The Atrium

Spilled Ink is back!

To participate, you first need to stop into any GRPL library and sign up. Then, read or listen to 10 books of your choice, write them down on a reading record and turn it in to any GRPL location by 5:30 on February 28. This gets you a gift and a Culture Pass featuring special offers from area attractions and arts organizations. Signing up also registers you for a chance to win a gift certificate from Schuler Books. Don't forget, this book club is for adults only, so if you aren't 16 or over there is no need to apply.

For ideas on what to read next, check out Goodreads.com and LibraryThing.com My first book will be Gone-Away World by Nick Harkaway. I've only read 35 pages and I'm already in love with it. Check out our catalog to read reviews and an excerpt of it! Are there any exciting books in your future? Do tell.

Posted by Marianne at 01:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Have you ever wondered what the Opera is really like? I have!

I am about to have my curiosity satisfied on Wednesday, November 5 when I attend a dress rehearsal of Tosca, the latest offering from Opera Grand Rapids. The show is described as "Romantic. Shocking. Violent." And yes, we are talking about the opera and not the latest prime time offering.

The best thing about tickets to the dress rehearsal? You can get them for free at any Grand Rapids Public Library location. Just show your Grand Rapids Public Library card and check out a pair.

Posted by Amanda at 12:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tuesday, October 28. 7:00 PM. Main Library. Downtown.

Open Mic Night is back! If you love poetry let your voice be heard. We'll read our favorite poems out loud. We'll share original works. We'll listen. We'll have an enjoyable evening.

Posted by Amanda at 04:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

November is National Family Caregivers Month. According to the National Family Caregivers Association, “more than 50 million people provide care for a chronically ill, disabled or aged family member or friend during any given year.” More interesting statistics can be found through their website. The Caregiver Resource Network and the Grand Rapids Public Library are providing two events in November to recognize and assist caregivers through the caregiving journey.

On Wednesday, November 5th, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., join us in the Main Library's Ryerson Auditorium for “Celebrating Caregivers,” an informative and enjoyable evening featuring Karen Libman, Grand Valley State University Theater Professor, as she explores the challenges of balancing work, family, and caregiving. Hors d'oeuvres will be served and there will be drawings for door prizes. Registration is required for this event by Wednesday, October 29. Reserve your spot by e-mailing the Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan at registration@aaawm.org or by calling 616-456-5664.

A second event will be held later in the month on Saturday, November 22nd, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., also in the Main Library's Ryerson Auditorium. This will be a free open house focusing on the “Life of a Caregiver: Navigating the Maze of Services” and will provide caregivers of all ages an opportunity to hear expert presentations and learn about available caregiver resources. No registration is required for this event.

If you have questions, call 988-5402, ext. 5465.

Both events will have approximately thirty sponsors who will have information booths set up outside of the auditorium to provide timely caregiving resources. The sponsors include:

• A Place for Mom
• Airway Oxygen
• Alzheimer's Association - West Michigan Chapter

• American Red Cross of Greater Grand Rapids
• AngelCare Home Health Care
• Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan
• BrightStar Healthcare
• Care Resources
• ComForcare Senior Services
• Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services
• Easter Seals
• Gerontology Network
• Guardian Medical Monitoring
• HHS Health Options
• Hope Network / Side by Side Program
• Hospice of Michigan
• Leaves Personal Care Services
• LifeHouse Properties
• Maple Creek (formerly known as Luther Community)
• Michigan Medicare/Medicade Assistance Program
• My Dignitywear, LLC
• O'Bee Long Term Care Planning
• Pine Rest - Northeast Clinic
• Porter Hills Retirement Community
• Right at Home, In Home Care and Assistance
• SafeCall
• Senior Neighbors
• Seniors Moving Smarter, LLC
• Spectrum Health Hospice
• United Nursing Service
• Visiting Angels of West Michigan

Posted by Jane at 05:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Saturday's Celebration of the Book was packed with fun activities for everyone. We listened, we learned, we grooved, we shopped, and we enjoyed ourselves.

Kids check out the inside of an ambulance after To the Rescue Storytime with Life EMS.

Tim Gleisner of the Grand Rapids History and Special Collections Department shares one of many Treasures from the Vault.

The day's featured authors signed their books in the Reading Room.

Kids learn to enjoy books using motion.

The final event of the day was a fascinating talk by reporter and author Tom DeFrank whose bestselling book Write It When I'm Gone features stories of President Ford.

Posted by Amanda at 09:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The best day in October is finally about to arrive! Saturday is our fourth annual Celebration of the Book at the Main Library. The day is packed with events you won't want to miss. If you read or write or think – and that should cover about everybody – then there is bound to be something of interest. Over 2,000 people checked out the festivities last year and we expect this year to be even more popular.

The day finishes with a special appearance by Tom DeFrank, reporter and author of Write It When I'm Gone: Remarkable Off-the-Record Conversations with Gerald R. Ford. The book is based on 30 years of private conversations with President Ford and is a New York Times and Washington Post bestseller. You won't want to miss this entertaining evening. DeFrank will be speaking at 7:00 pm in the Ryerson Auditorium.

And did I mention all the programs are free? There's really no excuse for boredom on Saturday!

Check out the full schedule.

Posted by Amanda at 09:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Tickets to all of this season's home games are now available as part of our "Check it Out!" program. Tickets can be checked out any of our eight easy locations.

There are just two easy rules:
1. you have to be a Grand Rapids Public Library cardholder
2. after checking out Griffins tickets you have to wait a year before checking out Griffins tickets again

Posted by Amanda at 09:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This Saturday, Octobar 18 from 1:30-4:30 you can bring those old films to the Koning Microcinema, inside Wealthy Theatre and share them with the city! Home Movie Day .

Attendance is free, and you can bring movies or just watch your neighbors. Home Movie Day is taking place concurrently with those held at many other local venues worldwide. It's a day to celebrate amateur film making and a chance to discover why to care about these films and to learn how best to care for them.

Film drop-off and inspection begins at 1 pm.

Visit the offical website or find more info here.

Posted by Kolene at 01:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The elongated nights and dropping mercury levels of Autumn create a conducive atmosphere for curling up with a good book. With pumpkin displays in grocery stores and roadside farms, people are preparing for Halloween, and what better way to get into the holiday mood than to read of the terrifying, mystical and macabre. Horror titles can be easily browsed in the library since they are shelved as their own genre.

Rather watch your horror than read it? Then check out our collection of horror movies. These titles are popular so it's best to act fast, before the ghoulish masses sink their claws into them. For a ranked list of scary movies, look at this list from the Internet Movie Database. Unfortunately my favorite thriller, Vampyr (seen on the right), did not make the list.

Posted by Martin at 03:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is observed during the month of October. The statistic "one in eight" is often cited as a lifetime risk of diagnosis. Thousands of people took part in the recent Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Race for the Cure, evidence of the many lives that are touched by breast cancer; perhaps yours is one of them. Another walk, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, sponsored by the American Cancer Society, is being held Saturday, October 18.

We have put together an online resource guide to provide access to books, videos, pamphlets and web sites, as well as to local and national organizations dealing with breast cancer. Let us know if you find this helpful. If you happen to be in the Main Library downtown during October, stop by the Breast Cancer display on the Lower Level where we have books to check out and free informational items.

Posted by Martin at 02:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Have you seen one of these floating around your favorite Grand Rapids Public Library location? Or maybe you spied a stack in your coffee house of choice? When you spot it, grab your copy!

It's our very first all-inclusive, plan-your-life, don't-miss-awesome-events newsletter. In it you will find a full schedule for all our programs at all our locations. The first issue covers September, October, and November. If you read books, use computers, appreciate vampires, pet ferrets, run a business, or live in the state of Michigan you're bound to find something of interest inside. So read up!

Posted by Amanda at 04:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)