Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Read 'em and Weep: Crazy Ones' Sizzling Season Finale

First Look: The Crazy Ones' Sizzling Season Finale
TV Guide: 4.03.2014 by Rob Moynihan

Read 'em and weep! Simon (Robin Williams) and his team try to keep the local library from closing by using a very unconventional method on The Crazy Ones' two-episode season finale (both airing April 17 on CBS).

"Robin and Brad [Garrett] had a ball with this episode," says exec producer Tracy Poust. "Shooting this scene was a blast, but we filmed outside the one night it rained in Los Angeles. We finished right as the rain came down."

Thursday, April 3, 2014

Greg Lucas on becoming the next State Librarian

A Message From Greg Lucas, California’s New State Librarian
CLA-Net: 4.02.2014



I wanted to briefly introduce myself and say thanks for the welcome and encouragement I’ve received from California’s library community. I’m excited by the chance to help advance literacy and draw attention to the contributions of libraries and librarians throughout the state.

The State Library is an amazing, 164-year-old institution whose staff shares a commitment to California’s past and its future.

In the immediate future, my primary focus is approval of the governor’s $2.25 million budget proposal to link public libraries to the not-for-profit Corporation for Education Network Initiatives in California. I’m not an acronym fan but the high-speed broadband system is routinely referred to as CENIC. Created by the University of California, CENIC’s other members include the state university system, California’s community colleges and public schools.
As someone said on a conference call the other day, hooking up to CENIC is a “game changer” for libraries. A State Library needs assessment on high-speed broadband finds that 70 percent of California’s public libraries have connectivity that is more limited than the typical American home– not exactly redefining lickety-split for the 21st Century.

If the response is sluggish for a handful of people, imagine what’s it like for dozens of simultaneous library users.
This status quo would be almost laughable in the state that’s home to the Silicon Valley and any number of telecommunications marvels, except it’s not funny.

In libraries all over the state, particularly in underserved communities and rural areas, those connections provide lifeline services like job applications, tax forms and medical information to countless Californians.
Over the last few days, I’ve heard various estimates that at least 40 percent and as many as 80 percent of public libraries would see improved Internet speed by hooking up to the network. By any yardstick, that’s way better than the current situation.

Hooking up to such a large broadband network also means CENIC takes care of a lot of the tedious, time-consuming activities that have led some short-staffed libraries to give up on navigating the labyrinth of existing Internet service discount programs. The governor also includes $1 million in his budget to help libraries upgrade their systems to better benefit from the high-speed connection.

The broadband proposal is being considered by legislative budget subcommittees during the week of April 21. Lawmakers send a budget to the governor on or before June 15.

An open book is an open mind.

Book it
SN&R columnist Greg Lucas on becoming the next State Librarian
NewsReview: 4.03.2014 by Greg Lucas caplowdown@newsreview.com

A little more than a week ago, Gov. Jerry Brown appointed me California’s next State Librarian. My math says I’m the 25th person to have this job since California became a state in 1850. That rocks.

What rocks even harder is that the State Librarian is charged with preserving California’s history and making sure Californians understand and appreciate the Golden State’s uniqueness. The mission statement on the website says the State Library is “the state’s information hub” and connects “people, libraries and government to the resources and tools they need to succeed and to build a strong California.”

That’s pretty exciting, particularly as the world moves deeper into the digital age. But the State Librarian also gets to tell stories about how important and vital libraries are to California and its communities and, even more awesome and essential, are the librarians who bring those places for learning and personal growth to life. E.B. White, the Charlotte’s Web and Elements of Style guy, said this:

“A library is a good place to go when you feel unhappy, for there, in a book, you may find encouragement and comfort. A library is a good place to go when you feel bewildered or undecided, for there, in a book, you may have your question answered. Books are good company, in sad times and happy times, for books are people—people who have managed to stay alive by hiding between the covers of a book.”  READ MORE !

This is Greg Lucas' last Capitol Lowdown column.


Tuesday, April 1, 2014

National & International Literacy & Library Events: April 2014

National & International Literacy & Library Events: April 2014

SCLLN
Literacy & Library Events & Conferences
- Local, California and National -
the Southern California Library Literacy Network
for more information

School Library Month:


Apr. 2+ Technology Literacy Conference, Myrtle Beach SC
Apr. 5+ Latino Book & Family Festival - Chicago Unity School, Cicero IL
Apr. 6+ National Volunteer Week
Apr. 11  Elementary Literacy Conf – UNI Cedar Falls IA
Apr. 12  For the Love of Literacy Burlington, Ontario
Apr. 13+ World Literacy Summit Oxford, England
Apr. 13+ Young People's Poetry Week - 3rd Week of April
Apr. 15  National Library Workers Day
Apr. 16  National Bookmobile Day
Apr. 17  Celebrate Teen Literature Day
Apr. 17  Haiku Poetry Day
Apr. 19  RIO 2 - Autism Sensory Friendly Films 10a
Apr. 20+ Cowboy Poetry Week
Apr. 23  World Book Night
Apr. 23+ NAREN Annual Conference, Baltimore MD
Apr. 23+ Young Child Expo, NY NY
Apr. 24+ World Congress-Learning Disabilities, Southampton Solent Univ UK
Apr. 28+ Plain Talk About Reading, New Orleans LA
Apr. 30  Dia: El día de los niños/El día de los libros Díapalooza @ Public and School Libraries
Apr. 30+ Dyslexia FAMILY Gathering, Walt Disney World FL

Sunday, March 30, 2014

Literacy & Library Events Southern California and California: April 2014

Southern California and California Literacy & Library Events:
April 2014

SCLLN
Literacy & Library Events & Conferences
- Local, California and National -
the Southern California Library Literacy Network
for more information

School Library Month:


Apr. 1  International Edible Book Festival - Books2Eat, Global
Apr. 2+ CABE Conference, Anaheim
Apr. 5  Literary Orange: Festival of Authors, Irving
Apr. 6+ National Volunteer Week
Apr. 10+ Ojai WordFest
Apr. 12  CATESOL Regional: San Diego, Rady School of Management, UCSD
Apr. 13+ Young People's Poetry Week - 3rd Week of April
Apr. 15  National Library Workers Day
Apr. 16  National Bookmobile Day
Apr. 17  Celebrate Teen Literature Day
Apr. 17  Haiku Poetry Day
Apr. 19  RIO 2 - Autism Sensory Friendly Films 10a
Apr. 20+ Cowboy Poetry Week
Apr. 23  World Book Night
Apr. 26  Catesol Regional: Northern California Sacramento Co Office of Ed, Rancho Cordova
Apr. 26+ Word Detectives Series, University of San Diego
Apr. 29  Say It Right The First Time: Using Plain Language-Health Literacy, Superior Court LA
Apr. 29  Early Childhood Advocacy Day
Apr. 30  Dia: El día de los niños/El día de los libros Díapalooza @ Public and School Libraries

Info about local Tutor Training Workshops is always Scrolling in the Right Frame.

Friday, March 28, 2014

Grand Park's Downtown Bookfest: March 29


March 29, 2014 @ 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm

READ YOUR HEART OUT in Downtown LA! Grand Park is the place to see, hear and read from the largest coalition of Los Angeles-based authors and publishers in a day for book lovers both big and small.

Grand Park  -  200 North Grand Avenue

FREE

FOR ALL BOOK LOVERS:
  • Add a line of your genius to The World’s Longest Story by 826LA or draw in characters in a monster massive comic book by RYMAN ARTS.
  • Receive your very own poem-on-demand by POESIA PARA LA GENTE*
  • You think YOU love books? Meet and greet librarians from the LOS ANGELES PUBLIC LIBRARY.
  • Remember typewriters? Roll up your sleeves and let your fingers to the talking with PUBLISH! POETICS
  • Shop the local pop-up bookshop curated by WRIT LARGE PRESS and discover books, zines and literary gems written by LAs finest (**see complete listing below).
  • Visit with MUSIC CENTER ON TOUR artist Judith Helton as she brings literary blasts from the past to life by portraying Laura Ingalls Wilder and Beatrix Potter.
  • Grab some goodies from THE LIBRARY STORE on wheels.
  • Be “zine” and heard by making your own! L.A. ZINE FEST shows you how.
  • Try a lucky spin at COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES PUBLIC LIBRARY‘s Wheel of Reading, giving out prizes throughout the day!
  • Don’t forget to bring your books for Grand Park’s wee library system – the LITTLE LIBRARIES. Find’em, fill’em, love’em!
  • …and more!
ONSTAGE:

NOON: BIRDIE’S PLAYHOUSE, music with a Latin twist that gets kids to shake their tail feathers!

1PM: STORY PIRATES, a one-of-a-kind sketch comedy musical based entirely on stories by children, including those written by Grand Park kids.

2-3PM YOUNG ADULT LIT READINGS: Cecil Castellucci / Lissa Price / Sherri L. Smith / Sonya Sone

3-3:30PM READ/BEATS: Steve Abee / Gia Scott-Heron / Billy Burgos / Jessica Ceballos

3:30-4PM UNION STATION 75th ANNIVERSARY readings: ”A Station Made of Paper” by David Kipen / “Union Station Today: Making Cultural Connections” by Alissa Walker / “Union Station: Time and Again” by D.J. Waldie / “Train of Thought” by Marisela Norte

4-5PM PULP WRITERS OF COLOR “Lament in the Night:” Naomi Hirahara / Desiree Zamarano / Rachel Howzell Hall / Steph Cha / Gary Phillips / Ruben Rodriguez

*POESIA PARA LA GENTE INCLUDE: Vickie Vertiz, Kenji Liu, Jessica Wilson Cardenas, Juan Cardenas, Yago S. Cura, Brandon Brown, Peggy Dobreer, Iris De Anda, Wendy C. Ortiz, Billy Burgos, Khadija Anderson, Dane Baylis, Amanda Yates Garcia, Gloria Enedina Alvarez, Victor Avila, Bill Friday, Nikita Egar, Rebecca Gonzales, Corrie Greathouse, Xitlalic Guijosa-Osuna, June Kim, Mia Kim, Karineh Mahdessian, Crystal “Little Bird” Salas, Fernando Salinas, Elena Secota, Matt Sedillo, Kelly Grace Thomas, Daniel Austin Warren, Conney Williams, Steve Abee, Jessica Ceballos

LOCAL POP UP BOOKSHOP TO FEATURE: Les Figues Press, What Books, Kaya Press, Writ Large Press, Gatsby Books, Seite Books, Razorcake/Gorsky Books, Zero+ Publishing, Bank Heavy Press, Red Hen Press, RE)VERB, ANTENNA, DUM DUM Zine, ZOCHI, Tía Chucha Press, Siglio Press, Rare Bird Lit, Bombshelter Press, The Rattling Wall, Spout Hill Press, Orange Monkey, Boss Fight Books, Electric Travel Books, RCC MUSE, Seismicity Books, ICI Press, Giant Robot

METRO RED or PURPLE LINE TO CIVIC CENTER/GRAND PARK STATION, GOLD LINE TO LITTLE TOKYO/ARTS DISTRICT STATION.