November 28, 2008

Off the Shelf

Take a break from end-of-year-rush at the library

By Joy Kim
Special to the Times

Have the end-of-the-year holidays made your schedule crazy? Save time and get the most from the public library by taking advantage of our e-services at sjlibrary.org. Visit sjlibrary.org and click on the “My Account” button at the top of the page to manage your library account. Once you’ve logged in with your library card number and PIN, you’ll be able to request books, renew your checkouts and even pay your fines from the comfort and convenience of your home.

You can also reserve time on the branch’s computers or in our group study rooms online up to three days in advance. Select “Reserve a computer” from the Quick Links menu on sjlibrary.org. A new page will load; click on the blue “Reserve now” button. You’ll be prompted to login with your card number and PIN; after that, you’ll be able to make your reservations. By booking your computer and group study room time in advance, you can be sure that the computer or room that you want to use will be available for you when you visit the branch, even during our busiest hours.

Finally, the library’s special events are a great way to take a break from the end-of-the-year rush. On Saturday, Dec. 6, from 4:00-5:00 p.m., the P&T Puppet Theatre comes to Evergreen Branch Library. They’ll be presenting the classic story of The Elves and the Shoemaker by the Brothers Grimm, adapted for puppetry. It will be fun for the whole family.

Evergreen Branch 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 by appointment, 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, Saturdays, 2:00-4:00 p.m. Classes will be in Hindi, Panjabi and English. Taught by staff from the Sikh Gurdwara.

- Reading Buddies Volunteer Training for Teens
Wednesday, Dec. 3, 4:00-5:00 p.m. in the Community Room

Reading Buddies are teens who help younger children practice their reading skills on Thursday afternoons at the library. If you’re between 13-17 years old and enjoy working with children, this program is a great opportunity to share your talents and earn community service hours. Attend this one hour orientation and training session to participate.

- Evergreen Library Book Club
Wednesday, Dec. 3, 6:30-7:30 p.m. in the Community Room

Join us for a meeting of the Evergreen Book Club. We will read and discuss A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson.

- District 8 Roundtable
Thursday, Dec. 4, 7:00-9:00 p.m. in the Community Room

Come together with Evergreen community members and neighborhood associations to discuss ongoing issues in our district. New officers will be elected at this meeting. This meeting will also be a potluck, so please bring something to eat.

- Citizenship and Immigration Q & A
Saturday, Dec. 6, 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. in Study Room A

Do you have questions about your citizenship application or application process? Check out the Citizenship Q & A sessions in English, Vietnamese, Chinese and Spanish.

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

For Children and Families

- Storytimes

There will be no storytimes in December. Storytimes will resume in January.

- Reading Buddies
Thursdays, 4:00-5:00 p.m. in the Family Place

Children in grades K-3 can come to the library and practice their reading skills with a teen buddy.

- Friday Craft
Friday, Dec. 5, 3:30-4:30 pm in the Community Room

Make a special craft to take home! For ages 6 and up.

- P&T Puppets Present - The Elves and the Shoemaker
Saturday, Dec. 6, 4:00-5:00 p.m. in the Community Room

The classic tale by the Brothers Grimm, adapted for puppetry by the P&T Puppet Theatre! Jack Frost starts the show by singing and scattering snow to make it cold enough for the festivities to begin.

For news of other library activities, including those at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library visit: http://www.sjlibrary.org/about/events/. For links to RSS feeds of library events, visit http://www.sjlibrary.org/rss/index.htm.

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.