Anacostia
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Author in Focus: James Baldwin and His Legacy, featuring Jason Reynolds

Sunday, June 23, 2019, 2:00 pm

Join the National Book Foundation and the DC Public Library for a celebration of the literary legacy and seminal works of James Baldwin, a four-time National Book Award Finalist (Giovanni’s Room, Nobody Knows My Name, The Fire Next Time, and Just Above My Head).

Baby and Toddler Story Time

Monday, June 24, 2019, 11:00 am

These 20-to-30-minute story times are full of books, songs, rhymes and finger plays for children birth to 2 years old. Our Baby and Toddler Story Time is a great way to introduce your child to language skills in a positive and fun environment. With slightly more activity and movement than our lap times, children and their grownups are encouraged to engage with the books and songs and to actively participate in the program.

Home Buyer Workshops at Anacostia Neighborhood Library

Tuesday, June 25, 2019, 7:00 pm

Are you interested in buying a home, but feel that the process is confusing and you could use some guidance? Come to the Anacostia Neighborhood Library for one of two Home Buyer Workshops provided by Operation HOPE. Vera Parker, a Financial Well-Being Coach with Operation HOPE, will be giving a presentation designed to educate people about the home-buying process. After the presentation, attendees will have the opportunity to schedule a free one-on-one session to learn more about the services Operation HOPE can provide. This program will take place at 7 p.m.

Preschool Story Time

Wednesday, June 26, 2019, 10:30 am

Share the fun of reading with your children ages 3-5 years. Children and their caregivers, will explore stories and activities to encourage children to develop a lifelong love of reading and learning. These 30-to-40-minute programs are designed to promote language and listening skills, expand children’s imaginations and arouse their curiosity about the world around them. Class groups and child care centers are welcome at these sessions. Please no children under 2 years of age unless attending with a sibling or class group.

COLORS: Adult Coloring Program

Friday, June 28, 2019, 12:00 pm

Coloring can be an incredibly calming and stress relieving activity; it's a simple way to connect with one's creativity and relieve daily anxiety. Just like meditation, coloring also allows us to switch off our brains from other thoughts and focus only on the moment, helping to alleviate worry. Stop in every Friday at noon and discover why this trend has taken off. Coloring pages and materials will be provided.

A Right to the City Lecture Series: Barry Farm/Hillsdale Settlement

Monday, July 1, 2019, 6:30 pm

For the month of July, A Right to the City will host a lecture series. Anacostia Community Museum curator and author Alicione M. Amos will lecture on the history of Barry Farm/Hillsdale, a settlement created by the Freemen's Bureau in 1867 to deal with the housing problems faced by African Americans in Washington, D.C. after the Civil War. We hope you can join us on Monday, July 1 at 6:30 p.m. for this thought provoking discussion.

COLORS: Adult Coloring Program

Friday, July 5, 2019, 12:00 pm

Summer Yoga at the Library

Saturday, July 6, 2019, 10:00 am

This summer, join us for free yoga at the library with Om Shanti Yoga, a 60-minute Vinyasa Yoga flow that includes restorative meditation and Pranayama breathing. Class is suitable for all levels and includes a soulful rhythmic playlist.

Baby and Toddler Story Time

Monday, July 8, 2019, 11:00 am

Strong Start Community Playgroup for 24-36 months (Registration Required)

Tuesday, July 9, 2019, 10:00 am

Advance registration is required for this program. See below for registration information.

Pages

Page Turner Thursday's Presents:

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Read another great page turner in the month of October, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling. The book follows Harry Potter, a young wizard, in his third year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Along with friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, Harry investigates Sirius Black, an escaped prisoner from Azkaban whom they believe is one of Lord Voldemort's old allies. Reserve your copy today.

Fantastic First Novels

There’s a saying in music: a band has their whole lives to record their first album, and a year to record their second. I think that this idea could definitely apply to authors as well. Pressure that often appears after a great first novel can sometimes affect their entire creative process. Maybe that’s why first novels are often remembered fondly as introductions to fresh and idiosyncratic voices. Listed here are a few of my favorite first novels.

Science Fiction for Beginners

Books for People (Like Me) Who Are Inexperienced Sci-Fi Readers

I've never had a particularly strong interest in science fiction, but over the last few years I've become more intrigued. These are a few of the titles that grabbed my attention through strong reviews, word-of-mouth, or talking with other DC library employees. I hope that these titles open up new avenues for you, or remind you of a time when you were just getting into science fiction as well.

Human Resources Achievement Program

Workforce Development Training

The Anacostia Neighborhood Library is happy to present a 12-week program offered by HRAP, Inc., Human Resources Achievement Program. HRAP, Inc. is a non-profit organization located in Washington, D.C. that strives to empower young adults. This program will focus on job searching, but not in the way that many such programs do. Instead of focusing on things like resumes and online job searching strategies, this program will be concerned with the inter-personal aspects of the process.

Adults

Perspective

Self-Help

Birthdays and the new year: as these two days approach, we tend to do a self-evaluation. You may sit and reflect about the changes you want, you need or should make in your life both professionally and personally. However, once you have completed your list, you can likely get stuck on the method of making the changes. All of these books were recommended to me by various people to read. I started out reading these books for pleasure. Over time, however, these books have assisted me in overcoming some issues I was suffering from during different periods of my life.

D.C. Bookdiva Publications Presents...

An author visit series

Do you love to write? Are interested in becoming an author? Look no further!

Adults

Page Turner Thursdays Presents:

Delicious Foods

Darlene, a young widow and mother devastated by the death of her husband, turns to drugs to erase the trauma. In this fog of grief, she is lured with the promise of a great job to a mysterious farm run by a shady company, with disastrous consequences for both her and her 11-year-old son, Eddie--left behind in a panic-stricken search for her.

Adults

Church Folk

Slightly scandalous urban Christian Fiction

There is a genre of fiction that is categorized as Urban Christian. The story lines often reveal emotional and spiritual conflicts within urban church settings. The intensities between the spiritual and secular warfare can range from the horrific to the comedic. Of course, sex and violence heighten the novels’ appeal. My reaction to these non-stop scandals that are occurring in the church and outside the church is WOW. These authors offer intriguing plots and characters that demonstrate that nobody is exempt from being involved in church scandal.

True Life Terror

Before I started working at the library, I read almost exclusively fiction books. Seeing all of the great nonfiction titles available, however, reminded me of the pleasures of reading stories of real life. Some of the titles on this list are historical and some are more modern, but they are all gripping tales, made even more gripping by the fact that they are true.

Non-Stop Page Turners

Urban Fiction

Urban Fiction are books about street drama, many with characters that are forced into the street life, learning how to survive at a young age. Many of the books feature "mature content." There are three words that I use to describe these books: non-stop page turners.