Monday, March 31: Economic Stimulus Package Information

The Racine Public Library, 75 Seventh St., will host an informational session about the Economic Stimulus Package recently approved by the federal government on Monday, March 31 at 10:30 a.m. in the Library's Atrium meeting space. A representative of H & R Block will facilitate the program presenting information about why it's important to apply, who is eligible and how to go about receiving a tax rebate.

US President George W. Bush signed a two-year, 168-billion-dollar economic stimulus package in February in an effort to boost the ailing American economy. This action cleared the way for one time tax rebate checks to be mailed to tens of millions of Americans. The IRS will begin distributing these checks to eligible citizens in May.
Registration is recommended for this free program and may be made by calling the library at 262.636.9217.

Thursday, March 10: JavaVino Hosts Racine Public Library Roundtable

The Racine Public Library, 75 Seventh St., continues its monthly Poetry Roundtable on Thursday, March 20 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.

March'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/contemporaryamericanpoetry , to access these features and to find information about each month's selected poet.

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.

Estate Planning Seminar

The Racine Public Library, 75 Seventh St., in partnership with the Racine/Kenosha Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (RKAIFA) will host a program on Estate planning as the next segment in a series of seminars designed to answer common questions about financial planning topics. The programs are held the third week of each month on Monday mornings and Tuesday evenings. The Estate Planning seminar will be held on March 18 at 10:30 and on March 19 at 7 p.m. The final segment of the series will feature "Financial Planning – The Big Picture" as its topic and will be held on April 21 at 10:30 a.m. and on April 22 at 7 p.m. Registration is required for all programs and may be done by calling the library at 262.636.9217.

All seminars, presented by representatives from RKAIFA, are designed for informational purposes only and are not used to promote product sales.

Tuesday, March 18: Adventures in Stories: Spring Celebrations Around the World

The Racine Public Library, 75 Seventh St., is once again hosting an Adventures in Stories program for kids ages 5-10 and their families on Tues., March 18 at 6:30 p.m. in the Children's Dept. Families will share great stories told by entertaining storytellers exploring the many spring celebrations held around the world. After enjoying a ½ hour of stories, families will have time to create a craft and share a snack together. The library has invited a special guest to meet with the children participating in the evening's activities. Families won't want to miss this opportunity to welcome a much anticipated season. This program is free and no registration is required.

Saturday, March 15: Job Search 101: Getting Ready for a Summer Job

On Saturday, March 15, 2008, a Job Readiness Workshop for girls ages 14 and up will be held at the Racine Public Library, 75 Seventh St, from 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm. The Girls Inc Group of YWCA of Racine will host the event in cooperation with the Racine Public Library and the Workforce Development Center/Career Discovery Center. The workshop is offered at no cost, but pre-registration on or before March 7 is required.

The workshop will present information specifically for girls who may be entering the job market for the very first time. Topics covered will include exploring job possibilities, preparing for interviews, and tips for good job skills in a new position. There will be sample applications to fill out, and mock interviews, as well as a 'fashion show' involving appropriate dress.

Girls Inc is a national research, education, and direct advocacy organization that inspires girls to be strong, smart and bold. The program is affiliated through the YWCA of Racine and currently has a number of programs running in Lighted Schoolhouse programs and at 21st Century Preparatory School.

For more information, call Karen Urben at 262-681-1280. For registration of this March 15 Job Readiness Workshop, call the YWCA at 989-9922 or the Public Library at 636-9245 no later than March 12.

Thursday, March 13: WWII Midwest POW Traveling Exhibit @ the Library

It's not widely known that the first U.S. troops sent to fight in WWII came from the Upper Midwest, or that the region's 34th "Red Bull" Division served the longest uninterrupted duty in U.S. military history. Even fewer know that most U.S. prisoners of war (POW's) in Nazi-German camps came, per capita, from the same region.

On Thursday, March 13 from 12:30-4:30 p.m. the Racine Public Library, 75 Seventh St., will host the BUS-eum traveling WWII exhibit, "Behind Barbed Wire." This exhibit explores the experiences of Midwest POW's imprisoned in Hitler's Third Reich, and the human context in which their experiences took place. The St. Paul-based, non-profit educational organization TRACES created this exhibit. The exhibit, housed in a converted school bus, will reach nearly 120 schools, libraries, and historical societies during its spring tour throughout the Midwest.
"Behind Barbed Wire" poses five primary questions:

• Why did some Midwest POWs survive certain conditions or experiences, while others did not?
• What roles did art, free time and religion play in helping those who did survive?
• Why did some Germans or Austrians assist Midwest POWs, while others did not?
• How did the liberated POWs later come to terms with their own experiences?
• How do countries once in armed conflict reconcile with each other?
  

As the exhibit explains, "There were three main waves of Midwest POWs: those captured in North Africa in 1943, those pilots shot out of the sky during the air war over Europe, and those soldiers captured at the Battle of the Bulge, near the war's end. Each wave of Midwest POWs in Nazi Germany had its own experiences. All of the men who survived them, however, left a provocative legacy for those alive today…"

More information about the exhibit may be obtained from the TRACES website at traces.org. Questions about the exhibit's visit to Racine may be directed to Becky Spika at 262.619.2571 or becky.spika@racinelibrary.info.

Wednesday, March 5: Library Hosts Racism Movie & Discussion

The community is invited to attend another program in the "Coming Together Racine" series of movie screenings and discussions about racism and race relations at the Racine Public Library, 75 Seventh St., on Wednesday, March 5, 2008 at 6:00 p.m.

In the aftermath of a tragic student shooting in Colorado, activist filmmaker Michael Moore investigates America's culture of fear, bigotry and violence in a nation with widespread gun ownership. Furthermore, he confronts the powerful elite political and corporate interests fanning this culture for their own unscrupulous gain. In exploring the roots of this bloodshed, we learn that the conventional answers of poverty, easy availability of guns, violent national history and violent entertainment in America are inadequate, when other cultures share those same factors without the same results in carnage.

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. 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.

Sunday, March 2: Community Journalism: Share Your Stories

We all have a story to share. It could be about a personal experience, a problem in your neighborhood or an issue that's important to your community. In today's media world, you can help people by writing and publishing these stories.

On Sunday, March 2 at 2:30 p.m., local journalist Dustin Block will teach a free class on community journalism at the Racine Public Library, 75 Seventh St. The two-hour class will teach participants the basics of news reporting, how to get their stories in the local media, and how to start a community blog. The goal of the class is to empower community members to use local media and to spread important stories to the public. Registration is recommended for this free program and may made by calling the Racine Public Library at 262.636.9217.

The class is a great opportunity for non-profit organizations, local businesses, writers, community activists and anyone interested in the media to learn how they can offer and create alternatives to mainstream media sources. It's easier than you think! No experience is required. All you need to bring is an interest in your surroundings and a willingness to tell others what you see.

Block, former city editor of The Journal Times, is a veteran local journalist with 13 years of experience writing and editing news stories for various publications. He is now editor of the Insider News, founder of RacinePost.com and a freelance writer for publications including Milwaukee Magazine, Wisconsin Builder Magazine and ConsumerSearch.com.

For questions about the class, contact Dustin at: dustin.block@gmail.com or (262) 488-3419.

Saturday, March 1: "Poetic Justice" for Teens

Teens looking for a creative voice in social justice issues are invited to the Racine Public Library's Poetic Justice program on Saturday, March 1 from 1:30-3:00 p.m. in the library's meeting room at 75 Seventh St.

Designed for middle and high school students (ages 13-18), Poetic Justice is a monthly group that examines social justice issues through poetry. At each gathering, the group focuses on writing, reading, critiquing and discussing various genres of poetry, targeting issues like race, politics, religion and history.

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.racinelib.lib.wi.us.