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Come celebrate with us @ Union City Library

April showers bring May flowers, and May has long been a month celebrating abundance.  Do you know that May is the month of:

• Better Sleep Month
• National Good Car Care Month
• National Photo Month
• National Salad Month
• National Egg Month
• National Barbeque Month
• National Bike Month
• National Hepatitis Awareness Month
• National Military Appreciation Month

Now you got the idea.  The list just goes on and on and on….  So, com’ on, the weather is so nice, you can find any reason to celebrate.  Just come to the library and we’ll help you find all the resources to plan your celebrations (activities).

Reader’s Corner @ The Library

You may already be familiar with our catalog at www.aclibrary.org. It is the yellow box on the top right side of our webpage. You may know how to search by title, author, or subject to find the book you like. You probably also know if you find something that your neighbor is also interested in, you must request it (we had 200 requests for Da Vinci Code when it was published and the number kept growing even after we had 50 copies available system wide!) In that case, you need to   click on the request box and enter your name, card # and the branch where you want to pick up the book. Another option is to call us or visit the library for help in ordering any book.

 

If the book is not in our system, it may be available through the LINK +. System.  Link + is a consortium of 43 libraries that allow card holders belonging to one of those systems to borrow circulating books from another. Loan rules depend on the home library of each title.  It’s is a great resource for finding any desirable title that your home library may not carry. The search is very easy from www.aclibrary.org.  Simply click on the box on the top or bottom of the catalog page labeled Link + . One click expands the search automatically over all the existing libraries in the consortium. For example, it may list 10 libraries that have that title.. All you need to do just click on “request this item”  First it will ask you, which library you are affiliated with. After choosing  Alameda County Library, you will need to enter your account information. Then  you will be notified that your request has been processed successfully!

 

However the more important question is what should I read next?

First of all under most titles on the web catalog, there is a box “Reviews and more” that links to short reviews from well known publications like Library journal and Publishers Weekly. These include brief summaries of the story and a short review.

 

 Helpful databases are also only a click away with your Alameda County Library card.  The Novelist data base or the What Do I Read Next data base can be found by clicking on the blue research tab on the top of the web page. Novelist offers a variety of categories like  romance, fantasy, etc under Recommended Reads or Award Winners list. To start looking for a good book, the easiest way is to type in the genre you like in the search window. For example, if one is looking for an award winners romance book type the key words award winners and romance.  The search results may include not only an award winner but also a romance book with an award in the story line.

 

If you have read a title and you enjoyed it, type in the title and the catalog will allow you to see the categories that it is listed under. Then you can pull out a list of books in that same category or categories.

When you find a title, read the description and decide to read that book, you can click on the availability of the title in the library catalog. You can then request it online or call the location you prefer to order the book..

 

Readers’ Corneris another entertaining option for finding a good book. Follow the link from our webpage to an ocean of information

compiled by librarians to introduce you to many different ways that you can find books. It offers an online newsletter sent to your inbox daily, as well as sample chapters from popular books in business, nonfiction and fiction. In Readers’ Corner you also find the list of national and local bestsellers.  Book discussion groups are another way to enjoy reading and in Reader’s Corner you will find several links to different book discussion groups and how to find them in your local community.  The library staff at Newark Branch offer two different book clubs. Check it out under the branch calendar events.

 

One final note- play around with our catalog online or come to the library of your choice to browse the rich collection of fiction including romance, mystery, science fiction/fantasy, short stories, or classics.

Don’t forget to play our summer reading game for adults. The theme this year is Timeless Reads .The game starts June 16^th with weekly prizes of chocolates or coffee. What better companions for a good summer of reading pleasure?

 

Lili Khalili is a member of the reference staff at Union City Library.

This article appeared in the April 16th, 2008 edition of the Tri-City Voice. 

 

Citzenship 101 At The Library

If you are a new American looking for help on the path to U.S. citizenship, the welcome mat is out for you at Alameda County Library. Your free library card gives you access to many study materials designed to help you pass the citizenship test as well as understand the process of becoming a U.S. citizen.

 

If your learning style is visual and you like to work with hard copy books, you can borrow study guides such as Citizenship Made Simple: an easy-to-read-guide to the U.S. citizenship process by Barbara Brooks Kimmel:Next Decade Press, c2006. Study books are also available in Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, and Vietnamese language. Free copies of the 100 sample U.S. history and civics questions that the U.S. government produces are also available at your nearby branch of Alameda County Library.

 

For learners who prefer the emersion method, the Library offers many choices including bilingual videos in Chinese, English, Farsi, Hindi, Korean, Russian, Spanish, and Vietnamese language. These are designed to help the student understand the interview process and gain confidence in preparation for undergoing the actual citizenship interview. For students who would like to improve their English language skills, the Library offers materials in many formats including books on CD, videocassette, audiocassette, and DVD. At the Union City Library these materials are located in the English as a Second Language section right next to the international newspapers and magazines.

 

If you would like to work from home using your Alameda County Library card, you have access to the Learning Express Library from the Library website. At www.aclibrary.org you can point your mouse to the blue research tab then click on articles and databases. Listed there is Test Preparation, click on Learning Express Library. Scroll down and click on U.S. Citizenship History & Civics Review. With your Library Card number you can create a free account and access the online test preparation materials which will help you prepare to pass the oral test for citizenship. You can take the practice test as many times as you want and take as long as you like to work through the test.

 

Another resource offered at the Union City Library on the third Thursday of each month is the free Lawyer in the Library program. An attorney specializing in immigration law is available for a brief consultation from 6-7 p.m. Sign up for a session with the lawyer beginning at 5 p.m. on the day of the program.

 

This article was published in the March 26th edition of the Tri City Voice.

CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS AT THE LIBRARY

Preschool Storytime is designed to help prepare your child for school. In an interesting and fun program, children learn listening and focusing skills, and being part of a group. Every Thursday evening at 7 p.m., from now through June 5, Union City Library staff present a half hour of books, songs, fingerplays and stretches specially chosen for children aged 3 – 5. No registration is required.

 

Registration is required for our English/Mandarin Preschool Storytime, Wednesday mornings at 11:30 a.m. Learn a language and have fun at the same time!

 

May will bring Baby Time, a four week program for parents and children from birth through 15 months old, Wednesday mornings at 10:30 a.m. Registration is required and will begin Monday, May 5^th when the Library opens at 10 a.m. May will also see the return of our popular and exciting Music for Toddlers, Mondays, May 5th, 12th and 19^th at 10:30 a.m. No registration for this program.

 

Teach Me Art School & Studio will host a family art event for children in grades 1 through 5 to celebrate Children’s Book Week. Parents and children may create and decorate a handmade accordion book. All supplies and instruction will be provided. Attendance is limited and registration is necessary. There will be two sessions: 1:30 - 2:30 and 3:30 - 4:30.

 

So call soon to one of the Children’s librarians, Patricia Ryan [510-745-1464 ext. 19] and Dennis Finnegan [510-745-1464 ext. 23] or email pryan@aclibrary.org or dfinnegan@aclibrary.org. We’d love to see you here at the Library!

Union City Students Visit the Library!

The weather is beautiful and just right for a walk or ride to the Union City Library! Parents, talk to your kids! Kids, talk to your teachers! Teachers, call or email the Library today to schedule a visit to the Library. We always have new things to show you. We can help your students get a library card, and find materials for school work and for fun. And summer is just around the corner, so everyone will want to hear about all the programs we have planned and this year’s Summer Reading Game, “Catch the Reading Bug!”

 

So call soon to one of the Children’s librarians, Patricia Ryan [510-745-1464 ext. 19] and Dennis Finnegan [510-745-1464 ext. 23] or email pryan@aclibrary.org or dfinnegan@aclibrary.org. We’d love to see you here at the Library!

If you haven’t done so….

You’d better be quick.  The deadline, April 15th, for filing Tax Return is only 2 weeks away.  Have you had all the papers and documents ready and/or filed the Tax Returns yet?  Union City Library is one of the few libraries that are still having the paper forms and schedules for you.  Couldn’t find the forms you need?  Come to the library to pick one, or make a copy.  Need tax assistance?  We are having the AARP senior assistance program every Monday since February.  It is such a popular program with high demand that there is no space left right at this moment; but don’t worry, come to the library, and we will refer you to other community resource agencies that can help you. 

Just like voting, filing the tax return is another responsibility of the proud US residents.

Poetry @ Library

Love&Yearning

April is the national poetry month . Let’s celebrate that with becoming poetic. I remember when I was in graduate school working and studying in the library most of the time. One late night I started watching people going upstairs and downstairs, between catalog computer and the stacks. I noticed there were sometimes 10 trips  or more to find a useful book to write a paper or to define a dissertation. There was a sudden feeling running through my mind and became words. To visualize what I was witnessing , in honor of national poetry month, I like to share those words here.

Books,

Books,

Books,

I work in the library

My library is  a hundred years old

With lots of glasses to the sky

With curve ceiling , all around

Patient, Standing, Living with love

Teaching, Talking to everyone:

Let them grow

at own pace, and never never

talking about I

I saw people in the library

looking everywhere, searching everywhere

going up the stairs, down to the basement

looking for the meaning of love

opening  the books

copying every possible image

reading the latest magazine

searching the computer; finishing the search by a smile or a cry!

Becoming certain of definition , defining in new ways.

I saw people coming back again, looking everywhere

going up the stairs , down to the basement

looking for the meaning of ….but

never realizing the meaning is not written any where , it has not been defined . The meaning is not the meaning at all.

The love is the library,

Stands there hundred years , to teach.

Nashville, TN    1989

Bilingual Folktale Time is Here @ UCY!

The new English/Mandarin Folktale Time launched on 3/7/08; and will run every Friday afternoon in March.  This storytime is designed for children in Kindergarten through 3^rd grade.  The goal of this program is introducing the Chinese culture to children in this age group.  The storytime contains songs and games; and is put together by our SUPER high school volunteers who came to the States from China several years ago.   Union City library is proud of being the bridge among different communities.  Together we make a perfect place for the community to come, share, and learn from each other’s culture and background.folktale-time-005.jpg

Why are we locking our restrooms?

If you are a regular visitor to the Union City Library you may be wondering why we have recently locked the public restrooms.  As you may have suspected, it’s because there was a rash of recent vandalism which caused us to install locks on the restroom doors.  This unfortunate situation is costing the County, City and the taxpayers valuable resources which we would much rather use for more library materials. We are really sorry if this has caused any inconvience to our loyal library users, and we hope you understand our need to keep the Library nice for everyone. What do you think about the problem of graffiti and other types of vandalism which seems to be on the rise in many  communities?