Free Library E-books for Kindle, Nook, iPad and more

Download free e-books, audio books and music from the Northern California Digital Library with your Santa Clara City Library card.

Join us Sunday, February 12, 2012, from 1:30 - 4:00 in the Redwood Room to learn how to find popular fiction and nonfiction for reading or listening, then download it to your computer or reading device. Bring your e-reader and get hands-on help following the presentation.

Sign up by calling (408) 615-2900 or stop by the Library.

posted by mb

Tweets Set Record at the Super Bowl

An average of 10,000 tweets were sent per second during the final three minutes of the New York Giant's 21-17 victory over the New England Patriots.  12,233 messages were sent per second during the last-minute touchdown marking the peak of activity!

Don't miss out on the Twitter phenomena.   Join the Twitter for Beginners computer class in the Technology Center on Thursday, February 9th at 10:15.  Stuart Grooby, Web Master for the City will guide you through the basics including signing up and setting up your smart phone.

posted by mb

Learn about Twitter - February 9 10:15-11:45

Learn the basics of Twitter and how to sign up for this popular networking and micro-blogging service.  Have you noticed how it has been used to quickly call people together for social change in the Middle East?

Don't miss out!  Add to your computer literacy skills at this free library class.

The Guest Teacher will be Stuart Grooby, Santa Clara City's Web Master. 

Join us on Thursday, February 9, 2012, from 10:15-11:45 in the Technology Center at Santa Clara's Central Park Library.  Bring your cellphone and he will help you set up your phone for tweets.  Sign up so you are sure to get class materials and a seat.  Call (408) 615-2900 or stop by the Library.

posted by mb

Kids: Get Crafty for Valentines Day!

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

	All New Crafts for Valentine's Day by Kathy Ross This book provides instructions on how to make an assortment of Valentine crafts, such as cards, bookmarks, bracelets, Valentine holders, magnets and more!
	Hearts & Crafts by Sherri Brownrigg Have a fun Valentines Day by creating something special! This book will teach you how to make a variety of crafts, such as a Heart Picture Frame, Ornament Necklace, Heart Shaped Pocket Purse and much more!
	Valentine Things to Make and Do by Rebecca Gilpin Get ready to make a variety of colorful, Valentine-themed crafts and decorations! This book contains simple step by step instructions and also a brief introduction of Valentines Day.

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

posted by pn.

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

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

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...

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