Letter from the Director Make a movie with Library’s video cameras, new studio February 2017 Volume 156 University City Public Library Checkout Dr. Rafia Zafar returns! Discuss early African-American cinema April 6 Join University City Public Library in exploring a pioneering film of African- American cinema at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 6. Dr. Rafia Zafar, professor of English, African & African American, and American Culture Studies at Washington University, will lead a discussion of The Scar of Shame. Released in 1927, The Scar of Shame tells the story of a young black musician who marries a woman from a lower socioeconomic class, saving her from a life of abuse. However, the class difference between them continues when the musician won’t take his new wife to meet his mother. Refreshments will be served and all are welcome at this free event, which is possible through the generous support of the Friends of University City Public Library. For more information, call 314-727-3150. In this issue I want to take a few minutes to highlight some of the tech resources available at the Library. Do you need to create a video but feel that you don’t know enough about lights and cameras? Then take advantage of the One Button Studio! This resource, available here at the University City Public Library, allows you to produce polished video projects with nothing more than a flash drive and the push of a button. You can use the blue screen/green screen attachment to customize the background of your video, and you can edit it on the Library’s computers using Final Cut Pro, Sony Vegas or other software. Call us to reserve the Studio for your next video project. UCPL also has video cameras that you can check out and take with you. These lightweight digital cameras are perfect for filming video blogs, school events, and family gatherings. You can also check out a tripod to help keep the camera steady. We have six cameras available now, and beginning this month we’ll start checking out three GoPro cameras. You can mount a GoPro on your bike, clamp it to a flat surface, or wear it. They are perfect for action shots in your first film or to record a life on the move. If you need any help making or editing your video, take a look at some of the thousands of classes available through the Library’s subscription to the Lynda.com database. This service, which is accessible through our website using your UCPL card, features classes on shooting and editing video, animating, and creating video effects, as well as a host of other tech topics. All of these video resources are made available with the help of MOREnet, CALOP, the Friends of the University City Public Library, and a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Missouri State Library. — Patrick Wall
Transcript
Letter from the Director
Make a movie with Library’s video cameras, new studio
February 2017 Volume 156
University City Public LibraryCheckoutDr. Rafia Zafar returns!
Discuss early African-American cinema April 6 Join University City Public Library in exploring a pioneering film of African-American cinema at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 6. Dr. Rafia Zafar, professor of English, African & African American, and American Culture Studies at Washington University, will lead a discussion of The Scar of Shame. Released in 1927, The Scar of Shame tells the story of a young black musician who marries a woman from a lower socioeconomic class, saving her from a life of abuse. However, the class difference between them continues when the musician won’t take his new wife to meet his mother. Refreshments will be served and all are welcome at this free event, which is possible through the generous support of the Friends of University City Public Library. For more information, call 314-727-3150.
In this issue I want to take a few minutes to highlight some of the tech resources available at the Library. Do you need to create a video but feel that you don’t know enough about lights and cameras? Then take advantage of the One Button Studio! This resource, available here at the University City Public Library, allows you to produce polished video projects with nothing more than a flash drive and the push of a button. You can use the blue screen/green screen attachment to customize the background of your video, and you can edit it on the Library’s computers using Final Cut Pro, Sony Vegas or other software. Call us to reserve the Studio for your next video project. UCPL also has video cameras that you can check out and take with you. These lightweight digital cameras are perfect for filming video blogs, school events, and family gatherings. You can also check out a tripod to help keep the
camera steady. We have six cameras available now, and beginning this month we’ll start checking out three GoPro cameras. You can mount a GoPro on your bike, clamp it to a flat surface, or wear it. They are perfect for action shots in your first film or to record a life on the move. If you need any help making or editing your video, take a look at some of the thousands of classes available through the Library’s subscription to the Lynda.com database. This service, which is accessible through our website using your UCPL card, features classes on shooting and editing video, animating, and creating video effects, as well as a host of other tech topics. All of these video resources are made available with the help of MOREnet, CALOP, the Friends of the University City Public Library, and a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Missouri State Library. — Patrick Wall
Checkout February 2017
February16 Movie Matinee: The Jungle Book, 4 PM
18 Preschool Dance & Play, ages 3-5, 10 AM
23 Teen Spot Gaming, grades 7 and up, 7 PM
March2 Read to a Dog, 4:30 PM
2 U. City Schools Art Extravaganza opening, 6:30 PM
9 Teen Spot Gaming, grades 7 and up, 7 PM
16 Movie Matinee: Moana, 4 PM
18 Preschool Dance & Play, ages 3-5, 10 AM
23 Teen Spot Gaming, grades 7 and up, 7 PM
April6 Read to a Dog, 4:30 PM
13 Teen Spot Gaming, grades 7 and up, 7 PM
20 Movie Matinee: Trolls, 4 PM
25 Hooray for Spring: Family Musical Program with Mrs. W & Robert Bernstein, 6:30 PM
27 Teen Spot Gaming, grades 7 and up, 7 PM
May4 St. Louis Storytelling Festival: Donna Washington, ages 3-8, 9:30 AM
4 St. Louis Storytelling Festival: Donna Washington, ages 9-12 1 PM
4 Read to a Dog, 4:30 PM
4 St. Louis Storytelling Festival: Kenya Ajanaku & Mike Anderson, 6:30 PM
5 St. Louis Storytelling Festival: storyteller TBA, ages 3-8, 9:30 AM
5 St. Louis Storytelling Festival: storyteller TBA, ages 9-12, 1 PM
6 St. Louis Storytelling Festival: Kids Tell, 10 AMYout
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Coming soon: authors!
Curtis Sittenfeld, David Linzee to visit UCPL this spring
The Friends of the University City Public Library will host bestselling author Curtis Sittenfeld on Sunday, Feb. 26 at 2 p.m. Sittenfeld will read from and discuss her latest book Eligible, a modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice. Set in Cincinnati, Eligible substitutes
a Bachelor-style reality show for Austen’s neighborhood balls, and offers a witty social commentary on modern romance. Another author will stop by the Library in April: University City author David Linzee returns on Friday, April 7 at 7 p.m. Linzee’s new book One Fell Swoop features mezzo-soprano Renata Radleigh in a transatlantic mystery partially set in St. Louis. This is the second book in the series that started with Spur of the Moment. Both events are free and open to all. Copies of the books will be available for purchase at each event. For more information, call 314-727-3150.
Thinking Money
Get involved in personal finance exhibit coming to UCPL in May In May, University City Public Library will welcome the traveling exhibit Thinking Money, a family-friendly look at navigating the treacherous path of personal finance. While the free-standing exhibit is on display, the Library’s Gallery walls will feature portraits by local photographer Kristi Foster, showcasing local residents and their thoughts on the very basics of personal finance: piggy banks. In March, U City residents will have a chance to be included in Foster’s exhibition. Foster will be photographing volunteers holding piggy banks and asking them their thoughts on saving and money in general. Those thoughts will be included in short essays that will be displayed alongside the portraits. If you’re interested in participating, call Kara or Lexine at 314-727-3150. In addition to the exhibitions, the Library will also be hosting a series of events aimed at helping people of all ages understand personal finance, from talking to children about saving to budgeting basics for teens, from figuring out how to pay for college to safely managing finances online. Stay tuned for more details! Thinking Money is funded by a grant from the American Library Association and the FINRA Investor Education Foundation.
February 2017 Checkout
Upcoming events at UCPLAprilIN THE GALLERY: VSA Arts of Missouri
5 Computer Class: Intro to Word 2013, 2:30 PM
6 Film Screening & Discussion: Pioneers of African-American Cinema with Dr. Rafia Zafar, 6:30 PM
7 Author Visit: David Linzee, 7 PM
10 Readings in History: Franklin & Winston, 7 PM
12 Computer Class: Digital Library Resources, 2:30 PM
15 HPES Health Screening, 9 AM
16 CLOSED FOR EASTER
19 Computer Class: Intro to Social Media, 2:30 PM
26 Computer Class: Job Hunting Online, 2:30 PM
26 Holocaust Days of Remembrance events, 2 PM & 6:30 PM
26 U City Book Group: After Disasters, 7 PM
MayIN THE GALLERY: Thinking Money, and Kristi Foster, Thinking Money: Piggy Banks
3 Computer Class: Intro to Computers, 2:30 PM
8 Readings in History: The Invisible Bridge, 7 PM
10 Computer Class: Intro to the Internet, 2:30 PM
ALL EVENTS ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
FebruaryIN THE GALLERY: Eileen, McInerney, Here & There
15 Computer Class: Intro to Word 2013, 2:30 PM
18 HPES Health Screening, 9 AM
20 CLOSED FOR PRESIDENTS DAY
22 Computer Class: Digital Library Resources, 2:30 PM
22 U City Book Group: Another Brooklyn, 7 PM
24 Alzheimer’s Association: Healthy Living for Your Brain and Body, noon
26 Friends of the Library Author Event: Curtis Sittenfeld, 2 PM
MarchIN THE GALLERY: University City Public Schools K-12
1 Computer Class: Safe Web Searching, 2:30 PM
8 Computer Class: 3D Printing at the Library, 2:30 PM
13 Readings in History: First Women, 7 PM
15 Computer Class: Intro to Computers, 2:30 PM
18 HPES Health Screening, 9 AM
22 Computer Class: Intro to the Internet, 2:30 PM
22 U City Book Group: My Brilliant Friend, 7 PM
29 Computer Class: Web Email Accounts, 2:30 PM
29 Alzheimer’s Association: Effective Communication Strategies, 6:30 PM
Become a member of the Friends of the University City Public Library
Kay Drey Warren & Sharon Danziger Beth Soloway & Richard Sandler Linda Riles AARP of University City and Clayton Patricia Adams & Kevin Bryant Joseph & Charlotte Feder Arlene SandlerJeanne Norberg Alice Bloch Alberto & Berta Goldgaber Genevieve Kramer Joseph Hahn Friends of University City Public LibrarySylvia Silver, in memory of Edward Greenberg Jane Miller in memory of Jimmy Miller Charles & Jean Ferguson in memory of Cecil RawIn Memory of Florence Gnecco: • Warren & Sharon Danziger • Rose Marie, Gene, Mike, & John Helle • Mary & Paul Drastal • Major Brands • Local 805
Thanks for your support!
Rarely does one get “The Dream Job.” I won that opportunity 30 years ago when I became the Children’s Librarian of UCPL. It has been an honor to work in my community. I enjoyed partnering with the school district that educated my children to win grants that provided new services and materials for both our library and schools. I was thrilled to serve on the American Library Association’s Newbery (best written children’s book), Caldecott (best illustrated children’s book), and Carnegie (best children’s film) committees. I was challenged to create memorable skits to promote dynamic summer reading programs for school assemblies. (Some new parents still quote taglines from those rather silly performances they saw years ago.) It’s also rare to work with “The Dream Team:” a staff that is passionate
about providing the best books, services and information to children, teens, parents, and teachers. They are creative, knowledgeable, artistic, and tech savvy – brilliant in areas that I am not. My philosophy has been: grab them when they are young. Mesmerize
them with awesome storytimes. Create future readers with exciting, diverse, year-round activities. Lure them into amazing summer reading programs with extraordinary events and precious prizes. Keep them coming in as tween and teen Reading Summer Volunteers. This strategy has worked! Some of these storytime grads are now bringing their children to library programs. In retirement, I will be bringing my young grandchildren to upcoming spring and summer events. We will see you at the library!
Marilyn Phillips looks back
Retiring Head of Youth Services reflects on 30 years
