Adult Programs

Jazz @ the Library Programs

The Fresno County Library partners with Jazz Fresno to provide a monthly educational series entitled “Jazz @ the Library”. These programs take place the third Tuesday at 7 PM every month at the Woodward Park Library. 2008 programs have included “The History of the Guitar in Jazz” and “Japanese Americans in Jazz”.

• September 15, 2009: Songbirds of Jazz
  Karen Marguth will tell and sing the story of the important influences that female vocalists have had on the popularity and development of jazz.
• October 13, 2009: A Brief History of the Jazz Drum Set
  Brian Hama will discuss the history of the jazz drum set from its origins in the 1900's to the present day.
• November 17, 2009: History of the Modern Saxophone
  Jim Schmidt will discuss the design, construction, history and perfomrance of the modern saxophone.

For more information on Jazz Fresno, go to www.jazzfresno.org.

Shakespeare at the Library

The Fresno County Library partners with the Woodward Shakespeare Festival to present monthly reader’s theater performances of Shakespeare plays at the Woodward Park Library the second Tuesday at 6:30 PM each month from October - April. These performances offer a unique way to become familiar with Shakespeare’s canon and his language as well as an opportunity to meet and speak with the Woodward Shakespeare Festival board members, directors, and the company actors. Upcoming programs include:

• October 13, 2009: The Tempest
• November 10, 2009: Coriolanus
• December 8, 2009: Two Gentlemen of Verona
• January 12, 2010: Special selections - Shakespeare's Martial Men
• February 9, 2010: King John
• March 9, 2010: Antony and Cleopatra
• April 13, 2010: Merry Wives of Windsor

For more information about the Woodward Shakespeare Festival, go to www.woodwardshakespeare.org.

San Joaquin Valley Town Hall Book Discussions

The Fresno County Library partners with the San Joaquin Valley Town Hall to host a book discussion on the Town Hall lecture subject on Tuesdays at 7 PM at the Leo Politi Branch Library approximately 8 days prior to each Town Hall program. These book discussions are lead by local experts. Books used for the discussion are available at the Leo Politi Branch approximately one month before the book discussion.

• October 6, 2009: The Edge of Medicine: The Technology That Will Change Our Lives by William Hanson
  Discussion Leader: Dr. Dick Haas
  October Town Hall Speaker: Dr. Alan J. Russell on “Exploring Medical Frontiers”

• November 10, 2009: Happiness: Unlocking the Mysteries of Psychological Wealth by Dr. Edward Diener
  Discussion Leader:  Paul Kaser
  November Town Hall Speaker:  Dr. Edward Diener on “Happiness and Complete Wealth”

• January 12, 2010
  Discussion Leader: Vernon Crowder
  January Town Hall Speaker:  David Brancaccio on “Dissecting Economic Disaster”

• Feb. 9, 2010: Fresno Cultural History Timeline and Vision by Nancy Marquez
  Discussion Leader: Cynthia Cooper
  February Town Hall Speaker:  Robert Fitzpatrick on “Passionate About the Arts”

• March 9, 2010: My Soul Looks Back in Wonder: Voices of the Civil Rights Experience by Juan Williams
  Discussion Leader:  Paul Kaser
  March Town Hall Speaker: Juan Williams on “A Powerful Mix: Money, Race & Age”

• April 13, 2010: Ghost Wars by Steve Coll
  Discussion Leader:  Dr. Keith Clement
  April Town Hall Speaker: Steve Coll on “The Changing World of Terrorism”

For more information on the San Joaquin Valley Town Hall, go to www.valleytownhall.com.

Sisters in Crime Book Discussions

The Fresno County Library partners in the San Joaquin Sisters in Crime to host a monthly book discussion program the third Sunday of each month at the Clovis Regional Library at 2:30 PM. Each month a different mystery novel is discussed. Books are available for checkout at the Clovis Regional Library approximately one month before the meeting date.

• August 16, 2009: Split Second by David Baldacci
• September 20, 2009: Bedford Square by Anne Perry
• October 18, 2009: The Blue Corn Murders: A Eugenia Potter Mystery by Nancy Packard (Early start: 2:00pm)
• November 15, 2009: Bad Blood by Linda Fairstein

For more information about this program, go to www.sj-sinc.org or email sjsicjean@yahoo.com.

Billings Nonfiction Book Discussions

The Clovis Regional Library hosts a monthly nonfiction book discussion the second Sunday on each month at 2:30 PM. Books purchased for this book discussion are funded through the Robert Billings Memorial Trust.

For more information on the program, contact the Clovis Regional Library.