Library and FLIC Partner for Writing Workshops

The Tompkins County Public Library and the Finger Lakes Independence Center have partnered for the return of the popular “Topic Workshop” series Thursdays from September 6 through October 11 from 2:30 to 4:30 in the Library’s BorgWarner Community Room.

Launched in 2011, the “Topic Workshop” uses reading, writing and conversation to understand a specific theme.  This year’s theme is “value,” and participants will learn step-by-step processes for writing poems, short stories and personal essays that express their views on the theme and discuss works that relate to “value” published by authors with disabilities.

These workshops are free and open to the public and will be facilitated by Steve Weed.  Individuals with and without disabilities are encouraged to discover how reading, writing and conversation help build self-awareness.

To register, or for more information, contact Jeff Boles at (607) 272-2433, flic2310@yahoo.com or Weed at (607) 275-9598, stevensweed@yahoo.com.

Library Offers eReaders for Teens

The Tompkins County Public Library has announced the addition of six Nook Simple Touch™ eReaders to its teen collection.

Teen Services Librarian Regina DeMauro-Axel said eReaders are an important tool to keep young adults engaged in reading and to ensure that they are afforded access to emerging technology.

“We recognize that teens live in a fast-paced, technologically advanced world and we want to help them learn to thrive in that environment,” DeMauro-Axel said.  “It is our hope that by promoting the use of eReaders and eBooks, teens will become comfortable with a new technology and help cement their comfort with the constantly evolving digital world.”

Each Nook® has been pre-loaded with 200 popular young adult titles in a variety of genres and can be borrowed—with a valid library card—for up to three weeks.

The devices were purchased by the Library with the support of the Tompkins County Public Library Foundation through generous grant funding from the Triad Foundation.

For more information about TCPL’s teen services and programs, contact DeMauro-Axel at (607) 272-4557 extension 274 or rdemauroaxel@tcpl.org.

Library to Host Book Discussion Groups

The Tompkins County Public Library will offer opportunities for readers to talk about the 2012 Community Read, “The Life Before Us” by Romain Gary, as Community Read Coordinator Sarah Glogowski hosts two book discussion groups September 5 at 11 a.m. and September 6 at 6 p.m. in the BorgWarner Community Room West.

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

“The Life Before Us,” is told by Momo, an orphaned Arab boy and Madame Rosa, the former lady of the night who cares for him and an ever-changing cast of children with the aid of monthly checks she receives from their prostitute mothers.  When the checks stop coming and Madame Rosa’s health begins to fail, the book’s real stories of love, belonging, identity and loss begin to emerge.

This program is free and open to the public; however, advance registration is requested. To register, contact Glogowski at (607) 272-4557 extension 255 or sglogowski@tcpl.org.

Library to Host Author of “Ithaca”

Celebrate the history, architecture, institutions and people of Ithaca as first-time author Mary Williams provides an illustrated look at her new book “Ithaca,” August 29 at 6 p.m. in the BorgWarner Community Room.

Part of the Images of America series, produced by Arcadia Publishing, “Ithaca” provides a photographic journey through time, with nearly 200 historic images from the 1860s to the1970s.  All of the images featured in the book are from the History Center of Tompkins County’s collections, and many have never been published before.

Williams conducted much of her research for the book while working as the research librarian for the History Center.  She is currently employed by Cornell University and GreenStar Cooperative.

This event is free and open to the public.  Copies of the book will be available for purchase during the program, courtesy of Buffalo Street Books.

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

Library to Host Storytime for Kindergarteners

Boys and girls starting kindergarten this fall are invited to shake out their first-day-of-school jitters before the school year begins during the Tompkins County Public Library’s “My First Day of Kindergarten Storytime.”

Due to the popularity of this program, two sessions are being offered.  The first will be August 29 at 2 p.m., and the second will be August 30 at 11 a.m.; both will be held in the Thaler/Howell Programming Room.

Open to all children entering kindergarten in the Ithaca and surrounding districts, this program will include stories, songs and a craft.

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

Library to Host Music Duo

Help the Tompkins County Public Library put another year of Summer Reading in the books, with a Summer Reading Wrap-Up Celebration featuring music duo Nate and Kate, August 18 at 2 p.m. in the BorgWarner Community Room.

Nate and Kate will offer an eclectic blend of traditional folk music for children played on cello, guitar, banjo, harmonica and kazoos!

This program is free and open to the public and has been made possible by the Tompkins County Public Library Foundation with the support of M & T Bank, The Brooks Family Foundation and a grant from the Federal Library Services and Technology Act Funds.

Library to Host Program on Conduct Literature

The Tompkins County Public Library will host award-winning SUNY Cortland English Professor Denise Knight for a presentation of “‘One is Not Fond of Overripe Pears’”: Conduct Literature and the Call for ‘True Womanhood’” August 16 at 6 p.m. in the BorgWarner Community Room.

Held in conjunction with the 2012 Community Read of Romain Gary’s “The Life Before Us,” Knight’s lecture will explore cultural assumptions about “appropriate” conduct and appearance of women in America from the late 19^th century through World War II.

By highlighting social etiquette guides, medical advice books and training manuals for male supervisors of women workers, Knight will illustrate how literature placed pressure on women to attain beauty, practice deference and exercise self-control.

This program is free and open to the public and has been made possible by the New York Council for the Humanities.

“The Life Before Us,” is told by Momo, an orphaned Arab boy and Madame Rosa, the former lady of the night who cares for him and an ever-changing cast of children with the aid of monthly checks she receives from their prostitute mothers.  When the checks stop coming and Madame Rosa’s health begins to fail, the book’s real stories of love, belonging, identity and loss begin to emerge.

Multiple copies of the book are available to borrow from the Library’s collection, courtesy of Cornell University.

For more information about Community Read programming, contact Carrie Wheeler-Carmenatty at (607) 272-4557 extension 248 or cwheeler@tcpl.org.  For more information about the Community Read, or to request free copies of the book for a book group or not-for-profit organization, contact Community Read Coordinator Sarah Glogowski at (607) 272-4557 extension 255 or sglogowski@tcpl.org.

Library to Host Monster Storytime

Don’t be afraid of monsters, celebrate them with Monster Storytime at the Tompkins County Public Library! 

Children of all ages will enjoy stories, rhymes, songs and a monster craft during this storytime tribute to things that go bump in the night at 11 a.m., August 15 in the Thaler/Howell Programming Room. 

This event is held in conjunction with Dream Big, Read, the Library’s 2012 Summer Reading Program and has been made possible by the Tompkins County Public Library Foundation with support from M&T Bank, the Brooks Family Foundation and a grant from the Federal Library Services and Technology Act Funds

Monster Storytime is free and open to the public.  For more information, contact the Library’s Youth Services Department at (607) 272-4557 extension 275.

Library to Host Amazing Animals

The Cayuga Nature Center will showcase an assortment of “Amazing Animals” August 10 as they bring their furry nocturnal friends and radical reptiles to the Tompkins County Public Library’s BorgWarner Community Room.

Children ages five and up will be treated to lessons and up-close access to the animals during this free 2 p.m. event, which is being held in conjunction with Dream Big, Read, the Library’s 2012 Summer Reading Program.

Dream Big, Read, has been made possible by the Tompkins County Public Library Foundation with support from M&T Bank, the Brooks Family Foundation and a grant from the Federal Library Services and Technology Act Funds.

This program requires advance registration.  To register, or for more information, contact the Youth Services Department at (607) 272-4557 extension 275.

Library to Offer Haunted History Tour for Teens

Space is still available for teens on the Tompkins County Public Library’s August 9 “Own the Night Haunted History Tour”.

Participants will meet at Center Ithaca at 7 p.m. and be led by Gorges Events and the Mystery & Adventure Agency on a fun-filled haunted history tour of downtown.

This program is free; however, advance registration is required.  To register, contact the Youth Services Department at (607) 272-4557 extension 275. 

Own the Night, the 2012 Teen Summer Reading Program, has been made possible by the Tompkins County Public Library Foundation through generous gifts from the Bradford Youth Programming Fund and the Brooks Family Foundation.

Library to Participate in Gallery Night

Enjoy a visual exploration of democracy as the Tompkins County Public Library exhibits “Drawing on Democracy” during Downtown Ithaca Gallery Night, August 3 from 5 to 8 p.m.

Curated by Terry Plater, “Drawing on Democracy” features the work of nine local artists-- Ben Altman, Stan Bowman, Jane Dennis, Yvonne Piburn, Plater, Stephan Phillips, Nancy Ridenour, Werner Sun and Marion Van Soest—who were asked to consider what democracy looks like.

Particularly poignant as the presidential election approaches, the exhibit challenges commonly recognized definitions of and beliefs about democracy.  The themes and questions presented by each artist offer viewers the opportunity to question their own interpretations of democracy.  Works featured in the exhibit explore a variety of issues including:  the honorable treatment of children, the unambiguous recognition of religious freedom, the flag as a metaphor for inclusion or as a fabric of disarray, the spectrum of public participation and the notion of artistic creation and expression.

“Drawing on Democracy” is supported in part by a grant from the Community Arts Partnership and will be on display through September 27.  The artists will be available to discuss their work during a Gallery Night opening reception.

TCPL’s much-talked about exhibit “Politics in Print:  Treasures from the Walker Library of the History of Imagination,” which features one of only two-known anastatic copies of the Declaration of Independence, and a fascinating display celebrating the 90^th Anniversary of the Ithaca Garden Club will also be on display during Gallery Night.

Access to the Library during Gallery Night will be through the BorgWarner Community Room door, opposite Gimme! Coffee and directly behind TCAT’s Green Street bus shelter.

For more information, contact Sally Grubb at (607) 272-4557 extension 232 or sgrubb@tcpl.org.

Freeloading Librarians to Offer Training at Shops at Ithaca Mall

The Tompkins County Public Library and The Shops at Ithaca Mall will partner July 28 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, which will begin at 10:00 a.m. and run until noon in the Food Court, will include personal assistance for downloading books to iPads, iPods, Kindles, Nooks and smartphones through the Finger Lakes Library System’s free, OverDrive Digital Download service. 

Participants should bring their library card or sign up for a free card at the event.  A photo ID with a current, local address is required to receive a library card.

This program is being held as part of a series of “Freeloading Librarians” programs designed to increase digital confidence and awareness among readers.

The “Freeloading Librarians will also offer instruction at the YMCA of Ithaca and Tompkins County, 50 Graham Road West, from 11 to 12:30 p.m. August 9.

For more information, contact Jennifer Schlossberg at (607) 272-4557 extension 254, jschlossberg@tcpl.org   or Stephen Salino at ssalino@tcpl.org.

Library to Host Tarot Numerology Workshop

Teens are invited to “Own the Night” during a July 26 Tarot numerology workshop at the Tompkins County Public Library.

At 6 p.m. in the Library’s Thaler/Howell Programming Room, Psychic Cindy Griffith will show teens how to combine their birthdates with Tarot cards to gain insight into their personalities, strengths and weaknesses.

This program is free and open to all teens and is being held in conjunction with TCPL’s Teen Summer Reading Program, “Own the Night.” Advance registration is required.  To register, or for more information, contact the Youth Services Department at (607) 272-4557 extension 275.

The 2012 Teen Summer Reading Program has been made possible by the Tompkins County Public Library Foundation through a gift from the Bradford Youth Programming Fund and The Brooks Family Foundation.

Library to Host Family Science Program

The Tompkins County Public Library and Cornell's Center for Materials Research will host “Families Learning Science Together: Catapults” July 21 from 2 to 3 p.m. in the Thaler/Howell Programming Room.

Families are invited to 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.   FLST programs are free and open to the public; however, space is limited. To register, contact Kaleigh at outreach@ccmr.cornell.edu or (607) 255-9547.