Tompkins County Public Library

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Freeloading Librarians to Offer Training at Shops at Ithaca Mall

The Tompkins County Public Library and The Shops at Ithaca Mall will partner July 28 for a demonstration by the “Freeloading Librarians,” a group of library staff members offering instruction, advice and support for downloading free eBooks and audiobooks to mobile devices. 

The demonstration, which will begin at 10:00 a.m. and run until noon in the Food Court, will include personal assistance for downloading books to iPads, iPods, Kindles, Nooks and smartphones through the Finger Lakes Library System’s free, OverDrive Digital Download service. 

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

This program is being held as part of a series of “Freeloading Librarians” programs designed to increase digital confidence and awareness among readers.

The “Freeloading Librarians will also offer instruction at the YMCA of Ithaca and Tompkins County, 50 Graham Road West, from 11 to 12:30 p.m. August 9.

For more information, contact Jennifer Schlossberg at (607) 272-4557 extension 254, jschlossberg@tcpl.org   or Stephen Salino at ssalino@tcpl.org.

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Library to Host Tarot Numerology Workshop

Teens are invited to “Own the Night” during a July 26 Tarot numerology workshop at the Tompkins County Public Library.

At 6 p.m. in the Library’s Thaler/Howell Programming Room, Psychic Cindy Griffith will show teens how to combine their birthdates with Tarot cards to gain insight into their personalities, strengths and weaknesses.

This program is free and open to all teens and is being held in conjunction with TCPL’s Teen Summer Reading Program, “Own the Night.” Advance registration is required.  To register, or for more information, contact the Youth Services Department at (607) 272-4557 extension 275.

The 2012 Teen Summer Reading Program has been made possible by the Tompkins County Public Library Foundation through a gift from the Bradford Youth Programming Fund and The Brooks Family Foundation.

Saturday, July 21, 2012

Library to Host Family Science Program

The Tompkins County Public Library and Cornell's Center for Materials Research will host “Families Learning Science Together: Catapults” July 21 from 2 to 3 p.m. in the Thaler/Howell Programming Room.

Families are invited to build and optimize a small catapult while learning basic principles of physics and the scientific process.

Families Learning Science Together is a free program designed to help children develop an early love of science through hands-on participation.   FLST programs are free and open to the public; however, space is limited. To register, contact Kaleigh at outreach@ccmr.cornell.edu or (607) 255-9547.

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Library to Host Program on Book Selection

The Tompkins County Public Library, in conjunction with its current exhibit, “Good Books, Bad Covers,” will host “You Can Judge a Book by Its Cover,” a fascinating lecture by Librarian Sarah Glogowski, July 19 at 6 p.m. in the BorgWarner Community Room West.
Through props and a PowerPoint presentation, Glogowski will dispel the popular myth that “you can’t judge a book by its cover” and show audience members that from name placement, color selection, and even the font size, every inch of  a book cover has a story all its own. Participants will leave knowing how to tell science fiction from fantasy, thrillers from suspense books, and even how racy a romance novel will be with just a quick glance.

Glogowski has been invited to present this humorous and educational program to library employees and not-for-profit groups throughout the region.

“Good Books, Bad Covers” showcases local attorney James Baker’s fascinating collection of vintage paperbacks with an exhibit of books from his collection coupled with their modern counterparts. Discover how time has changed the covers of well-known and beloved classics.

The program is free and open to the public.  For more information, contact Glogowski at (607) 272-4557 extension 255 or sglogowski@tcpl.org.

Library to Explore “New Jim Crow” With Discussion and Workshop

The Tompkins County Public Library will explore Michelle Alexander’s much-talked about book, “The New Jim Crow:  Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness” with a community conversation and workshop this month.

Eric Kofi Acree, director of Cornell University’s John Henrik Clarke Africana Library, will lead a community book discussion on Alexander’s controversial work, which challenges that while Jim Crow laws were abolished decades ago, there remains an extraordinary percentage of African Americans tied up the American judicial system, July 19 at 6 p.m. in the BorgWarner Community Room East.

Acree’s discussion will include a videotaped message from Alexander, as well as a spirited conversation about the issues raised in the book, including:  the alarming numbers of African Americans in prison, on parole or with criminal records, whether or not Jim Crow laws have been replaced with other tools for racial discrimination and what communities can do to encourage change.

The conversation will continue at 6 p.m. July 26 when Paula Ioanide, assistant professor at the Center for the Study of Culture, Race & Ethnicity, Ithaca College, offers  the workshop “Prison Expansion and Profits: How Mass Incarceration Undermines U.S. Society.”

Ioanide’s workshop—also being held in the BorgWarner Community Room-- will focus on the unprecedented expansion of prisons and incarceration in the United States since the 1970s, explore common myths and misperceptions about crime and criminality and examine the ways these myths help perpetuate new forms of institutional racism. The workshop will also address how the rise of mass incarceration disproportionately targets and negatively affects people of color, particularly Black and Latino men and how the increased allocation of public resources toward surveillance, containment and incarceration ultimately helps undermine society.

Both programs are free and open to the public.  For more information, contact Carrie Wheeler-Carmenatty at (607) 272-4557 extension 248 or cwheeler@tcpl.org.


Freeloading Librarians to Offer Training at DeWitt Park

The Tompkins County Public Library and the DeWitt Park Farmer’s Market will partner July 19th for a demonstration by the “Freeloading Librarians,” a group of library staff members offering instruction, advice and support for downloading free eBooks and audiobooks to mobile devices. 

The demonstration, which will begin at 4 p.m., will include personal assistance for downloading books to iPads, iPods, Kindles, Nooks and smartphones through the Finger Lakes Library System’s free, Overdrive Media Console application.   

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

This program is being held as part of a series of “Freeloading Librarians” programs designed to increase digital confidence and awareness among readers.

For more information, contact Jennifer Schlossberg at (607) 272-4557 extension 254, jschlossberg@tcpl.org or Stephen Salino at ssalino@tcpl.org.

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Library to Host Dan The Snakeman

Kids of all ages are invited to explore the animal world at 2 p.m. July 14 as Dan The Snakeman brings his reptile show to the Tompkins County Public Library’s BorgWarner Community Room.

Dan The Snakeman has been bringing his reptiles to schools and libraries for more than two decades with a goal of teaching children of all ages about how important reptiles, amphibians and other cold-blooded creatures are to the environment and about how wonderful they can be as pets.

Audiences will have an opportunity to touch and interact with Dan’s creatures during this free program. 

For more information, contact the Library’s Youth Services Department at (607) 272-4557 extension 275.

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Library to Offer Light Painting Workshop for Teens

The Tompkins County Public Library invites area teens to use light to create amazing photographs during a Light Painting Workshop July 12 at 6 p.m. in the Thaler/Howell Programming Room.

Teens will learn about night photography, create long exposure photographs and use flashlights, LED lights and glow sticks to “paint” designs onto their photos during this free workshop.

Participants are encouraged to bring their own DSLR cameras and tripods, and small flashlights, laser pointers, glow sticks and LED toys; however, these items are not required.

Information about the Library’s “Dusk to Dawn Photo Contest” will also be shared at the event.

Advance registration is required by calling (607) 272-4557 extension 275 or visiting the Youth Services Reference Desk.

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Library to Offer Digital Download Training

The Tompkins County Public Library will offer free training sessions on downloading eBooks and audiobooks to Kindles, Nooks, iPads, smartphones and other app-based devices through the OverDrive Digital Download service Wednesdays at 11:00 AM and 11:30 AM and Thursdays at 5:00 PM and 5:30 PM.

These 30-minute sessions are free and open to the public; however space is limited and registration required.  To register, call the Reference Desk at (607) 272-4556.

Participants will need a valid Library card and password to download items to their devices. Nook users who own laptops are also asked to bring them to the session.

Sessions will be held at the Adult Services Reference Desk.

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Library to Host Family Science Program

The Tompkins County Public Library and Cornell's Center for Materials Research will host “Families Learning Science Together: Catapults” July 21 from 2 to 3 p.m. in the Thaler/Howell Programming Room.

Families are invited to build and optimize a small catapult while learning basic principles of physics and the scientific process.

Families Learning Science Together is a free program designed to help children develop an early love of science through hands-on participation.   FLST programs are free and open to the public; however, space is limited. To register, contact Kaleigh at outreach@ccmr.cornell.edu or (607) 255-9547.

Saturday, July 7, 2012

Library to Screen Locally Made Films

The Tompkins County Public Library will host “Ithacan Short Films,” a film screening and reception featuring local artists and filmmakers, July 7 at 1 p.m. in the BorgWarner Community Room.

Featured filmmakers are:   Ithaca College student Rachel Ferro, multi-media artist Ryan McGuire and local storyteller Eliud Nieves.  The filmmakers will screen their films and then answer questions about their works and processes.

This program is free and open to the public; refreshments will be provided.

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

Friday, July 6, 2012

Library to Showcase Exhibits During Gallery Night

The Tompkins County Public Library will offer community members after-hours access to three thoughtfully-curated exhibits during Downtown Ithaca’s Gallery Night July 6 from 5 to 8 p.m..

The Library will showcase its most recent exhibits “Politics in Print:  Treasures from the Walker Library of the History of Imagination,” “Visual Culture at IHS” and “Good Books, Bad Covers.”

“Politics in Print. . .” includes one of only two-known anastatic copies of the Declaration of Independence and many other fascinating artifacts from Cornell University graduate and Priceline.com Founder Jay Walker’s personal collection.  The exhibit is being presented in partnership with Cornell University Library’s Alumni Reunion exhibit “Collecting Imagination:  Treasures from the Walker Library of the History of Imagination.”

Gallery Night participants will also have an opportunity to view a small collection of pamphlets about the art of anastatic printing, also on-loan from the Walker Library.  The pamphlets will be available for viewing at 6 and 7 p.m.

Community members and library patrons will recognize “Visual Culture at IHS,” as TCPL and Ithaca High School’s annual partnership to bring outstanding works by Ithaca High School students to the community.  This multi-media exhibit showcases personal portraits and perspectives on the environment, friends, lives and imaginations of a diverse group of talented young artists.  “Visual Culture at HIS” is on display through July 10.

Also on display during Gallery Night, “Good Books, Bad Covers,” celebrates local attorney James Baker’s fascinating collection of vintage paperbacks with an exhibit of books from his collection coupled with their modern counterparts.

In conjunction with “Good Books, Bad Covers,” Readers Services Librarian Sarah Glogowski will offer a July 19 presentation of her popular, instructive talk “How to Judge a Book by Its Cover” at 6 p.m. in the BorgWarner Community Room.

Access to the Library during Gallery Night will be through the BorgWarner Community Room Door adjacent to the Gimme! Coffee’s Green Street location and just behind the TCAT bus shelter.

For more information about Library exhibits, contact Sally Grubb at sgrubb@gmail.com or visit http://tcpl.org/events-exhibits/exhibits-overview.php.


Monday, July 2, 2012

Library Announces Community Read

The Tompkins County Public Library, in partnership with Cornell University’s New Student Reading Project, has announced the selection of Romain Gary’s “The Life Before Us” as the 2012 Community Read.

An emotionally-energized read, “The Life Before Us,” offers readers a glimpse into the life of Momo, an orphaned Arab boy being raised-- along with an ever-changing cast of children of prostitutes—by an ailing and aging, retired “lady of the night.”   

Written under the pseudonym Emile Ajar, the book was the 1975 winner of France’s premier literary prize, the Prix Goncourt, and has been lauded for its imaginative characters and skirting of traditional literary rules.

Copies of “The Life Before Us” will be available for circulation at TCPL beginning July 2.

Now in its 11th year, the Community Read encourages community members to experience the bond of literature by reading and discussing the same title. 

Programs related to the 2012 Community Read will be announced in the coming weeks.

For more information, or to request copies of the book for a book group or community agency, contact Reader’s Services Librarian Sarah Glogowski at (607) 272-4557 extension 255 or sglogowski@tcpl.org.