Singing Group at the Raynham COA

Every Monday at 11 a.m. join Nancy Donnelly, local music director and piano in-structor, for an informal singing group.

This is a free fun program open to all who enjoy singing. 

Cartooning For Kids

Monday, Aug 10

at 6:30pm

Raynham Public Library

Learn how to draw your very own Superhero.

This event is geared to kids 9 years of age and older.

This event has been re-scheduled from

Monday, July 13.

Registration Required - Click here to register

 Annual Statistics are in for the 

Raynham Public Library

Our annual statistics for the fiscal year just ended offer a wealth of information about Raynham library service - from how many items were borrowed, to how many items were loaned to other libraries, from attendance at programs, use of library computers and online services, to how many people walked through our doors.

These statistics show an overall increase in library use; total circulation increased 5% over the previous year to 118,000 items.

Much of the growth came from increased use of library e-content, the downloadable or streaming ebooks, audiobooks, movies, music, and magazines, that users are finding more and more easier to access and download remotely to their home computers, tablets or smartphones. Children viewed more than 11,000 e-books from our Tumblebook collection, and more than 4,200 items were downloaded from the OverDrive collection.

 The Hoopla service of streaming movies registered almost 3,000 views, and the new Zinio service for reading magazines online is proving popular as well.

We love these statistics; because we love knowing that what we do at the library makes a difference in the lives of people we serve. We love to be busy, to answer questions about the collection, to find that special book, CD or DVD, to give assistance with the e-catalog, e-reader, or e-demo station, or to introduce a user to a new service or program. Everyone who comes through the door wants or needs something. We are only too happy to help.

The annual statistics are fascinating, and offer us insight into the community's interests and needs. They tell us as much about our collection as our users. We'll spend a good many hours analyzing, evaluating and comparing these figures, looking for trends to guide our decisions to serve you in the years to come.

Eden Fergusson, Library Director, from the directors blog 7/16/15

raynhampubliclibrary.org 

End of Summer Gardening Tips

When people think about gardening, they usually think about Spring. However, there are things you can do in your garden in late summer and early autumn that can save you some serious cash. Now is a great time to be outside!

My favorite money saver this time of year is autumn gardening.  Mid-August is a great time of year to plant veggies that thrive in cold weather. Loose leaf lettuce, spinach, kale, beets and peas are all very easy plants to grow from seeds. Onions are great too but I recommend starting them from "sets" (they look like miniature onions) as starting from seeds can take a long time. For only a few dollars, you can have all you can eat organic salad for several weeks. They grow very well in patio containers as well. 

Another great way to save money this fall is to start composting. All those fallen leaves, grass clippings and kitchen scraps that you are currently paying for trash disposal, can actually go towards making quality compost for your garden next spring. Just create a container at least 3x3 feet (or bigger) and add your organic waste. A few pieces of advice though. First, don't include any animal waste (except egg shells) as it will stink and attract pests. Second, it does help to shred leaves and such before tossing them in. Third, it also helps to take a shovel and mix it up once in a while. 

Been thinking about adding new trees or perennials to your yard? August and September are great times to buy as most garden centers have them marked way down but it's till fine to plant them as they will have a few months to acclimate before winter sets in. 

Finally, take some time to think ahead to next spring. Want to start a new garden bed? The best time to prepare is right now! Mark out where you want to plant, and cover with an old tarp, or even cardboard or newspaper. Cover with a few rocks and spray cardboard and paper with a hose so the wind doesn't blow it away. Keep it covered all winter and in the Spring, pull off the tarp and all the grass and weeds underneath will be dead. Just till up and plant! If you used cardboard or newspaper, then they will rot into the ground and you can just till whatever is left into the soil. Nothing could be easier. 

So don't put away your garden tools and gloves yet! This is a great time of year to get outside and save some cash.

Post by Janice Lilly

From: Mending the Piggy Bank-click here for link

Magazines To Go

Courtesy of Raynham Public Library 

Thanks to a new service that we've just launched at the library, I no longer have to limit my magazine selection to whatever is lying around a waiting room. I can now choose my own magazines to read online anytime, anywhere. The service is called Zinio for Libraries, and it offers a collection of 50 popular titles. I can choose magazines from a wide range of categories including business and news, computer and electronics, crafts, fashion, food and cooking, health and fitness, home and family, science and history, travel, pop culture or sports. The collection includes popular favorites such as Newsweek, Reader's Digest, Glamour, Redbook, Good Housekeeping, National Geographic, Golf Digest and yes, even ESPN Magazine.

To get started with Zinio for Libraries, use your PC or Mac to visit the library's website, raynhampubliclibrary.org; click on elibrary, and then on the Zinio icon. You'll be asked to enter your library card number and create an account. Browse the collection and check out any title you like. You have access to the current issue as well as a year's worth of back issues. You even have the option of being notified by email when the next issue is available. There is no waiting, no checkout limit and no return. You may keep issues as long as you like. All magazines are full-color and interactive. Click on an article listed in the Table of Contents, and you'll be taken directly to that page.

For reading on the go (and all those waiting rooms), download one of Zinio's mobile apps for iOS, Android and Kindle Fire HD/HDX, and read on your tablet or smartphone. Have questions? Give us a call or make an appointment for a one-on-one help session.

From the directors blog at www.raynhampubliclibrary.com