A blog detailing events at the El Paso Public Library Dorris Van Doren Regional Branch. We are located at 551 Redd Rd. and can be reached at (915)212-0440
We've had a great time this summer partnering with other City departments like Parks and Recreation, Sun Metro, Environmental Services, and the Fire and Police departments. Last week, students from the piano and guitar classes at the Don Haskins Rec Center came to perform. Besides sports activities, the Don Haskins Rec Center offers a variety of classes ranging from Tai Chi to music lessons. Go visit them at 7400 High Ridge to find out about their programs.
This week, we've partnered with the UTEP music department to feature a voice and piano recital. We hope you'll join us this Saturday at 2 pm for this free event!
Summer Reading Club 2015 has come and gone! We had 983 people of all ages register and finish a total of 5,264 books or 728 hours of reading! Great job to all our patrons for participating!
We have already raffled the piñatas and notified the winners (6 total winners from preschoolers to teens). Also, the systemwide prizes have also been raffled and awarded to the winners.
Making a mini-racer on July 22
We had a variety of programs for kids and teens this summer. They were able to create some original crafts and try out some new STEAM activities such as watching a geyser explosion effect with Diet Coke and Mentos mints or make ice cream with ice, milk, sugar and rock salt. We also had some great performers who, year after year, continue to entertain and educate while having fun.
Thank you to all the parents and caregivers who brought the kids to the library this summer and to all teens who kept their minds active!
Stay tuned for a few basic back-to-school activities coming up in August and, for the first time ever, we will have a Fall Reading Club, a more laid-back version of the Summer Reading Club. More information to follow!
We revamped our computer classes! We have new teachers, new material, and a slightly different schedule.
Our basics class is still on Thursdays at 10 am, but our advanced class has moved to Wednesdays at 5:30 pm. From now on, we'll post the schedule of topics so that you'll know exactly what will be covered in advance. Come to one or all of the classes!
Dia de los Ninos/Dia de los Libros (Children's Day/Book Day) is a nationally recognized initiative that emphasizes the importance of literacy and education for children of all backgrounds. The El Paso Public Library and Parks & Recreation have been hosting this event since 1997. This is the second year that the Dorris Van Doren Branch hosts a "mini Dia" event, and we had a great turnout!
We had about 2,000 in attendance and gave away over a thousand books to children and teens. Thanks for coming out to celebrate children and literacy!
This is a sometimes weekly blog post featuring what the Dorris Van Doren staff members are reading, watching, playing, making, or listening to. Share your finds with us here in the comments, on Twitter (@elpasolibrary) or Facebook (ElPasoPublicLibrary)!
Patron Pick: No Jumping on the Bed by Tedd Arnold
A couple of weeks ago, a little boy about 4 or 5 years old gave us a great recommendation. We were helping his older sister find a book when he showed us this book:
He told us that we should read this book because his school library has it and it's funny. We couldn't agree more. You can request this children's classic at any library.
Staff Pick (Lisa): Boxers & Saints by Gene Luen Yang
I ordered these graphic novels for the library based on their subject matter and high praise, but I probably wouldn't have read it if it weren't for YALSA's The Hub Reading Challenge. I've fallen a bit behind in the challenge, so I thought this two-volume set would catch me up quicker (it counts as 2 books). I was hesitant to read these graphic novels because I wasn't a fan of American Born Chinese, Yang's other highly acclaimed and award-winning graphic novel, but I ended up liking the story and artwork of Boxers & Saints a lot.
These graphic novels are told by two different points of view (hence the two volumes) during the Boxer Rebellion in China. It's an interesting and heartbreaking look at a time in history that is hardly covered in literature and often forgotten. Some might find the violence and bloodshed excessive; I would recommend it for older teens and adults. It's better if you read them in order, but it's not completely necessary. That said, I agree with others that have said it would have been better if the volumes were just combined into one complete alternating story.
This graphic novel set was a 2013 National Book Award finalist in the young people's literature category, and also made it onto YALSA's 2014 lists for Great Graphic Novels and Popular Paperbacks. Find out what else I've read for the challenge at Goodreads.
This is a sometimes weekly blog post featuring what the Dorris Van Doren staff members are reading, watching, playing, making, or listening to. Share your finds with us here in the comments, on Twitter (@elpasolibrary) or Facebook (ElPasoPublicLibrary)!
This is the third book I read for YALSA's The Hub Reading Challenge. Click here to read about the challenge and find out what I read first.
This book is set in Queens and follows Piddy's downward spiral when she moves to a new school and begins receiving threats from a girl she's never met before. I liked this book, but didn't love it. I thought everything was very realistic, but I just couldn't connect with any of the characters.
This book was the recipient of the 2014 Pura Belpre Award. The award is presented to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth.
