Calendar

Fort Bend County Libraries (FBCL) is hosting an online Poetry Slam Competition for teens and young adults. The theme for the competition is “Dare to Hope.” Entries may be submitted online April 5 through May 3. The live-streamed performance-poetry competition will take place on Saturday, May 8, at 2:00 pm.

Students who are 14 to 20 years of age are invited to compete for prizes in this performance-poetry event by reading original works they have created themselves.

To participate in the competition, contestants should complete an online entry form on FBCL’s website (www.fortbend.lib.tx.us) and upload copies of three original poems they wish to read for the competition. One poem will be read for each round to which the participant advances.

There will be two qualifying rounds and one final round. A panel of five judges will determine which competitors advance to the second round and the final round. The order of performances will be randomly chosen on May 8 at the start of the event.

Judging will be based on language, idea, theme, tone, mood, vocal strength, emotion, body/facial movement, and fluency.

Each poem must be limited to no longer than 3 minutes and 10 seconds in length. Poets may read from a copy of their poem, but they may not use props, costumes, or musical instruments.

Poems must be family friendly and may not include any profanity or sexually explicit content. Poems containing incendiary, offensive, discriminatory, or inflammatory language will be disqualified.

Participants who submit poems online during the entry period will be sent a link for the Webex session for the competition. Submissions will not be accepted after 5:00 pm on May 3.

Prizes will be awarded to the top three competitors.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Fort Bend County Libraries, the Poetry Slam is free and open to the public. For more information, call the library system’s Communications Office at 281-633-4734.

Fort Bend County Libraries (FBCL) will present a series of introductory online demonstrations in April to introduce people to various aspects of computer use and technology.

These how-to tutorials can be viewed on the Fort Bend County Libraries website – www.fortbend.lib.tx.us – by clicking on the “Classes and Events” tab, selecting “Virtual Programs,” and finding the virtual “class” on the dates listed.

Some of the topics includes multiple sub-topics, and participants can choose to view the whole series or the individual parts of their choice.

“Intro to 3D Printing” – Monday, April 5 (pre-recorded video)

This 2-part instructional video will provide an overview of 3D printing. Learn about how the 3D printer works, the process for printing, and how to use Tinkercad to design 3D objects.

 “MS Word Survival Basics: How to Delete an Unwanted Blank Page” – Thursday, April 8 (pre-recorded video).

In this segment of the MS Word Survival Basics series, learn how to delete an unwanted blank page.

 “Computers 101” – Monday, April 12 (pre-recorded video)

FBCL's multi-part "Computers 101" series consists of basic, introductory videos providing an overview of computers and how they can be used. Episodes in the series cover the physical parts of a computer, the differences between a Microsoft PC and an Apple Mac computer, and the meanings of different computer terms. Get an overview of the software programs in the Microsoft Office Suite (MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint), and much more.

 “MS Word Survival Basics” – Monday, April 19 (pre-recorded video)

In FBCL’s “MS Word Survival Basics” series, learn the basics of using this word-processing software program to create letters, resumés, forms, and other types of documents. Different segments in the multi-part series will demonstrate various features, such as text effects, changing font style and size, adding images, footnotes and endnotes, page numbers, tables, mail merge, and more.

 “MS Excel Survival Basics” – Monday, April 26 (pre-recorded video)

Learn the basics of using this spreadsheet software program, which features calculation tools that are helpful for financial and statistical needs. In this multi-part series, learn how to use different features of MS Excel, such as formulas, filters, tables and graphs, pivot tables, VLOOKUP function, and more.

The sessions are free and open to the public. To access these online tutorials, go to the Fort Bend County Libraries website (www.fortbend.lib.tx.us), click on “Classes & Events,” select “Virtual Programs,” and find the program on the date indicated. For more information, call the library system’s Communications Office (281-633-4734).

For more Fort Bend County Libraries computer and technology tutorials, visit the library system’s YouTube channel -- https://bit.ly/FBCLYouTubeChannel.

Are you learning to speak Spanish? Would you like some practice in a casual, informal atmosphere? Fort Bend County Libraries presents a program for individuals who would like a place to practice their Spanish language and conversation skills. The “Spanish Conversation Circle” provides an opportunity for non-Spanish-speaking people discuss topics of their own choosing while practicing their Spanish skills.

The Spanish Conversation Circle on Monday, April 12, beginning at 2:00 pm, will be a live-streamed virtual session presented via Webex; it will NOT be in person. Registration is required. Participants who register for the event will be emailed a link to a Webex meeting, and they may join the discussion from the comfort of home.

A “Spanish Word of the Day” video will be posted to the FBCL calendar of virtual events on Monday, April 26. A different word or phrase in Spanish will be introduced during each session. It is NOT necessary to register for the Spanish Word of the Day.

These activities are free and open to the public. Registration for the Conversation Circle is required; a link to the Webex session will be emailed to participants who register. To register online at the library’s website (www.fortbend.lib.tx.us), click on “Classes & Events,” select “Virtual Programs,” and find the program. Participants may also register by calling the Mission Bend Branch Library at 832-471-5900.