Manchester City Library

Manchester, NH's Online Library

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May is Mental Health Awareness Month

May 20th, 2022 · Books, City Library, Main Branch, West Branch

This is my anxiety flower.

Drawing it helps ground me, bring me off of whatever mental precipice I have put myself on. Drawing those five imperfect petals and two leaves is a constant, a pattern, a rhythm. This flower decorates my school notebooks, and when I was 18, I had it inked onto my skin. It’s a permanent reminder in the midst of a panic attack or anxious moment that this is not going to be forever.

This May, take the time you need to focus on your mental health, and to help others who might be struggling. Visit the displays on the second floor of the main branch, or the lower level of the West branch to find more information.

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Keith Haring: AIDS, Advocacy and Art

May 19th, 2022 · Uncategorized

Keith Haring: AIDS, Advocacy and Art

June 9, 2022, 7:00-8:00 PM via Zoom

Join the Manchester City Library on June 9, 2022, from 7-8 pm via Zoom for the fourth installment of our 6-part Culturally Curious Art Series, presented by Jane Oneail.

During his short life, Keith Haring had a meteoric rise from graffiti artist to the world of fine art to mainstream success. His iconic figures still function as familiar and beloved symbols in American culture. Learn more about the artist, the launch of his career and his advocacy around AIDS awareness.

Jane Oneail curates and delivers art appreciation programs to audiences throughout New England and beyond. Jane holds a master’s in Art History from Boston University and a master’s in Education from Harvard University. A New Hampshire native, she has worked at some of the state’s most esteemed cultural institutions, including the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen, where she served as Executive Director, and the Currier Museum of Art, where she held the role of Senior Educator. Jane has also taught at the college level for more than a decade, most recently at Southern New Hampshire University. For more information, visit iamculturallycurious.com.

For questions, call Sue Harmon at 603-624-6550 x3320 or email sharmon@manchesternh.gov

Signup for this program is not required, but if you’d like a reminder email, you can sign up through our library calendar! You’ll also receive an email with the Zoom meeting link! Visit www.manchesterlibrary.org and click on “Upcoming Events” to view the library calendar. Click here to be taken directly to the signup page, or copy and paste the link below into your browser.

http://www.eventkeeper.com/code/ekform.cfm?curOrg=MANCHCITY&curName=2022/06/09_Keith_Haring:_AIDS,_Advocacy_and_Art

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June 2022 Adult Take & Make Craft Kits – Sea Glass Pendants

May 17th, 2022 · Adult Take & Make Crafts, City Library, Events, Main Branch, Summer Reading Program

Celebrate a splendid summer by making a beautiful sea glass pendant to show off and wear to all of your fun summer activities which await you. These kits come with everything you need to create one lovely pendant for a necklace. (Sea glass colors and shapes will vary.) These kits are intended for adults and will be available on Tuesday, June14th in the Library Rotunda while supplies last. For more information about this craft please contact Yvonne Loomis at 624-6550 ext. 7619 or e-mail yloomis@manchesternh.gov. Happy crafting and happy summer!

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The Extraordinary Life of Jimmy Carter

May 12th, 2022 · City Library, Main Branch

The Manchester City Library in conjunction with Tewksbury Public Library presents The Extraordinary Life of Jimmy Carter on Tuesday, May 31st, 2022 from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm via Zoom. 

Throughout his life, Jimmy Carter has found himself in extraordinary circumstances faced with extraordinary opportunities. Examine Carter’s life and civic engagement before, during and after the presidency through the lens of primary sources of the Carter Library and National Archives to address the question, “What is the secret to an extraordinary life?” Topics to be discussed include early life, military career, political career and post-presidency humanitarian work.

The program will be led by Joshua Montanari, Education Specialist and Volunteer Docent Coordinator at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library.  For questions, call Amy H. at 603-624-6550 x7620 or email ahanmer@manchesternh.gov. You can register here.

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Sci-Fi/Fantasy Recommendations for May

May 11th, 2022 · Books, City Library, Main Branch, West Branch

What’s not to love about robots and AI? We can explore the human experience and dive into complex themes of religion, morality, connection, communication, and the need for understanding. The AIs in sci-fi are human-created machines that are programmed to closely resemble human intelligence, but are often much smarter, and have all the advantages and disadvantages that the memory and computing power of machines come with. You’ll see these entities portrayed as vast networks of machines, with one hive-like ‘brain’ (We are Legion); individual robots with human-like features (Machines Like Me), or pilots of ships and other machines (Skyward).

We can read a lot about ourselves in how we portray an AI character and the humans they interact with. Sometimes these narratives explore an exaggeration of some human failing that we have invariably programmed into our servants (I, Robot), or maybe our creations have gained true sentience and have rebelled against their cruel masters (Murderbot Diaries).

It’s not all war and violence, though: Artificial Intelligence allows for many different explorations of humanity, like love (Klara and the Sun), motherhood (The Mother Code), and neuro divergence (All Systems Red).

Who is your favorite Artificial Intelligence character?

 

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Local author Brandon Gauthier discusses his book ‘Before Evil’

May 10th, 2022 · Author Talk, Books, City Library, Events, Main Branch, Uncategorized

Should we humanize the world’s most inhumane leaders? Who was Stalin, Hitler, Mussolini, and others before they became the cruel dictators who wrote their names in blood on the pages of history? Join the Manchester City Library on Thursday, May 19, at 6:30pm in the library’s auditorium or via Zoom to hear local Author Brandon Gauthier discuss his first book Before Evil: Young Lenin, Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini, Mao, and Kim.

Gauthier’s first novel analyzes the early lives of the aforementioned dictators through stories about family, education, rebellion, and tragedy. In doing so, it challenges the common assumption that early trauma most influenced their lives. Positive trends in these despots’ youths, he argues, made possible their later rise to power. Each dictator had at least one good, loving parent who valued their education from an early age and enabled them to think about the world through the lenses of ideas. Brandon Gauthier completed his doctorate in Modern History at Fordham University in New York City in 2016. He is the Director of Global Education at The Derryfield School and an Adjunct Professor of History for Fordham University.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to COVID, we ask that all in-person attendees wear a mask, regardless of vaccination status, and maintain a distance of 6 feet from other attendees. In-person attendance is limited to 50, so please sign up to ensure your seat! To attend virtually, sign up for the zoom link and an email reminder!

For questions, call Tess Kimsey at 603-624-6550 ext. 7619 or email tkimsey@mancesternh.gov

Visit www.manchesterlibrary.org and click on “Upcoming Events” to view the library calendar. Click here to be taken directly to the event, or copy and paste the link below into your browser.

http://www.eventkeeper.com/code/ekform.cfm?curOrg=MANCHCITY&curName=2022/05/19_Brandon_Gauthier,_Before_Evil:_Young_Lenin,_Hitler,_Stalin,_Mussolini,_Mao,_and_Kim

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Victory in Europe: May 8 1945: Women take an important role in World War II

May 8th, 2022 · City Library, Main Branch, West Branch

World War II gave women the ability to be more independent. Women took on more responsibility at home by rationing, planting victory gardens, and preserving their own food. Some women wanted to help with the war effort, and to have more money, by working in the factories provided that. Other women joined the newly formed military branches created for them in 1942. Some of my favorite historical fiction books based around this time period include: The Kitchen Front, by Jennifer Ryan (victory gardens/rationing), A Woman’s Place by Lynn Austin (factory work), and The Flight Girls, by Noelle Salazar (military). Come to view the display at the library, see how women took an active role during World War II. With the end of World War II, this gave women more confidence, and sparked the women’s movement.

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Christian Fiction Recommendations for May

May 6th, 2022 · Books, City Library, Main Branch, West Branch

May 6th is Nurse’s Day, celebrate by reading inspirational Christian Fiction books with a medical theme. Nurse’s Day is special to me; I have family that work as nurses. Come by the library this month, and view the display. This display honors the nurses who are family or friends of our staff. Do not forget to thank a nurse today, for all that they do for us.  

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Creativebug – A Crafty New Resource!

May 5th, 2022 · Art Room, Children, City Library, Library Databases, Main Branch, News, Teens, West Branch

The Manchester City Library now provides Manchester residents with free access to Creativebug, an arts and crafts instructional video service using your Manchester City Library card.

Creativebug includes classes at every skill level on knitting, crochet, art & design, paper crafts, sewing, quilting, jewelry making, kids crafts, daily practice sessions, resource information and much more. Videos are produced by working artists and creative experts. Instructors bring a lifetime of practice, passion, and proven teaching methods to each lesson. You can also download the Creativebug app from the App Store or Google Play.

If you wish to create an account you will be required to provide your library card number and PIN. You will then will be prompted to provide your name and your email address. For more information or help with this or any other resource please call the Information Desk at 603-624-6550 ext. 7619.

Manchester City Library card holders, create a free account and log in here:

Manchester City Library | Creativebug

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Adult Summer Reading Program 2022

May 4th, 2022 · Adult Summer Reading Program, Books, City Library, Events, Main Branch, West Branch

We are very excited to announce that this year, the Manchester City Library will be continuing our new tradition of an Adult Summer Reading program! The Adult Summer Reading Program is open to anyone 18+. Participants earn points for reading, attending programs, and completing missions and can use those points to purchase raffle tickets for 8 different raffles, to be drawn weekly. This year, we are adding a grand prize, and registration automatically gets you entered into the raffle. We also have a prize store, where you can choose to spend your points for coupons to your favorite local businesses! Mark your calendars! The program will run from June 20 – August 13. Signup starts June 1.

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