UPCOMING

"FREAKING ABOUT 'FREAKONOMICS,' " with economist Paul Brewbaker, on New York Times best-seller "Freakonomics," 3-4:30 p.m. Feb. 23, Windward Community College, Hale Akoakoa, room 105; free, open to the public; no reservations; information, 236-9218, www.windward.hawaii.edu/commonbook.

"AFRICAN-AMERICAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO HAWAI'I," Black History Month presentation by African-American historian and Maui resident Adesina Ogunelese, 6 p.m. Feb. 24, Makawao Public Library, Maui; free (suitable for ages 12 and older); information, 808-573-8785.

SOCIETY OF CHILDREN'S BOOK WRITERS AND ILLUSTRATORS, Hawai'i region, annual conference, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Feb. 27, Ala Moana Hotel, with authors, illustrators, instructors and writing coaches; $120 ($90 for members); portfolio critique available (additional fee); (optional fiction-writing workshop, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Feb. 26, Paki Hale, with separate fee); information, www.scbwihawaii.org/events; registration deadline, Feb. 22: 735-4538.

"KEIKO AND LOUIE: BEST BEST FRIENDS (MOSTLY)," a Honolulu Theatre for Youth 30-minute interactive presentation, for ages 3 and older, 10:30 a.m. Feb. 27, Hawai'i State Library, Edna Allyn room; information, 586-3510.

WRITING RETREAT, a writing exercise with other beginning and experienced writers, 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Feb. 27, Windward Community College, Hale Kuhina, room 115; open to age 16 and older; $5; registration, 235-7433.

POETRY OUT LOUD, Hawai'i 2010 Competitions, a National Endowment for the Arts national initiative combining aspects of slam poetry, recitation and theater; Feb. 28, semifinals 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m., finals 2-5 p.m., Episcopal Cathedral of St. Andrew, Tenney Theatre; free, open to the public; information, 839-9885.

LIBRARY CHANGES

MOUNTAIN VIEW PUBLIC AND SCHOOL LIBRARY, Big Island, reopens noon Feb. 22, following interior renovation/maintenance; hours: 12-8 p.m. Mondays; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays; 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Fridays; 808-968-2322.

KAHULUI PUBLIC LIBRARY, Maui, closed; (books may be returned to other public libraries); no scheduled re-opening date; information, 808-831-6877.

PĀHALA PUBLIC AND SCHOOL LIBRARY, Big Island, has reopened following renovations (information, 808-928-2015.):

• New hours: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays; closed other days.

• Passport application service discontinued.

KAPA'A PUBLIC LIBRARY HOURS CHANGE (due to staff shortages): 12-5 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; 2-7 p.m. Tuesdays; closed Saturdays and Sundays; information, 808-821-4422.

PASSPORT APPLICATION SERVICE HOURS EXTENDED, acceptance of DS-11 passport application forms, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, 9 a.m.-noon Saturdays; Hawai'i State Library, Federal Documents Section, second floor (Punchbowl Street side); information, 586-3477, www.librarieshawaii.org/services/passport1.htm.

NEW KALIHI-PĀLAMA PUBLIC LIBRARY SCHEDULE: 1-8 p.m., Mondays and Wednesdays; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; 832-3466.

PĀHOA PUBLIC AND SCHOOL LIBRARY, Big Island, has reopened: hours 1-8 p.m. Mondays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays; information, 808-965-2171.

KAILUA, KONA, PUBLIC LIBRARY, Big Island, has changed Tuesday hours to noon-7 p.m. (instead of 11 a.m.-7 p.m.); rest of schedule unchanged; information, 808-327-4327.

ONGOING

YWCA BROWN-BAG LUNCH BOOK CLUB, 12-1:30 p.m. third Tuesday monthly; Laniākea (former Richards Street) YWCA; information, 538-7061.

BILL'S BOOKMOBILE, a bargain book/video store fundraiser for state libraries; 10 a.m.-2 p.m., first Saturday monthly, 690 Pohukaina St., Kaka'ako; information, 536-4174.

KAHUKU BOOKMOBILE, offers books, compact discs, audiobooks and free Internet access on Mondays to holders of a state library card; information/varying locations, 293-8935.

NATIVE BOOKS/NĀ MEA HAWAI'I CLASSES, ongoing, including lauhala weaving, lei hulu (feather) workshops (lei, kahili and other hulu items), beginning 'ōlelo Hawai'i (Hawaiian language), watercolors class, hula (beginners and intermediate, young adult to kūpuna) and beginning 'ukulele; various times, Ward Warehouse store; some fees; information, 596-8885.

Youth Speaks Hawaii, slam poetry workshops, 4:30-6 p.m. Wednesdays, The ARTS at Marks Garage; free; 387-9664.

PLAY READING GROUP, with discussion and dramatic readings, 6 p.m. second Friday monthly, First Unitarian Church; free; bring snacks to share; information, 526-1191.

FOR KEIKI

Preschool storytimE, stories, sing-alongs, finger plays and a simple craft, for pre-school age and older (accompanied by parent/caregiver), 10:30-11 a.m. Sundays, through June 6, Kaimukī Public Library; free; 733-8422.

TODDLER TIME STORYTIME, for babies/toddlers up to age 3 (with parent/caregiver), with stories, rhymes, songs and puzzles; 10:30-11 a.m. Tuesdays, through March 30, Hawai'i State Library, Edna Allyn Children's Room; free; information, 586-3510.

KEIKI STORYTIME, for pre-school age through age 6 (with parent/caregiver), with stories, sing-alongs, finger plays and rhymes, and color or craft project, 10-10:30 a.m. Tuesdays, Wailuku Public Library, Children's Section, Maui; free; 808-243-5766.

HAWAI'I KAI PUBLIC LIBRARY CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS, library meeting room; free; information, 397-5833:

• Preschool storytime, ages 3-5 (with caregiver), with stories, sing-alongs, finger plays and make-and-take craft sessions; 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays, through April 2010.

• Toddler Puzzletime, ages 1 1/4-3 years (with caregiver), with educational puzzles, toys, storytime, songs and finger plays; 10:30 a.m. first Thursdays monthly.

SATURDAY KEIKI STORYTIME, for children 3 and older (with adult supervision), including stories, songs and rhymes; 10:30-11 a.m. Saturdays, Hawai'i State Library, Edna Allyn Children's Room; free; information, 586-3510.

Keiki storytime, with books, games and songs; 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays and 11 a.m. Saturdays, Borders, Waikele; free; 676-6699. Also, 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays, Borders, Ward Centre; free; 591-8995.

PRESCHOOL STORYTIME, 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays, Mililani Public Library; free; 627-7470.

Preschool storytimE, stories, sing-alongs, finger plays and a simple craft, for ages 3-5; 4 p.m. Wednesdays, Waikīkī-Kapahulu Public Library; free; 733-8488.

Send announcements, at least 10 days before event, with contact name and phone number, to: Island Life, Lit Beat Calendar, The Advertiser, 605 Kapiolani Blvd., Honolulu, HI 96813; islandlife@honoluluadvertiser.com, with "Lit Beat" in the subject line; or fax 525-8055.