Sizzlin' Summer Night Car Show and Carnival

The Almaden Community Center and Library are pleased to host their first annual Sizzlin' Summer Night Car Show and Carnival. This event takes place on Friday, August 15th from 6-9 p.m.

In addition to the amazing show cars and carnival games, there will be food, cotton candy, art activities, music, and fun prizes. All of the proceeds will be donated to Almaden Community Center's Scholarship Fund. This event takes place in the Parking Lot and Courtyard. Call (408) 268-1133 for more information.

Databases--What are they?

Learn how to use the library even when you are at home! Databases combine the top academic and popular magazines into one easy, searchable platform. If you want reliable information, databases are a must. Please call ahead to reserve your spot, or sign up at the Almaden Library Information Desk. These event will take place on Friday, August 15th from 10-10:50 a.m. inside the Tech Center.

Tuesday, August 12th, 6:30 p.m.

Success with Fuchsias!

Learn successful tips from the San Jose Fuchsia Society to learn how to grow beautiful and colorful fuchsia plants.This event takes place in the Program Room from 6:30-7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 12th.

Caterpillar Puppets--Thursday, August 7th at 3 p.m.

We are pleased to have the Caterpillar Puppets as our special guest. These puppeteers are “guaranteed to generate giggles” with their hand puppets and silly stories. This program is ideally suited for ages 2 - 10 and is part of the annual Summer Reading Celebration. The theme of this year's Summer Reading Celebration is "Catch the Reading Bug!"This event takes place in the Community Room.

Growing up Asian in America 2008

For the entire month of August, view the winning art entries!

Three colorful canvas panels showcase winning art and essay entries, with 1st place, 2nd place and 3rd place winners displayed, along with honorable mentions. All entries were submitted by Asian-American students from the San Francisco Bay area, with many winners coming from San José and Santa Clara County.The Asian Pacific Fund selects a new theme for the “Growing Up Asian in America” contest every year, and with the Beijing Summer Olympics coming up, we asked students to share their ideas on winning and losing. Stop by to view the winning entries at this location anytime during the month.

Teen Metamorphosis Game Party!

Teen Metamorphosis Game Party--Thursday, July 31st, 3:00-3:45 p.m.

Join the activities and morph into the superhero you always wanted to be. This program is ideally suited for ages 12 - 18 and is part of the annual Summer Reading Celebration. For kids, the theme of this year's Summer Reading Celebration is "Catch the Reading Bug!" The teens have the theme "Metamorphosis."This event takes place in the Community Room.

Buggy Bingo--Today!

Buggy Bingo - Win Prizes!

Play buggy bingo and win small prizes. Everybody wins! This program is ideally suited for ages 6 - 12 and is part of the annual Summer Reading Celebration. The theme of this year's Summer Reading Celebration is "Catch the Reading Bug!"

This event takes place in Community Room from 3:00-3:45 today, Thursday, July 24th.

New Book Club beginning at Almaden Library!

The Almaden Library is starting a brand new book club, focusing on fiction and popular interest titles. Our introductory meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 2nd, from 1-2 p.m. We will discuss meeting times, choose the titles for upcoming months, and discuss March, by Geraldine Brooks.

Feel free to pass on this information to anyone you think may be interested, and if you have any questions, please call the Almaden Library at 408-808-3040.

June 14th--Summer Reading Club begins!!!

Visit your local library and sign up for the Summer Reading Club! Children can "catch the reading bug", teens can experience "metamorposis" while adults "savor the summer!"

The Summer Reading Club runs at all San Jose Public Libraries from June 14th until August 9th. All readers are eligible to participate, and all readers are eligible to win fun prizes. Keep an eye on our events page at http://www.sjlibrary.org/about/events/ to find out what kind of fun summer program is coming to your branch next!

Events at the King Library

Sunday, June 15, 2:00 PM
Exploration Room, Mezzanine
My Little Critters: Art Project with Paul Gonzalez
Join artist Paul Gonzalez in creating small, colorful animal sculptures. This program is great for children, teens and their families. Part of our Summer Reading Celebration. For information, call (408) 808-2183.

Wednesday, June 18, 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Teen Center, 3rd Floor
My World, My Community Digital Photography Project Teens— Do something fun and creative this summer! Learn photography basics, explore downtown San José and tell us what is important in your community. Earn community service credit too. Join us for a FREE 10-week digital photography and writing documentary project where teens like you will explore, investigate and present their discoveries about downtown San José. Learn to express yourself through art, culture, and history in a creative and relaxing environment. This program is for teens 13-18 years old. For more information, go to http://www.sjlibrary.org/about/events/my_world.htm or call (408) 808-2397. If you would like to sign up for the program, please email: howiseeitkinglibrary@gmail.com.

Thursday, June 19, 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Teen Center, 3rd Floor
Morph Your Garbage--Don't throw those chip bags and candy wrappers away! Learn how to make Snack Paper Wallets! With some thread, plastic, tape and your favorite snack wrapper, morph your "garbage" into something useful. Use it for yourself or as a unique gift for someone else! All supplies will be provided. This program is for teens 12-18. Part of our Summer Reading Celebration. For information, call (408) 808-2397.

Thursday, June 19, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Children’s Room, 1st Floor,
Studio 150: Origami Every Thursday at 4:00 PM--join us in the King Library Children’s Room for exciting art activities. This week, we will make several origami objects. Children, teens and their families are welcome. For information, call (408) 808-2183.

A Conversation with Michael Bautista

Please join the Almaden Library and the South Bay Guitar Society for music and conversation with featured artist Michael Bautista. He has performed the "Concierto de Aranjuez" for the Ambassador of Spain, given a solo performance for Senator John Kerry, and in 2005 was honored to perform as a soloist in Carnegie Hall. He was a finalist in the 2006 Christopher Parkening International Guitar Competition, the world’s preeminent classical guitar competition. For more information about Bautista, visit the South Bay Guitar Society's website at http://www.sbgs.org.

This event will take place from 3-4 p.m. on Saturday, May 31st in the Program Room. Remember, the Master Gardener's Tomatoes, Chilies and Peppers workshop takes place earlier that day, in the same place, from 11-12:30 p.m. You could attend the tomato lecture in the morning, go have lunch, then come back for Bautista's performance!

For any questions, please call the Almaden Library at 408-808-3040.

ESL Book Club is reading Al Capone does my Shirts

Join the Almaden Library on Thursday, June 19th, 1-2 p.m. for June's selection, the New York Times best seller, Al Capone does my Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko. Imagine growing up in 1935 at Alcatraz, a prison island in San Francisco! This book is funny, fascinating, and refreshing. All adult ESL learners are invited to attend. Ask at the Almaden Library Information Desk if you have any questions, or call 408-808-3040. This event takes place in the Program Room.

Events at the King Library

Sunday, May 18, 2:00 PM - 5:00 PMRooms 225/229, 2nd Floor
Chinese Opera Presentation Featuring Margaret Sze – Reunion of Yang Yanhui and His Family Enjoy the DVD Chinese Opera Presentation featuring Margaret Sze – Reunion of Yang Yanhui and his family. For more information contact: Susana Liu at (408) 808-2088.

Thursday, May 22, 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Children's Room, 1st Floor Studio 150: Lei Day Learn how to make a candy lei and a fabric flower lei. All materials are provided at this free program for children, teens and their families. For information, call (408) 808-2183.

Thursday, May 22, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PMRooms 225/229, 2nd Floor
The Unreleased Beatles: Music and Film
The Unreleased Beatles details the incredible breadth of music the Beatles recorded but did not release, as well as film footage of the group that hasn't been made commercially available. Beatles expert Richie Unterberger examines an array of material, including unreleased studio outtakes, BBC radio recordings from 1962-1965, live concert performances, home demo recordings, fan club Christmas recordings, and other informal demos done outside of EMI studios. The wealth of unreleased gems encompasses The Beatles' entire career, from a recording the Quarrymen made on July 6, 1957 (aka "the day John met Paul"), right up to outtakes from the final sessions of Let It Be in 1970. Also includes a general overview of Beatles bootlegs, their songs recorded by other artists in the 1960's, never-recorded material, and more than 100 photos. Richie Unterberger has been writing about little-known rock and popular music of all kinds for more than 20 years. Copies of The Unreleased Beatles: Music and Film will be available for purchase. Hosted by General Collections. Co-sponsored by Friends of the King Library. For information, call (408) 808-2397.

Saturday, May 24, 1:00 PM - 2:30 PMRoom 255, 2nd Floor
The Art of Flower Arranging
Obtain the basic skills of flower arrangement for different occasions. What are the methods for arranging flowers and how do you select the proper design or color? A professional florist will lecture and demonstrate flower arrangement for a variety of occasions: birthdays, get well, home decor, love, wedding, prom, and graduation. Join the excitement and get answers to your flower arrangement questions! Hosted by General Collections. Co-sponsored by Friends of the King Library. For information, call (408) 808-2393.

“Catch the Reading Bug!” Starts Saturday, June 14th

■ “Catch the Reading Bug!” will be the theme of the 2008 Summer Reading Celebration for children from birth through grade 5 at San José Public Library. A complementary theme, “Metamorphosis @ your library,” invites concurrent teen participation. The entire family is encouraged to sign up and earn credits together for accumulated minutes of reading starting Saturday, June 14. Credits may be cashed in for a fun prize at any one of several milestones, cumulatively representing 30 hours of reading or being read to. Parents may also choose to participate in the adult summer reading program, “Savor the Summer @ your library.” Check our web pages for more information, including special programs scheduled throughout the city. Summer Reading Celebration is co-sponsored by the Friends of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library, Round Table Pizza and the San Jose Mercury News, with additional support from Bay Area Parent™ and other community organizations.

Hand Art Contest--Saturday June 7, 11 a.m.--2 p.m.

Hand Art Contest - Hand Therapy Awareness and Injury Prevention Week
In honor of the Hand Therapy Awareness and Injury Prevention Week (June 9-13), we are please to host a unique hand art contest, which is sponsored by the American Society of Hand Therapist (California Chapter). On the day of the art show, bring your hand art work (may be art work of any medium that features the hands) for display and judging. There will be prizes of $100 dollars for Junior High, $100 for Senior High and $200 for Adult participants.

California and the Civil War

Join the History Book Club on Tuesday, June 3rd, 6:30-7:30 p.m. to discuss California's role during the Civil War. We are reading The California Gold Rush and the Coming of the Civil War by Leonard L. Richards. “Richards, a leading historian of 19th-century America superbly illuminates gold rush California as a land in contention between national pro- and anti-slavery lobbies in the decade leading up to the Civil War.” Tea and cookies will be served. For more information, please call the Almaden Library at 408-808-3040.

Tomatoes, Chilies and Peppers with the Master Gardeners!

You say tomato....Saturday, May 31st

11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Join the Master Gardeners and the Almaden Library for a hands-on workshop on how to grow your best 2008 tomatoes, chilies and peppers. Enjoy having fresh grown fixings for salsa, gazpacho and bruschetta all summer long. For more information, or to sign up, visit the Almaden Library Information Desk or call 408-808-3040. Drop in attendees are also welcome.

Stories Under the Stars

On Friday, May 2 at 8 p.m., the Almaden Library and Community Center (6445 Camden Ave., San Jose) is pleased to host a "Stories Under the Stars" program. This event will feature stories and songs about the wonders of the night sky and will take place in the small amphitheater next to the Almaden Library (please dress warmly and bring blankets). The astronomers from the San Jose Astronomical Association will give a brief presentation at 8:20 p.m. and afterwards everyone will have an opportunity to observe the Moon, Mars, Saturn, a few double stars, and several distant star clusters. The astronomers will stay as long as there are people wanting to view the night sky. Special thanks go to Jim Van Nuland from the San Jose Astronomical Association who helped make this event possible. This event is tailored for families with children ages 6 to 12. For more information please call (408) 808-3040.

Adults--Give us your input!

The San Jose Public Library is seeking to expand and improve the range of programs we offer for adults. Please take a few minutes to let us know areas of interest to you. Click on the link below to take the survey.

http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/survey-intro.zgi?p=WEB227P7KACMJN

Continued discussion for Team of Rivals--Tuesday, May 6th

This month, join the History Book Club on Tuesday, May 6th at 6:30 p.m. as we continue our discussion with part 2 of Doris Kearns Goodwin's work, Team of Rivals: the Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln. In this work, Lincoln's ability to bring disparate groups and men into his presidency and use their talents to hold the country together is exemplified. Tea and cookies will be served. In this work, Lincoln's ability to bring disparate groups and men into his presidency and use their talents to hold the country together is exemplified. Tea and cookies will be served.