CONNECTIONS
CONNECTIONS
The Princeton Public Library Magazine Fall 2015
The Princeton Public Library Magazine
connections The Princeton Public Library Magazine
Scenes from Beyond Measure, a new film that headlines a series on education
Teaching CONNECTIONS The Princeton Public Library Magazine
CONNECTIONS
and
The Princeton Public Library Magazine
connections The Princeton Public Library Magazine
Learning
FROM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR LESLIE BURGER
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et’s face it: When September rolls around it marks the beginning of a new year in Princeton. Kids are back to school, the university starts to hum with the arrival of new and returning students, and our town wakes up from its sleepy summer pace as everyone comes back ready to reengage with the world. The rhythm of life in the library changes as well. And nowhere better is that reflected than in the programs that we have on tap for you this fall. As I read through the pages of Connections this time I was struck by the breadth and range of programs we offer for people of all ages. Now that I am preparing for my own departure from the library, I am reading Connections differently and marking the programs that I plan to attend with my newly found time. Here are just a few program highlights for this fall, which prove to me just how exceptional our program planners are at designing programs that entertain, delight, and inform the community. Our Children’s Book Festival is back for the 10th year on the Plaza on Sept. 20. More than 100 authors and illustrators will greet, meet, and interact with their youngest fans that day. There is nothing better than seeing hundreds of children with huge smiles on their faces after they’ve talked to one of their favorite authors. Beyond Words, the library’s annual fundraiser, returns to the Library this year. New York magazine Editor at Large Frank Rich will start the evening off with a talk, followed by a family style dinner on Hinds Plaza
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(weather permitting) and a community-wide dance party on Witherspoon Street. This event provides funding that supports the programs that you see in Connections as well as purchases for the library’s print and digital collections. For more information about attending this event contact Renee DePinto at 609.924-9529, ext. 1280. One Thousands Books Before Kindergarten, a new early literacy initiative from the Youth Services Department, is designed to get children under 5 reading 1000 books before they enter kindergarten. We know that the more books parents share with children before they enter kindergarten, the more likely children are to become proficient readers. The library has thousands of books for young readers to support the bonding and joy that comes from reading together. If you’re just now starting to explore the library’s digital offerings or are an experienced user stop by Sylvia Beach Way on Sept. 30 to visit Overdrive’s Digital Bookmobile. Staff will be available for hands-on learning and downloading assistance from noon to 5:30 p.m. These are only a few highlights from the hundreds of programs that will be offered at Princeton Public Library this fall. Authors, book groups, film discussions, community conversations, music, art, poetry, story times and much more are here for you seven-days a week. So I invite you to kick-off the new year with a commitment to attend at least 10 programs at the library this fall. I can promise that you won’t be disappointed.
COVER STORY
Race to somewhere Scenes from “Beyond Measure,” to be screened Tuesday, Oct. 20 at John Witherspoon Middle School.
Beyond Measure highlights change-makers in education By TIM QUINN Connections Editor
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hen “Race to Nowhere” was shown at Princeton High School in November of 2010, it had a profound and long-lasting impact on Princeton. For some in the audience that night, the film was a mirror held up to the high-stakes, high-pressure, ultra-competitive school culture in Princeton, where education is arguably the top civic priority. Students in the film said they were working — on schoolwork and extracurricular activities — to the point of exhaustion. Cheating was so commonplace it was viewed by students as a matter of survival. Stress-related illnesses and depression were on the rise. And there was an underlying question of purpose best expressed by one exasperated student who said, “I’m not learning; I’m just memorizing.” The Princeton screening spurred many parents of school-age children to think how this “race” was affecting their children and families. They formed Princeton Balance to keep the conversation going. As a result, school climate and culture became frontburner issues in all Princeton schools. Many of those parents, including Princeton Balance co-founder Jess Deutsch, will be in the audience when the follow-up film, “Beyond Measure” screens on Tuesday, Oct. 20 at John Witherspoon Auditorium. The event, part of a three-film series on teaching and learning, will be followed by a panel discussion and Q&A featuring Steve Cochrane, superintendent of Princeton Public Schools; Jane Fremon, founder and head of school at Princeton Friends School; and Joel Hammon, co-founder and director of Princeton Learning Cooperative. The screening, one of the first in the nation of the new film, is cosponsored by the library and Princeton Public Schools. “We founded Princeton Balance as a Facebook group after screening ‘Race To Nowhere,’ and seeing clearly that so many parents wanted to continue the conversation that the film stimulated,” said Deutsch, a mother of two and a college and premed adviser in Princeton. “We post articles on related topics — sleep, stress, brain development, college admissions, mindfulness,
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et cetera. I’d like to think that parent awareness about these issues has been a force for good in the Princeton Public Schools’ emphasis on student wellness.” For filmmaker Vicki Abeles, “Beyond Measure” was inspired by people who attended the more than 7,000 screenings of “Race to Nowhere,” one of the most popular education documentaries of all time. The new film is not so much a sequel as an answer to some of the issues raised in the first film. “This the story ‘Race to Nowhere’ audiences told us they wanted,” said Abeles, a former Wall Street lawyer and mother of two. “We made ‘Beyond Measure’ to paint a new picture of what’s possible Vicki Abeles in education when we trust in the ingenuity of students, parents and educators. For communities looking to change, it goes hand-in-hand with our first film: ‘Race to Nowhere’ compels us to rethink our education culture; ‘Beyond Measure’ inspires everyone to transform it.” Featuring interviews with a who’s who of thought leaders in education, including Sir Kenneth Robinson, Daniel Pink, Linda Darling-Hammond, Yong Zhao and Carol Dweck, “Beyond Measure” also visits classrooms and schools where educators are using new methods to engage students in learning. “‘Beyond Measure’ tells the stories of schools on a mission to reinvent education as we know it,” Abeles said. “These communities are innovating from the inside, subverting our drill-and-kill education system, and putting forth a richer, more engaging, and more purposeful vision for learning. And the changes featured are driven by students, educators and parents. These are classrooms that look unlike anything most of us would recognize as school. Creative workshops instead of lecture halls. Students leading instruction.
COVER STORY continues on Page 23 CONNECTIONS I 3
SPECIAL SERIES
The Conversation
Dr. Angelo Volandes’s “The Conversation” will be the centerpiece of a Currents series devoted to end-of-life issues. Dr. Volandes appears at the library Nov. 3.
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onversation of a Lifetime is a program of the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute’s Mayors Wellness Campaign. It aims to bring advance care planning conversations to New Jersey communities. The program has been generously supported by the Horizon Foundation for New Jersey. Programs in this series are co-sponsored by the library and New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute’s Mayors Wellness Campaign and the community organizations noted in the listings.
BOOK DISCUSSIONS “The Conversation: A Revolutionary Plan for End-of-Life Care” by Angelo Volandes Thursday, Oct. 29, 10 a.m. Led by Janie Hermann in the Quiet Room at the library Monday, Nov. 23, 2 p.m. Led by Susan Hoskins, executive director of the Princeton Senior Resource Center at 45 Stockton St. Through the stories of seven patients with very different endof-life experiences, the author demonstrates the one thing people approaching the end of life need most: “the conversation.” Volandes argues for a radical re-envisioning of the patient-doctor relationship and offers ways for patients and their families to talk about this difficult issue to ensure that patients will be at the center and in charge of their medical care. Volandes will speak at the library on Nov. 3 at 7 p.m.
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AUTHORS Thomas Laqueur Friday, Oct. 30, 5:30 p.m. The acclaimed cultural historian discusses his book “The Work of the Dead: A Cultural History of Mortal Remains,” a chronicle of how we shape the dead and are in turn shaped by them. Laqueur will read from the book, describe the decades of research behind the monumental project, and discuss the history of the dead in many forms across the ages, from churchyards and cemeteries, to tombs, memorials, and ashes. Part of the Thinking Allowed Series. Labyrinth Books, 122 Nassau St. Co-sponsored by the library, Labyrinth Books and Princeton University Press. Dr. Angelo Volandes Tuesday, Nov. 3, 7 p.m. The author and physician discusses his book “The Conversation: A Revolutionary Plan for End-of-Life Care,” which confronts the harsh realities of dying in a hospital and offers guidelines and resources to families facing difficult decisions. Volandes practices internal medicine and is a faculty member at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. He received his medical degree from Yale School of Medicine after completing a bachelor’s in philosophy from Harvard. He is also the founder of Advance Care Planning Decisions. Community Room
for complete information on all library programs, please visit www.princetonlibrary.org
of a Lifetime Nina Angela McKissock Thursday, Dec. 3, 7 p.m. The author, a longtime hospice nurse, talks about her book “From Sun to Sun: A Hospice Nurse Reflects on the Art of Dying.” In the book, she shares the stories of 21 people of different ages who endured the battle of the medical system as they sought cures for their illnesses and ultimately settled in to end-of-life care. Community Room
FILMS Film and Discussion: “Consider the Conversation: A Documentary on a Taboo Subject” Monday, Nov. 2, 7 p.m. This film sheds light on the 21st-century American struggle with communication and preparation at life’s end. It examines multiple perspectives on end-of-life care and includes information and experiences gathered from interviews with patients, family members, doctors, nurses, clergy, social workers, and national experts from around the country. Following the screening, a discussion will be led by Susan Hoskins of the Princeton Senior Resource Center. Community Room Film and Discussion: “You’re Not You” Tuesday, Nov. 24, 6:30 p.m. Hilary Swank stars as a classical pianist with ALS and Emmy Rossum is the brash college student who becomes her caregiver in this 2014 drama. Following the screening, library associate Shelly Hawk will moderate a discussion about the film. Community Room
Nina Angela McKissock
OTHER PROGRAMS TEDx Salon: Conversation of a Lifetime Saturday, Nov. 7, 2 p.m. Dr. David Barile will lead discussions following the screening of three TED talks on dying and the importance of conveying your wishes to loved ones. Barile is a board-certified physician in internal medicine, geriatric medicine, and hospice and palliative medicine. He is the medical director and founder of New Jersey Goals of Care. Community Room Cards and Conversation Tuesday, Nov. 10, 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Decks of cards from the Go Wish game will be available to help individuals and families start a conversation about their end-of-life wishes. Each deck has 35 cards that describe things that people often say are important when they are very sick or dying. The cards describe how people want to be treated, whom they want near them, and what matters to them. An additional wild card is used to add something not found on the other cards. The game was developed by CODA Alliance, a not-for-profit organization helping individuals and their families plan and prepare for end-of-life issues. Community Room Plan to attend a single session. Instructions given at start of each session. www.princetonlibrary.org
A scene from “Consider the Conversation: A Documentary on a Taboo Subject”
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BOOKS & AUTHORS AUTHORS Hester Young Wednesday, Sept. 2, 7 p.m. Young, who lives in Lawrenceville and often writes at the library, launches “The Gates of Evangeline,” her debut novel about a woman whose dark visions bring to light secrets that affect those around her. The book is the first in a planned series. Community Room John Calu and Dave Hart Wednesday, Oct. 7, 7 p.m. The authors talk about and sign copies of “Adventures Along the Jersey Shore,” their seven-book series exploring the forgotten history and natural phenomena behind our state’s most baffling events. The series for all ages is being presented for the first time in one volume with the addition of a new adventure set during Superstorm Sandy. Community Room Chef and Cookbook Author David Tanis Thursday, Nov. 12, 7 p.m. The chef discusses “One Good Dish,” his first non-menu cookbook that offers 100 simple and delicious one-dish recipes that epitomize his no-fuss approach to comfort food. Tanis has been a professional chef for more than three decades and is also the author of the acclaimed cookbooks “A Platter of Figs” and “Heart of the Artichoke.” He writes the weekly City Kitchen column for The New York Times. Community Room
Hester Young
Gould Lecture Series: Dr. Frances Jensen on the Teenage Brain Thursday, Nov. 19, 7 p.m. Internationally known expert in neurology and the teenage brain, Dr. Frances Jensen discusses her book “The Teenage Brain: A Neuroscientist’s Survival Guide to Raising Adolescents and Young Adults.” This is the second annual lecture about child development endowed by the family of Dr. Kenneth Gould. Community Room John Calu and Dave Hart
SPECIAL EVENT Local Author Day Book Fair Saturday, Oct. 24, 1 p.m. Area authors display and sign their books and featured authors read from their works at this annual event. Local Author Day will also include morning workshops for writers of all levels. Check princetonlibrary.org/events for details on authors and events. Community Room
POETS AT THE LIBRARY Co-sponsored by the library, Delaware Valley Poets and the U.S.1 Poets’ Cooperative. Poets read for 20 minutes each followed by an open-mic session.
David Tanis
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Dr. Frances Jensen
George Witte and Lavinia Kumar Monday, Sept. 14, 7:30 p.m. Witte is the author of three collections of poems, most recently “Does She Have a Name?” His poems have been published in Gettysburg Review, Yale Review and elsewhere and have been selected for The Best American Poetry. Kumar’s book “The Skin and Under” was recently published.
for complete information on all library programs, please visit www.princetonlibrary.org
Her chapbook “Rivers of Saris” was published in 2013, and her poetry has appeared in several publications including Atlanta Review, Colere, Edison Literary Review and U.S.1 Worksheets. Community Room Pat Hardigree and Nancy Scott Monday, Oct. 12, 7:30 p.m. Hardigree’s work has appeared in The Paterson Literary Review, Lips, U.S.1 Worksheets, Kelsey Review and more. She serves as editor/webmaster for the Delaware Valley Poets, Inc. Scott has been managing editor of U.S.1 Worksheets, the journal of the U.S.1 Poets’ Cooperative for more than a decade. She is the author of eight books of poetry. Fireplace Area, second floor
Maria Mazziotti Gillian
Laura Boss
Maria Mazziotti Gillan and Laura Boss Monday, Nov. 9, 7:30 p.m. Gillan is a recipient of AWP’s 2014 George Garrett Award, Poets & Writers’ 2011 Barnes & Noble Writers for Writers Award, and the 2008 American Book Award. She is founder/ executive director of the Poetry Center at Passaic County Community College, and director of creative writing/professor of English at Binghamton University-SUNY. Boss is a firstplace winner of PSA’s Gordon Barber Poetry Contest. Founder and editor of Lips, she is the recipient of three NJSCA Poetry Fellowships, and, in June 2011, received the first International Poetry Award at the International Poetry Festival in Swansea, Wales. Community Room
BOOK GROUPS FICTION BOOK GROUP Led by librarian Kristin Friberg; Thursdays, 10:30 a.m., Conference Room Sept. 10, “The Plover” by Brian Doyle Oct. 8, “Our Souls at Night” by Kent Haruf Nov. 12, “Welcome to Braggsville” by T. Geronimo Johnson BLACK VOICES BOOK GROUP Thursdays, 7 p.m., Princeton Room Sept. 10, “Citizen: An American Lyric” by Claudia Rankine Oct. 8, “Long Walk to Freedom” by Nelson Mandela Nov. 12, “Boy, Snow, Bird” by Helen Oyeyemi MYSTERY BOOK GROUP Led by librarian Gayle Stratton; Mondays, 7:30 p.m., Quiet Room Sept. 14, “The Bishop’s Wife” by Mette Ivie Harrison Oct. 5, “Wobble to Death” by Peter Lovesey Nov. 2, “Wife of the Gods” by Kwei Quartey BOUNDLESS BOOK GROUP Coordinated by Kim Dorman; Thursdays, 7:30 p.m., Princeton Room Sept. 17, “The Little Prince” and “Wind, Sand and Stars” by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Oct. 15, “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up” by Marie Kondo Nov. 19, “Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear” by Elizabeth Gilbert
Books, Authors and Discussions in the Currents: Conversations of a Lifetime Series Pages 4-5 www.princetonlibrary.org
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DIGITAL
OverDrive parking its rig at the library
Digital Bookmobile visits on Sept. 30
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here’s a really big reason to learn to download materials from our digital collection on Wednesday, Sept. 30. A 40-ton, 75-foot reason, that is, in the form of the OverDrive Digital Bookmobile.
A high-tech update of the traditional bookmobile that’s been serving communities for decades, the Digital Bookmobile will be parked on Sylvia Beach Way from noon to 5:30 p.m. The vehicle is equipped with hands-on learning stations where visitors will have the opportunity to search the library’s digital OverDrive collection and experiment with a variety of supported mobile devices to experience eBooks and e-audiobooks. Overdrive staff experts will also be on board the bookmobile to deliver hands-on assistance with any specific downloading questions you might have. “We are incredibly excited to have the OverDrive bookmobile visit Princeton, not only because it’s a fun way to promote our digital collections, but because it’s an excellent educational outreach opportunity for the library,” said Ji Hae Ju, media collections librarian. “Bring your device and we will reveal an entire new borrowing experience to you. There is so much the library offers for the 21st-century consumer, and we can’t wait to show you.”
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Door prizes and giveaways will be part of the bookmobile event that youth services librarian Katie Bruce hopes will add even more to the ever-growing number of young OverDrive users. “Children and teens are engaging with media more than ever before, in almost all aspects of their lives,” said Bruce. “We find that kids simply want to read the books they want to read and are not concerned about the format. They are happy to read an ebook if the physical book is unavailable and vice versa. Kids have come to expect access, availability and ease from their media borrowing and OverDrive certainly provides that for the library.” Bruce will be conducting three digital story times during the bookmobile event. The first session will be at 1 p.m. for children up to age 4. Story times for older children will be held at 3 and 5 p.m. Every year, Princeton Public Library customers of all ages download 25,000 e-books and 19,000 audiobooks from our Princeton OverDrive collection. Selected by our librarians with the preferences of our customers in mind, the focus of our OverDrive collection is on current and new titles. The collection is available 24-hours a day and titles are added on an ongoing basis. OverDrive’s popular library of more than 11,000 public domain e-books is available, too. For more information on OverDrive, send an email to refstaff@princetonlibrary.org or call 609.924.9529, ext. 1220.
for complete information on all library programs, please visit www.princetonlibrary.org
NEW AND NOTEWORTHY TECHNOLOGY CLASSES All classes are in the Technology Center Dating in the Digital Age Thursday, Oct. 1, 3 p.m. This class will cover the basics of popular free online dating sites, such as OkCupid, Christian Mingle, and Plenty of Fish. You will learn how to create an appealing profile that enhances your online presence, as well as tips and tricks to help you meet your perfect match. Skill Level: Basic Intro to Digital Photo Manipulation with Adobe Photoshop Thursday, Oct. 1, 7-8:30 p.m. John LeMasney of LeMasney Consulting gives an overview of the interface, tools, and key concepts for enhancing your photos with Photoshop. Skill Level: Advanced Windows 10 Fundamentals Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2 p.m. This course goes over the basics of Windows 10, a significant change from older versions of Windows, and will familiarize you with its new look and features. If you are accustomed to Windows 8 and have found Windows 10 difficult to learn, this course will help. Customers are welcome to bring their Windows 10 laptop. Skill Level: Basic iPad 201 Saturday, Oct. 24, 2 p.m. Continue your iPad education with topics ranging from how to open attachments in emails to how to add items to your calendar. Skill Level: Intermediate Intro to Open Source Professional Image Tools: Inkscape and GIMP Monday, Oct. 26, 7 p.m. Inkscape is an open source alternative to Adobe Illustrator, and GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is an alternative to Adobe Photoshop. This class will cover starting your own imaging workstation suite for free, and how to begin using these powerful and extensible tools to make great graphic designs and fantastic photos. As an open source enthusiast, instructor John LeMasney has used only free software for most of his business tasks for the last 15 years. Skill Level: Intermediate What’s New For Mac and iPhone? Wednesday, Nov. 4, 7 p.m. This fall Apple is releasing the newest updates for the Mac, iPad and iPhone. Learn about the new features, what’s changed, and whether you should upgrade your Mac, iPad and iPhone. Skill Level: Intermediate Downloading Drop-In Session Saturday, Nov. 7, 10 a.m. Bring your device, your library card number and logins for your Amazon, Apple ID and Adobe ID accounts, as appropriate, and get started with a librarian during this one-hour session accessing e-books, audiobooks and/or digital magazines! Skill Level: Basic www.princetonlibrary.org
Create with Canva Monday, Nov. 9, 7 p.m. Learn how to create attention-grabbing graphics for use on social media sites using the free online site Canva. Janie Hermann and Hilary Morris will show you how you can use Canva to create unique photo cards that can be shared digitally or printed out for traditional mailing. Skill Level: Intermediate How to Back Up Your Computer Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2 p.m. Backing up your computer is essential if you have any files that you do not wish to lose. Learn how to backup your PC, Mac, iPhone and Android. We will cover backing up to external hard drives, Mac’s Time Machine, and online services that back up your computer onto the Internet. Skill Level: Intermediate Beyond Basics: Microsoft Word for Mac Wednesday, Nov. 18, 3 p.m. Have you mastered the basics of Word but still want to learn more? In this class we will learn the more creative aspects of Word, from inserting photos into a document to using WordArt to create colorful fliers and informational handouts. Skill Level: Intermediate Managing Your Photo Collections Thursday, Nov. 19, 2 p.m. If your collection of photos is getting larger every day, it can be intimidating to manage them. Whether you have a PC, Mac, iPhone or Android device, it’s important to get all of those memories organized and secure. Learn how to organize all those photos in one place and get them backed up. Skill Level: Intermediate
ONGOING TECH CLASSES
All classes are in the Technology Cemter. Most classes are between one and two hours.
Discover Evernote: Monday, Sept. 14, 7 p.m. Microsoft Excel for Beginners Session 1: Wednesday, Sept. 16, 5:30 p.m. Session 2: Wednesday, Sept. 23, 5:30 p.m. Pinterest for Beginners: Thursday, Sept. 17, 2-3 p.m. Raspberry Pi: Thursday, Sept. 17, 7-8:30 p.m. Introduction to Arduino: Monday, Sept. 21, 7 p.m. Intro to Email Marketing with MailChimp: Thursday, Sept. 24, 6:30 p.m. Microsoft Word for Mac: Saturday, Sept. 26, 9:30 a.m. Refresh Your Resume and Job Search: Monday, Sept. 28, 5:30 p.m. Google Drive: Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2 p.m. Personal Branding and Technology: Monday, Oct. 5, 7 p.m. Career Resources at PPL: Tuesday, Oct. 6, 11 a.m. Google Maps (with short review for iPhone users): Tuesday, Oct. 6, 7 p.m. Get the Most from Gmail: Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2 p.m. Graphic Design for Non-Designers: Wednesday, Oct. 7, 7 p.m. iPhoto for Beginners: Thursday, Oct. 8, 7 p.m. List Your Items on eBay: Tuesday, Oct. 13, 3 p.m. Using Free Digital Images: Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2 p.m. Introduction to PowerPoint: Wednesday, Oct. 14, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Capturing Campus: Thursday, Oct. 15, 9:30 a.m. Introduction to Social Networking: Monday, Oct. 19, 10 a.m. CONNECTIONS I 9
MUSIC
The library is the Day 2 venue of the Unruly Sounds Music Festival on Sunday, Sept. 27.
The Bengali Kids of Princeton Area Saturday, Sept. 5, 3 p.m. The group presents “Life and Works of Rabindranath Tagore,” a program of colorful dance, song and poetry celebrating the philosopher, poet, novelist, artist and composer who was the first non-Westerner to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature. Part of the Crescendo: Musicians on the Rise series. Community Room Co-sponsored by the library and The Bengali Kids of Princeton Area.
The Bengali Kids of the Princeton area perform works by Rabindranath Tagore on Saturday, Sept. 5.
PSO Soundtracks Thursday, Sept. 10, 7 p.m. Conductor and professor Christopher Lyndon-Gee will lead a panel discussion on original score discoveries and the importance of such scores to conductors, musicians, musicologists, historians, and concert goers. The discussion will touch upon last year’s successful auction of Rachmaninoff’s original score for his Second Symphony. Rachmaninoff’s work will be performed at the PSO’s season-opening Sept. 27 concert Graceful Pairings. Additional panelists will be announced. Community Room Co-sponsored by the library and the Princeton Symphony Orchestra. Unruly Sounds Music Festival Sunday, Sept. 27, 1:30 p.m. Aptly titled Unruly Sounds, Princeton’s first two-day marathon celebrating music written primarily in the last 20 years, will feature the latest compositions from Princeton University’s graduate music program. Saturday evening’s events will celebrate local singers and songwriters at Small World Coffee, the Princeton Record Exchange and other venues. Sunday’s
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for complete information on all library programs, please visit www.princetonlibrary.org
Princeton Studio Band performs Friday, Oct. 2, on Hinds Plaza or in the Community Room.
afternoon marathon at Hinds Plaza and the Princeton Public Library’s Community Room will feature Quinn Collins, Wally Gunn, Dave Molk, and many others with the latest grooves in post-classical/contemporary chamber music. Hinds Plaza and Community Room Co-sponsored by the library and the Princeton University Department of Music. Princeton Studio Band Friday, Oct. 2, 6:30 p.m. One of the nation’s top high school music ensembles, Princeton Studio Band plays big band arrangements of traditional and contemporary jazz and the occasional student composition. The band, led by Joe Bongiovi, has taken top ensemble and individual honors dozens of times at the prestigious Berklee High School Jazz Festival and is a regular state champion. Studio Band served as the inspiration for the Academy Award-nominated film “Whiplash.” Hinds Plaza (weather permitting) or Community Room PSO Soundtracks Goes to the Movies: “Virtuosity” Wednesday, Oct. 28, 7 p.m. The documentary, which follows several young piano prodigies on their way to the grueling 2013 Van Cliburn Competition, is presented as a prelude to PSO’s Nov. 8 “Heartfelt Virtuosity” concert. Joyce Yang, the youngest-ever Van Cliburn Silver Medalist, will perform Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini during the concert, accompanied by the PSO under the direction of Rossen Milanov. Popcorn and beverages will be served. Community Room Co-sponsored by the library and Princeton Symphony Orchestra. Fred Miller Sunday, Nov. 15, 3 p.m. In a program titled “Young at Heart: Singing About Aging Gracefully,” pianist and singer Fred Miller presents a musical celebration of surviving youth and growing older with grace. Miller will sing selections from Lerner & Loewe, Stephen Sondheim, Bob Dylan, the Beatles, Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, the Gershwins and many others. Community Room www.princetonlibrary.org
Scenes from “Virtuosity,” which screens Wednesday, Oct. 28. CONNECTIONS I 11
FILM “Defiant Requiem,” Sunday, Nov. 3
“Inhabit,” Saturday, Oct. 3
“Blue Gold,” Sunday, Nov. 22
DOCUMENTARIES Film and Q&A: “Inhabit” Saturday, Oct. 3, 2 p.m. Princeton Environmental Film Festival 2015 Audience Favorite Award-winner “Inhabit” explores the many environmental issues facing the world today and examines solutions that are being applied using the ecological design process called permaculture. A Q&A with filmmaker Costa Boutsikaris will follow the screening. 1 hour, 33 minutes. Community Room Film and Discussion: “Defiant Requiem” Sunday, Nov. 1, 3 p.m. This acclaimed documentary tells the story of Rafael Schachter, a young and passionate Czech opera-choral conductor who was sent to the Terezin concentration camp in 1941. Determined to sustain courage and hope for his fellow prisoners, Schachter recruited 150 of them to learn Verdi’s Requiem. After rehearsing in a dank cellar at the end of grueling days of forced labor, the chorus, whose members viewed the Verdi music as a work of defiance and resistance to the Nazis, performed on 16 occasions for fellow prisoners. Their last performance was in front of high-ranking SS officers and the International Red Cross to support the myth that the prisoners were treated well and flourishing. The screening will be followed by a discussion with distinguished conductor
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Murray Sidlin, who founded The Defiant Requiem Foundation in 2008 to honor the prisoners in Terezin and their artistic endeavors. 1 hour, 25 minutes. Community Room Film and Discussion: “Blue Gold” Sunday, Nov. 22, 4 p.m. This film examines the problems created by the privatization and commercialization of world water supplies and asks what this means as the resource dwindles and demand grows. Based on the book “Blue Gold: The Right to Stop the Corporate Theft of the World’s Water,” that argues that in the future, wars will be fought over water supplies. 1 hour, 29 minutes. Community Room Co-sponsored by the library and Global Cinema Café.
PRINCETON INTERNATIONAL CINEMA SERIES Screenings are at The Princeton Garden Theatre, 160 Nassau St. The series is a collaboration of the library, the Davis International Center, the International Employees Group at Princeton University and the Princeton Garden Theatre. Princeton University ID holders, library cardholders and Garden Theatre members may purchase tickets at $6. The library will also offer a limited number of free tickets while supplies last for each screening. Call 609-924-9529 ext. 1218 for availability. “Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem” (Israel) Thursday, Sept. 3, 5:30 p.m. An Israeli woman fights for a divorce from her devout husband whose permission is required to dissolve the marriage. Hebrew with English subtitles. 1 hour, 45 minutes.
for complete information on all library programs, please visit www.princetonlibrary.org
“Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem,” Thursday, Sept. 3
“The Babadook,” Thursday, Nov. 5
“Girlhood” (France) Thursday, Oct. 1, 5:30 p.m. A French teenager joins a girl gang and seeks solace in an older man who promises her protection in this unconventional coming-of-age film. French with English subtitles. 1 hour 52 minutes. “The Babadook” (Australia) Thursday, Nov. 5, 5:30 p.m. A woman and her son are tormented by an evil entity. 1 hour, 34 minutes. “Pelo Malo” (Venezuela) Thursday, Dec. 3, 5:30 p.m. A 9-year-old boy’s wish to straighten his hair for his school picture causes concern for his homophobic mother and conflict in his family. Spanish with English subtitles. 1 hour, 33 minutes.
FEATURE FILMS
All screenings are in the Community Room “Far from the Madding Crowd” Sunday, Sept. 6, 3 p.m. The nature of relationships and love is explored in the story of beautiful and independent Bathsheba Everdene and her three very different suitors. Based on the literary classic of the same name by Thomas Hardy. 2 hours. www.princetonlibrary.org
“Girlhood,” Thursday, Oct. 1
“Pelo Malo,” Thursday, Dec. 3
“Pitch Perfect 2” Friday, Oct. 23, 7 p.m. After a humiliating command performance at Lincoln Center, the Barden Bellas enter an international competition that no American group has ever won in order to regain their status and right to perform. With Anna Kendrick and Rebel Wilson, Hailee Steinfeld and Brittany Snow. 1 hour, 55 minutes. “A Little Chaos” Friday, Nov. 6, 7 p.m. Kate Winslet stars in this 2014 film about two talented landscape artists who become romantically entangled while building a garden in King Louis XIV’s palace at Versailles. 1 hour, 57 minutes. “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl” Friday, Nov. 27, 7 p.m. In this coming-of-age drama, a high school student and his best friend Earl, become friends with a teenage girl who has leukemia and decide to make a film to lift her spirits. In the process, they learn quite a bit about friendship and the fragility of life. 1 hour, 45 minutes.
Films in the Teaching and Learning Series Page 23 Films in the Currents Series Page 5
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ENRICHMENT FEATURED EVENTS McCarter Live at the Library Tuesday, Sept. 1, 7 p.m. McCarter Theatre Artistic Director Emily Mann discusses the production of “Baby Doll” that she adapted for the stage with Pierre Laville. Joining the discussion will be “Baby Doll” leads Dylan McDermott and Susannah Hoffman who will talk about the joys and challenges of bringing the story to life. Based on the controversial 1950s Tennessee Williams film, “Baby Doll” is a darkly comic tale of a failing cotton gin owner, his beautiful, childlike, 19-year-old wife and the man who plots to seduce her. Directed by Mann, the play opens at McCarter Sept. 11 and runs through Oct. 11. Community Room Co-sponsored by the library and McCarter Theatre Center. Susannah Hoffman
Dylan McDermott
Martin Mosho speaks about the Civil War on Wednesday, Sept. 16
Adult Literacy Readathon Thursday, Sept. 10, noon Literacy New Jersey celebrates the joy of reading and Adult Literacy Month by inviting everyone to read aloud from a favorite book for five minutes during this four-hour event. Special guest readers throughout the day will include community leaders, literacy students, tutors and local business leaders. Call 609.587.6027 or email vgolden@literacynj.org to sign up to read. Community Room Co-sponsored by the library and Literacy New Jersey, Mercer County Programs. Lecture: The Civil War Wednesday, Sept. 16, 6:30 p.m. Civil War expert Martin Mosho, retired instructor at Mercer County Community College, discusses the conflict that changed our nation forever. The American Civil War was the greatest catastrophe this country ever experienced with 750,000 casualties. Slavery issues, major battles, weapons used, casualty analysis and the role of women and minorities will be covered. Community Room Wednesday, Sept. 30, 7 p.m. “Person, Place, Thing”: Peter Singer Randy Cohen interviews Princeton University bioethics professor Peter Singer for his public radio program where guests are asked to speak about a person, a place and a thing they find meaningful rather than about themselves. Cohen won multiple Emmy awards as a writer for “Late Night With David Letterman” and for 12 years wrote “The Ethicist” column for The New York Times Magazine. Community Room
Peter Singer is interviewed by Randy Cohen on Wednesday, Sept. 30.
Person, Place Thing and Festival Cultural Latino are presented with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Celebrating 50 Years of Excellence. 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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Festival Cultural Latino Sunday, Oct. 4, 2 p.m. The rich cultural life of Princeton’s Latino community is celebrated with an afternoon of music, dance, food, crafts and much more. The plaza will be transformed into a mercado during the three-hour event with local artisans and restaurants on site along with family-friendly activities and lots of free entertainment. Hinds Plaza Co-sponsored by the library, The Arts Council of Princeton and Mi Pueblo Lindo.
for complete information on all library programs, please visit www.princetonlibrary.org
McCarter Live at the Library Friday, Oct. 9, 7 p.m. Playwright and theater director Ken Ludwig discusses the creation of “A Comedy of Tenors,” the sequel to his Tony Award-winning “Lend Me a Tenor.” Directed by Stephen Wadsworth, “A Comedy of Tenors” will have its premiere run at McCarter Oct. 13 through Nov. 1. Community Room Co-sponsored by the library and McCarter Theatre Center. What Can We Do to Turn the Tide of Mass Incarceration? Wednesday, Oct. 21, 7 p.m. Walter Fortson, an NJ-STEP academic counselor at Mountainview Youth Correctional Facility, discusses mass incarceration, the importance of addressing the matter for our future as a nation, and a process for evaluating the positions of political candidates on the issue. He is a recent graduate of the University of Cambridge, receiving his master of philosophy degree in criminology. Incarcerated at Mountainview on a drug charge in his youth, Fortson went on to become an honor student and Truman Scholar at Rutgers before attending Cambridge. In addition to NJ-STEP, he works with The Petey Greene Program, which brings university student volunteers into prisons to tutor incarcerated students. Community Room Co-sponsored by the library, The Petey Greene Program, The Campaign to End the New Jim Crow (Princeton and Trenton Chapters), and Princeton University’s SPEAR (Students for Princeton Education and Reform). Art Exhibit and Artists Talk Monday, Nov. 16, 7 p.m. Artists Hannah Fink and Susan Macqueen, whose work is on exhibit in the Reference Gallery on the library’s second floor, talk about their art. According to her website, Fink works “with a variety of found objects and recycled materials forming garments that are often either enormous or diminutive in size. These objects hang from the ceiling, attach to the wall or are freestanding, with highly textured, nuanced surfaces that appear to be well-worn relics from a distant past.” Macqueen explores themes of community and individuality through sculptures, paintings and drawings of sheep. Community Room
Ken Ludwig
Walter Forston
SPOTLIGHT ON THE HUMANITIES: PUBLIC POLICY IN AMERICA Public Policy in America is presented with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Celebrating 50 Years of Excellence. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this programming do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Works by Hannah Fink and Susan Macqueen, below, are on exhibit in the second floor Reference Gallery
An Introduction to Public Policy in America Monday, Sept. 28, noon New Jersey Council for the Humanities Executive Director Briann Greenfield interviews Stanley Katz, president emeritus of the American Council of Learned Societies, in the first program of the 2015-16 Spotlight on the Humanities series. The program will introduce this year’s theme, Public Policy in America, and explore the importance of the humanities in shaping Briann Greenfield public policy. Community Room
www.princetonlibrary.org
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ENRICHMENT The Future of Marriage Wednesday, Oct. 21, noon Stephen Macedo, Laurance S. Rockefeller Professor of Politics at the University Center for Human Values at Princeton University, and author of “Just Married: Same-Sex Couples, Monogamy, and the Future of Marriage,” give a talk as part of the Spotlight on the Humanities series examining public policy in America. Community Room
RETIREMENT/SENIOR TALKS
Co-sponsored by the library and the Princeton Senior Resource Center. Talk: Downsize Your Possessions with Ease Tuesday, Sept. 8, 7 p.m. Professional organizer Ellen Tozzi shares strategies for going through the sometimes-emotional process of streamlining, deciding what to keep and finding resources for items to be released. Community Room What You Need to Know About Medicare Tuesday, Oct. 27, 7 p.m. Angie Melo of the New Jersey State Health Insurance Program talks about Medicare basics including eligibility, enrolling, Medicare Parts A, B, C, Medicare prescription drug coverage and costs. Community Room Stephen Macedo
SUSTAINABLE PRINCETON GREAT IDEAS BREAKFASTS
Co-sponsored by the library, Sustainable Princeton and NRG Energy Inc. These zero-waste breakfasts are catered by locally owned businesses. Hot Time, Solar in the City Thursday, Sept. 24, 8:30 a.m. Learn how to choose solar for your home or business and what the solar industry has in store for the future. How residents and businesses can take advantage of state rebates to help pay for energy efficiency measures including lighting and heating will also be covered. Community Room
Ellen Tozzi
Neighborhoods Are For Sharing Wednesday, Oct. 21, 8:30 a.m. Car shares, bike shares, farm shares - why not neighborhood sharing? Hear how some local people are bringing an ethos of sharing to their neighborhoods. We will also have some news about Sustainable Princeton’s Neighborhood Ambassadors Program. Community Room Green Business Wednesday, Nov. 11, 8:30 a.m. Representatives from local businesses share their mission-based philosophies. These businesses focus on people and planet as well as profit. Hear why they are making extra efforts to care and learn how consumers can affect change. Community Room
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for complete information on all library programs, please visit www.princetonlibrary.org
Knit for Others begins Thursday, Oct. 1. A special launch event will be Sunday, Oct. 4.
WELCOME TO THE U.S. ESL Class Sundays, 4 p.m., Sept. 20, 27; Oct. 4, 11, 18, 25; Nov. 1, 8, 15 Speakers of world languages who are learning English as a second language are invited to these two-hour classes. Conference Room Co-sponsored by the library and St. Paul’s Church. Ask a Lawyer Wednesday, Sept. 30, 7 p.m. Lawyers will be at the library for free, private consultations on immigration and general legal issues. First-come, first-served; no appointments necessary. Spanish translators will be available. Referrals will be made when necessary. Conference Room Co-sponsored by the library and the Latin American Task Force; the Princeton Housing Authority and the Mercer County Bar Association. Citizenship Preparation Class Wednesday, Oct. 7, 7 p.m. This series of seven classes is offered by The Latin American Task Force to assist in preparing for the U.S. Citizenship Test. Classes include history and civics lessons and a review of basic English necessary for the citizenship interview. Conference Room Co-sponsored by the library and the Latin American Task Force. Gente y Cuentos Thursdays, 7 p.m., Oct. 15, 22, 29; Nov. 5, 12, 19 In discussing Latin American short stories in Spanish, participants recount their personal experiences and how they relate to the characters in the story. Conference Room
MISCELLANY Origami Club for all Ages Thursdays, Sept. 10, Oct. 8, Nov. 12, 6:30 p.m. Anyone interested in the traditional Japanese art of paper folding is invited to meet for 90 minutes of new, often seasonal, folding. Beginners are welcome. Adults must accompany children younger than 7. Third Floor www.princetonlibrary.org
Code for Princeton Hack, Yack and Learn Nights Fridays, 6 p.m., Sept. 11, Oct. 9, Nov. 13 Techies of all skill levels are invited to bring their laptops and join the hacking at this monthly meeting of Code for Princeton. Newcomers are encouraged to attend an orientation session at 6:30 p.m. The evening will also include a 7 p.m. Codecademy Circle for those who need assistance learning to code and would like to work on it with others. RSVP on the Code for Princeton Meetup page, www.meetup.com/codeforprinceton Community Room Co-sponsored by the library, Code for Princeton and the Municipality of Princeton. Open House Saturday, Sept. 12, 2-4 p.m. Drop in to find out more about the resources and services available at the library for people of all ages and interests. Tours of the building will be given at 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. Welcome Desk Coloring Night for Grown-ups Tuesday, Sept. 29, 7 p.m. Adults are invited to rediscover the joy of coloring at this gathering where participants will choose pages to color from a variety of coloring books for adults. Colored pencils and other art supplies will be provided along with light refreshments and relaxing music. Community Room Knit for Others Thursday, Oct. 1 through Thursday, Dec. 31 The library is collecting hand-knit and crocheted items through the end of December as part of our sixth annual Knit for Others program. This year we are focusing on hats and scarves for men. Donated items will be displayed on a clothesline behind the Welcome Desk and distributed to local organizations. Items of all kinds will also be gratefully accepted. Please drop items off at the Welcome Desk. See Page 24 for details of Oct. 4 kickoff event.
ENRICHMENT continues on Page 24 CONNECTIONS I 17
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES Program Kickoff Tuesday, Sept. 15, 10:30 a.m. This new early literacy program offered by the Youth Services Department promotes reading to newborns, infants and toddlers. Designed for children from birth to age 5, the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program helps children develop the tools they need to become proficient readers and encourages parent and child bonding through the activity of reading together. The goal is to read 1,000 books with your child before the child reaches kindergarten. Incentives for parents and children will be provided along the way. Parents can register their child at the Youth Services desk. The kickoff event will feature a reception and refreshments.
SPECIAL EVENTS Princeton Children’s Book Festival Saturday, Sept. 19, 11 a.m. About 100 acclaimed authors and illustrators in children’s literature gather on Hinds Plaza to meet, interact with and sign books for young readers. Readings and presentations take place throughout the afternoon. Guitarist Kenn Kweder provides live music and the Princeton Symphony Orchestra presents a program called “Touch an Instrument.” Food vendors will also be available on the plaza. The event will be streamed live by KidLitTV. Book sales are handled by jaZams with 20 percent of proceeds donated to the library’s Youth Services department. Hinds Plaza, rain or shine Co-sponsored by the library, jaZams, Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies, Inc., Bai Beverages, D’Angelo’s Italian Market, Rojo’s Roasters and the Friends of Princeton Public Library.
STORY TIMES
Schedule begins Sept. 8 and runs through Nov. 19
All events in the Story Room, third floor
TUESDAYS
WEDNESDAYS
THURSDAYS
SATURDAYS
WORLD LANGUAGES
10 a.m. Storytime!
10 a.m. Storytime!
10 a.m. Storytime!
10:30 a.m. Saturday Stories
Ages 18 months and older
Ages 18 months and older
Ages 18 months and older
Ages 2 and older
Brazilian/Portuguese Russian Saturdays, 3:30 p.m. Saturdays, 3:30 p.m.
11 a.m. Baby Storytime
11 a.m. Baby Storytime
11 a.m. Baby Storytime
Ages 0-17 months
Ages 0-17 months
Ages 0-17 months
11:30 a.m. Baby Playgroup
11:30 a.m. Baby Playgroup
11:30 a.m. Baby Playgroup
Ages 0-17 months
Ages 0-17 months
Ages 0-17 months
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SUNDAYS 3 p.m. Sunday Stories Ages 2 and older
Sept. 26, Oct. 24, Nov. 28
Sept. 5, Oct. 3, Nov. 7
Chinese Spanish Saturdays, 11:30 a.m. Saturdays, 11:30 a.m. Sept. 5, Oct. 3, Nov. 7
Japanese Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sept. 5, Oct. 3, Nov. 7
Sept. 12, Oct. 10, Nov. 14 ALL WORLD LANGUAGE EVENTS ARE FOR AGES 2 AND OLDER
for complete information on all library programs, please visit www.princetonlibrary.org
Family Movie Night: “Cinderella” Saturday, Oct. 3, 6 p.m. Disney’s live-action take on the classic fairy tale stars Lily James as Cinderella and Cate Blanchett as her wicked stepmother. Community Room
South Jersey Ghost Research Group presents findings of its investigations, such as this one at the Burlington Library, on Monday, Oct. 26.
South Jersey Ghost Research Group Monday, Oct. 26, 7 p.m. Just in time for Halloween, this group presents findings from places they have investigated, including private homes and historic sites, and displays and discusses the tools of their trade. For those 8 and older. Community Room Halloween Parade and Family Film Thursday, Oct. 29, 5 p.m. Gather in your costume on Palmer Square and walk in a parade to Hinds Plaza where there will be a zombie drum corps performing along with other entertainment and activities. Then, at 6:30 p.m., we will screen the DreamWorks movie “Home” in the Community Room. Hinds Plaza and Community Room Co-sponsored by the library and The Arts Council of Princeton. “The Creature Show” Halloween Special for All Ages Friday, Oct. 30, 6 p.m., party; 6:30 p.m., screening Children are invited to dress as bats for a pre-screening party and viewing of a 15-minute documentary about the decline of New Jersey’s cave bat population. There will be a live bat to see and toy bats for those in costume. Jared Flesher, director of “The Creature Show” web series, will participate in a postscreening Q&A with biologists Stephanie Feigin and Mackenzie Hall who appear in the film. Naturalist Allen Barlow from the N.J. Nature Conservancy will also speak about efforts to control white nose syndrome, the disease causing the decline. Community Room Co-sponsored by the library and The Nature Conservancy. Dance Power Wednesday, Nov. 4, 11:30 a.m. American Repertory Ballet Company presents an hourlong interactive session that explores storytelling through movement, with opportunities for creativity and fun. ARB will also introduce children to its version of Nutcracker, the longest-running production in the state at 52 years. Presented as part of American Repertory Ballet’s On Pointe series. Community Room Co-sponsored by the library and American Repertory Ballet Company.
“The Creature Show”
Dance Power
Authors Ben Samara and Ashley Kennedy Saturday, Nov. 14, 4 p.m. The authors talk about “Sage Stands Up,” their book about a boy who learns the importance of standing up for his friends, his school and his community. Samara is the guidance counselor at Princeton’s Riverside School. Kennedy is the art teacher at Riverside. Community Room Bravo Brass Sunday, Nov. 22, 2 p.m. Princeton Symphony Orchestra musicians perform and teach the audience about their brass instruments during this familyfriendly program. Community Room www.princetonlibrary.org
Bravo Brass CONNECTIONS I 19
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
Elementary-school students can participate in one of three grade-specific clubs that meet monthly at the library.
OTHER EVENTS Thursday Afternoon Stories/Reading Lab Thursdays, 4 p.m., Sept. 10, 24; Oct. 1, 15, 22, 29 Children ages 4 and older are invited to join us for stories. At 4:30 p.m., Ann Pierson and her reading therapy dog Mac will be on hand and kids will have an opportunity to read to Mac. For children ages 4 and older. Story Room
Cover to Cover Book Group (C2C) Saturdays, 11 a.m., Oct. 3, Nov. 7 This reading group for fourth- and fifth-graders meets the first Saturday of every month to discuss books, short stories and other interests related to books. Activities include group reads, writing short book reviews and learning to post booklists in the library’s online catalog. Registration is not required. Study Room 354
Reading Treehouse 1 Mondays, 4 p.m., Sept. 14, Oct. 12, Nov. 9 This reading group for developing readers in kindergarten and first grade meets monthly on the second Monday during the school year. Each month features stories, reading aloud, crafts and games centered on a different theme. No registration required. Story Room
Science Saturdays Saturdays, 4 p.m., Oct. 3, 10, 17, 24; Nov. 7, 14, 21 Students in kindergarten through third grade are invited to join us to discover the fun side of science through exciting experiments and projects led by Princeton High School students. Third Floor
Reading Treehouse 2 Mondays, 4 p.m., Sept. 21, Oct. 19, Nov. 16 This reading group for second- and third-grade readers meets monthly on the third Monday during the school year. Stories, reading aloud, crafts, games and more that reflect a different theme each month are featured. No registration required. Story Room
Rock & Rhythm Fridays, 4 p.m., Oct. 9, Nov. 6 Music and movement are important at every stage of a child’s development, particularly so for babies and preschoolers. Rock & Rhythm blends music, movement, rhymes, read alouds, fingerplays and other interactive activities, while enhancing early literacy skills. This program is intended for children up to age 5 accompanied by a parent or caregiver. Community Room
Chess Tuesdays, 4 p.m., Sept. 15, 22, 29; Oct. 6, 13, 20, 27; Nov. 3, 10, 17 Children can learn to play and practice chess at these weekly drop-in sessions led by Princeton High School Chess members. Story Room Acting Out Wednesdays, 4 p.m., Sept. 30, Oct. 7, 14, 21, 28; Nov. 4, 11, 18 Students in kindergarten through third grade are invited to engage in dramatic activity (but only the good kind of drama), including discussions, games, and other fun activities. No experience necessary. Princeton High School drama aficionados will lead the sessions. Story Room
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FOR EDUCATORS AND PARENTS Children’s Literature Conference Friday, Oct. 23, 9:30 a.m. Speakers and panels focus on topics, including the evolution of children’s literature, the importance of diversity in children’s books and multi-platform storytelling. Please register at bit.ly/princetonCLC. Community Room Preschool Fair Saturday, Nov. 14, 11 a.m. Representatives of area schools will provide information about philosophy, programs, availability and the application process during this two-hour event. Community Room
TEENS Beyond the Rankings: Finding the Right College for You Thursday, Oct. 1, 7 p.m. Princeton University’s Aaron King will guide participants to re-evaluate some factors in the college application process: location, finances, size, institutional mission, student life, and more. Drawing on his experience working with students at a variety of institutions, King will encourage participants to reexamine their college application process while also considering life after acceptance - or rejection. King is the director of student life at Wilson College. This session is intended for high school juniors and seniors and their parents. Community Room Programming for Middle School Students: Scratch Gaming Saturday, Oct. 3, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Scratch is a free online platform from MIT that allows kids to create interactive stories, games, and animations using coding logic. Participants will be making a classic Pong Game and then customizing it for richer gameplay. Some minimal experience with Scratch is helpful but not required. Registration required through the events calendar at princetonlibrary.org. Technology Center Crafting Your College Essay Thursday, Oct. 22, 7 p.m. Learn what to write on a college admissions essay and hear how admissions officers react when they read essays. The session features Shelley Krause of Rutgers Prep, education management professional Tova Meyer and a representative from Princeton University’s Office of Admissions. Intended for students and adults. Community Room
Aaron King
Scratch Gaming for Middle Schoolers, Saturday, Oct. 3.
College Essay Review Wednesday, Oct. 28, 7 p.m. Students who are working on their college essay are welcome to drop in for informal review and discussion with current or former admissions essay readers and their peers. Please bring a draft of your essay. Teen Center Go Between Club Saturdays, 2 p.m., Sept. 12, Oct. 10, Nov. 14 All sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade students are welcome to join us on the second Saturday of every month for a fun discussion of books and other interests. Conference Room VOICES: Continuing Conversations for Teens Saturdays, 3 p.m., Sept. 19, Oct. 17, Nov. 21 Meet other teens who are passionate about activism at these moderated discussions about hot topics such as racial profiling, global warming and international politics. Conference Room
Shelley Krause
Preparing Students with Disabilities for College Tuesday, Nov. 3, 7 p.m. Author and college learning disabilities specialist Elizabeth Hamblet explains how the system for accommodations works at college and outlines students’ rights and responsibilities within that system. She also shares what the research says are the skills students should develop while they’re in high school to ensure success when they reach college. Teen Center Elizabeth Hamblet www.princetonlibrary.org
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SUPPORT
Thank you to our sponsors PRESENTING SPONSOR
The Gould Group of Wells Fargo Advisors PLATINUM SPONSOR
GOLD SPONSORS
SILVER SPONSORS
Frank Rich
on art and politics This year’s Beyond Words benefit begins with a talk by author and commentator Frank Rich. As writer-at-large for New York magazine, Rich writes monthly about politics and culture. His commentary on current events is featured on the magazine’s web site. Prior to joining the magazine, Rich had a distinguished career at The New York Times where, after serving as the paper’s chief drama critic and frontpage Arts and Leisure columnist, he was an op-ed columnist for 17 years. Rich has also written about culture and politics for many Frank Rich national publications. He serves as a creative consultant for HBO where he is an executive producer of the comedy series “Veep.” His most recent book is “The Greatest Story Ever Sold: The Decline and Fall of Truth from 9/11 to Katrina.” A graduate of Harvard, Rich lives in New York with his wife, the novelist and journalist Alex Witchel. Frank Rich’s talk will be followed by cocktails, a community dinner by Terra Momo Restaurant Group and an auction on Hinds Plaza and in the library. Tickets are $225-$500 and proceeds benefit the library. Visit princetonlibrary.org/beyond words.
BRONZE SPONSORS
CORPORATE SPONSORS
HONORARY CHAIRPERSONS — Margaret Griffin and Scott Sillars, right, pictured here with Leslie and Alan Burger at last year’s Beyond Words benefit, are honorary chairpersons of this year’s event. Margaret, a Princeton native, and Scott are longtime library supporters.
22 I CONNECTIONS
COVER STORY Continued from Page 3 Homework assignments that replace worksheets with hands-on projects that serve the community at large.” Abeles explores some of the issues raised by the film in greater depth in an accompanying book, which will be available for sale following the Oct. 20 event. For all its success in increasing awareness about student wellness, Abeles’s work is not without its detractors. One much-debated topic raised by the first film was homework. Following the “Race To Nowhere” screening and the formation of Princeton Balance, one local educator said, “For every parent who wants ‘balance’ (regarding homework), there are two parents who want their children to do more homework. For some parents, more homework equals a more rigorous learning experience.” Deutsch believes balance and rigor can coexist with a commonsense approach. “As someone who has worked professionally around ‘Race To Nowhere’ issues, and as a parent, I think it’s really important to recognize this is not about lowering any kind of student achievement bar,” Deutsch said. “It’s not about opting out. It’s about trying to make our educational and parenting practices align with what research tells us: that sleep matters for young people; that homework doesn’t increase learning for K-8 students; and that success and well-being are about fostering authenticity, not pushing kids so hard (or letting them push themselves so hard) that they burn out by the time they are wherever they are in college. It’s common sense, but it is also game-changing if we actually do it. I believe Princeton is a place where it should be possible to be bold about making our schools and homes healthy and sustainable.” Abeles thinks it’s past time for new thinking on homework. “Our common cultural belief in homework and lots of it as necessary to student learning must be re-evaluated,” she said. “In my book, I dedicate a chapter to homework and make the case that homework become the exception rather than the rule. There’s little evidence homework contributes to learning and plenty of evidence that it contributes to sleep deprivation and therefore to rising rates of depression, anxiety and burnout. The book showcases the champions who are taking diverse approaches to address the issue.” Screening and Discussion: “Beyond Measure” // Tuesday, Oct. 20, 7 p.m. John Witherspoon Middle School Auditorium, 217 Walnut Lane, Princeton The Teaching and Learning series is funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Celebrating 50 Years of Excellence. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this programming do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
A scene from “Approaching the Elephant,” to be screened Thursday, Oct. 8.
TEACHING AND LEARNING SERIES “Race to Nowhere” Monday, Oct. 5, 7 p.m. This 2009 film by Vicki Abeles and Jessica Congdon tells the stories of high school students across the country who have been pushed to the brink by over-scheduling, over-testing and the relentless pressure to achieve. Author Daniel Pink said the film, “raises important questions that educators and parents must confront... a provocative, conversation starter of a film.” Community Room Film and Q&A: “Approaching the Elephant” Thursday, Oct. 8, 7 p.m. Amanda Rose Wilder’s debut film chronicles the inaugural year of the experimental Teddy McArdle Free School in New Jersey, where all classes are voluntary and rules are determined by vote – adults and children have an equal say. Wilder is there from the beginning to end of the school year, documenting and observing founder Alex Khost and an indelible cast of outspoken young personalities as they form relationships, explore their surroundings and intensely debate rule violations, until it all comes to a head. Director Amanda Rose Wilder will participate in a post-screening Q&A. 1 hour, 20 minutes. Community Room Film and Panel Discussion: “Beyond Measure” Tuesday, Oct. 20, 7 p.m. A post-screening panel discussion will include Steve Cochrane, superintendent of Princeton Public Schools; Jane Fremon, founder and head of Princeton Friends School; and Joel Hammon, co-founder and director of Princeton Learning Cooperative. 1 hour, 20 minutes. John Witherspoon Middle School Auditorium, 217 Walnut Lane, Princeton Co-sponsored by the library and Princeton Public Schools.
THE BOOK SALE IS BACK — The Friends of the Library Annual Book Sale will fill the Community Room, and this tent on Hinds Plaza, with an extensive array of previously read books for sale on Oct. 16-18. For details, please visit princetonlibrary.org/booksale. www.princetonlibrary.org
CONNECTIONS I 23
Executive Director: Leslie Burger
Non Profit Org. U.S. Postage PA I D Princeton, NJ Permit No. 4
Assistant Director: Erica Bess Marketing & Communications Director: Timothy Quinn Development Director: Janet Simon
connections The Princeton Public Library Magazine
Public Programming Librarian: Janie Hermann Head of Youth Services: Susan Conlon Head of Adult Services: Janet Hauge Events Committee: Erica Bess, Mimi Bowlin, Leslie Burger, Susan Conlon, Kim Dorman, Kristin Friberg, Janet Hauge, Shelly Hawk, Janie Hermann, Timothy Quinn, Allison Santos Staff Writer: Amy Hiestand Editing and design: Timothy Quinn
ENRICHMENT Knit for Others Launch Sunday, Oct. 4, 2 p.m. Knitters and crocheters are invited to meet and knit together with librarians Gayle Stratton and Janice Painter to launch this year’s Knit for Others fall program. Drop in any time during the threehour event. Knitting instruction will not be given. Quiet Room
OnStage Seniors, Sunday, Nov. 8
Princeton Farmers Market Thursdays, 11 a.m., through Nov. 19, Hinds Plaza Co-sponsored by the library and Princeton Farmers Market. Job Seeker Sessions Fridays, 9:45 a.m., Sept. 4, 11; Oct. 2, 9, 30; Nov. 6, 13, 20 Details at princetonlibrary.org/events Community Room Co-sponsored by the library and Professional Services Group of Mercer County The Napoleons of Crime Fall Meeting “The Trial of Professor James Moriarty” Friday, Oct. 16, 6:30 p.m. What if Professor James Moriarty had been captured and brought to trial? In this dramatization, Peter Jacoby as Moriarty’s barrister and Daniel Greenfield as the defense expert witness will present the case for the professor. The audience, acting as the jury, will then judge Moriarty. The meeting will also include a discussion of how Moriarty might have survived the encounter with Sherlock Holmes at the Reichenbach Falls with four possible scenarios for the professor’s survival presented by Jacoby. There will also be a quiz on “The Adventure of the Final Problem,” with a certificate and prize awarded for the highest score. Quiet Room OnStage Seniors: A Community Project of McCarter Theatre Sunday, Nov. 8, 3 p.m. The ensemble creates documentary theater performances that explore the stories and issues of our community. Members are all over 55 and perform locally, offering insight about senior memories and experiences. A 30-minute “talk back” session will be held after the performance. Community Room
Thank you to our sponsors for their support of Connections
SCORE Seminar: Starting and Running a Home-Based Business Tuesday, Sept. 15, 6:30 p.m. Registration required at princeton.score.org. Community Room SCORE Seminar: Topic to be Announced Tuesday, Oct. 20, 6:30 p.m. Please check the calendar on the library’s website for the speaker and topic of this monthly seminar. Community Room QuickBooks on the Cloud with Bala Subramaian Saturdays, Sept. 19, Oct. 17, Nov. 21, 10:30 a.m. Register at princeton.score.org. Co-sponsored by the library and the Princeton Chapter of SCORE. Continuing Conversations on Race Tuesday, Sept. 8, 7 p.m. Mondays, 7 p.m., Oct. 5, Nov. 2 Members of Not In Our Town, the Princeton-based interracial and interfaith social action group, facilitate these discussions of race-related issues of relevance to our community and nation. Story Room Co-sponsored by the library and Not in Our Town Princeton.