Adult Programming

Our library is thinking about offering a writer's workshop for adults once or twice a month. How do we go about finding a facilitator?

FYI, last year we purchased a blanket license from Motion Picture Licensing Corp. (http://www.mplc.com) because it was affordable, although it does not cover a lot of the big Hollywood studios. Of the studios covered, the only ones we've screened movies from are Sony Pictures Classics, Fox Searchlight Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox, Buena Vista Pictures and Walt Disney Pictures. They charge us $385 per year for unlimited showings, which works out to be affordable for us. Even though we don't get huge crowds, this kind of programming doesn't require a great deal of staff effort, we get lots of little ones at the vacation week Disney screenings, and every year there are a handful of well-known new movies on DVD that attract adults (e.g. Little Miss Sunshine, Fast Food Nation, Notes on a Scandal (all 2007), The Namesake, The Simpsons Movie, etc.

The other major licensing company is Movie Licensing USA (http://www.movlic.com). They cover a lot more major studios but charge bucket loads more money. Instead, we pay them $75 a pop for the occasional movie from them that we want to screen.

I believe both companies adjust pricing to reflect the size of your community, so it never hurts to ask for a quote.

One thing to know is that neither company allows libraries to advertise the movie titles they're screening outside of the library (i.e. beyond your newsletter and your in-library posters).

Apologies that the fall calendar was too packed for the roundtable to get together. But we are scheduled to meet at SEMLS on Tuesday February 26 form 10-12.
Hope to see you all there, and bring along anyone else who you think might be interested in our discussion.
Cheryl B.

Gary's phone number is 508-588-0530.

We had a great time with Jumpin' Juba singing the blues. They are apprearing at Chili Head in West Bridgewater on Friday, Nov. 9 at 7:30 if you'd like to take a listen.

Can anyone recommend a good holiday program, preferably musical?
Thanks

Linda Gray Kelley performed this one-woman show at our library. She is an excellent actress and appealed to the senior citizens as well as the Wheaton College students in our audience. A few years ago, she performed "Spoon River Anthology" in which she portrays 31 characters in an hour. I have also seen her 2 other shows on Women of the Bible. Everything she does is top notch.

New mandate requires libraries seeking funds from federal grant-making agencies to register and apply via Grants.gov Early registration recommended for upcoming ALA Public Programs Office traveling exhibit grants.

The American Library Association’s (ALA) Public Programs Office (PPO) announced today that libraries planning to apply for its federally funded library programming grants will be required to register and apply through Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov). This new federal mandate will affect libraries that apply for future traveling exhibit grants and other federally funded projects that include a cash grant component. Applicants for federally funded grants without a cash component, such as the “We the People” Bookshelf, will not be required to apply via grants.gov.

To assist libraries with the Grants.gov registration process, PPO has posted instructions, a checklist, technical requirements, FAQs and more on its Web site at www.ala.org/publicprograms. From the PPO Web site, librarians can also access a wiki about Grants.gov registration to share feedback and post questions for colleagues. Problems with registration, including technical questions and difficulties, should be directed to the Grants.gov helpline at 1-800-518-4726.

We had Justin Locke do a program on the Secret World of Professional Orchestras. He played with the Boston Pops and the Boston Symphony and in pit orchestras for operas, ballets and Broadway shows and is the author of "Real Men Don't Rehearse". Very knowledgeable and entertaining. The audience enjoyed his lecture tremendously.

Mary O'Connell
Bridgewater Public Library

Judy Bernstein's new show, "Louisa Catherine Adams, Adventures of a Nobody," is her best one yet. She has performed at Norton every year since 1994 with a different show each time. I like them all, but this one is outstanding.