BEST-SELLING AUTHOR LISA UNGER AT THE JIMMIE B. KEEL REGIONAL LIBRARY

Best-Selling author Lisa Unger will be discussing her latest book "Die For You" at the Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library, at 2902 West Bearss Ave., Tampa, on Wednesday, June 24 at 7 p.m.

Unger is the author of numerous books including "Beautiful Lies," "Sliver of Truth" and "Black Out” and in her latest work, the main character’s husband disappears, kicking off a mystery set in New York. Unger will be signing books afterward.

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.

LOCAL AUTHOR GEORGE ZELLER AT THE JAN KAMINIS PLATT REGIONAL LIBRARY

Local author George Zeller will be discussing his latest book "Beyond My Father's Farm" at the Jan Kaminis Platt Regional Library, 3910 South Manhattan Avenue, Tampa on Thursday, June 18 at 2 p.m.

In his book, Zeller recounts life on a farm in the 1940s and all the hard work it entailed. He recounts his father’s cold, harsh rule and how it affected the rest of his family. Zeller's story, encompassing love, hate, happiness, sorrow, romance, humor and hope is one about families, understanding the past, and learning to forgive.

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

Wii GAMING FOR SENIORS THIS SUMMER AT THE SOUTHSHORE REGIONAL LIBRARY

The SouthShore Regional Library, at 15816 Beth Shields Way, Ruskin, will be offering Wii gaming for seniors this summer.

Enjoy "bowling" and "tennis" in the air-conditioning on a Wii game system. Teens will be available to help teach new users and run gaming tournaments for experienced users. Free tickets will be available one hour before start of program. Dates and times include:

Thursday, June 11 at 4 p.m.
Saturday, June 21 at 2 p.m.
Tuesday, July 14 at 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, July 25 at 2 p.m.
Thursday, August 13 at 4 p.m.
Saturday, August 29 at 2 p.m.

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

IMPORTANT NEWS ABOUT IMAGINATION LIBRARY

The Hillsborough County Imagination Library currently has over 10,000 children registered who receive a book mailed to their home once a month. Although the program is free to the families, local fund-raising efforts are required to pay for the books. Due to the recent economic times, donations to the program have been limited. At this time the program has enough funding to pay for the currently registered children but more is needed to continue enrollment.

Due to this situation, any registrations received after May 1 will be placed on a waiting list. The families who are currently enrolled and receiving books will continue to do so as long as they remain living in Hillsborough County and notify the program of any address changes. As additional funding is received, families on the waiting list will become registered on a first-come first-serve basis.

It is regretful that this has happened but hopefully it will be a short-lived waiting list and new families will soon be able to enter the program. Please excuse any inconvenience. If you have any questions, please contact the Imagination Library program office at http://www.ilibrary@hcplc.org/.

“FUNDAMENTALS OF INVESTMENT” AT THE NEW TAMPA REGIONAL LIBRARY

Financial Advisor Mark Elkins will present a three-part Fundamentals of Investment Workshop at the New Tampa Regional Library at 10001 Cross Creek Blvd, Tampa.

In Part I on Thursday June 4th at 7:00pm, he will discuss investment strategies that help you define financial goals, how to fight inflation, reduce taxes, understand and manage investment risk and enrich your retirement.

In Part II on Thursday June 11th at 7:00pm, he will discuss retirement investing, by showing you how to overcome roadblocks to retirement security, determine your future income need, how much to save annually and other related topics.

In Part III on Thursday June 18th at 7:00pm, Elkins will explain the importance of early Estate Planning, the perils of probate, estate tax, projecting your estate tax liability, Living Wills and Durable Power of Attorney.

The seminars are free and open to the public. Questions will be welcome. Mark Elkins has a decade of experience working in the Financial Services Industry. He currently works for Wachovia Securities.

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

JUNE GARDEN PROGRAMS AT THE SEFFNER-MANGO BRANCH LIBRARY

The Seffner-Mango Branch Library at 410 N. Kingsway Road, Seffner, is offering five gardening programs throughout the month of June. They include:

Nine Steps to a Great Florida Garden, Monday June 1 at 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Exotic Plumeria, Monday June 8 at 6:30-7:30 p.m.

African Violets & Cousins, Tuesday June 9 at 10:15-11:15 a.m.

Orchids 101, Monday June 15 at 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Butterfly Gardening for Watchers and Workers, Monday June 22 at 6:30-7:30 p.m.

These programs are cosponsored by the Friends of the Seffner-Mango Branch Library. For more information about these and other FREE programs @ your library®, please call (813) 273-3652 or visit hcplc.org.

NEW HOURS FOR THE LUTZ BRANCH LIBRARY

The Lutz Branch Library at 101 Lutz-Lake Fern Road, West, Lutz, will be closed on Sundays beginning June 1. The library’s other hours will remain the same.

For library service needs in that area, please visit the nearby Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library at 2902 West Bearss Avenue Tampa, which is open on Sundays from 12:30 – 5 pm.

Please excuse any inconvenience. For more information, residents should call 813-273-3652.

SUMMER HOURS FOR THE EGYPT LAKE PARTNERSHIP LIBRARY AND THE SCIENCE LIBRARY AT MOSI

Two branches of the Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System will have summer hours. The Science Library at MOSI will begin its new hours on June 1. They will be:

Monday thru Friday 10 am – 5 pm

Saturday 10am – 6 pm

Sunday Closed

The summer hours at the Egypt Lake Partnership Library begin June 8, as follows:

Monday thru Wednesday 1 pm – 8 pm

Thursday 1 pm – 6 pm

Friday Closed

Saturday 10 am – 6 pm

Sunday Closed

Please excuse any inconvenience. For more information, residents should call 813-273-3652.

THONOTOSASSA BRANCH LIBRARY TO CLOSE JUNE 1 THROUGH JUNE 8 FOR IMPROVEMENTS

The Thonotosassa Branch Library at 10715 Main Street, Thonotosassa, will be closed on Monday, June 1 through Monday, June 8 for maintenance improvements. The library will reopen Tuesday, June 9 at 10 a.m.

For library service needs that week, visit one of our other nearby branches, the Seffner- Mango Branch Library, 410 N. Kingsway Rd. Seffner, which has the following hours: Sunday Closed Monday 10am - 8pm Tuesday 10am - 8pm Wednesday 10am - 6pm Thursday 10am - 6pm Friday 10am - 6pm Saturday 10am - 6pm.

Please excuse any inconvenience. For more information, residents should call 813-273-3652.

GET “ENVYOUS” AT THE TAMPA-HILLSBOROUGH PUBLIC LIBRARIES

Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Libraries is pleased to present two rock concerts for teens featuring ENVY, winners of the 2008 Hillsborough County Teenage Battle of the Bands. The first is at the Gazebo bandstand at the Upper Tampa Bay Regional Public Library, 11211 Countryway Boulevard, Tampa, on Thursday, May 28 at 7 pm followed by an event the following week on Thursday, June 4 at 2 pm at the SouthShore Regional Library, 15816 Beth Shields Way, Ruskin.

ENVY has many local fans, so arrive early, and enjoy as they play both contemporary and classic-rock performances. For the Upper Tampa Bay Regional Public Library event, don't forget your chair and blanket!

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

LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER TO SPEAK AT THE LUTZ BRANCH LIBRARY

Mary Kathleen Cahill, licensed clinical social worker, will speak on children’s mental health issues, at the Lutz Branch Library at 101 Lutz - Lake Fern Road, Lutz, on Wednesday, May 27, at 7:00 pm. Topics will include:

attention deficit disorder

anger management

bi-polar disorders

anxiety

depression

substance abuse

There will be a question and answer period following the presentation. Please join us for this helpful, informed discussion on children’s mental health issues and possible treatments. There is no charge for this event.

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

CALL FOR HISPANIC ARTISTS AT THE SOUTHSHORE REGIONAL LIBRARY

Coinciding with Hispanic Heritage Month, the SouthShore Regional Library at 15816 Beth Shields Way, Ruskin, will celebrate the work of Hispanic artists by offering a public venue for a special exhibition during September and October 2009.

This will be an invitational artist’s exhibit and artist’s work will be reviewed and selected for exhibit by the John Crawford Art Education Advisory Council. We are seeking two-dimensional hanging art pieces in various media and subject matter.

Applications are available at the library’s website www.hcplc.org/hcplc/happenings/, the SouthShore Regional Library Information Desk or by e-mailing prachs@hillsboroughcounty.org. Application deadline is June 1, 2009.

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

CHILDREN’S BOOK WEEK MAY 11 – MAY 17, 2009 @ YOUR LIBRARY!

The Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library is celebrating Children’s Book Week with a variety of programs including visits by bestselling children’s book author Todd Parr!

Todd Parr is the author of over 25 children’s books including The I Love You Book, It’s Okay to Be Different and the beloved Otto series. His characters also inspired the award-winning television show ToddWorld. Books will be available for purchase for Todd to autograph after each program. Meet Todd and listen as he reads from his books and talks about what it’s like to be an author, at the following libraries:

Bloomingdale Regional Library, 1906 Bloomingdale Avenue, Saturday, May 16, at 10:15 am.

Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library, 2902 West Bearss Avenue, Saturday, May 16 at 1:30 pm.

New Tampa Regional Library, 10001 Cross Creek Boulevard, Saturday, May 16, at 4 pm.

Other Children’s Book Week programs will feature children’s book author Michael Sampson. Michael has co-authored several children’s books with Bill Martin Jr. including the extremely popular Chicka Chicka 1, 2, 3 and The Bill Martin Jr. Big Book of Poetry. Michael will talk about what it’s like to be an author and read from his books at the following libraries:

78th Street Community Library, 7625 Palm River Road, Monday May 11 at 10:30am.

SouthShore Regional Library at 15816 Beth Shields Way, Ruskin, Monday May 11 at 3:45pm.

Upper Tampa Bay Regional Public Library, 11211 Countryway Boulevard, Tuesday May 12, 11am.

Additionally the library also received a grant from Dollar General Stores that will supply local elementary school students with 5,000 books to support the Reading Is Fundamental program. Librarians will begin visiting selected schools during Children’s Book Week to offer interactive reading programs and give children a chance to choose a book to keep, encouraging the love of reading in all children.

Children’s Book Week events are sponsored by the following: Friends of the Bloomingdale Regional Library, Friends of the Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library, Friends of the New Tampa Regional Library, Friends of the Library of Tampa-Hillsborough County, Inc., Friends of the SouthShore Regional Library, and the Friends of the Upper Tampa Bay Regional Public Library. For more information about these and other FREE programs @ your library®, please call (813) 273-3652 or visit hcplc.org.