BPL News

Bettendorf Public Library Presents 2007-2008 Brown Bag Lunch Series

noreply@blogger.com (BPL) — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:13:00 +0000

Kicking off the Bettendorf Public Library's 2008-2009 Brown Bag Lunch Series on September 12 will be a performance of Chinese classical and folk music on cello, violin, and flute by Tom Cao, Kevin Li and Kelsey Qu. This performance is also part of the library's Global Gathering China programming offered during the months of September and October. The Friends of the Library sponsor the Brown Bag series. All performances are 30 minutes from 12:15 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. in the Bettendorf Room on the second floor of the library at 2950 Learning Campus Drive.

The series is free and open to all ages. Attendees are invited to bring lunch, relax and enjoy regional musicians. The library provides free coffee from Dewey's Café.

Additional performances for this season are:

October 10
Ellis Kell - Blues & originals, guitar and vocals
November 7
Frank Claudy - Irish music, wooden flute and whistle
December 12
Smile - group playing folk music and old favorites
January 9
Jonathan Turner - Piano, Broadway tunes, jazz & pop
February 13
Edmar Castaneda—jazz harpist, QC Visiting Artist Series
March 20
Lee Blockmon - Pop & rock, guitar and vocals
April 17
Buddy Olson - Tribute to Johnny Cash
May 15
Tony Hoeppner - Rhythm & Blues, guitar and vocals
June 12
Andrew Landers - Grass roots folk & blues

China Comes to the Bettendorf Public Library

noreply@blogger.com (BPL) — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 16:49:00 +0000

During the months of September and October, the Bettendorf Public Library will be hosting Global Gathering: China, with a wealth of programs and displays designed to not only enhance understanding of China as a rising world power and its diverse peoples and cultures, but to respect and appreciate the diversity our neighbors with Chinese roots bring to our community. The Library has scheduled programs on literature, calligraphy, food, medicine, history, political situation, music, language, martial arts and customs. Highlights include a Moon Festival and programs by Ying Chang Compestine, an award-winning author and Asian food authority. Additionally, over 200 new library items on China will be featured in Display Central.

Global Gathering: China is sponsored by the Bettendorf Public Library Foundation. The local U.S.-China People’s Friendship Association and the Quad Cities Chinese Association have offered their advice and assistance in planning programs. For a full listing of Global Gathering: China events, go to www.bettendorflibrary.com/ggchinaonline.pdf.

Our State Fair – Iowa’s Blue Ribbon Story

noreply@blogger.com (BPL) — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 15:27:00 +0000

Bettendorf Public Library has received funding from Humanities Iowa, a private, non-profit state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities to host “Our State Fair Is a Great State Fair” at the library on Thursday, August 21 at 1:30 p.m. Part of the monthly Senior Day series at the library, the program is free and open to all ages. Slides and stories chronicling the first 150 years of Iowa’s State Fair will be shared by author Mary Kay Shanley. The presentation is based on her book Our State Fair - Iowa’s Blue Ribbon Story. Watch two locomotives collide in front of a packed grandstand. Ride the old roller coaster. Hold your breath while judges test your piecrust. This will be the best sit-down state fair tour you’ve ever experienced. Attendees are encouraged to bring along state fair mementoes.

Additional funding is provided by the Friends of the Bettendorf Public Library. Refreshments will be served by Bend of the River Pilot Club.

The Kids' Experience

noreply@blogger.com (BPL) — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 15:55:00 +0000

Attention Kids of all ages! We are thrilled to announce the first ever, Kids’ Experience at the Bettendorf Public Library! The day-long event will take place on Saturday, August 23. There will be classes for kids teaching juggling, storytelling, origami and string stories, sign language, face painting, drawing, watercolors, magic, balloon sculpting, and caricature drawing. We’ll have activities provided by the Family Museum, the Life Fitness Center, the Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center and Miller’s Petting Zoo.

All classes and activities are free thanks to the generosity of a grant from the Bettendorf Public Library Foundation. Registration will be required for classes. More information will be available soon, so put the date on your calendar and let your kids be part of the fabulous experience!

Poetry Contest on the Theme Love & Forgiveness

noreply@blogger.com (BPL) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 18:40:00 +0000

The Bettendorf Public Library is hosting a poetry contest with the theme of Love & Forgiveness in conjunction with a series of events on the same theme. There will be two levels: Youth (middle school through high school) and Adult (beyond high school). Prizes will be $25 apiece for four runners-up and $100 apiece for two first-place winners. Additionally, the two winning poems will be illustrated in one piece of art by local artist Katie Kiley. The final judge will be internationally known poet Li-Young Lee. All six winners will read their poems on-stage with Li-Young Lee in January 2009. To submit a poem, poets must live within a 50-mile radius of the Quad-Cities and must not have already won first-place in a previous Bettendorf Public Library poetry contest. Up to two poems may be submitted but only one prize per person will be awarded. Poem may be no longer than one page and contact information must be provided. Poems must be received at the Bettendorf Public Library or be postmarked by midnight on Wednesday, October 15, 2008. Drop off or mail to: Bettendorf Public Library, Hedy Hustedde (Adult Level) or John Gillette (Youth Level), 2950 Learning Campus Drive, Bettendorf, IA 52722 or email hhustedde@bettendorf.org or jgillette@bettendorf.org.

Information About Antiques Available at Bettendorf Public Library

noreply@blogger.com (BPL) — Wed, 28 May 2008 17:22:00 +0000

The Bettendorf Public Library now subscribes to p4A Antiques Reference, an online, searchable source for antiques information and prices. Bettendorf library cardholders can go to http://www.bettendorflibrary.com/services/researchalpha.htm and click on Antiques Reference Database to search for detailed descriptive and pricing information on antiques, collectibles, fine art and historic Americana sold at regional auctions throughout the United States. Non-Bettendorf residents can access p4A Antiques Reference at the library.

The p4A Antiques Reference database has images for all the items included in the database. A specific item description, information on condition and provenance is included whenever available. Prices realized are clearly shown with date and place sold. A customized auction note is included to describe the overall sales environment for a given record. New records are added to the database 365 days per year. The p4A Antiques Reference database includes supplemental reference information, including literature citations and independently researched reference notes providing biographical, contextual and background data about a given item.

The p4A Antiques Reference service focuses its coverage exclusively on major regional auction venues throughout the U.S., the marketplace where the great bulk of antiques and collectibles are bought and sold in this country. Approximately fifty regional auction venues are currently covered coast-to-coast.