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

Corporate Knowledge Bowl September 13 - 17

johnsonl — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 14:50:27 -0500

Which Memphis business has the “brainiest” bunch of workers?

The distinguished title of “Smartest Company in Memphis” will go to the winner of the 13th Annual Corporate Knowledge Bowl. It will be held over the lunch hour from September 13 – 17, 2010 at the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library, located at 3030 Poplar Ave. The theme of this year’s competition is the “Brainy Bunch.” The public is invited to attend and cheer for their favorite team.

Local businesses participating in the bracket-style brain war will answer a list of questions on topics ranging from Current Events to Mythology, Politics to World Geography, and Sports to the Arts.

Commercial Appeal Reporter and Knowledge Bowl veteran John Beifuss said he has been participating in the event since it began. “We look forward to it,” Beifuss said. “It’s always fun.”

Among other previous winners like International Paper and Accredo Health Group, the newspaper has won the competition several times. Beifuss said he can answer why: “I guess, in theory, [the Commercial Appeal] should have an advantage because we’re dealing with facts all the time and trying to make sure they’re correct.”

Competition questions are researched and written by librarians from several branches throughout the city. East Shelby Branch librarian and researcher Jeanie Condo has been writing questions for the competition since it began. “I never know which subject I’m going to look up,” Condo said. “This year I tried to do more current events too so that everybody should be able to get something. We try to get a lot of different fields.”

Speaking for his company’s team, Beifuss said, “We always hope they’re not too many Civil War questions. We do better with Harry Potter than Civil War.”

The “brainiest” team of the bunch will receive a trophy and a year’s worth of bragging rights, but event organizer Kimberly McAmis said the best prize is intangible. “[The Knowledge Bowl] cultivates relationships with Memphis area businesses,” she said. “This competition brings a variety of companies in, forming networks and potential for future partnerships.”

With teams paying a fee to compete, the event is also a fundraiser. “It’s a win-win all around,” McAmis said.

For more information, contact Kimberly McAmis at (901) 415-2834 or mcamisk@memphislibrary.org.

October Friends of the Library Book Sale

johnsonl — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 11:11:55 -0500

Start your Christmas shopping early and save. Come to the Friends of the Library October book sale Friday, October 1 and Saturday, October 2. The sale will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.

There will be great deals on books, DVDs, CDs and more. Prices start at just a quarter.

For more information, call 415-2840.

I Love My Library Card Contest

johnsonl — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 10:06:18 -0500

September is National Library Card Sign-up Month. To celebrate, the Foundation for the Library will sponsor the I Love My Library Card Contest for third graders.

Students write a simple sentence telling why they love their library card and complete two activities (getting a library card counts as one of the qualifying activites). Winners will receive a free prize book for their school and a book of their very own.

For more information, call 415-2846.

Library Closed for Labor Day

johnsonl — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:17:44 -0500

All locations of the Memphis Public Library & Information Center will be closed Monday, September 6 for Labor Day.

Customers have the option of reserving and renewing books online or calling 452-2047. In addition, from our website customers can check-out downloadable audio books for free; use online databases to locate newspaper and magazine articles, reference books and more; and read blogs and newsletters on everything from fiction bestsellers to travel information.

Speed Networking at Cordova

johnsonl — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 15:30:10 -0500

Professionals of all ages will have an opportunity to meet and market their products and services during a free Speed Networking event. It will be held from 1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 4, at the Cordova Branch (8457 Trinity Road).

A spin off of speed dating, the event offers attendants an opportunity to build professional relationships and promote business ventures in a brief amount of time.

“We’re trying to connect people on a professional level,” says event coordinator and professional development author Candace Spicer. “It means something to be able to look at someone in the eyes, instead of [virtually] across the world on a computer. There is value in all networking, but we don’t want to lose that good, old-fashioned, face-to-face contact.”

Co-event coordinator and contemporary fiction author Rosiland Cole-Crossland said she agrees. “There is nothing like sitting down talking to someone face to face. It is more personal.” Cole-Crossland also says that speed networking offers professionals “major avenues in getting recognized.”

Attendants are asked to bring business cards and to arrive on time, due to limited seating. While individuals cannot sell their products on-site, they are encouraged to bring information on how their products may be purchased. People from all professions are invited to attend.

For more information, call 754-8443.

Small Business Workshop - Use ReferenceUSA to find prospects

johnsonl — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 11:33:13 -0500

ReferenceUSA –Your Small Business Development Tool
Give your business a boost with ReferenceUSA!
In the session you will learn:

• To access ReferenceUSA from home or office through
the Memphis Public Library & Information Center
• How to identify new sales prospects
• Create customized business & consumer marketing lists
• Identify key business contacts
• Locate Home Based businesses
• Find businesses with web addresses
• Define delivery routes
• Gather competitive business intelligence
• Identify major industry groups
• And much, much more with ReferenceUSA

When: Monday, August 16, Noon - 1:30 p.m. & 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
Where: Benjamin L. Hook Central Library, 3030 Poplar Avenue in Training Room L-56.
Reservations required;seating is limited. Call 415-2722.
For more info goto: www.referencerocks.com

Dr. Kenneth Whalum, Jr. Discusses His Latest Book: Hip-Hop is Not Our Enemy!

johnsonl — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 17:03:00 -0500

Memphis School Board member, pastor, and author Dr. Kenneth Whalum discusses and signs his latest book: Hip-Hop Is Not Our Enemy! on Tuesday, August 10, 7 p.m. at the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library, 3030 Poplar.

While many have been quick to criticize Hip-Hop music for violent and misogynistic lyrics, his book defends the genre as an expression of African American youth and challenges finger-pointers to provide more positive alternatives.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information about the book go to hiphopisnotourenemy.com. For more information about the event, call 415-2700.

About the Author
Dr. Kenneth T. Whalum, Jr. is a Memphis native and the pastor of the New Olivet Baptist Church since 1999. He was elected to the Memphis City Schools Board of Commissioners in 2006. Whalum has authored two books: Fasting: It’s Not For Everybody, But It Might Be For You! and Hip-Hop Is Not Our Enemy!

College Fair Invites Working Adults Back to the Classroom

johnsonl — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 11:38:34 -0500

An estimated 132,000 Memphians have started college but have never finished according to data from CEOs for Cities, a national organization seeking to rebuild U.S. cities through education and professional opportunities.

The Memphis Public Library & Information Center is dedicated to decreasing this number by calling non-traditional students back to classrooms with a unique College and Information Fair designed especially for them. The event is called College Collage. It will be held at the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library (3030 Poplar Avenue) from noon to 5 p.m. on Friday, August 13, 2010.

“There is nothing to be ashamed of,” said Stephanie Jones, Assistant Director of Communicationsand event coordinator. “Life deals us certain circumstances that we have to deal with. [The Library] has to make sure that we’re providing a venue for not only school-aged children but for adults as well to further their education,” Jones added.

Adults who attend College Collage can further their education by choosing between several local colleges and universities represented at the Fair. Among them will be Bethel University, Southwest Community College, Concorde, Victory University (formerly Crichton College), Vatterot College, Empire Beauty School, Anthem Career College (formerly High Tech Institute), and Freed-Hardeman University, along with several others.

Southwest Community College representative Sherman Greer says there are several reasons why adult students do not return to school. “They get caught into the daily grind and push themselves to the side,” he stated. To these students, Greer says, “You just need that final push, someone to push you back into it.”

College Collage will provide non-traditional learners with the information and confidence needed to push them back into the classroom and eventually toward graduation.

For more information on College Collage, call (901) 415-2700.

Jam Session: America's Jazz Ambassadors Embrace the World

johnsonl — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 16:51:49 -0500

JAM SESSION: "America's Jazz Ambassadors Embrace The World"

Memphis & Shelby County Music Commission Worldwide Jazz Exhibit in Memphis

Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library, 3030 Poplar Avenue
July 26, 2010 - September 14, 2010

A Jazz exhibit that has traveled the globe is making a special stop in Memphis this summer. The Memphis and Shelby County Music Commission, Congressman Steve Cohen and the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library in association with Meridian International Center in Washington, DC are bringing JAM SESSION: "America’s Jazz Ambassadors Embrace the World” to the Central Library located at 3030 Poplar Avenue Monday, July 26th through Tuesday, September 14th.

JAM SESSION is a 100 piece photographical exhibit, which chronicles the international tours of legendary Jazz musicians selected by the U.S. State Department to serve as roving cultural ambassadors. Jam Session portrays the journeys of musical greats such as Dizzy Gillespie, Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman, Dave Brubeck, Duke Ellington, Benny Carter and Sarah Vaughan. These incredible musicians used the arts to further cultural understanding between the 50s, 60s, 70s and during the Cold War.

The Memphis and Shelby County Music Commission will use JAM SESSION to educate and inform Memphis youth as well as adults about the importance of the Jazz culture in today’s music marketplace.

The Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library will join the ranks of prestigious organizations in presenting JAM SESSION to Jazz lovers and novices alike. It represents Jazz programs reaching 35 countries across four continents. It has been shown at the Lincoln Center in New York, the Russell Senate Office Building Rotunda in Washington, DC, the American Jazz Museum in Kansas City, the Louisiana State Museum in New Orleans along with international stops in France, Israel, Taiwan, Poland, Hungary and Namibia. After Memphis, the next stop will be Africa.

For more information visit memphismusic.org and to schedule an exhibit tour, please contact Pamela Kelly at (901) 576-6857 or Email: Pamela.Kelly@memphistn.gov.

Memphis Companies Square Off for 2010 Annual Corporate Knowledge Bowl

johnsonl — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 14:32:39 -0500

Which Memphis business has the “brainiest” bunch of workers?

The distinguished title of “Smartest Company in Memphis” will go to the winner of the 13th Annual Corporate Knowledge Bowl. It will be held from September 13 – 17, 2010 at the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library, located at 3030 Poplar Ave. The theme of this year’s competition is the “Brainy Bunch.”

Local businesses participating in the bracket-style brain war will answer a list of questions on topics ranging from Current Events to Mythology, Politics to World Geography, and Sports to the Arts.

Commercial Appeal Reporter and Knowledge Bowl veteran John Beifuss said he has been participating in the event since it began. “We look forward to it,” Beifuss said. “It’s always fun.”

Among other previous winners like International Paper and Accredo Health Group, the newspaper has won the competition several times. Beifuss said he can answer why: “I guess, in theory, [the Commercial Appeal] should have an advantage because we’re dealing with facts all the time and trying to make sure they’re correct.”

Speaking for his company’s team, Beifuss said, “We always hope they’re not too many Civil War questions. We do better with Harry Potter than Civil War.”

With teams paying a fee to compete, the event is a fundraiser for the Foundation for the Library. “It’s a win-win all around,” McAmis said.

For more information or to register your team to compete, contact Kimberly McAmis at (901) 415-2834 or mcamisk@memphislibrary.org. The deadline for entry is August 27, 2010.