Spread your artistic wings: 'You can draw this' class will get you off the ground

ROCHESTER - The Lazy Gardener is back with more advice for gardeners of all abilities. Also, Kait has some more recommendations, this time short story collections, for anyone looking for something new to try.

You can draw this!

Coming up soon, next Saturday at 2 p.m., you can join us for an online art event with Freelance Illustrator Chelsea Kirchoff. "You Can Draw This" is a 2D drawing-based class focusing on simple techniques combined with an encouraging and relaxing atmosphere to take artistic chances. Anyone is welcomed to join regardless of background/previous drawing experience. It will be a *LIVE* Webex event. This hour-long workshop is free but registration is required. You can register by emailing us at RPLReference@rochesternh.net

The only supplies you'll need to participate are: a few sheets of printer paper, pencil, something with a straight edge to make straight lines (ruler or cardboard or a book; whatever is around).

The Lazy Gardener

This is a great time of year to notice nature, or wildlife, in the garden. Sometimes you can see animal footprints or other signs. They can tell a story of what's happening in your garden.

Even though our bird feeders are down this spring, many species still visit the garden to browse the seeds this Lazy Gardener has left for them. The rudbeckia patch is frequented.

There are some citizen science projects aimed specifically at birds through the Cornell Lab of Ornithology at: https://www.birds.cornell.edu/citizenscience.

Most are free just requiring the creation of an account with a login and password. One account can access all the different project platforms.

This great article Citizen science is booming during the Covid-19 pandemic from Vox:

https://tinyurl.com/2p5bephs talks about several different projects you can do right from home, transcribing historical weather records, backyard astronomy and collecting data from right where you are.

Citizen Science can be a great way to participate in nature from your own backyard if you are like me and not quite ready to jump all the way into tending to the garden just yet.

Be A Friend

The RPL Needs YOU! If you love the Library and want to help in various fundraising and other projects, then consider joining the Friends of the Library! Contact us at rplfriends@gmail.com FMI!.

Friends of the Library Book Club

The Friends of the Library book group will meet the second Monday of each month at 1 p.m. out on the lawn. It is open to the public and will meet outside monthly until it is possible to bring the group back inside the library. Please bring your own chair or we can provide one for you. The next meeting is June 14th and the selection this month is Waking Up White by Debby Irving. Books are available for curbside pickup by calling 603-332-1428 ex. 2. If you have any questions, please give us a call or email us at RPLBookGroup@gmail.com.

Upcoming dates and titles to mark on your calendar:

July 12th: The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck

August 9th: My Life in France by Julia Child

Kait Recommends

Children's Room Librarian, Kait, shares a new list:

"Today I'd like to share some of my favorite anthologies with you! Sometimes the world is just too overwhelming for a full novel, and that's when short stories like these are perfect!"

A Tyranny of Petticoats edited by Jessica Spotswood

Vampires Never Get Old edited by Zoraida Cordova

That Way Madness Lies edited by Dahlia Adler

Every Body Shines edited by Cassandra Newbould

A Universe of Wishes edited by Dhonielle Clayton

Unbroken edited by Marieke Nijkamp

It's a Whole Spiel edited by Katharine Locke

Toil & Trouble edited by Tess Sharpe

All Out edited by Saundra Mitchell

Here We Are edited by Kelly Jensen

hoopla Bonus Borrows

hoopla Bonus Borrows are back from May 1 - 31! Patrons can choose from hundreds of titles in the hoopla Bonus Borrows collection. How it works: When a patron borrows an Instant Bonus Borrows title it will not count against their 5 borrow limit for the month of May.

Children's Room

We are busy getting ready for our Summer Reading Program! This year's theme will be Tails & Tales. All Rochester students will receive an informational flyer closer to the start of the program. You can sign up for our newsletter online (http://bit.ly/rplchnewsletter) to get updates on the Summer Reading Program and more sent directly to your email.

Finding Music

We have a lot of music CDs of all genres, and we just made it easier to find one of our collections. We recently created a Hip Hop / Rap section and will be adding new titles over the next few months.

Expanded Hours

We have expanded our Pick-Up and 45 minute Browsing hours for your convenience. Our hours are:

Monday and Wednesday: 10:00 -12:00 and 1:00-7:00

Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: 10:00 -12:00 and 1:00-5:00

Saturday: 9:00 -12:00 and 1:00-4:00

Walk-In Appointments Welcome

Sometimes you just need to grab something to read, watch or listen to and happen to be near the Library but forgot to make a browsing appointment. Don't let that stop you! Just drop by the Greeter's Station and we'll see how we can accommodate you.

Visiting Appointments

Make an appointment to visit the Library to browse the shelves, read the newspapers or use a computer. Call 332-1428 extension 2 to set up an appointment.

RPL-To-Go is always available for anyone uncomfortable choosing books in person. You can request books, DVDs, music CDs, audiobooks and even magazines. Just place items on hold in our catalog, call 603-332-1428 ext. 2, or email us at rochesterlibrary.togo@gmail.com with your requests.

Contacting RPL

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 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rochesterpubliclibrarynh