until at least Phase 2 of the Commonwealth’s reopening plan, currently projected to begin sometime in July, though this time frame is subject to change. Further updates will be provided in the coming days and weeks, so please stay tuned for details as they become available.

I n the meantime, we're still here for you and are happy to help with any questions you may have and recommendations you may need.

Anyone who does not have a library card and would like one is welcome to apply for a library card.

Call the library at 978-363-1105 and leave a message

Email us at: ask@westnewburylibrary.org .

Congratulations to all Grads, Class of 2020!

Story Time or Story Walk . . . or both?

Miss Kate has two new stories and a craft on our YouTube channel!

Don't miss two fun videos from our guest readers, Mary, Parker, Nicholas & Charlie Evitts!

Click here to visit our YouTube page.

Miss Kate would love to hear back from you. Record yourself or your family reading a favorite children's book and we'll post all approved videos on our YouTube channel for everyone to enjoy! This is your chance to be in the Story Time seat! Send videos to: ask@westnewburylibrary.org

Oh, Rust Buckets!

Keep a look out for the new Storywalk going up outside the library! You'll have a chance Meet Elbow Grease, the determined main character in John Cena's picture book. The story will start near the bike rack and you'll read your way around the building.

Don't forget your masks and social distancing!

Create a craft with Miss Kate!

Who can resist piggies, elephants, mustaches and ice cream? (I'd really like an ice cream mustache, yum!) Miss Kate has created some simple crafts you can make at home. Visit our You Tube Page for Miss Kate's instructions and print these templates to follow along:

Ice Cream Bookmark

Mustache Disguise

Piggie's Head

Gerald's Head

Gerald's Trunk

Bring the Library Wherever You Go

Now what do I read?

Children's books everyone can enjoy - Miss Kate and Tracy selected these 10 children’s novels for adults, which we have read and enjoyed as much as any grown-up novel out there. They are all award-winning titles, and are also great read-alouds for parents to enjoy with their children.

Pride 2020 - June is Pride Month - Celebrate the LGBTQ+ community! Find books in our Overdrive Collection or check out this list from the Boston Public Library .

BookPage June Issue - The June issue of BookPage is out and you can view it here . The paper version will arrive at the library in mid-June. Contact us if you'd like us to save a copy for you once curbside starts up.

Author Interviews on Overdrive - Learn about some of your favorite authors with these audio interviews on Overdrive . Lee Child, James Patterson, Tana French, David Pilkey and more.

Some more content for you to enjoy and explore!

New on Hoopla! -
Remember Highlights Magazine? Highlights at Home has material for the whole family! From stuck-at-home survival guides to hidden picture puzzles, they have plenty of activities for younger patrons and their families to work on at home. Here's some fun cards to print out and color and send to someone you love.
Return to the Hunger Games - The prequel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is available on Hoopla as an audiobook.
Do you like Romance Books? - Sheryl Woods' Sweet Magnolias series is available on Hoopla.
Check out local Museums - Remember local museum buildings may be closed but they still offer many opportunities to families including virtual tours, activities for all ages, podcasts, live animal cams and newsletters. Boston Children's Museum has been rated #1 for their Virtual Tour and check out and sign up for their daily activities.
Free Online Learning at GCFGlobal - Brush up on your skills to build your future. Career planning, office skills, new technologies and more.

Summer Reading

2020

"Imagine Your Story"

Summer Reading starts June 15th!

Summer Reading is going to be virtual this year. Imagine what fun we'll have reading this summer. Everyone can participate with weekly drawings for local gift certificates and end of summer grand prizes. Stay tuned!

More online activities for all ages:

Remember when the family gathered around the radio to listen?...

Check out BBC's Radio Plays . Try Tom Stoppard's just released radio adaptation of The Voyage of the the St. Louis , a play based on The Voyage of the Damned by Max Morgan-Witts.

Chop-Chop Family

You've seen the magazine in our library. Now here are newsletters for you to start cooking and learning at home. One for Kids Cooking and one called "Seasoned" for the Seniors Cooking at home now.

The G.A.R. Mystery Book Club

T his lively book group is meeting via Zoom! Their next meeting is happening on Thursday, June 18th at Noon. This month's book is The Holdout by Graham Moore. If you'd like to join, email us at ask@westnewburylibrary.org and we will send you a Zoom invite.

History Fan?

Check out these 10 podcasts for history enthusiasts from this article in Vanity Fair.

Remember these old-fashioned fun ideas?

Thanks to our friends at Strawbery Banke here's a tutorial on how to make a Whirligig Toy And from our friends at National Geographic a how-to on 7 different kinds of paper airplanes .