The Sacramento Public Library invites writers to meet and hone their word craft at a series of free workshops at the North Highlands-Antelope branch, 4235 Antelope Road, Antelope. Attendees are encouraged to bring samples of their writing to share, offer ideas and feedback on others’ projects, and participate in free-writing exercises to jumpstart their creativity. The workshops are open to adults and older teens of all writing levels. Upcoming meetings are Wednesday, March 14, 6:30 p.m.; Saturday, March 31, 2 p.m.; Wednesday, April 11, 6:30 p.m.; Saturday, April 28, 2 p.m.; and Wednesday, May 9, 6:30 p.m. For more information, please telephone the Sacramento Public Library at (916) 264-

The Friends of Ella K. McClatchy Library are compiling a book of memories of the Sacramento Public Library’s 70-year-old Ella K. McClatchy branch, located near downtown Sacramento. The collective memoir was inspired by the community’s love of the 2112 22nd Street library building, built in the early 1900s and the former home of the McClatchy Family, original owners of The Sacramento Bee newspaper. All McClatchy Moments submissions are welcome, including poetry, photographs, drawings and essays which are no longer than 700 words. Submissions are to be mailed or delivered to Ella K. McClatchy Library, 2112 22nd Street, Sacramento, CA 95818 by May 15, 2012. A submission form is required whi

The Sacramento Public Library is celebrating National Consumer Protection Week with a special adult program scheduled Tuesday, March 6 from 12 noon to 1 p.m. at the Central Library, 828 I Street, Sacramento. Representatives from California’s Department of Consumer Affairs and the Contractors State License Board will provide helpful information about how to avoid hiring unlicensed and unqualified contractors, including landscapers, home repair specialists, and others. The California Department of Consumer Affairs issues more than 2.5 million licenses, certificates, and approvals to individuals and businesses in 240 categories. “We work with professions throughout California to protect con

Do you see quilts as just cozy, inert blankets on the bed? Think again. Quilts are active agents in history and vivid storytellers. Spreading the word about the importance of quilts is Macia Fuller’s mission. In Saturday’s Black History Month program at the Carmichael Library, Fuller described how coded patterns were sewn into quilts to help black slaves escape via the Underground Railroad. The Underground Railroad was not an actual railroad but a network of hidden pathways and safe houses that existed from the late 1700’s to the 1860’s to help southern slaves escape to Canada and free northern states in the U.S. The network was supported by abolitionists, free blacks, Quakers and other

As part of Black History Month, volunteer members from MatrixArts recently conducted a workshop on making Paper Beads at the Arden-Dimick library on Watt Avenue. Paper beads are made using strips of colorful paper, wound tightly into a shaped cylinder, glazed, and then strung into creative jewelry pieces. Any type of paper can be used, from magazine pages & newspaper to old wallpaper sample books. Heavy papers will produce larger beads, while the thinner papers will produce smaller, more delicate beads. While paper beads were a popular artform in Victorian England, more recently the craft has grown popular in Uganda, where women make beads from recycled paper. The craft has caught the

Sacramento Public Library received a $3,000 grant, sponsored by Scholastic Library Publishing, to present a series of programs during National Library Week, April 8 – 14, aimed at the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, questioning, intersex and ally (GLBTQIA) community. Through its programming series, local library officials hope to reinforce the message the library is a place of belonging for all members of the community. Programming for the week will include events that draw attention to the variety of services and resources the library offers for people of all ages. The library will promote current programs like “Come Out! for Aerobics” and “Same Sex Speed Dating for Book Lovers,” as

Theodor Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, spent his lifetime dreaming about different creatures and silly ways to name them. The Sacramento Public Library will honor Dr. Seuss’ 108th birthday by hosting numerous family-friendly programs at selected library locations in early March that include: • Thursday, March 1 at 4 p.m., Arcade Library, 2443 Marconi Avenue, Sacramento: Listen to Dr. Seuss’ books, take the challenging Seuss quiz, play games related to your favorite Seuss characters, and, as at any birthday party, enjoy yummy treats and exciting prizes! • Thursday, March 1 at 4 p.m., North Highlands-Antelope Library, 4235 Antelope Road, Antelope: Read and listen to favorite Seuss' stor

The Sacramento Public Library will present award-winning children’s book author David Schwartz at a free family program on Wednesday, February 22 at 6 p.m. in the Isleton Elementary School gymnasium, 412 Union Street, Isleton. With stories, poems and visuals, Schwartz will talk about the mathematics of the world around us and the many ways families can make math an enjoyable part of their everyday life. Schwartz has authored nearly 50 books, including How Much is a Million?, If You Made a Million, G is for Googol, Q Is for Quark, If You Hopped Like a Frog, and the Look Once, Look Again science series. His latest book is Where In the Wild? A popular speaker for children and educators, Sch

The Sacramento Public Library is preparing for its third annual Speed-Dating for Book Lovers event where adult singles can discuss their favorite book and perhaps meet a potential romantic companion. The pre-Valentine’s Day get-together will be Sunday, February 12, at 2 p.m., at the Central Library, 828 I Street, Sacramento. Each participant should bring a book to have something to talk about as an ice-breaker. “We already have 25 single ladies signed up for the speed-dating program, but we have many seats still available for men, ages 18 and older,” said librarian Michelle Rosenthal, speed-dating event coordinator. "There definitely have been some matches since we began the speed-datin

Sacramento County Historical Society Presents Images of America, Mather Field by James Scott and Tom Tolley Tuesday, January 24, 7:00 PM Sierra Sacramento Valley Medical Society Building, 5380 Elvas Avenue, Sacramento Join us on January 24th at 7:00 pm, as historians James Scott and Tom Tolley present a history of Mather Field from prehistory to closure and introduce their book: Images of America, Mather Field. Born from America’s need to train aviators for the Great War, Mather Field has sat sentinel to the east of Sacramento for nearly a century. Overnight, the base transformed a lonely domain of cattle and vineyards into an aerie where fledgling “man-birds” were taught to fly and kil