Wednesday, September 8, 2010

September Programs at the Library

The Racine Public Library has scheduled several cultural and educational programs for adults and youth this fall. 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.

COMMUNITY RECREATIONAL CHESS nights are being held on Thursdays from 4:30-6:30pm beginning September 16 and continuing 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 on Thursdays, September 16, 30 and October 14. 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.

STRONG VOICES: CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOPS are open to young, passionate writers ages 13-18. The monthly Saturday afternoon gatherings will focus on the finer details of writing within different genres and formats. The group will not only explore their own written voices, but those of other well-known authors, as well. Writers will have the opportunity to submit their work to a variety of scholarship contests. There is no cost for the workshops and all supplies will be provided. Interested writers should contact the library at 262.636.9245 for more information or to reserve a spot for the upcoming programs. Registration may also be done via the library's website at www.racinelibrary.info. Workshops will be held on Saturdays, September 18, October 16 and November 20 from 1:00-4:00pm. Participants may choose to attend any or all of the workshops at their convenience.

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. Due to space limitations, day cares and schools interested in attending preschool storytimes are asked to contact the Youth Services Department to set up a separate session for their students.

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.

FAMILY FUN NIGHTS are special activity nights for families looking for some quality time together. Held once a month on Thursday evenings at 6:30pm, they feature stories, crafts, activities and special guests. This month's family night, being held on Thursday, September 23, will feature some pretty amazing visitors! The library has invited an animal rescue friend to speak about the services they provide and introduce their special canine companions. Live animals will be present. The program is appropriate for kids ages 4-10 and their families. Younger siblings welcome. Registration is requested.

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

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 Calvin Forbes, and the dance troupe from Laurenzi Dance Studios. No registration is necessary.

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 and the program calendar for a list of events being hosted during this time. You'll find adult and youth films, open mic events, unusual banned book displays, and the library's "Word On the Street" readers. 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.

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