Controlling animal pests in the garden

Please join Master Gardener Gil Patrick to learn about what kind of damage different animals can do to your garden. Find out what they eat and when they are active. Learn about the different ways to control them. Different types of traps will be demonstrated.  So this presentation may NOT be appropriate for children.


Saturday, May 26, 2012 at 12:00 to 2:00pm in the Cedar Room.  Sign up at the reference desk or call 408-615-2900.  Walk-ins welcome.

posted by PK

Teens: Ready to Spy?

Do you love to spy? Then check out the following espionage stories at your library today! Be entertained as characters embark on exciting adventures to infiltrate their enemies and see how they handle the challenges of going incognito to accomplish their missions.

	I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter Cammie is a spy-in-training, attending Gallagher Academy, a top-secret boarding school training future female spies. Cammie has to keep her spy training a secret and as she does, it leads to complications in her relationship with Josh. Will Josh discover that she is actually a spy? Will their relationship last? Check out this title to find out!
	Alex Rider by Anthony Horowitz Alex Rider's world will never be the same when his uncle is mysteriously killed. He soon discovers that his uncle was actually a spy working for the British government. They decided to recruit Alex and have him take over his uncle's profession of working as a secret agent. He is assigned to complete his uncle's last assignment: to investigate and uncover the secrets of the Sayle Enterprises. This is an action-packed story that will intrigue readers!
	SilverFin : a James Bond adventure by Charlie Higson From a humble beginning to becoming a world class spy, get to know one of the most popular spy characters during his teenage years! James was as an orphan who lived with his Aunt and attended boarding school in Eton. The adventure begins when a local boy named Alfie is missing. James team up with Alfie's cousin, Red, to investigate and help find Alfie. Will they succeed? Read this book to find out more!

For more recommendations, please see a Youth Services Librarian at your library.
posted by pn.

Improve Your Small Business

Join Joan Jackson of JMJ Information Services for a powerful, free workshop that will help you make your business better.  She will guide you to free resources that will help you grow your business and profits and keep customers loyal.  Learn how to differentiate your small business from competitors so customers will come your way.

Tuesday, May 15, 2012, from 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.
Cedar Room, Central Park Library, 2635 Homestead Rd., Santa Clara, CA 95051
(408) 615-2900

Don't miss this chance to enhance your business.

posted by mb

June 5, 2012, Election

Susan Hough and Michael Lusk of the League of Women Voters Education Fund were here at Central Park Library Tuesday night with nonpartisan, educational  information on the June 5, 2012, election.  Voters will make candidate choices for the November election which includes selecting a new U.S. President and many other offices.  This election is the first that chooses the top two primary winners in many offices.  Two candidates from the same political party could be running for the same office in November.  Read more at cavotes.org.

Check the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters to see if you are registered to vote.  You have until Monday, May 21, 2012, to register.

Learn how to evaluate ballot measures in this article which includes a link to the Secretary of State's Cal-Access site which tells who is financing candidates and issues and how much money is being spent.

Attend local candidate forums (or if you live closer to San Jose these candidate forums) so you know who is going to represent you either in the legislature or in judicial office.  Read about the election in the Easy Voter Guide.  Visit SmartVoter.org to see which district you are in and who is running.

posted by mb

Maurice Sendak (1928 - 2012)

As a kid, I remember this library having an entire wall made up to look like Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are. A flat construction paper Max stood about as tall as a real child surrounded by the stylized jungle and cute/creepy characters which populate one of the most loved children's books ever written. (As an example of how loved, I gave a copy to my young cousin and his parents went gleefully insane about it for an hour. My cousin, having not read it, was nonplused and played with the wrapping paper since the book was being dominated by the adults reliving their childhoods.) The display was expertly made to look as if the whole thing just jumped off the page and onto the wall. It's possibly the best memory I have of this library.

It's also possibly a false memory. There is a significant chance that I imagined it once and filed that image away as "fact" instead of "fiction." Or perhaps there was a small book display that my brain remembers as being on a massive scale. As I've gotten older, the memory became more elaborate and more truthful when it may have been created out of whole cloth.

Considering we are talking about Maurice Sendak, this sort of mushy memory seems only appropriate. His work often played with this line between reality and imagination. Did Max really go to a land of the Wild Things or did he just fall asleep hungry in his wolf suit? Was Mickey merely dreaming about the night kitchen or did he really experience it? It doesn't matter. To a child, imagination and reality are often one and the same. The real thing is no more important than the pretend. 

Sadly though, the world lost the real thing yesterday. Maurice Sendak passed away at the age of 83. While he may be gone, he did leave us many imaginative memories, lovely books, and a host of honest and intimate interviews. Sendak was not what you'd imagine in a children's book writer. He was bluntly opinionated, seemingly cranky, and fantastically witty. Reading interviews regarding his work, his place as a children's author, his personal life and his thoughts on mortality are equally worthy of attention as his books themselves.

This interview was done with Terry Gross (of Fresh Air) last year after he published Bumble-Ardy. When I first heard it back in December, it made me cry. Now that he has passed away, it seems even more poignant.
posted by jw   

Children's Mother's Day Books

Mother’s Day is on Sunday, May 13^th! The library has a great collection of books and resources for your child to make Mother’s Day special and memorable! Here are a few recommended titles:

Books

	Mother's Day by Anne Rockwell The students in Mrs. Madoff's class share how they will celebrate Mother's Day with their families.
	Happy Mother's Day, Mami! by Leslie Valdes It's Mother's Day! Dora has decided to make a special cake for her mami, but first she must gather all the ingredients.
	Freaky Friday by Mary Rodgers A thirteen-year-old girl gains a much more sympathetic understanding of her relationship with her mother when she has to spend a day in her mother's body.

Activities

	Mother's Day Crafts by Arlene and Herbert Erlbach Presents easy craft projects to make for Mother's Day. Learn how to make the following: cupcake magnets, flower photo card, jewel case photo frame and more!
	Things to Make for Mother's Day by Rebecca Gilpin This book is packed full of ideas for simple gifts and activities to celebrate Mother's Day. Simple instructions are provided for cooking mom’s favorite food and creating crafts.
	My Very Own Mother's Day: A Book of Cooking and Crafts by Robin West Provides suggestions for celebrating Mother's Day through recipes and instructions for various crafts that mothers would enjoy!

Here are other ways to celebrate Mother’s Day:

• Create a personalized Mother’s Day greeting card.
• Work on a Mother’s Day craft project.
• Write a thoughtful poem for mom.
• Play mom’s favorite board games with her such as chess, cards, etc.

For more recommendations, please visit the Youth Services desk at your library.
Previously posted by pn on 5/6/11

Interview Help! Tuesday, May 8, 2012 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

Ace the Interview, a free, professional, in-depth presentation on interviewing skills and techniques will be presented on Tuesday, May 8, 2012, from 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. in the Cedar Room at Central Park Library.

The most simple interview questions can be the most difficult to answer.  Learn how to handle questions about your salary requirements, your weaknesses, and your strengths.  Discover effective, proven techniques to prepare you for tough job interviews.

Sign up by calling (408)615-2900 or when you are in the library or just drop in.

ProjectBEST
This project was paid for in whole or in part by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian.

posted by mb

Kids: Ready to Spy?

Love to spy? Then check out the following spy titles at your library today! Be entertained as characters go on exciting adventures to infiltrate their enemies and see how secret agents handle the challenges of going incognito to accomplish challenging missions.

Spy Stories

	NERDS : National Espionage, Rescue, and Defense Society by Michael Buckley A group of unpopular misfits from elementary school create a spy network. They combine their talents and skills and use astonishing gadgetry to fight evil and save the world from notorious villains.
	Secret Agent Jack Stalwart by Elizabeth Singer Hunt A popular action-packed spy series, Jack Stalwart is a secret agent who travels around the world to defeat sinister enemies and fulfill missions assigned by the Global Protection Force. Besides pursuing spy missions, he is also on a quest to find his missing older brother, Max.
	The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart Reynie Muldoon, an orphaned child with special abilities decides to join an elite team of talented spies known as the Mysterious Benedict Society. They soon go on an adventurous journey of espionage and self-discovery to defeat a master criminal who plans to take over the world. Readers will be intrigued by interesting characters and a gripping plot.

Spy Guides

	Cool Spy Supplies: Fun Top Secret Science Projects by Esther Beck For eager spies! This book contains simple step-by-step instructions on how to create homemade tools and projects for spy activities.
	The Big Book of Spy Stuff by Bart King Know the secrets to become a successful spy! Learn how to trick enemy agents, create a good disguise that would make you seem invisible in a crowd, and more! Stay on top of your spy endeavors by checking out this title.
	Spies by Clive Gifford Learn about different types of spy activities and find out how secret agents use communication, code breaking and a variety of other techniques to uncover their enemies. This book also contains some information about a range of weapons and gadgets that are used by secret agents.

For more recommendations, please see a Youth Services Librarian at your library.
posted by pn

California's June 5, 2012 Election

Vote on Tuesday, June 5, 2012, to have your voice heard.  Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.  President, U.S. Senate, U.S. House, State Senate and State Assembly representatives will be chosen.  The winning candidates will be placed on the November ballot.  Because of redistricting you may be voting for new representatives unknown to you.  There are two propositions; Proposition 28 Limits on State Lawmakers' Terms in Office and Proposition 29 Tobacco Tax.

The last day to register is Monday, May 21, 2012.  May 29, 2012 is the last day for your county elections office to receive your written request for a "vote by mail" ballot.

Check to see if you are registered and to get further information when you visit Santa Clara County's Voter Registrar's page. 

Visit http://www.smartvoter.org/ for comprehensive election information.  Free copies of the Easy Voter Guide are in Central Park Library and Mission Family Reading Center.

Come to the Library and get your questions answered about the Propositions and the impact of redistricting.

Pros & Cons on Ballot Measures - Cedar Room - Central Park Library Tuesday, May 8, 2012  7:00   League speakers will explain ballot measures and answer questions.  This event is free and open to the public. 

posted by mb