When my brother and I decided to purchase The Book Shop of Beverly Farms from retiring owners Pam Price and Lee Brown Simonds, we created an LLC that we called Industry Books. Industry is the town in Maine our family has been visiting every summer for our entire lives (Sam was born there), but we also liked how the name connoted hard work, business, the making of things.

There's plenty to do this week at the TOHP Burnham Library in Essex.  Author David Sobel (“Best Bike Rides in New England”) will reveal some of his favorite rides, and then there's the library's annual Gingerbread workshop!

After a successful Christmas by the Sea holiday stroll and the book sale, we're looking to the coming week.  There's a lot going on this week at the Manchester Public Library, from author David Sobel's visit to a workshop on making Turkish Flat Weave Bracelets.

Digital Advice Drop in Has Moved to Mondays

From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. increase your comfort level with technology.  Register for a dedicated session at 11 or 11:30 a.m. or drop in between 12-1 p.m.

Want to learn about floral arrangements?  Take part in musical story time?  Read with Jackson the rescue dog?  Or just check out some items from the library of things?  It's all going on now at the TOHP Burnham Library in Essex.

The Library will be open Sundays, beginning Sunday October 16 from 1-4 p.m.

Digital Advice Drop in Has Moved to Mondays

From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. increase your comfort level with technology.  Register for a dedicated session at 11 or 11:30 a.m. or drop in between 12-1 p.m.

Veterans Day

Friday, November 11 the library will be closed for Veterans Day.  

Open Saturdays

 The library will be open Saturday mornings from 10 – 12 noon.

The Manchester Public Library has a lot going on this week, including stroller walk and talk, discovery of some amazing, female fiber artists as they show off their skills and projects to the library, and more.  

I’ve been thinking a lot about blurbs lately.  The blurbs I’m talking about are book descriptions, also called flap copy, because it’s the description of the book you can find on the inside flap of a hardcover book.  On a paperback it’s usually on the back cover.  I often read these descriptions in publisher’s catalogs long before a book comes out.  It’s part of how I decide what to order for the store (along with the author’s track record, confirmed media appearances, and a host of other criteria).  Lately, though, I’ve been noticing that some of the blurbs for the books I’ve been reading don’t always meet expectations for what the book turns out to be.

Each fall sees some of the biggest names in fiction releasing new books, some of whom crank out novels regularly and reliably and some of whom surprise us after a long wait. Here’s a quick guide to some of the rest of what’s coming so you don’t feel overwhelmed.

MPL Children’s Events: 

Stories & Songs on the Library Lawn with Ms. Carol  

Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. starting September 21 

Our youngest patrons and their caregivers are invited to share songs, rhymes and simple stories on the Library Lawn with Ms. Carol.  *There is no registration for this program.  In the event of rain, we will postpone it until the following week. 

MPL Children’s Events: 

Stories & Songs on the Library Lawn with Ms. Carol  

Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. starting September 21 

Our youngest patrons and their caregivers are invited to share songs, rhymes and simple stories on the Library Lawn with Ms. Carol.  *There is no registration for this program.  In the event of rain, we will postpone it until the following week. 

Night Letter to the Reader, a poem by Billy Collins, is a beautiful piece of writing that reminds us the simple life is the best life.  Especially at night, when awoken by insomnia.

At what point does anyone feel like they know what they’re doing when it comes to gardening?  Maybe never, which is why any gardener, novice or expert, can appreciate a good gardening book.