New Boston News : library

New Boston residents reject library bond article

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 19:29:00 GMT

BY SARAH LEBRUN

New Boston will not be seeing a new library in its future anytime soon, as residents voted against an article requesting a $499,000 bond for the project.

Though the vote was 790-612, it needed a three-fifths majority, or 60 percent, to pass and only received 56 percent.

“The majority of voters voted for the new library and recognized the many ways the library supports the community,” said Whipple Free library assistant director Pat Fickett. “We want to thank everyone in New Boston who supported the New Library Campaign.”

Fickett said the New Library Campagin Committe will need to get together to discuss plans for the future.

Residents also voted to change the selectman position from a three-year elected position with no limit on the number of terms in office to a three-year elected position with a limit of two consecutive terms.

The town will also not run on a default budget this year, as the proposed operating budget of $3,888,9897 was also passed.

On the town ballot, the library bond was the only warrant article that did not pass.

On the school ballot, the Support Staff Association bargaining agreement was approved by an 884-467 vote. The cost will be $37,575 in the first year, $39,245 in the second year and $41,715 in the third year.

Residents also approved the proposed school operating budget of $10,337,147, which is actually less than the default budget by $119,195.

New chapter for Whipple Library?

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 19:59:00 GMT

BY SALLY BRZOZOWSKI

You need only to glance at the outside of the Whipple Free Library in New Boston to imagine the inside. The building is tiny from the inside out and bursting at the seams. Boxes are stacked on top of bookshelves, tables must be pushed aside in order to accommodate reading groups and many books are in storage due to the lack of shelf space.

If residents vote to appropriate money for a new library on Tuesday, March 10, all that could change.

If Warrant Article 16 passes with a 60 percent vote, New Boston will get a new library through a $499,000 bond, a price that the Whipple Free Library’s assistant director Pat Fickett calls “a bargain.”

The remainder of the funding will come from the New Library Campaign, which has raised $857,000; and from the Capital Reserve, which is holding $104,000 in previously approved funds.

The tax impact of a new library would be 10 cents per $1,000 assessed property value, or $20 on a $200,000 home.

The need for more space becomes apparent the minute you step inside the library. The shelves are crowded to the point where Fickett said, “If for some reason all the books came back at once we’d be in trouble!”

She siad that in order to add a book to the shelves, another one must be removed and placed in storage, or on one of the temporary carts and displays around the room.

The lack of bookshelves is just the tip of the iceberg. “This building wasn’t built for computers,” said Sarah Chapman, Whipple Free Library director. “When we opened, everything was different, and it was fine.”

Looking around the library today, it’s easy to see how 21stcentury technology has made the crowded space seem even smaller. A lone computer sits at the top of the stairs for patron use, and other residents must check out laptops and find somewhere to sit among the few open chairs scattered around the library.

While the shelves overflow with books, DVDs and books on tape are stacked on top of each other wherever there is room. There’s no space for this new technology, and no privacy for people who come into the library to use the free internet services.

“I’ve helped people with their resumes while standing at the circulation desk,” said Fickett. “It’s not fair to them or to us.”

In its cramped quarters, the library offers more than just physical objects. From the summer reading program to the knitting program to other reading groups and discussions, the space is often full.

“Sometimes we have 20 people in this place and it gets … intimate,” said Chapman, gesturing to a small circle of chairs. Despite the lack of space, the library is an important place in the community.

“It’s a wonderful gathering point for families,” said Mary Locke, who works at the library. The selectmen and the Finance Committee have already signaled their approval for the bond plan.

Town administrator Burton Reynolds echoed the sentiments of the library staff when he said, “They are very short on space in the current library for community programming. They have to switch things around for every program, and even then, there’s not enough room.

“I think people can feel confident that the public expense portion of this is included in the improvement plan and will have very little impact on taxes,” said Reynolds when asked about the amount of the bond. “If you look carefully at how everything has been constructed, taken into context with all other types of spending, other types of spending have been reduced so we can do this project without a tax spike.”

He believes the current proposal combats the criticisms of previous plans, and thinks the town is ready for this improvement.

With more space, the library could offer a greater amount of community programming, more programs for children, a better selection of computers, and more books, including all those which are currently sitting in storage. All it needs is a new building.

“This library has such fantastic energy,” said Fickett. “It’s such a small building with so much going on.”

Voting takes place Tuesday, March 10, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., at New Boston Central School.

New Boston monthly dinners, presentations foster togetherness

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 20:47:00 GMT

BY SALLY BRZOZOWSKI

Edward Everett has delivered his famous speech more than 137 times, but Friday was the first time that his speech followed a dinner of lasagna and chocolate truffle cake at the New Boston Community Church.

Everett, as portrayed by the actor Jim Cooke, visited New Hampshire on Friday to speak to a group of attendees who braved the cold for a chance to enrich their community and their minds. In his first incarnation, Edward Everett was known as one of the world’s most-famous orators, “the likes of Frank Sinatra,” according to Richard Katula, who just published a book on this friend of Abraham Lincoln and George Washington. Everett was “the other speaker at Gettysburg,” the one who spoke for almost two hours before President Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address.

This is the fourth year that residents of New Boston have enjoyed presentations and dinners together at the New Boston Community Church in what Butch Locke calls “a magical marriage with the library.”

Locke is on the Community Church’s Stewardship Committee, and was one of the organizers of Friday’s dinner.

Gail Parker also serves on the committee and arranges speakers and presentations on behalf of the Whipple Free Library Perspectives program. The Perspectives program started 10 years ago, but has thrived since its union with the community dinners.

“Perspectives is a way to give adults in this small New England town a new perspective, a chance to broaden their horizons,” said Parker.

Jed Callen, who has supported the program since it began, says the program came about when some residents realized the town had many programs to offer its youth, but very few opportunities for adults to expand their horizons. Now, the program has seen many visitors speak on diverse topics.

“We’ve had a doctor who visited Antarctica,” said Parker, “and a talk about the Big Dig, and then the next month someone came and talked about all the antiques they found during that construction project.”

“There was someone who talked about the last days of Marilyn Monroe, and two of the players from A League of Their Own visited once. We’ve also had local people who have something to share,” added Callen.

“Just because the talk is in the church doesn’t mean that there’s a connection to religion. We’ve had people in to talk about UFOs and aliens; really, the connection between this dinner and the Perspectives program is about serving the community.”

The dining room at the church was filled with guests sitting at round tables, making new friends and catching up with regulars.

Among them was 11-year-old Alexia Gorton. She was joined by her mother, brother, classmates, and other Community Church members who made sure the rotating group of diners were well-outfitted with everything, including dressing, lasagna, coffee and lemonade.

Bib and Verna Elliott, longtime residents of New Boston, dined on lasagna before moving to the next room to hear about Edward Everett.

“We’ve attended quite a few of them,” said Verna of the dinners. “It’s interesting, and it gives me a chance to find out what’s going on.”

The next community dinner takes place March 20 at 5:30 p.m. and will be followed by the annual library auction, both at the Community Church in New Boston.

For more information on Whipple Free Library Perspectives, visit www.whipplefreelibrary.org.

New library center of discussion in New Boston

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 20:54:00 GMT

BY PATRICK O’NEILL

A new library could open in New Boston by January 2010 if residents approve it on the March ballot.

Residents and town officials discussed this, among other items on the town warrant, Monday, Feb. 2, at the deliberative session of Town Meeting.

Eric Seidel, chairman of the Board of Library Trustees, presented a plan to build a $1.46 million library east of Route 13 between the post office and Piscataquog River. The warrant article requests a bond of $499,000 from the town to cover part of the cost.

“We are completely out of space,” said Seidel of the current Whipple Free Library. “The shelves are completely full. Seating is extremely limited. We have only three computers. At the same time, usage of the library is up considerably.”

The new library plan would allow for the construction of a one-story, 5,200-square-foot library, twice the size of the current one. In addition to having double the capacity for materials, an expanded children’s room and circulation desk, the new library would also have a new community program room.

“We’ll be able to provide better programming,” said Seidel on the new room, which could become a cultural center for the town. “We can envision a lot of activity.”

According to the trustees’ plan, if the bond is passed at the March vote, construction would begin in May, finish in December, and the new library would be open in January 2010.

Fifty-nine percent of the plan is privately funded, according to Seidel, with fundraising by the library trustees and money in the library capital reserve fund. The cost of a $499,000 bond to taxpayers would be an average of 10 cents per $1,000 assessed property value, or $20 on a $200,000 home.

“This is a project that’s long been overdue,” said Selectman Dave Woodbury. “This is a very good time to take on this project.” Some residents questioned the legitimacy of the project given the current economic downturn. Almost all residents in attendance approved the motion to put the article on the March ballot.

Other issues at the deliberative session included the operating budget for 2009. The town is requesting a 4.5 percent increase in the operating budget to $3,888,987. The increase is half of what it has been in previous years, at 9 percent, mostly due to the economy. After some debate, the motion to place the article on the March ballot passed.

Residents discussed another article which would not allow dogs to run at-large and out of the control of their owner. Police Chief Christopher Krajenka spoke about the growing issue of loose dogs in the town.

“I’ve had numerous complaints,” said Krajenka at the meeting. “Currently, I have no way to enforce (a law).”

If the article passes in March, it will be unlawful for a dog to run at-large unless accompanied by the owner or when used for hunting, herding, etc. The motion was passed by all those in attendance.

All other articles up for deliberation passed. Some included the purchase of a 10-wheel dump truck to improve roads during the winter and an energy audit of the Town Hall.

In addition to the articles discussed, residents will vote for a selectman, cemetery trustee, fire ward, library trustee, trustee of the trust take place March 10 at New Boston Central School from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Libraries offer adult reading programs

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 20:19:00 GMT

BY CAROLE KLEMENT HUXEL

Many times, adults may ask themselves, “Why should children be the ones having all the fun?” Well this summer, the adults are the center of attention at the Goffstown and New Boston public libraries.

Both libraries already have adult programs in place for their patrons. Book discussion groups take place inside the libraries and online. Audiobooks are available on cassette, CD, iPod Shuffle, direct download and a new audio format called the Playaway. There are enrichment programs during the day and in the evening to accommodate a variety of schedules, and the Goffstown Library offers a monthly writer’s group called The Blank Page.

Patrons don’t look for adult-themed summer reading programs, yet they are very receptive to the idea once it’s offered.

“We knew there would probably be an audience,” said Sandy Whipple of Adult Services and Outreach in Goffstown.

Pat Fickett, assistant director of the Whipple Free Library in New Boston, said, “A lot of the moms are mentors for their child’s reading program,” so the initial audience was already built into the library.

The Whipple Library has nearly three dozen adult readers signed up for their program, even though summer is considered a slow time of the year.

The librarians in Goffstown wanted to do a Medieval theme program for a long while, and director Dianne Hathaway had no problem deciding on Readers of the Round Table for summer 2008.

“A Medieval theme is so rich with material and potential,” said Whipple. The summer began with a Medieval Faire, complete with period costumes and entertainment, and carried through many of the family programs in July.

Whipple Free Library in New Boston chose Basking in Books as its adult theme, reminding patrons that summer reading should be, “A time to bask in books, follow an author, an interest or just dabble in the delights of reading whatever you desire.”

Both libraries are holding raffles that encourage adult readers to enter their name in a weekly drawing each time they finish a book or attend an event. Prizes contributed by many local restaurants, gift shops, gas stations, spas, flower shops and bakeries, among other well-known establishments, are going out to several people each week.

Among the many scheduled events in Goffstown were a program on the American Ballad, featuring John Perrault, former poet laureate of Portsmouth, and an introduction to labyrinths with local artist Diane Ryan.

“We started talking about this last year and wondered, ‘Why not?’” said Whipple. “We began providing adult programs almost monthly in January, and we’ve been focused outward on the entire community,” not just children.

This year, 2008, is an important year for the Goffstown Library, as they have opted to participate in the Finlay Challenge.

The Finlay Foundation has challenged every public library in New Hampshire to increase their cardholders, and the library with the biggest percentage growth will win $25,000. The Readers of the Round Table summer reading program was already well in the planning stages when the challenge was announced, but the staff in Goffstown are using every opportunity to win that reward.

Library to host lecture on Chinese history

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 21:04:00 GMT

This fall is all about China in seven New Hampshire communities participating in the Big Read based on Amy Tan’s novel, “The Joy Luck Club.”

Perspectives, part of the Friends of the Whipple Free Library, provides this fascinating look at China over the past 100 years.

Harrison Sacket Elliot was a theologian and educator who began his career as secretary to the bishop of China from 1905 to 1908, also serving as a correspondent for the Associated Press.

His photographs provide a striking visual history of China during that period. In the 1980s his daughter, Asian scholar Jean Johnson, traveled in China and photographed many of the same places, highlighting both continuity and change over the century that had passed.

On Friday, Oct. 19, Jean Johnson will present a slide show of these photographs and a lecture comparing and contrasting the China of her father’s time with the present. Join for an evening of stunning photography and commentary. Refreshments will be served.

This program is free and open to the public. All are welcome. This program will be held at the New Boston Community Church at 7:30 p.m. following the community supper.

The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and Arts Midwest.

For more information, call Whipple Free Library at 487-3391

First town-wide yard sale June 23 to benefit Whipple Free Library

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 18:51:00 GMT

BY STEVEN ANDREWS

Louise Robie always admired people who donated generously to nonprofit organizations. Now, she hopes to have created a program that will do just that for many years.

The first annual town-wide yard sale in New Boston, which takes place Saturday, June 23, will sell items from numerous households to benefit the Whipple Free Library.

She hopes that the event will be able to provide extra funding to a different nonprofit group each year.

“At the end of the sale this year, the library will randomly draw the recipient for next year,” Robie said. “This will give people a chance to squirrel away their little treasures for the next sale.”

Robie can see the money raised this year benefitting the library in a variety of ways.

“They want to expand the building they are presently in, but it has been voted down repeatedly,” she said.

“At the very least, it could help them get a paint job or update the inside a little bit.”

In the future, Robie hopes to coordinate the sale more with the recipient of the money raised.

“The school and my church were instrumental in getting the word out this year,” she said. “Hopefully in the future, we’ll have more time to work with the recipient to make the event special.”

This year, more than 20 houses are participating to offer items as varied as garden and farm equipment, including a tractor, to jewelry, toys, baby accessories and furniture.

Maps to each selling location are available for $5 and are available at the library in the village. Purchasing a map will also provide a raffle ticket for a wooden garden love seat.

Doughnuts, coffee, hot dogs, lemonade and chocolate chip cookies will be on sale throughout the day. The sale will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Music presentation hosted by library

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 23:04:00 GMT

Popular music during World War II is the topic for a musical program featuring songs that raised American spirits and encouraged the war effort.

Calvin Knickerbocker, music educator and historian from Rivier College, brings a program featuring songs used as propaganda to boost morale on the front and at home.

The program will be at the Community Church of New Boston on Friday, March 30, at 7:30 p.m., and is hosted by The Whipple Free Library of New Boston’s Perspectives Program.

Refreshments will be served. This program is funded by a grant from the New Hampshire Humanities Council. For more information, call 487-3391.