Summer Read SF 2011 ends July 30

It is not too late to log your hours or to come to the library to pick up your reading prizes for this year's Summer Reading program!

Join Summer Read S.F. 2011, June 1-July 30

Power Your Mind: READ!

This year's Summer Read is one program for all ages! Join online or at the library, read and win prizes!

SIGN UP beginning June 1st at any neighborhood San Francisco Public Library or bookmobile or online from home by visiting sfpl.org. Sign up your whole family or group but please note that each person may only sign up once.

VISIT YOUR LIBRARY often to check out books and other materials and to attend the many programs and events for all ages.

READ! Record the time you spend reading on your online record or at your library. There will be one grand prize for children who read for 10 hours; teens who read for 30 hours and adults who read for 40 hours. And everybody who reads for 40 hours from June 1 to July 31 has a chance to enter our citywide Super Raffle!

For more information, ask your librarians or visit the Summer Reading page on sfpl.org.

Adult Summer Reading - The Results Are In!

As you know, the Adult Summer Reading Program this year was a competition between the Bayside branches and the Oceanside branches about which side would read the most books this summer.

And the winner is... Bayside with 2140 books read this summer! The Oceanside was not far behind with 1917 books read.

Chinatown Branch, being one of the Bayside branches, is among the winners. A big thank you to all the patrons that have participated in the program this year!

Book reviews have been posted on this blog and on the SFPL website (http://www.sfpl.org/index.php?pg=2000277401). Take a look if you are looking for a good book to read!

Chinese Calligraphy & Ink Brush Painting demonstration, Saturday, July 24, 2:30-4pm

Performers will demonstrate the art of Chinese calligraphy and make shrimp illustrations in the style of Chinese ink painting.

This program will be in Cantonese and Mandarin; English translation will be provided if needed.

This program is part of our Adult Summer Reading program this summer. If you would like to participate in the Adult Summer Reading program, please sign up at your branch.

Adult Summer Reading - Patrons Recommend

"City of Refuge" by Tom Piazza

I had to keep reminding myself that this is a work of fiction because the writing is so real and personal, it reads like a first-person accounting of events. The story begins a few days before Hurricane Katrina hits New Orleans and takes us through the storm and its aftermath. Not surprisingly, we see how poverty and neighborhood have everything to do with how people survived - those with cars and money had a way to evacuate and those without resources were stranded. The writer makes you feel the devastation all around and leaves you with a sense of grief for the people of New Orleans.

Do you have a book recommendation of your own? Leave a comment on this blog or join the Adult Summer Reading program at your branch library and fill out a Book Review form in paper or online!

Adult Summer Reading - Patrons Recommend

"The Year Before the Flood" by Ned Sublette

Ned Sublette's passion is researching and writing about the music of Africa, Cuba & New Orleans, and in 2004-2005 he had received a fellowship to come to Tulane University in New Orleans to do just that. This book traces the origins and connections of that music, but the author digs deep into the culture, history, racism, violence and crime in New Orleans and searches for explanations about how and why the Katrina emergency (before and after) was handled so badly. This book doesn't just raise questions; it provides very complete, honest answers.

Adult Summer Reading - Patrons Recommend

"Tide Running" by Oonya Kempadoo

This book takes place on the Caribbean island of Tobago, so water is a constant presence, literally surrounding the characters and always within their sight. The action all centers around Cliff, who lives with his mother, brother and sister in very modest circumstances and his interaction with Peter & Bella, a wealthy married couple who live with their son in a luxurious home. The family becomes friendly with Cliff, allowing him into their home and their lives.

This would be a great book for a book discussion group because it raises so many questions about being open and trusting versus the wisdom of putting too much temptation in front of someone who has lead a very deprived life.

Adult Summer Reading - Patrons Recommend

Still looking for a summer read? Here is a review of "An Embarrassment of Mangoes" by Ann Vanderhoof written by one of your fellow patrons.

Many people dream of leaving their jobs and their daily lives and embarking on a wild adventure, but in "An Embarrassment of Mangoes" Ann and Steve Vanderhoof take readers along on their 2-year, 7000 mile voyage aboard their 42-foot sailboat, as they make their way from their home in Canada to their final destination of the Caribbean island of Grenada. The excitement of the voyage itself, as well as the fun & experience of getting to visit 47 islands make this a wonderful book to read this summer. Ann has included several recipes native to the various islands they visited.

Want more recommendations? Check out the Adult Summer Reading reading lists or ask your librarian for help. And don't forget to sign up for the Adult Summer Reading and let us know how many books you have read this summer!

Paper Marbling, June 22, 3-4:30 pm

Jamie Chan from Urban Fauna Studio will teach Suminagashi - the ancient Japanese technique of paper marbling with inks and water. Participants can try their hand at a couple of different techniques in Suminagashi marbling on heavy-weight papers. Once they are dry, these marbled papers can be used for collage, scrap booking or just framed as an art piece!

All materials supplied; attendance limited to 20 people. Please contact Chinatown Branch to sign-up.

The photo shows some examples of Suminagashi made at the workshop at Glen Park Branch.

Adult Summer Reading - Dive Into A Good Book, June 4-July 31

Summer Reading is not just for kids and teens any longer! This year, join other adults in a friendly challenge about which side of town will read the most books this summer.

Simply go to your branch to sign up for the program and check off one box in the sign-up binder at your branch for each book read (or audiobooks listened to). Your branch will tally up the number of books read at the branch each week and enter the numbers in the competition between the Oceanside (West) and Bayside (East) branches.

You can also submit reviews of books online or in person at your branch. Your reviews may get selected for display either at your branch or on the library's website.

Make sure to check the adult summer reading page for reading suggestions, water-themed programs at different libraries and suggested water-related activities outside the library.