April 21, 2006

Off the Shelf

May is “Creative Beginnings” month

By Tim Collins
Adult Service Librarian

If April showers do indeed bring May flowers, then this month ought to bring forth a bumper crop! And how appropriate, since May is “Creative Beginnings Month.”

On health related notes, May has been decreed Better Hearing and Speech Month, Healthy Vision Month, Motorcycle Safety Month and Strike Out Strokes Month. Whether you’re creatively beginning, or merely staying healthy, a good place to find whatever resources you’re looking for is right here at your local San José Public Library.

Ao Dai Art Workshop for Youth – May 20, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Have you seen Ao dai? Ao Dai is a Vietnamese traditional long dress that flatters every figure. Its body-hugging top flows over wide trousers that brush the floor. Splits in the gown extend well above waist height and make it comfortable and easy to move. Care to learn how to design an Ao Dai? Then this workshop is for you! The event will be opened free to all. During this hands-on workshop, participants will have an opportunity to design their own beautiful ao dai using various papers, fabrics, and other artistic materials. This event will be sponsored by Association for Viet Arts and Tully Community Branch of San Jose Public Library.

Staff Picks
Here at Tully, we created a new section of books, “Staff Picks. ” Here we staff members have placed some our favorite books that you might enjoy, too. Or at least, you’ll get an insight into the people serving you.

Care for a fried peanut-butter-and-banana sandwich? Check out the cookbook Are You Hungry Tonight?: Elvis’ Favorite Recipes.

Perhaps you’re more in the mood for a good solid multi-generational family drama; one of my colleagues suggests Wedding Ring, by Emilie Richards.

Do you like to read as a sort of time machine, to transport yourself to another time and place? You might like The Hummingbird’s Daughter by Luis Alberto Urrea, which follows an exceptional young teenage girl with extraordinary healing powers through the time period of the Mexican Revolution.

My manager, Sandra Stewart, is quite a science fiction buff; any “Staff Picks” of a science fiction nature, it’s a pretty safe bet that it’s her recommendation; take a look at the books by Tamora Pierce here, particularly the Circle of Magic series, which follows the exploits of young mages in training.

You may find some old friends here too: the Tony Hillerman Navajo reservation mysteries, Edgar Allan Poe’s spine-tingling tales, Chinua Achebe’s now classic story of the old encountering the new in Africa, Things Fall Apart.

If this whets your appetite for more staff recommendations, take a look at “The Readers Page” section of our library’s website: http://www.sjlibrary.org/services/readers/index.htm. There’s something for everyone there.

We’re part of something bigger
By the very nature of things, in this column about the Tully Community Library published in the Evergreen Times, I tend to focus on upcoming programs and events taking place here at our local branch library. But we are part of the larger San José Public Library System, and since the Dr. King (Main) Library downtown also serves as the San José State University library, there are many programs and events taking place there that have a wide appeal.

Lately, at the branch libraries, we have been receiving weekly synopses of events coming up at Main: literature programs, health lectures, parenting programs, artist events, book sales, children’s activities, etc., etc., in addition to the events listing you can get off our website, http://www.sjlibrary.org/about/events/.

Certain ongoing exhibits at the Main Library include the World Language of Soccer Exhibition, an exhibition of photography with soccer related themes by artists from around the globe. In another exhibition, “Chicano Photographer ,” photojournalist and activist Jesus Garza documents the evolution of San José.

San José was struck by the 1906 earthquake too. The exhibit “An Awful Calamity!” The South Bay and the 1906 Earthquake shows what happened in Santa Clara County during and after the 1906 earthquake using photographs, letters, telegrams, newspaper articles and other documents.

When you visit the Dr. King Library or any other place in the downtown vicinity, you can take advantage of free parking weekdays after six, and all day on Saturdays and Sundays.

Tim Collins is the Adult Services Librarian at the Tully Community Branch Library, 880 Tully Road, between McLaughlin and Senter. It is one of the branches of the San Jose Public Library. The Library’s phone number is 808-3030. For more information about the library, visit the website at sjlibrary.org.

Tully Library’s Calendar

For Children and Families
Sunday, May 7, 1:00-3:00 p.m. – Vietnamese Dance for Children 4 & 5 years old, Young at heart Recital

Tuesdays, 11:30 a.m. – Fun for Ones, followed by Stay & Play
Tuesdays, 6:45 p.m. – Family Story times

Thursdays, 10:30 a.m. - Toddler Time, followed by Stay & Play or Parenting University

Fridays, 10:30 a.m. – Preschool Story time followed by Stay and Play
Fridays at 4:00 p.m. – Fun for Youth activities: May 5 – Cinco de Mayo craft; May 12 – Mother’s Day craft; May 19 & 26 - games

Saturdays, 11:30 a.m. – Family Story times
Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 12 noon – Cambodian language class
Saturdays, 1:00-3:00 p.m. and 3:00–5:00 p.m. – Vietnamese language classes
Saturday, May 20, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For Young Adults and Adults
Sundays, Tai Chi classes - beginning 3:00-500 p.m.; advanced 5:00-7:00 p.m.

Tuesdays, 5:00 p.m. - Computer tutoring

Wednesdays at 5:00 p.m. – Conversation Group
Wednesdays, May 3, 10, 24 & 31 - 6:00 p.m. – Beginning computer classes in Vietnamese

Saturdays, 1:00-3:00 p.m. – Citizenship classes
Saturdays, May 6 and June 3 - 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. – Big Book sales
Saturday, May 13, 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. – Am. Cancer Society education forum in Vietnamese

Tuesday, May 16, 6:00-7:00 p.m. – Friends of Tully Library Meeting

Wednesday, May 17, 3:30 p.m. – Movie for Teens
Wednesday, May 17, 6:00 p.m. – TeensReach meeting and orientation