Previous Special Events

Pierre Laszlo discusses Citrus: A History on Tuesday, January 27, at 6:30 p.m. at the Central Library, 14 W. 10th St.

On Sunday, January 25, at 2 p.m. at the Plaza Branch, 4801 Main St., local author Martha McCarty will discuss her book Five Island Diaries: Stories of Love Lost and Found.

Painting Missouri, a collection of landscapes by award-winning artist Billyo O’Donnell that depicts all 114 Missouri counties plus the city of St. Louis, will be on display starting Saturday, January 24, 2009 at the Central Library, 14 W. 10th St.

On Friday, January 23, at 7 p.m. at the Plaza Branch, 4801 Main St., Mad Science of Kansas City will present the first in a three-part, monthly series of programs geared to spark imaginative learning through unique, engaging, and educational activities.

Tom Bloch, author of Stand for the Best and co-founder of Kansas City’s University Academy, and the school partner with the Kansas City Public Library to host a series of thought-provoking presentations by national experts titled What Works in Urban Education.

The first talk in this series features Eric Hanushek, the Paul and Jean Hanna Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution and a leading expert on educational policy specializing in the economics and finance of schools. The presentation takes place on Thursday, January 22, at 6:30 p.m. at the Plaza Branch, 4801 Main St.

Longtime local sports writer and current KCChiefs.com columnist Jonathan Rand discusses his new book The Year That Changed the Game on Wednesday, January 21, at 6:30 p.m. at the Plaza Branch, 4801 Main St.

Many sports historians believe that the emergence of professional football as America’s premier sport was the result of a slow and steady evolution that began with the 1920 formation of a 14-team circuit that became the National Football League.

The Kansas City Public Library hosts author William Graebner for a presentation based on his latest book, Patty’s Got a Gun: Patricia Hearst in 1970s America, on Wednesday, January 21, at 6:30 p.m. at the Central Library, 14 W. 10th St.

The Kansas City Public Library welcomes bestselling author Howard Blum for a discussion of his book American Lightning: Terror, Mystery, the Birth of Hollywood, and the Crime of the Century on Tuesday, January 20, at 6:30 p.m. at the Central Library, 14 W. 10th St.

On Tuesday, January 20, 2009, history will be made when Barack Obama is inaugurated as the 44th President of the United States.

Beginning at 10 a.m. the inauguration will be screened in Helzberg Auditorium of the Central Library, 14 W. 10th St. as well as the Truman Forum of the Plaza Branch, 4801 Main St.

On Tuesday, January 20, 2009, history will be made when Barack Obama is inaugurated as the 44th President of the United States.

Beginning at 10 a.m. the inauguration will be screened in Helzberg Auditorium of the Central Library, 14 W. 10th St. as well as the Truman Forum of the Plaza Branch, 4801 Main St.