Please join us for the first annual Talent Show.

Join us for a fun-fill talent show on Thursday, August 3, from 3 PM. Young people from ages 4 through 18 will demonstrate their artistic and musical skills at Almaden's first annual talent show. This program is part of San Jose Public Library's Summer Reading Celebration.

Looking for useful, current legal resources online?

If you're looking for legal forms or legal self-help resources, you'll find too much unreliable information with a simple search. Try http://www.systemref.org/law.htm for agency listings and free handouts. SJPL's legal forms/legal self-help pages are at http://www.sjlibrary.org/research/web/iguide_subjectList.htm?t=38. Also, check out http://www.EZLegalFile.org, which offers an interactive interview format to help clients fill out submittable court forms in the areas of family law, small claims, unlawful detainer (evictions), domestic violence, and guardianships.

Free wifi access seems to be working as normal again.

WiFi's back at Almaden. Come by and enjoy the cool AC and free WiFi!

How can I keep track of books I've read?

I found a neat online application for keeping track of books I've read. It's called LibraryThing. You can store up to 200 book reviews/ratings for free.

The free WiFi access at our branch is still down.

IT should be in today to look at the problem. Thanks for your patience!

Our wireless network is not functioning right now.

Our WiFi is down currently; hopefully it will be fixed sometime today or tomorrow. Call me at 808-3040 if you'd like a status update.

Tomorrow is Spare the Air Day around the Bay Area; consider biking to work.

Tomorrow, Friday, July 21, is a Spare the Air Day in the San Francisco Bay Area. Ground-level ozone air pollution is forecast to exceed 100 AQI (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups) tomorrow. Many transit agencies, including VTA, are offering FREE commutes all day. For details, go to http://www.511.org.

How do I access online databases from home or from a branch?

Did you know that with your library card, you can access a number of different online databases, such as MedlinePlus, the Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center, and more? From the homepage, click on the "Articles & Databases" link, and then choose the "SJPL Remote & Branch Users" option to view all the databases. Many of these articles aren't available in the 'public domain' with a simple search engine, so these databases are very useful for research.

Join us for an upcoming film screening of the documentary "Invisible Children".

This is a screening of the documentary, "Invisible Children," a story of three college students that visited Northern Uganda and witnessed the horrible atrocities of children being kidnapped by the LRA army and turned into child soldiers. T-shirts will be sold to raise money for the MLS organization as well as advertise a Pizza My Heart fundraiser for the same night. For information call (408) 808-2000.

Tuesday, July 25, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
2nd Floor, Room 225

Please join us for a "Basic Catalog Search" class.

I'll be conducting an hour-long workshop on "Basic Catalog Search" on July 25, from 5 PM in the Tech Center. Learn how to search for books and more using the online catalog. We’ll cover searching by title, author, keyword, and subject; limiting by language; interpreting a catalog record; and finding materials on the shelves. Please sign up at the Information Desk inside the Library to reserve your space.

What programs are coming up at Almaden Branch Library?

Tomorrow, July 13 from 3:00 PM - 3:45 PM : Flute Sweets and Tickletoons!
This program combines the magical storytelling of Keith Torgan with the musical mastery of flutist Barbara Siesel. Contemporary stories and fairy tales both original and classic are turned into one person musical story theatre with a flutonious orchestra of one. Listen and delight! This Summer Reading Celebration program was made possible by a generous grant from the Friends of the San Jose Public Library. This event takes place in the Community Room.

For more events, visit http://www.sjlibrary.org/about/locations/almaden/events.htm

Enjoy free wireless access at Almaden Branch Library.

We've got free wireless during library hours. Almaden was the first branch in the San Jose Public Library system to get free wifi, and it's been working without a hitch since we opened in May. Come try it out! The Library plans to provide WiFi access eventually at all branches.

The new "Silicon Valley Reads" book has been announced.

"The Tortilla Curtain" by T.C. Boyle has been announced as the Silicon Valley Reads 2007 book. Everyone in the Silicon Valley region is invited to read and discuss a book in common! I just finished the book yesterday; it's a gripping story and a great read. I recommend requesting your copy as soon as possible.