February library events & classes www.portagelibrary.info
what’s inside
early literacy programs
this month’s newsletter PAGE 2 Early Literacy Programs PAGE 3 February 1-9 Library Programs
PAGE 4 February 9-15 Library Programs PAGE 5 February 16-21 Library Programs PAGE 6 February 22-29 Library Programs PAGE 7 Library Catalog Upgrade PAGE 8 What’s Coming in March
library hours Monday – Thursday 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM Friday 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM Saturday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Sunday 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
library board Betty Lee Ongley Library Board Chair Alisha Siebers Library Board Vice Chair Michele Behr Library Board Trustee
MOTHER GOOSE STORYTIME
EVENING STORYTIME
Tuesday, February 7, 14, 21, 28 9:30 AM and 10:30 AM INFANT/TODDLER This special time is designed for children from birth to 23 months. Delight and stimulate your baby’s senses with books, rhymes, and music. A developmentally appropriate playtime will follow. No registration required.
Wednesday, February 8 • 6:30 PM PRESCHOOL We have a wonderful 30 minutes of stories, movement and creativity prepared for parents to enjoy with their little ones. REGISTRATION REQUIRED.
TIME FOR TWOS Wednesday, February 1, 8, 15, 22 9:30 AM PRESCHOOL Interact with your 2 year old to nurture a love of books. We will learn letters, sounds, new words and self expression through books, fingerplays and creative movement. No registration required.
PRESCHOOL STORYTIME Monday, February 6, 13, 20, 27 Thursday, February 9, 16, 23 10:30 AM PRESCHOOL Preschool age children will enjoy stories together and build language skills while listening to stories and expressing themselves creatively. They will be letters, new words, and learning new skills to prepare them for a life time of reading. No registration required.
Stephanie Brown Library Board Trustee Annee Dunn Library Board Trustee Martha Pacheco Library Board Trustee & Liaison to the Friends of PDL Joe Yantis Library Board Trustee
2
portage district library 300 library lane portage, mi 49002 269.329.4544 www.portagelibrary.info
SATURDAY STORIES Saturday, February 18 • 10:00 AM PRESCHOOL Share your love of books and learning. Come on in and listen to books, stories, rhymes and creative movement with your children. No registration required. It is The Portage District Library’s procedure to cancel youth programs if the Portage Public Schools are closed due to of weather related conditions.
programs & events MICHIGAN ART EDUCATION ASSOCIATION 2012 REGION 5 STUDENT ART EXHIBIT
february 1-9
MEET THE CHEF: TRADITIONAL BREADS FOR SAINT PATRICK’S DAY
SOLO EXHIBIT
Thursday, February 9th 2:00 PM & repeated 5:00 PM Age Group: ADULTS Come and experience the charm of Victorian Bakery with chef Maria Brennan and learn how to prepare traditional wheat and fruit soda bread just in time for St. Patrick’s Day. The breads can be sampled at the end of the demo along with some homemade jam and tea. We will also visit Confections with Conviction, home of delicious and unique chocolates, which is right next-door. Register by calling 329-4542 Ext. 600. There is a $5.00 fee at the door. Location: Victorian Bakery 116 W Crosstown Pkwy on the corner of Crosstown Pkwy and Burdick St. Co-sponsored with Fair Food Matters. REGISTRATION REQUIRED
Through February 24th VJ Kline & Frances Ballay-Wagner Acrylic, watercolor, oil painting & pastels
LEGO BLOCK PARTY
February 7th – February 26th Each year, art teachers who are members of the Michigan Art Education Association may submit five works of art for the annual Region 5 student exhibit. Region 5 includes Berrien, Cass, St. Joseph, Van Buren, and Kalamazoo counties. This exhibit includes this student artwork that is juried by their respective levels: elementary, middle, or high school.
ART RECEPTION FOR THE 2012 REGION 5 STUDENT ART EXHIBIT Sunday, February 12th • 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
PORTAGE COMPUTER USERS CLUB Thursday, February 2nd • 10:00 AM Age Group: ADULTS Drop-in computer question and answer session. No registration required.
COMBAT VETERANS’ WRITING GROUP Tuesday, February 7th • 6:30PM This series of writing workshops for veterans focuses on short narratives about serving in the military during wartime. No writing experience is necessary. This series is led by Margaret von Steinen, writer and communications officer for WMU’s Haenicke Institute for Global Education the first and third Tuesday nights and runs through March 20th. For more information, please e-mail Margaret at mvonsteinen@chartermi.net. No registration required.
Thursday, February 9th • 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM Age Group: ALL AGES LEGOS are awesome! Not only are they great for strategic thinking, planning ahead, fine motor skills, imagination, architectural art, and problem solving; they are fun. Your children will love being social with other LEGO creators of all ability levels. No registration required.
CPR- HEARTSAVER AED COURSEAMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION COURSE Thursday, February 9th • 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM Age Group: ADULTS The Heartsaver AED course includes infant, child and adult conscious to unconscious choking, CPR for infant, child and adults, AED training and skills practice. Course includes a 2 year certification card. $35 per person. All payments are due by Tuesday, February 7th at the Youth Information Desk. Registration by calling 329-4542 Ext. 603. REGISTRATION & PAYMENT REQUIRED
portage district library | february 2012 3
february 9-15
programs & events PORTAGE COMPUTER USERS CLUB Thursday, February 9th • 10:00 AM Age Group: ADULTS Drop-in computer question and answer session. No registration required.
LEGOS! LEGOS! LEGOS! Friday, February 10th • 10:00 AM Age Group: ALL AGES Come on in and express your creativity. LEGOS of various sizes will be provided for all ability levels. No registration required.
CPR-BABYSITTING BASICS COURSEAMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION COURSE Saturday, February 11th • 9:30 AM- 12:30 PM Age Group: 10 years and up The Babysitting Basics Course includes infant and child First Aid and CPR, babysitting do’s and don’ts, safety and skills practice. This course is geared for middle school and high school kids. Books and certification cards are supplied. $25 per person. All payments are due by Thursday, February 9th at the Youth Information Desk. Registration by calling 3294542 Ext. 603 REGISTRATION & PAYMENT REQUIRED
INTRODUCTION TO AMATEUR ASTRONOMY: BINOCULARS BASICS Saturday, February 11th • 1:00 PM Age Group: ADULTS & TEENS Every amateur astronomer, novice or advanced, should own at least one good pair of binoculars. They make an ideal first “telescope” because of their wide field of view, ease of use, portability, versatility, and low cost. Several types of binoculars are available, but which ones are best for astronomy? You’ll be amazed at what you can see! No registration required.
www.portagelibrary.info 4
READ ALL ABOUT IT: A DISCUSSION OF THE GREAT MICHIGAN READ, ARC OF JUSTICE BY KEVIN BOYLE Sunday, February 12th • 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM Age Group: ADULTS This interactive discussion will feature a panel focused on the Great Michigan Read selection: Arc of Justice; A Saga of Race, Civil Rights and Murder in the Jazz Age by Kevin Boyle. The panel will explore the story of the novel and the historical events that surround it and examine related local events. An open discussion will follow. We are especially inviting book groups to discuss and share their top picks of the year. Co-sponsored by West Michigan Black Heritage Society. No registration required.
TEEN CRAFTERNOON Wednesday, February 15th • 3:30 PM Age Group: TEENS Join Quyen for an afternoon of crafting! We will be making duct tape purses and wallets. Bring your own fabric and duct tape if you have specific color preferences or choose from our supplies. Check out the teen room display for samples. REGISTRATION REQUIRED
PORTAGE COMPUTER USERS CLUB Thursday, February 16th • 10:00 AM Age Group: ADULTS Drop-in computer question and answer session. No registration required.
X-MEN OF THE WILD Thursday, February 16th • 6:30 PM Age Group: ALL AGES It doesn’t get much better than seeing a real creature up-close and personal. The Kalamazoo Nature Center is excited to introduce you to live birds of prey like falcons, hawks, and owls! Explore the super powers of these birds and learn how they survive in the wild. No registration required.
programs & events MY PLACE IN HISTORY: A MEMOIR WRITING WORKSHOP BY DONNA ODOM Thursday, February 16th • 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM Age Group: ADULTS In this workshop participants are given an introduction to memoir writing and how to develop writing prompts, and guidelines for creating a short memoir that tells the story of a major historical event that took place during the individual’s lifetime. Donna Odom is the executive director of the Southwest Michigan Black Heritage Society, former interpretations coordinator at Kalamazoo Valley Museum, a board member of the Kalamazoo County Historical Society. She presents at conferences, offers workshops on oral history and memoir writing and assists individuals and organizations research and write their histories. This program is free. REGISTRATION REQUIRED
ABC ACTIVITY TIME Friday, February 17th • 10:00 AM Age Group: PRESCHOOL Drop-in playtime including sensory activities, fine and gross motor skills, pocket charts, manipulatives and more. This is a time for your child to practice skills that will help them get ready to read! Open to preschoolers with their favorite adult. The focus is for parents to participate in the learning process with their child while making it fun! No registration required.
COMBAT VETERANS’ WRITING GROUP
february 16-21
OPEN FOR DISCUSSION: DROP-IN BOOK DISCUSSION Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson Tuesday, February 21st 10:30 AM & repeated 7:00 PM Age Group: ADULTS The title of this book is borrowed from the celebrated black writer Richard Wright, who fled Jim Crow Mississippi in the 1920s to feel the warmth of those other suns. It is based on more than a thousand interviews. It follows the exodus of Southern blacks from World War I through the Depression, World War II, the Civil Rights movement and riots of the 1960’s, into the 1970’s. The book follows the journey of three Southern blacks, each representing a different decade of the Great Migration as well as a different destination: Chicago, New York, Los Angeles and Oakland, the patterns determined by the train routes available to those bold enough to leave. Although this book is filled with statistics and history, it reads as three novellas tied together by the individuals who braved the trip north for a better life and those with unbreakable bonds to family ties who chose to stay behind. No registration required.
TEEN ADVISORY GROUP Tuesday, February 21st • 6:45 PM Age Group: TEENS The Teen Advisory Group is open to 8th-12th graders. This group plans library events, selects books for the collection, and plans displays for the teen room. Join us! No registration required.
Tuesday, February 21st • 6:30 PM Age Group: ADULTS This series of writing workshops for veterans focuses on short narratives about serving in the military during war time. No writing experience is necessary. This series is led by Margaret von Steinen, writer and communications officer for WMU’s Haenicke Institute for Global Education and runs the first and third Tuesday nights through March 20th. For more information, please e-mail Margaret at mvonsteinen@chartermi.net. No registration required.
portage district library | february 2012 5
february 22-29
programs & events READ WITH SULLEY Wednesday, February 22nd 4:40 PM – 6:00 PM Age Group: ELEMENTARY Practice your reading to a patient and attentive new friend. Your child can read out loud with Sulley, a registered therapy dog, who loves children and does not shy away from hugs. His handler is a Portage teacher and they both promise your child a “paw-sitive” experience. Sign up for a 20 minute reading time TODAY! To register please call the Youth Information Desk at 329-4542 Ext. 603. REGISTRATION REQUIRED
PORTAGE COMPUTER USERS CLUB Thursday, February 23th • 10:00 AM Age Group: ADULTS Drop-in computer question and answer session. No registration required.
ABC ACTIVITY TIME Friday, February 24th • 10:00 AM Age Group: PRESCHOOL Drop in playtime including sensory activities, fine and gross motor skills, pocket charts, manipulatives and more. This is a time for your child to practice skills that will help them get ready to read! Open to preschoolers with their favorite adult. The focus is for parents to participate in the learning process with their child while making it fun! No registration required.
FICTION WRITING WORKSHOP WITH JANET HELLER Saturday, February 25th • 9:30 AM - 12:00 PM Age Group: ADULTS This fiction-writing workshop is designed for budding writers. Participants are encouraged to e-mail Janet a
www.portagelibrary.info 6
story in advance or bring a story that they have written on the day of the workshop. Janet Heller has taught English and Women Studies courses at Western Michigan University. She is the founding mother of Primavera, a literary magazine. Dr. Heller has published poetry, fiction, essays, literary criticism, and an awardwinning children’s book called How the Moon Regained Her Shape. This workshop is limited to 20 participants. For questions regarding the workshop, please e-mail janetheller@charter.net This program is free. REGISTRATION REQUIRED
INTRODUCTION TO AMATEUR ASTRONOMY: TELESCOPE TUTORIAL Saturday, February 25th • 1:00 PM Age Group: ADULTS & TEENS Sooner or later, every amateur astronomer faces the decision of purchasing a first telescope. There are literally hundreds of choices today! What’s the difference between a refractor and reflector? Which telescope is the right one for you? To make this daunting task easier, we’ll compare several of the top telescopes available today and tell you which ones to avoid. We’ll also look at the countless array of accessories available for your telescope. If you already have a telescope but need help then bring it along. Register by calling 329-4542 Ext. 600. REGISTRATION REQUIRED
TWEEN LEAP YEAR FUN Wednesday, February 29th • 6:30 PM Age Group: TWEENS (3RD-5TH GRADE) It’s Leap Day, so we’ll fit 4 years of fun in one night! Design your own frog cupcakes, fold a paper frog, try our jump bucket or sticky tongue challenges, and more! Register by calling 329-4542 Ext. 603. REGISTRATION REQUIRED
IT’S COMING! NEW & IMPROVED! An UPGRADE to the Library Catalog
In this digital age, information is easy to come by. QUALITY information, however ranked according to true relevance and accessible via a single streamlined location, is a little harder to find. LOOK no more!
What changes should you expect? Your search experience will be more Google-like Great user experience – more patron friendly Fresh new look and design Eliminates dead-end searches providing “Did you mean” suggestions Extract the absolute BEST results with a user-friendly search function Easier-to-read graphics
What will stay the SAME There is no cost to the Library This is an upgrade to our existing system, required for the maintenance of the software The tentative date for the upgrade is the beginning of March The advanced search option will remain Your account information, including current holds and interlibrary loan, will remain the same
YOU’RE GOING TO LOVE IT!
what’s coming in march! 2012 Reading Together Event MARCH 1ST
Sundays Live: Hired Hands MARCH 11TH
U.S. Latino Literature & Culture
Come listen to the eclectic blend of blues, folk and rock
Cats Art Exhibit MARCH 2ND
Views of felines through the eyes of painters, photographers, sculptors and quilters
How to Invest in a Complex and AgendaDriven World MARCH 13TH
Solo Gallery: Jabeth Wheeler MARCH 2ND
Fundamentals of Starting a Business MARCH 21ST
Watercolor & Fiber art
Workshop on writing a business plan
Middle School Drop-In MARCH 8TH
Meet the Chefs: Taste of Mexican Hospitality MARCH 28TH
Bring your friends and join us for activities, crafts, fun and snacks
Step into the culture of Mexico through food