KITE BUILDING WORKSHOP

April is National Kite Building Month. In honor of this fun spring activity, the Marshall Public Library is hosting a kite building workshop. The workshop will be held Friday, April 2, 2010 from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. All ages are invited to the Library to build a kite. For more information, contact Kath Ann Hendricks at 232-1263 extension 28.

Census Questionnaire Assistance @ the Library

The Marshall Public Library is hosting a Questionnaire Assistance Center for the 2010 Census. As of yesterday, March 15, 2010, a US Census Bureau employee will be at the Library, 113 South Garfield Avenue, from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and again from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Saturday to assist individuals with their 2010 Census forms. This service will be available through April 19. Questionnaire Assistance Centers (QAC) have been established to aid residents in filling out their 2010 Census forms. QAC are there to assist, for example, those unable to read or understand the questionnaire. Large-print questionnaires are also available to the visually impaired upon request, and some QAC locations have access to a Teletext Device for the Deaf(TDD) to help the hearing impaired. 2010 Census questionnaire language assistance guides are also available in a variety of languages.
Another option for individuals who did not receive forms or need help filling out their forms is the Telephone Questionnaire Assistance center. The toll-free telephone number to reach this center is 1-866-872-6868. (Those who prefer a Spanish-speaking operator should dial 1-866- 928-2010.) Deaf and hard-of-hearing persons can call the TDD number at 1-866-783-2010. The lines will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (local time) seven days a week through July 30, 2010.
A second QAC in the Pocatello area is at the Idaho Department of Labor at 430 North 5th Avenue. Three “Be Counted” sites have also been identified at Idaho State University, Pocatello City Hall and the Portneuf District Library. The “Be Counted” sites will have blank copies of the 2010 Census forms for individuals who did not receive a form or are concerned they have not been otherwise counted.

10th Annual Poetry Wall

Pocatello’s Marshall Public Library, 113 S Garfield Ave, announces the 10th Annual Poetry Wall. All local poets are invited to submit one original poem or one page of original poetry for inclusion on the Poetry Wall display. The poetry will be displayed throughout April in celebration of National Poetry Month. All entries become property of Marshall Public Library and are added to the Library collection. Please mail or bring your work to the following address:
Poetry Wall (Reference Department)
Marshall Public Library
113 South Garfield
Pocatello, ID 83204
232-9266 (fax)

For more information, call Amy at the library at 232-1263 ext. 22.

Bellon Visiting Author

Yangsook Choi, a famous author and illustrator of children’s books, will be visiting Marshall Public Library on March 15 at 4:00 p.m. in the Kids Corner. Ms. Choi, who is originally from Korea, has written and illustrated many books for children. She has been selected as the Bellon Visiting Author for 2010. In addition to her appearance at the library, Ms. Choi will be visiting some of the local elementary schools and giving a public presentation at the College of Education on the ISU campus. Some of her books include: Peach Heaven, The Name Jar, Rice Is Life, and Landed.

The Census is Coming

This month the 2010 Census forms will be mailed. The Census has a huge impact on our community. Each person counted in our county entitles our local economy to an average of $1220 federal dollars per year, that’s over $12,000 for the census decade. This year’s census form is the shortest in history, consisting of only 10 questions, requiring only 10 minutes to complete. And the Census Bureau takes your privacy seriously. By law, individual census data cannot be shared with anyone, including law enforcement agencies.
It’s in Our Hands, Bannock County. Please remember to complete and mail back your Census form when it arrives, and encourage your family, friends and neighbors to do the same. Please make sure you are counted for the 2010 Census! Pick up more information at the library, or go to www.2010census.gov.

Continuing Education @ the Library

For anyone who is thinking of continuing education beyond high school, the Library is the place to begin. Resources are available to help with such steps as investigating careers, picking a school and exploring funding options.
Discover which careers might interest you, research occupations and search for colleges online using CIS. Idaho CIS provides career and educational planning solutions for people in Idaho. Comprehensive sources of career information are available about Idaho and the nation. Information and data are gathered from hundreds of sources. Internet computers are available in the Library to view this source at http://www.cis.idaho.gov.
The Eastern Idaho Funding Information Center (EIFIC), located upstairs in the Library, has information to help you find the funding you will need (such as scholarships) for your education. Search for grants online using Foundation Grants to Individuals Online. Use this database for free only in the Library.
Many colleges now offer courses you can take at home or online. They often require that tests be taken with a proctor, someone the student doesn’t know, frequently a librarian. The Reference Department offers this service for free. Call the Reference Desk (232-1263 ext. 22) for more details.
Kris Castro, Reference Librarian