Have you been frustrated in trying to download books and other items from the San Jose Public Library collection of free materials?  The solution: Willow Glen Branch Library has an informative e-Book and eReader tutorial on most Thursdays at 2:00 p.m.  Reservations are required.  To make a reservation please call the Willow Glen Branch Library at 408-808-3045. 

Meet Max, a gentle giant of a a dog. He recently visited Willow Glen Branch Library for a special program, 'Furry Friends at the Library.' Max is a Borzoi. Borzoi are gentle-natured, even though Russian aristocracy bred them as hunting hounds for hundreds of years. The American Kennel Club has a page about Borzoi. Their beautiful coats kept them warm in the frigid temperatures, and their long, leggy build enabled them to chase wolves, foxes, and rabbits across the plains. They are often called Russian wolfhounds. Max is not a hunter, though; he's perfectly happy being a pet and a Furry Friend, going new places and meeting new people. Here, he's listening to Michael read a Mo Willems book, The Pigeon Wants a Puppy. You can read the book yourself or discover other books by the whimsically funny Mo Willems. Find your favorite and come to the next Furry Friends visit to read it to a pooch of your choice! Read up on dog breeds in one of many books in the library, including Little Lions, Bull Baiters & Hunting Hounds: A History of Dog Breeds for kids; and 101 Adorable Breeds; or Need to Know? Dog Breeds for all ages. Also, check out Reigning Cats and Dogs for several stories of royal pets through history. Keen-eyed youngsters might try to spot the Borzoi the next time they watch the classic Disney film, Lady and the Tramp.

Sunny, a sweetheart of a Shi Tzu, and five of her canine buddies visited the friendly neighborhood library in Willow Glen recently. They were greeted with cries of delight from children of all ages, who spent the next hour enthusiastically meeting all the dogs, settling down with their favorite books, and reading to the furry audience. An official therapy dog of the Furry Friends, Sunny enjoys travelling and meeting new people. She also likes listening to children read books, as her own reading skills are poor. On a recent Thursday afternoon, she perked up her ears and listened as her new young friends read to her, some in English and some in Spanish. Her companion human, Whit, says that Sunny is going to be five in March, and while Sunny doesn't know much Spanish yet, she would like to learn. At the end of the hour, everyone left with hugs and promises to meet again at the  next Furry Friends visit to Willow Glen Library. For more photos, visit the library on flickr.