With a new director and a new year, the Skaneateles Public Library is offering new events for the public to enjoy — and not just one or two.
The library recently released an announcement, and posted on its website, a list of public events being offered for the month of January, which include not only story times for kids, but also an iPad training class, family movies, an author event and a new monthly movie group for adults.
Then in February, an event two months in the making will occur when library trustee Danette Davis presents a talk at the Skaneateles Historical Society about all the 19th century portraits looking from the walls at patrons in the library – who was the artist and who were the people that he painted.
“That was the plan when I started to get more events at the library, more people in the library,” said Library Director Nickie Marquis, who took over as head of the Skaneateles Library last October. “We’re starting a little slowly actually; I hope to pick it up even more. The events we have planned for January will be some nice things to do to get people out of the house.”
The library will retain its two ongoing story times for kids throughout January, with Preschool Story Times at 10:30 a.m. every Tuesday with Miss Rose, who will lead children ages three to five in stories, songs and more. Toddler Story Time also will be at 11 a.m. every Thursday for children ages 18 months to three years. No registration is necessary for either event.
The library’s January events really kick off on Saturday, Jan. 12, with two events scheduled that day. First, at 10:30 a.m. tech trainer Margie Creamer will conduct an iPad Basics training course, to teach all those people who received an iPad for Christmas how to operate it and what are some of its many uses.
Then at 2 p.m. on Jan. 12 the library will host an exploration of the hidden stories, peculiar events and offbeat characters of Central New York with local author, folklorist and storyteller Melanie Zimmer. Zimmer’s latest book, “Curiosities of Central New York,” addresses the history and lore of ancient Iroquois mystical traditions, witchcraft, monsters and fairies in the CNY region, and journeys to many of the strange places that are surprisingly close to Skaneateles.
Zimmer is a professional storyteller, and will “certainly spice it up for the audience” by recounting many tales from her book, Marquis said. A selection of Zimmer’s books about Central New York and Finger Lakes folklore will be available for purchase and signing. The event is free and open to the public, but with a room capacity of 100, registration is encouraged.
A new event at the library this year, the Friday Film Group, will hold its inaugural meeting at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 18. This monthly series will be a chance for adults to view and discuss a movie for grown-ups.
The first meeting will watch a classic film about a Depression-era comedy filmmaker who longs to do a serious movie. (The film cannot be named here due to copyright restrictions, but the name can be found on the library website.) “With its almost Shakespearean combination of uproarious comedy and grim tragedy, it is considered one of the finest movies about movies ever made,” according to the library website.
The Friday Film Group is free and open to the public, but registration is requested. Popcorn will be provided.
“I’m particularly excited about the Friday Film Group,” Marquis said. “I’m interested to see how that goes.”
At 1 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 19, adults can come with the entire family for a Family Movie event at the library, with the showing of Disney Pixar’s animated “Brave” (PG, run time 93 minutes). It is the tale of young adventurer Merida’s thrilling journey in the highlands of Scotland. Popcorn will be provided. No registration is necessary.
Public response to library events has been decent so far, and the library hopes to increase participation as the new year unfolds, Marquis said.
“The events we’ve done have been really well received, and people have already started signing up for the iPad event and the ‘Curiosities of Central New York’ book talk,” she said.
The library staff is already “furiously planning” its February events, Marquis said.
One event already scheduled for February will be presented by the library but hosted by the Skaneateles Historical Society. “Who are Those People? A slideshow and talk about the portraits in the Skaneateles Library and the artist who painted them,” will be presented by Library Trustee Danette Davis at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 26, at The Museum at the Creamery, 28 Hannum St. The presentation will be part of the historical society’s monthly program series.
As Davis explained, “When you walk into the Skaneateles Library you are greeted by a collection of 19th century portraits gazing down from the walls. Visitors often ask who they are, but not much was known about them except that many were former Skaneateles residents. Now, thanks to Sally Holben, volunteer researcher at the Historical Society, the portraits have been identified and they have stories to tell. From sea captains who ventured across the oceans to local physicians who gathered herbs and made house calls on horseback, to the carpenter who built many of the structures around town, these portraits give us a glimpse into life in the 1830s.”
Davis will explain not only the portrait subjects but also the artist, Charles Loring Elliott, who painted many of them. Elliott started as a painter of carriages and sleighs in John Legg’s carriage shop on Genesee Street and later went on to become one of the most renown portrait painters in the United States. “We are lucky to have some of his earliest works hanging in our library,” Davis said.
For more information on any of the library’s events, visit skaneateleslibrary.org.
Jason Emerson is editor of the Skaneateles Press. He can be reached at [email protected].
