Today's Books-Sandwiched-In

These book club ladies did a wonderful job today, sharing the history of their group and some of their favorite titles with all of us. They have also compiled a list of all the books their club has read. If you were unable to attend today's luncheon, stop by the Library for a copy of their list - it's loaded with great suggestions for that next read!

Writing & Remembering Focus of Upcoming Children's Program

Children will learn the importance of preserving their memories in our next Community Reader program. Library Trustee Antje Dirksen-Post will read her published short story, Soup with Dumplings, and discuss the immigrant experience from a child's perspective. Antje's story is a memoir of her childhood, and is sure to be enjoyed by all school-aged children. Registration is not necessary for this free program, which will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, June 25th.

June Books-Sandwiched-In

Need some help choosing that next great book to read? Call or stop by the Library to sign up for our June 19th Books-Sandwiched-In; reservations are required. This month's luncheon will feature reviews of Sodus book club member's favorite books, plus a short history of the club. The cost for lunch is $3, and includes a sandwich, chips, coffee or tea, and homemade pie. The doors to the lunch room open at 11:45 a.m., but come early (the Library opens at 10 a.m.) and browse through some of our new books. See you there!

Father's Day Closing

The Library will be closed on Sunday, June 18th, in honor of Father's Day, and will reopen at 10 a.m. on Monday, June 19th.

June Board Meeting

The June meeting of the Sodus Free Library Board of Trustees will be held at 4 p.m. on Thursday, June 15th. Because the "Just Paperbacks" sale will be in the meeting room, the Board will meet in the Ruth Mills Room for this month only. All Board meetings are open to the public.

1st Annual "Just Paperbacks" Sale

Do you have a passion for paperbacks? Tote a pile home to take on vacation, to the beach, on the airplane or boat ride, under a shade tree, or just to curl up in a rocking chair on your front porch. We have literally thousands of paperbacks to sell - they will be 25 cents each, or a baker's dozen (13) for $3. During the sale, you may purchase one of our new canvas tote bags for $10 (normally they cost $8) and fill it with as many paperbacks as you can fit inside. The sale starts at noon on Thursday, June 15th, and continues from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday. Saturday (10 a.m. to 1 p.m.) will be $1 bag day. Plan to stop by for some great bargains!

Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards Announced

The Boston-Globe Horn Book Awards for Excellence in Children's Literature have been announced, and the 2006 winners are Kate DiCamillo's The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, Lois Ehlert's Leaf Man, and Faith McNulty's If You Decide To Go To The Moon. Click here for more information and to see which titles were named as honor books. Call or stop by the library to place an OWWL Hold on any of these wonderful children's books.

Reminder

Remember - tonight's program on how to prevent identity theft starts at 7 p.m.

Quote for the Day

"TV. If kids are entertained by two letters, imagine the fun they will have with twenty-six. Open your child's imagination. Open a book." ~Anonymous

New DVDs

New DVD titles we have added to our collection include The Family Stone, Nanny McPhee, Munich, Mrs. Henderson Presents, Hoodwinked, Transamerica, Last Holiday, and Rumor Has It. The newest nonfiction DVD (which checks out for 21 days) is Bobby Flay's 3-disc Boy Meets Grill set. Access your OWWL account online to place a hold on any of these titles, or, if you prefer, call or stop by the Library and we'll do it for you.

Perennial Planter Update II

The recent spell of heat and humidity has wilted some of us, but the plants in our perennial container have absolutely loved it!

Internet "Social" Sites

Are you worried about your children spending time on the Internet? There are so many wonderful sites they can visit for fun, information, or relaxation. However, as with anything else, problems are always considered more newsworthy. There have been many articles in print and on TV recently concerning social sites such as myspace.com. The Federal Trade Commission has some good safety tips to observe when visiting and/or posting on these sites; click here to visit their page. Please make sure that your children and teenagers observe these simple rules and "surf" safely.

Library Closing

The Library will be closed Saturday, May 27, through Monday, May 29, for the Memorial Day weekend. We will reopen at noon on Tuesday, May 30. Our online catalog is available 24/7 for renewals, account checks, or the placing of holds.

May Friends Meeting

The Friends of the Sodus Free Library will meet at 4 p.m. on Thursday, May 25th, in the Library's meeting room. All are invited to join us as we discuss plans for our 1st annual "Just Paperbacks" sale.

New Book Club Starting

As part of working toward their Girl Scout Silver Awards, Jessica Jonasse and Ana Abkarian are starting a book club for girls aged 12 to 14. We hope to read one book a month, with the first being Heir Apparent by Vivan VandeVelde. Stop by the check-out desk to sign up.

Monday's Books-Sandwiched-In

Bill Bolling presented us with many facts about identity theft, and provided several tips on how to avoid it during our Monday Books-Sandwiched-In. Just a reminder: if you would like to hear the topic covered in more depth, or if you were unable to attend the noontime program, Bill will return at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 6th, for an encore presentation. Call 483-9292 or stop by the Library for more information.

Proposition 3 Passed

Thank you to the 340 Sodus residents who voted "Yes" for Proposition 3, approving $56,000 for our Library. This funding is a vital part of our budget, and we are pleased that so many people recognize the Library's value.

Annual School Vote

The Sodus Central School District annual budget vote will be held on Tuesday, May 16th, from noon to 9 p.m. in the High School lobby. Proposition 3 reads: "Shall a levy of $56,000 on the taxable property of Sodus Central School District as a contribution to the Sodus Free Library for its maintenance and support be approved?" If you have any questions regarding this proposition, please leave a comment here, or contact me or one of our Trustees by phone or email.

Upcoming Children's Program

"All About Ducks," the next program in our Community Reader Series, will be held at 4 p.m. on Thursday, May 18th. Dynalec's Greg Cuvelier will be reading The Wide World of Suzie Mallard by Hazel J. Hutchins, and will also share some of his knowledge about ducks with the children. In addition, we'll have stories, activities, and refreshments. Registration is welcomed, but not required for this free program. Be sure to bring your children to the Library for this fun program!


Mike Garlock has generously
loaned some of his duck decoys
and specimens for our display case.

Pick Up A Library Book Bag

Keep all of your checked-out items together in one of our new book bags. Our Friends group started selling these sturdy totes today; the cost is $8 each. Stop by the desk soon - at this price, we expect them to go fast!

May Books-Sandwiched-In

The Friends of the Sodus Free Library will host a timely Books-Sandwiched-In on Monday, May 15th. William R. Bolling, Risk Management Specialist for WCTA Federal Credit Union (and retired long-time Library Trustee and President) will give a presentation on preventing identity theft. Lunch, which includes a sandwich, beverage, and a slice of homemade pie, starts at noon; the cost is $3 per person. Doors to the lunch room will open at 11:45, so come early and check out some of our new books and DVDs. Space is limited, so stop by, email, or call today to make your reservation. If your schedule does not permit you to come for lunch, mark your calendar for 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 6th, when this program will be repeated. Reservations will not be required for the evening program.

Perennial Planter Update

The container of perennials planted for us by Christine Sanguedolce at the April Books-Sandwiched-In is growing by leaps and bounds.

Closed for Mother's Day

The Library will be closed on Sunday, May 14th, in honor of Mother's Day.

May Board of Trustees Meeting

The monthly Board of Trustees meeting will be held at 4 p.m. on Thursday, May 11th, in the Library's meeting room. The public is welcome at all Board meetings.

Pictures From Shipwreck Program

At last Thursday's program, local author Susan Peterson Gateley discussed shipwrecks and rescues and also signed books for enthusiastic attendees.

Monday's Books-Sandwiched-In

Chris Sanguedolce demonstrated how she plants perennials in containers for an enthusiastic audience at Monday's luncheon. We'll be taking photos periodically of the planter over the next months to see how it progresses. Thanks to Chris for an inspiring talk, and to Grandpa's Nursery and Garden Center for the plants.

We're Closed

The Library is closed today, Saturday, and Sunday for the Easter weekend. Our online catalog is still available if you need to check due dates, renew materials, or place a title on hold. We will reopen on Monday, April 17, at 10 a.m.

Head Start Fun

Head Start families created beautiful Spring flowers and listened to stories during their library visit.

This little one curled up in a comfy corner with a good book.

Quote for National Library Week

"The richest person in the world - in fact all the riches in the world - couldn't provide you with anything like the endless, incredible loot available at your local library"
~ Malcolm Forbes

Meeting Postponed

Due to scheduling conflicts, the special Board meeting which was to take place at 4 p.m. on Thursday, April 6th, has been postponed.

Upcoming Meet the Author Program

Susan Peterson Gateley will present a program and readings on Lake Ontario shipwrecks and rescues at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 20th. The program is based on Peterson Gateley's most recent book, Ariadne's Death: Tales of Heroism and Tragedy on Lake Ontario.

Shipwrecks, the result of bad luck, bad management, or some combination of the two, were an all too common event on Lake Ontario in the 19th and early 20th centuries. From the tragic ends of several family-owned cargo schooners of the 19th century, to the improbable outcome of a fishing trip on Lake Ontario taken in 2002, Gateley's newest book chronicles a variety of maritime disasters, acts of heroism and near misses. The book program will include an account of the unfortunate end of the schooner Ariadne, destroyed by winter gales at the lake's east end, and the sad tale of the Belle Sheridan, owned and manned by the McSherry family. All but one were lost in the great gale of 1880. Steamers, too, were at risk, as the story of the Quinte's end by fire and the Lady of the Lakes' close call show. Gateley will end the program on a lighter note with a couple of really close calls that ended well - including the heroic beer cooler's tale!

Gateley plans to have copies of the new book available for purchase and signing the night of the program. We're looking forward to filling the meeting room with fans of Susan's books.

April Books-Sandwiched-In

Join us at noon on Monday, April 17th, for a timely presentation on Planting Perennials in Containers by gardener Christine Sanguedolche. As before, $3 covers the cost of the program and lunch, which consists of sandwiches, beverage, and homemade pie. As registration is limited, be sure to stop by the Library to sign up for this program ... and get ready to plant!

Board of Trustees Meetings

There will be a special meeting of the Sodus Free Library's Board of Trustees at 4 p.m. on Thursday, April 6th in the Library's meeting room. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss fundraising plans. The regular monthly meeting will be held at 4 p.m. on Thursday, April 13th. All Board meetings are open to the public.

Month of the Young Child

To celebrate April as the Month of the Young Child, children from Sodus Head Start classes, Sodus Early Head Start, Sodus Preschool, and Sodus Cooperative Nursery School have made a striking rainbow of hands for our display case.

The display also features the building blocks which lead to reading. To further encourage and assist parents in learning how to use these building blocks, Head Start's Amy Thatcher will be presenting a Growing a Reader workshop at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, April 5, in the Library's meeting room. We'll have stories and snacks for the children while parents are presented with practical, enthusiastic ways to encourage a love of books and reading. SallyAnn Danforth will present a similar program to parents of infants and toddlers at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 18. While these programs are targeting Head Start families, the Library will repeat both in the future for all who would like to attend.

Women's History Month

In addition to checking out the books in our Women's History Month displays, click here to connect to a list of sources recommended by the Library of Congress.

Quote for the Day

"I would be most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves."
Anna Quindlen, "Enough Bookshelves," New York Times, August 7, 1991

Today's Books-Sandwiched-In

We all had a great time today listening to Stephen Heald recount the amazing adventures of Alice Ramsey as she drove across the country.



Stephen and his wife, Pamela, demonstrated the functional, protective clothing worn while driving those early automobiles.

2006 Book Sense Book of the Year Awards

The winners of the 2006 Book Sense Book of the Year Awards have been announced. "Independent booksellers have chosen to honor these handselling favorites from among a wide array of interesting, unique, and thought-provoking titles sold in their stores during the past year," said ABA CEO Avin Mark Domnitz. Click here for the complete list of award winners, and stop by or call the Library to place any of these titles on Hold.

Every Genius Knows

Every genius knows that the Library is *the* place to be!

To make your own Einstein picture, click here and enjoy.

Irish Storytime Pictures

These pictures are from Monday's special storytime with Colleen McCarty. We listened to Irish stories, were treated to goodie baskets made by Pauline Baker, and had a visit from a leprechaun!

Sodus Citizen of the Year

The Sodus Chamber of Commerce announced today that Joe Schell is this year's Citizen of the Year.

An email from the Chamber states, "Joe is the Director of Operations at S.T.A.C. (Sodus Town Ambulance Corp) as well as one of the founding members in 1971. He continues to train new members as well as maintaining the skills of the other members. He also works for the Wayne County ALS Fly Car and travels all of Wayne County to answer the call of duty. He has saved countless lives and his quiet demeanor comforts all around him during very scary times. Joe's reputation of going above and beyond has earned him this well-deserved recognition." All of us at the Sodus Free Library add our congratulations to Joe for this honor.

For information on attending the Citizen of the Year Banquet on April 7th, contact the Sodus Chamber at 315-398-8473 or email your inquiry to chamber14551@yahoo.com.

March Books-Sandwiched-In

Stop by the Library this week to sign up for the March 20th Books-Sandwiched-In. The luncheon will feature Stephen Heald, lifelong Sodus resident and antique car hobbyist, reviewing Alice's Drive by Alice Ramsey. Ramsey was the first woman to drive an automobile across the United States, proving "without doubt that America's burgeoning love affair with the new-fangled horseless carriage and the open road applied equally to both sexes. Alice's Drive puts us in the front seat of her brand new Maxwell DA to join in her grand and historic adventure" - quote from Dayton Duncan, author of Horatio's Drive. The luncheon starts at noon; the cost of $3 covers sandwiches, beverage, and homemade pie.

Irish Folklore Storytime

Colleen McCarty will be sharing stories on Irish folklore at a special Storytime at 4 p.m. on Monday, March 13th. Children of all ages are welcome.

Friends' Annual Meeting

The annual meeting of the Friends of the Sodus Free Library will be held at 4 p.m. on Thursday, March 16th, in the Library's meeting room. Officers for the coming year will be elected at that time, and annual membership dues will be collected. We would love to add several new members. Come join us!

Oscar Night

How exciting that someone from "just down the road" won an Oscar at last night's 78th annual Academy Awards! Click here to find a complete list of winners at the official Oscar website. We already own several of the nominated movies, and will be purchasing more as they become available. Stop by or call the Library to put any of the titles on hold.

New Children's Choice Award Announced

Children in grades 3 through 6 are encouraged to nominate their favorite book for a 3 Apples Book Award. Developed to encourage the joy of reading for pleasure and to give the children of our State the opportunity to participate in honoring their favorites, this New York State Children's Choice Award is based solely on their nominations and votes. Children can pick up nomination forms from Mrs. Olson, Sodus Primary Librarian, or Mrs. VanKouwenberg, Sodus Intermediate Librarian. The completed forms (one nomination per child) can be dropped off at either of the school libraries or at the Sodus Free Library.

The Youth Services and School Library Media Sections of the New York Library Association will announce the top nominees, and children will be reading those titles over the Summer. They will then be allowed to vote for their favorite of the group, with the winner of the first 3 Apples Award being announced next February.

There are so many excellent children's books available. We hope that your children visit our libraries soon to vote for their favorites.

March Trustees Meeting

The Sodus Free Library Board of Trustees will hold their next monthly meeting at 4 p.m. on Thursday, March 9th, in the Library's community meeting room. All Board meetings are open to the public.

From Books to Inspiration to Art

Here is the fun group of ladies who are painting rock houses with Shirley Patchett. If you'd like to join them, stop by the Library and pick up a list of the supplies you'll need. They're meeting again next Monday, March 6, at 10:30 a.m.

Encouraging Boys to Read

Click here to read an interesting article in the Miami Herald entitled "These Tips Might Make Your Son a Reader." If you leave out the gender-specific tips, these ideas also work with girls. Gift your children with the love of reading - it will last a lifetime!

Fun at the Library

We not only had fun listening to stories about trees, we learned many new and interesting things, were given acorns to plant (we hope our great-grandchildren enjoy the oak trees), and sanded and decorated beechnut tree rounds. Our thanks to Martha and Jim Miller, a great library team!

Today's Program

Remember to bring your Primary School-age children into the Library at 1 p.m. today for Martha Miller's "Once there was a tree ..." program.

We're closed today, but take some time to visit the Library of Congress and learn more about our Presidents. Click here to visit Mr. Lincoln's Virtual Library, and here for the George Washington Papers collection.

Sending Kisses

"Kisses" to all who helped with the Library's Third Annual Valentine Chocolate Sale. Thirty-five people donated chocolate goodies of all kinds, several members of the Friends of the Sodus Free Library set up, sliced and priced, and countless people shopped. At the end of the two days, we had made $501.90, more than double last year's total!

Black History Month

Celebrate Black History Month by learning more about the history of the civil rights movement in America. Click here to connect to the Library of Congress' Learning Page.

Library Closing

The Library will be closed Monday, February 20th, in honor of Presidents Day, and will reopen at noon on Tuesday, February 21st.

School Break Program

Are your children looking for something fun to do during February break? We're starting a monthly series of free children's programs which will feature enthusiastic readers from our community. The first program will be held at 1 p.m. on Thursday, February 23rd, and will be aimed at children of Primary School age. Martha Miller, President of the Library's Board of Trustees, has planned an hour of fun, stories, and activities with the theme "Once there was a tree ..." Registration is encouraged, but not required. Call or stop by the Library to reserve a spot for your children, or to find out how to volunteer to read for a future program.

Friends of the Sodus Free Library Meeting

The February meeting of our Friends group will be held in the Library's meeting room at 4 p.m. on Thursday, February 16th. Come join us!

A Reminder to Chocolate Lovers

The tables are filling for our 3rd Annual Valentine Chocolate Sale, and the smell is heavenly! So many goodies have already been donated, the sale has been moved into the Library's meeting room. I spotted Chocolate Lava brownies, chocolate chip cookies, a heart-shaped chocolate cake, chocolate rum balls, Que Sera Sarah brownies, and a variety of cookies in handmade paper baskets - I'm so glad I've been saving my pennies! Remember to stop by between noon and 8 p.m. on Thursday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday.