HSPLS Celebrates National Library Week 2015

Hawai’i’s public libraries will celebrate National Library Week 2015, which is held April 12-18, beginning on March 28 and lasting through the month of April.

During the celebration, public libraries throughout the state will provide free educational and entertaining programs for patrons five-year-old and older.

Each April, the American Library Association and libraries throughout the country celebrate National Library Week. The week is used as an opportunity to highlight the changing role that libraries, librarians, and library workers are playing.

This year’s theme selected by ALA for Library Week 2015 is “Unlimited possibilities @ your library.”

“The library has always been a place of unlimited possibilities,” said Interim State Librarian Stacie Kanno. “Whatever your interest or need, the library and the library staff are here to provide you the resources you need to accomplish your goals and dreams.”

A variety of programs will be held throughout the state at the public libraries during the observance period. Three of the programs will make their way over to Big Island libraries.

Patrick Ball. HSPLS courtesy photo.

“Celtic Harp and Story,” will be presented by award-winning Celtic harp player and highly acclaimed storyteller Patrick Ball, who has come back to Hawai’i with Celtic tales of Ireland that will be enhanced by the sounds of his Maplewood harp. Ball has sold more than half-a-million copies of his nine instrumental and three spoken word albums throughout the world.

Ball’s performance will be held at the Mountain View Public & School Library on March 30 at 6:30 p.m.

Popular story teller Ben Moffat will present “Mr. Spelunker’s Adventures” and “River of Dreams” at three Big Island libraries. Using puppetry, stilts, magic, music, and movement, Moffat will offer a unique storytelling performance. The storytelling is open to children ages three and older. Young children must be accompanied by an adult.

Moffats storytelling adventure will be performed at the Laupahoehoe Public & School Library on April 2 at 12:30 p.m, the Honoka’a Public Library at 5:30 p.m., and on April 15 at the Pahala Public & School Library at 2:30 p.m.

An Okinawan performing arts group, Jimpu Kai USA, directed by Cheryl Yoshie Nakasone, will bring Okinawa’s music and dance to life. The group will perform traditional folk dances, the classical art of kumiwudui, and a variety of other dances, including those that incorporate taiko. Attendees of the event can sing-along with music performed on the Okinawa sanshin, or even learn the freestyle atchame.

The Okinawan dance will be performed at the Kailua-Kona Public Library on April 18 at 3 p.m.

If a sign language interpreter or any other special accommodation is needed, contact the library hosting the event as early as possible.