Spring ahead, fall back. This phrase is part of our conventions and customs similar to "30 days has September, April June....." and "beware the Ides of March".

Next Sunday (March 11) at 2 a.m. we will be changing to Daylight Saving Time. Beginning this year, Daylight Saving Time (note the correct term is Daylight Saving Time, not Daylight Savings Time) is extended one month and begins for most of the United States at 2 a.m. on the second Sunday in March and ends at 2 a.m. on the first Sunday of November. The new start and stop dates were set in the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

For several months each year, daylight saving time affects vast numbers of people throughout the world. DST impacts several domains including agricultural practices, street crime, the reporting of sports scores, traffic accidents, the inheritance rights of twins, and voter turnout. Dr. David Prerau recently wrote a book about DST,
Seize the Daylight: The Curious and Contentious Story of Daylight Saving Time. In this informative, entertaining and often funny book, Dr. Prerau relates how since Ben Franklin's era to today, DST has led to intriguing stories of colorful personalities and serious technical issues, debatable costs and benefits, and conflicts between interest groups and government policy makers. Dr. Prerau includes how Benjamin Franklin conceived of the concept. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle endorsed it. Winston Churchill campaigned for it. Kaiser Wilhelm first employed it. Woodrow Wilson and Franklin Roosevelt went to war with it, and more recently the United States fought an energy crisis with it.

An excellent comprehensive website about DST is the California Energy Commission's Saving Time, Saving Energy. And if you are interested in finding out more about timekeeping, see the National Institute of Standards and Technology's Walk through Time.

Or you may wish to check out some of the other books we have about time measurement including:
Time's Pendulum : the Quest to Capture Time-- From Sundials to Atomic Clocks by Jo Ellen Barnett,

Time : its Origin, its Enigma, its History by Alexander Waugh,

Time Telling through the Ages by Harry C. Brearley.

So please remember to set those clocks ahead next Sunday morning (March 11). You do not wish to arrive an embarrassing hour late for that Sunday morning engagement!

It's about that time again to make your predictions for the 2007 men's and women's NCAA tournament champions. This Sunday the brackets will be announced for both the men's and women's college basketball tournament. Will the Florida Gators and the Maryland Terrapins have repeat victories or will there be a major upset? If you love to participate in the tournament madness but haven't been following the season so far, don't worry the men's team stats and the women's team stats are available for browsing so you can make an educated selection this year. Once you've done your research download a men's or women's bracket to keep track of your picks.

Good luck!

If basketball is your thing then you might want to check out some of our books in the Adult Non-fiction 796.32 and the Children's Room JUV 796.32 call number area of the library.

As you probably know, today, March 17th, is Saint Patrick’s Day honoring Ireland's patron saint, St. Patrick. We now associate Saint Patrick's Day with everything Irish such as anything green and gold, shamrocks and luck. In Ireland the day is a religious occasion. In the United States, however, St. Patrick's Day celebrations are secular. They date back as far as 1737 when Boston held its first St. Patrick's Day parade. President Truman attended the New York City parade in 1948, a proud moment for the many Irish whose ancestors fought prejudice before finding acceptance in America. In addition to parades, we celebrate with such traditions as the wearing of the green and drinking green beer. Because many Americans celebrate their Irish lineage on St. Patrick’s Day, Congress in 1995 named March as Irish-American Heritage Month. Each year, the U.S. president also issues an Irish-American Heritage Month proclamation.

Who was St. Patrick? The boy who became St. Patrick was born either Magonus Sucatus or Maewyn Succat in the Roman Empire in Great Britain between 370 and 390 AD. His name was changed to Patricius (Patrick) either after his baptism or after he became a priest. Far from being a saint, the future priest considered himself a pagan until the age of sixteen when he was kidnapped and sold into slavery in Ireland. He remained in captivity for six years during which time he worked as a shepherd and began to have religious visions. During one of the visions, Patrick saw a rescue ship and he fled to France. Becoming a priest, he established monasteries across Ireland and set up schools and churches that aided him in his conversion of the Irish country to Christianity. His mission in Ireland lasted for thirty years. He died on March 17 in the year 461. You can read more about his life story at such websites as the Catholic Forum's Patron Saints Index or the Catholic Encyclopedia.

Check out some of the materials about St. Patrick at the Nashua Public Library including:

Patrick [videorecording] / narrated by Liam Neeson; voice of Patrick by Gabriel Byrne; commentary by Frank McCourt;

The life of St. Patrick and his place in history by John B. Bury;

St. Patrick of Ireland : a biography by Philip Freeman;

The book of saints by Nino Ricci (Reference).

You may also wish to visit websites about St. Patrick's Day including:

The History Channel's Saint Patrick's Day;

cb.move.com's Saint Patrick's Day;

or some recipes and crafts at Kaboose's St. Patrick's Day.

When Irish eyes are smiling...

So you thought nothing good ever comes to the granite state? Well guess what, you were wrong.

This Sunday Tamora Pierce, fantasy author, is coming to the Concord City Auditorium. The NH Humanities Council is sponsoring her discussion on "The Reality in Fantasy" as well as a question and answer session. Oh, and don't forget to bring your books with you because a signing will follow the program.

So mark your calendars for this FREE event, Sunday April 15th at 2pm.

Get directions now so you won't be late!

Here's just a taste of the Tamora Pierce titles @ NPL

Terrier
Tricksters Queen
The Woman Who Rides Like A Man
Street Magic
Cold Fire
Dajas Book
Lioness Rampant

As I sat on my porch this past weekend in shorts and a t-shirt watching flowers bloom before my eyes I got a craving for some fresh, New Hampshire grown, fruits and veggies. I can probably attribute this to the fact that one of my favorite summer pastimes is visiting farmers markets for both good food and flowers.

I started to do a little research to remind myself of when and where the local markets are in New Hampshire. I found a few good sites I wanted to share. I also wanted to make a plug for the Nashua farmers' market because right now it is relatively small, but I'm sure the more community members that shop it, the more vendors will want to participate. They've almost made it too easy to miss. It's now on Sunday mornings right on Main Street in downtown Nashua, NH.

Okay, back to business, here's some sites you'll want to check out to find the closest farmers market to your home.

New Hampshire Farmers' Market Association
Harvest In New Hampshire
Download a New Hampshire Farmers' Market Directory

For you year around market enthusiasts check out the indoor Amherst, NH market.

¡Viva Mexico!

Cinco de Mayo ("The Fifth of May" in Spanish) is a national, but not an official, holiday in Mexico. It is also widely celebrated in the United States. The holiday commemorates the victory of Mexican forces led by General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguin over the French occupational forces in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862 (part of the Franco-Mexican War). There are observances throughout Mexico that combine food, drink, music and dancing.

In the United States, many Americans regardless of ethnic origin observe Cinco de Mayo, most of all in the southern border states where there are large Hispanic populations. Celebrations honor such traditional Mexican symbols as the Virgin de Guadalupe and such prominent figures of Mexican descent in the United States as Cesar Chavez. In Washington, DC, the Maru Montero Dance Company each year hosts the National Cinco de Mayo Festival. President Bush has delivered an official Cinco de Mayo message.

You can go to the Cinco History website or MexOnline.com for more information about the history of the Cinco de Mayo. Or take a look at the Food Network's Cinco de Mayo for information about recipes and parties. The District del Sol website presents several special Cinco de Mayo photographs.

Our library has several adult and juvenile resources about Cinco de Mayo including The Latino holiday book : from Cinco de Mayo to Dia de los Muertos-- the celebrations and traditions of Hispanic-Americans by Valerie Menard. You may also wish to take a look at our resources about Cesar Chavez including Sal si puedes; Cesar Chavez and the new American Revolution by Pete Matthiessen and Delano, the story of the California grape strike. Photos by Ted Streshinsky by John Gregory Dunne.

So happy celebrating and happy reading!

For the second year in a row, we'll be kicking off our teen summer reading program (You Never Know @ Your Library) with an outdoor concert. Here's coolest part, it's all teen musicians. So whether you're an in a death metal, rock, or funk band, or an individual performing acoustic guitar I want to hear from you. If you are in middle or high school and you've got some musical talent, forget about American Idol, and play locally for your friends and family.

Here's a few of the details:
Each band will get a 20 minute time slot (individuals will get a 10 minute slot).
*You must submit a sample of your music for review (no obscene lyrics will be allowed).
*The library will provide limited equipment, so please be prepared to supply most of it yourself.
*If it rains the concert will be moved indoors to the library theater.
*Call Jenn at 589-4612 for more details.

On Wednesday, May 23, the Library of Congress will be awarding a new annual prize; the Gershwin Prize for popular song. The first recipient will honored at a gala concert held at the Warner Theater in downtown Washington DC. The Library of Congress describes the Gershwin Prize as follows: "named in honor of the legendary George and Ira Gershwin, this newly created award recognizes the profound and positive effect of popular music on the world’s culture. The prize will be given annually to a composer or performer whose lifetime contributions exemplify the standard of excellence associated with the Gershwins".

The performer/composer who will be receiving this award is Paul Simon. Once half of the very successful performing duo of Simon and Garfunkel, Paul Simon is also an extremely talented solo performer/composer. He has won numerous awards both as part of Simon and Garfunkel and as a solo performer. A press release from the Library of Congress gives details of Paul Simon's career and the many awards which he has received. A second press release gives the details of the concert. Those of us who are not able to attend the concert in Washington DC tonight will be able to share in the event when it is broadcast on PBS television June 27.

Paul Simon's song Graceland has been added to the National Recording Registry which was created by the National Recording Preservation Act of 2000. The goal of this law, Public Law 106-474, was to create "a comprehensive national program to ensure the survival, conservation, and increased public availability of America's sound recording heritage". Sound recordings preserved include music, monologues, and speeches. The Library of Congress provides a description of the National Recording Preservation Board, its members and its functions. Recordings can be nominated for preservation by anyone. The Library of Congress has published the criteria and procedure for nomination on their website.

If you are interested in listening to Graceland, the library has the CD in MAM. There are also many more Paul Simon CDs to choose from, among others : One-trick pony and Negotiations and love songs 1971-1986. If you are a Simon and Garfunkel fan, here are two good listening choices : Simon and Garfunkel's greatest hits and Simon and Garfunkel : the concert in Central Park. If you are a Gershwin fan or you are wondering exactly who the Gershwins are, the library has a biography of George Gershwin, a book about George and Ira titled Fascinating rhythm and a CD of Gershwin music, By George: Gershwin"s greatest hits.

The experts say people should take part in a minimum of 30 minutes of exercise a day at least 5 times a week. For some athletic enthusiasts that's no problem, for others in can be a chore whether its the time commitment of just a lack of interest. For the latter of you, I have an idea for how you can spice up your exercise to be both healthy and fun at the same time.

ArtWalk Nashua!

Get your exercise, meet some local artists, view craft demonstrations, listen to live entertainment, and see all that downtown Nashua has to offer. Many downtown galleries and businesses are participating in this event, including the Nashua Public Library!

The next ArtWalk event will take place on Saturday June 9th from noon to 6pm.

Be sure to stop by the library on your tour and view paintings by Monique Sakellarios, sit in on a watercolor demonstration by children's book illustrator Yong Chen at 1 pm, and hear jazz pianist Ben Geyer at 2 pm.

If you can't make it in June, don't worry the ArtWalk will return on the following dates:

Saturday September 15, 2007 @ 12:00 PM
Saturday November 24, 2007 @ 1:00 PM

A few weeks ago, Tuesday, June 19th, to be exact the 2007 teen summer reading program (You Never Know @ Your Library) kicked off with an outdoor concert. Four teen bands and 2 individual performs graced us with their music talent on the library plaza.

All of the musicians had awesome performances. One band even went so far as to create a new song just for the concert, about what else...their favorite library! Double Yellow, the first to perform, sang a song about how they learned to read at the Nashua Public Library.

Thanks to Nashua's new educational station, Channel 99, you might be able to catch the entire concert on tv. But, for those of you who can't wait we were able to get a clip of the "Ode To The Nashua Public Library" as I like to refer to it. I uploaded it to both You Tube and the library's Myspace page.

So when you have a minute have a listen and be reminded, that yes...the library can be a 'cool' place to hang out with friends.

"Ode To The Nashua Public Library" Myspace video

"Ode To The Nashua Public Library" You Tube Video

If this technology interests you check out our books on Myspace and other Web 2.0 topics.

I write this at the completion of the 4th annual Nashua Goes Back To School event held here at the library. Tonight's event was held from 5-6:30pm both inside and outside the library building. This year's event co-sponsored by the Nashua Chamber of Commerce and the City of Nashua was another success with roughly 1200 community members stepping through the library doors.

This event provides students the opportunity to meet their school principal, gather free school supplies, and learn about local community agencies and services. Of course, it's not all business, there was also a raffle, free food, and other sugar filled snacks (like the "Pop Your Tootsies into Your Library" lollipops).

So I guess this makes it official, summer is coming to an end with the start of the new school year next week.

The library would like to wish all Nashua students a safe and fun 2007-2008 school year.

This Tuesday (August 28) in the wee hours of the morning we should be able to witness a total eclipse of the Moon (lunar eclipse). There can be at any given location up to three lunar eclipses per year, but some years there may be none. There was one other total lunar eclipse in 2007 on March 3.

A lunar eclipse can only occur at Full Moon, and only if the Moon passes through some portion of the Earth's shadow. The shadow is actually composed of two cone-shaped components, one nested inside the other. The outer or penumbral shadow is a zone where the Earth blocks part but not all of the Sun's rays from reaching the Moon. The inner or umbral shadow is a region where the Earth blocks all direct sunlight from reaching the Moon. During a total lunar eclipse, the entire Moon passes through Earth's umbral shadow. and the vibrant range of colors the Moon can take on can be quite spectacular.

The reason that the Moon appears to change colors is that the dust in the Earth's atmosphere acts like a light prism and refracts, or bends, the light that strikes the Moon. It is impossible to predict exactly how dark the Moon will appear during totality. The colors can vary from dark gray or brown through a range of shades of red and bright orange. The color and brightness depend on the amount of dust in in Earth's atmosphere during the eclipse. (The same effect happens after a major volcanic eruption. So much dust is pumped into the atmosphere that it actually affects the colors we see in the sky during sunset. After a major eruption, we can have really beautiful sunsets for months afterwards.)

For those of us living in the Eastern Daylight Time Zone, here is the timetable for this eclipse:

Partial Eclipse Begins: 04:51 am
Total Eclipse Begins: 05:52 am
Mid-Eclipse: 06:37 am
Total Eclipse Ends: 07:22 am
Partial Eclipse Ends: 08:24 am

Unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses are completely safe to watch. You will need neither protective filters nor a telescope. You can watch the lunar eclipse with nothing more than your eyes. If you have a pair of binoculars, they will help magnify the view and will make the colors brighter and easier to see. A standard pair of 7x35 or 7x50 binoculars will work fine.

Of course, an eclipse of the Moon can be a tempting target to photograph. Fortunately lunar eclipse photography is easy provided that you have the right equipment and use it correctly. For an introductory guide on how to photograph an eclipse, see Lunar Eclipse Photography. To view photographs taken during previous lunar eclipses, be sure to visit Lunar Eclipse Gallery 1 and Lunar Eclipse Gallery 2.

If you would like to read additional information about lunar eclipses, you may wish to check out some websites. For information about lunar eclipses in general see NASA 's Lunar Eclipse Page. For information specific to this week's eclipse go on to Total Lunar Eclipse: August 28, 2007 . To use an astronomical application to find out when future eclipses will occur, visit the U.S. Naval Observatory's Lunar Eclipse Computer.

And do take a look at our library's collection of items about eclipses:

Celestial delights : the best astronomical events through 2010 by Francis Reddy and Greg Walz-Chojnacki.

Eclipse : the celestial phenomenon that changed the course of history by Duncan Steel.

Understanding the universe [videorecording : an introduction to astronomy produced by Tamara Stonebarger and directed by Robert Moss.

Glorious eclipses : their past, present, and future by Serge Brunier and Jean-Pierre Luminet; translated by Storm Dunlop.

Eclipse!: the what, where, when, why, and how guide to watching solar and lunar eclipses by Philip S. Harrington.

Nightwatch: a practical guide to viewing the universe by Terence Dickinson; illustrations by Victor Costanzo and Adolf Schaller ; featuring more than 70 photographs by amateur astronomers.

On Stonehenge by Fred Hoyle (argues that the purpose of Stonehenge was to predict the occurrence of eclipses, and reviews the resulting cultural implications).

Happy viewing to all you early risers. This day I intend to awake early also!

at least that's what all my elders tell me. Those of you that share this philosophy might be interested in a big antiques fair happening this week and into the weekend in Brimfield, MA. Many of my friends tell me this is the event to attend if you are at all interested in antiques or collectibles. Unfortunately I have yet to make the trek so I can not give a first hand account of the event, and for the third year in a row I will not be able to go, but I'm making it a personal goal to go next year. Yep, Brimfield '08!

If you'd like to brush up on your antique knowledge before you go or perhaps price some treasures you have at home, take a peak at some of our library books about antiques.

Antiques 101 : how to buy for fun and profit / Frank Farmer Loomis IV

Kovels' antiques & collectibles price list : for the 2007 market illustrated / [Ralph and Terry Kovel].

Antiques Roadshow collectibles : the complete guide to collecting 20th-century glassware, costume jewelry, memorabilia, toys, and more, from the most-watched series on PBS / by Carol Prisant

Or "For a good year!" -

Sundown on September 12 marks the beginning of the Jewish year 5768. On that evening, Jews will begin celebrating one of their most important religious holidays. Rosh Hashanah commemorates the creation of the world and is commonly known as the Jewish New Year. In Hebrew, Rosh Hashanah literally means the "head of the year" or the "first of the year". Orthodox and Conservative Jews celebrate the holiday for two days and Reform Jews for one day.

While it does have a festive side, Rosh Hashanah is not one big party as the New Year's celebrations on December 31 tend to be. Instead Rosh Hashanah is a time for personal introspection and prayer. There is, however, one important similarity between the Jewish New Year and the American one. Many Americans use the New Year as a time to plan a better life, making "resolutions". Likewise, the Jewish New Year is a time to begin introspection, looking back at the mistakes of the past year and planning the changes to make in the new year.

The traditions of Rosh Hashanah are simple as the only commandment specified for the holiday is the blowing of the shofar. In temple the shofar is blown on Rosh Hashanah to herald the beginning of this period known as the High Holy Days. The shofar is a ram's horn which is blown somewhat like a trumpet. One of the most important observances of this holiday is hearing the sounding of the shofar in the temple. A total of 100 notes are sounded each day.

No work is permitted on Rosh Hashanah other than cooking, baking, transferring fire and carrying. Much of the day is spent in synagogue (temple) where the regular daily liturgy is somewhat expanded. A popular tradition during this holiday is eating apples dipped in honey to denote a sweet new year, and eating round challah bread to symbolize the circle of life and the hope that our lives endure without end. Another popular practice of the holiday is Tashlikh ("casting off"). People walk to flowing water, such as a creek or river, on the afternoon of the first day and empty their pockets into the water, symbolically casting off their sins.

Some items in our library with information about Rosh Hashonah are:
Holiday decorating for dummies by Kelley Taylor,

Great world religions [videorecording]: Judaism by Isaiah M. Gafni (videodiscs),

Great world religions [videorecording]: Judaism by Isaiah M. Gafni (videocassettes),

The tapestry of Jewish time: a spiritual guide to holidays and life-cycle events by Nina Beth Cardin.

Or you may wish to check out some websites as:
The Meaning of Rosh HaShanah,

Three Prayers of Rosh HaShanah

High Holy Days on the Net - The Jewish Holiday of Rosh Hashanah.

L’Shana Tova to all!

"Arrrr matey, today be not just another day!" Today is International Talk Like a Pirate Day according to Chases 2007 Calendar of Events and an email received by a coworker from an excited friend. If you have ever wanted to be like Johnny Depp or longed to be Captain Jack Sparrow, today is your day!

Pirates, always an easy choice for a Halloween costume and for carrying off the heroine of a romance novel, have achieved a new level of popularity thanks in part to the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. Surprisingly, International Talk Like a Pirate Day got its start in the 1990s. They have an official website which will give you an idea of how into this people can get! There is a dictionary associated with this website which will help you to impress people with your pirate lingo and help you figure out what other people are saying to you.

Talk Like a Pirate Day gained even more popularity in 2002 when humorist Dave Barry wrote a column about it in the Miami Herald. He discussed the very beginning of the observation of the day. He also profiled its two creators , "Ol Chumbucket" and "Capn Slappy"; two otherwise normal people who decided to dress and talk like pirates one day a year. Thanks in part to this column and the dedication of John Baur and Mark Summers, people in more and more countries around the globe are beginning to be very excited about eyepatches and words like "avast" and "me hearties", at least one day a year.

If you have ever wanted to know more about pirates, the real pirates I mean, the library has some books which you might want to take a look at.

The republic of pirates by Colin Woodard : a new book all about the pirates of the Caribbean
The sack of Panama by Peter Earle : Capn Morgan did more than advertise rum
A history of pirates : blood and thunder on the high seas by Nigel Cawthorne
The book of pirate songs compiled by Stuart M Frank : If you'd rather sing like a pirate than talk like one
Under the black flag: the romance and reality of life among the pirates by David Cordingly : Just in case you are curious about what life was really like.

Of course if you'd rather just look at Johnny Depp (aka Capn Jack Sparrow), we do have Pirates of the Caribbean : the curse of the Black Pearl and Dead Man's Chest

So if you missed it today, enjoy your grog, round up your parrot and your eyepatch and just wait for next year! Arrrrr!

As you may know, the library is closed today in honor of Veterans Day. Unlike Labor Day, Columbus Day, President's Day, and Memorial Day, this holiday is generally observed on the same date--November 11--each year. (Yes, I know today is November 12. Because yesterday was Sunday, we are recognizing Veterans' Day today.) The holiday was first observed 1919, one year after the armistice that ended the fighting of World War I, then known as "The Great War." Armistice Day became a legal holiday in 1938 and was dedicated to the veterans of World War I specifically. After many Americans sacrificed their lives in World War II and Korea, Congress amended the act by replacing the word "Armistice" with "Veterans." On June 1, 1954, the approval of Public Law 380 made November 11 a day to honor all American veterans.*

The library has a plethora of books about the various wars in which Americans have fought. But, if you want to read specifically about the experiences of veterans, rather than war strategy or political maneuvering, I recommend two in particular: Forever a soldier : unforgettable stories of wartime service and Voices of war : stories of service from the home front and the front lines. Both books were published as part of the Library of Congress Veterans History Project and recount oral histories from veterans who fought in wars from World War I to Iraq. The stories in these books are memoirs, recorded and written after the wars ended. Two additional books, War letters : extraordinary correspondence from American wars and Behind the lines : powerful and revealing American and foreign war letters--and one man's search to find them, are collections of letters written by soldiers. They provide a unique perspective, as the letters were written during the wars, capturing the thoughts of people while they were experiencing the battles and their aftermath.

*Source: "History of Veterans Day." United States Department of Veterans Affairs http://www1.va.gov/opa/vetsday/vetdayhistory.asp (accessed November 9, 2007).

If you want to learn more about the Veterans Day holiday, you can take a look at the US Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Day homepage. For demographic information, the US Census Bureau has a Facts for Features page about Veterans Day.

If you've spent a significant amount of time in Nashua over the last 30 years then we need your help!

Three reference librarians at the Nashua Public Library are researching and writing a 30th anniversary addendum to the book, The Nashua Experience. The original book, also written by a Nashua Public Library staff, discussed Nashua's past from 1673-1978. This sequel will include an update covering the years 1978-present.

As you might imagine, this project has involved many hours of research including personal interviews of prominent Nashuans, as well as an extensive review of archival materials such as the Nashua Telegraph and Nashua City Annual Reports. There are many political, social, and educational events that have occurred over the last 30 years that are being considered for inclusion.

It is for this reason, that the writers of this project are seeking the help of you as community members to provide feedback on which events are the most significant in shaping Nashua's recent history. They have developed a survey that you can complete online at our website or in print at the reference desk in the library.

I voted in my first New Hampshire Primary in 1984 and haven’t missed a primary since. I make an effort to be an informed voter, but for a while I was passive observer of the process. It wasn’t until the 2000 election that I started attending events and “meeting” the candidates. You don’t have to go far to discover what a candidate is like up close and personal, and for me, that interaction trumps what I read or hear about a candidate. I try to meet candidates that interest me from both parties. I appreciate the time and attention they give our state and I like to return the favor by taking some care to discern who I think is the best candidate to lead this nation into the future.

The Nashua Public Library is very serious about keeping the city informed about both the Presidential candidates and the issues we face. You’ll find a trove of books and articles about the entire process in the library, including a fairly large collection of films and documentaries that we hope will satisfy your political interests. Here are some DVDs to prime you for the Primary:

About the candidates

Giuliani Time: The Man Who Would Be King (2006) – a critical view of Rudy Giuliani’s term as mayor of New York.

The Hunting of the President (2004) – a film about efforts to defeat and discredit Bill Clinton from Arkansas to the White House.

The Mormons (2007) – a PBS documentary of the Mormons in America, from Joseph Smith to today’s church.

About domestic issues

A Crude Awakening: The Oil Crash (2007) – a film that makes the case for an upcoming decline of the world’s oil supply.

End of Suburbia: Oil Depletion and the Collapse of the American Dream (2004) – our suburbs were built upon the availability of cheap oil, and how oil shortages will change the suburban way of life.

Farmingville (2004) – a film examining how suburban Farmingville, NY deals with the influx of Mexican workers.

An Inconvenient Truth (2006) – Al Gore’s argument that global warming is occurring and the world must address the problem.

Oil on Ice (2004) – explores the issues of drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Sicko (2007) – Michael Moore’s latest aims at the inequitities and inefficiencies of our health care system.

Tying the Knot: The Union that’s Dividing America (2004) – explores the issue of gay marriage in America.

Who Killed the Electric Car? (2006) – the electric car was once a viable transportation option in America but certain forces allied against its success. Here's a look at what happened and what we can hope for in the future regarding energy efficient transportation solutions.

About the war on terror

Here are a few of the many films that have been produced about 9/11 and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq:

Aftermath: Unanswered Questions from 9/11 (2003) - an examination of 9/11 events 2 years after this horrific event.

Alive Day Memories : Home from Iraq (2007) - a documentary about soldiers wounded in Iraq.

The Blood of My Brother (2005) - the insurgency from an Iraqi point of view.

Fahrenheit 9/11 - Michael Moore's much talked about documentary.

Gunner Palace (2004) - a film about a American unit operating out of one of Saddam's former palaces.

Inside 9/11 - a well-done National Geographic documentary chronicling events surrounding 9/11.

Iraq for Sale: The War Profiteers (2006) - a look at the monetary cost of the war and the misuse of funds intended for reconstruction.

My Country, My Country (2006) - a film about the war's toll on Iraqi civilians.

No End in Sight (2007) – an insightful look at how the Iraq war careened out of control, told by Bush administration insiders.

Rush to war: between Iraq and a hard place (2004) - a critical appraisal of our rationale to go to war.

Uncovered: The Whole Truth about the Iraq War (2004) - a view from the opposition as moveon.org and others interview government officials in an effort to discern the roots of the decision to invade Iraq.

Voices of Iraq (2004) - the people of Iraq speak about the war.

The War Tapes (2007) - NH National Guardsman are given cameras to film their year in Iraq. This is the result.

Why We Fight (2005) - not the Frank Capra WW II classic but a revealing film that begins with President Eisenhower's admonition to beware of the military-industrial complex and chronicles how we have failed to heed his warning.

WMD: Weapons of Mass Deception (2004) - based on Danny Schechter's book: "Embedded - Weapons of Mass Deception: How the Media Failed to Cover the War in Iraq".

Documentaries

Feed: A comedy about running for president (1992) - a documentary on the news feeds that 1992 Presidential candidates didn't want you to see.

Primary: the landmark film that took on the road to the Kennedy White House (1960)

RFK Must Die (2007) - a recent documentary on the assassination of Robert Kennedy in 1968.

Run Granny Run (2007) - while not related to the primary, Doris "Granny D" Haddock's political activism in her 90th decade is legendary. This film documents her 2004 run for US Senate.

Feature films

Bobby (Drama; 2006) – a film chronicling the 1968 assassination of presidential candidate Robert Kennedy.

The Manchurian Candidate (Drama; 1962) - the original classic with Frank Sinatra!

The Manchurian Candidate (Drama; 2004) - the remake with Denzel Washington.

Nashville (Drama; 1975) - a Robert Altman film.

Primary Colors (Comedy; 1998) - a thinly veiled fictional film about a southern governor running for president.

Wag the Dog (Comedy; 1997) - a dark political comedy.

A word about fair and balanced. Your point of view may not be represented in some of these films, and if not, we encourage your recommendations. Above all we encourage you to examine the issues from others' points of view and vote on January 8th. That's the New Hampshire way!

I decided to write about the NH Primary in my blog this time. I spent time researching and planning and got ready to write. What a surprise! When I went to the library's blog site, I discovered that someone else had written about the Primary already! I complained to one of my coworkers that I had certainly wasted my time. She said "go ahead and write about it anyway. It's not going to happen again for another four years, and it's here now." So I thought about it, and here goes!

Some things I will not miss when the primary is over are the constant ringing of the phone, the machine full of important messages left by representatives of one candidate or another, and all of the surveys which "will only take a minute of your time and have you considered voting for_ and why haven't you made up your mind yet" or "can we take a minute to try and change your mind".

I've spent time trying to educate myself about the various candidates and their platforms. I don't know who I want to vote for yet, but there is a lot of information out there to help me decide. Since I spend so much time in front of a computer, I turned to the internet for information. Local newspapers were well represented. The Manchester Union Leader - New Hampshire Sunday News maintains a web presence as well as publishing in print. The UnionLeader.com has a primary primer. All types of information about each candidate in both parties can be found here. The fun part is at the bottom of the webpage where two columns, pink and blue, contain links to many of the candidates online sites. There are links to the candidates' MYSPACE and YOUTUBE sites as well as official sites, political sites and personal websites.

The Nashua Telegraph is active on line as well. NH Primary.com has links to candidate pictures and information, candidate appearance schedules, and some NH Primary history. I did notice that some candidates who are no longer in the primary race are still listed on this site, and that candidate profiles seem to come from Wikipedia. Still, parts of this site are current and the primary history does make interesting reading.

The third site, The New Hampshire Primary 2008 is posted by SeaCoast Online, which features the Portsmouth, Exeter and Hampton NH newspapers. Here you can find links to political columns and blogs, updated candidate profiles, campaign appearances, photo galleries and videos.

As I read this over, I'm surprised again. This wasn't what I started out to say, but it's where I ended up. My feeling is that a lot of reading and watching and listening will help you make a much better, more informed decision than letting yourself be pressured into decisions by anonymous voices on the phone.

Snow or no snow--make your way to the library tonight for the first session of Fish 2008, our annual series of fishing lectures. Lectures begin at 7 pm, but if you arrive between 6 pm and 7 pm you can enjoy angling videos, free fishing publications, fly-tying demos by members of Trout Unlimited, and more. Here's the line-up:

Thursday, January 3
6 pm: DVD: How to Surf Fish--Saltwater Fishing with Dr. Jim
Improve your catch rate along the shore. Learn to read the water to find schools and find out the best time to fish and what equipment you'll need.

7 pm: Fatal Forecast
What happens when a 90-foot wave hits two 50-foot lobster boats, 200 miles out at sea in November? Using slides from the actual storm and rescue, Michael Tougias tells the story, based on his book, Fatal Forecast. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library.

Thursday, January 10
6 pm: DVD: Encyclopedia of Saltwater Sport Fish
Learn how to catch over 40 of the most popular sport fish. Covers trolling, casting, jigging, fish identification, and bait and tackle.

7 pm: The Seacoast’s Top 10 Striped-Bass Hotspots
Author, newspaper columnist, and longtime seacoast resident Steve Hickoff will cover where to go on the New Hampshire and southern Maine coastlines for striped bass. Steve’s advice about destinations, tackle, and other issues will make your angling more efficient and enjoyable.

Thursday, January 17
6 pm: DVD: Saltwater Fly-Casting Secrets
A selection of topics from this DVD that features Billy Pate, Steve Rajeff, Jamie Dickinson, Bob Hyde and others.

7 pm: Fly Fishing in New Hampshire
Jim Norton from Trout Unlimited returns with tips on catching wild brook, rainbow, and brown trout and landlocked and Atlantic salmon in New Hampshire rivers and ponds. Highlights include netting Atlantic salmon on the Pemigewasset River and making the most of the alder-fly hatch on the Androscoggin and the hex hatch on ponds.

Thursday, January 24
6 pm: DVD: Catch Big Fish from Small Boats
Techniques and expert advice from charter captains, small boat anglers, and tournament champions. Learn about boat options, safety offshore, rods and rigs, baits and lures, and more.

7 pm: In Concert: The Wildlife Refugees
If you or someone you love is afflicted with fishin’ fever, this concert’s the cure. With tunes like “Eat, Sleep, Drink, and Go Fishin’” and “Here Fishy-Fishy,” the Wildlife Refugees’ music is the soundtrack of your next fishing trip. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library.

Thursday, January 31
6 pm: DVD: Rods, Reels, and Rigs
In-depth instructions from professional captains and experienced anglers covering the spectrum of saltwater tackle and rigs.

7 pm: Salmon Fishing on Cape Breton Island
Angus Boezeman returns to the library, this time to let us in on the joys of salmon fishing on scenic Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia.
7 pm, NPL Theater

Borrow It From Us
Did you know that the library has extensive collections of DVDs, videos, and books about fishing? Look them up in our catalog and check them out when you come to the next fishing lecture.

I was quite surprised when I heard about ABC News' and Fox News Channel's intentions to limit participation in this past weekend's debates. This has been done before. In my research for the update to The Nashua Experience, which will be published later this year, I read about the infamous Bush-Reagan debate in 1980. This was the debate in which Ronald Reagan said, "I am paying for this microphone, Mr. Green." The circumstances surrounding this debate garnered national attention. George HW Bush had won the Iowa caucus, and Reagan was about to change his campaign strategy. Previously, he did not want to debate because he thought it would divide the party. Upon hearing the suggestion that Reagan should have a one-on-one debate with Bush, The Telegraph offered to both sponsor and underwrite the event. The excluded candidates protested, and some even filed complaints with the Federal Election Commission. The FEC decided that the paper could sponsor, but not pay for, the event. Reagan's campaign stepped in. Bush accepted. The debate was on.

The other candidates continued to protest. Letters poured in to The Telegraph. Many argued that The Telegraph had no right to proclaim Bush and Reagan the front runners; that was the voters' job. On the day of the debate, Ronald Reagan invited the other Republican candidates to participate. He did not advise The Telegraph or the Bush campaign of the plan. Jon Breen--not Green as Reagan had exclaimed--did not want to change the format, nor did Bush, who had agreed to abide by the paper's wishes. The agitated Breen threatened to turn of the microphone, and Reagan proclaimed "I am paying for this microphone, Mr. Green."

After the debate, readers continued to protest the paper's handling of the event. The editors of The Telegraph wrote that they had been used by the Reagan campaign, but praised the tactics nonetheless. They worked, after all. Today's Telegraph editors, however, seem to have learned from that debacle, as some have called it. When the final debates before the 2008 primary were announced, the paper published an editorial suggesting that all of the candidates should participate in the debates. While some argue that the less popular candidates either dilute the debates or will simply be ignored by the moderator, the writer of the editorial questioned, "Here we are just days away from the first-in-the-nation primary – with the eyes of the entire world upon us – and two major networks have taken it upon themselves to decide who is and who is not a legitimate candidate worthy of our consideration?"* What do you think?

*"Invite all candidates to weekend debates." The Telegraph http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080103/OPINION01/450749263 (January 3, 2008).

Unsure what your going to do with your child or teen during the week of February 24th - March 1st? Let the library help you out. The library has lots of activities happening that will get your child or teen out of the house and moving around.

For teens, nothing before noon...

Tuesday, February 26th, 4pm, NPL Theater
TeenScene Film Series will feature a romance that inspired Jane Austen to write her classic novels starring Anne Hathaway. After viewing this movie in the theaters, I couldn't wait to read one of her books.

Thursday, February 28th, 2:30pm, NPL Theater
Guitar Hero Challenge
Are you ready to be the next rock star supernova? Play solo or challenge a friend with this video game on the big screen.

For the younger balls of energy, something every day...

Monday @ 2pm
Great Games Day
It's a smorgesboard of board games! We'll have chess, checkers, Sorry, Trouble, cards and more. There will be something for everyone. Winners get to take home a free book.

Tuesday @ 11-2pm
Drop-in Craft
Pick out your own cool craft to create from our wide selection of kits while supplies last. The best part...you get to take home a free book!

Wednesday @ 2pm
Who's Your Baby? Doll Fashion Show
For the second year you can work our "runway" with your favorite doll decked out in a fashionable outfit. Paparazzi not included. (preregistration required)

Thursday @ 2pm
Meet the Real Emily Elizabeth
Meet Clifford the Big Red Dog's owner Emily Elizabeth, live and in person.

Friday @ 2pm
Bring the family to watch Remy the rat become a top chef in one of Paris' finest restaurants, on the big screen in our theater. I don't know if I'd want to eat what he's cooking up!

Saturday @ 11am
Watch the Peacock Players presentation of "Little Women".

I spent the last month stuck at home unable to walk on one foot. A situation like that leaves a lot of time to kill. I killed it watching the television. I'm not a fan of the soap operas or game shows which make up most of daytime TV. I like news so I watched a lot of cable news shows. What I was watching surprised me. I think I probably saw more news about Roger Clemens and his trainer and Bill Belichick and his spy camera than about the war in Iraq and all of the presidential candidates combined.

Maybe it's just me, but I'm somewhat puzzled by the behavior of our elected leaders in Congress. When did Congress give itself permission to become involved in the lives of professional athletes? In Article I, Section 1, of the United States Constitution, the role of Congress is discussed and the statement is made that "the chief function of Congress is the making of laws". Shouldn't Congress be concerning itself with discussing things like national security, the economy, education, Presidential nominations to the Supreme Court - matters that directly impact the well-being of the country and all of those who live here?

I can sort of understand Congress taking an interest in the state of Bill Clinton's marriage. He was the President after all. That could have been covered under the heading of national security, I guess. I googled Congressional Hearings just out of curiosity. I found a discussion of Congressional hearings and their purpose. The only justification that seemed to be offered for these types of hearings was that "hearings may also be purely exploratory in nature, providing testimony and data about topics of current interest". In other words, if something attracts the interest of members of Congress, they can just poke around and justify it as exploratory.

Professional sports have Commissioners and rule making bodies. Shouldn't they be the ones discussing what goes on in professional sports? Baseball commissioner Bud Selig, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, NBA commissioner David Stern and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman are all scheduled to speak before another Congressional committee some time soon. Wouldn't their time be better spent reviewing their own sports and discussing ways to solve a problem which concerns all professional sports?

Senator Arlen Specter defends the time he spent on Patriots spygate in a newsletter which he publishes regularly. Why is he involved in this matter? It was handled by the NFL commissioner and should perhaps continue to be a matter for the Commissioner and NFL coaches to discuss.

Just so I don't give the wrong impression. I am not in favor of steroid use by professional athletes or of videotaping your opponents so that you can beat them at their own game. For that matter, I'm not in favor of Bill Clinton's shenanigans either. I'm just bothered by the fact that some of the people who were elected to make this a better place for everyone seem to have forgotten why they are in Washington and remembered only that they are sports fans.

Since I am becoming long-winded, if you are interested in learning about steroids and sports, the library has some recent books. The first two are childrens' books which might prove helpful for parents seeking a way to discuss all of this mess with their children!
Steroids by Karla Fitzhuqh
Steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs by David Aretha
Juiced : wild times, rampant 'roids, smash hits, and how baseball got big by Jose Canseco
Game of shadows : Barry Bonds, BALCO, and the steroids scandal that rocked professional sports by Mark Fainaru-Wada

Can you believe she picked that to wear? That color does nothing for her skin tone. Doesn't he know this is a formal event? If you're one of the few that actually watches the Oscar's to see who wrote, produced, or starred in the top films of the year and not who was the best and worst dressed of the show then you'll want to continue reading.

For those of you that missed last night's presentation of the 80th Academy Awards, let me share a few highlights with you...

Best Motion Pictures:
No Country for Old Men

Best Foreign Film:
The Counterfeiters

Best Animated Film:
Ratatouille

Best Lead Actor:
Daniel Day-Lewis (There Will Be Blood)

Best Lead Actress:
Marion Cotillard (La Vie en Rose)

Best Director:
Joel Coen and Ethan Coen (No Country For Old Men)

Keep an eye out for the above films not yet in the library's collection to be added when they are released on dvd. To learn more about the history of these awards check out a few books we have on the topic....

Books:

The big show : high times and dirty dealings backstage at the Academy Awards By: Steve Pond

65 years of the Oscar : the official history of the Academy Awards By: Robert Osborne

Academy awards : an Ungar reference index Compiled and introduced by: Richard Shale

Two important events happened over a two day span in Boston in March of 1990. The first of these was, of course, Saint Patrick's Day. The second was the art theft at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum which took place on March 18, 1990. This robbery has never been solved, and the stolen artwork has never been recovered. The art works stolen had an estimated combined value of somewhere between $100 and $300 million dollars and were the creations of artists with names like Manet, Vermeer, Rembrandt and Degas. On the 17th anniversary of the theft, the Gardner Museum issued a press release which included the offer of a $5 million dollar reward for information leading to the return of the artwork. If you visit the Gardner Museum today, you will still see the empty frames hanging on the wall since the will which created the museum requires that the collection remain the same.

The number of art thefts has not declined over the last 18 years. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has an Art Theft Program. The Gardner Museum theft is listed here as one of the top ten FBI art crimes. International art theft is also a growing problem. In Zurich, Switzerland four paintings were recently stolen from a small museum in broad daylight. Two of the paintings were later recovered, but international law organizations see this as a growing problem for small museums that cannot afford major security upgrades.

There is a mystique about art theft which seems to overlook the fact that it is a crime. Motion pictures and books often romanticize the art thief. The motive for art theft in literature and film is often to satisfy a selfish, rich collector who will pay anything to keep the best treasures of the art world for himself. In real life, that is usually not the case. Many times an art thief knows nothing about art and has no buyer when he steals the piece. It's just a way to, hopefully, make quick money.

The library has an interesting collection of art theft related material from movies to fiction to non-fiction. Here are a few selections:
Stolen: a movie made based on the events of the Gardner Museum theft
How to steal a million: a movie about stealing a forgery from an art museum
Art theft is a popular theme with writers of mystery fiction. Some of the library's newer art theft fiction includes:
Cat in a quicksilver caper by Carole Nelson Douglas
False impression by Jeffrey Archer
The brotherhood of the Holy Shroud by Julia Navarro
Always a thief by Kay Hooper
The library has some new nonfiction dealing with art theft. Two of these give a historical perspective on the problem:
Museum of the missing : a history of art theft by Simon Houpt
Rescuing da Vinci : Hitler and the Nazis stole Europe's great art : America and her allies recovered it by Robert M Edsel

If you're between the ages of 11-17 (or you know someone who is) you'll want to keep reading. It's getting to be that time of year where we're all antsy for something to do. Our spring calendar has been published so I thought I'd take this opportunity to make you aware upcoming programs for teens at the Nashua Public Library. Here goes....

Anime Club
View anime video releases and tell the producers what you think of them, discuss your favorite anime or manga series, and display your anime sketches in the Teen Room.
First Tuesday of the month. (3/4, 4/1, 5/6, 6/3)
For ages 13 to 17
4pm, NPL Theater

TAG (Teen Advisory Group)
Volunteer for special projects, help choose library programs, recommend materials to purchase, and write reviews of teen materials for our blog.
Held on the second Tuesday of the month. (3/11, 4/8, 5/13, 6/10)
For ages 12 to 17.
4pm, NPL Theater

Computer Deconstruction
Have you ever wanted to rip open a computer to see what makes it tick? Tom from Missing Pieces will help you tear down and rebuild a PC so that it still works.
Tuesday, March 18th, 4pm
For ages 11-17.
Space is limited so register now!

Express Yourself Flower Pot

Bring your green thumb and create a custom chalkboard planter to start your indoor garden. Herbs and planting soil will be provided. (photo courtesy of schmancy.blogspot.com/2007_06_01_archive.html)
Tuesday, April 15th, 7pm
For ages 11-17.
Register now!

Dance Dance Revolution
Drop in and follow the on-screen dance steps and become a DDR freak. Bring your friends and join the fun.
Tuesday, May 20th, 4pm
For ages 11-17.

Teen Scene Film Series
Give our film line a call (589-4646) to see what's playing.

BTW if you'd rather have this info emailed to you at the beginning of each month sign up for the TeenStuff newsletter on the teen page of the library web site.

If you want to know about lectures, concerts, classes, and other programs the library sponsors, but don't often have time to visit our Web site, let us bring the information to you.

The library publishes a number of email newsletters. This Week @ your library arrives in your inbox on Fridays with a list of events in the coming week, as well as brief notices of other library news.

Our quarterly calendar/newsletter comes out at the beginning of March, July, September, and December. This is a PDF file you can print yourself, or you can pick one up at the library. (Members of the Friends of the Library get it mailed to them--membership has its benefits!)

We also publish special interest newsletters. Topics include fishing, book discussions, history, politics/current events, craft classes, computer classes, and concerts. These come out just a few times a year, when programs on the pertinent topic are coming up.

The TeenStuff newsletter comes out monthly.

Click here if you prefer to subscribe to our newsletters through an RSS feed. Then click the small orange icon next to the newsletters you choose.

April is JAM (Jazz Appreciation Month). Regarded as “America’s Music,” jazz is a complex melding of the African and European traditions steeped in the rich American experience to form a musical tradition uniquely us. A key characteristic of jazz is improvisation. True jazz is never fully orchestrated but rather re-created by individual players who improvise upon what has been played before within a tightly choreographed ensemble. In short, jazz is always cooking, but never done!

In its almost 100-year history, the jazz canon now includes many fine recordings. The Nashua Public Library works hard to develop our jazz collections, and we carry almost 600 jazz recordings on CD ranging from Jelly Roll Morton to Diana Krall with everything in between. While many great performances were captured live and in the studio, many jazz lovers believe the best way to enjoy jazz is to hear it performed live. Take the fan who believed that Sonny Rollins just sounds better live, so he secretly recorded the saxophonist’s September 15, 2001 concert at Boston’s Berklee Performance Center. I’ll spare you the legal entanglements, but a couple of years later Sonny released the recording on a CD called “Without a Song: The 9/11 Concert.” The sound may not be studio quality but the performance is great!

There’s nothing quite like live jazz. You can hear the big names at Scullers in Boston or Cambridge's Regattabar, or you can savor fine jazz much closer to home. Here are few local venues to check out:

In Nashua

Crowne Plaza Nashua
2 Somerset Parkway
Nashua, NH 03063
603-886-1200
Live Jazz Music every Thursday 5-9

Manhattan on Pearl
70 E Pearl St.
Nashua, NH 03060
(603) 578-5557
Occasional jazz – check for dates and times

Michael Timothy’s Wine & Jazz Bar
212 Main Street
Nashua, NH 03060
JAZZ HOTLINE: (603) 595-9334
Jazz Friday & Saturday, 8:00 to Midnight

In Bedford

C.R. Sparks
18 Kilton Road
Bedford NH
603-647-7275
Jazz Thursday

In Hollis

The DreamFarm
64 Dow Road
Hollis, NH 03049
Email: info@thedreamfarm.org
Contact for jazz events

In Manchester

Hilton Garden Inn Manchester Downtown – The Patio
101 South Commercial Street
Manchester, NH 03101
603-669-2222
Seasonal jazz outdoors

Strange Brew Tavern
88 Market Street
Manchester, NH 03101
(603) 666-4292
Occasional jazz – check for dates and times

Unwined
865 Second St.
Mallard Pond Plaza
Manchester, NH 03102
603-625-9463
Jazz Wednesday nights and weekends

In Merrimack

Silos Steakhouse
641 Daniel Webster Highway
Merrimack, NH 03054-2713
603-429-2210
Jazz Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays

In Portsmouth

The Press Room
77 Daniel Street
Portsmouth, NH 03801
603-431-5186
Jazz almost every night! Call for details.

...and just across the border in Massachusetts

Acton Jazz Café
452 Great Road (Rte 2A)
Acton, MA 01720
978-263- 6161
Open 6 p.m.-midnight Wednesday through Saturday and from 11 a.m. on Sundays.

Jocko’s Jazz at the Sahara Club
Sahara Club
34 Bates St.
Methuen, MA 01844
978-683-9200

Ricardo’s Café Trattoria
110 Gorham St
Lowell, MA 01852
978-453-2777
“A taste of Italy and a side of jazz”

Let me know if I've missed your favorite venue. And don't forget to catch our up-and-coming musicians at Nashua North & South High and other schools. The local jazz scene is very much alive and fluid, so check the Hippo and the Telegraph's Encore for the latest information. Above all, please patronize our local musicians and do your part to keep America's music alive!

Celebrate National Library Week, April 13-19, at the Nashua Public Library. Nashua joins this nationwide observance of the pleasures and importance of reading and invites you to use and support your library--this week and every week (Sunday, April 13). The week promotes this year's theme, "Join the Circle of Knowledge @ Your Library". National Library Week was first sponsored in 1958 by the American Library Association and libraries across the country to recognize the contributions of our nation's libraries and promote library use and support. This year Julie Andrews is Honorary Chair of National Library Week. Her recent autobiography, Home: A Memoir of My Early Years, will be available at out library soon. You may wish to take a look at other books about her or some of her movies.

The Friends of the Library Spring Book Sale will be held this weekend Saturday, April 12, 9 am to 4 pm, and Sunday, April 13, 1 pm to 4 pm, on the Library Plaza (weather permitting!) and in the East Wing. Most books are priced at 50 cents to $2. Videos, CDs, and DVDs are also available. Expand your home library while supporting your public library! See more about the Friends of the Library.

National Library Workers Day, celebrated the Tuesday of National Library Week (April 15, 2008), is a day for library staff, users, administrators and Friends groups to recognize the valuable contributions made by all library workers.

Often the ideas for library programs come from staff members, but sometimes they come from you. A few months back, a library user asked me if the library could start a writers group. A few weeks later, someone asked about holding a Spanish conversation group here. And from time to time knitters have said they'd like to get together with other knitters at the library.

So in March we invited anyone interested in these areas to attend organizational meetings here. Out of that, the three groups blossomed, and they are meeting regularly at the library.

Knitting Group
The knitting group chose to meet weekly, sometimes at lunch time and sometimes at night. If you enjoy knitting, bring your projects and join them, on the first and third Wednesdays of the month at 12:30 p.m. and the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month at 6:30 p.m. Upcoming dates are May 14 at 6:30 p.m., May 21 at 12:30 p.m., and May 28 at 6:30 p.m.

Spanish Conversation Group
The members of the Spanish conversation group are at the intermediate level. Occasionally a native speaker joins them, which gives everyone a chance to practice speaking with an expert. There is no formal leader of the group; a different member volunteers to choose a theme for each meeting. Their meetings are scheduled on the second Tuesday and the third Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. Upcoming dates are May 13, May 15, June 10, and June 19.

Writers Group
At writers group meetings, members read each other's work (aloud or silently) and then critique it. The group is for writers of fiction or nonfiction prose. If you decide to join them, bring four copies of 4-5 pages of your writing to share. The group meets on the third Monday of the month and most Fridays. Meetings begin at 7 p.m. Upcoming dates are May 9, May 19 (this meeting will start at 7:30 pm), and May 30.

Poets Unbound
Poets Unbound, a poetry critique group, also meets at the library. They've been together for 11 years. If you'd like to join them, come to the library on Thursdays at 7 p.m. (except on the second Thursday of the month).

Want more info?
If you want to be kept abreast of when these groups meet, subscribe to our online newsletter, This week @ your library. For more information, email me.

Carol Luers Eyman
Outreach and Community Services Coordinator

Not being a New Hampshire native, I'm always trying to find out what there is to do or what is going on. New Hampshire offers TONS of stuff to do in every season, indoors and out. There are places, events, and activities to please everyone. One source available is www.visitnh.gov. This website offers information on when to visit (depending on your favorite season, mine is summer, don't ask me how I survived this past winter!), where to stay and what to do. The site also provides planning resources where you can search for attractions by region and get directions. While this site is great for those visiting the state, those who live in New Hampshire can find the website just as helpful. The library also has great books on things to do in New Hampshire. Check out some of these titles:

Country roads of New Hampshire by Steve Sherman

Foghorn outdoors: New Hampshire hiking

The two blondes restaurant guide to southern New Hampshire, 2003,
updated and expanded edition by Hillary Davis and Blandine Beaulieu

Discover southern New Hampshire: AMC guide to the best hiking, biking,
and paddling by Jerry and Marcy Monkman

New Hampshire wildlife viewing guide by Judith K. Silverberg

New Hampshire: off the beaten path by Barbara Radcliffe Rogers and Stillman Rogers

For more titles search Subject Keyword: New Hampshire guidebooks. For information and guidebooks on surrounding states, you can also do a subject keyword search for Massachusetts guidebooks, Vermont guidebooks and Maine guidebooks.

Please leave comments about your favorite things to do in New Hampshire!

Two of the biggest news stories in recent weeks involve Sheila LaBarre and Neil Entwistle. Both of them have been tried and judged to be criminals - murderers to be exact. The viewing public has shared every gory detail of their crimes, observed their behavior in the court room and watched and listened to statements by their relatives and the relatives of their victims. Newspapers and television news shows have reported on and analyzed their every move.

Just in case you have been out of the country or just too busy for the last few weeks, let me identify these people and summarize their crimes. Sheila LaBarre has been found guilty of murdering Kenneth Countie and Michael Deloge and disposing of their remains on her farm in Epping, New Hampshire. She readily admits murdering these men, but claims that she was insane at the time. Neil Entwistle has been convicted of killing his wife and baby daughter and then running home to England in an attempt to avoid capture. He claims that his wife shot the baby and then shot herself.

Criminals, especially murderers, seem to capture the public interest. Are we most interested in the who, the why, the how, or whether or not they get away with it? It's hard to say, but big crimes are big business for book publishers. Remember that controversial book by O J Simpson? The one where he doesn't admit that he committed the crime, but tells how it was probably done? Publication of this book was cancelled so that Simpson would not profit from his alleged crime, but If I did it was published by the Goldman family so that the world would know how guilty O J Simpson was.

Many criminals who have generated headlines and captured the public's attention have had books written about them. In recent years we have become well acquainted with Scott Peterson who murdered his wife Laci, John and Patsy Ramsey, who may or may not have murdered their daughter JonBenet, John Allen Muhammed and Lee Boyd Malvo, serial snipers who terrorized the Washington DC area, and Dennis Rader, better known as the BTK killer. Here are a few of the books in the library's collection recounting their crimes:
Witness for the prosecution of Scott Peterson by Amber Frey
Blood brother: 33 reasons my brother Scott Peterson is guilty by Anne Bird
Perfect murder, perfect town by Lawrence Schiller
The death of innocence: the untold story of JonBenet's murder by John Ramsey
Three weeks in October : the manhunt for the serial sniper by Charles A. Moose
Inside the mind of BTK by John Douglas

If you find that you are interested in murderers and their motives, Ann Rule is an author for you to read. Her books are well-written and detailed and involve the reader's emotions. The library has a large collection of her books. Some of the most recent are Smoke, mirrors and murder, Too late to say goodbye, No regrets : and other true cases and Worth more dead and other true cases.

Keep watching for new books! Sheila LaBarre and Neil Entwistle are sure to be written about in the near future.

Before the spectacles of the Democratic Convention in late August and the Republican Convention in early September, a spectacular event will take place which will have the whole world watching. The Summer Olympics are coming to Beijing, China August 8-24. The initial publicity surrounding the Beijing Olympics has not always been positive. The progress of the Olympic torch from country to country was disrupted by human rights activists protesting the violence taking place in Tibet. Olympic athletes pondered, in the press, the wisdom of risking their lung health competing in the unhealthy air of Beijing. A massive earthquake struck part of China killing thousands. Recent bomb explosions which occurred on buses in Yunnan Province act as reminders of possible terrorist threats to the Olympic games.

In spite of all this, Beijing and the rest of the world will be ready on August 8 to begin the Summer Olympic games. As many of the problems as possible have been addressed by the Chinese government, including stringent restrictions on traffic in the city of Beijing in an attempt to reduce smog and air pollutants. If you are interested in viewing what has been done in Beijing to prepare for the Olympics, go to the Beijing Olympics official website. If you are interested in seeing what the city of Beijing has to offer or want to view some of the venues constructed for the Olympic games, the city of Beijing has an Official Website.

Information about the Olympics in general can be found on the Official Website of the Olympics. Here you can find information about Olympic medal winners since the Athens Olympics of 1896, take a virtual tour of the Olympic Museum or view historical information about both Summer and Winter games since 1896.

The library is also a source of Olympic information. These are just a few of the library materials about the Olympics:
Rome 1960 : the Olympics that changed the world
The Olympics : Athens to Athens 1896-2004
The Olympics, a history of the modern games
Awaken the Olympian within : stories from America's greatest Olympic motivators
If your interest is in Olympic history
The naked Olympics : the true story of the Ancient Games and
The Ancient Olympic Games
Of course, if you are into movies, Chariots of fire is the quintessential Olympic movie.

I'm going off on a tangent again! I'm sure that many people by now are aware that the discovery of Bigfoot's corpse in Georgia was actually a hoax. Some people were relieved, some people were disappointed, most people didn't care. My husband, the man I said in a previous blog would sit in a cemetery on Halloween night with a tape recorder, was thrilled and heartbroken at the same time. He was heartbroken that it wasn't really Bigfoot, because he really is out there somewhere, you know. At the same time he was thrilled because he sees it as his life's work to go out there and find Bigfoot.

All of this got me thinking about the many mysteries that surround us - mostly imagined - and the number of people who really do believe in the existence of some of these things. I'm talking about things like Bigfoot, aliens, UFOs, crop circles, X-files, religious mysteries, urban legends, and even end-of-the- world predictions! Scientists, cultural anthropologists, and researchers have actually encouraged some of these beliefs.

Television has also got a lot to answer for. People will believe really strange things if they see them on tv. Sometimes viewers don't even notice the disclaimer which should let them know that a lot of this information comes from someone's overactive imagination. Sometimes the show is even touted as an expose of concealed information that the public should know about. Remember Alien Autopsy or Area 51? (The website for Area 51 must be examined with caution, unless you want to find yourself downloading alien landing ringtones to your cell or making a donation to whatever group this represents.) There is a lot of information on there, though, for people who "want to believe". Movies should be held responsible as well. For instance, the Da Vinci code has given birth to a multitude of religious "conspiracy theories".

The "truth" is out there in a lot of books at Nashua Public Library. If you are a "true believer" or a skeptic like me, you can still enjoy the books in the zeros section. Some of us will just laugh harder than others. Here's a selection:

Mysterious monsters: fact or fiction
Monsters: evil beings, mythical beasts and all manner of imaginary terrors by David D. Gilmore
The X-files : book of the unexplained by Jane Goldman
The mystery chronicles : more real-life x-files by Joe Nickell
A guide to the end of the world by Bill McGuire
Magi : uncovering the secret society that read the birth of Jesus in the stars by Adrian Gilbert
The chalice of Magdalene by Graham Phillips
and for those of us who knew it was all make-believe anyway:
The great pretenders : true stories behind famous historical mysteries by Jan Bondeson
The museum of hoaxes by Alex Boese

After almost two years of campaigning, primary elections, debates, and political commercials, election day is finally here. It's time to do your civic duty and cast your ballot. The right to vote is an important one, hard fought for many Americans, and elusive to many people around the world. Since this year's presidential election could be won or lost by one state, it's especially important that you exercise your right. Even if you have to wait in line for a long time, be sure to stick it out and make your voice heard.

Polls will be open in Nashua from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Whether you are an early bird or a procrastinator, you have plenty of time to cast your vote. If you missed the registration period, fear not. You can register at your voting location. If you're not sure where to go, take a look at the election page on the city's website. Not only will you find your polling location, you can also look up your street to find which ward you live in, and see a sample ballot.

Google maps also has an election tool. If you enter your address into the search field, it will tell you where to vote.

Once you have voted, you can follow the election at any of the following sites:
CNN
MSNBC
FOX News
National Public Radio (NPR)

Fish 2009, our annual series of lectures and films for anglers, starts on January 8. All the events are free and open to the public. Please join us!

Fly and Light Tackle Strategies for Cape Ann Stripers
Captain Skip Montello and Steve Papows of North Coast Angler charter services share their secrets for finding, targeting, and catching stripers from shore and boat along Cape Ann in Massachusetts, with flies and other tackle.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
7 pm, NPL Theater (fishing videos at 6 pm)

Steelhead Fishing of the Great Lakes Tributaries
Mitchell Kalter from Great Bay Trout Unlimited takes a broad look at the Great Lakes steelhead fishery, including its history, species, and fishing techniques. He’ll explore fly-fishing techniques, equipment, flies, and rigging and take a look at tributary locations available to enjoy this fishery in New York and Michigan.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
7 pm, NPL Theater (fishing videos at 6 pm)

Fishing Film Festival
Three short award-winning documentaries will be shown: Red Gold, about the struggle to protect the sockeye salmon fishery in Bristol Bay, Alaska; Running Down the Man, about fly-fishing for rooster fish from the beaches of Baja Sur, Mexico; and The Hatch, about protecting the stone-fly hatch that engulfs the Black Canyon of Gunnison National Park in Colorado each year.
Thursday, January 22, 2009, at 7 p.m.

Let’s Go Fishing: Introduction to Fly-Tying
In this workshop you’ll be introduced to the tools, materials, threads, and hooks required for fly-tying. Then, in a hands-on session, you’ll learn to tie nymph, wet, streamer, and dry flies. Tools and materials will be provided, but participants may bring their own if they have them. For adults, and children over twelve if accompanied by an adult. Class size limited; preregistration required.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
10 am to 4 pm, Music/Art/Media Wing

A Freshwater Guide to New Hampshire
Whether you’re looking for big, popular lakes with plenty of recreational boating and fishing opportunities or quiet-water ponds deep in the woods with memorable spots to explore, Matt Desmarais, editor of the Freshwater Guides of New England, can point you to a public-access fishing spot that’s right for you.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
7 pm, NPL Theater (fishing videos at 6 pm)

Borrow It From Us
Did you know that the library has extensive collections of DVDs, videos, and books about fishing? Look them up in our catalog and check them out when you come to the next fishing lecture.

I’ve been playing Scrabble for years. I’ve seen the film, Word Wars, and read Stefan Fatsis’s book about the competitive Scrabble circuit, Word Freak. Last year I got some tips from a couple of high-level players when they visited Barnes & Noble in Nashua. (Memorize the two-letter words, words that have a Q but no U, and lots of words with J, K, and X.) But I rarely score above 200. (Although for the first time I got a bingo—50 extra points for using all 7 tiles in one turn—this summer. The word was “rattans.” The S fell at the end of an existing word so I got all the points for that new word, too.)

So I’m excited about the Scrabble nights we’re planning at the library this fall. They’ll be held on the first Thursday of the month—September 3, October 1, and November 5—at 7 pm in the Music/Art/Media Wing.

We’ve bought a couple of new Scrabble boards for the occasion. They are the “Diamond Anniversary Edition,” with the raised grid and rotating board. Warning to purists: The tiles are black, the racks are curved, and the color scheme of the bonus squares is completely new. But the rules are the same, so please join us for Scrabble Nights this fall.

Thanks to the Friends of the Library, author Chris Bohjalian will come to Nashua on Sunday, October 25 to talk about Skeletons at the Feast, the 2009 Nashua Reads: One City, One Book selection.

After speaking for about 45 minutes, he’ll answer your questions and sign copies of his books. If you want some time to speak to him up close and tell him how you liked Skeletons (or maybe what you thought of the ending of The Double Bind), buy a ticket to the private wine and cheese reception beforehand (and help support the Friends of the Library at the same time!).

How to buy tickets
Tickets are $5 for the public presentation. Or purchase a $25 ticket, good for the private reception as well as the presentation. Buy tickets (cash or check only) either at the library, One World Trading (111 Main Street, Nashua), or Beckonings (221 Main Street, Nashua). You can also order tickets by mail using this order form. If you have questions, call 888-3298 or email beyondthebook@nplfriends.com.

The event will be held at the Rivier College Dion Center.

Red wine or white?
The committee has been planning this event for over a year now, and it’s exciting to see all the details falling into place. We had a stimulating brainstorming session to come up with the title of the event (“Beyond the Book: An Afternoon with Chris Bohjalian”) that we can use year after year—substituting another author’s name, of course. We’ve gotten Toadstool Bookshops to agree to sell copies of Chris’s books during the event. We’re making lists of everything we need to have on hand that day (although we’re pretty sure Chris brings his favorite pen for signing books). And since we’d like to serve local wines at the private reception, next week some of us are going to LaBelle Winery in Amherst, NH, for a tasting. (Wanna join the committee?)

We’ve already sold over 60 of the $5 tickets, and about 20 of the $25 tickets (only 50 of those are available, so don’t wait too long to get yours).