Now @ MPL...

The new self-checkout stations (using RFID technology) are now "live" at East Library, 1910 E. North Ave.

Work continues at Central Library and libraries on the north side to implement RFID and self-checkout. MPL's south side locations will be converted when work at the north side locations is complete. Library services will not be interrupted during the conversion.

Stop in soon to try self-checkout. East Library staff members will be on hand and happy to help you.

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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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.

Check out what our neighborhood library book clubs are reading in October and join the discussion!

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.

Today MPL begins a schedule of expanded hours at four neighborhood libraries. Those libraries are:

Bay View Library, 2566 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.
East Library, 1910 E. North Ave.
Washington Park Library, 2121 N. Sherman Blvd.
Zablocki Library, 3501 W. Oklahoma Ave.

The new hours for each of those locations is as follows.

Monday: 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Tues., Wed., Thurs.: 1:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Friday & Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. - Zablocki ONLY (October - April)

National Library Week is a time to celebrate the contributions of libraries, librarians and library workers in schools, campuses and communities nationwide. This year's theme is "Create Your Own Story @ Your Library®". MPL continues to "create its own story" this year by encouraging library customers to use the self checkout kiosks at all 12 neighborhood libraries by holding a raffle at weeks end. Each time an MPL customer uses the self checkout during the week for their library materials, they may complete a raffle entry form. A gift bag will be awarded to a lucky winner at each neighborhood library branch at the end of the week. The re-useable eco-friendly gift bag includes a complimentary membership to the Friends of the Milwaukee Public Library, MPL postcards, a mug, flash drive, Bookworm print, and more. Following the first drawing, the 12 neighborhood winners will be eligible for an additional grand prize
drawing for a behind-the-scenes tour of Central Library.
NOTE: The raffle opportunity will not be offered at Central Library downtown, as the self checkout
option is not available at this time.

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.

It's not too late to start reading for the discussion of Barbara Kingsolver's Small Wonder. This collection of essays will inspire an examination of your relationship with the world around you and should spark some great conversation. Reserve your copy of the book today. Then come to East Library from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, August 16th and share your thoughts with fellow readers.

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.

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.

It's that time of year for Milwaukee Public Television's Young Writers & Illustrator Workshop! The 2012 workshop will be held on January 14 from 1:30 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. at the East Library. The workshop is designed to help children in grades 1 through 3 learn the basics of story construction while focusing on the importance of illustrations in telling the story. Children will be encouraged to create a story and enter it in MPTV's annual PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest. This year the workshop will be conducted by art teacher Michele Bernau, and participants will view a DVD featuring books that have received awards in previous years.

Registration is required. Parents should register with their children. Call (414)286-3011 to register and for more information.

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.

Were you lucky enough to receive an eReader, Kindle or iPad for Christmas this year and you need to know how to borrow downloadable media? Or maybe you would like to know how to borrow downloadable media for your home PC or Mac? If so, come to East library on February 18 from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. for an informative workshop on how to borrow downloadable media through the library.

This event is open to adults and teens. No registration is required. For more information, please call (414)286-3011.

Have fun, make a new friend, and improve your reading! Students in grades 1-5 can read to a registered therapy dog for 25 minutes each week for four weeks. Children may bring in their own reading materials or select materials at the library. Readers who attend at least four sessions receive a certificate of accomplishment and a small gift upon completion. Sign up online or call 414-286-3011 for more details.

Library: East Library
Dates: March 8, March 15, March 22, and March 29
Time: 3:30 -5:30 p.m.

Use the power of Ayurveda to transcend ordinary limitations of disease and aging. This workshop will enable you to begin learning about your own constitution through lecture, Ayurvedi self-assessment, and informational handouts.

Join retired librarian and Ayurveda practitioner Susan Pack to learn about this 5,000-year-old system of natural healing which is enjoying a major resurgence throughout the world.

Registration is preferred. To register, please call 286-3011 or register online.

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

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.

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.

The Milwaukee Public Library (MPL) will hold a public meeting tonight, Tuesday, December 11, on the new East Library design. This meeting will give the community an opportunity to provide input and ask questions about the design, programs and services, collections and artwork for the new East library branch. MPL is committed to providing the services patrons value most and invites residents to share their visions for the new East Library branch at the meeting or in writing. Ensuring the public is informed throughout the East Library development is a priority for Mayor Barrett and the MPL. Residents may also submit input in writing to the East Library staff until Friday, December 21.

Date: Tuesday, December 11th, 2012
Library: East Library
Time: 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM (Program begins at 6 PM)

Come to the East Library Book Club this month! Until further notice, the book club will be meeting at Martin Luther King Library during East Library construction. This month, the East Library Book Club discusses Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell. There is still time to check it out from the library. New members are always welcome to the club, and there is no registration required.

Date: Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Time: 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Location: Martin Luther King Jr. Library 310 W. Locust St.

Library Director Paula Kiely and the Milwaukee Public Library Board of Trustees invite you to a presentation by the Project Team for the new East Branch. The presentation will include a preview of design concepts for the library space. Community feedback is welcome and encouraged.

Date: Wednesday April 10, 2013
Location: East Library, 1910 E. North Ave.
Time: 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM

If you're looking for a book discussion this month, come join the East Library Book Club in its temporary location at the Martin Luther King Library, while East Library is under construction. This month, the group will discuss House of Stone: A Memoir of Home, Family, and a Lost Middle East by Anthony Shadid. Reserve your copy at the library today, because they're moving fast.

Library: Martin Luther King Library

Date: Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Time: 7 P.M. to 8 P.M.