New Librarian gives fourth Digital Lesson and Adriana Tovar wins mini iPad

2017-02-04
Los Angeles County Public Library

Avalon's long wait for a full-time librarian is over. Morgan Pershing began her first day here giving the fourth digital seminar sponsored by the Friends of the Avalon Library on January 24, 2017.

Pershing, and yes, she is related to General of the Armies John Joseph "Black Jack" Pershing, comes from San Jose. She has been a professor of library science and holds a master's degree.

Pershing has family in the Los Angeles area and is excited to be on Catalina Island where she can kayak, hike and do all kinds of outdoor activities. She is accompanied by a cat named Jack. Her second cat, Hiro, stays on the mainland in Silver Lake with Pershing's mother.

Along with her library work, Pershing teaches classes on line. She teaches community partnerships and graphic novels for adults. Her computer skills will come in handy as she helps anyone who comes to the library understand all the digital aspects possible through the library system.

On Tuesday, January 24, Pershing focused on music, explaining the Freegal app where you can download up to 5 free songs a week to keep. Hoopla is another app free through the library. It is a system where you can check out songs like checking out books. They remain a while then go away on their own, so you don't have to worry about returning them or having late fees.

Pershing noted that people may check out 4 movies, 5 comics, and 8 audiobooks at a time as well as music and books. The next seminar will discuss magazines and review information in the other seminars.

At the end of the evening, Adriana Tovar's name was drawn for the mini iPad funded through a grant won by the Friends of the Library.

The next digital seminar will be on Tuesday, Februrary 14 (easy date to remember!), and again, a mini iPad will be given to a member of the audience. The seminars are from 7:00 a.m. to9:00 p.m. at the library. If the front area is confusing, come to the side entrance by the parking lot.

Also, the Thursday, Feb. 2 health seminar will be a discussion on the nurses' role in your health. The audience is encouraged to ask questions and to find ways nurses can help you with your medical concerns.