National Hispanic Heritage Month, from Sept. 15 through Oct.15, celebrates and recognizes the contributions Hispanic Americans have made to American society and culture. Mid-September was chosen to honor five of our Central American neighbors who celebrate their Independence days in September.

We have celebrated Hispanic Heritage nationally since 1968, when President Lyndon Johnson approved Hispanic Heritage Week (later expanded into the month by President Reagan.)

For fun activities, reading lists and more information, please see ¡Colorín colorado! pages in English and Spanish.

Want to find a career that matches your interests? Need help writing your resume or with your interviewing skills? Need to learn Microsoft Office skills? Taking a test as part of the process? Interested in hearing how people in a given field spend a typical day?

Our eLibrary Careers & Jobs suite includes:
 * Gale Career Transitions
 * LearningExpress Job & Career Accelerator
 * LearningExpress Library of practice tests and skills courses

These user-friendly databases offer complementary, in-depth, step-by-step assistance and resources for preparing for a job search, narrowing your field of interest, expanding and refining your skills, locating current opportunities, and on-the-job growth. Give them a try - it's time well spent!

Ventura County eLibrary has added Mango Languages to its list of patron resources.  Mango is an easy and effective way to learn to speak a foreign language and is available in two versions:

Mango Basic:  Perfect for a foreign language beginner, Mango Basic teaches everyday greetings and helpful phrases in a short period of time.  The courses, which require only two to five hours of time to complete, are currently available in 22 foreign languages and 14 English as a Second Language (ESL) courses. 

Mango Complete: Mango Complete offers a 100-lesson course that digs much deeper and is designed to provide a more complete understanding of the entire language and culture. It is available in nine foreign language and three ESL courses.

Cinco de Mayo celebrates the victory of a Mexican army over a French army at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. The battle was fought after Emperor Napoleon III of France sent troops to take over Mexico. The French army was better armed and three times as large, but the Mexican army won anyway.¹

How do you celebrate Cinco de Mayo? Will you find a book to read? (Dewey 394.262) Cook a Mexican meal? (Dewey 641.59) Find a website with Cinco de Mayo games and crafts? Have fun!

¹"Cinco de Mayo." World Book Kids. World Book, 2010. Web. 30 April 2010.

Asian Pacific American Heritage Month is observed nationally to recognize the contributions people of Asian and Pacific heritage have made to American culture.

Enjoy exploring websites that explain the significance of the month, Asian American History (take the quiz), along with biographies of notable Asian Americans and more. Don't forget, you can use our eLibrary resources too!

Celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day!

World Book Student tells us Earth Day "is an annual observance, held on April 22, to increase public awareness of environmental issues. Each year on Earth Day, millions of people throughout the world gather to clean up litter, to protest threats to the environment, and to celebrate progress in reducing pollution."¹

Reduce waste? * Earth friendly crafts? * Explore nature? * More earth friendly crafts? How will you celebrate Earth Day?

¹Hayes, Denis. "Earth Day." World Book Student. World Book, 2010. Web. 16 April 2010.
Graphic: Photobucket - lulinhapato10

Find links to California and Federal Tax Forms in our eLibrary!