Events at Your Athens County Libraries

Yoga Babies Mondays @ 2:00 PM

Mondays March 24 - May 19

Massage for baby, gentle stretching for parents.

Wear loose clothes.

For grownups and babies not yet walking.

Keeping Ellen A Feature Film

Thursday, May 22 at 7:30 PM

David Urano, an Ohio University professor, has produced, directed and edited a dramatic film made here in Athens, which he would like to introduce for public viewing.

Dave, a lonely middle-aged man, develops a crush on Ellen, the young woman next door. When she knocks on his door after a fight with her boyfriend, he thinks the feeling might by mutual.

By chronicling the ambiguous ties linking a lonely man, an unhappy woman, and her controlling boyfriend, 'Keeping Ellen' illuminates human nature through the lens of perception and misperception.

The film stars David Murray Jaffe, Ellen McKeown, and Sean Mitchell, who, with Mr. Urano, collectively wrote the script. Urano has made films for nearly 35 years on the silver, television, & computer screens. "Keeping Ellen" is his first feature film.

Urano's goal is "to make it through life one day at a time…not as easy as it sounds." This viewing is free and open to the public, but the film does contain a few instances of strong language which make it inadvisable for young or sensitive viewers.

Enjoy this film of local setting by a local filmmaker!

Graduate Piano Recital Mariah Carrel, Pianist

Friday, May 23 at 4:00 PM

A graduate student of Ohio University's School of Music, Ms. Carrel will perform: (1) "French Suite in E Major" by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

(2) "Piano Sonata Opus 31, No. 2 'The Tempest' " by Ludwig Von Beethoven (1770-1827)

(3) "Prelude in D Major, Opus 23, No. 4" and (4) "Prelude in g minor, Opus 23, No. 5" by Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943)

(5) "Suite for Piano" by Norman Dello Joio (1913-)

(6) "Amazing Grace" by John Newton (1725-1807)

Free and open to the public!

Art in the Library: Hocking College Art, Design and Marketing Program Artist Reception: Monday May 19 6-8 PM

May 1 through May 27

Sixteen of the most promising Hocking College Art Students show their work throughout the month of May. Represented in the show are stained glass, sculpture, drawing, blown glass, clay and metalwork.

The work the students created are under the tuleage of four brilliant teachers, Bonnie Proudfoot (glass), Mark Hackworth (2D and 3D design), Ann Judy (Ceramics) and Suzanne Oldham (metals).

You can meet these very exceptional teachers and students at the Artist Reception Monday, May 19 6-8 PM.

Yoga For People 50 and Up

Every Wednesday from 2-3 through May. Then every Tuesday from 2-3 through July.

Move... Relax... Gain flexibility... Breathe... Stretch... Gain strength

Instructor Linda Cochran teaches simple yoga poses.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Athens Public Library.

Federal Hocking High School Choir Music of Love

Friday, May 30 at 11:00 AM

Laurie Messina directs a talented group of young people from the 9th thru 12th Grades.

They will sing songs about love, concerning both its joys and trials, including: popular hits from the '40s, '50s, '60s, a few art songs, and some selections from the musical, HERE COME THE BRIDES.

A live concert free and open to the public!

Effectively Defend Yourselves Martial Training for Women

Every Wednesday in May (5/07, 5/14. 5/21, 5/28), 6:30pm - 8:30pm.

Free Self Defense class for women. Open to all adult women. Learn the five areas of self defense in these two-hour ongoing workshops.

Techniques that you will learn include verbal self-defense, assertiveness training, beginning and advanced physical self defense such as fighting frontal attacks, attacks from behind, choke holds and more.

Learn how to be safe, how to communicate effectively, and how to fight off an attacker if the situation arises. Classes will be taught by 30-year veteran self defense trainer, Cheryl Cesta.

These classes are available thanks to a partnership between The Athens Public Library and Tri-County Mental Health & Counseling's Sexual Assault Prevention Program.

May Evening Yoga The Vinyasa Tradition

Monday nights from 7:00pm to 8:30pm: May 5th, May 12th, May 19th.

Free yoga classes for adults who work during the day!

These classes will be led by licensed yoga instructor, Liz Rhodes, whose emphasis is on exploration and challenge in yoga fitness.

If you have a mat and/or a blanket please bring them. This series is for both beginning and intermediate learners.

This program of training is designed to build strength and flexibility and liberate the mind, body and spirit.

Saturday PreNatal Yoga A Regime for Healthy Pregnancy

Every Saturday in May from 3:00PM to 4:00 PM, ***EXCEPT*** May 10th, which is the Friends Book Sale Day.

Karen Thomas, certified yoga teacher in the Hatha Iyengar tradition, is a specialist in prenatal yoga techniques.

All women of any trimester in their pregnancy are welcome!

Free and open to the public.

No preregistration required.

If you have questions, please call Karen at (740) 591-1286.

Scrapbooking Part One Supplies and Choosing Pictures

Thursday, Jun 5 at 7:30 PM

Nancy Baur is our guest craft specialist for this three-part summer series. She was a veteran clerk of Jo-Ann fabrics before it closed, and she currently works as a teacher in the Jackson City Schools System.

Please sign up at the front (circulation) desk at the Athens Public Library to attend this series. There is a limit of 15 people, and you must commit to all 3 installments, which are interrelated.

The workshops are free thanks to the sponsorship of the Friends of the Athens Public Library. Participants will only be required to bring their own pair of scissors, and the blank scrapbook they would like to use for the project.

Live in Concert Steve Zarate

Thursday, Jun 12 at 7:30 PM

Steve Zarate is a folk musician with rock sensibilities famed in both Juneau, Alaska and Athens, Ohio for his memorable melodies and meaningful lyrics.

This will be an acoustic concert featuring songs from Zarate's new album, "SILVER LININGS", which includes guest harmony vocals by famed chanteuse, Laura Nadeau.

Free and open to the public!

Sponsored by the Friends of the Athens Public Library!

You Can Build a Greenhouse Business! A Guest Author Event

Thursday, Jun 26 at 7:30 PM

After years of research, Virginia Coover has just completed her nonfiction resource book, The Natural Greenhouse: Growing Plants and Food for Profit.

In this age of rising food costs, food contamination, artificial ripening, low-nutrient value of hybrids, agricultural outsourcing, and carcinogenic pesticide and insecticide use, people are looking for other answers for our food supply.

Growing your own food and/or acquiring food grown locally becomes increasingly attractive both in terms of survival and economic improvement. There is a burgeoning movement "to go local" with food resources.

Coover's book and her public lecture will show you how to accomplish this, not only in terms of your own food safety and quality, but also as an effective way you can improve your financial circumstances.

Free and open to the public!

Tuesday PreNatal Yoga A Regime for Healthy Pregnancy

Every Tuesday in June from 7:00PM to 8:00 PM

Karen Thomas, certified yoga teacher in the Hatha Iyengar tradition, is a specialist in prenatal yoga techniques.

All women of any trimester in their pregnancy are welcome!

Free and open to the public.

No preregistration required.

If you have questions, please call Karen at (740) 591-1286.

I Owe My Soul A Guest Author Event

Thursday, Jul 10 at 7:30 PM

An English professor at Columbus State Community College, Diane Mechem Kinser is the author of four novels, two collections of poetry, and a book of personal essays.

She will give a presentation on her new historical novel, "I Owe My Soul: The Black Diamond Covenant". This work traces the lives of three diverse women and the men who play a role in their shared existence.

Kinser's novel depicts dynamic heroines who set small town Nelsonville, Ohio, and much larger Columbus on their heels, while they score some major victories for equality.

These women join forces with their male allies against the woes of racial and gender tyranny, and the cruel injustices of the coal barons.

Kinser has taken pains to create an historically accurate work, interweaving fictional characters with real ones to paint a dramatic and shocking picture of an area rich in history but washed with terror and grief.

Please come and enjoy a reading from this novel along with a talk by the author on the research and writing techniques she engaged to create this story about one of the Little Cities of the Black Diamond. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library!

Scrapbooking Part Two Layouts, Color Choice and Themes

Thursday, Jul 31 at 7:30 PM

Nancy Baur is our guest craft specialist for this three-part summer series. She was a veteran clerk of Jo-Ann fabrics before it closed, and she currently works as a teacher in the Jackson City Schools System.

This is part two of a three-part series. It is free but requires preregistration with a limit of 15 participants.

You must sign up for all three workshops at the front desk of Athens Public Library, as they are related and consecutive components of a single craft project.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Library.

Knitting Group

9-10 am, First Saturday of the month, May 3, June 7, July 5, and August 2

Bring a project to work on and join us for knitting and conversation.

Yarn and Pattern Swap, Saturday, June 7 Bring the orphans from your stash and adopt some goodies to take home. Refreshments will be served.

Also, a small casual group of knitters is gathering at the library on Wednesday evenings at 6ish. Drop by!

Scrapbooking Part Three Album Choice and Storing Supplies

Thursday, Aug 7 at 7:30 PM

Nancy Baur is our guest craft specialist for this three-part summer series. She was a veteran clerk of Jo-Ann fabrics before it closed, and she currently works as a teacher in the Jackson City Schools System.

This the final installment in a 3-part workshop series. Preregistration is required with a limit of 15 participants. The sign-up sheet is located at the Athens Public Library at the circulation desk.

You must commit to all 3 workshops, as they all relate to a single project. This workshop series is free thanks to the sponsorship of the Friends of the Athens Public Library.

Art in the Library: Hocking College Art, Design and Marketing Program Artist Reception: Monday May 19 6-8 PM

May 1 - May 27

Sixteen of the most promising Hocking College Art Students show their work throughout the month of May. Represented in the show are stained glass, sculpture, drawing, blown glass, clay and metalwork.

The work the students created are under the tulage of four brilliant teachers, Bonnie Proudfoot (glass), Mark Hackworth (2D and 3D design), Ann Judy (Ceramics) and Suzanne Oldham (metals).

You can meet these very exceptional teachers and students at the Artist Reception Monday, May 19 6-8 PM.

Spanish Conversation Hour

Every Tuesday from 3-4 PM

Adults and teenagers

Perennial Exchange

Monday, May 12 at 7:00 PM

Bring your extra perennials to share and take some different ones home.

Call 767-3670 for more information.

Books for Brunch

Monday, Jun 2 at 11:00 AM

Join us for some casual booktalk and light refreshments.

Call 767-3670 for more information.

Art in the Library: Kevinn Pelham Drake The Olympians: Portraiture of Athenian Women

Ongoing exhibit from April 25th to May 27th. Opening reception on Final Friday, April 25th from 6-7:00 pm.

Recent pencil drawings and oil paintings by Kevinn Pelham Drake. Including an exhibition of past works.

Burning Embers by Bryan Everson Art in The Library

Art on display during normal library hours

The highly detailed handcrafted pyrography (woodburned art) of Bryan Everson will be on display the entire month of May.

Bryan is self taught, and a former instructor at the Foothills School. Pyrography is his primary medium. For further details on the artist and pyrography, please visit burningembers.net