Librarian’s Note
The library has purchased about 25 of the books from the current Dorothy Canfield Fisher (DCF) Children’s Book Award Master List. Since 1957, the DCF award has honored quality literature for grades 4-8. Each spring, a committee nominates 30 books. After reading at least 5 books from the list, Vermont students then vote for their favorites.
The library offers a pass for many of Vermont’s state parks, good for free entry into designated park day-areas for up to 8 people in a vehicle. The pass can be checked out for 2 days and is good at Ascutney, Plymouth, Wilgus, and Silver Lake state parks, among others. We’ve got a similar pass for half a dozen Vermont historical sites, including the Eureka Schoolhouse in Springfield, the Old Constitution House in Windsor, and the Calvin Coolidge Birthplace at Plymouth Notch. The passes are good until the parks and historic sites close for the season. The libary also has a free year-round pass for VINS.
The library provides free access to Universal Class, an online continuing education service with a growing catalog of more than 500 courses. Classes normally cost $50 to $250 each but our patrons can take up to 5 at a time at no cost. Program features include 24/7 access anywhere via the Internet, real instructors guiding the learning, engaging video-based lessons, a collaborative learning environment, graded lesson tests, continuing education units, and certificates of achievement. Areas of study include the arts, business, computers, cooking, crafts, financial management, gardening, GED training, hobbies, home decorating, legal studies, math, natural remedies, office skills, psychology, real estate, science, special education, spirituality, web development, and writing.
Patrons register using an access code and then participate in the online classes at their own pace. Although additional reading materials are recommended, they are almost always optional. Most courses can be completed within 10-20 hours. Patrons can take up to 6 months to complete an individual class and can correspond online with instructors. Patrons can drop or add classes as they wish. These are non-credit continuing education courses, provided for personal enrichment. To get your own access code, contact me at the library.
Libraries provide a non-judgmental gateway to the information you want. They support your right to seek—and have access to—information, whoever you are. In a sometimes fractious political and social climate, where not only newscasts but also entire networks have staked out territory on the right or the left, then circled the wagons, libraries remain places where all points of view can be explored. And unlike most institutions, libraries are interested in your privacy.
Cordially,
Tony
Reading Public Library. Tues. 12-3:30 p.m. & 4-7; Thurs. 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. & 2-5; Sat. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Mail: P.O. Box 7, Reading, VT 05062. Tel. 802-484-5588. E-mail: [email protected]. Web: www.readinglibrary.org. The board meets the last Tues. of each mth. at 6 p.m. Wi-Fi 24/7.