Fill Out Our Survey by Friday, October 23 – Help Us Plan Library Services!

What services would you like to see offered at Abbot Public Library during this unusual time? Help us help you by filling out a quick survey online by Friday, October 23rd, or pick up a print copy on the Curbside cart when you come to pick up your library items! Your feedback will be beneficial to us as we structure our public services, both inside the building and online, while maintaining health and safety protocols. 

If you prefer doing things on paper, grab a printed survey from the Curbside Cart and put it in the “Completed Surveys” folder by Friday, October 23rd. We appreciate your time and assistance! 

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Summer Doldrums–Sorted! August Movies of the Month on hoopla and DVD

The dog days are definitely dragging on. Do you feel like you’ve been there, done that with your summer viewing? If you don’t have the energy to trawl through whatever’s available on TV right now (face it, you know there’s nothing), then hoopla and the Abbot Public Library have some ideas for you! 

Too heat-beat to budge from the couch–or really to move anything except your fingers? hoopla’s got a fabulous little curated collection right at your fingertips. Explore August Movies of the Month for a spectrum of offerings, from an Academy Award winner to a couple of indies to an almost cult-status tween favorite. You can revisit 2016’s Moonlight and recall the historic mixup at the 2017 Oscars. Lad: A Yorkshire Tale certainly didn’t achieve such dizzying heights of acclaim, but as an endearing coming-of-age story in the cool, green landscape of God’s Own Country, it should satisfy.

Or, if you like, travel to the southern end of the Eastern Hemisphere and take in a South African-flavored romance that’s a bit off the beaten track: Forever. With 1,013 viewer reviews averaging 4.5 stars, you probably won’t regret following the path less traveled! And who could say no to Anne Hathaway in her early-career charmer Ella Enchanted? With elements of sci-fi, fairy tale, and fantasy (as well as romance), this is one for the whole family on a balmy summer’s evening.

If you find that you need a good stretch, then hop off the couch and try out APL’s curbside service for the DVD versions of a number of the titles recommended on hoopla: Moonlight, Florence Foster Jenkins, Legally Blonde, and The Last Word are ready for you to place on hold and pick up when they’re ready! And if you don’t see your choice on that list, remember that you can get some of the rest of the titles via interlibrary loan, through APL: A Small Act, Human Capital, Knock Knock, and The Rover! And right now, all DVDs have no checkout fee, too–our treat!

Here’s hoping we’ve helped you beat those summer doldrums!

If you’re new to hoopla, have a look here to get started. If you don’t currently have a library card, you can get started here. It’s easy!

Save The Date For A Virtual Baseball-Themed Author Talk!

Step up to the plate and put this date in your calendar – on Wednesday, August 26th, at 7:00 pm, you are invited to join a special event via Zoom! Co-sponsored by Abbot Public Library, Jewish Community Center of the North Shore (JCCNS), and Lappin Foundation, this event will feature Larry Ruttman of Brookline, who will be discussing his book, American Jews and America’s Game (chosen the best baseball book in the country in 2013 by Sports Collectors Digest); as well as his forthcoming  memoir, Larry Ruttman – A Memoir: An Existential Triad of Friendship, Maturation and Inquisitiveness. And, moderating the event will be baseball polymath and legal expert, Professor Jack Beermann!

Visit the library’s website for more details about this event and how to access it! All the information for joining on Zoom is also listed below. 

Author Larry Ruttman
Professor Jack Beermann

Reserve your copy of American Jews and America’s Game today for Curbside Pickup or read the ebook version on Overdrive/the Libby app. 

If you want even more baseball books and other materials, check out more print baseball books or DVDs (with no checkout fee while we offer Curbside Service!) to include in your bag o’books, or see what items are available online on Overdrive and hoopla


Information to access the Zoom meeting is as follows: 

Topic: Larry Ruttman

Time: Aug 26, 2020 06:45 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting by clicking this link

Meeting ID: 846 2054 3240

Passcode: 556041

One tap mobile (for Massachusetts, use the New York line)

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Dial by your location

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Meeting ID: 846 2054 3240

Passcode: 556041

Find your local number here.

The Fae Folk: Stories featuring Fairies and Faeries

Fairies have been a part of our folklore for years and tales of their wicked and mischievous deeds have made their way into many of today’s fantasy novels. So, if you are interested in stories featuring the courts and world of fairies, or faeries, check out this list below and let us know your favorite faires/faeries stories. For physical copies of these books, please read these instructions for reserving titles for Curbside Pickup. 

*All book descriptions are from the publisher.

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

Jude was seven years old when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King. To win a place at the Court, she must defy him—and face the consequences.

In doing so, she becomes embroiled in palace intrigues and deceptions, discovering her own capacity for bloodshed. But as civil war threatens to drown the Courts of Faerie in violence, Jude will need to risk her life in a dangerous alliance to save her sisters, and Faerie itself.

Accessible as an Overdrive ebook/audiobook and physical book.

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

Rule #3: Don’t stare at invisible faeries.

Aislinn has always seen faeries. Powerful and dangerous, they walk hidden in the mortal world. Aislinn fears their cruelty-especially if they learn of her Sight-and wishes she were as blind to their presence as other teens.

Rule #2: Don’t speak to invisible faeries.

Now faeries are stalking her. One of them, Keenan, who is equal parts terrifying and alluring, is trying to talk to her, asking questions Aislinn is afraid to answer.

Rule #1: Don’t ever attract their attention.

But it’s too late. Keenan is the Summer King who has sought his queen for nine centuries. Without her, summer itself will perish. He is determined that Aislinn will become the Summer Queen at any cost-regardless of her plans or desires.

Suddenly none of the rules that have kept Aislinn safe are working anymore, and everything is on the line: her freedom, her best friend, Seth, her life-everything.

Accessible as a hoopla ebook/audiobook and physical book.

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas (previously mentioned in YA Beauty and the Beast Retellings and a staff pick on the ACOTAR Series)

When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a terrifying creature arrives to demand retribution. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she knows about only from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not truly a beast, but one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled her world. At least, he’s not a beast all the time.

As she adapts to her new home, her feelings for the faerie, Tamlin, transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie she’s been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But something is not right in the faerie lands. An ancient, wicked shadow is growing, and Feyre must find a way to stop it, or doom Tamlin-and his world-forever.

Accessible as an Overdrive ebook/audiobook and physical book

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan’s life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school…or at home.

When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she’s known is about to change. But she could never have guessed the truth.

For Meghan is the daughter of a mythical faery king…and a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she’ll go to save someone she cares about, stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face…and find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.

Accessible as an Overdrive ebook and physical book.

Lament by Maggie Stiefvater

Sixteen-year-old Deirdre Monaghan is a painfully shy but prodigiously gifted musician. She’s about to find out she’s also a cloverhand—one who can see faeries. Deirdre finds herself infatuated with a mysterious boy who enters her ordinary suburban life, seemingly out of thin air. Trouble is, the enigmatic and gorgeous Luke turns out to be a gallowglass—a soulless faerie assassin. An equally hunky—and equally dangerous—dark faerie soldier named Aodhan is also stalking Deirdre. Sworn enemies, Luke and Aodhan each have a deadly assignment from the Faerie Queen. Namely, kill Deirdre before her music captures the attention of the Fae and threatens the Queen’s sovereignty. Caught in the crossfire with Deirdre is James, her wisecracking but loyal best friend. Deirdre had been wishing her life weren’t so dull, but getting trapped in the middle of a centuries-old faerie war isn’t exactly what she had in mind…

Accessible as an Overdrive ebook, hoopla ebook, and physical book

Wings by Aprilynne Pike

Laurel was mesmerized, staring at the pale things with wide eyes. They were terrifyingly beautiful—too beautiful for words.

Laurel turned to the mirror again, her eyes on the hovering petals that floated beside her head. They looked almost like wings.

In this extraordinary tale of magic and intrigue, romance and danger, everything you thought you knew about faeries will be changed forever.

Accessible as an Overdrive audiobook, hoopla ebook/audiobook, and physical book.

Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston

Since the dawn of time, the Faerie have taken…. Seventeen-year-old actress Kelley Winslow always thought faeries were just something from childhood stories. Then she meets Sonny Flannery. He’s a changeling-a mortal taken as an infant and raised among Faerie-and within short order he’s turned Kelley’s heart inside out and her life upside down. For Kelley’s beloved Central Park isn’t just a park-it’s a gateway between her ordinary city and the Faerie’s dangerous, bewitching Otherworld. Now Kelley’s eyes are opening not just to the Faerie that surround her, but to the heritage that awaits her… a destiny both wondrous and strange.

Accessible as a hoopla ebook/audiobook and physical book.

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

Twelve-year-old Artemis Fowl is a millionaire, a genius, and above all, a criminal mastermind. But even Artemis doesn’t know what he’s taken on when he kidnaps a fairy, Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon Unit. These aren’t the fairies of bedtime stories—they’re dangerous!

Accessible as an Overdrive ebook/audiobook, hoopla ebook, and physical book

Vet on Call! Visit Herriot Country via Overdrive/Libby, Acorn TV, and DVD

Remember the days when a trip to a petting zoo or small farm was an absolute delight? Perhaps it still is! There’s much to be said for the therapeutic value of low-stress contact with farm animals, whether you’re feeding a pony a carrot, trying your hand at milking a goat, or simply sinking your fingers into a lamb’s soft wool.

While the life of a country vet is far from placid, as Alf Wight (writing as James Herriot) could attest, there are many such moments of grace–and even more humor–to be found in his semi-autobiographical series of books set in the scenic Yorkshire Dales. Beloved the world over for nearly 50 years, four of the five titles (as published in the U.S.) were inspired by a beloved British hymn: All Things Bright and Beautiful, All Creatures Great and Small (also available on hoopla), All Things Wise and Wonderful, and The Lord God Made Them All (the final title is Every Living Thing). As promised (see this previous post), all of these are now available for your listening pleasure on Overdrive/Libby! Relax into the world of Darrowby and its surrounding farms as mellow-voiced Christopher Timothy brings Jim Herriot and the various eccentric village characters to vivid life. It’s hard to imagine tales less in keeping with the current state of affairs, and therein lies their charm. That’s not to say that they’re sentimental or that sad events do not intrude, but the tales do radiate a comforting sense that “there’ll always be an England.”

If you’ve streamed The Yorkshire Vet on Acorn TV (as previously suggested) and have become engrossed in the day-to-day drama and humor of the Herriot/Wight practice as it operates today, then you’ll be pleased to know that there’s a brand-new series 6 available! It just premiered on July 20th and offers 8 all-new episodes, some featuring Alf Wight’s affable protégé, Peter Wright.

And if you’re up for some 1970s-80s TV nostalgia, it’s hard to do better than the renowned BBC television series All Creatures Great and Small (starring no less than Robert Hardy of Harry Potter fame, alongside Christopher Timothy and Peter Davison), which spins its particular brand of charm over seven seasons two Christmas specials. Now that the library is offering Curbside Pickup, you can place holds on the DVDs in the library catalog here, and get them with no rental fees! New to curbside pickup? Have a look at this post for all the details.

Savour a slice of Herriot heaven and let us know what you think in the comments below!

Updates to Curbside Pickup!

For the convenience of patrons, we are shifting our Saturday Curbside Pickup times to include morning hours, 9:00 am – Noon, and afternoon appointments will be scheduled from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm. Monday through Friday Curbside Service Hours will remain the same, from 2:00 pm – 5:30 pm.

We hope these revised Saturday hours will better fit with everyone’s busy weekend schedules. We are also planning to start offering online registration for pickup appointments, to make setting up a time to pick up your items faster and easier! 

Below are the full instructions for the Curbside Pickup Service. Please read them carefully, and if you have any questions, let us know at mar@noblenet.org or by calling 781-631-1481, Ext. 201 (Main Desk) or 217 (Children’s Room) during our service hours! 

CURBSIDE PICKUP HOURS

Mondays through Fridays

2:00 pm – 5:30 pm

Saturdays

9:30 am – Noon
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Abbot Public Library staff will be available to help patrons online at mar@noblenet.org or via phone during Curbside Pickup Hours at 781-631-1481. 

Please note: the preferred method of communication is via email at mar@noblenet.org. The library will be working with a limited staff, due to social distancing protocols.

PROCESS FOR CURBSIDE PICKUP

Step One

Request items by placing holds through your online account through your online account. If you cannot access your account, call 781-631-1481 during the service hours listed above. If you do not have an account, you can register online here

Step Two

Staff will collect books available in Marblehead within 48 hours of request. Items from other libraries may take longer due to delays in the interlibrary delivery service.

Step Three

You will be notified when your holds come in, via text, email, or phone call, according to your preference. 

To change your notification setting, go to Account Preferences > Notification Preferences on your online account.

Step Four

Once you receive a notification that your requested items have come in, please call the library at (781) 631-1481 during service hours to schedule a pickup time. Soon, we will be offering online registration to make it easier to set up an appointment. 

Appointments can be scheduled Mondays through Fridays from 2:00 pm and 5:45 pm, and Saturdays from 9:30 am – Noon and 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm. 

Please do not schedule a pickup until you have been notified that your items have come in. 

Step Five

At your appointment time, come to the back entrance, through the parking lot off of Maverick Street, to pick up your items.

Please wear a mask and follow social distancing protocols during pickup, as a safety measure to benefit all.

Items will be checked out in advance and placed in paper bags labelled with your last name. Please feel free to grab your bag and go! 

If you don’t see your bag, please wait until your appointment time. If it still isn’t there, call the library at 781-631-1481.

PLEASE NOTE: if you have any returns when you come to pick up your materials, we now have a black Library Return Bin located near the read entrance where you can place your returns. 

***Please return library materials only  – we are currently unable to accept donations.***

RETURNS

Returns will be collected on Mondays through Saturdays from the outside book returns located in front of the library, on Pleasant Street, as well as by the rear entrance. There will be no fines on late items!

If you have any items that do not fit in the library return, please call 781-631-1481 during service hours to schedule a return.

Please do not leave returns on the pickup cart.


We appreciate your understanding and patience during this unprecedented time. With these safety measures, we hope to prevent the spread of the virus while offering appropriate services to our patrons!

Reserve These New Library Books For Curbside Pickup!

These are just a few of the new books Abbot Public Library has to offer for Curbside Pickup! Just click the links in the titles below and log in to your account to reserve your copy. Please read the full instructions for Curbside Pickup Service for further details. If you don’t want to wait for the physical book, some titles may be available to check out in digital formats through our online services.

28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand

Nothing feels like summer like reading an Elin Hilderbrand novel. Get away to Nantucket for sun, sailing, and a journey with her well-crafted novels. A movie which started as a play in 1975, Same time, Next Year, inspired the book. Mallory Blessing has been meeting Jake McCloud for 28 years on Labor Day weekend, but they are both married to other people. When Mallory receives bad news about her health, she has to face what might be their last meeting. 

You can reserve the physical copy or check it out in ebook or audiobook format on Overdrive or through the Libby app. Hilderbrand’s next book coming soon is Troubles in Paradise, which you can also reserve now for Curbside Pickup.

The Friends We Keep by Jane Green

Prolific writer Jane Green is the author of Swapping Lives and Falling, as well as many others. Her latest novel follows the lives of Evvie, Maggie, and Topher, who became fast friends during college. Through the ups and downs of life their friendship has remained a constant anchor, but one betraying secret threatens to damage these ties when they need each other most.

You can reserve the physical copy or check it out in ebook or audiobook format.

Christmas Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

Christmas in July! This brilliant writer can always bring a smile to the reader in her humorous fiction. In the latest volume of her Shopaholic Series, Becky Brandon (née Bloomwood) is suddenly hosting her first family Christmas party. Between her quest (which becomes quite involved) to find her husband, Luke, the perfect present, and planning the perfect party for her friends and family, Becky might be in over her head. Lovable, familiar characters make this a cozy read.

Reserve the physical copy or the ebook format, and keep a lookout for Kinsella’s latest book coming out soon!

Keep Cool and Carry On: Ice-Cold Movies on hoopla!

No doubt about it–it can be scorching hot out there, even by the seaside, now that July is in full swing! If you’re about ready to dump an ice bucket over your head, hang on. Save that ice for a cooling beverage and pop on over to hoopla, where the Abbot Public Library has curated some Arctic (and Antarctic) titles to seriously cool you off.

Have a look at the collection titled 2020 APL Keep Cool and Carry On for some heat-beating film adventures. If you’re wishing yourself far, far away in the frozen tundra, grab your explorer’s gear and hitch a ride to the South Pole with some spellbinding documentaries. 

Award-winning Antarctica: A Year on Ice gives you a window onto an alien world and those who live there–both animal and human–through the lens of talented nature photographer Anthony Powell. Climate change-conscious Antarctica: Ice and Sky  is an entrancing biopic of Claude Lorius, whose research as a glaciologist was vital to our understanding of the deleterious effects of human industry.

Or head north to the Arctic Circle for more tales of derring-do with Across the Ice. You’ll be keeping company with intrepid explorers Sebastian Copeland and Eric McNair Landry as they chase a Guinness record, kite-skiing the length of Greenland. Get your snowshoes on for an extreme trek across 4000 kilometers of the Canadian Arctic with Adam Shoalts (Alone Across the Arctic.) Some frigid thrills await in feature film Icequake: Panic in the Alps,where a wedding party finds themselves in a nail-biting predicament . Whew! You may just break out in a frozen sweat!

Looking for something a little less white-knuckle and just a shade or two warmer? Lose yourself in a late-life romance between a Czech widow and a charming “ice-swimmer” after a dramatic rescue in Ice Mother. Or watch a comically awful father-son relationship unfold as they try to connect over a shared hobby–ice fishing (Frozen Stupid with Academy Award-winning actor Ernest Borgnine.)

So tune into hoopla and keep your cool–all you need is your library card!

Oh, and by the way, if you’d like access to our expansive DVD collection full of the coolest (and hottest) titles, you’re in luck! Please see the post “What You Need to Know for Curbside Pickup” for all the details. And–good news–during Curbside Service, there is no fee to borrow DVDs!

If you’re new to hoopla, have a look at our FAQs page for pointers. And if you don’t currently have a library card, you can easily get started here.