May 2, 2008

Off the Shelf

Web offers library resources 24/7

By Vanessa Menor
Evergreen Librarian

The library is a great place to visit! We have friendly and professional staff, a cafe with delicious snacks, Internet computers, storytimes, teen and adult programs, a quiet study area, group study rooms, a community room, and more! The library has great hours and if you visit www.sjlibrary.org we’re open 24/7. The library's website is a great place to access our resources from home, vacation or even from inside the library. As a full-time librarian, I'm at the library a lot; but I get still a huge benefit from using the website.

Two things you might have known about the library's website:

1. With the website I can request materials, both from the San Jose Public Library and other libraries within the Link+ partnership. Why request items? With a busy schedule it can be difficult to find time to browse in the library. Or you can search for an item online and stop by to pick it up when it's ready. There's no need to worry about where to find it, or driving to where it is. The item comes to you!

2. Would you like to call your branch with a question? Under the "Locations & Hours" link we have the names, addresses, phone numbers and hours of all 17 open libraries. We also have information and updates on the five libraries that are under construction. If you've been waiting on the edge of your seat for your favorite library to re-open, this is the best place to find out more.

I have my favorite websites memorized: icanhascheez burger.com, gmail.com, and sjlibrary.org. The library can be one of your favorite websites too!


Evergreen Library’s Calendar

For Adults and Teens

- Integral Tai Chi Classes
Mondays, 7:00-8:00 p.m. in the Community Room

Integral Tai Chi is a self-healing system that integrates tai chi, yoga, relaxation and meditation to heal the mind, body and spirit.

- Conversation Club
Wednesdays, 12:30–1:30 p.m. in Study Room A

Everyone is invited to join our Conversation Club to practice his or her English language skills.

- Citizenship Class

Prepare for the citizenship test with others in a class setting. We will be learning about American history and government. Practice tests will be available.

Class Schedule
1. Grace Church, Classroom One, first and third Tuesdays, at 7:00 p.m. Classes will be in English and Spanish and taught by Pastor John and Judith Goldstein

2. Evergreen Library, Study Room A, first and third Tuesdays, at 7:00 p.m. Classes will be taught in English and Vietnamese and taught by Hanh Luc

3. Evergreen Library, Study Room A, first and third Wednesdays, at 7:00 p.m. Classes will be in English and Chinese and taught by Librarian Shu-Hua Liu

4. Sikh Gurdwara, Saturdays, 2:00-4:00 p.m. Classes will be in Hindi, Panjabi and English and taught by Dr. Sraon

- Evergreen Library Book Club – Funny in Farsi
Wednesday, May 7, 6:30-7:30 p.m. in the Community Room

Join us for a meeting of the Evergreen Book Club where we will discuss the book Funny in Farsi: A Memoir of Growing Up Iranian in America by Firoozeh Dumas. This is a lighthearted memoir that chronicles the author's move from Iran to America in 1971.

- Friends of the Evergreen Library Meeting
Thursday, May 8, 6:00-7:00 p.m. in the Community Room

The Friends of the Evergreen Library will be holding their monthly meeting. Joining the Friends of the Evergreen Library is a great way to support the library and meet others in our community.

- District 8 Roundtable
Tuesday, May 13, 7:00-9:00 p.m. in the Community Room

The Roundtable is a forum for Evergreen community members and neighborhood associations to meet and discuss on-going issues in our district. Parking is also available across the street in Grace Church’s parking.

- Teach Your Child to Read Using Easy Readers
Wednesday, May 14, 6:30-7:30 p.m. in the Community Room

Easy Readers are a great tool for learning to read. Join us for a workshop as we explore the different ways in which Easy Readers can be used to teach kids how to read.

- teensReach Meeting
Friday, May 16, 3:30-4:30 p.m. in the Community Room

Join our teensReach group and learn about volunteering in the library. Volunteers who will not be attending summer school are especially needed.

For Children and Families

Storytimes
- Preschool Storytime (plus Stay & Play), for ages 3-5, Tuesdays at 11:30 a.m.

- Mother Goose Time (plus Stay & Play), for ages 0-2, Wednesdays at 11:30 a.m.

- Family Storytime, for children of all ages, Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m.

- Toddler Storytime (plus Stay & Play), Fridays at 11:30 a.m.

- Cinco de Mayo Storytime
Saturday, May 3, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. in the Children’s Area

Join us for a special Spanish and English storytime. Stories, songs and fun for the whole family.

- Fabulous Friday Kids' Book Club
Friday, May 9, 3:30-4:30 p.m. in the Community Room

Bring a book to share with the group. Something that you're reading for fun, a book that you've loved or even one you've hated! Let's vote on a book to read as a group. For kids 8-12 please.

For news of other library activities, including those at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library visit: http://www.sjlibrary.org/about/events/.

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 sjlibrary.org.