December 29, 2006

The local library has useful things besides books

By Thao Nguyen
Special to the Times

The best things in life are free, such as libraries. Having a library card does not cost users one penny. When signing up for a card, users must be 18 or have an accompanying guardian to be responsible for fines and the material they check out.

The local Evergreen Branch library has many great things to offer, such as a Family Place, Children’s section, Café, Teen’s room, and study rooms.

There are 21 library branches in San Jose, but as of right now, 17 locations are open. Joyce Ellington and the Hillview branch will re-open in 2007. The Pearl Ave. and Willow Glen library branches will re-open in 2008 when they are finished being rebuilt.

The local Evergreen Branch has many great things to offer as well, such as a Family Place, Children’s section, Café, Teen’s room, and study rooms.

For starters, the family place offers two Little Tikes Young Explorer Fun and Learning Computer Centers for children. Next to the family place, there are four computers reserved for children 12 years old and younger to access the Internet.

The Evergreen Branch also has a Café where people can purchase snacks and drinks from the vending machine. After they eat and drink, they can “surf the net” on one of the six computers.

Right beside the Café is the Teen’s room. In the Teen’s room, there are two round tables that can seat four per table. There are also six comfortable chairs for teens to relax while they read or just sit back and enjoy DVD movies. However, in order for teenagers to watch the DVD, he/she must bring a movie that is rated no higher than PG-13 to the information desk so that the librarians can approve whether or not to show the DVD.

For the studious sort, there are two study group rooms that are perfect for people who enjoy studying in groups. Each room seats up to eight people. In order to reserve a study room, there must be at least three people in the group. Reservation for study rooms can be made online at the library Web site.

A valid library card and pin number is needed to reserve a room. A study room can be reserved three days in advance for two hours, but if the other group members have a library card, they can reserve the room for additional time. On the other hand, for those who prefer to study quietly, the library has a Quiet Study Room and has plenty of room, with seating for up to 14 people.

“Public libraries have been a part of my child’s life and mine, we try to make it to the library at least three times a week,” said Evergreen resident Michael Jones, who has been a community member of Evergreen for 10 years.

Technology has changed in many ways throughout the years. Library users can now retrieve information through online databases at home, school, or the library.

“Every time I need to write a paper for my classes, I look through the online databases to find peer reviewed scholarly articles because it’s easy to access and I don’t need to check it out,” said Stanley Leung, a college student living in the Evergreen area.

Using the online databases is convenient because they are accessible 24 hours a day. One advantage to the online databases is that there is no need to return or check the material out.

However, user can also still research the old fashion way.

There are six library catalog computers in the Evergreen Branch. Users can access the computers to find the books they are looking for. Once they find their books, they can sit around the library’s two fireplaces, located by the fiction and non-fiction sections, or they can sit at any open tables scattered around the library.

Users who prefer to do their reading at home can check out the books or other library items and do not have to wait in a long line thanks to electronic self-checkouts. There are four self-checkouts located in the Evergreen library. One self-checkout is located in the children’s section and the other three are close to the entrance/exit. Books can also be renewed by phone, online, or visiting a circulation desk at a library.

“Not only has it been easier to check out books and other items, but accessing the Internet at libraries couldn’t have been better,” said Evergreen Branch Library user Maria Gonzales.

Computers with Internet access are available in San Jose Public libraries, but a library card is needed in order to access the Internet. However, if you have a laptop, you can use the wireless Internet at the library, but only at select locations that offer the service, including The Evergreen Branch Library.

“My child enjoys using the Internet at our local library and I’m very glad the connection is free, because my son does his research for homework there,” said Evergreen resident Pham Nguyen.

Families who do not have Internet access at home can simply stop by their local library. The Evergreen Branch is a great option, with 26 computers available with Internet access.

All told, signing up for a library card to check out library materials and access the Internet are just a few of the best things in life that are absolutely free.

To find a San Jose library near you or to reserve a study room, visit the library Web site: http://www.sjlibrary.org/.