Author: Jessica O'Connor

New Narrative Nonfiction Book Club Books!

Posted on by Jessica O'Connor

Spring – Summer 2024 Book Picks

Check out the Falmouth Public Library’s new Narrative Nonfiction Book Club picks for the Spring and Summer ’24 session!  Come pick up a copy and join us to share your thoughts as we read across the genres of nonfiction, from history to adventure, memoir/biography, and beyond with books that read like a novel.

We meet on the 1st Thursday of every month from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM. The group will meet in the Hermann meeting room and for those who wish to join us from home, you can join us via Zoom.  Registration is required and the Zoom link will be provided upon registration.

To register, click on the date you wish to attend and fill out the registration form. If you have any questions, please contact the Adult Services department at 508-457-2555 x 7 or info@falmouthpubliclibrary.org.

May 2, 2024
The Mosquito Bowl: A Game of Life and Death in World War II by Buzz Bissinger

“This extraordinary, never-before-told story of WWII follows two U.S. Marine Corps regiments, comprised of some of the greatest football talent, as they played each other in a football game in the dirt and coral of Guadalcanal known as “The Mosquito Bowl” before they faced the darkest and deadliest days at Okinawa.”

 

 

June 6, 2024
Poverty, By America by Matthew Desmond

“Drawing on history, research and original reporting, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Evicted  reimagines the debate on poverty, revealing there is so much poverty in America not in spite of our wealth but because of it, and builds a startingly original case for eliminating poverty in our country.”

 

 

 

July 11, 2024
The Last Resort: A Chronicle of Paradise, Profit, and Peril at the Beach by Sarah Stodola

“Weaving together firsthand travel notes with her exacting journalism in an enthralling report on the past, present and future of coastal culture, which has become central to our globalized world, while at the same time grappling with the darker realities of resort culture.”

 

 

 

August 1, 2024
Fly Girl: A Memoir by Ann Hood

“The best-selling novelist shares funny, moving and sometimes shocking stories of life as a TWA flight attendant during the 1970s and 1980s as the airline industry underwent a huge transformation.”

 

 

 

September 5, 2024
The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder by David Grann

“In this tale of shipwreck, survival and savagery, the #1 New York Times best-selling author of Killers of the Flower Moon recounts the events on His Majesty’s Ship The Wager, a British vessel that left England in 1740 on a secret mission, resulting in a court martial that revealed a shocking truth.”

 

 

April Movie Showing

Posted on by Jessica O'Connor

The library will be showing a new movie in April!  Scroll below to find out which movie will be playing, view the movie trailer and register to attend as seating is limited.   

All movie showings are free to the public and are supported by the Friends of the Falmouth Public Library.

 

 

Friday Films – The Boys in the Boat
Friday, April 19th, 3pm-5:05pm …… REGISTER HERE
Hermann Meeting Room

“The Boys in the Boat is a sports drama based on the #1 New York Times bestselling non-fiction book written by Daniel James Brown. The film, directed by George Clooney, is about the 1936 University of Washington rowing team that competed for gold at the Summer Olympics in Berlin. This inspirational true story follows a group of underdogs at the height of the Great Depression as they are thrust into the spotlight and take on elite rivals from around the world.”
Rated: PG-13; Running Time: 2hrs 3mins

March Movie Showings

Posted on by Jessica O'Connor

The library will be showing some new movies in March!  Scroll below to find out which movies will be playing, view the movie trailers and register to attend as seating is limited.   

All movie showings are free to the public and are supported by the Friends of the Falmouth Public Library.

 

Friday Films – Wonka

Friday, March 8th, 3pm-5:05pm …… REGISTER HERE
Hermann Meeting Room

“This fantasy musical film follows the story of Willy Wonka, the famous but eccentric chocolatier based on the character from Roald Dahl’s novel. In particular, it emphasizes his rise to the top. The narrative traces his beginnings as a young adult who started as an employee selling chocolate in a store until he became driven to enter the chocolate industry eventually. This film acts as a prequel to the 1971 film adaptation of Dahl’s novel.”
Rated: PG; Running Time: 2hrs 2mins

 

Friday Films – The Color Purple

Friday, March 22nd, 3pm-5:20pm …… REGISTER HERE
Hermann Meeting Room

“Musical adaptation of Alice Walker’s novel about the life-long struggles of an African American woman living in the south during the early 1900s.  Torn apart from her sister and her children, Celie faces many hardships in life, including an abusive husband. With support from a sultry singer named Shug Avery, as well as her stand-her-ground stepdaughter, Celie ultimately finds extraordinary strength in the unbreakable bonds of a new kind of sisterhood.”
Rated: PG-13; Running Time: 2hrs 20mins

February’s Movie Showings

Posted on by Jessica O'Connor

The library will be showing some new movies in February!  Scroll below to find out which movies will be playing, view the movie trailers and register to attend as seating is limited.   

All movie showings are free to the public and are supported by the Friends of the Falmouth Public Library.  Please note that Family Friendly Films are open to all ages, but small children should be accompanied by an adult. 

Friday Films – My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3

Friday, February 9th, 3pm-4:30pm ……. REGISTER HERE
Hermann Meeting Room

“Following the death of the family patriarch, the Portokalos family decides to embark on a grand odyssey to his homeland in Greece for a no-holds-barred family reunion. Along the way, each member of the Portokalos clan experiences a host of mishaps and uplifting situations that ultimately strengthen their enduring bonds of family. The story is the third installment in the series franchise.”
Rated: PG-13
Running Time: 1hr 31mins

 

Family Friendly Films – Spider-Man Across the Spider-Verse

Thursday, February 22nd, 2pm-4:20pm ……. REGISTER HERE
Hermann Meeting Room

“Miles Morales catapults across the Multiverse, where he encounters a team of Spider-People charged with protecting its very existence. When the heroes clash on how to handle a new threat, Miles must redefine what it means to be a hero.”

Rated: PG
Running Time: 2hrs 20mins

 

 

Friday Films – Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

Friday, February 23rd, 3pm-5:20pm ……. REGISTER HERE
Hermann Meeting Room

“Daredevil archaeologist Indiana Jones races against time to retrieve a legendary dial that can change the course of history. Accompanied by his goddaughter, he soon finds himself squaring off against Jürgen Voller, a former Nazi who works for NASA.”

Rated: PG-13
Running Time: 2hrs 22mins

 

Dungeons & Dragons: Introduction and Character Creation for Adults

Posted on by Jessica O'Connor

Are you an adult who is curious about Dungeons & Dragons and thinking about trying your hand at playing? Our program on Tuesday, January 16th from 6:30pm-8pm in the Hermann meeting room may be a great start for you!

In this two-in-one program we will start off with an introduction to the classic and ever popular game, Dungeons and Dragons (or D&D for short). The game’s popularity has grown a lot given its presence in popular series as well as the constantly growing wealth of videos, campaign streams, and podcasts, but what is D&D really about? We’ll jump in, share knowledge, and get everyone familiar with what’s at the core of this iconic tabletop roleplaying game. Then we’ll get into everyone’s favorite part, character creation! It also happens to be one of the most daunting aspects of the game for new players which is why we are happy, neigh delighted, to lend a helping hand! The program will have a heavy focus on walking through what you need to know for creating a character and filling in a character sheet of your own. At the end of this program everyone will have a character sheet of their own filled out so feel free to come in with some character ideas or be inspired as we go along!

Registration for this D&D program is required.  Click here to register!

This Introduction and Character Creation D&D program will also kick off our six week Dungeons & Dragons Adult Campaign.  The D&D Adult Campaign program is no longer taking new participants at this time so if you are interested in trying your hand at a D&D Adult Campaign with us, we will be doing another one in the Spring.  To stay informed about our upcoming library programs including D&D, sign up for the library’s weekly e-newsletter.

Great Decisions 2024

Posted on by Jessica O'Connor

Great Decisions is America’s largest civic discussion program on world affairs.  On Wednesday nights from 7pm-8pm starting on March 6th and ending on June 12th, we will meet bi-weekly to discuss one of eight critical foreign policy challenges facing Americans.  In each bi-weekly session, a volunteer moderator will lead the group in discussing the selected topic in a non-partisan, open environment.  Prior to each session, participants will read the relevant chapter in the Great Decisions Briefing Book and watch the corresponding Master Class, which will be provided to participants for free.  Participants are encouraged to attend all eight sessions but you may choose to attend only certain topics.

Registration is required for each session and will be limited to 20 participants.   Register online using the registration links below or by calling the reference desk at 508-457-2555 x7. 

This program is sponsored by the Library Support Fund.  

 
Mideast Realignment …… Register Here
Wednesday, March 6th from 7pm-8pm in the Hermann meeting room
The United States and Middle East are at a crossroads.  In spite of a reduced presence in the Middle East, the U.S. still has significant national interests there and the area is a key arena for global power politics. Can the U.S. continue to defend its interests in the Middle East and globally with a lower level of military and political involvement, or should it recommit to a leading role in the region?  By Marc Lynch
 
 
Climate Technology and Competition …… Register Here
Wednesday, March 20th from 7pm-8pm in the Hermann meeting room
Will the United States and China, with other powerful countries following suit, approach current and future climate initiatives with an increased commitment to trade protectionism and nationalism, by various measures including trade restrictions? Or could a growing spirit of international accord develop to confront the “common enemy” of climate change?  By Bud Ward
 
 
Science Across Borders …… Register Here
Wednesday, April 3rd from 7pm-8pm in the Hermann meeting room
Scientific advances benefit from collaboration between researchers, but what happens when material, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) is controversial and important to a nation’s national security? Is there a middle ground between sharing information and denying access? How can we regulate cooperation?  By Mila Rosenthal
 
 
U.S. and China Trade Rivalry …… Register Here
Wednesday, April 17th from 7pm-8pm in the Hermann meeting room
China’s economic rise and its current policies of increasing   the role of the state in the economy have led some U.S. policymakers to seek to deny China access to U.S. technology and investment. This is seen as a necessary corrective to decades of predatory Chinese economic policies. Is this a wise strategy, and how effective can it be?  By Jonathan Chanis
 
 
NATO’s Future …… Register Here
Wednesday, May 1st from 7pm-8pm in the Hermann meeting room
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has come under increased scrutiny, not because NATO troops are involved in the conflict, but because of its role in relations between Russia and its neighbors.  Will expanding membership in NATO protect countries, or will it further provoke Russia?  By Sarwar Kashmeri
 
 
Understanding Indonesia …… Register Here
Wednesday, May 15th from 7pm-8pm in the Hermann meeting room
Despite its large size, Indonesia remains virtually invisible to most Americans. But as one of the world’s largest democracies, the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation, and as an economic driver of ASEAN, why does it fly below the radar? What are current issues in U.S.-Indonesian relations, and what role can the country play in Asia?  By Charles Sullivan
 
 
High Seas Treaty …… Register Here
Wednesday, May 29th from 7pm-8pm in the Hermann meeting room
Areas of the seas beyond national jurisdiction comprise the high seas, which are facing a degradation of ecosystems due to climate change and the increase in human activities, such as shipping, overfishing, pollution, and deep-sea mining. The recently negotiated High Seas Treaty, also known as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction treaty, will attempt to address these issues. How difficult will it be to convince nations to participate?  By FPA Editors
 
 
Pandemic Preparedness …… Register Here
Wednesday, June 12th from 7pm-8pm in the Hermann meeting room
Looking back at the covid-19 pandemic, there are many lessons to take away in terms of domestic and international policies. Although this pandemic seems to have waned, how can we apply these lessons to future pandemics?  Will countries cooperate, and will a consensus emerge on how to manage global health challenges?  By Carolyn Reynolds

Dungeons and Dragons at FPL

Posted on by Jessica O'Connor

Are you feeling like you’d rather be a goblin today? Dungeons and Dragons might help…

Come to the Falmouth Public Library Young Adult room for our next Dungeons and Dragons club on December 5th from 12 PM – 1:30 PM. It’s Falmouth Public Schools’ early release day! What better way than to escape school than to escape into a whole new world, designed by yourself and friends!

Now that we have some personalized characters, we’ll be diving into some sampling. Patrons will have the opportunity to have a battle, communicate with other imaginary characters in a town diner, or whatever else the Dungeon Master creates. The possibilities are endless! If you need some direction we have plenty of materials to guide you along the way.

Hopefully you can start your own Dungeons and Dragons crew and take what you have imagined and learned to continue to bring your world to life. Campaigns can be a “one shot” which lasts around 4 hours. There are also groups that have been playing together with the same characters for over a year!

Maybe someday you would like to try and be a Dungeon Master (the “guide” of the game). Though it is very time consuming, the D&D club at FPL is a great place to learn the basics. FPL also has plenty of resources that can be borrowed to begin practicing and reading up on all the possibilities! There are campaigns that are laid out in books that the library has in its collection or a Dungeon Master can write their own.

The event will provide an excellent understanding of the basics of Dungeons and Dragons. Young adults of all levels of experience are welcome! Since 1974, people (and more importantly, their imaginations) have been enjoying Dungeons and Dragons! Hop on board!

Registration is encouraged and can be accessed at the FPL events page!

Changes to Kanopy

Posted on by Jessica O'Connor

Important changes are coming to Kanopy starting November 1st.

What will be changing?

Instead of play credits, Kanopy users will now be issued “tickets” every month.  Kanopy titles will be labeled with the number of tickets needed to watch them, and how long you have to view to the title.  Episodic content (i.e. TV Shows and Great Courses) will now be bingeable so you can watch an entire season or course using tickets based on the running time.  Check out the table below that breaks down the ticket requirements and viewing periods for Kanopy titles.

Running Time Ticket Requirement Viewing Period
2 Hours or Less 2 3 Days
2 to 4 Hours 3 3 Days
4 to 6 Hours 4 7 Days
6 – 10 Hours 5 14 Days
10+ Hours 5 21 Days

How many tickets will I get?

As a Falmouth Public Library patron, you will be getting 15 tickets a month to watch Kanopy content.  Kanopy Kids will remain unlimited views, as Kanopy Kids content will be ticket-free to watch.

When will these changes be taking place?

Kanopy will switch to the new ticketing system on November 1st.  When using Kanopy for the first time in November, either through its app or the website, a pop up will appear to walk you through the new ticketing system.

Have any questions? 

Contact the library at 508-457-2555 x7, email info@falmouthpubliclibrary.org or stop by the reference desk during library hours.  

The Lioness of Boston – Virtual Author Talk with Emily Franklin

Posted on by Jessica O'Connor

Join the Falmouth Public Library for a virtual event via Zoom with author Emily Franklin on Tuesday, October 24th at 7pm, as we dive into her novel, The Lioness of Boston. A deeply evocative portrait of Isabella Stewart Gardner, a daring visionary who created an inimitable legacy in American art and transformed the city of Boston itself. The Lioness of Boston is a portrait of what society expected a woman’s life to be, shattered by a courageous soul who rebelled and determined to live on her own terms.

This program will include a passage reading and Q+A with Emily, so share your questions and comments! Registration is required and please submit your questions for the author on the registration form. REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED.  THIS VIRTUAL EVENT IS FULL.

Emily Franklin is the author of more than twenty books including The Lioness of Boston. Her work has been published in the New York Times, The Boston Globe, and Guernica among other places as well as long-listed for the London Sunday Times Short Story Award, featured on National Public Radio, and named notable by the Association of Jewish Libraries.

This event is partnered with Falmouth Public Library, Chillmark Free Public Library, Brewster Ladies’ Library, Hyannis Public Library, Yarmouth Port Library, and Centerville Public Library. Sponsored by the Falmouth Public Library Board of Trustees.

Dungeons and Dragons!

Posted on by Jessica O'Connor
Perhaps you’ve heard of Dungeons and Dragons through shows like Stranger Things or maybe you watch Critical Role or Dimension 20?  Despite the flood of podcasts, videos, streamers, and overall content revolving around Dungeons and Dragons, starting up with your own characters and campaign can be a challenge. The Falmouth Public Library is here to help buff your knowledge and make the challenge rating of Dungeons and Dragons easier to take on!
 
Join us in the first steps of your Dungeons and Dragons journey! If you’ve ever been curious about trying out this popular tabletop role-playing game or if you want to connect with players and learn more, our upcoming programs for teens and young adults should be right for you.  
 
Note: September 26th and October 17th are early release days for Falmouth Public Schools.
 

Intro to Dungeons and Dragons
Tuesday, September 26th, 12pm-1pm
YA Room

On September 26th we’ll be going over the basics for understanding Dungeons and Dragons.  We’ll cover everything from basic rules, what a session zero is, how to approach character creation, and more.  Starting and maintaining a campaign can be daunting, but we’re here to help smooth the bumps in the road and make this monster of a game a bit more approachable.  Pizza and refreshments will be provided!  CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.
 

Character Creation
Tuesday, October 17th, 12pm-1:30pm
YA Room

Follow up with us on October 17th for a program dedicated to creating your very own Dungeons and Dragons character.  Whether it’s your first character or you have any questions about making a character and bringing them to life, we’ll cover the basic topics and dive into anything you might want to know more about.  There are many ways to make and play your character so come by with a blank slate or with character ideas in mind and we’ll help you craft your character sheet!  Snacks and refreshments will be provided!  CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.