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Public Event

Sensation Stations

Monday November 6, 2017: 10:30am to 11:15am
Traverwood Branch: Program Room
Age 10 Months–2 Years

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Public Event

Sensation Stations

Thursday October 12, 2017: 10:30am to 11:15am
Downtown Library: Secret Lab
Age 10 Months–2 Years

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Public Event

Sensation Stations

Tuesday September 5, 2017: 10:30am to 11:15am
Westgate Branch: West Side Room
Age 10 Months–2 Years

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Blog Post

Nature Close at Hand

by Lucy S

“If we come to love nature not only when it is rare and beautiful, but also when it is commonplace and even annoying, I believe it will heal the great wound of our species; our self-imposed isolation from the rest of life, our loneliness for nature.”

You might be aware that squirrels eat acorns, but did you know that they usually only eat the top half, or why? Have you ever noticed how many pigeons have injured or malformed feet? Do you find yourself crossing the street to avoid the pungent odor release by some ginkgo trees? These are just a few of the questions Grist senior writer Nathanael Johnson was trying to answer as he roamed the streets of San Francisco with his young daughter. Johnson grew tired of answering her “that?” questions with basic answers so he decided to look more closely at the natural world that exists in every city. He shares what he found with humor and wisdom in Unseen city: the majesty of pigeons, the discreet charm of snails & other wonders of the urban wilderness.

Johnson divides the book into the subjects of his discovery; pigeon, weeds, squirrel, bird language, ginkgo, turkey vulture, ant, crow, and snail. In each of these areas, he shares his observations, the impetus for his particular investigations, and what he learned through reading and in conversation with experts.

Johnson brings a sense of wonder to his encounters and shares with us what it feels like to slow down and to really investigate the natural world outside the door. Through this close lens, he is able to satisfy his curiosity about pigeons’ misshapen feet, to forage for edible plants, to learn why only the top halves of acorns are eaten, to better understand the language of birds, to know why it is that ginkgo trees smell so rotten, to revile less the turkey vulture, to be amazed at the organization of an ant, to wonder at the intelligence and wit of a crow, and to decelerate to a snail’s pace. Johnson reminds us that because these creatures have adapted so well to living in human environments, we might not notice them. We “tend to think of nature and civilization as being irreconcilably opposed: Civilization’s gain is nature’s loss. But in fact, cities have become a prime habitat for speciation, hybridization, and, in short, rebirth.”

“We honor least the nature that is closest to us,” Johnson rightly observes. Reading this book is a good first step towards changing that.

Read alikes include The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating by Elisabeth Tova Bailey, The Soul of An Octopus: a surprising exploration into the wonder of consciousness by Sy Montgomery, and Superdove : how the pigeon took Manhattan-- and the world by Courtney Humphries.

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Blog Post

John James Audubon -- Celebrate International Bird Holidays

by easmith

John James Audubon: Drawn from nature offers a dramatic account of renowned naturalist John James Audubon's life's work. Audubon's work illustrates the intersection of art and science, and is known for capturing and bringing to life in print the extensive and diverse population of American birds in the 19th century. The documentary raises issues surrounding his artistic practice, including his initial impact on dwindling bird populations due to hunting and capturing. Throughout the film, we see numerous species documented by Audubon that have since become extinct. Audubon became aware of the endangerment of birds as he worked on this project, becoming a proponent for preservation. In his lifetime, Audubon saw of the impact of human intervention on North American bird populations. Today, the Audubon Society actively works to conserve birds and their habitats.

With two bird holidays upcoming, there are a number of resources to learn about how and why birds are important, and ways in which we can participate in preserving and protecting them. World Bird Day will be celebrated on May 10, 2017. International Migratory Bird Day is celebrated the second Saturday in May.This year, International Migratory Bird day will stress the importance of habitats in migration and drawing awareness to preserving and protecting the environment.

If you are interested in birds, and want to practice your bird calls before the upcoming birding holidays, check out our Birdsong Scanning Wand. Or, if you'd like to get a closer look at birds in the wild, check out our Audubon BirdCam, and capture birds on video!

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Public Event

Electronics Lab: Raspberry Pi

Friday July 14, 2017: 6:30pm to 8:00pm
Downtown Library: Secret Lab
Grade 6 - Adult

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Public Event

Electronics Lab: Raspberry Pi

Friday August 11, 2017: 6:30pm to 8:00pm
Downtown Library: Secret Lab
Grade 6 - Adult

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Public Event

Electronics Lab: Arduino

Thursday August 17, 2017: 6:30pm to 8:00pm
Downtown Library: Secret Lab
Grade 6 - Adult

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Public Event

Electronics Lab: Arduino

Thursday July 13, 2017: 6:30pm to 8:00pm
Downtown Library: Secret Lab
Grade 6 - Adult

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Crafts

Build a "Robot" Hand!

Thursday August 17, 2017: 1:00pm to 2:00pm
Pittsfield Branch: Program Room
Grade 3-8