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Library hosts free programs in October

Teen Read Week programs, more in October

Wii game night, Walter Mosley, Small Business 101, and Paws to Read are just a few of the free events happening at the Newport News Public Libraries this month.

Paws to Read

The Paws to Read program helps children build their confidence by reading out loud to dogs at Newport News’ Grissom Library on the first Saturday of each month. The next Paws to Read program will be 3-4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 4, at Grissom Library. Parents are required to fill out a permission slip and may accompany their children, as well. Registration is required, and begins Sept. 20 online at www.nngov.com/library/custom/onlinereg or by calling Grissom Library at 757-369-3190.

Yu Gi Oh Learn and Duel Club

Children and teens ages 9 to 18 can learn the basic rules to play Yu Gi Oh from two experienced teen players, 3:30-5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 7, and Tuesday, Oct. 21, at Pearl Bailey Library. Participants are encouraged to bring their own deck of cards and duel with other players. Trading is allowed, but players will not lose their cards in the games. Registration is required, and begins Sept. 15 online at www.nngov.com/library/custom/onlinereg or by calling Pearl Bailey Library at 757-247-8677.

Teen Knit and Crochet Night

Teens ages 12 to 17 can learn how to knit or crochet or just hang out and have fun crafting, 6:30-8 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 7, at Grissom Library. Registration is required and begins Sept. 23 online at www.nngov.com/library/custom/onlinereg or by calling Grissom Library at 757-369-3190.

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.

Teen Read Week

The Newport News Public Library System celebrates the eleventh annual Teen Read Week(TM), Oct. 12 – 18. This year’s theme, "Books with Bite @ your library®." encourages teens to read a wide variety of books and graphic novels, from animals to vampires to cooking, just "for the fun of it." Special events just for teens include:

Chill Spot Grand Opening

Members of the Pearl Bailey Teen Advisory Committee will meet and greet guests and officially unveil the Chill Spot, 4-6 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 9, at Pearl Bailey Library. The Teen Advisory Committee helps library staff plan programs and select books, gaming software and DVDs for the library collection. Refreshments will be provided. No registration is required.

Books with Bite

Teens ages 12 to 17 can experience foods featured in their favorite books, 4-5 p.m., Monday, Oct. 13, at Grissom Library. Registration is required, and begins Sept. 29 online at www.nngov.com/library/custom/onlinereg or by calling Grissom Library at 757-369-3190.

Chill Spot Internet Scavenger Hunt

Teens ages 12 to 17 will learn basic skills in searching the Internet, then team up to test their surfing skills. The first three teams to complete the scavenger hunt will win prizes. This program is 4-6 p.m., Monday, Oct. 13, at Pearl Bailey Library. Registration is required and begins Sept. 15 online at www.nngov.com/library/custom/onlinereg or by calling Pearl Bailey Library at 757-247-8677.

Chill Spot Teen Book Club

Teens ages 12 to 18 can join a fun new book discussion program at Pearl Bailey Library. The club will meet 4-5:30 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 14, to discuss the book “Guns,” part of the Bluford Series written by Paul Langan. Teens will also make a fruit smoothie. Registration is required and begins Sept. 15 online at www.nngov.com/library/custom/onlinereg or by calling Pearl Bailey Library at 757-247-8677.

Chill Spot Snacks that Bite

Teens ages 12 to 18 can enjoy snacks with a bite and play traditional board games, 4-5:30 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 15, at Pearl Bailey Library. No registration required.

Teen Wii Game Night at Grissom

Teens ages 12 to 17 can compete in Wii video games, 6:30-8 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 16, at Grissom Library. Registration is required, and begins Oct. 2 online at www.nngov.com/library/custom/onlinereg or by calling Grissom Library at 757-369-3190.

Teen Wii Game Night at Main Street

Teens ages 12 to 17 can compete in Wii video games, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 16, at Main Street Library. Refreshment will be provided. Registration is required, and begins Oct. 2 online at www.nngov.com/library/custom/onlinereg or by calling Main Street Library at 757-591-4858.

Chill Spot Best of the Best Karaoke Kontest

Teens ages 12 to 18 are invited to sing and compete for the title of “Best of the Best Karaoke Singer,” 4-6 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 16, at Pearl Bailey Library. Registration is required and begins Sept. 15 online at www.nngov.com/library/custom/onlinereg or by calling Pearl Bailey Library at 757-247-8677.

Pizza and a Movie

Teens ages 12 to 17 can take a bite during the pizza taste-off and enjoy a good movie, 4:30-6 p.m., Friday, Oct. 17, at Main Street Library. Registration is required, and begins Oct. 2 online at www.nngov.com/library/custom/onlinereg or by calling Main Street Library at 757-591-4858.

Yu Gi Oh Learn and Duel Club

Children and teens ages 9 to 18 can learn the basic rules to play Yu Gi Oh from two experienced teen players, 3:30-6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 9, and Tuesday, Sept. 23, at Pearl Bailey Library. Participants are encouraged to bring their own deck of cards and duel with other players. Trading is allowed, but players will not lose their cards in the games. Registration is required, and begins Aug. 25 online at www.nngov.com/library/custom/onlinereg or by calling Pearl Bailey Library at 757-247-8677.

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, Oct. 6, 13, 20 and 27; and 2 to 4 p.m., Thursdays, Oct. 2,9,16, 23 and 30. Registration is required and is ongoing online at www.nngov.com/library/custom/onlinereg or by calling Main Street Library at 757-591-4858.

Walter Mosley Author Talk and Book-Signing

Walter Mosley, the highly acclaimed mystery writer, novelist and social commentator, will speak at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 28, at Christopher Newport University’s Ferguson Center for the Arts. Presented by the Virginia Peninsula Literary Consortium, his appearance is free to the public, but tickets are required. Ticket holders will be seated first, and any remaining seats will then be open to the general public. Virginia Peninsula Literary Consortium libraries are offering screenings and book and film discussions about Mosley’s work in October. Visit http://library.cnu.edu/vplc.html for details.

Small Business 101

Dr. Stephanie Bardwell, director for the Small Business Institute at Christopher Newport University and an attorney, will present information on all the functional areas of creating your own business, 9:30 a.m.-noon, Saturday, Oct. 18 at Main Street Library. Topics to be covered will include business plans, managing and marketing your business, and legal do's and don'ts. Registration is required and begins Sept. 22 online at www.nngov.com/library/custom/onlinereg or by calling Main Street Library at 757-591-4858.

Dream Makeovers: Photo restoration

John Warters of Photo Reflections Inc. will present a workshop on photo restoration, focusing on digital photography, 10 a.m.-noon, Saturday, Oct. 11, at Main Street Library. Refreshments will be provided, and no registration is required. Participants aged 18 and older earn one entry for the Dream Makeovers grand prize drawing in November. The prize is one personalized Branding for People (TM) image development workshop valued at $697, offered compliments of Sandy Dumont, The Image Architect.

Introduction to the Business Decision database

Main Street Library staff will teach participants how to use the Business Decision database, located in the new 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 will be offered 10-11 a.m., Thursdays, Oct. 9, Nov. 13 and Dec. 11. Registration is required and is ongoing online at www.nngov.com/library/custom/onlinereg or by calling Main Street Library at 757-591-4858.

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 Tuesdays, Oct. 21, Nov. 18 and Dec. 16, in the new 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.

Computer classes

Registration begins Oct. 1 for November 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.

Fall Storytimes

Fall storytimes run Sept. 15 to Oct. 24. Register online at www.nngov.com/library/custom/onlinereg or by calling the respective library.

Pearl Bailey Library

·         Preschool Storytime for ages 2½ to 5 (Parents and caregivers invited) 

Mondays 10 a.m.

·         Family Preschool Storytime for ages 3-5 (Parents and caregivers invited) 

Saturdays at 10-11 a.m., Sept. 20; Oct. 4, 18; Nov. 1, 15; Dec. 13, 27

Grissom Library

·         Wee Ones Storytime for ages birth to 2½ (with parent or caregiver)

Mondays at 10 a.m., Sept. 22, 29; Oct. 6, 13, 20;

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

Tuesdays at 11 a.m., Sept. 16, 23, 30; Oct. 7,14, 21

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

Wednesdays at 11 a.m., Sept. 17, 24; Oct. 1,8,15, 22

Main Street Library

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

Tuesdays 11 a.m.

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

Tuesdays 10 a.m.

·         Wee Ones Storytime for ages birth to 2½ (with parent or caregiver)

second and fourth Thursdays, 10 a.m., Sept. 11, 25; Oct. 9, 23

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

·         Grissom Library, 366 DeShazor Drive, Newport News, VA 23608, 757-369-3190

·         Main Street Library, Bookmobile, Library for the Blind, 110 Main Street, Newport News, VA 23601, 757-591-4858

·         Pearl Bailey Library, 2510 Wickham Ave., Newport News, VA 23607, 757-247-8677

·         West Avenue Library, 2907 West Ave., Newport News, VA 23607, 757-247-8505

·         Public Law Library, 2500 Washington Ave., Newport News, VA 23607, 757-926-8678

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