Try our Paper Topic Takeaways

Want sound advice about:

•  Mental Health First Aid Helpers (hotlines, centers) in St. Louis City & County

• Building a Better Credit Report
• Savings Fitness: a guide to your money and financial future
• How to Find the Best Credit Card
• Payday Loans and Cash Advances  
• Considering a Reverse Mortgage
• Choosing a Financial Adviser

These booklets, brochures and check-list how-to handouts are available free on special shelves near the new book display in the Social Sciences room. If you want more information on one of these topics, just ask library staff.

Sendak Exhibit-Related Books 4 Adults

Adults may  think all the Art of Maurice Sendak Exhibit-related books can be found in the Children'a,  Biography or Art rooma here at Central, but there's a social sciences tie-in also. (Think psychology and censorship.)
Come take a look for yourself at some of the titles on our special book cart. You can even read Sendak lecture about his ideas, and inspirations  and aspirations for children's book publishing.  Other choices: I magine: how creativity works; Creativity: the perfect crime; or Where Does Art Come from?

"Racial Justice in a Post-Ferguson World"

Come participate in this Sept. 9 Conversation at Central Library (6:30 pm), moderated  by Tim Lloyd of St. Louis Public Radio and featured speakers Susan Balk of Hatebrakers, Sylvester Brown of the Sweet Potato Project and Terrell Carter, author of Walking the Blue Line: a Police Officer Turned Community Activist Provides Solutions to the Racial Divide.
You can find further facts and thoughts on the subject of racial justice in the Social Social Sciences Room has lots of books on the topic. Take a look at the special display cart or ask staff to help you delve in to the social, economic, moral and legal issues encapsulated in the phrase "Racial Justice."

Side Trips on the Grand Tour

Can you guess the Social Sciences room topic tie-in to the Central Library/Campbell House GRAND TOUR exhibit here June 11-Aug. 22? 
We're displaying some beautiful books about the Egyptian religion,  about the development of civilization's great cities, about home and social life in Victorian England, and about some of the most beautiful libraries in Europe (plus discover a couple of surprise volumes you might not expect to find.) 
Stop by the display cart and pick up an intellectual souvenir.

A Wealth of Poetic Muslim Voices...

When you visit the Poetic Voices of the Muslim World Exhibit (April 27 - June 30, in the Entertainment, Literature, and Biography Rm. here at Central Library)  you'll find a richly illustrated history of the central role of poetry in the everyday lives of Muslim men and women around the world. Be sure to get a list of the specially related programs coming up at SLPL during May and June and then come on across the Great Hall to Social Sciences for more backgound on current and historical Islamic religious and political expression.  In addition to our books and magazines on Islam,  you can pick up an updated contact list of St. Louis area Masajid, musallahs and community centers (or click on the "Masajid..." tab above).
                      + take a look at this great online portion of the exhibit 

Aspects of Racism Book Discussion Continues

The Aspects of Racism monthly book group at Central Library will continue its discussion of Paulo Freire's Pedagogy of the Oppressed  May 12. Copies of the book are available now for sign-out--just ask at the desk in the Social Sciences Rm. 
Readers interested in considering what literature can teach us about alleviating racism in our community are invited to gather  at 6:30 pm on the 2nd Tuesday of each month (in conference rm. 2.6 near the computer commons)  St. Louisan Johnathan McFarland moderates the discussion.
Groundwork: Local Black Freedom Movements in America and Fist, Stick, Knife, Gun: A Personal History of Violence are scheduled at future sessions. Copies of both may be signed out at the Social Sciences Rm. desk.

New Buddhist Magazines Available Here

Visitors to the Social Sciences Rm can now browse through the Spring 2015 issues of  two magazines covering the world of Buddhist thought and practice: Buddhadharma, the practitioner's quarterly, and  Shambhala Sun, Buddhist wisdom for our time, now located on the newspaper/magazine/journal shelves near the reference section.  And we continue to make Parabola, Where Spiritual Traditions Meet, available also. The Spring 2015 issue includes an article "The Delusion of Desire" about Buddhism and sexual energies.

Aspects of Racism Book Group Chooses 2nd Book

Aspects of Racism, the monthly literature discussion group led by activist Johnathan McFarland, will wind up it's consideration of  The New Jim Crow at its March 10, 6:30 - 8:30 pm meeting in the 2nd flr. training rm.  here at Central Library and begin discussing Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Freire.
Copies of the book are available to book group participants now--ask staff in the Social Sciences Rm. -- or may be signed out the night of the discussion. Paulo Freire was one of the most significant educational thinkers of the 20th century and this is his central work.  Even if you've read this classic in the past, consider coming to discuss it's effect on you and find out what new readers think.
Other Freire books are also available at the St. Louis Public Libary

Book Group Discusses "Facets of Racism in the U.S. "

Interested in learning and discussing what literature can teach us about racism in our community?  Consider joining the new Facets of Racism in the U.S. book group meeting now at Central Library.  Local activist Johnathan McFarland hosts the discussion.

Participants can get a copy of the group's first book selection, The New Jim Crow, Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander, here at the Social Sciences Room desk on the 2nd floor of Central.

 The next discussion will be Tues. Jan. 20, 2015, from 6-8 pm.  Starting in February, the group will meet every 2nd Tuesday of the month from 6-8 pm and every 4th Saturday of the month from 3:30 - 5:30pm, for those who cannot attend meetings on Tuesdays.

Some other titles being considered for discussion by the group include Fist, Stick, Knife, Gun by Geoffrey Canada, and Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Freire.