In honor of Martin Luther King Day, the Milwaukee Public Library (MPL) will host several celebrations and events throughout the day at its Martin Luther King branch, located at 310 W. Locust St.

The day's festivities will begin at 9 a.m. with MLK-themed button making for all ages, free blood pressure screenings from Walgreen's and an interactive Martin Luther King Day timeline for adults – featuring key moments in the life and legacy of MLK and the Civil Rights Movement, as well as opportunities for visitors to share how those events personally impacted their own lives and experiences – and the creation of a King Day collage for teens, with the help of local artist Jasmine Barmore and the MPL Teen Advisory Board. 

The official Martin Luther King Day program will then begin at noon, opening with a welcome from Mayor Tom Barrett. The introduction will be followed by live performances from students of Lancaster Elementary School, the Kevin Hayden Band, Signature Dance Company, several members of the Ex Fabula storytelling fellowship and a tribute by members of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity – which Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a member. 

The celebrations will continue at the Martin Luther King library branch until 5 p.m. Monday evening. Here is the complete schedule:

MLK Day program of live performances

• Noon: Mayor Tom Barrett introduces an afternoon of live performances and tributes to Martin Luther King Jr.
• 12:15-12:30 p.m.: Lancaster Elementary School students perform Afro-Brazilian percussion music.
• 12:30-12:45 p.m.: Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity members deliver their tribute to MLK.
• 1-1:45 p.m.: The Kevin Hayden Band performs popular songs.
• 2-2:45 p.m.: Fellows from Ex Fabula tell personal stories of working together for peace, justice and equality. 
• 3-3:30 p.m.: Signature Dance Company performs an original routine. 

Other activities

• 9 a.m.-noon: Teens will create a collage with the help of Milwaukee artist Jasmine Barmore and the MPL Teen Advisory Board.
• 9 a.m.-noon: An interactive timeline will guide attendees through the major moments in MLK's life and the Civil Rights Movement, as well as offer adults the chance to share stories of how those events personally impacted and shaped their lives. 
• 9 a.m.-noon: Design your own King Day button.
• 9 a.m.-noon: The staff from Walgreen's pharmacy will offer free health screenings.
• 10:30 a.m.-noon: Rochelle Melander will help young attendees create their own "dream books," where children will write and draw their dreams into small how-to books to take home.
• 3:30-4:30 p.m.: Family and friends of all ages will end the celebration with decorating tasty cookies.

All other Milwaukee Public Library locations will be closed today in observance of the holiday.