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April 18 - May 1, 2015
Opinion
www.SanTanSun.com
Community Commentary
Read along to see the benefits of library visits opportunities. How long has it been since you’ve Ability: Many older adults who might visited your local public library? If it has have access to technology don’t know been a while, “keep reading” and find out how to use it. Learning how to download what you have been missing. an app or an e-book or just Public libraries were browse the Internet can be an established to encourage intimidating prospect. If you literacy within the general know someone that could population. This is still use this kind of assistance let relevant; Maricopa County them know about: has a 12 percent illiteracy Robson Library (Sun Lakes): rate. But there is an Download an E-book Oneobvious shift occurring. On-One Help. This class is The libraries you remember exactly as it sounds. when you were a kid have Southeast Regional changed. A lot. Overdrive, (Gilbert): One-on-One Digital. Freegal, Rocket Languages, Attendees get personal oneOneClickDigital, Gale Denny Barney. on-one instruction browsing Submitted photo eBooks—these are the digital catalogs, accessing and materials in demand in using the Internet and basic Maricopa County. The libraries now must computer training. fill the literacy gap and bridge the digital Perry Library (Chandler): Get to Know divide. Your Device: Apple. Attendees can learn We have 17 libraries in Maricopa basic functions and features of their iPad County where more than 250,000 or iPhone. Perry Library also has classes people visit each month to check out such as Don’t Know Much About: Twitter. materials, rent rooms and participate Queen Creek Library: Teen Tech in classes and workshops. Many are Experts. Volunteer teenagers help adult children. Just like when your parents learners use the computer and impart would take you to the library—many of their digital know-how. the same programs still exist—summer Affinity: Public libraries also offer reading programs are a hit even today. residents a chance to connect with But our libraries have changed with the their neighbors. Aside from courses to times and the offerings to kids and teens improve your tech-acumen, there are a have evolved as well. variety of interest group classes, such as Kids can check out a book, join a self- self-publishing, critiquing films, learning guided science class or a Crazy 8s Math Spanish and researching genealogy, Club. It’s harder to lure teenagers to a which bring people together. Chances library, but activities like the Teen Video are there is a local library group that Challenge and classes on Zentangle (go meets on something that interests ahead, “Google” it) have kept the inyou. Search your local branch’s events betweeners engaged. calendar. Yet the library serves adults too, Clearly libraries have evolved, but bridging the wants of a younger their mission has stayed the same. generation and the needs of their elders. Libraries are pillars of a democratic The library’s shift into digital mediums society, educating the populace and has served our adult community in creating opportunities that promote three important ways: access, ability and equality. We hope you will visit affinity. yours soon! For help getting a library Access: We think the Internet card: www.mcldaz.org/help/default. is everywhere. But there are those aspx#getcard constituents who rely on our libraries for computer and Internet access. Many Denny Barney is a Gilbert resident and are not just searching for recreational member of the Maricopa County Board purposes but are researching of Supervisors. employment opportunities. In this way, our libraries provide economic
BY DENNY BARNEY
Health Expo bigger than ever free, thanks to the generous folks at the People often take advantage of Desert Cancer Foundation. Also outside Arizona’s great spring weather for yard the center will be our Fire, Health and work and other home improvement Medical Department providing child projects. But April is also a safety seat checks. perfect time to do a little Members of my Mayor’s cleanup of your wellness Youth Commission will hold a routine. And the perfect fitness challenge for teens in place to start is my third the gym that morning. Teens annual Health Expo to be and parents will also want held on Saturday, April to listen to Amanda Bollard 18, at the Tumbleweed discuss tips for teens who are Recreation Center. ready to enter the workforce. This free event is This is a powerful presentation aimed at the entire family from a PayPal marketing and runs from 9 a.m. specialist. Her talk begins at to 12 p.m. The center is 11 a.m. located at Tumbleweed Younger kids will have Mayor Jay Tibshraeny. Park (southwest corner of Submitted photo a bouncy house and other McQueen and Germann activities to keep busy. There roads). will also be oral screenings and fluoride This year, we made a conscious varnishes for children. effort to target vendors, activities We’ll have close to 30 nonprofit and speakers that provide a true organizations and retailers. multigenerational approach to wellness. Demonstrations include healthy For our seniors, Dr. Jonathan cooking, martial arts, Zumba and more. Hodgson returns this year with his There will also be plenty of giveaways popular presentation on “Aging and and other health screenings available. Your Memory.” That talk begins right For more details, you can go to www. at 9 a.m. in the Cotton Room. It filled chandleraz.gov/connect. The expo is up last year, so be sure to come a little co-sponsored by our good friends at early. Also this year, Dr. Danton Dungy Dignity Health and Chandler Regional will discuss hip fractures and joint Medical Center. replacements at 10:30 a.m. New this year will be an onsite Jay Tibshraeny is the mayor of mobile mammography unit. Those Chandler. lacking insurance can get screened for
BY MAYOR JAY TIBSHRAENY
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