By Carole Howard and the Library Staff

Those of us who grew up being taught that you only whisper in libraries may be shocked at the noise level in our library on Friday afternoons. That’s because the library staff has decided to make Friday afternoons kids time, with the hope that attracting them to the library with fun events will expose them to library resources and increase literacy levels over the long term.

So, if you want peace and quiet, you might want to visit the library any other time! For kids and teens, here’s what being offered on Friday afternoons:

• There will be a program every week for grades 1-6 from 1:45 to 3 p.m. On the first Friday of each month, it will be something different. On the second and fourth Fridays, it will be Wii games. On the third Friday it will be science projects.
• There will be a Wii games program for junior high students from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. on the first and third Fridays of the month.
• There will be a Wii games program for high school students from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Fridays of the month.
• The Friday Chessnuts group for students in the third through eighth grades continues to meet every Friday from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Free Lifelong Learning lecture

The third spring Lifelong Learning lecture takes place this Saturday, April 5 at 3 p.m. when Ed Funk speaks on “Huckleberry Finn: The frontier orphan who helped define secular morality in our liberal democracy” at the library. For the complete lineup of the free spring series lectures arranged by program organizer Biz Greene, please visit the Lifelong Learning page on the library web site at www.pagosalibrary.org.

How-to books

“Absolute Beginner’s Origami” by Nick Robinson is the simple three-stage guide to creating expert origami, and it also includes projects designed by accomplished origami masters. “The Solution is You! An Activist’s Guide” by environmental activist Laurie David explains why global warming is the most urgent issue facing our planet and how you can get involved.

Large print books

“The Faithful Spy” by Alex Berenson is a spy thriller focusing on a CIA agent who penetrated al Qaeda and became a Muslim. “Rhett Butler’s People” by Donald McCaig is the novel authorized by Margaret Mitchell’s estate that parallels “Gone With The Wind” from Rhett Butler’s point of view.

Operas on DVD

Opera lovers will be pleased to know we now have Metropolitan Opera productions of four different operas on DVDs – Beethoven’s “Fidelio,” Mozart’s “Magic Flute,” Puccini’s “La Boheme” and one fourth of Wagner’s Ring cycle. All are conducted by the Met’s James Levine with the Metropolitan Opera orchestra and chorus backing up world-famous soloists such as Luciano Pavarotti, Jessye Norman and Kathleen Battle.

Adult novels

“The Far Reaches” by Homer Hickam is an adventure novel set in the Pacific in 1943 as World War II rages on. “ Firefly Lane” by Kristin Hannah explores the deep friendship between two women in the seventies and eighties. “Celebutantes” by Amanda Goldberg and Ruthanna Khalighi Hopper is a novel set in the Acadamy Award world of young Hollywood.

Memoirs

“Hope’s Boy” is a memoir by Andrew Bridge starting with his intense love for his mother and his life with a foster family after she was institutionalized with mental problems, and moving to his success in the academic world thanks to the kindness of teachers. In “Reconciliation: Islam, Democracy and the West,” Benazir Bhutto explores the complicated history between the Middle East and the West in this book the former prime minister of Pakistan finished writing just days before her assassination. “Manic: A Memoir” by Terri Cheney is the story of a highly successful Beverly Hills entertainment lawyer battling debilitating bipolar disorder and concealing a pharmacy’s worth of prescriptions meant to stabilize her moods.

Self-help and meditation

“Inviting Silence: Universal Principles of Meditation” by Gunilla Norris is a practical manual for meditation and mindful living. “Live in a Better Way: Reflections on Truth, Love and Happiness” is a collection of a decade’s worth of annual public lectures given in India by the Dalai Lama. “Letting Go of the Person You Used to Be: Lessons on Change, Loss and Spiritual Transformation” by Lama Surya Das helps you deal with transition, change, suffering, death and other losses. “The Isaiah Effect: Decoding the Lost Science of Prayer and Prophecy” by Gregg Braden is a new interpretation of the key prophecy from the Dead Sea Scrolls. “The Anatomy of Hope: How People Prevail in the Face of Illness” is a guide by Dr. Jerome Groopman to help you deal with the trials and fears of illness.

Quotable quote

“There is no frigate like a book to take us lands away, nor any coursers like a page of prancing poetry…” -- American poet Emily Dickinson.

Thanks to our donors

For books and materials this week we thank Ken Brookshier, Ray Diffee, Scottie Gibson, Addie Greer, Carole Howard, Stacia Kemp, Alta Kimble, Colleen Leonard, Ray McComber, Glenn Raby, Arlette Smith, Patty Tillerson and Marcia Westra.

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