September 5, 2008

Off the Shelf

The library can help you prepare for tests

By Joy Kim
Special to the Times

Getting ready for an important test? Visit the Evergreen Library for all your test prep needs. The Careers section has study guides and practice tests for a wide range of exams, from SATs and APs to Civil Service and State Trooper tests.

Even if you can’t make it into the branch, you can still use the San José Public Library’s resources to study at home. The library has recently begun subscribing to Learning Express Library, an online database of practice tests and tutorial courses, and SJPL cardholders can access it for free through the library website. To see the full range of offerings, surf over to sjlibrary.org and click on the “SJPL Articles & Databases” link on the left side of the page. That will take you to a list of databases available to library card holders and arranged by subject. You’ll find the link to Learning Express Library under “Education, Careers, & Testing.” Create an account with your library card number and PIN. If you don’t have an internet access at home, you can also use the database from the library’s computers.

These resources are just two of the ways that the library supports customers’ educational and career needs. Visit sjlibrary.org or drop by the information desk the next time you’re in the branch to learn more about what the library can help you do.

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.

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
- 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

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

- Evergreen Library, Study Room A, first and third Wednesdays, at 7:00 p.m. Classes will be in English and Chinese.

- Sikh Gurdwara, Saturdays, 2:00-4:00 p.m. Classes will be in Hindi, Panjabi and English. As a courtesy, please remove your shoes and cover your head before entering the temple.

District 8 Roundtable
Tuesday, Sept. 9, 7:00-9:00 p.m. in the Community Room
Come together with Evergreen community members and neighborhood associations to meet and discuss ongoing issues in our district.

Friends of the Evergreen Library Meeting
Thursday, Sept. 11, 6:00–7:00 p.m.
Join the Friends of the Evergreen Library to discuss ways to support the library and meet others in the community.


For Children and Teens

Wii gaming events for school-age children and teens.

- Wii Wednesday
Wednesdays, 3:30-5:00 p.m. in the Teen Room

- Wii Saturday
Saturday, Sept. 6, 3:00-4:30 p.m. in the Community Room


For Children and Families

Story Times

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.

Feathers, Furs and Tipis
Wednesday, Sept. 17, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Debra Morningstar shares Native tales in a lively presentation that also includes an Indian Story Basket, hand-drums and rattles, and a Native American friendship dance.

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

Late Opening
The Library will open at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 18 due to a staff in-service day.

Joy Kim 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.