Finding Philanthropists in the Stacks

You are a philanthropist.

Yes … you, dear Eleventh Stack reader.

Now, I know what you’re probably thinking. Me? A philanthropist? Because let’s face it: when we think of philanthropists, we usually think of someone like …well, our good friend Andrew Carnegie.

But here’s the thing.

When it comes down to it, philanthropy is simply the practice of performing charitable or benevolent actions. I like this explanation because it gets right to the heart of the matter: making great things happen with our time, talent, or treasure for the benefit and betterment of others. A philanthropist is simply someone who does this – often.

You’re probably wondering who, exactly, is this person talking to you about philanthropy and charity. Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Melissa F., the Library’s new Manager of Grants and Research (and the newest volunteer blogger for Eleventh Stack). It’s serendipitous that my first post in this space happens to fall on National Philanthropy Day because since I’ve become part of the CLP staff (I work at CLP-Main), I’ve been amazed at just how many people care so deeply and passionately (and in so many ways!) about our Library and its future.

In our collections, there is a wealth of information about generosity and philanthropists. Examples of giving back start with the concept of sharing, and children can learn from their friends the Berenstain Bears, the Muppets, Pittsburgh’s own Mister Rogers, and more.  Our children, teen, and adult collections include many books, DVDs, and other materials on cultivating a spirit of giving.

On the second floor of CLP-Main, The Foundation Center is a fantastic resource. In addition to being able to access the Center’s extensive databases, there is a library of books pertaining to all aspects of the nonprofit world. I’m somewhat embarrassed to admit that, before becoming a CLP staff member, I didn’t realize that The Foundation Center’s books actually circulated. Now, I’m quickly becoming a regular on the second floor.

Along with today being National Philanthropy Day, today marks one month since I’ve been working here at CLP-Main.  A brief time, to be sure, but I’ve already seen countless examples of philanthropy at work.

When you’re walking in the footsteps of a pretty impressive founder, that’s awe-inspiring.

“My aspirations take a higher flight. Mine be it to have contributed to the enlightenment and the joys of the mind, to the things of the spirit, to all that tends to bring into the lives of the toilers of Pittsburgh sweetness and light. I hold this the noblest possible use of wealth.” ~ Andrew Carnegie, Presentation of the Carnegie Library to the People of Pittsburgh, November 5, 1895.

Happy Philanthropy Day to you, Andrew. 

And to you, too.

–Melissa F.

Unexpected Detours and the Kindness of Strangers: A 1,001 Movies Update

A funny thing happened since my last movie project update — I accidentally watched a few movies that aren’t on the official list.

After you stop laughing, you might ask yourself just how on earth I managed that. In the case of The Phantom Lover, it’s simple: I don’t speak or read Chinese.  The movie I should have been looking for was a 1937 film called Song at Midnight, but since I used the Mandarin title, Yè bàn gē shēng, in my WorldCat keyword search, and then didn’t realize there was more than one movie using that title, I accidentally requested the wrong one. What makes this doubly hilarious is that Song at Midnight is, itself, an adaptation of Gaston Leroux’s novel The Phantom of the Opera, and The Phantom Lover is one of two remakes of Song at Midnight.  Layers upon layers of textual goodness to unpack!  However, with its lavish sets and costumes, lovely singing, and Romeo and Juliet allusions, The Phantom Lover is so wonderful that I’m hard-pressed to see how Song at Midnight can compare. 

Another blunder that led to an interesting cinematic experience was mistaking George Cukor’s Camille for Gregory Mackenzie’s Camille.  Instead of a swanky retelling of a Dumas novel, I accidentally subjected myself to 90 minutes of Sienna Miller playing an undead newlywed.  It wasn’t a horrible film, but it was definitely bizarre, and a little unsettling.  After all, if your husband doesn’t fall in love with you until after you’re a slowly rotting corpse, your relationship has issues that probably can’t be satisfactorily resolved in a 90-minute movie.  If only I had read the descriptive essay from the book before I checked out the wrong film!  On the bright side, David Carradine’s supporting role as a sad, philosophical cowboy made the movie a little more pleasant to watch, if still a bit puzzling. (Multi-colored horses?  Really?)

On the even brighter side, getting my hands on the right movies most of the time has been a snap thanks to the wonderful staff in the Film and Audio Department and a number of libraries elsewhere in the country who graciously sent me their films via interlibrary loan.  Not every library can buy every item its patrons want, for a variety of reasons, so it’s great that so many libraries are willing to share their collections, often for no charge.   Talk about the kindness of strangers!  And the ability to request interlibrary loans through the Carnegie Library is available to everybody with an Allegheny County library card, so don’t be shy about putting in those requests.

One incredible film that came via ILL was Karel Kachyňa’s Ucho [The Ear], a psychological nerve-bender about Ludvik, a minor Communist party official, and Anna, his grumpy wife.  The couple spends most of their tenth anniversary arguing with each other about whether or not the Communist party has bugged their house, as well as whether or not the authorities are on their way over to arrest Ludvik.  Beautifully demonstrating the principle that just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean they’re not out to get you, Ludvik and Anna scramble around their house setting documents on fire, hunting for hidden microphones, and hiding precious objects in their son’s school bag, all the while taking verbal potshots at each other a la Edward Albee. Just when the tension is about to become unbearable, the conflict is resolved in a “happy” ending. And if you want to know what I mean by that, you’ll definitely have to request the film yourself, or–if you don’t mind being stapled to your computer or small-screen gadget–watch it on YouTube.

Here’s a list of the (correct!) films I watched in this round of the “1,001 Movies” project:

1. Ucho [The Ear], graciously loaned by the Wellesley College library system
2. The Cow, graciously loaned by the Old Dominion University library system
3. The Hangover
4. Kes
5. The House is Black
6. Cinema Paradiso
7. I am a Fugitive From a Chain Gang
8. M*A*S*H
9. Rear Window
10. Metropolis
11. Network
12. Slumdog Millionaire
13. Badlands
14. To Kill A Mockingbird

This brings my total movie-watching count up to a neat 220, and I’m still having a wonderful time, especially with this round’s wealth of classic films. I’m a little in love with Gregory Peck and not ashamed to admit it, either. I do wonder, however, when real life concerns and the cumulative lack of sleep are going to catch up with me.  I suppose I’ll just have to burn that bridge when I get to it.

Until next time, movie fans!

Leigh Anne

who also somehow managed to finish reading A Storm of Swords and is chomping at the bit for her turn with A Dance With Dragons

Gifted: 29 Thank-Yous for Reading Eleventh Stack

Once a year, everybody in Allegheny County is invited to read and think about the same book, courtesy of the One Book, One Community initiative.  This year you’re invited to experience Cami Walker’s 29 Gifts: How A Month of Giving Can Change Your Life.  The official One Book website is filled with information that can enrich your reading experience via book club kits and discussion questions, related readings and resources on the themes of kindness and civility, and other ways to get involved, which will be updated as the official start date approaches.

The Eleventh Stack blog team has decided to participate in this countywide celebration of goodwill and bonhomie by giving away a gift every weekday for the next 29 days, starting tomorrow, February 1, 2o11.  At the end of each blog post, you will be prompted to leave a comment that reflects on that day’s essay.  A random winner will be chosen each day, and if it’s you, you’ll receive an e-mail with details on when/where to stop by and choose your prize.

Yes, I did say choose.  The blog team has assembled a prize closet of cool stuff for you to pick from, which includes:

• copies of popular books, DVDs, and books on CD
• $5.00 Crazy Mocha gift cards (good at any CM location)
• $10.00 pre-paid fine cards (good at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh locations)
• handmade items crafted by library workers and library supporters
• fashionable black and gold “Pittsburgh Protect Your Library” tote bags
• other whimsical surprises as we think of them

We’re even assembling a special prize package for the person who wins on day 29, just in case “the good stuff” is already gone. (It’s all good stuff, but who likes to choose last?  Nobody–that’s who.)

The only things we ask of you in return are:

• Be an Allegheny County resident.  We love our expatriate readers, but postage is a wee bit dear these days.
• Include your e-mail address with your blog comment. (Otherwise, how can we tell you you’re a winner?)
• Add the e-mail address eleventhstack at carnegielibrary dot org to your list of approved senders. (So any mail from us doesn’t end up in your spam folder.)
• Tell us what’s on your mind when you comment!  Responses like “Awesome, dude” make us feel warm and fuzzy, but don’t really help us become better writers.

On an even warmer, fuzzier note,  February 2011  marks the third full year the Eleventh Stack team has been blogging for the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.  When we started the project, we had no idea whether or not this method of communication would be a good way to reach out to our community.   Over 170,000 visits and 9,400 click-throughs to the catalog later–not to mention the lovely, thoughtful comments you’ve made–we can tell that you really, really like us.

 Of course, that makes us want to work even harder to demonstrate–via our sometimes serious, sometimes silly, but always heartfelt, essays–just how much the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh has to offer.  Your attention to, and continued support of, CLP is a great gift.  Please stick around and allow us to continue to give back in our quirky, writerly fashion.

Leigh Anne
who would take you all out for milk and cookies, except that it’s been done