Massillon Public Library March 2020
A Message from the Director
Hello readers!
I’m writing this in a snowmobile cabin in “that state up north,” and after riding 100 miles with our snowmobile club yesterday, I begged off “to work.” This really means that I’m blissfully ALONE with a jigsaw puzzle, some Fisher’s chicken salad, and (best of all) a bag full of books! I’m thinking a little philosophically today, which often happens when you have even a minute to reflect. Several weeks ago, I became a grandparent for the first time. Yesterday, I realized profoundly that my body can’t take the beating on the trails like it did even a year ago. A few weeks ago, I attended a social event with the choir I sing with, VOCI (now part of SingStark). After dinner, one of our long time members stood up and said a surprise farewell, as he’s decided, in his words, that he’s “just too d*mn old” to keep driving down from Akron for rehearsals and withstand the rigors of concert performances. We were saddened, but understand the sentiment...time is marching on for all of us. That leads me to think about a practice that you can enjoy from birth until death and every stage in between. You can keep at it long after other activities become a burden. You’re expecting me to say “reading,” aren’t you? Well, I want to broaden that into “using your library!” I have a relative in a long-term care facility. She is bored and depressed and who wouldn’t be? Her 92-year-old roommate, that’s who! Gladys has a pile of books at all times which are delivered to her from her library! I want to age like Gladys, still learning and adding enrichment to life in order to balance all the things that age takes away. I’m thinking a lot about that now, because our Outreach Services Department continues to expand to fill those needs. All of you boomers facing recoveries from hip and knee replacements? Give the Massillon Public Library a call at 330-832-9831, ext. 313 and you can be added temporarily to receive home delivery! I’ve mentioned a lot of this in the past, but two things have reappeared in the news that make them timely again. Many of you have seen reports that more Americans used a library in 2019 than visited a movie theater. While this true statistic caused a lot of backslapping in the library world, it is probably more reflective of the decrease in movie-going than it is of library awesomeness — although I’m a firm believer in library awesomeness! Also, circulating again is a social media post asking everyone to “contact their legislators to save library funding in 2020,” which was proposed to be cut along with other civilized (and low cost) expenditures, like the National Endowment for the Arts and PBS. I just want to take this space to tell you that there is no immediate threat. The 2020 federal budget went into effect back in October 2019, and efforts last year had those items restored to the final budget. But, what it does tell us is that those in power don’t know what YOU know...that your library is there for you, and that it makes a difference. We who “get it” have to be vigilant and tell others! What’s in my reading bag? “Funny and wise, heartbreaking and uplifting” Little Big Love by Kathy Regan, where 10-year-old Liam uses his sleuthing skills to find his Dad. (I love quirky kids, like in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon.) I also have the clever and uplifting (See the trend?) The Authenticity Project by Clare Pooley, where an eccentric older gent leaves a notebook in his local café for people to journal their true thoughts, and pass it on. (I also love curmudgeonly old men, like in Helen Simonson’s Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand and A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman, of course!) I’m also leaning to modern British novels, it seems! I hope that your reading is also uplifting this month! Sherie Brown
Download the entire March newsletter.
Tales of Beach City Genealogy Guest speaker Stumpy Boggs will present Tales of Beach City Genealogy during the March meeting of the Massillon Local History and Genealogy Society on Wednesday, March 4, at 1:00 p.m. Mr. Boggs will share stories of his research into genealogy in Beach City, Ohio, and tales of his discoveries.
Community Health Fair On Saturday, March 7, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Shiloh Baptist Church and Massillon Public Library’s Cultural Diversity Committee will present a Community Health Fair at Shiloh Baptist Church. Hear health and wellness experts, visit health exhibits, see fitness demonstrations, and enjoy a heart-healthy luncheon! Dr. Seuss Escape Room Families with kids of all ages are invited to a Dr. Seuss Family Escape Room challenge on Saturday, March 14, starting at 11:00 a.m. Help the Cat in the Hat get his hat back! Celebrate Dr. Seuss’s birthday by joining a Seussical team and solving the puzzles to escape from the room in time! Registration is required. Super Saturday: Mo Willems On Saturday, March 21, at 11:00 a.m. kids from Pre-K to Grade 4 are invited to attend a celebration of children's writer Mo Willems and his colorful cast of quirky characters. Listen to stories, make crafts, and play games! Registration is required and begins on March 9.
Listen at the Library Massillon Public Library is excited to host a free concert by the Canton Symphony Orchestra on Wednesday, March 25, at 1:00 p.m. in the library auditorium. The musical storytelling presents illustrated children’s literature set to a backdrop of live music. Local Author Fair Join us on Saturday, March 28, any time between 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. for a Local Author Fair! This free event is an exciting opportunity for readers to discover new authors, talk with them, and peruse their books, which will be available for sale.
The Massillon Public Library is partnering with Goodwill Industries to offer regular open hours at the library for patrons to meet with a social worker and be connected to community resources. Emma Walsh, Social Services Coordinator for Goodwill, will be available for walk-in appointments the first Monday of every month, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., and the third Wednesday of every month, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., beginning March 2, 2020. Visit our website for more information!
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