Tompkins County Public Library

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Library to Offer Halloween Special with Music&Motion

Children and their caregivers are invited to join Tompkins County Public Library and Music&Motion’s Miss. Angie for a Halloween-themed shadow-puppet musical October 29 at 11 a.m. in the Library’s Thaler/Howell Programming Room.

This program is free and open to families with children of all ages. 

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


Saturday, October 25, 2014

Library to Host Sensory Storytime

Children ages 3 through 7 are invited to move, sing and play at Tompkins County Public Library’s “Sensory Storytime,” October 25 at 3:30 p.m. in the Thaler/Howell Programming Room.

This program is free and open to all children, however, it is especially designed for children with sensory integration challenges. “Sensory Storytime” features interactive books, songs, and activities to stimulate the senses and promote learning. Children who have previously struggled to sit through other storytimes may find “Sensory Storytime” a better fit.

Pre-registration is required. To register, visit the Library’s Youth Services Department, call (607) 272-4557 extension 275, or email Youth Services Librarian Kate DeVoe at kdevoe@tcpl.org.

“Sensory Storytime” has been made possible by the Tompkins County Public Library Foundation through a grant from Elmira Savings Bank and support from the Michael Kammen Children’s Fund.



Thursday, October 16, 2014

Freeloading Librarians to Offer Training at YMCA




Tompkins County Public Library and the YMCA of Ithaca will partner October 16 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 will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 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. Photo identification with a current, local address is required to receive a library card.

This program is part of an ongoing series of “Freeloading Librarian” programs designed to increase digital confidence and awareness among readers.
For more information, contact Thomas Fredette at (607) 272-4557 extension 271 or tfredette@tcpl.org.

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Library to Host Dramatic Reading of “The Language of War”

Tompkins County Public Library, in partnership with the Tompkins County Civil War Sesquicentennial Commemoration Commission, will present a dramatic reading of “The Language of War,” October 22 at 7 p.m. in the Library’s BorgWarner Community Room.

Written by Tompkins County Historian and Commission Co-Chair Carol Kammen, “The Language of War” explores what Tompkins County residents said and wrote about patriotism, race, volunteerism, boredom and fear during the Civil War, based on commentary from letters, diaries and local and national newspapers. 

Commission members will read dialogue from an intriguing cast of characters, including:  Belle Cowdry who lived in what is now the Argos Inn, Colonel Dowe, George Wolcott of the Town of Caroline, a saucy soldier who is sent to the brig, Civil War Nurses from the county, Warren Lyon, the men who enlisted at the AME Zion Church on Christmas Day, 1863, including Edward Sorrel and his father John who died in South Carolina; Taylor Baldwin of Lansing, Thomas Todd; Enos Cook who fell in Tennessee, and they will hear something about what was happening in Ithaca from a letter written from an Ithaca mother to her son serving in the Union Navy.

“The Language of War” is being presented in conjunction with “Lincoln:  The Constitution and the Civil War,” a nationally-traveling thematic exhibit on display at TCPL through October 31.

The exhibit and the reading of “The Language of War” are free and open to the public.  For more information, contact Carrie Wheeler-Carmenatty at (607) 272-4557 extension 248 or cwheeler@tcpl.org.


“Lincoln:  the Constitution and the Civil War,” a traveling exhibition for libraries, was organized by the National Constitution Center and the American Library Association Public Programs Office. The traveling exhibition has been made possible by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.   “Lincoln:  the Constitution and the Civil War” is based on an exhibition of the same name developed by the National Constitution Center.

Library to Host Presentation on Lincoln and the Civil War

Tompkins County Public Library, in connection with the nationally-traveling exhibit “Lincoln:  The Constitution and the Civil War,” will host a presentation by Edward E. Baptist on Lincoln during the Civil War, October 14 at 6 p.m. in the Library’s BorgWarner Community Room.

An associate professor in Cornell University’s Department of History, Baptist is a noted scholar and speaker on the enslavement of African Americans in the southern United States.  He teaches courses on the Civil War, slavery, the American South, masculinity, modernity and modernization, the first half of the American survey, and 19th century U.S. History. His recently-released book, “The Half Has Never Been Told:  Slavery and the Making of American Capitalism,” has received critical acclaim and sparked debate over its radical interpretation of American history.”

This program is being held in conjunction with the Library’s current exhibit, “Lincoln:  The Constitution and the Civil War,” a nationally traveling exhibition exploring Abraham Lincoln’s struggle to meet the constitutional challenges of the Civil War.

This 1,000 square foot, thematic exhibit offers an intriguing perspective of the challenges America’s much-heralded 16th president faced during the Civil War and describes his use of the Constitution as a guide for tackling the major issues of the war—secession of Southern states, slavery and wartime civil liberties.

The exhibit, which runs through October 31, and its corresponding programs are being held in conjunction with Tompkins County Public Library’s year-long Sesquicentennial Celebration, “150 Years and Counting.”

Baptist’s talk is free and open to the public.  For more information, contact Sally Grubb at (607) 272-4557 extension 232 or sgrubb@tcpl.org.

“Lincoln:  the Constitution and the Civil War,” a traveling exhibition for libraries, was organized by the National Constitution Center and the American Library Association Public Programs Office. The traveling exhibition has been made possible by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.   “Lincoln:  the Constitution and the Civil War” is based on an exhibition of the same name developed by the National Constitution Center.


Library to Offer Reading Sessions with Furry Friends


Children are invited to practice their reading skills by sharing a story with the best non-judgmental listener--a dog--each Tuesday from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Tompkins County Public Library’s Thaler/Howell Programming Room.

Children who attend six reading sessions with “Sam” and  “D.J.” will earn a free book of their choice!

This program will be held weekly from September 16 through November 25 and is co-sponsored by Cornell Companions.

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

Monday, October 13, 2014

Library to Host Family Movie Matinee

Tompkins County Public Library will host a free screening of “Muppets Most Wanted” October 13 at 2 p.m. in the Thaler/Howell Programming Room.

Families are invited to enjoy popcorn and drinks while watching Kermit, Miss Piggy and the entire Muppet gang as they become entangled in an international crime caper.

TCPL’s next family movie program will be a November 10 screening of “Maleficent” at 6 p.m. in the Thaler/Howell Programming Room.

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


Saturday, October 11, 2014

Library to Host Mother/Daughter Book Club


Girls ages 8 through 12 and the special women in their lives are invited to attend Tompkins County Public Library’s monthly Mother/Daughter Book Club.

Beginning October 11, the Mother/Daughter Book Club will meet once a month from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in the Library’s Thaler/Howell Programming Room.

Facilitated by author and educator Emily Rhoads Johnson, the Club provides a wonderful opportunity for participants to learn about themselves and others by discussing literature in a welcoming, judgment-free environment. 

Fall meeting dates and titles to be discussed are:

·      October 11—“Number the Stars” by Lois Lowry
·         November 15—“Because of Mr. Terupt” by Bob Buyea
·         December 13—“Remarkable” by Lizzie K. Foley

Participants may attend one or all of the meetings.  Registration is not required, and refreshments will be served.

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


Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Library to Host Writing Workshops for Teens




Tompkins County Public Library, in anticipation of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), has announced four free writing workshops for teens.

Workshop participants will meet from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., October 8, 22, 29 and November 12 and share ideas, explore exercises and enjoy prompts to help them create dynamic stories.

NaNoWriMo is an annual web-based creative writing project that takes place each November.  NaNoWriMo challenges participants to write 50,000 words of a new novel from November 1st through November 30.

Teens of all experience levels and interests are invited to attend one or more of these workshops.  Workshops are open to tweens and teens 11-19, however, advance registration is required.  To register, contact Regina DeMauro at rdemauro@tcpl.org or (607) 272-4557 extension 274.