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Reaching For Aether: Literacy Through Steampunk

Join the Clockwork Mechanalists for a program that teaches library and information literacy while promoting the "aesthetic" of steampunk. There will be an information scavenger hunt, steampunk craft program, book talk on steampunk books, discussion on the history of steampunk, slideshow, and live reading/performance from The Time Machine.

Saturday, February 23, 2013 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library, Meeting Room C

3030 Poplar Avenue, Memphis TN 38111

Download the program Poster in Adobe PDF format.

Call Branch Libraries to Reserve a Space

Spring 2013 get Energysmart workshop locations and times:

January

Tuesday, January 15, 10:30 a.m.

Levi Branch

3676 S. Highway 61, 38109

415-2773

Tuesday, January 22, 10:30 a.m.

Whitehaven Branch

4120 Millbranch Rd., 38116

415-2781

Saturday, January 26, 10:30 a.m.

Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library

3030 Poplar Avenue, 38111

1st Floor, L-56

415-2734

February

Tuesday, February 12, 10:30 a.m.

Cordova Branch

8457 Trinity Road, 38018

415-2764

Saturday, February 16, 10:30 a.m.

Frayser Branch

3712 Argonne, 38127

415-2768

Tuesday, February 19, 10:30 a.m.

Randolph Branch

3752 Given, 38122

415-2779

March

Tuesday, March 12, 10:30 a.m.

Gaston Park Branch

1040 S. Third, 38106

415-2769

Saturday, March 16, 10:30 a.m.

Crenshaw Branch

531 Vance, 38126

415-2765

Tuesday, March 19, 10:30 a.m.

Hollywood Branch

1530 N. Hollywood., 38108

415-2772

April

Tuesday, April 9, 10:30 a.m.

North Branch

1192 Vollintine, 38107

415-2775

Tuesday, April 16, 10:30 a.m.

Raleigh Branch

3157 Powers, 38128

415-2778

Saturday, April 20, 10:30 a.m.

East Shelby Branch

7200 E. Shelby Drive, 38125

415-2767

Self Servivce Driver's License Renewal Kiosk Installed at the Central Library.

The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security has added another option for citizens seeking to renew or replace their driver licenses. The Driver Services Division has installed 30 self-service driver license kiosks at various locations across Tennessee. One of these kiosks was unveiled today in the lobby of the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library.

The Memphis Library Foundation has been named this quarter's "Donate Your Dimes" recipient for the Whole Foods community program!

Beginning January 21 through April 14, 2012, each time a customer brings in a reusable bag, Whole Foods will donate 10 cents to the Library Foundation. All funds raised through the “Donate Your Dimes” promotion will go directly to benefit the Memphis Public Library & Information Center.

Please remember the Library when shopping at Whole Foods. Bring your own bags so that the Library can benefit. If you forget to bring your bags, you still have the opportunity to lend your support by making a donation in one of the jars located at each register.

Morning Ceremony

Afternoon Ceremony

There's No Place Like Home

The Memphis Public Library & Information Center served as the venue for two naturalization ceremonies hosted by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services on Tuesday, January 22, 2013.

Last year was the first year that the Library had two ceremonies in one day, and this year was no different. The two ceremonies, one at 11 am and the second one at 1 pm, were held in the meetings rooms of the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library.

The Library's first opportunity to collaborate with the naturalization ceremonies was in September 2011. Like that of a graduation, the immigrants who came to the United States to seek a Green Card in hopes of receiving permanent residency came from varying places to receive a certification of which they are proud. This significant day meant that they are now part of the United States, the "melting pot".

The process to become a US citizen is not a simple one. Depending on the country, a visa must be secured to enter the states, and there are varying visas including but not limited to work visas, student visa, and more. This visa grants a temporary permission of sorts to remain in the states and does have an expiry. One who wishes to remain must apply for citizenship for which there is often a waiting list. Immigrants hold fast their pursuit of citizenship because for so many it is the pursuit of a better life. Michael Jackson's We Are the World lyrics are a good illustration of the naturalization ceremony showing how ". . . the world . . . comes together as one."

In support of the US Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Memphis Public Library & Information Center offers citizenship workshops at various branches to assist customers. Visit the website at memphislibrary.org for specific branches.

Due to inclement weather, the library system will close all locations today (January 15, 2013) at 5pm.

The Bartlett Library, will close at 3:30pm today.

Lets Talk About It: Making Sense of the American Civil War

Scholar led reading and discussion program for public audiences with Timothy S. Huebner, Professor and Chair of the Department of History and the L. Palmer Brown Professor of Interdisciplinary Humanities at Rhodes College.

• Part I: Imagining the War - Thursday, January 10, 2013
  
• Part II: Choosing Sides - Thursday, January 31, 2013
  
• Part III: Making Sense of Shiloh - Thursday, February 21, 2013
• Part IV: The Shape of War - Thursday, March 14, 2013
• Part V: War and Freedom - Thursday, March 28, 2013

Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library
Memphis Room, 4th floor
3030 Poplar Avenue
Memphis, TN 38111
Thursday Evenings 6:00pm - 7:30pm

Film showing reception Thursday, April 18th, 2013 at 6:00pm - 7:30pm. The film selected will be Shiloh: A Fiery Trail. Wear your period costume!

Presented by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the American Library Association.

This event may be recorded or photographed for use by the Memphis Public Library for media, social media, broadcast, and/or print purposes.

The Cordova Branch Library opened in 2004 and the neighborhood boasted (and still does) such a diversity, that Youth Services Librarian Sharon Evrard wanted to celebrate the various cultures. From this desire was birthed International Storytimes.

Schedule, The Following Saturdays in 2013 at 11:00 am

• January 12, 2013 - Syria
• March 9, 2013 - The Philippines
• May 18, 2013 - Georgia
• July 13, 2013 - Nicaragua
• September 14, 2013 - Uzbekistan
• November 10, 2013 - Canada

As soon as that following year, International Storytimes have been held monthly with a few special storytimes thrown in. During that first year, children and their parents were able to experience China, Mexico, and India and with the growth of the program from that day to this one, 34 countries have been "visited".

A typical program consists of presenters reading at least 1 book - be it folk or fairy tale - from their country. The stories may be read in English or the native language associated with the country. One fond memory Evrard recalls is during the Russian storytime: "During the . . . storytime, the presenter read the story of Little Red Riding Hood in Russian. While she read, her daughter . . . dressed up in red was chased around the room by her father, dressed up as a wolf."

There are so many great memories customers have had. Evrard recalls, "Programs celebrating China and Korea have included folk dance performances. The German program presenter taught us a folk dance, and we made gnome hats. For Holland we played with marzipan (think playdoh you can eat) and . . . for Japan we made lots of origami. At this (past) summer's Nigerian storytime, the presenters created a marketplace in the storytime room. Kids and their families could stop at a table with clothing and shoes, another that displayed musical instruments, or at a table with really, really strong coffee." More recently, she details, "At our India program . . . , we shared a folktale from India, Seven Blind Mice by Ed Young. We took turns trying on saris, learned to write our name in Hindi and made paper flowers."

The unique idea that started and was nurtured with Youth Services Librarian Sharon Evrard has grown tremendously as a fun-filled, learning experience that captivates and expands not just young minds, but the more mature ones of the parents as well.

So if you didn't know

• In Russia, Winnie the Pooh is a black bear.
• Korean is noted as one of the world's 5 perfect languages - the emperor who created the language did it so that all his people could communicate. Since the language is in pictograms, there is no illiteracy in that country.
• The national food of Haiti is Squash. The three countries that ruled there (England, Spain and Holland) considered squash too good for the original inhabitants. So every year on Independence Day, people eat squash all day long.
• Sequoyah actually created the Cherokee alphabet 3 times. The first two works were destroyed by his wife.
• People in Japan actually speak 3 languages.
• There are over 18,000 islands in Indonesia.
• In Israel, Sesame Street does not have Big Bird. Instead there is a giant Hedgehog.
• The Russian word for Grandfather is almost the same as the Greek word for Grandfather.

. . . you have been missing some wonderfully easy lessons and information that are easy to pick up in a great, stress free learning environment.

Since we know you are interested in this wonderful cultural experience, call the Cordova Branch at 415-8443 to get information or visit the Cordova Branch on Saturdays in 2013 at 11:00 am. They will be looking for you!

The Cordova Branch is located at 8457 Trinity Road.

All locations of the Memphis Public Library & Information Center will be closed Thursday, November 22, 2012 and Friday, November 23, 2012 in observance of Thanksgiving.

Customers have the option of reserving or renewing books by going to www.memphislibrary.org or calling 452-2047. The Library’s website also offers several resources customers can use anytime—24 hours a day—seven days a week. E-books and downloadable audio books can be checked-out for free; online databases contain searchable newspaper and magazine articles, reference books and more; and blogs and newsletters on everything from fiction bestsellers to travel can be read on the web.

For more holiday closings visit the Holiday Closings page.

Wednesday October 31, 2012
COP Satellite Office (2466 Peres)
4:30-7:30 P.M.
901-323-8199

The COP Unit is proud to announce the first Annual COP "Healthy Halloween" celebration at the COP Satellite Office (Corner of Hollywood and Peres). The program is being sponsored by the COP Team, Rhodes College, Building Futures, Palazola Produce, Hollywood Branch Library and Douglas K-8 Optional School. Mrs. Dorothy Cox (Rhodes College) will sponsor the Halloween Decorations.

The Hollywood Library Staff and Douglas K-8 Optional School will read books to the children as well as help the COP Team with numerous other assignments. Building Futures will provide a light dinner and snacks for the children's Halloween Bag. The COP Unit will teach safety classes, show movies, dress as monsters inside the "Haunted House" and work hard to make this Halloween a special one for children throughout the North Memphis Area. Palazola Produce has agreed to provide a variety of fruits to place in the childrens Halloween Bag at the end of this event.