What's Up for Teens

On Friday, May 25th from 4pm - 5pm, there be an important special training event for all interested teens who want to volunteer for the Summer Reading Celebration 2012 program at the Alviso Branch Library.

We are especially inviting members of the Alviso Library's  teensReach group to this special training event!

Those volunteers attending this event will learn to sign-up kids for the Summer Reading Celebration program, award prizes and assist Alviso Library staff in summer programs.

Summer Reading Celebration 2012 starts on Friday, June 1st and ends on Tuesday, July 31st.

For more information on this training for volunteers or to become a summer volunteer at the Alviso Library Branch, please contact Adrian Barrientos, Youth Services Librarian at (408) 263-3626 or by e-mail at adrian.barrientos@sjlibrary.org .

Summer is around the corner and we need to get ready for the Summer Reading Celebration program! If you're an Evergreen teensReach member, please come to the training session on either Wednesday, May 30th OR Thursday, May 31st (4pm to 6pm) to receive more information about this program and learn how to get more involved. The Summer Reading Program starts on Friday, June 1st and your DAILY participation for this program will be much appreciated!

Besides the Summer Reading program, here are some volunteer opportunities that you can participate this month:

• Mother's Day Craft for Kids - Thursday, May 3rd from 4pm-5pm
  Help kids create a special craft for Mother's Day!
• Make a Lei - Monday, May 7th from 4pm-5pm in the community room. Assist children in creating a lei. Materials will be provided.
• Duct Tape Roses - Wednesday, May 16th from 4 pm to 5 pm in the community room. Come and make beautiful roses out of duct tape. All materials will be provided.
• Teen Rock Concert - Wednesday, May 16th from 6pm-730pm in the community room. Come to our rock concert! Dressed to Impress and Layla will be performing, both finalists of the recent Battle of the Bands competition!
• Games for Kids: Dream Big - Thursday, May 23rd at 5pm. Come and help kids play a variety of games and puzzles!

The next teensReach meeting at Evergreen Branch will be on Wednesday, May 16th from 5 pm to 6 pm inside the Community Room. Come and be informed about upcoming volunteer opportunities.

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.

Cambrian Library is presenting a free program by Manuel Fabriquer titled “College Planning” on Thursday, April 19 from 6:00-9:00 pm in the library’s Community Room.  Mr. Fabriquer is a Certified College Planner.  He will teach parents how to pay for college without going broke! Fabriquer will outline a combination of strategies of admission, financial aid and planning to accomplish this goal, thus making college affordable for many families.