Welcome to July! Time for cookouts, sunscreen, and BEACH READS! (Seriously though, don’t forget the sunscreen.) As always, your community library is here to provide free fun for all ages, so let’s get into what’s coming up!
A Farewell Note from Nicole, Library Director
Dear Readers and Beloved HML Patrons,
It is with a mix of emotions that I share that after a year at the helm of the wonderful Hall Memorial Library, I am moving on to a new adventure. My husband, our son Easton, and I are returning to the hills of Western Massachusetts where both Luke and I grew up and where our immediate families still reside. We’re expecting our second child in the fall and have come to the realization that when it comes down to it, we need our village.
Over the last year, the Hall Memorial Library staff has blossomed and quite literally grown to pre-COVID capacity. We’ve returned to our pre-pandemic schedule - the building is open 48 hours per week, including until 8pm two days per week and on Saturdays from 10-2. We’ve revitalized the main level with fresh and modern furniture. We’ve created a brand-new, beautiful Teen Room and completely reorganized our children’s space to accommodate more open-play. Through the use of a hard-earned grant, we expanded our program offerings to include mental wellness programs for children and teens including a Wellness Club for K-5, Teen Yoga & Meditation, and “Little Arches'' - yoga and meditation for tots. We now offer TWO story times - a weekday and a weekend option - and a monthly Baby Play program for our tiniest friends. We’ve added two reading/therapy dogs to our “staff” and kids and teens have loved practicing reading aloud to Cedric and chilling out with Nash. We’ve begun to add more adult programming to our offerings including craft programs and lectures. And, we offer monthly “Take & Makes” for all ages so that we’re reaching members of the community who continue to prefer to access resources at home. We also launched a brand new library website that serves as our virtual branch - a straightforward and accessible way to access all of the library’s digital offerings and to keep up with all of our news!
As we transition into the hot days of summer and a librarian’s favorite time of the year - Summer Reading! - I’m happily reflecting on my time at HML. Some of my favorite moments have been welcoming patrons back into our building after so much time away, opening box upon box of new books with the amazing HML staff (and joking with our UPS drivers about how we order way too many books…), hearing the Nooners excitedly chat over their most recent read, watching toddlers practicing their animal poses and deep breathing, hearing the gentle hum of the quilters’ sewing machines on Friday mornings and their contagious laughter, sitting in our beautiful building during the hours before the library opens when all is quiet and the excitement of the day is ahead of me, and yes - even asking the tweens and teens to use their indoor voices (because even if they’re loud, they’re here). The primary goal of Hall Memorial Library is to serve as the heart of the Northfield & Tilton communities. Although my time with HML has been short, I do hope it was sweet for all of you and I have nothing but confidence that such positive and community-focused initiatives will remain the theme moving forward, as they always have been. I leave you all in the extremely capable hands of Brittany Shanahan, HML’s passionate and dedicated Assistant Director and a 15-year employee of HML. Brittany will serve as Interim Director while the Board of Trustees conducts a library director search.
I so look forward to watching from afar as Hall Memorial continues to grow and thrive. If you agree, please make your thoughts and feelings known to our local officials - especially during budget season - 96% of the library’s revenue comes from the two town appropriations. So, it’s in the hands of our community that the future of HML lies. My last day is Thursday, July 7th. If I don’t see many of you before then, I wish you a beautiful summer and lifelong happy reading!
Best,
Nicole
P.S. Please read on for all of the super exciting HML happenings that are taking place in July for all ages!
Kids Summer Reading & Programs
Keeping up with our Oceans of Possibility theme, we have a salty slew of sea-themed shenanigans for your wee ones. Don’t miss out!
Summer Special Programs:
Fishing for Books (Tues July 5 at 11am) Come play a fun fishing game and fish for your next catch of books! If you catch a prize fish, you’ll win a special summer reading prize!
Sea Sensory Jars (Tues July 12 at 11am) Make a sea terrarium in a clear jar! Add sand, shells, trinkets, stickers, and clear blue water and you can keep the sea with you all the time.
Nile the Whale (Mon July 18 2:30-4:30) Nile, a life-sized humpback whale is coming to HML! Come explore Nile and learn all about whales. Pre-register for a 30-minute time slot here.
Sea Fossil Expedition (Tues July 26 at 11am) Seek out hidden fossilized ancient creatures and make clay imprints of your fossil finds!
Ongoing Programs:
Children’s Story Time (Mon & Sat at 10:30am) Stories and rhymes for preschool age children.
Little Arches: Yoga & Meditation for Toddlers (Fri 10:30-11am) Tots will move their bodies, listen to calming music, and practice simple breathing exercises. Yoga mats provided. 18 months to 4 years. Outside whenever possible!
Tales and Tails with Cedric (Mon July 11 & 25, 4-5pm) Come read to Cedric the therapy dog! Register here.
Baby Play (Wednesday, July 13 at 10am) Songs, movement, sensory activities for babies.
Teen Summer Programs
Are your teens bored with the summer doldrums? Take a peek at our upcoming programs crafted specifically for them: (surprise, a lot of them ARE crafts!)
Hang with Nash (July 19, 3:30-4:30pm)
Brighten your day and spend time with Nash the dog. Drop in, no registration required.
Teen Yoga & Meditation (Tuesdays at 1pm) Join for some relaxing yoga and some meditation. This is great even if you have never done yoga before.
Summer Art Projects (Thursdays at 1pm) Join us for a fun new project every week!
7/7 - Wind Socks
7/14 - Paperchain Jellyfish
7/21 - Plastic Friendship Bracelets
7/28 - Beach Terrariums
Adult Summer Reading & Programs
Bookopoly keeps chugging along (like those good ol’ Monopoly railroads) so pop over and sign up! Bonus reward- a fab bumper sticker that proudly proclaims you as a participant in this year’s program! (and if you're a completionist, rumor has it we have some of the 2021 stickers kicking around too...)
Summer Special Programs:
Tarot Readings (Fridays, 3-5:30pm) Summer Fridays are mystical (and introspective) at the library! Book a 30-minute appointment on our Facebook page and see what's in the cards for you!
Paint n’ Sip (July 14, 6-8pm) Join us as we learn to paint a blue heron on the beach while sipping mocktails and snacking. Materials and victuals provided- visit the library website for more info and to register.
Save the date! New England Lighthouses and the People who Kept Them (August 9, 6-7:30pm) with Jeremy D'Entremont, Historian for the U.S. Lighthouse Society.
Ongoing Programs:
Nooner’s Book Club (Tuesday, July 19, Noon-2pm) Reading The Madness of Crowds by Louise Penny
Chess Club (Mondays 3-5pm) Open to all ages and skill levels.
Tech Thursdays (Thursdays Noon-7pm) Book a 30-minute appointment on our Facebook page or drop in for help!
Have Yarn, Will Travel (Thurs July 7 & 21, 6 -7:30pm) Drop in and work on your project while chatting with other crafters.
Quilting Group (Fridays 10am-2pm) Bring your own materials and sewing machine.
Sit Down and Write! (Saturday July 16, Noon-1pm) Want to get that writing project under way? Want accountability? Inspiration? Join local author Rebekah Mallory for three-minute meditation followed by an hour of writing where you're free to write silently, with or without prompts, and debrief afterward if you so choose.
A Matter of Balance with Granite VNA
You're as young as you feel! Don't let the fear of falling limit your activities. A Matter of Balance classes provide the tools needed to gain confidence and learn simple fall prevention strategies. Join the experts at Granite VNA for this 8-session program hosted by HML. Snacks and beverages provided. Call (603) 224-4093 ext 85815 to register. All sessions are 1pm-3pm. Dates: July 13, July 20, July 27, Aug 3, Aug 10, Aug 17, Aug 24, Aug 31
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