Ark Valley News - From the library

From the library
By Janice Sharp, director
Last Updated: October 01, 2015

Take care of our books and magazines

The citywide garage sales will be held Oct. 2 and 3. Maps detailing the registered addresses will be available Sept. 30 at the Kwik Shop, Anne's Attic and the library. The garage sales are sponsored by the Valley Center Chamber of Commerce, The Ark Valley News and Valley Offset Printing.

The Lions Club Car Show will begin at 4:30 p.m. Oct. 2 in the Leeker's parking lot. Be sure to browse through the car show to look at the variety of restored and updated vehicles.

This is Banned Books Week. We are posting five trivia questions Monday through Friday through a link on our website (valleycenterlibrary.org). The person with the most correct answers will win a prize. The American Library Association Office for Intellectual Freedom promotes awareness of challenges to library materials and celebrates freedom of speech during Banned Books Week. Information about banned books from previous years is available on ala.org.

We are again reminding patrons about the care of books and magazines. When cleaning materials recently, I found several magazines with the corners turned (dog-eared). We are consistently finding markings in or on the tops of books that will indicate to that person they have read the book. While the markings are convenient for patrons, they are damaging to materials that are here for everyone to enjoy and paid for with tax money. We realize the markings are small and insignificant, but they are visible and not cleanable with the Clorox wipes we use on every material returned. The staff spends time making sure the materials are cleaned and in good condition for the next patron to check out.

The Big Read is a program sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts which supports organizations across the country in developing community-wide programs encouraging reading and participation by diverse audiences. The book chosen for this year is "Into the Beautiful North," by Luis Alberto Urrea. Our library will host a discussion at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 15. Several copies of the book are available at the circulation desk.

The library is beginning the national program of 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten. This program encourages reading aloud to young children before they begin to learn to read for themselves. We have a registration form to begin the process, along with a reading bag, reading log and bookmark. Children can color a circle on the log for each book read, then receive a sticker and a coloring sheet to collect their stickers upon completing the first 100 books. A new log and sticker will be given each time 100 books have been read. Once 500 books have been read, parents will receive a browsing book bag. Upon reaching 1,000 books, your child will receive a certificate and a free book. This program, for children ages infant through pre-kindergarten, can be completed at the pace set by the parents. When someone reads three books a day to their child, they will have read 1,095 books in one year.

The library has taken another step into technology by entering into a contract for 50 digital magazines. The Zinio for Libraries service is now active at https//.www.rbdigital.com/50eMagazine/service/zinio. Patrons can browse titles prior to going through the login process. The service is available for desktop computers as well as for Apple devices. For those patrons using an iPad or an Android device and after downloading the app, a login is required. Patrons must select the following: Country — United States; State — Maryland; our library name — Popular 50 eMagazine Collection; then your personal email address and a password. Patrons will be able to read the magazines or download them for later. An option is given for notification of the next issue. Past issues for 2014 are also available. The library currently subscribes to about 15 of the magazines in print format.

Fire Prevention week begins Oct. 4. Let that be your reminder to change batteries in smoke alarms to ensure the safety of your family and/or business.

Upcoming Events

October – National Bullying Prevention Month, National Fire-Prevention Month, National Popcorn Poppin' Month

Oct. 2 — Lions Club Car Show

Oct. 2 — Farm Animals Day

Oct. 6 — City council

Oct. 12 — Library board meeting

Oct. 4-10 — Fire Prevention Week