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 August: Mondays: August 5, 12, 19 & 26 from 5:45- 6:45pm. Fridays: August 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 from 3:15 – 4:15pm.
Classes for September: Mondays: September 9, 16, 23 & 30 from 5:45- 6:45pm. Fridays: September 6, 13, 20 & 27 from 3:15 – 4:15pm.

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 August: Wednesdays, August 7, 14, 21 & 28 from 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm.
Classes in September: Wednesdays, September 4, 11, 18 & 25 from 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm.

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 August: Mondays at 7:15pm., August 5, 12, 19 & 26.
Classes for September: Mondays at 7:15pm., September 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, August 26 at 1:30pm. The Upside. Starring Kevin Hart, Bryan Cranston and Nicole Kidman. Rated PG-13.
Monday, September 9 at 1:30pm. The Public. Starring Alec Baldwin, Taylor Schilling and Emilio Estevez. Rated PG-13.
Monday, September 23 at 1:30pm. A Dog’s Journey. Starring Dennis Quaid. 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, September 11 at 7:00pm the evening book group will be discussing Transcription by Kate Atkinson. Evening Book Discussion meets at 7:00pm the 2nd Wednesday of each month, September through June.

In 1940, eighteen-year old Juliet Armstrong is reluctantly recruited into the world of espionage.
Sent to an obscure department of MI5 tasked with monitoring the comings and goings of British Fascist sympathizers, she discovers the work to be by turns both tedious and terrifying.
But after the war has ended, she presumes the events of those years have been relegated to the past forever.
Ten years later, now a radio producer at the BBC, Juliet is unexpectedly confronted by figures from her past. A different war is being fought now, on a different battleground, but Juliet finds herself once more under threat.
A bill of reckoning is due, and she finally begins to realize that there is no action without consequence. (From the publisher.)

Book Discussion Questions

Discussion questions:

The story starts off in 1981 and jumps back to 1940 and then moves to 1950 for a good chunk before finishing back in the ’80s. What did you think about this story structure and different time periods when it comes to story flow?
Let’s evaluate Juliet in the time different time periods and how she grew and evolved. What surprised you the most about her?
Which story lines were you most engaged with and why?
Why do you think Juliet lied so much in her interview with Morton? Why do you think they hired her?
Let’s talk about Juliet’s dynamic with Perry. She obviously was in lust with him while he had other interests in mind, however, he still cared for her just not in the way she wanted. How did this showcase her naivety?
And on the other hand, Juliet is very capable with her transcribing skills and is asked to go undercover. Why do you think Juliet was so skilled at being undercover?
Now let’s focus on Godfrey, a complicated figure in many ways. He’s a spy but he seems fond of the British Fascist sympathizers, despite their beliefs. Why? What does that represent about human nature?
When Juliet is in the 1950s, she’s working at the BBC. Why was this a logical transition for her?
As she starts to receive threatening messages, who did you think at first it was from?
Why did Godfrey run away from her?
Let’s talk about the Dolly scene toward the end.
There’s a line toward the end when Mr ‘Fisher’ says “nothing is as simple as it looks.” What did that mean within the context of this book?
What surprised you the most about the ending and the reveal of Juliet as a double agent?
How does this novel show that history is doomed to repeat itself?
A key aspect of the book is about living with the choices we make. Once choice brings us down one road while the other one a different road. How does that relate to your own life?
If there is anything that confused you about the story, let’s now take the time to discuss it. (Questions from Book Club Chat.)

Evening Book Discussion List

Adult Coloring Book Class

Monday, September 30 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, September 16 at 1:00pm, we will be discussing Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate.

Memphis, 1939.
Twelve-year-old Rill Foss and her four younger siblings live a magical life aboard their family’s Mississippi River shantyboat. But when their father must rush their mother to the hospital one stormy night, Rill is left in charge—until strangers arrive in force.
Wrenched from all that is familiar and thrown into a Tennessee Children’s Home Society orphanage, the Foss children are assured that they will soon be returned to their parents—but they quickly realize the dark truth.
At the mercy of the facility’s cruel director, Rill fights to keep her sisters and brother together in a world of danger and uncertainty.

— Aiken, South Carolina, present day.
Born into wealth and privilege, Avery Stafford seems to have it all: a successful career as a federal prosecutor, a handsome fiance, and a lavish wedding on the horizon. But when Avery returns home to help her father weather a health crisis, a chance encounter leaves her with uncomfortable questions and compels her to take a journey through her family’s long-hidden history, on a path that will ultimately lead either to devastation or to redemption.
Based on one of America’s most notorious real-life scandals—in which Georgia Tann, director of a Memphis-based adoption organization, kidnapped and sold poor children to wealthy families all over the country—Lisa Wingate’s riveting, wrenching, and ultimately uplifting tale reminds us how, even though the paths we take can lead to many places, the heart never forgets where we belong. (From the publisher.)

Book Discussion Questions

Discussion Questions:

1. Before We Were Yours alternates between the historical story of the Foss Children and the modern-day story of Avery Stafford. Did you have a favorite between these story lines? Which one and why?

2. Many families have been touched in some way by adoption and foster care. Is adoption or foster care in your family history? If so, how did that affect your thoughts about the journey of the Foss children an about Avery’s excavation of her family history?

3. When the sisters were originally reunited, they decided to keep their history to themselves rather than telling their families. Do you agree or disagree with this decision? What do you think the implications would have been if they had gone public? Do you think family secrets should remain secret, particularly after the people who kept those secrets have passed away? Or do family secrets belong to the next generation, as well? Have you ever discovered a secret in your family history? If so, what was it (if you care to share it, that is)?

4. “There was a little girl who had a little curl” is a touchstone between Avery and her Grandma Judy. Is there a song or saying that reminds you of someone special in your childhood? Where does your mind travel when you hear it or repeat it?

5. Avery laments that the busy schedule expected of a Stafford has prevented her from spending time on Edisto Island with her sisters or Elliot. “Who chooses the schedules we keep? We do, I guess,” she tells herself but excuses this with, “the good life demands a lot of maintenance.” In our modern age are we too busy? Too preoccupied with accumulating things to actually enjoy what we have? Too dialed into media and social media? What are your thoughts on this? What would you like to change about your own schedule? Anything? What might you gain if you did?

6. While Rill sees her life on the Arcadia through the idyllic eyes of childhood, May in her old age seems to acknowledge that she wouldn’t have traded the life she lived for a different one. Do you think she wonders whether Queenie and Briny’s unconventional existence on the Arcadia could would have been sustainable as times changed or more children were added to the family? Were Queenie and Briny responsible or careless in their choices?

7. May says, “A woman’s past need not predict her future. She can dance to her own music if she chooses.” How has your past made you who you are? What do you want to leave behind? Anything? What is the true “music” of your own soul? Are you in step with it or out of step? What helps you hear your own music and find balance in your life?

8. When fear of being caught threatens to prevent her from escaping Miss Murphy’s house, Rill tells herself, “I shush my mind because your mind can ruin you if you let it.” Does your mind ever ruin you? In what way? On what issues? May comments, “We’re always trying to persuade ourselves of things.” Are women particularly guilty of this? What do we tell ourselves that we shouldn’t?

9. Child trafficking, abuse, and economic disadvantage still imperil the lives and futures of children today. What can we as ordinary citizens do to prevent children from being robbed of safe, happy childhoods? What can society do to prevent people like Georgia Tann from taking advantage of the most helpless and vulnerable among us?

10. Did you search for more information about Georgia Tann and the Tennessee Children’s Home Society after reading Before We Were Yours? What did you learn? Based on what you learned, what do you think motivated Georgia Tann? Why were so many people willing to be complicit in her schemes when they knew children were suffering? Was Georgia’s network a creature of the political corruption and societal attitudes of its time or could something like this happen today?

11. Avery feels the pressure of being in a high-profile political family. Do you famous families are held to a higher standard than others? Should they be? Has this changed in recent years or is it just harder to keep secrets in today’s media-crazed world?

12. How did Avery grow as a result of her discoveries about the family’s past? How did it change her view of herself and her family’s expectations for her? Did your family have expectations for you that you didn’t agree with? Who in Avery’s family might struggle most to accept her decision to change her life plans?

13. Do you think there will be a happily-ever-after ending for Avery and Trent? In your view, what might that look like?

14. How would you describe Rill as she struggles through the abduction, the orphanage, and her decision to return to her adoptive family? Did you admire her? What changes did you see in her as a result of the experience? How is she different when she gets to the Sevier’s house?

15. Avery struggles to come to terms with Grandma Judy’s dementia. Her family wrestles with difficult choices about Grandma Judy’s care. Has memory loss and elder care affected your family? In what way? What issues did it cause and how did you deal with them? Have you imagined what it would be like to be a victim of memory loss?

16. The Seviers seem to have adopted the Foss girls with good intentions. Do you think they were aware of or at all suspicious of Georgia Tann’s methods? Should they have been?

17. What symbolism do you see in the picture of the sisters on the wall? How do you think the sisters felt during their Sisters Days? Do you have sisters you are close to or sister-friends you spend time with? What does that bond mean to you?

18. Did you wish all seven of the Foss siblings could have found one another in the end? In your opinion, would that have been realistic or unrealistic? Why do you think the author chose not to bring all of the siblings back together?

19. This novel has garnered worldwide interest in the publishing industry and is being translated for publication in at least fourteen countries. Why do you think the story drew international attention? What themes in it are universal?

20. Was the cover a factor in your book club’s decision to read Before We Were Yours? What reaction did you have to the cover and title?

21. Will you be passing the book on to someone else? Will it remain on your bookshelf? Will you give a copy to someone you know?

(Questions issued by publishers.)

A Different Kind of Book Club

Tuesday, September 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. The club will not meet in August. On September 17, the club will be discussing The Wright Brothers by David G. McCullough.

The Sleeping Mat Project

Wednesday, August 28 10:00 am – 11:30 am
Wednesday, September 11 10:00 am – 11:30 am
Wednesday, September 25 10:00 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, September 12 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, September 9 at 6:30 pm. (The group will not meet in August)

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.

Suicide Prevention Q.P.R. Training

Wednesday, September 18 @ 6:30 pm

QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer- 3 simple steps that anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide. This Gatekeeper Training prepares attendees to: Recognize the warning signs of suicide, ask someone about suicidal thoughts and offer and connect to help.
People who can be trained as Gatekeepers include: parents, friends, neighbors, teachers, ministers, doctors, nurses, office supervisors, squad leaders, foremen, police officers, advisors, caseworkers,
firefighters, and many others who are strategical positioned to
recognize and refer someone at risk of suicide.
This training is made possible through the Montgomery County Suicide Prevention Taskforce.

Top 10 IRA Mistakes

Thursday, September 19 @ 6:30 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, Esquire. 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.

Birthday Card Making

Monday, September 23 @ 7:00 pm

Sheetal Wagh will show you how to create Birthday Cards for you to take home. All materials provided. Registration required and limited to 15 participants.

Cancer Prevention Habits

Tuesday, September 24 @ 6:30 pm

Ruth Phillips, BSN MS OCN BCMAS, an oncology nurse and President and Founder of Guide for Hope, LLC., will offer a balanced perspective in evaluating cancer prevention and screening options for the non-medical community. She will discuss daily habits available to promote health and decrease cancer risk and provide an overview of options to identify cancer early and to prevent recurrences.

Ruth is an oncology Nurse with a passion for empowering patients. The mission of Guide For Hope is to empower individuals with cancer through education and support. She is certified in holistic cancer coaching and has more than 25 years of experience in oncology settings including inpatient, outpatient and within the pharmaceutical and data aggregation industries.

Ruth started her career at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia. Ruth is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the Oncology Nursing Society. She holds a BSN from Pensacola Christian College and a Master’s in Healthcare Communications from Boston University. Ruth is currently enrolled in a Doctorate of Nursing Practice Program through Capella University.

Valley Forge Park Alliance

Wednesday, September 25 @ 6:30 pm

Barb Pollarine, Alliance board member, will give a presentation on many new developments in the park including meadow trails, events, improvements to the visitor center, a proposed trail linkage from the town center development to the park and many other projects. Join her to learn more about all the park as to offer.
The Valley Forge Park Alliance works to facilitate programs for park funding, education, volunteer programs, and partnerships to preserve Valley Forge National Park. They are committed to ensuring our park is a beautiful gathering place of inspiration, refuge, and commemoration for generations to come.

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.