Essex Library Notes | Sept 18

Teens and adults enjoyed a morning Junk Journaling at the library.  
The TOHP Essex Burnham Public Library this week has the Library Garden and Patio Grand Opening, Story Hour, Open Saturdays and much more.

Manchester Library Notes | Sept 18

There are great things happening this week at the Manchester Public Library, including the Mystery Book Group, High-Yield Retirement, and much more.

Essex Library Notes  | September 11

The TOHP Essex Burnham Public Library this week has Mother’s Support Group, Weekly Story Hour, Saturday hours resume September 12, and more.    

Manchester Library Notes | September 11

There are great things happening this week at the Manchester by the Sea Public Library, including Teen Crow Party, Plant a Seed and Breathe, Saturday hours, and much more.

Manchester Library Notes | September 4

This week at the Manchester by the Sea library there is so much going on, including Seed Saving with Kellie Dodd, Presidential Series, Lizzie Borden and the 40 Whacks, and much more.

Essex Library Notes | September 4

 Teens enjoyed a morning of felting adorable Bubble Tea patches and sampling real bubble tea.

The TOHP Essex Burnham Public Library this week has Mother’s Support Group,  and more.   The library is now closed on Saturdays.

Manchester Library Notes | August 28

Summer reading for kids and teens has come to an amazing end on 8/20 with a visit from Stanley the pig and all his barnyard friends. 

This week at the Manchester by the Sea library there is, Mystery Book Group,  Hearthside Book Group, Dungeons and Dragons for adults,  and much more.

September Reading Preview      
As we get deeper into August, all of us who work in the Book Shop have started furiously reading books due to publish in September so we can be prepared to recommend (or not!) the biggest new releases.
Children enjoyed a special morning on the library lawn meeting various farm animals from Animal Craze Petting Zoo.
Essex Library Notes | August 28
The TOHP Essex Burnham Public Library this week has Mother’s Support Group,  and more.   The library is now closed on Saturdays.
What Makes a Great Short Story?
I read a lot of short stories in July — more than 30 of them, good, bad, and ugly — and thought a lot about what makes a good short story.
New parking lines are in, please observe the new parking pattern.
Essex Library Notes | August 14
The TOHP Essex Burnham Public Library, has upcoming events of Bubble Tea Wool Felting, Petting Zoo, Summer Reading Deadline,  and more.   The library is now closed on Saturdays.
Children took time to create garden scenes made from various seeds and dried bean.
Essex Library Notes | August 7
The TOHP Essex Burnham Public Library, has upcoming events of Bubble Tea Wool Felting, Petting Zoo, Summer Reading Deadline,  and more.   
Children enjoyed hearing the classic story “Miss Rumphius” and painting their own lupine scene.
Essex Library Notes | July 31
The TOHP Essex Burnham Public Library, has upcoming events of Bubble Tea Wool Felting, Petting Zoo and more.   The library is now closed on Saturdays.
Playful Engineers had this crew of junior engineers engrossed in creating their own Rube Goldberg Machines.  They built, tested and cheered each other on!
Manchester Library Notes | July 24
This week at the Manchester by the Sea library there is, Mystery Book Group, Pajama Storytime, Friends of the Library Book Sale, and much more.
Children enjoyed an afternoon with teen butterfly enthusiast Kiki Campbell learning about Monarchs and creating milkweed seed balls.
Essex Library Notes | July 24
This week at the TOHP Essex Burnham Public Library, we have Mother’s Support Group, Children’s Book Group, Seed Art Workshop and more.  The library is now closed on Saturdays.
How Booksellers Read
Last week I attended a small gathering of booksellers.  Inevitably with a group of booksellers, the conversation turns toward what everyone is reading.  How do booksellers choose what to read next?  
All ages enjoyed an afternoon of wool felting and took home a butterfly scene. 
Essex Library Notes | July 17
This week at the TOHP Essex Burnham Public Library, there is Storytime and Craft, Children’s Book Group and more.  The library is now closed on Saturdays.
The Book Page with news from around the web

I have spent the past 6 months reading hundreds of poems by young people – I was surprised to find hope, not despair

The 177 young poets featured in a new anthology range in age from 10 to 21.
Young poets wrestled with loneliness, fractured families, violence and other challenges – but also showed an unwillingness to surrender to despair.

The 25 books startups and founders bought most in the first half of 2026, according to Brex spend data

Brex reports on the 25 books most purchased by founders in the first half of 2026, highlighting a shift towards biographies and essential management skills.

Mississippi Book Festival has grown from its beginning as a literary lawn party

The annual Mississippi Book Festival in Jackson draws more than 8,000 book lovers and provides a counter-narrative to negative stereotypes, as well as year-round programs to develop the state's next generation of writers.

Despite all the likes, literallys and dropped g’s, English isn’t decaying before our eyes

Throughout the history of the language, what has been considered ‘bad’ speech often becomes ‘proper.’ You just have to give it time.

Writing and publishing: Getting it right

Writing is much more than putting pen to paper; so is publishing. And the first doesn’t guarantee the second. But one can hope. After doing the first since I was a child and enjoying the fruits of the second for more than a few decades, I learned a valuable lesson a few weeks ago when […]
Fascinating Reads

George Plimpton’s 1966 nonfiction classic ‘Paper Lion’ revealed the bruising truths of Detroit Lions training camp

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs (87) and Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold (6) show off their athleticism on Sept. 7, 2025.
George Plimpton, then a 36-year-old literary editor, endured the brutal realities of a professional football quarterback despite barely ever playing the sport.
(BookTrib) - “Over the Hills and Far Away” by Daniel MackJohn Merlan is nearing retirement with an irregular heartbeat, a dwindling roster of therapy clients and a growing suspicion that the …
(BookTrib) - “Palm Beach Confidential” by Susannah MarrenIn the latest entry in her Palm Beach novel series, Susannah Marren returns to the glittering, watchful world of Palm Beach, where …
(BookTrib) - “Redemption Initiative: The Good Samaritan” by C.L. MorrisseyOnce, Desi Delgado was exactly the kind of criminal society feared: violent, impulsive and consumed by addiction. Eight …
(BookTrib) - “Day of Wrath” by Otho EskinThere are secrets within the Church. Some are worth killing for.When Washington, D.C. homicide detective Marko Zorn arrives at the city’s cathedral, he …
(BookTrib) - “a written self-portrait: ‘On Psychosis’ a Novella Vol. I” by Louis GaleIn the first volume of Louis Gale’s experimental series, readers enter the restless mind of Amstel, a …
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