MPL Highlights
Read about the latest happenings in the Memphis Public Library!
Thank you to all those that came to the grand re-opening of Dos Hermanos! Join us throughout the week for fine cuisine with a good book to match!
Posted by Memphis Public Libraries – Cossitt Branch on Tuesday, August 15, 2023
Fun Ways To Cook With Herbs at East Shelby
We had an Great Time at East Shelby with Teens and Tweens. Fun Ways To Cook With Herbs was successful!! We want to thank everyone for coming. Our menu: Herbalicious Salad with Lemon, Basil Vinaigrette Mediterranean Herb Hummus with Garlic & Herb Pita Chips, Lemongrass Chicken Thighs Lavender & Lemon Balm Lemonade Rose Petal Cookies!
ABC24 Reading Wizards at North Branch Library
ABC24 Morning anchor Yvonne Cooper helped guide K-3 students through an interactive reading experience. Participating students took part in a mock newscast based on a book read to them. They reported, filmed, delivered and watched” the newscast centered around the book.
Volunteer Leadership Conference 2023
The Start Here Volunteer Leadership Conference is designed to engage and educate nonprofit professionals and civic leaders on ways to develop their organization’s volunteer program. We at the library want to thank all the speakers and presenters that gave their nuggets of wisdom!
Comic Con 2023
Check out one of the biggest events so far at that the library! We want to thank everyone who helped make this event as great as it was! We can’t wait for next year!
Bookstock 2023 Was a Blast!
Bookstock 2023 was a blast! Many thanks to the Friends of the Library and Memphis Library Foundation’s sponsorship and support. Big shoutout to all of the Bookstock committee members and library staff for the amazing work you all put into planning for this annual event. It was a big undertaking, it took a village to carry out, but your dedication, professionalism, and teamwork made it all possible.
Teen Painting Jam at East Shelby!
The inner artist was brought out at East Shelby Library! Our Patron Picassos of all ages showed off there skills in painting designer shoes in a contest to see who had the best eye. Our teen librarian gathered these artists together got fun and refreshments and the turn out was excellent.
Parkway Village Teen Innovation Center-Grand Opening!
Congratulations to the Parkway Village team on the grand opening of their Teen Innovation Center! Parkway Village Team leads Kyanna Johnson and now Hollywood Manager, Donna Moore worked with youth in their neighborhood to set up a pretty neat space. If you have time, go check it out! Pictures attached. BIG Thanks to our funders, and systemwide supporters as we continue efforts to engage youth in vibrant spaces!
Tennessee Native Trees at Gaston Park!
These are the pictures of the program held at Gaston Park Library Friday, 3/24/2023. New Glory Academy came to the library for story time and a craft about Tennessee Native Trees. The children were very attentive and engaged with the speaker as she talked about the different trees they were giving away. They also had the opportunity to see and feel the texture of the tree and the roots before they are planted. The children had a great time and asked questions about the trees.
Read Across America with Bartlett Library!
On March 2nd, The Bartlett Library Team visited several schools for Read Across America. Bartlett Elementary, Rivercrest Elementary, Ellendale Elementary and Oak Elementary all got a special visit from a member of Bartlett Library. It was so much fun!!! Our new children’s librarian, loved the time we spent with the 1st grade students at Oak Elementary. We read I Don’t Like Koala by Sean Ferrell and Big, Red Lollipop by Rukshana Kahn. The students enjoyed the experience as much as we did. If you haven’t participated with Read Across America, we strongly urge you to do so next year. It provided an opportunity to connect with students and faculty, build excitement for reading and promote literacy. Priceless! Happy Reading!
Men’s Health & Wellness Day at Whitehaven!
We were super excited about our Men’s Health & Wellness Symposium Kick-Off on Saturday, March 25, 2023, from 11am until 1pm. WOW…What a great turn-out! Many participants welcomed the series with open dialogue and walked away with smiles, information and better self-awareness about their health. The Day kicked off with health book giveaways; men’s heart- 2- heart session; cardio exercise class; biometric screening from our very own Dr. Yinka (Oral Surgeon); as well as table talk with community partners. (Hope House and AFIRM) Also, after reading over survey questionnaires, that were turned in by participants, we are ready for Part II in mid-April 2023. Special Thanks: To the Foundation for grant funding for the H & M wellness series, The Whitehaven Staff, FOL for donating books for the giveaway, Dr. Yinka & his team, Memphis Health department for brochures, Memphis Catholic Charities for men’s hygiene kits, Hope House, AFRIM Community Engage and DJ Wardlow (Shelby County Schools)
Wellness Wednesday at Bartlett Library
We are 60 days into our Wellness Wednesday series at the Bartlett Library. This series opened with Starting a Fitness Routine, presented by our very own certified fitness instructor, Margaret Schauwecker. Next, we eased into Yoga Nation with Wendy Nations of WREG Channel 3. Finally, we ended this segment of Wellness Wednesday with Plant Based Cooking and Natural Remedies in the Kitchen with Chef Cheryl Hines. We have had an awesome time learning practical steps to adopting a healthier lifestyle. We are looking forward to the next installment of Wellness Wednesday, which will include Walk Fit/Talk Lit, Guided Meditation with Wendy Nations, Master the Marathon with David Mitchell, Boot Camp, and of course, more Plant Based Cooking with Chef Hines.
HBCU College Fair!
The Raleigh Library team had a successful HBCU College Fair event. Students from Raleigh-Egypt High School, and Memphis Business Academy had the opportunity to connect with representatives from Rust College, Tougaloo College, Jackson State University, Tennessee State University, and more! Community organizations such as Literacy Mid-South, and their partnered community organization For the Kingdom, joined and offered great options for youth present. Great job to all involved in this awesome event!
New Glory Black History Program at Gaston Park Library!
Our young scholars had a great time learning about Garrett Morgan, inventor of the Three-Position Traffic Signal (traffic light). They watched educational videos, listened to interactive story-time, and made their own traffic lights!
Crenshaw Library Customer Appreciation Day!
(February 21, 2023) We had 20 customers to participate in the drawing for our Customer Appreciation Day gift bags. The first winner name is Charlotte Levy. The second winner name is April Lewis. The customers had to check out books in order to put their name in the drawing. This increased our circulation of books. We had new customers to check out books.
Galentine’s Day 2023 at East Shelby!
The event was held on Saturday, February, 11, 2023, from 2-4 pm. Galentine’s Day is a day for women to celebrate their friendships with other women. Patrons joined us for girl talk while wearing their pajamas, watched a movie, and enjoyed refreshments. The event was for ladies 18 yrs old and up.
Painting at Cordova Library!
On March 18th, a group of us at Cordova library dabbled in watercolors just for the fun of it. Even though we didn’t have any formal instructions, interestingly enough, we all painted nature scenes. Everyone said they had a fantastic time and were glad they came. Stay tuned for more Cordova creativity.
Gaston Park Library at Lester Community Center
Gaston Park Library staff read the book, “An American Story”, and paid tribute to the inventor Garrett Morgan by making edible traffic lights. This is how we celebrate BLACK HISTORY MONTH! Their jubilant presence lit the room with excitement as she read to the youth. they were thrilled to learn and eat their crafts!
Outreach at the National Civil Rights Museum!
On Martin Luther King, Jr’s Birthday Celebration, several library staff members partnered with Uncommon Threads Quilt Guild to offer a community quilt activity at the National Civil Rights Museum. Hundreds of children and adults designed their own block of fabric, which will then be a part of a larger quilt. The finished quilt will be displayed in the National Civil Rights Museum. Huge props go out to Jane Jacobson for pulling together all of the inspiration, people, machines, and supplies to create this worthwhile project.
Lester Story Time and Craft
Storytime and crafts at Lester Community Center 1/11/2023. Gaston Park Librarians had 40 participants listening to engaging storytelling and had fun with edible snowman crafts.
