Family-Friendly Movies at the Library

Kick the weekend off right and bring your kids to FCPL's Woodward Park branch on Fridays, 3:00-5:00 PM, for showings of kid-friendly movies old and new!

September 23: Lilo & Stitch (PG)
September 30: Mulan (G)
October 7: Brave (PG)
October 14: Homeward Bound (G)
October 21: Wall-E (G)
October 28: Paranorman (PG)
November 4: Inside Out (PG)
November 18: Song of the Sea (PG)

These events are free, but attendees are encouraged to bring their own snacks!

Also, please note that this is one of multiple movie programs offered through FCPL. Check our calendar for additional screenings at other branches, including movies for pre-teens and teens.

Afterschool Crafts

Does your child love to create?

Encourage their artistic endeavors by taking them to the after school craft programs for kids and teens hosted at many of FCPL's branches! All programs are free to attend, and supplies are provided.

You can check out the program schedule here, or visit our larger calendar for information about these and other great activities at the Library.

Tail Waggin' Tutors

Free homework help is available at many Fresno County Public Library locations, but some of our favorite tutors are four-legged, furry, and not very talkative.

Weekdays and weekends you'll find them in our branches, exerting a calming influence on kids practicing their reading and social skills. Most of us have at some point in our lives experienced the non-judgmental affection of a dog, and when a child works on their reading skills side-by-side with one of our Tail Waggin' Tutors, they naturally build confidence and self-esteem and come to see reading as an activity that can be pleasant. In some cases, these special, registered therapy dogs break through to children where human efforts have been less successful:






Be sure to come visit when the Tutors are making their rounds! As always, check our calendar for the full listing of events. For convenience, here's some information about planned Tail Waggin' Tutors appearances during the next few weeks.

National Arts in Education Week

This week (September 11 – 17) is National Arts in Education Week, a time dedicated to recognizing the arts (ex. dance, music, theatre, media arts, literature, design, and visual arts) as "essential element[s] of a complete and balanced education" that help students become engaged, successful, and well-rounded individuals (H.Con.Res. 275). This special week has been observed since July of 2010, when the U.S. House of Representatives passed House Resolution #275 designating the second week of September as “Arts in Education Week.”

More generally, during this week we celebrate the positive impacts of artistic learning within school settings, creative aging and rehabilitation programs, and throughout our communities. People of all ages, toddlers and older Americans alike, benefit from opportunities to engage creatively with the world they live in. The benefits of arts classes and activities go beyond face value: arts education can help students develop strong problem-solving skills, self-discipline, focus, and perseverance, boost confidence, and even promote collaboration and personal accountability.

This week--and in future weeks, of course--be sure to join the fun with FCPL!

Several branches offer after school craft programs for children. All programs are free and supplies are provided. Check out the schedule here: http://bit.ly/2c9WekQ

FCPL hosts many creative teen and adult programs as well.

And did you know you can even get music lessons for free through the Library? We've recently discovered a treasure trove of great music tutorials on Lynda.com, which you can access for free with your library card number. Other creative offerings include drawing, 2-D animation, photography, and screenwriting.