PROGRAM ON SMALL BUSINESS SURVIVAL: The Riverside Branch Library, 475 Bullocks Point Ave., will present Small Business Survival Tips for an Economic Downturn Dec. 4 at 6:30 p.m.

Periods of economic downturn create opportunities for small businesses to outsmart larger competitors who are unable to adapt quickly. This presentation will teach participants how to be an entrepreneur whose business can survive an economic downturn. Find out what small business owners can do that will help their business endure the worst of times, and position it for success when conditions inevitably improve.

SCORE Counselor, Bill Mackinnon, will present this workshop. SCORE "Counselors to America’s Small Business" is a nonprofit association dedicated to educating entrepreneurs and the formation, growth and success of small business nationwide.

This program is free and open to all but registration is required. For more information or to register call (401) 433-4877.

—

ENERGY ASSISTANCE PRESENTATION: The Riverside Branch Library, 475 Bullocks Point Ave., will host a presentation by the Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources Dec. 5 at 11 a.m. Included will be information about assistance and energy efficiency programs including the Weatherization Assistance Program, Low Income Heat and Energy Assistance Program, and the “Keep Rhode Island Warm” home efficiency kits. Attendees will find out how and where to apply for assistance and if they are eligible for an energy audit and what money saving measures one can take to cut energy prices this winter.

This presentation is free and open to all. Handouts will be provided. For information call (401) 433-4877.

—

PROGRAM ON KEEPING MONEY SAFE: The Riverside Branch Library, 475 Bullocks Point Ave., will present “Is My Money Safe,” Dec. 11 at 6:30 p.m. Bill Horn, financial advisor from Smith Barney, will lead this presentation on investing in a volatile market, understanding FDIC changes, why it is important to stay calm when making financial decisions during an economic downturn and simple things you can do to avoid identity theft.

The program is free and open to all. Registration is not required. Call (401) 433-4877 for information.

—

VACATION WEEK ACTIVITIES: The East Providence Public Libraries will offer a variety of activities during December school vacation week.

Weaver Memorial Library, 41 Grove Ave., will offer a Red Cross Babysitting Class Dec. 29 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This class is open to East Providence residents only. Participants should bring a bag lunch. For grades 6 to age15, registration is required and will begin being taken Dec. 22 by calling (401) 435-1978. Also, Guitar Hero will be held Dec. 30 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Riverside Branch Library, 475 Bullocks Point Ave., will offer a beading workshop Dec. 30 from 3 to 4 p.m. Participants can make bracelets and necklaces out of colorful beads of all shapes and styles. Call (401) 433-4877 for information.

Rumford Branch Library, 1392 Pawtucket Ave., Rumford, will hold a Read-a-Thon Dec. 29 from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Participants will get a prize for every 20 minutes of reading. Open to all ages. For information, call (401) 434-8559.

The Fuller Branch Library, 260 Dover Ave., will offer Dance Dance Revolution for all ages Dec. 30 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. For information, call (401) 434-1136.

—

ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN: The East Providence Public Library Youth Services Department has organized activities for children at all its library locations.

Weaver Memorial Library, 41 Grove Ave., will offer storytimes through Dec. 4. Storytimes will resume the week of Jan. 19. No advance registration is necessary. Storytimes include stories, songs, crafts and other activities. Groups meet Wednesdays at 1:30 p.m. for ages 3 to 6, Thursdays at 9:30 a.m. from birth to age 2 and Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. for ages 3 to 6.

Hampstead Stage Company will present Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol Dec. 3 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. The presentation is appropriate for children from kindergarten to adults.

An Edwardian Christmas will be presented Dec. 8 at 7 p.m. by “Mrs. Gordon,” played by Rita Parisi, who will transport the audience back to Christmas 1908. Gordon will share her plans for the season and stories of her adventures from a recent shopping trip to Boston. Bring along your Christmas wish list. Mrs. Gordon will gladly check her 1908 Sear and Roebuck’s catalog to let you know how much everything costs. The presentation is appropriate for age 10 to adult.

The Rooster Game Book Discussion and Activity Group meets Wednesdays from 3 to 4:30 p.m. For children in grades 4 to 6, the group reads the RI Children’s Book Award nominee books and prepares for the Rooster Games while having fun at the library. Two books will be discussed at each meeting and participants play trivia games, read short Readers Theater scripts and make crafts including a Rooster Game scrapbook. Copies of each book are available at the library. The next books to be discussed, Dec. 10, are The Klipfish Code by Mary Casanova and Beowulf by James Rumford.

A visit with Santa Claus and a chance to decorate holiday cookies will be held Dec. 11 from 3 to 5 p.m. The event is appropriate for all ages and cameras are welcome to take photos with Santa.

Charity Day, where participants in grades 4 through adult earn community services credit while engaging in the project of their choice, meets next Dec. 16 from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Ongoing projects include knitting blanket squares (needles and yarn will be provided as well as instructions), writing letters to service people overseas, and making bookmarks for children at Hasbro. Other projects may be added each month.

Other activities include board games which will be offered Dec. 26 and Jan. 2 all day for all ages, DDR and Guitar Hero, Dec. 29 from 2 to 4 p.m. for grades one and up and Make Beaded Jewelry, Dec. 30 from 2 to 4 p.m. for all ages.

Fuller Branch Library, 260 Dover Ave., will offer storytimes through Dec. 4. Storytimes will resume the week of Jan. 19. No advance registration is necessary. Storytime meets Mondays from 3 to 5 for all ages and Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. for ages 2 and 3 and include stories, songs, crafts and other activities.

The library also offers craft programs for all ages. Upcoming crafts are Hands & Feet Reindeer, Dec. 8 and Candy Reindeer, Dec. 22.

Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) will meet Dec. 30 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Riverside Branch Library, 475 Bullocks Point Ave., will offer storytimes through Dec. 4. Storytimes will resume the week of Jan. 19. No advance registration is necessary. Storytime meets Mondays at 1:30 p.m. for ages 4 to 6 and Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. for ages 2 and 3 and include stories, songs, crafts and other activities.

Upcoming crafts include Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer Ornament, Dec. 9 from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. for all ages. Also, Bingo for all ages will be played Dec. 29 at 1:30 p.m. Prizes will be awarded.

Rumford Branch Library, 1392 Pawtucket Ave., will offer storytimes through Dec. 4. Storytimes will resume the week of Jan. 19. No advance registration is necessary. Storytime meets Thursdays at 1:30 p.m. for ages 3 to 6 and includes stories, songs, crafts, and other activities.

Craft sessions are held Mondays from 3 to 5 p.m. for all ages. Upcoming themes are Gingerbread Houses You Can Keep Forever, Dec. 1 and Holiday Ornaments, Dec. 15.

A Read-A-Thon will be held Dec. 29 form 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. for all ages. Adults can read to children who are not yet reading. All participants will earn a prize for each 20 minute period of reading.

For more information, contact the location where the activity is being held, Weaver Memorial Library, (401) 435-1978; Fuller Branch Library, (401) 434-1136; Riverside Branch Library, (401) 433-4877 or Rumford Branch Library, (401) 434-8559.

—

ACTIVITIES FOR TEENS: East Providence Public Library has organized activities for middle and high school students at all its library locations for the month of December.

Weaver Memorial Library, 41 Grove Ave., offers Charity Day one Tuesday a month for children in grades 4 through adult. The next Charity Day is Dec. 16 from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Participants earn community service credit while engaging in the project of their choice. Ongoing projects include knitting blanket squares (needles, yarn and instruction provided), writing letters to service people overseas, and making bookmarks for children at Hasbro. Other projects may be added each month.

The Writer’s Group meets one Monday each month from 3 to 4:30 p.m. The next session will be held Dec. 8. Participants practice poetry and short story writing individually and as a group, receiving feedback and constructive criticism from other writers. Writers have the opportunity to publish in the library’s magazine. Participants can bring writing to share if they wish. Snacks are provided.

Animanga Group meets one Monday each month from 3 to 4:30 p.m. The group meets next Dec. 15. Participants share fan fiction and art, play trivia games, try Japanese crafts and other animanga or Japanese related activities. We’ll conclude each meeting with an anime episode while sampling Japanese snacks. The Animanga Group meets one Monday per month from 3-4:30pm at the Weaver Library on Dec 15. This group is open to students in middle and high school. Those under age 13 are required parental permission. Forms can be picked up at any EPL library and brought to the first animanga meeting.

Open Mic Café meets one Thursday evening a month from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The next meeting will be Dec. 11. Participants sing a song, recite a poem, play a tune. The mic is theirs! Bring singing voices, guitar, keyboard etc. and perform for friends café style. Bands, soloists, and/or other group acts are welcome. Food and drinks will be served. Open Mic is open to students in middle and high school.

Riverside Branch Library, 475 Bullocks Point Ave., Riverside, will offer Vampire Book Bites Dec. 1 at 3 p.m. Designed for those who are bloodthirsty for a vampire-themed get together, participants come to discuss their favorite vampire book and vote for their favorite film or TV vampire. Twilight fans are encouraged to attend. Snacks will be provided.

T.G.I.F. Students in grades six through twelve can play Guitar Hero, DDR (Dance! Dance! Revolution!), Playstation II, and various board games every Friday from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Rumford Branch Library, 1392 Pawtucket Ave., Rumford, will offer the Japanese craft program “Ornamental Temari Balls,” Dec. 10 at 3 p.m. The balls are made from Styrofoam balls which are then covered in thread and decorated.

Fuller Branch Library, 260 Dover Ave., will offer a Candy Snowman craft Dec. 18 at 3 p.m.

For more information, contact the location where the activity is being held, Weaver Memorial Library, 435-1978; Fuller Branch Library, 434-1136; Riverside Branch Library, 433-4877 or Rumford Branch Library, (401) 434-8559.