Monday, July 2, 2012
New Address for Pollard Blog is http://www.blog.pollardml.org/
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Library Closing July 4th & Summer Hours Take Effect Next Week
Pollard Library Summer Hours:
Monday 9am-9pm
Tuesday 9am-9pm
Wednesday 9am-9pm
Thursday 9am-9pm
Friday 9am-5pm
Saturday & Sunday: CLOSED
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Get Ready Lowell - Your Library's Website is Changing
so...
so...
so...
get ready.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Lowell seeking Applicants for Library Trustee
I am thrilled to be on the Library’s Board of Trustees – it’s a great group of people and I am hugely passionate about the important role public libraries play in the community. The freedom to read and to have unfettered access to information are cornerstones of democracy and libraries are at the forefront of that.
The library is also a treasure trove of awesome free programming; free books, e-books, magazines, movies, and music; free film screenings and author readings; free museum passes; free computer access and classes; and it has an amazing art collection.
The Library Board of Trustees provides policy direction in matters and concerns related to the Lowell Public Library. The Board of Trustees meets the first Wednesday of the month at 5:30 p.m. Applicants should send a letter of interest and a resume by 5:00pm Monday, July 9th to the Office of the City Manager, City Hall, 375 Merrimack St., Lowell, MA 01852. Application materials may also be sent via email to Donna McIntosh, Executive Assistant to the City Manager at dmcintosh@lowellma.gov. For more information call the City Manager’s Office at 978-970-4000 or visit the City of Lowell website.
Lowell Reads First Film Night Thursday, June 28th @ 6:30pm
Lowell Readers! To help contextualize Great Expecations, we're going to be giving you an opportunity to take in some biographical information about Charles Dickens in film form this Thursday, June 28th @ 6:30pm. First up is an hour long documentary called Charles Dickens: A Tale of Ambition and Genius, which paints an informative and insightful overview of Mr. Dickens' life.
Then we'll be showing two thirty minute episodes of BBC's Dickens in America featuring Miriam Margolyes. This show followed Margolyes as she retraced Dickens' 1842 trip to America—we'll be watching her as she prepares to leave England, and as she visits Lowell and other New England stops along Dickens' trail.
This film night, along with all the other Lowell Reads Great Expectations programming is free and open to the public. If you have any questions please contact me, Sean Thibodeau, Community Planning Librarian at 978-674-1542 or sthibodeau@mvlc.org. See you Thursday!
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Dream Big! Read - Summer Reading Kick-Off featuring magician Tommy James - Tomorrow! 7pm
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Friends of the Library Annual Meeting, Tuesday, June 19th - 6-7:30pm
AND...if you can't make the meeting you can catch the Friends this summer over in the Highlands selling some gently used books at unbeatable prices at the Friends of Tyler Park's 14th Annual Summer Sunset Music Series. Festivities start by 6pm and include face painting, balloons, hot dogs, popcorn, raffles, etc. Bring a lawn chair or blanket.
Full line up:
Thursday, June 21 - Jen Kearney & The Lost Onion - 6:30-8:00pm
Thursday, July 19 - Take Two - 6:30-8:00pm
Thursday, August 16 - Gumbo Diablo - 6:30-7:30pm
Monday, June 11, 2012
Nonfiction Book Club to discuss: The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration by Isabel Wilkerson - Thursday, July 5, 2012 @ 6:30 PM
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Natasha Trethewey named Poet Laureate
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Book launch party for local anthology: "River Muse: Tales of Lowell and the Merrimack Valley" Friday 7pm @ UML Inn & Conference Center!!!
Monday, June 4, 2012
Dennis Lehane calls libraries "an unequivocal good."
He went on to say "Anytime you can support libraries, please do. You are supporting an unequivocal good, you are supporting a light against the darkness, a bulwark against the barbarians."
Here's a slideshow of some pictures from that night:
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Victorian Era Insights
Although the diaries are available to us only briefly, the timing could not be better. As you may know, Lowell is currently celebrating Charles Dickens, and the Pollard Memorial Library just kicked off Lowell Reads Great Expectations. Dickens, who was born 200 years ago and visited the city in 1842, wrote during the Victorian Era. Perusing Queen Victoria's journals will provide insight into this time period and to the woman who reigned when Dickens was creating his most memorable works.
Sources:
Queen Victoria's Journals. http://www.queenvictoriasjournals.org/home.do (accessed June 2, 2012).
Schuessler, Jennifer. "Queen Victoria's Complete Diaries Released Online." New York Times. May 24, 2012. http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/24/queen-victorias-complete-diaries-released-online/?partner=rss&emc=rss
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Acre Neighborhood Festival - Saturday, June 9th - 12pm -4pm North Common Amphitheater
This is the same day as our Super Special Kids Storytime (10am-11am) for special needs kids and their families. Sounds like a good day to be in the Acre!
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
We've got Lowell Spinners Library Passes!
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Don't miss the Lowell Reads Great Expecations Kick Off Party this Saturday June 2nd, 11am-3pm
We're very excited for the kick off of Lowell Reads Great Expectations THIS SATURDAY June, 2nd from 11am-3pm.
- 11am-12pm: Animal Mask Craft - The Lowell Humane Society will be on hand to lead an Animal Mask Craft for kids. All children and grownups are welcome, no registration necessary.
- 1pm-3pm: Special screening of an animated children's feature starring a troupe of lovable kittens based on Charles Dicken's "Oliver Twist."
Thursday, May 24, 2012
UPDATE: Memorial Day Weekend Hours
So. Library Hours for this weekend are as follows:
Friday, May 25th - 9am-3pm
Saturday, May 26th - 9am-5pm
Sunday, May 27th - CLOSED
Monday, May 28th - CLOSED
Have a safe and happy holiday.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
In observance of Memorial Day the Library will be CLOSED Monday, May 28th
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Foundation Author Night with Dennis Lehane is only two days away - Thursday, May 24th @ 6pm
Friday, May 18, 2012
#Lowell Reads Great Expectations (June—August 2012) #lowellreads12
Thursday, May 17, 2012
This weekend Lowell throws her Doors Open wide
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Friends Book sale THIS WEEKEND ONLY!!!
Just a quick reminder that the Friends of the Pollard Library's book sale is coming up this weekend over at the Lowell Senior Center, 276 Broadway St. (at the corner of Broadway and Fletcher - next to the Rite Aid, across from the Market Basket). Here are the details:
- Friday, May 18th - 4pm-7pm - Special Members Only Preview Night. With refreshments. A special bonus for members to take first crack at the book sale offerings. If you're not a member yet, you can fill out a membership form and come on down and join up at this event.
- Saturday, May 19th - 9am-3pm - Main Book Sale Event!! This is it folks, what you and your bibliophile brethren have been looking forward to all year. Come early, come often. Bring a friend, meet some friends.
- Sunday, May 20th - 9am-2pm - Second Chance Sale. Deep Discounts - if you're a risk taker, you can let your choices slide until Sunday in the hopes of getting them for less than the already ridiculously low prices of the main sale. It would be in your best interest to come back anyway, to gobble up huge savings.
Monday, May 14, 2012
Independent Film Night - Thursday, June 14th @ 6:30 - King of Devil's Island
You won't want to miss next month's Independent Film Night at the Pollard (2nd Thursday of every month). On Thursday, June 14th @ 6;30PM we'll be showing King of Devil's Island a film by Marius Holst. Stellan Skarsgard stars in this stirring Norwegian film. (A perfect sentence for a pirate to arrr-ti-culate) The film is based on a true story of Norway's infamous Bastøy Boys Home correctional facility. The story begins with the arrival of a new inmate who immediately clashes with the administration and governor (Skarsgard) by refusing to accept their culture of constant abuse and torment. Ultimately, he leads the other boys to stand up for themselves on an ill-fated mission to reclaim their humanity from the corruption of unchecked power.
King of Devil's Island is in Norwegian with English Subtitles. Run time 116 minutes. Please note: These Independent films are not rated by the MPAA and should be considered for mature audiences. The Pollard Library Independent Film night occurs on the 2nd Thursday of every month. The events are free and open to the public. Made possible by the Friends of the Library.
Friday, May 11, 2012
Up Next for Nonfiction Book Club: Common As Air: Revolution, Art and Ownership by Lewis Hyde - Thursday, June 7th @ 6:30pm
Last year, I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Hyde during a speaking engagement and I'm excited for this opportunity to discuss some of the heady arguments in his most recent book. Common As Air investigates the relatively recent idea of creative works as "intellectual property." Especially with an eye toward how this gels with what the founders of our country thought the best usage of the collective store of human invention, intelligence, and art. As opposed to some of the historical adventure stories the nonfiction book club has been reading, this book is essentially a book length essay revealing the thoughts of a wide ranging mind (Hyde's) as they relate to the the idea of a cultural commons and how to best preserve protect and engage with it. So, the long and short of it is you may want to allow yourself some time for your mind to digest Hyde's incisive and wide ranging arguments.
While we do ask you to obtain the book yourself (and there are plenty of copies in the MVLC library system) this book club is free and open to the public. If you have any questions please email me at sthibodeau@mvlc.org. Happy reading!
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Friends Call for Book Sale Volunteers
A message from the Vice President of the Friends, Kerry Craven regarding the upcoming book sale (May 18th—20th) at the Lowell Senior Center:
The booksale is fast approaching and there are still lots of books to sort before the first day, so I am hoping to plan a couple of times to tackle it and get a jump on the project. The Senior Center is only open during the day, so I would be planning to spend a few hours anytime from early morning through 3:30, with a specific date to be determined based on when people are willing and able to help out. So - if you are willing and able, please shoot me an email at friendsofthepml@yahoo.com and I will schedule accordingly. Many thanks.Kerry also wanted me to mention that in addition to help sorting books, the Friends are also looking for volunteers to help with last minute preparations (signage, etc.), and to staff the book tables at the book sale itself (neaten tables, welcome new friends, etc). If you are interested in helping out with any or all of the above please contact Kerry at friendsofthepml@yahoo.com.
Monday, May 7, 2012
Lowell Give Back Day - Saturday, May 12, 2012
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Pollard Memorial Library Foundation Author Night: Dennis Lehane - May 24th @ 6pm
This event is a fundraiser for the Pollard Memorial Library Foundation and the suggested donation is $45. The PML Foundation annual authors night is a very special occasion where we transform our gorgeous 2nd floor reference room back into a function hall. There will be ample opportunity for book signing and conversation with the author. H'oeur derves and refreshments will be served. For more information about the foundation please visit their webpage: www.pollardml.org/foundation.
Mill City Skill Share - Sunday, May 6th 10am-6pm - Various Downtown Locations
Monday, April 30, 2012
Book Donations Drop off at the Lowell Senior Center this Saturday, May 5th, 9am-12pm.
The Friends of the Pollard Library's annual book sale is fast approaching (May 18th—20th). To that end, the Friends will gratefully accept book donations this Saturday, May 5th from 9am-12pm over at the Lowell Senior Center, 276 Fletcher St.
So if you, or someone you know, have books to spare please consider donating them. For more information or to learn how you can help please email Kerry at friendsofthepml@yahoo.com. Thank you for your consideration.
Delayed Opening this Thursday, May 3rd (Library Hours 11am-9pm)
Saturday, April 28, 2012
NPS Lowell Folklife & LFC present Monsoon Wedding with tasty delights Friday May 5th
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
1st Annual PML Anime Convention THIS Saturday, April 28th 10am-4pm
Friday, April 20, 2012
Thank you to Our Dedicated Volunteers!!
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South Common Haiku Book Project - Sunday April 22nd 2-4pm
Hopefully the weather will cooperate. Though, even rain provide inspiration for poetry, as the imitable Bashō shows us:
Spring rain
conveyed under the trees
in drops
In this warm spring rain
tiny leaves are sprouting
from eggplant seeds.
Plant your metaphorical seeds on the South Common, people. See what sprouts.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Adult Literacy ESOL Tutor Training begins Monday, April 23rd
Literacy Volunteers of the Pollard Memorial Library have scheduled a training for ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) Tutors. This 18 hour training is free for anyone who is interested in volunteering to work with non-native English speakers seeking to improve their English. Our program offers free, confidential, flexibly-scheduled tutoring on a one-to-one or small group basis to adults in the Greater Lowell area. You do not need any prior teaching experience or knowledge of another language to become a tutor. All you need is an open mind, the desire to help an adult who needs you, and the ability to meet with your student for eight hours each month. We provide an initial program orientation and tutor training in order to prepare you to work with your student. Please note: attendance at the orientation and ALL training sessions is mandatory if you wish to become a tutor.
Monday, April 23, 2012 from 7 PM to 9 PM
This orientation provides an overview of the Literacy Volunteers of the Pollard Memorial Library program and the expectations we have for our tutors and students. Please register by calling Julie Iatron, Program Director, at 978-674-1541.
ESOL Tutor Training Sessions
Monday, May 14, 2012 from 6 to 9 PM
Monday, June 4, 2012 from 6 to 9 PM
Monday, June 11, 2012 from 6 to 9 PM
Monday, June 18, 2012 from 6 to 9 PM
Monday, June 25, 2012 from 6 to 9 PM
This training will take place from 6 PM to 9 PM six Monday nights: two in May and four in June. All sessions must be attended in order to receive certification. Registration is required for the ESOL Tutor Training. If you would like more information about Literacy Volunteers of the Pollard Memorial Library or the upcoming program orientation or ESOL tutor training or if you are interested in registering for the orientation and tutor training, please contact Julie Iatron, Program Director, at 978-674-1541.
Congratulations Kate Hanson Foster - "Mid Drift" selected one of the best Massachusetts books in 2011
Friday, April 13, 2012
This Sunday - Lowell Remembers: The Civil War 1862-1865
AND...speaking of Sunday morning, made me think I should mention Sunday Afternoon. In particular, this Sunday afternoon April 15th from 2-4pm, when the photographic talents of our own reference librarian Tony Sampas will be on full display at the opening reception of the exhibit: Lowell Remembers: The Civil War 1862-1865 (curated by Martha Mayo) over at the Patrick J. Mogan Cultural Center 40 French Street.
The reception will also feature a lecture from Richard P. Howe Jr. entitled Making Sense of the Civil War. If you are at all interested in the history of Lowell's and/or its place in the Civil War you won't want to miss this exciting event. If you have any questions contact: 978-934-499
Non-Fiction Book Club - Over the Edge of the World by Laurence Bergreen, Thursday, May 3, 2012 @ 6:30PM
First off, I would like to thank the folks who contributed to last weeks engaged and insightful discussion of Cleopatra: A Life. The intelligence and openness of this group really make my job as moderator easy like Sunday morning.
Speaking of Sunday morning, if you have the benefit of a long weekend it might be a good time to join Non-Fiction book lovers across Lowell as we begin the journey through another truth seeking monograph. This one chronicles Magellan's bold adventure around the globe in search of a better route to the Spice Islands of Indonesia. If he only knew, specifically, how big the pacific was he might never have left Europe. I'll leave it to the book jacket to give you a better overall feel for the book:
Ferdinand Magellan's daring circumnavigation of the globe in the sixteenth century was a three year odyssey filled with sex, violence, and amazing adventure. Now in Over the Edge of the World, acclaimed author Laurence Bergreen, interweaving a variety of candid, first-person accounts, some previously unavailable in English, brings to life this groundbreaking and majestic tale of discovery that changed many long-held views about the world and the way explorers would henceforth navigate its oceans.While we do ask you to obtain the book yourself (and there are plenty of copies in the MVLC library system) this book club is free and open to the public. If you have any questions please email me at sthibodeau@mvlc.org. Happy reading!
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Snapshot Day - Preliminary Results
Here's a sampling of some of the candid snapshots we've taken during today's Snapshot Day festivities. You can also check out shots taken at libraries across the Commonwealth at the Massachusetts Snapshot Day Group Flickr Page. A big thank you to everyone who has filled out a survey and posed for a picture here at the Pollard. We wouldn't be the special place we are without your patronage. We're open til 9pm tonight (and showing a special Independent Film from Israel called Vasermil at 6:30pm) so it's not too late to come down and get involved.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
In observance of Patriots' Day the Library will be Closed Monday, April 16th
Monday, April 9, 2012
Happy National Library Week (April 8th-14th)
- You can come on in and vote for your favorite poster in the Children's Department National Library Week Poster Contest.
- You can participate on Thursday in our Library Snapshot Day event (by getting your photo taken, filling out a survey, or just by using the library).
- You can complete our Autism Awareness Month Survey.
- You can bring your kids in for a Special Storytime for All of Us this Saturday in honor of Autism Awareness Month.
- You can take in our Independent Film Vasermil Thursday night.
- Library Club meets again this Friday.
- You can check something out from our National Poetry Month display on the 1st Floor landing of the Grand Staircase.
- You can contact your local representative and let them know how much libraries mean to you and your community.
April is the Crulest Month - but not for Film Fans!
And, finally, in celebration of April being National Poetry Month, on Thursday, April 19th @ 6:30pm, we'll be screening the 2003 poetic biopic of Sylvia Plath and Ted Huges's tumultuous relationship. Starring Gwyneth Paltrow as Plath and Daniel Craig as Hughes, the movie is full of raw emotion and poetical insights. This screening is made possible by the Friends of the Pollard Library. PLEASE NOTE: this film has been rated R by the MPAA and should be considered for mature audiences.
Friday, April 6, 2012
Vote for Lowell in Google's 3D Sketch "Model Your Hometown Contest"
We hope you already know about this contest (and have cast a vote for Lowell) but we wanted to share this video of 3D designer Beryl Reid's, entry into Google's 2012 Model Your Town Contest. Ms. Reid has been selected as a finalist in the worldwide competition (one of only two US towns so considered). For more info please read Howl in Lowell's excellent write up. And visit Google's Contest Page to cast your vote!
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Next Thursday is Library Snapshot Day! #snapmass12
Poem from Uncle Walt
A Noiseless Patient Spider
A noiseless patient spider,
I mark'd where on a little promontory it stood isolated,
Mark'd how to explore the vacant vast surrounding,
It launch'd forth filament, filament, filament, out of itself,
Ever unreeling them, ever tirelessly speeding them.
And you O my soul where you stand,
Surrounded, detached, in measureless oceans of space,
Ceaselessly musing, venturing, throwing, seeking the spheres to connect them,
Till the bridge you will need be form'd, till the ductile anchor hold,
Till the gossamer thread you fling catch somewhere, O my soul.
—Walt Whitman (1819-1892)
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Who's Art is it Anyway? Art & Commerce Panel Discussion - Thursday, April 5th, 7pm UMass O'Leary Library Auditorium
Reminds me of Lewis Hyde's book Common As Air: Revolution, Art and Ownership which I'll be advocating for at the Non-Fiction Book Group this Thursday—it all comes full circle.
Friends Book Donation Drop Off 9am-12noon This Saturday at the Senior Center
Monday, April 2, 2012
April is National Poetry Month - And we're still trying to Make Sense of the Civil War...
Old Ironsides
Staff Meeting Thursday April 5th - Library will open at 11am
Friday, March 30, 2012
Dickens Mania
Don't forget this weekend is the grand kick off to the Dickens in Lowell celebration. There's lots of fun stuff to do, including this evening's opening of the central exhibit at the Boot Gallery (behind Boardinghouse Park) . The opening runs from 5pm-7pm and will feature music food and speakers (or as Dickens might have put it—harmony, wittles, and orators).
Then come on by the Pollard tomorrow morning for Victorian Parlor games from 10am-11am. We'll be playing authentically Dickensian games such as Blindman's Bluff, Courtiers and Forefits as well as a take off of Pin the Tail on the Donkey called Pin the Raven on the Couch. Intrigued? We hope so.
Then tomorrow afternoon we'll be showing the film classic Oliver! at 1pm. So get ready to feel light again! Of course, there's lots more Dickens stuff going on all around the city full schedule here.
PLUS! Sunday evening, Masterpiece Theatre is serendipitously airing their latest and greatest production of "Great Expecations" featuring Gillian Anderson as Miss Havisham. It looks like this is going to be quite a production—and a great way to get into the story that's the subject of our Lowell Reads "Great Expectations" program coming this summer.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Friends Meeting Thursday 6PM
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Exciting News for Genealogists
(The following article was written by the newest member of our reference department, Alison Zaya. Alison is an experienced and knowledgeable reference librarian who worked for a number of years at the Nashua Public Library. We're very happy to welcome her to the PML team! If you have questions or comments on this article you can email her at azaya@mvlc.org)
Did your grandparents move during the Great Depression? Was an aunt or uncle you’ve been trying to track down born in 1931? For 72 years, the individual records from the 1940 Census have been sealed. On Monday, April 2 at 9:00 a.m. the records will be available for your perusal.
In addition to questions regarding name, age, gender, race, education, and place of birth, census takers asked occupants if they owned or rented their home, its value, and whether the home was on a farm. They recorded respondents’ occupation and employment status for the week of March 24-30, 1940, as well as their income for the previous year. Citizenship for the foreign born was noted, as was the person’s residence on April 1, 1935. This information could be particularly insightful for a family that moved often. For each census form, two people provided supplementary information. Approximately 5% of census takers shared the place of birth of their parents, their native language, veteran status, and whether they had a social security number. Married women were asked if they had been married more than once, the age at their first marriage, and the number of children born. I find these last questions, as well as the instruction to enter “infant” if a child under one year had not been given a name, particularly interesting. The National Archives website has a list of the questions asked as well as a blank census form.
You may be tempted to log on to your favorite genealogy site at 9:00 on Monday. After all, it has been 10 years since the 1930 records were unveiled. Despite the availability of the records, finding what you want may be difficult for a while. The 1940 census records are not yet indexed; thus, name searching is not possible. Some genealogy sites, including Ancestry.com, will be working to index the census once it is released. In the meantime, you can use enumeration districts (geographic areas assigned to census takers) to locate people, but it is a more complicated and time consuming process. More information about the enumeration districts is available on NARA's website.
If you want more information about the 1940 census, take a look at the following websites:
- The National Archives, which includes an FAQ about the census
- Archives.com, which is hosting the census website for the National Archives, and the Archives.com blog
- The United States Census Bureau
- The US Census Community Project, which is working to index the 1940 Census
- Pollard Memorial Library’s Online Research Database page, which has a link to Ancestry Library (in library use only)
Friday, March 23, 2012
Artist Richard Marion @ Dracut Library, March 27th, 7PM
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Dickens in Lowell Opening Weekend - Victorian Parlour Games and a screening of Oliver! the PML Saturday, March 31st
We'll be celebrating opening weekend in grand style with a morning of Victorian Parlour games of the ilk that Mr. Dickens played and wrote about in his novels. This event for children grades 1-4 and runs from 10am-11am Saturday, March 31st, in the Ground Floor Meeting Room. While your at the library, you'll want to be sure to visit the Dickens & Victorian Scrapbooks Exhibit created by the talented girls of Girls, Inc. You can catch their fun and informative display in the cases outside the meeting room.
Come on back at 1pm, Saturday, March 31st for a special screening of the musical Oliver! This winner of six Academy Awards boasts a superb British cast including Ron Moody, Oliver Reed and Shani Wallis and an unforgettable musical score. Rated G; 148 minutes; 1968. This screening sponsored by the Friends of the Library. Free and open to the public.
To mark the bicentenary of Charles Dickens's birth and to commemorate his historic trip to America in 1842*, UMass Lowell and its partners present "Dickens in Lowell," a seven-month slate of performances, speakers, family programs, and a landmark exhibition exploring Dickens's life, work, and travels in America! Full schedule of events is available at: www.uml.edu/dickens.