Meet David Chura, author of I Don’t Wish Nobody to Have a Life Like Mine: Tales of Kids in Adult Lockup

David Chura has written and lectured extensively on incarcerated youth, speaking from 40 years of experience. Don't miss hearing him read from and talk about his riveting book, I Don't Wish Nobody to Have a Life Like Mine: Tales of Kids in Adult Lockup, on Saturday, February 26. Booklist said "Chura recalls the raw, gritty emotions of young men with little education and few options, exercising sometimes violent and childish outlets for all that wild, pent-up adolescent energy...Chura offers a compelling look at the failings of the juvenile justice system."

Mr. Chura will speak at 2 p.m. in the Community Room of the Central Library, 220 State Street, Springfield. Copies of his book will be available for sale and signing. Please call (413) 263-6828, ext. 213 for more information.

Sarah Pirtle in concert at the GPL!

Families with young children, treat yourselves to a special free concert Saturday morning, December 5 at 10:30 with the wonderful Sarah Pirtle. The community is invited to the Greenfield Public Library for a joyful concert for all ages with the award-winning singer-songwriter.
With humor and warmth, Sarah beckons us to experience the exploration and enchantment of the seasons, farm life, city neighborhoods, and family time. These lively songs encourage outdoor play and a childhood nourished by imagination, curiosity, and nature. The concert is free and open to all; for more information contact Kay Lyons at 772-1544 ext. 5 or online at http://www.greenfieldpubliclibrary.org/.

‘Shades of Stockbridge’ will return to the Stockbridge Library

STOCKBRIDGE, MA – On Saturday, October 17, between 6:30 and 8:30 p.m., the Stockbridge Library Historical Collection will host an event called ‘Shades of Stockbridge.’ During the evening, ‘spirits’ of Stockbridge past will roam around the library and mingle with visitors who may either eavesdrop or speak with them.

These spirits, or shades, represented by area residents, range from Ephraim Williams, one of the original founders of the town; Georgiana Allen, daughter of Harriet Beecher Stowe; Cyrus Field, who laid the transatlantic cable; Nathan Jackson, the founder of the Stockbridge Library and early Williams College benefactor; Catharine Sedgwick, one of the first female American authors to be recognized internationally; Mark Hopkins, President of Williams College, H. Augustus Lukeman, sculptor of Stone Mountain, GA and the Soldiers Monument in Pittsfield; Emily Tuckerman, an early summer resident; and others. They represent several eras, from 1700 to 1920, and they can talk about the era of the founding of Stockbridge until the early 1900’s. They will reminisce and also give their impressions, some favorable, some not, about Stockbridge today.

The Gentleman Burglar, a genuine Stockbridge character in the late 1800’s, sometimes shows up at these events as well.

The Victorian term ‘shade’ means spirit, explained Barbara Allen, curator of the Historical Collection. She sees the event as a fun way to learn local history, as well as being entertaining.

A $5 donation is requested. No reservation is required. For more information, call 298-5501.

Library Lesson Plans

On July 24, West Springfield Public Library Assistant Reference Librarian, Anna Popp, posted the following message to the "cwinfo" email discussion list:

"Do we have a central place to share curriculum or modules for trainings offered by library staff? I am specifically looking for input on a Computer Lab Resume Writing workshop. I plan to speak with our HR folks, the local one stop career, temp agencies, etc. But I figured materials from my contemporaries would be most beneficial. And if there’s a spot where folks regularly post shared work, I would love to know about that, too!"

WMRLS, CMRLS, C/W MARS staff - and many, many, western and central Massachusetts librarians had the same response to Anna's question: What a great idea! AND Working Together we all created the brand new Central and Western Massachusetts Library Training Materials website!

The goal of CENTRAL AND WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS LIBRARY LESSON PLANS is for librarians to share lesson plans and tutorials that they have developed that provide instruction for the the public about how to use C/W MARS, the statewide DATABASES, library skills and technology, job searching and resume writing, and other life skills.

Do visit this site today. Email me to share your lesson plans OR become a site collaborator (in this way, you can post directly to the page).

Sincerely, Janet Eckert, WMRLS

Buckland Public Library Presents ...

Buckland Public Library presents

Pizza Pie & The Sky

For: Individuals aged 10-100

On: Friday night, July 10th, 7-9:00 pm

At: Buckland Public Hall at 17 Upper Street (behind the church)

Celebrate the wonders of summer -- and all that leisure time you will have to gaze at the sky -- by joining friends and amateur astronomer Paul Cardone of East Longmeadow for an interactive media presentation on deep sky and its infinite possibilities. Paul is a longtime member of the Springfield Stars Club, and is well known for his wry wit and lively presentations to audiences throughout Western Massachusetts. You don't have to reply in order to come to this free event, but we'll have more pizza if you do! Email ljacobson-carroll@cwmars.org with the number of folks you will be bringing.

and . . .


Stories of the Stars

For: Kids of single-digit ages

On: Saturday morning, July 11th, 10:00-11:00 am

At: Buckland Public Hall 17 Upper Street (behind the church)

Enjoy a star-studded slide show about our solar system! Whirling, twirling, spinning, hurling, exploding, and burning: it is all happening out there, and you'll be better off knowing about it! Amateur astronomer Paul Cardone, of East Longmeadow, is a longtime member of the Springfield Stars Club, and is well known for his lively presentations to audiences throughout Western Massachusetts. A constellation of refreshments will be served. You don't have to reply in order to come to this free event, but adults who email ljacobson-carroll@cwmars.org with # of kids they plan to bring will be rewarded with ample coffee!

Buckland Public Library is located at 30 Upper Street, Buckland MA
Hours: Tuesday 2-8 pm, Friday 1-6 pm, Saturday 9 am-1 pm
Phone: 413-625-9412

NASA Administrator @South Hadley Public Library

The head of NASA during the Carter administration will speak at the South Hadley Public Library on Tuesday, July 21 at 6:30.

Dr. Robert Frosch served as NASA Administrator from 1977-1981. While at NASA, Dr. Frosch was responsible for overseeing the continuation of the development effort on the Space Shuttle. During his tenure the project underwent testing of the first orbiter, Enterprise, at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Facility in southern California. The orbiter made its first free flight in the atmosphere on August 12, 1977.

Dr. Frosch has also served as an Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations, and Vice-President of General Motors. He is still active in scientific and technical policy activities, serving as a Senior Associate at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard.

For more information, contact the library at 413-538-5045 or visit them online at http://www.shadleylib.org

North Adams Public Library offers free passes to Herrmann’s Lipizzaner Stallions of Austria Event

Attention Children’s Librarians:

The North Adams Public Library will be hosting the Herrmann’s Lipizzaner Stallions of Austria on Friday August 28 @ 7 pm, Saturday August 29 @ 7 pm and Sunday August 30 @ 2 pm and offers your library two complimentary tickets to be used as prizes for your summer reading program.

If your library is interested in receiving two free tickets please respond to this email and we will send them to you in delivery. Children under six are free, so if a child under six is awarded this ticket during the Summer Reading Program, the ticket may be used by the adult that brings this child. The cost of a ticket is $12 for adults and $8 for children 6-13.

Contact: North Adams Public Library [napl@bcn.net]