West Chester Twp. library  doubles as movie theater

‘Spelling Bee’ musical onstage next weekend
2/5/12
Satchel Paige play joins Black History Month lineup
2/5/12
Arts sampler grows to 3 Saturdays
2/5/12
Playhouse actors 'Speaking in Tongues'
2/3/12
Cities cut giving taxpayer money to festivals
1/31/12
> More headlines

By Eric Robinette, Staff Writer Updated 6:51 PM Thursday, February 4, 2010

WEST CHESTER TWP. — Many people go to the library to check out movies. Now, at one local branch, they can watch them there, too.

The West Chester Twp. branch of the Middletown Public Library has introduced a new program called “At the Movies,” in which films are played via DVD projection on a large screen in the community room. The next showing will be at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 7, featuring the romantic comedy “No Reservations,” starring Aaron Eckhart and Catherine Zeta-Jones as competitive chefs dealing with a young girl, played by Abigail Breslin of “Little Miss Sunshine” fame.

Part of the idea behind the library program was to bolster the branch’s programming for adults, said librarian and program coordinator Phyllis Goodman.

“We always had children and young adult programming, but the adult programming was not as consistent,” she said.

“One of the reasons people come to the library is they’re looking for things to do. We’re just new at this and we’re trying to see what gets people to come in.”

The program got off to a slow start last month, drawing two people to a screening of Alfred Hitchcock’s “Vertigo.” The next screening, however, of the Cary Grant comedy “Arsenic and Old Lace,” attracted about 10 people.

“With the economy, people are looking for things to do that don’t cost a lot of money and there aren’t a lot of things going on in the late winter months,” she said.

Movies are chosen based partly on what other libraries have shown, suggestions of co-workers and what titles can be licensed for public viewing. Since next month is Oscars month, two Academy Award-nominated films will play.

On March 7, Sean Penn’s “Into the Wild,” with Emile Hirsch and Hal Holbrook, about a man who abandons his family, friends and possessions to live in the wilderness, is scheduled. On March 21, “Elizabeth: The Golden Age,” starring Cate Blanchett as Queen Elizabeth I will be shown. All showings are at 1:30 p.m. and are free.

After March, the program will take a break as people get involved with spring and outdoor activities, but it may be back at a later date, Goodman said.