Ethelbert B. Crawford Public Library
479 Broadway Monticello, NY 12701 - (845)794-4660
If you are an aspiring writer seeking to work together with others to hone your craft plan on attending their bi-monthly meetings on the 2nd & 4th Monday of the month.
The Library will be closing at 1:00PM on Tuesday, December 24th and will be Closed for Christmas Day on Wednesday, December 25th.
Hours will resume as normal on Thursday, December 26th.
In observance of New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, The Library will be close on Tuesday, Dec. 31st at 1:00pm and will be closed on Wednesday, January 1st.
Come have a magical moment with New York Times bestselling author TJ Klune as he chats about his Cerulean Chronicles, with special emphasis on his newest in the series, Somewhere Beyond the Sea.
If you’re new to the Cerulean Chronicles, that’s okay! Let us lay the groundwork. Klune’s The House in the Cerulean Sea introduces us to Linus Baker. A by-the-book caseworker in the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. He's tasked with determining whether six dangerous magical children are likely to bring about the end of the world. Arthur Parnassus is the master of the orphanage. He would do anything to keep the children safe, even if it means the world will burn. And his secrets will come to light. The House in the Cerulean Sea is an enchanting love story, masterfully told, about the profound experience of discovering an unlikely family in an unexpected place―and realizing that family is yours.
Klune’s most recent book in the Cerulean Chronicles, Somewhere Beyond the Sea, welcomes us back for Arthur’s story.
The views expressed by presenters are their own and their appearance in a program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by Ethelbert B. Crawford Public Library.
Brought to you in partnership with the Library Speakers Consortium. Generously Supported by the Friends of the Ethelbert B. Crawford Public Library.
In observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Library will be closed on Monday, January 20th.
Join us as we chat with the New York Times bestselling author, Amanda Montell about her newest book, The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality.
In a delicious blend of cultural criticism and personal narrative that explores our cognitive biases and the power, disadvantages, and highlights of magical thinking, Amanda Montell now turns her erudite eye to the inner workings of the human mind and its biases in her most personal and electrifying work yet.
“Magical thinking” can be broadly defined as the belief that one’s internal thoughts can affect unrelated events in the external world: think of the conviction that one can manifest their way out of poverty, stave off cancer with positive vibes, thwart the apocalypse by learning to can their own peaches, or transform an unhealthy relationship to a glorious one with loyalty alone. In all its forms, magical thinking works in service of restoring agency amid chaos, but in The Age of Magical Overthinking, Montell argues that in the modern information age, our brain’s coping mechanisms have been overloaded, and our irrationality turned up to an eleven.
The views expressed by presenters are their own and their appearance in a program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by Ethelbert B. Crawford Public Library.
Brought to you in partnership with the Library Speakers Consortium. Generously Supported by the Friends of the Ethelbert B. Crawford Public Library.
You’re writing a book (or thinking about it), but what happens next? Join us for an inside look into working with an agent and the beginning stages of the publishing process with Seth Fishman, Vice President and Literary Agent at The Gernert Company.
The Gernert Company represents more than 500 authors and is a full-service literary agency with offices in New York and Los Angeles. Their client list is as broad as the market and they represent fiction, both literary and commercial (such as Liz Moore, John Grisham, Louise Penny, Cixin Liu), as well as general nonfiction and practical nonfiction genres.
In this presentation, Fishman will deep dive into what happens after you’ve signed with a literary agent. He will cover many topics, including but not limited to:
What agents are and are not looking for,
How to submit your work to an agent and when,
What to expect after you've both said "yes!" to working together,
What you can look forward to as you ready your work with an eye towards submitting to publishers, including the revision process and so much more.
This extended, 90-minute presentation, includes 30 minutes of Q&A. This is the year to make all of your publishing dreams come true. To learn about this beginning stage of the process, register now!
The views expressed by presenters are their own and their appearance in a program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by Ethelbert B. Crawford Public Library.
Brought to you in partnership with the Library Speakers Consortium. Generously Supported by the Friends of the Ethelbert B. Crawford Public Library.
This meeting of The Ethelbert B. Crawford Public Library Board of Trustees will be held on ZOOM and In-Person.
The public is invited to attend in-person or remotely.
Email langclouse@rcls.org for ZOOM meeting invitation
Join us for Bingo at EBCPL! The winner of each round will receive a prize. We plan to have approx. 5 bingo rounds.
*Each attendee will get one (1) free bingo card to use. Additional cards will be sold for a $2.00 donation (all proceeds will go toward future bingo programs)
First come, first served. Registration is recommended.
In the Robert D. Norris Community Room
Join us for a musical performance by Fisher and Kean
For this special holiday performance, the duo will be preforming holiday classics.
Songwriters Deborah Anne Fisher & Paul Kean began playing together in 2017. They accompany each other in harmony & varied instruments, switching off on guitar, ukulele, bass & washboard percussion.
In the Robert D. Norris Community Room
*Tuesday, December 17th, 2024 at 6:30 p.m.
*Snow Date: December 19th, 6:30 p.m.
*If the weather is bad, please call before coming to make sure
programs aren't cancelled/postponed.
Bring your ongoing projects and supplies from home or learn a new hobby with guidance from experienced stitcher Ginny Schouten. There will be yarn available to start a project and also some crochet hooks and/or knitting needles for sale.
Spend your Friday afternoons at the library with other adults (21+) playing a game with friends, or make new friends while playing cards, Scrabble or other board games.* If you’d like to play something else, bring a game from home to play with others.
*Those interested in playing Mahjong please bring your own sets of tiles.
In the Robert D. Norris Community Room
~Maximum Capacity 15. Please social distance.~
We’re living in a world that is rapidly changing, some of it to our liking, and some not. With all that is going on, how do we maintain and strengthen our sense of community? It's time to listen, share and gain a better understanding of how we can build a vibrant community together.
This Months Topic: Harm Reduction
“Harm reduction is a set of practical strategies and ideas aimed at reducing negative consequences associated with drug use. Harm Reduction is also a movement for social justice built on a belief in, and respect for, the rights of people who use drugs.Harm reduction
incorporates a spectrum of strategies that includes safer use, managed use, abstinence, meeting people who use drugs “where they’re at,” and addressing conditions of use along with the use itself.”
- National Harm Reduction Coalition
JOIN US FOR A COMMUNITY CONVERSATION
Join us for a captivating conversation with #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Last Thing He Told Me, Laura Dave, as she chats with us online about her newest book The Night We Lost Him.
The Night We Lost Him focuses on estranged siblings who discover their father has been keeping a secret for over fifty years, one that may have been fatal...
Liam Noone was many things to many people. To the public, he was an exacting, self-made hotel magnate fleeing his past. To his three ex-wives, he was a loving albeit distant family man who kept his finances flush and his families carefully separated. To Nora, he was a father who often loved her from afar - notably a cliffside cottage perched on the California coast from which he fell to his death.
The authorities rule the death accidental, but Nora and her estranged brother Sam have other ideas. As Nora and Sam form an uneasy alliance to unravel the mystery, they start putting together the pieces of their father's past—and uncover a family secret that changes everything.
With Laura Dave's trademark combination of soulful suspense and evocative family drama, The Night We Lost Him is a riveting page-turner. Register now to learn about this book and so much more!
The views expressed by presenters are their own and their appearance in a program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by Ethelbert B. Crawford Public Library.
Brought to you in partnership with the Library Speakers Consortium. Generously Supported by the Friends of the Ethelbert B. Crawford Public Library.
If you are an aspiring writer seeking to work together with others to hone your craft plan on attending their bi-monthly meetings on the 2nd & 4th Monday of the month.
Join us for an absolutely dazzling presentation with the emeritus curator of the Smithsonian's National Gem Collection, Dr. Jeffrey E. Post as he talks about The Smithsonian National Gem Collection Unearthed: Surprising Stories Behind the Jewels.
The Smithsonian’s Unearthed explores the scandals, mysteries, and human stories behind the world's greatest gems. In this original book, the surprising stories behind this world-renowned gem collection are brought to life by Dr. Jeffrey E. Post, curator of the Smithsonian's National Gem Collection for over 30 years. In this webinar, fact is separated from fiction and Dr. Post will reveal fresh information and regale the viewers with anecdotes and tales of some of the world's greatest and most famous gemstones. Inside the illustrious pages of Unearthed, Dr. Post tells the stories of the Smithsonian's most famous gems, including the Hope Diamond, Star of Asia Sapphire, Carmen Lucia Ruby, Hooker Emerald, and Blue Heart Diamond and presents the tales, details, and fascinating facts surrounding rarely displayed gems from the Smithsonian vault and recent additions made to the collection.
Shine bright with us this holiday season and register now!
The views expressed by presenters are their own and their appearance in a program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by Ethelbert B. Crawford Public Library.
Brought to you in partnership with the Library Speakers Consortium. Generously Supported by the Friends of the Ethelbert B. Crawford Public Library.
Do you know a few Yiddish words or more?
Enjoy discussions on language and culture.
Hear from Sages, writers, and humorists about topics such as:
¨ Customs ¨ History & Folklore ¨ Traditions ¨ Ethics ¨ Language Arts ¨ Poetry
¨ Folk Sayings ¨ And More!
Kim tzuzamen un leren.
Come together and learn.
Songs of the Season
With Cris Spinner, Featuring Steve Schwartz & Ken Windheim
Cris Spinner is a local singer/entertainer who lives in Monticello. She is an active community member & a positive thinker, who strives to make a difference.
For this festive night, she will be performing a program of seasonal favorites, accompanied by Steve Schwartz on guitar, and Ken Windheim on bass.
In the Robert D. Norris Community Room
Tuesday, December 3rd*, at 6:30 pm
*Snow Date: Tuesday, December 10th, 6:30 pm
*If the weather is bad, please call before coming to make sure programs aren't cancelled/postponed.
This meeting of The Ethelbert B. Crawford Public Library Board of Trustees will be held on ZOOM and In-Person-Rescheduled from November 26th.
The public is invited to attend in-person or remotely.
Email langclouse@rcls.org for ZOOM meeting invitation
Spend your Friday afternoons at the library with other adults (21+) playing a game with friends, or make new friends while playing cards, Scrabble or other board games.* If you’d like to play something else, bring a game from home to play with others.
*Those interested in playing Mahjong please bring your own sets of tiles.
In the Robert D. Norris Community Room
~Maximum Capacity 15. Please social distance.~
You may have seen Ethelbert’s (Bert’s) paintings on display throughout our library, well now you can join us to learn to how to paint beautiful scenic paintings just like his, with the help of Bob Ross.
We will be painting along with an episode of Bob Ross’s series, “The Joy of Painting.”
All supplies will be provide for this free class.
Great for beginners & all levels are welcome!
Registration is required, as spaces are limited.
*Monday, December 2nd, 1:30pm—3:30pm
*Snow Date: Monday Decmber 9th, 2:30-4:30
in the Robert D. Norris Community Room
The Library will be closing at 1:00PM on Wednesday, November 27th and will be Closed for Thanksgiving Day on Thursday, November 28th.
Hours will resume as normal on Friday, November 29th.
Postponed until Next Week
This meeting of The Ethelbert B. Crawford Public Library Board of Trustees will be held on ZOOM and In-Person.
The public is invited to attend in-person or remotely.
Email langclouse@rcls.org for ZOOM meeting invitation
If you are an aspiring writer seeking to work together with others to hone your craft plan on attending their bi-monthly meetings on the 2nd & 4th Monday of the month.
Discussion followed by viewing ‘Bombshell’ about the life of Hedy Lamarr
Her beauty almost certainly saved her from the rising Nazi party and led to marriage with an Austrian arms dealer. Underestimated in everything else, she overheard the Third Reich's plans while at her husband's side, understanding more than anyone would guess. She devised a plan to flee in disguise from their castle, and the whirlwind escape landed her in Hollywood.
She became Hedy Lamarr, screen star.
But she kept a secret more shocking than her heritage or her marriage: she was a scientist. And she knew a few secrets about the enemy. She had an idea that might help the country fight the Nazis…if anyone would listen to her.
A powerful novel based on the incredible true story of the glamour icon and scientist whose groundbreaking invention revolutionized modern communication, The Only Woman in the Room is a masterpiece.
Email langclouse@rcls.org for Zoom details.
From the mid-century metropolis of Chicago to the windswept ancestral lands of the Dakota people, to the bleak and brutal Indian boarding schools, A Council of Dolls is the story of three women, told in part through the stories of the dolls they carried....
Sissy, born 1961: Sissy’s relationship with her beautiful and volatile mother is difficult, even dangerous, but her life is also filled with beautiful things, including a new Christmas present, a doll called Ethel. Ethel whispers advice and kindness in Sissy’s ear, and in one especially terrifying moment, maybe even saves Sissy’s life.
Lillian, born 1925: Born in her ancestral lands in a time of terrible change, Lillian clings to her sister, Blanche, and her doll, Mae. When the sisters are forced to attend an “Indian school” far from their home, Blanche refuses to be cowed by the school’s abusive nuns. But when tragedy strikes the sisters, the doll Mae finds her way to defend the girls.
Cora, born 1888: Though she was born into the brutal legacy of the “Indian Wars,” Cora isn’t afraid of the white men who remove her to a school across the country to be “civilized.” When teachers burn her beloved buckskin and beaded doll Winona, Cora discovers that the spirit of Winona may not be entirely lost...
A modern masterpiece, A Council of Dolls is gorgeous, quietly devastating, and ultimately hopeful, shining a light on the echoing damage wrought by Indian boarding schools, and the historical massacres of Indigenous people. Mona Susan Power weaves a spell of love and healing that comes alive on the page. Register now to join the conversation!
About the Author: Mona Susan Power is an enrolled member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. Her novel, A Council of Dolls, was longlisted for the National Book Award and the Carol Shields Prize for Fiction. She is the author of three previously published works of fiction, The Grass Dancer, which won the Pen/Hemingway Prize, Sacred Wilderness, and Roofwalker. Her short stories have been published by The Atlantic Monthly, The Paris Review, The Best American Short Stories, and more. Mona is a graduate of Harvard and the University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop. She lives in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
The views expressed by presenters are their own and their appearance in a program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by Ethelbert B. Crawford Public Library.
Brought to you in partnership with the Library Speakers Consortium. Generously Supported by the Friends of the Ethelbert B. Crawford Public Library.
Bring your ongoing projects and supplies from home or learn a new hobby with guidance from experienced stitcher Ginny Schouten. There will be yarn available to start a project and also some crochet hooks and/or knitting needles for sale.
The CEJ meeting will be canceled this month but will continue as scheduled next month.
We’re living in a world that is rapidly changing, some of it to our liking, and some not. With all that is going on, how do we maintain and strengthen our sense of community?
It's time to listen and share and gain a better understanding of how we can build a vibrant community together.
JOIN US FOR A COMMUNITY CONVERSATION
Zamora’s adventure is a three-thousand-mile journey from his small town in El Salvador, through Guatemala and Mexico, and across the U.S. border. He will leave behind his beloved aunt and grandparents to reunite with a mother who left four years ago and a father he barely remembers. Traveling alone amid a group of strangers and a “coyote” hired to lead them to safety, Javier expects his trip to last two short weeks.
At nine years old, all Javier can imagine is rushing into his parents’ arms, snuggling in bed between them, and living under the same roof again. He cannot foresee the perilous boat trips, relentless desert treks, pointed guns, arrests and deceptions that await him; nor can he know that those two weeks will expand into two life-altering months alongside fellow migrants who will come to encircle him like an unexpected family.
Solito provides an immediate and intimate account not only of a treacherous and near-impossible journey, but also of the miraculous kindness and love delivered at the most unexpected moments. Solito is Javier Zamora’s story, but it’s also the story of millions of others who had no choice but to leave home. Register today to learn more about this gripping and moving story!
About the Author: Javier Zamora was born in El Salvador in 1990. His father fled the country when he was one, and his mother when he was about to turn five. Both parents’ migrations were caused by the U.S.-funded Salvadoran Civil War. When he was nine Javier migrated through Guatemala, Mexico, and the Sonoran Desert. His debut poetry collection, Unaccompanied, explores the impact of the war and immigration on his family. Zamora has been a Stegner Fellow at Stanford and a Radcliffe Fellow at Harvard and holds fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation.
The views expressed by presenters are their own and their appearance in a program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by Ethelbert B. Crawford Public Library.
Do you know a few Yiddish words or more?
Enjoy discussions on language and culture.
Hear from Sages, writers, and humorists about topics such as:
¨ Customs ¨ History & Folklore ¨ Traditions ¨ Ethics ¨ Language Arts ¨ Poetry
¨ Folk Sayings ¨ And More!
Kim tzuzamen un leren.
Come together and learn.
Spend your Friday afternoons at the library with other adults (21+) playing a game with friends, or make new friends while playing cards, Scrabble or other board games.* If you’d like to play something else, bring a game from home to play with others.
*Those interested in playing Mahjong please bring your own sets of tiles.
In the Robert D. Norris Community Room
~Maximum Capacity 15. Please social distance.~
The Library will be closed in observance of Veteran’s Day.
Sintoniza una conversación especial con el autor más vendido del New York Times Javier Zamora mientras conversa con nosotros sobre su fascinante historia de supervivencia y perseverancia, tal como se cuenta en sus memorias premiadas Solito.
La aventura de Javier es una travesía de tres mil millas desde su pequeño pueblo en El Salvador, a través de Guatemala y México, hacia la frontera de Estados Unidos. Dejará atrás a sus queridos abuelos y su tía para reunirse con una madre que se fue cuatro años atrás y con un padre al que prácticamente no recuerda. Al viajar solo, a excepción de un grupo de extraños y un coyote contratado para guiarlos a salvo, Javier debía tardar solo dos semanas en llegar.
A los nueve años, todo lo que Javier puede imaginar es correr a los brazos de sus padres, acurrucarse en la cama entre ellos y vivir bajo el mismo techo otra vez. No puede prever los peligrosos trayectos en bote, las interminables caminatas por el desierto, las armas apuntándole, los arrestos y los engaños que le esperan. Tampoco sabe que esas dos semanas se alargarán hasta dos meses y le cambiarán la vida, junto a un grupo de extraños que acabará por cobijarlo como una familia improvisada.
Solito no solo nos ofrece un recuento íntimo e inmediato de un viaje sinuoso y casi imposible, sino la milagrosa bondad y el amor que se entrega en los momentos más inesperados. Solito es la historia de Javier, pero es también la historia de millones más que no tuvieron otra opción más que irse de casa.
¡Regístrese hoy para obtener más información sobre esta apasionante y conmovedora historia!
Sobre el autor: Javier Zamora nació en El Salvador en 1990. Su padre huyó del país cuando él tenía un año y su madre cuando él estaba por cumplir cinco. Las migraciones de ambos padres fueron causadas por la Guerra Civil Salvadoreña financiada por Estados Unidos. Cuando tenía nueve años, Javier emigró por Guatemala, México y el desierto de Sonora. Su primera colección de poesía, Unaccompanied, explora el impacto de la guerra y la inmigración en su familia. Zamora ha sido Stegner Fellow en Stanford y Radcliffe Fellow en Harvard y posee becas del National Endowment for the Arts y la Fundación de Poesía.
The views expressed by presenters are their own and their appearance in a program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by Ethelbert B. Crawford Public Library.
You are welcome to join us in conversation with Navajo Ranger, Stanley Milford, Jr. as he chats about the chilling and clear-eyed memoir of his investigations into bizarre cases of the paranormal and the unexplained in Navajoland.
As a Native American with parents of both Navajo and Cherokee descent, Stanley Milford, Jr. grew up in a world where the supernatural was both expected and taboo, where shapeshifters roamed, witchcraft was a thing to be feared, and children were taught not to whistle at night. In his youth, Milford never went looking for the paranormal, but it always seemed to find him. When he joined the fabled Navajo Rangers—a law enforcement branch of the Navajo Nation who are equal parts police officers, archeological conservationists, and historians—the paranormal became part of his job. Alongside addressing the mundane duties of overseeing the massive 27,000-square-mile reservation, Milford was assigned to utterly bizarre and shockingly frequent cases involving mysterious livestock mutilations, skinwalker and Bigfoot sightings, UFOs, and malicious hauntings.
In The Paranormal Ranger, Milford recounts the stories of these cases from the clinical and deductive perspective of a law enforcement officer. Milford’s Native American worldview and investigative training collide to provide an eerie account of what logic dictates should not be possible. Register now to expand your own worldview and be ready for a chill to run down your spine!
About the Author: Stanley Milford, Jr., graduated from the United States Indian Police Academy at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Artesia, New Mexico, and worked continuously as a sworn law enforcement officer for over twenty-three years. He served as the delegated Chief Navajo Ranger for over two years through March of 2019. While with the Navajo Rangers, Stan oversaw a section called the Special Projects Unit (SPU), whose responsibilities included the investigation of cases that did not fit within everyday parameters of law enforcement or criminal investigation, many of which involved reports of the paranormal or supernatural. After leaving the Navajo Rangers, Stan served as the senior investigator for the Navajo Nation’s White Collar Crime Unit.
The views expressed by presenters are their own and their appearance in a program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by Ethelbert B. Crawford Public Library.
Presented by The Music Institute of Sullivan & Ulster Counties
The musical duo, Duo Solitude, is comprised of Anastasia Solberg on viola, and David Fiedler on violin. They will perform selections from Schubert's Winterreise interleaved with works from the classical and contemporary eras for violin and viola.
Since forming their duet, they have gone on to win multiple competitions and are now excited to present the varied programs they’ve prepared for the public.
Generously Supported by the Friends of the Ethelbert B. Crawford Public Library.
Anastacia Solberg has ties to Sullivan County that go way back, around 25 years. After teaching as an adjunct professor of violin and viola at various institutions of higher learning and running her own private studio, Anastasia decided that she could best assist those around her by opening a music school. In 2001, she founded the Music Institute of Sullivan and Ulster Counties (MISU).
David Fiedler, lived in Monticello for many years. His first violin teacher was his father, an artist by profession, who was also an amateur violinist and devoted music lover. David attended the High School of Music and Art in New York City, and Juilliard Pre-College and College, where he was a student of Ivan Galamian. After graduating with a Bachelor of Music degree, he joined the South Dakota Symphony as concertmaster, and the Dakota String Quartet as first violinist.
Join local artist Chris Parrow to create a floral still life for the Season.
Learn about brushwork, composition, color mixing, and the loose and spontaneous nature of watercolor paint.
No experience is necessary; all levels are welcome.
Come have fun and jump-start your painting practice.
Phone (845-794-4660 x 2) or in-person registration is required.
Space is limited with preference given to those that live within the library service area (the towns of Bethel, Forestburgh & Thompson within the Monticello Central School District). Supply fee (cash only) of $5 is due at registration.
Snow Date: Thursday, December 14th.
