Knowledge is Power

On Saturday, March 4, WoW! librarian Annika Janzen attended the Knowledge is Power 2017 conference.  This event was held by the advocacy group Parent Voices, in partnership with Central Valley Children’s Services Network.  Parent Voices advocates for children and parents at the state level and provides resources for parents of young children.  Speakers at the event included representatives from the Fresno County Office of Education, the United Farm Worker's Foundation of Fresno, Central California Legal Services, as well as the Children's Services Network and the Library.

 Deborah Bernal from Literacy Services presented a workshop for parents on encouraging early literacy skills for their children.  The Families for Literacy program, offered through FCPL, provides activities and education for parents and caregivers of young children aged 0-5.  One of the aims of the program is to get kids ready for kindergarten, and there are so many opportunities to get young children ready for school before they even start reading or speaking.  Annika signed people up for library cards and spread the word about the library’s upcoming Spring Storytime and Craft events, as well as other helpful library resources.  

¿Comprende Ingles?

Learning a new language can be frightening, but Basic ESL is a service that makes it easier to learn English as a Second Language. The Fresno County Public Library has Basic ESL for FREE on its website.

The method is simple, starting with the English language's sounds, then going on to vocabulary and its sentence structure. You can start with primary languages from many parts of the world: French, Korean, Spanish, Arabic, and more. Lessons are spoken in English, with their words and sentences printed in the primary language.

Vocabulary lessons teach words and put them in context, and dialogue lessons show how to use those words in talking to people.

Entering through the Research It link on the FCPL home page, Basic ESL asks new users to register, so their progress can be tracked. The home language, name, email address, and a selected password are used to set up an account. Passwords are six letters and numbers, and can be as simple as “abc123” or “mynam3.”

Once registered, it’s time to learn! Speakers or headphones are needed to hear the audio portion, which is triggered by the clicking the speaker icons

on the page. Listen and repeat the words, and listen again, if you wish.

It’s a simple program, and it’s FREE through the Fresno County Public Library.

Placing Holds: Get that book locally!

Did you know you can have materials you request (holds) delivered to your nearest branch?  All you have to do is search for the item in our catalog and request it!  It only takes a few easy steps.



Find your Title

You can search for library items by the title, by the author who wrote it, or by the subject (what it's about). If you wanted to find It by Stephen King, you could search with the terms "It," "King, Stephen," or "Clowns--Fiction." If you were looking for Against All Enemies by Tom Clancy with Peter Telep, the subjects to search for include "Taliban--Fiction," :Terrorism--Fiction," "Mexico--Fiction," "Drug Traffic--Middle East--Fiction," and "United States. Central Intelligence Agency--Fiction."

See where it is available 

Requests tells you how many people are in the line waiting for it. The Location list tells you what branches have copies and if they are checked in or checked out.

Click on Request Item

A Request will put you on the list to get what you want sent to a convenient library. Add to My List makes a wish list of things you would like to get from the library...but not right now. When you want one of those items, go to the list. One click will request it.
Once you select Request Item the next screen will ask for your library card number and your PIN, the four-digit Personal Identification Number you set up with your card (if you can't remember your PIN take your ID to any FCPL branch library; one of the staff will be able to look it up for you).

The next page confirms your request and allows you to choose the location where you want to pick up your request. Select the branch closest to your home or where it is most convenient for you to pick up materials

Sometimes you will be first on the request list. Popular books may have a long waiting list. Don't worry. Anything worth having is worth the wait.

The Betty Rodriguez Regional Library--It's Open!

The Betty Rodriguez Regional Library opened Saturday, January 9, and team members from WoW! lent a hand. Amid speeches, music, refreshments, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony, dignitaries and the public stepped through the doors of the new library building for the first time.

Wow! staffers Joanna Chase, Jonathan Waltmire, Kenny Abramowitz, and Terrance Mc Arthur conducted tours, assisted with computers, gave directions, helped performers, located materials, signed customers up for new library cards,  and introduced people who should get to know each other.

Kenny and Terrance, together again.

 

To showcase the capabilities of the new Innovation Lab, experts made objects with the 3-D printer from "Star Wars" characters to a wrist brace. The lab will be a place for robotics activities, sewing, and building product prototypes.
In the fifty-person-capacity meeting room, local vintage string jazz band Scats on the Sly had the crowd dancing to its infectious rhythms of the 20's and 30's.

In the library's main area, a colorful, neon-like portrait of the group looked down on the crowds of library-goers.


After the band, the E&M Reptile Family thrilled and chilled children and the young-at-heart with bugs, amphibians, lizards, and snakes.

The Betty Rodriguez Regional Library, at 3040 N. Cedar Avenue (southeast of the Cedar/Shields intersection), housed in a former Fresh 'n Easy building, boasts more than twice the space of the old Cedar-Clinton branch. The area near McLane High School now has a state-of-the-art library that will serve the community for years to come.


WoW! promotes Early Literacy at EPU's Children's Center

EPU, Exceptional Children’s Center, welcomed Shannon and Kenny of the WoW! Team to promote free childhood literacy tools the library provides for parents during EPU’s Halloween Toddlerfest. 

Shannon and Kenny in action!

We made “Baby’s First Library Cards,” for kids aged 0-3, which gives children a head start on reading and developmental learning skills.   The library also offers Early Learning Centers at select branches which provide toys, games, and resources that build both literacy and the parent-child bonding experience. 

We showcased the library’s new children’s tablets, the LeapPad Ultra, and the iPad Air which are available for a 2 hour in house checkout, where kids can learn and play with new technology!  Parents were delighted to see how excited and captivated their kids were while using the tablets.  “My daughter was so well behaved; where can we use this?” said one parent.   Most branches have AWE Literacy Station touchscreen computers as well.

 iPad Air

Children's Tablet Checkout Locations (2 hour in-library use)

LeapPad Ultra- Cedar-Clinton, Fig Garden, West Fresno
iPad Air- Sunnyside, Mendota, Orange Cove

Parents were also excited about one of our most popular services “Dial-A-Story,” where you can call 559-600-TALE (8253), and listen to a children’s book read aloud.  A great way to keep your toddlers occupied and engaged!

And don’t forget to check the schedule of the Storytime events held at various branches!