New Year Coming Soon

Many people are busy with holiday parties, shopping, and other activities but at the library we've been coming up with some new classes and resources that we hope will be on your list, no matter if you've been naughty or nice.

The library just added TumbleBook products. 
TumbleBook Cloud is an online collection of eBooks, graphic novels audio books and even some short videos for middle school and high school students with hundreds of titles to choose from.  Just click and read..listen...or watch.  No library card or special software needed. 

AudioBook Cloud features streaming audio books for all ages. Listen to titles like The Great Gatsby or Alice in Wonderland or maybe Romeo & Juliet (were you supposed to have that read over Christmas break?)  Don't panic.  Titles can be viewed by multiple users and there are no due dates or items to return. 

Have a younger brother or sister?  Set them up viewing TumbleBooks, eBooks just for kids in grades K - 4.  They've added lots of animation, sounds, and bling to make reading even more fun and maybe keep them busy so you can share books with friends, set up your favorites, and watch TumbleTV. 

All the TumbleBook products can be viewed on any computer or mobile device through the links provided on the library website or this page.  Many of the books are also compatible with your iPad and automatically conform to the device you're using. Let us know what you think.

Look for our Teen Zentangle class coming January 17, at 4 p.m.  If you can draw a line and a circle then you can create a Zentangle.

Back to School....WHAT!

It's hard to think about class schedules and cafeteria rules when August arrives with warm weather and sunny skies.  When the big day does arrive remember the Amherst Library has you covered with our annual text book covering event that begins August 21 from 3 - 5 p.m. 

Stop by the library and use our supplies for covering those textbooks and have a snack provided by the library staff bakers.  Sort of like Keebler Elves with sensible shoes who make a mean chocolate chip drop cookie.

Remember we have 12 public computers when it comes to writing those term papers and more important, printing those papers off.  Check out our catalogue for your school's reading list and use our online databases for sourcing out journal articles.

Yes, the school year is fast approaching but there's still time to check out a good book and kick back and relax before the first day of school.  Perhaps you could consider these books research, as in, "Sorry, can't mow the grass right now because I'm researching the psychological conundrum of sophomoric interactions."  That should get you some time.  Read on:

10th Grade by Joseph Weinberg

Jeremiah Reskin chronicles his sophomore year by writing his own novel even though he's not what you would call an honors English student.  Along with some less than honorable thoughts and some throw back Bohemian peers, student life doesn't really change.

Bleachers by John Grisham

Every football player likes to reminisce about the glory days. When a funeral brings all the boys back to town will Neely Crenshaw be able to forgive his coach and move on with his life?

Code Orange by Caroline B. Cooney
While conducting research for a school paper on smallpox, Mitty finds an envelope containing 100-year-old smallpox scabs and fears that he has infected himself and all of New York City.  Talk about stress.

The Taker by J. M. Steele
There's a lot of pressure to score high, especially if you're family plans on you attending an Ivy League school.  And what's up with that geeky tutor that Carley has hired? 

Hot Dog!

With temperatures in the triple digits it's too hot to even be at the pool.  Pick up a book or spread out the beach towels at home for a movie night in front of the television. 

But keep reading.  I know we said that the last day to turn in your reading logs for summer reading was July 12 but that's just to be included in the prize drawings.  We'll accept reading logs and give out prizes as long as they last.  So keep reading.  Eveyone can go back to school with a "Dream BIG" book bag.

We've got lots of "hot" books at the library.  Check out these titles:

Hot Dog and Bob and the Particularly Pesky Attack of the Pencil People : adventure #2 is just one of the books by L. Bob Rovetch (JF ROV).  Fifth grader Bob and his friend Clementine are once again wrapped up in an adventure and superhero Hot Dog steps in to help.

Hothead : a novel by Cal Ripken, Jr., (JF RIP) combines a great story with baseball as the setting. Connor has a temper on the field, and when his outbursts become the subject of the local newspaper he realizes it's time to get on deck, or suffer the consequences.

Hot Air by Charles Ogden, (JF OGD), as if there isn't enough hot air around already, twins Edgar and Ellen step in to discover the secret of the small town of Nod's Limbs.

Hothouse by Chris Lynch, (YA LYN), is a powerful drama and coming of age story.  Teens D.J. and Russell were once life long friends who have since grown apart.  But when death touches them both they are forced to rekindle their friendship in order to overcome tragedy.

On your mark...get set....

GO! 
The race is on.  The Amherst Public Library’s ninth annual Amherst Scavenger Hunt is underway. Pick up an entry form at the library and identify each of the twenty-five photos taken in downtown Amherst.  All photos were taken within easy walking distance of the library so there’s no need to worry about the price of gas.
The last day to turn in entries is Saturday, August 20.  One grand prize winner will be selected from all the completed entries. Forms will be available soon online.  Pick up a form upstairs at the library and get started today!

What's your dream?

Are you dreaming BIG this summer?  Do you have a dream for the future, or a dream for the moment?  Consider sending us a photo that we can share of what your dream may be.  Here's one example of someone Dreaming BIG.

Learn to Juggle

Today at 2 p.m. Matt Jergens will be at the Main Street Community Center (255 Park Avenue) bringing his comedy juggling act to Amherst.  Matt was one of our most popular programs last summer and he is back by popular demand for another program and juggling workshop.  Be amazed by his unicycle act, by his unusual choice of objects to juggle, and be amazed at how much you can learn.

The show begins at 2 p.m. and afterwards we'll break into groups for the juggling workshop.  Last year Matt brought in spinning plates, Chinese spools, and scarves for us to try our hand at learning to juggle.

Summer reading is all about fun.  Keep in mind that this week you can also attend Magic 101 on Thursday, June 28 at 6:30 p.m. here at the library with Professor Zap.  If you're in grades 4 or even if you're 104, you can learn a bit of magic to entertain your friends.  Learn something new this summer!

Space out

This Thursday, June 21,  is the big Sky Dome planetarium show.  Join us at St. Joe's School gym for a virtual field trip through the universe.  The show lasts about 45 minutes and takes you through our solar system for an up close look at Saturn and its moons as well as a look at the Milky Way. 

Sure it looks like a giant silver slug and you can crawl inside where you'll find more than 120,000 LED lights that are synchronized to showcase a sun rise and sun set, the Northern Lights, and even a lesson on the mythological creatures behind some of our constellations.  Any Percy Jackson fan will want to be on hand for that.

The dome will hold up to 75 people and showtimes will start at noon, 1, 2, 4, and 5 p.m.  Once a showtime is over we'll start ushering in the next group.  Seating is on a first come basis and there is no need to have a ticket or register.

Kindergartners as well as adults will enjoy the show so bring the family.