Accessible entertainment

The big news for local libraries this spring is the Big Read, focusing on “The Maltese Falcon,” a book that inspired a film in the genre of movies called film noir.
Beginning in March, libraries in Waynesboro, Staunton and Augusta County will read, explain and explore the novel by Dashiell Hammett. In doing so, participants are sure to learn more about the hardboiled crime and gangster fiction of the late ’30s, ’40s and ’50s, a fiction populated by world-weary private eyes and femme fatales, where heroes are deeply flawed and the authorities are as suspect as the bad guys.

When these stylish books were made into movies, they were heavy on irony, hazy lighting and atmosphere. Film critic Roger Ebert said, at one of recent Virginia Film Festivals in Charlottesville, that he once interviewed noir star Robert Mitchum, who said there was a staff person on the set just to make sure the cigarettes were burning in proper sequence from one cut to another.

In Waynesboro, the library has planned a month-long celebration of the “Maltese Falcon” and film noir, beginning Feb. 28 at 1 p.m., when chainsaw artist Don Blanchard sculpts a Maltese falcon out of a block of wood. After this campy beginning, the library offers a showing of a period films every Friday at 7 p.m., said Marta Grove, the library’s publicity coordinator. Screenings scheduled are:
n March 6 – “The Maltese Falcon” with Humphrey Bogart
n March 13 – “The Killing” directed by Stanley Kubrick
n March 20 – “Out of the Past” with Kirk Douglas and Robert Mitchum
n March 27 – “Double Indemnity” with Barbara Stanwyck and Fred McMurray

There will also be a special Thursday movie night — also at 7— March 12, screening “A View from the Top,” and the regular “Music at the Library” March 10 will feature music from the 1930s.

Later in the month, the Wildlife Center of Virginia will present a program on birds of prey.

The Wednesday night book club at WPL will read the Big Read selection and will gather March 18 to discuss it.

“One really exciting and different thing we’re doing is a murder mystery dessert theater,” said Grove, “with dessert by Stone Soup Books and Café.” The murder story “Sudden Death” will be presented in the film noir fashion (sans cigarettes) by Leet Shakes and Golden Duck Productions on March 28 at 7 p.m.
Grove points out that the flashy nature of this year’s selection may well expose people to libraries and reading who may have forgotten the satisfaction of reading a good book.

“We’re hoping to get a lot of men involved,” she said.

Everyone’s on stage at Augusta County Library’s Big Read. Falcon Out Loud,  is a chapter-a-day read-aloud by volunteers, said Library Assistant Carter Douglass.

“There’s still time to give your own dramatic spin to Hammett’s steamy mystery,” Douglass said. “For another week or so, we are flexible enough to give readers their choice — either of a preferred date or chapter. We’ll begin on March 2, with Chapter One. We’ll provide all readers ahead of time with a copy of ‘The Maltese Falcon.’ ”

These readings will be very casual, Douglass said. The “audience” can listen even as they wander in the stacks or surf the Internet.

Douglass was on staff at the Staunton Library last year when the 2008 Big Read, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” was read aloud.

“Some days we had three or four in attendance and other days there were 30 or more,” she said. “After a month of being read to at noon, many of us had withdrawal pangs when it was over.” Douglass said “Sudden Death” will also be presented there on March 21.

On March 26 at 6:30, Middlebrook Library Station will present Robin and Linda Williams in a spoof of Guy Noir, the private eye made famous in Garrison Keillor’s “A Prairie Home Companion.”

The Staunton Library will also offer Falcon Out Loud this March, with readings by the public every day at noon, said Melissa Davidson, the adult services director.

The Staunton Library will be the scene of The Maltese Falcon Book Heist, where everyone who arrives at a certain time will receive a free book. The heist will take place at every other library as well, including Augusta County, Waynesboro, Middlebrook, Craigsville and Churchville. Contact your library to find out when free copies of “The Maltese Falcon” will be available.

There are many activities scheduled for the Big Read, some taking place at private businesses and public locations other than the libraries, thanks to a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts through the Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge. To view a schedule, visit http://www.communityfoundationcbr.org/v.php?pg81 or pick up a brochure at any library.

The Big Read is only one of the fun and free adult programs offered by area libraries. All of them have active book clubs, monthly music and speakers scheduled regularly. Both the Staunton and the Augusta County libraries have knitting groups. In Staunton, knitters meet Tuesdays at 7 p.m.; in Fishersville they meet Thursdays at 7 p.m.

Library programming fills a huge entertainment gap for those with no extra money for fun.

“We’re seeing circulation up about 25 percent,” said Augusta County Library’s Tammy Colter.

All the libraries are seeing this jump in usage, as people choose free books, videos and books-on-tape. A lot more adult programming is scheduled for April, which is National Library Month. Augusta County will observe National Library Week (April 13-18) with musical groups every afternoon that week.

A display of Found Photos — old pictures and postcards of blacks in Augusta and Highland counties — is on display at Augusta County Library, and the staff challenges the community to come and identify the people in the photographs.

Patrons using the computers at all three libraries are not there primarily to do social networking.

“We’re not seeing people surfing the Internet for fun very much anymore,” said Ruth Arnold, director of the Staunton Public Library.

“We’ve had the Virginia Employment Commission refer people to us because their computers are constantly booked,” said ACL’s Douglass.

That library just completed a couple of classes in MS word and beginning Internet use and will schedule more classes in March.