What's New @ Your Memphis Public Library & Information Center

Citizens of Memphis can get back into the game of education on Friday, April 12, 2013, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library (3030 Poplar Avenue).

Annual college fair, College Collage, will offer non-traditional students a chance to get information on returning to school and completing their degrees, despite how long they’ve been out of the classroom.

Offering something for everyone, representatives from several colleges, universities, and other agencies will be on-hand to answer questions, provide admissions information, and discuss financial aid. Recent high school graduates will benefit from attending College Collage also.

The following colleges, universities, or organizations are slated to attend:

1. College Resource Center
2. Cambridge College
3. Webster University
4. Southwest Tennessee Community College
5. Remington College
6. Bethel University (Masters)
7. University of Arkansas (serving the Greater Memphis area)
8. Park University
9. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
10. Mid-South Christian College
11. University of Memphis
12. Union University
13. Math Made Simple
14. Baptist College of Health Sciences
15. Special Little Hearts Childcare
16. Christian Brothers University
17. Memphis Public Library and Information Center
18. JobLINC
19. Memphis Center for Urban Theological Studies
20. Strayer University
21. LeMoyne-Owen College
22. Bethel University (Undergraduate)
23. Memphis Police Department
24. Shelby County Sheriff’s Office
25. Phoenix University
26. Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation
27. Victory University

This event is presented by The Memphis Public Library and Information Center and Leadership Memphis. It is free and open to the public. No registration is required.

Teens Gather at Whitehaven Library to Learn 'How to Find a Job'

By: Marcey Evans

Landing a job just got easier for teens at the Whitehaven Branch Library on March 12, 2013. The crowd of young adults gathered for the audience-specific seminar on “How to Find a Job,” led by librarian Jason Sharp.

Sharp offered teens a word of advice on the importance of proper presentation, resume writing and interview tips, along with a list of which companies hire teens.

“Have a good resume ready,” Sharp advised. “Present yourself well and dress appropriately.” He also reminded teens that presentation doesn’t just refer to one’s appearance but to dialect as well. “Remember you are talking to an esteemed adult,” he advised. “Think of speaking to your principal.”

Teenager Angel Walker said she plans to use these pointers in her upcoming interview. “I’m a little nervous,” she admitted, “but this [seminar] is something that will help me in the future, since I recently applied for a job.”

To find a paid position, Sharp suggested volunteering to show initiative and interest. “Call [companies that are hiring], but also visit them,” he added. “This is important because it’s how employers judge you. People want to work with nice people,” he said.

For more information on finding a job for teens, attend Teen Employment Week held at the Whitehaven Branch Library on Tuesday, April 9 – 11, 2013. Call (901) 415-2781 or visit www.memphislibrary.org for details.

Memphis Theatre ShoWagon Travels to Libraries with Educational Fun

By: Marcey Evans

Television is more entertaining when it comes to life. It captivates the youngest of audiences. Theatre Memphis ShoWagon brought the Cinderella story to life for an enamored group of children on Monday, March 11, 2013 at the Cornelia Crenshaw Branch Library.

A modernized version of the classic tale, the show was entitled Dandelion Wishes: A Cinderella Story. Despite variations from the original plot, the story’s effect was the same. “The kids clap. They smile. They’re into the storyline, and they are animated along with the cast,” said Keva Pounder, Youth Librarian at the Crenshaw branch. “ShoWagon always does a great job. They capture kids’ attention with up-to-date music and by localizing the story.”

Traveling from branch to branch over kids’ spring break, Theatre Memphis ShoWagon incorporates an educational component into entertainment. “They (cast) ask questions about the plot and setting at the end of the play. The kids are paying attention. The children just think they’re watching a cool story over spring break, but they’re really learning,” Pounder said.

The learning will continue at several libraries throughout Memphis. Other branches hosting ShoWagon this week are the East Shelby Library (7200 E. Shelby Drive), Randolph Library (3752 Given Avenue), and Gaston Park Library (1040 S. Third Street). For specific show dates and times, call each branch.

By: Marcey Evans

When the wheels on this bus go 'round, the citizens of Memphis go places. That's because the Memphis Public Library and Information Center's JobLINC bus offers numerous career services, including job readiness skills to anyone who comes aboard.

Funded by The Plough Foundation, the eco-friendly ride is equipped with several Internet-ready laptop stations, printers, job resource material, and an interview area. Also, jobseekers can take advantage of training workshops to prepare for the workplace.

"Companies want workers who are job ready," said JobLINC Services Manager Robyn Stone. Whether a recent college graduate or a worker laid off after years on a job, Stone said all types of workers can benefit from the JobLINC bus. "We sit with you one on one and will refer you to other agencies, which offer additional assistance," she said.

Library Offers Guests to Southern Women's Show Headlining Authors, Cooking Presentations at a Discount

Agricenter International will be a southern woman's paradise on Friday, March 8 through Sunday, March 10. The Memphis Public Library and Information Center will be among the vendors on hand during the Southern Women's Show, which will feature special guests, cooking presentations, shopping, health and beauty tips, fashion, and much more.

"The Southern Women's Show is a fun consumer event," said Wang-Ying Glasgow, Library Adult Services Coordinator, who headed the Library's participation in the event. "Guests will be entertained and informed by exhibits, workshops, and the latest products and trends to improve their daily lives."

The Library will be located in the West Pavilion, booth WP157, and will highlight three authors at The Balancing Act Stage and four cookbook authors, who will do special cooking presentations at The Celebrity Cooking Stage.

Guests to the show who are Library card users can enjoy the show at a discount. Instead of the $10 entry fee, Library card holders are encouraged to visit www.SouthernWomensShow.com and enter the code "MPLWM13" for $2 off the regular ticket price.

Once inside, guests are encouraged to visit the following Library presentations:

Read Across America at MPLIC Draws a Colorful Cast of Characters
By: Marcey Evans

Children across America were reading and portraying their favorite characters on Friday, March 1, 2013. Their author of choice was Dr. Seuss, and the celebration - Read Across America - was a national observation of the renowned author's birthday.

The Memphis Education Association, with support from the Memphis Public Library and Information Center and several other organizations, held a Reading Rally at the Central Library to promote literacy, to foster children's love for reading, and to encourage heightened participation among parents.

Angela Robledo, mother of a third grader at Shelby Oaks Elementary, attended the event, which included several student performances. "Reading is knowledge," she said, while watching the Shelby Oaks Cheerleaders and Dancers, The South Park Dreamers, and the Dr. Brewster Drama Club. "Days like today encourage my daughter to read." Robledo said any program that reinforces the value of reading is a plus.

"Today enriches everyone's life," agreed Mary Seratt, coordinator of Library Youth Services at The Memphis Public Library and Information Center. "Reading helps to open children's hearts and minds."

By: Marcey Evans

Teens attending the Playwriting Palooza, a five-week series of workshops on playwriting, were able to exercise their imaginations, while creating characters and building storylines.

Each Wednesday during the month of February, a lively group gathered at the Memphis Public Library and Information Center in room L-56 to learn the craft of storytelling. Volunteer facilitators Christopher Tracy and Nathan Bishop, both of Write Memphis, taught the teens how to organize their writing and how to introduce a problem, conflict, and resolution.

"Characters need personality and life," Christopher told teen listeners. "Give actors something to grasp on to and become. Build relationships with characters and establish grounds for conflict," he further advised.

The fourth workshop of the series was held on February 27, 2013, also at the Central Library. Thirteen-year-old Ariyan Johnson has attended all sessions so far and said they have exceeded her expectations. "I thought it would be a little boring," she admitted. "But it was nothing like that. In the workshops, we're free to express ourselves. The classes have helped me to understand how to write and how to organize my writing. It has made me feel very good about myself and very confident," she added.