Activities in the Children’s Department

AUTHOR TOM LICHTENHOLD: Children’s author and illustrator Tom Lichtenhold will give a free public presentation at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 25, in the Community Room. He is the author of Everything I Know About Pirates and Duck! Rabbit!, and has illustrated The OK Book and many others. Following the program, his books will be available for purchase and autographing. Refreshments will be served. THANKS to the Friends of Normal Public Library for sponsoring this event! For more information, call 454-4668.

YOUNG AUTHORS MONTH: Posters from the Unit 5 Young Authors winners will be displayed in the Children’s Department throughout April.

TUESDAY TALES: Preschoolers and their families are invited to the Children’s Department Book Nook every Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. to enjoy stories. No registration is required for this free story time.

For more information about these and other activities,
call the Children’s Department, 454-4668.

A Tale for Two Cities Activities

Normal and Bloomington Public Libraries have selected The Coal Tattoo by Silas House as this year’s ‘community read.’ Copies of the book are available for check-out at both libraries and on the BPL Bookmobile.

Author Silas House will discuss his book at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 16, at the Community Players Theatre (next to the Bloomington Post Office). The program is FREE and open to the public.

Other FREE Tale for Two Cities programs will be offered throughout April. They include:

Ø Coal Mining & Mining Songs, 2pm Sunday, April 5, Normal Public Library. Join Bucky Halker, a songwriter and recording artist, as he presents a concert that will combine performance and commentary while reviewing American coal-miner protest songs.
Ø Movie “Matewan”, 2 p.m. Thursday, April 9, Bloomington Public Library. An American drama directed by John Sayles, Matewan illustrated the events surrounding a coal minter strike and attempt to unionize in 1920 in Matewan, West Virginia.
Ø Mother Jones and Miner’s Rights, 7 p.m. Monday, April 13, Bloomington Public Library. NIU Professor Rosemary Feurer will present a short film about Mother Jones who worked with Illinois coal miners. Jones was a prominent labor organizer in the late 1800s and early 1900s. A discussion will follow the film.
Ø Book Discussion with Silas House, noon Thursday, April 16, Bloomington Public Library. Observers are welcome, but only members of the Normal & Bloomington library book clubs will be allowed to participate in the discussion. Feel free to bring a sack lunch.
Ø The Cherry Mine Disaster, 2 p.m. Sunday, April 19, Normal Public Library. Steve Stout, author of The Cherry Mine Disaster, will give a presentation on the Cherry Mine Disaster of 1909 that occurred 75 miles north of Bloomington-Normal and claimed 259 lives. It is the second worst mining disaster on record in the United States.

Many thanks to our generous sponsors of the Tale for Two Cities Program, it wouldn’t be possible without their support: Friends of the Normal Public Library; Friends of Bloomington Public Library; Bloomington & Normal Trades & Labor Assembly (AFL-CIO); Community Players Theatre; Hampton Inn & Suites; Destihl Restaurant; Entourage.

Morningstar Investment Research Center
Training Offered

Sign up for a virtual tour of Morningstar Investment Research Center, a service provided by the Normal Public Library to NPL cardholders! You can conveniently access the training session from any location with a phone and Internet connection – at home, the office, or other favorite spots.

On Wednesday, April 29, at 3pm, you will discover how to use this valuable database to search for stocks, mutual funds, and ETFs. Learn how to evaluate retirement and portfolio holdings, and get independent analysis reports, helpful articles and industry commentary to help you make sense of this challenging market.

To register, visit Morningstar Investment Research Center on the NPL web page www.normal-library.org (scroll down, the Morningstar box is on the right side). Go to the ‘Help & Education’ page; you will find a link in the lower right corner under the heading ‘Live Patron Web Training.’ Simply click on it and be sure to mention Normal Public Library with your e-mail.

For more information, call Jeanne Moonan at 452-1757.

Teen Activities at NPL

The Anime/Manga Club will meet at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 7 & 21 to watch episodes of anime and discuss manga we have read. All junior & senior high students are welcome, and snacks are provided.

NPL’s Teen Advisory Council will meet at 4 p.m.Thursday, April 9 & 23, in the Community Room. We will create pass-around stories on the 9th, and will discuss Stardust by Neil Gaiman, watch the movie, and enjoy pizza on the 26th. All teens in grades 7-12 are welcome, and snacks will be served.

NEW! Game Day for teens will be held at 4-6pm Wednesday, April 8 in the Community Room. Games will include Dance Dance Revolution, Rock Band, Apple to Apples and other board games.

Contact Kristi at 452-1757 for more information about any of these events.

Movie Matinee for Adults at NPL

NPL’s Movie Matinee series continues this month at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, April 15. This month’s offering is Five People You Meet in Heaven starring Jon Voight, Ellen Burstyn and Jeff Daniels. After Eddie dies heroically, he meets five people in heaven who were important in his life. Bring a friend and enjoy the afternoon – free, and snacks provided!

Flower Potting Program

Brighten your home with a fresh new flower in a pot you decorate! Join master gardener Anne Nadakavukaren at 2 p.m. Thursday, April 30 in the Community Room. Please register for this FREE program by Monday, April 27 – call 452-1757 to register or for more information.

Games Aren’t Just for Kids!

Adults of all ages are invited to join us for games and refreshments in the Community Room at 2 p.m. Friday, April 17. If you have a favorite game to share, please bring it along. Games will also be provided, including board and card games, and the ever-exciting Wii! Call Mary Lou, 452-1757, if you have questions.

Library Patrons Can Park in Deck for FREE!

The public parking deck just east of the Bank of Illinois has opened, which will provide 600+ additional parking spaces for library patrons. Library patrons can park in the deck for free. Vouchers to use in the deck’s payment machines will be given to library patrons whorequest them; you will need to request a voucher each time you visit the library and park in the deck for longer than the first free hour.

Donate Your Used Books

The Friends of NPL are happy to accept donations of used book throughout the year.
Bring them to the library marked ‘for the Friends book sale’. Please DO NOT leave your book donations at the off-site book drops!! All donations for the sale must be brought in to the library. Thanks!