Library starts “Book-to-Action” series in May

 From the Altadena Library District

Get into the Act!

The community is invited to the Altadena Library’s Book-to-Action series of events, featuring Grandma Gatewood’s Walk by Ben Montgomery, to be held during Older Americans Month in May at the Altadena Main Library and the Altadena Senior Center.

Grandma Gatewood, as the reporters called her, became the first woman to hike the entire Appalachian Trail alone, as well as the first person—man or woman—to walk it twice and three times. Her vocal criticism of the lousy, difficult stretches led to bolstered maintenance, and very likely saved the trail from extinction. Join the Altadena Library in celebrating the older Americans in our own local community by reading Grandma Gatewood’s Walk and engaging in community service work.

The Book-to-Action program is a variation on the traditional library book group—it offers participants not only the opportunity to collectively read and discuss a book and meet a book author, but also to put their newfound knowledge into action by engaging in a community service project or activity related to the book’s topic. Book-to-Action is a project of the California State Library in partnership with the California Center for the Book, and it is being implemented in libraries throughout the State. The project was supported in whole or in part by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian.

DISCUSS the book:
Join local residents to discuss the book, which tells the story of Grandma Gatewood, the first person to hike the entire Appalachian Trail alone. Share with other readers your favorite aspects of the book, and pose questions you’d like to discuss. Get ideas about how you can get involved in community volunteer projects in Altadena.

MEET the author:
Ben Montgomery is an enterprise reporter for the Tampa Bay Times, founder of the narrative journalism website Gangrey.com, and cofounder of the Auburn Chautauqua, a Southern writers’ collective. He was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 2010 and has won many other national writing awards.

GET INVOLVED:
Get involved with Get into the Act! The Altadena Library is organizing volunteers to create customized care packages for local, homebound older Americans. Each volunteer will receive a wish list from an older American which outlines his or her preferences. Volunteers may gather or buy items for a custom care package based on this list (kind of like a volunteer Secret Santa, but in the summer time!). Packages will be delivered to participating older Americans by the end of May. Volunteers may also volunteer to be a reading buddy to these older Americans. Sign up at the main Altadena Library Reference Desk by May 8, 2015!

The Altadena Library District sponsors a Book-to-Action series: 

Get into the Act!

Event Dates

Saturday, May 2

Rethink Possible: Getting a Job at 50+

10:30 a.m., Altadena Library, Barbara J. Pearson Community Room

Wednesday, May 6

Movie Screening: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

2 p.m. Altadena Library, Barbara J. Pearson Community Room

Friday, May 8

Get into the Act! Volunteer Registration Deadline

6 p.m., Altadena Library, Reference Desk

Tuesday, May 12

“No Guilt” Book Club Discussion of Grandma Gatewood’s Walk and The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared

7 p.m.

Altadena Library, Barbara J. Pearson Community Room

Wednesday, May 20

Movie Screening: Philomena

2 p.m., Altadena Library, Barbara J. Pearson Community Room

Saturday, May 23

In Conversation with Patricia Bunin, Senior Moments Columnist

2 p.m., Altadena Library, Barbara J. Pearson Community Room

Saturday, May 30

Meet Author Ben Montgomery

2 p.m., Altadena Senior Center, Multipurpose Room, 560 E. Mariposa St.

The Altadena Main Library is at 600 E. Mariposa Street