Colorful program guides in paper format are available at any library location. The guide is also available in pdf.

The Everglades: Through the Eyes of a Hydrologist
Wednesday, January 16, 2 p.m.
Robert V. Sobczak, a hydrologist with the National Park Service and editor of SFWJ, gives a first-hand tour into the inner-circle of the Everglades famous water cycle. Learn how to track the complex inner working of the wetlands and waterways in the Kissimmee-Okeechobee-Everglades and adjacent Big Cypress watersheds. Bring an umbrella!

Wild Fire, by Nelson DeMille
Thursday, January 17, 2 p.m.
Book discussion moderated by librarian Marilyn McKay
An antiterrorist agent is missing and NYPD detective John Corey and FBI agent Kate Mayfield are sent to find him. Soon they learn of a plot by an American right-wing group to suitcase-nuke two U.S. cities. The idea is to provoke an existing government plan called Wild Fire sending nuclear missiles to the Middle East.

Monarch Butterflies
Wednesday, January 23, 2 p.m.
Every year up to 300 million Monarch butterflies migrate. Join Carol Haberkern writer and nature photographer and learn about this graceful insect’s phenomenal life cycle and migration. Additional butterfly information will be presented in this multi-media program.

European Contact, Conquest, and Catastrophe
Thursday, January 24, 2 p.m.
For the Native people living in Florida in the year 1519, Europeans were a strange apparition. Their curiosity soon turned to fear and hatred as more of them came ashore with their unfamiliar animals, weapons, and behavior. David Southall, Collier County Museum Curator of Education, leads this discussion of the major attempts to colonize Florida by the French, English and Spanish during the sixteenth century.

Great Chorale Music
Wednesday, January 30, 2 p.m.
Much of the finest choral music has been written for the church. Prior to 1600 composers regularly chose ribald street songs as the foundation for a Mass setting. Gabrieli’s setting of Verspers for divided choirs and orchestra in St. Mark’s, Venice in 1610 is typical. This program, with ample musical examples, surveys this great repertoire. Presented by cultural historian Gordon Greene, with 40 years experience teaching music history and aesthetics at the university level.

The Exotic Everglades … a Work in Progress
Thursday, January 31, 2 p.m.
Explore the unusual factors of a vast, complex system of water, climate, and geology unique to South Florida. It includes the mysterious plant life of a cypress swamp, and the effect of dramatic fires on the ecology. A study of the past and present, with expectations for the future, are offered in a visual presentation of facts, narrative and dramatic images, forming an uncomplicated yet informative overview of the Everglades, presented by Len Messineo, Kohout Nature Award winning nature photographer and lecturer.

Opera for Everyone: Beginning with Giacomo Puccini
Wednesday, February 6, 2 p.m.
Dr. Ron Bowman, president of the Naples Opera Society and vice president of Hodges University, presents a multimedia lecture on the most popular opera composer, Giacomo Puccini, and entering the world of opera for beginners.

Marjory Stoneman Douglas, "Mother of the Everglades"
Thursday, February 7, 2 p.m
An author, newspaper writer, and volunteer Red Cross worker during the First World War, Ms. Douglas made Southwest Florida the center of political and environmental controversy for the better part of the 20th Century. Her book, River of Grass is still considered the most authoritative work on the Florida Everglades. Come enjoy her peppery personality and learn of her keen intelligence as she is portrayed in her advanced years by Bonnie Bozzo.

Sentimental Journey
Wednesday, February 13, 2 p.m.
Take Four, with lead guitarist and vocalist Jane Galler, vocalist Joy Spivak, Art Isenberg on piano, and Arnold Saslavsky on drums presents “Sentimental Journey,” music and songs from the 40’s and 50’s. Come stroll down memory lane with some of the great songs that brought us through the war years and into the television years.

Infidel, by Ayaan Hirsi Ali
Thursday, February 14, 2 p.m.
Book discussion moderated by librarian Marilyn McKay
Extraordinary story of a woman born into a family of desert nomads, educated by radical imams, taught to believe terrible tragedies would occur if she uncovered her hair and how she transformed herself into an internationally renowned spokeswoman for the rights of Muslim women.

Adopt A Pet Program @ the Library
Saturdays, February 16, & April 19, 1 p.m.
Looking for a loving kitten or dog? Personnel from Domestic Animal Services will be here to answer your pet questions. Animals will be available for adoption for a small fee of $58 for dogs and $48 for cats. The fee includes a county license, neutering, vaccinations and microchip ($400 value).

Bestselling Author, Local Author, Local Settings
Wednesday, February 20, 2 p.m.
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of 44 books, Karen Harper discusses her three romantic suspense novels set in SW Florida. A twenty-three year East Naples snowbird, her talk focuses on Below the Surface, Hurricane and Black Orchid. A question and answer period and book signing follows.

"Que Sera, Sera"—Remembering Doris Day
Thursday, February 21, 2 p.m.
Since 1988, Damaris Peters Pike has portrayed "Women of Note". Contrary to the popular image of the smiling girl next door, Doris Day’s story is full of pain and sorrow along with great success. This recounting of her youth in Cincinnati, her start as a big band singer (later a hit recording artist), and amazing rise to stardom in movies includes several well-loved songs associated with the star, such as “It’s Magic,” “My Secret Love” and “Sentimental Journey.”

Sonny DeRee’s Life Flashes Before His Eyes, by Bill Bozzone
Wednesday, February 27, 2 p.m.
This play tells the edgy comic tale of Sonny DeRee’s a failed bookmaker -- not evil, just unwise; Mick Reilly, a former Blimpies’ employee and hired collector/killer, and Emma DeRee, Sonny’s Mom, who is a worldly widow and bait-shop owner. Brad Goetz, Len Backer and Jane Kahn are the cast and Joe Moran is the director. All are members of The Naples Players and Readers Theatre.

Famous Black Floridians
Thursday, February 28, 2 p.m.
Persons of African ancestry have made major contributions to the history and culture of Florida. Join David Southall, Collier County Museum Curator of Education in recognizing their accomplishments and remembering their struggles.

Florida’s Delicious History: A Gastronomic Journey through Modern Florida
Wednesday, March 5, 2 p.m. 
A Florida Humanities Council Program
Andrew Huse assistant librarian at the University of South Florida’s Special Collections offers a gustatory romp through modern Florida cuisine, with a look back at union soup houses, African American jook joints, shady speakeasies, drive-in burger stands, barbecue pits, fish fries, and palaces of luxurious leisure. From the rarefied cuisine of the super-rich to the humble home-style foods of city and hamlet, food habits queasy and quirky are explored.

Fascinatin’ Rhythms: The Music of Gershwin and Ellington
Thursday, March 6, 2 p.m.
This live performance of concert vocalist Perley Rousseau and pianist Sonny Daye is filled with warmth and humor. It highlights the music of great American composers George and Ira Gershwin and Duke Ellington. Stories about the music and composers and favorite songs such as: Fascinatin’ Rhythm, I’ve Got a Crush on You, Mood Indigo and many others are included.

From the Commissioner’s Viewpoint – Donna Fiala
Wednesday, March 12, 2:00 p.m.
Join Commissioner Fiala as she offers stories of East Naples past, the present and her vision of the future. Donna Fiala graduated from West Tech High School in Cleveland, Ohio, and then moved to Naples in 1974 where she raised five children, who all graduated from the Collier County school system. After serving for several years on various local committees and civic associations, Ms. Fiala was elected as Collier County Commissioner for District 1 in 2000 and then re-elected in November of 2004. Commissioner Fiala feels the heartbeat of East Naples and the people she serves.

Sea Shells of Southwest Florida
Thursday, March 13, 2 p.m.
This program teaches about the incredible variety of shells that can be found on Southwest Florida beaches. Randy McCormick, Education Coordinator, Rookery Bay Estuarine Research Reserve helps hone identification skills while learning interesting facts about the animals that call these shells home.

Kabul Beauty School, by Deborah Rodriguez and Kristin Ohlson
Wednesday, March 19, 2 p.m.
Book discussion moderated by Marilyn McKay
This colorful, suspenseful and funny book takes readers in to the curious closed world of Afghan women. The author goes to Afghanistan in 2002, volunteering as a nurse’s aide, but soon finds that her skill as a hairdresser is more in demand.

Introduction to Astronomy
Thursday, March 20, 2 p.m. 
Astronomy is one of the few sciences where amateurs contribute regularly. Learn what is known about Black Holes and Neutron stars. Join David Southall, Collier County Museum Curator of Education, for an explanation of the objects that astronomers find so interesting.

Florida Wildlife
Wednesday, March 26, 2 p.m.
Local artist Heidi Saletko creates animal art from recycled palm tree material. Join her for this hands-on class. Class size is limited. Materials provided.

Flower Arranging – Tropical Arrangement
Wednesday, April 2, 2 p.m.
Meg Kerrigan, Master Designer, Pavilion Flower Shop, teaches the class how to choose the right container, flowers and colors to create a tropical floral arrangement. Class size is limited. Materials provided.

Stamping
Thursday, April 3, 1 p.m.
A beginner / refresher rubber stamping class with Randy Schoolcraft of Stampin n Scrappin. Class size is limited. Materials provided.

English Reminiscences: Afternoon Tea with the Mitchells
Tuesday, April 8, 2 p.m.
Join British natives Christine and Ian Mitchell as they share experiences of growing up, living and visiting England. Enjoy a cup of English tea and cookies while reflecting on their memories of beautiful countryside mornings and conversation-filled evenings.

Introduction to Decorative Painting
Wednesday, April 16, 6:30 p.m.
Join Barbara Englund and instructors for a hand-on class on the basics of decorative Tole painting. Class size is limited. Materials provided

The Calusa: Mound Builders of Pre-Columbian Florida
Thursday, April 10, 2 p.m.
Contemporary to the Aztec and Inca cultures, the Calusa developed a stratified society without the benefit of agriculture. In the early 1500s Spanish explorers arrived in Florida to find Calusa hegemony over the entire southern half of the Florida peninsula. David Southall, Collier County Museum Curator of Education, talks about their unique shell-tool technology and resistance to Spanish political domination.

Suite Francaise, by Irene Nemirovsky
Thursday, April 17, 2 p.m.
Book discussion moderated by librarian David Chalick 
Celebrated in pre-WWII France for her bestselling fiction, the Jewish Russian-born Nemirovsky was sent to Auschwitz in the summer of 1942, months after this long-lost masterwork was composed. This gripping "suite" about life in occupied France has surfaced more than six decades after her death.

Knitting-Evening Bag
Thursday, April 24, 2 p.m.
Nancy Camposano, owner of Knitting with Nancy, will demonstrate how to knit a small evening bag. Attendees need to know how to knit and bring a pair of #5 knitting needles to the class. Class size is limited. Materials provided.

Dance – Salsa
Wednesday, April 30, 6:30 p.m.
Salsa refers to a fusion of informal dance styles having roots in the Caribbean. Join dance instructor, E. J. LoPresti and learn the basic steps in Salsa dancing. Ms. LoPresti has been choreographing for the theater and teaching dance for over 25 years.

The War of 1812
Thursday, May 8, 2 p.m.
The infant country of the United States goes to war with military giant Great Britain. How could the ragtag US army and navy win a war with the most powerful nation in the world by losing nearly every battle? David Southall, Collier County Museum Curator of Education, presents this lecture.

Dance – Foxtrot
Thursday, May 15, 6:30 p.m.
It’s not your parent’s Foxtrot! Join dance instructor, E. J. LoPresti and learn a fun and fancy Foxtrot that will impress your friends. Ms. LoPresti has taught dancing for over 25 years.

The Double Bind, by Chris Bohjalian
Thursday, May 22, 2 p.m.
Book discussion moderated by librarian Gwyn Goodman 
In this literary thriller with references to (and characters from) The Great Gatsby, the author takes us on a haunting journey through one woman’s obsession with uncovering a dark secret.

Property Tax Reform
Saturday, January 12, 10 a.m.
Join Chris Straton, President of the League of Women Voters of Collier County for an informational discussion of the proposed changes to property taxes. Learn what a yes vote or a not vote will mean in the upcoming election on constitutional amendments.

Computer Questions 101
Friday, January 18, February 22, March 21 - 10 a.m. – noon
Drop by with general computer questions. The computer lab will be available for use with an instructor to assist you.

Citizenship Classes - English Literacy, Civics and Citizenship Program
Tuesdays from 5:30-7:30 PM
January through May 
Classes are offered to anyone requiring assistance in completing the application for U.S. citizenship or passing the citizenship test. For further information, call 455-1441.

English Conversation with Silvia Casabianca
Conversation an anglais avec Silvia Casabianca
Conversacion en ingles con Silvia Casabianca
Every Monday night from 6:30-7:30 PM
For English as a Second Language patrons (ESOL), join Silvia Casabianca to practice your English conversational skills in a relaxed environment
Une heure du conversation an anglais, tous les Lundis après 6:30 p.m., pour toute cette personne pour qui l’anglais n’est pas sa premier-né langue.
Una hora de conversación en inglés para todos aquellos para quien el ingles es su segunda idioma.

How Property Tax Reform Will Affect You
Thursday, January 10, 10 a.m.
Join Chris Straton, President of the League of Women Voters of Collier County, as she clarifies the advantages and disadvantages of the proposed changes to property taxes for Florida Homesteaders.

Value Investing for You in 2008
Thursday, January 31, 2 p.m.
Local accredited investor, Dr. Mary Alice O’Connor will bring her 29 years of experience to present the value approach to stock selection. This is a free, non-commercial program useful for all investors.

Knitting for Beginners
Thursday, February 7 and 21, 3:30 p.m. 
Join Beth Curry for a two-part knitting class for beginners. All supplies are provided for students to create their first knitting project. Attendance is limited to 10 participants. Ages 10 and up

Abide with Me, by Elizabeth Strout
Thursday, February 14, 2 p.m.
Book discussion moderated by Claudia Sschmitt 
Strout follows the life of a minister whose young wife dies leaving him with raising two young children in 1959 Maine. Amy and Isabel was Strout's acclaimed first novel.

Butterfly Gardening Made Easy
Thursday, March 6, 2 p.m.
Local butterfly gardener, artist and author Mike Malloy, known as “The Butterfly Man”, will discuss his recent book, Butterfly Gardening Made Easy for Southwest Florida. Learn what plants will attract and keep butterflies in your southwest Florida garden.

The Inheritance of Loss, by Kiran Desai
Thursday, March 20, 2 p.m.
Book discussion moderated by librarian David Chalick
The highly acclaimed winner of the 2006 Booker Prize, this book is a comical and contemplative novel that illuminates contemporary life in India and New York City. Desai deftly shuttles between first and third worlds, exploring the universal desire humans have for a better life, even at the expense of others.

Introduction to Ebay
Thursday, April 10, 10 a.m.
An overview of the online auction service, the basics of bidding and selling, how to search for items and successful auction tips. Students will learn how to set up an eBay buyer account, how to bid on items, submitting payment transactions, and practical search tips.

Infidel, by Ayaan Hirsi Ali
Thursday, April 24, 2 p.m.
Book discussion moderated by Marilyn McKay
Infidel is the extraordinary story of a woman born into a family of desert nomads, educated by radical imams, taught to believe that terrible tragedies would occur if she uncovered her hair and how she transformed herself into an internationally renowned spokeswoman for the right of Muslim women.

Internet Basics / Internet Básicos (In English and Spanish)
Thursdays, May 1 and May 8, 10 a.m.
In this hands-on computer class, the instructor will discuss the basics of Web navigation, useful Websites, Internet vocabulary, and popular search engines, such as Google and Yahoo. This is a two-part class for users that are familiar with using a mouse. The class is limited to 8 students and advance registration is required.

En esta clase práctica, el instructor explicara las bases de navegación en Internet y páginas útiles. Vocabulario de Internet y páginas populares de búsqueda como Google y Yahoo. Esta clase es en dos partes y para usuarios que tienen familiaridad usando el “mouse”. La clase esta limitada a 8 estudiantes y es necesario registrarse con anticipación.

Tenderness of Wolves, by Stef Penney
Thursday, May 15, 2 p.m.
Book discussion moderated by librarian Claudi Schmitt
Stef Penney’s first novel is the 2006 Costa Award winner (formerly Whitbread Award). Set in the 1860s in Canada, this story of love, suspense and beauty describes how a brutal murder has affected the lives of an entire community.

Property Tax Reform
Tuesday, January 8, 2 p.m.
Chris Straton, President of the League of Women Voters of Collier County, clarifies the advantages and disadvantages to Florida Homesteaders of the proposed property tax changes. Learn how the January 29 vote will affect your property taxes.

Online Medical Resources
Thursday, January 10, 2 p.m.
How to successfully explore online sites and databases providing health and medical information.

Nicholas Winton: The Power of Good - film and discussion
Tuesday, January 15, 2 p.m.
A powerful documentary film chronicling the actions of British citizen, Nicholas Winton, who visited Czechoslovakia in 1938 and was horrified at the number of stateless children he saw following Germany’s takeover of the Sudetenland.

Following the screening, long-time Winton friend, Lawrence Reed, President of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, reflects upon Mr. Winton’s actions and the importance of character. A discussion of "The Kindertransport Journey: History into Memory", featuring Southwest Florida Holocaust Museum Education Director, Amy Macera, follows. The Kindertransport Journey is the Holocaust Museum’s featured exhibit for January.

Language and the Pursuit of Happiness, by Chalmers Brothers
Tuesday, January 15, 6:30 p.m.
Join local author, certified personal coach and national seminar leader, Chalmers Brothers, for an eye-opening journey into the power of one’s own language. A very special presentation that includes something for everyone.

Mozart and His Requiem
Thursday, January 17, 2 p.m.
Explore with Dr. Marian E. Dolan the intrigue that abounds in both the death of Mozart and the composition of this unfinished masterwork. 

The Golden Compass, by Philip Pullman
Thursday, January 17, 6:30 p.m.
Book discussion
Accompanied by her shape-shifting demon, Lyra Belacqua sets out to prevent her best friend and other kidnapped children from becoming the subject of gruesome experiments in the Far North. If you have read the book, you are welcome to attend.

Lafayette: America’s Adopted Son
Tuesday, January 22, 2 p.m.
Dick Magee looks at John Lafayette, one of the world’s gallant knights, who seemingly gallops out of Arthurian romance and across the pages of history to rid the world of evil.

Five Keys to Your Happiest and Most Abundant Life, by Ruth Kuttler 
Tuesday, January 22, 6:30 p.m.
Local author, former radio host and inspirational speaker, Ruth Kuttler, reveals the five keys to creating your happiest and most abundant life. Through her own personal story she reveals the blueprint for transitioning from despair and mediocrity to abundant happiness and success. Don’t miss this life-altering program.

Barred, by Carl L. Steinhouse 
Thursday, January 24, 2 p.m.
Author Carl L. Steinhouse discusses his latest book entitled Barred: The Shameful Refusal of FDR's State Department to Save Tens of Thousands of Europe's Jews from Extermination. This fourth novel in Steinhouse’s living history series focuses on how anti-Semites in the State Department used bureaucratic red tape to bar European Jews facing extermination by Hitler from emigrating to the United States. It wasn’t until late in the war that pressure from Eleanor and the threat of exposure and scandal from members of his own administration forced FDR to finally act.

Sentimental Journey
Thursday, January 24, 6:30 p.m.
Take Four, with lead guitarist and vocalist Jane Galler, vocalist Joy Spivak, Art Isenberg on piano and Arnold Saslavsky on drums, takes a nostalgic musical walk down memory lane with music from the 40s and 50s.

Naples Klezmer Revival Band
Thursday, January 31, 6 p.m. (rain date February 7)
Enjoy an evening of traditional Jewish folk music from Eastern Europe featuring the Naples Klezmer Revival Band. In the Courtyard Amphitheater.

The Roaring 20’s: The Hardings and The Coolidges
Monday, February 4, 2 p.m.
Given nervous breakdowns, illicit love affairs, an illegitimate child and a record in the Senate of missing 1/3 of the roll call votes, the past of Warren Harding hardly seems the right mix to create one of the largest landslides in American history. Silent Cal might be Mr. Coolidge’s nickname, but he was full of humor and witticism and enjoyed a meteoric political life brought about by hard work.

A Short History of Early Jazz (two-part series)
Tuesdays, February 5 & 12, 2 p.m.
The story of early Jazz is central to the dramatic changes in American society between 1900 and 1930. Beginning with the songs of cotton field "hollers" and organized spirituals, Jazz grew to become a driving force in American life. Louis Armstrong's Hot Five (1926), Duke Ellington at the Cotton Club (1927-32), the Swing Era (1930s) and the radical Bebop Era (1940s) are all covered in Gordon Greene’s presentation (Greene is a cultural historian with 40 years experience teaching music history and aesthetics at the university level)

Resolving the Mysteries of Famous Fracture Fairy Tales
Presented by Richard W. Hertzberg, PhD.
Tuesday, February 5, 6:30 p.m.
Why do bridges collapse, ships break in two, and planes fall from the sky? Is it due to poor design, inferior materials, inadequate maintenance, human error or all of the above? Richard W. Hertzberg looks a prominent mechanical catastrophes and everyday fractures, including the history and cracking of the Liberty Bell, and illuminates the causes.

Loving Frank, by Nancy Horan
Thursday, February 7, 2 p.m.
Book discussion
In the early 1900’s, Frank Lloyd Wright and Mamah Cheney engaged in a love affair that shocked Chicago society. This historical novel blends fact and fiction to chronicle the relationship and the scandal it caused.

A Voice for the Everglades
Tuesday, February 12, 6:30 p.m. 
Janina Birtolo stars in an original one-woman dramatization recounting the life and work of Marjory Stoneman Douglas. Perhaps more than any other person, she brought to light the unique and vital characteristics of this region she called the River of Grass.

Rosetta Stone Online Language Learning
Thursday, February 14, 2 p.m.
The fundamentals of online language learning using the library’s new Rosetta Stone database are presented. With this amazing program you can self-study French, German, Italian, Latin American Spanish and American English by computer, all from the comfort of your home.

This Old Hat: Women of American History, Patriots of Liberty
Tuesday, February 19, 6:30 p.m.
A one-woman tour de force musical presentation in which four noted women of American history are portrayed. Conceived and written by Patty Carver, this original musical brings to life Betsy Ross, Deborah Sampson, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Amelia Earhart.

Iran: Past, Present and Future
Tuesday, February 26, 2 p.m.
Join Dr. Irvine H. Anderson for a look at Iran, its fascinating history, complex present and unpredictable future. Proud of its Persian heritage and deeply committed to Shiite Islam, Iran has struggled to become a constitutional democracy since early in the 20th century. It is currently controlled by fundamentalist clerics, one can only speculate where its present interest in nuclear technology will lead.

Archaeology on the Gulf Coast
Tuesday, March 4, 2 p.m.
Join Kara Bridgman Sweeney for a look at archaeology along Florida’s Gulf Coast.

Remembering Edna St. Vincent Millay
Tuesday, March 4, 6:30 p.m.
Laurie Nienhause, founder of The Ladies’ Tea Guild and editor of the Guild’s quarterly publication, remembers the life and work of Edna St. Vincent Millay – the first woman to win a Pulitzer Prize for Poetry. It was once said that the best of the twenties were skyscrapers and Miss Millay -- a mesmerizing character whose words will likely strike a chord in your own heart.

Dementia – Communication and Behavior Issues
Thursday, March 6, 2 p.m.
Are you caring for or know of someone with Alzheimer’s disease or a related memory disorder? Ever wonder why their speech has changed or why they never seem to understand you? Do you wonder about their hallucinations and difficult behaviors? Representatives from the Alzheimer’s Association will answer these questions, offer coping techniques and explain what you can do to make things better for you and your loved one.

Women’s Incontinence Issues and Health
Tuesday, March 11, 2 p.m.
New innovations for the treatment of urinary incontinence, overactive bladder, urinary frequency and urinary leakage are discussed. Topics include overactive bladder and treatment, stress urinary incontinence and surgical alternatives and treatment of urinary symptoms using Interstim therapy (sacral nerve stimulation). Informal discussions regarding any female pelvic issues can also be arranged. Guest lecturer for this program is Joseph Gauta, MD, FACOG. Dr. Gauta is board certified in gynecology, founder of the Florida Bladder Institute and president-elect of the Collier County Medical Society.

Night Train in Concert
Tuesday, March 11, 6 p.m.
An evening of music from the 1930s to the 1960s. In the Courtyard Amphitheater. No registration required.

Internet and Online Safety
Thursday, March 13, 2 p.m.
An hour-long class that looks at viruses and malicious software that threaten your computer. Scams, identity theft, phishing and online urban legends that threaten you personally are also covered.

The Battle of Gettysburg
Tuesday, March 18, 2 p.m.
Join Dick Magee for a look at the desperate three-day struggle that was the Battle of Gettysburg, a battle that boasts more heroic chapters than any other in our history. It marked the high tide of the Confederacy, saved the Union and transformed simple Pennsylvania farmland into one of America’s most hallowed shrines.

The Black Queen
Tuesday, March 18, 6:30 p.m.
Actress Janina Birtolo is featured in an original one-woman portrayal of Catherine de Medici, Queen and Queen Mother of France throughout the Protestant Reformation. The power behind the throne, she was far more complex than history has acknowledged.

Skylight Confessions by Alice Hoffman
Thursday, March 20, 2 p.m.
Book discussion
In typical Hoffman fashion, the story has elements of fantasy but follows the very real life of a family in trouble. It opens with the story of 17-year old Arlyn, who decides the first man she sees will be her true love, and then moves into the family's story for the years that follow.

The Baltic “Singing Revolution”
Tuesday, March 25, 6:30 p.m.
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania literally sung their way to freedom from Soviet occupation via national song/dance festivals with more than 20,000 participants. Join Dr. Marian E. Dolan for a look at this amazing song/dance celebration, which continues to this day.

Email Basics
Thursday, March 27, 2 p.m.
Free, web-based email is discussed in this introductory class for beginning Internet users with basic computer skills.

Conservation Collier
Tuesday, April 1, 2 p.m.
The Conservation Collier Program is a Collier County taxpayer-funded conservation land acquisition program. The presentation provides an overview of the acquisition process and a glimpse at recent restoration projects occurring on Conservation Collier preserves county-wide.

Ebay: What is it and How do I use It?
Thursday, April 3, 2 p.m.
Class covers creating an eBay account, searching for items and bidding and buying, as well as how to sell your own items on eBay.


The Life and Times of Barron Gift Collier
Tuesday, April 8, 2 p.m.
David Southall, Collier County Museum Curator of Education, looks at the life of Barron Gift Collier from his birth “in genteel poverty” in Tennessee to his success in New York and his ultimately becoming one of the wealthiest men in America. Collier used his wealth to buy much of what is now Collier County and set the stage to make the county what it is today.

American Gods, by Neil Gaiman
Book Discussion
Thursday, April 17, 2 p.m.
On the day Shadow was released from prison, he received a job offer from the enigmatic Mr. Wednesday. With nothing to lose, he accepts and finds himself immersed into an unseen world he never imagined.

Leave No Trace
Tuesday, April 22, 2 p.m.
Presented by Jennifer L. Rogers, Team OCEAN Coordinator
Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission. 
Team OCEAN Collier County is working with Leave No Trace (LNT), a non-profit organization dedicated to establishing a nationwide code of outdoor ethics by which a sustainable future for natural lands can be shaped. The aim of this cooperative partnership is to develop LNT coastal resourse guidelines for Collier County. What are the proposed guidelines and why are LNT practices important to us? Join Jennifer L. Rogers, Team OCEAN Coordinator for the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission for this informative and important program.

Monarch Butterflies
Tuesday, May 6, 2 p.m. 
Carol Haberkern, writer and nature photographer, celebrates this graceful insect’s phenomenal life cycle and migration in this beautifully crafted multi-media presentation.

Fire in the Blood, by Irene Nemirovsky
Thursday, May 15, 2 p.m.
Book discussion
In a small French village in the years before the onset of World War II, Silvio, a middle-aged man enjoying his wine and his solitude, is drawn back into the life of his family and the village by the arrival of a cousin and the revelation of long-hidden secrets.

Sustainable Fishing Techniques
Tuesday, May 27, 2 p.m.
Join Bryan Fluech, Collier County Sea Grant Extension Agent, for an informative discussion on proper handling techniques, circle hooks, dehookers and fish venting methods to use to ensure protection of favorite catch and release fish. Session includes a dehooking demonstration.  

Amazing World of Reptiles!
Thursday, March 6, 6 p.m.
Snakes, turtles, lizards, and more! Discover the fascinating and exciting world of reptiles with John Storms as your guide.

El día de los niños / El día de los libros
Wednesday, April 30, 3:30 p.m.
Parents and children are invited to help the Immokalee Branch celebrate Children’s Day / Book Day.

Don’t Kill Pelicans with Kindness!
Tuesday, January 8, 2 p.m.
Bryan Fluech, Collier County Sea Grant Extension Agent, describes recommended methods for anglers to use to reduce their impact on pelicans and other shorebirds, including proper procedures to remove a hook and/or line. There will be prize drawings!

Container Gardening
Wednesday, January 9. 2.p.m.
A Florida Master Gardener from the University of Florida Extension Service shows us methods and tips on successful gardening using containers.

Property Tax Reform
Friday, January 11, 2 p.m.
Confused about the proposed constitutional amendments? What are the pros and cons? Chris Straton, President of the League of Women Voters of Collier County, clarifies the advantages and disadvantages for Florida Homesteaders of the proposed changes to property taxes. Learn how the vote on January 29 will affect your property taxes.

Team OCEAN Collier County
Tuesday, January 15, 6:30 p.m.
The goal of the Team OCEAN program is to promoter marine resource conservation while enriching the experience of those engaging in saltwater recreational activities. Jennifer L. Rogers, Coordinator, discusses how and why local, regional and state stakeholders joined together to bring this program to Collier County, how it is being implemented, and examples of ways to be a steward of marine resources. Prizes will be given!

Linda Bilodeau: An Author Talks About Her Books
Wednesday, January 16, 2 p.m.
The author of Stepping Through Seagrass and The Olive Branch speaks about her books, how to do research for writing and the process of getting published.

Weeki Wachee, City of Mermaids
Thursday, January 17, 6:30 p.m.
Lu Vickers offers a nostalgic trip through this enchanted Florida spring, covering its history, an in-depth look at the mermaids, and the men who founded Weeki Wachee, both a primordial pool and kitschy tourist attraction. Sponsored by the Florida Humanities Council.

The World Is Your Second Home: Australia and New Zealand, by Tom Marshall
Tuesday, January 22, 6:30 p.m.
Author Tom Marshall introduces the idea of extended vacations around the world in place of purchasing a second home as told in his book in this colorful presentation that includes pictures from Australia and New Zealand.

The Thirteenth Tale, by Diane Setterfield
Wednesday, January 23, 2 p.m.
Book discussion moderated by librarian Marilyn McKay
Vida Winter, a famous author whose life is coming to an end hires Margaret Lea, a young, unworldly bookish girl and a bookseller in her father’s shop to tell her story. By the story’s end, the transformative power of truth informs the lives of both women.

Thanks for the Memories—A Visit with Dolores Hope
Tuesday, January 29, 6:30 p.m.
Since 1988, Damaris Peters Pike has portrayed “Women of Note.” This presentation about the wife of American legend Bob Hope includes songs from the first half of the 20th century. She chats informally about Bob’s rise from vaudeville to Hollywood and his amazing contributions to the military.

Shells and Shell-makers
Thursday, January 31, 6:30 p.m.
Linda Shockley, naturalist and former President of the Marco Island Shell Club, introduces to us the seashells found on Marco Island and vicinity, and the animals that produce them.

Growing Roses in Florida
Tuesday, February 5, 2 p.m.
Ken Mayberger and Pennie Crawford, proprietors of Roseglen Gardens, inform us about how to grow beautiful roses in your own yard.

Personal Memoirs Workshop (3 part series) 
Wednesday, February 6, 13 and 20, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Join author Wade Keller for this hands-on series of three workshops designed to help you get started in writing your own personal memoirs.

Insuring your Home or Condo
Thursday, February 7, 2 p.m.
Terrance Cerullo, Consumer Outreach Coordinator for the Florida Depart. Of Financial Services, tells us the best ways to go about getting homeowner insurance and how to avoid fraud.

Entertaining Miss Millay
Tuesday, February 12, 6:30 p.m.
Laurie Nienhaus presents the life and loves of Edna St. Vincent Millay, the icon of the 1920’s jazz babies and the first woman to win a Pulitzer Prize for poetry. Interspersed throughout are dramatic readings of her poetry.

The Double Bind, by Chris Bohjalian
Thursday, February 14, 2 p.m.
Book discussion moderated by librarian Gwyn Goodman
In this literary thriller with references to (and characters from) The Great Gatsby, the author takes us on a haunting journey through one woman’s obsession with uncovering a dark secret.

Patriots of Freedom
Thursday, February 21, 6:30 p.m.
Noted educator and actress Patty Carver presents a one-woman musical about famous figures in American history.

George Gershwin
Tuesday, February 26, 6 p.m.
Beginning as a "song plugger" for music publishers in New York, Gershwin rapidly made his way to Broadway. He composed cinematic eye-popping dances and classical works. Gordon Greene, a cultural historian with 40 years experience teaching music history and aesthetics, leads the discussion.

The Early Development of Marco Island
Thursday, February 28, 6:30 p.m.
Craig Woodward, local attorney and long-time resident, tells us about the Barfield Subdivision and the development of Caxambas, and Collier City and the development of Old Marco in this historical and pictorial talk.

Hurricane History of Southwest Florida
Tuesday, March 4, 2 p.m.
Join David Southall, Curator of Education at the Collier County Museum, for true stories about the many various hurricanes that have crossed southwest Florida.

How to Listen to a Baroque Messiah
Thursday, March 6, 6:30 p.m.
The Bach Ensemble and featured lecturer/master teacher Dr. Ronald Doiron, present an educational and entertaining evening of music that includes several live choral and duet offerings from Handel’s masterwork, The Messiah. The lecture covers how baroque music is played and how best to listen to it.

Barbara Jane Mackle
Tuesday, March 11, 6:30 p.m.
She was an attractive, well-adjusted 20-year old university student from the affluent Florida family that developed Marco Island. One cold December night she was abducted at gunpoint. Elizabeth "Bonnie" Bozzo presents a dramatization as a mature Ms. Mackle still haunted by the kidnapping.

Photographing Florida and its Birds
Thursday, March 13, 6:30 p.m.
Noted nature photographer Len Messineo presents his newly enhanced program focusing on the state’s impressive variety of scenery, and compares birds within selected groupings, often humorously.

Sentimental Journey
Tuesday, March 18, 6:30 p.m.
Take Four, with lead guitarist and vocalist Jane Galler, vocalist Joy Spivak, Art Isenberg on piano and Arnold Saslavsky on drums, presents music and songs from the 40’s and 50’s. Come stroll down memory lane with some of the great songs that brought us through the war years and into the television years.

Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia, by Elizabeth Gilbert
Wednesday, March 19, 2 p.m.
Book discussion moderated by librarian Julia Clark
A thoughtful and entertaining book that traces the author’s decision to quit her job and travel the world for a year after suffering a midlife crisis and a divorce, a journey that took her to three places in her quest to explore her own nature and learn the art of spiritual balance.

Conservation Collier
Tuesday, March 25, 6:30 p.m.
Melissa Hennig presents an overview of this taxpayer funded conservation land acquisition program, with slides and artifacts found on restoration projects occurring on Conservation Collier preserves, including Marco Island.

Manatees and Matching Molars
Thursday, March 27, 6:30 p.m.
Beloved by Floridians for its whimsical, whiskered face and gentle nature, the manatee is among the state’s most popular native inhabitants, and also one of the most imperiled. Join Sara Falkowski, Program Coordinator from the Environmental Learning Center at Rookery Bay, for a presentation that explains these remarkable creatures and what we can do to protect them.

Introduction to eBay
Tuesday, April 1, 2 p.m.
An overview of the online auction service that includes the basics of bidding and selling, how to search for items and successful auction tips. Learn how to set up an eBay buyer account, bid on items and submit payment transactions.

ECHO: Educational Concerns for Hunger Organizations
Tuesday, April 8, 6:30 p.m.
A specialist from ECHO in Fort Myers, location of its demonstration farm, informs us how its dedication to fighting world hunger through innovative ideas, information, agricultural training and seeds, helps families in developing countries.

Annuities: the Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Tuesday, April 15, 2 p.m.
Terrance Cerullo, Consumer Outreach Coordinator, Florida Dept. of Financial Services, explores the types of annuities and the pros and cons of investing in them.

A Thousand Splendid Suns, by Khaled Hosseini
Wednesday, April 16, 2 p.m.
Book discussion moderated by Claudia Schmitt 
Like the author's stunningly successful Kite Runner, also set in Afghanistan, this novel covers the last three decades of the anti-Soviet jihad, civil war and Taliban tyranny, through the lives of two women.

On the Hook
Tuesday, April 22, 6:30 p.m.
Captain Bill Walsh, Marco Island Eagle columnist, shares exciting, humorous and sometimes touching new stories of fishing in the waters off Marco Island.

Hunting for Collier County Orchids
Tuesday, May 6, 6:30 p.m.
Join Dr. Gary Schmelz as he shows us the 34 species of orchids that grow in Collier County, and when and where to look for them.

Loving Frank, by Nancy Horan
Thursday, May 15 , 2 p.m.
Book discussion moderated by librarian Gwyn Goodman 
The clandestine love affair of Mameh Borthwick Cheney and architect Frank Lloyd Wright is profiled in this dramatic story.

Blowing in the Wind: Preparing Your Plants for Storm-season
Tuesday, May 20, 2 p.m.
Cathleen Feser, Master Gardener Advisor for the University of Florida Extension Service, instructs us on wind-resistant shrub and tree selection, and pruning for protection from storm stress.

Master Gardener Plant Clinic
Tuesdays, January 8 – April 22, 9 a.m. – noon
Information and advice on landscape needs, plant material, and selection is offered on a walk-in basis. Sponsored by the Collier County/FAS/University of Florida Extension Service Master Gardener Program.
 
COMPUTER CLASSES

Using the Online Library Catalog
Every Friday, 9 a.m.
Learn how to search for materials, make requests and manage your library account online.

Internet Basics I & II (Two-part class)
Thursday, January 10 & 17, 10 a.m.
Thursday, February 21 & 28, 10 a.m.
The basics of Web navigation, useful websites, Internet vocabulary and popular search engines are discussed in this lecture-format class utilizing a live internet feed.

Advanced Google I & II
Thursday, January 24 & 31, 10 a.m.
Thursday, March 27 & April 3, 10 a.m.
The best ways to perform a Google search to achieve optimal results, along with other Google tricks, are offered in this two-part lecture format class recommended for computer users with some Internet and search engine experience.

eBay for Beginners
Thursday, February 7, 10 a.m.
Students will learn how to set up an eBay buyer account, how to bid on items and submit payment transactions and practical search tips.

Using OverDrive Downloadable Audio Books
Thursday, February 14, 10 a.m.
Thursday, April 17, 10 a.m.
Learn how to download digital audio books 24/7 to your PC, PDA and many MP3 players. Now your library never closes!

Investment Sources on the Internet
Thursday, March 6, 10 a.m.
How to find free and simple online information about the stock market and how to make a free portfolio using www.finance.yahoo.com are covered.

Library Databases
Thursday, March 20, 10 a.m.
Review several of the library’s subscription databases available for free to all Collier County Public Library cardholders. Topics include online magazines, phone directories and health information.

Property Tax Reform
Wednesday, January 9, 2 p.m.
Chris Straton, President of the League of Women Voters of Collier County, clarifies the advantages and disadvantages to Florida Homesteaders of the proposed property tax changes. Learn how the January 29 vote will affect your property taxes.

The Winter of Our Discontent, by John Steinbeck
Wednesday, January 16, 11 a.m.
Book discussion
A New Englander learns the bitter lesson that it is not possible to be a little dishonest. 

Nicholas Winton: The Power of Good - film and discussion
Wednesday, January 16, 2 p.m.
A powerful documentary film chronicling the actions of British citizen, Nicholas Winton, who visited Czechoslovakia in 1938 and was horrified at the number of stateless children he saw following Germany’s takeover of the Sudetenland. After the screening, long-time Winton friend, Lawrence Reed, President of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, reflects upon Mr. Winton’s actions and the importance of character. A discussion of The Kindertransport Journey: History into Memory, featuring Southwest Florida Holocaust Museum Education Director, Amy Macera, follows. The Kindertransport Journey is the Holocaust Museum’s featured exhibit for January.

Great Decisions
Friday, January 18, 2 p.m.
A current events discussion series on national and international news moderated by Paula Beiser. Participants will need to purchase a workbook.

Remember the Ladies
Thursday, January 24, 6 p.m.
Experience the life and adventures of Abigail Adams, wife of the second U. S. President, mother of six and a “Founding Mother of our country. Adams is portrayed by actress Janina Birtolo in this original one-woman character reenactment.

Great Decisions
Friday, January 25, 2 p.m.
A current events discussion series on national and international news moderated by Paula Beiser. Participants will need to purchase a workbook.

Buckskins, Bullets and Business: Buffalo Bill and Annie Oakley
Wednesday, January 30, 2 p.m.
This dual biography is a sweeping history of the lives and legends of two of America’s most endearing superstars – and of their fabulous Wild West Show, which awed millions. Join lecturer Dick Magee and ride with a cantankerous cast of hundreds – Indians and outlaws, sheriffs and shooters, wranglers and roustabouts, barkers and broncobusters – who left the bunkhouses and chuck wagons for show business. These rough riders on parade created the mythical image of the Wild West that exists to this day.

Personal and Home Safety Tips
Wednesday, January 30, 6 p.m.
Join Collier County Crime Prevention Specialist, Connie Leadbetter, to discuss strategies for keeping your home safe and developing protective behavior skills for both children and adults.

Naples JazzMasters
Thursday, January 31, 6 p.m.
Enjoy great Dixieland music as performed by the acclaimed Naples JazzMasters.

Great Decisions
Friday, February 1, 2 p.m.
A current events discussion series on national and international news moderated by Paula Beiser. Participants will need to purchase a workbook. 

Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia, by Elizabeth Gilbert
Wednesday, February 6, 10 a.m.
Book discussion moderated by librarian Julia Clark
A thoughtful and entertaining book that traces the author’s decision to quit her job and travel the world for a year after suffering a midlife crisis and a divorce, a journey that took her to three places in her quest to explore her own nature and learn the art of spiritual balance..

See the Everglades Through the Eyes of a Hydrologist!
Thursday, February 7, 6 p.m.
Learn about the inner workings of the Everglades and Big Cypress from National Parks Service Hydrologist, Bob Sobczak. Come ready to explore one of the world’s greatest natural resources right in our own backyard.

Great Decisions
Friday, February 8, 2 p.m.
A current events discussion series on national and international news moderated by Paula Beiser. Participants will need to purchase a workbook.

Feud: The Empire State Building, Leona Helmsley and Donald Trump
Wednesday, February 13, 2 p.m. 
Dick Magee presents an amazing story of politics and potentates, of deals and dollars – and of risk. The building rises over Manhattan in the heart of the Great Depression. Once built, guerrilla warfare erupts as tycoons fight for control. It’s a saga of suits and countersuits, of promises made and broken, of wink-and-nod handshakes, hidden agendas and mobsters. It’s a battle royal when the irresistible force that is Leona Helmsley meets the immovable object that is Donald Trump.

Music of the 50s and 60s with Bill and Dave
Wednesday, February 13, 6:00 pm
Enjoy the toe-tapping, hip swingin’ music of the 1950s and 1960s with Ohio’s own Bill and Dave.

Great Decisions
Friday, February 15, 2 p.m.
A current events discussion series on national and international news moderated by Paula Beiser. Participants will need to purchase a workbook.

This Old Hat: Women of American History, Patriots of Liberty
Wednesday, February 20, 2 p.m.
A one-woman tour de force musical presentation in which four noted women of American history are portrayed. Conceived and written by Patty Carver, this original musical brings to life Betsy Ross, Deborah Sampson, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Amelia Earhart.

Concertos for Odd Instruments
Thursday, February 21, 6 p.m.
Concertos for piano and violin dominate the classical repertoire, but there are over 5,000 just for bassoon. The trumpet is not an odd instrument, but prior to the invention of “valves” their concertos are remarkable. Then there are very fine pieces for mouth organ, panpipes, alphorn and other uncommon instruments. The program is predominantly that of listening to music written for "other" instruments and is offered by cultural historian, Gordon Greene, who has 40 years experience teaching music history and aesthetics at the university level.

Great Decisions
Friday, February 22, 2 p.m.
A current events discussion series on national and international news moderated by Paula Beiser. Participants will need to purchase a workbook.

Personal and Home Safety Tips
Wednesday, February 27, 2 p.m.
Join Collier County Crime Prevention Specialist, Connie Leadbetter, as she discusses strategies for keeping your home safe and developing protective behavior skills for both children and adults.

Naples JazzMasters
Thursday, February 28, 6 p.m.
Celebrate great Dixieland music performed by the acclaimed Naples JazzMasters.

Great Decisions
Friday, February 29, 2 p.m.
A current events discussion series on national and international news moderated by Paula Beiser. Participants will need to purchase a workbook.

Loving Frank, by Nancy Horan
Wednesday, March 5, 10 a.m.
Book discussion
In the early 1900s, Frank Lloyd Wright and Mamah Cheney engaged in a love affair that shocked Chicago Society. This historical novel blends fact and fiction to chronicle their relationship and the scandal it caused.

Remembering Edna St. Vincent Millay
Wednesday, March 5, 2 p.m.
Laurie Nienhause, The Ladies’ Tea Gukld founder and editor of its quarterly publication, reflects on the life and work of Edna St. Vincent Mullay – the first woman to win a Pulitzer Prize for Poetry.

Great Decisions
Friday, March 7, 2 p.m.
A current events discussion series on national and international news moderated by Paula Beiser. Participants will need to purchase a workbook.

See the Everglades Through the Eyes of a Hydrologist!
Wednesday, March 19, 2 p.m.
Learn about the inner workings of the Everglades and Big Cypress from National Parks Service hydrologist Bob Sobczak. Come ready to explore one of the world’s greatest natural resources right in our own backyard.

Team OCEAN Collier County
Thursday, March 20, 6 p.m.
Join Jennifer L. Rogers, Team OCEAN Coordinator for the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission as she explains the role of Team OCEAN in promoting marine resource conservation, while enriching the experiences of those who engage in saltwater recreational activities. The presentation discusses how and why local, regional and state stakeholders banded together to bring this program to Collier County, what the program is and how it’s being implemented, along with examples of the ways in which to be good stewards of our local marine resources.

The Baltic "Singing Revolution"
Wednesday, March 26, 2 p.m.
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania literally sung their way to freedom from Soviet occupation via national song/dance festivals in which more than 20,000 participated. Join Dr. Marian E. Dolan for a look at this amazing celebration that continues to this day.

Naples JazzMasters
Thursday, March 27, 6 p.m.
Celebrate great Dixieland music as performed by the acclaimed Naples JazzMasters.

A Confederacy of Dunces, by John Kennedy Toole
Wednesday, April 2, 10 a.m.
Book discussion
The story of a monstrously fat 30-year-old boy, his drunken mama and their unutterably awful life in New Orleans.

Women’s Incontinence Issues and Health
Wednesday, April 2, 2 p.m.
New innovations for treatment of urinary incontinence, overactive bladder and urinary frequency, along with self-help measures for urinary leakage, are discussed. Guest lecturer is Joseph Gauta, M.D., FACOG. Dr. Gauta is board certified in gynecology, founder of the Florida Bladder Institute and president-elect of the Collier County Medical Society.

Conservation Collier
Wednesday, April 9, 2 p.m.
Enjoy an overview of the Conservation Collier Program, the land acquisition process and a look at recent restoration projects occurring on Conservation Collier preserves countywide.

Florida Shipwrecks
Wednesday, April 16, 6:30 p.m.
Collier County Museum’s Curator of Education, David Southall, presents stories of 25 famous ships that sunk in Florida’s waters and their effect upon people and politics.

Leave No Trace on Collier County’s Coastal Resources
Thursday, April 24, 6 p.m.
Team OCEAN Collier County is working with Leave No Trace (LNT), a non-profit organization dedicated to establishing a nationwide code of outdoor ethics by which a sustainable future for natural lands can be shaped. The aim is to develop LNT coastal resource guidelines for Collier County. What the proposed LNT practices are and why they are important is discussed in this timely and informative program with Jennifer L. Rogers, Team OCEAN Coordinator, Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Bridge of Sighs, by Richard Russo
Thursday, May 7, 10 a.m.
Book discussion
Russo's anxiously awaited new novel following Empire Falls in which he continues to write about the decline of the small towns of the northeast; this time, a town ruined by the runoff of a tannery follows the lives of three families.

Monarch Butterflies
Wednesday, May 14, 2 p.m.
Writer and nature photographer, Carol Haberkern, celebrates the lifecycle and migration of the graceful Monarch butterfly in this beautifully crafted multi-media presentation.

Sustainable Fishing Techniques
Thursday, May 29, 6 p.m.
Collier County Sea Grant Extension Agent, Bryan Fluech, looks at proper handling techniques, circle hooks, dehookers and fish venting methods that ensure protection of the angler’s favorite catch and release fish. (session includes a dehooking demonstration)

The Master, by Colm Tobin
Wednesday, January 9, 4:30 – 6 p.m.
Moderated by professor Art Ritas.
This bold narrative is a riveting, fictionalized account of the life of novelist Henry James. Based on many biographical materials and family accounts, it was necessary for the author to put himself inside the mind of James to complete the work.

Undaunted Courage: Meriwether Lewis, Thomas Jefferson, and the Opening of the American West, by Stephen Ambrose
Wednesday, January 16, 4:30 - 6 p.m.
This biography of Lewis relies heavily on the journals of both Lewis and Clark. Author Ambrose traveled extensively along the Lewis and Clark route to the Pacific. Moderator Nick Penniman, assisted by Professor Art Ritas, is the immediate past president of the American Rivers Association while author Stephen Ambrose was his immediate predecessor in that position. Moderator Penniman is currently Board Chairman of the Conservancy of Southwest Florida.

The File of Life-What To Do When 911 is Called
Tuesday, January 22, 5 p.m.
This community out-reach program is presented by Collier County EMS/Fire Department medics in order to help prepare citizens for efficient response in emergency situations. Presented by Lt. Tony Maro.

Totch: A Life in the Everglades, by Loren G. "Totch" Brown
Thursday, January 24, 2 p.m.
Moderated by librarian Dennis Prichard
Anyone curious about daily life in the Everglades of the last century will want to read Brown’s memoirs of vanished days revolving around fishing, hunting, poaching, moonshine production, and hardscrabble survival. Discussion will include video excerpts narrated by Brown himself. 

An American Pastoral, by Philip Roth
Wednesday, February 13, 4:30-6 p.m.
Moderated by professor Art Ritas
Roth’s latest novel takes a reflective view of the decade of the 60s, narrating the story of a young girl who blows up the town post office in protest of the Vietnam war – killing a passing physician in the process. The book resonates with the anguish of a father who has utterly lost his daughter.

 
Money for Nothing: One Man’s Journey Through the Dark Side of Lottery Millions, by Edward Ugel.
Thursday, February 21, 2 p.m.
Moderated by librarian Dennis Prichard
Unable to visualize the ramifications of spending splurges, many unsophisticated lottery winners sell their future annuity payments to the “lump-sum” industry. Salesmen like author Ugel wait in the wings to offer discounted cash now to strapped lottery winners willing to sell their prizes at discount. Who knew? 

Understanding & Maintaining a Healthy Brain
Tuesday, March 4, 6:30 p.m.
Develop an understanding of current findings relating to risk factors and prevention of dementia. What is considered normal aging vs. a diseased brain? These will be explored in a lecture format program with guest lecturer, Robert H. Ouaou, Ph.D., Neruopsychiatric Associates of Southwest Florida.

The Inheritance of Loss, by Kiran Desai
Wednesday, March12, 4:30-6 p.m.
Moderated by professor Art Ritas
Desai’s second novel is set in mid-nineteen eighties India. The novel ponders questions of nationhood, modernity, and class.

The Distant Land of My Father, by Bo Caldwell
Thursday, March 20, 2 p.m.
Moderated by Barbie Schulze
This remarkable first novel by a Washington Post writer tells the story of young Anna, whose troubled relationship with her maddening, enigmatic father, Joseph Schoene, is set against exotic wartime Shanghai.

The File of Life-What To Do When 911 is Called
Tuesday, March 25, 10-11 a.m.
This community out-reach program is presented by Collier County EMS/Fire Department medics in order to help prepare citizens for efficient response in emergency situations. Presented by Lt. Tony Maro.

Midnight Assassin: A Murder in America’s Heartland, by Patricia Bryan and Thomas Wolf
Wednesday, April 9, 2 p.m.
Moderated by Diane Cox
Stranger than fiction? Do you like mysteries? You won’t want to miss this book about real-life murder which lead to the writing of two critically-acclaimed literary works.

In Patagonia, by Bruce Chatwin
Thursday, April 17, 2 p.m.
Moderated by Barbie Schulze
This is Bruce Chatwin’s exquisite account of his journey through “the uttermost part of the earth,” that stretch of land at the southern tip of South America, where bandits were once made welcome and where Charles Darwin formed part of his “survival of the fittest” theory.

The Shakespeare Riots, by Nigel Cliff
Wednesday, April 23, 2 p.m.
Moderated by Diane Cox
If you think the West was wild, you should have been in New York City when actors were fighting during the theater era of mid to late nineteenth century.

The File of Life-What To Do When 911 is Called
Monday, May 12, 5 p.m.
This community out-reach program is presented by Collier County EMS/Fire Department medics in order to help prepare citizens for efficient response in emergency situations. Presented by Lt. Tony Maro.

S.H.I.N.E. (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders)
S.H.I.N.E. has resumed counseling services at the Vanderbilt Beach Branch Library. The service is free and confidential and is offered on the second and fourth Monday of each month, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m., through April 2008. S.H.I.N.E. counselors are trained by Medicare through the Florida Department of Elder Affairs to provide assistance with Medicare and related insurance. Appointments are not necessary. Further information is available by calling 530-3364, Extension 230.

Vanderbilt Beach Branch Naples Writers Forum
Every Saturday, 10 a.m.