Halloween at the Caldwell Public Library

Hi there!

When most librarians blog about Halloween at their library, they talk about the kids, the programs and the costumes. For Caldwell's residents, Halloween's usual merriment was supplanted by worries over storm damage. No one expects a heavy snowstorm in October! On Halloween, the Caldwell Public Library became a haven for people who needed to get warm, check their email, charge their cell phone or their laptop, and stay connected to the world at large.

We saw a record number of people enter the library, and it was literally standing room only. Our computers had a waiting list for people who needed access, and we had multiple users on their own wireless devices. One especially helpful staff member ran home to get extra power strips to allow more people access to our electricity.

The Caldwell Public Library is known as the Heart of Our Town, and I believe we proved that our heart is open to everyone.

Our younger patrons did enjoy trick or treating in the library, and we were pleased to see some great costumes! In the afternoon everyone enjoyed a showing of Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein, a great comedic horror classic.

We hope that everyone who found us yesterday will continue to stop in and make use of our Library. Remember, we're here for everyone.

Summer Reading Countdown

Kids participating in our summer reading program have read more than 1,700 books.

But, we know there are a few students who might not have gotten started on their summer reading.

So, as a public service, we picked a few especially good summer reads.

KINDERGARTEN

• Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems describes a wily bird’s efforts to get behind the wheel.
• George and Martha by James Marshall are funny, endearing tales about two great friends.
• How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight by Jane Yolen clears up that mystery.
• The Man Who Walked between the Towers by Mordicai Gerstein is the true story of Philippe Petit, who walked between the World Trade Center towers.

FIRST AND SECOND GRADERS

This is a great time for series: Pick out one and, if you like it, read them all! We especially like:

• Fly Guy by Tedd Arnold
• Frog and Toad by Arnold Lobel
• Magic School Bus by Joanna Cole
• Poppleton by Cynthia Rylant and
• Time Warp Trio by Jon Scieszka.

THIRD AND FOURTH GRADERS

• Babymouse by Jennifer Holm is a sassy cartoon mouse who is impossible to resist.
• Poppy by Avi is a thrilling tale of a dormouse and her incredible adventures.
• The BFG by Roald Dahl will have you sounding ridunculous in no time
• The Hoboken Chicken Emergency by Daniel Pinkwater gives whole new meaning to the term: madcap adventure.

FIFTH GRADERS

• Satch and Me by Dan Gutman is a baseball card adventure featuring Satchel Paige.
• The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo details the rise and fall and rise of a china rabbit.
• Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen tells the story from two different points of view.
• A Dog’s Life by Ann Martin is the autobiography of Squirrel, a stray dog.

MIDDLE SCHOOL

• Chasing Lincoln’s Killer by James L. Swanson, the story of the 12-day hunt for John Wilkes Booth, reads like fiction but is based on original sources.
• Down the Rabbit Hole by Peter Abrahams is a mystery that revolves around small-town life, community theatre and Alice in Wonderland.
• The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is a horrifying, must-read introduction to a crazy, dangerous world.
• The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan is the first book of the fabulous Percy Jackson series.

HIGH SCHOOL

• Cat’s Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut provides that bit of absurdity needed at the end of summer,
• Life of Pi by Yann Martel tells the tale of an incredible journey that may be more – or less -- real than it seems.
• March by Geraldine Brooks is the father’s side of the Little Women story.
• Tears of the Giraffe by Alexander McCall Smith is a gentle tale of southern Africa.

We have all the summer reading lists and will be glad to help you find these and other selections!

NEW LIBRARY HOURS

Due to budget cuts, the Library is slightly reducing its hours. Each week, we will be open five mornings (including Saturday) and three evenings.

Beginning September 1 the Library will be open:

· Monday from 9 am to 5 pm

· Tuesday from 9 am to 8 pm

· Wednesday from 12 pm to 8 pm

· Thursday from 9 am to 8 pm

· Friday from 9 am to 5 pm

As of September 17 the Library will also be open:

· Saturday from 9 am to noon

We look forward to continuing to be “The Heart of Our Town” for our patrons and community.

Young Artists Create New Library Cards

The Caldwell Library had its first contest to design new library children’s cards. The winners were Mary Sateary’s drawing of the library surrounded by hearts and Aidan LaChac’s drawing of the library surrounded by the town

“We knew we had excellent readers, but we didn’t know we had such truly outstanding artists,” says Interim Director Janet Torsney. “The drawings were so imaginative and really showed what the Library means to Caldwell. “

Mary and Aidan’s drawings will be featured on the Caldwell Library’s new children’s library card. When the cards are printed in September, all the artists will be invited to a party to celebrate kids and reading…and to get their new cards.

Other drawings featured everything from Clifford the big red dog, incredibly detailed drawings of the library, lots of hearts and books, a bookworm and really inspirational messages about reading.

The runners up were Marryn Bennett, Gabby Canonaco, Isabella Canoaco, Alexis Clayton, Taylor Elizaeth Clayton, Liam Corliss, Mackenzie Coutrtight, Matthew Courtright, Brendan Haas, Natasha LaChac, Tiffany Palacios, Allana Pomponio, Sophia Ricci, Isabella Xu, Vincent Xu and Susan Zhang. Their work will be on display in the Children’s Room from July 15 through August 3.

FUN FOR FAMILIES ALL WEEK LONG!

• On Wednesday at 6:30 learn all about the wonderful world of tea. We'll find out how tea is grown and sample teas from South Africa, Japan, China and Sri Lanka.

• On Thursday at 2:30 our friends from the Essex County Environmental Center will tell us all about fruits, vegetables and beyond.

Both programs are free and no registration is required.

And don't forget to sign up for summer reading here. Once you sign up, you can tell us what you're reading and what you thought of the books online. Don't forget to come into the Library, too. We have games and prizes for you!

Saloma Furlong Reports on Her Visit

"On Thursday, I did two talks -- one at Marion Manor for a book club. Frances Larkey, the events coordinator at the Caldwell Public Library, set up this talk. She thought we would have about 12 people show up, but more like 36 showed up for the talk. Then Frances took us out for a very enjoyable meal and chat before my talk at the Caldwell Public Library. Between 35 and 40 people showed up for that talk. I had a very pleasant surprise while setting up for the talk. I normally put on a CD of Amish church singing, as people are arriving. In this case, a woman was reading the New York Times, and suddenly she put down her paper and said, "Can you tell me what that music is?" I told her what it was, and she said it sounded just like the kind of singing that she grew up with at a Primitive Baptist Church, which I found fascinating. I invited her to give the audience a sampling of the singing she described, and she graciously did so -- and wow, what a powerful voice! Her name is Johnnie Jones Tucker, and she is a Gospel Singer/Songwriter/Writer/Poet. It was a pleasure to meet her.

"Frances Larkey is another example of a librarian who is not only congenial, but she also went above and beyond. She was a gracious and enthusiastic host, who was fun and easy to talk with. And she had obviously done a super job of promoting the event, judging by the enthusiasm of the comments and questions and the number of people who showed up."

New Library Tax Line, But No New Taxes!

Although the Library will be making its first appearance on the latest tax bills, I want to make sure Caldwell residents know this is not a new or additional tax. In fact, the rate for minimum library funding has not changed since it was set in 1844.

“This law simply changes the way your tax bill looks,” says Library Board Chair Bernard McGovern. “It does not increase taxes.” Until this year, minimum library appropriations were part of the municipal tax rate. In March, a new law created a dedicated line item for libraries. Caldwell’s minimum funding requirement of “1/3 mill”, which means at least 33 cents per $1,000 of assessed value, has been in effect since the late 19^th century.

The new law provides transparency. “Now residents throughout the state can see the minimum library funding on their property tax bills,” explains McGovern. While this does reduce the municipal tax levy and rate (by breaking out the library line item separately), it does not increase taxes or change existing financial, operational, personnel, or other relationships between the town of Caldwell and the Library.

For the average Caldwell taxpayer, the new tax line will be about $160 per household. “Your library card opens up a world of services -- books, databases, programs, computers, videos and music -- for you and your family,” continues McGovern. “Just taking out a few books or videos each year will cover your library tax.” The Library website -- http://www.caldwellpl.org/ -- includes a Library Value calculator that can help you make sure you are getting your money’s worth.

Your Library is More than Books

The Caldwell Library is the heart of our town. It's the first place where people new to Caldwell come and it's the place where generations of Caldwell families area have learned to read, to work together and to appreciate our wonderful community.

Since it opened in 1917, the Caldwell Library has had an impact that far exceeds its size. The mission of the Caldwell Public Library is “to provide our diverse community with a wide array of literary, cultural, historical, educational and social resources through personal service and innovative programs utilizing a range of learning technologies in a welcoming environment."

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• New Jersey Library Association website: http://njla.org/statements/municipaltax_faq.pdf
• Library Use Value Calculator: http://ldb.njstatelib.org/libvaluecalc
• Local Finance Notice, NJ Division of Local Government Services http://www.state.nj.us/dca/lgs/lfns/11lfns/2011-14.doc