The Palm Springs Public Library will close for one day for staff training

           On Friday, November 20, 2009 the Palm Springs Public Library will be closed all day to allow all library staff to receive training on a new public automated catalog system.  This new system will be launched on Thursday, December 10^th and will be a windows based system that will allow easy and intuitive access for users into their library account to search for materials, place holds, etc.  This new system will also streamline and assist the staff in conducting daily activities as well as enhance current processes and enable more accuracy regarding the status and location of library materials. 

            “This is a win-win for all”, said Barbara Roberts, Director of Library Services, “we are excited about this new, easier to use system and know that it will enhance the experience for our library users!” The Library will reopen on Saturday, Nov. 21^st resuming its regular schedule.

Learn how to conduct an Online Job Search at the Palm Springs Public Library

          As part of the Palm Springs Public Library’s commitment to providing relevant information to help during the economic downturn, the Library has presented a three month workshop series on improving your job preparation skills. The final workshop will be on Thursday, November 19^th at 10:00 a.m. and will focus on how to use online job search resources including finding job sites along with discussing the importance of using a “scannable” resume which meets today’s online employment requirements.

            Sandy LeBoy, of the Workforce Development Center of Riverside County, will present “Out of Work? Now What? How to Conduct an Online Job Search”.  Sandy is a Career Coach at the Workforce Development Center in Indio where she facilitates job related training programs for job seekers. Sandy has 20 years in Human Resources, specifically in staffing management and training, and has provided services to many of the most technologically advanced companies in the Silicon Valley on employment issues.

            The workshop is FREE and open to the public, but seating is limited.  The workshop will be presented in The Learning Center at the Library.

Former FBI Agent and Author Herb Clough to appear at the Palm Springs Public Library

           On Tuesday November 17, 2009 former FBI agent and author Herb Clough will appear at the Palm Springs Public Library at 6:30 p.m.  Mr. Clough will discuss his book, “Night of the Full Moon” the true-life account of the kidnapping of socialite Elaine Chaddick in Palm Springs.

            Herb Clough was with the Federal Bureau of Investigation for nearly 30 years.  During that time he was actively involved in and commanded major espionage, terrorism, criminal, undercover, extortion and kidnapping investigations.  In 1979 he was involved in the memorable life-or-death Chaddick kidnapping investigation that he directed as Special Agent in Charge of the Los Angeles FBI office, his book recounts the case.

            The lecture is FREE and open to the public, but seating is limited.  The lecture will be presented in The Learning Center at the Library.  Book will be available for purchase and autographing following the lecture.

Read, learn and play during National Gaming Day at the Palm Springs Public Library

           The Palm Springs Public Library will join hundreds of libraries throughout the country on Saturday, November 14, 2009, for the second annual celebration of National Gaming @ your library. Like so many other libraries across the country the Palm Springs Public Library will offer special gaming programs and events suitable for the whole family. 

          “Libraries are becoming family destinations, and are continuously offering new formats and innovative programs and services that educate, entertain and expand interaction with their users,” said Barbara Roberts, Director of Library Services. “Gaming is yet another example of how libraries are becoming more than just educational resources for the communities that they serve. They are also places where users of all ages are welcome to have fun together.” 

           The fun will begin at 10:00 AM with traditional outdoor games for the whole family, everything from relay races to hopscotch and ring-toss.  Then, after a short break, beginning at 12:15 PM there will be an Air Guitar contest and showcase and then the fun will move inside the Library. 

            During the afternoon, beginning at 1:00 PM there will be Electronic games, including Wii Sports, Dance, Dance Revolution, Rockband and Super Mario Bros. Brawl.  Kids will also have the opportunity to have their picture taken with an anime character!  There will also be board and card games throughout the library for players of all ages to challenge each other.

        All the events are FREE but we are registering all players, beginning at 9:00 AM, signing up for the games and the air guitar contest.

        To kick things off and get started we will be conducting gaming demos the day before, on Friday, November 13th, at the Library.  From 11:00 AM—2:00 PM there will be various game demos in the Learning Center (TLC), everything from Cribbage to Mahjongg, a schedule will be posted in the Library. Then in the afternoon from 2:00-5:00 PM in the Youth Story Room we will have demos of Wii and other electronic games.  Plus, there will be board and card games located throughout the library for people to challenge each other and strike up a game!

          National Gaming Day @ your library is a national initiative supported by the American Library Association.  For more information on National Gaming Day please visit http://ilovelibraries.org/gaming.

Author William Mann to appear at the Palm Springs Public Library

photo by Michael Childers

         On Saturday October 17, 2009 noted Author William J. Mann will appear at the Palm Springs Public Library at 2:30 p.m.  Mr. Mann will discuss his latest work, “How To Be A Movie Star: Elizabeth Taylor in Hollywood”.  He will also discuss his other works and share about his writing process.  His latest book, to be released on October 21st, will be available for purchase and to autograph following his lecture. Several of his other works will also be available, all courtesy of Q Trading.

          William J. Mann alternates his creative energies between fiction and non-fiction including four acclaimed books on Hollywood film history: “Kate: The Woman Who Was Hepburn”, “Wisecracker: The Life and Times of William Haines”, “Behind the Screen: How Gays and Lesbians Shaped Hollywood”, and “Edge of Midnight: The Life of John Schlesinger” and five novels: “The Men From the Boys”, “The Biograph Girl”, “Where the Boys Are”, “All American Boy” and “Men Who Love Men”.

          Mr. Mann’s book “Behind the Screen: How Gays and Lesbians Shaped Hollywood 1910-1969” won acclaim as a thoughtful examination of the gay experience in the American film industry during the studio era. Likewise, his 1998 biography, “Wisecracker: The Life and Times of William Haines”, won the Lambda Literary Award, and was made into a documentary film directed by Fenton  Bailey and Randy Barbato (Party Monster, The Eyes of Tammy Faye).

          Born in Connecticut, Mr. Mann worked briefly in Washington, DC, as a Capitol Hill aide before receiving his Masters degree at Wesleyan University. Working as a journalist for several publications, both on staff and freelance, led to his tenure (1992-95) at Metroline, a newsmagazine serving Connecticut and Massachusetts. He has continued to work as a journalist, and his fiction and essays have appeared in dozens of anthologies. Mr. Mann resides in Provincetown, Massachusetts with his partner, Dr. Timothy Huber.

          The lecture is FREE and open to the public, but seating is limited.  The lecture will be presented in The Learning Center at the Library.

Learn What NOT to do in an Interview at the Palm Springs Public Library

As part of the Palm Springs Public Library’s commitment to providing relevant information to help during the economic downturn, the Library will continue the three month workshop series on improving your job preparation skills. The next workshop will be on Thursday, October 15^th at 10:00 a.m. and will focus on improving your interviewing skills.

Sue Robinson, of Human Resources Strategies, will present “What NOT to do in an Interview”.  Sue is a senior Human Resource professional who has been a driving force in organizing and streamlining human resource practices in small to large organizations.  Sue presents a realistic approach to the job market and gives practical tips on how to search for, and hopefully land, a new position.

This series will conclude on November 19^th as a representative from the Workforce Development Center of Riverside County discusses how to conduct a successful online job search.

See the film End of Suburbia and join in the sustainability discussion.

           On Tuesday, September 29th at 6:00 p.m. the Palm Springs Public Library, in partnership with the Palm Springs Sustainability Commission and the Palm Springs Green Scene, will screen the film End of Suburbia as the first in a ‘Sustainable Community’ film series.  Following the film the audience will discuss what steps we can take locally to maintain our quality of life.

            After World War II North Americans invested much of their newfound wealth in suburbia. Suburbia, and all it promises, has become the American Dream. But as we enter the 21st century, serious questions are emerging about the sustainability of this way of life. With brutal honesty and a touch of irony, The End of Suburbia explores the American Way of Life and its prospects as the planet approaches a critical era, as global demand for fossil fuels begins to outstrip supply. World Oil Peak and the inevitable decline of fossil fuels are upon us now, scientists and policy makers argue in this documentary. The consequences of inaction in the face of this global crisis are enormous. What does Oil Peak mean for North America? As energy prices skyrocket in the coming years, how will the people of suburbia react to the collapse of their dream? Are today’s suburbs destined to become the slums of tomorrow? And what can be done NOW, individually and collectively, to deal with The End of Suburbia?

           The film is directed by Gregory Greene and hosted by Barry Zwicker. The duration of the film is 78 min. with a discussion to follow. This program is FREE but seating is limited and no reservations are available. Other films and discussions are scheduled at the Library in January and March of 2010.

Michael Hammond to appear at the Palm Springs Public Library

On Tuesday, September 22^nd, 2009 at 6:30 p.m. the Palm Springs Public Library and the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum present Michael Hammond Ph. D., Executive Director of the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum.  He will present a special lecture in celebration of California’s Native American Day and to acknowledge the contributions of the Cahuilla people in our area.  His lecture, titled “Aspects of Native America…Things You Never Knew about the Food, History and Language of Native Americans”, will focus on little known facts and historical happenings that greatly affected these native peoples.

Dr. Hammond has a BA in history from Northwestern University and a Masters of Philosophy and a Doctorate of Philosophy in Anthropology from Columbia University.  He has taught at various universities such as SUNY-Stony Brook, Duke University and Salem College.  He has over 30 publications and has served on the advisory board for the USS MONITOR and the Council for the American Association for State and Local history.   He also served on the Advisory Board for the American Indian Museums Program of the American Association for State and Local History.   Dr. Hammond served as the Vice-president for the North Carolina Museums Council and was Chairman of the North Carolina Governor’s Archaeological Council.  He also served on the Faculty of the Seminar for Historical Administration for five years and been a National Endowment for the Humanities panelists for five years.  He is a member of the Western Museums Association Board of Directors and serves on the Executive Committee.  Dr. Hammond was awarded the Director’s Chair Award from the Western Museums Association in 1998 and has been an invited speaker at numerous national and regional museum and professional society meetings. 

 Dr. Hammond became the Executive Director of the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum in Palm Springs in 1989.  Prior to coming to Palm Springs, he was the Executive Director of the Museum at Warm Springs in Oregon, another tribal museum.  In North Carolina he was the Director of Historic Old Salem, a restored Colonial Moravian community in Winston-Salem.  He serves on the Board and Executive Committee of the Palm Springs Cultural Center.  He resides in Palm Springs with his wife and twin daughters.

Agua Caliente Cultural Museum, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit institution, inspires people to learn about the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians and other Native cultures. It keeps the Native spirit alive through exhibitions, collections, research, and educational programs. In recognition of its role as a regional and national resource, Agua Caliente Cultural Museum is the first Native American museum to be part of the prestigious Smithsonian Institution Affiliations Program. This status provides opportunities to share resources in programming, collections, scholarship, and technical expertise – and entitles the Museum to bring world-acclaimed Smithsonian exhibitions to the Coachella Valley.

Experts Present Resume Writing, Interviewing and Job Searching Skills Workshops at the Palm Springs Public Library

As part of the Palm Springs Public Library’s commitment to providing relevant information to help during the economic downturn, the Library will present a three month series on improving your job preparation skills. Beginning on Thursday, September 17^th at 10:00 a.m. the first workshop will focus on improving your resume.

Sue Robinson, of Human Resources Strategies, will present “How to Write A Winning Resume”.  Sue is a senior Human Resource professional who has been a driving force in organizing and streamlining human resource practices in small to large organizations.  Sue presents a realistic approach to the job market and gives practical tips on how to search for, and hopefully land, a new position.

This series will continue on October 15^th with Sue Robinson presenting “What NOT to do in an Interview” and then conclude on November 19^th as a representative from the Workforce Development Center of Riverside County discusses how to conduct a successful job search.

A Back-To-School Open House at the Palm Springs Public Library.

Come to the Palm Springs Public Library on Tuesday, September 8^th at 6:00 p.m. when the Youth department presents a ‘Back-to-School Open House’ for parents and students.  At this event the Youth Librarians will showcase all the helpful tools available to students for FREE; only a Library card is needed!   Both parents and students can learn more about Tutor.com, a real-time, online tutoring tool as well as Overdrive.com our downloadable audio book service, and available on-line research tools.

The open house is scheduled from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. in the Learning Center at the Library.  A separate story and play time is also available in the Youth Story Room during this same time for non-school age children so parents can feel free to attend the open house.  Everyone who attends the open house will receive some fun giveaways and a raffle ticket for a chance to win a FREE MP3 player, courtesy of Overdrive.com.