Events, Music, and Black History Month Kickoff at HPL This Month
BY JOSEPH ZAPPACOSTA, DIRECTOR, HACKLEY PUBLIC LIBRARY
HPL welcomes the new year with activities like storytimes, LEGO coding, and crafts. Release your creativity with artist and writer groups, celebrate with music, and explore your community library. It's all here at Hackley Public Library.
Participate in HPL’s annual Black History Month Calendar Contest, where we’ll showcase artwork from all ages to celebrate African American achievements. Everyone is invited to submit drawings!
To enter, pick up an entry form at Hackley Library, or download a copy of the entry from at hackleylibrary.org. Draw a picture from African American history on your entry form. The best pictures will be published in a free calendar, which will be available throughout Muskegon.
This contest runs from December 2 through January 10. All submissions are due by Friday, January 10. We’ll announce the winners at our Awards Ceremony on February 3 during Open Mic Night. All ages are recommended to participate in this calendar contest! Brought to the community through a generous bequest from Bess Commodore.
Would you like to become your most creative self? Participate in The Artist's Way, a Creative Workshop to enrich inspiration! The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron is a powerful 12-week program that helps creative people to become their most creative selves. Within the safety of a supportive group, we will read and review exercises and tasks outlined in the book, journal and share our insights, memories, and scars.
This workshop will be facilitated by Martha Colburn of Wherehouse Studio (yes, there will be some homework!), and it will be from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Fridays, beginning January 3 and going through March 27. Call HPL at (231) 722-8011 or visit the online calendar to register. The Artist’s Way books can be found at local libraries, bookstores, and on Amazon. It is recommended that participants come to every session for the full benefit of the program.
Repurpose an old book to create an adorable Book Hedgehog during this month’s Hackley Craft! All materials will be provided. Call HPL at (231) 722-8011 or visit the online calendar to register. This event will take place from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Monday, January 6. Free.
Cozy up with a good book or listen to a new story during HPL’s Youth Winter Reading Program! Every book you read enters you into a drawing for a fun prize. This program runs from January 6 to 31, and you can sign up in HPL’s Youth Services Department. Winners will be drawn the first week of February. Ages birth through 17. Free.
Visit Hackley Public Library and celebrate Three Kings Day, also known as Los Tres Reyes Magos, on Monday, January 6. In Spanish-speaking countries this special day represents the height of the holiday season! The Three Wise Men arrive to bring presents and families eat special foods. Celebrate Los Tres Reyes Magos with us. We’ll have fun activities, snacks, and prizes to give away! Visit with us on Monday, January 6 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. for this cheerful event. This program is done in partnership with Latinos Working for the Future. All ages. Free.
Physical activity is important to stay healthy! Are you moving around in your everyday life? Join us for a presentation by the MSU Extension. During this presentation, they’ll guide you through different activities to help you move more and sit less. This Let’s Get Physical presentation will be from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 7. All ages welcome. Free.
Do you enjoy creative writing? Are you inspired by innovative thoughts and ideas? Become a part of Left to Write, HPL's own Creative Writing Group! Here you participate in exercises, share your own stories and meet other creative writers. This group will provide a low key atmosphere for writers of all experiences. Everyone is welcome, so feel free to tell your friends! Remember to bring paper and your favorite pen. This group meets from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month.
Join us at Hackley Library for Storytime! We’ll enjoy themed stories, songs, movement activities, interactive apps, and a craft. Storytime in January will be on Thursdays January 9, 16, 23, and 30 from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. in Hackley Library. Recommended for ages zero through five with a caregiver. Free.
Take time to create something new and unique with a monthly craft time for families at Hackley Library! Activities are designed for all ages and ability levels. On Saturday, January 11, come to make your own Slime! This Hackley Family Crafts event will take place from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 11. All ages welcome. Free.
Kick off the New Year with a couple of 2019’s bestselling non-fiction titles, during the New Year Nonfiction Book Discussion. The books we’ll discuss include Educated by Tara Westover on January 13, and Becoming by Michelle Obama on February 24. These book discussions will be from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m., and copies will be available behind the HPL reference desk one month before each discussion on a first-come, first-served basis. Please bring copies back to the discussion. Call (231) 722-8000 with any questions. Free.
Explore LEGOs and coding at Hackley Library with special WeDo kits during WeDo Robotics! Instructors will be on hand to teach the group and guide individual learning. WeDo Robotics will be on Mondays January 13 and 27, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Best for ages seven through 14. Free.
Hackley Public Library and The Coffee Factory in Muskegon are teaming up for a special Storytime! We'll have fun with reading books and singing songs. This special Storytime will be from 10 to 10:45 a.m. on Tuesdays January 14 and 28 at The Coffee Factory in Muskegon. The Coffee Factory is located at 1402 Hudson St. in Muskegon. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Storytime @ The Coffee Factory is free to the public.
Music is in the air at Hackley Public Library! Visit with us for Classical Guitar Music with Kyle Thompson, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 14. Classical guitarist, Kyle Thompson, first picked up the guitar at age 13 and became fascinated by it. Now Professor of Guitar at Grand Valley State University, he is sharing his skills and talent with the Muskegon community! This musical performance is recommended for all ages. Free.
Dive into history and learn details about Hackley Public Library during an After-Hours Tour! This tour will take place on from 4:45 to 5:45 p.m., on Thursday, January 16 in Hackley Library. Visitors are asked to arrive at 4:45 p.m. to gather in HPL's lower level meeting rooms, and the tours will begin at 5:00 p.m. Please park in the rear parking lot as the front doors will be locked. Tours will be approximately one hour. Call (231) 722-8000 with any questions.
During a seemingly normal day at the library, a librarian is found dead in the stacks. Whodunnit? There are plenty of suspects with a motive for murder! Will you be able to help the detective crack this case? Have fun during Murder by the Book – A Library Murder Mystery! This event will take place from noon to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 18. It is a free ticketed event. Free tickets will be available to pick up at Hackley Library beginning on December 26.
Did you know Hackley Library has a special collection of historical books in glass cases? At Books and Bookbinding program, we’ll learn the history of bookbinding, interact with a few books normally off-display, and make a book of our own to take home! Join us from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 18 for this intriguing program. Registration is required and open to the first 35 patrons. Sign up at hackleylibrary.org, by calling (231) 722-8014, or by stopping in to HPL. Recommended for ages eight and up. Free.
Kick your creative mind into overdrive and craft something new on our Minecraft server at Hackley Library! This computer-based activity will from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, January 25, and is open to the first 20 participants. Registration is required. Please register at hackleylibrary.org, by calling (231) 722-8011, or by stopping into HPL. Best for ages seven through 12. Free.
Please join us for an evening of inspirational music and some Black History as we kick-off our Black History events! The Kingdom Embassy Covenant Church Praise Team will be sharing their singing talent that is sure to warm the heart. There will also be a special Praise Dance performed by Tiffany and Triniti Jones. You won’t want to miss this compelling Black History Month Kick-Off Event, happening from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 28. Brought to the community through a generous bequest from Bess Commodore. Recommended for all ages. Free.
Founded in 1890, the Hackley Public Library is located in downtown Muskegon. Hackley Public Library's Main Building is located at 316 W. Webster Ave, and is open noon to 8:00 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, and 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Hackley Public Library's Local History and Genealogy in the Torrent House is located at 315 W. Webster Ave, and is open 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
The Hackley Public Library is dedicated to promoting knowledge, understanding, and wisdom, combating ignorance, intolerance, and indifference, promoting the free exchange of ideas, and conserving our national and local cultural heritage. The mission of the Hackley Public Library is to inform, inspire, and delight our diverse community by providing information, knowledge, literature, new technologies, and traditional and innovative programs. Visit them online at HackleyLibrary.org and on Facebook at HackleyPL.
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