Florida's Sunshine Law Presentations

Access to public information is a basic right in Florida and a cornerstone of our democracy. Florida’s Constitution and “Sunshine Laws” guarantee the right of its citizens to attend public meetings and see public records so that the best decisions can be made for individuals, families and communities.

The Destin Library has just received a DVD entitled “Florida Government in the sunshine: A Citizen’s Guide” from the Brechner Center for Freedom of Information at the University of Florida (http://brechner.org). This 12 minute video provides an overview of the state’s open government laws and how they work. Topics explained include:

how do you get a public record,
how much can be charged for a public record,
what if an agency refuses to supply the record,
what government bodies are covered by the Sunshine Law,
how should government provide access,
what are the penalties for violating the Sunshine and Public Records laws,
what exemptions allow the government to conduct closed meetings or deny access to records?

The Destin Library will sponsor two public presentations of this DVD and provide participants with other related resources on this topic. The presentations are free and open to the public. For further information please contact the library at 837.8572.

Public Presentations Scheduled
Wednesday, June 11th at 1:30 PM
Tuesday, June 17th at 7:00 PM

Tai Chi Classes Begin June 4th

Have you wanted to improve your health, your balance, your concentration, and relieve stress? Tai Chi may be just what you are looking for. This ancient form of exercise is easy to learn and is suitable for almost anyone.

The Destin Library offers Tai Chi classes every Wednesday morning at 7 am. Instructor Barbara Rezmer, a certified Tai Chi for Health instructor, will conduct a new class for beginners on Wednesday, June 4th. The cost of the class will be $5.00 per session. Enrollment is limited to 12 participants with registrations accepted by phone or in person. Registrations will be taken on a first come, first served basis. If you have wanted to try this low impact way to good health, join us at the library.

Additional information about Tai Chi may be found at www.taichiforarthritis.com.

For more information, please call 837-8572.

Linux PC OS Presentation Set

The Destin Library will host an upcoming presentation about the Linux Personal Computer Operating System on Tuesday, June 10th, at 6:00 PM in its Calhoun Meeting Room. The presentation is free and open to the public. Due to limited seating those interested in attending are encourage to preregister by calling 837.8572. The preregistration deadline is Monday, June 9th.

Terry Enderland, a resident of Destin, and a new but enthusiastic Linux convert, will make a presentation about Ubuntu Linux – a computer operating system that is free, user-friendly, automatically updated, immune to viruses and spyware, stable and is accessed with more than 20,000 free-of-charge applications. According to Mr. Enderland, Ubuntu is a community developed, Linux-based operating system that is perfect for laptops, desktops and servers. It contains all the applications you need - a web browser, presentation, document and spreadsheet software, instant messaging and much more.
The hour-long presentation will address the following topics:

- What is Linux and why should I care?
- What are the minimum hardware requirements?
- What are the download and installation options?

A demonstration of an installed Linux system and some of its more popular applications will be followed by a question and answer period.

For further information contact the Destin Library.

Sunshine State Young Reader’s List

The Sunshine State Young Reader's Award Program is a statewide reading motivation program for students in grades 3-8. The program, cosponsored by the School Library Media Services Office of the Department of Education and the Florida Association for Media in Education (FAME), began in 1983. The purpose of the SSYRA Program is to encourage students to read independently for personal satisfaction, based on interest rather than reading level.

Sunshine State books are selected for their wide appeal, literary value, varied genres, curriculum connections, and/or multicultural representation. Students are encouraged to read books that are above, on, and below their tested reading level in order to improve their reading fluency.

Beginning May 15th, the Destin Library will have copies of the Grades 3-5 and Grades 6-8 lists available at the circulation desk. Individuals wishing to receive lists in pdf format may send a request to wrogers@cityofdestin.com requesting “Sunshine State Young Reader’s List” in the subject line.

For further information please contact the library at 837.8572

Summer Library Internships Available

The Destin Library will sponsor a 32 hour Summer Library Internship for up to 4 young adults ages 15 to 17 who are interested in acquiring community service hours for high school graduation requirements and information retrieval skills for future and ongoing academic purposes. The program will be eight weeks in length and is scheduled for four hours each Monday beginning June 2nd, and ending July 28th (1:00 – 5:00 PM).

Students selected for the Summer Library Internship will fulfill their internship under the direction of professional librarians with support provided by library staff and guest lecturers/activity leaders.

Young adults interested in this program are encouraged to call the Destin Library (Young Adult Section) at 837.8572 for application/interview details. The deadline for applications is Monday, May 26th.

The Summer Library Internship Program is open to residents of Destin and will be subject to a selection process. The program will be limited to a total of 4 participants.

For further information please call the Destin Library at 837.8572.

Independent Film June 17th

The Friends Guild of the Destin Library will sponsor a monthly movie night featuring an award winning independent and foreign film on designated evenings at 7:00pm. The next movie night date is June 17th. The program is free and open to the public. Films are unrated and directed toward mature audiences. Seating will be limited to 60 on a first-come, first-served basis.

Date: Tuesday, June 17th, 2008 (7:00pm)
Movie Title: Viva Cuba (80 minutes) (Spanish with English subtitles)
Director: Juan Carlos Cremata Malberti
Synopsis: Malu is from an upper-class family and her single mother does not want her to play with Jorgito, as she thinks his background is coarse and commonplace. Jorgito’s mother, a poor socialist proud of her family’s social standing, places similar restrictions on her son. What neither woman recognizes is the immense strength of the bond between Malu and Jorgito. When the children learn that Malu’s mother is planning to leave Cuba, they decide to run away and travel to the other side of the island to find Malu’s father and persuade him against signing the forms that would allow it.

For further information about this program please contact the Destin Library at 850.837.8572.

Young Writers Program Offered

The Destin Library will sponsor a Summer Young Writers Program for resident students’ ages 10 to 13 on Tuesday afternoons (May 27th, through July 22nd)(4:30 – 5:30 PM).

The program will focus on enhancing writing skills for both non-fiction and fiction. During the summer session the “Building Blocks to Children’s Creative Writing” as developed at Yale University’s New Haven Teachers Institute will be used as a guide.

Parents interested in pre-registering their child for this program are encouraged to call the library at 837.8572 or contacting the Youth Services Librarian when visiting the Destin Library. The deadline for registrations is Monday, May 19th.

Participation in the Destin Library’s Summer Young Writers Program is open to residents of Destin and will be on a first-come, first-served basis. The program will be limited to a total of 10 participants.

For further information contact the Destin Library at 837.8572.

Applebee's Sponsors Reading Program

This summer children ages 12 and younger will have a reading partner at the Destin Library thanks to local Applebee’s Neighborhood Restaurants. Concord Neighborhood Group, of Lincoln, Nebraska, has supplied the Destin Library with Summer Reading Program coupons that can be redeemed at local Applebee’s restaurants (Destin, Pensacola and Crestview) for a free Kid’s Meal, from the Kid’s menu selections, with the purchase of one adult entrée.

Children participating in the program must read 10 books during the summer-time period and then complete a special 2008 Summer Reading Log before receiving their coupon. 2008 Summer Reading Logs are available at the circulation desk at the Destin Library.

Area businesses interested in supporting summer-time or event specific programming for children and young adults at the Destin Library are encouraged to call Will Rogers at 837.8572.

Beaty Family Art Exhibit Scheduled

Beginning Wednesday, May 14th, the Destin Library will play host to an art exhibit by the Beaty Family of Destin. The exhibit will run through June 11th. Approximately 20 paintings will be on display in the library’s Calhoun Room. Featured exhibitors are:

Julie Beaty
Krista Beaty
Dill Beaty
Kefrin Woodham

This exhibit is free and open to the public during library hours:

Monday, Friday, Saturday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday and Thursday 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Wednesday 1:00 – 5:00 PM

For more information, contact the Destin Library at 837.8572.

Destin Library Sponsors Book Signing

The Destin Library will sponsor a book signing by local author, Frank T. DeAngelo, on Monday, May 26th, at 10:00 AM in the Destin Community Center Lobby. This event will precede the annual Memorial Day Ceremonies that are held at the Destin Cemetery.
Greetings from the President (Blue Note Books, Florida, 2003) recounts in vivid detail the author’s experiences before, during, and after World War II.
The author, prior to his 19 birthday was drafted in April, 1943. He was discharged at age 21 for wounds received February 28, 1946, as an Army infantryman serving in the European theater.
In addition to sharing his book and war experiences with interested residents, Mr. DeAngelo is also eager to meet other war veteran’s from the area.
Mr. DeAngelo and his wife Hazel are residents of Destin.

For further information please contact the Destin Library at 837.8572