It’s November, and it’s time to “solarize,” according to Vital Communities in the Upper Valley, a group that simply wants to help you get hooked up to solar power.

Andover, Wilmot, and New London applied and were accepted to the program, meaning the availability of solar energy will be getting a whole lot easier and more affordable – the more residents who sign on, the less expensive it will be for each one.

Visit your libraries for information and details about signing up to have the program’s chosen installer, ReVision Energy, come visit your house.

To promote this program and other forms of alternative energy, the libraries will be showcasing related materials, including five new books:

• The Homeowner’s Guide to Renewable Energy: Achieving Energy Independence Through Solar, Wind, Biomass, and Hydropower by Dan Chiras
• Solar Electricity Handbook: A Simple, Practical Guide to Solar Energy – Designing and Installing Photovoltaic Solar Electric Systems by Michael Boxwell
• The New Solar Home by Dave Bonta and Stephen Snyder
• Catch the Wind, Harness the Sun (for kids eight to twelve years old) by Michael J Caduto
• Real Goods Solar Living Sourcebook: Your Complete Guide to Living Beyond the Grid with Renewable Energy by John Schaeffer

Come check one out soon!

And if your mind is on your children’s stories, try these two. The 2013 Newbury Medal winner, The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate, based on a true story, showcases a suburbanized gorilla who discovers friendship and hope through art and a new elephant friend. Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstein details the adventures of kids locked into a super new library, with only 24 hours to figure out how to escape – or else!