FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 5, 2008

CONTACT: Diane Nevill, (623) 930-3554, Public Information Officer

GLENDALE, Ariz. – OK, fess up. Do you and your family watch too much television? Below are a few facts to think about as you mull that question over in your mind:

• The average child watches 20,000 30-second commercials in a year.
• Parents normally spend 38.5 minutes per week in meaningful conversation with their children.
• Fifty percent of children, ages 6-17, have TVs in their rooms.
• The average American youth spends 900 hours per year in school; they spend 1,500 hours per year watching television.
• Sixty-six percent of Americans regularly watch TV while eating dinner.

Break the TV habit by coming to the library during Turn Off the TV Week. Activities and events will be found during the day, afternoon and evening at all three Glendale libraries.

The following free events are taking place at the Glendale Main Library, 5959 W. Brown St.:

• Sunday, April 20 – Mouse Around the Library. 2-3:30 p.m. in the Storytime Room. Hear stories, decorate a cookie and meet the mouse from “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie!” No reservation.
• Monday, April 21 – All Ages Bingo. 3-4 p.m. in the Storytime Room. Match the pictures! Earn Bingo Bucks! Get great prizes! No reservation.
• Monday, April 21 – Wildlife World Zoo: Desert Animals. 6:30 p.m. in the Storytime Room. Zoo staff will bring five or six animals and explain the different specialized body parts animals have to help them survive in their environment. No reservation.
• Tuesday, April 22 – Baby Time, 9:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.; Toddler Time, 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.; Story Time, 10:30 a.m. in the Storytime Room. No reservation.
• Tuesday, April 22 – More All Ages Bingo, 3-4 p.m. in the Storytime Room. No reservation.
• Tuesday, April 22 – Let’s Get a Pet!, 6:30 p.m. in the Storytime Room. Dr. Chuck Toben, a veterinarian, will present information and advice on how to choose the perfect pet for you and your family. Some furry friends will likely attend. No reservation.
• Wednesday, April 23 – Crafts for “JSNTTV” Kids (Just Say No to TV), 3:30-5 p.m. in the Storytime Room.This quick “make and take” craft will all be “Things That Fly.” No reservation.
• Wednesday, April 23 – From Page to Screen: “Because of Winn-Dixie,” 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the Storytime Room. The book is available upon registration. Call 623-930-3537 to sign up. Read the book, watch the movie and discuss the differences!
• Thursday, April 24 – Baby Time, 9:30 a.m.; Toddler Time at 10 a.m.; Story Time at 10:30 a.m. in the Storytime Room. No registration necessary.
• Thursday, April 24 – All Ages Bingo, Yet Again! 3-4 p.m. in the Storytime Room. No registration necessary.
• Thursday, April 24 – Wild Arizona with Tom Lutz, 6:30 p.m. in the Storytime Room. Learn about insects and reptiles of the Arizona desert. No registration necessary.
• Friday, April 25 – Last Chance for Bingo, 3-4 p.m. in the Storytime Room. No registration necessary.
• Friday, April 25 – Birthday Story Time, 4 p.m. in the Storytime Room. No registration necessary.
• Saturday, April 26 – Reading with Maggie (a reading therapy black lab), 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Registration a must; call 623-930-3537.
• Saturday, April 26 – Bubble Mania, noon-2 p.m., on the library’s front lawn. No registration necessary.
• April 20-26 – Poster Mania: What I do when I’m not watching TV. Poster-making projects are available all week long in the Storytime Room. Make a poster and put your name in a drawing for great prizes.

The following free programs are happening at Foothills Branch Library, 19055 N. 57th Ave.:

• Monday, April 21 – Stop by after school or in the evening to complete a craft. Check with the Youth Desk for options. No reservations required.
• Tuesday, April 22 – Drop in for one of the 30-minute storytimes, running all day from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. The loveable Mouse from “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” will be at some of the storytimes. Finish off the fun by designing you own mouse pin or doing a puzzle page. No reservations required.
• Wednesday, April 23 – Music and Dance of Pakistan, 7 p.m. in the Roadrunner Room. Enjoy the culture of this southern Asian country. No reservations necessary.
• Thursday, April 24 –Stop by the library after school or in the evening to complete a craft. Check with the Youth Desk for options. No RSVP.
• Friday, April 25 – “You Wouldn’t Want to Work on the Great Wall of China,” 4 p.m. in the Storytime Room. This new series of programs, for ages 8-13, features history with humor, based on the popular You Wouldn't Want to… series. Or, come with a friend to play a game. Check with the Youth Desk for options. RSVP by calling 623-930-3837.

The following free programs are taking place at Velma Teague Branch Library, 7010 N. 58th Ave.:

• Monday, April 21 – BINGO, 6:30 p.m. No reservations necessary.
• Tuesday, April 22 – Puppet Show by Carl Hayden High School Students, 10:30 a.m. No reservations needed.
• Wednesday, April. 23 – On Demand Storytime, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Do you want a story time? We are ready when you are! Come and meet our Mouse friend from 11 a.m.-noon. No RSVP.
• Thursday, April 24 – Crazy Quick Craft, 6-7:30 p.m. Choose your craft from an assortment of make it-and-take it items. No registration required.
• Friday, April 25 – Fun Friday board games, 2-4:30 p.m. No RSVP needed.

Questions? The Youth Services Departments can be reached at the following numbers:

Glendale Main Library – 623-930-3537

Foothills Branch Library – 623-930-3837

Velma Teague Branch Library – 623-930-3437