Teen Author Wendelin Van Draanen to Visit Library & Schools

The Library is proud to present author Wendelin Van Draanen who will visit eight area middle schools and the East Bend Library during her visit to Central Oregon from March 6 – 8.   Van Draanen is the author of a variety of books for youth and teens, including Flipped, which was made into a film, her newest, The Running Dream, and the popular Sammy Keyes mystery series.

“Central Oregon teachers are very grateful for this experience for their students,” said Librarian April Witteveen.  “The annual teen author visit allows teens to interact with a favorite author and encourages them to ask questions and read the author’s work.

Wendelin Van Draanen will present at the East Bend Library on Wednesday March 7 at 6:30 p.m.  This event is free and open to the public.

For more information, please contact April Witteveen, aprilw@deschuteslibrary.org, 541-617-7079 or visit the Library’s website: www.deschuteslibrary.org

The importance and influence of Dr. Seuss goes on and on, thanks to the national celebration of Read Across America Day on March 2nd. That's Dr. Seuss's birthday and the day that schools and libraries focus on books and reading. Don't be surprised to see library staff wearing Cat in the Hat hats as they hand out Seuss bookmarks. And don't let the reading end on March 2nd. Remember that experts agree that reading aloud to your child is the most important activity to encourage future academic success.

As Dr. Seuss might say, "One book, two books, red books, blue books, I love them all, Sam-I-am." Celebrate reading here: www.nea.org/readacross.

Sunday, March 11 --- Downtown Bend Public Library 2:00 p.m.

The Deschutes Public Library and Second Sunday will host “Visions of Home”, a thematic reading and discussion by poets George Estreich, Charles Goodrich, and Marjorie Sandor, on the meaning of home and living in Oregon. This free presentation will take place on Sunday, March 11th at the Downtown Public Library, at 2:00 p.m. An open mic will follow.

Tuesday, March 6 --- Downtown Bend Public Library, Brooks Room 6:00 p.m.

The Library’s Conversation Project and Know War series continues with an opportunity to discuss how the Civil War changed the way Americans approached disagreement and fostered the birth of the one major American contribution to philosophy: pragmatism. One hundred and fifty years later, how can the lessons of this national crisis inform the ways we conduct our current debates? Join the free conversation with Linfield College Associate Professor David Sumner.

This program is hosted by the Deschutes Public Library and the City Club of Central Oregon and sponsored by Oregon Humanities.

Be sure to take a look at the library's web pages about early literacy activities you can be doing to get your child ready to read. Experts agree that reading, singing, rhyming, playing, and talking are what will grow readers, and the library has ideas of fun ways to enjoy those activities with your child. Making up a story about a polka dotted zebra, or playing with bubbles in the bath before bedtime to celebrate the letter B, or writing a grocery list together are a few of the suggestions.

You'll find more at www.deschuteslibrary.org/kids/earlylit/.

The Library’s “A Novel Idea” committee dedicates hours and hours to reading books until we find just the right one for our communities. We hunt for the great debut novels to find nuggets of literature that have yet to be discovered. This year we had three wonderful books that we highly recommend that came a close second to our winning selection The Rules of Civility by Amor Towles. The three runners-up were:

Once Upon a River by Bonnie Jo Campbell
The Tiger’s Wife by Tea Obreht
The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach

The Library’s book club, Good Chair Great Book, is reading March by Geraldine Brooks this month.

Check the Library’s calendar listing to find when discussions take place in your area: www.deschuteslibrary.org/calendar.

Friends of the Bend Libraries

Mark your calendars for some great book deals at the Friends of the Bend Libraries spring book sale! The book sale begins Saturday, March 31 from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. and Sunday, April 1 from 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. in the basement of the Deschutes Public Library's Administration Building 507 NW Wall Street. For more information contact Rob Byrd/Bend Friends Book Sale Chair at 541.389.1622

View the Friends of the Bend Libraries art exhibit at the Downtown Bend Library entitled "Serenity." It will continue through May 7, 2012. For more information contact Denise Mahoney 541-389-9846.

Friends of the Sisters Library

Tree House Puppet Show
Come meet Ricky & Rocky Racoon and their forest friends with Puppeteer Linda Barnes. Great for families & kids of all ages! Sunday, April 15, 2012 1:30 p.m. at the Sisters Public Library. This program is part of the Diane Jacobsen Speaker Series and Sponsored by Friends of the Sisters Library.

Entanglement: An Epistolary Collaboration
Join local poet Alex Weiss and experience collaborative art and poetry on Sunday, March 18, 2012 1:30 p.m. at the Sisters Public Library. This program is part of the Diane Jacobsen Speaker Series Sponsored by Friends of the Sisters Library.

FREE @ the Downtown Bend Library!

Free, confidential business advice is available from SCORE's experts. Advisors are available 5:30-7:30pm every Tuesday in March at the Downtown Bend Library. For more information, contact 541.617.7050.

The Partnership to End Poverty, is once again offering free tax preparation assistance for Central Oregonians at the Downtown Bend Library. Come to the library to learn about tax credits and access a free online tax filing program using the IRS certified software TaxWise Online. Certified tax volunteers will be available to answer questions about using the computer, Internet, email and the long line tax program. The volunteers will also help people prepare returns and can answer some tax questions.

Sessions are on Wednesdays from 10:00am-5:00pm and Saturdays from 12:00 noon -5:00 p.m. Registration is preferred, but walk-ins are welcome. Call 541-504-1389 to sign up for an appointment.

The Deschutes Public Library offers free computer classes and eReader trainings at every library throughout Deschutes County! Check out a sampling of upcoming classes:

DOWNTOWN BEND

E-mail for Beginners
Sign up for a Gmail account and practice sending e-mail messages.
Tuesday, March 13 | 2:00 p.m.

Word II
More advanced techniques for editing a report and printing.
Tuesday, March 13 | 6:00 p.m.

More E-mail
Create group mailing lists, manage your folders, and attach files.
Prerequisite: active Gmail account.
Tuesday, March 20 | 2:00 p.m.

Word III
Get creative with MS Word. Learn how to make basic flyers and party invitations.
Tuesday, March 20 | 6:00 p.m.


EAST BEND

Open Computer Lab
Practice computer skills or work on any problems you’re having with one of our staff.
Every Tuesday | 2:00-3:30 p.m.

Conoce Mas Computación
Una serie de clases donde los usuarios aprenderán mas temas sobre computación y comunicación a través del Internet.
Prerrequisito: Conoce Computación y Conoce el Internet.
Los jueves, 8 de marzo al 29 de marzo 6:00 p.m.


LA PINE

Teen Laptop Lab
Check Myspace, Facebook, do homework, play games. Staff in room.
Mondays 3–4:30 p.m.

Game Day
Play Wii, Guitar Hero, Rock Band, Madden Football, card, board games. Staff in room.
Mar 28 1 – 3:30 p.m.


SISTERS

Open Computer Lab
Practice computer skills or work on problems with one of our staff.
Wednesdays, March 7 and 21 at 9:30 a.m.


REDMOND

Laptop Lab
Check Myspace, Facebook, do homework, play games.
Mar 14, 2:30–4:30 pm.

Excel Budgets
Take your Excel skills to the next level and learn how to create a monthly budget spreadsheet.
Friday, March 9 | 2:00 p.m.

Craigslist
Everything from jobs to vacation rentals. Create an account and more in this free classifieds website.
Tuesday, March 20 | 2:00 p.m.

Facebook
Find out about social networking and sign up for a Facebook account in the process.
Pre-requisite: Must have an e-mail account.
Friday, March 23 | 2:00 p.m.

Digital Books
A demonstration on accessing, downloading, and transferring audio books and eBooks to select devices.
Tuesday, March 27 | 2:00 p.m.

Don't Forget to Update Your Email Address

The library needs you to verify the email address associated with your library account and make sure that you know your PIN in order to take full advantage of the updates to self-check-out stations coming to your library in the next few months.

To verify or update your email address, log in to your account with your library card number and PIN, then click the orange "Modify My Info" button on the right. If you have an email address associated with your library account but have forgotten your PIN, you can click the "Forgot Your PIN?" button on the login page to reset it. Stop in at your library or contact library staff if you need additional assistance with your PIN or email address.

Visit the library’s Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/deschuteslibrary) and become a fan to receive Facebook updates on events, programs, and what’s new at the library.