January 26, 2010
Fowler Library Recognized
Sara Gibbs and Terry Sterling accepted kudos from the Fowler City Council this month on behalf of the Fowler Branch Library for its contributions to community life. Go to the Fowler Ensign website to view the article and photo. Congrats to everyone at Fowler!
Becky Matli's Art
Marilyn McArthur, Support Services
Great half-page article with two pictures published in The Sanger Herald about Becky Matli’s art being displayed at the Sanger Library.
Great half-page article with two pictures published in The Sanger Herald about Becky Matli’s art being displayed at the Sanger Library.
December 21, 2009
NOYS: 10,000 patrons served
As the year comes to a close and we wrap up our fall outreach efforts, we'd like to share with you the number of kids & teens we've connected with this fall.Daycare Bookmobile
We visited 47 different day care centers each month, totaling 206 storytimes and serving 4,356 kids between the ages of 3-5. We saw 730 adults too.
Smartest Card presentations
In this hybrid "library intro / booktalking" presentation, we visited all grades K-12, totaling 28 visits and seeing 4,521 school-aged youth.
Add to these numbers the various family literacy nights, weekend community events, and branch program support--and we've seen well over 10,000 people this fall! Looking forward to the spring, when we'll turn our efforts to Big Read outreach, summer reading program promotion, early literacy programs for children ages 0-5, parents and their caregivers, and the establishment of a Family Place library at the Gillis Branch.
December 15, 2009
NOYS: Our favorite books of the year
It seems in recent years that books for youth have just been getting better & better, and 2009 was no exception. Here are the Youth Services Staff picks for our favorite books this year.
Lisa E.
The Maze Runner by James Dashner
Liar by Justine Larbalestier
Soul Enchilada by David Macinnis Gill
Howard
The Nobodyby Jeff Lemire
Touch by Francine Prose
Ghost Town by Richard W. Jennings
Jennifer
The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan
Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George
The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan
Faythe
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Fallen by Lauren Kate
Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey
Lisa D.
Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman
Clash of the Demons by Joseph Delaney
Unseen Academicals by Terry Pratchett*
Connie
Beautiful by Amy Lynn Reed
The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
How it Ends by Laura Wiess
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Kari
Mama Will it Snow Tonight? by Nancy White Carlstrom
Chicken Dance by Tammi Sauer
Lion and the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney
Jack and Jill the Miracle Dog with the Happy Tail to Tell by Jill Rappaport
What's your favorite book of the year?
*Lisa is still on the waiting list for Unseen Academicals but is fully expecting to enjoy it.
The Maze Runner by James Dashner
Liar by Justine Larbalestier
Soul Enchilada by David Macinnis Gill
The Nobodyby Jeff Lemire
Touch by Francine Prose
Ghost Town by Richard W. Jennings
Jennifer
The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan
Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George
The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Fallen by Lauren Kate
Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey
Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman
Clash of the Demons by Joseph Delaney
Unseen Academicals by Terry Pratchett*
Connie
Beautiful by Amy Lynn Reed
The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
How it Ends by Laura Wiess
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Mama Will it Snow Tonight? by Nancy White Carlstrom
Chicken Dance by Tammi Sauer
Lion and the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney
Jack and Jill the Miracle Dog with the Happy Tail to Tell by Jill Rappaport
What's your favorite book of the year?
*Lisa is still on the waiting list for Unseen Academicals but is fully expecting to enjoy it.
December 14, 2009
100 Years of Service
Karen Bosch Cobb, County Librarian
On the eve of our establishment as a County Library Service, I have been reflecting on our century of service. Thanks to Measure B, the last decade has been one of the strongest in our century as a County Library. Engaged and dedicated staff, doubled hours of service, strong Library collections, literacy services, valuable programs for our community, and larger buildings: these are our gifts each day of the year to the residents of our County. Their gift to us has been their support of the Library.
As I reflect on the ever-increasing use of our Library by the community during these very tough times and think back to the era of subscription libraries, I have come to realize that the greatest significance of county libraries is that they are free to all. Thank you each for putting People First! in our libraries and continuing to enlighten residents about the resources of this great free resource.
We do not know when the economy will turn around and what the next 10 years or 100 years will bring, but I am certain that libraries will remain a core institution. As we reflect on the past and think about the future, let us resolve to continue the innovation and change which have been the hallmark of our Library and that have helped our Library meet the needs of Fresno residents.
I wish you and your family and friends the best during the holidays. We all wait for a stronger economy that we hope will arrive soon in the New Year, and we look forward to our Centennial Celebration, our next decade of service, and our next century of service.
In the meantime, enjoy the photos here of Fresno library staff posing on the steps of the original Carnegie Library in 1923 with Sarah McCardle standing front center, and a more lighthearted photo of Fresno librarians "lunching in the woods" in 1929.
On the eve of our establishment as a County Library Service, I have been reflecting on our century of service. Thanks to Measure B, the last decade has been one of the strongest in our century as a County Library. Engaged and dedicated staff, doubled hours of service, strong Library collections, literacy services, valuable programs for our community, and larger buildings: these are our gifts each day of the year to the residents of our County. Their gift to us has been their support of the Library.As I reflect on the ever-increasing use of our Library by the community during these very tough times and think back to the era of subscription libraries, I have come to realize that the greatest significance of county libraries is that they are free to all. Thank you each for putting People First! in our libraries and continuing to enlighten residents about the resources of this great free resource.
We do not know when the economy will turn around and what the next 10 years or 100 years will bring, but I am certain that libraries will remain a core institution. As we reflect on the past and think about the future, let us resolve to continue the innovation and change which have been the hallmark of our Library and that have helped our Library meet the needs of Fresno residents.I wish you and your family and friends the best during the holidays. We all wait for a stronger economy that we hope will arrive soon in the New Year, and we look forward to our Centennial Celebration, our next decade of service, and our next century of service.
In the meantime, enjoy the photos here of Fresno library staff posing on the steps of the original Carnegie Library in 1923 with Sarah McCardle standing front center, and a more lighthearted photo of Fresno librarians "lunching in the woods" in 1929.
Phishing
Jill Potter, Headquarters
From Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia:
In the field of computer security, phishing is the criminally fraudulent process of attempting to acquire sensitive information such as usernames, passwords and credit card details by masquerading as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication. Communications purporting to be from popular social web sites, auction sites, online payment processors or IT administrators are commonly used to lure the unsuspecting public. Phishing is typically carried out by e-mail or instant messaging, and it often directs users to enter details at a fake website whose look and feel are almost identical to the legitimate one. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phishing
I have noticed an increase in phishing emails and that has raised some concerns that I would like to pass along. The most recent email was so shocking in its blatant attempt to collect personal information it was unbelievable! This official looking email from the Internal Revenue Service informed me that I was due a refund of $650.00 and I could claim it as soon as I filled out an online form. Yay! There’s my holiday shopping money! My Techie Geek side won out over common sense and I just had to see what kind of scam they were pulling. So, out of curiosity, I clicked on the link (after making sure my anti-virus was current and running) and was directed to a page that looked like an official IRS web page. After all, an Internal Revenue Service logo means it’s legitimate, right? This page had several “required” fields for me to fill out. I was asked for my name, address, phone number, driver’s license number, social security number, credit card number, expiration date AND the security code from the back of the card! My $650.00 refund would be credited directly to my credit card within 48 hours. Wow! I sure am glad that the agents at the Internal Revenue Service are looking out for me! Needless to say, I got a good chuckle and closed the page without giving them any of my information.
Seriously, it’s sad that these scams work even a small percentage of the time. These crooks undoubtedly send out hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of these emails with expectations that there will be some responses from naive and trusting individuals who could use a few bucks.
This might seem like common sense to those of us that use computers, email and the internet on a daily basis. But I’m reminded just about every time I speak with my parents how uninformed much of the population is when it comes to computers and technology based scams. The latest riff between my mom and dad was about, “just how did all those links to porn sites get on the computer desktop, hmmm?” So I sat Mom and Dad down and told them that either one could be responsible for those nasty icons. They both admitted to accidently clicking on banners on web sites and opening attachments from individuals they did not know. Then, my mother also informed me every time they turned on the computer a message popped up stating that the subscription for their anti-virus software needed to be updated. She didn’t know what to do so she just closed the box and went about her business online. She told me she had done that for over a month. Oh my goodness! The various viruses that had infected their computer were so bad I had to completely wipe out their computer and start from scratch. I managed to save their photos and documents but that isn’t always the way it goes. Now they have a squeaky clean computer without the offensive icons on the desktop.
To wrap this up, please be cautious in your internet wanderings. Don’t open emails from individuals that you don’t know. Be cautious when opening attachments and clicking on links. Please make sure your computer has a good anti-virus program on it and keep it updated! Remind others in your life that may not be as experienced as you are about the dangers of the web.
We’re lucky here at the library. The Tech Department takes care of the security for us. But even so, we must be ever vigilant because I’m sure there is a nasty little cyber no-gooder out there somewhere that is developing a virus that can penetrate even the toughest of shields.
Shields up, Captain!
From Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia:
In the field of computer security, phishing is the criminally fraudulent process of attempting to acquire sensitive information such as usernames, passwords and credit card details by masquerading as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication. Communications purporting to be from popular social web sites, auction sites, online payment processors or IT administrators are commonly used to lure the unsuspecting public. Phishing is typically carried out by e-mail or instant messaging, and it often directs users to enter details at a fake website whose look and feel are almost identical to the legitimate one. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phishing
I have noticed an increase in phishing emails and that has raised some concerns that I would like to pass along. The most recent email was so shocking in its blatant attempt to collect personal information it was unbelievable! This official looking email from the Internal Revenue Service informed me that I was due a refund of $650.00 and I could claim it as soon as I filled out an online form. Yay! There’s my holiday shopping money! My Techie Geek side won out over common sense and I just had to see what kind of scam they were pulling. So, out of curiosity, I clicked on the link (after making sure my anti-virus was current and running) and was directed to a page that looked like an official IRS web page. After all, an Internal Revenue Service logo means it’s legitimate, right? This page had several “required” fields for me to fill out. I was asked for my name, address, phone number, driver’s license number, social security number, credit card number, expiration date AND the security code from the back of the card! My $650.00 refund would be credited directly to my credit card within 48 hours. Wow! I sure am glad that the agents at the Internal Revenue Service are looking out for me! Needless to say, I got a good chuckle and closed the page without giving them any of my information.
Seriously, it’s sad that these scams work even a small percentage of the time. These crooks undoubtedly send out hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of these emails with expectations that there will be some responses from naive and trusting individuals who could use a few bucks.
This might seem like common sense to those of us that use computers, email and the internet on a daily basis. But I’m reminded just about every time I speak with my parents how uninformed much of the population is when it comes to computers and technology based scams. The latest riff between my mom and dad was about, “just how did all those links to porn sites get on the computer desktop, hmmm?” So I sat Mom and Dad down and told them that either one could be responsible for those nasty icons. They both admitted to accidently clicking on banners on web sites and opening attachments from individuals they did not know. Then, my mother also informed me every time they turned on the computer a message popped up stating that the subscription for their anti-virus software needed to be updated. She didn’t know what to do so she just closed the box and went about her business online. She told me she had done that for over a month. Oh my goodness! The various viruses that had infected their computer were so bad I had to completely wipe out their computer and start from scratch. I managed to save their photos and documents but that isn’t always the way it goes. Now they have a squeaky clean computer without the offensive icons on the desktop.
To wrap this up, please be cautious in your internet wanderings. Don’t open emails from individuals that you don’t know. Be cautious when opening attachments and clicking on links. Please make sure your computer has a good anti-virus program on it and keep it updated! Remind others in your life that may not be as experienced as you are about the dangers of the web.
We’re lucky here at the library. The Tech Department takes care of the security for us. But even so, we must be ever vigilant because I’m sure there is a nasty little cyber no-gooder out there somewhere that is developing a virus that can penetrate even the toughest of shields.
Shields up, Captain!
Politi Refurbishment
Roberta Barton, Headquarters
The Politi branch will be closed beginning December 22, 2009 for refurbishment. It is expected to reopen on January 25, 2010. Woodward and Pinedale may experience increased use during the closure since those are the nearest branches to Politi. If you have questions, contact Kelley Worman at 488-2288 or Pat Pondexter at 488-3185.
The Politi branch will be closed beginning December 22, 2009 for refurbishment. It is expected to reopen on January 25, 2010. Woodward and Pinedale may experience increased use during the closure since those are the nearest branches to Politi. If you have questions, contact Kelley Worman at 488-2288 or Pat Pondexter at 488-3185.
December 7, 2009
NOYS: Student Film Festival a success!
The Get Reel! Student Film Festival was Saturday, December 5 from 3-8 at the Tower theater. More than a hundred people came out to watch student films and cheer for the winners. It was so touching to see teens in our community being supported by their families and teachers. We met a father who drove in from Los Angeles and grandparents who came from the coast, plus aunts and uncles and cousins and siblings from all over the valley--all to see their loved one's film on the big screen. Most of the student filmmakers came dressed for an awards ceremony, with guys in ties and girls in dresses. It was really heartwarming.
Special thanks to Gina Becker, who chaired the committee and worked very hard to make sure every last detail was in place. Awesome job! Also to Faythe Arredondo, who spent hours upon hours prepping the films for the all-day screening and editing the films into tidy clip packages for the awards ceremony. Amazing! Other staffers who contributed to the event's success: Brian Guenther, Jonathan Waltmire, Lisa Eckman, Raelene Fleming, Les, Hiatt, and Jennifer Kish. Thanks!
Congratulations to all of the participants. Winner of the $500 Best of Show prize is:
Delivery Dash
Scott Callisch
See the other winning films!
-Connie Urquhart,
Teen Services Coordinator
Special thanks to Gina Becker, who chaired the committee and worked very hard to make sure every last detail was in place. Awesome job! Also to Faythe Arredondo, who spent hours upon hours prepping the films for the all-day screening and editing the films into tidy clip packages for the awards ceremony. Amazing! Other staffers who contributed to the event's success: Brian Guenther, Jonathan Waltmire, Lisa Eckman, Raelene Fleming, Les, Hiatt, and Jennifer Kish. Thanks!
Congratulations to all of the participants. Winner of the $500 Best of Show prize is:
Delivery Dash
Scott Callisch
See the other winning films!
-Connie Urquhart,
Teen Services Coordinator
December 1, 2009
NOYS: Get Reel this Saturday!
Just a quick reminder that the FCPL Get Reel Student Film Festival is this Saturday at the Tower Theater. Special thanks to Gina Becker and Faythe Arredondo who are tirelessly putting together the finishing touches as we speak. See below for details and we hope to see you on Saturday!
Everything is FREE and open to the public!
3:00pm-5:30pm Screening of all films
Films will be shown by category, NOT age group, in this order: Animation, Commercial/psa, EECU commercial, Documentary, Feature Short, Music Video
Audience members will vote for their favorite for the $250 Audience Choice Award
5:30pm-7:00pm Reception in Lobby
- Meet other filmmakers, enjoy free food from Charlotte's Bakery, or take a walk in the famous Tower District
7:00pm-8:00pm Awards Ceremony
Clips of nominated films will be shown and prizes awarded
Door prizes will be given away between categories
Everything is FREE and open to the public!
November 30, 2009
Convoy of Hope
Terry Sterling, Headquarters
The library was well represented at the Convoy of Hope on November 7. More than 10,000 attendees were expected. Job Service Outreach Librarian Bernice Kao was joined by Community Bookmobile staff members Ron Martin and Karen Maj. Youth Services staff member Howard Hamm also assisted.
The library was well represented at the Convoy of Hope on November 7. More than 10,000 attendees were expected. Job Service Outreach Librarian Bernice Kao was joined by Community Bookmobile staff members Ron Martin and Karen Maj. Youth Services staff member Howard Hamm also assisted.
November 24, 2009
NOYS: 'Tis the Season
Looking for holiday books to recommend to kids & teens? Try these:
Picture Books
Grumpy Badgers Christmas by Paul Bright
The Hanukkah Mice by Steven Kroll
Hoppy Hanukkah! by Linda Glaser
I Love Christmas by Anne Walker
Merry Christmas, Splat by Rob Scotton
Tyrannoclaus by Janet Lawler
Who Would Like A Christmas Tree? By Ellen Bryan Obed
Inbetweens
Candlelight for Rebecca (an American Girl novel) by Jacqueline Dembar Greene
The True Gift: a Christmas Story by Patricia MacLachlan
Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Writing Thank-You Notes by Peggy Gifford
Children's Nonfiction
Paper Crafts for Christmas by Randel McGee
Winter Lights: a Season in Poems & Quilts by Anna Grossnickle Hines
Children's Fiction
The Christmas Genie by Dan Gutman
Confessions of a Bitter Secret Santa by Lara Bergen
Forever Rose by Hilary McKay
Teens
Ex-Mas by Kate Brian
Jingle Boy by Kieran Scott
Let It Snow: Three Holiday Romances by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle
Mistletoe: Four Holiday Stories by Hailey Abbott, Melissa de la Cruz, Aimee Friedman, and Nina Malkin
The Twelve Dates of Christmas by Catherine Hapka
Picture Books
The Hanukkah Mice by Steven Kroll
Hoppy Hanukkah! by Linda Glaser
I Love Christmas by Anne Walker
Merry Christmas, Splat by Rob Scotton
Tyrannoclaus by Janet Lawler
Who Would Like A Christmas Tree? By Ellen Bryan Obed
Inbetweens
The True Gift: a Christmas Story by Patricia MacLachlan
Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Writing Thank-You Notes by Peggy Gifford
Children's Nonfiction
Winter Lights: a Season in Poems & Quilts by Anna Grossnickle Hines
Children's Fiction
The Christmas Genie by Dan Gutman
Confessions of a Bitter Secret Santa by Lara Bergen
Forever Rose by Hilary McKay
Teens
Ex-Mas by Kate Brian
Jingle Boy by Kieran Scott
Let It Snow: Three Holiday Romances by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle
Mistletoe: Four Holiday Stories by Hailey Abbott, Melissa de la Cruz, Aimee Friedman, and Nina Malkin
The Twelve Dates of Christmas by Catherine Hapka
November 13, 2009
Woman of the Year
Terry Sterling, Community Libraries - East
Sandi Kuykendall was honored by the Orange Cove Chamber of Commerce in October as the Woman of the Year for her years of service to the city through the library and her community involvement. Supervisor Judy Case presented Sandi with a statue noting her award as well as proclamations from the City of Orange Cove, Senator Diane Feinstein and State Representative Mike Villines. Congratulations, Sandi and thank you for your many years of dedication to Fresno County Library.
Sandi Kuykendall was honored by the Orange Cove Chamber of Commerce in October as the Woman of the Year for her years of service to the city through the library and her community involvement. Supervisor Judy Case presented Sandi with a statue noting her award as well as proclamations from the City of Orange Cove, Senator Diane Feinstein and State Representative Mike Villines. Congratulations, Sandi and thank you for your many years of dedication to Fresno County Library.
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