Independent Film Night - Thursday, March 8th @ 6:30: The Piano in a Factory

What will one do for the love of music? For the love of one's child? For the loss of love? This month's independent feature film, The Piano in a Factory (Gang de qin) features some of the most basic geometric designs for coping with the human condition: hope, derangement, and beautiful music. The film centers on Chang, who is trying to prove his worth to his estranged wife and win custody of their young daughter by securing a piano for her. After a number of failed attempts to purchase, fake, and even steal one he recruits a rag tag bunch of sympaticos to help him build one from scratch in an disused factory. The dream sequences are wonderful to behold, and the contrast between the lovely music created in and among the industrial wasteland is a perfect metaphor for Chang's struggle to find the positive in his desperate situation. There's a lot of heart to this film, and a lot of love among the ruins.

The Piano in a Factory, a film by Zhang Meng. The film is in Mandarin with English Subtitles. Run time 105 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

"All Our Voices" Art Exhibit (March 5th - 31st) Opening Reception March 6th, 5pm-7:30pm

We are excited to host the "All Our Voices" art exhibit at the Pollard (March 5th-31st). This is an innovative and inspiring community art project led by bookmaker artist Susan Kapuscinski Gaylord. Groups and individuals have been making handmade books to contribute to a freestanding exhibition that will displayed at the Lowell Women's Week breakfast on March 5. The exhibit will then be brought over to the Pollard and be displayed on the first floor landing of our grand staircase through the month of March.

Don't miss the Opening Reception, Tuesday March 6th from 5pm-7:30pm. In addition to refreshments and book-making materials will be provided for folks to create their own books to contribute to the exhibit. After the exhibit is taken down, Susan Kapuscinski Gaylord will bind all the books together to create one book that will be archived at the Center for Lowell History. This project will create a visual and verbal representation of the diverse community of women in Lowell.

Here is a video from the Lowell Women's Week website featuring Susan Kapuscinski Gaylord introducing the project and detailing the steps of the bookmaking process:

Got Books? 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 Friday-Sunday, May 18th - 20th, 2012 at the Lowell Senior Center, 276 Broadway St.

The Friends will be accepting book donations at the Senior Center from 9am-12noon on the first Saturday of the month from now until the Sale. (March 3rd, April 7th, May5th). So if you have some books you'd like to donate please bring 'em down to the Senior Center this Saturday. And if you're interested in helping out on the receiving end, email Kerry at friendsofthepml@yahoo.com

Howl Heard Round Lowell

Have you heard the Howl in Lowell? It's rocketing around the local blogosphere, twittersphere, facebookworld and I couldn't help but post the video here. Howl in Lowell is set to launch March 1st as an online arts and entertainment magazine for the Mill City founded by Rita Savard and Caroline Gallagher. Richard Howe posted a full explanation and letter from the editors on his blog this morning. So keep your ears peeled to hear the howl of local "angelheaded hipsters burning for the ancient heavenly connection to the starry dynamo in the machinery of night." et al.

Lowell Celebrates Kerouac! 's 90th Birthday (March 8-11, 2012)

We just got a delivery of the brochures for the Lowell Celebrates Kerouac! birthday weekend celebration (March 8-11, 2012). Jack would have been 90 this March 12, 2012, and LCK! is pulling out all the stops in tribute to our hometown hero. There is so much going on, we can't list it all here, so come on down and pick up a brochure or check out the LCK! website.

Hunger Games Teen Event & Food Drive - Friday, March 23rd — 3:30PM – 4:30PM

Here's your chance to help your neighbors, help yourself, and support your favorite tributes in the upcoming games! No, not the 2012 Olympic Games, the theatrical release of the Hunger Games. Come on down to the library on Friday, March 23rd from 3:00-4:30 to make buttons in support of your favorite district. We’ll also be engaging in some competitive games—“may the odds be ever in your favor.” But here's the part where you get to help your neighbors and yourself: bring a non perishable food item for donation to the Merrimack Valley Food Bank, Inc. from this suggestions list and you will be entered in a chance to win movie passes! You'll be helping out a great cause, (because, in the end, hunger is no game). This event is for teens in grades 5 and up. No sign-up is required. If you have any questions please contact the Youth Services Department at 978-970-4122.

Photos from our Recent Vision Station Open House

Here are some photos from our recent Low Vision Station Open house. We want to thank New England Eye Institute for sending their Mobile Eye Clinic to administer eye exams, and Stuart Flom of AdaptiVision, Inc., for giving comprehensive demonstrations of our new equipment. Pollard Memorial Library Foundation, the Lowell Lions Club, and individual donors for funding the great low vision stations available for use on the first floor of the library. If you or someone you know are interested in using the low-vision station please call the reference desk at 978-970-4121 to make an appointment for an orientation.