Discovery Club Starts Today!

School is back in session for most Rancho Cucamonga children, so that means it’s time for afterschool storytimes. We have a new program called Discovery Club, which is a hands-on enrichment program that meets once a week at 4:00 pm. At the Biane Library, Discovery Club meets on Wednesday afternoons, and at the Archibald Library, it meets on Thursdays. This is a program for kids ages 6-12, and no prior registration is necessary. Parents are asked to wait in the library while their children enjoy the program.

Coming programs include:

August 19th (Biane) and 20th (Archibald) -- Luau at the Library
August 26th (Biane) and 27th (Archibald) -- Amazing Mistakes

We hope to see you there!

Storytime Registration is Coming Soon




Registration for the next storytime sessions will take place the week of August 3-7, 2009.

Monday, August 3rd @ the Paul A. Biane Library
Bouncing Babies registration begins at 10:00 a.m.

Tuesday, August 4th @ the Paul A. Biane Library
Preschool Storytime registration begins at 10:00 a.m.

Wednesday, August 5th @ the Archibald Library
Preschool Storytime registration begins at 10:00 a.m.

Thursday, August 6th @ the Archibald Library
Bouncing Babies registration begins at 10:00 a.m.
Toddler Time registration begins at 10:00 a.m.

Friday, August 7th @ the Paul A. Biane Library
Toddler Time registration begins at 10:00 a.m.
Family Storytime registration begins at 10:00 a.m.

There will be no storytimes the week of August 10-14, and the new storytime sessions will begin the week of August 17-21.

Also, don't forget that both libraries also offer weekly storytimes that do not require registration:

At the Paul A. Biane library:
Pajama Storytime is Tuesday evenings at 6:30 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.
Family Saturdays is Saturday afternoons at 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.

At the Archibald library:
Family Storytime is Saturday mornings at 11:00 a.m.

Summer Reading Program - final week!

Don't forget that Saturday, July 25th is the last day for kids to turn in their reports and finish this years Summer Reading Program - Be Creative @ Your Library. Over 2200 children registered for this year’s Summer Reading Program! Kids of all ages enjoyed creative activities and wonderful performances this summer at the Archibald and Paul A. Biane Libraries.
Programs featuring music, magic, dance and marionettes created festive afternoons in our libraries.

Summer Reading Club – Be Creative @ Your Library
The 2009 Summer Reading Program - Be Creative @ Your Library starts on June 20th and ends on July 25th. Kids are encouraged to read, explore their creativity and have fun at the library during the summer! Weekly prizes and special performances round out this 5 week program. Kids who complete the program are invited to our fun-filled end of program finale on July 30th.

Summer Reading Program Kickoff - June 20th!
We're kicking off our program with a fabulous magical show featuring Allen Oshiro at 11am at the Archibald Library and 3pm at the Paul A. Biane Library. Free tickets for the event will be available on June 13th.

We have a great lineup of performers who will be at each library:
June 25 Aloha Islanders (tickets available on Sat. June 20th)
July 2 Hullabaloo
July 9 Franklin Haynes Marionettes
July 23 Learning Safari by Pacific Animal Productions
Free tickets for the events are available one week before the performance.

On Wednesday July 15th we’ll have a special “Night at the Theater” event at the Lewis Family Playhouse at 7pm. Families will enjoy this magical night of music!

Afternoon workshops just for the Summer

Interested in dance art,or song? Kids ages 6 – 11 are invited to take part is a series of art related workshops called Terrific Tuesdays at the Archibald Library and Wonderful Wednesdays at the Paul A. Biane Library. Kids will enjoy drawing, painting, dance and sculpture!

Please call the children’s department at Archibald 909-477-2720 ext. 5025 or Paul A. Biane Library 909-477-2720 ext. 5075 for further information.

Coming to a library not so far, far, away...

STAR WARS Night!

Calling all Jedis! Star Wars Night lands at the Paul A Biane Library on Friday, May 29th from 7pm-9pm. The event is a celebration of the Star Wars universe that will include a costume contest, official Star Wars artists Randy Martinez and Denise Vasquez giving tips on how to draw your favorite Star wars characters, Star Wars related crafts, games, and storytimes, as well as a chance to mingle with some of your favorite Star Wars characters.

Tickets available at both libraries beginning Saturday, May 16th at 2pm. 4 ticket limit. For more info call 909-477-2720 ext. 5076.

Be sure not to miss out on this immensely popular event and May the Force Be With You!

Libraries are a great source of Star Wars information! Check out these books and more:

Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace by Patricia Wrede


Star Wars Complete Cross Sections by David West Reynolds





Star Wars the Complete Visual Guide by Ryder Wyndham


Star Wars the Visual Dictionary by David West Reynolds

Rancho Cucamonga Library Scores Big with Library Telethon

Thanks to you, the Rancho Cucamonga Library received over $90,000 in donations during our three-day Telethon. Filled with incredible performances, the event allowed us to showcase what's best about our three amazing libraries and give you the opportunity to help support the great things in our Library's future.

Don't forget, you can still pledge to the Telethon via the internet at http://telethon.cityofrc.com/.

Rod Gilfrey, Circus Acts and School Choirs...Oh My!

The Rancho Cucamonga Library's 2009 Telethon is just around the corner. Since our first telethon in 2000, it's grown into a three day entertainment extravaganza featuring the best in local entertainment including school choirs, the Redlands Y Circus (an actual circus) and world renowned opera singer, Rod Gilfry.

The RC Library Telethon offers you the opportunity to help support the incredible programs, events and services you enjoy.This year, funds raised from the telethon will go to support:

• our ever-popular storytimes
• programs like our Cultural Arts Nights and festivals
• technology classes
• new Children's Books

Broadcast on Channel 3, the Telethon gives us the opportunity to highlight some of the great things going on at each of our Amazing Libraries. In fact, if you'll look up to the right corner of this very blog page, you can view the Bookmobile's own Telethon debut several years ago. If you'd like to find out more about our Telethon, visit the home page at http://telethon.cityofrc.com/. Besides making a donation via the website, you can also watch the whole production from the comfort of your computer screen. Want to see it in person? Then join us at the Victoria Gardens' Cultural Center's Lewis Family Playhouse March 13-15. We'd love to see you there!

Remember the Past...Shape the Future

2009 is a year for “REMEMBERING THE PAST...SHAPING THE FUTURE at the Paul A Biane Library at Victoria Gardens. It’s also a year to CELEBRATE! Please join the Rancho Cucamonga Library for our 3rd Black History Month Cultural Arts Night on Friday, February 20th from 7pm to 9pm. Free tickets are available at the Archibald and Biane Library Information Desks.

Remember Motown? Come dance the night away to live music as members of the 6 piece band “Breakout” perform classic Motown hits.

Feel the Beat! Guests of all ages are invited to join percussionist Chazz Ross and his audience participation drum circle.

Make Music. Learn how to make your own Likembe (African thumb piano). Musician/craftsman Len Byrd will demonstrate the art of making a thumb piano and then will show us how it is played.

Meet the Artist. Enjoy an exhibition of works by celebrated local artist Demar Douglas. Mr. Douglas will be in attendance creating a new piece of art work inspired by the evenings’ events.

Don’t miss this evening full of music, dancing, art, crafts and storytelling.

Great Things Are Happening at the Rancho Cucamonga Libraries!

February means a month of great programs and events at the Rancho Cucamonga Libraries. Here's just a sample:

February 11 (Biane Library)/February 12 (Archibald Library): Fall In Love with
Valentine's Day
Come join the fun decorating valentine's, get prizes playing Valentine's
Day bingo and hear some great stories from the season.
Contact the Library for time and ticket information.


February 20 (Biane Library): Cultural Arts Night: Celebrate Black History
In this most historic year, we'll gather to celebrate the
accomplishments of African Americans with songs, stories, music and
more.
Tickets available at both libraries beginning February 9.

Both libraries also offer regular storytimes, computer instruction classes, and other programs for families, children and teens. And don't forget the best part -- Library programs are always FREE!

Chinese New Year activities

Join us Friday, Janurary 23rd from 7pm -9pm at the Paul A. Biane Library for our first annual Chinese New Year celebration. The celebration of the Chinese New Year will feature dancing, musicians, crafts for children and refreshments. Free tickets for this event will be available at our libraries starting on January 12. Call 477-2720 ext. 5076 or 5077 for further information.

Make Chinese Dragons

Using brightly colored paper, pens, glue and lots of imagination, you can help us create beautiful dragons! Afterschool Cool storytimes on January 14th at the Biane Library and January 15th at the Archibald Library will be dedicated to making Chinese Dragons. Afterschool Cool storytimes are on Wednesday afternoons at Biane and Thursday afternoons at Archibald at 4pm for kids ages 6 - 11. No registration is necessary, but space is limited. Call 477-2720 ext. 5025 or ext. 5075 for further information.

Interested in learning about the history and traditions of Chinese New Year? Check out these books :

Top Five Things You Can Do at the Library During the Holiday Break

It's that time of year again. You love having everyone at home and together during the holidays, but soon enough you hear the deadly, "I'm bored!" whine from your most well behaved child. So what's a parent to do?

Come to the library! The Rancho Cucamonga Library is here to help you find fun, low cost options for you and your family to enjoy.

1. Sit in on a storytime!

The Biane Library will continue to offer Family Saturdays, our unique, active storytime for the whole family during the holidays. Join us for the ever popular, Games Day, on December 27 or make a calendar for the new year on January 3.

2. Make a Craft!

Both the Archibald and Biane Libraries will be offering make and take crafts during the break. Archibald will have theirs available December 30 and Biane throughout the break.

3. Check out our Virtual Library!

This is a nice alternative if the weather outside proves to be frightful. Log in from the comfort of your home and browse the Library's vast digital collections. There is a wealth of information you can use through our more than 30 online databases.

4. Have you seen the adult collection lately?

For those of you with small children, you may be interested to know the Library has an extensive collection of materials for adults. :-) Come browse our vast selection of popular fiction and non-fiction, audio books and feature films on DVD.

5. Read a story to your child

The literacy experts say nothing is more valuable or makes a more lasting impression than reading to your children. The Library offers an outstanding selection of books for you to share with even the pickiest little one. And as always, if you need help finding something to delight, entertain, enlighten or simply curl up with, let us know, we're glad to help!

From the Rancho Cucamonga Library Family to Yours:

Happy Holidays!

Storytime Registration is Coming Soon

Registration for the next storytime sessions will take place the week of December 15-19, 2008.

Monday, December 15th @ the Paul A. Biane Library
Bouncing Babies registration begins at 10:00 a.m.

Tuesday, December 16th @ the Paul A. Biane Library
Preschool Storytime registration begins at 10:00 a.m.

Wednesday, December 17th @ the Archibald Library
Preschool Storytime registration begins at 10:00 a.m.

Thursday, December 18th @ the Archibald Library
Bouncing Babies registration begins at 10:00 a.m.
Toddler Time registration begins at 10:00 a.m.

Friday, December 19th @ the Paul A. Biane Library
Toddler Time registration begins at 10:00 a.m.
Family Storytime registration begins at 10:00 a.m.

Also, don't forget that both libraries also offer weekly storytimes that do not require registration:

At the Paul A. Biane library:
Pajama Storytime is Tuesday evenings at 6:30 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.
Family Saturdays is Saturday afternoons at 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.

At the Archibald library:
Family Storytime is Saturday mornings at 11:00 a.m.

Please note that there will be no weekday storytimes from December 22-26 and December 29 - January 2. The new sessions will begin the week of January 5-9, 2009.


However, the Archibald library will have a special "Snowflake Make and Take" program on Tuesday, December 30 at 2:00 p.m.
Please join us that day for stories, crafts, and lots of holiday fun!

Healthy RC Is the Way to Be!






We are so excited to help you inspire and encourage your whole family to become healthier in Mind, Body and Spirit! Whether looking for the latest books, cds, dvds or magazines geared to making this your best life or simply finding something fun the whole family can enjoy, the Rancho Cucamonga Library is your place to energize and refresh yourself and the planet!


Check out these title just for kids:

Babar's Yoga for Elephant's by Laurent de Brunhoff


Everyone's favorite pachyderm leads you through many popular yoga

asanas. With great, thorough illustrations.

Tae-Bo Kicks DVD by Billy Blanks


Learn to stomp, kick and punch your way to a better, more energized you.








Dr. Sears' Lean Kids by William Sears, M.D.
Providing developmentally appropriate exercizes, trusted pediatrician, William Sears, gives parents all they need to know to sever the tv-tie and encourage their children to be more active.

Time Travel @ the Archibald library and Recycling @ the Biane library

More special weekend programs are planned for both libraries this Saturday, November 15.


At the Biane Library, the theme for the 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. Family Storytimes is "America Recycles." Anyone who brings in 10 plastic bags between 1 to 5 PM will receive a reusable bag. In the Story Theater participants will share a book about recycling, see a PowerPoint Trivia Presentation, and discuss various ways to recycle! In the non-fiction area of the library children will create their own bugs using recycled egg carton cups. Recycler Coyote will be making an appearance for anyone who would like to take a picture with him.

And the monthly Time Travel series continues at the Archibald Library at 1:00 p.m. with a focus on Colonial America.



Also the following Saturday, November 22, please join us at the same times and at both libraries for a Native American Indian celebration.

The Battle Is ON!

The Place: Rancho Cucamonga schools

The Adversaries: RC Elementary Students

The conflict: classic children's literature

The prize: Bragging rights for the rest of the year

Has your child been thrust into this heated conflict known as "The Battle of the Books"? If he or she has, then you are in good company. Children throughout RC are carefully checking their grade level lists, hoping to be able to read as many titles as they can find -- and the Rancho Cucamonga Library is here to help!

We have just received multiple copies of each Battle of the Books books at both libraries. While they do go quickly, these new copies should help to shorten your wait.

Good Luck and may the Force be with You!

(Don't forget Star Wars day is May 29, 2009)

Big Trucks @ the Archibald library and Bugs @ the Biane library!

This Saturday, October 25th, there will be special children's events at both the Archibald and Biane libraries:

The Archibald library will be hosting a Big Truck Storytime beginning at 11:00 a.m. The event will begin in the story theater and then move out to the north parking lot to see a police car, fire truck, trash truck, and, of course, the Rancho Cucamonga Public Library bookmobile.

Also, at 2:00 and again at 3:00, the Biane library will host a James and the Giant Peach party, with special guests from the UCR Entomology Department. There will be a hands-on insect program, crafts, and other activities.

Don't miss out on these great events!

Programs Aplenty@ The Rancho Cucamonga Library

As you look for affordable options for your entire family, what could be more perfect than the programs, materials and service offered at the Rancho Cucamonga Library? Whether you're looking for the latest best seller or a program you can enjoy with your child, we offer something for everyone.

Case in point: Visitors to the newly remodeled Archibald Library were treated to a display of crazy balloon antics courtesy of Buster Balloon during the Welcome Back, Archibald celebration Wednesday, October 8. With over 100 in attendance, Buster delighted the crowd with his patented escape from a straightjacket, twisted some amazing balloon art and of course, no presentation would be complete without the dreaded Whoppee Cushion of Doom!

On Saturday, October 11, the Biane Library featured Avian Entertainment in a salute to National Raptor Month. Parents and children were thrilled to see these amazing animals and learn all about them. And as you can see from the picture, this bird still knows the library is the place to find a good book!

And here's just a sample of some of our other upcoming events:

October 18:

Let's Time Travel to Ancient Egypt! at the Archibald Library, 1pm

Little Read Film: Harriet the Spy at the Biane Library, 2pm

October 21:

James and the Giant Peach playwright, David Wood's Books Are Fun Storytime at the Biane Library, 4pm

October 23:

Chet Gecko author, Bruce Hale visits the Archibald (4pm) and Biane Library (7pm)

You just can't get more action packed than that! So join us and make the library your destination!

The Little Read Movie Showings!

Families are friends are invited to watch a free showing of Harriet the Spy on Saturday, October 11th at 2pm at the Archibald Library, or Saturday, October 18th at 2pm at the Paul A. Biane Library. If you enjoy the movie please check out the book by Louise Fitzhugh's - Harriet the Spy. Eleven-year-old Harriet keeps notes on her classmates and neighbors in a secret notebook, but when some of the students read the notebook, they seek revenge. For further information please call 477-2720 ext. 5025 or 5075.

October is almost here bringing “Mystery Month” to the Rancho Cucamonga Libraries. Mysterious happenings at Afterschool Cool will get underway this Wednesday at the Paul A. Biane Library and Thursday at the Archibald Library both starting at 4:00 p.m. School-aged children will help initiate a month of mysteries leading up to spookiness in the approach to Halloween.

Featured among the mysteries in the Library’s collection are books by Bruce Hale. Mr. Hale will be visiting both libraries on Thursday October 23 and one lucky school on Friday October 24. Tickets to these events will be available soon. In the meantime visit you may visit Bruce Hale on his website at http://www.brucehale.com/.

Welcome back to the “new” Archibald with Buster Balloon on Wednesday October 8 at 7:00 p.m. Free tickets will be available at both the Archibald and Paul A. Biane Libraries beginning Wednesday October 1. This zany entertainer was the highlight of the Summer at the Biane Library and sure to be popular.