History Book Club--Punctuation and Manners!

Join the History Book Club Tuesday, March 4th from 6:30-7:30 in a foray outside of the realm of history, and into the world of grammar and manners when we discuss Eats, Shoots & Leaves: the zero tolerance approach to punctuation and Talk to the Hand: the utter bloody rudeness of the world today, or six good reasons to stay home and bolt the door by Lynne Truss. Tea and cookies will be served. For further information, please call (408) 808-3040, or ask at the Information Desk.This event takes place in the Program Room.

Battle of the Bands--March 1st, 2-4 p.m.

Time's running out! Calling all teen musicians! Now's your chance to be heard. Enter online by February 15th for your chance to compete at a live concert on March 1st and win awesome prizes! Almaden Branch Library is honored to host the exciting "Battle of the Bands" play-off on Saturday, March 1, 2-4 p.m. Join us in the large community room and enjoy the musicianship of our remarkable San Jose teen finalists. In order to enter, contestants must submit an entry email to sjplbattleofthebands@gmail.com by February 15th, which must include a link to the band/performer's music on line. For more details get the official rules at the participating branches or call Katherine Buckles at (408) 244-4766. This program is part of the Teen Tech Week.

Friday Feb 29th--Celebrate Dr. Seuss' Birthday!

Help us celebrate Dr. Seuss' birthday! We'll have stories, crafts, prizes, refreshments, and more! Read Across America is an organization that encourages the love of reading and literacy for all children. All ages are welcome. This event takes place from 3-5 p.m.

Got tax questions?--Information on Schedule A and Schedule C Deductions

Do you know what you can deduct? Do you have a 1040? Schedule A or Schedule C deductions? Do you want to use Education Credits? Join the professionals of H&R Block and the Almaden Library to have your questions answered. Please sign up for this free program at the Information Desk, or by phone, (408) 808-3040. Drop-in participants are also welcome to attend. This event takes place in the Program Room on Tuesday, February 26th from 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Meditation for Better Health--Saturday, Feb 23rd

Join us at Almaden Library on Saturday, February 23rd from 1-3 p.m. for a lively, fascinating workshop with an experienced physician/researcher exploring and demonstrating the latest and most astonishing discoveries into the preventative, healing, and pain-relieving effects of meditation. If you want to stay healthy or regain your health, don’t miss this unique workshop. Based on Inner and Outer Peace by Rajinder Singh. Please call (408) 808-3040 to sign up, or visit the Almaden Library Information Desk. Drop-in attendees are also welcome.

King Library--"The Adventures of Eddie Fung"

Tuesday, January 29, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Rooms 225/229, 2nd Floor

The Adventures of Eddie Fung - Slide Show & Talk, Edited by his wife Judy Yung
"The Adventures of Eddie Fung" tells the story of how a Chinatown kid reinvented himself as a Texas cowboy before going overseas with the U.S. Army. On the way to the Philippines, his battalion is captured by the Japanese in Java and sent to Burma to undertake the impossible task of building a railroad through 262 miles of tropical jungle - a project made famous by the film The Bridge on the River Kwai. Working under brutal slave labor conditions, the men completed the railroad in fourteen months at the cost of 12,500 POW and 70,000 Asian civilian lives. Eddie lived to tell how his background helped him to survive captivity as a Japanese POW and how his experiences as the sole Chinese-American member of the most decorated Texan unit of any war all shaped his later life. Ruthanne Lum McCunn, author of God of Luck, describes this book as "a vibrant, compelling portrait of what it means to be a Chinese American, a survivor, a mensch." Hosted by General Collections. Co-sponsored by Friends of the King Library. Book signing follows the program. For more information, call (408) 808-2397.

teensReach meeting--February 1st

Teens (ages 13-18) are invited to participate in our monthly teensReach meeting held in the library’s program room. We are please to have author, Phyllis Mattson as our special guest. Her book is an insightful memoir entitled, War Orphan in San Francisco. Community service credits are given to participating students. Light refreshments are provided by the Friends of the Almaden Library.This event takes place in the Program Room.

History Book Club meets February 5th

Join the History Book Club in discussing volume two of Winston Churchill's writings on the Second World War, Their Finest Hour, which discusses the isolation of Britain in 1940 while Germany was on the offense. Tea and cookies will be served. This event takes place in the Program Room of the Almaden Library. For further information, please call (408) 808-3040, or ask at the Information Desk.This event takes place in the Program Room

Author Bo Caldwell to visit Almaden February 16th

Join the Almaden Library on Saturday, February 16th to hear the Silicon Valley Reads featured author, Bo Caldwell, speaking on her wonderful book, The Distant Land of my Father. Tea and Treats will be served in the Community Room, while Caldwell speaks to the audience. This event is free, and will take place from 3-5 p.m.

ESL Adult Book Club

Yesterday, we had our very first meeting of our all new ESL Book Club! This Book Club is open to all ESL adults who would like to improve their English reading skills, and who would like to spend time with other learners in a fun environment to discuss what they have read. The atmosphere is friendly and informal. So far, our group has eight members, and we have the space for a lot more! Our next meeting is Thursday, February 21st from 1-2 p.m. We will be reading Avi's book, The End of the Beginning: being the adventures of a small snail (and an even smaller ant). To find out more about the Book Club, or to join, call the Almaden Library at 408-808-3040.

teensReach Meeting--Friday, January 11th

Teens (ages 13-18) are invited to participate in our monthly teensReach meeting held in the library's program room on Friday, January 11th, from 4:00-4:45 pm. Community service credits are given to participating students. Light refreshments are provided by the Friends of the Almaden Library.

Voter Education--Tuesday, January 15th, 6:15-7:45

Join the League of Women Voters as they present their nonpartisan voter education tool, SmartVoter.org. During the presentation, they will explain how to use SmartVoter and EasyVoter to obtain information on candidates, issues, and ballot measures. There will also be time for some questions and answers, as well as a description of the key points affecting our community in the February 5th primaries. Tea and cookies will be served. This event takes place in the Program Room of the Almaden Library on Tuesday, January 15th, from 6:15 until 7:45 p.m. For further information, or to express interest in attending, contact the Almaden Library at (408) 808-3040 or sign up at the Information Desk.

Teen GameFest--Friday, Dec 21st

On Friday, December 21, 3:30 – 5 p.m., teens (12-18) are invited to a fun afternoon of board games and PlayStation 2 action (Dance, Dance Revolution, Guitar Hero and Star Wars). This event is held in the library’s program room. Light refreshments will be served courtesy of the Friends of Almaden Library.

December 20th--Basic Internet Class

Thu, Dec 20
10:00 AM - 10:55 AM

Never used the computer before? Have no idea about the World Wide Web? Do you want an email address? Then sign up for our free computer class!

Almaden Branch Library
6445 Camden Ave.
(408) 808-3040

Events at the King Library

Sunday, December 16, 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM Caret Plaza, Patio Area
Friends of the King Library Bag Book Sale
The Friends Group at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Library are having a Holiday Season bag book sale. All the books you can fit into a bag (provided by the Friends) for only $5! The revenues from these sales are donated back to the Library for use in sponsoring a variety of community and literacy projects. For information call (408) 808-2681.

Friday, December 21, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Exploration Room, Mezzanine
Friday Fun: Winter Sing-Along Join us in some winter fun and sing winter songs! Activity hosted by Youth Services. For information, call (408) 808-2183.

Saturday, December 8th--Family Puppet Show

Sat, Dec 8, 3:30 PM - 4:15 PM
P&T Puppets presents The Elves and the Shoemaker.

Kick off the holiday season at the Almaden Branch Library as P&T Puppets presents the beloved Grimm's fairy tale "The Elves and the Shoemaker." Jack Frost, Frosty the Snowman and Jingles the Dwarf will also be on hand to entertain everyone. Fun for the whole family! This event takes place in the Large Community Room.

December 1st--Family Holiday Festival

Councilmember Nancy Pyle cordially invites you to attend her Second Annual Family Holiday Festival & Toys for Tots Gift Drive. The event will take place at the Almaden Community Center on Saturday December 1st, from 1:30-4:00.

Some of the events featured are Holiday Crafts & Activities, a performance from the Castillero Middle School Choir, a storytime from Mr. K. (of the Almaden Library) at 3:00 PM, and a visit from Santa!

Toys for Tots will be collecting any unwrapped toy to give to a child, and the Second Harvest Food Bank will be collecting non-perishable food to help make someone's holiday special. Donations to these two charities will be collected all season long at the Almaden Library and Community Center.

The Almaden Community Center and Almaden Library are located at 6445 Camden Ave. in San Jose. For further information regarding this specific event, you may contact Stephanie Holm at Stephanie.Holm@ sanjoseca.gov, or call 408-535-4982. For more information about the Almaden Library, call 408-808-3040.

Closed Thursday and Friday for Thanksgiving

Happy

Thanksgiving,

everyone!

The Almaden Branch Library will be closed Thursday the 22nd and Friday the 23rd of November. The library will reopen on Saturday the 24th, at 10 am.

Doris Dillon Library Dedication

We had a great turnout for the Doris Dillon Children's Library Dedication. Approximately 150 people showed up, and we were able to hear from members of the community that knew and loved Ms. Dillon. Children's author, Robert San Souci graciously spoke at length about his experiences in learning to write, and becoming an established author. He was very engaging and articulate. The dedication was a great success.

War Memoir Workshop report.

We had a great turnout for the memoir writing workshop today.

Here's the keynote speaker, retired Air Force Major Don Clawson speaking on his war experiences:

Here's Kaye introducing key writing concepts:

Thank you to all the participants for your time and sharing your stories.

Also, here's a video story from one of the participants from today's program, H. Bjerke:
http://www.digiclub.org/sofs/index.php?page_id=17&video_id=204