As part of the Citizen Science movement, we are hosting several Birding Workshops this month! Families are invited to learn the best ways to spot birds in the wild, do a fun bird craft, and practice your bird watching skills outside at the library.
It is Banned Books Week!
Books with difficult subjects or different viewpoints are often challenged or requested to be removed from libraries, which is a form of censorship. We believe that it is important to provide access to challenged books to protect our community’s right to intellectual freedom, to resist censorship, and because calls for censorship and the resultant restriction of intellectual freedom often has an outsized impact on marginalized members of our community.
Active Aging Week
“Active Aging Week challenges society’s diminished expectations of aging by showing that, regardless of age or health conditions, adults over 50 can live as fully as possible in all areas of life—physical, social, spiritual, emotional, intellectual, vocational and environmental.” - International Council on Active Aging
There are many opportunities for older adults to enjoy life in Henrico County. In the library we offer lectures, craft programs, book discussions, and computer classes all year round. During Active Aging Week we have a variety of programs that provide information and resources for anyone who is looking to stay active and informed, regardless of age.
Libbie Mill Library's Teen Art Show
Libbie Mill Library's Teen Art Studio is currently hosting its first annual art exhibition.
Great Books Make Great Discussions
So many of The Great American Read books are filled with thought provoking passages and controversial characters. In September and October, libraries across the county will be hosting discussions of some of our favorite titles from PBS' The Great American Read, which will return to air September 11 on The Community Idea Stations.
Did you catch the spacesuit?
As part of our NASA@MyLibrary programming, we borrowed an Apollo Spacesuit Mockup from NASA's Johnson Space Center. This suit is similar to the ones worn by the astronauts who walked on the moon!
Our resident spaceman, Rick, showed off the suit at several library events last month. He visited the Henrico County Summer BLAST program at Montrose, Fair Oaks and Glen Lea Elementary schools, where over 150 students had the opportunity to learn about spacesuits and take part in a spacesuit design activity. We got a lot of high fives and fist bumps from kids who were excited to see a spacesuit first-hand. Everyone had lots of fun!
Rick also stopped by Varina, Twin Hickory, and Libbie Mill for the Intergalactic Fashion Workshops. During the workshop teens worked together to design their own spacesuit! Guided by the original NASA design, the prototypes not only looked amazing but were made to protect the wearer from the harsh conditions of outer space. Check out these great designs!
NASA@MyLibrary is an initiative to engage public audiences nationwide in informal and lifelong learning with the excitement of NASA exploration and discovery.
Music Programs This Summer!
Our summer reading theme this year is "Libraries Rock!" and we are very excited to fill the summer with music!
If rock and roll isn't your genre, do not worry! There are concerts, lectures, and workshops planned all summer long, and here are a few we are very excited about. This is not all though! View the full calendar of music programs here. From folk music, to gospel, to karaoke, there is something for everyone.
An Evening of Gospel Music with Cora Armstrong
North Park Library
Thursday, June 21, 6:30pm
Celebrate Gospel music with Virginia native Cora Armstrong, a legendary artist, pianist and psalmist. She will sing favorite gospel hymns and original compositions from her latest album "Greater is He". Come and enjoy a selection of music to warm the soul.
World Beat Workshop
Varina Library
Monday, July 09, 6:00pm
Drummer Robert Jospé and percussionist Kevin Davis engage audiences of all ages in exploring the diaspora of West African rhythms in the Americas and their influence in current music styles. Using a map, percussion instruments and music charts, this interactive program includes clapping, dancing and singing to salsa, calypso, merengue, samba and hip-hop. Musical, historical, cultural and geographical information is brought to life with the journey of clave.
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