eReader Help Sessions at Hillsboro Libraries

Learn how to use your eReader device with the WCCLS's free Library2Go service and its collection of downloadable eBooks.

eReader training session dates:

• Thursday, March 24, 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. @ Hillsboro Main Library
• Saturday, April 23, 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. @ Hillsboro Shute Park Branch Library
  
• Tuesday, May 24, 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. @ Hillsboro Main Library
  

Register by phone or at the Hillsboro Library Reference Desks for a 30 minute help session to use your eReader device with the Library’s free Library2Go service and its collection of downloadable eBooks. Library staff members will help you get started and try to troubleshoot difficulties. If possible, bring your laptop computer and your eReader device (and all cords) for the best learning experience.

Call 503-615-6500 or stop by the Hillsboro library to register!

2011 Teen Summer Reading Artwork Contest Deadline Approaching

If you're an amateur artist between the ages of 12 and 18, you could win a Powell’s Books gift card valued at $150

Beginning Monday, January 3, 2011, you can submit hard copies of up to two pieces of your original graphic artwork with the attached entry form to your local Washington County library. Entries will be accepted until close of business February 28, 2011.

What are the Awards?

If you or your parents or guardians have a valid Washington County library card, you'll be entered in the 2011 Teen Summer Reading Artwork Contest for the chance to win one of three prizes:

• First Prize: Powell’s Books gift card valued at $150
• Second Prize: $50 gift certificate for Art Media retail store
• Honorable Mention: $25 gift certificate for Art Media retail store
  

What Types of Artwork Are Eligible?

• Entries must be accompanied by a completed Contest Entry Form: 2011 Teen Art Contest Rules and Entry.pdf.
• The slogan “You Are Here” must be a part of the design.
• Design must include artwork & slogan on 8 1/2” X 11” paper.
• Designs must be the original work of the entrant.
• Designs should be in color. (Note: Please be sure that your media and colors are easily reproducible in black and white and in color on paper and in electronic environments.)
• Computer-generated images may be used, but all components must be completely original. You may not use any copied images.
• Limit two (2) entries per contestant.

Full details can be found on the entry form, or contact us.

Customized Help for Library2Go

To make it easier for Library2Go users to get the answers they need about the devices they own, Library2Go has rolled out My Help beta. My Help provides information for getting started and assistance for a user’s specific computer or device.

My Help appears in the left column of the Library2Go site, and looks like this:


Click on the image in the left column of the Library2Go site to launch the My Help wizard. You'll be asked a simple question: “What do you want to do?”



If you want to “Read an eBook,” click on the eBook icon. If you want to “Listen to an audiobook,” click on the audiobook icon, and so on. My Help then asks, “What do you have?”

You can then select the computer or device you use for library downloads, including Windows PC, Mac, Android, iPhone, iPad, NOOK and Sony Reader.

The final My Help screen prompts the user to “View My Help,” which opens a new browser window with helpful information, including required software; supported formats; instructions for the browse, check out and download process; and answers to common questions.

We hope you find My Help useful. Contact us if you have questions.

Weather Updates - 2/24 4:15PM

Banks Public Library is closed today, Thursday Feb 24.

Cedar Mill, Cedar Mill Bethany, Cornelius, and Sherwood Public Library will close at 5 pm today, Thursday Feb 24.

Hillsboro Main Library, on Brookwood Parkway, will close at 6:00 p.m. tonight.

Hillsboro Shute Park Branch, on Tenth Avenue, will close at its usual time on Thursday evening: 6:00 p.m.

Tualatin Library, will close at 7:00 p.m. tonight.

Oregon Poet Laureate Paulann Petersen at Cedar Mill, Friday, March 4

Meet Paulann Petersen, Oregon's sixth Poet Laureate on Friday, March 4, at Cedar Mill Community Library. Reading begins at 7 pm.

Paulann Petersen was appointed by Ted Kulongoski as Oregon's sixth Poet Laureate in 2010. Thanks to funding provided by the Oregon Cultural Trust, Paulann will appear at the Cedar Mill Library. The program is free and open to the public.

Inspired by Klamath Fall's high plateau landscape, Paulann began writing poetry, and her first published poem appeared in the Sunday Oregonian in 1975. The recipient of a Wallace Stegner Fellowship, Paulann spent a year in Stanford studying with poets including Adrienne Rich and Grace Paley. In 1991 she moved to Portland to teach at West Linn High School and now lives in Portland's Sellwood neighborhood.

Paulann has given readings in hundreds of spots from Powell's in Portland to Omsania University in India, from Ross Ragland Theater in Klamath Falls to the Museum Hotel in Central Turkey, and in virtually every nook and cranny of Oregon. Her poetry is featured on Trimet public
transportation as part of Poetry in Motion. She frequently teaches workshops for colleges, high schools, libraries and writers' organizations.

New Library2Go App for the iPad

Whether iPad users are reading an EPUB eBook, listening to an MP3 audiobook, or browsing the OverDrive Media Console library, they’ll now have the full iPad screen utilized for their enjoyment, thanks to the new release of the OverDrive Media Console for iPad/iPhone, available a the App Store.

Additionally, the app for iOS devices—including iPhone and iPod touch—now supports landscape and portrait orientation, and a new calendar icon displays the number of days left until the title expires.

Washington County Community Cultural Participation Grant Cycle Opens

The Cultural Coalition of Washington County (CCWC) opens its 2011 grant cycle on February 21, 2011.

Two kinds of grants

Washington County-based not-for-profit arts, heritage and humanities organizations may apply for $1,000 or $2,000 grants for activities, events or communication that will:

• build awareness of the role and value of arts, heritage or humanities and increase public participation;
  
• promote youth access to arts, heritage or humanities to enhance learning and healthy human development;
  
• support existing Washington County cultural organizations; or integrate cultural development with economic development policies.
  

In addition, the CCWC is interested in entertaining applications for grant projects that would recognize the centennial of women's suffrage in Oregon (1912-2012).

The Coalition is also offering a $5,000 grant to a 501c3 organization for a strategic program or activity that addresses county-wide goals and benchmarks of the Washington County Cultural Plan, Priorities for 2008 - 2015.

How to apply

The Washington County Cultural Plan, detailed 2011 grant guidelines, and application instructions for the Community Cultural Participation grant program are available online on the CCWC website: www.culturalcoalitionofwashingtoncounty.org.

The grant application period ends March 31st. Funds are to be used for projects taking place between July 1, 2011 and June 30, 2012. Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to attend one of the grant orientation sessions scheduled for:

• Tuesday, March 8th from 10am to Noon, Beaverton City Hall, First Floor Conference Room, 4755 SW Griffith Dr., Beaverton,
• Thursday, March 10th from 3pm to 5pm, Hillsboro Shute Park Library, Conference Room,775 SE Tenth Ave., Hillsboro.

About the Cultural Coalition and Oregon Cultural Trust

The Coalition (formerly the Washington County Arts, Heritage and Humanities Coalition) was established in 2005 to distribute funds from the Oregon Cultural Trust to promote the cultural identity, quality of life and economic vitality of Washington County and its arts, heritage and humanities organizations. The Coalition has distributed over $167,000 in grants to Washington County-based organizations over the last six years.

The Oregon Cultural Trust was established by the Oregon Legislature to strengthen Oregon's culture through the establishment of a permanent endowment. The Trust primarily receives funding from the sale of Cultural license plates and from gifts from individuals and businesses through an Oregon State tax credit program. The Trust invests a portion of proceeds from the endowment in annual grants to Oregon counties and tribal planning groups, funding for statewide cultural agencies, and competitive grants to cultural non-profits. To learn more about the Trust or to make a donation please visit the website www.culturaltrust.org.

World Read Aloud Day: March 9, 2011

Nearly 1 billion people entered the 21st century unable to read a book or sign their name. What would you miss most if you could not read or write? Imagine your world without words, and on March 9, update your Facebook status with an answer to the question: What would you miss most if you could not read or write?

World Read Aloud Day is about taking action to show the world that the right to read and write belongs to all people. World Read Aloud Day motivates children, teens, and adults worldwide to celebrate the power of words, especially those words that are shared from one person to another, and creates a community of readers advocating for every child’s right to a safe education and access to books and technology.

Accomplished so far:
• Reached 35 countries and 40,000 participants in Year One, March 3, 2010
• Preparing for March 9, 2011

World Read Aloud Day is promoted by LitWorld, a 501C3 nonprofit organization working to cultivate literacy leaders worldwide through transformational literacy experiences that build connection, understanding, resilience and strength. LitWorld joins together with teachers, parents, community members, and children to support the development of sustainable literacy practices across the world.

Cedar Mill recognized as Outstanding Ready to Read Library

Ready to Read: Future readers supported in the library, in childcare settings, and through community partnerships.

The Washington County Cooperative Library Services is pleased to announce that the Cedar Mill Community Library has been recognized by the State Library as a "Best Practice Library". The library was recognized for developing a successful new book art outreach program, partnering with early intervention for the first time to serve children with special needs, presenting early literacy trainings, and conducting the annual summer reading program.

Each year the state library recognizes outstanding Ready to Read Grant projects that have been particularly effective in achieving the goals of the grant program. The criteria for an outstanding Ready to Read Grant project are: adhere to the original intent of the Ready to Read Grant, promote partnerships both in and out of the library, are replicable in other libraries, enhance current library services, or focus on one or more of the three best practices. Best Practice Libraries are those that use Ready to Read funds to implement all three library youth services best practices, which are Outreach to Children, Early Literacy, and Support of Summer Reading.

The Cedar Mill Library was praised for their development of a successful book art outreach program to young children in child care homes. The library also partnered with early intervention to serve babies and toddlers with special needs, presented early literacy trainings for parents and childcare providers, and supported over 5,000 young readers through the summer reading program.

The early intervention home visitation professionals involved with the project appreciated having books to show parents how to have fun reading to their baby or toddler. "Some parents have no idea that babies should be experiencing books, handling them, and even chewing on them! We are able to show parents how to use books to help their baby develop language" they stated.

Four additional libraries were recognized by the State Library as Best Practice Libraries: Eugene Public Library, Stayton Public Library, Lake County Library District and the Douglas County Library System. Visit the Oregon State Library website to learn more about the projects that were recognized.

Tuality Health Resource Center Closures

Tuality Health Resource Center will be closed Wednesdays and Fridays the next two weeks: Wednesday 2/9, Friday 2/11, Wednesday 2/16, and Friday 2/18. Regular hours resume Monday 2/21.

If you have questions, please call Tuality Health Resource Center at (503) 681-1702.