Tompkins County Public Library

Monday, November 22, 2010

LIBRARY TO HOST TECHNOLOGY “PETTING ZOOS”

Planning to stock up on the latest gadgets and gizmos this holiday season? Why not visit the Library for a chance to preview and compare the latest eReaders and electronic devices?

The Library will host four Technology “Petting Zoos” during November and December, which will allow patrons to try out and compare the Barnes and Noble Nook and Amazon Kindle, the Apple iPad and “100 Classic Books” for the Nintendo DSI. Librarians will also be on-hand to expertly demonstrate the devices and answer questions.

The sessions will be held in the Library’s Avenue of the Friends.

• Monday, November 22 from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM
• Tuesday, November 23 from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM
• Monday, December 6 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
• Wednesday, December 8 from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

LIBRARY TO OFFER PROGRAM ON HISTORY OF SALVATION ARMY IN TOMPKINS COUNTY

The Tompkins County Public Library will host Salvation Army Colonels Frank and Yvonne Payton for a fascinating look at the history of the Salvation Army in Tompkins County, Wednesday, November 17 at 5:00 PM in the BorgWarner Community Room.

The Paytons were born into the Salvation Army family--both Frank and Yvonne’s parents were Salvation Army officers—and they have spent their lives serving the organization in various capacities.

Frank’s parents, Edwin and Elsie Payton, moved to Ithaca, with four-month-old Frank, in 1933 to take the helm of the local Salvation Army Corps. During their nearly two years in Ithaca the elder Paytons were instrumental in establishing the men’s lodge in the basement of the Salvation Army building at 121 West State Street and the still-active Salvation Army Brass Band.

While they were called to other areas, Edwin and Elsie grew so fond of the Ithaca area that they purchased property in Danby and spent annual family vacations there---instilling in Frank a lifelong love and admiration for the area.

Yvonne was born in Johnson City to Salvation Army officer parents and became an officer herself in 1958. She and Frank traveled extensively through their work with S.A., including posts in Puerto Rico, Argentina, Jamaica and Mexico.

Now formally retired, the Payton’s reside locally and are dedicated volunteers of the local Salvation Army. Their talk will provide an illustrated look at the history of the Salvation Army and its work in Tompkins County. They have been conducting research about the Salvation Army at the Library for more than a year, in preparation for the organization’s 125th anniversary.

This program is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Carrie Wheeler-Carmenatty at (607) 272-4557 extension 248.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

LIBRARY TO OFFER DOWNLOAD TRAINING

The Tompkins County Public Library will offer free information and training on OverDrive, its free downloadable audiobook, eBook, music and video service, Tuesday, November 16 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM in the BorgWarner Community Room East.

A service of the Finger Library System, OverDrive allows patrons to access best-selling titles anytime, anywhere by visiting http://flls.lib.overdrive.com/.

With hundreds of popular fiction and non-fiction titles to choose from, the new collection is guaranteed to have something for everyone, including: best-selling novels, well-known classics, self-improvement guides, and much more.

Library patrons can browse the collection, check out items and download their selections to a PC, Mac or mobile device. During the training, participants will benefit from an overview of the service, a demonstration on how to browse, checkout and download, and a question and answer session.

For more information about OverDrive or the training session, contact Jennifer Schlossberg at (607) 272-4557 extension 254.

Monday, November 15, 2010

DOLL EXHIBIT ON DISPLAY AT LIBRARY

The Tompkins County Public Library will display The Dora Erway Doll Collection in its Avenue of the Friends through December.

A collection of 37 historically accurate, period and native costume dolls made between 1924 and 1928 by Cornell University students, the dolls were made under the tutelage of Dora Erway. Erway, an assistant professor of home economics, used the dolls as a method of teaching the history of costume and design.

Many of the dolls dresses are exact replicas of authentic gowns and feature materials which were more than 100 years old when the dolls were made. Undergarments are also authentic and many of the hairstyles were made from the students own hair.

The collection was given to Cornell by Dora Erway in 1957 and is housed in the Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections of Kroch Library. The Collection is on loan to TCPL for the months of November and December. Last displayed at the Library in 2008, the dolls were returned to TCPL at the request of community members.

For more information, contact Sally Grubb at (607) 272-4557 extension 232 or sgrubb@tcpl.org.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Library to Host Intergenerational Creative Writing Workshop

The Tompkins County Public Library will host “Every Picture Tells a Story,” a creative writing workshop led by Irene (Zee) Zahava, Sunday, November 14th from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM in the Thaler/Howell Programming Room.

This workshop offers an opportunity for children, teens and adults ages 9 to 99 to write together and share their work in an encouraging and supportive environment. Participants will create stories, poems, or memoir pieces in response to a variety of visual images.

There is no charge for the program; however, advance registration is greatly appreciated. To register, or for more information, contact Zahava at (607) 273-4675 or zee@twcny.rr.com.

Zahava, local author, editor and anthology writer, is the director of Emma’s Writing Center in downtown Ithaca, and manages the Women’s Community Building Library under the auspices of the Durland Alternatives Library at Cornell University.

This workshop is made possible by gifts from Carrie Shearer and Suzanne Spitz to the Tompkins County Public Library Foundation.

Sunday, November 7, 2010

LIBRARY TO HOST MEDIEVAL MUSICAL PERFORMANCE

In celebration of Ten Years at Green Street, the Tompkins County Public Library will host the duo Elizabethan Conversation for a performance of “FAUVEL: A Story of a Medieval Donkey,” Sunday, November 7 at 1:30 PM in the BorgWarner Community Room.

Written in 14th Century French verse, FAUVEL is a politically-charged story about a donkey whose name carries special meaning. The letters of FAUVEL’s name form an acrostic with each letter representing one of the deadly sins: Flatterie (Flattery), Avarice (Greed), Vilenie (Guile), Vanité (vanity), Envie (Envy), and Lâcheté (Cowardice).

The performance, based on French texts and songs, includes the medieval French verse and English translations in a fun, interactive format.

Elizabethan Conversation’s principals, Susan Sandman, Ph.D., and Derwood Crocker play various early European instruments including, medieval fiddle, recorder, hurdy-gurdy, lute, and dumbek. They are joined for FAUVEL by noted Soprano Rebecca Leistikow.

This performance is free and open to an all-ages audience. The audience will have an opportunity to view the instruments and speak to the performers following the event.

Saturday, November 6, 2010

LIBRARY TO HOST PRESENTATION ON PRESERVING PHOTOGRAPHS AND DOCUMENTS

In conjunction with its celebration of Ten Years at Green Street, the Tompkins County Public Library will host Paper and Photograph Conservator Michele Hamill for an encore presentation of “Preserving Family Documents and Photographs,” Saturday, November 6 at 2:00 PM in the BorgWarner Community Room.

Hamill, of the Cornell University Library, presented---with rave reviews--- a similar program at the Library in recognition of National Preservation Week in May. The program provides essential information about documents and photographs—including how to reduce deterioration, common condition problems and archival storage solutions.

“Documents and photographs held and loved by individuals and families connect us to the past and enrich our future,” Hamill said. “This program will help people understand what steps to take so that their family treasures can be passed on to future generations.”

The first 25 people to arrive at the program will receive an acid-free, archival storage box (limit one box per household). The boxes were purchased with a grant to the Tompkins County Public Library Foundation.

This program is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Carrie Wheeler-Carmenatty at (607) 272-4557 extension 248.

Friday, November 5, 2010

LIBRARY TO BE FEATURED IN EXHIBIT

The past, present and future of the Tompkins County Public Library will be featured in the multi-media exhibit, "1864 to 2060, Your Library Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow," opening Friday, November 5.

Held in conjunction with the Library's celebration of Ten Years at Green Street, the exhibit was curated by Tompkins County Public Library Foundation volunteer Julee Johnson and Library and Foundation staff member Sally Grubb. An opening reception feting the exhibit will be held in conjunction with Gallery Night from 5:00 to 8:00 PM on November 5.

"1864 to 2060. . ." features images and representations of the Library of the past and present and renderings of what the Library might be like in the future.

For more information about the exhibit, contact Grubb at (607) 272-4557 extension 232 or sgrubb@tcpl.org.

LIBRARY TO CELEBRATE TEN YEARS AT GREEN STREET

The Tompkins County Public Library will mark ten years at its Green Street location with a weekend-long celebration Friday, November 5 through Sunday, November 7.

The celebration kicks-off at 5:00 PM November 5 with an opening reception for the exhibit "1864 to 2060: Your Library Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow." Curated by Julee Johnson and Sally Grubb, the exhibit features images and illustrations of the Library's past and present, as well as artist renderings of what the Library might be like in the future.

The exhibit “Some Things Considered,” by William Benson will also be celebrated Friday night, with a presentation by Benson to be held at 6:00 PM. The art receptions are being held in conjunction with downtown Ithaca’s Gallery Night.

Festivities will continue Saturday at 10:00 AM when Justin Marcus becomes the ceremonial first visitor through the Library’s doors. Marcus, who was five-years-old when the new building opened, was the first patron through the doors of the Green Street location. He will be joined by some of his classmates who also visited the Library on its opening day ten years ago.

Patrons will also be treated to an appearance by Ezra Cornell (as portrayed by local resident Fred Antil), a scavenger hunt, a celebration-themed Family Storytime at 11:30 AM in the Thaler/Howell Programming Room, a free raffle for a Nook eReader and an anniversary cake-cutting with brief remarks at noon.

At 2:00 PM, Cornell Library Paper and Photograph Conservator Michele Hamill will provide an encore presentation of her popular program, "Preserving Family Documents and Photographs." The first 25 people to arrive for Hamill's program will receive a free archival storage box.

Library Director Susan Currie said TCPL is excited to celebrate the anniversary with the community members who make the Library such a vital part of Tompkins County.

"We are delighted to celebrate such an important anniversary with the very people who recognized the need for a new Library and lobbied for and supported the efforts to build this beautiful community institution," Currie said.

The Library moved from its former cramped and deteriorating location at 312 North Cayuga Street in November 2000 into its more patron-friendly location at 101 East Green Street---the former home of the Woolworth Department Store.

The celebration will continue at 1:30 PM Sunday with a musical performance of "FAUVEL: A Medieval Donkey Tale," by the duo Elizabethan Conversation featuring a guest performance by noted Soprano Rebecca Leistikow. Written in 14th Century French verse, FAUVEL is a politically-charged story about a donkey whose name carries special meaning. The letters of FAUVEL’s name form an acrostic with each letter representing one of the deadly sins: Flatterie (Flattery), Avarice (Greed), Vilenie (Guile), Vanité (vanity), Envie (Envy), and Lâcheté (Cowardice).

The performance, based on French texts and songs, includes the medieval French verse and English translations in a fun, interactive format.

All programs held in conjunction with the Ten Years at Green Street Celebration are free and open to the public. For more information, contact Carrie Wheeler-Carmenatty at (607) 272-4557 extension 248.

LIBRARY ANNOUNCES LATEST EXHIBIT

The Tompkins County Public Library will celebrate the opening of its final major art exhibit of the year, “Some Things Considered: The Creativity of Hands and Feet,” Friday, November 5 from 5:00 to 8:00 PM.

Curated by William Benson, the exhibit features the work of artists Fernando Llosa, Kim Schrag, Pamela Rozelle Drix, Tim Merrick, Susanne Onodera, Rebecca Godin and Benson himself, and explores the countless artistic endeavors made possible by hands and feet.

“The criteria was fairly open ended - almost, but not quite, to the point of abstraction. Our feet are our mobility - taking the artist to sites of discovery or simply pacing the studio. Our hands put in form the ideas we wish to generate. Bipedal and opposing thumbs - here is, on a modest scale, how twenty digits form beautiful work,” Benson said.

The opening reception will be held in conjunction with Gallery Night and the Library’s celebration of Ten Years at Green Street. A curator’s talk by Benson will take place at 6:00 PM in the Library’s BorgWarner Community Room.For more information, contact Sally Grubb at sgrubb@tcpl.org or (607) 272-4557 extension 232.

LIBRARY TO HOST WRITING WORKSHOP

The Tompkins County Public Library will host “Elemental Stories,” a creative writing workshop led by Irene (Zee) Zahava, Friday, November 5 from 10:00 AM to Noon in the Thaler/Howell Programming Room.

This inter-generational workshop will provide participants with the opportunity to write stories, poems or memoirs which explore their relationship with the elements—water, air, earth and fire.

Irene (Zee) Zahava has been leading writing circles since 1994.  She is a former bookstore owner, the editor of numerous short story anthologies and haiku journals, and the co-publisher of 2 Turtles Press.  She is also affiliated with the Durland Alternatives Library at Cornell University, a project of the CRESP Center for Transformative Action.

This program is free and open to participants of all ages.  To register, or for more information, contact Zahava at 607-273-4675 or zee@twcny.rr.com.

“Elemental Stories” has been made possible through support of the Tompkins County Public Library Foundation.