The
Princeton Public Library FALL 2019
Magazine
JOYCE CAROL OATES and the
authors of autumn
SPOTLIGHT / BOOKS & AUTHORS For details and a listing of all library events, visit princetonlibrary.org/events
J
oyce Carol Oates is certainly no stranger to Princeton, but since her 2015 retirement from the university, appearances in town by the Roger S. Berlind ‘52 Professor Emerita in the Humanities with the Program in Creative Writing have taken on the air of extra special events. Oates returns to the library Wednesday, Sept. 25, for the first time since 2016 to discuss her new novel, “My Life as a Rat,” which explores themes that have infused her novels, including social, racial and gender equality, family conflict and violence. The book follows Violet Rue Kerrigan, a young woman who looks back upon her life in exile from her family following her testimony, at age 12, about the racist murder of an African-American boy by her older brothers. The Sept. 25 appearance by Oates is one of two dozen author appearances that include the acclaimed young Jamaican-American novelist Nicole DennisBenn, Princeton University professors Ruha Benjamin and Eddie Glaude Jr., journalist Suzy Hansen, novelist Darcey Steinke, acclaimed photographers Emmet Gowin and Steve Schapiro and multiple “Frankenstein”related events. Joyce Carol Oates appears Wednesday, Sept. 25, 7 p.m., in the Community Room.
Eric Weitz A World Divided: The Global Struggle for Human Rights in the Age of Nation-States Tuesday, Sept. 10, 6:30 p.m. The author discusses his global history of the fate of human rights in a world of nation-states. The book explains the origins of many of today’s crises, from the existence of more than 65 million refugees and migrants worldwide to the growth of right-wing nationalism. Community Room Presented in partnership with Princeton University Press.
Mort Zachter Red Holzman Thursday, Sept. 12, 7 p.m. Princeton author Mort Zachter discusses his book “Red Holzman: The Life and Legacy of a Hall of Fame Basketball Coach,” his biography of the winningest coach in the history of the New York Knickerbockers NBA
Eric Weitz
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Mort Zachter
Gina Rippon
franchise. Copies of “Red Holzman” will be available for purchase and signing. All proceeds from the sales of the book will benefit the library. Newsroom Gina Rippon Gender and our Brains Sunday, Sept. 15, 4 p.m. The author will discuss her book, which explores how breakthroughs in neuroscience and psychology research have debunked beliefs that there are biological distinctions between female and male brains. An honorary professor of cognitive neuroimaging at Aston University, Birmingham, England, Rippon has spent decades researching the neuroscience of gender, and her work has appeared in both scholarly and mainstream journals. Newsroom Presented in partnership with HiTOPS.
Ruha Benjamin in Conversation with Eddie Glaude Jr. Race After Technology: Abolitionist Tools for the New Jim Code Thursday, Sept. 19, 6 p.m. Benjamin, associate professor in the Department of African American Studies at Princeton University, will discuss her new book, with department chair Eddie Glaude Jr. In the book, Benjamin cuts through techindustry hype to understand how emerging technologies can reinforce white supremacy and deepen social inequity. Also discussed will be the acclaimed collection of essays, “Captivating Technology: Race, Carceral Technoscience, and Liberatory Imagination in Everyday Life,” which Benjamin edited. Registration for the event will open on Sept. 1 on the library’s events calendar. Copies of the books will be available for purchase from Labyrinth Books. Community Room Presented in partnership with the Department of African American Studies at Princeton University and Labyrinth Books.
Marc Brackett Permission to Feel: Unlocking the Power of Emotions to Help Our Kids, Ourselves, and Our Society Thrive Monday, Sept. 23, 6 p.m. Marc Brackett, professor in Yale University’s Child Study Center and founding director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, speaks on his new book, which is designed to inspire a new mindset around the power of emotions to transform our lives. Community Room
Ruha Benjamin
Programs featuring this logo are presented with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this programming do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Marc Brackett
Nicole Dennis-Benn
Cover photo of Joyce Carol Oates by Dustin Cohen
SPOTLIGHT / BOOKS & AUTHORS For details and a listing of all library events, visit princetonlibrary.org/events SCHOLAR-LED BOOK DISCUSSION
Historical Fiction Book Group The Shadow Lines by Amitov Ghosh Thursday, Sept. 26, 6:30 p.m. Karen Pechilis, professor of comparative religion at Drew University, will lead a discussion of Ghosh’s book, which follows two families back and forth in time and space between Calcutta and Europe, tracing stories through major events like World War II and the Bengali partition. Registration is requested but not required through the Historical Society of Princeton’s website. Historical Society of Princeton, Updike Farmstead, 354 Quaker Road Presented in partnership with the Historical Society of Princeton. BOOK BRUNCH
Nicole Dennis-Benn Patsy Sunday, Sept. 29, 11 a.m. The Jamaican-American author discusses her acclaimed new novel, “Patsy,” at the latest event in the quarterly Book Brunch series. Hailed by reviewers as a brave and brilliant second novel, “Patsy” touches on themes of motherhood, migration and race in the story of a working-class Jamaican woman whose dreams of moving to New York to be reunited with a childhood friend don’t match reality. Dennis-Benn is the author of the awardwinning debut, “Here Comes the Sun,” a New York Times Notable Book of 2016. Doors will open at 11 a.m. for coffee, tea and pastries with the reading set to begin at 11:30 am. Book signing to follow. Community Room Suzy Hansen Notes on a Foreign Country: An American Abroad in a Post-American World Tuesday, Oct. 1, 6 p.m. Hansen discusses her book, which The New York Times described as “a deeply honest and brave portrait of an individual sensibility reckoning with her country’s violent role in the world.” Hansen is a contributing writer to The New York Times Magazine and has written for many other publications. In 2007, she was awarded
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Darcey Steinke
Presented in partnership with Labyrinth Books. COMMUNITY READING
Frankenstein Filibuster Friday, Oct. 4, Noon In advance of Lookingglass Theatre Company’s Oct. 15-Nov. 3 production of “Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein” at McCarter Theatre Center, we will read the original 1818 version of Shelley’s novel from start to finish. Individuals, groups, families, teachers and students and book and drama clubs are invited to attend. Prospective readers should reserve a time slot on the library’s events calendar. Drop-in readers and listeners are welcome. Lobby Co-sponsored by the library and McCarter Theatre Center. LIBRARY LIVE AT LABYRINTH
Darcey Steinke Flash Count Diary Tuesday, Oct. 8, 6 p.m. This candid account weaves personal story, philosophy, science, art and literature in writing about aspects of menopause that have rarely been explored before. Deeply researched and uncompromisingly honest, “Flash Count Diary” explores the changing gender landscape that comes with reduced hormone levels, the transformation of female desire and the realities of prejudice against older women. Labyrinth Books, 122 Nassau St. Presented in partnership with Labyrinth Books. LABYRINTH LIVE AT THE LIBRARY
LIBRARY LIVE AT LABYRINTH
Suzy Hansen
a fellowship from the Institute of Current World Affairs to do research in Turkey. She lives in Istanbul. “Notes on a Foreign Country,” a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in nonfiction, is her first book. Labyrinth Books, 122 Nassau St.
Richard E. Miller
Richard E. Miller On the End of Privacy: Dissolving Boundaries in a Screen-Centric World Thursday, Oct. 10, 7 p.m. Miller’s book explores how literacy is transformed by online technology that lets us instantly publish anything we can see or hear. Miller examines the 2010 suicide of Rutgers student Tyler Clementi after he discovered that his roommate spied on him via webcam, and maps out the changing norms governing privacy. Community Room Presented in partnership with Labyrinth Books.
Charlotte Gordon
William Bryant Logan
Gilbert Gaul
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SPOTLIGHT / BOOKS & AUTHORS For details and a listing of all library events, visit princetonlibrary.org/events COMMUNITY BOOK DISCUSSION
Charlotte Gordon Romantic Outlaws: The Extraordinary Lives of Mary Wollstonecraft and Mary Shelley Thursday, Oct. 10, 7 p.m. The distinguished professor of humanities at Endicott College will share how she came to write the book and talk about pioneering feminist Wollstonecraft’s profound influence on “the daughter she never knew” and how the rise of science and life with radical poet-philosopher Percy Shelley led to Mary Shelley’s creation of “Frankenstein.” This book discussion is being presented as a companion event to Lookingglass Theatre Company’s production of “Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein” at McCarter Theatre Center Oct. 15-Nov. 3. Solley Theatre, Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon St.
Co-sponsored by the library, Labyrinth Books, the Arts Council of Princeton and McCarter Theatre Center.
William Bryant Logan Sprout Lands: Tending the Endless Gift of Trees Sunday, Oct. 13, 3 p.m. The author discusses his latest book, a rediscovery of the lost traditions of tree pruning that sustained human life and culture for thousands of years. Logan is a certified arborist and the author of the acclaimed books, “Dirt: The Ecstatic Skin of the Earth,” “Oak: The Frame of Civilization” and “Air: The Restless Shaper of the World.” He is a faculty member at New York Botanical Garden. Community Room Co-sponsored by the library and Marquand Park.
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Caroline Maguire
A special event of the Princeton Environmental Film Festival.
Alex Counts in Conversation with Sam Daley-Harris Changing the World without Losing Your Mind Tuesday, Oct. 22, 7 p.m. Counts discusses his book, subtitled “Leadership Lessons from Three Decades of Social Entrepreneurship,” with Princeton author and activist Sam Daley-Harris. Counts founded Grameen Foundation and became its president and CEO to continue his work in microfinance and poverty reduction. Daley-Harris is the author of “Reclaiming Our Democracy: Healing the Break Between People and Government.” Community Room Presented in partnership with the Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice.
Caroline Maguire Why Will No One Play with Me? Tuesday, Oct. 29, 7 p.m. The parenting expert discusses her book, subtitled “The Play Better Plan to Help Children of All Ages Make Friends and Thrive.” Maguire shares her decade-in-themaking protocol, the Play Better Plan, to help parents of children struggling with social skills connect with others and make friends. Presented in partnership with CHADD of Mercer County.
Gilbert Gaul in Conversation with John E. Miller The Geography of Risk: Epic Storms, Rising Seas and the Cost of America’s Coasts Thursday, Oct. 17, 7 p.m. Author and journalist Gaul discusses his book with Miller, a coastal floodplain expert who was involved in Superstorm Sandy recovery issues. Gaul’s book looks at the development of the modern coast and the extraordinary risks of building on barrier islands and coastal floodplains. A large portion of the book focuses on the New Jersey Shore and especially Ocean County and Long Beach Island, which were Ground Zero in Superstorm Sandy in 2012. Gaul twice won the
Alex Counts
Pulitzer Prize and has been short-listed for the Pulitzer four other times. For more than 35 years, he worked as an investigative journalist for The Washington Post, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and other newspapers. He is the author of three previous books and lives in New Jersey. Community Room
Ross Kenneth Urken
LIBRARY LIVE AT LABYRINTH
Ross Kenneth Urken Another Mother Wednesday, Oct. 30, 6 p.m. After his cherished childhood nanny dies, a young Jewish man realizes there’s much he has yet to learn about the woman who lent him her accent and with whom he shared an unlikely kindred spirit. Part memoir, part reportage, the book is a story about family, an unlikely duo, and a woman whose strength held it all together. Urken grew up in Princeton and lives in New York. Labyrinth Books, 122 Nassau St. Presented in partnership with Labyrinth Books.
Arthur I. Miller
Programs featuring this logo are presented with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this programming do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Emmet Gowin
Mi Jialu
SPOTLIGHT / BOOKS & AUTHORS For details and a listing of all library events, visit princetonlibrary.org/events Arthur I. Miller The Artist in the Machine Wednesday, Oct. 30, 7 p.m. The emeritus professor of history and philosophy of science at University College London discusses his book, which examines questions of creativity in the age of machines. Now that computers can compose music like Bach or turn photographs into paintings in the style of Van Gogh, Miller reviews the creative process and interviews people on the cutting edge of artificial intelligence to discuss whether computers are already as creative as humans and if one day they will surpass us. Community Room Emmet Gowin The Nevada Test Site Tuesday, Nov. 5, 7 p.m. The acclaimed photographer returns to Princeton for a discussion of his latest book, which includes stunning aerial photography of the Nevada National Security Test Site, where the U.S. tested nuclear bombs between 1951 and 1992. Gowin remains the only photographer granted official and sustained access to the Nevada Test Site. He revisited his original negatives, made in 1996 and 1997, for the new book; about three-quarters of the images featured have never been published before. Community Room Presented in partnership with Labyrinth Books and Princeton University Press. POETRY AND MUSIC
Mi Jialu Deep Breaths Thursday, Nov. 7, 7 p.m. The associate professor in the departments of English and World Languages and Cultures at the College of New Jersey reads from his recent bilingual book of poetry with Chinese music accompaniment. “Deep Breaths,” a collection of poems written during the past 37 years, was published in Taiwan and is divided into three parts in reverse chronological order. The reading will be accompanied by the Welcoming Tides rock band led by Yingchao Zhang and English vocals by alto Dee Dee Miles. Community Room
Steve Schapiro
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Rebecca Thompson
Christine Coulson
POETS AT THE LIBRARY
A Celebration of Poet Jean Hollander Monday, Nov. 11, 7 p.m. This special edition of Poets at the Library is a tribute to poet Jean Hollander, who died in April. Friends and fellow poets will offer opening remarks and read selections of her poems and translations. The evening will close with an open-mic exclusively of Hollander’s poems. Community Room
Presented in partnership with the U.S. 1 Poets’ Cooperative and Delaware Valley Poets. LIBRARY LIVE AT LABYRINTH
Steve Schapiro in Conversation with Eddie Glaude Jr. The Fire Next Time Tuesday, Nov. 12, 6 p.m. Celebrated photographer Steve Schapiro, famous for his evocative images of the Civil Rights movement and iconic film and pop culture photography, will discuss the new edition of James Baldwin’s classic “The Fire Next Time,” with Princeton professor Eddie Glaude Jr. In a new edition from Tashen Books, Baldwin’s powerful prose about the black experience in America is enhanced with photography by Schapiro, who accompanied the author through the South during the ’60s for Life Magazine. Glaude is the James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor of African American Studies at Princeton University. He is the author of “Democracy in Black: How Race Still Enslaves the American Soul” and “In a Shade of Blue: Pragmatism and the Politics of Black America.” Labyrinth Books, 122 Nassau St. Presented in partnership with Labyrinth Books and Paul Robeson House of Princeton.
Rebecca Thompson Fire, Ice, and Physics: The Science of Game of Thrones Monday, Nov. 18, 7 p.m. Thompson’s book explores the science behind George R.R. Martin’s fantasy world, touching on its climatology, astronomy, metallurgy, chemistry and biology. Thompson turns a scientist’s eye on “Game of Thrones,” exploring, among other things, the science of an ice wall, the genetics of the Targaryen and Lannister families and the biology of beheading. Thompson is a physicist and author of the popular Spectra series of comic books about physics. She heads the Office of Education and Public Outreach at Fermilab, the particle physics research facility near Chicago. Community Room CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
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EVENT HIGHLIGHTS FOR ADULTS For details and a listing of all library events, visit princetonlibrary.org/events
FILM
AUTHOR TALK
Christine Coulson Metropolitan Stories Wednesday, Nov. 20, 7 p.m. The author discusses her novel, a series of vignettes that takes readers into the backrooms, hallways, conservation rooms and offices at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Alternating between history and fantasy, the vignettes add up to a love letter to art and artists. Coulson began her career at the Met in 1991 as a summer intern and returned in 1994 to begin a 25-year career in museum administration and in the department of European sculpture and decorative arts. She left the Met this year to write full time. Community Room
DOCUMENTARIES
All screenings are in the Community Room.
BOO K G R O UP S Mystery Book Group Mondays, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 9, “Open Season” by C.J. Box; Oct. 1, “A Rising Man” by Amir Mukherjee; Nov. 4, “Watching You” by Lisa Jewell. Quiet Room Contemporary Fiction Book Group Thursdays, 10:30 a.m., Sept. 12, “There There” by Tommy Orange; Oct. 10, “Warlight” by Michael Ondaatje. Nov. 14, “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison. Conference Room Back to the Books Wednesday, Sept. 18, 10:30 a.m. “Educated” by Tara Westover. Conference Room
Black Voices Book Group Thursdays, 7:15 p.m. Sept. 12, “Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America” by Ibram X. Kendi (continuation of July discussion); Oct. 10, “Race After Technology” by Ruha Benjamin (author will participate); Nov. 14, “Never Caught: The Washingtons’ Relentless Pursuit of Their Runaway Slave, Ona Judge” by Erica Armstrong Dunbar. Princeton Room
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WELCOMING WEEK FILM
“This is Home: A Refugee Story” Wednesday, Sept., 18, 6:30 p.m. This documentary puts a human face on the global refugee crisis by providing an intimate portrait of four Syrian refugee families arriving in the United States and struggling to find their footing. 1 hour, 31 minutes. This screening is part of Welcoming Week and is presented in partnership with the Princeton Human Services Department.
“The Lavender Scare” Friday, Oct. 11, 7 p.m. When tens of thousands of homosexual workers were identified and fired by the federal government during the 1950s, an LGBTQ rights movement was born, with an unlikely hero at the forefront. 1 hour, 17 minutes. Presented in partnership with HiTOPS for LGBT History Month.
“Dakota 38” Monday, Oct. 14, 6:30 p.m. This 2012 documentary follows a group of Native Americans, many direct descendants of 38 Dakota men who were hanged on Dec. 26, 1862, on a 330mile journey on horseback to the site of the execution. Ordered by President Abraham Lincoln following the Dakota War of 1862, the event was the largest massexecution in United States history. 1 hour, 58 minutes.
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS FOR ADULTS For details and a listing of all library events, visit princetonlibrary.org/events
FRIDAY FEATURE FILMS
honor collide, a fratricidal war breaks out and puts their lives, culture and ancestral traditions at stake. In Wayuu and Spanish with English subtitles. 2 hours, 2 minutes.
Friday, Sept. 27, 6:30 p.m., “Amazing Grace,” 1 hour, 27 minutes Friday, Oct. 25, 6:30 p.m., “Rocketman,” 2 hours Friday, Nov. 15, 6:30 p.m., “Yesterday,” 1 hour, 52 minutes
PRINCETON INTERNATIONAL CINEMA SERIES Screenings at the Princeton Garden Theatre, 160 Nassau St.
The Princeton International Cinema series is a collaboration of the library, the International Employees Group at Princeton University, the Davis International Center and the Princeton Garden Theatre. Tickets ($11 general admission, $8 seniors, $6 Princeton University ID holders, library cardholders and Princeton Garden Theatre members) may be purchased online at thegardentheatre.com or at the door. The library will also offer a limited number of free tickets while supplies last.
“Buñuel in the Labyrinth of Turtles” Thursday, Dec. 5, 5:30 p.m. This animated feature tells the story of how a promise led to the unexpected windfall that funded surrealist filmmaker Luis Buñuel’s film “Las Hurdes: Land Without Bread.” 1 hour, 17 minutes.
MORE FILMS
“Photograph” Thursday, Oct. 3, 5:30 p.m. In this Indian coming-of-age romantic drama, a struggling street photographer convinces a shy stranger to pose as his fiancee because his grandmother is pressuring him to get married. The two soon develop an unexpected bond that transforms them both in ways they could not have imagined. In Hindi and Gujarati with English subtitles. 1 hour, 50 minutes. “Birds of Passage” Thursday, Nov. 7, 5:30 p.m. The film chronicles the origins of the Colombian drug trade, as seen through the eyes of an indigenous Wayuu family that becomes involved in the booming business of selling marijuana to American youth in the 1970s. When greed, passion and
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“Le Brio” Tuesday, Sept. 24, 7 p.m. After an incident in which he publicly humiliates a young woman of Algerian descent, a law professor at Paris’s University of Assas is forced to make amends. In French and Arabic with English subtitles. 1 hour, 35 minutes. Refreshments at 6:30 p.m. Community Room Co-presented with Alliance Française de Princeton. FILM AND DISCUSSION
“Mary Shelley” Monday, Oct. 7, 7:30 p.m. Following a screening of the 2017 romantic period drama about Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley’s first love and relationship with the poet Percy Shelley, Princeton University Professor of English Susan Wolfson shares her perspective on the film and her knowledge of the writer. Wolfson is co-editor of the award-winning “The Annotated Frankenstein.” The film is being presented as a companion film to Lookingglass Theatre Company’s production of “Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein” at McCarter Theatre Center. The screening is free but tickets are required and available at the theater box office. A Q&A will follow. 2 hours. Princeton Garden Theatre, 160 Nassau St. Co-sponsored by the library, Princeton Garden Theatre and McCarter Theatre Center.
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EVENT HIGHLIGHTS FOR ADULTS For details and a listing of all library events, visit princetonlibrary.org/events
Fall Storytelling All events are in the Community Room unless noted.
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nspired by the Nov. 22 Moth Mainstage event at McCarter Theatre Center, the library and McCarter are partnering on a season-long series of events examining the many ways and mediums through which stories can be told.
Toby Tobias Journey from Johannesburg Sunday, Sept. 8, 2 p.m. The songwriter presents a multimedia performance featuring original songs and vignettes about his life growing up in Johannesburg and Jerusalem before moving to New York. The show’s message is one of racial equality, understanding and acceptance of other cultures and religions.
analysis and anecdote, both hilarious and heartbreaking, as Herrera puzzles through the memories, mementos and artifacts that are the archive of his own teenage experience. The Story Lounge Tuesdays, 7:30 p.m., Oct. 22, Nov. 12 These two evenings of curated stories by community members will be held in anticipation of the Moth Mainstage Event. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. This event is free but tickets are required. For more information, visit McCarter’s website. Lobby, Matthews Theatre, McCarter Theatre Center, 91 University Place
Co-sponsored by the library, McCarter Theatre Center and No Dominion Theatre Co.
LECTURE
Brian Herrera I Was the Voice of Democracy Thursday, Oct. 3, 7 p.m. This hourlong, solo performance, written and performed by the associate professor of theater at the Lewis Center for the Arts at Princeton University, tells the true story of a 17-year-old who is briefly thrust into a peculiar kind of fame when a patriotic speech he writes on a whim ends up winning a national contest. Through autobiographical storytelling, this multimedia event offers a mix of
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Martin Koenig Sound Portraits from Bulgaria and the Balkans: Photographs and Recordings Wednesday, Oct. 23, 6:30 p.m. Ethnographer and cultural specialist Martin Koenig discusses his half century of research into traditional music and dance of the Balkans. More than 50 years ago, Koenig embarked on a trip to Bulgaria armed with letters of introduction from anthropologist Margaret Mead and folklorist Alan Lomax. On this trip, as well as on numerous subsequent visits, he sought to research and document the traditional music and dance forms in
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS FOR ADULTS For details and a listing of all library events, visit princetonlibrary.org/events
Series their original settings. His historic recordings, photographs and films portray villagers, especially musicians and dancers, and a way of life that has been transformed by modernization, globalization, and emigration. This is a Smithsonian Folkways Recording Project made possible in part by the American Research Center in Sofia Foundation. AUTHOR TALK
Boris Fishman Savage Feast: Three Generations, Two Continents, and a Dinner Table Thursday, Oct. 24, 7 p.m. Fishman’s new book is a personal story and family memoir told through meals and recipes. The book follows his family from 1945 Belarus to 2017 Brooklyn. Fishman is a lecturer in creative writing at the Lewis Center for the Arts at Princeton University. AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR TALK
Nora Krug Belonging: A German Reckons with History and Home Monday, Oct. 28, 7 p.m. The award-winning author and illustrator’s graphic novel is an illustrated and hand-lettered visual memoir on a German family’s memory of WWII. Krug is a German-American author and illustrator whose drawings and visual narratives have appeared in the world’s leading publications.
AUTHOR TALK
Danny Gregory Art Before Breakfast: A Zillion Ways to Be More Creative No Matter How Busy You Are Sunday, Nov. 3, 3 p.m. Gregory’s book is an inspirational guide for aspiring artists who want to draw and paint but can’t find the time. With encouraging words and motivating illustrations, the book teaches readers how to develop a creative habit and lead a richer life through making art. Quilting Bee Saturday, Nov. 16, 11 a.m. Everyone 8 and older is invited to drop in to help us create a community quilt that tells a story. This four-hour workshop will be led by Marisa Simon. POETRY BRUNCH
No River Twice Sunday, Nov. 17, 11 a.m. During this improvisational poetry reading, poets and audience collaborate to decide the direction of the performance, poem by poem. By the end of the event, a new poem will be created that tells the story of the reading and those present. Coffee, tea and pastries will be served at 11 a.m.; readings begin at 11:30 a.m. MORE STORYTELLING SERIES EVENTS ON PAGE 10 This series made possible in part by funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this programming do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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EVENT HIGHLIGHTS FOR ADULTS For details and a listing of all library events, visit princetonlibrary.org/events STORYTELLING SERIES
The Power of Faces
ART TALK
Alexander Huang and Celeste Huang The Power of Faces Sunday, Nov. 17, 3 p.m. The son and daughter of Theresa Menders and Daniel Huang, whose photographs are on display on the second floor of the library, will talk about the photojournalism project that seeks to humanize the global refugee crisis. The two have traveled with their parents to refugee camps around the world and are key members of the project. Their talk explores the perspective of a younger generation that is actively trying to address the refugee crisis as well as their engagement with younger refugees, including teenagers who have been deprived of school education for years.
Clockwise from above, portraits of refugees in camps in Greece, Bangladesh and Mexico taken by Theresa Menders and Daniel Farber Huang will be part of the exhibition “The Power of Faces” on the second floor, Sept 10-Nov. 30. Part of Welcoming Week. EXHIBITION
The Moth Mainstage at McCarter Theatre Center Friday, Nov. 22, 8 p.m. Five divergent, unscripted storytellers share firstperson tales that honor both the diversity and commonality of human experience as The Moth Mainstage makes its McCarter Theatre Center debut. The Moth was founded in 1997 by poet and novelist George Dawes Green, who, after moving to New York City wanted to recreate the summer nights he and a circle of friends spent sharing spellbinding tales on his Georgia back porch where moths were attracted to the light. From Green’s living room, where the first New York Moth event was held, events soon moved to larger venues throughout the city, then to other areas of the country and beyond. Since 2009, National Public Radio has presented the Peabody Award-winning “The Moth Radio Hour,” hosted by 500 stations with more than 1 million weekly listeners. Reserve tickets through McCarter Theatre Center’s website. Matthews Theatre, McCarter Theatre Center, 91 University Place. Co-sponsored by the library and McCarter Theatre Center.
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Tuesday, Sept. 10–Saturday, Nov. 30 Images from the global photojournalism project by Theresa Menders and Daniel Farber Huang will be on display on the second floor of the library through Nov. 30. Realizing that most of the nearly 69 million people displaced to refugee camps lost treasured family photos when they fled their homes, Menders and Huang bring photo printers into refugee camps, where they distribute portraits for individuals to keep. The context of refugee camps is intentionally cropped out of the images to focus on individuals, and not merely their label as “refugees.” Second Floor ART TALK
Theresa Menders and Daniel Farber Huang Sunday, Sept. 22, 4 p.m. The photographers discuss “The Power of Faces,” the global photojournalism project featuring portraits of individuals and families in refugee camps around the world. Part of Welcoming Week. Newsroom An additional art talk featuring Alexander Huang and Celeste Huang, the children of the artists, will be Nov. 17 as part of the Fall Storytelling Series. PANEL DISCUSSION
The Power of Faces: Looking at the Global Refugee Crisis Monday, Oct. 21, 7 p.m. Theresa Menders and Daniel Farber Huang will lead a presentation and discussion on “The Power of Faces,” their global photojournalism project that humanizes the plight of refugees and illuminates their experiences. In collaboration with the Princeton-Trenton Area United Nations Association, Menders and Huang will discuss how “The Power of Faces” developed, share their multimedia work, and highlight key takeaways and experiences from this ongoing project. Afterward, they will be joined by two panelists representing civil society organizations for an open discussion and Q&A with the audience about “The Power of Faces,” how civil society is working to address the refugee crisis, and how local citizens can be engaged. Community Room
Programs featuring this logo are presented with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this programming do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS FOR ADULTS For details and a listing of all library events, visit princetonlibrary.org/events SPECIAL EVENTS NEW EVENT
Festomato! Saturday, Sept. 7, 11 a.m. We’re celebrating the Jersey tomato with a daylong event featuring activities, cooking demonstrations, presentations, children’s programs, three live bands and more. Food and drink selections made with tomatoes will also be available. Hinds Plaza and Community Room Co-sponsored by the library, the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Jersey, McCaffrey’s Food Market and Princeton Studies Food. AWARD-WINNING ANNUAL EVENT
Festival Cultural Latino: Mercado on the Plaza Sunday, Oct. 6, 1 p.m. The rich cultural life of Princeton’s Latino community is celebrated with an afternoon of music, dance, food, and crafts. The plaza will be transformed into a mercado during the four-hour event with local artisans and restaurants on site along with family-friendly activities and free entertainment. The event was cited as a model for multicultural programming by the New Jersey Library Association. Hinds Plaza (weather permitting) or Community Room Presented in partnership with Arts Council of Princeton and Mi Pueblo Lindo. HALLOWEEN EVENT
Here Be Dragons (and Poetry and Music and Film) Sunday, Oct. 27, 3 p.m. This fun, immersive multimedia experience examines literature and poetry that embody the Halloween season. The event blends the spoken word with live music, film and theatrical effects. Costumes are strongly recommended and will be provided at the door for those who don’t have one. This is a family friendly event but may not be suitable for very young children. Community Room Presented in partnership with the Einstein Alley Musicians Collaborative.
LECTURES Marylou and Jerome Bongiorno From Revolution to Solutions: Informed Cinema and Conversations About Newark Wednesday, Oct. 16, 7 p.m. The complex and rich history of Newark is explored through clips from three awardwinning documentaries by filmmakers Marylou and Jerome Bongiorno. The films, “Revolution ’67” (about the 1967 riots), “The Rule” (urban school reform) and “Rust” (about intergenerational
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poverty and prisoner re-entry) allow a look at the past, present, and future of Newark. Participants will be able to learn about and discuss the opportunities and challenges of urban environments by examining Newark as a microcosm. Community Room This program is funded by the New Jersey Council for the Humanities and has been made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the New Jersey Council for the Humanities (NJCH). Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of the NEH or NJCH.
Kate Lemay Curating the Exhibition “Votes for Women: A Portrait of Persistence” Thursday, Nov. 14, 7 p.m. Historian Kate Clarke Lemay of the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery speaks about organizing a major exhibition on the history of women’s suffrage. In organizing this major exhibition, Lemay faced several critical problems, including how to create a more inclusive narrative, and how to find appropriate objects that would tell this history. During this lecture, Lemay will relate how she addressed these issues, and guide members of the audience through the process of curating a major exhibition at the Smithsonian as part of the #BecauseOfHerStory initiative on American women’s history. Community Room Jeff Heller Frontier Feminists Tuesday, Nov. 19, 6:30 p.m. The historical novelist and screenwriter presents the stories of Marie Chouteau, Elizabeth Freeman and Molly Brant, three 18th-century women who found their voices and rose above their circumstances in very difficult times. Newsroom SIXTH ANNUAL KENNETH AND AUDREY GOULD LECTURE
Michael S. A. Graziano Rethinking Consciousness: A Scientific Theory of Subjective Experience Thursday, Nov. 21, 7 p.m. The author and professor of psychology and neuroscience at Princeton University, discusses his book, in which he puts forward a groundbreaking new theory of the origin of consciousness. Graziano is also the author of four previous neuroscience books and has written for national publications. He lives in Princeton. Community Room
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EVENT HIGHLIGHTS FOR ADULTS For details and a listing of all library events, visit princetonlibrary.org/events PERFORMANCE Ray Kamalay’s Musical Flea Market Sunday, Sept. 29, 3 p.m. The guitarist and singer covers a wide variety of historical styles, including Elizabethan, bossa nova, Delta blues, yodeling, ragtime, jazz, cowboy songs, gypsy guitar, Irish music and even a few originals. A Detroit native, Kamalay has been a professional musician since 1974. He has performed at the Edinburgh Festival, Interlochen and the Philadelphia Folk Festival. Community Room DOCUMENTARY THEATER PERFORMANCE
OnStage Seniors In or Out: Stories of Belonging and Exclusion Sunday, Nov. 10, 3 p.m. In their annual performance at the library, participants in the McCarter Theatre Center community project present an array of stories, funny and sad, about moments of feeling accepted or left out. Presented in partnership with the library and McCarter Theatre Center.
CIVIC LIFE FOUR-PART SERIES ON RACIAL BIAS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Continuing Conversations on Race Tuesday, Sept. 3, 7 p.m.; Mondays, 7 p.m., Oct. 7, Nov. 4, Dec. 2 Not In Our Town Princeton presents four sessions examining racial bias in the United States criminal justice system. Topics and moderators are: Sept. 3, “Policing” (Caroline Clarke); Oct. 7, “Incarceration” (Wilma Solomon); Nov. 4, “The New Jim Code: Intersection of Technology and the Carceral System” (Ruha Benjamin); and Dec. 2, “Prison Abolition and the Long Freedom Struggle” (Ruha Benjamin). Community Room Presented in partnership with Not in Our Town Princeton.
SCORE Seminars Mondays, Sept. 16, 7:15 p.m.; Oct. 21, 6:30 p.m.; Nov. 18, 6:30 p.m. Topics and presenters: Sept. 16, Competitive Advantages for Small Business (Amulya Garga); Oct. 21, Sources of Funds for Small Business; Nov. 18, Social Media Marketing. Please register for this event on the SCORE Princeton website. Newsroom
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Open Archive Princeton School Days Tuesday, Sept. 17, 6:30 p.m. As a new school year begins, explore report cards, diplomas and other archival materials about local public and private schools from the collection of the Historical Society of Princeton. HSP’s curator of collections and research will be on hand to share information and answer questions. Discovery Center
Presented in partnership with the Historical Society of Princeton.
Medicare: Make Informed Choices Monday, Sept. 23, 7 p.m. This State Health Insurance Assistance program offers an overview of the different parts of Medicare, when and how to enroll and what programs are available to help with costs. Marion Zajac, a certified volunteer counselor for Medicare who has served clients in Mercer County for six years, will present. Newsroom Presented in partnership with Princeton Senior Resource Center.
Meet the Mayor Fridays, 8:30 a.m., Sept. 27, Oct. 25 Princeton residents are invited to discuss concerns with Mayor Liz Lempert in the library lobby through 10 a.m. Municipal Engineer Deanna Stockton will join the mayor at the Sept. 27 session. Lobby Presented in partnership with Municipality of Princeton.
Animal Protection Initiatives in New Jersey Tuesday, Oct. 1, 7 p.m. Brian Hackett, director of the Humane Society of the United States - New Jersey, joins a panel of experts to discuss animal protection efforts in New Jersey and important statewide initiatives for 2019 and 2020. Hear about the progress being made on a wide range of legislative issues related to animal protection. A Q&A will follow. Community Room Presented in partnership with the Humane Society of the United States – New Jersey. INFORMATION SESSION
Raising Backyard Chickens Saturday, Oct. 5, 10:30 a.m. Princeton residents who keep poultry, local farmers and other chicken enthusiasts answer questions about raising chickens at home. This event includes live chickens. Community Room Presented in partnership with the Princeton Environmental Commission.
Programs featuring this logo are presented with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this programming do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS FOR ADULTS For details and a listing of all library events, visit princetonlibrary.org/events New Jersey’s Nov. 5 Election: Why Should We Care? Tuesday, Oct. 15, 7 p.m. Why should we care about the election on Nov. 5 given that the New Jersey General Assembly is the only office at the top of the ballot? Learn more from Ingrid Reed and others knowledgeable about the challenges of being in the General Assembly during this presentation. New Jersey and Virginia are the only states that have statewide elections in 2019 and these states will be watched for clues to the 2020 election. Newsroom Open Archive World War II on the Princeton Homefront Thursday, Oct. 17, 6:30 p.m. Explore artifacts and archival materials that illustrate how Princeton residents participated in World War II, through civil defense, rationing and foreign relief efforts. HSP’s curator of collections and research will be on hand to share information and answer questions. This Open Archive is presented in conjunction with the library and Historical Society of Princeton’s World War II exhibition on view through Feb. 6, 2020 in the Princeton Room. Discovery Center
Presented in partnership with the Historical Society of Princeton.
Legal and Estate Planning Monday, Oct. 28, 7 p.m. Learn what you need to know about estate and long-term care planning, including what legal documents you need to have now to protect yourself and your family. Presenter Fiona Van Dyck has over 20 years of experience practicing law and assisting individuals and families in formulating estate plans, protecting the interests of disabled or elderly family members and probating wills. She is a former member of the board of trustees of the Princeton Senior Resource Center. Newsroom Presented in partnership with Princeton Senior Resource Center. EXPLORING NEW JERSEY GENEALOGY
Research Your Roots Wednesday, Nov. 6, 1 p.m. Regina Fitzpatrick, genealogy librarian at the New Jersey State Library, reviews genealogy basics and strategies for collecting information before visiting a repository such as the State Library or State Archives. She will also discuss great resources to discover your ancestors in records at these locations and how to use them. This program is ideal for those new to genealogy research as well as more experienced family historians. Community Room
www.princetonlibrary.org
SUSTAINABLE PRINCETON GREAT IDEAS EVENT
Shrink the Ecological Footprint of Your Home Tuesday, Nov. 12, 7 p.m. Whether you rent or own, there are things you can do to lighten your home’s load on our warming planet. Learn about building a greener home, reducing energy usage and encouraging smart buildings within our community. This program is the first of four in Sustainable Princeton’s 2019-20 Great Ideas series focused on practical, actionable, and evidence-based steps to reduce the footprint of our daily lives. Community Room Presented in partnership with Sustainable Princeton.
CREATE Princeton Sketchers Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m., Sept. 3, 17; Oct. 1, 15; Nov. 5, 19 Sketchers of all abilities meet monthly on the first and third Tuesdays at the library before walking to a chosen location in town, on campus or somewhere indoors, to sketch for two hours or so. Everyone shares their drawings with the group at the end of the session. The meetups are a fun way to share or discover a love of drawing, turning a solitary activity into a group event where ideas and tips are shared and new friendships are formed. Beginners are welcome, but must be highschool-age or older. Conference Room Drop In and Knit Wednesdays, 10 a.m., Sept. 4-Nov. 27 Bring your knitting or crochet project and join us any time during these two-hour sessions. Participants must provide their own supplies. Sessions will not include instruction. Quiet Room Korean Lotus Flower Lantern-Making Workshop Sunday, Sept. 22, 2 p.m. Members of The Korean Spirit and Culture Promotion Project will help attendees make lovely traditional lotus flower lanterns using colored paper and wire frames. All materials will be provided and participants can choose the color of their lotus flower. In addition, the society will make available books on Korean history and culture. After the class, short films about Korea will be shown and traditional Korean refreshments will be served. Registration required; limited to 40. Community Room Knit for Others 10th Anniversary Saturday, Oct. 19, 1 p.m. Celebrate the 10th anniversary of the library’s Knit for Others program with an afternoon of knitting or crocheting. Drop in any time during this four-hour event to meet other knitters, socialize and work on your knitting or crochet projects. We will have patterns and yarn to share and will be giving demonstrations of the library’s newest database, Creativebug. Volunteer instructors will be on site to get beginners started. Community Room
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SPOTLIGHT/CHILDREN’S BOOK FESTIVAL For more about the festival, visit bookfestival.princetonlibrary.org
John Parra’s heroic vision A Q&A with the illustrator of the book festival poster
Q:
How did you approach the poster for the Princeton Children’s Book Festival? The child holding a book and playing superhero in the poster is standing in front of a Little Free Library so it seems the inspiration was “Little Libraries, Big Heroes,” the new book by Miranda Paul that features your illustrations. Can you talk a little about that? When I was asked to create this year’s poster for the Princeton Children’s Book Festival, I knew I wanted it to connect to my newly illustrated picture book, “Little Libraries, Big Heroes,” a story that celebrates the importance of books and how ordinary people can do extraordinary things. The poster image is based off the last interior spread, depicting a young child “superhero” defending and promoting books as well as issuing a call to creative action. I wanted it to speak to all the young writers, artists, and book lovers, that they are the ones who will bring us the NEW stories, heroes and art of the future. It is these ideals I see mirrored in Princeton Public Library’s own Book Fest ethos to celebrate with all our hearts the love and joy books can bring.
A:
Q: A:
Your illustrations usually reflect your Latino culture. How important is it for all children to see themselves in picture books? I love seeing a diverse selection of people in the work I do. Growing up I was fortunate to have a multicultural family and friends, who taught me that our character and actions are what define and connect us. Also that each of us is unique and beautiful in our own ways. It is in art that I work to show this multitude of diverse beauty where a reader can see themselves, be inspired, and feel empowered to start their own creative journey.
Q: A:
Have you enjoyed participating in the Princeton Book Festival in the past? What are you looking forward to about returning? I love going to the Princeton Children’s Book Festival. It’s a tremendous time! My wife, Maria, and I usually attend with our granddaughter Sophie. We normally start the day in Princeton with some local eats at PJ’s Pancake House. Then it’s off to the races
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for the festival’s book signings, photo ops, and great conversations and stories all around. I also enjoy that I can catch up with colleagues and friends and see all the great writing and art they are working on. Of course, obtaining new books for the home collection is held with utmost importance.
Q:
What is it like to meet children who have read the books you illustrate? Do you have any special memories of meeting a particular young reader? It’s a huge and wonderful honor when someone greets you to say they read your book and compliments your artwork. Often they express an interest in art themselves or how a family member loves to draw. Many of my most special memories are actually from my own family members. Once while at an event to receive a special book award, my brothers along with my nieces and nephew came along. After my speech I came down the stairs with my statue and my youngest niece, around 6 years old at the time, came running up to give me a hug. She looked at me in the eyes and exclaimed, “Uncle John, you’re famous,” she then leaned in and whispered in my ear, “You must be rich!” It was a sweet and funny moment. I am eternally grateful to my family who has always been my biggest supporter.
A:
The Princeton Children’s Book Festival is Saturday, Sept. 14, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Hinds Plaza. More than 80 authors and illustrators will be on hand, with books available for purchase and signing. John Parra will read from his books at a special edition of Saturday Stories at 10:30 a.m. in the CoLab on the third floor. See Page 15 for more details. The festival is co-sponsored by the library and jaZams. Twenty percent of the proceeds from book sales fund library materials, programs and resources for youth.
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS FOR YOUTH AND FAMILIES For details and a listing of all library events, visit princetonlibrary.org/events
HAPPY HANDS STORY TIME!
Wednesdays, 10 a.m., Sept. 11, 18, 25; Oct. 2 Happy Hands teaches American Sign Language vocabulary, speech, and expression through multisensory learning. Signing helps promote verbal communication and encourage reading skills and can have amazing results with children who have speech and communication challenges. This program will empower communication by teaching a broad base of ASL vocabulary that can be used immediately. Children, including babies, have the capacity to understand, learn, and communicate before they develop the ability to speak. For ages 6 months to 5 years old. Story Room Presented in partnership with Happy Hands.
STORY TIMES W E E KDAY STORY TIME S September–November, except Nov. 21.
TUE SDAY-THURSDAY 10 a.m. Storytime! (18 months and older) 11 a.m. Baby Storytime (newborn to 17 months) 11:30 a.m. Baby Playgroup (newborn to 17 months)
L ANGUAGE E NRICHME NT Little Pandas, Mondays, 10 a.m. Sept. 30–Nov. 25, except Oct. 14
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY 10:30 a.m., Saturday Stories 3 p.m., Sunday Stories
Origami Club for All Ages Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m., Sept. 11, Oct. 9, Nov. 13 Anyone interested in the traditional Japanese art of paper folding is invited to meet for 90 minutes to work on new origami projects, many of them seasonal. Beginners are welcome. Adults must accompany children younger than 8. Quiet Room
WORLD LANGUAGE STORIE S French, Saturdays, 11 a.m., Sept. 28, Oct. 26, Nov. 23 Italian, Saturdays, 2 p.m., Sept. 28, Oct. 26, Nov. 23 Japanese, Saturdays, 2 p.m., Sept. 7, Oct. 5 Russian, Saturdays, 3:30 p.m., Sept. 7, Oct. 5 Baby Russian, Saturdays, 4:30 p.m., Sept. 7, Oct. 5
MAKER MONDAYS Saturday Stories with John Parra Saturday, Sept. 14, 10:30 a.m. Children’s book illustrator John Parra, creator of the 2019 Princeton Children’s Book Festival poster, leads a session of Saturday Stories before the festival begins. CoLab Princeton Children’s Book Festival Saturday, Sept. 14, 11 a.m. Over 80 acclaimed authors and illustrators in children’s literature gather on Hinds Plaza to meet, interact with and sign books for young readers at this annual event. Hinds Plaza, rain or shine Co-sponsored by the library and jaZams.
Let’s Lego
Mondays, 4 p.m., Oct. 7&21; Nov. 4&18 Story Room
Build a Derby Car Monday, Oct. 14, 4 p.m. STEAM Studio
Be an Architect
Monday, Oct. 28, 4 p.m. STEAM Studio
Secret Spy Messaging Monday, Nov. 11, 4 p.m. STEAM Studio
Make a Light-up Card Monday, Nov. 25, 4 p.m. STEAM Studio www.princetonlibrary.org
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EVENT HIGHLIGHTS FOR YOUTH AND FAMILIES For details and a listing of all library events, visit princetonlibrary.org/events
US Chess Federation National Master Ben Johnson leads five Sharpen Your Chess Skills sessions.
Chess for Beginners Thursdays, 4:30 p.m., Sept. 19, Oct. 17, Nov. 21 Children in kindergarten through third grade are invited to a drop-in workshop to learn the basics of chess in a fun, noncompetitive environment. Led by members of the Princeton International School of Mathematics and Science Chess Club. STEAM Studio
Presented in partnership with Princeton International School of Mathematics and Science.
Sharpen Your Chess Skills Wednesday, 4:30 p.m., Sept. 25; Oct. 9, 23; Nov. 13, 20 This series for 6- to 12-year-olds who are familiar with the basics of chess is conducted by local chess instructor and US Chess Federation National Master Ben Johnson. Each class features a compact lesson with strategies and tips, and time for supervised play. Participation is limited to 20. Participants must attend all sessions. Registration is required through the library’s events calendar. STEAM Studio Puppetry Story Time! Thursday, Sept. 26, 10 a.m. Guest storyteller and Waldorf early childhood teacher Amy Shor celebrates the wonders of the natural world through songs, rhymes, and finger plays, using simple handmade puppets and other surprises from nature. Story Room
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Science Circle Saturdays, 3 p.m. Oct. 12, Nov. 9 Budding scientists in third through sixth grades are invited to participate in hands-on science activities designed by high school students at Princeton International School of Mathematics and Science. Important concepts, focusing on a different scientific discipline each month, will be explored. CoLab
Presented in partnership with Princeton International School of Mathematics and Science.
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS FOR YOUTH AND FAMILIES Preschool Fair Saturday, Oct. 26, 11 a.m. Representatives from area preschools provide information about school programs, curriculum, philosophy and the admission process at this two-hour annual event. Community Room
TEENS CODING CLASSES All classes are in the Technology Center. Register for classes on the library events calendar to receive updates. Presented in partnership with Code Equal.
Code It Level 1 Thursdays, 4 p.m., Sept. 19; Oct. 3, 17; Nov. 7, 21 Girl Code Level 1 Thursdays, 4 p.m., Sept. 26; Oct. 10, 24; Nov. 14 Students in grades 4-8 learn to code in the Python programming language. In each session, a core concept will be covered along with an exercise to put newfound skills to the test. No previous coding experience necessary.
Code It Level 2 Thursdays, 5 p.m., Sept. 19; Oct. 3, 17; Nov. 7, 21 Girl Code Level 2 Thursdays, 5 p.m., Sept. 26; Oct. 10, 24; Nov. 14 In this series of advanced sessions for students in grades 4-8, a core concept of Python programming will be covered along with an exercise to put newfound skills to the test. MORE EVENTS Math Circle for Middle Schoolers Saturdays, 3 p.m., Oct. 19, Nov. 16 Students in grades 6-8 engage in hands-on activities and solve puzzles designed by high school students at Princeton International School of Mathematics and Science. Important math concepts, including functions, geometry and combinatorics, will be explored. CoLab TBD (To Be Discussed) Tuesdays, 7 p.m. , Sept. 24, Oct. 22, Nov. 26 All high school students are welcome to participate in this monthly discussion of great books, films, music, nonfiction, poetry, and all things cultural. Participants may also help create book displays and reading lists for the library, take group trips and do group-reads. Story Room Go Between Club Saturday, Oct. 12, Nov. 9, 2 p.m. All sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-graders are welcome to join us on the second Saturday of every month for a fun discussion of books and other interests. STEAM Studio
FREE HOMEWORK HELP & TEST PREP
PLAYAWAY LAUNCHPADS are pre-loaded tablets with learning apps and games grouped by subject area, theme, and age. Check one out from the Youth Services Department today!
princetonlibrary.org/brainfuse Brainfuse is made possible through the generosity of
Students in K-12 are invited to celebrate
Constitution Day (September 17) by entering a contest to C O -S P O N S O R E D B Y T H E L I B R A R Y A N D T H E P R I N C E T O N Y O U T H P R O G R A M F O R C I V I C E N G A G E M E N T
www.princetonlibrary.org
win prizes
DETAILS
princetonlibrary.org/kids 17
SUPPORT
Your support makes library programs possible: princetonlibrary.org/donate
Getting Looped in A generous gift bridges a comprehension gap for those with hearing loss
L
ike many people who move to town, Adelaide Zabriskie was instantly impressed with Princeton Public Library. She particularly loves attending the wide range of events, featuring authors and other speakers. Trouble was, like many older adults, she often had difficulty clearly understanding the speakers, despite the fact that she wears a hearing aid and that most library programs are amplified. Remembering her time living in Boulder, Colorado, Zabriskie knew there was a solution. She was so determined to make it happen in Princeton that she made a generous gift to the library to fund the installation of Hearing Loop technology in the Community Room, Newsroom and Technology Center. Hearing Loop is an assistive hearing system that can be installed anywhere with an audio system. The technology works with the telecoils (or T-coils) found in more than 80% of modern hearing aids; when enabled, the T-coil picks up sound directly from the audio source, without background noise or echoes. “When I moved to Princeton, I could not believe what a beautiful library we have,” Zabriske said. “Then I realized that there was no accommodation for hard of hearing people. So I wanted to get Princeton going on helping people like me to enjoy all the programs. Most people that I have spoken to here are not aware of T-coils and Hearing Loops.” Experts say hearing loss is the third most prevalent chronic health condition facing older Americans. Seniors are not the only people affected by hearing loss; growing numbers of veterans and young people are facing similar challenges. Even those with hearing
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aids or cochlear implants have trouble comprehending what is being said in an auditorium or house of worship because hearing aids can distort critical sounds of speech and amplify distracting background noises. While most modern hearing aids contain T- coil technology, often the coils are not activated when installed by audiologists, so many people are unaware they can benefit from the Hearing Loop technology. Raising awareness is key, which is why Zabriskie made her extraordinary gift to the library and why she continues to work with groups such as the Hearing Loss Association of America and the Association for Late Deafened Adults, which utilize Hearing Loop technology at their conferences.
“I have had many experiences with Loops,” Zabriskie said. “In Boulder, we put it in two churches. People don’t fall asleep during the sermon when they can hear. We also installed one in a nonprofit theater. My feeling is that the Loops are almost as important as a cell phone.” The library will demonstrate Hearing Loop assistive technology at a special program on Thursday, Sept. 26, at 4 p.m. in the Newsroom on the second floor. For more about Hearing Loop, visit the website of manufacturer Audio Directions at ad4h.com
SUPPORT
Your support makes library programs possible: princetonlibrary.org/donate
Friend-raisers
Audrey and David Egger expand on their love of the library (and books) as chairs of Beyond Words
N
o matter how delightful the ambiance or how delicious the dinner, a memorable gathering begins with charming and welcoming hosts. Happily, all are in place for this year’s Beyond Words benefit, especially with Audrey and David Egger as honorary chairs of the event. “It’s with great fondness and appreciation of Audrey and David, for their support of the library and the community, that we have asked them to be honorary chairs of this year’s benefit celebration,” said Helen Heintz, president of the Friends of the Library. “When she retired as a physical therapist, Audrey recalls that she wanted to volunteer ‘somewhere that was important to me and where I could possibly make a difference.’ And what a difference she has made.” Most of the recent Evenings with Friends fundraising events, offered as part of the Beyond Words auction, have been coordinated by Audrey, whose frequent travels, attendance at lectures and avid bridge playing have led to her meeting amazing people. “I love planning the salon-type evenings that we sell at the auction,” said Audrey. “Many of these have been with different authors talking about their books or wonderfully talented Princeton professors. It’s a rather intimate setting in different homes, with wine and a lovely dinner that the host graciously provides. What could be better?” David Egger has attended many Evenings with Friends and has also helped out with the annual book sale. It’s no secret though that his true passion is his own personal library. Audrey jokes that David has a condition known as “B.A.D. — Book Acquisition Disorder.” “David teases us that he will eventually donate his library to the Friends book sale, though we’re not expecting that any time soon,” said Heintz. “Point of fact, David has a whole book case of volumes he doesn’t intend to read until his next lifetime!”
Beyond Words: An Evening to Benefit Princeton Public Library is Saturday, Nov. 2. The evening begins at 6 p.m. with awardwinning author Zadie Smith in conversation with photographer and Princeton University Professor Deana Lawson at Nassau Presbyterian Church. Cocktails, a silent auction and dinner will follow at the library. Tickets are on sale at princetonlibrary.org/benefit
CONTACT THE DEVELOPMENT OFFICE 609-924-9529 Director Lisa Belshaw Ham, ext. 1251, lham@princetonlibrary.org // Administrator Stephanie Oster, ext. 1280, soster@princetonlibrary.org // Associate Dawn Frost, ext. 1284, dfrost@princetonlibrary.org www.princetonlibrary.org
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Non Profit Org. U.S. Postage PA I D Princeton, NJ Permit No. 4
Princeton Public Library Sands Library Building 65 Witherspoon St. Princeton, NJ 08542 609-924-9529 www.princetonlibrary.org OPERATING HOURS Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
THANK YOU
TO OUR CORPORATE PARTNERS
An Exhibition in the Princeton Room Oct. 15, 2019 to February 6, 2020 Although the main action took place across oceans, World War II also permeated civilian life at home. Princeton residents engaged in civilian defense, rationed their purchases, and contributed to foreign relief efforts.
T
Y
ANNIVERSA R ENTH
ART
This exhibition, presented in partnership with the Historical Society of Princeton, explores how World War II affected Princeton and its neighbors on a local level through historic documents and objects.
BAKING
CRAFTING
More than 1,000 online classes taught by expert instructors for all ages and skill levels. Available on the library website.
THE UNRULY SOUNDS MUSIC FESTIVAL RETURNS FOR ITS FIFTH YEAR ON OCT. 5
New Location: Palmer Square
TECH CENTER Interim Director: Jim Hecht
CL ASSE S & COUR SE S
Assistant Director: Erica Bess Marketing and Communications Director: Timothy Quinn Development Director: Lisa Belshaw Ham Adult Programming Manager: Janie Hermann Head of Youth Services: Susan Conlon Head of Adult Services: Morgan Taylor Events Committee: Erica Bess, Mimi Bowlin, Katie Bruce, Amanda Chuong, Susan Conlon, Kim Dorman, Kristin Friberg, Janie Hermann, Martha Liu, Kelsey Ockert, Caroline Quinones, Hannah Schmidl, Marissa Warren Staff Writer: Amy Hiestand Editing and Design: Timothy Quinn princetonlibrary.org/tech-classes