Tompkins County Public Library

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Library to Host Ithaca Motion Picture Project Exhibit, Opening Ceremony

The Tompkins County Public Library will unveil, “Timeline,” the flagship display of the Ithaca Motion Picture Project’s exhibit “Romance, Exploits and Peril: When Movies Were Made in Ithaca,” during a film splicing ceremony Thursday, September 29 at 1:00 PM in the Avenue of the Friends.

An 80-foot-long sculptural installation illustrating the chronology of motion picture history in Ithaca from 1912-1921, “Timeline” is the largest of eight displays being housed at locations throughout downtown in conjunction with “Romance, Exploits and Peril.”

The opening ceremony will be hosted by Library Director Susan Currie and feature remarks from City of Ithaca Common Council Member, Deborah Mohlenhoff ; Jean McPheeters, president, Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce; and Dan Lamb, district representative of U.S. Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY22). Ithaca Motion Picture Project (IMPP) founders, Constance Bruce and Diana Riesman will also make statements during the 30-minute ceremony.

The exhibit puts the Wharton movie studio and the movies made in Ithaca in context of the history of the motion picture industry. The Wharton brothers established their studio in present-day Stewart Park and transformed Ithaca,--with its dramatic natural landscapes built around a bustling town with a thriving academic community-- into a center for early movie-making.

"IMPP’s premiere exhibition represents three years of hard work developing partnerships with local educational, cultural and tourism-related organizations, as well as community leaders who support IMPP's mission to transform the Wharton studio building in Stewart Park into a motion picture museum celebrating local silent film history. We hope Ithacans relish the exhibition as much as we have enjoyed producing it," Bruce said.

The companion exhibits to “Timeline” will be on display at the Greater Ithaca Activities Center (GIAC), State Theatre Box Office, The Crescent Building, Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport, Cayuga Medical Center, and Petrune on The Commons from October 1st through November 6th. The exhibit “Photo Players” at Gimme! Coffee on West State Street will open September 24th.

The installations were created by award-winning architect Todd Zwigard in collaboration with Art & Anthropology, whose principals Jason Otero and Joe Lamarre are responsible for the design of the Finger Lakes Wine Center. Julie Simmons-Lynch wrote the exhibition text. Sarah Adams, V. Romanoff & Associates; Terry Harbin, Ithaca Made Movies; and Diana Riesman curated the exhibition. Video reels were produced by Constance Bruce; Ann E. Michel and Phil Wilde, Insight Productions; with assistance from Harbin.

Established and incorporated as a nonprofit by Riesman and Bruce in 2009, IMPP is committed to the preservation and celebration of Ithaca's silent film history, and the Wharton movie studio’s contribution to Central New York’s silver screen legacy. This is the organization’s first exhibit. IMPP’s ongoing activities include co-sponsoring film events with Cornell Cinema and the Park School at Ithaca College, presentations to civic organizations on Central New York’s silent film history, and producing screenings with live music, all with the intent of drawing attention to the silent films and popular serials produced here a hundred years ago.

Library eBooks Available for Kindle

The Tompkins County Public Library and the Finger Lakes Library System have announced that their eBook collection is now compatible with the world’s bestselling eBook reader, the Amazon® Kindle.

Patrons can now download popular and classic eBooks to a Kindle device or any mobile device by using the free Kindle app. To get started, visit the help guide at http://tcpl.libguides.com/overdrive or go directly to the collection at http://flls.lib.overdrive.com.

TCPL and FLLS also offer eBooks and audiobooks for use on PC or Mac computers and popular mobile devices such as a Smartphones, MP3 players, and eBook readers like the Barnes & Noble® Nook™ and Sony® Reader.

Kindle users can browse the collection of bestselling and classic eBooks from a PC or Mac computer, check out titles using a library card, and select “Get for Kindle” to deliver eBooks to their Kindle device or any device running the free Kindle app.

Visit the library’s website to download eBooks for the Kindle: http://flls.lib.overdrive.com.

TCPL and FLLS are anticipating a high demand for eBooks, so patrons are encouraged to take advantage of the Always Available eBooks with no need for holds. The libraries will continue to build their eBook collections, making new titles available on a regular basis. To receive a monthly email listing of new eBooks, visit http://library.booksite.com/6631/signup/?list=NLSGN and sign up.

The Tompkins County Public Library and the Finger Lakes Library System partner with OverDrive, Inc. (www.overdrive.com), a global leader in eBook distribution for libraries and schools, to offer this service.

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Rochon to Serve as Featured Speaker At Foundation, Freedom to Read Kick Off

The Tompkins County Public Library Foundation will launch its 2011 Annual Appeal Sunday, September 25 with “One Life, Many Chapters: Books that Influence and Inspire,” a community conversation featuring Ithaca College President Tom Rochon; his wife, Amber, and author Leslie Daniels.

“One Life, Many Chapters” kicks off at 1:00 PM in the Library’s BorgWarner Community Room with a spirited talk from the Rochons, who are serving as this year’s honorary Appeal chairs, about the books that have had a lasting impact on their lives followed by an opportunity for audience participation facilitated by author Leslie Daniels.

“I encourage people to talk about books that have been meaningful at different points in their lives. What was the first book that made you a reader? What was a book that made you feel understood, or gave you a completely new perspective?,” said Daniels, whose debut novel “Cleaning Nabokov’s House,” has received rave reviews. Guests will also have the opportunity to share their stories of inspirational books in writing prior to and during the event.

Suzanne Smith Jablonski, executive director of the Library Foundation, said the program is a fitting event to launch the Foundation’s Annual Appeal—its largest fundraiser of the year---and Freedom to Read Week.

“Intellectual freedom—the freedom to access information and express ideas, even if the information and ideas might be considered unorthodox or unpopular—is at the core of TCPL’s mission,” Smith Jablonski said. “The Annual Appeal is an opportunity for community members to support the Library’s work to provide free and open access.”

Freedom to Read Week will also be commemorated with a reading on Sunday, October 2 at 2:00 PM by Khet Mar, writer-in-residence at the City of Asylum/Pittsburgh, an organization that provides sanctuary to writers exiled under threat of death, imprisonment, or persecution in their native countries.

Library Director Susan Currie urged Library users, current, past and prospective donors to preserve their freedom to read by contributing to the Annual Appeal at whatever level they are comfortable.

“Private contributions are essential,” Currie said. “TCPL relies on private support for annual operations, such as buying new books and other materials. Particularly this year, when County funding will be reduced considerably -- marking the third consecutive year of public funding cuts – we need appeal contributions to sustain services to children, teens, and adults who absolutely rely on the Library.”

The goal for the 2011 Annual Appeal is $65,000 toward the Foundation’s overall 2011 fundraising goal of $210,000. To give to the Appeal, visit tcpl.org and click “donate now,” mail a contribution to the Foundation c/o of the Library, drop off a check or contact Smith Jablonski at ssmithjablonski@tcpl.org.

The Annual Appeal kick off and the Freedom to Read program are free and open to the public. For more information about either program, contact Carrie Wheeler-Carmenatty at (607) 272-4557 extension 248 or cwheeler@tcpl.org.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Library to Host Book Discussion Groups

The Tompkins County Public Library will offer opportunities for readers to talk about the 2011 Community Read, “Homer and Langley” by E.L. Doctorow, as Community Read Coordinator Sarah Glogowski hosts two book discussion groups, Tuesday, September 20 from 11:00 AM to Noon and Thursday, September 22 from 7:00 to 8:00 PM in the BorgWarner Community Room.

Participants of all ages are invited to share their impressions of and discuss the relevance, themes and messages of “Homer and Langley.”

“Homer and Langley” is based on the now-folkloric lives of the Collyer brothers, whose bodies were found in 1947 amidst 100-ton of refuse---including newspapers, preserved human organs and a Model T Ford---in their Fifth Avenue brownstone.

This program is free and open to the public; however, advance registration is required by contacting Glogowski at (607) 272-4557 extension 255 or sglogowski@tcpl.org.






Sunday, September 18, 2011

LIBRARY TO HOST INTER-GENERATIONAL WRITING WORKSHOP

Collectors young and old are invited to share and write about their favorite trinkets, gizmos or gadgets at the Tompkins County Public Library Sunday, September 18 from 2:00 to 4:00 PM as Irene Zahava hosts “Swell Stuff” an inter-generational creative writing workshop.

This program is being held in conjunction with the 2011 Community Read of E.L. Doctorow’s “Homer and Langley,” which is based on the now-folkloric lives of the Collyer brothers, whose bodies were found in 1947 amidst 100-ton of refuse---including newspapers, preserved human organs and a Model T Ford---in their Fifth Avenue brownstone.

While the Collyer brothers were extreme, almost all collectors have stories to tell.

“Whether it's four fountain pens, 13 pairs of tap shoes, 99 plastic wind-up toys or 200 matchbooks, this workshop will give you the opportunity to display a small sample of your SWELL STUFF, and to write about it,” Zahava said.

Participants should bring a few items from their collection, a notebook and a pen. This workshop is free and open to the public; however, advance registration is appreciated.

To register, contact Zahava at 607-273-4675 or zee@twcny.rr.com. Zahava is the director of Emma’s Writing Center, where she has been leading Writing Circles for children and adults since 1994.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Library and Finger Lakes Independence Center Offer Writing Series

The Tompkins County Public Library and Finger Lakes Independence Center will host ‘The Topic Workshop,” a six-part writing series, each Thursday beginning September 15 and running through October 20 from 2:30 to 4:30 PM in the Library’s BorgWarner Community Room.

Facilitated by Steve Weed, this series will focus on the topic of “discovery” and encourage participants to discuss theme-related writings by authors with disabilities, offer step-by-step instruction on writing poems, short stories and essays about “discovery” and explore how reading, writing and conversation build self-awareness.

“We see the Topic Workshop as another means to empower people with disabilities, to help make a more inclusive community, and to give people a creative voice,” said Jeff Boles, peer counselor at Finger Lakes Independence Center.

All sessions will be held in the Library’s BorgWarner Community Room with the exception of the September 22 program, which will be held in the Library’s Thaler/Howell Programming Room.

This program is open to the public and no previous writing experience is necessary. Participants with and without disabilities are encouraged to register. Advanced registration is requested by contacting Jeff Boles at (607) 272-2433 or flic2310@yahoo.com.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

LIBRARY TO HOST HISTORICAL FICTION WRITING SERIES

Aspiring historical fiction writers will have an opportunity to share their talent and hone their craft, as the Tompkins County Public Library celebrates the 2011 Community Read of E.L Doctorow’s “Homer and Langley” with a free, Historical Fiction Writing Series.

Facilitated by Jill Swenson, writer, editor and president of Swenson Book Development, LLC, this series will be held in the Library’s Thaler/Howell Programming Room from 6:00 to 7:30 PM each Wednesday in September.

Participants will garner valuable tools about the genre, develop skills for merging historical events with fiction and learn valuable publishing tips from an industry insider.

Swenson has served as an assistant professor of journalism at Ithaca College and the University of Georgia-Athens. She is a freelance writer, columnist and author’s advocate.

This program is free and open to writers of all experience levels. It is best suited for those 15 and older, and advance registration is recommended. To register, contact Carrie Wheeler-Carmenatty at cwheeler@tcpl.org.

For more information about Swenson, visit http://www.swensonbookdevelopment.com/.

The 2011 Community Read is made possible by Cornell University and the Brooks Family Foundation.