The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners has reappointed Cassandra (Sandy) Johnson of St. Louis Park and Therese VanBlarcom of Rogers to the Hennepin County Library Board.  More details.

This Fulbright Scholar, Obie Award-winning writer, stand-up comedian, and actor in films such as “My Dinner With Andre,” “The Princess Bride,” and “Toy Story” (voice of Tyrannosaurus Rex) will speak on March 16 at Hopkins Center for the Arts.  Ticket information.

Teens: do you want to record and produce your own music or video? Register now for MVStudio music and video production workshops, where you can record songs, spoken word, stories, videos and more using the latest digital media technologies.

Animated, talking picture books are available online from home or the library through TumbleBook Library. TumbleBooks are always available— no checkouts or waiting lists. Also includes books in Spanish and French and iPad-compatible books. Find TumbleBooks on the Library’s Birth to Six page.

Our favorite jackets are book jackets (book covers)!  Warm up to winter by participating in this metro-wide program that runs through Feb. 29.  Write a book review for posting at your library, post a book list on Bookspace, and add comments to titles in the catalog.

The Givens Foundation launched this initiative in 2010 to increase the African American community’s access to and engagement in the literary arts. This year, join in on discussions of Walter Mosley’s critically-acclaimed books and see a film adaptation of “Devil in a Blue Dress.”

Artistic expression beautifies our world, communicates across cultures, and is fun!  Learn and enhance skills, express your creativity, and plan a career path at six new art workshop series:  Artitude, ArtsySmartsy, Crafty Minnesota, Make This, Paint It Green, and Work of Art.

In February, we celebrate Valentine’s Day and I Love to Read Month. If you (heart symbol) your library, you can show your support by joining the Friends of the Hennepin County Library, volunteering, or making a donation. 

This award-winning Ojibwe Indian writer and college professor, son of a Holocaust survivor and a tribal judge, grew up on a reservation and graduated from Princeton University. Hear Treuer speak on Feb. 21 at Minneapolis Central Library.

Black History Month is an opportunity for all Americans to learn about and celebrate African Americans’ achievements and contributions to our country.  Library events.  Book lists on KidLinks, TeenLinks, and BookSpace.

In February, kids and teens in grades 3-8 can vote for their favorite Maud Hart Lovelace Award-nominated book at their local library.  To vote, students must have read at least three titles on the list.  This award encouraging youth literacy honors the Minnesota author of the classic Betsy-Tacy series.  Book lists: grades 3-5, grades 6-8.

An exhibit of juried drawings, paintings, collages, and sculptures by Minneapolis 6^th-8^th grade students from 15 schools will be displayed Feb, 8-29 in Cargill Hall at Minneapolis Central Library. High school art will be displayed March 5-28.  Free admission; open during library hours.

Roosevelt Library will close for renovation at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 11. At 10:30 a.m., join your neighbors and celebrate the library’s renovation project. Commissioner Peter McLaughlin will lead a Family Storytime and guest speakers will talk about planned improvements. More renovation details.

Twin Cities Public Television is rebroadcasting this four-part series designed to help you make informed investment decisions and develop investment strategies to ensure income during your retirement years. The library programs were funded by the Investor Protection Trust and presented in collaboration with several organizations.  Additional library resources.