Did you know? We now have a dedicated page on the Oblong Books website where you can order copies of the books connected to our special events. Check out what’s coming up below!
Upcoming Events in September & October
Click on each event below to learn more and register.
Thursday, September 18 from 6:30 to 8pm
Join Rebecca Echevarria, a local artist and food preserver, for a presentation on the vast histories of pickling, diverse practices of pickling from around the world, and three popular pickling methods, including fermenting, quick-pickling, and canning. Particular recipes using each method will be highlighted. A pickling demonstration will round out the presentation.
Saturday, September 20 from 4:30 to 5:30pm
Multi-instrumentalist Dennis Lichtman and guitarist Matt Munisteri perform a vast swath of acoustic music from 1920s jazz to folk to Caribbean biguine to ragtime to Italian polka to Brazilian choro to blues and more… all the while asking (and answering) the question “What do these all have in common?”
Monday, September 22nd, 2-3pm
Artificial Intelligence is no longer science fiction—it’s shaping how we work, live, learn, and create. Speaker Jean-Claude Fouéré will present a short history of AI’s rapid development and review the most common AI applications, with a focus on how the technology is transforming industries, impacting daily life, and raising important ethical questions around the spread of fake information, the loss of privacy, the need for wise regulation of AI, and more. This lecture will be held in the evening later this fall!
Thursday, September 25th, 6-7pm
Join us for our monthly mental health book club. This time, we will be discussing Emotional First Aid by Guy Winch, practical strategies for treating failure, rejection, guilt, and other everyday psychological injuries.
.
Tuesday, September 30 from 7 to 8pm
Join us for our monthly Starr Book Club where we will be discussing Orbital by Samantha Harvey.
Friday, October 10th from 6-7pm
In Letters from the Edge: Outrider Conversations and the follow-up, More Conversations from the Edge, poet, feminist, photographer, oral historian, and social activist Margaret Randall excerpts from letters she exchanged with irreverent writers, activists, and artists who risked everything to confront censorship. In this work, Randall constructs conversations that open windows on four pivotal moments in her life and on world events.
Tuesday, October 14 from 7 to 8:30pm
NEW DATE! Today, the Borscht Belt is recalled through a nostalgic lens, but its current state is nothing like its earlier status. Forgotten and exhausted, much of it has been left to decay. Marisa Scheinfeld’s book The Borscht Belt depicts the unique history of the Catskill Mountains region through photographs of abandoned sites where hotels, resorts, and bungalow colonies once boomed.
Friday, October 24 from 10am to 5pm and Saturday, October 25 from 10am to 4pm
Join us for another Friends Book Sale! There are titles for all ages! Come through and browse all the varied offerings.
Recurring Programs
Ping Pong Pop-Up: A Table Tennis Social Club
Tuesdays at 3:30pm
Now ongoing at a new time! Join a group of table tennis enthusiasts of all ages for pick-up games and practice. Two tables available during open play.
First Sunday of the month at 2pm
Join us for a peer-to-peer insight meditation session. Members of this group have practiced meditation for many years and are delighted to share their experience with others. These sessions are always free and open to everyone, but donations to support the library are encouraged. Tea and cookies will be served.
Memoir Writing Workshop
Third Tuesday of the month at 6:30pm*
Join us for our ongoing memoir writing workshop series. Bring a notebook and a pen and be prepared to dig into writing exercises, share your work, and receive feedback. Space is limited, please RSVP.
*Usually.
Third Thursday of the Month at 10:30am
Join Anna Kaselis for a monthly Sound Meditation. Sound meditation uses bowls, gongs and other instruments to help shift the brain into a deeply relaxed state. Clear your mind with us at the library every third Thursday of the month.
Twice Monthly on Wednesdays at 7pm
Nerds at Nite is an adult (17+) gaming group that meets twice a month to play board games of all types, including Chronology, Tsuro, Point City, Splendor, and many other tabletop games (that can be played in under 2 hours). Attendees are welcome to bring games to share, but it’s not required. Every meeting involves lots of fun, friendly competition, and a dedicated community of fellow nerds!
Monthly on Thursdays at 5pm
This group is for anyone interested in learning more or sharing wisdom about investing. Everyone has something to contribute and can suggest some areas they want to explore. We are not experts, nor teachers, but will freely share our experiences. We will start with a questionnaire and choose a topic for each week going forward based on group consensus.
Classical Guitar with Andrew Baffi
First Sunday of the month at 2pm
Come by and enjoy an afternoon of classical guitar with Andrew Baffi. Browse, read a magazine or a newspaper, or just chill with gentle music in the background.
Mahjong
Mondays & Thursdays at 1pm
Come by and play with a group of friendly gamers. This is an adult group.
Chair Yoga
Fridays at 10:15am
Join yoga teacher Barbara Eichin for this gentle and relaxing program designed for seniors and those who are recovering from injury or have restricted movement. Suggested donation : $12.00.
Scrabble Club
Wednesdays at 1pm
Join Starr Library’s Scrabble club for classic word game fun every Wednesday!
Suggest a New Program
If you’d like to suggest a new program for the library geared toward adults, feel free to fill out the form linked below.