Two things to talk about in this week’s column: jazz and internet.

First, jazz. If you haven’t yet bought tickets for Saturday’s fundraising jazz concert, please do! If possible, buy a dozen! All the proceeds will benefit children’s programming at the Sea and Science Center and here at our library.

Kids learn so much at BSSC: sailing, marine biology, even the physics of blowing wind. Everything raised at the concert helps kids right here in the Boothbay region.

And children’s programming at the library! Well, if you’re a regular reader, you already know we love the little ones. Last week one little girl, who couldn’t have been more than 4 or 5, followed her parents through the front door and exclaimed, “Wow! Look at all these books!” Our hearts just melted.

On Friday, we had about 25 of the little cuties in for story hour (rainy days will do that). That’s a lot of toddlers. Miss Harolyn, our children’s librarian, is quite possibly the world’s most incredible woman, and she handled it like the pro she is.

No sooner had that mayhem ceased when Camp Knickerbocker’s Scamper Campers filed in for their weekly story time and craft. Never a dull moment!

Funds raised by the concert help us keep the story times going, the craft closet stocked, and allow us to host programs like Lindsay and Her Puppet Pals, which is happening on Thursday, July 23, at 10 a.m. on our lawn.

So give something to yourself with your donation, and grab your tickets online at bbhlibrary.org/2019jazz, by calling us at 633-3112, or just swing over. We promise you’ll have a great time while supporting some really great children’s programming.

The second topic for today’s column is internet. If you were in the library on Friday the 12th or Saturday the 13th, you’ll know that we were operating like it’s 1995. No internet!

It was worse than 1995, though. In 1995, we were set up to check books in and out by hand. Now, there’s no such system. We can take down your library card number, name, and the title and barcode of the book you’re checking out, but as soon as the internet’s back (that happened on Sunday), we have to enter every one of those checkouts into the computers.

It also means no books get checked back in; the delivery of inter-library loan books can’t be processed; people can’t use public computers to check email; and virtually no printing.

It was, however, a pleasant reminder that when technology fails, words printed on a page become an invaluable resource.

Of course, we knew that already. That’s partly why we have beefed up our survivalist collection over the last few years. If the zombie apocalypse comes to Boothbay, head to the 790s section of nonfiction upstairs for general skills, with books like “365 Survival Skills: Knowledge That Will Keep You Alive,” the 610s for natural medicine, including “National Geographic Guide to Medicinal Herbs: The World’s Most Effective Healing Plants,” and the 630s for titles like “Mini Farming: Self Sufficiency on ¼ Acre.”

Print books: because you just never know what tomorrow might bring.

Upcoming events

College Admissions Counseling/SAT prep: Wednesdays, 9 a.m.-noon and noon-1 p.m. Community Room.

Lindsay and Her Puppet Pals: Tues., July 23, 10-11 a.m. Giant puppet show on our lawn.

Rendezvous with Rachel Revere: Weds., July 24, 2-3 p.m., library lawn. Be transported back in time to revolutionary America and learn about Rachel Revere's role in our history.

Fair Weather Films: Fridays, 8 p.m., library lawn. Up next: “Groundhog Day.”

Books in Boothbay: Saturday, July 27, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Boothbay Railway Village.