tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13776682240526958432011-12-08T14:52:56.852-05:00Notes from the Wallace Library in Fitchburg, MassachusettsBobnoreply@blogger.comBlogger481100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377668224052695843.post-85924897579155145462011-12-08T14:47:00.001-05:002011-12-08T14:52:56.894-05:00

Are you buying “Local” this year? Visit the Nancy Project sale of handmade (knitted or crocheted by your friends and neighbors) scarves, hats, mittens and more in the Adult Library during all open hours through Dec. 15. Many people have been busy this year creating items for our sale. Take a chance on our Bicycle Raffle—Your choice of a spiffy DK brand BMX bicycle or a Giant brand Mountain bike

Sharon Bernard, Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01633017254053793176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377668224052695843.post-75010804518776215042011-12-08T14:40:00.002-05:002011-12-08T14:47:11.537-05:00

The Library Board of Trustees is pleased to announce that the library is now open six days a week! Come see us on Mondays and Tuesdays 10-8, Wednesdays and Thursdays 12-8, Fridays 10-5, and Saturdays 10-3. We are excited to be open 48 hours.

Sharon Bernard, Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01633017254053793176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377668224052695843.post-46016328203455396332011-11-08T15:22:00.000-05:002011-11-08T15:23:00.496-05:00

On Wednesday, November 9th at 2:00 p.m., EST, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), in conjunction with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), will conduct the first nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System. The test will last approximately 30 seconds and will be transmitted via television and radio stations

Sharon Bernard, Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01633017254053793176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377668224052695843.post-6573000927997901922011-09-24T15:07:00.002-04:002011-09-24T15:07:47.655-04:00

Needlepoint rug This needlepoint rug has been at the Fitchburg Public Library for many years.  Long enough ago that no one remembers how it came to be here. Can you help?  Do you know who may have stitched this, or who gave it to the library?  It has long been rumored to have come from the Crocker family but we have not been able to substantiate that.  If you have any information, please

Sharon Bernard, Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01633017254053793176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377668224052695843.post-22862247484013763472011-05-12T09:15:00.000-04:002011-05-13T16:28:56.503-04:00

Come in out of the rain on Sunday, May 15, and be inspired by the remarkable story of one woman's amazing journey. 2:00-3:30 p.m. Film screening and discussion with Marion Stoddart and others. The Work of 1000 is a documentary about the parallel journey of two characters, one a young woman discouraged at her future as a suburban housewife, the other a river-once beautiful and teeming with

Sharon Bernard, Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01633017254053793176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377668224052695843.post-76464001894474515752011-04-21T16:00:00.002-04:002011-04-21T16:04:49.295-04:00

Screening and Panel DiscussionThe Fitchburg Public Library presents The Collaborative History of the Clean-up and the Evolution of Urban Environmentalism on Sunday, May 15 at 2:00 p.m. in the Library Auditorium. This screening of the documentary “Marion Stoddart: The Work of 1000” will be followed by a panel discussion with Marion Stoddart, Bill Flynn (Fitchburg’s mayor at the start of the

Sharon Bernard, Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01633017254053793176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377668224052695843.post-89964997732895781922011-04-07T11:02:00.005-04:002011-04-07T11:23:35.117-04:00

Come to the library and be counted! Libraries across the nation are celebrating National Library Week by documenting a day in the life of libraries. You can help make our day a success by visiting the library anytime noon-7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 13. We have many activities for you to participate in and displays to view. ACTIVITIES The Book Club will be discussing Nathaniel Philbrick's "

Sharon Bernard, Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01633017254053793176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377668224052695843.post-39879221019368937912011-02-16T18:02:00.003-05:002011-02-16T18:21:47.786-05:00

There have been several articles recently published about libraries. This is a link to an article written by Scott Turow the author of "Presumed Innocent" and its sequel, "Innocent." http://www.huffingtonpost.com/scott-turow/letthemeatcakeattitude-th_b_823609.html He expresses his views regarding the value of our nation's libraries.NPR has been running stories regarding the library situation

Sharon Bernard, Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01633017254053793176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377668224052695843.post-15140537381594995552010-12-30T10:42:00.002-05:002010-12-30T11:01:49.586-05:00

This is the time of year when we sit back and review what has happened and plan for the future. We also need to take time to see where we are.The Fitchburg Public Library is pleased to say that we are here, ready and willing to help you achieve your goals for the coming days, months, years or lifetime. Are you taking any classes in the coming semester and need to do some research? Do you want

Sharon Bernard, Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01633017254053793176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377668224052695843.post-76984301548091316032010-11-29T16:05:00.000-05:002010-11-29T16:05:15.209-05:00

WHO: You! All kids and their families welcome. Come build neat stuff with our 1.987,321 lego pieces! Free!WHAT: LEGO CLUB BIRTHDAY PARTY WHEN: Thursday, Dec. 9, 4 pm WHERE: Fitchburg Public LibraryWHY: Because we've been doing Lego Club for one year!

Dobbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03045851356690338430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377668224052695843.post-57643035381162928722010-11-23T16:06:00.000-05:002010-11-23T16:06:16.766-05:00

Give a gift that will last a lifetime and be shared by many. Make a donation to the Fitchburg Public Library Fund in honor of a loved one, friend, or colleague for the holidays, and make the World of Information possible for others. Your holiday tribute gift, the Gift of Knowledge, is the perfect present for the hard-to-buy-for person on your gift-giving list When you make a donation to the

Dobbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03045851356690338430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377668224052695843.post-47786418077678118122010-10-26T14:16:00.003-04:002010-10-26T14:24:13.461-04:00

Cast on your stitches, check your gauge...Knit, Purl with Friends of the FPL. Come and join "The Nancy Project." It's a fund raising effort by the Friends to knit or crochet scarves to sell during holiday shopping season with the proceeds to benefit the library. Why not start knitting a scarf today? Not a knitter...consider a donation of yarn or money.Last year we raised over $1,800. Local

Sharon Bernard, Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01633017254053793176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377668224052695843.post-27053201049152169272010-09-30T16:00:00.002-04:002010-09-30T16:14:45.141-04:00

In 1947 Mrs. George R. Wallace, Jr., involved the children of Fitchburg in the fundraising for the planned Youth Library. The children from all the schools in the city organized and decided to raise one million pennies. Children did chores for a few cents, they made and sold earrings and other crafts, they spoke before civic groups and gave up chewing gum and other treats. In less than six

Sharon Bernard, Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01633017254053793176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377668224052695843.post-72566387438135672010-09-01T17:00:00.000-04:002010-09-01T17:00:00.754-04:00

Broadway Musician to Conduct Program on Lack of Instrumental Musicians in Youth Music Culture Gregory Charles Royal to Present Version of Jazz Play It’s a Hardbop Life Before Discussion Wednesday, September 29 at 4:00 P.M. Broadway trombonist and America’s Hot Musician judge Gregory Charles Royal is touring a nationwide program to hold an open discussion on the lack of instrumental

Dobbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03045851356690338430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377668224052695843.post-91633263312826365392010-07-21T14:47:00.000-04:002010-07-21T14:47:44.145-04:00

Have you ever thought about the value of the services and materials you and your family receive at the Fitchburg Public Library? Use the Value of Library Service Calculator to figure it out. Count the number of uses for each category during a period of time and put the numbers in the left hand column. When you click on calculate at the bottom of the form the value of those items will be

Dobbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03045851356690338430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377668224052695843.post-63926872949104592172010-07-01T09:57:00.004-04:002010-07-01T10:58:14.302-04:00

July 1 the Farmer's Market at Crocker Field opens at 3:00. Are you looking for new ways to prepare your favorite vegetables, or what to do with that odd looking, or strangely named, vegetable you have never heard of? The Library has many cookbooks full of recipes for you to try. They include Mollie Katzen's Moosewood Cookbook and her book Salad People And More Real Recipes…For Preschoolers And

Dobbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03045851356690338430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377668224052695843.post-24777088152850937832010-06-25T20:26:00.002-04:002010-06-25T20:30:06.451-04:00

Begin your Independence Day celebrations at the Library on Thursday, July 1, 6:15-7:00 p.m. In the auditorium listen to a reading of the Declaration of Independence by Fitchburg's Veterans' Service Agent Ken Jones and Stephen Twining followed by "Songs of America" sung by the New Players Theater Guild.

Dobbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03045851356690338430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377668224052695843.post-58086554557035212010-06-20T15:55:00.004-04:002010-06-20T16:10:58.664-04:00

The Friends of the Library recently held an art contest for the Library's 151st birthday celebration. The judges chose five designs from the thirteen works of art that were submitted. These have been made into notecards for the Friends to sell to you! They are $2.00 each or $8.00 for the collection of five plus $2.25 shipping and handling if you want them mailed to you. Send your order to and

Dobbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03045851356690338430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377668224052695843.post-49464421222897876322010-06-04T18:43:00.002-04:002010-06-04T18:48:54.649-04:00

151st Birthday Party--Celebrate the next 150 years of library service to the City of Fitchburg with the Friends of the Library. Get your returns in by Thursday, June 10. Mail your check and the names of those attending, Today! On Friday, June 18, 2010, at the Library, beginning at 6:00 p.m., there will be an hors d’oeuvres reception, music and a cash wine and beer bar, followed at 7:00 by

Dobbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03045851356690338430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377668224052695843.post-90655604342796588882010-06-02T16:29:00.001-04:002010-06-02T16:32:28.046-04:00

Dobbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03045851356690338430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377668224052695843.post-77209146426105262882010-05-19T10:04:00.001-04:002010-05-19T10:07:28.689-04:00

LIBRARY AND SENIOR CENTER HOST STORYTELLER FOR THOSE CARING FOR AGED PARENTSFITCHBURG: Sharon Kennedy, Grammy-nominated storyteller & performance artist, will present her program “Which one of us is the mother now? Tales from the nursing home: A daughter’s story of love, laughter, and lessons learned; trials, tears and advocacy.” on June 16, 2010, at 7:00 p.m., in O’Neil Hall at the Fitchburg

Dobbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03045851356690338430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377668224052695843.post-59850183336076138822010-03-02T10:45:00.004-05:002010-03-02T11:05:49.627-05:00

The Fitchburg Public Library will be participating in the Family Fun Literacy Fair sponsored by a Title I Department/McKinney Vento Grant and MOC Community Partnership for Children on March 27th, 2010 from 9-12 am at South Street Elementary School. We'll be doing a planting project and a craft project! Join us for fun activities, food, and, of course, books! Come support the library - and reading

Molly Murphyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05502679709503108635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377668224052695843.post-88168312287700700262010-02-04T14:37:00.005-05:002010-02-04T14:57:13.439-05:00

In response to many patron's question "Where are the new DVD's?", we have implemented a new system for you to know the answer! Since we frequently add DVDs to our collection, whether they are new releases, new releases of older films, or just new to us! Now there is a way for you to tell which are the newest additons - look for a small pink sticker near the label on new DVDs. Come check them out

Molly Murphyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05502679709503108635noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377668224052695843.post-64157377644370010632010-01-05T09:33:00.002-05:002010-01-05T09:42:57.880-05:00

On January 27, 2010, at 6:30, David S. Brody will speak about his new best seller, "Cabal of the WEstford Knight: Templars at the Newport Tower." This exciting book is a fictional account based on much research about the "600-year old secrets behind the carvings and artifacts left by Templar Knights during their secret mission to North America." Library Journal says: "The plot will keep readers

Dobbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03045851356690338430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377668224052695843.post-17030730796969854952009-12-16T14:15:00.004-05:002009-12-16T14:25:17.586-05:00

The library has a new acting Director, Sharon Bernard. She returns to us after a short hiatus. With over thirty years experience at the Fitchburg Public Library, she is excited to be leading the library into the future. Stop in and say hello.

Dobbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03045851356690338430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377668224052695843.post-51658182293330838502009-03-17T21:10:00.003-04:002009-03-17T21:12:57.945-04:00

To accommodate families with young children on Tuesdays the hours of the Library have been changed to 10 a.m.-5 p.m. This allows for a story time or other activity for pre-schoolers.

Dobbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03045851356690338430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377668224052695843.post-50651922610258561682008-08-01T19:00:00.006-04:002008-08-01T19:56:54.041-04:00

As we embark on a new phase in the life of the Fitchburg Public Library the staff begs the indulgence of its faithful customers. The library's days of operation have been diminished to only 3 days a week (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday) and our hours greatly decreased (12 noon - 7pm on these 3 days only). The staff has also been cut drastically, and consequently, there are just not enough

Molly Murphyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05502679709503108635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377668224052695843.post-85253409704714414282008-02-22T10:26:00.002-05:002008-02-22T10:40:02.607-05:00

Have you visited the library lately? If so, you may have noticed some cosmetic changes. There is a new information/reference desk--some customers call it command central! The periodicals and newspapers have been moved to the back of the library on new shelving to allow older issues to remain on the first floor for a period of time. There are new shelves for the DVD collection with room for

Dobbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03045851356690338430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377668224052695843.post-30094044570916915862007-07-11T20:31:00.000-04:002007-07-11T20:35:01.250-04:00

Three adorable little baby skunks, a.k.a. Mephitis mephitis (DDC 599.74), were wandering around the lawns next to the library this evening, and one waddled along the sidewalk and right up to the front door and looked in. He had forgotten his library card, so couldn't check out any books, alas.

Bobnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377668224052695843.post-90643259911996147272007-06-14T15:16:00.000-04:002007-06-14T15:18:35.198-04:00

You may have seen articles about the library’s budget hearing before the City Council in the newspapers or on FATV on Wednesday night, but you may not realize how important your support for the library is for you. A loss of certification due to budget cuts means:·You will not be able to go into any library in Massachusetts to borrow materials,·You will not be able to borrow materials through

Dobbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03045851356690338430noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377668224052695843.post-78990839744238972262007-06-07T19:31:00.000-04:002007-06-07T19:33:21.436-04:00

Cutest library catalog evah.

Bobnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377668224052695843.post-63533842350981619542007-05-02T19:23:00.000-04:002007-05-02T19:24:34.375-04:00

From the web: Ten ways for superpatrons to build better libraries. Good advice all around!

Bobnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377668224052695843.post-80611957459157160362007-04-14T11:35:00.000-04:002007-04-15T18:38:06.391-04:00

Do you know where your daffodils are?You can find them at the above link, or in the Fitchburg Public Library stacks at 821.71 Word. Or you can see a slightly different version here:

Bobnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377668224052695843.post-33714954691496394682007-04-12T12:46:00.000-04:002007-04-12T12:49:04.896-04:00

For all language lovers, there was a wonderful episode today of the NPR program "On Point" called "Inventing English: From Beowulf to Eminem." It's available for listening online.

Bobnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377668224052695843.post-10052526483731559702007-04-10T19:09:00.000-04:002007-04-10T19:19:36.286-04:00

Thanks to City Hall and Comcast the library is now offering wireless Internet access for all of you who have laptops with wireless capability. You do need a username and password available from the information and reference librarians.

Dobbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03045851356690338430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377668224052695843.post-24151051256047159192007-03-19T12:48:00.000-04:002007-03-19T19:55:13.736-04:00

A good line can last forever. (Well, for 2500 years, at least.) And it can appear in different media, in different languages, and in both classic literature and popular culture.Here's a scene from pop culture that's hitting it big at the box office this month, with a famous 2500-year-old line at the end:Here's another version of the very same scene from about 100 years ago, and even then it was “

Bobnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377668224052695843.post-21272125021712665872007-03-14T19:52:00.000-04:002007-03-14T19:56:34.335-04:00

A colloquial term for speed bumps placed across a road to slow down traffic is "sleeping policemen." This is apparently a variant of the term "silent cop" used to designate upright posts often set in the middle of intersections to channel traffic and prevent car jams. When was the term "silent cop" first used for these structures? According to one linguistic researcher, the term "silent cop"

Bobnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377668224052695843.post-59113125719452069862007-03-12T17:39:00.000-04:002007-03-12T17:41:30.588-04:00

I've added a visitors map to the blog sidebar so we can see where people are coming from who visit the FPL blog. Click on it to get a bigger view. (Once a page appears on the web, people from all over the world find it.) These little additions are called "blog widgets" and there are lots of them out there, from visitors maps to weather stickers to clocks and much more.

Bobnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377668224052695843.post-69188820875487824712007-03-07T22:36:00.000-05:002007-03-07T23:04:26.677-05:00

[Here's an example of the kind of thing that could appear in the FPL blog as a regular feature. It would require keeping a bag of candy in the reference desk so appropriate rewards could be given out. Feel free to edit or delete as you see fit.]Here's a timely poem for us in the month of March. The first ten people who come to the information desk with with the name of the author (maybe shown in

Bobnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377668224052695843.post-38628073536086776952007-03-04T14:14:00.000-05:002007-03-04T14:17:15.175-05:00

The New York Times has a story today about LibraryThing.com, the online cataloging system for personal libraries that some people from FPL participate in.

Bobnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377668224052695843.post-66708347612259596232007-03-03T10:35:00.000-05:002007-03-03T10:46:35.228-05:00

Are you interested in words, phrases, slang expressions and colloquialisms? Check out Michael Quinion's website to learn the definition and origins for words such as cockamamie, eleemosynary, and floccinaucinihilipilification or from where the phrase "push the envelope" comes.

Dobbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03045851356690338430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377668224052695843.post-11124826288392449212007-02-27T01:06:00.000-05:002007-03-02T16:42:46.290-05:00

February 27th is an important anniversary for the Wallace Library, as the picture above illustrates. Thank you, Rodney! Wallace Library and Arts Building, Built 1884. Photograph June 1, 1959. See comment for more information.

Bobnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377668224052695843.post-28972014098449013742007-02-23T13:30:00.000-05:002007-02-23T13:38:36.943-05:00

In the swirl of snow in the courtyard today, our own Library Mockingbird still guards his hedges (but the musical shuttle in his throat is still until spring).

Bobnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377668224052695843.post-86941946591021022282007-02-22T22:39:00.000-05:002007-02-23T09:49:51.747-05:00

One of the most elegant book blogs on the web is BibliOdyssey (which has links to many other interesting book blogs on its blogroll). We'll start making a list of interesting book and library blogs for people to browse -- watch for them to appear on the sidebar.

Bobnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377668224052695843.post-62203344616326338122007-02-22T15:03:00.000-05:002007-02-28T23:19:10.223-05:00

Beclown: v., to make into a clown, as in "He has beclowned himself."(This is an example of the sort of thing that could be a regular feature of the Fitchburg Public Library blog: a word of the week, an author of the day, a map of the month, a seasonal poem, a book of the month; many such possibilities are open to us.)(How about a call number of the week?)

Bobnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377668224052695843.post-37667024814379307612007-02-19T22:18:00.000-05:002007-02-23T09:44:56.853-05:00

In February, 1857, 150 years ago this month, Henry David Thoreau came up from Concord to give a lecture for the members of the Fitchburg Athenaeum. Thoreau is the subject of the wonderful recent children's book Henry Hikes to Fitchburg, which you can check out from FPL or even read online.

Bobnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377668224052695843.post-34502511831965539122007-02-18T17:22:00.000-05:002007-02-22T16:19:03.263-05:00

Bobnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1377668224052695843.post-45609294900051630652007-02-18T16:45:00.000-05:002007-02-18T17:41:52.097-05:00

Welcome to the new blog for the Wallace Library in Fitchburg, Massachusetts!

Bobnoreply@blogger.com0