WHO are the Friends of Rochambeau?
. . . A group of caring individuals, families, and businesses
who support and expand Rochambeau Branch Library...its facility,
programs, services, resources, and the many people it serves.
WHAT do the Friends of Rochambeau do?
. . . The Friends fund equipment, events, programs, and services that the
Rochambeau Branch of the Providence Public Library could not afford without
our assistance. In past years, the Friends have purchased the entire
books-on-tape collection for children, and pay for
museum free passes (to be loaned
to Library patrons), and subscriptions to the New York Times,
the Boston Globe, and Valueline, all of which are renewed
annually.
The Friends sponsor children's holiday and summer programs, and runs
semi-annual book sales.
WHEN can you join?
. . . Any time. Please use the form below to do
it now. Your annual renewal will be due at the same time next year. Your
membership
expiration date is shown on your Friends of Rochambeau Newsletter label.
WHY become a Friend?
. . . You will receive the newsletter
several times a year, and you will be
invited to special events, like the Advance Sale and Reception prior to the
public opening of the Spring and Fall Book Sales. Needless to say, the
greatest
benefit of being a Friend is knowing that you are helping the Library that
you use and love!
The Friends continue their on-line sale of selected special donated items right HERE on our Website! CLICK for descriptions and prices of special editions and other rare books. We expect to update this list regularly.
AND, during the month of August, Rarities are sold at 25% off the listed prices! (still plus postage and handling fee)
The Fall Book Sale will be held October 12 to 17, 2004! The schedule is:
Prices for this Sale will be
The Friends of Rochambeau Rarities online 24/7 sales brought in $729.50 this year.
Two new donations bins and a Book Sale Cart were installed on the Main Floor in March. Sales are on the honor system, and we have received $216.37 to date.
The Friends 15th Annual Spring Book Sale began with an Opening Night Benefit on Tuesday, April 13, and closed five days later with a $5 Bargains-by-the-Bag Day on Sunday, April 17. Judith Schrier gave us lots of publicity. Joan Jahoda and Alice Oyer organized the best refreshment spread yet from 25 volunteers for the Friends Reception and Advance Sale on Wednesday. The Franco-Americans provided music, to the special delight of some quick-footed youngsters. Several promotional $-off coupons were offered for new members, Friends, and PPL literacy class students. Buyers came from as near as Langham Road, and as far as New York State. A record total of $7,598.76 was raised. Remainders Day was over in 90 minutes, benefiting a Thai elementary school, Central Falls High School, Miriam Hospital, RI Parent Information Network in Pawtucket, and the Summit Neighbor Association's Annual Yard Sale.
In conjunction with that Yard Sale on May 8, the Book Sale Committee participated in T's, Totes and Tomes on the Library's front terrace, and raised $331.98 between 9am and 1pm!
Including additional miscellaneous book sales of $206, a total of $9,082.61 has been raised. Start-up and operating expenses totaled $1,531.55, NETTING $7,551.06 FOR ROCHAMBEAU LIBRARY.
More than 50 volunteers accomplished this together. My special thanks to Helen Dorsey, Bonnie Lilienthal, Gil Mason, Lisa Niebels, Deck Nieforth, Sarah Weed and the Rochambeau Staff. Acknowledgement to Joseph Palmer and our local community for their generous donations of books for our Sale. Sincere appreciation to each and every member of the Book Sale Committee who work tirelessly all year long--sorting, shelving, schlepping and selling. My gratitude to Kathryn De Boer, whose elegant signs graced our newly dedicated Friends of Rochambeau Community Room for the 15th Annual Spring Book Sale.
Caryl-Ann Miller Nieforth, Chair
Book Sale Committee: Carolyn Accola, Marge Beach, Dolly Borts, Natalie Bowen, Barbara Brosofsky, Kathryn De Boer, Anne Diffily, Mark Gee, Joan Jahoda, Heather Larkin, Alice Oyer, Kathy Rourke, Helen Rutherford, Judith Schrier and Tovia Siegel. Linda Kushner, Friends President, and Sarah Weed, Regional Librarian, ex officio.
I do have a couple of complaints. Mostly, it is the possibility that books that smell like library books with cloth covers and yellow pages have fewer, not more, shelves upon which to nestle. I associate the Rochambeau with the time when the neighborhood around it was still rural enough to sustain the metaphor of "branch," of books being organic and recyclable.
A tangent: as a boy I wore the hand-me-downs of cousins, uncles, brothers, my father, my grandfather. Closets at home held coats passed round the blocks. As an elder, I still wear hand-me-downs, the shirts, sweaters, jackets and coats that my son and his friends outgrow. My wife claims I dress like a senior 15 year old, in outfits and even caps and shoes dragged out of the closets of our empty nest. Anyway, books should be like that, things shared, left behind, haunted and redolent with others within the community, never disposable, not permanently personal. As some of you who may read this may know, in Jewish custom a book has a soul, and when it is rejected it must find a proper burial site in a sacred cemetery.
This computer upon which I send my e-mail to friends of Rochambeau produces words which can be trashed with the touch of a finger, letters which do not bear my fingerprint, and which live like a mayfly. But the books of my boyhood at Rochambeau should remain somehow immortal, passing from generation to generation.
So I guess my point is, let's keep intact the virtues of the original Rochambeau, its modest elegance, its timeless and humble intelligence, its devotion to the local, its thrifty beauty. There are some among us who can recall the entire history of our much beloved lending library. I'd love to hear from them about the shift and drift from the quiet rustling of turning pages to the tapping of processors, from the nooks and crannies to the meeting halls, from today and tomorrow vs. the love of the past which gave such class to each visit to that fancy corner of Hope Street.
Write to Michael: mfink@aol.com
Enjoy other essays by Michael
Since Your Webmaster received several requests for the recipe for Our mother's cheese spread, which We have been bringing to the Book Sale Reception, we are making it available here:
Mash the garlic, combine with remaining ingredients, using as much milk as you need to make a "good" consistency. Serve with crisp crackers or pieces of raw vegetables. Refrigerate any leftovers.
At the gala for the last Spring Book Sale, there were requests for the recipe for the eggplant appetizer that I brought (in addition to the garlic cheese). I promised to put it on the Web, and here it is, again as my mother made it:
Pierce the eggplant in several places with a fork or knife, and either roast in an oven or cook in a microwave until it is soft and "collapsed". Meanwhile, chop the onion and garlic, and saute in the olive oil. When the eggplant is done, peel it, cut it into cubes, and saute briefly with the onion and garlic. Put it into a blendor or food processor, or chop in a wooden bowl with a chopping knife. Add the lemon juice.
Another note: Last time I made this, I added about half a teaspoon of sesame oil...and that was great, too!
NOTE: This is the treat that Ruth Rotenberg brought to the Spring Book Sale Reception Wednesday evening. And she brought it to the Fall Book Sale Reception, too! THANKS!
Soften 8 oz. cream cheese
Mix with 1 lb. canned salmon
1 tbs. lemon juice
2 tsp. grated onion
1 tsp. horseradish
Roll in parsley flakes and refrigerate overnight.
James Adams was chosen to be the 2003 recipient of the Friends of Rochambeau Award for Excellence given annually to a junior at Hope High School for good grades, a sense of community, and a love of books. Caryl-Ann Nieforth of the Friends made the presentation at their June 4th Awards Night. This year's Award was an inscribed copy of PPL's "Reading Across RI" selection by David Baldacci, and a $50 gift certificate to the Brown Bookstore. Congratulations, James!
Also of note, last year's Friends Award recipient, Jerome Thompson, won Hope's Anthony Medal Award this year.
Our own Josef Tallo, former Rochambeau Book Shelver and Book Sale Helper Extraordinaire, received the $1,000 Burger King Scholarship and was elected to both the National and RI Honor Societies. Josef will enter Brown on full scholarship in the Fall. Way to go, Josef!!
1999 "The Phoenix" Best of RI Book Sales Award
2000 The RI COLA "William Reeves Friends Annual Award for Achievement in Membership Recruitment"
2000 The "Walk for Literacy" $1000 Sponsorship Recognition Award
2001 "Special COLA Honors Award for Caryl-Ann Nieforth, In Appreciation for Her Enthusiastic and Able Work on the Board"
2001 The "Walk for Literacy" $1000 Sponsorship Recognition Award
2003 2003 William E. Reeves Friends Group Award from the Coalition of Library Advocates (COLA) for Outreach at their Annual Meeting, February 11, at the State House
2002 Providence Public Library Recognition Award
Passes for free family admission to museums can be checked out on your library card for two days. Passes must be returned by TWO P.M. of the DUE DATE to the Library from which it was borrowed! The overdue fine is $5 if the pass is returned after 2:00 pm, PLUS $5 for each additional day late. Passes may be returned to a book drop or mail slot when the Library is closed. Passes may be borrowed by an Adult CLAN cardholder in good standing. A limit of one pass per family at a time may be required. Benefits vary depending upon the museum...some offer free entry, others give a discount; most limit the number covered by the pass; some limit the days a pass may be used. Patrons will be charged the replacement cost if the pass is lost...fee varies by pass.
The Friends sponsor passes to the Children's Museum and the RISD Museum in Providence, Coggeshall Farm and the Haffenreffer Museum in Bristol, Slater Mill in Pawtucket, and Boston's Museums of Science and of Fine Arts.
Passes are also available for the All Children's Theatre Ensemble Roger Williams Park Zoo, and other local sites. Passes may be reserved one week in advance. More than 4,130 adults and children have used these passes since the Friends began funding them just a few years ago.
The Friends Board and Steering Committee meets monthly on the first Monday of each month at 7 p.m. Visitors are welcome.
The Mystery Buffs ordinarily meet on the third Monday of the month at 7:30 PM from September through November and January through May.
In December and June we celebrate the solstice with a pot-luck party at a member's house, including a film, often of a book we have read. In the summer we make a safari to the Brown Summer Theatre for its annual mystery play.
New members are always welcome. For information, call Jennet at 751-7611.
When the organization was established in April 1989, we explored various types of mysteries (police procedurals, female detectives, husband and wife teams, etc.). Then we read early classics, starting with Edgar Allan Poe and Wilkie Collins. After working through a standard list of classics extending into the 1950s, we read all the Edgar winners, chronologically. We are now reading historical mysteries.
The next regular meeting of the Mystery Buffs of RI will be held on Monday, January 12, 2004 at 7:30pm in the new Community Room at the newly renovated and reopened Rochambeau Branch of the Providence Public Library. Not only will we meet in a new space, but we will kick off the new Women of Mystery book discussion program!
The following dates and books have been set:
At each meeting, some member of the group (who volunteers) reports on the author and book of that month. This is followed by a discussion. There is also a "show and tell" segment when we share information on new finds of good authors, newly discovered bookstores, upcoming programs about or by mystery authors, and so on. We also swap paperbacks.
Some Reviews and Discussions
The very popular Charles Sullivan is continuing as the leader for the Jacquelyn Cooper Book Discussion Group (funded by the Friends) this winter at the Fox Point Branch, 90 Ives Street. The Group has decided to switch from discussing novels to discussing plays that have been made into films. The new list is available at the Library or from Sarah, and copies of the titles will be available for loan at the Rochambeau branch circulation desk. All programs start at 7pm, and continue until about 9pm. Refreshments are served, and the discussions are lively and intriguing.
This discussion group is funded by the Friends of the Rochambeau Branch. New members are always welcome. To sign up for this series, please call Sarah Weed at 455-8110, or talk to her in the library.
Ribbon-tied packets of 10 folded notes are available for $5 at the Fox Point Library, 90 Ives Street. The stationery features artist and long-time Board member Joe Pace's drawing of the Library entrance, as seen at the top of this Page.
Would you like to share your time and energy with the Friends? We need volunteers for hospitality (providing refreshments for special events) and for bulk mailing (folding, inserting, labeling, mailing newsletters, etc.).
Michael Fink Remembers
-- Newly Updated!
Behind that warm, inviting atmosphere is the generosity of more than 500 Friends. And especially important is the generosity of a philanthropist-in-our midst.
Herman Rose, a patient volunteer-mentor at the computer classes, has through the years helped hundreds of computer neophytes get beyond the "log on" stage. He has also translated his affection for Rochambeau into tangible contributions. Last year, he and another Friend gave matching grants to encourage more patrons: for every member who contributed $50, the grants matched the amount. In total, the grants raised $10,000 for the library. This year, to bolster the tired collection of videos, he paid for 21 new ones. And, in memory of former librarian Jacqueline Cooper's mother, he has established a sculpture fund, so that the new addition might have two beautiful works of art.
The entire community of Rochambeau is grateful for the philanthropy of Herman Rose. We all benefit from his generous spirit.
Are you or someone you know unable to get to the Library now? A volunteer will pick up the books and magazines you choose, deliver them to you, and then return them for you, too. Call Sarah Weed at 455-8112. She will arrange to have one of the Friends bring you books and/or pick up books you already have.
Our Friends organization is a member of two library support organizations: COLA, the R.I. Coalition for Library Advocates, and FOLUSA, "Friends of Libraries, U.S.A. The National Volunteer Network Supporting Libraries." For information about FOLUSA, surf to http://www.folusa.com
COLA and Champagne, by Mike Fink
History of the Rochambeau Branch Library
The Providence Public Library is very proud to announce that it is one of just five libraries in the country asked to participate in an innovative program that provides a model for parents of very young children (ages 1 to 3). It demonstrates ways to enhance their children's language and motor skills through play. We're calling our program The Family Place!
It opened in February at the Central Library and features workshops for low income families which engage the parent and child in play, crafts, and exploration of literature-based activities. A collection of books and materials and a data base on parenting issues and resources will also help parents better understand their children's ever-changing needs and capabilities, and learn how to respond appropriately.
The Friends of the Providence Public Library, Rochambeau Branch, has made a donation of cash to help this program get started.
The Providence Public Library is pleased to offer our patrons internet access. Patrons have enjoyed text-based access to the World Wide Web through the Ocean State Free Net, but now the Library will also offer Netscape Navigator, a full-featured web browser. Netscape is very easy to use: you can type in an internet address, or perform a simple search, or click on links to "surf the Web."
Children under the age of 14 must receive parental permission to access the Internet at the Library. Come with your child to a neighborhood branch library to sign up for the Internet. At the Library, parents will be given two documents to read: Providence Public Library's Internet Access Policy and User Guidelines and a brochure, Child Safety on the Information Highway. Once you read and sign the parental permission agreement, your child's library card will receive a red sticker, identifying an authorized Internet user. If you have any questions, please call the Youth Services Coordinator at 455-8070.
This is a partial list of a compilation from the American Library Association. These sites were recommended for preschool to elementary age children and their parents by Children's Librarians. For an expanded and updated list, see http://www.ala.org/parentspage/greatsites
The Library's system-wide Electronic Resources offers access to a variety of reference databases for answering questions, as well as popular software for personal use. Electronic Resources manages the computer classes given, and puts out a useful newsletter. To be put on their mailing list, contact the Public Relations Office, Providence Public Library, 225 Washington St, Providence, RI 02903, phone 401-455-8055, or contact e.resources@provlib.org.
There are two ways to access eBooks:
Trustees Emeritus: Foster B. Davis, Knight Edwwards, Frederick R. Griffiths, Martha P. Sherman, Sheldon S. Sollosy
Trustees Ex Officio: Donald Carcieri, Governor; David Cicilline, Mayor of Providence
Library Director: Dale Thompson
OFFICERS
President: Linda Kushner
Vice President: Mark Gee
Recording Secretary: Alyssa Zelman
Corresponding Secretary: Yvonne Morin
Treasurer: Gil Mason
Regional Librarian (ex officio): Sarah Weed
STEERING COMMITTEE AT LARGE
To 2004:
Anke Adler
Tom Arrison
Shelagh Gilmore
Joan Jahoda
Katherine Killilea
Heather Larkin
Marjorie Martiesian
Ruth Rotenberg
Kathleen Rourke
Jan St. Pierre
To 2005:
Anita Berger
Jeanne Birt
Judy Blackadar
Natalie Bowen
Dan and Joan Cahill
Kaiteri Collins
Helen Dorsey
Fritz Lanz
Eleanor Lewis
Sarah Morenon
Alice Oyer
Marcia Smith
Joan Retsinas
June Tow
COMMITTEE CHAIRS
Archivist: Judy Blackader
Book Sale: Caryl-Ann Nieforth
Computer Database: Tom Arrison
Mailing Brigade: Norma Kaplan
Membership: Ruth Rotenberg
Newsletter: Judy Cardanha
Nominating: Tom Arrison
Publicity: Judith Schrier
Name.................................................................
Address..............................................................
Phone.....................................
Date sent.................................
New Member ( ) or Renewal ( ) ?
I enclose my tax-deductible annual dues in the amount of
I would like to be involved with
Please make checks payable to:
FRIENDS OF ROCHAMBEAU
708 Hope Street
Providence, RI 02906
Sometimes libraries are taken for granted. Yet a public library provides one of the best sources of learning and enjoyment throughout a person's lifetime. Since 1980, The Friends of PPL/Rochambeau have helped to increase and extend the Rochambeau Branch Library's services to everyone.
Please join the Friends of the Providence Public Library/Rochambeau. Your membership dues continue the work of the Friends.
Last updated August 31, 2004
Drawings by Joe Pace
Comments to Judith_Schrier@brown.edu