Winter 2007 Newsletter

Formatted Version of newsletter avaliable for download.
Letter From the director
Winter is almost here!  I am looking forward to all the beautiful snow.  This is such a wonderful time of cheer and happiness.  The library has been open since 1931 and I wanted to share a little bit of the history.  In 1923 Guilford Smith left his legacy by creating a trust for a library at South Windham.  He also left money to the Willimantic YMCA, Connecticut College of New London, the Card Home and the Windham Hospital.  His home was transformed, but some of the furniture remained upstairs such as the cradle in which Mr. Smith was rocked as a baby in 1839.  Many pictures are on display upstairs in the Card Photography Museum depicting the history of South Windham.  On opening day, 890 books sat on shelves waiting to be read.  Today we have over 10,000 books!  The library was built by Charles, Guilford’s father.  The door facing the Machine Shop was actually the front door of their home.  The library still operates today on the investments made from the trust.  Our budget is small and we ask  patrons pay their annual dues of $5 a family to defer costs.  Any donations are greatly appreciated.  We are thankful for Guilford Smith and his generous donation which has touched the lives of many.  You can also leave your legacy at the library by donating funds to purchase books.  -Afton Seal

Service with a smile!
·  Can’t find that book you are looking for?  Let us know and we can do an inter-library loan with another CT library!
·  For Sale: Book Bags now only $8.  Corn Cozies to warm you up on those chilly nights. And gorgeous postcards of Windham’s famous residents, the frog statues!
·  Museum passes available
 
Fundraisers
G & L Country Barn and Christmas Shop along with Guilford Smith Memorial Library invite  you for an evening of shopping combined with laughter, great friends and good food all to benefit the Guilford Smith  Library Fundraising Efforts.
“Holiday Shopping Party” Saturday, Dec. 8th 5pm to 9pm G & L has graciously offered to donate 10% of the evening’s proceeds to the library.
Come enjoy a cooking demonstration :
* Creative appetizers in just a few minutes
* G & L’s famous dip
* Dave’s famous shrimp scampi
* Inspiring dessert ideas
* Coffee & mulled cider and much more samples
A Magical Place to Visit!  Two special offers will only be available that night to shoppers.  For every $5 donation to the library, you will receive a Crystal Ice-Skate Ornament.  Also, you can receive a discount on the GSML Cat’s Meow Building for only $11.95!  Hope to see you there!  RSVP to Afton at  423-5159. Please bring a friend or two !
Thanks to everyone who came to our Pampered Chef Fundraiser.  We made over $200!
 
Important Dates to remember
Thursday, February 21st is our Annual Meeting at the library.  All are welcome to attend.     On Saturday, February 23rd we’re going to throw a party for Ruth Ridgeway.  She’s our oldest patron!  That day she’ll be turning 97-and-a-half!  Come have some cake and wish her a happy “un-birthday!”
January 1st we’ll have a “Computer Question of the Week.” Enter each week for a chance to win prizes!
The Town Date Board has all the upcoming events and news of the library!
 
Inside the library
Book Group: January—A Theory of Relativity by Jacquelyn Mitchard
February—The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
March—The Tenth Circle by Jodi Picoult
We have a scanner, fax, copier, DVDs, CD player, tape recorder, books on CD and tape, magazines, and large print books.
Genealogy—Monthly meetings are held every third Tuesday at 1PM.
Donate your used books to be sold at the library’s spring book sale!
Don’t know what to read?  Ask the staff for a great recommendation!
We are getting new windows thanks to a grant from the Windham First Taxing District!
The Baby Blanket Brigade meets every other Tuesday to make blankets and hats for newborns.  Call Debbie at the library for more info.
We have all the latest New York Times Bestsellers!
 
Children’s Corner
Tues., Dec. 11th 6:30PM—Come enjoy “Wonderful Winter” with games, crafts, stories, music, games and snacks.
Tues., Jan. 15th  6:30 PM - A Martin Luther King Celebration
Tues., Feb. 12th 6:30—A Valentines Day Party!  Fall in love with some great books
Tues., March 11th 6:30 PM– “Everything Green in the Spring!”
Come check out the changes we made in our children’s room.  We’ve expanded the Young Adult Section!
We have six computers with internet access, Encarta Reference 2008, Magic School Bus games and much more!
Book Flix is a new online literacy resource created by Scholastic for reading practice.  It pairs video storybooks to build a love of reading and learning.  You can watch a video, read a book, and play games!  All you need is your library card. Come to the library to find out more!
 
Quote
“Always read something that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.” P.J. O’Rourke
 
Upcoming events:
Our Holiday Book Sale is Saturday, Dec. 8th from 9 AM to 2 PM.  We have like new hardcover and paperback books.  Fiction, autobiographies, self-help, health, cookbooks, science fiction, audio, videos, children’s books and much more!
We’ll have a Christmas Bake Sale, raffles,  beautiful handmade quilts, garland, and assorted gift baskets.
Holiday wreathes, poinsettias, ornaments and decorations also for sale from Ladd’s Garden Center.
Don’t miss Santa!  He’ll be coming at noon with a yummy treat for everyone!  We’ll begin our food drive in January.  Please bring in non-perishable food for the Willimantic Food Bank and Soup Kitchen.
Save the date on your calendars for a visit from Smokey the Bear on Saturday, Jan. 26th.  He’ll be stopping by to teach us about fire safety and roast some marshmallows!
Book Club meets every 2nd Thursday from 7-8 PM.  On December 13th we’ll be discussing We Are All Welcome Here by Elizabeth Berg.
Friday, February 1st we’ll be kicking off our Munson Chocolate Fundraiser.  So come in and place your order in time for Valentine’s Day and Easter!
 
Look for our next newsletter in March!