Research & Resources
Digital Downloads - Your Library on Demand
Library programs and events that you can download!
On this page:
Authors
- A Visit with Author Nancy Turner
- (4/2/08)
Listen now (Running time: 43:32)
Nancy Turner discussed her book These Is My Words, the 2008 OneBookAZ selection, and answered questions from the audience at Joel D. Valdez Main Library during a Food for Thought presentation. Learn more about OneBookAZ
- Creating a Community of Readers ...Starting at Birth - featuring Mem Fox
- (3/5/08)
Presentation: The Importance of Reading Aloud - Listen now (Running time: 01:11:02)
This presentation looked at the enthusiastic use of books, poems and reading aloud as a way of preparing children in the happiest manner for their entry into the world of literacy. It also explored ways in which teachers in elementary school can ensure these students continue their eager journey on the road to literacy success.
Mem Fox was an Associate Professor in Literacy Studies at Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia, where she taught teachers for twenty four years until her early retirement in 1996. She has received many civic awards, honours and accolades in Australia, including two honorary doctorates. She has visited the United States ninety seven times, mostly in her role as a literacy expert although she is also a well-known author in America. She is an influential international consultant in literacy, but she pretends to sit around writing full time.
- Lawrence Clark Powell Memorial Lecture
- Lectures
- Listen to Luci Tapahonso - the seventh annual Lawrence Clark Powell Memorial lecture (12/6/07)
- Listen to Jimmy Santiago Baca - the sixth annual Lawrence Clark Powell Memorial lecture (12/7/06)
- Lifetime Achievement Awards
- Listen to J.C. Martin - acceptance speech (12/6/07)
- Listen to Winn Bundy - acceptance speech (12/7/06)
- Inside the Writers Workshops
- Listen to author Peter Turchi - Maps of the Imagination: Reading, Writing, and the Virtues of Getting Lost (2/21/08) - In his book Maps of the Imagination: The Writer as Cartographer, Turchi compares writing (a novel, story, poem, play, or screenplay) to making a map. This was a Food For Thought presentation.
- Listen to Shannon Cain and Lucy Corin Shannon Cain, curator and host of Inside the Writers' Workshop, is a creative writing coach and the executive director of Kore Press, an independent publisher of literature by women writers. Lucy Corin is the author of a collection of stories, The Entire Predicament, and a novel, Everyday Psychokillers: A History for Girls. Shannon Cain will talk with Lucy Corin about the process of writing fiction. How do stories start and where do they come from? What actually happens in revision after spellcheck? How do you know when a story is done or when to give up? How do you let go or move on? What's different when you're working on a novel?
Ms. Corin will also read briefly from her new book The Entire Predicament (Tin House, 2007). The conversation promises to be filled with anecdotes from experience that will enhance your reading life, concrete strategies you can use in your own creative work, plenty of differing opinions, and lots of fun.
- Listen to Shannon Cain and Lucy Corin Shannon Cain, curator and host of Inside the Writers' Workshop, is a creative writing coach and the executive director of Kore Press, an independent publisher of literature by women writers. Lucy Corin is the author of a collection of stories, The Entire Predicament, and a novel, Everyday Psychokillers: A History for Girls. Shannon Cain will talk with Lucy Corin about the process of writing fiction. How do stories start and where do they come from? What actually happens in revision after spellcheck? How do you know when a story is done or when to give up? How do you let go or move on? What's different when you're working on a novel?
- OneBookAZ
- An Evening with Richard Shelton (4/24/07) - Listen to the author's presentation
- Listen as Richard Shelton is interviewed about Going Back to Bisbee (4/12/07)
- SciFi Pros on SciFi Prose
- Authors Dennis McKiernan, Emma Bull, and John Vornholt discuss the pros and cons of writers groups, what has worked successfully for them and when groups have turned out badly. Get ideas about how to make a group work for you! (September 2007)
- Listen as the authors introduce themselves - 01:07 min
- Listen to the full conversation - 06:44 min
Poetry
- 2007 Valencia Teen Poetry Festival
- The 2007 festival categories were Heartfelt, HodgePodge, Festival Favorite and Speak Up (socio-political/cultural themes).
- Introduction and thanks (03:17, MP3)
- Poets reading their original poems (53:47, MP3)
- Announcement of the winners and more thanks (05:21, MP3)
- A Celebration of Possibility: Youth Poetry Contest Winners 2006
- Read and listen to the poetry of the winners of this year's contest.
That's My Take Teen Trailers
Tucson teens teamed up with PCPL to make trailers out of their favorite books. Getting lost in a book has never been so easy!
Library Presentations
Food For Thought
- Tohono O'odham Nation with Melvin Ortega
- (5/8/08)
- Filmmaker Melvin Ortega joined us for a film presentation of Tohono O'odham Nation and Native American events, profiles and interviews.
- Listen to Melvin Ortega (49:54)
- Tucson Symphony Orchestra Preview with Robert Reed
- (5/1/08)
- Robert Reed, Tucson Symphony Orchestra's Orchestra Manager/Artistic Administrator, discussed the Tucson Symphony Orchestra's first commercial recording in its nearly 80 year history. The recording will be made during the final Classic Series performances of the 2007/08 season. The performances and subsequent CD will contain three works by French Canadian composer André Mathieu and will be released by the Canadian-based label, Analekta in the fall of this year.
- Listen to Robert Reed (53:35)
Clean Air Days
- Green Home Building
- (4/24/08)
- Listen to Susan E. Buchan, Green Building Program Manager from the Pima County Development Services Department. This presentation covered green building concepts and technologies that can be introduced into new and existing homes. Learn about energy efficiency, renewable power, environmentally-responsible materials, and lifestyle changes that can reduce your carbon footprint, save you money and make your home a healthier place to live. Audio courtesy of Chuck Simms of KLPX.
- Listen to Green Home Building (01:19:20)
- Landscaping for Water Conservation
- (4/17/08)
- Kathryn Hahne, Program Coordinator of the SmartScape Program at the the Pima County Cooperative Extension presented Water Conservation. Discover tips for efficient proactive outdoor water conservation for residential and commercial use. Hear about techniques to save water, money and time. This workshop was taught by a horticulturalist through the SmartScape Program - which was picked as a "Best of Tucson" by the Tucson Weekly.
- Listen to Water Conservation (51:23)
- Bike Commuting
- (4/10/08)
- Donna Lewandowski, Safe Routes to School Coordinator from the Pima County Department of Transportation presented Bike Commuting. Listen to this fun presentation on avoiding bicycle crashes and other bike safety topics for bike commuting and pleasure rides. This presentation was a Clean Air Days and Food For Thought event.
- Green Commuting
- (4/3/08)
- Ruth Reiman, Travel Demand Management Manager from the Pima Association of Governments (PAG) presented Green Commuting. Learn how to make your trip to work environmentally friendly and save money too. PAG's newly expanded RideShare program has something for everyone. Learn about the commute options available, including Sun Tran, that reduce pollution, congestion, and energy consumption. This presentation was a Clean Air Days and Food For Thought event.
- Listen to Green Commuting now (32:00)
Solar Power 101
Resources discussed are available on Congresswoman Giffords' web site.
- University of Arizona's Solar Research Program, AZRISE
- (3/13/08)
- Dr. Joe Simmons, Director of the Arizona Research Institute for Solar Energy (39:56) - Listen now
- Jason Vollen, Assistant Professor of teh College of Architecture & Landscape Architecture, University of Arizona (24:22) - Listen now
- Solar America Initiative
- (2/13/08)
- Doug Crocket of the City of Tucson (40:21) - Listen now
- The Economics of Solar
- (1/23/08)
- Katharine Kent of The Solar Store (42:00) - Listen now
- Ardeth Barnhart of the Arizona Research Institute for Solar Energy (35:00) - Listen now
- Solar Energy Technology
- (12/17/07)
- Introduction (9:45) - Listen now
- Part I (50:30)- Listen now
- Part II (1:11:25) - Listen now
Readers Theatre Project
- Local Students Perform Letters from Rifka
- Students from Montessori Khalsa School performed Letters from Rifka as part of the library's Becoming American Readers Theatre Project. Over 90 students around Tucson participated in the project, working with drama coach Paul Fisher and visual artist Michelle Williams for eight weeks to create the sets and practice for the performances. (May 2007)
Tucson Memories
In celebration of Tucson's birthday in August 2007, we invited members of the community to share their memories of Tucson.
- Pima County Supervisor Richard Elías shares his memory of the Pioneer Hotel Fire. Listen to his memory
- Pima County Supervisor Richard Elías recently shared this memory of meeting César Chávez. Listen to his memory
- Bonnie Henry, columnist for the Arizona Daily Star, shared memories of growing up in Tucson at our Tucson, Tell Us Your Story event on July 26, 2007. Listen to her memories
- Tucson resident Robert Sleight shared his family's first impressions with us. Listen to his memory
- City Council Member Nina Trasoff shared her first impressions of Tucson with us. Listen here
- Council Member Nina Trasoff shares her memories of being a reporter here in Tucson. Listen to her story
- Deputy County Administrator John Bernal shares his memories of being a paperboy downtown. Listen here
- Council Member Trasoff shares her memories of working at the Arizona Health Sciences Center when the first artificial heart transplant was done. Listen to her memory