Now @ MPL...

Come join us this Saturday, December 19, at the Central Library's Betty Brinn Children's Room for family friendly holiday fun! Featuring Ken Baron, this holiday concert includes interactive singing and dancing. The concert begins at 10:30 a.m. Come join us for lively holiday entertainment!

The first used booksale of the year will be taking place Saturday, February 6th from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. at the Central Library.

This sale features romance novels and cookbooks. So stock up on those romantic reads, or pick something up to cook your way into the heart of a loved one, just in time for Valentine's Day!

All proceeds benefit the Milwaukee Public Library. Sponsored by the Friends of the Milwaukee Public Library.

Check out other upcoming used book sales!

Need help creating a resume or filing out an online job application? Stop by one of our drop-in job help workshops! This program, funded through a Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant and made possible with funds from Northwestern Mutual Foundation, provides assistance to individuals searching for jobs. A job trainer specialist is available to help you learn how to complete online job applications, write a resume online, search online job listings and obtain a free e-mail account. Drop -in job help is available at:
Central Library : Tuesdays 4:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., Fridays 9:00a.m.-12:00p.m., and Saturdays 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
Atkinson Library: Tuesday 1:00 p.m. - 4:00p.m.
Bay View Library: Thursday 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Forest Home Library: Monday 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
Martin Luther King:Monday 1:00 p.m. -4:00 p.m.

For the month of February, several of the neighborhood libraries are hosting an arts and crafts program inspired by the women of Gee's Bend and their famous quilts. Children will create their own quilt pattern using cut paper and other art supplies while they learn about these famous women and the historical significance of their quilts. This program is for children ages 5-12. Advanced registration is not necessary. Children and their parents may simply come into any of the participating libraries to create works of art based on the beautiful quilts of Gee's Bend.

MPL is once again participating in The Big Read program. The Big Read is designed to revitalize the role of literature in American culture and bring the transformative power of literature into the lives of its citizens. It brings together partners across the country to encourage citizens to read for pleasure and enlightenment.

In 2010 Milwaukee will be reading The Call of the Wild by Jack London.

Events have been scheduled at all Milwaukee Public Libraries and are being planned by additional community partners. The kickoff for The Big Read will be at the Centennial Hall of the Central Library, February 26th starting at 11:00 a.m. MPL is partnering with the Milwaukee Public Museum for the kickoff.

To learn more about the kickoff and other events related to The Big Read, check out MPL's website.

On Monday, February 22, the Central Library is offering the monthly Patents 101 class in the Krikelas Room on the second floor. During the Patents 101 class, a Business Librarian will explain the seven-step strategy for doing a patent search. Learning how to navigate the United States Patent and Trademark Office website is the first step to protecting your idea. The Patents 101 class is held from 1:30 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. You can contact the Business and Technology desk at (414)286-3051 if you have any further questions.

Help MPL celebrate Dr. Seuss' birthday with stories, music, birthday
treats, games and crafts.

Join us for the kick off event at Central on Saturday, March 6, 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m!

Be sure to check out:

--the Red Fish, Blue Fish pond
--exciting and interesting stories in our story nook
--Yertle the Turtle cookie decorating
--the Seuss-inspired art station with Artists Working in Education.
--our Cat in the Hat face painting artists
--Browser, the library lion, Penworthy Bear, and the Cat in the Hat

Also, you can sing and dance along with musician Ken Baron (30-minute shows at 10:00, 11:00 and 12:00).

AND

Nationally known family entertainer Chris Fascione will bring children's stories to life with his high-spirited and innovative performances (30-minute shows at 10:30, 11:30 and 12:30).

MPL's neighborhood libraries will be hosting Dr. Seuss celebrations throughout the month of March. Come join in the fun!

Calling all teens ages 13-18! Stop into one of your participating neighborhood libraries on selected dates in March for the Super Smash Brothers Gaming Tournament. This gaming tournament is hosted by the Teen Advisory Board and sponsored by the Helen Bader Foundation. Teens can choose to compete at Bay View, Forest Home, Martin Luther King, Jr., or Mill Road for a chance to qualify for the finals at Central Library. Test your gaming skills for a chance to win bragging rights as well as prizes! Snacks will be provided, so come on over to get your game on!

On Tuesday, March 23 at 7:00 p.m. in Centennial Hall, the Milwaukee Public Library will offer the latest program in the Frank P. Zeidler Memorial Lecture Series.

The featured speaker is John Nichols, co-author of The Death and Life of American Journalism: The Media Revolution That Will Begin the World Again.

Nichols is a political writer for The Nation magazine as its Washington correspondent. He contributes to The Progressive and In These Times and is the associate editor of Madison's daily paper, the Capital Times. His articles have appeared in the New York Times, Chicago Tribune and dozens of other newspapers.

On Saturday, March 20, at 1:00 p.m. in Central Library's Herzfeld Activity Center join MPL and Woodland Pattern Book Center for an afternoon of book making! This workshop is for adults and children ages ten and older (limit two children per adult).

An edible book is designed to encourage new ways of thinking about literature by creating books out of food. Come try your hand at making a few simple edible books with local bookmaker Sharon Van Ruiswyk.

After this edible book warm-up you will be ready to compete in the Edible Book Show at Woodland Pattern Book Center on Sunday, March 28! For inspiration, check out last year's winners.

To register for this program, please contact Woodland Pattern Book Center at (414) 263-5001. There is a $7 materials fee for this workshop.

You're Invited To
GRAND OPENING EVENT
Milwaukee Public Library
March 10th, 2010
Come Celebrate With US!

Mocais M Cafe at Cathedral Square has expanded! Plan to stop by our newest location for great coffee and all your favorite bites at the Milwaukee Public Library at 814 W. Wisconsin Avenue. We are located off the main entrance rotunda in the Bookseller.

We invite you to join us, our customers and the Friends of the Milwaukee Public library at the "Grand Opening" kick-off on March 10th, 2010.

The day will feature a ribbon cutting, free tastings, chair massages and door prizes throughout. Cafe hours 10am-4pm.

Mocais Cafe' is a minority women owned business that has " Catered to the business professional" in the downtown and Milwaukee area for over 8 years. We have a reputation for "fresh & fabulous food" and friendly and attentive service. In these difficult times we are proud to have been invited to the library, expanding our customer base and creating additional jobs.

We hope you can be a part of this special day for MOCAIS M Cafe & The Friends of the Milwaukee Public Library.

The Language of Conservation program at MPL is pleased to host the screening of the award-winning film Immortal Cupboard: In Search of Lorine Niedecker. The film, by Cathy Cook, won the Jury Award at the 2009 Wisconsin Film Festival.

The film will be introduced by Karl Gartung, poet and co-founder of the Woodland Pattern Book Center, and will be screened in the Krug Rare Books Room.

Lorine Niedecker was a poet, and was born on the Black Hawk Island near Fort Atkinson. She spent much of her life in rural isolation, and her poetry reflects this isolation.

The film is a documentary of Lorine Niedecker's life and poetry that takes its cues from Ms. Niedecker's poetry.

Date: 3-27-2010
Start Time: 2:00 p.m.
End Time: 3:00 p.m.
Library: Central
Location: Krug Rare Books Room

Are you unsure of what to do to fill your child's time during spring break? Join us in the Central Library Betty Brinn Children's Room April 6-9 for games, crafts and a movie during spring break! Tuesday, April 6 is Book Jacket Bingo, Wednesday, April 7 is Game Day, featuring the Wii and classic board games, Thursday, April 8 is DIY Craft Day, and Friday, April 9 is Movie Day, featuring Ratatouille. Advanced registration is not required for any of these events. Call (414)296-3011 if you have any questions.

MPL is happy to announce that Milwaukee's poet laureate for 2010-2011 is Brenda Cardenas. The poet laureate serves a two-year term promoting poetry
at library and community events.

Cardenas earned her Bachelor's degree in English (Creative Writing) from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and her Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing - Poetry from the University of Michigan- Ann Arbor. She is an assistant professor in the English Department at UWM, where she teaches poetry writing, literature, and Latino/a Studies.

Cardenas' latest full-length book of poetry, Boomerang, was published by Bilingual Review Press in November 2009. Her chapbook entitled From the Tongues of Brick and Stone was released in 2005. Cardenas also co-edited Between the Heart and the Land: Latina Poets in the Midwest. Her poem "Song" was made into an animated film in the Poetry Everywhere series sponsored by the Poetry Foundation.

Ms. Cardenas will be inducted as poet laureate at a ceremony on Tuesday, April 20 in Central Library's Richard E. and Lucile Krug Rare Books Room, 814 W. Wisconsin Ave. beginning at 7:00 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

In the latest Rare Books Room Educational Series, visual artist Thomas Rose presents on his limited edition books that are owned by MPL.

In this presentation, he discusses his unique creative process and the technical challenges that went into the creation of the book Time Frames. The book uses a unique combination of a hinged metal bindings and pages that are turned alternately.

The artist will also discuss his book 1018 West Scott Street, which explores the effect of his childhood home in Milwaukee upon his emotional and psychological development.

Thomas Rose's multi-media works, books, architectural collaborations, and projects for public and private spaces are found worldwide.

Seating is limited and registration is required. Contact the Art, Music, & Recreation Department at (414) 286-3071.

Date: April 4th, 2010
Start Time: 1:30 p.m.
End Time: 2:30 p.m.
Location: Krug Rare Books Room

On May 11th, the Milwaukee Public Library and the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works are proud to present the program: Don't Leave Grandma in the Attic!, a presentation on the preservation, display, storage, and repair of photographic materials.

Debra Hess Norris, the Chair and Professor of Art Conservation at the University of Delaware and Photographic Conservator will be on hand to discuss the care and treatment of photographs.
Don't Leave Grandma in the Attic! poster

Debra Hess Norris is the author of many book chapters and articles on the care and preservation of photos and is an authority on how to best treat them, whether they are 19th century daguerrotypes or contemporary color prints.

Seating is limited and reservations may be made by calling the Central Library's Humanities Department at (414) 286-3061.

Date: May 11th, 2010
Start Time: 6:30 p.m.
End Time: 7:30 p.m.
Library: Central
Location: Krug Rare Books Room

For over thirty years, Joseph Bruchac has been creating poetry, short stories, novels, anthologies, and music that reflect his Abenaki Indian heritage and Native American traditions.

He is the author of more than 70 books for children and adults. The best-selling Keepers of the Earth: Native American Stories and Environmental Activities for Children series, with its remarkable integration of science and folklore, continue to receive critical acclaim and to be used in classrooms throughout the country.

Join Bruchac as he recites poems, tells traditional Native tales, and discusses how poetry helps us see and be in nature:

On June 21, the poet-in-residence for the Language of Conservation program, Pattiann Rogers, will read poems highlighting the earth and its wide variety of life in meadowlands and grasslands, deserts, seas, marshes, jungles and forests. A reception including light refreshments will begin at at 6:30 p.m. and the program will begin at 7:30 p.m. Both will take place in the Krug Rare Books Room at the Central Library on the second floor. The Language of Conservation is an initiative of Poets House in partnership with the Milwaukee County Zoo and Milwaukee Public Library, made possible by a National Leadership Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

MPL children's librarian Karen Radtke will take a look back at popular children's books from 1900-1959 and discuss why were they in vogue. How did people get them? Are they valuable? How did MPL acquire such a large collection of them? Come to this program with childhood memories of reading books and series --- and feel free to bring a favorite book(s) from your youth!

Central Library - Krug Rare Books Room - 2nd Floor
Saturday, June 19
2:00-4:00 p.m.
This program is free and open to the public, but seating is limited. Please call 414.286.3071 to reserve your spot.

Milwaukee Public Library has been working with Uihlein Wilson Architects to renovate the Central Library Drive-Through. There have been no significant changes to the Drive-Through since it was originally completed in 1956.

The project will include improvements to the interior layout and functionality which include: an automated materials handling system, improvements to glazing and lighting to increase energy efficiency and reduce energy costs, and a new canopy (among other things). Construction is expected to begin early this month and reopening will occur in the fall.

Now that summer is in full swing, are you scrambling for fun, educational activities for your children to participate in? Fortunately, Milwaukee Public Library has a summer activity calender to help you figure it all out! For young children, all branch libraries as well as Central host the Preschool Story Time. Children of all ages have a choice of several programs and activities, including performances, games, and other fun activities! All the libraries also have awesome activities for teens such as Wii gaming, Book Bingo, Teen Jeopardy, ice cream socials and more! So check out the calendar and take your kids to your favorite branch for summer fun!
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Join the Friends of the Milwaukee Public Library in welcoming author Elizabeth Wright to Centennial Hall on Thursday, July 15, at 7:00 p.m. Wright, the granddaughter of Frank Lloyd Wright, will speak about her book Dear Bob, Dear Betty --the love story of her parents which developed by correspondence during the Great Depression.

In 1932, Llewellyn Wright (Bob), Frank Lloyd Wright's youngest child, whose adolescence was marked by the public scandals surrounding his father's private life, is struggling to begin a private law practice in Chicago. Elizabeth Kehler (Betty), daughter of a Chicago artist, is working as an intake counselor at the Milwaukee Vocational School. Their fervent correspondence over a 10-month courtship is witty, sassy and poignant, as they grapple with their passionate feelings and try to create a financially stable marriage.

For more information, please call (414) 286-8720, or email Friends@mpl.org.

The Treasures Within Are Out for the Richard E. and Lucile Krug Rare Books Room Educational Series Open House!

Drop by the Central Library and meet the Rare Books Team at a special open house. Learn more about some of the treasures and one-of-a-kind books in our Rare Books Room. Some of the works on display will include the Autograph Book, Hypnerotomachia Poliphili (1499), the John James Audubon prints, and more! The program is free and open to the public - all ages are welcome.

Saturday, July 17 - 2:00-4:00 p.m.
Central Library Rare Books Room - 2nd floor

Did you know that every three seconds, someone in our community needs blood? Or that the BloodCenter of Wisconsin is the only supplier of blood for local community hospitals, as well as 60% of the state? By donating blood, you can help save lives.

Remember that you will need to have a photo ID with you when you donate.

The Milwaukee Public Library and the Milwaukee Public Museum shared a building for around 70 years. That building is the current Central Library building at 814 W Wisconsin Ave.

At one time, a lion cub named Simba even lived in the building.

Check out this link to see photos of the library while the museum still had residence. You can also find out more about the lion who lived in the library and see a video of him as a cub.

On Saturday, July 31 at 5:00 p.m., Central Library drive-up services will close for renovation. The drive-up is located on N. 8th St. between Wisconsin Ave. and Wells St. on the east side of the library. The renovation is expected to be complete in the fall of 2010.

During the renovation, please return items to drop boxes located farther south on N. 8th, just north of Wisconsin Ave. For all other library services, please enter Central Library or use a neighborhood library if more convenient.

Highlights of the renovation include adding an automated library materials handling system for returns, improving lighting and insulation to increase energy efficiency, adding digital signage, improving the exterior driveway, and improving ADA accessibility to Centennial Hall.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office is offering a free seminar for inventors, entrepreneurs, educators and legal professionals at Centennial Hall, 733 N. Eighth Street, on Wednesday, September 8 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. The day's events will include:

*An overview of patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets
*How to make the best use of the USPTO website
*Conducting a patent search, step by step
*Asking the right questions of invention promotion firms
*Conducting a trademark search, step by step

A prepaid box lunch will be available for $7.50 with your choice of turkey or hummus wrap, chips and a beverage, or you may opt to go out to eat.

To register, contact Judy Pinger, the MPL Business & Technology Coordinator, by phone at 414 - 286 - 3247 or by email at jeping@milwaukee.gov. The deadline for registration is Tuesday, August 31.

This program is presented in connection with Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World on exhibit at the Central Library from September 8 to October 22, 2010.

Join MPL on Tuesday, September 7, 2010 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. to hear author Megan Daniels speak about her new book, Milwaukee's Early Architecture. The program will be held in Central Library's Richard E. and Lucile Krug Rare Books Room.

History, ethnic roots and architectural trends all played a role in developing the variety of architecture in Milwaukee. Daniels tracks this development through the use of photographs from the collections of the Milwaukee Historic Preservation Commission and the Milwaukee Public Library.

Books will be available for purchase and the author will autograph copies. Sponsored by the Friends of the Milwaukee Public Library and Boswell Book Company.

This Saturday, September 11th, join Professor Chris Szczesny-Adams in a discussion about Wisconsin native Frank Lloyd Wright. Wright was a controversial and influential architect whose legacy is found both in the built environment and in his myriad of books, portfolios, and articles. Learn about his life and revolutionary aesthetic through the library's rare materials such as The Wasmuth Portfolio and the Taliesin Collection of Paints, Wallpapers and Textiles. Presented by Chris Szczesny-Adams.

Click here for the Frank Lloyd Wright program poster.

Architectural historian Chris Szczesny-Adams, Associate Professor at MIAD, received her doctorate from the University of Virginia where she also attained a master's degree in architectural history and historic preservation. She also has a master's degree in art history from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Her interests include 19th and 20th century architecture, art, and material culture.

Seating is limited. Please call the Art, Music & Recreation Department at (414) 286-3071 to register.

Date: 9/11/2010
Start Time: 2:00 p.m.
End Time: 4:00 p.m.
Library: Central
Location: Krug Rare Books Room

Join us at the Central Library for the dedication of the Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World Traveling Exhibition. Mordecai Lee, Professor of Governmental Affairs at UWM will make brief opening remarks and invite the audience to view the exhibit.The dedication will begin at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, September 13th in Meeting Room One. This program is presented in connection with Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World on exhibit at the Central Library from September 8th to October 22nd, 2010.

On Thursday, September 16th at 7:00p.m. in Central Library's Centennial Hall, join MPL and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee for the UWM Libraries' Archives Department 9th Annual Revisiting Our Past Local History Lecture.

Jack Dougherty, prize winning author of More than One Struggle: The Evolution of Black School Reform in Milwaukee, will present "When Milwaukee's Civil Rights History Meets the Digital Era." Local civil rights activists Peggy Rozga and Vel Phillips will share remarks as well.

This event is also the launch of UWM's March on Milwaukee Civil Rights History Project.

This event is free and open to the public. Street parking is free after 6 p.m. For more information or to arrange for special needs, please call (414) 286-3021.

Celebrate the Autumn Equinox with poetry and song!

(In the photo from left: Harvey Taylor, Louisa Loveridge Gallas, Jahmes Tony Finlayson, Suzanne Rosenblatt, Jeff Poniewaz and Holly Haebig)

On Thursday, September 23rd at 7:00 p.m. in the Loos Room of Central Library's Centennial Hall, Earth Poets and Musicians will deliver an eco-empowering performance. Since 1988 the Earth Poets have been performing together in praise and defense of the natural world. With the addition in the past decade of two singer-musicians, they have added music and song to their celebration of our planet.

This event is free and open to the public. It is part of the Language of Conservation program series. The Language of Conservation is an initiative of Poets House in partnership with the Milwaukee County Zoo and Milwaukee Public Library, made possible by a National Leadership Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Are you looking for enriching after school activities for your child or teen? The After-School Club can help! All branch libraries in the city of Milwaukee host after school activities such as crafts, games, arts, dramatic play, and more! The After-School Club offers separate session times for children and teens. Kids and teens can hang out with friends while engaging in fun activities. If you have any questions, feel free to contact the library at (414) 286-3011.

Have you been knitting for years and would like to share your ideas and pieces with other knitters? Or are you just getting started and need some assistance and inspiration? Come to Milwaukee Knits at the Milwaukee Public Library. All ages and skill levels are welcome to join. There will be demonstrations, a yarn swap, projects for every skill level, dicussions with master knitters, and, of course, refreshments and delightful conversation with other individuals devoted to knitting.

This event will take place throughout the Central library from 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 23, 2010. Limited supplies are available for participating knitters.

Ever wondered about the history of your home? Has it always looked the way it does now? Have you thought about who used to live there, and what they did?

MPL is pleased to present our House History program on Saturday, November 13 at 9:30 a.m. at Central Library! Join our librarians and an architectural historian from Historic Milwaukee, Inc. to learn how to use library resources such as fire insurance atlases, city directories, historic photos, and census records to research the physical and social history of your home.

While this program is free and open to the public, space is limited and advance registration is required.

Please call 414.286.3061 to register.

If you haven't yet had a chance to check out the Green Roof of the Milwaukee Public Library's Central branch, you still have a couple of opportunities to do so before winter blusters in. The final public tours of the Autumn are scheduled for Wednesday, October 27th at 1:30 and Saturday, October 30th at 1:30.

Join MPL on Saturday, November 6th from 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. in Central Library's Centennial Hall for our latest poetry program, Poems that Turn with the Seasons.

From haiku to ode, great poetry has always connected us with earth's cycles. This program will help you rediscover how poetry attunes us to the motions of our moving and vulnerable planet. Poet Annie Finch shares some of her favorite seasonal poems, along with tips for using poetic rhythm to align yourself with the changing year.

Annie Finch is author of the poetry collections Among the Goddesses, Calendars, The Encyclopedia of Scotland, and Eve, reissued in Carnegie Mellon's Classic Contemporaries Poetry Series. Her other works include libretti; music, theater, and art collaborations; translation; and several anthologies and books on poetry. Winner of a Black Earth fellowship and the Robert Fitzgerald Award, she is Director of the Stonecoast MFA Program in Creative Writing at the University of Southern Maine.

This is a Language of Conservation program. The Language of Conservation is an initiative of Poets House in partnership with the Milwaukee County Zoo and Milwaukee Public Library, made possible by a National Leadership Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

The holiday season is here, which means it's time to find gifts for family and friends! Come to Central Library on Saturday, November 20th from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. to peruse MPL's used book sale. The sale will feature Holiday & Children's Books.

Remember that Friends of the Milwaukee Public Library members may enter the sale 30 minutes before the general public with current membership card!

Join MPL's Poet Laureate Brenda Cardenas for an afternoon discussion of poetry and poets on Saturday, Dec. 11 at 2:00 p.m. in the Krug Rare Books Room of Central Library.

The program will feature a panel discussion with Frank Lima (New York poet & master chef), Nina Corwin (poet & psychotherapist), William Fuller (poet & trust officer), Sue Blaustein (poet & food safety inspector & union officer), and moderator Karl Gartung (poet & truck driver & Woodland Pattern co-founder).

These poets will discuss the relationship between a poet's day job and his/her poetry, writing career, and writing process. How might these elements affect one another? How might these poets' work lives enrich their poetry or detract from their inspiration?

This event is linked to a poetry reading by Frank Lima at Woodland Pattern Book Center, 720 E. Locust St., on Dec. 10 at 7:00 p.m.

The Milwaukee County Transit System is celebrating 150 years of public transit in Milwaukee.

The Central Library has a small display of photos, maps, weekly passes and other materials from our archives and collections on Rapid Transit interurbans (light rail), streetcars, trolleybuses, buses and the North Shore Line. It's located in the middle of the 2nd floor hallway near the Humanities Room.

Submitted by Van Lingle Mungo

Design in the 21st century is everywhere. We text, we tweet, we surf, and we read, yet do we consider the design of the words or their layout? In Treasures of Design, Art historian Chris Szczesny-Adams will present the history of design in print (from Gutenberg to the 20th century) through the library's rare materials including Original Leaves from Famous Books, The Voices of Friends Concerning John Plankinton, and
Alphonse Mucha's poster Sarah Bernhardt.

Art historian Chris Szczesny-Adams, Associate Professor at MIAD, received her doctorate from the University of Virginia, where she also attained a master's degree in architectural history and historic preservation. She has a master's degree in art
history from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Her interests include 19th and 20th century architecture, art, and material culture.

Treasures of Design is part of the Richard E. and Lucile Krug Rare Books Room Educational Series.

Join Chicago poet and teacher Orron Kenyetta for a discussion on the life and art of David Drake, better known as "Dave the Potter", an African-American slave who created beautiful pottery with inscriptions of couplets of his dreams and aspirations. He did so in defiance of the laws and customs of his time. Attendees are encouraged to write a brief poem or statement about themselves following the discussion.

This event is FREE and open to the public, but seating is limited. Please register at 414.286.3071. Attendees can choose between four dates and locations. They are as follows:

Zablocki Library, 3501 W. Oklahoma Ave.
Saturday, February 12 from 2:30-4:30 p.m.

Central Library, Rare Books Room, 2nd Floor
Saturday, February 19 - 2:00-4:00 p.m.

Capitol Library, 3969 N. 74th St.
Monday, February 21 - 5:00-7:00 p.m.

Center Street Library, 2727 W. Fond du Lac Ave.
Saturday, February 26 - 1:00-3:00 p.m.

Story times aren't just for kids anymore! Be transported to another time and place through live readings of engrossing short stories. In honor of Women's History Month, sit back and enjoy listening to stories by and about women in Women's Words: A Story Time for Adults. We'll begin with Susan Glaspell's A Jury of Her Peers. Bring a brown bag lunch or stop by M Cafe located inside the Bookseller!

Celebrate African American History Month this February with the Milwaukee Public Library. Each day of February we will feature information about important people, events and resources of African-American history on the library's website.

We are also celebrating African American History Month through displays at Central Library. These include a display case containing one of Milwaukee artist and storyteller Gerald Wallace's walking sticks in the Art, Music and Recreation Department, a Civil Rights Movement display in the Humanities Department, an African-American inventors display in the Business Department and displays with books focusing on African-American history and culture in the Children's Room and in the main hallway on the first floor.

Pictured here is Dr. Carter G. Woodson. He launched the annual celebration of African-American history.

Have you got a great idea that you'd love to patent? The first step will be to explore what's already been patented to make sure that you're the first to think of it. The Milwaukee Public Library is a United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Depository. While librarians cannot do a patent search for you, these monthly programs will show you how to get started by using USPTO guidelines.

Date: February 28, 2011
Time: 1:30-2:30 pm
Location: Central Library Computer Training Lab

Come to Central Library on March 5 to celebrate the 107th birthday of Theodor Geisel - more commonly known as Dr. Seuss! Join Browser the library lion and the Cat in the Hat for music, games and fun! Reel in a good time at the fish pond, meet REAL turtles and take part in silly stories.
Cookie hats will be available to decorate and eat, and have your face painted. Chris Fascione will provide live entertainment at 10:00 a.m. and noon, while Kidsplay will play at 11:00 a.m.
The fun begins at 10:00 a.m. and last until 1:00 p.m.

The celebration continues throughout the month at the neighborhood libraries!

Atkinson - featuring Fox and Branch
Wednesday, March 9, 6-6:45 p.m.

Bay View - featuring Kidsplay
Wednesday, March 9, 6:30-7:15 p.m.

Capitol - featuring Kidsplay
Monday, March 14, 6-6:45 p.m.

Center Street - featuring LaBak the Magician
Saturday, March 19, 2-2:45 p.m.

East - featuring LaBak the Magician
Monday, March 14, 6:30-7:15 p.m.

Forest Home - featuring LaBak the Magician
Tuesday, March 15, 6-6:45 p.m.

Martin Luther King - featuring LaBak the Magician
Wednesday, March 9, 6-6:45 p.m.

Mill Road - featuring Fox and Branch
Monday, March 7, 4-4:45 p.m.

Tippecanoe - featuring Kidsplay
Wednesday, March 16, 6:30-7:15 p.m.

Villard Avenue - featuring LaBak the Magician
Tuesday, March 8, 5:30-6:15 p.m.

Washington Park - featuring Kidsplay
Tuesday, March 8, 6-6:45 p.m.

Zablocki - featuring LaBak the Magician
Saturday, March 12, 1-1:45 p.m.

Come to the Bookseller in Central Library, and take advantage of our spring cleaning sale. Books will be half off and all proceeds will benefit the library. While you're there, be sure to have some coffee and a treat from the M cafe. Check out their menu ahead of time.

Location: Central Library Bookseller
Date: March 12th
Time: 9am - 4pm

On Saturday, March 26 at 1:00 p.m., the Teen Advisory Board is hosting a Super Smash Brothers Video Game Tournament and Video Game dance-off at the Central Library. Show off your gaming skills and your moves! Prizes will be awarded to the top three players in each tournament. In order to be eligible for prizes, contestants must register. Registration and open play will occur for the first 30 minutes of the event. This event is sponsored by the Helen Bader Foundation and Best Buy.

For more information, call (414)286-3011.

August Derleth, prolific Wisconsin author, captured a lifetime of intimacy with the Wisconsin landscape in his nature poetry and essays. Both found their home in Sauk County, Wisconsin. Join us for a program exploring the writings of these two renowned Wisconsin authors.

This program will be presented by James P. Roberts, poet and Past President of the August Derleth Society and Professor Stanley A. Temple, Senior Fellow and Science Advisor at the Aldo Leopold Foundation.

The Poetry and Prose of Place is a Language of Conservation Program. The Language of Conservation is an initiative of Poets House in partnership with the Milwaukee County Zoo and Milwaukee Public Library, made possible by a National Leadership Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Photo of Aldo Leopold curtesy of USFS. August Derleth photo from the Historic Portrait Collection / Milwaukee Public Library.

There is nothing like a nice thick platter in the morning. A platter of vinyl, that is! MPL's Central Library offers a unique and eclectic collection of vinyl lp (long playing) records for you to enjoy. So why not dust off that old turntable and groove all day and all of the night to old Kinks records, or laugh along while Spike Jones lampoons a few classic songs.

It may tickle your fancy to contemplate the poetry of Dylan Thomas or Robert Frost as they recite their own works. Feel the warmth and power of Beethoven or Verdi as you explore the extensive classical record collection available only at the Central Library.

Records can be checked out for three weeks so that gives you plenty of time to dig deep into the grooves of a classic record. Pops and hisses aside, many audiophiles believe that digital music has never really surpassed the warmth and sound of an analog recording pressed on vinyl and I, for one, wholeheartedly agree. Besides records, the Central Library also offers a huge selection of music on compact disc and even many concerts on DVD, so stop in and start groovin'!

Submitted by Dan@Central

On Tuesday, March 29 at 7:00 p.m. in Centennial Hall, William Powell Jones will be the featured speaker for the fourth Frank P. Zeidler Memorial Lecture. Jones is the author of the award winning book The tribe of Black Ulysses : African American lumber workers in the Jim Crow south, and professor at UW-Madison in the history department. He will discuss the building of the labor movement among workers in the public and private sectors, the current struggle, and its role in defending the existence of a middle class in the United States. Professor Jones has participated in the movement to protect the labor rights of tens of thousands of public employees in Wisconsin. The doors will open at 6:30 for this event. For more information, call (414)286-3011.

Join us at the Central Library Krug Rare Books Room for a book discussion on Aldo Leopold's A Sand County Almanac.This collection of essays has informed and changed the environmental movement and stimulated a widespread interest in ecology as a science. Join us for a discussion of Leopold's work as well as our environment in general. A responsible relationship between people and the land they inhabit becomes more important everyday. What ideas do you have to inspire change?

Tuesday, April 5th from 6-7 p.m.
Central Library Krug Rare Books Room
814 W. Wisconsin Ave.

This event is a Language of Conservation Program. The Language of Conservation is an initiative of Poets House in partnership with the Milwaukee County Zoo and Milwaukee Public Library, made possible by a National Leadership Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Photo curtesy of the Aldo Leopold Foundation

If you haven't already had the pleasure of visiting the Milwaukee Public Library's Green Roof, join us for the seasonal re-opening. The tour begins on Saturday, April 16th at 1:30 p.m. and will meet in the Central Library's rotunda. A Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District staff person will host tables in the Green Ideas area with informational displays on downspout disconnection, rain barrels, and rain gardens from 1 to 3 p.m. You can also tour the roof on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays at 1:30 p.m.

MPL is pleased to present our House History program on Saturday, May 7 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Central Library. Join our librarians and an architectural historian from Historic Milwaukee, Inc. to learn how to use library resources such as fire insurance atlases, city directories, historic photos, tax rolls and census records to research the physical and social history of your home.

While this program is free and open to the public, space is limited and advance registration is required.

Please call 414.286.3061 to register.

The Milwaukee Public LIbrary presents Virtual Memories: Organizing and Digitizing Your Photos on Saturday, May 7th, from 1:00-2:00 p.m. This program is aimed at those who are scanning their home photos to preserve their old memories or using their digital camera to capture new memories.

The library's Digital Projects Librarian will share tips and tricks about the basics of wrangling your digital image files into some semblance of order, also covered will be best practices for scanning physical images. Additionally the basics of photo editing and posting photos online using free services from the internet will be discussed.

This program is an informational session, not a hands-on workshop.

Virtual Memories: Organizing and Digitizing Your Photos
Date: 5/7/2011
Start Time: 1:00 PM
End Time: 2:00 PM
Library: Central
Location: Meeting Room 1

Join a meeting of the Ken Keltner Badger State Chapter of the Society for American Baseball Research at the Central Library's Centennial Hall Loos Room on May 7 at 11:00 a.m. The meeting will be about the American Association of Milwaukee Brewers who played in Milwaukee from 1902 until 1952 at Borchert Field. Displays will include vintage uniforms, equipment, pennants and photos. There will be a panel discussion with Bob Buege, Dennis Pajot, Bill Topitzes, Bert Thiel and Johnny Logan.

For more information, call (414) 286-3011.

The prints of Shi Zhu Zhai Studio that were created in the Ming Dynasty beginning in 1619 in China are still influential to this day. Learn more about this art with Professor Ying Wang. Part of the Richard E. and Lucile Krug Rare Books Room Education Series. Seating is limited; please call 286-3071 to register.

Date: May 16, 2011
Location: Krug Rare Books Room on the Second Floor of Central Library
Start Time: 6:30 PM
End Time: 7:30 PM

If you haven't registered for any of Milwaukee Public Library's free continuing education classes for childcare providers, there is still time! Center Street Library will host Letter Knowledge College on Wednesday, May 18 at 6:00 p.m. and Saturday, May 21 at 10:30 a.m.

Central Library will host the next set of classes, Rhymers will be Readers, on Tuesday, May 31 at 6:00 p.m. and Saturday, June 4 at 10:30 a.m.

East Library will hold Let's Give Them Something to Talk About on Tuesday, June 14 at 6:00 p.m. and Saturday, June 18 at 10:30 a.m.

All attendees earn 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for attending any of these classes. If you have any questions, or would like to register, call (414)286-3011.

Have fun learning to write this traditional Japenese poetic form, popular in our language and culture. Attend this informative program by Charlotte Digregorio, Midwest Regional Coordinator of the Haiku Society of America.

Location: Krug Rare Books Room
located on the second floor of Central Library

Date: 5/21/2011

Start Time: 2:00 PM

End Time: 3:00 PM

Come to Central Library on Saturday, June 11 to celebrate World Wide Knit in Public Day! All ages and abilities are welcome. Enjoy the camaraderie of other knitters while sharing and learning helpful hints. Knitting stations will be set up throughout the library and in Meeting Room 1. No reservations are necessary to attend this all day event. Tea and light refreshments will be available in Meeting Room 1 from 9-11 a.m. and 3:30-5 p.m.

For more information, call (414)286-3011.

Join us for a Milwaukee Public Library Evening Spotlight Series program, Scenes from the Life of a Young Increase Lapham, in the Richard and Lucile Krug Rare Books Room.

Martha Bergland is the author of two novels from Graywolf Press, A Farm Under a Lake and Idle Curiosity. She is a regular contributor to Milwaukee Magazine. Bergland is currently writing a biography of Increase Lapham.

Celebrate National Culinary Arts Month at Central Library by meeting Sarah Marx Feldner, author of A Cook's Journey to Japan. Feldner's book tells the story of the people and food of Japan.

At this program Sarah Marx Feldner will present a slide show and talk about her writing process. Books will be available for purchase. Samples for tasting will also be presented.

For more information see our event calendar.

If you are a fan of Milwaukee Public Library's Mango Laguages database, or if you are looking for a fun and portable way to learn a foreign language, the library now offers Mango Languages in a convenient USB drive. The USB drives are available in French, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese and Spanish. This interactive language instruction program uses Mango's Intuitive Language Construction and native speakers to teach vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, and cultural nuances to first time language students. The USB drives are available for a three week loan period. Check the catalog for availability

Also, don't forget the Mango database, with 29 languages!

Central Library is the site for regular "drop-in" sessions for those who knit and crochet. All ages and abilities are welcome - bring your yarn, crafting ideas and questions. Come and enjoy camaraderie with others who share the love of a "good yarn".

Saturday, July 30 - 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Central Library, 1st Floor near the Media Room and Green Ideas area

Do you have a great idea that you'd like to patent, but don't know where to start? The first thing you'll need to do is search to make sure that you're the first to patent the idea. If you'd like to learn more about how to start, come to the library's Patents 101 program. A Central Library Business Librarian will explain the seven-step strategy for doing a patent search in this free program. The Milwaukee Public Library is a United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Depository. While librarians cannot do a patent search for you, these monthly programs will show you how to get started by using USPTO guidelines.

The Milwaukee Public Library currently needs 2-3 enthusiastic volunteers to help provide tours of Central Library's green roof. Tours are offered every Saturday from mid-April through October at 1:30 p.m. Training will be provided.

If you're interested in this opportunity fill out a volunteer application. For more information and additional volunteer positions go to MPL's Volunteer at the Library webpage.

And to those of you who already donate your time, talent and skills to MPL, thank you!

Beginning on August 27, the library will offer Saturday tours of the Central Library's green roof at 10 a.m. instead of 1:30 p.m. If you haven't seen our green roof, you can take advantage of these free tours to see what the library is doing to reduce its carbon footprint as well as enjoy this unique view of Milwaukee's skyline. Those people who have already been on the tour will appreciate seeing how it has grown in the summer months.

On September 16, 1898, Hans Augusto Reyersbach, better known as H.A. Rey, was born in Hamburg, Germany. Together with his wife, Margaret, H.A. Rey created several children's book. However, they were best known as the creators of the Curious George series.
Come to the Central Library Children's Room tomorrow, September 17 at 10:30 a.m., to celebrate Curious George's birthday. This hour- long celebration will include stories, movies, crafts, and a special appearance by Curious George!

For the first time ever, Doors Open Milwaukee presents an opportunity to see the inner workings of notable locations throughout the metro area. Free and open to the public, participants can choose to go through the buildings on self-guided tours or take one of the many in-depth tours given by expert guides.

The Milwaukee Public Library's Central Library will have behind-the-scene mini guided tours running on the quarter hour, with the last guided tour at 4 p.m. This is your chance to see the top of Central Library's dome, the millions of books stored in the library's tiers, and the beautiful Old Board Room!

• Rotunda Dome: Climb the stairs to the top of the dome for fun facts and architectural features. Take the Wisconsin Avenue rotunda elevator to the 3rd floor to meet the tour guide.

• 4th Floor Attic: Learn about the Milwaukee Public Museum's history in the Central Library. Tours begin at the public elevators outside of the Betty Brinn Children's Room.

• Old Board Room: See the beautiful hand-carved fireplace and other fabulous features. Tours begin outside the Bookseller Used Book Store and M Cafe.

• 3 T: Learn about the basement tiers, the millions of books they hold, and the Drive-Up service. Tours begin at the Information Service Desk, 1st floor, near Wells Street Entrance.

We look forward to opening our doors to you! Visit http://doorsopenmilwaukee.org/ for more information on Doors Open Milwaukee and www.mpl.org for more information on the Milwaukee Public Library.

Beginning today, the library has open registration for our free computer classes. If you or someone you know has struggled with the basics of internet searching, setting up web based email, or using the Microsoft Office suite, please take advantage of the library's numerous locations that offer free classes for beginners. Enrollment is limited, and registration is already in progress. Call the library's Ready Reference hotline at (414) 286-3011 to register today!

Part detective story, part scientific odyssey, and part family saga, "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot will be discussed at several libraries. Henrietta Lacks, a young black mother, died from an aggressive cancer in the early 1950s. Without her knowledge, her diseased cells were harvested. These cells proved to be inexplicably immortal and became known as HeLa. HeLa cells were reproduced, bought and sold countless times and contributed to scientific advancements as varied as the polio vaccine, treatments for cancers and viruses, in-vitro fertilization, and the impact of space travel on human cells. The discussions are sponsored by Milwaukee Public Library and the YWCA of Greater Milwaukee. No registration is required.

Date: Tuesday, October 04, 2011
Start Time: 6:15 PM
Library: East

Date: Monday, October 10, 2011
Start Time: 6:30 PM
Library: Central

Date: Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Start Time: 6:15 PM
Library: Mill Road

Date: Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Start Time: 6:15 PM
Library: Bay View

Date: Tuesday, November 08, 2011
Start Time: 6:15 PM
Library: Center Street

Date: Thursday, December 01, 2011
Start Time: 6:15 PM
Library: Washington Park

Come to Central Library on Saturday, September 24 from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. for Harvest Fest! Entertainment includes the Chickadees at 10:00 a.m., The Spoon Man at 11:00 a.m. and Truly Remarkable Loon at 12:00 p.m. There will also be pumpkins, cider, story time, face painting, and visits from special guests Browser the Library Lion and the Penworthy Bear.

If you can't make this Saturday's Harvest Fest, come to one of the neighborhood library's Harvest Fest celebrations!

Martin Luther King Library Tuesday, October 4 from 5:30 p.m.-7:00 p.m.
Featuring Hoffer's Animal Adventure, crafts and snacks.

Atkinson Library
Wednesday, October 5 from 6:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.
Sing and dance with Fox and Branch

East Library Wednesday, October 5 from 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Featuring Hoffer's Animal Adventure, crafts and snacks.

Tippecanoe Library Monday, October 10 from 6:00 p.m.- 7:00 p.m.
Featuring Hoffer's Animal Adventure, crafts and snacks.

Capitol Library Tuesday, October 11 from 6:30 p.m.- 7:30 p.m.
Featuring Hoffer's Animal Adventure, crafts and snacks.

Washington Park Library Tuesday, October 11 from 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Featuring story time, "Pin the Hat on the Scarecrow," crafts, apple cider and snacks.

Center Street Library Saturday, October 15 from 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Featuring Hoffer's Animal Adventure, crafts and snacks.

Get a beginner's chess lesson at the Central Library Herzfeld Room and then try an hour of "open play" with a teacher on hand to assist with questions and strategy. Ages 8-12

Saturday, October 1
1 - 3 pm

Saturday, November 19
1 - 3 pm

Saturday, December 17
1 - 3 pm

Meet the Rare Books Team at a special Open House and learn more about some of the one-of-a-kind books in the Richard E. and Lucile Krug Rare Books Room. On display will be library treasures including: The Autograph Book, The Hypnerotomachia Poliphili, a selection of Audubon prints, The Charles Dickens novel "Our Mutual Friend" issued as a serial, the early years of The Ring boxing magazine, Wisconsin Electric Cookie books and more! Registration is not necessary. Call 414.286.3071 with questions.

Date: Saturday, October 15, 2011
Time: 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Location: Krug Rare Books Room on the 2nd floor of Central Library

Calling all inventors! Are you interested in patenting your invention but don't know where to start? Then come to Milwaukee Public Library's free Patents 101: How to Do a Patent Search program! Patent searching is the first step in the patent application process; it ensures your invention is new and thus eligible for a patent. A librarian will explain the 7-step search process and talk about recent changes in patent law due to the America Invents Act of 2011.

The Milwaukee Public Library is a Patent and Trademark Resource Center (PTRC) and has a complete collection of tools to assist in patent searching. Get started on your patent search today with these books at your Milwaukee Public Library.

With the vast amount of medical information on the internet, people are more involved in making health care decisions than ever. However, finding accurate medical information on the internet can be challenging. Websites that look authoritative may have misinformation. In order to make the most informed choices for yourself and your loved ones, accurate medical information can be vital.

On Monday, October 17 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Central Library on the 2nd floor computer training room, a representative from the National Library of Medicine will demonstrate how to use Medline Plus. Medline Plus is a free resource for high quality consumer health information.
This program is free and open to the public. For more information, call (414)286-3011.

Please join us for a special one-hour performance by The Air Force Band of Mid-America Midwest Woodwind Quintet. This ensemble's performances include Renaissance and contemporary music, popular marches and patriotic songs. The performance will take place on the first floor of the library, across from the Media Room.

Date: Saturday, October 22, 2011
Time: 2 p.m. - 3 p.m.

Come to the Central Library on Wednesday, November 9, to see Lois Ehlert discuss her work as an author and illustrator and share how her art became an iconic part of the Central Library. Ehlert, the creator of such famous children's books as Nuts to you!, Color Zoo, and my personal favorite, Top Cat, designed the animal shapes inlaid into the floor in the Betty Brinn Children's room.

This program is open to the public and part of the MPL docents' ongoing enrichment program. A book signing follows the event.

For more information, please call (414)286-8720.

Join us this Saturday, November 5th, for a look at Milwaukee's WPA Handicrafts Project in Novel, Necessary and Nourishing. The program is part of the Richard E. and Lucile Krug Rare Books Room Educational Series. Museum of Wisconsin Art Assistant Director Graeme Reid returns to discuss the WPA Milwaukee Handicraft Project which provided employment and creative opportunity to hundreds of Milwaukeeans from 1935 to the early 1940s. As a city with a strong manufacturing base, the Depression hit Milwaukee hard. Creative minds found ways to provide quality work experiences for residents that were used as models nationwide. Original sample books of textiles, drawings and more will be on display.

If you've never visited the Central Library's Bookseller, you may want to check it out this Saturday, November 19. There's a featured sale on holiday titles as well as new and used children's books. This book sale is sponsored by the Friends of Milwaukee Public Library. All proceeds benefit the library. While you're browsing, buy a cup of coffee or try a sandwich, or the soup of the day from the library's in house cafe, M Cafe.

Location: Central Library
Date: 11/19/2011
Time: 9:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M.

The rarest, most special items in the holdings of the Milwaukee Public Library can be found in the Rare Books Room on the second floor of the Central Library. This beautiful space includes a climate controlled book area and a reception room. It was dedicated in 2001 in honor of Richard E. Krug, city librarian from 1941 to 1975 and his wife Lucile Krug, whose generosity endowed construction of the Room and continues funding for the Krug Educational Program series of lectures.

The Rare Books collection of more than 6,000 items includes pieces of special value, such as signed first editions, books and ephemera published before 1868, artist's books, maps, prints and other items of local historical or cultural significance.

Due to the uniqueness of materials in the Rare Books Room certain procedures are in place to request a viewing of materials in this special collection. Though all items are available for viewing, an appointment must be made in advance. Appointments can be made by calling the Art, Music and Recreation Dept at the Central Library by calling 286-3071 or 286-3011.

To search holdings in the Rare Books Room please click here.
Future entries will highlight individual treasures found in the Rare Books Room. Fortunately, you can leave the treasure map at home as long as you can find the Central Library!

Submitted by Patricia DeFrain Rare Books Librarian

The Rare Books Room is home to many older books - a few going back as far as the 15th century! In addition, the library also preserves contemporary books with local significance. In that spirit, the library owns a fairly complete collection of the Wisconsin Electric and Wisconsin Gas Company holiday cookbooks dating back to the 1930s - up to and including the WE Energies cookie cookbook for 2011. It is interesting to browse through them and see what recipes have survived over the years, as well as changes that were made to recipes during the World War II years when butter, milk and sugar were rationed. Anyone can view the collection to find a cherished recipe from the past or discover new delectable delights! Call the Art, Music & Recreation Department at 286-3071 or 286-3011 to make an appointment.

To search holdings in the Rare Books Room please click here.

Submitted by Patricia DeFrain Rare Books Librarian

If you need some help studying for an upcoming exam and don't want to pay for a tutor, let the library help you. Some neighborhood locations already offer drop-in tutoring services for adults. Now, Central Library joins the ranks. Tutors are available to help you study for tests like the GED, TOEFL, and the ASVAB, or to help you work on any other basic academic skills. The hours for Central Library's adult tutoring are as follows:

Mondays 6 to 8 p.m.
Tuesdays 3 to 5 p.m.
Tuesdays 6 to 8 p.m. (beginning Jan 3, 2012)

If you'd like to take advantage of the tutoring, please visit the Information desk and someone can direct you to a tutor during available hours.

Make sure you come into your neighborhood library to grab any books you'll want to curl up with over the holiday weekend. All Milwaukee Public Library locations will be closed Friday, December 23rd through Monday, December 26th, of 2011. We hope that you enjoy a safe and peaceful holiday weekend.

Take the Bucks Reading Challenge! This statewide reading program starts Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012. Students in grades 3-10 can sign up at any Milwaukee Public Library. When you read 500 or more pages by Feb. 28th, you earn a voucher to mail in for a free ticket to a Milwaukee Bucks game! (Parent or guardian must purchase a discounted ticket at the same time). When you read 750 pages or more by Feb. 28, you get the ticket and a chance to win an autographed Bucks basketball or be recognized on the court at halftime!

Anyone interested in finding out more information on the program can call the Central Library Children's Room at 286-3091 for more details, or stop in at any Milwaukee Public Library location for information and to sign up.

If you thought last February's Groundhog Day blizzard was bad, come and watch MPTV's I Remember Milwaukee episode on the 65th anniversary of the 1947 blizzard that stopped Milwaukee cold for days. If you lived through it, this will be a trip down memory lane and an opportunity to share your memories.

The Blizzard That Stopped Milwaukee COLD
2:00-3:00PM, Sunday, January 29th, 2012
Central Library Rare Books Room
814 W. Wisconsin Ave.

Please call 286-3011 to register. Street parking is free on weekends.

The Central Library currently has a small display of 1947 blizzard photos and copies of The Milwaukee Journal, Milwaukee Sentinel and LIFE in the middle of the 2nd floor hallway near the Frank Zeidler Humanities Room.

Submitted by Van Lingle Mungo

Black History Month Read-In

February 1
Washington Park: 5:30-7 p.m.

February 6
Tippecanoe: 3-5 p.m.
Zablocki: 3:30-5:30 p.m.
Atkinson: 4-6:30 p.m.
M.L. King: 4-6 p.m.
Mill Road: 4-7 p.m.

February 7
Villard Square: 3:30-7:30 p.m.
Capitol: 4-7 p.m.

February 8
Center Street: 4-7 p.m.
East: 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Washington Park: 5:30-7 p.m.

February 11
Bay View: 12-4 p.m.

February 15
Washington Park: 5:30-7 p.m.

February 17
Central Library: 10 a.m.-12p.m.

February 21
Forest Home: 3:30-5:30 p.m.

February 22
Washington Park: 5:30-7 p.m.

February 29
Washington Park: 5:30-7 p.m.

Investigate your family history with help from Humanities librarians and a brief introduction to library resources available for beginning genealogists. Held in the 2nd floor Krikelas Room. Reservations are not required.

Location: Central Library Conference Room 2A (Paul Gottfried Krikelas)
Date: Monday, February 20th, 2012
Time: 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Join us at Central library on March 3 from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.to celebrate the birthday of beloved author and cartoonist Theodore Geisel, also known as Dr. Seuss! The birthday celebration will include stories, music and birthday treats.
Library friends Browser, Library Lion, and The Cat in the Hat will be on hand to celebrate. This activity-packed event includes face painting, cookie decorating, singing, dancing, listening to silly stories and meeting real turtles and tortoises in the Yertle the Turtle swimming hole.
Don't miss out on all of the fun! Registration is not necessary. For more information, call (414)286-3011.

Meet Leah Dobkin and hear about the people and history of Milwaukee's Port. Settle in for an entertaining passage that includes a longshoreman's poetry, the Milwaukee Clipper's recipe for prime rib, a tugboat ghost story and much more with this fascinating look into the history of the Port of Milwaukee. The book will be available for purchase; a book signing follows the event.

Location: Central Library Meeting Room 1
Date: Sunday, March 4, 2012
Time: 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM

Join Professor Jim Slauson of the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design for a look at Central Library's Rarities Collection reflecting the British Arts and Crafts movement. This is a wonderful opportunity to view the Richard E and Lucile Krug Rare Books Room, which is only open for special occasions. Seating is limited; Pleae call 286-3071 to register or ask any questions about the program.

Location: Central Library's Rare Books Room
Date: Saturday, March 17, 2012
Time: 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Description de l'Egypte

Napoleon's army occupied Egypt from 1798 to 1801. During that time the information for a comprehensive scientific description of Egypt and its history was gathered by over 160 civilian scholars and scientists who accompanied the expedition. The resulting series of publications first appeared in 1809 and grew to 23 volumes by the time the last one was published in 1829. It took the work of about 2000 artists and technicians to compile the entire work.

A set of Description de l'Egypte includes 3 volumes of elephant size plates that measure over a yard in length. The whole set is beautifully bound and impeccably illustrated with engravings and it forms an invaluable record of Egypt.

Viewing Description de l'Egypte may be arranged by calling the Art, Music & Recreation Department at 286-3071 and making an appointment with a member of the Rare Books team.

To search holdings in the Rare Books Room please click here.

Submitted by Patricia DeFrain

A Mystery Solved

Last year I evaluated a gift book for addition to the Rare Books Room collection. It was written in a language that seemed Slavic but was not easily understandable. It seemed to be a religious book of some type since a few Latin words like Dei and Credo were decipherable.

To solve the mystery I scanned some pages from the book in color and sent them out to Slavic language scholars at several universities by e-mail attachment. Three of them got back to me and it was determined that the language was Old Czech and the book title could be translated Rozkossen duchowjn modlitby = Pleasant spiritual prayers. Mystery solved! The book is now part of the rare books collection and may be viewed by calling the Art, Music & Recreation Department at 286-3071 and making an appointment.

To search holdings in the Rare Books Room please click here.

Submitted by Patricia DeFrain - Rare Books Librarian

If you enjoy Shakespeare's plays, consider a visit to the library, where the words of William Shakespeare will be brought to life by an actor from the Optimist Theatre in Milwaukee. There will be three one-hour, interactive programs in March at different MPL locations. Audience participation is encouraged. Don't worry if you don't have money to spend on theater tickets. Each event is free and no registration is required. Please contact Ready Reference at (414) 286-3011 with any questions.

Date: Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Time: 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM
Library: Bay View

Date: Saturday, March 31, 2012
Time: 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Library: Central

Learn about a different aspect of the Milwaukee Public Library's Great Lakes Marine Collection each month. Of special interest to divers and genealogists, the program is free and open to anyone interested in learning more about Great Lakes history. There is no registration required. Please call Ready Reference at 414.286.3011 with any questions.

Location: Central Library's Krikelas Rm. (Conference Room 2A)
Date: Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Time: 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM

When one thinks of a rare book collection, a picture of rows of old books comes to mind. And books are certainly a large part of the Krug Rare Books Collection at the Central Library. But the collection contains a few surprises and one of them is the Ethiopian magic scroll.

The scroll measures about 194 x 10 cm. and is thought to date from about 1890. It is written in the Ge'ez language.

"Magic (or healing) scrolls usually are long, narrow vertical strips of parchment covered with handwritten texts - protective prayers, spell-casting formulas - decorated with drawn and painted images. Such scrolls were created, and still are, by traditional healers and diviners to generate live spiritual power in the material world. They were carried by the owner at all times." (Taken from "Ethiopian Magic Scrolls: Talismanic Art of Ethiopia," New York Times, May 19, 2011)

Viewing the Ethopian magic scroll may be arranged by calling the Art, Music & Recreation Department at 414-286-3071 and making an appointment with a member of the Rare Books team.

To search holdings in the Rare Books Room please click here.

Submitted by Patricia DeFrain, Rare Books Librarian

Most people are familiar with Wisconsin born Frank Lloyd Wright, the famous architect who became known for his leadership in the Prairie School movement of architecture. But did you know that in his later years he designed a line of commercial home furnishings?

In 1955, Frank Lloyd Wright developed the "Taliesin Ensemble," a line of furnishings for those that did not live in one of his homes. Partnerships were formed with 5 companies
1) Heritage Henredon - furniture
2) Karastan - rugs
3) The Martin-Senour Company - paints
4) Minic - Vases and
5) F. Schumacher & Co. - fabrics and wallpapers.

The Krug Rare Books Room is fortunate to own some of the sample books and fabrics that were part of The Taliesen Line. The Taliesin Line of Decorative Fabrics and Wallpapers is a one volume book containing fabric and wallpaper samples. There are an additional 22 folded pieces of fabric samples that accompany the book. The library also has Frank Lloyd Wright Selects the Taliesin Palette in Martin-Senour Paints sample book.

You may arrange to view the Taliesin Line materials by calling the Art, Music & Recreation Department at 414-286-3071 and making an appointment with a member of the Rare Books team.

To search holdings in the Rare Books Room please click here.

Submitted by Patricia DeFrain, Rare Books Librarian

The Ring is an American boxing magazine that was first published in 1922 as a boxing and wrestling magazine. As the sporting legitimacy of professional wrestling came into question, The Ring shifted to becoming exclusively a boxing oriented publication and it is still being published today.

The Ring was first edited by hall-of-famer Nat Fleischer. It has perpetrated boxing scandals, helped make unknown fighters famous worldwide, and covered boxing's biggest events of all time. It is often referred to as "The Bible of Boxing."

The older issues are rare and because they were printed on paper that has deteriorated somewhat, the issues from February 1922 (the first issue) through January of 1953 are stored in the Krug Rare Books Room. If you would like to view them, call the Art, Music and Recreation Department at 414-286-3071 to arrange a visit.

To search holdings in the Rare Books Room please click here.

Submitted by Patricia DeFrain, Rare Books Librarian

Today marks the start of Money Smart Week, a public awareness initiative aimed at building financial knowledge for all ages. Throughout the week Milwaukee Public Library will offer programs and resources to encourage healthy personal financial practices.

Managing Your Investments: Making Value Line and Morningstar Work for You

Smart investing starts now! Learn how you can use stock and mutual fund research tools Value Line and Morningstar to help manage your investments and inform future investment decisions. This program will be held at three Milwaukee Public Library locations. No registration is required.

Monday, April 23rd, 6-7 p.m.
Washington Park Library, 2121 N. Sherman Blvd.

Tuesday, April 24th, 6-7 p.m.
Central Library, 814 W. Wisconsin Ave. Meeting Room 1

Wednesday, April 25th, 6-7 p.m.
East Library, 1910 E. North Ave, Meeting Room

Value Line and Morningstar are subscription databases available inside all City of Milwaukee libraries and remotely to City of Milwaukee library card holders.

Understanding your credit history is half the battle in improving your credit score. Attend this program during Money Smart Week and library staff will show you how to get a free copy of your credit. The library will provide a free printout of one credit report to each person who attends. Staff from the Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Milwaukee will be available to explain the report to you and provide additional information.

To get your free credit report, be prepared to provide your:

• Social Security Number
• Birth Date
• Address or addresses where you have lived for the past three years
• Account numbers for utilities - gas/electric, cable, telephone etc...
• Account numbers for any loans or revolving lines of credit

Library: Central
Date: Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Time: 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM

Library: Center Street
Date: Thursday, April 26, 2012
Start Time: 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Struggling with your dog or puppy? Want to learn more about how they think? Come to the Central Library for tips and techniques on how to speak your dog's language. Join Kim Rinzel, MS, CPDT-KA, Training Manager at the Wisconsin Humane Society, for an educational program on dog behavior and training, problem prevention and problem solving. Don't worry if you don't have the money for obedience training. This program is free of charge and requires no registration. Please leave your canine friends at home, as this program is just for humans. Be sure to bring your questions!

Location: Central Library's Meeting Room 1
Date: Saturday, May 19th, 2012
Time: 1:30 P.M. - 3:30 P.M.

Watch the Transit of Venus with telescopes. Tomorrow, June 5th, the planet Venus will cross in front of the Sun for last time in 105 years! It's a rare, remarkable, and fascinating astronomical event! This event will take place on the Rooftop at Central Library, 814 W. Wisconsin Avenue. Gather at Meeting Room I. If completely cloudy, the event will move to the Daniel M. Soref Planetarium at Milwaukee Public Museum (800 W. Wells St.) where you will see stunning full dome animations of Venus, the transit, and live images from the worldwide web.

Location: Central Library's Rooftop (first meet in Meeting Rm 1)
Date: June 5, 2012
Time: 5:00 P.M. to 8:30 P.M. The Central Library will close for business at 8:00 P.M.

Other Information: Solar events need to be viewed safely! To see Venus in front of the Sun, you will need a telescope with a proper filter or special solar glasses. Such glasses can be purchased at the Milwaukee Public Museum Marketplace for $2.00. The Venus Transit starts at 5:04 p.m. Viewing ends in Milwaukee with the sunset at 8:26 p.m. (Venus will continue to cross the solar disk until 11:49 p.m.)

Are you an auto racing enthusiast? 2012 marks the 100th anniversary of the historic Vanderbilt Cup and Grand Prix races in Milwaukee. "Milwaukee's Speed Carnival" was an international road race run on country roads just northwest of Milwaukee's city limits.

Come celebrate this historic event with John Haydon, auto and racing enthusiast and author of Historic Road Racing in Milwaukee: The 1912 Vanderbilt Cup, Grand Prize and Related Road Races. The event will be held on Tuesday, June 12 from 6:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. in the Krug Rare Books Room in the Central Public Library.

Seating is limited, please call 414.286.3011 to register.

Known for his famous Blue Ribbon beer, Frederick Pabst was a complex man who rose from humble beginnings in rural Germany to dine with the leaders of the American Gilded Age. Learn more about the brewing empire that put Milwaukee on the map, as well as Pabst's other pursuits which ranged from horse breeding to art collecting, and his many philanthropic endeavors. Materials in Milwaukee Public Library's Rare Books Collection showcase the various aspects of the Captain's legacy, especially his civic pride in acquiring one of the world's largest autograph albums for the benefit of his community. Join John Eastberg, author of The Pabst Mansion: An Illustrated History and Pabst Farms: The History of a Model Farm for this fascinating presentation on one of the most revered men in Milwaukee's history.

Location: Central Library's Krug Rare Books Room
Time: Saturday, June 16th, 2012 from 2 P.M. to 4 P.M.
Other Information: Seating is limited. Please call the Art, Music & Recreation
Department at (414) 286-3071 to register.

Registration begins today for Milwaukee Public Library's July-August 2012 Free Computer Classes! With knowledgeable instructors and hands-on experience MPL's computer classes are perfect for those with little to no computer experience as well as those looking to learn more about Microsoft Word and Excel by taking our Intermediate classes.
Space is limited so call 414-286-3011 today to reserve your seat. You can also register in person at any Milwaukee Public Library location or online at www.mpl.org.

Sponsored by the Milwaukee Public Library Foundation and American Recovery & Reinvestment Act Award 55-42B10549.

Alan Magayne-Roshak and Gordy Simons photographed many downtown Milwaukee buildings before they vanished from our skyline. The buildings they documented include the majestic Chicago & North Western Railway Station, the stately Angus Smith House, and even commercial structures, like the 734 W. Wisconsin Ave. building.

Yance Marti from Historic Milwaukee, Inc. will present photos by Magayne-Roshak and Simons from his book Missing Milwaukee: The Lost Buildings of Milwaukee, and photos from the Milwaukee Public Library's Historic Photo Collection. Registration is required. Please call 414.286.3011 to register. Parking meters are free (limit 2 hours) on weekends.

Date: Saturday, July 28, 2012
Start Time: 2:00 PM
Location: Centennial Hall Loos Room, 733 N. Eighth St.

This Saturday in Mozarts's Grove you can enjoy the rhythm and blues stylings of The Dave Miller Duo. The Dave Miller Duo is:
Dave Miller - a multiple genre harmonica player, vocalist, and guitarist. Miller was introduced to the harmonica at the age of 11 by his mentor, his late father. Other influences include: Charlie Musselwhite, James Cotton, Billy Branch, Little Walter, Big Walter Horton, Sonny Boy Williamson, and Junior Wells.
Steve Goetsch - who has over 25 years experience in Milwaukee rock and blues bands. Goetsch plays a vintage 1968 Gibson ES 335 with strong blues influence and has patterned his personal sound after the styles of Albert King, Freddie King and B. B. King.

Location: Mozart's Grove in Central Library near the Media Room
Date: Saturday, July 21, 2012
Time: 2 P.M. to 3 P.M.

In Mozart's Grove this Saturday, August 4th, we welcome Keith Scott for a concert. Singer, guitarist and songwriter Keith Scott has been a part of the Chicago blues scene since 1981. in addition to working with Johnny Littlejohn, Hubert Sumlin, Eddie Taylor and Hip Linkchain, Scott traveled the world as part of a distinguished lineup of the Jimmy Dawkins Blues Band in the 1980s and '90s. After honing his guitar style and familiarity with the stage behind Dawkins, Scott embarked on a solo career, presenting his trademark heavy blues in the highly amplified Dawkins' style, as well as forms reminiscent of Jimi Hendrix' Band of Gypsys and Johnny Winter. While still gigging with his rocking band, Scott has quieted things down on his most recent studio effort, the 10-song World Blues.

Location: Mozart's Grove near the Media Room in Central Library
Date: Saturday, August 4th, 2012
Time: 1 P.M. to 2 P.M.

One of the most popular sets in the rare book collection is the 4 miniature volumes of Die kleinsten Bücher der Welt which translates to The Smallest Books in the World. These books were published in Germany in 1961. Each one measures 19 x 19 x 9 millimeters! The set comes packed in a special plastic case with tweezers for turning the pages and a magnifying glass to see the print.

One volume has the text of the Lord's Prayer. A second has the words "I Love You" in 9 different languages. The third has the text of the Olympic Oath and the fourth contains the Oath of Freedom.

If you are interested in viewing this rarity please call the Art, Music and Recreation Department at 414-286-3071 to arrange a visit.

Patricia DeFrain, Rare Books Librarian

Gerald Geerlings was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1897. After working as a designer and architect for several firms in New York he opened his own architectural practice in 1926. He also wrote and illustrated numerous articles on domestic architecture for magazines such as House Beautiful. As an artist, he is best known for his lithographs and intaglio prints of the 1920s and 1930s.

The International Fine Print Dealers Association describes his work this way:
Geerlings' works are characterized by the following key characteristics: extensive detail that concedes to the complete design, a rich variety of tonal gradations and surface texture, and a spatial expressiveness. Invariably, all of the formal elements of a work are exquisitely balanced and coalesce through the mysterious quality of light that illuminates the scene.

The Rare Books Room is fortunate to have 24 of his art prints including these examples:

If you are interested in viewing this set, call the Art, Music and Recreation Department at 414-286-3071 to arrange a visit.

Patricia DeFrain, Rare Books Librarian

In 1966 the Italian photographer Caio Garruba photographed 40 posters from the Lenin Library in Moscow. They were created between the years 1917 and 1929 and spanned a dozen years of revolution, economic turmoil and unrest in Russia. Many were designed by renowned Russian artists like El Lissitzky and Alexander Rodchenko.

Facsimiles were created from the photographs and sold in portfolios by Grove Press in 1967. The set is accompanied by a booklet that translates the wording on the posters and identifies the artists. It is fascinating to browse through the posters and see the different styles of artwork and to be able to understand what they are communicating. One of my favorites is this Rodchenko poster, which was one of the first to use the technique of photomontage and calls for "Books Please - in all branches of knowledge."

If you are interested in viewing this set, call the Art, Music and Recreation Department at 414-286-3071 to arrange a visit.

Patricia DeFrain, Rare Books Librarian

Join us Saturday, August 25th to take your part in a round robin reading of Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew. Take part as a reader or a groundling as you wish. BYOB: Bring your own copy of the Bard. Library copies will also be available to use.

Date: Saturday August 25, 2012
Time: 1 P.M. to 2 P.M.
Location: Central Library's Oriental Room
Other Information: Future readings will take place on: October 27 - Macbeth.

Come to the Central Library to see the Martin Luther King Jr. digital archives. Visitors will be able to see digital images of documents from Dr. King's correspondence, speeches and sermons and documents from other key figures from the Civil Rights Movement. Digital images of Dr. King's I Have a Dream speech, the Letter from Birmingham Jail, and his Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Speech will also be on view . The exhibit runs from Monday, August 27th through Thursday, August 30th. Don't miss out on this exciting opportunity at your Milwaukee Public Library.

Photo by Diana Sanchez

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 - October 15) Milwaukee Public Library is pleased to present local artists Diana Sanchez and Ishshah Sua Teran for a Night of Art / Noche de Arte on September 18th!

Each artist will display a several examples of their work and discuss their artistic development and the meaning of the pieces. The art will be on display at Central Library until October 15.

Sanchez's work researches, through photography, the complexity of spaces where humans and animals meet. Teran's jewelry examines nature's models, systems, and elements.

Zane, bestselling author, editor and publisher of urban fiction, will talk about her latest book, Z-Rated: Chocolate Flava 3, the third installment in Zane's New York Times bestselling series. Zane is the author and editor of dozens of titles and is the publisher of Strebor Books. Her television series, Zane's Sex Chronicles, is broadcast on Cinemax and her bestselling novel, Addicted, has been adapted for a major motion picture. She lives in the Washington, DC, area with her family. Her popular website is www.eroticanoir.com.

Doors will open at 6 p.m. Book sales and signing will follow the program. Parking meters are free after 6 p.m. Sponsored by Boswell Book Company. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

Date: Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Time: 6:30 P.M. to 8 P.M.
Location: Centennial Hall of the Milwaukee Public Library

Enjoy a reading by members of the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets from their 2013 calendar! Copies of the calendar will be available for purchase. Light refreshments will be served.

Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets
Saturday, November 10th, 2 p.m.
Richard E. & Lucile Krug Rare Books Room
Central Library, 814 W. Wisconsin Ave.

Organized by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, Abraham Lincoln: A Man of His Time, A Man of All Time is a national traveling exhibition that has been made possible in part through a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, dedicated to expanding American understanding of human experience and cultural heritage. The exhibit features seven panels that display text, photos and graphics about the 16th president. The exhibit begins by discussing Lincoln's early life in Kentucky and then continues through his time in Springfield, as president, his assassination and finally his legacy. The exhibit also has two displays specifically devoted to slavery and the Civil War. Abraham Lincoln: A Man of His Time, A Man for All Times will run from Nov. 12- Dec. 12.

Be sure to join us for a special program on Sunday, November 25th at 2 p.m!
Abraham Lincoln, presented by The West Side Soldiers Aid Society, Inc.
Central Library, 814 W. Wisconsin Ave.
No registration required.

Patricia Lynch, co-founder of the West Side Soldiers Aid Society, Inc. will speak about Milwaukee's connections to our 16th president. She is dance mistress of West Side Victorian Dancers, and author of Milwaukee's Soldiers Home. Learn about the threads connecting pioneering women and men to President Abraham Lincoln. Program begins in Mozart's Grove and then moves to Meeting Room I.

Hear about the best books 2012 has to offer for gift-giving. Suggestions from Milwaukee Public Library librarians Tom Olson and Jacki Potratz will make holiday gift-giving a breeze. This is your chance to ask questions before you buy. Many genres, including children's and young adult recommendations, will be presented. All books on display at the program will be available for checkout. This program is open to the public and is also part of the MPL docents' ongoing enrichment training. For more information, please call (414) 286-8720, or email Friends@mpl.org.

Date: Wednesday, November 14th, 2012
Time: 10:30 A.M. to 12 P.M.
Location: Central Library's Meeting Room 1

Attend this free, hands-on seminar to learn how to take advantage of everything your library has to offer for digital users.

Learn how to:

• download books and audiobooks
• access music
• watch movies... FREE

Learn how to use your Milwaukee Public Library card and your digital device (with computer connecting cables, if needed) to become a downloading master!

Bring your needles and/or hooks, your yarn and your enthusiasm to share and learn with others who knit and crochet. Central Library's fantastic collection of books and DVDs on the fine art of how to knit and crochet await you. Join us the last Saturday of each month (except May) in the area outside the Media Room of Central Library. There is free 2-hr. street parking on Saturdays.

Skeins of Milwaukee
Saturday, December 29, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Central Library, 814 W. Wisconsin Ave.

Looking to start your own business? Milwaukee Public Library can help! Our Business and Technology Department has free monthly drop-in sessions that will highlight resources that can help you write your business plan, conduct market research, and identify your best customers.

Small Business Resources 101
Thursday, January 10th, 12 - 1 p.m.
Central Library, Krikelas Room, 2nd Floor
No registration required.

If you can't make it this Thursday, the class will also be held the following Thursdays throughout the year:

February 14, March 14, April 11, May 9, June 13, July 11, August 8, September 12, October 10, November 14, and December 12.

Investigate your family history with help from Humanities librarians and a brief introduction to library resources available for beginning genealogists. This hour long class will be held in the 2nd floor Krikelas Room. Reservations are not required, but you can call the Humanities desk at (414)286-3061 if you have any questions about the program.

Location: Central Library Krikelas Room
Date: Thursday, January 17, 2013
Time: 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM

Bring your family and friends to read aloud and share your favorite poems, biographies, and stories by African-American authors. We will have a wide selection of books from which to choose, in case you don't already have a favorite set aside to read from. This program will be available at various times and locations, starting with this Saturday's Read-In at Central Library, in Mozart's Grove across from the Media Room.

Central
Saturday, Feb. 2 and 23, 2013
2:00-3:00 p.m.

Center Street
Monday, Feb. 11, 2013
4:30-7:30 p.m.

Capitol
Monday, Feb. 11, 2013
5:00-7:45 p.m.

Mill Road
Monday, Feb. 18, 2013
6:00-7:45 p.m.

Villard Square
Monday, Feb. 18, 2013
6:30-7:30 p.m.

Join us as we celebrate Black History Month
with discussions on Tom Burrell's provocative book,
Brainwashed: Challenging the Myth of Black Inferiority
and Edward P. Jones's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel
The Known World.

Book: Brainwashed by Tom Burrell
Date: Saturday, Feb. 9
Time: 12-1 p.m.
Location: Conference Room 2B, 2nd floor
Central Library, 814 W. Wisconsin Ave.

Book: The Known World by Edward P. Jones
Date: Tuesday, Feb. 19
Time: 6-7 p.m.
Location: Meeting Room I
Central Library, 814 W. Wisconsin Ave.

Join us as we celebrate Black History Month with a discussion of the novel The Known World by Edward P. Jones.

Date: Tuesday, Feb. 19
Time: 6-7 p.m.
Location: Meeting Room I
Central Library, 814 W. Wisconsin Ave.

Henry Townsend, a black farmer, bootmaker, and former slave, has a fondness for Paradise Lost and an unusual mentor — William Robbins, perhaps the most powerful man in antebellum Virginia's Manchester County. Under Robbins's tutelage, Henry becomes proprietor of his own plantation — as well as of his own slaves. When he dies, his widow, Caldonia, succumbs to profound grief, and things begin to fall apart at their plantation: slaves take to escaping under the cover of night, and families who had once found love beneath the weight of slavery begin to betray one another. Beyond the Townsend estate, the known world also unravels: low-paid white patrollers stand watch as slave "speculators" sell free black people into slavery, and rumors of slave rebellions set white families against slaves who have served them for years.

An ambitious, luminously written novel that ranges seamlessly between the past and future and back again to the present, The Known World weaves together the lives of freed and enslaved blacks, whites, and Indians — and allows all of us a deeper understanding of the enduring multidimensional world created by the institution of slavery.

The Known World by Edward P. Jones was winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2004.

Born in Milwaukee, Gerald Geerlings was a successful architect and writer, but also an artist who made evocative prints of American cities, depicting the skyscrapers that were the hallmark of American achievement. Among his most beautiful works are aquatints interpreting these architectural feats at night, dramatically lit against the dark sky. The Milwaukee Public Library's impressions of these dramatic prints will be discussed as examples of fine printmaking and as icons of American ambition. Presenter Andrew Stevens has been Curator of Prints, Drawings and Photographs in Madison at the University of Wisconsin's Chazen Museum since 1988. Seating is limited. Please call the Art, Music & Recreation Department at 286-3071 to register

WHEN: Saturday, March 9 2013; 2:00pm - 4:00pm
WHERE: Richard E. and Lucile Krug Rare Books Room, Central Library

The phenomenon of UFOs isn't just the subject of Milwaukee Public Library's extensive science fiction collection. We here at the library would like to invite you for a special presentation by local author Richard Thieme on his co-authored book UFOs and Government: An Historical Inquiry. Richard will be presenting all about the real government reaction to UFO sightings and incidents on Saturday, April 27th at 1:00 pm. Seating is limited, so please reserve a seat by either calling the library at 286-3011 or by registering online.

Location: Richard E. and Lucile Krug Rare Books Room, Central Library
Date: Saturday, April 27, 2013
Time: 1:00 pm. Presentation Will Last Approximately 1 Hour, followed by Q&A.

Come see the beautiful Richard E. and Lucile Krug Rare Books Room and learn about the Art Nouveau movement from Professor Jim Slauson. Professor Slauson has taught Art and Design History and courses in the Humanities at the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design for more than 20 years. He will discuss the beautifully crafted commercial art that dominated the streets of Paris at the beginning of the 20th century and spread throughout all of Europe and the U.S.

Date: Saturday, April 20th, 2013

Location: Central Library's Richard E. and Lucile Krug Rare Books Room, 2nd Floor

Time: 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Seating is limited. Please call the Art, Music and Recreation department at (414)286-3071 to register for the program.

Join local author Robert Tanzilo as he discusses his new book Historic Milwaukee Public Schoolhouses.

Date: Sunday, April 21
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Location: Central Library, Meeting Room 1, 814 W. Wisconsin Ave.

It's no surprise we feel a connection to our schools, where we learn to read, write and forge social bonds of all kinds. They are potentially the scenes of our first crushes (and the second and third). They are where we learn to create ourselves. For more than a century, Milwaukee has taken its schoolhouses seriously, and it has a matchless variety of gorgeous landmarks to prove it.

Robert Tanzilo pays homage to some long-lost schools, salutes veteran survivors, and examines the roles they play in their neighborhoods. Learn a little about some remarkable Milwaukee architects and see what the future may hold for some of the city's most beloved old buildings.

Sponsored by Milwaukee Public Library and Boswell Book Company.

Street parking is free on Sundays at Central Library.

Learn about a different aspect of the Milwaukee Public Library's Great Lakes Marine Collection each month. Of special interest to divers and genealogists, the program is free and open to anyone interested in learning more about Great Lakes history.

Treasures of the Great Lakes Marine Collection
Upcoming dates: Tuesdays, April 16th, May 21st, June 18th, July 16th, August 20th
Time: 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Location: Conference Room 2A (Krikelas), Central Library, 814 W. Wisconsin Ave.

There is no registration required. Please call Ready Reference at 414.286.3011 with any questions.

Investigate your family history with help from Humanities librarians and a brief introduction to library resources available for beginning genealogists. Held in the 2nd floor Krikelas Room on Thursday, April 18th from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM. Reservations are not required. Please call Ready Reference at (414) 286-3011 with any questions.

Researching Your Family Tree
Date: Thursday, 4/18/2013
Time: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Location: Conference Room 2A (Paul Gottfried Krikelas) / Central Library, 814 W. Wisconsin Ave

WALK INS ARE WELCOME for the House History program tomorrow at Central Library!

An overview of Milwaukee house history resources available at the Central Library. Learn how to use library resources such as fire insurance atlases, city directories, census records, and city of Milwaukee tax rolls to research the history of a house. Presented by architectural historian Traci Schnell from Historic Milwaukee, Inc. and by librarians from Humanities and from Art, Music and Recreation.

This program is free, but space is limited! Call 414-286-3011 to reserve your spot. Registration is required. Registration has closed, but there is still space available, so...