Sponsored by the Friends of the Library

Check out the book at your library and find dates for book discussions inside this EXPLORE.

Join the community conversation in the inaugural community read.

Appomattox Regional Library System MARCH-MAY 2015

The Other Wes Moore

T WO FAT E ST WO FAT E SO N E N A M EO N E N A M E

VERSION 3 • NUMBER 1

LOCATIONS

OUR MISSION

BOARD of TRUSTEES

HEADQUARTERSHopewell 804-458-6329209 E. Cawson StreetHopewell, VA 23860

Burrowsville 757-866-065918701 James River DriveDisputanta, VA 23842

Carson Depot 434-246-290016101 Halligan Park RoadCarson, VA 23830

Dinwiddie 804-469-945014103 Boydton Plank RoadDinwiddie, VA 23841

Disputanta 804-991-240310010 County DriveDisputanta, VA 23842

McKenney 804-478-486620707 First StreetMcKenney, VA 23872

Prince George 804-458-6329 x37006605 Courts DrivePrince George, VA 23875

Rohoic 804-732-41197301 Boydton Plank RoadPetersburg, VA 23803

The Appomattox Regional Library System (ARLS) will provide services and programs to the communities it serves through support of life-long learning, general information, and the exchange of ideas with effective use of traditional library resources and emerging technology.

Mary BenjaminDinwiddie

Libbie DragooHopewell

Doris GallupPrince George

Bertha JudgePrince George

Fran HalupkaHopewell

Jacqueline SheppersonHopewell

Martha SykesDinwiddie

Pamela TugglePrince George

Sharon Bonner YatesDinwiddie

CONTENT AND ENDORSEMENT:The content of ARLS publications, classes, and events does not necessarily reflect the views held by the Library, nor does mention of companies or organizations imply endorsement.

PHOTO/VIDEO RELEASE STATEMENT:By attending ARLS, or ARLS co-sponsored classes or events, at any location, the attendee agrees that: ARLS shall have the unrestricted right and license to use his or her image, likeness, name, voice, comment, or other proprietary or public rights, and that of any minor accompanying attendee, in any broadcast, telecast, photograph, video, audio sound, audiovisual, and/or other recording taken in connection with the class, event, or other transmission, distribution, public performance, or reproduction, in whole or in part, of the class or event for all purposes, worldwide, in perpetuity, and in any and all media now or hereafter known, without compensation. ARLS is the exclusive owner of all copy-rights, and other proprietary rights. The rights granted herein to ARLS are assignable.

Hopewell Library Evening | Last Wednesday 6:30 p.m.

March 25 . . . . Paper Towns by John Green

April 28 . . . . . . The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore (meeting moved to Tuesday starts at 7:00 p.m.)

May 27 . . . . . . . The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin

Hopewell Library Afternoon | Third Thursday 1:00 p.m.

March 16 . . . . . Two a.m. at the Cats Pajamas by Marie-Helene Bertino

April 16 . . . . . . Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

May 21 . . . . . . . The Remedy for Love by Bill Roorbach

Dinwiddie Library | Third Thursday 7:00 p.m.

March 16 . . . . . Me Before You by Jo Jo Moyes

April 16 . . . . . . The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore

May 21 . . . . . . . The Hurricane Sisters by Dorothea Benton Frank

Introducing Book Group to Go!Want to start your own Book Group? It’s easy! Check out one of our Book Group Kits and gather friends! Each kit contains 10 copies of the title, a discussion guide, book and author background, and other goodies to make your book discussion successful.

Titles currently available: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister, Maus by Art Spiegelman, Good to Great by Jim Collins, Street Dreams by K’wan, The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion, The Lowland by Jhumpa Lahiri, Me Before You by Jojo Moyes, The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin, The Light between Oceans by M.L. Stedman, A Season for Tending by Cindy Woodsmall, Longbourn by Jo Baker, and The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin.

Library Board Meetings

The Appomattox Regional Library Board of Trustees meets at 2 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month as follows:

March 17, 2015 . . . . . .Hopewell LibraryApril 21, 2015 . . . . . . .Prince George LibraryMay 19, 2015 . . . . . . . .Hopewell Library

Library Closings

May 25, 2015 . . . . . . . Memorial Day

bookgroupsEXPL RE Volume 3 | Number 1

www.arls.org • • • • •

instructor Terri Spicer. Ms. Spicer has been a fitness instructor for over 30 years. She is a certified Group Fitness Instructor with ACE (American Council on Exercise), and has 500 hours of yoga training with Yoga Alliance. She has also received advanced training specifically for seniors. The classes will be one hour in length. They are free and open to all our patrons.

Hopewell Library

Sit and Be FitTuesdays, March 3 - May 26 | 10:30-11:30 a.m.

This full-body workout is designed to be done from both a seated chair and a standing position. The class will emphasize exercises to improve flexibility, muscle and bone strength, circulation, and balance. It is fun and easy and suitable to people of all fitness abilities.

Dinwiddie Library

Appraiser and Rare Book Dealer, Nicholas CookeMay 2 | 1 p.m.

How much is that first edition To Kill a Mockingbird worth? Do you have faded postcards showcasing local businesses

or attractions? The Friends of the Library, Dinwiddie invite you to bring two or three books or ephemera to be evaluated by Nick Cooke of “Black Swan Books.” He has been actively involved in the antiquarian book busi-ness for nearly twenty years. Nick will offer his insights on rare books and what creates value in old, sentimental items. This event is sponsored by the

Friends of the Library, Dinwiddie (FOLD).

Fitness@the library

ARLS will begin fitness classes at its Prince George and Hopewell locations this spring. The classes will be taught by

ADULT PROGRAMSReading Along The AppomattoxAppomattox Regional Library will begin its inaugural Community Read project this spring entitled “Reading Along The Appomattox.” The intent of the project is to promote reading, research, discovery, and sharing of perspectives among the citizens of Hopewell, Prince George, and Din-widdie by encouraging them to read the same book and to participate in programs related to that book. The book selected for this inaugural year is “The Other Wes Moore,” a popular nonfiction book in which a young man compares his life to that of a man with the same name and similar background who is in prison.

Book discussion meetingsPrince George Library | April 9 | 7:00 p.m.Dinwiddie Library | April 16 | 7:00 p.m.Hopewell Library | April 28 | 7:00 p.m.

Panel discussion Saturday, April 18, 2:00 p.m. at Hopewell Library

The panel discussion is sponsored by the Hopewell/Prince George Friends of the Library and everyone is invited to attend.

Join the community conversation in the inaugural community read.

groups

Books available for free checkout or $5 purchase

at all ARLS locations.

ADULT PROGRAMSHopewell/Prince George Friends of the Library Annual Meeting April 18 | 2:00 p.m.

The Annual Meeting of the Hopewell/Prince George Friends meeting will be held at Hopewell. The panel discussion of the inaugural “Reading Along The Appomattox”, will be hosted by the Friends as part of their meeting. This program is free and open to the pub-lic. Read the book, “The Other Wes Moore” and come participate in the discussion to voice your opinions and views on the book.

Beekeeping@the libraryApril 25 | 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Do you like honey? Have you always wondered about bees and the process of making honey. New to the world of beekeeping, or a seasoned beekeeper? Come listen to Mr. Radford talk about bees and beekeeping and you might get to see a small hive. Bees might start buzzing in your head about starting your own hive soon. This will be a family program and chil-dren, teens and adults are most welcome.

Southside From the HeartJoin our knitters and crocheters as they create items for local hospitals, nursing homes and shelters. Crafters of all ages and skill levels are welcome.

Hopewell1st & 3rd Thursday evenings from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.2nd & 4th Thursday mornings from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

CarsonEvery Monday afternoon from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Dinwiddie2nd & 4th Wednesday afternoons from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.

Prince George1st & 3rd Tuesday afternoons from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Prince George LibraryYoga for BeginnersThursdays, March 5 - May 28 | 12:00-1:00 p.m. There will be no class on April 9

Receive the abundant benefits of yoga. This gentle class offers flowing movements at a gentle pace with attention to breathing and postures. You will see improvement in muscle strength, circulation, flexibility, and balance. It is suitable to people of all fitness levels. Please bring a yoga mat to class.

Poetry, Prose and PizzaThursday, April 23 | 6 p.m.

Come share your original poetry or prose or a selection from another writer. Or just come to enjoy a slice of Luca Italian pizza and a drink while you listen to other poets and writers. Nathan Richardson, emcee, maintains a family friendly and supportive atmosphere for all ages. Nathan is a published poet and speaker from Virginia’s Tide-water area. This event is sponsored by the Hopewell/Prince George Friends of the Library with generous support by Luca Italian Restaurant.

Art ExhibitsSee youth art at its finest this spring at the library. The Prince George Women’s Club sponsors a juried art competition youth competition annually. All ages are represented in this exhibit. Following this exhibit, Prince George County Heritage Center will exhibit art from their annual Coffee House at the Courthouse event.

February 20 – March 5: Prince George Women’s Club Student Art Show.

May 15 – May 29: Prince George County Heritage Center Coffee House at the Courthouse Show.

Life in Wood

May 1 – June 27 at Hopewell, with featured pieces on display at Dinwiddie and Prince George.

“Life in Wood” is an exhibit by Vita Davenport, a Dinwiddie resident. This exhibit features animals and landscapes created from heat and wood with the process of “pyrography,” which translates to “fire writing.”

YOUTH PROGRAMS YOUTH PROGRAMSEarly Literacy Classes for Families featuring Rhonda Lee, Literacy SpecialistEarly literacy is everything a child knows about reading and writing before he or she can read or write. Developing these skills will help your child become a strong, independent read-er. It is never too early to start! Join Ms. Lee, an Early Literacy specialist, after select Story Time sessions at the Hopewell and Prince George libraries to learn ways to encourage early literacy skills in your children. Parents and caregivers will re-ceive helpful tips and tricks as well as easy, inexpensive ways to help your child develop valuable skills and love reading!

Early WritingMonday, March 23 - after the 10:30 Story Time session at Hopewell

Thursday, March 26 - after the 10:30 Story Time session at Prince George

Transitioning into KindergartenMonday, May 4 - after the 10:30 Story Time session at Hopewell

Thursday, May 7 - after the 10:30 Story Time session at Prince George

NEW PROGRAM

1,000 Books Before KindergartenStarting soon, we will be launching our newest pro-gram 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten. This is a pro-gram designed to promote literacy, encourage reading, and jump start your child’s education before they are even in school. Did you know if you read 3 or more books a day, you will have completed this program in a little under a year! It’s fun, easy, and your child has a chance to earn cool prizes. Stop by any of our loca-tions for more details and to register your child. Happy Reading!

Homeschool Book Report FairTuesday May 12 at 10:30 a.m.

We would like to invite all ages to participate in our Home-school Book Report Fair. It is a science fair but with books instead of experiments!! We will divide participants into different age categories and judge presentations on creativi-ty. All ages can participate. For rules and more details, please visit our website or visit your local branch.

LIBRARY VISITSNeed a field trip? Don’t have the funds? We have you covered!

Come visit the library for a great educational experience for FREE. We offer tours of the library and customized storytimes suitable for your group. Younger kids are exposed to the library system while older children can learn and work on research projects. To set up a trip or to get more information, contact Youth Services at (804) 458-6329 ext. 1013. We look forward to hearing from you.

All AgesSpring Story Time

March 2 - May 23No classes: March 29- April 4

NEW! Story Time on Saturdays at the Prince George Farmer’s Market will begin on May 9.

Story time programs aim to instill a love of reading by en-couraging parents and other special adults to read aloud to children. Activities in story time promote brain and language development for children from birth to age 5. At story time, children and caregivers are introduced to six early literacy skills that are essential for learning to read including print motivation, narrative skills, phonological awareness, vocabu-lary, letter knowledge, and print awareness. Please join us! No registration is required.

Monday - Hopewell - 10:30 a.m. - Hopewell -7:00 p.m. NEW!

Tuesday - Rohoic - 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday - Dinwiddie - 10:30 a.m.

Thursday - Prince George - 10:30 a.m. Disputanta - 4:00 p.m. NEW!

Friday - Carson - 10:30 a.m.

Saturday - Prince George - 10:30 NEW!

Evening Story TimeA special offering for families not able to attend during the day.

Monday - Hopewell - 7:00 p.m. NEW!

Tuesday - Rohoic - 7:00 p.m.

No classes March 29 to April 4

Special Dr. Seuss Story Time

March 2 to March 7

Come celebrate Dr Seuss’s birthday with stories and a craft during the normal story time hours.

YOUTH PROGRAMS

NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEKUnlimited Possibilities @ Your Library April 12 to 18

First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Associa-tion (ALA) and libraries across the country each April. It is a time to celebrate the contributions of our nation’s librar-ies and librarians and to promote library use and support. The library offers unlimited possibilities so join us this week for surprises every day, contests, certificates, special class-es and more… Stay tuned and watch our website daily for more information.

Author’s visit: Anne Marie Pace, author of Vampirina Ballerina will be visiting the Dinwiddie library on Wednesday, April 15 at 10:30 a.m. for a special story time, with dancing music and a craft.

Kids (Grades K to 5)Homeschool Book Fair(See description in All Ages section)

National Library Week - April 12 to 18(see description in All Ages section)

Author’s VisitAuthor Jennifer Elvgren will visit the Prince George Library at 11 a.m. on Saturday April 18 for a writing workshop.

Animals, Aliens and Monsters: Creating Characters that Pop from the Page (Grades 3-5 – 30 minutes).

Equipment needed: students should bring a book with their favorite character, paper, pencils, markers or colored pencils. (which we will have available at the library)

Tweens & Teens (Grades 6 to 12)Teen Tech Week Game Day Saturday, March 14

Join us at the Hopewell Library from 1 to 4 p.m. to celebrate Teen Tech Week. We will have Xbox and Wii games set up along with board games and other activities.

Volunteer Orientation for TeensSaturday, March 28

Teens interested in volunteering at the library can learn more at the Teen Volunteer Orientation, March 28, 10:30 a.m. at the Hopewell Library. Please fill out your application online at www.arls.org/support/volunteer and submit it by March 25 to participate. If you have questions, please email jrowley@arls.org or call Jan Rowley at 804-458-6329 extension 2001.

Friends of the Library CornerAnd don’t forget to visit The Reader’s Friend Book Store at the Hopewell Library to find gently used books, cds and dvds. The Book Store is open Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Special Book Sale at the Dinwiddie Library - March 28 through May 2

Proceeds from the bookstore and the ongoing sales at libraries like Dinwiddie, Rohoic, Carson, and McKenney help support programming for adults and children throughout the Appomattox Regional Library System.

Amazon Smile - Your purchases on Amazon can help fund programs at the library when you associate your purchas-es with either the Hopewell/Prince George Friends of the Library or the Friends of the Library, Dinwiddie. There is no extra cost to you and part of your price will go to the non-profit of your choice. Free and simple to use.

Want to try something new? How about yoga?Visit the Hopewell Library on Friday, April 17 at 4 p.m. to see if yoga is for you! Children 6 to 16 years old.

How about playing with a yo-yo?Visit the Disputanta Library on Thursday, April 16 at 4 p.m. and discover the unlimited possibilities of a yo-yo.