Canastota Public Library news
By Beth Totten, public relations
(Canastota, NY – March 2014) The Canastota Public Library wants to know “What do you Geek?” “Geek” in this case, is a verb meaning to love, to enjoy, to celebrate, to have an intense passion for, to express interest in and to possess a large amount of knowledge in.
This “geek” campaign highlights what people are passionate about and how libraries can support them. This month, the library has a “geek” display near the Circulation Desk and we hope you will stop by and tell us what you “geek.” Organized by OCLC, a nonprofit library cooperative, the campaign is funded by a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
During the month of April, the Canastota Public Library is geeking music, art, authors and more. These programs are always designed with our patrons’ needs and requests in mind. The programs are brought to you free or for a modest fee. If there is a program you geek that you would like the library to offer, please contact us and let us know.
“Across the Sea” is our April Art Show at the Library. Artists Clare Willson and her son, Adam Jones created a mixed media show to run the entire month of April in our Lawson Community Room.
The pair moved to the United States from their native Great Britain in 1993. Clare is a native Brit. Trained as a scientist, she always had a passion for art. Health reasons forced Clare to consider new ways to express her “geek.” Now paralyzed on her left side, due to MS, she taught herself to paint with her right hand. Clare creates whimsical images. She is a member of the Associated Artists of Central New York and lives with her husband in DeWitt.
Her son Adam’s passion for drawing began at an early age. Throughout elementary school, Adam entered local and statewide art contests. He is experienced in many diverse techniques though he frequently draws in black ink, using line as a basis for shading and textures. Jones works as a freelance artist and designer for business and individuals in the state of Virginia where he now resides.
An art reception for the Mother-Son duo will be held on Wednesday, April 9 beginning at 7 p.m. in the Lawson Community Room.
If you have ever wanted to plunge into Social Networking or just learn more about social media, you might want to attend our Social Networking Workshop set for Wednesday, April 2 at 7 p.m. In this class on personal social networking, we will look at Facebook, Twitter and using RSS feeds to follow websites and blogs. Social networking is a great way to connect or reconnect with family and friends that live in a different community. Please call the library at 697-7030 to reserve your space for this Social Networking Workshop.
On Monday April 7 at 7 p.m. the Canastota Canal Town Museum and the Canastota Public Library will host a presentation by local railroad historian John Taibi entitled “The People who worked the Railroad.” Emphasis will be about notable railroaders of Madison County. Taibi is the author of over 20 publications dealing with central New York railroads. The talk is free and open to the public.
Friday, April 11 and Saturday, April 12, beginning each day at 1 p.m. you can learn the art of Tangles from instructor and former Canastotan Suzi Guifre DaVia. It’s an amazing art form that anyone can do–no skills required!
DaVia says, “The best part is that it’s such a freeing, relaxing, healing art form. It’s actually a form of meditation/yoga, only you use paper and pen.” Classes will last about 2 – 2.5 hours each day. The cost is $10 per person for supplies to create your Tangles. Space is limited so participants must register and pay their fee in advance (by April 5, please).
If you “geek” local authors, the library has two visiting us in April. Anne T. Phinney will be at the library on Monday, April 14 at 6:30 p.m. in the Lawson Community Room to talk about her book, “Finding My Way to Moose River Farm.” Phinney is an elementary school teacher at the Town of Webb School in Old Forge. She will talk about her book and her journeys in self-publishing. Phinney and her husband, Rod own Moose River Farm – home to the pair and their 11 horses, four dogs, three goats, two donkeys, an iguana and pot belly pig! “Finding My Way to Moose River” is Phinney’s first book.
“Return to Allen Park” is local resident, Hank Leo, Jr’s newest book. Leo will be on hand at the Canastota Public Library on Wednesday, April 23 at 7 p.m. to talk about this book. His third publication “Return to Allen Park,” continues Leos’ real life experiences growing up in Oneida. “Return to Allen Park” expands on Leo’s personal stories and humor from his first book, “Home When the Streetlights Come On.”
Leo is the CEO of the TriValley YMCA overseeing branches in Rome, New Hartford, and Oneida. He serves on several local boards of directors including the Oneida City School District Board. His other books include “Home When the Streetlights Come On,” “In Your Hands,” and “God Called.”
Music “geeks” won’t want to miss the concert at the library on Saturday, April 26 from 1 to 4 p.m. We will welcome back The Bear Cat Jass Band. You will definitely be tapping your toes as the Bear Cat Jass band plays their mix of classic traditional Jazz and Swing. The Bear Cat Jass band has been in existence for more than 55 years under the direction of Dick Ames. They are our most requested concert of the year!
On Tuesday, April 29 at 1 p.m. our Book Chat will talk about the book, “The Invention of Hugo Cabret,” by Brian Selznick. A combination picture book, novel and movie, the book’s primary inspiration is the true story of turn-of-the-century French pioneer filmmaker Georges Méliès, his surviving films and his collection of mechanical, wind-up figures called Automata. We hope you will stop in and join the Book Chat discussion. The group meets in the Carnegie Room on the library’s second floor. It is accessible by the elevator.
If you are interested in learning about other programs at the library, please refer to our website at www.canastotalibrary.org or call us at 697-7030. Our website features our weekly programming as well as special monthly programs.
The library is located at 102 W. Center Street in Canastota and is a place of community pride and service.