Tuesday, January 8 @ 4:00 p.m.

Wickes Library

Kids ages 7-12 are welcome to participate at the club meetings held on the second Tuesday of each month during the school year.

Manny, Diego and Sid have a big problem. Thanks to Scrat the Squirrel, their world is breaking up! Laugh out loud as the Ice Age crowd battles continental drift in their latest adventure. Children ages 6 and younger must be accompanied by an adult.

As the second half of the school year approaches many school-aged children will be finishing standardized tests for the year. Whether it's MEAP or SAT/ACT, there are many words on the test that tend to confuse children. But no need to worry! Claytor Library will be hosting the first ever Brain-Buster Bingo program as a way to get school-aged children and tweens acquainted with commonly used test words. Bingo will take place twice during the second half of the school year, January 8th and March 5th at 4:30 p.m. Children ages 8-13 are welcome to win prizes and learn new words.

One dream. Twenty degrees below zero. Jamaican bobsledders? Enjoy a small snack while watching a movie inspired by the true story of the first Jamaican Olympic bobsled team.

Join us for our "Gentle Critters from Around the World" presentation! Children under 7 must have adult supervision as the children will have an opportunity to touch the "critters."

Using tissue paper, a balloon, and string, tweens and teens will create a paper lantern that will light up the new year. We will provide all supplies, including a battery-operated tea light, so you can give those long, dark winter nights a happy glow. We will also spend some time talking about Chinese New Year (which begins on February 10 this year). As we will learn, paper lanterns are often associated with festivities surrounding this holiday. Please register in advance by calling Zauel Library at 799-2771 or visit the Zauel Adult Reference desk.

You have a passion ... a hidden talent. Do you know what it takes to turn that skill into a successful business? This free, three-hour seminar is designed for individuals who are considering self-employment, or are at the beginning stages of starting a business. You will be introduced to the key characteristics of successful business ownership, and what it takes to start and run a thriving business. Plus, you will be provided with available resources to help launch new ventures in Michigan. Get focused, motivated and ready to go! Who should attend this seminar? Entrepreneurs, business owners, innovators, and 'closet' business owners. Registration is encouraged, online at http://www.misbtdc.net/events.aspx, or by phone at 989-686-9597.

The battle at Antietam on September 17, 1862 was not only the bloodiest one day battle of the Civil War, it remains the bloodiest day in the history of U.S. warfare. Pulitizer Prize-winning author and historian James M. McPherson's "Crossroads of Freedom" examines the battle and the context in which it was fought, suggesting that Antietam was the turning point of the Civil War.

This program will be an open discussion of McPherson's treatment of Antietam as well as other aspects of the Civil War that may surface during the discussion. History teacher Bob Hanley leads the discussion.

January's book selection is "Serena" by Ron Rash. Award-winning and New York Times bestselling novelist Ron Rash conjures a gothic tale of greed, corruption, and revenge with a ruthless, powerful, and unforgettable woman at its heart, set amid the wilds of 1930s North Carolina and against the backdrop of America's burgeoning environmental movement.

Bankruptcy attorney Joshua Reinert will present a free program that covers:

Marking the sesquicentennial of the Civil War and the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation, the Public Libraries of Saginaw has chosen to focus on the theme set by the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History; "At the Crossroads of Freedom and Equality: The Emancipation Proclamation." This community wide celebration will take place on Monday, February 4, at 6:30 p.m. in the Hoyt Library Auditorium, 505 Janes Avenue. The memory of the Civil War takes us back to a time in American history when civility ruptured and the nation split in two.

A panel including Leola Wilson, President, Saginaw Branch NAACP; Dr. Odail Thorns, Retired Saginaw City Director of Development, and Retired General Motors Executive and Dr. Kenneth Jolly, History Department Chairperson, Saginaw Valley State University, will lead a discussion using selections from the book entitled; "America's War: Talking About the Civil War and Emancipation on Their 150th Anniversaries."

The monotheistic traditions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam encourage us to live in peace, but the message often goes unheeded, sometimes by adherents of those same traditions. What is peace and how do we acquire it? What different perspectives might we gain from the monotheistic traditions? Professor David Nichols has assembled a panel to share and discuss perspectives and teachings on peace. Dr. Nichols will serve as discussion moderator with question and answer period to follow the discussion. Frumeth Hirsh Polasky, Dr. Sarosh Anwar, and Professor Paul Teed will offer perspectives on peace as it relates to the lessons of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. To register, call 755-0904 ext. 844.

We all know what a friend is. Friends are wonderful, supportive, helpful, and altogether indispensable! The Friends of the Public Libraries of Saginaw are a group of people who care about the library and work to support library services. They are dedicated to promoting the continued growth of our public library and its services throughout our community.

Friends of the Public Libraries of Saginaw are group of people who care about the library and work hard to support library services. They are dedicated to promoting the continued growth of our public library and its services throughout the community. Membership funds are used for services and programs that enrich and educate the community and offer a source of enjoyment for all.

Click here to learn more and become a member.