DPL Blog

Confessions of a Bibliomaniac

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Reading book

I admit it.  I am a borderline bibliomaniac. I not only love to read, but I love to be around books and around people who love books. I love the culture surrounding books, and bookshops, and libraries.  When I go into someone’s house I scan the shelves to see what books they have. When I walk downtown to get something for lunch I walk with one eye on the cracks on the sidewalk and one eye on the book I am reading.  I am sure people drive by and see me with my nose in a book and think, “There goes that crackpot library guy.”  But that’s OK because I know that my life is much, much richer because of reading.  I can honestly say that I have never been bored a day in my life. If I have some free time with nothing to do I am usually reading, going to a library, or to a bookshop.  To be honest, I don’t understand people that don’t read.  When I think of the time people spend watching television or playing video games I can’t help but think that each and every one us has a limited amount of time on this earth and the last thing I would be doing when the clock is ticking is spending that time staring at the one-eyed monster in the living room.  Books inspire me. The Bible, for example, challenges me to live a life of value, loving and serving others.  Books can help you get out of a rut in your life. They can help create opportunity and sometimes they serve as pure entertainment. Is there anything better than a good page-turner on a rainy night, coffee or tea on hand?  I can’t think of much.  As the saying goes…never trust anyone who’s TV is bigger than their bookshelf.”  Read on, my friends!

-Jim Gill, Director

New resource for genealogists

This entry was posted in DPL Blog Local History & Genealogy on by

I would like to draw your attention to a new donation that I recently processed that has some great information for people searching for their ancestors. The collection is titled “Archinal Papers,” and it is available for viewing in The Roots Cellar, currently open Thursdays from 9-5.

People who are members of St. John’s German Evangelical Church will possibly find photos of their parents and grandparents in the church registers that were donated with the collection. Anyone researching the names Archinal, Scarr, Thomas, Kirschner, Olinger, and Umberger will find a wealth of research notes and family trees, some which have been published in family histories, also located with the collection materials.

You can view the finding aid for this collection (including a folder list) here: ArchinalPapersFindingAid

Or visit the Local History & Genealogy collections page of our website: https://www.doverlibrary.org/local-history-genealogy/local-history-collections/

Stop in on Thursdays to view this most recent addition to our growing collection!

 

Happy Hunting,

-Claire Kandle, Local History & Genealogy Librarian

Volunteer of the Month: Erica

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EricaCongrats to our Volunteer of the Month for June, Erica! Thank you for your dedication and support of the library!

 

How long have you been volunteering at the library?

A little over a year

 

Why did you want to become a volunteer at the library?

I was a nurse for many years and the past few years I was a home health nurse. I quit working and really missed seeing patients. This volunteer position lets me visit people in their homes, and I get to share my love of reading!

 

Who are some of your favorite authors?

Jodi Picoult, Mauve Binchy, Lisa Genova, Dorothy Koomson, Jame Patterson, Jojo Moyes, Mary Lawson, Brett Lott, Nora Roberts, John Grisham, Gillian Flynn, etc. ^^ I also like many biographies and autobiographies and nonfiction including authors Lysa Terkewist, Beth Moore, and Joyce Meyers. And, of course, the Bible.

 

What do you enjoy most about being a volunteer?

It is so fun to bring books to people who are unable to get to the library. They can’t wait to see what’s packed in the bag. Patrons and their families are so appreciative. I am so thankful to be a part of this program.

 

Thank you for all your hard work, Erica! We’re so very grateful to you and all our other wonderful volunteers who make our Books on Wheels program and our library run more smoothly.

 

Would you like to volunteer? Contact Wendy Contini for more information on how to help your library.

Mortimer the Summer Reading Moose!

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Penguin ready to swim

We couldn’t find any pictures of ME in at the pool… so here’s my friend Penny. She’s not a moose, but she’s a pretty good swimmer.

Hello!  It’s me, Mortimer Moose!  I want to talk about summer today!  Are you all on summer vacation now?  I am!  Well, I don’t go to school, because I’m a moose, so I’m not sure what I’m on vacation from, exactly…but I’m definitely on summer something or other!  Yay me!

What are your fun summer plans?  I am going swimming a LOT.  Moose LOVE to swim.  I try not to get the pool all hairy for the other moose, but you know, I shed.  Do you shed?  You don’t have as much hair as me, so maybe you don’t notice.

I want to finish the summer reading program at the library so I can come to the FREE swimming party at the Dover Pool!  SOOOO FUN!  Even though the Librarians said I couldn’t do any of my reading while swimming. Well.  We’ll just see about that!

 

PS: Date of the swimming party is tentatively August 12. That means… well… we’re not completely, positively, one-hundred-percent sure that it will be on August 12. So, please contact my friends Miss Dani, Miss Jen, Miss Syrena, or Miss Bonnie to double check closer to the event date.

Volunteer of the Month: Aimee

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AimeeCongrats to our Volunteer of the Month for May: Aimee! Aimee helps our Outreach Librarian Linda with her Books on Wheels Program. Thanks for being such a terrific Book Buddy, Aimee!

 

How long have you been volunteering at the library?

Since April 2015

 

Why did you want to become a volunteer at the library?

  1. Because I love to read!
  2. My grandfather spent some time in a nursing home, and during that time, I saw how great the volunteers were for various things there, and I wanted to give back. When I heard about Books on Wheels, I knew I had to be part of it!

 

Who are some of your favorite authors?

Judy Blume, James Patterson, Tammy Hoag, Mary Higgins Clark, Gillian Flynn, Lois Lowry, David Baldacci…. Too many to list!

 

What do you enjoy most about being a volunteer?

  1. Seeing the patrons’ eyes light up when you walk in the room carrying new books
  2. Seeing their faces smile when they realize you’re there to see them. Some of these people don’t have anyone visit them, and we are it.
  3. Talking and having conversations about books!
  4. That I get to get books to people that can’t get to the library
  5. Being able to give back

 

Thank you for all your hard work, Aimee! Books on Wheels wouldn’t be the same without volunteers like you!

Would you like to volunteer? Contact Wendy Contini for more information on how to help your library.

$200 Contest deadline fast approaching…

This entry was posted in Adult Services DPL Blog Local History & Genealogy on by

To all of my fellow Tuscarawas County residents :

This is the final week Dover Public Library will be accepting entries for our soon-to-be-published living history book! If you would like to see your story in print and want a chance at the $200 prize, stop in to the library and pick up your entry form at the front desk. Or you can download and print it here: Tapestries of Tuscarawas County

Either way, make sure your entry is returned to Dover Public Library by May 1 for consideration! (Since May 1 happens to be a Sunday, we will accept any sealed envelopes placed in our outside drop box before the library opens at 9 a.m. on Monday, May 2. We will also accept any mail postdated before May 1.)

If you find it difficult to begin, you can review the prompts on the submission form for story ideas. If you find you are still having trouble, read on for clarification of some issues I have addressed throughout the contest:

  1. This is NOT a history paper. Please don’t send a report detailing the Gnadenhutten Massacre or the building of the Ohio Erie Canal – we’ve heard those stories already! We want to hear a story that is personal to you. Maybe tell us about the first time you went to see Trumpet in the Land performed, or how you remember catching and eating fish from the Tuscarawas River when you were a kid.
  2. You can incorporate a favorite family story, joke, or legend even if the teller is no longer living. If you think your grandmother had a great story about life in Tuscarawas County but she is no longer around to tell it, you can submit that as your story, as long as you give credit where credit is due.
  3. Please don’t submit genealogies. While we are always happy to accept any complied histories of local families for our genealogy collection, this is not what we are asking for in this particular case.

That’s it! Simple, right? And if you contribute, not only will you have a chance to win a $200 or $50 cash prize, but you will be contributing to the historical record, something your great-great-grandchildren will be able to appreciate!

 

For any further questions, please contact Claire Kandle at (330)343-6123 or email localhistory@doverlibrary.org 

 

– Claire Kandle, Local History & Genealogy Librarian

Move with Mortimer this Summer

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Coach MortimerWell, Mortimer here again.  I wanted to come here on this computer to tell you about my summer reading program.  It is called “Park it AND Read” because we are teaming up with Dover Park.

But we all know summer reading is all about the Moose. That’s me. Mortimer.

I’m all over this summer reading thing, and I’ve got the scoop. We’re going to have all my favorite programs like LEGO Club (Moose are the best at building, you know), Treats & Treasures (Miss Jen always lets me have a leftover treat ^^), and Art Club (I am the Van Gogh of Moose kind). We’re also going to start checking out sports equipment like bocce ball sets and flag football sets. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure it’s all working properly before we let it circulate. And we’re going to have lots of visitors this summer to talk to us about bike safety, Ohio animals and butterflies, tell stories, and much more!

I’m super excited for  will be the exercise programs called “Movin’ with Mortimer.”  Yes.  That’s me. Did you know that the YMCA is coming HERE to the LIBRARY?!  Well, not the YMCA the building, but YMCA the staff…you know what I mean!  They will teach Zumba and Yoga.  Moose are VERY good at exercise!  But I don’t know much Zumba or Yoga.  You’ll come and help me, right?

Details on all our fun summer programs are coming in the next edition of Footnotes. But you can stop by and ask a non-moose library human for more information any time.  They are pretty nice, even if they don’t have much in the way of fur or antlers!

 

– Mortimer the Moose