HOW I BECAME THE NEXT J.K. ROWLING
...or the Summer I Wrote a Totally Awesome Book and Got It Published!

Have you ever dreamed of becoming the next Stephenie Meyer or J.K. Rowling? Now’s your chance! Author J. Michael Squatritro (“The Overlords” series) will be at Middletown Public Library for an exclusive 5 week program teaching tweens and teens how to write a book. The group will meet every Tuesday night @6PM from July 6th until August 3rd. Stories and artwork developed in this workshop will be bound and sold at the library. Participants will receive a free copy!

The event is FREE! Food and drink will be provided.

SIGN UP NOW! SPACE IS LIMITED!

For more info or to reserve a space email ChristinaWolfskehl@yahoo.com or call 401 846-1573

Just the facts, Ma'am

DATE/TIME: Every Tuesday from July 6th until August 3rd @ 6pm

LOCATION: Middletown Public Library, 700 West Main Road, Middletown

PHONE FOR PUBLIC: 401 846-1573 CONTACT: Christina Wolfskehl (Young Adult Librarian) or Theresa Coish (Library Director), 846-1573

SPONSOR: Middletown Public Library, Screencraft Tileworks, and the Friends of the Library

ADMISSION: Free

Meet the Author with Ann Hood

On Saturday, May 29th @ 3PM MPL continues the “Meet the Author” series with critically acclaimed, New York Times bestselling author Ann Hood. Hood will be here to discuss and sign her latest novel, "The Read Thread."

In China there’s a belief that people who are destined to be together are connected by an invisible red thread. After the death of her daughter, Maya opens the Red Thread, an adoption agency that specializes in placing baby girls from China with American families. Brilliantly braiding together the stories of the Chinese birth mothers who give up their daughters and the American families desperate for a child, Hood writes a moving and beautifully told novel of fate and the red thread that binds these characters lives. Elle Magazine calls the book a "wisely woven novel" about loss and reconnection.

The event is FREE and all are welcome! Light refreshments and drink will be provided.

For more information about Ann Hood or “The Red Thread” go to: http://www.annhood.us/

Public Forum on Saturday, May 15th!

Remember that community service survey I talked about a few months back? That survey is helping us plan our future. And now we want to talk to YOU about it!

On Saturday, May 15th @ 2PM, MPL will hold an open public forum to discuss the Library's 2010-2015 long range plan. Patrons are invited to share their needs and concerns.

The Library Board of Trustees and staff will explain the reasons for undertaking the long range plan, its goals and objectives, and the planning process.

For more info please contact Library Director Theresa Coish @ 846-1573 or tcoish@middletownri.com.

And it's not too late to be heard. Click here and fill out the online community survey. YOUR VOICE COUNTS!!!

Underage Drinking in Newport County

Did you know underage drinking cost the citizens of Rhode Island $218 million in 2007?

To combat this problem Middletown & Newport have teamed up to create "Working Together Against Underage Drinking." This task force aims at educating teens and adults about the dangers and consequences of underage drinking.

During the past two years they have been attacking the problem through a combination of media (e.g., newspaper ads and stories, moving billboards, banners, posters), enforcement (e.g., party patrols, checks of bars and liquor stores), and policy (e.g., underage drinking ordinances, training of liquor servers, school policies).

How effective have their efforts been? That is where you come in. Please take the survey. It's only 5 minutes long and confidential. Also the information gathered will help the task force as they move towards reducing this $218 million problem.

Meet the Poets & Open Poetry Mic!

This is one of the coolest happenings MPL has had the radical distinction to host, daddy-o. In honor of National Poetry Month we are turning our popular "Meet the Author" series into "Meet the Poets". Celebrated local poets Aaron J. Hampton and Jean Michelle will be here to read their outstanding work and talk to us about life as a poet. They'll even give us tips on how to go from unpublished genius to critically acclaimed sensation!

And due to popular demand, we've just added an Open Poetry Mic to immediately follow. So for all you cool cats willing to share your words, come on down and gift us with your flow, daddy-o!

Online Educational Videos

This is too cool not to pass along.

Providence Public Library has created 3 educational videos as part of a grant from the Rhode Island College Paul V. Sherlock Center on Disabilities.

These videos are a MUST WATCH for anyone who works with children, teens or adults with special needs. The programs are aimed at teachers and librarians, but the tips and techniques discussed can be used by everyone!

Video 1: "Hands On Literacy" Wendy Kirchner of Meeting St. School presents this workshop to teach librarians how to effectively include children with special needs in library group activities.

Video 2: "Serving Diverse Populations in Library Programming" A panel of experts discuss how librarians and others who coordinate programs for the public can more seamlessly include those with disabilities.

Video 3: "Understanding the Patron with Mental Illness" This workshop presented by the National Alliance on Mental Illness, RI Chapter helps us explore the myths and misconceptions of people living with mental illness and mood disorders. Specifics include a discussion of effective communication strategies with both adults and children and techniques for de-escalation.

Should anyone wish to have copies of any of the handouts referenced in the presentations, just notify kbullard@provlib.org and she will forward them.

Financial Workshops @ MPL!

Money is on everyone's mind these days. You can't open a paper, turn on the tv or go online without seeing or hearing about it. In order to make ends meet we are all tightening our belts. But what if you didn't have to pull that belt so tight?

Starting in May MPL will host a series of FREE financial workshops on a variety of topics, including Making Sense of Retirement, A Smart Start to Mutual Funds, AND MORE!!! Financial advisor David MacDonald (or as we like to call him "that money smart fellas from Edward Jones") will lead the workshops and help you make the most of your hard-earned money!

Up first is:
TOPIC: Paying for Education
TIME: May 11th @ 6:30PM
SUMMARY: The seminar is designed to provide participants with information so that they may understand the value and importance of planning for their children's or grandchildren's future education costs.

And don't worry about the dinner; refreshments and light snacks will be served! (A free seminar and food? That sounds like a financially savvy move to me!)