By Request: 13 Cool Things At the Phoenix Public Library

Thursday Thirteen #110

This week, by request of Jehara, I bring you information about her local library: The Burton Barr Central Library branch of the Phoenix Public Library. It’s fun to see what different libraries offer.

13 Cool Things At the Phoenix Public Library:
1. They offer booklists on their website, like this parenting one.
2. Burton Barr Central Library has a teen program called Wii Wednesday and offers a resume workshop for job seekers..
3. PPL offers reading level screenings for kids in grades 1-3.
4.The Burton Barr Central Library has 280,000 square feet of space on five levels and contains 705,700 items in its collection.
5. The Burton Barr Central Library is also the home to the Accessibility Center. Need Talking Books, or books in Braille or Large Type? Those are only a couple of the services that they offer.
6. Have a yen to see a page from a Gutenberg Bible or a Shakespeare folio? Check out the Rare Book Room.
7. Need to take a look at an Arizona City Directory from 1892 or some correspondence from Rough Rider James H. McClintock? The Arizona Room is the place for you.
8. The Law Collection is where you can research a law that interests you.
9. The Burton Barr Central Library carries materials in Chinese, French, German, Italian, Polish, Russian, Spanish, and Vietnamese.
10.The Phoenix Public Library offers free wireless internet hotspots as well as on site computers. The Burton Barr Central Library has 151 internet PCs.
11. Need an article for your research project? Try the article databases on the Phoenix Public Library website.
12. Can’t make it into the library today? Check out the Phoenix Public Library’s digital media collection. They offer ebooks, downloadable audiobooks, and downloadable video files.
13. Who doesn’t love a good story? Check out the Storyline (English): (602) 262-4868 & Storyline (Spanish): (602) 262-4039

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Preschool Storytime at the Fremont Branch

Preschool storytime is starting this week at the Fremont branch. It’s not too late to register, so give us a call at 745-1421 or come in to the library to sign up your child ages 3 – 5 years.

Choose one of the following English-only sessions:

Mondays at 7 p.m.
Wednesdays at 11:30 a.m.
Wednesdays at 7 p.m.
Fridays at 12:15 p.m.

OR if you prefer a bilingual session, choose from one of these:

Mondays at 1:30 p.m. English/Spanish
Tuesdays at 4:00 p.m. English/Hindi
Thursdays at 11:30 a.m. English/Mandarin

Remember, you can only register for one session and children need to be at least three years old (and not older than five).

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Five Things for the Week – March 28-April 3, 2010

1. It’s National Cleaning Week…so I guess I’d better get on that Spring Cleaning.
2. On March 29, say Happy Birthday to: Bud Cort (60), Eric Idle (67), Christopher Lambert (53), Lucy Lawless (42), and Elle Macpherson (46).
3. March 31 is Bunsen Burner Day. Celebrate wisely.
4. On March 31 it’s Happy Birthday time for: Herb Alpert (75), Richard Chamberlain (75), Al Gore (62), John Jakes (78), Shirley Jones (76), Ewan McGregor (39), Rhea Perlman (62), and Christopher Walken (67).
5. January 29 may have been Fun at Work Day, but apparently April 1 is National Fun at Work Day. Have some extra fun at work on this day.

Source: Chases’s Calendar of Events 2010.

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Library Bucks!

The contest is heating up at Centerville! Kids are reading lots of books and earning lots of Library bucks! The prizes have arrived!

I’m guessing the Tony Hawk’s skateboard will go for the most at the auction on April 6th. What do you think?

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13 Things You Can Find in the Alameda County Library

Thursday Thirteen #109

This week I’m celebrating the different things you can find in the libraries in my system. What cool things do your local libraries offer?

13 Things You Can Find in the Alameda County Library:
1. Computers that you can use, for example, to access tax forms and helpful information related to said tax forms.

2. TV Shows on DVD such as Supernatural, Cheers, Father Knows Best, and Project Runway.

3. Librarians to help you with your reference question, whom you can contact in person, via telephone, by email, or on IM. (AskaLibrarian)

4. Music on CD in English, Chinese, Farsi, Gujarati, Hindi, Punjabi, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese. This includes everything from Muse to Juanes and Jatin-Lalit to Yo-Yo Ma.

5. Computer classes on topics such as Internet Basics and Microsoft Word.

6. Book Sales! (Both tiny daily ones and larger ones scattered throughout the year.)

7. Storytime for babies of various ages.

8. Fliers for local events, college class schedules, bus schedules, and DMV booklets.

9. WiFi (though you will need a library card number or day pass to get on.)

10. Study rooms.

11. Audiobooks (CD, MP3, and Cassette) such as Darkly Dreaming Dexter, Outlander, Home: A Memoir, and Change Your Brain, Change Your Life.

12. Local Newspapers, with old issues on microfilm. (Darn handy for those “day you were born” reports.)

13. Books. Lots of books. Even ebooks. Picture Books, Chapter Books, Teen Books, Large Type Books, Paperbacks, Mysteries, Science Fiction, Romance, Short Stories, Westerns, Bestsellers, Fiction, Non-Fiction…

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What’s Up Big Band?

Join us at the Fremont Main Library Saturday, April 3rd from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Fukaya Room as the Big Band era comes alive! What’s Up Big Band will play all your favorite hits by the greats; Glenn Miller, Count Basie, Bunny Berigan and more. So come tap your toes to the tunes and join us for an afternoon of fun!

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Five Things for the Week – March 21-27, 2010

1. March 22 is As Young As You Feel Day and International Goof-off Day. How young do you feel while goofing-off?
2. On March 22 say Happy Birthday to: Bob Costas (58), Andrew Lloyd Webber (62), Matthew Modine (51), James Patterson (63), William Shatner (79). Stephen Sondheim (80), and Reese Witherspoon (34).
3. National Letting Go of Stuff Day is on March 25. Let it go.
4. On March 26, it’s Happy Birthday time for: Alan Arkin (76), James Caan (70), Jennifer Grey (50), Keira Knightly (25), Leonard Nimoy (79), Sandra Day O’Connor (80), Nancy Pelosi (70), Diana Ross (66), and Martin Short (60).
5. March 27 is Quirky Country Music Song Titles Day. Have a favorite?

Source: Chases’s Calendar of Events 2010.

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