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Vol. 37, No. 2 February 2012 | Download as PDF | Archived Newsletters »

In This Issue of This Month at
The Urbana Free Library

A Knight to Remember…The Fairy Tale Ball
Compost Q
The Hands of Strangers: Poems from the Nursing Home
A Poetry Reading by Janice Harrington
UFLive! presents Tom and Matt Turino…with Randy Cordle
AsiaLENS Film Series presents Follow Your Heart: China’s New Youth Movement
UFL Reads! Local Authors
Prairie Breezes presents Spinnin’ Slidin’ Scratchin’
Sullivan’s Island: The African-American Ellis Island<
Art Day @ Your Library

You are cordially invited to a gala ball! Wear your shiniest suit of armor, your most sparkly ball gown, or dress like your favorite fairy tale character and join us for an evening of fun, fantasy, and frivolity.

At this year’s ball you can gather in the ballroom to dance on a cloud, make courtly crafts, and listen to your favorite fables of yore. You can enjoy the shimmering sound of the dulcimer, learn about medieval science with the royal alchemist, and try your luck in the labyrinth—if you dare!

As you count the days until the arrival of the Fairy Tale Ball, get in the spirit by checking out the library’s amazing collection of international fairy tales and folklore, fantasy favorites and read-alikes, or fairy tales retold. Don’t know where to start? Ask a librarian!

The 2012 Fairy Tale Ball is generously sponsored by Fred Schlipf and Diane Hillard.

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Compost Q

Sunday, February 5 • 2:00 - 6:00 p.m.
MacFarlane-Hood Reading Room

Join us for a unique performance by Compost Q—a seasoned, multidimensional collective steeped in improvisation, composition, and dance. They describe their creative pieces as “active, rich, organic, dark, loamy, and finished collaborations.”

The performers of Compost Q are Dorothy Martirano (violin), Yu-Chen Wang (gu zheng/Chinese zither), Chris Reyman (accordion), Erik Lund (trombone), Armand Beaudoin (bass), Kirstie Simson (dance), and Tamin Totzke (dance).

This event is made possible by an Urbana Arts Grant.

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The Hands of Strangers: Poems from the Nursing Home
A Poetry Reading by Janice Harrington

Wednesday, February 8 • 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Lewis Auditorium

Janice Harrington is our special guest this month, reading from her recently released collection, The Hands of Strangers: Poems from the Nursing Home. As a college student, Harrington worked as a nurse’s aide and recollects, “I haven’t forgotten what I saw, heard, felt, or learned.” Expect to be moved, surprised, and impressed by Harrington’s rich and wide-ranging work.

Janice Harrington writes poetry and children’s books, and has worked as a professional storyteller and public librarian. She currently teaches in the Creative Writing Program at the University of Illinois. Her books, which have received many national awards and citations, include Even the Hollow My Body Made Is Gone, her first book of poetry, and The Chicken-Chasing Queen of Lamar County, and Going North, both written for children.

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UFLive! presents Tom and Matt Turino…with Randy Cordle

Sunday, February 19 • 2:00 - 3:30 p.m.
Busey-Mills Reading Room

Tom, Matt, and Randy have been making great music together for over a decade. This acoustic trio plays a dynamic variety of music that includes old-time string band music, Cajun, acoustic blues, folk classics, and many original tunes and songs. They’re creative, spontaneous, and loaded with talent. You’ll be glad you stopped in to hear them play!

All UFLive! concerts take place on the third Sunday of most months and are made possible through the generous support of The Urbana Free Library Foundation.

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AsiaLENS Film Series presents Follow Your Heart: China’s New Youth Movement

Wednesday, February 22 • 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Lewis Auditorium

This daring documentary explores the life and ideals of China’s youth movement, focusing on the beliefs, work, and families of a number of successful, independent Hip Hop artists. The film examines the issues that are affecting youth, such as identity, freedom, family, information, consumerism, wealth, their parents, and individuality. Most importantly, the film shows the high optimism and convictions of this new generation, and the future that they want to build.

AsiaLENS is a series of free public film screenings and lecture/discussion programs on issues reflecting contemporary life in Asia. The series is organized by the Asian Educational Media Service, a program of the Center for East Asian and Pacific Studies at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and is co-sponsored by Spurlock Museum.

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UFL Reads! Local Authors

Sunday, February 26 • 2:00 - 3:00 p.m.
MacFarlane-Hood Reading Room

Urbana-Champaign is fortunate to be home to a plethora of creative individuals—many of whom are writers. Whether born in central Illinois or here by choice, these local authors have provided us with hours of enjoyment. Join UFL Reads! as we sample their books.

The Dead Sea Codex is the first title in Sarah Wisseman’s original mystery series that introduces us to Boston museum curator and archaeologist, Lisa Donahue. Newly engaged Lisa is in Israel and discovers fragments of a significant papyrus. She joins forces with a former lover to track down the rest of the missing document—and the couple’s strong attraction rekindles. What will be the fate of the codex and of Lisa’s fiancé?

Local author Sarah Wisseman is an archaeological scientist at the University of Illinois. Copies of The Dead Sea Codex are available at the library. You can request a copy via the library’s catalog at urbanafreelibrary.org or by calling 367-4405.

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Prairie Breezes presents Spinnin’ Slidin’ Scratchin’

Friday, February 17 • 4:15 - 5:00 p.m.
Lewis Auditorium

Children of all ages and their families are invited to an improvisational performance featuring Dorothy Martirano, scratchin’ on violin; Armand Beaudoin, scratchin’ on cello; Morgan E. Powell, slidin’ on trombone; and Patricia Hruby Powell spinnin’ out dances and tales. You will be entranced, enrapt, and engaged!

Prairie Breezes concerts take place on the third Friday of most months, and are generously sponsored by Peggy and
Bob Podlasek in memory of Greg Bliss.

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Sullivan’s Island: The African-American Ellis Island

Saturday, February 18 • 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Lewis Auditorium

Many Americans are more familiar with West African slaves entering American soil from the shores of the Caribbean Islands. However, Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina, served as the main point of entry for African slaves—a quarantine station for those individuals who would be sold into slavery; over 200,000 African men, women, and children who endured the Middle Passage. About 40 percent of today’s African-American population can trace their ancestral roots to West Africa through the Sullivan’s Island/Charleston gateway, which is the percent equivalent of white Americans passing through Ellis Island. For many of today’s African-American population, this new found information could hold the key to completing the exploration of their ancestry.

Presented by Evelyn Hood, The African-American Cultural & Genealogical Society (Decatur, Illinois)

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Something new for teens! If you’re the creative type—or would like to be more creative—stop by the library on the fourth Monday of most months for Art Day @ Your Library. You can join us for an hour of artistic creativity and learn new techniques, share and swap ideas, and admire each other’s work. Don’t forget to bring your sketchbook!

For more information about the date and time of Art Day @ Your Library, check the library’s online calendar or Teen Space, the library’s blog for teens at urbanafreelibrary.org.