Music in the McKenzie presents Small Potatoes Sunday, May 18 at Peoria Public Library North Branch

Peoria Public Library North Branch presents Music in the McKenzie: Small Potatoes at North Branch Sunday, May 18 at 2:00 p.m. for a repertoire of music described as “Celtic to Cowboy.”

Small Potatoes, a Chicago based folk duo of Jacquie Manning and Rich Prezioso, has been touring together since 1993. In that time they’ve become sought-after regulars at many clubs and coffeehouses across the U.S.

They say it has taken “years of careful indecision” to come up with a mix of music that ranges from country, blues, and swing to Irish, with songwriting that touches on all of those styles and more. Superb musicianship and showmanship, award-winning songwriting, and a strong sense of tradition has made them, as Dirty Linen Magazine once said, “one of the most polished, inventive, and entertaining shows on the circuit.”

For more on the history of Small Potatoes visit their website at smallpotatoesmusic.com. Proceeds from CD sales will benefit Friends of the Peoria Public Library. The show is free and open to all ages.

May Book Clubs at Peoria Public Library

Join a book club at Peoria Public Library this month.  New members are always welcome!

Book ‘Em Mystery Book Club will meet on Sunday, May 18 at 2:00 p.m. at Lakeview Branch to discuss Catch Me by Lisa Gardner. A 28-year-old police dispatcher seeks out Boston Sgt. Det. D.D. Warren Grant at a crime scene and asks the homicide detective to investigate her expected murder. Meanwhile, Warren is looking into the execution-style slayings of two pedophiles with the assistance of a female rookie sex crime detective.

The Sci-Fi/Fantasy Book Club meets on Monday, May 12 at Lakeview Branch at 6:30 p.m. to discuss Spirit Thief by Rachel Aaron. Eli Monpress is talented. He’s charming.  And he’s a thief. But not just any thief. He’s the greatest thief of the age – and he’s also a wizard. And with the help of his partners – a swordsman with the most powerful magic sword in the world but no magical ability of his own, and a demon seed who can step through shadows and punch through walls – he’s going to put his plan into effect. The first step is to increase the size of the bounty on his head, so he’ll need to steal some big things. But he’ll start small for now. He’ll just steal something that no one will miss – at least for a while. Like a king. Call 309-497-2149 for more information.

Peoria Reads Selection: Warriors Don’t Cry: A Searing Memoir of the Battle to Integrate Little Rock’s Central High by Melba Patillo Beals. In 1957, Melba Pattillo turned sixteen. That was also the year she became a warrior on the front lines of a civil rights firestorm. Following the landmark 1954 Supreme Court ruling, Brown v. Board of Education, Melba was one of nine teenagers chosen to integrate Little Rock’s Central High School.  Throughout her harrowing ordeal, Melba was taunted by her schoolmates and their parents, threatened by a lynch mob’s rope, attacked with lighted sticks of dynamite, and injured by acid sprayed in her eyes. But through it all, she acted with dignity and courage, and refused to back down. For more information about book discussions and events for Peoria Reads! Visit www.peoriareads.com.

The Biography and Non-Fiction Book Club will meet on Sunday, May 18, at 3:00 p.m. at North Branch to discuss Bobby & J. Edgar: The Historic Face-Off Between the Kennedys and J. Edgar Hoover That Transformed America. The history of one of the most admired (Bobby Kennedy) and one of the most reviled (J. Edgar Hoover) are entwined with that of Joseph Kennedy. This triumvirate was marked by conflict, betrayal and a strange Shakespearean familial bond. Set against the ongoing context of Joe Kennedy’s behind-the-scenes manipulation of key players in Congress, organized crime, and his own family, major players are revealed such as Roy Cohn, Martin Luther King, Marilyn Monroe, Lyndon Johnson, and Richard Nixon. For more information call 309-497-2186.

Bibliophiles will meet on Tuesday, May 6 at 1:30 p.m. at Lakeview Branch to discuss Clybourne Park by Bruce Norris.  Clybourne Park spans two generations fifty years apart. In 1959, Russ and Bev are selling their desirable two-bedroom at a bargain price, unknowingly bringing the first black family into the neighborhood and creating ripples of discontent among the cozy white residents of Clybourne Park. In 2009, the same property is being bought by a young white couple, whose plan to raze the house and start again is met with equal disapproval by the black residents of the soon-to-be-gentrified area. Are the issues festering beneath the floorboards actually the same, fifty years on? The author’s excruciatingly funny and squirm-inducing satire explores the fault line between race and property. For more information, call Carol May at (309) 692-1020 or email cmay1223@comcast.net.

The Read On Book Club will meet on Tuesday, May 27 at 5:30 p.m. at Lincoln Branch to discuss Church Boyz II and III by H.H. Fowler. Leroy Paxton, pastor of Mount Moriah Baptist Church thought his situation was under control and blackmailer, Shaniece, out of the picture – but he underestimated the power of blackmail. As new secrets about his past emerge, Shaniece determinedly works to destroy what he most cherishes, especially his twenty-six year marriage. Dominic Housten must make a difficult choice. Housten recently stumbled into Youth Leader Abraham Winder’s home and discovered a prostitute. Housten wonders if now is the time to resign as chief organ player at Mount Moriah and accept the position of bishop at his step-father’s church. Yet, the love he holds for the pastor’s daughter, Tayah, might keep him at Mount Moriah. But Tayha’s husband Phillip prefers if Dominic never say Tayah again. When Things Go Wrong picks up the story of Rod of the Wicked, and depicts the struggle to survive the battles of life and, as the dust settles, who will be left to pick up the pieces. The series concludes with My Last Cry. Shaniece Bryant is determined to maintain her hold on Leroy Paxton, pastor of Mount Moriah Baptist Church. Not to mention keep hold of what he’s worth. But she begins to run into adversity as Ellisa Benjamin, her sister and the woman who had a brief affair with Leroy, decides to follow her own path – one that is determinedly against Shanieces’. Tyaha Paxton, daughter of Pastor Leroy Paxton must choose between two men fighting for her heart. The love triangle gets a new player as A’moree enters the field. She is resolute on making the choice clear for Tayah, because one of these men will be hers. My Last Cry proves determination is everything. Good and evil battle it out. Which side will win? Call 497-2601 for more information.

Intercontinental Readers will continue to meet to discuss novels by American and Irish authors via Skype at Main Library LL 1 at 1:00 p.m. once every three months with readers in Ireland. The next meeting will be Tuesday, May 20, 2014 and the group will discuss The Testament of Mary by Colm Tóibín. Tóibín writes a provocative imagining of the later years of the mother of Jesus. Mary finds herself living a solitary existence in Ephesus years after her son’s crucifixion and struggling with guilt, anger, and feelings that her son is not the son of God and that His sacrifice was not for a worthy cause. Call 309-497-2143 for more information.

Club Read will meet on Wednesday, May 28 at 6:30 p.m. at Lakeview Branch to discuss The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner. The Sound and the Fury is the tragedy of the Compson family, featuring some of the most memorable characters in literature: beautiful, rebellious Caddy; the manchild Benjy; haunted, neurotic Quentin; Jason, the brutal cynic; and Dilsey, their black servant. Their lives fragmented and harrowed by history and legacy, the character’s voices and actions mesh to create what is arguably Faulkner’s masterpiece and one of the greatest novels of the twentieth century.

YA for Adults Book Club will meet on the third Tuesday, May 20 at 6:30 p.m. at Lakeview Branch to discuss Where the Stars Still Shine by Trish Doller. Stolen as a child from her large and loving family, and on the run with her mom for more than ten years, Callie has only the barest idea of what normal life might be like. She’s never had a home, never gone to school, and has gotten most of her meals from laundromat vending machines. Her dreams are haunted by memories she’d like to forget completely. But when Callie’s mom is finally arrested for kidnapping her, and Callie’s real dad whisks her back to what would have been her life, in a small town in Florida, Callie must find a way to leave the past behind. She must learn to be part of a family. And she must believe that love–even with someone who seems an improbable choice–is more than just a possibility.

Free Events for Children and Families in May at Peoria Public Library

Infant/Toddler, Monday, May 5, 12 & 19 – Lakeview Branch
Lakeview Lambs – 10:30-11:00 a.m., Ages 2 to 3.
Preschool, Tuesday, May 6, 13, 20 & 27 – Lincoln Branch
Terrific Tattletale Tuesday Storytime – 10:00-10:30 a.m., Ages 3 to 6. Wednesday, May 7, 14, 21 & 28 – McClure Branch
Fun Time Storytime – 10:00-10:30 a.m., Ages 3 to 6, Thursday, May 8, 15, 22 & 29 – North Branch.
What’s the Buzz? – 4:30-5:00 p.m., Keep your children enthusiastic about learning all day long – join us for What’s the Buzz?, a new after-school storytime with a focus on making non-fiction fun and approachable for preschool and kindergarten children. Come and listen to more fact-based picture books while still singing and moving in the storytime format your kids know and love!
Grade School, May 1-18 – All locations. Children’s Book Week Voting. Celebrate Children’s Book Week at the Peoria Public Library! Stop by any location May 1-18 to check out the 2014 finalists and vote for the title you like best. Just fill out the paper ballot in the Children’s area and hand in the form at the Information Desk to collect a special sticker. Voting automatically enters you into a drawing to win a $20 gift card to Barnes and Noble. For kids in grades K-6. Winner will be notified May 19.

Saturday, May 3 – North Branch, Make It! Take It! – 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. While looking for some fun books, stop by the Children’s Activity Room and make a cool craft! Ages 4 to 10. While supplies last.

Saturday, May 3 – Lakeview Branch, Art Exploration – 10:30-11:00 a.m. Do you enjoy exploring different types of art? Don’t mind getting messy with your projects? Join us each month as we explore various forms of art and make a different project to take home with you. Beware that some of our projects may involve paint, plaster of Paris, or other messy materials so don’t wear your favorite clothes! Registration is requested, but not required . Ages 7 to 12.

Saturday, May 3 – North Branch. Library LEGO Robotics – 1:00-4:00 p.m. Build real, functioning robots using Lego Mindstorms! Participants ages 9-14 will design, build, and program robots to complete a different challenge each month. All materials provided.

Saturday, May 3 – Main Library, Super Hero Day! – 2:30-4:00 p.m. Stop in to color your own super hero mask. And don’t forget to browse our huge superhero collection that is always available for you to check out! Ages 5-11.

Monday & Wednesday, May 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, 21 & 28 – North Branch Grade School Read-Aloud – 4:30-5:00 p.m. Even kids who can read independently can still enjoy being read to! Join us for a story time designed especially for grade school students who are ready to listen to a longer chapter book, and don’t need many pictures. Can’t make a day? That’s okay! We’ll be reading the same book on two different days, so there’s plenty of time to catch up. This month, we’re reading 1979 Newbery winner The Westing Game, by Ellen Raskin.

Monday, May 5 – Lincoln Branch Front & Center: Cinco de Mayo Celebration – 5:00-6:00 p.m. Come in and celebrate Cinco de Mayo with fun, crafts, games and snacks. Grades 3 and 4. While supplies last.

Monday, May 5 – Lakeview Branch STEAM – 6:30-7:30 p.m. Each month at the Lakeview Branch there will be a program centered around STEAM! If you like Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math, then this is the program for you! This month, join us for a special program featuring Bob “Rocket Man” Windt. Everyone will get to make their own rocket! Grades 3 to 5.

Friday, May 9 – Lakeview Branch Mother-Daughter Book Club – 4:00-4:45 p.m. In honor of Mother’s Day, mothers and daughters are invited to join us for cookies, punch, and milk to discuss The Mother-Daughter Book Club by Heather Vogel Frederick. If you need help getting a copy of the book please call 497-2200. Ages 9 to 13.

May 12-17 – McClure Branch. Guess the Children’s Book – 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. This week is National Children’s Book Week! Drop by and try to guess which children’s book is in the jar. The winner will be picked from those who guessed correctly and will receive a book as a prize. Ages 4-13.

Saturday, May 17 – Lincoln Branch Front & Center: Mother and Daughter Book Discussion and Tea – 1:00-2:00 p.m. Moms and Daughters join us for a special tea party to discuss the book The Broken Bike Boy and the Queen of 33rd Registration is required. For more information, please call 497-2600.

Saturday, May 31 – McClure Branc Magical Musical Storytime – 10:30-11:00 a.m. & 3:30-4:00 p.m. Listen to the magical sounds of music stories and make a fun instrument craft to take home and keep the music going. Ages 4-10. While supplies last.

Middle School/High School, Saturday, May 3 – Lincoln Branch Ebook Lab – 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Did you know the library has e-books and audio books you can checkout online? Join us for an E-book Lab to learn how to access these materials on your preferred device (computer, tablet, e-reader, or even some phones). Stop in to get help setting up your account (library card required) for free access and take a tour of the site. Ages 14 and up.

Monday & Tuesday, May 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20 & 27 – Lincoln Branch Project Next Generation – 5:00-7:00 p.m.

It’s All About the Kids (5th – 8th grades) – technology, mentoring and their futures. Participants of this program will work with project mentors and library staff who provide a mix of technological experiences and life skills vital for lifelong success. Students will learn how to use computers, the internet, digital cameras, iPad 2 and other technologies, while practicing problem-solving and communication skills. Funding for this grant was awarded by the Illinois State Library, a Department of the Office of Secretary of State, using funds provided by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services, under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA). Sign-up is required. For more information please call 497-2600.

Tuesday, May 6 – Lincoln Branch Front & Center: Live Wire Teen Discussion – 5:00-6:00 p.m. Looking for answers to complicating issues with being a teen? Join us for an evening of discussion pertaining to relationships, peer pressure, education and more. Ages 13 to 16.

Wednesday, May 7, 14, 21 & 28 – North Branch Final Exam Relief Room – 6:30-7:45 p.m. Stress of finals getting you down? Need a place to unwind? High school and college students are invited to visit the Peoria Public Library North Branch on Wednesday nights in May for a place to relax and give your brain a rest. Grab a coloring book, watch a movie, and be ready to tackle those end-of-the-semester projects in a better mindset. And of course, if inspiration strikes while you’re here, we have plenty of print and online resources waiting at your fingertips!

 

Street by Sharon Flake. Refreshments will be served.

Tuesday, May 13 – Lakeview Branch, College Savvy: WhatsNextIllinois Online Student Portal – 6:30-7:30 p.m. This presentation provides a free online student portal to assist students with: career planning, high school planning, college planning, financial aid planning, college search, scholarship search, and more. Students in grades 8th parents, and adult learners are invited to attend.

Saturday, May 17 – Main Library, Minecraft – 12:00-3:00 p.m. Create amazing structures, battle terrible things, and claim your territory in Minecraft!

Ages 8 to 14 are invited to join us for 3 hours of uninterrupted play. Space is limited, so please call 497-2150 to register.

Monday, May 19 – North Branch, Navigating the Road to College Success – 6:00-7:00 p.m. College admission is more competitive than ever before. How can you prepare and give yourself a competitive edge while enjoying the process? With over 30 years of experience in education and private consulting, Marla Brady will lead a series of workshops designed to get you on the road to success in the college application process!

This month: College Success for Freshman.

All Ages

May – Lincoln Branch
1 to 1 Tech Help

Have you ever wished you had your own personal technology guru to help you? Do you have a computer question, or an electronic device you would like some one-on-one help with? If so, now you can schedule a “1 to 1 Tech Help” session at the library! You pick a half hour time slot that works with your schedule and provide some information about what you would like help with. At the meeting, a librarian will be ready to help and focus on you. Drop in or call the Lincoln Branch to schedule your “1 to 1 Tech Help” session. Sessions must be scheduled in advance.

Friday, May 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 – North Branch
Busy Bees Storytime – 10:30-11:00 a.m.

Join us for an all-ages storytime. Stories, songs, and fun for the whole hive!

Friday, May 2 & 16 – Lakeview Branch

LEGO Builders Club – 4:00-5:00 p.m.

Calling all LEGO fans! Join us for our new Lego Builders Club. Each session will have a building theme as well as time to create your own design. Since there are a limited number of LEGOs, please call 497-2200 to reserve your spot in advance. Recommended for ages 5 and up.

Monday, May 5, 12 & 19 – Lincoln Branch
Prime Time Family Reading Time – 5:30-7:00 p.m.

Calling all families with children ages 6 and older to enjoy interactive storytelling and group discussions. Storyteller Kay Price and Scholar Nancy Tolson will present stories in an engaging and fun way. And let us not forget the younger siblings in the family – Preschool Coordinator Barbara Harris will be on hand to read and create crafts for the preschoolers in the family. Join in on the family fun!

Tuesday, May 6 – Lakeview Branch, Family Fun Night – 6:00-7:30 p.m.

This month we’re making our own tie-dyed shirts! Bring your own white t-shirt to tie-dye and we’ll supply the dyes, instructions, and show you different techniques. Remember, while tie-dying is fun, it can be messy so don’t wear your favorite clothes! Recommended for ages 7 and up. Space and supplies are limited so registration is required to reserve your spot. 497-2200.

Wednesday, May 7, 14, 21 & 28 – Lakeview Branch, Owlet Storytime – 10:30-11:00 a.m.

Bring your little owls to a storytime for all ages including fingerplays, songs and easy crafts. All Ages.

Thursday, May 8 & 15 – Lincoln Branch, Puppet Show: “Fox Learns a Lesson” – 10:00-10:30 a.m. Help Fox learn to read and like books! All ages welcome.

Saturday, May 10

McClure Branch – 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Lincoln Branch – 12:00-5:00 p.m.

Mother’s Day Make It! Take It! Come make a special Mother’s Day craft. While supplies last.

May 12-18 – Lincoln Branch, Book Jars – All day

In honor of Children’s Book Week the book jars are back! From May 12th stop by and see if you can guess the famous children’s books in the jars. 18th

 

Monday, May 12 – North Branch, Pajama Storytime – 7:00-7:45 p.m.

Join us for a picture book party! We’ll enjoy stories, songs, and activities! Wear your PJ’s and bring a blanket to bundle up — you’ll be ready for bed when you head home!

Saturday, May 17 – McClure Branch, Meet Amanda – 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

Stop by McClure Branch to meet their Children’s Librarian, Ms. Amanda. Enter to win a Leap Pad.

Saturday, May 17 – Lakeview Branch, Armed Forces Day Storytime – 11:00-11:45 a.m.

Come celebrate Armed Forces Day at the Lakeview Branch. Today we’ll read stories, learn about our men and women in the Armed Forces and make a patriotic craft just in time for Memorial Day. While supplies last.

Sunday, May 18 – North Branch, Music in the McKenzie Presents: Small Potatoes – 2:00-4:00 p.m.

The Chicago based folk duo of Jacquie Manning and Rich Prezioso say it has taken them years of careful indecision to develop a repertoire they describe as “Celtic to Cowboy.” Superb musicianship and showmanship, award-winning songwriting, and a strong sense of tradition has made them, as Dirty Linen Magazine once said, “one of the most polished, inventive, and entertaining shows on the circuit.” CDs will be available to purchase with proceeds going to the Friends of the Peoria Public Library. For more information, visit smallpotatoesmusic.com.

Thursday, May 22 – Lincoln Branch, Great Kidz Homeschooling Adventures – 1:00-2:00 p.m.

Lincoln Branch is offering monthly activities to homeschooling parents and students. Join us as we plan activities that will be tailored to be inclusive of all possible age groups and capabilities.

Friday, May 23 – Lakeview Branch, Lucky Penny Day Make It! Take It! – 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.

Come celebrate Lucky Penny Day by making your very own Piggy Bank to house all of your lucky pennies. While supplies last.

Wednesday, May 28 – Lakeview Branch, Learn About 911 Storytime – 10:30-11:00 a.m.

In a special Owlet Storytime, Peoria’s Emergency Communication Center will teach you all about when and why to call 911.

Saturday, May 31 – North Branch, Board Game Saturday – 1:00-4:00 p.m.

Do you like board games? Monopoly, Battleship, or Apples to Apples? Then grab some friends and join us for Board Game Saturdays. This series is from 1-4 p.m. in the Beehive at North Branch! The library will supply the games, but if you have a favorite please bring it along. Drop in for a round or an entire game!