Lifelong poetry lover or just curious? Focusing on published works, the Poetry Forum is a chance for anyone and everyone to read, discuss, explore or just listen to poetry in a relaxing setting.  No level of expertise is required, only an interest in and a desire to share and enjoy new and favorite poems and poets with others. At each meeting, members of the group have the chance to offer their favorites or share “found” pieces, followed by a discussion of a featured poet. The only real rule is to have fun.
Hosted by Ani Apelian the Poetry Forum Meets the third Monday of every month on the fourth floor of the library. No registration is required. Those wishing to attend need only to show up at 6pm to join in the discussions.  For further information contact Shawn Newcomer at 326-0536 or email.

SeniorNet Computer Club Program - Computer Gadgets

Wednesday, May 14, 5:30-7:30 pm, fourth floor, SeniorNet Center

Many of us suffer from confusion about all these gadgets. Our own John Beirne, whom we at SeniorNet have dubbed "Professor of explaining complicated things in simple terms", will try to help us make some sense of these gadgets, and point out some practical tasks for their use.

Please join us for what should be a most interesting and informative presentation. John will show us how some of these devices can make your phone calls, store your addresses and phone numbers, find street addresses, display street maps, display photos, display web pages, plus play video and music. John will also talk about how to back up your digital phone numbers to your Mac or PC, so if your phone accidentally gets dropped into the dishpan, you can use your computer to reload all your numbers onto your replacement phone.

John owns both an iPhone and a Palm Pilot. He will give his impression of these, plus some comments on the other devices.

The Computer Club is free and open to all. No registration is required.

Book Discussion Groups: Spy VS. Spy - Espionage and Intrigue at the James V. Brown Library

SPY vs. SPY: Espionage and Intrigue at The James V. Brown Library
Wednesdays 6:30 PM - 8 PM - Business Balcony

Join the latest community book discussions at the James V. Brown Library as we begin 2008 skulking about the seamy and fascinating underground world of spies and espionage. Our fiction unit takes a somewhat unconventional look at the incredibly popular spy-fiction genre as it developed from the pre-World War I era, through the cold war, up to today’s post-9/11 environment

Featuring the work of Joseph Conrad, Graham Greene and newcomer Gayle Lynds, this discussion promises a fresh approach to this popular format.

Fiction group dates:
March 5 – Introductory Session
April 2 – The Secret Agent: A Simple Tale – Joseph Conrad
April 30 – The Quiet American – Graham Greene
May 28 – The Last Spymaster – Gayle Lynds [note: registrations closed, please join us next time]

For those who prefer truth over fiction
The non-fiction group examines the global workings of the American intelligence community from the time of Hitler to Saddam Hussein. The selected titles aim to move beyond speculation to offer an enlightened perspective on activities often shrouded in twilight.


Non-Fiction group dates:
March 19 – Introductory Session
April 16 – Intelligence Wars: American Secret History from Hitler to Al-Qaeda – Thomas Powers
May 14 – Charlie Wilson's War: The Extraordinary Story of How the Wildest Man in Congress and a Rogue CIA Agent Changed the History of Our Times – George Crile  [note: registrations closed, please join us next time]
June 11 – A Pretext for War: 9/11, Iraq, and the Abuse of America's Intelligence Agencies – James Bamford  [note: registrations closed, please join us next time]

Seating is limited. Anyone interested should contact Shawn Newcomer or call 326-0536 to register. All it takes is a valid Lycoming County Library System card. Books are provided at the meetings.

“Lawyers and Libraries” continues at James V. Brown Library

Local attorney Julieanne Steinbacher will present a seminar on “Advanced Care Planning” on Thursday, May 22 at 6:30 p.m. She will be joined by Dr. Alexander Nesbitt of Susquehanna Hospice.

The program is the second in the Lawyers and Libraries series of informative discussions on popular legal topics.

Steinbacher and Nesbitt will discuss the legal and medical issues of living wills, powers of attorney and nursing home care. The program should prove beneficial for people of all ages and positions in life. Even if you are not currently planning for such events, this knowledge may be useful when you are faced with similar decisions for yourself or another family member in your care.

The seminar will be held on the Business Balcony on the second floor of the library. The programs are free and open to the public. Seating is limited so please call the library at 326-0536 to reserve a space.