April 2018

FootnotesNews for enthusiastic supporters of the New Castle Public Library

“Books are the bees which carry the quickening pollen from one

to another mind”

James Russell Lowell

Thanks for Your Service

Unfortunately, we had to say goodbye to a number of board members this year. Our thanks to Kelly Koczak-McCurdy. She brought creativity, energy and fresh ideas to her time as president, and she (and Miranda) were brave to step in as co-presidents though new to the organization.

To Barbara Whisman, who served in almost every capacity during her time as a Friends’ board member, we offer our enormous thanks. Barbara was the president, handled membership, was our liaison for A Day in Old New Castle, and helped and supported the organization in so many other ways over many years.

Finally, we would like to thank Nancy Crowder, who joined our board, took on the role of secretary and served with dedication and enthusiasm. You will all be missed.

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A Day in Old New Castle Volunteers Needed

A Day in Old New Castle (DIONC) Committee is looking for volunteers to help on SATURDAY, May 19, 2018. This event is a major fundraiser for the New Castle Library Friends. The Friends received over $4,000 from the proceeds in both 2016 and 2017 so it is very important that the members of the Friends are well represented in the volunteer bank for DIONC. All volunteers receive free admission to the homes and gardens, as well as a tour of the Kalmar Nyckel.

We need a few friendly souls at the off-site parking area to greet and direct people to the shuttle buses and in town to welcome the visitors as they get off the shuttle buses. The information and ticket tables will also need volunteers.

Please email nclibraryfriends@gmail.com if you are interested in being involved in this festive day and in what capacity.

And while we are asking...

Volunteers are needed for the Separation Day Book Sale

Separation Day Book SaleFriday, June 8th, transporting books up from the cellar

Saturday, June 9th, transporting books outside, staffing the cashier tables, and returning the books

inside at the end of the saleAfter Book Sale Bag Sale

Monday, June 12th and Tuesday, June 13th

Staffing the cashier tables

Please email nclibraryfriends@gmail.com if you are available and willing to help. Thank you.

And Furthermore...

As part of the Separation Day Book Sale, we will once again raffle off a number of fabulous baskets with books and related items. If, as part of spring cleaning or decluttering, you have a special item or extra baskets to donate, please email us at nclibraryfriends@gmail.com. A wonderful Friend has already offered to donate a quilt, so you can count on a beautiful quilt basket. Thank you!

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Meet the Staff

Lynne Smith, Circulation Aide

Lynne Smith is a Circulation Aide here at the New Castle Library. She has held this part-time position for the last 6 years, working Tuesday and Thursday evenings, along with one Saturday per month. Her responsibilities include checking in and checking out materials for patrons, collecting fines owed, and processing applications for library cards. Her contact with other staff members and her interactions with the patrons are the best parts of her job. She is quoted as saying, “They are all good people.”

Lynne is well experienced for this position with us, for she has 30 plus years as Circulation Supervisor at the Delaware Tech Library. She plans on retiring this June from her full-time position at Del Tech, and perhaps will pick up a few more hours in New Castle.

Born and raised in the Rosehill Gardens area of New Castle, Lynne graduated from DeLaWare High School, class of 1974. She is married, with two children, and two grandchildren.

When sharing about her interests and hobbies, Lynne referred to herself as a “Foodie”- loving anything barbequed. She also enjoys traveling. Her trips have included California, Las Vegas, Florida, and Tennessee. Lynne also enjoys shows and travels twice a year to New York City to take in the sights and sounds of Broadway. In May she will see The Lion King.

Lynne likes shopping and reading, and just finished Danielle Steel’s novel Fall from Grace, but she especially enjoys listening to audio-books on her daily commute.

Thank you, Lynne, for your service with a smile. You are yet another library staff member in place to make our experiences at NCPL pleasurable.

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Event Recap: Friends' Annual Meeting

The New Castle Friends' Annual Meeting was held on January 21stto a full house. Prior to the meeting, a supper of soups and salads was provided. Irene Biggs welcomed the gathering and conducted the meeting in her new role as New Castle Friends' president. The meeting included the introduction and approval of the new slate of the governing board: Kim Wipf, Vice-President; Janet Wurtzel, Secretary; Suzanne Souder, Treasurer; Amy Bishop-Ryan; Jeanne-Marie Camac; Dawn Kackley; Julie Kirk; Connie Reese; Susan Swansburg; Kathy Tidball; and Robert Yarker Smith. A fond farewell and words of appreciation were expressed for those members leaving the board: Nancy Crowder; Kelly Koczak-McCurdy; and Barbara Whisman.

Following the meeting, Ed Okonowicz, from Delaware Humanities Forum, presented a program entitled “Tales Tombstones Tell”. Informative, while entertaining, Ed delighted the audience with his wit and wisdom.

Event Recap: Chocolate Friendzy

February 9th marked the date that chocolate literally flowed in the library. This delicious fundraiser brought the community together for libations, hors d'oeuvre, desserts, and chocolate, chocolate, chocolate! Held upstairs in the Library’s main reading area, participants mingled among the stacks, while listening to the live music of Fiscal Year. Ellie Gerhart provided pineapple chunks, strawberries, marshmallows, graham crackers, and more to dip into her chocolate fountain.

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Our thanks go out to all the Friends who decorated for the event with a Valentine theme, those who donated the array of wonderful food, and to Eric Sallee who tended the libations.

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April Book RecommendationsIf there is a book you would like to recommend, email

us at nclfriends@gmail.com.

Eileen Burk - Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail HoneymanSmart, warm, and uplifting Eleanor Oliphant is an out-of-the-ordinary heroine whose deadpan weirdness is rooted in childhood tragedy. With the help of a true friend, Eleanor is able to face the past and embrace a future that promises to be better than fine.

Janice Henshaw - The Dry by Jane HarperTwenty years of small town secrets unravel in award-winning author Jane Harper’s page turning mystery debut. Set during the worst drought in a century, Australia’s ranchers struggle to survive the present, while haunted by the past.

Anita Scovanner - Life After Life by Kate AtkinsonWhat if you could live again and again, until you got it right?

Lynne Smith - Falling from Grace by Danielle SteelThis new novel by Danielle Steele tells the gripping story of a woman who is widowed at age forty-nine. Losing husband, home, resources, and reputation, Sydney Wells must rebuild her life with honor, courage, and resilience, reviving her career as a talented designer.

Roberta Yarker Smith - "Keep the Damned Women Out": The Struggle for Coeducation by Nancy Weiss MilkierDiscover the surprising reason all-male colleges went coed in the late '60s and early '70s—and the sometimes-vehement resistance they faced.

Member/Guest ForumFootnotes, this Library Friends newsletter, is sent out five times a year. Starting with this issue (see below), we will include a new section, a Member Forum, where you are invited to submit information on issues or events of community and library interest. If you have a passion or happening to share for our next issue, please submit it to nclibraryfriends@gmail.com by May 15th.

***************I am a new member of the Friends and also a member of the Junior League of Wilmington. Both organizations are important parts of our community and I hope to do all I can to support both.

With this in mind, I hope that the Friends would be willing to include the following

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information in their next newsletter.

Thanks so much and I hope to meet more of my fellow "Friends" at the next library event!Anna Silton

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THE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF WILMINGTON’S CELEBRATED HEART OF THE HOME® KITCHEN TOUR RETURNS

APRIL 14th, 2018

Wilmington, DE – February 13, 2018 - The Junior League of Wilmington has scheduled its celebrated Heart of the Home® Kitchen Tour for April 14, 2018, 9:30am – 4:30pm.

The signature bi-annual fundraiser, now in its 12th year, showcases recently renovated kitchens throughout the greater Wilmington area, Southern Chester County, and

surrounding areas, and features samplings of the region’s most exquisite cuisine in each home. The tour attracts attendees interested in home renovations, meeting local designers, learning about local dining options and those looking to enjoy a fun day out

exploring beautiful kitchens and tasting good food.

Tickets are Available Now: https://www.jlwilmington.org/tickets

"Dear Appropriator" letters have begun circulating in the Senate, asking Senators to preserve over $210 million in federal library funding for FY 2019. One letter asks the Senate Appropriations Committee to fully fund the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) and the second asks for full funding for the Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) program. The more Senators who sign these letters, the better the chance that the funding for the LSTA and IAL programs will be preserved, especially as the battle for domestic spending becomes more intense and Members of Congress look for programs to cut. These programs represent the bulk of federal funding provided for libraries. IAL is the only dedicated federal funding provided for school libraries. Moreover, under the rules of LSTA, states are required to match one third of their federal contribution. This means any cut to LSTA in the FY2019 budget will

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lead to a budget reduction at the state level.

What You Can Do Now:Many Senators will only sign a "Dear Appropriator" letter if their constituents ask them. Send your Senators an email and ask them to contact Senator Reed's office to sign on to the LSTA and IAL letters.

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Boxes, We Have BoxesAs a result of all the wonderful book donations we receive, we have dozens and dozens and dozens of boxes. Some are too small or too large for our purposes but are in perfectly good shape. So, if you need to ship items, are moving, or whatever, and need boxes, please let us know at nclibraryfriends@gmail.com.

Thanks to Patti Issacs-Hansen for the inspiration.

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Save the Date

May MarketFriday, May 4th, 9-5

Saturday, May 5th, 9-3on Market Square

May Market is a New Castle tradition and Arasapha's major annual fundraising event. Come to this free open-air event to purchase fresh plants and herbs, baked goods,

crafts, white elephants and books, and a chance to win a lovely quilt.

Save the DateWednesday, July 11th

Linda Emerick will present a program on William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing

Delaware Shakespeare’s, Much Ado About Nothing is scheduled for July 13-29, 2018 at Rockwood Park.

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