Red Bank library hosts February programs for adults and children

RED BANK — Red Bank Public Library will mark Black History Month with two special programs in February. The library, in conjunction with Two River Theater Company, will present “A Celebration of August Wilson” on Monday, Feb. 6, at 7 p.m. at the library. Playwright August Wilson celebrated the history and culture of blackAmerica in a series of 10 plays, two of which won the Pulitzer Prize. Two River Theater Company will bring a company of stage and film actors to the library to share stories and memories of working with Wilson and salute his singular talent. The library program is free and registration is not required.

The Red Bank Public Library and Frank Talk Multi-Media Network will present “Out of Africa,” an exhibit that focuses on the artistic culture of Africa in America, from 2 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 18. African art and textiles will be showcased along with foods that originated in Africa. An accompanying documentary produced by Frank Talk Multi-Media Network and filmed at Newark Museum features the museum’s “African Narratives” permanent collection and gives in-depth insight into African symbolism and art. In addition, Dr. Gretna Wilkinson, creative writing teacher at the Red Bank Regional High School Visual and Performing Arts Academy, will read selections from her recently published book of poetry, “Opening the Drawer” (Cool Women Press, 2011). This is a free program for all ages. Registration is not required.

The next meeting of the Artists’ Workshop at the library will be Feb. 2 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Artists seeking inspiration, motivation, and time to devote to their work are invited to attend the Artists’ Workshop on the first Thursday of each month. Red Bank artist Joe Bergholm is the workshop’s artistin residence. The workshops are free; registration is not required. Participants should bring their own drawing and painting materials; oils are not permitted because of ventilation concerns.

If you like to play Scrabble, join the Friends of the Red Bank Public Library on the second Saturday of each month from 2 to 4 p.m. Bring your own Scrabble board if you can. Come and enjoy playing this popular game with others this month on Saturday, Feb. 11.

Share, swap, clip and collect coupons at River Clippers, a monthly program at the library. The next meeting will take place 7-9 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 15. Join Candyce Till, library business manager, for group discussions on coupon organizing, Internet tools and lessons learned about this popular budget-stretching necessity. This is a free program and registration is not required.

The Red Bank Public Library hosts an adult book discussion group, Readin’ on the River, on the third Wednesday of each month from 7 to 8 p.m. The group will discuss “Their Eyes Were Watching God” by Zora Neale Hurston on Feb. 15. For more information and to register, contact Patrice Baldino at the library at 732-842-0690.

The Acoustic Saturdays music series continues its third season on Feb. 25 from 2- 4 p.m. The library presents this series featuring singers, songwriters and acoustic musicians on the Jersey Shore and beyond on the last Saturday of the month.

The library offers a free weekly onehour yoga class for adults on Fridays from 1-2 p.m. Amy Richardson, a graduate of the Institute for Therapeutic Massage and experienced yoga instructor, will teach the class, appropriate to all levels of yoga experience. Please bring your own yoga mat. At this time, registration is not required, and participants will be able to attend on a firstcome basis, up to 20 people.

Free computer instruction is available at the Red Bank Public Library by appointment. Please visit the library or call 732- 842-0690 to register for a one-hour, one-on-one session with the library’s volunteers, who are known for their knowledge and patience. Learn computer basics or get help with more advanced topics.

The Friends of the Library meets monthly in the historic Eisner Room at the Red Bank Public Library. Please call the library at 732-842-0690 for the next meeting date and more information about this group and its activities that support the library.

The board of trustees of the Red Bank Public Library meets on the fourth Thursday of each month from September through June at 4:30 p.m. in the Eisner Room of the library.

Free English as a Second Language classes for adults 18 and over are offered regularly at the library in partnership with the Literacy Volunteers of Monmouth County. Contact the Literacy Volunteers of Monmouth County at 732-571-0209 or visit the website at http://www.lvmonmouthnj.org for information on other ESL classes, volunteer tutortraining classes and English conversation classes.

The Red Bank Senior Center in cooperation with the Red Bank Public Library hosts a book discussion group on the last Monday of each month at the senior center at 1 p.m. Borough residents age 60 and over are welcome to join the center and participate. Call the center at 732-747-5204 for more information.

Activities for children abound in The Avice Noblett Children’s Room in February. Many free drop-in story times for children are offered, including Story Time on Mondays at 10:30 a.m. for children ages 3 and older; Afternoon Stories on Mondays at 3 p.m. for all ages; Little Bookworms on Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. and Thursdays at 11:30 a.m. for children ages 1 to 3 with a caregiver; and Songs and Stories on Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. for children ages 4 to 5.

Three special monthly programs take place in the Children’s Room in February. Children 5 years of age and older can attend the library’s new Wii Party on Monday, Feb. 13, from 4 to 5 p.m. The popular Artsy Smartsy program is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 25, at 2 p.m. for children ages 5 and older. This month children will learn about artist Andy Warhol and create their own modern masterpieces in his style. The Rockin’ Readers Tween Book Club will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 29, from 5 to 6 p.m. for children ages 9 to 12. All three programs are free; registration is required.

Additional information about these and other free programs in the Adult and Children’s departments of the Red Bank Public Library is available at the library, on the library’s website www.lmxac.org/redbank, or by calling 732-842-0690.

Regular library hours are Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Tuesday, Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The library will be closed Monday, Feb. 20, in observance of Presidents Day. The library is located at 84 W. Front St. in Red Bank.