Native American Program at the Library

The Hubbardston Public Library is proud to present:

"In 1621, the Wampanoag of New England negotiated a treaty with Pilgrim settlers. A half-century later, as a brutal war flared between the English and a confederation of Indians, this diplomatic gamble seemed to have been a grave miscalculation."

From the award-winning PBS series American Experience comes We Shall Remain, a provocative multi-media project that establishes Native history as an essential part of American history. Episode 1: After the Mayflower premieres on PBS Monday, April 13 at 9 pm on WGBH, Channel 2.

Come in on Tuesday, April 7 at 6:30 pm for a 30-minute video preview event! Then, join us again on Friday, April 17 at 7 pm to meet Principle Cast Member Annawon Weeden and discuss the series and all things Wampanoag. This program is FREE.

About Annawon Weeden: (Mashpee Wampanoag), Actor, "King Philip"

Annawon Weeden, named after the last Wampanoag war chief to surrender during King Philip*s War, began performing with his family during his early years. Since then he has become a father, activist, tribal mentor, artist, singer, dancer, model and actor. His work has been featured at the Haffenreffer Museum, Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, the Smithsonian and the Boston Children's Museum, and he has appeared in numerous publications including National Geographic. Currently, he is an educator working at schools and museums but also spends much of his time volunteering cultural services for his tribe. As an actor, he has appeared in films on the Discovery Channel, PBS, and most recently in Journey to 10,000 B.C. for the History Channel.

For more information about the series, visit: PBS. To learn more about Annawon, visit his site at http://www.myspace.com/annawon.

This program is supported in part by a grant from the Hubbardston Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

Upcoming Book Discussions

Here are the book titles and discussion dates for the remainder of the spring. We'll take a break for summer!

• April 7 I, Robot by Isaac Asimov
• May 12 American Gods by Neil Gaiman (May 5 is Town Election Day)
• June 2 The Invention of Air by Steven Johnson (nonfiction)

"How Can We Help?"

We've had several inquiries regarding statements made by the Select Board (as reported in the Gardner News last Thursday) in relation to the Library's budget. The paper stated that the Library is in agreement with a lower, bare minimum budget to fund next fiscal year (beginning July 1, 2009). The Select Board further stated support of a citizens petition to present an override ballot question to make up the difference.

It is believed that the citizens petition was meant to be a safety net in the event the town did not have the funds to meet the Library's budget request. As stated by Finance Committee members, the funds to fully meet the Library's needs will be available beginning in July. Fully funding the Library means re-certification in 15 months with a possible appeal option even sooner!

The Library is NOT in support of the split budget - part contingent on an override, part funded through current tax base. It is the Library's request that full funding be restored without an override.


Conversations with Select Board members have provided some insight on this "plan" however, the Library still does not support this approach. To date, there are no other overrides being presented this year.

Patrons have been asking how they can help support full funding of the Library. First and foremost, they can help by contacting the Select Board members and telling then how you feel. Letters to the Select Board can be sent to hubselectboard@charterinternet.com. The Library Trustees will be on the Monday, March 30 Select board Meeting agenda to discuss the funding of the Library. Feel free to join us - all Select board meetings are open to the public.

Secondly, please tell friends and neighbors to support the Library at Annual Town Meeting.

Last and most importantly, thank you for your continued support - we are operating a bare-bones, stand-alone Library funded through donations only at this time. Our patrons have made a huge difference in the past 9 months and we believe they can influence our future.

Art Meets Poetry at the Library

Saturday, March 21, 10-11:30 am

Teaching artist Renee Malowitz and creative writing instructor Rhonda Hamer join to provide an all ages project combining poetry and art.

Community members are invited to come together in a relaxed setting and create simple yet beautiful art.

Participants will make a paper of their own design and then write as well as pen their own poem using calligraphy markers.

The two will combine to create laminated book marks suitable to give as gifts or mark a page in a favorite book.

Call the Library and leave a message to register.

This program is FREE. Donations are encouraged and will go directly to supporting the Library.

This program is supported in part by a grant from the Hubbardston Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

March Book Discussion

Sorry for the late posting of this one but it took some time to get some books. We'll be reading J.D. Salinger's coming-of-age classic The Catcher in the Rye. It is a quick read - good thing because we meet Tuesday, March 3! The Library now has a readers group set of 5 copies plus the one circulating copy. If you read fast, stop in Monday to pick up a copy for Tuesday night's discussion.

Tells Us What You're Looking For

With the recent loss of certification, many patrons have expressed concern about not being able to get the books they really want to read, some to the point of deeming the Hubbardston Library's collection as "less than desirable." If there is something you are lookig for, let us know. We can't get what you need if we don't know what that is.

Currently the Library has a small budget and a very small trust account both specifically for the purchase of new materials. We are also accepting donations of gently used books and DVDs. We'll be creating and posting a list of patron requests as well; stop by and see if there is anything on the list collecting dust at your house that you might consider donating (receipts can be provided upon request). We'll post that list here as we begin to get requests.

The outrage and disgust expressed by patrons caused by the loss of certification is understandable. We love libraries and loss of library privileges is certainly something to be upset about. But that love needs to start at "home" - love your hometown library (right now, its the only one we've got!)

March-ing On

Despite the recent loss of certification, we are still a library, still open and still conducting business as usual to the best of our ability.

The Adult Book Discussion Group still plans to meet on the first Tuesday of each month. March's selection is JD Salinger's Catcher in the Rye. We'll be meeting on Tuesday, March 3 at 7 pm in the Library. The Library currently only has access to one copy of this book so if you have it on your shelf to either read, loan or donate, please let us know!

Check back soon for other programs for adults, children and families!