The typical American spends more than 34 hours a week viewing live television, according to a Nielsen Rating survey done last year. In addition to that, your average American spends three to six hours a week watching video-recorded programs. More people are watching video content on their smartphones, too, as these devices become popular.
We at MHAT-19 (cable channel 19 in Morgan Hill) encourage South Valley residents to think about the video content they watch and how it impacts their brains. That’s why we showcase educational television shows in our weekly programming. We have shows on the arts, cooking, politics and international culture to help you develop your mind.
We also work with the Friends of the Morgan Hill Library, recording some of that volunteer organization’s author lectures and broadcasting them on our channel. Our involvement with the Friends has evolved over the last several years. And that’s why we want to spend the rest of this month’s column encouraging you to visit Morgan Hill’s public library and (excuse the pun) “check out” all that it offers for families and South Valley citizens.
On Saturday, Feb. 23, the Friends of the Morgan Hill Library will hold its quarterly “Big Book Sale” from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This is a popular attraction for South Valley residents who want to find bargains on fiction and non-fiction books, plus CDs, DVDs and other items. All books are $1 or less during the first part of the sale. To get rid of the remaining books, the Friends offer buyers the chance to fill up a paper grocery bag with books for the grand total of $4 – a steal of deal.
The Friends also have a selection of unique and rare books available online through its storefront on Amazon.com. If you would like to see what is on offer, visit the webpage: www.amazon.com/shops/MHLibraryFriends. The Friends also have a book store inside the Morgan Hill Library itself where it sells a wide selection of used books at low prices. The store hours can be found by visiting the library’s website.
The Friends of the Morgan Hill Library also work with the library’s staff in organizing author visits to the program room where audiences get to hear viewpoints from published writers. They are often involved with the popular Silicon Valley Reads program which encourages residents throughout Santa Clara County to read the same book and have dynamic discussions about it. This year, Silicon Valley Reads selected the theme of “Invisible Wounds of War” and recommends two books for reading: “The Long Walk” by Brian Castner and “Minefields of the Heart” by Sue Diaz.
Diaz appeared at the Morgan Hill Library last month, and Castner talked at the Gilroy Library in early February. At 7 p.m. March 13, in conjunction with Silicon Valley Reads, Mary Nethery will be at the Morgan Hill Library to talk about her book “Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine and a Miracle.” She’ll show a video interview of Major Brian Dennis and the dog “Nubs” and their story. Participants will also have the opportunity to assemble care packages that will be given to military personnel.
We at MHAT-19 suggest if you want to learn more about what is offered at the Morgan Hill Library or Gilroy Library to visit their websites. They can be found by going to the Santa Clara County’s website at www.sccl.org. There, you’ll find that the library offers a wide selection of fun public programs – all for free. For example, there are story time hours for children (including stories in Spanish), Zumba lessons in the Morgan Hill program room to help you get in shape, a “knit in” at the Morgan Hill Library on the first Tuesday evening of the month for people who like to get together and developing their knitting skills, and lessons for people who want to develop card games such as bridge. There are also great community discussion groups – such as the “Great Decisions” series of public affairs issues.
Avoid being like the average American and letting your life pass away in front of a flickering TV screen. Check out your local library – and enhance yourself.
