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From The President

In The Book That Changed My Life, Roxanne J. Coady, owner of R. J. Julia Booksellers in Madison, CT, compiled essays from 71 writers who discussed the books that mattered most to them. A book can change our lives, altering the way we view the world, and challenge us to experience the unknown.

Tracy Kidder selected Ernest Hemingway's Collected Stories. Patricia Cornwell chose Uncle Tom's Cabin. Senator Joe Lieberman chose The Bible, and wrote, "The book that changed" my life?" The temptation is to say: 'All of them!' I can't think of a book, fiction or nonfiction - even books I didn't like - that didn't add something to my life." Senator John McCain chose For Whom the Bell Tolls!

Carol Bodor, Children's Librarian, chose Great Expectations. Mine was Travels in the Interior of Africa by Mungo Park. In 1795, at the age of 24, he explored the west coast of Africa for a journey of 500 miles by foot and canoe that took over two and one-half years. He was the first European to view the Niger River and in 1799 wrote about his adventures.

I read an edition published about 100 years later. It wasn't so much as love from the first sentence but love at the first engraving, which was the hero canoeing down the labyrinthine tunnel of the unexplored river. This ignited my interest in Africa as nothing else ever since. Nearly 25 years later I fulfilled my dream and landed at Maseru Airport in Lesotho, Southern Africa. While there I met another traveler, Gerri. If hadn't read that book by Mungo Park in bed at my at my Grandmother’s house when I was about 7 years old, I might still be Teaching at an Agricultural Center in England awaiting retirement.

Each of us has a book which has changed us significantly. We would really like to read about the BOOKS THAT MATTER MOST TO YOU! Share the richness of your experience with us. Sometimes it is not the book itself which is the catalyst for change, but the interaction we experience when we share our sudden insights and memories, painful, and joyful, our experiences that the book unlocks for us. The lives of all of us in both the Book and Poetry Discussion Groups have been enriched over the years. We have all grown in tolerance, compassion and our capacity for wonder.

You can find this too in our Friends Read Together Summer Reading Program. Not only is this a banquet for each of us to enjoy, it is also the greatest demonstration of our advocacy for books and reading and our library that we can give to our town.

Tony Bleach
President

Friends Read Together

As I hope everyone has read in the Town Times, the second annual Friends Read Together is off and running for the summer. This year we have chosen to read three of Pete Hamill's books, North River, Snow in August and A Drinking Life: A Memoir. We are also very lucky to be able to have Mr. Hamill come to Watertown on Tuesday, October 14th at 7:30 at the First Congregational Church. His lecture will be followed by a book signing reception.

The Committee who has been working so hard on this project for the last two months are John Treleaven, Barbara Vensel, Elin Carlson, Jan Marino, Dona Rintelman, and Kathy Porter. We are very excited with the program that we have been able to put together. Every week that we were gathering together in May and June we would ask each other, “have you finished this book or that book?", and couldn't wait to discuss it with each other. We hope that as you are reading them you will have the same enthusiasm as we did.

Besides reading the books we have organized a bus trip to Brooklyn to help bring Pete Hamill's Brooklyn to life. All his books take place around Brooklyn and it is our hope to show this to you on Saturday, September 13th. Enclosed is the flyer describing the trip. Please sign up early as we think that it will sellout fast at this price!

Every week keep current on what is happening with the Friends Read Together program by reading the Town Times where we have our very own column on page 5. Come into the library and pick up your very own copy of the books (or all three of them) for the discounted price of $10 each.

Don't forget to mark October 14th on your calendars now so that you won't miss Pete Hamill.

Linda Merriman
Chairman

FYI...

As the Town Budget for fiscal 2009 heads toward a third referendum on August 5, the recommended allocation for the Library Association is $10,000 above the funding received in fiscal 2008. While our original request was significantly higher, to be in a positive position at this stage of the budget process is good news. The Library will be able to maintain its current level of service and State funding is assured. )

If there should be another round of cuts and the Library loses the proposed $10,000 increase, the annual State Grant will also be lost.

Joan Rintelman
Director

Fund Raising

OUR FISCAL YEAR for July 2007 through June 2008 has ended our 17th year at the Book Nook. In our first full year of operation we made just a little over $4,000. We set a goal each year to realize a few thousand more in the year ahead. Last year our objective for 2008 was to realize $30,000 - and we did it - with a few hundred dollars to spare!

As you know, we are the money making arm of the Watertown Library Association. Our main objective is to be able to donate an increasing sum each year only toward their capital Fund, which covers such things as roof repair, a new boiler, new computer stations, shelving and anything else that has to do with capital goods or improvements.

The Library Association receives only its operating expenses from the Town. Out of this money they must pay for everything it takes to run our super Library. That is heat, electricity, personnel, books, all printed materials, etc. If anything breaks or the roof caves in, only the Capital Fund is available to help them fix the problem.

Just like we do at home, the library runs on a tight budget. However, their operating budget is subject to the entire town financial plan which is, of course, voted either in or out by us, the voters. Be a good Friend and advocate - support our Library

From The Book Nook

WHAT A DAY we had when we opened this past Saturday in conjunction with the first Farmer's Market which took place in the library parking area: Loads of people pouring in to the Nook! New customers and old were there. It was a beautiful day and everyone was in the mood to shop. The Farmer's Market will be open each Saturday from now on until Sept. 13 from 9 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. and we will be there, too.

We are now a member of the Connecticut Staycation Destination campaign. I am sure you have seen this advertised. The operation consists of Connecticut merchants and their efforts to help Connecticut residents STAY in Connecticut for their vacations by making them aware of all the opportunities for great holiday times right here at home, such as the Farmer's Market on Saturdays.

AUGUST HALF-PRICE SALE coming up - be sure to put the enclosed flyer in a conspicuous place so you will not forget to come in and take advantage of the super sale prices. Finish your summer reading or even put some choice books away for holiday presents. Speaking of "gift giving "; do not forget that we have GIFT CERTIFICATES for sale as well. Any "Book Person" worth the title would be happy to be able to come in and pick out a pile of books in the amount on their certificate as your gift to them.

INTERNET SALES are gaining at a nice steady pace. You can check us out at "bon livros' on EBay and see what we have to offer. John Treleaven and his cohorts in the internet listing department have done a wonderful job with both the pictures and the thorough descriptions which accompany them. This is a time consuming job.

We have a good crew now but we can surely use more help in this direction. We would appreciate your help if you are computer literate AND are able to spend a few hours each week on the project. Please contact Queenie or John through the Nook 945-5360 or e-mail wtnfriends@sbcglobal.net.

SPEAKING OF HELP - HELP!!' We still need a real honest to goodness secretary for the office of the Friends. Most of the work entails getting our files in order and keeping up in that direction, copying flyers or the newsletter when it is time and keeping track of our office supplies.

An office can not run efficiently when one is unable to find a specific paper or copy which has been, or needs to be, filed away! Once a good filing system has been established, this job probably would not require more than a couple of hours a week.

Please remember, we have tight quarters and we must be able to COUNT on someone who can get the job done.

BOOK DONATIONS are what keep us in business. Generally speaking, most of the books that come in to our Donation Station are in pretty good shape and with some clean up work are ready to be put on our shelves for our customers' perusal. Although we try not to accept outdated text books, old magazines, old encyclopedias or musty smelling books they do seem to find their way to us. All this, in addition to all the old boxes that donations come in, must be discarded. By the end of an average week we have a pretty big pile of throwaways and a big expense. Help!

Not to worry - Copes Rubbish Removal to the rescue! Yes, in keeping with the way that Copes gives back to our community, they have been removing this trash for the Friends as a donation. A big, big thank you to everyone at Copes for this generous gesture.

Queenie Mraz & Gerri Bleach
Co-Chairmen

Poetry Group

There is at present a small group of poetry lovers who meet approximately bi-monthly to discuss all forms of poetry, from that of the past to modern, from rhymed and metered to free verse. (We did "hip-hop" last month!!) Topics are chosen by the group. Gail Sangree is our primary presenter.

Next meeting is on September 25th at 5:30 at the main library. Each attendee may bring two favorite

Our present thrust is learning, but we are considering adding additions to all meetings with the emphasis on entertainment. Poetry is broad enough to include both. We are considering programs that will permit each attendee, if so inclined, to have the floor an equal share of the 90 minutes to present or moderate his/her topics of greatest interest.

Pursuit of this interesting hobby can easily be limited to the internet, either in your home or here at the library. Ask a staff member for a free copy of a listing of free internet sites at which one can explore all the various aspects of poetry.

If you are interested in attending a scheduled meeting, please contact Ron Jones at 274-3259 or email at rbiones02@optonline.net for more information

Remembrances

We have lost several dear friends since our last newsletter. We extend our deepest sympathies to their families. All of them were longtime Friends and worked at the Book Nook at one time. We shall surely miss Winnie Gallagher, Florence (Pecky) Lodge, Bob Bruce and Alice Stephen.

The Friends' Forum - July 2008