Howland Public Library | 313 Main Street | Beacon | NY | 12508
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Library Hours
Monday
Wednesday
Friday
9:30 - 5:30
Tuesday
Thursday
9:30 - 8:00
Saturday
10:00 - 4:00
Sunday
12:00 - 4:00
(year-round)
Emergency closing information:
831-1134 x 101
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There's always something good going on at the Howland Public Library.
Click below
for more info:
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Starred Reviews & Recommendations
from our Readers
Book Lust: Recommended Reading for Every Mood, Moment and Reason
by Nancy Pearl
-- Dorothea
Boy Alone: A Brother's Memoir
by Karl Greenfield
A brutally honest account of what it is like to grow up in the shadow of autism in the family. Greenfield writes of his experiences as a child through his adulthood, living and caring for an autistic sibling. As a parent of an autistic child, I wonder how much his autism has an effect on his neurotypical sibling. I'm very glad Greenfield wrote this memoir. It is candid, poignantly tragic. Sometimes there are no happy endings. The book may remind some families that it's OK if their child cannot be "healed" biomedically, educationally or otherwise. Highly recommended.
-- Rose
Julie and Julia: My Year of Cooking Dangerously
by Julie Powell
This is a book about a woman who decides to cook her way through Julia Child's cookbook [Mastering the Art of French Cooking] of 524 recipes. As she learns to cook, she also learns some of life's lessons along the way. This book is really great to read. It's a very fun story. Can't wait to see the movie and see how it compares to the book! -- Melissa
Road Dogs
by Elmore Leonard
I
found the writing in this book has to be some of Leonard's best. At the
same time, the plot is a little odd. Not that much happens, subplots go
nowhere, and the hero's loyalties lie with characters who don't deserve
it. A terrific book, but not completely satisfying. -- Peter
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In celebration of National Friends of Libraries Week
(October 18-24) Howland Public Library would like to thank our many Friends in
the Beacon City School District. This year, thanks to public support, the
Friends of the Howland Public Library was able to match a $3,900 grant from the
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to improve public computing in the library,
as well as to donate $300 toward the annual teen regional literary contest,
Battle of the Books.
Friends of the Howland Public Library fund raising
efforts provide supplemental support for library programs, materials, and
services. Friends is a volunteer group
that believes in the importance of keeping information, reading materials, and
cultural activities freely accessible to the residents of our state-chartered
service area, the Beacon City School District.
Friends of HPL is always looking for new blood to
keep the organization vital. Please
consider volunteering to help with fund raising and events, publicity, or
mailings, or donating several hours each month as a member of the Friend's
Steering Committee. Volunteers are also needed at Beacon Reads, the bookstore
at 309 Main Street that offers almost-new books, videos, music CDs and more at
reasonable prices. All proceeds benefit the Howland Public Library.
You can become a Friend of the Howland Public
Library, volunteer, or renew your Friendship by responding to the Friends'
annual appeal or by printing out the form online: FRIENDS FORM
Celebrate National Friends of Libraries Week by
joining the Friends of the Howland Public Library!
Sincerely,
Marcia Frahman, President,
HPL Board of Trustees
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 Howland Public Library Board of Trustees
President
Marcia Frahman
Vice President
Ann MacLeod
Secretary
Prudence Posner
Treasurer
Gary Barrack
Trustees
Patricia Hasapis
Dale Leifeste
Suzanne MacElduff
Karen Crotty Palumbo
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Howland Public Library
E-News 2009 | five
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HPL Alert!
The library will be closed
November 2-5, 2009.
Details below.
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Featured Article
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At the Howland Public Library
It's Back to School for Everyone!
There
have been libraries throughout history, but public libraries are a particularly American institution. Libraries offer people of all
ages and abilities the opportunity to educate themselves by reading, watching, and listening to books, DVDs, CDs and downloads on almost any
subject under -- and beyond -- the sun. For this reason public libraries are also known as the
"People's University".
Because library costs are shared by the community,
and because libraries work cooperatively, no one is denied the
opportunity to read, or to use a computer, because he or she can't afford it. Last year, HPL checked out over 120,500 items -- 12% more than in the year before. Children borrowed over 24% more books.
Howland Public Library offers free educational programs for people of all ages and
abilities: from Mommy and Me to Homework Center to Wii Bowling for Seniors, and everything in between. Last year, HPL hosted 141%
more adult programs, 120% more teen programs, and 26% more children's
programs than in the previous year. Almost 10,000 people participated in library programs -- up 38%.
HPL offers the services of information professionals to help people
find facts, forms, family history -- whatever they need for school, for
employment, and for personal betterment -- wherever the information can be found. Over 7,000 reference questions were answered in the library last year and over 15,000 public computer sessions were logged.
School
is back in session for students. For interested adults, learn something new -- every day! -- at the Howland Public Library. HPL is proud to be your People's University. |
 How much would you pay out-of-pocket for services you receive at the library? Use the Library Use Value Calculator to see the yearly benefit of your library use.
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Adult Summer Reading Program 2009 HPL
Adult Services Librarian Alison Herrero (left) presents Town of Fishkill resident Melissa
Bradicich with a gift certificate to Sukothai
Restaurant in Beacon.
Melissa's
winning book review was among dozens submitted as part of the
Howland Public Library Adult Summer Reading Program.
Melissa says, "Thank you so much again for the gift certificate! Great program! We LOVE the Howland Library!"
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(Some of...) What Miss Ginny & Friends Did Over Summer "Vacation"
This summer was one of our busiest ever at Baby & Me Programs!
Children of all ages participated in our Creative Writing Club.
SEE OUR CREATIVE WRITING CLUB VIDEO!
Our "Class Action" Team (below) helps teens make healthy decisions about
alcohol use.
Kids at the Howland Public Library learned what the
Quadricenntennial -- and map-making-- is all about when they attended
Carol Smalley's program, "Navigate with Explorer Henry Hudson." See
their accomplishments here:
Everyone enjoyed the special programs held every Thursday.
A cooperative program between South Avenue Elementary School and Howland Public Library has received recognition in the "Best Practices" section of the Mid-Hudson Library System Youth Services blog. Learn more about "My Community" by clicking below:
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 HPL Helen Savoit Award
The Howland Public Library Board of Trustees announces the second Howland Public Library Helen Savoit Award. The purpose of the award is to honor an individual who, or group that, has made a sustained contribution to the promotion of the collections, programs and services of the Howland Public Library in the Beacon City School District or region.
Many people remember Mrs. Savoit as a teacher in the Beacon City School District where she taught for over 25 years. A Town of Fishkill resident, Helen Savoit served on the board of the Howland Public Library from September 12, 1984 to June 19, 1995, and on the Mid-Hudson Library System Board of Trustees from 1988 to 1997. As MHLS President, Mrs. Savoit represented all public libraries in five counties in the Mid-Hudson region.
In recent years, Mrs. Savoit, a life-long library user, volunteered in Beacon Reads, the bookstore to benefit the library, located at 309 Main Street. She also ran a popular book club for many years. Helen Savoit's death on May 25, 2008 was a personal loss to the Howland Public Library and a great loss to all libraries in the region. The Savoit family requested that donations in Helen's memory be sent to the Howland Public Library. These donations established this award in her name. 
The first Howland Public Library Helen Savoit Award recipient was Glenham resident Jennifer Kurtz, who actively promoted the library and our services while she served as the Assistant Director of the Beacon Community Center, and as a member of the Beacon City School District Board of Education.
The community is invited to nominate a person who, or group that, has advocated for the Howland Public Library or for all libraries in the Mid-Hudson region. Nomination forms are available at the Howland Public Library front desk or
CLICK HERE FOR FORM
The Howland Public Library Board of Trustees plans an event to honor the recipient in March 2010. |
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About Our Closing
HPL will be closed November 2 - 5 for the installation
of energy-efficient lighting as part of our Reconfiguration Project. If the work takes less time, an email will
alert you to our progress. Also, a message will be left at 845-831-1134 x 101.
The purpose of the Reconfiguration Project is
to reconfigure our service areas to maximize the use of, and to "green",
our current space. In other words, the Reconfiguration Project will help us make the most out of what we've got.
Library
funding
for the project comes from a generous bequest, private donations, and other
grants. The NYS Division of Library Development provided a
$51,000 matching grant to make our Reconfiguration a reality.
In
addition to the many individuals who have given
generously to HPL, often in memory of family and friends, we thank
our NYS Legislators who appropriated funds for matching grants for
public libraries.
HPL will be closed several
times over the next few months for this project. We regret the inconvenience, but know
that a cleaner, safer, more efficient library is in the best interest
of our Beacon City School District community.
Visit the HPL "Idea Wall" outside my office to see what's up!
 Sincerely,
Phyllis Keaton
Library Director
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