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PCL to Offer ESL Classes |
 With an overwhelming response from more than 40 volunteer teachers, PCL will be offering ESL classes in most of our libraries starting in early February. PCL has long had waiting lists of people eager to learn English, and now, based on a successful model of ESL classes taught by volunteers in the Somerville Public Libraries, it will become a reality.
In the five years that this program has been offered in Somerville more than 250 people each year have attended weekly ESL classes taught by volunteers. Marylin Johnson, who created the Somerville program, came to PCL to offer the first training to our volunteers in December. We will be holding several more training sessions during January, while we recruit students for the classes.
PCL staff is aware of the huge waiting lists for people seeking ESL classes, and we are excited to begin to address this great need expressed by our patrons. For more information about ESL at PCL, please contact PCL Latino Program Coordinator Carolina Briones at 401-274-4145, ext 1705 or cbriones@provcomlib.org. |
| Providence Monthly Party to Benefit PCL | |
Each year Providence Monthly publishes a list of ten innovators, entrepreneurs and activists who work to make Providence a more vibrant city. To honor these individuals Providence Monthly will be holding its 10 to Watch for 2012 Party:
Monday, January 23, 2012
5:30-8:30pm
The Dorrance, 60 Dorrance Street, Providence
Complimentary hors d'oeuvres, cash bar, valet parking
Music by the Union Street Collective
Tickets: $10 before January 15, $20 after and at the door
All proceeds benefit PCL! That's only fitting as PCL also works hard to make Providence a more vibrant city. Watch for us in 2012 too! |
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Dewey Decibel Show - A PCL Benefit |
 Yes, January is the month for parties benefiting PCL, but they're very affordable benefits.
Come to AS220 on Saturday, January 28 and rock to four bands for just $9 ($9 for 9 libraries, get it?):
Alec K Redfearn and the Eyesores - The EYESORES could be compared to a mix of a way more personable version of The RACHELS, ABC's, a funeral dirge & klezmer music. They are prolific, painfully honest as well as completely infectious.
The Denver Boot - A musical group based out of Providence, not Denver, performing original music in a country, folk and blues fashion.
The Throttles - High voltage roots music featuring members of the Amazing Royal Crowns and the Double-Nuthins!
Maria Monk - A rock band from Providence. Fast and raucous, dark, epic and driving. Some influences include The Replacements, The Pixies, Sebadoh, Neil Young, Weezer and Radiohead.
January 28, 2012
7pm to 12:30am
AS220, 115 Empire Street
Providence (of course)
It's for a good cause - Your Libraries! |
| The Artists Loop |
The Artists Loop is a monthly program for artists and art enthusiasts that takes place the second Monday of each month from 6:30 to 8:30pm at the Rochambeau Library. Participants get together to share work, get feedback and learn from each other. Artists are welcome to bring work for a show and tell period. Each month invited guests make presentations and share their experience as artists. Each program is accompanied by a related display of art work in the Rochambeau Library Community Room display case.
You are welcome to join the Artists Loop for any of these upcoming programs:
January 9, 2012 - Presentations by several artists, followed by Art Bookmaking Workshop with Mary Jane Bohlen. A related display of Art Books by Mary Jane Bohlen will be on view until January 9.
February 13, 2012 - Presentation by photographer Nathan Gurvitch. Display of work by Nathan Gurvitch until February 29.
March 12, 2012 - Presentation by Joomchi (traditional Korean paper-felting technique) artist Jiyoung Chung. Display of work by Jiyoung Chung until March 30.
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CyberKids Is Back! | |
 By popular demand, CyberKids returns to PCL this month. This free six-week workshop is being offered at six PCL libraries to students in the fourth grade and higher (except Rochambeau, see below for details). Kids will learn about computers (hardware, software, internet safety, etc.) while playing fun games. They can win prizes too! Class size is limited. Call or visit your library to register.
Mt. Pleasant * 401-272-0106 -Wednesdays 4:00 - 5:00pm
JANUARY 11- FEBRUARY 15
Olneyville * 401-421-4084 - Mondays 4:00 - 5:00pm, JANUARY 9- FEBRUARY 13
Rochambeau * 401-272-3780 - Mondays 4:00 - 5:00pm (for 7-10 year olds only)
JANUARY 9- FEBRUARY 13
Smith Hill * 401-272-4140 -Tuesdays 4:00 - 5:00pm, JANUARY 10- FEBRUARY 14
South Providence * 401-467-2619 -Tuesdays 4:00 - 5:00pm, JANUARY 10- FEBRUARY 14
Washington Park * 401-781-3136 -Thursdays 4:00 - 5:00pm, JANUARY 12- FEBRUARY 16 |
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Save the Date - March 23 | |
The Great Checkout, a gala benefit to support PCL's educational programs, will take place at the Rochambeau Library on Friday, March 23, 2012. Tickets $75 and $125. More information to come! |
| A Few Easy Ways to Support PCL | | Amazon Wishlists
Help us fill our shelves by buying a book from one of our wishlists to donate to your neighborhood library!
DVD Drive
Providence Community Library wants to grow our DVD collection and you can help! Please donate any gently used DVDs that are lying around the house. Just drop them off at any of our nine neighborhood libraries.
Eastside Market Friendship Fund
Bring any Eastside Market receipts to your PCL library & 1% of the total receipt will be donated to us.
Follow us on Facebook!
We now have over 1300 followers on facebook! Thanks to all who follow us! If you haven't liked PCL on Facebook, we hope you decide to! You can also follow us on twitter!
Donate $$$
While the City and State provide approximately 85% of PCL's budget, we rely on friends like you for much of the remainder. Click here to learn how to make a tax-deductible contribution. |
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Agreement Reached to Save Library Buildings
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PCL is very pleased to report that the City of Providence has reached an agreement with Providence Public Library that preserves PCL's ability to operate neighborhood libraries in your library buildings.Since PCL assumed management of the nine neighborhood libraries that used to be PPL's branch system on July 1, 2009, we operated out of the seven buildings owned by PPL (all but Fox Point and Washington Park) under a series of short-term (six-month) leases. With those leases set to expire on June 30 of last year, we were unsure whether we would be able to open the libraries' doors on July 1. PPL and the City agreed to one more six month lease extension and agreed to negotiate towards an agreement that would transfer title to these buildings to the City.
Shortly before Christmas that agreement was reached, and Mayor Taveras held a press conference at the Smith Hill Library on December 22. Under the agreement, mediated by retired Superior Court Judge Mark Pfeiffer, PPL will transfer the seven buildings to the City as a 20 year lease-purchase, at the end of which the City will own the buildings outright.
The City will make an initial payment of $250,000 to PPL from funds held in escrow during the dispute over the future of the libraries. Additionally, the City will make 18 annual payments to PPL in the amount of $264,000, beginning in 2014. The total cost of acquiring the seven neighborhood libraries will be $5 million. Once the actual lease-purchase agreement is signed, the City will enter into a multi-year lease with PCL for the seven buildings.
With this agreement in place, PCL can now begin to raise the funds needed to make the numerous repairs and renovations that are necessary to operate safe, accessible, and comfortable libraries and community hubs - roofs, masonry, windows, elevators, air conditioning, handicapped accessibility, stairs, electrical systems, plumbing, and so much more.
Paying for all these repairs will be a challenge, but it's a challenge we've been looking forward to facing for quite some time. With this building ownership issue settled, the future looks bright indeed for Providence Community Library and the critical services PCL provides the people of Providence. |
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