Local Libraries: Bastions of Chess Activity

It's become very apparent since I've started publishing local chess announcements at this blog that libraries are chess magnets. Most of the announcements I publish here feature free chess clubs and chess events hosted at local libraries. (Photo by Laura Archazki-Pacter: Homeschool student Hannah Smith contemplates her next move during a free chess program at the Golden Gate Children’s Library. Designed especially for children, the program will be held from 3-4 p.m., Sept. 25 and Oct. 2 and is open to the public. The brand new library offers an expanded childrens section with a variety of programs.) Here is an article about one such program: From the Collier Citizen (Florida) Learning chess is no ‘checkmate’ at library By LAURA ARCHAZKI-PACTER 4:20 p.m., Wednesday, September 17, 2008 Kings, queens, bishops and knights will command youthful attention during special chess classes at the new Golden Gate Library. A first for the community, the free chess classes and competitions will take place from 3-4 p.m., Thursdays, Sept. 25 and Oct. 2, as the library provides youngsters a chance to learn and participate in this strategic game. Children’s Librarian Kathy Hemmat chiseled chess into the library’s free program schedule, complete with a volunteer chess coach to oversee activities for children ages seven and older. “In the age of television and Internet, it’s good for children to be here to play chess,” she explains. “Parents have looked all over Naples and tell me it’s hard to find places to play chess, so we’re providing the place to play. It’s something they can do together.” Hemmat credits local homeschool mom Gena Smith with bringing the chess program to Golden Gate. Smith wanted a place for her children, Carly, 13; Hannah, 10; Carter, 8 and Michael 5, to practice and play chess together, but she hit a roadblock when local parks charged fees for room use. Smith’s chess pieces fell into place at the Golden Gate Library, when Hemmat agreed to offer room in the Children’s Library. Why chess? Smith says she was pleased when Hannah expressed an interest in learning the game because chess provides an excellent work-out for critical thinking skills. “When you make a mistake, you learn from it, and you can try something different next time,” she says. Jonathan Corbblah agrees. He’s taught more than 8,000 students to play chess over the years. As a senior instructor, and Candidate Master, in the game, Corbblah has played since he was six years old. For him, chess is not just a game, but his career. Corbblah was a lead chess instructor at the Community School of Naples this summer and he travels throughout the United States with USA Chess Camps to introduce parents and children to the basics of the game. “I do think chess has a great deal of benefits,” he says. “Chess improves spatial reasoning and logic. It trains you for learning. The way that chess players get better is by analysis of mistakes. They emulate what excellent players do, and study things players have done in the past.” To Corbblah, chess means more than improved thought processes, though. “Really, by far, it helps self esteem, and there’s a positive stigma with chess. It’s a natural sort of feelgood game. Hopefully, that success will continue into math, humanities, and science, with the same confidence to accomplish anything. Chess also teaches kids to learn how to win and lose gracefully,” he said. For more information on the chess camp, go online to http://www.usachess.com/