Computer Classes, August 2014

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 2014

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!

Friday Finds for April 11, 2014

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.

Watch the book trailer for Boxers & Saints:

Friday Finds for January 24, 2014

This is a 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 or on twitter (@elpasolibrary) and we'll retweet you!

R E A D I N G

Leslie: A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain

Life in England's Dark Ages and Camelot are the backdrop of the story. The main character's humorous exploits while introducing modern ideas make it a fun read.

Also currently reading Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki and Navigating Early by Clare Vanderpool.

Aracelli: Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck by Jeff Kinney
Gregg Heffley is growing up, but his misadventures make for a very funny book. I was laughing out loud reading the latest book in the Wimpy Kid series.

If You Find Me by Emily Murdoch
Carey and her younger sister have been abandoned in the woods by their drug-addicted mother. They have had no contact with the real world in six years. When they are “discovered” and forced to live with their father, Carey finds it difficult to adjust. This YA book reads like an adult book; it is heartbreaking, yet uplifting.

Lisa: The Surprise Attack of Jabba the Puppet by Tom Angleberger 

I'm in the middle of this fourth book, and still loving the Origami Yoda series. 

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

I'm still in the first pages of Artemis Fowl, and I'm having a hard time getting into it. I really hope it gets better, because I've been blindly recommending this series for years based on rave reviews from both teens' and adults' that come into the library.   

W A T C H I N G

Andrea: Dracula (NBC television series)

Tonight is the season finale of NBC’s latest show “Dracula”. So far the show has taken a different approach to Bram Stoker’s classic novel. While it is still set in Victorian London, the revamped series has breathed new life into Dracula (also known as Alexander Grayson in this series). I have really enjoyed this show and hope others have as well. If you have not seen this show, the past episodes are available online and can be found at www.nbc.com/dracula/. The finale tonight looks to be very explosive; I look forward to seeing how it all comes together.

Lisa: The Hangover Part III

It of course wasn't as funny and creative as the first one, but it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be either. I felt like they tried really hard to break the Hangover formula and use offensive humor that just fell flat. They also focused more on side characters Alan and Chow. When the movie ends, don't hit stop right away; stick around a bit for another scene.

L I S T E N I N G

Leslie: Gods of Guilt (Playaway) by Michael Connelly

M A K I N G

Don't forget, we have several books on knitting and also subscribe to Creative Knitting magazine, which can be checked out!

Leslie: Knitting a scarf for her husband

Friday Finds for January 10, 2014

This is a new 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 or on twitter (@elpasolibrary) and we'll retweet you!

Welcome to the first Friday Finds of 2014! Keep visiting the library for new and popular items. We get new books, DVDs, CDs, and more every month. Don't forget to check the OverDrive site to see what new digital materials have been added, too!

READING

Aracelli: The Valley of Amazement by Amy Tan
At 589 pages, this book appears daunting, but after the first chapter you will be hooked on the story of Violet, who after some deception, is forced to live as a courtesan in early 20th century Shanghai. Amy Tan’s book is full of drama, sprinkled with romance and suspense.

Lisa: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Looking for Alaska was one of the first young adult books I read, which really got me hooked on John Green. I was reluctant to read TFIOS because I thought reading about teenagers with terminal cancer was going to make me bawl. It was funny and cute without being sappy, but some aspects were annoying. While I liked the book and would recommend it, it's not my favorite John Green novel. The movie comes out in June!

Also, be on the lookout in February for This Star Won't Go Out: The Life & Words of Esther Grace Earl. John Green dedicated TFIOS to Esther, who passed away in 2010 at the age of 16. Proceeds from the book go to a nonprofit by the same name that Esther's parents started. The foundation assists families struggling through the journey of a child living with cancer. Find out more at tswo.org.

WATCHING

Aracelli: Downton Abbey

After what seems like an eternity, the newest season of Downton Abbey has finally returned to PBS. Last Sunday’s premiere episode picked up six months later after last season’s tragic ending. I do not want to give anything away, so if you have not caught up with the happenings of the Grantham family and their loyal servants, the library has all three seasons available. Also, since Downton Abbey is a British export and the newest season has already aired in England, you can expect to find Season Four at our library by next month.

Lisa: Drinking Buddies 

After hearing about this movie from the Tasting Table newsletter, I was super excited to check it out from the library. Unfortunately, it was a huge disappointment. I thought there would be more focus on the brewing process or the craft beer industry. It was more about relationships, which would've been fine except this whole movie was unscripted. The improvisation made it feel awkward and boring. Don't waste your time with this movie unless you really want to see that guy from New Girl and Olivia Wilde do some improv while drinking a lot of beer.



  

Beat the Thanksgiving Break Boredom

The Dorris Van Doren staff wishes you a safe and happy Thanksgiving! 

Downloadable magazine

Don't forget we'll be open from 9 am-5 pm today (November 27, 2013), closed Thursday and Friday, and open Saturday, 9 am-5 pm.

Sometimes having a lot of time off, along with tryptophan and carbs pumping through your veins can leave you a little bored. The public libraries may be closed Thursday and Friday, but we can still help you fight the boredom!





Make a New Tradition
All El Paso Public Libraries are now accepting poetry entries for our annual poetry contest. Entries are due January 31, 2014 (one entry per participant please). If you're in grades 1-12, you can enter! If not, then you can encourage the children and teens in your life to enter. You can make it an annual Thanksgiving tradition to read and write poetry during the break.

Collect Donations
We're hosting two different donation drives here at the Dorris Van Doren and you can help! The boxes are up front, near the circulation desk. One box belongs to the Girl Scouts, who are collecting gently-used winter clothing (any size) up until the end of next week. The other box belongs to the Ronald McDonald House, which will be collecting new, unwrapped toys up until December 16.  

Download Magazines

Dowloadable magazine

This is one of our favorite new services we offer. You get to download and keep new digital magazines for free! There are many popular titles to choose from and recent back issues are now available. Find some last minute Thanksgiving ideas with the Food Network Magazine and five other cooking magazines. Get crafty with Cloth Paper Scissors and two other craft magazines. Peruse the ESPN Magazine while watching the football games. For more information and instructions, read our previous post about Zinio.

Downloadable Music 

Download Books, Movies, & More
If you can't make it to the library in time to check out materials, visit our digital library, OverDrive. You can download books, audiobooks, music, and movies. It may seem like there aren't many movies to choose from, but there's actually a pretty good selection of indie, foreign, and documentary films. If you're feeling guilty about feasting, there are also yoga and workout videos!

It can be a little confusing at first to get started, but depending on what device you'll be using you'll need to download software and/or apps, have an Adobe ID or Amazon account, and have your library card and pin number handy. Visit the Help Center to get started

Request Materials and Make Lists
Keep track of materials you've checked out or want to check out by creating lists. You can print, email, and text the lists to yourself if you wish. Remember that creating lists does not mean you have requested items; you must click on "Place Hold" to be placed on a waiting list or request items be sent to your branch. To create lists or request materials, simply login to your account using your library card and pin number. Be sure to type in all letters and numbers without the spaces.  

Research
Why would you want to research during the break? We don't know, maybe you're getting a head start, have a last minute assignment due, or want some reliable medical information. We have access to subscription databases through TexShare that contain information and articles from books, magazines, and journals you can't access through Google or Bing. You can also study and take practice tests with Learning Express. All you need is your library card and a login and password (ask for it at the information desk).

Dowloadable movie

Dowloadable movie

Dowloadable movie

Dowloadable movie