Saturday, December 30, 2006

Bayview Teen events in the New Year

Happy New Year, y'all! So much is starting to go on here at the Bayview Library. Here's the update:

Thursdays 4:30-6:30: WritersCorps poetry workshop

Bring in your poems, rhymes, and whatnot, or come to see what it's all about. Introduce yourself to Beto, the poet who's leading the group.

Last Saturday of every month 2:00-3:00: Comics Club

Whether you like manga and anime, graphic novels, superheroes, strips, indie, or webcomics, this club could be the place for you. Come hang out for snacks and free stuff. January meets Sat. the 27th.

Art work due Feb. 9

Bring it to me at the library, or send me a message. We need your art to go on our walls here at the library. Deadline Feb. 9th for March exhibit.

Bayview Teen Advisory Council starting up

You care about the library and want to help make it better for youth! Maybe you need volunteer hours, experience for your resume or college app, or you want to make a difference in your community. Come see me at the library and pick up an application. We will start meeting monthly in Jan., time and date to be announced.

If you've read this far, send me (Wendy) a comment and win a prize!

Friday, December 22, 2006

New book reviews and a poem from the Chinatown crowd

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
Reviewed by Ashley Tan

Can human beings really see God? Their Eyes Were Watching God is written by Zora Neale Hurston. It talks about an African-American woman named Janie. She married three different men: Logan, Joe and Tea Cake. Logan was already 60 years old, but Janie was only 17 when she married him. She believed that marriage does equal love. But she was totally wrong. Logan just forces her to work on the farm, but that's not the definition of love in Janie's mind. However, when Joe Starks appeared, she knew that Joe was going to give her a better life, and she might find love between them. With that romantic dream, Janie ran away with Joe to another place to begin their new life. But after a few years, Joe changed, he became a violent person, and treated Janie badly. Janie realized her dream was going to disappear sooner or later. After Joe died, Janie met Tea Cake, who was only 34, but Janie was 47 years old. They did not care about what the porch people said, they trusted their love could beat out the problems and gain their peaceful life. Tea Cake really loved Janie more than anyone else. He could do everything for Janie. Janie thought her love really came. But God is not always fair, Tea Cake was killed by Janie..... Janie wouldn't feel lonely because she knew that their love would last forever.She was looking at the horizon, just like her dream, never reached...


Strange tales of Liaozhai edited & translated by C C Low & Associates
Reviewd by Mona Zhao

I love reading, and when I say that I love reading, I mean I love words. My love for reading had been there ever since the day I learnt my name. I read a wide variety of books, from comic to reading the little quote on the calendar. I am an Asian-American; my desire for reading became a push of learning my culture and my language. In other words, I started to learn Chinese when I was nine because I saw a lot of Chinese books in the public library that I couldn’t read. By looking at the pictures I was able to predict parts of the story but that was it. But enough of how and why I learnt Chinese, I learnt Chinese, I am proud of myself, but most of all, I read a book in Chinese that changed my life!
The book that is an all time classic is called Strange tales of Liaozhai / [edited & translated by C C Low & Associates]. It is in both Chinese and English version, and it is available in the public library. But I have known this book ever since I was a kid, I just never took the time to read it and understand it. This book was written in China by a famous writer named Pu, SongLing in the 1600’s. This book he wrote was a collection of short stories. These short stories are mostly spine-tingling and mind-boggling stories of those days and nowadays. This book’s short stories can not only entertain you, but also it contains themes like relationships between people and it also reflects what sort of society of China was in that era. One of my favorite short stories in there is about a man who meets this beautiful girl, but she turns out to be a blood-sucking demon! Well, of course I wouldn’t tell you what happens next because you got to read it yourself!


The Storyteller's Daughter by Cameron Dokey
Reviewed by: Huiting Gao

A retelling of the classic story "One Thousand and One Nights," or the "Arabian Nights," this book talks about how Shahrazad saved her own life by telling the king Shahrayar 1001 stories before going to bed. Telling a story every night but never finishing, she prolonged her life and ensured the safety of the kingdom's womanhood. Although everyone knows the story, the author added lovely twists that will leave your heart wanting more of Shahrayar and Shahrazad love. This is a very powerful novel, spoken in subtlety and gentleness, and the language woven in the cloth of love moves people in so many ways. From this book, I learned that no matter what kind of person you are, may you be a millionaire or a blind person, a deaf person or an artist, someone will always look up to you.


"Christmas Tree. San Francisco"
A Poem by Kristin Fong

It's cold.
It's raining.
It doesn't snow.
We live in San Francisco.
No I live in San Francisco.
Why doesn't it snow?
I see Christmas lights.
I see Christmas trees.
Are they real?
Are they fake?
Tourist flood the streets.
Of downtown.
They flood the streets.
Merry Christmas.
But wait, it isn't Christmas yet.

Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Bayview Comics & Manga club




The new Bayview manga club is meeting at the Bayview Library this Saturday Dec. 23 at 2 p.m. in the Meeting Room. Snacks and free manga prizes.

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Enter your poem to win!

Do you live in the BayviewHunters Point, Visitacion Valley, Potrero, or Portola neighborhoods, otherwise known as San Francisco's District 10? Do you write poems? Do you dream of fame and a little fortune?

If you answered yes to all of these questions, enter your poems in the Poets Eleven District 10 poetry competition.

Fame? If you win, you read your poem as one of 3 featured readers at the Poets Eleven District 10 Event, to be held at the Bayview Branch Library on Wed. Dec. 13th from 6-7:30 pm. You also get published with winners from the other city districts.

A little fortune? You win $50, a plaque, plus a little something else from the city's very own Poet Laureate, Jack Hirschman.

Hurry, because the entry deadline is Wed. Dec. 6. Email your poems to: poets11@friendssfpl.org


Questions or more info? Contact Teen Librarian Wendy at 355-5757, wkramer@sfpl.org, or AIM screen name wde3de3.

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Make Your Own 2007 Calendar

D.I.Y (Do It Yourself) Calendar

Are you tired of never knowing what the date is? Did you wake up this morning and still think it is October? Maybe you need a quick gift for a friend? well, a CALENDAR is the answer!

Use paint, paper, markers, and much much more (so much more I don't have the space to fit it all in) to Customize and Decorate a COMPACT CALENDAR that fits snuggly in a CD Case! Then topped off with a customized magnet! Hang it in your locker, on the fridge or just give it as a gift!

Tuesday, December 5th
3:30-5:30pm

Parkside Branch
1200 Taraval ST
(415)355-5770
for more info contact: kolson@sfpl.org

Tuesday December 12th
4:00-6:00pm

Excelsior Branch
4400 Mission ST
(415)355-2868
for more info: dscappaticci@sfpl.org

Monday, November 20, 2006

Homework is Boring!

Face it, homework can be a real bore. Now, I am not advocating for teens to abandon homework though I do want to acknowledge that there are often more exciting things to do with one's time.

That said, I thought I would share some resources that can make homework a bit easier.


The Dog Ate My Homework: And 1,001 Even Better Excuses to Get Out of School, Avoid the Doctor and Every Other Situation.

Everyone forgets to do their homework, and often waits until the last minute to think of an excuse to tell the teacher. Don't wait till the last minute to make an excuse, prepare your solid as stone "excuse" ahead of time. Now I know what you must be thinking, "this sounds like homework, preparing my excuse ahead of time?" Well, it is not homework, it is "preparedness"! So take time some time today to get all those excuses in order, because you never know when you will forget to do your homework.






Thursday, November 02, 2006

Do you love a good poem?

Have you tried your hand at writing poetry? Of course you have. So post your poems here! The following is a poem from a local San Francisco teen.

Imperfections
by K. Fong

I see fog and mist outside my window. It's really foggy, but this is innate October weather in San Francisco. It's actually kind of beautiful; in an odd Edward Scissor hands type way. I can see an indistinct outline of the Golden Gate Bridge, with its rusted copper paint and arches. Residential homes are in neat little rows, like dominoes ready to be knocked down. There are many imperfections to some of these houses, some are old, and some are new, some are yellow and some are blue.

Looking for a good poetry book? Well check out the library of course. Have a suggestion? post it here.





New Month....New Reviews

Looking for a book to read? The rain has returned to San Francisco. And that means there will be plenty of hours spent indoors as the rain falls and falls and falls. So why not pick-up a book? Check-out the latest reviews by teens at the Chinatown Branch.


SHOOTER
-Walter Dean Myers

The book Shooter by Walter Dean Myers is a fictional book based on shooting cases that are in high schools. If you look though the newspaper and reviews of high schools in the past year, you can tell that the shooting cases in the schools had gone up a bunch. Shooter really illustrates the point of view of the teenagers in the shooting cases. The book, Shooter, is basically a bunch of interviews that the police did in order to see who and what happened at this school where a shooting case had started. It was a really serious case because of the suicidal behind the case as well. In one of the scenes in the book, the main character was actually writing his name in blood at the walls. There was a series of shootings at the school and a lot of students were harmed in the shoot out. In this event, you can tell that the plan of a couple of kids can create a lot of danger in one school. Shooter shows that cases like these are a serious issue and we have to care about it. I find the book a really fun, but a very emotional book to read as well.
-Jennifer, Chinatown Branch


The Great Gatsby
- F. Scott Fitzgerald


This is the best book I ever read, because from this book, you can see how evil people can be. There are many characters that want only money, the like to show off, everybody cheated with each other and they didn’t even know until the end of the book. Like Gatsby and Daisy love each other, but Daisy married Tom because Tom’s old money. What was worse is Tom like Myrtle, which is Wilson’s wife. They are all dishonest.

I think the ending is pretty good because Gatsby and Myrtle died. It’s good for Tom and Daisy. They probably had a better life without Gatsby and Myrtle.
-Ashley, Chinatown Branch


The Minister's Daughter
-Julie Hearn

The novel, The Minister’s Daughter, by Julie Hearn is intriguing and packs a punch of mystery. The minister’s daughter, Grace, accused the cunning woman’s daughter, Nell, a witch. The novel is set in a time when people are heavily influenced by the Church and punished people who believe otherwise. In a village where witches are condemned, how was Nell supposed to escape the noose of the gallows? And how was Patience supposed to confess the dark secret that she has? The book circles around three characters that conflict each other: Nell, the cunning woman’s daughter; Patience, the simple looking, simple minded sister of Grace; and Grace, the beautiful and the sly daughter of the minister. This is a suspenseful book you wouldn’t want to let go till you finish the book.
-Huiting Rose, Chinatown Branch



The Joy Luck Club
-Amy Tan

Joy Luck Club is a story of four women with different hopes and dreams that come together from a hard life in China in hopes to have a better life in the US. They found each other and became best friends but none of them truly told their own stories about themselves till the very end. They each have children, all Americanized, closed-off from their Chinese cultures because, at the time, it was not important. This book emphasizes in how a Chinese mother’s impact on their Americanized daughters, the assimilation of different cultures that changes their lives, the daughters who wanted freedom to search for who they are and love their life in their own way. The mothers, upon seeing their daughters are reminded of their youth, of how they were similar to their daughters when they were young; always looking for a better life than what their parents had planned out. This book taught me how to be a better person. You would have thought it looks easy but being a Chinese-American is hard. We must understand how to conjoin these two cultures. I must live in the old ways while I must adopt the new. The book showed me the other side of China that I never notice but exists. I never thought of how my mother lived when she was young, how her Chinese culture has impacted me. Other people should read it too because they would know and understand more about us. It teaches how we need to continue to a new world but also not forgetting our history of who we are. Without history we would not exist.
-Mona, Chinatown Branch

Have you read these books? Post your comments. Do you have a book to recommend? Post your comments.

*Wonder why it rains so much in San Francisco this time of year?
check out this book

Weather of the San Francisco Bay region / Harold Gilliam

Friday, October 20, 2006

Come sit in our new chairs at Bayview

Come sit in our brand new chairs! Rock back & forth in them.


Here's Sherry in the red one. Comfy.








Here are two teens, who will remain anonymous, enjoying Japanese comics.





This could be you!!!!!!!!

The Bayview Branch is at:http://sfpl.org/librarylocations/branches/bayview.htm

Friday, October 13, 2006

Everyday is Halloween

October is Halloween time. The holiday is my favorite celebration of the year, though this year I may skip wearing a costume to work. Last year I was the only one dressed in my holiday finest--a cowboy outfit- at the library.
Halloween is more than just costumes and candy! It is also about BOOKS. (well, okay it is a stretch, but there are many great books out there that are perfect Halloween reads)

Deadhouse: Life in a Coroner's Office
by John Temple










Don't read this book after lunch (or dinner or breakfast) like I did. A very gruesome account of working in the coroner's office. Learn why some bodies bloat after death and some shrivel.

Jack the Ripper
by Rosinsky

Follow in the footsteps of Jack the Ripper. A great unsolved mystery of some of the most vicious killings to hit London, England

Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid: The Book of Scary Urban Legends
by Jan Haroid Brunvand

Revisit these classic urban legends. Tell them to a friend or scare yourself late at night...just remember they are legends. Though I do know a guy who has a sister that was the girl that.....

When Plague Strikes: The Black Death, Smallpox, AIDS
by James Cross Giblin


Be Afraid: Tales of Horror
by Edo Van Belkom

A book of short stories that will make you look under the bed and in your closet before going to sleep at night. (and don't forget to peek behind the shower curtain, that is always a good place for someone to hide)

The Creek
by Jennifer Holm


Thirsty
by MT Anderson


Peeps
by Scott Westerfeld

Read this book!

Have you read these books? post your comments. Have a favorite scary book? Post it!

Tuesday, October 03, 2006

Bored With School?

Bored with school? So soon? Well put some excitement back in your life. At the San Francisco Public Library the fun never stops! And I am not talking about books. From airbrushing T-shirts to an opportunity to meet the editors of Shojo Beat Magazine, here at SFPL we provide the cure for a bad case of the school boredoms.

TEEN READ WEEK Passport to Teen Programs
Get active! Travel! Get a passport to teen programs. During Teen Read Week, October 16th to October 21st, pick up your passport at any library branch. Get your passport stamped when you attend a teen library program. Fill in your passport with stamps and turn it in at select locations for a free long-distance calling card!! You'll also be entered in a raffle to win free travel on Sothwest Airlines!
October 15-21, 2006
All library locations
more info: jennifercollins@sfpl.org

The Art of the Tee
restyle and remake a T-shirt into some wearable art
Oct 5th 4-6pm
Fisher Children's Center Main library
more info: raronowitz@sfpl.org

Teen Tuesday: TAG A T-SHIRT
airbrush your tag on a t-shirt. We give you the t-shirt!
Tuesday, Oct. 10, 4-6pm
Excelsior Branch
4400 Mission ST / 355-2868
more info: dscappaticci@sfpl.org

Meet SHOJO BEAT
come and meet the editors of everyones favorite manga magazine
Wednesday, Oct. 11th, 4-5pm
Portola Branch
2450 San Bruno Ave. / 355-5660

Poetry Writing for Teens
a ten-week class for teens. Learn the craft of poetry and share your work with others. Classes taught by WritersCorps.
Wednesdays, October 18- December 20, 4-6pm
3rd Floor Conference room, Main Library
more info: blevine@sfpl.org

Knit Happens! Teen Knitting Club
learn to knit or just hang out with other knitters. We talk, knit and have some fun.
Saturday, Oct. 21, 2-4pm
Children's Creative Center, Main Library, 2nd Floor
more info: blevine@sfpl.org

Through the Eyes of a Mask
Explore the age old mystery of how a mask transforms you into something else. Create a mask
October 21, 1-5pm
Ortega Branch / 355-5700
more info: kolson@sfpl.org

Chinatown Zine
The bilingual online teen zine. Fridays at 3:30pm and saturdays at 1:00pm
Chinatown Branch / 355-2888


Friday, September 29, 2006

Read This Book

Looking for something to read? Of course you are!
The latest reviews from San Francisco teens. Read a good book recently? Post your review.


Monster Garage: How to Customize Damn Near Anything


First of all, I would like to say I am not interested in anything related to cars much less customizing one. However, this book made me appreciate the art of customization.The book is filled with step-by-step guides on how to start customizing complete with photos. As a reader, I can sense the passion as well as effort that was put into making this book. Following this observation, I would like to point out, a book such as this one will have a specific target audience: people with the money, time, as well as passion to customize. At the same time, some of the contents of the book are more broad such as the explanation to how things in a car worked, this may appeal to car owners and drivers.Overall, I highly recommend this book to those who care about the individuality of their car.

by Christina, San Francisco

Fear This Book (not in SFPL collection)
by Jeff Szpirglas

Contrary to the statement "You should not judge a book by its cover" I do.A book's cover initially captures potential readers by appearing appealing to the eye thus inspiring interest. When I first laid eyes on this book I quickly passed judgment, it's a cheesy book until I read the book. The book is filled with lots of interesting facts and information. Even if you are not entertained by the contents of the book you will be by the graphics.Although I was wrong to judge this book by its cover I was right about some of its elements. Its attempt to crack jokes was often pathetic.Overall, I think this book is more appropriate for the lower ages such as middle school rather than high school. Older kids will not stand for its silliness.

Monday, September 25, 2006

BANNED

Banned Books Week September 23rd-30th


The good news: Fewer books are being banned.
The bad news: Folks are still trying to tell people what they can and can't read.

Not familiar with Banned Books Week? Every year the the American Library Association(ALA) and libraries across the nation celebrate Banned Books Week. The idea is to encourage people to fight for their freedom to read. Occasionally you may read about a school or library or community that decides a book is offensive or unfit to read and they try to have the book removed from local libraries and deny folks the Right to Read. The ALA keeps track of this and you can read more about it at www.ala.org

What do you think? Do communities have the right to tell you what books you can and can't read? Do your parents have this right? Is it ever okay to deny someone access to a certain book? Post your comments.

Banned Books Week Teen Contest
Teens, test your knowledge of banned books. During September, correctly guess the titles of five banned books and be entered to win $50 BorderÂ’s books and music gift card. Fill out entry form at the Main Teen Center and participating branch libraries. From September 1st through 30th Main Library, Chinatown, Excelsior, Glen Park, Mission, North Beach, Ocean View, Ortega, Parkside, Portola, Richmond


The following books havechallengedd or banned the most in 2005. Find them at your library and read them. (and then read all the books at your local library, every single book, then ask for more!)

It's Perfectly Normal

Forever
by Judy Blume

The Catcher in the Rye
J.D. Salinger


The Chocolate War
by Robert Cormier

Whale Talk
by Chris Crutcher

What My Mother Doesn't Know
by Sonya Sones


Have you read these books? Post your comments!

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD

Love the library? And want to help? Hate the library and want to make it better? Consider joining the Teen Advisory Council. Help select books and magazine, help plan programs and events and best of all make your voice heard because after all it is your library.

Ask your local teen librarian for details, or stop in to the Main Teen Center.

What is the TEEN ADVISORY COUNCIL?

The San Francisco Public Library Teen Advisory Council is a group of San Francisco high schoolers who want to make the public library a better place for teens. We meet every month at the main library to plan library events such as the talent show, the teen summer read program, and other teen-related programs. We make ideas happen.

We aim to make the library more visible for teenagers, so that they will know about the great free resources we have right here in our city. Each council member is responsible for advertising library programs in our area of the city. We talk to other students about what the library has to offer.

We also want teens to participate in library decisions. We meet with library administrators to let them know what improvements the library can make to invite all teens inside the doors.

When you join the Teen Advisory Council, you agree to learn leadership skills such as sharing your opinions, negotiating with other teens, speaking in public (if you want!), contacting other agencies, applying for special funding (money!!). As teenagers, we can give our input on how money provided by the Friends and Foundation of San Francisco Public Library should be spent. In the past, we’ve successfully started S.A.T. prep workshops, a talent show, film programs, and a DJ skills workshop.

As a Council member, you also get to participate in fun events like the summer reading party and author visits.

If you want your voice to be heard, and you care about the public library, or you want to improve the library, apply for the Teen Advisory Council today!!

Saturday, September 02, 2006

Don't Take My Word For It

Remember all those book reviews you wrote for the Teen Summer Read program? Here is what some San Francisco teens are reading...

The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things
by Carolyn Mackler

This is a book I think many people should read . The book is based on a 15 year old girl who lives in New York City. It's a great book for girls who have thought they were the only imperfections in their perfect families. The book shows the loneliness of a teenager when her best friend moves to Seattle.
Reviewer: Christina

The Circuit: Stories From the Life of a Migrant Child
by Francisco Jimenez

This book is about a Mexican family who came to California illegally. The author, which is also the main character, and his family had to live by picking cotton, grapes, and strawberries for different foreman during different seasons. Kids in this family barely went to school because when they were old enough to attend school, they had to help the family by working. This is a very interesting book because every chapter is a different story.
-L, San Francisco

Have you read these books? Post your comments.

Thursday, August 31, 2006

Forged by Fire

Recently, many teens have been asking for the book Forged by Fire by Sharon M. Draper. It has been a number of years since I read this gripping book and I wondered what spurred a new interest in the title. I soon found out that a local teacher had assigned the book as a summer reading assignment.

"If you don't sit your stinkin' useless butt back down..."
so begins the novel Forged by Fire by Sharon M. Draper


Gerald knows he must survive the abuse of his drug addicted mother; beatings, burnings and verbal abuse. Gerald knows he must survive so he can protect his sister from their mother's cruel boyfriend.

Have you read Forged by Fire? Post your review under "comments"

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

Dancing in September

Shake off the back to school blues with some fun at the library. Yes, I used the words "fun" and "library" in the same sentence. Check-out all these great events and of course be sure to enter the BANNED BOOKS WEEK CONTEST and be eligible to win a $50 Border's Books and Music gift card.

Upcoming Events:

Make a Wire Wrap Bracelet
Teen Tuesday at Excelsior branch:Make a bracelet using wire wrap techniques. All supplies provided. Accessorize your favorite school outfit with a unique bracelet and have all your friends wondering where you got it.
Tuesday September 5
4pm
@Excelsior library 4400 Mission ST
355-2868

Wee wonderful Teen Sewing Workshop
Make an adorable Pointy Kitty! needle and fabric project. Make this cute kitty and always have someone to talk to.
Wednesday September 6
6:30-8:30pm
Presidio Branch
3150 Sacramento ST
355-2801

Flexagons!
Flummox your families and friends, leave them wondering how you made this fantastic Flexagon from only one piece of paper. What is a Flexagon!? A book structure that opens to reveal hidden pages.
Wednesday September 13
3:30-5:30pm
Parkside Branch
355-5770

Altered Books: Making new books from used books
Take an old tired book and make something new! Use glue, paper, paint almost anything to create an Altered Book.
Thursday September 21 3:30pm-5:30pm
Richmond Branch
355-5643

Movies @ the Library
Free movies=Free fun. Told you we put the fun into libraries.
Friday September 22
3:30-5:30pm
Ortega Branch
355-5700
**Film buffs....have a film request? E-mail your requests to kolson@sfpl.org

Tag a T-shirt/ Airbrush art
Airbrush your personal tag or art on a t-shirt. Graffiti that legal! And best of all you keep the shirt. All materials and shirts provided.
Wednesday September 27
4-6pm
Ocean View Library
255-5615

Fun & Funky Book Binding
What can you make with an old flyswatter? Or the sweater you stole from your sister? Or what about that shoe whose mate you lost? MAKE A BOOK OUT OF IT. Learn to make a book from almost anything.
Friday September 29
3-5pm
Portola Branch
355-5660

Welcome Back, STAC
Sunset Teen Advisory Council (STAC) welcomes you to join other SF teens in helping the library. Meet for SNACKS the last Friday of the month. Choose books and plan events!
Friday September 29
4-5:30pm
email kolson@sfpl.org for details

+Did you know that many branches at SFPL have Teen Advisory Councils? Interested in hanging out with other like minded teens and helping the library at the same time. (oh, and there is usually food served)? Contact your local library or the Main Teen Center.

CHINATOWN ZINE
Fridays, September 8,15,22,29
3:30-5:30pm
Saturdays, September 9,16,23,30
1-3pm
Chinatown Branch
http://www.sfpl.org/sfplonline/teen/sfteenzine/english/index.html


Thursday, August 24, 2006

Bluford Booklist

BLUFORD SERIES Booklist

What's it like to be the new kid at school? When does revenge on a bully go to far? What happens when you start to fear your boyfriend? The Bluford Series takes place at Bluford High. Follow the lives of students as they deal with these problems and more; the return of an absent father, troubled home life and daily trials that make high school well...high school. Check out all the titles in the series. AND tell us what you think. POST YOUR REVIEWS.

Lost and Found

A Matter of Trust

Secrets in the Shadows

Someone to Love Me

The Bully

The Gun

Until We Meet Again

Blood is Thicker

Brothers in Arms

Summer of Secrets

The Fallen

Shattered

Search for Safety

At SFPL we are always on the lookout for new series. Have a suggestion? Let us know!

Friday, August 18, 2006

15 Minutes of Fame

"In the future, everyone will be famous for 15 minutes"
-Andy Warhol

Our very own Main Teen Librarian, Betsy Levine, just had 15 minutes of fame! Catch the whole interview with FogFiles own Peter Finch.

http://24.104.40.88/kfog/Fogfileslibraryrocks.mp3

If you get a chance, be sure to visit the Main Library Teen Center. Also, keep an eye out for exciting programs for teens at the Main.

Play that again Sam!

What can be more relaxing than an afternoon concert? Perhaps a free afternoon concert by the Greater Gwent Youth Wind Symphonia at the Main Library Koret Auditorium. Bassoon (perhaps my favorite instrument)

GREATER GWENT YOUTH WIND SYMPHONIA
all the way from Wales, United Kingdom
August 19th at 2pm
Main Library Koret Auditorium

Thursday, August 17, 2006

GRAFFITI VS. STREET ART

That tag on the side of a building; is it vandalism or art? When does graffiti cross from art to vandalism?

Our library is located in a major city and so every day on my way to work I see countless expressions of street art. Huge murals painted in the middle of the night stretch out with bright colors and bold words. But then arriving at work I am confronted with another side of graffiti, Tags. Sprayed across the side of the library are gang tags and when I look down the street all the buildings bear this scar. When does graffiti cross the line? When does graffiti change from street art to vadalism?


GRAFFITI WORLD: Street Art From Five Continents

The Art of Getting Over : Graffiti at the Millennium



GRAFFITO by Michael Walsh

HOW TO DRAW HIP-HOP
by Damion Scott


AutoGraf: New York City's Graffiti Writers
by Peter Sutherland

And coming soon to a library near you.........but don't wait! Put them on HOLD now!

Freight Train Graffiti
by Roger Gastman


Best Of Style File: The Finest of the First 10 Issues

Street Art The Spray Files
by Louis Bou


Blackbook Sessions
by Jorn Stiller


UPCOMING STREET ART EVENTS.......at YOUR library

TAG -a- T-SHIRT

Airbrush a t-shirt with your own tag. All supplies provided, including a shirt.

Ocean View Branch
Wednesday, September 27th at 4pm
345 Randolph St
355-5615

Excelsior Branch
Teen Tuesday, October 10th at 4pm
4400 Mission ST
355-2868

Monday, July 24, 2006

KNIT HAPPENS! @THE LIBRARY

Who can think about sweaters in summer? Or scarves in August? But summer is the perfect time to begin knitting projects so they are ready for winter gift giving. If you don't know how to knit or are looking for a group of people to knit with, then check out San Francisco Public Library.
Knit Happens! Teen Knitting Club
for teens 12-18
Saturday August 26th
2-4pm

If you want to learn to knit or just hang out and knit with other teens, join us! The library will provide supplies to practice on but bring your own yarn and needles to start your own project.
Questions? e-mail Betsy Levine, Teen Librarian, at blevine@sfpl.org

Need some knitting ideas? Check out these books

Teen Knitting Club: Chill Out and Knit
Jennifer Wenger

Knitgrrl: Learn to Knit With 15 Fun and Funky Projects
Shannon Okey

Knitting not your thing? Check out this...

Second-Time Cool: The Art of Chopping up a Sweater
Anna-Stina Linden Ivarsson

Saturday, July 15, 2006

HARRY AND THE POTTERS---CHANGE OF VENUE



Harry and the Potters will perform in Civic Center Plaza. Due to popular demand and one super Teen Librarian, Betsy at the Main, Harry and the Potters will perform in Civic Center Plaza Saturday July 22nd at 2pm.

HARRY AND THE POTTERS will play CIVIC CENTER PLAZA on SATURDAY JULY 22nd at 2pm.

The venue has changed but the band is the same. Harry and the Potters are so popular so fantastic that we had to find a larger venue for the concert. So we thought big, we thought Civic Center Plaza.

Thursday, July 13, 2006

The Simpsons


Summer is re-run season and most of my favorite programs fill the summer TV air-waves with repeats. This is can be good and bad because there are episodes I have missed and episodes that I want to watch again and again. There are also those episodes that I wish I could forget. Unfortunately, there are many episodes of my favorite program from this past season that I want to forget. The Simpsons. I really do love The Simpsons. I love The Simpsons in an unhealthy obsession-like love. The type of obsession that can put you in jail. The Simpsons is THE best program. Heck maybe I feel this way because I grew up watching this animated masterpiece. I have watched the program for 14 years. That is half of my lifetime on this earth (did I just give away my age?). So, when re-runs promise a not so funny episode (yes, there are a few bad episodes, just like everyone has a bad day once in a while) I turn to the next best thing.......The Simpsons books! Yes, The Simpsons are in book form. The books are awesome, they are like watching TV, but in a book form. When I read these Simpsons books on the MUNI, passengers stare at me as I laugh and laugh and hoot and holler. So when you need a TV fix....Read a book, a Simpsons book.

The Simpsons: A Complete Guide to Our Favorite Family

Simpsons Comics A Go-Go

Simpsons Comics Barn Burner

Simpsons Comics. Belly Buster

Simpsons Comics Big Bonanza

Simpsons Comics Extravaganza

Simpsons Comics Madness

Simpsons Comics on Parade

Simpsons Comics Strike Back

Simpsons Comics Wingding

...and many, many more!

Find them at San Francisco Public Library
www.sfpl.org

Wednesday, June 14, 2006

WIZARD ROCK at THE LIBRARY

Back by popular demand for their third sensational summer tour...

Harry and the Potters!


Saturday, July 22, 2006
2-4pm
Koret Auditorium, Main Library


Opening band...Draco and the Malfoys

If you missed the last performance of Harry and the Potters at SFPL, be sure to make it to this show. This band performs some of the best Indie sounds known to man. And, you get to be loud in the library!

Check out their website for more info or look for them on myspace.
http://www.eskimolabs.com/hp/

Have you heard the great sounds of Harry and Potters? Let us know what you think.