Racine Public Library Programs for All Ages

The Racine Public Library continues its fall programming with these great educational and entertaining opportunities for all ages. All programs are free and open to the public. Some registration is required and may be done by visiting the library at 75 Seventh St, calling the library at 262.636.9245, or by visiting the library's website at racinelibrary.info.

1. YOUTH BOOK DISCUSSION GROUPS are available for students in grades 3, 5 and 6. Book Br@ts for 3rd graders meets on the third Monday of each month at 6pm. BookCh@ts for grades 5 and 6 meets on the first Wednesday of each month at 4pm. Both groups introduce readers to exciting works of juvenile fiction and offer them the opportunity to explore the stories in depth with others. Sponsorship is provided by the Friends of the Library. Participation is free and members are able to keep their own copies of the books read. Registration is required.

2. AFTER SCHOOL INSTRUCTIONAL CHESS is being held on Thursdays from 4:30 6:30pm through October 28. These weekly gatherings are open to ages 5 and older, and beginners are welcome. A volunteer chess instructor will be available to assist beginners. A recreational tournament for all participants will take place on October 21 and 28. Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Space is limited and registration is required.

3. TODDLER AND PRESCHOOL STORYTIMES begin October 5 and will be held on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10am in the Youth Services Dept. Two different age appropriate programs are held simultaneously to accommodate different learning levels. Both programs are designed to teach crucial early literacy skills. Children ages 1-3 are invited to sit with their parents in a 20 minute storytime featuring songs, fingerplay, and short stories. Children ages 4-5 who are able to sit independently are invited to attend a longer preschool storytime offering more complex stories and activities. These are drop-in events and no registration is needed to attend.

4. AFTER SCHOOL STORYTIME is being offered for kids ages 4-10 on Tuesday, September 28 from 3:30-4:30pm. Storyteller Keiko Skow shares her favorite stories and her imaginative craft ideas and activities with those in attendance. All children must be accompanied by a parent. Registration is requested.

5. RUFF READERS is the library's award-winning read-to-the-dogs program for kids ages 6-12. Youth are invited to spend 15 minutes reading to one of our therapy-trained listening dogs. This is a relaxed and fun way for kids to practice reading. Registration for this program is strongly suggested. The following schedule begins September 20:

Mondays 4:00-5:00pm
Tuesdays 4:30-5:30 pm and 6:00-7:00pm
Wednesdays 3:30-4:30pm
Thursdays 4:30-5:30pm and 5:30-6:30pm

6. BONK! The Racine Public Library invites you to enjoy an evening with some very talented artists during this free monthly performance series held at the Racine Arts Council, 316 6th St, in downtown Racine. The series was created to expose the public to both local and nationally-recognized artistic talents. Each event showcases poets, writers, musicians, film makers and other talented artists. This month's event is being held on Saturday, September 25 from 6-8pm. Doors open at 5:30pm. with seating available on a first come/first served basis. The library's featured performers will be poet/writer Kathleen Rooney, poet Nate Slawson, and the dance troupe from Laurenzi Dance Studios. No registration is necessary.

Kathleen Rooney is a founding editor of Rose Metal Press and the author, most recently, of the memoir Live Nude Girl: My Life as an Object (University of Arkansas Press, 2009) and the essay collection For You, For You I Am Trilling These Songs (Counterpoint, 2010). With Elisa Gabbert, she is the co-author of the poetry collection That Tiny Insane Voluptuousness (Otoliths, 2008) and the chapbooks Don't ever stay the same; keep changing (Spooky Girlfriend Press, 2009) and Something Really Wonderful (dancing girl press, 2007). Her first solo poetry collection, Oneiromance (an epithalamion) won the 2007 Gatewood Prize from the feminist publisher Switchback Books. She lives in Chicago.

Nate Slawson designs books for Cinematheque Press. He is the author of two chapbooks, most recently The Tiny Jukebox (H_NGM_N Books, 2009). His work has appeared or is forthcoming in Slope, Handsome, Cannibal, Corduroy Mtn., Forklift, Ohio, Typo, and other places.

Local artists and performers are encouraged to consider sharing their talent/craft with the community via the BONK! series. For more information on how to participate or to view video of past performances, please visit http://bonkperformanceseries.wordpress.com. You may also contact the Racine Public Library at 262.619.2571, Becky Spika at becky.spika@racinelibrary.info , or Nick Demske at nick.demske@racinelibrary.info.

BONK! is sponsored by Gary's Music World, Power Audio, the Racine Arts Council, and the Racine Public Library.

7. BANNED BOOKS WEEK - "Think for Yourself...and Let Others Do the Same" - September 27-October 2 marks the library's annual Banned Books Week celebration. Banned Books Week is the only national celebration of the freedom to read. It was launched in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in the number of challenges to books in schools, bookstores and libraries. More than a thousand books have been challenged since 1982. The challenges have occurred in every state and in hundreds of communities. Targets range from books that explore contemporary issues and controversies to classic and beloved works of American literature. Check out the library's website for a list of banned books or visit our banned books displays at the main library, 75 Seventh St. Be adventurous; read a banned book and think for yourself.

To stay up to date on all of the library's programs, services, and resources visit our website at racinelibrary.info, read our blog at rplinfo.blogspot.com, find us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Racine-WI/Racine-Public-Library/6078666343, or follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/racinelibrary.

You may also call the library at 262.636.9245 or visit in person at 75 Seventh St. in downtown Racine.