Take Your Child to the Library Day

The Bridgeport Public Library will join other libraries throughout the country and participate in the first “Take Your Child to the Library” Day on Saturday, February 4.  Parents with children of all ages are invited to visit the Burroughs and Saden library downtown.  Discover the wonders of having a Bridgeport Public Library card. Check out a book, magazine, talking book or DVD. Find out how you and your child may learn another language, get free online tutoring, free early literacy software, access children’s books online and more.

Special activities planned at the main Burroughs and Saden library will include:

• 10:15 a.m.  Mother Goose story time for 0-36 month olds.
• 11:00 a.m.   Family movie for all ages
• 2:00 p.m.     Teens and tweens- photo project. Back by popular demand!  Make a snow globe. Bring in two identical 3 x 5 photos to create this unique craft.

Partners include: Connecticut Library Consortium, Connecticut Library Association and the Connecticut State Library.

Logo courtesy of author Nancy Elizabeth Wallace

For more information contact the Youth Services Division at 203 576-7408. The Bridgeport Public Library Burroughs and Saden is located at 925 Broad Street. These programs are free and open to the public.

Free Computer Classes

Build your basic computer skills with an individual coach, every Wednesday!

One of our volunteers will work with you, one-on-one to help with essentials such as checking email and writing resumes and will provide assistance with programs such as Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.

 Space is limited so register for one or more classes  now.

Contact: Sharaya Smith 203 576-7778

Friends of the BPL Weekly Book Sale

The Friends of the Bridgeport Public Library are once again holding a weekly book sale in the Popular Library section of the main downtown Burroughs and Saden  Library every Thursday from 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM.

Hoops in Connecticut

Please join Fairfield author Don Harrison for a signing and discussion of his new book: “Hoops in Connecticut: The Nutmeg State’s Passion For Basketball”

Many names familiar to area basketball  fans appear in the book, such as Norwalk’s Calvin Murphy, New Haven’s John Williamson and a bevy of Bridgeport stars, including Walter Luckett, Wes Matthews, John Bagley and Chris and Charles Smith.

AAHA Black Fist & Foremost Afrocentric Film Festival

Join us as the the African-American Historical Association of Fairfield County, Connecticut  presents CONNECTICUT’S VERY FIRST,ABSOLUTELY FREE TO ATTEND AFROCENTRIC FILM FESTIVAL which will be taking place every Saturday and Sunday during Black History Month, 2012 (Feb. 4th, 5th, 11th, 12th, 18th and 19th, respectively) at the Bridgeport Public Library, 925 Broad Street, Bridgeport, Connecticut between 2:00 – 4:30 p.m.

Here is a brief synopsis of each and every film we’ll be presenting during the month of February:

SATURDAY, FEB. 4th:“The Confederate States of America”-The extraordinary mockumentary which answers the question, “What would have happened to people of color, if the Southern Confederacy had won the American Civil War?” PRODUCED BY SPIKE LEE.

SUNDAY, FEB. 5th: “White Dog”-The Controversial film based upon the true story of attempts to deprogram a White Male German Shepherd trained to attack and kill Black People on sight. HOSTED AND MODERATED BY JOE MEYERS, FILM AND THEATER CRITIC FOR THE CONNECTICUT POST.

SATURDAY, FEB. 11TH: “The Intruder”- This film features a devastating starring performance by William Shatner as a professional race agitator whose only aim is to destroy attempts to desegregate a southern town in the mid-60s…by any means necessary.

SUNDAY, FEB. 12TH: “Putney Swope”-Blatantly sexual, bizarre and outrageous satire depicting the way commercials have sold race, women and violence on television. Have we REALLY come a long way, baby?

SATURDAY, FEB. 18TH: “Peter Tosh: Stepping Razor/Red X”- The “razor sharp” music documentary on the life, times and horrifying death of the true driving force of the legendary Reggae band, “The Wailers”. Featuring loads of live music performances.

SUNDAY, FEB. 19TH: “Goodbye, Uncle Tom”-Infamous for it’s frank and vicious depiction of the realities of the Atlantic Slave Trade in America, this film’s gruesome and darkly “humorous” showcasing of the African-American Holocaust WILL leave the audience whimpering before it’s explosive, all-too-horrible vision.

ALL FILMS ARE ABSOLUTELY FREE TO ATTEND. DUE TO GRAPHIC SUBJECT MATTER, NO CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 17 WILL BE ALLOWED TO ATTEND UNLESS ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT.

Click here for more AAHA info.

Going to College?

Holly Franquet from The College Place will be available to help answer your college questions with an emphasis on the FAFSA process.  No appointment necessary. This program is free and open to all junior high, high school students and their parents.
Begins February 7.

Memoir Writing Class

The Bridgeport History Center has sponsored a Bridgeport Memoir Writing Class since 2002. Our class has continued to write about memories of not only Bridgeport, Connecticut, but about the stories that we find have linked our lives.

We all have shared landscapes of memories, be it a football game, high school, or daily life. Newcomers are welcome! Please join us on the second Saturday of each month at 2:00 PM.

For more info call Mary Witkowski, 203 576-7417

Selections from our Memoir Writing class can be viewed at:

http://www.bridgeportmemoir.com/

Genealogy Roundtable

3rd Thursday of each month @ 12:30-1:30 p.m.

Join us for the History Center’s monthly genealogy roundtable.  Patrons interested in researching their family trees meet at the library to discuss their work and share strategies. Both beginners and longtime researchers welcome.