...una biblioteca es un gabinete mágico en el cual hay muchos espíritus hechizados. Despiertan cuando los llamamos; mientras no abrimos un libro, ese libro, literalmente, es un volumen, es una cosa entre las cosas.      - Emerson

1. StoryPlace speaks Spanish

Leave it to librarians to figure out this storytelling business and do it up right, whatever the format.  StoryPlace.org is a  dazzling site that leaps right outta the screen at you and the kiddies with its delightful graphics and animation, its music and entertaining sounds, and its fun interactive content.

See for yourself as you explore their vast Spanish-language section.  You might begin with some animated stories at http://www.storyplace.org/sp/preschool/activities/
lunch.asp?themeid=1 or http://www.storyplace.org/sp/eel/activities/
threelilcritters.asp where you can even give names to the characters.

 (There's a thematic index of all the preschool tales at

http://www.storyplace.org/sp/preschool/other.asp)

It doesn't stop there.  The Spanish side of the site also offers printable games, mazes and activities featuring characters from the stories, and a section of short reviews of Spanish-language children's books.

We have the librarians in Charlotte-Mecklenburg County, NC to thank for all this.  They launched StoryPlace "to provide children with the virtual experience of going to the library and participating in the same types of activities the library offers.

"StoryPlace currently consists of two libraries, the Preschool Library and Elementary Library with new activities and themes being added each month."

If you'd like to find out more about the history and mission of this fine bilingual project, visit http://www.storyplace.org/about.asp

2. Health information in a fabulous format

Dr. Tango has a truly marvelous webside manner, whoever s/he is.  The good doctor has put together a large, authoritative, and graphically rich medical information site, all in Spanish.  You can get to it via a number of avenues, thanks now to the good folks at Texas Health Resources.  Try http://www2.texashealth.org/ESP/index.asp  just for starters.

The package comprises three primary areas:
· The Enciclopedia de Salud, with definitions and explanations of medical terminology, resides at http://www2.texashealth.org/ESP/drtango/encyclopedia/index.asp
· You'll find a pregnancy and childbirth information center at  http://www2.texashealth.org/ESP/drtango/healthCenters/pregnancy/index.htm
· And a child safety guide, replete with pictures and facts on everything from tarantulas to bicycle helmets, awaits caring parents at

http://www2.texashealth.org/ESP/drtango/healthCenters/childSafety/default.htm

The "Healthtools" splashpage has links to all three, and more: http://www2.texashealth.org/ESP/drtango/healthtools.asp

And here's a little bonus tip from Flaco: Those of you who study español in your spare time and are looking for labeled diagrams with those hard-to-find body parts like the paratiroides and zigoma should head straight to http://www2.texashealth.org/ESP/drtango/encyclopedia/bodyParts/bodyareas.asp

Want to read more, in English, about this service and how it came to be? See http://library.northernlight.com/FD20011211290000124.html?cb=0&dx=1006&sc=0#doc
 

3. Poetry forum serves writers and readers in Spanish

Juárez's entire poem, by the way, is posted at http://poesiavirtual.com/index.php?ir=ver_poema.php&pid=1667
 

4. Connecting globally with rural Mexico

5. Críticas site revamped