Hmong New Year Celebration and WoW! Is There

Between Christmas and New Year’s Day, thousands gather at the Big Fresno Fairgrounds for the Hmong International New Year Celebration.

A festival of music, dancing, food, history, a beauty pageant, and meeting old friends and making new ones, it’s a great place to promote library services.

 

The Fresno County Public Library is represented with a booth near the outdoor stage, and the WoW! (WithOut Walls) Library is part of it, making library cards.

 
The Hmong people of Laos were recruited by Americans during the Vietnam War. After the war, they were persecuted by the ruling regime. Many escaped and became refugees. Today, the San Joaquin Valley is home to the second-largest concentration of Hmong outside of Southeast Asia, and the Hmong New Year celebration in Fresno is the largest in the world.

 

Festivities began the day after Christmas, with Terrance Mc Arthur of WoW!, Gaoneng Lee, and Vincent Petrelli representing the FCPL. Terrance brought the laptop, hotspot, and barcode reader needed for card-making. Vincent had lightning-fast fingers for entering application data. Gaoneng had the Hmong language skills to explain library services to the more than 140 people who stopped at the booth to talk on that day. WoW! librarians and other library personnel will be at the fairgrounds to provide services during the celebration. 

One of the features of the 2016 celebration is a series of exhibits on the Hmong culture, its part in the CIA-sponsored war, the migration to the USA, and how the people have survived and thrived in a new land over the past 40 years.

 If you go to the 2016 Hmong New Year Celebration, look for the FCPL booth at the north end of the fairgrounds, west of the main stage. We hope to see you there!
 
 
 

Why Pop-Up Libraries Pop Up--Part Three

What does it take to make a pop-up library? Pop-up libraries are able to go where no bookmobile has gone before, from out in fields to inside buildings. Pop-up services need to be planned and prepared before they go out in public.

It's like a whole library in the back of one Prius.  

 

You Need...

 

Library Personnel--Librarians and Library Assistants help the public with services and decisions. Sometimes, there are community volunteers, and they can be a lot of help.

 

How many volunteers does it take to assemble a table?

 

Laptop computer(s) (with software that lets you make library cards and check out books outside of the library).

Hotspot (Portable Wi-Fi connection), Barcode Scanner (for checkouts, checkins, and checking up on stuff), Receipt Printer (if a plug-in is available), and Due Date Reminders (if a plug-in isn't available).

Library Cards, Card Applications (We want more people to be able to use our libraries).
Tables, Shelves,  Chairs, Floor Cover/Cushions (for storytime events), Canopy (Just in case).

30-200 library books/DVDs/Books on CD (for checkout, so you can take things home for a few weeks).

Pop-up libraries include a wide variety of books and media. Check it out, then check them out. 

 

Flyers/giveaways (Library information, stickers, buttons, pens, bags)

Tally Sheet (So we know how many people we talk to, how many library cards we make, and how many items people check out)

Transport Dolly (to carry more stuff in less trips)

Here are the building blocks that make up a pop-up library.

 

Here is how it all fits together for a Community Pop-Up, outdoors.

 

This is a Senior Pop-Up, indoors.

 

Do you have an event or place that needs a pop-up? Fill out our WoW! Pop-Up Request Form.

Why Pop-Up Libraries Pop Up--Part Two

The Fresno County Public Library has two pop-up programs--the Senior Pop-Up Library and the Community Pop-Up Library--bringing services to events and people that might not be able to use a regular library building. Around the world are other pop-ups, too. Here are some of the different ways books and people can get together....

 Colorado--Pedal-powered library.

 

 

Texas--Supermarket storytime.

 

 

  New York City--Seats and shelves.

 

England--Old booths, new libraries. 

 

 

 France--Books on the beach.

 

 

Mongolia--A pop-up camel?

 

 

 Fresno--Community Pop-Up.

 

 

Fresno--Senior Pop-Up

 

 

Pop-up libraries come in many shapes and sizes, but they always have exciting things to see, hear, or read. The FCPL Pop-Up Libraries are loaded with cool stuff. Watch for them.



 

Why Pop-Up Libraries Pop Up - Part One

Pop-Up Libraries

A pop-up library uses technology to provide library services in remote locations. It can be indoors or outdoors, be a card-table set-up or resemble a full-service library. A pop-up library can provide many services in many combinations, including:

·         Making library cards—The first step in library use is getting a library card. Library software and wi-fi access at an event means you don't have to go to a library building to get a library card.

·        Library checkout/checkin—The materials brought to an event fit the occasion: children’s books to a summer-reading kickoff, cookbooks and books on plants at a gardening center, and more. With a library card, you can check out and take home books, CDs, and DVDs.

·         Demonstration of library resources—with an Internet-connected laptop, tablet, or a smartphone, the library home page and online resources are a click away.

·         Explanation of library policies—Many people are surprised to learn that most items they check out do not have to be returned to the branch where they were borrowed, that our online databases are free, and you can get e-books for most devices...free. 

·         Placing holds—You want a book we didn't bring? Request items and pick them up at a local branch. It's easy to do with remote computer access.

·         Storytimes—Library staff love to read stories to groups of children. Our storytimes model early literacy techniques that families can use.

·         Crafts—Simple craft projects attract children and adults.

·         Flyers and brochures—They promote library events and services, providing a reminder of what the public has seen and heard.

       



Today's technology helps the library take its services into the community. The Pop-Up library uses technology and library know-how.

Stay tuned for more posts on Pop-Up Library services, why they are done, and how a Pop-Up Library is planned.

If you would like the WoW! WithOut Walls Library to Pop-Up at your event in Fresno County, fill out or request form-  WoW! Pop-Up Request Form 

EMQ Families First Holiday Event

EMQ Families First held its holiday crafts event at the Boys and Girls Club of Fresno.  WoW! attended and introduced information about library services for children and teens.  Making new library cards (for many their first one!) is the first step to lifetime learning.

Terrance and Kenny getting ready!

Shannon explaining library services 

Even Librarians can Zoomba!

   

Kenny making library cards

Teens especially are excited about the upcoming grand opening (January 9, 2016 @ 1pm) of the Betty Rodriguez branch (located at southeast corner of Cedar and Shields) which will feature a "maker space."  "Maker spaces can be any area where people gather to make and create. These spaces often include 3-D printers.  In maker spaces, people share supplies, skills, and ideas, and often work together on projects."  http://library-maker-culture.weebly.com/what-are-they.html

"You have more than just books?!" questioned one child.  Many are surprised how many of our resources are available from your mobile device.

Our newest online service to get a "WoW!" is  Freegal, which lets you download 3 songs a week (to keep) and 3 hours of streaming- all for free with your library card.

WoW! Outreach at Poverello House

The WoW! team is always looking for ways to promote library services that help the citizens of Fresno.  The Poverello House welcomed us to their outreach, where we shared information on how the library can serve them.  Most asked about computer classes, and how they could learn new skills, especially needed for the workplace.  Some branch locations provide free computer classes, including one on one instruction.  Click here to view current schedule of classes offered in branches.  The library provides free computer & internet use; where you can use essential tools such as email, prepare a resume, and search for a job online.  If you need help with your job search, check out Fresno Library’s Job and Careers Services online, that guides you through the steps.  

Kenny promoting the library's resources!

WoW! on the Air

The WoW! Library team will go anywhere to tell people about library services. On October 5, Terrance Mc Arthur appeared on KMPH-26's "Great Day" morning program. on their "@ the Library" segment, he talked about the WoW! program, the Community Pop-Up Library, and the Senior Pop-Up Library.

http://kmph-kfre.com/great-day/at-the-library/at-the-library-105-wow-program

The Pop-Up Library program takes library service outside of the branch buildings and brings it to events and locations all over Fresno County. If you see us, walk up and say, "Hi!" We're friendly.

WoW!

Signing off.

The WoW! team makes 60 library cards at Rowell Elementary!

A big thanks to Rowell Elementary school for welcoming the WoW! team to their Parent Teacher Conference, where we made 60 library cards for students and their families on the spot.  Everyone was eager to plan a visit to their local library and use their shiny new cards.  We showcased the library’s many resources for children, including grade level reading suggestions.  We also introduced our newest e-service Beanstack, where parents can discover great children's books with fun learning tips and activities.  The earlier children are introduced to the library the more prepared they will be for their future learning.

WoW! Staff Helps Bring Storyland Back to Life!

You never know where the WoW! library team will turn up next. How about the middle of Roeding Park? We were there!
Entertainment, crafts, and new library cards were on the bill when The Fresno County Public Library helped bring Storyland to life during their recent grand opening weekend.  Entertainment joined with literacy for fun, interactive family events. The  craft area was a popular spot for children and young-at-heart adults.

After being closed for renovation, the longtime Fresno attraction reopened with safer walkways, brighter colors, and live characters to go along with the ever-popular statues, buildings, and interactive play equipment.

 

Beautiful art from Doug Hansen's "California Mother Goose" series surrounded library volunteers as they helped children make creative crafts, while WoW! staff issued cards on the spot.

Joanna Chase makes another library card. Go, Joanna!

This event took place September 5th through the 7th, 2015 at Storyland, located inside Roeding Park. For more information, contact Storyland and Rotary Playland at (559) 486-2124 or their website page: http://savestoryland.com/

--Mark Halvorsen 

Pop-Up Senior Library Pilot

Once a month, a couple of WoW! librarians load up 200 items into a WoW! car and hit the road.  We’re taking our services inside several senior residences in the county – bringing library services to people who cannot always make it to a local branch on their own. 

 

It all started with this question: how can we better serve the seniors in our community?  The FCPLCommunity Bookmobile had been visiting a number of senior residences.  It seemed like such a simple idea of taking the services of the Bookmobile inside these locations.   We have six select locations that we are visiting during our pilot program.

 

The response has been fantastic.  We’ve made dozens of library cards for new users.  In some locations, we’re getting to more users because they no longer require a staff member to assist them outside to the Bookmobile – we come to them in their activities room!  We are building some great relationships with our new friends, some of whom are voracious readers. 

 

Our collection for this pilot program includes:  fiction, non-fiction, large print selections, audio books and DVDs.  Also included are New & Now selections (newly published and popular books). 

Each time we visit these locations, we spend time doing some one-on-one readers' advisory with the residents to find out what items they’d like to see us bring the following visit.  Many residents also make specific book requests each month, too.  These requests are delivered to WoW! and added to our collection of materials that we’ll take out that month. 

Some of our new friends face barriers to reading – physically holding a book or a visual impairment.  Each time we make a visit, we are coming across seniors who we can sign up for the Talking Book Library. Because we’re bringing our services inside to them, we’re able to talk to new people every time we visit, and figure out if there are ways for FCPL to provide some services to them.

So far, the Pop-Up Senior Libraries have been a great success, both for the library and for the seniors we're serving.  Response from the seniors and the staffs at the residences has been overwhelmingly positive.