Local author Wanda MacAvoy will present her recently published e-Book Twelve Smooth Stones at the James V. Brown Library on Thursday, May 30, at 6 pm in the Lowry Room on the third floor of the Welch Family Wing. This is a unique event as it is the first time the library has hosted an exclusively electronic author reading.

Twelve Smooth Stones is a Christian historical novel about a young Jewish girl in the throes of World War 2. Like the Biblical Esther, she finds herself brutally taken from her home land of The Netherlands and placed in the notorious concentration camp Auschwitz; however, because of Esther’s rare beauty, SS Officer Kurt Gerstein chooses her to be part of his plan for survival. During this plan, God uses Esther’s inner beauty and vibrant faith to revive Kurt’s Christian beliefs. Not only does Kurt’s love for God increase, but so does his admiration for Esther. This admiration turns into something much more—and threatens to destroy Esther’s dreams of marrying her high school sweetheart.

A 1977 graduate of Williamsport Area High School and a 1981 graduate from Susquehanna University, Wanda was known more for her musical interests than writing.  For the past twenty-two years, she and her husband Tom have been in the ministry.  In 2006, they moved back to the area where her husband now pastors Steam Valley Bible Church.

For more information, call the Brown Library at 326-0536, or visit the author’s web site at Wanda MacAvoy.com . Book orders may be placed at Kirkalepress or www.vyrso.com (in various eBook formats) or in Kindle format on Amazon.com

This entertaining educational opportunity at the James V. Brown Library is part of the statewide literacy initiative of PA Forward, helping libraries build communities one person at a time.

Nationally known singer- songwriter Ellis Paul will perform a special free family show on Saturday, June 8 at 1 PM in the Moltz Rotunda Reading Room.

Since emerging from the Boston music scene, Ellis Paul’s music has been consistently recognized and celebrated worldwide. His 16 releases and loyal, enthusiastic audiences reinforce this acclaim and have since cemented his place as one of America’s most talented songwriters. With 16 CDs, a concert DVD, and a book of poems and short stories to his credit, Ellis’ songs have been featured on the soundtracks to documentaries, TV shows and big Hollywood films such as The Farrelly Brother’s ‘ Hall Pass, ‘Me, Myself & Irene’ , and ‘Shallow Hal’.

Ellis Paul web site | Wikipedia article | Listen to Ellis Paul songs

Ellis is a true American troubadour, performing over 150 tour dates a year, for over 20 years all around the world. He has shared the stage with some of the top names in the music world including: Pete Seeger, John Mayer, Arlo Guthrie, Richie Havens, Dar Williams, Shawn Colvin, and multiplatinum band Sugarland, among others.

Recently, Ellis has been extremely busy, releasing his second family album, entitled, “The Hero in You”, that features 12 American heroes such as: Rosa Parks, Woody Guthrie, Jackie Robinson, Thomas Edison and more. This release won the Gold Parents’ Choice Award, the top honor awarded in family music.

Known for his deeply felt and socially conscious songwriting, often about heroes, Ellis Paul was inspired by his own two growing daughters and years of performing for families to write about people who contributed something to the world through their work and art.

“The Hero in You” serves as a follow up to “The Dragonfly Races”, Ellis’ first family album, and a Silver Parents’ Choice Award winner which was honored by being National Public Radio’s “Top 10″ pick for Children’s music.

Ellis Paul’s appearance is sponsored by the Friends of the James V. Brown Library. No registration required.

The Hero in You” by Ellis Paul Video

Looking for quality free entertainment? Then the Market Street Matinees at the James V. Brown Library are for you. Showing classic films in a comfortable environment on a big screen with high quality sound has become a regular event for many people since 2009. Run by dedicated volunteers, Market Street Matinees run year round with different monthly themes. For May it is The Marx Brothers

As the weather warms up and the sun returns, enjoy a lighthearted spring as the Market Street Matinees at the James V. Brown features four of the Marx Brothers earliest classic comedies in May.

Enjoy movies on a big screen every Tuesday at 2:00 pm. Matinees are free and open to the public and show in the Lowry Theatre on the third floor of the Welch Wing. Bring a lunch or pick up snacks from our vending machines. For more information on specific movies call 326-0536, sign up for our weekly email newsletter by using the Quick Link on the Brown website, or stop in the library and pick up a flyer.

This entertaining opportunity at the James V. Brown Library is part of the statewide literacy initiative of PA Forward, helping libraries build communities one person at a time.

If you are interested in volunteering to show films a couple of times a month, contact Mr. Shawn Newcomer at 326-0536 or snewcomer@jvbrown.edu

Summer Reading is 100% supported by donations. We cannot do it without you!

Won’t you be a part of Summer Reading this year, so we can help even more kids return to school, ready to read and learn?  Every $10 you give will provide programming, support and motivation for one child in Summer Reading.

Your gift will encourage children and parents to continue reading together over the summer. It will open the door to a lifelong love of reading for pleasure. And Summer Reading, supported by you, will keep students’ skills sharp over the summer months, so they return to school ready to learn.

Won’t you be a part of Summer Reading this year, so we can help even more kids return to school, ready to read and learn?  Every $10 you give will provide programming, support and motivation for one child in Summer Reading.

Yes, I want to Adopt A Summer Reader

AudioBookCloud

• AudioBookCloud.com allows you to listen to your favorite audio books with just a click of a button. Listen to books on your computer, tablet or smart phone. If you can connect to the internet you can listen to Audio Book Cloud
• Listen to Books the Easy Way. No software needed. No login needed.
• Listen to audio books with your smart phone, android or iPhone. No app needed just go to the web site and start listening.
• Listen online to audio books in many different categories: fiction, non-fiction, classics and even Spanish language audio books! There are over  1,000 books in the collection and we’re always adding more!
• 25 new books added every month
• These books are always available, never on hold, and no need to download.
• Browse. Click. Listen. It’s that easy!

Mango Languages are easy to learn

Learn a language with . . . Mango Languages

An easy to use online learning system teaching practical conversation skills for a wide variety of popular languages.

With everyday dialog from native speakers, engaging interactive lessons, and a unique intuitive teaching style, Mango increases your ability to use, adapt and build on what you learn.

• Over 40 foreign language courses
• More than 15 English courses offered in the user’s native language
• Learn here at the library or access courses remotely
• Free apps for mobile devices

In no time at all, you’ll be able to navigate all sorts of everyday situations — get directions, order a meal, make new friends — the possibilities are endless!

Watch a video to learn more

Login to Mango Languages using (your library card number). Try Mango Languages today.

Mango Goes Wherever Life Takes You

Mango Mobile Library Edition is a powerful language learning platform that delivers fast, easy and effective language learning wherever your travels take you. With the free iPhone and Android™ apps from Mango, you can access the same awesome courses available through your library when you’re on the go.

Learn languages everywhere you go with our free apps for iPhone®, iPod touch® and Android™. Mango Mobile Library Edition gives you access to all the Mango language courses offered through your library from the palm of your hand.

Simply touch the screen to reveal answers and to hear pronunciations by native speakers. You’ll learn vocabulary, pronunciation, grammar, and culture in each lesson through Mango methodology, called Intuitive Language Construction™. More information about Mango Mobile

The James V. Brown Library has a new way to keep people in the Williamsport area connected with its new website, Connect Williamsport, which may be accessed at www.connectwilliamsport.com.

Community organizations, nonprofits and businesses are encouraged to register on the site as a user so they can add their events as they occur. Or, members of the community may email their events to events@connectwilliamsport.com for consideration. Once approved, the events will be entered into the site.

The purpose of the site is to be a clearinghouse for all community events taking place in the Williamsport area, said Barbara McGary, Library Director. Our goal is to have people use and update the site frequently to discover the many wonderful activities taking place in Williamsport.

A unique feature of the site is that it can be filtered to search for events within categories, such as arts, music and entertainment; downtown nightlife; family fun; community and local government; games and sports; health and wellness; and free events.

Connect Williamsport is the result of years of planning by the staff and Board of Directors of the James V. Brown Library, along with other community partners. The comprehensive project was funded with federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, administered by the Office of Commonwealth Libraries, and was designed by Trainor, New Hartford, N.Y.

For more information, visit http://www.connectwilliamsport.com/contact-us.

We’re sure you’ve noticed that there are lots of ways for people to connect with each other these days, and the James V. Brown Library is keeping up with the times.

Of course, we’ve had our website, www.jvbrown.edu, for a long time. It’s the one stop shop for access to the catalog, programming, news, and information about the library, as well as links to online services like Mango Languages and Learning Express Library.

Links to our social sites are on the home page too, as well as a place to sign up for our weekly email newsletter, ‘This Week at the Brown Library.’ Connect with us by subscribing to our enews.

A billion people are on Facebook, all over the world. The Library has a main Facebook page, and the Welch Wing has its own Facebook page which focuses on children’s programs. The facebook page offers information about library programs and content from book loving sites, as well as quotes and literary birthdays, and more.

We tweet, @jvblibrary. Follow us there!

Linkedin is the networking site for business professionals. You can find the Brown Library there and follow us for news about our programs and services.

Pinterest is the visual scrapbooking site. Follow the library on Pinterest for book recommendations from staff, library programs, Lycoming County sites to see and more great visual content.

The Library’s newest social site is Goodreads. Goodreads is the largest site for readers and book recommendations in the world. A home for casual readers and bona-fide bookworms alike, Goodreads users recommend books, compare what they are reading, keep track of what they’ve read and would like to read, find their next favorite book, form book clubs and much more.

Goodreads was launched in January 2007. When you become a Goodreads friend of the James V. Brown Library, you can see what new fiction and nonfiction titles (both in print and ebooks) the Library has, see what will be filling our shelves in the coming months, read reviews, check out staff picks, and find recommendations for your next great read. Goodreads is also available in BookMyne our mobile app.

The world of social networking is free, open, fun and enriching. Why not connect with us today?