SALA'S GIFT EXHIBIT AT LIBRARY IN 2007
Special
Mother's Day Event: Author Presentation and Exhibit Opening: "Sala's
Gift: My Mother's Holocaust Story"
On Sunday, Mother’s
Day, May 13, 2007 at 2 p.m., in a true celebration of the bond between
mothers and their children, Dr. Ann Kirschner and her mother Sala
Garncarz Kirschner will kick off a three-year nationwide book tour
at the library. Ann Kirschner will be speaking about her book,
Sala’s Gift, the story of her mother’s wartime
rescue of letters from Nazi labor camps. The same day, a traveling
exhibit of Sala Garncarz Kirschner’s letter will debut at
the library, where it will remain for two months before moving on.
For
nearly 50 years, Sala, who lives in Monsey, kept from her family
that she had survived as a prisoner in seven different Nazi labor
camps between 1940 and 1945. Living in America after the war, she
never gave her children any hint of her epic, inhuman odyssey. Still,
she held on to more than 350 letters, photographs, and a diary without
ever revealing their existence. Only in 1991, on the eve of cardiac
surgery, did she suddenly present them to Ann and offer to answer
any questions her daughter wished to ask. It was a life-changing
moment for her scholar, writer, and entrepreneur daughter.
In 2006, Ann
Kirschner penned the book Sala’s Gift: My Mother’s
Holocaust Story, the story of Ann’s mother’s
survival and
 of
Ann’s own quest to understand the remarkable stories and people
behind these rare letters.
Now, through
striking graphic design, a new exhibition reproducing the letters,
postcards, photographs and documents will be on display at Finkelstein
through June 17 in the Fielding Room. In July, the exhibition will
continue its three-year international tour. This will likely be
the only time, however, that Ann and her mother, now 83, will be
on hand to personally welcome the exhibition during the 2 p.m. program.
In addition, there will be a book signing for Sala’s Gift
the same day.
“These letters,
written more than 50 years ago, offer insight into a painful chapter
of world history,” Bob Devino, director of Finkelstein Memorial
Library, said. “This is Sala’s home library and we are
incredibly honored to be the first stop for this powerful exhibition.”
“Visitors
to this exhibition will simply be enveloped into the story,”
said Barbara Leff of the Monk Design Group tasked with creating
the traveling exhibition.
 About
the Author:
Dr. Ann Kirschner is the University Dean of the Macaulay Honors
College of the City University of New York. She began her career
as a lecturer in Victorian literature at Princeton University, where
she earned a Ph.D. in English. Her subsequent career as an entrepreneur
in media and technology included the creation of internet businesses
for the National Football League and Columbia University.
Ann Kirschner
lives in New York with her husband, Dr. Harold Weinberg, and is
the mother of Elisabeth, Caroline, and Peter.
See the
website: http://www.salasgift.com/content/index.asp
PLEASE NOTE: Library services will
not be available while this program is going on. To accommodate
the program, the library will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
on Sunday, May 13.
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 JLJ
Latin Band Performs at the Library...
Join us on May
20 at 2 PM as Joaquin, Leonardo and Jovahnny will have
you dancing in your chair to the beat of Merengue, Salsa, Cha-Cha,
Bachata, Bolero and Cumbia.
Anne Tormela of The Manhattan Lyric Opera.
On June 10th at 2:00 P.M. our Music on a Sunday Afternoon Series concludes with coloratura Anne Tormela of The Manhattan Lyric Opera. Doors to the Fielding Room open at 1:45 p.m.
A native New Yorker, Ms. Tormela specializes in bel-canto, operatic and early music style. She has been noted for her “secure technique, unfailing intonation and expression and clear and sensitive text.” (Ulrik Cold; Royal Danish Opera), her “ringing and strongly expressive voice with extraordinary vocal control...” (Leif Kramp; Critic/Lübecker Nachtrichten) and “negotiating the upper reaches (of her voice) with dazzling security...” (David Syrus, Head of Music, Royal Opera House, Convent Garden).
"The Manhattan Lyric Opera is uniquely devoted to presenting concert versions of the classic operas and operettas making them accessible to facilities which otherwise may never have the resources to offer such artistic works in their entirety or part. Our goal is to bring these classic works to life in an elegant, concise concert and staged version so that the audience may enjoy the heart of this great music."
Jazz and Swing Music Concert at the Library
On Sunday, August 5th, at 2:00 P.M., The Jazz and Swing Express Band will be at the Library playing lively rhythmic jazz and swing music. Doors to the Fielding Room open at 1:45.
Jazz music was America's first truly original contribution to the world art community. The period of the 1930s and 1940s is thus far the only age in history when the popularity of jazz eclipsed all other genres of music in the U.S. It is an epoch known as the Big Band era, and during it, swing music was king. Come enjoy this live jazz and swing concert at the Library.
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 Summer Reading for Adults!
This summer, the Library is offering a summer reading contest for adults. Beginning in June, please stop by the reference desk on the second floor to pick up a “Summer Reading Book Bingo” game board.
There are many suggestions for types of books to read on the board, and hopefully you’ll discover some sections of the library’s collection that you hadn’t tried before, but will go back to again and again! Once you’ve read five books in a row on the game board, you can turn it in to the reference desk to be entered in a raffle. Prizes will include Barnes and Noble gift cards, movie passes and tote bags. The program will run from June 14 to August 23. The raffle drawing will take place on August 24th.
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Meet a Pet Psychic!
On Thursday, June 21st at 6:30 p.m., meet pet psychic Shira Plotzer. If you want to know what your pet has to say or what is bothering your animal friend, bring in a photo of your dog, cat, bird, lizard etc. and Shira will let you know at this interactive program.
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 Real
life Real Talk: Interactive Event for Parents in May...
Real Talk is a cooperative effort to build more productive dialogue
around sex and health. Local organizations are uniting to help young
people navigate through the sexuality saturated imagery prevalent
in our society and teach parents how to talk to and guide their
teens. Sex Ed for Parents is an interactive event
coming to Finkelstein Library on Saturday, May 5 from 10:30
AM to 12 PM and again on Monday, May 7 from 6:30 to 8 PM in the Library's Fielding Room. This program offers parents an insider’s
glimpse of adolescence in the age of instant messaging and online
networking sites. For more information, visit The Real Life Real
Talk website: http://www.realliferealtalk.org
More information on the programs and events is coming soon.
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 Summer
Reading for Adults-- Book Bingo Game Begins in June...
This
summer, FML is offering a summer reading contest for adults. Beginning
in June, please stop by the reference desk on the second floor to
pick up a "Summer Reading Book Bingo" game board. There
are many suggestions for types of books to read on the board, and
hopefully you'll discover some sections of the library's collection
that you hadn't tried before.
Once
you've read 5 books in a row on the game board, you can turn it
in to the reference desk to be entered in a raffle. Prizes will
include Barnes and Noble giftcards, movie passes and totebags. The
raffle drawing will take place on August 24.
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 Meet
the Authors-- Wednesday, June 6 at 10 AM
The
Library Association of Rockland County is sponsoring a "Meet
the Author" program.
Maggie
Barbieri, author of Murder 101 (2006)
Jane
Cleland, author of Consigned to Death [2006] and Deadly
Appraisal [2007]
The
program will be held at the Nanuet Public Library on WEDNESDAY,
JUNE 6 at 10 AM. For information call 352-5700 ext. 231.
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 2007
"OPERA ON THE WINGS OF SONG" SERIES ON TUESDAYS
AT 10 AM...
TUESDAY,
June 5 at 10 AM: Compare - "The Merry
Widow" - Lehar; with "La Rondine" - Puccini
TUESDAY,
July 10 at 10 AM: Selections - "La Sonnambula
& Norma" - Bellini
TUESDAY, August 7 at 10 AM:
Selections - "Jewels of the Madonna" - Wolfe-Ferrari
Final Duet from "Don Carlo" - Verdi
"Le Ville & Edgar" - Puccini
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 SONGWRITING WORKSHOP AT THE LIBRARY
Have you always wanted to write a song but not sure how to go about it? Join Sam Leopold on Thursday, July 12 at 7 P.M. in the Finkelstein Library and let him show you how. Please call 352-5700, ext. 243 to register.
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Alternative Healing Techniques
On Tuesday, July 17 at 7:00 P.M., Chiropractor and speaker for the Health Awareness Foundation, Dr. Howard Werfel, will address how health can be gained and maintained without depending on dangerous prescription drugs. He will discuss Alternative Healing Techniques the title of his program.
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Robert
H. Finkelstein Technology Center
Computer
Lab Hours of Operation:
Monday
– Thursday. 9:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Friday:
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Saturday:
10:00 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.
Sunday: 12:30 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.
Note:
The Center is unavailable to patrons when workshops are in session.
Computer
Workshops: Summer 2007
The
following “hands-on” workshops are designed to help
you understand computers, operating systems and application software.
Please note:
These are one session computer workshops. To register, please call
the Library at (845) 352-5700 Ext. 294, or stop by the RHF Technology
Center on the 3rd floor. Registration is required.
Introduction
to Microsoft Word
(Prerequisite: Must be able to use a Mouse and Keyboard)
Provides the fundamentals of operating Word and demonstrates how
to create, edit, save and print documents using Microsoft Word.
Wed. June 6, 2007 | 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.--Introduction
to Microsoft Word
Introduction
to Microsoft Excel
(Prerequisite: Must be able to use a Mouse and Keyboard)
Provides the essentials of using the Excel spreadsheet program, the
elements of an Excel worksheet, and how to create, edit, save and
print an Excel workbook.
Wed. June 13, 2007 | 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.--Introduction
to Microsoft Excel
Introduction
to Microsoft PowerPoint
(Prerequisite: Must be able to use a Mouse and Keyboard)
PowerPoint is one of the most popular software programs in the world.
It enables you to create professional-looking presentations in the
form of slideshows that run on your computer. This class will explain
not only the basics of starting a presentation, adding and editing
text and designs, pictures, videos, charts and animation to slides
but how to “think-through” your entire presentation
for best results.
Wed. June 20, 2007| 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
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CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF INDEPENDENT
FILMS: FINKELSTEIN'S INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL
LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE, [JUNE
27]
WEDNESDAY AT 7 PM
Starring Alan Arkin [Best Supporting Actor nominee], Steve Carell,
Toni Collette, and Greg Kinnear.
A family determined to get their
young daughter into the finals of a beauty pageant take a cross-country
trip in their VW bus.
 THANK
YOU FOR SMOKING [JULY 11]
WEDNESDAY
AT 7 PM
Satirical comedy follows the machinations
of Big Tobacco's chief spokesman, Nick Naylor, who spins on behalf
of cigarettes while trying to remain a role model for his twelve-year-old
son.
 QUINCEANERA
[JULY 18]
WEDNESDAY
AT 7 PM
As Magdalena's 15th birthday approaches, her simple, blissful life
is complicated by the discovery that she's pregnant. Kicked out
of her house, she finds a new family with her great-granduncle and
gay cousin.
 HALF
NELSON [JULY 25]
WEDNESDAY
AT 7 PM
An
inner-city junior high school teacher with a drug habit forms an
unlikely friendship with one of his students after she discovers
his secret.
 WORDPLAY
[AUGUST 1]
WEDNESDAY
AT 7 PM
An
in-depth look at The New York Times' long-time crossword puzzle
editor Will Shortz and his loyal fan base.
Films
will be shown at 7 P.M. in the theater at the Cultural Arts Center
at SUNY Rockland Community College, 145 College Rd. in Suffern.
Discussions following the films will be led by Dr. Ann Fey. The
suggested donation is $3.00 for adults, $1.00 for students and seniors.
For more information or to request a copy of the series brochure
call ext. 244 or 231.
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 28th
INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL CONLUDES IN MAY...
Welcome
to Finkelstein Memorial Library's International Film Festival. Now
in its twenty-eighth year, this series is dedicated to the presentation
of significant international cinema. Discussions following the films
are designed to foster an appreciation of film as art and as insight
into other cultures. All films have English subtitles. Brochures
will be available in March. For additional information call (845)
352-5700, ext. 231 during regular library hours.
Films will be shown on Tuesdays at
7 PM in the theater at the Cultural Arts Center
at SUNY Rockland Community College, 145 College Rd., Suffern. Dr.
Ann Fey will lead discussions following the films. The suggested
donation is: $3 for adults; $1 for seniors and students.
We
wish to thank SUNY Rockland Community College for use of the Cultural
Arts Center and our patrons for their continued support.
 TUESDAY,
April 17 at
7 PM
CHANGING TIMES [ French
with English subtitles]
Starring Catherine Deneuve and Gerard Depardieu as former lovers
reunited after thirty years.
 TUESDAY,
April 24 at
7 PM
TSOTSI
[ Tsotsi-taal with English subtitles ]
Six
days in the violent life of a young Johannesburg gang leader.
 TUESDAY,
May 1 at
7 PM
RIDING ALONE FOR THOUSANDS OF MILES
[ Mandarin and Japanese with English subtitles
A Japanese
father travels to China's Yunnan province in the place of his ailing
son to film a famous folk-opera star.
 TUESDAY,
May 8 at
7 PM
WATER Hindi
with English subtitles
The
film examines the plight of a group of widows forced into poverty
at a temple in the holy city of Varanasi. It focuses on a relationship
between one of the widows, who wants to escape the social restrictions
imposed on widows, and a man who is from a lower caste and a follower
of Mahatma Gandhi.
 TUESDAY,
May 15 at
7 PM
KINKY BOOTS (UK)
Inspired
by the true story of a traditional English men's footwear factory
in Northamptonshire which turned to production of kinky boots for
transvestites in order to save the ailing family business and safeguard
the jobs of the local community.
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Home
Wednesday
Movie Matinee...
Join
us in the Library's Fielding Room on the 3rd Floor for free movies
and free popcorn:
Something New
Rated PG-13, 100 minutes.
May 9, 1:30 p.m.
Kenya McQueen, a corporate lawyer finds love in the most unexpected
place when she agrees to go on a blind date with Brian Kelly, a
sexy and free-spirited landscaper.
 Dreamgirls
Rated
PG-13, 130 minutes
May 23, 1:30 PM
Based on the Broadway musical, a trio of black female soul singers
cross over to the pop charts in the early 1960's.
 Flyboys
Rated PG-13, 139 minutes
June 6, 1:30 PM
The
adventures of the Lafayette Escadrille, young Americans who volunteered
for the French military before the U.S. entered World War I, and
became the country's first fighter pilots.
 Man
of the Year
Rated PG-13, 115 minutes
June 20, 1:30 PM
On
a lark, the host of a late-night political talk show (Robin Williams)
decides to run for president. The thing is, he never expected to
win.
 Music & Lyrics
Rated PG-13, 96 minutes
July 11, 1:30 PM
A washed up singer is given a couple days to compose a chart-topping hit for an aspiring teen sensation. Though he's never written a decent lyric in his life, he sparks with an offbeat younger woman with a flair for words. Starring Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore.
 Norbit
Rated PG-13, 102 minutes
July 25, 1:30 PM
A mild-mannered guy (Eddie Murphy) who is engaged to a monstrous woman (Eddie Murphy) meets the woman of his dreams and schemes to find a way to be with her.
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Monday
Night Movies...
Join
us in the Library's Fielding Room on the 3rd Floor for free movies at 6 PM:
 Happy
Feet
Rated PG, 109 minutes
May 14, 6 PM
Into
the world of the Emperor Penguins, who find their soul mates through
song, a penguin is born who cannot sing. But he can tap dance something
fierce!
 The
Queen
Rated PG-13, 103 minutes
June 11, 6 PM
After
the death of Princess Diana, HM Queen Elizabeth II struggles with
her reaction to a sequence of events nobody could have predicted.
 The
Holiday
Rated PG-13, 106 minutes
June 25, 6 PM
Two
women troubled with guy-problems (Carmen Diaz, Kate Winslet) swap
homes in each other's countries, where they each meet a local guy
and fall in love.
 Stomp
the Yard
Rated PG-13, 116 minutes
July 9, 6 PM
After
the death of his younger brother, a troubled 19-year-old street
dancer from Los Angeles is able to bypass juvenile hall by enrolling
in the historically black, Truth University in Atlanta, Georgia.
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Art
Exhibits at the Library
“Enjoyment
in Libraries with the Candid Pencil of David Friedman”
 A
display of the library’s collection of work by the
late artist and Holocaust survivor David Friedman is being exhibited
online on our Finkelstein
website. The exhibit, “Enjoyment in Libraries with
the Candid Pencil of David Friedman,” features sketches done
by Friedman of library patrons in St. Louis, Mo.,between 1962-1972.
It will be on display in the first-floor meeting room. According
to his daughter, Miriam Morris of Pomona, who donated the 88-piece
collection to the library in the 1980’s, Friedman created
the series as a respite from the life of turmoil he depicted in
his earlier series, “Because...They Were Jews.” (See
below)
The
“Enjoyment in Libraries with the Candid Pencil of David Friedman”
collection can be reviewed online at: http://finkelsteinlibrary.org/Friedman_Drawings/friedmanhome.html
" Because...They Were Jews” also by David Friedman
Ten reproductions of the series, “Because...They Were Jews,”
also by David Friedman, will be on display until the end
of May. The exhibit, funded by the Finkelstein Memorial
Library, comes straight from the United Nations where it has been
on display since January as part of the “Art of the Survivors”
exhibit. The UN exhibit opened to mark the International Day of
Commemoration in Memory of the Holocaust. “My father worked
passionately and relentlessly to create the scenes he could not
erase from his memory,” Morris told the Rockland Journal
News recently. The reproductions will eventually become part
of the facility’s collection (available for loan to community
groups).
Sala’s
Gift: My Mother’s Holocaust Story (click here
to read the program description above)
A new exhibition
reproducing the letters, postcards, photographs and documents of
Sala Garncarz's wartime rescue from Nazi labor camps will be on
display at Finkelstein through June 17 in the Fielding Room
on the third floor. The exhibition will then continue
its three-year international tour.
“These
letters, written more than 50 years ago, offer insight into a painful
chapter of world history,” Bob Devino, director of Finkelstein
Memorial Library, said. “This is Sala’s home library
and we are incredibly honored to be the first stop for this powerful
exhibition.”
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 UPCOMING
FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY EVENTS...
MEMBERSHIP
TEA AND ANNUAL MEETING
Members
of the Friends of the Finkelstein Memorial Library are invited to
an afternoon tea from 2 pm to 4 pm as a part of
the Friends Annual Meeting on Sunday, May 6. If
you have not yet joined the Friends it is not too late. As a paid
up member you will receive an invitation to the tea, an opportunity
to vote on the slate of officers for 2007-2008 and advance notice
of all future activities. Your dues help support special programs
to benefit library patrons throughout the year such as museum passes
and a variety of exciting speakers and events, such as the Antiques
Road Show announced below for June. Please call (845) 352-5700 for
a membership form, or you may send your dues of $15 (individual)
/ $20 (family) to Treasurer Joe Burdige, 17 Nansen Court, Spring
Valley, NY 10977.
 POPULAR
ANTIQUES APPRAISAL DAY RETURNS IN JUNE
Have
you ever wondered if the picture and frame from Grandpa’s
attic or the jewelry that belonged to your great grandmother has
value? Would you like to have it appraised some day but have no
idea where to go? The Friends of the Finkelstein Memorial Library
are excited to offer an Antiques Appraisal Day at the library on
Sunday, June 3, from 12 Noon until 4:00 p.m. Jon
Felz, a certified appraiser and President of RZM Fine Arts &
Antiques, will appraise your items and perhaps give a background
story on them. A small fee of $6/item ($20 for four items) will
be charged. Stay awhile and hear others’ stories and enjoy
some refreshments. All proceeds will be used by the Friends to benefit
the library. For more information, contact the Library at 845-352-5700,
ext. 261.
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 Free
Blood Pressure Screening at Library
On MONDAY, JULY 9, between 9:30 and 11:30 AM, Pascack
Valley Hospital Wellness Center will be screening blood pressure
in the library. It is open to all. There is no charge.
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 New!
Video Download Service
Finkelstein
Memorial Library is making available (to Finkelstein members only)
a new broadband video download service called MyLibraryDV. Access
to this newly-launched service is provided by the Library in partnership
with Recorded Books on a free, six-month trial basis. For the trial
period, only the basic tier of content is available which includes
classic movies, food, travel, health, documentaries, “how
to’s”, and children’s programming.
When the six-month trial ends, the Library will evaluate the service.
Should the decision be made to license MyLibraryDV, two additional
tiers will then become available – “Hollywood Favorites”,
and “Hollywood Hits”, which will include new popular
movies (released at the same time as the DVD counterpart) and older
high interest hits. Interested in trying out this exciting new digital
service? Please read the "Frequently Asked Questions"
below and then click on the "Start Here" icon.
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Four
online audio sites available on the Finkelstein library website
 The
Library recently added two new online streaming audio resources.
Smithsonian Global Sound is a virtual
encyclopedia of world-wide roots music and oral traditions. It includes
an extraordinary array of over 35,000 tracks.
African American Song encompasses the history of African
American music up to 1970, from early spirituals through blues,
jazz and gospel. In addition to the performances themselves, songsheets,
lyrics, discography and selected reference material are available.
This wealth of material is available in addition to
The Classical Music Library, which has been available
for over two years. Known as “classical.com”,
the site provides tens of thousands of recordings that can be listened
to as streaming audio or actually purchased (this cannot be done
on a Library computer). There also is substantial reference material
available. The three online audio sites can be accessed from the
Library’s website (click on “Magazines/ Databases”).
Keep in mind that classical music may also be “borrowed”
now from the new digital books download service. There are presently
145 CD titles from the Naxos catalog to choose from. Each CD may
be downloaded and used for a seven-day period.
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 New
York State Attorney General's Office Representative at the Library
in 2007
Under
a program from the New York State Attorney General's office, a representative
will be at our Library to respond to inquiries on such issues as
telemarketing, sweepstakes, home improvements, lemon law complaints,
tenants' rights, mail order purchases, debt collection and many
other consumer concerns.
Wednesday,
May 16 at 2:30 - 4:30 PM
Wednesday,
August 15 at 2:30 - 4:30 PM
Wednesday,
November 14 at 2:30 - 4:30 PM
"Consumer
protection is one of the most important responsibilities of this
office and I am pleased to make assistance available to consumers
on a local and direct basis," Eliot Spitzer said. "This
aggressive education campaign serves to empower consumers on a proactive
basis to avoid future problems and litigation."
Consumer
representatives will distribute informational brochures and tip
cards, and offer recommendations and guidance on specific consumer-related
inquires and complaints.
The
sessions will be hosted by various libraries on a rotating basis
in Westchester, Orange, Putnam, and Rockland Counties between the
hours of 2:30 PM and 4:30 PM.
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 Second
Floor Book Displays...
“Where
are Chicken Soup books?”
“Where
can I find the CLEP review books for algebra, U.S. history and psychology?”
“Where
are the books written by African American authors?”
“Where
can I find contemporary Jewish books by publishers such as Art Scroll
and Feldheim?”
If
you’ve previously walked up and down the aisles of the 2nd
floor searching for the above books, you will now find these books
with much greater ease. Housed in attractive new display cases,
these very popular subject areas have been consolidated by category.
Many additional copies of old favorites, and multiple copies of
new titles in the above categories have been purchased, so no one
should leave empty-handed. This is just one of the many ways Finkelstein
Library continues to meet the changing needs of our patrons.</ | 
Library
Summer Calendar and Programs --2007