Patriot Momentum

We salute the New Englad Patriots with a special display. We hope to change it weekly by placing a rising number in the win column. This has been a truly exciting season for a fan. First, the question of Asante Samuel - would he sign or not? Second, the Cheating gate scandal. What were they thinking? Third, the incredible streak of wins with lopsided scores. Were the Pats bad guys to go for it on fourth down when they were already in a blow-out game? (Forgive me editorializing, but really. It is the NFL - step up your defense!) Fourth, the hype around the Colts game with the Pats cast as the Evil Empire. Fifth, the close game with the Eagles. The team is on a march towards eclipsing the 1972 Miami record. One of our books on display, The blueprint: how the New England Patriots beat the system to create the last great NFL superpower by Christopher Price is an interesting look at how a team is put together. Also available is Tom Brady's Moving the Chains and David Halberstam's Education of a Coach. Stop by and check out one of the books. Since we have to wait until Monday night for the game at Baltimore, there is a long Sunday afternoon minus a game to spend reading!

Cooking display is growing

Cooking display is growing
Originally uploaded by Pesky Library

Tis the Season for cooking and baking and gingerbread house making, and we're here to help. Our display of cookbooks is getting considerable attention from both staff and students. We have books on how to bake breads, how to make gingerbread treats, how to prepare delicious soups and vegetarian fare, and slow cooker recipes. Cookbooks by Rachael Ray are popular selections and both easy and fancy holiday cookie recipes are beautifully illustrated for those looking for just the right treats for this special time of year. The only thing missing is the aroma of those freshly cooked goodies.

Communication Today

Communication Today
Originally uploaded by Pesky Library

We recently had a display created on the timely topic of communication and the changes that have occured over the decades. E-mail and texting have replaced the paper and pen and have also changed how we communicate and the language we use to communicate. Control*ALT*Delete: a dictionary of cyberslang (REF 004.03 KEA) helps to decipher all the new lingo we must learn such as a Flame War, Googlage, and Mojibake. For a refresher on how to send various types of e-mails take a look at SEND: the essential guide to e-mail for office and home (658.054 SHI), it may prevent you from making any communication blunders!

Our Apples are Local

The dining hall has been buying produce locally when feasible. A great treat this fall has been the apples from Cider Hill Farm in Amesbury. We have been able to sample many different varieties from the early crops to later pickings. Each apple variety has been labelled with name and characteristics. I suppose as the season gives way to winter we shall be grabbing the more familiar Delicious apple variety once more but being more up-front and personal with what we were eating this fall was good.

I believe that growing our own food and buying locally and in season is really the future of our planet. The library has several books which address the local movement. The Revolution will not be Microwaved: Inside America's Underground Food Movements by Sandor Ellix Katz

(641.3 KAT) deals with grassroots activists and the social and economic ramifications of how we eat. Slow Food Revolution: a New Culture for Eating and Living by Carlo Petrinin (641.3 PET) celebrates the local. The Ecology of Commerce by Paul Hawken (658.408 HAW) is a "declaration of sustainability." And two practical books help us get going. A Slice of Organic Life (640 SLI) gives many small ways to integrate organic living into daily life. Local Flavors: Cooking and Eating from America's Farmers' Markets by Deborah Madison (641.5 MAD) has luscious recipes and lush photographs.

Yeah team!

Yeah team!
Originally uploaded by Pesky Library

Spirits are high in the library as we prepare to leave for the Thanksgiving break in three hours (and counting!) But whoops were coming from one corner of the library as these boys huddled around a computer and read the results of the Varsity Basketball try-outs! Their joy was infectious for about three minutes and then we all remembered where we were. Congratulations! And may we all have a blessed time with family and friends and return to school rested and ready to try the new exam schedule.

Happy Thanksgiving

One little tree still holding on
Originally uploaded by Pesky Library

The Pesky library staff wish everyone a happy and restful Thanksgiving break. Eat a lot of turkey, go for a long walk and maybe curl up with a good book. See you back here on the Blog in 10 days

Orange you glad...

Orange you glad...
Originally uploaded by Pesky Library

One of our staff members, a master at displays, recently put together a lovely display of orange to compliment the season titled, "Orange you glad you read?" Funny how a color can elicit different feelings – what would orange fall under? It is definitely a color of the season, and this autumn Byfield has been full of brilliant color. We are amazed here at the library how the colors are holding on well into November. If an orange cover piques your interest check out the list of titles on display. Happy Reading!

Flickring at MSLA

Our badges
Originally uploaded by Pesky Library

We have returned from the MSLA (Massachusetts School Library Association) conference in beautiful Strubridge, MA. The Pesky Librarians presented a session on Flickr in the School Library. There were many interesting sessions and keynotes this year and it is always a pleasure to share ideas with fellow school librarians inbetween. It was a busy two days and today we catch up and do our post-conference Flickring.

It all began in Massachusetts

As the Thanksgiving season approaches, the history of Massachusetts seems to come alive. After all, the first Thanksgiving was celebrated in Plymoth in 1621. Our current display "It All Began in Massachusetts" is filled with the history of Massachusetts; from the Brave Bostonians (973.311 MCF), The Mayflower (973.2 PHI), the Beanpot and Walden, the roots of American history begin here. For a complete listing of materials on display visit our photo in Flickr.

Faculty Seminar on Teaching and Learning - Dr. Scheintaub

Faculty Seminar on Teaching and Learning - Dr. Scheintaub
Originally uploaded by Pesky Library

Good teachers never stop learning. To prove the point, we had a group of teachers from the Governor's Academy meet in the Pesky Library during their lunch time to hear from their colleagues what they had learned at Conferences or Summer Institutes to improve their classroom instruction. Pictured here is Dr. Hal Scheintaub who discussed how he uses technology in his science classes. There was much sharing of innovative and successful teaching strategies. Lunch was served in the library to all participants who went away pleased with the whole experience.

Governor interviews the current Royal Thai Scholar

Governor interview in the stacks
Originally uploaded by Pesky Library

Each year, The Governor's Academy participates in the Royal Thai Scholar program. Our scholar enrolls as a senior and spends the year immersed in English language and culture before going on to college. Being chosen a scholar to study in the United States is very competitive. Only Thai students with an A average are eligible to take a nation-wide exam administered by the Civil Service Commission of the Royal Thai government. Once qualified, the students are matched to different scholarships based on the needs of the country and are directed into areas of study. For each year of school (through graduate levels) the scholar gives back two years of service to the sponsoring organization. Many become university professors, research scientists, or leaders in other special areas.
In addition to serving their country as both scholars and global ambassadors, these Royal Thai Scholars serve us well. We learn not only about the Thai culture but also of the determination to do well with the opportunity given to them. These students battle homesickness (many do not return home at all during the school year.) We are happy that each year's Scholar spends time studying and hanging out in the library.

BTW, if you missed our lack of posting yesterday, it was a Headmaster's Holiday and the Pesky Librarians celebrated it along with our students!

American Studies Web Quest

American Studies Web Quest
Originally uploaded by Pesky Library

As the American Studies class was doing a Web quest on the Constitution in the Electronic Classroom, I was putting together the display on Massachusetts in the hall. Suddenly I heard “he went to Governor Dummer.” I knew she was talking about Rufus King who was one of the boys who matriculated from the Little Red Schoolhouse during the tenure of Master Samuel Moody. King left Byfield for Harvard, graduating in 1777 at the head of his class. He studied law under Theophilus Parsons (another illustrious Little Red Schoolhouse graduate of Moody’s) in Newburyport. His career in the law began and in 1783 he was admitted to serve before the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts. He went on to serve as the Massachusetts delegate to the Philadelphia convention on the Constitution. He supported a strong national government with greater power belonging to the most populous states. After signing the Constitution he returned to Massachusetts and was a delegate to the state’s convention which ratified it. He served as a U.S. Senator from New York and as the ambassador to Great Britain. He had a long career as a Federalist. You can read more about the boy who studied here in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress or at the National Archives.

Always Teaching Always Learning

Faculty Seminar on Teaching and Learning - Ms. DeGrasse
Originally uploaded by Pesky Library

The Library was the location for the second Faculty Teaching and Learning Seminar last week. Four faculty members shared projects and teaching strategies with fellow colleagues in the Bragdon Reading Room. It was a wonderful opportunity to share ideas and methods of teaching with fellow faculty and learn more about what happens in different classrooms. To see other photos from the seminar, visit Scenes from the Library in Flickr.

Satisfied Customers

The prize winners for "Best Costumes at the Halloweeen Dance" were none other than regular users of our library. We were so pleased (and amused) to see the creativity of our students. Maybe they got their ideas from the 391 (COSTUME) section of the library that we promoted in last week's BLOG. In any case, the students pictured here as "The Village People" are satisfied customers. Congratulations!!