Mystery Readers' Meeting, April 16

The next Mystery Readers' meeting will be held on April 16 at 6:30pm in the Visalia Library's upstairs "blue" meeting room. This month, we are reading any mystery having to do with national parks or monuments. Some authors are: Nevada Barr, C.J. Box, and almost anything in Washington D.C. - Julie Hyzy (Whitehouse chef), Elliot Roosevelt (Eleanor Roosevelt mysteries), or Margaret Truman (Capitol Crimes Series). The character is a ranger - please visit stopyourekillingme.com to discover a number of different wild-life rangers and for more title ideas.

For more information, please call 713-2709.

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A TULARE COUNTY TEEN

If you have ever been curious about how teens spend their day or what they may be thinking, the Tulare County Library and ValleyPBS have partnered to give you some insight.

With this partnership, the Library aims to strengthen its commitment to digital literacy by allowing teens to check out iPad minis for one week to film a "day in the life."  The Library will support the teens involved in the project by providing training, supervision, and the tools to record, edit and upload their own documentary. The films will be uploaded to the ValleyPBS ByYou website as well as the library*s website.

The project is intended to teach teens ages 14 through 18 information and communication technology literacy and encourage them to be creative with digital media. The two month long, comprehensive program will include the following activities:

TEEN AND PARENT ORIENTATION

Teens and their parents will attend one mandatory orientation session. During this session, Teen Librarian Faythe Arredondo will outline the personal and professional risks that each participant runs by including particular information or subject matter in their video. Parents and teens will discuss information and media literacy, demonstrate an understanding of the potential consequences of disseminating personal information online, and learn to evaluate and self-censor information that may prove libelous or otherwise pose a moral or legal issue. Even if a teen plans to use their own device, they are still required to attend a session.

DIGITAL DEVICE TRAININGS

The teens will receive training on how to use the iPad mini to express their creativity. They will learn to record, edit and post their video online in accordance with guidelines that will be provided.

"A DAY IN THE LIFE" VIDEO PRODUCTION

At the conclusion of the trainings, program participants will have one week to film, edit, and upload the videos of their "day" onto the ValleyPBS ByYou site. The videos may be prepared either at home or using equipment at the library.

Teens who wish to participate are invited to attend one of three orientation sessions to be held at the Visalia Branch Library on April 1st and April 3rd, from 6 pm to 7 pm, and April 4th from 5 pm to 6 pm.  Additional sessions will be scheduled at the Dinuba Branch Library.

This project was funded by a grant awarded to the Tulare County Library through the Library Services and Technology Act, administered by California State Library.

For further information, call 559-713-2703.

HAPPY TRAILS MORE THAN A HORSEBACK RIDING ACADEMY

A unique program in the Tulare County Library's "Getting to Know" series will be a presentation featuring the Happy Trails Riding Academy on Thursday, March 27 at 6:30 pm.
   
Happy Trails Academy offers therapeutic horsemanship, a type of treatment for children and adults who suffer from physical, cognitive, emotional and psychological disabilities.  This alternative to traditional therapy uses horseback riding to promote physical well being, psychological benefits and social development by the rider.
   
Among the physical benefits are decreased spasticity from the stretching of tight muscles, increased joint range of motion, reduced abnormal movements, and improved respiration, circulation, appetite and digestion.  In addition, overall sensory integration iis strengthened.
   
Psychological benefits fostered by therapeutic riding include improved self-confidence, increased interest in one*s life and the outside world, and the development of patience, emotional control, self-discipline and a sense of normality.
   
Socially, patients develop friendships, increase their experiences and enhance their capacity for enjoyment.
   
The *Getting to Know** programs sponsored by the Tulare County Library are designed to offer county residents an introduction to and information about people, issues, and organizations in the Central Valley.  Programs are being held the fourth Thursday of the month at
6:30 pm at the Visalia Branch Library throughout the spring.  Stan Carrizosa, president of the College of the Sequoias will be the featured speaker of the next program in April. Visalia Mayor Steve Nelson and State Senator Jean Fuller were previous guests.
   
For more information, call 713-2707.

Star Wars Origami for Tweens at the Visalia Branch

Star Wars Origami

Friday, March 21st

4-5:30 pm

in the Homework Center

ages 10-12 (tweens only!)

Mystery Readers' Meeting, March 19

The next Mystery Readers' meeting will be held on March 19 at 6:30pm in the Visalia Library's upstairs "blue" meeting room. This month, we are reading any mystery having to do with animals or pets. For more information, please call 713-2709.

Meet Author, Ron Hughart, April 5th

click image to view flyer

Libraries Open Late, March 21st

All libraries in the Tulare County Library system (that are usually open on Fridays) will not open until 2:00pm on Friday, March 21, due to a mandatory staff meeting.

"Getting to Know..." Series Presents Happy Trails Riding Academy, March 27

Our "Getting to Know..." Series presents....

Happy Trails Riding Academy 
March 27th, 2014
at 6:30pm in the blue room

Happy Trails Riding Academy enriches the lives of children and adults with physical, cognitive, emotional disabilities and psychological disabilities through equine (horse) associated activities and therapy.

Therapeutic horsemanship has been proven to provide a unique opportunity for self-improvement and independence in a positive learning environment, while offering a challenging alternative to traditional therapy.

This event is free to the public and all are welcome.

For more information please call 713-2707.

Friends of the Library Literary Baskets Are Back!

Click on the image below to get more details.

Independent Film Movement Series, March 20 at 6pm

This month’s Independent Film Movement selection is The Iran Job. When American basketball player Kevin Sheppard accepts a job to play in one of the world's most feared countries - Iran - he expects the worst. But what he finds is a country brimming with generosity, acceptance, and sensuality. With a charismatic personality that charms everyone he meets, Kevin forms an unlikely friendship with three outspoken Iranian women who share with him their strong opinions on everything, from politics to religion to gender roles. Kevin's season in Iran eventually culminates in something much bigger than basketball: the uprising and subsequent suppression of Iran's re-formist Green Movement - a powerful prelude to the sweeping changes currently unfolding across the Middle East in the wake of the Arab Spring.

English and Persian with English Subtitles; 90 minutes

For more information, visit the Reference Desk or call (559) 713-2703.