FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Dr. Seuss, Teen Tech Week, storytelling, ‘Iliad,’ more celebrated in March

Libraries host free programs in March

Free programs at Newport News Libraries in March 2009.

Dr. Seuss' Birthday Party

Children ages 4-10 can celebrate Dr. Seuss' birthday with stories, crafts, and snacks, 4-5 p.m., Monday, March 2, at Grissom Library. Registration is required, and begins Feb. 16 online at www.nngov.com/library/custom/onlinereg or by calling Grissom Library at 757-369-3190.

Seussabration

Children ages 2-12 can celebrate Dr. Seuss' birthday with Miss Susan of Balloon Creatures and Magic, who will perform magic tricks and create a balloon creature for each child (up to 50) to take home. The party is 11 a.m.-noon, Monday, March 2, at Main Street Library. No registration is required.

Virginia Employment Commission Website Orientation Sessions

In the Business Center, the Main Street Library staff will offer orientation sessions to help patrons register to use the Virginia Employment Commission site, VAworkconnect.com, 10 a.m. to noon, Mondays, March 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30; and 2 to 4 p.m., Thursdays, March 5, 12, 19 and 26. Registration is required and is ongoing online at www.nngov.com/library/custom/onlinereg or by calling Main Street Library at 757-591-4858.

Writing an Effective Business Plan

Dr. Stephanie Bardwell, director of the Small Business Institute at Christopher Newport University, will teach a hands-on workshop on creating the one document that every business owner must have, 9:30 a.m.-noon, Saturday, March 7, at Main Street Library. Covered will be all sections of a business plan from formation to financing. Registration is required and is in progress online at www.nngov.com/library/custom/onlinereg or by calling Main Street Library at 757-591-4858.

Working with Old Photos

Crafting instructor Ruthann Grabowski will teach participants how to find and tell the story of their families through photographs, 2-4 p.m., Saturday, March 7, at Grissom Library. Participants will learn about the history of photography, how to determine when photos were taken and clues they provide about families. Registration is required and begins Feb. 20 online at www.nngov.com/library/custom/onlinereg or by calling Grissom Library at 757-369-3190.

Paws to Read

The Paws to Read program helps children ages 6 to 10 build their confidence by reading out loud to dogs at Grissom Library on the first Saturday of each month. The next Paws to Read program will be 3-4 p.m. on Saturday, March 7, at Grissom Library. Parents are required to fill out a permission slip and may accompany their children, as well. Registration is required, and begins Feb. 21 online at www.nngov.com/library/custom/onlinereg or by calling Grissom Library at 757-369-3190.

Homer to Hip Hop Book-to-Film Discussion: “I Am Legend”

Vassiliki (Lily) Panoussi, assistant professor of classical studies at the College of William and Mary, will discuss how classical storytelling is used in today’s modern storytelling forms of movies and hip-hop music, setting the stage for a series of Book-to-Film Discussions in March and April. The 2004 film “I Am Legend,” starring Will Smith, will then be shown. The program begins at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 10, at Pearl Bailey Library and continues on March 31. Part of Page and Stage, an in-depth partnership between the Newport News Public Library System and the Aquila Theatre in New York, with funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Visit www.pageandstage.org for more information. Refreshments will be provided, and no registration is required.

Introduction to the Business Decision database

Main Street Library staff will teach participants how to use the Business Decision database, located in the Business Information Center at Main Street Library. The small-business-oriented database allows users to create maps based on various statistical data, such as extensive consumer household data, market segmentation data, population forecasts and demographic data. The class is offered 10-11 a.m., Thursday, March 12. Registration is required and is ongoing online at www.nngov.com/library/custom/onlinereg or by calling Main Street Library at 757-591-4858.

Teen Tech Week Contest

To celebrate Teen Tech Week, March 8-14, teens ages 12 to 17 can vote for their favorite websites, video games, movies, and more, for a chance to win an iTunes gift card and books, at Grissom Library.

Teen Wii Party

Teens ages 12-17 can celebrate Teen Tech Week with Wii games, snacks and friends, 3:30-5 p.m., Thursday, March 12, at Grissom Library. Registration is required, and begins Feb. 26 online at www.nngov.com/library/custom/onlinereg or by calling Grissom Library at 757-369-3190.

Introduction to the Foundation Directory Online

Main Street Library staff will teach participants how to use the Foundation Directory Online database, which allows grant-seekers to search for grants and research potential donors. This class will be offered 3-4 p.m., on Tuesday, March 17, in the Business Information Center at Main Street Library. Registration is required and is ongoing online at www.nngov.com/library/custom/onlinereg or by calling Main Street Library at 757-591-4858.

Telling Family Stories: A Genealogy Workshop for Children and Parents

Tracy Ellis Turner, an accomplished, professional storyteller, will weave family stories from her past. After a light lunch, participants will learn how to use the resources in Main Street Library’s Virginiana Room to search their own family history. Finally, all participants gather in the meeting room to share their own family stories. The program is 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Saturday, March 21, at Main Street Library.

Registration is required and begins March 1 online at www.nngov.com/library/custom/onlinereg or by calling Main Street Library at 757-591-4858.

Storytelling Workshops with Dylan Pritchett

Professional storyteller Dylan Pritchett will teach adults and teens how to tell their own stories in a public setting, with the goal of having participants tell their stories at the Saturday, June 6, “Share Your Story: Open Mic and Oral Histories” program. Introductory Workshops are 6-8 p.m., Thursday, March 19; and 3-5 p.m., Sunday, March 22. Refining Workshops are 6-8 p.m., Thursday, March 26, and 3-5 p.m., Saturday, March 28, at Main Street Library. Participants can choose to attend one of the Introductory Workshops and one of the Refining Workshops. Pritchett is a professional storyteller who has been performing since 1990.  His stories are age appropriate with five major themes in mind.  They are moral teachings, building self-esteem, teaching respect toward family, friends and authority and a taste of African culture.  He has dazzled audiences at the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts and many other cities and states. Sponsored by the Newport News Public Library System’s Herbert H. Neisser Fund. Registration is required and begins Feb. 19 online at www.nngov.com/library/custom/onlinereg or by calling Main Street Library at 757-591-4858.

Homer to Hip Hop Book-to-Film Discussion: “Iliad”

Vassiliki (Lily) Panoussi, assistant professor of classical studies at the College of William and Mary, will lead a discussion of the Homer’s “Iliad” as it relates to the film, “I Am Legend,” 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 31, at Pearl Bailey Library. Part of Page and Stage, an in-depth partnership between the Newport News Public Library System and the Aquila Theatre in New York, with funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Visit www.pageandstage.org for more information. Refreshments will be provided, and no registration is required.

Loosely Knit Group

Everyone is welcome to join the Loosely Knit Group, which meets 9:30-11:30 a.m. every first and third Thursday of each month at Grissom Library. Anyone who enjoys knitting, crocheting, or any craft is welcome, and no registration is required.

Computer classes

Registration begins March 1 for April classes online at www.nngov.com/library/custom/onlinereg or by calling the respective library. Classes are offered on an ongoing basis covering various topics, including computer and Internet basics, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, resume writing and more. Search for classes and register at www.nngov.com/library/custom/onlinereg or by calling the respective library.

Spring Storytimes

Register online at www.nngov.com/library/custom/onlinereg or by calling the respective library.

Grissom Library

·         Babygarten for ages birth to 2½ (with parent or caregiver)

Mondays at 10 a.m., March 16, 23,30, April 6, 13, 20;

·         Preschool Storytime  for ages 3½ to 5 (Children only)

Tuesdays at 11 a.m., March 17, 24, 31, April 7, 14, 21;

·         Tiny Tot Storytime for ages 2½ to 3½ (with parent or caregiver)

Wednesdays at 11 a.m., March 18, 25, April 1, 8, 15, 22.

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