“Your Library Brings You the World!”

The Cedar Mill Community Library Association is celebrating the rich cultural diversity in our community with our second annual Winter Reading & Arts Festival. “Your Library Brings You the World!” is the theme around which our festivities will once again revolve. This year's Winter Reading & Arts Festival will also dovetail with the 2009 Oregon Reads program.

Winter Reading & Arts Festival structure

The festival will combine literature and reading enjoyment with programs by local artists and performers who reflect the multicultural dimensions of Cedar Mill and Bethany.  Our goal is to enhance cultural learning experiences and build awareness of the impact of arts, heritage and humanities on our community’s quality of life, sense of place, and community identity.

Oregon Reads

The “Reading” portion of this year’s Festival will center on The Stubborn Twig: Three Generations in the Life of a Japanese American Family, by Lauren Kessler. This book, selected for the statewide 2009 Oregon Reads project, tells the story of an immigrant family in the Pacific Northwest.

Oral History Project

If you are an immigrant or the child of an immigrant, we invite you to tell your story by participating in the library's oral history project.

Festival Events

The following festival events will take place at the Cedar Mill Community Library: 

Spirit of the Highlands -

January 10, 2009, at 2PM - Matt Rucker plays the Shuttle Pipes, an instrument dating back to 1695 - for all ages - on the library's main floor.

Traditional Estonian Songs, Games, & Dance with Liina Teose -

January 31, 2009, 1-3PM - An OHS Oregon FolkLife workshop - for all ages - in the library's upstairs meeting room.

Origami workshop -

February 1, 2009, 2-4PM - for all ages - in the library's upstairs meeting room. Registration Required. Call 503 644-0043 ext 114 to register beginning January 12.

Mexican Folklorico Dance with Rocio Espinoza -

February 8, 2009, 1-3PM - An OHS Oregon Folklife workshop - for all ages - in the library's upstairs meeting room.

Hawaiian Holiday with Lani Hawkins - 

February 14, 2009, 1-3PM - Create a lei for your Valentine and learn to dance the hula in this OHS Oregon Folklife workshop - for ages 10 and up , in the library's upstairs meeting room. Registration Required. Call 503 644-0043 ext 114 to register beginning January 12.

Ikebana demonstration and Japanese Tea Ceremony -

February 21, 2009, 2:30PM - This program is for adults only and will be presented by Julie Nakao and Masae Wright - in the library's upstairs meeting room. Registration Required. Call 503 644-0043 ext 114 to register beginning January 12.

Celtic Muse -

Date TBD - Enjoy harpists Jennifer Pratt-Walter and Valerie Blessley - for all ages - in the library upstairs meeting room.

Stories from the Oregon Trail with Truman Price -

March 21, 2009. 3PM - An OHS Oregon Folklife program for all ages - in the library's upstairs meeting room.

For more information - ask a librarian, call the library at 503-644-0043 ext 114,  or email AskUsCML@wccls.org.