Library News: November 21st, 2024
As the holidays approach, there’s an abundance of ways to get involved and contribute within our community. The library is featuring two new nonfiction books that highlight the value of community, connection, and kindness.
The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World by Robin Wall Kimmerer. As indigenous scientist and author of Braiding Sweetgrass Robin Wall Kimmerer harvests serviceberries alongside the birds, she considers the ethic of reciprocity that lies at the heart of the gift economy. How, she asks, can we learn from indigenous wisdom and the plant world to reimagine what we value most? Our economy is rooted in scarcity, competition, and the hoarding of resources, and we have surrendered our values to a system that actively harms what we love. Meanwhile, the serviceberry’s relationship with the natural world is an embodiment of reciprocity, interconnectedness, and gratitude. The tree distributes its wealth—its abundance of sweet, juicy berries—to meet the needs of its natural community. And this distribution insures its own survival. As Kimmerer explains, “Serviceberries show us another model, one based upon reciprocity, where wealth comes from the quality of your relationships, not from the illusion of self-sufficiency.” As Elizabeth Gilbert writes, Robin Wall Kimmerer is “a great teacher, and her words are a hymn of love to the world.” The Serviceberry is an antidote to the broken relationships and misguided goals of our times, and a reminder that “hoarding won’t save us, all flourishing is mutual.
Cherished Belonging: The Healing Power of Love in Divided Times by Gregory Boyle. At a time when society is more fractured than ever before, beloved Jesuit priest Gregory Boyle invites us to see the world through a new lens of connection and build the loving community that we long to live in. Over the past thirty years, Boyle has transformed thousands of lives through his work as the founder of Homeboy Industries, the largest gang-intervention program in the world. The program runs on two unwavering principles: (1) Everyone is unshakably good (no exceptions) and (2) we belong to each other (no exceptions). Every community wants to be a safe place, where people are seen, and then are cherished. By remembering that we belong to each other, we find our way out of chaos and its dispiriting tribalism. Pooka, a former gang member who now oversees the program’s housing division, puts it plainly: “Here, love is our lens. It’s how we see things.” In Cherished Belonging, Boyle calls back to Christianity’s origins…He calls us to cherish and nurture the connections that are all around us and live with radical kindness.
Tuesdays:
Creative Social Circle, Tuesdays at 5 PM. Bring your own crafts or work with our craft supplies. We will have a sample project each week if you need inspiration on what to make. For November, we'll be making scarecrows using clear glass bottles. Please bring your own bottle! Enjoy coffee, tea, and the company of other adults as you work. Ages 15 and up are invited to attend.
Yoga at the Library, Tuesdays at 6 PM. $5 per session, payable to Instructor Dave Sivley. Tuesdays, from 6-7 PM. Bring a yoga mat & water bottle.
Wednesdays:
Support Group for Parents of Challenging Kids, the 2nd Wednesday of every month— December 11th at 9 AM Parenting isn’t easy. If you are feeling overwhelmed, join others to gain valuable support coping strategies and information about community resources.
Preschool Story Hour, Wednesdays at 11 AM (following the school calendar - no story hour on Nov. 27th). Join us for music, movement, stories & crafts intended for ages 0-5 and their parents/caregivers.
Not A Box: Cardboard Construction. Wednesday, November 27th from 12PM-3PM. What can a box become? Whatever you can dream of! Construct these boxes into anything....just not a box! We have all the supplies needed. Grab your friends and make the coolest creations ever! All ages welcome!
Thursdays:
Community Read- The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland. Thursday, November 21st, 2024, at 6:00 PM. Based on interviews with the passengers, the locals, and the airline crews, this book tells the true story of how the residents of Gander, Newfoundland welcomed 6,132 passengers who were diverted to their town during 9/11 and recounts the acts of kindness and generosity that the people of Gander showed to the stranded travelers. We’ll listen to the author, Jim DeFede, being interviewed and then join in a discussion about his book. Contact the library to request a copy to read before this discussion.
First Thursday Book Club, December 5th, 2024, 12 NOON-1 PM. Join others to chat about what you have been reading or to get suggestions from others.
Sourdough for Beginners, December 12th at 5:30 PM. Learn the art of sourdough from Lindsey Morehouse of The Dough & More. $10 registration required and includes materials and your own starter to take home. Seats are limited.
Fridays:
Lego at the Library, Fridays 3:00-4:30 PM. Build & create with our Lego & Duplo collections! All ages are welcome!
Saturdays:
Screenplay Saturday, November 23rd at 11 AM. Down by the fireplace, we will be showing the movie, Come From Away (NR), which is the musical based on our community read book, 'The Day the World Came to Town’. In the children's area, we will be showing the movie, Despicable Me 4 (PG)! Come see what the newest member of the Gru family is up to! Fresh popcorn will be provided!
Cookie Decorating, December 7th 11 AM-6 PM, during Christmas in the Village. Stop by the Children’s Library to create your own sweet treat!
Piano Recital by Ewert Music Studios, December 7th at 4 PM, during Christmas in the Village. Gather near the fireplace to enjoy festive music by talented, young musicians.
Tech Time, select Saturdays, December 7th, 14th, 21st, From 10AM-1PM. Are you struggling with your phone? Do you have trouble navigating the internet? Do you need help with mel.org, the Libby App or the Marcellus Library Catalog? Drop in the library to ask Justin your IT related questions and learn to navigate your device or our computers!