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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/14/13 - City Council Newsletter City of Eugene 125 East 8 Avenue, 2 Floor thnd Eugene, Oregon 97401 (541) 682-5010 (541) 682-5414 (FAX) www.eugene-or.gov EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER March 14, 2013 IN THIS EDITION BRAIN-STRENGTHENING FOREIGN LANGUAGE CLASSES OFFERED AT CAMPBELL CENTER EUGENE PUBLIC LIBRARY RECEIVES $100,000 GIFT FROM FRIENDS OF LIBRARY AROUND THE CITY Brain-Strengthening Foreign Language Classes Offered at Campbell Center Science research the world over shows that learning a second language strengthens the part of the brain that processes information in the same way exercise builds muscles. Those seeking an easy way to learn another language need look no further than Campbell Community Center. The Adult and Senior Program at Campbell Center offers beginning, intermediate, and advanced lessons in French, Spanish, and Italian. Beginning classes emphasize conversation with some focus on the culture of each country. Students learn phrases and information useful for traveling. Intermediate classes include reading, grammar and writing. Advanced classes are for those who want to master the language. Spring classes for all three languages begin in early April. Registration is now underway at www.eugene-or.gov/recenroll. For more information, contact Tom Powers at 541-682-5318. Eugene Public Library Receives $100,000 Gift from Friends of Library Friends of Eugene Public Library presented the Eugene Public Library with a gift of $100,000 to help support Library classes, programs, and events for the public in the coming year, including Summer Reading programs for children and teens. Friends is a non-profit membership organization dedicated to strengthening the Library by encouraging community involvement and providing financial support for programs and projects. They raise money through sales of donated books at the Friends Book Sale each April and at the Second Hand Prose Book Store in the Downtown Library, as well as through Friends’ membership dues. Library Director Connie Bennett, pictured at right receiving the check from Friends’ President Jenny Jonak, says, “Everyone in the community will benefit from the Friends’ dedicated work to raise these funds. This important gift represents investments by a huge number of community members – not only the Friends for the thousands of hours of labor and years of expertise that made it possible, but also every person who donated a used book to the Friends or purchased one from them. It’s an honor to be part of a community that uses and supports its Library the way Eugene does.” Since forming in 1976, Friends of Eugene Public Library members have been tireless fundraisers and advocates. Over the years, the organization provided more than $1 million to support the Library. One of the Friends’ first events was a Ken Kesey talk for which the admission “ticket” was a Friends membership receipt. Friends’ gifts bought the Library’s first public computer, funded the beginning of the CD music collection, and provided $100,000 for the new Downtown Library and $25,000 each toward establishing the Bethel and Sheldon branches. In recent years, the Friends’ annual gift has been EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 1 March 14, 2013 earmarked for support of the Library’s more than 1,000 free public programs for all ages each year, especially Summer Reading programs and events. The Friends’ signature fundraiser, the annual Book Sale, is coming up Saturday, April 13, and Sunday, April 14, at the Lane Events Center. To volunteer at the Book Sale, contact the Friends at 541-484-1452 or booksalevolunteer@gmail.com. For more information about the Eugene Public Library, call 541-682-5450 or go to www.eugene-or.gov/library. EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 2 March 14, 2013