Wednesday, September 2nd @ 10AM -- Preschool Storytime!

Preschool Storytime is back!

Join us for stories, songs, and fingerplays at our Preschool Storytime every Wednesday @ 10:00A.M.

Uncertain Waters: Navigating California's Water Priorities

This 4-part, non-partisan, community forum on California's water priorities begins on September 8th at 6:30 PM, with the viewing of the film, Water on the Edge. The film deals with the movement of water in California in the past and the future and addresses the question: How does our water system get the right amount of water to the right place at the right time?

Please join us at the Visalia Library in the "Blue Room" on the 2nd floor.

For more information, call: Judith Wood at 713-2706 or Sheryll Strachan at 713-2709.

Friends of the Library Book Sale

The next Friends of the Library book sale will be held on September 5, from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on the north/east lawn. See you there!

Local Author to Speak at Visalia Library

Valley author, Mas Masumoto, will speak at the Visalia Library and autograph his books on Friday, September 11, 2009 . This event--sponsored by the Friends of the Tulare County Library--begins at 7 PM and is free and open to the public.

Masumoto's new book, Wisdom of the Last Farmer: Harvesting Legacies from the Land, was released on August 4th of this year.

Literacy Center's Casino Royale Night

Come join the fun at the Literacy Center's Casino Royale Night on September 25, 2009, from 6 to 9 PM in the Visalia library. There will be gambling with funny money, refreshments, dancing, auctions, and great prizes! All proceeds go to support the READ TO SUCCEED Adult Literacy Program.

More information on this event can be found on the library's Literacy Center web page or by calling 713-2745.

Literacy Center Joins President Obama’s United We Serve Initiative

The Literacy Center of the County of Tulare Library is taking part in United We Serve, a national effort launched by President Obama to engage more Americans in serving their communities this summer.

In the face of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, United We Serve seeks to harness the energy and ingenuity of Americans to renew their communities. Throughout the summer, United We Serve will highlight the key challenges facing our nation and the ways that volunteers are providing solutions. During this Education Week, July 27 – August 2, United We Serve will focus on the countless Americans who strengthen communities by rolling up their sleeves to read with a child, volunteer at a library, or organize a book drive.

The Literacy Center is focusing on recruiting volunteer tutors in the rural areas of Tulare County as part of the summer service initiative, which President Obama announced recently.

“This summer, I'm calling on all of you to make volunteerism and community service part of your daily life and the life of this nation,” said President Obama in the video. “Economic recovery is as much about what you're doing in your communities as what we're doing in Washington – and it’s going to take all of us, working together.”

To make it easy for individuals to get involved, Serve.gov was created, a website that allows visitors to type in their zip code to find local volunteer opportunities. Our Literacy Center’s volunteer opportunities can be found on Serve.gov through a statewide partnership with VolunteerMatch.org. They can also be found directly by visiting http://californialibraries.volunteermatch.org.

“Everyone has something to give, and summer is a great time to get involved,” said Patricia Habeck, Literacy Specialist. By serving this summer, we hope more Tulare County residents will make an ongoing commitment to volunteering throughout the year, whether it’s at our Center or other worthwhile projects in our community.”

The Literacy Center provides free one-on-one tutoring to any Tulare County adult, as well a variety of other literacy focused programs. For further information, please call the Center at (559) 713-2745.