The March display features information about Girl Scouting in the U.S.A., which is celebrating its 100th year on March 12, 2012.  Juliette “Daisy” Gordon Low, the founder of Girl Scouting in the United States, was introduced to scouting while in England when she met the founder of Boy Scouting, Lord Baden-Powell.  Daisy brought the movement for girls here and held the first Girl Scout meeting in Savannah, GA on March 12, 1912 with a troop of 18 girls.  March 12 is now celebrated annually as Girl Scout Birthday.  The display in the library features photographs and items reflecting the history of Girl Scouting.  Items are on loan from the Girl Scout Museum at Cedar Hill and from Aida Gennis and Adele Goldenbaum.

 

Save the date!  On Tuesday, April 3, at 7:30 p.m., Jeremy Harrison will be at the library to present an account in words and photographs of a 50 day/800 mile trans-arctic canoe journey through the untarnished wilderness of northeastern Canada’s barren lands, from Pike’s Portage to the Arctic Ocean, in support of WWF-Canada.

 

The next meeting of the library’s Great Decisions group is on Friday, March 16, at 9:15 a.m.  The topic will be “Promoting Democracy.”  The U.S. has had a history of advancing and supporting democracy around the world. What place does democracy promotion have in U.S. foreign policy today? With a choice of tools ranging from economic aid to military force, what are the appropriate yet effective methods that the U.S. should use to promote democracy?

 

An afternoon of Star Wars!  Come dressed as a character for the costume contest, bring your show-and-tell items, learn about the history of Star Wars, join in a trivia contest, play video games, and more!  Ages 6 and up.  Saturday, March 24, from 2-3:30 p.m.  Families welcome!

Call 508-358-2308 to register.

Next month, on three Mondays at 1 p.m. (April 2, 9, and 23), Judy Schurgin will be back at the library to guide us through an exploration of some of the most innovative artists of the twentieth century-Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, and Marc Chagall.  Although no formal registration is required, there will be a sign-up sheet for this program at main circulation desk in March.

 

During March the Raytheon Room contains photography by Alice Shafer.  Alice’s photography focuses on people (especially children), often on strangers, and always is candid. As a street photographer she looks for moments that reflect our universal human experience and for responses to what life brings our way. Her series of photographs evolved from her many walkabouts in New York and Boston, Truro, and Provincetown. The images are moments in everyday life.

 

The Sudbury Weed Education and Eradication Team (SWEET) presents an exhibit in the library foyer to heighten awareness about invasive plants and the harm they do to our natural and historic places.  Learn how to identify plants like garlic mustard and what you can do to stop these invaders.  SWEET is a group of homeowners, seniors, and students from area communities. 

We are reconfiguring our storytimes somewhat to address the widely divergent developmental needs of our youngest users.  “Storyvine,” on Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m., will introduce preschoolers (ages 2.5 to 5 years) to books and reading with engaging stories, songs, and activities.  “Mother Goose Time,” on most Thursday mornings at 10:30, will be a program for babies and toddlers filled with songs, rhymes, stories, and movement.  All of our storytimes encourage language development, socialization, and fun and will take place in the Raytheon Room.  We ask that parents and care givers participate in the storytime activities with their children.  For more information, contact the Youth Services Department at 508-358-2308.

 

Help us get ready for the upcoming Friends of the Library Book and Bake Sale on April 27-29.  The book sale supports the library and allows us to offer many valuable programs such as our museum pass program and summer reading for kids.  Donate your used books to the Friends of the WPL by bringing them to the lower lobby of the library and placing them in the designated bins.

Frank smith’s Classical Studies series will continue on Thursday afternoons (1-3 p.m.) through April 5.  The series takes us to Italy in the 1300’s, the century of transition from the medieval era to the dawn of the Renaissance.  Attendees are asked to acquire and read The Decameron by Boccaccio (Penguin Classics, 2nd edition, translated by G.H. McWilliams).

 

On Monday, March 26, at 7:00 p.m., Sandy Slavet, M.Ed. and Katherine Provost, M.B.A. will present a program on housing and residential services for adults with disabilities.  Sandy will provide an overview of what parents can expect regarding housing opportunities for adult children with disabilities.  She is the director of the Disabilities Resource Network of Jewish Family & Children’s Service where she provides information and referral services for individuals, family members and providers of services for people with disabilities. 

Katherine, the Family Self Sufficiency Program Coordinator at the Wayland Housing Authority, will discuss affordable housing options for adults with disabilities living in Wayland and surrounding towns.  She will outline the process, timeline and housing options available. 

 

Matt Amory, computer specialist and reference librarian, will demonstrate locating, downloading, reading, listening to, and returning e-content on a variety of devices, including Kindle and Nook.  Feel free to bring your own device, though we may not have time to work through all questions.  Looking forward to seeing you there!  Wednesday, March 28, at 7 p.m. in the Raytheon Room.  Look for similar trainings the last week of each month!