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Eating for longevity, health and vitality: Staying Lean and Fit : Thurs. June 25, 6:30 pm

This 2nd of 4 workshops will look at Staying Lean and Fit. This class focuses on simple strategies for staying lean, preserving lean body mass, bone mass, cutting back on calories without deprivation and more.The presenter, Kristina Spellman, is a research dietician in Boston and a North Attleboro small business owner of 7 Day Nutrition consulting firm. Registration is requested.. 

Eating for longevity, health and vitality: Healthy Hearts, Happy Taste Buds!: Thurs. July 23, 6:30 pm

In the 3rd workshop we will learn how to shop for and prepare heart healthy meals the authentic Meditteranean way. Plus how to choose and use heart healthy supplements.

Eating for longevity, health and vitality: Putting it all together, from plate to prevention: What to eat to prevent Cancer and Diabetes: Thurs. Aug. 20, 6:30 pm.

The last workshop will focus on learning how to balance your plate to incorporate disease preventing vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients.

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Poetry and Acoustic Music Open Mike: Sunday, July 27 at 1:30 pm

Local poets and musicians will share their verses and songs with us. Our participants seem to be getting better and better so please come to listen or to participate.  

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Natural Solutions to Chronic Pain: Monday, August 31 at 6 pm

Millions of Americans suffer from chronic pain and many will turn to medications or surgery to alleviate the pain. Headaches, low back pain, arthritis pain, joint pain -- these all result in millions of doctors' visits, millions of lost work days, and billions of dollars in medical bills. Dr. Herbert Curtis, of the Foundation for Wellness Professionals and Lincoln Chiropractic, will educate the audience about the different types of pain, what causes them, how to prevent them, and safe, natural and effective alternatives to treating them without drugs and surgery. 

We had a good crowd at Knitting Out Loud:  Thursday, August 14, 2008 at 6:30

Kathy Goldner gave an hour-long presentation that explores the world of knitting past and present through stories. Kathy’s own grandmother learned to knit in pre-war Germany, where she was a physician and psychoanalyst before fleeing from Hitler. We have recently added her collection of audiobooks of knitting stories to our collection.

Looking for help finding books? We have print sources at the library that will give you suggested titles by authors, subject or genre. There are also many good places on the web. This is the newest site I've found. You can search by category, author, plot or whatever: Book Reviews from Allreaders.com   

Novelist is a fiction database that provides subject heading access, reviews, annotations, and much more for over 135,000 fiction titles. It also includes other content of interest to fiction readers, such as Author Read-alikes, What We're Reading, Book Discussion Guides, BookTalks, and Annotated Book Lists. (Other libraries in the SAILS system also subscribe so check with your library of registration.)

• Read the book before the movie comes out! 

• Movies based on books (at least if made after 1980.)

• Kent Library has a SERIES search page, What Next?

• Romance Reader has good reviews of romances by genre.

• Fantasy and Science Fiction reviews are available at Diana T. Herald's site. 

• Here is a Science Fiction & Fantasy database.

• Reading Group Choices, Book Clubs Resource and Book Movement will help with your book discussion groups. 

• Christy Awards for the best in Inspirational Fiction

• Read the West westerns

• List of Oprah's book choices

• Book Award Descriptions

• Historical Fiction Review and Historical Novel Society for historical fiction

• Chick Lit Website: reviews, chats, and more

• Overbooked: annotated lists of fiction, genre fiction and nonfiction

• Bookwire : all about the book industry, new books and authors

• Who's Reading What: Different celebrities have been asked for what they recommend

Themed Booklists

• Irving Library, Texas has booklists on several subjects:  inspirational fiction, African American books, Southern reading and more

• Suffolk Library in New York, and Wakefield Library  have wonderful themed reading lists.

• Morton Grove Library Reader's Services

• For booklists organized by theme, you can't beat Library Booklists.

Mystery Websites from our Reader's Advisory Workshops:

• Killer Books

• For mysteries by author, character or occupation, try stopyourekillingme.com

• Gumshoe: includes info on new releases, award winners, what's cool and links to other sites

• Looking for a Mystery: British and American mysteries by time period, international mysteries and a "webography"

• Murder on the Internet: Springfield City Library's list. Includes Massachusetts mysteries and more.

• Historical Mysteries

• Tangled Web: Bibliographies of mysteries from women writers, cozies and the golden age.

Here is my on-going list of Reader's Advisory Bookmarks on Delicious.

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Check out some of our recent programs:

If you have an idea for a program, email or call the Library.;

Adult Blog about the Low Fat and Fiber Cooking Demonstration.

Sun Chronicle Article on Cooking Demo.

Learning to use eBay: April 23, 2009 5:30-9 pm

ebay Education Specialist Cliff Lander will teach us how to become an eBay seller. People who have attended his classes said, he is “well-prepared” and “responds to all questions with knowledge and good humor.” He will be selling a packet for the printing cost of $18. Seating limited to 30 people so please register. If you have to come late, he will fill you in at the end.

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Poetry and Acoustic Music Open Mike Session: Sunday, April 26, 2009 1:30 pm

Local poets and musicians will share their verses and songs with us. Our participants seem to be getting better and better so please come to listen or to participate.  

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Using Social Networks to Find a Job: Thursday, May 7, 2009 at 6 pm.

Javed Ikbal, of Layoff Support Network is leading a hands-on program on using sites such as Facebook and LSN to get support for job hunting as well as network with people who may help you find jobs. The program is limited to 5 people without laptops and 5 people who can bring their own laptops. Call the 508-699-0122 to register.

The Layoff Support Network was created as a way to help people who have lost their jobs. The team is made up of people that have expertise in several different areas related to living after a layoff. The advice and support given by members of the LSN as well as the LSN team are being done so on a volunteer basis. Mr. Ikbal is employed in information security, and teaches classes/conduct seminars as well.

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Eating for longevity, health and vitality: Nutrition for boomers : Thurs. May 21,2009 7 pm

This 1st of 4 workshops will look at Functional Foods : Using foods as natural medicine to enhance memory, vision, vitality and overall health. The presenter, Kristina Spellman, is a research dietician in Boston and a North Attleboro small business owner of 7 Day Nutrition consulting firm. Registration is required. The other three sessions will be on June 25, July 23 and August 20 at 6:30.

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Summer Book Pot Luck: Saturday, June 13, 2009 at 1:30

We will again be meeting to recommend good reads to each other for the summer. Bring a snack to share and we’ll provide the icy beverages.  Tell Maggie your recommendation by June 6 so copies of the recommended books can be made available for check out. Please avoid current bestsellers.  

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Violin Concert by Alanna Tonetti-Tieppo on Mon. July 13, at 6:30 pm     

Ms. Tonetti-Tieppo will perform works by Bach and Ysaye. Please call to help us determine the number of chairs to set up. 

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Shakespeare Revisited: Reader's Theater and Elizabethean Dinner: Wed. Jan. 21, 2009 at 6:30 pm

We will again be combining a dinner of appropriate food courtesy of Eunice Franklin -- and anyone else who wishes to provide some fare -- with a modified Reader's Theater. Shakespearean verses are set in modern times: Dr. Phil is interviewing Othello and Desdemona, Lady Macbeth visits The View and more. We always have fun at this event. Register (required) at the library or by emailing .

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Shakespeare, the Lunatic, the Lover and the Poet with Richard Clark

Thurs. Jan. 29, 2009 at 7 pm.

Come and share some of the most memorable moments in dramatic literature. Eavesdrop on the intimate murmuring of Romeo, the obsessive passions of Anthony and Cleopatra; the demented musings of King Richard . In other words, come enjoy Shakespeare. Registration encouraged to help us determine the number of chairs. Register at the library or by emailing .

Book Pot Luck Saturday. Jan. 31, 2009 1:30 pm

Come ready to tell us about a really good book you’ve liked. Go away with a good book and a list of suggestions. Bring a tea party food to share. Register by Jan. 21 so we can order the books and make the list. Please avoid bestsellers that have long hold lists already. Register at the library or by emailing .

New Senior Services: Thursday, October 23, 2008 at 7 pm

Elizabeth Fiedler, a licensed social worker, will talk about the new senior services that are available. There are resources that can save you money on prescriptions, heating bills, taxes, etc. This is appropriate for seniors and caregivers.

Sign Language with Lucille Vose: Wed. April 16, 23, 30 and May 14, 21 and 28, 2008 at 6:30pm

Practice fingerspelling and learn key signs for food, household goods, clothes and people. This course will be good for people interacting with the deaf in situations such as soup kitchens and food pantries as well as for people who want to learn this expressive language. Registration required.

Digital TV: What the change means for you: Thursday, April 17, 2008 7:30 pm

Staff from Best Buy and Comcast will discuss the changes coming in 2009 for television, including who needs the conversion box and what the changes may mean for your cable system. Seating limited to 30 people so please register.

Altered Books Workshop: Thursday, April 24, 2008 at 6:30 pm

Using wallpaper samples and children’s board books, you can make a gift book to personalize for a special occasion. Bring photos, pictures, greeting cards and other items to add to your book if you want, or finish the book at home.
Instructor: Marjorie Johnson. Registration is required as space is limited.
Imagine a special book for a retirement, anniversary or graduation present. If you search Google images for altered book, you can see many examples. Example of altered book.

Books and Beads: Thursday, Feb 21, 2008 at 6:30 pm

Enjoy a fun evening with Wendy Boudreau, A Stampin’ Up demonstrator,  making an altered notebook and a beaded pen to match along with a couple of greeting cards at the Richards Memorial Library. This workshop is free, but space is limited so call the library at 508-699-0122 to reserve a spot.

Michael Tougias and the Can Do, February 19 at 7:30 pm.

Mr. Tougias will be back this year to tell us about the adventures of the Can Do, a pilot boat from Gloucester, that went out in the Blizzard of 1978 (30 years ago!) to rescue a lost Coast Guard boat and an oil tanker. Tougias has listened to the tapes from the Coast Guard, interviewed the participants and prepared a thorough look at the tragic events. Registration is required due to limited seating. NOTE CHANGE OF DATE FROM NEWSLETTER!

Book Tea Party: February 2, 2008 

This year for our Book Pot Luck we had a tea party, with a variety of teas and pots! The books that were chosen were: 

Old Wives Tale by Electa Trisch (VC only); Lost art of Keeping Secrets by Eva Rice; Natural Born Charmer by Susan Elizabeth Phillips; The Ghost by Robert Harris; Portrait of an Unknown Woman by Venora Bennett; Alligators, Old Mink & New Money by Alison Houtte; Once Upon a Town by Bob Greene; Sammy’s Hill by Kristen Gore; The Partner by John  Grisham and The Welsh Girl by Peter Ho Davies. 

The food was delicious, especially the unusual chicken salad sandwiches made with dried cranberries, allspice, chili, cinnamon and ginger! Check our Flickr account for the pictures.

Poetry and Open Mike Sessions

Local poets and musicians were invited to share their verses and songs with us on Sunday July 23. 2006 at 1:30 pm. 

Miniature Doors

Doors can be especially expressive -- revealing personalities and whole worlds. In Ann Arbor, Michigan, there are a collection of what they call "urban-fairy doors" built into homes and shops around town. We  have a similar assortment of doors appearing around the library this December. Check out the Sun Chronicle article.

Our 2006 Miniature Doors Collection. 

 

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This page was last updated on 08/13/2009 .