NORFOLK PUBLIC LIBRARY OFFERS A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS IN HONOR OF AFRICAN-AMERCIAN HISTORY MONTH INCLUDING FESTIVAL OF ARTS MARKETPLACE

Norfolk, VA (Thursday, January 12, 2006) –In recognition of African-American History Month, Norfolk Public Library will offer its annual series of programs featuring music, author visits, art, dance, poetry, storytelling and more throughout the month of February. For the first time, the library’s series of programs will feature a Festival of the Arts Marketplace and Book Sale on Sunday, February 5 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Kirn Memorial Library.

The Festival of the Arts Marketplace and Book Sale will feature African, Praise, Hip-Hop and Break Dancers, spoken word artists, singers, musicians, storytelling, face painting, a fashion show with African and American designs, and a marketplace where you can find fraternity and sorority paraphernalia, clothing, jewelry, dolls, figurines, and more. The Friends of the Norfolk Public Library will have a blow out book sale you'll never forget. Admission is free and all ages are welcome.

Highlights of the year’s celebration include the annual youth art contest and a unique program called Freedom Quilts. In this exciting program, storyteller Eunice Jones weaves stories about the Freedom Quilts as she captivates everyone with her delightful tales. The entire family will enjoy this program at Larchmont Branch Library at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 1.

Other highlights include a gospel concert by the talented and spirit-filled professional group GIFTS. Don’t miss the best in contemporary gospel music in town. Join the Library for this free performance at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 4 at Jordan-Newby Branch Library.

All Norfolk Public Library locations offer free parking. To receive 3 free hours of parking at Kirn Memorial Library, park in the MacArthur Center South garage, and bring your ticket to the library for validation. Kirn Memorial Library is located at 301 E. City Hall Avenue. Jordan-Newby Branch Library is located at 961 Park Avenue, and Larchmont Branch Library is located at 6525 Hampton Blvd. Other African-American History Month Programs are listed below. For more information or a complete listing of African-American History Month programs, visit www.npl.lib.va.us, pick up an African-American History Month Bibliography and Calendar of Events at any Norfolk Public Library location, or call 664-READ.

AAHM Programs at NPL:

African Trickster Tales: Preschool Storytime: 11:15 a.m., Wed., Feb 1. Enjoy lively tales featuring some very tricky characters. Do you think it pays to be tricky? Find out with these favorite stories from Africa about Anansi the spider and others. (This event is for 3 - 5 year olds.) Age Groups: Preschool. Lafayette Branch Library, 1610 Cromwell Drive. 757-441-2842

Freedom Quilts. 4:00 p.m., Wed., Feb 1. Story teller extraordinaire, Eunice Jones, captivates people of all ages as she weaves stories about the Freedom Quilts. Learn about a very important time in African-American history. Age Groups: Family. Larchmont Branch Library, 6525 Hampton Blvd. 757-441-5335

African American Bingo. 6:00 p.m., Wed., Feb 1. Test your knowledge of African-American History with a traditional game of "Bingo." Fun prizes and great snacks! Age Groups: All Ages. Kirn Library Youth Services, 301 East City Hall Avenue. 757-664-7323

Storyteller Eunice Jones presents African Dreams, Folktales from Africa. 6:30 p.m., Wed., Feb 1. Join us for stories, poems, and music in the oral tradition of African storytelling. Age Groups: Family. Pretlow Branch Library, 9640 Granby Street. 757-441-1750

African Tales. 11:00 a.m., Thurs., Feb 2. Anansi and his antic will tickle your funny bone. Be prepared to laugh at this funny tale: Anansi and the Talking Melon. Age Groups: Preschool. Van Wyck Branch Library, 1368 DeBree Avenue. 757-441-2844

Love...What Is It? 6:00 p.m., Thurs., Feb 2. Local African American author, Keela Boose will discuss her book, "The Book of Love: Eros/intros: a novel collection of Poetry and Prose" and the topic Love as it pertains to the family as well as the individual. Age Groups: Family. Horace C. Downing Branch Library, 555 East Liberty Street. 757-441-1968

Matunde Sakili African Dance & Arts Ensemble. 2:00 p.m., Sat., Feb 4. Matunde Sakili strives to unite and educate all people in the form of African Dance. Their performance consists of African Dance, live drummers, and storytelling. Age Groups: All Ages. Blyden Branch Library, 879 East Princess Anne Road. 757-441-2852

Festival of the Arts and Marketplace & Friends Book Sale. 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Sun., February 5. Make our Festival your Pre-Super Bowl Extravaganza. Enjoy African, Praise, Hip-Hop and Break Dancers; spoken word artists, singers, musicians, storytelling, face painting, a fashion show with African and American designs, and a marketplace where you can find fraternity and sorority paraphernalia, clothing, jewelry, dolls, figurines, and more. The Friends of the Norfolk Public Library will have a blow out book sale you’ll never forget. No admission charge! All Ages. Kirn Memorial Library, 301 E. City Hall Avenue, Norfolk. 757-664-7323.

Art of African-American Quilting. 4:00 p.m., Wed., Feb 8. Join us for this extraordinary look into the past. Joanne E. Cramatie is a founding member of the African-American Quilters Guild of Virginia. The purpose of the guild is to preserve, conserve and document the importance of African-American quilting, to keep the art of quilting alive and to promote friendship, fellowship and a common interest. Age Groups: Family. Larchmont Branch Library, 6525 Hampton Blvd. 757-441-5335

Daddy & Me: Breakfast & a Book - "Follow the Drinking Gourd" Star Show. 10:00 a.m., Sat., Feb 11. Celebrate African History Month with a very special family morning. Jumpstart your day with our free pancake breakfast, then stay for Virginia Living Museum's traveling planetarium show of Jeanette Winter's classic story, "Follow the Drinking Gourd!" Join the museum's Dave Manis, as he helps us discover how a simple folk song sung by slaves was really a map to freedom through the escape route known as the Underground Railroad. Bring the whole family to share this unique event. Age Groups: Family. Lafayette Branch Library, 1610 Cromwell Drive. 757-441-2842

Interesting People Puppet Show: Famous African Americans from History. 1:00 p.m., Sat., Feb 11. The Blyden Puppeteers incorporate music and dance along with puppets in bringing to life the stories of figures like Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglas and Duke Ellington. Age Groups: Family. Van Wyck Branch Library, 1368 DeBree Avenue. 757-441-2844

Myrrh Cauthen-Show of Song, Drama and Dance. 3:00 p.m., Sat., Feb 11. Don't miss this dynamic show. Producer, singer, Stage Manager, Actress Cauthen appeared in the film "Crazy Like a Fox" and HBO's "The Wire." Age Groups: All Ages. Blyden Branch Library, 879 East Princess Anne Road. 757-441-2852

Tell Me a Story. 3:00 p.m., Sat., Feb 11. Storytelling with Barbi Willey. In celebration of Black History Month, come listen and hear stories from different parts of Africa. Age Groups: All Ages. Jordan-Newby Branch Library, 961 Park Avenue. 757-441-2843

An Afternoon with Elbert Watson. 3:00 p.m., Sun., Feb 12. Norfolk native Elbert Watson, former principal dancer with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, brings his dance mastery to the library through a program based on American Negro spirituals. He has taught ballet, modern jazz, and liturgical dance in colleges and schools, both locally and throughout the world and is currently the Dance Master at Norfolk Academy. Age Groups: All Ages. Kirn Library Youth Services, 301 East City Hall Avenue. 757-664-7323

Unique Book Marker. 4:00 p.m., Thurs., Feb 16. Let's design an African-American book marker full of black historical facts; a keepsake forever. Age Groups: School Age. Horace C. Downing Branch Library, 555 East Liberty Street. 757-441-1968

Martin Luther King, Jr. 4:00 p.m., Thurs., Feb 16. We will talk about the life and legacy of this great man. Age Groups: School Age. Barron F. Black Homework Center, 6700 E. Tanners Creek Drive. 757-441-5806

Juneteenth Players Present - The 2 Harriets. 2:00 p.m., Sat., Feb 18. Harriet Beecher Stowe and Harriet Tubman reminisce in song and memory about their lives. Blyden Branch Library, 879 East Princess Anne Road. 757-441-2852

The Tuskegee Airmen Visit Park Place. 2:00 p.m., Sat., Feb 18. The Tuskegee Airmen saw combat in over 1500 missions while escorting bombers across Europe and Africa during World War II. Never losing any of those aircraft to enemy fire, they are the only unit from WWII to hold this distinction. The Airmen were instrumental in the U.S. government’s decision to desegregate the military in 1948. Age Groups: All Ages. Park Place Branch Library, 620 West 29th Street. 757-664-7330

Matunde Sakili African Dance & Arts Ensemble. 2:00 p.m., Sat., Feb 18. Matunde Sakili strives to unite and educate all people in the form of African Dance. Their performance consists of African Dance, live drummers and storytelling. Age Groups: All Ages. Janaf Branch Library, 124 Janaf Shopping Center. 757-441-5660

Connie Ralston-Roberts: World Rhythm Workshop. 2:00 p.m., Sat., Feb 18. Children and parents flock to this workshop. Hands on with drums from around the world...the beat goes on. Age Groups: All Ages. Little Creek Branch Library, 7853 Tarpon Place. 757-441-1751

Meet the Author - Julian Houston. 3:00 p.m., Sat., Feb 18. In his first book, New Boy, Julian Houston tells the story of a teenage boy confronting the normal adolescent concerns of grades, girls, and parental control while at the same time grappling with the larger issue of what it means to be African American in Charlottesville in the 1950s. Mr. Houston has previously written articles for the Boston Globe, the Boston Observer, and the Boston Bar Journal. He will speak to the audience about his book which will be available for purchase and signing. Age Groups: All Ages. Kirn Library Youth Services, 301 East City Hall Avenue. 757-664-7323

Your Crown and Glory. 6:00 p.m., Tues., Feb 21. Some people say that your hair is your Crown and Glory. Braid, plats, twists, and cornrows are the in-thing, especially with the younger generation. Enjoy an enlighten evening and discover the history behind these hair styles. Licensed hair stylists will be available to answer questions on proper hair care. Age Groups: Teens. Blyden Branch Library, 879 East Princess Anne Road. 757-441-2852

Matunde Sakili African Dance & Arts Ensemble. 4:00 p.m., Wed., Feb 22. Matunde Sakili strives to unite and educate all people in the form of African Dance. Their performance consists of African Dance, live drummers, and storytelling. Age Groups: All Ages. Larchmont Branch Library, 6525 Hampton Blvd. 757-441-5335

African Masks. 4:00 p.m., Wed., Feb 22. Learn more about tribal masks and their meanings. Make your own mask and take it home with you. Age Groups: All Ages. Larchmont Branch Library, 6525 Hampton Blvd. 757-441-5335

Elderspeak Forum: Norfolk History with B. T. Washington's Class of '38. 3:30 p.m., Thurs., Feb 23. Join us for a delightful afternoon, learning the history of Norfolk as seen through the eyes of some of Norfolk's greatest treasures... our elders. They've grown up here, lived through wars, social and economic change, seen the change of the landscape and communities, and shared in the advent of the electronic age. They have a rich perspective to share! Come learn about Norfolk's past, discuss the present, and share together your hopes for Norfolk's future. Bring your family; enjoy refreshments. Age Groups: School Age. Lafayette Branch Library, 1610 Cromwell Drive. 757-441-2842

African American History Family Event: Atumpan. 6:30 p.m., Thurs., Feb 23. Performing as musicians and storytellers, Norfolk's fabulous Atumpan presents African tales that everyone will enjoy. Join us for lots of drumming, tales to delight you, and audience participation, too. Age Groups: Family. Lafayette Branch Library, 1610 Cromwell Drive. 757-441-2842

Second Annual African-American History Month Quiz Bowl Championship. 11:00 a.m., Sat., Feb 25. The remaining three library teams compete in an exciting championship round. Come out and enjoy the finale to see which team will take home the trophy! Age Groups: All Ages. Kirn Library Youth Services, 301 East City Hall Avenue. 757-664-7323

Park Place Gospel Concert. 2:30 p.m., Sat., Feb 25. Join us for a joyous afternoon of gospel music featuring the Butts Family, Bank of America Gospel Choir, Armageddon, and others. Age Groups: All Ages. Park Place Branch Library, 620 West 29th Street. 757-664-7330

Afrikan Kingz and Queenz. 4:00 p.m., Sun., Feb 26. Join Sheri Bailey and the Juneteenth Players as they present Afrikan Kingz and Queenz, a musical comedy of Egyptian Squares featuring Hannibal, Cleopatra VII and others in a game of X's and O's. Age Groups: Family. Barron F. Black Homework Center, 6700 E. Tanners Creek Drive. 757-441-5806

Fit for a Nubian Queen. 6:00 p.m., Tues., Feb 28. Earrings and jewelry - we proudly adorn ourselves with them almost everyday. Join us as we create a beautiful pair of African style earrings. Supplies are furnished. Make and take workshops. Age Groups: School Age, Teens, Family. Blyden Branch Library, 879 East Princess Anne Road. 757-441-2852