NYPL Blogs: Next Chapter

Aging Creatively with Art for a Lifetime

Kelly Yim — Mon, 12 Feb 2018 14:30:33 -0500

"Pencils in Stainless Steel Bucket" image via Pexels

The New York Public Library is offering a unique opportunity for those 50 and older. Several neighborhood branches will be offering classes in a variety of art forms. The program series is called Art For a Lifetime.

Art For a Lifetime consists of eight sessions, each session will last for two hours. Each program series will end with a culminating celebration. Registration is recommended. Here’s our line-up!

Spring Into Art at the Port Richmond Library, Staten Island, Fridays at 12:00 PM starting March 9th. Learn how to get started in Art Journaling by using the techniques of painting, collage, and writing. An art journal is an illustrated creative diary or notebook. Using the techniques of painting, collage, and writing, it can be a visual token of your everyday life, thoughts, travels, or events. Learn how to become inspired and create the first basic beautiful pages in a visual journal.

Art of Mixed Media at the Pelham Parkway-Van Nest Library, Bronx, Saturdays at 11:00 AM starting March 10th. Discover, explore, and create contemporary art with different colors, tools, and materials (both conventional and unconventional). Participants will combine different techniques and materials to create an exciting range of artwork. This kind of artwork is called mixed media. Participants will use acrylics, pastels, watercolor, and other mixed media materials and techniques throughout this artistic experience.

Self-Expression in Art with Acrylics and Watercolor at the Edenwald Library, the Bronx, Tuesdays at 1:30 PM starting March 13th. Learn the theoretical and practical tools about how to paint and draw with acrylics and watercolor. Participants are encouraged to develop their creative talent and make art an everyday act.

Watercolor Painting at the Tottenville Library, Staten Island, Wednesdays at 1:00 PM starting March 14th. This transparent water-based painting medium has been enjoyed and used for centuries. Regardless of your experience level, you will learn the basic watercolor brushing techniques while painting single elements of nature each week (trees-foliage, bark, tree branches, rock, water, and waves). At the conclusion of the 8-week course, participants will get the opportunity to showcase their artwork in the library.

Jewelry Making at the Seward Park Library, Manhattan, Wednesdays at 1:00 PM starting March 21st. Learn various tips and techniques for jewelry making while adding your own personal touches. Learn wire wrapping, to use metal findings and chains to create one of a kind elegant earrings, chains, and necklaces for birthdays, holidays, gifts, favors, special events, etc...leave with custom-made jewelry to share with your friends and family.

Painting at the Allerton Library, the Bronx, Tuesdays at 10:30 AM starting April 3rd. Unleash your creative expression and create a beautiful painting. Learn a variety of painting techniques, color mixing, brushwork, composition, texture and more. At the conclusion of the 8-week course, participants will display their artwork in the library.

Exploring Traditional Art Media and Techniques at the Inwood Library, Manhattan, Wednesdays at 11:00 AM starting April 11th. A series of workshops to explore watercolor techniques. Participants will learn different mark-making techniques to create an original watercolor painting on paper. In addition, learn how to use drawing, painting, and collaging as well as library resources to make a work of art that answers the question - how do you know when its springtime in the Bronx? This course will culminate in an event presenting the participant's creative work.

Art Journaling with Mixed Media at the Todt Hill-Westerleigh Library, Staten Island, Wednesdays at 1:00 PM starting April 18th. Participants will be introduced to and instructed in the use of mixed media materials to express "What are you thinking about today?" Participants will also be guided through the process of journaling which incorporates the written word and visuals as a form of three-dimensional or book arts. Exploration and experimentation will be encouraged to produce works that class participants will be proud to share!

The Art of Drawing at the Tremont Library, the Bronx, Wednesdays at 1:00 PM starting April 18th. From the first pencil stroke, your drawing undergoes constant growth and development. Discover your artistic talents by combining various methods of pencil drawing techniques with a multitude of values and detailed textures. Professional illustrator Jamie Ross will teach participants how to find their potential to improve drawing skills and develop a sketch into a powerful finished pencil drawing.

Introduction to Quilting at the Muhlenberg Library, Manhattan, Fridays at 12:00 PM starting April 20th. Quilting is a traditional folk art that has evolved into much more in the last several decades. Learn basic hand-sewing and machine technique, quilt design and finish by participating in a group project. Explore different embellishment techniques including embroidery, free-motion stitching, drawing and dimensional decoration. Each participant will have the opportunity to make a small self-portrait or portrait art quilt to take home after a brief installation at the library. Participants not interested in making a self-portrait can bring a portrait photo of a loved one for their project to the first class. No previous sewing experience is necessary.

Long Distance Grandparenting

Helen Broady, Bronx Library Center — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 15:07:59 -0500

Michael & Leah Cetera, son & grandmother. 458 Rutland Rd., Flatbush, Brooklyn. October 14, 1978. Image ID: 1563799

This post is addressed to new grandparents, especially those living far from their loved ones, which happens so often these days. When my daughter gave birth to a beautiful (aren't they all?) baby girl, Aiyana Makeda, two months ago in San Diego, I was of course ecstatic. Fortunately I was able to spend the first three weeks with family and share in the celebration of her arrival. But I was completely unprepared for how hard it would be to return home.

When I began to pull myself out of the despair of missing her, I found that writing letters (yes, actual paper and pen letters that go through the mail) made me feel closer to parents and baby. I wrote to mother, to child, to both parents. I shared my joy and hopes (and kept my fears mostly to myself).

Many of my peers have young grandchildren; most live nearby, but I am meeting others who are similarly blessed and challenged. My desire to stay close to my west coast granddaughter led me to the library for solutions.

The first book I located was Dr. Arthur Kornhaber's Grandparents and Grandchildren: The Vital Connection. The book is full of scientific research on the benefits, for all sides, of a close grandparent/grandchild relationship. Through his organization, Grandparenting.org, I found some helpful ideas for staying close across the miles, although most apply to children above the age of infancy.

His later book, The Grandparent Guide, contains a chapter on long-distance grandparenting. He also covers important subjects such as gay and lesbian issues, legal questions, grandparents raising grandchildren, divorce and religious differences. Though only 33% of grandparents live close enough to visit regularly, he offers some realistic advice. For example, daily contact, through technology, can make a big difference. (It doesn't have to be "high tech"; one grandma bought fax machines so children can send their drawings). Personal letters to children of reading age maintain the connection also. Children will notice the attention. Dr. Kornhaber quotes one ten-year-old: " My grandmother really loves and misses me... I hear from her almost every day... I know she cares."

There's also Doug and Robin Hewitt's The Joyous Gift of Grandparenting, full of fun activities from storytelling to music to building sand castles. Both books discuss "cybergrandparenting" and the how the computer can provide many shared activities, from making YouTube videos to playing games together. For grandparents who need to refresh their computer skills, many branches of NYPL offer a range of computer classes.

For entertaining children's books about this special connection, some of my favorites include Sally-Lloyd-Jones The Ultimate Guide to Grandmas and Grandpas and Abuelo by Arthur Dorros. A search on the NYPL catalog will reveal many more great titles.

Over the past two months I've learned that maintaining the connection across many miles is a very personal and constantly evolving process, limited only by one's motivation and creativity.

So, Mommy and I (Oma, Grandma in German) started finding some books we loved in common for Aiya. We both love Blue Hat, Green Hat by Sandra Boynton https://browse.nypl.org/iii/encore/search/C__Sblue%20hat%20green%20hat__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&suite=def She's heard it often, so she recognizes it when I read it to her over the "web", looking back at Mom with a huge smile.

As she grows, we're able to interact more online, though her initial excitement soon fades, since what's there is of course more enticing. But music and anything familiar always gets her attention, and Grandma's voice will always be familiar. And what fun it is to watch her progress!

One of our favorite songs is "Juanito" from Jose Luis Orozco's LIRICA INFANTIL cd's. (They are a bilingual family) I substitute "Aiyana" for Juanito (cuando baila...etc.) . I suggest you find your favorite songs to share in person and online.

Becoming a grandma has made me part of a network of friends whose children have also become parents. Few grandparents have the pleasure (and challenges) of seeing their grandchildren daily, so their progress constantly amazes us when we do spend time with them (in person or virtually).

In this forum I'd like to share some indisputable evidence of the value of talking to your child and including him or her in daily living activities.

Aiyana's little brother needed frequent medical check-ups for a while. One morning Aiya asked mom for a pen, and began a series of questions. "What did Omari eat today? Wait.....let me write that down". "How many hours did he sleep. wait a minute, I'm writing that down." etc. etc.

A friend's favorite moment was when he told his granddaughter, age 3, that they couldn't go to the park, because he didn't have the key to the apartment. She promptly went to a drawer and retrieved the key for him. He was stunned, and also glad he had taken the time to explain why they couldn't go out.

As I share some of the latest and best literature on how to maximize your children's (read, grandchildren's) brain power, please feel free to share some moments that amazed you also.

What Does a Brain Want? Alvaro Fernandez and the SharpBrains Team Put Brain Fitness to the Test

Brigid Cahalan — Tue, 31 Dec 2013 12:12:29 -0500

I hope you don't eat just one thing; I mean, lobster and chocolate layer cake are both outstanding taste treats, but a steady diet of either, or both? I don't think so... And if you only talk about one topic, or two, or three, your social life ain't goin' nowhere.

We crave variety, and—putting religious and metaphysical concerns aside—"we" pretty much are our brains.

Many have referred to the 21st century as the century of the brain. In the 20th century the average lifespan in the U.S. increased from 47 to 74, but research on the brain lagged behind. As lifespan increases this becomes more and more of a societal, and personal, concern.

You've probably heard, and maybe even followed, some of the advice you've heard on taking care of that very important three-pound organ. But, can you trust that advice? Dozens of authors have written popular books on the topic; scientists elucidate the field for us on television, in articles, and on YouTube. But, if hearing and reading about the brain doesn't actually help it function better, why spend all your time doing it?

May I recommend a book to cut through the chatter on the brain? The SharpBrains Guide to Brain Fitness: How to Optimize Brain Health and Performance at Any Age, by Alvaro Fernandez and Elkhonon Goldberg, with Pascale Michelon (new and expanded second edition, 2013). I discovered SharpBrains when the first edition of the book came out in 2009 and Mr. Fernandez came to speak at The New York Public Library. He delighted the crowd of library staff and some members of the public in the audience, and elucidated complicated concepts in an entertaining way. Alvaro begins by dispelling any idea that he is a brain expert; no, he is a businessman, but those he works with at the company he co-founded, SharpBrains, are all neuroscientists and cognitive scientists involved in research on the brain. The 2009 book provides a wide-ranging introduction to the field, focusing on neuroplasticity—the ability of the brain to change throughout life—and the best ways to make it happen as the research up to that time had indicated. The information is conveyed mostly in the precise words of experts, via 18 interviews with scientists who explore the products purporting to help the brain, and who share what has been shown to be helpful—or not—and those gray areas that still exist surrounding our gray matter.

Two important studies in 2010, one by the BBC concluding that "brain training" doesn't work, and one by the NIH pronouncing that "Nothing Can Cure Alzheimer's Disease," captured public attention. Reading the popular take on this research in the media, many became skeptical that anything could help the brain.

Clearly SharpBrains had to look at and analyze these results, while incorporating other recent discoveries to bring us up to speed. Hence, a new and expanded version of the book. Rather than make declarations, they acknowledge that we're all standing on moving ground in this area, and everyone must be cautious about proclaiming any single regimen successful in the quest for brain health.

Again using interviews with scientists—combined with analysis—to best deliver information, specific strategies such as diet, exercise, leisure activities and managing stress are evaluated. In 2012, SharpBrains conducted their own market research study, sifting through the hundreds of competing products and comparing the few products that met the stringent criteria of: Research Momentum; Market Momentum; and, Results Seen.

My major take-away from this book: that our brains need variety. If you have done crossword puzzles all your life, doing more won't help your brain; what you need are activities and lifestyle changes that incorporate all the ingredients that make for a healthy brain. To illustrate, chapter 9, "How to Be Your Own Brain Fitness Coach," gives 10 vignettes of average people, male and female, ages 16-75, and discusses what changes each might make based on their unique situations; the missing puzzle pieces for them.

And that nagging question about whether Alzheimer's disease can be prevented... as of the publication of this book, evidence suggests that while we can't prevent the pathology from appearing at some point, we can indeed extend the length of time a brain stays healthy and well-functioning, helping preserve our independence and quality of life for several precious more years.

The book includes an appendix of 55 Brain Fitness Facts The first in the category, "The Top 3 Brains Facts" is There is not only one "It" in "Use It or Lose It." The brain is composed of a number of specialized units. Our life and productivity depend on a variety of brain functions, not just one. Hmmm... food for thought.

Reading this book, I learned about the clinical trials going on that will provide evidence to back up claims—or not. I went a step further and am now happily participating in a clinical trial studying the connection between physical fitness and brain activity (as measured by functional M.R.I.s). If the topic interests you, why don't you sign up for one as well? Check out ClinicalTrials.gov.

Here is Alvaro Fernandez, speaking to public and staff at the New York Public Library in 2013.

Ballerinas Among the Books

Wed, 18 Sep 2013 03:03:15 -0400

Ballet Class Group PhotoIt's plain to see that the Library is expanding into areas not usually thought of as a literary bastion's domain. Many branches have chess, yoga, robotics, and opera, and on some days seem to transform into community centers. That's definitely true here at the 67th Street Library, and one of our most booming and unusual programs is Ballet for adults, a group so committed they now have a suite of offerings including a post-class discussion group and their own website.

Ballet Exercise at the library was the brainchild of Jennifer Grambs, a theatrical costume designer and writer who started volunteering at the 67th Street Library as a Stay Well Exercise instructor. Trained by the NYC Department for the Aging in running exercises for older adults, she co-taught that course here for over a year. Jennifer found that her background in and love of Ballet was coming through in some of the exercises. When students told her how much they enjoyed it, she decided she wanted to do what she could to share more of the dance that was such an important part of her life.

Jennifer Grambs, instructorJennifer says: "Because I've been a New Yorker for so long, I've been lucky enough to take class with wonderful teachers at historic studios like Carnegie Hall, Ailey, Martha Graham, and master teachers like Matt Maddox who taught my first class in New Jersey where I was born. I never trained as a ballet teacher; I just teach what I know and demonstrate what ballet means to me. I took my first ballet class at age 18 and have been dancing ever since! When I went through chemotherapy for breast cancer twenty years ago, ballet was (and is) my most important exercise and meditation. I sometimes think dancing is the most important thing that has kept me well. "

Almost a year ago she started her own class: Ballet for adults, whose following has grown to fill our room with 20-30 students each week.

Our ballerinas range in age from 27 to 87 and come from places as diverse as Thailand, Inner Mongolia, India, France, Ireland, China, Korea, Japan and even New York City. The Post-Ballet discussion group came from an idea Jennifer had when she noticed how committed our ballerinas are to dance and to each other. "I wanted them to have a place to gather together, to get to know each other and to share ideas about how ballet can be a serious part of our lives that affects how we feel about our bodies, our age and how we see ourselves and each other." One student dubbed the take-home exercises as "The Jennifer Grambs Technique," which the instructor uses to encourage students to interpret the movements she teaches into their everyday, New York City lives.

Ballet Video"Do I have cool anecdotes?" asks Jennifer, "You bet. For example, it's amazing how our students stay in touch, no matter where they are. One of our 80-ish ballerinas went to Florida for the winter and sent me a video of herself doing the ballet routine I choreographed for the class. Bruno, our male danseur, told me he once spent time in the hospital emergency room and was adamant with the doctor that he had to be able to return to class. The doctor agreed. Another ballerina said that she's so proud to tell people that she studies ballet. First of all, people are surprised, she said. They never really think about older women being serious about ballet and are always amazed. Another plus of our ballet class, the ballerinas say, is that they have been moved to learn more about ballet itself and are attending performances they never would have thought about before. One of our ballerinas said her children took her to Lincoln Center for Mother's Day and that was a result of how much she talks about ballet class."

Our ballerinas are incredibly effusive in their appreciation for their teacher and for the library. They have a website to keep in touch and keep practicing their choreography when they're away or class is on break. They also made a video spot in support of our budget campaign last spring to stop the cuts and save the library.

For me, being able to see how this class brings together people from different parts of the community and creates such enthusiasm and interest and joy is one of the best parts of working at a library. We'll be doing a ballet book and DVD display in honor of the class's upcoming one-year anniversary in October. Come check it out!

Ballet for Adults meets Tuesdays at 2 p.m. at the 67th Street Library. Stay Well Exercise meets Thursdays at 12pm at the 67th Street LIbrary.

Design for a Lifetime, or: "What Do We Do About the Bathtub?"

Brigid Cahalan — Tue, 10 Sep 2013 05:05:07 -0400

Photo by Chalmers Butterfield, from Wikimedia Commons Would you consider New York City "age-friendly"? That is, is it a place where people of all ages—including the very old—can feel comfortable, safe, and happy?

One million people aged 65 and over call New York City home, and a half-million more are expected to swell those ranks by 2030. New York City's top-notch public transportation system and rich access to cultural institutions contribute toward making it a place where these folk will want to stay; most are not planning to leave for southerly climes anytime soon, if ever.

The mayor, the NYC Council, and the dedicated staff of the New York Academy of Medicine joined the worldwide efforts to create a more age-friendly city several years ago, forming Age-Friendly NYC, and formally pledged their commitment at the First International Conference on Age-Friendly Cities in Dublin, Ireland in 2011. A dynamic coalition of governmental entities, professional institutions and cultural and other nonprofit organizations has shared their expertise, resulting in a collection of Tools and Resources that point the way for any wishing to work in this area, and for those seeking out age-friendly businesses, cultural opportunities, or educational institutions.

The American Institute of Architects' trailblazing New York Chapter stepped up to the plate by forming a Design for Aging Committee in 2010: Their goal: "to increase public awareness of the needs of the elderly in an urban environment and by designing to accommodate those needs... to create a more age-friendly City for all to enjoy." They produced a groundbreaking full-day event, Booming Boroughs: Redesigning Aging-in-Place in NYC, a charrette that brought together experts from architecture, interior design, urban planning, environmental gerontology and related fields to come up with practical and creative ways to design so New Yorkers can live out their lives in familiar surroundings amidst friends and family.

Bathroom interior with sink and tub/shower. Image ID: 3984827To tie in with the Age-Friendly NYC initiative, the New York Public Library and the Design for Aging Committee joined forces, and five of the Committee's members presented the program, Design for a Lifetime: Preparing Your Home for Successful Aging at the Library's Stephen A. Schwarzman Building. Moderated by environmental gerontologist Lorraine G. Hiatt, the panel included architect Phyllis Sperling, lighting engineer Manny Feris, and interior designers Gail Ressler and Joelle Lichtman. The playlist of seven closed-captioned videos from the evening includes all the presentations and can be found on YouTube and below.

So, what does all this have to do with bathtubs? It turns out that the ubiquitous bathtub is a frequent topic of often-anguished conversation among those in the field of designing for later life. The tubs seem fraught with danger no matter one's age, and the risks only increase through the lifespan. Fortunately there are lots of alternatives out there. More than one panelist seemed happy to encourage clients to let go of the tub. While it may seem like an old friend to many of us they made the point brilliantly and the bathtub may indeed not be as essential as we think.

Drawing People and Places: Gearing Up!

Corinne Neary, Library Manager, Tompkins Square Library — Fri, 10 May 2013 10:10:54 -0400

At Jefferson Market Library, our 10 week drawing course for adults 55+ is drawing to a close, and we are gearing up to host an event celebrating the artists who have participated.

We will be showcasing all of the work that the students have created, on Friday May 17th from 2 p.m.-4 p.m. in our first floor auditorium. Please join us to see what has been created by the class, and have some refreshments! Additionally, we will be exhibiting some of the artwork from the course in the library's second floor reading room throughout the month of June.

Some of the program's participants have shared what they have gotten out of the course:

"The experience opened up new vistas in my imagination and confidence ("gee, with practice, maybe even I can do that.") I particularly like that it was a drawing (as opposed to painting) class, since I have always fantasized being able to travel just with a sketchbook (no paints, easels, etc.)" -SG

"It was a freeing-up experience. I had so much fun combining different art materials and methods. I was able to throw perfectionism out the window and just enjoy." -TL

This Lifetime Arts Program is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, Westchester Library System, AARP Foundation, American Library Association, New York State Council of the Arts, and the Helen Andrus Benedict Foundation.

This class was led by teaching artist Josh Millis.

Drawing People and Places: A Resource List

Corinne Neary, Library Manager, Tompkins Square Library — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 01:01:22 -0500

Balthus — The Mediterranean Cat, 1949This Friday, teaching artist Josh Millis will begin his 10 session drawing class for adults 55+ at Jefferson Market Library. (This class is full, but check out the Creative Aging classes being held at other branches.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice_Neel

Below is a list of artists whose work Josh will be showing to the program's participants over the course of the sessions. Take a look at some of the artists that the class will be using as inspiration, and please join us on May 17th for a culminating gallery show!

Balthus
Paula Rego
Alice Neel
Barkley Hendricks
Kehinde Wiley
Diego Rivera
Frida Kahlo
Picasso
Elizabeth Peyton
Edgar Degas
John Singer Sargent
Lucian Freud
Francis Bacon
David Hockney
Philip Pearlstein
Reflection (Self-Portrait) - Lucian FreudMax Beckmann
George Grosz
Francis Picabia
Neo Rauch
Michael Borremans
Yue Minjun
Egon Schiele
Edward Hopper
Kerry James Marshall
Odd Nerdrum
Jockum Nordstrom
Jonas Wood
John Currin

Job Searching in the Digital Age for Older Adults: Classes at OATS

Magdalene Chan, Thomas Yoseloff Business Center at SNFL — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 11:11:12 -0500

Older Adults Technology Services (OATS) presents Computer Classes for Older Adults at the Senior Planet Exploration Center at 127 West 25th Street.

Classes are free of charge and all those 60 and over are welcome to sign up.

Classes run for five weeks and meet every Tuesday and Thursday.

February 26th – March 28th 1:30 p.m.-2:45 p.m.

To sign up for classes, please stop in or call 646-590-0615.

Job Searching in the Digital Age

In this course students learn the skills and techniques necessary to seek paid or volunteer employment in the “digital age.”

Students will define and create goals for their own job search, learn how to present themselves safely and appropriately online, and how to navigate trusted online sources for job and opportunity listings.

Participants will be guided through complicated issues unique to older adults who are looking for employment — for example, how to earn an income without losing benefits and how to protect one’s self against ageism in the workforce.

Older Adults Technology Services (OATS): Mission and Vision

Older Adults Technology Services (OATS) is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization that harnesses the power of technology to change the way we age.

Technology can only reach its full potential when older adults hold a stake in its development and distribution. OATS training and support, online services, and community-building programs empower older adults to thrive as individuals and membes of society. OATS achieves extraordinary outcomes with older adults, improving their social engagement, health and well-being, financial security, and opportunities for social activism, creative expression and life-long learning.

Aging Well in the Digital Age

Digital technology holds the promise of enriching our lives, strengthening our communities, and improving our health care and services. But for millions of older Americans, technology and the Internet are sources of anxiety and confusion-barriers to participation in the social and economic mainstream rather than resources for independent living. OATS is committed to maximizing the power of technology to help older adults live healthier, more connected, socially engaged lives.

To learn more about Job Searching in the Digital Age, please visit Job Search Central, Science, Industry and Business Library at 188 Madison Avenue and 34th Street.

Learn to Express Yourself Through Art: Free Courses for Midlife and Older Adults

Brigid Cahalan — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 03:03:32 -0500

Thanks to Lifetime Arts for securing funding and inviting our library system to participate, NYPL is once again able to offer free sustained art courses, taught by professional teaching artists, for adults age 55 and over. Seventeen branch libraries have received funding that enables them to host these classes, which will take place from February-November 2013, and which cover a wide variety of arts including: painting, sculpting, collage, memoir-writing/performance, drawing, and quilt-making.

Because of the great interest generated over the years, many of the libraries will be entering names of those who pre-register in a lottery to ensure an opportunity for all to partake. Participants are expected to attend all sessions. Contact the libraries directly for more information on how to register.

Columbus Library: Collage for Your Soul, begins February 2
Mid-Manhattan Library: The Art of Making Poems: Creation and Craft, begins February 12
St. George Library Center: Drawing from Life’s Journey, begins March 1
Roosevelt Island Library: Experiencing the Joy of Color, begins March 1
Jefferson Market Library: Drawing People in Places, begins March 8
Mulberry Street Library: Drawing from Observation, begins March 16
Countee Cullen Library: Creating Artist’s Books, begins April 2
Kingsbridge Library: Writing Through Memory: Memoir and Storytelling, begins April 3
Bronx Library Center: The Colors of the Water, begins April 4
Kips Bay Library: Quilt-Making with Karen Fitzgerald, begins April 4
Riverdale Library: Exploration in Portraiture, begins April 8
St. Agnes Library: Using Writing and Drama to Share Your Personal Story, begins April 8
Inwood Library: Voz de la Guitarra, begins May 3
67th Street Library: Captured by Color, begins June 3
Parkchester Library: Sculpture 101, begins June 3
Spuyten Duyvil Library: Book Making, begins September 11

These Lifetime Arts programs are supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, Westchester Library System, AARP Foundation, American Library Association, New York State Council on the Arts, and the Helen Andrus Benedict Foundation.

Aging Creatively at Mid-Manhattan Library: The Art of Making Poems - Creation and Craft

Jessica Cline, Picture Collection, Stephen A. Schwarzman Building — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 11:11:14 -0500

"She saw the moon, she saw the birds, she saw the little shoes, in summer, before swimming pools filled up — strong and empty and waiting"
~from The Shoes

Enter the world of teaching poet and published author Hermine Meinhard. From here, enter your subconscious, and write what you find. Ms. Meinhard will be there to help you along.

Mid-Manhattan Library is pleased to offer a free ten-week workshop with Hermine Meinhard, The Art of Making Poems: Creation and Craft, on Tuesdays, from 4:00 - 6:30 p.m., beginning February 12th.

The workshop will engage participants in a series of exercises that will connect them to their own process as writers and allow them to experiment with the elements of poetic craft. Participants will learn ways to access the intuitive mind, how to use a variety of materials, including objects, evocative language, and artwork, to enter into writing, and how to revise.

We will read and discuss the work of a variety of poets to introduce participants to the range and possibilities of poetry; and we will draw on the library’s Art and Picture Collections. Participants will read aloud and receive feedback about their poems. Each class will result in a draft of a poem.

The course will culminate in a poetry reading on May 7th, where family, friends and the public are invited to the reading and reception.

Registration is open to adults 55+, in person at Mid-Manhattan Library, 1st floor information desk, or by calling 212-340-0871. Space is limited to 12 participants who are expected to attend all sessions.

A Cold Night's Death: The Allure of Scandinavian Crime Fiction

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 03:03:48 -0500

Maybe you've got the Nordic noir bug from reading Stieg Larsson's Millennium series (we've all seen those ubiquitous neon paperbacks on the subway) or were enthralled earlier by Peter Høeg's Smilla's Sense of Snow or the Detective Wallander series of books. However you encounter them, Scandicrime writers such as Henning Mankell, Larsson, or Jo Nesbø are like a good bag of chips, it's hard not to have another. This is a selective guide to some notable authors and detective series from Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and even some Nordic noir from Iceland, and what's better, a guide to pronouncing their names correctly over cocktails.

[A note on usage: The terms Scandinavian and Nordic are often used interchangeably but their meanings can be quite distinct in terms of linguisitic, cultural and geographical boundaries. Finns and Icelanders may prefer the term Nordic (derived from Norden meaning Northern). See Use of Nordic countries vs. Scandinavia for a thorough treatment of the topic on Wikipedia]

The Dark Knight

The detectives in Scandinavian crime fiction share many attributes with their American and British counterparts. Many are unkempt, unhealthy and sometimes fatalistic characters, but are nevertheless humane and brilliant sleuths. They doggedly pursue the criminal element, usually (but not always) winning the day at the expense of maintaining a normal family or social life. Some are alcoholics whose human interactions are limited to station and squad car. Some even develop relationships with the victims or, even worse, the criminal. You know you have no life when the serial killer you're hunting chides you about your cholesterol.

Brooding Landscapes

The waves dying a natural death on the beach seemed to have traveled vast distances bearing neither life nor hope. This is not my sea, Van Veeteren thought to himself. —Borkmann's Point, by Håkan Nesser

Key to the appeal of Scandinavian crime literature is the stoic nature of its detectives and their peculiarly close relationship with death. One conjures up a brooding Bergmanesque figure contemplating the long dark winter (they do have their share of hot summers too). Another narrative component just as vital is the often bleak Scandinavian landscape which serves to mirror the thoughts of the characters. Vast alvars, ancient stone, and dark shores inhabit these stories such that the soul of the landscape becomes an important narrative agent, even a character in itself. Readers will also find fascinating the supernatural strain pervading this literature: Ancient beliefs in ghosts, changelings, and other natural spirits thrive in contemporary Nordic noir as if upholding the ancient lineage of the Icelandic saga.

We're All Victims

Another important element of the Scandicrime genre is its traditional willingness to incorporate larger social issues into the narrative of police work. Immigration, xenophobia, misogyny, racism, and larger issues of intolerance and social inequality are recurring themes that often form the core of the mystery at hand.

Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö

Any review of Scandinavian crime literature rightly starts in Sweden, home of noir stalwarts Henning Mankell, Håkan Nesser, and of course, Stieg Larsson. One must begin, however, with husband-wife team Per Wahlöö and Maj Sjöwall, who launched the phenomenon in the 1960s with the series of police procedural novels featuring Inspector Martin Beck. One of them, The Laughing Policeman, was adapted for the screen and starred Walter Matthau. A great 1970s cop movie, and an early blip in the American mainstream of the Scandicrime phenomenon. Detective Beck became the template for the detective as humanistic everyman whose thoughtful investigations serve as a prism through which we view the ills of society. The underbelly of crime revealed by the discovery of a corpse begins an investigative journey that often leads to the higher orders of society and the authorities of the state.

Henning Mankell

Henning Mankell is probably the brightest star in the Scandinoir universe. His Detective Wallander books have been widely translated since the 1990s and today outperform even Stieg Larsson's posthumous success. Wallander is a decent, hard-working detective who takes his cases to heart. Despite being confronted with the worst of humanity's brutality, he is an optimistic soldier in the war against injustice. His social circle is limited mainly to his daughter Linda (who also becomes a detective) and his disapproving father. Start with Faceless Killers and see if you can resist picking up Dogs of Riga. Fans of the Kenneth Branagh BBC TV series Wallander who wish to tap into its Swedish roots will be rewarded by the Svensk ethos of the original TV series starring Krister Henriksson. For completists, there are actually three incarnations of Wallander (properly pronounced 'Vallánder') if you include the original movie adaptations starring Rolf Lassgård.

Michael Nyqvist and Noomi Rapace in the original Swedish film Män som hatar kvinnor, 2009.

Stieg Larsson

Stieg Larsson's bestselling Millennium Trilogy begins with the first book The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (the true title, Män som hatar kvinnor, is Men Who Hate Women). The series is infamous partly because it lacks a proper detective. Our sleuth is Mikael Blomkvist, disgraced editor of the alternative press magazine Millennium, who is privately hired to solve a 36-year old mystery. But the real bonus of the trilogy is the tattooed goth hacker Lisbeth Salander, who becomes Blomkvist's unlikely partner. Larsson scholars will be interested to note that Salander is based partly on the picture book rebel Pippi Longstocking. The movie adaptations of the Millennium Trilogy were faithful and quite thrilling. Even David Fincher's remake was a presentable alternative for the subtitle-averse, but the Swedish original is a must-see (Noomi Rapace will simply own you). Larsson originally devised Millennium as a 10-part series. It was recently announced that The Girl in the Spider's Web, an independent title based on the franchise, written by David Lagercrantz, will be published.

Håkan Nesser

Håkan Nesser's Van Veeteren is another highly regarded series. Van Veeteren is the archetypical single-minded, intuitive, somewhat detached detective with family problems who loves classical music and chess. In Nesser's world, he contemplates a fictional Northern European landscape. Later in the series, Detective Van Veeteren retires and consults on cases from his antique book shop. The series is a good example of Nordic noir at its best. Most of these books also have film versions. The first book is The Mind's Eye.

Johan Theorin

Fans of page-turning thrillers will learn to slow down and enjoy Johan Theorin's Öland Quartet of novels. In the first book Echoes From the Dead, the detective figure is a retired sailor named Gerlof who is seen throughout the series, sometimes only indirectly involved with solving the mystery at hand. Theorin creates a deeply troubling atmosphere of murder, family secrets, and crossed destinies with a gothic feel set on the rugged coast of the Swedish island of Öland. These are low on procedural, heavy on psychology, and with a strong supernatural element. Slow down the tempo and savor Theorin's prose.

Karin Alvtegen

Karin Alvtegen's masterful thrillers are a psychological tour de force. Highly recommended is Missing: A homeless woman is wrongly accused of murder and it is up to her to solve the crime while remaining hidden from the authorities. Gradually the reader learns more about her background via flashbacks of her privileged yet oppressive upbringing and an epic fail of a mother. Her sole ally is a samaritan teenager. As the mutual trust develops between them, his computer savviness and her street-smarts combine to form an ad hoc investigative team which must thwart the killer in a suspenseful race against time. A movie adaptation of the same title was made in 2006. Alvtegen's other books include Guilt, Betrayal, Shame (a.k.a. Sacrifice), and Shadow.

Karin Fossum

On to neighboring Norway. Karin Fossum's distinctive Inspector Sejer series, a Scandicrime fan favorite, are procedurals with a soul. Elegant and well-mannered Inspector Sejer resembles a Norwegian James Stewart. He is determined not only to solve the crime but to understand the motives that led to the scene of death. The Inspector Sejer books are less whodunits than penetrating whydunits that sometimes focus on the criminals themselves and bear witness to the spiral of remorse and desperation that plays out after the crime. In Fossum's world we feel the pain inflicted by the crime on victim, perpetrator, and investigator alike. The crime's consequences spread like a virus to the victim's families and society at a large and the guilty are not always caught. Fossum's books are widely available in NYPL as books, ebooks and audiobooks. The first title in the Inspector Sejer series is Eva's Eye.

Jo Nesbø

If Karin Fossum is Norway's queen of crime, Jo Nesbø is their darling prince, grabbing much of the market share of the Scandicrime wave reaching American shores in the wake of Stieg Larssen's posthumous popularity. The arthouse crowd has seen his book Headhunters (Hodejegerne) adapted into a film recently and are trembling with anticipation for Tomas Alfredson's interpretation of The Snowman to hit the big screen. The popular Harry Hole series is clever, violent, and loaded with dark humor. Each book sports a well-structured theme and Nesbø's narrative moves with the frenetic pace of a first-person shooter. Each book stands on its own but leaves a certain cliffhanger element with regards to the characters' fates. Nesbø's colorful detective Hole is a soul-searching, intermittantly recovering alchoholic who maniacally hunts down his perp. The Harry Hole series never disappoints with clever plot construction and interesting scientific and historical facts woven in as bonus material. The first book in the series, and one of the last to be published, is The Bat. NYPL has many of the books in ebook, audiobook and even large print versions.

Peter Høeg

Smilla's Sense of Snow may be one of the greatest fiction books published in the 1990s but is least typical of the noir picks here. Although it is not a police procedural as such, Smilla is rich in the forensic detail of nature and incorporates many of the existential themes, issues of social inequality and injustice, and investigative suspense found in the Scandinoir tradition. Hoeg's vividly rendered landscapes enraptured readers all over the world, but the real draw was the [non-]detective native Greenlander Smilla, who like Lisbeth Salander, is an outsider with special abilities (she can read snow like a book). [Spoiler alert!] After examining the snow around the scene of a boy's accidental death, she sees that it is no accident, and so begins her amazing quest to find the truth. Smilla uncovers a grand scale conspiracy where the machinations of greed culminates in the murder of a small child.

Jussi Adler-Olsen

Danish author Jussi Adler-Olsen's Department Q series is now available, even in large print. Try the first, Keeper of Lost Causes, a real page-turner about a politician who wakes up to find herself sealed in a pitch black cell. She strives to understand her abduction, survive, and plot her escape. Meanwhile, Detective Mørck, recently "promoted" to a basement room after his partner is killed, picks up the cold case and works it, aided by a mysterious janitor with latent gumshoe talents. As Keeper reaches its conclusion, it becomes an exercise in suspense and pathos which will leave you reeling. The Department Q series is a departure from the genre in some ways, as it is chock full of laugh-out-loud funny situations, oddball characters, and deliciously sinister villains.

Arnaldur Indriðason

Arnaldur Indriðason's Detective Erlendur series is popular around the globe, and not just for its local Icelandic flavor (boiled sheep's head for take-out anyone?). Erlendur is another hero in the mold of brooding, gruff, but humane detective with a dysfunctional family who resolutely pursues justice. Each book finds him coming closer to terms with his own past as he struggles to keep his present life together. The bleak Icelandic landscape in these books gets under your skin and stays there long after putting them down. But it is the reserved, yet humorous, interplay between Erlendur and his closely-knit investigative team (Elínborg and Sigurður Óli) that comprises the real charm of the Detective Erlendur series. Arnaldur's third book in the series, Jar City (a.k.a. Tainted Blood), is an absorbing mystery that was made into an excellent film version. In the ninth and tenth books (Outrage and Black Skies) Erlendur's partners (Elínborg and Sigurður Óli respectively) are the central characters. For readers who think Strange Shores is the end, fear not, Arnaldur has launched a new prequel series featuring the young rookie Erlendur. In addition there is a spin-off featuring Erlendur's mentor Marion Briem.

This very selective reading list could easily be augmented, so please do share your own recommendations!

Non-fiction sources to learn more:

Death in a Cold Climate: A Guide to Scandinavian Crime Fiction by Barry Forshaw (2012). A scholarly look at the origins and appeal of Scandinavian crime fiction.
Nordic Noir : The Pocket Essential Guide to Scandinavian Crime Fiction, Film & TV by Barry Forshaw (2013). Forshaw's updated, expanded, and in some ways more accessible little paperback includes movie and TV picks. It is an ideal introduction to the Scandicrime phenomenon with an extensive list of authors and capsule reviews that will delight even hardcore enthusiasts.
BBC Timeshift: Nordic Noir (2011). Informative documentary about the Nordic noir phenomenon, interviews with Jo Nesbø, Karin Fossum, Håkan Nesser and others, with a generous focus on Stieg Larsson.
List of Glass Key Award winners. A good starting point to explore more works of Scandinavian crime fiction.

Popular Scandinavian Detective Series Arranged in chronological running order. This list will be adjusted as books become available in English translation. Title translations may vary between the American titles listed here and British releases which often precede them. Links to original language editions are given where available. Click on the '⇨' symbol to hear a pronunciation of each name (courtesy of Forvo).

⇨Maj Sjöwall / ⇨Per Wahlöö - Martin Beck Series

Roseanna (Roseanna)
The Man Who Went Up in Smoke (Mannen som gick upp i rök)
The Man on the Balcony (Mannen på balkongen)
The Laughing Policeman (Den skrattande polisen)
The Fire Engine That Disappeared (Brandbilen som försvann)
Murder at the Savoy (Polis, polis, potatismos!)
The Abominable Man (Den vedervärdige mannen från Säffle)
The Locked Room (Det slutna rummet)
Cop Killer (Polismördaren)
The Terrorists (Terroristerna)

⇨Henning Mankell - Wallander Series

Faceless Killers (Mördare utan ansikte)
The Dogs of Riga (Hundarna i Riga)
The White Lioness (Den vita lejoninnan)
The Man Who Smiled (Mannen som log)
Sidetracked (Villospår)
The Fifth Woman (Den femte kvinnan)
One Step Behind (Steget efter)
Firewall (Brandvägg)
Before the Frost (Innan frosten) a Linda Wallander mystery
The Pyramid (Pyramiden)
The Troubled Man (Man Den orolige mannen)
An Event in Autumn (originally published in Dutch as Het Graf, read more here)

⇨Stieg Larsson - Millennium Series

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (Män som hatar kvinnor)
The Girl Who Played with Fire (Flickan som lekte med elden)
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest (Luftslottet som sprängdes)
The Girl in the Spider's Web (based on the series by David Lagerkrantz)
The Girl Who Takes an Eye for an Eye (based on the series by David Lagerkrantz)

⇨Håkan Nesser - Van Veeteren Series

The Mind's Eye (Grovmaskiga nätet)
Borkmann's Point (Borkmanns punkt)
The Return (Återkomsten)
Woman with Birthmark (Kvinna med födelsemärke)
The Inspector and Silence (Kommissarien och tystnaden)
Munster's Case (Münsters fall)
Hour of the Wolf (Carambole)
The Weeping Girl (Ewa Morenos fall)
The Strangler's Honeymoon (Svalan, katten, rosen, döden)
The G File (Fallet G) Available in German as Sein letzer Fall

⇨Johan Theorin - Öland Quartet (Ölandskvartetten)

Echoes from the Dead (Skumtimmen)
The Darkest Room (Nattfåk)
The Quarry (Blodläge)
The Voices Beyond (Rörgast)

⇨Karin Fossum - Inspector Sejer Series

Eva's Eye (Evas øye)
Don't Look Back (Se deg ikke tilbake!)
He Who Fears the Wolf (Den som frykter ulven)
When the Devil Holds the Candle (Djevelen holder lyset)
The Indian Bride (Elskede Poona)
Black Seconds (Svarte sekunder)
The Murder of Harriet Krohn (Drapet på Harriet Krohn)
The Water's Edge (Den som elsker noe annet)
Bad Intentions (Den onde viljen)
The Caller (Varsleren)
The Drowned Boy (Carmen Zita og døden)
Hell Fire (Helvetesilden)
The Whisperer

⇨Jo Nesbø - ⇨Harry Hole Series

The Bat (Flaggermusmannen) Available in French as L'homme chauve-souris
Cockroaches (Kakerlakkene)
The Redbreast (Rødstrupe)
Nemesis (Sorgenfri)
The Devil's Star (Marekors)
The Redeemer (Frelseren)
The Snowman (Snømannen)
The Leopard (Panserhjerte)
Phantom (Gjenferd)
Police (Politi)
The Thirst (Tørst)
Knife (Kniv)

⇨Jussi Adler-Olsen - Department Q Series

The Keeper of Lost Causes (Kvinden i buret)
The Absent One (Fasandræberne)
A Conspiracy of Faith (Flaskepost fra P) Available in Spanish as El mensaje que llegó en una botella
The Purity of Vengeance (Journal 64)
The Marco Effect (Marco Effekten)
The Hanging Girl (Den Grænseløse)
The Scarred Woman (Selfies)

⇨Arnaldur Indriðason - Detective Erlendur Series

Sons of Dust (Synir duftsins)
Silent Kill (Dauðarósir) Available in German as Todesrosen
Jar City (Mýrin)
Silence of the Grave (Grafarþögn)
Voices (Röddin)
The Draining Lake (Kleifarvatn)
Arctic Chill (Vetrarborgin)
Hypothermia (Harðskafi)
Outrage (Myrká)
Black Skies (Svörtuloft)
Strange Shores (Furðustrandir)
Reykjavik Nights (Reykjavíkurnætur) rookie Erlendur #1
Oblivion (Kamp Knox) rookie Erlendur #2
The Crooked House (Krókar Húsið)
The Great Match (Einvígið) Marion Briem #1

Booktalking "You've Earned It, Don't Lose It: Mistakes You Can't Afford to Make When You Retire" by Suze Orman

Miranda McDermott, Harry Belafonte 115th Street Library — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 10:10:49 -0500

Suze Orman describes this book perfectly when she says that "It is a lifestyle book that deals with the financial issues of retirement." However, this is definitely not solely a book for senior citizens. Having a successful, financially feasible retirement depends on good planning, which commences years before a person retires. Therefore, it is a great read for anyone who is curious about these issues and who wants to ensure that their later years are, in fact, golden.

Things to consider include wills, trusts, long-term care insurance and the potential loss of a partner. All of these things can affect your financial planning and what happens when you die. Make sure you make your wishes known in terms of your estate, "your right to die," and funeral arrangements. Don't create additional stress on loved ones by letting these decisions remain ambiguous.

You've Earned It, Don't Lose It: Mistakes You Can't Afford to Make When You Retire by Suze Orman, 1999

You can always find stories in the news and television programs about retirement woes and how people lose their money through bad investments, etc. However, this book is not only for senior citizens. A lot of planning goes into retirement and younger people need to contemplate these issues long before they are ready to retire.

Financial Advisors: Orman recommends that people do not completely trust a financial advisor without checking them out first. Some people fall prey to what Suze calls the "guardian angel syndrome." Read documents in their entirety before you sign them, and never sign blank contracts or pieces of paper.

Wills and Trusts: Unless you have a trust in addition to a will, portions of your estate can be eaten up by lawyer's fees after you die. The estates of individuals without a will are subject to intestate; the court takes control of your estate and siphons it off according to the succession laws of the state in which you resided. For example, the laws of New York State dictate that the estate will go to the spouse. If no spouse exists, the estate will go to the children, then parents, then siblings, etc. Surprisingly, there is such as thing as a "right to die." However, this needs to be on your will if you would like to be taken off of life support if two doctors determine that you will not regain consciousness. If you become comatose and unable to express your right to die, life support will continue.

Long-term care (LTC) insurance is another option to consider when planning for your retirement. Nursing home costs can be up to $100,000 per year, and the chance of ending up in a nursing facility is 33%. One in three. Therefore, it can be very helpful to purchase long-term care insurance if you have enough money for that. Also, refinancing your home can be beneficial if current interest rates are at least 1% to 2% lower than current mortgage.

Early Retirement: Can You Afford It?: For those that can afford it, early retirement can be a good option for them. However, there are some things to consider. For example, losing a partner tends to increase, not decrease expenses, as some people believe. Statistics indicate that women tend to outlive men. Most financial problems are caused by monthly living expenses that exceed monthly living income.

In general, I love The Suze Orman Show on television. I find Suze to be very entertaining and personable. For example, she advises people who are young and single with no dependents to not purchase life insurance. That is good advice; however, I do not agree with everything she says. For example, she advises people to invest in stocks and purchase long-term care insurance if they can afford it. Those are high-risk and low-risk propositions, respectively. I take the opposite approach and I invest in safer money market accounts and I do not purchase long-term care insurance; low-risk and high-risk situations, respectively. I think that people should take Orman's general advice and apply it to their particular situations.

Luckily, our union offers many services, and I was able to receive the help of one of our attorneys, who prepared a will for me free of charge at the union headquarters in lower Manhattan. My mother encouraged me to create a will; I was continually surprised by the benefits that our union has; not only do they provide tenants' services, they also sell pet insurance!

Write a Will! I cannot stress enough how important it is to have a will prepared. I learned much in the process of creating my will about the legal issues surrounding wills. It was fun, and my attorney was informative. Much of my estate has designated beneficiaries, but I need an executor to make sure that the beneficiaries know about the funds so that they can collect them and distribute my other property. Honestly, my three cats are the only important things in my house, and I also wanted the will in order to arrange for their care should I pass before them. It is tempting to think and believe that things will take care of themselves if you die, but it is good to have a plan in place. It can create a lot of unnecessary work for other people if you do not express your wishes.

Books by Suze Orman
America's Health Insurance Plans
Association for the Advancement of Retired Persons (AARP) I found a great web page on this site of work opportunities for retired teachers.
Financial Planning Association
Health Insurance Association of America
International Association of Registered Financial Consultants
National Association of Personal Financial Advisors
National Council on Aging
New York State & Local Retirement System
Social Security Retirement Benefits
US Office of Personnel Management Retirement Resources
USA.gov Retirement Resources

Creative Aging Continues to Bloom at The New York Public Library

Brigid Cahalan — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 09:09:05 -0400

In recent decades, much has been said about the demographic changes that New York City shares with the rest of the world. Yes, we are getting older!

One widespread response has been a surge of programs to promote creativity in mid- and later life. NYPL has happily participated in these efforts, especially since 2010 when we started partnering with Lifetime Arts Inc. to offer our first Creative Aging courses, which took place in six branch libraries. Each course was taught by a professional teaching artist and lasted a minimum of eight 90-minute classes so that the two goals of the project — mastery of the basics of the art, and social engagement of the participants — would be met.

In 2012, Lifetime Arts once again secured private funding and offered NYPL, as well as our sister library system the Brooklyn Public Library, the opportunity to host additional courses as part of Creative Aging in our Communities: The NYC Libraries Project. This allowed us to provide 15 courses, each now consisting of a minimum of eight two-hour classes, and each with a culminating event celebrating the accomplishments of the student artists who took part. Courses included: a continuation of the popular Roaring Chorus at the Richmondtown Library; A Village Vision: Watercolor Painting from Experience at the Jefferson Market Library; Exploring Your Life: A Class in Memoir Writing at Morris Park Library; Memoir and Performance at the Kingsbridge Library; Memoirs, Penned and Spoken at the St. George Library Center; and Drawing from Life Experience at the Mulberry Street Library.

How do we select which branches offer Creative Aging courses? As Lifetime Arts secures a limited amount of private funding for these courses, those branch libraries which would like to host a creative aging course are given the opportunity to apply in conjunction with a professional teaching artist. Lifetime Arts then convenes a panel of experts which selects the courses to be funded.

The success of all of these classes, and the enthusiastic response of library staff witnessing them, has spurred us on to again join with Lifetime Arts — this time with several library systems throughout New York State — to participate in Creative Aging in New York State Libraries in 2012-2013. This will enable us to offer about 18 Creative Aging courses in 2013. Branches hosting the classes will be announced in January 2013.

How can you find out where and when upcoming courses will be offered? Do any — or preferably all — of the below:

subscribe to the NYPL’s Next Chapter blog channel
if you’re on Facebook, “like” the Next Chapter at the New York Public Library Facebook page
look at the Creative Aging in Our Communities series on the NYPL webpage
check out NYPL’s Creative Aging webpage
regularly peruse the rich Lifetime Arts website

One way or another, stay tuned!

Alzheimer's Disease: Find Out How You Can Help, or Get Help, During World Alzheimer's Month

Brigid Cahalan — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 03:03:54 -0400

Alzheimer's Association/John BurwellMore than 35 million people worldwide are living with Alzheimers, a fatal disease without a way to prevent, cure or even slow its progression. With the help of NYPL, Alzheimer's Association, New York City Chapter would like to raise awareness about this devastating disease. September, World Alzheimer's Month, is your chance to join the global fight against Alzheimer's disease. Visit alznyc.org/worldalzheimersmonth for more information and show your support by wearing purple with a purpose on Alzheimer's Action Day —September 21.

We've asked Jed Levine, Executive V.P. and Director of Programs & Services for the Alzheimer's Association's New York City Chapter, to write a guest blog post on this important topic.

"Helpline. How can I help you?"Alzheimer's Association/Chris Kirzeder

When our Helpline staff completes a call, this is what they hear: "I'm so glad I called." "I wished I had called five years ago." "Stefanie, (or Maggie, or Ann, or Matt), you are so helpful and kind." "You are the only one who really took the time to listen." "I left a message and you called back. In five minutes!"

From the beginning, the New York City Chapter was committed to having a human and a humane response to every person who called. We knew that Alzheimer's didn't go to sleep at ten, or take the weekend off, so our goal was to ensure that family caregivers had our support 24/7. In the first decades of the Helpline, dedicated volunteers supported the staff and answered calls from home on nights and weekends. As the calls got more frequent and the callers became more sophisticated, the questions required increasing expertise. Today, our Helpline is staffed entirely by professionals, including Amy Torres, who recently joined us to provide expert guidance on residential and other long term care issues.

In 2004, when the National Alzheimer's Association expanded their Helpline, we partnered with them to ensure that professionals would answer the phone. Today, if you call after business hours, a staff member at the National Contact Center in Chicago answers the phone, provides immediate assistance, and sends the Chapters a report so we can follow up the next business day with information and support.

One principle has guided the Helpline for over 25 years; the power of the human connection. When a family member or a person with early stage dementia is in need of guidance, information, or is in emotional distress, one of the most powerful tools is being able to talk about it with a caring, knowledgeable professional. Our Helpline staff has intimate knowledge of necessary resources that support caregivers and persons with dementia; from where to order incontinence supplies, to the intricacies of the arcane and ever-changing Medicaid regulations. Our staff is familiar with every caregiving challenge, and has the time and expertise the think through creative solutions. One recent example was a caller who was having difficulty getting her father to eat. A simple suggestion to use sweetener on his food solved the problem, and now he is eating, enjoying it, and gaining much-needed weight.

We know our Helpline staff is resourceful, practical, smart and caring, but their greatest gift is knowing how to listen. Family caregivers and people with the disease need to talk. Talking helps clear the air, gives breathing space, helps release some of the tension and worry family caregivers carry with them all the time; whether they are aware of it or not. Talking heals a wounded heart. Talking allows people to take the next steps. It's very hard to develop a care plan, if you are filled with feelings of fear, sadness, anger and guilt. Talking and being heard helps everyone feel understood and not alone. Too often, friends and family members pull away. Family caregivers feel there is no one to talk to, no one who will understand. We will listen. We will understand.

In addition to our 24-hour Helpline, we sponsor over 120 support groups for caregivers and people in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease in the five boroughs offered at various times. All the support groups are free of charge, just like any of our programs and services. We love the wonders of modern day technology and social networking and we've made sure that Chapter staff has every state-of-the-art technological resource available, but in the end, nothing replaces the power of the human-to-human, voice-to-voice connection. That is the true value of our Helpline.

If you need our help, give us a call today. If you know someone who is struggling, give them this number; 800-272-3900. We are here to help 24 hours a day. Seven days a week. Our help will make a difference.

Boost your Budget with Help from a Food Program!

Brigid Cahalan — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 12:21:25 -0400

The following post was written by guest blogger Vanna Valdez, Benefits Outreach Worker, NYC Hunger Free Communities Consortium.

The New York City Hunger Free Communities Consortium (NYCHFCC) is a collaboration of New York City’s leading anti-hunger, nutrition, and aging organizations (AARP Foundation, City Harvest, Council of Senior Centers and Services of NYC, Food Bank for NYC, Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty, NYC Coalition Against Hunger, NYC Department for the Aging, Public Health Solutions, and United Way of New York City). This project works towards the creation of a hunger free New York City, with a particular focus on aiding the especially vulnerable populations of households with children, the working poor, and senior citizens.

Food Stamps

If you need help buying food, you are far from alone. Tens of thousands of New Yorkers are reaching out for help in this tough economy. For them, the Food Stamp Program (also known as SNAP) is a simple dependable way to buy food in times like this.

Many New Yorkers are eligible for Food Stamps:

Those who are working. Many low-income working people think that because they work, they cannot be eligible, but many are.
Those 60 years of age or older: If you live in a household with people 60 years of age or older, you may be eligible even if you have a higher income.
Those who are unemployed. Food Stamps can help you get by between jobs.
People with disabilities: You may qualify for food Stamps even if you receive SSI/disability benefits.
Immigrants: Many immigrants who were not eligible before can now get Food Stamps. If you are an immigrant who is not eligible, you can still apply on behalf of your eligible children. Applying will not affect your immigration status.

Senior Programs

Congregate Meals
Senior Centers are open to all older adults aged 60 and over, and offer health and wellness, social, and educational programming along with at least one nutritious meal (usually lunch) during the week. There are over 200 senior centers in New York City. Call 311 for more information.

Meals on Wheels
If you are unable to get to a senior center, case management agencies provide access to home-delivered meals, home care attendants, benefits applications, chore services, and other in-home supportive services. Call 311 for more information.

Food Assistance Programs

If there are times that you don’t have enough food for yourself and your family, even if you are receiving other assistance, one of over 1,100 food pantries and soup kitchens in New York City may be able to help. Food pantries provide emergency food that can be prepared at home. Soup kitchens serve meals on-site. Most of these programs are operated by not-for-profit, community or faith based organizations.

WIC (Women, Infants, and Children)

WIC (The Women, Infants, and Children Supplemental Food Program) provides nutritious foods, nutrition education, and referrals to health and other social services to participatants at no charge. WIC Offers:

Food vouchers
Nutrition counseling
Breastfeeding counseling
Food preparation, and recipes
Physical fitness activities

WIC serves low-income pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, and infants and children up to age 5 who are at nutrition risk. If you live in New York State, HFCC can help you determine your eligibility for the WIC program. Your household income must be within the federal income guidelines for the program but, if you already receive food stamps, Medicaid or TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), you automatically qualify. You do not need to provide proof of U.S. citizenship to apply.

School Breakfast Program

For children, eating breakfast regularly can boost test scores, improve concentration, and enhance learning among other rewarding effects. When schools participate in school breakfast programs such as Breakfast in the Classroom or Grab and Go breakfast, students eat a healthy and nutritious breakfast regularly. Only 24% of New York City public school students currently participate in the school breakfast program. All students are eligible for a nutritious and delicious breakfast that is convenient and a bargain! Breakfast is free to all students. To learn how your child’s school can start a Breakfast in the Classroom Program, call 1-855-692-HFCC (1-855-692-4322) email info@nychungerfree.org. Representatives speaking the following languages are available: English, Spanish, Chinese, French, Haitian Creole and Russian.

How Do I Apply?

If you are interested in finding out if you qualify for benefits or to find a senior center or food program near you, please call: 1-855-692-HFCC (1-855-692-4322) or email info@nychungerfree.org. If your organization is interested in participating in this project, please call Vanna Valdez at 212-825-0028 x232, Marie Vincent at x220, or Xuya Fang at x205. There will be opportunities to participate on various levels, including but not limited to: receiving outreach materials to distribute to your client population hosting representatives from project partners to perform on-site pre-screenings and/or application assistance having your own staff/volunteers trained to do benefits outreach & pre-screening.

Visit us at our website http://nychungerfree.org This project, in partnership with United Way of New York City, has been funded at least in part with federal funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The contents of this blog post do not necessarily reflect the view or policies of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

Drawing From Life Experience: Lessons Learned

Sherri Machlin, Mulberry Street Library — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 12:30:01 -0400

Mulberry Street Library was very excited to receive a grant from Lifetime Arts this year to participate in their Creative Aging program. Lifetime Arts is an organization devoted to enriching the lives of older New Yorkers through both the visual and the performing arts. We received our grant to offer Drawing From Life Experience, an 8-week drawing class for older New Yorkers. The students learned the principles of still life and live-model drawing, using a variey of papers and drawing materials. The culminating event on May 12, 2012 was held in our Community Room, where the students displayed one matted artwork they created in the class. The students spoke about their artwork to an audience of friends and family, and reveled in celebration afterwards.

Drawing From Life Experience was an opportunity to collaborate with teaching artist and Mulberry Street Library patron, Jerilyn Jurinek.

Jerilyn Jurinek teaching Drawing From Life Experience

What was your progression from artist to teaching artist?

In the seventh grade, a teacher who did not know me, based on the results of testing, informed me that I should become a teacher.

"Teacher!" I snapped "I don't want to be a teacher! I'm going to be an artist!"

Well. I told her!

But artists spend so much time and energy explaining themselves to themselves and to others, that teaching is complementary to creative work. Art is a dialog between the artist, the art community, the public and the canon of art practice. Life experiences are great for creating empathy with those who want to learn. Becoming capable of teaching is a process of becoming verbal enough to communicate effectively. Also teaching different populations of students develops the breadth of ideas and language to speak to all ages, and experience levels.

What is your Philosophy of Art?

While I am a lover of much art, I need to be nourished long term, by an art that is more than an aesthetic, decorative or conceptual, as pleasurable or even as intellectual as they may be. The art that fulfills something deeply human is a sacred, historic, and even anthropological experience. I need the figurative tradition, with its architectural and compositional devices. I am an action painter, somewhat abstracted in my representation. Regarding my oil painting "Crossing the Delaware River," author Peter Neofotis said "Indeed, once the painting amazingly becomes three dimensional, one is able then to understand that the colorful shapes are indeed figures on a terrifying, yet hopeful journey across a deep cold river."

Students Maria Gomez and Sefi Shliselberg examining a print

How do you inspire your students to see?

This is tricky, sneaky, not self apparent. It usually means putting them off balance to get beyond linear minded-frontal lobe-left brain driven thinking. All people respond differently. You have a chance to see anew when your crutches are removed, obscured, confused, delayed by interjecting some unfamiliar, complex or thought- provoking task, rather than using only hand/eye coordination or formulaic, rule-following,"how to" conscious mind logic. What a mouthful. Yikes!

How do you explain the intersection of Libraries, Art, and Communities?

Sketches of Mulberry Street Library Manager (and model) Jennifer Craft

The library is the center of any self-governing citizen's life, because to be a self-governing citizen, you must be involved with your education. The book shared is the language of the culture. Whether that was Greek and Latin in the 1700 to early 1900s, or the mixed brew of today's English/American w all its influences, what we do, say and see makes community. Last year at the Mulberry Street branch, I had an exhibition, and instead of having an opening, I asked to have a reading of the Letters of Abigail and John Adams on Valentine's Day. This year I'm teaching drawing here with a grant from Lifetime Arts. I now have a production company that has a play — The Correspondence of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. We will perform at several branches this season. I use the computers here, borrow books for research, and movies for entertainment. I run into friends and neighbors. I experience community and dialog. All my forms of expression blend in my life at the library. I visit several times each week.

Learn about more upcoming Creative Aging classes at New York Public Library branches.

All photographs taken by Greg Holch, Mulberry Street Library volunteer.

Celebration of "Memoirs: Penned and Spoken"

Donald Laub — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 13:29:11 -0400

For eight weeks a group has gathered at the St. George Library for a class called, "Memoirs: Penned and Spoken." They have exercised their writing skills, reflecting back on their lives and experiences, with a willingness to share with their fellow students. At the Celebration event they will be reading some of their work, and reflect on their lives and times.

All are welcome to attend.

Memoirs: Penned and Spoken is part of Creative Aging in Our Communities: The New York Public Library Project, a program of Lifetime Arts, Inc, which is generously supported by the Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation, with additional support from the Laura Jane Musser Fund.

Resources for Senior Care and Senior Activism

J. Souce, AskNYPL — Tue, 29 May 2012 12:40:13 -0400

Saftey Tips for Seniors link. http://www.healthinaging.org/resources/resource:home-safety-tips-for-older-adults/

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive degenerative disease. Actually it can be viewed as a group of disorders that results in impaired memory, thinking and behavior and affects approximately 4 million Americans and as many as 15 million through out the world. Medical care, education and a support strategy can make the difference and help family and loved ones cope.

Alzheimer's Disease. (2004). In The New Harvard Guide to Women's Health. Credo Reference.

The Alzheimer's Association
The Alzheimer's Association is the leading, global voluntary health organization in Alzheimer's care and support, and the largest private, nonprofit funder of Alzheimer's research.
225 N. Michigan Avenue #1700
Chicago, IL 60601
1-800-272-335-5886

Gray Panthers Project Fund
1319 F Street NW, Suite 302 Washington, DC 20004
1-800-280-5362
In New York, 165 West 86th Street
1-212-799-7572
http://graypanthersnyc.org
Work for social and economic justice and peace for all people.

Administration on Aging
Washington, DC 20201
One Massachusetts Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20001
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Aging: 1-202-401-4634
Public Inquiries: 1-202-619-0724
Eldercare Locator (to find local resources): 1-800-677-1116
aoainfo@aoa.hhs.gov
The mission of AoA is to develop a comprehensive, coordinated and cost-effective system of home and community-based services that helps elderly individuals maintain their health and independence in their homes and communities

National Institute on Aging
Public Information Office Building 31, Rm: 5C27
31 Center Drive MSC
Bethesda, MD 20892-2292
1-800-222-2225
Federal Government Social & Human Services Resource.
Find legal resources, support services nationwide and information about reporting elder abuse and prevention.

National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care (Formerly NCCNHR National Citizens' Coalition for Nursing Home Reform)
The Consumer Voice
1001 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 425
Washington, DC 20036
1-202-332-2275 (phone)
info@theconsumervoice.org

These resource centers supports the continous development and operation of federally mandated nationwide long-term care ombudsman programs. The Consumer Voice can connect you to state and local resources that might be able to help. Citizen advocacy groups, ombudsmen, state agencies and other resources are available through this website.

Senior Citizens Resource Guide
Find government resources for seniors on money, housing, health, consumer protection, and more. The site's resources can be useful for seniors and caretakers.

Senior Net
One Kearny Street, 3rd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94104
1-800-747-6848
SeniorNet is a nonprofit educational 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded to teach and access computer technologies to share their knowledge and wisdom.

Subject:

Older people -- Care -- United States.
Aging parents -- Care -- United States.
Caregivers -- United States.

Meet the Artist: Lauren Jost

Rabecca McDonald, Kingsbridge Library — Wed, 02 May 2012 10:50:17 -0400

Starting June 5th, the Kingsbridge Branch Library will be hosting a Memoir and Performance workshop for older adults 55+, which is part of the Creative Aging in Our Communities, a program of Lifetime Arts. During the workshop, participants will craft a short-story memoir with the help of teaching artist Lauren Jost. In this blog post, Lauren tells us a little about herself and her background in memoir and performance, as well as some of her favorite memoirs and advice for aspiring memoir writers.

Tell us a little about your background in memoir writing and performance:

I have been working as a theatre artist and educator for ten years, specializing in community-devised performances based on personal storytelling. I love to work with people who do not usually work in the theatre and help them tell their stories using memoir-writing and performance. I have devised performances with middle schoolers, older adults, and other storytellers, all based in true, personal stories that have a universal resonance.

What do you like about working with older adults?

I love working with older adults because they have such a rich and diverse history to draw from for their storytelling. A main component of my workshop is developing a collaborative and supportive community amongst the participants, and most older adults are willing and excited to contribute their wisdom and experience to this community.

Do you have a favorite memoir?

I love The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls, because of the questions she raises about the complexity of abusive relationships and mental illness. I also love Tim O'Brien's The Things They Carried because of the challenging lines he draws between truth, memoir, and fiction.

Do you have any advice for someone writing a memoir?

Turn off your editor! Don't worry about sounding like other writers, just write as much as possible as often as possible and let your own unique voice start to develop. Sometimes I'm so worried that my ideas aren't good enough that I don't even start a project, but when we turn off our editor and plow into the work, then we can really find what we're aiming for!

Are there any other projects you are currently working on that you would like to share?

I am currently performing in The Red Dress which is an original devised play based on my and others' stories of adolescent sexuality. I'm also developing a play called Runaway, which is a puppetry and multi-media memoir piece based on my own childhood adventures of looking for imaginary friends inside a flower bush.

If you are interested in participating in the Memoir and Performance workshop lead by Lauren, in-person registration begins Tuesday, May 22nd at 1:00pm. A final sharing event where participants' work will either be read aloud or dramatically performed will take place on August 14th at 1:00pm.

You can also check out some books at the New York Public Library to help you get started with your own memoir.

Creative Aging in Our Communities: The New York City Libraries Project, a program of Lifetime Arts, Inc, is generously supported by the Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation, with additional support from the Laura Jane Musser Fund, and is administered in partnership with Brooklyn Public Library and New York Public Library.

My Library: Judy, Leo, and Noreen

Corinne Neary, Library Manager, Tompkins Square Library — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 12:37:20 -0400

Since April 5th, the Jefferson Market Library has been hosting a series of watercolor classes for twenty adults, all aged 55+. This course, led by teaching artist Josh Millis, is funded by a grant from Lifetime Arts. The participants have been working on paintings inspired by Jefferson Market and other Village landmarks. This week, I spoke with students Leo, Judy, and Noreen, all regular patrons of Jefferson Market, to find out what they are enjoying about the class so far.

What made you want to take a watercolors class?

Noreen: To see if I had any aptitude for painting — the verdict is still out on that! But, I am learning something new at each session.

Judy: The chance to do something I've never attempted before.

Leo: Curiosity, and to learn more!

Have you painted before?

Leo: I did paint, off and on when I was a teenager. I've just been getting back into it and learning new things!

Noreen: I've done Chinese brush painting, which is a totally different technique, and pencil drawing, at which I was awful!

What have you enjoyed most about the class so far?

Noreen: Finding out how to mix colors and how difficult it is working in watercolor. Gives me a new appreciation for all the art I've seen.

Judy: Having the chance to experiment in a totally non-judgmental atmosphere!

Thank you Judy, Leo, and Noreen!

If you would like to see the wonderful artwork being produced by these and other watercolor students, please join us for a gallery opening and reception May 31st from 3:30-5:30 pm.

Creative Aging in Our Communities: The New York City Libraries Project, a program of Lifetime Arts Inc., is generously supported by the Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation, with additional support from the Laura Jane Musser Fund, and is administered in partnership with Brooklyn Public Library and New York Public Library.