Upgrade available for Overdrive Media Console used for downloadable audiobooks service

We've just received word from our downloadable audiobooks vendor, Overdrive, that an upgraded version of their media console is now available for download. You can get it here. The new software upgrade includes the long-awaited CD burner wizard, explained here in Overdrive's press release:

"In response to the overwhelmingly positive feedback we received from our Transfer Wizard, we have added a Burn to CD Wizard. With OMC v3.0, patrons no longer need to launch Windows Media Player to burn to CD. Instead, in just a few clicks, patrons can burn WMA audio titles through OMC. Clicking the Burn button launches the Burn Wizard, which guides the user through this simple and straightforward burn process. For your audiobook users who burn titles to CD, they will be excited to learn that the new Burn Wizard splits OverDrives Audiobook parts into tracks (based on the existing MediaMarkers), allowing users to more easily navigate content they have burned to CD."

What to expect from new library system in August, cont...

Have you ever found a number of titles in our online catalog and wanted to place hold requests on them, but found that you could only place such requests one at a time, and not all at once? Our new system coming in August will enable hold requests to be placed on multiple items at once. In addition, it will also allow hold requests to be placed on individual items, such as particular magazine issues. Say you're interested in this month's issue of Martha Stewart's Living--you'll be able to place a hold on just that issue. We were very excited to hear of these system capabilities and we hope you'll be too when our new system is deployed.

What to expect with new library system, continued...

In a previous post we indicated that our new library system coming in August will support email reminder notices of materials coming due. Another nifty function of the new system will be the ability to limit your searches of the online catalog in many different ways, among which will include limiting searches to items that are currently available. The idea behind this function is to help you find only what's currently on the shelf for the immediate taking in the library and not what's checked out and therefore not of immediate interest.

What to expect with new library system - email reminder notices

As mentioned in a recent post, we'll be converting to a new library system in August. Besides keeping you up to date about the latest developments with respect to the August conversion, we thought that you'd also like to hear in the ensuing weeks about some of the many features that the new system will support. One of the features will be a courtesy email reminder notice of your borrowed items coming due. How do you like that? - Being reminded about borrowed items' due dates before they're due! If you'd like to benefit from such a service, you'll have to make sure that we have your email address. You can give us your email by going to your account here and then editing your account profile to include your email address or by stopping by the front desk during your next library visit.

New Integrated Library System Coming in August

One of the tremendous advantages of being a member of a multi-library consortium is that, by pooling our resources together, we can bring you the latest and greatest in resources that would otherwise be very difficult to provide. Recently, we were able to expand our online request service so that you could place requests on any requestable materials available at any of the 11 consortium libraries, and not just the Hooksett Library, this thanks to our consortium membership.
The good news does not stop there. We are happy to report that, after a year's worth of research and planning at the consortial level, we are going to be able to markedly improve how we serve you technologically. That's because we are going to convert to a whole new integrated library system (ILS), which comes with a more user-friendly, state of the art, online catalog and a lot of behind the scenes stuff that will help us serve you better. Our target conversion date is sometime towards the end of August. We'll keep you posted as things develop. By all means contact us if you have any questions before then.

2008 Flume Book Award Winner

The votes are in and the 2008 Flume Book Award Winner is New Moon, the second book of Stephenie Meyer's popular Twilight series. The voting breakdown was as follows:

New Moon	254
Just Listen	87
Marley and Me	42
The Book Thief	40
Life as We Knew It	39
Lord Loss	39
The Glass Castle	38
Heavy Metal and You	35
A Certain Slant of Light	20
The Night My Sister Went Missing	16
King Dork	11
Over a Thousand Hills I Walk with You	10
The Minister's Daughter	5
Total votes cast	636

New website alias

I don't know about you, but I often found it a nuisance to have to type the rather cumbersome web address of our website: "http://www.hooksett.lib.nh.us". Inevitably, I would forget to type a period or forget which order the "nh" and "us" came in. Well, we've solved these issues by adding an alias to our web domain. You can now navigate to our website by simply typing "hooksettlibrary.org" in your browser's address bar. If you use Firefox as your browser, it'll automatically add the "http://" prefix. This alias even applies to our email domain extension, so if you want to reach us via email, you don't have to type "@hooksett.lib.nh.us" for the domain name, but only "@hooksettlibrary.org". Not only does this change make our web address more intuitive, it also makes us more accessible in cyberspace. We hope you like the change.

"Show us your flowers week"

The week of May 5th through May 10th is "Show us your flowers week". Join the staff and wear your flowered shirt, dress or maybe your tie. If you do not have clothing with flowers, wear one in your hair or on your lapel.

Top 10 Banned Books of 2007

Every year the American Library Association tabulates the number of books that are challenged by special interest groups for questionable and/or controversial content. The list of last year's top 10 "banned" books is out and here are the titles:

1. And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
2. The Chocolate War by Rober Cormier
3. Olive's Ocean by Kevin Henkes
4. The Golden Compass by Phillip Pullman
5. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
6. The Color Purple by Alice Walker
7. TTYL by Lauren Myracle
8. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
9. It's Perfectly Normal by Robie Harris
10. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Read them for yourself and see if you can guess why they were challenged.

Edible Books 2008 Photos

Check out our photos from this year's edible book contest which took place Saturday, April 12th. Kevin Lane's entry was inspired by the book "Who Moved My Cheese". Roxanne Kate's entry was based on the series "Sweet Potato Queens", Lee Ann Chase's, by "Fast Food Nation" or "Super Size Me", and Mark Glisson's, by "Toasting Tina". The votes are in with the following results in the order of highest to lowest votes:

1. "Super Size Me".
   
2. "Who Moved My Cheese".
   
3. Tied for third place: "Sweet Potato Queens" and "Toasting Tina".
   

A big "Thank You" for all who participated.

Changes at the HPL!

Design gurus Mark and Lee Ann put their heads together and rearranged the furniture in the reference section, make sure you come down and check it out! While you’re here, make sure you also take a look at our ever-expanding CD, audio book, and DVD collections!

Library Easter Egg Hunt for the Hooksett-ites

The Hooksett-ites enjoyed a special Easter Egg Hunt that we prepared for them this morning during their regular Friday visit to the library. We thought that this would be a great way to say "Thank You" for their very gracious and generous help in stuffing the Easter eggs for last month's Children's Easter Egg Hunt. Among all the 200+ eggs hidden throughout the library, Elizabeth Stewart found the surprise jumbo egg which we hid in a plant in the Children's room. By finding this prize egg, she won a collector's item in the form of a crystal egg.

New resource added to our reference site

We've added a very content rich medical reference resource to our reference tools page. It's called MedlinePlus, a U.S. Government sponsored site recommended by doctors to help consumers learn more about their health, find information for school projects, look up info on prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines, and prepare for doctor's visits. Check it out and enjoy the resources there!

Spring? It's Coming!

Check out our new Spring has Sprung book display! On the table in front of the quiet study room you will find numerous books to help you whip your garden into shape. Spring is just around the corner, (we hope!), and now is the perfect time to start planning your garden!

Expanded Request Service

We've made it even easier for you to get the material you want by expanding our online request service. Previously, your requests made in our online catalog applied only to Hooksett Library holdings. And, if we didn't have the item, you had to contact us and make an interlibrary loan request or drive to a GMILCS library which had the item and pick it up there. Now, your requests extend to holdings in all participating GMILCS libraries. In addition, if we don't have the item you're looking for, but a participating GMILCS library does, all you have to do is request it online in the "All GMILCS" catalog, and you'll even be able to choose the pick up location for the item. If you'd like to find out more about this expanded service, watch the short presentation here.

Easter Egg Hunt Photos 20080322

Everyone had a blast during this year's Easter Egg Hunt and party. All 120+ participants. We held the event indoors, since the ground was snow-covered outside. Many thanks to everyone who helped out: Hooksett Kiwanis Builders Club of Cawley Middle School, the Hooksett-ites, the Friends of the Library, and many others!

Foyer Display by Massabesic Audubon Center

Stop by and check out the beautiful Spring display in our front foyer, courtesy of the Massabesic Audubon Center. When you see it you'll really think Spring. If only we could leave the display up year round! It's that impressive. Visit the Massabesic Audubon Center at 26 Audubon Way in Auburn and find out what programs they're offering to celebrate Spring. You can also visit them at www.nhaudubon.org.

Edible Book Contest on April 12th 2008

We’re “cooking” up a real treat to kick off National Library Week during the second week in April. Do the titles “The Cherry Cheesecake Murder,” “How to Eat Fried Worms,” and “Everything on a Waffle,” ring a bell? They were last year’s entries in our first-ever “Edible Book” contest. We’re hosting the contest once again this year on April 12th, since it was quite the hit. If you’d like to participate, please contact us no later than April 11th at 485-6092 or at hplbooks@hooksett.lib.nh.us to register. The rules are simple: (1) Everyone can participate: the young, the old, the professional and non-professional, residents and non-residents, and even groups. (2) Entries must be book-related. Examples of this can be found in our photos of last year’s contest here or in photos from the international contest here. (3) Entries can be made out of anything, as long as it is edible. (4) Entries must be family-friendly. (5) Participants can enter up to 3 entries. (6) Registration is free.

Scheduled activities for the day:

1. 9:00am-10:00am: Drop off entries.
2. 10:00am-3:00pm: Voting by public.
   
3. 2:00pm-4:00pm: Cake decorating demonstration and other crafts/activities/games.
4. 4:00pm: Awards.

If you don't feel inclined to submit an entry, but would like to volunteer your time to help out with the various activities and cake decorating demonstration, please let us know at 485-6092.

Won't you wear a sweater on March 20th?

In honor of what would have been Mister Rogers' 80th birthday we are asking that you join us and wear your favorite sweater on March 20th. It doesn't have to be a zipper sweater like Mr. Rogers wore, it just has to be special to you.

Computer Instruction at the HPL

Are you looking to improve your computer skills? Need help setting up or maintaining an email account? Would you like some extra tips and training? Well, you are in luck! Starting in April you will be able to sign up for FREE, one on one, half hour computer instruction!

Dr. Seuss Night

Thursday, March 27th is Dr. Seuss Night at the Library. Starting at 6:30 PM, we will have guest readers, activities and a Birthday cake for Dr. Seuss!! Come and enjoy a night of rhyming fun! For kids up to 10 years of age. Let's have a WUBULOUS Time!

Get Cooking at the HPL

Looking to try some new recipes? Want to impress friends and family with your culinary genius? Or are you just trying to boil a pot of water without burning it? Come to the Hooksett Public Library and browse our collection of cookbooks for inspiration and tips. Learn to cook food from all over the world- Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia with “Curry Cuisine”. Or, get some gluten-free baking recipes from “Great Gluten-Free Baking”. We have two new cupcake books: “Hey There, Cupcake” and Betty Crocker’s “Decorating Cakes and Cupcakes”. And for you Food Network people we have Rachel Ray, Alston Brown, Paula Deen cookbooks plus DVDs! And for you fancier folk we have Jacques Pepin’s “Fast Food My Way”.

In addition we have a large selection of books on wine, specialty diets, food allergies, and overall health. As always, if we don’t have what you’re looking for just ask at the desk and we’ll be happy to order it for you!

Reference webpage tutorials

In a previous blog entry, we reported that we had added a search toolbox to our reference webpage to make searching through the variety of resources a bit more user-friendly. We hope that you've had a chance to experiment with it. We're now working on adding some video tutorials on how to use some of the resources. If you're like the average person, seeing a demonstration is better than just reading about it. So, keep an eye on the reference webpage for these additions/updates. If there's anything else that you'd like to see there, let us know here. Until then, best of luck with your research projects.

HPL Reference

Looking to take the LSAT, GMAT, SAT, or PRAXIS soon? Interested in learning more about the GRE or Law Enforcement test? Look no farther than the HPL! Here at the HPL we strive to bring YOU, the patron the latest and the greatest in reference and one such tool is “Learnatest”. This innovative learning implement is available online from our reference tools section. Simply log in using the barcode on the back of your library card and off you go! Also, feel free to stop by or give us a call with any questions!

Bored? Head down to the HPL!

Are you looking for a new hobby or interest? Have cabin fever after so much snow and too much time indoors? Well, the HPL has a cure! As you enter the library, look to the table on your left, where you will find a display of books entitled “Try something new in the New Year”. You can find all kinds of interesting and new hobbies, from building birdhouses to playing better bridge. Other titles deal with subjects such as using GPS, Sea Kayaking, Mahjong, T’ai Chi, Swing Dancing, and even gender specific woodworking projects. If you can’t quite find what you’re looking for let us know and we’ll be happy to help you!

Easter Egg Hunt and Party:

We have begun planning for our annual Easter egg hunt which will occur on Saturday, the 22nd of March. This year we will have two schedules for egg hunters. 1-5 year olds will start at 10am and 6+ year olds will start at 11am. A special prize will be awarded to the one in the older group who finds the golden egg which will be hidden for them. We'll provide crafts and activities during the event. Refreshments will also be available. Bring your own Easter egg baskets. Registration is requested but not required. Register here or call us at 485-6092.

Update on Reader Reviews on our online catalog:

Since we're the first users of the new Chilifresh.com reader review service, the sooner you register to do a review of your favorite titles on our online catalog, you'll be able to pick a unique user name that noone else will be able to use. In addition, when someone clicks on your user name associated with your review of a given title, others will be able to see all your reviews. So, if readers liked the same title that you did, then it's likely that they'll like other titles that you liked and will then add them to their reading lists. As a reminder, in order to write a review, find the "write a review" link (if the title has not yet been reviewed) or the "reader rating" link (if the title has been reviewed). To view a single or multiple reviews of a given title, click on the "# reviews" link. Note: you must enable pop-ups in your browser or at least add chilifresh.com to your unblocked pop-up list. Enjoy!

New Navigation Toolbox on our Reference Page

In our ongoing efforts to make our Reference webpage more user-friendly, we've created a new navigation toolbox! This change will enable users to navigate to our various online resources, either by reference categories or by individual resources. When selecting any item in the toolbox's drop down boxes, the user is taken directly to the resource or resource category in question. Of course, subscription based resources will still prompt you for your patron barcode, but once logged in for that browsing session, you will be able to move between the various resources with ease. Tell us what you think!

Parent shelf-Teachers Resource shelf

The parent shelf in the children's room has moved. It is now at the end of the children's videos. The teachers resource shelf is now on the shelf to the left of
Miss Vickie's desk.

So much to do at the HPL!

There's so much to do at the Hooksett Public Library! AARP is here to help with taxes on Tuesdays from 5:00pm - 8:00pm and Fridays from 10:00am - 2:00pm. On Thursdays you can swing by and drop off your recycling. Fridays and Saturdays? You can come in and pick up a couple of DVDs to watch, without paying the Blockbuster prices! Of course, we also offer books, c.d.'s and audiobooks! If we don't have what you're looking for let us know, we're always happy to order your desired item from another library!

New Hampshire Maps

Look around the library and you will see many New Hampshire maps from the 4th grade classes at Hooksett Memorial School. Every year the 4th graders are assigned the project of creating their own NH map from any material they wish.Some are made from Leggos, others out of clay,many with many colors and some with added pictures from around the state! I wish that I could have brought all the maps for everyone to see, but this is just a small sampling of the many that are now on display at the school.Hope you enjoy them!!

Book 3 in Paolini's Inheritance Series - finally!

For fans of the Inheritance series by Paolini, you'll be happy to know that the third book, Brisingr, will be published in September - finally! You'll also be interested to know that Paolini was forced to make his originally planned trilogy into a quadrilogy, because the third book got so long that it needed two parts. You can read more about it here. As soon as we order the book, of which we'll probably have to order a couple of copies to meet the demands, we'll let you know. We'll also order the audiobook. Until then, keep practicing your Old Norse so you can understand the book's terminology.

Programming at the Library!

Hi everybody, Sarah here! A big part of my job is to organize programming for the library. Keep an eye on our calendar of events, in the upcoming weeks- I will be updating with a myriad of programs, everything from a clutter specialist to teen safety on the internet. I am always on the look out for new and interesting programs to bring to the Hooksett Public Library’s patrons! If you have any suggestions or ideas please, please, please contact me at the library, sfoster@hooksett.lib.nh.us or via telephone 603.485.6092

School vacation activities!!

Looking for some activities for your kids over school vacation week? Well, come to the library on Monday, February 25th at 1:00 PM for a Magic Tree House Day. We will have trivia, games and crafts, and some raffle items! Come dressed as Jack or Annie or your favorite character! For grades K-3rd.
We will have a movie day on Tuesday, February 26th beginning at 1:00 PM. Snow Buddies will be shown for all ages.
And on Thursday, February 28th, join us for a Special Nighttime Storyhour on Dental Health.This event will begin at 6:30 PM and is for ages 3 to 8.
Spend some vacation time at the library!!

Crazy Hat week staff photos

Ladies Night Expo

The Hooksett Public Library’s 2^nd annual Ladies Night Expo will be held this Thursday, January 31^st, 2008. Doors will open at 6 p.m. and the party will continue until 9 p.m. Come prepared to shop, since many of our 30+ vendors will be offering their wares at a special discount. Also, there will be plenty of freebies and door prizes, as well as free massages and spray on tanning as well as a demonstration from Pedals and Pilates! Grab your daughter, sister, mother, and girlfriends and come down to the library for a relaxing, fun evening!

TODDLER TIME

Toddler Time is for any child 3 and under and is held on the first Monday of each month starting at 9:30 AM. We sing songs, read books, play games, learn fingerplays, and color. The children learn to socialize. Parents can receive support from others, and make new friendships in the town. (Especially for new residents). So join us for a fun time at Toddler Time!!

Childrens Met pass

Great news! The Childrens Metamorphis Museum is staying open. The museum passes are now available with a change. The passes are now available Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday 9:30-5:00, Friday 9:30-8:00 and Sunday 1:00-5:00. You may reserve your pass on line, call us or just come in and visit with us.

Reader reviews from Chilifresh

You asked for it and we have done it! You can now enter reader reviews in our online catalog. Loved a book you've read recently? Add a review! Not sure if you want to read the latest Grisham? Read what other readers have said!
This service has been contacted from Chilifresh and will appear on your screen as a pop-up window. Please allow pop-ups from chilifresh.com to allow for it to work.
Enjoy!

GUITAR HERO NIGHT

Guitar Hero Night has been quite a success here at the library!
The 3rd Thursday of every month, pre-teens and teens meet to play head-to-head in rock and roll competition! It's become so popular that we need to have 2 set-ups each month. In February, we will have a play-off on the big screen, and for anyone who is just starting out, try the game out for yourself!!
Hope to see you on February 21st at 6:00 PM.

New blog syndication features added

Since we've been updating our blog on a more regular basis of late, we thought it would be a good idea to make it easier for you to keep track of our latest posts. At the top of the right panel of our blog you will now see two widgets. The first of these will allow you to subscribe to our blog through your favorite feed reader and the second, through your email service. We hope that you will enjoy these new features and the new posts as well. Happy reading!

Looking to join a kid's book club?

Do you like to read? Do you like to talk about the great book that you just finished reading? Do you wish you could talk about the book with others who have enjoyed it too? Then come to our once-a-month book club. We will meet the second Thursday of each month. Book titles will be announced 2 months ahead of time so you will have plenty of time to read them!! If you need a copy of any of the books that will be read, just let us know and we will order one for you! February's pick is: So B. It by Sarah Weeks and March's pick is: Holes by Louis Sachars. The meetings begin at 6:30 PM.
Hope to see you there!

2008 Caldecott Winners Announced

2008 Caldecott Winner:

The Invention of Hugo Cabret: a novel in words and pictures

Honor titles:

Henry's Freedom Box, Ellen Levine
First the Egg, Laura Vaccaro Seeger
The Wall, Peter Sis
Knuffle Bunny Too: a case of mistake identity, Mo Willems

2008 Newbery Award Winners Announced

2008 Newbery Award Winner: Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!: Voices from a Medieval Village by Laura Amy Schlitz


Honor titles:
Elijah of Buxton, Christopher Paul Curtis
Wednesday Wars, Gary Schmidt
Feathers, Jacqueline Woodson

Dog whisperer

Check it out! We know have the Dog Whisperer on DVD. We have season 1 and season 2.
He has some very good ideas on helping you with your dog.

Ladies Night

Ladies, Mark your calendars and call your girlfriends! The library is putting on a night just for you!
We will have area businesses here to show your their wares! So far, we have Pilates & Pedals from Bedford bringing a mini trampoline, way fun!
Mama Chix will bring an assortment of their absolutely gorgeous purses and accessories!
We have Mary Kay, Avon, Tastefully Simple ladies from Hooksett.
We will have a masseuse on hand and chocolate galore!
Giveaways and door prizes to boot! So, pick up the phone and call that girlfriend you haven't had an outing with in a while and come visit us for a great night!
For more information, please see call us at 485-6092 or email Sarah Foster at sfoster@hooksett.lib.nh.us
We welcome new vendors who are interested! The event is free to all, vendors and attendees alike!

Resume resources at the Library

Did you know that you can learn how to compose a resume by using our LearnATest reference tool? Just visit our reference page and click on the LearnATest link under the "Consumers" heading. From there you have to set up an account, if you haven't done so already, by simply using your library barcode as the user name and then creating a password. Once logged in, you can find a great resume writing course which takes you through the steps to writing a polished resume that fits your needs. In case you didn't already know, Microsoft Word also has a resume wizard tool that will help you to design a suitable resume. Come in to the library and we'll be happy to get you started, and if you bring your own resume quality paper, you can print your resume on our laser printer.

Girl Scout Cookie Castles at the Library

Come visit us in the Children's Room and see the display of 29 Cookie Castles created by Hooksett Girl Scouts. This yearly event is a Kick-off for Girl Scout Cookie Sales. Each troop began with the same ingredients, but was also able to choose an extra item to decorate. See if you can guess what each extra ingredient was for each castle!! Hooksett Girl Scouts can start a group as early as kindergarten as Daisies, on up to Brownies, Juniors, Cadettes and Seniors!

Crazy hat week

Come in the week of Jan 7th-12th and join the staff for "Crazy hat week". We will be taking photos of everyone to put in our photo gallery.

Library Calendar of Events

For those of you who frequent our homepage, you will have noticed that we display our calendar of events there in a list format. The list consists of up to 10 upcoming library events over a 30 day period. Each of these events are hyperlinked to our event calendar program where you can see a description of the event and also use cool tools, such as...

1. save the event to your MS Outlook program,
2. tell a friend of the event via email,
3. or set up a reminder of the event to be sent to you via email.

If you'd like to see a full month's view of our events while you're on our homepage, you can simply click on the "Library Calendar of Events" link at the top of the events list. From there, you'll see a calendar view and will be able to click on the day of the month to access the more detailed info about the day's events. Enjoy!

Reader's Advisory Resource...

Looking for a great resource to help you find a good book or author to read? Check out "NoveList Reader's Advisory" on our "Reference Tools" page on our website. I was reminded of how useful this resource is the other day when I happened to be looking for a new series to recommend to a relative of mine who likes mysteries, but without the "racy" stuff. My first recourse was to a co-worker, since I thought that she might have read the particular author whom I had in mind, viz., Mary Higgins Clark. She said that she hadn't read anything by the author, so we both headed right for the "NoveList Reader's Advisory" website and found just what we were looking for. Under "Author Read-alikes" we searched the alphabetized list of authors for Mary Higgins Clark and then found this brief summary of Clark's style of writing:

"Consummate storyteller Clark, author of more than two dozen best-selling Suspense novels, writes fast-paced, intricately plotted, compelling stories of women and children in jeopardy, but told without the sex, violence, or vulgar language sometimes associated with the genre and more generally with best-selling fiction" --NoveList.

This was just what I needed so that I could comfortably recommend this author to my relative. She is now well on her way to a whole new series of titles to read.

Audiobooks on your MP3 player...

Christmas is just around the corner. Among the gifts that you might receive for the holiday will be an MP3 player, or a gift card to buy one. If you're looking for a free resource for downloading content to it, that is, besides music, we've got the answer: downloadable audiobooks. From here, you can download some of your favorite titles and listen to them while you're trying to live up to your New Year's resolutions, which might include exercising! New titles are being added every week, so check it out!

Join Us Tonight!

Wrap and Relax at the Library!
Stop in and sip mulled cider while listening to Christmas carols.
Wrap gifts away from prying eyes while you chat with friends!
Christmas cards you still haven't written? Join Heather and LeeAnn while they write their Christmas cards, wrap gifts and enjoy the Holiday Season!

Changes to our reference webpage

We've added some useful resources to our Reference Tools webpage. These links formerly lived on the now discontinued "Recommended Links" webpage of our website.

1. Test Prep Review– a free service of a nonprofit group of educators, providing practice test questions for students in a variety of career situations.
2. Best of the Internet– internet resources selected by the New Hampshire State Library.
3. NH Authors Searchable Database– contains information on over 1200 authors and illustrators who have called the Granite State their home. Writers who were born in New Hampshire, are current residents of New Hampshire, or who have spent a significant portion of their writing careers in New Hampshire, and who have at least one published book catalogued in a New Hampshire library have been included.
4. Bibliography Composer - WorksCited4U.com– automatically formats and alphabetizes bibliographic sources according MLA style standards.
5. Bookreporter.com– provides book reviews, interviews and excerpts on all the latest books as well as special features, polls, and contest about books, authors and reading.
6. ReadingGroupGuides.com– the first website built especially for reading groups, providing them with all they need to make their book club experience better than ever.
7. NH Newspapers Online– NH newspaper websites, listed by county.
8. NH Public Notices– searchable database of all public notices that run in the Union Leader, NH Sunday News and Nashua Telegraph.
9. FirstGov for Kids– kid-friendly, government-sponsored site, providing a framework for kids to explore the Internet; divided into educational subjects found in schools, the subjects are further divided into "Government, Organizations, Education, and Commercial," giving a full range of coverage of the various material.
10. KidsClick!– web search for kids by librarians.

If you have other useful links to suggest, let us know! Enjoy!

Santa is coming, are your kids?

Santa is coming to the Hooksett Library on Saturday! Are your kids registered to visit with Santa? Please join us and please register your child so Santa knows their name when he asks what they would like for Christmas this year. To register, please visit our homepage at www.hooksett.lib.nh.us

Friday Knitting Club

This Friday, our fearless knitting instructor will not be with us to provide knitting instruction. If you are looking for a cozy place to knit without instruction, please join us!

Wrapping Night at the Library!

• Special Gift Wrapping Party:
  • The library will be open for a special Friday night wrapping party on Friday, December 14th, from 6:00pm-9:00pm. Treat yourself to an evening out (away from the prying eyes of your family), when you can wrap presents, work on handmade gifts, trade craft ideas, or just sit down and write your holiday cards without interruptions. Bring your own cards, gift wrap, and craft supplies. We’ll supply scissors, tape, and room to spread out, as well as hot cider, holiday treats, and music of the season. Please register by phone (485.6092/email/in person).

Santa is coming to the library!

• Children's Annual Christmas Party:
  • On Saturday, December 8th, Santa's coming to town at the Hooksett Public Library! Join us for the fun and festivities, including refreshments supplied by the Friends of the Library. This year's theme is "Let it Snow". Festivities start at 9:30am. Registration is required so that we can better anticipate the size of the group. For more info and/or to register, call us at 485-6092, or email us. You can also register online here.

Where ya been?

The library wishes to apologize for the long absence from our blog space. We will now be updating the blog a minimum of three times a week and hopefully everday. Thank you for sticking with us.
Heather Shumway
Hooksett Public Library Director

Life on the Shelf_20070923

If you happen to visit the library during the last week in September, you will notice something very remarkable. No, it won’t be the fact that people are reading, browsing the collections, or checking out books. Rather, you will notice that one of our book displays is adorned with strips of yellow barricade police tape which says something to the effect of “police line, do not cross.” The reason for this remarkable adornment is to call attention to the actual books on display. The Harry Potter series, Of Mice and Men, The Giver, The Catcher in the Rye, The Lord of the Flies and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn are just a few that you’ll find there. These represent just a fraction of the books whose content has been formally challenged by special interest groups who deem the content unacceptable for public consumption and therefore think that such material should be banned.
In setting up this display during the last week of every September, a period referred to in the library world as “Banned Books Week,” we join a host of libraries throughout the country to raise awareness about the constant challenges to intellectual freedom. The celebrated children’s author, Judy Blume, says it best when she writes about the adverse consequences of such challenges: “[I]t's not just the books under fire now that worry me. It is the books that will never be written. The books that will never be read. And all due to the fear of censorship. As always, young readers will be the real losers.” So, join the rest of the country in celebrating intellectual freedom by reading a “banned” book.

Life on the Shelf_20070910

We had a very respectable turnout for our first-ever, themed book discussion, co-sponsored by the NH Humanities Council! Including the facilitator, we had 15 participants, 2 of whom traveled all the way from the New London/Sunapee area, and yet another from Bedford. In fact, interest generated from the selected title extended even to others who read the book, but did not actually participate in the evening’s discussion. And this was more than we could have hoped for. The book under discussion was "Amoskeag: Life and Work in an American Factory-City." It was a very novel treatment of a foundational era in Manchester’s history, blending both oral and non-oral accounts into a rich tapestry of history. In addition to being treated to the fascinating insights of the discussion facilitator, Prof. Don Sieker, we were also treated to the first-hand testimony of one of the discussion participants whose father was employed at the Amoskeag mills as a loom machinist before they closed in the mid 30s. Our hope is that next month’s read, The Kinship, by Ernest Hebert, will generate similar interest. Visit our website to learn more about the discussion series and how you can participate.

September Feature Film: Unaccompanied Minors

Wilmer Valderrama, Brett Kelly, Tyler J. Williams
Warner Bros.; Directed by Paul Feig
Rated PG; 95 minutes; 2006

“It’s the holiday season and a huge blizzard has shut down the Chicago’s O’Hare Airport. Five unaccompanied minors are determined to have their own holiday fun running wild inside the terminal, joyriding on golf carts and plummeting through baggage chutes all while outwitting and outrunning an uptight airport official and his gullible assistant.”
Copyright 2006 Swank Motion Pictures, Inc.

Join us on September 4th at 6:30pm in the Hebert Media room at the Hooksett Library to watch the movie. Both movie and popcorn are free!

Reading Road Trip: USA, with Simon Brooks as driver

On Thursday, August 16th at 6:00pm, storyteller Simon Brooks will lead listeners on a trip through the USA, using folk, faerie, historical, and tall tales as methods of transport! We might find out how stories first came to Turtle Island, or where a dead man’s handprint refuses to be removed in PA, as we follow tales across the American Continent. These rich, sometimes scary, sometimes humorous, always fun and exciting tales draw from the different cultures found in America. With Native American tales from time immemorial, to stories in the near past, Simon will also take you through time. Funny fables, historical hauntings, and tales so tall you cannot see the top, can all be found in Simon’s retellings as he takes you on Reading Road Trip USA. Materials given away will include a small map of the USA and story sources, stating where each tale geographically comes from. The storytelling lasts between 40-60 minutes. The program is best suited for those aged 5 and up, but suitable for the whole family. Registration is not required. Contact us at 485-6092 or at hplbooks@hooksett.lib.nh.us for more info. This event is sponsored by the Hooksett Kiwanis.

Fall Book Discussion Series

This Fall the Hooksett Library will host a four-part book discussion series under the title of "New Hampshire Voices." Thanks to a grant from the NH Humanities Council, visiting scholars have been engaged to present and facilitate discussions on pre-selected titles authored by NH authors and related to NH history. The schedule is as follows:

• Sep 6, Thurs, 6:30pm - Amoskeag: Life and Work in an American Factory City by Tamara Hareven & Randolph Langenbach.
• Oct 4, Thurs, 6:30pm - The Kinship by Ernest Hebert.
• Nov 1, Thurs, 6:30pm - Peyton Place by Grace Metalious.
• Dec 6, Thurs, 6:30 pm - Journal of a Solitude, by May Sarton.

Books will be provided. Stop by or call us at 485-6092 to reserve your book, or just email us by clicking here.

August 7th Feature Film: The Last Mimzy

The Last Mimzy (Joely Richardson, Timothy Hutton, Michael Clarke Duncan New Line Cinema; Directed by Robert Shaye Rated PG; 90 minutes; 2007): "Two ordinary siblings begin to develop extraordinary talents after they find a mysterious box of toys. The pair is soon learning from a stuffed rabbit named Mimzy who teaches them everything from science to levitation. Soon the kids, their parents and even their teacher are drawn into a strange and sometimes terrifying world." Showtime: 6:30pm. Free admission and free popcorn!

Bicycling Equipment/Memorabilia Collection

On your next visit to the library, have a look at Todd Rainier's display of his bicycling equipment and memorabilia, currently housed in our front foyer and especially timed to coincide with this month's annual Tour de France event.

Summer Rdg Program: Water Safety Night

Please join us on

Tuesday, July 10th at 7:00pm

for an informative evening on the subject of water safety, presented by Suzanne Fournier, a certified lifeguard and swim instructor. An interactive presentation, with video and discussion. Registration is not required.

Library Closed for 4th of July Holiday

The Hooksett Library will be closed on July 4th in observance of the holiday. We will resume our regular hours on Thursday, July 5th.

Happy 4th!

Summer Reading Program (Grades 1-5)

Buckle up and get ready to go! We start the Reading Road Trip USA summer reading program on Monday, July 9! There are many activities to take part in, but remember to register by visiting the front desk at the library, calling us at 485-6092, or emailing us at vdesh@hooksett.lib.nh.us:

• WEEKLY CONTEST: GUESS THE NATIONAL PARK!
• FAMILY PROJECT: CREATE A FUTURISTIC CAR OR VEHICLE!
• Visit any of the 83 participating Libraries to get your PASSPORT stamped, and we’ll see who can visit the most libraries this summer! Visit the library to get your copy of the list.
• Send postcards to the library when you go on vacation - let us know what you are reading while on vacation!
• Take pictures of your “Traveling Teddy” or your “Buster Bookworm” while on vacation and bring your pictures in to display at the library!!
• And don’t forget to READ, READ, READ!!!

WEEK 1- July 9th, 10th, and 11th

We welcome Travelers this week to make a car or vehicle to keep track of their summer reading. Make a Travel Journal and a “Buster Bookworm” to take on vacation with you! Start recording your time spent reading on a SRP Book Chart.

WEEK 2- TRANSPORTATION WEEK

• July 16th - Make some EXTREME airplanes.
• July 17th - Create some VANITY PLATES to decorate your bike or scooter.
• July 18th - Learn “Hobo Sign Language”. Come in dressed as a HOBO. Also, come in for some Harry Potter fun, dressed as your favorite character (between 5:00 PM and 8:00 PM).

WEEK 3- TRAVEL ACROSS THE US

• July 23rd - Make a Hawaiian Lei.
• July 24th - We’re making some Travel Bugs today!
• July 25th - We’re making some Southwest Bracelets (A.M. session) and some Headbands (P.M. session).
• All week we’ll be finding out what our names mean!

WEEK 4- TRAVEL BACK THROUGH TIME

• July 30th - We’ll make and play STRING GAMES tonight!
• July 31st - Let’s make Butter this am.
• August 1st - Working in the garden - plant seeds (A.M. session), decorate the garden (P.M. session).

WEEK 5- TRAVEL WITH A BANG

• August 6th - The world fair night!
• August 7th - Paper fire-cracker!
• August 8th - A.M.: Charades; P.M.: Talent Show.

WEEK 6- TRAVEL GAMES

• August 13th - Travel games.
• August 14th - Travel games.
• August 15th - Travel games.
• August 16th - Awards night with storyteller, Simon Brooks.

SEND US SOME POSTCARDS!!!

Are you going on vacation soon?
Wherever you may go, please send us a postcard! We would like to decorate for the Summer Reading Program and your postcards will help! Just let us know what books you are reading during your vacation!
Send them to:

Hooksett Public Library

1701 B Hooksett Rd

Hooksett, NH. 03106

Thanks so much, and enjoy your vacation!!

YA and TEEN Summer Reading Activities

YA/Teen Summer Reading Activities

Target age group: junior high and high school. Registration is not required. For more info, contact Vickie at 485-6092 or at vdesh@hooksett.lib.nh.us.

Wed, July 11, 6:30pm – Duct tape crafts
Mon, July 16, 6:30pm – Play Station 2 game night
Wed, July 25, 6:30pm – Movie night
Mon, July 30, 6:30pm – Board game night
Wed, August 8, 6:30pm – Bead crafts
Fri, August 17, 6:30pm – Party

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YA/Teen Book Discussion Group

Target age group: junior high and high school. For more info, contact Vickie at 485-6092 or at vdesh@hooksett.lib.nh.us.

Tues, July 17, 6:30pm – Uglies by Scott Westerfield
Tues, July 31, 6:30pm – Pretties by Scott Westerfield
Tues, August 21, 6:30pm – Specials by Scott Westerfield

Majestic Theatre Production: "Through the Looking Glass"

On July 31st at 2:00pm, "...take a wildly entertaining trip through Alice's looking glass to the beat of a hip-hopping soundtrack by Bill Francoeur. This silly adaption of Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking Glass depicts the coming-of-age story with fun twists which music audiences of all ages will adore. The lively stage action, zany dialogue and eclectic mix of toe-tapping tunes will have you grinning like a Cheshire cat!" This event, sponsored by the Friends of the Library, starts at 2:00pm at the Hooksett Library and lasts about an hour. Registration is required, but admission is free. Contact us at 485-6092 or at hplbooks@hooksett.lib.nh.us.

Bridge to Terabithia Movie

Join us on July 3rd at 6:30pm to watch the movie Bridge to Terabithia and enjoy some free popcorn!

Hooksett Library Book and Bake Sale

Mark your calendars! We have scheduled our annual book and bake sale for October 27th, from 9-3pm. If you have any books, movies, music, and audiobooks that you would like to donate between now and the time of our sale, and they are in sellable condition, please drop them off during our open hours. If you have any questions, call us at 485-6092 or email us at mglisson@hooksett.lib.nh.us.

Hooksett Library Concert Series

Summer Marketplace Fair

Great Stone Face 2007 Winner!

Thanks to all who voted for the 2007 Great Stone Face nominees!! This year's winner is The Ghost's Grave with 477 votes out of 6031 total votes!

Memorial Day Holiday

The Hooksett Library will be closed for the Memorial Day holiday on Monday, May 28th. We will resume our regular hours on Tuesday.

Edible Book Festival May 5th, 2007

Summer Reading Programs Planned

The Hooksett Library has two special programs planned for this summer:
Thursday, June 28th, 4:30 pm: Judy Pancoast, Singer/Performer

"Award-winning entertainer Judy Pancoast is an acclaimed children’s musical artist, hailed by parents as “filling the void between Barney and Britney.” Pancoast, who has made her mark composing age-appropriate songs for children, stands apart in a music industry that tends to serve up explicit songs to ever younger audiences. Judy Pancoast offers highly energetic concerts of original music. Entitled, Judy's Tune Room, the concerts are age-appropriate and self-contained."
"Her award-winning music and high-energy performance will delight audiences young and old."
The Manchester Union Leader

Thursday, August 16th, 6:00 pm: Simon Brooks, Storyteller

"Simon Brooks performs tales with energy and wit. Telling folktales, myths and legends from all over the world, he brings characters like Ananzi the Spider, the trickster Raven, Wayland Smith, Merlin and Dionysus vividly to life. From the world of stories Simon captivates his audience with unique voices to animate characters and with expressive body language, he truly brings the stories to life."

LIBRARY DISPLAY CELEBRATES HISTORY

In recognition of National Preservation Month and Hooksett Heritage Day on May 19, the Robie’s Country Store Historic Preservation Corp. and the Hooksett Heritage Commission have set up a display in the Hooksett Library’s front foyer with photos and artifacts of Hooksett’s past. Photos include a gathering at Indian Cliff in the 1947, K&D Texaco on 3A, and the scooter dealership in South Hooksett. Historical artifacts borrowed from the collection at Robie’s Store include cast iron toys, an egg grader, and kitchen tools, all of which have interesting stories to tell. Stop by during the month of May.

Guitar Hero Night 4/25/07