Agawam Library           The Bookcase         September 2021 
Welcome Autumn!
Fall Hours Begin! 

Beginning after Labor Day, the library will be going back to our full Fall Hours:
 
Monday-Thursday: 9:00am-9:00pm
Friday: 10:00am-6:00pm
Saturday: 10:00am-5:00pm
Holiday Closing

The library will be closed on Monday,
September 6th for Labor Day. We will reopen on Tuesday, September 7th at 9:00 am. 

Tech Talk to begin in September!
Second and Fourth Thursdays
Register on our online calendar!
We are excited to be offering something new! Sign up for Tech Talk on the second and fourth Thursdays of the months, beginning September 9th. Adult Services Library Associate Laura Paul will be on hand to provide assistance with library apps and software. Learn how to install, download and use Libby on your phone and tablet! Learn all about Hoopla and how to use it! 
 
Participants will see a demonstration of the apps and then have time for hands-on and questions with Laura. Our group size is limited to 12 people, so registration is recommended. Drop-ins are welcome if space allows.
 
Contact Laura Paul with your questions: (413) 789-1550 X8858 or email: lpaul@agawamlibrary.org. 
Remembering September 11th
Visit the library to receive your flag.
Available at all service desks. 


 
Scan the QR code for additional reading
about September 11. 


Why Does My Cat DO That?
Understanding Your Cat's Behavior
with Cat Behaviorist Rachel Geller
Thursday, September 9 @ 7:00 p.m.
This is a ZOOM event. Please register here. 


Ever wonder why your cat does certain things? Acts a certain way? Do they even understand what we're saying? Join us as we welcome Cat Behaviorist, Rachel Geller. Hot off the Tales and Tails Summer, we're continuing our love for our furry friends! 
Free English Classes for Adult ESL Students
Classes are held on Wednesdays from
6:00—7:30 p.m. in the library's Peirce Room beginning September 15th.

This free class is sponsored by the Friends of the Agawam Public Library and is open to all adult learners who are looking to improve their English in the areas of speaking, reading and writing. This course will cover grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation and various aspects of conversational English. 
Giselle Rose-Burroughs, the instructor, is a former Berlitz Language Instructor with extensive experiences as an American English
Language Coach. 
 
For further information and to register, please contact Nancy Siegel at the Agawam Public Library at (413) 789-1550 X8855 or email nsiegel@agawamlibrary.org
 
Mango Languages is Here!

Here's your chance to learn a new language with a fun, interactive learning database. Mango provides step by step lesson plans for 71 different languages. This database features ESL lessons for Arabic, Cantonese, Mandarin, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Brazilian Portuguese, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Turkish, and Vietnamese speakers. Check out our databases page to get started!
Coming Soon!
Tired of having bad wi-fi when you travel? 
Borrow a hot 
spot from the Library!
  
 
Circulating hot spots will be available
mid-September!

 
 More details to follow.
Fall Gardening Tips 
 Fall is the best time to plant your garlic. 
 
 
 
Growing Garlic-(Continued from July)
by Laura Paul
 
Garlic is best planted in the fall, one or two weeks after the first killing frost or 4 to 6 weeks before the ground freezes. This allows the roots to start growing just a little before the ground is too cold.
You should carefully separate the cloves a day of two before planting, making sure not to damage the clove and also keep the papery cover on the clove. Plant the biggest cloves to get the biggest heads. If you have any small cloves you can either eat them or plant them in a separate space marked off and use them for green garlic in the spring.
I generally add some bagged, composted cow manure to add nutrients and organic material to the soil. The cloves go pointed side up, 4 to 5 inches deep and approximately 6 inches apart. Pat down the soil over your planted rows and water if the soil is dry.
Cover the garlic beds with about 4 inches of straw or leaf mulch. This will help conserve water, control weeds and prevent the garlic from starting to grow too early if there is an early warm spell.  
And that’s all there is to planting garlic. There will be a couple things to do in the spring and early summer before it can be harvested and cured but planting is fairly easy.


 
Our Seed Library has Moved!
We are making the seed library a permanent addition to the library! Be sure to visit the new home of the all seasons seed library on the lower level. Enjoy the new set-up, designed to provide seeds, pamphlets, and books on gardening based on the four seasons. To celebrate, check out these tips for your September gardening!    
Gardening Steps for September
by Shari Petrucci
Make note of trouble areas
The first thing to do is to make note of any problem areas in the garden due to pests and diseases. Pull any infected plants and put them in the trash. Do not compost the affected plants because the disease or pests will harbor in the compost over winter and spread into next year’s garden when you use it.
 
Have your soil tested
UMass Extension Soil and Plant Nutrient Testing Laboratory
The extension will test your soil for ph, nutrient deficiencies, and toxins. This will guide you to when and what amendments you can apply to the soil for a healthier garden. Click on the link to access their website for more information on how to collect the soil and mail it to them.
 
Divide oversized perennials
As you’ve probably noticed by now some of the perennials have had their day in the sun but their glory has passed. Divide daylilies, daffodils, catmint, iris, etc. After dividing and planting, cut them back to the ground and fertilize sparingly as not to burn the new root growth. They will grow a little and roots will strengthen and anchor before winter. Fluff up and rake the soil clean of debris around the plants, pat it down firmly with the back of a hoe.
Plant Spring Bulbs
Now is the time to plant spring bulbs such as tulips, crocus, hyacinth, etc. Follow the planting instructions and pay special attention to soil depth in relation to the size of the bulb, tuber or rhizome. Mark their spots with a popsicle stick to remember what and where you planted them. Be careful not to step on these places in the spring and ruin their growing patterns.  
 
Begin the cleanup process
Remove finished vegetable and annual flowers and put them in the compost. Cut back the rest of your herbs for drying and seed saving. Fluff and rake the beds clean of debris. This process will continue through October as the plants wane so don’t pressure yourself to finish all of the beds in one weekend! Clean and put away hardscape decorations such as gnomes, birdbaths, hanging chimes, lanterns and cloth covered shade shelters such as gazebos and umbrellas. Again, take your time from now through October.
 
For more information on any of these topics, visit our seed library which is now located on the lower level around the corner from the elevator. There will be books on the subject matter as well as handouts. Check out the book stacks in the 635.9’s for month by month gardening.
 
Celebrate ##NationalVoterRegistrationDay! Let’s Get Every American Registered and #VoteReady.
 
Have you moved since the last election? New to Agawam or Feeding Hills? Recently celebrated your 18th birthday?

The Agawam Library is a partner for National Voter Registration
Day. We can help you get registered! Help us spread the word!
 
We welcome new members to our Book Discussion Groups. Click the logos for more information.
 
Please visit our library's gallery to enjoy our

Featured
Artist for September:

Isabel Margolin
Mosaics
September 24-30, 2021

The Agawam Library is pleased to be partnering with the Pioneer and Farmington Valley Library Collaborative and Voices Rising Together and Environmental Justice group in presenting a series of week-long programs during Climate Change Preparedness Week. The series will be science-based, educational, and focused on fostering conversations that encourage citizens to engage in solution-seeking at the personal, local, state and/or national levels. There will be in-person and virtual events for all ages throughout the week. Here are some of the programs in development:
 
  • Virtual Presentation with the Massachusetts Library System: How to Survive Climate Change:  A Guide to Surviving Climate Change with author David Pogue.
  • Hawk Migration Hike/Walk on Blueberry Hill in Granville
  • Story time and Science Rocks! for children and crafts and trivia for teens!
  • Virtual Presentation: Discussion of the the Book The Outdoor Citizen: Get Out, Give Back, Get Active with author John Judge, President of AMC
  • Adult and Teen Take and Make Craft Kits
  • Mindful Outdoor Experience with Colleen Mollica
  •  Virtual Presentation: Code Red For Humanity:  Understanding Global Warming’s Risks & What Each Of Us Can Do with Climate Scientist Dr. Carsten Braun.
  • Virtual Panel Discussion with local experts: Resilience and Preparedness in a Changing Climate.
  • Sustainable Cookbook Club.
Stay tuned for an additional email later this month with more details. 
 
And all at once, Summer collapsed into Fall. ~Oscar Wilde
 
Agawam Library
750 Cooper St
Agawam, Massachusetts 01001
(413) 789-1550

https://www.agawamlibrary.org/