Off the Shelf: February events at Maxwell Library
Submitted by Rena Brower
Art exhibit
Natural Wonders
Chinese Ink and Color Paintings by Jia Zhou
On display through Feb. 28
Opening reception—Saturday, Feb. 8, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Free and open to the public.
A native of Nanchang, China, with advanced degrees in ceramic design and Chinese painting, Jia Zhou brings her nature-inspired paintings on rice paper to Maxwell Library this month. At her opening reception, the artist will demonstrate her Chinese painting materials and techniques.
New—Winter Reading Challenge for Adults. Through February.
Don’t just hibernate—come to the library first and stock up on books! Cold and snowy days are the perfect time to catch up on your reading, in both print and digital format. With this being Leap Year, there’s even an extra day to sneak in that additional book. Log your reading progress and sign up for free chances to win one of several gift cards from local coffee shops and diners. Details are available at the desk, online, and on Maxwell’s social media.
TBL Peer-Based Suicide Support Group
Tuesdays, Feb. 18, and 25, 6 to 7:30 p.m. Free. No registration.
Two Brothers’ Light is a non-profit organization that promotes suicide prevention and awareness. It holds peer-based support groups for individuals affected by suicide and other mental health issues. These meetings are free and open to anyone seeking information on suicide prevention and awareness, alternatives to suicide, or grief support for those affected by suicide. For more information, call 315-632-1996, or go to twobrotherslight.org.
New—Weddings 101
Wednesdays, Feb. 19, 26, and March 4, 6 to 7:30 p.m. Free. Registration required. Sign up for each session individually.
Megan Hiltbrand, wedding and event planner with MLH Events of Syracuse, presents a 3-part series on wedding planning and etiquette for couples, parents, bridal party members, and guests. Each session covers a particular set of topics and includes a Q&A portion for review and general chat. MLH Events is a six-time winner of the WeddingWire.com Couple’s Choice Award, 2014 to 2019 and Winner of The Knot, Best of Weddings 2018, 2019, and 2020.
Feb. 19—Part 1–Planning 101 – The Whos, Whats and Whens of Your Wedding
In this session, Megan will cover the basics of wedding planning and vendor selection. Topics include outlining the “scope” of your wedding, general planning timing and deadlines and how to create your ideal wedding vendor team. She’ll discuss selecting the right venue environment for you, building a budget, when to book what and whom, when to order VIP attire, sending out Save the Dates and Invitations, how to secure your perfect wedding pros including catering, photography, rentals, floral and décor, entertainment, transportation and more.
Feb. 26—Part 2—Wedding Attire and Aesthetics – The Design of Your Big Day
In this session, Megan will discuss all things design. Topics include finding your ideal wedding attire – bridal gowns, bridesmaid dresses, tuxes, parents and little ones, determining your “vibe” and the environment you want to create for your guests and how to accomplish this through the use of florals, linens, rentals, signage and lighting. She’ll discuss tips for dress shopping, wedding gown trends and style options, planning your VIP’s wardrobe, using adjectives to define your aesthetic, selecting a color palette, expressing that color palette cohesively without being “matchy matchy,”choosing florals, linens, rentals to get the most bang for your buck, current décor trends vs. classic design and how to choose what’s right for you.
March 4—Part 3—Modern Weddings, Manners and More – Technology and Etiquette for the 21st Century Wedding
In this session, Megan will review the new “traditions” of the modern wedding and how technology including apps, online registries and social media can help in the planning process. She’ll also outline what you can expect as a bridal party member or wedding guest in 2020 and what is expected of you. She’ll discuss creating a wedding website and online registry, Pinterest, Canva, WeddingWire, The Knot and other platforms that help streamline planning, incorporating hashtags, snapchat filters and other tech into your big day, what to consider when asked to be a bridal party member – the average financial and time investment, how to be an ideal wedding invitee – advice on RSVPing, gifting and being a conscientious guest.
LEGO Free Play
Thursdays, Feb. 13, 20, and 27, 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. Free. No registration. For ages 3-18.
Spark your creativity using the thousands of LEGO bricks at the library. Build from your own imagination or show what you can do with a suggested theme. Creations will be displayed in the children’s section until it’s time for the bricks to be used for another masterpiece.
Unraveling Yarns Book Club
Thursday, Feb. 13, 10:30 to noon. Free. No registration.
All book selections have a mystery or suspense theme. Bring your needlework and unravel a different plot each month. Stop in at Maxwell for a copy of this month’s book, Charles Todd’s “The Black Ascot,” and a reading guide. Non-knitters are also welcome.
Craft Class—Greeting Cards
Thursday, Feb. 13, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. and 5:30 to 6:30p.m. Free. Registration required. For adults. Due to the popularity of this program, there are two sessions–sign up for either 4:30 or 5:30 p.m.
Make two layered greeting cards with Alyson Esposito. There will be one red masculine design and one birthday. Complete the designs using rubber stamps and colored pencils and your choice of several Valentine’s Day and all-occasion sentiments. All supplies provided. Each class is limited to ten participants.
US Census Job Fair
Tuesday, Feb. 18, 4 to 6 p.m. Free. No registration.
Office and field work is available for the upcoming 2020 US Census. Apply today for positions. Open to adults over 18 with US citizenship. No resume or CV is needed. Drop in at Maxwell Library between 4 and 6 p.m. for more information and to apply in person.
Genealogy Roundtable
Wednesday, Feb. 19, 1 to 3 p.m. Write As You Research. Free. Registration preferred.
Join genealogist Amanda Perrine for Maxwell’s monthly Genealogy Roundtable. People interested in researching their own family histories get together to discuss problems in their research and share tips on sources and methodology. Both beginners and longtime researchers are welcome. This month, learn how save time by writing your research report as you conduct your research.
Safe Place to Game
Wednesday, Feb. 19, 4 to 6p.m. Free. Registration preferred. For ages 7 to 18.
Safe Place to Game is a community program presented by TCGplayer where students and families can learn and play trading card games like Pokemon, Magic: The Gathering, and Yu-Gi-Oh.
Between the Lines Book Club
Monday, Feb. 24, 2 to 3:30 p.m. Free. No registration.
The group reads a variety of genres, from literary fiction to suspenseful bestsellers. Copies of this month’s selection, Alice Hoffman’s “Faithful,” and reading guides are available at the desk. Everyone is welcome.
Junior Journaling Club
Wednesday, Feb. 26, 5 to 6p.m. Free. Registration preferred. For ages 10-13.
Maxwell’s journaling club for tweens provides the time and space for young writers to collect and express their thoughts, feelings, and creativity in a written format. Youth Services Librarian Melissa leads the group from 5 to 6 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of the month and sets aside a quiet area from 6 to 7:30 p.m. for journalers to drop in or stay later. Bring your own writing materials or use those provided by the library.
Tech Class—The Census
Thursday, Feb. 27, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Free. Registration preferred. You may bring your personal laptop, tablet, or phone.
The 2020 census is the first census in U.S. history to be conducted primarily online. Come to February’s tech program with Tech Librarian Pete Schult to preview what the process of completing it will be like and to get answers to your questions about the process.
Ongoing programs for kids and teens (all free; no registration unless otherwise noted):
Stories with Sally, for the under-3 crowd and a participating adult.
Mondays and Wednesdays, Feb. 10, 12, 19, 24, and 26 (not 17), 10:30 to 11:15 a.m.
Sally’s Story Time, for preschoolers ages 3 to 5.
Tuesdays, Feb. 18, and 25, 10:30 to 11 a.m.
Preschool Story Time with Ms. Melissa
Thursdays, Feb. 13, 20, and 27, 10:30 to 11 a.m. For children ages 3 to 5 with a parent or guardian.
This fun story time helps preschoolers develop early literacy skills and fosters curiosity. Come and enjoy stories followed by a simple craft. Younger (and older) siblings are welcome. Feb. 6—“Good Night, Little Blue Truck;” Feb. 13—“Pete the Cat–Valentine’s Day Is Cool;” Feb. 20—“Henry Hugglemonster–Snow Day;” Feb. 27—“Dalmation in a Digger.”
Tuesday Crafternoons
Tuesdays, Feb. 11, 18, and 25, 3:30 to 7 p.m. For children ages 3 to 10.
Drop in at Maxwell to make the week’s planned craft or one of your own choosing. Feb. 11—Valentine’s Day cards; Feb. 18—open craft day; Feb. 25—heart-shaped paper animal craft.
1000 Books Before Kindergarten
To promote reading to newborns, infants, and toddlers as well as to encourage parent and child bonding through reading, the 1000 Books Foundation has issued a challenge to parents to read 1000 books to their children before kindergarten. Stop in at Maxwell Library to get your first reading log and informational materials and start reading!
Library patrons may now borrow one of three OCPL Tech Backpacks from Maxwell. Each kit contains an HP Chromebook and charger, a Verizon hotspot and charger, and a quick start guide for using the equipment. For more information on lending procedures and equipment specifications, see Maxwell’s website or ask at the circulation desk.
With OverDrive and Hoopla, great entertainment is only a click away on your computer or mobile device. We have ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, music and videos, with new titles added daily. It’s easy, fun, and free! Call to set up a help session.
Get tech savvy by attending Tech Librarian Pete’s monthly classes. Catch up on what you missed with Handouts and Other Resources through the Digital tab on our website.
Your library card is the key to amazing free online encyclopedias, newspapers, magazines, archives, tutorials, and courses. Go to the Digital tab on Maxwell’s website, or to onlib.org/research/databases.
Ask about the variety of digital devices available for borrowing or in-library use.
Sign up for Maxwell’s monthly e-newsletter through our website, Facebook page, or at the circulation desk.
See upcoming events and register as needed through our online events calendar.
You can support Maxwell Library online through the PayPal Donate feature on our website.
Being a Friend of Maxwell is a great way to support the library. The group sponsors library programs and fundraising events. Click the Friends tab on maxwellmemoriallibrary.org for news and updates of meetings and special events.
Are you planning on visiting a New York State or an Onondaga County park? Borrow a NYS Empire Pass or an Onondaga County Park Pass from Maxwell Library before your trip. Both passes are available on a first-come, first-served basis to patrons over the age of 18 with OCPL library accounts in good standing. They may be checked out for three days and must be returned in person at Maxwell. Call or stop in for more details.
