August 10, 2006

CHECK IT OUT!

Almaden Branch Library offers August features

By Ed Koetitz
Special to the Times

Norman Ng to perform
On Saturday, Aug. 12 at 11 a.m., come and see the amazing magic of Norman Ng. He will dazzle you with his remarkable sleights of hand and mind-boggling magical trickery. Norman Ng has been performing his exciting and unique brand of magic throughout the United States for more than 14 years.

He has performed for thousands of audiences of all ages from the New York Hilton Hotel to the World Famous Magic Castle in Hollywood as well as on hundreds of college campuses and at fairs, festivals and corporate. Ng has also gained national recognition in the magic community. He has performed with and for some of the greatest magicians in the world.  He has won numerous national and international magic awards such as the first place medal at the prestigious Tannen's Magic Academy. 

He was also voted to be a finalist in the Society of American Magicians Centennial Stage Competition held in New York City. This entertaining program is part of the library’s annual Summer Reading Celebration and is funded by a generous grant from the Friends of the San Jose Public Library. This program is held in Almaden’s Community Room B.

Catalog searching class
On Tuesday, Aug. 29, from 3- 4 p.m., the library will offer a Catalog Searching class. Have you ever wondered how to find books about a particular topic? What do location codes mean? What is Links+ anyway? How can I get copies of articles from King Library? Learn the answers to these questions and more at this Catalog Searching class. This event takes place in the library’s tech center.

‘On My Street & In My Neighborhood’ display
During August, the Almaden Branch Library is pleased to host the “On My Street & In My Neighborhood” display. For the past 11 years, the Asian Pacific Fund has sponsored a "Growing Up Asian in America" competition. Students from kindergarten through high school, living in the San Francisco Bay Area are invited to submit art or essay entries on a particular theme.

This year's theme is "On My Street and In My Neighborhood." Savings bonds and merchandise totaling $25,000 were awarded. Half of the 30 winners are from Santa Clara County and San Jose boasts 10 winners! Winning entries, along with the winner's names, are placed on traveling panels, which visit branch libraries from July through December.

Events
- On Friday, Sept. 1, at 4 p.m., teens 13-18 are invited to participate in the monthly Teens Reach meeting held in the library’s program room. The purpose of the group is to provide input on library programming and purchases that are geared for teens. Community service credits are given to participating students. Light refreshments are served.

- Family Story Time will be held Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. in the library’s program room. Barbara Gilbert, Almaden’s children’s librarian, will share fun stories, songs and finger plays geared toward the whole family.

- Preschool Story Time will be held on Fridays at 10:30 a.m. in the library’s program room. “Mr. K” will share stories, finger plays, songs and puppets, for children age 3-5 and their caregivers.

Almaden Branch Library is located at 6445 Camden Avenue. Regular hours are Monday –7 p.m.; Tuesday-Wednesday 11 a.m.- 8 p.m.; and Thursday-Saturday 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. For questions, call (408) 808-3040 during business hours. E-mail may be sent at any time: ab.sjpl@sjlibrary.org.

Ed Koetitz is a youth services librarian at the Almaden Branch Library.