When: Saturday, May 26th, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm.

Where: The Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library in the South West employee staff parking lot.

See how long you can hang onto a wild, unbroken bicycle at our Buckaroo Bike Rodeo! Bring your trusty bike and we’ll show you how to properly fit your helmet. Then, practice riding and when your ready, tackle the obstacle course.

That’s what you’ll learn at the Buckaroo Bike Rodeo. See you there  pard’ners!

Pictures from: ehow.com, pdxk.com, lugano-toursim.ch, endeavorfit.com

Of all the ancient Athenian philosophical schools, the Garden of Epicurus (as one of the schools was called) was reputedly the only one that accepted women and slaves as students. Professor Gordon explores fact and fiction about the Garden, and describes why it would have attracted her over two millennia ago.

Gordon, Pamela…
Is the Chair of the Department of Classics at the University in Kansas. She has three degrees in Ancient Greek literature: a BA from Oberlin College, and the MA and PhD from Bryn Mawr College. Her scholarly and teaching interests range broadly across various genres of Greek and Latin literature, including drama, epic, lyric poetry, and philosophy. She has published on Epicurus, Homer, Lucretius, Sappho, and Virgil; as well as on the representation of Greek myth in Athenian vase-painting. Much of her published work concerns the social and cultural history of the sometimes notorious philosophical known as the Garden of Epicurus, and her forthcoming book is: The Invention and Gendering of Epicurus, currently in production at University of Michigan Press; due to appear in spring 2012.

Ancient Greeks/Modern Lives: Poetry-Drama-Dialogue is a program that has been
made possible by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities:
great ideas brought to life. www.ancientgreeksmodernlives.org
Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do
not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities

For the library’s part we’d love to take you back in time to when ballroom dancing hit the silver screen while you enjoy two classic films with two classic dancers Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.

Shall We Dance
Thursday May 3 – 7:00 pm –8:30 pm
■ Marvin Auditorium 101BC
This film features such Gershwin tunes as Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off. A rumor sparks a romance in this film starring perennial favorites Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.
RKO | 1937 | B&W | 109 minutes
■ Marvin Auditorium 101BC

Top Hat
Thu May 10 – 7:00–8:30 pm
■ Marvin Auditorium 101BC
This classic musical, starring Rogers and Astaire, features Irving Berlin’s romantic Top Hat, White Tie and Tails.
RKO | 1935 | B&W | 94 minutes
Thu May 10 7:00–8:30 pm

Look for other classic films in our movie collection and come see a classic film here the 2nd Friday of every month.
On May 12, 2012, Topeka Habitat for Humanity will present its first annual gala event entitled: “Shall We Dance? A Topeka Habitat Production” which will be held at the Topeka Ramada Inn, Regency Ballroom, from 6:00-9:30pm. Call 234-4322 for tickets or go to www.topekahabitat.org 
This event will feature a Dancing with the Stars style competition, showcasing celebrity dancers:

• Tom Hagen (KSNT),
• J.B. Bauersfeld (WIBW)
• Martha Bartlett Piland (MB Piland, Fat Free Advertising)

They will be partnered with professionals from three premiere dance studios: 

• InStep Dance Studio,
• Beverly Bernardi Post Conservatory of Dance and Pom
• Christie Curtis- The Occasional Dancer. 

The evening will be a fantastic combination of competition, entertainment; food and drink.  King’s of Swing, a regionally renowned “big band” will be performing throughout the event. 

In addition, a recycled art auction will be held with pieces created by local artists from items found at the Topeka Habitat for Humanity ReStore.  All proceeds from the event and the auction go to fund THFH’s high school building programs, which provide education in construction science to over 100 Topeka teens from Seaman, Shawnee Heights and Washburn Rural while providing safe, decent and affordable homes for Topeka families.

May 2012 marks the 35^th anniversary of the release of the original Star Wars movie (now more formally known as Episode IV:  A New Hope). When it was first released in 1977 the public had no idea they were witnessing the birth of a universe that would dramatically influence pop culture for the next 30 years.

With its subsequent sequels (and prequels), books, and other merchandising, Star Wars (and storyline mogul George Lucas) forever altered the public’s appetite for science-fiction.

Nowadays, Star Wars is a part of everyday life. Jedi masters, stormtroopers and philosophical quotes about The Force pop up in all kinds of social situations. To paraphrase Carl Sagan: we are made of Star Wars stuff.

I mean – who doesn’t remember their first lightsaber? Whether it was a modified cardboard tube or store-purchased model, kids (and kids-at-heart) have been waving lightsabers, joining the Rebel Alliance and yelling “Punch it, Chewy!” for over three decades.

Now’s your chance to live your dream; come and make a mini-Death Star or Admiral Ackbar puppet before the show. Have a favorite Star Wars character? Come to the movie in costume and participate in the group photo. As always, Wookies are welcome!

Pamela Dawes-Tambornino is a member of the Cheokee Nation (Wolf Clan) and teaches English at the oldest tribal university in the United States.  She holds a BA in English, MLA, and MA in English and has taught at five universities.  Her first book is Maggie’s Story which reflects teachings of her grandmother, who was a tribal healer in Pawhuska, Oklahoma.  Her second book will be published in 2012.

Books available for purchase and a book signing will follow the author talk.  For more information please call the Topeka Room at 785-580-4510.

*Book and Biographical information supplied by the author.

El Día offers visitors free snacks, free books and exposure to different cultures. Check out the library’s Spanish-language materials and sign up for summer reading, where you can earn more free stuff just for reading the books and authors you love.

El Día Schedule of Events | Cambio de horario (all events in Marvin Auditorium)
6:00 pm – Book Pick-up | Entrega Recepción de Libros
6:05 pm – Dennis Rogers, Native American Dance Performance | Dennis Rogers presenta espectáculo de danza Nativa Americana
6:25 pm – Abuelita Mary Valdivia Reads Llama Llama Red Pajamas | La abuelita Mary Valdivia lee Llama Llama Rojo Pijama
6:35 pm – Rosie Cutrer, a Multicultural Storyteller | Presentación de Rosie Cutrer – cuentista multicultural
7:00 pm – Craft Time – Create a craft you can eat! | Tiempo de Manualidades- ¡crear una manualidad que te puedas comer!

About 500 individuals participate in our program each year, and many are Hispanic or Latino. All activities are presented in English and Spanish.

Día was founded in 1996 by Author Pat Mora to link children’s books, languages and cultures. Día means “day” in Spanish and is a family literacy initiative celebrated every year. It’s an opportunity for communities across the country to practice DÍA = Diversity in Action.

This program made possible by a generous donation from Marianna and Austin Nothern to The Library Foundation.

Inside this edition:

• The value of summer reading cannot be understated. The cover story delves into the role the library plays in keeping kids reading skills and scores up. 80 percent of kids who participated in summer reading last year read at or above their grade level when they returned to school in the fall. That’s enough to make any parent sign up their child. Do it today at summerfest.tscpl.org.
• We offer new parents a new way to participate in summer reading. Check out page 2 for info on the Bee a Reader program.
• Summer is time to travel. Do a little reading and riding. If you are traveling by car, take an audiobook with you. We recommendation newly released books inside this publication.
• We’re in your neighborhood this summer. Our librarians travel to day cares, retirement communities, summer camps and even a local business delivering books and signing folks up for summer reading. Why come to the library when we come to you. Check out our Bookmobile schedule and our Adventuremobile(for kids) schedule.
• Meet Library Trustee Melissa Masoner.

Library cardholders receive this newspaper in the mail. Look for it in your mailbox every other month. You may also download a pdf version here.

Marvin Auditorium will take on a fair feel with tables for sponsor organizations, including the Kansas Historical Society, Professional Archaeologists of Kansas, Kansas Anthropological Association and, of course, the library. Dan Rowlinson, Kansas Anthropological Association member and flintknapper, will demonstrate flintknapping (making stone tools), answer questions and explain how those tools would have been used.

Bring your questions for professionals, learn how you can go on an archaeological dig and browse our display of related books. Come and go as you please and bring the kids. Don’t forget to stop by the display in the rotunda to see artifacts courtesy of the Kansas Historical Society.

Playing off the Summerfest theme “Dream Big,” we’re encouraging children to decorate or write on a Dream Cloud. Bring the cloud into the library to hang with other kids’ dreams. Visitors to the Kids Library in June and July will then be able to marvel at the aspirations of local children.

Kids can write or draw their dream – or dreams – inside the cloud shape of Create your own Dream Cloud Summerfest 2012 with crayons, markers, pencils, collage, stickers, paint (basically anything that isn’t flammable or glittery).

Cut off the top part and return it to the Youth Services Desk by June 1. Remember to put the child’s name on the back.

If you mess up, download and print off a copy or ask for one at the desk.

Sign up for summer reading  at summerfest.tscpl.org. For every reading milestone reached, your child will receive a prize. At 12 hours, kids receive a book and are entered  to win one of our grand prizes: passes to the Children’s Discovery Center or a Nook Tablet.

NOTE: Clouds will not be returned to their creators, but you can always make more than one so you have one to hang at home.

Learn about how to identify birds that reside here and migrate through our region. Come to the library at 7:00 pm on Monday, April 23 to participate in Wild Birds of Kansas, a program hosted by the library and presented by members of the Topeka Audubon Society. Plan to learn something new and bring your questions!

Becoming a more knowledgeable bird watcher requires patience and a curious mind. Identification can be tricky when the lighting isn’t in your favor, the leaves block your view, or the bird is silent. You may know the regulars in your neighborhood, but temporary visitors will show up during the transitioning seasons and keep it interesting.

Kansas is in the central flyway migratory route so we’re fortunate to have a variety of birds passing through every year headed to northern breeding grounds or favored wintering spots to the south.  472 species have been documented in Kansas, and not all birds in northeast Kansas will be seen in western Kansas. So, how do you know if what you’re watching work the shoreline in April is a Pectoral Sandpiper or an American Avocet? Or if the bird you saw high up in the tree is an American Goldfinch or a migrating Yellow Warbler?

A good beginner’s guide to birds of our region – which you can check out at the library to try before you buy – is the Guide to Kansas Birds and Birding Hot Spots. Color photos, a summary of what you’re likely to see each month, and a complete species list for Kansas make this a valuable field guide. Birds of Kansas is an exceptional new book with information that will appeal to more experienced bird watchers. Visit The Cornell Lab of Ornithology to listen to vocalizations, view range maps, and learn birding basics. On your next outing to a national wildlife refuge, state park, nature center or botanical garden look for an informational kiosk near the entrance for wildlife info or stop at the visitor center to ask for a free copy of a bird checklist.

Taking a nature walk with an experienced bird watcher is a great way to learn more about birds and their preferred habitats. Carry a checklist and note the species observed and record the date. Notice where the bird is and its behavior. Take a camera on your walks and try to photograph the birds you’re having difficulty identifying, and bring a good pair of binoculars. If you continue to study field marks and listen to vocalizations you will be able to accurately identify more and more species. Refer to your recorded observations and check e-Bird.org or the Kansas Ornithological Society’s archives and you will soon learn when to expect to see American White Pelicans resting and fishing at area lakes and when to set out your hummingbird feeder.

photos this article:
American White Pelican, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Northern Mockingbird, Cedar Waxwing, Red-winged Blackbird

featured photo:
Cedar Waxwing, Harris’s Sparrow, Eastern Bluebird
All photos courtesy of Kim Sain