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RPL Receives A Beautiful Gift!
The Table in front of RPL's Historic Fireplace
Harry and Kristen with their table, tiles by Nancy Valley
It began with a visit to the Rye Public Library in December of last year. Local Artists Nancy Valley and Harry Lowell brought a proposal to Library Director Andy Richmond that outlined a unique piece of furniture they intended to create then donate to the Library. Through a photograph and pencil sketches, the concept of a hardwood coffee table containing twelve tiles picturing a folk history of Rye Harbor emerged. Nancy Valley, a member of the Rye Historical Society and wife of Rye author Bruce Valley is the ceramic artist, and Harry Lowell along with his helper Kristen Quimby achieved the master woodwork to produce the table which holds the tiles. Together, the product is a lovely oak table with a colorful tile map framed by the table top woodwork. The table was sized to take a place of honor in the historic "living room" area of the Library in front of the original fireplace.
This lovely and uniquely "Rye" creation has now joined the ranks of the many gifts enhancing the Rye Public Library furnishings received over the years. A recent survey of historic donations found them soundly in place in the Library building. The Valley/Lowell table takes its place among other treasures like the 100+ year old grandfather clock, painting of George Washington, and snowy owls presented to the Library historically.
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Director of the Rye Public Library
receives N.H. State Award of Excellence
Tuesday October 13, 2015
New Hampshire Library Trustees Association President Ed Moran traveled to Rye on Tuesday evening October 13th to present RPL Director Andy Richmond with the 2015 New Hampshire Library Director of the Year award. A reception following the presentation was attended by the Board of Trustees of the Rye Public Library, who nominated Richmond for the award, as well as members of the Friends of the Rye Public Library (who received an NHLTA award of excellence last year), library staff, town of Rye representatives and the public. During the presentation NHLTA President Moran commended Richmond for his work at RPL and highlighted some of the details that lead to his selection for the award-- described as: "Honoring those special contributors who connect your Library to the Community." In her remarks, Rye Public Library Trustee Chair Karen Oliver affirmed the Board's nominating points that Richmond works steadily to promote the library and to be part of the community. "Andy is all of that and more." said Oliver. The award plaque will hold an honored position in the Rye Public Library and will nicely compliment the Friends' 2014 award. Both plaques along with other significant historical RPL memorabilia can be viewed in the New Hampshire room at the Library.
See Portsmouth Herald article here
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Book Review- I'll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson Lisa Houde RPL Director of Youth Services
 I'll Give you the Sun is a unique, lyrical, and magical coming of age novel which intricately explores the fragile relationship between fraternal twins Noah and his sister Jude. The twins grapple with their identities following a life-changing event and they both explore their passion for art, a central theme of the book, to help them find the way. The reader watches as they move from having childlike finite definitions of the world to an understanding that not everything in life is so easily labeled. Told in alternating voices, I was initially unimpressed by the hyperbolic statements Noah employs in his narrative, but I grew to love them as a unique expression of his character. As he starts falling for the neighbor boy, and as Jude develops an interest in boys as well, struggles ensue, and their complicated relationships are realistically portrayed. In fact, not only their relationship with one another and perspective romantic interests are well drawn, so are the relationships of their parents and adults in the story - and therein lies a mystery involving infidelities and other long-buried secrets. I just loved this beautifully constructed novel; I fell in love with Noah, I fell in love with Jude, and I'm not alone - the novel received lots of "hardware" this spring - it won the 2015 Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature and was a 2015 Stonewall Honor Book - among many others! Teens will no doubt find themselves in these pages - but no one should miss reading I'll Give You the Sun! |
