TAMPA-HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARIES CELEBRATE THIRD ANNUAL TEEN TECH WEEK

The Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System kicks off its third Teen Tech Week Celebration, March 8-14, by hosting a Rock Band 2 gaming tournament on Saturday, March 7 from 10 am-5 PM at the Town ‘N County Regional Library. Refreshments provided.

Teen Tech Week Game Zone qualifying events will be held February 5-28 at eight library branches throughout the county which will lead up to the Grand Tournament on March 7th. There will also be door prizes given away.

Teen Tech Week is a national initiative aimed at teens, their parents, educators, and other adults. The purpose is to encourage teens to use technology tools currently available at their library including computers, DVDs, audio players, audiobooks, databases and more. "Technology plays an important role in teen life today and this is a wonderful opportunity for us to share with our teens what our libraries have to offer," said Joe Stines, Director of Libraries.

For information and tournament rules, visit teens.hcplc.org. This web page highlights teen library news and event listings. The site also features a teen "blog," providing an online space where staff can communicate and share information about library programs and services.

For additional information, please contact Lorie Tonti, School Age Services Coordinator at (813) 273-3764.

TOWN 'N COUNTRY REGIONAL PUBLIC LIBRARY TO TEMPORARILY CLOSE FEBRUARY 8

The Town 'N Country Regional Public Library at the Hillsborough County Town 'N Country Commons, 7606 Paula Drive, Tampa, FL 33615, will be closed Sunday, February 8, for maintenance improvements. The library, working with TECO, will be installing new permanent parking lot lighting.

For library service needs on that day, patrons are invited to visit the nearest location: Upper Tampa Bay Regional Public Library, 11211 Countryway Blvd., Tampa, open 12:30 - 5 p.m. Please excuse any inconvenience.

For more information, residents should call Library Services at 813-273-3652.

KUUMBA DANCERS AT THE JIMMIE B. KEEL REGIONAL LIBRARY

In Celebration of Black History Month, Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Libraries welcome the Kuumba Dancers at the Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library.

The Kuumba Dancers and Drummers, an African folk dance and music troupe, will perform on Sunday, February 1 at 2:00 p.m. at the Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library, 2902 West Bearss Ave., Tampa.

The Kuumba Dancers and Drummers will expose attendees to the sounds, vibrant moves and stories of the people from the different African Diaspora. During the performance, audience members are encouraged to participate in the rhythm and repeat "new" African words taught by the troupe.

This program is cosponsored by the Friends of the Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library. For more information about this and other FREE programs @ your library®, please call (813) 273-3652 or visit hcplc.org.

HARMONY OF LIBERTY AT THE JOHN F. GERMANY PUBLIC LIBRARY

In Celebration of Black History Month, Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Libraries Welcomes Harmony of Liberty at the John F. Germany Public Library.

Harmony of Liberty, a multimedia presentation featuring Sister Patricia Haley of Birmingham, Alabama, will take place on Sunday, January 25 at 2:00 p.m. at the John F. Germany Public Library, 900 N. Ashley Dr., Tampa.

This program will kick off February's Black History Month Celebration in libraries throughout Hillsborough County. “Harmony of Liberty” is an artistic celebration of the civil rights movement. Experience this journey through literature, interpretive dance, music and personal accounts by witnesses of this period in our American history.

This program is cosponsored by the May K. Houck Foundation and the Friends of the John F. Germany Public Library. For more information about this and other FREE programs @ your library®, please call (813) 273-3652 or visit hcpl

SEFFNER-MANGO BRANCH LIBRARY GRAND OPENING

Official Ribbon Cutting Takes Place January 15 Thursday, January 15 1:30 p.m. 410 N. Kingsway Road Seffner, FL

The new Hillsborough County Seffner-Mango Branch Library is now open to the public, and residents are invited to join county commissioners and County Administrator Pat Bean for a ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony January 15 to officially mark its grand opening! Members of the Hillsborough County Library Board, Friends of the Library Hillsborough, Inc., and Friends of the Seffner-Mango Library will be also be on hand.

Residents can bring their own pair of scissors to participate in cutting the ceremonial red ribbon and take away a memento of this event.

This 15,000-square-foot library replaces the 6,000-square-foot, store-front facility at Mango Square, where it was temporarily located for almost 10 years. It will host 35,000 additional materials for a total collection of 75,000. Library lovers can also enjoy state-of-the art amenities, such as a separate children’s department, a community room, study rooms, a computer lab, more public computers and a Friends of the Library bookstore. In addition, a science room aimed at enhancing science education will provide students of all ages with a unique experience.

The library was built a year ahead of schedule on 6 acres of a 25-acre parcel of County property. The project budget is about $6.4 million.

For more information, residents should call Hillsborough County Library Services at 813-273-3652.

CELEBRATION OF POET ROBERT BURNS AT THE JOHN F. GERMANY PUBLIC LIBRARY

In 2009, the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns, Scotland’s National Bard will be celebrated. Festivities are planned all over the world and Tampa Bay is no exception. The St. Andrew’s Society of Tampa Bay has exciting plans for its celebration.

"The Society is very pleased to be working with the Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System in commemorating the birth of Burns. The Society and the Library will be bringing back the tradition established by Andrew Carnegie of placing a bust of Burns in public libraries," noted Steve Barber who is Co-Chairing the Burns event and will be the President of the St. Andrew’s Society in 2009.

The St. Andrew’s Society has commissioned nationally renowned sculptor, Linda Ackley-Eaker to sculpt a bust of Robert Burns commemorating the 250th anniversary of his birth. The bust will be gifted to the John F. Germany Library in downtown Tampa and there will be a public unveiling and celebration at 5:30 pm on January 21st.

Along with the unveiling ceremony, spend the evening mingling with the artist and enjoying Scottish bagpipe music. Light refreshments will be served.

This program is cosponsored by the Friends of the John F. Germany Public Library, Inc. For more information about this and other FREE programs @ your library®, please call (813) 273-3652, or visit hcplc.org.

FOUR SEASONS AUTHOR SERIES

Author and TV producer Stephen J. Cannell will be the featured speaker for the next Four Seasons Author Series luncheon at the University Club, 38th Floor, One Tampa City Center in downtown Tampa on Thursday, January 29 at noon.

In his thirty-five-year career, Emmy Award–winning screenwriter and producer Stephen J. Cannell has created more than forty TV series. Among his hits are The Rockford Files, Silk Stalkings, The A-Team, 21 Jump Street, Hunter, The Greatest American Hero, and The Commish.

Mr. Cannell is also the bestselling author of twelve novels, including the critically acclaimed Shane Scully series. He will discuss his newest installment, On the Grind.

The Four Seasons Author Series is presented by the Friends of the Library of Tampa-Hillsborough County, Inc. The subscription series offers an annual quartet of literary lunches at which guest authors are invited to speak on a variety of subjects.

Tickets are $25 and a subscription for four consecutive luncheons is $100. Proceeds benefit the Friends of the Library of Tampa-Hillsborough County, Inc., which is a nonprofit organization with 501(c)(3) status. To reserve your seat for the luncheon, call the Friends office at (813) 273-3616 by Monday January 26.