Berne Library Notes for Monday, December 7, 2015
In this age of text messaging, the idea of setting aside a day for writing letters seems bizarre. Yet, Monday, Dec. 7, is National Letter Writing Day.
According to the Smithsonian website, "Letter writing has become something of a lost art in our time, and for any student of history this is a horrible tragedy. This is because our knowledge of the past, of historical people and events, would suffer hugely if we were denied the incredible bounty of the millions of letters that have been sent, and kept, over the centuries."
So write a letter on Monday. Thank a World War II veteran in honor of Pearl Harbor Day, describe your holiday happenings to a friend, or write a memory for your family.
Movie night
Do you have memories of the first “Star Wars” movie that was released in 1977? Reminisce with newer fans during our “Star War” events in December. The first program is Movie Night on Friday, Dec. 4 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Admission is free and refreshments are provided. The film is rated PG and geared for tweens, teens, and adults.
The party continues with subsequent movies on Dec. 13 and 19. The grand Star War Celebration takes place on Saturday, Dec. 19 at 11 a.m. Registration is required for this event which includes games, activities, and prizes. Contact Ms. Kathy by e-mail at or phone at 872-1246 before Monday, Dec. 14. Write a letter to your friends and see if they would like to come with you.
Book discussion
Another method of preserving the past is to tape-record oral history and then transcribe it. This is the technique described in “Boston Girl” by Anita Diamant. Addie Baum is asked by her granddaughter, how she got to be the person she is today. The book club will be discussing this historical novel on Sunday, Dec. 6 at 7 p.m. All adults are welcome.
Read to a dog
Children are invited to read their letters or a book to Ariel, our tail waggin' tutor on Monday, Dec. 7. The dog and her handler Amber will be at the library from 4 to 6 p.m. Children may read aloud for a 15-minute session to a non-judgmental audience; a great way to strengthen literacy skills.
Story time
Pre-literacy skills are developed during story time on Tuesdays. Children ages one to five are encouraged to explore the color red during the program on Dec. 8. Join Ms. Kathy at 10:30 a.m. for stories, red-hot activities, and a craft.
Board meets
The library’s board of trustees meets on Thursday, Dec. 10 to discuss library business. The minutes from all meetings are written for future reference and are available to the public.
Many of our local history books contain copies of letters. German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe said, "Letters are among the most significant memorial a person can leave behind them." Pick up a pen this week and write.