New Library Hours & Program Schedule

Have you heard the news yet? Our hours are changing and we'll be open on Mondays! The branches haven't opened on Mondays in over 30 years! In order to unify our public library system and better serve the community, hours of operation and programs will be the same at all branches. Please feel free to let us know what you like or dislike about all of the new changes.

Beginning September 6th (the day after Labor Day), the library will begin observing a new schedule that will be effective for all the El Paso Public Library Branches. The Main Library downtown will still be open 7 days a week, but all the other branches will be open Monday through Saturday.

Although the new schedule goes into effect soon, ALL of the libraries will be CLOSED on Monday, September 5th in observance of Labor Day. The first Monday that we will be open is Monday, September 12th.

Here is the new schedule, effective September 6th:
Monday: 10am – 6pm (CLOSED September 5th for Labor Day)
Tuesday: 10am – 7pm
Wednesday: 10am – 7pm
Thursday: 10am – 7pm
Friday: 1pm – 6pm
Saturday: 10am – 6pm
Sunday CLOSED

Here's what's happening at the Dorris Van Doren Branch every week:
Tuesdays
Toddler Storytime @ 11 am
Teen Club @ 4:30 pm
Citizenship Class @ 5 pm

Wednesdays
Preschool Storytime @ 11 am
Computer Class @ 5:30 pm

Thursdays
Computer Class @ 10 am
Teen Hangout @ 4:30 pm

Saturdays
Family Storytime @ 11 am

We'll keep you update on all other upcoming progams. You can also download a PDF of the current quarterly calendar of events for the El Paso Public Library System here or view it below:

2011_Sep-Nov_Cal

Summer Reading Club Results!

Over 750 children and teens registered for the summer reading club, enabling us to surpass our reading goal of 6,500 books this year! A total of 6,819 books were read! Last year, we had 600 participants read 4,917 books.

Congratulations to Luz Garcia and Iljana Boyer who won Barnes & Noble gift cards in the teen reading raffle! For those that missed the wrap up parties, don’t forget to pick up your certificate and goody bag at the information desk. Children can also look for their name on the bulletin board in the children’s section of the library. Teens can continue reading to win prizes up until August 22, 2011 (more info in the Young Adult area of the library).

We would like to thank our partners and sponsors who made our programs and prizes possible. The Friends of the Westside Library, the Loan Star Grant, and the YALSA/Dollar General grant generously provided funding for programs and materials. Sponsors included, Adventure Zone, Carl’s Jr., Cici’s Pizza, McDonald’s, Peter Piper Pizza, Whataburger, and Sonic.

We would also like to thank you for participating and attending our programs!

Summer Reading Club Deadlines

The summer reading club ends this month!
Children & teens can still register up until Saturday, July 9. After reading 8 or more books or for 8 or more hours, both age groups are eligible for a certificate and goody bag. Teens can also get prizes and a chance to win a $25 Barnes & Noble gift card. Saturday, July 16 is the last day to turn in reading logs.

Register and turn in reading logs at the information desk.

Important Dates:
July 9: Last Day to Register
July 16: Last Day to Turn in Reading Logs
July 19: @ 4 pm: Teen Awards Party & Raffle
July 21: @ 4:30 pm: Children’s Awards Party & Magic Show (last names A-M)
July 23: @ 12:30 pm: Children’s Awards Party & Magic Show (last names N-Z)

Help us reach our goal!

Friends Newsletter, June 2011

Check out our Friends of the Westside Libraries Newsletter!
You can become a member for only $5 a year. Your membership helps fund programs and book purchases for the libraries, and you get a 10% discount at The Bookmark Used Bookstore (7348 Remcon)!

Friends Newsletter June 2011

YA Author Visits El Paso

At the beginning of the month, Dorris Van Doren librarian Lisa Martinez attended Todd Strasser’s visit to the Burges High School library. She shares her experience and photos of the event on this blog:

On May 4, the librarians at Burges High School were kind enough to invite El Paso Public Library staff to attend their annual Young Adult author visit. Librarians Mrs. Avalos and Ms. Trevino were successful last year at getting Chris Crutcher to speak to Burges H.S. students. This year they invited Todd Strasser to visit! They used grant money to purchase books for the ninth grade class to read as a group and then to fund the author’s visit. This year the students read Tod Strasser’s award winning book, The Wave.

Todd Strasser hails from New York and is the author of more than 120 books for teens and middle graders including the best-selling Help! I'm Trapped In ... series, and numerous award-winning YA novels including Give A Boy A Gun, The Accident, Can't Get There From Here, Boot Camp, and If I Grow Up. His newest book is called Famous. He spoke to three different groups of students throughout the day. He talked about growing up and the events that influenced some of his books. The students were amazed to learn that he was a poor reader and was almost held back in school. He really got their attention when he showed them a picture of himself as a teen (see photo below). He concluded his presentation with a writing workshop, as well as a discussion on his writing and publishing process. The librarians also raffled away books for Todd to sign.

Big thanks to Ms. Trevino & Mrs. Avalos for sharing this opportunity with us! I can't wait to find out who they bring next year.

• Check out Chris Crutcher’s visit to Burges H.S. here>>
  
• Visit Todd Strasser’s website>>
• Watch a cool book trailer for Blood on My Hands here>>
• Check out Todd Strasser's books at the library>>
• Books that Todd Strasser recommended: The Hunger Games, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Feed, Wish You Were Dead, Famous, The Graveyard Book, & Scaredy Squirrel Makes a Friend (all available @ the library).
  

Reconsidering Hip Hop

This Saturday will be your last chance to catch the “Reconsidering Hip Hop” series at the library. The El Paso Public Library hosted three programs featuring lectures, performances, and movies. At Dorris Van Doren, there will be a live breakdance exhibition and a screening of Wild Style. Wild Style is a classic hip hop movie, starring Grandmaster Flash, Fab 5 Freddy, and others.

Justin De Senso and Lecroy Rhyanes, both NMSU grads, founded the Hip Hop Alumni (HHA) in 2008. HHA is an online resource that documents hip hop’s continued impact on society, education, history, art, and culture. For more info, check out their website: www.hiphopalumni.com/

Hop Alumni makes its last stop here at DVD on Saturday, May 14 from 3-5:30 p.m.

Check out these news articles about the program:

• New Library Project Digs Deep Into Hip-Hop's Roots (from What's Up)
  
• El Paso Public Library Salutes Hip Hop (from The Prospector)
  

The talented staff @ DVD tries their hand at graffiti art.

New (De) Contsruction

Have you noticed that there are a few shelves missing from our middle area near the bestsellers? The shelves have have been removed and are now being used as storage shelves for equipment and games. Both staff and patrons are liking the new "construction." There's more room to browse books, access requested items, and a clear walkway to the courtyard and family room.

What do you think? Should we have left them as they were?