Film Screening - 2001: A Space Odyssey

Burbank Public Library Presents
Le Petit Cinema (Little Films with Big Hearts)

Join us for a special Burbank READS tie-in movie matinee.

2001: A Space Odyssey
After 40 years, it's still the ultimate trip...

A space mission that could reveal man's destiny is jeopardized by a malfunctioning shipboard computer. A dazzling journey that tops them all and paved the way for other effect-packed films that followed. Join us in celebrating the 40th Anniversary of this epic motion picture.

Run-time 148 minutes -- Rated G.

Saturday, April 5, 2008 at 2:00 PM

Burbank Central Library

110 N. Glenoaks Blvd.

818-238-5600

Film Screening - "In the Shadow of the Moon"

Burbank Public Library Presents

An Out-of-This-World Documentary Series

IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOON is an intimate epic, which vividly communicates the daring and the danger, the pride and the passion, of this extraordinary era in American history. Between 1968 and 192, the world watched in awe each time an American spacecraft voyaged to the Moon. Only 12 American men walked upon its surface and they remain the only human beings to have walked upon its surface and they remain the only human beings to have stood upon another world.

This documentary combines archival material from the original NASA film footage, much of it never before seen, with interviews with the surviving astronauts, including Jim Lovell (Apollo 8 and 13), Dave Scott (Apollo 9 and 15), John Young (Apollo 10 and 16), Gene Cernan (Apollo 10 and 17), Milk Collins (Apollo 11), Buzz Aldrin (Apollo 11), Charlie Duke (Apollo 16) and Harrison Schmitt (Apollo 17). The astronauts emerge as eloquent, witty, emotional and very human.

Run time is 110 minutes, rated PG

Thursday, April 3, 2008 @ 6:30 PM ........... Saturday, April 19, 2008 @2:00 PM

Burbank Central Library ............................. Buena Vista Branch Library

110 N. Glenoaks Blvd. ................................ 300 N. Buena Vista St.

818-238-5600 ........................................... 818-238-5620

Film Screening - "The Astronaut Farmer"

Burbank Public Library Presents...

Sci-Fi Cinema

Come join us next Friday for a special Burbank READS movie tie-in, a screening of the movie “The Astronaut Farmer"

"If we don't have our dreams, we have nothing."

Friday, April 4, 2008 2:00 PM

All systems are "Go" for Charles Farmer. He's faced bank foreclosure, neighborhood naysayers and a government alarmed by the purchase of high-grade fuel, but now he's ready to blast into space inside the homemade rocket he built in his barn. Billy Bob Thornton portrays Charlie in this charmer about chasing dreams...and about what it means to be a family. He needs a launch/recovery crew, and he has one of the best: his wife (Virginia Madsen) and children, dreamers all. They have liftoff. Our spirits have uplift. Gravity cannot hold down our dreams.

Run-time 104 minutes; rated PG

Burbank Central Library

110 N. Glenoaks Blvd.

818-238-5600

"Mad Science" Family Day at the Library.

The Burbank Public Library Presents
A Special Family Day at the Library

Mad Science and "Gas Works"

*********************************

Thursday, April 3, 2008 and Thursday, April 17, 2008
4:30 PM -- Outside ------------- 4:30 PM Outside
Buena Vista Branch Library -- Northwest Branch Library
300 N. Buena Vista St. -------- 3323 N. Victory Blvd.
818-238-5620 ------------------- 818-238-5640

• Explore the mysterious world of gasses!
  
• Watch what happens when chemicals react!
  
• See "water bottle rockets" launched with air pressure alone, followed by "fire-powered" rockets, which travel 200 feet into the sky!

A word of note, these programs are being held outdoors, so dress warmly if the weather is cool!

Bringing the Book to Life at the Central Library.

Burbank Public Library Presents a Special Burbank READS Event


Bringing the book to life!


Wednesday, April 2 7:00 PM
Burbank Central Library
110 N. Glenoaks Blvd.
818-238-5600

Please join us for a unique Rocket Boys experience! Local professional actor Peter Renaday will give a dramatic reading of passages from the book. The reading will be followed by an opportunity to talk about Rocket Boys and enjoy refreshments.

Those who attended the previous program on March 18, spoke highly of how much they enjoyed Mr. Renaday's moving and wonderful reading. Here is a second chance to attend!

Peter Renaday has appeared in many, many films and TV shows. Anyone who has been to Disneyland will have heard Peter's voice announcing the arrival of trains at the Main Street Station, as well as at other attractions in both Disneyland and Disney World. He has provided his voice to a number of animated TV shows and films, including episodes of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Animaniacs, Darkwing Duck, Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, and Transformers.

Mark Your Calendar for the Burbank READS & Rocks!

Don't Forget to mark your calendar.....

Burbank Public Library Presents

Burbank READS & Rocks

Join us for the 2008 Burbank READS Finale with a Rock 'n Roll concert featuring

Ronnie & the Classics

This versatile quintet puts on a rockin' boppin' 50's & 60's rock and roll show. With their flashy cool attire, hot moves and multi harmony vocals, they reproduce retro oldies music the way it was meant to be delivered: High energy, high visibility and lots of heart! They feature such rock relics as Elvis Presley's "Blue Suede Shoes," Eddie Cochrane's "Summertime Blues" and Fats Domino's "Blueberry Hill". The members of RONNY & THE CLASSICS incorporate fantastic impressions, crazy stage antics and the big sound of the rockin oldies to make this a show to remember.

Bring a picnic lunch, a blanket or lawn chair for a rockin' good time!

Saturday, April 19, 2008
11:30 AM
Northwest Branch Library
3323 W. Victory Blvd.
818-238-5640

Brown Bag Book Club Rocket Boys Recap!

BROWN BAG BOOK CLUB

On March 18th Naomi Aronoff, Margaret Cervantes, Peggy Wilcoxen, Evelyn Perales, Irene M. Lane, Patrice Samko, Laura Brownell, Irene Petithomme and Jody Hidey of the Brown Baggers had a lively discussion of Rocket Boys.

While everyone enjoyed the movie, October Sky, we all agreed that the book was better. We felt the characters had more depth in the book. We had a good debate about Homer, Sr. Half of us liked him and those who didn’t gave some good arguments. The book reminded us of our own growing-up-years – some of us in small towns like Coalwood and some of us in an urban environment. Many of the issues were the same nonetheless.

We all liked the book very much and we encourage everyone in Burbank to read it and talk about it.

Thanks to Jody for the recap!

Join the Brown Bag Book Club on April 15 [alway the 3rd Tuesday of the month] at 12 noon when they will discuss People of The Book by Geraldine Brooks

[I further checked with the Brown Baggers and was very disappointed to find that no swapping of lunch items occurred.]

Rocket Boys - Swag and Stuff to buy!

Souvenirs, swag, bling, booty, goodies, gifts, trinkets, remembrances, plunder, mementos, collectibles or stuff...no matter what you call them you'll find the above items for sale at all Rocket Boys events [except film and Children's programs]. Do your shopping early. Proceeds from sales go to the Friends of the Burbank Public Library and will help fund next year's Burbank READS program.

• Rocket Pins $2
• Souvenir Bookmarks $3
• Water Bottles $4
• "October Sky" aka "Rocket Boys" Paperback Books $5
  

"The Final Frontier" - Slide show and Lecture by Matt Ventimiglia

The Burbank Public Library Presents

The Final Frontier - A Slide Show and Lecture by Matt Ventimiglia

Monday, March 31, 2008 7:00 PM

Buena Vista Branch Library

300 N. Buena Vista St.

818-238-5620

The presentation traces the origins of the dream of spaceflight from early literature, art and film, juxtaposed with a history of actual spaceflight achievements. What's next? Take a look at the next US space initiative, Project Constellation, which plans to return astromauts to the Moon and beyond.

Matt Ventimiglia is an amateur space science buff currently working part time as a museum guide at the Griffith Observatory. He has a bachelor's degree in Physics from the University of Colorado, a master's degree in cinema history from USC, and is currently working on a master's degree in geology/paleontology from Cal State Northridge.

"Bringing the Book to Life" Recap.

It was A “small, but mighty” turnout of 16 who attended on March 18th, the first of two "Bringing the Book to Life" programs.

Actor Peter Renaday [see photo] did a wonderful reading selections from Rocket Boys by Homer Hickam, Jr., bringing many of us close to tears. We also had a brief discussion following the reading program.

I hope we have a better turn out for April 2nd. It’s a program worth seeing so please spread the word.

Thanks to Jody for the recap and if you, like I, want to attend the second "Bringing the Book to Life" program, join Peter Renaday and the rest of us on-

Wednesday, April 2
7:00 PM
Burbank Central Library
110 N. Glenoaks Blvd.
818-238-5600

Mercury Seven Program rockets to success!

Last Saturday 73 children and parents heard a short talk about the early space program and then 35 kids [see photo] built some very imaginative rocket mobiles at the library's Mercury Seven program which marked the 50th anniversary of NASA and the announcement of America’s first space program, Project Mercury.

It can be a challenge trying to explain what the Cold War was to a second grader when there isn’t any cold war anymore and there isn’t any Soviet Union anymore, and they never had to practice ducking under their desk for a nuclear bomb while hearing the siren drills. Just what was so important about when Alan Shepard and Gus Grissom and John Glenn made their rides into space? It is difficult to see why something with a funny name like Sputnik, a thing not much bigger than a basketball and not capable of doing anything but making meaningless radio beeps for a few months, was such a big deal when now you can get a zillion channels from space just like that. In this age of the space shuttle it is hard to believe that people actually sat on the tip of a rocket and got blasted into the sky and then got back by falling into the ocean and being plucked out like a bobbing rubber duck by a helicopter. How do you make children understand that a scenario so seemingly unsophisticated and improbable was a cause of great national pride and that so much hung on the outcome?.

Well that is, I suppose, what the idea of this whole Burbank Reads program is all about, putting everyone on the same page, looking at shared historic events and then placing ourselves again at the intersection between those and the line of our own lives and trying to explain the meaning we found there and has followed us, even to those most distant from both. Which is how a sense of community is built, and why the memoir Rocket Boys is such a well chosen vehicle.

Thanks to Hubert for the program and the recap!

What We're Reading: Sky of Stone

Well, it's been a long and wonderful trip! I assume that we've all spent a lot of time (at least mentally) amongst the mountains and tipples of Coalwood, West Virginia. The last book in the series, Sky of Stone, is perhaps my favorite and well worth your time if you're done with the first two - Rocket Boys and The Coalwood Way. Sky of Stone picks up after Sonny's first year at college. He's looking forward to a summer spent with his mother at her new house in Myrtle Beach. However, trouble is brewing in Coalwood and he resigns himself to a vacation spent in his hometown, in the mines. There is a mystery he must unravel here, which culminates in the trials against his father after an accidental death. It seems as though all the residents of Coalwood are hiding something. Sonny begrudgingly takes on the task of finding out the truth.

This book, like the others, reads like a novel. I'm not saying it's untrue. Hickam has the amazing ability to take his real life and spin it into something that propels you to the edge of your seat. The last book reads like a good murder mystery. Sonny the rocket boy becomes Sonny the detective. Click on the link above to see if a copy is currently available at the Burbank Libraries.

"October Sky" Film Screenings.

Burbank Public Library Presents - Two Special Screenings of the film


October Sky

Now that you’ve joined all of Burbank in reading “Rocket Boys” by Homer H. Hickam, Jr., come join us in watching the movie “October Sky” that is inspired by the book.


Starring, Jake Gyllenhaal, Chris Cooper, Chris Owen and Laura Dern.

Run-time is 108 minutes, rated PG


Saturday, March 29, 2008 @2:00 PM
Burbank Central Library
110 N. Glenoaks Blvd.
818-238-5600

Tuesday, April 1, 2008 @6:30 PM
Buena Vista Branch Library
300 N. Buena Vista St.
818-238-5620

"Rocket Boys" Related Reading.

Already read “Rocket Boys”? Need something to read next, well we have prepared some special Burbank READS book lists for your reading pleasure.

Space Exploration (The Men, the Women and more) – features a selection of biographies about the men and women of space exploration. Check your libraries for the bookmark featuring some of these titles too!

More Books by Homer Hickam Jr. – Loved “Rocket Boys”, well here are the other fiction and nonfiction books that the library owns by Homer Hickam Jr.

Fiction of the 50's – a selection of some of the best known, most popular and enduring classic fiction books written in the 1950s.

All About the 1950’s – Want to know more about the 1950s? This is the list for you, history, food, décor, music, photographs, cars and more can be found on this list. All with a 1950s twist!

All of these book lists can be found under the Burbank READS link on your iBistro catalog.

Burbank READS & Rocks...the Grand Finale.

Mark your calendars......

Burbank Public Library Presents

Burbank READS & Rocks
Join us for the 2008 Burbank READS Finale with a Rock 'n Roll concert featuring

Ronnie & the Classics

This versatile quintet puts on a rockin' boppin' 50's & 60's rock and roll show. With their flashy cool attire, hot moves and multi harmony vocals, they reproduce retro oldies music the way it was meant to be delivered: High energy, high visibility and lots of heart! They feature such rock relics as Elvis Presley's "Blue Suede Shoes," Eddie Cochrane's "Summertime Blues" and Fats Domino's "Blueberry Hill". The members of RONNY & THE CLASSICS incorporate fantastic impressions, crazy stage antics and the big sound of the rockin oldies to make this a show to remember.

Bring a picnic lunch, a blanket or lawn chair for a rockin' good time!

Saturday, April 19, 2008

11:30 AM

Northwest Branch Library

3323 W. Victory Blvd.

818-238-5640

Brown Bag Book Club to chat about "Rocket Boys"

All members of the public are welcome to attend the “Brown Bag Book Club” which will be meeting and chatting about “Rocket Boys” by Homer Hickam Jr.

The meeting will be on Tuesday, March 18 at 12 Noon at the Central Library in the Literacy Conference Room.

The "Brown Baggers" haven't told me if swapping a PB& J for a couple of chocolate chip cookies is allowed...but bring your lunch and see what happens!

If you are interested in becoming a member of the Brown Baggers please stop by and join us!

Bulldogs and Indians and Rocket Boys, oh my!

High School students at both Burbank High School and John Burroughs High School have some upcoming school events tied into Burbank READS and Rocket Boys.

3/13 BHS is having a Rocket Boys "Reader's Theatre" in the BHS library at lunchtime.

4/2 JBHS's www @ the library will feature "Rockets and Reading" beginning at 12:30 in the JBHS library. In conjunction with Burbank READS, we will make origami rockets and hear some of the book "Rocket Boys".

4/9 JBHS's www @ the library continues with "Rocket Boys". Beginning at 12:40 in the JBHS library, we will discuss the book and enjoy a special treat.

4/15 BHS will feature a book discussion about Rocket Boys in the BHS library at 12:25.

Currently, both BHS and JBHS are featuring an anagram contest from 3/10 - 3/20, with the winners announced on 3/31. Official entry forms can be picked up in the school libraries at both BHS and JBHS. The first 100 completed entries returned to JBHS's library will receive a special prize. Prizes are available to be won! So you had best go get your anagrams!

BTW, anyone out there have a guess as to what the "www" stands for? Leave a comment with your guess.

Meet Retired Astronaut Vance Brand!

Can you imagine a better way to celebrate reading "Rocket Boys" than by having a program featuring an astronaut? We sure couldn't, so the Burbank Public Library proudly presents "The Right Stuff", a program featuring retired astronaut Vance Brand! Set aside Saturday, April 12 at 2:00 PM. Vance Brand will talk about his experiences, share a 16 min DVD about his last flight, and will have time for Question & Answer session.

Please see the following links for additional biographical information about our guest speaker http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/brand.html

http://www.astronautscholarship.org/brand.html

Bringing the Book to Life!

Burbank Public Library Presents a Special Burbank READS Event

Bringing the book to life!

Tuesday, March 18 @7:00 PM

Buena Vista Branch Library

300 N. Buena Vista St.

818-238-5620

Wednesday, April 2 @7:00 PM

Burbank Central Library

110 N. Glenoaks Blvd.

818-238-5600

Please join us for a unique Rocket Boys experience! Local professional actor Peter Renaday will give a dramatic reading of passages from the book. The reading will be followed by an opportunity to talk about Rocket Boys and enjoy refreshments.

Peter Renaday has appeared in many, many films and TV shows. Anyone who has been to Disneyland will have heard Peter's voice announcing the arrival of trains at the Main Street Station, as well as at other attractions in both Disneyland and Disney World. He has provided his voice to a number of animated TV shows and films, including episodes of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Animaniacs, Darkwing Duck, Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, and Transformers.

Burbank Reads...now with Video!

Please take a moment to watch our PSA and learn about our Burbank Reads title for 2008, Rocket Boys.

The Mercury 7: America's First Astronauts

Burbank READS! presents -

A special Learning and Craft Program fo children in First, Second, and Third Grades.

The Mercury 7: America's First Astronauts

Saturday, March 15 from 2:00 - 3:30 PM
Burbank Central Library
110 N. Glenoaks Blvd.
818-238-5610

Space is limited. Please call 818-238-5610 to reserve a spot for your child.

• Learn about the animal poineers who paved the way for manned space flight
• The story of Ham the Astrochimp
• The astronauts and missins of Project Mercury
• See a 1/12 scale model of the Mercury space capsule
• Make a "Retro" rocket mobile
• Refreshments

Burbank READS Blast-off!

Good Afternoon,

We had 91 people attend the Community Blast-off for Burbank READS on Saturday night. Despite the fact it was cool and cloudy all day, the sky cleared enough towards the end of the evening for people to view Saturn through the Sidewalk Astronomers’ telescopes. It was an amazing sight! Prior to that, Bob of the Sidewalk Astronomers delivered an interesting talk and slide show of the heavens and “Dynamite Dave,” the “Astronaut” took a lot of photos with folks and performed magic for the kids.

For more photos from this event go to http://burbankreads08.shutterfly.com/

We hope that we'll see all of you at a future Burbank READS event real soon!

Film Screening - "Space Cowboys"

Burbank Public Library Present

Le Petit Cinema (Little Films with Big Hearts)

Join us for a special Burbank READS tie-in movie matinee of...

Space Cowboys

Space will never be the same!

Starring Tommy Lee Jones, Donald Sutherland, James Garner and Clint Eastwood as the retired members of Team Daedalus, a group of top Air Force test pilots, who in 1958, were ready to serve their country as the first Americans in space but were pushed aside. Now, as a Russian satellite fails and is about to crash into earth, Team Daedalus is back in action in a rescue mission.

Directed by Clint Eastwood, Rated PG-13, run-time is 130 minutes.

When? Saturday, March 8, 2008 at 2:00 PM

Where? Burbank Central Library auditorium, 110 N. Glenoaks Blvd.

After Rocket Boys...

If you've already finished our Burbank Reads selection, don't fret! For those who were sad to leave the Coalwood boys behind, you will be as delighted as I to discover that Homer "Sonny" Hickam actually wrote several memoirs. The next in this series of sorts is The Coalwood Way, which takes us back to his senior year. At first I was wary, thinking "No, I want to know what happens next". Well, there was more to this West Virginia mining town than the launching of rockets. When you read between the lines of the first story, as it were, and drill down further into the life of this boy and town during a particularly tumultuous period, the miracle of rocket flight will mean even more to you. What happens when a young man is searching for the cause of his sadness, the town rails against the Hickam family, and even murder finds its way into this close-knit community? Pick up The Coalwood Way and find out! Look for a review of Sky of Stone, the final book in this saga, in the coming weeks. I'm giving you all a chance to catch up. You're welcome.

5...4...3...2...1...Write On!!!

The Burbank Public Library Presents

5-4-3-2-1... WRITE ON!!!

Creative Journaling Workshop for kids in Grades 4 through 6

Do you like to write stories or poetry? Are you always doodling? A journal is a place to do all of these things and more-it's a book all about YOU!

Join other young writers as we discover ideas to liven up our writing, and create an original masterpiece.

[Journals and pens will be provided at the program]

*Space is limited to 25 creative kids. Please call 818-238-5610 or come to the Library to register.

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

3:30 - 5:00 PM

Burbank Central Library

110 N. Glenoaks Blvd.

818-238-5610

Rocket Boys Related Reading.

Already read “Rocket Boys”? Or has Burbank READS spurred your need to read something related to "Rocket Boys"? Relax, don't worry about what to read next, we have prepared some special Burbank READS book lists for your reading pleasure.

Space Exploration (The Men, the Women and More) – features a selection of biographies [and more] about the men and women of space exploration.

More Books by Homer Hickam Jr. – Loved “Rocket Boys”?, well here are the other fiction and nonfiction books that the library owns by Homer Hickam Jr.

Fiction of the 50's – a selection of some of the best known, most popular and enduring classic fiction books written in the 1950s.

All About the 1950’s – Want to know more about the 1950s? This is the list for you, history, food, décor, music, photographs, cars and more can be found on this list. All with a 1950s twist!

All of these book lists can be found under the Burbank READS link on your iBistro catalog.

Film Screening - "Forbidden Planet".

Burbank Public Library Presents....




Sci-Fi Cinema - 1950s Science Fiction Classics

features a showing of the 1956 movie

Forbidden Planet
"When Adams and his crew are sent to investigate the silence from a planet inhabited by scientists, he finds all but two have died. Dr. Morbius and his daughter Altaira have somehow survived a hideous monster which roams the planet. Unknown to Adams, Morbius has made a discovery, and has not intention of sharing it (or his daughter!) with anyone."

Starring Walter Pidgeon, Anne Francis, Leslie Nielsen and, of course, Robbie the Robot!

When? Friday, March 7, 2008 at 2:00 PM

Where? Central Library auditorium, 110 N. Glenoaks Blvd.