Tompkins County Public Library

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Library to Host First Book--Ithaca College for Community Launch

In celebration of the community launch of First Book--Ithaca College, Tompkins County Public Library will host a storybook party March 24 from 2 to 4 p.m. in the BorgWarner Community Room.

Children of all ages are invited to dress as characters from their favorite books and join members of First Book--Ithaca College for stories, activities and a costume contest.

Launched on campus in November 2012, First Book--Ithaca College includes student mambers with different educational and extracurricular interests who are dedicated to First Book's national mission--to address one of the most important issues effecting literacy, access to books.

First Book--Ithaca College plans to distribute approximately $2,000 worth of books to children participating in local programs.

The Library storytime is free and open to the public.  Donations to First Book--Ithaca College are welcome but not required.

For more information about this event or First Book--Ithaca College,email ithacacollege@firstbook.org.

Nationally, First Book provides new books to children in need by providing access to books.  An innovative leader in social enterprise, First Book has distributed more than 80 million free and low-cost books in thousands of communities across the United States and Canada.  For more information, visit www.firstbook.org or call 866-393-1222.


 


Saturday, March 23, 2013

Library to Host Graffiti Workshop for Kids

In conjunction with its upcoming exhibit, “ Top 2 Bottom—A Journey Through the Elements of Hip-Hop Culture,” Tompkins County Public Library will host “Graffiti Art Lab,” a workshop for children ages 8 to 14, March 23 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. in the Library’s BorgWarner Community Room.

Facilitated by local graffiti artists, “Graffiti Art Lab” is designed to introduce young artists to the world of graffiti painting.  Participants will learn about common techniques, how to choose a “name,” how to create their own writing style and how to produce finished works of art.  Graffiti created during the Lab will be included in the Library’s much-anticipated exhibit “Top 2 Bottom,” which will be on display at TCPL from March 29 through June 14.

This exhibit is part of “Unbound from the Underground—An Ithaca Community Celebration of Hip-Hop Culture.  “Graffiti Art Lab” will provide young artists with a crash course in the art that grew from Hip-Hop culture.  It will serve as a precursor to “Get-Up State,” a program bringing graffiti artists from around the world to Ithaca for three days of live, mural painting.  “Get-Up State,” will take place from April 5 through April 7 when artists transform the stark Cornell University Press Services building at 770 Cascadilla Street into a vibrant work of art.

“Graffiti Art Lab is free; however, advance registration is required.  To register, contact Sally Grubb at (607) 272-4557 extension 232 or sgrubb@tcpl.org>.  In the event of high demand, TCPL will offer a second Lab from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in the BorgWarner Community Room.

Library to Host Special Storytimes

Tompkins County Public Library will welcome Angie Beeler of Music&Motion during two special storytimes for families and toddlers this month.

Beeler will join TCPL staff for Family Storytime at 11 a.m. March 23 in the Library’s Thaler/Howell Programming Room.  Perfect for families and children of all ages, this special storytime will feature musical stories, songs and movement.

Beeler will also present stories, songs and movement specifically for toddlers during the Library’s Toddler Storytime at 11 a.m. March 26.

Local musicians Beeler and Leon Arguello offer Music&Motion programs and classes designed to help children and adults explore the musical world, while learning the necessary skills for turning sounds and noises into music.  Emphasized skills include the development of rhythm, melody, and listening skills. For more information about Music&Motion, visit:  http://www.mumotion.com/.

For information about these or other Library storytimes, contact the Youth Services Department at (607) 272-4557 extension 275.

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Library to Host ESL Snack and Chat

Students and lifelong learners of English as a Second Language are invited to the Tompkins County Public Library for “ESL Snack and Chat Conversation Groups.”

These informal, drop-in sessions will be held each Wednesday through April 10 from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in the BorgWarner Community Room West and offer a relaxed setting for practicing conversation and listening skills. The meetings will help participants discover and access language-learning resources at the Library and in the community and provide a forum for information sharing.

Snack and Chat sessions are free and open to individuals with the desire to improve their English or willing to serve as conversation partners for others. All ages and abilities are welcome!  Light refreshments will be provided.

For more information, contact Joyce Wheatley at jwheatley@tcpl.org or Debbie Collier at dcollier@tcpl.org.

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Library to Host Pi-Themed Third Place Program

Teens and tweens will have an opportunity to participate in some of the infinite ways to celebrate Pi March 14 during a special Pi-themed Third Place at the Tompkins County Public Library.

From 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Library's Thaler/Howell Programming Room, Third Place participants will make color-coded Pi garland, create hexaflexagons, compete in Pi recitation contests and; of course, eat pie!

Third Place is designed to provide middle and high school students with a comfortable place--outside of school and away from home--to relax, socialize, play games and enjoy activities.

Third Place programs are held each Thursday from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Thaler/Howell Programming Room.

For more information about this or other TCPL programs for teens and tweens, contact the Youth Services Department at (607) 272-4557 extension 275.

Monday, March 11, 2013

Library to Host Women’s History Month Writing Workshop

Tompkins County Public Library will celebrate Women’s History Month with “Oh, the Women!” a writing workshop about significant women in our lives, Monday, March 11 from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Thaler/Howell Programming Room.

Facilitated by Irene “Zee” Zahava, this workshop will provide participants of all ages and genders with the inspiration and encouragement to write about and share stories about the special women in their lives.

Participants are encouraged, but not required, to bring a photograph or keepsake that reminds them of the woman they plan to write about.  

Zahava is a writer, poet, publisher and anthologist, and the founder of Zee’s Writing Studio. 

This program 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.

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Library to Offer Programming for Non-Fiction Writers

Tompkins County Public Library invites non-fiction writers to network, share their work and discuss their craft during monthly meetings of its newly-formed writers’ group.

Facilitated by veteran writer Paul Boyer, this group will meet on the first Wednesday of each month from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the east side of the Library’s BorgWarner Community Room.  The next meeting will be held on March 6.
 
A full-time writer for more than 25 years, Boyer teaches writing and proposal writing at Thomas Edison State College and SUNY-Empire State College. Before moving to Ithaca last year, he had been a long-time member of a similarly-styled, supportive and motivational small group for writers.
 
This group is free and open to adult writers of all experience levels.  Advance registration is appreciated but not required.  To register, contact Carrie Wheeler-Carmenatty at (607) 272-4557 extension 248 or cwheeler@tcpl.org.

Saturday, March 2, 2013

Library to Offer Family Science Program

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

During this month’s workshop, families will 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.  These programs are offered at the library once a month through April 2013.

Families Learning Science Together programs are free and open to the public, but space is limited. To register, contact Kaleigh at ccmr_outreach@cornell.edu or (607) 255-9547.

Library to Screen Serials

Tompkins County Public Library, in partnership with Ithaca Made Movies, will host “Serial Saturday 6,” the latest installment in its monthly film series, March 2 at 1 p.m. in the BorgWarner Community Room.

This month’s program will feature the 1988 film “Tracking the Memories,” a history of the Ithaca Street Railway.  In December 1887, Ithaca became home to one of only three electric railways in the state.  While the two-car, service was abandoned in favor of buses in 1935, the history and some structural remnants remain.  This history is captured in “Tracking the Memories.”

Made popular in the mid-1900s, serial films—also known as chapter plays—were feature films broken into short segments or chapters.  Theaters would show one chapter, typically ending in a cliffhanger, one week and patrons would return for the next segment the following week.

Serial Saturdays programs are hosted by Ithaca Made Movies Founder Terry Harbin and feature episodes of rare films from the first part of the 20th century.  Audience feedback helps determine which films are shown during these fun, free events.

For more information, visit http://www.ithacamademovies.com.