Latest News Releases 
Graphic Novel Making Contest - June 1 - July 31, 2012
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, 2012. 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.
- 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 Tuesday, July 31, 2012. 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 place will receive Art Supplies
- Children (7-12): first place $40, second place $20
- Teens (ages 13-17): first place $100; second place $70; third place $50
- Adults (age 18 and above): first place $100; second place $70; third place $50
Winners will be announced and prizes awarded at a reception to be held at the Berryessa Branch Library on Saturday, August 25th at 2:00 p.m.in the Community Room. Author Oliver Chin will be the keynote speaker.
Check out the award winning entries from 2011 and 2010.
Learn how to make your own comic book, graphic novel or manga! Oliver Chin will be teaching this free workshop for teens at some San José Public Library branches.
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.
Celebrate “Month of the Young Child” at the 24th Annual San José Children’s Faire
SAN JOSE, Calif.—San José Children’s Faire, to be held 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 21st, is expected to draw over 5,000 attendees to Discovery Meadow (in front of the Children’s Discovery Museum) in downtown San José. “Rock, Roll and Read” is the theme for this year’s annual event, which features family-oriented stage entertainment, special attractions, and activity booths offering hands-on activities for children, ages two to 12, in addition to information for families about education, child care, health and safety resources, and recreational programs.
The Faire, now in its 24th year, is a free, one-day, outdoor festival designed to link parents and caregivers of young children with community organizations that serve their needs and is the highlight of the City of San José’s “Month of the Young Child” celebration.
The “Month of the Young Child” is the local extension of the national “Week of the Young Child” celebration sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. It was established in 1971 in recognition that early childhood experiences (birth to age 8) lay the foundation for success in school and later life.
On Tuesday, April 3rd, San José City Council proclaimed April 2012 as “Month of the Young Child” in the City of San José, encouraging both individuals and organizations to support this observance. Additional activities marking San José Public Library’s celebration of the “Month of the Young Child” include:
- City Council recognition of this year’s recipients of the “Outstanding Contributors to Child Care Awards” on Tuesday, April 17, 2012 in San José City Hall Council Chambers.
- Children’s art displays, providing insight into the imagination and development of young children at the Children’s Faire.
- More activities at selected library branches may be located by visiting San José Public Library MOYC events .
For more information, visit www.sjpl.org/moyc or call (408) 808-2617
Reading takes you to Infinity ... and Beyond!
You Can Meet Buzz and Woody!
Noon, Wednesday, Feb. 22
King Library, Children's Room
Bring your camera and take a photo with a star from
Disney Pixars Toy Story 3.
Don't forget you can still donate a new children's book to the Partners in Reading Family Literacy Program's Book Drive "Together We Read." Book drive ends Friday, Feb. 25.
Donate a new book at your local branch library and receive one FREE ticket to Disney on Ice presents Disney/Pixar's Toy Story 3. One ticket per family, while supplies last.
Why donate to the Partners in Reading book drive?
Only 1 out of every 300 children from low-income families own a book. Help local families start their own home library and create the joy of reading as a family. Reading helps expand imagination, builds knowledge, it's cool, fun and exciting. Most importantly, reading takes you To Infinity ... and Beyond!
Fun Activities for the Family!
Disney on Ice representative will also present a special Make your own Mr. or Mrs. Potato Head! Storytime/Craft program at three locations.
- Tuesday, Feb. 14 at 11:30 a.m. at Evergreen Branch Library
- Tuesday, Feb. 14 at 3:30 p.m. at Tully Community Branch Library
- Wednesday, Feb. 15 at 11:30 a.m. at Edenvale Branch Library
Thank you for supporting Partners in Reading's Book Drive!
San José Public Library Awarded 2011 National Medal for Museum and Library Service
IMLS Press Contacts
202-653-4632
Natasha Marstiller, nmarstiller@imls.gov
Mamie Bittner, mbittner@imls.gov
San José Public Library Receives Highest National Honor for Its
Outstanding Community Service
San José, CA—The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) has selected the San José Public Library (SJPL)as one of only ten libraries and museums to receive the 2011 National Medal for Museum and Library Service. The National Medal is the nation’s highest honor for museums and libraries that demonstrate extraordinary innovative approaches to public service and community outreach.
San José Public Library is the first city library in California to receive the award and was selected for meeting the information and learning needs of its ethnically diverse community, stellar innovative and educational programs, and for providing its customers with on demand services and self-service options that enhance their library experience such as self-checkout machines and online account services.
“Congratulations to the San José Public Library on receiving the National Medal for Museum and Library Service. The work you have done is an inspiration to libraries and museums throughout the nation,” said Susan Hildreth, IMLS Director. “With innovation, creativity and a great deal of heart you have achieved an outstanding level of public service.”
“I am pleased that the San José Public Library System is receiving this distinguished recognition from the Institute of Museum and Library Services,” said Congressman Mike Honda, who nominated San José Public Library for the award. “Here in Silicon Valley, we pride ourselves on innovation. SJPL is an international model for providing traditional and cutting edge library services to all Silicon Valley residents. Under the direction of Jane Light, the SJPL developed new programs and methods which have positively redefined the role of libraries in our community.”
As the recipient of the National Medal for Museum and Library Service, San José Public Library will be honored during the National Medal ceremony in Washington D.C. later this year and receive a $10,000 award. Story Corps will also be visiting San José Public Library to document community members’ stories about the medal-winning library and its impact on their lives.
“We are extremely proud of our libraries here in San José and I’d like to thank the Institute for Museum and Library Services for this distinguished honor,” said Mayor Chuck Reed. “This award is a testament to the many staff, volunteers and supporters who have helped San José libraries continue to provide excellent services during these tough budget times.”
The other institutions that received the 2011 National Medal for Museum and Library Service are:
- Alachua County Library District, Gainesville, FL
- Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, NY
- Columbus Metropolitan Library, Columbus, OH
- EdVenture Children’s Museum, Columbia, SC
- Erie Art Museum, Erie, PA
- Hill Museum & Manuscript Library, Collegeville, MN
- Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, Richmond, VA
- Madison Children’s Museum, Madison, WI
- Weippe Public Library & Discovery Center, Weippe, ID
“I am truly honored and delighted that IMLS has chosen San José Public Library as one of the ten institutions to receive the National Medal,” said Jane Light, SJPL Library Director. “It is indeed a recognition that could not have been achieved if it weren’t for the dedicated and friendly staff members that work very hard every day to provide the much needed and heavily used library services the community desires.”
IMLS is the primary source of federal funding for museums and libraries. The National Medal for Museum and Library Service was created to highlight the vital role these institutions play in American society. Recipients are selected by the director of IMLS following an open nomination process and based on the recommendations of the National Museum and Library Services Board.
About San José Public Library
San José Public Library system (SJPL) is the largest public library system between San Francisco and Los Angeles on the West Coast of California, serving a culturally diverse population of approximately 946,000 in the nation’s 10th largest city. SJPL is recognized across the country for its innovation and leadership in the field and is one of the busiest library systems nationwide, with an annual checkout rate of more than 13.5 million items through 19 currently operating locations. For more information, visit www.sjpl.org.
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Explore San José History on a Walk with Your Smartphone
Explore San José History on a Walk with Your Smartphone
San José Public Library Releases Unique Smartphone-Enabled Guided Walking Tours that Connect Users to the City’s History
San José, Calif.– San José Public Library (SJPL) has developed a free new Smartphone enabled self-guided walking tour to give residents and tourists alike an interactive way to explore downtown San José and learn about the City’s history. The tour, called Scan Jose, was developed on a web application (app) made compatible for Smartphones. It showcases historic images from the collections of the San José Public Library’s California Room and the Sourisseau Academy for State and Local History.
Scan Jose directs walkers to a variety of downtown landmarks. At each stop, historic photos and information related to an event that once occurred at that location will appear on the web app. The images used in the web app date back as far as the mid 1800s.
"We are very excited to introduce Scan Jose to the public, as it places some of the rarest pieces of SJPL’s history collection right into users’ hands. Plus, it offers a fun and free new way for residents and visitors to get active, connect with technology, and explore the rich history of our city all at once," said SJPL Director Jane Light.
Users can choose from three distinct tour options including; a walk around Plaza de Cesar Chavez, a stroll down Santa Clara Street, or a trip through some of downtown San José’s most historic tragedies and calamities.
To access Scan Jose, search for scanjose.org on a Smartphone or tablet computer web browser. All of the stops on the tours can also be viewed in 3D with the Layar augmented reality browser. To do this, visit the iTunes app store or the Android Marketplace, download the Layar app, and search for Scan Jose.
Scan Jose was supported in part by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian. For more information, contact the San José Public Library at (408) 808-2369 or visit scanjose.org.
Scan Jose Launch Event – September 10, 2011
SJPL will host a special group tour of Scan Jose to celebrate its launch on Saturday, September 10, 2011 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. This free event is open to the public and will meet in front of the San Jose Museum of Art in downtown San José. Participants will have the opportunity to test out one of the tours on a group walk and should bring their own personal Smartphone to fully enjoy the experience. Library staff will be present to help first time users navigate the web app. Contact SJPL at (408) 808-2369 for more information.
About San José Public Library
San José Public Library system (SJPL) is the largest public library system between San Francisco and Los Angeles on the West Coast of California, serving a culturally diverse population of approximately 946,000 in the nation’s 10th largest city. Recipient of the prestigious national Library of the Year award, SJPL is recognized across the country for its innovation and leadership in the field and is one of the busiest library systems nationwide, with an annual checkout rate of more than 13.5 million items through 19 currently operating locations. For more information, visit www.sjpl.org.
About the Sourisseau Academy for State and Local History
The Sourisseau Academy promotes local history through sponsoring research, educational programs, and publications. The Academy maintains an extensive photograph collection and historical ephemera relating primarily to the history of Santa Clara County and the central coast region of California. For more information, visit www.sourisseauacademy.org.
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Graphic Novel Making Contest - 2011 Award Winners
Emerging Graphic Novelists Receive Recognition
Winners of San José Public Library 2011 Graphic Novel Contest Announced
SAN JOSE, Calif.— San José Public Library announced winners of this year’s tri-level Graphic Novel Contest on Saturday, August 27, 2011 at the Berryessa Branch Library.
The winners in each of three age level categories are as follows:
Children’s group:
- First prize: Nidhi Naroth, age 12, “The Cliff”
- Second prize: Liam Kirk, age 8, “The Adventures of Agent Bucktooth”
- Third prize: ShirleyHuang, age 12, “Arrow’s Forest Friend”
Teens group:
- First prize: Apanuba Mahmood, age 13, “Flower’s Canvas”
- Second prize: Jessica Lee, age 17, “Little Red Riding Hood”
- Third prize: Nancy Doung, age 17, “Chess: The Black Queen and the White Knight”
Adult group:
- First prize: Michael Merritt, age 18, “Pure Element: Revelation”
- Second prize: Jessica Tang, age 18, “Turning Point”
- Third prize: Darren Tat, age 41, “Rabbit in the Moon”
All the entries were evaluated on content as well as illustrations. Entry levels were available for children (12 and under), teens (13 – 17) and adults (18+). The contest engaged around 100 participants, eager to share their creative strokes.
The winners’ prizes include gift certificates in the amounts as follows:
- Children’s: first prize, $50; second prize, $25; third prize, $20
- Teen’s: first prize, $100; second prize, $75; third prize, $50
- Adult’s: first prize, $100; second prize, $75; third prize, $50
The San José Public Library system offers a multitude of unique and interesting programs that are open to the public and free of charge. For information about other opportunities, visit the Events page (www.sjpl.org/calendar) or contact your neighborhood library.
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