February 9, 2009

Check it Out

Cambrian Library news

By Librarian Mary Cage
Special to the Times

Hear a concert, make a Valentine, create a resumé, or get help with your taxes – it’s all happening at Cambrian Branch Library in February. Various activities abound at the library this month.

Celebrate the Lunar New Year as Cambrian Library hosts the acclaimed Firebird Youth Chinese Orchestra on Saturday, Feb. 7 at 2 p.m. in the Community Room. This free performance will feature the music of China played on traditional Chinese instruments.

Make a beautiful Valentine’s card for someone special. Join us on Wednesday, Feb. 11 at 3 p.m. in the Community Room. This craft is suitable for children of all ages. Materials will be supplied courtesy of Friends of Cambrian Library.

The IRS Volunteer Tax Assistance (VITA) Program offers free tax help to individuals whose income is $40,000 or less. VITA representatives will be in the library’s Internet Café beginning Saturday, Feb.7 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. to help you file your tax return electronically. They will continue to be here on Saturdays until early April. Qualifying individuals receive help on a first-come, first-served basis.

Teen musicians age 12-18, take note! San Jose Public Library’s Second Annual Battle of the Bands is underway. E-mail a link to your band’s music (for example, on YouTube) to sjplbattleofthebands@gmail.com by Feb. 14. We’ll put these links on the SJPL Web site where people can vote for their favorites. The top five bands will compete live at the Almaden Branch Library on March 14. If your band needs to set up a recording session, or if you need more information, contact Katherine at 244-4766.

Silicon Valley Reads
The funny and poignant memoir of Bay area broadcast personality Brian Copeland about growing up in the 1970s as one of the first African-American families in San Leandro has been selected as the book for Silicon Valley Reads 2009.

“Not a Genuine Black Man: My Life as an Outsider” will be the subject of numerous programs throughout Santa Clara County in February and March. Please join us for a book discussion at Cambrian Branch Library on Wednesday, Feb. 11, at 6:30 p.m. For a list of author visits and other events, go to siliconvalleyreads.org.

Computer classes
Don’t have an e-mail account? Need one for your job application process? On Tuesday, Feb. 3 and Feb. 24, we’ll help you set up an e-mail account using Google’s Gmail and show you the basics of how to send and receive e-mail. Meet at 6:30 p.m. in the Internet Café on the second floor.

If you’re looking for a new job, get help at our free resumé-writing workshop on Friday, Feb. 6 and Feb. 27 at 10 a.m. We’ll help you compose a professional resumé, write a cover letter and discover Web sites and library materials to help you in your job search. Bring a copy of your work history to use on your resumé.

For brand-new computer users, our Computer Basics class is now held Thursdays at 10 a.m. Learn how to use a mouse, basic word processing techniques, and Internet searching strategies in this stress-free class. Meet in the Tech Center on the second floor.

Please call or come in to preregister for all computer classes.

Reading Challenge and Hullabaloo
Cambrian and Pearl Avenue Branch Libraries and the Camden Community Center have teamed up with NEA’s Read Across America to celebrate reading with a “Cat in the Hat” Reading Challenge and Hullabaloo at the Camden Community Center. Join us in a celebration of Dr. Seuss’s birthday on Saturday, March 7 from 2-4 p.m. in the multi-purpose room. We’ll have a reading challenge, crafts, guest readers, and more! The Camden Community Center is at 3369 Union Ave. in San Jose. Call 559-8553 for more information.

Let us help you get ready for your citizenship interview on Friday, Feb. 20 from 12-1 p.m. Sign up for a 15-minute practice session. Pre-registration is required.

Our Mystery Book Club will meet Wednesday, Feb. 25, at 6:45 p.m. to discuss “The Collaborator of Bethlehem: an Omar Yussef Mystery” by Matt Beynon Rees. Newcomers are always welcome.

Adult ESL learners are invited to practice their English speaking skills in a relaxed environment every Tuesday at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Please join us in Meeting Room B on the second floor.

Story times
Cambrian Library’s story time schedule has changed. We offer Family Story Time for children of all ages on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 2 p.m. Baby and Toddler Story Time is held Thursdays, except the first Thursday of the month, at 10:30 a.m. and Preschool Story Time is held Friday mornings at 10:30.

A special dental health story time time will be presented Wednesday, March 4 at 6:30 p.m. when a representative from the Santa Clara Valley Dental Hygiene Society will join us. Enjoy books and puppets while learning about brushing, healthy foods, and dental visits.  Each child will go home with a new toothbrush and other information.

Join a monthly meeting for teens interested in library and community volunteer activities. All teens ages 13-18 are invited to attend our teensReach meeting Tuesday, Feb. 10 from 5-6 p.m. Newcomers please fill out a teensReach application, available online or at the information desks, before the meeting.

Regular library hours are Monday 2-7 p.m., Tuesday and Wednesday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The library will be closed Feb. 16 for President’s Day. Cambrian Library is located at 1780 Hillsdale Ave. For news of other library activities, including those at King Library, visit http://www.sjlibrary.org/about/events.