Tri-Cities library notes

Children and youth

Batavia: 10 S. Batavia Ave., (630) 879-1393, www.batavia.lib.il.us.

• Middle School Mystery Night from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday for students in grades 6-8. Clues and an evidence scene provide everything needed to solve this mystery. Pizza and games add to the night's activities. Registration is in progress. A signed parental permission slip and $3 is due at time of registration.

• Corduroy visits for stories and activities at 1 p.m. Saturday. No registration required.

• Anime/Manga Club meets at 3:30 p.m. March 15 and at 7 p.m. March 26. Registration is not required; call Lee Blakley for information, (630) 879-4777.

Geneva: 127 James St., (630) 234-0780, www.geneva.lib.il.us.

• The library will be closed March 23 for Easter.

• Artists for the month of March are the Geneva Public schools displaying in the lower level gallery.

• TAG: Teen Advisory Group will meet from 5 to 6 p.m. March 26. "Do work" with Christopher "Big Black" Boykin from Rob & Big Call (630) 232-0780, ext. 251, to register.

St. Charles: 1 S. Sixth Ave., (630) 584-0076, www.stcharleslibrary.org.

On display for the month of March, in the lower lobby display case, is the owl collection of Jeremy Benshish.

• Become a Red Cross certified baby sitter: 9:30 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. March 27. To receive certification, students must attend all day and successfully pass all observable skills. Questions about the training may be directed to the Fox Valley Red Cross at (630) 443-8844.

• Middle School Photography Contest. Entry forms are available at the Ask Me Desk or print one from the library's Web site. A reception and award announcements will take place at 3:30 p.m. Sunday. Vote for your favorite through Saturday.

• The Family Read-Aloud Book Club, through April 9. Families who register will keep track of their time spent reading, and earn special reading rewards and entries into prize drawings at the same time. Receive your family book log and details during registration at the Ask Me Desk.

Town and Country: 320 E. North St., Elburn, (530) 365-2244, www.elburn.lib.il.us.

• Corduroy Bear visits at 11 a.m. Friday. Bring your cameras for photos as you listen to stories. Please register.

• Springtime Craft Workshop including Cat in the Hat crafts at 10 a.m. Saturday. Please register.

Adult and family

Batavia:

• Books between Bites at noon March 20 with Connie Willis author of "Doomsday Book" the 2008 One Book, One Batavia selection. Willis will also appear at 7 p.m. at Batavia High School. Call the library for tickets.

• Family Matters: A Multi-generation Workshop at 7 p.m. today. Bring a family member to this life story writing workshop and learn the basics of story writing about a family event to be shared with your companion.

• A Botany of Desire: A Plant's Eye View of the Word at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday will be discussed by Michael Pollen. Do we choose what to plant in our gardens? Or do the plants choose us? Learn about four common plants and the human desires they inspire; the apple and sweetness; the tulip and beauty; marijuana and intoxication; the potato and control.

• Homebound Delivery Service, for library cardholders who are homebound due to illness or infirmity. Books and other library materials are delivered to the Holmstad, Riverrain, and Heritage Woods senior living complexes every two weeks. For information, call (630) 879-1393, ext. 340.

• AskAway, 24/7 online reference service, www.BataviaPublicLibrary.org, click on "Connect to AskAway." Reference libraries in Illinois and throughout the U.S. are available to help you find reliable, accurate and authoritative information. This service is free.

Geneva:

• Book & Bag it at noon today in the Meeting Room. Bring a sack lunch if you wish. Registration is not required. Topic is "Edward Hopper and the American Scene." Slide lecture presented by Michelle Paluch-Mishur of Art Excursions.

• Splendors of Palermo and Monreale Sicily from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday. Al and Gail Popowits discuss the splendor of the Cathedral of Monreale and Palermo's Palazzo dei Normanni.

• Meditation: Out of the Monasteries and into the Mainstream, from 7 to 8 :30 Tuesday. Pam O'Brien will explain simple meditative methods to help cope with life's challenges. Bring a cushion small firm blanket and wear comfortable clothing.

• Getting the Most from Your Digital Camera at 7 p.m. March 12. Roger Mattingly instructs on the seven basic commands to increase the learning curve for digital camera users. Bring your camera and instruction book.

• Great Decisions 2007: Cooperative program of the Geneva, Batavia and St. Charles public libraries at 7 p.m. March 19. The topic is "European Union."

• Home Service is available to qualified residents. Call Outreach Coordinator Jamie Weaver (630) 232-0870, ext. 264.

St. Charles:

• St. Charles Writers Group meets at 9:15 a.m. the second and fourth Saturday of the month. Moderator Richard Holinger leads the group that is designed for fledgling and experienced writers. Each workshop begins with a short presentation or a group discussion and follows with critiques of each other's work. Workshops are for those 18 or older. On March 15 the group will discuss building a fiction and voice that makes for good reading and on March 29 there will be a reading by group members.

• Sunday Afternoon Concerts at 2 p.m. Sunday's concert features Sara Vittraino on violin and Charlie Prazma on guitar. They will perform a diverse repertoire of classical, pop, light jazz and a little rock 'n' roll and on March 30 the concert will be performed by the Elgin Opera's Solange Sior.

• Book Discussion Groups:

At 10 a.m. Monday "The Emperor's Children by Claire Messud and at 7 p.m. "Othello" by William Shakespeare.

• Choosing a College Major at 7 p.m. Tuesday. Peg Hendershot from Career Vision will be a guide though the steps you need for a successful college major and career planning. Parents are welcome to attend with students.

Town and Country:

The library will be closed March 23 for Easter.

• AARP Tax Help for Seniors is available by appointment only. Call (630) 365-2244 for appointments.

• Computer classes for March are still available. Call the library at (630) 365-2244.

• AARP Tax help for seniors is available by appointment; call (630) 365-2244.

• Sign up to be on the e-list. You will receive library notices through your e-mail address. Call the circulation desk for details, (630) 365-2244. The notice form is available to print from www.elburn.lib.il.us.