IS THAT THE NEW DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION?

The long-awaited train table has finally arrived at The Green Free Library. Despite a lengthy delay, (isn't that always the way with construction and transportation projects?) it is up and running in the children's area. This coveted addition to the library was purchased with grant money received earlier in the year.

HAPPY EARTH DAY!

image courtesy of NASA images (the big blue marble)



Today, April 22, 2009 is Earth Day. Earth Day was established as a grassroots effort to save the planet and life as WE know it way back in the 1970's. Credit is given to Gaylord Nelson, who at that time was the U.S. Senator for Wisconsin, for having the foresight to recognize the hazards of overpopulization, as well as the environmental crisis that was already sweeping the planet.

Today, more and more organizations and individuals, are recognizing the need to save and conserve the Earth's resources; many of which are non-renewable. This means when they are gone, they are gone.

The Green Free Library has several books in is collection on how to "go green", how to recycle and how to protect the environment. If you think of it, just using the library is a great way to help. Borrowing a book from the library instead of buying it, will help cut down on waste that fills the landfills. Also the Friends of the Green Free Library accept donations of gently used books and other materials for their annual booksale-thus these items are re-cycled (sometimes multiple times!).

Everone can do their part today, and everyday, to help save the Earth. It's as easy as recycling cans, bottles, plastic and cardboard. Or how about turning off that light when you leave the room? Did you know that appliances that aren't in use still may be using energy? This goes for coffee makers and toasters as well as computers and monitors. Pulling the plug when you aren't using them will not only conserve otherwise wasted energy, it will save you $$$ as well. (Money that you could always donate to the library LOL!)

WOULD YOU WANT TO BE A PENGUIN??

Last Wednesday's storytime special guests were definitely a crowd pleaser! I'm not sure I would want to be a penguin since I don't like raw fish, but a large number of kids who attended the long awaited event were clearly giving it a thought while they listend to If You Were a Penguin written by Florence Minor and Illustrated by Wendell Minor.

Please enjoy these photos taken by Leslie Wishard, Director of The Green Free Library, during the visit of Wendell and Florence Minor. The author/illustrator team are also husband and wife and came to our corner of PA through the One Book, Every Young Child program, which is made possible through with the help of :

· Pennsylvania Department of Education
· Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare
· Children's Museum of Pittsburgh
· Please Touch Museum
· State Museum of Pennsylvania
· Pennsylvania Library Association
· Pennsylvania Public Television Network
· Pennsylvania Center for the Book
· Pennsylvania Association for the Education of Young Children
· The Pennsylvania Child Care Association
· PennSERVE
· HSLC/Access PA
· Verizon

This program was supported in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by Pennsylvania's Office of Commonwealth Libraries.

Children and library staff prepared a wonderful display of artwork, and books written and or illustrated by the Minors: as well as all the books about penguins that the library owned were put on display.

A bountiful feast of penguin themed goodies was also provided. At the conclusion of the program, the Minors were presented with a gift basket full of Tioga County products such as honey from Draper's Bees, maple syrup from Miller's, and an assortment of yummies from Highland Chocolates. A great way to say a big THANK YOU to the Minors for the delightful and educational presentation, as well as showing them that Tioga County has a lot to offer.







Each family was presented with a free copy of the book, If You Were a Penguin to take home. If you missed the program there is a copy available to check out at the library, or purchase your own copy through the link below.

APRIL DVDS

The Green Free Library has added two more popular DVD titles to its collection.

Doubt

Miramax Films 2008 release. Running time 104 minutes.
Rated PG-13 for thematic material. Parent's click here for details.

Written and directed by John Patrick Shanley.

Starring:

Meryl Streep as Sister Aloysius Beauvier
Philip Seymour Hoffman as Father Brendan Flynn
Amy Adams as Sister James
Viola Davis as Mrs. Miller
Joseph Foster II as Donald Miller
Alice Drummond as Sister Veronica

Summary from the Webpac: 1964, St. Nicholas in the Bronx. Father Flynn is a charismatic priest who is trying to upend the schools' strict customs, which have long been fiercely guarded by Sister Aloysius Beauvier. The Sister is the iron-gloved principal who believes in the power of fear and discipline. With the winds of political change, the school has just accepted its first black student, Donald Miller. But when Sister James shares with Sister Aloysius her suspicion that Father Flynn is paying too much personal attention to Donald, Sister Aloysius sets off on a personal crusade to unearth the truth and to expunge Flynn from the school. Now, without any proof, besides her moral certainty, Sister Aloysius locks into a battle of wills with Father Flynn. This threatens to tear apart the community with it's irrevocable consequence.


And for the kids

The tale of Despereaux

Framestore Animation in association with Larger Than Life Productions ; Relativity Media; Universal Animation Studios; Universal Pictures

Running time 94 minutes. Rated G

Directed by Sam Fell and Robert Stevenhagen

Based on the book of the same title, written by Kate DiCamillo. The library also has this title available for your reading pleasure.

Screen story written by Will McRobb, Chris Viscardi and Gary Ross.

Voices:

Matthew Broderick as Despereaux
Dustin Hoffman as Roscuro
Emma Watson as Princess Pea
Tracey Ullman as Miggery Sow
Kevin Kline as Andre
William H. Macy as Lester
Stanley Tucci as Boldo
Ciar`n Hinds as Botticelli
Robbie Coltrane as Gregory
Christopher Lloyd as Hovis
Sigourney Weaver as the Narrator
Bronson Pinchot as Town Crier

Summary from Webpac: Once upon a time in the far away kingdom of Dor lived a brave and virtuous mouse with comically oversized ears who dreamt of becoming a knight. Banished from his home for having such lofty ambitions, Despereaux sets off on an amazing adventure with his good-hearted rat friend Roscuro. The two go on a very noble quest to rescue an endangered princess and save an entire kingdom from darkness.

HAPPY EASTER

Happy Easter to the patrons and guests of The Green Free Library.
Even if it’s hard to tell by the weather, Easter is definitely a harbinger of Spring. It is a time to enjoy family and friends, perhaps engage in religious reflection and to experience a sense of renewal as the tiny green shoots struggle to push through the last layer of frost, and the budding daffodils and crocus shiver in the icy morning dew.

Not only is it a great time to think about cleaning out the winter cobwebs in your mind, it is also the perfect time to start cleaning out some of the books, CDS, DVDS and VHS tapes that you no longer use or need.

The Friends of the Green Free Library accept donations all year round for their annual book sale in June. Hard covers, paperbacks, movies and music in good, clean condition are greatly appreciated. Materials such as old encyclopedias, magazines and outdated textbooks can not be used and actually end up costing the library money to dispose of..

The library staff also check donations for items that may be added to the circulating collection. This helps the library save money and it saves a few trees as well!

Why not make everyone happy and start collecting items today? Just box them up, or recycle some of those plastic bags (please try to double bag if possible-books are heavy and they need to be carried to the basement). If you have just one or two boxes/bags, come on in the front door and set them on the bench. If you have several boxes/bags, call ahead at 570-724-4876, or pull around the circle and stop next to the door on the side with the lattice work trellis, That door is kept locked, so you will need to come in the back door, or front door and a staff member will be glad to open it up for you. If you have a trailer full of boxes, or need help getting donations to the library, just call the library at 570-724-4876 and a staff member will take your name and phone number to forward to Friends members that are in charge of the book sale. Its so easy to donate-there are no excuses not to!