Read Alli Palmgren's column in the June 25, 2015 edition of the Norwood Transcript and Bulletin. Alli is the Technology Librarian at the Morrill Memorial Library.
Bicycles are my thing. For years, I raced almost every weekend from April to January in whatever discipline that season offered: road, cyclocross, XC mountain biking, and track. Racing has given me my friends, my health, my identity, and my husband (we met at a bike industry Christmas party, but that is a story for another day).
Thursday, June 25, 2015
Thursday, June 18, 2015
Sun Tzu and the Art of War
Charlotte Canelli is the library director of the Morrill Memorial Library in Norwood, Massachusetts. Read Charlotte's column in the June 18, 2015 edition of the Norwood Transcript and Bulletin.
I love lists. I’m always drawn to lists like “The Ten Best Movies for a Rainy Afternoon” or “A Hundred Things to Organize Before You Retire.”
I especially like lists of books because, well, mainly because I’m a librarian, and that’s my job.
I’ve always been curious about a title that appears on most lists of “books you must not miss.” I read many classics as a child and college student, but I was never required to read, or never was introduced to, the military classic of all time. The Art of War, by military general and philosopher, Sun Tzu was written sometime around 522-496 B.C. I must confess, I managed to avoid reading The Art of War until this past year until it was assigned reading for a master’s of public administration course in strategic leadership.
I love lists. I’m always drawn to lists like “The Ten Best Movies for a Rainy Afternoon” or “A Hundred Things to Organize Before You Retire.”
I especially like lists of books because, well, mainly because I’m a librarian, and that’s my job.
I’ve always been curious about a title that appears on most lists of “books you must not miss.” I read many classics as a child and college student, but I was never required to read, or never was introduced to, the military classic of all time. The Art of War, by military general and philosopher, Sun Tzu was written sometime around 522-496 B.C. I must confess, I managed to avoid reading The Art of War until this past year until it was assigned reading for a master’s of public administration course in strategic leadership.
Thursday, June 11, 2015
A Little House in the Woods
Diane Phillips is the Technical Services Librarian at the Morrill Memorial Library. Read Diane's column in the June 11, 2015 edition of the Norwood Transcript and Bulletin.
A few months ago, on a chilly spring night, my family and I were looking for something interesting to watch on TV. We stumbled across Treehouse Masters with Pete Nelson and his crew. We’d never seen an episode before but were intrigued by the premise of a professional treehouse builder and curious to see what he’d build. After watching a few episodes, we were all having the same idea: we need a treehouse in our backyard!
A few months ago, on a chilly spring night, my family and I were looking for something interesting to watch on TV. We stumbled across Treehouse Masters with Pete Nelson and his crew. We’d never seen an episode before but were intrigued by the premise of a professional treehouse builder and curious to see what he’d build. After watching a few episodes, we were all having the same idea: we need a treehouse in our backyard!
Thursday, June 4, 2015
50 Years Plus of Beatlemania
Charlotte Canelli is the library director of the Morrill Memorial Library in Norwood, Massachusetts. Read Charlotte's column in the June 4, 2015 edition of the Norwood Transcript and Bulletin.
One day, a few years ago, I found my diary from 1965 and I chuckled at the entry from a day in late summer.
“Went to the movies and saw Help! I LOVE Paul” it read.
That Paul, of course, was Paul McCartney, the cutest Beatle, in my opinion.
One day, a few years ago, I found my diary from 1965 and I chuckled at the entry from a day in late summer.
“Went to the movies and saw Help! I LOVE Paul” it read.
That Paul, of course, was Paul McCartney, the cutest Beatle, in my opinion.
Thursday, May 28, 2015
Volunteers Make a Difference
Norma Logan is the Literacy Coordinator at the Morrill Memorial Library. Read Norma Logan's column in the May 28, 2015 edition of the Norwood Transcript and Bulletin.
Most people think of volunteerism in conjunction with hospitals, the Red Cross, animal shelters, or overseas agencies. There are many more volunteer opportunities than these and varied reasons for people who seek them out. I am interested in volunteerism because I train and work with literacy volunteers in the Literacy Volunteer Program at the Norwood Library, and I, myself, was once a volunteer tutor.
Most people think of volunteerism in conjunction with hospitals, the Red Cross, animal shelters, or overseas agencies. There are many more volunteer opportunities than these and varied reasons for people who seek them out. I am interested in volunteerism because I train and work with literacy volunteers in the Literacy Volunteer Program at the Norwood Library, and I, myself, was once a volunteer tutor.
Thursday, May 21, 2015
It's All in the News
Charlotte Canelli is the library director of the Morrill Memorial Library in Norwood, Massachusetts. Read Charlotte's column in the May 21, 2015 edition of the Norwood Transcript and Bulletin.
Most weekdays, I wake up to local, national and international news on the radio, specifically NPR. It doesn’t take long to get an assessment of the state of the world if it’s changed overnight. I don’t get a morning newspaper anymore. To be honest, I get most of my news from logging onto my tablet or phone. From there, social media, blogs, posts and alerts update me throughout the day. The occasional times I am unplugged or out of range, it only takes an instant to figure out the state of things when I tune back in.
Most weekdays, I wake up to local, national and international news on the radio, specifically NPR. It doesn’t take long to get an assessment of the state of the world if it’s changed overnight. I don’t get a morning newspaper anymore. To be honest, I get most of my news from logging onto my tablet or phone. From there, social media, blogs, posts and alerts update me throughout the day. The occasional times I am unplugged or out of range, it only takes an instant to figure out the state of things when I tune back in.
Thursday, May 14, 2015
You Are My Sunshine
Margot Sullivan is a part-time reader's advisory and reference librarian at the Morrill Memorial Library. Read her column as published in the May 14, 2015 edition of the Norwood Transcript and Bulletin.
My three and a third year old granddaughter is a joy. She has an infectious laugh but when she is telling a joke and thinks she is pretty funny – the laughter changes and her Dad says “oh boy here we go again”! There are not enough words to describe her – loving, independent, curious, stubborn, imaginative, bossy, caring, exuberant, fearless, and more. Never did I think how wonderful it would be to watch this child grow ever so quickly.
My three and a third year old granddaughter is a joy. She has an infectious laugh but when she is telling a joke and thinks she is pretty funny – the laughter changes and her Dad says “oh boy here we go again”! There are not enough words to describe her – loving, independent, curious, stubborn, imaginative, bossy, caring, exuberant, fearless, and more. Never did I think how wonderful it would be to watch this child grow ever so quickly.
Thursday, May 7, 2015
The Library Needs YOU!
Charlotte Canelli is the library director of the Morrill Memorial Library in Norwood, Massachusetts. Read Charlotte's column in the May 7, 2015 edition of the Norwood Transcript and Bulletin.
How are we doing? What could we do better? Those are the simple questions that the Morrill Memorial Library needs answers to and there are several ways you can let us know. A quick and painless method is by completing the online survey. It's available on our website at this easy URL: www.norwoodlibrary.org/survey. (You'll also be receiving this link to the survey in your Norwood Light bill this month.) Another way is to fill out a paper survey that is available at the library and several other places in Norwood. This month, we hope to get answers from over a thousand library users.
How are we doing? What could we do better? Those are the simple questions that the Morrill Memorial Library needs answers to and there are several ways you can let us know. A quick and painless method is by completing the online survey. It's available on our website at this easy URL: www.norwoodlibrary.org/survey. (You'll also be receiving this link to the survey in your Norwood Light bill this month.) Another way is to fill out a paper survey that is available at the library and several other places in Norwood. This month, we hope to get answers from over a thousand library users.
Thursday, April 30, 2015
Number of Days Since Last Move: Zero
Liz Reed is the Adult and Information Services Librarian at the Morrill Memorial Library in Norwood, Massachusetts. Read Liz's column in the April 30, 2015 edition of the Norwood Transcript and Bulletin.
Since leaving my childhood home to attend college, I’ve never lived in a single location longer than 20 months. Sure, I’ve lived in Boston for three years, but in that time I’ve occupied three different apartments. In fact, I’ve moved a whopping 18 times since 2006. Ouch. Our current lease will be up at the end of August; we’ve chosen not to renew, bringing my grand total of single abode living to two years. Now it’s time to start the search process all over again.
Since leaving my childhood home to attend college, I’ve never lived in a single location longer than 20 months. Sure, I’ve lived in Boston for three years, but in that time I’ve occupied three different apartments. In fact, I’ve moved a whopping 18 times since 2006. Ouch. Our current lease will be up at the end of August; we’ve chosen not to renew, bringing my grand total of single abode living to two years. Now it’s time to start the search process all over again.
Thursday, April 23, 2015
History with a Little Bit of Murder
Charlotte Canelli is the library director of the Morrill Memorial Library in Norwood, Massachusetts. Read Charlotte's column in the April 23, 2015 edition of the Norwood Transcript and Bulletin.
Many readers, including librarians, have guilty pleasures. For more than one of the Norwood librarians, it’s cozy mysteries, specifically those about knitting or cats. Others are addicted to romances or chick-lit. Still others succumb to self-help books, including those written by what other librarians might call “self-promoting quacks.” For a few of us, true crime is the genre that always catches our fancy.
Librarians, of course, are like kids in a candy store – we have every imaginable title at our fingertips and well within our reach. Most of us rotate our guilty pleasures, those books that raise a few eyebrows of our colleagues, with other titles that are much more redeemable.
Many readers, including librarians, have guilty pleasures. For more than one of the Norwood librarians, it’s cozy mysteries, specifically those about knitting or cats. Others are addicted to romances or chick-lit. Still others succumb to self-help books, including those written by what other librarians might call “self-promoting quacks.” For a few of us, true crime is the genre that always catches our fancy.
Librarians, of course, are like kids in a candy store – we have every imaginable title at our fingertips and well within our reach. Most of us rotate our guilty pleasures, those books that raise a few eyebrows of our colleagues, with other titles that are much more redeemable.
Thursday, April 16, 2015
A Season of Hope
Nancy Ling is an Outreach Librarian at the Morrill Memorial Library. Read the published version of Nancy Ling's column in the April 16, 2015 edition of the Norwood Transcript and Bulletin.
Spring. The word itself puts a bounce in our step. After this harsh winter, it might make us take flight. Besides being a seasonal change, spring gives us a sense of hope. Life is opening around us. The smell of soil and blossoms greet our mornings. We can hear the cardinal’s song again. Best of all, we are no longer rushing from car to house in order to avoid becoming a human icicle. We’ve started to shed a layer of two.
Spring. The word itself puts a bounce in our step. After this harsh winter, it might make us take flight. Besides being a seasonal change, spring gives us a sense of hope. Life is opening around us. The smell of soil and blossoms greet our mornings. We can hear the cardinal’s song again. Best of all, we are no longer rushing from car to house in order to avoid becoming a human icicle. We’ve started to shed a layer of two.
Thursday, April 9, 2015
Old Wives' Tales in the Kitchen
Charlotte Canelli is the library director of the Morrill Memorial Library in Norwood, Massachusetts. Read Charlotte's column in the April 9, 2015 edition of the Norwood Transcript and Bulletin.
“Feed a fever, starve a cold.” I can never remember the correct version of this advice when I actually have a cold or a fever. Am I supposed to feed the fever or the cold? When I’m sick and want a warm bowl of macaroni and cheese or a cold cup of sherbet, is this bad or is it good?
Guess what? It doesn’t matter because that’s not how the real old wives tale goes, anyway.
Thursday, April 2, 2015
21st Century Parenting
Read Kate Tigue's column in the April 2, 2015 edition of the Norwood Transcript and Bulletin. Kate is a Children's Librarian at the Morrill Memorial Library.
Social media. Sharing. Friending. Following. Trending. We hear these words and phrases on an almost daily basis but what do they really mean? Social media is simply a phrase used to describe websites or applications for mobile devices that allow us to connect and share with other people across the world in different ways via the Internet. The most popular and recognizable of these are Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Each of these services allows you to create an account and then see the information of other people who also use the service. Facebook is a personal online bulletin board that allows you post messages, pictures, videos, and links to other websites. Twitter allows each user to post a message under 140 characters long. Instagram is an online photo album that encourages other users to view and comment on your pictures.
Monday, March 23, 2015
The Princess Bride - As I Wished It
Charlotte Canelli is the library director of the Morrill Memorial Library in Norwood, Massachusetts. Read Charlotte's column in the March 26, 2015 edition of the Norwood Transcript and Bulletin.
My
daughters were very young when the film version of The Princess Bride released
in October of 1987. It had a Motion Picture Association of America rating of PG
which warned that it might contain material that parents would not want for
young audiences. A Parental Guidance rating usually means bad language,
violence or frightening scenes not recommended for young children. And there
might be kissing, of course.
Thursday, March 19, 2015
My Husband is a Tapeworm
Read Alli Palmgren's column in the March 19, 2015 edition of the Norwood Transcript and Bulletin. Alli is the Technology Librarian at the Morrill Memorial Library.
It is almost a foregone conclusion that most librarians are
prolific readers and often surround themselves with others of a similar
persuasion. From my experience, a love of reading is often passed down through
the generations, so readers often come from families of bookworms.
Additionally, many librarians seem to choose partners that share their passion
for the written word.
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