Ghost Author Visits "Read Locally"

Ghosts and the supernatural are popular topics for books, TV shows and movies. Mason Winfield, "the supernatural historian of western New York", says that ghost stories happen wherever people live--and that's right here in our own backyard. Barbara Henry, Adult Services Librarian and host of Wood Library's series Read Locally, recently talked with Winfield about his newest book Haunted Rochester: The Supernatural History of the Lower Genesee. Watch the video below. Want to read the book? Click here to go to Haunted Rochester in the OWWL catalog and place a hold. By the way, you can see a list of contents in the details. If you missed earlier espisodes of Read Locally, watch them on the Wood Library YouTube Channel.

French Conversation Cafe

Starts Monday November 3, 2008 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Ginny Blackwell is back with the French Conversation Cafe! Learn, talk, socialize over a pot-luck meal. Four Mondays, November 3, 10, 17, and 24. Open to all levels and ages -- adults and highschoolers. Limited to 10. $20 holds your place in the class. Call 585-394-1381 to register or drop by the Main Floor Desk. Send your check to "Wood Library" c/o Barbara Henry, 134 N. Main St., Canandaigua, NY 14424.

Ginny says, "I have always loved foreign languages, especially the 'French spoken word'. For some reason I cared little about grammar or proficiency and just carried on as if I knew my “p’s & q’s”. French Conversation Café is a continuation of this attitude that if we remove the fear factor and combine it with fun, food, and practice, you will emerge with a new found love for the spoken word and perhaps, the sense that the joy of the language outweighs any anxiety to speak perfectly! Alors, amusez-vous bien!"

Facilitator Ginny Blackwell has a BA in French Education and an MBA in International Business. She currently owns a web-based business where she networks with clients worldwide to offer affordable vacation ownership options in France. She visits France often.

Want more "Politics in Film"?

Although the American Politics in Film Series concluded this week with a showing of Michael Moore's internet-only release of Slacker Uprising, could it be possible you want more? If so, try Split: A Divided America. This political documentary (that has won 4 awards this year) takes viewers across America through red and blue states on a non-partisan journey about partisan politics -- trying to find out how and why our country is so divided. Give a look for free at hulu.com. You will need a high speed internet connection.

New Book Discussion Programs

One of the best things libraries do is book discussion groups. Wood Library invites participation in two new book discussions. Get started now reading or listening to these November book discussion opportunities.

The Shawl Big Read Book Discussion
Wood Library teams up with Writers & Books in Rochester to sponsor a Big Read book discussion of Cynthia Ozick's classic novella The Shawl. The book follows Rosa's survival of the Holocaust to her life in Florida 30 years later. The first ten readers to sign up will be guaranteed a copy to borrow. Drop by the Main Floor Desk or call 394-1381 to sign up and get a book. Meet in the Community Room at Wood Library for discussion on Monday November 10 at 7:00 PM. Professor Michael Dobkowski from Hobart and William Smith Colleges will lead the discussion. Go to the National Endowment for the Arts Big Read Shawl site for discussion guide and author information.

Digital Audio Book Club
All digital. Always available. It's revolutionary--a book club with no book holds and no waiting! Wood Library's Digital Audio Book Club is a book club that uses OWWL2go.org for downloadable book selections that are always available to an unlimited number of multiple users. Participants must hold a valid OWWL library card and register by calling Wood Library at 585-394-1381 or by emailing Barbara Henry, Adult Services Librarian, at bhenry@pls-net.org. Oct-Nov 2008 Audio selection is The Year of Fog by Michelle Redmond Meeting: Nov 17, 2008 7pm. Go to the Digital Audio Book Club for more details on how it works http://wood-digibkclub.blogspot.com/