Northumberland Public Library

Volume5Issue4 Summer2017

Spring heralds change and this year the seasonbroughtsomeexcitingtransitions.

Afternearlyfouryearsaschildren’sprogramdirector,Jan Bates is moving onto blaze trails outdoors insomeofournation’sglori-ous parks. She is leavingtheprograminthecapablehands of Marilyn Smith,whojustmovedherefromHickory,NorthCarolina.Leavingthehelmofoursmall“ship,”AliceCooper,who has been our librarydirectorduringthelastfouryears,willmovejustuptheroadtoheadtheLancasterlibrary.CherieCarlwillbeinterimdirector.(see inside for more on both women.)ForAlice,thiswasasecondstint.Shewaslibrarydi-rectorforsixyears,from1996until2002,andreturnedforanotherfouryearsinJanuary2013. “It’s a bittersweet decision as this library and thiscommunity,where I’ve lived formore than20years,hasabigplaceinmyheart,”shesaid.Atatimewhenlibrariesarechangingwithnewtech-nologies,Aliceworkedhardtobesurethelibrarywasno longeraplace to justborrowbooksandvideos. Ithasbecometheplacewhereyoucangetfree internettoworkonyourresume,conductresearchandtakeanonlineclass.Thelibrarybuildinghasbecometheplacewherepatronscanholdmeetings,takeaclass,seelocalartworkaspartoftheArtisanTrail,faxanapplication,Build-a-Bear,gettechtutoring,andmeetanauthor.

Aliceleftjustasthelibraryismakingpreparationsforforitsnewestservice,aMobileLibraryequippedwithinternetservice.

“This will release thelibrary from its bricksand mortar facility andhas the potential to takeit out to all geographicpoints of Northumber-land County,” she said. Both Alice and Jan aremoving on to new ven-tures,buttheyleavebehinda foundation for the Nor-thumberlandPublicLibrarytocontinuegrowingandtooffer the very best to thecommunity.Theiremphasisonthelibraryasacommu-nitymeansitrevolvesaround

the needs of neighbors as well as the nurturing andopenness that comeswithbelonging toa community. Volunteeringhere remainskey to the library’ssuc-cess.Alicewasalwaysonthelookouttofindtheper-sonwhomightenjoyvolunteeringtofillacertainneed.Thiswillcontinue.Asthelibrarysearchesforanewdirector,itsvolun-teers,dedicatedstaff,board,andCherie,willkeepthelibraryandallofitsprojectsupandrunning.UponherdepartureattheendofMay,Aliceempha-sizedLancasterasasisterlibraryandadesireforcol-laboration.Working together in rural communities iswhatmakesthemthrive.WorkingtogetherforallthatNorthumberland Public Library can do and becomeprovesthatittrulybelongstoeveryone.

Community Drives Our Mighty Little Library

The triangle is the universal symbol for change

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Meet Interim Library Director Cherie Carl

CherieCarlisNorthumberlandPublicLibraryInter-imDirector,whocomestothelibraryfromjustup

theroadinWicomicoChurch.SheandhusbandKeithmovedherefromVirginiaBeachin2008.“Iamdelightedandhonoredtohavetheopportunityservemycommunityastheinterimdirectorofourwon-derfulNorthumberlandlibrary,”shesaid.

Cherie has a historywith libraries throughout thestate includingOldDominionUniversity,City ofVABeach,TidewaterCommunityCollege,andRappahan-nockCommunityCollege.AtRappahannockCommunityCollegeshemanagedlibrariesatbothcampusesandservedasthedirectoroftheRichmondCountyPublicLibraryduringhertenurethere.Shehasworkedinpublicschoolsasanacademiccoachand collaborated with teachers, students, counselors,andadministrators.CheriehasaBAinhistoryandpo-liticalsciencefromLynchburgCollegeandamaster’sdegreeinLibrarySciencefromCatholicUniversity. Ahistorylover,shehasnearlycompletedagradu-atecertificateinPublicHistoryfromtheUniversityofRichmond’s School of Professional and ContinuingStudies.Pleasecomebyandintroduceyourself!

Cherie Carl with husband Keith and their “critters.”

Marilyn Smith New Children’s Program Director

Marilyn Smith is new to the Northern Neck

Aftereightyears inHickory,N.C.,MarilynSmithandherhusbandDavidrecentlymovedtoReed-

villeforhisjobasthenewpastoratTibithaChurchofGod.The timing couldn’t have been better as the li-brarywasinneedofachildren’sprogramdirector.Marilynhasworkedatpubliclibrarieseachtimeherhusband’sjobrequiredamove,and“everychurchI’vebeen in, I’ve organized a library,” she said.MarilyngrewupinnorthernIndianawhereherlibrarywasaroominsomeone’shouse.Fromtherethelibrar-iesgotlargerandshebeganworkinginthem. At theHickory PubicLibrary, shewas a “floater”workingforthecirculationdeskatallsevenbranches“Librariesareorganizedquitedifferentlystatetostate,”shesaid.Butherfavoritejobhasbeenworkingwithchildren.“Ilovestorytimeandcrafts,”shesaid. Her favorite children’s book and the one she tookout the most wasVirginia Lee Burton’s. “The LittleHouse.”Shehastwogrownchildren,asonandadaughter.HerdaughterhasaMastersinLibraryScienceandworksat

IndianaUniversityLibrary.Marilynisbusygettinguptospeedwiththelibrary’sSummerReadingProgrambutshealwayshastimetoansweryourquestionsandhelpyoufindtherightbookforyourchildren.YoucanfindheratthelibraryMon-day-Wednesday,9a.m.-5p.m.Besuretogoonlineatnplva.orgorpickupahardcopyofascheduleofthissummer’sfun-packedreadingprogram.

TheArtofPoetryatYeOldeBookShoppe

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YeOldBookShoppe’sPhilospophicalSocietyhelditssecondpoetryreadingcontestinApril.

“ArsPoetica”or“TheArtofPoetry”heardreadingsandrecitationsofpoetryfromaboutadozenpeople,agesfiveandbeyond.Richmondpoet,Brenda“Twiggy”GoughMunford,readheroriginalpoem,“BeauticiansAlwaysGiveAd-vice,”fromherpublishedbook,“SonglinesofOphelia.Thebookalsoincludesapoemcalled“NorthernNeck‘ComeHeres’”ofwhichTwiggy,whohas a summerhomeinOphelia,isnowone.(Actually,she’saCome-Back-Here).TheMcEntirebrothers,Joshua(5½)andLucas(6)exercisedtheirpoetryreadingskillswithaflair.Lucasread“AnAlien inMySoupbyD.J.Steinberg,whilelittlebrotherJoshuaread“TheFatBlackCat,”bySha-ronCreech. Andwhile the loveof poetry, not prizes,were thedrivingforcefortheafternoongathering,itwasacon-testafterall. The prize for “Memorization and Delivery” wasawardedtoJennyTimsofWeems,whorecitedseveralpoemswithfantasticdramaticflair,including“Jabber-wocky,”byLewisCarrolland“TheSoldier”writtenbyBritishpoetRupertBrookeaspartofaseriesofsonnetsatthebeginningofWorldWarI.For“OriginalPoetry”theawardwenttoFanny,theOldEnglish Sheepdog.Owner,CatherineBennet de-

lightedandsurprisedthegroupbyreadingseveralpo-emsbyFanny.Winnerschosepoetrybooksfromthestore. “Thisexceededallourexpectations,”saidPhiloso-pherClubmemberRivesHardy.“Thiswasawonderfulgatheringoftalent.Andwehopewecandoitagain.”PhilosopherClubmemberBruceCraig,whoorganizesthepoetryevents,isalreadyplanningoneforthisfall.Meantime,visitthebookstoreat7072Northumber-landHwy.(acrossfromtheSubway)Thurs.-Friday:10a.m.–4p.m.;Sat.10a.m.–2p.m.and9a.m.-2p.m.everyFarmer’sMarket3rdSaturday.

PamelaCollinsreadthisunnamedpeacepoembyCarmelitenunSaintTeresaofÁvila.

May today there be peace within. May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith. May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content knowing you are a child of God. Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us.”

Andwithawink,RivesHardyshared“TheAbominableSnowman”byOgdenNash. I’ve never seen an abominable snowman, I’m hoping not to see one, I’m also hoping, if I do, That it will be a wee one.

Joshua McEntire recites “The Fat Black Cat” as Jenny Tims and Catherine Bennet look on.

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New BooksADULT (* = available late June early July)

*Camino Island, by John GrishamAgangofthievesstageadaringheistfromasecurevaultdeepbelowPrincetonUniversity’sFirestoneLibrary.BruceCableownsapopularbookstoreinthesleepyresorttownofSantaRosaonCaminoIsland inFlorida, butmakes his realmoney as a prominent dealer in rare books.Occasionally hedabblesintheblackmarketofstolenbooksandmanuscripts.MercerMannisayoungnovelistwithaseverecaseofwriter’sblockandrecentlylaidofffromherteachingposition.AgenerousofferofmoneyconvincesMercertogoundercoverandinfiltrateCable’scircleofliteraryfriends,tolearntheirsecrets.ButMercer learns far toomuch,and there’s trouble inparadiseasonlyJohnGrishamcandeliverit.

*The Identicals, by Elin HilderbrandIdenticaltwinsisterscouldn’tlookmorealikeorlivemoredifferently.HarperFrostdoesn’tcarewhatanyone thinks of her. She likes a beer and a shot andwouldn’t be caught deadwearing anythingfashionable.She’sinheritedherfather’srundownhouseonMartha’sVineyard,butcan’tholddownajob.Herlatestromanticdisasterhastheentireislandtalking.Hersister,TabithaFrost,living11milesawayonNantucketIsland,isdignified,refined.Sheprefersfinewineandhasinheritedtheimpeccabletasteofhermother,theiconicfashiondesignerEleanorRoxie-Frost.She’salsoinheritedhermother’squestionableparentingskills-herteenagedaughter,Ainsley,isinfullrebellionmode-andaflailingfashionboutique.Thisisthestoryofoneunforgettablesummerthatwillchangetheirlivesforever.

*The Duchess, by Danielle SteelAngeliqueLathamhasgrownupatmagnificentBelgraveCastleunderthelovingtutelageofherfather,theDukeofWesterfield,afterthedeathofheraristocraticFrenchmother.At18,sheisherfather’sclosest,mosttrustedchild,schooledinmanagingtheirgrandestate.Whenhedies,herhalf-brothersbrutallyturnherout.Unabletosecureemploymentwithoutreferencesorconnections,AngeliquecreatesLeBoudoir,soonasensationalParisestablishmentwherepowerfulmen,secretdesires,andbeautiful,sophisticatedwomencometogether.Butlivingontheedgeofscandal,cansheevermakealifeofherown--orregainherrightfulplaceintheworld?

*Indecent Exposure, by Stuart WoodsStoneBarrington learns thatprivacy ishard tocomebywhenyou’reoneof the richandmighty.Asaneligiblebachelor,man-about-town,andmoverinthehighestsocialechelons,StoneBarringtonhasalwaysbeenthesubjectofinterestandgossip.Butwhenhe’sunwittinglythrustintothelimelight,hefindshimselfscramblingtotakecover.Soon,herunsafoulofaparticularlytenaciousladyandstrugglestoprotectnotjusthisreputation,buthislife.

Use of Force, by Brad ThorAsastormragesacross theMediterraneanSea,a terrifyingdistresscall ismade to theItalianCoastGuard.Whenabodywashesashoreandisidentifiedasahighvalueterrorismsuspectmissingforthreeyears,CIApanics.Couldhebeconnectedtothe“spectacularattack”theyhavebeenfearingallsummer?Inaraceagainst time, theCIAtapsanunorthodoxsourcetogetanswers:NavySEALturnedcovertcounterterrorismoperative,ScotHarvath.Hiredonablackcontract,HarvathwillprovidethedeniabilitytheUnitedStatesneeds,whilehebreaksalltherules.

Ice Ghosts : The Epic Hunt for the Lost Franklin Expedition, by Paul WatsonThespellbinding truestoryof thegreatestcoldcase inArctichistory--andhowtheraremixofmarinescienceandInuitknowledgefinallyledtotherecentdiscoveryoftheshipwrecks.

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Home Repair Wisdom & Know-How, from the editors of Fine HomebuildingFeaturing step-by-step instructions from the pages of FineHomebuildingmagazine, one of themosttrusted sourcesonhome repairandconstruction, thenearly1,000-pagebook isorganized into topicsincluding:FixingaLeakyFaucet,StainRemoval,RepairingaWoodSurface,ReplacingaToilet,andmore.

YOUNG ADULT Geekerella: A Fangirl Fairy Tale, by Ashley PostonPartromance,partlovelettertonerdculture,andalltotallyadorbs,Geekerellaisafairytaleforanyonewhobelievesinthemagicoffandom.GeekgirlElleWittimerlivesandbreathesStarfield,theclassicsci-fiseriesshegrewupwatchingwithherlatefather.WhensheseesacosplaycontestforanewStarfieldmovie,shehastoenter.Theprize?AninvitationtotheExcelsiConCosplayBall,andameet-and-greetwiththeactorDarienFreemanslatedtoplayFederationPrinceCarmindorinthereboot.WithsavingsfromhergigattheMagicPumpkinfoodtruck(andherdad’soldcostume),Elle’sdeterminedtowin...unlessherstepsistersgettherefirst.

Given to the Sea, by Mandy McGinnisKhosaisGiventotheSea,agirlborntobefedtothewater,herfleshpreventingawaveliketheonethatdestroyedtheKingdomofStilleindaysofold.Beforeshe’sallowedtodanceanuncontrollabletwitchingofthelimbsthatwillcarryhertotheshoreinafrenzy--shemustproduceanheir.Vincentisthirdinlinetoinherithisthrone,royaltyinakingdomwheretheoldlingerandtheyounginheritonlyboredom.WhenKhosaarriveswithoutanheir,heknowshisfatherwillensureshefulfillsherduty,atwhatevercost.Tornbetweenprotectingthethroneandthegirl’sfate,Vincent’sloyaltyisatoddswithhisheart.

CHILDREN

Best Frints in the Whole Universe, by Antoinette PortisYelfredandOmekhavebeenbestfrintssincetheywerelittleblobbies.Theyplayandsnack,andsometimestheyevenfight,allinalanguagesimilartobutslightlydifferentfromEnglish.WhenOmekdecidestoborrowYelfred’snewspaceshipwithoutasking,thencrashesit,theyhaveabigfight.Cantheymakeupandmoveon?Award-winningpicturebookcreatorAntoinettePortisdeliversanewuniverseofclevernessandimaginationinthishilarious,sweet,andotherworldlybookaboutfriendship.

Perfectly Messed-Up Story, by Patrick McDonnellIn this interactive and engaging read-aloud, bestselling author and award-winning artist PatrickMcDonnell creates a funny, engaging, and almost perfect story about embracing life’s messes.LittleLouie’sstorykeepsgettingmessedup,andhe’snothappyaboutit!What’sthepointoftellinghistaleifhecan’ttellitperfectly?Butwhenhestopsandtakesadeepbreath,herealizesthateverythingisactuallyjustfine,andhisstoryisagoodone--imperfectionsandall.

The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors, by Drew Daywalt

Ihopeyou’rewearingyourBATTLEPANTS!You’veplayed thegame.Nowread the legendof thethree greatwarriorswho started it all.There arewildly dramatic battle scenes against backdrops ofthunderstorms, eruptingvolcanoes, andmissile launches.Forget readingaloud - “this storydemandsbombastic,full-volumeperformances.”

Itiswithmixedemotions that Icloseoutmyser-vicetoNPLonMay31stafteralmostfouryears.Iretiredin2011from40plusyearsineducationandseizedtheopportunitytoreinventmyself,araregift.

I have enjoyed every blessedmoment of being part of theNPLfamily…anditISafamilyfromthestaff, to theFriendsoftheLibrary, to theBoardofDi-rectors, to themanyvolunteers,andfinallytoourpatrons.Every-one has contributed to the suc-cess of the children’s programsatNPL. I couldn’thavedone itwithoutyouorwithouttheNor-thumberlandCountyschools,theNorthumberlandFamilyYMCA,and all the businesses and civ-ic organizationswho collaboratedwith us over theyears. WhenIasked,peopleresponded, itwasjustthatsimpleandjustthatpowerful.ThankyoutothegroupswhohavesupportedNPLchildren’s programs like the Northern Neck HomeSchoolers,NorthumberlandHeadStartandPreKin-dergarten,NorthumberlandCountySocial Services,The Girl Scouts of Northumberland County, Super19ofShilohBaptistChurch,WallStreetDayCareCenter inWarsaw,andKingdomKidsDayCare, tomentionafew.

Ileaveatanexcitingtimeforthelibraryandthecommunity.ThecomingnewMobileLibraryisnoth-ingshortofmiraculous!Thiswillextendthereachofthelibrary’sgoodworksandputbooksinthehandsof

manybook-starvedchildreninourcommunity.IT’SALLGOOD!Iknowyouwillallsupportmyre-placementandcontinuetorespondtotheneedsofthelibrary.Weareall proud of what has been builtandknowtheimportanceofallourcontinuedefforts.NPLconstantlystrives to be the “destination ofchoice” for our county residentsofallages.Iamconfidentthatwillonly continue to strengthengoingforward. Lastbutnot least, thankyouto

EveJordanforencouragingmetotakethisjourney,and toAlice Cooper for supporting me every stepoftheway,givingmelicensetotakechances,makemistakesandcreatewhatIenvisionedit“could”be. Now, Iwavea farewellas I straponmyback-packandhikingbootsandheadforthemountains(orwherever). Stock and I have visited almost 40Na-tionalParksandHistoricalMonumentssofar.Withcontinuedgoodhealth,wehopetoincreasethatnum-berbeforewe’retoooldtocontinue.Ithinkwehaveafewgoodyearsleft.BonVoyage!   J.B

Telephone:804-580-5051 library@nplva.org www.nplva.org

Interim Library Director: CherieCarl Children’s Program Coordinator:MarilynSmithLibrarians: JayneMcQuade,BobTaylor,AlisonTowlesLibrary Clerks: KaraGoodrow,SamHookerIT Staff: ShaneakCockrell,KarenWhelan IT Volunteer: IzaakHagyLibrary Assistant:CateLand Publicist: PamelaHagy Ye Olde Bookstore Manager:CarolKenefick

Children’sProgramCoordinatorJanBates,endedhertenureattheendofMay.BegininginJanuary2013,asshetransformedchildren’sservicesatthelibrary,attendanceskyrocketed.Shecreatednewchildren’sprogramsin-cluding:“WhatIfWednesdays,”HomeSchoolProgram(nowknownasNorthernNeckHomeschoolers)ReadtotheDogs,1,000BooksBeforeKindergarten,SpaceCamp,LegoCamp,Reader’sTheatre,Pre-SchoolOutreach,andthePettingZoo,amongothers.Shealsoinstitutedapaidsummerinternprogramwherelocalstudentsworkpart-timeatthelibrary.JanisontoahappyretirementwithhusbandStock,wheretheywillcontinuetohikeNa-tionalParksthroughouttheU.S.Hereisherpersonalgoodbye:

Happy Trails for Jan Bates