On Exhibit at the Library: Barbara Johansen Newman
2nd Floor Children’s Illustrator Book Cases May/June 2013
Johansen Newman has illustrated many children’s books with her colorful, whimsical illustrations, including the first book she also authored, Tex and Sugar: A Big City Kitty Ditty, and her newest, Glamorous Glasses. Check out her website HERE.
Wednesday May 22, 2013
7:00 PM until 8:30 PM
Please join fellow Civil War enthusiasts and others who treasure family heirlooms for a talk by local area resident Dave Twombly about the discovery of his great-great grandfather’s civil war diary that was written between May-June 1864 as a volunteer minister in the Union Army.
The diary came to light in 1995 when David’s daughter was in sixth grade and needed information for a report on the Civil War. Twombly’s father, Gilmer, found this Civil War-era memoir entitled “Among the Wounded in 1864,” written by his great-grandfather Alexander S. Twombly in an old steamer trunk some years ago, and then sent her several illustrations from the memoir.
On Exhibit at the Library: Postcards: Why do we Read & Write?
2nd Floor Display Cases
May/June 2013
Christina Gibbons, PhD, of Brattleboro, an independent scholar interested in the history of literacy, fills the glass display cases with her images of reading in postcards collection in the second-floor entryway during May.
“I started collecting images of women reading twenty five years ago and now have several hundred. The original post cards were first exhibited in the library at UMass Amherst in 2001. After that I began lecturing and quickly realized my collection was not about painting but about the history of literacy, so I added men reading and writing as well.”
Vermont Women, Native Americans, and African Americans: Out of the Shadows of History,
Wednesday May 8, 2013, 7:00 PM until 9:00 PM
Vermont’s constitution, drafted in 1777, was one of the most enlightened documents of its time, but in contrast, the history of Vermont has largely been told through the stories of influential white men. Join local scholar Cyndy Bittinger at the Brooks Memorial Library on Wednesday, May 8, at 7 PM on a journey through the forgotten tales of the often overlooked roles that women, Native Americans, and African Americans played in Vermont’s history.
Her book, Vermont Women, Native Americans, and African Americans, takes a fresh look at our state’s history, uncovering hidden stories from the earliest inhabitants to present-day citizens. Ms. Bittinger explores where these marginalized groups are missing from historical narratives and explains their unique experiences and the ways that they contributed.
On Exhibit: Saxtons River Art Guild
May 2013
Members of the Saxtons River Art Guild will be exhibiting original paintings at the Brooks Memorial Library beginning Tuesday, April 30 until Tuesday, May 28. Included will be original paintings in watercolor, oil, and pastels.
The Saxtons River Art Guild was formed in Saxtons River, Vermont in 1976 by a small group of artists who enjoyed painting together. Membership has grown from a dozen or so to over 70 artists and others interested in the fine arts. Members come from throughout the southern Connecticut River Valley in Vermont and New Hampshire.
Know your Library: Tours and Tips for Newcomers and Experienced Library Users
Friday May 3, 2013
12:00 PM until 1:00 PM
Join Reference Librarian Jeanne Walsh the first Friday of the month for a tour of first floor & mezzanine, a catalog search demo, and answers to your questions about how to find your way in the Library. Meet at the reference desk; no reservations required.
Frost and Wordsworth: Romantic Poetry in the Light of Common Day
Wednesday May 1, 2013
7:00 PM until 9:00 PM
The poetry of Robert Frost and William Wordsworth depends heavily on the natural world and the “language really used by men.” Vermont Poet Laureate Sydney Lea explores the poets’ similarities, differences, and influence on other poets.
The lecture is a First Wednesday program sponsored by the Vermont Humanities Council. Supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Vermont Department of Libraries.
Poetry Readings with Wyn Cooper and Ken Hebson
Monday April 29, 2013
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Wyn Cooper is the author of four books of poems, most recently Chaos is the New Calm (BOA Editions, 2010), and Postcards from the Interior (BOA Editions, 2005). His poems appear in more than 25 anthologies of contemporary poetry and more than 100 magazines.
He has written song lyrics for Sheryl Crow, Madison Smartt Bell, and David Broza, among others. He works as a freelance editor of poetry, fiction, and non-fiction from his home in Vermont. More information is at www.wyncooper.com.
In June, Brooks Memorial Library will be the first to join the Catamount Library Network, Vermont’s new statewide partnership for resource sharing. Catamount will expand our patrons’ access to resources.
We will be closed on Thursday, May 2nd, for staff training on the new system.
Two Hundred Years of Pride and Prejudice: A Look at Jane Austen’s Endurance
Thursday April 25, 2013
1:30 PM until 3:00 PM
The reading/discussion series: Jane Austen Endures will celebrate the 200th anniversary of Pride and Prejudice and explore Austen’s publishing staying power. The two-book series sponsored by the Vermont Humanities Council will also examine Austen’s universal appeal, her talent for capturing the time she lived in, and her comic, satiric tone, among other aspects of her writing
Lyrics and Fictions: Authors Chard deNiord and Vincent Panella
Wednesday April 24, 2013
7:00 PM until 9:00 PM
Join poet Chard deNiord and novelist Vince Panella in the Library Meeting Room for Local Authors reading Lyrics and Fictions.Poet Chard deNiord will read from his new collection of poems, Interstate, and Vincent Panella will read from his novella and story collection, Disorderly Conduct.DeNiord is a Professor of of English at Providence College and author of The Double Truth (University of Pittsburgh Press, 2011) and Night Mowing (University of Pittsburgh Press, 2005).
Tuesday, April 23, Book distribution
On April 23rd over 25,000 volunteers across the United States will go out into their communities and give away more than 500,000 free books.
Film: The Invisible War, Wednesday April 17, 2013, 6:30 PM until 8:30 PM
On Wednesday, April 17, at 6:30 PM, the Womens’ Freedom Center will present a screening and discussion of The Invisible War.
Anna Mullany of the WFC will lead the discussion.
The Invisible War is a 2012 documentary film written and directed by Kirby Dick and produced by Amy Ziering and Tanner King Barklow about sexual assault in the United States military. It premiered at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, where it received the U.S. Documentary Audience Award. The film is nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the 85th Academy Awards.
Due to installation of new doors at the Brooks Memorial Library, the back door next to the Municipal Center parking lot will be closed for the week of April 15th. The Library’s front door on Main Street will be open throughout the week. Those requiring wheelchair access to the building may call the Library at (802) 254-5290 x109 (days) or x0 (evenings) to arrange for access during the construction.
The Big booksale is coming early this year. Reserve the dates!
Friday, April 12, 10 to 6
Saturday April 13, 10 to 2
Stop by to browse and purchase some of the thousands of fabulous hardcover books, paperbacks, DVD’s, and audio books available.
The Friends of Brooks Memorial Library was organized in 1990 to support the Library in providing the highest quality library service to the community by means of advocacy, public relations, and fund raising.
NEW MUSEUM PASS Smith College Art Museum
The Library has added another museum pass to its collection.
The Smith College Museum of Art pass allows up to 8 in one household free admission to this fine museum.
Know your Library: Tours and Tips for Newcomers and Experienced Library Users
Friday April 5, 2013
12:00 PM until 1:00 PM
Join Reference Librarian Jeanne Walsh the first Friday of the month for a tour of first floor & mezzanine, a catalog search demo, and answers to your questions about how to find your way in the Library.
What’s Western about Western American Art?
Wednesday April 3, 2013
7:00 PM until 9:00 PM
Amherst College professor Carol Clark considers how the works of painters such as Georgia O’Keeffe, Edward Hopper, George Catlin, and Albert Bierstadt have defined the American West as place and idea.
The lecture is a First Wednesday program sponsored by the Vermont Humanities Council. Supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Vermont Department of Libraries.
IN DISGUISE! Undercover with Real Women Spies
Saturday March 30, 2013
12:00 PM until 2:00 PM
March is Women’s History Month and you don’t want to miss a lively, engaging presentation of In Disguise! Undercover with Real Women Spies at the Brooks Memorial Library Meeting Room, on Saturday, March 30, at 12 Noon.
Women have spied for a long time, and they’ve been good at it. They’ve dashed through enemy lines, sent secret messages under the nose of the enemy, and led prisoners in daring and dangerous escapes. They went undercover, taking on new identities varying from apple sellers to crazy neighbors to stage dancers. Often, it was enough of a disguise for women to just be themselves. People didn’t expect them to have the strength or know-how to be spies. Those people were wrong.
Escape to Italy this week with the Vacanza in Italia Film Festival. Last film in the series! Wednesday March 27, 2013 6:30 PM until 9:00 PM.
What causes people to travel to Italy? Is it the food, the pace of life, the sun? Or is it the civilizing influence of all of this. Do they always find what they think they should?
Please join fellow cinephiles at Brooks Memorial Library for a series of films that will make you want to “vacanza in Italia.”
