Brownell Library events for January 09

Closings: Wednesday, Dec. 30 ~ at 5 p.m., Thursday, January 1 ~ New Year’s Day, Monday, January 19 ~ Dr. MLK, Jr. Birthday


Special announcement:

Sat. Jan. 24, 2pm – AMY GOODMAN, REKNOWNED JOURNALIST, COMING TO ESSEX JUNCTION!! Amy Goodman, producer and host of Pacifica Radio’s Democracy Now! will be the keynote speaker at the Vermont Arts Council’s 2009 Big Read program kick-off. The topic of her talk will be Standing Up to the Madness: Ordinary Heroes in Extraordinary Times. This free event will be held at the Essex High School auditorium in Essex Junction, VT. More information is provided below. . .


Mon. Jan 5, 7:30-9pm – Vermont Astronomical Society & Brownell present Our Place in the Galaxy by Bob Peacock.

Wed. Jan. 14, 6:15 pm – *Let’s Talk About It: Love and Forgiveness in the Presence of the Enemy - Discuss Books 1, 18-19, 21-22, 24 from The Iliad by Homer and dine over Mediterranean pot-luck. Prof. Jane Ambrose enriches our understanding of the text. What does the rage of Achilles have to say to our own time? Reserve your place: 878-6955. This is the first in a series of five book discussions that runs through May.

Fri. Jan. 16, 6:00pm** – Adult Movie: “Into the Wild” – Inspired by the true story of Chrisopher McCandless, a young man who abandons his life of comfort to pursue the freedom of life on the open road, a quest that leads him to the Alaskan wilderness and challenge. Screenplay and direction by Sean Penn. Cast includes Emile Hirsch, William Hurt, Marcia Gay Harden, Vince Vaughn, Catherine Keener, Hal Holbrook. Rated R. **Please note the early start time for this film.

Wed. Jan. 21, 7 pm – *Abenaki Perspectives on Love and Forgiveness in Vermont. Fred Wiseman, tribal historian and Professor of Humanities at Johnson State College, leads these deliberations.

Wed. Jan. 28, 7 pm – *Tools for Dealing with Conflict and Impasse Workshop, led by Christine Packard, an attorney and professional mediator. She has a mediation and facilitation practice in Burlington where she helps groups and individuals resolve their conflicts by working together to negotiate a settlement of their differences.

*Made possible through a grant from the American Library Association and the Fetzer Institute, as part of its Campaign for Love and Forgiveness.

Youth Events

Story Times are offered on a weekly basis – regular attendance is encouraged. Space is limited in each group, to avoid overcrowding. Pre-registration required. Call 878-6956.

Here’s the schedule:
Tuesday Story Time for Toddlers (18-36 months) – 9:10-9:30am – Picture books, songs, rhymes, and puppets for toddlers with an adult. (Jan. 6, 13, 20, 27)


Tuesday Story Time for 3-5 Year Olds – 10-10:45am – Picture books, songs, rhymes, puppets, and math activities for preschoolers. (Jan. 6, 13, 20, 27)

Wednesday Story Time for 3-5 Year Olds – 10-10:45am – Repeat of Tuesday program. (Jan. 7, 14, 21, 28)

Mon. Jan. 5, 12, 26, 3:30-4:00pm – Reading Buddies - Girl Scouts in Troop 30939 are looking for students in Grades K-3 to be their Reading Buddies. This new service project for the Girl Scouts happens at the library on Mondays from 3:30-4:00pm. Register at the Youth Desk or call 878-6956.

Wed. Jan. 7, 9-9:45am – DCF Booktalks for Homeschoolers – Each month, students in Gr. 4-8 hear book talks of 4 titles from this year’s DCF list. Students keep a log and vote for their favorite to win the DCF Book Award in the spring. Group discussion encouraged! Call 878-6956.

Wed. Jan. 7, 9-9:45am – Red Clover Picture Books for Homeschoolers – Each month, students read and do activities with 2 of the 10 titles on the list for this year’s Red Clover Award. Voting takes place in the spring. For Gr. K-3. Register at 878-6956.

Fri. Jan. 9 & 23, 10-10:45am – Songs and Stories with Matthew – Matthew Witten performs songs about our world and tells adventurous tales. For all ages - no registration. Funded by Friends of Brownell Library.

Fri. Jan. 9, 6:00-8:45pm** – Teen Movie: “The Dark Knight” - Batman, Gordon and Harvey Dent are forced to deal with the chaos unleashed by an anarchist mastermind known only as the Joker, as it drives each of them to their limits. Starring Heath Ledger, Christian Bale, Michael Caine. Free popcorn & soda. Hosted by TAB. (Rated PG-13) **Please note the early start time for this film.

Sat. Jan. 10, 10-11am – Read to Clyde & Sara, Therapy Dogs – Clyde (Maltese) and Sara (Chocolate Lab) love to listen to kids read! Sign up now to read to Clyde or Sara & then listen while others read. For Gr. K-5.

Mon. Jan. 12, 3:30-5pm – Teen Advisory Board – Snacks provided! New members always welcome. Gr. 9-12.

Thurs. Jan. 15, 3:30-4:30pm – Middle School Readers and Writers Club - Come chat with Kat about whatever book you’re reading right now, or bring some of your own writing to share with the group! Snacks too! Gr.6-8.

Fri. Jan. 16 & 30, 10-10:30am – Drop-In Story Time for Kids of All Ages – Babies, Toddlers and Preschoolers are welcome to come listen to Picture Book Stories and have fun with Finger Plays and Action Rhymes. No registration required.

Fri. Jan. 23, 6:30-8:00pm – Family Movie: “Wall-E” - In the distant future, a small waste-collecting robot inadvertently embarks on a space journey that will ultimately decide the fate of mankind. (Rated G.) Free popcorn & soda. Hosted by Teen Advisory Board.

Sat. Jan. 24, 2pm – AMY GOODMAN, REKNOWNED JOURNALIST, COMING TO ESSEX JUNCTION!! Amy Goodman, producer and host of Pacifica Radio’s Democracy Now! will be the keynote speaker at the Vermont Arts Council’s 2009 Big Read program kick-off. The topic of her talk will be Standing Up to the Madness: Ordinary Heroes in Extraordinary Times. This free event will be held at the Essex High School auditorium in Essex Junction, VT.
The Arts Council selected Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 for its 2009 program. Fahrenheit 451 will create a platform for discussing how artists use their work as social commentary, to provoke public awareness and in some cases, effect social change. More than 60 high schools and libraries across the state have already signed up to receive free copies of the book, reader’s guides and teacher’s guides, and to host book discussions and debates. The Big Read is an initiative of the NEA in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Vermont’s Big Read is presented by the Vermont Arts Council in partnership with Brownell Library in Essex Jct. Call 878-6955 or 878-6956 for details.

Mon. Jan. 26, 3:30-4:30pm – NECI’s Tasty Reads: Chinese New Year – Student chefs from New England Culinary Institute read stories about China and show kids how to make their own Fortune Cookies. For students in Gr. K-5. Register at 878-6956.

Thurs. Jan. 29, 3:30-4:30pm- High School Book Lust/Loathe - This month we’re dishing on the books we love and the books we love to hate!

Brownell Library events for December 08

Special closings: 12/11, 9am to 1pm; 12/24, at 5 p.m.; 12/25 & 12/26, all day; 12/31, at 5 p.m.

Adult Events

Mon., Dec. 1. 7:30pm –The Lunar 100 presented by Al Boudreau - A program originally developed wherein participants are asked to observe 100 key features on the moon which show some unique quality of lunar geology or lunar geologic history in increasing difficulty of observing, where L1 is the Moon itself (easy) and L100 -magnetic swirls on the moon’s edge (difficult). Sponsored by the Vermont Astronomical Society and the Brownell Library.

Wed, Dec. 3, 5-8pm – Art Fits Essex Puzzle Hop Exhibits and Reception – Essex & Essex Junction citizens, artists, students and YOU can be part of a statewide community arts program. Vermonters of all ages, interests and abilities have created art on wood & paper puzzle pieces. Community artists are exhibiting their puzzle pieces at Brownell Library’s Kolvoord Room, Essex Junction’s Village Office and several businesses & schools around the community. Come to the Reception and pick up a Puzzle Hop Map to find ART FITS Pieces throughout Essex and Essex Junction from December through January 4, 2009. If you’d like to design a puzzle piece, pick one up at Brownell Library and return it with your name ASAP, before 11/29.

Fri., Dec. 5, 6:30pm – Let’s Talk About It: Love & Forgiveness screening of “Joyeux Noël” recounts the true-story of an improvised Christmas truce between Scottish, French, and German soldiers in the trenches during the first year of WW I. Rated PG-13. Discussion follows.

Tue., Dec. 9, 7pm – Library Trustees Meeting

Thu. Dec 11 – Library Closed 9am-1pm for Staff Training. The library will open at 1pm.

Borrow The Iliad by Homer and read scenes 1, 18-19, 21-22, 24 in preparation for the first “Discuss & Dine” of the Let’s Talk About It: Love & Forgiveness in the Presence of the Enemy series Wed., January 16, 2009, 6:15 pm. UVM professor Jane Ambrose leads these programs, made possible by the American Library Association and the Fetzer Institute, as part of its Campaign for Love and Forgiveness. For more information, see: http://www.brownelllibrary.org/ or inquire at the Adult Circulation Desk.

Youth Events

Story Times are offered on a weekly basis – regular attendance is encouraged. Space is limited in each group, to avoid overcrowding. Pre-registration required. Call 878-6956. Here’s the schedule:


Tuesday Story Time for Toddlers (18-36 months) – 9:10-9:30am – Picture books, songs, rhymes, and puppets for toddlers with an adult. (Dec. 2, 9, 16)
Tuesday Story Time for 3-5 Year Olds – 10-10:45am – Picture books, songs, rhymes, puppets, and math activities for preschoolers. (Dec. 2, 9, 16)
Wednesday Story Time for 3-5 Year Olds – 10-10:45am – Repeat of Tuesday program. (Dec. 3, 10, 17)

Mon., Dec. 1, 8, 15, 22, 3:30-4:00pm – Reading Buddies - Girl Scouts in Troop 30939 are looking for students in Grades K-3 to be their Reading Buddies. This new service project for the Girl Scouts will happen at the library on Mondays from 3:30-4:00pm, starting Dec. 1. Register at the Youth Desk or call 878-6956.

Mon., Dec. 1, 4:15-5:15pm – Teen Advisory Board – Snacks provided! New members always welcome. Gr. 9-12.

Wed., Dec. 3, 9-9:45am – DCF Booktalks for Homeschoolers – Each month, students in Gr. 4-8 hear book talks of 4 titles from this year’s DCF list. Students keep a log and vote for their favorite to win the DCF Book Award in the spring. Group discussion encouraged! Call 878-6956.

Wed., Dec. 3, 9-9:45am – Red Clover Picture Books for Homeschoolers – Each month, students read and do activities with 2 of the 10 titles on the list for this year’s Red Clover Award. Voting takes place in the spring. For Gr. K-3. Register at 878-6956.

Fri., Dec. 5 & 19, 10-10:45am – Songs and Stories with Matthew – Matthew Witten performs songs about our world and tells adventurous tales. For all ages - no registration. Funded by Friends of Brownell Library.

Thu. Dec 11 – Library Closed 9am-1pm for Staff Training. Opens at 1pm.

Fri., Dec. 12, 10-10:30am – Drop-In Story Time for Kids of All Ages – Babies, Toddlers and Preschoolers are welcome to come listen to Picture Book Stories and have fun with Finger Plays and Action Rhymes. No registration required.

Fri., Dec. 12, 6:30-8:15pm – Teen Movie: “Persepolis” – (Rated PG-13) – The story of clever, fearless, punk-loving Marjane’s experience during the Islamic Revolution in Iran during the 1970s. Based on a GMBA-nominated comic book autobiography. Free popcorn & soda. Hosted by TAB.

Mon., Dec. 15, 3:30-4:30pm and 4:30-5:30pm – Holiday Gift Making - Kids in Grades K-5 can come to make holiday gifts for family members. Teens will supervise free gift-making and wrapping. Choose your 1-hour session and sign up now at 878-6956.

Thurs., Dec. 18, 3:30-4:30pm – Middle School Readers and Writers Club - Come chat with Kat about whatever book you’re reading right now, or bring some of your own writing to share with the group! Snacks too! Gr.6-8.

Fri., Dec. 19, 6:30-8:00pm – Family Movie: “Dralion” by Cirque du Soleil – (Not Rated) – A dralion (half-dragon, half lion) is the symbol of East-meets-West, when 36 Chinese acrobats join the renowned Canadian troupe. - Free popcorn & soda. Hosted by Teen Advisory Board.

Fri., Dec. 19, 3:30-4:00pm – Holiday Tales for Kids – Storyteller Linda Costello tells a variety of holiday stories to kids in Gr. K-5. Register at 878-6956.


Sat., Dec. 20, 4-5pm – Miss Vermont Holiday Reading at the Red Clover Salon – Kids K-5, come hear Miss Vermont 2008 Ashley Wheeler read two Holiday Stories. Families are encouraged to buy a used book to support Brownell Library or bring a nonperishable food items for donation to Essex 1st Congregational Church’s Heavenly Food Pantry. Art Fits Vermont Art will be on display for all to view. For Gr. K-5. Register at 878-6856.

Mon., Dec. 22, 6:30-8:30pm – Debate Extravaganza #2!! - During this poignant moment in history, come make your own opinion heard! Debate a variety of relevant or not-so-relevant topics. Bring friends and opinions! Drop by the Youth Desk to suggest some topics. All Ages.

Mon. Dec. 29, 2-3pm – “The Elves and the Shoemaker” Puppet Show – The Traveling Storyteller puppeteers present the classic tale, in which a poor shoemaker becomes successful with the help of elves who work during the night. For ages 5 & up. Register at 878-6956.