|
 Get e-mail updates when this information changes
'LET'S TALK ABOUT IT: JEWISH LITERATURE' SERIES TO BEGIN IN SEPTEMBER
Posted August 27, 2008
"Let's Talk About It: Jewish Literature," a free reading and discussion series, will be held from September through January featuring the theme "Neighbors: The World Next Door." Discussions will take place at two San Diego County Library branches:
La Mesa Community Library
8074 Allison Avenue
Five Wednesdays, 6:30-8 p.m.
Led by Professor June Cummins, SDSU
Vista Library
700 Eucalyptus Avenue
Five Wednesdays, 1-2:30 p.m.
Led by Professor Martha Stoddard-Holmes, CSU-SM
The titles to be discussed are:
To register, please call (858) 694-2416 or e-mail kristen.lowrey@sdcounty.ca.gov
Let's Talk About It: Jewish Literature has been made possible through a grant from Nextbook and the American Library Association. Co-sponsors include Astor Judaica Library, San Diego Agency for Jewish Education, San Diego Public Library and San Diego State University.
For more information about the series, please visit: http://www.thenextbook.org/ala/librl_neighbors.html.
[ Top of Page ]
MEET AUTHOR DON BORCHERT
SATURDAY, AUG 30th
Posted August 6, 2008
Author Don Borchert will speak at the Encinitas Library, 540 Cornish Ave., Saturday, August 30 at 1 p.m., and the Spring Valley Library, 836 Kempton Street, on that date at 3:30 p.m., to share his insights into the wild and colorful experiences of working in a public library. Borchert’s recent memoir, "Free for All: Oddballs, Geeks and Gangstas in the Public Library," has received high praise from critics. According to a fellow public librarian on LibraryThing.com, “Borchert does a great job of making the ups and downs of library work accessible to a crowd that does not often get to see what it's like behind the circulation desk!”
Don Borchert worked as a short-order cook, door-to-door salesman, telemarketer, and Christmas-tree-chopper before landing a job in a California library. He never could have predicted that his encounters with the colorful characters who frequent his Los Angeles-area library would one day fill the pages of a book purchased by libraries and bookstores across the nation. In "Free for All," he offers readers a ringside seat for the unlikely and hilarious spectacle of mayhem and absurdity that is business as usual in a public library.
Publishers Weekly calls the book a "charming tell-all." USA Today reviewer Bob Minzenheimer writes, "'Free for All' aims to do for libraries what Bel Kaufman's 'Up the Down Staircase' did for urban schools in 1965 or what Bill Buford's 'Heat' did for professional cooks in 2006."
Borchert acknowledges that a library can be "dull…91% of the time." Yet he and other public librarians across the country also handle "the other 9%." For instance, he explains that when the local junior high and high schools — both located within a two-block radius of his library — let out for the day, the library is flooded with latchkey kids.
"The four library employees don't have a chance," says Borchert. "It's like trying to take four conscientious adults and put them in charge of crowd control for the French Revolution.
Both events are free to the public. Borchert will have copies of his book available for sale. For more information, please call (858) 694-3833.
[ Top of Page ]
GENO DELAFOSE AND FRENCH ROCKIN’ BOOGIE PERFORM AT POWAY LIBRARY JULY 31st
Posted July 23, 2008
Geno Delafose, called the standard bearer for traditional zydeco music, will bring his high-energy French Rockin' Boogie band to the Poway Library, 13137 Poway Rd, Thursday, July 31, at 7:00 p.m. The free concert is part of the San Diego County Library's World Music & Cultural Arts series. Grammy-nominated for his 2007 CD, "Le Cowboy Creole," the wildly popular accordion player's music draws on old time zydeco, along with other well-known products of Louisiana, including French Creole, blues and country swing. Delafose switches easily from English to French in his songs.
Zydeco is known as a more contemporary form of black Creole music, drawing on the rich cultural influences of the French settlers, the freed African slaves and the rhythms of the Caribbean. The dance music is uptempo, accordion-driven and characterized by the use of the "frottoir," a modern version of the early metal washboard. According to USA Today, Delafose's "hot accordion and the rub-board rhythms of French Rockin' Boogie stay deeply rooted in traditional zydeco sounds."
The son of late zydeco legend John Delafose, Geno has traveled the world to bring a new generation of fans to this infectious music. When not performing, he works his family's cattle and quarter horse ranch in Louisiana, a true Creole cowboy.
The concert will be held in the Poway Library's courtyard. Seating and space for dancing will be provided. Due to the large attendance at the County Library's World Music concerts, the public is welcome to bring beach chairs. Reservations are not required. For more information call (858) 694-2415.
http://www.ritmoartists.com/Geno/delafose.htm
[ Top of Page ]
COUNTY LIBRARY AND LAUBACH LITERACY HOLD ESL TUTOR TRAININGS
Posted July 21, 2008
The San Diego County Library’s L.E.A.R.N. adult literacy program and the San Diego Laubach Literacy Council will host a tutor training for volunteers to teach English as a Second Language (ESL). The sessions will be held at the Poway Community Center, 13904 Civic Center Dr, on two consecutive Saturdays, August 9 and 16, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Participants must attend both sessions. No prior experience is necessary. Potential tutors are asked to call Dr. Charles Ross at (619) 442-1481 or e-mail: intgallery@aol.com to register or for further information.
The training will be led by Catherine Mummert, director of education for the Sylvan Learning Center in Long Beach, and a master tutor trainer for 17 years. Mummert holds credentials in Education and TESOL (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages). Tutors will meet with learners, many of whom are recent immigrants from countries around the globe, one-on-one or in small group settings. Times and locations are at the convenience of all parties, and ESL tutoring sessions are held in many County Library branches.
The L.E.A.R.N./Laubach partnership recently won an Acts of Caring award from the National Association of Counties as one of the nation’s top volunteer programs.
[ Top of Page ]
GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION FOR
NEW LA MESA LIBRARY
Posted July 14, 2008
A grand opening/ribbon cutting ceremony, hosted by the City of La Mesa, will be held at the new La Mesa Library on Friday, July 18th at 10:00 a.m. Additionally, the Library will host a Family Celebration at the library on Saturday, July 19th from 12:00 - 4:00 p.m., with Supervisor Jacob and Director Aponte in attendance for a ribbon cutting ceremony at noon.
[ Top of Page ]
BAKA BEYOND TO PERFORM
AT CARDIFF LIBRARY
World Music Concert Features High-Energy Dance Music
Posted July 2, 2008
Baka Beyond, an internationally-known dance band from England and Africa, will perform at the Cardiff-by-the-Sea Library, 2081 Newcastle Av, Friday, July 25, at 7 p.m. The concert is part of the San Diego County Library’s World Music & Cultural Arts series. Billed as “the original African Celtic crossover band,” the group mixes African and Celtic music in equal measure, creating sounds of the global village.
Baka Beyond consists of musicians from six countries in the Celtic areas of Europe and the West coast of Africa who have joined together in an unlikely fusion of high-energy music. With vocals, dances and instruments from two continents, including guitar, mandolin and fiddle, along with percussion instruments such as the djembe and calabash, the band was playing “world music” before the term became standard. According to Drumbeat Magazine, “Anyone who has witnessed a Baka Beyond live show will testify to the pure, unadulterated high that is evoked by their uplifting yet haunting sound.”
The group was founded in 1992 when British musicians, husband and wife Martin Cradick and Su Hart, visited the Baka Pygmies of the Cameroon rainforests after seeing a television documentary. So inspired were they by the region’s magical rhythms and melodies that they recorded an album, "Spirit of the Forest," under the name Baka Beyond, which pushed the group into worldwide recognition. Not simply a touring band, Baka Beyond members have a unique relationship with their inspiration, the Baka Pygmies, sending royalties to help their development projects, and even touring with Baka musicians.
The free concert will be co-sponsored by the Friends of the Cardiff-by-the-Sea Library, and will take place outdoors in the library’s parking lot. Seating will be available; however, due to the high attendance at the World Music concerts, guests are welcome to bring beach chairs. Reservations are not required. For more information, please call (858) 694-2415.
http://www.bakabeyond.net
[ Top of Page ]
SDCL TO LAUNCH NEW LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION SERVICE THIS SUMMER
Posted July 2, 2008
In a letter dated 9/21/2007, Rosetta Stone notified San Diego County Library (SDCL) that "the company has decided to discontinue access online for public libraries." Rosetta Stone writes that they will honor existing library contracts through their duration; however, they state that "no new contracts will be issued."
SDCL's contract with Rosetta Stone ended on 6/30/2008. SDCL will be launching another language instruction service later this summer. Watch for more information regarding this.
[ Top of Page ]
NEW LA MESA LIBRARY COVERED IN SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE
Posted June 23, 2008
Read the article about the new La Mesa branch library!
[ Top of Page ]
PETER SPRAGUE TO PERFORM AT SAN DIEGO COUNTY LIBRARIES
Posted June 13, 2008
Peter Sprague will perform at various San Diego County Library Branches June 22 through September 28 as part of the World Music & Cultural Arts Series.
For locations, dates and times see the World Music & Cultural Arts Series calendar.
[ Top of Page ]
|
