BLOSSOM, BUNNY AND BIRD CRAFTS FOR KIDS AT TULARE COUNTY LIBRARY BRANCHES

To welcome spring, the Tulare County Library branches will feature a different seasonal craft each week in April.

A Spring Hanger is offered from April 1 through 5.  The hanger says, "Welcome Spring" and is adorned with hanging flowers.  From April 8 through 12, a Bunny Wind Sock with streamers can be made.

During the week of April15 through 19, Bunny magnets are the craft, with extra "Spring Break" puzzles, pencils and Bunny Origami activities also planned.  From April 22 through 26, children can honor Earth Day by planting seeds in decorated cups and take them home to watch them grow.
Birds will be the focus of April 29 through May 3 when participants make bird feeders out of water bottles.

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.

"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 on April 24, 2014 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.

Crafty Corner, 2nd and 4th Wednesday at the Visalia Library

Experienced or not, stop by the Crafty Corner at the Visalia Library on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month at 10:30am.

Bring your own project materials, Works In Progress (WIPs), or Unfinished Objects (UFOs) and meet others who are interested in fiber arts. You can also checkout the array of online patterns available through the library. Instruction will alternate between crochet and knitting.

Food for Fines, April 14 - May 17

From April 14th through May 17th, library customers can pay overdue fees* and help restock the pantries in Tulare County. For each non-perishable food item donated at any Tulare County Branch, $1.00 will be deducted from overdue fees (*excluding fees for damaged or lost items).

Donations are welcomed at any of the following Tulare County Libraries: Alpaugh, Dinuba, Earlimart, Exeter, Ivanhoe, Lindsay, Orosi, Pixley, Springville, Strathmore, Terra Bella, Three Rivers, Tipton, Visalia and Woodlake.

View a printable flyer about Food For Fines

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.