The Douglas Way

Library news & updates

Dear Patrons,

I just want to remind everyone that the annual town meeting is May 7 at 7 and the election is May 8 from 8 to 8. I'm sure you've heard, read, and listened to enough about that to last a lifetime. But it would be remiss for me not to remind you once more, in what will be the last Douglas Way email depending on how the vote goes. In any case, scroll down to see the exciting things happening at the Library!

I also want to take a minute to share some awesome news about ebooks. Currently, the ebook inventory available on Overdrive comes mostly from purchases made by CWMARS, augmented by a few high demand titles I pay for out of our circulating budget. Starting on July 1, though, the amount of titles and copies available to you in overdrive is going to skyrocket!

Why, you ask? A few years back, the Massachusetts Library System began the Commonwealth Ebook Collection initiative and started pumping state money into Axis 360, Biblioboard, and Ebook Central as a way to make shared e-content available state-wide. CWMARS, along with all the other automated library networks, are heavily invested in Overdrive, though. Rather than providing a second, third, and fourth platform for e-content, we library directors have been pushing the MLS to find a way to make their e-content available in Overdrive. Nobody wants to have to look two places for the same thing. Well, life finds a way...and so did the MLS. On July 1, the transition of digital assets will take place and future ebook spending by the MLS will be in the Overdrive platform.

So expect access to more titles and shorter waitlists starting in July if we're still here! If you are one of the two patrons who actually uses Axis 360, I'm sorry.

Thanks for Reading,

Justin Snook

Library Director

Beginning Knitting

Now that we're all done with hats, Betsy Youngsma is going to be leading a class Tuesday nights at 6:00 from May 1 through June 26 on beginning knitting. She will be teaching class participants how to knit a basic washcloth. Participants will need to bring 1 skein of Sugar'n'cream cotton and size 6 needles.

Knitters who are working on other projects but need a little help are also encouraged to come, as well as anyone who loves knitting and just wants to hang out with other knitters!

May Book Clubs

The Intrepid Readers will be discussing A Piece of the World by Christina Baker Kline on May 8 at 6:30.

The Greatest Book Club Ever will be discussing the 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson on May 17 at 6:30.

The Young Readers Club will be discussing First Light by Rebecca Stead on May 10 at 6:00.

The Book Bunch will be discussing Flora and Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo on May 24 at 6:00.

Spring Storytime:

Deb's storytime schedule continues until May 30.

April 2 to May 30

Mondays @ 10am: ages 15 months to 2
Mondays @ 1pm: ages 3-5
Tuesdays @ 6pm: ages 3-5
Wednesdays @ 10am: ages 2-4

Please call Miss Debbie at 508-476-2695 to for questions or sign-ups!

Local Author Book Fair

On June 5 at 6:30pm, we are going to have a little local author soiree at the library. Local authors will be here to promote, discuss, and sign their books. We will have light refreshments...you know...to give things a little party vibe. A literary party! So come support your writing neighbors and eat some cheese. We also have more space if you or someone you know wants a table (contact me at jsnook@cwmars.org).

So far, we have confirmed:

Michael Stinger, author of Runner's Dawn.
Jane Willan, author of The Shadow of Death.
Rachel Odell Howe, author of Ripple

Summer Reading: June 27 to August 15

It is hard to think past May 8th right now, but assuming the library is still open, it is time to start marking our Summer Reading Program events on your calendar. Deb will be doing storytime, and we will have reading tracking going on as well, but here are the events:

June 27: SRP Kickoff! Storyteller Diane Edgecomb presents "Join In: Musical Stories and Songs"
July 11: Crafts and games.
July 18: Science Tellers. Science and storytelling are mixed as volunteers help solve this Wild West themed adventure: "The Mystery of the Haunted Piano."
July 25: "A Song and Story Reading Celebration," presented by Davis Bates and Roger Ticknell.
August 1: Ed the Wizard presents "Libraries Rock," a rocket workshop. (Space is limited...hehe...space. Get it? Anyway, registration is required.)
August 8: More crafts and games!
August 15: SRP Finale, prize giveaway, and fiesta picnic.

All of those start at 10:30.

SRP this year is funded by the Douglas Cultural Council and Friends of the Library and sponsored by your local library, the Massachusetts Library System, The Boston Bruins, and the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.

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