On February 23rd, the San José Public Library website was featured in a webinar called ‘User-Centered Web Design for Libraries’ offered by the Public Library Association. The presentation offered a tour of the front-end and the back-end of the website, highlighting some points that user experience guru Donald Norman describes in his book, The Design of Everyday Things. The webinar was well received by library professionals from all corners of the country. Check back soon and you’ll find the slides and a recording of the presentation here.

Wild mushroom foraging season is in full tilt in nothern California, and your library has got the resources you need to make the right decisions in the field!

While foraging for wild mushrooms can be an exciting culinary adventure, it is *very* important to do your research first and avoid the dangers of misidentification.  Can you tell a chanterelle from an amanita?  If you plan on cooking and eating them, you better be able to!  Check out some of the books and other resources that are available in our library catalog. 

Below is a pile of chanterelles I found in the Santa Cruz mountains last winter...

These are some porcini mushrooms a friend found recently at Salt Point State Park...