January Meeting

The next Friends of the Library meeting will be on Monday, January 5, at 9 am in the library's Community Room. It will be the first meeting of the year, and topics to discuss include: a recap of the house tour and the status of fundraising and membership to date, as well as planning for the upcoming spelling bee (scheduled for March 26), a Valentine-themed wine tasting event, Valentine's Day gift baskets for silent auction and other spring events. The Friends is still looking for someone to assist other Friends members in planning a few library events for Dover children.

Meeting is NEXT Week

Don't forget that due to the Chickering holiday tomorrow, our monthly meeting will take place next week - December 8 - at 9 am.

Linda Burke December Artist of the Month

"Internal Landscapes" Exhibit By Linda Burke to be Featured at Dover Library in December

Needham High School Art Teacher is Artist of the Month

Teaching art at Needham High School for the past 15 years, artist Linda Burke has fostered many a talent. Recently, she has been able to focus on a talent closer to home: her own. The result of her labor is an exhibit titled "Internal Landscapes", which will be on display at the Dover Library December 1-31. Burke will also host an opening reception at the library on December 10 from 6-8 p.m.

Burke's pieces are large in size for watercolor. She then alters the watercolor surface with mark-making, using drawing media such as charcoal, Conte crayon colored pencils and pastel.

"With watercolor and mixed drawing media, I explore the mark-making process as it is affected but emotional and psychological moments," said Burke. "The work is then approached with no preconceived goals, which allows for experiences, memories, or the timbre of the day to impact the color, motion and line."

The artist said that while one piece may be influenced by a tragic event, other could be collections of ethereal impressions.

"Essentially, my work is a gestalt art process, influenced by Chinese brush painting artists and modern Abstract Expressionists, like Joan Snyder,"she added. "I begin with large physical brushwork and then pull out imagery based on internal dialog and what I see emerging naturally from the paper surface."

After focusing on teaching for so many years, Burke returned to her own craft when she moved to Ashland five years ago and began painting at the Danforth Museum. She currently works in Michael Dowling's Medicine Wheel Studios in South Boston. 

The Artist of the Month program is sponsored by the Friends of the Dover Library. Each month, a different local artist's work is displayed in the library. Pieces are available for sale and 10 percent of all sales go to the library. 

Next Meeting - December 8

The next Friends' meeting will take place on Monday, December 8, at 9 am in the library's Community Room. This is a departure from the tradition of meeting the first Monday of the month due to a school holiday on December 1. All are invited and welcome to attend. Topics to discuss include the recent house tour and a report on where membership and fundraising to date stand, as well as planning for the upcoming spelling bee (scheduled for March 26, 2009), a Valentine-themed wine tasting event, Valentine's Day baskets for silent auction and other spring events. The Friends is also looking for a volunteer to assist other Friends members in planning a few library events for Dover children.

Below are pictures from our October wine tasting. A special thanks to Bob Harkey of Harkey's Wine & Spirits in Millis for donating his time to the Friends to teach us about wines from South Africa. A wonderful evening as we sipped various wines and Bob regaled us with stories from his recent trip. Best of all, the wines were excellent and ranged from $10-20! Head down to Harkey's to stock up ...

Doing Well While Doing Good

Just got back from the Blue Tulip in Wellesley, where a sum equal to 15% of today's purchases will be donated to the Dover Town Library if you mention the Library to the salesclerk at checkout. I found a bunch of clever gifties, and many were on sale: stationery was 50% off, holiday cards 20% off. They have excellent teacher gift items, as well as toys and cards and stocking stuffers.

In these difficult economic times, it makes sense to optimize your spending. Head over to Wellesley (Roche Bros. plaza) and put your money to work for the Library while you take care of some of your holiday and birthday gift shopping. Make sure to thank them for their support of the Dover Town Library.

REMINDER - SHOPPING DAY AT BLUE TULIP

Don't forget to get ahead start on holiday shopping and help the library. Mention the Friends at Blue Tulip in Wellesley tomorrow, Nov. 9, and the group will get 15% of the proceeds. Spread the word!

Cause to celebrate!

The following is featured in the Dover-Sherborn Press releases RSS feed:

The Dover Town Library is ranked seventh in the nation and #1 in Massachusetts for its population category, according to the HAPLR rankings. The HAPLR index rates, scores, and then ranks more than 9,000 American libraries using the latest federal data (library statistics collected in 2005) based on 15 factors. These factors focus on circulation, staffing, materials, reference service and funding levels.

Congratulations to the entire Dover community and the Dover Library staff!
Additional information about the rankings can be found at www.haplr-index.com, or on the American Libraries Web site, http://www.haplr-index.com/HAPLR08_CorrectedVersionOctober8_2008.pdf.

Shopping Event to Benefit Friends of the Dover Library

SAVED THE DATE!!!

What: Get a head start on holiday shopping ... and support the Dover Library

When: Monday, November 10, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Where: Blue Tulip, Linden Street Shops, Wellesley

Why: Mention the Friends when you shop and the group will get 15% of the proceeds - that is money back for your library!

Just in time for the wine-tasting...

I always look forward to the Boston Globe's wine columns, and enjoy the articles by Stephen Meuse and his oenophile colleagues. The Globe's timing could not have been better for our wine-tasting tomorrow night: today they featured their annual "Plonkapalooza" in the Lifestyle pages. Check out the link and think about whether the Friends should attempt to duplicate this (over several evenings--they have 50 choices!!) here in Dover: http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/food/gallery/plonkapalooza/

Friends Seeks "Chess-perts"

The Friends is seeking chess masters to share their knowledge of the game with elementary school children as part of the library's after school programming. 

From general principles to maneuvers and strategy, the children will need to be taught the nuts and bolts of the game. While some of the children participated in last year's program, they are all novices. 

The Friends needs volunteers to make the program a success and is hoping to tap into the expertise of those in the community.

The chess program will be held on Thursday afternoons, with one session from 3:30 to 4:30 and one from 4:30 to 5:30.

For more information or to volunteer, please contact Lorie Linnell at 508-785-9766 or lorielinn@aol.com.

Reception for New Assistant Director

The Library Trustees has arranged a tea/cider reception to welcome Sara Hannegan, our new assistant director, to the community. It will be held on October 24 from 2-4 pm at the library. Please try to stop by to meet Sara and help us spread the word!

October Meeting

Don't forget our monthly meeting - Oct. 6 at 9 am in the library's Community Room.

Something to check out while you purchase your wine tasting tickets

The Accidental Connoisseur, by Lawrence Osborne, is an informative and slightly irreverent tour of all things wine. Osborne talks to everyone in the wine world, it seems, about all sorts of topics from local terroir to the globalization of the palate. While Osborne's research has been thoughtful and thorough, his tone in this book is very down-to-earth and accessible. While you are buying your tickets to the Friends' October 16th Wine Tasting, you can check it out. Or order it on-line by clicking this link (have your card and PIN handy): http://library.minlib.net/record=b2210108 . If someone else is borrowing it right now, you can order it from another Minuteman Library, and have it delivered to Dover for you to pick up.



My only disappointment in this very entertaining read was that I did not have the wines Osborne describes at hand: you will read his descriptions and want to taste along with him. Maybe some entrepreneur can package an Accidental Connoisseur kit: book and bottles, all together!

Mark Richards' Work to be on Display in Library in October

Artist of the Month's Mixed Media Works Will Reflect Theme of "WMD's and Other Personnel Effects"

The Friends of the Dover Library is proud to announce that Needham-based artist Mark Richards will be the Artist of the Month for October. The theme of his mixed media works is "WMD's and Other Personnel Effects." Richards' work will be on exhibit in the library from October 1 to October 30.

In Richards' work, simple household objects are captured in black and white digital images; they have then been embellished and altered using words, images (scans of newspaper images), charcoal, graphite, oil-stick, pastel, acrylic paint and gold leaf. 

"The rich eclectic mix of media supports the changed reality of our lives post 9/11," said Richards. "Mundane objects of every day have become a threat to national security. The effects are far reaching."

Richards is based in Needham, and his gallery, Mark Richards Fine Art, is on Falcon Street. In addition to mixed media, Richards' works include American realist oil paintings of Boston and the surrounding areas. For more information, please visit www.markrichardsfineart.com.

The Artist of the Month program is sponsored by the Friends. Each month a different local artist's work is displayed in the library. Pieces are for sale and 20% of all sales goes to the library.

Baskets for Auction - Thank You!

The baskets are in the library so bid, bid, bid! Full descriptions of the baskets are below on the blog. 

A special thanks to the following who donated items for the baskets:

• Wellesley Booksmith - Wellesley
• Wellesley Toy Shop/Wellesley Gift Shop - Wellesley
• Magic Beans - Wellesley
• Decor and More - Westwood
• John Dewar's Meats - Wellesley
• The Friends of the Library members

"Mommy's Time Out" Basket

"Mommy's Time Out" Basket - Value $105

• "Time Out Spot" sign
• "Please STOP Whining" pillow
• "Mommy's Time Out" Sauvignon Blanc - 2 bottles
• Child-friendly "unbreakable" wine glasses - 2
• The Three Martini Playdate
• Box of earplugs
• Gel eye mask
• "Mommy's Time Out" mug
• Tea & Cookies - lemon shortbread and lemon tea
• $25 gift card to Wellesley Booksmith

"Grill, Baby, Grill" Basket

"Grill, Baby, Grill" Basket - Value $115

• $25 gift card to John Dewar's Meats
• Stainless brush and baste set
• Stainless vertical roasting wok
• Stainless BBQ tongs
• Stainless BBQ fork
• Stainless spatula
• Spice It Up steak marinade
• Stubb's BBQ sauce
• The Big Book of Barbequing and Grilling
• Red Sox Wine - Vintage Papi
• Red Sox Wine - Captain's Cabernet
  
• Red Sox Wine - Sauvignooouk Blanc
  

"Domestic Bliss" Basket

"Domestic Bliss" Basket - Value $150

• $50 gift card to Decor and More
• "House Wine" white wine
• Kimono Rose hand cream
• Kimono Rose perfume
• Carrot soap and hand cream set
• Clementine soap
• Makeup bag
• Floral note cards
• Watch luggage tag
• WebKinz pig
• Tea & Cookies - butter toffee shortbread and Earl Gray tea
• "Teddy Fur" throw
• Shell box
• Toile laptop bag

"Kitchen Edition" Basket

"Kitchen Edition" Basket - Value $110

• "House Wine" white wine
• From Our House to Yours cookbook
• Stainless tea kettle
• Pumpkin spice scone mix
• Nesting bowls - set of 3
• Hot pad and dish towel set
• Apple harvest simmering potpourri
• Coffee mug
• Asparagus place cards - set of 12
• Yankee Candle - Berry Crumble scent
• $25 gift card to Bed, Bath & Beyond

"Family Night in the 'Den'" Basket

"Family Night in the 'Den'" Basket - Value $165

• Bear's Lair Cabernet Sauvignon
• Bear's Lair Chardonnay
• Family-friendly "unbreakable" wine glasses - 2
• Wine bottle stopper and pourer set
• New Yorker cocktail plates - set of 6
• Cocktail Food cookbook
• A Family Fireside Companion
• Sipping Chocolate
• Classic Dominoes
• Zimbbos! stacking elephant game
• Columbia fleece throw
• Wine travel box/suitcase
• $25 gift card to Wellesley Toy Shop/Wellesley Gift Shop
• $15 gift card to Magic Beans

Life in the Fast Lane Basket

"Life in the Fast Lane" Basket - Value $135

• Scrub-A-Dub gift card for "Quick Shine" express hand wax
• Scrub-A-Dub "The Book" pack of 5 express washes
• $40 gift card for oil change at Dover Automotive
• Armorall sponge
• Carpet and upholstery wipe off stain remover
• Moist wipe cleaning towel - lemon fresh
• Royal pine air freshener
• Vanillaroma air freshener
• Flashlight
• Snickerdoodle cookie mix

House Tour Celebrates 21 Years

The Friends of the Dover Library's 21st annual Holiday House Tour will be held on Sunday, November 9, from 11:30 am to 3 pm. It will give patrons the opportunity to visit four magnificent private homes in Dover. For many, the House Tour has become the traditional kick-off to the holiday season. 

This year's tour features historic residences on Wilsondale and Main Streets, as well as new constructions on Farm and Pine Streets. Houses will be festively decorated by local garden clubs and floral designers and will offer gourmet fare from local restaurants and caterers.

Advance tickets are $35 ($30 for Seniors and Friends). They will be available at the library starting October 3 and online at www.doverlibraryhousetour.org. If available, tickets will be $40 the day of the event. 

October Meeting

The Friends' next meeting is October 6 at 9 am in the library's Community Room. We welcome new members and encourage everyone to attend. We will finalize details for the Oct. 16 wine tasting and get an update on the Nov. 9 house tours. 

Tickets for both events are available at the library. Wine tasting tickets are $15 each or two for $25; they must be purchased by Oct. 14. House tour tickets are $35 in advance or $40 at the door.

Gift Baskets at Library

The Friends are auctioning off six gift baskets in conjunction with the wine tasting. The auction will end October 17, the day after the wine tasting. Themes for the baskets are: Mommy's Time Out; Life in the Fast Lane; Grill, Baby, Grill; Kitchen Edition; Domestic Bliss; and Family Night in the "Den". Each basket is valued at over $100. We'll have a full list of what is in the baskets posted later this week but check them out at the library and make a bid! Thanks to all who solicited gift certificates and purchased items to make these possible. 

Dover Days a Hit!

Thanks to all who volunteered and/or stopped by to support the Friends at Dover Days. We sold books as well as wine tasting and house tour tickets. It looks like there is a lot of interest in both upcoming events so get your tickets now! We also got our opening bids on the gift baskets so keep checking in at the library to make sure you win what you want.

The Friends at Dover Days

Be sure to stop by the Friends' booth at Dover Days. In addition to books, the Friends will be selling tickets to the upcoming wine tasting (Oct. 16) and house tour (Nov. 9). This is a great chance to get your tickets early. Wine tasting tickets are $15 per person or $25 per couple; the house tour tickets are $35. Also, we will have on display in the library gift baskets for silent auction. Come check them out and make a bid!

Books Needed!

We need your books! The Friends of the Library is collecting books to sell at its booth at Dover Days. Please bring books in good condition to the library by September 18. Books may be dropped off in both the upper and lower level lobbies. A great way to clear out clutter and help the library!

Wine Tasting on October 16

The Friends of the Dover Library will host a wine tasting at Dover Library on Thursday, October 16, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Bob Harkey of Harkey's Wine and Spirits in Millis will lead the event. Featured will be wines from South Africa, where Harkey recently returned from a tasting trip.

The event is open to all members of the community who are of legal drinking age. 

Tickets are $15 per person or $25 per couple and must be purchased by October 14. 

Tickets may be purchased at the Dover Library or by mail. To purchase by mail, send a check to the Friends of the Dover Library, c/o Dover Library, 56 Dedham Street, Dover, MA 02030. Please note "wine tasting" on the memo line of the check. Prepaid tickets will be available at the door at the event. 

Don't Forget!!!

Don't forget the Friends' Meeting on Monday, September 8th at 9AM. Members and nonmembers are welcome! Call or write to Lorie Linnell, President of the Friends, for more information about the meeting or about the Friends. lorielinn@aol.com or 508-785-9766.

Prepare yourself for the October 16 Wine Tasting with a little light reading

Even those of us who enjoy wine-tasting sometimes have trouble putting words to the flavors swirling in our glasses. The Dover Town Library has Elin McCoy's biography of wine guru Robert Parker, and you might find it an enjoyable and informative read. Here is the link to the book in the Minuteman Catalog: http://library.minlib.net/search?/aMcCoy%2C+Elin./amccoy+elin/-3%2C-1%2C0%2CB/frameset&FF=amccoy+elin&2%2C%2C8">

It's easy to use your library card to request the book on line. You'll get an e-mail telling you when it's ready to be picked up. Of course, you can still do it the old-fashioned way, and go into the Library and borrow it!

Friends of the Library New Look!

Jane Bleakley has created some wonderful new looks for the Friends of the Library. Stop into the library to see the full-scale graphic. (You can see a cropped image of this to the left.) You'll see more of this artwork in the new Friends of the Library membership brochure.

September Meeting

The Friends of the Library will hold its next meeting on Monday, September 8, at 9 a.m. in the library's Community Room. Topics to discuss include the upcoming wine tasting and house tour events, as well as the 2008-2009 Friends' brochure. 

Wine Tasting Meeting August 15th

There will be a meeting for Wine Tasting Planning on August 15 at 10:00 at the library. The Wine Tasting event is planned for October 16th in the evening.

Postal Permit

Lorie Linnell has renewed the Postal Permit for one more year. Note that the permit needs to be renewed in late July every year.

Membership Brochure

Jane Bleakley is wearing another hat for the Friends - she is designing the artwork for the Friends of the Library brochure. Another meeting is planned for August 15th at 9 a.m. to review the brochure.

Early Hours @ the Library

Summer Refreshments in the Library! Thanks for the members of the Friends of the Dover Town Library for providing our summer refreshments on Friday mornings between 8:30 - 11:30 a.m. Everyone is enjoying the early hours.

Meeting June 9, 2009

The meeting of the Friends on June 9th was well-attended and a new Board was elected. Congratulations to all! You can view the minutes of the meeting using the link on the left. Meetings will be held on June 27th at 10 a.m. to review the brochure edit and on August 1 at 10:00 a.m. to plan the Wine Tasting on October 16th. The next meeting of the Board and Friends will be held on September 8th at 10:00 a.m. and will be followed with a House Tour meeting at 11:00 a.m.

Annual Meeting of the Friends: Monday, 9 June @ 10 a.m.

The Friends' bylaws require an annual meeting in June, at which the slate of officers is approved and the budget is voted.

EVERYONE is invited. If you are interested in helping to support the Dover Town Library, this is a great opportunity to learn how the Friends work. My experience with the Friends is that it is a very child-friendly organization--there are usually a couple of babies or toddlers at each meeting. The Friends group overall is more diverse than the presence of toddlers might suggest--Dover residents of all ages are active in the various roles within the organization. In the past, the Friends have held some night meetings to accommodate working members, but traditionally the June meeting is in the morning.

If you have an interest in the Friends of the Dover Library, I hope you'll subscribe to this blog. If you have specific questions about the Friends or their activities, contact Library Director Charlotte Canelli @ 785.8118 or CCanelli@minlib.net. Alternately, you can click here Network For Good to join or donate online via Network For Good.

Welcome

Welcome to the Friends of the Dover Town Library weblog. You'll find handy links to join, to catch up on events, to communicate with board members and to meet other members.