Thanks to Jennifer Kelly, Walpole Library Trustee, I have more information about the new events at the library.  We must have been at our computers at the same time because this came in right after I published “Have You Heard”. – Lil

New night-time book club at the Walpole Library

The Walpole Library’s newest book club is set to meet on June 5^th. The club, which is open to all, is the first to be scheduled during the library’s extended evening hours, making it accessible to patrons who work during the day.

The book for June is Wilkie Collins’ The Woman in White. Multiple copies are available at the library.

The library is also planning to host an additional non-fiction book club, starting this fall.

For more information about either book club, please contact the library at 756-9806 or by email at librarydirector@thewalpoletownlibrary.org.

Save money: New coupon clipping group

A Coupon Group will meet for the first time on Monday June 3rd, from 6:30 to 7:30 at the Walpole Library. Join in to learn how to use coupons to get the best value for your food dollars. The group is open to all, beginner to coupon savant. Call the library (756-3328) for more info.

Survey results: Walpole library a great local resource

In March, the Walpole Town Library conducted a survey to find out why people use and don’t use its facilities. Surveys were distributed at the Walpole Town Meeting, at the library itself, through a school mailing, over the internet and via volunteers in downtown Walpole and at Shaws. In all, 165 people answered the survey.

Though the survey was aimed at both patrons and non-patrons, almost half of the respondents (49%) said that they used the library once or twice a month; another 21% came once or twice a week and 13% visited even more frequently than that. Thirteen percent said that they never used the library.

Write-in comments to the survey were overwhelmingly positive, including, “We are very happy with the library, the staff, EVERYTHING! Thank you,” “Love this resource, true value to our community” and “You’re doing a great job! Couldn’t ask for anything more.”

When asked what prevented them from using the library, however, 13% said inconvenient hours, followed by 8% who had trouble parking. The library expanded its hours last year to remain open until six on weeknights except Friday, but patrons would clearly like to see more evening hours.

“We are seeing a steady growth in patrons during those early evening hours, and we would love to be able to extend our operations to serve people who work during the day,” said Librarian Mary Farrell. However, she added that last year’s extension in hours was paid for out of the library’s existing budget with no additional funding required. Even longer hours might require more money for staff.

The survey also showed that many patrons do not know about all the services that the Walpole Library offers, both off and onsite, including downloadable e-books and audio books, DVDs and videos, foreign language teaching software and periodical databases. “We have to do a better job in letting people know about all the things the library offers,” said Farrell. “It’s not just books anymore.

Great poets at the Walpole Library: Emily Dickinson Night

In April, the Walpole Library hosted its second Great Authors Night, with a reading and discussion honoring Amherst poet, Emily Dickinson.  Librarian Mary Farrell kicked off the evening with a brief recap of Dickinson’s life, while attendees passed around Dickinson collections and read favorite poems. There was a long, animated discussion of Dickinson’s possible epilepsy and how it may have affected her life and writing.

The library hopes to host another author-related gathering in the fall. If you have ideas about a favorite writer or poet, or if you would like more information about the reading series, contact the library at 756-9806 or librarydirector@walpoletownlibrary.com.

 This is what you missed if you didn’t attend the Emily Dickinson Night.