NEW DATE: Come Watch Teens Performing Improv Comedy!

On Friday, July 31, at the Jessie Mays Community Hall (30975 NW Hillcrest St.) local teens will be doing improv! They’ll attend a workshop conducted by the improvisational comedy group Brainwaves in the afternoon, and then give us the chance to see what they can do from 6:15 to 7:00 pm. Come show your support and get a free evening of laughs!

Attention TEENS NEW DATE: Comedy Workshop!

Brainwaves Improv

Ever dream of doing stand-up comedy? How about improv? Then you want to be at the Jessie Mays Community Hall on Friday, July 31. The brilliantly funny folks from Brainwaves will be here to show YOU how to do improv! They will work with you from 3:00-6:00 that afternoon, then you will show us all what you’ve learned in a performance open to the public at 6:15.

YOU MUST SIGN UP FOR THIS! Space is limited, so please come to the Library to sign up. And if you sign up, please come! This is an awesome opportunity, and we want to make sure that as many people as possible can take advantage of it. Please don’t take up someone’s spot if you don’t think you’ll be able to make it.

Only those teens who have attended the workshop from 3:00-6:00 will be allowed to perform. You must be entering grade 7-12 to be considered a teen. While you’re here signing up for this workshop, pick up a reading log and get prizes for reading! It’s free!

Be Creative @ Your Library!

June 1 - August 8
Kids from birth to 12th grade: Come in to the Library to pick up your reading log. Keep track of your reading all summer long and win prizes!

Join us for these free programs too - they’ll be at the Jessie Mays Community Hall, 30975 NW Hillcrest St.:

I Love to Read Magic Show with Jay Frasier
Tuesday, June 23 at 11 a.m.

Music in Action with Richard Glauber
Friday, July 10 at 1 p.m.

Mz. Pearl’s Variety Show
Friday, July 17 at 1 p.m.

Curt Carlyle - A Cutting Edge Juggling Show
Friday, July 24 at 1 p.m.

Brochures listing activities at all Washington County Libraries are available at the check-out desk or look online.

New Online Resource Available!

LearningExpress Library

Practice taking the GED, US Citizenship, ASVAB, SAT and many civil service tests online. Take courses on writing resumes and preparing for interviews. Get started at the link above by creating your own individual username and password so you can save and track your progress. When you take an online test you’ll get immediate scoring, complete answer explanations, and an individualized analysis of your results.

Book donations now being accepted…

The Friends of the North Plains Public Library are now accepting book donations.

Small donations may either be deposited at the Jessie Mays Community Hall (30975 NW Hillcrest Street, North Plains) in the drop-box at the south end of the building or may be brought in to the North Plains Public Library during open hours.

Please call the North Plains Public Library at 503-647-5051 to make arrangements for delivery of larger donations.

Volunteers will also be available to receive donations on Friday, May 1st at Jessie Mays Community Hall from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Sorry, no encyclopedias or National Geographic magazines will be accepted.

Be sure to mark your calendars for the two upcoming book sales: on May 2nd from 8:00 to 3:30, and at the annual Elephant Garlic Festival the second week of August. Both sales take place at the Jessie Mays Community Hall in North Plains.

New Computer Classes

The North Plains Public Library is offering a series of free monthly computer classes for beginners, as well as intermediate and advanced computer users. Upcoming topics for the second quarter of 2009 are:

April 20, 2009 - 7 pm – Staying Organized
May 18, 2009 - 10 am – Social Contacts
May 18, 2009 - 7 pm – Social Contacts (repeated)
June 15, 2009 - 10 am – Fabulous Photos
June 15, 2009 - 7 pm – Fabulous Photos (repeated)

Because most of the classes are “hands on,” class size is generally limited to 10 people, and you must sign up in advance. You can visit the library to sign up, or click here to download and print a registration form and bring it to the library.

For more info, please contact the library at 503-647-5051.
null

Computer Class Blog

The North Plains Public Library Computer Class now has a blog for anyone interested in learning more about computers. Take a look at http://npplcomputerclass.blogspot.com/. Along with announcements of upcoming classes, you will find helpful computer tips on a variety of topics.

Oregon Reads 2009

null
What if everybody read the same book?

We’d talk to each other about issues that matter and we’d celebrate the power of
books in creating a stronger community.

In honor of 150 years of statehood, the State of Oregon is promoting a community-wide reading event called Oregon Reads. Lauren Kessler, an Oregon author, has written Stubborn Twig, which relates the family history of Japanese-American immigrants in Oregon, prior to and during World War II.

For young readers Bat 6 by Virginia Euwer Wolff tells a story about Bear Creek Ridge and Barlow, two small Oregon towns, where everyone is looking forward to the Bat 6 girls’ softball game of 1949. Eleven-year-old Aki Mikami and her family have recently returned to their home and orchard in Bear Creek Ridge after their internment during World War II.

And for the very young readers Apples to Oregon by Deborah Hopkinson tells the story of how a brave pioneer father brought apples, peaches, pears, plums, grapes, and cherries (and children) across the Plains.

Get involved!

Read the book

Borrow a copy from any Washington County library or purchase one at a local bookstore.

Discuss the book

Share your thoughts during any of the book discussions happening at libraries and other places around our community.

Attend an event

Explore important issues, connect with your neighbors, and attend lectures, crafts and other events. To find a complete listing of all events in Washington County click here.

Local events sponsored by the Friends of North Plains Public Library include:

PORTLAND TAIKO - Wednesday Feb. 4, 2009 -7:00 PM
Where: Jessie Mays Community Center, 30955 NW Hillcrest St., North Plains

Portland Taiko is a premiere North American taiko ensemble. Taiko (the Japanese word for drum and the name of the art form) has its roots in ancient Japanese tradition. It was used in religious ceremonies, community festivals and theater. American Taiko became a powerful voice during the struggle for redress of the Japanese American Internment. “It shakes your body to the core. It’s layer upon layer upon layer of drumming and music and sound. The space will vibrate. The chairs will vibrate. You will vibrate to your core. And you’ll want more. Witness the drama and artistry of Portland Taiko. ” (The Idaho Statesman).

MOVIE NIGHT – Snow Falling on Cedars – Friday Feb. 6, 2009 – 7 PM
Where: North Plains Senior Center, 31450 NW Commercial St., North Plains

ORIGAMI WORKSHOP – Saturday Feb 7, 2009 – 1 to 4 PM
Where: North Plains Public Library, 31334 NW Commercial St, North Plains

As part of this year’s Oregon Reads program, the Friends of North Plains Public Library are organizing an art project using origami. In Japan, origami cranes are often given as a symbol of friendship. The crane symbolizes long life, prosperity and good health and recently has become a symbol of peace throughout the world.

During the month of February, our goal is to fold hundreds of cranes and display them in the library. We invite you to fold as many cranes as you can. No prior experience with origami is necessary. On your crane(s) you may write a wish promoting peace, prosperity and good health to friends, neighbors, loved ones and people around the world.

If you can’t attend the workshop, you can fold your crane(s) at home, using a piece of square 8.5″ x 8.5″ plain white or colored paper and following the Origami Crane Directions which include a video tutorial. Then drop them off at the library.

SPEAKER - MR. HENRY SAKAMOTO – Sunday Feb. 8, 2009 – 2 PM
Where: St. Edward Church, 31235 NW Wasco St., North Plains

Mr. Sakamoto is the President of the Japanese-Ancestral Society of Portland and co-founder of the Nikkei Legacy Center. He will speak of his personal experience of the internment of 112,581 Japanese–Americans during WWII.

MOVIE NIGHT – Tompopo – Friday Feb. 13, 2009 – 7 PM
Where: North Plains Senior Center, 31450 NW Commercial St., North Plains

HISTORY & DEMONSTRATION OF THE ART OF BONSAI–Feb.16, 2009 – 7 PM
Where: North Plains Public Library, 31334 NW Commercial St, North Plains

Bill and Barbara Duerden, from the Sunset Bonsai Club will show their expertise on growing and cultivating Bonsai.

MOVIE NIGHT – Shall We Dansu – Friday Feb. 20, 2009 – 7 PM
Where: North Plains Senior Center, 31450 NW Commercial St., North Plains

JAPANESE ART LECTURE – Monday Feb. 23, 2009 – 7 PM
Where: North Plains Public Library, 31334 NW Commercial St, North Plains

Chris Lantz will present an art history slide show at the North Plains Public Library. The topic will be a brief history of the Japanese woodblock print and its influence on European and American artists of the 19th and 20th century. Chris is a graphic designer with an art history background.

BOOK DISCUSSION - Wednesday Feb. 25, 2009 - 7 PM
Where: North Plains Public Library, 31334 NW Commercial St, North Plains

MOVIE NIGHT – Madame Butterfly– Friday Feb. 27, 2009 – 7 PM
Where: North Plains Senior Center, 31450 NW Commercial St., North Plains

Free Computer Classes

The North Plains Library is offering a series of free monthly computer classes for beginners, as well as intermediate and advanced computer users. Upcoming topics for the first quarter of 2009 are:

January 12, 2009 - 10 am – Introduction to Computers, Part 2
January 12, 2009 - 7 pm – Introduction to Computers, Part 3
February 9, 2009 - 7 pm – How to Search and Research Anything on the Internet
March 9, 2009 - 10 am – Word Processing
March 9, 2009 - 7 pm – Word Processing (repeated)

Because most of the classes are “hands on,” class size is generally limited to 10 people, and you must sign up in advance. You can visit the library to sign up, or click here to download and print a registration form and bring it to the library.

For more info, please contact the library at 503-647-5051.
null

New Start Time for Storytime

Join us Wednesday mornings for storytime, now starting at 10:30am. Storytime is held in the Children’s section of the library.