Friends Newsletter, November 2011

November 2011 Friends’ Matters By Janet L. Flowers, FOCPL Chair Inside this

issue:

Adult Programs Children’s News When You Read…

Teen News Thanks Book Sales Membership Info The personalized pavers highlighting the Friends of the Orange County library’s main entrance were the result of two successful fundraisers.

Public Library Annual Meeting On November 5, 1981, a small band of local library supporters passed the following resolution: “That a Friends of the Orange County Library group be formed to maintain an association of persons interested in books, and libraries; to focus public attention on and to stimulate public interest in library services, facilities, and needs; to stimulate gifts of books, magazines, endowments and bequests Open to the Public December 3, 2011 2:00-3:30 in Large Meeting Room Orange County Main Library 137 West Margaret Ln.

Business Meeting ♦ Entertainment “Although It’s Been Said Many Times Many Letter from a Friend Ways” Holiday Fictions By A. J. Mayhew, Author of The Dry Grass of August By Michael Malone ♦ In December of last year I went to Lee Smith’s reading at Orange County Public Library, one of many events sponsored by Friends of the Orange County Public Library (FOCPL). When I entered the meeting room, I was delighted to see half a dozen people I knew. Over the next hour, I enjoyed Lee’s lively presentation, made several new friends, and won a door prize (The Informer, by local author Craig Nova). I joined FOCPL that evening, and have benefited all Refreshments ♦ Door Prizes Raffle for Mark Hewitt Pottery

Silent Auction:

Not for sale DVD:

St. Matthew’s Reading by A. J. Mayhew Volume 1, Issue 1 Library Support Organization Turns 30 and to encourage increased usage of the library facilities and services.” Thirty years later, the Friends continue this mission on behalf of our fine local library.

Library highlights from the last three decades include the dedication of the “new” library in the former Hillsborough High School on April 18, 1982, and the opening of a new library facility on Margaret Lane on January 8, 2010.

John Idol and others in the Friends were effective advocates for the new facility in presentations to the Orange County Board of Commissioners. In late fall of 2010, the Library celebrated its Centennial.

Over the years, the Friends have engaged in a number of special fundraisers to supplement money collected through memberships and book sales. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, talented local quilters contributed specially designed quilts for raffle sales. The winners of these one-of-a-kind items treasured their beauty and originality, while the library benefited from the money raised by the Friends.

In recent years, the Friends held two successful campaigns to place engraved bricks in front of the new Library. Hundreds of local residents and businesses took advantage of the opportunity to memorialize or celebrate a friend or family member, or to share personal sentiments about books and reading. Every time patrons visit the Library, See “FOCPL Turns 30,” page 3 year long. I signed up for notifications by email, and have thus been alerted to readings, the biannual book sale, and other entertaining and educational happenings organized by this wonderful group.

When I moved to Hillsborough twenty years ago, I knew it was a town rich in writers, but didn’t immediately realize what a treasure the town had in its library. The new library facility has greatly expanded resources for this town See “Friend Letter,” page 3 Children’s Library News Friends’ Matters A Publication of the Friends of the Orange County Public Library Volume 1, No. 1 November 2011 FOCPL Newsletter Committee Janet L. Flowers, Chair Bridget Booher, Editor Karen Bowen Sara Levinson Lisa Wolfe, Design Adult Programming By Jessica Arnold, Adult Programming Coordinator Summer Reading 2011 I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the local businesses and organizations that donated prizes for this year’s Adult Summer Reading program: the Flower Patch, the Gulf Rim Cafe, the Yesterday and Today Frame Shop, and the Orange County Wellness Program. We had 225 entries in the adult reading prize drawing and in addition to selecting a winner each week this summer; we were able to offer a grand prize at the end of Summer Reading as well. In a series of lectures, Nobel laureate Orhan Pamuk ruminated on what goes on in the mind of a person reading a novel.

His thoughts are summarized by Susan K.

Perry, Ph.D. below. Do these match your experiences? The point about finishing a (great) novel and feeling that it had been written just for me particularly struck home – it maybe irrational but it’s so true!

Adult Programming 2011 This summer the Library introduced Movies @ the Library with a host of screenings in August that had something for everyone, from an animated family film to a local documentary to a sci-fi thriller. Going forward, the library will continue with a free movie showing each month. Combine these with ongoing local food programs, organizational seminars, and special events, and we’ve had a very active past few months! Thanks to the Friends for helping to support these events and for organizing their own special programs at the library – all of these activities help to keep the library a dynamic and integral part of the Orange County community.

We observe the general scene and follow the narrative. Whether actionfilled or more literary, we read all novels the same way: seeking out the meaning and main idea.

We transform words into images in our mind, completing the novel as our imaginations picture what the words are telling us.

Part of our mind wonders how much is real experience and how much is imagination. “A third dimension of reality slowly begins to emerge within us: the dimension of the complex world of the novel.”

We’re on the Web!

http://www.co.orange.nc.us/ library/friends.asp By Ginger Holler, Head of Youth Services It was a busy summer for the Children’s Services department. Seven hundred and forty children from forty different schools and twenty-three home school families signed up for summer reading – a new record! Once again, there were prizes offered as reading incentives but this summer children could instead opt to receive a “Book Buck,” in lieu of a prize, which allowed them to choose a book to be donated to the Ronald McDonald House, SECU Family House, and Orange Congregation in Mission Samaritan Relief program. All children who donated a book had their name written on a “Book Buck,” which was then posted on a special scroll in the library. Over 132 “Book Bucks” were posted.

tures with Legos and flocked to the lively story times we offered.

We also partnered with the Alliance for Historic Hillsborough as a part of Family Fun Days. On Saturdays in June, July, August, and September, we distributed 143 “passports”— illustrated guides to select sights around town—to individuals and families from Hillsborough and surrounding towns, including Cary and Chapel Hill. We even welcomed a vacationing family of six from Florida that stopped in while touring the area. For the September Family Fun Day, Children’s Services also provided a colonial craft program, with the help of April Holder -Freeman and Hannah Pierce, our great new interns (from UNC’s Library School. Our program complemented the Colonial Kids Day that took place the same day at the Burwell School.

Orange County has a strong readership community, including its younger members. Between June 1 and August 31, 41,324 children’s books and materials circulated from the Orange County Main Library. During that same time period, nearly 81,000 items in children’s and teen areas circulated throughout our Hyconeechee Regional System. We also had strong turnout for special summer performances by theater troupes, musicians, and even a magician. Kids built creative sculp- Our ever popular story times and afterschool programs returned this fall, with the addition of a monthly evening story time. There was also a story time in Spanish in October. Other events at the library included a library -wide trick-or-treat on Halloween, and an evening with local children’s author John Claude Bemis in November.

9 Things That Happen When You Read BookBrowse Highlights, September 29, 2011 4.

We wonder if the novel depicts reality as we know it. Is this scene realistic, could this actually happen?

We enjoy the precision of analogies, the power of narrative, the way sentences build upon one another, the music of the prose.

We make moral judgments about the characters’ behavior, and about the novelist for his own moral judgments by way of the characters’ actions and their consequences.

We feel successful when we understand the text, and we come to feel as though it was written just for us.

Our memory works hard to keep track of all the details, and in a wellconstructed novel, everything connects to everything. 9.

We search for the secret center of the novel, convinced that there is one. We hunt for it like a hunter searches for meaningful signs in the forest.

FOCPL Turns 30 from p. 1 FOCPL 2011 Board they are able to view the visual and symbolic testament to our community’s affection for the Library. With the money from these campaigns, the Friends donated $20,000 (2010) and $20,000 (2011) to the Library at a time when extra funding was essential to opening Orange County’s newest library facility.

Ann Burton—Co-Chair Janet L. Flowers—Co-Chair Bill Barrows—Ongoing Book Sale Sandy Gerstner—Treasurer Lori Graham, Secretary The list of speakers during these thirty years illustrates the wealth of local literary talent, with authors such as Doug Marlette, Clyde Edgerton, Jill McCorkle, Lee Smith, Daniel Wallace, and Michael Malone drawing appreciative crowds. Nineteen local authors who contributed to Twenty Seven Views of Hillsborough read excerpts at a well-attended and highly entertaining program in April 2010. The Friends are immensely grateful for the generous ongoing contributions of our local author community.

Erin Shepherd—Chair, Membership Committee Susanne Vergara—Chair, Program Committee Lucinda Munger—Director, Orange County Public Library-ex officio Andrea Tullos—Assistant Director, Orange County Public Library– ex officio One perennial favorite Friends’ tradition is the annual or biannual book sale. These sales typically began with a members-only preview sale for Friends. Members of the Friends contribute to the sales in one of three ways (and sometimes all): by donating books, by helping with the sale, and/or by buying books. In addition to raising money for the Library, the sales are a good community builder with book lovers stopping to talk about favorites while browsing among the thousands of choices.

Friend Letter from p. 1 that is also rich in readers. I recently attended a FOCPL-sponsored presentation by Diane Daniel of her new book, Farm Fresh North Carolina. Diane’s presentation included slides of various farms featured in her fine book, using equipment donated to the library by FOCPL.

The Kindle readers—also a gift of the Friends—are now available for patrons. Such modern touches make our library truly state of the art. I’m proud to be a Friend of Orange County Public Library, and will renew my membership— updating it to a family affair—at the annual meeting this year.

Teens’ Library News Teens (and a few librarians) ducked, jumped, dodged, and danced while playing with the Xbox 360 Kinect on Wednesdays in July. Teen gaming continues during the school year on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 5 p.m. in the meeting room, unless otherwise posted.

Summer Reading arts programs kicked off with a “Hero Books” workshop, where teens met at the library over five consecutive days to write and illustrate stories based on their lives, their dreams, and their personal heroes. During “Painting to Poetry and Music,” teens learned to find inspiration for visual expression through music from all over the world. within the “Creative Writing Based on the History of Hip-Hop” workshop, teens learned about and listened to samples of the trends in music and poetry from the 20th century that have led up to modern hiphop. Inspired by these examples and drawing on historical perspectives. they wrote lyrics based on their own lives.

Valentines created by the Teen Advisory Board for Meals for Wheels recipients.

Beginning in 2010, the Friends also instituted a very popular ongoing book sale that takes place every day in the Library.

These books, which are recent and in good physical shape, sell for slightly more than those offered during the biannual book sale. Bibliophiles delight in the great, timely bargains.

Of course, the primary mission of the Friends is to support the Library by providing funding for resources that the Library cannot afford. Every year, the Friends solicit advice from the Orange County Public Library Director and use that information to decide where to invest funds. Often the money has gone for Summer Reading Programs for Orange County children and youth. Other times it has supported the purchase of special reference books. More recently, the money helped provide tables for the new Teen Room This year the funds were used to purchase five Kindle e-readers for patrons.

Within weeks, there was a waiting list of fifty people, a clear indicator that this option was appealing to the public.

The Friends continues to advocate for our Library, raise much needed funds, sponsor programs and special events, and host the ever-popular used book sales. We invite you to join us as we begin our next thirty years together.

By Mary Lewis Haywood, Young Adult Librarian On October 31st, the Library held an Edgar Allan Poe Celebration which featured Halloween candy, classic short horror movies, and Poe’s ghostly writings. There was also a Spirit Photography Contest where teens competed to create the coolest haunting illusions in their photographs.

Ongoing Fall events for teens Teen Tuesdays The library is offering activities for teens at 5 p.m. the first four Tuesdays of each month during the school year, unless otherwise posted.

1st Tuesdays: Teen Advisory Board (TAB). Discuss library programming, new books, and ways to make the library a cooler place for teens. 2nd Tuesdays: Design activity 3rd Tuesdays: Gaming with Xbox 360 with Kinect, Wii, chess, and other games.

4th Tuesdays: Free movie chosen by

TAB.

Thanks to Companies and Sustaining Members Book Sale News Turn Right After Entering Front Door Leland Little Auction House provided generous support, through the Friends, to the Baron Von Rumblebuss performance at the Library. Piedmont Electric Membership Corporation also donated generously to the Friends to support the Charles Pettee performance with songs of Carolina.

Many of you have found the year-round or on-going book sale in the Library. For those of you who haven’t, please turn right after entering the front doors of the Library.

In addition, the following individuals and families contributed at least $100 to FOCPL in 2011. We are very grateful for this generous support.

Books are priced from $1-$3, and many are in pristine condition. Thanks to all who frequent the sale and all who donate gently used books, audio books and DVD’s. All of the money goes back into the Library for your benefit.

Carl and Susan Baumann Charlie Cleary Gail Cooley Felicia and Lee Cothran (Bridger and Tucker) Ed and Janet Flowers Teresa Fralix and Holly Jordan The American public library is truly the symbol of democracy.

It is one of the few institutions in the world where people have free access to information, allowing them to become informed and to fully participate in the democratic process. For many, the library remains the only affordable source of printed books, and for some, of access to the Internet.

YTD Proceeds The Fall Book Sale, held Oct.

14-16, brought in $1444.

With $1623 in proceeds from the spring Book Sale and $2808 from the Ongoing Sale, the year-to-date total for the book sales is $5875.

—Sara Levinson —Ann Burton FOCPL Co-Chair Visit our Web site at: www.co.orange.nc.us/library/friends.asp or pick up a membership brochure at the Library Become a Friend of the Orange County Public Library and you will make an important contribution to one of our county’s most vital educational and cultural assets. In return, you’ll also get:  The satisfaction of working with other like -annual book sales.  Email updates regarding library events, issues and news from our secure Friends listserv. Dues: Individual-$15; Family-$25; Donor-$50; Sustaining-$100 FOCLP is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Contributions are tax deductible. Questions? Contact us at: FOCPL2011@gmail.com Patrick L and Sandra L. Gerstner Lisa Henninger Raymond, Dawn and John Hildebrand George and Alice Horton Dolly and Jack Hunnell Michael and Janice Irwin Michael Malone Robert and Mary Ann Peter PHE, Inc.

Dawn Raymond and John Hildebrand Margaret W. Rich Yolanda Scarlett

-minded book and library lovers.  Early access to the bi  Ongoing or occasional volunteer opportunities t