Thanks for all the goodies!

Book donations...The other day, I walked into the book shed where we sort and pack books, DVD/CDs, tapes and records for the January and In Library Book Sales, thinking I had a few spare minutes to help out.  I did a double-take:  plastic bins, cardboard boxes, and paper bags were piled high, and three hours later, just as I was down to the last book, in came yet another bag full!
Our Brown Library Friends certainly know how to answer a call!  Last month we mentioned here and in our newsletter that we needed more book donations to make our biggest fundraiser of the year the great success it always has been, and since then, you've responded generously.  Keep them coming!  As much work as it means for Sharon Johnston, Susan Schwing, Teresa Crozier and the other volunteer sorters and packers, we heartily thank you! 

Volunteering...If you'd like to volunteer to help with the January sale, be sure to find Katie Lake, between now and early January.  She will be glad to add your name to the long list of old- and new-timers who have come out to make the Washington Civic Center a veritable book treasure hunt.  All you have to know is the alphabet!

Fall Means More Books for the Friends!

Mark your calendars! 

FRIENDS JANUARY BOOK SALE

January 23-26, 2014

It's not only school children going back to the books.  Fall sets the Friends to browsing and reading, and also collecting books, CDs and DVDs, donating them for our January Book Sale.  We ought to call it the Friends January Extravaganza, for as one avid reader told us at our book tables at the Saturday Market, "I wait all year for your January weekend of books!  I'm there every single day to cart away bags full of my favorite authors!" 
Donating Books:  We're always glad to hear from our fans, and even  happier to have an opportunity to remind everyone that this is a good time of year to donate their old books, too.
Ginny Warren, Bettyanne Dicken and other volunteers have been working all year sorting and boxing what's already come in, but we can always use more.  As our friend at the Market said the other day, "The more the better to choose treasures from!"
To Donate Books, simply bring them to Brown Library and put them in the basket just inside the front doors before the Circulation Desk.  If you have boxes of them and need assistance, ask for Perry, who helps us manage the donated books and is usually available in the mornings.
Each book we sell, summer or winter, gets translated into new and better materials, equipment, furnishings--and yes, books!--for Brown.

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Thanks!  Summer's fading, but not before we thank all our patrons for the 2013 Summer Book Sale at Saturday Market on the waterfront in downtown Washington.  We have a few Saturdays more to offer our great book bargains, so come down and take your pick until early October.
Let's also take this time to give great thanks to Diane Giffin, who coordinates the sale and gathers the many generous volunteers who come out to attend our tables each week from April through October, quite an organizational feat.  We wouldn't want this to get around too much, but, actually, volunteering at the Summer Sales is fun!  Readers line up to see our selections and chat about what they've read; sipping cold coffee, we wave to marketing friends and catch up on neighborhood gossip.  (Oh, and we sell lots of books, too...)  What could be a better way to spend a few hours on a Saturday morning in summer?  If you'd like to volunteer for next year's Summer Sale, just send Diane a note at dgiff.diane@gmail.com. No experience necessary--we'll train you on the spot.

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We Never Take Reading for Granted  Pairing up with the Literacy Volunteers of Beaufort County, the Friends are co-sponsoring Craven County native EARL MILLS, who will read from his book of poetry, From Illiterate to Poet.  Join us on Sunday October 6, 2013, 2-4 pm at Wesley Hall in the First United Methodist Church, West Second Street in Washington. 
Mills' story is one we all need to listen to, especially those of us who take reading and education for granted.  Mills graduated from high school in 1971, but he couldn't read beyond a second grade level, something only his wife of 39 years knew.  One night he was called on to read at his church.  His heart sank.  He tried to think of some excuse:  "I couldn't find my glasses.  I stumbled through every word."
Then he discovered the Craven County Literacy Volunteers, and at 48, he read his first book.  A whole world opened to him, and since then he has read more than 70 books and novels, and written over 40 poems.  Like many people the Literacy Volunteers (pictured below) help, he found the gift of reading in himself. 

Our fall program is free and open to the public.

 

Congratulations Nancy Nash - State Wide Volunteer of the Year WINNER!

Nancy Nash selected Volunteer of the Year for Work with

Friends of the Brown Library

            Nancy Nash, who, with her husband Dave (whom we have written about in this very blog earlier this year), brought to life a fledgling group and shaped it into the vibrant Washington organization it is today, has been honored with a Frannie Ashburn Volunteer of the Year Award from the statewide Friends of NorthCarolina Public Libraries (FONCPL).

            Nominated by the directors of Friends of the Brown Library here in Washington for her long and passionate commitment, Nash received her award Saturday, October 27 at the FONCPL annual meeting in Greensboro.  Although Dave passed away in 2011, Nancy is still active on the Friends Board, continuing to take charge of volunteer coordination for one of the most important activities of the Friends’, their annual January Book Sale, which she initiated two dozen years ago.

            The State organization of Friends was clearly impressed with the Nashes’ story, which illustrates the impact that individual volunteers can have on a community.  After Dave and Nancy retired from Connecticut in the 1980’s, they looked for ways to serve their new town.  One day they were handed a box of paper slips; the small parcel constituted the Friends of the Brown Library. 

            

The Nashes, working as a team, were charmed by Washington and Beaufort County, and soon found both newcomers and natives who responded enthusiastically to their call.  Nancy became the new president of the Friends, with Dave bringing publicity support.  Their projects drew the attention of state and local representatives and funding for the expansion of the library followed.

            

In her tenure with the Friends, Nancy Nash has worked miracles to keep public attention on library needs, but the four-day Friends’ Annual Book Sale was the shining case in point for her award.  The Nashes began the BookSale with two tables between the stacks in the old library and offered discarded library books to patrons.  They made $40 that first year.  Soon growing out of that space, they headed for an empty shoe store in the mall.  That year, they made $400. It wasn’t long before they began filling the Washington Civic Center each January with up to 25,000 donated books, CDs and DVDs, taking in $20,000 for Brown Library’s necessities, from furnishing, shelving and materials to children’s programs and computer equipment.  The entire effort is volunteer run and requires the whole year to prepare. 

            

In her award speech, Frannie Ashburn, former state librarian for whom the award was named last year, also admiringly cited Nash’s involvement with the Washington Garden Club which built on library grounds a quiet garden of seasonal flowers, a pergola and benches, a pleasant place to relax and read in nice weather.  The Friends appropriately named the garden after the Nashes.

Saturday Farmer's Market Book Sales

Have you ventured down to the farmer's market 

on the Washington Waterfront yet?  

Lil' Washington's Saturday Market

Our Book Booth

Each Saturday morning from 8AM until Noon vendors set up booths

of fresh local and organic veggies, fruit, home baking and preserves,

plants, hand crafts and wood working to sell to our community.  

Friends Of The Brown Library volunteers are there too!  We set up 

and sell used books at a deep discount.   A lot of our friends come

 weekly to return the books they bought on previous Saturdays to sell 

again and then pick out a few more.  

Mmmm Books

Book donations can be made to the Brown Library during 

regular library hours.

Hard Backs for $2.00!

If you would like to volunteer on Saturdays please 
send us a note and we would love to have you!  It's 
always a good morning out at the market meeting up 
with old friends and meeting new ones.  


We hope to see you out!

Children's Programs At The Brown Library

The Friends of Brown Library are once again thrilled to announce our support of The Children's Summer Reading Program!

Terry Rollins, Storyteller and Children's Librarian at The  Brown Library has designed a wonderful program for the  Washington NC, and surrounding area's children.  The program offered throughout the summer will include;  story telling, programs with entertainers, art and crafts  and there will be some terrific prizes for the  children who read the most books over the summer! Terry Rollins is one of the leaders of the Historic Washington  Ghost Walk and the Hoofprints ghost story concert in Bath.   He brings a wealth of experience in story telling. Last summer  during the Summer Reading program, Terry held the kids captive  with his wonderful story of Black Beard.    Terry is the co-founder of the North Carolina Storytelling Guild  and a member of the local Inner Banks Storytellers Group. He has  years of experience performing for audiences of all ages in  schools, libraries, bookstores, museums and festivals from  North Carolina to Canada.  We are so pleased Terry is a valued member of our Library!   A FULL schedule of the Summer Reading Events  will become available in MAY. Please stop by the blog often as we keep you apprised of coming events. The Brown Library offers a weekly story time: Tuesdays: 11:15 AM  0-3 year olds                11:30 AM 4 years and up Terry Rollins sings with the children.

Celebrating Dr. Seuss' Birthday at Story Time.

Terry reading to the  0-3 year olds

Mr. Raccoon is a frequent visitor to story time!

The children line up to feed Mr. Raccoon

Each child has a little one on one visit with Mr. Raccoon.

Friends of library hosts award-winning author

Friends of library hosts award-winning author

Published 7:28pm Thursday, February 16, 2012

Email  Comments

Shape-shifters, witches and vampires, oh my. They’re hot sellers these days — in books, on TV, in the movies. The dark, fantasy genre appeals to many, but confounds many more. So what’s the draw? In regards to young-adult fiction, author Leslie Connor has a few ideas.

“I think these are the readers that are often going through a period of struggle for acceptance,” she explained via email. “They may feel ‘other than’ in some way or another — or want to. An alternative world can offer an escape into a place where outcasts shine, and become heroes, find love.”

Though fantasy is not Connor’s genre, the “other-than” facet of preteen and teen life resonates with the author and has led to four published novels and national recognition for “Waiting for Normal.” In 2009, the novel about “a girl’s giant spirit as she seeks stability amid a broken family” won the Connecticut Book Award and the American Library Association’s Schneider Family Book Award.

“Personally, I was stressed out all through junior high. I feel as though I didn’t so much chose the genre as it chose me,” wrote Connor.

Friends of Brown Library has chosen Connor to spend Saturday afternoon in the gallery of the Washington Civic Center signing books, reading from her work, and talking with children, parents, and grandparents.

For the Ohio native who grew up in upstate New York, the event represents Connor’s first visit to eastern North Carolina, though she is no stranger to presenting her work in schools and libraries, as well as leading creative writing workshops.

“It’s a significant part of my work,” Connor explained.

“(Connor) is a charming and lucid purveyor of the ways to children’s hearts and minds through stories,” wrote Rachel Mills, president of Friends of Brown Library.

Friends of Brown Library, the organization that provides special programming to library-goers throughout the year, specifically sought out a young-adult novelist for the occasion, in hopes of exploring the disparity in the teen reading tastes of yore and the lure of fantasy today, according to Mills.

“I think it’s fine and healthy reading,” Connor said of the genre. “In the best of the vampire/fantasy books, the reader is following characters that must demonstrate positive traits to overcome troubles.”

Connor mentions J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books as an example, a series thought by many to have leapt the generational divide — and made it cool in school to actually be seen with a book.

As for the generational gap in pop-culture tastes, Connor brings up the bemusement of older generations with Beatlemania in the early 1960s.

“I don’t think the parents of the Beatlemania generation understood what all the screaming was about — not at the time,” she said. “Of course, it’s obvious now!”

Friends of Brown Library will host Connor in the Washington Civic Center Gallery at 2 p.m. Saturday. The event is open to the public.

Written By: Vail Stewart Rumley for the Washington Daily News

Linky Love.

NEW DVD and CD Return

The Friends of Brown Library are pleased to present the newly acquired drive/walk up DVD & CD return.  You can now deliver borrowed music and movies after-hours back to the library.  

A library member dropping off DVD.

Taaaa Daaaa! Our newest addition. 

Spring Has Sprung

In the Friends Of Brown Library Garden

Leslie Connor - GUEST AUTHOR coming to Washington NC!

Leslie Connor 

Author of children’s and young adult books, will be the guest author of

Friends of the Brown Library! 

WHERE?

Washington Civic Center, Washington NC 

WHEN?

Saturday, February 18, 2012 

at 2 P.M.  

Grandparents, parents and children will all want to meet this award-winning and inspiring writer.  Leslie will read from her books and share with us the roots of her stories.  How did each story come about?  Who does she draw on for character inspirations?  Do any of the characters exist in real life?  Plenty of time will be allowed for conversation with the author.

Leslie Connor 

Leslie’s “tween” book, Waiting for Normal, is a story about one girl’s giant spirit as she seeks stability amid a broken family. 

The novel won the 2009 Connecticut Book Award, the American Library’s Association’s Schneider Family Book Award, and appears on many state medal reading lists.

For upper middle graders, Leslie’s title Crunch is about children of today caught in a gas crunch reminiscent of the 1970’s. Dewey Marriss and his siblings are “home alone” and trying to keep the family’s bike repair business running when their parents are stranded by the fuel outage. Crunch appears on several prestigious book lists.  

A picture book, Miss Bridie Chose a Shovel, also a Connecticut Book Award winner, and the International Reading Association’s prize for primary fiction, is the story of a young immigrant woman’s life in America. 

A young adult book, Dead on Town Line, rounds out Leslie’s publishing accomplishments.

 Mark your calendars for February 18, 2012 when Leslie, from Madison, CT., will be visiting Washington, North Carolina! 


The cost for the program is $5.00 
or 
FREE with a membership to Friends Of The Brown Library




Memberships can be purchased at the door for $15.00 per family per year and entitle the family to attend ALL of the programs offered by Friends of the Brown Library.

Two Who Made FRIENDS of The BROWN LIBRARY Happen

A Tribute to Dave and Nancy Nash

Ever wonder how Friends of the Brown Library got its start? If we trace its roots as near the beginning as we can get, we find ourselves at the door of the Washington Women’s Club, and Eleanor Rollins, who 23 years ago had the brilliant idea to encourage two newcomers to Washington, Dave and Nancy Nash, to get involved. Since then, for more than twenty years, the Nashes have been the keystone of the Friends. They were handed a mission and have worked hard and long to build it into the sustaining community of volunteers we are today.

“After Dave retired and we moved here from Connecticut, I looked for a way to meet people and get involved in the community,” Nancy told us one afternoon in her cozy river-view house. “Volunteering was something both Dave and I had done for years in our previous lives, and we knew it was a good way to settle into our new town.”

When Eleanor approached them, Nancy said, she simply handed her a box of paper slips, and told her it was the Friends of the Library! We’ve come pretty far out of that box since then, and we have both Nashes to thank for that progress.

“We found that people were really responsive,” Nancy continued, especially the many transplants from other places who had, like the Nashes, been charmed by Washington and Beaufort County. Public response was so high, in fact, that Howard Chapin, then our representative, got some State money to help expand the library.

The Nashes worked as a team. They threw themselves into the project, rousing enthusiasm for library needs. Dave, who always prided himself on being a writer—“he was a stickler for grammar, especially!” Nancy remembers—was also a great storyteller. He pushed Nancy to be the new president of the Friends, promising that he would keep notes, write articles, and drum up publicity for the Friends. Using his two great talents to get the word out, Dave also started this very newsletter, and he kept it lively until just a few years ago, when health problems nudged him to the side. This spring he sadly passed away, but his enthusiasm is still felt among the Friends. The Annual Book Sale is a shining case in point. Even last January, we found Dave walking among the aisles of books talking to his many friends.

When we consider the thousand cases of books we have stored for sale this year, it’s a shock to listen to Nancy talk about their first book sales.

“We began by setting up two tables between the stacks in the old library and offering discarded library books to patrons for small change. We made $40 the first year! Our next space was the old mall on Fifteenth Street, where there was an empty shoe store with nice shelves; our take from that was $400.”

Eventually, they grew into the Civic Center, filling it more and more until there have been as many as 25,000 donated books, making as much as $20,000 for Brown’s necessities, from furnishings, shelving and materials to children’s programs and computer equipment. Nancy still takes charge of organizing the volunteers who set up the sale and act as cashiers and helpers—over 100 willing workers in all.

But that wasn’t their only project. Nancy had also gotten involved in Garden Club—“I don’t know how I got that bug, but I did!”—and even there put forth her own ideas of how to improve life for the library and those who use it. She had seen June Nance build the quiet garden at the hospital, and went to work trying to convince the library trustees to accept a similar garden for the library.

“Persuading them was a struggle!” Nancy laughs, but finally they agreed, and Clay Carter drew up a plan for it. The Garden Club, she says, was really excited to have this good project to work on. Celeste Wood, a great gardener, works on it now, with help from others, keeping the lovely landscape a welcoming place for reading, thinking, resting. Friends of the Library have appropriately named the garden after the Nashes.



Nancy is so pleased to see how their successes have carried on, and how both the Friends and the Brown Library have grown and flourished because of continued community effort. She loves the way the Friends generate ideas and work hard at them. Supporting the library is essential for the welfare of Washington, but it’s also the spirit of fun and togetherness that brings so many out for Friends programs and projects.

Nancy and Dave Nash continue to be our inspirations. Our work is a tribute to their leadership, one with such a long and sustaining vision.

Written By:Rachel V. Mills