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Calfresh Pre-screening and Application Assistance at the Library
Formerly known as the food stamp program, Calfresh is the state of California’s supplemental food budgeting program. Its purpose is to assist low-income families and individuals with getting the food and nutrition they need. Participants in the program use a EBT card to buy food the same way they would use any other debit card at grocery stores and farmers’ markets.
Various branches of the San Jose Public Library host ongoing pre-screening and application assistance sessions for those who think they may qualify for the program. See our events calendar for dates, times, and locations.
Second Harvest Food Bank of San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties has some very helpful information on its web site about how the Calfresh Program works and who is eligible for it. It also debunks common myths about the program (for example, applying can’t hurt your immigration status and you don’t need to have children to be eligible).
2013 Book Trailer Contest
The San José Public Library invites teens to create a book trailer for our Summer Reading Celebration during the months of June and July. Upload a short clip, no longer than 4 minutes, to YouTube. Be creative! The contest is open to all participants in the Teen Summer Reading Celebration.
How to enter:
Think of a favorite book you read for Summer Reading and envision it as a short video, one that will capture the interest of your audience. Create your own book trailer, reviewing the book. You can submit more than one video, but each video has to be for a separate book.
- Sign up for Summer Reading starting on June 1, 2013.
- Post the video on YouTube using the tag: SJPL2013SRC
- Submit the YouTube link to your book trailer along with your name, age, contact information (either a phone number or email) and your library branch to: 2013SJPLBookTrailerContest@gmail.com
- All entries must be submitted by July 31, 2013
- Book trailers may not be longer than four minutes in length
- Story being reviewed should be a young adult or adult fiction or non-fiction book.
- Cite all images, video and audio that you did not create
A panel of judges (staff at San José Public Library) will review all entries and select the top three winners, to be announced in August 2013. The panel of judges will use the following criteria when reviewing book trailer entries:
- Content: Clear introduction; strong hook; summary without dominating narration; fresh and interesting commentary with strong conclusion
- Voice/Sound: Interesting; well-rehearsed; smooth delivery; holds audience attention; easy to hear narration over soundtrack; voice sounds natural and helps convey meaning; soundtrack adds to tone/feel of presentation
- Images: Crisp, clear, engaging, enriching, extending details and meaning; appropriately cited.
- Presentation: All elements (color and graphics) work together seamlessly to create an interesting book trailer
Need some examples? Check out the winning entry from last year's Book Trailer Contest, created by K. Rai.
Here are links to some professional book trailers:
- Divergent by Veronica Roth
- The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
- Legend and Prodigy by Marie Lu
Teens who submit links to their Book Trailer will automatically be entered in the contest. The top 3 winners will receive:
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- 1st place: iPad Mini
- 2nd place: $50 gift card for iTunes
- 3rd place: $25 gift card for Jamba Juice
Graphic Novel Making Contest 2013
If you have a talent for creating comic/manga style illustrated short stories, you are invited to enter San José Public Library’s Graphic Novel Making Contest for all ages as part of our Summer Reading Celebration, 2013. This contest is sponsored by San José Public Library, Hijinx Comics, San José Museum of Art and TRY Japan Culture Group.
Here’s how to enter …
- Create your own comic book with a maximum length of 8 pages, including the cover page.
- Use letter-size paper (8.5 x 11) with black-and-white drawings and text on one side only.
- Each submission must be the creative and original work of a single individual—the author/illustrator.
- The contest is limited to amateur authors/ illustrators only.
- Computer generated images are acceptable as long as they are your original work (no clip art)
- Consider submitting a photocopy that is an accurate reflection of the original (as submissions are non-returnable).
- San José Public Library reserves the right to reproduce your work. You can reuse all your work after the contest.
- Be sure to print and complete the creative works release form. Include your Name, Age, Contact Information and Signature.
- Entries can be submitted to any San José Public Library location no later than 8p.m. on Wednesday, July 31, 2013.
- Entries can also be submitted online to sjplgraphicnovelmakingcontest@gmail.com as a jpeg or pdf attachment.
- There is a limit of one entry per contestant.
Entries will be judged on content and illustrations by a panel of library staff and comic industry professionals. All cash prizes will be awarded as gift cards.
- Children (up to age 6): first prize $25; second prize $15
- Children (7-12): first prize $40; second prize $20
- Teens (ages 13-17): first prize $100; second prize $70; third prize $50
- Adults (age 18 and above): first prize $100; second prize $70; third prize $50
Winners will be announced and prizes awarded at a reception to be held at the Seven Trees Branch Library on Saturday, August 24th at 2:00 p.m.in the Community Room.
Check out the award winning entries from 2012, 2011 and 2010.
San José Public Library staff members are ineligible to participate.
San José Public Library reserves the right to refuse submissions that are not appropriate for a general audience. This contest is open to all California residents.
Read to Children and Make a Difference!
Give children the joy of reading by reading aloud to youngsters at one of the San Jose Public Libraries. Reading occurs in the library's children's area at designated times throughout the day. Specialized training is provided to all incoming volunteers. Several of our library branches are seeking volunteers to read to children on an ongoing basis (minimum 6 month commitment). Bilingual volunteers (Spanish/English) are especially needed. This position requires fingerprinting.
Training is on Saturday, June 22, 2013 from 12:00pm - 3:00pm at the King Library. Please complete the application form and register for training here.
Novelas superlativas
Hay novelas y hay novelas. Aquí hay una lista de mis favoritas de los últimos dos años. Cada novela es una ventana al imaginación de un brillante autor que reflexiona sobre el mundo actual. Amores virtuales en particular es una obra llena de filosofía, escrito por una psicoterapeuta.
En busca de Klingsor / Jorge Volpi
Amores virtuales/ Marina Castañeda
¿Dónde estás, Alacrán/ Jorge Moch
Cruz de olvido/ Carlos Cortés (también disponible como libro electrónico)
Desertor/ Juan Ramón Rojas
Materia dispuesta / Juan Villoro
Diez mujeres – Marcela Serrano
25th Annual San Jose Children's Faire
Celebrate the Month of the Young Child at the
25th Annual San Jose Children's Faire!
Saturday, April 13, 2013
10:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
The Faire is expected to draw over 5,000 attendees to the outdoor festival, held at Discovery Meadow (in front of the Children's Discovery Museum), in downtown San José.
The theme this year is "Explore the Possibilities" and features family-oriented stage entertainment, special attractions, and activity booths offering hands-on activities for children ages 2-12. Families can obtain information about education, child care, recreational programs and health and safety resources.
For more information call 1-408-808-2617 or visit www.sjpl.org/moyc
Get Seussical at the Library!
Celebrate the upcoming birthday of beloved children's book author Dr. Seuss! Special Dr. Seuss Birthday Parties will be held at several San Jose Public Library locations in early March. Kids will enjoy Seuss stories, Seuss-themed crafts, and other activities.
Dr. Seuss, author of The Cat in the Hat, The Lorax, and more than 40 other children's books, was born on March 2, 1904. His birthday coincides with the National Education Association's Read Across America Day, and many schools and libraries are holding special events to celebrate both.
Fun fact: Dr. Seuss, whose real name was Theodor Seuss Geisel, used the pseudonym Dr. Seuss for books he both wrote and illustrated, and the pseudonym Theo LeSieg for books he wrote that were illustrated by others. LeSieg is Geisel spelled backward! Find titles by both Theo LeSieg and Dr. Seuss at your local library. For all things Seuss, visit seussville.com -- and come to the library for a birthday celebration!
Valentine’s Day and Chocolate
Every Valentine’s Day, chocolate becomes part of the romantic holiday. From the moment chocolate was discovered, it was considered valuable, divine, and decadent, so what better gift to give lovers? The first chocolate candies were invented in the 1860s by Cadbury, who was also the first to market them in a heart-shaped box for Valentine's Day that same decade as quoted on luxist.com.
San Jose Public Library Collections
Valentine's Day Craft in San Jose Public Library
Valentine's Day Event
Congratulations BOTB 2013 Winners
Congratulations BOTB 2013 Winners!
1st Place
Lizard Kingdom Progressive Rock
“Lizard Kingdom is heavily influenced by bands such as the Fall of Troy, Ricky Martin, Sha Na Na, Nickelback, Milli Vanilli, and Brian Wilson. In our spare time, we enjoy making balloon animals. Collectively our favorite food is pickles. Our pre-show ritual is we gather around, and run with scissors to display bravery.”
2nd Place
Cactus Experimental/Fusion
"Cactus is a group that plays for the sheer love of all different kinds of music, whether it be jazz, blues, alternative, classic rock, or Motown. Each practice is always different consisting of spontaneous new ideas every time. We enjoy the simple things in life, humor, and acting weird and crazy!"
3rd Place
Half N Half Indie Rock
“We have been together since Fall 2011, and started out playing covers. But with HALF of us wanting to play this, n Half of us wanting to play that, we finally decided to collaborate to write our own music! “
Supporters:
The library gratefully acknowledges the generous contributions of its community sponsors:
- Live 105.3 FM
- PinUp Productions
- San Jose Pro Drum
- Steetlight Records
- San Jose Rock Shop
- Music Village
- Music Go Round
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December is "Safe Toys and Gifts" Month
December is National Safe Toys and Gifts Month, a project led by Prevent Blindness America. The group hopes to educate parents and other gift shoppers through awareness efforts all throughout the month. The rate at which children are being checked into ERs due to choking, eye injuries, or even poisoning is astonishing. Hundreds of thousands of children have undergone unnecessary injuries due to poorly made items and misuse of toys as quoted on meditab.com.
In this holiday season, purchasing age-appropriate Toys helps ensure children’s safety.
San Jose Public Library Resources on Safe Toys and Gifts
San Jose Public Library Programs on Safe Toys and Gifts
Additional Resources:
-
Parents Helping Parents of Children with Special Needs, Santa Clara, CA
- Provides a wealth of services to families of children with special needs including education, community and family services, and health-related services
- Safe Kids Worldwide
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