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NEWSLETTER
March 2008
Volume 5, Number 3
NEW: The Next Chapter Website
Rosetta Stone Update
Wanted: Volunteer English Conversation Group Leaders
Main Library Orientation Tour
National Issues Forum: The New Challenges of Immigration
Finding Your Roots Genealogy Series
Concert at the Crane: The Lindsays
Discovering Jane Austen: Films, Discussions & Special Events
Foreign Film Feature: Her Name is Sabine
Living Green in Quincy: Green Cars & Transportation
Go Places @your library: The Ancient Silk Road
Ask the Career Experts
English Talk Time Spring Series
Film Feature: Once
March Computer Classes: Internet Basics & Microsoft Word
March Book Discussions & Drop-in Groups
March Exhibit: Land Forms by Norma Jane Langford
March Events for Children
What's New and Recommended
Calendar of Events
Friends of the Library
Subscribe to the Newsletter
Back Issues
Contact Us
The Next Chapter: ReWriting Midlife and Beyond
Are you age 50 or over? Are you looking for resources and connections in Quincy and beyond? Check out The Next Chapter, the library's new website for midlife and older adults. The site covers a range of topics, including career options, retirement planning, health and fitness, volunteering, lifelong learning, and more. Please explore the site and feel free to send suggestions for improvement or additions, using the Suggestion Box form.
The Next Chapter website was partially funded with a federal Library Services & Technology EqualAccess Libraries grant, provided by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners in partnership with Libraries for the Future.
Rosetta Stone Update
We regret to announce that this popular online language learning software package will no longer be available to library users as of March 15, 2008, when the library's one-year subscription expires. Rosetta Stone is no longer offering their service to public libraries.
Wanted: Volunteer English Conversation Group Leaders
Would you like to...
- work with people from other cultures and countries?
- help limited English speakers connect with their new
community?
- learn techniques and activities to help adults speak English
more fluently?
If your answers are YES, consider becoming a volunteer facilitator for the Library's English Talk Time program for ESOL adults. Talk Time is not an English class; it is an opportunity for adults learning English to practice what they already know.
We are looking for volunteers to work and train with an experienced ESOL specialist. Training will occur before, during and after each Talk Time session. The Talk Time series for volunteers-in-training will meet for 10 weeks on Saturday mornings from April 19 to June 28 (except Memorial Day Saturday). After the training series, volunteers will facilitate their own 10-week Talk Time group at a time and location to be determined.
If this unique volunteer opportunity interests you, please call 617-376-3295 or e-mail quenglishtalk@ocln.org for more information.
Main Library Orientation Tour
Take a guided walk through the library at a free orientation tour of the Main Library at 40 Washington St. on Saturday, March 1 at 10:00 a.m. Chinese interpretation will be provided. All ages are welcome to join the orientation tours.
National Issues Forum: The New Challenges of Immigration
You are invited to participate in the second National Issues Forum on the topic of The New Challenges of Immigration: What Should We Do? at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 2 at the Main Library.
The U.S. has traditionally defined itself as a land of opportunity, a refuge from persecution, and a nation of immigrants. Today, more people than ever are trying to enter this country. While most Americans believe that, historically, immigration has strengthened the U.S., many people now question whether immigration is good for America. Is it time, once again, to change our immigration policies? If so, how? Join with fellow citizens to talk, listen and learn together about this urgent issue that our nation faces, in hopes of finding workable solutions.
National Issues Forums (NIF) is a nonpartisan, nationwide network of locally sponsored public forums for the consideration of public policy issues. It is rooted in the simple notion that people need to come together to reason and talk - to deliberate about common problems. NIF does not advocate specific solutions or points of view but provides citizens the opportunity to consider a broad range of choices, weigh the pros and cons of those choices, and meet with each other in a public dialogue to identify the concerns they hold in common. Although all forum activity is locally organized, moderated, and financed, the materials used are produced by the Kettering Foundation of Dayton, Ohio, among others, and promoted by the National Issues Forums Institute.
There is no fee to participate in National Issues Forums. Free booklets on the topic are available for participants to read prior to the Forum. To register and obtain a booklet, please call 617-376-1316 or e-mail quref@ocln.org. Sponsored by the Friends of the Thomas Crane Public Library.
Finding Your Roots Genealogy Series
Are you interested in researching your family history? Find out how at a series of free genealogy seminars for beginner and intermediate genealogists, presented by Michael Brophy. The seminars will take place on Monday evenings in March at the Main Library. All seminars will begin at 7:00 p.m. and will include time for questions and answers. No registration is required.
Start with an introduction to the main principles of genealogical research on March 3, including basic methods, record sources, and how to organize your project. Delve into the unique challenges of Irish-American Catholic genealogy on March 17, with practical advice on finding the origins of your Irish ancestors. Explore the most popular and important online genealogy resources on March 31, including Ancestry, New England Historic and Genealogical Society resources, and more.
Professional genealogist Michael Brophy conducts general research in lineage and family history, and provides heir searches, with Irish-American ancestry a specialty. He is Publicity Director of the Massachusetts Genealogical Council and Treasurer of the New England Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists and has presented seminars around the South Shore.
Sponsored by the Friends of the Thomas Crane Public Library.
Concert at the Crane: The Lindsays
Enjoy a free concert of traditional and contemporary Irish music by The Lindsays and Friends at the Main Library on Sunday, March 9 at 3:00 p.m.
The concert, performed by Stephen Lindsay on guitar and vocals, Susan Gedutis Lindsay on flute and whistle, and fiddler Nikki Engstrom, will celebrate the journey of Irish musicians to America. Selections will include traditional Irish instrumentals and some songs that were either written by Irish musicians in America, or about America, as well as the music of some contemporary Irish musicians in the U.S.
Susan Gedutis Lindsay plays traditional Irish flute and whistle as well as alto and baritone saxophones. She is the author of See You at the Hall: Boston¹s Golden Era of Irish Music and Dance, teaches in the Music Department at Bridgewater State College, and is the Irish music reporter for the Boston Irish Reporter newspaper. Susan performs with her husband, Stephen Lindsay. Steve grew up in Dublin, Ireland, admiring the Dubliners, Christy Moore, U2, Neil Young, and others, and absorbing their style and heritage into his repertoire. Fiddler Nikki Engstrom has delighted audiences for over two decades with her spirited jigs, reels and sensitive slow airs. Nikki also plays with the fiddle/guitar duo Stanley & Grimm.
Sponsored by the Friends of the Thomas Crane Public Library.
Discovering Jane Austen: Films, Book Discussions and Special Events
Jane Austen is the author of an enduring body of work that includes such classics as Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, and Mansfield Park. Beloved by readers for generations, Austen and her characters are now the subject of a seven-part PBS Masterpiece series, airing Sundays on WGBH from January to April.
In the spirit of Austen-mania, the Thomas Crane Public Library, with support from the Friends of the Library, will celebrate the life and works of Jane Austen with free programs and events throughout March and April. All programs are free and will be held at the Main Library.
For complete details, plus related reading lists, a DVD list, and Internet links, go to our Discovering Jane Austen web page.
THE PERENNIAL APPEAL OF JANE AUSTEN
Why do we keep rereading Jane Austen's novels? What keeps bringing Austen back to the movies? Join Austen scholar Marcia Folsom for a lively talk about the enduring appeal of this popular writer on Tuesday, March 11 at 7:00 p.m.
The title of Dr. Folsom's presentation, Spending My Whole Life in Reading It: The Perennial Appeal of Jane Austen, an exclamation from the naive Catherine Morland in Austen's Northanger Abbey, captures Catherine's youthful enthusiasm about reading a Gothic novel. But many of Austen's 21st century readers echo this sentiment, and in fact keep going back to her books. Filmmakers, too, find Austen's novels endlessly enticing, and keep creating new movies of her books. Find out some of the reasons why Austen's novels keep inspiring readers to "spend their whole lives in reading" them.
Marcia Folsom teaches literature, writing, and the humanities, and is Chair of Humanities and Writing at Wheelock College in Boston. Her love of Jane Austen's work has led her to travel in England and to Austen conferences around the country. She is the editor of Approaches to Teaching Austen's Pride and Prejudice and Approaches to Teaching Austen's Emma. She is known in the Boston area for her lectures at the Radcliffe Seminars, the Teachers as Scholars program, the Jane Austen Society, and the Charles River Museum of Industry. Her current research interests are Austen, Shakespeare, and the scholarship of teaching.
SEE JANE WRITE BOOK DISCUSSIONS
These informal book discussions will be facilitated by Diane Costagliola, Adjunct Instructor of English at Simmons College and a member of the library staff. Copies of each book will be available to pick up at the Main Library checkout desk. No registration is required.
Pride and Prejudice
Monday, March 17 at 7:00 p.m.
Pride and Prejudice tells the story of fiercely independent Elizabeth Bennet, one of five sisters who must marry rich, as she confounds the arrogant, wealthy Mr. Darcy. What ensues is one of the most delightful and engrossingly readable courtships known to literature, written by a precocious Austen when she was just 21 years old.
Persuasion
Monday, April 7 at 7:00 p.m.
Persuasion follows the romance of Anne Elliot and naval officer Frederick Wentworth. They were happily engaged until Anne's friend, Lady Russell, persuaded her that Frederick was "unworthy". Eight years later, Frederick returns, a wealthy captain in the navy, while Anne's family teeters on the edge of bankruptcy.
THE REEL JANE AUSTEN
Enjoy the best feature film adaptations of four Jane Austen novels in this special Tuesday night series. All movies will begin at 7:00 p.m.
March 18: Sense and Sensibility (1995)
Emma Thompson stars as one of the Dashwood sisters--the one with "sense"--and also wrote the witty screenplay for this marvelous adaptation of Jane Austen's first novel. The large cast also includes Kate Winslet, Alan Rickman, Greg Wise, and Hugh Grant. "Grandly entertaining…a sparkling, colorful and utterly contemporary comedy of manners"--The New York Times
March 25: Pride and Prejudice (2005)
Keira Knightley stars as Elizabeth, the second of five well-brought-up but impecunious Bennet sisters, whose fluttery mother schemes to marry them off to men of means. "Sumptuous…as satisfyingly rich and robust a fusion of romance, historical detail and genial social satire as the time allows...[and] still reflects Austen's keen scrutiny of social mobility and the Darwinian struggle of the hungriest to advance by wielding whatever leverage is at hand"--The New York Times
April 1: Emma (1996)
Austen's favorite busybody is played by Gwyneth Paltrow in a witty, show-stopping performance. Although Emma fancies herself a matchmaker for her friends, her snobbery and perfect lack of self-awareness make her ideas of romance that much more entertaining. "A decorative comedy of 19th-century manners honed to a sharply 20th-century edge...with a lively intelligence and a buoyant comic tone"--The New York Times
April 8: Persuasion (1995)
Adapted from what is arguably Jane Austen's most mature and subtlest novel, Persuasion stars Amanda Root as Anne Elliot, an old maid at 27 after having tossed away love at the age of 19. "Profoundly truthful in many ways: in its sense of emotional longing; in its natural, unglamorized visual beauty, ranging from drawing rooms to the sea; in its fidelity to the delicate tone of Austen's satire and romance…a lyrical, autumnal story of lost love, with the unexpected reward of a happy ending"--The New York Times
April 15: The Jane Austen Book Club (2007)
A charming adaptation of the book by Karen Joy Fowler, The Jane Austen Book Club centers on a group of six friends in Sacramento, all devoted Austen fans except the lone man (Hugh Dancy). The film is a modern-day comedy of manners that incorporates elements of Austen's novels and characters. "An inspired expansion of Fowler's book...[with] dialogue that keeps the pace up and the energy flowing…an admirable mix of heady and fluffy, the kind of wish-fulfillment fantasy that needn't make filmgoers ashamed of what they wished for"--Chicago Tribune
Foreign Film Feature: Her Name is Sabine
Attend a free screening of this award-winning French documentary film on Thursday, March 13 at 7:00 p.m. at the Main Library.
An intelligent, moving and beautiful portrait of Sabine, a 38-year-old autistic woman, filmed by her sister, the famous French actress Sandrine Bonnaire. Through personal footage filmed over a period of 25 years, it is revealed that Sabine's growth and many talents were crushed by improper diagnosis and an inadequate care structure. After a tragic five-year stay in a psychiatric hospital, Sabine finally finds a new lease on life in a home together with other young people living with similar mental and emotional illnesses.
"Let's say it out loud; Her Name is Sabine is the most beautiful film that Cannes has given us this year."--FIPRESCI (The International Federation of Film Critics)
Although this film is not subject to rating by the Motion Picture Association of America, it is not recommended for ages under 17 without parental permission. Films for the series are obtained through the library's membership in Film Movement, the exclusive distributor of curator-selected films from the world's top film festivals, including Cannes and Sundance.
Living Green in Quincy: Green Cars and Transportation
Find out how to go "green" with your transportation choices and be part of the local climate change solution, with featured speaker John F. Paul on Thursday, March 20 at 7:00 p.m. at the Main Library.
At this free program, you will learn all about hybrid cars, including everything you need to know to make the best choice for your next vehicle. Find out about a variety of other transportation alternatives, including Zipcars, carpooling, biking, public transit, and walking. Helpful resources will be available to take home and light refreshments will be served.
With more than 30 years experience in the automotive business, AAA's Car Doctor John F. Paul knows cars. He writes new car reviews, feature articles and a Q&A column in the AAA monthly publication Horizons, hosts the Car Doctor radio program heard on WTTT AM1150, and appears as a regular guest on many radio and TV programs, including Good Morning, America. Certified as a Master Automobile Technician, Paul also holds certifications in Advanced Engine Performance and Alternative Fuels, and sits on several advisory boards for traffic safety in Massachusetts.
This program is presented by the Quincy Environmental Network Climate Action Committee in cooperation with the Quincy City Council Environmental Committee and the Thomas Crane Public Library.
Go Places @your Library: The Ancient Silk Road
Journey across central Asia at a free slide presentation on Monday, March 24 at 7:00 p.m. at the Main Library.
Lecturer Barry Pell will introduce you to the historic cities of the Silk Road, including Samarqand, Bukhara and Kashgar--places that flourished for over 1,000 years along the trading routes that connected across 5,000 miles between central China and Istanbul at the doorstep of Europe. This photographic presentation will focus on the legacies of the Silk Road trade on these places, including architecture, religion, language, ceremonies, and food.
Barry Pell spent three months in 2004 following the caravan routes of the Silk Road traders, threaded over high passes through rugged, snowy mountain ranges and across large and forbidding deserts.
Mr. Pell has traveled in 147 countries on all continents. Balancing his training in photography and photojournalism, his love of travel, and concern for the environment, his particular goal is to educate people, through photography and interactive dialogue, about the cultures and challenging lifestyles of developing nations. Mr. Pell has presented slide shows to dozens of schools, colleges, organizations and social service agencies since 1975.
Sponsored by the Friends of the Thomas Crane Public Library.
Ask the Career Experts
Are you hunting for a job or considering a career change? Come to the library for customized advice about the job search process, career exploration, resumes, networking and more, provided by career counselors and employment coaches from Career Moves at Jewish Vocational Service.
This free service is available by appointment only, on
the fourth Tuesday of each month from 9:30-11:30 a.m. at the
Main Library. To make a half-hour appointment,
please call Judy Bottkol at 617-399-3162.
Ask the Career Experts is offered by the Library in partnership
with Jewish Vocational Service
of Boston, a non-sectarian organization that provides job
search, employment assistance, education, training, career
development, and support to individuals from all backgrounds.
English Talk Time Spring Series
Would you or someone you know like an opportunity to practice your oral English skills in an informal and supportive setting? Beginning in April, the library will be offering four 10-week English Talk Time series for advanced beginner and intermediate English speakers at the following locations and times:
- Tuesdays from 6:30-8:00 p.m., March 25-May 27, North Quincy Branch
- Saturdays from 9:30-11:00 a.m., April 5-June 14, Main Library (Coletti Reading Room)
- Saturdays from 9:30-11:00 a.m., April 19-June 28, Main Library (Richardson Building)
- Wednesdays from 10:30 a.m.-12:00, April 23-June 25, Main Library (Coletti Reading Room)
Registration is required for Talk Time. To find out more or sign up for a series, please call 617-376-3295 or e-mail quenglishtalk@ocln.org.
Film Feature: Once
This Oscar-nominated Irish movie will be shown on Thursday, March 27 at 7:00 p.m.
A modern day musical set on the streets of Dublin, featuring Glen Hansard from the Irish band The Frames, Once tells the story of a street musician and a Czech immigrant during an eventful week as they write, rehearse and record songs that reveal their unique love story.
"The music is so rich and completely satisfying and the characters so appealing Once makes us believe that this is all happening right in front of our eyes. We fall for each of these young people at the precise moment they are falling for each other, and what could be better than that?"--The Los Angeles Times
"The formula is simple: two people, a few instruments, 88 minutes and not a single false note"--The New York Times
"A complex meditation on relationships, Irish culture, and music"--Austin Chronicle
Rated R for language. Sponsored by the Friends of the Thomas Crane Public Library.
March Computer Classes
Internet Basics
Discover the common features found on most websites as you learn about links, navigation and scrolling with hands-on practice. Then, use Google to do some basic web, image and news searches. This two-session course will be held on Tuesday, March 4 and Tuesday, March 11 at 10:00 a.m. in the Main Library computer lab. Participants must have experience using a mouse.
To register, please call 617-376-1316 or stop by the Main Library reference desk. Due to the popularity of this course, we ask that you only sign up once.
Working with Microsoft Word
Hoping manual typewriters will come back on the scene? Hate the idea of composing a letter using your PC? Learn how to create smart looking documents in this two-session course on Microsoft Word 2003 held on Thursday, March 13 and Thursday, March 20 at 7:00 p.m. in the Main Library computer lab.
The course will cover the basics from starting a new document and setting margins, to changing fonts, inserting bullets and using templates. Along the way we will cut and paste text from the Internet and other documents, create text boxes and discover the pros and cons of the spelling and grammar check. At the end of the two sessions you will have a new found appreciation for this powerful application and feel ready to draft that first novel.
Interested participants should be comfortable using a mouse and keyboard and have some basic familiarity with Windows XP. To register, call 617-376-1316 or email quref@ocln.org.
March Book Discussions & Drop-in Groups
 FRIDAY MORNING BOOK DISCUSSION
This book discussion group meets on the second Friday of each month at 10:00 a.m. The focus of this group is world literature. On Friday, March 14, the group will discuss Across the Nightingale Floor by Lian Hearn. Copies of the book are available at the Main Library checkout desk. For more information, call Julie at 617-376-2411.
 WEDNESDAY EVENING BOOK DISCUSSION
This group meets the third Wednesday of each month from 7:00-8:30 p.m. at the Main Library. On Wednesday, March 19, the group will discuss A Shortcut in Time by Charles Dickinson. Copies of the book are available at the Main Library checkout desk. New members are welcome
to join anytime. For more information, call Megan at 617-376-1331.
 THURSDAY EVENING BOOK DISCUSSION
This group meets the first Thursday of each month from 7:00-8:30 p.m. at the Main Library. The focus of this group is non-fiction books of local and regional interest. On Thursday, March 6, the group will discuss American Jezebel: The Uncommon Life of Ann Hutchinson, The Woman Who Defied the Puritans by Eve LaPlante. Copies of the book are available at the Main Library checkout desk. For more information, call Will at 617-689-8320.
 BOOKED FOR LUNCH @Main Library
Read any good books lately? Looking for something new to read? Bring a brown bag lunch--or grab a sandwich or salad at the library café--and join other readers for an informal conversation about books on the first Friday of each month. The next meeting is on Friday, March 7 from 12 noon to 1:00 p.m. in the Main
Library atrium. The group meets near the café--just look for the brown Booked for Lunch sign on the table. Drop in anytime and check out this friendly group!
 COOKING WITH BOOKS @Adams Shore Branch
Love to cook? Love to read cookbooks? Join other food lovers on the second Monday of each month to review new cookbooks, share favorite recipes, and perhaps take a turn at cooking something for others to sample. This group meets from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the Adams Shore Branch Library, 519 Sea St., Quincy. On March 10, we'll share PASTA recipes. You are invited to bring one of your favorite recipes to share. For more information, call 617-376-1325.
MOVIE MATINEE @North Quincy Branch
See a variety of films selected with older adults in mind at this weekly program, most Wednesdays at 2:15 p.m. at the North Quincy Branch. Films include travel, humor, and biography as well as full-length feature films.
March Exhibit: Land Forms by Norma Jane Langford
Hough's Neck artist Norma Jane Langford presents an exhibit of her acrylic paintings from March 1 to 31 in the Coletti reading room of the Main Library. A public reception will be held Sunday, March 2 from 2:00-4:00 p.m.
The exhibit will feature a feature the always-intriguing drumlins, salt marshes, and rocky shoreline of southeastern Massachusetts.
A freelance writer and artist, Norma Jane Langford's journalistic career has proceeded in a reasonably orderly way, while her artistic life has evolved on a catch-as-catch-can basis among other important life events. Most recently she has studied painting at UMass-Boston, Massachusetts College of Art, Northeastern University, and at workshops sponsored by the Cape Cod School of Art in Provincetown, and by Caleb Stone on Monhegan Island, Maine.
March Events for Children
SPRING STORYTIME REGISTRATION
Registration for spring storytimes begins Friday, March 14 at 9:00 a.m. (1:00 p.m. at the Adams Shore and North Quincy branches). To allow as many people as possible to participate in storytime, we ask those currently attending storytime to wait until Saturday, March 15 to register.
The children's department offers weekly storytimes for children ages 4 months to 7 years. For program details pick up a schedule at any library location or check the storytime information page.
Each child may register for only one storytime. Children must be of age by the
first meeting. Call or stop by the program location to register. Please note
that programs fill very quickly and registration is limited to Quincy residents.
DROP-IN STORYTIMES WITH MICHELLE
Join storyteller Michelle Andrews on Saturday, March 1 and 15 at 10:00 a.m. at the Main Library for stories, songs rhymes and more for children ages 2-5 accompanied by an adult. The program on the 16th is our monthly bilingual storytime and will be presented in English with Cantonese and Mandarin interpretation. No registration is required. Sponsored by the Friends of the Thomas Crane Library.
SATURDAY FUN FOR LITTLE ONES
Join us for Songs and Stories with Diana Kane on Saturday, March 8 at 10:00 a.m. at the Main Library. This program is for children ages 0-4 accompanied by an adult. No registration is required but space is limited to the first 125 people. When we reach the capacity, we will have to close the doors.
Sponsored by the Friends of the Thomas Crane Library.
MAD SCIENCE: Dry Ice
This Mad Science of Greater Boston workshop for children ages 4-8 takes an exciting look at the world of dry ice through a series of interactive and fun experiments. The children will learn about the three states of matter and a lesser known phenomenon called "sublimation", whereby a solid turns directly into a gas. Kids will be shown a series of demonstrations from blowing up a balloon without air to seeing a coin "shiver". Participants will have a chance to taste homemade seltzer, take a chemical "shower"and participate in a spooky scene straight out of a movie! They'll learn the secrets behind the bubbling potions found in Mad Science's laboratories while answering the question, "What do you think this big ice cube can do?" All five senses will have a chance to participate in this "cool" class.
This workshop will be held on Saturday, March 22 at 10:00 a.m. at the Main Library.
Registration is required, beginning Monday, March 3. Stop by the Main Library Children's Room or call 617-376-2411 to register. Due to space limitations, this program is limited to Quincy residents. Sponsored by the Friends of the Thomas Crane Public Library
BOOK CLUBS
The Library offers three book discussion groups for kids: Night Owls 3 for third graders, Night Owls 4 for fourth graders, and the Phoenix for grades 5-8. Each group meets once a month at the Main Library. Call or stop by the Main Library Children's Room for more information or to register.
What's New and Recommended
Browse online for new stuff, including books, audiobooks, and DVDs or check out our staff recommendations for SPRING reading.
You can also sign up to receive monthly updates in your e-mail. There are booklists for every age and interest, including bestsellers, fiction and mystery, large print, audiobooks, books for kids and teens, DVDs, and more. Each booklist features titles, reviews, and links to the library catalog, so reserving the titles you want is quick and easy.
To see lists of additional new materials, check out the New in the Library lists in the Old Colony Library Network online catalog. To see only new titles owned by a Quincy library, go into the catalog from our Catalog Search page. To see new titles owned by all libraries in the Old Colony Library Network, go into the catalog from the OCLN website using the catalog search box, without logging in with your library card number.
Friends of the Library
Become a Friend of the library! Your Friends membership fee ($10 for individuals, $15 for families) helps support museum passes and events for all ages. For more information about
the Friends, go to the Friends
of the Thomas Crane Public Library page or pick up a brochure at the library.
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