Tompkins County Public Library

Sunday, October 23, 2011

LIbrary And Quilters Guild to Host Author/Quilter Marston

Michigan-based quilter Gwen Marston will discuss and sign her latest book, "37 Sketches," Sunday, October 23 at 1:30 PM in the Tompkins County Public Library's BorgWarner Community Room.

Marston is a nationally-known artist who has published more than 20 books on quilting. Her latest effort inspires and encourages quilters to use small studies or simple themes to create quilted masterpieces. She will showcase small designs featured in the book and the larger pieces they inspired during her Library talk.

“37 Sketches,” says Marston, “ shows my new work built on the idea of exploring the elements of design by constructing small studies, which I quickly began to think of as sketches. I began to see these sketches in much the same way as a painter does in using sketches to explore technique and to work out color and composition ideas.”

This program is free and open to the public and is being offered by the Library and the Tompkins County Quilters Guild.

The Tompkins County Quilters Guild was founded in 1974 with a mission to educate, promote, encourage, stimulate and support quilters and the art of quilting in Tompkins County. Copies of Marston's book will be available for purchase prior to and following her discussion.

For more information, contact Carrie Wheeler-Carmenatty at (607) 272-4557 extension 248.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Library to Offer Tutorial on Downloading Free eBooks to Kindle

The Tompkins County Public Library will offer owners of Kindle eBook readers an opportunity to learn how to download free library books during “Lunch and Learn: OverDrive for Kindle,” Thursday, October 20 from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM in the BorgWarner Community Room-West.

Participants are encouraged to bring a lunch and their Kindle for a user-friendly tutorial of the OverDrive Digital Download Service. Facilitated by reference librarians Jennifer Schlossberg and Cassandra Shortle, this program will offer personal assistance and tips for downloading books to the Kindle.

Participants should bring a library card or sign up for a free card on the day of the event. A photo ID with a current, local address is required to receive a library card.

This program is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Jennifer Schlossberg at (607) 272-4557 extension 254 or jschlossberg@tcpl.org.



Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Library to Host Candidates Forum for Mayoral Race

Candidates vying for the hotly contested City of Ithaca mayoral seat will have an opportunity to share their platforms with the public Wednesday, October 19 as the Tompkins County Public Library, the Tompkins County League of Women Voters, The Ithaca Journal and the MLK Community Build host a Candidates Forum from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM in the Library’s BorgWarner Community Room.

Mayoral contenders J.R. Clairborne, Independence Party; Janis Kelly, Republican; Christopher Kuznir, Independent; Svante Myrick, Democrat; and Wade Wykstra, Independent, will offer brief opening statements prior to answering questions from the audience. Following closing remarks, the candidates will hold a meet and greet with event attendees.

Community members are encouraged to submit questions in advance by emailing Carrie Wheeler-Carmenatty at cwheeler@tcpl.org. Questions will also be accepted from the floor and over a live internet feed http://sites.google.com/site/mlkcommunitybuild2/ during the event.

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

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Library to Host Mother/Daughter Book Club

 The Tompkins County Public Library has announced the October 15th return of its monthly Mother/Daughter Book Club. Girls in grades five through eight and the special women in their lives are invited to read and discuss books in a judgment-free group setting.

The Mother/Daughter Book Club is facilitated by acclaimed children’s author Emily Rhoads Johnson. Rhoads Johnson is the author of “Spring and the Shadow Man,” “A House Full of Strangers” and “Write Me If You Dare”.

The Mother/Daughter Book Club provides a wonderful opportunity for participants to learn about themselves and others by discussing literature. There are no right or wrong answers during Club meetings, simply open discussions where all input is valued.

The group will meet once monthly through May from 3:30 to 4:30 PM in the Library’s Thaler/Howell Programming Room.

The title to be discussed for October is, ”Moon Over Manifest” by Clare Vanderpool. A complete list of Club dates and titles will be provided at the first meeting.

For more information, contact Carrie Wheeler-Carmenatty at (607) 272-4557 extension 248 or cwheeler@tcpl.org.

Library to Host Flip Book Making Workshop

The Tompkins County Public Library and the Ithaca Motion Picture Project will host “Flip Book Flap,” a flip book workshop for families, Saturday, October 15 from 1:00 to 3:00 PM in the Library’s BorgWarner Community Room.

Facilitated by artist Craig Mains, this workshop will provide step-by-step instructions and materials for making flip books. Flip books are a primitive form of animation which use gradually progressing images to simulate motion or movement.

This program is free and open to families with children ages 6 and up. Parents or caregivers must be present.

Mains is the exhibit and publication designer for The Ink Shop Printmaking Center. He received a BFA in photography from Cleveland Institute of Art and studied printmaking while working for the main research library at Cornell University.

For more information, contact Carrie Wheeler-Carmenatty at (607) 272-4557 extension 248 or cwheeler@tcpl.org.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Library to Host Lunch and Learn Book Group

The Tompkins County Public Library will offer readers a final chance to talk about the 2011 Community Read, “Homer and Langley” by E.L. Doctorow, as Community Read Coordinator Sarah Glogowski and Exhibit Coordinator Sally Grubb host a Lunch and Learn book discussion group, Thursday, October 13 from Noon to 1:00 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. Participants are encouraged to bring a lunch, coffee, tea, and water will be provided. For more information, contact Sarah Glogowski at (607) 272-4557 extension 255 or sglogowski@tcpl.org.

Friday, October 7, 2011

Library to Feature Three Exhibits During Gallery Night

The Tompkins County Public Library will showcase three unique exhibits during downtown Ithaca’s First Friday Gallery Night, Friday, October 7 from 5:00 to 8:00 PM.

Featured exhibits are:

Seriously Series--- Almost all artists are inspired to create a series at some point during their careers. The artists carefully selected by curator Rebecca Godin, use abstraction, design, photography, sculpture, portraiture, place, time, and obsessions to showcase the inspiration for their individual series.

Artists participating in Seriously Series are Mary Ann Bowman, Rebecca Godin, Kurt Lichtmann, Daniel McPheeters, John Lyon Paul and Terry Plater. Their work will be on display at the Library from October 1 through December 18.

A Collection of Collections---Curated by TCPL Exhibit Coordinator Sally Grub, A Collection of Collections was inspired by the 2011 Community Read of “Homer and Langley” by E.L. Doctorow.

The treasures of many local collectors, hoarders, and those who just can’t throw things away are featured in this exhibit. From the History Center’s collection of Victorian salt cellars to a 5-year-old boy’s shell collection, from old money to bottled dirt, a wonderful array of fascinating objects can be viewed in the exhibit cases in the Library’s Avenue of the Friends.

Romance, Exploits & Peril: When Movies Were Made in Ithaca---Depicting the history of the Wharton brothers’ silent film studio in Ithaca, this installation, “Timeline,” is presented by the Ithaca Motion Picture Project and will be on display at TCPL through November 8, 2011.

Created by award-winning architect Todd Zwigard in collaboration with art and anthropology principals Jason Otero and Joe Lamarre, “Timeline” allows viewers to walk through the exhibit as if on a film set. This installation puts the Wharton movie studio and the movies made in Tompkins County 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.

Gallery Night is free and open to the public and provides art lovers with an opportunity to view exhibits when the Library is closed. Entrance to TCPL will be through the BorgWarner Community Room door behind the TCAT bus shelter and adjacent to Green Street’s Gimme! Coffee.

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

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Library Looking for Teen Advisory Group Members

Local teens with an interest in books, community involvement and meeting new people are invited to join and name a newly-forming Teen Advisory Group for the Tompkins County Public Library.

Students in grades six through 12 are eligible to join the group, which is designed to give teens an opportunity to share their opinions and suggestions about the collection and services offered for the Library’s teen patrons.

The Advisory Group will meet on the first Thursday of each month from 4:30 to 5:30 PM in TCPL’s Thaler/Howell Programming Room. Group members will work with Youth Services Librarian Shana Lynott to identify items to purchase, develop teen programs, fundraise and promote the Library’s Teen Services offerings.

Teens interested in joining the Advisory Group are encouraged to attend the Group’s first meeting of the year, Thursday, October 6 from 4:30 to 5:30 PM in the Thaler/Howell Programming Room .

Interested teens and new members are always welcome, but registration is appreciated. For more information or to sign-up, visit or call the Youth Services Department at 607-272-4557 ext 274 or 275.

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Library to Host Creative Writing Workshop for Teens

The Tompkins County Public Library will host “Teens Write!,” a creative writing workshop for teens led by Irene Zahava, each Wednesday from 4:00 – 5:30 in the Thaler/Howell Programming Room.

“Teens Write!” is most appropriate for tweens and teens ages 11 through 17. The program will provide a safe and supportive environment for creative writing and group sharing. There is no charge for the program; however, advanced registration is required. To register, or for more information, contact Zahava at 607- 273-4675 or zee@twcny.rr.com

Irene (Zee) Zahava is the director of Emma's Writing Center and has been leading writing circles since l994. She is a former bookstore owner, the editor of numerous short story anthologies and haiku journals, and the co-publisher of 2 Turtles Press.

The 2011 Teens Write! program is made possible by gifts from Carrie Shearer and Suzanne Spitz to the Tompkins County Public Library Foundation.

Library to Host Weekly Writing Workshop

The Tompkins County Public Library will host “Wednesday Morning Writing Circle,” a free, four-week creative writing workshop for adults, from 10:00 AM to Noon each Wednesday in October in the Thaler/Howell Programming Room.

Facilitated by writer and publisher Irene “Zee” Zahava, this workshop is designed to give writers an opportunity to create and share in a supportive environment.

Each session will feature a different "spark" to use as inspiration, including visual images, objects, etc.

Zahava is the director of Emma’s Writing Center, where she has been leading Writing Circles for children and adults since 1994.

This program is open to the public; however, advance registration is required. To register or for more information, contact Zahava directly at 607-273-467 or zee@twcny.rr.com.





Sunday, October 2, 2011

Library to Host Washington for Civil War Lecture

Cornell University Professor of History Margaret Washington will present "'Lincoln Must be Pushed: Civil War and Agitation before the Emancipation Proclamation,” Monday, October 3 at 6:30 PM in the Tompkins County Public Library.

The second program in a five-year partnership between the Library and the Tompkins County Civil War Sesquicentennial Celebration Commission (TCCWSCC) to provide opportunities for community conversation and increased awareness about the Civil War, Washington’s lecture will provide a look at the roles of Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, Susan B. Anthony and Sojourner Truth in the fight for emancipation.

Washington joined the Cornell University faculty in 1988 and specializes in African American history and culture, African American women and the American South. She has been a Fellow at the National Endowment for the Humanities, a Fellow at Cornell’s Society for the Humanities and Senior Fellow at Wesleyan University’s Center for the Humanities. She has published numerous articles and books including the only edited and annotated edition of the “Narrative of Sojourner Truth” and “Sojourner Truth’s America,” which received the Letitia Woods Brown Award for the best publication on African American women from the Association of Black Women Historians and won the inaugural Darlene Clark Hine Award for the best book in African American women’s and gender history from the Organization of American Historians.

As a public historian, Washington has consulted for the Smithsonian Institution, the National Park Service. the National Archives and the National Endowment for the Humanities. She has also served as an advisor and historical consultant for a number of films including the much-acclaimed “Jazz” and Sundance Award winner “Daughter’s of the Dust.”

Other programs being planned as part of the Library/TCCWSCC partnership, which will provide Library patrons and community members with at least two annual opportunities to learn, from regionally-recognized experts, about the people, issues, themes and lasting impacts of the Civil War, include programs about: Northern Democrats, Civil War nurses, the Elmira Prison Camp, and the legacy of war.

These and all Library programs are free and open to the public.

For more information about Library programs, contact Carrie Wheeler-Carmenatty at cwheeler@tcpl.org or (607) 272-4557 extension 248. For information about the Tompkins County Civil War Sesquicentennial Commemoration Commission, contact Carol Kammen, Tompkins County historian, at ckk6@cornell.edu.

Library, City of Asylum to Host Exiled Writer

In celebration of Freedom to Read Week, the Tompkins County Public Library will host the Ithaca City of Asylum's annual "Voices of Freedom" event Sunday, October 2 at 2:00 PM in the BorgWarner Community Room, featuring a reading by exiled Burmese writer and activist Khet Mar.

Persecuted by the Burmese government for her political activism, Khet Mar was sentenced in 1991 to ten years in prison for protesting the house arrest of democracy leader Aung Sun Suu Kyi, which prevented the leader from accepting the Nobel Peace Prize. Khet Mar was released after one year during a period of national amnesty, but future threats of imprisonment led her to seek refuge in the United States in 2007.

After fleeing Burma, Khet Mar became a visiting fellow at the International Writing Program at the University of Iowa, and in 2010 she participated in the Pen World Voices Festival of International Literature. She is currently writer-in-residence for the City of Asylum/Pittsburgh. She is the author of one novel, “Wild Snowy Night,” several collections of short stories, essays and poems. Her work has been translated into English and Japanese, has been broadcast on radio and has been made into a film.

Founded in 2001, Ithaca City of Asylum, like City of Asylum/ Pittsburgh, is part of a worldwide network that supports writers whose works are suppressed, whose lives are threatened, whose cultures are vanishing, or whose languages are endangered.

Khet Mar's reading and the reception following it are free and open to the public.

For more information about this event, contact Carrie Wheeler-Carmenatty at (607) 272-4557 extension 248 or cwheeler@tcpl.org. To learn more about Khet Mar or City of Asylum programs, visit cityofasylumpittsburgh.org or ithacacityofasylum.wordpress.com.







Saturday, October 1, 2011

Library to Host Storytimes

Tompkins County Public Library has announced the return of its weekly fall storytimes for babies, toddlers and families beginning October 1.

The following storytimes are free and open to the public and will be held in the Library’s Thaler/Howell Programming Room:

Babies, Books, and Bounce Time
Caregivers and newborns up to 18 months old are invited every Friday at 11:00 AM beginning October 7, 2011 through November 25, 2011 for music, rhymes, movement and books!

Toddler Storytime:
Caregivers and toddlers are invited every Tuesday at 11:00 AM for stories, songs, and fingerplays beginning October 4, 2011 through November 29, 2011.

Family Storytime
Children and their caregivers are invited to Family Storytime every Saturday at 11:00 AM beginning October 1, 2011 through November 26, 2011 for great books and fantastic family fun!

All children must be accompanied by a parent or caregiver. For more information call the Youth Services Department at 607-272-457 extension 275.