Southworth Library discusses big ideas

By Jamie Swinnerton
Tompkins Weekly

 

For its fifth year organizing a Family Reading and Discussion Series, Southworth Library is bringing together people of all ages to experience and learn about some very big ideas. In partnership with New York Council for Humanities, the program gives families an opportunity to address issues relevant to today by bringing together art, food, and discussions.

This year’s series will bring participants together over the course of six bi-weekly sessions to discuss award-winning literature including “The Mangrove Tree” by Susan Roth and Cindy Trumbore (for the first session on Jan. 11), “A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park (Feb. 22 session), and “Out of My Mind” by Sharon Draper (March 22 session), among others.

Over the six weeks participants will discuss the themes of tolerance, understanding and environmental stewardship.

“We chose this theme in part because we found some books that we really wanted to share,” said library director Diane Pamel. “And we also chose this theme because they’re things people really like to talk about but it doesn’t come up in normal conversation. So, it’s a great way to get families talking about things like environmental stewardship or diversity. The books really lend themselves to seeing the world differently.”

The program is recommended for children ages 8 and older. Younger siblings are welcome to come to the discussions, but childcare will not be provided.
“We have a couple of books that are more internationally based,” Pamel said. “The first one takes place in Eritrea, so we’re going to eat Eritrean food, which I have not yet cooked before.”

The library provides dinners at 6 p.m. that tie into the themes being discussed to “expand the borders” beyond Dryden and look at the world at-large, Pamel said.
“All the books are new,” Pamel said. “We get bored easily so we pick new books every time. Some of our families have come for several years so we like to continue a conversation that we started, as well as welcome new families. So, they’re new books to all of us.”

The series includes a piece of community artwork that ties all the books together. The art, which includes trees and leaves and the world, is updated with each series. The series, like the art, is for the community and is open to anyone.

“The themes that we’re looking at are geared more for older ages,” Pamel said. “But we’ve often had younger kids that have been very insightful, and older teens, as well, that have participated.”

Registration for the discussion is required to make sure there is enough food for all participants. For more information, check out our website at southworthlibrary.org. To register or for further questions, please contact Diane Pamel, Library Director, at 607-844-4782 or email southworthlibrary@gmail.com.