Library news

Sad news from the library this month – our lovely Janet is off to greener pastures.  You can still catch her at Masterton Library where she now works but we poor souls will have to do without her.  My thanks to Janet for her years of working alongside me and all the massive work she has put into the Reading Programme, Book Babies and the Te Reo work she has done  – there are lots of children and adults who will miss her in our library.  All our best wishes go with you Janet. 

The afternoon part-time position has been advertised in the paper and I will be interviewing later this month.   Meanwhile the library goes on and I have been buying again.  This time with the help of The Cochran Trust grant I have purchased a large number of talking books.  These are wonderful for older people who have sight problems or problems holding books due to arthritis or other issues.  
They are in CD format so easy to pop into a CD player.  The readers these days are professional actors and bring the stories alive.  When you can’t see to read it is a real gift to be able to hear a story.   Please think about older people you know who may be housebound or in a home and can’t access books and see if they would like to try a talking book. 
We have a lovely band of volunteers who will deliver books if required.   We also have some great helpers in the library and are always happy for more volunteers to do some tasks for us.  There is always something to do especially with the wonderfully large amount of donations I have been getting recently (thanks so much everyone). 
Donations are a real help to the library, it refreshes and extends the existing stock and if we can’t use a book then we can sell it to fundraise or find a good home for it in a school or retirement home.  DVDs are also really welcome – we now have over 700 DVDs in stock and it is a really eclectic collection!  
The Friends of Martinborough Library had a false start last month when we tried to hold a meeting at the wrong time.  However our ‘first’ meeting will now be held on Monday 22nd May at 5 in the library – I will send out an email to those who have registered interest.  Please come along whether or not you have already filled out a form.  
On another matter, Boomerang bags are now in the library so please do use them – let’s get rid of plastic bags from Martinborough.  Fundraising for furnishing the new Children’s library is going well, we have raised around $600 so far but still need much, much more. 
We will need more paint for the furniture I will be asking the Mens Shed to make for us (haven’t asked yet but at least now they know I will be!) so if you have any hanging around please drop it off.  Thanks so much everyone for supporting us so well and do keep coming in and using the Library.
Shirley