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NEWSLETTER
June 2006
Volume 3, Number 6
Chinese Language Magazines Now Available Online
Are You 50 or Older? The Library Needs You!
DISCOVER IT @your library: Lives of Civil War Soldiers & Civilians
Freemasonry, the Knights Templar, and
The Da Vinci Code
Anime Feature: Here is Greenwood
DISCOVER IT @your library: What is Egyptology?
Finding Your Roots: The Roydon Burke Story
What's Buzzin' @your library: A Preview of Summer Events for All Ages
Ongoing Programs for Adults: Book Discussion Groups & More
June Exhibits
June Events for Children
What's
New in the Library's Collection
Recommended Summer Reading
Calendar of Events
Friends of the Library
Subscribe to the Newsletter
Back Issues
Chinese Language Magazines Now Available Online
Qikan, an online database of Chinese language magazines, is now freely available to library users throughout Massachusetts. Through Qikan, Chinese language readers of different ages can read 100 magazines published in China and enjoy reading articles in either traditional or simplified characters. The database contains magazines covering fashion, travel, business, sports, current affairs, entertainment, and more.
This database has been purchased and licensed by the Boston Public Library for statewide use.
To access Qikan, you must have a library card from a Massachusetts library. Go to our Qikan referral page and click on the Qikan hyperlink. At the next screen, type in your library card number in the box next to "Enter MA Library Card:" and select GO. Then click on the red Qikan.com icon to get into the magazine database.
For assistance accessing Qikan, call 617-376-1316 or send e-mail to quref@ocln.org.
Are You 50 or Older? The Library Needs You!
The Library is looking for active older adults to participate
in focus groups. We want to know what's important to you and
how the library can better meet your needs now and in the
future. Several focus groups will be held during the month
of June, at various locations and times. The meetings will
last an hour and a half and refreshments will be provided.
If you would like to join a lively discussion and share your
thoughts and concerns about the "Next Chapter" of
life, please contact Megan Allen at 617-376-1331 or mallen@ocln.org
for more information.
DISCOVER IT @your library: Lives of Civil War Soldiers & Civilians
Find out what life was really like during the War Between
the States at a free hands-on presentation for adults and
children aged 10 and up on Saturday, June 3 at 10:00 a.m.
at the Main Library.
Learn about the daily lives of common soldiers as well as
civilians during the Civil War, the tactics and strategies
of both sides, and the medical procedures for the treatment
of wounds and disease. The importance of pivotal battles such
as Gettysburg, Vicksburg and Antietem will be covered in the
presentation and some military units from Massachusetts will
be highlighted, including the 54th Massachusetts (an all Black
regiment) and the 28th Massachusetts (a regiment of the Irish
Brigade).
And don’t forget the women! Find out about the sacrifices and contributions of women to the war effort, Victorian mourning customs, and how the Civil War changed the roles of women in society, leading to the suffrage movement and the struggle for women’s rights. Uniforms, medical instruments, weapons and battle flags will be among the many items displayed and the audience will be able to handle both original and reproduction equipment and clothing.
David A. Jennings and Hallie Larkin of Southcoast Historical Associates provide living history presentations to schools, museums, and communities throughout New England, complete with historically accurate costumes and original artifacts.
This free program is one of a series of programs highlighting the library's collections by its classification system, the Dewey Decimal System. Discover It @your library--in the 900's section this month.
Sponsored by the Friends
of the Thomas Crane Public Library. For more information,
call 617-376-1301.
Freemasonry, the Knights Templar, and The Da Vinci Code
Was the Knights Templar founded to find and then preserve a history changing secret? Is
the world's oldest fraternity, the Freemasons, a direct descendant of the Knights of the Crusades? Discover the truth behind the fiction on Sunday, June 4 at 2:00 p.m. at the Main Library.
Join Graeme Marsden of Quincy's Rural Lodge of Freemasons as he endeavors to shed some light on Dan Brown's controversial novel, The Da Vinci Code, and its claims about the Freemasons and the Knights Templar. While Brown's book is a work of fiction--based on the premise that a secret order exists to protect an "earth shattering" secret--the author purports much of it to be true. Because the book touches on some of the most basic beliefs of the Christian church and history, it has caused great excitement and controversy.
 Mr. Marsden's slide presentation will take you behind the closed doors of Freemasonry, including its history, aims, and symbols, and will also include information about the medieval knightly orders such as the Knights Templar. The presentation will be followed by a tour of the Quincy Masonic Temple on 1170 Hancock St.
This free presentation for adults and teens is sponsored by the Thomas Crane Public Library and Quincy's Rural Lodge of Freemasons. For more information about this event, call 617-376-1301.
Anime Feature: Here is Greenwood
 Join us for a screening of the Japanese anime series "Here is Greenwood" on Thursday, June 8 at 7:00 p.m. at the Main Library.
Welcome to Greenwood, home of the No-Brand Heroes, where anything can, and usually does, go. Family quarrels, first and second loves, practical jokes, schemes and intrigues, psychotic relatives, ghosts and gang wars--all before curfew.
The program is intended for adults and
teens aged 13 and older and is not suitable for younger audiences.
For more information, call 617-376-1301.
DISCOVER IT @your library: What is Egyptology?
Join Egyptologist Jessica Levai for an introduction to Egyptology on Saturday, June 10 at 2:00 p.m. Learn how archaeologists work at a dig, learn about hieroglyphics and hear about mummies from someone who has met one.
This program is for adults and children aged 11 and up. No registration is required.
This free program is one of a yearlong series of programs and displays
highlighting the library's collections by its classification system, the Dewey Decimal System. DISCOVER IT @your library--in the 900's section this month. Sponsored by the Friends of the Thomas Crane Public Library.
For more information, call 617-376-1301.
Finding Your Roots: The Roydon Burke
Story
On Tuesday, June 13 at 7:00 p.m. at the Main Library, librarians
Linda Beeler and Mary Clark will tell the story of how an
e-mail query received last spring led them on a historical
treasure hunt that has re-united two long-lost family members,
revealed the story of an attempted murder/suicide in a rented
room, and brought renewed interest in the late Roydon Burke's
photography (on exhibit at the Main
Library from June 5-30).
Come hear how tracing the connection between Dr. John A. Gordon, Quincy's first town physician who immigrated from Prince Edward Island in the 1870s, and Theophilus King, noted banker and philanthropist and dedicated teetotaler, turned into an adventure to be remembered.
For more information about the slide presentation or the exhibit, call 617-376-1316.
What's Buzzin' @your library: A Preview of Summer Events for All Ages
The Library will be humming with activity in July and August
during What's Buzzin' @your
library, this summer's library adventure for
all ages. Children, teens and adults are invited to stop by
the library often to participate in a wide range of activities,
including weekly raffles, crafts, movies, concerts, and lots
of great vacation reading!
Beginning Monday, June 19, readers of all ages can pick up
book review slips at the Main Library or any branch library.
Read (or listen to) a book, fill out a slip, and return it
to any library location to be entered into weekly
drawings for bookstore gift cards. Drawings will
begin on Friday, July 7.
Join us for a rollicking interactive concert for all ages
by the Toe Jam Puppet Band to kick off a
summer jam packed with events. The concert will be held on
the Main Library lawn (or indoors if it rains) on Wednesday,
June 28 at 1:30 p.m.
Music lovers of all ages will also enjoy this year's Sunday
afternoon concerts on the lawn, featuring a wide
selection of musical styles, including Caribbean, jazz, bluegrass,
and folk. Concerts will be held on Sundays in July from 3:00-4:00
p.m.
Other summer events for children include concerts for infants
and toddlers, six weeks of storytelling performances,
puppet shows, a hands-on introduction to
insects and a petting zoo, weekly craft
programs, and more. Teens will enjoy anime
movie screenings and a historical weapons demonstration
complete with sword fight and trebuchet. A special
movie series for adults will feature award-winning
first-run foreign films from Iran, Japan, Canada and Singapore
All programs and events are free, but some children's programs are limited to Quincy residents and require registration. Check out our online Calendar of Events for complete details.
Summer programs are sponsored by the Friends of the Thomas Crane Public Library, the Massachusetts Regional Library Systems, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, and the Massachusetts Cultural Council through the Quincy Arts Council grant program.
Ongoing Programs for Adults
FIRST FRIDAY BOOKED FOR LUNCH
Read any good books lately? Looking for something new to read?
Bring a brown bag lunch and join other readers in a lively
exchange of authors and titles on the first Friday of each
month. The next meeting is on June 2,
from 12 noon to 1:00 p.m. in the Main Library atrium (outside
the cafe). If you have read a book you would like to share
or are looking for something new to read, this is the group
for you.
SECOND FRIDAY BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP
 This book discussion group meets on the second Friday of each month at
9:30 a.m. As a convenience to parents with small children, the group will meet
in the Main Library Children's storytime room and little ones are welcome. Age appropriate activities will be available to entertain the children while we talk.
On June 9, the group will be discussing The Chatham School Affair by Thomas Cook. Copies of the book are available at the Main Library
Children's Room desk. For more information, call 617-376-2411.
 THIRD WEDNESDAY BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP
This group meets the third Wednesday of each month from 7:00-8:30
p.m. at the Main Library. On June 21,
the group will be discussing My Antonia by Willa Cather. Copies of the book are available
at the Main Library checkout desk. For more information, call
617-376-1331.
WEEKLY WEDNESDAY MATINEE
See a variety of films selected with older adults in mind at this weekly
program held at the North Quincy Branch Library at 2:15 p.m. every Wednesday.
Films include travel, humor, and biography as well as full-length feature
films. For more information, call the North Quincy Branch at 617-376-1320.
June Exhibits
A special exhibit of black and white photography by the late Roydon Burke of Quincy will be on view from June 5-30. A public reception on June 13 from 6:00-8:30 p.m. will include a slide presentation on the six generations of the Burke family, some of whom still live in the family mansion on Adams Street. The slide presentation will begin at 7:00 p.m. in the community meeting room.
Burke's photographs, often scenes of solitude, were shot in the 1950s and 1960s within a ten-mile radius of Quincy. Many of the photographs were taken at night and depict local scenes, from the delicate snow laden tree branches of Glendale Avenue to the ghostly outline of a young woman waiting on the platform of the old Atlantic train station. A mostly self-taught photographer who developed prints in his bathroom darkroom, Burke became internationally known with 11 invitational one-man shows, prints exhibited in 34 countries, and many awards and honors for his unique images. Mr. Burke died in 1993 at the age of 91.
June Events for Children
DISCOVER IT @your library: INTRODUCTION TO ARCHAEOLOGY
Learn how archaeologists explore the past through hands-on interactive activities on Saturday, June 10 at 10:00 a.m. on the Main Library lawn. After an introduction to archaeology we will examine an archaeologist's field pack and excavate the Code Rose site, a simulated archaeological site complete with mysteries and features. Participants will dig a square, recover artifacts, identify and date them and discuss how they contribute to the story of what happened at the site.
Remember to wear clothes suitable for a dirty job and sunscreen. In case of rain we will move inside. This program is for children aged 6 and older. Registration is required, beginning Monday, June 5, and is limited to Quincy residents.
This free program is one of a series of programs highlighting the library's collections by its classification system, the Dewey Decimal System. Discover It @your library--in the 900's section this month. Sponsored by the Friends of the Thomas Crane Public Library.
DISCOVER IT @your library: WHAT IS EGYPTOLOGY?
Join Egyptologist Jessica Levai for an introduction to Egyptology on Saturday, June 10 at 2:00 p.m. Learn how archaeologists work at a dig, learn about hieroglyphics and hear about mummies from someone who has met one.
This program is for adults and children aged 11 and up. No registration is required.
This free program is one of a series of programs highlighting the library's collections by its classification system, the Dewey Decimal System. Discover It @your library--in the 900's section this month. Sponsored by the Friends of the Thomas Crane Public Library.
MAD SCIENCE: WALLOPING WEATHER
Mad Science of Greater Boston Workshops presents Walloping Weather on Saturday, June 17 at the Main Library. Welcome to the wild world of weather! Investigate why it rains, what causes lightning and even how weather can be predicted. Step into the shoes of a meteorologist and create your own regional weather forecasts and make a UV detector to take home.
There will be a 10:00 a.m. session for children ages 7 and older and an 11:15 a.m. session for ages 4-6. Registration is required, beginning Monday, June 5. Stop by the Main Library Children's Room or call 617-376-2411 to register. Sponsored by the Friends of the Thomas Crane Public Library.
SATURDAY FUN FOR LITTLE ONES
Join musician Joan Robb for Caribbean for Kids, a lively participatory concert with a calypso beat on Saturday, June 24 at 10:00 a.m. at the Main Library. Join us for reggae and soca songs with steel drums and limbo dancing and many call and response songs.
This is a storytime program for families with very young children aged 0-4. No registration required. Sponsored by the Friends of the Thomas Crane Public Library.
TOE JAM PUPPET BAND CONCERT
What's Buzzin' @the Library this summer? Lots! Join us for a rollicking interactive concert for all ages by the Toe Jam Puppet Band to kick off a summer jam packed with events, on Wednesday, June 28 at 1:30 p.m. on the Main Library lawn. The concert will be held in the Main Library atrium if it rains.
Sponsored by the Friends of the Thomas Crane Public Library.
PHOENIX BOOK CLUB
This book discussion program for children in grades 5-8 meets on the third
Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at the Main Library. Stop by the Main
Library Children's Room or call 617-376-2411 for more information or to register.
Friends of the Library
Become a Friend of the library! Your Friends membership fee
($10 for individuals, $15 for families) helps support museum
passes and events for all ages. For more information about
the Friends, go to the Friends
of the Thomas Crane Public Library page or pick up a brochure
at the library.
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