Tompkins County Public Library

Saturday, September 27, 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,” September 27 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.


Friday, September 26, 2014

Library to Commemorate Sesquicentennial with Weekend Celebration of Lincoln


In commemoration of its 150th Anniversary, Tompkins County Public Library will host “Lincoln: the Constitution and the Civil War,” a weekend-long exploration of Abraham Lincoln’s struggle to meet the constitutional challenges of the Civil War, September 26 through 28.

The weekend’s festivities begin September 26 with after-hours access to the nationally-traveling exhibit which inspired the Library’s celebration.

On display in the Avenue of the Friends through October 31, “Lincoln:  the Constitution and the Civil War” is a 1,000 square foot, thematic exhibit which offers an intriguing perspective on the challenges America’s much-heralded 16th president faced during the Civil War.  This timely exhibit describes Lincoln’s use of the Constitution as a guide for tackling the major issues of the war—secession of Southern states, slavery and wartime civil liberties.

Events being held in conjunction with the exhibit are:

Friday, September 26

5 to 7 p.m.:  An evening of art featuring self-guided tours of “Lincoln:  The Constitution and the Civil War” and its three companion exhibits, “Montage Histories:  Tompkins County, New York, through Photographs 1864-2014,” “Tompkins County in a Time of War: Life on the Home Front and on the Battlefield” and “Mightier than the Sword : The Impact of Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin.”

“Montage Histories” is a photographic exhibit created by Tompkins Cortland Community College Professor Harry Littell and students from his senior digital photography class.  Exhibit text was written by Cornell University Ph.D. candidates Bret Leraul and Christine “Xine” Yao with support from TCPL, the New York State Council for the Humanities, Cornell University and The History in Tompkins County. 

“Tompkins County in a Time of War,” curated by Julee Johnson and Sally Grubb includes artifacts reflecting life at home and on the Civil War battlefields.  Items featured in the exhibit are on-loan from Auburn’s Seward House Museum and The History Center in Tompkins County. 

The third companion exhibit, “Mightier than the Sword: The Impact of Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin” celebrates the lasting impact of Stowe’s iconic and often-challenged book, “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” and is being displayed in recognition of Banned Books Week.

5:30 p.m.: Cornell University’s Glee Club and Women’s Chorus, under the direction of Robert Isaacs, will perform Toby Twining’s “Lincoln the Musician,” in the Library’s Avenue of the Friends.


7:00 p.m.:  Cinemapolis will present “Civil Warriors,” an original film by Deborah Hoard, president of Ithaca’s award-winning PhotoSynthesis Productions.

“Civil Warriors” is a docudrama about the first African American regiment to fight in the Civil War and the Ithaca men who helped lead the charge. 

A panel discussion facilitated by Eric Acree, director of Cornell University’s Africana Library, featuring Hoard, co-producer/director Che Broadnax, Film Narrator Sean Eversley Bradwell, assistant professor, Center for the Study  of Culture, Race and Ethnicity at Ithaca College, will be held immediately following the screening.

Saturday, September 27

11 a.m. to 2p.m.:  A representative of TCPL’s Teen Advisory Group, portraying Abraham Lincoln, will serve as a docent providing mini tours of “Lincoln:  the Constitution and the Civil War.”

Sunday, September 28

2 p.m.: Elmira College Professor Charlie Mitchell will present “Re-reading Uncle Tom's Cabin afterDjango Unchained” and “Twelve Years a Slave,” an illustrated lecture.  This program will be held in the Library’s BorgWarner Community Room.

Additional programs in conjunction with “Lincoln:  The Constitution and the Civil War” are planned for October.
All library events and exhibits are 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.

“Montage Histories: Tompkins County, New York, through Photographs 1864-2014” was made possible with funding from the New York Council for the Humanities, Tompkins County Tourism Board, The Community Arts Partnership of Tompkins County, Tompkins Cortland Community College Photography Program, and the Tompkins County Public Library Foundation. 

“Tompkins County in a Time of War” is made possible with the support of the Seward House Museum of Auburn and The History Center in Tompkins County with partial funding from the Community Arts Partnership of Tompkins County. 

“Mightier than the Sword: The Impact of Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin” was made possible with the support of the Seward House Museum and the Friends of Tompkins County Public Library.

The Screening of “Civil Warriors” is made possible through grant support from the New York Council for the Humanities and the generosity of Cinemapolis and PhotoSynthesis Productions.



Library to host Traveling Lincoln 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, will open September 26 at the Tompkins County Public Library.

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.

Special after-hours access to the exhibit will be available from 5 to 7 p.m., September 26, with exhibit tours and thematic events planned throughout the weekend.  For detailed event information, contact Exhibit Coordinator Sally Grubb at (607) 272-4557 extension 232 or sgrubb@tcpl.org, or visit, http://tcpl.org/events-exhibits/exhibits-overview.php.

This 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.”

“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.

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Library to Host Book Discussion Groups

Tompkins County Public Library will offer opportunities for readers to talk about the 2014 Community Read, “Clash of Civilizations Over an Elevator in Piazza Vittorio” by Amara Lakhous, as Community Read Coordinator Teresa Vadakin hosts three book discussion groups this September.

Hour-long discussions will be held from noon to 1 p.m. and 6 to 7 p.m., Tuesday, September 23, in the BorgWarner Community Room. 

A special ESL discussion group, for non-native English speakers, will be held September 24 from 3:15 to 4:30 p.m. in the Library’s Tompkins Trust Company Study Room.

Participants of all ages are invited to share their impressions and discuss the relevance, themes and messages of  “Clash of Civilizations” in a judgment-free and welcoming environment.

Winner of Italy’s prestigious Flaiano Prize, “Clash of Civilizations” uses social satire and murder mystery to tell the story of a mixed community thrown into chaos as police investigate the murder of a neighbor.

Now in its 13th year, the Community Read encourages community members to experience the bond of literature by reading and discussing the same title. 

This program is free and open to the public; however, advance registration is requested. To register, contact Vadakin at (607) 272-4557 extension 272 or tvadakin@tcpl.org.


Saturday, September 20, 2014

Library to Host Program on Net Neutrality

Tompkins County Public Library, in celebration of Freedom to Read Week 2014, will host “Net Neutrality:  A 21st Century Necessity for a Democracy,” a presentation by Tracy Mitrano, September 20 at 2 p.m. in the BorgWarner Community Room.

This free presentation will explore the complexity of net neutrality—the principle that Internet service providers should allow access to all content and applications regardless of source and without favoring or blocking particular products or websites.  It will also provide insight into current Federal Communications Commission legislation outlining regulatory requirements of telecommunications providers of broadband information services. 

The organizer of Cornell University’s Institute for Internet, Culture, Policy and Law (ICPL), Mitrano is a principal in the consulting firm Mitrano and Associates, LLC.  The former director of information technology policy at Cornell University, Mitrano has been a frequent speaker at conferences, colleges, and universities on the subjects of "virtual global universities" and the creation of international inter-institutional courses; online education; digital literacy and undergraduate Internet competencies; social networking; electronic surveillance; policy development, organizational development, and leadership programming; information management; and privacy, security, compliance, and risk management.  Mitrano is the author of the higher education blog “Law, Policy—and IT?” and is currently working for Internet2 on its National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace.


This program is open to an all ages audience.  For more information, contact Carrie Wheeler-Carmenatty at (607) 272-4557 extension 248 or cwheeler@tcpl.org.

Friday, September 19, 2014

Library to Close for Staff Training


Tompkins County Public Library will be closed September 19 for its annual Staff Development Day.

Library Director Susan Currie said the training day will help ensure that staff members are prepared to meet the changing needs of Library patrons.

"As our community evolves, so does the Library's responsibility to provide the services and resources our patrons need," Currie said.  "Staff development day gives us an opportunity to discuss those needs and make sure our staff members are prepared to meet them."

TCPL will re-open at 10 a.m., Saturday, September 20.

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

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Library to Host Young Adult Book Club

Tompkins County Public Library will host its Young Adult Book Club, a monthly book discussion group for middle and high school students, September 17 from 4:45 to 5:45 p.m. in the Thaler/Howell Programming Room.

This meeting is perfect for new and returning Club members ages 11 to 18, as participants will select titles to be read and discussed during future meetings.

For more information, contact Teen Services Librarian Regina DeMauro at (607) 272-4557 extension 274 or rdemauro@tcpl.org.

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

TCPL to Host Human Library


Tompkins County Public Library is seeking individuals with personal stories of discrimination, social stigma and prejudice to serve as “Human Books” during the Library’s inaugural Human Library project October 8.

The Human Library concept was developed in Denmark in 2000 and is now used in more than 60 countries as a tool for challenging societal prejudices and promoting community conversations.

Individuals who have experienced discrimination due to race, age, religious affiliation, sexual orientation or lifestyle choices are invited to serve as “Human Books” during this event.  During the Human Library experience  Library patrons and community members will have an opportunity to learn more about stereotypes and stigmas by “checking out” a “Human Book” and engaging in a one-on-one conversation.

TCPL is currently seeking approximately 15 “Human Book” volunteers.  Individuals interested in sharing their stories of stereotyping and discrimination are invited to help TCPL promote respect and diversity by contacting project organizers Tom Burns at tburns@tcpl.org or Teresa Vadakin at tvadakin@tcpl.org.

TCPL to Host Human Library


Tompkins County Public Library is seeking individuals with personal stories of discrimination, social stigma and prejudice to serve as “Human Books” during the Library’s inaugural Human Library project October 8.

The Human Library concept was developed in Denmark in 2000 and is now used in more than 60 countries as a tool for challenging societal prejudices and promoting community conversations.

Individuals who have experienced discrimination due to race, age, religious affiliation, sexual orientation or lifestyle choices are invited to serve as “Human Books” during this event.  During the Human Library experience  Library patrons and community members will have an opportunity to learn more about stereotypes and stigmas by “checking out” a “Human Book” and engaging in a one-on-one conversation.

TCPL is currently seeking approximately 15 “Human Book” volunteers.  Individuals interested in sharing their stories of stereotyping and discrimination are invited to help TCPL promote respect and diversity by contacting project organizers Tom Burns at tburns@tcpl.org or Teresa Vadakin at tvadakin@tcpl.org.