The Racine Public Library, 75 Seventh St., is hosting a number of programs and events to celebrate National Library Week, April 11- 17. Take a moment during the week to check out all the free entertainment and educational workshops available at your public library.
KIDS COLORING CONTEST
The library will once again join the Wisconsin Library Association Foundation and Culver's Restaurants in the "COMMUNITIES THRIVE @ Your Library" coloring campaign for children 11 and under. This is the fourteenth consecutive year local Culver's restaurants in Wisconsin have sponsored this event, encouraging children to read and celebrate their favorite book characters.
Children can enter the coloring event by picking up drawing sheets from the Racine Public Library's Youth Services Department or from the Mobile Library, or by downloading and printing a copy from the library's website at racinelibrary.info beginning April 12. Children are encouraged to draw characters from a book that they would like to meet at the library. Every child who completes a drawing will receive a "Be Our Guest" coupon for a free single scoop of frozen custard from Culver's and will be entered into a random drawing to win an additional prize of a free Team Scoopie Kids meal coupon. Drawings will be displayed at the Racine Public Library through the month of May. Coloring sheet entries should be turned in to the Racine Public Library or Mobile Library by Friday, April 30. Final drawing will be announced Monday, May 3.
CLASSICAL GUITAR CONCERT
On Tuesday, April 13 from 6:30-7:30 pm the library presents an evening concert with the Anderson Nordmark Classical Guitar Duo. Doug Anderson and Gary Nordmark combine their technical and expressive skills in playing, composing and arranging music to create an evening of romantic classical music. Admission is free and seating is available on a first come/first served basis.
EMPLOYMENT AND FINANCIAL WORKSHOPS
Reverse mortgage consultant, Dan Scerpella, will be on hand Wednesday, April 14 from 10:30am-12pm to assist homeowners age 62 and older in understanding Reverse Mortgage planning. Reverse mortgages are a relatively new financial planning tool enabling homeowners to convert home equity into tax-free proceeds. These proceeds can be used to eliminate existing mortgages, meet daily or monthly expenses, remodel or repair your home, among others. This educational talk will answer many common questions and will allow people an opportunity to meet with a qualified consultant. The workshop is free; advance registration is appreciated.
The second workshop in the library's four-part Job Skills series will be held on Thursday, April 15 from 6:30-7:30pm. This class will focus on resume writing. Learn to make a great first impression and discover what information to include in your resume, when to use it and how to use formatting to best showcase your qualities. These skill-building workshops are developed and taught by volunteer members of the Racine and Kenosha Area Chapter (SRKA) of the national Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). Other workshops in the series include "Employer Expectations" (April 22) and "Interviewing for Success" (April 29). Each workshop is limited to 15 participants and registration is required. Call the main library at 262.636.9217 to register.
Participants are encouraged to arrive early to check out the library's new Job Search Lab on the second floor. Open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5-8pm, the lab offers internet access for employment-related tasks and one-on-one assistance with highly qualified volunteer counselors. The Job Lab operates on a first come/first served basis and is open to all for free use.
POET READING AND BOOK SIGNING
Local Poet Marcie Eanes has selected the Racine Public Library to celebrate the release of her first book of poetry, Sensual Sounds, on Saturday, April 17 from 1-2pm in the East Performance Area. Sensual Sounds is a thought provoking poetry collection designed to encourage and inspire readers to cherish intimate relationships. The collection contains something for everyone. Eanes' upbeat poetry, which has been presented in a variety of settings, resonates with audiences everywhere. Her unique poetry voice is nourishment for the soul. The author will celebrate the release with readings from her body of work. Copies of Sensual Sounds will be available for purchase and the author will be present for book signings.
Marcie Eanes is a journalist and poet who holds a BA is Journalism from Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI. She has written for numerous publications including the Milwaukee Journal and Grand Rapids Press newspapers. Her work has also appeared in Essence and Seventeen Magazines. Another accomplishment was serving on the volunteer development team for the inaugural edition of Chicken Soup for the African American Soul book series.
Eanes has shared her poetry in a variety of venues across the nation. In August 2007 she was one of the nine finalists featured at the annual convention of the National Association of Black Journalists, one of the largest and most influential organizations for journalists of color. She has also read at the Austin International Poetry Festival, a prestigious event held yearly in Austin, Texas which highlights poets around the world.
Eanes holds memberships in several organizations including the National Writers Union, the National Association of Black Journalists and the Academy of American Poets.
LIBRARY OPEN HOUSE
The Racine Public Library will host an open house to celebrate National Library Week, on Saturday, April 17 from 11am-4pm. The free event will feature a community partnership fair, behind-the-scenes library tours, a grand prize scavenger hunt, children's storytime, and other family activities. There will also be special guest appearances by local writers, poets and musicians. The event is free and open to all.
