FFRPL presents "Books Sandwiched In" review of "The Backyard Bird Chronicles"

Review of The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy TanA gorgeous, witty account of birding and nature, written and illustrated by the bestselling author. âThe sketches and words are a record of my life. They contain what puzzled me, thrilled me, what made me laugh and also g......More

Review of The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy TanA gorgeous, witty account of birding and nature, written and illustrated by the bestselling author. âThe sketches and words are a record of my life. They contain what puzzled me, thrilled me, what made me laugh and also grieve. ⌠what changed me when I was naĂŻve and curious and wondered about a bird I saw for the first time.â â Amy TanPresenter: As President and CEO of the Seneca Park Zoo Society, Pamela Reed Sanchezâs job is to have people from all walks of life fall in love with the living world; in her off time, she watches birds, photographs birds, and paints birds.View/download the Spring BSI brochure.

Central - Kate Gleason Auditorium, Central Library

Family Evening Storytime

Wind down with some fun stories!

Central - Children's Center, Central Library

Business First Wednesday: Elevated Benefits: Building a Healthy Business from the Ground Up through Wellness

Business First Wednesdays are for aspiring or current business owners and is brought to you by the Business Insight Center of the Central Library of Rochester & Monroe County and the SUNY Brockport Small Business Development Center. To register, please call the Business......More

Business First Wednesdays are for aspiring or current business owners and is brought to you by the Business Insight Center of the Central Library of Rochester & Monroe County and the SUNY Brockport Small Business Development Center. To register, please call the Business Insight Center at 585.428.8106, contact [email protected] or see below.This program is funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the US Small Business Administration. Services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis.PLEASE NOTE: Once registered, the Zoom link will be emailed to you from Business.Insight the day before the event. This series is in an online only format.SEAP attendees must contact us beforehand and sign into the program with their name in order to qualify to have their form confirmed.

Central Library

How to Use Anxiety to Thrive with Dr. David H. Rosmarin

Letâs face it: Everyone has anxiety. Furthermore, our incessant quest to rid ourselves of this ubiquitous human emotion worsens it. What if, instead of fighting our anxiety, we could turn it into a strength? In this enlightening online webinar, you will learn how to use......More

Letâs face it: Everyone has anxiety. Furthermore, our incessant quest to rid ourselves of this ubiquitous human emotion worsens it. What if, instead of fighting our anxiety, we could turn it into a strength? In this enlightening online webinar, you will learn how to use anxiety to become more self-accepting, connected to others, and resilient. Author of Thriving with Anxiety, Dr. Rosmarinâs constructive, compassionate, and evidence-based approach will not make you less anxious. Instead, it will empower you to use anxiety to thrive.

Central Library

Senior Planet Computer Basics Course

Unlock the power of your PC and explore the world of the internet in this course! Learn how to use email, search online, access entertainment and other useful resources!In this 10-week, PC-based course, youâll learn the basics of how to operate a computer and navigate t......More

Unlock the power of your PC and explore the world of the internet in this course! Learn how to use email, search online, access entertainment and other useful resources!In this 10-week, PC-based course, youâll learn the basics of how to operate a computer and navigate the internet in ways that can enrich your life.During the course, youâll learn how to use email, search the internet for information, access sources of entertainment, and connect to people, organizations and interests that matter to you. Please note: This course will meet once per week for 10 weeksWednesdays: April 2nd - June 11th, 3PM-4:30PMOnly for seniors age 60

Central - Tech Center Classroom, Central Library

Coding Club

Teens and Adults are invited to join our rebooted Technology Center Coding Club.We have brand new robots and learning modules funded by Girls Who Club.Come play with some cool robots!Try out our Makey Makey programmable robot games and creative coding options from MIT m......More

Teens and Adults are invited to join our rebooted Technology Center Coding Club.We have brand new robots and learning modules funded by Girls Who Club.Come play with some cool robots!Try out our Makey Makey programmable robot games and creative coding options from MIT media labs. Use it to turn anything into a video game controller for an introduction to programming software.Build a custom mobile robot with Sphero Blueprint Engineering Kit to learn computer-aided design (CAD) engineering principles and learn how to design 3D printed custom pieces.With the Arduino Tiny Machine Learning Kit we can delve into the cutting edge of low-resource artificial intelligence. Nine sensors let this little machine see the world around it, and you train it for useful tasks.

Central - Tech Center Classroom, Central Library

Local History Walking Tour: Washington Square Neighborhood

Hosted by Emily Morry.Washington Square is one of the oldest neighborhoods on Rochesterâs east side. The area serves as something of a microcosm of the cityâs history. Here, one finds echoes of Rochesterâs early years as a milling village, its Erie Canal boomtown days, ......More

Hosted by Emily Morry.Washington Square is one of the oldest neighborhoods on Rochesterâs east side. The area serves as something of a microcosm of the cityâs history. Here, one finds echoes of Rochesterâs early years as a milling village, its Erie Canal boomtown days, and its rise as a site of technological innovation. Meet on the north side of the Rundel Memorial Building for this .83 mile tour.*In case of inclement weather, tour may be canceled.Registration is recommended, but not required.

Central - Local History Division, Central Library

Poetry Oasis

Join Kitty JospĂŠ Thursdays in January as she selects poems for readings and discussions. Discover how edifying poetry can be in a relaxed setting. All are welcome!

Central - Rundel Arts Room, Central Library

Handprint Lilies

Create paper lilies by tracing your own hand. This craft makes the perfect Motherâs Day gift! Best for ages 4 .

Central - Children's Center, Central Library

Teen Makers

Join us to create something uniquely you on Thursday afternoons. Whether it is an item to make or a game/puzzle to play/solve, there is always something happening in the teen area at the Arnett Library. Ages 12-18*This event will be held in the Arnett teen area*

Arnett - Meeting Room, Arnett Branch

Zoom Room

Would you like to learn how to use your phone and computer applications? Is your computer repair team busy (aka grandkids, niece and nephew, or next-door neighbor)? If you answered yes, then join the Zoom Room. You will learn fast but no worries, we will teach slow. You......More

Would you like to learn how to use your phone and computer applications? Is your computer repair team busy (aka grandkids, niece and nephew, or next-door neighbor)? If you answered yes, then join the Zoom Room. You will learn fast but no worries, we will teach slow. You will learn how to use email, Android applications, and even Apple products for free. Please make sure you have your sound and apps available. Hint hint: Our instructor teaches better depending on what you've cooked and if you have leftovers for pick-up. Just kidding. See you online in the Zoom Room @ 3pm sharp! Class is limited to the first 10 people. No late comers allowed after 3:05p!

Central Library

Secret Codes

Learn how to send and decipher secret messages in this hands-on workshop! Best for spies and secret agents ages 6 and up.

Central - Children's Center, Central Library

Rochester History journal Author Spotlight: Exploring the Roots of Rochester's Deaf Community

Today, most of us know Rochester as being home to one of the largest deaf communities in the United States. But the city has been a home to deaf people for nearly two hundred years. This lecture, based on the feature article of the Spring 2025 issue of Rochester History......More

Today, most of us know Rochester as being home to one of the largest deaf communities in the United States. But the city has been a home to deaf people for nearly two hundred years. This lecture, based on the feature article of the Spring 2025 issue of Rochester History, will explore the emergence of the deaf community in Rochester during the middle of the nineteenth century. It will trace the movement of deaf New Yorkers, both white and Black, from their days as students at the New York School for the Deaf in New York City to their settlement as young adults in Rochester.Rebecca Edwards is a professor of history at Rochester Institute of Technology. Her latest book, with co-author Eric C. Nystrom, is Ordinary Lives: Recovering Deaf Social History Through the American Census (2024).An ASL interpreter will be provided.Registration is recommended but not required.This is an in-person program that will also be livestreamed at https://www.youtube.com/@RochesterPublicLibraryNY/streams.Presented by the Office of Rochester and Monroe County History in partnership with Rochester Institute of Technology Department of History and RIT Press. Subscribe to Rochester History: https://rochesterhistory.rit.edu/register/rochester-history-annual-subscription/

Central - Kate Gleason Auditorium, Central Library

Senior Planet Computer Basics Course

Unlock the power of your PC and explore the world of the internet in this course! Learn how to use email, search online, access entertainment and other useful resources!In this 10-week, PC-based course, youâll learn the basics of how to operate a computer and navigate t......More

Unlock the power of your PC and explore the world of the internet in this course! Learn how to use email, search online, access entertainment and other useful resources!In this 10-week, PC-based course, youâll learn the basics of how to operate a computer and navigate the internet in ways that can enrich your life.During the course, youâll learn how to use email, search the internet for information, access sources of entertainment, and connect to people, organizations and interests that matter to you. Please note: This course will meet once per week for 10 weeksWednesdays: April 2nd - June 11th, 3PM-4:30PMOnly for seniors age 60

Central - Tech Center Classroom, Central Library

Coding Club

Teens and Adults are invited to join our rebooted Technology Center Coding Club.We have brand new robots and learning modules funded by Girls Who Club.Come play with some cool robots!Try out our Makey Makey programmable robot games and creative coding options from MIT m......More

Teens and Adults are invited to join our rebooted Technology Center Coding Club.We have brand new robots and learning modules funded by Girls Who Club.Come play with some cool robots!Try out our Makey Makey programmable robot games and creative coding options from MIT media labs. Use it to turn anything into a video game controller for an introduction to programming software.Build a custom mobile robot with Sphero Blueprint Engineering Kit to learn computer-aided design (CAD) engineering principles and learn how to design 3D printed custom pieces.With the Arduino Tiny Machine Learning Kit we can delve into the cutting edge of low-resource artificial intelligence. Nine sensors let this little machine see the world around it, and you train it for useful tasks.

Central - Tech Center Classroom, Central Library

Museum-Quality Storage for Photos & Memorabilia

In this presentation you will learn what archival storage means and how to begin assessing, organizing, and storing your photographs and heirlooms for future generations. This talk will help you better understand archival storage options, terminology, and how your home ......More

In this presentation you will learn what archival storage means and how to begin assessing, organizing, and storing your photographs and heirlooms for future generations. This talk will help you better understand archival storage options, terminology, and how your home can be the first line of defense against agents of deterioration. There will be time for Q&A and to examine archival storage samples. As Creative Associate at Archival Methods, Jenn Libby works to simplify the complicated task of archivally storing oneâs personal archive. She has a long history of making, collecting, and caring for photographs starting with an anonymous daguerreotype her dad gave to her when she was young, initiating a life-long fascination with found photographs. Libby has a Master of Fine Arts degree from the Visual Studies Workshop and has experience working in their archives, as well as working with collections and interpretation at the George Eastman Museum. She owns Genesee Libby Studio, a photography studio in Rochester that specializes in the Civil War era process for making tintypes and ambroypes.

Central - Rundel Arts Room, Central Library

On Writing a Brilliant, Dark, and Diabolical Thriller with Author Liann Zhang

Grab your popcorn, grab your friend, and join us for a propulsive online conversation with author Liann Zhang as she chats with us about her debut thriller Julie Chan is Dead.

Central Library

Senior Planet Program Series: Exploring AI

Thereâs no doubt artificial intelligence (AI) is a hot topic, and for good reason! AI technology is rapidly developing and increasingly impacting our lives. This multiweek series will explain the AI tools that have been part of everyday life for a while and also explore......More

Thereâs no doubt artificial intelligence (AI) is a hot topic, and for good reason! AI technology is rapidly developing and increasingly impacting our lives. This multiweek series will explain the AI tools that have been part of everyday life for a while and also explore cutting edge applications of the technology. Weâll look at ways we can use AI tools to help with a variety of tasks from writing emails to creating artistic images. Youâll also learn tips for identifying AI-generated content, best practices for using AI, and how to stay safe.Note: Seniors 60 only for Senior Planet programs.

Central - Tech Center Classroom, Central Library

Poetry Oasis

Join Kitty JospĂŠ Thursdays in January as she selects poems for readings and discussions. Discover how edifying poetry can be in a relaxed setting. All are welcome!

Central - Rundel Arts Room, Central Library

The REAL Women of Vietnam with Nancy Lynch

Inspired by best-selling author Kristin Hannahâs hit historical novel, The Women, award-winning journalist Nancy E. Lynch presents The REAL Women, Veterans of Vietnam on May 15 at 12:30 p.m. at the Central Library of Rochester, 115 South Ave. in Rochester, N.Y. April 3......More

Inspired by best-selling author Kristin Hannahâs hit historical novel, The Women, award-winning journalist Nancy E. Lynch presents The REAL Women, Veterans of Vietnam on May 15 at 12:30 p.m. at the Central Library of Rochester, 115 South Ave. in Rochester, N.Y. April 30, 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War.Nancy will share REAL war letters from REAL nurses and a REAL Donut Dolly that she received from the combat zone and published in her popular News Journal newspaper column, Nancyâs Vietnam Mailbag, from 1968 to 1972. Lynch compares their REAL experiences to those of Hannahâs fictional Army nurse, Frankie McGrath, a privileged Californian who served two tours in Vietnam after a family tragedyâand found a path forward.Contrary to public perception, about 10,000 REAL military women served in Vietnam. Not all were nurses. Barred from combat, they also worked in communications, intelligence, and administrative jobs. Hundreds of REAL civilian women also volunteered for duty in Vietnam and served as Donut Dollies with the American Red Cross, and in various positions with the Army Special Services, USO, and as news correspondents. âWomen can be heroesâ was a revelation to the fictional Frankie but a non-negotiable reality for the REAL women who served, and died, in Vietnam.Lynch promised in her last column in December 1972 to someday put the nearly 1,000 war letters and hundreds of pictures she received in a book to honor all Vietnam veterans. Mission accomplished on Veterans Day 2008 with the release of her award-winning Vietnam Mailbag, Voices From the War: 1968-1972, available after her program for $40.Since 2009, Lynch, whose maternal grandparents lived in Canandaigua, has presented her salute to Vietnam veterans in the Finger Lakes. She has written seven books, all non-fiction, and lives in Bethel, Del.

Central - Kate Gleason Auditorium, Central Library

Teen Makers

Join us to create something uniquely you on Thursday afternoons. Whether it is an item to make or a game/puzzle to play/solve, there is always something happening in the teen area at the Arnett Library. Ages 12-18*This event will be held in the Arnett teen area*

Arnett - Meeting Room, Arnett Branch

Storied Saloons: Local History Happy Hour at The Spirit Room

If the walls of your local watering hole could talk, what would they say?Rochester is no stranger to time-tested taverns and contemporary bars housed in historic buildings. Each of these edifices has a story to tell. What better time to hear them than during happy hour?......More

If the walls of your local watering hole could talk, what would they say?Rochester is no stranger to time-tested taverns and contemporary bars housed in historic buildings. Each of these edifices has a story to tell. What better time to hear them than during happy hour?Storied Saloons: Local History Happy Hours explores the history of some of Rochester and Monroe Countyâs most interesting and iconic bar-boasting buildings. If you enjoy learning and libations, pull up a stool and join us as we uncover the past of a different tavern during each session of this exciting off-site series. May Session: The Spirit RoomLocated in the vicinity of the former Corinthian Hall and a onetime Fox Sisters home in what was once a red-light district, 139 State Street has housed a shoe company and a seedy hotel among several other business ventures in its lengthy history. Join Jacob Rakovan, NEA award-winning poet and proprietor of The Spirit Room, as he recounts this building's checkered past.

Offsite, Central Library

Zoom Room

Would you like to learn how to use your phone and computer applications? Is your computer repair team busy (aka grandkids, niece and nephew, or next-door neighbor)? If you answered yes, then join the Zoom Room. You will learn fast but no worries, we will teach slow. You......More

Would you like to learn how to use your phone and computer applications? Is your computer repair team busy (aka grandkids, niece and nephew, or next-door neighbor)? If you answered yes, then join the Zoom Room. You will learn fast but no worries, we will teach slow. You will learn how to use email, Android applications, and even Apple products for free. Please make sure you have your sound and apps available. Hint hint: Our instructor teaches better depending on what you've cooked and if you have leftovers for pick-up. Just kidding. See you online in the Zoom Room @ 3pm sharp! Class is limited to the first 10 people. No late comers allowed after 3:05p!

Central Library