November 17, 2006

Off the Shelf

Thanksgiving means giving thanks to the opening of the new Evergreen Library

By Vanessa Menor
Evergreen Branch Librarian

Thanksgiving is a holiday that many of us can be thankful for. A four-day weekend filled with delicious food, time spent with family, shopping and/or football, depending on your preference. The Pilgrims arrived in 1620, and celebrated the first Thanksgiving in 1621. They had a lot to be thankful for that year; half of them had survived their first harvest.

This year, the Evergreen Branch Library has a lot to be thankful for. After being closed for almost two years, we have welcomed back many of our old friends and neighbors; we’ve also made the acquaintance of many new friends. If you haven’t had a chance to visit yet, please stop by your beautiful new library. We are open for business, and grateful for your support.

The Evergreen Branch Library is thankful for our volunteers; their hard work is invaluable. We’re thankful for our customers; without you we wouldn’t be here. We’re thankful for our donors; your generous gifts have helped make this the best library it can be. We’re thankful for the staff that we have; their hard work means great customer service and fantastic programs.

The Evergreen Branch Library has many ways of showing thanks to the community. One of the ways we show our thanks is by having a great collection. We have books, magazines, DVDs, VCDs, videos, CDs and CD-ROMs. We have something for everyone. We show thanks through our programming. We have a variety of storytimes, book clubs and craft programs. We have a great staff of helpful and friendly people ready to help, and librarians who are available for outreach visits. A librarian would be happy to come and meet with your class, group or organization to talk about the library and its services. We are here to serve you.

One of the special services that the San Jose Public Library offers is Books for Little Hands. Books for Little Hands is an early literacy program designed to provide early resources and materials to day care providers and preschool teachers in San José. Classroom bags of books that include bilingual and multicultural titles, as well as curriculum idea kits, are available for a one-month loaning period. The program also offers early literacy workshops. For more information, please visit Books for Little Hands website at http://sjlibrary.org/services/early_care/ index.htm, or contact the Books for Little Hands office at (408) 808-2621.

Are you thankful for your neighborhood library? Is there anyway you can show your thanks? President Kennedy said, “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” What can you do for the library? Visit.

The best way to show support for the library is to come. Take advantage of our services, ask a question, and check something out. We’re here for you. Do you have books lying around? The library is always accepting donations for its book sales. Join the Friends of the Evergreen Library. Become a library donor and/or make a donation.

Evergreen Library’s Calendar

For Children and Families
- Tuesdays, Nov. 21, 28, 11:30 a.m. – Preschool Storytimes
- Tuesdays, Nov. 21, 28, 6:30 p.m. – Family Storytimes
- Wednesdays, Nov. 22, 29, 11:30 a.m. – Mother Goose Storytimes
- Thursday, Nov. 30, 3:30 p.m. – Terrific Thursdays After School Craft

Library Closures
- Nov 23-24: Thanksgiving

For some of us there’s also a dark side to Thanksgiving. My family celebrated Thanksgiving last month; Canadian Thanksgiving is the second Monday in October. While I’m sorry I didn’t get to see my family, there’s a part of me that’s relieved I missed it. In my family, Thanksgiving is a holiday that should be renamed “The Investigation with Turkey and Pie.” There comes a point when you need to escape. Where? The Library! The library is the perfect hiding place. Come by on Saturday, grab a book, magazine or newspaper, relax into a comfy chair and enjoy some time to yourself. Relax while you can….the gift buying season has officially started.

Thanksgiving Resources
Need help planning or preparing for Thanksgiving? The Library has just what you need, including movies, books and magazines.

Movies
- National Lampoons Holiday Reunion
- Pieces of April
- What’s Cooking?

Cookbooks
- The Thanksgiving Table by Diane Morgan
- The Thanksgiving Cookbook by Holly Garrison
- Thanksgiving 101 by Rick Rodgers

Craft and Decorating Books
- Thanksgiving Fun by Ronne Rand
- Thanksgiving Day Crafts by Arlene and Herbert Erlbach
- Crafts for Thanksgiving by Kathy Ross

Magazines
- Bon Appetit
- Good Housekeeping
- Martha Stewart Living

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.