Thursday, December 21, 2006


WANTED: Homework Assistants for homework help center


Where/When: Volunteer as a tutor at the Mission Viejo Library on Wednesdays from 3:30-6:00 p.m. starting January 24, 2007.

Who Can Volunteer: We are looking for volunteers, ages 18 and up, with a strong background in elementary school subjects, who are committed to helping elementary school children with their homework.

Why Volunteer?: Get satisfaction from helping students tackle their homework, gain valuable teaching experience, get community service hours, and have fun.

Questions: If you have an questions or would like to volunteer, please contact the Mission Viejo Library, Children's Services at 949-830-7100 ext 4010.

Tuesday, December 19, 2006

NEW "Storytime in a Bag" Kits


Attention Parents, teachers, and caregivers,

Now you can set up a storytime program for children just like our children's librarians do for kids in your neighborhood, for your child's birthday party, or for your entire class with our "Storytime in a bag" kits.

Prepared by Mission Viejo Library children’s librarians, these "Storytime in a Bag" kits contains everything you need to conduct a successful storytime. Each bag has a picture book, puppet, music CD, craft activities, fingerplays which all are related to the story. In addition, each the bag contains instructions on how to present the storytime and suggestions for further reading.

"Storytime in a Bag" kits can be checked out for 3 weeks. Please contact the Youth Reference Desk for more information or to reserve your kit today at 949-830-7100 ext 4010.

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

Fiction for the Holidays

Check out our Holiday book display and general fiction area for great reads for your holiday breaks.

Here are just some of the fun new books you'll find:

A Christmas Secret by Anne Perry





Blue Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews





Finding Noel by Richard Paul Evans





Holiday Miracles : a Christmas/Hanukkah story by Ellyn Bache

Monday, November 20, 2006


Online Tutoring Closed for
Thanksgiving


Tutor.com, and all Live Homework Help programs, will be closed on Thursday, November 23, in observance of Thanksgiving Day, so that staff and tutors may celebrate the holiday with their families and friends.

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

Holiday Craft Workshop
Saturday, November 25, 2006
3:00 - 4:30 p.m.
Community Room

Library patrons, ages 12 to adult, are invited to a free holiday craft workshop at the Library. Participants will be able to paint and decorate a wooden Holiday tree as a gift or for decoration. Refreshments will be served. Seating is limited and reservations are required. Interested Patrons can visit the adult reference desk or call the library at (949) 830-7100 ext. 4008 to reserve a space.

Monday, October 09, 2006

Computer Class
Holiday Projects using

MS WORD

Saturday, October 21st
8:30 am to 10 am
Library Technology Center

This Free class demonstrates various ways for you to design colorful and creative documents for invitations, newsletters, posters and many special occasions using Microsoft Word.

To receive the greatest benefit from this class you will need a basic knowledge of MS Word such as: typing, changing font size and styles, centering, setting margins, and locating and saving files.

Hope to see you there.

Monday, October 02, 2006


Notary Service Hours Change


The Notary Service is now available by appointment only until further notice. You may call Vicki at (949)830-7100 ext. 4004 to schedule an appointment during the following hours: Monday-Thursday, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and on Fridays from 1:00 p.m to 4:00 p.m.

Tuesday, September 26, 2006

We would love to hear

what you think about



the Library's Website


* Can you find everything easily?
* Are there things you wish we had on our site that we don't?
* Would you be interested in a class that tells you how to use our resources from home?
* How often do you visit the site?

Submit a comment below or e-mail libreference@cityofmisisonviejo.org with your suggestions and ideas.

Monday, September 18, 2006

J.K. Rowling Protects Final Harry Potter Manuscript



Rowling, author of the popular Harry Potter series, makes headlines for refusing to check her book as luggage when asked by airport security. Read the whole article "J.K. Rowling Challenges Airport Security" here.

Not only does Rowling have to protect her books from airport security she also has to protect them against censors. Rowling's popular books have often been challenged in libraries and schools because of their content. Common complaints about the books are that Harry is an "unsavory hero" and the stories involve warlocks and witchcraft.

You can find Rowling's and other challenged or banned author's books on display as the library celebrates Banned Books week. Our hope is that all books will be kept on library shelves so parents and children can exercise their freedom to read whatever they choose.

Monday, September 11, 2006


Young adults ages 12-18 are invited to celebrate the beginning of Teen Read Week and compete in this year's Mission Viejo Library Monopoly Tournament on Sunday, October 15, 2006 from 12:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

The lucky winner will receive a $50 American Express Gift Card. If you're a budding real estate mogul or just love to play board games with friends you will not want to miss this exciting event.

Registration is required. Reserve your space in person at the reference desk, by phone at (949) 830-7100 ext.4016, or e-mail mramsey@cityofmissionviejo.org.

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

eBooks eBooks Everywhere!


eBooks are becoming easier and easier to find online. You can check out our collection of new and popular fiction and non-fiction eBooks and eAudiobooks through our website.

If you're searching for older books that are no longer under copyright, Project Gutenberg has digitized many books in the public domain. You can read the full text of these books online at their website for free. Project Gutenberg Australia has some books that are still under copyright in the U.S.

Google Books has also started a wide scale project to digitize books in and out of the public domain. The site allows you to search for key words or phrases within each book. You can read about the controversy this project has created in the publishing community in the article "Why Publishing Should Send Fruit-Baskets to Google"

If you want to learn more about the public domain take a look at this comic book "Tales From the Public Domain"

Nasa loses photos of
moon landing



For those of you who enjoyed the most popular film at the Library's "Summer Down Under" film festival The Dish or for those of you who might wonder why organized libraries with their skilled librarians are necessary, this article is for you:

"One giant blunder for mankind: how NASA lost moon pictures"

Wednesday, August 09, 2006

Toy Return



The library is requesting a return of the summer reading program toys shown above in order to comply with a RECALL INITIATED BY HIGHSMITH INCORPORATED due to lead content. This recall will affect many public libraries across the country, including the Mission Viejo Library, who used the toys as prizes during this year’s Summer Reading Program.

The toys, a bendable dog and cat (see above picture), were found to have 0.4 and 0.24 percent lead. The maximum safety limit is currently 0.06 percent. The toys are roughly 3.75 inches long and are similar in shape to a lollipop.

We would like all children and parents to return these toys ASAP to the Mission Viejo Library for safe disposal. Replacement reading prizes will be provided in exchange for the bendable toys.”

For more information, please contact Library Administration at (949) 830-7100, extension 4002.

Monday, August 07, 2006

Calling all Fiction Fanatics and

Book Club Members



Come join us on Thursday, August 10th, at 7 p.m. in the Library Community Room as we wrap up our first-ever Adult Summer Reading Program. We'll be demonstrating NoveList, the library's fabulous fiction database, and several reading group and book review websites. Find a new favorite author, or share your favorites with others. We'll have a grand prize drawing and refreshments. Everyone is welcome! Please R.S.V.P. to Gayle Meldau at gmeldau@cityofmissionviejo.org

Monday, July 17, 2006

"Summer Down Under"

Film Festival


Continues with

Muriel's Wedding



On Saturday
July 22,
@ 6:30 in the City Council Chamber

Wednesday, July 05, 2006


Where do you find out about the books you read?
Library staff
Friends
Newspaper bestseller lists
Book stores
Library website
Other websites (Amazon, author sites etc...)
Book clubs
TV and Radio shows
  
Free polls from Pollhost.com

Downloadable Audiobooks have Arrived!


Access our new collection of eAudiobooks and eBooks through the library's website. This collections allows you to read or listen to full text digital versions of popular fiction and non-fiction titles anytime and anywhere you like without ever having to come to the library to check them out.

For more information about this new service visit our website.
Adult Summer Reading Program

June 15 - August 10, 2006

Join us for our Kickoff program with mystery author, Denise Hamilton, on Thursday, June 15th at 7:00 p.m. (see post below) and our Wrap-up Party on Thursday, August 10th at 7p.m. Read as many books as you like between those two dates and enter to win weekly prizes.

Fill out a raffle ticket each week to enter our weekly drawing, enter at the reference desk or e-mail your name, phone number and title of the book you've read to: libreference@cityofmissionviejo.org.

Looking for good books to read for the program? Download Audiobooks and eBooks from our website or take a look at our reading lists for recommendations.

If you have any questions about this program, call the reference desk at (949)830-7100 ext.4008. or visit the Adult Summer Reading program website.


eBooks at your eBrary




The library has extended its collection to include electronic versions of our most requested print books. If you see a book with the blue "e" shown above it means the library owns both a print and electronic copy of that book.

Now you can browse these three popular reference books from the comfort of your home:




the Gale Encyclopedia of Genetic Disorders, Countries and Their Cultures, and Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia.


You can also study for a variety of different tests from the ASVAB to SATs with our Learning Express collection of eTestBooks.

Simply go to the catalogs and databases page on our website and open up the book of your choice.
Join Our Book Club!

Do you like to discover new authors? Do you enjoying discussing the book you’re reading with others? If so, we have the perfect group for you. The Readers Club (sponsored by the Mission Viejo Friends of the Library), meets every month to discuss recent fiction or nonfiction titles selected by the group.

Meetings are held from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. on the 4th Wednesday of the month; most meetings are held in the Saddleback Room in City Hall. Please call Shelley Fels at (949) 581-6414 for more information. No R.S.V.P. is necessary, and all are welcome!

Here are the books still to be discussed in 2006:


7/26 Wolves Eat Dogs by Martin Cruz Smith

8/23 The World is Flat by Thomas L. Friedman

9/27 The March by E. L. Doctorow


10/25 Caravaggio: Painter of Miracles by Francine Prose

11/15 The Lost Painting by Jonathan Harr

Monday, June 26, 2006

Teen Financial Literacy Course


The Mission Viejo Library, in cooperation with Orange County’s Credit Union, is hosting a six week long Teen Financial Literacy Course taught by banking professionals.

The class is held Wednesdays, from 2-4 pm in the community room of the library. Teens must attend the orientation meeting this Wednesday, June 28, 2006. Parents are encouraged to attend the first and last meeting with their children.

The dates for the workshop are June 28, July 5,12,19,26 with graduation on August 2. Teens who participate in the program will receive community service hours and a certificate from the credit union. For more information contact Mary Anne at (949) 830-7100 ext. 4016

Wednesday, June 21, 2006

Our Free Wireless Service is Being Upgraded


Please note that our free wireless access to the Internet will be temporarily unavailable from Thursday, June 22 - Tuesday, June 27 for an upgrade. The upgrade will provide stronger signals throughout the building and a broader coverage area within the City Hall/Library complex.

If you need wireless access during this time, try these other local wireless hotspots:

It's a Grind
25522 Marguerite Parkway
Mission Viejo, CA 92692
949-768-2633

Diedrich's Coffee
26137 La Paz Road
Mission Viejo, CA 92691
949-699-0566”

Monday, June 05, 2006

Denise Hamilton, Best Selling Mystery Author, to Speak at the Library


Thursday, June 15, 2006
7:00 p.m.
City Hall Council Chamber



The Mission Viejo Library concludes its series of nationally-acclaimed author talks with a presentation and book signing by Denise Hamilton.

Denise was a Los Angeles Times reporter and Fulbright Scholar before she became a novelist. Each mystery provides insight into the many neighborhoods and people that make up Los Angeles. Denise’s just released novel “Prisoner of Memory” was featured in the Los Angeles Times Sunday Book Review on April 30. In this novel Denise’s background as a Los Angeles Times reporter covering the fall of communism gives us new insights into the Russian Mafia in Los Angeles. For more info about Denise's vist her website at http://www.denisehamilton.com

For reservations email stanton@cityofmissionviejo.org or call 830-7100, extension 4008. The “Writers Present” series is sponsored by the Friends of the Mission Viejo Library. Borders Express will be selling her books at the event.

Tuesday, May 02, 2006

Saturday Computer Classes

Now due to popular demand, the library will have computers classes on selected Saturdays as well as Fridays. The next two Saturday courses are:


Introduction to the Internet
May 6, 2006
8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

Learn the basic skills needed finding information and navigating around on the Internet. Email is not covered.


Introduction to Email
June 3, 2006
8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

Learn how to set up a free email account, and how to send and receive email messages.

All classes are FREE and do not require registration. We do recommend, however, that you arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the class and sign up outside of the staff entrance. Classes are held in the library's Technology Center.

Tuesday, April 25, 2006



Selling on eBay



Learn how to use this popular online auction service at the library.

Friday, April 28
(10:00AM - 11:30AM)

People use eBay to sell everything from old, unwanted items to professional products and services. Learn about seller profiles, auction and fee types, the auction listing, and payment and shipping methods.

Classes are FREE and available to all those who have a basic understanding and familiarity with using the Internet. Both classes are held in the Library Technology Center (enter through the staff door).

Friday, April 21, 2006


Franz Wisner author of Honeymoon with My Brother will speak at the Library on May 3rd


Wednesday, May 3, 7:00 P.M.
Mission Viejo City Council Chamber
200 Civic Center

Franz Wisner has appeared on Oprah and the Today Show to discuss his bestselling memoir Honeymoon with My Brother. Wisner writes about the romantic fiasco (being dumped by his fiancée the week of their wedding) that leads to unexpected adventures.

This presentation is Free and open to the public. Reserve your seat today by calling the reference desk at (949) 830-7100 ext. 4008. For more information, visit the calendar and events section of our website.
Join Our Book Club!

Do you like to discover new authors? Do you enjoying discussing the book you’re reading with others? If so, we have the perfect group for you. The Readers Club (sponsored by the Mission Viejo Friends of the Library), meets every month to discuss recent fiction or nonfiction titles selected by the group.

Meetings are held from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. on the 4th Wednesday of the month; most meetings are held in the Saddleback Room in City Hall. Please call Shelley Fels at (949) 581-6414 for more information. No R.S.V.P. is necessary, and all are welcome!

Here are the books still to be discussed in 2006:


4/26 1776 by David McCullough

5/24 Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See


6/28 Memories of My Melancholy Whores by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

7/26 Wolves Eat Dogs by Martin Cruz Smith

8/23 The World is Flat by Thomas L. Friedman

9/27 The March by E. L. Doctorow

10/25 Caravaggio: Painter of Miracles by Francine Prose

11/15 The Lost Painting by Jonathan Harr
Recycle
to support the
Mission Viejo Library
Youth Department

Did you know that when you recycle, you’re doing more than just making our city more beautiful, you’re helping the Mission Viejo Library, too? During the entire month of April, for every ton of recycled material collected by Waste Management, a $5.00 donation will be made to the Friends of the Mission Viejo Library for the Youth Department. This donation will be used to purchase new books in anticipation of the annual Summer Reading Program.

Last April, Mission Viejo residents recycled almost 1,000 tons of materials including, newspapers, telephone books, glass jars and bottles, aluminum cans, and cardboard which resulted in a donation of $4,992 to the Friends of the Mission Viejo Library.

Monday, April 10, 2006


QuickBooks: A Beginners Guide




Tuesday, April 18th
6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

City of Mission Viejo
200 Civic Center
Saddleback Room
Mission Viejo, CA 92691

Fee: $25

Every business owner needs to learn the essentials of Quickbooks! In this seminar you will learn how to run computerized bookkeeping with Quickbooks software. Topics covered include: setting up a business on QuickBooks, entering sales and invoices, making deposits, entering and paying bills, reconciling bank accounts, and producing financial statements.


To register or if you have any questions, please call (714) 564-5202 or e-mail durdella_chirstina@rsccd.org. For more information visit the OC Small Business Development Center website.

Monday, April 03, 2006

KidsKorner

Zoo at the Library?

Wonders of Wildlife Co. will visit us on April 8 at 11:00am and bring cute wild animals to see such as: potbelly pig, opossum, chinchillas, lizards, Polish chicken, and others. So visit the library and learn more about those cute furry creatures.

After this program you will have the opportunity to meet Christina Daas, children's author who will autograph her books.

This special program is generously sponsored by Target Co. and is intended for children ages 3 and up. For more information please call (949) 830-7100 ext.4010.

Thursday, March 23, 2006

Get Hooked on Crochet!


Learn to crochet a simple project suitable for gift or personal use.

Participants should come supplied with a crochet hook, preferable a size G or H. A few yards of yarn will be provided for the workshop, and participants are also welcome to bring their own yarn. Advanced crocheters who want to share ideas and techniques are also welcome.

Saturday, April 8, 2006
2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Mission Viejo Library
Community Room

This program is free and open to middle school students, high school students, and adults. It will be presented by Library Staff and Volunteers. Registration is required, max 20.

For more information e-mail Mary Anne mramsey@cityofmissionviejo.org or call her at 949 830-7100 extension 4016.