Category: History

CapeCon at Falmouth Public Library

Posted on by Clint Johnson

On Saturday, June 29th from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM, Falmouth Public Library brings CapeCon to Falmouth! All ages are welcome and encouraged! Free admission for all, and please cosplay or dress up if you like! The event will take place on the library lawn and inside the library. 

Some of the events include:

  • Voice acting with live-reads and Q&A
  • A cosplay presentation, creation station, AND a cosplay contest. Any age is welcome to participate and there will be prizes! The contest will be separated into beginner, intermediate, and advanced.
  • Comic strip making and other arts and crafts
  • Polaroid Photoshoots in front of your favorite backdrops
  • Presentation on smart collecting. This will include purchasing on a budget and keeping your comics safe! Or in Clint’s mind, his action figures and all those boxes full of boxes!
  • Presentation on how much graphic novels and manga can help someone who struggles with mental health.
  • History of Manga Presentation and Origami (prior registration suggested. Register here!)
  • Dungeons and Dragons Drop-Ins
  • Magic the Gathering Standard and Commander Drop-Ins
  • All day Nintendo Switch with a few guest retro systems!
  • A Super Smash Bros. Tournament (make sure to sign up at the gaming table the day of the event!)

Please contact Clint Johnson, the FPL Young Adult Librarian with any questions! He can be reached at cjohnson@falmouthpubliclibrary.org

If you are interested in getting involved, we would love to have you!

Registration is helpful but by no means required! 

You can register here!

Asuka

 

 

World Language Materials in the Young Adult Room

Posted on by Clint Johnson

A diverse library for a diverse community.

Falmouth is a much more diverse area than meets the eye. Different economic situations, learning and mental differences, ethnic differences, and much more are often overlooked. Unfortunately, many of the overlooked persons of the community are the ones that also face economic problems. Some of these groups do not know what services the library brings to the community and providing a welcoming and safe environment

Literature and other activities bring people together. Places like the library strives to provide ALL their patrons with the materials they need. In the Young Adult room we have begun to expand a world language collection. These additions can improve mental health, social acceptance, quality of education, and communication.

So far we have books in Brazilian Portuguese, Portuguese, Spanish, and Ukrainian. This collection will expand as our community expands! We will be purchasing more materials in the languages we have already begun to touch on and more like Haitian Creole, Mandarin, Japanese, and French. Some will include both English and the world language for immediate and reviewed translations (like the Shakespeare plenty of us read to make sense of his use of the English language!)

Spanish

Now two people who seem so different have read the same book and a connection is made. Also, literature is not the only way to bridge the gap. Video games, table top games, watching anime with subtitles, and arts and crafts.

The similarities start to trump the differences and show the kiddos how beautiful they each are. The library is an excellent safe place for these connections to begin and grow. We very much look forward to our growing collection and reaching every patron we can in the community.

 

Some titles just in:

-Harry Potter in both Brazilian Portuguese and Ukrainian

-I Survived Series (both graphic and text)

-Dogman Series

-The Alchemist

 

 

 

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

Postcards from Falmouth: Falmouth Schools

Posted on by Clint Johnson

Rites of passage, secret passages, iconic teachers. Let Jim Kalperis and Otis Porter take you on a tour through the history of Falmouth’s schools, from tiny Lawrence Academy to the much newer facilities of Falmouth High School. In conversation with Barbara Kanellopoulos, they recount staff and student stories, and the many transitions that shaped Falmouth’s public school system.

Former faculty member Jim Kalperis remembers that one of those transitions, from the old Lawrence High School to its successor on Lakeview Avenue, was accomplished with a bit of student legwork. “The students all assembled in the old high school,” he says, “and whatever they could bring and carry by hand, they all marched from that school over to the new Lawrence School.” Library staff and visitors now park where the old building stood, and the high school has moved on again – not once but twice.

Watch the oral history recording here.

Explore the postcard collection here.

Manga and Anime Club

Posted on by Clint Johnson

Manga and Anime club are back in business! Please come join on us in the Young Adult Room for our meeting on Tuesday, April 16, 2024 (4/16/2024) from 2 PM – 4 PM.
We will be watching anime, introducing the manga series that we love the most, learning to draw anime, and making buttons of our favorite anime characters!
We may even play some Pokémon cards! The skies the limit. We can’t wait to see you there!

Please register here:

Register!

Zoom talks happening in March!

Posted on by Sue

We are fortunate to have many exciting Zoom talks in March! Please note that these talks are virtual only, and will not take place in the library (some talks may be recorded, and you can view the recording later by registering). Click the links for details and to register.

From the Library Speakers’ Consortium, we have three great author talks! These talks are funded for us by the Library Support Fund.  Click here for a more detailed list of their upcoming talks! 

Wednesday, March 6th, 4-5 pm, “The Power of Friendships with NPR Legal Affairs Correspondent Nina Totenberg“
Thursday, March 14th, 4-5 pm, Christopher Paolini, author of teen Eragon series and more!
Thursday, March 21st, 7-8 pm, Madeline Miller, author of Circe and more! 

Also, we have these talks, generously shared by other Massachusetts libraries, and sponsored for us by the Library Board of Trustees

March 5th, 7-8 pm, New England Lighthouses and the People who Kept Them (also part of our Falmouth Reads Together series) and also The Real Score: Unraveling Myths About Trans People in Sports

March 13th, 7-8 pm, Author of The Girls, from Gilmore to Golden

 

Exciting Zoom programs in January!

Posted on by Sue

We have a bounty of virtual programs, shared with us by other Massachusetts libraries! Just click on the links to register, and you will receive the Zoom links before the events. Please note that these are virtual only and do not take place at the Falmouth Library. View the list below, and scroll down for full descriptions and registration!

Tuesday, January 9th at 7 PM, KonMari Method: Spark Joy!
Thursday, January 11th at 7 PM, What Works in Community News
Thursday, January 17th at 7 PM, Fierce Females: Women in Art
Monday, January 29th at 7 PM, Challenges of Being a Debut Author
Monday, January 30th at 7 PM, Food Waste, Food Insecurity & the Globalization of World Banks
 
KonMari Method: Spark Joy! Click here to register, and please put “Falmouth Library” in the home field!
 

Certified KonMari Consultant, Kerry Adams, will lead us through a presentation on what the KonMari Method is and how to successfully implement the method into your life. Grab a notebook and join us from the comfort of your own home.

The KonMari Method of organizing was developed by Marie Kondo, world acclaimed Japanese organizer and author of the best selling books, “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up”, and “Spark Joy”, as well as star of the Netflix series, “Tidying Up With Marie Kondo”. Rather than discarding things in a negative way, it’s about keeping the things that you love, the things that support your vision for the lifestyle you want. You’ll learn to focus your intention, discover what supports your goals, and respectfully leave behind the things that don’t. This has been generously shared with us by the Eldredge Library in Chatham, and is also sponsored by the Board of Trustees. Please note that this event is virtual only, and does not take place in the library.

Thursday, January 11th at 7 PM, What Works in Community News, click here to register

Journalism professor and author Dan Kennedy will discuss his new book, What Works in Community News: Media Startups, News Deserts, and the Future of the Fourth Estate, which serves as a groundbreaking study of the journalism startups that are solving the local news crisis one community at a time. Local news is essential to democracy. Meaningful participation in civic life is impossible without it. However, local news is in crisis. According to one widely cited study, some 2,500 newspapers have closed over the last generation. And it is often marginalized communities of color who have been left without the day-to-day journalism they need to govern themselves in a democracy. 

Dan Kennedy is a professor in the School of Journalism at Northeastern University and a nationally known media commentator. He was a panelist on the GBH News television program Beat the Press (1998–2021) and also served as a weekly columnist for the network. Dan is a recipient of the Yankee Quill Award from the New England Academy of Journalists and the James W. Carey Journalism Award from the Media Ecology Association. This event has been shared with us by the Tewksbury Public Library, Please note that this event is virtual only, and takes place when we are closed.

Thursday, January 17th at 7 PM, Fierce Females: Women in Art, click here to register!

Women have long been the subject of art, often depicted as nothing more than objects of desire. How do images of women change when women become the creators? This program examines the history of women in art in brief and then explores the lives, careers and works of several major women artists from the Renaissance to the twentieth century, including Artemisia Gentileschi and Mary Cassatt.

We are offering this via the  Sargent Memorial Library in Boxborough, and we thank the Library Board of Trustees for sponsoring it. Click here to register on their site, and receive the Zoom link! Please note that this event is virtual only, and takes place when we are closed.

Monday, January 29th at 7 PM, Challenges of Being a Debut Author click here to register!

This time, we welcome authors Lauren J. A. Bear, Rita Chang-Eppig, and Nishita Parekh to our virtual stage. We’ll be talking all about getting into publishing, the pitfalls, challenges, and roadblocks as well as the excitement, fulfillment, and reader enthusiasm that makes it all worthwhile. Bring your questions as this will be in a Q&A format. The Zoom event has been shared with us by the Ashland Public Library. Please note that this event is virtual only, and takes place when we are closed.

Tuesday, January 30th at 7 PM, Food Waste, Food Insecurity, and the Globalization of Food Banks 

So many of us are passionate about finding ways to reduce food waste so we’re thrilled to be hosting author and professor Daniel N. Warshawsky for a virtual discussion of his new book Food Waste, Food Insecurity, and the Globalization of Food Banks“. The Zoom event has been shared with us by the Ashland Public Library! Click here to register. Please note that this event is virtual only and does not take place in our library!

 

 
 

 

Local History Resources at the Falmouth Public Library

Posted on by Library User

The Falmouth Public Library Reference staff kept a “pamphlet file” for many years with clippings of articles from newspapers and magazines, and pamphlets and other paper ephemera, about both Falmouth and Cape Cod. The majority of the items included in the files date from about 1980-2010, although there are both earlier and later items. The public has always been able to come in and consult the files in person if researching a Falmouth or Cape history topic, but we’re happy to announce that we now have a digital index for these clippings.

It is in two sections, one covering Falmouth, and the other covering Cape Cod. Folder titles range from Affordable Housing and Artists to Wampanoag and Water Quality and the indexes are arranged as spreadsheets reflecting the alphabetical structure of the filing system. If you browse the index and find something you’d like to see, just ask and we can probably scan and email it to you!

Falmouth Pamphlet File Index

Cape Cod Pamphlet File Index

As many know, we also have access to the digitized Falmouth Enterprise and the Cape Cod Times on microfilm, as well as an extensive collection of books about Falmouth and Cape Cod history. We are also able to help refer you to other local institutions who may have more relevant information depending on your particular question. Stop by the desk and ask a librarian to help you get started on your Falmouth History project!

 

Lena Andrews Valiant Women Book Talk

Posted on by Library User
Join us at the Library on Thursday December 7th at 1:30 pm in the Hermann Room for an author talk by Lena Andrews, reading from and discussing her book Valiant Women, about the women who served in the United States Armed Forces in World War II.
 
VALIANT WOMEN is the story of the 350,000 American women who served in uniform during World War II. These incredible women served in every service branch, in every combat theater, and in nearly two-thirds of the available military occupations at the time. They were pilots, codebreakers, ordnance experts, gunnery instructors, metalsmiths, chemists, translators, parachute riggers, truck drivers, radarmen, pigeon trainers, and much more. They were directly involved in some of the most important moments of the war, from the D-Day landings to the peace negotiations in Paris. These women—who hailed from every race, creed, and walk of life—died for their country and received the nation’s highest honors. Their work, both individually and in total, was at the heart of the Allied strategy that won World War II. Yet, until now, their stories have been relegated to the dusty shelves of military archives or a passing mention in the local paper. Often the women themselves kept their stories private, even from their own families. Valiant Women corrects the record by providing a definitive and comprehensive historical account of American servicewomen during World War II, based on new archival research, firsthand interviews with surviving veterans, and a deep professional understanding of military history and strategy.
 
Lena Andrews is the author of Valiant Women: The Extraordinary American Servicewomen Who Helped Win World War II and will join the University of Maryland’s School of Public Policy as an Associate Research Professor in the spring. Lena has previously served as a military analyst at the Central Intelligence Agency, and has also worked at the RAND Corporation and United States Institute of Peace. Her work has appeared on MSNBC, PBS, CNN, Today, People, and TIME, among many other outlets. A native of Boston, Massachusetts, Lena received her Ph.D. in political science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, specializing in international relations and security studies. 
 
This event is free and open to the public, but space may be limited so please REGISTER. Copies of the book will be available for sale courtesy of Eight Cousins. This event is presented by the Falmouth Public Library and Neighborhood Falmouth.
 
Neighborhood Falmouth is a non-profit organization that provides support services to seniors in the Falmouth community. The organization aims to help seniors live independently and maintain their quality of life by providing services such as transportation, grocery shopping, yard work, minor home repairs, and friendly visits. Neighborhood Falmouth operates on a volunteer-based model, where volunteers from the community are matched with seniors who need assistance. This allows seniors to receive personalized support while also fostering a sense of community and connection among volunteers and seniors.

 

 

Monthly Tours of the Main Library

Posted on by Library User

Join us on Fridays, once a month, at 11am, for a tour of the Main Library! Whether you’re a long-time resident of Falmouth who wants learn more about the history of the library, or a newcomer who is interested in learning the full scope of the library’s services, this tour is for you! We’ll talk about art and architecture; the past, present, and future; books and digital books and audiobooks and events and much more.

Please register as we need to keep the group small so we don’t disturb others. (Shh!) Meet under the dome on the upper level of the building.

Tours will occur on Fridays at 11am on (click link to register):