Who are the Friends of Rochambeau?
A group of caring individuals, families, and businesses dedicated to the support of the Rochambeau Library Branch... its facility, programs, services, resources, and the many people it serves. Learn more about the Friends of Rochambeau
Friends of Rochambeau Library Annual Meeting
The officers and board of the Friends of Rochambeau Library invite you to join us at our annual meeting.
When: Monday, June 3, 2013 — 7:00pm
Where: Meeting in the Community Room in the basement, 708 Hope Street, Providence
Agenda: We will also be welcoming our new board members and reporting on our financial results for the year.
Featured speaker: Gordon S. Wood is the Alva O. Way University Professor and Professor of History Emeritus at Brown. Wood received the 2010 National Humanities Medal for “scholarship that provides insight into the founding of the nation” at the White House in March 2011. His many books include the Pulitzer Prize-winning The Radicalism of the American Revolution; the Bancroft Prize-winning The Creation of the American Republic, 1776-1778, Revolutionary Characters: What Made the Founders Different; and Empire of Liberty: A History of the Early Republic, 1789-1815. His latest book, published in 2011, is The Idea of America: Reflections on the Birth of the United States.
Rochambeau Library
2013 Spring Book Sale
20,000 donated books, audiovisuals, games and puzzles sorted into more than 50 categories.
- Children’s books and small paperbacks 50 cents
- Hardcover and large paperbacks $1.00
- Specials and rarities priced individually
2013 SPRING SCHEDULE: April 8 – 13
- Mon. 8th 5 – 8:30 pm Dealers night ($30 admission)
- Tues. 9th 4 – 8 pm Friends night (Members only, you can join at the door)
- Wed. 10th 10 am – 5:30 pm Free entrance for ALL
- Thurs. 11th 1 – 8:30 pm Free entrance for ALL
- Fri. 12th 12 noon – 5:30 pm Fill a Bag for $5, free entrance for ALL
- Sat. 13th 12 noon – 5:30 pm Fill a Bag for $5, free entrance for ALL
Want to help us with the book sale? It’s really fun! Email us now or sign up in the folder at the Reference Desk.
Dear Friends,
By now, many of you know that Tom O’Donnell, manager of the Rochambeau, Fox Point, and Smith Hill libraries, was fired on February 15, 2013. Laura Marlane, executive director of the Providence Community Library (PCL), took this action unilaterally without consulting the Rochambeau Library community. A review committee will evaluate Tom’s case on Monday, March 11 and will, we assume, either affirm or reverse Ms. Marlane’s decision.
In advance of that hearing, we, the Board of the Friends of Rochambeau, offer the following response.
First, Tom deserves a fair and impartial hearing. No PCL board member who is known to have taken sides in this dispute should be part of the review committee. To do so would further sully a process that in our view already lacks transparency.
Second, because of the extremely short notice and the division of labor at the library, our staff members scrambled to cope with short-staffing and to obtain basic information to keep the library’s services running. Though we think that the abruptness with which Tom was fired deserves special scrutiny, we also recommend that PCL policy be adjusted to prevent such disruptions in library function and staff morale in the future.
Third, absent compelling proof of serious misconduct, we believe that Tom should be reinstated. Any lesser infraction should be weighed thoughtfully against Tom’s enormous value to the community. Under his leadership, our programming has expanded (e.g., concerts, lectures, discussion groups, films, children’s programs), our community partnerships have flourished (e.g., Hope Street Merchants Association, Summit Neighborhood Association), and the bonds of friendship among the library’s board, staff, and patrons have grown ever stronger.
All of this is in line with our mission: to support the Rochambeau library – its facility, programs, services, and resources – and, above all, the many people it serves.
Sincerely,
The Board of the Friends of Rochambeau
Rochambeau Library
2012 Fall Book Sale
20,000 donated books, audiovisuals, games and puzzles sorted into more than 50 categories.
- Children’s books and small paperbacks 50 cents
- Hardcover and large paperbacks $1.00
- Specials and rarities priced individually
2012 FALL SCHEDULE
October 22 – 27
- Mon. 22nd 5 – 8:30 pm Dealer’s night ($30 admission)
- Tues. 23th 4 – 8 pm Friend’s night (member’s only, you can join at the door)
- Wed. 24th 10 am – 5:30 pm Free admission for all
- Thurs. 25th 1 – 8:30 pm Free admission for all
- Fri. 26th 12 noon – 5:30 pm Fill a Bag for $5, free admission
- Sat. 27th 12 noon – 5:30 pm Fill a Bag for $5, free admission
Want to help us with the book sale? It’s really fun! Email us now
The Providence Community Library system is closed Sept. 10 through Sept. 15, due to funding cuts!
Click here for all the details
DON’T MISS THE ANNUAL MEETING!
Friends of Rochambeau Library Annual Meeting
The officers and board of the Friends of Rochambeau Library invite you to join us at our annual meeting.
When: Monday June 4, 2012 @ 7:30pm
Where: Meeting in the Community Room in the basement, 708 Hope Street, Providence RI
Agenda: We will also be welcoming our new board members and voting on a change to the organization’s by-laws.
Featured speaker: Ann Hood, best selling author of both fiction and non-fiction.
Ann Hood was born in West Warwick, Rhode Island. She grew up with stories of her father’s travels around the world during his 20 years in the Navy. These stories inspired her to become a flight attendant for TWA after receiving her BA in English from the University of Rhode Island. She lived in Boston and St. Louis before moving to New York City, where she attended graduate school at NYU in American Literature.
During a furlough from TWA, she worked at the Spring Street Bookstore in Soho
and slung ribs at Tony Roma’s while writing her first novel, SOMEWHERE OFF THE COAST OF MAINE. Soon, she was publishing essays and short stories in The Washington Post, Mademoiselle, Redbook, Story, and many other magazines. At various times over the years, she has had regular columns in Self, Glamour, New Woman, and Parenting.Most recently, she is the author of the bestselling novel, THE KNITTING CIRCLE, and the memoir, COMFORT: A JOURNEY THROUGH GRIEF, which was named one of the top ten non fiction books of 2008 by Entertainment Weekly and was a New York Times Editor’s Choice. Her other novels include: WAITING TO VANISH (Bantam, 1988), THREE-LEGGED HORSE (Bantam, 1989), SOMETHING BLUE (Bantam, 1991), PLACES TO STAY THE NIGHT (Doubleday, 1993), THE PROPERTIES OF WATER (Doubleday, 1995), and RUBY (Picador, 1998). She has also written a memoir, DO NOT GO GENTLE: MY SEARCH FOR MIRACLES IN A CYNICAL TIME (Picador, 1999); a book on the craft of writing, CREATING CHARACTER EMOTIONS (Story Press, 1998); and a collection of short stories, AN ORNITHOLOGIST’S GUIDE TO LIFE (Norton, 2004).
Her essays and short stories have appeared in GOOD HOUSEKEEPING, THE NEW YORK TIMES, LADIES HOME JOURNAL, MORE, TIN HOUSE, PLOUGHSHARES, and THE PARIS REVIEW. Ann has won a Best American Spiritual Writing Award, the Paul Bowles Prize for Short Fiction, and two Pushcart Prizes. She now lives in Providence, RI with her husband and their children.
Her newest novel, THE RED THREAD, was published in May 2010 by WW Norton.
Rochambeau Library
2012 Spring Book Sale
20,000 used books, audiovisuals, and puzzles sorted into more than 50 categories will be available. All donated by our generous and well-read RI neighbors.
2012 SPRING SCHEDULE
APRIL 23 – 28
- Mon. 23rd 5 – 8:30pm Dealer’s night ($30 admission)
- Tues. 24th 4 – 8pm Friend’s night (join at the door)
- Wed. 25th 9:30am – 5:30pm Open to the Public (free admission)
- Thurs. 26th 1 – 8:30pm Open to the Public (free admission)
- Fri. 27th 12 noon – 5pm $5 per Bag
- Sat. 28th 12 noon – 5pm $5 per Bag
Want to help us with the book sale? It’s really fun! Contact us if you’re interested.
Get your FREE card during our Card Drive FEBRUARY 21-25, 2012
ALL WEEK: FREE raffle tickets* for anyone getting a new PCL Library** card or for anyone trading in your old card for the new PCL card. PRIZES: a Kindle, a Wii, and a digital video camera!
Bring a donation of canned food to your library anytime during the card drive, and we’ll waive your PCL overdue fines. Return your overdue books or movies and we’ll waive those fines too! Your donation of food will benefit the Rhode Island Food Bank.
EVENTS SPONSORED BY PCL’s FRIENDS GROUPS!
See info about Kick-off events at each library.
Kick-off Event at Rochambeau Library 708 Hope Street
Feb 23, 2012 • Thurs • 4-8pm
Every library will have storytelling by RI Black Storytellers, FREE books to children (while they last) donated by Books Are Wings; a game table with games donated by Bananagrams,® FREE food and more raffle prizes!
* Winning raffle tickets will be drawn by Mayor Taveras on February 28th at 4:00pm at the Smith Hill Library, 31 Candace Street! ** To get a free library card, bring a current photo ID and one proof of current RI residency (mail/utility bills, etc). Kids under 14 need parent or legal guardian.
More info about events at all branches: http://www.provcomlib.org/events/pclcarddriveeng.pdf
December 22, 2011
Taveras Administration Reaches Agreement to Save Libraries
City will lease neighborhood branches for 20 years under mediated settlement.
PROVIDENCE, RI – The administration of Providence Mayor Angel Taveras has reached an agreement with the two independent organizations that operate the libraries that serve city residents that will preserve city branches and protect every neighborhood library in the city.
Under the agreement mediated by retired Superior Court Judge Mark Pfeiffer, the Providence Public Library (PPL), which operates the downtown library and owns seven of the city’s nine neighborhood library buildings, will transfer the seven buildings to the City as a 20 year lease-purchase, at the end of which the City will own the buildings outright.
The City will make an initial payment of $250,000 to PPL from funds held in escrow during the dispute over the future of the libraries. Additionally, the City will make 18 annual payments to PPL in the amount of $264,000, beginning in 2014. The total cost of acquiring the seven neighborhood libraries will be $5 million. The assessed value of the seven buildings is approximately $11 million.
“After months of working closely with the PPL and the PCL, we’ve forged an agreement that will enable us to keep all of Providence’s neighborhood libraries open, once and for all,” said Mayor Taveras. “Today’s announcement is a big victory for the thousands of children and adults who use and rely on their neighborhood libraries every day. I thank Judge Pfeiffer for his assistance in mediating this agreement, and I commend the PPL and PCL for working with my administration to find a solution to the challenges that have threatened the future of Providence’s neighborhood library branches for far too long.”
The agreement, which resolves a long-standing dispute that threatened the future of neighborhood libraries throughout the city, is a big victory for the thousands of children and adults who visit their local library to study after school, participate in adult education programming, borrow books and media, use public computers and enjoy the many resources and programs available there.
“This marks an important milestone for library users throughout the City,” said William S. Simmons, Chairman of Providence Public Library Board of Trustees. “It provides an amazing and unparalleled framework for access to books, computers, and materials whether it be at the Providence Public Library with its deep collections, or at community libraries that serve City neighborhoods.”
The agreement also sets the stage for fundraising and foundation investment to pay for renovations to several neighborhood branches.
Providence Community Library (PCL), a not-for-profit organization that has run the city’s nine neighborhood libraries for the past two years, will continue operating the neighborhood branches. Providence Public Library (PPL) will continue to own and operate the main library on Empire Street that serves as a statewide resource.
“I want to commend the Mayor and the City Council for working so diligently to support the neighborhood libraries and to resolve this issue for the benefit of all Providence residents,” said Marcus Mitchell, Providence Community Library Board President. “Library supporters have rallied around this issue because they recognize the critical role that libraries play in our city. The neighborhood libraries remain a ‘go-to’ community resource, and we’re proud to continue providing these vital services to residents across the city.”
Unlike most cities across the nation, libraries in Providence have not been owned or operated by the city. The PPL operated every library in Providence until 2009, when the system became unsustainable under the existing structure. In response, a group of volunteers established PCL to manage all nine neighborhood libraries, and the city shifted their management and the $3.6 million annual city appropriation that helps pay for them to PCL.
To help with this transition, PPL donated more than $1 million in branch materials, books, tools and agreed to lease to the City the branch buildings for $1 a year. That two-year lease agreement expired in July. The city got the two sides to extend the lease arrangement while a final agreement could be mediated by Judge Pfeiffer.
The Providence City Council was closely involved in efforts to save the city’s library branches, and praised the agreement.
“I am overjoyed to hear that the PCL and PPL have reached an agreement that provides for the continued delivery of library services throughout our neighborhoods,” said City Council President Michael Solomon. “These buildings are the cornerstones of learning in our City and this agreement ensures that children throughout Providence will have access to the tools needed to be successful in school and tomorrow’s workforce. I’d like to thank all parties involved for their time and commitment to this cause.”
“Countless children and families rely on our library branches not only for books, but for internet access, computer classes, ESL courses, and many other important services as well,” said Council Majority Leader Seth Yurdin. “It is in the best interest of everyone that these buildings are kept open and maintained properly so residents can continue to enjoy access to these services.”
The seven libraries included in agreement are the Rochambeau, Mount Pleasant, Knight Memorial, Olneyville, Smith Hill, South Providence, and Wanskuck branches. The Washington Park Library building, which is owned by the City, and Fox Point Library building, which is owned by the Boys and Girls Clubs of Providence, were not included in the agreement.
Source: Office of Mayor Angel Traveras
http://www.providenceri.com/
Rochambeau Library Staff’s 2011 Top 5 Book Selections
Children’s Books
• Bink & Gollie
by Kate DiCamillo
• Pop!: The Invention of Bubblegum
by Meghan McCarthy
• Junkyard Wonders
by Patricia Polacco
• The Strange Case of Origami Yoda
by Tom Angleberger
• Masters of Disaster
by Gary Paulsen
Teen Books
• Across the Universe
by Beth Revis
• Between the Shades of Grey
by Ruta Sepetys
• Daughter of Smoke and Bone
by Laini Taylor
• Girl of Fire and Thorns
by Rae Carson
• Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children
by Ransom Riggs
Adult Fiction
• Night Circus
by Erin Morgenstern
• Swamplandia
by Karen Russell
• IQ84
by Haruki Murakami
• The Buddha in the Attic
by Julie Otsuka
• Open City
by Teju Cole
Adult Non-Fiction
• Steve Jobs
by Walter Isaacson
• Ecstasy of Influence
by Jonathan Lethem
• In the Garden of Beasts
by Erik Larson
• Bossypants
by Tina Fey
• A History of the World in 100 Objects
by Neil MacGregor
Search the Ocean State Libraries catalog to reserve your book now !
