Two new Museum passes are now available!

The Syosset Public Library is pleased to announce two new additions to the museum pass program, The Guggenheim Museum and the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum.

An internationally renowned art museum  designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and one of the most significant architectural icons of the 20th century, the Guggenheim museum is a vital cultural center.  Visitors can experience special exhibitions of modern and contemporary art, lectures by artists and critics, performances and film screenings, classes for teens and adults and daily tours of the galleries led by experienced docents.  Founded on a collection of early modern masterpieces, the Guggenheim Museum today is an ever growing institution to the art of the 20th century and beyond.

The Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum is a unique combination of mansion, marine and natural history museum, planetarium and park.  The Vanderbilt Museum is dedicated to the education and enjoyment of the people of Long Island and beyond.  Exhibition and program themes focus upon Long Island’s Gold Coast Era and upon William K. Vanderbilt II’s desire that his marine, natural history and ethnographic collections promote appreciation and understanding of the marvelous diversity of life, other cultures and scientific knowledge.  The Spanish Revival Mansion belonged to William K. Vanderbilt, II and was designed by the New York architectural firm Warren & Wetmore, whose Grand Central Station in New York City was designed and built for the New York Central Railroad, one of several Vanderbilt family enterprises.  The Planetarium opened in 1971 and is the largest facility of its kind on Long Island.  The Planetarium’s main feature is the domed, 60 ft. sky theater.  The theater’s GOTO star projector can display the sun, moon, stars and planets.  The projector can show 11,369 stars, the Milky Way and several deep sky projects.

To reserve passes to either of these museums or any other museum that is part of the Syosset Public Library’s museum pass program, visit www.syossetlibrary.org and click “museum pass program” on the right hand side or contact the Readers’ Services Desk at 921-7161 ext. 239 or visit the Readers’ Services Desk on the second floor.

- posted by Lisa J. , Readers’ Services

Emily Dickinson’s Garden: The Poetry of Flowers

April is  National Poetry Month and May has a host of garden events, such as National Wildflower Week (May 2-9) or Garden Meditation Day on May 3.  So, what could be better than combining the two.

The New York Botanical Garden is doing just that.  From April 30 through June 13, the exhibit is Emily Dickinson’s Garden: The Poetry of Flowers.  According to an article in the New York Times, “Emily Dickinson once called herself a ‘Lunatic on Bulbs’, referring to her passion for daffodils, hyacinth and other spring perennials”.  Although no trace of her original plantings survive, the Garden staff used its imagination to recreate Dickinson’s garden using plants that would have been popular in Massachusetts at the time.

The article from the Times describes the exhibit better than I can.   You can also find out more information on the New York Botanical Garden website.  (Of course, the Syosset Public Library does have museum passes to the Garden.  So take advantage of it.)

If you are interested in reading her poetry or finding out more about Emily Dickinson, you can browse our collection or use our databases.  Feel free to ask a librarian for assistance.

I’m planning on seeing the exhibit.  I hope you will as well.

-posted by Ed G., Reference Librarian

Happy Gardening!

The sun is shining and spring is definitely in the air! There is much talk about the 40^th anniversary of the first Earth Day and so I feel virtuous as I get my hands into the garden soil. I can just about smell the flowers and taste the herbs and veggies that will fill the garden in a few months!

If you are thinking along those lines and need some help with your garden there are many good websites to check. The wonderful New York Botanical Garden and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden offer a range of helpful gardening ideas for the novice and advanced gardener. You can even ask an expert at the NYBG  any gardening question.  Do you want to plant a garden to attract wildlife? Or are you more interested in the color scheme for your garden? Check these great horticultural sources for help.

Cornell Cooperative Extension has a wealth of information on its website. But not everything is available online! You still must bring a soil sample to Eisenhower Park if you want it tested; check the other services available there. I know there will be pest problems at some point but right now I am optimistic and more interested in the annuals that the staff has evaluated and found promising for Long Island.

When you need more inspiration or a break from the garden chores, our area has some wonderful places to visit. In addition to the New York Botanical Gardens in the Bronx (don’t forget the library has a pass you can borrow to visit that wonderful place!) and the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens, there are several worthwhile places on Long Island. Try Old Westbury Gardens (the library also has a pass), Planting Fields Arboretum, Bayard Cutting Arboretum,  Bailey Arboretum, and Clark Botanic Garden.

I have not yet mastered gardening in the dark (my kids threatened once to get me a miner’s hat with a light!) so at night I can content myself with reading a good book set in a garden. May I suggest some books by Ann Ripley (maybe Death at the Spring Plant Sale), Janis Harrison (Reap a Wicked Harvest is a possibility), Anthony Eglin’s English Garden mysteries or Rosemary Harris’ Dirty Business series?  Susan Wittig Albert ‘s character China Bayles is an herbalist. You could check out Mark Mills’ Savage Garden or The Garden Plot by J.S. Borthwick.

But now the warm sun beckons me outdoors. I must get my fingers into the dirt!  If you notice I am wearing bright red nail polish you can be sure I have been happily outside planting seed, dividing and transplanting plants, or even pulling a weed or two.

- posted by Brenda, Reference Services

New Museum Pass Available

The Syosset Public Library is pleased to announce that we have added the Heckscher Museum of Art to our museum pass program.  The Heckscher Museum of Art is located at 2 Prime Avenue, Huntington, NY .  We have one pass to the museum which admits 2 adults and their accompanying children.  Since opening its doors in 1920, the Heckscher Museum of Art has become a leading cultural institution on Long Island with its permanent collection of more than 2,200 works, predominately American and European in origin, dating from the early 16^th century to the present.  The museum is located in the beautiful 18.5 acre Heckscher Park.

The Syosset Public Library also has membership to Old Westbury Gardens and the New York Botanical Garden.  Spring is a perfect time to visit these lovely gardens and witness  the flora and fauna in all its glory.  To see a complete listing of all the museums in our museum pass program or to make a reservation for a museum pass, please visit our website and click on the museum pass reservations icon or contact the Readers Services desk at 921-7161 ext. 239.  Happy Spring!!

- posted by Lisa J., Readers’ Services

New York Botanical Garden

The Syosset Public Library is pleased to announce that we have added the New York Botanical Garden  to our Museum Pass Program.  Founded in 1891, The New York Botanical Gardens, located in Bronx, NY is one of the greatest botanical gardens in the world containing more that 1 million plants on its 250 acre landscape.  There is a wealth of programs, exhibitions and activities for visitors to enjoy. The Syosset Public Library has one Family pass to the Gardens which admits two adults and up to 5 children under 16 living in the same household.  Patrons can now reserve their museum passes online by going to http://www.syossetlibrary.org/ and following the museum pass program icons.  Patrons can also continue to reserve their museum passes by visiting the Readers Services desk on the 2nd fl. or by calling (516) 921-7161 ext. 239.

- posted by Lisa J., Readers’ Services

New museum pass available

The Syosset Public Library is pleased to announced that we have added the Morgan Library & Museum to its Museum Pass Program.  The Morgan Library & Museum is located at 225 Madison Avenue in New York City.  Founded by financier Pierpont Morgan, the Morgan houses one of the worlds greatest collections of artistic, literary & musical works from Ancient Times to the Medieval & Renaissance periods to the present day.

For more information regarding the Morgan please visit their website. The Museum pass for the Morgan admits 2 adults and 2 children age 18 and under.  To reserve your pass to this museum or any other museums available through our Museum Pass Program, please contact the Readers Services Dept. at (516) 921-7161 ext. 239 or stop by the Readers Services desk on the 2nd floor.”

- posted by Lisa J.,  Readers Services

New Museum Pass Available

The Syosset Public Library is pleased to announce that we have added the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) to our Museum Pass Program.  We have one pass which admits 5 guests.  The pass also allows for a 10% discount in the MoMA Store.  Effective Tuesday, October 6th, reservations can be made for MoMA.  Please stop by the Readers Services Desk on the 2nd Floor or call 921-7161 ext. 239 to make your reservation.  Please visit http://www.moma.org for additional information regarding the museum.

- posted by Lisa J. – Readers Services