Albany Library Blog

The Pencil is Passed at Albany Library

dannyhess — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 22:05:17 +0000

There was no exchange of laurel crowns between the Poet Laureates of our fair city. Instead, a shiny green Pencil of Inspiration was passed from one poet to the other. An enthusiastic audience enjoyed the festivities last Tuesday, as Christina Hutchins passed the title to Toby Bielawski.

Christina emerged at the far side of the pool after a three-year swim as Albany’s first Poet Laureate. Read more about Christina and her tenure in this post at the city’s website.

Christina is a fabulous reader, but also a gifted teacher. In 2010, she took on the Wednesday evening Poetry Writing Workshop, where she has encouraged many students to read at the open mic on the Second Tuesdays. Christina is a continual source of inspiration at the open mic, as well, putting our place and time on the page.

This year, Toby Bielawski takes on the title of Poet Laureate and brings her own keen observations to the post. Toby has also shared excellent work at the open mic. Her love of wordplay is evident and her mental energy is felt by all. It will be fun to see her turn the potentially pompous job of laureate into the “poet next door,” the only kind we want in Albany!

Toby proposed an intriguing idea: a Poetry Map of Albany. She called on writers to find local sites of poetic inspiration and offer the poems and “their locations” to the public. She hopes to create a Google map of our collective inspiration. (Christina Hutchin’s poem about the old Albany Pool must stand as a place on our poetic map! Even though the pool is gone, her experience of it is a bold, black X of buried pleasure.)

At evening’s end, Christina told the audience that the Second Tuesdays series has become the poetic center of the Bay Area. Many poets want to read here, either as featured poets or at the open mic. Much of the thanks goes to Catherine Taylor, the person who selects the poets each month and creates a balance of voices and visions. And, of course the Friends of the Albany Library, makes the dreams come true with their financial support.

Youtube recordings from January 10 will be added at a later time.

Puppet Show Delights Audience

dannyhess — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 20:36:39 +0000

The Albany Library Puppet Festival had its first show: Aztec Pinocchio. Maldo creates a little boy with a butterfly for a heart and the show flutters to a fantastic finish with a beautiful moral about self-sacrifice and love.

The magical, colorful creatures had plenty of slapstick fun, smacking each other over the head or falling behind stage. Kids screamed and laughed so we knew it was a good show! Caterpillar Puppets‘ Joey Leon engaged the audience very nicely, inviting us to shout out Spanish words. We all left with a tiny mariposa in our hearts.

More puppet shows to follow: 2/18 - The Frog Prince (Fratello Marionettes;) 3/17 -Spin a Shadow, Tell a Tale (Daniel Barash, Shadow Puppet Workshop;) 4/14 - Mei Lin and the Magic Paintbrush (The Puppet Company;) and 5/5 - Coyote Sings(Magical Moonshine.)

Puppet Festival: First Show!

dannyhess — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 11:10:03 +0000

The fun unfolds on January 7 as the Puppet Festival begins. Caterpillar Puppets’ Aztec Pinocchio is the story of Maldo the Magician and how he brings his little marionette boy, Pinata, to life using a butterfly for a heart. As the story unfolds, little Pinata, must rescue his “father,” from a deadly spell cast by an evil magician.

The Friends of the Albany Library are sponsoring this series. FAL president, Liz Keiley-Roark, brought some beautiful Czech puppets for display in the children’s area. Puppets come to life in the imaginations of children around the world. Our Puppet Festival will feature the stories of many cultures and we hope everyone comes to enjoy the best of Bay Area puppetry right here in Albany.

Shows start at 2:00 but you’ll want to come early for a good seat. Floor seating only with priority given to children. More publicity will follow as each month’s performance date approaches. See you in the front row!!!

See what’s coming:

PuppetFestivalFlyer

January 10 Poetry Reading: Bielawski and Hutchins

dannyhess — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 09:09:22 +0000

Happy New Year! For January’s reading, we will celebrate Christina Hutchins, the outgoing Poet Laureate of Albany, and welcome Toby Bielawski, Albany’s new Poet Laureate. Please join us for this evening of “passing the poetry mantle” as the New Year begins. And please bring your own poetry for the evening’s open mic.

Food for Fines!

dannyhess — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 03:12:10 +0000

Donate food this December and reduce or erase your overdue fines. It’s easy as pie (or canned pie filling!)

For each food item brought to the Library–$1.00 will be subtracted from overdue fines–up to a maximum of $10.
Only non–perishable, unexpired, store-sealed items will be accepted.
All food brought to the Library will be donated to the Alameda County Community Food Bank.

Don’t have fines? You can still donate by bringing food donations to the the library through January 31, 2012.

You may also donate to the Virtual Food Drive through January 31, 2012. Go to www.aclibrary.org and click on picture: Give Food 3 Ways.

Alameda County Library Food for Fines Program (Design: Chris Knapp)

Earrings, etc.

dannyhess — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 06:43:30 +0000

The adult jewelry-making workshop modeled their creations last Wednesday afternoon. The colors of the stones looked especially nice in the bright sunlight of the meeting room. Yu Lan will lead more workshops in the coming year.

December Poets: Rebecca Black and Keith Ekiss

dannyhess — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 08:10:20 +0000

Rebecca_Black_&_Keith_Ekiss

Aloha to Autumn

dannyhess — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 10:25:30 +0000

The bracing Pacific breeze did not deter the Origami crowd. Margo Wecksler (happy to report the birth of a new grand-child,) brought a pattern of large autumn leaves to fold. People also had fun folding and spinning what looked like waterlilies, a special Hawaiin pattern shared by Deb Pun. Yarn made its way into the mix. But nothing was more mixed than the languages spoken by the paper folders: Japanese, Mandarin, Bengali, Hindi, German, Tibetan and English. And they all spoke the language of art!

Who’s Minding the Store?

dannyhess — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 09:59:18 +0000

We are! The staff of Alameda County Library gathered last month (October 28) to celebrate its own Thanksgiving: for work, for each other and for the future of our libraries. The spirit of collaboration was emphasized from County Librarian, Jean Hofacket’s, opening remarks about our common purpose as information sharers, through several workshops on Community Collaboration, Customer Service, Crafts and Games to a Cookie Contest and final Raffle.

It was amazing to see the number of people it takes to keep the work flowing. The spacious main floor of Castro Valley Library couldn’t hold us all! Any one of the people in the photos below may have been the one who got that special book for you.

Albany staff enjoyed the food, fellowship and prizes, (especially Katherine whose luck never ran out!) Best of all, we got to renew old friendships and make new ones with the hundreds of people who share the job of bringing the library to life each day.

You won’t find Waldo, but look for the following Albany Staffers in the gallery: Gerry Wathen, Nguyet Nguyen, Joyce Rybandt, Katherine Cavitt, Steve Wasserman, K.O., Ricardo Botello, Paula Greer, Larry Currie, Suzi Sargent, Vivian Jaquette and Dan Hess.

November Knock-Out: a book sale to remember

dannyhess — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 10:56:23 +0000

Thanks to ALL the donors and shoppers, putter-uppers and taker-downers, one-time volunteers and frequent Friends! Though it was a knock-out success, Marsha and the clean-up crew were still standing on the following Monday morning!

Additional donations of books were set aside for Local Educators, the Troops, Overseas Schools, and Inmates at the County Jail.

The Friends of the Albany Library, (see them in action below,) raised the staggering sum of