The library has recently acquired Mango Languages, a database designed for language learning. Below is a list we put together of the most important things for you to know about Mango Languages.

1. If you're a Westfield card holder, it's FREE!

Yes, you heard it - free! When you're in the library, you will be able to use Mango Languages on any of our computers. Want to continue the work at home? Have you library card ready and enter in your library card number to keep plugging away. Access the Mango Languages database on our home page at pattersonlibrary.info.

2. You can learn a variety of languages

Mango Languages offers lessons and activities for many languages, including Spanish, French, Italian, German, Russian, English as a second language (ESL), and more! You can even learn Shakespearean English and Pirate to add to your language skills on your resume.  

3. Learn a new language through watching a movie

Learning a new language may require some coursework, but Mango Languages has many fun activities to help such as their feature Mango  Premiere™. Mango Premiere™ is the first and only language-learning resource to teach through film. Turning the entertainment experience into a learning experience, Mango Premiere™ exposes students to four key areas of language learning – vocabulary, phrases, culture and grammar – all while enjoying the fun and excitement of a movie.

4. We're offering in-person demonstrations

Curious and want to try it out? Library director Erin Hauenstein will be hosting a Mango Languages demo on Tuesday, March 15 at 10 a.m.

Time doesn't work for you? Visit us to ask how we can help you get started, or call at 326-2154. We're very excited about this new database and hope we can help you in your journey of learning a new language. 
 

*Photo taken by Linda Probst

"Celebrating National Parks" will open in The Octagon Gallery on Friday, April 1, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The show will feature paintings, photographs, wood sculptures, and archives of United States national parks. Artists featured in the show include Diane Androsik, Tom Annear, Audrey Dowling, James Hoggard, Harold Nass, Linda Probst, and Bill Smith. 

Have a favorite movie or book about our national parks? A memory? Feel free to share below as we celebrate the warmer weather with a tribute to America's national parks.

Hopefully you all had a good holiday season as well as a good recovery period from all the holiday madness. While we at Patterson Library look back at last year with fond memories, we have some exciting things to look forward to in 2016.

From late January to early February, Gallivan Floor Sanding will be sanding and refinishing the floors in our reading and reference rooms on the main floor. Over the years, the hardwood floors in these rooms have experienced some wear and tear. Not only will the renovation improve the appearance of these floors, but it will also eliminate any potential hazards to patrons.

While we are very excited for this project, we will unfortunately have to alter our hours during this two-week period. From Monday, January 25 to Saturday, January 30, the library will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The library will close completely during the second week from Monday, February 1 to Saturday, February 6. We are expected to resume normal hours on Monday, February 8. (Please note that while we are hopeful that these changes in hours will be set, there may be more alterations as the project progresses.)

During the first week of renovations, there will be limited access to the adult collection as the first floor will be closed. New books and DVDs will be kept in the Octagon Art Gallery. Adults will be able to use the computers in the children’s area until 2 p.m. From 2 p.m. to close, all  computers will be reserved for after-school help.

We’re also happy to announce that from Monday, January 25, to Saturday, January 30, we will be offering a fines forgiveness week. This will only be for Westfield items. This means that you will be able to return any late items without having to pay fines. Instead, we are asking you to bring in a donation for the Northern Chautauqua Canine Rescue (NCCR).  If you do not have late items out, but do have late fines, or have lost items, you are also eligible for fine forgiveness based on the NCCR donations chart below. If you are unsure whether you owe fines or not, give us a call to find out.

This project marks the beginning of a big year for the Patterson Library. In August, the building will celebrate its 108th birthday. To continue to maintain the building, we will be launching a fundraiser in the spring for this year’s list of building projects including security upgrades, environmental controls installation, wall and ceiling repair, carpet replacement, and teen space upgrades.

​For now, that’s all we have. We will continue to keep you updated on the floor renovations, fine forgiveness week, and details regarding the upcoming fundraiser. Until then, if you have any questions, feel free to call us at 326-2154, or email at [email protected]
 
Warmest Regards,
Patterson Library Staff
​

written by Nancy Nixon Ensign, Special Collections 

Just a few weeks ago a small male or female walrus tusk was returned into the Patterson Library's book drop box with a note wrapped around it "Patterson Natural History Collection-stolen 30 years ago (not by me) Walrus Tusk returned." This taxidermy  item  returned  to the Natural Science collection makes for an interesting question in itself,  "What other specimens have been removed from this site and are on their way back? "

"Natural history collections are demonstrably important –- not just for education and cultural reasons, but for wider environmental reasons too. If we want to maintain our biodiversity and understand changes in our environment we need to sustain our natural history collections. Natural science collections underpin our understanding of the planet and the life that lives on it. Natural science collections can also provide rich historical record of cultural activity and a valuable tool for engaging people from all backgrounds with the diversity of life on their doorstep and on the rest of the planet.  Those specimens in the Patterson collection are the only way of studying the species and represent that they are a reminder of the importance of conservation before time runs out. "

The Patterson Library Robert Harter Memorial Natural Science Room was a designated  repository of several fine collections of natural history for scientific study or display.   The Harter Room housed the rock and mineral collections of the later Arthur Macer and GW Patterson.  A wide range collection of sea shells from John D. Patterson gathered prior to the 1870's and by the Rev. Tinker  who spent many years as a missionary in Hawaii.  In 1832, Rev. Tinker was sent on a mission to the Marquesas where ,it is believed, the sea shells were found.  The collection was identified and classified in the early 1970's by Rev. and Mrs. Marlin Stewart.  There are over 300 varieties of shells in the collections including two rare golden cowries.   The library proudly displays a collection of stuffed animals completed in the early 1900;s by HW Mossman , and a spectacular bird collection formerly owned by John D. Patterson of some 255 specimens collected during the 1860's and 1870's.  The natural science collection is now spread throughout the Patterson Library as the room is now the site of the Local History Archives housing hundreds of genealogy and local history books dating back into the early 1800's.

I want to thank the person in question for returning this gloriously preserved specimen back to the Patterson Library. It is without doubt, one of the more interesting items which has been returned into the Book Drop!

​Nancy Nixon Ensign and Audrey Dowling have been friends for many years now. Nancy and Audrey both show off their plein air paintings  in "Stalking the Elusive Landscape," now on display in the Octagon Art Gallery. Check out the video of Audrey talking about her work and friendship with Nancy. 

Patterson Library is pleased to announce that for this year's 2015 Chicken BBQ and Auction, a vacation rental in Duck, North Carolina, will be available for bidding.

A week-long block is available for choosing during fall of this year or spring 2016. This beach house offers many amenities for a great escape from the cold weather of Western New York. The space is about 2800 square feet with four bedrooms, 3.5 baths and a fully stocked kitchen (no food). Scroll down to check out pictures of the house! 

The Patterson Library Benefit Auction and Chicken BBQ will be held on Wednesday, August 19, 2015, at Eason Hall. The preview and silent auction will start off the night at 5 p.m. The chicken BBQ dinner will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 6 :30 p.m. and the auction will begin at 6:45 p.m. The dinner will have a delicious array of choices that include chicken bbq, potato salad, watermelon, rolls, coleslaw, desserts and other beverages. BYOB, if so desired. Tickets for the chicken bbq are $10 and are available for presale at the front desk of the Patterson Library. Other items at the chicken bbq include a brand new Roadmaster mountain bike, ceramic coffee set and various other antiques and decor.

Duck is a small beach town on the east coast of North Carolina. Duck has consistently ranked high on the Travel Channel’s annual America’s Best Beaches list and has placed on the best beaches list since 2000. Duck offers a variety of fun events and great eats that make for a fantastic getaway! 

Holy moly, where has half of this year gone?!  Well here we are on the precipice of July, by far our busiest and most exciting month of the year!  Summer reading starts in just a week and then in a few more weeks we will have our Annual Used Book Sale.  Then we take a deep breath and start getting ready for the BBQ and Auction (Ok, that last one is in August, but the planning starts in July!)  Between prepping for storytimes and coming up with advertisements for our events...by the way...did I mention that the Used Book Sale will be July 16th-18th?...we have been slacking with the blog posts.  Shame on us!  I wanted to leave you with a little something to let you all know how sorry we are for being absent.  This made me smile as soon as I saw it.

Cheers!
EH;LD