Garth Stein, author of "The Art of Racing in the Rain," will visit the Richmond Library, 19 Ross St., in Batavia to answer questions, talk to readers, and autograph copies of his book. The visit begins at 7 p.m., Thursday, March 11.

This event is the 8th annual "A Tale for Three Counties" area-wide book discussion and is open to adults and teens in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties.

Copies of Stein's book will be available for purchase. For more information, contact the library at 343-9550.

The proposed budget for Richmond Memorial Library in Batavia passed handily Tuesday.

A total of 312 voters cast ballots, with 253 approving the budget and 59 against it. The new budget is $1,240,352. The library's plans include possibly increasing its hours of operation.

Incumbent Trustee John McGee, who ran unopposed, won reelection to a five-year term with 291 yes votes.

The library's top four sources of revenue are the school district, gifts/endowments, library fees/printing charges and Genesee County funding.

Library staff expressed a lot of "thanks for the community's generous support."

All are welcome to watch a movie at the library and join in a discussion about it afterward.

Called "Reel Discussions," the program will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 28. It will take place in the Gallery Room at Richmond Memorial Library, located at 19 Ross St., in Batavia.

Due to licensing constraints, the new films shown during Reel Discussions cannot be disclosed to any source outside of the library building itself, according to the director of the library.

Posters advertising the films are posted inside the library, but not elsewhere, including the library's Web site. This is due to so-called Public Performance rights of the film licensing agreements.

For more information, call the library at (585) 343-9550 or log onto www.batavialibrary.org.

All are welcome to watch a movie at the library and join in a discussion about it afterward.

Called "Reel Discussions," the program will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 23. It will take place in the Gallery Room at Richmond Memorial Library, located at 19 Ross St., in Batavia.

Due to licensing constraints, the new films shown during Reel Discussions cannot be disclosed to any source outside of the library building itself, according to the director of the library.

Posters advertising the films are posted inside the library, but not elsewhere, including the library's Web site. This is due to so-called Public Performance rights of the film licensing agreements.

For more information, call the library at (585) 343-9550 or log onto www.batavialibrary.org.

At 7 p.m. Monday, April 27 there will be a book discussion group for adults who enjoy reading mysteries.

The book DEJA DEAD by Kathy Reichs will be the topic of this Mystery Lovers' Monday. Copies of the book can be borrowed at the front desk.

For more information, call Richmond Memorial Library at 343-9550, ext. 8 or log onto www.batavialibrary.org. The library is located at 19 Ross St. in Batavia.

This Wednesday's “Books Sandwiched In” topic (May 20) is forgotten bestsellers from the 1980s.

Frances McNulty and Leslie DeLooze will review Helen Hooven Santmyers' "...and Ladies of the Club" and James Herriot's "The Lord God Made Them All."

The free program is held from 12:10 to 1 p.m. in the Gallery Room of Richmond Memorial Library, located at 19 Ross St., in Batavia.

Friends of the Library are the sponsors and will supply coffee, tea and cookies. Bring your own lunch. All are welcome

For more information, call the library at (585) 343-9550, ext. 8 or log on to www.batavialibrary.org.

This Wednesday's "Books Sandwiched In" topic will be forgotten bestsellers from the 1950s.

Reviews will be presented by Sue Briggs and Sandra Gillard, who will talk about Daphne Du Maurier’s “My Cousin Rachel” and Anne Morrow Lindbergh’s “Gift from the Sea.” 

All are welcome. It's free. Bring lunch. Coffee, tea and cookies are provided by the hosts, Friends of the Library.

It's from 12:10 to 1 p.m. April 29 in the Gallery Room at Richmond Memorial Library, 19 Ross St., in Batavia.

For more information, call the library at (585) 343-9550, ext. 8 or log on to www.batavialibrary.org.

The May 27 "Books Sandwiched In" topic will be forgotten bestsellers from the 1990s.

Reviews will be given by Mary Pat Hancock and Diana Wyrwa who'll talk about J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter books and Thomas J. Stanley's "The Millionaire Next Door."

The free program is held in the Gallery Room at Richmond Memorial Library, 19 Ross St. in Batavia. Time is 12:10 to 1 p.m. Bring a lunch. Coffee, tea and cookies are provided.

All welcome.  For more information, call the library at (585) 343-9550, ext. 8 or log on to www.batavialibrary.org.
 

From Richmond Memorial Library:

The National Education Association is once again sponsoring Read Across America. This is a nationwide reading celebration held annually in conjunction with Dr. Seuss’ Birthday. Now in its twelfth year, the program focuses on the importance of motivating children to read and helping them master the skills necessary for reading literacy.

Dr. Seuss is turning 105 this year! Join Richmond Memorial Library in Batavia as we celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday. Richmond Memorial Library will be joining thousands of schools, libraries, and community centers across the nation on March 2^nd to promote the importance of reading across America.

Please join us at the library to celebrate this exciting event. Special visitor, the Cat in the Hat will be visiting the library for stories, games, crafts and fun. We will be celebrating with a birthday cake and beverages. The library will also be giving away treat bags for every child in attendance. Please RSVP for this exciting event being held in the children’s room at Richmond Memorial Library March 2^nd at 6:30 P.M. To register call the library at 343-9550 extension 4.

*On March 2, the National Education Association is calling for every child to be reading in the company of a caring adult. We hope you can join us!*

From Richmond Memorial Library:

Celebrate Women’s History Month with the American Girls at the Richmond Memorial Library. Every Saturday in March we will explore the era of a different American Girl through games, skits, crafts, and snacks. We will discuss the character’s book and time period, so be sure to start reading or re-read the series. 3/7 @ 10:30am *Meet Molly, *3/14 @ 10:30am *Meet Addy, *3/21 @ 10:30am *Meet Kirsten, *3/28 @ 10:30am *Meet Felicity.* Recommended for ages 7 and up. Please be sure to register early 585-343-9550 x4.

From Richmond Memorial Library:

Chocolate Saturday, Feb.14th, 10:30am at the Richmond Memorial Library, Batavia. Join us in the Children’s Room for valentine crafts, games and snack. Bring the family, all ages are welcome. Please register, we want to have enough chocolate. Call 343-9550 x4.

From Richmond Memorial Library:

Mystery Lovers’ Mondays, a book discussion group for adults, will meet on Monday, January 26 at 7:00 p.m. at Richmond Memorial Library, 19 Ross St., Batavia.  The book to be discussed is SEPARATE FROM THE WORLD by P.L. Gaus, which is also the selected title for “A Tale for Three Counties” 2009.  Copies of the book may be borrowed at the front desk.   For more information, call the library at 343-9550, ext. 8 or log onto www.batavialibrary.org.

From Richmond Memorial Library:

Snuggle up with the kids and relax with Richmond Memorial Library’s January Family Matinee series. Bring the whole family, pack a blanket and picnic lunch. We will be showing G-rated newly released to DVD films in the Children’s Room. Saturday’s at 1:00pm, January 3 & 17 and 31. Call the Children’s Room 343-9550 x4 for title information.

If you're looking for something to do to keep from going stir crazy this winter, you may want to visit our Announcements section. We've always got fresh info posted on upcoming events and happenings around the county. Just today we got up event listings for Richmond Memorial Library and the Cornell Cooperative Extension. Lots going at both. Be sure to check them out!

For those of you hosting happenings, there are instructions on the Announcements page on how to post your news to that section. For more detailed video instructions on posting your own blog, please visit our Help page.

From Richmond Memorial Library:

As you plan your New Year schedule don’t forget the importance of reading. The best way to prepare your child for school is to introduce books at an early age. The Richmond Memorial Library is here to help by offering story sessions at a variety of times and for many age levels. The staff at the library realizes young children are not ready to just sit quietly and listen to stories. Even if they are great listeners at home - a group situation is much different. In a group setting there are many exciting things to look at and distractions of all kinds. We also know that all children are all different, especially when they are very young. The storytime programs try to accommodate these differences and make reading a fun experience for parent and child. A quiet story session is held for the shy child on Tuesdays with Wednesday sessions for the more exuberant child. All storytimes contain music, puppets, and various activities to allow interaction between the children and adults. These activities are free and open to the public. The programs include:

Baby Bounce held Tuesdays at 9:30am (pre-walkers)

Toddler Time held Tuesdays at 10:30am (quieter walkers –3 years)

Moms & Moppets held Wednesdays at 9:30am (active 1-3 years)

Tiny Tots held Wednesdays at 10:30am (active 1-3 years)

Preschool Party held Thursdays at 10:00am (3-5 years)

Pajama Primetime held Thursdays at 6:30pm (all ages)

Registration for all of these series will begin on January 2, 2009. Storytime sessions will begin the week of January 12th.

To register for one of these sessions, or for more information, parents may call the Library at 343-9550 ext. 4, or stop in at the Children's Room desk during Library hours: (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday) 9AM - 9PM, (Friday ) 9AM - 5PM and 9am-5pm. Register early, as group size is limited.

From the Richmond Memorial Library:

Date: December 10, 2008

Re: Nearly New Year’s Party

Why should adults have all the fun on New Year’s Eve? This year children can help ring in the New Year at the Richmond Memorial Library. Families are invited to the Children’s Room on December 31 from 11am –12 (noon of course) to celebrate at a “Nearly New Year’s Party”. Festive games, foods, and crafts are planned for this special occasion. So don’t let 2009 come without some fanfare. Call the library at 585-343-9550 ext. 4 and make your reservation today.

From the Richmond Memorial Library:

Sponsor:  Richmond Memorial Library, 19 Ross St., Batavia

Event:  Adult Book Discussion

Place:  Richmond Memorial Library

Date & Time:  Wednesday, January 14 7:45 a.m.*

Other Information:  The Adult Book Discussion Group will meet at Richmond Memorial Library, 19 Ross Street, Batavia on Wednesday, January 14 at 7:45 a.m. to discuss THE GREAT GATSBY by F. Scott Fitzgerald.  Books are available at the front desk. Refreshments served.  For more information, call the library at 343-9550, ext. 8 or log onto www.batavialibrary.org.

*a.m. is correct—we meet early!

From the Richmond Memorial Library:

*Boys and Books:* The GRO program of the Richmond Memorial Library will offer a parent workshop that addresses the gender literacy gap and offers suggestions to parents of boys for fostering reading. This program will be held at 7:00 on Thursday, November 6, in the Gallery Room at the library. To register, call 343-9550 extension 4. Limited child care is available.

Rainy days and chilly mornings don't make for garden walk weather. That's fine. Richmond Memorial Library has got you covered. Wednesday is a bit of a double feature at the library on Ross Street.

Author E. Robert Fussell will be stopping by in the afternoon for the next session of Books Sandiwched In, the library's literary lunchtime book chat. Fussell is the editor of Unbridled Cowboy, which is based on his grandfather's memoirs.

Anyone interested in hearing more about that book can stop by the library's Gallery Room at 12:10pm. The session runs until 1:00pm, and folks are encouraged to bring their lunch. Coffee, tea and cookies will be provided. This event is free, and all are welcome. Call (585) 343-9550 for more information.

Then, in the evening, the library will host its 100th Anniversary Celebration of Anne of Green Gables, from 6:00 to 8:00pm in the Gallery Room.

Activities for this event include a cookie baking contest, an old-time spelling bee starting at 6:00 p.m. and an intergenerational book discussion at 7:00 p.m.  Copies of the book are available at the front desk.  For information on the cookie contest and the spelling bee, please stop by the library or call (585) 343-9550, ext. 4.

Visit the library's Web site to find out more about these and other upcoming events.

Richmond Memorial Library will host a book lunch today in the library's Gallery Room at 19 Ross Street in Batavia. Folks are encouraged to come by to hear Bill Kauffman talk about his new book (that's it here to the right) while they eat lunch. They call it "Books Sandwiched In," and it starts at 12:10pm and runs to about 1:00pm, long enough to get a healthy dose of culture, but not too long that you can't make it on your lunch break from work.

From the press release:

Bill Kauffman will talk about his new book, Forgotten Founder, Drunken Prophet: The Life of Luther Martin. The Friends of the Library co-sponsor this free program. Bring your lunch; coffee, tea and cookies are provided.  All welcome. For more information, call the library at (585) 343-9550, ext. 8 or log on to www.batavialibrary.org.