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 November: Mondays: November 4, 11, 18 & 25 from 5:45- 6:45 pm. Fridays: November 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 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 November: Wednesdays at 1:30 pm, November 6, 13, & 20.

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 November: Mondays at 7:15 pm., November 4, 11, 18 & 25.

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, November 25 at 1:30pm. Gloria Bell. Starring Julianne Moore and John Turturro. Rated R.
Monday, December 9 at 1:30pm. Where’d You Go Bernadette. Starring Cate Blanchett and Billy Crudup. Rated PG-13.
Monday, January 13 at 1:30pm. Downton Abbey. All-star cast. Rated PG.
Monday, January 27 at 1:30pm. Judy. Starring Renee Zellweger. Rated PG-13.

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, December 11 at 7:00pm the evening book group will be discussing Girl In Translation by Jean Kwok. Evening Book Discussion meets at 7:00pm the 2nd Wednesday of each month, September through June.

When Kimberly Chang and her mother emigrate from Hong Kong to Brooklyn squalor, she quickly begins a secret double life: exceptional schoolgirl during the day, Chinatown sweatshop worker in the evenings. Disguising the more difficult truths of her life-like the staggering degree of her poverty, the weight of her family’s future resting on her shoulders, or her secret love for a factory boy who shares none of her talent or ambition—Kimberly learns to constantly translate not just her language but herself back and forth between the worlds she straddles.
Through Kimberly’s story, author Jean Kwok, who also emigrated from Hong Kong as a young girl, brings to the page the lives of countless immigrants who are caught between the pressure to succeed in America, their duty to their family, and their own personal desires, exposing a world that we rarely hear about.
Written in an indelible voice that dramatizes the tensions of an immigrant girl growing up between two cultures, surrounded by a language and world only half understood, Girl in Translation is an unforgettable and classic novel of an American immigrant—a moving tale of hardship and triumph, heartbreak and love, and all that gets lost in translation. (From the publisher.)

Book Discussion Questions

Discussion questions:

1. Throughout Girl in Translation, the author uses creative spelling to show Kimberly’s mis-hearing and misunderstanding of English words. How does the language of the novel evolve as Kimberly grows and matures? Do you see a change in the respective roles that English and Chinese play in the narrative as it progresses?
2. The word “translation” figures prominently in the title of the novel, and learning to translate between her two languages is key to Kimberly’s ability to thrive in her new life. Does she find herself translating back and forth in anything other than language? Clothing? Priorities? Expectations? Personality or behavior? Can you cite instances where this occurs, and why they are significant to the story as a whole?
3. Kimberly has two love interests in the book. How are the relationships that Matt and Curt offer different? Why do you think she ultimately chooses one boy over the other? What does that choice say about her? Can you see a future for her with the other boy? What would change?
4. In many ways Kimberly takes over the position of head of household after her family moves to New York. Was this change in roles inevitable? How do you imagine Ma feels about it? Embarrassed? Grateful? In which ways does Ma still fulfill the role of mother?
5. Kimberly often refers to her father, and imagines how her life might have been different, easier, if he had lived. Do you think she is right?
6. Kimberly’s friend Annette never seems to grasp the depths of Kimberly’s poverty. What does this say about her? What lesson does this experience teach Kimberly? Is Kimberly right to keep the details of her home life a secret?
7. Kimberly believes that devoting herself to school will allow her to free her family from poverty. Does school always live up to her expectations? Where do you think it fails her? How does it help her succeed? Can you imagine the same character without the academic talent? How would her life be different? What would remain the same? Is Kimberly right to believe that all of her potential lies in her talent for school? Must qualities like ambition, drive, hope, and optimism go hand in hand with book smarts?
8. Think about other immigrant stories. How is Kimberly’s story universal? How is it unique? How does Kimberly’s Chinese-American story compare to other immigrant stories? Would it change if she were from a different country or culture?
9. Kimberly lives in extreme poverty. Was anything about her circumstances surprising to you? How has reading Girl in Translation affected your views of immigration? How can you apply these lessons in your community?
10. The story is set in the 1980s. Do you think immigrant experiences are much different today? What has changed? What has remained the same?
(Questions issued by publisher.)

Evening Book Discussion List

Adult Coloring Book Class

Monday, December 2 at 1:00pm

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

Monday, November 18 at 1:00pm, we will be discussing The Library of Lost and Found by Phaedra Patrick.

A shy librarian whose kind heart is often exploited receives a mysterious book of fairy tales from the beloved grandmother she believed dead and embarks on a perspective-changing journey of astonishing family secrets. (From the publisher.)

Book Discussion Questions

Discussion Questions:

-Books and libraries are vitally important to Martha, throughout her childhood and also in the present day. What do they mean to you?
– Martha can’t say ‘no’ to other people. Do you also find it difficult to say ‘no’? Why is this the case? Would you like to change?
– Do you think that Zelda and Thomas go out of their way to aggravate each other, or do some people just clash more than others? How could they have handled their relationship better?
– Should Martha have followed her fiancé Joe to America, or was it right for her to stay with her parents? Have you ever made a sacrifice for someone you love?
– Do you think that Betty and Thomas really loved each other?
– Does the responsibility of caring for older relatives usually fall on the shoulders of one sibling more than others? Has this happened in your family?
– Zelda tells a few small lies to Gina, such as saying she didn’t go on any fairground rides. Are small lies sometimes justified, or should you always tell the truth?
– Betty had to make a terrible decision, to choose between her mother and husband. What toll would this have taken on her, in the years that followed? What might have happened if she’d made the opposite decision, to stand by Zelda instead of Thomas?
– Martha’s fairy stories feature in the book. What is your own favourite fairy story (in this book or otherwise) and why?
– Betty believed that she owed Thomas a debt of gratitude because he married her while she was pregnant with someone else’s baby. Would she still feel the same way if this happened today, rather than in the sixties? How have times and societal attitudes changed?
– As sisters, Martha and Lilian are very different people. If you have a sibling or siblings, how do you differ from them? Do you get along?
– How would you describe Thomas’s relationship with his wife Betty – overbearing, over-caring, protective, or controlling?
– Do you see Betty as a weak person, for allowing Thomas to control the household? Or is she strong, for holding her family together?
– How do you see Martha in two years’ time? Do you think she’ll get the job at the library? Do you think her relationship with Owen will develop further?
– Siegfried Frost is a secret writer. Do you ever write, or do other creative things, in secret? Why do you keep this to yourself?
– Out of all the characters in the book, which one would you most like to meet and why? What would you say to them?
– As a child, what was your own favourite book? What is your favourite book now?
(Questions from the author’s website.)

Crochet Meet-Up

Wednesday, November 20 from 6:30 – 8:00 pm.
Wednesday, December 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, November 19 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 November 19, the club will be discussing Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly.

The Sleeping Mat Project

Wednesday, November 20 10:00 am – 11:30 am
Wednesday, December 4 & 18 10: am – 11:30 am

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.

Mindful Yoga

Thursday, November 21 12:00 – 1:00 pm

Mindful Yoga is a focus on Mind/ Body/ Spirit awareness. It is the practice of being in the present moment and is scientifically proven to reduce stress and improve well being. This class is for all levels including beginners. Please wear comfortable clothing. Please bring a mat or towel. Cost: $5 Donation. Taught by certified yoga teacher, Kamini Patel.

Memoir Writing Circle

Monday, December 9 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.

Beyond the Coupon

Tuesday, November 19 @ 6:30 pm

Let’s Save $$ Together!
Have you ever been in line behind someone using coupons? Curiously checking out their total as it goes from $75 to $11, and wonder…how? So, you go out, buy the Sunday paper, and your total goes from $75 to $71. DON’T GIVE UP!!
Couponing is for everyone! You’ll learn:
•How to save 60-100% off regular retail price.
•How to avoid paying full price.
•Where to find Coupons.
•Organizing Coupons.
•How to use digital Coupons.
•Most importantly, stretching your dollar….you’ll feel good about spending less and getting more and possibly helping others with your new found skill.

Presenter Valentina Flickler has been couponing for many years and is eager to share her story and skills.

Holiday Card Making

Monday, December 2 @ 7:00 pm

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

Social Security

Wednesday, December 4 @ 7:00 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

Essential Oils for Healthy Holidays
+ DIY Gift Giving

Thursday, December 5 @ 6:30 pm

Are there go-to essential oils not just for surviving, but thriving in the hustle of the holiday season? Learn oilers’ favorite tips, tricks, and recipes for rest and stress management, preventing the spread of illness, and dialing up the joy. Interested in showing your love and appreciation with a handmade gift? We’ve got the seasons most popular recipes! Get your hands oily by creating a personalized blend to gift or keep to help you enjoy your holiday season to the fullest! Presented by Megan Koppel, a natural health educator. All materials provided and limited to 15 participants. Registration required.

Caryn Lin: Electric Violinist, Composer, Education Innovator

Wednesday, December 11 @ 6:30 pm

“One Woman Musical Extravaganza”

Tradition & technology meet when Caryn Lin literally transforms sound! With her electric violin & the technology of looping & sound effects, on the spot recordings emerge. Layers of sound with deceptively simple melodies create music that is both other worldly & totally catchy. Mesmerizing.

“Unlike the music defined by pure genre, Lin’s only limits are those her electric violin.” New York Post

All are welcome.

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.

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.