Adult Programs
IN CELEBRATION OF
BURLINGTON POETS
Saturday, April 4, 4 pm
Main Reading Room
The kick-off to a month-long
celebration of poets and poetry,
a festival for the beauty and
power of language.
The Library will be closing
the Main Reading room to
normal library traffic at 2pm.
POETRY EXPERIENCE
Sat., April 4 & 18, 1-3 pm
Pickering Room
The Poetry Experience helps
writers hone their skills, find
their voice and share their
passion for the written and
spoken word. Rajnii Eddins
facilitates.
FIRST ANNUAL
INTERCOLLEGIATE
POETRY READING
Wednesday, April 8, 6 pm
Fletcher Room
Students from Champlain
College, Johnson State College,
Middlebury College, Norwich
University, St. Michael’s College
and the University of Vermont
read their own work.
YOUNG WRITERS
PROJECT SCREENING OF
LOUDER THAN A BOMB
Tuesday, April 14, 6-8 pm
Fletcher Room
Both hopeful and heartbreaking,
Louder Than a Bomb follows the
fortunes of four Chicago-area
high school poetry teams as
they prepare for and compete in
the world's largest youth slam.
YOUNG WRITERS
PROJECT THIRD
THURSDAY POETRY SLAM
Tuesday, April 14, 6-8 pm
Fletcher Room
A special Poetry Month edition
of the Third Thursday Poetry
Slam hosted by YWP, an allages poetry slam. The slam is
(Continued on page 2)
Library News
Demolition of Moldy Wall in Library
Basement Reveals Hidden Door & More!
April, 2015
Library closings:
Workers tearing down a damaged sheetrock wall in the
Fletcher Free Library’s Carnegie building basement found much
more than a bunch of studs: A hidden door behind the wall led
the astonished deconstructors directly into a chasm that was
part of the fabled “Burlington ravine.” In the early days of
Burlington, the
ravine ran right
through the
center of town,
and a shoddy fill
job at the end of
19th century has
caused ongoing
problems,
including
sinkholes and
floods on College
Street and
The Library’s mysterious hidden door !
structural cracks
which practically spelled doom for the Library’s Carnegie
building in the 1970s. Peering through piles of vintage carriage
tires and stacks of ancient issues of the Burlington Free Press
(both of which were used, along with logs and sand, to try and
fill the ravine back in the day), the workers discovered, to their
amazement, a fossilized cow, some of the earliest examples of
books-on-mp3 ever discovered, John Dewey’s diary, and the
actual wagon that carried Ethan Allen on his last ride from
South Hero to the Intervale. The Library will be conducting
underground discovery tours on every Sunday afternoon in May
– please contact the Library’s reference desk or the UVM
Department of Archaeology for reservations – and by the way,
Saturday, April 4 the Main
Reading Room and Computer
Center will be closing at 2 pm to
prepare for the Poetry Readings—
Please join us!
Happy April Fool’s Day !
Library Board of
Commissioners
Meetings
Community Forum to Be Held at Leddy
Arena on Monday April 6th
The Fletcher Free Library wants to hear from You! We are
shaping the future of Burlington’s public library and would like
to know what Burlington’s residents think of our services and
programming. How can we better serve your community? You
are invited to our 2nd community forum on Monday April
6th from 5:30 to 7:30pm in the Meeting Room at the Leddy
Park Arena. Pizza and drinks provided! The forum will be
facilitated by Amy Howlett, Regional Consultant for the
Vermont Department of Libraries. Come help us plan the
future of YOUR public library!
Where to find us:
235 College Street
Burlington, VT 05401
When to visit:
Sunday, 12 - 6
Monday, 10 - 6
Tuesday, 10 - 8
Wednesday, 10 - 8
Thursday, 10 - 6
Friday, 10 - 6
Saturday, 10 - 6
How to reach us:
Circulation Desk
863-3403
TTY Relay 711
Reference Desk
865-7217
Youth Desk
865-7216
Director:
Rubi Simon
865-7214
3rd Monday of
every other month
Next mtg:
Monday, May 18 at noon
Local History Room
Fletcher Free Library
Carnegie Building
The public is welcome!
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E-BiblioFile
April, 2015
The Monthly Newsletter of
the Fletcher Free Library
Kids’ Programs
(Continued from page 1)
open to students and
community members alike and
conducted with a spirit of lowkey competition with silly prizes
for best performances.
Slammers may perform
something written, memorized
or improvised--alone or in a
group--up to five minutes long.
Radio broadcast rules apply.
No preregistration needed
unless noted, and all the
Library’s programs are FREE!
POETRY EXPERIENCE: A
READING HOSTED BY
RAJNII EDDINS
Saturday, April 18, 4 pm
Pickering Room
This public reading will feature
poets, Randee Eddins, Humble
(Jeffrey Philie), Alexander Long,
Karl Berry, Kalsang Dolkar,
Wesley Mead, Loki, Devon
Robbie, Richard Bowen, and
Fabiola Mujomba.
FLETCHER FREE LIBRARY
BOOK DISCUSSION:
HELLHOUND ON HIS
TRAIL BY HAMPTON
SIDES
Stories with Megan
Library Director Rubi Simon and Programming Librarian
Barbara Shatara announce the good news
Wow! The Fletcher Free has been selected as one of just 19
libraries in the U.S. to host “Exploring Human Origins: What
Does It Mean to Be Human?” a traveling exhibit based on a
permanent feature at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of
Natural History. The exhibit, which features hands-on displays,
videos and interactive kiosks, is cosponsored by the American
Library Association, and will be in Burlington from February
18th through March 17th, 2017.
Tuesday, April 14, 6:30 pm
Local History Room
In April, the FFL Book Club
selection is Hellhound on His
Trail by Hampton Sides. This
non-fiction work follows Martin
Luther King, Jr. and James Earl
Ray prior to and following the
tragic crossing of their paths.
The discussion will be led by
Thomas Corcoran.
COMMUNITY CINEMA &
DISCUSSION:
Tue., April 21 & 28, 6:30 pm
Fletcher Room
FFL has partnered with Vermont
PBS on a series of documentary
panel discussions called
Community Cinema. Contribute
to this conversation with
professionals in the field and
neighbors in your community.
In April we are screening two
films:
Friends of the Library News
On March 5th the Friends held our annual
meeting at which we elected our board of
directors for the coming year. Our new
board is:
President - Joan Conroy
Vice-President - Ellen MacLellan
Treasurer - Ann Warrington
Secretary - Robin Twery
Members-at-large - Amanda Hannaford, Kirsten McNeil,
Lynne Lieb.
Many thanks to the previous board of directors for their hard
work, and congratulations and good wishes for the future to the
new board.
Now that the elections are over, the board will continue to
work on outreach, daily sales through the book stall, and
planning for our spring/summer book sale. Keep watching this
space for sale dates and description, and please let us know if
you would like to help with this sale or with any of our projects
by emailing at:
[email protected]
(Continued on page 3)
11-11:30 am
At the Library:
Mondays, Apr. 6, 13, 20 & 27
At the Miller Community
Center, 130 Gosse Court:
Fridays, Apr. 3, 10 & 17
Enjoy a fun-filled storytime with
stories, songs and rhymes.
Ages 2-5 years.
After School Homework
Help & Free Tutoring
At the Library and the Miller
Community Center,
130 Gosse Court
For more
information
call the
Library
Youth
Desk:
865-7216
Creative Tuesdays
Tuesdays, Apr. 7, 14, & 28
3-5 pm
Join us and
use your
imagination
to be
creative
with
recycled
materials.
Create with Legos© on the
first Tuesday of each month!
All ages, under 8 with an adult
helper, please.
(Continued on page 3)
Page 3
E-BiblioFile
April, 2015
The Monthly Newsletter of
the Fletcher Free Library
(Continued from page 2)
THE HOUSE I LIVE IN
Tuesday, April 21, 6:30 pm
Winner of the Grand Jury Prize
at the Sundance Film Festival,
Eugene Jarecki’s The House I
Live In builds a compelling case
for the complete failure of
America’s war on drugs.
THE HOMESTRETCH
Help Support Your Library !
(Continued from page 2)
Many of our most popular programs depend 100% on your
support. To make a gift or for inquiries about donations please
contact:
Kath Laing
Development Coordinator
Fletcher Free Library
235 College Street
Burlington, VT 05401
Tuesday, April 28, 6:30 pm
The Homestretch follows three
homeless teens as they fight to
stay in school, graduate, and
build a future.
Art Exhibits
Thank you!
[email protected]
802-540-2546
STRENGTH IN NUMBERS
Mezzanine Balcony
February-April
Strength in Numbers is a group
of 16 Vermont art teachers who
come together for monthly
meetings to support each other
in their art making.
BURLINGTON THEN AND
NOW: 150 YEARS A CITY
Through May 31
Fletcher Room
A “then and now” exhibit of
historic Burlington photographs
from the 1860s displayed
alongside contemporary
photographs captured from the
same vantage points.
Book Review
1939: The Alliance That Never Was and the
Coming Of World War II
Michael Jabara Carley
Reading 1939 by Michael Jabara Carley is like watching a train
wreck in slow motion. The book described the failed attempts
to forge an alliance of Britain, France, and the Soviet Union
against Nazi Germany. Even putting aside the differences in in
economic systems, the Soviet Union of the 1930s, with its
phony show trials and blood purges was a dubious partner. But
802MTG is excited to partner up
with The Fletcher Free Library
to bring free,
weekly Magic The
Gathering and
other tabletop
games to the
community. All
skill levels and
formats are
welcome, as well
as beginners looking to learn.
Youth ages 13 and under must
be accompanied by a legal
guardian or have parental
permission to attend.
ChildLight Yoga for Kids
Wed., April 1 & 15, 2-2:45
ChildLight instructor Emily
promotes healthy, happy,
resilient kids through yoga.
Ages 4-8 years. Parents and
caregivers welcome!
Moving & Grooving with
Christine
Wednesdays, Apr. 8, 15 & 22
11:00-11:30 am
Spanish Musical Kids &
Potluck Latin Lunch
Thurs., Apr. 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30
10:30-11:15 am
Outreach
English Language Classes
Wednesdays, 6:30-8:30 pm
Intermediate/Advanced:
Pickering Room, 2nd Floor
Tuesdays, 5:00-7:45 pm
Move to the
rhythms of
great old
Rock ‘n’ Roll
and World
Beat music!
Recommended for ages 2-5
years, but everyone is welcome.
Exhibitions, receptions, and
programs are free and open to
the public. For information
about scheduled exhibitions or
special events, contact
Barbara Shatara, Programs
and Partnerships Librarian:
[email protected]
865-7211
Beginner:
Admin. Conf. Room, 2nd Floor
GAMING:
Magic The Gathering for
Teens and Adults
British PM Neville Chamberlain shaking
hands with Adolph Hitler
(Continued on page 4)
Hola amigos! Vengan a
cantar y aprender!
Come share
Constancia's love
of Spanish with
Latin
American
songs and
games. Stay for
Latin potluck lunch. Ages 1-5
years.
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E-BiblioFile
April, 2015
The Monthly Newsletter of
the Fletcher Free Library
Conversation Groups
Attend these group to
practice conversation in
world languages:
(Fluency is not required, nor is
attendance at every meeting.)
French—“Dimanches”
Sundays
4:00-5:30 pm
Local History Room
Parlez-vous
Français? Join the group and
practice foreign language
conversation.
German
April 1 & 15, 6:30-8:30 pm
Local History Room
Sprechen Sie
Deutsch? Meet
others who do too.
Russian— A Class for
Beginners
Wednesdays, 6-7:30 pm
Community Room
Free Russian
classes taught by a
native speaker.
These weekly lessons will have
you говоря России in no time!
Intermediate/Advanced
Spanish
Sunday, April 12,
2:30 pm
Community Room
Join Spanish instructor
Maigualida Gomez for 90
minutes of conversation en
Español.
(Continued from page 3)
even though Hitler and his fearsome army was a far more
formidable enemy than the Soviets, a formal three power
alliance made the allies leery, particularly British prime minister
Neville Chamberlain and French foreign minister Georges
Bonnet. As a result, the allies made a number of strategic and
tactical mistakes while Germany was sure-footed in seeking
Soviet neutrality. The Allies sent a delegation of second string
military leaders to Moscow by slow merchant ship rather than
by plane or fast naval cruiser while Germany sent its foreign
minister by plane.
Even on the day after Hitler invaded Poland Chamberlain
made a dithering speech to Parliament. After the speech when
the Labour Party leader Arthur Greenwood got up to reply, a
conservative MP hollered, to great bipartisan applause, “Speak
up for England, Arthur!” Even after Britain declared war on
Germany, Neville Chamberlain and his fellow appeasers
remained in power. Only after Norway fell to Germany did
Winston Churchill, with a coalition of all parties, finally come to
power.
— Marshall Berger, FFL Outreach Patron
For more information about the Fletcher Free Library’s
Conversation Groups and English Language Learning
Services, contact
Barbara Shatara, Programs and Partnerships Librarian:
[email protected]
865-7211
Please note: All groups must have special permission
from Rebecca Goldberg to attend any program. Daycares
are welcome, with a caregiver for every two children.
Please call 865-7216.
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act,
every effort will be made to make our programs accessible
to individuals with disabilities. Please contact us at least
two weeks prior to the program you plan to attend.
Please call 865-7216
(TTY Relay 711).
Details from the stained glass window in the
Carnegie Building of the Fletcher Free Library,
designed by the building’s architect
W.R.B. Willcox, 1904.
Music with Robert
Fridays, Apr. 3, 10 & 17
10:30-11:00 am
Sing along with
Robert for great
family fun!
All ages.
Lego©
Creations!
Tuesday, April 21, 2-3 pm
Create a Lego© masterpiece for
display at the Library. Ages 4 &
up.
Celebrate Poetry with
Vermont's Jerry Johnson
Wed., April 22, 4:30-5:30 pm
A not-to-be-missed event with
this Northeast Kingdom author
of two celebrated books: Up the
Creek Without a Saddle and
Noah's Song. Jerry will read
from his poems set to music by
Jon Gailmor and Pete
Sutherland. All are welcome,
children and adults!
Healthy Kids Day
Saturday, April 25, 10 am-2 pm
The Fletcher Free Library
joins the YMCA to celebrate
"Healthy Kids Day" and to
get a jump on summer.
Enjoy healthy activities at
the YMCA's FREE community
event! Check out the
Fletcher Free Library table to
talk about summer reading
and enter the Library raffle
for a fun prize. All ages.