Rock on!

With summer reading programs over for most, a number of you wanted to end your programs with a bang--offering a presentation of your own using notes & NASA's in-depth handbook that was shipped along the lunar and/or meteorite samples. I have to admit, I wasn't sure if anyone wanted to engage an audience to talk about the Apollo Missions outside of a craft activity but there were a few librarians who attended Rick Varner's workshop who put on their NASA-emblazoned shirts and hats and talked 'shop'. I happened to attend one program where Children's librarian Margaret McGrath & Outreach librarian Sharon LaRossa from the Plymouth Public Library both not only shared the history of the rocks and the significance of the loan but also Mrs. LaRossa's personal account of her trip to see the Space Shuttle Endeavor's launch this past June. It was a captivating presentation--especially as the inter-generational audience was asked to share their own memories of the news of the Apollo Launch some 40 years ago.

And while Margaret was overheard by some that this year's theme moved her out of her comfort zone before she began her powerpoint presentation, but you wouldn't know it. Plymouth's Children's librarian kept the interest of the audience and even answered a few questions that might have intimated most Arts & Humanities graduates.

Further down the Cape & Islands another librarian held a captive audience. Deborah MacInnis of Edgartown Library also demonstrated that hobbies do come in handy when you are serving the public. Edgartown Public Library has it's on 'resident astronomy fan' working as a children's librarian. Between the Summer Triangle glow-in-the-dark chart and Alien craft activities, Deborah also facilitated a program featuring the loan samples and I'm sure her personal account of meteorite history--the story behind her photo of Comet Hale Bopp's appearance in her backyard in 1997 also added a special element to her presentation.

The above is just a small report of the exciting workshops, presentations and programs that our region has offered to the public. When we meet this fall during the Roundtables I'd love to hear what responses you received this year with such a dynamic (and dramatic--remember the Perseids shower) summer reading theme. Granted an evaluation of the program will be submitted to everyone but for others who had the samples if you be so kind as to share how many people attended the showing of the rocks, whether or not you saw an increase in participation from 'non-users', etc., I'd love to hear during a meeting or if you want to send me an email, that will be fine. I am hoping that this theme turned out to be a great introduction to families who hadn't visited their library in a while or some instances and I hope not many, those who've NEVER visited their neighborhood library.