Tompkins County Public Library

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Author to Discuss Book, Myths of Mental Illness During Library Event

In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, Tompkins County Public Library will host author and advocate Karen Winters Schwartz for an introduction of her latest book, “Reis’s Pieces:  Love, Loss and Schizophrenia,” and a discussion on the misconceptions of mental illness May 22 at 6 p.m. in the BorgWarner Community Room.

The author of two novels about mental illness, Schwartz, of Marietta (Onondaga County) , uses her books and presentations to facilitate discussion about the need for empathy and the devastating effects of the negative stigma associated with mental illness.  During her Library presentation, Schwartz will share her thoughts on decreasing that stigma, increasing education and eliciting sympathy to aid in recovery and lessen the potential for future tragedies like the Sandy Hook Elementary and Aurora, Colorado theatre shootings.

While Schwartz's stories are fictional, they are based on real life people and their experiences. Her book “Where Are the Cocoa Puffs?: A Family’s Journey Through Bipolar Disorder“ is about her own family’s mental health journey; both of her daughters experienced mental illness—bipolar disorder and schizophrenia—as teens.  In “Reis’s Pieces: Love, Loss, and Schizophrenia” Schwartz humanizes the experiences of both the afflicted person and those around him.

Schwartz is an active board member of NAMI Syracuse (National Alliance on Mental Illness) and a sought-after speaker for mental health association events and conferences across the country.  Her Library presentation is free and open to the public.

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

 

Monday, May 20, 2013

Library to Host Program on Summer Employment for Teens

Tompkins County Public Library and the Ithaca Youth Bureau will host “Get a Job!” an information program for teens interested in summer employment, May 20 at 6 p.m. in the Thaler/Howell Programming Room.

Participants will learn about finding and applying for employment, practice their interview skills and learn about available resources for job-seekers.

This program is free and open to teens 15 and older. For more information, contact Regina DeMauro-Axel at (607) 272-4557 extension 274 or rdemauroaxel@tcpl.org.

Friday, May 17, 2013

Library to Host “One Day” Writing Workshop

In celebration of the 25th anniversary of The Great Ithaca Write-In, Tompkins County Public Library will host a free, “One Day in Ithaca” writing workshop May 17 from 2 to 4 p.m. in the BorgWarner Community Room—West.

Facilitated by Irene “Zee” Zahava, this program will encourage participants to share a snapshot of what their lives look like on this particular day.  From what they are thinking about, eating, reading, dreaming, anticipating or celebrating, nothing is off-limits during this special workshop.  Work created during this program will be collected for inclusion in the “One Day in Ithaca” project, which aims to collect personal stories from people who live or have lived, worked, visited or studied in Ithaca and Tompkins County.

Zahava is a short story writer, haiku poet, small press publisher,  published anthologist, the former owner of Smedley’s Book Shop and the founder of Zee’s Writing Studio in downtown Ithaca.

This workshop is free and open to the public; however, advance registration is required.  To register, contact Zahava at (607) 273-4675 or zee@twcny.rr.com.

Individuals interested in participating in “One Day in Ithaca” but unable to attend the workshop are encouraged to drop their stories into the “One Day” box in the Library’s Avenue of the Friends during regular business hours May 17.

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Library to Host Imperial Dreams Author

Tompkins County Public Library will host Tim Gallagher for a reading and signing of his acclaimed book “Imperial Dreams:  Tracking the Imperial Woodpecker Through the Wild Sierra Madre,” May 15 at 6 p.m. in the BorgWarner Community Room.

An award-winning author and editor of Living Bird magazine at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Gallagher—following up on his role in the  rediscovery of the long-lost Ivory-billed Woodpecker of the American South—set out for the Sierra Madre armed only with a dream of locating the world’s rarest bird, the Imperial Woodpecker, and a map of area sightings given to him by a dying friend.  Gallagher’s journey through the mysterious and dangerous Sierra Madre Occidental results in encounters with AK-47-armed drug dealers, the discovery of fields of opium poppies and marijuana, burning houses and fleeing villagers.

“Imperial Dreams” beautifully captures Gallagher’s journey, the people of the Sierra Madre and the decline of their homeland.

Gallagher has also penned the acclaimed “The Grail Bird,” about his rediscovery of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker, and “Falcon Fever’ about his lifelong interest in birds of prey.

This program is free and open to the public.  Copies of “Imperial Dreams” will be available for purchase at the event, courtesy of Buffalo Street Books.  For more information, contact Carrie Wheeler-Carmenatty at (607) 272-4557 extension 248 or cwheeler@tcpl.org.

Friday, May 10, 2013

Library to Host World War II Reading/Performance Featuring New Roots Students

Tompkins County Public Library will host New Roots Charter School sophomores for a performance of an original reading about World War II May 10 at 3 p.m. in the BorgWarner Community Room.

Based on interviews the students conducted with local seniors and their families about WWII, the reading relates personal stories and war-time experiences.  Directed by Theatre Artist Sue Perlgut, recent Ithaca College graduate Deanalis Resto and New Roots English teacher Sue Schwartz, the performance is free and open to the public.

This program has been made possible through an Arts in Education grant from the Community Arts Partnership.  A May 9 reading is planned for 6 p.m. in the lobby of the New Roots Charter School.

For more information about the readings, contact Schwartz at (607) 882-9220 or info@newrootsschool.org.

Friday, May 3, 2013

Harris to Discuss Birth of Hip-Hop During Library's May Gallery Night Opening

Tompkins County Public Library will host local business owner Eldred Harris for a Gallery Night presentation on the roots of Hip-Hop, May 3 at 6 p.m. in the Thaler Howell Programming Room.

A South Bronx native and member of the Ithaca City School District's Board of Education, Harris will present "Days of F.I.R.E. and Birth of a Hip-Hop Nation" a spirited talk about the early days of Hip-Hop.

Harris will be joined during Gallery Night by GIAC Youth Program Coordinator Jay Stooks and Cornell Plantations’ Graphic Designer Jay Potter, who will lead a walk-through of the Library's current art exhibit, "Top 2 Bottom." 

Stooks and Potter will discuss the items featured in the exhibit and offer insight into the significance of graffiti art.  The walk-through will begin promptly at 5:30 p.m. under the Ezra Cornell portrait east of the book stacks.

Gallery Night will be held from 5 to 8 p.m.; after-hours access to TCPL will be through the BorgWarner Community Room entrance, behind TCAT's Green Street bus shelter.

For more information, visit http://tcpl-exhibits.blogspot.com/ or contact Sally Grubb at (607) 272-4557 extension 232.