Throughout the year the Friends coordinate and provide funds for a variety of programs for SCPL. Enjoy lunch while listening to a book discussion, join others to discuss the great issues of the day or spend an enjoyable Sunday afternoon in the winter listening to music or recite your favorite poem in the spring at the annual Poetry Gala. Most of the events take place in the McChesney Room of the main branch of the library, located at 99 Clinton St., Schenectady, N.Y. See below for upcoming Monday noon programs.
NOON PROGRAMS
The Monday series of talks, sponsored by the Friends of the Library, is held at noon in the McChesney Room of the Central Library on Clinton Street. You may bring a bag lunch; coffee and tea are available for a nominal fee. The room is equipped with special devices for the hearing-impaired. These programs are also broadcast on the Schenectady Public Access channel. Upcoming programs:
BOOKS SANDWICHED IN
George Wise & Joan Ham, Coordinators
April 29 Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer; reviewed by Bill Valakovic, retired, electrical engineer, GE. This book is a non-fiction account of a 1984 double homicide. Subtitled “a story of violent faith”, it explores connections between the perpetrators actions and their Mormon fundamentalist religious beliefs. The author previously wrote the non-fiction best-sellers Into the Wild and Into Thin Air.
May 6 The Civil War of 1812 by Alan Taylor; reviewed by Don Gavin, retired physicist and avid historian. Alan Taylor gives an in depth study of the political and economic relationship between the United States and Canada before the war of 1812, and a fascinating account of the people who instigated, commanded, and fought in the conflict.
May 13 Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman; reviewed by Tom D’Andrea, former Professor of Psychology and Administrator at Haverford and Union Colleges. This book surveys major recent advances in human psychology based on a two-component model of human thought processes. Implications are presented not only for science, but also for a wide range of applications such as decision-making, medicine, politics and economics.
May 20 Just Love: A Framework for Christian Sexual Ethics by Margaret A Farley; reviewed by Joan Ham, frequent presenter at Books Sandwiched In and UCALL. Dr. Farley has the honesty and courage to take a refreshing and candid look at sexual ethics among different ages, cultures and countries, taking thoughtful, respectful steps toward sexual mores for our time.
SPECIAL PROGRAM
May 23 Anatomy of a Marriage - 2:00 p.m. in the McChesney Room. Jim Sefcik will present a program on John Adams, second President of the United States and his wife Abigail, one of the most famous partnerships in American History. Sefcik is a retired Director of the Louisiana State Museum, lecturer for Union College’s Academy of Lifelong Learning, and presenter for the Friends of SCPL Books Sandwiched In program. Mr. Sefcik has also taught American History at a number of colleges including Gannon, the University of New Orleans and Empire State College. To register for the program, contact the library at 518-388-4508 or 518-388-4511. Refreshments will be served. This program is given in conjunction with the June 8 Friends’ trip to Adams National Historic Park.
