Ten-Four, 1040

While They Last
The much sought-after 1040 booklets have arrived. Click here for a pep talk from the IRS about filing or here for information about other forms affected by last December's legislation.

Also see our earlier post for clicks and links to federal forms, publications, and taxpayer assistance sites.

For downloadable State of Connecticut tax forms, click here.

Books for Kids : Find Your Zone @ your library

The Marvels of Time Travel
Another Whole Nother Story by Dr. Cuthbert Soup blends great humor, superior invention, silly history, and a government spy chase all into one book. Meet Mr. Cheeseman and his family as they travel back in time to try to undo their family curse. They hit some bumps along the way, literally!

Read this book if you liked :
A Whole Nother Story by Dr. Cuthbert Soup
Ricky Ricotta series by Dav Pilkey
Falling In by Francis O'Roark Dowell
The Ghostwriter Secret by Mac Barnett

Chocolate, Toffee, and Sugar....Oh, My!
Candymakers by Wendy Mass is a book for your senses. The author describes a candy factory, where a candy competition is going to take place, with such delicious accuracy you may want to eat the book! The book follows four contestants who must come up with the best new candy to win this ultimate sweet challenge!

Read this book if you liked :
The Talent Show by Dan Gutman
The Gollywhopper Games by Jodi Feldman
The Candy Corn Contest by Patricia Reilly Giff


More Book News
To find out more about new books for kiddos, check our "New Arrivals" section located next to the reference desk in the Children's Services area. You might also like to read or subscribe to Book News Newsletters. Click here for younger readers or here for older readers.

Newsletters are updated by the 15th of each month if not before. Book News is also a featured tab on the library's facebook page.

Let's All Hula!

Think Warm...
The National Weather Service forecasts mostly sunny skies for Saturday, February 19th and temperatures approaching 40 degrees. If this sounds more weather friendly than what we have all experienced this winter, come on down to the library and celebrate the coming of spring!

Make a Hawaiian Splash @ your library

Join us for a culturally-focused program that includes Hawaiian Island info and a dance lesson! Tiare Kahana presents; she has studied hula dancing since childhood and has been teaching hula for 11 years. Click here to register for this free, all-age program. Please do wear your Hawaiian shirts or hula skirts if you have them...

Books for Kids
Hula Lullaby by Erin Eitter Kono

Wolfmen Don't Hula Dance by Debbie Dadey & Marcia Jones

The Belly Book by Joe Harris

Calvin Coconut Series by Graham Salisbury

Junie B., First Grader : Aloha-ha-ha! by Barbara Park

Night of the Howling Dogs by Graham Salisbury

Hawaii by Deborah Kent

Lydia and the Island Kingdom by Joan Holub

Mix 'n Match

Armchair travelers will enjoy the video titled Hawaii : an Island Symphony, located in our travel collection. Try Hula Workout with Kili if you'd like to introduce hula into your exercise routine. Vegan cooks might also like to explore Vegan Fusion World Cuisine.

Online Services

If you are interested in learning more about Hawaii, try AtoZ the USA, an online service offered by your library. Login using your East Hampton Public Library barcode number. You might also like to bookmark the site if you are a business traveler or a student working on a school report about any of our 50 states.

Hobby Corner : Quilting

Designs and How-to Advice
Quilting combines artistic endeavor with creativity. Here's a short list of latest additions to our collection. What better time than this winter to take on a new hobby or hone your existing skills?

Quilters Academy : To take a personal quilting class at home, try Harriet & Carrie Hargrave's two-volume set : freshman year and sophomore year. Each volume uses an easy-to-follow lesson plan format.

Jelly Roll Quilts and More : Color and style join to make an exquisite fashion statement. Author Kimberly Einmo offers clear directions and the gorgeous photos are certainly a plus.

Secrets of Digital Quilting : Quilter Lura Schwarz Smith and photographer Kerby C. Smith together offer advice on using your digital camera to create fabulous, one-of-a-kind printed fabric quilts. A great book for quilters who'd like to step it up a notch.

Simple Shapes, Spectacular Quilts : One of the latest from renowned textile artist Kaffe Fassett. Here, he explains how to use simple geometric shapes to inspire quilt design.

The Practical Guide to Patchwork : Learn how to experiment with different styles and colors for dramatic effect. Author Elizabeth Hartman walks you through twelve projects.

The library also subscribes to the bi-monthly magazine, McCall's Quilting. Each issue offers patterns, DIY instructions, and inspiration for all levels. The magazine balances the needs of quilters using different techniques : piecing, applique, machine or hand-sewn, and everything in between.

Surf's Up
If you're interested in the history of American quilts and quiltmaking, visit the Library of Congress:
Quilts and Quiltmaking in America, 1978-1996 : Enjoy interviews with American quiltmakers by clicking on sound recordings link.
The Quilt Index : Browse an image collection of American quilts by style, time period, pattern and more.

Post by Bev Simmons

Maple Sugaring Season...

A Sure Sign of Spring
In our state, sugaring season starts in early February and extends to late March, depending on the weather. Next time you stop by the library, pick up a copy of the 2011 Guide to Connecticut Sugarhouses; the 2010 version is available online.

Each brochure provides a listing of sugarhouses open to the public; the brochure is organized by county. Two such sugarhouses are located in East Hampton!

About Sugaring
If you are interested in sugaring as a pastime or as a consumer of sugaring's yummy outcomes, here's a short list of books that may be helpful. Two of the listed titles are due for release later this month* :

Backyard Sugarin' by Rink Mann
Sugartime by Susan Carol Hauser
The Maple Syrup Book by Janet Eagleson
Maple Syrup : Farmstand Favorites : Over 75 Farm-Fresh Recipes*
Maple Sugar by Tim Herd*

Books for Kids
Sugaring Time by Kathryn Lasky
Sugaring by Jessie Haas
Sugarbush Spring by Marsha Wilson Chall
Sugar on Snow by Nan Parson Rossiter
Maple Moon by Connie Brummel Crook
Sugar Snow by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Surf's Up
2011 Hebron Maple Festival
Cornell Sugar Maple Research & Extension Program
Maple Syrup Producers Association of Connecticut

At top is a public domain image of Currier & Ives print : Maple Sugaring

Got the February Blues?

Good News! It's a Short Month!
If you've grown weary of shoveling the snow, battling miniature glaciers, and enduring unfriendly weather in general, stop by the library this February and give yourself a break. Programs are scheduled for adults, kids, and families.

Saturday Afternoon Concert
Saturday, February 12, 2 p.m.
'New Folk' group Horizon Blue performs this Saturday. The band is led by award-winning songwriters and multi-instrumentalists Peter & Monique Hill and features Mark Annulli on bass and Jim Henry on resonator guitar.

Songbirds of the Northeast
Thursday, February 17, 1 p.m.
Naturalist John Root will present both recordings and photographs of our native and introduced songbirds. Learn how to recognize these birds by their songs and calls, and discover the roles of vocalization in bird lives.

Make a Hawaiian Splash
Saturday, February 19, 1 p.m.
Think warm and breezy. Think palm trees and soft sand. Think shorts and sandals. If you get the idea, join us for our February vacation 'luau show' featuring hula dancer Tiare Kahana. Program includes a participating sing-along, percussive fun, and a dance lesson! Click here to register.

An Afternoon with the Gillettes
Thursday, February 24, 1 p.m.
Learn more about William Gillette, actor and playwright, best known for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes... and let us not leave out William's beloved wife, Helen. Harold & Theodora Niver perform as the Gillettes.

Just for Kids
Wonderlab, Vacation Week Edition
This simple science program, entitled Otis and the Elevator, is especially for kids age 4 or 5. Work with ropes and pulleys and discover how Otis created the first elevator.

Fribrary Time! What's a Brownfield?
Meet with members of East Hampton's Brownfields Redevelopment Agency to learn more than one answer to this question. If you are in 4th or 5th grade, be prepared to use your computer skills, solve puzzles, and learn a little something about local history.

A Bit of Info for Kids...

Who Knew Homework Could Be Fun?

Need homework help or are you just looking for more info on your favorite topic? Check out Kids InfoBits, a database especially designed for beginning researchers in grades K-5.

Using Kids InfoBits
This database has a kid-friendly feel and offers lots of information about people, places, animals, and other subjects. The search engine uses colorful icons and a subject-tree search to help you find info on topics that most interest you. For example, click on the icon for geography and find subtopics; continue your info exploration from there!

Here are some of the other neat things you can do using Kids InfoBits :

• type in a search term for a more precise or advanced search
• find out how to cite your sources
• learn how to evaluate information on the web
• decide on a topic for a school report
• look up a word in the dictionary.

Access Kids InfoBits
Click here and enter your East Hampton Public Library card barcode number to use the database.

About Kids InfoBits
Access to this database is provided by iCONN, a service of the Connecticut State Library and your local library in partnership with the Department of Higher Education.

Post by Kathleen Sands

Boredom Busters!

The Latest in Wii...
Here's a list 'o games new to the collection; place your reserves.

Boom Blox -- Donkey Kong Country Returns -- Epic Mickey -- Just Dance 2 -- Kirby's Epic Yarn -- Super Mario Galaxy 2.

We'll keep you posted on the next batch, due for arrival within the next 10 days. Games circulate for 14 days; no renewals.

Gamer Magazines
The library subscribes to GamePro and Nintendo Power; great for those looking for tricks and cheats.

News From Our Favorite "Meteorologist"

Punxsutawney Phil Predicts an Early Spring!
Our nation's most famous and so it is claimed, longest living groundhog, today offered spectacular news to anyone who has grown weary of winter. Spring is on its way...

For more information about Groundhog Day, here's a few websites:

The National Weather Service
Groundhog Day (Official site of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club)
National Geographic Daily News

There's Another Groundhog In Agreement
Our state has its own weather predicting groundhog; thank you very much. Link to news about Chuckles VII, CT's "official groundhog" who apparently agrees that spring is near. Of note, the library has a circulating pass to the Lutz Museum in Manchester.

Books and Reading
Click here for a short list of Groundhog Day books for kids.

At the Movies
An amusing article about the Top 10 Groundhog Day Movies, courtesy of Vanity Fair. Click here to find the top 10 in our DVD collection. Oddly enough, all are rated PG.

Mothers and Daughters

"A mother's love for her child is like nothing else in the world. It knows no law, no pity, it dares all things and crushes down remorselessly all that stands in its path." ~ Agatha Christie

Since we're caught in the grip of cold, wintry, and relentlessly stormy weather, books about the more important aspects of our lives can help take the edge off. Here's a few recommendations for moms or their book groups.

Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua

Goodness, gracious; this one sure has helped launch a global debate! So far, local readers say they weren't necessarily sure whether they wanted to phone the authorities or take notes...

Cinderella Ate My Daughter by Peggy Orenstein

How might popular culture influence girls? Listen to a podcast interview with the author courtesy of the Diane Rehm Show, broadcast on public radio station WAMU.

Curse of the Good Girl by Rachel Simmons

The author writes for mothers of middle school girls who, the author proposes, may think it is more important to be liked than to be an individual. Simmons also wrote Odd Girl Out.

Memoirs About Mothers by Daughters

The following might also spark conversation and debate. Click on the title and look to left for a plot summary and book review clicks.

Imperfect Endings by Zoe Fitzgerald Carter

Traveling With Pomegranates by Sue Monk Kidd

The Center of the Universe by Nancy Bachrach

No More Words : A Journal of My Mother, Anne Morrow Lindbergh by Reeve Lindbergh

The Latest for the College Bound

Money and You
We regularly update our collection of books about choosing a college and funding a college education. Though a few others are on their way, latest arrivals on scholarships include:

Best Scholarships for the Best Students
Kaplan Scholarships 2011
Ultimate Scholarship Book 2011
2011 Scholarship Handbook

Surf's Up
For information on grants, student aid, scholarships or planning ahead for the college-bound kiddo(s) in your home, try:
CT State Department of Higher Education
CT Higher Education Trust
FAFSA®
FinAid!®

Surfers Beware
There are many scholarship sites on the web; some front for third party companies who'd love to get to know you. If the web site doesn't give you a clear picture of who is providing the information, walk your mouse away. For help on this topic, consider using your local library card to log in to Consumer Reports for information about college costs, savings plans, money management advisories, and scams in general.

Local Scholarships
A number of local civic, cultural, and sports groups award scholarships to EHHS students. Amounts range from modest to hefty. Check with experts in the EHHS Guidance Office.

Eeew, Yuck, Gross!

Educational, Too...
If you are looking to engage a reluctant reader and raise awareness about health, environmental topics or cultural differences, give any of these eeew books a try. The titles will probably appeal to fans of the Captain Underpants series and are mainly for fun; not school reports.

Sanitation Investigation Series
Each of three books in this series explains the history and science of life's little unmentionables. Though the yuck factor is high, the public and personal health information is very good. (Grades 2-3)

Gross Body Science Series
Plenty of ick to go around but with surprisingly useful lessons about how your body attacks germs and about personal hygiene : brushing your teeth, covering your sneeze, washing your hands. For slightly older readers in grades 4-5.

Extreme Cuisine
Learn about how one person's 'swatable' bug is another person's delicacy. One title with a couple of others on the way. Adults might also like to take a peek at Strange Foods by Jerry Hopkins or Andrew Zimmern's Bizarre Foods show on the Travel Channel.

The Fairies Flew In....

"All the world is made of faith, and trust, and pixie dust." ~ J.M. Barrie (Peter Pan)

This past weekend the library hosted a fairy fair during which we constructed fairy houses which were placed in our illuminated tree. In addition, we enjoyed fairies themed treats and games. We also read great fairy stories! In case you missed the fun, check out these great fairy books:

Younger Readers
Alice the Fairy by David Shannon
You Think It's Easy Being the Tooth Fairy by Sheri Bell-Rehwoldt
The Mud Fairy by Amy Young

Older Readers
The Fairy Rebel by Lynne Banks
The many fairy books in the Rainbow Magic series by Daisy Meadows
The Spiderwick Chronicles by Toni DiTerlizzi (also a movie)
The Night Fairy by Laura Schlitz
Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie (multiple formats plus a biography)

DVDs For Families
Tinker Bell
Peter Pan
Barbie of Swan Lake

Upcoming Events
Click here for latest listing of upcoming events for all ages @ your library.

Post by Kathleen Sands

East Hampton Rotary Club News : FIRST LEGO League Now Forming

Information Forum Scheduled
The East Hampton Rotary Club is offering an open invitation to local kids, ages 9-14, who would like to explore the world of cutting-edge science, technology, and engineering.

If you would like to learn more about how to work as a team to design, build, and program a robot using LEGO bricks, sensors, motors, and gears -- and to use your team robot to solve a real world problem -- meet with program leaders this Friday, January 28th, from 6-7 p.m. in the library's community room. This is a family forum so parents are encouraged to participate.

For overview information click here to download a flier or contact Chris Voelker @ chrisowensvoelker@snet.net

Surf's Up
First Connecticut
Connecticut First Lego League

One, Two, Three, Four...

Tax Time! News About Federal Taxes
You won't find tax forms in your mailbox this year; the IRS eliminated the mailings to help reduce costs.

In 2011, Post Offices and participating libraries (like ours) will be the main distribution points for paper tax forms and instructions. Paper forms sent from the IRS to us may be obtained for free; form holders are set up in the library's lobby. We suggest you call ahead to see which forms and corresponding instruction sets are available.

Other options to obtain tax products, tax preparation, and help with filing tax returns include:

• Download forms and instructions online @ IRS.gov
• Visit an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center.
• Volunteer Income Tax Assistance is available to those who meet certain income restrictions.
• IRS Free File provides options for brand-name tax software or online forms plus electronic filing. For more information, visit IRS Free File on IRS.gov and exercise caution on the 'free' part.

AARP Tax Assistance via the East Hampton Senior Center
Our town's Senior Center annually hosts tax help sessions for those age 60 and over, led by trained and certified AARP Tax-Aide volunteer counselors.

Contact the Senior Center at 860-267-4426 to make an appointment for any of the following dates : Wednesdays, February 2nd and 16th; Tuesdays, March 8th and 29th; or Thursday, April 7th. All appointments take place between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Snow to Shovel and Things to Do...

"Hey Rocky, watch me pull a rabbit out of my hat!" ~ Bullwinkle
With more snow predicted for next week (ugh) plan ahead for family activities, both outdoor and indoor. On the indoor front and absent a rabbit, put some books in your favorite hat; ride out the storm, and have some fun...

Magic Tricks
In before the storm comes a new four-part series of books for young magicians. The series includes tricks for beginner, apprentice, expert and master levels. Many of the tricks call for everyday items you already have in your home; e.g., spoons, pennies, paper bags, etc. Not superb but super for can-do kids and/or reluctant readers.

Related Reading and Viewing
Hee-Haw-Dini and the Great Zambini by Kim Kennedy
The Magic Rabbit by Annette Cate
Night of the New Magicians by Mary Pope Osborne
Enigma : A Magical Mystery by Graeme Base
Igraine the Brave by Cornelia Funke
Escape! : The Story of the Great Houdini by Sid Fleischman
Scooby-Doo! Abracadabra-Doo (DVD)
Small-Scale Magic, Party Tricks and Optical Illusions by Nicholas Einhorn

Healthy Eating

Who Knew a Blender Was a Go-to Gizmo?
By all accounts yesterday's workshop about what a raw foods diet really means was informative, enjoyable, and had a tasty outcome. We thank all who attended and appreciate your taking time out of your busy day to join us. We also thank our presenters, Sioux Wimler and Sabrina Granniss.

Further Reading
If you are interested in learning more, here's a few subject clicks that lead to books; though there will be some overlap in the search results :
Raw foods -- Vegetarian
Vegan -- Natural foods

Related Reading and Viewing

Each of these titles has a different point of view, frequently debated and often hotly so. As always, pick and choose.

Food Matters by Mark Bittman

Harvest of Hope : A Guide to Mindful Eating by Jane Goodall

The China Study by T. Colin Campbell

Food Inc. or King Corn (documentary fims)

Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser

Super Size Me by Morgan Spurlock (documentary film)

The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan

Just Food by James E. McWilliams

Take a Poll!

The library is looking to offer an ongoing series of programs focused on healthy lifestyles. One component of our overall effort will focus on healthy eating. Please take a moment to participate in the first of series of overlapping polls about healthy lifestyle topics that might interest you. Look to the right-hand column on this blog to vote.

Crime Reads from Colder Climates

In from Sweden...
Stieg Larsson's novels haven't yet faded into memory; many are still reading the books or listening to/watching media versions of the author's Millennium Triology. Fans of the series are also asking, when the last page has been turned or the last frame fades to credits, "What are we going to do now?"

Well, good news! Because of Larsson's fantastic success, mainstream publishers have donned their earmuffs and mittens and gone-a-hunting into the wilds of Sweden and Denmark for more mysteries of merit.

What they found was the writing team of Anders Roslund (ex-journalist) and Borge Hellstrom (ex-criminal) who bring us two loosely connected mysteries featuring Det. Supt. Ewert Grens. Like Mikael Blomkvist and Lisbeth Salander, Grens never stops digging.

Try Three Seconds, about an infiltrator who has worked his way into the Polish mafia operating inside the Swedish prison system. Though this one has caught most of the buzz, don't forget Roslund/Hellstrom's earlier novel, Box 21.

Post by Phil Carr

Personal Investing and Finance

Books About Money

Here's a few of the latest and greatest about personal finance and investing in uncertain times. This short list includes popular titles, updated standards, and a few classics.

Common Sense on Mutual Funds

The updated 10th anniversary edition of John C. Bogle's classic.

The Little Book That Still Beats the Market
Joel Greenblatt's updated guide to formula investing.

Debt Free for Life

This one hit the best seller lists last week. Author David Bach's a regular on TV money shows.

Making the Most of Your Money Now

A revised edition of Jane Bryant Quinn's primer on money management.

The Great Reflation

J. Anthony Boeckh, financial advisor and former economics professor, analyzes what happened before 2008 and what will happen in the post-2008 economy. Pair this one with The Big Short by Michael Lewis or Matt Taibbi's Griftopia.

Reclaim Your Nest Egg

Ken Kamen's title matches up well with The Hard Times Guide to Retirement Security by Mark Miller, The Smartest Retirement Book You'll Ever Read by Daniel Solin, or the inelegantly titled Rule Your Freakin' Retirement by Michael Parness.

The Black Swan : The Impact of the Highly Improbable
The older and new edition are both available; the latest includes essay analysis of the 2008 meltdown.

Asset Allocation for Dummies
A guide to lowering your risk, maximizing your gain.

Against the Gods : the Remarkable Story of Risk
Peter L. Bernstein's 1996 title about the history of risk-taking still peppers the must-read lists of radio/TV financial commentators and advice givers.

For the ambitious DIY investor, try the latest on options and commodities trading.

Let It Snow!

Snow Lover's Tool Kit
Today's snow will be with us for a while (we're guessing July); so why not make the best of it? Here's a few suggestions for those who enjoy snow up close and personal or from afar...

Snow Play : How to Make Forts, Slides, Winter Campfires, plus the Coolest Loch Ness Monster and 21 Other Brrrilliant Projects in the Snow by Birgitta Ralston

Best Backcountry Skiing in the Northeast : 50 Classic Ski Tours in New England and New York by David Goodman

Snowboarding Skills : the Back-to-basics Essentials for all Levels by Cindy Kleh

The Snowflake : Winter's Secret Beauty by Libbrecht, Kenneth

It Happened in Connecticut by Diana Rosskin McCain (chapter on 1888 blizzard)

Crazy for the Storm : A Memoir of Survival by Norman Ollestad

For Kids
Owl Moon by Jane Yolen
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
Snowballs by Lois Ehlert
Stranger in the Woods by Carl R. Sams
Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton

Surf's Up
For skiers, check out Ski Central for a listing of CT's ski centers.

Guinness World Record?

Root for Deepika This Saturday @ your library
Take some time this Saturday to support local 12 year-old kiddo and puzzle assembler, Deepika Ravichandran. She's looking to break a Guinness World Record ™ as the youngest and fastest to complete the GWR Hasbro puzzle.

Event starts at 12 noon and goes to 1 p.m. in the library's Community Room. If you would like to attend, please try to be on time and prepare to shush(!).

To learn more about what Deepika's accomplished to get to this point, in GWR's rigorous terms, click here. Also visit Deepika's Active Giving site and give if you can.

See you Saturday...

National Radon Action Month

Healthy Homes
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has again designated January as National Radon Action Month. The Chatham Health District is in turn promoting radon awareness in each of its member towns, via town halls and public libraries. The East Hampton Public Library is a participating site.

Stop by the library and pick up a free radon testing kit; a limited number of no cost kits are available.

Healthy Communities
Please do take time to visit the Chatham Health District's website to learn more about localized public health programs sponsored and forwarded by our town via local area collaboration and District membership.

Fantastic Fiction for Kids

Just Imagine...
Have you ever found yourself hooked on a great series? Then you'll understand why Mehera Beatrice Crosby is devastated to learn her favorite book series will no longer be published. She was waiting for Book 5 forever and now she will not know how everything ended!

Read Imaginalis by J. M. DeMatteis (Abadazad series) to find out if Mehera can answer the call for help and save her favorite book characters!

Other Great Fantasy Books and Series
For fantasy and series fiction fans, we offer a quick recap of popular titles and titles you may have missed along the way. We've noted other series by listed authors that elementary or middle school readers might also enjoy.

Inheart, Inkspell, Inkdeath by Cornelia Funke
The Search for WondLa by Toni DiTerlizzi (Spiderwick Chronicles)
Underland Chronicles by Suzanne Collins (Hunger Games series)
Beast Quest by Adam Blade
Falling In by Francis O'Roark Dowell (Phineas L. MacGuire series)
OZ Series by L. Frank Baum
Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

Post by Kathleen Sands

Altered Art

Finding Your Artistic Voice

If you're at least a tad artsy or interested in paper crafts of a different order, why not explore the wonderful world of altered art? Since you can use everyday objects to create an objet d'art, altered forms are easy on your budget and a great way to recycle. The form doesn't necessarily rely on traditional artists' skills (drawing or painting) but does promote interest in learning more about them.

Here's a short list of titles on or related to the subject plus info on an upcoming library-sponsored workshop:

Altered Art : Techniques for Creating Altered Books, Boxes, Cards & More by Terry Taylor

Altered Books, Collaborative Journals, and Other Adventures in Bookmaking by Holly Harrison

New Directions in Altered Books by Gabe Cyr

Artist Trading Card Workshop : Create Collect Swap by Bernie Berlin

Print Workshop : Hand-Printing Techniques and Truly Original Projects by Christine Schmidt

Upcoming Workshop

Library staff member and altered bookmaker Phil Carr is slated to lead a workshop about artist cards, a form of altered art, on January 13, 1 p.m. Make your own 2½ x 3½" cards during the program using a number of techniques ranging from simple to extravagant. Information on how to participate in worldwide trading card swap groups will also be discussed. Click here to register for this free workshop.

Additional 'How-to' Titles
If you and your kids are interested in engineering, you might like to experiment with pop-up construction projects. More traditional books about bookbinding will also be helpful to undertaking an altered book project.

Happy New Year!

From All of Us to All of You!
Thank you for sharing your family time with us today in a rousing welcome of New Year 2011! New Year's @ Noon sure was fun for our community's littlest party goers. Watch for a short video recap courtesy of the East Hampton-Portland Patch.

First Night Celebrations
If you have not already planned another family-friendly outing for later today, try First Night events in Hartford, Danbury, or Westport.

Cool Apps for Virtual Worlders
If you can't make it to Time's Square, you can live stream the ball drop to your iPhone, iPad or late model android. Also try Party Whistle a cute (but quite possibly annoying) iPhone app; free if you have an iTunes account. For non-drinkers, designated drivers, or people who don't like washing dishes, try IKEA's virtual toast app for the iPhone:



The Twelve Days of Christmas
For fun, since the 12 Days of Christmas are not officially over, we invite you to add your voice to a one-last-time chorus, courtesy of one of our favorite A Cappella groups, Straight No Chaser.