Upcoming Events › Adult Programs
July 16, 2013
Confessions of a Record Collector
Record collecting—is it hoarding? No, not really, well maybe sort of . . . but records are irresistibly flat, black, circular solid gold. Music shapes, and is shaped by society. Records provide a rich history from old-timey to country, from the chitlin’ circuit to rock n’ roll, and jazz from hot to cool, See and hear the best of vinyl with record collector Jon VanderPloeg—78s, 45s, 33s and no MP3s.
July 18, 2013
Grand Rapids’ Secret Societies
The Sons of Malta, Knights of the Golden Eagle, Knights Templar—all names that ring forth from medieval times, right? Wrong! These are just a few of the secret societies of Grand Rapids that have helped make our city what it is today! Tim Gleisner, Manager of GRPL’s Grand Rapids History and Special Collections Department, will explore the various secret societies that have been a part of Grand Rapids history from the beginning of the city to present day. Find out which mayors and local personalities might have been members of these secretive bodies. Discover where the hidden groups might have met and held their secret and “ancient” rites!
July 20, 2013
GR Reads: The Movies – IMAX Under the Sea 3D
Under the Sea 3D transports moviegoers to some of the most exotic and isolated undersea locations on Earth, such as those found off the shores of Southern Australia, New Guinea, and elsewhere in the Indo-Pacific region, allowing them to experience face-to-face encounters with some of the most mysterious and stunning creatures of the sea. The first 50 attendees who show their GRPL library card will get in free.
July 22, 2013
GR Reads: The Movies – Bonnie and Clyde
When Depression-era drifters Clyde Barrow (Warren Beatty) and Bonnie Parker (Faye Dunaway) meet, Bonnie is bored and Clyde dreams of a life of crime that will free him from the hardships of the depression. They fall in love and begin a crime spree that extends from Oklahoma to Texas. They rob banks with skill and panache, soon becoming minor celebrities known across the country. Based on the true story of a pair of notorious bank robbers, the film personalizes them while still showing the violence that went along with them. Bonnie and Clyde is considered a landmark film in the history of cinema.
July 23, 2013
Hitsville U.S.A.: Detroit and the Rise of Motown Records
In the 1960s and 1970s, Motown introduced mainstream America to African-American artists and groups such as the Four Tops, Marvin Gaye, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Diana Ross and the Supremes, and Stevie Wonder. Along with a great number of other talented performers, many of these artists grew up in or moved to Detroit. The challenges and opportunities faced by African-Americans in the Motor City is reflected in the development of Motown Records and the broad array of other performers that called the city home. As the “Sound of Young America,” Motown also reflected the growth of the Civil Rights Movement both nationally and in Detroit, the changes in Detroit, and the turmoil of the 1960s as a whole. This program traces the development of Motown Records during the 1950s and 1960s as Detroit experienced profound changes that helped shaped the style and message of its artists.
July 25, 2013
GR Modern: Home Architecture 1945-1970
Architects and developers solved the post-WWII Grand Rapids housing shortage with a new vision, using innovative materials and building techniques. They reshaped and expanded the city, developing new neighborhoods and creating stunning modern designs. Join Pamela VanderPloeg architectural researcher at West Michigan Modern, for a photographic journey into the heart of Grand Rapids’ mid-century modern architecture, 1945-1970. This program will be presented at Temple Emmanuel designed by internationally renowned modern architect Eric Mendelsohn.
July 26, 2013
GR Reads: The Movies – No Horizon Anymore: A Year Long Journey at the Bottom of the World
Antarctica is populated by more than just curious penguins and state-sized glaciers. Yearly, thousands of people flock to various research stations around the continent to live and work in the harshest place on earth. Local filmmaker Keith Remink started as a chef for the scientists at Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station while he filmed his documentary No Horizon Anymore.
July 27, 2013
UFOs Over Michigan
Did you know that Michigan has some of the biggest UFO cases on record? The 1966 sightings over Southest Michigan and 1994 sightings over Grand Rapids each had hundreds of eye-witnesses to them, including law enforcement and radar returns. Find out more about these incredible events as well as several other unusual and well-documented UFO sightings from the Great Lakes State from William Konkolesky, Director of the Michigan Chapter of the Mutual UFO Network. He has appeared in or contributed to UFO documentaries for the History Channel, Discovery Channel, National Discovery Channel, SyFy, and ABC.
August 1, 2013
Reading the Great Lakes
Come explore the Lakes with us! We’ll read a range of titles including mystery, history, fiction, and nonfiction all taking place in the Great Lakes region—from Chicago to Cleveland. This book club will be lead by our smart librarians and will take place the first Thursday of every month. Additional copies of the book are available to be checked out on Level 4 of the Main Library. August’s selection is True North by Jim Harrison.
August 3, 2013
City Park Clean-Up Volunteer Program
Enjoy the outdoors while helping clean up a city park. Whether you want to jog, walk your dog, take the kids to a playground, or just sit and smell the fresh air, we all need clean green spaces in the city. Vibrant parks and green spaces are essential to our well-being. Come join the Friends of the Grand Rapids Parks to scrape and paint the splash pad at Alger Park. All you’ll need to bring are your work gloves and lots of energy.
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