From the York Public Library
By Director Robert Waldman and Children's Librarian Kathleen Whalin
YORK VILLAGE - Literacy is the ability to read and write. It allows people to express themselves and to communicate effectively with others, essential elements of what makes us human. It is not surprising that those of us who work in libraries believe passionately in the value of words. We work full-time and beyond connecting people to books they might enjoy reading and to information they want.November is officially Family Literacy Month. Join the York Public Library and the York Schools at the Sixth Annual Family Literacy Fair. This year's fair will be held on Friday, Nov. 3, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the library. Librarians, teachers, administrators, parents and volunteers are planning an evening of activities celebrating reading. Literacy and families are of primary importance and educational research has shown that literacy begins at home.
This year's theme is "This Land is Your Land: American Life and Culture." The evening will begin with tales told by storyteller, Jody Fein. Additional activities will include making butter, creating a giant flag, constructing a quilt, listening to stories, singing and dancing. Local authors and illustrators are being invited to attend.
Come to this year's Family Literacy Fair. It's a tradition for all of us who work with children and think there's no better legacy to leave a child than a love of stories and reading. Reading to a child is the single best way to guarantee that child will be a literate adult. Come celebrate the power of stories and then continue the celebration at home by reading.
For more information about the fair, contact Ruth Dealy at Village Elementary School at 363-4870 or Kathleen Whalin at the York Public Library at 363-2818.
LIBRARY DISPLAYS
Oct. 6 was "National Diversity Day." This month, the library will be recognizing diversity with an exhibit of books and other materials on that topic. The exhibit is co-sponsored with the York Diversity Forum, whose goals are to increase understanding and acceptance of people of different races, cultures, sexual orientations, religions, ages and abilities, and to reduce the incidence of prejudicial language and action in our community.
October is also Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence has donated several books on that topic which will be on display, along with information about local organizations that are available to help.
Just for Halloween," Murder, Mayhem and Mystery" is a new display featuring detective and mystery fiction of all sorts.
SECOND ANNUAL GINGERBREAD HOUSE CONTEST
Now's the time to stop by the library and register to create your own gingerbread house! A flier with the details and registration blanks are available at the library and via the library website. Your completed gingerbread houses will be on display at the library in the Children's Room beginning on Dec. 2, as part of York's Festival of Lights celebration.
ART EXHIBITS
Fran Scully's watercolors are on display in the library during October and November.
York Art Association artist Alice B. Hogan's watercolors are on display in the Kennebunk Room. Subjects of her work include Maine seascapes and landscapes of Maine and the Southwest. Hogan has been a part-time resident of York since the late 50s. She spends the rest of the year in Maryland.
HOLIDAY CLOSING
The library will be closed on Saturday, Nov. 11, in observance of Veterans Day.
