Sondra Mitchell Dansby is Beach Library artist of month
This Week’s Activities
Preschool Story Hour on Wednesday, July 15, at 10:30 a.m. in the Children’s area
Performance & Reading by wrob on Tuesday, July 16, at 10:30 a.m. in Community Room B
Book Discussion meets also on Tuesday at 10 a.m. in Community Room A
Eating Healthy, Wednesday, July 17, at 1:30 p.m. Pre-register.
Going Further with Your iPad, Thursday, 10:30 a.m. Pre-register.
Summer Reading Program, Friday, 10:30 a.m. Pre-register.
Call to a Workshop Reading, Saturday, 10 a.m.
Computer Basics, Monday, July 22, 10:30 a.m. Pre-register.
Library Board, regular meeting on Tuesday, 6:30 p.m.
Sand & Bloom
The Sand & Bloom Gallery on the third floor features miniature sand sculptors created by master sculptor Katie Corning. The dolphins add that perfect blend for the Beach along with a wide array of flowers. It’s a joy to hear about viewers who see the various poses of the dolphins and the combo of varying flowers. One can quickly guess that summertime brings forth different colors that we might not see otherwise during the year.
Artist of the Month
This month’s Artist of the Month, Sondra Mitchell Dansby, highlights a style one might call abstract expressionism. There are paintings that take some length to calculate its intent, or appreciate that emotional intensity. Sondra wishes to open for the viewer. In her approach, one values expression over perfection, veiled over the clear and the unknown over the known.
She and her husband have a gallery open Tuesday to Friday or by appointment at the Pewett Center on College Parkway.
Digital Stories
Learn how to make videos for YouTube at the session Creating Digital Stories next week Friday, July 26, at 10:30 a.m. Digital stories are three to five minute videos or narrated picture slideshows in which you tell your own real-life stories to share over the web. In this workshop, participants will learn how to use a digital camera and Windows Movie Maker to tell their stories and publish them to YouTube. The workshop will also introduce the upcoming digital storytelling program coming this fall.
ALA
I participated in the American Library Association Convention last week. It was a stimulating time. Scheduled in Chicago, it turned out also to be a festive time as many in Chicago celebrated the Black Hawks victory. It was most evident from the 26,000 some librarians in attendance and the many reports and presentations that “more than ever, libraries are community hubs, and it is the librarian who works to maintain a safe harbor for teens, a point of contact for the elderly, and a place to nurture lifelong learning for all.”
Rich Harwood, founder and president of Harwood Institute for Public Innovation, said in a panel discussion, “The Promise of Libraries Transforming Communities,” that people are looking for trusted organizations in their communities to come together, to focus on our shared aspirations and not just our complaints, and that libraries are uniquely positioned in the country to do this.
I will share more points from the Convention in coming weeks.
Mobile Access
Be aware that a mobile version of our web site for smart phones that offers quick access to the latest news, scheduled events, and other library information is available. If you contact our website at www.fmb.lib.fl.us from your smart phone, you’ll automatically get the mobile site. This is a less graphical version of our site which loads quicker and displays better on phones.
Flamingos
On display on the second floor is a case devoted to a wide range of mementos from the collection of Linda Westcebulski. You’ll notice that the colors vary a lot. This reflects the real world of flamingos as these creatures range from various shapes of pink all the way to a crimson red and even shades of orange. At times flamingos can also have colors of cream and white mixed in.
Some of the flamingos on display are in unusual postures again reflecting real life as they are known to sleep and do so standing up or laying down. They may sleep on one leg and then shift their weight to the other one without waking up. Researchers suggest that a portion of the flamingo’s brain sleep at a time so that they don’t lose their balance.
Anyway linger in the display to soak in the beauty and variety.
Fused Glass
Last month you had the opportunity to meet Judy Seeger who enjoys making discovering in working with fusing glass. In the lower case on the second floor near the elevator are pendants and necklaces made from the glass, along with a marvel of what can be done with caps.
Library Hours
When you call 765-8162 or 765-8163 during closed hours, a message gives the open hours. Summer open hours are Monday & Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 9 to 5; and Saturday 9 to 1.