NEED HELP? 

Help is here: Social Workers in the Library

At King Library: Now offered twice a month – every 1^st and 4^th Mondays of the month, 6 – 8 p.m.

March: Monday, 3/5/12 and Monday 3/26/12

Call: (408) 808-2350

Or

At Biblioteca Latinoamericana – offered once a month – every 3^rd Wed. of the month 6 – 8 p.m. (Spanish/English bilingual Social Worker available)

March: Wed., 3/21/12

Call: (408) 294-1237

Is something happening in your life that you have questions about concerning:

• Education
• Emergency Services - food/clothing/housing and crisis support
• Employment
• Family Matters - parenting, childcare, divorce, elder issues and domestic  violence
• Health Improvement - mental, physical and health insurance
• Immigration
• Support Groups - men, women and teens

Make an appointment to get a FREE 20 minute session of information and referral or advice, from a member of the National Association of Social Workers. Everyone at some point in their lives could use the advice of a social worker. Our volunteer social workers are offering it - Free of Charge.

Please join us to learn about
"Blogging for Your Business" &
"SEO for Your Website"

Saturday, March 10 at the
Santa Teresa Library from10:30AM - 12:30PM

This month's guest speakers include Cheryl & Steve Ellemberg from ABD Promotions. Cheryl is the founder of ABD Promotions and publisher of the “Small Business Marketing Blog.” Steve is a web designer and Search Engine Optimization (SEO) since 1998.

There is free WiFi and plenty of electrical outlets, so please feel free to bring your laptops. Also advised to bring your own promotional materials (flyers, brochures, business cards, etc.)

For more information, please visit the Santa Teresa Events page on Facebook:
Blogging for Your Business & SEO for Your Website.

This is a FREE Event and everyone is welcome!

Can’t make it to this month’s Small Business Workshop? Join us April 14; next month’s topic will be "From Complexity to Simplicity - The fastest, easiest way to write a Business Plan."

http://www3.valueline.com/secure/vlispdf/stk5000/index.aspx

http://0-www3.valueline.com.catalog.sjlibrary.org/secure/vlispdf/stk5000/index.aspx

Yet another celebration of sorts in honor of Dr. Seuss's birthday...the release of Universal Studios new film, The Lorax, on Friday, March 2nd (Theodore Geisel, a.k.a. Dr. Seuss, would have been 108 years old this year!).

This award-winning tale tells the story of a boy named Ted (voice of Zac Efron) who must search for the one thing that will win him the affection of the girl of his dreams, Audrey (voice of Taylor Swift).  To find it, he must search outside Thneedville, the city of "plastic & fake" and discover the story of the greedy, tree-chopping Once-lers (voice of Ed Helms).  Ted meets the tree dwelling, grumpy and yet charming, Lorax (voice of Danny DeVito) whose character must fight to protect his vanishing forest.  The film provides an important environmental message of hope to children and adults, alike, as they learn, like Ted, that the importance of the last tree seed is "not what it is, but what it can become" and "unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better...it's not". 

Whether you have a chance to take your children to see The Lorax or not, check out the book, DVD or book CD from the San José Public Library collection.  Dr. Seuss books are always popular, especially during the month of March, but don't be discouraged if it is checked out, because unlike the movie, you can check this popular title out year round.

"#1.  Don't leave your stuff all over the house.  Instead, put it in a big pile in the middle of the living room.  That way you'll know where everything is."

And so begins the book, Don't Bargain With the Tooth Fairy.  From there, the author leads you to 43 more funny "rules" and unlimited fun.  With descriptive pictures on every page, it's guaranteed to make you laugh.

Suitable for kids of grades 3 and up. 

Suitable for mommies, daddies, and teachers too.   You can lol (laugh out loud) or giggle or chortle with yourself, to yourself, and by yourself, to release the pressure caused by...a day with-or without-the kids.

Written by Deborah Zemke.

For March 2012, our Online Book Club continues by discussing The Butterfly Mosque by Willow Wilson, another featured title of this year's community reading program, Silicon Valley Reads, which focuses on the theme "Muslim and American."  While The Muslim Next Door helped us to better understand the beliefs and practices of Muslim Americans living in the United States, in The Butterfly Mosque the author lets us share her experience as an American whose faith leads her eventually to Cairo, Egypt and a life very different from the one she may have imagined growing up in America.  

Each week, we'll put forth a different question to prompt reflection on the book and its ideas.  We hope you will participate in the discussion by leaving comments below!

For Week 1, we'd like to ask:
Early after Willow moves to Cairo, Ahmad told her she was "becoming a little bit Arab."  She wrestled with the idea that this somehow represented a betrayal of her American self (p. 4-5).  Do you think that through her decisions and choices Willow does in fact become a different person or do you essentially hear the same voice throughout her journey?

I found Willow's story very interesting and engaging.  I enjoyed watching her grow and develop as she made choices very different from those of her parents and friends.  As someone who grew up in a family where Christian faith has always been a central part of my life, it was interesting to watch how Willow moved from a nonreligious background to embrace a faith that seemed right for her.  Throughout the book, even as she changed from a pink haired tattooed teen to a young wife who chose to don a headscarf, her character remained consistent for me.  Even when hesitant to share her newfound beliefs or her decision to marry, she remained true to what felt right for her.  While always respectful, she was willing to speak up and question beliefs and practices she did not understand.  The Butterfly Mosque is a very personal story of the author's life journey.  As she says herself on p. 107, "I never tried to become a mascot; I was just a person, with the usual quirks and faults, who was now Muslim."

How about you?  Do you think Willow's decisions and choices cause her to become a different person? 

See our Online Book Club page for more information about this book and to preview the next weeks' questions

Our Friday Fun events at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library have become very popular. If you haven't been to one yet check us out this month and join the fun. Our Friday Fun events take place each Friday at 4:00PM. Here's our March line up:

• March 2: Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss. It will be a Seussical birthday party with stories, games, prizes and a craft. Come join the fun and wish Dr. Seuss a Happy Birthday plus check out one of the many Dr. Seuss books that the library owns.
• March 10: Ain't Gonna Paint Story and Craft: Join us for this fun program which is sure to let that inner artist out of each child. Children will listen to the wonderful story I Ain't Gonna Paint No More, by Karen Beaumont and then will get the  chance to create their own masterpieces. Perhaps we'll discover the next Picasso, Van Gogh, Kahlo or Cassat!
• March 16: Spring Craft: March 20 is the first day of Spring so help us celebrate it at the King Library with a fun Spring craft. All materials are supplied; just bring your creativity.
• March 23: Stuff! An Arts and Crafts Program for Children: Our volunteer, Chris, always has a fun activity for children to do. Come see what she's cooked up for March. It will be a surprise and it will be fun!

Job Fair @ Work2future Youth Training Center on Feb 29th, 2012
Youth Training Center
2072 Lucretia Ave.,
San Jose Ca., 95122
For directions call: 408-794-1234
www.work2future.biz

• Accountemps – Accountants, Book-keepers, A/P Clerks, A/R Clerks, Tax Preparers, Underwriters, Billing Clerks, and Data Entry Clerks
  Accepting résumés on-site or apply online at www.accountemps.com
• ATR — Lab Technician, Adm. Asst., IT, Receptionists, Material Handlers, Technicains, Project Managers, Assemblers, and Engineers. 
  Accepting résumés on site 
• Auxin Solar – Solar Panel Assemblers 
  Accepting résumés on site 
• CET Staffing – Accounting, Clerical, Manufacturing, Production, Facility Management, Shipping/Receiving 
  Accepting résumés on site 
• Coast Personnel Services – Assembler, QC Inspector, Stock Room, Test tech, Welder, RMA tech, Engineers, SMT Operators
  Accepting résumés on site 
• Cornerstone Staffing Solutions – Greeters, Ushers and Ticker Takers 
  Accepting résumés on site 
• Fresh & Easy Markets – Team leads, Customer Assistants, kitchen Table & Bakery Coordinator 
  Accepting résumés on site 
• Intrium HomeStyle Services – Home Health Aide, Personal Care Givers, CAN 
  Accepting résumés on site or apply online at: Careers by web.com
• LandMark - Security Patrol Officers, Rovers 
  Accepting résumés on site 
• Securitas – Security Officers, Flex Offi-cers, and Dispatchers 
  Accepting resumes on site 
• Target – Sales Team Leaders 
  Accepting résumés on site or apply online at: www.target.com
• Wendy’s – Restaurant Management w/exp, Crew positions-entry level 
  Complete application on-site 

Technology continues to evolve rapidly. Are you keeping up?

Computers, software, laptops, devices, internet cloud, and more...
We are here to help you learn!

Santa Teresa Branch offers a wide array of computer assistance.

• One -on-one Computer Help
  30 Minute sessions with very knowledgeable mentors.
  Wednesdays, 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
  Advance registration required.
• Laptop Class      
  Bring in your laptop & learn to get the most out of your laptop!
  Wednesdays, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
  Advance registration required.
• Beginning Computer Class
  Various weekly topics in using a computer, software & the internet.
  Thursdays, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
  Registration encouraged.

Can’t make it to any of these classes? Check out this great online resource that offers basic tutorials over a wide array of topics: Goodwill Learning Foundation

In a bleak future, parents can choose to have their 13-17 year old offspring “unwound.”  Unwinding is the process of surgically harvesting all body parts for use in other people.    Some brave teens who are scheduled to be unwound decide to run away in order to save their own lives and choose their own destinies.    Will they make it?   Will they be caught?   Read Unwind by Neal Shusterman  in order to find out!

If you enjoyed the Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld, or the movie The Island you are likely to enjoy Unwind, which is also available in book cd format.    The sequel to Unwind is UnWholly.  

Sixteen-year-old Callie, her seven-year-old brother Tyler, and their good friend Michael are homeless orphans who eke out a living the best they can.  One day Callie finds out about a company called Prime Destinations, where she has the potential to earn a lot of money.   All Callie has to do is to rent out her body to three very rich elderly people, who can pretend to be young again for a period of time.   After three rentals, Callie will have enough money to provide a home and food for her brother and their friend.  It sounds simple; however, Callie finds out that nothing is as simple as it seems.   Check out Starters by Lissa Price to find out what happens.   

If you enjoyed Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, Airhead by Meg Cabot, Eva by Peter Dickinson, or Uglies by Scott Westerfeld you are likely to enjoy Starters which is also available in book cd format, OverDrive ebook format, and Axis360 ebook format.  

According to CNN today (February 25, 2012), there has been a fourth inquest into the case of Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton and her claim that a dingo stole her baby Azaria, aged 2 months, while the family was camping near Ayer’s Rock in Australia. This tale was brought to popular knowledge in the 1988 film A Cry in the Dark for which Meryl Streep achieved an Academy Award nomination. The movie was based on the book Evil Angels by John Bryson.

Chamberlain-Creighton was cleared in the first inquest in 1981 then sentenced to life in prison in the second in 1982 when the jury found that the mother had slit the child’s throat. That verdict was overturned when a baby’s jacket was found half buried near a dingo nest in 1986. “In 1988, a Royal Commission set up to review the evidence formally quashed convictions for both husband and wife,” according to CNN. The third inquest, in 1995, left an open verdict which Chamberlain-Creighton and her former husband Michael are trying to correct to show what they say is the true cause of death – a dingo attack.

The 2012 inquest was taken on in Chamberlain-Creighton’s move to get her facts down and show that dingo attacks have been significant and are a true danger. Read more about dingoes at your library.

The coroner adjourned the fourth inquest.  

Amelia Bedelia is the classic, humorous series about what happens to someone who takes everything too literally.  Peggy Parish's Come Back, Amelia Bedelia (AR 0.5, Level 2.1) takes the unusual plot of displacing Amelia Bedelia from the Rogers' household.  Usually, everyone is understanding and tolerant about Amelia's misunderstandings.  This time, however, Mrs. Rogers has had enough and fires Amelia. 

Since Amelia does have to make a living, she blunders through other jobs as a hair dresser, file clerk, assistant dressmaker, etc.  The reader will laugh uproariously to Amelia's hijinks!

The Amelia Bedelia series is an excellent resource for kids on the autistic spectrum or English language learners.  This series demonstrates what happens to a character who takes everything literally.  Children with autism will learn to be amused to see themselves in the Amelia character.  This series is also an excellent way for children with autism and for English language learners to learn colloquialisms and slang. 

Any big decisions coming up?  Have you ever found yourself in a store and have difficulty choosing between two or more similar items? 

How We Decide, by Jonah Lehrer, addresses these questions and more by looking at how the brain functions during decision making.  In using research and observations from neuroscience and psychology, the author points out the dilemmas between making a decision with the logical, rational part of the brain that creates spreadsheets and pro and con lists vs. making decisions based on feelings, “the gut”, or instinct.  In fact, it was found that in some cases, people who created spread sheets and spent much time analyzing their decision made worse decisions than those who focused on what their emotions were saying. 

Here are a couple of samples from the wealth of helpful skills from Lehrer’s book:

For simple problems, the decision may be best left to reason.  For example, in the supermarket or electronics store, when you have a decision between two products of approximately equal quality, a couple of minutes comparing the per unit price or cost of the item could lead to a better decision.  That is, some emotion driven choices may benefit from conscious deliberation.  So, when the decision is less important, analysis is preferred. 

On the contrary, for important decisions, spread sheets and over analysis can create confusion and indecision that is difficult to reconcile.  In fact, some scientists, such as Ap Dijksterhuis, suggests that a decision with more than four variables overwhelms the rational brain.  He also states that the prefrontal cortex may become overwhelmed with those decisions and makes consistent mistakes.  If you overanalyze, you may end up with an “ugly couch in the wrong apartment.”  So, some decisions are better left to the unconscious; hence, the “deliberation-without-attention hypothesis.”    

So, for big decisions, such as choosing an apartment or a car, it is recommended to compare some of the variables.  However the main point as stated by Lehrer is: “Think less about items you care a lot about. Don’t be afraid to let your emotions choose.”  When the decision is important, you can’t make the decision on a single variable.  So, the emotional part of the brain will likely lead to more satisfaction with your choice.

So, with this book summary, I hope you feel interested in finding out more about it for yourself!

Much more awaits, as there is a plethora of information that was excluded from this terse synopsis!  Happy reading!   :]  

To continue the Google search described in my last blog Search Human Genome and Health Online, I opted for the format of Videos, filtered by dates, and came upon a series that presents topics in genomic medicine on the cutting edge. The Genomics in Medicine Lecture Series is sponsored by NHGRI, held from December 2011 through June 2012. The series’ lead-off speaker, David Valle MD, presented a fascinating overview of the genomic research and medicine, titled The Human Genome and Individualized Medicine (1hr.11.55), as embedded on this page. He told the story of genomic medicine in a cogent and encouraging manner. For example, he covered the subject of genome wide association studies (GWAS) with such clarity and insights that a lay person could learn the basics about genetic markers, whole genome sequencing, its predictive value, as well as disease susceptibility and prevention in terms of health care.

This subject of human genome can be entertaining also; the following video is amusing with its discussion of some strange facts about genes: How Big is Your Genome (9 mins.)

Have fun watching and learning!

You might be thinking that you are barely getting by paying your monthly bills and have no way to save for retirement.  The fact is that you cannot put off preparing for retirement any longer, the more time you have to put money aside, the more comfortable you will be in your retirement. If you have no idea how to get started in preparing for retirement, good news, Financial Planning Association Pro Bono is visiting the King Library on Wednesday, February 29 @ 6:30pm to help you.

Is there a great movie you missed seeing at the theater? Is there one that you would love to see again? Best of all, would you like to view it for free?

Check out the collection at your local San Jose Public Library! You will find an ever-changing array of movies, documentaries and educational DVDs for all ages.  The DVDs are now shelved at whichever library they are returned to, so you never know what you will find on the shelves to check out!

Library DVDs come in a variety of languages, including English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Hindi, Chinese and French. 

Movies are checked out for 3 weeks, and cannot be renewed. The other DVDs also check out for 3 weeks, but can be renewed if no one has placed a request for that particular title.

Some library locations also show movies, and may even provide popcorn! Check the events listings on the library’s homepage, www.sjpl.org, for details. 

The other day I was at my local library, browsing through the DVDs. I came across one entitled “Temple Grandin”, starring one of my favorite actresses, Claire Danes. I checked it out, took it home, and was introduced to the world of Dr. Temple Grandin, one of the best known people in the world with autism. I marveled at the acting, and at the story. Dr. Grandin’s accomplishments in the field of animal husbandry are astounding. Her accomplishments as a person with autism are awe-inspiring. The portrayal of her life made me want to learn more.

Happily, I was able to go back to my library and check out a book on the shelves, “The Way I See It: a Personal Look at Autism & Asperger’s”, written my Temple Grandin herself. It is one of many books she has authored.

Find out more about Temple Grandin at the San Jose Public Library!

Mark your calendar for Meg Waite Clayton’s talk about her new book The Four Ms. Bradwells at Cambrian Library on Wednesday, Feb. 22. The program starts at 6:30 pm in the library’s Community Room. Read an excerpt from the novel on the author’s website http://megwaiteclayton.com. This program is sponsored by the Friends of Cambrian Library, which has provided two copies of the book to be raffled off at the event. San Jose Public Library also has copies to borrow.  As well, the book can be purchased that evening.

Founding gardeners:  the revolutionary generation, nature, and the shaping of the American nation / Andrea Wulf.

Did you know that Washington, Adams, Jefferson and Madison, the first four presidents of the United States, were passionate gardeners, botanists and farmers, and, on social occasions, often preferred talking about these topics rather than politics? In Founding Gardeners, Andrea Wulf argues that the agricultural interests of the founding fathers played a major, but now forgotten, role in the development of the United States.   

In this C-Span presentation, Andrea Wulf speaks at the home of 18th century botanist, John Bartram, whose garden was visited by many delegates of the Continental Congress in Philadelphia.

Twelve-year-old Derek is looking forward to a great summer with his best friend.  Mom and Dad, of course, have other ideas for the Calvin and Hobbes-loving Derek.  Two words:  Learning Camp!  YIKES!  Even worse, he must spend more time at Learning Camp with that goody two shoes, Carly!  ICK!  What is a fun-loving skateboarder to do?  All he has left is his faithful dog, Bodi.

Solve a ten-year-old mystery, of course!  Derek finds a clipping about a mysterious death that occurred in Martha's Vineyard when he was just a toddler.  When he brings up the clipping to his Mom, she becomes mysteriously close-mouthed.  What is she hiding from Derek?  And why does the clipping mention that the girl died while trying to save a two-year-old toddler?  Is it a coincidence that Derek happened to be at Martha's Vineyard when it happened?

Diary of a Wimpy Kid fans are sure to enjoy My Life as a Book (AR 4.0, Level 5.2) by Janet Tashjian.  Each cartoon, drawn by the author's son, is laugh out loud funny.  Find out what happens to Derek when he manages to convince his parents to visit his grandmother in Massachusetts!

Local legend tells us that Sarah Winchester was a woman obessed.  Was she consumed with the need to do what the spirits told her, or was she just misunderstood?  Here are some books that you can read to make up your own mind about what you think Sarah Winchester and her Mystery House was all about...

"The Inscrutable Mrs. Winchester and Her Mysterious Mansion" attempts to dispell some of the myths surrounding her and gives insight on the facts that rarely come to light.   

"Captive of the Labyrinth: Sarah L. Winchester heiress to the rifle fortune" gives an overview of of Sarah Winchester's life and attempts to demystify her as the notorious eccentric history has made her out to be. 

Was she really trying to stave off the ghosts?  Did she really believe that non-stop construction would confuse the spirits?  Or is it possible that Sarah Winchester was really a loving, caring woman who mourned the loss of her husband and infant daughter, and just wanted to be left alone?  Maybe we'll never know, but the great thing about this mystery is you get to decide!

For more information about local history, you can also visit our California Room and it's Digital Collections.

The West Valley Book Club will meet on March 14 at 6:30pm to discuss Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See. Originally published in 2005, this novel is set in 19th century China and chronicles the lives of two friends as they move through various trials and tribulations.

The film adaptation was released in US theaters last summer, which has drawn recent attention back to the book. If you haven't read the novel yet, be sure to read it first before you watch the film, and join us at West Valley on March 14 for some lively literary conversation.

For February 2012, our new Online Book Club is discussing The Muslim Next Door: The Qur'an, the Media, and that Veil Thing, by Sumbul Ali-Karamali.  This is one of the books chosen for the community reading program, Silicon Valley Reads, which this year focuses on the theme "Muslim and American."

Each week, we'll put forth a different question to prompt reflection on the book and its ideas.  We hope you will participate in the discussion by leaving comments below!

For Week 3, we'd like to ask:

Can you think of aspects of your own tradition/culture/religion that could be misunderstood or perceived in a negative light?

Throughout her book Ms. Ali-Karamali writes about how Islam is misunderstood and often confused with culture/politics.  She writes about the misunderstandings her friends and co-workers had about her religious beliefs and practices, ranging from dating to the role of women, to evolution. 

As a child, my family was never involved in any organized religion.  Upon leaving my hometown for college, I was surprised to have new friends and acquaintances ask me how I could live a moral life without a religion to guide me.  My parents had taught me much about evaluating a situation and acting in a responsible manner; yet my friends wondered how I could know I was doing the right thing if I didn’t have a religious text or tradition to turn to.

This is only my personal experience, but perhaps you have a completely different experience you would like to share.  Tell us:  Can you think of aspects of your own tradition/culture/religion that could be misunderstood or perceived in a negative light?

See our Online Book Club page for more information about this book and to preview the next weeks' questions

Chemistry may not hold your interest, but there’s a quirky tale associated with every element in the periodic table of elements. Sam Kean explores all of these in The disappearing spoon: and other true tales of madness, love, and the history of the world from the periodic table of the elements.  After reading Kean’s chemical miscellanea (i.e. trivia) you won’t be lacking for technical topics of conversation.

Kean is not the first to have fun with the period table. Scientists at the University of Nottingham have put together a series of short videos on each element.  Italian writer (and industrial chemist) Primo Levi used the periodic table as inspiration for a collection of stories and essays.

For  beautiful visual illustrations of the elements, their uses and applications see Theodore Gray's

The elements : a visual exploration of every known atom in the universe

I lifted the rifle again and swung the tip of the barrel straight up into the air.  I figured I could gradually lower the barrel at the screen, aim, and pick off one of the Japanese troops.

BLAM!  The rifle fired off and violently kicked out of my grip.

"Jaaaack!"  I heard my mother shriek and then the screen door slammed behind her.

"If I'm not already dead I soon will be," I said to myself.

She pounced on me.  "There's blood!  You've been shot!  Where?"  Then she gasped and pointed directly at my face.  Her eyes bugged out and her scream was so high-pitched it was silent.

Fictional autobiography, Hell's Angels, history, mystery, comedy, death, horror...Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos is all and more.  Full of eccentric characters, this novel follows the life of author Jack Gantos during one action-packed summer in his hometown.  Meet Miss Volker, who is trying to revitalize a dying town.  Meet Mr. Spizz, who polices the town on his adult-sized tricycle.  Meet Jack's mother, who believes in bartering jam rather than paying cash.  Meet Jack's father, who worries about the "commies" in  town and who wants to build a runway in the backyard.

In addition to having a town full of loveable characters, Jack also suffers from nosebleeds that can be triggered by any excitement or surprise.  Is it hemochromatosis, like Hemingway?  Ugh!  This is problematical, of course, since he is helping Miss Volker to write all of the obituaries. 

Finally, a whole-summer grounding dampens his summer plans when he mows down a cornfield.  How does he get out of it?  Who is killing all of the senior citizens?  Will he have to move to Florida?  Read this extraordinary novel to find out!

And are you sad that you finished the story already? Want to hear more about Hazel, Augustus and a lot about writing the story from John Green?

Well, John has set up a tumblr where you get answers to all kinds of questions:

http://onlyifyoufinishedtfios.tumblr.com/

And as the link says: only if you finished tfios! There are a lot of spoilers and who want's to spoil a great story?

But if you have finished the book and want to know more: the password is Darnielle

Frustrated with your job search? Interested in new resume-building resources available at the library?

Then "knock out" your competition by using the Career Transitions online resource to prepare your resume.

You are invited to learn how to build a resume that packs a punch at our 1-hour workshop on Tuesday, February 28, at 1:00 PM at the Edenvale Branch Library.

Please bring to the workshop your current resume or, if you have no resume, bring all your contact information, job experience, and educational experience to begin building your resume online with Career Transitions.

This workshop requires Pre-Registration, and seating is limited.

Please sign up as soon as possible by calling the library at 408-808-3036 or by stopping by the library's Information Desk.

The weekly download limit for Freegal has been increased to 5. Freegal includes popular artists from Sony, in a variety of genres. These downloads are DRM-free MP3 downloads that you can burn to a CD and share with friends! Enjoy!

On December 25, 2011 we lost a great author and illustrator of children’s picture books: Simms Taback.  Taback won the Caldecott Award for his book Joseph had a Little Overcoat.  He was known for his colorful and slightly wonky illustrations.  His pages are peppered with little asides and comments and legal notices and short poems that broaden the enjoyment of every story.  He was fond of repetitive text and peek-a-boo pages, which you will see when you read This is the House that Jack Built, There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly and the afore-mentioned Joseph…  His stories bring humor and joy to all of his readers.  Check him out today at your favorite branch library.

From www.simmstaback.com:

Simms Taback was born in New York City in 1932. He grew up in the Bronx. In 1953 Simms graduated from The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Art. ... In 1963, Simms formed a successful design studio in partnership with Push Pin Studios co-founder Reynold Ruffins. He worked as an illustrator, writer, art director and graphic designer, and taught at the School of Visual Arts and Syracause University. Simms was a founding president of The Illustrators Guild, which later merged and became the New York Graphic Artists Guild, of which he was a founding member and president. He continued his tireless efforts as an advocate for artists’ rights with his service as author, editor and production supervisor for the Graphic Artists Guild Handbook: Pricing and Ethical Guidelines.

Do you earn less than $50,000 a year? Do you need help filing your taxes? You can get help from Earn it! Keep it! $ave it! provided by the United Way Silicon Valley.

You can get free tax preparation help from trained volunteers at the library, the Center for Employment Training (CET), Catholic Charities, and other places in Santa Clara County. Last year more than 5,700 customers got free tax help and more than $7.1 million in refunds came back to the community.

If you used to go to the King Library for help from volunteer tax preparers you can go to CET, because they may still have your information from past years.

Click here to see a list of some of the sites that are offering free tax preparation. You can also call 211 or 1-866-896-3597 if you have questions or need to find other places that offer tax help. You can also get tax help at these San José Public Library branches: East Branch, Joyce Ellington, Hillview, Tully, and West Valley.

When you visit a tax preparation site please bring:

• Last year’s tax return if you have it
• Valid ID
• Social Security cards for everyone in your family
• W-2 forms, 1099 forms, and 1098 forms
• A blank check so a refund can be deposited directly into your account

For more information visit http://earnitkeepitsaveit.org/economic-impact-of-free-tax-prep.

Free tax help is available at the Library!

AARP and VITA volunteers will be offering free tax help at San Jose Public Libraries to people with low to moderate income, those who cannot prepare their own tax returns, and people ages 60 and above. Check the calendar for upcoming dates and get those taxes done! Pre-registration is required at some tax help events.

After pre-registering, make sure to bring the following:

• State issued Photo ID
• Social Security Card or ITIN for yourself, your spouse, and your dependents
• Birth dates for yourself, your spouse, and your dependents
• W-2’s, 1099’s, 1098’s, and all other tax forms
• Voided check or bank statement with routing number for direct deposit
• A copy of last year’s tax returns (both Federal and State)
• Total paid for daycare provider and daycare provider's identifying number (provider's Social Security Number or Employee Identification Number)
• To file electronically on married-filing-joint tax return, both spouses must be present

To see all upcoming VITA and AARP tax help events at our libraries, check our calendar.  You can call or visit one of your local branches for more details. 

Tax assistance is also available at other locations in the area.

Looking for help with your eReader? Please drop by one of the following eReader Petting Zoo programs!

• Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2 PM at King Library
• Friday, Feb. 10, 1 PM at West Valley Branch
• Tuesday, Feb. 14 at 1 PM at Tully Branch
• Wednesday, Feb. 15 at 2 PM at Berryessa Branch

Fifteen-year-old Day is on the run, after a soldier is said to be killed by him.   Fifteen-year-old June is the soldier/detective assigned to find and capture Day.   In their future, the United States has been divided into two countries:  The Republic, where Day and June live, and The Colonies, which are in conflict with The Republic.   As you read the novel, you will see both sides of the story, and you will learn more about the two main characters and their backgrounds.   If you enjoyed  The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins, or Les Miserables by Victor Hugo, you are likely to enjoy Legend by Marie Lu, also available in book cd format.   This is an adventurous book for high school students, middle school students, and anyone who enjoys dystopian fiction.   To learn more about the author, check out her website.   To learn more about the novel, check out this website.   There is also an interesting interview with the author here. 

Review by volunteer Robert D.

Bill Bryson is quickly becoming well known for his humor and wit while tackling subjects that are often delivered in dry, dense books.  Those who have checked out his new book, At Home: A Short History of Private Life, are familiar with the way Bryson wanders from subject to subject.  In A Short History of Nearly Everything, he starts at the very beginning with the Big Bang and the sarcastic roots of that name.  Bryson's humor is well paired with topics such as the knock-down, drag-out personal battles between scientists over things such as fossils or the subject of continental drift.  Bryson has managed to do the impossible, to make science and history fun for the average person to read and explain its context in a way that's understandable to the average person.

 

Children and their families are invited to attend an animal program at Edenvale Library on Wednesday, February 8, at 3:30 PM.

Happy Hollow Park and Zoo comes to the Library with a fun-filled event with live animals.

Meet some cute animals and learn about their adaptations, habitat, and more.

The Rancho Rosetta Trilogy:  Millicent Min, Girl Genius, (AR 8.0, Level 5.8) Stanford Wong Flunks Big Time, (AR 9.0, Level 3.8) and So Totally Emily Ebers (AR 9.0, Level 3.9) are about the adventures of three VERY different kids during ONE memorable summer.  Each novel is told from the point of view of one character.  It is intriguing to witness events from different view points.  And these three kids couldn't be more different!

Millicent Min is academically gifted but socially inept.   She feels that her intellect is too intimidating for other kids.  Feeling isolated by her peer group and by her classmates in high school, she is elated to find a kid who doesn't know how smart she is.  Over the course of the summer, she becomes best friends with Emily Ebers.  She also tutors the basketball jock, Stanford Wong.  As the tutor and tutee get to know each other, she also inadvertently befriends him, as well.  How long will she be able to hide her intellect from Emily and endure the juvenile jokes from Stanford? 

Stanford Wong is the big man on campus at Rancho Rosetta.  Admired by all, he is annoyed to find out that he must take a make-up English class over the summer.  Embarrassed by his failure, he is further chagrined to have to be tutored by the hated Millicent Min!  YUCK!  In addition to his school troubles, he must also contend with his disapproving and distant father and with the removal of his Grandmother to the retirement home, Vacation Village.  Another complication is his developing feelings for the incomparable Emily Ebers!  Will Emily figure out he is not as great as she thinks he is?

Emily Ebers is the kind of person everyone wants to befriend.  Sunny and light, Emily can't figure out why her mother has divorced her father or why her mother has moved them across the country to California.  However, she is determined to meet new friends, so she is immediately drawn to Millicent because of shared interests.  Stanford Wong also attracts her eye, when she notices him in the drug store, where her heart is immediately engaged!  What will she do when she finds out about both Millicent and Stanford?

Lisa Yee has also written Warp Speed, which I have blogged about before.  She has a keen sense of humor.  Check out her blog for some of her funny insights!

It's pretty cool.  You can measure your appliances consumption.  Just check out a Kill A Watt device from San jose public library.  You can test your appliances with it. You will learn how efficient they are and help to find power-wasting appliances.    It will also calculate your electrical expenses by the day, week, month and even an entire year.

Come to the library and check it out!! 

Ask for the Kill-A-Watt devices at the info desk at any San Jose Public Library.

Ok, ok. I get it. Daniel Handler is pretty amazing. I know I'm totally late for the Daniel Handler train, but after finishing Why We Broke Up, I ended up with a whole new sense of respect and awe for this multi-talented author. He's had success with his novels for adults, but you probably know him best as Lemony Snicket, his pen name for the wildly-popular A Series of Unfortunate Events for kids.

What's left to conquer now? Young Adult Fiction. I believe Handler's off to a good start with Why We Broke Up, which chronicles the short-lived high school relationship between quirky (but DON'T call her "artsy") Min Green and jock Ed Slaterton. Min is obsessed with obscure classic films and Italian coffee while Ed lives for basketball and partying. We already know that this relationship is doomed from the start because the novel is essentially a long letter from Min to Ed explaining the many reasons why they broke up. Each chapter opens with a vivid color painting by illustrator Maira Kalman of a seemingly insignificant object that Min saved during their relationship but has now thrown into a box to give back to Ed along with her lengthy written testament. There are bottle caps, matches, movie stubs, a toy truck, a comb, etc. Each item's significance is explained as Min chronicles their opposites-attract beginning, their whirlwind relationship with its ups and downs, and ultimately, their crash-and-burn breakup. And a fun fact: All of the random movies and music mentioned in the book were fabricated for the story.

It's not the most original story ever told, and some of the characters (including Ed) are more like caricatures, but what really stood out was Handler's adept and multi-dimensional narration as the main character Min. I found her to be unique, awkward, passionate, angsty, confused, smart, naive...Especially during her rambling rants about school, her mixed feelings for Ed, or her own insecurities, I found myself thinking about the smudged pages of pencil scrawl in my old high school diary. I still remember my first teenage heartbreak unfolding in a series of unfortunate events, and Handler tells the tale well. I look forward to what will hopefully be more YA fiction from this talented author. 

Calling all book lovers!  The Friends of the Santa Teresa Library are having a HUGE book sale this Saturday, February 4, from 10-4 in the Library’s Community Room.  They have gently used books for all ages and interests as well as media—cd’s, dvd’s, and more.  Prices are ridiculously reasonable—you can’t go wrong.  So come, browse, and take home exciting titles to enjoy.

All proceeds from the sale are used to support library programs such as  January’s Mad Science and February’s upcoming Nick Barone Puppet Show and Teen Rock Concert.

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:

Valentine 's Day Crafts by Arlene Erlbach

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.

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!

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!

Events

  Make a Valentine's Card for someone special! The Valentine's Card Making Craft will be held at your local library branch! View our events calendar for the times and locations of this program. 

For more recommendations, please see a librarian at your library.