Category: Community

Mimi Schlichter Author Talk & Art Exhibit

Posted on by Jessica O'Connor

Stop on by the library to see Mimi’s art and then come hear her speak about her 54-day project!

Author Talk, Demonstration and Book Signing

The Falmouth Public Library is delighted to host local artist and writer Mimi Schlichter for an author talk and book signing on Saturday, September 17th from 4pm-5pm in the library’s Hermann meeting room.  Mimi will be discussing her most recent book The 54 and Then Some: The 54 Falmouth Beach Paintings in 54 Days Project Expanded Edition with The Other 46, as well as offering a demonstration of her alla prima oil technique used during the project.  This author talk, demonstration and book signing event is free to the public and registration is required.  To register, click here or call the library at 508-457-2555 extension 7.  (Photo Credit: Milt Williamson)

Mimi explains the genesis of the project on the back cover of the book, “On April 1, 2020 the Town of Falmouth closed its beach parking lots as a proactive measure to reduce Covid 19 viral spread.  It meant I lost the option of painting beach scenes from the front seat of my car.  They remained closed until May 24th.  A total of 54 days.  One year later, March, 2021, I found myself sitting in my car in a beach parking lost, painting and wondering “why didn’t I do this more often last year?”  Then I remembered.  I couldn’t get there.  The idea came to me to celebrate how life is different this year.  So on April 1, 2021, I began a series of 54 paintings of the Falmouth beaches.  My personal commitment was to complete the paintings in 54 days, one a day, every day, by May 24.  You hold in your hands the result of that commitment.  In this new expanded version, I include The Other 46, the paintings completed in the 46 days following the completion of the 54 project.  They take the alla prima “a painting a day” run to a full 100 days.”

“The Beaches and Beyond Art Exhibit”

Concurrently, “The Beaches and Beyond Art Exhibit” by Mimi Schlichter will be on display in the Adult Collections Room of the Falmouth Public Library for the entire month of September.  Mimi describes the show as a gradual exhibit.  Her intention is to begin with a representative group of paintings form the original 54-day project, while each week adding newly created, sometime still wet, oil paintings she plans to complete during the month of September.  The art exhibit will be on display from September 2nd through September 30th.  This art exhibit is free to view and no registration is required.  Just stop on by the Adult Collections Room during the library hours.

Mimi Schlichter moved from Pennsylvania to Cape Cod in 1997 to pursue painting in an environment of light and beauty, with nature as her inspiration.  She paints mostly in oils, while also enjoying the flexibility and spontaneity of watercolor pencils paired with ink.  It is her goal to bring to life scenes and visions that inspire, soothe, and bring joy, be they tiny minis at 2’x2′ or massive multi panel installations.

Study Rooms Now Reservable

Posted on by Library User

Every day someone comes into the library and asks us, “Is there a place I can do a Zoom that’s fairly private?” A job interview in a place separate from your noisy dog? A work call when the wifi is down at home? A tutoring session? We can meet that need!

We’ve recently improved our study rooms off the Reference Room with the addition of sound-dampening panels, clocks, and ethernet ports so you can plug in directly if you find your Zoom call is shaky on wifi.

The big change, though, is the study rooms can now be reserved in advance. Here’s how it works:

  • Study rooms can be reserved up to one week (7 days) in advance.
  • They can be reserved for up to two hours in a row. After two hours, you can ask for an extension if nobody has the room booked.
  • Study rooms can be reserved by calling the Reference Desk at 508-457-2555 X7, emailing us at info@falmouthpubliclibrary.org, or stopping by the desk in person. If you’ve booked in advance, stop by the Reference Desk to check in when you arrive.
  • They can hold up to two people. Zoom calls are ok, but a headset and quiet voices are preferred. It’s also fine to use these rooms for in-person tutoring or study sessions.
  • They are only available during hours the library is open to the public (usually 10-5:30, with evening hours Tuesday and Wednesdays).

Stop in and check these rooms out! We’re sure they will book up quickly.

A History of the Falmouth Road Race with Paul Clerici

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The Falmouth Public Library welcomes bestselling author Paul Clerici in person on Thursday, August 18th, at 1 p.m., in the Hermann Meeting Room. He will discuss A History of the Falmouth Road Race, the first and only book entirely about the great Cape Cod race, in honor of the 50th running this year.

In a new multimedia presentation, hear about how it all began in a bar; tales of the late great founder Tommy Leonard; how the race grew alongside the running boom; stories and anecdotes of Olympic stars on the roads of Falmouth; and how it continues to inspire.

The award-winning writer takes readers through the colorful journey of this iconic race. With his unique vast array of experiences and knowledge in the sport of running – having covered and written about the sport for over 35 years now, and also having run Falmouth several times – he brings the great race to life through informative, humorous, and enlightening detail that includes stories about every landmark, moment, and portion of the course and its history.

A freelance journalist, photographer, and former newspaper editor, Paul Clerici delivers talks and lectures at libraries, historical societies, bookstores, running clubs; appears at expos, book signings, group meetings; appears on television (NECN, cable stations, etc.), radio (NPR, local and city stations, etc.), and media outlets including “The Boston Globe” and the “Cape Cod Times.” Race director of the Camy 5K Run & David 5K Walk in Walpole, he has competed in nearly every distance from the mile to the marathon – including two triathlons and 43 marathons – and has won numerous age-group and Clydesdale running awards.

He is also the author of “Born to Coach: The Story of Bill Squires,” “Images of Modern America: The Boston Marathon,” “Boston Marathon History by the Mile,” and “History of the Greater Boston Track Club.” Books will be available to purchase and be signed by the author.

Library staff will also be present to add your memories of the Falmouth Road Race over the years to our Digital Archive. Bring an old photo, a newspaper clipping, or other memorabilia to share! We’ll snap a quick photo and take a few notes and you can contribute to the community celebration of the race.

This is a free, in-person lecture that is open to all ages. Registration is required.  Register online using the Falmouth Public Library’s event calendar or by calling the library at 508-457-2555 x7.

Contribute Your Memories of the Falmouth Road Race

Posted on by Library User

This year on August 21 Falmouth will host the 50th running of the Falmouth Road Race. As thousands of runners race from the starting line, in front of the Captain Kidd on Water Street in Woods Hole, they wind past Nobska Light, up Surf Drive, around Falmouth Harbor, to the finish line in Falmouth Heights.

At the Falmouth Public Library we have large collections of postcards of local landmarks along the path of the Road Race. We’ve created a Map so you can follow the runners’ route, with a glimpse at past views of the buildings and seashores they’ll see as they run.

Many Falmouth residents and visitors have run the Road Race over the years. The Falmouth Road Race web site has a wonderful year-by-year recap of the 49 races to date. Does it spark memories in you?

We’re building a digital archive of Road Race Memories at the library, and we’d love to hear your story.

Dig out your old photos, or take a picture of your collection of mugs and t-shirts, and write us a few lines about the years you ran, or watched, or got stuck in traffic! Library Director Linda Collins shared the following memory:

In 1999 race day was complete with torrential rains. Waiting at the the start,  I remember seeing runners with plastic bags taped over their shoes in an attempt to stay dry. As we came out of the woods along the beach we were running through ankle deep puddles. I wondered how the plastic bags were holding up. I turned to the runner next to me and he had the biggest smile on his face. We agreed, we were doing all the things our mothers taught us not to. We were running in the middle of the road, soaked to the skin, jumping in puddles, and talking to strangers. It doesn’t get any better.

She also found a page in her scrapbook about that year! You can see how wet it was even at the finish.

You can upload an image or type in a story without an image attached at our Contribution Link. Be sure you include your name and email address, and give us permission to publish your contribution at our web site. If you don’t have computer access, please feel free to stop by the Reference Desk and we can take down your story or snap a digital image of your old-fashioned paper photograph!

We look forward to hearing from you!

Harvard Legal Services Information Session

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Free Legal Assistance for Veterans and Low-Moderate Income Individuals

On Wednesday July 27 from 2-5pm in the Hermann Meeting Room, we are excited to host staff from the Legal Services Center of Harvard Law School. They will provide advice and referral information to community members about civil legal issues including but not limited to:

  • housing law and tenants’ rights
  • disability rights
  • Social Security and public benefits such as SNAP
  • veterans benefits and military record corrections
  • divorce, custody and child support questions
  • LGBTQ+ related concerns
  • tax issues
  • consumer loan and small claims court problems
  • criminal record sealing or expungement

The event will include a Zoom presentation, in-person consultations and referrals, and an ice-cream social.

Register online or call the library at 508-457-2555 X7 and join us!

Postcards from Falmouth: Falmouth Public Library

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If you’ve ever wanted a firsthand account of how FPL acquired our historic postcard collection, look no further than this oral history with Library Director Linda Collins. She charts the library’s route from the Falmouth Library Society of 1792 to the FPL of today, a place where you can dive into whalers’ logbooks, play Giant Jenga, borrow a sewing machine, and, of course, browse thousands of postcards online.

“The library appropriation is only 1.5% of the town budget,” she says. “It is a real deal for the residents of Falmouth […] there’s truly something for everyone.”

Visit the Falmouth Public Library digital exhibit here.

Postcards from Falmouth is a local history project of Falmouth Public Library, funded by a LSTA grant and administered by the MBLC.

Library Lawn Games on Mondays

Posted on by Jessica O'Connor

COME GET YOUR GAME ON!

From July 11th through August 29th, stop by the Falmouth Public Library lawn on Mondays from 1pm to 3pm (weather permitting) to play some of our new, fun, outdoor games!

We’ll have Cornhole, Giant Checkers, Giant 4-In-A-Row, Giant Jenga, Giant Left Center Right, Giant Yard Dice, Kan Jam and Spikeball!  

Library Lawn Games are fun for all ages and everyone is welcome to come and play!  For more information about the Library Lawn Games and how to play, click here.

Webb Space Telescope Community Events

Posted on by Jessica O'Connor
The Falmouth Public Library will be hosting two Webb Telescope Community Events for NASA’s release of the James Webb Space Telescope’s (JSWT) first full-color images!  
 
Stop by on Tuesday, July 12th between 10:30am-1:30pm  for an open house with NASA Solar System Ambassador Marie Zahn in the YA room.  Everyone is welcome to join us for some fun activities as we view the first JWST images together!  Marie will also help answer your space questions and will talk about the Webb Telescope. 
 
Then join us on Saturday, July 16th from 3:30pm-4:30pm in the Hermann meeting room as we stream an online expert panel of Webb scientists!  They will answer audience questions and examine and explain the first images from JWST.
 
“The James Webb Space Telescope is the world’s premier space science observatory. Webb will solve mysteries in our solar system, look beyond to distant worlds around other stars, and probe the mysterious structures and origins of our universe and our place in it. Webb is an international program led by NASA with its partners, ESA (European Space Agency) and the Canadian Space Agency.” – NASA

Upper Cape Camera Club Exhibit: Cape Cod at Night

Posted on by Library User

The Upper Cape Camera Club has been holding their annual juried exhibit at the Library every July since 2013. We’re happy to welcome them back this year! This year the theme of the Exhibit is Cape Cod at night. We offer some teasers in this post of the works on display. Summer or winter, the Cape sparkles in the evening.

Come in and wander the Art Walk around the exterior of the Adult wing of the library see all the photographs on display and choose your own favorite! The jury winners, as well as favorites picked by Library staff, will be announced once judging has concluded. The exhibit will be up all July.

“Summer Night” — Phil Richardson
“Heading Out” — Phil Richardson

2022 Summer Movies

Posted on by Jessica O'Connor

FPL Wednesday Night Movies (July 6th & July 20th)

The Falmouth Public Library will be showing two summer movie classics in the Hermann room on Wednesday Nights in July, Independence Day from 1996 and Jaws from 1975!   These movie viewings are free to the public and are sponsored by the Friends of the Falmouth Public Library.  Registrations are required and each movie is limited to 60 participants. 

Wednesday, July 6th at 5:30pm in the Hermann room
Independence Day (Rated PG-13; Runtime 2.5 hours)   
“In the epic adventure film “Independence Day,” as these extraordinary events unfold, it becomes increasingly clear that a force of incredible magnitude has arrived; its mission: total annihilation over the Fourth of July weekend. The last hope to stop the destruction is an unlikely group of people united by fate and unimaginable circumstances.”

Wednesday, July 20th at 6pm in the Hermann room
Jaws (Rated PG; Runtime 2 hours) 


“When a young woman is killed by a shark near the New England tourist town of Amity Island, police chief Martin Brody wants to close the beaches, but mayor Larry Vaughn overrules him, fearing that the loss of tourist revenue will cripple the town. Ichthyologist Matt Hooper and grizzled ship captain Quint offer to help Brody capture the killer beast, and the trio engage in an epic battle of man vs. nature.”


FV Movies Under The Stars (July 27th – August 31st)

The Falmouth Village Association will be showing double feature movies on the library lawn every Wednesday at dusk (6pm-10pm) starting July 27th and ending August 31st!  BYO blankets and chairs and join us on the library lawn to enjoy some outdoor family fun with Movies Under the Stars.  These movies are weather dependent and are free to the public.  No registration is required.

Wednesday, July 27th from 6pm-10pm on library lawn
6pm Movie: Star Wars: A New Hope (Rated PG; Runtime 2 hours)
“Young Luke Skywalker leaves his desert home planet to rescue Princess Leia and become a Jedi knight.”      
~ 8pm Movie: Apollo 13 (Rated PG; Runtime 2.3 hours):
“The true story of the Apollo 13 space mission where astronauts are stranded in their crippled spacecraft while the ground crew race against time to bring them home.”


Wednesday, August 3rd from 6pm-10pm on library lawn
6pm Movie: My Dog Skip (Rated PG; Runtime 1.5 hours)
“Set in Mississippi in the late 1940s and based on Willie Morris’ boyhood memoirs, eight-year-old Willie loses his only friend in the world to the draft until his mother gives him a puppy for his birthday.”

~ 8pm Movie: Dog (Rated PG-13; Runtime 1.6 hours)
“Briggs and his companion Lulu, a Belgian Malinois, haul ass down the Pacific Coast in time to catch their best friend’s and handler’s funeral.” 


Wednesday, August 10th from 6pm-10pm on library lawn
6pm Movie: Sing 2 (Rated PG; Runtime 1.8 hours)
“The ever-optimistic koala, Buster Moon and his all-star cast of performers prepare to launch their most dazzling stage extravaganza yet, all in the glittering entertainment capital of the world.”

~ 8pm Movie: The Greatest Showman (Rated PG; Runtime 1.7 hours)
“An original musical screenplay brings to life the story of P.T. Barnum and his creation of “the greatest show on Earth”.”


Wednesday, August 17th from 6pm-10pm on library lawn
6pm Movie: Coco (Rated PG; Runtime 1.7 hours)
“Despite his family’s baffling generations-old ban on music, Miguel dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz.  Desperate to prove his talent, Miguel finds himself in the stunning and colorful Land of the Dead following a mysterious chain of events.”

~ 8pm Movie: McFarland, USA (Rated PG; Runtime 2.1 hours)
“Inspired by the 1987 true story, the movie follows novice runners from McFarland, an economically challenged town in California’s farm-rich Central Valley, as they give their all to build a cross-country team under the direction of Coach Jim White, a newcomer to their predominantly Latino high school.”


Wednesday, August 24 from 6pm-10pm on library lawn
6pm Movie: Ratatouille (Rated G; Runtime 1.8 hours)
“A rat named Remy dreams of becoming a great chef despite his family’s wishes and the obvious problem of being a rat in a decidedly rodent-phobic profession.”

~ 8pm Movie: Julie and Julia (Rated PG-13; Runtime 2 hours)
“Julie Powell is a frustrated insurance worker who wants to be a writer. Trying to find a challenge in her life, she decides to cook her way through Julia Child’s ‘Mastering the Art of French Cooking’ in one year, and to blog about it.”


Wednesday, August 31st from 6pm-10pm on library lawn
6pm Movie: Ron’s Gone Wrong (Rated PG; Runtime 1.7 hours)
“The story of Barney, a socially awkward middle-schooler, and Ron, his new walking, talking, digitally connected device, which is supposed to be his ‘Best Friend out of the Box.’ Ron’s hilarious malfunctions, set against the backdrop of the social media, age launch them into an action-packed journey in which boy and robot come to terms with the wonderful messiness of true friendship.”

~ 8pm Movie Chistopher Robin (Rated PG; Runtime 1.7 hours)
“The young boy, who loved taking adventures in the Hundred Acre Wood with a gang of spirited and loveable stuffed animals, has grown up and lost his way. Now it is up to his childhood friends to venture into that world and help Christopher Robin remember the loving and playful boy who is still inside.”