Island Free Library News and Views

December 1, 2010

Kristin — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 21:49:28 +0000

here is the news:

Wreath Making is scheduled for Friday night, 12/3, from 6-8. We will be providing all necessary materials for you to make a wreath for your door…please bring anything you want to personalize your wreath. And do not worry about what to do with your kids, we will be showing a family movie in the room next door while we make the wreaths…so bring them.

On Tuesday morning, 12/7, the Friends will be decorating the library. Feel free to join us-this is a fun morning and helps with the motivation to go home and decorate for yourself!

Book Group is reading The Man in the Wooden Hat for discussion on Wed, 12/8 at 9am. Next read for this group is Garlic and Sapphires by Ruth Reichl. Copies of both books are available at the desk and everyone is welcome at these discussions.

ANNUAL HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE: Friday, 12/10, 5-7pm. All welcome!

Check back for more December News…

Summer Reading

Kristin — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 21:27:17 +0000

Tonight or tomorrow night I will finish The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver. What a great book! I loved the history…Russian revolution, Frida and Diego, Aztecs…oh, that reminds me, for an enjoyable dose of history, The Last Station on DVD is SUPER TERRIFIC!

hmmm…..what else did I read this summer…Janet’s E’s latest, I think she is at 16, Sizzling Sixteen if I not mistaken; and a book titled The Last Time I Saw You by Elizabeth Berg, which most everyone loves and I liked; I got turned on to Ivan Doig; and I started and will finish a Maisie Dobbs called The Mapping of Love and Death. I must have read more, but it is time to close the library for the day so I got to go…Enjoy!

Wetherbee’s Block Island arrives at the library!

Kristin — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 20:25:14 +0000

Jack Lynch’s new book is beautiful and is here at the library! On Thursday, August 12 from 5:30-7pm, Jack will be presenting his book, Wetherbee’s Block Island Paintings from the 1940′s. Come to the library, enjoy the AC, take a break from the beach, have a cool drink and a delicious something to eat and have Jack sign a book for you! This will be enjoyable evening out for any and all!

Reading now, reading next and on my list

Kristin — Sun, 16 May 2010 17:50:46 +0000

When Elizabeth Kostova’s new book, The Swan Thieves, arrived at the library this month I remembered that I had wanted to read her first book, The Historian, and had not yet. Now, I am 596 pages into it and (still) loving it. I have been reading The Historian and listening to The Witch of Portobello, by Paulo Coehlo simultaneously. This has been quite interesting. Right before I started these literary adventures I had shelved a book that fascinated me, Bury Me Standing: The Gypsies and Their Journey by Isabel Fonseca. I had spent a few minutes reading and flipping thru Bury Me Standing before I shelved it that morning and after I started The Historian and The Witch of Portobello I had to go back and retrieve it off the shelf and take it home. Very interesting indeed.

As I work my way through these selections Fever Dream, by Preston and Child waits on deck with the new Isabel Allende in the wings!

hhm, hhm good reading anyway you look at it!

Bake, Book and Bloom

Kristin — Sun, 16 May 2010 16:25:04 +0000

We are preparing for our annual Bake, Book and Bloom sale- calls to volunteer bakers have been made, the plants have been ordered and the books have been sorted! The sale will take place on Saturday, May 29, 2010 from 10am-3pm. While the baked goods and plants will be arriving the morning of the sale, the books are organized and ready for browsing and purchase now. The Bake, Book and Bloom sale is the Friends of the Library’s biggest fundraiser of the year and we urge you to come out and support your library. This is always a fun day and we hope to see you there!

Billy the Flying Cha-Cha Pig

Kristin — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 17:07:17 +0000

Check the skies, clear the fields…Billy the Flying Cha-Cha Pig will be landing on Block Island! Hailing from Providence, the children’s theatre company, Shooting Starr Theatre will be presenting Billy the Flying Cha-Cha Pig on Saturday, April 24th at 1pm in the library. Over two dozen kids will be travelling to Block Island and setting stage at the library to perform this tale about a small pig with big dreams! This “for kids-by kids” play is free and will be fun for all!

In celebration of Earth Day the library will be hosting naturalist and author Todd Mcleish for an evening of inquiry and entertainment. McLeish will be bringing his presentation on the road and to our library on Thursday, April 29th for a 7pm show. His books include Basking with Humpbacks and Golden Wings and Hairy Toes and his presentations have been well received throughout our area. This event is free and everyone is welcome.

During Earth Day Week the library will presenting a Mini Environmental Film Festival featuring the films: A Sense of Wonder, Flip Flotsam and the Ocean View Foundation’s Block Island Series. Viewings will begin on Tuesday, April 20th at 1pm with Flip Flostsam, followed by BI Conversation and BI Rescue at 1:45pm and A Sense of Wonder at 2:15pm.

The schedule for Earth Day, Thursday, April 22 is as follows:

11am: Flip Flotsam, 11:45am: BI Blankie and BI Rescue, 3:30pm: Flip Flotsam, 4:15pm: BI Blankie and BI Shuffle, 5pm: A Sense of Wonder.

We encourage kids of all ages to come to these events, the OVF films and Flip Flotsam will appeal to young and old. And if your littlest ones are not willing to sit thru A Sense of Wonder, the library will have Earth Day crafts for them to do while you enjoy the movie!

We look forward to seeing you at the library!

April Fool’s Day Challenge

Kristin — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 19:15:05 +0000

Think you have the best spelling prowes? Ready for some brain stimullation? Looking for a night off the couch and a brake from the television? Caught all the mistakes in this announcement? Then you are ready for the Spelling Bee #3 at the Island Free Library! See if you have what it takes to be the next Spelling Bee Champion! All Tweens, Teens and Adults are welcome to join us on Thursday, April 1st at 5pm. While there may be only one winner, fun will be provided for all! Sign up at the library going on now.

If you missed A Sense of Wonder mark your calender for Thursday, April 22nd- the 4oth Anniversary of Earth Day. The mini Enviromental Film Festival (see previous post) will continue with additional activities for all to enjoy.

Film Premiere

Kristin — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 15:58:09 +0000

A mini Environmental Film Festival sponsored by the Ocean View Foundation, The Nature Conservancy and the Island Free Library featuring the film, A Sense of Wonder, will begin Thursday, March 18^th at 6:30pm at the Island Free Library. The following is from the film’s website: “The film is an intimate and poignant reflection of pioneering environmentalist Rachel Carson. When Carson published Silent Spring in 1962, the backlash from her critics thrust her into the center of a political maelstrom. Despite her love of privacy, Carson’s convictions and her foresight regarding the risks posed by chemical pesticides forced her into a very public and controversial role. The film is an intimate and poignant reflection of Carson’s life as she emerges as America’s most successful advocate for the natural world. A Sense of Wonder was shot in HD by Oscar-winning cinematographer Haskell Wexler at Carson’s cottage on the coast of Maine.”

The film will also be shown on Saturday, March 20^th at 2:30pm and Sunday, March 21^st at 11am. All shows will also include a selection of films produced by the Ocean View Foundation. These events are free and everyone is welcome.

Post Snow

Kristin — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 21:36:33 +0000

We were busy today with lots of displaced people. Many island homes were without electricity today and many were without since yesterday afternoon. We were so glad you all made your way to the library to get warm and enjoy some comfort. For those of you who did not retreat here, don’t forget us next time…which of course I don’t hope happens, but if it does come on down.

I have recommended La’s Orchestra Saves the World by Alexander McCall Smith to patrons and all have enjoyed it. So if you have not picked it up yet and I have not sent you home with it yet, do check it out soon.

Hi

Kristin — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 15:58:10 +0000

The new Elizabeth Gilbert book, Committed, has arrived and is being processed. It will be on the shelf next week, along with the new Greg Mortenson book, Stones into Schools and Making Rounds with Oscar. Oscar is the Providence, RI cat that comforts the terminally ill in their last hours. “Oscar strides purposely into a patient’s room, curls up on the bed, and begins his vigil…his presence lets caregivers and loved ones know that its time to say good-bye.” (from the book jacket) Curious, huh?
Today is the annual Valentine’s Day Program. This program is great and results in kid-made valentine’s for many members in our community.
Remember on Wednesdays we provide a mid-week break for you at the library at 1pm. Call the library for details, 466-3233. (popcorn and lemonade provided!)
Spelling Bee #3 is scheduled for February 25, 2010. Last year’s bees were great fun so get ready!