September Newsletter

A raffle for Library Card Sign-Up Month, new databases, and a chance to provide ideas and feedback on the library!

September 1, 2023

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Library Director’s Message

Hello!

It’s the beginning of September – summer temps may not be over, but the leaves are rustling as I write this and that sounds like back to school. Do you have everything you need? Bouquet of pencils? Fresh notebook paper? Your library card? Chances are if you are reading this newsletter, your school days are long gone, your bouquet of pencils is now a keyboard, and fresh paper is for grocery lists, but lifelong learning is for every age and your library card is your free access to everything you’ve ever wanted to learn. September is Library Card Signup Month – come in and get your library card (if you don’t have one yet) or refer a friend and enter a drawing to win a gift card.

We have several new databases to share with you in honor of the start of the school year and our commitment to lifelong learning. We just launched Transparent Language which offers 63 languages for online learning including Afrikaans, Ukrainian, and Faroese. We now offer a suite of Rosen resources for teens, but the information available is for all ages. Rosen Health & Wellness offers topics like mind & body, eating disorders, grief & loss, and even getting your first car! Rosen Financial Literacy includes subjects like personal finance, the economy, and entrepreneurship. You can find these resources at berlinpeck.org/teens.

Our Library of Things continues to expand in more ways than one – we moved the collection, so we have more space to display the items we’ve added. You can find the Library of Things in front of our nonfiction section with the items displayed on a case you bring to the patron desk to exchange for the item. Our board game collection is amazing!

This month Strategic Planning gets underway for Berlin Peck Memorial Library. Strategic planning is our version of fresh notebook paper – a clean slate to dream big and set a vision for the library’s role in our community. How can we support our local businesses, job seekers, technology learners? What more can we do for our kids, their grownups, and you? We invite you to tell us! There will be two opportunities for our community to participate and provide ideas and feedback on YOUR library: Thursday October 12 at 6:30 pm, and Saturday October 14 at 10:30 am. More information to follow in the coming weeks. We look forward to seeing you at the library soon!

Warmly,
Kim

Tax-Aide Volunteers Wanted

Previous experience is helpful, but not required!

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide provides free tax preparation services to primarily seniors of low to moderate income. They are looking for compassionate and friendly people to join their volunteer team. Prior tax preparation experience is helpful, but not required. Tax-Aide volunteers come from a variety of backgrounds, and we’ll provide the training and support to help you develop new skills. If you’re interested or want more information, please visit aarpfoundation.org/taxaide or leave your contact information with the Berlin Library (860) 828-7125, or Berlin Senior Center (860) 828-7006.

We need new volunteers to continue to serve our community and it’s a great way to spend time during the dreary winter months. Once tax season is over, so is the time commitment!

Labor Day

The library will be closed for Labor Day weekend, Saturday to Monday, September 2–4. We’ll reopen on Tuesday.

Events

Check out the Events Page to see upcoming events!

POPSUGAR Reading Challenge

Sunday, January 1 to Sunday, December 31