Dear Friends… THE FRIENDS OF THE

Since becoming president of the Friends of the Newburyport Public Library, I have NEWBURYP RT found myself paying greater attention to the many and varied programs that the library offers. In June, I had the pleasure of PUBLIC LIBRARY visiting Melanie Bennett’s Library Babies class, which the library has been offer- ing since 2010. Intended for pre-walking babies up to age 1 and their parents, this footnotes class is designed to share books, lap games, singing, music and dance with babies. The September 2015 Volume 25 Number 1 program allows parents to experience the joys and benefits of being in the moment with babies and witness just how bright 2015 Annual Meeting Marks 75th Anniversary they are. of Friends’ Founding On the day I visited Library Babies, Join us Thursday, September 17, for a approximately 15 children and their parents were sitting in the Children’s Room activity program honoring John P. Marquand, area. The children all had pieces of colorful, Pulitzer Prize–winning Newburyport sheer fabric that they were using to keep author time to age-appropriate music. Clearly everyone was having a great time and, as might be expected, over time the energy in The fiscal-year2015 annual meeting of the the room increased. What totally amazed Friends of the Newburyport Public Library me was the way Melanie brought the class will take place Thursday, September 17, 2015, to a conclusion. As she sang the song “Tree, at 7:00 p.m. in the library’s Program Room. All 900-plus members Tree, Tree,” the entire room simply became are cordially invited to get an update on the group’s work and hear calm. I have never seen anything like it. recollections of Newburyport’s own John P. Marquand. Melanie told me the song was by Fred After a brief business meeting, board President Rogers, better known as “Mr. Rogers” on Nancy Peace will welcome the Honorable Richard E. PBS. She added that when parents sing this Welch III of Newburyport, who will offer a special song to their children, they become calm reminiscence of his grandfather, John P. Marquand, right along with the children. Amazing and whose many novels made his a “household name.” well worth knowing! The board sees it as particularly fitting for the Yankee Homecoming offered another Friends to honor Marquand this year, because it is the opportunity to observe and work with anniversary of the first annual meeting of the group staff from the Children’s Department. that today, some 75 years later, has become the Friends On Wednesday, July 29, Allison Driscoll of the Library. Marquand was the guest speaker at that Hon. Richard E. Welch III and Diane Oxton participated in Kids’ first meeting in October1940 , Day in the Park at Atkinson Common. In December 1939, three months after outbreak of World War They each read stories, and two musicians II in Europe, Irving Cole, head librarian of the Newburyport Public engaged the children in music making and Library, joined with about 30 other city residents to form what they song. This event highlighted the library’s called the Association of Library Friends. Their first regular meeting was held in the Reading Room of the original library building (formerly (continued on page 6) (continued on page 3) Brain Teaser October Means It’s Time for the by Al Lavender Great Old Book Sale! We got a good response from cryptograms in the last It’s been happening in October (and March) for so many issue of “Footnotes,” so we’ll do another set. Remember, years now that for some people, when they see October on substitute one letter for another to solve the following: the calendar, their minds immediately turn to thoughts of 1. q tujjte teqxbubs uo q rqbsexlf o jmubs, the Friends of the Newburyport Public Library’s Great Old pfj q tlj li usblxqbze uo hfoj qo pqr. Book Sale. — jmlgqo q. eruolb. Mark Your Calendar Now 2. jp zyg kyh’s iaz ahzsujhe, zyg tyh’s on Do you follow a routine to prepare for the sale? If so, it marrnk gdyh sy qndnas js. probably starts with marking your calendar, so here are the — marvjh myyrjken. dates for this year’s fall sale: 3. do ebmejb rma’q isaq qm lmhb mvq qm Book donations accepted at the library—Saturday, October qzb csjj esuf, amcmrt’w gmdag qm wqme 17, at 9:00 am, to Wednesday, October 21 at noon sharp). qzbh. — tmgd cbuus. Members-Only Preview Night—Wednesday, October 21, 4. zrtowcg xc iy jwcm kxiitcz xj 6:30–8:30 pm ntcgutgm’w etwz cxfhwcg. Opening Day—Thursday, October 22, 9​​ :00 am–8:30 pm — rxqmrf qmckhnmy. 5. yqe rpemjcro aegafe vgo’y lks agfjyjcrf Great Old Book Sale continues—Friday, October 23, zgklfe-yrft ugmebem. 9:00 am–6:30 pm. Although the selection is now more limited, — xemrfz ugmz tons of books still remain, and prices are reduced by half.

Entries, limited to one per member, must be sent to Al Great Old Book Sale Discount Day—Saturday October 24, Lavender, 10 Rawson Hill Road, Newburyport, MA 01950 9:00 am–3:00 pm. We provide the bag, you fill it—for 3$ .00 or e-mail to: [email protected]. Deadline for receipt Meet Ms. Paige Turner of entries is October 1, 2015. Paige is a Friend with a ritual of preparing for the sale: Contest Results “First I bring out the box with books I’ve been collecting The answers to the cryptograms in the last issue are: since the last sale,” she says. “I like to have my donations ready beforehand so I don’t miss the dates set aside for 1. Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth. donations. Now where is that box?” — Sherlock Holmes Upon finding the box in a closet, she pulls it out for 2. If everything seems under control, you’re just not inspection. “Oh dear, I have to remove these videotapes? Ah going fast enough. well, they’re no longer accepted for the sale, but everything — Mario Andretti else looks good. I simply have to jot down these dates! Now 3. Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be where’s my calendar? Of course, it’s on my phone! I’m ready looking for it. — Henry David Thoreau for the fall 2016 Great Old Book Sale. 4. You got to be careful if you don’t know where you’re “I’ve noticed the people who volunteer to help are going, because you might not get there. — Yogi Berra friendly, and they look like they’re having fun. I’ve been 5. The man who does not read good books has no hoping to find a new way to meet people, so this year, I think advantage over the man who cannot read them. I’ll offer my help,” Ms. Turner decides. — Mark Twain Paige Turner has the right idea. Find your donations Sheila Johnson, winner of this contest, was chosen at and mark your calendar for the October Great Old Book random from among the five correct answers received. Sale. Starting early in October, a binder with volunteer sign- up sheets will be available in the library lobby beneath the bulletin board by the foot of the stairs. Hillary Hawkins

Online events calendar: www.newburyportpl.org/events  John P. Marquand—A Brief Chronlogy 1916 As member of Battery A of the Massachusetts National Guard, which is activated for duty, JPM is Marquand was born into a sent to the Mexican border. Newburyport family with a 1922 JPM’s first novel, The Unspeakable Gentleman, is proud heritage of shipbuilders published; he marries Christina Sedgwick, with whom and mariners, and was a great- he will have a son and a daughter nephew of Margaret Fuller and cousin of Buckminster 1925 JPM’s first important book is published: Lord Fuller. He considered his early Timothy Dexter, a work of nonfiction. years in Newburyport as for- 1935 Publication of Your Turn, Mr. Moto—first of mative for his writing career the series that will bring JPM great fame; JPM and and success. Following is a brief synopsis of some of the Christina are divorced highpoints of his life. 1936 JPM marries Adelaide Ferry november 10, 1893 John Phillips Marquand is born in Hooker; the couple will have two sons Wilmington, Delaware; shortly after, the family moves and a daughter to Rye, New York, a wealthy suburb of New York City 1938 JPM wins Pulizer Prize for his novel 1907 The Crash of 1907 devastates the family The Late George Apley, published in 1937 financially, and JPM’s parents send their son to live 1940 JPM addresses first meeting of with two aunts and a great-aunt at Curzon’s Mill; he the Association of Library Friends, attends Newburyport High School Newburyport 1911 JPM graduates Newburyport High; he enrolls at 1942 H. M. Pulham, Esquire Harvard College, which awarded him a scholarship published; like many of JPM’s novels, 1915 JPM graduates Harvard; the Boston Evening it becomes a well-received movie (in Transcript hires him as a reporter this instance, one directed by King Vidor and starring Hedy Lamarr and Robert Young) 1949 Publication of Point of No Return, JPM’s Marquand Honored at Annual Meeting satirical novel about W. Lloyd (continued from page 1) Warner’s Yankee City project (a sociological examination of the Tracy Mansion), and at that meeting guest speaker John Newburyport) P. Marquand read a paper entitled “Where Are You, Prince?” At the time, Marquand was the most widely read author 1957 “Rendezvous in Tokyo”—the in the United States. Whether from his serialized “Mr. Moto” last of JPM’s “Mr. Moto” stories—is mysteries or the other bestselling novels, such as The Late serialized in New York Post, then published as Stopover: Tokyo, another bestseller George Apley or Point of No Return, it was fairly certain that just about everyone knew his work. Although Marquand’s 1958 JPM and Adelaide divorce name retains its luster and familarity in Newburyport, where july 16, 1960 JPM dies in Newburyport he lived and worked, sadly it has been supplanted by those of contemporary writers of bestselling novels, mysteries, and thrillers, many of whom built careers by following his lead. “Distrust the book which reads too easily because Some acknowledge Marquand’s influence, but dozens who such writing appeals more to the senses than to the may not also are deeply in his debt. intellect. Hard reading exercises the mind.” This special program is likely to attract a full house to the library’s Program Room, but seating is strictly limited. — John P. Marquand, The Late George Apley Be sure to arrive early to get a seat. Ron Ziemba

 Events information: call (978) 465-4428 ext. 242 BOOK GROUPS FOR ADULTS MOVIES AT THE NPL Novel Ideas: Fiction Book Group Movie Matinees

Second Wednesday of the month; find out what the Every Wednesday at 2:30 pm, Program Room month’s title will be by checking the online events calendar Come and enjoy the library’s theaterlike screen and sound or calling for events information. system with fellow film buffs. Each week we will be show- ing a new or popular film that you can enjoy with some Just the Facts: Nonfiction Book Group popcorn and your friends! Check the library’s website for Last Tuesday of the month at 7:00 pm; this fall’s titles are: a listing of the movie titles, descriptions and run times. september 29 The Underground Girls of Kabul, History Through the Lens: Historical Film Series by Jenny Nordberg Every Wednesday at : pm october 27 The Coke Machine, by Michael Blanding 6 00 , Program Room november 17 Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson Join us as we explore different ages in history through film. This new weekly movie series will focus on popular Reading Glasses: A 20/30–Something Book Group historical fiction titles that have dramatized the past to Last Wednesday of the month, 7:00 pm; location varies bring historical events to the big screen. Enjoy the library’s theaterlike screen and sound system with fellow film buffs! Join Reading Glasses, a new book group for adults in their Check the library’s online events listing for the films’ titles, 20s and 30s. The Newburyport and Amesbury Public Librar- descriptions, and lengths. ies have partnered to offer this great new opportunity. We will read a specific novel each month, then meet at a local restaurant for food, drinks, and discussion. Copies of each Adult Summer Reading Program book will be available at both libraries. Here is what’s on tap: Our second Adult Summer Reading program was a great september 30 Discuss Dark Places, by Gillian Flynn, at success! Participants reviewed each book they read on Flatbread Company in Amesbury (downstairs function forms and were entered into weekly drawings and one room) for the grand prize, a Kindle Fire. Each weekly winner october 28 Meet at The Port Tavern, Newburyport received a gift certificate to a local establishment, such as (upstairs lounge); check online events calendar for Jabberwocky, Buttermilk Baking Company, and Abraham’s October’s book Bagels. The review forms were posted in the library lobby november 18 Our book is The Good Luck of Right Now, for participants to share their favorite (and not-so- by Matthew Quick; Flatbread Company, Amesbury favorite) books. Thanks to all of those who participated! december 16 Jennifer Egan’s A Visit from the Goon Squad This fall we are beginning a winter reading challenge, will be discussed at The Port Tavern, Newburyport For details, check our website or stop by the library. TEEN LOFT

The Fans Dumbledore’s Army Are you a super fan? Or do you have lots of different Fan- Calling all Harry Potter fans from age 10 up: doms you want to celebrate? Do you want to meet other Dumbledore’s Army wants you! fans just like you? Do you attend sixth grade or higher? Then The Fans is for you! If you’re all about the boy who lived, join us monthly This new group meets on a Tuesday night each month on a Thursday afternoon for all things Hogwarts. We’ll to discuss favorite books, TV shows, movies, and more! make drinkable potions, charmtastic wands, and golden Each meeting will have a new theme along with fun food snitches, all while sharpening our HP skills with Trivia and and activities for all. Check our online events calendar to more! Summon up our magical online events calendar to see which of your fandoms is up for celebration! learn more! Questions? Get in touch with Sara, Teen Services Please contact Sara, Teen Services Librarian, with Librarian (see contact information in opposite column). questions at [email protected].

Online events calendar: www.newburyportpl.org/events  PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS

We will be having some great presenters this fall, so please Adult Craft Night check our online events calendar, subscribe to our weekly Third Monday of the month, 6:00 pm (begins September 21) eNewsletter (see box below), or pick up a monthly events Children’s Activity Room [Registration required] handout to stay informed about what is happening at the Swooning over all the cool crafts you see on Pinterest? library! Wondering when you’ll find time to do some yourself? Tai Chi at the Library Worried your crafting skills aren’t up to par or hesitant to attempt them on your own? Come to the library and learn Every Friday at 9:05 am and 10:00 am to make fun, cool (sometimes useful) crafts at our new Improve physical and mental health by joining the free monthly Adult Craft Night. weekly drop-in tai chi class at the NPL every Friday. Kath- For our inaugural class on September 21, we will be leen Kondylas leads the classes in tai chi and qigong in the taking a blast to the past, resurrecting shrinky-dinks for form of Wu Dang, as taught by Xuan Yun. No experience is a more adult use: wine charms. Examples of the crafts necessary; please wear comfortable clothing. will be posted on our website and Facebook and will be available at the Reference Desk. Enrollment is limited and Knitters in a Bookstack registration required. Supplies will be provided, so just tap Every Wednesday at 6:30 pm into your inner creative side beforehand! Our drop-in knitting group is open to all. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced knitter, drop by the library on Wednesday nights to knit and share tips with others. This program is free, and no registration is required.

New Help for Patrons with Vision Loss

JAWS screen reader now available JAWS, the world’s most popular screen-reader software, which was developed for computer users whose vision loss prevents them from seeing content on their com- Facebook Friends puter screen or navigating with a mouse, is now available As announced in the June issue of “Footnotes,” for public use at the Newburyport Public Library. JAWS the Friends’ new Facebook page is live at provides speech and Braille output for the most popular www.tinyurl.com/newburyportlibraryfriends. computer applications. Contact the second-floor Refer- So far we have more than 80 “likes,” and we ence Desk for more information. need your help to make it 100. . . and more! One benefit of being online is that we Coming soon! get to learn more about our fellow Friends. According to statistics Facebook provides, our posts have reached New e-newsletter will help you stay in the know people as far away as Colorado and Australia, though of at the NPL course our main audience is right here in the Newburyport Never miss another movie matinee or find yourself area. As we work to make our page more active, we’d love in the dark about a book club’s selection again. for you to be involved. We’ll keep you updated with news Beginning this fall the library will be sending email and events, and if you have any comments, suggestions, newsletters. Swing by the Reference or Circulation or pictures to share, let us know. Together we can spread desks and sign up for this new, convenient library the Friends’ message around the world—after all, “social” communication. Once a week, library news, events, media is about being social! Tyler Nelson and book lists will be sent right to your email inbox.

 Events information: call (978) 465-4428 ext. 242 Making Friends at Kids’ Day in the Park Dear Friends (continued from page 1)

On July 29, at Atkinson Common, a great time was had by all at programming for children as well as provided an opportu- Kids’ Day in the Park, the annual Yankee Homecoming event nity for three membersof the Friends’ board to interact with sponsored by the Exchange Club of Greater Newburyport. parents, telling them about the Friends and the work we do. Children of all ages enjoyed books, music, face As many of you know, the Friends’ annual membership painting, an opportunity to check out a police cruiser and fees, semiannual Great Old Book Sales, and other activities a fire truck, and more. The Friends of the Newburyport raise money to purchase free and subsidized museum passes; enhance programming for children, teens, and adults; and purchase materials beyond what the library budget Janet Schoene (left) and can support. Many folks in the community still do not Nancy Peace show off understand the difference between having a library card and the new Friends of the Library tote bags for being a “Friend of the Library”—but we are working on it. children at Kids’ Day Looking toward the fall, I hope you will join us at in the Park, 2015 the Friends of the Newburyport Public Library Annual Meeting (September 17) and the fall edition of the Great Old Book Sale, which opens on October 21 to Friends members exclusively before the general public is welcomed the following day. I feel confident saying there is no better Public Library had a table at the event for the first time this place to pick up a wide range of books for children and year, and it is expected to become a new tradition. Three adults, CDs, DVDs, and other materials at very low prices. volunteers at the Friends’ table offered children and their Finally, if you are at parents a membership brochure, a bottle of cold water on the Newburyport Farmers’ what was a very warm day, and a smile. Market on Sunday, Octo- Friends President Nancy Peace said, “It was a joy to ber 25, I hope you will stop be there, and we had so many great conversations with the by the Friends’ table to say parents about what we do and the children’s programs at hello. Perhaps you also can the library.” The Friends is pleased to provide funding for bring a neighbor or friend the library’s popular museum passes program and help who would like to become provide youth programming at the library, among other a Friend. things. Kids’ Day presented a great opportunity to connect with parents and children and increase their awareness of With best regards, the work we do. Cassandra Patel Nancy E. Peace, President Getting into the swing at a recent Library Babies program

Investing for the Future It is expected that the new asset allocation will yield an annual return in the range of 3 to 7 percent, a consider- The Friends has shifted the investment policy for its able increase over the CD-based policy, which has been endowment fund and retained Brandt Wealth Advisors to earning less than one percent annually since 2008. Each manage investments. The board selected the Brandt firm year, half of the investment income will be used for main- because of its experience working with nonprofit organiza- tenance and improvements to the library, and the other tions and the fact that it is a local firm. In fact, its office is half will be rolled back into the endowment, thereby per- located just across from the library on Prince Place. mitting the fund to continue growing in perpetuity. Effective in June, about one-third of the Friends’ Formed in 2001, upon completion of the library endowment fund was moved from maturing certificates renovation and expansion, the endowment fund’s express of deposit (CDs) into a conservative mix of stocks, bonds, intention is the provision of funds to maintain the library’s and cash equivalents recommended and managed by programs and facilities. Jo-Ann Poinelli, treasurer of the Brandt. The other two-thirds remain in CDs, though the Friends, said, “We want to make sure that this library stays plan is for the entire fund to be invested in line with the as well-funded and as well-stocked as it is now, or better! new policy by early next year. This is what’s going to be our legacy.” Cassandra Patel

Online events calendar: www.newburyportpl.org/events  Welcome Friends! Is Your Contact Information Current? If you are one of the new Friends who became a mem- Moving? New e-mail address or phone number? ber during the recent membership drive, Welcome! Be sure to let your Friends at the library know! June was Membership Month, when volunteers manned Having your updated contact information allows the tables in the lobby, created bulletin boards and posters Friends to send you quarterly issues of “Footnotes” as well seen around the library encouraging all patrons to join the as other updates in a timely fashion. (Your information Friends of the Newburyport Public Library in supporting will never be shared outside the library.) the NPL in ways that extend beyond their visits. A special You may either send an email that includes your feature of the membership drive was the raffle of a new Kin- name, telephone number, and mailing address to: dle HD. Any patron who bought a ticket was eligible, and [email protected]; or complete this form the winner was a happy regular patron and Friend. and leave it at the NPL circulation desk or mail it to: The current paid membership of 900-plus is more than twice what it was just two years ago. We are well on our way Friends of the Newburyport Public Library to achieving our short-tem goal of having 1,000 members 94 State Street, Newburyport, MA 01950 by the end of December. Our long-term goal—a minimum Name membership of 1,700 members, or 10% of Newburyport’s population—remains farther off. Of course, our library Email serves many people living in surrounding communities, Telephone too, and we welcome every one of you to join us. For a small Mailing address annual contribution—as little as $5.00—a library patron can become a full-fledged supporter. By having both types of card—the library card that lets you check out materials, and a Friends’ membership card—you assure the library will continue to have the funds it needs to remain an essential community resource continuing into the future. Dixie Smetana

Attention Gardening Enthusiasts. . . Do you have one of these? Is “2016” handwritten on it? Even though your thoughts may be turning to putting your gardens to bed, now also is a great time to think spring! Preparations have begun for our fifth annual fund- raiser, “Books in Bloom.” In just a few years, this joint effort with the Newburyport Horticultural Society has become a cherished springtime event and will be held April 9, 2016. Once again the library will be transformed with beautiful floral arrangements that interpret themes of their artists’ favorite books. Guests are treated to deli- cious refreshments, including beer and wine, and can enjoy musical entertainment, raffles, and silent auctions. But we need your help to make this event successful. If you answered “No” to either question, your membership Please consider joining us as we prepare for what has become has expired, and this is your last issue of “Footnotes.” To a rite of spring. There are many ways to lend your talents remedy this, go to the Friends’ web page — www.newbury- and time. We need people to coordinate obtaining sponsors, portpl.org/sup/downloads/fol_membership_form.pdf ­— work on publicity, provide refreshments, etc. Please contact and download a membership form. Or pick one up at the Karen Houston ([email protected]) or Nancy Peace library. Once you’ve completed it, follow the instructions ([email protected]) to express an interest. for returning it to us. In just a few days you will have one.

 Events information: call (978) 465-4428 ext. 242 THE FRIENDS OF THE Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage Paid NEWBURYP RT Newburyport, MA PUBLIC LIBRARY Permit No. 383 94 State Street Newburyport, MA 01950 P: 978 465-4428 x222 http://www.newburyportpl.org

Autumn 2015

Join us to honor Newburyport's own John P. Marquand at our 2015 Annual Meeting Thursday, September 17 (details on page 1)

Autumn Hours The Friends of the Newburyport Public Main Library Library is a nonprofit Monday–Thursday, 9:00 am–9:00 pm organization under Friday, 9:00 am–5:00 pm IRS Section 501(c)3. Saturday, 9:00 am–5:00 pm (beginning September 12) All contributions are Closed on Sunday through October 11; beginning tax deductible to the October 18, open 1:00–5:00 pm extent allowed by law. Archival Center “Footnotes” is printed in Newburyport, Monday–Friday, 9:00 am–12:00 pm and 1:00–4:00 pm Massachusetts, by Coastal Printing. Saturday, 9:00 am–1:00 pm Call ahead for availability on Wednesday from 5:00–8:00 pm

The Fall 2015 Great Old Book Sale is just around the corner… Donation drop off begins Saturday, October 17 Members’ Preview Night is Wednesday, October 21 And $3-a-Bag Day is Saturday, October 24 Mark your calendar now, before it becomes filled up! (And see complete details on page 2 of this issue)