Library News: March 30

Talk about it

Historical reenactment

The Arrowhead Library System invites you to a high-flying historical reenactment at the following locations at the Two Harbors Public Library at 1:30 p.m. and the Silver Bay Public Library at 6 p.m. April 13.

Minnesota Historical Society Player “Virginia Mae Hope” will share the tales of her childhood during the Great Depression, her service as an air force pilot during World War II, and her experience of the changing roles of women in her lifetime. As a costumed interpreter, Virginia brings Minnesota history alive while entertaining and engaging audiences with vibrant stories and intriguing artifacts.

This informative and interactive program is geared towards older children and adult audiences. Admission to the event is free thanks to sponsorship by the Arrowhead Library System and funding by money from Minnesota’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Poetry lunch

The Arrowhead Library System and Two Harbors Public Library invite you to a poetry reading brownbag at the Two Harbors Public Library at noon on Wednesday.

Poets Sheila Packa and Michelle Matthees will share their work as related to place. Packa grew up south of Biwabik and has a deep understanding of how place helps define identity and can be celebrated in poetry. Matthees shares how place informs her poetry, especially as it relates to travel — including her recent trips to Russia, Turkey, and Ukraine. Local poets are encouraged to share their poetry as well.

Sheila Packa is the author of “Echo & Lightning” and “Cloud Birds,” editor of “Migrations: Poetry & Prose for Life’s Transitions,” and served as Duluth’s Poet Laureate from 2010-12. Michelle Matthees is a current Minnesota State Arts Board Fellow and the author of “Served,” “Outside,” and “Junket.”

This informative and interactive program is geared towards all audiences. Admission to the event is free thanks to sponsorship by the Arrowhead Library System and funding by money from Minnesota’s Arts and Cultural Legacy Fund. Please bring your own lunch.

Poetry workshop

The Arrowhead Library System and Silver Bay Public Library invite you to a poetry workshop followed by a reading at the Silver Bay Public Library at 1 p.m. Tuesday.

Poets Sheila Packa and Michelle Matthees will lead these programs, starting with a poetry workshop that explores and celebrates the role of place in our lives. Using guided writing exercises, participants will explore themes like memory, tradition, pride and even alienation.

Vote for final “March Madness” for books

All during March Two Harbors Library has had a just-for-fun set of brackets to vote on, the Cleverest Detective for adults, Favorite Series for teens, and Evilest Villain for kids. The voting goes through March 31, so there is still time to put in your votes on Friday and Saturday. The finalists are classic detective Sherlock Holmes versus Blomkvist & Salander from the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series; Harry Potter versus Hunger Games for most popular series; and the finalists on both sides of the brackets for villains are from the Harry Potter books — Lord Voldemort versus Delores Umbridge.

Learn about E-Readers

Reading books on an E-book reader has become very popular. The Tech Topics program at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Two Harbors Public Library will include an introduction to the use and features of E-readers, provided by Amanda Ryder. She will also show how to download free books through the Library Overdrive service. Several volunteers from the Friends of the Library are also bringing in their E-readers to demonstrate a Nook, Kindle, and Sony. This program will be a good introduction if you are considering purchasing an E-reader, or a chance to learn more if you already have one.

Nature observation

program

Carly Hawkinson, the naturalist from Gooseberry Falls State Park, will lead programs about phenology, the art and science of nature observation April 6 at the Silver Bay Public Library at 11 a.m. and at the Two Harbors Public Library at 2:30 p.m. She will use readings from the book “The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate,” as a starting point.

In the story, Calpurnia is given the Notebook and learning to record her observations becomes part of discovering herself as well as learning more about nature. This is the young people’s book for the Duluth area One Book for 2012; along with the adult book “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” the community read this year has a focus on scientific methods. Brochures with many other One Book events are available at the library or on the Duluth Public Library web site.

The nature observation program is for children ages 6 to 12, although nature-focused 4- or 5-year-olds may enjoy it, and older students and adults may appreciate it also. Participants will have a chance to begin recording nature observations of their own with starter pages or notebooks provided.

April is National

Library Month

The Two Harbors Public Library will be celebrating all month with history displays in the library.

Two Harbors has been very supportive of the library, from the fundraising to match the Carnegie grant in 1908 to the current very active Friends of the Library organization.

There will be an Open House on April 12. More details will be announced next week.