Miami, Fl – Effective Monday, November 21, all 36 open libraries are operating on their normal schedule:

Main Library; Allapattah; California Club; Civic Center; Coconut Grove; Concord; Coral Gables; Coral Reef; Country Walk; Doral; Edison Center; Fairlawn; Hialeah Gardens; Homestead; Kendall; Key Biscayne; Lakes of the Meadow; Lemon City; Little River; Miami Beach Regional; Miami Lakes; Miami Springs; Model City; Naranja; North Central; North Dade Regional; North Shore; Palm Springs North; Shenandoah; South Dade Regional; South Miami; South Shore; Sunny Isles Beach; Tamiami; West Dade Regional and West Kendall Regional.

Special Programs Rescheduled

As an increasing number of branches opened as quickly as possible in the aftermath of Hurricane Wilma, the Library System rescheduled a number of special events – postponed due to Hurricane Wilma – relating to Hispanic Heritage and Teen Read Week celebrations as well as to children’s programs sponsored by The Children’s Trust. In addition, the Library is holding its annual Make a Bookmark Contest celebration, that will feature winners from all branches. Entitled, “My World Through Books”, the contest requires entrants, ages 6-12, to draw a picture of their favorite character or scene from a book they love and fill out the entry form. The grand prize winner will be chosen from the group of branch finalists and will have his or her design reproduced for use by the Library System throughout 2006. All winners will be invited to a party at the Main Library on Saturday, December 17, 2005 from 11 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Mark your calendars and don’t miss the following events:

• A Visit from Professor McGonagall: stories and magic for Harry Potter fans.
  North Dade Regional Library, 2455 NW 183 St., Monday, Nov. 28, 3:30 p.m.
• Abrakadoodle: artists from this creative art enrichment project will demonstrate how to make a colored paper collage based on the work of author/illustrator Eric Carle. Ages 6-12. Please contact the library to register. Miami Lakes Branch, 6699 Windmill Gate Road, 305.822.6520, Thursday, Dec.1, 4:00 p.m.; Coral Gables Branch, 3443 Segovia, Dec. 3, 11:00 a.m.

  * This program is presented with the support of the Key Biscayne Rotary Foundation, the Town of Miami Lakes, and the City of Coral Gables.

• Author/Illustrator Roxie Munro: Join the acclaimed author/illustrator of the Inside Outside children’s book series as she discusses her works and the creative process of illustrating books. Both presentations on Saturday, December 3; South Dade Regional Library 10750 SW 211 Street, 11:00 a.m. and Lemon City Branch Library, 2:00 p.m. Grades K-5.
• The Bookworm: The Library’s funny Bookworm has an appetite for books of all kinds and will teach kids the many wonders of the Library. Allapattah Branch Library, 1799 NW 35 St., Wednesday, December 7, 2:30 p.m.
• Clarita Filgueiras and the Flamenco Puro Dance Company: Join us for a presentation and discussion of Flamenco dance. Miami Beach Regional Library, 227 22nd Street, Saturday, Dec. 10, 2:00 p.m. All ages.
• Fantasy Theatre Factory presents Bananas, Books and Pancakes!
  Coral Reef Branch Library, 9211 Coral Reef Dr., Tuesday, December 13 at 3:30 PM. All ages.

Media Contact:
Marivi Prado, Public Affairs
(305) 375-5180; pradom@mdpls.org