Skidompha Public Library

“Ikiru” (1952), starring Takashi Shimura, Shinichi Himori, Haruo Tanaka and Minoru Chiaki will be shown at 4:00 and 7:30 PM, Monday, July 26, at Skidompha Library’s Porter Meeting Hall, Elm Street entrance. Please note the 4:00 PM start for the first screening of this film.

While Ikiru is undeniably a Japanese made film, it is equally undeniable that it is a very Western film, produced seven years after the utter destruction of a good deal of that country, including the dropping of nuclear weapons on two of its largest cities. The irony in this is the fact that unlike Ugetsu, which was produced in 1954, and dealt with the period of upheaval during the civil wars of the 16th century in Japan, Ikiru is straight out of the likes of The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit, about which one reviewer has this to say: The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit film leaves its viewer, even today, with an overwhelming feeling of regret – regret for wasting life on work, worry and the pursuit of happiness, in lieu of actual happiness.

IMDb reviewer OttoVonB from Switzerland on the other hand offers this: Ikiru (“to live”) is a Kurosawa film devoid of samurai or Toshiro Mifune … It is the simple and touching story of the last months of the life of a man, Kanji Watanabe, public official, who decides to give a meaning to his life by transcending the obtuse and stiff mind of government bureaucracy to get a small public children’s park built. As a parable for the soulless workings of modern bureaucracy … Kurosawa gives this story character, humor, and most of all, heart … The central performance by Takashi Shimura (later Kambei in Seven Samurai) gives his character such transparent goodness and such great pain that every second of Watanabe’s plight and struggle tugs at your heart, not in an overly sentimental manner, but in one that feels honest and pure.

Screenings of Ikiru will be in Japanese with English subtitles at both 4:00 and 7:30 PM, Monday, August 23 at Skidompha’s Porter Meeting Hall, Elm Street entrance.

A $5 donation will help maintain and increase Skidompha’s classic film collection.

The Skidompha Used-Book Shop in Damariscotta is normally closed on Sundays, but will hold special end-of-summer hours on Sundays, August 22 and 29 and September 5, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

And just in time for back-to-school shopping, all books in the Reference section will be on sale for half price from Sunday, August 22 through Saturday August 28.

The Reference section offers more than 200 volumes including dictionaries, thesauruses, usage manuals, atlases, and desk encyclopedias, as well as general reference books in art, history, health, and religion.

According to volunteer shopkeeper Janice Lindsay, who oversees the Reference section, “Not everybody gets as excited about reference books as I do. But if you like to look things up, or browse in reference books to discover subjects you don’t know anything about, this is the place for you.

“Besides,” she adds, “some of our reference books are pretty hefty. They can serve double duty as impressive doorstops or booster seats. Or, as Rosie Bensen, co-manager of the shop suggests, you could read them as a cure for insomnia.”

The bookshop is a major fund-raiser for the Skidompha Public Library. It offers about 13,000 books in hardcover and paperback. All books are donated, all staff members are volunteers, and all proceeds go to the library.

The bookshop is located in the Red Barn on Elm Street, just up the hill from the library’s back door. It’s open Monday through Friday 10 to 4 and Saturday 10 to 1, with special Sunday hours, 10 to 2, through September 5. For more information phone the shop at 563-7807, or hover your cursor over the “Support” tab above and click on the “Second Hand Book Shop link.

Woody, a friend of Tom Quaranto in Edgecomb, died in 1998. A brick engraved in his memory is embedded in the walkway outside the front door of Skidompha. It reads “Great Dog Woody.”

Anyone may have their name—or anyone else’s—engraved in stone, with the purchase of a brick for the walkways leading to Skidompha Public Library in Damariscotta. Proceeds from the sale support the library.

Tom Quaranto of Edgecomb has purchased three bricks to memorialize past canine companions Woody, Clancy and Homah. “Dogs are the definition of joyful,” says Quaranto, who always owns a yellow and a chocolate Labrador retriever. “They teach you how to live life, to enjoy the moment. When Woody died, I wanted to memorialize him somehow. I’m a big fan of libraries in general and of this library in particular. It was a perfect opportunity.

“The Skidompha library is the linchpin of the community,” he adds. “Besides books, it has kids’ programs, Internet access, movies, music, theater—such a diversity of things to do. How could you not support that?”

The library began to offer the bricks when it opened in May 2001. Many of the bricks have been purchased, but there’s still plenty of room for other donors who’d like to see their names, the names of family members, pets’ names, or words of wisdom engraved on the bricks.

A 4- x 8-inch brick with one line of 15 characters costs $50, or $100 for two lines. An 8 x 8 cornerstone with three lines may be had for $300. Special characters like paw prints and hearts are $10 extra. For more information, contact the library at 563-5513, or visit “Buy a Brick” in the “Support” section of the library’s Web site, www.skidompha.org.

Summer brings a fast-paced schedule of events at your favorite library–or so it seems! Actually, the pace of activity at never really slows down here. All year long our awesome staff, amazing volunteers and incredible friends are always busy with one program or another. And add to that the wonderful lineup of programs and events that use the library as their venue and there’s rarely a period when something fun or fascinating–frequently both–happening @Skidompha.

Fifi Richards "Onions" quilt on display through August

This week, for example, we have our regularly scheduled Monday night FilmFest, with two showings (5 PM and 7:30 PM). This week’s movie is “The Magician,” the 1958 film staring Max von Sydow, Ingrid Thulin and Gunnar Björnstrand. Scroll down for details in an earlier blog post.

And the wonderful artwork of our dear late friend Fifi Richards will be on display until the end of August. Fifi was an award-winning fiber artist whose unique, innovative quilts capture the imagination and admiration of fellow quilters and the general public as well. Now, seven of her quilts are on display at Skidompha Public Library, where she was a valued volunteer for 25 years. At the end of August, the quilts will be returned to her husband, Charley, who loaned them to the library. But a commemorative note card is available at the library with a print of one of her most intricate and appealing works. “Honey, I’m Home” depicts three elegant swans on a wooded pond. All proceeds from the sale of the card go to the library.

Richards, who often took her inspiration from nature, was a resident of Newcastle. She died in 2008 at age 85. Her other quilts on display—in addition to “Honey, I’m Home,” are “Rose Hips,” “Let It Snow” (a cardinal against a snowy background), “Onions,” “Sweet Peas,” “Melons,” and, “Flowers in a Box.”

Fifi was such a joy to work with. She was a dear friend and a loyal volunteer. We still miss her. But we can feel her presence in her beautiful, inventive quilts hanging in our Atrium. We encourage people to come in and enjoy them while they’re here.

Meanwhile, time is running out–literally! If you haven’t had a chance to check out the workings of the town clock before it is hoisted back to its home in the Baptist church steeple, well, you probably never will again! The clock, which has spent the last several years as a guest in the library is a fascinating reminder of (gotta say it) “times gone by.”

Nationally recognized maritime artist Loretta Krupinski, this week’s Chats with Champions guest, will talk about her book, “Looking Astern; an Artist’s View of Maine Historic Waterfronts.” Ms. Krupinski will be at The Maine Coast Book Shop on Tuesday, August 3rd at 5 pm to sign copies of her beautiful new book, written by Ms. Krupinski and published by Down East, contains 40 of her paintings and 21 historical photos. At 6:30 pm, she will be speaking about her book and art at Skidompha Library as part of the Chats with Champions series.

And next Monday (August 9), the Monday night FilmFest continues with two showings of “Trio” (1950), starring James Hayter, Kathleen Harrison, Anne Crawford, Nigel Patrick, Jean Simmons and Michael Rennie. Trio is the second collection of film versions of the short stories of W. Somerset Maugham, the first set being Quartet (1948). The three stories are The Verger, Mr. Know-All, and Sanatorium, and as before, the author introduces each film.

Although one might be tempted to discuss the plots of these three stories in some detail, in this case, the less said the better, not, we must add, due to any shortcomings of the stories or the justice done in portraying the characters involved. To the contrary, both are flawless, and a joy to watch.

“Trio” will be shown at 5:00 and 7:30 PM, Monday, August 9, at Skidompha’s Porter Meeting Hall, Elm Street entrance. A $5 donation will help maintain and increase Skidompha’s classic film collection.

So–please stop by!

“The Magician” (1958), starring Max von Sydow, Ingrid Thulin and Gunnar Björnstrand will be shown at 5:00 and 7:30 PM, Monday, August 2, at Skidompha Library’s Porter Meeting Hall, Elm Street entrance.

While Ingmar Bergman’s The Magician deals with the conflict between illusion and reality, along the lines of the more recent, The Illusionist (2006), for example, it does so with more humor than is generally the case for such fare – humor and the utmost cleverness. And while both of these films play out in the 19th century, the action takes place in two distinctly different parts of Europe, The Illusionist in Vienna and The Magician obviously in Sweden, the former taking advantage of the lush scenery and architecture of middle Europe for the setting, and the latter the outright spookiness and simplicity of the Nordic countryside, to say nothing of the locals themselves.

And yet, when all is said and done, the illusion/reality dichotomy of these two rather different films bears an eerie similarity, in both cases pitting the illusionist, played by Max von Sydow in the Magician, against the scientist, played by Gunnar Björnstrand, the latter believing he understands the workings of the human mind, and the former out to show he is mistaken.

Screenings of The Magician will be in Swedish with English subtitles at both 5:00 and 7:30 PM, Monday, August 2 at Skidompha’s Porter Meeting Hall, Elm Street entrance. A $5 donation will help maintain and increase Skidompha’s classic film collection. See you there!

On July 31, 1935, the first Penguin paperback was issued in England, beginning what is sometimes called the “modern paperback revolution.” Before too long, high-quality, affordable paperback books were available everywhere.

To honor 75 years of paperback books, Skidompha Second-Hand Bookshop in Damarsicotta is holding a special three-day sale. Every paperback in the store will be on sale at half price on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, July 29, 30, and 31. This includes thousands of volumes of fiction and non-fiction, in nearly ever category, for readers of all ages.

The Skidompha bookshop is a major fund-raiser for the Skidompha Public Library. It offers about 13,000 books. All books are donated, all staff members are volunteers, and all proceeds go to the library.

The bookshop is located in the Red Barn on Elm Street, just up the hill from the library’s back door. It’s open Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday 10 to 1.

For more information phone the shop at 563-7807.

A League of Their Own ( 1992, PG, 128 min.) is a thoroughly entertaining comedy about the women’s baseball league that sprang up when male ballplayers were off fighting WW II (and existed until 1954).

Director Penny Marshall handles her actors with aplomb. The outstanding ensemble includes Geena Davis, Madonna, Tom Hanks, Tea Leoni, Bill Pullman, Rosie O’Donnell and Jon Lovitz.

Davis and Madonna stand out among the first rate cast, with Hanks giving a terrific comedic performance as the drunken ex-baseball star team manager.

This is the best type of fiction; it takes its inspiration from the real-life story of the All American Girls Professional Baseball League, and sheds light on a neglected chapter of women’s sports history.

The movie’s filled with memorable moments, witty dialog, and agreeable sentiment as the Rockford Peaches, a colorful bunch of underdogs, goes on the road. And just remember: there’s no crying in baseball!

This popular film won an American Comedy Award (Hanks for Funniest Supporting Actor) and was nominated for several Golden Globes, a Grammy, and an MTV Movie Award.

Attendees are asked to donate $5. Donations are used to increase Skidompha Library’s collection of popular films. Enter the library’s Porter Meeting Hall via the Elm St. entrance. Flix are monthly on the fourth Tuesday at 7:00 pm. The upcoming schedule includes “Fifty First Dates” and “”Chocolat.” For more information call 563-5513.

“Ugetsu” (1954), starring Masayuki Mori, Machiko Kyô, Kinuyo Tanaka, and Eitarô Ozawa will be shown at 5:00 and 7:30 PM, Monday, July 26, at Skidompha Library’s Porter Meeting Hall, Elm Street entrance.

While many filmgoers are familiar with Akira Kurosawa’s “Seven Samurai,” and the influence it had on filmmaking both within and outside Japan (John Sturges’ The Magnificent Seven was essentially a western version of the same story, with the Japanese Samurai replaced by American gunslingers), there was another, very different side to Japanese postwar films that found their way into the US during the 1950s and 60s. These were not action films, in the usual sense of the term, but rather serious works that probed human behavior at fundamental, and yet common levels to reveal human folly. “Ugetsu,” frequently called the most beautiful film ever made, is arguably the hallmark of this genre, and its director, Kenji Mizoguchi, its master.

The full Japanese name of the film is Ugetsu monogatari, which may be translated as Tales of Moonlight and Rain, and its story takes place during the period of turmoil in Japan in the late sixteenth century marked by incessant civil war and upheaval. The main characters are the peasant couples Genjurô, a potter, and his wife, Miyagi, and Tôbei and his wife Ohama. When war comes to a neighboring town, the two couples attempt to take advantage of the situation to reap high profits on the sale of Genjurô’s pottery, thereby becoming embroiled in the chaos and suffering wrought by the conflict, with unimagined tragedy for all concerned.

Ugetsu won the Silver Lion Award for Best Direction at the Venice Film Festival in 1953. The film appeared in Sight and Sound magazine’s top ten critics poll of the greatest movies ever made, which is held once every decade, in 1962 and 1972. In 2000, The Village Voice newspaper ranked Ugetsu 29th on their list of the 100 best films of the 20th century.

Screenings of Ugetsu will be in Japanese with English subtitles at both 5:00 and 7:30 PM, Monday, July 26 at Skidompha’s Porter Meeting Hall, Elm Street entrance. A $5 donation will help maintain and increase Skidompha’s classic film collection.

Anyone interested in clockworks and gears might want to visit the atrium of the Skidompha Public Library in the very near future to view the inner workings of the Damariscotta town clock — before it’s too late.

The clock sat high in the steeple of the Damariscotta Baptist Church from the day of its installation in 1885 until the steeple was taken down for repairs in 2007. The clockworks were removed at that time and have been on display at the library.

Now the steeple is about go back on the church, and the clock is about to go back in the steeple.

According to the library’s executive director Pam Gormley, “Quite a few people have stopped by to see the clock’s inner mechanism. The clock was high in the steeple for more than 120 years. Let’s hope it will be there another 120 years at least. It’s the last chance most of us will ever have to see how it works.”

In case you hadn’t heard lately, librarians are WAAAAY cool. More than ever, in fact. Want some proof?

How about   Librarians Do Gaga.

Or this: WaWoodworth, The Old Spice Guy says a few words on Libraries.

Want more proof? Take a look at this item from NPR, Why The Next Big Pop-Culture Wave After Cupcakes Might Be Libraries. Read the rest of this entry »