Connections Magazine Fall 2016

CONNECTIONS The Princeton Public Library Magazine

CONNECTIONS

connect

CONNECTIONS

CONNECTIONS

connect

The Princeton Public Library Magazine

The Princeton Public Library Magazine

The Princeton Public Library Magazine

The Princeton Public Lib

The Princeton Public L

FROM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BRETT BONFIELD

O

ne of the best ways to experience Princeton is on foot and I particularly enjoy taking a morning run through our community. Sometimes, as I leave my block, I make a right onto Wiggins Street, stay with it as I pass the library, where Wiggins becomes Paul Robeson Place, then stay with Robeson as it becomes Hodge Road, and then turn onto Library Place (because Library Place!) and let it lead me where it will.

Other days I make a left onto Wiggins Street and stay with it as it becomes Hamilton Avenue, then make a right onto Snowden Lane and stay with it as Snowden becomes Riverside Drive. A couple of blocks later I make a right onto Prospect Avenue, stay with it through the intersections where Princeton Avenue becomes Broadmead Street and where Murray Place becomes FitzRandolph Road until, finally, I make a right onto Washington Road and follow it through Nassau, where Washington becomes Vandeventer Avenue.

When the ground beneath our feet is everchanging, staying the course means taking on a new identity.

This feels especially appropriate in Princeton, a community accustomed to having multiple

2 I CONNECTIONS

names for the same object: among the students in our public schools, there are more than 50 languages spoken at home; the tiles on Ik-Joon Kang’s “Happy World,” the stunning mural in the library’s lobby, features the word “library” in 55 languages. Even when we are talking about the same object, whether a library or stretch of road, the name we use affects our understanding of its essence, its state of being.

Now that the 2Reimagine project is well under way, I find myself wondering what we will call our reimagined second floor when it is complete. Ultimately, we may simply call it “the second floor” and there are worse vices than precision.

Or maybe instead, as with HamiltonWiggins-RobesonHodge, it will take on multiple names, befitting its multiple uses for our multifaceted community: “Where I take technology classes”; “Where I sit quietly and read”; “Where I email my grandchildren;” “Where I do my research”; “My (other) office”; “Where I keep up with the news”; “Where I find my favorite books”; “Where I apply for jobs”; “My (other) living room.”

The second floor is staying where it is, and it is also in progress, moving along into its future and taking us with it. We look forward to your joining us in shaping that future.

ON THE COVER: RACIAL LITERACY

Illusion and Reality Not In Our Town Princeton and Ruha Benjamin team to examine racial literacy

By TIM QUINN Connections Editor

F

sociological toolkit to understand how we got here and how it could’ve been and can be otherwise.”

Linda Oppenheim of the Not In Our Town Princeton board said the goal of the series is to provide such a toolkit.

“Our goal is for attendees to become aware of skills they can use to understand better our diversifying society,” Oppenheim said. “They will learn about how concepts of race have developed, as well as obtain facts of American history that have typically not been included in school curricula.

The framing of race by the media will be explored, and participants will be shown how to bring this new, critical lens

or more than a decade, the members of Not In Our Town Princeton have met in the library to offer Princeton an opportunity to have honest discussions about national and local racial issues with people from different backgrounds. NIOT’s monthly Continuing Conversations on Race series has been the place where many in Princeton first learned about white privilege and microaggression.

With attendance at the Continuing Conversations series growing at a time when race is at the forefront of civic dialog, NIOT has teamed with Ruha Benjamin, assistant professor of African American Studies at Princeton University, on a five-part series on Racial Literacy, co-sponsored by the library and the Princeton Garden Theatre.

Benjamin will present lectures on Oct. 18 and Nov. 1 interspersed with screenings and discussions of the acclaimed documentary series “Race: The Power of an Illusion” at the Garden Theatre. (See schedule on Page 5.)

Benjamin begins her definition Not In Our Town Princeton board members include, from left, Ted Fetter, Shirley Satterfield, Fern Spruill, Shelley Krause, of the term “racial literacy” by Joyce Trotman-Jordan, Simona Brickers, Marietta Taylor, Susanne Lee and Larry Spruill. emphasizing what it is not.

“Racial literacy is not about to their daily media exposure. By the end of the program, acquiring the words to have ‘conversations on race,’ which participants will contribute to a toolbox of skills for greater too often stay at the level of anecdote and sentiment,” racial understanding and improved race relations.”

Benjamin said in a recent discussion on Twitter. Rather, racial literacy is about “developing an historical and

See RACIAL LITERACY, Page 4

On the Cover: Ruha Benjamin and scenes from Race: The Power of an Illusion

www.princetonlibrary.org

CONNECTIONS I 3

ON THE COVER: RACIAL LITERACY Continued from Page 3 Oppenheim said part of that toolkit involves getting beyond the notion that we are living in a “post-racial era.”

“In fact, there is no such thing as a postracial era,” Oppenheim said. “Racism still exists, has always existed in the United States, as much as people wish that it didn’t. It’s expressed on a continuum from microaggressions — those seemingly small, daily insults and negative actions people of color encounter — to outright violence and murder. What well-intentioned white people can’t understand is their own, often unconscious, contribution to the perpetuation of racism. This is not to level blame. We want to reduce if not eliminate the guilt some white people feel. Not in Our Town believes strongly that all Americans of all races, colors and ethnicities have been deprived of learning about the true, inclusive history of the United States, both the injustices that have been done to people of color and the contributions they have made to American society.”

To help understand that history, NIOT has scheduled screenings of “Race: The Power of an Illusion.” First shown on PBS more than a decade ago, Oppenheim said the three-part series remains an essential tool for understanding how we arrived at this place in our history.

“The video has ‘staying power,’” she said. “It concisely presents reliable information on the scientific, historical and legal concepts of race. No other source we’ve seen accomplishes this in the handy three one-hour segments we’ll be screening.

In conjunction with presenting the film, PBS and the producers developed supplementary material, which is still useful. Of course, new information can be found in more recent works by historians, journalists and others. New works add to what is shown and discussed in the film; it does not contradict it. Among the tools we hope to provide are source lists that include more recent works on history and race issues.”

Oppenheim and Benjamin believe racial literacy will continue to become an essential 21st century skill for Americans of all ages and backgrounds, particularly for students.

“Developing racial literacy is a necessary and ongoing process for anyone who wants to effectively contribute to the community in which they live,” Benjamin said. “It’s not about adding another feather to our intellectual cap to say

we know something others don’t. It’s not a high horse from which we can look down on others or win debates around the dinner table.

“Instead, learning to carefully read the reality of racism that encompasses our everyday lives is a daunting and humbling process. It requires a commitment to deep learning, which is not something many of us experienced in school.

Developing racial literacy is a collective exercise. We could all just stay home and read dozens of books on our own over the course of the five weeks, which I also encourage.

But there is something about learning in community that can potentially deepen our understanding and open up avenues where we can act on that understanding right here in Princeton.”

Scenes from Race: The Power of an Illusion

4 I CONNECTIONS

for complete information on all library programs, please visit www.princetonlibrary.org

Racial Literacy Co-sponsored by the library, Not In Out Town Princeton and the Princeton Garden Theatre.

Presented with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities through Princeton Public Library. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this programming do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities or the library.

RUHA BENJAMIN LECTURES “Race Unplugged: Moving Beyond Sound Bites of Pundits, Politicians and Pop Culture” Tuesday, Oct. 18 , 6:30 p.m.

CHAPTER 1: THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN US, Tuesday, Oct. 25

“Reading Reality: Developing Racial Literacy for the 21st Century” Tuesday, Nov. 1, 6:30 p.m.

An assistant professor in the Department of African American Studies at Princeton University, Ruha Benjamin specializes in the interdisciplinary study of science, medicine and biotechnology; raceethnicity and gender; biopolitics; and the sociology of knowledge. She is the author of “People’s Science: Bodies and Rights on the Stem Cell Frontier,” which examines the tension between innovation and equity in the context of state investment in stem cell research and against the backdrop of medical experimentation on subordinate social groups.

All lectures will be in the library Community Room.

FILM AND DISCUSSIONS

CHAPTER 2: THE STORY WE TELL, Monday, Nov. 7

“Race: The Power of an Illusion” The three-part series examining race in society, science and history will be screened at the Princeton Garden Theatre, 160 Nassau St. Screenings will be followed by audience discussions.

Chapter 1: “The Differences Between Us” Tuesday, Oct. 25, 6:30 p.m.

The opening film examines the science (including genetics) disproving historical assumptions that human beings can be categorized into three or four fundamentally different groups according to their physical traits.

Chapter 2: “The Story We Tell” Monday, Nov. 7, 6:30 p.m.

This segment uncovers how the history and evolution of the concept of race are tied to the development of the United States and how deep social inequalities came to be rationalized as natural.

CHAPTER 3: THE HOUSE WE LIVE IN, Tuesday, Nov. 15

Chapter 3: “The House We Live In” Tuesday, Nov. 15, 6:30 p.m.

This series finale focuses on the ways our institutions and policies benefit some groups at the expense of others. Its subject is the “unmarked” race: white people, who quietly and often invisibly accrue benefits, not necessarily because of merit or hard work, but because of the racialized nature of our laws, courts, customs and, perhaps most pertinently, housing.

Scenes from Race: The Power of an Illusion

www.princetonlibrary.org

CONNECTIONS I 5

ENRICHMENT

2016 Election

Sam Wang

Landon Jones

Deciphering the Election and the Polls A Conversation Between Sam Wang and Landon Jones Thursday, Sept. 15, 7 p.m.

Princeton professor Sam Wang and author and editor Landon Jones engage in a discussion about the numbers that fill every election season — polls, votes and the balance of power in Congress — and some statistical rules that can make the picture clearer and reveal what is likely to happen in November. Wang developed statistical methods to analyze U.S. presidential election polls with unusually high accuracy, which he reports at the Princeton Election Consortium, election.princeton.edu. Jones, an editor and author, is the former managing editor of People and Money magazines. In 1980, he published “Great Expectations: America and the Baby Boom Generation,” which coined the phrase “baby-boomer” and was a finalist for the American Book Award in Nonfiction. In 2015, he received the Henry R. Luce Award for Lifetime Achievement from Time Inc. Community Room National Voter Registration Day Tuesday, Sept. 27, 9 a.m.

The League of Women Voters of the Princeton area will be available to register voters and answer questions throughout National Voter Registration Day. Lobby

Whitney Quesenbery

Christopher Fisher

Ingrid Reed

All programs 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.

6 I CONNECTIONS

Democracy is a Design Problem Tuesday, Oct. 4, 7 p.m.

Whitney Quesenbery from the Center for Civic Design talks about how the center’s work is changing how we think about designing for elections, an area of government that blends extreme service design with bureaucratic constraints. The Center’s user-centered approach follows the voter journey from deciding to register to vote to learning the results of an election. We’ll look at how better design of ballots, voting systems, voter registration, voter guides, websites and other election materials works better for voters. Community Room Election Night at the Library Tuesday, Nov. 8, 8 p.m.

Ingrid Reed, policy analyst with the Eagleton Institute, and Christopher Fisher, associate professor of history at The College of New Jersey, offer insight throughout the evening as the results of national, state and local elections are tallied. Reed was vice president for public affairs and corporate secretary of The Rockefeller University in New York City and served as assistant dean of Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, where she also directed the Rockefeller Public Service Awards Program. Fisher’s research and teaching centers on 20th century American diplomacy, the Cold War and race politics in the United States. Community Room

for complete information on all library programs, please visit www.princetonlibrary.org

SPOTLIGHT ON THE HUMANITIES: RELIGION IN AMERICAN LIFE 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.

All programs in the Community Room.

Lecture: “Black Gods, Prophets, and Utopian Visions: Religion and Racial Identity in early 20th-Century America” Wednesday, Sept. 28, noon Judith Weisenfeld, Princeton University religion professor, explores the intersections of religion and racial identity among black migrants from the South and immigrants from the Caribbean who encountered one another in the northern cities of the early 20th-century Great Migration.

Lecture: “The Legacy of Religious Liberty, from William Penn to the 21st Century” Wednesday, Oct. 19, noon Andrew R. Murphy, political science professor at Rutgers, explores the historical legacy and contemporary politics of religious liberty in the United States in the wake of “religious liberty bills” that permit business owners to deny services to same sex couples or transgender people based on religious objections. The talk will highlight the example of William Penn, who envisioned his colony as a “holy experiment” for religious toleration and will discuss the ways in which the contemporary politics of religious liberty both builds on and departs from that legacy.

Lecture: Mary Segers on Religious Liberty Wednesday, Nov. 16, noon Mary Segers, professor of political science at Rutgers, discusses religious liberty as a fundamental right in the American constitutional framework and examines controversies, including the issue of contraceptive coverage in the Affordable Care Act and the use of Religious Freedom Restoration Acts in some states to permit religious believers to refuse service to gay couples who wish to legally marry.

These examples illustrate that laws designed to protect religious freedom may have unintended, discriminatory consequences for others.

www.princetonlibrary.org

Judith Weisenfeld

Andrew R. Murphy

Mary Segers

CONNECTIONS I 7

ENRICHMENT KENNETH AND AUDREY GOULD LECTURE

Daniel J. Siegel

Daniel J. Siegel Author of “Mind: A Journey to the Heart of Being Human” Sunday, Oct. 30, 4 p.m.

Iinternationally renowned neuropsychiatrist Daniel J. Siegel talks about and signs copies of his latest book. Siegel is a graduate of Harvard Medical School and completed his postgraduate medical education at UCLA with training in pediatrics and child, adolescent and adult psychiatry.

He is currently a clinical professor of psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine. Siegel is the author of the internationally acclaimed text, “The Developing Mind: How Relationships and the Brain Interact to Shape Who We Are,” which The Canadian Child Psychiatric Review said “may be the harbinger of a fresh archetype for child psychiatry as it enters the next millennium.” His parenting books include, “Brainstorm: The Power and Purpose of the Teenage Brain,” “The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child’s Developing Mind,”“NoDrama Discipline: The Whole-Brain Way to Calm the Chaos and Nurture Your Child’s Developing Mind,” (with Tina Payne Bryson) and “Parenting from the Inside Out: How a Deeper Self-Understanding Can Help You Raise Children Who Thrive” (with Mary Hartzell). The Gould Lecture celebrates significant contributions in the fields of Child Development and Psychology. Community Room

SPECIAL EVENTS Princeton Farmers Market Thursdays, 11 a.m., Sept. 1-Nov. 17 Seasonal produce from local farmers, flowers, crafts and a variety of edibles are available through 4 p.m. at this weekly event. Live music from 12:30-2:30 p.m. Hinds Plaza Co-sponsored by the library and Princeton Farmers Market.

Leena Saini

8 I CONNECTIONS

Taste of the Market: Around the World in 80 Purees Thursday, Sept. 8, 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

Cookbook author and food writer Leena Saini gives a talk at 11:30 a.m. on the third floor, where moms and babies can sample recipes from her book “Around the World in 80 Purees.” From noon until 1:30 p.m., she will go outside to the farmers market for a book signing.

Saini is devoted to introducing global baby food flavors, ingredients, spices and customs to the American baby.

for complete information on all library programs, please visit www.princetonlibrary.org

Hinds Plaza will transformed into a mercado on Sept. 11 for a celebration of Latino culture.

Festival Cultural Latino: Mercado on Hinds Plaza Sunday, Sept. 11, 2 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 three-hour event with local artisans and restaurants on site along with family-friendly activities and free entertainment including Grupo Folklórico Costa Oxaca.

Hinds Plaza and Community Room Co-sponsored by the library, Mi Pueblo Lindo and the Arts Council of Princeton.

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 Welcoming Week Dance Tuesday, Sept. 20, 7 p.m.

Dancers from Princeton Folk Dance lead community members in dancing to live music by Ajde, an international folk dance band playing both modern and traditional instruments. This event is part of Welcoming America’s National Welcoming Week, an annual series of events that bring immigrants and U.S.-born residents together in a spirit of unity. Hinds Plaza Co-sponsored by the library, the Princeton Human Services Commission and Princeton Folk Dance.

Design Disruptors Networking and Screening Wednesday, Sept. 21, 6 p.m.

An hourlong networking session begins at 6 p.m. and is followed by a screening of the full-length documentary that details the rise of design as a strategic advantage. The film provides an intimate look into the processes, perspectives and approaches of the product-design and user-experience leaders at Airbnb, Coursera, Dropbox, Etsy, Eventbrite, Evernote, Facebook, Google Ventures, HubSpot, MailChimp, Netflix and more. Following the screening, members of International Design Society of America will participate in a discussion. Community Room

www.princetonlibrary.org

Recipes Worth Reading: A Tasting Event Wednesday, Nov. 30, 6:30 p.m.

Please join the Central New Jersey Chapter of Room to Read to sample several recipes featured in the newly updated community cookbook, “Recipes Worth Reading.” The cookbook contains more than 150 recipes from New Jersey chefs, shops, restaurants and home cooks and also features some book recommendations. This updated edition features several Princeton cooks and chefs. Cookbooks are $25, with all proceeds going to Room to Read. The Central New Jersey Chapter of Room to Read aims to create awareness for literacy and gender equality in education worldwide, while promoting local businesses, connecting our local and global communities for good. Room to Read has benefited 10 million children across 17,000 communities in Africa and Asia. Community Room

SUSTAINABILIT Y Building a More Sustainable Princeton: What We Can Learn From Other Communities Wednesday, Oct. 26, 8:30 a.m.

Learn what other communities are doing to build more sustainably. A complimentary light breakfast will be provided. Community Room Co-sponsored by the library, Sustainable Princeton and NRG Energy Inc. EVs: How to Choose, Charge and Change a Habit Thursday, Nov. 17, 7 p.m.

As electric vehicles (EVs) become more mainstream, learn what you need to know if you are considering purchasing one and what Princeton is doing to reduce “range anxiety” and spur the transition to greener transportation options.

Light refreshments will be served. Community Room Co-sponsored by the library, Sustainable Princeton and NRG Energy Inc. ENRICHMENT CONTINUES ON PAGE 20

CONNECTIONS I 9

BOOKS & AUTHORS

Annette Gordon-Reed

James E. Campbell

Nancy Weiss Malkiel

AUTHORS James E. Campbell Author of “Polarized: Making Sense of a Divided America” Tuesday, Sept. 13, 7 p.m.

The author offers an in-depth and comprehensive analysis of the polarization of America. Challenging the widely held belief that polarization is the product of party and media elites, Campbell asserts that the American public set polarization in motion in the 1960s. Campbell is UB Distinguished Professor of Political Science at the University at Buffalo, State University of New York. Part of the Thinking Allowed series. Community Room Co-sponsored by the library and Princeton University Press.

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.

Nancy Weiss Malkiel Author of “Keep the Damned Women Out” Friday, Oct. 7, 4:30 p.m.

The author and professor emeritus of history at Princeton University discusses and signs copies of her book about the late 1960s, when a number of conservative, prestigious colleges and universities began to admit women. Drawing on archival research, the book reveals how coeducation was achieved not by the efforts of women activists, but through strategic decisions made by powerful men. Part of the Library Live at Labyrinth series. Labyrinth Books, 122 Nassau St. Co-sponsored by the library and Labyrinth Books.

Jennifer Weiner Book Launch for “Hungry Heart: Adventures in Life, Love and Writing” Friday, Oct. 14, 1 p.m.

The New York Times bestselling author’s first foray into nonfiction is a collection of funny and moving essays on modern womanhood based on her personal life. This special event includes an assortment of delectable treats from Terhune Orchards, where Weiner worked part time during her undergrad years at Princeton. Tickets are $20 and will

10 I CONNECTIONS

Jennifer Weiner

Peter S. Onuf

go on sale Monday, Sept. 12, at noon. A copy of the book and refreshments are included. D&R Greenway Land Trust Johnson Education Center, One Preservation Place Book Brunch Sunday, Oct. 16, noon Join us for bagels, coffee and conversation with acclaimed authors Liz Moore and Alexandra Kleeman. Moore will discuss her third novel, “The Unseen World,” the story of a daughter’s quest to learn the truth about her beloved father’s past, which Publishers Weekly called “a smart, emotionally powerful literary page-turner.” Kleeman’s work has appeared in The Paris Review, Conjunctions, Tin House and other publications. Her new book of short stories is “Intimations.” Part of the Library Live at Labyrinth series.

Labyrinth Books, 122 Nassau St. Co-sponsored by the library and Labyrinth Books.

Reiner Stach and Shelley Frisch Author and Translator of “Kafka: The Early Years” Thursday, Nov. 10, 6 p.m.

Stach and Frisch will discuss “Kafka: The Early Years,” the third book in a three-volume biography of the writer, which Frisch translated for Princeton University Press. Part of the Library Live at Labyrinth series. Labyrinth Books, 122 Nassau St. Co-sponsored by the library and Labyrinth Books.

Annette Gordon-Reed and Peter S. Onuf Authors of “Most Blessed of the Patriarchs: Thomas Jefferson and the Empire of the Imagination” Wednesday, Nov. 16, 7 p.m.

The authors, who teach at Harvard and the University of Virginia, respectively, will discuss the formative influences that shaped Jefferson’s character and helped determine his life as a revolutionary, statesman, planter and father.

Community Room 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.

for complete information on all library programs, please visit www.princetonlibrary.org

Susman

BOOK GROUPS MYSTERY BOOK GROUP Led by librarian Gayle Stratton; Mondays, 7:30 p.m., Quiet Study Room Sept. 12, “The Keeper of Lost Causes” by Jussi Adler-Olsen Oct. 3, “The Last Policeman” by Ben H. Winters Nov. 7, “The Blackhouse” by Peter May FICTION BOOK GROUP Led by librarian Kristin Friberg; Thursdays, 10:30 a.m., Quiet Study Room Sept. 8, “My Name is Lucy Barton” by Elizabeth Strout Oct. 13, “The Meursault Investigation” by Kamel Daoud and “The Stranger” by Albert Camus Nov. 10, “The Signature of all Things” by Elizabeth Gilbert BLACK VOICES BOOK GROUP Thursdays, 7 p.m., Story Room Sept. 8, “Just Mercy” by Bryan Stevenson Oct. 13, “The Moor’s Account” by Laila Lalami Nov. 10, “The Ways of White Folks” by Langston Hughes

BOOK DISCUSSIONS WILDERNESS MONTH BOOK WALKS AND DISCUSSIONS For Wilderness Month, spend time walking through local green spaces while discussing two engaging readings about nature, wildness and wilderness.

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.

David La Motte on “The Practice of the Wild” by Gary Snyder Saturday, Sept. 10, 11 a.m.

The former chair of the English Department at Princeton Day School leads a walk and discussion of Gary Snyder’s “The Practice of the Wild.” Snyder, a Beat poet, Zen Buddhist, and “naturalist of [his] own species,” has spent 60 years writing poems and essays that challenge us to ground ourselves in wildness and in the watersheds where we live and walk. This discussion will explore Snyder’s idea of practicing wildness, particularly as it applies to our local watershed. St. Michael’s Preserve trailhead, Princeton Avenue, Hopewell

O’Shaughnessy

Michaels

Hollander

Weiner

Foos

of Edward Abbey’s iconic book of essays “Desert Solitaire: A Season in the Wilderness.” The book is based on his time as a park ranger in Arches National Monument in Utah and explores the relationship between wilderness and civilization. The discussion will explore Abbey’s idea that “we need wilderness whether or not we ever set foot in it.” Special focus will be on his essay “Down the River.” Note: bring your own lawn chair. Institute Woods, Quaker Friends Meeting House, Mercer Street

POETS AT THE LIBRARY

Poets read for 20 minutes each followed by an open-mic session.

Co-sponsored by the library, Delaware Valley Poets and the U.S. 1 Poets’ Cooperative. 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. All readings are in the Community Room.

Maxine Susman and Keith O’Shaughnessy Monday, Sept. 12, 7:30 p.m.

Susman’s poems are about nature, art, far-flung places and family. She taught literature and writing at Rutgers and was a professor of English at Caldwell University. O’Shaughnessy is the author of “Incommunicado,” winner of the inaugural Grolier Discovery Award. He teaches at Camden County College.

Judy Rowe Michaels and Jean Hollander Monday, Oct. 24, 7:30 p.m.

Michaels received two poetry fellowships from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, the New Jersey Poets Prize, three nominations for a Pushcart Prize and is a MacDowell Colony Fellow. Hollander has published several books of poems and has received the New Jersey State Council on the Arts Award three times, as well as other prizes, grants, and fellowships.

Arlene Weiner and Ellen Foos Monday, Nov. 14, 7:30 p.m.

Weiner’s new collection of poems is titled “City Bird.” She is a member of the U.S. 1 Poets’ Cooperative, Pittsburgh Poetry Exchange and Madwomen in the Attic. Foos is a senior production editor for Princeton University Press and the publisher of Ragged Sky Press. Her new collection of poems is “The Remaining Ingredients.”

Liz Cutler on “Desert Solitaire: A Season in the Wilderness” by Edward Abbey Saturday, Sept. 24, 11 a.m.

The sustainability coordinator and longtime English teacher of nature and literature at Princeton Day School will lead a walk followed by a discussion GENTE Y CUENTOS Mondays, 7 p.m., Oct. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31; Nov. 7, 14

In discussing Latin American short stories in Spanish, participants recount their personal experiences and how they relate to the characters in the story. Quiet Study Room www.princetonlibrary.org

CONNECTIONS I 11

PERFORMING ARTS

Nilo Cruz and Emily Mann discuss “Bathing in Moonlight” in a Sept. 1 program in the McCarter Live at the Library series.

All programs are in the Community Room.

McCarter Live at the Library Thursday, Sept. 1, 7 p.m.

Pulitzer Prize-winning dramatist Nilo Cruz and McCarter Theatre Artistic Director and Resident Playwright Emily Mann participate in a moderated discussion about their artistic partnership in bringing Cruz’s lyrical new play “Bathing in Moonlight” to the stage. The playwright and director, who will be in the midst of rehearsals for this world premiere, will discuss their previous collaboration, inspiration for and creative development of Cruz’s new work. Mann will also highlight McCarter’s 2016-2017 Theatre Series.

Unruly Sounds Music Festival Sunday, Oct. 2, 12:30 p.m.

This celebration of original music from Princeton University’s versatile graduate music program features a broad variety of post-classical/contemporary grooves by Florent Ghys with Bonjour, Pascal LeBoeuf and Pascal’s Triangle, Matt McBane, and Annika Socolofsky. Also featured are popular local artists such as Damsel, Bitter Bloom, Matt Trowbridge, and Owen Lake and the Tragic Loves. Hinds Plaza and Community Room Co-sponsored by the library and Princeton Sound Kitchen.

PSO SOUNDTRACKS Why the Saxophone?

Wednesday, Oct. 5, 7 p.m.

PSO Music Director Rossen Milanov and Operations Manager Bryan McNamara discuss the saxophone’s unusual role as an orchestral instrument.

Co-sponsored by the library and Princeton Symphony Orchestra.

12 I CONNECTIONS

Raconteur Radio: “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” Sunday, Oct. 23, 2 p.m.

Metuchen-based Raconteur Radio presents a staged radio play based on the 1886 novella by Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson. It tells the story of a London lawyer named Gabriel John Utterson who investigates strange occurrences between his old friend, Dr. Henry Jekyll and the evil Edward Hyde. The 90-minute production features theatrical lighting, period costumes, Golden Age radio equipment, sound effects and vintage commercials.

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.

PSO SOUNDTRACKS Rumor and Misnomer: Tchaikovsky’s Sixth Symphony Wednesday, Nov. 2, 7 p.m.

PSO guest conductor Jayce Ogren explores legends surrounding Tchaikovsky’s “Pathétique” Symphony.

The composer conducted the first performance of his Symphony No. 6 just nine days before his death and the confluence of the two events has been the source of speculation ever since.

Co-sponsored by the library and Princeton Symphony Orchestra.

for complete information on all library programs, please visit www.princetonlibrary.org

The Unruly Sounds Music Festival spotlights compositions by contemporary Princeton composers Oct. 2 on Hinds Plaza.

OnStage Seniors: A Community Project of McCarter Theatre Sunday, Nov. 6, 3 p.m.

The ensemble, which creates documentary theater performances that explore the stories and issues of our community presents “First Time for Everything.” Members are all over 55 and perform locally, generating delight, insight and affirmation about senior memories and experiences. A 30-minute “talk back” session will be held after the performance.

Poquelin Players: “Just Plain Silly” Sunday, Nov. 13, 3 p.m.

The Poquelin Players (Tim Brown, Bill Bunting, Derry Light, Jamie Micallef, Jessica Mary Murphy, Gustavo Sanchez, Dick Swain and Tom Stevenson) present a revue of works, including the quirky “Sure Thing” by David Ives, the smartly sassy “Crossword Puzzle,” the classically campy “Boston Beguine,” and Anna Russell’s hilarious “How to Write Your Own Gilbert and Sullivan Opera.”

Performers from the OnStage Seniors project perform Nov. 6.

Coffee House featuring Kittens Slay Dragons Friday, Nov. 18, 7 p.m.

An evening of coffee and local music features indie folkpop artist Sarah Donner and Michael Schuler McLean with their latest project Kittens Slay Dragons. For an updated listing of performers, visit princetonlibrary.org. Community Room The Poquelin Players present “Just Plain Silly” Nov. 13.

www.princetonlibrary.org

CONNECTIONS I 13

FILM FEATURES

All screenings are in the Community Room.

“The Man Who Knew Infinity” Friday, Sept. 2, 6:30 p.m.

Based on the 1991 book of the same name by Robert Kanigel, this historical drama stars Dev Patel as Srinivasa Ramanujan, a mathematician who, after growing up poor in India, is admitted to Cambridge University during World War I. There, he became a pioneer in mathematical theories with the guidance of his professor, G. H. Hardy, played by Jeremy Irons. Part of the First Friday Feature series. 2 hours.

“Happy Yummy Chicken,” Sept. 14

Film and Discussion: “Happy Yummy Chicken” Wednesday, Sept. 14, 7 p.m.

This independent film will be screened in advance of its debut at the FringeArts Festival in Philadelphia later this month. A mockumentary in the style of Christopher Guest, the film follows two men as they create a musical inspired by the story of a woman sitting in a fried chicken restaurant for two months after a breakup.

Members of the Netflix series “Orange is the New Black” are featured in the film. Writer-producer-actor Brandon Monokian will introduce the film and discuss the journey to funding and filming an independent movie. He will be joined by cast members, including Suzanne Douglas, for a postscreening discussion. 1 hour, 25 minutes.

“Hello, My Name is Doris” Friday, Oct. 7, 6:30 p.m.

Sally Field stars as a 60-something woman inspired by a selfhelp seminar to romantically pursue her younger co-worker.

Part of the First Friday Feature series. 1 hour, 35 minutes.

Film and Discussion: “The Pursuit: 50 Years in the Fight for LGBT Rights” Tuesday, Oct. 25, 7 p.m.

The complexities of contemporary LGBT life are explored in this documentary that provides a thoughtful look at the past half-century of the fight for LGBT rights. The film, produced through a collaboration between WHYY and others, includes recollections of local activists from the 1960s when “gays” were “hidden in plain sight,” vulnerable to arrest, subjected to psychiatric treatment, fired from jobs and publicly shamed. Judy Jarvis, director of Princeton University’s LGBT center, will lead a post-screening Q&A. 56 minutes.

“The Pursuit: 50 Years in the Fight for LGBT Rights,” Oct. 25

14 I CONNECTIONS

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.

for complete information on all library programs, please visit www.princetonlibrary.org Film and Discussion: “All the Difference” Wednesday, Oct. 26, 6:30 p.m.

The struggles of young African-American men are examined through the story of two high school students from Chicago’s South Side. The film documents five years of hard work, sacrifice, setbacks and uncertainty as the two young men pursue their goals of graduating high school and college. It is a co-production of American Documentary/POV. 1 hour, 30 minutes.

Film: “Love and Friendship” Friday, Nov. 4, 6:30 p.m.

This 2016 film, based on Jane Austen’s book of the same name, stars Kate Beckinsale as a recent widow who is determined to find a wealthy husband for both her daughter and herself. Tea and scones will be served and the winner of a round of Jane Austen bingo will receive a “Love and Friendship” basket with the book, DVD and a T-shirt. Part of the First Friday Feature series.

1 hour, 32 minutes.

“All the Difference,” Oct. 26

PRINCETON INTERNATIONAL CINEMA SERIES All screenings at The Princeton Garden Theatre, 160 Nassau St. The series is a collaboration of the library, the International Employees Group at Princeton University, the Davis International Center 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. Free popcorn.

“Sunset Song,” Oct. 6

“Sunset Song” Thursday, Oct. 6, 5:30 p.m.

The daughter of a Scottish farmer comes of age in the early 1900s. 2 hours, 15 minutes.

“April and the Extraordinary World” Thursday, Nov. 3, 5:30 p.m., In this animated adventure, a teenage girl goes in search of her missing scientist parents in 1941 France. In French with English subtitles. 1 hour, 45 minutes “The Idol” Thursday, Dec. 1, 5:30 p.m.

Mohammed Assaf, an aspiring musician living in Gaza, sets a seemingly impossible goal: to compete on the program “Arab Idol.” In Spanish and Arabic with English subtitles.

1 hour, 40 minutes

“April and the Extraordinary World,” Nov. 3

CALL FOR ENTRIES

PRINCETON DETAILS STUDENT bit.ly/PSFFentryform FILM FESTIVAL JULY 19 & 20, 2017

“The Idol,” Dec. 1

www.princetonlibrary.org

CONNECTIONS I 15

CHILDREN AND FAMILIES Greg Pizzoli, pictured here at the 2014 Princeton Children’s Book Festival, created the poster for this year’s festival.

JUST ADDED Greg Pizzoli will present a special reading during the festival, at 10:30 a.m. in the Story Room

Poster pals Greg Pizzoli’s owl and mouse provide a playful poster for the Children’s Book Festival

T

he posters announcing that the Princeton Children’s Book Festival is just around the corner have become another fun element of the day itself. Created each year since 2013 by an acclaimed illustrator attending the event, they reflect the joy of reading that the festival is all about.

This year, for the 11th annual festival, author and illustrator Greg Pizzoli, created a poster that features the characters from his recently released picture book “Good Night Owl.” Perched on a stack of colorful books, Owl is happily reading while the mischievous little mouse that keeps him awake in the story peeks out from behind the stack.

“It was a lot of fun to work on this poster because the Princeton Children’s Book Festival is always such a great event,” said Pizzoli. “People walk around the festival with literal stacks of books signed by authors and illustrators, so I wanted the poster to reference that, and of course, my new book, “Good Night Owl.” This year marks the third time Pizzoli, who won the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for his first picture book, “The Watermelon Seed,” will participate in the Princeton Children’s Book Festival, and he’s looking forward to coming back. “I love it; I always have a great time,” he said. “I usually get a few books signed myself — when I can get away from my table — and it’s a lot of fun to meet so many readers, as well as the other authors and illustrators.”

Pizzoli is among more than 80 celebrated authors and illustrators who will interact with and sign books for young

16 I CONNECTIONS

readers at the festival. “I like meeting my young readers and asking them about my new ideas for books to see what sparks interest in them,” he said. “My readers are usually pretty honest — if they get up and walk (or crawl) away, the book needs something else. I had read early drafts of “Good Night Owl” to hundreds of kids at school and library visits while I was working on it, and I think it made the finished book that much better.”

Pizzoli, a graduate of the University of the Arts in Philadelphia where he now teaches, dismisses the notion that children in the digital age are less attracted to books. “I grew up with an NES in my living room, and I still play video games almost every day. And I read every day, too,” he said. “I had a subscription to Nintendo Power magazine and getting that new issue every month was always an exciting moment for me; I was really excited to READ it.

“So I don’t think it’s necessarily fair that games or ‘digital distractions’ will make kids less attracted to books. I think bookmakers should instead feel compelled to explore the things kids are interested in, and try to figure out why they are working so well in engaging their audience. That being said, I had a mom who took me to the library a lot, and really taught me to value that space and the books there.

I think it’s just a balance, it can’t be all or nothing or people get turned off.”

The Princeton Children’s Book Festival is Saturday, Sept. 24, rain or shine, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Hinds Plaza and in the Community Room. JaZams handles book sales for the event and generously donates 20 percent of proceeds to the library’s Youth Services department. The Friends of Princeton Public Library is an additional sponsor of the festiof the val. For more information, and a list of authors and illustrators, see bookfestival.princetonlibrary.org.

for complete information on all library programs, please visit www.princetonlibrary.org Acting Out Fridays, 4 p.m., Sept. 9, 16, 23, 30: Oct. 7, 14, 21, 28; Nov. 4, 11, 18 Students in kindergarten through third grade are invited to engage in dramatic activity including discussions, games, and other fun activities. No experience necessary. Princeton High School drama aficionados will lead the sessions.

Story Room Letra Pequeña (Little Letter) Mondays, 11 a.m., Sept. 12, 19, 26; Oct. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31; Nov. 7, 14, 21, 28 Through engagement with books, activities and crafts, these sessions are designed to help children and adults improve Spanish language skills.

Sessions are conducted in Spanish and are intended for parents/caregivers to attend with babies and toddlers.

Story Room Chess Tuesdays, 4 p.m., Sept. 13, 20, 27; Oct. 4, 11, 18, 25; Nov. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Children can learn to play and practice chess at these weekly drop-in sessions led by Princeton High School Chess Club members. Story Room Co-sponsored by the library and Princeton High School Chess Club.

Reading Treehouse Wednesdays, 4 p.m., Sept. 14, Oct. 12, Nov. 9 This reading group for early chapter book readers (kindergarten to second grade) meets monthly on the second

Wednesday of the month during the school year. Stories, read alouds, crafts, games and more that reflect a different theme each month are featured. No registration necessary.

Story Room Cover to Cover Book Group Wednesdays, 4 p.m., Sept. 21, Oct. 19, Nov. 16 This group for readers of chapter books meets the third Wednesday of every month during the school year to discuss chapter books, short stories, graphic novels and other literary interests. Activities include group reads, writing short book reviews and posting reviews and booklists in BiblioCommons. Registration is not required.

Suggested for third, fourth and fifth graders. Story Room Build with LEGO and DUPLO Thursdays, 4 p.m., Sept. 29, Oct. 13, 27, Nov. 10 Children in grades 1–5 are invited to participate in a non-competitive community-based LEGO session, including building time and round-table discussion. DUPLO blocks will be available for younger children outside the Story Room. Story Room Preschool Fair Saturday, Nov. 5, 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

STORY TIMES

Fall schedule begins Sept. 6 All events in the Story Room

MONDAYS 11 a.m.

Letra Pequeña Ages 18 months and older

TUESDAYS-THURSDAYS 10 a.m.

Storytime!

Ages 18 months and older

11 a.m.

Baby Storytime Ages 0-17 months

11:30 a.m.

Baby Playgroup Ages 0-17 months

SATURDAYS 10:30 a.m.

Saturday Stories Ages 2 and older

SUNDAYS 3 p.m.

Sunday Stories Ages 2 and older

SATURDAY WORLD LANGUAGE STORIES Ages 2 and older. Under 8 must be accompanied by an adult.

Brazilian Portuguese 11:30 a.m.

Sept. 3, Oct. 8, Nov. 5

Chinese 11:30 a.m.

Oct. 29

BUILDING LITERACY SKILLS

French 2 p.m.

Sept. 17, Oct. 22, Nov. 19 (1 p.m.)

German 3 p.m.

Oct. 22, Nov. 26

Japanese 2 p.m.

Sept. 3, Oct. 8 (12:30 p.m.), Nov. 5

Russian 3:30 p.m.

Oct. 8, Nov. 5

Spanish 11:30 a.m.

Brainfuse is made possible through a generous gift from Princeton University

www.princetonlibrary.org

princetonlibrary.org/1000books

Sept. 10, Oct. 15, Nov. 12

CONNECTIONS I 17

TEENS

Megan McCafferty, left, will participate in a Q&A and book signing following an Oct. 22 screening of “Jessica Darling’s It List,” which stars Chloe East.

FOR PARENTS AND/OR TEENS Crafting Your College Essay Sept. 28, 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. Intended for students and adults. Community Room Princeton CHOOSE Information Session Thursday, Oct. 6, 7 p.m.

Princeton CHOOSE (Community, Holism, Opportunity, Outcry, Standards and Education) is a student-led organization aiming to overcome racism and inspire harmony through exposure, education and empowerment. In this information session, founders Priya Vulchi and Winona Guo will talk about their mission and explain how others can participate and engage with their program. For more information, visit www.princetonchoose.org. Community Room Co-sponsored by the library and Princeton CHOOSE.

FOR TEENS Film and Q&A: “Jessica Darling’s It List” Saturday, Oct. 22, 3 p.m.

Based on the series by New York Times bestselling author and Princeton resident Megan McCafferty, this comingof-age comedy follows 12-year-old Jessica Darling as she learns that being herself beats popularity, prettiness and perfection. Following the screening, McCafferty will participate in a Q&A and book signing that will feature a giveaway and local treats. For tweens (and tweens-at-heart).

Community Room Co-sponsored by the library and HiTOPS. Film: “Goosebumps” Friday, Oct. 28, 6 p.m.

Wear your costume to this screening of the film adaptation of the popular R.L. Stine book series. Featuring Jack Black

18 I CONNECTIONS

as Stine, the film tells the story of Zach, a teenager who becomes Stine’s neighbor and discovers his identity after being drawn to Stine’s daughter, Hannah. He also discovers that the creatures from Stine’s stories are real and are kept locked away inside their original manuscripts. After an accident frees the monsters, Zach, Hannah and their nerdy pal Champ must work together with Stine to save their town from destruction. A costume contest will follow the screening. Community Room Go Between Club Saturdays, 2 p.m., Sept. 10, Oct. 8, Nov. 12 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. Story Room VOICES: Continuing Conversations for Teens Saturdays, 3 p.m., Sept. 17, Oct. 15, Nov. 19 Meet other teens who are passionate about activism at these moderated discussions about hot topics such as racial profiling, global warming and international politics.

Story Room Co-sponsored by the library, Redefy and Not in Our Town Princeton.

To Be Discussed (TBD) & Knitting Tuesdays, 7 p.m., Sept. 27, Oct. 25, Nov. 22 All high school students are welcome to participate in this monthly discussion of great books, films, music, non-fiction, poetry and all things cultural. Participants may also help create book displays and reading lists for the library, take group trips to see current films, and do group-reads. Knitters are also welcome to come with their latest project and join in on the discussion. Story Room Middle School Math Circle Mondays, 4:30 p.m., Oct. 10, 17, 24; Nov. 7, 14, 21 Princeton High School math enthusiasts show students in grades 6–8 how fun and fascinating math can be. Lesson plans will focus on applied mathematics and statistics.

Study Room 354

SUPPORT

PRESENTING SPONSOR

The Gould Group of Wells Fargo Advisors

PLATINUM SPONSOR

Elizabeth Strout in conversation with Jean Hanff Korelitz

SILVER SPONSORS

!

HOWE Insurance Group Established 1885

BRONZE SPONSORS

Saturday, Sept. 17, 6 p.m.

T

he annual gala hosted by the Friends to benefit the library begins with a conversation between acclaimed authors Elizabeth Strout and Jean Hanff Korelitz at Nassau Presbyterian Church. Strout is the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of “Olive Kitteridge,” a short story collection that was adapted into an HBO miniseries that won six 2015 Emmy Awards. She has written other award-winning novels including “Amy and Isabelle,” “Abide with Me” and “The Burgess Boys.” Her 2016 novel “My Name is Lucy Barton” is a New York Times bestseller. Korelitz is the author of five novels, including “Admission.” A book-signing, auction, strolling dinner and entertainment at the library and on Hinds Plaza will follow the talk. The Gould Group of Wells Fargo Advisors is the Presenting Sponsor. Catering is by Terra Momo Restaurant Group. Order tickets online at princetonlibrary.org/beyondwords or call (609) 9248822, ext. 1284. Auction items may be previewed at princetonlibrary.org/auction.

CORPORATE SPONSORS

FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY K

Princeton Building Maintenance Co.

"personalized janitorial services"

P.O. Box 8078 Princeton, NJ 08543 609 520 0888 Fax: 609 520 1194

ANNUAL BOOK SALE Friday, Oct. 14–Sunday, Oct. 16 www.princetonlibrary.org/booksale

www.princetonlibrary.org

CONNECTIONS I 19

Executive Director: Brett Bonfield

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 Public Programming Librarian: Janie Hermann Head of Youth Services: Susan Conlon Head of Adult Services: Janet Hauge Events Committee: Erica Bess, Mimi Bowlin, Katie Bruce Amanda Chuong, Susan Conlon, Kim Dorman, Kristin Friberg, Janet Hauge, Janie Hermann, Jocelyn Jimenez, Martha Liu, Violeta Manzanares, Kelsey Ockert, Timothy Quinn, Caroline Quinones, Hannah Schmidl Staff Writer: Amy Hiestand Editing and design: Timothy Quinn

WELCOME TO THE U.S. Citizenship Preparation Class Wednesdays, 7 p.m., Oct. 5, 19, 26; Nov. 2, 9, 16 These weekly classes are offered by the Latin American Task Force to assist in preparing for the U.S. Citizenship Test. Classes include history, civics and a review of basic English necessary for the citizenship interview. Due to renovation of the library’s second floor, these classes will be offered at the Nassau Presbyterian Church, 61 Nassau St. Co-sponsored by the library and the Latin American Task Force.

Mercer County ID Program Thursdays through November, noon-2 p.m. and 5:30-7 p.m.

All Mercer County residents are eligible for the community ID card, a photo identification card providing personal identifying information, medical risk factors and emergency contact information. This is a privately distributed card with the sponsorship of various community organizations who form the One Community Coaliton. The ID may be used at social service agencies, schools, clinics, parks, post offices and libraries for purposes of access to basic municipal or health services and as a form of identification at check cashing companies, banks, retail stores or other establishments. The card is issued by the Latin American Legal Defense & Education Fund, a nonprofit advocacy group. There is a $15 charge ($5 for youth under 21 and seniors over 65) per card to cover expenses. For additional information, visit laldef.org. Quiet Study Room

MISCELLANY Job Seeker Sessions Fridays, 9:45 a.m., Sept. 2, 9, 16, 30; Oct. 7, 21, 28; Nov. 4, 11, 18, 25 The library and Professional Service Group of Mercer County sponsor sessions for professionals who are seeking new employment and contracting opportunities throughout the region. Please check the library’s website for specific topics.

Community Room Continuing Conversations on Race and White Privilege Tuesday, Sept. 6, 7 p.m.; Monday, Oct. 3, 7 p.m.

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. Newcomers to the group are asked to arrive at 6:45 p.m. Community Room Co-sponsored by the library and Not in Our Town Princeton.

Please note: The November program will be part of the Racial Literacy series.

Origami Club for All Ages Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m., Sept. 14, Oct. 12, Nov. 9 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 Code for Princeton Hack and Learn Night Fridays, 6:30 p.m., Sept. 9, Oct. 14, Nov. 11 Techies of all skill levels are invited to bring their laptops and join the hacking at this monthly three-hour meeting of Code for Princeton. Newcomers are encouraged to attend an orientation session at 6:30 p.m. Teen Center Co-sponsored by the library and Code for Princeton.

Meet the Mayor Fridays, 8:30 a.m., Sept. 30; Oct. 28 Princeton residents are invited to discuss concerns with Mayor Liz Lempert. Lobby Knit for Others Oct. 1-Dec. 31 The library is collecting hand-knit and crocheted items through the end of December as part of our seventh annual Knit for Others program. Donated items will be displayed on a clothesline behind the Welcome Desk and distributed to local organizations. Items of all kinds may be dropped off at the Welcome Desk and will be gratefully accepted.

Princeton CHOOSE Information Session Thursday, Oct. 6, 7 p.m.

Princeton CHOOSE (Community, Holism, Opportunity, Outcry, Standards and Education) is a student-led organization aiming to overcome racism and inspire harmony through exposure, education and empowerment. In this information session, founders Priya Vulchi and Winona Guo will talk about their mission and explain how others can participate and engage with their program. Community Room Co-sponsored by the library and Princeton CHOOSE.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR