The Palermo Community Library's Blog

The future of the library

turil — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 15:05:16 +0000

The Palermo Community Library is growing! And so too is the idea of what a library is. Libraries used to just be places that took in information, stories, and ideas from the outside world, for locals to learn from and enjoy. But nowadays libraries are starting to offer opportunities to do the opposite, as well, helping the local folks share information, stories, and ideas with the outside world.

Libraries are becoming both information input spaces and information output spaces, for a more well rounded world and community.

The Palermo Community Library is taking some baby steps in this direction in a number of ways. We have computers available to the public for free, where you can write a blog about your life, join a discussion community about any number of topics, or collaborate on a science project with people from across the planet. We also now have a theatrical stage in our community room, where local folks can experiment with writing and performing their own plays or other performances. And with some luck, we’ll have a grant this summer that will pay for a free media and storytelling program where we’ll learn how to make a short video to put up on the web, or record an audio podcast to share with the world, or create a blog to tell others about the unique lives we each have here in Maine.

In the future, maybe we’ll even be able to create a Maker’s Fab Lab, with 3D printing, and other options so that you can not only come to the library and print out a copy of a great recipe for apple pie, technical diagrams for making a book shelf, or a photo of your loved ones, but also you’ll be able to print out a bicycle, gardening tool, toothbrush, sculpture, or even a new printer. How does that sound?

For more information on the future of libraries, take a look at this video…

If you have any ideas, or interest in helping our library grow, please let us know! Comment here, email me at thewiseturtle on Gmail.com, or stop by the library and leave a note for or talk to Ellie, Turil, and Fred. Here’s to a future where we can all live long and prosper!

Unconditional love in a kid’s book

turil — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:54:36 +0000

Recently, the author of a brand new young children’s book sent the library a copy of her book and asked us to review it. The library already has several books and dvds from the author’s mother and brother, and we thought her book would be a great addition as well, for a whole family of books!

The new book is called Will You Love Me Still? and features a funky cartoon cat who is concerned that her human friend might not love her when she does things that aren’t so perfect. The cat gets into several interesting and funny situations, and in the end, her humans friend reassures her that she will indeed always love the cat, no matter what. The story is a simple and fun one to share with young children around preschool age, giving them a good, healthy message that they too can be loved even when they do stuff that might upset their moms and dads.

A family who was visiting the library kindly volunteered to test out the book, and the young lady of the family not only asked for the book to be read again, but asked if they could borrow the book as well. And when asked what she thought of the story, she gave a big, wide smile. So I’d say that there was definitely a glowing review.

If you, like our young friend, want to borrow this book, you might need to wait a bit, but when it comes back to the library, it will be either on the children’s “new and noteworthy” book shelf, or it will be in the board books bin by the windows.

And if this book is out, you might like to check out a lovely book by Margaret Wise Brown called the Runaway Bunny, which also shares a tale of unconditional love. You can find this book either in the board book bin, or in the children’s paperback picture book bins (yes, we have two copies!).

Finally, we’d like to thank the author, Valya Boutenko, very much for donating her delightful book to the library as well!

ANNUAL MEETING – March 5, 7:00p.m. to 8:00p.m.

elliebudzko — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 23:18:58 +0000

Hope you have marked your calendar.. Lots of NEW and OLD business to discuss. See you at the Library.

READ TO ME Taking a Break

elliebudzko — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 01:36:20 +0000

Since it is mid Winter and a bit of “stormy weather” is inevitable and patronage is a bit on the low side, READ TO ME is on hiatus. Stay tuned for more info regarding its return to the Library.

READ TO ME WELCOMES IN THE NEW YEAR!

elliebudzko — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:26:42 +0000

READ TO ME is storytelling for the pure enjoyment of it. Join actor Scott Sortman on January 7th at 7:00p.m. as he kicks off the New Year with a grab bag of tales. His “story time” for adults program will feature selections by such favorites as Ogden Nash and The Brothers Grimm. Don’t miss this unique performance and remember, it is FREE. See you at the Library.

AN EVENING WITH JAMES THURBER

elliebudzko — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 17:36:47 +0000

The READ TO ME series, with Scott Sortman, returns to the Library on Saturday, December 3, at 7:00p.m. Scott will provide a perfect break from the hustle and bustle of the holiday season as he reads such Thurber classics as The Dog that Bit People. Relax and smile for a while as the Library offers this unique evening of live performance, reader’s theater. Mark your calender today. See you at the Library.

Pumpkin Time!

turil — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 22:15:22 +0000

For this week’s Saturday Morning Superfoods we’re having a pumpkin treat, featuring a delicious and nutritious superfood pumpkin pie made with a Palermo pumpkin, of course!

Come share some pie, and some discussion of making your holidays a little more super with superfoods this year.

And remember to save those pumpkin seeds to eat. They are extra nutritious, and taste awesome when you splash a little tamari or wheat-free soy sauce on them and dehydrate at a low temp until crispy.

See you at the Library, in costume or not…

A Halloween treat from the library and public radio

turil — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 12:42:07 +0000

National Public Radio is hosting a young readers’ book club both on the web and on the show All Things Considered this Friday the 28th. They will be featuring The Graveyard Book, by Neil Gaiman, which is on the New York Times bestseller list, and which the Palermo Community Library offers.

For more information on the book club, website, and radio show, check out this link: http://www.npr.org/2011/10/21/141473961/read-graveyard-with-our-new-back-seat-book-club

If you act fast, you can ask the author questions about the book, and they might be answered on air!

Also, for adults who want to encourage kids and other adults to read this Halloween and beyond, there is a new tradition of giving out books for Halloween treats. The good stories and knowledge offered in a book is so much better for the kids than junk food, isn’t it? :-) For more information about the new tradition, take a gander over at All Hallow’s Read.

Happy, and enjoyably scary, Halloween, everyone!

READ TO ME Series Continues! Saturday, November 5, 7:00p.m.

elliebudzko — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 23:47:54 +0000

Join Scott Sortman as he presents the Palermo Library with a second evening of READ TO ME theater. He will offer the audience a few of the works of Sam Shepard and Tennessee Williams. Scott reads to adults and near adults for the pure enjoyment of it. So, mark your calendar. Remember there is no charge. We do ask that you arrive a little early, as this is a live performance.

A collaborative superfood effort

turil — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 17:09:38 +0000

Last Saturday, during Saturday Morning Superfoods we worked together to write up a recipe for a favorite superfood made with local apples, dates, raisins, walnuts, and sweet spices.

We called this recipe Apples Are Squared. And you can see directions for making it over on the How to make apples are squared solution page on Binikou.

It’s a great recipe to make with the whole family, and it can be made very quickly! We were lucky to have one young library fan named Lillian helping us this week, along with her dad, and the usual Superfoods crowd.

Coming up soon, we’ll be talking about and tasting micro greens and sprouts. It’s a great way to grow your own greens all winter long, so you can be super powered even when you’re trudging through several feet of snow!