Exhibits and Displays 

Sturgis Library will be exhibiting and selling a series of framed illustrated prints by artist and illustrator Kate Walls during the month of April.  The illustrations are from the books Cape Cod Bear and the Cape Cod Bog Dog series.   

The following artists will be featured in the coming months:

Simpkins Room Gallery Exhibit                

• April 2014:  Sammie Lydon -- Illustrations and drawings 
• May 2014:  Tracy Lindholm Nee oil paintings
• June 2014:  Senior Center Artists -- various media
• July 2014:  Taylor Sijan -- Drawings, jewelry, etc.   
• August 2014:  Just Jill Today -- photographs
• Open September, October, November 2014 
• December 2014:  KrisMarie Photography 

Lobby Exhibits & Displays

• April 2014:  Kate Walls illustrated prints fundraiser 
• May 2014:  Soutache Bead Embroidery & Jewelry by Patty Lange & artifacts from the Coast Guard Heritage Museum  
• June 2014:  Senior Center artists -- various media
• Open July-December 2014 

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A portion of the proceeds from the sale of exhibited art, photography, and crafts benefits the Sturgis Library.  Proceeds are used to enhance library services and programs. 

Although America initially tried to maintain neutrality in WWI, Woodrow Wilson was eventually compelled to lead the country to war in 1917. As early as 1915, however, Americans were fighting in the skies above France, Belgium and Germany in their frail biplanes made from canvas and wood, against an enemy who seemed to have the upper hand. This talk explores and chronicles the rich history of the first American flyers to join the fight during the Great War. Within the French air force, they would ultimately form their own squadron-the Lafayette Escadrille. This talk is free, but registration is required.

Under the Wren Song: Haiku Reading and Discussion with Poet and Artist DeWayne Stallings

Tuesday, 29 April @6:30 p.m.

Celebrate National Poetry Month with an exploration of the traditional Japanese poetry form, the haiku. Barnstable resident, DeWayne Stallings, recently wrote, illustrated and self-published his book of haiku, "Under the Wren Song." He will talk about the history and culture of the form and read samples from notable masters as well as from his own book. Books will be available for purchase and signing.  

Monthly Book Discussion Group  

The book group meets the third Tuesday of the month at 1:10 p.m. New members are always welcome. You can email Antonia at sturgisreference@comcast.net to be added to the group email list (which means books will be ordered for you in advance). April's selection is "The Picture of Dorian Gray," by Oscar Wilde.

Reading and Discussion Series 2014

Odd Couples: Literary Feuds, Friendships and Falling-outs 

4th Tuesday of the month through April 2014 @6:30 p.m. 

The relationships between authors and their opinions of each others' work can make for fascinating study, especially if there are elements of conflict involved. As Anthony Arthur notes in his book, Literary Feuds: A Century of Celebrated Quarrels--From Mark Twain to Tom Wolfe, "it is an appreciation of the degree to which writers, in their art, overcome their limitations as people."   

In this series, sponsored in part by Mass Humanities, we will explore the works of four pairs of authors who were known or rumored to have a complicated relationship with one another, either in their personal lives or in regard to their literary output (which often became personal). The remaining discussions are as follows:

• 25 March: "Ethan Brand," by Nathaniel Hawthorne and "Billy Budd," by Herman Melville, with Dr. Sam Coale.
• 22 April: "The Alchemist," by Ben Jonson and "Twelfth Night," by William Shakespeare, with Dr. James Crowley.  

Just send an email to Antonia at sturgisreference@comcast.net with your name, email and phone number. The texts for the next discussion on 22 April @6:30 p.m. are available now behind the circ desk.  

• Luminaries of West Barnstable, with author James H. Ellis. Saturday, 17 May @2:00 p.m. 

Snapshot Day:  Thursday, 4/10

Come to storytime and be part of Snapshot Day at Sturgis Library.  We'll be collecting photos and quotes from our awesome patrons to be compiled and published in our very own book!

Teen Artists Coalition of Cape Cod:  Saturday, 4/12, noon-3pm

Come get messy and make beautiful art in this Papier Mâché workshop with Nettie Berkeley!

*Registration Required (ages 13+)

Bedtime Story with Steve Heaslip:  Tuesday, 4/15, 6:30-7:30

Come to Sturgis Library in your pajamas for this all-ages bedtime story, featuring the spectacular photography of Steve Heaslip in his brand new children's book entitled C is for Cape Cod - Exploring the Cape from A to Z!

*Registration Required

April Vacation - Ms. Megan will be taking a vacation with her daughters, so there will be no storytime or programs that week at Sturgis.  She'll be sure to post a list of events at other Barnstable libraries during that week.

• Antonia: "Caring for Your Baby and Young Child," by the American Academy of Pediatricians (non-fiction, life saving!).  
• Lucy:  "Astoria: John Jacob Astor and Thomas Jefferson's Lost Pacific Empire" by Peter Stark (non-fiction, American history).
• Lisa: "The Beauty of Ordinary Things," by Harriet Scott Chessman (new fiction, Vietnam) and "A Fine Romance: Falling in Love with the English Countryside," by Susan Branch (non-fiction, illustrated travel journal).   
• Megan: "The Book Thief," by Markus Zusak (young adult fiction, WWII). 

Come join us for Drop-In Preschool Storytime every Thursday morning at 11:00!

Library Hours & Holidays 

Sturgis Library will be CLOSED on Monday, April  21st for Patriot's Day. 

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Newsletter header photo credit:  Lucy Loomis