Upcoming Events

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Open House

Smart Play Spot

By the Minnesota Children’s Museum

Grand Rapids Area Library
Wednesday August 22nd 6:00 – 8:00 pm


Please spread the word to parents, grandparents, teachers,  day care providers and everyone who loves to encourage young children to learn, that the Smart Play Spot is open!

Come to learn about and experience the interactive features that inspire a love of reading through play:


Explore the bait shop, listen for animal sounds and go fishing for letters to make words.

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Play with puppets or curl up and read inside  the Peter Pan tree.


Bring Vegetables from the garden to the Farmers' Market
                                                            
Smart Play Spot was installed  by the Minnesota Children's Museum with funding from the Blandin Foundation, the Northland Foundation, the Grand Rapids Library Foundation and the Friends of the Grand Rapids Area Library

Tuesday, August 07, 2012

Around the world in 30 instruments at the Library

Four Shillings Short


Friday, August 10 at 11:30 a.m.

KAXE Rotary Tent (if inclement weather, the Library Community Room)

This is an opportunity for young and old to experience traditional folk music from around the world. A husband and wife duo introduces 30 different instruments, talking about the history of each and demonstrating the music it makes. These talented instrumentalists and vocalists play music from the British Isles to Medieval and Renaissance Europe, to the Americas and India capturing unique and unusual sounds of many time periods and cultures.



Sunday, August 05, 2012

Civil War Discussion Part 2 at the Library

Making Sense of the Civil War ~ Part 2: Choosing Sides
Jon Maturi facilitates the discussion

Thursday August 9 @ 7:00 p.m.

The second in a 5-part series of book discussions about America's Civil War explores perspectives of those who had to decide where justice, honor duty and loyalty lay and which sides of the issues they would support, defend or oppose.
Selected readings from a collection of writings and articles entitled, "America's War," edited by Edward Ayers provides context for the discussion.
 Books, reading guides and an outline of the series are available on a special display in the library.



Friday, August 03, 2012

August Indie Films at the Reif

Films each Tuesday at 7:30 pm


August 7: Before Your Eyes (2009, Turkey, Kurdish, Turkish, 102 minutes)

Ten-year old Gulistan and her younger brother Firat live happily with their parents in Diyarbakir, the heart of Turkish Kurdistan. Tragedy strikes when their mother and father are shot down by paramilitary gunmen before their eyes. Traumatised and orphaned, Gulistan, Firat and their infant sister are placed in the care of their young, politically-active aunt Yekbun who soon disappears without a trace. As days turn into weeks, the money that their aunt left them runs out. Eventually, the children have to fend for themselves on the streets, where one day, Gulistan is shocked to come across the murderer of her parents

August 14: If I Want to Whistle, I Whistle (2010, Romanian, 94 minutes)

Silviu, a young man who has spent years in a youth penitentiary, is granted release. Before he can leave, his mother returns to Romania to bring his little brother to Italy with her, despite Silviu's objections. He meets a young woman, Ana, who is working on a research project in the prison, and becomes interested in her. In his desperation Silviu resorts to violence, and Ana becomes his hostage

August 21: The Piano in a Factory (2010, China - Mandarin, 119 minutes)

Steelworker Chen has a passion for music and plays the accordion in a local band with a close group of friends. When his estranged wife returns one day after years of absence, she demands a divorce and sole custody of their daughter. Chen is at a loss. He doesn't mind divorcing a woman who has become a stranger, but he can't bear to part with his daughter. Chen has worked hard to give her a respectable life and has taught her his love of music. When asked if she'd rather stay with her father or go with her mother, the girl gives a practical, devastating answer: she'll go with whomever can provide her with a piano. Chen cannot afford such a luxury item, but the piano becomes his last hope to save what little is left of his family. With the help of his loyal friends and the support of his lover - the singer in his band - Chen concocts several plans to fulfill his daughter's wish