Dean Dixon will talk about the Hidden Buena Park at the Buena Park Library

Dean Dixon, curator of the Buena Park Historical Society, will present an insider's view of Buena Park history through real stories. His talk will be accompanied by a slide presentation. Dixon has been involved in historic preservation since the 1970s and will share his "warts and all" approach to local history. He believes in "giving our past a future" -- stop by and find out about the hidden Buena Park. The program will be on Saturday, March 27, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. in the Library Board Room.

Annual St. Patrick's Day Media Madness Sale Returns to the Buena Park Library District

Starting Tuesday, March 16, 2010, the Volunteer Guild celebrates the return of its ever popular St. Patrick's Media Madness Sale. The sale runs through Saturday, March 20, 2010, at 4:30 p.m., but don't wait until then to get the best bargains ever! It is a BOGO Event -- Buy One, Get One Free of Equal or Lesser Value -- of all audio items such as DVDs, VHS, and all kinds of audio music in CDs, Cassettes and LPs. Come see for yourself the treasures you can find! Come early--come often to help the Guild help the Library.

The Guild Bookstore is on the 2nd floor of the Library, located at 7150 La Palma Avenue in Buena Park, between Knott and Western Avenues. Sale proceeds benefit the Volunteer Guild which supports all the Library's programs and collections.

For further information about this and other upcoming sales, please call the Guild Bookstore at 714-826-4100 x123.

Buena Park Library District Offers Free Bilingual Beginning Computer Classes

The Buena Park Library District will be offering a bilingual beginning computer class (computación para principiantes) on Saturday, March 13, 2010, from 9 am to 10:30 am in the Library’s Boardroom. The class will be repeated on March 27 and April 3, 2010. This class is designed for those who have little or no experience with computers. Attendees will learn basic mouse and keyboard skills. Participants are asked to call the Information/Reference Desk at 714.826.4100 x125 to sign up since space is limited.

Fan Exhibit Opens at the Buena Park Library District

The Buena Park Library District hosts an exhibit of hand-held fans from the collection of Tracy Winkler. The hand fans have been collected from around the world and cover a time period from the 1850’s to the present day. The display is located in the Library lobby and runs now through March 31, 2010. The Library is located at 7150 La Palma Avenue in Buena Park, between Knott and Western Avenues. The Buena Park Library is open Tuesday through Thursday, 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. and Friday and Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

The exhibition includes a wide variety of fans from Asia, Spain, Europe and the Americas. On display are examples of fixed, folding, cockade and brise fans. Fans can be made of a wide variety of materials besides the more common wood and paper. Materials include feathers, fabric, lace, plastic, shell and bone. Ms. Winkler, a long-time Cerritos resident, was encouraged by an aunt to start a hobby and has been collecting fans since the age of nine. Ms. Winkler is a member of FANA (Fan Association of North America) and FCI (Fan Circle International), organizations dedicated to promoting, exhibiting, conserving, and educating the public about fans.

Fans have been used for thousands of years. Folding fans were invented in Japan over 1500 years ago. Dutch and Portuguese traders brought these fans to Europe during the 1500’s. From the 1600’s to the early 1900’s, fans were an important fashion accessory. Through the years, fans have been used as a token of love, as an advertising medium, as a signal across battlefields, as well as a cooling device.

For more photos visit www.flickr.com/photos/buenaparklibrary

Get Down & Dirty at the Buena Park Library

Photo courtesy of Jonathan Davis

Two experts from the Fullerton arboretum will discuss different green gardening topics during a program at the Buena Park Library on Saturday, March 13, 2010 at 2:00 pm.

Jonathan Davis is a biologist/ethnobotanist at the Fullerton Arboretum and cares for the Arboretum's rare fruit collection. He has also developed an 11,000 square foot organic vegetable garden. He will present a talk called Garden Alchemy: How to Turn Your Turf Into Organic Vegetables.

Chris Barnhill is the living collections curator at The Arboretum. His presentation will be on Drought Tolerant Gardening.

Join us to find out how to make your garden "green" -- just in time for spring. Light refreshments will be served. There is no charge for this program.