March 13, 2008

Check it out!

Vineland Library March events and activities

By Jane Cronkhite, librarian
Special to the Times

Celebrate Norouz, the Persian New Year! Children’s songs; dancing by Ballet Afsaneh; Master Nejad and the youth orchestra; Haft Seen crafts, and much more. It will be a fun time for the whole family on Saturday March 8 at 2 p.m. at the Almaden Library and Community Center.

Join us for a three-week parenting workshop in Spanish. We will cover kindergarten readiness topics such as literature, mathematics and nutrition. Please call Esther Reyes at (408) 269-1664 to register. Child care will be provided for children ages 6 and under, and refreshments will be available for all, Tuesdays March 4, 11, and 18 from 6-8 p.m.

Teens are invited to our improvisation workshop. Learn improvisational skills and comedy from the experts at San Jose’s own ComedySportz! Friday, March 14 at 4 p.m.

Coming in April
April is the Month of the Young Child, and the library will have many events for young children, such as Andrea’s Musical Adventures on Friday, April 4 at 10:30 a.m., Marie Cartusciello, storyteller, on Saturday, April 26 at 11 a.m. and Ready! Set! Play! (date and time to be announced).

Bi-lingual (Spanish and English) Story Time returns on April 8 at 7 p.m.

If you’d like to spend a day in the sunshine, you might want to mark your calendar now for the 20th Annual San Jose Children’s Faire, to be held Saturday, April 26 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Discovery Meadow, downtown San Jose (in front of the Children’s Discovery Museum). “Growing Up Green: Healthy Children, Healthy Families, Healthy Community” is the theme for this year’s event, which features family-oriented stage entertainment, special attractions, and activity booths offering hands-on activities for children, ages 2 to 12, in addition to information about education, child care, health and safety resources, creative arts and recreational programs.

Other special events

- Laughter Yoga returns on Tuesday, March 25 from 6-7 p.m.

- Take a deep breath and relax with our Meditation Workshop for Teens on Saturday, March 15 from 1:30-3 p.m.

- Teens are invited to make a felt cozy for their cell phone or MP3 player on Tuesday, March 4 from 4-5 p.m. All craft materials are provided.

Book clubs

- Saturday Sci-Fi Book Group will meet March 8 at 2 p.m. We will be reading “R.U.R” (Rossum’s Universal Robots) by Karel Capek.

- Adult Mystery Book Club will meet on Wednesday, March 12 at 6:45 p.m. We will be reading “Death in Holy Orders” by P.D. James. All mystery fans are invited to attend the second Wednesday of each month. Visitors are always welcome.

- The Evening Book Discussion Group will meet Tuesday, March 25 at 7 p.m. This month we read “The Gathering” by Anne Enright. We usually meet the third Tuesday of each month. Visitors are always welcome.

- The Morning Book Group meets Thursday, March 20 at 10:15 a.m. “A Time to Run” by Barbara Boxer will be discussed. The group meets the fourth Thursday of each month. Visitors are always welcome.

- Vineland Fantastic Kids’ Book Club: Saturday, March 29 at 2 p.m. Do you like to talk about the books you’ve read? Would you like to make new friends? Then join our book club for children in grades two through five. For March, we’ll each choose our own book to read and share, even Miss Nancy. Refreshments will be provided.

Story times

- Mother Goose Story Time features short rhymes, songs, finger plays and books to create a gentle language enrichment experience to bond children and their caregivers. Mother Goose is for infants-2 year olds and is offered every Thursday at 10:30 a.m.

- Story Time Express is for children of all ages on Wednesdays at 3:30 and Thursdays at 11 a.m.

- Wednesday Preschool Story time for ages 3-5 is at 11:30 a.m.

- Family Story Time is held on Saturdays at 11 a.m.

- Story Time for Twos will be held on Fridays at 10:30 a.m.

- Chinese/English Story Time is on Wednesdays March 5 and 19 at 7 p.m.

Regular events and workshops:

- Yoga will be held on Monday nights at 6 p.m. Come relax with a yoga instructor. There is no charge for yoga. Please bring your own mat.

- Learn to knit or teach someone else at our Knitting Circle. Open to all ages. No charge. Bring your materials. Every Saturday at 4 p.m.

- One on One Internet and Computer Help: The library has knowledgeable, helpful volunteers to assist with specific questions. Call (408) 808-3020 to set up an appointment. For people 16 and older.

- The ESL Conversation Club is held every Tuesday at 1 p.m. This one-hour session is a great way to practice your English and to make friends at the library. No pre-registration required.

- Wii Wednesdays are every Wednesday from 3:30-5 p.m. Teens, come experience the new Nintendo gaming sensation!

- Thursday Thump is a drumming workshop every Thursday afternoon from 4-5 p.m. Learn drumming techniques from an experienced musician!

- Vineland’s Anime Club is for teens grades six and up. Watch new anime episodes and trailers and discuss your favorite manga. Tuesday, March 11 from 3:30-4:30 p.m.

- Monthly Craft for children grades K-6: Friday, March 21 from 4-5 p.m. Get ready for spring with a special craft! All materials will be provided.

Please note, all San Jose Public Library branches will observe holiday closures on March 23, 30 and 31. The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library will be closed only on Monday, March 31.

For news of other library activities, including those at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library, visit: http://www.sjlibrary.org/about/events/.

Vineland Branch Library is located at 1450 Blossom Hill Road. Regular hours are Monday 2 p.m - 7 p.m.; Tues-day–Wednesday 11a.m. - 8 p.m.; Thurs-day–Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sunday 1-5 p.m. For questions, call (408) 808-3000 during business hours. E-mail may be sent at any time: vl.sjpl@sjlibrary.org. Jane Cronkhite is a librarian at the Vineland Branch Library.