General Meeting Announcement - Quotes of the Week

We're having our general meeting tonight - Wednesday, November 16 at 6:30 at the library downstairs.  Share what you'd like to see at the library, and work with us to make it happen. 396 Clinton Street, corner of Union.

Quotes of the week:

Any book that helps a child to form a habit of reading, to make reading one of his deep and continuing needs, is good for him. -- Maya Angelou

The things I want to know are in books; my best friend is the man who'll get me a book I ain't read. -- Abraham Lincoln

Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read. -- Groucho Marx

Storytime with Carol & Friends - Saturdays at 10:30 AM

The Tragedy of Arthur - November 2, 2011

Diane Saarinen, Secretary of the Friends group wrote this piece on our most recent event for the Carroll Gardens Patch:

It took a bestselling author, a critically acclaimed Shakespearean troupe, a handful of hardworking volunteers and a community of curious attendees to turn an ordinary Wednesday night at the Carroll Gardens Library into a showcase for myth and magic.

And if you weren’t there at An Evening with Author Phillips at the Carroll Gardens Library November 2, you missed it.

Local resident – and bestselling novelist – Arthur Phillips presented his latest novel, The Tragedy of Arthur, to a crowd of approximately 50 in the library’s auditorium, which had been transformed (albeit just for an evening) into a low-lit, intimate setting for literature and drama. And he generously brought along his friends, the indie theater company Guerrilla Shakespeare Project.

Phillips’ latest book explores the theme of the author’s “con artist father” discovering what may – or may not -- be a play about King Arthur penned by William Shakespeare himself.  Both Phillips and the troupe presented readings to an engaged audience, which included Assemblywoman Joan Millman and a representative from Councilmember Brad Lander's office, Rachel Goodman. Signed books by the author were available for purchase at the end of the evening.

Area residents were thrilled with the evening (according to all reports and incidental gossip overheard!) – and also the promise of future events organized by the Friends of the Carroll Gardens Library, chartered just this spring and already hosting several community events at the library in an effort to create a new hub for the community.

As the Secretary of the Friends of the Carroll Gardens Library group, I could present a behind-the-curtains peek at the laborous work it took a few committed volunteers to bring the evening together. But I won’t! I can say as a spokesperson for our group that we’re exhausted, happy, and hope this is only the beginning for future exciting events.

And what’s that you say? How can you learn about the upcoming future events? You can stay in touch with us by friending us on Facebook, following us on Twitter or reading our blog.

Thanks Diane, couldn't have said it better myself.

Photos from the event

Arthur Phillips reads from his novel

The Guerrilla Shakespeare Project read scenes from the play within the novel

Author Phillips signed copies of his books



Arthur Phillips and the Guerrilla Shakespeare Project



Special November event: Arthur Phillips and Guerrilla Shakespeare Project

An Evening With Arthur Phillips -- Join us for a reading and discussion of his latest novel The Tragedy of Arthur; with special guests the Guerrilla Shakespeare Project performing a reading of scenes from the play within the novel.

Wednesday, November 2, 2011 7 PM – 9 PM – the Carroll Gardens Library, 396 Clinton Street at the corner of Union Street- admission is free but you must reserve tickets - see  below for ticket details.

 

Arthur Phillips, the best selling author of The Song is You, Prague and The Egyptologist, will be reading from and answering audience questions about his most recent novel The Tragedy of Arthur – a complex book which explores a range of emotional and literary ideas – from the question of how we come to grips with our deeply flawed families, to how those families shape who we become, to the question of writing itself and the job of the writer, who pull us into invented worlds but evoke real emotions in their readers.

The book contains a full-length play – is it a newly discovered work of William Shakespeare's? Or a forgery by the protagonist’s con artist father?  The Guerrilla Shakespeare Project, which performed a sold out reading of the play this spring at the Public Theater, will do a reading of scenes from the play within the novel.  The New York Times Review of Books said about The Tragedy of Arthur: “[T]he novelist’s art is a cunning ability to lure the reader into treating counterfeit bills as if they were current. And this particular novel — a fictional memoir posing as a fraudulent introduction to a forged play — is a spectacular instance of the confidence game. It is a tribute to Arthur Phillips’s singular skill that his work leaves the reader not with resentment at having been tricked but rather with gratitude for the gift of feigned wonder.”

Also, read the Wall Street Journal review here.

Brought to you by the Friends of the Carroll Gardens Library with thanks to Arthur Phillips and the Guerrilla Shakespeare Project.

Tickets are FREE but you must register for guaranteed seating.
Limit 4 tickets per registrant: http://arthurphillipsatlibrary.eventbrite.com/

Thank you, and hope to see you November 2nd!

Try Something New! schedule

Saturday, October 15, 10:30 AM-3:30 PM. We're so excited about hosting Try Something New! at the library (396 Clinton Street, corner of Union Street) and have added the participation of some more great groups just this week.  We'll have fun activities all day provided by an amazing array of organizations and individuals- all free for you and your kids to try out -so, come Try Something New!

10:30 AM-11:30 PM         Storytelling with Carol & Friends -  The first day of a weekly Saturday morning story  hour especially for 4-6 year olds, this program will be lead by Carol Troha, director of the Cobble Hill Playgroup.  She'll have guest readers, authors and special activities aimed at children in pre-K through first grade.

11:30 AM-3:30 PM          Bake sale to benefit Friends of the Carroll Gardens Library. Tabling  and information provided by all of our groups: Tyler Pearce Yoga, Dan Zweben Music, Aaron Jones from the Jitterbugs, Musica Para Mi, ArtsCetera, Curious Kids, Barking Cat Studio, Brooklyn General Store, Curious Jane, Muriel Guepin Gallery, Urban Oyster, Mathnasium,  Brooklyn Strategist, Heartsong Kids, Young Actor’s Workshop, Shakespeare’s Sister Theater Company, Language and Laughter Studio, Brooklyn Public Library. 

Come for the day and try out several things or plan your day around activities you've always been curious about! Schedule of mini-lessons and demonstrations:

11:30 AM -3:30 PM    Barking Cat Studio - Art activities all day


11:45 AM - 12:15 PM   Musica Para Mi  - Music in Spanish for babies and toddlers     

                               Young Actor’s Workshop - Acting/improvs for kids and teenagers

                                      Tyler Pearce Yoga - Adult yoga in the Forrest style - mats provided!

12:30 PM- 1:00 PM      Aaron Jones/Jitterbugs - Music and storytelling for kids of all ages

                                      Brooklyn General - Knitting class for kids and adults

1:15 PM-1:45 PM         Curious Kids  - Art and craft activities

                                      Shakespeare’s Sister Company - Acting for kids

2:00 PM- 2:30 PM        ArtsCetera - Music and instruments for toddlers and preschoolers

                                      Curious Jane -  Fun projects for kids- make slime, flip books and more

2:45 PM -3:15 PM        Dan Zweben Music - Music and poetry for kids

Gear Up for Fun at Try Something New!

Saturday, October 15, 2011 from 11:30- 3:30. Try Something New! at the Carroll Gardens Library is shaping up to be a fantastic afternoon of fun and games... and yoga and singing and crafts and art and acting and more! Want to know what classes and activities there are in the neighborhood? We’ve got them! There’ll be mini-lessons, information & demonstrations for ADULTS & KIDS! Plus a bake sale to benefit the Carroll Gardens library.  We're kicking off the day at 10:30-11:30 AM with the library's new Saturday morning story hour especially for children aged 4-6,"Storytelling with Carol & Friends" featuring Cobble Hill Playgroup's Carol Troha along with special guests and activities every week. Then stay for:

Tyler Pearce Yoga (class for adults, mats will be provided)
Dan Zweben Music

Aaron Jones from Karen K and the Jitterbugs

Musica Para Mi

ArtsCetera

Curious Kids
Brooklyn General

Muriel Guepin Gallery

Curious Jane

Brooklyn Strategist

Young Actor’s Workshop

Shakespeare’s Sister Company

Language and Laughter Studio

Brooklyn Public Library (**participant list subject to change)



Try Something New! Musica Para Mi

On Try Something New! day at the library, what do you want to try? How about a music class with Musica Para Mi? Director of Musica Para Mi Graciela Carriquí will be participating with music in Spanish for babies and toddlers along with other great groups on Saturday, October 15 from 11:30-3:30.

We'll be kicking off the day with our new Saturday morning story hour for 4-6 year olds "Storytelling with Carol and Friends" at 10:30 AM. Try Something New! will offer free activities and information for adults, teens and kids. Along with the activities there will be a back sale to benefit the Friends of the Carroll Gardens Library, which is organizing this fun day.

Welcome Back!

Welcome back to a new season of exciting activities and events at the Carroll Gardens library - brought to the community by the library and staff and the Friends of the Carroll Gardens Library.

Ongoing programs - The very popular and well regarded chess program continues at the library beginning Wednesday, October 5, 2011 at 6 PM with Chess Master Manuel Ugarte. Five weeks have been scheduled and if at least 12 kids or adults come to play each week it will be extended by the Brooklyn Public Library. So come and play!

NEW PROGRAM  - Storytelling With Carol & Friends - A storytelling hour on Saturday mornings from 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM starting Saturday, October 15, 2011. Especially for 4-6 year olds, this weekly program will be lead by Carol Troha, director of the Cobble Hill Playgroup.  She'll have guest readers, authors and special activities aimed at children in pre-K through first grade.

Mark your calendars:

Tuesday, October 11 6PM- 8 PM - Insideschools presentation and Q & A on middle school and high school applications and admissions. Free admission. Looking for a middle school or high school for your 5th or 8th-grader? Join a conversation at the Carroll Gardens Library.Pamela Wheaton, co-author of a series of books about New York City’s best schools, and managing editor of Insideschools.org, will lead the discussion.Get tips about how to apply, admissions deadlines & policies and what to look for when you visit a school. Middle school talk: 6-7 p.m.High school talk: 7-8 p.m. Come with questions!

Insideschools.org has become an essential resource for parents looking for in-depth, objective information about New York City public schools. The project was started by Clara Hemphill, who already had a great deal of experience with schools and who had written a series of books which profiles the City's Best Elementary, Middle and High Schools. Since Insideschools.org was founded ten years ago, application processes for every level of public schooling in the City, from pre-kindergarten to high school has become more complicated to navigate and at every turn, Insideschools has kept up with the changes and added information and resources for families. The presentation at the Carroll Gardens Library will focus on middle and high school applications and admissions - how to handle them, what to look for in a school, and how to find the best fit for your child.

Saturday, October 15 - 12 Noon-4:00 PM - Try Something New! at the Carroll Gardens Library. Free admission. Come to the library and Try Something New! There are so many wonderful organizations and individuals in our community who offer activities and classes and today's the day to sample from a showcase of creative opportunities: Bring your child to try a music class/ Sample an adult yoga class (we'll have mats at the library!)/ See a dance demonstration/Try out a craft or an acting class. We'll have a range of information, mini-lessons and demonstrations from some of our best local activities for kids, teenagers and adults in the arts, fitness and dance, crafts, camps and more - our vibrant community on display and fun for all plus a bake sale to benefit the Friends of the Carroll Gardens Library. Partial list of organizations and individuals who will offer information and demonstrations: ArtsCetera, Mathnasium, Karen K and the Jitterbugs, Curious Kids, Tyler Pearce Yoga, Music Para Mi, Curious Jane, Young Actor's Workshop, Dan Zweben Music, Shakespeare's Sister Company, Urban Oyster, Laughter and Language Studio, Mureil Greupin Gallery, and more!

Storytelling at the Library 8/17

In the culminating Summer Reading event at the Carroll Gardens library, get ready for stories and tales from around the world! On Wednesday, August 17 from 3:30-4:15, children ages 3-12 are invited to this presentation by actress, writer and professional storytelling Getchie Argetsinger, this will be a story theater performance filled with action, humor & audience participation. 

Librarians will also be giving out certificates of participation in the Summer Reading program.

What's In the Stacks?

A selective look at books available in the adult fiction section of Carroll Gardens library.

Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates- which was made into a movie starring Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio- tells the story of a young couple in the mid-1950s who want more out of life - or do they? Yates' depiction of character and behavior is so incisive it hurts.  And fans of Mad Men will be very interested in this view of America, published in 1961.

Have you been meaning to read Marcel Proust this summer?  Well have you?? Good, because In Search of Lost Time (or as it has been known, Rememberance of Things Past), Volume I Swann's Way is available right now, and just when you finish it the other six volumes might be returned. Go here for Jane Smiley's primer on how (and why) to read Proust's epic.

Marcel Proust, just before eating the madeline that started it all

And that's what's in the stacks.

The Phantom Tollboth

On Wednesday August 3 from 3:30-4:30 the Carroll Gardens branch will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the perennially popular children's book "The Phantom Tollbooth" with a book discussion. From kids who love the book now to adults who loved it when they were kids, everyone is invited to share their thoughts about this book and why it has stayed so popular for so long.

Milo and Tock from the Phantom Tollbooth

One big kid who recently expressed his thoughts on the Phantom Tollbooth is author Michael Chabon (The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, Wonder Boys, The Yiddish Policemen's Union). Chabon wrote the introduction to the 50th Anniversary edition of The Phantom Tollbooth this year and it addresses this question: What can a book mean to a reader?

Here is an excerpt:

When I was a boy I read, in a biography of Daniel Boone, or of Daniel Beard, that young Dan (whichever of the two it may have been—or maybe it was young George Washington) had so loved some book, had felt his heart and mind inscribed so deeply in its every line, that he had pricked his fingertip with a knife and, using a pen nib and his blood for ink, penned his name on the flyleaf. At once, reading that, I knew two things: 1) I must at once undertake the same procedure and 2) only one, among all the books I adored and treasured, was worthy of such tribute: The Phantom Tollbooth. At that point I had read it at least five or six times.

You can find the rest of this wonderful essay reprinted in the New York Review of Books, here

Quote of the Week

Two great writers on why they love libraries. For more about Sandra Cisneros and Ray Bradbuy click on their names.

"I always tell people that I became a writer not because I went to school but because my mother took me to the library. I wanted to become a writer so I could see my name in the card catalog."
-- Sandra Cisneros

"I spent three days a week for 10 years educating myself in the public library, and it's better than college. People should educate themselves - you can get a complete education for no money. At the end of 10 years, I had read every book in the library and I'd written a thousand stories."
-- Ray Bradbury

See you at the library!

Support Our Shelves!

Friends of the Carroll Gardens Library has voted to donate $1,000 to the Brooklyn Public Library's Support Our Shelves fundraising campaign. This money will go directly to the Carroll Gardens branch to buy new books and materials. Through June 30 you can also give to the campaign and designate your donation to our branch - link here: https://bpl.brooklynpubliclibrary.org/donate/

Please also contact your local elected officials to let them know you are against the proposed $25.2 million cut to the BPL's budget here: https://bpl.brooklynpubliclibrary.org/speakup/

 

Photos from the Summer Reading Kick Off Party

The Summer Reading Kick off Party at the Carroll Gardens branch on June 9 was lots of fun and over 150 kids signed up for the program - more than twice the usual number.  Kids enjoyed fun crafts and activities from around the world and treats from Trader Joes.  If you missed the party you can go here and sign your kids up  http://www.brooklynpubliclibrary.org/summerreading/.



Summer Reading Kick off Party - One World, Many Stories



Origami from Japan

Mexican Bingo

The library staff signs kids up for Summer Reading

Art from Australia





Summertime and the Reading is Easy!

Summer Reading Kick-Off Party - Join us at the Carroll Gardens Library on Thursday, June 9 from 2pm-4pm (public schools are closed for Anniversary Day) for the Summer Reading Kick-Off Party! 
Come to the library for a multicultural celebration with activities and treats to celebrate the start of the Library's annual Summer Reading program. 

What is Summer Reading? Summer Reading is a great way to connect with others who like to read, while reading what you want at your own pace. Fun activities are happening all summer long, and everyone in New York City, from babies to children to teens and adults, can sign up. Best of all, it's free!

Why read over the summer? Studies show that children and teens who read during the summer are better prepared for school in the fall. Also, reading for fun results in significant gains in vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension. Plus, summer activities and trips always call for good books!

How can I motivate my child or students to read? Joining Summer Reading is a great first step. Encourage young people to explore all sections of the library to discover new topics or books of interest. Most importantly, children and teens who see adults around them reading are more likely to read themselves- so the whole family can read together all summer long! 

What's in the Stacks?

An occasional look at what is available in the adult stacks of the Carroll Gardens library:

Martin Amis, author of Time's Arrow and many other novels, is represented at our branch by two of his books, The Pregnant Widow and Other People

Russian literature enthusiasts can find Nikolai Gogol's Dead Souls

New Knitting/Crocheting Circle at the CG Library and Summer Reading Party

Come join the new knitting circle at the library - Tuesdays at 4:00.  Any level of skill welcome, ages 10 and up.

Go here for a complete list of on-going programs at our branch:

http://friendsofcglibrary.blogspot.com/p/on-going-programs-at-carroll-gardens.html

And stay tuned for more on the Summer Reading Kickoff Party on June 9

Quotes of the Week

The student has his Rome, his Florence, his whole glowing Italy, within the four walls of his library.  He has in his books the ruins of an antique world and the glories of a modern one.
~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

A good library will never be too neat, or too dusty, because somebody will always be in it, taking books off the shelves and staying up late reading them.

~Lemony Snicket

The first book in the "Series of Unfortunate Events" by Lemony Snicket

Meet Your Librarian! Jeff Schwartz from the Carroll Gardens branch

Technology abounds but a library still depends on engaged and caring staff to help it thrive. Meet Jeff Schwartz, the relatively new Neighborhood Library Supervisor (that's what the head librarian is called these days), at the Carroll Gardens branch library. We sent him some interview questions:

How long have you been a librarian? 17 years

How long have you been at the CG branch? Officially since September 2010.

Where were you before that? My first job at Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) was at the Midwood branch. In the late 90s I worked as the Assistant Branch Manager at both the Eastern Parkway and the Fort Hamilton branches. One of the more demanding jobs I held was helping manage our gigantic inventory project: the Catalog We Can Trust. I’ve worked at all 58 branch libraries in the BPL system.

What made you want to be a librarian?  I was attracted by the challenge of research. When I was a kid I pored over my mom’s early 1950s World Book Encyclopedia.

What do you like best about being a librarian? Reader’s advisory-suggesting what to read directly or indirectly. Recently a customer requested Tocqueville’s Democracy in America. It turned out our local copy was checked out.  We searched the Library’s catalog for additional Tocqueville titles.  To my amazement the catalog had 10 separate bibliographic records to different Tocqueville titles in English! 

Did you go to the library a lot as a child?  I used NYPL’s Yorkville branch. I made occasional forays to the Donnell and the Mid Manhattan branches.

What are some of your favorite books?  White Tiger by Aravind Adiga. The book reveals India’s class divisions in a dark but humorous light. Adiga wrote a wonderful short story “The Elephant.” The story is about cycle-cart pullers. Anyone can read it online in the New Yorker. I greatly admire all of William Steig’s children’s books. Steig wrote Shrek and Doctor De Soto. His books are funny and clever. They are accompanied by  remarkably expressive illustrations.

Do you own an eReader? No

What do you think the role of a librarian is today - are books and libraries still relevant? BPL partnered with the Gates Foundation to seed the Internet in 1996. Hundreds of thousands of library users had their first whirl with the Internet at BPL. Librarians had a pivotal role in helping the public transition to this new medium. Today the Internet is at the heart of our successful holds process. Readers can place up to ten holds per library card on books, DVDs, and CDs.

The traditional book discussion is alive and well at Carroll Gardens.  Carroll Gardens holds a monthly adult book discussion. Beatrice and Virgil by Yann Martel will be examined and debated on May 18. We have had occasional Young Adult book discussions. In March our Young Adults held an intimate chat on The Hunger Games. We’re planning to have a kids book discussion in late July.

Books permit serendipitous browsing. Readers can be pleasantly surprised and astonished when browsing in the stacks of a library. You can’t replicate that experience with an e-book.

Say hi to Jeff when you next visit the library!

A Wonderful Day at the Library

Thank you everyone who came out to the book sale yesterday -  it was a wonderful community event where hundreds of people came to buy thousands of books and enjoy free entertainment.  Friends of the Carroll Gardens library made $6,500 to support our library!

We thank everyone who came out to perform and show support for the library:  Karen K and the Jitterbugs, author Emily Jenkins, Assemblywoman Joan Millman, Carol Troha, Director of the Cobble Hill Playgroup, and author Mari Takabayashi.  Thanks also to New York City Councilman Brad Lander and New York State Senator Daniel Squadron who came by to say hello and show their support and Congresswoman Yvette Clarke who sent a representative to the event. Another important thanks to the staff of the Carroll Gardens branch library, led by Neighborhood Library Supervisor Jeff Schwartz, who helped out all day.

We have lots of other activities and events planned to support our branch. Keep up with all of our activities on our blog and Facebook.com/FriendsofCarrollGardensLibrary.  To join FCGL, just come to a meeting and help us organize - our next meeting is Wednesday, June 15 at 6:30 at the library. And don't forget to add your name to the Brooklyn Public Library's petition against budget cuts here and donate to the Support Our Shelves Campaign (you can designate your donation directly to the Carroll Gardens branch to be used for new books) http://www.brooklynpubliclibrary.org/

Karen K and her Jitterbug partner Aaron gave a great show

The crowd at the library

Author Emily Jenkins read several of her children's books

Assemblywoman Joan Millman preparing to read "Whistle for Willie" by Ezra Jack Keats

New York City Councilman Brad Lander, FCGL President Nina Guralnick and Jeff Schwartz, head librarian at the Carroll Gardens branch

Author Mari Takabayashi and Carol Troha

The outside of the library was festively decorated

 State Senator Squadron came out to show support and buy books!

 Browsers

 Young readers

 Speak up for your library!  Say no to a 30% cut in the city budget (link above)

Don’t Miss the Silent Auction on Saturday!

In addition to the book sale, entertainment and bake sale planned for Saturday May 14th, there’s also a silent auction. Early birds can already get in on the bidding online at:
http://www.32auctions.com/organizations/1461/auctions/1587.
The leading bids from the online auction will be carried over to Saturday’s live event – in other words, you can bid in person on Saturday in the auditorium where the auction table will be.

Book Sale Entertainment and Activities

We're gearing up for the big book sale next Saturday, May 14 10AM-4PM at the library. Along with great bargains on thousands of books we invite the public to enjoy delicious baked treats, apply for library cards, learn more about our Friends group and enjoy free entertainment and activities:

Quotes of the Week

The library connects us with the insight and knowledge, painfully extracted from Nature, of the greatest minds that ever were, with the best teachers, drawn from the entire planet and from all our history, to instruct us without tiring, and to inspire us to make our own contribution to the collective knowledge of the human species.  I think the health of our civilization, the depth of our awareness about the underpinnings of our culture and our concern for the future can all be tested by how well we support our libraries. 

-- Carl Sagan

If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.  

--Cicero

Friends of the Carroll Gardens Library Collect Thousands of Books for Benefit

Thank you to the Carroll Gardens Patch for this great article on FCGL and our upcoming fundraising book sale

http://carrollgardens.patch.com/articles/friends-of-the-carroll-gardens-library-collect-thousands-of-books-for-benefit?ncid=M255

Quotes of the Week

As a child, my number one best friend was the librarian in my grade school. I actually believed all those books belonged to her.

-- Erma Bombeck

I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library.

-- Jose Luis Borges


FCGL's huge Love Your Library Day book sale will be at the library Saturday, May 14 from 10 AM - 4 PM - thousands of fantastic books at great prices, baked treats, and special guests including Karen K and the Jitterbugs performing free at 10 AM- let her entertain your kids while you browse!  If you have gently used books (especially children's titles) to donate for the sale, please drop them off at the library).

A silent auction has been added in conjunction with the book sale to help meet our fundraising goals. Items available at the auction include signed historical novels, as well as offerings from local services including children's entertainment, time-saving services and even spa services! You may bid online now at http://www.32auctions.com/organizations/1461/auctions/1587

What's In the Stacks?

Welcome to another regular blog feature "What's In the Stacks?"

Inter-library loan isn't the only way to get hold of good books - a walk through the Adult Fiction section of the Carroll Gardens library uncovered the following gems:

Did you like Ian McEwan's Atonement?  Then give a try to some others by the same author: Saturday, The Cement Garden and On Chesil Beach

Italo Calvino - if on a winter's night a traveler

Paul Bowles - The Sheltering Sky

And community resident Arthur Phillips, whose latest book The Tragedy of Arthur: A Novel was just released, is represented at the CG library by his previous book The Song Is You

Library Quotes of the Week

"'I'm of a fearsome mind to throw my arms around every living librarian who crosses my path, on behalf of the souls they never knew they saved.' I wrote these words more than 10 years ago in an essay called 'How Mr. Dewey Decimal Saved My Life.' Now, in a world where kids are often strapped for both resources and valid information, I believe in libraries as havens of salvation more than ever."

-- Barbara Kingsolver

"All you need in life is truth and beauty and you can find both at the Public Library."

-- Studs Terkel

Cobble Hill Community Fund Grant

Thank you so much to the Cobble Hill Community Fund, administered by the Cobble Hill Association, for their recent grant of $500 to the Friends of the Carroll Gardens Library!

Welcome!

Welcome to the new website of the Friends of the Carroll Gardens Library.  Our goals are to support our neighborhood branch and encourage community residents to use the library more - come to the programs, check out more books, use the inter-library loan - this is your library - come use it! If you want to know more about FCGL and getting involved click here. This website will keep the community updated on FCGL's activities as well as what is happening at the library (see sidebar for current library programming and hours).

And tell us, what you would like to see at the library - What kinds of programming?  What kinds of books? How do you see a library functioning in the digital age?  Do you still love books as much as we do?  Do you have an e-reader?  Do you use it?  Do you have a stack of books next to your bed that you're trying to get through?  Do your kids come to the library?  Are there new programs you'd like to see for kids here?

Our first big event is a book sale to fundraise for the branch on Saturday, May 14, which fittingly is Love Your Library Day at the Brooklyn Public Library.  We do!!