Holiday Vacation is coming up! Don't Forget to Reserve Your Museum Passes!

Nancye Tuttle's cover story in yesterday's Stepping Out gave lots of great advice to parents and caregivers for what to do with kids over winter break. We appreciate the fact that she listed the two great programs we're hosing at the Pollard in addition to a slew of other great free library programming in the area.

We also wanted to call attention to our museum pass lending program made possible in large part by the Friends of the Library. The library has passes available for free or discount admission for many area musems. From Lowell's own American Textile History Museum , Boot Cotton Mills Musem, New England Quilt Museum, and the Whistler House, to the Discovery Museums in Acton and the Children's Museum in Boston, to the Museum of Science and the Museum of Fine Arts. You can browse and reserve your pass today on our website.

Museum Pass Spotlight: Museum of Science: A Day in Pompeii

Through the good work of our Friends of the Library group, the Pollard is able to offer many free or discounted passes for area museums, zoos, parks, and cultural organizations. We thought we'd highlight a special exhibit going on right now at the Museum of Science Boston: A Day in Pompeii.

Museum-goers can visit Pompeii before, during, and after the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79. For centuries, Pompeii lay buried under a 12-foot blanket of ash and debris until 1749, when workers digging up a riverbed struck part of a building with their shovels, revealing a lost city right under their feet. Now the secrets once hidden under the hardened ash are on display in A Day in Pompeii.

Independent Film Night Thursday, September 8th @ 6:30 - A Screaming Man -

Have you ever acted in a rash or spiteful manner and lived to regret your decision? Join us for our independent film night Thursday, September 8th at 6:30PM. We'll be showing the 2010 Cannes Film Festival Jury Prize Winner, A Screaming Man directed by Mahamat-Saleh Haroun. The film is set in the African nation of Chad during its civil war though the film isn't about war, moreso the effect war has on people. The protagonist, a 60 year old pool attendent, is trying to affirm his place in the world whist being surrounded by tumolt and in a moment of weakness he makes a decison he will forever regret. This is the stuff of drama. Don't miss it.

The Pollard Library Independent Film night 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. Our Independent film nights are made possible by the Friends of the Library.

Non-Fiction Book Club: Sudden Sea: The Great Hurricane of 1938 by R. A. Scotti, Thursday, September 1, 2011 @ 6:30PM

Thank you book clubbers for last week's lip-smacking discussion of Cod by Mark Kurlansky—the cod on crackers and cod chowder were really something else—the donuts and cupcakes and cooikies were all stellar as well. But, I digress. The time has come to set our sights on a new Non Fiction gem. Our nautical theme continues onward for at least one more month as we will be discussing R.A. Scotti's book Sudden Sea: The Great Hurricane of 1938. This, from the jacket:

The gripping and unforgettable story of the Great Hurricane of 1938, still remembered by all who survived it as the most terrifying moment of their lives...On September 21, 1938, the fastest hurricane on record caught the Northeast by surprise and left a wake of death and destruction across seven states. Traveling at record speeds, the storm raced up the Atlantic coast, reaching New York and New England ahead of hurricane warnings and striking with such intensity that seismographs in Alaska registered the impact.

Sounds like quite a story, don't miss out what sure to be a lively discussion Thursday, September 1st @ 6:30PM.

ALSO—Don't forget this week is Independent Film Night at the library. Come to our free screening of Illegal by Olivier Masset-Depasse tomorrow night at 6:30pm. Made possible by the Friends of the Library.

Independent Film Night Thursday, August 11th @ 6:30 - Illegal - a film by Olivier Masset-Depasse

Join us at 6:30PM on Thursday, August 11th for the latest installment of our Independent Film Series: Illegal - a film by Olivier Masset-Depasse (2010). This is an elegant little film about a former teacher from Russia living illegally in Belgium with her fourteen year old son. They are caught one day by the Belgian authorities. Her son escapes arrest but she is taken into custody and threatened with imminent deportation. What follows is her struggle to maintain her dignity while she attempts to gain freedom for her and her son. 95 mins. In French and Russian 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.

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!

Friends Booksale isn't over yet...

Thanks to the dedicated volunteers and Greater Lowell bibliophiles, the Annual Friend's Booksale this past weekend was a great success. But those of you who missed it (or those of you who want even more!), don't forget there's a Second Chance Sale coming up this Saturday from 9am-1pm at the Senior Center. The Friends want to sell everything...so there will be even better deals than before. You'll want to stop by.

Updates Updates

Don't forget tomorrow is the first Thursday of the month. Which means two things.

1) We will have a delayed opening. The library will not be open to the public until 11AM so the library staff can have meetings and trainings. This delayed opening will happen on the first Thursday of each month. We apologize for any inconvenience.

2) Non Fiction book clubbers will be gathering tomorrow night to discuss the latest non-fiction gem. Jill Lepore's A is for American is up for tomorrow's discussion. The initial reaction to this book has not been warm but that doesn't mean we won't have a great conversation.

Also, Saturday is the last Book Donation Drop Off for the Annual Friends of the Library booksale. Meaning this is the last chance to donate books from your unwieldy collections for a good cause. I know there is a big banner in front of the library advertising this sale but please know: EVERYTHING will be happening at the Lowell Senior Center, 276 Broadway. So, bring your gently loved tomes this Saturday, May 7th from 9am-12pm to the Senior Center. Then come back to the Senior Center Saturday May 21st to buy some more books you might not need but surely want. And members of the Friends are also invited to a special Friend's Preview sale (with light refreshments) Friday, May 20th from 5:30-7:30 at the Senior Center.

April Nears...

April is the cruelest month, breeding  - T.S. Eliot, The Wasteland

We know you're excited! April begins on Friday, and apart from the usual April foolery type shenanigans, April 1st means National Poetry Month has begun. It's time to celebrate and the Pollard is here to help. You can find some great resources and ways to celebrate at the Academy of American Poet's webpage including text and audio recordings of some of the best American poets ever to grace the page. And information about their fun programs such as Poem In Your Pocket Day - April 14, 2011.

The University of Massachusetts Lowell has an impressive line up of poets reading in the Month of April. Including former U.S. Poet Laureate Kay Ryan, Tom Sexton, Marilyn Chin, Michael Casey, and Nicholas Samaras. Full calendar available on page seven of this attractive brochure.

On Thursday April 21st at 7PM the Pollard will be hosting a Common Threads poetry discussion group sponsored by the Massachusetts Poetry Festival May 13-14th in Salem. To sign up or get more information about this discussion you can contact Sean Thibodeau, Community Planning Librarian 978-970-4118 or sthibodeau@mvlc.org. And don't forget our area is rich in poetic resources. Support your local purveyors of things poetic including Bootstrap Productions, Loom Press, and the historic Grolier Poetry Bookshop. Read your local poets. 

April is also Autism Awareness Month and more can be info can be obtained at our The Pollard Library's Autism Guide and at the Autism Society website.

Also, in the month of April, the Pollard Memorial Foundation is bringing to our reference area (aka Memorial Hall) the great writer and captain Linda Greenlaw for their Annual Meet the Author Night, Thursday April 28th @ 6PM ($40 Donation to benefit the Foundation). We're also showing the movie that made Ms. Greenlaw a household name, The Perfect Storm on Saturday, April 23rd @ 1PM.

April will also bring the 4th Annual Lowell Film Festival! April 28-30th to be exact. The Pollard is proud to be hosting two movies on Saturday April 29th (John Brown's Holy War at 11AM, and World Peace and Other 4th Grade Achievements at 2PM). The festival's theme this year is "Lowell on the Churn: Civil War - Present" which ties in with this April being the 150th Anniversary of the commencement of the Civil War (or as the Memorial Hall commemorative plaque in the Pollard Library states, "The War of the Rebellion"). There will be tours of the Pollard and other downtown Civil War sites lead by Richard Howe, Jr. Full schedule available here.

And as if that weren't enough, The City of Lowell is kicking off celebrations for Lowell's 175th Anniversary with an event on Monday April 11th from 4:30-6:30 at City Hall.

Of course, all of this is not to mention the Friend's of the Library's Monthly book donation drop off at the Lowell Senior Center this Saturday April 2nd from 9am-12pm (all books to be sold at their Annual Booksale on May 21st at the Senior Center), or our monthly Non-Fiction Book club meeting next Thursday, April 7th @ 6:30 where we'll be discussing River of Doubt by Candice Millard, or our monthly Independent Film Night where on Thursday April 14th we'll be showing Bad Day to Go Fishing, or our great April School Vacation events, details of which can be found at our Children's Department Blog.

There is no doubt April is going to be a fun action packed month here at the Pollard and around the city. Don't miss it!

Don't Miss The Perfect Storm - Saturday, April 23rd 1PM - FREE

Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio as Linda Greenlaw in The Perfect Storm

On Saturday, April 23, 2011 at 1PM, to gear up for the Pollard Memorial Foundation’s Author Night with Linda Greenlaw (Thursday, April 28th at 6PM - $40 Donation per person) we’re showing a free screening the movie that first brought Ms. Greenlaw to the public’s attention. Set in 1991, The Perfect Storm, starring George Clooney, local favorite Mark Wahlberg, and of course Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio as Linda Greenlaw, depicts the plight of one sword-fishing ship, the ill-fated Andrea Gail, and her crew during the greatest storm in modern history. While friends and family on shore could only worry and hope to rescue them, a brave crew, fight nature and struggled for survival against hurricane force winds and hundred foot waves. The film is Rated PG-13 with a 130 minute run time. This screening is made possible by The Friends of the Pollard Library.

Friends Meeting Tomorrow, March 24th @ 6PM

Don't forget there's a meeting for the Friends of the Pollard Library tomorrow night. They'll be coordinating their efforts for the 2011 Annual Booksale. They can always use, and most definitely appreciate helping hands. So, come on by and bring a friend to meet some friends. If you can't come to the meeting tomorrow night and still want to help you can email friendsofthepml@yahoo.com.

Independent Film Night - Thursday, April 14th @ 6:30: "Bad Day To Go Fishing" a film by Álvaro Brechner

Join us for our ongoing Independent Film Series in partnership with Film Movement. Up next is  Bad Day to go Fishing a film by Álvaro Brechner. Thursday, April 14th @ 6:30PM. Jacob van Oppen – formerly the “strongest man on earth,” now a washed up alcoholic—and his crafty manager, Orsini, make good money staging bogus wrestling matches in small South American towns. When this oddball duo arrives in the unassuming village of Santa Maria, crafty, Orsini, is sure he can find the right opponent to throw the fight, but fishing in Santa Maria yields a bigger catch than he’d hoped for. Jordan Mintzer in Variety said “Álvaro Brechner’s ambitious debut is something like a retro ‘The Wrestler’ by way of the Cohen Brothers.” The film is in Spanish with English subtitles. Brought to you by the Friends of the 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.

Book Donation Drop-off - Tomorrow - Saturday, March 5th from 9am-12noon @ The Senior Branch of the Pollard Library in the Lowell Senior Center

Don't forget the Friends of the Pollard are accepting donations of your gently used books and videos tomorrow from 9am-12noon at the Senior Branch of the Pollard Library located in the Lowell Senior Center - 276 Broadway St. Lowell. Their Annual Booksale is on May 21st from 9-3pm at the Senior Center and the Friends will be accepting donataions the first Saturday of every month until then. Please do not bring donations to the main branch of the library. For more information, check out the Friends' webpage or email friendsofthepml@yahoo.com.

Birthday Matinee - "What Happened to Kerouac?" by Richard Lerner and Lewis MacAdams, Saturday, March 12, 2011 @ 1PM

Come celebrate what would have been Jack Kerouac's 89th Birthday by taking in Richard Lerner and Lewis MacAdams' affecting documentary "What Happened to Kerouac?" Saturday, March 12, 2011 @ 1PM.

This powerful documentary shows Jack Kerouac's unique creative process and rise to fame as a writer, while also shedding light on his turbulent personal life and the decline and tragically early death of Lowell's own King of the Beats. (FYI, the above clip is not from What Happened to Kerouac? so don't go looking for it.)


This event is co-sponsored by the Lowell Film Collaborative, Lowell Celebrates Kerouac!, and the Friends of the Pollard.

And while your in the birthday spirit, don't forget to check out Lowell Celebrates Kerouac's full list of the 2011 Kerouac birthday related events. Especially the evening line up of events featuring David Amram organized by the good folks at ComeToLowell.com.

Friends are Gearing Up For the Annual Booksale! You can help!

The Friends of the Pollard Libary are gearing up for their annual booksale fundraiser to be held on Saturday, May 21, 2011 at the Lowell Senior Center, 276 Broadway St.

The first of three book donation drop offs will be held at the Lowell Senior Center on Saturday, March 5 from 9am-12noon.

Come by their meeting next Thursday, February 17, 2010 at 6pm in the Ground Floor Meeting Room of the Library to see how you can get involved!

Busy Week at the Pollard

Good Monday to you! Here's a quick round up of the great events that we have going on this week at the Pollard.

Tuesday - December 7th @ 10:30AM
Annual Holiday Sing-A-Long - Sing some old favorites and learn some new holiday tunes. For all children and their grown ups.

Wednesday - December 8th @ 6PM
Friends of the Pollard Library meeting.  UPDATE: The December Friend's Meeting has been cancelled. Next meeting TBA....  The Friends are looking for new officers. Please consider getting involved!

Thursday - December 9th @ 6:30PM
Independent Film Night! This month's film is Bomber directed by Paul Cotter

Saturday - December 11th @ 1PM
Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life -- Special Holiday Matinee! Whether it's your first time seeing this classic or your hundredth yule love it!

We're Looking for a Few Good Friends!

The Friends of the Pollard Library are looking for candidates for office. Full details available at our Friend's Page where you can also find a membership form and join if you haven't already. And, if you have joined it would be splendid if you'd consider applying for an officer's position. 

The Friends do so much for the library -- including organizing an annual book sale fundraiser which is always a big hit amongst the mill city bibliophiles, sponsoring library events, and funding our museum pass program. But they wouldn't be able to do any of what they do without your help. If you're reading this, you care about the Pollard Library and we'd love it if you could consider getting involved. Thanks again for all your support!

Mark you Calendars:

The next Friend's of the Pollard Memorial Library meeting is 

Wednesday, December 8th at 6pm. 

Ground Floor Meeting Room

Pollard Library

401 Merrimack St, Lowell MA