Portage Library to host events Nov. 29 - Dec. 1

HOUGHTON -- The Portage Lake District Library will host three family-friendly events this week -- a class on "Learning How to Use Twitter" and, for kids, a "Pirates Ahoy Adventure!" on Thursday, Nov. 29, and a Holiday Book Sale on Friday, Nov. 30, and Saturday, Dec. 1.

Learn to Use Twitter

The Portage Lake District Library and Michigan Technological University will present a special session of "Online at the Library: Learn to Use Twitter" from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 29.

Twitter is a way of communicating online in short bursts of text (140 characters or less). Twitter can be compared to sending a telegram over the internet. Messages can be sent to a particular person, people following one's twitter feed, or the whole world. The service has been used for conversation, self-promotion, public relations, politics and news.

Many people use Twitter to keep in contact with friends and family. Recently, Twitter has been in the headlines for its use during the U.S. presidential campaign and by both sides in the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.

This special session of Online at the Library is being presented by Leo Ureel, a graduate student at Michigan Technological University. Participants will learn the meaning of internet terms such as tweet, follow, and hash-tag. Everyone will create a Twitter account and send messages using the service.

Please let us know if you plan to attend by calling the Michigan Tech Computer Science Department at 487-2209. For more information, contact Leo Ureel at ureel@mtu.edu.

Need additional help using computers/technology? "Online at the Library" meets from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. every Friday at the Portage Lake District Library.

Library programs are free and everyone is welcome. For more information, please call the library at 482-4570 or visit www.pldl.org.

Portage Library, Reading Council team up for "Pirates Ahoy!"

The Portage Lake District Library and the Copper Country Reading Council will co-host a "Pirates Ahoy Adventure!" from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 29, at the library.

All children Pre-K through Upper Elementary are invited to come dressed like a pirate and join the fun. Kids will go on a scavenger hunt throughout the library and search for pirate facts. They will also listen to pirate stories and create their own treasure map, draw a pirate scene or write their own pirate story on scrolls of paper. Participants will take home a small pirate treasure.

Library programs are free and everyone is invited. For more information, please call the library at 482-4570 or visit www.pldl.org.

Friends of Portage Library to hold Holiday Book Sale Nov. 30 - Dec. 1

The Friends of the Portage Lake District Library invite all book lovers to their Holiday Book Sale from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday evening, Nov. 30, and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1. A half-price sale will begin at 1 p.m. on Saturday and continue until 2 p.m.

New and gently used books, audiobooks, and DVDs for children and adults will be sold to raise money for library projects, purchases for the library, and events that the Friends provide. The selection of books is excellent and will make great gifts for the holidays. Information on how to become involved with the Friends will be available at the book sale.

For more information, please call the library at 482-4570 or visit www.pldl.org.