Independent Film Night Thursday, July 14th @ 6:30 - If I Want to Whistle, I Whistle - a film by Florin Serban

Join us Thursday, July 14th for the latest installment of our Independent Film Series: If I Want to Whistle, I Whistle by Florin Serban (2010). A Romanian love story of sorts. The story takes place in a prison where the inmate protagonist, Silviu has only two weeks left to go before he's released. But when his mother, who abandoned him long ago, returns and threatens to take his brother away -- his brother whom he was forced, by their mother's abandonment, to raise as a son -- the two weeks begin to feel like eternity. He can find no quarter for help and is driven to a surprising act of defiance in a desperate grasp for freedom. This is a nuanced psychological drama you won't want to miss. 93 mins. In Romanian with English subtitles. This screening made possible by the Friends of the Pollard Library.

The Pollard Library Independent Film series occurs the 2nd Thursday of every month! Please note: These Independent films are not rated by the MPAA and should be considered for mature audiences.

Beach Weather

Beach weather has descended on the Merrimack Valley and for many of us, our thoughts have turned to the shoreline. Today's Wall Street Journal has an interesting article judging the latest crop of eReaders based on their readability in extreme conditions, such as bright sun. Food for thought, if you're in the market for one of these devices. Don't forget to also pack a lunch for your beach day!

And if you're looking for recommendations for what reading material you might fill your tablet or tote with before you head out, you should check out NPR's extensive annual list of recommended summer reading. They've got book lists for every fancy and every reader in your family. So get out there and have fun! Oh, and don't forget the sunblock!

Tsongas Center Backyard Music Series Kicks Off Thursday June 30th @ 6PM

This summer, head on back, behind the Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell, along the scenic Merrimack River for a new Backyard Music Series! Bring the entire family down with your blankets or lawn chairs and enjoy the beautiful Summer weather with an evening of FREE music. Each show will feature a different genre of music, all perfect for adults and kids alike.

Series Schedule:

June 30th—Island Castaways (Jimmy Buffet Tribute)

July 14th—Jen Kearney and the Lost Onion

July 21st—Yani Batteau and the Styles

August 4th—Richard James and the Name Changers

August 11th—The Flip

August 18th—Melvern Taylor and the Fabulous Meltones

Library will be closed Independence Day Weekend & Summer Hours are in effect.

In observance of Independence Day, the Library will be closed Monday, July 4, 2011. The library will reopen 9AM Tuesday, July 5, 2011.

Also, please note that beginning this week, the Library will be observing our Summer Hours through Labor Day weekend:

SUMMER HOURS

Monday—Thursday 9am-9pm

Friday 9am-5pm

Saturday-Sunday CLOSED

The library will reopen on Saturdays beginning September 10, 2011.

Free Fun Fridays

The Highland Street Foundation will be offering its Free Fun Fridays program. Starting next Friday, July 1^st different cultural attractions across Massachusetts (places like the Museum of Fine Arts, the Museum of Science, and the Franklin Park Zoo) will provide free admission on different Fridays and host other special events throughout the summer. No registration or tickets are necessary. For more information please visit www.highlandstreet.org.

Civil War Trading Cards Now Available

The sesquicentennial commemoration of the opening of the Civil War continues this summer at the Pollard Library (a.k.a. Memorial Hall). We have five Civil War Trading cards created by the Lowell National Historical Park each featuring a different Lowellian who was somehow involved in the conflict between North and South. Look for them on the various public desks in the library, we'll be putting out one card per month available for free (while supplies last). Collect them all!

Out now until the end of July (while supplies last):

Luther Ladd, a mill worker and soldier from Lowell who was killed along with two other soldiers (including fellow Lowellian Addison Whitney) on April 19, 1861 while marching through Baltimore on the way to Washington with the Lowell City Guards (6th Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers) making he and Whitney two of the first four casualties of the Civil War. Ladd and Whitney are buried under the obelisk in front of City Hall.

And coming up in August: Abba Goddard.

It's not too late to be involved with Lowell Sustainability Week

This week is Lowell Sustainability week and by clicking on the previous link, you know there are lots of great events going on, including an outdoor screening and discussion of a "green film" tonight at the Shedd Park Pavilion, a beekeeping workshop Friday, and a City-wide bike tour Saturday. One of the most interesting ways you can get participate in Lowell Sustainability Week is by taking part in the online virtual planning tool called Community PlanIt. It's truly unique and pretty fun, and you have until Saturday to sign up and play. Don't miss out on this opportunity to contribute to the planning of your community! More info is available on the City's Website.

Dark Tide: The Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919 by Stephen Puleo, Thursday, July 7th, 2011 @ 6:30PM

Next up for the Non-Fiction-ers is Dark Tide: Great Boston Molassess Flood of 1919 by Stephen Puleo's. This book is a scrupulously researched telling of the eponymous disaster (not to be confused with the soon to be released Halley Berry shark flick, or the eel disaster film of the mid 1990's—all separate and but equally dark tides).

Puleo, a former newspaper reporter and contributor to American History magazine does a masterful job of contextualizing the disaster within its historical moment. So, in the end, this book is not only about the molasses flood but about World War I, the anarchist movement, Prohibition, immigration, and the expanding role of big business in early 20th century America. So, read up and come on down to join in on the discussion, July 7th @ 6:30PM in the Ground Floor Community Room. All are welcome, snacks provided.

Next Week is Lowell Sustainability Week (June 20-25th)

You may already know that next week is 2011 Lowell Sustainability Week. There are events planned all over the city and online as Lowell celebrates its efforts and accomplishments in greening up as a city. The City is also looking for help in planing a sustainable future. For a full list of events please visit www.lowellsustainabilityweek.org.

Author Event - Jay Atkinson - Tauvernier Street & Paradise Road - Thursday, June 23rd 7PM

Come see where the rubber meets the road for Metheun native Jay Atkinson. He'll be at the library next Thursday, June 23rd at 7pm to read from his latest book of short stories, Tauvernier Street, and his recent book Paradise Road: Jack Kerouac's Lost Highway and my Search for America. The latter is a compelling travelogue of his adventures criss-crossing America, taking inspiration from Kerouac's opus, On the Road, fifty years after its original publication.

Summer @ the Pollard - Closed Saturdays

This is to let you know that the library will be closed on Saturdays in from Independence Day through Labor Day. Meaning, next Saturday, June 25th will be the last Saturday we'll be open until September 10, 2011. Think of these Saturdays as the perfect opportunity for you to take it easy and get some Summer Reading done!

Friends Meeting Tomorrow Night

Fresh off their highly successful Annual Booksale, the Friends of the Library will be meeting tomorrow, Thursday, June 16th at 6pm in the Ground Floor Meeting Room. They will be discussing future events and voting for new officers. Stop by the meeting if you want to see how you can get involved!

Also, GO BRUINS!

Library Elf Can Help

One of the more frequent questions we've been receiving about the new catalog system (Evergreen) is that when you log into "My Account" to request and view materials you've requested, the new system will list what you have on hold but it doesn't tell you your queue position. This is something that MVLC is working to fix but in the meantime it might be worth it to create a LIBRARY ELF account.

Library Elf is a service that helps you manage your library loans and holds. You can opt to receive email notices when items are due, overdue, or ready for pick up. And once you create an account you can log in to see what you have out, what you have coming and what your queue position is for a given item.

To get started, have your library card and PIN ready and go to Library Elf’s web site and complete the simple sign up form and register.

Please note: this private service is not affiliated with either Pollard Library or MVLC and is not specifically endorsed by the consortium. Please read Library Elf's FAQ and Privacy Policy before deciding to sign up for the service.

"The Last Pow Wow Oak" by Andrew Szava-Kovats. 1PM, Saturday, June 18, 2011

Join us for a special screening of the latest documentary by local filmmaker Andrew Szava-Kovats. "The Last Pow-Wow Oak" (2011) 60 mins. Unrated. This documentary tells the story of the historic 300 year old Pow-Wow Oak Tree on Clark Road in Lowell's Belvidere neighborhood, where Native American gathered for Pow-Wows and Revolutionary War Militia gathered on their way to Lexington and Concord. We're thrilled to announce the screening will be followed by a Q&A with the director himself, Andrew Szava-Kovats. For more information about the film and the efforts surrounding documenting and preserving the tree please see the film's website or Lowell Film Collaborative's wonderful write up on the movie and our screening.

Independent Film Night Next Thursday, June 9th @ 6:30 - Helena From the Wedding - a film by Joseph Infantolino

Join us next Thursday, June 9th for the latest installment of our Independent Film Series as we show Joseph Infantiolino's Helena From the Wedding (2010). This film is a bittersweet drama about love and commitment and features the beautiful Gillian Jacobs from NBC's Community as the eponymous Helena. A group of friends gather in a modernly rustic cabin in the woods of upstate New York to ring in the New Year and the tensions mount as they look to find reasons to celebrate the past and/or look forward to the future but they're essentially looking for peace in the present. This is a beautifully acted, deftly written drama, you won't want to miss. 89 mins. In English. This screening made possible by the Friends of the Pollard Library.