Library announces January programs

The Mifflin Community Library is offering a variety of free programs for the public this January.

Peter Rabbit Tales for preschool age and up, Sat. Jan. 7, 9:30-10:30 a.m. is a tie-in program with the Miller Center’s production of Peter Rabbit Tales. Come help us celebrate the 150th birthday anniversary of Beatrix Potter. Please register.

Block Party for ages 3-8, Sat., Jan. 7, 10:30-11:30 a.m. will be fun building with different types of blocks. This is not a Lego event. Please register.

“The Power of Google” project is pointed to a modern life, a technological life. One of the most popular technologies is Google. Google is not only a search tool, but it also has a number of great applications to help users have more advantages in school or work. Google has a variety of features. The purpose is to help people in society gain a better understanding and knowledge of the useful functions of Google tools that they can apply and use to make life a lot easier. Led by Khoi Luong, Albright College student in technology, “The Power of Google” boots up on Jan. 7 with Part 1: An Introduction to Google’s Features at 11:00 a.m. until 12:30 p.m., and it will conclude with Part 2: Using Google Features on Jan. 14 at 11 a.m.12:30 p.m. Participants are encouraged to bring their own wi-fi enabled devices and must attend Part 1 in order to participate in Part 2. Registration is required.

Manga Workshop with artist Lily Cernak for ages 10+, Sat. Jan. 14, 11-noon is open to manga and graphic novel enthusiasts of all levels of experience! We will be covering a variety of topics, including panel layout, character design, drawing action poses, speech bubbles, making comics digitally and traditionally, drawing hair and facial expressions, and more! Students can also bring their sketchbooks from home to get personalized tips from the instructor. Please register.

Play Pokemon League for children aged 7+, Mon., Jan. 16, 6-8:00 p.m. is for all levels. Come learn the basics even if you’ve never picked up a card, or challenge a worthy opponent if you are skilled in combat. Please register.

Make Time @ MCL for school-aged children, Sat., Jan. 21, 9:30-10:30 a.m. is all about tinkering with toys to teach tech skills. Learn the basics of coding and program a Sphero robot. Please register.

On Fri., Jan. 27, 11 a.m., adults are invited to an Origami Workshop where they’ll learn a variety of origami designs, including traditional paper boats and paper cubes that can be placed over lights to create beautiful decorations, with GoggleWorks artist Alan Cernak! Whether you’ve never tried origami before or would like to learn some new forms, come join us for an hour of paper-folding and casual discussion of Japanese traditional and popular arts and culture. Please register.

Ongoing programs-

The adult coloring craze continues and so does our Color Me Hungry lunchtime coloring break for adults at the library on the second Friday each month. The next break is scheduled for Friday, January 13 from 11:00 a.m. until 1 p.m. Bring a packed lunch to munch while you color your cares away. Colored pencil and coloring pages will be provided.

Join us for Preschool Storytime every Tuesday at 9:30 a.m., Toddler Storytime every Tuesday at 10:45 a.m., and Pajama Storytime for all ages on Thursdays at 6:45 p.m. A full schedule with weekly themes for January is available at the library and on its website. Storyrider, Mama Patt, is here on Monday mornings at 9:30 for ages 2-5. Brilliant Beginnings, a babysit lapsit storytime, takes place every Wednesday morning at 9:30 for infants and their care- givers (older siblings are welcome).

FurREAD Friends continues on the second Monday and Tuesday evenings each month at 6 p.m., giving children a chance to practice their reading skills with a trained therapy dog. Our furried friends Gateway and Trixie are eager listeners. Research shows that reading to therapy dogs improves literacy skills, selfconfidence, self- esteem, and participation in other activities. Children who would like to practice reading aloud can come with a book of their own or choose a book from our collection.

Lego Club continues on the second Saturday of this month, January 14, at 9:30 a.m. Children are welcome to create whatever their imagination desires, and they are encouraged to discuss and design collaboratively. This club is open to children from kindergarten up. Please register and do not bring Legos from home.

Magic: the Gathering Club is a place where teens of all levels can come together to play the popular card game. The group welcomes both beginners and experienced planeswalkers every Thursday at 3:30 p.m. They can help the beginners get started and offer some challenge to the veterans. Check them out!

The Mifflin Community Library’s Evening Stitching Group meets every Monday from 6:30-8 p.m., and the Afternoon Stitching Group meets every Wednesday from 1-3 p.m. New members are always welcome and should bring their own materials. There are currently between 12-15 members who sew, knit and crochet. The group works on personal projects as well as service projects to benefit the community. Come join in loads of fun & stitching!

Miff lin Writers Group continues to meet the 1st & 3rd Thursdays of the month from 6:30-8 p.m. Mifflin Writers Group is composed of writers of all genres and levels of experience. Their purpose is to

motivate, inspire, instruct, inform, share and critique each other in their writing efforts in a free flowing and relaxed atmosphere. Come get writing!

The Afternoon Book Club will meet Monday, January 23, at 3:00 p.m. to discuss The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert. No registration is required.

Most programs encourage pre- registrat ion and t ake place downstairs at the Mifflin Community Library unless otherwise noted.

Part of Berks County Public Libraries, Mif flin Community Library is located at 6 Philadelphia Avenue in Shillington ( Philadelphia Ave. and Lancaster Ave. intersection). The library offers a variety of materials for check out and reference, weekly storytimes, computers for patron use, free computer workshops and other programs i ncluding Summer Reading and a Summer Concert Series.

For more i nformation on Mif f lin Community Library and its programs, please call 610.777.3911 or visit < www. berks. l ib. pa. us/ miff lincl>.