Welcome to the Friends of Libraries
We are a parent volunteer group which exists to support the Lower and Middle School library (La Bibliothèque) and the Upper and Middle School Library (The Hub).
We raise funds to provide the US / MS LS libraries with guest authors, poets, storytellers in conjunction with the curriculum.
We provide a program called “Birthday Books”, where parents can buy a book and donate it to the Library in their child’s name.
We sell new children's books.
USED BOOKS DONATIONS & SALES: Donations of English-language books in excellent condition are accepted in the PFA Community Room during its open hours:
- Every day in August/September, 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m
- Mornings throughout the school year, 8:30 - 10:30 a.m
- Afternoons throughout the school year, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Especially desired are childrenʼs books for the LS grades. Used books for all ages are on sale.
Come, browse, buy!
Visiting Authors, Poets and Storytellers:
The following events that have taken place at ASP have been sponsored by the Friends of Libraries (FOL):
April 2, 2010: MS Poetry Day:
Friends of the Libraries (FOL) sponsored three authors who held seminars and workshops throughout the day for all MS students:
Kathryn Hudson is an Irish American poet and writer on her second career. She studied Humanities at Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service and now spends her time writing, acting, and directing and leading workshops.
Knut Bell is an accredited, BMI affiliated, singer/songwriter from Washington state. His last album Wicked, Ornry, Mean and Nasty was produced by Brian Hofeldt (The Derailers) and included band members from Johnny Cash's, Merle Haggard's and George Strait's bands. He has charted on the Americana charts in the US and in Europe.
Heather Hartley is an American writer, an editor with Tin House magazine and an instructor of creative writing at The American University of Paris. Ms. Hartley's first collection of poems, entitled Knock Knock, ranges in the broadest of terms from traditionalist two line stanzas to more modern forms of short prose. The pieces which comprise Knock Knock have been previously published across a broad swath of literary journals: Post Road Magazine, The Los Angeles Review, The St. Petersburg Review, and Pharos Magazine.
February 4th and 5th 2010:
On Thursday, February 4th and Friday, February 5th, the US Library and the Friends of the Libraries (FOL) sponsored a visit from accomplished poet, and poem reader, Stephen Thomas. He worked with US students throughout the day, in conjunction with the launch of the ASP US literary magazine 'Ink'.
At an early age, Mr. Thomas was inspired by poetry readings and he has been trying ever since to provide the same inspiration to others through his poetry, poetry reading and performing poems. Mr.
Thomas has taught at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, Cornish College of the Arts and the University of Washington in Seattle, Biskupske Gymnasium and Aslan Jazykova Skola in the Czech Republic, and the International School of Stuttgart, Germany, where he currently resides.
January 29th 2010:
“Courtney Campbell will warm your heart while solidly tickling your funny bone.”
Courtney Campbell is a master performer and storyteller, writer, singer, songwriter, educator and actor. Her work has inspired a generation of children, teachers and parents. She tours worldwide in schools, theaters, libraries and conferences, giving concerts, keynote speeches and workshops. She stars in the award winning children's television/DVD series Mustard Pancakes which she co-created and co-wrote.
Children say she is really funny and very nice. Teachers say her workshops and keynotes are inspiring, fun, and very useful. “She gives us great ideas on how to use songs and stories and gets-ups to be more playful. She really understands what we need.” Parents say that they have such a good time at Courtney's concerts they are not sure who has more fun, their children or themselves. Courtney's songs and stories come from experiences everyone can understand and from the world of her delightful imagination. Her three CDs, Mustard Pancakes, Red Raincoat and The Camel with a Runny Nose are loved and played over and over in classrooms and homes around the world.
A limited selection of her CDs Mustard Pancakes, Red Raincoat, and the Camel with a Runny Nose were available at school on the day of the performances.
For more information please visit: www.courtneycampbell.com
February 2nd, 2010:
On Tuesday, February 2nd, the Upper School Library, in partnership with the Friends of the Libraries (FOL) and the American Library of Paris, sponsored a visit from award-winning artist and author Kadir Nelson.
Mr. Nelson studied art at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York before beginning his professional career as an artist. He published his work and received commissions from publishers and production studios such as Dreamworks, where he served as a lead conceptual artist for Steven Spielberg’s “Armistad” and “Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron”. He has also published work through Sports Illustrated, Coco-Cola, The United States Postal Service and Major League Baseballl, among others. Nelson spent seven years researching, writing, and painting the history of the Negro Leagues Baseball for his authorial debut, We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball.
Kadir Nelson shared his detailed process of creating the text and art for the book. Sessions were provided to students in all ASP divisions, and parents were welcome to attend the sessions that began at 9:30 am in the PAC.
Books from the author were available for sale.
October 2009
Ted Scheu, renowned children's poet and author of multiple collections of original poetry, visited ASP on Tuesday, October 6, 2009. Mr. Scheu spoke to all LS students during the morning assembly, and then he held a poetry workshop for the 5th grade students.
We hope to have Mr. Scheu visit us again during Poetry Week in April 2010, when he will also work with the MS students.
Read more about Ted Scheu, and excerpts of his poetry collections, at his website: www.poetryguy.com
May 2009:
Kate Coburn, renowned author of 'Letting Go: A Parents' Guide to Understanding the College Years' spoke with ASP's Upper School students and parents as well. She discussed the challenges that lie ahead from senior year in High School through college graduation.
FOL participated toward the total cost of her visit to ASP.
March 2009:
Orel Protopopescu, award-winning author and poet visited ASP. She worked with Lower School students and fascinated them with her sense and style of writing poetry.
www.orelprotopopescu.com
October 2008:
On October 21st & 22nd 2008, Lulu Delacre, a bilingual author and illustrator of childrenʼs books, visited ASP. Ms. Delacre writes in English and Spanish. She worked with LS students and some US classes, as well as some Spanish classes. Read more about Lulu on her website at: http://www.luludelacre.com/
March 2008:
Taylor Mali - teacher and poetry slam strategist http://www.taylormali.com/
January 2007:
Jan Kurtz - renowned children's author
March 2007:
Niall de Burca - popular Irish storyteller http://www.storyteller.ie/index.html
September 2006:
Marc Levitt - writer, storyteller, filmmaker and educator http://www.marclevitt.org/
February 2006:
Janet Mac Donald - author of 'Spellbound'
March 2006:
Jack Prelutsky - inventive children's poet http://www.jackprelutsky.com/
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