January 2017
Footnotes
News for enthusiastic supportersof the New Castle Public Library
"Whatever community organization, whether it's a women's organization, or fighting for justice...you will get satisfaction out of doing something to give back to the community that you never get in any other way".
~Ruth Bader Ginsburg
A Founding Father Joins the Friends
Join the New Castle Library Friends on Thursday, January 26, at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Room of the New Castle Public Library for our Annual Meeting, followed by a program on Alexander Hamilton from the Delaware Humanities Forum. The story is told using some of the videos and music from theBroadway musical, “Hamilton: An American Musical” and fills in where themusical leaves some historic gaps. The event is free and open to the public and will also include a meal of a variety of hearty soups and breads. Come out on a cold January night and warm up with some soup, an entertaining presentation, and learn about the exciting work the Friends are doing to support valuable programs and services for the local community. If you have any questions, please call the New Castle Public Library at302.328.1995.
January is Membership Month
“Harry — I think I've just understood something! I've got to go to the library!”
“What does she understand?” said Harry distractedly; still looking around, trying to tell where the voice had come from.
“Loads more than I do,” said Ron, shaking his head.
“But why’s she got to go to the library?”
“Because that’s what Hermione does,” said Ron, shrugging. “When in doubt, go to the library.”
― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Dear Library Friend,
When in doubt, go to the library. In today’s uncertain world, it is refreshing to know you have an outlet where you can do research, gather facts, and expand your understanding. A place where you can stimulate your mind. This is what books and information do for us, and the place is our very own New Castle Public Library.
In 2016, as a result of generous contributions like yours, the Library Friends purchased resources that benefited the community. We support valuable programs the library offers including LEGO, quilting, PAWS, and “Library After-Hours” events that help attract new audiences of library patrons. We established a literacy initiative and funded books and resources for the volunteers. We enhanced resources for children in particular, purchasing new learning computers and new book collections. We also continue to fully fund the digitization of The Weekly, our local newspaper, making all issues accessible and searchable.
January is Membership Month and the time to renew your Library Friends membership. Please consider renewing your membership today. Dues continue to be the major source of our funds. A basic membership is just $10/ year ($15 family) and is open to anyone. If you can, please consider increasing your membership donation level to help improve and increase library titles, services and programs. Or consider giving the gift of membership to a friend. Donation envelopes are being mailed out. In return, you receive a regular newsletter, information about upcoming events, discounts to Friends’ social events throughout the year, and recognition for supporting a great cause.
As always, thank you for your generous support for the library and we hope we can count on you to continue your membership in 2017.
We wish you the very best for a happy and healthy New Year. Remember—when in doubt, go to the library.
Warm regards,
Kelly Koczak McCurdy
President,New Castle Library Friends
In April, The Friends of the New Castle Library hosted a presentation by Cynthia Shermeyer, Executive Director of Literacy Delaware. In her presentation, Cynthia outlined the mission of Literacy Delaware which is to assist adult learners with their English language skills with the goal of improving their ability to be more confident, self-sufficient and active in their communities. She highlighted the opportunities for volunteering and the possibility of expanding the Literacy Delaware program to the New Castle Library.
As a result of this seminar, Irene Biggs, Amy Bishop-Ryan and I trained as Literacy Delaware tutors. We had four evening sessions with Cynthia as well as several online modules to complete. Most of the training related to helping adults for whom English is not their first language. We were officially certified as Literacy Delaware tutors in August. Thanks are due to the Library Friends who covered the cost of our training materials.
We meet with our English language learners in classrooms at the New Castle Library twice a week. Initially Irene and I had one student each. Neither is new to the United States, having been here for approximately ten years. They are a couple, but tested at different levels in their English skills, so we mostly work one-on-one. There are challenges in not having a group of students, but it is fun tailoring a lesson to their individual needs and interests. Recently another student joined my class.
Amy has four students, all of whom are related. Her learners are very new to the United States and have extremely limited English skills, so the needs of her students, and the challenges for Amy, are quite different from Irene’s and mine.
Hopefully this is just the beginning of a successful literacy endeavor at our library. As word of its existence spreads, we expect more students to sign up, and perhaps others to join the tutoring team.
Susan Swansburg
______
Last April, Cynthia E. Shermeyer, executive director of Literacy Delaware, presented that program at the library. She mentioned, in passing it seemed to me, that Literacy Delaware needed some help in the test administrator role. I recalled to her afterwards that I had previously been certified as a TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) test administrator and had some interest in helping Literacy Delaware in testing. After three training sessions, I was set.
I have had about 10 opportunities to test the verbal, vocabulary, and syntax competence of incoming or existing students. Those evaluations help Literacy Delaware to appropriately place students ready for the next levels. Two other test administrators were trained at the same time.
Literacy Delaware is a statewide program that helps non-English speakers enter the linguistic mainstream in Delaware. [Editors note: Literacy Delaware also provides basic reading instructions to native English speakers.] Thanks are due them for their staff and programs that meet the needs of our fellow-Delawareans -- mostly through the state library system.
James Stockwell
Meet the Staff
Sara Thomas,Youth and Teen Services Librarian
As of December 20, 2016, Sara Thomas has taken over the position of Youth and Teen Services Librarian. A wellqualified candidate for the job, Sara has been with the New Castle Public Library for 4 years, with a total of 10 years experience in the library field.
Sara grew up in Newport, Delaware, and is now a proud New Castle homeowner,with her 6 year old, rescue cat, Angus. At the age of 18, working a summer job in a local library, Sara knew Library Science was the field she wanted to work in for the rest of her life. She received her BA in sociology from University of Delaware and a Masters in Library and Information Science from Rutgers.
Sara’s proudest accomplishment to date involves a grant award from the American Library Association, which allows her participation in the Great Stories Club. With this award, Sara established a weekly book group at the Ferris School for Boys’ Cleveland White School. Here she meets with young men of varied reading abilities, and together they share the experiences of others by reading memoirs, stories, and graphic novels. Training and materials are provided through the grant. This has been a rewarding experience for Sara, as she is able to give back to the kids. She is presently in the process of applying for phase two of this grant, in order to continue this valuable program.
Sara has exciting plans for future library programs. She hopes to expand Story Times for other ages, and establish Saturday programs, along with Family Movie Time. Sara has already implemented the STREAM (science, technology, reading, engineering, art, and math) program, which features a different activity each week. This program is geared for youth, ages 8-15.
When Sara is not library focused, she enjoys the company of her friends, attending local concerts, and reading. Her favorite genre is Mystery-Thillers, but she remains a huge fan of Harry Potter.
We wish Sara well in all of her new ventures as Youth and Teen Librarian. Her work enriches our community by involving our youngest members and their families. Thank you, Sara.
The next edition of Footnotes will feature the staff bio of Circulation Aide, Fern Toner-Horisk.
Thanks for your Service
/ Thanks are due to two wonderful past board members, Miranda Matthews and Carolyn Travers, who both retired from the Friends' board at the end of 2016.
Miranda joined the board in 2014 as co-president. Although new to the board and the organization, she eagerly took on the work, along with Kelly Koczak McCurdy, of shepherding the Friends through three very productive and exciting years. We thank her for her willingness to shoulder this major responsibility with such amazing dedication and good humor.
Carolyn, a long time member of the Friends, worked for years on the Separation Day book sales before eventually joining the board and co-chairing these events. Her indefatigable energy, great organizational and editorial skills, and graciousness were invaluable.
Thank you Miranda and Carolyn. Best wishes to you both.
/ January BookRecommendations
If there is a book you would like to recommend, email us at .
Janice Henshaw - My Brilliant Friendby Elena Ferrante
(The Neapolitan Novels -Book 1)
Anita Scovanner -American Wifeby Curtis Sittenfeld
Sara Thomas - Ready Player Oneby Ernest Cline
/ Hearty Soups and Hamilton
NCLF Annual Meeting
January 26, 2017
6:30 PM
New Castle Public Library - Community Room
/ NC Public Library
Statistical Summary
Fiscal YTD(July 2016 - June 2017)
November
Total Circulation (includes ebooks) 7,641
Patrons (number of visitors to the library) 6,719
New Members (new cards created) 64
eBook Usage 632
Number of Programs 48
Program Attendance 377
Reference Questions 629
Computer sessions 1,628
Wi-Fi Use 371
Outside Meeting Groups (groups using the meeting rooms) 12