The Brookfield Citizen

Brenda Metterville

C/W MARS announces the arrival of digital audio books and e-books for your enjoyment. Patrons from member libraries can browse and search hundreds of great titles and download them to computers, transfer them to portable devices, or burn them onto CDs for reading and listening anywhere, anytime. Residents of Central and Western Massachusetts are now able to download e-books and audio books onto a desktop, burn them to a CD or transfer them to an MP3 player. Some of the titles can only be used by one person at a time—just like a book. But unlike a book, after two weeks the use of that title expires, and it is automatically “returned,” to be downloaded by another patron. One hundred of the titles can be “borrowed” by an unlimited number of patrons simultaneously, but use will expire after two weeks. Haven’t finished? Just borrow it again!

The collection, which will continue to grow, has books primarily of adult, but some children’s, titles and has both fiction and non-fiction. Bestsellers from the last year are included.

You can browse the Digital Books Catalog and download the titles of your choice via the URL http://digitalbooks.cwmars.org. Patrons must have a library card from a C/W MARS member library. Brookfield is an online affiliate. Please call the Library at 508-867-6339 for more information.

Database news
A brand new interface called PowerSearch was added in September to assist with searches in the InfoTrac databases. Patrons will now be able to search more than one InfoTrac database at a time. Check it out! At www.cmrls.org, enter your library number—20410 plus the last four digits of your telephone number (ex. 204106339). Call the Library for assistance with this incredible periodical resource.

Drop-in and Donate
Drop-in Arts and Crafts activities are available to artists of all ages 3 to 5 p.m. every Friday from September to December. Brenda and Debbie will take turns and work together on presenting some creative endeavors for all to enjoy.

We have a wish list of supplies we are inviting members of the community to assist us with: cardboard egg cartons, fabric scraps, 16 oz. plastic bottles, pinecones, acorns, wall paper and/or wrapping paper scraps, fabric trims, buttons, notions, shoeboxes, colored tissue paper, cheap wire headbands, sewing elastic, APPLES!, clothespins (spring-loaded), cinnamon sticks, and a metal fold-out table for supplies. Please drop off items during our open hours. We always appreciate the generosity of our patrons.

We are also in the process of transforming our small children’s room to a more play-friendly environment. The Friends of the Library have purchased a train table for all our train enthusiasts and a bench to store preschool toys. We are now looking for a preschool dollhouse and other toys for our community playroom.

Banister Book Group
Tuesday, Oct. 25, 7:30 p.m. Mountains Beyond Mountains. The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, a Man Who Would Cure the World, by Tracy Kidder

Join us for a discussion of the book students at the Tantasqua Regional High School completed as their main summer reading selection.

Tuesday, Nov. 29, 7:30 p.m. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
An incredible first book—I recommend this book to everyone. Reviews have included descriptive words “powerful, haunting, evocative, riveting and unforgettable and extraordinary” to name a few.

Annual Book Sale
The Friends of the Library will hold their Annual Book Sale during the Apple Country Fair, Saturday, Oct. 8, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. in the Fire House on Central Street. The library will be open on this festive Saturday. The next Friends meeting is Thursday, Oct. 6 at 7 p.m.

The Birthday Gift!
Gabe Phelan celebrated his birthday this summer in a rather unique fashion. Instead of gifts, he asked his friends to make a donation to the library! The donations to the Friends of the Library will purchase several Young Adult sports books. Thank you, and a very happy birthday, Gabe.

Read previous columns from the Library