Harriet Tubman, as re-enacted by Rosie Chapman, will be coming to the Grand Rapids Public Library on Saturday, February 20 and Sunday, February 21. Miz Rosie will engage the audience in an energized, dramatic, and interactive storytelling experience as she brings Harriet Tubman to life.
She will also be taking part in Taste of Soul Sunday festivities on Sunday, February 21, 2010 at the Main Library. This time of celebrating with music, lectures, food, crafts, and activities for the whole family will include a performance by Miz Rosie in the 2nd floor storytelling room at 2:00pm.
Check out this video for a “taste” of what is to come!
Almost 400 years of history have shaped the American Blues. Powerful music forged out of hardship and courage, and so enticing that they were charged with the power to “make a preacher lay his Bible down”.
This happened to Son House, when he switched careers from Baptist preacher to bluesman at an early age. The Blues carried a man with a homicide record out of prison, when Lead Belly composed a song to the Texas governor, pleading his case. They drew McKinley Morganfield out of the Delta plantations, up north, where he would become famous as Muddy Waters.
And no one really knows what happened on that deserted Mississippi crossroads, where the blues were suspected of tempting a young man to buy his uncanny talent for a price. This enigmatic legend was Robert Johnson.
The Blues were distilled from many generations, handed down, taken by foot, by mule, by train, and finally by the airwaves all over the U.S. The library has several excellent Blues DVD’s, and I’ve especially enjoyed “Bill Wyman’s Blues Odysses”, while reading the book that goes with it.
All 8 branches of the library have federal, state and city tax forms and various other publications available for you to pick up. What we don’t have we can probably print for you. Remember, you can always e-file, but if you want the paper copies, we have them. One caveat: we cannot choose your tax forms or give you tax advice.
Throughout the month of February, the Main Library will host an exhibit featuring children in Michigan that waiting to be adopted. The Michigan Heart Gallery is a photographic exhibit of children in foster care – the hope is that the display will inspire prospective parents to adopt an older child so these children can become a part of a loving family.
The exhibit is organized by the Michigan Adoption Resource Exchange, an organization that works to foster adoptions of harder-to-place children. At any given time there are about 4,000 children in Michigan’s foster care system who are available and waiting to be adopted.
Stop by and check out these great kids who need great families.
Yes, Saturday. As in this upcoming weekend. The Main Library has 5 pairs of vouchers that can be traded in for free tickets to the Grand Rapids Symphony on Saturday night. They are bringing us a Beethoven Violin Concerto at the DeVos Performance Hall. So if you’re working up the nerve to ask someone out or if you’re wishing for a night out with your sweetie or perhaps you want to share a new experience with your child… stop by the Youth Services Desk on Level 2 of the Main Library and Check It Out!
Here’s a little background on the violinist who will be playing:
No, not the university. I am talking about us, the state of Michigan. Did you know we played a huge role in helping people escape slavery? According to Professor Veta Tucker, “the Michigan network was so successful that their resistance was often cited in Congress as the debate raged for passing a new Fugitive Slave law.” Our state was the example! Meet the people and places that made up the Underground Railroad and the Abolitionist Army on Tuesday, February 9 at 7:00 pm.
Got your own research project in mind? Stop by Level 4 of the Main Library at 6:30 pm to take a brief tour of the Grand Rapids History and Special Collections Department. We’ve got the resources and the friendly assistance you need to get started!
And, be sure not to miss our fifth annual Taste of Soul Sunday on February 21! We’ve got more history presentations, including the History of Black Boxers in Michigan and Lessons from the Jim Crow Museum.
Check the Brown Bookshelf each day of this month to read about the many African American voices writing for young readers. Today I learned about AG Ford. If you missed a day or want to see who will be featured, 28 Days Later showcases the best in Picture Books, Middle Grade and Teen novels written and illustrated by African Americans.
I challenge you to check at least one of the books featured this month.
Are you starting a small business, writing a business plan, or doing market research? We can help!
On Thursday, February 4th, from 1:00-3:00pm, our Business Librarian will be available in the Small Business Resource Center to answer questions and help you get started with your small business research.
Stop by and check out the resources GRPL has for local entrepreneurs!
For over a year now, patrons of the Grand Rapids Public Library have been asked to return material to the library system they checked it out from. As most of you know, material will not be checked in until it reaches its home library. We made this change in conjunction with our move to the Evergreen catalog system, and it has been very successful in helping the Library be “lean” in our movement of materials.
Starting March 15, the rest of the Lakeland libraries will also move to this policy. The Lakeland Library Cooperative, which is made up of libraries from eight West Michigan counties, are asking all patrons to return library items to the location that they checked them out from. Just like at GRPL, items will not be checked in until they reach their “home” library system. This can take 7-10 days, and a patron will be responsible for the fines that are accrued during the travel period.
This past fall, the State of Michigan cut funding to libraries by 40%. These cuts have forced the Cooperative to reduce services that were funded by state aid. The Grand Rapids Public Library will continue to advocate to ensure that libraries are fully funded.
If you have any questions about the changes to Lakeland returns, please ask a library staff member. They are happy to answer any concerns you may have.
Almost 400 years of history have shaped the American Blues. Powerful music forged out of hardship and courage, and so enticing that they were charged with the power to “make a preacher lay his Bible down”.
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