Blog Closed and Archived for Posterity

I started this Blog several years ago when I was the Operations Director at the Boyertown Community Library. It was a fun and interesting way to post information about books, library events and the BCL in general. It also gave me an opportunity to inform everyone about the tragic fire in the apartment above the library and the resulting death of our good friend and tenant, Loah Whitmore. I was glad I had this Blog as a venue to post a eulogy for her. She was a good friend to me.

Unhappily, the state budget cuts experienced by libraries in Pennsylvania severely affected our busy little Boyertown library and in order to continue operations the staff of the library was (to use school terminology) constricted and my position was eliminated.  I was laid off. The BCL director, Mark Sullivan, sent me information about every job opening he became aware of in nearby libraries and it was because of his information that I now have a full time job again at another library just a half hour away.

National Gaming Day @ Your Library

It's happening right here in Boyertown! -From 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm on Saturday - November 14, 2009.

That's right, come to the library to have some good family fun, meet new friends, play a favorite game or maybe try one you've been wondering about.

Game playing encourages a unique interaction between people - young and old, family members or new friends. It involves teamwork and individual strategies, knowledge and creativity. Game playing also teaches good sportsmanship and helps to develop social skills.

The Boyertown Community Library will be joining hundreds of libraries all across the country in offering the opportunity for library users to come and play games at the library. There will be Scrabble, Clue, Yahtzee, Monopoly, Pictureka!, Upwords, Stratego, Checkers, and Chess (just to name a few) at the Boyertown Community Library.

For more information about National Gaming Day check out this website... http://ilovelibraries.org/gaming/
We hope to see you having fun at the library this Saturday!

November Teen Lock-In!

What are you doing on Friday the 13th? Teenagers are going to be testing their luck at the library by playing Board Games during the Teen Lock-In.

Games such as Yahtzee and Apples to Apples will surely be a good test of luck... but other games such as Clue, Scrabble, and Pictureka! will test their skills. There'll also be a surprise or two!

There is still room for more teens to sign up, just call the library at 610-369-0496 to get on the list. The Lock-In runs from 6:00 to 10:00 pm Friday the 13th of November. Sodas, Snacks and Pizza (for $1.50 per slice) will be available for refreshments.

Check out "The Author Hour"

Here's your chance to hear great interviews by Matthew Peterson with bestselling "Fantastic Fiction" authors. This site has recorded conversations for you to listen to each week beginning on October 15th. Just click on the title of this post to go to the site!

The first program "Satire, Puns and Humor" features Terry Pratchett, Eoin Colfer, Jody Lynn Nye and Piers Anthony. Great authors in the Sci Fi and Fantasy worlds.

The program is like any radio show so there are commercials even in the archived early episodes, but the insight and information you'll hear is well worth your time. Additional questions and comments that were not included in the live programs are available to hear on the website- http://theauthorhour.com/ -you'll have a good laugh.

Free Parenting Class

"Parenting a Preschooler" is a FREE series of 3 once-a-week classes for parents of young children held in the library this Fall on Oct 29 and Nov 5 & 12.

Just 90 minutes in length each week, this course won the 2004 Best Practices in Early Learning award from the state organization, Pennsylvania Public Libraries. It is based on a comprehensive course written by national parenting experts including Michael H. Popkin, Ph.D of Active Parenting. Our mini-course is taught by Joan Polk, a nurse for the Boyertown Area School Ditsrict.

Mothers and fathers are invited to register for these 3 classes in which they will gain confidence in raising their young children; gain understanding of the power of encouragement and appropriate discipline; and learn what are realistic expectations to have as their children grow.

With the cooperation of a local Girl Scout Troop we will be able to offer babysiting/story/activity times for the children of participating parents.

Pre-registration is required. Please stop in or call the library to sign up. 610-369-0496

October '09 TEEN Lock-In

Halloween is approaching and so is the release of the next movie in the Twilight series. So what will be the theme for the October 23 Lock-In?

...TWILIGHT! Vampires! & Werewolves!

If you haven't read the Twilght books or seen the first movie... don't worry, there have been tales of vampires and werewolves for hundreds of years - you're sure to know some bit of scary lore. Remember Dracula? Or An American Werewolf in Paris?

Come dressed as your favorite vampire or wolfman. Have you ever tried to eat pizza with fangs? There'll be party games including the new favorite... Extreme Musical Chairs; and movie clips. We'll also have a trivia game and some fun prizes to win.

Don't forget to sign up and if you have never been to a Lock-In before remember to sign the rules agreement and have your parents read and sign it too.

The pizza is $1.50 per slice which helps defray the cost of the soda as well.
The Lock-In runs from 6:00 to 10:00 PM on Friday October 23, 2009.

Grand Prize Winners Announced!

Excitement is in the air! Winners are being announced!

The final drawings have been held for the Berks County Public Libraries Summer Reading Grand Prizes for 13 to 18 year olds and for children 12 and under. Plus the Local Grand Prize winner has been determined for the Boyertown Adult Summer Reading Program.

Winner of the laptop computer for children under age 12 was James Phyrillas (11) who visited the Exeter Community Library. His mom said to him... "That's what you get for reading so much!"

Winner of the laptop computer for teens age 13 - 18 was Megan Stehman (13) who visited the Boyertown Community Library. Megan said she didn't have access to a computer at home and always came to the library to use the computers there.

Winner of the Boyertown Adult Summer Reading Grand Prize was Connie Jordan of Barto. She brings her children to the storytimes at the library and finds time to read for herself as well. She said, "I never win anything!" Now she has a plethora of prizes: a beautiful Hand-blown Glass Vase from Taylor Backes; a gift certificate and bone-shaped treat saver from The Spotted Dog Barkery; gift certificates from Island Breeze Tanning Salon, George's Barbershop, Gracefully Framed gift shop, & Joseph's Styling Salon; two autographed books; an engraved pen from Winner's Choice Awards; a gift card for The Red Hills Tavern; and a gift certificate towards a stay at the Twin Turrets Bed and Breakfast.

Congratulations to all our winners! Keep reading everyone!
Reading is always rewarding!