The Internet Book of Life

Tuesday, September 6, 2011, 7 p.m. You are a working parent and you use the Internet occasionally for email and Facebook. You know that there are quality Web resources available for free that can really help you and your family. But who has time to find and evaluate them? The Internet Book of Life is your shortcut to these treasures. Written by a working mother and front line reference librarian, The Internet Book of Life is a guide to web sites and mobile phone apps that help real people make wise decisions in so many aspects of modern living: everything from saving money, to getting homework done, to just feeling happier. Each chapter addresses real-life family dilemmas such as whether and how to fix the car, how to find the best price for baby diapers, and even how to find a clinical trial that might save a life. As the country climbs out of recession, this comprehensive guide to free Web services is especially welcome. It is the lively, indispensable reference that finds a home next to every household computer…or Web-enabled cell phone! IRENE E. McDERMOTT gains insight about the web from her daily front-line experience as reference librarian and systems manager at the Crowell Public Library in San Marino, California. She writes about her discoveries in her column, “Internet Express,” which has appeared in Searcher magazine since 1997. The second addition of her book, The Librarian’s Internet Survival Guide was published by Information Today in 2006. McDermott shares her Pasadena bungalow with her teenage son.

Brain Aerobics Returns!

September 19th & 20th: Mondays, 12:30-2:30 pm(Beginner/Intermediate)Tuesdays, 9:30-11:30 am (Intermediate/Advanced); Challenge your memory, improve language skills, and ease the burden of hearing loss by learning to lip read. In these fun and stimulating classes, enhance your verbal skills by analyzing how language looks and sounds. Instructor FRANCINE KATZ challenges the class to memorize sentences, play word games and focus on lip-reading skills. She has taught this class at various locations for over 45 years and students rave how their mental agility has improved after participating. Boosting our brain power can only help us age with grace! Francine Katz, MA, SLP, CCC, is a graduate of Northwestern University and a licensed speech-language pathologist and lip reading specialist. Mrs. Katz was with Pasadena City College for over twelve years. She was “Teacher of the Year” at PCC in 2005. She was also listed in “Who’s Who in America,” Western Section. Get your brain in shape with a free weekly two-hour workout in the Barth Community Room at Crowell Library in a relaxed atmosphere with rewarding results. This is a no-fee, no obligation class and preview visits welcomed.

Teen Guitar Hero and International Food Festival Final Party Extravaganza!

Monday July 25th at 2pm, Barth Community Room

Come to Crowell Public Library and join the annual Teen Guitar Hero Tournament on July 25th at 2pm! This year, we’ve added an International Food Festival to this Summer Reading Club celebration. This event is open exclusively to teens grades 7-12; teen Guitar Hero amateurs, pros, and audience members welcome! We’ll play Competitive Face-offs, where two players duel at their chosen difficulty levels, each vying for the best score.

Teens are welcome to watch the tournament and enjoy the International Food Festival, where there will be scrumptious snacks and sweets from around the world. Visit every corner of the world at Crowell this summer! Teens registered for the Young Adult Summer Reading Club will receive a raffle ticket for attending this event, regardless of whether they participate in the tournament. The raffle tickets earn teens a chance to win tons of great prizes, including 2 park-hopper tickets to Disneyland! This special program is a part of Crowell Public Library’s YA Summer Reading Club, “You Are Here” sponsored by the Friends of the Crowell Public Library, AMF Bowling, the Aquarium of the Pacific, Auntie Annie’s, the CW network, Descanso Gardens, El Pollo Loco, Flightdeck Air Combat Center, Huntington Library, Jasmine Café, Julienne’s, Jump ‘n Jammin, Los Angeles Lakers, Legoland, Mimi’s Café, The Old Spaghetti Factory, Pacific Asia Museum, Pacific Park, Penguins Frozen Yogurt & Coffee, Peterson Automotive Museum, Pie & Burger, Santa Anita Park, San Marino Toy & Book Shoppe, Shakey’s, and Wendy’s.

Introduction to Email: Saturday July 16 & 23

Both sessions 10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. – Do you have limited experience with computers and are new to the world of e-mail? You have friends at Crowell Public Library! Join fellow novices in this two-session class and learn to send and receive messages on a free e-mail account. A very patient and personable instructor will help you set up the account and cover the basic concepts you’ll need to know. You must attend the first session in order to attend the second where there will be opportunities to ask questions, learn additional computer skills and practice. In no time at all you’ll be exchanging messages from relatives you never knew you had! If you’ve been too intimidated to take the plunge, the Crowell Computer Lab is the ideal place dive into action. Reservations are required so please call (626) 300-0777 ext. 579. The more the merrier! Share this event on Facebook & Twitter.

Crowell Library's New Hours

Effective July 1, Crowell Public Library’s new hours will be Sundays, 1-5, Mondays-Thursdays, 10:00a-9:00p. The Library will be closed on Fridays. However, the Library’s website is open 24/7 and is the threshold to a wealth of information. Many online applications are easily accessible with a Crowell Library card which is free, and amazing considering the privileges the card brings. At http://www.crowellpubliclibrary.org/ you can search for books, CDs and DVDs in the library and put them on hold. By clicking on the “Online Reference resources” link, you can access a multitude of databases, including: AMERICA'S NEWSPAPERS which features the full-text content of over 600 U.S. newspapers, each the complete electronic edition of record. BIOGRAPHY RESOURCE CENTER is a comprehensive reference database is designed to meet the needs of public, school and academic libraries in the areas of literature, science, multicultural studies, business, entertainment, politics, sports, government, history, arts and newsmakers. NOVELIST offers new ways to explore the endless possibilities and combinations of books, authors, genres and topics. Looking for the perfect summer reading? Get infinite suggestions here! LITERATURE RESOURCE CENTER offers full-text journal articles, literary criticism, reviews, biographical information, and overviews on over 130,000 writers in all disciplines, from all time periods and from around the world. CQ RESEARCHER offers reports on a wide range of social, economic, political, and environmental issues, divided into specific sections to guide research. OPPOSING VIEWPOINTS RESOURCE CENTER delivers a range of perspectives on important issues, supporting virtually any curricular, academic or general-interest need. Informed, differing views help learners develop critical-thinking skills and draw their own conclusions. You can also learn about TUITION FUNDING SOURCES, access SCHOLARSHIPS, FELLOWSHIPS & LOANS, very valuable resources for the college-bound. And the TESTING & EDUCATION REFERENCE CENTER is a resource of unprecedented value for public, academic, and K-12 library users everywhere. Create an account, log in and start taking practice tests so you can monitor your progress. Same goes with POWERSPEAK, where you can learn and practice French, Spanish, Mandarin, German or ESL Spanish. You can learn how to apply for a passport at the Library, what you need to do to rent the Barth Community Room, or access our events calendar and blog, all with a quick click of the mouse. Unlike the physical library, you can spend all day and all night at the Crowell Library website – in your jammies! Make http://www.crowellpubliclibrary.org/ your home page!

Tech Talk for the Intimidated & Computers for Beginners

Tech Talk for the Intimidated Tuesday, July 5th, 7:00 p.m. and Computers for Beginners, Monday, July 11 7:00 p.m. According to Nielsen…“the number of unique visitors who are 65 or older on social networking and blog sites has increased 53 percent in the last two years alone. 8.2% of all social network and blog visitors are over 65, just 0.1 percentage points less than the number of teenagers who frequent these sites.”* What about you? Still don’t know a Tweet from a poke? Join librarian IRENE McDERMOTT for “Tech Talk for the Intimated,” where she’ll explain these new words and give clear information about new technologies like Twitter, Facebook and Smartphones. See how they can be used to keep in touch with family and friends, and expand your horizons like you never anticipated. This informal lecture will allow ample opportunities for questions and answers and will take place in the Barth Community Room at the Library. “Tech Talk for the Intimated” will be followed the following Monday by “Computers For Beginners,” presented by librarian REX MAYREIS. This hands-on class will take place in the Library’s computer lab. If you never quite figured out how to turn the computer on or what to do next, this class is for you! Spend an hour learning computer basics and explore Google, social networking or whatever suits your fancy. No prior computer experience is required. Space is limited: please call to make a reservation: (626) 300-0777 ext. 579 *http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/online_mobile/six-million-more-seniors-using-the-web-than-five-years-ago/

The Inner Smile

Monday, June 27th, 6:00 p.m. – The Taoist way of forgiveness is to practice the “Inner Smile.” Join DR. BERNIE PEREZ for an introduction to this discipline that helps one practice being non-judgmental of people or events by using meditation to transform your negative feeling into the positive energy of the virtues. Bernardo Perez, D.C. is nationally board certified, California Board Certified and a member of the International Chiropractic Association. He has a private practice in the San Gabriel Valley and is currently in the master program in acupuncture at South Baylo University in Los Angeles. Dr. Perez was born and raised in southern California and lives in Arcadia. He is dedicated to helping people of all ages attain their optimal state of health and well being. Dr. Perez lives in Arcadia with his wife and practices tai chi, qigong and kung fu. This program is free, but space is limited. Call (626) 300-0777 extension 579 to reserve your space. This lecture is part of the ongoing MEDICAL MONDAYS @ Crowell Library, programs designed to help you stay healthy and active. Join us and learn about important health topics from the experts.