Library Board Vacancy

The Broome County Public Library Board of Trustees is currently seeking members to fill a vacancy. Prospective board members must reside in the City of Binghamton.

Please send resumes by March 1, 2011, to:
Broome County Public Library
Administration Office
185 Court Street
Binghamton, NY 13901

Library Seeks to Partner with Local Businesses

The Broome County Public Library is seeking partnerships with local businesses to create and host events to entertain and educate the public. If one of your employees has a skill related to your line of business, the Library would like to work with you to develop a program or workshop. (For example, if you own a flower shop, you or an employee could hold a flower arranging demonstration at the Library.) The Library would provide free advertising for the event, free use of a meeting room, and flyers for you to distribute or post at your business.

If you are interested in spreading the word about your business by partnering with the Broome County Public Library, please contact Sherry Kowalski at 607-778-6423 or skowalski@co.broome.ny.us.

The Green Scene at BCPL

The Broome County Public Library invites youth to participate in The Green Scene, a new monthly program centered around fun environmentally-friendly activities. On Thursday, January 27, 6:00pm, the activity will be Trash Origami—the group will be making wallets out of empty snack bags. Instead of throwing away your chip bag, bring it along and make something useful out of it! The suggested ages for this program are 10 years and older, and registration is requested. For more information, or to register, please call the Library’s Youth Services Department at 607-778-6456.

Winter Story Time Schedule

The Broome County Public Library will begin its winter schedule of story times on Monday, January 17. Families with young children are invited to attend these fun and educational programs!

For children birth through age 3, Lapsit Story Time, with stories, rhymes, and playtime, will be held on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, 10:00-11:00am. For children ages 4 to 6, Preschool Story Time, with fun stories and rhymes, will be held on alternate Fridays at 10:00am. Family Story Time, with stories for the whole family, will be held on Wednesday evenings, 6:00pm, for children of all ages.

More information about dates can be found on BCPL's online calendar.

This schedule will continue through February 18, and all story times will be held in the Youth Services Department of the Library (185 Court Street, Binghamton). For more information, please call Youth Services at 607-778-6456.

Library Knitting Group Will Hold a Raffle!

Knitting enthusiasts are invited to join the Broome County Public Library’s Knitting Group, which will hold a raffle at its meeting on Wednesday, January 19, 6:00pm. All attendees will have up to four chances to win a copy of Head to Toe Knits by Bronwyn Lowenthal:

• Enter once for attending the January meeting
• Enter again if you donate an item to the Samaritan House
• Enter another time if you bring a friend with you that is new to the group
• Enter if you present your library card at the meeting

If you don’t have a library card, it’s easy to sign up for one, and it’s free if you live in Broome, Chenango, Delaware or Otsego County.

The Knitting Group meets the third Wednesday of each month at 6:00pm. The group is open to knitters of all skill levels, and participants should bring a project to work on. The group will be doing charity knitting for the Samaritan House, which is in need of hats, mittens, scarves for children, and baby blankets. Registration is not required. For more details, you may call the Library’s Information Desk at 607-778-6451.

Food for Fines!

Do you have outstanding fees on your account at the Broome County Public Library? For a limited time, you can reduce your fines and help the Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse (CHOW) at the same time! Between December 20 and December 31, you will receive $1.00 off your fines for each non-perishable food item that you bring to the Library. Food items will be donated to CHOW in support of their assistance programs to the 8,900 families served in our community. Help yourself and help CHOW during this holiday season. For more information, please call the Library at 607-778-6400.

Six-Word Memoirs

This fall, we asked local teens (and others who wanted to participate) to submit Six-Word Memoirs--telling the story of your life in just six words.

Here are the ones we received:
Happy, pretty, outstanding, glamorous, beautiful, fine. - SJL
Always changing, ever worth it. Mine! - KEH
Sad hurtful happy depression guilt worried - SAW
Hectic, stressful, depressing, busy, my own - ESS
crazy, different, funny, unlike anyone else's - NS
Lost my passion for music lately... - EMC
No father, loving family, awesome friends - NH
Some days were better than others. - PNR
I doubt too much, but live. - HJ
You can always be a star. - Anon.
Never ending, nor forgetful, cherish love. - KGC
Serious, Fun, Loving, Smart, Crazy, Loud. - MS
Faith, love and change shape life. - KS
Stress, tiring, loving, serious, exciting, bashful. - AS
Running too fast to slow down. - JVL
Corey, athletic, smart, intelligent, bright, outgoing. - CJT
I am myself and I believe. - AM
Triumph comes with whole hearted persistence. - JA
Old age challenges talents, robs abilities. - CM
eating at Golden Corral with mom - CLG
San Diego, Washington DC, Providence, Binghamton - SAB
Pain, Love, Smile, Tears, Happy, Hurt - MGK
Pretty fun, loud, bookworm, adventures, artist - LP
Hectic, crazy, exhausting... Totally worth it! - YS
Strong in body, heart + soul. - DM
much more than I ever expected - KRH
friend, sister, daughter, woman, mother, wife - AW
In Hershey everything's made of chocolate. - EY
Quiet, Funny, Kind, Loves Horses, Busy - SLP
Burned, laugh, friends, breathrough, happenstance, forgetful - MAM
Love my family. Want to write. - CR
I am adopted, I am saved. - MB
Growth, laughter, love, family, friends, hope. - MGC
My True Love is my family. - DW
Lucky to have friends in Broome. - SH
Crazy, amusing, special, fun, sad, hard - KS
Love conquers hate. Is peace love? - JPG
I'm fitting in everything I can! - TF
Crazy, fun, serious, loud, exciting, adventurous - CR
live, lied, laugh, cried, slept, died. - SVS
Meeting service dogs for the first - JMP
Days were long, years flew by. - JH
More important is what isn't seen. - SB
Have a hard time finishing my - MP
Heroes: Iron Man and Spider Man - ISC
Mirrors, staring, yelling, back at me. - GS
My lies have become my everything. - PK
Damien loves Daddy Mommy Daniel Sophia - DMVW
Drink coffee. Do stupid things faster. - JPG
I was crazy and still am! - AW
Curiosity is necessary, along with knowledge. - KR
My life can only get better! - MK
Never Ending, Ever Changing, Forever Breathing - MRH

And here are a couple that aren't exactly six words, but they're still awesome!
Music is my Life! - SR
Lost and always feels alone. - JD

For more six-word memoirs from teens all over the world, check out this book!

Sign Language Story Time

The Broome County Public Library will present a Sign Language Story Time on Tuesday, September 21, 4:00pm. Hearing, deaf, and hard-of-hearing children are invited to join us for this event. We'll enjoy some stories, which will be read aloud by a librarian and signed by an American Sign Language interpreter, and then we'll do a fun craft! This free program is intended for children ages 4 and older, and registration is required. For more information, or to register, please call the Library's Youth Services Department at 607-778-6456.

This program is made possible by funding from Senator Tom Libous's BOOKS Program.

Reading Between the Lines

The Broome County Public Library invites area residents to a Reading Between the Lines book discussion series entitled “Revolution and Rebellion in Early America,” which will begin on Tuesday, September 14, 6:00pm. Participants in this series will read works of non-fiction and literature, and the group discussion will be led by a humanities scholar. The books will be supplied by the program at no cost to participants. The Reading Between the Lines Series is funded by a grant from the New York Council for the Humanities, and it is designed to promote lively, informed discussion about humanities themes and to strengthen the relationship between the humanities and the general public.

Reading Between the Lines book discussions will take place on the second Tuesday of each month:
September 14, 6:00-7:30pm
October 12, 6:00-7:30pm
November 9, 6:00-7:30pm
December 14, 6:00-7:30pm

Registration is required. For more information, or to register, please call the Information Services Department at 607-778-6451.

Library to Host Ringling Bros. Clowns!

The Broome County Public Library is excited to announce that it will host Ringling Bros. clowns David and Cherie Gregg on Thursday, September 9, 6:00pm. In their role as Ambassadors of Laughter, Cherie and Dave travel to each city ahead of the show to share the news that Ringling Bros. is coming into town! These clowns will bring us the joy and excitement of reading with story telling, traditional circus fun, a little silly magic, a lot of animated movement, and a great deal of interaction with the children! Registration is required for this program, which is most appropriate for children ages 2-8 years old. For more information, or to register, please call the Youth Services Department at 607-778-6456.

The Hungry Ear for August

The Broome County Public Library invites area residents to The Hungry Ear, a monthly program celebrating the art of the short story, on Monday, August 30, 5:30pm. This month’s program focuses on stories from around the globe. A story from Argentina’s Leopolda Lugones, “Yzur,” tells of a scientist who is convinced he can teach a chimpanzee to speak. Pakistan’s Daniyal Mueenuddin's tale of “Nawabdin the Electrician” is an amusing tale of a poor man who has a foolproof technique for cheating the electric company. Our readers will be Bill Taylor and Sandy Monachino. We call it “a cocktail hour for the mind.” Come and be transported! Judy McMahon and the Hungry Ear Readers welcome you. This program is free and open to the public. The Hungry Ear will be held in the Library’s Exhibit Room (185 Court Street, Binghamton). For more information, please call the Library’s Information Desk at 607-778-6451.

Help Fill the Bus with Books!

The Oakdale Mall and Citadel Broadcasting Company are holding a book drive for the Broome County Public Library. Help us fill the bus by bringing your new or gently used books to the Oakdale Mall, August 14 through August 28. When you donate a book, you'll be entered to win an Oakdale Mall gift certificate for $150, $75, or $25!

On Saturdays, August 14, 21, and 28, 11am to 3pm, the bus in the mall parking lot will be open to accept books. At other times, books can be dropped off at the mall office during regular mall hours. Complete rules and regulations for the gift card drawing are available at the mall office.

Free Workshop: "Research Basics"

The Broome County Public Library Information Services Department will host a free workshop entitled “Research Basics” on Tuesday, August 10, 4:00-5:00pm. This workshop will focus on the basics of research, as well as some of the terminology connected with it. It will deal with both paper and online resources, including databases. Registration is required for this event, which will take place in the Library’s Computer Training Lab (185 Court Street, Binghamton). For more information, or to register, please call the Information Services Desk at 607-778-6451.

The Splish Splash Reading Show with Domino the Great!

The Broome County Public Library invites families to “The Splish Splash Reading Show” with Domino the Great on Tuesday, August 3, 6:30pm. This is an action-packed program that will grab the attention of children (and fun-loving adults, too!) with amazing magic tricks, hilarious humor, tons of audience participation, music and more!

While you’re at the Library for the show, you can also sign your family up for the Summer Reading Program, so you can earn prizes for reading during the summer! This event will take place in the Library’s Decker Community Room (185 Court Street, Binghamton). For more information, please call the Library’s Youth Services Department at 607-778-6456.

POSTPONED - Author Visit with Mary Bright Carr

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO ILLNESS. We are hoping to reschedule, but a new date has not yet been set.

The Broome County Public Library invites you to join us as we welcome local author Mary Bright Carr as she discusses memory and traumatic experience in her new novel With The Tide on Thursday, August 5, 6:00-7:30pm. Ms. Carr is a retired SUNY Oneonta professor in the field of cognitive psychology with a primary research interest in memory, and she has published two non-fiction books in this area. This reading and book discussion will take place in the Library’s Exhibit Room. For more information, please call the Library’s Information Services Department at 607-778-6451.

Wet and Wild Science with the Dirtmeister!

The Broome County Public Library invites area families to join us for Wet and Wild Science with The Dirtmeister on Monday, July 26, 6:30pm. Splash into science with this interactive show that looks at the wonders of water! You’ll learn and have fun at the same time!

While you’re at the Library for the show, you can also sign your family up for the Summer Reading Program, so you can earn prizes for reading during the summer! This event will take place in the Library’s Decker Community Room (185 Court Street, Binghamton). For more information, please call the Library’s Youth Services Department at 607-778-6456.

Career Alternatives in Business Ownership through Franchising

In conjunction with FranNet, the Broome County Public Library will host a free workshop entitled “Career Alternatives in Business Ownership through Franchising.” FranNet provides no-cost guidance to qualified clients who are interested in exploring self-employment as a career option through franchised business ownership. This workshop will include information concerning the risks and rewards of business ownership through franchising; franchising vs. start-ups vs. existing businesses; franchise costs and financing options; the franchising research, validation and selection process. It will take place on Thursday, July 22, 5:30-6:30pm in the Library’s Ahearn Business Center. The workshop is open to the public, but registration is required. For more information, or to register, please call the Library’s Reference Desk at 607-778-6451.

Try Surfing at the Library!

The Broome County Public Library invites area teens to try surfing at the library on Thursday, July 15, 4:30pm-7:30pm. Even though we’re not near the ocean, you can still show off your surfing skills on this Mechanical Surfboard! No registration is required for this free event, which will take place in the Library Garden (185 Court Street, Binghamton). For more information, please call the Library’s Youth Services Department at 607-778-6456.

Understanding Credit - Free Workshop

The Broome County Public Library will host a free workshop entitled Understanding Credit on Monday, July 19, 5:30-6:30pm. This workshop will focus on the basics of credit and credit reports, as well as some of the terminology connected with credit. Participants will also learn about factors used in determining one’s credit score, who can inquire about someone’s credit history and how one may obtain a free credit report. In addition, participants will gain an understanding of the credit cycle and how it affects individuals. This free workshop will be presented by a certified credit counselor from Consumer Credit Counseling Services of the Central Southern Tier. Registration is required. For more information, or to register, please call the Library’s Information Services Department at 607-778-6451.

T-Shirt Stamping for Teens

The Broome County Public Library invites area teens to participate in a T-Shirt Stamping event on Thursday, July 8, 7:00pm. If any of your t-shirts are looking a little drab, bring one to the library to spice it up! Each participant should bring his/her own t-shirt. This
event will take place in the Youth Services Department of the Library (185 Court Street, Binghamton). For more information, please call 607-778-6456.