Looking for ways to get creative, try something new or find “cool” activities to keep busy during the hot summer days? From May 24 to July 21, the Pima County Public Library (PCPL) annual summer reading program has something for everyone. The statewide theme for this year’s program – “Our State, Our Story: Celebrating 100 Years of Arizona“ – honors Arizona’s centennial and is woven throughout many of the programs, workshops and events that will be offered throughout the summer.

PCPL is excited about the new focus of this year’s program: reading for pleasure, instilling a love of reading for all ages and encouraging people to participate in activities that they get to choose. Adults can explore and experiment with native plants, learn about being a better photographer, or paint a desert landscape. Teens can create their own anime superhero when they’re not busy getting fit with Cardio Kung Fu. Families and children can discover the art of juggling, enjoy storytimes and learn how to build and launch a rocket.

Starting May 24, here’s how you can participate:

• Visit any Pima County Public Library to sign up and receive your Summer Reading Passport, Arizona Adventure Pass and summer events calendar newspaper.
• Decide what your personal reading goal will be, and write it in your passport.
• Take a look at our list of 100 activities inside the summer events calendar or at www.library.pima.gov. Choose any six activities from the list.
• Log the completed activities in your passport all summer long.
• Get your passport stamped at your library as you complete your reading goal and activities.

Summer Program Special Events

Teens Unite & Write – Teens ages 13-18 are invited to collaborate in writing an online story that will be posted on the library’s website as it unfolds. A local author writes the first part; teen writers create what happens next!

Summer Reading Night – Saturday, June 23, 6–10 p.m., Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Free for readers 2 -14 with their Adventure Pass and one paid adult admission. Come hear the tales of coyotes, cats, beavers, bats, owls, tarantulas and other nocturnal creatures!

Harry and the Potters – Thursday, July 19, 5 p.m., Hotel Congress. Free for all ages. Wizard rockers Harry and the Potters return for a night of magic and book-ish hard rock!

Summer Reading Finale Celebration – Saturday, July 21, 8–11 a.m., Reid Park Zoo. Free for readers ages 2-14 who complete their six activities. Say “hi” to the animals, make crafts and celebrate reading!

Rock ‘n’ Roll Concert – Saturday, July 21, 8–10 p.m., Joel D. Valdez Main Library. Free for all ages. Join us for a truly rockin’ concert featuring three local teen bands!

ANIME AND COMICS EVENT TO KICK OFF LIBRARY’S SUMMER READING PROGRAM

The Pima County Public Library invites Tucson-area tweens and teens to kick off its annual Summer Reading Program with MangaMania!! on Saturday, May 19, 6-10 p.m., at the Murphy-Wilmot Branch Library, 530 N. Wilmot. The free event drew 500 attendees last year.

Manga, a form of comics that originated in Japan, is wildly popular with teens and young adults in the United States. Tweens and teens ages 11-18 who love everything manga – including “cosplay” (costuming), gaming, crafts and origami, watching anime, or writing and drawing manga – will want to get there early. Party-goers can earn manga money to buy merchandise and food, make costumes on-site or come wearing their own, and exchange manga at the  Bookmans booth. Teens who bring two cans of food for the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona will earn extra manga money.

Jennifer Caldwell, Electronic Resources Librarian for Pima County Public Library and one of the event organizers, said that close to 1,000 teens are expected to attend this year. “Our goal is to have something fun for everyone, including parents,” Caldwell said. “MangaMania!! will have workshops, demonstrations, hands-on activities, and opportunities to meet and talk with other fans, as well as professional writers and artists. We’ll have it all!”

Event Highlights

• Costume contest at 8:15 p.m.
• Be the first to check out brand new manga.
• Sign up for the Yu-Gi-Oh! Tournament sponsored by Showtime Cards.
• Talk one-on-one with artist Aaron Ancheta of Scott Pilgrim fame at the Heroes & Villains table, and then attend his comic writing workshop
• Enjoy demonstrations in martial arts, sushi-making, and Japanese writing.
• Parents: Learn all about manga and comics at the “Manga 101” panel discussion.

Visit  http://www.library.pima.gov for the full schedule of events.

About Pima County Public Library

The Pima County Public Library (PCPL) enriches lives and builds community through opportunities to learn, know, interact, and grow. With 27 branches and one affiliate library serving diverse communities across Pima County in southern Arizona, PCPL provides a wide range of free services that contribute to the economic development of the community and provide individuals with educational and recreational opportunities to improve their lives. For more information, visit www.library.pima.gov or call 791-4010.

The community is invited to see the new solar educational materials and solar information kiosk that will be unveiled at the Miller-Golf Links Library Branch at 5 p.m. today, Monday, April 23. Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony, there will be a Solar Power 101 presentation. Both events are free and open to the public. RSVP for Solar Power 101 to jmcginnis@pagnet.org or 520-792-1093.

Pima County Public Library and Bruce Plenk, Solar Energy Coordinator for the City of Tucson, worked together to identify and purchase solar-related materials including books, magazine subscriptions, and DVDs. The solar kiosk provides live reporting regarding how much solar energy is being produced in our community. Library patrons now will be able to check out a device called the Kill-A-Watt, which plugs into appliances to indicate their electricity usage and efficiency.

In recognition of the funding support to purchase the solar educational materials obtained by the Office of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, before she stepped down in January, the collection will be named the Gabrielle Giffords Collection. All of these resources will be initially available at the Miller-Golf Links Library Branch, but will be moving to other libraries in the system.

• WHAT:  Ribbon-cutting ceremony to introduce new solar resources and unveil information kiosk
• WHEN:  5-6 p.m. Ribbon-cutting; 6-7:30 p.m. Solar Power 101, Monday, April 23
• WHERE:  Miller-Golf Links Library Branch, 9640 E. Golf Links Road, 85730

 For more information, please visit http://www.library.pima.gov/about/news/?id=3922.

When the employees of the Pima County Public Library (PCPL) come together for a good cause, it is an understatement to say that they go “all out.” A raffle drawing, a spinning prize wheel, special themed gift baskets, a silent auction, and outrageously competitive bidding wars during a live auction last Friday created an exciting buzz and a lot of laughter at the Joel D. Valdez Main Library, 101 N. Stone Avenue.

On April 13^th, library workers raised $7,011 in a single day to benefit the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona.

Different library branches and staff members joined efforts and creative juices to assemble generous gift baskets of donated and handmade items that were awarded to the happy winners during the raffle drawing. Several businesses also donated gift cards and a variety of goods for baskets with themes including: Staycation, Let’s Get Fit, Go Local, Wellness, Exotic Food, Gardening & Seeds, Cookies Galore, and Car Care. Some of the items donated by PCPL employees included: pickled peppers, a basket of homemade jelly and biscuits; hand-knit and hand-painted items; a vase of homegrown antique roses; glass sculptures, handmade quilts, and jewelry; homegrown Greek oregano; and a garden consultation with a Master Gardener.

A framed landscape photograph created and donated by an employee’s spouse garnered the highest live auction bid at $170.

By the numbers:

• PCPL employees have raised and donated a total of $77,072 for this annual event since 1995.
• PCPL employees raised $190 at the first event in 1995.
• Pima County Public Library includes 27 branches and 1 affiliate library in Oro Valley.
• Every $1 donated equals $9.50 worth of food for the Community Food Bank.

“It’s amazing what people will do for a great cause like the food bank,” said Kristi Bradford, Branch Manager at Nanini Library and this year’s event coordinator. “In an hour-and-a-half, we can make a world of difference.”

A summary of the total contributions made by Pima County Public Library during the annual raffle and auction event over the last 18 years:

 About Pima County Public Library

The Pima County Public Library (PCPL) enriches lives and builds community through opportunities to learn, know, interact, and grow. With 28 libraries serving diverse communities across Pima County in southern Arizona, PCPL provides a wide range of free services that contribute to the economic development of the community and provide individuals with educational and recreational opportunities to improve their lives. For more information, visit www.library.pima.gov or call 791-4010.

Pima County, Ariz. (March 29, 2012) – Now there’s an interactive website just for kids that helps them learn about air, water, soil, resource conservation and climate change – and why it’s important for them to learn how to take good care of planet Earth.

The Eco Kids Corner website was developed by Pima County’s Department of Environmental Quality and a student intern from the University of Arizona’s College of Public Health to engage children in learning about the natural world and their role in it. Here’s the link: http://www.cleanair.pima.gov/ .

Not only can they learn fun facts, like how old the Earth is and what air is made of, but they can write poems, guess the answers to science questions, learn why recycling really matters, take a look at the hydrologic cycle and find out about pedology. That’s the study of soil.

The colorful website provides links to other activity-based sites for kids from agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency and the Centers for Disease Control.

The site also provides links to the local zoo, museums, the Sonoran Desert Kids Club and other venues that offer educational programs and materials for children.

The site includes resources for teachers and inspiration for science fair projects, too.

A special program to introduce the website is set for  Saturday, April 7, at 11 a.m. at the Murphy-Wilmot Branch Public Library, 530 N. Wilmot Road, during the library’s monthly Science Saturday event.

Melinda Cervantes, County Librarian for the Santa Clara County Library District in California since 2002, has been selected to become director of Pima County Public Library.

Her first day on the job is May 14.

Melinda Cervantes

“Ms. Cervantes has excellent experience in both public libraries and in education, including three years of service as county librarian in Pinal County,” said Pima County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry.

“We conducted a monthlong search process. There was considerable interest in the position; and we had over 40 applicants, which we screened to four excellent finalists.

“Ms. Cervantes stood out as having the most extensive experience. She is an excellent choice to carry on the work that Nancy Ledeboer did in expanding the Library service and outreach into the community.

“I look forward to working with Ms. Cervantes to make the Pima County Public Library District an even more important contributor to the Pima County community.”

Ms. Cervantes was named Librarian of the Year by the Arizona Library Association in 1997 and by the California Library Association in 2010.

In addition to her work in Santa Clara County and Pinal County, Ms. Cervantes held administrative positions with Contra Costa County Library in California and Tigard Public Library in Oregon; and management positions in public, community college, university, special and school libraries in Arizona, Alaska and Ohio.

She received her master’s degree in library science from Kent State University and a bachelor’s degree in education from Bowling Green State University. She is the immediate past chair of the Urban Libraries Council Executive Board.

Donate nonperishable food items to your Pima County Public Library branch during Food for Fines week, April 9-14, and the library will waive up to $10 in overdue fines from your library account.

Customers will receive a $1 fine waiver for each nonperishable food item donated, with a maximum donation of 10 items (and maximum fine reduction of $10) per library account.

All library branches are participating.  All donations will go to the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona and its affiliates in Ajo, Arivaca, Catalina, Green Valley, and Marana.

Only overdue fines will be waived.  Customers will be responsible for all other fines and fees, including lost or damaged materials.  Customers without fines cannot receive credit on their library accounts for donated items.

Please do not donate any glass containers or pre-opened items, and make sure that any donated food items with expiration dates have not expired.

Food for Fines provides a way to clear up overdue fines while giving back to the community.  Food for Fines generated 11,422 food items in 2011 for the Community Food Bank.

Food for Fines is held during National Library Week, which began in 1958 and is sponsored by the American Library Association.  It celebrates the contributions of our nation’s libraries and promotes library use.

For more information about Pima County Public Library, including branch locations, schedules, news and events, please visit www.library.pima.gov or call 791-4010.

Pima County Public Library welcomes legendary author Dorothy Allison and a lineup of local and national, established and up-and-coming GLBTQ authors and performers in Sister Spit: The Next Generation North American Tour on Saturday, April 7.

Local authors Amrit Donaldson, who wrote a collection of essays titled “Walking the Plank,” and Sam Ace, a poet who contributed to the book “Stealth,” are the latest additions to the performances at 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. at Fluxx Gallery and Studio, 414 E. Ninth St.  The performances are free and open to the public.  Doors open at 3 and 8 p.m.  Seating is limited so arrive early.

The renowned and raucous performance gang, Sister Spit, includes Allison (“Bastard Out of Carolina,” “Two or Three Things I know for Sure,” “Cavedweller”) and host Michelle Tea (“The Chelsea Whistle,” “Valencia,” “Rent Girl”) with:

• Brontez Purnell, writer and creator of Fag School fanzine and musician (Younger Lovers, Gravy Train!!!)
• Performer and playwright Erin Markey (“Green Eyes,” “Puppy Love: A Stripper’s Tail”)
• Comic artist and writer Cassie J. Sneider (“Fine Fine Music”)
• Nationally ranked slam poet and Mr. Transman 2010 Kit Yan.

Allison will not appear at the 9 p.m. performance.

Sister Spit was co-founded by Michelle Tea and Sini Anderson in San Francisco in the early 1990s as a weekly all-female open mic series.  The duo launched the first Sister Spit national tour in 1997.  In 2007, the group re-organized as Sister Spit: The Next Generation, pairing established writers with young, emerging queer and queer-influenced artists of all genders.

The event is made possible by the GLBT Services Team of the Pima County Public Library in conjunction with RADAR Productions, a San Francisco-based queer literary arts nonprofit organization, and through generous funding from the Friends of Pima County Public Library.  For more information about Sister Spit or about Pima County Public Library, including branch locations, schedules, news and events, please visit www.library.pima.gov or call 791-4010.

Lisa Bunker

Lisa Bunker, social media librarian for the Pima County Public Library, has been named one of 53 outstanding library professionals in the nation in 2012 by Library Journal.

Ms. Bunker is one of nine “tech leaders” among Library Journal’s 2012 Movers & Shakers.

She has worked seven years for the 27-branch Pima County system, the last two as social media librarian, when she developed an influential social media brand for the library, with thousands of Twitter followers and Facebook fans.

“Lisa has single-handedly turned our social media presence into a powerhouse,” says Jen Maney, virtual library manager at Pima County Public Library. “Thanks to Lisa, our library now has 21 social media accounts, a Twitter score of 71.2, and countless reciprocal connections with people in power, people on the street, and a variety of community organizations.”

“Lisa has a magical way of bringing together people and ideas,” said Amber Mathewson, library services manager.  “She uses her technological skill and knowledge of networking in combination with tremendous passion and a sense of wonder to provide individuals with the tools they need to be creative and engaged lifelong learners.”

Ms. Bunker, who works half-time for Pima County Public Library, is the director of the research library at the Tucson Museum of Art.

She is a huge Harry Potter fan and applied what she learned from observing and participating in Potter fan communities on the web to making Pima County Public Library more electronically engaging.  She has also organized several Potter-related events, including one at Hotel Congress that drew nearly 3,000 people last year.

She received her master’s degree in Information Resources and Library Science from the University of Arizona in 2001.

Ms. Bunker is the only librarian in Arizona to be selected this year. Of the 13 Arizona library professionals recognized since 2002, six work at Pima County Public Library or the University of Arizona libraries.

The 2012 Movers & Shakers are featured in the March 15^th issue of Library Journal and will be celebrated at a special luncheon in June during the American Library Association’s annual conference in Anaheim, Calif.  To see all the 2012 Movers & Shakers and find out more about Ms. Bunker, go to www.libraryjournal.com/movers2012.

In its 136^th year of publication, Library Journal is the oldest and most respected publication covering the library field.

Get smarter about money.  Teens, what do you need to know about credit cards or buying a car?  Adults, find out how to save your home or repair your credit.  Kids, listen to stories and learn about spending and saving.

Pima County Public Library is partnering with the American Library Association and the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago to present a series of Money Smart Week programs at Pima County Public Library branches from April 11 to April 28.

Come and learn about the resources, programs, and services available in Pima County.  There are workshops for everyone, from children to adults and covering topics including reading credit reports, financial survival, and fair housing information. We’ll have Story Times for the kids, Creating Duct Tape Wallets for the crafty, and Coupon Club for the thrifty!  No reservations are required.

Other event partners are Debbi Jasperson’s Coupon Club, The Credit Wise Cats, Financial Education Collaborative of Southern Arizona, Southwest Fair Housing Council, Hughes Federal Credit Union, and the Pima County Housing Center.

For more information, including events as they are added to the week’s activities, please visit http://www.library.pima.gov or call 520-791-4010.

Money Smart Week schedule of events

Wednesday, April 11
Pimp my Ride for Teens: Buying Cars Responsibly
and
Crafting Duct Tape Wallets
4-5:30 p.m.
Wheeler Taft Abbett Sr. Branch Library, 7800 N. Schisler Drive, Marana

Saturday, April 21
Debbi Jasperson’s Coupon Club
2-4 p.m.
Sahuarita Branch Library, 725 W. Via Rancho Sahuarita, Sahuarita

Renter’s Toolbox (Southwest Fair Housing Council)
3:30-4:30 p.m.
Valencia Branch Library, 202 W. Valencia Road

Tuesday, April 24
Storytime for children with money theme
9:30 a.m.
Flowing Wells Branch Library, 1730 W. Wetmore Road

Identity Theft with Credit Wise Cats for adults and teens
3 p.m.
Ellie Towne Flowing Wells Community Center, 1660 W. Ruthrauff Road

Wednesday, April 25
Loan Modification with Family Housing Resources
10-11 a.m. and noon-1 p.m.
Martha Cooper Branch Library, 1377 N. Catalina Ave.

Hughes Federal Credit Union Savings Presentation for tweens and teens
3 p.m.
Ellie Towne Flowing Wells Community Center, 1660 W. Ruthrauff Road

Crafting Duct Tape Wallets for tweens and teens
3:30-5 p.m.
Ellie Towne Flowing Wells Community Center, 1660 W. Ruthrauff Road

Financial Fitness with Old Pueblo Community Services
6-8 p.m.
Woods Memorial Branch Library, 3455 N. First Ave.

Thursday, April 26
Preschool Storytime & Craft with money theme
10:15 a.m.
Flowing Wells Branch Library, 1730 W. Wetmore Road

Credit Card presentation by Credit Wise Cats for adults and teens
3 p.m.
Ellie Towne Flowing Wells Community Center, 1660 W. Ruthrauff Road

Debbi Jasperson’s Coupon Club
6-8 p.m.
Martha Cooper Branch Library, 1377 N. Catalina Ave.

Saturday, April 28
Debbi Jasperson’s Coupon Club
10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Dusenberry-River Branch Library, 5605 E. River Road

Credit Reports/Credit Repair with Cheri Horbacz
3-4:30 p.m.
Joel D. Valdez Main Library, 101 N. Stone Ave.