Atlantic Book Awards

The 2010 Atlantic Book Awards and Festival will take place throughout the region April 10-18. The awards ceremony will be at the Alderney Landing Theatre in Dartmouth on April 14 at 7 p.m. For more information about upcoming presentations at the library by the shortlisted authors and illustrators, call 490-5991.

African Heritage Month

Halifax Public Libraries kicked off African Heritage Month with an opening night event at the Halifax North Library.

The opening night celebration included a traditional libations ceremony, performances by singers Cindy Cain and Kim Bernard and greetings from dignitaries such as The Honourable Mayann E. Francis ONS, DHumL, Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, The Honourable Percy Paris, Minister of African Nova Scotian Affairs and U.S. Consul General Anton K. Smith.

The Library celebrated African heritage throughout February with over 20 programs for adults, teens and children.

Income Tax Clinics

Volunteers trained by the Canada Revenue Agency can help you complete your income tax return at most branches of Halifax Public Libraries. This free service is for single persons earning under $25,000 or single-parent or family incomes of less than $30,000. Volunteers are not able to complete forms that involve rental, self-employment, capital gains or complex investments.

Registration began March 2, call your branch to book an appointment.

For clinic dates and times, visit halifaxpubliclibraries.ca.

Community Volunteer Income Tax Clinics are co-sponsored by the Canada Revenue Agency and Halifax Public Libraries.

For information about the volunteer program, call 1-800-959-8281.

The Library’s Biggest Book Sale

Mark your calendars for Halifax Public Libraries’ annual book sale. It’s the perfect opportunity to find bargains on books for all ages. Thousands of books and other items will be for sale.

For more information, call 490-5753.

Please note, the book sale is cash only.

ALDERNEY GATE
Friday, April 23/1-4 p.m.
Saturday, April 24/10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Book Donation from the U.S. Consulate

Anton K. Smith, the U.S. Consul General in Halifax, presented Halifax Public Libraries with a collection of 16 non-fiction books for children on the opening night of African Heritage Month. The books, all focusing on Dr. Martin Luther King or the civil rights movement, are an appreciated addition to the Library’s collection. The books have been distributed among five branches, but are available to anyone with a Halifax Public Libraries card.

The Author Stage
Author readings and talks on video

Last year, Halifax Public Libraries presented over 30 author readings. If you missed your favourite author, or you’d just like to experience it again, check out The Author Stage.

We’ve filmed readings with critically acclaimed authors and posted them at halifaxpubliclibraries.ca. Just click on the ‘Readers’ tab to find videos of Donna Morrissey, Alistair MacLeod and Wayson Choy. We’ll continue to add videos, so check back periodically.

Book Clubs

The Libraries’ book clubs are a great way to meet new people, explore new authors
and share reading ideas. Join us.

Tuesday, March 30/2 p.m.
What Came Before He Shot Her, by Elizabeth George
Registration began February 23.

Tuesday, April 27/2 p.m.
Nature Girl, by Carl Hiaasen
Registration begins March 30.

Bridge

Meet and play with other bridge lovers.

Some experience is necessary.
Alternate Wednesdays/6:30-8:30 p.m.
March 10, 24, April 7 & 21

Hormonal Super Sleuth

Dr. Sara Croteau of Chirocare Sports Medicine and Natural Health will discuss ways to balance your hormones naturally.

Registration is required, call 490-5757.
Wednesday, March 31/7 p.m.

Computer Programs

Please register as space is limited.
Duration: 90 minutes, unless otherwise indicated

Computer Basics-An introduction to computers, no experience required.
Monday, March 22/10 a.m.
Registration began March 2.

How to Navigate the Internet-An introduction to navigating the Internet and using a web browser.
Prerequisite: Beyond the Basics or basic mouse, keyboard and Windows skills.
Saturday, April 10/10 a.m.
Registration began March 2.

E-mail Basics-Learn to send, reply, forward and delete e-mail.
Prerequisite: How to Navigate the Internet or familiarity using web browsers.
Monday, April 19/10 a.m.
Registration began March 2.

English Language Learning (ELL)

Get help with your English language skills at volunteer tutor programs sponsored by Halifax Public Libraries and the Nova Scotia Department of Immigration.

The programs are free and open to:

-Permanent residents of Canada;
-Canadian citizens born outside of Canada (though services to recent immigrants to Nova Scotia will be given priority);
-Protected persons as defined in Section 95 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act;
-Foreign nationals temporarily residing in Nova Scotia who have been nominated (received Certificate of Nomination) under the Nova Scotia Nominee Program and their dependants.

Mondays/1:30-4 p.m.
Thursdays/6:30-8:30 p.m.
Call 490-5757

Volunteer Tutors Needed
All branches; please call 490-5990

Volunteer Appreciation Week

In 2009, volunteers donated 17,300 hours to the library’s Home Delivery, ELL, Adult Literacy, Summer Youth Assistants, Leading Readers and Children’s Reading Support programs.

To celebrate National Volunteer Appreciation Week, April 19-25, the library is recognizing this major contribution from our volunteers. On behalf of the patrons who benefit from your generosity, thank you. Our success in these programs greatly depends on your efforts.

Teen ELL

Ages 13-17
Open to teens in need of help with their English language skills.
For more information, call Tatjana at 490-5757.
Co-sponsored by the Cobequid Community Health Board.
Tuesdays/6:30-8:30 p.m.

Wii Tournament Season:

Championship Round
Ages 13-19
Finalists (by invitation) will compete to win prizes such as a Nintendo DS or an iPod shuffle. If you aren’t a finalist, there will be wildcard spots.
Spectators are welcome and can participate in free play if time allows.
Call 490-5757 for information.
Saturday, March 13/11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Word Up! Poetry Contest

Grades 7-12
Do you have notebooks full of poetry or verses written in the margins of your scribbler? Free verse or rhyming, sonnets or haiku — whatever kind of poetry you write, we want it!

Submit your poems for a chance to win a Future Shop or Chapter’s gift card.

First place will get a $100 gift card, second place a $50 gift card and third place a $25 gift card.

Check halifaxpubliclibraries.ca for contest details.

All submissions will be posted on the website. Entries can be submitted online or in person from March 1-April 26. Prizes will be awarded in junior high and high school categories.

Winners will be announced at the Word Up! Poetry Contest Awards Event on Saturday,May 29 at 2 p.m. at Keshen Goodman.

TeenRC

“Read all about it!” at TeenRC, the year-round, online reading forum for teens.

Connect with other teens who love books, share reviews and win prizes. Each review posted is a chance to win a $25 Chapter’s gift card, a prize pack or a grand prize book-buying and café outing.
Check out teenrc.ca for details.

Paws to Read-Support for Students

Grades 1-5
Does your child need encouragement to read? Maybe a reading therapy dog can help.

Reading therapy dogs and their handlers are trained volunteers certified by Therapeutic Paws of Canada. Paws to Read matches children who have trouble reading with an audience that won’t judge their reading skills. Children have fun and gain confidence reading to an excellent listener.
Tuesdays/3:30 p.m.
Call 490-5757 to register.

March Break

Puppet Shows
All ages

The Frog Prince
Tuesday, March 16
10:30 a.m.

The Leprechaun’s Gold
Wednesday, March 17
10:30-11:15 a.m.
Followed by a chocolate coin hunt in the library.

Nearly Normal Norman
Ages 5-12
Juggling, magic, unicycling and more.
Thursday, March 18
2:30-3:15 p.m.

Mad Science—Air Pressure

Ages 5-12
Use a vortex generator to create air pockets with a punch and watch pressure build and pop.
Friday, March 19
10:30-11:15 a.m.

Just for Twos

Age 2
Crawl through the magic tunnel to enter a world of imagination through stories, rhymes, instruments and crafts.
Fridays/10:15-11 a.m.
April 9-May 21
Registration begins March 26.

Baby & Toddler Drop-in

Ages 0-35 months
Introduce your child to the wonderful world of books. They’ll enjoy stories, songs, rhymes, puppets and musical instruments.
Tuesdays/10:15-10:45 a.m.
Free tickets will be given out 15 minutes before the program.
March 2-May 18
(No program March 16 & 23.)

Puppet Shows

Thursday, March 4/10:30 a.m.
Sleeping Beauty
Thursday, March 11/10:30 a.m.
Monster Reads
Tuesday, March 16/10:30 a.m.
The Frog Prince
Wednesday, March 17/10:30 a.m.
The Leprechaun’s Gold
Puppet show followed by a chocolate coin hunt in the library.
Thursday, April 1/10:30 a.m.
Don’t Count Your Chickens
Puppet show followed by a chocolate egg hunt in the library.
Thursday, April 8/10:30 a.m.
The Donkey Prince
Thursday, April 15/10:30 a.m.
Spike
Thursday, April 22/10:30 a.m.
Little Riding Hood & Friends: an Earth Day story
Thursday, April 29/10:30 a.m.
The Smartie Garden

The Bedford Public Library is located at 15 Dartmouth Road.

For more information on events at the Halifax Public Libraries visit halifaxpubliclibraries.ca or call 490-5757.