HMH Bearing Witness - November 2016

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WINTER 2016 13
The Boniuk Library Reaches Out to
Local Students
In September, HMH Librarian Maria Harris visited Houston-area colleges and
universities to share information about resources and research help available from
The Boniuk Library.
Students learned about the unique titles in the library’s 10,000-item collection and
received information about the museum’s Oral History Collection.
The Boniuk Library has seen an increase in visitors since these presentations and
Ms. Harris is planning to expand the outreach program in the coming academic year.
The Boniuk Library houses more than 9,500 volumes and includes a reference
section, a rare books collection, juvenile literature and an audio-visual collection.
L IBRARY HAPPENINGS
Let’s Be Friends!
Storytime
SATURDAY, DEC. 3, 2016
10 A.M. TO 12 P.M.
AVROHM I. WISENBERG
MULTI-PURPOSE LEARNING CENTER
Grandparents, grandchildren, parents and
children are invited to enjoy a fun story time
and writing workshop hosted by the Friends
of The Boniuk Library. “Let’s Be Friends!”
will feature two picture book read-alouds
about friendship, followed by crafts, snacks
and writing workshops presented by
Writers in the Schools (WITS).
Writers in the Schools (WITS) weaves
together art and education in libraries,
museums, parks, hospitals, and
community centers, bringing the joy of
stories to children throughout Houston.
For more information about WITS, visit
This event is free and open to the public.
Space is limited. Please register in advance
for “Let’s Be Friends!” at
registerevent.aspx. For more information
please contact Maria Harris, Librarian, at
or (713) 942-8000, x.110.
The Friends of the Library was created
to connect Holocaust Museum Houston
members and the Houston community
with The Boniuk Library’s collection and
resources. All funds raised by Friends of
the Library help HMH build the collection,
increase visibility and expand public access
to the collection.
“A Thousand Hills to
Heaven: Love, Hope,
and a Restaurant
in Rwanda”
by Josh Ruxin
Boniuk Library
Book Club
TUESDAY, DEC. 13, 2016
6:30 P.M. TO 8 P.M.
CONFERENCE ROOM
Holocaust Museum Houston librarian Maria
Harris leads a discussion of “A Thousand Hills
to Heaven: Love, Hope, and a Restaurant in
Rwanda” by Josh Ruxin. Newlyweds Josh and
Alissa were at a party when they received a
challenge that shook them to the core: do you
think you can really make a difference in a place
like Rwanda, where the scars of genocide linger
and poverty is rampant? While Josh worked
hard bringing food and health care to the
country’s rural villages, Alissa was determined
to put their foodie expertise to work.
A memoir of love, adventure, and family,
“A Thousand Hills to Heaven” provides a
remarkable view of how, through health, jobs,
and economic growth, our foreign aid programs
can be quickly remodeled and work to end
poverty worldwide.
Registration for this free event is limited to 12
participants, but it may be offered on a second
date. If registration is full, contact Maria Harris
at (713) 527-1610 or to add
your name to the interest list.
“Suite Française”
by
Irène Némirovsky
Boniuk Library
Book Club
TUESDAY, NOV. 15, 2016
6:30 P.M. TO 8 P.M.
CONFERENCE ROOM
Holocaust Museum Houston librarian
Maria Harris leads a discussion of “Suite
Française” by Irène Némirovsky. A story of
life in France under the Nazi occupation,
“Suite Française” includes two parts-
“Storm in June,” set amid the chaotic
1940 exodus from Paris, and “Dolce,” set
in a German-occupied village rife with
resentment, resistance, and collaboration.
Registration for this free event is limited
to 12 participants and may be offered
on a second date. If registration is full,
contact Maria Harris at (713) 527-1610 or
to add your name to the
interest list.
On Saturday, September 24, Friends of The Boniuk Library
welcomed families and children for a unique event exploring an
age old question – How do you get a ship into a bottle? The
Friends partnered with the Houston Maritime Museum to create
“Ship in a Bottle Saturday,” a day of education and fun.
Internationally recognized miniaturist Burton Reckles kicked
off the day with a talk and demonstration guiding the children
through the process of building ships in bottles. A dynamic
speaker, Burton held his audience spellbound as he shared the
secrets of the unique art form.
Burton also offered several examples of his work for children to
handle and examine, including a model of Holocaust Museum
Houston’s very own Danish fishing boat, the Hanne Frank.
After his demonstration, Mr. Reckles lead the children outside to
see the real Hanne Frank. The group was joined by HMH docent
Mary Esther Gonzalez who brought history to life with her kid-
friendly description of Danish rescue boats and the 7,200 Danish
Jews who were saved during the Holocaust. Ms. Gonzalez closed
her presentation by reading aloud a portion of Lois Lowry’s classic
children’s book “Number the Stars.” The morning concluded with
an art project created by the Houston Maritime Museum.
With a passion for learning, The Friends of The Boniuk Library
provide educational and entertaining events that regularly bring
children and families to Holocaust Museum Houston.
On Saturday, December 3, the Friends will collaborate with
Writers in the Schools (WITS) to present “Let’s Be Friends!,” a
story time and writing workshop for young children. Please visit
for details about other upcoming Friends of The
Boniuk Library programs at Holocaust Museum Houston.
Ship in a Bottle Saturday Teaches Kids about Danish Rescue Boats
Let ’s Be Friends!