MEDIA RELEASE

Nyla Fujii-Babb

Nyla Fujii-Babb, one of Hawaii’s premier storytellers, will be a featured performer for the 2010 HSPLS Children’s Summer Reading Program at five selected public libraries on Kauai, the island of Hawaii, and Oahu in June 2010. Admission is free.

Fujii-Babb will present “Blue Water, Blue Waves,” a collection of island stories and songs, in celebration of this year’s program theme “Make a Splash @ your library!”

Fujii-Babb has been a professional storyteller, artistic director, puppeteer and actress for more than 20 years. In October 2000, Fujii-Babb was selected to perform as a featured teller at the prestigious National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, Tennessee. In addition, “Aunty Nyla” is a retired children’s librarian of the Hawaii State Public Library System.

Fujii-Babb will perform “Blue Water, Blue Waves” at the following libraries:

• June 18, 10 a.m. – Kapaa Public Library (1464 Kuhio Highway; telephone: 821-4422)
• June 18, 2 p.m. – Koloa Public & School Library (3451 Poipu Road; telephone: 742-8455)
• June 22, 3 p.m. – Bond Memorial Public Library (54-3903 Akoni Pule Highway; telephone: 889-6655)
• June 23, 10 a.m. – Mountain View Public & School Library (18-1235 Volcano Highway; telephone: 968-2322)
• June 30, 10:30 a.m. – Ewa Beach Public & School Library (91-950 North Road; telephone: 689-1204)

The 45-minute program is suitable for ages 6 and older. All children must be accompanied by a parent or caregiver. Contact the hosting library as soon as possible if a sign language interpreter or other special accommodation is needed.

This 2010 HSPLS summer reading performance program is funded by a generous grant from the Friends of the Library of Hawaii, Marriott Resorts Hawaii, Ko Olina Resort and Marina, HMSHost, Meadow Gold Dairies, Hansen Foodservice, The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, Hawaiian Telcom, the UH-Manoa Outreach College’s Statewide Cultural Extension Program, and funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts and the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts.

In addition, public libraries statewide are hosting a variety of performers and programs. Visit www.librarieshawaii.org for a complete list of programs and performers, or call your local library to find out their programs.