The Big Read!

Join the City of El Paso in a month-long read of the book, Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. Pick up a copy at any public library and participate in free contests and events for all ages! You can also check out other links of interest from last week's post.

Fire! Thursday, March 6 @ 10 a.m.
Children’s storytime featuring firefighters. Children will get to tour an actual fire engine!

Imaginate That! Thursday, March 13 @ 4 p.m.
Youth in grades 4th-8th are invited to engage in an interactive book discussion, with an opportunity to make a craft and win a door prize.

Movie Matinee Saturday, March 15 @ 2 p.m.
The classic 1966 version of Fahrenheit 451, directed by Francois Truffaut. Free popcorn and refreshments will be served.

Censorship in Art Saturday, March 22 @ 2 p.m.
Themes of censorship resonate in this book. Ben Fyffe of the El Paso Museums and Cultural Affairs Department, will lecture on the history of art. “Aquila o Sol,” the controversial work by artist Francisco Delgado of the MCAD’s Art and Sol Project will also be discussed. Seven Art and Sol T-shirts will be raffled.

Kristallnacht Science Fact and Fiction Wednesday, March 26 @ 6 p.m.
A discussion about Fahrenheit 451 and the events that may have influenced the writer will be led by notable Jewish scholar, Dr. Ezra Cappell, Ph.D. Dr. Cappell is Assistant Professor of English Literature and Jewish Studies at UTEP.

Read Out! Saturday, March 29 @ 2 p.m.
Entries from the “Book People” contest will be read and winners will be announced. Winners of the YouTube Video Contest will also be announced and viewed.

M&M March Selection

The March book selection for the Mothers and More book club is Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. They will meet on Thursday, March 20 at 10 a.m. Copies are available to check out at the circulation desk.

The Big Read is coming in March!

The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and Arts Midwest. The Big Read aims to bring the power of reading into the lives of Americans by encouraging communities to read and discuss a single book. Last year, Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird was chosen. The highlight of last year's events was when the C-SPAN Book TV bus stopped by and we had a jazz band performance. Did anybody tour the bus? I couldn't even tell that I was inside of a bus!

This year's book choice is Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451. The theme of censorship resonates in this book, and coincidentally, is a theme that our own library system has faced this past year. The El Paso Public Library System has faced censorship issues that have dealt with Internet use and the display of controversial materials and artwork. One of our programs will feature a speaker from the El Paso Museum of Art that will discuss censorship, as well as Francisco Delgado's "Aquilo o Sol." This is only one of the many events that will be featured during the month of March. There will be children's events, too!

Be sure to pick up a copy of Fahrenheit 451, and be ready to have fun discussing this important work at your library! A complete list of programs will be available on this blog and at the library in March.

Can't wait till March for the Big Read?
>Learn more about the Big Read initiative
>Reserve your copy of Fahrenheit 451
>Check out the full listing of Big Read events
>Visit the MCAD website

Harp For The Heart

Come celebrate Valentine's Day at the library with a program that will pull at your harp-strings! We will be having another harp performance with a different harpist. Bring the whole family, Danielle Robinson will be performing songs that will appeal to all ages.

Saturday, February 9 @ 2 p.m.

Year of the Rat

This year, the Chinese New Year begins on February 7 and it is the year of the rat. Bring the whole family to learn how to celebrate this event. Gung Hay Fat Choy!

Children’s Chinese New Year Program
Saturday, February 2 @ 1 p.m.

New book club for moms!

A new book club, called Mothers and More is starting up in February for moms who want to discuss books, but can't attend because their children would have to come, too. Moms are welcome to bring their thoughts and their children to the book discussion! The group plans to meet the third Thursday of every month at 10 am in the Quiet Room.



February's Book Selection:
The History of Love by Nicole Krauss
Discussion Date: Thursday, February 21 @ 10 am

Currently, there are no copies available to check out at any of the public libraries. UTEP has a copy available (you can check out books if you obtain a TexShare card from us). You might be able to find a copy at The Book Mark and support our Friends group at the same time (check this blog out).

If you are interested in forming a book club that is more tailored to your reading interests and lifestyle (especially school aged children and teens!), please feel free to contact me at 875-0700 ext. 8518.

Cappuccino and Ketchup Fries?

In case you haven't noticed, we have a vending machine! It is stocked with munching staples such as chips and soda, but it seems that our vendors like to rotate some different items in there. One such item is ketchup fries. The bag claims that they are "totally cool," so I had to give them a try. I don't know if they're totally cool, but they are totally different and weirdly addicting. You'll just have to try them, but if you hate them do not come to the reference desk and demand that I refund you your money.

If ketchup fries aren't your cup of tea, then maybe an actual cup of tea, coffee, or cappuccino is your cup of--um okay, I'll stop the corny humor. But seriously, we now have a coffee machine in the craft area (middle of library)! It's only 50 cents and the hazelnut cappuccino is really good!

Yes, you are welcome to enjoy your snacks in the library, but we ask that you please clean up after yourself. There are trash cans throughout the library. If you accidentally spill, don't be embarrassed, let us know and we be happy to help clean it up.

Need something to go with that cap and coffee cake?

How about...