Art in the Library

The Kelley Library has long offered local artists space to showcase their artwork in a variety of ways. The Greater Salem Artists Association, which meets regularly at the library, hangs artwork of its members in the Beshara Room. This provides an ever-changing backdrop to activities in the room, an opportunity for us all to enjoy some great original art, and gives the membership of GSAA a venue to display. We also provide space for the GSAA annual event and exhibit in December. In late May/early June, the Beshara Room and lobby area is transformed into a gallery for the artwork of the students of the Salem school district. Larry Welch, a local artist, has a constant, and constantly changing, selection of his artwork on display up in the New Book area.

I had talked previously about the new nook off the Reference Department providing display space for local artists and finally someone has taken the opportunity. Kyle Massie, a 17 year old from Windham has a variety of his artwork on display this month. He is a bit of a prodigy in art and produces his works in no more than a couple of hours. This is the second time his artwork has been displayed, and it is well worth a moment to take a look.


March was Youth Art Month, and in honor of that, we asked children to bring in their artwork for display. We got some wonderful pieces, and you should make the Children's Room the next stop on your art tour of the library. Do it soon as these pieces of art will be reclaimed all too soon.





And we are all excited about the new art show coming up in May in honor of Older Americans Month. There is an art class over at the Senior Center taught by Angie Sparta and we are delighted at the opportunity to display some of the artwork of the students. It is sure to be a feast for your eyes, so stop by and enjoy.

There is still plenty of display space, so if you are artistic or know an artist and want to display at the library, just let me know. We would be delighted.

Oh, and save this date: Saturday, June 26th at 1PM. Marcia Harris will be giving a demonstration of watercoloring. Remember, you can display what you learned at the Library.

Have you met Elizabeth?

Recently I did a posting about Betty, who has been with the library for years and years. Today, I thought I would talk about one of our newest members of the staff - Elizabeth. Actually, we are closing in on her first year anniversary, but at Kelley, any tenure under 10 years is a newby.

Elizabeth joined us in the reference department and has been a lively addition to the staff. She has a ready laugh, but is serious when dealing with the various questions and requests for help with the computer that she fields each day. I am sure is was an adjustment joining us here at Kelley, a new job, a new state, and most of the staff being years older. But it speaks to her friendly, outgoing nature that she has fitted smoothly into the team.

In addition to her responsibilities at the reference desk and as part of the Teen Department, you might find her leading one of our computer classes. She also maintains our Facebook page and is in the process of developing our Teen page. Obviously, she has quickly become invaluable.

I of course asked her the 5 Questions:

1. Complete the sentence: When I am not at the library, you can find me: at a concert.
2. Describe your perfect day: Time with family and/or friends, a nice meal, live music, and time spent in nature.
3. If you had to live somewhere else than MA, where would it be? Elsewhere in New England.
4. What three things can you always find in your fridge? Yogurt, carrots, and some sort of bean or grain-based dish.
5. You would be surprised to find out that: as a child, my grandfather shook the hand of a woman who had shaken the hand of Abraham Lincoln.

Easy way to read

I never thought I would like audiobooks because I really hate having anything read to me, but after getting a job some 10 years ago that involved an hour's commute I knew I had to at least try one. Well, in a few short months I found myself frequently sitting at my destination getting in a few more pages. Being stuck in traffic was now a welcome occasion rather than a stressful one. I found it hard to actually read a book now that I was used to listening. Even now when my commute is 5 minutes, I listen my way through many a book.

And just like every audiobook fan, I found that I had favorite readers who made even the most mundane book fascinating. I also found readers that I couldn't stand listening to, some being the stars of the audiobook world. Just today I settled in to enjoy the most recent Elizabeth Berg audio and discovered too late that it had those dreaded words: read by the author. There are probably good readers that are authors, but I have yet to find one (feel free to recommend one). In the case of this book, I am going to have to actually pull out the paper version of the book since I could only tolerate about 2 minutes of it in audio.

Why did I title this post Easy Way To Read? I used to work on a bookmobile, and that kind of tight quarters made overhearing people talking unavoidable. On this particular evening, a regular patron came on with his wife. He was a delightful retired school teacher/principal who was losing his vision. She was, well, kind of mean to him. He was looking at the audiobooks, a format I had recommended since he was beginning to find large print tough to see. She stood there fuming, and said the most stunning thing: "Well, if you want to be lazy about it" . . .

Is listening lazy? I don't know. I find it a way to read when otherwise it would be impossible: commuting, while doing the dishes, while exercising, while vacuuming or other chores, while knitting or other crafts. Audio is invaluable for people with low vision, with limited ability to use their hands, for people who are ill or recovering from surgery. It is really a way to extend the reach of a book.

Speaking of extending the reach, being part of the state's downloadable audio program, we now provide access to downloadable e-books for anyone with a PC, a Sony or Barnes and Noble e-reader device. Be sure to check out this new service here.

Let me know who your favorites (or least favorite) audiobook readers are. I have to say the best I have heard was PD James' The Lighthouse read by Charles Keating. Great voices. But then I like John Rubenstein, Joe Mantegna, and Dennis Boutsikaris - I tend to like actors as readers. I even like Scott Brick. I will be interested to hear what you like.

A selection of audio by Dennis Boutsikaris
A selection of audio by Charles Keating
A selection of audio by Scott Brick

New Website

If you are reading this, you have no doubt noticed that we made some changes to our website. We have been working on this new website for quite a while now - sometimes I thought it would never be ready! But I think it is a great site, reserving the best of our old site while creating a clean, easy to use site featuring some new additions.

Everything you were familiar with and relied on is still on the site. It might be arranged a bit differently, but it is there and organized with similar topics. The new website also reflects some of the change in focus at the library. Information and books are still our primary mission, but we are expanding our programming - as you can see right away on the website. We are also recognizing service to adults with the creation of the Adult Department that deals with the specific needs and interests of our adult users.

The website also has many of our policies, forms, and handouts for ready access from anywhere. All part of our aim to make everything we offer easy to access, readily found and available when you want it. Keep an eye on the site and watch for some further developments and features. We are sure you will like it. Let me know what you think.

Have you met Betty?

I'm sure most of you have met Betty - her cheery face is there at the desk greeting us all, making us laugh and adding a bright spot to every day. She has become a bit of a celebrity this week because of the Baked Bean Cook-off - not because she won or she was a judge, but because she was front and center in the local paper's picture of the event. So many people have seen it and commented on it to her, she is almost regretting having come to taste the beans. Almost, but not really, because Betty belongs right there in the mix of things, bringing that ray of sunshine with her. But as much as we all know Betty, we don't really 'know' her so we are asking the 5 Questions of her this time.

1. Complete the sentence: When I am not at the library, you can find me:
At home cleaning.

2. Describe your perfect day: Lounging by the pool on a beautiful, warm and sunny day

3. If you had to live somewhere else than NH, where would it be? Florida

4. What three things can you always find in your fridge? Hot and spicy V8 juice, cheese and salad.

5. You would be surprised to find out that I: Have lived in the same house since I was 2.

After this, Betty decided she was boring - "I have lived in the same place since I was 2, married to the same man for 47 years, and worked at the same place for 31 years". She's anything but boring, she is fun, funny and you never know what she is going to say next.

Our New Assistant Director

Our new Assistant Director started this week. Her name is Michele Garneau and we were lucky enough to steal her from Manchester City Library. Michele has a wide and varied experience professionally and personally that will be a wonderful asset to our library, our community and our staff.

Michele is from New England (Rhode Island), but as the wife of a career Army man, she has lived and worked in many different places in the US as well as a stint in Germany. With each new Army posting, she found a new job and new experience. With her husband’s retirement from the military, they resettled in New Hampshire, leading to her working at Manchester for eleven years – first as a children’s librarian, then as a cataloger, then as department head.

She is looking forward to the new challenges of working at Kelley and also looking forward to becoming a part of the Salem community. Manchester is part of the GMILCS system, and as a result Michele already knew some of the Kelley staff from meetings and committee work. She is fitting in smoothly and already feels like a long-time member of the staff.

It seemed only right to have her be the second staff person to face the 5 Questions with the Kelley Staff:

1. Complete this sentence: When I am not at work, you can find me: Singing.
2. Describe your perfect day: Getting up early, and having coffee on the deck or at a picnic table. Then a long walk and a lunch at a nice restaurant with good food. Spending the day with my husband.
3. If you had to live somewhere else than NH, where would it be?: In Arizona to be near my daughter and grandson.
4. What 3 things can you always find in your fridge?: Yogurt, salad fixings, eggs - nothing exciting, I am a simple person.
5. You would be surprised to find out that I: ride a motorcycle.

The thrill of competition

I am excited to announce the First Baked Bean Cook-Off at the Kelley Library. We are hosting a cooking competition featuring that pre-eminent New England dish - baked beans. There are two categories that cooks can compete in - traditional from scratch baked beans and 'altered' beans which will feature creative changes to a can of baked beans. Prizes and ribbons will be awarded by our Blue Ribbon Panel of Judges headed by Fire Chief Breen. The event is scheduled for Saturday, February 20. Slots for competitors will be limited, so registration is required. Pick up a registration form at the library or print off our website starting Monday, January 18. Watch for details as the event approaches.

Film: Blazing Saddles
Book: The Beans of Egypt, Maine, by Carolyn Chute