Library's TeenSpace Leadership Hosts Guitar Hero World Tour

Do you know a teen more likely to hang at the library than at the mall? How about a young leader looking for a volunteer project? TeenSpace might be just the place for them.

Once a month, the Racine Public Library, invites teens ages 11-17 to gather and share food, plan teen programs and activities, work on creative projects, plan leadership/volunteer activities, and generally hang out with other teens with some of the same interests.

TeenSpace Leadership's next activity day is Saturday, Feb. 21. The group is hosting a day of video gaming from 1:30-3:30 p.m. in the Martin Room just off of the Youth Services dept. The featured game for the day will be Guitar Hero World Tour. If you know a teen that might be interested, please spread the word!

No registration is necessary for the event. Game play is available on a first come, first serve basis. Call Becky at 262-619-2571 for more information.

TeenSpace Leadership members have been meeting twice monthly to plan the Teen Tech Week Lock-in and Gaming night being held on March 6 from 5-11 p.m. (contact Becky at 262.619.2571 for info) and will be integral to designing a new teen area during planned remodeling in the fall/winter of 2009. TeenSpace leadership also has a voice in teen material selection and program planning.

Raising Financially Responsible Children

On Thursday Feb. 5 at 6:30 p.m., the Racine Public Library will host seminars in which parents and caregivers will learn age-appropriate ways to teach children how to earn and appreciate allowance, develop good savings and investing habits, know the difference between "wants" and "needs", become disciplined shoppers and view advertising critically.

It is only necessary to attend one of the workshops. All attendees will receive a complimentary workbook, containing exercises that will reinforce the workshop learning. Registration for the programs is required and may be made by calling the library at 262.636.9245. The seminar will be located in the library's Lee Room at 75 Seventh St.

The seminar was developed by the New York Life Insurance Company together with the country's leading children's finance expert, Neale S. Godfrey. Godfrey is the founder of Children's Financial Network, and is the author of 16 books including the #1 NY Times best seller, Money Doesn't Grow on Trees: A Parent's Guide to Raising Financially Responsible Children.

The workshop at the library will be facilitated by Angie Smucker, Financial Services Professional with the New York Life Insurance Company. The company has conducted business for over 164 years around their central values of financial strength, integrity and humanity. The company is owned solely by their policyholders.

Saturday, February 23: Mobile Library Out of Service

The Mobile Library is out of service today February 23, 2008. It may also be out of service on Monday. Patrons are advised to call the library to check to see if it is in service before going out the the stop.

Child Care & Education Information Fair @ the Library

Some of Racine's finest child care, preschool and other education organizations will be present at the Racine Public Library, 75 Seventh St., for an information fair on Mon. and Tues., Feb. 25 & 26 from 9:00 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Parents and other caregivers are invited to explore the many wonderful educational opportunities available for their children and to search out that perfect facility for their child's needs. This is a free event open to the public.

Local organizations interested in displaying their information or staffing a display table may contact Becky Spika, 262.619.2571, to reserve a free spot.

February 12: Program cancellation at the Racine Public Library

"Images of America: The Wind Point Lighthouse" presentation and book signing by Barn & Ken Wardius has been canceled due to inclement weather. It has been rescheduled for Tuesday, April 8 at 6:30 p.m.

The Library is Going to the Dogs!

No one listens better than a beloved pet and the library has found some of the best listeners around. Returning to the library from Feb. 4 to March 13 is the Ruff Readers read-to-the-dogs program for kids in grades 1-5. Students are invited to spend 15-minutes reading to specially-trained "listening" dogs from the Racine Kennel Club and Proper Paws University. The dogs will be available for reading sessions on Mondays and Wednesdays from 4-5 p.m. and on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:30-5:30 p.m. Time slots are available on a first come/first serve basis and may be reserved ahead of time by calling the library at 262.636.9245.

Library Story Times & More @ JavaVino

The Racine Public Library, 75 Seventh St., offers several collaborative programs in partnership with JavaVino, 424 Main St. in Downtown Racine.

• Families of children ages 8 and younger are invited to spend the first and third Saturday mornings of each month with storytellers from the Racine Public Library at JavaVino. Saturday Stories will be held Feb. 16, Mar. 1 & 15, and Apr. 5 & 19 from 9:30-10:30 a.m. and will feature storytelling with a simple craft. Enjoy a relaxing morning of breakfast fun with your children. This is a free event and no registration is necessary.

• Teen and adult poetry enthusiasts unite monthly on the 3rd Thursday from 7-9 p.m. for Poetry Roundtable. These free events focus on contemporary American poetry, highlighting a different poet at each meeting. As a group, participants will read poetry excerpts, analyze them and discuss their significance in today's society. Individuals with varying levels of poetry experience are welcome. Upcoming Roundtable discussions will be held on Feb. 21, Mar. 20, and Apr. 17. Visit the library's Poetry Roundtable webpage at racinelibrary.info for information about each month's selected poet, interviews, criticisms, poetry and more. While Poetry Roundtable events are free and drop-ins are welcome, space is limited and it is recommended that interested participants call the Racine Public Library at 262.636.9217 to register in advance. Poetry Roundtable is facilitated by Nick Demske, a local poet and employee of the Racine Public Library.

• Winter Foreign Film Series – The Racine Public Library offers a vast selection of the very best in foreign films. Join fellow film enthusiasts to preview some of this collection as JavaVino hosts free screenings on the 2nd Saturday of each month from 5-7 p.m. Enjoy appetizers, wine, coffee and a film and then visit Downtown Racine's finest restaurants for dinner. A listing of upcoming movies and dates is available on the library's website.

For more information about the Racine Public Library's upcoming programs please contact the reference desks at 262.636.9217 or 262.636.9245. Information may also be found on the library's website at racinelibrary.info.

February 25 & 26: Child Care & Education Information Fair

Some of Racine's finest child care, preschool and other education organizations will be present at the Racine Public Library, 75 Seventh St., for an information fair on Mon. and Tues., Feb. 25 & 26 from 9:00 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Parents and other caregivers are invited to explore the many wonderful educational opportunities available for their children and to search out that perfect facility for their child's needs. This is a free event open to the public.

Local organizations interested in displaying their information or staffing a display table may contact Becky Spika, 262.619.2571, to reserve a free spot.

February 22 & 23: TeenSpace Offers Internet, Gaming & More

The Racine Public Library, 75 Seventh St. is converting its newly created computer lab into TeenSpace on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 22 & 23 from 3-5 p.m. Youth ages 13-17 will have access to free internet service, video gaming, music, popular teen reads, snacks and much more at this free and open event.

Teens interested in becoming members of the TeenSpace Leadership group are asked to meet on Saturday from 3-3:30 for a planning meeting in front of the computer lab. The Leadership group will begin organizing a gaming tournament, planning teen events for 2008 and will discuss future TeenSpace renovation plans. Pizza and soda will be available for Leadership participants. The library's computer lab is located in the SW corner of the Adult Services Dept. TeenSpace signs will lead the way.

For more information, contact Becky at 262.619.2571.

Thursday, February 21: JavaVino Hosts Library Roundtable

The Racine Public Library, 75 Seventh St., continues its monthly Poetry Roundtable on Thursday, February 21 from 7-9 p.m. at JavaVino, 424 Main St. These free monthly events focus on contemporary American poetry, highlighting a different poet at each meeting. As a group, participants will read poetry excerpts, analyze them and discuss their significance in today's society. Individuals with varying levels of poetry experience are welcome.

February's discussion will focus on the works of poet Anne Shaw. Photocopies of the poetry will be provided at the event, but it is recommended participants review some of the work in advance. Information on Shaw may be obtained through the Poetry Roundtable page of the library's website or by contacting the library's reference desk at 262.636.9217.

While Poetry Roundtable events are free and drop-ins are welcome, space is limited and it is recommended that interested participants call the Racine Public Library at 262.636.9217 to register in advance.

To supplement this program, the Racine Public Library's internet website is providing a page with links pertaining to each author. The site will include poetry, interviews and criticisms, among other resources. Visit the library's Poetry Roundtable website, at www.racinelibrary.info, to access these features and to find each month's selected work.

The Racine Public Library Poetry Roundtable is facilitated by Nick Demske, a local poet and employee of the Racine Public Library. In 2006, he graduated in Creative Writing from Carthage College. The recipient of several poetry awards including, the Carthage College Research and Creativity Award, First Prize in Centrique Magazine's Bi-annual Literary Contest and The Chapin-Tague Award for Poetry, Demske is a contributing editor for the online magazine, Expose Kenosha, and frequently reads at the weekly open mic events at 716: Fine Art Gallery, 401 Main St. in downtown Racine.

Tuesday, February 19: Exploring Bookmaking at the Library

Bookmaking 101 for Educators and Parents
Do you want children to be excited about literacy? Are you seeking ways to enhance student's skill development? Looking for activities to engage children? Bookmaking can accomplish this and much more.

The Racine Public Library, 75 Seventh St., is hosting a "hands-on" bookmaking workshop for teachers, caregivers and parents on Tuesday, February 19 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the library's Meeting Room. Participants will explore a variety of bookmaking styles and techniques and will learn practical, low cost bookmaking strategies to share with children and families. Continuing education credit is available for early childcare providers. Registration is free for this free program and supplies will be provided. Call 262.636.9245 to register.

The workshop will be facilitated by educator Bev Schumacher, author, workshop presenter and president of Learning Props educational tools and games (learningprops.com) located here in Racine. Schumacher has created educational games and books for Bilingual and English preschool learning. With over 30 years in the field of education, early learning, and parent involvement, she is recognized for her creative thinking.

Adventures in Stories: Picture Perfect Books for Kids
While adults are engaged in their bookmaking workshop, children ages 5-10 are invited to attend a special story and activity time in the Youth Services Dept. Participants will hear Caldecott award-winning stories, create their own take-home book, play games and enjoy a snack. Registration is required and may be made by calling 262.636.9245.

Wednesday, February 6: Library Cancellations

Due to the impending inclement weather, the following programs have been canceled or rescheduled:

Tuesday, Febraury 5: "Wind Point Lighthouse" Authors at the library has been rescheduled to Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2008 at 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 6 preschool storytimes at 9:30 & 10:30 a.m. have been canceled

Wednesday, Feb. 6 Coming Together Racine screening of "Do The Right Thing" has been rescheduled to Wednesday, April 2.

Wednesday, Feb 6 Ruff Readers from 4 - 5pm has been canceled.

Wednesday, Feb. 6: Introduction to Microsoft Word at 9:30 am has been canceled.

Monday, February 11: AARP Fraud Fighters @ the Library

Maybe you've heard the pitch…the one with the urgent voice on the other end of the line often sounding legitimate.

"I'm calling from your bank. Someone is trying to withdraw funds from your account. I'll need to verify your account number and mother's maiden name to confirm that I'm speaking to the rightful owner of the account."

You are, in fact, probably on the line with a criminal. Consumers lose billions of dollars every year to various kinds of consumer fraud. According to a study conducted by AARP, people over 50 years of age are especially vulnerable and account for more than half of all victims.

Now you can fight back. A dedicated group of trained AARP volunteers calling themselves the "Fraud Fighters" are reaching out to consumers across the nation with the tips, resources and information they need to protect themselves from financial fraud.

The Racine Public Library, 75 Seventh St., will host a presentation by AARP Fraud Fighter volunteer Wayne Masnica on Monday, February 11 at 10 a.m. Space is limited for this free program and registration is required by Feb. 9. Visit the Adult Services Dept. to register or call
262.636.9217.

In this one-hour program, you will learn ways to protect yourself from identity theft, and how to identify and avoid financial fraud. As well as providing tips for smart investing, Masnica will touch on how identity theft occurs, how you can tell if you are a victim, and how to manage your personal information. Consumer education can lower a victim's willingness to respond to fraudulent pitches by over 50 percent. Attend this program and take a step to become one of the protected.

Wednesday, February 6: Library Hosts Racism Movie & Discussion

The community is invited to attend a free screening in the "Coming Together Racine" series of films and discussions about racism and race relations at the Racine Public Library, 75 Seventh St., on Wednesday, February 6, 2008 at 6:00 p.m.

This month's film, directed by Spike Lee in 1989, follows the events that arise during the hottest day of the year in the Bedford-Stuyvesant area of Brooklyn, a predominately African American neighborhood. Tensions grow among area residents and a local business called Sal's Pizzeria when local patrons ask Sal to include African Americans on his entirely Italian Wall of Fame. The cast includes veteran actors Danny Aiello, Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Giancarlo Esposito, Samuel L. Jackson, Martin Lawrence, Rosie Perez and John Turturro and features some of the 1980's greatest hip hop music. A member of Coming Together Racine will facilitate a discussion of the movie after the screening. Participants are encouraged to bring a brown bag supper. No registration is necessary. The series is cosponsored by Coming Together Racine and the Racine Public Library and is funded by the library's Alma Boernke Endowment Fund.

Coming Together Racine is a 501(c)3 organization developed in response to community needs identified at a Town Hall Meeting on February 25, 2005. At the event it was determined that a greater effort is needed in the Racine community to eliminate the barriers preventing equal voice and access to community resources. In response to the results from the Town Hall Meeting a community-wide committee, The Committee to Eliminate Racism, was formed. In September 2005, after assessing the Racine community's needs, the Committee to Eliminate Racism submitted an application to become an affiliate of the Coming Together Project, and in February 2006 was approved as Coming Together Racine.

Coming Together Racine will work to:

• Promote racial harmony in the community;
  
  
• Educate community members on racism and its effects on people and the community; and
  
  
• Bring people together to foster awareness and appreciation of people of all cultures.
  

To achieve these goals the Committee will provide opportunities for members of the Racine community to dialogue, explore, learn, and strategize around racism. This movie is one of a series of events designed to engage Racine in discussion.

Tuesday, February 5: "Wind Point Lighthouse" Authors Speak at the Library

Many lighthouses have called Racine home, but none is more closely linked to the nautical heritage of Racine than Wind Point. Today, after 125 years of faithful guardianship, the Wind Point Lighthouse is the most well-known symbol of Racine and is a success story among Great Lakes lights. Celebrating the distinctive stories from this nautical treasure's past, authors Barb and Ken Wardius have created their book, Images of America: Wind Point Lighthouse.

On Tuesday, Feb. 5, at 6:30 p.m. the Racine Public Library, 75 Seventh St., will host a presentation and book signing by Barb and Ken Wardius, featuring photographs and stories from their recently released book. Books will be available for purchase at the program.

Barb and Ken Wardius have traveled to, photographed and researched all of Wisconsin's existing nautical lights, becoming much sought after lighthouse speakers. They have authored two previous books: Wisconsin Lighthouses and Cana Island Lighthouse. Believing that lighthouse preservation is an important goal, the Wardiuses take pride in sharing their photography and historical studies with others.

This program is free and open to the public. For more information, contact the library at 262.636.9217 or visit the library's website at racinelibrary.info.

Tuesday, February 5: "Wind Point Lighthouse" Authors at the Library

Many lighthouses have called Racine home, but none is more closely linked to the nautical heritage of Racine than Wind Point. Today, after 125 years of faithful guardianship, the Wind Point Lighthouse is the most well-known symbol of Racine and is a success story among Great Lakes lights. Celebrating the distinctive stories from this nautical treasure's past, authors Barb and Ken Wardius have created their book, Images of America: Wind Point Lighthouse.

On Tuesday, Feb. 5, at 6:30 p.m. the Racine Public Library, 75 Seventh St., will host a presentation and book signing by Barb and Ken Wardius, featuring photographs and stories from their recently released book. Books will be available for purchase at the program.

Barb and Ken Wardius have traveled to, photographed and researched all of Wisconsin's existing nautical lights, becoming much sought after lighthouse speakers. They have authored two previous books: Wisconsin Lighthouses and Cana Island Lighthouse. Believing that lighthouse preservation is an important goal, the Wardiuses take pride in sharing their photography and historical studies with others.

This program is free and open to the public. For more information, contact the library at 262.636.9217 or visit the library's website at racinelibrary.info .

Saturday, February 2: "Poetic Justice" for Teens

The Racine Public Library, 75 Seventh St. will host another workshop in the Poetic Justice series for teens on Saturday, February 2 from 1:30-3:00 p.m.

Designed for middle and high school students (ages 13-18), Poetic Justice is a workshop in which participants will analyze social justice issues through poetry. Targeting issues like race, politics, religion and history, each gathering will focus on writing, reading, critiquing and discussing various genres of poetry.

The workshops are free and open to all interested teens. Space is limited to 10 participants; registration is required and may be made by calling the Racine Public Library at
(262) 636-9217 or by visiting the Adult Services Reference Desk. Participants are asked to bring a pen, notebook and folder.

Poetic Justice is facilitated by Nick Demske, a local poet and staff member of the Racine Public Library. In 2006, he graduated in Creative Writing from Carthage College. He is the recipient of several poetry awards including, the Carthage College Research and Creativity Award, First Prize in Centrique Magazine's Bi-annual Literary Contest and The Chapin-Tague Award for Poetry. Demske is a contributing editor for the online magazine, Expose Kenosha, and frequently reads at the weekly open mic events at 716: Fine Art Gallery, 401 Main St. in downtown Racine.

For more information, contact the library at the number listed above or visit its website at www.racinelibrary.info .

Library Offers Computer Training Classes

The Racine Public Library, 75 Seventh St., will offer free introductory classes in basic computer skills, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and the Internet from Jan.-April 2008.

Participants need only attend one session for each class since training is completed in one 2-hr. period. Classes are taught by a reference librarian from the Adult Services Department and are open to people of all ages. These hands-on workshops will use computers obtained through grants provided by the Racine Community Foundation, the Colonel L.C. Christensen Charitable and Religious Foundation, and the Friends of the Racine Public Library. Class size is limited to 7 students so registration is required. Registration may be made by contacting the library at 262-636-9217.

• Introduction to Basic Computer Skills is offered on Mondays from 9:30-11:30 a.m. on Feb. 4 & 25, Mar. 17 & 31, and Apr. 7. Classes will also be held from 2-4 p.m. on Thursdays, Feb. 14 & 21, Mar. 6 & 27, and Apr. 17 & 24. These classes are intended for people with little or no previous computer experience. Hands-on instruction introduces people to the Windows operating system and equips them with the basic skills needed to use a computer. The following topics are covered: acquiring mouse skills, care of floppy disks, understanding the desktop and taskbar, using window controls, starting and shutting down the computer, working with menus, understanding and using dialog boxes, opening and closing software applications, sorting and retrieving information and programs in files and folders.

• Introduction to Microsoft Word is offered on Mondays from 9:30-11:30 a.m. on Jan. 28, Feb. 18, Mar. 10 & 24, and Apr. 14. Classes are also available on Wednesdays from 9:30-11:30 on Feb. 6, Mar. 5 & 19, and Apr. 9. Mouse skills and a familiarity with the Windows operating system are required for this class. Topics covered include: opening files, saving and closing files, toolbars, page set-up, menus, rulers, working with text, fonts, keyboard shortcuts, cutting and pasting, spell-check, working with paragraphs, bulleting, inserting graphics and working with tables.
  

• Introduction to Excel Basics is offered Wednesdays from 9:30-11:30 a.m. on Jan. 30, Feb. 13 & 27, Mar. 12, and Apr. 2 & 23. Mouse skills and a familiarity with the Windows operating system are required for this class. This class will cover the following spreadsheet topics: navigating workbooks, entering data, copying data, editing worksheets, using formulas and functions, formatting text and numbers, and creating charts.
  

• Introductory Internet is offered Mondays from 9:30-11:30 a.m. on Feb. 11, Mar. 3 and Apr. 21. The class is also available on Tuesdays from 2-4 p.m. on Jan. 29, Feb. 5, 19 & 26, Mar. 11, 18 & 25, and Apr. 1, 8 & 15. Mouse skills and a familiarity with the Windows operating system are required for this class. In this workshop participants will learn how to use the Explorer browser, how to use search engines to find information, how to use Web-based e-mail.

Contact the library at 262-636-9217 for more information or to register for any of the introductory computer classes.