Artstream Studios celebrates their 25th year of student art at RPL

ROCHESTER - The Children's Room's Summer Kickoff is this week! Bring the whole family down for the fun. Also, artstream Studios is celebrating its 25^th year of student art exhibits at the Library! Come view the variety of student art on display.

New Art Exhibit
Artstream Studios celebrates their 25th year of student art at the Rochester Public Library during the month of June. Featured paintings, mixed media works and ceramic pieces from students ages 4 through adults are on display on the first floor. Focus of this exhibit was "self-portrait" for the children and teens, resulting in some expressive mixed media works. The adults worked in personal subject matter from landscapes, still-life and abstract acrylic paintings. Artstream is a studio focused on maintaining a space where students may explore their own ideas through creative process-based lessons and nurturing teaching practices. Artist and best-selling author Susan Schwake and media designer Rainer Schwake are co-owners of artstream which is located at the Salmon Falls Mills in Rollinsford, NH. Visit www.artstreamstudios.com or call 603-516-8500 for more information.

The Rochester Public Library Children's Room has a new outdoor play table filled with objects to encourage creative play. It will be outside on Tuesdays and Fridays (weather permitting) from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Main Floor Display
Pride Month: Celebrate Pride Month with the array of titles we have on display in honor of diversity and inclusiveness of the LGBTQIA community.
Lighthouse Program
Join us for the "New England Lighthouses and the People Who Kept Them" program on Tuesday, June 21, at 3 p.m. in the Community Room. Jeremy D'Entremont will tell the history of New England's historic and picturesque lighthouses primarily focusing on the colorful and dramatic stories of the lighthouse keepers and their families. To register please visit the Main Desk or call (603)332-1428 ext. 2. Questions? Email Abby at Rplreference@rochesternh.net
Children's Room
Oceans of Possibilities Summer Reading Program kickoff!
Join us outside on the lawn for ice cream, a StoryWalk®, a visit with RPD Community Engagement Officer, Brandon Kimbrough and our summer shark mascot. Be sure to have your picture taken in our Ocean themed photo booth. Stop by anytime Wednesday, June 15 from 2:30 - 4:00 p.m.! Should inclement weather occur we will have a smaller event inside the Children's Room.
Outdoor Play Table
Children's Room Librarian, Christina, shares: "Last winter, as the Children's Room worked to bring back in-person programming, we started a 'Stay & Play' program for toddlers and preschoolers to play and socialize after Story Time. Before Covid, we took socializing for granted. The value of Stay & Play was quickly recognized by families with young children. As the weather became warmer, it made sense to incorporate outdoor play. The library staff began working with team members from the University of New Hampshire's Play-based Learning and Coaching team to create a mobile play cart that would provide play opportunities for families.
The cart will be in the garden on Tuesdays and Fridays (weather permitting) from
10 a.m.- 3 p.m. and will contain a rotating variety of nature and STEM supplies, loose parts and miscellaneous items, household goods, as well as large motor skill items. Children are encouraged to explore, be creative, enjoy the supplies and items, and socialize."
Families are encouraged to bring a blanket or chair and use the garden, sidewalk, and back lawn for play space. Although the staff cannot be outside at all times, we are available to answer questions. The Children's Room has plenty of garden windows and the staff looks forward to seeing families enjoy the cart.
The Children's Room will host the UNH team this fall for a parenting program focusing on Play-based Learning. Date and time to be announced. In the meantime, if you would like more information please visit their website, https://chhs.unh.edu/early-childhood.
*This activity is supported by the Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five Initiative (PDG B-5), Grant Number 90TP0060, from the Office of Child Care, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Adult Summer Reading Program
Our Adult Summer Reading Program is for anyone 18+. It's a free program that earns you tickets to be entered into a raffle. The program will begin on June 13 and will end on July 29. Participants must register on the Beanstack website or download the app. The first 50 participants will receive an Oceans of Possibilities tote bag! You can read anything and everything. Just remember to log your minutes to receive raffle tickets.
Beanstack Logging: We will use Beanstack again for logging minutes read. Register on the website rplnhreads.beanstack.org or download the Beanstack App on the Play or App store. Log what you read and be eligible to win prizes. The program will run for 7 weeks, ending Friday, July 29. All children aged 2 and up are welcome regardless of their reading abilities or any other limitations. If you have any questions, please ask us.
Learn Beanstack: If you missed our intro class, but still want to learn how to use Beanstack, feel free to call and make an individual tech-help appointment for another time. Call the Main Desk at 603-332-1428 ext. 2 or email rplreference@rochesternh.net.
Staff Recommendations
Main Desk Librarian, Emily, has some great recommendations to share. "Bellweather Rhapsody is an excellent book which was recommended to me through a friend, and I wanted to return the favor and recommend it to others! A murder-suicide plagued the Bellweather hotel fifteen years ago, and now a young prodigy has gone missing from the same hotel room. A little bit of murder mystery and a little bit of comedy that features the platonic love between siblings and the importance of caring for your neighbor and fellow humans." She also recommends the DVD House of Gucci. She also recommends the DVD House of Gucci. "Since I am a huge fan of both Adam Driver and Lady Gaga, I loved this movie and was shocked by the ending (mainly because I had not known about the Gucci story). A tale of love, betrayal, and the consequences of when one's ego becomes too big to contain."
RPL Animated Recommendations
Main Desk Librarian (and syndicated cartoonist) Stephanie and Main Desk Librarian, Karyl, have created a series of weekly animated videos recommending book, DVD and other titles available at the Library and featuring all new summer themed animations. Check them out on our website, Facebook and Instagram accounts.
Tech Help
Having problems with a new smartphone or tablet? Want help setting up Libby or hoopla so you can read or listen to free ebooks and audiobooks? Emerging Technology Specialist, Jessica, is here to help you if you need it! Give us a call to make an appointment at 603-332-1428 or RPLReference@rochesternh.net.
Contacting RPL
Please note that the library open hours are: Monday-Wednesday 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Thursday-Saturday 9:00 a.m.-5:00pm
Visit the Library's website: https://rpl.lib.nh.us/
Email the reference librarian Rplreference@rochesternh.net.
Message us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rplnh/ or https://www.facebook.com/RPLChildrensRoom