March 9, 2007

Off the Shelf

Celebrating the Evergreen Branch library’s half-year birthday

By Vanessa Menor
Evergreen Branch Librarian

There are holidays, and then there are holidays. Children in my hometown are celebrating the most important holiday of the year. In fact, elementary, middle, junior high, and high school students all over the province of Ontario, Canada are rejoicing.

March Break is here! March break is the halfway point between January and summer vacation, and is when the truly fortunate get to bask, and burn, in the Florida sun. At this time of year, the overly optimistic decry, “Winter’s over! Winter’s over! Winter’s over!” And while the chance of snow still remains, even the pessimists in the bunch, are hopeful that spring is around the corner.

Spring is a little different here in sunny California. The cold weather is coming to an end, and with it, our fireplaces will be turned off. Did you know that we have two fully functional gas fireplaces, with comfy seating, and a window with a view of our sculpture garden? A favorite area for many of our regulars, enjoying the warmth of the fireplace makes a cold winter day less gloomy.

March is also the library’s half-year birthday. Six months ago we opened to a tidal wave of people and it’s been busy ever since. Evergreen Branch Library is one of the busiest branches! New items and items from other branches are constantly coming in to help us keep up with the demand. Our goal is to have something for everyone. Our commitment is to get something for everyone. If you can’t find what you need on our shelves, let us know. There are a lot of options available to you.

If not finding what you want is hard, then not knowing what you want is even harder. The library has a great selection, and a little or a lot - depending on the topic - on almost every subject. But sometimes a huge selection can be overwhelming. It’s hard to pick a good book when there are thousands to choose from. We can direct you to best-seller lists, help you find something similar to a book you’ve loved in the past, something completely different or something you want to read again. The library’s website is also rich with book suggestions. Start at www.sjlibrary.org, click on the “Services” tab, and then “The Reader’s Page” on the left hand side. This will connect you with a variety of resources.

One book that I’d like to suggest is “Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Fight Terrorism and Build Nations—One School at a Time” by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. This book describes one man's campaign to build schools in the most dangerous, remote, and anti-American reaches of Asia. The Evergreen Adult Book Club will meet on Wednesday, March 21 at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Room to discuss this book. Reading, by nature, is a solitary act. When individuals read the same book, and meet to discuss their thoughts and feelings, reading can also help develop a sense of community. Please take this opportunity to reach out to your neighbors; someone will be reaching back.

Do you have a Green Thumb? Then attending the Evergreen Valley Garden Club Meeting is the event for you. On Wednesday, March 21, from 7– 8 p.m., there will be a free lecture. “How to Choose, Grow and Display Houseplants” will be of interest to everyone, from master gardeners to black thumbs. Got a Black Thumb? Then I know from experience that you are looking at the upcoming planting season with dread. This could be a great opportunity for you to make friends with someone from the other side. The library also has an extensive Home & Garden collection. Books on planning, design, different types of plants and plant care are just a few of the topics available. And the pictures are pretty, too.

Twenty-five years ago, the tooth fairy paid me 25 cents/tooth. Today, thanks to inflation, it’s $5.Wow. But there are still uses for a quarter! On Saturday, March 24, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Evergreen Branch Library’s teensReach group will be having its first Book Sale in the Community Room. Paperbacks will be 25 cents each or 5 for $1. We’ll have a variety of books.

Evergreen Library’s Calendar

For Children and Families
- Tuesdays, 11:30 a.m. – Preschool Storytime and Stay & Play
- Tuesdays, 6:30 p.m. – Family Storytime

- Wednesdays, 11:30 a.m. – Mother Goose Storytime and Stay & Play

- Thursdays, 11:30 a.m. – Reading with Grandma Carol

- Fridays, 3:30 p.m. – Games and fun for all ages.

- Thursday, March 22, 3:30 p.m. – Terrific Thursday Afterschool Craft

- Saturday, March 24, 11:30 a.m. – Chinese/English Storytime

Teens and Adults
- Thursday, March 15, 3:30 p.m. – teensReach Meeting

Need volunteer hours? Attend the meeting to sign up for our first Book & Bake Sale, which is on March 24 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

- Fridays, March 16, 23, 30, 1 – 4 p.m. – Mobile One Stop: Job Search Assistance

The free services the "Satellite Mobile One Stop" provides are job search assistance, particularly help with resumes, labor market information, childcare information, community resource information and senior employment services. Look into it!

Library Closures
- Friday, March 23, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. – Staff training

- Saturday, March 31 – Cesar Chavez Day

Vanessa Menor is a Librarian at the Evergreen Branch Library, 2635 Aborn Rd, between Capitol Expressway and White Rd. Evergreen Branch is part of the San Jose Public Library. The Library’s phone number is (408) 808-3060. For more information about the library, visit the website at www.sjlibrary.org.