By Beth Totten, public relations
(Canastota, NY – Aug. 2015) The kids are back off to school and you have a little bit of time to yourself. Perhaps you would like to join a book discussion group like the Library’s Book Chat or you might take a class to learn how to play Bridge. Whatever you are interested in, the Canastota Public Library can help you find the resources you need. We hope you will come and see us in September. We have new equipment, new programs and lots of interesting programs coming soon.
Please note that the library will be closed on Sept. 7 for Labor Day. We will begin our Winter Hours on Sept. 8. The Library’s Winter Hours are Monday through Thursday: 9am – 8:30pm; Friday 9am – 5pm and Saturday 10am – 4pm.
New Grab & Go Bags: If you are a busy parent, you will love our new “Grab & Go Bags” on the first floor of the library. Each bag focuses on a single topic and is filled with ten books on that topic. Topics include Drawing, Coloring, Animals, Space, Farms, Games & Sports, Letters, Vehicles, Dinosaurs, Food/Cooking, Geography, Math, Music, Trains, Weather and The United States. The books in the bags are geared to children between the ages of 3 and 10, depending on the topic and the reading skills of the child. These bags make it easy for you to select books that your child will find interesting.
New Equipment: The library recently purchased a new Book/Document Scanner and Microfilm Reader thanks to a bequest by Mr. Edward Kilpatrick. The Scanner/Readers offers an easy way to scan parts of a book, document or photograph. After scanning, the item can be easily emailed, printed or saved to a thumb drive. The Scanner/Reader can provide either black and white or color images. If you are looking at newspaper articles from our archives/microfilm, this machine enables you to make the film more legible. It also allows you the same option of emailing, printing or saving the item to a thumb drive. Another option this machine allows is reading photo negatives. We are all working to learn how to use this machine and would be delighted to work with you.
Book Signing & Talk: On Sept. 15 at 7pm, Michael Seagriff, O.P. will discuss his book, “Pondering the Tidbits of Truth (Volume 2). The paperback, like its Volume 1 predecessor, sets forth 100 quotations from ancient and contemporary Catholics that will challenge and inspire you. As the author notes, “Many of us have convinced ourselves that we simply do not have the time to read, ponder and reflect on the wealth of spiritual wisdom of our Catholic Church. Yet, we owe God and ourselves this reflective time…” Seagriff has compiled the quotes. The time to read and reflect is now in our hands. Seagriff’s other books, ‘Pondering the Tidbits of Truth, Volume 1”, “Fleeting Glimpses of the Silly, Sentimental and Sublime:, “Forgotten Truths to Set Faith Afire. Words to Challenge, Inspire and Instruct” and “I Thirst for Your Love” will also be available for purchase and signing during this author presentation. His vocation as a Lay Dominican has created within him a desire to learn, study, live and share his faith.
Artist of the Month: Exceptional Artworks will be on display during the month of September in the Lawson Community Room. The mission of the Exceptional Artworks program is to increase public awareness of the talents and creativity of people with developmental disabilities and to provide the artists with opportunities to express their thoughts and feelings through the arts. State and voluntary agencies from Oneida, Herkimer and Madison counties participate in the Exceptional Arts Program. The committee is comprised of 24 representatives from seven agencies including CNY DSO; Oneida-Lewis Chapter, NY-SARC; Madison-Cortland ARC; Herkimer Area Resource Center; Resource Center for Independent Living; Heritage Farm and ARISE. An artists’ reception will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 17 at 10am.
Seed Saving Time: On Monday, Sept. 21 beginning at 6pm, Katrina McManus will explain the seed saving process using some of the vegetables that she has grown in our garden. Bring your questions about what you’d like to save yourself. This program is in cooperation with our Canastota Seed Exchange. There is never a charge for the Seed Exchange. This year, our Seed Exchange had 82 new members. We carried 287 varieties of seeds and distributed more than 600 packets of seeds.
Canalside Talks: On Sept. 23 at 7pm, Norman Dann, historian and professor emeritus of Morrisville State College, will talk about his newest book, “Greene Smith and the Wild Life: The Story of Peterboro’s Avid Outdoorsman.” The son of Gerrit Smith, Greene devoted his life to the study of birds. He designed and built “Ornithon,” a museum on his father’s Peterboro estate. The museum hosed his collection of stuffed birds, nests and eggs. Dann researched family letters, military records, Greene’s ornithology writings and records from Ornithon in his writing of the book. When Greene died at an early age, his collection was donated to Cornell, Colgate and Harvard Universities. Copies of the book will be available for purchase.
Book Chat: Book Chat meets on Tuesday, Sept. 29 at 1pm in the Carnegie Room. This month’s book for discussion is “The Children Act” by Ian McEwan. In this book, a judge must decide the case of a teenaged boy, who for religious purposes, refuses medical treatment for leukemia. The boy’s parents agree with him. If you’ve read the book, please consider joining the group for a discussion.
Bridge Classes: Have you ever thought about learning to play Bridge? The library will offer Bridge Lessons for Beginners in a series of five classes. The lessons will be held on Wednesdays beginning on Sept. 30 and ending on October 28. All calluses will be held from 1 – 2:30pm. Mary Walsh of the Bridge Studio in Syracuse is the instructor. The cost for the lessons is $10 and attendees will also need to purchase a book on the game of Bridge. Please call the library to reserve your space.
Suicide Awareness Program: Also on Wednesday, Sept. 30, the Veteran’s Administration of Syracuse will offer a Suicide Awareness Program for the public. The program will begin at 7pm and will be held in the Lawson Community Room.