Come to Crafts of the Lakes Region on July 30

2011 Summer Reading Program at the Library

FRIDAYS in JULY at 1:30 PM

July 1, 2011 1:30pm
Tales of Scales, Feathers & Claws
Animal Adventure Tales from Around the World
Popular author and master storyteller Michael Caduto will perform animal folktales from around the world.This participatory performance shares animal myths and legends from Africa, South America, Europe and North America (an Abenaki tale). It immerses the audience in the fantastic world of animals through songs, chants, guitar, native instruments and a dance. Bring your singing voices and your dancing feet! Come join these tales that are sometimes funny, always moving and often end with an unexpected twist of wisdom.

July 8, 2011 1:30pm
Singer, songwriter, and entertainer, Gary Dulabaum
Gary Dulabaum is a nationally touring singer, songwriter, musician, comedian, entertainer and recording artist of children’s and family music who has played at festivals, schools, concert halls, summer recreation programs, libraries, family celebrations, conferences and special events celebrating children and families.  Audiences just don’t observe Gary—they participate with him in concerts that include movement, sing-a-longs, traditional tunes, humor, and his originals like, “My Teacher Thinks He’s Elvis”, “Macaroni & Cheese”, “We Like Frogs”, “The New Jazzy Three Little Pigs” and “My Teacher Rides A Harley.”

July 15, 2011 1:30pm
Barton’s very own, famous Storyteller, Sally Margolis
Join Sally on a trip around the world!  Sally will entertain everyone with her international stories and songs.  The audience will visit exciting places such as, Africa, Japan, China, India, Germany, France, and England.  Join us in learning how to sing one song in many languages!  Bring your imagination and a friend for whirlwind tour of the globe.

July 22, 2011 1:30pm
Summer Encore
This year Summer Encore’s production will be “Aladdin and The Magic Lamp,” which will be adapted by the students and Cathy Archer. The students have developed three other plays including last year’s production of “The Little Mermaid.” Through improvisation a new version of an old story will come to life. The inspiration for this production will be the old folktales, which are the source of the best known versions of today. Summer Encore is a fourteen-year-old, four week summer theatre experience that is an extension of Rutland High School’s co-curricular theatre program. Each year students in grades seven through twelve come together to develop all of the aspects of a theatre production.

July 29, 2011 1:30pm
End of  the Summer Reading Program CELEBRATION
Grab your passport!  We will visit different countries from around the globe.  There will be a craft and snack at each country you visit.  There will also be games.  Make an origami rabbit in China, a boomerang in Australia, sample Mexican cuisine, and much, much more!

ALL PROGRAMS ARE FREE!

Join Us at the Pampered Chef Fundraiser!

Sunday, May 22, 2011 at 1 PM
Barton Public Library
100 Church Street
Barton, Vermont 05822

Join us for food, fun and a chance to win up to $100 in free Pampered Chef products! Plus, we'll have a contest for the ugliest scraper. Bring your ugliest scraper! Gift certificates are available, too!

Orders can also be placed online at
http://www.pamperedchef.biz/cindynichols/

Because we want to make sure that we have enough food for all, please RSVP at the Library’s Facebook page or by calling Sally or Patsy at 525-6565.

Cindy Nichols, Kitchen Consultant
The Pampered Chef
(802) 535-9599
cookwithcindynichols@gmail.com

Make checks payable to: Cindy Nichols

See you there!

The Victrola at the Library

Victrola Model 240, manufactured in 1922

Toni, our library director, recently brought her Victrola to the library. This is an authentic Victor Victrola built in 1922. Toni will play the Benny Goodman Sextet record for you if you ask. It's a lovely record and it is fascinating to listen to the historic music.

This model had small doors (seen here) until late in 1922

Using the serial number inside the Victrola and The Victor-Victrola Page web site, we read the following information about this machine:

The VV-240 was the lowest priced "hump-back" console model Victrola. This design, with the "trademark" Victrola domed lid opening, never really caught-on with the public as did the flat top console machines, and relatively low production volumes were indicative of this problem. Regardless of the lower production, most low-priced console models (including the 240) are shunned by collectors today. All 240's had the semi-automatic brake and a two-spring motor. VV-240's were available in mahogany, oak or walnut finishes, although mahogany was the most common choice. The 240 went through 3 basic design iterations: the earliest 1922 versions had a relatively small horn opening and small center doors (left), which were enlarged late in the year (right). In late 1923, the cabinet grew slightly larger and a much shallower lid was used. Some factory records indicate that a few VE-240's (electric) were produced, although this information may not be accurate. The 240 was discontinued in late 1925.

The original 1922 selling price of the VV-240 was $115.00. An estimated total of 66,152 Victrola 240's were produced.

Most Model 240 Victrolas had mahogany cabinets.

Some more interesting facts from the Victor-Victrola Page:

• The Victor Talking Machine Company was founded in 1901. It was sold to RCA in 1929, right before The Depression hit.
• The Victor Dog's Name is Nipper. He is a mixed breed Terrier. One story states that he was originally painted sitting on his master's coffin, listening to his voice played back on a phonograph. That is an "urban legend". It was simply a creative idea.
• Victor was the world's largest producer of musical instruments for many years, and employed over 8,000 people during its heyday. Victor's main plant was in Camden, New Jersey, but they also had plants in California, Virginia, Canada and Japan.

Benny Goodman's Sextet: "I Found A New Penny" (Fox Trot)

• The vast majority of Victrolas were sold in the months of November and December. They were great Christmas presents and the factory worked frantic overtime during those months.
• Victors were sent from the factory to wholesale distributors, and from there to dealers. Consequently, there was a lot of mark-up in the retail pricing.
• Deluxe (fancy) Victrolas were commonly gutted and used as bookcases or bars in the 1930's and 40's. The spring motors were used as trolling motors for fishermen. One company in New York would buy them for 50 cents and grind them up for use as recycled fiberboard during World War II.
• When introduced in 1911, the price-leader Victrola VV-IV made the phonograph affordable to many Americans. However, it's $15.00 price tag would equate to $275.00 in today's economy. Just about the same as a deluxe IPOD.

66,152 Model 240 Victrolas were manufactured and sold for $115.00

• There were all kinds of special needles produced for Victrolas made of cactus, fiber, tungsten, etc. These are no longer produced. Steel needles are still readily available from a number of sources.
• Approximately 800,000 external horn Victors, and over 7 million Victrolas (internal horn) came off the assembly lines by the time RCA bought the company.
• Some external horn Victor tabletop phonographs used solid wood cabinets. All Victrolas use a composite wood core and thin veneer for the cabinets

"The Victor Dog's Name is Nipper. He is a mixed breed Terrier."

Next time you come by the library, ask Toni if you can listen to the recording. We hope you have found this history of Toni's Victrola as interesting as we have!

Summer Preparations

For the  youngest patrons

Can you believe summer is coming? It may be hard to believe after last week’s weather, but Toni, our library director, and Jessica, our children's librarian, have been very busy making sure that patrons have more seating available in the library this summer. In the photo above, you see that the small table for our littlest patrons has been moved to a more convenient spot. Now children and parents can browse and read the picture books, play with puzzles or color all in one area.

For young adults

Young adults now have a reading table in the non-fiction section, very close to the young adult literature. They now have easier access to the materials they need for research and study.

For all patrons

The area in front of the beautiful window in the Children's Room is now clear for the many activities that go on in the library. Puppet shows, story hour and book discussions of all types now have room for people to join in and stretch out.

For adults in the Reading Room

Another table and extra seating have been added to the Reading Room. Did you know that we have three desktop computers and two laptops for patron use? We also have free wi-fi. You can also bring your own laptop and comfortably sit at one of the two tables now available.

For fireside patrons

We have always had fireside seating available at both (yes, there are two) fireplaces. The seating is more attractive now and the newspapers are right there for you to read.

We think that you will find the new seating arrangements more comfortable. We  hope you visit soon and try out the chairs!

Our Littlest Volunteer

Ruby

Meet Ruby, the youngest library volunteer. Ever. Ruby is the beautiful three year old daughter of Andrea, our former library director. Ruby and Andrea visit regularly and check out piles of books. On the day of these photographs, Mary taught Ruby the basics of checking books out and stamping the date on the circulation cards. Ruby prefers stamping the due date upside down in the books. And who cares? Not us!

We love your nail polish, Ruby!

We’re Open Saturdays Again

This is the first weekend of April and we are open on Saturdays again. Spring is here (so we have heard) so drop in from 10 AM to noon and see the new books that have come, get caught up with your neighbors, read your e-mail on our computers or sit and read the newspapers. We're thrilled to be open again and hope you stop by! By the way, if you click on this image of the library, you will be taken to the full photograph of the pen and ink drawing of the library. We have many other wonderful pieces of art that you can view — another reason to visit!