Staving off an epidemic

In the second month of Everybody Reads, experts talk about the challenge of keeping our society healthy — how approaches to disease have evolved since Dr. John Snow's revolutionary, mid-19th century work on cholera. Dr. Pamela Gilbert discusses disease and culture in Victorian England. And City of Portland water quality specialists show what happens after the flush.

Steven Johnson in Portland

Author of the historical thriller The Ghost Map, set in London during the 1850's cholera epidemic, Johnson will wrap up this year's Everybody Reads on March 2. He is the author of three national bestsellers. Johnson's writing has appeared in The New Yorker, The Nation, Harper's, The Guardian, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.

A glimpse of China, 1913-1929

Begins Feb. 19

In 1911, China shed nearly 2,000 years of imperial rule to become a modern state. This Collins Gallery exhibit captures the turmoil of the post-1911 period through compelling photographs of rural China, letters and artifacts from John Van Antwerp MacMurray, America's Minister to China from 1913-1929. MacMurray's daughter talks about her childhood in China at the opening reception.

Pajamas at the library

Transform a cold winter evening into something special. Slip your child into pajamas and head off to the library for bedtime story adventures and songs. Learn more about the many storytimes offered at the library.

Bound for college

Not sure where to begin with those college applications? Sign up for The Princeton Review Assessment to find whether the ACT or SAT will help you show your best. Or take a workshop to get the inside scoop on how to fill out college and financial aid applications.

Home-buying smarts

The leap to homeownership can be daunting, especially in a shaky economy. Learn step-by-step what it takes to buy a home through a workshop at Midland Library. Or learn from an expert whether a reverse mortgage is right for you.

Mad Science: What Do You Know About H2O?

The average person in the United States uses anywhere from 80 to 100 gallons of water per day. Discover some amazing things about water from the Mad Scientist, and find out how to conserve this valuable resource.