Library to Offer Reading Sessions with Furry Friends

Children are invited to practice their reading skills by sharing a story with the best nonjudgmental listener-- a dog--each Tuesday from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Thaler/Howell Programming Room.

This program will be held weekly through March 25 and is co-sponsored by Cornell Companions.  For more information, contact the Library’s Youth Services Department at (607) 272-4557 extension 275.

Library to Explore Life and Legacy of Nelson Mandela

Tompkins County Public Library, in partnership with Cornell University’s Africana Studies and Research Center, the John H. Clarke Africana Library and The History Center in Tompkins County, will present “Lessons From the Life of Nelson Mandela:  A Community Conversation,” February 22 at 2 p.m. in the Library’s BorgWarner Community Room.

This program will feature a timely discussion on Mandela’s life, with Professors N’Dri Assie-Lumumba and Locksley Edmondson exploring the lessons learned and legacy left by South Africa’s first democratically-elected president.  The conversation will be facilitated by Eric Kofi Acree, director of Cornell’s Africana Library.

The author and editor of several books, Assie-Lumumba is a professor of African and African Diaspora education, comparative and international education, social institutions, African social history, and the study of gender.  She has carried out numerous prestigious national and international board and committee assignments, including several related to the social, educational and economic advancement of African nations.

Professor Edmondson is a political scientist with specializations on Africa, and the Caribbean, and international race relations.  He has traveled and lectured throughout Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, North America and the Caribbean, and has delivered several lectures during his three invited visits to South Africa since 1994. 

This program is free and open to the public.  For more information, contact Carrie Wheeler-Carmenatty at (607) 272-4557 extension 248 or cwheeler@tcpl.org.

To learn more about the life and work of Mandela, visit http://guides.library.cornell.edu/mandela.

 

Library to Host Book Club for Young Adults

Tompkins County Public Library will host “Teens Read,” a monthly book discussion group for middle and high school students, February 19 from 4:45 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. in the Thaler/Howell Programming Room.

Participants will discuss books and select future titles.  Some books read by the group will be available for members to keep.  This month, the group will discuss “Wonder” by R.J. Palacio and receive a copy of “Grave Mercy” by Robin LaFevers to discuss next month.

“Teens Read” programs are held on the third Wednesday of each month. Refreshments are provided.

“Teens Read,” has been made possible by the Tompkins County Public Library Foundation through a grant from the Bernard Carl and Shirley Rosen Library Fund of the Community Foundation of Tompkins County.

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

Library to Host ESL Snack and Chat

Beginning February 26, non-native English speakers 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 16, from 3:15 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the BorgWarner Community Room  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 Teresa Vadakin at (607) 272-4557 extension 272 or tvadakin@tcpl.org, or contact Debbie Collier at (607) 272-4557 extension 249 or dcollier@tcpl.org. Community members interested in volunteering to help facilitate ESL Snack and Chat programs are encouraged to contact Yvette Rubio at (607) 272-4557 extension 226 or yrubio@tcpl.org for information about a short orientation program being held February 19.

Library to Host Family Movie Matinee

Tompkins County Public Library will host a free screening of “Planes,” February 17 at 2 p.m. in the Thaler/Howell Programming Room.

Families are invited to enjoy popcorn and drinks while watching Dusty, a crop duster with sky-high dreams and a once-in-a-lifetime chance to take on the world's fastest flyers in the greatest air race ever.

The Library will also host a special screening of the blockbuster "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2" at 2 p.m., March 17.

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

 

Library to Participate in “Big Library Read”

Tompkins County Public Library has announced its participation in “The Big Library Read,” an international program providing library card holders with free access to the eBook “Keys to the Kitchen” by Food Network star Aida Mollenkamp.

Beginning February 17, Library patrons can download a copy of “Keys to the Kitchen” onto a personal computer, eReader, smartphone or other Android device by visiting http://flls.lib.overdrive.com and selecting their desired borrowing time of one, two or three weeks.  Unlimited copies are available, and the book will expire at the end of the selected borrowing period, eliminating the worry of late fees.

“Keys to the Kitchen” is an all-purpose guide to becoming a more adventurous cook and is appropriate for chefs of all ability levels.

“The Big Library Read” has been made possible through a partnership between OverDrive, the leading supplier of eBooks and more to libraries, and Chronicle Books.  It runs through March 5.

For more information or help downloading a copy of the book, contact Thomas Fredette at (607) 272-4557 extension 271 or tfredette@tcpl.org.

Library Foundation Exceeds 2013 Goal, Announces New Board Members

Tompkins County Public Library Foundation Executive Director Suzanne Smith Jablonski today announced that 2013 Foundation fundraising efforts exceeded their goal by nearly $30,000.

The Library Foundation, a privately funded organization committed to providing support for Library programs, collections and services, generated more than $229,000 in 2013.

Smith Jablonski attributed the results to public recognition of the important role the Library plays in our community and the dedicated service of Foundation board members.

“Tompkins County Public Library benefits tremendously from the individuals and organizations in our community who realize the importance of a vibrant, ever-evolving library,” Smith Jablonski said.  “We are fortunate to have a group of tireless board members who lead that charge by encouraging and modeling philanthropy for TCPL’s benefit.”

Board members Caroline Cox, Tom Colbert, Mike Riley and Pat Johnson, who have served the Foundation Board for a combined 30 years, concluded their terms in 2013.  They have unanimously agreed, however, to remain involved with the Foundation through committee work and advocacy.

New board members:  Robert Case, manager of the Commons Branch of M &T Bank, Tompkins County Historian Carol Kammen, educator and community volunteer Mickie Sanders-Jauquet and Kevin Sutherland, chief of staff, City of Ithaca, will join returning members Karin Ash, Leslie Danks Burke, Anne Kenney, Marcia Jacobsen, Enid Littman and Rochelle E. Proujansky in 2014.  Ash and Danks Burke will serve as president and vice president respectively, while Littman will serve as secretary/treasurer.

For more information or to support the Tompkins County Public Library Foundation, contact Smith Jablonski at (607) 272-4557 extension 231 or ssmithjablonski@tcpl.org.

Library to Host Program on College Visits

Tompkins County Public Library will host “College Visits:  What to Know,” a program for college-bound teens and their families, February 10 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Thaler/Howell Programming Room.

Representatives from Wells College and Ithaca College, will lead a question and answer session complete with information on how to make the most of a college visit and determining how to select an appropriate college environment.

This program is free and open to the public.  For more information or to register, contact Teen Services Librarian Regina DeMauro at (607) 272-4557 extension 274 or rdemauro@tcpl.org.

Library to Host Family Science Program

Tompkins County Public Library and Cornell University’s Science Engineering and Educational Development program will host “Eccentric Electric Paper and the Shy Magnet that Could,” a family-friendly science program exploring circuits and magnetism, February from 2 to 3 p.m. in the Library’s Thaler/Howell Programming Room.

Through fun-filled, hands-on activities, families with children ages five and up will learn the foundations of electricity by using graphite and wires to light up a bulb and explore the topic of magnetism through fun experiments with copper pipes.

This program is free and open to the public.  For more information, contact Brenna Funfar at brf38@cornell.edu.

 

 

Library to Host Fall Creek Folk

Tompkins County Public Library will present the spirited sounds of Fall Creek Folk February 9 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the Ezra Cornell Reading Room.

Fall Creek Folk offers an eclectic mix of original tunes, contemporary folk, and vintage rock songs with fine vocal harmonies and instrumentals. The band features Ceili Murphy on keyboard and Celtic whistle, Mark Sammo on percussion and vocals and Library employees Richie Holtz and Amy Davis on vocals and guitar.

This performance is free and open to an all-ages audience.  For more information, contact Carrie Wheeler-Carmenatty at (607) 272-4557 extension 248.

Library to Host Program on Online Privacy

Tompkins County Public Library will host “Personal Security in the Digital Age,” a presentation by Marsha Powell, February 7 from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the BorgWarner Community Room.

During her Library presentation, Powell will offer strategies for protecting against identity theft, techniques for keeping personal computers free from viruses and other malware and tips for avoiding phishing and other scams.  A professor in the Department of Computer Science and Information Systems at Tompkins Cortland Community College, Powell is a recipient of the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. 

This program is free and open to the public.  For more information, contact Carrie Wheeler-Carmenatty at (607) 272-4557 extension 248 or cwheeler@tcpl.org.

Library to Showcase Three Exhibits During Gallery Night

A celebration of dance, intricate wood sculptures and an artistic tribute to Martin Luther Jr., will be on display at the Tompkins County Public Library during Downtown Ithaca’s Gallery Night, February 7.

The featured exhibits include, “For the Joy of Dancing,” a multi-media exhibit reflecting the passion, spirit and excitement of dance.

“For the Joy of Dancing,” includes original works from regional artists:  Glenda Blake, Raymond Dalton, Margaret Corbit, Brian Keeler, Bill Deats, Jari Poulin, Julie Prisloe and Kurt Lichtmann.

The artists borrowed from their own experiences with dancing and dancers to create an eclectic blend of pieces which celebrate the simple joys of learned and improvised dance.  From pieces reflecting the newly-learned poise of young dancers to those showcasing the passion and excitement shared between dance partners, the exhibit offers—through the eyes of its artists-- a glimpse into the social, cultural, emotional and spiritual world of dance.

The exhibit includes photographs of many local dancers, and will be on display through March 15. 

Also on display during Gallery Night are the unusual wood sculptures of Gerry Monaghan and Eva M. Capobianco. This unusual pairing illustrates how artists can use the same medium to create vastly different works. From the solid, yet fanciful, creations of Capobianco to the fragile, almost floating creations, of Monaghan, these intricately-crafted pieces are dissimilar in their design but alike in their beauty. 

Gallery Night will also feature a special exhibit presented by the Tompkins County Office of Human Rights.  “Why We Can’t Wait:  The 127^th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Art and Poetry Competition Show will be on display outside of the Library’s Ezra Cornell Reading Room.  A Recognition Ceremony and Reception will take place at 5:30 p.m. in the Avenue of the Friends.

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

Gallery Night access to the Library will be through the BorgWarner Community Room entrance behind Green Street’s TCAT bus shelter.

Library to Participate in Take Your Child to the Library Day

February 1 is “Take Your Child to the Library Day,” and Tompkins County Public Library is offering four exciting opportunities for children to celebrate.

At 11 a.m. the Library will host “Family Storytime,” with stories, songs and family fun for all ages.  At 2 p.m., young builders are invited to take part in a special “Legos at the Library,” program.  Participants will build their own Lego creations, which will be displayed in the Library’s Youth Services Department for a week.  The fun will continue at 3 p.m. with a special session of “Sit, Stay, Read,” an opportunity for young readers to practice their skills by reading to a truly non-judgmental listener—a dog.  Volunteers from the “Reader Is In” program will also be on-hand throughout the day to read and share books.

All programs are free and open to the public. Special giveaways will be available.

On “Take Your Child to the Library Day,” and every day, children are encouraged to check out TCPL’s new books, audiobooks, movies, music, computers and early learning stations.

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

Library to Host Storytimes

Tompkins County Public Library has announced the February return of its weekly storytimes for babies, toddlers and families.

The following storytimes are free and open to the public and will be held in the Library’s Thaler/Howell Programming Room:

Babies, Books and Bounce, Fridays  at 11 a.m.

Caregivers and newborns up to 18-months-old are invited to join Library staff Fridays at 11 a.m. from February 7 through April 25 for music, rhymes, movement and books.

Toddler Storytime, Tuesdays at 11 a.m.:

Caregivers and toddlers will have an opportunity to enjoy stories, songs, and fingerplays each Tuesday at 11 a.m. from February 4 through April 29.

Family Storytime, Saturdays at 11 a.m.:

From February 1 through April 26, children of all ages and their caregivers are invited to attend Family Storytime each Saturday at 11 a.m. for great books and fantastic family fun.

All children must be accompanied by a parent or caregiver. For more information, contact the Youth Services Department at (607)272-4557 extension 275.