"Connecting Chatham to the World"
Spring 2016
IN THIS ISSUE
QUICK LINKS
  
Thursday, March 3 and March 17 at 7:00 pm
Line Dancing w/ Brett!
Brett Outchcunis
 
Sunday Afternoons at the Eldredge
Travel Series is Back!

February 28 @ 2:00 pm
Galapagos Islands
w/ Jennifer McMullen
 
Galapagos Lizard
 
March 6 @ 2:00 pm Argentina and Peru
w/ Sue Simpson and Deborah Clark

March 20 @ 2:00 pm
India
w/ Anjali Mitter Duva
Faint promise of rain
A Good Friend is Gone
Barbara Serverson
Barbara Serverson, a dedicated volunteer at the Eldredge Library for more than 20 years, passed away on January 17th. After a long hospital career as a registered nurse, when she retired to Chatham she continued to help her new community in numerous volunteer capacities. At the time of her passing, she was still a very active volunteer at the Cape Cod National Seashore, St. Christopher's Church, the South Chatham Library, and Eldredge Public Library.
  
If you make a habit of visiting the Library on Tuesday afternoons, you'll have seen her each week: the vivacious blonde with the cheerful, welcoming attitude. Without fail, she brought cookies for the staff and kind words for everyone. After her death, she gave to the Library one more time, specifying that the Eldredge should receive any memorial gifts. And, as one of her final requests, just two days after her passing, her daughter arrived at the Library with a final, big box of cookies.
  
We will miss our friend Barbara, and cherish the happy memories of her.
Chatham's Star Library
by Joe Gagliano, Trustee President

Libraries are truly a treasure. They are a free and convenient source of inspiration, knowledge and discovery. They provide access to information in many desirable forms: prose, poetry, audio, video, Internet and lecture. As libraries go, of course, the Eldredge Public Library stands tall. For the eighth consecutive year, the Eldredge has received a Four Star rating from the Library Journal Index of Star Ratings, based on Star Libraries annual Federal Public Library surveys. It is one of only 261 libraries in the U.S. to receive this prestigious Star Library award. This puts the Eldredge in the top 3% of the 9082 public libraries in the country. The awards are based upon per capita measures of circulation, visits, program attendance and computer use, as measured against overall peer averages.
      This accomplishment is even more amazing when one considers that many of the libraries receiving the award are in large cities with budgets of ten million dollars or more. The awards are spread among 40 states. New York ranked first with 39 awards. Massachusetts ranked fourth with 15.
This consistent recognition of the Eldredge as a superior library is a tribute indeed to the leadership, staff and volunteers who work so hard and responsively to plan for and serve the library's patrons. They are truly worthy of our gratitude and appreciation.
 
You Gotta Have Friends!
by Irene Gillies, Library Director 

     Why do both the Friends of the Library and the Library itself have fundraising activities? Because it takes a joint effort to keep our 4-star-rated activities going! The money raised in the Library's Annual Fund Drive goes toward paying our operating costs: utilities, salaries, new books, etc. The money raised by the Friends goes toward things not covered in our operating budget: equipment and furnishings, special programs, staff needs, and more. To which organization should you give? That's up to you. Both are equally important, so I'd suggest giving to both if you're able!     Drop Box
     Some recent gifts, large and small, from the Friends include: our new drop-off box in the parking lot, a new, upgraded sound system in the meeting room, new projector and media cart, disc repair machine for CDs and DVDs, a replacement for our Jeopardy game system, a document shredder for the office, a new mobile whiteboard, numerous web services, and a luncheon for the Library staff in honor of their hard work. Coming soon is a new picnic table for the convenience of our outdoor Wi-Fi users. This is just the tip of the iceberg of all the things the Friends do for us, and without this help we would be a much-diminished Library. So I repeat: you gotta have Friends!
Family Adventures in Reading (FAIR) Comes to the EPL!
by Tammy DePasquale, Youth Services Librarian 


FAIR is a six-week reading and discussion program for Jack Gilman caregivers and children ages 6 to 11 years old. Sponsored by Mass Humanities, this grant-funded series introduces families to professional storyteller Jackson Gilman who will meet each week at the library with registrants to creatively engage participants in guided discussions and storytelling activities featuring themes of courage, fairness, and dreams.
The Youth Services staff will be on hand, as well, to highlight library services available to registrants. A healthy snack will be provided each week. All participants will receive a canvas book bag and a book to keep.  Books up for discussion will be distributed and collected at each meeting.
Registration is Required. 
MassHumanities logoClick HERE for more information. 
  
Friends Count!
by Sherry Hesch, Friends Membership Chair 
    
Membership Brochure
Our 2015-2016 Friends of the Eldredge Public Library Membership Drive once again has met and even exceeded expectations. The loyalty of long time Friends is gratifying, especially to our hardworking EPL staff and volunteers. It is also uplifting to welcome new members and supporters from past years who have rejoined the Friends. Their generous financial support continues to provide the "extras" that help make the EPL what it is for all of us. If you have not yet joined this year, please log on to www.eldgredgelibrary.org, select "Donate" and then "Friends Membership" and complete the secure online form.
Once again, we thank all who have responded and we recognize the volunteers who provide time, effort and expertise in support of our able and dedicated library staff.

Volunteer Highlight: Sharon Oudemool
by Beth Holden, Friends President 
 
Sharon Oudemool, a retired elementary school librarian, has worn many hats at the Eldredge Library. For some time she has been a Tuesday afternoon volunteer at the desk, but she has been busy behind the scenes for almost as many years. For the last year and a half sharon Oudemoolshe has been an ex officio member of the Friends Board of Trustees, having served the two previous years as board president. During that time she was very involved  with the updating of both the Forgeron Meeting Room and the Staff Office at the library, a large monetary commitment of the Friends. When she has some spare time, she is very involved in the Master Gardener program as well as her own garden.  Thank you Sharon for your commitment to the EPL.
What's New for You at the Library!

Youth Services is about to add several Playaway Launchpads to its media collection. Launchpads are the first secure, launchpad preloaded children's learning tablets designed specifically for circulation. Borrowers will enjoy ad-free educational apps grouped by subject, theme, and grade and age level.

You now have access to even more FREE ebooks and axis 360 eaudiobooks through the Commonwealth eBooks program. If you need help getting started reading the library emedia
, you can register for a lesson, download an instruction sheet, or stop by the Library  and talk to Reference Librarian Amy Andreasson.  
It's Tax Time!IRS forms
 
While supplies last, forms are available at the Library.  Need a special form? We can print it for you.

Eldredge Public Library | (508) 945-5170 | 564 Main Street| Chatham, MA 02633
Visit us online at www.eldredgelibrary.org