Hi! My name is Fae and I’m a Community Librarian for Fresno County Public Library. I’m determined to have the best summer ever by doing the Fresno County Public Library Summer Challenge and sharing my experiences with you on this blog.
#15 Contact an elected official about an issue you care
about.
Politics are getting a lot of attention these days. The
state of the nation is on everyone’s mind and we’re all trying to make sense of
the world around us. The big picture is important, but don’t forget the old
saying: “All politics are local.” Some of the policies that have the biggest
impact on your life are written and implemented right here in Fresno County. Staying active in local affairs is just as important as following what's happening in Washington D.C., and learning the names of your local representatives
is a great way to start. USA.gov
is a good place to find contact information for elected officials, from The
Office of the President to your local mayor. The League of
Women Voters allows you to enter your zip code onto their website and receive
a list of all of your elected officials. Remember, if an issue matters to
you, it should matter to your representatives. Find out who they are and
let them know what you care about. I
chose to contact a local official about improving public transportation, but you should find an issue you're passionate about. The important
thing is to start getting involved.
#36 Watch the movie version of a book you’ve read.
Did you know Clueless
is based on Jane Austen’s Emma? Yup. Amy Heckerling’s 1990s
classic teen comedy is actually based on a 19th century novel, just with cell phones and a pretty amazing soundtrack
added. If you’re looking for a highly entertaining ‘compare and contrast’ this
summer, I recommend you check them both out.
#20 Learn 5 words in another language.
One of my greatest frustrations in life is not being
bilingual. It’s ridiculous to grow up in a country based on immigration and new
beginnings and not be able to communicate with anyone who isn’t speaking
English. My Spanish is so bad that it’s pretty much limited to ordering food
and telling people I don’t speak Spanish. This is unacceptable. I must improve.
Luckily for me the Fresno County Public Library is here to help. Have you seen
our language
database selection? It’s pretty impressive and they can all be logged into
from you home computer using your library card. There are multiple databases to
choose from that allow you to improve your language skills in a variety of ways.
I chose Mango Languages, so I could use their translator function which allows
you to type in one language and get a translation in another. I now know that “Welcome
to the public library. Would you like a library card application?” translates to “Bienvenido a la biblioteca pública. ¿Quieres una solicitud de tarjeta de
biblioteca?”
Which Summer Challenge log activities are YOU taking on this week? Let us know in the comments!
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