All posts by Brian Herzog
2009 Fuel Economy Guide
The US Department of Environmental Protection released their 2009 Fuel Economy Guide, and it is available both online and in print at the library.
The Guide is designed to inform consumers about how cars compare based on their fuel economy, to help car buyers make more energy- and cost-conscious buying decisions. It also provides an overview of the different types of alternative-fuel vehicles available (natural gas, hybrids, flex-fuel, etc), and gives driving tips to improve fuel efficiency.
To see the fuel economy ratings for 2009 and past years, you can:
- Explore online fuel ratings on the FuelEconomy.gov website
- Download a PDF version from the FuelEconomy.gov website
- Visit the library and pick up a copy. They are available next to the newspapers, and reference copies of the 2009 Guide and past years (in addition to other automobile information) are near the Reference Desk
More information about the Guide and EPA fuel economy rating information is available on their website, http://www.fueleconomy.gov.
Renew Library Items Online
Are your libraries items almost due but…
- you’re snowed in?
- you haven’t finished the last chapter?
- you haven’t had a chance to watch that DVD?
- you know your daughter has the book somewhere in her room, but she just can’t find it?
- you’re going on a trip and won’t be back for a few days?
- your son just needs two more days to finish his big project?
No problem – if you need more time on your library items, you can renew them either by calling the library at 978-256-5521, or renew online from the comfort of your home, 24 hours a day. Here’s how:
- Go to https://www.chelmsfordlibrary.org and click on the link that says “Catalog” (or go directly to http://catalog.chelmsfordlibrary.org)
- Click either the “My Account” tab along the top of the screen, or the “Login” link in the top right corner
- Use your library number and PIN to log in. Keep in mind that:
- there should be no spaces or dashes in your library card number
- your PIN is the last four digits of your telephone number
- On your Account screen, click the “Checked Out / Renew” link (first tan bar)
- Check the little box to the left of the item(s) you’d like to renew, then click the “Renew” button
This will renew your item and display the new due date unless:
- this item has been requested by another patron
- it has already been renewed the maximum number of times
If you have any questions about renewing items or using the library’s catalog or website, please contact the Reference Desk.
Public Fax Machine
The library now has a fax machine available for public use.
Due to the large number of requests for a fax service, the library has contracted with a vendor called Televend Services to install a fax machine on the main level of the library. It is located next to the self-checkout machines, across from the Circulation Desk.
Best of all, the fax machine is self-sufficient and very easy to use. Instructions are provided on the machine itself, and also through the handset. All a patron needs to do pick up the receiver and following the voice prompts to send their fax.
The prices for sending a fax are $1.50 for the first page and $1.00 for any additional pages (for domestic faxes – additional rates will apply for international faxes). The fax machine does not accept cash – only credit and debit cards – and provides a confirmation receipt with every successfully sent fax.
More information about the fax and other office-type services offered in the library is available on the library’s website.
Winterfest Photo Contest
Chelmsford 2009 Winterfest was a big hit, and the photography contest was particularly successful. Over 140 photos were submitted – more than ever before – and some of them are incredible.
The winning photos in each category are currently on display on the lower level of the Chelmsford Library. They will remain on display until the end of March, so if you didn’t get to see them at the Chelmsford Senior Center during Winterfest, you still have time.
The winners in each category are:
Student
- 1st Place: Lucy Schultz
- 2nd Place: Alexander Lin
- 3rd Place: Alexa Lambros
- Honorable Mention: Ethan Levine
Amateur
- 1st Place: Neil J. Jorgensen
- 2nd Place: Christopher Livingston
- 3rd Place: Christopher Ball
- Honorable Mention: Peter Lee
Professional
- 1st Place: Robert Moll
- 2nd Place: Lee Fortier
- 3rd Place: Bruce Magnuson
- Honorable Mention: Lee Fortier
People’s Choice
After the end of March, the winning photographers can pick up their photos at the Library. All other photographs entered into the Winterfest contest can also be picked up at the Library any time before the end of March.
One Book Chelmsford Events
One Book Chelmsford Three Cups of Tea co-author Greg Mortenson visited Chelmsford this past Sunday, and spoke to a large crowd about his book and work building schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
If you missed the amazing talk at Chelmsford’s Performing Arts Center, you still have a opportunities to catch it:
- DVD copies are available in the library’s catalog
- The program will be re-broadcast on Chelmsford Cable TV Channel 8 at the following times:
- Thursday, Feb 12, at 10:00 p.m.
- Saturday, Feb 14, at 10:30 a.m.
- Thursday, Feb 19, at 10:00 p.m.
- Saturday, Feb 21, at 10:30 a.m.
(You should confirm by visiting the Chelmsford Telemedia website)
Have you read the book yet?
Additional copies of Three Cups of Tea are available at the Library. Also available are the young reader and picture book versions of the book, as well as the book on CD and playaway mp3 player.
Upcoming One Book Chelmsford Programs:
Book Discussions on Three Cups of Tea at the library
- Monday, March 2nd at 7 p.m.
- Wednesday, March 18th at 10 a.m.
Films and Discussions
- “Kite Runner” will be shown on Thursday, Feb 19, at 7 p.m. Discussion to follow
- “View from a Grain of Sand,” will be shown on Thursday, March 19, at 7 p.m. Discussion to follow
Barakat Working in Central Asia
Thursday, March 12, 2009, at 7 p.m.
Damon Luloff, Executive Director of Barakat will talk about the work his organization is doing in Central Asia.
Chelmsford Volunteer Fair
Saturday, March 21, 2009; 10 a.m. – noon
Come to Chelmsford’s Volunteer Fair learn about organizations that offer you a myriad of ways to give back to your community and make the world a better place. A rep from Barakat will be available to speak with you about their volunteer opportunities.
Climbing K2
Thursday, April 23, 2009 at 7 p.m.
Chuck Boyd, owner and operator of Vertical Realms, LLC, will talk about his adventures climbing K2.
The Many Facets of Islam
Thursday, April 30, 2009 at 7 p.m.
The Many Facets of Islam by Subheen Razzaqui, speaker for the Harvard Outreach Center for Middle Eastern Studies and history teacher at Newton North High School, discusses the history and basic tenets of Islam, and similarities and differences among Muslim groups in the U.S.
Exhibit of artwork inspired by Three Cups of Tea (A CALL TO ARTISTS)
May 4 – May 30, 2009
Artists are invited to submit samples of their work for a special “Three Cups of Tea” Juried Exhibition this May at the Chelmsford Library. All media: paintings, graphics, sculpture, ceramics, textiles, mixed media, photography, digital art, printmaking and three-dimensional art. Artwork may be submitted into one of two categories -Adult (over 18) and Youth (middle school age to 18).
Artwork must reflect the title or themes of the “One Book Chelmsford” 2009 book selection, “Three Cups of Tea” by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. Please visit the Chelmsford Library to get a copy of the book. You may want to review some of the book’s chapter quotes (such as the one listed below). They may offer inspiration for creating your individual work.
Here (in Pakistan and Afghanistan), we drink three cups of tea to do business; the first you are a stranger, the second you become a friend, and the third, you join our family, and for our family we are prepared to do anything–even die.
-Haji Ali, Korphe Village Chief, Karakoram Mountains, Pakistan
More details on this Call to Artists on the library website.
Three Cups of Tea Resources
One Book Chelmsford brochure [pdf]
| Book Info & Reading Guides | Three Cups of Tea People & Organizations |
WinterFest & One Book Events
If you’re still looking for something to do this weekend, Chelmsford has a lot of options. This weekend is Chelmsford’s WinterFest, and there will be activities and events all over town.
The Library is sponsoring two events to kick off our One Book reading program:
WinterFest Social – Friday, Feb. 6th, 7:00 p.m.
Get in the mood for Three Cups of Tea with an Central Asian-themed party. There will be Asian-inspired buffets (with foods from India Palace and Feng Shui) as well as samplings of desserts from other local restaurants. Music will be performed by 35th Parallel, a unique world music duo. Beer and wine will be available for purchase. Tickets are available at the Library – $20 in advance and $25 at the door.
Greg Mortenson Visit – Sunday, Feb. 8th, 11 a.m.
Co-author of Three Cups of Tea and co-founder of the Central Asia Institute and Pennies for Peace, Greg Mortenson has established over 78 schools in rural and often volatile regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan. He will speak at the Performing Arts Center at Chelmsford High School. Seating is limited, and we expect a large crowd. This talk will be broadcast live by Chelmsford Telemedia on cable channel 22, and DVDs will be available at the library.
Come out and make WinterFest 2009 a success!
A Busy Library Year
| 2008 Chelmsford Library Vital Statistics | |
| Items Circulated | 587,287 |
| Interlibrary Loan Requests | 140,606 |
| Reference Questions | 19,851 |
| Library Visits | 218,354 |
| Website Visits | 6,892,840 |
| No. of Programs | 758 |
| Program Attendance | 15,867 |
2008 was a busy year for the Chelmsford Library!
Chelmsford is part of the Merrimack Valley Library Consortium – in fact, it is the busiest library in the consortium. Many of the books, videos and other materials enjoyed by Chelmsford residents are on loan from one of the other MVLC libraries.
How much do you use the library? A great way to measure how much visiting the library means to you is to try out the Library Use Value Calculator. Just enter how many books you check out, how many programs you attend, how many questions you’ve asked library staff, etc., and it will calculate how much you would have paid if you had to get those same services from retail sources.
The staff of the Chelmsford Library is always striving to provide service that meets the needs of Chelmsford patrons. Please let us know if there are areas that are particularly important to you, or if you have suggestions for how we can improve our service.
Chelmsford Library: The Movie
On Saturday, January 17, 2009, filmmaker Fred Barzyk will release, “Our Town Our Voices – An Introduction to the Library” – a movie featuring your hometown public library!
Be sure to catch a showing of this hour-long film. It will be shown continuously from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. on Chelmsford’s cable channel 10 on Saturday, January 17, 2009. We’ll play it on a television in the library that day, and the film will also be available on DVD in late January for you to check out.
The film was premiered on Friday, January 9th at the library, for the library staff, the staff of Chelmsford Telemedia, and anyone appearing in the film. It ended up being a standing room-only crowd, and everyone was delighted with the show.
Fred Barzyk, a long time producer/director for WGBH-TV in Boston, is a Chelmsford resident, and has recently been working with Chelmsford Telemedia to produce a series of archive films about our town of Chelmsford. The first installment in the film series explored the Chelmsford Senior Center.
New Library Calendar
With the start of the new year, the Chelmsford Library is also launching a new events calendar!
The new calendar is easier to read, will have more events and activities on it, and offers new features for patrons. These include:
- Year, month, and day views for events
- Sign up for RSS feeds of all events, or just certain kinds:
- All Events
- Childrens & Teen Events
- Adult Programs & Events
- Clubs & Organizations meeting at the library
- View just certain types of events (ie, Kids, Adults, MacKay events, etc.)
- Send yourself email reminders from the calendar
The new calendar also has a new web address: http://www.chelmsfordlibrary.org/calendar. Be sure to bookmark it, or subscribe to an RSS feed, to keep up to date with what is going on at the library.
Another feature of this calendar is that is allows library events to automatically show up on the Chelmsford Community Calendar, hosted by Chelmsford Telemedia. Bookmarking the Community Calendar lets you see what’s going on around town.
Soon we’ll also have an automatic way for groups to reserve rooms at the library. In the meantime, please refer to our website for meeting room reservations. If you have questions about the new calendar or booking a meeting room, please contact the Library’s Administrative Office at 978-256-5521 x100 or nrager@mvlc.org.
Library Holiday Hours
The Chelmsford Libraries will be closing for both the Christmas and New Years holidays. Our holiday hours are:
- The libraries will be closed all day Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
- The libraries will close at 1pm on New Year’s Eve, and be closed all day on New Year’s Day
Patrons can always access their accounts and search the library catalog or online resources through our website, www.chelmsfordlibrary.org.