Holiday Closing

The library will be closed on Monday, February 15th for President’s Day.

SAVE THE DATE! Friends of Library Spring Event

Too Human

The Friends of the Swampscott Public Library Spring Event, With a Song in My Heart, will be on Wednesday, March 3rd at 6:30pm. This year’s theme is music and will feature Too Human–a musical act performing originals and jazz standards. More details soon…

FEBRUARY IS LIBRARY LOVERS’ MONTH @ YOUR LIBRARY

To celebrate Library Lovers’ Month, we will have several observances to thank our library customers.

• Amnesty week- From February 1st – February 6th, we will clear overdue fines on Swampscott Public Library items. Simply present your card at the Main Desk for the amnesty.
• M&M raffle- Count the M&M’s contest. Try your luck guessing the number of M&M’s in the jar during the week of February 8th through the 13th. The winner will receive the jar of M&M’s and a special prize.
• Patron recognition day-On February 19th we will celebrate all of our patrons who come to the Swampscott Library with refreshments in the library and a gift from the Friends of the Library.

Reach Out and Read

In February, the Swampscott Public Library will once again collect new or barely used children’s books for a local “Reach Out and Read” Program. The goal of this program is to promote reading at a very early age. These books are donated to the Lynn Community Health Center. To make a donation, please bring your children’s books into the library and deposit them in the brightly colored box in the lobby. Please feel free to call the library for more information.

Library Catalog Instruction

On Friday, February 26th we will provide catalog instruction for any interested patrons. If you have had difficulty using our online catalog and would like some help in learning how to navigate through it, stop by the library starting at 10:30am on the 26th and one of the Reference staff will be happy to help you learn to find what you need in the catalog.

Ongoing Groups Meeting in February 2010

Knitting Club – NEW DAY!

Join the Needlers a knitting group at the Swampscott Public Library. This group meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of every month at 10:30a.m. The February meetings will be Wednesday, February 10th and Wednesday, February 24th. Crocheters are welcome to join our group. We make our own projects or items to be donated to charity. Members can be beginners or experts.

History Buffs – NEW DAY!

The local history group led by Lou Gallo will meeting on the first Friday of every month. The February meeting will be Friday, February 5th at 10:00am. Anyone interested in the history of the town is welcome to attend.

Dinner Detectives

The Dinner Detectives, the library’s mystery book group, will meet at 6:00pm on Tuesday, February 2nd to discuss Run/Walk and Mystery. New members are always welcome.

Book Group

The February book will be Shanghai Girls: a novel by Lisa See. The group will meet on Tuesday, February 23rd at 7:00pm.

Monday at the Movies – NEW GROUP!

The Swampscott Public Library is presenting a series of free movies, followed by a discussion of the film. Everyone is invited to attend and bring along a friend. Refreshments will be served during the presentation. The February meeting will be Monday, February 8th at 1:00pm, and the film will be Out of Africa.

TAX PREPARATION ASSISTANCE

Volunteers from the AARP’s Tax Aide Program will be at the library Tuesday afternoons from February 2nd through April 13th to help people fill out their state and federal income tax forms. Appointments are required for this service. Appointments can be made by calling the library (781-596-8867) starting Monday, January 25th. Please bring your completed tax forms from last year and any pertinent forms or statements that have been mailed to you this year when you come to your appointment.

Friends of the Library Membership Renewals

We are shifting our membership year from a calendar year to October 1st through September 30th. We ask that you consider renewing your membership as soon as possible. If you did not receive a membership envelope in the mail, please pick one up on your next visit to the library. All memberships created or renewed prior to September 1, 2009 will be honored for the remainder of this calendar year. Anyone who has joined or renewed their membership after September 1, 2009 will have an active membership through September 30, 2010. We greatly appreciate your understanding and support as we make this transition.

HOME DELIVERY SERVICE

Are you a patron who loves to read, but is unable to come to the library? Please contact the library to request home delivery service. A library volunteer will bring the books to your home. Please call the Main Desk at the library at 781-596-8867.

And thank you to the people who volunteered to provide the service–we really appreciate it!

Friends Name Volunteers of the Year

The Friends of the Swampscott Public Library announced the Volunteers of the Year at a recent recognition luncheon. Sid Epstein was honored for serving as treasurer of the Friends for 13 years. Estelle Epstein, Sid’s wife, was also named Volunteer of the Year. As the head of the Tin Box Poets, she manages the judging of the Lee Golomb Cadiff Teen Poetry Contest each year. This involves reading over 200 poems to select the finalists. Our town is privileged to have such fine, community-minded people.