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May 2009 All Events

        

May 1, 2009

Riverwalk Display: Altered Books: Three Artists Re-Imagine the Book

Karen-Hatzigeorgiou--Spider.jpgimari.jpgLombardo-Spread-2.jpg








May 1-June 30
Riverwalk Display

“Altered Books: Three Artists Re-Imagine the Book,” an exhibit of altered books by Karen Hatzigeorgiou, Irmari Nacht and Mary Jo Lombardo.

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May 2, 2009

AUTHORS@THE LIBRARY: Laurie King

Laurie-King-NEW-cover-art.jpgLaurie-King-credit-Red-Bat-.jpgSaturday, May 2
2:00 pm
McManus Room

American feminist and theology scholar Mary Russell must help reverse the greatest failure of her legendary husband's (detective Sherlock Holmes) storied past. New York Times bestselling author Laurie King will discuss the latest in her popular mystery series, The Language of Bees.

Photo credit Red Bat Photography
Books will be available for purchase and signing.

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May 3, 2009

SpokenWord: The Harlem Renaissance:
the 1920s—When Harlem Was in Vogue

cynthia-russett-crop.jpgSunday, May 3
2:00 pm
McManus Room

Cynthia E. Russett Ph.D., Larned Professor of History at Yale University, will examine the decade that saw an astonishing outpouring of black art, poetry, fiction, drama, and music. Harlem, a mecca for African-Americans in the early years of the 20th century, had long been a cultural center for white artists, writers, and intellectuals, and African-Americans saw Harlem as a kind of safe haven. The 1920s were the years when, as historian David Levering Lewis has written, "Harlem was in vogue."

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May 4, 2009

BUSINESS AUTHORS@THE LIBRARY: Richard Goldberg

The-Battle-for-Wall-Street.jpgMonday, May 4
7:30 pm
McManus Room

The Battle for Wall Street follows the struggle for power between two giants: the sellers, traditional commercial and investments banks; and the buyers, upstart hedge funds, private equity firms and the like. Author and twenty-five-year Wall Street veteran Richard Goldberg will explain how, for over 100 years, the sellers held all the power.

Books will be available for purchase and signing.
Funded by Jerry A. Tishman.

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May 6, 2009

SpokenWord: Songwriters of the Harlem Renaissance

bill-messenger.jpgWednesday, May 6
7:30 pm
McManus Room

Professor Bill Messenger, lecturer in music at the Peabody Institute of John Hopkins University and narrator with The Teaching Company Great Courses, will explore the events that created the most fertile era of black music and musicals in American history. Eighty years after songs such as "Ain't Misbehavin'" and "Sweet Georgia Brown" were written by composers and lyricists of the Harlem Renaissance, they continue to be featured in films, theatre and cabaret. Find out why!

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May 7, 2009

SpokenWord:
Literature of the Harlem Renaissance

mackay_hometoharlem_full.jpgThursday, May 7
7:30 pm
McManus Room

Laurie Woodard, Ph.D., lecturer in African American Studies and History at Yale, talks about the literature and authors of the Harlem Renaissance who broke with earlier ethnic writers and whose work mimicked white standards. Writers searched for a unifying cultural identity and boldly proclaimed the advent of a new cultural aesthetic.

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May 7, 2009

Nonprofit Grantseekers Seminar

logo_foundation_center.jpgThursday, May 7
4:30 pm
McManus Room

JuWon Choi, vice-president for Educational Services at the Foundation Center, will discuss how to approach a foundation, from initial contact with potential funders to planning calls and meetings to building partnerships with donors.

Co-sponsored with the Fairfield County Community Foundation.

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May 8, 2009

AUTHORS@THE LIBRARY: Simon Winchester

Simon-Winchester-COVER.jpgFriday, May 8
Noon
McManus Room

In Simon Winchester’s newest historical biography, the New York Times bestselling author and master storyteller presents yet another eccentric and fascinating subject. In The Man Who Loved China, he focuses on Joseph Needham, brilliant intellectual and free-thinker who spent his life attempting to verify that China was responsible for hundreds of mankind’s most important inventions.

Books will be available for purchase and signing.

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May 8, 2009

Friends of the Library Annual Meeting

friends-logo-120px.jpgFriday, May 8
6:00 to 7:30 pm
The Great Hall

Join the Friends of the Westport Library at their annual meeting. This year Hedi Lieberman, will be honored with the Eleventh Special Friend Award.

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May 9, 2009

Navigating the Economic Storm

Saturday, May 9
11:30 am to 2:00 pm
McManus Room

11:30 am: Panel discussion with finanacial experts
12:30 pm: Light lunch
1:00 pm: Panel discussion with health professionals
To register, please contact the Westport Library at 291-4840.

Co-sponsored with various community organizations.

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May 11, 2009

SpokenWord: Dance of the Harlem Renaissance with Arthur Mitchell

mitchell.jpgMonday, May 11
7:30 pm
McManus Room

Arthur Mitchell, renowned dancer, choreographer, director and co-founder and of the Dance Theatre of Harlem, will talk about social dance, and how dance both reflected and was a reflection of the culture of the Harlem Renaissance. . . a way for people to celebrate, to escape, and to express their identity. He will bring a professional dancer from The Dance Theatre of Harlem who will perform a classic dance.

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May 12, 2009

Rock Band@ the Library

rock-band.jpgTuesday, May 12
7:30 pm
McManus Room
Ages 12 and up

Rock out with the popular Wii game RockBand!

Contact Jaina Lewis at 291-4809 or jlewis@westportlibrary.org for more information.

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May 13, 2009

SpokenWord: Poetry of the Harlem Renaissance

Pleasant.jpgWednesday, May 13
7:30 pm
McManus Room

Edward Pleasant distinguishes himself as an outstanding performing artist in opera and musical theater as well as in concert, recital and recording. He has been critically acclaimed by The New York Times for his “appealing stage presence” and will present the poetry of the Harlem Renaissance focusing on Langston Hughes.

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May 14, 2009

TECHNOLOGY TALK: Transforming Society Through Social Media—How Blogs, Facebook and Twitter are Just the Beginning

content-nation.jpgThursday, May 14
7:30 pm
McManus Room

Publishing and technology industry analyst John Blossom, President of Shore Communications and author of Content Nation: Surviving and Thriving as Social Media Changes Our Work, Our Lives, and Our Future, will lead a discussion on how citizen publishers, using tools such as weblogs, Facebook, Twitter and wikis influence and transform the way content is provided and received. How does social media change the way businesses market products and services, influence how people interact with the government and dictate personal communication?

Books will be available for purchase and signing.

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May 16, 2009

TRENDS in TECHNOLOGY:
What Do Those Buttons on a Digital Camera Do?

digital camera clip art.pngSaturday, May 16
11:00 am-12.30 pm
McManus Room

Even the simplest digital camera is a technological leap forward for those who remember black and white TV. Although these cameras are capable of far more than most ever need, there are a few basic features that often get overlooked and can improve photographs taken. Digital photography expert Michael Franco will discuss depth of field, white balance, flash options, macro focus and more.

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May 17, 2009

The Usual Suspects Mystery Reading Group: The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax

the-unexpected-mrs-pollifax.jpgSunday, May 17
2:00 pm
Seminar Room

Discussion of The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax by Dorothy Gilman. Emily Pollifax is a widow with grown children. Tired of endless garden club meetings and wanting to do something good for her country, she joins the CIA and becomes embroiled in Cold War intrigue.

For copies of the book, phone 291-4821. New participants always welcome.
About the book.

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May 18, 2009

AUTHORS@THE LIBRARY: Eric Burns

All-the-News.jpgMonday, May 18
7:30 pm
McManus Room

Westport author and media analyst Eric Burns follows up his book Infamous Scribblers and puts the media under the microscope again, from Ben Franklin and Sam Adams through Mark Twain, William Randolph Hearst, H. L. Mencken, and Walter Duranty (arguably the most unethical journalist to win a Pulitzer) to the modern day in All the News Unfit to Print: How Things Were... and How They Were Reported.

Books will be available for purchase and signing.

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May 19, 2009

Pageturners: Harlem Renaissance

Harlem-Renaissance.jpgTuesday, May 19
10:30 am and 7:30 pm
Seminar Room

Discussion of the book Harlem Renaissance by Nathan Irvin Huggins. 384 pages. The 1920s may be utterly distant. Yet during that decade, there was a cultural flowering in the American Negro community. Centered at Harlem, Huggins takes us to that place and time. The narrative is enhanced by one key trait. This book was first published in 1971. The research that went into it was done in the late 60s. Several influential persons of 20s Harlem were still around and the text gives their direct experiences, from interviews with the author. In this way, Huggins provides a primary text for future students and historians.

For copies of the book, phone 291-4821 or email Sue Madeo at smadeo@westportlibrary.org. New participants always welcome.

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May 19, 2009

Jobseekers Resource Seminar

jobseekers.jpgTuesday, May 19
10:00 am
McManus Room

Learn about the excellent Library resources that will make you an informed job seeker and find out about the wide array of free services available to you at the CT Dept. of Labor. For more information, e-mail ref@westportlibrary.org or call 203-291-4800.

Funded by Jerry A. Tishman.

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May 19, 2009

MovieLine: Slumdog Millionaire

slumdog_millionaire_dvd.jpgTuesday, May 19
6:45 pm
McManus Room

Winner of multiple Oscars, Slumdog Millionaire tells the story of a Mumbai teen who grew up in the slums and becomes a contestant on the Indian version of "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" He is arrested under suspicion of cheating. How could a street kid know so much? Desperate to prove his innocence, Jamal tells the story of his life in the slum where he and his brother grew up. Each chapter of his story reveals the key to the answer to one of the game show's questions. (120 minutes)

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May 20, 2009

AUTHORS@THE LIBRARY: Jessica Bram

HappilyEver-4-book-cover1.jpgWednesday, May 20
Noon
McManus Room

Happily Ever After Divorce: Notes of a Joyful Journey gives a seldom touched-on view of divorce – a positive view of life on the other side. Author Jessica Bram, an award-winning radio commentator and essayist, will discuss how she maintained a sense of self and humor during a most difficult time, and emerged triumphant.

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May 28, 2009

Sports Writing Workshop

sports.jpgThursday, May 28th
7:30 pm
McManus Room
Ages 12 and up

Ever dreamed of becoming a sports writer, but didn't know where to start? Join the Westport Minuteman's sports editor Rob Sullivan as he gives an introduction to sports journalism.

Contact Jaina Lewis at 291-4809 or jlewis@westportlibrary.org for more information.

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