Adult Services | Lower Providence Community Library

Welcome to the Adult Services page of the Lower Providence Community Library website. Find upcoming Programs & Events, check out our Resources for Readers, and send us your recommendations for books, DVDs, and other materials you would like to have in the library. Also, please let us know if you have any ideas for programming. We would love to hear from you!

To register for programs, email Barbara Loewengart or call the library at 610-666-6640 for the Circulation Desk.

Adult Yoga

Classes for March: Mondays: March 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 from 5:45- 6:45 pm. Fridays: March 6, 13, 20 & 27 from 3:15 – 4:15 pm.

Taught by certified yoga instructor Kamini Patel. Bring a mat or a towel and a $5 donation. Funds provide books and supplies to children in India.

Chair Yoga for Adults

Classes in March: Wednesdays at 1:30 pm, March 4, 11, 18 & 25.

Gentle yoga for people with less mobility, led by certified yoga instructor Kamini Patel. Cost is $5/session. Funds provide books and supplies to children in India.

Meditation Sessions

Classes for March: Mondays at 7:15 pm., March 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30.

Please join us for FREE meditation sessions. Open to all levels. Bring your active mind and wear comfortable clothing. Taught by Roger Shaughnessy, YT-200.

Movie Matinee

Monday, March 23 at 1:30 pm. JoJo Rabbit. Starring Scarlett Johansson. Rated PG-13.
Monday, April 13 at 1:30 pm. Bombshell. Starring Nicole Kidman, Charlize Theron and Margot Robbie. Rated R.
Monday, April 27 at 1:30 pm. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. Starring Tom Hanks. Rated PG.

Come to the Movie Matinee and enjoy a free showing of a hit movie! This program is free and open to the public, but registration is required.

Evening Book Discussion Group

On Wednesday, March 18 at 7:00pm the evening book group will be discussing Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi. Please note March’s book club will be meeting on the 3rd Wednesday of the month. Evening Book Discussion meets at 7:00pm the 2nd Wednesday of each month, September through June.

Winner, 2016 National Book Critics Circle Award

A novel of breathtaking sweep and emotional power that traces three hundred years in Ghana and along the way also becomes a truly great American novel.
Extraordinary for its exquisite language, its implacable sorrow, its soaring beauty, and for its monumental portrait of the forces that shape families and nations, Homegoing heralds the arrival of a major new voice in contemporary fiction.
Two half-sisters, Effia and Esi, are born into different villages in eighteenth-century Ghana. Effia is married off to an Englishman and lives in comfort in the palatial rooms of Cape Coast Castle.
Unbeknownst to Effia, her sister, Esi, is imprisoned beneath her in the castle’s dungeons, sold with thousands of others into the Gold Coast’s booming slave trade, and shipped off to America, where her children and grandchildren will be raised in slavery.
One thread of Homegoing follows Effia’s descendants through centuries of warfare in Ghana, as the Fante and Asante nations wrestle with the slave trade and British colonization. The other thread follows Esi and her children into America.
From the plantations of the South to the Civil War and the Great Migration, from the coal mines of Pratt City, Alabama, to the jazz clubs and dope houses of twentieth-century Harlem, right up through the present day, Homegoing makes history visceral, and captures, with singular and stunning immediacy, how the memory of captivity came to be inscribed in the soul of a nation.
Generation after generation, Yaa Gyasi’s magisterial first novel sets the fate of the individual against the obliterating movements of time, delivering unforgettable characters whose lives were shaped by historical forces beyond their control.
Homegoing is a tremendous reading experience, not to be missed, by an astonishingly gifted young writer. (From the publisher.)

Book Discussion Questions

Discussion questions:

1. Evaluate the title of the book. Why do you think that the author chose the word Homegoing? What is a homegoing and where does it appear in the novel? In addition to the term’s literal meaning, discuss what symbolic meanings or associations the title might have in terms of a connection with our place of birth, our ancestors, our heritage, and our personal and cultural histories.

2. Explore the theme of belief. What forms of belief are depicted in the book and what purpose do these beliefs seem to serve for the characters? Does the author reveal what has shaped the characters’ beliefs? Do these beliefs seem to have a mostly positive or negative impact on the believer and those around them?

3. What perspective does the book offer on the subject of beliefs and otherness? For instance, does the book delineate between superstition and belief? Why does Ma Aku reprimand Jo after he is kicked out of church? What do the Missionary and the fetish man contribute to a dialogue on beliefs and otherness? Does the book ultimately suggest the best way to confront beliefs that are foreign to us?

4. Evaluate the treatment and role of women in the novel. What role does marriage play within the cultures represented in the novel and how are the women treated as a result? Likewise, what significance does fertility and motherhood have for the women and how does it influence their treatment? In the chapter entitled “Effia,” what does Adwoa tell Effia that her coupling with James is really about? In its depiction of the collective experiences of the female characters, what does the book seem to reveal about womanhood? How different would you say the treatment and role of women is today? Discuss.

5. Analyze the structure of the book. Why do you think the author assigned a chapter to each of the major characters? What points of view are represented therein? Does any single point of view seem to stand out among the rest or do you believe that the author presented a balanced point of view? Explain. Although each chapter is distinct, what do the stories have in common when considered collectively? How might your interpretation of the book differ if the author had chosen to tell the story from a single point of view?

6. Consider the setting of the book. What time periods are represented and what places are adopted as settings? Why do you think that the author chose these particular settings? What subjects and themes are illuminated via these particular choices? How does the extensive scope of the book help to unify these themes and create a cohesive treatment of the subjects therein?

7. In the chapter entitled “Quey,” Fiifi tells Quey that “[the] village must conduct its business like [the] female bird” (53). What does he mean by this and why do you think that Fiifi chooses this approach?

8. Why was Quey sent to England? After his return home, why does Quey say that it was safer in England? Why might he feel that what he faces at home is more difficult than the challenges he faced in leaving home and living abroad?

9. James’s mother, Nana Yaa, says that the Gold Coast is like a pot of groundnut soup (89). What does she mean by this?

10. Why does Akosua Mensah insist to James, “I will be my own nation” (99)? What role do patriotism, heritage, and tradition play in contributing to the injustices, prejudices, and violence depicted in the book? Which other characters seem to share Akosua’s point of view?

11. Explore the theme of complicity. What are some examples of complicity found in the novel? Who is complicit in the slave trade? Where do most of the slaves come from and who trades them? Who does Abena’s father say is ultimately responsible (142)? Do you agree with him? Explain why or why not.

12. Examine the relationships between parents and children in the book. How would you characterize these relationships? Do the children seem to understand their parents and have good relationships with them and vice versa? Do the characters’ views of their parents change or evolve as they grow up? How do the characters’ relationships with their parents influence the way that they raise their own children?

13. What significance does naming have in the book? Why do some of the characters have to change or give up their names? Likewise, what do the characters’ nicknames reveal both about them and about those who give or repeat these names? What does this dialogue ultimately suggest about the power of language and naming?

14. Explore the motif of storytelling. Who are the storytellers in the book and what kinds of stories do they tell? Who is their audience? What might these examples suggest about the purpose and significance of a storytelling tradition?

15. According to Akua, where does evil begin? Where else in the book do readers find examples that support her view? What impact does Akua’s opinion have on Yaw’s lifework? Does he agree with Akua’s view or refute it? Do you agree with her? Discuss.

16. What is history according to Yaw? What does he tell his students is “the problem of history” (226)? Who does Yaw say we believe when reading historical texts and what does he say is the question we must ask when studying history? How might these ideas influence your own reading of Gyasi’s book and reshape your ideas about the historical subjects and themes treated therein?

17. Sonny says that the problem in America “wasn’t segregation but the fact that you could not, in fact, segregate” (244)? What does he mean by this? What does Sonny say that he is forced to feel because of segregation? Which of the other characters experience these same feelings and hardships? Does there seem to be any progress as the story goes on? If so, how is progress achieved? Alternatively, what stymies and slows progress in this area?

18. What is Marcus studying and why isn’t his research going well? What feeling does he indicate that he hopes to capture with his project? Why does Marcus go to Ghana and what does he learn from his experiences there? Marcus believes that “most people lived their lives on upper levels, not stopping to peer underneath (298). What does he mean by this? Where do we find examples of this elsewhere in the book? Are there any characters in the novel who defy this characterization?

19. Consider the book’s treatment of colonialism and imperialism. In the chapter entitled “Esi” at the start of the book, what does Esi’s mother tell her daughter that weakness and strength really are? How does her definition of weakness and strength correspond to the dialogue about colonialism and imperialism that runs throughout the book? Discuss how this dialogue expands into a deeper conversation about freedom and human rights. Have the issues surrounding colonialism, imperialism, freedom, and human rights featured in the book been resolved today or do they linger? If they remain, does the book ultimately offer any suggestions or advice as to how this might be remedied?
(Questions issued by the publisher.)

Evening Book Discussion List

Evening Book Discussion List 2019 – 2020

September – Transcription by Kate Atkinson
October – An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
November – Where’d You Go Bernadette by Maria Semple
December – Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok
January – The House of Broken Angels by Luis Alberto Urrea
February – My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
March – Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
April – Snow in August by Pete Hamill
May –
June –

Adult Coloring Book Class

Monday, April 6 at 1:00 pm

De-stress and get creative! Join in for a fun, relaxed afternoon with pencils and markers at our Adult Coloring Book Class. We have lots of beautiful coloring book pages to choose from. You’re never too old to color! All materials provided. For more information, contact Barbara Loewengart.

Afternoon Book Discussion Group

On Monday, April 20 at 1:00 pm, we will be discussing Small Fry by Lisa Brennan-Jobs.

A frank, smart and captivating memoir by the daughter of Apple founder Steve Jobs.
When she was young, Lisa’s father was a mythical figure who was rarely present in her life. As she grew older, her father took an interest in her, ushering her into a new world of mansions, vacations, and private schools.
His attention was thrilling, but he could also be cold, critical and unpredictable. When her relationship with her mother grew strained in high school, Lisa decided to move in with her father, hoping he’d become the parent she’d always wanted him to be.
Small Fry is Lisa Brennan-Jobs’s poignant story of childhood and growing up.
Scrappy, wise, and funny, young Lisa is an unforgettable guide, marveling at the particular magic of growing up in this family, in this place and time, while grappling with her feelings of illegitimacy and shame.
Part portrait of a complex family, part love letter to California in the seventies and eighties, Small Fry is an enthralling story by an insightful new literary voice. (From the publisher.)

Book Discussion Questions

Discussion Questions:

1. How does Steve Jobs come across in his daughter’s memoir? What were your expectations of him before you read Small Fry? Were they altered or confirmed after having finished the book?

2. When she was only a little girl, Jobs told his daughter that he hadn’t named the Apple Lisa computer after her. As an adult, she writes that he wasn’t being cruel but teaching her a lesson—”not to ride on his coattails.” What is your take on that episode? Was it a good lesson? How do you think young Lisa might have felt that at the time it took place, as opposed to looking back 30-some years later with the cushion of hindsight? What other incidents does the author point to as examples of Steve Jobs’ life lessons?

3. Follow-up to Question 2: The author wants readers to forgive her father—as she herself has. Is it easy for you to do so, to put aside his seeming cruelty? She herself wonders whether she has conveyed his true nature: “Have I failed in fully representing the dearness and the pleasure …of being with him when he was in good form?” What do you think?

4. Follow-up to Question 3: What are the moments in the memoir that capture Jobs when he was in “good form”? Consider the time he showed up unexpectedly in Japan, pulled her out of school, and talked with her about the nature of God and consciousness. “I was afraid of him and, at the same time, I felt a quaking, electric love,” she writes. Does that description of Jobs capture his charisma, his “true nature,” or warmth?

5. How does Brennan-Jobs portray her mother, Chrisann Brennan? Why did Lisa leave her mother’s home to live with her father? How would you have fared as a child or teen under either parent?

6. Once Lisa moved in with him, her father forbade her to see her mother for six months. He objected to her school extracurricular activities, and accused her of not “succeeding as a member of this family.” She needed to be around more, he told her, “to put in the time.” What do you think of Jobs’ criticism?

7. How does Brennan-Jobs herself come across in her memoir? How would you describe her? Do you see her as traumatized? As resilient? As both?

8. What do you think of the neighbors who moved Lisa out of her father’s house into their house—and even paid for her to finish her college degree? Were they right to interfere?

9. All of the people Brennan-Jobs writes about in this book are still alive except Steve Jobs, of course. Do some research to find out their various reactions to Small Fry. What do you think, overall, of the author’s presentation of her family? What was her motive to write this book? Do you see it as a standard celebrity “tell-all” story? Is it vengeful? Is it putting the record straight? Is it a working out of the author’s own identity? How do you see Lisa Brennan-Job’s memoir?

(Questions by LitLovers.)

Crochet Meet-Up

Wednesday, March 4 & 18 from 6:30 – 8:00 pm.

Join Colleen Ochotny, certified crochet instructor, for a casual crochet meet-up. Bring your projects and/or ideas and talk with other crochet enthusiasts. All are welcome.
Colleen Ochotny is a certified crochet instructor through the Craft Yarn Council. She has been teaching crochet for more than 6 years has been crocheting for more than 30 years.

A Different Kind of Book Club

Tuesday, March 17 at 6:30pm.

A Different Kind of Book Club will focus on reading books with happy endings (romance, light fantasy, cozy mysteries and the occasional nonfiction). The group will meet the third Tuesday of the month at 6:30pm. On March 17, the club will be discussing The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd.

The Sleeping Mat Project

CANCELLED FOR MARCH AND APRIL – Bag donations will not be accepted until further notice. We will update this information in late April. Thank you for your patience.

Did you know those plastic bags taking up space in your closet can be woven into sleeping mats for people who are experiencing homelessness in our community?

Join Bev Weinberg for this innovative, hands-on project. People of all ages and abilities are welcome. You will learn how to make plarn (plastic yarn) and weave it into colorful mats to make a difference for homeless people in our area. This project is sponsored by Integrate for Good, a project designed to expand opportunities for individuals of all abilities to share their time and talent through volunteerism in Montgomery County.

Bev Weinberg received her Bachelor’s degree in Urban Studies from the University of Pittsburgh and her Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from Temple University. Bev returned to and received her clinical doctoral degree in Occupational Therapy in 2016, along with a Certificate in Innovation and Entrepreneurship from the Fox School of Business.

Bev is the project director of Integrate for Good, an innovative initiative designed to expand opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities to contribute their time and talent through civic engagement.

Memoir Writing Circle

Monday, April 6 at 6:30 pm.

Join writers in finding their voice through memoir writing. The group will use writing prompts, poems, journal entries and images to discover the compelling themes and stories that comprise a memoir. The Circle will share their writing and read aloud to each other. Suitable for writers of all levels and experience.

Top 10 IRA Mistakes

POSTPONED until Wednesday, April 22 pm

Top 10 IRA Mistakes and How to avoid the IRS “Tax Traps”
Most Americans have made substantial contributions to their IRA’s, 401k’s and other retirement accounts. These accounts represent the majority of their retirement savings. The IRS has a set of complex rules, regulations and hidden tax traps lurking around the corner. Most of these mistakes are irreversible. This workshop will educate you on what they are and how to avoid them. It’s better to learn from other people’s mistake than to learn the hard way.
Presenter: John J. Maioriello, Esq. is an accomplished speaker and lecturer on estate planning and tax planning. He is the founder and executive director of the LIFE Long Learning Company of the Delaware Valley which is a Non Profit Organization providing Legal, Insurance, Financial Education. He speaks primarily to AARP groups and to the National Active and Retired Federal Employees (NARFE) Associations. John is admitted to practice law in Pennsylvania and in New Jersey.

Martha Washington – A One-Woman Show

Thursday, March 19 @ 6:30 pm

Professional Actress, Maggie Worsdale, portrays Martha Washington, a woman who wanted nothing more than a peaceful domestic life only to find herself in the unwanted glare of a national spotlight. Through it all Martha Washington maintained her natural, unassuming presence. Cheerful, attentive, and appreciative: the very model of a President’s Lady.

Martha Washington lived in the shadow of her husband’s greatness. However, she emerged as the most famous woman of her time. In the words of her obituary, to the foremost man of his times Martha Washington was truly a “worthy partner”.

Maggie Worsdale holds a B.A. degree in Theater and English from Marietta College. Performing professionally as a jazz singer, Worsdale has entertained throughout the U.S. and Europe. Sharing the stage with Bob Hope and George Burns opened the door for her first recorded album and she has since recorded 4 personal albums and has been featured on 3. In 2005, Worsdale began producing traveling literary programs with a small troupe of trained, professional actors. In 2012, TRAVELING LITERARY THEATER was recognized nationally with the production of 100 Years – TITANIC – survivors and their stories. In the spring of 2013, after 18 months of research and writing, Maggie began her historical figure portrayal as Martha Washington. Worsdale is a member of NATIONAL WOMEN’S HISTORY PROJECT – Writing Women Back into History.

Canvas Art Project

Tuesday, March 24 @ 6:30 pm

Create a beautiful “home” 8 x 10 canvas with acrylic paint. Taught by Montgomery County Artist Susan Camarata. All supplies are included. Registration required and limited to 15 participants.

New to Medicare

Wednesday, March 25 @ 6:30 pm – CANCELLED
For the month of March, and possibly April, RSVP will be counseling via phone. Please call Donna Uhler directly at 610-834-1040 ext. 144 to discuss your Medicare concerns and questions.

Do you have questions about Medicare? Need assistance with what Medicare options are available? Need to know what plan is right for you? Donna Uhler, an APPRISE counselor, will answer your Medicare questions.
APPRISE is a program funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Aging and other agencies designed to help Medicare beneficiaries understand their Medicare and health choice options. APPRISE counselors are sponsored and supervised by RSVP of Montgomery County. Registration required.

Foreign Film Night – Everybody Loves Somebody, a Mexican romantic comedy

Thursday, April 2 @ 6:30 pm

Young and beautiful Clara Barron seems to have it all — a great job, a beautiful house in Los Angeles and a Mexican family that loves to have fun. The only thing Barron hasn’t figured out is her love life. Pressured to go to a wedding in Mexico, she asks a co-worker to pose as her boyfriend for the weekend festivities. Caught off guard when her ex shows up to the ceremony, Clara must now choose between her former beau or the possibility of a new and exciting romance.

Controlling the Spotted Lanternfly

Wednesday, April 15 @ 6:30 pm

Have you noticed the newest pest to invade our community? The Spotted Lanternfly swarmed into our area two summers ago and has become a decidedly unwelcome guest. Come learn about the insect, identify its various life cycle stages throughout the summer, and how you can safely help control the spread of this pest.
Karrie Hontz is a Master Gardener from the Penn State Cooperative Extension of Montgomery County. She has been a Master Gardener for more than 16 years, and lectures throughout the county on various horticultural topics.
Registration requested.

Essential Oils Tips, Tricks and Recipes for Spring – A DIY Workshop

Tuesday, April 21 @ 6:30 pm

Curious to learn ways to naturally support your family’s health this spring? Join us for an interactive DIY workshop to experience the foundational essential oils for minimizing the effects of seasonal allergies, improving the quality of your sleep, lowering stress levels, supporting clear breathing, and working in your garden!
Megan Koppel, a natural health educator, will help you create your own essential oil blend to start using at home right away! Registration required and limited to 15 participants.

“History Uncut” – The Philadelphia Phillies 1st Ten Decades

Thursday, April 23 @ 6:30 pm

Get ready for baseball season with a presentation covering the 1st ten decades, from the 1880’s through the 1970’s, of the Philadelphia Phillies baseball team. Learn about the Phillies colorful and interesting past. Presented by John Schmoyer.

Avoiding Scams and Fraud

Friday, April 24 @ 10:30 am

Sandy Todt of Harleysville Bank will be giving a presentation on how to avoid scams and fraud and when not to say YES.
Is the IRS really after me? Did I really win the Publisher’s Clearing House?
Is my grandchild really in trouble? Those FREE trials can cost you a fortune.
That job offer sounds to good to be true.

Mother’s Day Card Making

Monday, April 27 @ 7:00 pm

Sheetal Wagh will show you how to create Mother’s Day cards for you to take home. All materials provided.
Limited to 15 participants. Registration required.

Financial Planning for College

Tuesday, April 28 @ 7:00 pm

Many people have identified funding a child’s education as a financial goal. There are a number of things you’ll need to think about. This session will help you:
Understand the coast of college
Consider potential funding options
Become familiar with FAFSA
Join Andrew Cardile, a Registered Investment Advisor, for this informative session. Registration requested.

Medicare One-on-One

Wednesday, April 29 – Schedule a 40 minute appointment at 10:00 am, 10:40 am, 11:20 am or 12:00 pm

Social Security

Wednesday, April 29 @ 6:15 pm

This informative workshop covers the basics of social security and reveals strategies for maximizing your benefits. Learn the answers to your questions:
Will social security be there for me?
How much can I expect to receive?
When should I apply for social security?
How can I maximize my benefits?
Will social security be enough to live on in retirement?
Other information offered includes how to minimize taxes on social security benefits, how to coordinate benefits with your spouse, why you should check your earnings record for accuracy, and how to decide whether or not to delay your benefits. This program is most beneficial to those between the ages of 58 & 67. Presented by John J. Crowley, MBA

Cercle Francais

Every Tuesday at 10:30am until 12 noon.

This is not a formal language instruction class, but is for individuals wishing to practice and improve their French language conversation skills. Native speakers are most welcome. We need you, too! Please register and we will notify you three days prior to each weekly meeting.

Choose Your Game Monday

Meets every Monday at 10:30 am until 1:00 pm in the café area.

Join this casual gathering each Monday to play and learn an eclectic group of games such as UNO, 5 Crowns and Qwirkle. All are welcome! For more information, email Barbara Loewengart.

Canasta

Meets every Thursday at 11:45 until 2:00 in the Main Library.

Join us each Thursday to play and learn the social and exciting game of Canasta. Newcomers and experienced players welcomed! For more information, email Barbara Loewengart.

Mahjong Club

Meets every Tuesday at 12:30pm in the Community Room.

Are you interested in playing Mahjong? You are welcome to join our Mahjong club! You will need a playing card, available for purchase ($7.00) at http://www.nationalmahjonggleague.org For more information, email Barbara Loewengart.

Crafter’s Club

Meets every Wednesday at 10:00 am in the upstairs Board Room.

Do you have a craft you enjoy, or are you trying to finish a project? Meet with other knitting, crochet, jewelry making and cross stitching enthusiasts. All crafts welcome. Bring your own supplies. Learn and share ideas. All are welcome! For more information, email Barbara Loewengart.