art by cecile gambini

AT THE LIBRARY OCTOBER 2006 1

Vol. 37 No. 8October 2006

Coming Up:

Are you reading The Hummingbird’s Daughter yet? Don’t miss out on the many author events and book discussions taking place as San Francisco’s One City One Book citywide book club has people throughout the city reading and talking about this remarkable novel.

Author Luis Alberto Urrea will be all around town this month—engaging in an insightful conversation with San Francisco Chronicle book editor Oscar Villalon on Oct. 11 at the Main Library, reading at the Litquake Lit Crawl, participating in a book discussion at Cody’s Books, joining the Excelsior Branch for a Spanish language event and more.

Bookstores throughout the city are joining in the celebration. Six great independent bookstores—Books Inc., Bird & Beckett Books & Records, City Lights, Cody’s Stockton Street, Green Apple, and Modern Times—are sponsoring the program and donating 10 percent of all proceeds from sales of The Hummingbird’s Daughter during August, September and October to the One City One Book program.

High schools are getting in on the book club action, too. This fall, Urrea will visit high schools throughout the city, including Thurgood Marshall High School and Lowell High School, where he’ll

meet with teens to discuss The Hummingbird’s Daughter.

Pick up a program guide at your local library, visit the Library’s web site at www.sfpl.org/news/ocob/onecity.htm or see page 5 for a complete schedule of events.

Books are available in libraries and local bookstores. A Spanish language version, an eBook, and a downloadable audio book are also available this fall.

One City One Book is sponsored by Friends of the San Francisco Public Library, AT&T, the Wallace Alexander Gerbode Foundation and the Alexander M. & June L. Maisin Foundation. Media sponsors include KPIX CBS 5, KBLX Radio, San Francisco Examiner, KDTV 14 Univision and KFSF 66 TeleFutura.

Launched in 2005, One City One Book is a citywide reading initiative developed to encourage all residents to read and discuss the same book. Readings and discussion groups will be held at various libraries and bookstores throughout San Francisco to inspire conversation about the book.

Litquake, San Francisco’s annual literary festival, will again make stops at the Main Library this year during its nine-day extravaganza, which runs Oct. 6–14.

The Main Library becomes the festival’s ground zero when Off the Richter Scale hits the the scene Oct. 7 and 8. This two-day event will feature some 75 authors giving six- to eight-minute readings. The “who’s who” lineup of Bay Area authors includes Kate Braverman, Barry Gifford, Maxine Hong Kingston, Joshua Braff, San Francisco Poet Laureate Jack Hirschman, Rebecca Solnit, Joe Quirk, Tamin Ansary, James Dallessandro, Kirk Read and others. Readings take place 11 a.m.–5 p.m. on Oct. 7 and 12:30–4:30 p.m. on Oct. 8 in the Koret Auditorium at the Main Library.

Children will also get a slice of the action when Kidquake comes to the Main Library on Oct. 11. A variety of workshops and activities that allow the younger set to meet local authors and illustrators is planned for kids of different ages. This year, Kidquake is primarily geared for school groups, although others are welcome.

An author/illustrator presentation for children ages 5-7 starts at 10 a.m. in the Koret Auditorium at the Main Library, and features Ellisa Haden Guest, award-winning author of the Iris and Walter Early

Reader Series; illustrator Ashley Wolff; and Dashka Slater, whose latest book is titled Firefighters in the Dark. Interactive workshops and activities for children ages 5-7 begin at 11:15 a.m. in the Latino/Hispanic Community Meeting Room at the Main Library. An author/illustrator presentation for children ages 8-10 at 11:15 a.m. in the Koret Auditorium features Rachel Rodriguez, who inspires imagination and artistic impulses with her Through Georgia’s Eyes;

Clair and Monte Montgomery, who roll out their Hubert Invented the Wheel; Terri Farley, author of the Phantom Stallion Series; and Millie Lee with her book, Landed. Interactive workshops for 8- to

10-year-olds begin at 10 a.m. in the Latino/Hispanic Community Meeting Room.

Established in 2002, Litquake was created with the goal of galvanizing the Bay Area’s already thriving literary scene by bringing emerging, mid-career and established local authors together with fans of the written word for nine days of readings, panel discussions, themed events and general literary mayhem.

Kidquake is co-sponsored by Litquake, Children’s Book Press, Tricyle Press and the San Francisco Public Library’s Office of Children and Youth Services.

For more information, go to www.litquake.org.

Vive la France!Two French children’s book illustrators share their workFor the third consecutive year, the Library’s Office of Children and Youth Services is teaming up with the Cultural Services of the Consulate General of France in San Francisco to present the work of exciting young French illustrators to an American audience.

This year, Rebecca Dautremer and Cecile Gambini’s original artwork from their books will be displayed Oct. 6–Nov. 12 outside the Fisher Children’s Center at the Main Library. While they have different styles, the work of both women is fresh, engaging and full of child appeal.

Born in Gap, France in 1971, Dautremer studied at the ENSAD (École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs) in Paris. Her teachers immediately recognized her talent and encouraged her to work as an illustrator for book publisher Gautier-Languereau. She has drawn more than a dozen children’s books for Gautier-Languereau, including Le Géant aux

Oiseaux (The Giant and the Birds), Une Lettre pour Lily la Licorne (A Letter for Lily the Unicorn), Nasreddine and Princesses Oubliées ou Inconnues (The Forgotten and Unknown Princesses).

Gambini was born in Grasse, France and studied art at the École des Beaux-Arts in Aix-en-Provence. She earned a degree from the Arts Décoratifs School in Strasbourg. Gambini has illustrated more than a dozen books. She also co-founded Pavupapri, a small publishing company that handcrafts artists’ books or book objects for adults.

Dautremer and Gambini will present and talk about their work at 2 p.m. on Nov. 4 in the Fisher Children’s Center at the Main Library. The program will be conducted in French with English translation.

One City One Book in Full Swing

Litquake to Shake Up the Main

Art by Rebecca Dautremer

Art by Cecile Gambini

San Francisco Public Library Seeks Unsung HeroesKnow someone in the African American community who unselfishly gives of his or her time and energy to improve the lives of others? Nominate him or her for an Unsung Hero Award. The Library’s Unsung Hero Awards honor those who never receive much publicity or recognition for the truly important work they perform in the black community. Winners will be honored at a ceremony held on Nov. 19 in the Koret Auditorium at the Main Library.

Deadline for submitting nominations is Oct. 31. For more information, please call Linda Brooks-Burton at (415) 355-2851.

NOVEMBER 8Mystery Writer Robert Wilson in conversation with author Cara Black.Main, 6:30–7:30 p.m.

NOVEMBER 9Azar Nafisi, Author of Reading Lolita in Tehran, reads and discusses her work.Main, 6 p.m.

NOVEMBER 14 Poet Reading Poet: Terry Lucas & Peter Sherburn-Zimmer reading from each others’ works.North Beach, 7 p.m

NOVEMBER 29 Literature from the ‘Axis of Evil.’ Bay Area authors read short stories and poetry from anthology of Iranian, Cuban, Syrian and other writers.Main, 6:30 p.m.

The largest building campaign in San Francisco Public Library history is in full swing. We are seeing the fruits of the $106 million bond measure passed in November 2000. The Branch Library Improvement Program (BLIP) will provide the public with seismically safe, accessible and technologically updated city-owned branch libraries in every neighborhood. The program includes renovation of 19 branch libraries, and construction of five new libraries—four of which will replace rented facilities—and a new branch library in Mission Bay.

We voted to renovate and build new branch libraries across the City. It’s happening!

Branch Library Improvement Program (BLIP)

2 OCTOBER 2006 AT THE LIBRARY

Bookmobile Schedule

Marina Location:(Chestnut St. at Buchanan St.)Tuesdays 2:30–5 p.m.Thursdays 2:30–5 p.m.Saturdays 10:30 a.m.–5 p.m.

Noe Valley Location:(665 Elizabeth Street in front of St. Philip’s School)Mondays 10:30 a.m.–1 p.m.Wednesdays 10:30 a.m.–1 p.m.

Sunset Locations:(Sunset Andronico’s Market,1200 Irving St.)Tuesdays 10:30 a.m.–1 p.m.

(18th Ave. between Irving and Judah at the Jefferson School white zone)Wednesdays 2–5 p.m.Saturdays 10:30 a.m.–1 p.m.

West Portal location:(Claremont Blvd. at Allston Way)Tuesdays 3:30–7:30 p.m.Thursdays 10:30 a.m.–5 p.m.Saturdays, 2–5 p.m.

Western Addition:(Post and Steiner streets, near Hamilton Recreation Center)Tuesdays 10:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.Wednesdays 3–7 p.m.Fridays 1–5 p.m.

Hours subject to change; call (415) 557-4343 for updated information.

The Branch Library Improvement Program Bookmobile currently provides services to the Marina, Noe Valley, Sunset, West Portal and Western Addition communities during branch renovations.

Temporary Hours:

Western Addition Branch Library patrons will still have an opportunity to enjoy the library’s fine collections during the branch’s renovation when some of its materials will be moved to two off-site locations.

In order to continue library services to the Western Addition neighborhood, the San Francisco Public Library has partnered with the San Francisco African American Historical and Cultural Society located in the African American Art and Culture Complex to create a temporary Western Addition Reading Center. Starting this month, the Center—located at 762 Fulton St.—will be open five days a week. Please call (415) 557-4353 for hours of operation.

Items from the branch’s general collections, including adult, teen and children’s materials will be housed at the Center. Multimedia materials, such as CDs, DVDs and magazines, will also be available. Library staff will be available to assist the public with signing up and renewing library cards, checking out and reserving materials and other services.

Serving the neighborhood’s Japanese-speaking population, the branch will move selected portions of its large Japanese language collection to the nearby Presidio Branch Library at 3150 Sacramento St., where a new International Languages Collection will open on Oct. 3 on the lower level of the building. Items in the

collection will include popular fiction for adults, picture stories for children and audiovisual materials for all ages. Library staff fluent in Japanese will be available.

Designed to serve as a resource for the entire community, the International Languages Collection will also offer Chinese and Russian language materials after the Richmond Branch closes for renovation at the end of 2006.

Hours of operation are:Tuesdays 11 a.m.–9 p.m.Wednesdays 1–9 p.m.Thursdays 11 a.m.–6 p.m.Fridays 1–6 p.m.Saturdays 10 a.m.–6 p.m.

Western Addition Moves Part of Collection During Renovation

Branches under construction and scheduled opening:■ Sunset – Beginning of 2007■ West Portal – Beginning of 2007■ Marina – Late Spring 2007 ■ Glen Park – Spring 2007■ Noe Valley – Late 2007■ Western Addition – Spring 2008

Next branch slated for renovation in 2006:

■ Richmond

BLIP Update

About 250 library patrons and community members said a temporary goodbye to the Western Addition Branch during a closing party on Aug. 19. During the party, which featured speeches by District 5 Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi and City Librarian Luis Herrera, patrons got a sneak peek at the library’s renovation plans (left), enjoyed face painting and munched on hot dogs. The branch will undergo a major renovation, which is slated for completion in Spring 2008.

Community Bids Temporary Farewell to Western Addition

Part of Western Addition’s Japanese collection will temporarily move to the Presidio Branch.

The African American Historical and Cultural Society at 762 Fulton St. will be the new temporary home to part of Western Addition’s collection.

Branch Library Improvement Program (BLIP)


Exhibitions October 2006Jewett Gallery

*The Migrant Project: Contemporary California Farm Workers/El Proyecto Migratorio: Campesinos Contemporáneos de California Forty photographs by photographer Rick Nahmias documenting lives of current California migrant farm workers across the state, from Sacramento to the border at Calexico. Exhibition is in English/Spanish. “El Proyecto Migratorio” esta traducido en Español para nuestros visitants de habla Hispana. Through Dec. 31. Main, Lower Level, Jewett Gallery. Related Program: see Adults, Thursday, Oct. 26.

Skylight Gallery

*A Journey Shared: Photographs by Horace Bristol/Un Viaje Compartido: Fotografías por Horace BristolThirty-seven images exploring migratory farm life in Cali-fornia during 1937-38 Great Depression. Bristol & novelist John Steinbeck interviewed & photographed migrant workers who inspired characters in The Grapes of Wrath; exhibition organized by the National Steinbeck Center. Exhibition in English/Spanish.“Un Viaje Compartido” esta traducido en español para nuestros visitantes de habla Hispana. Through Dec. 31. Main, 6th Floor, Skylight Gallery. Related Program: see Adults, Thursday, Oct. 26.

Other Exhibition Areas in the Library

Digging Deep: Underneath San Francisco Public LibraryThe current Main Library rests on a Gold Rush era cemetery, and the ruins of the old City Hall destroyed in the 1906 earthquake & fire. The archeological remains pulled from the site tell the story of the early development of the Civic Center area. Through fall. Main, 1st Floor, Grove Street entrance exhibit cases

Queer Titles: Misjudging a Book by its Cover Book Titles like Grandfather Was Queer, published between 1850 & 1950, take on unintentional meanings in the 21st Century; from the collection of playwright/director F. Allen Sawyer. Through Oct. 5. Main, 3rd Floor, James C. Hormel Gay and Lesbian Center

A Place Where Sunflowers Grow Artwork by Felicia Hoshino; inspired by Japanese American Internment Camp Art Schools. Through Oct. 4. Main, 2nd Floor, Fisher Children’s Center

Interpretations Works by local artist Amna Ali; human figures & landscapes explored through drawings, prints & paintings. Through Oct.12. Main, Lower Level, Library Café Display Case

The 40th Anniversary of the Polish Arts and Cultural Foundation Celebrating Polish Contributions to California History Artifacts, documents & photographs. Through Nov. 2. Main, 6th Floor, Skylight Gallery

*Life Around the Town of Pakil, Laguna, PhilippinesRecent photographs by Reggie Macabasco. Through Oct 31. Main, 3rd Floor, Filipino American Center

Spirit of the Sunset Photography by Stan Lipsitz, featur-ing the modern Sunset district. Through Dec. 1. Ortega

Forever Victorious: Artifacts from the Wing Lee Laundry Archaeological Dig Buttons, shoes, bottles and the remnants of opium pipes from the mid-nineteenth century Wing Lee (“Forever Victorious”) Chinese Laundry, discovered in 2001 less than a block away from the Mission Bay Branch Library location. Through June 2007. Mission Bay, Entranceway Display Cases

Nasreddine, Baba Yaga and Bob Robinson French children’s illustrators Rebecca Dautremer & Cecile Gambini display original artwork from their books. Presented by the Cultural Affairs Office of the Consulate General of France in S. F. Oct. 6 through Nov.12. Main, 2nd Floor, Fisher Children’s Center

Sacred Walls: Paintings by the Women Artists of Mithila, India Traditional paintings of figures from nature & myth created by women in Northern India. Oct. 7 through Dec. 7. Main, 3rd Floor, International Center. Related Program: see Adults, Tuesday, Oct. 24.

Seam Local artist Lea Rude creates mixed media paintings inspired by the intersection of art, science & the natural world. Oct.13 through Dec. 14. Main, Lower Level, Library Café Display Case

Labels Twenty-nine original alternative process photo-graphs by artist Bill Travis that question the relationship between external labels & personal identity by upsetting notions of portraiture. Oct. 21 through Jan. 18. Main, 3rd Floor, James C. Hormel Gay and Lesbian Center

Love Shouldn’t Have To Hurt Posters designed by High School student artists, as part of the Asian Pacific Islander Legal Outreach Youth Advisory Council’s 6th Annual Love Shouldn’t Have to Hurt: Domestic/Dating Violence Awareness Poster Contest. Oct. 14 through Dec. 14. Main, 3rd Floor, Chinese Center

*Funded by Friends of the San Francisco Public Library

Indian Women Artists Preserve Ancient ArtColorful paintings by Indian women artists offering a glimpse into the rich world of Hindu legend and folklore will be on display Oct. 7–Dec. 7 in the International Center at the Main Library. The Sacred Walls: Paintings by Women Artists of Mithila, India exhibition features traditional paintings of Hindu women living in villages near the town of Madhubani in northern India. In Madhubani society, women have sole responsibility for preserving and passing down the Mithili painting tradition to their daughters. Their paintings capture seasonal festivals, life cycle events such as marriage and birth, and iconography drawn from cosmology, legends and folklore.

On Oct. 24, exhibition curator Maline Bakshi will present a slide show and lecture on the Mithili

painting tradition. She will also discuss the All-India Handicrafts Board’s efforts to revitalize this ancient tradition after a 1960s drought created an economic crisis in rural India. The lecture begins at 6 p.m. in the Latino/Hispanic Community Meeting Room at the Main Library. For more information, go to www.pinkmango.com.

Life in PakilSan Francisco-based photographer Reggie Macabasco captures the beauty and simple way of life of his hometown of Pakil, Philippines in his exhibition, Life Around the Town of Pakil, Laguna, Philippines. Using a basic digital camera, Macabasco photographed everyday scenes taking place in Pakil, a small town situated at the foot of the Sierra Madre Mountains overlooking Laguna Bay. More than 50 photos are on display, including images of a farmer working the fields, children playing in the water, a man riding a water buffalo, and townspeople taking part in a religious festival. The exhibition is on view through Oct. 31 in the Filipino American Center at the Main Library.

Adults1 Sunday

Open Books: Mary GordonThe Stories of Mary Gordon. Author reading & discussion; includes sale & signing. Main, Koret Auditorium, 1–3 p.m.

3 Tuesday

League of Women Voters of San Francisco Election 2006 Forum Info: www.lwvsf.org or (415) 989-VOTE. Main, Koret Auditorium, 6–7:30 p.m.

4 Wednesday

2006 Fall Preview Lecture on Opera S. F. Opera Guild lecture by Simon Williams on Wagner’s Tristan and Isolde. Main, Koret Auditorium, 12–2 p.m.

Part of the Group: Games that Increase Social Under-standing For deaf participants of all ages. In ASL; request voice interpreting in advance at (415) 557-4434 or fax (415) 557-4531. Main, Latino/His-panic Community Meeting Room, 5:30–7 p.m.

*Noche deTango en la Biblio-teca Central Argentinian mu-sic performance with Marcelo Puig & Seth Asarnow. Main, Koret Auditorium, 6–7:45 p.m.

*Armchair “Walk” of Mission Bay Led by City Guide Rob Spoor. Mission Bay, 6:30–7:30 p.m.

5 Thursday

Immigration & Citizenship Workshop (Conducted in Spanish) Info: (415) 557-4277. Main, Latino Hispanic Commu-nity Meeting Room, 6–7:30 p.m.

Thursday 5, 12, 19 & 26

OWL: Older Writers Labora-tory Poetry workshop for se-niors with Brent Armendinger. Bernal Heights, 1:30–3:30 p.m.

7 Saturday

Deaf Vietnam: A Deaf American’s Journey Lecture by Scott Benson. In ASL; request voice interpreting in advance at (415) 557-4434 or fax (415) 557-4531. Main, Latino/Hispanic Community Meeting Room, 1–3 p.m.

*Guqin: Ancient Chinese Mu-sic Lecture & and performance by Yiming Li of the Guqin Society. Main, Latino/Hispanic Community Meeting Room, 4–5 p.m.

Origami Club All ages wel-come. Bernal Heights, 2 p.m.

*Chinese and International Chess Tournament Prelimi-nary Playoffs Info: (415) 355-2888. Chinatown, 1–5 p.m.

*The Sit-Down Readers’ Theatre presents The Boys from Syracuse Reading of Rodgers & Hart musical; participation encouraged. North Beach, 2 p.m.

Litquake 2006: Off the Richter Scale Nine-day festival features readings by 75 authors, plus graphic work presentations. Info: www.litquake.org. Main, Koret Auditorium, 11 a.m.–5 p.m.

SeniorNet WorkshopIntroduction to computers for seniors. Chinatown, 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

8 Sunday

Litquake 2006: Off the Richter Scale Nine-day festival features

readings by 75 authors, plus graphic work presentations. Info: www.litquake.org. Main, Koret Auditorium, 12:30–4:30 p.m.

10 Tuesday


Lonely Planet’s Guide to Vietnam With author Wendy Yanagihara. Main, Latino/His-panic Community Meeting Room, 6:30–7:30 p.m.

*The Radar Salon Series: Gossip, Conversation and Revelations Michelle Tea hosts Bucky Sinister & Mattilda a.k.a. Matt Bernstein Sycamore. Eureka Valley, 7–8:30 p.m.

11 Wednesday

*The 29th Annual Poetry Recital Hosted by Larry Ware; features Bay Area poets, open mic & refreshments; video-taped for Cable Channel 29. Bayview, 6–8 p.m.

*Richie Unterberger’s Rare Rock and Roll Film ClipsAll welcome. Park, 7–9 p.m.

12 Thursday

This I Believe Jay Allison & invited personalities read selections from new anthol-ogy. Main, Koret Auditorium, 6:30–7:30 p.m.

Community Services for the Family Workshop (Con-ducted in Spanish) Info: (415) 557-4277. Main, Latino Hispanic Community Meeting Room, 6–7:30 p.m.

14 Saturday

Legal Advice & Referral Clinic Free attorney consulta-tion. Info: (415) 989-1616. Main, Latino/Hispanic Community Meeting Room, 10:30 a.m.–3 p.m. (Signup period: 10:30 a.m.–12 noon)

Korean Film ProgramWelcome to Dongmakgol (2005, 133 min.) In Korean with English subtitles. Main, Koret Auditorium, 2–4 p.m.

*Chinese and International Chess Tournament Final Playoffs Info: (415) 355-2888. Chinatown, 1–5 p.m.

*Spending the HolidaysLiz Scotta offers tips on do-ing more for less during the holidays. Golden Gate Valley, 2–3 p.m.

*La Familia Peña-Govea: Latin Beat Features traditional Mexican, Tex-Mex & Colombi-an music. Mission Bay, 2–3 p.m.

17 Tuesday

*Conversations in Queer America: Combating the War on Freedom Panelists discuss queer political activism; pro-gram taped live. Main, Koret Auditorium, 5–8 p.m.

Radar Reading Features Adrian Shirk, Len Plass, Ellen Forney & Andrea Lawlor; hosted by Michelle Tea. Main, Latino/Hispanic Community Meeting Room, 6–7:30 p.m.

*Poets Eleven Monthly Poetry Winner Readings (District 9) For poetry submis-sion info for other districts: e-mail [email protected].

or www.friendssfpl.org. Mission, 7–8:30 p.m.

*The North Coast Review Second Issue Celebration: A Poetry Event Readings by edi-tor Vince Storti & contributors. North Beach, 7 p.m.

18 Wednesday

ITVS Community Cinema: Democracy on Deadline: The Global Struggle for an Inde-pendent Press. Main, Koret Auditorium, 6–8 p.m.

*Filipino Bimonthly Bilingual Book Club Features author Meriam Baniel Dela Cruz reading from Featherstitch: A Filipino Immigrant’s True Story. Main, Latino/Hispanic Commu-nity Meeting Room, 5 p.m.

21 Saturday

*San Francisco’s Chinatown: A Slide Talk by Author & Historian Judy Yung Main Latino/Hispanic Community Meeting Room, 2–4 p.m.

24 Tuesday


*Sacred Walls: Paintings by the Women Artists of Mithila, India Lecture. Info: www.pink-mango.com. Main, Latino/His-panic Community Meeting Room, 6–7:45 p.m. Related Exhibition: see Exhibitions.

*Thoughts That Breathe: Poets Richard Hack and Victor Martinez Read North Beach, 7 p.m.

25 Wednesday

2006 Fall Preview Lecture on Opera S. F. Opera Guild lecture by Erie Mills on Rossini’s, The Barber of Seville. Main, Koret Auditorium, 12–2 p.m.

*Bailes Folclóricos de México (Folk Dances from Mexico) Info: Alvaro Sanabria at (415) 557-4430. Main, Koret Audito-rium, 6–7:30 p.m.

* Developing Minds – Getting Organized and Having Good Work Habits Video program focusing on students’ com-mon organizational problems. Main, Latino/Hispanic Commu-nity Meeting Room, 4–6 p.m.

26 Thursday

*Migrant Writers Publisher Malcolm Margolin moderates discussion with writers Gerald Haslam, Roxanne Dunbar Ortiz, Francisco Jimenez & Rose Castillo Guilbault. Main, Koret Auditorium, 6–7:30 p.m. Related Exhibitions: see Exhibitions.

Education, Job Training and Employment Workshop (Conducted in Spanish) Info: (415) 557-4277. Main, Latino Hispanic Community Room, 6–7:30 p.m.

28 Saturday

Korean Film Program The President’s Barber (2004, 116 min.) In Korean with English subtitles. Main, Koret Audito-rium, 2–4 p.m.

San Francisco’s Chinatown Slide talk by author & histo-rian Judy Yung. Presented in English; includes book signing. Refreshments. Chinatown, 2:30-4 p.m.

October 2006

4 OCTOBER 2006 AT THE LIBRARY *Funded by Friends of the San Francisco Public Library

This Month’s Pick:

The Devil’s Highway, by Luis Alberto Urrea

In May 2001, a group of men attempted to cross the border into the desert of southern Arizona through the deadliest region of the continent, a place called the Devil’s Highway. Twenty-six men entered a harsh and desolate wasteland that even the Border Patrol is afraid to cross. The days are so hot that dead bodies naturally mummify almost immediately. Of the 26 men who ventured across the Devil’s Highway that May, only 12 returned.

Author Luis Alberto Urrea tells the real-life story of this modern-day odyssey in The Devil’s Highway, where the poor fall prey to dreams of a better life and the sinister promises of smugglers. Urrea writes about the men who decide to make the crossing along the Devil’s Highway and, on the other side of the border, the men who are ready to prevent them from reaching their destination. Urrea reveals what happened when the 26 men headed into the desert, and how they were brutally betrayed by the one man they had trusted most. He describes a landscape of cactus spines, labyrinths of sand, mountains shaped like the teeth of a shark, and a screaming sun so intense that even at midnight the temperature had only dropped to 97 degrees. And yet, the men would not give up.

The Devil’s Highway won the 2004 Lannan Literary Award and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and the Pacific Rim Kiriyama Prize. The nation-al bestseller was also named a best book of the year by the Los Angeles Times, Miami Herald, Chicago Tribune, and Kansas City Star among others.

For On the Same Page, the Library has purchased the 2005 paperback edition of The Devil’s Highway: A True Story, published by Back Bay Books.

This month’s On the Same Page pick was selected to coincide with the Library’s presentation of The Migrant Project: Contemporary Califor-nia Farm Workers, a photojournalistic exhibition detailing the lives and struggles of California’s migrant farm workers. The exhibition is on view in the Jewett Gallery at the Main Library through Dec. 31. For more in-formation, see Exhibitions, Page 3.

The goal of the On the Same Page: San Francisco Reads reading program is to encourage the reading and discussion of a single book throughout San Francisco. For more information, please visit: www.sfpl.org/news/sanfranreads/sfreads.htm.

Explore Mission Bay—Without Taking a Step!Join San Francisco City Guides volunteer Rob Spoor on a casual “stroll” through the Mission Bay neighborhood—from the comfort of your chair at the new Mission Bay Branch Library at 6:30 p.m. on Oct.4.

Part of City Guides’ October Neighborhood Walks, the “Armchair Walk” incorporates Spoor’s own photos, as well as pictures from the Library’s San Francisco Historical Photograph Collection, to explore the history and development of Mission Bay. Discover the changing uses of the bay; evolving from a food source for native people to a commercial area crisscrossed by wharves and rail lines and the largest post-1906 earthquake and fire construction project in San Francisco.

The event is sponsored by City Guides, a program of the San Francisco Public Library, and is a project of the Tides Center.

4 Wednesday

Sunset Branch Monthly Book Club Selec-tion: Bee Season by Myla Goldberg. Café Kaleo Upstairs Room, 1340 Irving Street (between 14th and 15th Aves.) 7 p.m.

25 Wednesday

Rincon Literario Book discussion in Spanish. Info in Spanish: http://sfpl.org/spanish/news/rinconlit.htm. Main, 3rdFloor Conference Room, 6–7:30 p.m.

Book Discussion Group All welcome. Eureka Valley, 7:30 p.m.

26 Thursday

Book Discussion Club Selection: The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene. Bernal Heights, 4 p.m.

28 Saturday

San Francisco Russian Bibliophiles Book discussion in Russian. Main, Latino/Hispanic Community Meeting Room, 2–4 p.m.

Book Groups

All Latin American events are being held in celebration of Latino/Hispanic Heritage Month.

Events and Happenings

Business CounselingWednesdays 4, 11, 18 & 25

Service Corps of Retired Executives (S.C.O.R.E) Free Business CounselingAppointments: (415) 744-6827. Main, 4th Floor, Business, Sci-ence & Technology Depart-ment, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.

Computer ClassesMost classes require proficien-cy in basic keyboard skills; for a schedule of practice times, call Volunteer Services at (415) 557-4280. All classes are first-come, first-served.

Classes Held At The Main: 5th Floor Training Center

Tuesdays, 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31

Basic Mouse & Typing Skills1:15–2 p.m.

4 Wednesday

E-mail Class Attendees lack-ing basic mouse & keyboard skills may observe. 2–4 p.m.

6 Friday

Training for the Internet & Library Catalog (Instruction in Spanish) Meet at 3rd Floor International Center. Info: (415) 557-4430. 2–4 p.m.

Tuesdays 10, 17 & 24

Internet 101 2–4 p.m.

11 Wednesday

The San Francisco Commu-nity Services Directory: A Guide to City Government and Local Organizations. 9:30–10:30 a.m.

Jobs & Career Resources on the Internet 2–4 p.m.

13 Friday

Training for the Internet and Library Catalog (Instruction in Cantonese Chinese) Meet at 3rd Floor International Center. Info: (415) 557-4430. 2–4 p.m.

Saturdays 14, 21 & 28

Basic Mouse & Typing Skills10:15–11 a.m.

14 Saturday

Word Processing Fundamen-tals 11 a.m.–1 p.m.

18 Wednesday

Advanced Search of Maga-zine & Newspaper articlesAttendees lacking ability to navigate the Web may observe. 2–4 p.m.

19 Thursday

Training for the Internet and Library Catalog (Instruction in Russian) Meet at 3rd Floor International Center. Info: (415) 557-4430. 9:15–11:15 a.m.

20 Friday

Training for the Internet and Library Catalog (Instruction in Mandarin Chinese) Meet at 3rd Floor International Center. Info: (415) 557-4430. 2–4 p.m.

21 Saturday

Internet 101 11 a.m.–1 p.m.

23 Monday

The San Francisco Commu-nity Services Directory: A Guide to City Government and Local Organizations. 3:30–4:30 p.m.

28 Saturday

Library Catalog Search Tech-niques 11 a.m.–1 p.m.

31 Tuesday

Library Catalog Search Tech-niques 2–4 p.m.

Classes Held at the Branches:

1 Sunday

*Introduction to PCs & the Internet Session 1. Signup required for all four sessions; 1st come, 1st served. Excelsior, 1:30–3:30 p.m.

3 Tuesday

Internet 101 3–5 p.m. Reserve space at (415) 355-5615; drop-ins welcome as space allows. Ocean View, 3–5 p.m.

8 Sunday

*E-Mail Class Session 2. Signup required for all four sessions; 1st come, 1st served. Excelsior, 1:30–3:30 p.m.

11 Wednesday

Basic Mouse & Typing SkillsReserve space at (415) 355-5615; drop-ins welcome as space al-lows. Ocean View, 1–2 p.m.

15 Sunday

*Searching Internet Directo-ries Session 3. Signup required for all 4 sessions; 1st come, 1st served. Excelsior, 1:30–3:30 p.m.

19 Thursday

Learning E-mail Reserve space at (415) 355-5615; drop-ins welcome as space allows. Ocean View, 5–6:30 p.m.

22 Sunday

*Word Processing With Microsoft Word Session 4. Signup required for all four sessions; 1st come, 1st served. Excelsior, 1:30–3:30 p.m.

31 Tuesday

Microsoft Word BasicsReserve space at (415) 355-5615; drop-ins welcome as space allows. Ocean View, 4:30–5:30 p.m.

TeensTeen Read Week Passport to Teen Programs!Pick up passport at any library branch and get it stamped when you attend any teen library program; turn in fully stamped passport at select locations for free long-dis-tance calling card, and to be entered into raffle for free travel on Southwest Airlines. Ages 12-18. Oct. 15 through Oct. 21. Info: (415) 557-4268 or [email protected].

5 Thursday

*The Art of Tee Restyle your old t-shirts into wearable art; small silk screens pro-vided. Main, 2nd Floor, Fisher Children’s Center, 4–6 p.m.

10 Tuesday

*Teen Tuesday Presents “Tag a T-Shirt” All materials pro-vided, including t-shirt. Info &

registration: [email protected]. Excelsior, 4–6 p.m.

11 Wednesday

*Meet Shojo Beat Magazine Editors! Q & A. Portola, 4–5 p.m.

Fridays 13, 20 & 27

Teen ‘Zine Ages 13–18. Bilingual online teen magazine workshop; refreshments. Chinatown, 3:30–5:30 p.m.

Saturdays 14, 21 & 28

Teen ‘Zine Ages 13–18. Bi-lingual online teen magazine workshop; refreshments. Chinatown, 1–3 p.m.

Wednesdays 18 & 25 (through Dec. 20)

*Poetry Writing for Teens Ages 13–19. Ten-week class taught by poet/teacher from WritersCorps. Info or registration: call (415) 557-4497 or e-mail [email protected]. Main, 3rd Floor Conference Room, 4–6 p.m.

21 Saturday

*Knit Happens! Teen Knit-ting Club Ages 12-18. Library provides practice supplies; attendees bring your yarn & needles for project. Info or registration: (415) 557-4497 or e-mail [email protected]. Main, 2nd Floor, Children’s Creative Center, 2–4 p.m.

*Maskmaking WorkshopInfo or registration: [email protected]. Ortega, 1–5 p.m.

27 Friday

Author Reading from “King Dork” Frank Portman reads & performs songs from his book. Main, Koret Auditorium. 4–6 p.m.

Videos on the Large ScreenIn the Koret Auditorium at the Main, (Thursdays at Noon)This month’s theme: Disabil-ity Film Festival The Library salutes Disability Awareness Month by presenting the en-tire slate of films from the 2006 Superfest International Disabil-ity Film Festival in Berkeley.

5 Thursday

*Are the Kids Alright? (56 min., U.S.); Georgian Song (4 min., Georgia); Escape Velocity (28 min., U.S.); The Man Who Couldn’t Dance (11 min., New Zealand)

12 Thursday

*39 Pounds of Love (74 min., U.S.); The Third Parent (6 min., U.S.); One Strong Arm (19 min., U.S.)

19 Thursday

*Braindamaj’d…Take II (50 min., Canada); I’m Spazticus (30 min., U.K.); Wood Diary (16 min., U.S.)

26 Thursday

*Abnormally Funny People (45 min., U.K.); Equilibrium (4 min., U.S.); About Love (25 min., Rus-sia); Nectar (16 min., U.K.) All films captioned.

Detailed descriptions of films: http://www.culturedisabilitytal-ent.org/superfest/ Wheelchair accessibility info: (415) 557-4557 (v) or (415) 557-4433 (tty), or e-mail [email protected]. Special ac-commodation requests require 72 hour advance notice.


Library Celebrates Latino/Hispanic HeritageNationally recognized storyteller Olga Loya will captivate children and adults with her Latin American folktales when she performs at the Ocean View and Parkside branch libraries this month as part of Latino/Hispanic

Heritage Month festivities. Loya tells bilingual Latin American folklore and colorful—and sometimes magical—stories from Africa, India, Asia, the Antilles and Europe. On Oct. 18, she will appear at 4 p.m. at the Ocean View Branch and at 7 p.m. at the Parkside Branch.

Please see other events celebrating Latino/Hispanic culture in the Adults’ and Children’s calendars.

Urrea Kicks Off One City One Book Program Author Luis Alberto Urrea (right) talks about his book The Hummingbird’s Daughter as Mayor Gavin Newsom looks on during the official launch of this year’s One City One Book: San Francisco Reads reading program on Aug. 30 at City Hall. Urrea’s novel about a young girl with mystical healing powers will be the focus of numerous special programs being held this fall in support of One City One Book.

This I Believe Comes to the LibraryJay Allison, host and curator of This I Believe, the popular NPR Morning Edition segment, along with National Public Radio favorites The Kitchen Sisters (a.k.a. Davia Nelson and Nikki Silva) and San Francisco author Armisted Maupin, will read selections from This I Believe 6:30–7:30 p.m. on Oct. 12 in the Main Library’s Koret Auditorium. The reading features essays from the famous—and not so famous—on their personal philosophies and core values that guide their daily lives.

The original series began broadcasting in 1951, with Edward R. Murrow as the host. For five years, that series was a daily radio staple. Fifty years after the original program ended, it was revived by NPR, and now 80 of the most compelling essays, from both the original Murrow show and today’s NPR segment, have been compiled into an anthology of the same name.

A discussion and book sale will follow the reading.

Olga Loya

All programs and events are free and open to the public.

One City One Book: San Francisco Reads Book Events for The Hummingbird’s Daughter, by Luis Alberto Urrea:Oct. 3, 7 p.m.Book DiscussionEureka Valley/Harvey Milk Memorial Branch Library1 José Sarria Court (16th Street near Market), (415) 355-5616

Oct. 3, 7 p.m.First Fiction Book Club Book DiscussionRegister at Books Inc. Laurel Village or www.booksinc.net.Books Inc. Laurel Village3515 California St., (415) 221-3666

Oct. 11, 6:30 p.m. Luis Alberto Urrea in conversation with San Francisco Chronicle book editor Oscar VillalonBook signing follows. Main Library, Koret Auditorium100 Larkin St. (at Grove), (415) 557-4400

Oct. 14, 7:15 p.m.Litquake “Lit Crawl”Luis Alberto Urrea reads, alongside other Latino writers.Encantada Gallery of Fine Art,904 Valencia Street(415) 642-3939 See www.litquake.org for complete details.

Oct. 15, 4 p.m.Book Discussion with Author Includes refreshments.Cody’s Stockton Street2 Stockton St. (at Market), (415) 773-0444

Oct. 16, 6:30–8:30 p.m.Author Reading and Discussion *en Español*Excelsior Branch Library4400 Mission St., (415) 355-2868

Oct. 25, 7:30 p.m.Book Discussion Modern Times Bookstore888 Valencia St., (415) 282-9246

Nov. 1, 7:30 p.m.Author Reading and DiscussionDay of the Dead celebration; refreshments.Books Inc. in Opera Plaza601 Van Ness Ave., (415) 776-1111

Nov. 4, 3–5 p.m.Author Reading and Discussion *en Español*Library is wheelchair accessible.Mission Branch Library300 Bartlett St. (at 24th and Mission), (415) 355-2800

Murals and the Multi-Ethnic MissionOffered every Sunday at 12 p.m. Meet at the Women’s Building, 3543 8th St. (between Guerrero and Valencia).

Mission MuralsOffered the first and third Saturdays of the month at 11 a.m. Meet at Precita & Harrison, behind Flynn Elementary School.

City Guides Mission District Walking Tours:

Nasreddine, Baba Yaga and Bob RobinsonFrench children’s illustrators Rebecca Dautremer and Cecile Gambini display original artwork from their books. Presented by the Cultural Affairs Office of the Consul-ate General of France in San Francisco. Oct. through Nov. 12. Main, 2nd Floor, Fisher Children’s Center

Mondays 2, 16, 23 & 30

Homework Help Grades K-7. Excelsior, 4–6 p.m.

3 Tuesday

Preschool Videos Ages 3-5. Mission, 10:10 & 11 a.m.

*La Familia Peña-Govea: Latin Beat Ages 5 & younger. Eureka Valley, 10:30 a.m.

*Irish Music with Todd Denman Ages 3-5. (Sunset Branch’s program). Sunrise Retirement, 10:30 a.m.

Tuesdays 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31

Homework Help; Grades K-7● Excelsior, 4–6 p.m.● Mission, 4–6 p.m.

4 WednesdayPreschool Videos Ages 3-5. Mission, 10:10 & 11 a.m.

Colibri All ages. Music & sto-ries from Latin America. Bernal Heights, 4 p.m.

Wednesdays, 4, 11, 18 & 25

Homework Help Grades K-7. Excelsior, 4–6 p.m.

Fridays 6, 13, 20 & 27

Chess Club Ages 6 & older; all experience levels. Excelsior, 3:30–5:30 p.m.

7 Saturday

Origami All welcome. Bernal Heights, 2 p.m.

*Musician & Singer Chris Molla Children of all ages. Clubhouse at West Portal Play-ground, 10:30 a.m. 131 Lenox Way (at Ulloa)

10 Tuesday

*Dan Chan, the Magic ManAges 3 & older. North Beach, 4 p.m.

Preschool Films Ages 3-5. Anza, 10:30 a.m.

Preschool Films Ages 3-5. Chinatown, 10, 10:30 & 11:05 a.m.; 2 p.m.

School Age Film Ages 5-7. Chinatown, 4 p.m.

Preschool Videos Ages 3-5. Golden Gate Valley, 10:15 a.m.

Evening Films Ages 3 and older. Potrero, 7 p.m.

Tuesdays 10 & 24

Preschool Films Ages 3-5. Titles TBA. Glen Park, 11 a.m.

Preschool Craft TimesAges 3-5. Space limited; reserve at (415) 355-5660. Portola, 11 a.m.

11 Wednesday


Preschool Videos Ages 3-5. Visitacion Valley, 10:30 a.m.

Kidquake! Space limited; school groups must reserve at [email protected]. Indi-vidual drop-ins o.k. Info: www.litquake.org. Readings by children’s book authors & illustrators: Main, Koret Auditorium, 10 a.m. (Ages 5–7); 11:15 a.m. (ages 8-10.. Interactive Workshops: Main Latino/Hispanic Community Meeting Room, 10 a.m. (Ages 8-10); 11:15 a.m. (Ages 5-7).

Sophie’s Craft HourChildren of all ages. Bernal Heights, 4 p.m.

*Colibri: A Latin American Musical Journey Children of all ages. Excelsior, 4 p.m.

12 Thursday

School Age Crafts TimeAges 5 & older. Space limited; reserve at (415) 355-5660. Portola, 4:30 p.m.

Preschool Films Ages 3-5. Chinatown, 10 a.m.


Thursdays 12, 19 & 26

Make a “take home” CraftAges 5-10. Space limited; reserve at (415) 355-5610. Richmond, 4 p.m.

14 Saturday

*La Familia Peña-Govea: Latin Beat Mission Bay, 2–3 p.m.

17 Tuesday

* Dan Chan, the Magic Man● Chinatown, 4 p.m. Ages 5-12. Space limited; reserve at (415) 355-2889. ● Potrero, 7 p.m. Children of all ages

* La Familia Peña-Govea: Latin Beat● Glen Park, 11 a.m. Ages 3-5. ● Golden Gate Valley, 3 p.m. Children of all ages.

Preschool Films Ages 3-5. Richmond, 10:15 & 11 a.m.

Preschool Films Ages 3-5. (Sunset Branch’s program). Sunrise Retirement, 10:30 a.m. 1601 19th Ave.

18 Wednesday

Preschool Films Ages 3-5. Main, 2nd Floor, Fisher Chil-dren’s Center, 10 & 10:45 a.m.

Preschool Films Ages 3-5. Richmond, 7 p.m.

*Storyteller Olga Loya Ocean View, 4 p.m.

*Make Halloween Costumes out of Household Items with Holly Cleeland● Ortega, 7 p.m. Ages 4 & older. ● Portola, 4 p.m. Ages 5 & older. Space limited; reserve at (415) 355-5660.

19 Thursday

Preschool Films Ages 3-5. Main, 2nd Floor, Fisher Chil-dren’s Center, 10 & 10:45 a.m.

Preschool Videos Ages 3-5. North Beach, 10, 10:30 &11 a.m.; 3 p.m.

School Age VideosAges 5-7. North Beach, 4 p.m.

*Jazz for Children with Saxaphonist M. B. Hanif Children of all ages. Space limited; reserve at (415) 557-4554. Main, 2nd Floor, Fisher Children’s Center, 10:30 a.m.

*Make Halloween Costumes out of Household Items, with Holly Cleeland Ages 4 & older. Presidio, 10:30 a.m.

21 Saturday

*Dia de los Muertos Altar Chil-dren of all ages. Anita De Lucio-Brock creates altar & teaches its history. Mission, 12 p.m.

Preschool Films Ages 3-5. Main, 2nd Floor, Fisher Children’s Center, 11 a.m.

*Maskmaking WorkshopFor info or to sign up, e-mail [email protected]. Ortega, 1–5 p.m.

24 Tuesday

*La Familia Peña-Govea: Latin Beat ● Anza, 10:30 a.m. Ages 3-5. ● Visitacion Valley, 1 p.m. Chil-dren of all ages.

*Musical Program with Lisa Atkinson Children of all ages. (Noe Valley Branch’s program). Bethany United Methodist Church, 1268 Sanchez (at Clip-per), 10:30 a.m.

*Alison Johnson as Penney the Clown Ages 3-5. (Sunset Branch’s program). Sunrise Retirement, 1601 19th Ave., 10:30 a.m.

25 Wednesday

*Emily Papert Tells Asian Hal-loween Story in Large Card Format Children of all ages. Space limited; reserve at (415) 355-2898. Ingleside, 6 p.m.

Spooky Story NightChildren of all ages. Mission, 6:30 p.m.

26 Thursday

Preschool Videos TBA. Ages 3-5. Excelsior, 11 a.m.

*Celebrate Latino Hispanic Heritage Month with Fran-cisco Herrera Children of all ages. Main, 2nd Floor, Fisher Children’s Center, 10:30 a.m.

The Peña-Govea Family: Latin Beat Children of all ages. Bernal Heights, 10:30 a.m.

27 Friday

*Magic with Norman NgAges 3 and older; costumes encouraged. Held outside if weather permits. Space lim-ited; reserve at (415) 355-2825. Merced, 4 p.m.

28 Saturday

Flannel Board Stories & Puppet Workshop, with Pam Brown Main, Latino Hispanic Community Meeting Room, 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Family Videos TBA. Children of all ages. Excelsior, 11:30 a.m.

31 Tuesday

Infant/Toddler Videos TBA. Ages birth-3. Excelsior, 11 a.m.

Evening Films Ages 3 & older. Call (415) 355-2822 for titles. Potrero, 7 p.m.

Children’s Calendar


All Latin American events are being held in celebration of Latino/Hispanic Heritage Month.

■ All programs and events are free and open to the public.

■ Programs are for children of all ages, except where noted.

■ Please call ahead to confirm dates and times. Groups need to reserve space.

■ Where branch is closed for renovation, alternate location is listed.

■ Potrero Branch Meeting Room is not accessible by elevator.

■ For film titles, call branch library or go to www.sfpl.org/news/events.htm and click on Children’s Films & Videos.

October 2006

*Funded by Friends of the San Francisco Public Library

Lapsits■ Stories, songs & rhymes for infants, toddlers and accom-panying adults; for ages birth to 3, unless noted otherwise.

■ Please call ahead to confirm dates and times.

Bernal HeightsThur, 5, 12, 19 at 10:15 a.m.

Eureka ValleyTue, 10, 24, 31 at 10:30 a.m.

ExcelsiorTue, 3, 10, 17, 24 at 11 a.m.

Golden Gate ValleyMon, 2, 16, 23, 30 at 10:15 a.m.

MainMon, 2, 16, 23, 30 at 10:30 a.m.

MissionThur, 5, 12, 19, 26 at 11 a.m. Bilingual (Spanish/English)

Mission BayThur, 5, 12, 19, 26 at 10 a.m.

Noe ValleyTue, 3, 10, 17, 31 at 10:15 a.m. (Branch closed for renovation; Lapsits held at Bethany United Methodist Church, 1268 Sanchez, at Clipper.)

North BeachThur, 5, 12, 26 at 10:15 & 11:45 a.m.

OrtegaTue, 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 at 10:30 & 11:30 a.m. Birth-5

ParkTue, 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 at 11 a.m. Thur, 5, 12, 19, 26 at 11 a.m.

PortolaThurs, 19 at 11:15 a.m. (Lapsits held at Family Con-nections, 2565 San Bruno Ave.)

PotreroThur, 5, 12, 19 at 10:30 a.m.

PresidioTue, 3, 10, 17, 24 at 10:15 a.m. Ages birth-1Thur, 5, 12, 19, 26 at 10:15 a.m. Ages 2-3Sat, 7, 14, 21, 28 at 10:15 a.m. Ages birth-1 (w/Megan)

RichmondSat, 7, 14, 21, 28 at 11 a.m.

SunsetSat, 14, 21, 28 at 10:30 a.m. (Branch closed for renovation; Lapsits held at Jefferson Chil-dren’s Center, 1325-18th Ave.)

Visitacion ValleyTue, 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 at 11:15 a.m.

West PortalTue, 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 at 10:30 a.m. (Branch closed for renovation; Lapsits held at the Clubhouse at West Portal Playground, Ulloa St. & Lenox Way.)

Storytimes■ Please call ahead to confirm dates and times. Groups need to reserve space.

AnzaTue, 3, 17, 31 at 10:30 a.m. Ages 3-5Sat, 7, 14, 21, 28 at 1:30 p.m. Family. Ages 6 & under

BayviewTues, 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 at 10:30 a.m. Ages 3-5

Bernal HeightsThur, 5, 12, 19 at 11 a.m. Ages 3-5

ChinatownSat, 7, 14, 21, 28 at 10:30 a.m. Family. Children of all ages

Eureka ValleyTue, 10, 24, 31 at 3:30 p.m. Ages 3-5

ExcelsiorThur, 5, 12, 19 at 11 a.m., Ages 3-5Sat, 7, 14, 21 at 11:30 a.m. Family/with Marianne. Children of all ages

Glen ParkTue, 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 at 10:30 a.m. Ages 3-5

Golden Gate ValleyTue, 3, 17, 24, 31 at 10:15 a.m. Ages 3-5

InglesideWed, 4, 11 & 18 at 6 p.m. Ages 3-5

MainTue, 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 at 10:30 a.m. Family. Children of all agesSat, 7, 14, 28 at 11 a.m. Family. Children of all ages

MercedWed, 4, 11, 18, 25 at 7 p.m. Family/in Russian. Ages 2-5Sat, 7, 14, 28 at 11:15 a.m. Ages 5-8

MissionThur, 5, 12, 19, 26 at 10:10 a.m. Ages 3-5Sat, 7, 14, 28 at 12 noonIn Spanish/family/craftChildren of all ages

Mission BayThur, 5, 12, 19, 26 at 11 a.m. Ages 3-5

Noe Valley Tue, 5, 12, 19 at 11 a.m. Ages 3-5 (Branch closed for renovation; Storytimes held at Bethany United Methodist Church, 1268 Sanchez, at Clipper.)

North BeachThur, 5, 12, 26 at 11 a.m. Ages 3-5

Ocean ViewTue, 3, 10, 17, 31 at 11 a.m. Ages 3-5

PortolaTue, 10 & 24 at 10:30 a.m. Ages 3-5Thur, 12 at 4 p.m. Ages 5 & older

PotreroTue, 3, 24 at 7 p.m. Ages 3-7

PresidioWed, 5, 12, 19, 26 at 4 p.m. Ages 3-6

RichmondTue, 3, 10, 24, 31 at 11 a.m Ages 3-5

SunsetTue, 31 at 10:30 a.m (Branch closed for renovation; Storytime held at Sunrise Retirement, 1601-19th Ave.)

Visitacion ValleyTue, 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 at 10:30 a.m. Ages 3-5

West PortalSat, 14, 21, 28 at 10:30 a.m Ages 5 & younger(Branch closed for renovation; Storytimes held at Clubhouse at West Portal Playground, 131 Lenox Way (at Ulloa).

Western AdditionTue, 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, Time TBD Ages 3-5(Branch closed for renovation; Storytimes held at Parents Place, 1710 Scott Street (at Sutter)Video Series Helps

Develop Young MindsThe Library’s Resource Collection for Learning Differences kicks off Developing Minds, a six-part video series offering parents, guardians, educators and childcare providers tools and techniques for teaching elementary and middle school-age kids important life skills and good study habits. The hour-long videos cover a variety of topics, such as honing organizational skills, improving reading skills and learning to relate to others.

The schedule is as follows:

Oct. 25 Getting Organized and Having Good Work Habits

Nov. 15 Developing Control over Attention

Dec. 6 Learning to Relate to OthersFeb. 7, 2007 Mastering the Challenge of

ReadingMarch 21, 2007 Getting Thoughts on PaperApril 25, 2007 Thinking with Numbers

All video programs begin at 4 p.m. in the Latino/Hispanic Community Meeting Room at the Main Library. After each video, Carol Kocivar, ombudsperson for the San Francisco Unified School District’s Special Education Services, will hold a question and answer session.

The Resource Collection for Learning Differences provides extensive information for adults and children with dyslexia, attention deficit disorder and other learning differences, and their families, friends and professionals.

For more information, call (415) 557-4540.

Member Benefits

Amy Meyer Visits FriendsFriends offices (391 Grove St.)Oct. 18, 6 p.m.

September Featured Sections

Book Bay MainBaseball: America’s Pastime

Book Bay Fort MasonAncient World

Upcoming Events

6 Friday

October Library Step SaleAll books $1 or less!Steps of Main Library, 100 Larkin Street. Rain cancels. 11 a.m.–2 p.m.

31 Tuesday

Annual Halloween Step SaleAll books $1 or less Wear a costume, get a free book.11 a.m.–2 p.m.

Book Bay Locations & Hours

BOOK BAY FORT MASON Fort Mason Center, Building C Open Daily 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Telephone (415) 771-1076

BOOK BAY MAIN Main Library Grove Street Entrance Open All Library Hours Telephone (415) 557-4238

Become a Friend

Support of the Library is made possible in large part through the generosity of our members. Your membership will sponsor a wide range of free Library programs and services that have a positive impact on people all across San Francisco. Your support will also ensure the best equipment and resources for our libraries and library staff.

Friends offers a range of membership levels, each with their own unique benefits. For more information, go to www.friendssfpl.org or call (415) 626-7500.

Books at 10% off! Friends’ Bonus Bookstore Program! Friends members ($50+ level) receive a10% discount at the following bookstores:

A Different Light Bookstore ■ A. Cavalli Italian Bookstore ■ Acorn Books ■ Adobe Bookstore ■ Alexander Book Co., Inc. ■ Bibliomania ■ Bird & Beckett ■ Books & Records ■ Bolerium Books ■ Book Bay Main ■ Book Bay Fort Mason ■ Books, Inc. ■ The Booksmith ■ Borderlands Books ■ Browser Books ■ Buddhist Bookstore ■ Califia Books ■ China Books & Periodicals ■ Christopher’s Books ■ Cody’s ■ Compass Books, Inc. ■ Cover to Cover Booksellers ■ Dog Eared Books ■ Eastwind Books ■ Globus Slavic Bookstore ■ Great Overland Book Company ■ Green Apple Books & Music ■ Kayo Books ■ Lifetime Books ■ Marcus Book Stores ■ McDonald’s Book Shop ■ Phoenix Books ■ ReJoyce Books ■ Stacey’s Bookstore ■ The Academy Store California Academy of Sciences ■ Thidwick Books

Friends Focus

The mission of Friends of the San Francisco Public Library is to create, steward and support a superior, free public library system in San Francisco. We are committed to raising the standard of excellence of our libraries by funding programs and services beyond what is allocated in the City’s budget. We believe in free and equal access to information for all.


Lots of San Francisco kids had a buggy summer this year, and it wasn’t because of all the rain we had this spring. Participants in the “Don’t Bug Me…I’m Reading” Summer Reading Club (SRC) read their way through stretchy caterpillars, butterfly tattoos, ladybug prisms and the possibility of a cute plush bee—all prizes offered to encourage the over 9,600 children who signed up for the SRC to keep reading. Friends of the San Francisco Public Library is a proud funder of this important summer program.

Of those who enrolled, around 4,760 read for eight hours or longer. Megan Anderson, the children’s librarian at the Presidio Branch, tells of a 9-year-old patron who had never been very interested in reading before: “Well, this year Stanley decided he was going to win the SRC raffle. He spent every Saturday at the library reading, and continued to read at home. On July 1, Stanley claimed his eight hour grand prize—he chose a book!” Stanley read for a total of 25 hours during the summer and won an autographed baseball in the raffle.

The success of the program was also in large part due to the wonderful help provided by Kid Power volunteers. This summer, 640 teens and pre-teens put in nearly 11,000 hours of time to help sign kids up, tally hours read, hand out prizes and more.

Chinatown Branch’s Kid Power volunteers put in the most time, logging in 1,710 hours. Children’s Librarian Carla Kozak notes that she had a wonderful group of volunteers again this year. She says the staff especially relied on a group of “veterans” who really knew the ropes and were especially helpful when three summer school classes would all be in

the library at the same time to claim their prizes. These volunteers helped out at other library events, and were a great example to the “freshman class” of volunteers.

Friends also generously supported all of the wonderful programming this summer. More than 230 programs were held citywide, drawing more than 14,000 attendees. A mother at the North Beach Branch told Librarian Ann Isely, “I want to thank you for the programs you’ve had. We’ve

come to three so far and my son has enjoyed all of them very much.” Children’s Librarian Anne Lane offered a seven-week arts and crafts club at the Ortega Branch. Using Friends funds, she bought scrapbook supplies and asked children to bring in pictures of themselves and their families, which they decorated and used to make scrapbook pages. “We had mothers and grandmothers and children sitting around a big table working and talking together,” Lane said. “We all had a terrific time.”

The SFPL is very grateful to all of the generous contributing partners of the Summer Reading Club: Aquarium of the Bay; Bay Area Discovery Museum; California Academy of Sciences; Conservatory of Flowers; de Young Museum of Art; Eldorado Foundation; The Gap Foundation; Metreon – a SONY Entertainment Center; Presidio Bowling Center; Ripley’s Believe It or Not!; San Francisco Giants and Oracle “Read to Win”; The San Francisco Zoo; Stocker Foundation and Zeum. Their support, along with Friends of the San Francisco Public Library, enables the SFPL to put on this program which enriches the lives of so many San Francisco children.

Children’s Summer Reading Program Enjoys Another Successful Year

Amy Meyer Visits FriendsMembers and special guests are invited to a special reception and slide presentation with Amy Meyer, author of New Guardians for the Golden Gate: How America Got a Great National Park. Join us at 6 p.m. on Oct. 18 as Meyer discusses and signs copies of her new book at the Friends offices (391 Grove St.).

SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC LIBRARY 100 LARKIN STREETSAN FRANCISCO CA 94102

At the Library


At the Library is published monthly on recycled paper by the San Francisco Public Library with support and funding from Friends of the San Francisco Public Library.

Circulation: 11,000

Online version available at: http://sfpl.org/news/atl/atl_online.htm

Main Library phone number: (415) 557-4400

How to reach us

Public AffairsMain Library100 Larkin StreetSan Francisco, CA 94102(415) 557-4277E-mail: [email protected] site: www.sfpl.org

Every effort has been made to produce a monthly calendar that is both accurate and complete. If you have any questions or comments regarding the listings, please contact the Public Affairs Department at (415) 557-4277.

October 2006In this Issue:Pg. 1 - One City One Book in Full Swing

Pg. 1 - Litquake

Pg. 2 - Branch Updates

Pg. 3 - Exhibitions Calendar

Pg. 4 - On the Same Page

Pg. 5 - This I Believe

Pg. 5 - One City One Book Events

Pg. 6 - Children’s Calendar

Pg. 7 - Friends Focus

LIBRARY LOCATIONS AND HOURS S M T W T F S

ANZA 550 - 37th Ave. 355-5717 x 12–6 10–9 12–9 10–6 1–6 1–6

BAYVIEW/WADEN 5075 - 3rd St. 355-5757 x 10–6 10–6 1–8 1–7 1–6 10–6

BERNAL HEIGHTS 500 Cortland Ave. 355-2810 x x 10–9 1–9 10–6 1–6 1–6

CHINATOWN 1135 Powell St. 355-2888 1–5 1–9 10–9 10–9 10–6 1–6 10–6

Children’s Room 1–5 1–6 10–8 10–8 10–6 1–6 10–6

EUREKA VALLEY/MILK 1 José Sarria Court 355-5616 x 12–6 10–9 12–9 10–6 1–6 10–6

(at 16th St., near Market)

EXCELSIOR 4400 Mission Street 355-2868 1–5 1–9 10–9 10–9 10–6 1–6 10–6

GLEN PARK 653 Chenery St. 337-4740 x x 10–6 12–8 1–7 1–6 1–6

GOLDEN GATE VALLEY 1801 Green St. 355-5666 x 10–6 10–6 12–8 1–9 1–6 10–6

INGLESIDE 1649 Ocean Avenue 355-2898 x x 10–6 12–8 1–7 1–6 1–6

MAIN LIBRARY 100 Larkin St. 557-4400 12–5 10–6 9–8 9–8 9–8 12–6 10–6

MARINA Closed for renovation 557-4353 See bookmobile schedule on page 2.

MERCED 155 Winston Dr. 355-2825 1–5 1–9 10–9 10–9 10–6 1–6 10–6

MISSION 300 Bartlett St. 355-2800 1–5 1–9 10–9 10–9 10–6 1–6 10–6

Children’s Room 1–5 1–6 10–8 10–8 10–6 1–6 10–6

MISSION BAY 960 Fourth St. 355-2838 x x 10–6 12–8 10–6 1–6 1–6

NOE VALLEY/BRUNN Closed for renovation 557-4353 See bookmobile schedule on page 2.

NORTH BEACH 2000 Mason St. 355-5626 1–5 12–6 10–9 1–9 10–6 1–6 1–6

OCEAN VIEW 345 Randolph St. 355-5615 x x 10–6 10–7 1–7 1–6 1–6

ORTEGA 3223 Ortega St. 355-5700 x 10–6 10–9 10–9 1–9 1–6 10–6

PARK 1833 Page St. 355-5656 x x 10–9 1–9 10–6 1–6 10–6

PARKSIDE 1200 Taraval St. 355-5770 1–5 1–9 10–9 1–9 10–6 1–6 10–6

PORTOLA 2450 San Bruno Ave. 355-5660 x x 10–6 12–8 1–7 1–6 1–6

POTRERO 1616 - 20th St. 355-2822 x x 10–8 12–8 10–6 1–6 1–6

PRESIDIO 3150 Sacramento St. 355-2880 x x 10–9 1–9 10–6 1–6 10–6

RICHMOND/MARKS 351 - 9th Ave. 355-5600 1–5 10–6 10–9 10–9 1–9 1–6 10–6

Children’s Room 1–5 10–6 10–8 10–8 1–6 1–6 10–6

SUNSET Closed for renovation 557-4353 See bookmobile schedule on page 2 .

VISITACION VALLEY 45 Leland Ave. 355-2848 x x 10–6 12–7 1–7 1–6 1–6

WEST PORTAL Closed for renovation 557-4353 See bookmobile schedule on page 2.

WESTERN ADDITION Closed for renovation 557-4353 See bookmobile schedule on page 2.

“x” means CLOSED. For more information: www.sfpl.org (All phone numbers are in the 415 area code.)

Western Addition’s Japanese Collection

Tours of MainTours are conducted on the second Wednesday of each month at 2:30 p.m. Meet in the fi rst fl oor atrium; limit of 17 people per tour, fi rst come, fi rst served. Limited number of private tours are available. For information, call (415) 557-4280.

SFPL Commission Meetings are generally held the fi rst and third Thursday of each month. October meetings: 4 p.m., Oct. 5 and 19 in the Koret Auditorium at the Main Library. The public is welcome to attend.

art by cecile gambini

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