A new chapter comes to Vacaville – The Vacaville Reporter

BY Nick McConnell

The Vacaville Cultural Center Library will close its doors for at least the next year Friday at 5 p.m. for a major renovation and expansion project, its first in over 20 years. Adding on 3,600 square feet and improving the amenities, the $24.5 million project funded through the Vacaville Libraries District will take about 15 months to complete, according to Solano County Libraries.

The library hosted a groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday afternoon, inviting county, city and school board officials to visit the site and commemorate the beginning of the renovation efforts.

Source: A new chapter comes to Vacaville – The Vacaville Reporter

‘Farming at the Library’ geared to kindergarten through fifth grade | dailyrepublic.com

“Farming at the Library,” a free interactive workshop designed for kindergarten through fifth grade, will run from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 28, at the Suisun City Library, 601 Pintail Drive.

Jill Hendrix, from the Solano County Farm Bureau-Ag Education Foundation, is the guest instructor.

Activities include decorating pumpkins, tasting local produce from Solano County farms and a children’s activity.

Parents are requested to attend with their student(s).

Source: ‘Farming at the Library’ geared to kindergarten through fifth grade | Museums | dailyrepublic.com

Solano County Library offers reading challenge for new year – Daily Republic

The Solano County Library is offering readers a way to meet their reading goals in the new year.

Solano Reads is a year-long reading challenge that offers 50 prompts to keep patrons reading books throughout the year. Participants are encouraged to read 20 books from the 50 prompts (reading categories). Each book read must fit a single category prompt. Earn a commemorative Solano Reads completion pin after completing 20 books. Read more than 20 books and earn a bonus pin.

All registrants receive a Challenge pin at sign up. Readers are automatically entered into quarterly drawings for chances to win gift cards.

Source: Solano County Library offers reading challenge for new year

Solano County libraries provide youth free summer lunches – Daily Republic

The Solano County Library is offering children and teens a free “Lunch at the Library” at its various branches and also encouraging participation in the Summer Reading Program.

Lunch at the Library is a project of the California State Library in partnership with the California Library Association. The program is supported with funds from the state.

Source: Solano County libraries provide youth free summer lunches

Solano College christens state-of-the-art Library and Learning Resource Center – Daily Republic

By Matt Miller

Solano Community College Superintendent-President Celia Esposito-Noy opened her remarks at Wednesday’s ceremony for the new Library and Learning Resource Center by saying, “I’m happy to see everyone full size.”

“After looking at just heads for two years on the computer, we finally made it,” Esposito-Noy said. “There is no better reason than to be here on campus to open this incredible new building. We’ve all waited a long time for this.”

Solano College’s newest prize to the Rockville campus officially opened its doors for students and faculty. The Library and Learning Resource Center will be the new heart of campus and allow access to many state-of-the-art resources and tools.

Source: Solano College christens state-of-the-art Library and Learning Resource Center

Solano Library offers adults online high school program – Daily Republic

The Solano County Library offers adults the opportunity to earn an accredited high school diploma and career certificate through its Career Online High School program.

The library’s program provides a limited number of scholarships to qualified adult learners who are looking to expand their career opportunities, prepare for workforce entry or simply continue their education.

To be considered for the program, applicants must successfully complete an online self-assessment and prerequisite course, followed by an in-person interview.

Source: Solano Library offers adults online high school program

FSUSD and Solano Library Partnership Offers Digital Access for All Students – Daily Republic

By Tim Goree

Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District and Solano Library Partnership Offers Digital Access for All Students

Fairfield, CA – April 21, 2020: The Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District and Solano County Library partnered to offer the Student Access Card in the fall of 2019, which acts as a student identification and a public library card in one. The Student Access Card streamlines student access to information and materials by integrating FSUSD Student ID numbers and public library accounts.

Source: Press Release: FSUSD and Solano Library Partnership Offers Digital Access for All Students

Digital bookmobile new school literacy tool – The Reporter

By Kimberly K. Fu

Earlier this week, a 53-foot long literacy program on wheels rolled into Fairview Elementary School in Fairfield to bring the joy of the written word to students.

The Digital Bookmobile by Overdrive was welcomed with a cacophony cheers as students waited in line for a turn to enter the traveling library.

That done, the youths poured into the vehicle and took seats in the exhibit area. They learned to access ebooks and audiobooks offered by the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District using a touchscreen at the front of the room. Hands waved excitedly throughout the short instruction period and the kids, of the generation that seems born with digital knowledge, quickly got the hang of the material.

Source: Digital bookmobile new school literacy tool – The Reporter

Applicants sought for Vacaville Library Commission seat – The Reporter

The Vacaville Library Commission is seeking applicants for a seat on the five-member board.Commissioners serve to advised the Vacaville Unified School District Library District Board.Applicants must live within the boundaries of the Vacaville Unified School District.This is a volunteer position.

The Commission meets the second Monday every other month at 6:30 p.m. in the Conference Room of the Vacaville Public Library-Cultural Center.

Applications, which are available at the Information Desk of Vacaville Public Library-Cultural Center or the Vacaville Public Library-Town Square, must be submitted no later than 5 p.m. Feb. 18.

Source: Applicants sought for Vacaville Library Commission seat – The Reporter

Solano College ceremony paves way for new library – Daily Republic

By Bill Hicks

Like many of the well-worn books housed inside it, the Solano Community College library has some visible signs of aging.

Opened in 1971, the venerable Building 100 at the school’s main campus in rural Fairfield will soon be replaced by a nearly 60,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art library building that is expected to be ready in time for the fall 2021 school term.

School officials participated Wednesday in a ceremony to break ground at the campus to announce the replacement of the current library with a new library and learning center, which comes with a construction cost of nearly $39 million, funded jointly through Proposition 51 – a $9 billion statewide bond, passed in November 2016, to fund K-12 and community college projects – and Measure Q – the $348 million bond passed by local voters by November 2012.

Source: Fully booked: Solano College ceremony paves way for new library

Authors luncheon raises money for Solano library foundation – Daily Republic

By Susan Hiland

Authors, readers, teachers and community members came out en masses Sunday for the 19th Annual Authors Luncheon.

Frances McCullough, a retired educator, and president of Solano County Library Foundation, loves to read and she wants to share that love with future generations.

“The authors are here to help us celebrate literacy,” McCullough said. “Because literacy is so important.”The event is one of the biggest fundraiser for the foundation. Organizers hoped to raise more than $50,000 to support various literacy programs at Solano County’s libraries during the upcoming year.

Source: Authors luncheon raises money for Solano library foundation

Benicia students can use ID cards to check out books – Times-Herald

By Vallejo Times Herald

Thanks to the OneCard collaboration between Benicia Public Library and Benicia Unified School District, all students attending middle school and high school in Benicia can now use their student ID cards as library cards, the city announced Monday.

The move puts library cards into the hands of the nearly 3,000 students who attend these schools.

“This is a very important step forward for access to information resources for our entire community,” said David Dodd, the city of Benicia’s director of library and cultural services, in a city press release. “We’ve been working towards this for a couple of years, and it is so fantastic to see it become a reality!”

Source: Benicia students can use ID cards to check out books – Times-Herald

Noted children’s author inspires Solano’s youths – The Reporter

By Kimberly K. Fu

Explosive laughter erupted from the Fairfield Civic Center Library Saturday, a sure sign that something super fun was going on.

Turns out, it was something and someone, the later being noted children’s author and artist Todd Parr.

The Berkeley writer penned some 50 books over the years that’s printed in 18 languages. The gist — be unique, be you, and that’s more than enough.

Source: Noted children’s author inspires Solano’s youths – The Reporter

All for One, and One for All: Unifying Libraries in Solano County – Daily Republic

Story by Madison Garay, FSUSD Communications Intern

In the modern age, society has maximized efficiency of daily life in innumerable ways – and Fairfield Suisun Unified School District is keeping pace in an innovative way. On February 21st, 2019, Fairfield-Suisun Unified’s Assistant Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Jenn Roush, presented principals from across district with a fresh proposal: all-access libraries for FSUSD students.

Now, what does that necessarily entail? The backbone of the plan is to integrate the Solano County Library’s card system with the school district’s student ID system, which means that any student with a school ID card could check out a book from any Solano County library. These student accounts would allow three physical books to be checked out, and provide access to downloadable eBooks and audiobooks, digital magazines, and premium databases. By bridging the gap between school and public libraries, students and their families will be encouraged to visit their local library and indulge in the activities unique to the center.

Source: All for One, and One for All: Unifying Libraries in Solano County

Board backs $19M in work for Public Safety Academy – Daily Republic

By Ryan McCarthy

A plan that calls for $19 million in spending for a new library, gym and locker buildings at the Public Safety Academy won support Thursday from Fairfield-Suisun School District trustees.

School district staff had recommended approval for the agreement between the district and Landmark Construction in Placer County.

The Public Safety Academy opened in 2012 and has a higher attendance rate than other schools in the Fairfield-Suisun School District, few suspensions and “is doing very well,” according to a self-study for its accreditation.

Source: Board backs $19M in work for Public Safety Academy

Applicants sought for Vacaville Library Commission post – The Reporter

By Kimberly K. Fu

The Vacaville Library Commission has a vacancy and is seeking applicants for the position.

The five-member commission serves as an advisory body to the Vacaville Unified School District Library District Board.

Commissioners must live within the boundaries of the Vacaville Unified School District.

This is a volunteer position.

The commission meets at 6:30 p.m. the second Monday every other month in the Vacaville Public Library-Cultural Center conference room. Applications, which are available at the Information Desks of the Cultural Center and Town Square library branches, must be submitted no later than 5 p.m. Oct. 16.

Source: Applicants sought for Vacaville Library Commission post

Children encouraged to read for fun, prizes – The Reporter

The time to read is right meow.

The Solano County Library Foundation is encouraging children ages 6-12 to read with Solano Kids Read program starting Oct. 1.

For the month of October with Solano County Library, children can read for fun and earn great prizes along the way.

They can earn “meow money” for reading the books they choose and spend it on prizes at the library “store.”

Each activity in the Solano Kids Read passport is worth one “meow dollar.” Pick up a passport at any Solano County Library location and get started.

Source: Children encouraged to read for fun, prizes

SCC leaders to condemn hate and violence, consider new library – The Reporter

By Richard Bammer

A resolution condemning hate and violence, several Measure Q-related items, and the proposed 2017-18 budgets are on the agenda when Solano Community College leaders meet tonight in Vacaville.

Trustees are expected to approve a resolution that condemns the Aug. 12 violence in Charlottesville, Va., which resulted in injury and the death of anti-hate demonstrator Heather Heyer, but, at the same time, go on record that the school is a place where free speech is respected, encouraged and shared but opposes racist and “intolerable views that impede a safe environment where teaching and learning can occur for all,” according to the resolution’s wording.

The governing board also is expected to approve more than $42 million in Measure Q and state funding to begin building a Library/Learning Resource Center at the main Fairfield campus, at 4000 Suisun Valley Road. Measure Q was the $348 million bond approved by county voters in 2012.

Source: SCC leaders to condemn hate and violence, consider new library

Need a high school diploma? The library can help – The Reporter

By Richard Bammer

Local, state and national high school graduation rates are rising, but not everyone earns a diploma in the traditional way.

There is another option: through a public library.

For those who did not earn a high school diploma, the Solano County Library, in association with the California State Library, offers a career online high school program, a chance to earn a diploma and career certificates.

If interested in knowing more about this pilot program, the first step is to visit www.solanolibrary.com/cohs.

Once there, you will be asked to take a “self-assessment,” which can be completed in several minutes. It will ask you to select your library and for some personal information (name, address, telephone number).

 

Source: Need a high school diploma? The library can help

Place proposed textbooks at library, trustee suggests – Daily Republic

By Ryan McCarthy

Placing proposed textbooks, including Positive Prevention Plus for sex education classes, at the Suisun City Library would expand the opportunity for the public to review the books, Fairfield-Suisun School District Trustee Chris Wilson said Thursday.

He said having the books at the library will allow review after 5 p.m., when the school district offices in Fairfield close and textbooks on display in the lobby are not available.

“We’ll see what we can do,” Superintendent Kris Corey told Wilson.

Source: Place proposed textbooks at library, trustee suggests