MARCH
library events & classes www.portagelibrary.info
what’s inside
this month’s newsletter PAGE 2 Early Literacy Programs PAGE 3 March 4-14 Library Programs PAGE 4 March 14-19 Library Programs PAGE 5 March 20-31 Library Programs PAGE 6 Literacy @ the Library PAGE 7 Literacy @ the Library PAGE 8 What’s Coming in April!
library hours Monday – Thursday 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM Friday 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
early literacy programs MOTHER GOOSE STORYTIME Wednesday, March 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th 9:30 AM & 10:30 AM Age Group: INFANT/TODDLER Enjoy this rewarding time interacting with your child while listening to stories, doing fingerplays, and participating in creative movement. An interactive playtime follows. Developmentally appropriate for infants through 23 months. No registration required. TWOS STORYTIME Thursday, March 7th, 14th, 21th, 28th 10:00 AM Age Group: TWOS Two year olds enjoy interactive stories, songs, and creative movement that encourage their emerging language skills. Families with children two years old and their younger siblings are welcome. No registration required
Saturday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Sunday 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
library board Betty Lee Ongley Library Board Chair Alisha Siebers Library Board Vice Chair Michele Behr Library Board Trustee Stephanie Brown Library Board Trustee Annee Dunn Library Board Trustee Martha Pacheco Library Board Trustee & Liaison to the Friends of PDL Joe Yantis Library Board Trustee
portage district library
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300 library lane portage, mi 49002 269.329.4544 www.portagelibrary.info
PRESCHOOL STORYTIME Tuesday, March 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th 10:00 AM Age Group: PRESCHOOL Preschool age children will build language skills while listening to stories, learning rhymes, moving to music, and learning the mystery letter of the week! No registration required. PRESCHOOL STORYTIME Monday, March 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th 10:00 AM Age Group: PRESCHOOL Preschool age children will build language skills while listening to stories, learning rhymes, moving to music, and learning the mystery letter of the week! No registration required.
Portraits: An Exhibit Celebrating Black History Month This exhibit that runs from February 5th - March 30th, includes portraits in pastel from Al Harris Jr. and paintings and pen and ink drawings from the collection of Murphy Darden on loan from the Black Arts and Cultural Center.
Monday, March 4th 6:00 PM Age Group: ADULTS & TEENS Come to the library at 6 PM on the first Monday of every month and talk about the science fiction or fantasy genre of that evening. Bring a book to use as an example, or just have a book, movie, or even game in mind to talk about. This year long series of informal discussions, moderated by library staff, will lead you to new reading experiences as you learn about hot subgenres. Share your own reading interests, and learn about other peoples. No registration required.
PORTAGE COMPUTER USERS CLUB Thursday, March 7th 10:00 AM Age Group: ADULTS Drop-in computer question and answer session. No registration required.
FUSE BEAD FUN (3RD-5TH GRADE) Thursday, March 7th 6:30 PM Age Group: TWEENS (3RD-5TH GRADE) Get creative with fuse beads! Ideas and patterns provided, but participants are encouraged to bring their imagination! REGISTRATION REQUIRED
ABC ACTIVITY TIME Friday, March 8th 10:00 AM Age Group: PRESCHOOL Drop in playtime including sensory activities, fine and gross motor skills, pocket charts, manipulatives and more. This is a time for your child to practice skills that will help them get ready to read! Open to preschoolers with their favorite adult. The focus is for parents to participate in the learning process with their child while having fun! No registration required.
COMBAT VETERANS’ WRITING GROUP Tuesday, March 12th 6:30 PM Age Group: ADULTS This series of writing workshops for veterans focuses on short narratives about serving in the military during war times. No writing experience is necessary. This series is led by Margaret von Steinen, writer and communications officer for WMU’s Haenicke Institute for Global Education and runs the second and fourth Tuesday nights through April 23rd. For more information, please e-mail Margaret at mvonsteinen@chartermi.net. No registration required.
EVENING FAMILY STORYTIME: STORIES TO KNOW AND GROW Wednesday, March 13th 6:00 PM Age Group: TWO’S, PRESCHOOL Enjoy an evening with stories, songs, rhymes and movement activities while building language and literacy skills. A theme related craft will follow. All children will receive a book to take home. Sponsored by a Target Early Literacy Grant. REGISTRATION REQUIRED
PORTAGE COMPUTER USERS CLUB Thursday, March 14th 10:00 AM Age Group: ADULTS Drop-in computer question and answer session. No registration required.
MARCH
GEEK DISCUSSION GROUP: Space Opera
programs & events March 4-14
programs & events March 14-19
EASY SELF PUBLISHING ON A SHOESTRING
KALAMAZOO MACINTOSH USER GROUP (KMUG)
Thursday, March 14th 1:00 PM Age Group: ADULTS Services like Amazon, Smashwords, and Lulu are making it very easy to publish your own works, fiction or non-fiction. You can do this as a business, or for non-profit reasons such as making a family genealogy available. In this workshop, you will learn about the three main e-publishing platforms. Also touched on are: • Basics of formatting your work. • Common steps in uploading your work to be sold or downloaded for free. • Some places to outsource services for a fee, such as cover design and editing. • Print on Demand Services like Createspace. No registration required.
Saturday, March 16th 9:00 AM Age Group: ADULTS This drop in group meets the third Saturday of each month. Anyone may attend. The meetings begin with a presentation of a software program, computer or accessory by an experienced club member The meeting continues with a “Help Session”. Experienced Mac users share their in-depth knowledge answering questions about any aspect of the Mac. Beginners on Mac computers are welcome. No registration required.
CUPCAKE CLUB Thursday, March 14th 7:00 PM Age Group: MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL Come for fun and cupcakes! Open to any middle school or high school-aged person who has read a book in the last month. Make cupcakes and then do a book-based activity while you wait. Then, of course, you eat the cupcakes! March: The theme is...Guess it! Can you guess the cupcake flavor, the book based on just a little info, and finally, pick out a book without knowing anything about it! REGISTRATION REQUIRED
INTERNATIONAL MYSTERY BOOK GROUP DISCUSSION Thursday, March 14th 7:00 PM Inspector Singh Investigates: A Most Peculiar Malaysian Murder by Samini Flint (Malaysia #1 in the series) Inspector Singh has been sent from his home in Singapore to Kuala Lumpur to solve a murder that has him stumped. Chelsea Liew - the famous Singaporean model - is on death row for the murder of her ex-husband. She swears she didn’t do it, he thinks she didn’t do it, but no matter how hard he tries to get to the bottom of things, he still arrives back at the same place - that Chelsea’s husband was shot at point blank range, and that Chelsea had the best motivation to pull the trigger: he was taking her kids away from her. Now Inspector Singh must pull out all the stops to crack a crime that could potentially free a beautiful and innocent woman and reunite a mother with her children. There’s just one problem - the Malaysian police refuse to play ball. (excerpted from goodreads.com) No registration required. 4
LEAPING LEPRECHAUNS: D3 (DANCE, DRAMA, DRAWING) Saturday, March 16th 2:30 PM- 4:00 PM Age Group: PRESCHOOL, ELEMENTARY (K-5TH GRADE) Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with dancing, drama and art – all with an Irish flair. Your child will participate in 3 thirty minute sessions of interactive fun! Parents of preschoolers are encouraged to stay with their child. Sign up today! REGISTRATION REQUIRED
SUNDAYS LIVE Sunday, March 17th 2:00 PM -3:30 PM Come celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with Duo Zito-Kusic (Miles Kusik & Jackie Zito) on guitar and mandolin. No registration required.
2013 Reading Together Program OPEN FOR DISCUSSION: A DROP-IN BOOK DISCUSSION Tuesday, March 19th 10:30 am Age Group: ADULTS Join us to discuss the Reading Together selection, The Submission, by Amy Waldman. Reimagining 9/11 and its aftermath, Amy Waldman’s provocative novel begins with a resonant scene: a jury gathers in Manhattan to choose a memorial for the victims of a devastating Islamic terrorist attack. After tense deliberations, they select the a sculpture from a list of anonymous artists. The winner turns out to be an American Muslim. The revelation triggers both fury and ambivalence throughout New York, making the designer, the staunchly independent Mohammed Khan, a symbol of beliefs that seem foreign to him. This discussion will feature guest presenter Sherry Ransford-Ramsdell. No registration required.
Wednesday, March 20th 6:30 PM Age Group: ADULTS We will be discussing the importance of building relationships in order to better advocate for your child. Whether you are having trouble with school, the medical community, therapists or that woman at the grocery store who won’t stop staring, this workshop will help you find a voice for you and your child. Learn how to talk to professionals, how to prepare for meetings, what records to have close at hand, and when it’s time to call in a professional Advocate. Presenter: Amy Helmuth, Parent to Parent of Southwest Michigan
REGISTRATION REQUIRED
PORTAGE COMPUTER USERS CLUB Thursday, March 21st 10:00 AM Age Group: ADULTS Drop-in computer question and answer session. No registration required.
during war times. No writing experience is necessary. This series is led by Margaret von Steinen, writer and communications officer for WMU’s Haenicke Institute for Global Education and runs the second and fourth Tuesday nights running through April 23rd. For more information, please e-mail Margaret at mvonsteinen@ chartermi.net. No registration required.
PORTAGE COMPUTER USERS CLUB Thursday, March 28th 10:00 AM Age Group: ADULTS Drop-in computer question and answer session. No registration required.
2013 Reading Together Program TRUTH IN FICTION: A DISCUSSION OF THE ROLE OF FICTION IN THE SUBMISSION Wednesday, March 27th 6:30 PM Edwin Martini, Associate Dean in the College of Arts and Sciences at Western Michigan University, will explore the ways that fiction raised questions and exposed the complexities surrounding the human reaction to a historical event that could have occurred with just a slight twist of fate. No registration required.
2013 Reading Together Program EXPLORING SIX CHARACTERS IN THE SUBMISSION: A BOOK DISCUSSION Thursday, March 21st 6:30 PM Age Group: ADULTS Sherry Ransford-Ramsdell will lead an interactive discussion of the diverse characters in Amy Waldman’s novel, The Submission, and their roles in carrying the narrative, reflecting conflicting perspectives and drawing the reader into the issues and tensions that the novel presents. No registration required.
SATURDAY STORIES Saturday, March 23rd 10:00 AM Age Group: TWO’S, PRESCHOOL Join us this Saturday. You and your child will actively listen to books, rhymes and participate in creative movement while building language and literacy skills. No registration required.
COMBAT VETERANS’ WRITING GROUP Tuesday, March 26th 6:30 PM Age Group: ADULTS This series of writing workshops for veterans focuses on short narratives about serving in the military
LEGOS Friday, March 29th 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM TWO’S, PRESCHOOL It’s LEGO time! Drop in anytime between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM. You have two sizes to choose from depending on your ability level. Let your imagination take over. Parents are invited to build with their children. No registration required.
HOLIDAY CLOSING Sunday, March 31st All Day The Library is closed today. Items may still be returned through our outdoor return slots on the south side of the Library. You can check your item due dates, monitor your requests, and renew items through My Account in our online catalog.
MARCH
ADVOCATING FOR YOUR CHILD
programs & events March 20-31
LITERACY @ THE LIBRARY The Portage District Library is committed to improving literacy in our community in a variety of ways. These programs and services will keep you on the path towards life-long learning! For more information, check out our website or give us a call. BOOK GROUPS G
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This wonderful collection of high interest, easier-to-read books will offer great reading choices for adults who are beginning readers or those who may have special needs or are learning English as their second language. This special collection will include fiction (celebrities, mysteries, etc.) and general non-fiction topics like animals, photography, travel, vehicles and more. We were able to launch this collection thanks to a grant from Kalamazoo Community Foundation’s John E. Fetzer Institute Fund, and a donation from the Friends of the Portage District Library.
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Geek Discussion Group: Come to the library at 6 PM on the first Monday of every month and talk about the science fiction or fantasy genre of that evening. This year long series of informal discussions, moderated by library staff, will lead you to new reading experiences as you learn about hot subgenres. Share your own reading interests, and learn about other peoples.
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Reading Together: We partner every year with the Kalamazoo Public Library to prepare programs that help us reach a mutual goal of sharing one book with all residents in Kalamazoo County.
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Great Books Book Club: Staff facilitates readings from the Great Books Program. This season’s book is Seven Deadly Sins.
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Book Discussion in a Bag: Come check out everything you need to start a book discussion group of your own.
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International Mystery Book Group: Come join us for the library’s new monthly drop-in International Mystery Book Discussion.
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Open For Discussion: We have a large and dynamic book discussion group that meets monthly from September -November and January-May on the third Tuesday of these months at 10:30 a.m. Our informal discussions last one hour.
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We offer several venues for discussing the books that we love so much.
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BE A SMART COOKIE…READ! PRESCHOOL & ELEMENTARY READING PROGRAM 2013 Celebrate National “March is Reading Month” with us! Read 5 hours between March 1st and April 8th and get a ticket to our Family Library Late Night, Friday, April 19th from 6:00pm to 8:30pm. We’ll have a fun party in the library after the library has closed! There will be snacks, games, and a craft. How do you participate? Just follow these easy steps: s 3TEP : Sign up for the March Reading Program at the Youth Information Desk and receive your reading log. s 3TEP : Start reading! s 3TEP : Use your log to keep track of the time you spend reading. s 3TEP : After you have finished all 5 hours, come to the library with your reading log and get your ticket for the Library Late Night. Children who have read 5 hours March 1- April 8 (and their immediate families) are invited to the late night. A parent or guardian must accompany children to this event.
LITERACY @ THE LIBRARY KID’S BOOK CENTRAL Need help finding a good read? Browse our booklists to find the perfect one for you. Go to our booklists. Don’t forget, there’s more than one way to enjoy a great book: s ,ISTEN TO A BOOK ON #$ s ,ISTEN TO A BOOK ON 0LAYAWAY A SINGLE AUDIO BOOK ON AN -0 THAT YOU CHECK OUT s 6ISIT OUR E "OOK SITE 4UMBLE"OOKS AND READ A BOOK ONLINE Library Resources for Beginner Readers We have a large collection of books in our Easy Reader Section that target the beginner reader. We also offer several other tools for those learning to read.
BOOKLISTS Look at the categories of books lists that we’ve put together to give you ideas about what to read next. s Teens
s History & Genealogy
s Parents & Kids
s Book Discussion
s Non-fiction
s Fiction
s School Connect
s Best Sellers
PREP Kits – These folders contain a selection of leveled reading books. The kits were created in cooperation with a Portage Public School Emergent Reading Specialist and each level helps beginner readers progress another step. Discovery Packs – These are themed kits containing books, puzzles, games, videos, and activities. There are 3 levels available: preschool, primary, and intermediate. Hooked on Phonics Kits – The Hooked on Phonics sets contain books, games, flash cards and other materials that help children advance in their reading abilities. The library has kits for pre-readers (letter recognition) through level 5. “Bob” Books – The Bob book series was developed several years ago and continues to be very popular with beginner readers. Early Literacy Stations – There are 3 computer stations with educational games and activities on them that are appropriate for children in preschool through primary grades.
PRESCHOOL ROOM
eBooks and eAudio BOOKS
Our Preschool Room provides a place for children to build the foundations for reading. Talking, singing, reciting rhymes, and reading to young children are all important early literacy activities. In the Preschool Room, you will find:
As a Portage District Library resident card holder, (or with a paid non-resident membership) you can check out eBooks and eAudio books for your computer or eReader.
s Picture Books
s Board Books
s Magnet Board
s Manipulatives/Dramatic Play
s Music CD’s
SUMMER READING Preschool, elementary-age children, teens and adults are invited during the summer months to join the 2013 Summer Reading Program. Young participants earn prizes for reading (or being read to) books of their choice. Simply keep track of the number of hours read and for every 5 hours, kids can earn a prize. The goal is to read 30 hours.
FAVORITE AUTHORS The library’s Favorite Authors program is meant to get you on reserve lists fast. Simply indicate your choice of up to 15 authors from our list. We will do the work of putting you on hold for titles by those authors. Sit back and wait for the email to arrive. This program only covers Fiction Hardback materials.
What’s Coming in April! GEEK DISCUSSION GROUP
CLASSIC FILM
April 1st
April 13th
Talk about Science Fiction or Fantasy Genre of the evening
Laurel & Hardy’s Way Out West
CRITCHLOW ALLIGATOR SANCTUARY – SPRING BREAK April 3rd Live Reptiles! Live Reptiles! Live Reptiles
MAGIC – MAGIC – SPRING BREAK FUN April 4th
GRAPHIC NOVEL FUN April 18th Come try trivia contests, drawing games, and other fun activities
GRIEF EDUCATION & SUPPORT April 19th Facilitated by a grief counselor for Heartland Hospice
Join us for a Magic Show
SUNDAYS LIVE
FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY BOOK SALE
April 21st The Troubadours
April 6th
BOOK PRESENTATION
Thousands of books for sale
TEEN CRAFT EVENT April 11th Craft Event TBA
April 23rd Loreen Niewenhuis: A 1000-Mile Great Lakes Walk