Come Celebrate Childrens’ Book Week @ MPL!

To celebrate Children’s Book Week MPL is:

• > Holding Scavenger Hunts at Maring-Hunt (Guess the Character) and Kennedy (Who am I)! 
• > Giving away a drawing prize for checking out a book - Pre-K through 8^th grade (one per day per customer)!  
• > And having a Children’s Choice Awards Voting at all locations!  

Come in at any time during May 14th - 17th and check at the Children’s Desks to participate in these activities!

Hey kids! Come in and fill out a voting log and get something from the MPL treasure chests!  You can also ask us about our drop-in crafts/coloring sheets available at all locations! 

Manga @ MPL

Manga is used in the English-speaking world as a generic term for all comic books and graphic novels that were originally published in Japan. However, Manga is often considered an artistic and storytelling style that can also encompass non-Japanese works. The term AmeriManga is sometimes used to refer to comics created by American artists in a Manga style. Manwha is the Korean equivalent of that idea. From WiseGEEKS.com

Jane Austen Book Discussion

 

 

Jane Austen speaks your language!! If you love the literary works of Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Persuasion and more, then come join us at MPL’s Reads for Teens when we discuss Jane’s fabulous works, have tea and participate in a Jane Austen activity.

For Young Adults, grades 6-12, the Jane Austen book discussion and fun begins at 4:00 pm on Wednesday, May 7th. Don’t miss it!

 

 

2008 Edible Book Winners!

Children’s Fiction/Non-Fiction

1^st Place: Barbara Frazier for “Emerging from the Pages” inspired by Little House on the Prairie

 2^nd Place: Terry and Sarah Ellis for “Your Dreams Will Come True!” inspired by Cinderella

3^rd Place: Don, Kim, and Benjamin Wurtz for “Hats off to Dr. Seuss!” inspired by the books of Dr. Seuss

Adult Non-Fiction

1^st Place: Christal L. Veatch for “Food for Thought” inspired by the Holy Bible

Adult Fiction

   1^st Place: Jeffrey Frazier for “Two Tasty Towers” inspired by Lord of the Rings: the Two Towers

   2^nd Place: Julie Kay Wine for her entry inspired by Moby Dick

   3^rd Place: Monica James for her entry inspired by Secret Life of Bees

   4^th Place: Fay Haskins for her entry inspired by Nora Roberts’ Key series

Sonata Glass Sculpture @ Kennedy

Nearly 75 people were in attendance to hear and see the presentation by noted glass artist, Christopher Ries. Immediately following his presentation, the crowd was joined by additional customers and Library supporters eager to get a glimpse of the sculpture. The art area at Kennedy was filled to capacity as Ries and Patricia Schaefer, who donated the sculpture to the Library, lifted the cloth to reveal Sonata. The glass sculpture is an etched blue crystal multi-dimensional disk. It weighs more than 700 pounds and is nearly 7 feet tall including its pedestal base. Also in attendance at the event was Tom Hawk, owner of Hawk Galleries in Columbus, Ohio. Virginia (Ginny) Nilles, Muncie Public Library Director, thanked Schaefer for sharing this magnificent piece of art with Muncie Public Library and the Muncie community!

Incredible Edible Books!

Don’t miss the fun and laughs and oohs and ahhs as participants display their entries in the Muncie Public Library Edible Books Festival. The public is invited to view all the entries in the festival.

Those who registered are planning and creating their displays that will feature books, authors and characters depicted in food. That’s right, all entries must be created of edible materials. Cakes, pies, vegetables and other food stuffs will be creatively displayed to depict literature.

Entries are due at 2 p.m. at Kennedy Library. Judging is at 2:15 and the displays are open for viewing until 4 p.m. (Due to health codes the food creations cannot be served or consumed on the Library premises.)

More information

Image courtesy of University of Minnesota.

Kennedy Sculpture Unveiled

This sculpture will be displayed at Kennedy Library. You are invited to join us as this breathtaking artwork is unveiled…

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

3 pm Christopher Ries Presentation

4 pm Unveiling of “Sonata”

4-5:30 pm Reception-Enjoy Music and Refreshments

Kennedy Library, 1700 W. McGalliard Road, Muncie, Indiana

Visit the artist’s website here.

What can our community learn from Youngstown?

Jay Williams has attracted national and international attention since he became the first African-American to be elected mayor of Youngstown, Ohio in November 2005. Williams who was 34 years old when elected, was also the city’s youngest mayor.

His election as the city’s 47th mayor was an historic and stunning upset, and viewed by many political observers as a watershed event in the changing political landscape of the community. He was also the first independent candidate to win the mayoral seat in more than 80 years.

Youngstown has moved progressively under Mayor Williams’ leadership. The city’s planning and development efforts have been recognized and rewarded by a number of notable national organizations including, The Wall Street Journal, New York Times Magazine, USA Today, the American Planning Association, and Governing Magazine to name a few. The city’s achievements have also been featured on National Public Radio. (From the Youngstown, Ohio webpage.)

Revitalizing Communities with Michael Pyatok

You are invited to this special presentation by Michael Pyatok, nationally recognized architect and member of the American Institute of Architects, National Affordable Housing Task Group.

Pyatok Architects focuses on community planning, affordable housing, higher density, mixed-use developments and work-to-home zoning and economic development. The firm has won numerous awards. Sponsored by…1859 Forum, Ball State University’s College of Architecture and Planning, Maxon Foundation, Muncie Community Development Office, Muncie Public Library and Mutual Federal Foundation.

Russia Revealed!

Russia Revealed!

Kennedy Library, March 19 at 5 pm

Come kick off The Big Read at Muncie Public Library at Russia Revealed! The Big Read will focus on Leo Tolstoy’s The Death of Ivan Ilyich. Get a free copy while supplies last. Enjoy Russian arts and crafts, food and dance. This event is free and open to the public and will be fun for all ages.

Russia Revealed Book Discussion!

The Loft at Maring-Hunt Library, March 20 at  3:30 pm.

Middle school and high school students are invited to hang out in The Loft, get a free copy of The Death of Ivan Ilyich and talk about the themes of the story.

Special Thanks to our Big Read Partners!