Tompkins County Public Library

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Library, Ithaca City of Asylum to Present Authors and Actors During Annual Voices of Freedom Event

In celebration of “Voices of Freedom 2014,” Tompkins County Public Library and the Ithaca City of Asylum will partner November 20 for “Ithaca Outloud:  Ithaca Actors Read Ithaca Writers.”

“Ithaca Outloud” will pair accomplished local actors Holly Adams, Dick Furnas, Masa Gibson, Phil Hart and David Romm with acclaimed authors Alison Lurie, Lamar Herrin, Eleanor Henderson, Caroline Manring and Jacob White, with the actors performing vignettes from some of the authors’ most popular works.

“Voices of Freedom” is an annual event of Ithaca City of Asylum (ICOA) and the Tompkins County Public Library.  This event is made possible with grant support from the Community Arts Partnership.
“Ithaca Outloud” will begin at 7 p.m. in the Library’s BorgWarner Community Room.  It is free and open to the public.  Refreshments will be provided.
For more information about this event, contact Carrie Wheeler-Carmenatty at (607) 272-4557 extension 248 or cwheeler@tcpl.org.  To learn more about City of Asylum programs, visit ithacacityofasylum.wordpress.com.

Sunday, November 16, 2014

Library Foundation Announces $2.75 Million Campaign

The Tompkins County Public Library Foundation has announced a $2.75 million goal for its 21st Century Library Campaign.

More than 200 people packed the Library's Avenue of the Friends Saturday evening for an after-hours celebration feting the launch of the campaign.  The event, emceed by syndicated columnist and author Amy Dickinson, included remarks from campaign co-chairs Aloja Airewele, outgoing president of the Library's Board of Trustees, community advocate and storyteller, Tompkins Cortland Community College President Carl Haynes, Jean McPheeters, owner of Jean McPheeters Consulting LLC and retired president of the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce, Ithaca College President Tom Rochon and Joel Malina, Cornell University's Vice President of University Relations, representing Co-Chair David Skorton, president of Cornell University and secretary-elect of the Smithsonian Institute.

Guests were treated to literary-themed refreshments prepared by the students of Tompkins Cortland Community College's Coltivare--under the direction of Cayuga Medical Center Executive Chef Jim Durkee-- music by Johnny Russo and Friends and an opportunity to learn about the campaign goals by visiting staff-run stations throughout the library.

The 21st Century Library Campaign is designed to help TCPL respond to evolving community needs.  Goals for the campaign include the creation of a digital learning lab, an expanded Teen Services offering, collection development and to support the Library Foundation's Annual Fund and endowment.

Suzanne Smith Jablonski, executive director of the Library Foundation said $2.08 million has already been raised during the quiet phase of the campaign, with lead gifts from Tom and Loren Colbert, Elissa Cogan and Barry Chester, a bequest from Edward Smith, two estate gifts, and a recent anonymous contribution.

"The quiet phase of the campaign has again showed us how important the library is to our community," Smith Jablonski said.  "We have been humbled by the generosity of our donors thus far and are confident that the community will embrace the campaign for the future of our amazing library."

The campaign will run through 2016.  For more information, or to support the campaign, visit http://www.tcplfoundation.org/ or contact Smith Jablonski at (607) 272-4557 extension 231.

Saturday, November 15, 2014

Library to Launch Campaign with Public Celebration

The Tompkins County Public Library Foundation will launch “The Campaign for a 21st Century Library:  Books and Beyond in the Digital Age,” November 15 from 5 to 7 p.m. with a public celebration featuring best-selling author and syndicated columnist Amy Dickinson and poet, essayist and Cornell University Professor Emeritus Kenneth McClane.

Participants are invited to learn about the campaign goals, discover what a 21st Century Library looks like, meet the community leaders serving as campaign co-chairs and enjoy literary-themed refreshments.

According to Library Director Susan Currie, the campaign will allow TCPL to meet the evolving needs of the community and position the Library as a center for community connection and personal growth.

“This is a defining moment for public libraries,” Currie said.  “The ways in which our community needs the library are changing, and we must respond.   To flourish, people need lifelong access to an ever-increasing and ever-changing body of knowledge and tools and skills to make the most of it.”

The campaign launch is free and open to the public.  Special programming will be provided for children ages four and up.

For more information, visit http://www.tcplfoundation.org/#!.  To RSVP, contact Josiah Jacobus Parker at (607) 272-4557 extension 261 or jjacobusparker@tcpl.org.


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.

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. 

Upcoming meeting dates and titles to be discussed are:

·         November 15—“Because of Mr. Terupt” by Bob Buyea
·         December 13—“Remarkable” by Lizzie K. Foley
·         January 10—“A Step from Heaven” by An Na

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.

Library to Participate in International Games Day




Tompkins County Public Library will join more than 1,000 libraries around the world in a celebration of games, play, learning and libraries, November 15 during International Games Day 2014.

Community members of all ages and interests are invited to join the gaming movement by visiting TCPL for a variety of online, board and role playing games.  Featured games include, Magic the Gathering, Pathfinder and Minecraft.

Minecraft competitions will be held throughout the day, with game-related prizes for winners.

International Games Day was launched by the American Library Association in 2009 to celebrate the commitment of public libraries to culture sharing and information.  Libraries world-wide participate by offering gaming events of varying sizes and levels of sophistication.

TCPL’s gaming celebration will be held from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Library’s BorgWarner Community Room.  It is free and open to the public.  Snacks and refreshments will be provided.

For more information about International Games Day, or to learn about the Library’s upcoming Hunger Games Tournament, contact Young Adult Services Librarian Regina DeMauro at (607) 272-4557 extension 274.



Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Library to Host National Novel Writing Month “Write-Ins”

Tompkins County Public Library invites writers to experience the energy of writing in a shared space November 12 and 23 as it hosts National Novel Writing Month Write-Ins.

National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) encourages writers of all ages and abilities to begin writing a 50,000-word novel during the month of November.  An estimated 500,000 writers from all seven continents will participate in NaNoWriMo events and activities, making it the largest writing event in the world.

The Library’s Write-Ins will be held November 12 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. in the Thaler/Howell Programming Room and November 23 from 1 to 5 p.m. in the Tompkins Trust Company Study Room.  These programs are free and open to participants of all ages.

For more information about NaNoWriMo, visit http://nanowrimo.org/. For more information about the Library’s Write-Ins, contact Teresa Vadakin at tvadakin@tcpl.org or Regina DeMauro at rdemauro@tcpl.org.


Sunday, November 9, 2014

Library to Host ESL Storytime

Tompkins County Public Library will host “Winter Celebrations,” a read-aloud storytime for children learning English as a new language, November 9 at 2 p.m. in the Thaler/Howell Programming Room.

English learners in kindergarten through fourth grade are invited to attend this free program, which will explore—through stories, songs and traditions-- how winter holidays are celebrated in Ithaca and around the world.  This program is being hosted by Professor Cathrene Connery’s Second Language Acquisition class from Ithaca College’s Department of Education.

“Winter Celebrations” will conclude with a hands-on activity and refreshments.

For more information, visit: http://tcpl.org/kids/programs.php, or contact the Youth Services Department at (607) 272-4557 extension 275.



Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Library, Civil War Commission to Host Author/Professor Michael Trotti


Tompkins County Public Library, in partnership with the Tompkins County Civil War Sesquicentennial Commemoration Commission (TCCWSCC), will host “The Civil War After the Civil War:  How the South Won,” a presentation by Michael Trotti, November 5 at 6 p.m. in the Library’s BorgWarner Community Room.

A Professor of United States History at Ithaca College and author of “The Body in the Reservoir: Murder and Sensationalism in the South,” Trotti will provide an illustrated discussion of how racial tensions following the Civil War remained prevalent in the South and refueled, following a few short years of Republican rule-- racial division throughout the nation.

This program is being presented as part of a five-year partnership between the Library and the TCCWSCC to provide opportunities for community conversation and increased awareness about the Civil War.  It is free and open to the public.

For more information about Library programs, contact Carrie Wheeler-Carmenatty at cwheeler@tcpl.org or (607) 272-4557 extension 248.  For information about the Tompkins County Civil War Sesquicentennial Commemoration Commission, contact Carol Kammen, Tompkins County historian, at ckk6@cornell.edu.

Library Announces Junior Library Advisory Council, Seeks Members

Tompkins County Public Library’s Teen Advisory Group is now the Junior Library Advisory Council (JLAC), and young adults are invited to participate.

JLAC is a service-oriented group of area students helping to enhance library services for young adults by advocating for and advising the library on areas important to young people.  Council members share ideas about library programs, services, collections and trends.

The next JLAC meeting will be held November 5 from 4:45 to 5:45 p.m., young adults ages 11 to 19 are invited to attend.

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



Monday, November 3, 2014

Library Staff Receive Awards


In recognition of their commitment to superior service, collection development, programming and community outreach, four members of the Tompkins County Public Library staff received awards in October.

Library Director Susan Currie lauded the efforts of staff members Sarah Glogowski, Michelle Saraceni, Sally Grubb and Carrie Wheeler-Carmenatty, who were recognized by area library and service groups.

“We spend a great deal of time championing the services, programs and collections of the library,” Currie said, “but none of these things would be possible without the enthusiasm, creativity and dedication of our staff.  These well-deserved awards highlight their efforts and remind us of how important the work of library employees is to our entire community.”

Glogowski, head of the library’s Youth Services Department, received the Finger Lakes Library System’s Joan Cooke Youth Services Award.  Glogowski transitioned from the Adult Services Department to Youth Services in 2013 and has been instrumental in the development of new programs for infants, toddlers, elementary-aged children and young adults.  Under her leadership, participation in TCPL’s Summer Reading Program increased by 200 percent, reference questions answered by the department increased by 51 percent and collaborations with community organizations led to a double-digit percentage increase in program attendance.

Saraceni, a  19-year TCPL employee, received the Ithaca Rotary Club’s Pride of Workmanship Award.  The award recognizes an individual who goes above and beyond the call of duty, demonstrates initiative and consistency and embodies the spirit of an organization.

Walking into the library to find so many books, magazines and resources can be a magical experience, but it is only through careful and thorough collection management that the community can enjoy such access. Through her work as a library page, Saraceni conscientiously and carefully helps to ensure that the collection and circulation needs of patrons are met.  She has served on several library committees and provides thoughtful insight into matters of library operation and policy. Saraceni can often be found helping patrons locate hard-to-find books with genuine kindness and a commitment to customer service.

Grubb and Wheeler-Carmenatty were awarded the South Central Regional Library Council’s 2014 Public Relations Award for their work on the Library’s Sesquicentennial Celebration.

Grubb, the Library’s art exhibit coordinator, and Wheeler-Carmenatty, public programming and community relations coordinator, developed, promoted and coordinated events and exhibits in celebration of the Library’s 150 years of service to Tompkins County, including the art exhibit “Diary of A Library:  A Community Card Catalog of Pictures, Memories and Stories,”  and an afternoon of proclamations and presentations by state and local officials.  Additionally, the duo successfully applied for the opportunity to exhibit the American Library Association’s traveling exhibit “Lincoln:  the Constitution and the Civil War,” which, through companion programs, illustrated what life was like locally and nationally during the years in which the library was being chartered and constructed.

Through their efforts, the Library’s Sesquicentennial received front-page coverage in local and regional print publications, as well as features on area television and radio programs.

For more information, contact Currie at scurrie@tcpl.org or (607) 272-4557 extension 234.