The Community Libraries of Providence offer a slew of programming every week for kids and adults at their nine locations around the city. We highlight a few of these events in our monthly community libraries segment.
For July, morning host Luis Hernandez spoke with Cheryl Space, Library Director of the Community Libraries of Providence, and Aimee Fontaine, host of the afternoon book club at Rochambeau Library.
Youth Makerspace special series
Cheryl Space: The first one has a really interesting title because it’s Stop Motion Animation with the GIF-o-Graf. So the Gif-o-Graf is an all-in-one animation station, and they’re actually built in Rhode Island. They were developed and created in Pawtucket. And what you do is, you build characters in settings out of colorful paper card stock, cut it out, and then with the machine, you take pictures and create your own animation. Later, you can access it from home, on your phone, on your computer. It’s really cool. It’s recommended for ages eight-plus, but it’s open to youth of all ages and their grown-ups. This will be a four-part series on Tuesday afternoons from 3:30-5:30 p.m. at our Knight Memorial Library.
The second Youth Makerspace special series for this summer will be on Wednesdays from 3:30-5 p.m. at the South Providence Library. This is on printmaking techniques. So you’re going to learn how to use processes like mono-printing, block printing and do-it-yourself etching with foam plates to create cool patterns for paper and other surfaces. The program is open to youth of all ages and their accompanying adults. And drop-ins are always welcome at any of these programs.
Monthly meetups at Rocheambeau Library
Space: On Saturday, July 12, from 12-2 p.m., we’ll be welcoming the Code and Coffee group. It’s a monthly public meetup where participants chat, code and collaborate in a welcoming space where everybody can learn and share and grow their tech skills together, of course, with caffeine – that’s always important, especially on Saturday morning.
The second is the Providence Area Board Game Designers. They meet on Thursday, July 10, from 5-8 p.m., and they meet once a month. They discuss game design and they play-test each other’s games. Everyone is welcome and they do have a Facebook group where you can find out more information, but we’re very excited to welcome all these meetup groups to our libraries.
Cooling centers
Space: We partner with the Providence Emergency Management Agency to provide cooling sites for all residents. Anyone can come. We have AC, we have water, we have Wi-Fi, and of course, we’re filled with fun things to do to keep you occupied while you’re staying cool.
Afternoon book club at Rochambeau Library
Aimee Fontaine: This month we’re going to read Colson Whitehead’s Harlem Shuffle.
Imagine a man who has got a true gift for words, a deep, deep love for his family, and a business on Harlem’s iconic 125th Street. But he keeps finding himself tangled in capers of the criminal nature. It’s set in 1959. Ray Carney is about to get dragged into a major hotel heist. It’s funny, there are near misses, unexpected turns, this clever look at the lines that we cross when we get into trouble. It’s got a cast of memorable characters, but at its heart it’s a powerful tale about a man fighting to make a better life for his family and the neighborhood that he knows and loves. We are really excited to read this. We do a lot of historical fiction and this just is something that we’ve been looking forward to reading.
Click here to learn more about the Afternoon Book Club at Rochambeau Library.
