Now @ MPL...

October 14-20, 2007

1. Poster Contest

Your library wants you to submit posters based on the theme “LOL @ Your Library.”

Entries by teens age 13-18 will be accepted October 1-12 at all Milwaukee Public Libraries. Posters must be done by hand (not computer-generated) in any other medium including: pencil, chalk, ink, marker, paints, etc. Posters must be submitted on 8.5 x 11” paper. Each entry will be judged on composition, quality of drawing, originality, and how closely it relates to the theme. Winning posters will be displayed on the library’s web page.

PRIZES
1st place – $50 Target gift card
2nd place – $25 Target gift card
3rd place – $15 Target gift card

2. ComedySportz @ Washington Park Library (2121 N. Sherman Blvd.)
Thursday, October 18, 2007 6:30 p.m.
Sit back and laugh, or take the opportunity to stand up and make people laugh during this interactive improv comedy performance suitable for all ages. The entire show is fueled by audience suggestions and participation.

3. Meet the Author: Sonia Hayes @ Center Street Library (2727 W. Fond du Lac Ave.)
Saturday, October 20, 2007 3:00 p.m.
Sonia Hayes, author of Ms. Thang and Urban Goddess, will present a book discussion based on her novels entitled: Flavor of Love Adolescents age 12-18 will be invited to explore the concept of love in various relationships including friends, family, romantic and, most importantly, self-love.

Calling all families! Feel like kicking up your heels and singing along to some fiddlin' good music? Want to learn about bats, meet and greet live snakes, turtles and toads? How about pick out a pumpkin and decorate it to take home?

Then come to Harvest Fest at Central Library on Saturday, October 6 from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.!

Other activities include learning the secrets of making applesauce, decorating pumpkin cookies, fun crafts, games and more!

Here is a schedule of the day's events:

10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Sing along with Douglas Udell

11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Nature in the Parks Bat Presentation

12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Sing along with Fox and Branch

Check out the Children's Calendar for more information as well as a schedule of additional Harvest Fest celebrations at our neighborhood libraries.

Did you know that Central Library has a book discussion group?

Librarians moderate lively book discussions each month in the comfortable surroundings of the Richard E. & Lucile Krug Rare Books Room. The books will be a starting point for exchanging ideas on themes, events and characters; reading the book in advance is NOT required.

On Tuesday, October 9, at 7:00 p.m. we will be discussing Rumspringa; to be or not to be Amish by Tom Shachtman. Beginning at age 16, Amish youth are encouraged to participate in activities normally forbidden by their tradition before committing to Amish life. Shachtman describes the impact of this time of life on both teens and the Amish community.

Come join us!

Zablocki Library on Monday, October 22, 2007 from 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Fit to a T is a bone health and osteoporosis education program for men and women of all
ages presented by Ann Perry, Physical Therapist and Sue Coenen, Outreach Librarian at
the Zablocki Library on Monday, October 22, 2007 from 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM.

During this session, we will cover topics such as: why is bone health important, what is osteoporosis, who is at risk for developing osteoporosis, what are the symptoms and warning signs; how is it diagnosed and treated, how do you avoid developing osteoporosis, and where can you learn more?

You’ll receive a packet of information, including a brochure produced by the U.S. Bone and Joint Decade that covers the main points presented during this session, as well as a Calcium Calculator, and a Risk Assessment tool you can take home and go through on your own and share with family and friends. You will also have a copy of the “People’s Piece” a brochure produced by the U.S. Surgeon General’s office, and a bibliography produced by the National Network of Libraries of Medicine and the library.

Sponsored by the:
Bone and Joint Decade 2002-2011 and National Network of Libraries of Medicine and the Zablocki Library

Have you ever been curious about the story that your house has to tell? Whether you are a new house owner, or you've been living in your house for 30 years, the Central Library wants to help you discover your house's history, and the House History program is the perfect place to start.

The program is being held at the Central Library on Saturday, November 3, 2007 from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Sign in starts at 9:15 a.m. in the First Floor Meeting Room. From there, you will tour the resources that the Central Library has to offer. You will learn how to use the Sanborn Fire Insurance Atlases, how to wrap your head around the many intricacies of the tax rolls, how to convert an address, and learn about the many other resources your library has to offer.

The House History program is best for Milwaukee residents, as the resources focus mainly on Milwaukee.

To sign up, contact the Humanities Department at (414) 286-3061.

What: Sit back, laugh, and be entertained by the funniest people in town! Or take the opportunity to stand up and make people laugh during this interactive improv comedy performance suitable for all ages. The entire show is fueled by audience suggestions and participation.

When: Thursday, October 18 at 6:30 p.m.

Where: Washington Park Library (2121 N. Sherman Blvd.)

Fill in some of those gaps on your family tree at the open lab for using Ancestry Library Edition, a powerful tool for genealogists.

(Waldburg family tree)

The open labs take place on the following Saturdays: October 27, November 17, and December 15, from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. This is a free service and it requires no advance registration. Simply go to the Central Library's computer lab, on the 2nd floor, and prepare to delve deeply into your family's history. A staff member will be on hand to answer questions about using this powerful database which gives you access to billions of names in almost as many different types of records.

Milwaukee Public Library also offers access to other Genealogy tools online. Additional questions may be answered by calling the dedicated staff at the Humanities desk at (414) 286-3061.

Need Help Getting a Job Online? A job trainer speicialist with help you learn how to:

-Complete online job applications
-Write a resume online
-Search online job listings
-Obtain a free e-mail account.

Every Saturday from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. -- No Appointment Necessary

Come to the Central Library's Computer Training Lab on the 2nd Floor.

Work on your resume or online job application on Thursday evenings or Saturday mornings. Staff will be available to help with resume hints and assist in creating e-mail accounts and passwords for online job applications. Thursdays at 5:30pm and Saturdays at 11am. September through November. Center Street Library is funded by Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, Community development Grants Administration (CDGA) City of Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Center Street Library
2727 W. Fond du Lac Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53210 (414) 286-3090
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Monday & Wednesday, 12 noon to 8:30 p.m.
Tuesday & Thursday, 10:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Friday & Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
(Closed Saturdays June through August)

Have you ever wondered about the history of dance around the world? Come and join Elaina Qureshi as she reflects on the impact history has had on the world of dance and invites teens to join in the celebration! Come for the snacks, stay for the dancing.

The program will be at the following libraries.

Zablocki Library: Monday, October 29 @ 7:00-8:00 p.m.
Forest Home Library:Tuesday, October 30 @ 5:00-6:00 p.m.
Bay View Library: Monday, November 5 @ 7:00-8:00 p.m.
Washington Park Library: Tuesday, November 6 @ 5:00-6:00 p.m.
Capitol Library: Thursday, November 8 @ 6:00-7:00 p.m.
Central Library: Tuesday, November 13 @ 5:00-6:00 p.m.
Martin Luther King Library: Tuesday, November 20 @ 5:00-6:00 p.m.

Thinking about what you'll do once you graduate from high school? Are you considering going to college? Then check out this free event! The Life After High School College Fair is tomorrow, November 3, from 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. in Centennial Hall (733 N. Eighth Street). You will have a chance to learn about area colleges, including Marquette University, Milwaukee Area Technical College, Concordia University and others. Don't miss it!

This event is funded by a grant from the Helen Bader Foundation.

The Children's Department is launching a new family reading program on November 10th called 'Time to Read with Curious George and Friends.' This program will encourage reading to and with your children. It's a great bonding experience, and it helps your children gain a lifetime love of reading.

We'll be kicking off 'Time to Read with Curious George and Friends' Saturday, Nov. 10, at Central Library, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. with music in the main rotunda, tap dancing in the gray rotunda, a reading nook, learning stations, crafts and cookie decoration.

Celebrate Children’s Book Week with Bookmaking

Artist Robin Kinney will teach children how to create unique handmade books. Every child will create at least one book, journal or scrapbook.

Call the library to register.

Capitol - 286-3006
Monday, November 5, 6:00-7:00 p.m.

Central - 286-3091
Tuesday, November 6, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Martin Luther King - 286-3098
Wednesday, November 7, 5:00-6:00 p.m.

Zablocki - 286-3055
Saturday, November 10, 2:00-3:00 p.m.

Villard Avenue - 286-3079
Monday, November 12, 5:00-6:00 p.m.

East - 286-3058
Tuesday, November 13, 6:00-7:00 p.m.

Center Street - 286-3090
Wednesday, November 14, 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Tippecanoe - 286-3085
Saturday, November 17, 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Bay View - 286-3019
Saturday, November 17, 2:00-3:00 p.m.

A college education is becoming more and more important these days. Unfortunately, it's also getting more and more expensive.
For anyone who is interested in going to college, but isn't sure how to afford it, Financial Aid 101 at the Bay View Library is a great place to get started, and get some questions answered.
The program is being put on by the Great Lakes Higher Education Guaranty Corporation. It takes place Wednesday, November 14, from 6:00-7:30 p.m.

Have an Idea? Get a Patent!

You've a great idea for a new product-and now you need a patent! Central Library Business Librarians will explain the seven-step process for doing a patent search in a free program offered once a month.
The Milwaukee Public Library is a United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Depository Library. While librarians cannot do an actual patent search for you, these monthly programs will show you how to get started by following the USPTO guidelines.
Location is at the Central Library - Computer Lab, 2nd Floor
814 W. Wisconsin Avenue

Sessions meet every Fourth Monday of the month for one hour from 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
The next session is on Monday, November 26th, 2007.

The 2008 dates are:
January 28th
February 25th
March 24th
April 28th

Listen to the podcast of Library Director Paula Kiely's conversation with Jane Hampden of WUWM's Lake Effect Radio Program. Originally aired on August 20th, find out about the library and Ms. Kiely's personal reminiscenes about libraries and reading.

Since January 2007, MPL's Central Library has served as the first outpost location for StoryCorps, a nonprofit oral history project. StoryCorps' mission is "to honor and celebrate one another’s lives through listening."

During a StoryCorps session, participants share their life stories through a recorded interview. StoryCorps facilitators help interviewers decide what questions to ask and handle all the technical aspects of recording the memories of family members or friends. After the 40-minute session, participants receive a CD copy of the interview. With the participants' permission, one copy goes to the Library of Congress and one copy stays with MPL. A donation of $10 is suggested.

StoryCorps will be at Central Library until January 24, 2008. To learn more about StoryCorps and how to set up an interview, visit the StoryCorps Web site or call them toll-free at (800) 850-4406. Don't miss this great opportunity to share your story!

This month several of MPL's neighborhood libraries will be offering Chess 4 Life Skills for children ages 8-14. Participants will learn to play chess while discovering how to be effective decision makers. Quan Caston, President of Chess Academix, Inc., will help students use the game of chess as a thinking tool.

Call your library to register. Walk-ins are welcome if space is available.

Atkinson Library, Wednesday, December 26, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Capitol Library, Wednesday, December 26, from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Martin Luther King Library, Thursday, December 27, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Center Street Library, Thursday, December 27, from 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Villard Avenue Library, Friday, December 28, from 10:00 a.m to 2:00 p.m.
Mill Road Library, Friday, December 28, from 2:15 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.
Zablocki Library, Saturday, December 29, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Forest Home Library, December 29, from 1:45 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.

The staff of the Adult Programming Committee prepared a tea party to celebrate the 232nd birthday of Jane Austen. A beautiful display of the Milwaukee Public Library staff’s tea cups and related items was prepared to complement the celebration.

Authors Victoria Hinshaw and Kim Wilson in the Rare Books Room.

Regency romance author Victoria Hinshaw and tea aficionado and author Kim Wilson gave talks about Jane Austen’s life, her books and the history of tea in England. A trivia quiz was distributed and the authors’ books were given as prizes. Several kinds of teas and cookies, some brought by generous participants, were enjoyed by all.

The event took place in the Richard E. and Lucile Krug Rare Books Room at the Central Library on Saturday, December 8, from 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. The event was a great success with the 28 participants raving about the program and there were several requests that a similar program take place on an annual basis.

Come to Center Street Library on Thursday, January 17 from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. for a free employment seminar. The seminar will be presented by C. J. Brown, III., author of the “28 Days to Employment” system which provides step-by-step instructions on how to prepare for and find employment.

C.J. Brown, III is a retired corporate executive who speaks, consults and mentors employers as well as those struggling to find employment.

Copies of the “28 Days to Employment” CD-Rom will be available for purchase. Seating is limited.

For more information, call Center Street Library at 286-3090.

Preschoolers are invited to 45 minutes
of stories, songs, finger plays and crafts.
Child care centers are welcome.

Forest Home Library
Thursdays, December thru February,
10:30-11:15 a.m.

Zablocki Library
Wednesdays, January 9 thru May 14,
10:30-11:15 a.m.

Horas de cuentos bilingües para niños preescolares

Los niños preescolares están bienvenidos
a 45 minutos de cuentos, canciones y
juegos con los deditos, seguidos por 15
minutos de manualidades. Se extiende
también la invitación a los centros
infantiles.

Forest Home Library
Los jueves de diciembre a febrero,
10:30-11:15 a.m.

Zablocki Library
Los miércoles del 9 de enero al
14 de mayo, 10:30-11:15 a.m.

Jacki Potratz was featured on WUWM’s “Lake Effect” program on Thursday, January 24 between 10:00 and 11:00 a.m. with Jane Hampden. Jacki is system fiction selector at Milwaukee Public Library. She offers reading suggestions below.



Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen
The Post Birthday World by Lionel Shriver
Away by Amy Bloom
Run by Ann Patchett

Join the Milwaukee Public Library in celebrating the kickoff of The Big Read on Thursday, January 31 at 10:00 a.m. in the Central Library's rotunda.

An initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts, The Big Read celebrates reading as an important part of American culture. As part of this program, Milwaukee will be joining communities around the U.S. in promoting the joy of books. Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God has been selected as Milwaukee's community-wide novel.

MPL will work with community partners to sponsor events throughout the area, including a visit by the late author’s niece Lucy Hurston, book discussions, film screenings, library and museum exhibits, dance, and other theatrical performances. For a list of library and community events, check out MPL's Website.

It's Open Mic Night at Center Street Library!

Monday, February 25, 2008
6:00-8:00 p.m.

Poets, singers, dancers, visual artists, and other performers are invited to come and express themselves for our Black History Month celebration!

If you would like to be a performer for this event, please register with the librarian by Thursday, February 21. Call (414) 286-3090.

Kick-Off Celebration - Central Library
Saturday, March 1, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Featuring a sing-along with Ken Baron, crafts, cookie decorating, story time, face painting, jugglers, costumed characters and more!

Neighborhood Library Celebrations

Atkinson
Monday, March 10, 5-6 p.m.

Bay View
Monday, March 3, 6-7 p.m.

Capitol
Saturday, March 8, 1-2 p.m.

Center Street
Saturday, March 8, 12-1 p.m.

East
Tuesday, March 4, 6-7 p.m.

Forest Home
Saturday, March 15, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Special storytime with guest Dist. 2 Police Capt. Eduardo Negron.

Martin Luther King
Tuesday, March 4, 4:30-5:30 p.m.

Mill Road
Saturday, March 8, 2-3:30 p.m.

Tippecanoe
Monday, March 3, 6:30-7:30 p.m. With a special guest reader from the Milwaukee Fire Department.

Villard Avenue
Tuesday, March 4, 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Washington Park
Saturday, March 15, 2-3 p.m.

Zablocki
Wednesday, March 12, 7-8 p.m.
Dr. Seuss’s The Lorax
Celebrate Dr. Seuss’s birthday with a reading from The Lorax, Seuss’s story about the enviromental problems caused when trees are destroyed. Learn why trees are important and what can be done to protect them. Craft, treats and a sapling to take home and plant (while supplies last).

As part of the Big Read celebration, Milwaukee Public Library presents "A Visit With Lucy Anne Hurston" on Tuesday, March 4 at 7:00 p.m. in Central Library's Centennial Hall. Lucy Anne Hurston, the niece of Zora Neale Hurston, will be discussing and signing her book, Speak, So You Can Speak Again , a biography of Zora.

Be sure to check out more Big Read events throughout the area!

Join the Milwaukee Public Library for a celebration of the 2008 Big Read program featuring Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God. The reception will be held on Saturday, March 15 at 2:00 p.m. in Central Library's Centennial Hall.

The reception will feature music from the Banjo Barons Ragtime Band Trio, as well as original poetry from the poetry contest. Come view entries from the photography contest based on the Get Caught Reading theme, and sample entries from the tea cake contest. The celebration is also an opportunity to network with our grant partners and share ideas for the next NEA Big Read grant application.

We hope to see you there!

If you've ever wondered about the history behind your home, you may want to attend the Milwaukee Public Library's House History program. This extremely popular program will be running again Saturday, April 19, from 9:30 a.m.-11:25 a.m.

( The T.A. Chapman Residence used to be at 1038 N. Cass St.)

This program is an introduction to the Central Library's resources that are extremely useful for determining the history of a house or property. Resources that will be explored are the Milwaukee city directories, the fire insurance atlases, the tax rolls, and much more.

The program is especially helpful for residents of the City of Milwaukee, as the resources focus on the city. Residents of Milwaukee area suburbs will find less information than those in the city.

Advance registration is required. To register, call the Frank P. Zeidler Humanities Department at (414) 286-3061.

Is it Art? Or Is it a Book?
The Dilemma of Artists Books in the 21st Century

Wednesday, April 30, 6-8 p.m. or Saturday, May 3, 2-4 p.m.
Milwaukee Public Library
814 W. Wisconsin Avenue
Richard E. and Lucile Krug Rare Books Room

Call the Art, Music and Recreation Department at 414-286-3071 to register.

Books have been in our world for thousands of years, but the 21st century has brought the increasing use of computers to store information. Yet, we still have books and probably always will. Why? Because books offer a totally different experience than computers. Books no longer bear the full burden of information storage, so they are free to become something else. Artists have recognized that potential, and more and more artists are turning to the book as an art form.

Max Yela, Head of Special Collections at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries, will discuss the challenges faced by the artists book, and talk about some of the ways books can function as art, and how artists books are wholly books and fully art.

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

Join the Milwaukee Public Library in celebrating the Week of the Young Child, April 13-19!

The Week of the Young Child is an annual national celebration designed to recognize the critical role of early childhood educators in fostering learning skills and social development of young children. The library is celebrating with special entertainment for preschoolers at every MPL location. A craft and snack will be part of each program. (Child care and school groups – please call your local library to register.)

For times and locations, check out the Library Events Calendar or the Children's Calendar.

The Central Library will be holding another one of its patent searching programs. The librarians from the Business & Technology will explain the strategies for doing a patent search that match the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) guidelines.

This is a great way to see if something similar to your idea has already exists with USPTO. It's a crucial step in protecting your ideas.

Patents 101: How to do a Patent Search will be held this month on Monday, April 28th from 1:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m. at the Central Library. For more information call (414) 286-3000.

Join the Milwaukee Public Library in celebrating the Turn Off the T.V. Week, April 21-27!

Kids ages 6-12 are invited to come in for poetry and a snack. Bring your own poems or listen and read the poetry of others.

Martin Luther King Library
Wednesday, April 23rd
4:30-5:30 p.m.

Atkinson Library
Saturday, April 26th
1:00-2:00 p.m.

Find out more about the Turn Off the T.V. Week on the TV Turn-off Network .

Milwaukee Urban Gardens will present a program on how to use your backyard to raise vegetables for fresh produce at a fraction of the supermarket cost. Learn how to prepare soil. Discover which crops work best for the success of a small personal garden. Find out how to reap a good harvest and reduce your grocery bill.

Saturday, May 10, 2008, -- 1pm
Atkinson

Saturday, May 31, 2008 -- 1pm
Tippecanoe

Monday, July 14, 2008 -- 6pm
Tippecanoe

For more information visit
Milwaukee Urban Gardens

Celebrate Children's Book Week with the Milwaukee Public Library! Since 1919, Children's Book Week has promoted connections between children and a love of reading. All over the country, schools, libraries, bookstores, and families take part in events honoring children's literature. Here is a list of fun activities at the Milwaukee Public Library.

Story Times
Sing along with the story “There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly” and then make your own version to take home.
Atkinson, Tuesday, May 13, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Center Street, Wednesday, May 14, 1:30-2:30 p.m.

Make Your Own Bookmark
Central, May 12-17. Materials will be available all week in the Children’s Room to make your own bookmark.
Martin Luther King, Wednesday, May 14, 3:00-4:00 p.m.

Book Bingo
Fun for the whole family! Listen to a story, play book bingo, and enjoy a snack.
Capitol, Tuesday, May 13, 6:30-7:15 p.m.
Bay View, Saturday, May 17, 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

Washington Park Library will be hosting the 2008 Money Camp for Kids! Sponsored by Upsilon Mu Omega, this weeklong camp for students entering grades 6-8 will take place June 16th-20th from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Students will learn how to open a bank account, listen to presentations on finance, banking, and the stock market, and take fun field trips.

In order to register for this free program, fill out an application and Emergency Contact Form and mail them to:

Upsilon Mu Omega
c/o Money Camp
P.O. Box 510426
Milwaukee, WI 53203

Please register by May 30. Questions? Contact: Tammi Summers (414) 313-5907