It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas/Hanukkah and the time of winter solstice at the Eastham Library. Deb Abbot and Judy Sebastian from the Friends of the Library created the holiday tree above from books from the Friends Booksale. You might want to try this at home!
We have been very busy this past month updating the Library's Building Program for our new architects. The Building program submitted with our grant proposal was based on data from 2004, and we have added quite a few books and other media to our collection since then. This also gives the Board an opportunity to look again, with fresh eyes at the decisions that were made about what will be in Eastham's new library.
I had an opportunity to attend this month's Chamber of commerce meeting, show some slides of the current conditions in the library and some examples of the new ideas we'd like to include in the new library like a 125 person meeting room for our popular library programs, and displays by local artists and artisans, and better outdoor seating for those who use our wifi when the library isn't open. Time for me to prepare for our community carol sing on Saturday, December 15 at 2pm. Meeting room or not, we still hold programs between the adult stacks

Here's hoping the Holiday season brings us all peace, hope, and the pleasures of friends and family, Cheryl Bryan

EPL Building Commmittee Moving Forward

The Eastham Library Board met with our new architects and Project Manager to review the conceptual plans that were submitted with the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) grant, the engineering studies that have been conducted regarding water storage and required set backs from the adjacent pond, and the list of comments from the MBLC grant review committee and MBLC staff.

Board and community members at the meeting stressed that we plan to retain the "cozy" feel of the library and it's present open airy atmosphere. The architects along with their record for planning energy efficient libraries expressed an interest in blending in a community center feeling in the new library with easily accessible meeting rooms for both library and general community use. It was agreed that we will revise and update the Board's building program and resume work in the new year.

Eastham Hires New Architect Firm for Library

We are happy to announce the Eastham Capital Projects Committee has hired both a Project Manager and an architectural firm for our new library project. There were seven very qualified firms in the RFP process. Three finalists were selected for interviews. All had library experience. The committee selected Oudens Ello and we were able to negotiate a contract with our top choice. WE will keep you posted as our planning proceeds toward the new building. Right now Oudens Ello is completing the Millis Library and planning the West Tisbury Library on Martha's Vineyard. Here is a the model from the Millis Library.

Notifications of new library materials! Sign up now!

A new service is available to Eastham Library users that sends weekly emails to subscribers to let them know what is on order at the Library. You can sign up at You will be able to reserve the newest titles directly from the weekly newsletter and view google preveiws of some titles.

Please let us know how you like the service.

Cheryl I'm reading The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty

Eastham Readers Best Books of 2011

We took a poll of best books for 2011 at the library and on our facebook page. Here's Eastham's list of the best reads this past year.
Fiction:
Cutting for Stone Verghesse
Explosive Eighteen Evanovich
The Help Stockett
Hotel on the corner of Bitter and Sweet Ford
How to save a Life Zarr
Night Road Hannah
On Canaan's side Barry
The Postmistress Blake
Rin Tin Tin Orlean
Second Grave on the Left Jones
Swedish Blond Amiard
We, the Drowned Jensen
When She Woke Jordan
Wild Child Boyle

NonFiction:
Cocktail Hour Under Fuller
Heaven is For Real Burpe
The Swerve Greenblatt
Steve Jobs
The Warmth of Other Suns Wilkerson

Any you would add to our list?