More than just Books - The Nashville Public Library

I've recently spotlighted some can’t miss Nashville treasures here on the blog – the Belcourt Theater and Cult Fiction Underground at Logue’s Black Raven Emporium - both places you’ll want to frequent often if you’re a film fan in Nashville, TN. I want to continue that series of Nashville treasures today with a look at the NASHVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

The library is one of those places that everyone is familiar with but never thinks of when it comes to entertainment. Oh, yeah, that place with the books. Well, yes, technically it IS that place with the books, a tremendous collection of books, to be exact, but the Nashville library is so much more than just that. It also offers an amazing assortment of magazines, newspapers, music, movies, audiobooks and more that you can check out if you’re a resident of Davidson County.

But if you’re not a resident of Davidson County (and I’m not) you should still be keeping an eye on the Nashville Public Library for the great events happening there.

For instance, there are THE COURTYARD CONCERTS, a series of FREE concerts on Tuesdays featuring musicians and bands of all musical genres. Just check out this list of artists that have performed so far this year: The WannaBeatles, Nick Nixon, Gypsy Hombres, Radio Daze, and Riders in the Sky.

Remaining acts scheduled this year are:

Sara Sant'Ambrogio, September 18, 2012 11:45am - 1:00pm

The Steel Drivers, September 25, 2012 11:45am - 1:00pm

Rachel Rodriguez, October 2, 2012 11:45am - 1:00pm

Jason D. Williams, October 9, 2012 11:45am - 1:00pm

Check out this link for details.



Then there is the SALON @615 series of writers who appear at the library to speak about their new work, and once again, this is FREE. Next up, on Tuesday, September 18, 2012 is Actress/author Molly Ringwald speaking about her fiction debut "When It Happens To You." Molly Ringwald is also the author of the bestseller “Getting the Pretty Back: Friendship, Family and Finding the Perfect Lipstick.” Book signing will follow talk.

Molly Ringwald - Tuesday, September 18, 2012 6:15 PM

Cost: Free. Tickets will be available on TicketsNashville beginning two weeks prior to the event, for a convenience fee of $2.50

See link for details

Ticket distribution begins at 5:45 p.m.

How’s that for a cool free event? The library does this regularly - Just take a look at the upcoming authors they’re bringing in to speak and meet the public:

Irene Goldman-Price (My Dear Governess) and Jennie Fields (The Age of Desire) -A Talk on Edith Wharton - September 20, 2012 6:15 PM

Michael Chabon - Pulitzer Prize Winner Michael Chabon discusses his latest novel - Telegraph Avenue. Talk begins at 6:15 p.m., with signing to follow. - October 2, 2012 6:15 PM

Caroline Kennedy - author/editor of eight bestselling books on constitutional law, American history, politics, and poetry. She will be signing her latest work, Listening In: The Secret White House Recordings of JFK - October 9, 2012 1:00 PM

Louise Erdrich - author of thirteen novels as well as volumes of poetry, short stories, children's books, and a memoir of early motherhood. She will be discussing her latest novel, The Round House - October 9, 2012 6:15 PM

Dennis Lehane - author of Shutter Island and Mystic River, discusses his latest novel, Live by Night. The novel is set in the Prohibition-era, told through the eyes of a charismatic young gangster who is on the rise - October 23, 2012 6:15 PM

Mem Fox - Australia's best loved picture-book author. Her first book, Possum Magic, has sold over four million copies and is still the bestselling children's book in Australia, 29 years after its publication - November 5, 2012 6:15 PM

Emma Donoghue - bestselling author of Room, discusses her latest collection of short stories. Astray contains fourteen fact-inspired stories about travels to, in and from North America - November 13, 2012 6:15 PM

Barbara Kingsolver - author of fourteen books (including include short stories, essay collections, poetry, and seven novels), discusses her latest novel, Flight Behavior. The novel takes on one of the most contentious subjects of our time: climate change. With a deft and versatile empathy she dissects the motives that drive denial and belief in a precarious world - November 27, 2012 6:15 PM

Jon Meacham - Pulitzer Prize winner Jon Meacham will discuss his latest work Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power - December 13, 2012 6:15 PM

And the list goes on and on. Visit this link regularly for details and a list of upcoming guests. Last year they brought actor Jeffrey Combs in to perform his one man play Nevermore. It was an amazing performance and a HUGE crowd showed up, so much so they filled a second overflow room. I got there early and got into the main theater, however!

Speaking of the theater, the library screens feature films regularly there which are, again, FREE. Coming up this October are some movies that horror fans out there will enjoy:


Saturday, October 6, 2012

2:00 PM The Car (1977) - Movies @ Main Gets ScaryAuditorium - Main Library

Saturday, October 20, 2012

2:00 PM Island of Lost Souls (1932) - - Movies @ Main Gets ScaryAuditorium - Main Library

Check out this link for schedule/details

Also returning this October is something that I look forward to EVERY Halloween – the LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW shadow puppet play. I‘ve been telling my good friend John Davis, the most ardent Halloween enthusiast I know, about this for years, and he has yet to take me up on it. This year, John! Trust me, this is something very cool and even though it’s a kids’ play it has an ending that must be seen to be believed. Creepy, spooky Halloween fun. What could be better this time of year? It takes place 4pm on the last two weekends of the month, the 19th, 20th, 26th, and 27th. Mad Science approved! Highly Recommended!!

Finally there is the Nashville Library podcast, the LEGENDS OF FILM PODCAST. Hosted by Bill Chamberlain, this is a series of in-depth conversations with award winning directors, producers, screenwriters, actors and others in the film industry that you monster-kids will love. Bill really knows his stuff and has interviewed a variety of guests including Walter Hill, Stuart Gordon, Philip Kaufman, Sara Karloff, Larry Cohen, Joe Dante and many more. This podcast is available through itunes and you can find them on the library webpage here. In addition there is also a second podcast from the library called the Popmatic Podcast, and links to it are on that page as well.

 Visit the library webpage to find out about all of these and even more cool events happening at the Nashville Library. You won’t regret it and if you make it out for any events tell them Dr. Gangrene sent you! The Nashville Public Library is located at 615 Church Street, Nashville, Tennessee 37219. There is a parking garage that offers free parking for the first hour and tickets can be validated at the desk for special events.