MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FL - The Miami-Dade Public Library System will commemorate Hispanic Heritage Month with an extensive lineup of programs and exhibitions at branches throughout the county. Beginning Tuesday, October 2nd, library visitors will be treated to stimulating author presentations, dance performances, cooking demonstrations, engaging children’s programs, and enriching art exhibitions.

Hear Teresa Rodriguez an Emmy-winning journalist and author discuss her book the “Daughters of Juárez: A True Story of Serial Murder South of the Border;”  enjoy a taste of Latin America with chefs Andrew Alarcon and Jorge Montes of Gourmet Creations; explore the history of dance including the salsa and mambo; view the works of painter and printmaker John Bailly, in collaboration with Cuban-American poet Richard Blanco, and the work of the late Cuban artist Agustín Fernandez, whose portfolio of lithographs isjuxtaposed with 18 of Jose Marti’s best-loved poems.

Photojournalist Randi Sidman-Moore explores the joining of cultures in Lox with Black Beans and Rice: A portrait of Cuban-Jewish life; children’s author Katie Sciurba, shares her inspiration for writing - Oye Celia! - a novel dedicated to the legendary Celia Cruz, and the Colorin Colorado Puppet Theatre will delight the entire family with tales from Mexico.

The Library System’s celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month helps to highlight the history and cultural diversity of South Florida’s extensive Latin American community.
All events are free and open to the public. For additional information please call 305-375-BOOK (2665).

Program Lineup:
Author Teresa Rodriguez – The award-winning journalist will discuss her work The Daughters of Juárez: A True Story of Serial Murder South of the Border. Rodriguez has spent more than 10 years investigating the unsolved murders of more than 400 women in Juarez, Mexico. In her book, sheshares a stunning account of the ongoing atrocities against these women and girls—some as young as 11.

Coral Gables Branch – 3443 Segovia Street, Saturday, October 6, 2 p.m.

Oye Celia! Author Katie Sciurba
Children’s author, Katie Sciurba, shares her inspiration for writing - Oye Celia!- a novel dedicated to the legendary Celia Cruz. This interactive program will also feature music and salsa dancing.   

West Dade Regional - 9445 Coral Way, Saturday, October 6, 11:30 a.m.
Golden Glades Branch - 100 NE 166 Street, Saturday, October 6, 3 p.m.

A Taste of Latin America
Chefs Andrew Alarcon and Jorge Montes know what it means to serve up dishes with Latin flair.  Watch them prepare a decadent meal and enjoy a tasting afterward.

Naranja Branch – 27060 S. Dixie Highway – Tuesday, October 2, 2 p.m.
Lakes of the Meadow Branch – 4284 SW 152nd Ave., – Tuesday, Oct. 9, 6 p.m.
Country Walk Branch – 15433 SW 137 Avenue – Monday, October 15, 11 a.m.

Dance the Mambo
Explore the origins of the Mambo with Onyx, the famous Latin dance group featuring Gabrielle Peters and her partner Jose. Put on your dancing shoes - the performance culminates with a lesson for all. 

North Shore Branch - 7501 Collins Avenue, Wednesday, Oct. 3, 6:30 p.m.  Homestead Branch – 700 N Homestead Blvd. -Wednesday, Oct. 10, 7 p.m.
Allapattah Branch – 1799 NW 35th Street, Saturday, October 27, 1 p.m.                                                         
Key Biscayne Branch – 299 Crandon Boulevard, Saturday, Oct. 27, 3:30 p.m.

Salsa Dancing 101
Submerge yourself in Salsa, the ultimate Latin dance.  Classes will be conducted by professional dancers who will discuss the history of the dance and demonstrate the techniques. 

West Dade Regional 9445 Coral Way – Saturday, October 6, 2 p.m.
West Kendall Regional 10201 Hammocks Boulevard - Saturday, Oct., 13, 2 p.m.
West Flagler Branch 5050 West Flagler Street – Saturday, October 20, 1:30 p.m.

Sing your way to Spanish with “Jody”
Learn Spanish the fun way.  Teacher, songwriter and performer Jody Dreher introduces Spanish to non-native speaking children.  This interactive music language show has drawn national attention including a 2006 Parents’ Choice Award.

Fairlawn Branch 6376 SW 8th Street – Thursday, October 11, 10 a.m.
Doral Branch 10785 NW 58th Street, - Saturday, October 13, 11 a.m.
Palm Springs North Branch 17601 NW 78 Ave, Miami – Thursday, October 18, 10 a.m.

Viva Mexico! Stories, Songs and Crafts
Explore the history of Mexican-Americans in the United States; enjoy mariachi music, and learn how the wonders of Mexico have influenced the rest of Latin America and Miami-Dade through the puppet show “Adelita: A Mexican Cinderella.

Homestead Branch, 700 N Homestead Blvd. – Saturday, October 13, 3 p.m.

Author and Storyteller Lucia Gonzalez
The 1996 Pura Belpre Children's Literature Honor Medal winner Lucia Gonzalez, shares tales from her new book as well as from the classic - The Bossy Gallito. Her presentation includes string stories, puppetry and anecdotes about growing up in Cuba and coming to America.

Model City Branch - 2211 NW 54th Street, Tuesday, October 23, 10 a.m.

Colorin Colorado Puppet Theatre
Join the Library System’s very own troupe of puppeteers and storytellers as they entertain with tales and songs.

Lemon City Branch – 430 NE 61 Street, Wednesday, October 03, 10:30 a.m.
North Central Branch –9590 NW 27 Avenue, October 3, 3:30 p.m.
Model City Branch –  2211 NW 54 Street, Tuesday, October 9, 10 a.m.
Key Biscayne Branch – 299 Crandon Blvd. Thursday, October 11, 10:30 a.m.
Little River Branch – 160 NE 79 Street, Tuesday, October 16, 10 a.m.
North Shore Branch – 7501 Collins Avenue, Tuesday, October 16, 3:30 p.m.
Allapattah Branch – 1799 NW 35 Street, Thursday, October 18, 10 a.m.
Coconut Grove Branch – 2875 McFarlane Road, Tuesday, October 23, 3:30 p.m.
Shenandoah Branch – 2111 SW 19 Street, Wednesday, October 24, 10:30 a.m.

Exhibitions:
Agustín Fernandez: Translating Martí
West Dade Regional, 9445 Coral Way
September 6, 2007 – June 1, 2008

The late Agustín Fernandez’s intriguing portfolio of lithographs, 20 Años de Exilio 1959-1979, is juxtaposed with 18 of Jose Marti’s best-loved poems. The poems were translated from Spanish to English by 8–16 year-olds born in Paris, Havana and Miami to Cuban parents.

Lox with Black Beans and Rice: A Portrait of Cuban-Jewish Life by Randi Sidman-Moore

Miami Beach Regional Library, 227 22nd Street
October 13, 2007 – January 11, 2008

Photojournalist Randi Sidman-Moore depicts a side of Miami that isn’t about fancy cars, hot nightclubs or bikini-clad models. These photographs and oral histories tell the stories of Cuban-Jewish families and life in South Florida. They document the births, dinners, work and worship of the very religious and secular alike; from successful businessmen, to cabaret singers, to prison inmates.

Stargaze and other Tales, or more Artist-Poet Collaborations
From the Permanent Collection of the Miami-Dade Public Library System
Main Library, 2nd floor exhibition space 101 W. Flagler Street
September 15 – December 19

As a complement to Place of Mind, the collaborative exhibition by artist John Bailly and poet Richard Blanco, a selection of artists’ books and limited edition portfolios from the Library’s Permanent Collection manifest the rich tradition of collaboration between artists and poets. Included are works by Ronald Brooks Kitaj with Robert Creeley; Birgit Skiöld with James Kirkup; Gilberto Ruiz with Daniel Fernandez, and more.

Place of Mind by John Bailly and Richard Blanco
Main Library, Auditorium, 101 W. Flagler Street
October 4 - December 15
Reception: October 4, 6– 8:30 p.m.

The Library System continues its rich tradition of exhibiting artwork with literary themes in Place of Mind. This exhibition is the result of a collaboration between critically acclaimed Cuban-American poet Richard Blanco (City of a Hundred Fires), and painter and printmaker John Bailly, South Florida Cultural Consortium Fellowship winner - 2006. Bailly’s work consists of prints, paintings and book art created in dialogue with Blanco’s poems, which will be printed and mounted for the exhibition. Often subtle, sometimes vague, and rarely obvious, the relationship between the poems and paintings will rely on the viewer’s own intuition and associations.

Surrealist Games
West Kendall Regional - 10201 Hammocks Blvd.
Tuesday, October 23, 4 – 6 p.m.

California Club Branch - 850 Ives Dairy Road
Wednesday, October 24, 4 – 6 p.m.

Play Dada and surrealist art games to create new art and poetry with John Bailly and Richard Blanco. Use newspaper articles and magazines to come up with random combinations of words. Learn how to play Exquisite Corpse and create a group drawing or writing project. Best for ages, 13-18.

Artist’s Talk with John Bailly  
John Bailly, Miami artist and fellow of the Honors College at Florida International University, will share his ideas, show slides of his recent work, and discuss his way of working, which stems from the idea that everything is random and that there seems to be no order or meaning to events.

Coral Reef Branch - 9211 Coral Reef Drive  
Tuesday, October 30, 4 p.m.

Media Contact:
Victoria Galan, Public Affairs Officer
Tel. 305.375.5180; galanv@mdpls.org

Vinora Hamilton, Public Information Officer
Tel. 305.375.3327; hamiltonv@mdpls.org