Event Photos on Flickr!

Ever wonder what really goes on at the programs you see us post about here, on Facebook, and Twitter? Or, have you been to our programs in the past and want to relive the fun?

Never fear: we’ve been taking photos at our programs and posting them on our Flickr page. We continue to add more photos each week, so be sure to check back often!

 

Easter crafts at the Ivanhoe Branch Library on 4/17/2014

 

"Getting to Know..." Series Presents Visalia Police Department Lieutenant Steven Phillips, May 22

picture courtesy of http://www.ci.visalia.ca.us

Steven Phillips, Visalia Police Department Lieutenant, will be the focus of this month's “Getting to Know…” series in the Blue Room of the Visalia Library on May 22, 2014 at 6:30 pm:

"I was born and raised in the city of Visalia and graduated from Redwood High School as well as College of Sequoias. I began my law-enforcement career in 1991 with the City of Porterville where I served for five years. I was hired by the Visalia Police Department in 1996. At the Visalia Police Department I have served at the rank of agent sergeant and lieutenant. I'm currently the night watch commander with the police department. I have also served as a detective, K9 Officer, and Bomb Squad member. Currently I am the bomb squad commander for the Tulare County consolidated bomb squad which is made up of members of the Visalia Police Department and the Tulare County Sheriff's Department."
 
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.

May Mystery Readers' Meeting

The next Mystery Readers' meeting will be held on May 21 from 6:30 - 8:00pm in the Visalia Library's upstairs "blue" meeting room. This month, the choice is a fictional character who drinks. We aren't particular about what they drink.

Some author ideas:

Robert G. Barrett - Les Norton, a nightclub bouncer in Sydney, Australia
 
Laura Childs - Theodosia Browning, owner of the Indigo Teahouse in Charleston, South Carolina, in the Tea Shop Mysteries
 
Meg Chittenden - Charlie Plato, a country-western tavern owner, in San Francisco, California
 
Eoin Colfer - Daniel McEvoy, an Irish bouncer working in a seedy New Jersey bar
 
Ellen Crosby - Lucie Montgomery, operating her family's winery in Virginia, in the Wine Country mysteries
 
Charlie Huston - Henry Thompson, a former high school star baseball player, now a bartender with a drinking problem in Paul's Place, on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, New York City
 
Lee Jackson - Sarah Tanner, the proprietor of the Dining and Coffee Rooms and amateur sleuth, in 1850s London, England
 
Karen Kijewski - Kat Colorado, a bar-tending private investigator, in Sacramento, California
 
John Lescroart - Dismas Hardy, ex-cop bartender and ex-Assistant District Attorney turned defense attorney, and Abe Glitsky, a black, Jewish cop, in San Francisco, California
 
Ann Parker - Inez Stannert, a saloon owner, around 1880 in Leadville, Colorado, in the Silver Rush mysteries
 
Michele Scott - Nikki Sands, in the Napa Valley, California, in the Wine Lovers mysteries
 
Robert Skinner - Wesley Farrell, a Creole nightclub owner passing for white, in 1930s New Orleans, Louisiana
 
For more information, please call 713-2709.

Independent Film Series, May 15

This month’s Independent Film Movement selection is IN THE NAME OF. Adam is a Catholic priest who discovered his calling as a servant of God at the relatively late age of 21. He now lives in a village in rural Poland where he works with teenagers with behavioral problems who fight and yell abuse. He declines the advances of a young blonde named Ewa, saying he is already spoken for. However, celibacy is not the only reason for his rejection. Adam knows that he desires men and that his embrace of the priesthood has been a flight from his own sexuality. When he meets Lukasz, the strange and taciturn son of a simple rural family, Adam's self-imposed abstinence becomes a heavy burden.

Directed by Małgośka Szumowska

Canada / 2012 / Polish with English subtitles / 102 min

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

*This will be the last film of the season. We will be taking a break to make room for the library’s Summer Reading Program activities. The Independent Film Series will resume in August, 2014. *

Origami for Tweens, May 16

Tweens (ages 10-12) can join Flo, Children's Librarian on Friday, May 16^th, from 4:00 to 5:30 at the Visalia Library to participate in fun origami projects. Drop into the Homework Center in the Children’s Wing anytime during the session to participate. 

This will be the last origami session before the Tween Summer Reading Program starts.

Monthly Friends Meeting, May 8th

The Friends of the Tulare County Library will hold their monthly meeting on Thursday, May 8th, at 7 PM in the library's upstairs (blue) meeting room. Absolutely everyone is welcome to attend, including and especially current Friends, prospective Friends, and anyone who is interested in learning more! 

Please contact Sheryll at 713-2709 for more information.

Owl Program at Three Rivers Branch, May 15

On May 15^th at 6:30 pm, Louise Culver of Critter Creek Rehabilitation will give a talk on owls, their feathers, and regurgitated pellets at our Three Rivers Branch.  She is bringing a live horned owl, barn owl, and screech owl.   

Tulare County Library Branches Offer May Children's Crafts

CHILDREN'S MAY CRAFTS AT TULARE COUNTY LIBRARY BRANCHES WILL MAKE AND HONOR MEMORIES

During the first week of May, children can make something for their mothers to cherish at the library branches craft programs.  In the last week, the children will make flags in honor of Memorial Day.  In addition to the two *holiday* crafts, the branches will offer spring items to make in the two mid May weeks.

 

The crafts for each week in May are:

May 6 through 10: Mother's Day Cards and Pins
May 13 through 17: Flower Pinwheels
May 20 through 24: Kites
May 27 through 31: Hanging flag in honor of Memorial Day

These crafts will be held at different times during each week at the Alpaugh, Dinuba, Earlimart, Exeter, Ivanhoe, Lindsay, Orosi, Pixley, Springville, Strathmore, Three Rivers, Tipton and Woodlake branch libraries.

For more information on days and times of the crafts at each individual branch, please go to: http://tularecountylibrary.org, and choose the locations tab, or call the branches:

Alpaugh                    (559) 949-8355

Earlimart                   (661) 849-2525

Exeter                       (559) 592-5361

Ivanhoe                     (559) 798-1264

Lindsay                      (559) 562-3021

Orosi                          (559) 591-5830

Strathmore                 (559) 568-1087

Tipton                         (559) 752-4236

"Getting to Know.." Series Presents COS President/Superintendent Stan Carrizosa, April 24

photo courtesy of coscampusonline.com

Stan Carrizosa, President/Superintendent of the College of the Sequoias, will be the focus of this month's “Getting to Know…” series at the Visalia Library tomorrow, April 24, at 6:30 pm.

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.

Volunteers Needed!

Volunteers needed

for the Visalia Library Summer Reading Program

 

Our Visalia Library summer reading program is a big one with up to 200 kids at two programs on Thursdays, starting in June.

We need help with those programs and signing up kids for reading logs. We also will need help giving out prizes for reading. The prize room will be open afternoons, Tuesday through Saturday. To volunteer, ask for, and fill out a volunteer form at the checkout desk.

There will be three training sessions before June. The first will be May 22^nd at 6:30 PM.

For more information, contact Sheryll at 559-713-2709. 

 

 

Adult Literacy Day Proclaimed, April 22

April 22, 2014                                    

                                                               

TODAY IS ADULT LITERACY DAY IN TULARE COUNTY

The Tulare County Board of Supervisors designated today as Adult Literacy Day at its weekly board meeting.

County Librarian Jeff Scott, Program Manager Sue Gillison and Tulare Coordinator Kim Torrez came before the board and audience to outline the activities of the Literacy program. Ms. Gillison introduced Veronica Serrano and Mrs. Torrez presented Kalash Rana as outstanding examples of achievement in literacy.

Board Chairman Phil Cox asked the program administrators, tutors and learners to join him in front of the audience as he made the proclamation presentation. Chairman Cox noted that *What these learners, Veronica and Kalash, have told us is what we need to hear about the importance of our literacy program."

The Tulare County Library Read to Succeed literacy program offers free literacy services to any adult county resident. The tutors are all volunteers who give their services to the community. For more information, call 713-2745.

 



Kalash Rana displays Adult Literacy Day Proclamation as Veronica Serrano looks on. BOS Chairman Phil Cox made the presentation today.

 

We're taking a break from PreSchool StoryTime

There will be no PreSchool StoryTime at the Visalia Branch in May.

PreSchool StoryTime will resume on Wednesday, June 11th.

First Tuesday Book Club Meeting, May 6

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
by Sherman Alexie

In his first book for young adults, bestselling author Sherman Alexie tells the story of Junior, a budding cartoonist growing up on the Spokane Indian Reservation. Determined to take his future into his own hands, Junior leaves his troubled school on the rez to attend an all-white farm town high school where the only other Indian is the school mascot. Heartbreaking, funny, and beautifully written, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, which is based on the author's own experiences, coupled with poignant drawings by acclaimed artist Ellen Forney, that reflect the character's art, chronicles the contemporary adolescence of one Native American boy as he attempts to break away from the life he was destined to live.
 *Book description courtesy of Hatchette Book Group.

Tulare County Welcomes Two New Librarians

Have you noticed a few new faces at our Visalia Branch? We recently welcomed two new Librarians to our staff. Follow the link below to read more from the Visalia Times-Delta:

http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/article/20140416/ENTERTAINMENT06/304160053/Tulare-County-introduces-two-new-librarians

May Computer Classes!

Here is the schedule of our free computer classes for May. All classes are absolutely free to anyone, and registration is required! You can register now by calling (559) 713-2719 or by stopping in the library.  If you find that you are not able to attend a class you have registered for, please call and let us know.

Thursday, May 1: 10:00am – 12:00pm: Introduction to Email
Basic Introduction to e-mail functions. Set up personal e-mail accounts. Practice in composing, sending and receiving e-mail. Must set up a Yahoo e-mail account prior to class.

Thursday, May 8, 10:00am – 12:00pm: Word Processing for Beginners
Beginning introduction to WORD. Topics discussed include opening and saving a document, typing and modifying text, and basic formatting of document. Must have basic keyboarding and mouse skills.

Thursday, May 15, 10:00am – 12:00pm: Introduction to ExcelBasic introduction to the Excel spreadsheet. Topics discussed will include the toolbars, worksheet, and formulas. Must have basic keyboarding and mouse skills.

Thursday, May 22: 10:00am – 12:00pm: Mouse Basics & Introduction to the PC
Basic introduction to the use of the mouse. Topics discussed will be parts of a computer and a mouse tutorial.

Thursday, May 29: One-on-One appointmentsCall to make an appointment for a one-on-one appointment for the topic of your choosing! (559) 713-2713.

All classes are held in the Public Computer Lab of the Visalia Branch Library. For more information, or to register for any of these free classes, please call the Computer Lab directly at (559) 713-2719.                                                    

                                                               

 

Free Movies During Spring Break at the Visalia Children's Branch

Join us for free movies to celebrate Spring and National Library Week

Tuesday, April 15th @ 2pm: Frozen
                                      4pm: It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown

Wednesday, April 16th @ 2pm: The Nut Job
                                           4pm: Rise of the Guardians

Thursday, April 17th @ 2pm: The Croods
                                        4pm: Alvin & the Chipmunks: Easter Collection

Friday, April 18th @ 2pm: Hop
                                   4pm: The Nut Job
(+ XBox Kinect for Family Fun Friday, 3 - 5pm)

Additional Library Teen Program Orientation Sessions Scheduled for April and May

Additional orientation sessions have been scheduled for the "Your Tulare County" teen program, a partnership between Tulare County Library and ValleyPBS. Teens ages 14 through 18 can check out an iPad mini from the library to record, edit and post their "Day in the Life" video at the ValleyPBS ByYou website. Teens who wish to participate are invited to attend, with a parent, one of the upcoming orientation sessions: April 19 at 12:00 pm and May 3 at 12:30 pm at the Visalia Branch Library, and May 2 at 5:00 pm at the Dinuba Branch Library.

For further information, contact Teen Librarian Faythe Arredondo at 559-713-2703.

Free Computer Classes at the Tulare County Library!

Did you know that your Tulare County Library offers free computer classes? That’s right: free computer classes are available right here at your library to absolutely anyone!

Each class is a one-day session, and because space is limited, we require pre-registration.

Classes for the rest of April are already booked up, but check back around the 15^th of the month (every month) to learn the new class schedule. This is also the first day you can register for upcoming classes.

Additionally, if there’s a class in particular you’re interested in, you can indicate the name of the class(es) you're interested in taking on the Interest List clipboard located in the Computer Lab, and we will contact you when we offer that class (or classes). Some classes we offer include Mouse Basics, Intermediate Word, Internet Job Searching, Identity Theft, Internet 101, Resume 101, and one-on-one help. For more information on Tulare County Library computer classes, call the Computer Lab at (559) 713-2719.

Be sure to check this blog next week when we'll be posting an update with information about computer class offerings for May, or you can always stop by the library and ask us in person!

Celebrate National Library Week, April 13 - 19

 

Celebrate National Library Week by participating in the Visalia library's special activities and events honoring how libraries change lives for the better:

Children: 

• Watch a movie Tuesday through Friday at 2:00pm and 4:00pm in the Children’s Area. 
•  Participate in an evening storytime on Thursday at 6:30pm for families. (Children of all ages are welcome, not just pre-school.) The theme will be books and libraries.

Young Adults: 

• Participate in "Operation Book Drop", where teens  drop books off on benches on Main Street
• Watch Library Wars, the movie based on the Young Adult Manga book series
• Tell everyone how libraries have changed your life by filling out a “Lives Change at Your Library" sign

Adults:

• Tell everyone how libraries have changed your life by filling out a “Lives Change at Your Library" sign

Origami for Tweens, Third Friday of Each Month

Tweens (ages 10-12) can join Flo, Children's Librarian, and Faythe, Teen Librarian, every third Friday of the month from 4 to 5:30 at the Visalia Library to participate in fun origami projects. Drop into the Homework Center in the Children’s Wing anytime during the session to participate.

Independent Film Series, April 17

This month’s Independent Film Movement selection is Tanta Agua.

Synopsis: What could be worse than being 14 and on vacation with your father, stuck indoors during a seemingly endless rainstorm? Alberto and his two children, Lucia and Federico, set off to a hot springs resort for a short vacation. Alberto, who doesn't see his kids much since the divorce, refuses to allow anything to ruin his plans. But the springs are closed until further notice due to heavy rains, and Lucia's adolescent rebellion clashes against her father's enthusiastic efforts for family quality time. When she meets friends her age, equally bored at the rained-out resort, Lucia's vacation starts looking up. But flings can be fleeting, and it's her father's reliable insistence they spend time together that proves to be the most meaningful part of their unexpectedly enjoyable getaway.

Directed by Ana Guevara and Leticia Jorge

Uruguay / 2013 / Spanish with English subtitles / 102 min.

Friends of the Tulare County Library Meeting, April 10th

The Friends of the Tulare County Library will hold their monthly meeting on Thursday, April 10th, at 7 PM in the library's upstairs' (blue ) meeting room. Everyone is welcome to attend! Please contact Sheryll at 713-2709 for more information.