Time is the most valuable thing a man can spend. Theophrastus (372 BC - 287 BC)

It is hard to believe that one year has already passed since I took on the post of Director of the Chili Public Library. The staff took the opportunity to throw me a pizza party which was plenty fun and much appreciated. I was particularly touched by the year in pictures scrapbook which they gave to me. Looking through the scrapbook crystallized how much can happen in a year at a public library. From all the programs and services that occured to working with the Friends, staff, trustees and volunteers, it has been a whirlwind of experience. It has been a treat to get to know those from the community that come through the doors every day.

A Book on CD Finds Its Way Home

Recently a patron dropped off at our Circulation Desk a book on compact disc. She proceeded to tell us that after she got home from a garage sale she visited, she noticed the item was in the purse she had purchased there. We contacted the owning library who told us they had just received a call from a patron (no doubt the one who had the garage sale) who was frantic because she received an overdue notice for the item and was sure she had returned it to the owning library. As Shakespeare says, "All's well that ends well". I just know that the next time I go to a garage sale, my eye will be open to what may lay hidden...

Summer Reading at CPL

Over the last two weeks, our Children’s librarian Jenn Lindsay and her staff visited over 1,000 students at area schools (Chestnut Ridge Elementary-700 students, Paul Road Elementary-100 students, and Florence Brasser School-265 students) informing them of the library’s upcoming Summer Reading Program and performing storytime skits.

The Summer Reading Program is an important statewide program for children as it provides them the opportunity to take part in special programs offered by the library to promote reading and the use of the library during the summer months. This year’s theme is Catch the Reading Bug.

For children the Summer Reading Program will begin June 30 and end August 8. The kick off begins with performance by Airplay, a juggling and unicycling duo. Other high attendance programs planned are a tie-dye program on July 22, a truck/tractor show on August 19 and a butterfly release with the Seneca Park Zoo on August 21.

Kids also sign up to be entered into weekly prize drawings. Children ages 2-5 can sign up as Crickets to be entered into drawings for every 15 minutes read. The Fireflies for ages 6-12 can sign up for the weekly drawings for every 30 minutes read. In the picture above Jenn Lindsey is with Kyra Hayden age 11 and Sydney Hayden age 9 - our first Summer Reading Program signups!!!

Virtual Tour

Since I first put up the CPL Director’s Blog I have had stories about different areas of the library and the services we provide. Now you can familiarize yourself with these areas from your home computer by taking a virtual tour of our library. Just visit our homepage at www.chililibrary.org and select the Virtual Tour link. Here will you will view a 19 photo slideshow with descriptions of such areas as the reference desk, children’s area, teen area, multipurpose room, etc.

10's Rated Highly Display

What does Fern Michaels book Kentucky Sunrise, Iris Johansen's book Stalemate, and Janet Evanovich's book Motor Mouth have in common? The books have been given the highest rating by our readers. In the back inside cover of all of our new books we afix a comment sheet where you can rate the book's you read from a scale of 1-10. Come and see our 10's Rated Highly Display and see what books your fellow library users say are must reads!

Winterthur

I just got back from a weeks vacation with my wife visiting my brother-in-law and his fiancé in New Jersey. One of our destinations was Winterthur, an American country estate and former home of Henry Francis du Pont. It is a beautiful 1,000 country estate located in Winterthur, Delaware and has a large mansion containing over 85,000 antiques and objects. Its library is a recognized research center and has a large collection covering America's artistic, and cultural history from colonial times into the twentieth century. If you ever get out that way I recommend a visit to Winterthur. http://www.winterthur.org/

Democrat and Chronicle Online Galleries Page

Now you can see all of the 74 entries of the Chili Public Library Teen Photo Contest on the Democrat & Chronicle online galleries page at:

http://rocgalleries.democratandchronicle.com/collections/other

Greetings from the CPL Staff

The staff of the Chili Public Library includes clerical staff, library assistants, librarians, cleaners, and pages to help bring to you the programs, materials and services you have come to enjoy.

Children's Literary Garden

With the beautiful weather we have been having it is time for a visit the Children's Literary Garden. The garden is attached to the library's Children's area and is a place for you to read and reflect while being surrounded by nature. See the library's spiral topiary in blue juniper, flowering plants and shrubs, a Kousa Dogwood Tree, Japanese Maple, and our Harry Potter Walking Stick Bush. The Garden is funded through the Chili Public Library's Memorial Fund, The Friends of the Chili Public Library and private donations.

Teen Photo Contest on May 31

The Chili Public Library Teen Photo Contest was held Saturday, May 31 and was great fun. There were over 73 entries and plenty of proud parents and grandparents in attendence. I was particulary taken with the skill and quality of the photographs. First, second and third place winners were announced as well as five honorable mentions. There is still time throughout the month
of June for you to come to the library, see all of the entries and vote for your favorite photo. At the end of the month the teen whose photo receives the most votes will receive a mall gift certificate. Soon we will have the photos up on our webpage as well for you to see.