April 18, 2008

Off the Shelf

Cooking, test-taking, job-seeking – all free

By Tim Collins
Adult Services Librarian

Feeling hungry? May has been variously designated as National Barbecue, Egg, Hamburger, Salad, Salsa, Sweet Vidalia and Vinegar Month. Whatever your tastes may be, explore the plentiful cookbooks waiting for you here at your local San José Public Library.

We’re free! We’re free!
You may have noticed newspaper ads or signs on buses in and around the county for something called “Free2.” This fun and upbeat advertising campaign throughout the Bay Area over the next several months is designed to raise awareness of how libraries empower our lives every day. Free2 celebrates how libraries help give us the freedom to explore, imagine, connect, create and succeed. At the interactive website — WeAreFree2.org — you can:

• Enter an online contest—by May 15—to share your thoughts on what you are free to do, or be, thanks to your local library. You could win one of 10 grand prizes (including a FLIP® Ultra Video camera and an iPod® Shuffle), plus a chance to be featured in future campaign ads.

• Download a Free2 graphic for an iron-on transfer to create your own Free2 t-shirt.

• Locate and connect with your closest library.

Check it out. What are you free2do because of your library?

Practice Test Taking
We have a new database for our customers: LearningExpress Library, sometimes referred to as “Learn A Test.” No matter what it’s called, this is a very useful database. With LearningExpress, you can practice academic type tests such as ACT, GED, SAT, Advanced Placement, College Entrance Exams and TOEFL. Or perhaps you are more interested in ascertaining how ready you are for career-related licensing tests, such as Firefighter, Civil Service, Cosmetology or Nursing.

With the LearningExpress practice tests, customers receive immediate scoring, complete answer explanations and an individualized analysis of their results. Speaking as a librarian, I’m very glad to have this database. Many times a customer wants an exam book, but our copy is checked out and the customer cannot wait the few days it would take to have another SJPL location send over its copy for pickup at Tully. Online resources can often be more current than anything in print.

So if you are going to be taking a test soon, try it out! Take a look at the various databases we offer our customers. Besides Learning Express, you’re sure to find something useful, whether it’s a database of journal and newspaper articles, an academic research database, or a consumer health database, to name a few examples. All you need is a San José library card and a computer with an Internet connection. To find our databases: (1) go to sjlibrary.org, (2) on the left, click on the words “Articles and Databases,” (3) on the right, click on the words “SJPL Remote and Branch Users.”

Whatever tests you might be taking soon, SJPL has resources on hand to help you score well!

Work2Future: Job Preparation and Employment Services
The Mobile One Stop van of Work2Future (affiliated with the City of San José) assists folks with job preparation and employment services. It visits various locations throughout Santa Clara County, including once-a-month visits to certain libraries. Library staff can assist customers with basic job search resources and advice like good websites to visit, resume templates installed on our library computers, helping customers to find library materials online or in print. Every SJPL location has a “Career” section of books. But the Work2Future folks are job-search specialists. They are equipped to go beyond the basics.

I often tell library customers that Work2Future helps people with resume preparation and job leads. But to quote their flyer, Work2Future provides job search assistance, job search workshops and clubs, computers, labor market information, GED assistance, internet access, career exploration and planning, youth services, English classes, community resource information and senior employment services...all at no cost to you.

The Mobile One Stop visits the Tully and the Evergreen branch libraries, as well as the Educational Park and Cruz Alum Rock branches. Call 277-3269 for information as to when they will be coming in May, or for other information about Work2Future’s programs and services. Also, you don’t need to wait for the Mobile One Stop van; you can visit Work2Future’s offices at 1290 Parkmoor Avenue, across the street from the Race Street light rail station.

Upcoming programs or special events
David Sharpe performs on Tuesday, Apr. 29 at 6:30 p.m. Children, their parents and grandparents can laugh and sing along to the songs of David Sharpe, aka “PapaHugs.” The songs David writes, records and sings go straight from his heart into yours. Enjoy!

San José Teen Idol competition takes place here at Tully on Friday, Apr. 25 from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. At the Evergreen Library, the competition occurs on Saturday, Apr. 26 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. If you are 12 to 19 years old, and want to share your singing talents with the world, or at least the City of San José, go for it! This is our local branch competition; finalists compete for the grand prize downtown on May 17. At both Tully and Evergreen, please register in advance if you plan to compete. For those who plan to come, listen and enjoy, just show up! Hear you there!

South Asian Family Night occurs on Saturday, May 10 from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. At this event, immigration attorneys, community leaders and social service providers will present information about laws and resources that can help you and your family, and information about foster care programs. While the event is taking place here at Tully Library, various organizations are involved in actually presenting it: APCADV (Asian Pacific Communities Against Domestic Violence), APFRC (Asian Pacific Family Resource Center), and AACI’s (Asian Americans for Community Involve-ment) Asian Women’s Home.

Parenting Workshop: Eat Healthy
First 5 Santa Clara County, in partnership with Choices for Children, presents sessions of the workshop “Five Keys to Raising Healthy Eaters” on Saturday, Apr. 26 from 3:30 to 5:15 p.m., May 20 from 6:00 to 7:45 p.m, and May 24 from 3:30 to 5:15 p.m. Whether your child is finicky or ravenous, this workshop may be just the thing for both of you. Free child care and a light meal will be provided. We offer child-enrichment activities during the program. The workshop will be presented in English and Spanish. We encourage folks to register in advance, calling either the library at 808-3030 or the presenter Hue Nguyen at 280-2346. ¡Salud!

Tully Book Club; Last Wednesday of the month, 7:00 p.m.
The Apr. 30 book discussion will center on Atonement by Iwan MacGregor. The May 28 choice will be that classic oldie-but-goodie Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte.

City-Wide Library Events
For a listing of all upcoming Tully events, pick up a calendar in English or Spanish next time you visit us. For library events citywide, including the Dr. King library downtown, check the Events section of the SJPL website www.sjlibrary.org.

Tim Collins is the Adult Services Librarian at the Tully Community Branch Library, 880 Tully Road, between McLaughlin and Senter. The Library’s phone number is 808-3030, and its email address is tu.sjpl@sjlibrary.org.