11/11: Music history and more at Cornelius

November 11 is Veterans Day, a holiday honoring military veterans. Cornelius Public Library offers a talk on military music history by a U.S. Navy veteran.

Michael Burch-Pesses will talk about military music from the Civil War to today. This former Navy bandmaster is Pacific University's director of bands and the Oregon Symphonic Band's conductor.

The talk takes place at 1 p.m., and features music samples. Snacks will be brought to you by the Friends of the Cornelius Library and Grande Foods.

The Library will be open from 11 a.m.–7 p.m. Stop by to enjoy this special event or just check out a great book or video.

Cornelius Public Library is located at 1355 N Barlow Street.

11/8: the Nutcracker at Beaverton

The Portland Festival Ballet will perform dance sequences from The Nutcracker on Saturday, November 8, at 10:15 a.m. This popular holiday production will be performed in Beaverton City Library's auditorium, 12375 SW Fifth Street.

The performance is free and will last approximately 15 minutes. Seating is limited and complimentary tickets will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis beginning at 10 a.m. in the Library lobby.

This holiday presentation is hosted by the Beaverton Arts Commission and is suitable for all ages. Costumed dancers will be available in the auditorium lobby to meet audience members following the performance.

10/31-11/9: Hillsboro Book Sale

photo by the Hillsboro Public Library

The Friends of the Hillsboro Public Library are hosting their Book Sale from Friday, October 31-November 9th. The book sale takes place at Hillsboro Public Library, 2850 NE Brookwood Parkway in Hillsboro. The sale is in the library meeting room and is open the same hours as the library (Monday-Friday 10-8, Saturday 10-6, Sunday 12-6).

The prices generally range from 50 cents to $5.00 and everything is individually priced. In addition to a full range of books, including large print and foreign, there will be videos, DVDs, books on tape and CD, Music CDs, LPs, cassettes, and probably a thousand comic books (mostly in plastic sleeves).

The sale also features a See's Candy Basket Raffle, with tickets for $1.00. Several large round tables (great for playing poker) will also be for sale - priced at $100.
The proceeds go towards the Capitol Campaign Pledge, which purchases new material and covers some operating expenses for the library.

11/4: Election Night Watch at Tigard

On Tuesday, November 4, from 4:30–11 p.m., join your friends and neighbors for Election Night Watch at the Tigard Public Library, 13500 SW Hall Blvd. This unique, non-partisan view of political history in the making will be broadcast on the big screen in Tigard Public Library's Community Room. Light snacks will be available.

Voting is fundamental: Election website is live!

graphic by Andrew McFarlane

If you listen to the radio, or watch tv, or read the papers, or surf the web, you know there is a presidential election this year. It seems to be all the media can talk about.

Does this sound familiar?

• You'd like to vote, but you're not sure you're registered in Oregon?
• You still need to register but you're not sure when the deadline is?
• You're wondering what measures are on the ballot this time?
• You watch the debates and wonder how both candidates can claim something when you're pretty sure it didn't happen that way?
• You're not sure where you can drop off your ballot?
• You're not sure where you can find out election results the evening of November 4th?

WCCLS is looking out for you with its new Election Guide. Whether you're not sure if you qualify to register to vote, want to learn more about the issues on the ballot, get some non-partisan information about candidates and measures, or want to find fact-checking resources, the Election Guide can give you the information you need to be a more informed voter.

You can find the Election Guide at http://www.wccls.org/elections/index.php.

10/22, 10/28: Early Literacy Classes for Parents at Cedar Mill

Cedar Mill Community Library, 12505 NW Cornell Rd, is offering early literacy classes for parents.

Cedar Mill offers a workshop for parents of two- and three-year olds on Wednesday, October 22 from 6:30-8:30pm, and a workshop for parents of four- and five-year olds on Tuesday, October 28 from 6:30-8:30pm.

The foundation for getting ready to read is more than the ABC’s! These Early Literacy workshops focus on the six early literacy skills that research points to as essential for children to know before they learn to read. Early Literacy is what children know about reading and writing before they learn to read and write.

The workshops will include current information on brain research, the six early literacy skills, tips for sharing and choosing books for little ones, activities to help develop these skills and information packets.

Workshops will be held in the upstairs library meeting room and are for adults only. No registration is required.
For more information, call the Youth Services Desk 503-644-0043 ext 112 or see http://www.cedarmill.plinkit.org/kids-teens/early-literacy-classes.html.

October Film Fest: Decisive Battles of History

photo by Nathan Gibbs

Please join members of the Hillsboro Main Library staff for the film and discussion series, Decisive Battles of History.

The four battles are widely separated in time and geography, but all have a significance that transcends the purely military. Each can be counted as marking a psychological or social turning point in world history.

Anyone interested in history might enjoy these films and the chance to discuss them.

The series takes place at Hillsboro Main Library, 2850 NE Brookwood Parkway, in the Meeting Room every Saturday in October at 2pm.

Saturday, October 4: The Battle of Thermopylae
The Battle of Thermopylae (480 BC) was fought between a small force of allied Greek soldiers (estimated to be about 6,000), against the overwhelming might of the Persian army (estimated at 300,000). The courage and determination of the outnumbered force who held out for three days before being wiped out, gave a psychological boost to the rest of the Greek allies, who ultimately drove the Persians out of their homeland. The recent film "300" deals with this battle, with some blatant historical errors.

Saturday, October 11: Battle of Waterloo
The Battle of Waterloo (1815) was Napoleon Bonaparte’s final attempt to assert French dominance over Europe. An allied force form several countries, most notably England and Prussia, defeated him, and France never again threatened to control Europe.

Saturday, October 18: Yamamato vs. Nimitz
Nimitz vs. Yamamoto was the clash of two brilliant admirals in WWII in the Pacific. When they met at the Battle of Midway (1942), the Japanese had recorded a string of victories and American morale was low. The resulting American victory meant that the Japanese could not threaten Hawaii or the U.S. mainland again.

Saturday, October 25: The Tet Offensive
The Tet Offensive (1968) was one of the most brutal engagements in the Vietnam war. The North Vietnamese and Viet Cong made a serious attempt to take over several major cities including Hue and Saigon. This effort ultimately failed to achieve its military objective, but is credited with helping to turn many Americans against the war.

10/12-10/18: Books with Bite for Teen Read Week 2008

photo by Literary Gal

Washington County teens will be reading for the fun of it! WCCLS member libraries celebrate the 11th annual Teen Read Week October 12 - 18, 2008.

WCCLS libraries join thousands of other libraries in the US encouraging teens to check out Books with Bite. Read a wide variety of books and graphic novels just for the fun of it.

A number of the WCCLS member libraries are celebrating Teen Read Week.

Wednesday, October 15:
Special Wii Wednesday!
3:00-9:00
Tualatin Public Library
18878 SW Martinazzi Ave
Are you rockin’ the Wii? Join us in the Teen Room for an afternoon of free Wii fun.

Thursday, October 16:
Books with Bites Discussion
3-4:30 pm
Forest Grove City Library
2114 Pacific Ave.
Drop by the Forest Grove City Library to hear about a great book or series or talk up your favorite book. Books will be available to check out and refreshments provided. And yes, there will be door prizes!

Recess
4-6 pm
Tualatin Public Library
18878 SW Martinazzi Ave
Remember recess and how fun it was? Well come down to the library for Recess. We will have fun games to play from 4-6pm in the Community Room-- all for free!

Books with Bite Party
5-8 pm
Tigard Public Library
13500 SW Hall Blvd.
Experience books and movies you can really sink your teeth into, while nibbling on tasty chocolate treats!

Friday, October 17:
Karaoke
3-5 pm
Tualatin Public Library
18878 SW Martinazzi Ave
Karaoke madness ensues! Join the fun from 3-5pm in the Community Room of the Library.

Saturday, October 18:
Rock the Pizza Vote
11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Tigard Public Library
13500 SW Hall Blvd.
Feeling left out of the upcoming election? Let your voice be heard!
Come taste a variety of local pizzas and vote for your favorite! Think
globally, eat locally!

SYS
2-4 pm
Tualatin Public Library
18878 SW Martinazzi Ave
Swap your stuff at the library in the teen room! Bring books, movies, cds, puzzles, and games you no longer need and trade them with other peoples' stuff.

All week long:
West Slope Library (3678 SW 78th Avenue) is giving out prizes for young adults and teens who write a book review.

Hillsboro Public Library is holding a two week raffle for Teen Reading Week. From Oct. 12 through 26, teens are invited to hunt for raffle tickets in the Young Adult Areas at both of our libraries (2850 NE Brookwood Parkway and 775 SE Tenth Avenue) and they can enter the raffle 15 times during that two week period. Raffle winners will be drawn by Wed., Oct. 29, and winners do not have to be present to win. Prizes will include books like Twilight by Stephenie Meyers and gift certificates to Starbucks and local area restaurants.