Santa Clara City Library

Gentle Yoga Seminar February 7 6:30 - 7:30

2012-01-31T00:00:00.000-08:00

Julie Moore and Nancy Britton will be talking about the many benefits of yoga for body and mind, give a few examples and a short demonstration, as well as getting the audience involved in a few simple poses and breathing exercises. The presentation will be in the Cedar Room on Tuesday, February 7, 2012, from 6:30 - 7:30.

Julie Moore has been practicing yoga for twenty years and teaches gentle yoga for seniors at the Saratoga Senior Center and Northwest YMCA. Nancy Britton is a yoga teacher and co-owner of Moon Shadow Yoga.

posted for pk by mb

Is Marriage for White People? Author Talk Feb. 6, 2012

2012-01-30T13:03:00.000-08:00

In celebration of Black History Month, Adult Services has invited Ralph Richard Banks, the Jackson Eli Reynolds Professor of Law at Stanford Law School, to discuss his new book, Is Marriage for White People? How the African American Marriage Decline Affects Everyone. The book, described by the New York Times as “important,” by Publisher’s Weekly as “captivating,” and by Kirkus Review as “triumphant,” offers an informative yet engaging examination of the decline in marriage in American society, and especially among African Americans. Professor Banks will highlight the implication of the African American experience for people of all races, and also will talk about the extraordinary media attention the book has attracted. The presentation is on Monday, February 6, 2012, 7:00 p.m. in the Central Park Library Redwood Room.
To reserve a space at this free Black History Month book talk, stop by the Reference Desk or call 615-2900.

posted by mb for jb

And The Winners Are...

2012-01-26T17:56:00.000-08:00

Monday, January 23 was to youth services librarians what the Oscars are to the film industry. While we Californians were still sleeping, the 2012 Newbery and Caldecott winners were announced during the American Library Association's Midwinter Conference in Dallas, Texas. The Newbery recognizes the year's best in children's literature, while the Caldecott honors excellence in children's picture books.

Jack Gantos, author of the popular Joey Pigza series, won this year's Newbery for his novel Dead End in Norvelt. Drawing on his childhood experiences, Gantos writes about a 12-year-old boy (not coincidentally named Jack Gantos) who spends the summer of 1962 grounded until he is tasked with helping an elderly neighbor with an unusual chore.

Newbery Honor books (in other words - the runners up) were Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai and Breaking Stalin's Nose by Eugene Yelchin.

The wordless picture book A Ball for Daisy by Chris Raschka took home the Caldecott Medal. This poignant tale features a spirited young dog who is heartbroken when a bigger dog destroys a favorite toy. This is Raschka's second Caldecott Medal; he previously won for The Hello, Goodbye Window.

Caldecott Honor books were Blackout by John Rocco, Grandpa Green by Lane Smith, and Me, Jane by Patrick McDonnell.

Many other American Library Association awards recognizing excellence in such categories as young adult literature, beginning readers, juvenile nonfiction, and audiobooks were also announced this week. A full list of winners can be found here.

As always, our librarians are available to help you find these award winning books. We're just a phone call away at 408-615-2916.
posted by SPB

ESL Conversation Club

2012-01-25T15:25:00.000-08:00

Do you want to improve your English conversation skills in a safe and welcome environment? Do you want to meet people from diverse backgrounds and learn about their cultures? Please join the Santa Clara City Library’s new ESL Conversation Club. We will meet weekly on Wednesday mornings from 10:30 AM to 12 PM in the Cedar Room starting on February 8th.
We are also looking for conversation partners to facilitate the club. If you have the passion to help English language learners improve their conversation skills and want to make a difference in someone’s life, please join us!

If you have questions, please call (408) 615-2900.

posted by mb for jh

1040 Central

2012-01-23T15:12:00.000-08:00

Find the latest information on filing your federal taxes from the IRS.

Fruit Tree Pruning Workshop - January 28 12:00 - 2:00 p.m.

2012-01-23T14:56:00.000-08:00

Come join us for a free workshop to learn about pruning fruit trees, presented by Master Gardener Allen Buchinski. The presentation will be Saturday, January 28, 2012, from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the Cedar Room. Sign up when you are in the library or by calling (408) 615-2900.

Learn about pruning different types of fruit trees, why, how, and when to prune for both structure, shape and fruit production. Allen volunteers his skill at the Emma Prusch Park Farm's High Density Fruit Orchard where the trees are kept small and at a reduced height to make harvesting ladder-free! You can learn more at the Master Gardeners website.

posted for pk by mb

Healthy Eating Seminar - January 24 6:30- 7:30pm

2012-01-19T16:53:00.000-08:00

Start 2012 off by treating your body well! Join us for a talk from Alice Hancock, a food educator from Whole Foods Market, who will discuss healthy eating from 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, January 24, 2012, in the Cedar Room at Central Park Library.

Sign up at the Reference Desk when you are in the library or call (408) 615-2900. Walk-ins welcome.

posted for pk by mb

SOPA and PIPA Protests

2012-01-18T14:22:00.000-08:00

If the Internet is looking a little spotty today, that's the point. A number of websites (most notably Wikipedia, Reddit, Boing Boing, and that one featuring cute cats with bad grammar) have gone dark today in order to protest the proposed SOPA and PIPA legislation. For the music and recording industry, both bills will serve as new method of fighting online piracy. But many in the technology world see it differently. As summed up by a techie, "It was nice while it lasted, but if this passes, the Internet is pretty well over."

Doom and gloom aside, here's what SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) and PIPA (Protect Intellectual Property Act) are trying to do. While the Internet is this glorious global utopia where we are all connected regardless of physical boundaries, it's also the darkest, sketchiest alley around. Lawless and anonymous, illegal trade flourishes on the Internet. Since day one, this has been a thorn in the side of people trying to protect copyrights and intellectual property.

Copyright laws only work when there is an ability to enforce them. Should someone be pirating material and distributing it online from inside the United States, there are laws that can hold that person or company accountable (think back to the Napster kerfuffle in 2000). But if the piracy is occurring outside the jurisdiction of the US, there's not much that can be done. Lawsuits and legal action fall apart if both sides aren't playing by the same rules. Should the offending party choose not to come down to your local courthouse to be punished, that's pretty much the end of it. The pirates thumb their noses and continue about their business.

SOPA and PIPA are trying to change that by going after the distribution system that allows piracy to happen. Or, as it's better known "pretty much the entire Internet." The logic is, if piracy outside the country can't be stopped, then choking the entry points will at least stop it from making profits in the United States. Those entry points are search engines (like Google), user content driven websites (like YouTube), pay sites (like PayPal), auction sites (like Ebay), web hosts and a myriad of others. These companies would be responsible for policing their sites (which may be impossible) and could be held accountable for any offending material that's found to be linked to through them.
posted by jw

The problem, as seen by those opposing the legislation, is that the law is not directed towards the producers or users of pirated material. It's aimed at the conduit which carries it from one to the other. It may not be a perfect analogy, but it's like stopping the drug trade by holding the highways personally accountable for everything that rolls across them.

The fear is that user generated content sites such as YouTube, Wikipedia, etc would not be able to meet the requirements of the bills and could shut down either from litigation costs or fear of it. There is also concern that the legislation could limit future Internet innovations. For example, had the bills been in place a decade earlier, a company like Google probably could not have come into existence. Add the specter of censorship and weakened internet security to the mix and you have a very volatile topic.

The entertainment industry and Chairman Lamar Smith of the House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary are the main proponents going to bat for the legislation. The bills, according to their arguments, will not affect anyone doing legally allowed things. It will only target people or sites breaking the law. Moreover, it won't harm innovation, but protect it from being stolen and sold on the cheap. Despite that, in the face of pressure from constituents, a number of congressional backers have distanced themselves from the bills in the past few days.

The Internet protest ends at midnight tonight. Wikipedia and all the others will go back to business as usual. Or at least until January 24th when the PIPA bill is set to be voted upon.

Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

2012-01-13T10:00:00.000-08:00

“Now, I say to you today my friends, even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: - 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.'”

- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Speech at Civil Rights March on Washington, August 28, 1963

Even though decades have passed since his death, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s words and life continues to inspire and resonate with many of us today. His dream changed our nation and made it a place that embraces and celebrates diversity and equality more fully.

Learn more about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s extraordinary life by checking out the library's collection of related books and media and articles.

posted by pn.

Teen Fantasy Picks of the Week

2012-01-06T10:00:00.001-08:00

Enjoy the following popular teen fantasy titles at your library today!

* indicates Series

The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel* by Michael Scott

Sophie and Josh are caught up in a deadly struggle between two rival alchemists over the possession of an ancient and powerful book containing the secret formulas for alchemy and everlasting life.

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Katsa, a young warrior lives in a world where some people are born with unique special skills called "Graces". Katsa however has a dreaded skill of killing and in this adventurous story, she goes on a journey of self-discovery and redemption by trying to save her land from a depraved king.

Maximum Ride* by James Patterson

An exciting adventure and science fiction series about six genetically enhanced children being imprisoned in a laboratory. Eventually, a sympathetic scientist helps them escape and they use their special abilities to survive on their own.

Please see a librarian at your library for more teen fantasy suggestions.

posted by pn.

Even though the Library is closed...

2011-12-19T12:44:00.000-08:00

Library card holders can still access lots of information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Click on the Electronic Resources button on the lower left of the Library's homepage. Choose from the alphabetical list or look at the subject arrangement. Log in with your library card and you have a gift from your Library that keeps on giving!

Magazine, newspaper or journal articles: Masterfile Premier

Electronic Books
Full text books on programming languages or other technical topics: Safari Books Online
Full text of popular legal titles: Legal Information Reference Center
Borrow free e-books from: Northern California Digital Library
Tip: Begin by signing in to My Digital Account with your library card and you get access to additional electronic books exclusively for Santa Clara City Library card holders.

Especially for children
Animated, talking books: Tumblebooks and BookFlix

Jobs and Careers
Practice tests for a job or admission to schools: Learning Express Library
Resume and Career preparation: Career Transitions
Resume review, GED and citizenship practice tests: Brainfuse

Investing
Check on your stocks and mutual funds: Value Line Research Center and Morningstar Investment Research Center

Health topics: Health Source

Full text encyclopedia: World Book Student
Business and phone directories: ReferenceUSA
Live tutoring assistance for children and adults: Brainfuse

created by ba

posted by mb

Staff Picks: Best Books of 2011 for Children and Teens

2011-12-11T21:03:00.000-08:00

'Tis the season for end of the year "best of" book lists. The New York Times, School Library Journal, Publishers Weekly - everyone has an opinion, including your Santa Clara City Library Youth Services team! We're an opinionated bunch, and we love to share our passion for great books with others. So we present to you our staff picks for the best of 2011 for children and teens. Did your favorites make our list?

Board Book:

Sklansky, Amy E. You Are My Little Cupcake
Sweet babies and yummy cupcakes. Could you get any cuter than this? Make this your go-to baby shower gift.

Picture Books:

Brown, Peter. You Will Be My Friend!
A determined (if not slightly overzealous) bear named Lucy wants to make a new friend, and nothing will stand in her way.

Cyrus, Kurt. The Voyage of Turtle Rex
The life cycle of a prehistoric turtle called an archelon is told through short, simple prose and sweeping double-page illustrations.

DiPucchio, Kelly. Zombie in Love
All of us need love - even the undead. This book does the impossible by making zombies irresistibly cuddly and child friendly.

Fisher, Valorie. Everything I Need to Know Before I'm Five
Preschoolers will love the bright colors and whimsical photographs in this book that introduces concepts such as colors, numbers, letters, and sizes.

Freedman, Deborah. Blue Chicken
An enterprising chicken attempts to help an artist paint the barnyard, and instead creates a big blue mess.

Parot, Annelore. Kimonos
Inspired by traditional Japanese dolls, this story introduces readers to the Kokeshis' kimonos and hair-dos as well as Japanese culture. The illustrations are off-the-charts adorable.

Ramsey, Calvin Alexander. Belle, the Last Mule at Gee's Bend
In Gee's Bend, Alabama, Miz Pettway tells young Alex about the historic role her mule played in the struggle for civil rights led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Ray, Mary Lyn. Stars
You can't take a star with you...or can you? Are stars only in the night sky, or can they be as close as in your pocket?

Reidy, Jean. Light Up the Night
This bedtime story told in a cumulative style reflects the different layers from outer space, right down to the little boy's bedroom.

Rodriguez, Beatrice. Rooster's Revenge
When Bear, Rabbit, and Rooster get shipwrecked on an island, Rooster spots a glowing green ball in a cave. Will following the ball lead to safety or even more trouble? The illustrations in this funny wordless book are as quirky as they are heartwarming.

Sendelbach, Brian. The Underpants Zoo
It's about animals and underpants. Really - does any more need to be said? It's a sure-fire hit.

Shea, Bob. Dinosaur vs. The Library
Dinosaur is on the loose again, and he terrorizes and defeats many on his way to the library. Can he hold his roar during storytime?

Shireen, Nadia. Good Little Wolf
This simple story with fabulous illustrations is about a good little wolf that tries to be bad, but just can't cross over to the dark side.

Srinivasan, Divya. Little Owl's Night
Little Owl loves night and twinkling stars, and loves seeing the animals in the forest. Kids and grownups will as well after reading this magical book.

Suen, Anastasia. Road Work Ahead
Young fans of construction sites, road signs, trucks, diggers, and cranes will clamor for this to be read to them over and over. Consider yourself warned.

Thompson, Lauren. Leap Back Home to Me

A little frog makes increasingly bold leaps out into the world, and then comes back to his mother after each excursion. This is a great readaloud to build confidence in children making their own first brave steps toward independence, such as starting preschool.

Vicher, Frans. Fuddles
When Fuddles the fat, spoiled cat escapes from his house and goes to explore the great outdoors, his adventure is more taxing than expected.

Wolfe, Myra. Charlotte Jane Battles Bedtime
From the day Charlotte Jane was born on a pirate ship she has had "formidable oomph." But when she succeeds in conquering sleep by staying up all night, her oomph seems to weigh anchor.

Juvenile Nonfiction:

Cardillo, Margaret. Just Being Audrey
The illustrations in this simple biography on Audrey Hepburn are as charming and stylish as the subject herself.

McClure, Nikki. To Market, To Market
Unique illustrations introduce children to the concept of a farmer's market and how food travels from the farm to the dinner table.

Sayre, April Pulley. Rah, Rah, Radishes!: A Vegetable Chant
Let's hear it for...vegetables? Yes! Photographs and rhyming text will have kids cheering for vegetables in all their colorful and tasty variety.

Graphic Novels:

Friesen, Ray. Pirate Penguin vs. Ninja Chicken: Troublems with Frenemies
Enjoy the hilarious adventures of best friends and worst enemies Pirate Penguin and Ninja Chicken as they encounter spaceships, monsters, and evil koalas.

Young, J.E. Twisted Journeys: Horror in Space (Vol. 18)
As the hero of this graphic novel, the reader is a space colonist who must rescue a spaceship from saboteurs and aliens by making choices that determine the outcome of the story. This adventure series is a great choice for reluctant readers.

Juvenile Fiction (Chapter Books):

Angleberger, Tom. Darth Paper Strikes Back
The sequel to The Strange Case of Origami Yoda continues the winning formula of Star Wars, middle school angst, and zany antics. Fans of the Wimpy Kid books will love it.

Barnett, Mac. It Happened on a Train
Seventh-grader Steve Brixton finds himself pulled back into sleuthing when during a train trip down the California coast he uncovers a mystery involving a fleet of priceless automobiles.

McMann, Lisa. The Unwanteds
Hunger Games meets Harry Potter in this dystopian novel where strong, regimented children are prized while creative ones are executed.

Selznick, Brian. Wonderstruck
Twelve-year-old Ben leaves his Minnesota home in 1977 to seek the father he never knew in New York City and meets there Rose, who is also longing for something missing from her life. Ben's story is told in words; Rose's in pictures. Selznick is an award winning author/illustrator who also wrote The Invention of Hugo Cabret.

Skye, Obert. Wonkenstein: The Creature from My Closet
Twelve year old Rob has a messy closet stuffed to the brim with books and old science experiments. When a creature emerges from the closet to wreak havoc on him and his friends, Rob is forced to do horrible things like - gasp! - visit a library to set things right.

Ursu, Anne. Breadcrumbs
Hazel and Jack are best friends until an accident with a magical mirror and a run-in with a villainous queen find Hazel on her own, entering an enchanted wood in the hope of saving Jack's life. Many critics predict that this modern retelling of Hans Christian Anderson's The Snow Queen will be on the short list for the Newbery Award next month.

Juvenile Audiobook:

Stephens, John. Emerald Atlas
This fast-paced fantasy has likeable characters, feisty dwarves, and time travel twists delivered with theatrical flair by the acclaimed narrator Jim Dale.

Young Adult Fiction:

Bradley, Kimberly Brubaker. Jefferson's Sons
Imagine a founding father and a former president being both your master and your father. This impeccably researched work of historical fiction looks at the last years of Thomas Jefferson's life through the eyes of three of his slaves - two of which were his sons by his slave Sally Hemmings.

Delaney, Joseph. Rage of the Fallen
Tom Ward, now 14, tries to win his battle against the Beast in this eighth installment of the popular The Last Apprentice series.

Eulberg, Elizabeth. Prom and Prejudice
This retelling of the Jane Austen classic is completely modern and witty, while still honoring the essence of the original work.

Flanagan, John. Ranger's Apprentice: The Lost Stories
This satisfying eleventh installment of the Ranger's Apprentice series quenches fans' thirst for answers concerning the identities of Will's parents, Halt's mentor, and Will's relationship with Alyss.

Forman, Gayle. Where She Went
Adam, now a rising rock star, and Mia, a successful cellist, reunite in New York and reconnect after the horrific events that tore them apart when Mia almost died in a car accident three years earlier. This sequel to If I Stay provides a fulfilling conclusion to Mia and Adam's story.

Northrop, Michael. Trapped
Remember the movie The Breakfast Club? Add the snowstorm of the century, and you get this incredible survival story of teens trapped in their high school. You could read this book on the hottest day of the year, and still find yourself shivering and reaching for a sweater. Truly chilling - pun intended.

Pierce, Tamora. Mastiff
Having just lost her fiance in a slaver's raid, Beka is able to distract herself by going with her team on an important hunt at the queen's request but is unaware that the throne of Tortall depends on their success. Unexpected plot twists and a stunning conclusion wrap up this trilogy in a satisfying way.

Schmidt, Gary. Okay for Now
As a 14 year old who just moved to a new town with no friends and an abusive father, Doug Swieteck has all the stats stacked against him until he finds an ally in Lil Spicer. Together they find a safe haven in the local library, inspiration in learning about the plates of John James Audubon's birds, and a hilarious adventure on a Broadway stage. Doug is a memorable character readers will rally behind. This companion book to The Wednesday Wars made the "best of" lists of three of our staff members.

posted by SPB with input from Youth Services Staff

Create Beautiful Holiday Crafts!

2011-12-02T09:00:00.000-08:00

Have a fun and festive time by creating special holiday themed crafts and art! Great for gifts and decorations. The following titles will help you get started:

Books

	Holiday Handiwork by Gillian Souter This book provides instructions on how to make an assortment of holiday themed crafts, such as a Sweet Wreath, Super Santa and Kwanzaa beads.
	Crafts for Christmas by Kathy Ross Have a fun holiday by creating something special! This book will teach you how to make a variety of Christmas crafts, such as a Flying Angel, Ornament Necklace, Egg Carton Christmas Tree and much more!
	Paper Crafts for Christmas by Randel McGee Get ready to make a variety of colorful, Christmas-themed paper crafts and decorations! This book contains step by step instructions and also a brief introduction of Christmas and its traditions.
	Christmas Crafts From Around the World by Judy Ann Sadler Feliz Navidad! Frohe Weihnachten! Buon Natale! Learn how other cultures celebrate Christmas by creating holiday crafts from around the world, such as the British Christmas Fairy, the Ukrainian Silver Webs, the Finnish Straw Ornament and much more!

Events

The library will also be hosting fun holiday craft activities on the following dates:

Tuesday, December 6
Holiday Origami Craft
4pm - 5pm at Central Park Library, Redwood Room
Create fun and festive origami for the holidays (For Grades 7-12).
Sign up at the Youth Services Desk or call 408-615-2916.

Saturday, December 10
Holiday Craft Fair
10am - 4pm at Central Park Library, Redwood Room
Please call 408-615-2988 for more information.

Tuesday, December 13
Preschool Holiday Stories & Craft
1030am - 1130am at Central Park Library, Redwood Room
Join us as we tell snowy, blowy, holiday stories and construct a holiday craft for you to take home! This is a PRESCHOOL program. Ages 3-5 only please. For more information, please call 408-615-2916.

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

Help Adults Learn to Speak Better English - Coordinate an ESL Conversation Club!

2011-12-01T16:49:00.000-08:00

There are many adult English language learners in our community who wish to learn to speak better English. Starting in January 2012, Santa Clara City Library will host a weekly ESL Conversation Club. The Library is looking for a dynamic volunteer with knowledge of English as a Second Language and the ability to recruit and motivate volunteers to lead this new program.

In consultation with library staff, the ESL Conversation Club Coordinator will:

- Recruit, orient and lead a team of Volunteer Conversation Partners
- Select curriculum materials for use by volunteers in the ESL Conversation Club
- Collect data and create reports for program evaluation

This is an exciting opportunity to organize and coordinate a program that will help many adults in our community gain the confidence they need to communicate with others in English in their everyday lives.

If you are interested, please call Charity Trajico, Volunteer Coordinator for the Library at (408) 615-2919 or send her email at ctrajico@santaclaraca.gov.

posted for sb/jh

2011-11-28T08:08:00.000-08:00

Join author Ron Hansen, as he discusses writing and his new novel, A Wild Surge of Guilty Passion on Tuesday, December 6 at 7:00 p.m. The book is a fact-based fictionalized account of the famous torrid affair that led to the 1927 murder of Albert Snyder and the subsequent scandal in New York City. Hansen, author of several popular historical novels, is the Gerald Manley Professor in the Arts and Humanities at Santa Clara University, where he teaches writing and literature. To reserve a space at this free book talk, made possible by the Foundation and Friends of Santa Clara City Library, please call the Reference Desk at 615-2900. Watch the library website or sign up for the City's free e-Notify service to find out about other upcoming library programs and events.

posted for jb

ServSafe Food Handler Training and Support

2011-11-25T08:00:00.000-08:00

The staff at the Santa Clara City Library are here to help you with getting your ServSafe Food Handler Certificate. Free computers are available and friendly staff are willing to help you get started on the video training program, find your test and print out your certificate of completion. Headphones are for sale in the Friends of the Library Bookstore for $1.00 if you need a set.

Let us know how we can help and let us know when you get your Certificate!

posted by mb

As Much As The Turkeys Would Like It To Be So, There's No Skipping Thanksgiving

2011-11-16T15:20:00.000-08:00

"Is that a Ferris wheel?" As we were driving down the freeway one evening, a slightly slanted column of blue and red twinkling lights could be seen in the distance. This is normally a sight associated with hastily assembled carnival rides promising the sort of fun that only comes in creaking, rusted out buckets hoisted 30 feet above the ground with few (if any) safety precautions. I was excited.

"I don't think so. It doesn't look death trappy enough." My companion, who refuses to sit on bar stools due to their "unnecessarily terrifying height," was not. "I think they are..."

"NO! NO WAY! It's only the beginning of November. It can't be..."

But they were.

Christmas lights. Five strands of poorly strung lights running up and down a 30 foot tall tree. Ugg.

Here's the problem. You see, there is this thing called a "calendar" which puts dates in an easy to understand chronological order. When used properly, it's very clear to see that Christmas (December 25th) is over a month and a half away. Far too early to start decking the halls. More over, there is another holiday between now and Christmas. You may have heard of it. It's called Thanksgiving. Kind of popular. It has a parade and everything.

When I was younger, it would have been absolutely sacrosanct to put up Christmas lights any earlier than the Friday following Thanksgiving. This was an unspoken neighborhood law. I remember spending many a frigid morning losing my footing on a frosty roof while trying to screw burnt out light bulbs into a frayed wire with hands so cold they had all they dexterity of wooden planks. And I lived in California. I could only imagine what it would have been like on the East Coast.

The point is, there was an order to things. After Halloween, you turned the jack-o-lanterns on the porch around, scattered some Fall colored leaves in front of it, and if you were feeling really festive, added a cornucopia to the mix. Ta-Da! Thanksgiving decorations! Appropriately timed!

I come from a family that believed if there was a holiday on the calendar, it deserved its own decorations. Sure, Valentine's Day and St. Patrick's Day might not be "real" holidays, but the makers those horrifically bland nature landscape calendars my mother liked so much gave them their own square of importance in the grid. And we respected that decision by filling the house with gaudy knick-knacks conforming to that day's color scheme. Later in life, my brother would go on to celebrate even the Canadian holidays that were listed. But that's a different story involving Sherlockian border guards (sadly, non-Mounties) and an attempt to make peace with a land he was forbidden to visit... forgive me, I digress.

To skip over a holiday, especially one as major as Thanksgiving, was not acceptable. I should point out, we all hated Thanksgiving. The amount of cooking for a proper Thanksgiving feast is Herculean. It's five days worth of chopping, dicing, roasting, baking, and deep frying (yes, deep frying) condensed into the 8 hours before your (somewhat annoyingly prompt) relatives arrive. Then, in the course of a few hours, all your hard work vanishes, your house is wrecked, you're exhausted, and you can't get rid of that turkey smell for three weeks. So fun...

But you can't just jump over Thanksgiving to get to the consumerist freak out that is Christmas. It doesn't work that way. This isn't Doctor Who. Timelines matter. Christmas is a decidedly winter holiday. It is not winter yet, therefore we should not be decorating our houses to pretend that it is. Granted, it could be 75 degrees and sunny on Christmas morning here. I get that. Doesn't matter. The Earth hasn't tilted far enough off axis yet to even come close to justifying the use of fake snow.

Final point and then I'll let this go. If you must decorate for Christmas at the beginning of November, at least do it well. Those five strands of lights I saw were an absolute mess. Do I know how to string lights in a 30 foot tree? No. But it seemed like that person didn't either. Should they have taken more time putting them up (you know, like an extra month), I'm sure it could have been much more successful. Or to the very least, there would be other people's lights to mask their ineptitude.
posted by jw

Family Place: Are You Ready to Play?

2011-11-10T07:35:00.000-08:00

Kids hard at play during a Family Place parent/child workshop

Are you a resident of Santa Clara and a parent of a child between the ages of 0 and 5 years? Discover the magic of Family Place! A four week series of Parent/Child Family Place workshops will begin on Friday, December 2 at Central Park Library. Workshops will be held on four consecutive Fridays from 10:30 to 11:45 am. The library's Redwood Room will be transformed into an early learning center, with several play stations focusing on art, music, dramatics, fine and gross motor skills, and more. Area resource specialists will be on hand to answer parents' questions about important child development topics such as speech and nutrition. It's a great way for your little ones to make new friends and gain critical early literacy skills through play, and for parents to network with one another.

Space in this program is extremely limited, and registration is required. Participants must reside in Santa Clara and have a child between the ages of 0 and 5. To learn more about the Family Place program, visit our children's department webpage. To register for the workshop series, call the Youth Services Department at 408-615-2916.

Modeled on a national Family Place project, California’s Family Place Program is administered by the California State Library and is funded by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA).

posted by SPB

Kid's Book of the Week: The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

2011-11-04T10:00:00.000-07:00

Reynie Muldoon, an orphaned child with special abilities decides to respond to a newspaper advertisement addressed to "gifted children looking for special opportunities." After passing several mind-bending exams, he joins an elite team of four talented children and they become 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.

Check out The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart at your library, available in the following formats:

• Book - Hardcover.
• Audio Book - Listen to this book using your CD player.
• eAudio Book - Listen to this book on your MP3 player, smart phone or computer. Check the Overdrive MyHelp! for more information on how to download.

Readers who wish to continue reading The Mysterious Benedict Society should check out the following sequels available (in sequential order): The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey and The Mysterious Bendict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma.
posted by pn.

Monster Mash!

2011-10-27T21:39:00.000-07:00

Are your kids anxiously awaiting to show off their costumes and strut their spooky stuff? For the best Halloween party in town, come to the City of Santa Clara's Walter E. Schmidt Youth Activity Center (2450 Cabrillo Avenue) on Monday, October 31 from 3 to 6 pm. Children ages preschool through 5th grade are invited for carnival games, bounce houses, arts and crafts, a costume contest, and lots of yummy treats. Admission to this annual event sponsored by the Parks and Recreation Department is free. Make sure to stop by the library's booth to say "Trick or Treat!" to our youth services librarians. You won't get tricked, but you will score some awesome treats!

More information about the party can be found on the city's event calendar.

We wish all of you a safe, happy, and fun Halloween!

posted by SPB

It's the Great Pumpkin (Patch)

2011-10-26T15:30:00.000-07:00

There are places which sell pumpkins and then there are pumpkin patches. The latter is the former, but the former is not necessarily the latter. I will never confuse the two again.

Over the weekend, I made the mistake of calling a parking lot pumpkin vender a "pumpkin patch" in front of a person who grew up in Half Moon Bay. This did not go over well. For those of you unfamiliar with Half Moon Bay, it is a tiny coastal town with sweeping views, an agricultural history, and a mostly squash-based economy. They take their pumpkins extremely seriously out there. Which is why I ended up having this conversation:

"That thing there is not a pumpkin patch."

"Of course it is. Look, there are some pumpkins and a scarecrow and..."

"A bounce house! Self-respecting pumpkin patches do not have bounce houses. That is a dirty parking lot scattered with a handful of hay and corn husks masquerading as a pumpkin patch. That... is a travesty."

That "travesty" resulted in me being forced out to HMB this weekend. Fun fact about Highway 92: the distance between I-280 and Half Moon Bay is 6 miles. Normally, this drive takes 15 minutes. In October, it takes two excruciatingly long hours. Why? Pumpkin pilgrims.

We are the West Coast's version of the New England Leafer. Like a plague of locusts, we descend upon rural areas to see what the seasons look like and admire the bounty they produce. We also destroy any chance of those towns functioning in a normal fashion. For the inconvenience we cause (and for the fact that they don't show their naked annoyance for our presence), we leave behind considerable amounts of money thereby assuring that they'll be available next year for us to disrupt them again.

Finally arriving to the pumpkin patch, I was in serious need of de-grumping. Normally this requires a delicate mixture of caffeine and absolute silence. Neither were to be found. What they did have were goats. You cannot be upset while looking at the horrendously cute faces and weird square pupil eyes of goats. Unless of course the cute faced/square-pupil animal is in the process of eating the hem of your shirt. Seeing as that was happening to someone who was not me, all my grumpiness evaporated like magic as I laughed heartily at this adorable vandalism.

My friend was right. A true pumpkin patch is an impressive, multi-acre affair. Not only did they have a corn field filled with all varieties of pumpkins to choose from, they also had a petting zoo, a haunted house, a skunk train, tractor rides, a hay maze, and medieval sword fighting (I don't really understand the connection on that one either). Oh, and there was a giant steel gorilla presiding over the whole place for some reason (see picture above).

I won't lie, I was boyishly excited about the hay maze. As a child, I spent a lot of time drawing squiggly lines through maze books. I'd like to say that it allowed me to expertly navigate the thing. It did not. Within the first three turns, we were hopelessly lost. We easily spent 45 minutes going back and forth trying to find our way out. It would appear that Half Moon Bay also takes its labyrinths serious.

To prove my point, inside the maze was a Minotaur. If you know your mythology, the Minotaur was the last thing you would want to see if you were in a labyrinth. In fact, if you met the Minotaur, it was the last thing you would see. Happily, this Minotaur doled out golden pumpkins to those who found him instead of walloping death blows.

Covered in hay, sun burnt, and with the smell of goat stuck in my nose, I had to concede my friend's point. In the same way that Orange County and Los Angeles should never be used interchangeably (and if you've ever done so in front of someone who lives in one or the other, you know the result of that), neither should a pumpkin patch be lumped in with the parking lot pumpkin sellers. One is an event, the other is a place of purchase. That being said, sometimes you don't want to drive for two hours to buy a gourd.
posted by jw

Develop Your Small Business: Two Presentations

2011-10-24T09:52:00.000-07:00

Join us for Small Business Resources on Saturday, November 5, 2011, from 1:00 - 2:30 in the Cedar Room presented by Joan M. Jackson, Principal of JMJ Information Services. Learn about the best resources for writing business plans, finding company performance data and competitive intelligence.

On Monday, November 14, 2011, from 3:00 - 5:00 in the Redwood Room, experts from the Small Business Administration and their resource partners will provide information on management training, access to financing and federal government contracting opportunities. Benefits, elgibility requirements and application procedures will be discussed.

Sign up for these program when you are in the Library or call (408) 615-2900.

posted by mb

The Revolution will be Tweeterized

2011-10-19T15:14:00.000-07:00

Since Sept 17th, hundreds of people have been camped out in a small park in Manhattan protesting against Wall Street (the bankers, investors, traders, etc... not the physical street, with which they have no known complaint). There are daily marches and frequent arrests. According to the protesters, they won't leave until their demands are met. And seeing as they haven't made any, it would appear they plan on staying put for a considerable amount of time. While it's most definitely not Tahrir Square or the Movimiento M15 in Spain or anything like what's been going on in the Middle East, it's something the likes of which the United States hasn't seen in a few decades. So you'd think the press would be all over it. Yet for the first two weeks, nary a news crew was to be seen.

In the time of the ancients (pre-2006), this would have spelled the death of a movement. If the press ignored you, you didn't exist in the wider world's consciousness. While independent media can be relied upon to spread the story, their reach isn't nearly as far as the major players. And if the mainstream media did cover an event, there was always a chance that they would paint everyone as a bunch of whack-a-doos.

Since those primitive days, the world has changed. Phones no longer flip, our spaces have become a lot less ours, and news now comes in 140 character bursts.

As the old saying goes, if a tree falls in the woods and no one makes a status update about it, does it really matter? Or something like that. In 2011, every single person with a smart phone has a video camera, a handful of social media apps, and access to the internet. Now a tree that falls has a thousand views on Youtube and its own twitter account ("If you must know, I sounded like 'KRABOOOSH' when I fell. LOLZ #Bieber #mysterysolved").

Information, however important or trivial, is able to be disseminated instantaneously and directly from the person experiencing it. The flip side is that content has a visible life span which makes a gnat look immortal. (That doesn't mean it's gone though. While time at the surface is short, the deep waters of the web are filled with your every misguided and embarrassing post just waiting to float back up.)

In the past few years, Twitter has received a lot of credit for being a major player in how social change has come about. And that's true. We wouldn't know who Justin Bieber or Rebecca Black were without it. (Oh wait. We've already forgotten about her, haven't we?) As for Twitter being a key factor during Iran's 2009 Green Movement and this year's Arab Spring, that's a little more suspect. It may have been a useful tool, but technology wasn't the catalyst. All the same, Twitter has become a viable way for people to spread information when other channels are unavailable.

For example, the Wall Street protest mentioned above is referred to as "#Occupywallstreet." The use of Twitter was so much a part of this movement, they named themselves as a hashtag. In the early days of the protest, there was an insane amount of attention directed towards whether or not that hashtag was trending. (It wasn't, but "#youlookstupidwhen" was. Ah memes, you say so much about what we find important as a society.) Why the intensity? Visibility. Millions of people use twitter. If that hashtag trends, that's millions of eyes having the option to see every post about the protest. It's better than being on the nightly news.

"Hooray! We are the media! Right?" Right, but it's also a mess. The nice thing about a newscast is that it's clean. Here's a story and here's another and another and now a commercial break. Sure, it may be biased (calm down party people... as I learned from my journalism class in college, all media is biased by the very nature of being written by humans. The question of how biased is the sticky point), but at least it's linear. Twitter is like listening to the news in an echo chamber. One person posts something new and then a thousand people retweet it periodically over the course of a week. There's a linear timeline there, but the way people use the site causes it to get cut to ribbons and rearranged at will. And when a trend is moving fast, "real time" gets even more wacky.

It should also be noted that Twitter is not vetted. The history of media is rife with fabulists and fib tellers, so the public should always be concerned about who their information is coming from. However, when your source goes by the name @riDanculous, your judgement needs to be all the more critical. It doesn't help that the online world is filled with trolls. By that, I do not actually mean folkloric creatures, but rather people who have nothing better to do than post inflammatory or purposefully incorrect information in order to be disruptive. In other words, jerks.

Ultimately, it's not surprising that Twitter is being used to help democratize the media. What is democracy if not many different voices with many different viewpoints attempting to be heard all at once? And when it comes to information, more is generally better than less, right? Right?

2011-10-14T09:56:00.000-07:00

Teen Read Week (October 16-22)

What is Teen Read Week and Why Celebrate It?

(And what’s this about prizes!?)

Many teens are not reading or reading less for fun these days. So what you say? Studies have shown that teens who read more for pleasure do better in school and on tests. To encourage reading, Teen Read Week was started by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) in 1998.

With friends, TV, computers, cell phones, and school and extracurricular activities competing for the attention of teens, Teen Read Week is a way to refocus teens on reading again. It is a way for the library to highlight the importance of reading and a fun way to reach out to teens.

How can I win prizes during Teen Read Week?!

This year's theme is Picture It @ your library®, which encourages teens to read graphic novels and other illustrated materials, seek out creative books, or imagine the world through literature, just for the fun of it. Two fun and creative activities that the library has planned in recognition of Teen Read Week are the Picture It @ Your Library Scavenger Hunt and Teen Art Contest for grades 7-12.

SCAVENGER HUNT (Deadline: Oct. 22): Teens are ask to identify 16 pictures of objects found within the Library. The person who names the highest number the fastest wins a $25.00 AMC movie gift card. All other finishers will be entered into a drawing for an additional gift card.

Click here for Scavenger Hunt Information and Answer Sheet.

TEEN ART CONTEST (Deadline: Nov. 20): Teens are invited to enter the Santa Clara City Library Teen Art Contest. Entries must be an original piece of art with the theme, "Picture It @ Your Library.” Submissions should reflect how the artist views the library’s impact or role in the lives of people and/or society. Why are libraries important? What are they used for? Who uses libraries? What do libraries mean to you? The grand prize is a Barnes & Noble Nook E-Reader and gift card. Cash prizes will also be awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places in middle and high school categories.

Click here for information and an official entry form for the Teen Art Contest.

This contest is made possible with the generous support of the Michael J. Kirsch Foundation and a member of the Foundation and Friends of the Library.

submitted by nc

Celebrate California Women's Suffrage

2011-10-10T13:00:00.001-07:00

On October 10, 1911, California women won the right to vote. The Library is celebrating with many exciting events this month. This week join us on Wednesday, October 12 from 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm for a one-act play by the Santa Clara Players entitled "Should Women Vote?"

The play will be in the Mission Library Community Room.

The image on this page shows part of the astonishing display on the wall of the Redwood Room at Santa Clara City Library. Bob Byrd created the display with inspiration from actual signs women carried as they demonstrated for the right to vote in the years preceeding 1911.

posted by mb

Kid's Book of the Week - The Boggart by Susan Cooper

2011-10-06T10:00:00.000-07:00

In this haunting and comic tale, the Volnik family inherits an old castle in Scotland and soon experience strange occurences after returning to their home in Canada. Furniture and other objects fly in the air and unusual sounds are heard during the day and night. Emily and Jessup investigates and discovers that a devilish boggart is somehow trapped in a piece of furniture from the castle and wishes to go home. Soon, Emily and Jessup goes on a daring and risky mission to help the boggart return home.

Readers who wish to continue reading the eerie tale of The Boggart should check out the sequel, The Boggart and the Monster. In this sequel, the Boggart goes on a mission to help save Nessie, the Loch Ness Monster.

If you're ready for a spooky and entertaining read, check out The Boggart and its sequel, The Boggart and the Monster by Susan Cooper at your library today!
posted by pn.

Sign up with Alert SCC for Emergency Notifications

2011-10-05T16:44:00.000-07:00

AlertSCC is a free, easy, and confidential way for anyone who lives or works in Santa Clara County to get emergency warnings sent directly to his or her cell phone, mobile device, email, or landline. AlertSCC can reach you wherever you are to provide information and instructions in a variety of emergency situations, which may include:

Flooding, wildfires and subsequent evacuations

Public safety incidents, including crimes, that immediately affect your neighborhood

Post-disaster information about shelters, transportation, or supplies

It only takes a minute. Sign up today and tell someone you love

posted by mb

Smiles with Snacks

2011-09-30T08:00:00.000-07:00

The first major test of the school year is tomorrow. Pencils sharpened – check. Plenty of scratch paper – check. Your math workbook with practice problems – check. Fully-charged iPod – check. You furrow your brow and begin to focus. Suddenly… your nostrils involuntarily flare and sniff … a deep grumble escapes your belly … your eyes smile … as the aroma of chocolate and vanilla wafts through your room. With glee, you hurtle downstairs towards homemade morsels of warm, sweet, gooey goodness!

But what if you’re bored with the usual cookie treats like chocolate chip, oatmeal and snicker-doodles?

Answer: you can borrow cookbooks from the Library and help your mom and/or dad test a few spectacular, scrumptious recipes.

For example, you might try baking mini raspberry sandwich cakes from page 32 of the “Kids’ Baking: 60 Delicious Recipes for Children To Make” cookbook.

Or, if you’re in the mood for a Halloween treat, you may opt for the “Jack-o’-Lanterns” featured on page 84 of the “Cheerios Cookbook.”

If you’re really adventurous, perhaps making “marbles” (page 36), “grasshoppers”
(page 67) or “bulls-eyes” (page 86) from the “Greatest Cookies Ever” cookbook might
be your cup of tea.

So have fun and kindle your culinary imagination by “shopping” in the children’s cookbook section. Perhaps you can even brighten the holidays of your family and friends with mouth-watering creations.

~ ac

Overdrive for Kindle

2011-09-27T16:33:00.000-07:00

Overdrive, the digital distributor of eBooks for libraries has just added Kindle compatibility to it's downloadable formats. The process for borrowing an eBook for Kindle is similar to that of other devices. Go to the Santa Clara City Library's website http://www.library.santaclaraca.gov/ and under Research and Resources, select Digital Books, and Northern California Digital Library.

You can browse or search for "Kindle Book", check out a title with a valid library card and then click "Get for Kindle". Access to the Kindle book will occur at Amazon's website after signing in and selecting delivery to the Kindle device or any of the free Kindle apps.

For a short tutorial go to:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgKbyhuqxuU&feature=share

Job Opportunity Project Coordinator at Santa Clara City Library

2011-09-27T14:36:00.000-07:00

Santa Clara City Library is proud to announce that we have been awarded a grant for Project BEST (Basic Employment Skills Training) for 2011-2012. The Library is looking for a dynamic candidate with a marketing/business background to fill the grant-funded contract position of Project BEST Coordinator. Applications must be received by Tuesday, October 4, 5:00 p.m. For details regarding this employment opportunity and Project BEST, follow this link.

posted by mb

California: One Hundred Years of Women Voting

2011-09-26T12:04:00.000-07:00

October 1911 was an historic election in California. In a nail biter election, California decided women could vote. The Bay Area counties and Los Angeles counties voted against it. Tavern owners and the winemaking industry were opposed since they thought women would vote for temperance. It took a few days but results eventually came in from the rural counties passing the change. California women then helped women in other states overcome resistance to woman suffrage and pass the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution granting women the right to vote in 1920.

Join us at nine events in October in Celebration of 100 years of California women voting. Read more on the Calendar on the Library's website.

Saturday, October 1st at 1:00 p.m. in the Redwood Room, Darlene Thorne will show 100-year-0ld postcards to illustrate the trials women went through to get the vote in California and the U.S.

Monday, October 3, 6:30-8 p.m. in the Redwood Room, Autumn Gem: a Documentary on China's First Feminist will be shown.

Tuesday, October 4, 7-8 p.m. in the Cedar Room author Robert Cooney will talk about his book Winning the Vote: The Triumph of the American Woman Suffrage Movement.

posted by mb

Teachers: Come Party with Us!

2011-09-23T00:00:00.000-07:00

Calling all educators: let the Santa Clara City Library show you some love! You're invited to our Teacher Open House on Saturday, October 15 from 2 to 4 pm in the Central Park Library Redwood Room. Enjoy refreshments and pick up giveaways as you learn more about Santa Clara City Library and its many resources for educators and students. A brief demonstration about library databases will be presented at 3 pm, with a door prize drawing afterwards for gift cards to stores such as Lakeshore Learning and Barnes and Noble. Teachers must be present to win.

Teachers from all grade levels, including homeschool educators, are welcome to attend. Please RSVP at 408-615-2916.

posted by SPB

The Hype Machine

2011-09-21T15:30:00.000-07:00

It may have been '95... perhaps '97. To be honest, I can't quite remember. The exact moment a grudge is born rarely avails itself to clean forensic examination. It was during the nursery rhyme days though. That much I know. I distinctly remember hearing the words, "I'm James Patterson, and you should read my book..." It was at that moment that I decided, "No James Patterson, I don't need to read your book." And I never did. Any of them.

Here's why: James Patterson had made a television commercial for his book. I'll repeat that so you can grasp the full tragedy of such an action. He made a TV commercial. For a book. A really bad commercial at that. He rhymes the whole thing. It's just mortifying. (Sadly, I can't find it on youtube, so you'll just have to take my word for it.)

I can only blame my disproportionate revulsion (not too strong a word should you be thinking it were) of this concept on a youthful and snobbish belief that books are somehow superior to other products. Books did not need commercials in the way that dish soap or breakfast cereal did. They weren't commodities, they were "literature." They were above that sort of cheap pandering. I can think of only one other book commercial I had ever seen up to that point. Take that as you will.

Looking back on Patterson's astronomical success, it's pretty obvious that the marketing plan worked. Those commercials helped him hock millions of books over the years. At this point, he's so busy counting his money, he can't even be bothered to write a full book by himself. And while the quality of his commercials have gotten better, his delivery of cringe-worthy tag lines is as wooden as ever. It's almost charming now. Almost.

Like it or not, books are commodities just like any other product. And like other products, they need some sort of advertising in order to get them out of the warehouse and into your hands. For the most part, publishers do so with the cunning use of book reviews.

A book review doesn't trigger the brain's advertising defense the way a full page magazine ad or a movie trailer does. Instead, we see them as authoritative quality checks. Think about Consumer Reports magazine. Isn't that the best advertising for a product ever? Not only does it tell you about the item, it supplies a trustworthy voice to give it an endorsement. Book reviews serve the same purpose. Most authors would give their first child to have New York Times favorably review their book. Or, for that matter, have Oprah mention it even in passing. (Her power may be waning in that realm without the talk show these days.)

Some books have less subtle marketing tactics. Enter Erin Morgenstern's The Night Circus. I'd first heard about this book a few months ago. The article made a cursory mention of its plot (magical circus at the turn of the century, good and evil, rivals fall in love) and then spent the rest of the time talking about how it would be a bestseller. This was in July mind you. The book was just released last week. How would they know it would be a bestseller?

It would be a bestseller because every time someone mentioned it between then and now, they talked about how it would be a bestseller. A brute force tactic, not delicate in the least, but it's highly effective. Guess what? The Night Circus has become a bestseller. Predicated on nothing but word of mouth and hype.

The official Amazon.com review is 6 vague sentences followed by 23 blurbs from big name people telling you how much you'll love this book. Well, of course you're interested in reading it now. Every person under the sun has told you that you need to. That you'll love it. How could you resist? You put in an order and wait to receive it. Then you read it and...

That's the tricky part with such a super positive campaign. What people know about this book is that it will be their new favorite. That don't have much else to go on. But what if it's not? Hype is a dangerous thing. If you hype something that deserves it, you've created a juggernaut. If you hype something that doesn't live up to expectations, you've created an unmitigated disaster. A bad or even just okay book that's over hyped easily tips into becoming a hated book. And that's scary considering this is Morgenstern's first. This could lead to the sound of a long career crashing out of the gates, or the delicate crush of a broken dream.

All that is not to pass any judgement upon The Night Circus itself. I, like so many others, am excited to read it. (I'm waiting in the hold queue currently.) Being a fan of both old timey circuses and magic, it seems like it should be enjoyable. I've also heard that despite the hype, it's an extremely well written book (or is that also part of the hype... it's hard to tell). I really want to like this book. I really do.

Even if they did make a commercial for it.
posted by jw

Youth Bookmark Contest

2011-09-16T00:01:00.000-07:00

Youth in kindergarten through 12th grade are invited to enter our first annual Bookmark Contest! Participants should create an original bookmark design about reading and/or libraries, and submit their entries to the Central Park Library Youth Services Desk or Mission Library by Friday, September 30, 2011. Winners will have their bookmarks printed in black and white for distribution at the Santa Clara City Library. They will also be honored at a reception at the Central Park Library (date/time to be announced.)

The entry form for the Bookmark Contest can be downloaded here.

Contest Rules:

Draw in black ink only (no colors).
No trademarked cartoon characters (such as Pokemon, Spiderman, etc.)
All artwork and designs must be the student's own creation.
One entry per person.
Entries will be judged on creativity, neatness, and message.
All entries become the property of the Santa Clara City Library and may be used for promotional purposes.

Two winners will be chosen from each category: Kindergarten -2nd Grade, 3rd - 5th Grade, 6th - 8th Grade, and High School. Thanks to the Santa Clara City Library Foundation and Friends for sponsoring the contest.

posted by SPB

Did you love the book A Child Called It?

2011-09-15T16:59:00.001-07:00

The story of the survivor of child abuse is an inspiration for many. If you are looking for more, try these books:

Sickened: The Memoir of a Munchausen by Proxy Childhood by Julie Gregory
Autobiography of a Face by Lucy Grealy
Claiming Georgia Tate by Gigi Amateau
Because I am Furniture by Thalia Chaltas
Girlbomb: a Halfway Homeless Memoir by Janice Erlbaum
The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams
Sister Wife by Shelley Hrditschka

Find more from a booklist from Hennepin County Library Minnesota.

posted by mb

How to Find Job Leads

2011-09-15T16:49:00.001-07:00

"It's not what you know, it's who you know." Maybe you have heard that tip for finding a job but during yesterday's NOVA workshop, Marsha Austin, recommends adding "and it's who knows you."

Your entire job search can be conducted by contacting people you know, people you bump into waiting in line, and in a lowkey way asking for A.I.R. That is, advice, information and referrals. Have a summary statement or "elevator speech" available to quickly let people know your skills, experience and get advice on how to reach your goal of a new position. Find steps to creating a Summary Statement, also used on your resume, at novaworks.org/workshopinformation/workshoptools.

Come to next week's Ace the Interview and learn how to accomplish the next step in your job search. That is, Wednesday, September 21, from 1:00-2:30 in the Redwood Room on the 1st floor of the library. Call (408) 615-2900 so we have enough seats for everyone.

posted by mb

Teens: Get ready for the SAT and ACT exams!

2011-09-02T10:00:00.000-07:00

Prepare for the upcoming SAT and ACT Exams by checking out our latest SAT and ACT exam resources in print and electronic formats. Here are a few recommended titles:

SAT

	Peterson's Master the SAT 2011 by Phil Pine This book provides a wealth of strategies and helps students prepare for the SAT with extensive reviews and nine full-length practice tests--including three on the provided CD--to help sharpen math, writing, and critical reading skills.
	12 Practice Tests for the SAT by Kaplan, Inc. Get ready for the SAT by taking 12 practice SAT tests. This book contains over 600 math grid-ins and multiple-choice questions, over 800 sentence completion and reading comprehension questions, answer explanations, over 500 writing multiple-choice questions, 12 essay prompts, model essays, and a self-grading guide.
	The Official Study Guide for all SAT Subject Tests by The College Board Planning to take one of the SAT Subject Exams? Then check out this substantial study guide, which contains exam tips, strategies and practice tests for all SAT subject exams.

ACT

	Cracking the ACT by The Princeton Review Cracking the ACT contains proven techniques from the test prep experts. Two full-length practice tests in the book and exclusive free access to an additional practice test online will help prepare ACT test takers.
	ACT: Strategies, Practice, and Review by Kaplan, Inc. This is a substantial guide for students preparing for the ACT exam. Includes exam tips and strategies, a diagnostic quiz with personalized feedback, and two practice tests.
	ACT or SAT?: Choosing the right exam for you. by The Princeton Review This useful book will help you decide which college entrance exam to take - the SAT or the ACT exam. Make an informed decision by learning the differences and advantages of each exam.

Events
Attend free PSAT Practice Test and Review sessions hosted by Kaplan on the following days and times:

Saturday, September 10

Kaplan PSAT Practice Test Session

1pm - 430pm at Central Park Main Library

Monday, September 19

Kaplan PSAT Results and Strategies Seminar

630pm - 730pm at Central Park Main Library

Spaces are limited. To register for these events, please call 408-615-2916 or visit the Youth Services Desk.

Online
Take free online SAT or ACT practice exams by accessing LearningExpress Library or Brainfuse (library card is required for home access):

Brainfuse
Note: First time users will need to create an account.

LearningExpress Library
Note: First time users will need to create an account.

Feel free to ask a Youth Services librarian at your library if you have any questions about the SAT or ACT exam preparation resources. Good luck!
posted by pn

Yes, Santa Clara City Library's cards are still free!

2011-08-30T18:25:00.000-07:00

There has been a lot of confusion lately about whether library cards are still free. The Santa Clara County Library District recently decided to begin charging non-District residents an annual fee of $80 for a library card. Residents of the Library District will receive cards at no charge. The Library District includes the cities of Gilroy, Morgan Hill, Milpitas, Campbell, Monte Sereno, Cupertino, Los Altos and Los Altos Hills, as well as unincorporated areas. The other cities in the County, including Santa Clara, operate municipal libraries. Santa Clara City Library has always been a municipally funded city library and is not, nor has it ever been, a branch of the Santa Clara County Library District. The District Library is the only library in the area that is charging for a non-resident card. All the municipal libraries in the County (Santa Clara, Los Gatos, Sunnyvale, Mountain View, Palo Alto, and San Jose) continue at this time to issue a library card to non-residents for no charge.

posted by mb

Is Your Resume Effective?

2011-08-30T14:27:00.000-07:00

Come to tomorrow's free Resume Facts workshop taught by a professional career advisor from NOVA Connect and find out.

Learn the answers to the most common questions about resumes including: what goes on the resume, do I need to customize my resume, what are the best ways to organize information and is a cover letter necessary?

Join us in the Redwood Room from 1:00 - 2:30. Sign up by calling (408) 615-2900 or just drop in.

posted by mb

National Dog Day

2011-08-26T08:00:00.000-07:00

August 26 is National Dog Day. According to the Humane Society, there are dogs in approximately 78.2 million U.S. households, there are as many male dogs as there are female, and roughly one fifth of owned dogs were adopted from an animal shelter.

Dogs make for wonderful companionship, protection, and exercise motivation. Are your children clamoring for a dog? If you concede to their demands, what type of dog would be suitable for your family and home? A large or small one? One with high energy or low? Long haired or short? Even tempered or spirited?

For help with these types of questions, you might leverage the Library’s nonfiction collections on “dogs” (636.7 is the call number that represents the topic of dogs). For instance, you will find “Dogs: How to Choose and Care For A Dog” in the children’s nonfiction collection on the first floor and “American Kennel Club Dog Care and Training” in the adult nonfiction on the second floor. After you have selected your dog and you are a visual learner, you may appreciate the adult DVD “Your New Dog and You: A Beginner's Guide to Dog Care & Training” (located on the first floor in the adult media area).

Or, if after careful consideration, your family decided to pursue a different pet, there are materials on other animals that make for excellent pets. For example, the Library has information on cats (636.8), goldfish (639.3748), parakeets (636.6865), guinea pigs (636.93592), and turtles (597.92).

As always, should you desire assistance, please approach a staff member situated at the Youth Services Desk, Adult Services Desk, Information Desk, or Welcome Desk.

~ ac

Whole Lot of Shaking Going On*

2011-08-24T17:00:00.000-07:00

If you watch the news, you've probably heard that the East Coast experienced an earthquake yesterday. It was their biggest in 70 years. But, since it was the East Coast, an area not known for earthquakes of any large magnitude, the "biggest in 70 years" registered at 5.8 on the Richter scale.

For what is considered (by West Coast standards) a moderate quake, New York collectively wet itself in fear. Buildings were evacuated, transportation was disrupted, and people talked about it as if it were the apocalypse. Which makes complete sense if you haven't felt an earthquake in forever. Or ever for that matter. Plus with the anniversary of the September 11th attacks close at hand, it's quite likely that the people flooding out of buildings weren't thinking they were experiencing a natural phenomenon. Even if you did realize what it was, you probably also realized that your building was not constructed to deal with such tectonic shenanigans. At that point, panic and terror seem like pretty good options.

In response to this, the compassionate and ever sympathetic people on the West Coast laughed so hard they almost choked on their mirth. Twitter and Facebook became lousy with West Coasters taunting East Coastians (I feel the East Coast deserves an "ians" ending because it sounds more Ivy League) about their inability to deal with an earthquake "only big enough to stir a drink." A good laugh was had by all (West of the 111th meridian).

Which is why it was so shameful to wake up this morning and hear someone on the news describe the 3.6 earthquake we experienced last night as "forceful." What? Are you kidding me? You just spent the better part of 12 hours ridiculing New Yorkers for being wimps only to get bothered by a three point six? The news this morning should have been "Earthquake in Bay Area, Local Response: 'Meh.'"

But then earlier today there was a 7.0 in Peru. No casualties or damages thankfully, but that's not a number to sneeze at. And of course, the Japanese 8.9 was not too long ago. Nor was Haiti's 7.0. So perhaps instead of making light of the situation, we should be reminded of our vulnerabilities and need for preparation instead of boasting how we can handle it. Cause if memory serves me correct, we couldn't handle a 7.1 all that well.

That being said, it was nice to have one up on the East Coast after suffering through years of them telling us how we don't know what "real heat" or "real cold" is like. You're right, we don't. And that's why it's perfect out here. Earthquakes and all.
posted by jw

* That title is extremely lame. I apologize.

Looking for work? Try these

2011-08-11T16:31:00.001-07:00

Today's students in the Job Hunting Skills computer class had these comments: "Presenter was really knowledgeable with respect to material and this helps motivation" "I was impressed with the up-to-date information presented and the long list of electronic resources, internet links from NOVA's website, ReferenceUSA and using O*Net for adding keywords to my resume. Very helpful Thank you!"

What a great class. Students shared their favorite job search websites and a student demonstrated using RSS feeds. We watched a video about Work2Future services, explored NOVA's website for training opportunities, learned about books in the library, visited Indeed.com and SimplyHired.com, saw where to upload a resume to Brainfuse for a free review from a career professional and tried ReferenceUSA for researching a company and finding electricians in a specific geographical area.

posted by mb

Fall Storytime Schedule

2011-08-11T00:17:00.000-07:00

These kids (and their mom) are ready for storytime to start again! Are you?

Who's ready for some stories, songs, puppets, and fun? The Fall 2011 storytime session runs from Tuesday, September 6 through Saturday, November 19 (11 weeks in all.) Storytimes will be held on the the following days for the specified age groups:

Tuesdays at 10:30 am - Preschool Storytime for 3 to 5 year olds
Tuesdays at 7 pm - Family Storytime for all ages
Wednesdays at 10:30 am - Toddler Storytime for 2 to 3 year olds
Thursdays at 10:30 am - Baby Lapsit for 0 to 12 month olds
Thursdays at 10:30 am - Young Ones for 12 to 24 month olds
Saturdays at 10:30 am - Family Storytime for all ages

All storytimes are held in the Central Park Library Redwood Room, with the exception of Baby Lapsit which is in the Cedar Room.

Our storytimes are very popular, so please arrive early to ensure you find parking. We don't require advance registration, but we do close the program room door 15 minutes after the start of storytime or when the room is full - whichever comes first.

Please note that we will not have storytime on Saturday, October 8 when the library is closed for a budget reduction.

Have more questions about storytime? Consult our Storytime FAQ, or call Youth Services at 408-615-2916.

posted by SPB

The Bookstore is Dead, Long Live the Bookstore

2011-08-10T15:45:00.000-07:00

When giants fall, they leave craters. Such is the case with the recent collapse of Borders Books. A couple of months back they shuttered a large number of their stores in the attempt to increase the profitability of the rest and stay fiscally afloat. It didn't work. Come September, huge empty retail spaces will be all that remains of Borders Books. That's the most obvious damage.

There is a shadow crater left behind as well. In the 80's and 90's when Borders (and their rival, Barnes and Noble) rose to prominence, they entered many communities that already had small independent bookstores. The size of the superstores' selections, their low prices, and just the sheer novelty of something new ("Coffee!? In the store!? Wow!" ... admit it, we all felt that way) signed a death warrant for most of the independents. They couldn't compete and went under. The communities were upset (despite their partial culpability), but they still had a (big) bookstore to go to. Now, however, they don't.

"That's okay, you can still buy books on the Internet." True, the Internet is a good place to buy books. But it is not a bookstore. Amazon has an amazing selection of titles. Mind boggling really ("Earth's Biggest" according to their website... which is a bit silly considering none of the other planets are competing) . But you'll never even see a fraction of a percent of that selection. You will see the book you are looking for, the books purchased by people who purchased the book you are looking for, and a list of recommendations created by a computer algorithm. It feels like you are freely browsing, but you are actually corralled.

In a digital bookstore, the range of your discovery is limited to your keyword search (to be fair, it's the same thing with library catalogs and their tricky nomenclature). You will never stumble across that amazing book of cookie recipes you didn't know existed if you search the terms "dog training" (and if you did, I'd be concerned about the cookies' ingredients). At a real bookstore, you may have to walk past the baking section to get to the dog section. While doing so, there's that cookie book staring right at you. The chocolate chip decadence on the cover is too good to resist. You must have it. As a bonus, you find a recipe for baking organic dog treats. Serendipity!

But talking about shopping behavior misses the point. How or what we buy is a legitimate, though simplistic division. The true value of a physical bookstore is not solely found in its books. Bookstores, like libraries, provide venues for communities to share ideas about what's important to them. It is one of the always air-quoted "third places" that library types go all misty-eyed about. While it's true that a bookstore is a business, a truly amazing bookstore will never feel that way. It will seem like more than a monetary transaction taking place.

I spent the weekend reading Andrew Laties' Rebel Bookseller (excellent by the way) and visiting the bookstores where I live. Each one, be it the ramshackle used place, the stylized indie, the anarchist joint (cleanest bookstore of them all... go figure), or the one I would call home if I could, each one was created to provoke thought (and hopefully make a profit so they can continue to do so). The successful ones felt as if they belonged in the community. As if removing it would do some sort of damage to the fabric of that neighborhood. That is the true distinction between the physical and the digital.

So, with luck, prospective small bookstore owners will see Borders' collapse as a call to arms to repopulate communities with new shops instead of a doom and gloom prophesy about the book's inevitable death. After all, for how many times the book has been claimed dead, it has resolutely refused to acquiesce.
posted by jw

Audio Appreciation Month

2011-08-05T10:00:00.000-07:00

August is Audio Appreciation Month! Celebrate this event by checking out various audio book and music titles at your library! Here are a few recommendations for children and teens.

Books on CD
The library has audio book versions of many popular titles shown below in audio compact disc format:

Children Audio Books
*Series

	Harry Potter* by J.K. Rowling One of the most popular fantasy series about a young wizard named Harry Potter. Harry attends the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and makes new friends, learns new magic spells and goes on a quest to defeat the dark wizard Lord Voldemort.
	The Chronicles of Narnia* by C.S. Lewis Another popular fantasy and adventure series about various children exploring the mysterious and mythical world of Narnia.
	39 Clues* by Various Authors A series of intriguing adventure stories written by today's popular authors such as Rick Riordan, Gordon Korman, Peter Lerangis and more. These audio books will engage readers by combining card collecting, reading and online gaming.

Teen Audio Books
*Series

	The Alchemyst: The secrets of the immortal Nicholas Flamel* by Michael Scott Sophie and Josh are caught up in a deadly struggle between two rival alchemists over the possession of an ancient and powerful book containing the secret formulas for alchemy and everlasting life.
	Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater A moving, paranormal romance story about Grace and a mysterious wolf that often watches her from a nearby distance. Later, Grace discovers a wounded boy near her home and makes a shocking discovery that this boy is that same wolf in human form.
	Maximum Ride* by James Patterson An exciting adventure & science fiction series about six genetically enhanced children being imprisoned in a laboratory. Eventually, a sympathetic scientist helps them escape and they use their special abilities to survive on their own.

Playaways
Besides compact disc, you can also check out your child’s favorite title on a preloaded audio player called “Playaway”. Just connect your headphones and install one AAA battery to operate the player. Portable and convenient, you can transition or navigate to other chapters of the book without having to change discs. Here are a few recommended Playaway titles:

Children Playaways
* Series

	Artemis Fowl* by Eoin Colfer A popular fantasy and action series about a young master criminal named Artemis Fowl. Artemis gradually develops his moral character as he works with the fairies to help defeat enemies and save the world.
	Percy Jackson and the Olympians* by Rick Riordan A young boy named Percy Jackson discovers that the legendary Greek Gods still exists and goes on an adventurous quest to prevent a devastating war between the gods.

Teen Playaways
* Series

	Hunger Games* by Suzanne Collins In a post-apocalyptic world, a powerful government called the Capitol selects a boy and a girl from each district to participate in an annual televised event called the "Hunger Games", where they would fight each other to death. However this time, both participants defy the rules and face dire consequences.
	Graceling by Kristin Cashore Katsa, a young warrior lives in a world where some people are born with unique special skills called "Graces". Katsa however has a dreaded skill of killing and in this adventurous story, she goes on a journey of self-discovery and redemption by trying to save her land from a depraved king.

Download Audio Books and Music
You can download various audio books and music to your computer, portable music player or smartphone from the Northern California Digital Library. Check this page for more information on how to download.

Music
In addition to audio books, the library also has a substantial collection of music CDs for all ages! Please see a library staff at your library for more details.
posted by pn

I Don't Remember Neurotoxins Being Part of this Ebay Auction

2011-08-03T15:30:00.000-07:00

"Who sent you that package? A Bond villain?"

This was said by me to my girlfriend on Sunday. It's possible that I may have said it in a more colorful way. It's also possible that I shrieked it out like a little girl. To my defense, sometimes voice control is hard when their is an open box on your coffee table that contains a black widow spider. A very angry, very active black widow spider.

Just a head's up to all you E-Bay sellers out there- unless someone orders a poisonous spider, there should never, ever be one in a package you send to the auction winner. It's considered bad form. Particularly when the contents of the box requires one to plunge their hands into it. If you can't guarantee a spider-free package, to the very least shipping should be free.

Leaving that aside, I learned a few things about black widows this weekend:

1) They move extremely fast. As someone who finds even a still picture of a daddy long legs terrifying, the speed with which a black widow can eat up the distance between you and it came as a nightmarish revelation. Being frozen in fear didn't help matters much.

2) It is the female black widow who is poisonous. The male is not lethal. How you can spot the difference is by size (hard to tell unless you have both in front of you) and by markings. The female has the iconic red hourglass on her abdomen. The male either has no markings or a pale white/yellow hourglass. This is only helpful assuming the spider is lying in a tiny reclining chair allowing their markings to be in full view. In the case of it being belly down on a table, your mind kind of forgets that there is any distinction whatsoever.

3) In terms of design, the black widow is quite beautiful. Gross, but beautiful. They are all defined angles, sharp points, and round orbs. They are the sleek ninjas of the spider world. Sorry tarantulas. That makes you the ogres.

4) I don't think they like being called "Scary McFangface."

In the end, we were able to remove Mr. McFangface (yup, turned out to be male) from the premises. I suggested pressing charges and putting him in spider prison for breaking and entering. This was deemed "a patently ridiculous idea" (to which I posit that it is merely for the lack of a visionary lawyer that we do not have an inter-species penal code), so we relocated him to the back yard. I spent the rest of the afternoon staring out there to make sure he walked off into the sunset like Bruce Banner at the end of the Incredible Hulk TV series. But I fear he's plotting to return in full Lou Ferrigno rage.

Coincidentally, earlier that afternoon I was at the Conservatory of Flowers to see the Wicked Plants exhibit. It's based on a book by Amy Stewart about all the various flora that will kill you. A few months back she also released a book called Wicked Bugs. As you probably gathered, it's about all the creepy crawlies that will kill you. Guess who has it's own chapter in there?

While I fear that by reading the book I will become even more concerned about what lurks out there in my garden, I'm also trying to look on the bright side. If I find enough of the dangerous invertebrates, I can charge people admission to view them. Then I can move away. Far, far away.
posted by jw

20th Anniversary Celebration of Harris-Lass House

2011-08-01T13:44:00.000-07:00

Come and enjoy the Free Family Fun Day and Open House from 10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Saturday, August 6, 2011. Children can make post card art, corn husk dolls, lavendar dolls and ice cream treats. The Harris-Lass House Museum was opened to the public in 1991.

Special exhibits about the house and the families that lived there and early Santa Clara history will be open. There will also be vintage automobiles and gasoline motors on display. The Tank House Gift Shop will be open and food and cold drinks will be on sale.

Read more about the Harris-Lass House:
The People who lived in the Big House on Market Street edited by Marjorie Myers

Watch a DVD to learn more about the Harris-Lass House:
A Few Moments with Betty Stevens DVD 979.473 F46 Heritage Pavilion
An oral history interview and walk through the house with the great granddaughter of Captain Christian Lass.

The Final Harvest DVD 979.473 F49
A documentary on the Harris-Lass House including Santa Clara agricultural history, family history, and current activities for the public at this museum.

posted by mb

Ramadan

2011-07-29T00:01:00.000-07:00

Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, begins this year on August 1. Muslims around the world spend the month fasting from dawn to sunset, for fasting teaches self-disclipine and empathy for the less fortunate. At sunset the fast is broken with a special meal called the Iftar, often shared with extended family and friends. Ramadan is also a time of prayer, worship, charitable giving, community service, and humility.

The Youth Services Department has several books and DVDs to introduce children to Ramadan. Here's a small sampling:

Under the Ramadan Moon by Sylvia Whitman
Fasting and Dates: A Ramadan and Eid-Ul-Fitr Story by Jonny Zucker
A Party in Ramadan by Asma Mobin-Uddin
Night of the Moon by Hena Khan
Ramadan Mubarak (part of the Adam's World DVD series)

The Muslim Community Association (3003 Scott Blvd., Santa Clara) will hold a community Ramadan Open House on Saturday, August 13 at 6:30 pm. Admission is free, but guests need to make a reservation by emailing openhouse@mcabayarea.org. For more information, call 408-986-9874.

Warm wishes to all of our library families celebrating the Ramadan season!

posted by SPB

Dollars and Sense @ Your Library

2011-07-28T14:00:00.000-07:00

It's never too early to learn about finances and managing your own money. Financially responsible kids become financially responsible adults. That's why for the second year the Santa Clara City Public Library and KeyPoint Credit Union are co-sponsoring two "Financial Literacy for Kids" workshops. (Read about last year's workshops here.)

To reserve a space for your child, please sign up in person at the Youth Services desk or call us at (408) 615-2916. Both workshops will be held in the Central Park Library Redwood Room. Parents and caregivers are asked to attend with their children.

Kindergarten-2nd Graders
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
10:30-11:30 a.m.

Introduction to currency
Concept of wants vs. needs
Benefits of saving, sharing, and spending
The Moon jar project
Coloring sheets, stories, and money-related activities!

3rd-6th Graders
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
2:00-3:00 p.m.

What is money?
Concept of wants vs. needs
Budgeting exercise
Benefits of saving, sharing and spending
The Moon jar project

Please visit the Youth Services desk and ask a librarian if you want help finding any resources about money!
Posted by spb

Summer Reading - We Want to Hear from You!

2011-07-26T11:41:00.000-07:00

As we close the chapter on Summer Reading 2011, we want your feedback. What did you and your family enjoy about our program, and do you have any suggestions for improvement? Please take a moment to complete this short online survey. Your opinions matter!

posted by SPB

Summer Reading Participants!! Pick Up Your Awards NOW!

2011-07-25T12:22:00.000-07:00

Wow, what a summer! We had a total of 4,423 sign ups (children, teens, and adults)! If you are one of those individuals that signed up for the Summer Reading Club and kept a list of the books you read, it is time to pick up your award! Award pickups run from JULY 25 THROUGH AUGUST 21.

Children and Teens may pick up their awards in the library's CEDAR ROOM during the following times:

Monday-Tuesday: 10am-12pm and 2pm-7pm
Wednesday-Friday: 10am-12pm and 2pm-5pm
Saturday: 10am-12pm and 2pm-4pm
Sunday: 1pm-4pm

Adults may pick up their awards at the Periodicals Desk (2nd Floor) during the following times:

Monday-Tuesday: 10am-12pm, 1pm-5pm, and 6pm-8pm
Wednesday-Saturday: 10am-12pm and 1pm-5pm
Sunday: 2pm-5pm

Mission Library Family Reading Center will hand out awards anytime during their business hours:

Monday-Tuesday: 1pm-6pm
Wednesday: 12pm-8pm
Thursday: 10am-6pm

Thanks to the Santa Clara City Library Foundation & Friends for sponsoring the awards for the 2011 Summer Reading Club!

Looking for something to read?

2011-07-25T10:45:00.000-07:00

Try our library staff selected favorites. Each month the entire library staff recommends books, DVDs, and audiobooks. You will find top notch adult fiction like Jennifer Egan's Visit from the Goon Squad, and outstanding nonfiction like Tina Fey's hilarious Bossypants, Rob Lowe's Stories I Only Tell My Friends.

posted by mb

I Don't Know What To Read

2011-07-15T10:00:00.000-07:00

Your daughter knits her brows, crosses her arms and declares “Well -- I don’t know what to read” as you diligently “encourage” (otherwise known as “nagging” in children's circles) her to work towards the summer reading prize. You stammer as you “haven’t the foggiest” how to respond to that classic yet stout juvenile repartee.

But splutter no more as here are two convenient, online Readers Advisory resources available to you and your family:

• Novelist K-8 Plus: offers reading suggestions by genre, awards, series, author, age groups, and keyword-searches (Central Park library card required)

• Recommendations by the Youth Services staff (by age/grade, genre, award winners and popular topics)

Your child may also be interested in these very popular, children's chapter book series:

• Children of the Lamp

• Diary of a Wimpy Kid

• Geronimo Stilton

• Goosebumps

• How to Train Your Dragon

• Judy Moody

• Magic Tree House

• Percy Jackson and the Olympians

• Rainbow Magic

• A Series of Unfortunate Events

• Secrets of Droon

• 39 Clues

~ posted by ac

Lament for a Bicycle

2011-07-13T11:40:00.000-07:00

A few months back, I spent the afternoon with some friends at a bar on the busy intersection of Duboce and Valencia in San Francisco. Perhaps it was a bit early for drinking, but I had the day off, it was 80 degrees outside, and Zeitgeist has a back patio where you can sit in the sun. In other words, it was the type of day in the City that practically requires you to do so. People have called out sick from work to take advantage of such a day only to run into their bosses who are doing the same. Seriously.

Anyhow, degeneracy is not the point of this story. As I was leaving the bar, I went to the rack where I had locked my bike to find that it was no longer there. In broad daylight on a busy street my lock was cut and my bike was gone. The thieves did leave my helmet though, so that was nice of them. It was then that I realized something: I loved, truly loved, that bicycle. It was a rusty busted up scrap heap of a thing, but I adored it.

Had my car been stolen, I would have been furious due to the monetary loss and commute nightmare that would cause. But I would not have been emotionally crushed. It is, after all, just a machine. But standing there on that gloriously beautiful day with my helmet in one hand and severed bike lock in the other, I was what could only be described as heartbroken. Over a machine. A different type of machine, but still "just a machine." Which left me wondering, why do people who ride bikes seem to care about bikes and bike riding so intensely?

The most obvious example of this is found in the "cyclist." These are the folks who have no shame in wearing full spandex outfits (in public no less!) while riding astronomically expensive bikes as if they were competing in the Tour de France. The components that make up their bikes were probably first tested by NASA. They ride for distances the average person would vomit just thinking about. For them, bicycling is about performance, endurance, and speed. In a perfect symbiosis, their bodies are machines as impressive as the bikes they ride. They are the Olympians (both in terms of athleticism and deity like status) of the bicyclists. And because of that, most other bike riders dislike them and find them intimidating.

On the other side of the spectrum are the "revolutionaries." (Get it? Because bike tires revolve? Oh, nevermind.) This is the populist enclave of riders who teach people how to repair bikes at "bike kitchens" and screw up automobile traffic in Critical Mass rides. Chances are they've lived in Portland at some point and have a tattoo of a penny farthing on their forearm or a piston on their calf. To them, the bicycle is the last knowable machine of the modern age. When everything else we own needs a technician to fix or a dumpster to be tossed into when it breaks, the bicycle's simplicity practically screams out to be worked on by its rider. They are D.I.Y. zealots and believe riding a bike is both a political statement and a way to change the world. And because of that, most other bike riders dislike them and find them intimidating.

The other 99% of people who ride fall somewhere in between. There are the commuters, the fitness folks, the pleasure riders, the "brakes are for the weak" crowd, the Subaru sportsmen, the purists, the circus performers, etc, etc, etc. It's a big tent and everyone's allowed assuming you come in rolling. The common denominator here is that most of those people have some sort of deep connection with whatever it is they are riding.

Here's why (or at least why I think it's the case). If you were taught how to ride a bike when you were younger, that very well may have been the first taste of freedom you had. Once you got past the wobblies (as in the physical sensation, not the Industrial Workers of the World) and the training wheels came off, you were on your own to explore. No parents, no supervision. Just you, a bike, and possibly a gang of other Dickensian-like feral youth moving quickly through the streets. The bike was a tool for adventure and a means towards joy. Even as an adult, the echo of that feeling grabs me every time I lift the kickstand and go. I always experience a sensation of childlike glee when riding around the city. It's the best feeling in the world.

Long story short- stealing a bike is like kicking a person's inner child in the stomach.
posted by jw
photo from PUBLIC Bikes

Are Herbal Supplements Safe?

2011-07-12T09:14:00.000-07:00

Are you looking for up-to-date medical information? Do you want to dispel medical myths? Find out which herbal supplements are safe and which are not. Can an alcoholic ever return to moderate drinking? Can cinnamon lower your blood pressure? Are full body airport scanners safe? Does smoked fish contain Omega-3 fats? Do you need more Vitamin B12? Answers to these questions and many more can be found in health newsletters provided by a generous grant from Kaiser Permanente.

Read health newsletters found on the 2nd floor of the Library in the Health and Wellness Collection area. Harvard Heart Letter explains which herbal supplements interfere with heart medications. Harvard Mental Health Letter answers the question about alcoholics and moderate drinking. Focus on Healthy Aging answers the cinnamon question. Harvard Health Letter explains airport full body scanners. Tufts University Health & Nutrition Letter answer the Omega-3 question and many more nutrition questions.

Other health newsletters found in the Health and Wellness Collection: Harvard Men's Health Watch, Harvard Women's Health Watch, Health News: Straight Talk on Medical Headlines, Hearing Loss, Johns Hopkins Medical Letter: Health After 50, Mayo Clinic Health Letter, and University of California - Berkeley Wellness Letter.

posted by jh/mb

Avoid the Summer Slide

2011-07-07T18:43:00.000-07:00

"No more pencils, no more books, no more teachers' dirty looks!"

Remember this rhyme from your youth? Admit it - everyone looks forward to summer vacation and a well deserved break from homework, tests, and reports. It's only natural. But educators are expressing growing concern about a phenomenon known as "Summer Slide" or "Brain Drain." Time Magazine published an article last year titled The Case Against Summer Vacation. Students are at risk of losing reading and math skills during their extended school break, and teachers spend valuable classroom time bringing everyone up to speed again when school returns in the fall.

We're not advocating that you spend your summer drilling multiplication tables with your kids every free moment - that's no fun for either them or you. But if you'd like to do some fun, educational activities with your children to keep their skills sharp, we have many resources to help you.

First and foremost, if you haven't already - enroll your children in the summer reading club. (You can sign up, too - we have an adult program as well.) Registration ends July 16. Numerous studies show that children who participate in summer reading return to school in the fall with larger vocabularies and increased reading comprehension skills. Parents can make suggestions regarding their kids' book selections, but remember that the first rule of summer reading is to make it fun! Your children will have years of "required reading" in school. In the summer, let them (with your supervision) pick the books they find appealing. Don't get too hung up on reading level - just give them the time and quiet space to read, plus access to books they enjoy. All of the educational benefits of reading will follow naturally. (We promise!) Jen Robinson, a well-known children's book blogger and member of the Santa Clara City Library Foundation and Friends, has some great tips on encouraging summer reading.
Did your child's teacher suggest that he or she get extra practice over the summer on a particular subject? Online resources like Brainfuse and Learning Express have tests representing a variety of grade levels and subjects. For example, Learning Express features an online test covering California fourth grade math standards. These tools can be accessed free with your SCCL library card from any computer with an internet connection.
Incorporate math, writing, and reading in everyday household tasks. Make cookies with your kids, and have them read the recipe and measure the ingredients. Let your kids read the weekly supermarket ad, write a grocery list, and calculate prices. Have an overflowing change jar at home? Have the kids count it for you. The website Mixing in Math has many suggestions to make math accessible and fun for your family.
Education.com was recently named a "Great Site for Kids" by the American Library Association, and has many free printable worksheets for youth in preschool through high school.
The library just received books titled The Original Summer Bridge Activities that contain reproducible activity sheets. You can check the books out, but please photocopy the pages you wish to use. Writing in the books ruins them for other library patrons.

Want more ideas? Staff at the youth services desk are happy to show you even more resources to make your child's transition back to school as seamless as possible. Just ask!

posted by SPB

Learn More Computer Skills

2011-07-05T16:10:00.000-07:00

Need help in improving your Search? Want to learn what Twitter is or improve on your use of Twitter? Need help with the job hunt in Mandarin Chinese? Come to free Thursday morning classes in the Technology Center starting at 10:15.

All computer questions are given special attention in the Drop In Help Lab on Wednesday, July 27 at 10:15 a.m. Sign up for classes by calling (408) 615-2900 or stopping at the Technology Center or 2nd floor Reference desk.

We begin with More Internet Search Skills on July 7th. Bring your search questions and get tips and techniques for improving your search. Guest teacher Stuart Grooby, the City's Web Master, teaches both sessions of Twitter. Learn how to sign up for Twitter in the first class on July 21. If you have a Twitter account and are comfortable using Twitter but want to learn more, come to the Getting More Out of Twitter on July 28.

Job Hunting Help in Chinese is meeting July 14th. Any questions, call (408) 615-2900.

posted by mb

Celebrating Independence Day

2011-06-30T10:00:00.000-07:00

Our Independence Day will be on Monday, July 4^th! The library has a great collection of books and resources to help your child learn more about this special holiday and discover fun ways to celebrate it. Here are some recommended titles:

Books

	Independence Day: Birthday of the United States by Elaine Landau This book contains historical facts about Independence Day, information on how it is celebrated and two fun activities that you and your child will enjoy.
	Independence Day by Marc Tyler Nobleman Learn more about the meaning of Independence Day and how it is celebrated. This informative book contains interesting facts about Independence Day.
	Fourth of July Mice! by Bethany Roberts An amusing story about four playful mice enjoying a fun Independence Day by observing a parade and participating in other fun festivities.

Activities

	Star Spangled Crafts by Kathy Ross Have a fun Independence Day by creating something special! This book will teach you and your child how to make a variety of Independence Day themed crafts, such as a firecracker lapel pin, a flag mosaic, an American eagle magnet and much more!
	Holiday & Everyday Projects by Joanna Callihan Learn how to create colorful and intriguing crafts for various holidays, including Independence Day by checking out this book.

More ways to celebrate Independence Day:

Attend the Fourth of July All City Picnic! Enjoy live entertainment, face painting, carnival games, public swimming and delicious food served at several food booths! This event will be held from 8am to 5pm at Central Park at 969 Kiely Blvd.
Attend one of several fireworks shows that will be happening throughout the Bay Area!

Please see a Youth Services Librarian at your library for more recommendations.
Posted by pn.

My Memory Palace is in Ruins

2011-06-29T17:55:00.000-07:00

Memory is a bear.

Well, not really. It is a cognitive process for storing and recalling information. But let's put that aside for a moment and see the bad metaphor out.

For some people, the act of remembering things is simple. They have disciplined themselves in such a way that the wild beast of memory becomes a trained bear riding a bicycle in the circus. In other words, the amount they can remember and recall is both impressive and entertaining, but ultimately unnatural, freakish, and a little depressing when you think about the work that went into learning how to do that. For others, like myself, memory is more like the grizzlies in the film Grizzly Man. Sometimes it plays nice and sometimes it revolts (though it rarely devours you in a tent thankfully).

The high side of that retention spectrum is documented in Joshua Foer's book Moonwalking With Einstein. He was writing about competitive memory (yep, it's a sport), but he decided that in order to understand it better he would try training as a contestant. By doing so, he learned how people can structure their thoughts to remember the exact order of the cards in 25 shuffled decks or the number pi to an absurd amount of decimals. He also became the U.S. Memory Champion. So, you know, apparently it works.

These herculean tasks of memory are achieved through mnemonic devices. Many of us learned a few rudimentary ones in grade school. You may have been taught "Roy G. Biv" to remember the colors of the rainbow or "My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas" to remember the order of the planets (and the root cause of adolescent obesity).

Those are nothing compared to what the competitive memory folks use. They create elaborate "memory palaces" in order to keep track of everything. A memory palace is an imagined structure which bits of information are tucked away into. The idea is that the brain is more visual than factual. So when it comes to recalling that information, the person can just visualize walking through the structure and then they will "see" the information inside of it. Or at least I think that's the gist of it. It seems complicated. And fascinating. And a little pointless.

This isn't really functional memory that they are dealing with. The rote memorization of a list of names is far different from remembering the name of a girl you went to middle school with when she pops into your work one day (sorry... Sarah? It was good seeing you though). Remembering that you left your keys in your other pair of pants before you lock yourself out of the house seems far more valuable than remembering a sequence of random numbers... unless, of course, life or death hangs on knowing that sequence. And I would absolutely love, LOVE, to be able to remember what I just stood up to do. But I can't. So I'm going to sit back down again.

Then again, perhaps the practice of remembering insignificant things leads one to the ability of remembering significant things. I suppose it's worth trying. It can't hurt, right? But, considering my absent minded manner, it might be better to start out building a memory tent instead of a palace. And hopefully the memory bear won't come and thrash it.
posted by jw

E-reader Ownership Doubles in Six Months

2011-06-27T12:05:00.000-07:00

Today Pew Internet Research released a study from Pew Internet & American Life on e-reader and tablet ownership. In November 2010, 6% of Americans owned e-readers. It had grown to 12% by May 2011. Hispanic adults, adults younger than age 65, college graduates and those living in households with incomes of at least $75,000 are most likely to own e-book readers. Parents are also more likely than non-parents to own these devices.

Tablet computers have not seen the same level of growth among U.S. adults in recent months. As of May 2011, 8% of adults report owning a tablet computer such as an iPad, Samsung Galaxy or Motorola Xoom. This represents just a 3 percentage-point increase in ownership since November 2010. Overall, the highest rates of tablet ownership are among Hispanic adults and those with household incomes of at least $75,000 annually.

At Santa Clara City Library

We have certainly seen a surge of questions about e-readers and free library e-books and audio books. The study didn't ask about which devices were being purchased. Our questions are often from new NOOK owners. The library's free electronic resources are a selling point for Barnes & Noble apparently. In the future, Kindle e-reader owners will be able to use the free library materials as well. Visit our Digital Books page to see what is available. Call or stop in if you have questions.

posted by mb

On the Path to Good Health: Safety Comes First This Summer!

2011-06-24T00:18:00.000-07:00

Swimming. Fireworks. Bike rides. Picnics and cookouts. Long days playing outside under a warm sun. These are all fun things to do over the summer, but make sure that safety doesn't take a vacation! The National Safety Council has proclaimed June as National Safety Month to remind families of precautions they should take while enjoying common summer activities. Stop by the Youth Services Department for a tip sheet on summer safety and to check out our related book display.

The library has a wealth of resources to help keep your family safe and healthy throughout the year. For example, the new parenting collection (located next to the Family Place early learning area on the first floor) has books and DVDs to teach parents life-saving skills such as infant CPR and first aid. If you want a dose of humor with your safety lessons, look no further than the Caldecott-winning picture book Officer Buckle and Gloria. Librarians can help you find the perfect book to start a conversation with your child about wearing a bicycle helmet, water safety, and fire prevention.

“On the Path to Good Health” is supported by Kaiser Permanente and the Santa Clara City Library Foundation and Friends. Here's wishing you a fun, safe summer!

posted by SPB

More Free Electronic Books

2011-06-20T14:45:00.000-07:00

Did you know that the Library offers free electronic books? On a previous post some of the subscription electronic books were listed.

The Library also participates in the Northern California Digital Library's collection of electronic books. This collection allows you to download electronic books to a computer as well as audio books to MP3 players and many other devices, including smart phones. To find out which devices will work follow this link. To learn how to borrow items, try the Guided Tour videos or just follow the prompts on MyHelp!

There are also free electronic books on other websites. Try these:
Google's eBookstore
Go to the bottom of the page and visit Best of the Free
Internet Archives
Follow the link for Texts and you will enter the Ebook and Texts Archive of 2,852,884 items
Open Library
Try the Lending Library Sampler or Return Cart
Online Books from the University of Pennsylvania
Look at Prize Winning Books or Banned Books

posted by mb

Kids: Celebrate Father's Day!

2011-06-16T09:00:00.000-07:00

Father’s Day is on Sunday, June 19^th! The library has a great collection of books and resources for your child to make Father's Day special and memorable! Here are a few recommended titles:

Books

	Father's Day by Anne Rockwell For Fathers' Day, the students in Mrs. Madoff's class write and illustrate books about their dads with their families.
	Because I am your Daddy by Sherry North In illustrations and verse, this book lists some of the many ways a father, whether a pilot or a baseball player, could show his love for his child.
	Papa and Me by Arthur Dorros This is a beautifully illustrated story about a Latino boy and his father spending a memorable day together eating and sightseeing as they travel to Abuela and Abuelo's house.
	Father's Day by Ann Heinrichs This is an informative book about Father's Day and discusses why and how Father's Day is celebrated.

Activities

	Father's Day Crafts by Fay Robinson Create something thoughtful and memorable for dad! This book contains intriguing craft projects for kids to create for dad on Father's Day.
	All New Crafts for Mother's Day and Father's Day by Kathy Ross Learn how to create crafts for both Mother's and Father's Day. This book contains simple step by step instructions to create each craft project, designed to give to mom or dad.

Here are other ways to celebrate Father’s Day:

Create a personalized Father’s Day greeting card.
Work on a Father’s Day craft project.
Write a thoughtful poem for dad.
Play dad’s favorite game or sport with him such as chess, cards, basketball or baseball.

For more recommendations, please visit the Youth Services desk at your library.
Posted by pn.

See your Summer Reading Kickoff Photos on Flickr!

2011-06-10T18:09:00.000-07:00

We had a great time at our Summer Reading Kickoff Party last Saturday, June 4. We had over 640 Summer Reading sign-ups, arts & crafts, Zippy the Clown, and an unscheduled fire alarm! Thank goodness it stopped raining while we all waited outside for the Santa Clara Fire Department to make sure the building was totally safe. Thanks, SCFD!

If you came out for the party, we may have taken a picture of you doing something silly (with your permission, of course)! Did you pose as a totem pole, a pirate, or a child from around the world? Would you like to see how fun you looked?

Click here to see your picture, but do it soon, as we will take the pictures down on Monday, June 20.

We hope you had a great time with us. If you missed the Kickoff Party, you can still sign up for Summer Reading ONLINE (at home or at the library) until July 16. You can also see which programs are coming up by checking out our online calendar. We hope your summer has gotten off to a great start! Come see us soon and often!

Novel Destinations: Summer Reading for Adults

2011-06-06T17:04:00.000-07:00

Take a trip with us this summer and find your reading destination. Sign up for Adult Summer Reading now through July 16. Read or listen to five books and turn in your reading log between July 25 and August 21 to receive a prize and a chance to win an Nook E-Reader from Barnes & Noble!

Looking for something to read? Try these travel books:

Atlas of the Human Heart by Ariel Gore 910.4 G66

Imagined London: A Tour of the World's Greatest Fictional City by Anna Quindlen 820.9942 Q72

Annapurna the first conquest of an 8000 meter peak by Maurice Herzog 796.522 H58

Join us for these exciting events:

World Travel 101 with Hostelling International June 27 from 6:30-7:30 in the Cedar Room

Sierra Club's Volunteer Vacations July 12 from 6:30-7:30 in the Cedar Room.

posted by mb

One World, Many Stories!

2011-06-03T00:00:00.000-07:00

The forecast may call for rain on Saturday, but we're not letting that stop our fun - we'll bring the party inside! Join us at Central Park Library for our big "One World, Many Stories" Summer Reading Kickoff Party on Saturday, June 4 from 1 to 4 pm. We'll have several activities in our Redwood and Cedar Rooms, with Zippy's Almost Famous Balloon Circus performing at 2 pm. We anticipate a large crowd and limited parking, so please arrive early! Doors to the program rooms will close when capacity is reached.

Saturday is the first day for summer reading club registration, and you can sign up from any computer in the world with an internet connection. Go to our summer reading page, and select either the children, teen, or adult program. (Note: the registration link will not be live until Saturday 6/4.) Fill out a short registration form, print out a reading log, and you're all set! You'll also find information about all of our free summer programs such as concerts, puppet shows, storytimes, and movie screenings.

Get ready for a summer full of reading and fun!

posted by SPB

Ready, Set, Play!

2011-05-26T00:00:00.000-07:00

A sign in our Family Place early learning area. Come play with us!

Santa Clara City Library recently received a grant to implement Family Place. The Family Place network currently consists of more than 300 libraries in 22 states, and continues to grow. Family Place is an initiative to make public libraries an inviting destination and vital community resource for children under five and their families. A component of a Family Place Library is a collection of toys, kept in a specially designed area within our first floor children’s department that welcomes families with young children. The toys do not check out, but rather are available for play during all open hours at Central Park Library.

Much research has been done regarding the importance of play to a child’s early development. Children learn socialization, problem solving, and spatial relations through play. Play also develops critical fine and gross motor skills, and allows children to use their imagination and exercise their creativity. The right toy can foster the six early literacy skills much as a book can. For example, our Family Place area features an alphabet abacus that teaches letter awareness. Children build their vocabularies and narrative skills when they tell stories with our puppets or cook a meal in our play kitchen. I’ve witnessed amazingly creative play between the parents and children using Family Place. As we learned in Family Place training, simple toys do really inspire the most complex play.

Las Madres Neighborhood Playgroups donated an additional $3000 to the project to purchase a toddler play kitchen, play food, and parenting resources. Carol Jossi, a loyal volunteer in the Friends bookstore, donated funds to purchase a Lego table and building blocks.

Another component of Family Place is the addition of a designated parenting resource section, located along the back wall of the picture book area. There you will find books and DVDs on topics such as breastfeeding, baby sign language, toilet training, childhood illnesses, healthy eating, and discipline.

Modeled on a national Family Place project, California’s Family Place Program is administered by the California State Library and is funded by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA).

Posted by SPB

Opportunities in a Growth Industry

2011-05-25T00:00:00.000-07:00

Every year during the spring I tell myself the same thing: I'm going to start a garden. I'm going to eat vegetables that I've grown. I'm going to pick fruit from vines and trees that I've planted. I'm going to create a veritable cornucopia of sustenance that will keep me in food until the next growing season. Every year this never happens.

In the past I've had good(ish) reasons. It's impossible to create a farm when all you have is a balcony. Okay, it's not impossible, but it's difficult. Okay, okay, it's not even difficult. I was just lazy that year. But now I have a (smallish) backyard. It's draped in fog, stalked by wolf spiders, and choked with weeds, but I finally have land. It's time for a cultivation invasion!

My first effort to reclaim the yard was not entirely successful. With novelty sized garden gloves (a pair of lime green and rose stripped beauties that must have been left behind by the past tenant... in 1950) and tools meant for far more benign tasks like gently massaging the earth, the day ended with my hands a mess of blisters and my dog looking at me with what could only be described as disdain. The yard, however, looked none worse for wear. Cawing in the tree tops, the crows seemed to laugh at me.

Since then, I've had my share of wins ("Look, you can see the dirt now!") and losses ("Sweetheart, this isn't a weed... it's a tree. Or at least now it is."). But finally I'm prepared to put something into the ground other than my tears. And that something is... well, I don't rightly know yet. I've never gotten this far before.

Tomatoes would be ideal. Who doesn't like a fresh tomato? But they don't grow well in my neighborhood on account of the London like micro-climate I live in. Tomatoes, unlike myself, thrive on sunshine. As do peppers and strawberries and the myriad of other plants which display their flavorfulness with all the subtlety of a peacock. This means my garden will be filled with the monochrome and cowardly. But being that I tended them to edibility, they will taste delusionally better than any other greens or roots I have ever had.

Or at least I hope they will. Otherwise all this work will be for naught.
jw

E-books in the news

2011-05-23T10:45:00.000-07:00

Amazon reported recently that its e-books are outselling both its hardcover and paperback book sales. It was also reported in the Wall Street Journal on May 9, 2011, that its [Amazon's] bestseller list is dominated by $2.99 self-published books.

Did you know the library has e-books? Try these sources on our Electronic Resources page:

TumbleBook Library Animated books read aloud especially for children.

Learning Express Library Improve your academic skills, learn about occupations and prepare for civil service exams

Heritage Quest Online Over 28,000 fulltext, searchable family and local history books

Safari Technical Books Nearly 4,000 fulltext, searchable computer and science books.

Legal Information Reference Center Fulltext searchable legal books including popular Nolo Press books including free legal forms.

Small Business Reference Center Fulltext searchable books and articles for business owners.

posted by mb

May: National Bike Month

2011-05-13T11:25:00.000-07:00

The soothing, warm breeze on my face. The rhythmic flutter of my shirt sleeves. The hypnotic crash of Pacific waves and the bite of ocean tang. Gliding like an albatross amidst fragrances of Eucalyptus and Pine. Grins of joy playing “follow the leader” with friends. These are my fond recollections of childhood bike rides through San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park and along Ocean Beach.

So consider creating lasting bicycling memories with family and friends as May is National Bike Month. Or help reduce our carbon footprint by biking to work since May 16-20 is this year’s Bike-to-Work Week and May 20 is Bike-to-Work Day. Visit BikeLeague.org for information on how to teach your child to learn to ride a bicycle, local biking events, and bicycle maintenance and repairs. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration offers invaluable information on bicycling safety.

The Library’s factual materials on Cycling (the formal subject heading for bicycling) are located in the adult "796.6" non-fiction section (2nd floor) and the children's "Juv 796.6" non-fiction section (1st floor). The Adult and Youth Services Desks can assist you in locating factual and fictional materials on Cycling.

According to Michelle Obama's "Let's Move" children's health initiative, almost one third of America’s youth is overweight or obese. In thirty-eight states, the adult obesity rate exceeds 25%. Bicycling can be one of many fun ways to bolster physical activity and health for children and adults alike.

As beauty is in the eye of the beholder, FUN exercise need not be considered sweaty exertion but rather glistening exultation.

posted by ac

Maintain Your Brain

2011-05-09T11:34:00.000-07:00

If you are a Mandarin Chinese speaker, please come join us for this Brain Health program presented by Peining Chang, Chinese Outreach Specialist from the Alzheimer's Association on Monday, May 23rd from 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. in the Library's Redwood Room.

This research-based workshop offered by the Alzheimer's Association encourages people to maintain their brain by staying physically and mentally active, eating a brain-healthy diet and remaining socially involved. These are all key aspects of the Maintain Your BrainTM campaign. Both informative and fun, this workshop will feature nutritional and lifestyle advice, and strategies to keep your memory sharp.

For more information in Chinese, click here to see the Calendar and flyer or please call Jenny at (408) 615-2906.

posted by mb for jh

Kids: Celebrate Mother's Day!

2011-05-06T10:00:00.000-07:00

Mother’s Day is on Sunday, May 8^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.
Posted by pn.

Attention! Graduates of the Easy Reader Collection, you get a GOLD STAR!

2011-04-29T00:00:00.000-07:00

Parents often ask, “After my child is done with the Easy Readers, what books should he/she read next?” As a librarian, it is very unsatisfying to tell people to look through the entire Juvenile Fiction area and look for “the thinner books.” So, we’ve done the work for you! We’ve pulled the easier chapter books out and put them in a collection of their own.

This new collection, “Easy Chapters,” is shelved on the opposite side of the Easy Reader Collection, at the end of Juvenile Fiction. Each book has a gold star at the top of the spine. These books have been designated as Easy Chapters using a system called the Lexile Framework for Reading (see www.lexile.com) Each book in this collection is typically 100 pages or less, and has a Lexile number of up to about 700 (approximate 3rd grade reading level).

If you look inside the front cover of each book, there will be a Lexile number. Based on the chart below, you can determine which range of numbers may best suit your child, and which ones may be too difficult.

Grade 1 up to L300
Grade 2 L140 to 500L
Grade 3 L 330 to L700

As you know, each child’s reading level is different. The numbers are just a guideline, so do not use the numbers as a basis for what your child should be reading. The Lexile numbers reflect the text difficulty only, not the content of the book. So, for example, you may not want your 1st grader to be reading a book with a Lexile of 700 because he/she will not be able to understand the content even though they can read the words. Always take into consideration the age and interests of the child. Lexile numbers are a good starting point for figuring out which books to read next, but always consider your child’s actual reading skills and go from there.

Some of your favorites are here: Flat Stanley & Flat Stanley's Worldwide Adventures (Brown, Greenhut, Pennypacker), My Weird School (Gutman), Magic Tree House (Osborne), Junie B. Jones (Park), Jake Maddox Sports (Maddox), and Rotten School (Stine).

Librarians are always here to help you select appropriate books for your child. Please ask us if you have any questions.

Posted by emu

Library News

2011-04-25T11:41:00.000-07:00

Welcome back! We are open again with our regular hours and have new self check machines for you to try. Listen to the gentle chime when your DVD, magazine, book or CD checks out.

Tonight join us for a free presentation, "The Death Panel Myth" from 6:00 -7:30 in the Cedar Room. Learn about estate planning and advance health care directives from Attorney Eric B. Norris.

Our new Family Place play area is open for children in the Preschool Pavilion in Youth Services. Pictured here.

Tuesday, April 26

Join us for a discussion of Sin Killer by Larry McMurtry in the Cedar Room at 10:30 a.m.

Too young for Sin Killer? There is a Preschool Storytime at 10:30 a.m. and a Family Storytime at 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday, April 27 at 10:15 Drop In Help in the Technology Center and Thursday, craigslist Search Skills 10:15 - 11:15. Too young for computer classes? There is Baby Lapsit and Young Ones at 10:30 on Wednesday and Toddler Storytime on Friday at 10:30. Enter through Youth Services.

Saturday, April 30, is the deadline for the Teen Text Poetry Contest. Family Storytime meets at 10:30.

posted by mb

Advance Health Care Directive and Estate Tax Seminar

2011-04-18T09:46:00.000-07:00

Estate Planning Attorney Eric B. Norris will present a seminar to discuss "the Death Panel Myth" and to explain why all Californians need an Advance Health Care Directive now, how you can make sure it will be available to all health care providers, what goes into an Advance Health Care Directive and what doesn't, and how to prepare one. Eric also will provide an update on the recent changes in the Estate Tax and how these will affect you.

This free seminar will be held in the Central Park Library Cedar Room, 2635 Homestead Road, Santa Clara, on Monday, April 25, 6:00-7:30 p.m. To reserve a space for this program, stop by the Reference Desk or call (408) 615-2900.

Read more about advance healthcare directives at the consumer website of the California State government.

posted by mb for jb

Career in Librarianship

2011-04-14T12:16:00.000-07:00

What do you think about when you hear "Librarian"? Do you think of a rigid lady behind a desk that is constantly shushing everyone? With thick glasses and pencil skirts? Well, I sure don't dress like that and I don't know many librarians that do. Librarians are awesome; did you know that we work in places like Pixar and Twentieth Century Fox? There are so many options for those that study Library Sciences. Currently, I am working towards my Master's Degree in Library Sciences at San Jose State University. I think a lot of you will be happy to know that it usually isn't necessary to have to take the GRE to get into a Library Sciences program which was a great relief for me. With so many career paths in libraries, the education, experience and skills requirements will vary from job to job.

I got my Bachelor’s degree at the University of Arizona in Business, Sociology and Chinese. That might not seem like it’s applicable to Library Sciences, but the program welcomes people of all different backgrounds, in fact it is encouraged! A lot of my classmates have BA’s in computer science, humanities, math and it’s all beneficial in working for a specialized library or a public library. I would like to work in a public library because I love to help people and libraries are great place to do that. During my internship, I got to host story time for toddlers, baby lap sit program, book discussion for the youth, answered patrons’ questions at the reference desk and help with computer lab for adults! All of them were so much fun and really opened up my eyes to how much the libraries provides for the community. Being in the Library and Information Science program is definitely not a cake walk. I have a hard drive stuffed with papers, group projects and study notes! Despite all the work, I love what I am learning. In my Materials for Children Ages 0-4, I had to read 75 children books and write a review about each of them for my final paper. Also, for one of my group projects our group had to run a mock library which entailed figuring out how to attract more patrons and how to better serve them. One of the most difficult classes I’ve taken but important is cataloging. I had the opportunity to practice cataloging: assigned Library of Congress subject headings to records including constructing and evaluating subject headings and learn the general skills in subject analysis that can be applied to any field or type of material.

Librarians can work in various setting such as public, academic, special, school, digital libraries. Public and technical services are two areas of traditional positions. If you like to interact with all types of personalities, then you may want to consider these types of positions: reference, circulation, document delivery and inter-library loan, education and outreach, children/young adult services and teacher librarian. However, if you like to work with computers and technical things that keep the library running then you may want to consider technical services positions. They work “behind the scenes” to make sure that the library and the services are not only working effectively but also properly. Cataloging and acquisitions, collection development and management, journals/special collections, information technology and systems are some of the positions for technical services positions. If you are those who are cut out to be leaders, then administrative positions are for you. They oversee the management and planning of libraries. Some of the duties include supervising library employees, negotiate contract for equipments, materials and services, preparing budget to make sure that everything function properly. After I finish my program, I aim to work in a public library because I am a people person, able to interact with all types of personalities, and can adapt in unpredictable situations.

What does it take to become a librarian? Well, a B.A., B.S. or associate’s degree in any field and a Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science from one of the 56 schools accredited by the American Librarian Association. At San Jose State University, it is a total of 43 units and most classes are 3 units each to complete the program. I hope you are excited about this field and surprised at the different possibilities that librarianship offers because I was when I first started this program. It does not matter what your background is or what skills you have or what your interests are, because anyone can find a place in the field of librarianship.

Posted by JC
Spring 2011 Intern for the Youth and Extension Services Department

No, Thank You!

2011-04-13T13:03:00.000-07:00

As you may have noticed from the enormous sign behind our circulation desk, this week is National Library Week. From April 10 to the 16, librarians will be cheer leading about libraries to let non-librarians know how vital librarians and libraries are to their lib... uh, lives. In simplified terms: "WOO-HOO! WE ARE AWESOME! YOU SHOULD LOVE US!"

And that's entirely true. Libraries are awesome. And many of you already love us (you must to be reading a library oriented blog... or you are a librarian yourself) and for that we are extremely grateful. But the flip side of National Library Week is a large number of articles which say something to the effect of "Libraries: Remember them?" or "They aren't just for books anymore!" Inevitably these articles will talk of 3 things:

1) Childhood memories of dusty books and matronly ladies with cat glasses. Continuously using these outdated reference points to speak of libraries is like opening every conversation about a Prius with a description of a Model T. They aren't relevant anymore. The card catalog became a source of scratch paper well over a decade ago. If you consider the speed of change in modern society, that might as well be a century. Contrary to popular belief, libraries aren't decrepit relics reaching their ghastly hands out to catch the tail end of the future. We exist firmly in the present (or perhaps a year or two behind it). Which leads to point #2.

2) They have computers! Ugh. It's 2011. Of course we have computers. In related news, we have indoor plumbing and electricity as well. Again this "shock" comes from an old notion that libraries are for books. Books are old fashioned, therefore computers are anathema to libraries, right? Wrong. This is a problematic assumption. Libraries are not "for books". We are "for information." And more to the point, we are for "community access to information."

Books are excellent things. I love them to pieces. But in the world of information, books are only one continent. And even then, a single library could only be a tiny country of that continent (to extend the metaphor too far). If our mission is to provide access to information, we'd be rather myopic to limit it just to books. So yes, we have computers to help you get to all those other lands of data and entertainment. And we've had them since the days of Netscape Navigator and Yahoo as the #1 search engine. You know... like a decade/century ago.

[Before we move on, the other variation of "They have computers!" is "They have DVDs!" This too should not be shocking since we've had movies and music for most every format that's come out. Except for laser discs because those were just silly.]

And finally the trifecta occurs when the author brings up-

3) Are libraries relevant in a digital world? After all, isn't a reference librarian just like a google search? And can't people download our collection to their Kindles and Nooks and iPhones, etc? To answer that respectively, sort of if that librarian cared little of quality and accuracy, and yes if you can afford such nifty devices and the content to put on them.

And this is the heart of National Library Week and the well intentioned (though somewhat stereotypical) articles that come out during it. Libraries don't exist in order to hoard books. We don't open our doors to allow you to use computers. We don't live or die by format choices. Those things are part of our services, but not our purpose. Our purpose is to serve our communities in the best way possible.

Libraries are nothing without the people who use them. And not just because you pay to keep us open with your tax dollars (though it is a bit cliche to remind us of that if engaged in a dispute). If our community values us, we thrive and do great things together. If they don't, we wither. National Library Week should be less about us telling you what we can do for you or how high our circ rates are and more of a dialog about what you want from us. Because that's who we're here for. You.

So let me conclude by saying "WOO-HOO. YOU ARE AWESOME. WE LOVE YOU."

posted by jw

The U.S. Civil War Begins: 150 Year Anniversary

2011-04-11T09:49:00.000-07:00

150 years ago on April 12, the U.S. Civil War began when Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina, was fired on and captured by the Confederacy. Read more in this Wall Street Journal article.

Read these books about the Civil War that the library staff recommended on the April Staff Favorites list. (Staff Favorites are one of the Featured Lists found on the online catalog search page or by selecting the tab Research/Resources Readers' Links.)

The Civil War by Shelby Foote 973.733 F68

Killer Angels by Michael Shaara Fiction Shaara

The Runaway Quilt and its sequel

The Union Quilters by Jennifer Chiaverini Fiction Chiaverini

Books for Children: Iron Thunder the Battle Between the Monitor and the Merrimac : a civil war novel by Avi Juvenile Fiction Avi Tom's job as an assistant for Captain John Ericsson, inventor of the Merrimac, makes him a target of Confederate spies. For readers 8-12 years old. Pink and Say by Patricia Polacco Juvenile Fiction Polacco Say Curtis describes his meeting with Pinkus Aylee, a Black soldier, during the Civil War, and their capture by Southern troops. Based on a true story by the author's great great grandfather. Grade 4 and up. posted by mb

Kids: Celebrate National Poetry Month

2011-04-08T00:00:00.000-07:00

April is National Poetry Month! Help your child discover poetry by checking out the library’s children poetry collection. Here are some recommended books to get your child excited about poetry:

Poetry Books

	The New Kid on the Block: Poems, by Jack Prelutsky A collection of funny poems about strange creatures and people such as Baloney Belly Billy and the Gloopy Gloopers.
	The Random House Book of Poetry for Children, by Various Authors A varied and complete collection of more than 550 poems by various poets, including Emily Dickinson, Robert Louis Stevenson and Robert Frost.
	Where the Sidewalk Ends, by Shel Silverstein This is a masterful collection of humorous poems and drawings by Shel Silverstein that will engage children.

Learn to Write Poems

	Haiku Activities : Asian Arts & Crafts for Creative Kids, by Patricia Donegan Introduces the form of Japanese poetry known as haiku, explores the seven keys to writing haiku, and provides instructions for five haiku projects.
	Pizza, Pigs, and Poetry: How to Write a Poem, by Jack Prelutsky This is a humorous guide, filled with poetry exercises, ideas, projects, and pointers that teaches readers how to write poetry.
	Poem-Making: Ways to Begin Writing Poetry, by Myra Cohn Livingston Introduces the different kinds of poetry and the mechanics of writing poetry.

More Ways to Celebrate

Besides reading and writing poems, here are other ways that you and your child can celebrate National Poetry Month, according to Lily Jones and Skila Brown from www.education.com/magazine/article/Celebrate_Poetry:

Memorize a poem together.
Write poems about various things and occurrences at home.
Read a short poem before a family meal, such as breakfast or dinner.
Take a notebook and go on a walk. Be ready to write a poem or phrases about various things that you or your child would observe.
Have a poetry slam by inviting other kids or adults over to read poems aloud.

And as always, you can ask a Youth Services Librarian to help you find more poetry resources at your local library branch.
Posted by pn.

Free Class: Value Line Research Center

2011-04-04T14:15:00.001-07:00

Interested in learning how to make smarter investment decisions?

Value Line Research Center, available at the library and at home with your library card, will give you the leg up that professional investors use to conduct basic research, formulate sound strategies and find timely opportunities in stocks and mutual funds.

Join us for this free hands on computer class in the Technology Center. Call (408) 615-2900, if you have questions.

posted by mb

April is National Poetry Month

2011-04-02T09:14:00.000-07:00

Teen Text Poetry Contest

Who said that texting is not an art? The Santa Clara City Library is offering a $25.00 Amazon.com gift card for the best text poem that is 160 characters or less by a teen. The deadline is April 30, 2011. Complete rules listed below. Winners will be notified by email or phone.

Rules:

Must be in grades 7-12
One entry per person
Entries accepted from April 1-30
160 character limit
Include first and last name, phone number or email, and grade
Inappropriate poems will be disqualified

Text or email your entry to SCCLibrary@textem.net.

Entries may also be submitted in person to the Central Park Youth Services Desk.

This contest is made possible by support from the Michael J. Kirsch Foundation.

Submitted by nc

Teen Book Spotlight

2011-03-25T10:00:00.000-07:00

Hey, teens! Today we've got the rundown on some new (and newish) and popular novels from the Teen collection. We'll pretend that each review is being written in Twitter and will keep the review under or at 140 characters. Here we go:

	Amy & Roger's Epic Detour, by Morgan Matson Girl's dad died. Girl & boy start boring cross-country road trip. Detours make it fun and meaningful. Real characters. Great music lists!
	Anna & the French Kiss, by Stephanie Perkins Anna sent to study abroad at Paris boarding school. Doesn't want to go. Meets boy. Swoons. See what happens next in the City of Love.
	Before I Fall, by Lauren Oliver Popular teenager Samantha died in car crash. Somehow she relives day over & over. Can she change events & save herself? Raw & emotional.
	Flash Burnout, by L.K. Madigan Meet gifted photographer Blake. Discovers secret about classmate. Amazing inner “guy” monologue mimics real guy thoughts. Talented author.
	Prom & Prejudice, by Elizabeth Eulberg Funny take on classic Pride & Prejudice. Complete with lies, betrayal, romance, wrong assumptions, Bennett & Darcy. This one has prom twist.
	Shiver, by Maggie Stiefvater (and Linger and the forthcoming Forever) Highly recommended for those Twilight "Team Jacob" fans. Werewolves, love, adventure. Characters to love and love less. Trilogy.
	Split, by Shanti Avasthi Domestic violence. Older brother left. Younger brother stuck. Beautifully written, great character development, heartbreaking situation.

For more teen book recommendations, visit the Youth Services Desk or try searching our Novelist database.

Posted by ws. It's been wonderful blogging for Youth Services for the last year. I accepted a new position at another library, so this is my last post. Look for future posts by the talented Youth Services staff!

Following the Trail of The Call of the Wild from Santa Clara to Alaska

2011-03-21T10:15:00.000-07:00

The Big Read's keynote address will be held Tuesday, March 22, 2011, from 6:00 - 7:45 p.m. in the Redwood Room of Central Park Library. Dr. Daniel Dyer, Jack London scholar and author, will give a lecture and slide show presentation on the path traveled by the dog Buck and London's links to the places in the novel.

On Wednesday, March 23, 2011, from 6:00 - 7:45 p.m. at Mission Library Family Reading Center, Dyer will discuss London's youth, his ties to the Bay Area, his time in Alaska and his career.

Join us for either or both events. Get more information and sign up when you are in the library or call (408) 615-2900.

The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts designed to restore reading to the center of American culture.

posted by mb for mh

Kids Can Quilt

2011-03-19T10:00:00.000-07:00

This quilt is in the Children's picture book area. Created by SCCL's own Ellin Klor, Mary Boyle, and Angie Vincente. See the blog post for more details.

Did you know that National Quilting Day is today (the 3rd Saturday in March)? It's a day created by the National Quilting Association to highlight the craft of quilting, or joining together two or more layers of material to make a thicker padded material. [source]

Detail from library quilt mentioned above

Quilting is a chance to use your imagination. You could make a quilt from clothes that are too small or ones that you don't wear anymore. You can pick whatever colors you want. Most often, you'll work from a pattern. Traditional quilts are sewn with needles and thread, and we have a collection of books with basic designs for kids old enough to work with needles. There's even one especially for teens and tweens. Have a look:

Kids Can Quilt: Fun and Easy Projects for Your Small Quilter by Dorothy Stapleton

Kids' Easy Quilting Projects by Terri Thibault

The Quilting Bee by Gail Gibbons

Teens & Tweens: Quilting Fun with Family & Friends by Anita Shackelford

Traditional Quilts for Kids to Make by Barbara J. Eikmeier

Ask at the Youth Services Desk if you'd like more information about quilting and quilting resources!

Posted by ws.

Quilting Resources

2011-03-17T08:18:00.000-07:00

Today's free computer class at Central Park Library features dozens of links to websites of interest to quilters. If you are looking for books or videos from the library, hands on classes, sources for fabric, a community of quilters to join just try some of these:

746.46 P82 Sew and Go Totes: 9 Quilted Projects 2009
746.46 F24 Kaffe Fassett's Simple Shapes Spectacular Quilts 2010
746.46 W31 Fusing fun! fast, fearless art quilts by Laura Wasilowski 2005
DVD746.46 P37 Machine Applique for the Terrified Quilter 2008

Find classes at local Adult Education centers, retreat centers and stores.
Santa Clara Adult Education (408) 423-3500
Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District Adult Education (650) 940-1333
Empty Spools Seminars Five 5-day quiltmaking workshops taught annually by national experts at Asilomar in Pacific Grove, California.

The Granary and Eddie's Quilting Bee in Sunnyvale
Prairie Queens Quilt Shop and Quilter's Nest in San Jose
Natural Expressions in Los Gatos

Santa Clara Valley Quilting Association and Peninsula Quilting Guild have large meetings and small groups to join. Read the latest SCVQA newsletter here.

Take a closer look at the quilt shown above when you visit the Children's Picture Book area of Central Park Library.

posted by mb

Women in History

2011-03-11T10:30:00.000-08:00

March is Women's History Month. Remember that last year, we did a little Women's History Month quiz? We're back for round 2!

The month-long celebration is brought to you by The National Women's History Project. This year's theme is "Our History is Our Strength," because "learning about women’s tenacity, courage, and creativity throughout the centuries is a tremendous source of strength." [source]

Test your knowledge of famous women throughout history. Answers are at the bottom of this blog post.

1. Gloria Steinem is known for _____________.

being the nationally recognized leader of the Women's Liberation Movement in the early 1960s-late 1970s
co-founding Ms. magazine
co-founding Women's Media Center, an organization that "works to ensure women are powerfully and visibly represented in the media"
All of the above
None of the above

2. Toni Morrison has NOT done which of the following:

won a Nobel Prize in Literature
written and sung a song
won a Pulitzer Prize
taught English at the State University of New York
written a novel that also became a movie and an opera
All of the above
None of the above

3. Who was Susan B. Anthony?

a tutor who taught Helen Keller how to read braille.
a scientist who won a Nobel Prize
an American civil rights leader who fought for women's right to vote in the 1800s. For her work, she was memorialized on a one dollar coin called a Susan B. Anthony dollar.
All of the above
None of the above

4. Which of the following is true about Laura Bush?

she is married to George W. Bush, the 43rd President of the United States of America
has a master's degree in Library Science and was a librarian
she partnered with the Library of Congress to launch the National Book Festival
All of the above
None of the above

5. Sally Ride was the first American woman to _____________.

receive a medical degree
travel into space
become U.S. Secretary of State
All of the above
None of the above

Visit the Youth Services section of the library to find biographies about these and other famous women in history.

Try these other resources, too:

Don't forget that the Youth Services Librarians are available to help. Just stop by the Youth Services desk on the first floor!

Answers: 1. d; 2. b; 3. c; 4. d; 5. b

Posted by ws with fact help from Wikipedia.org. All images from Wikipedia.org.

Learn More About Jack London

2011-03-08T16:23:00.000-08:00

Santa Clara's BIG READ, Jack London's The Call of the Wild, begins with an event at Mission College Quad from 11:00 - 2:00 on Wednesday, March 16. Get a free copy of the book and read it. Read more about all the BIG READ events here.

To learn more about author, Jack London, look for these recommended biographies:

Jack London: a biography by Daniel Dyer Juv 921 L847

Big Read Keynote Speaker, Dr. Daniel Dyer, has written a very accessible and readable biography for young adults and older readers. The book includes many photos and an index. Dr. Dyer's talk and slide show at Mission Library on March 23 is based on the research he did for his book.

Jack London's Women by Clarice Stasz 813.52 L84

Sonoma State University Professor Stasz, who had access to London family papers, wrote this fascinating book which includes the story of his relationship with Mabel Applegarth of Santa Clara. She lived near College Park Station and is buried in Mission City Memorial Park, Santa Clara's city-owned cemetery.

Irving Stone's Jack London, his life, Sailor on horseback ( a biography) and twenty-eight selected Jack London stories 921 L847

When it was published in 1938, this book was a highly acclaimed bestselling book. Some consider it one of the best written Jack London biographies.

Jack London, photographer by Jeanne Campbell Reesman, Sara S. Hodson & Philip Adam 770.92 R32

A beautiful coffee table style book showcasing Jack London's talents as a world traveled photojournalist.

Wolf: the Lives of Jack London by James L. Haley 813.52 L84

A vivid portrait of his life, this book provides great insight into Jack London's psyche. Some of its reviewers say this book surpasses Irving Stone's acclaimed 1938 biography.

Find these books in the 2nd floor nonfiction collection or on display at the top of the stairs in Central Park Library.

posted by mb for mh

Teen Tech Week

2011-03-06T10:00:00.000-08:00

Today kicks off YALSA's (Young Adult Library Services Association) Teen Tech Week, which runs from today through March 12th. Teen Tech Week is a national initiative aimed at teens, librarians, educators, parents, and other concerned adults that highlights non-print resources at the library.

Did you know the library has:

Free Live Online Tutoring
Research Databases
Downloadable eBooks and Audiobooks
Twitter and Facebook Accounts
A Blog
Music CDs, DVDs, Audiobooks
Internet Classes
Over 81 Public Internet Workstations

To celebrate, the Santa Clara City Library is sponsoring an Internet Scavenger Hunt, where you have a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card. Pick up the form at the Youth Services Desk or online, complete the 15 questions, and return it to the desk or email your answers to nchoi@santaclaraca.gov by March 12th. A winner will be chosen from a drawing of all qualified entries. Winners will be notified by email or phone. (To qualify for the drawing, scavenger hunts must be completed and have at least 10 answers correct.)

Healthy Choices for Healthy Kids

2011-03-04T10:00:00.000-08:00

Did you know that March is officially National Nutrition Month? While it’s always appropriate to think about good nutrition, this seems like a great time to tackle some tips that will help your young child develop healthy eating habits so that he or she continues to grow into a healthy adult. Eating right helps him or her learn new words and skills, as well as fuel all of that youthful energy. Here’s what mypyramid.gov/preschoolers suggests:

Your preschooler needs fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy products and protein every day, so that his growing body will have plenty of fuel.
Set a good example. Let your child see you enjoying fresh fruits and vegetables at snack time. Eat together as a family as often as you can, so that your preschooler will learn that healthy meals are important for the whole family.
Plan three healthy meals, plus one or two healthy snacks every day. Everything your child eats should be nutritious and healthful for his growing body.
Let kids pick produce at the supermarket. When they’re more invested in their food, they will be more willing to eat it!

In addition, by visiting mypyramid.gov/preschoolers, you’ll be able to enter your child’s age, weight and level of physical activity. Then you will be able to view customized lists of menus and snacks that will provide your child with a healthy diet. Take a look at these examples:

For instance, a healthy breakfast for a three-year-old boy, who weighs 35 pounds and is physically active, would be the following:

½ cup cooked oatmeal
½ cup milk
1 scrambled egg

He should be consuming 1,400 calories per day, and everything he eats and drinks should contribute to his nutritional needs.

A two-year-old girl, who weighs 30 pounds and is also physically active, should be consuming 1,000 calories per day. A healthy dinner for her would be the following:

1 oz. serving of chicken breast
¼ cup mashed potatoes
¼ cup green peas
½ small whole wheat roll
½ cup milk

“On the Path to Good Health” is supported by Kaiser Permanente and the Santa Clara City Library Foundation and Friends.

Posted by ws

The Heart of the Valley Quilt Show Saturday and a Free Computer Class

2011-03-01T10:29:00.000-08:00

A free computer class for quilters is coming to Central Park Library, Thursday, March 17 from 10:15-11:15 in the Technology Center. Learn about quilting resources in the library, on the internet and in our local community. Learn about great deals like $10 admission for the weekend at the Santa Clara Valley Quilt Association's Heart of the Valley quilt show.

Join the local quilt community at the Santa Clara Convention Center Saturday, March 5 from 10-5 and Sunday, March 6, from 10-4.

Hundreds of quilts will be on exhibit. Look for special exhibits including small group challenges, and a special childrens' challenge as well as others. Demonstrations such as machine quilting, hand quilting, machine applique, hand applique, machine piecing, hand piecing, and easy binding application will be shown throughout the show.

Door prizes will be given throughout the weekend. Opportunity tickets will be available for the chance to win a quilt designed by Wedgewood quilters, a small quilt group. The quilt is composed of Santa Clara Valley landmarks in red work, handquilted by Santa Clara Valley Quilt Association members. More than twenty vendors will be selling sewing machines, fabric, embellishments, jewelry and other fun items.

posted by mb

Free Book Talk: The Year of Fog by Michelle Richmond

2011-02-28T14:58:00.000-08:00

Michelle Richmond's The Year of Fog was selected as the featured title for Silicon Valley Reads 2011. This local author will discuss her novel about a young woman's journey through memory and guilt after her fiance's young daughter disappears in the fog from San Francisco's Ocean Beach while in her care. Books will be available for purchase and signing following the talk.

Join us for this author event on Tuesday, March 8 from 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. in the Cedar Room at Central Park Library. This program was made possible by the generosity of The Foundation & Friends of Santa Clara City Library.

To reserve a space for this free book talk, stop by the Reference Desk or call (408) 615-2900.

posted by mb for jb