Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Working

Everything Resume BookIt's no secret that a lot of people are looking for jobs right now. To help, the Santa Fe Public Library has a number of job-hunting and job-getting resources. Every branch has a good collection of books about résumés, cover letters, job interviews and job search help, many in Spanish.

The libraries put aside the Sunday employment classifieds from the Santa Fe New Mexican and the Journal North. You can ask for these at the Reference Desk and take notes or make photocopies of the listings. Both papers have online classifieds: the Journal here, the New Mexican here. There are also computers in every branch with word processing, internet searching and printing capabilities.

Cover Letters that Knock 'Em DeadWe offer a Jobs and Employment page, with links to general jobs sites, résumé and cover letter assistance, and targeted jobs for fields such as business, non-profits, arts and government. We also have links to business and non-profit information, and a Business and Company Resource Center database for researching potential employers before the interview. You can check out job openings with the City of Santa Fe and apply online at the Job Opportunities page.

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

A.T.L.A.S.

At the Library After School Club

At Southside Branch and the Main Library
For kids ages 8 to 12


You are invited to gather in the community room for a series of fun afternoons
playing BOARD GAMES. We have a variety of games and participants are also
welcome to bring a favorite game to share.

Tuesdays
January 13 - February 24
4:15 pm to 5:30 pm

Southside Branch Library
6599 Jaguar Drive
505-955-2828

Main Library
145 Washington Ave.
505-955-6783


This free program is sponsored by the Friends of the Santa Fe Public Library.

Monday, December 29, 2008

New Year's Closures

All branches of the Santa Fe Public Library will close at 1:00 pm on Wednesday, December 31st. They will be closed all day on Thursday, January 1st, and will reopen for regular hours on Friday, January 2nd.

Have a Happy New Year!

Friday, December 26, 2008

Gray Areas

Debunked!I recently received an e-mail sent to dozens of people about a deadly gang initiation taking place in Albuquerque. Rather than pass on the paranoia, I checked out the rumor at Snopes, a one-stop shopping for affirming or debunking all kinds of hoaxes and urban legends. Once assured that the initiation is indeed a rumor that has also spread in places like Tennessee, Louisiana and New Jersey, I got sucked in to a couple of other debunked myths.

I can't remember when I first heard that "Ring Around the Rosie" is based on the Black Death, but guess what? It's not true. I also read up on a seasonal myth I hadn't heard before, that "The Twelve Days of Christmas" was a catechism code for persecuted Catholics in England. There's also an entry about the mysterious origins of today's holiday: Boxing Day.

Urban legends and hoaxes have always been around, but now with speed-of-light internet and email it seems that they're breeding at a prodigious rate. While there are many great books on the subject, none of them are timely enough when my aunt emails me an urgent message about a virus or hoax making the rounds. For up-to-the-minute information like that, Snopes has been an invaluable tool.

Spiders in the HairdoAnother useful site for those gray areas and odd questions is The Straight Dope. The answers are well-researched and entertaining, while the questions are often things we've never thought to ask, or don't know how to ask. So at The Straight Dope you can find out if it's possible to survive on a diet of potatoes and milk (yes, with some oatmeal thrown in), what jake breaks are (a question I have on road trips on Old Pecos Trail), and why doesn't wood melt? Enough questions and answers to keep you informed about minutiae in perpetuity.

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Common Craft Videos

If you've always wanted to know the basics about blogging, or if you keep falling for the scams that clog your email inbox, Common Craft Videos might be the site for you. These short, easy-to-understand videos cover everything from Online Photo Sharing in Plain English to Zombies in Plain English. Other topics so far include Social Networking, Twitter, Podcasting, and CFL Light Bulbs.

As an introduction, we're presenting you with one of the most useful videos, Web Search Strategies in Plain English. Running just under 3 minutes, your web surfing will be more focused and productive in no time.

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Los Bebés y los Libros

La Biblioteca Pública de Santa Fe Presenta
Los Bebés y los Libros

Un programa de seis clases, de media hora cada uno
para los peques de 6 meses, hasta los dos años
de edad y para sus cuidadores también
Nunca es demasiado temprano para enseñarle
a su bebé el camino a la lectura.

Únase a nuestro grupo de juego y lectura para niños pequeñitos. Su pequeñín
disfrutará de libros, canciones y juegos desde la comodidad de su regazo. En el
grupo, contamos tradiciones y platicamos libros. Esto le da al niño una experiencia
muy importante para cuando empieza a leer. Aprenda cómo, las experiencias de
todos los días, pueden encaminar a su hijo hacia el éxito en el aprendizaje.

EL PROGRAMA ESTÁ EN INGLÉS.

La Bibliotecca de La Farge
Los Miercoles 10:30 am - 11:00 am
Enero 7 - Febrero 11
1730 Llano Street
505-955-4867

La Biblioteca de Southside
Los Jueves 1:00 pm a 1:30 pm
Enero 8 - Febrero 12
6599 Jaguar Drive
505-955-2828

Para inscripiones o para mayor information, comuniquese al 955-4863 o 955-2828.

Este programa es gratis. Patrocinado por la fundación Brindle.

Books and Babies Winter Session

The Books and Babies program has scheduled its Winter Session.
This is for babies 6-24 months old and their caregivers.
Thursdays at the Southside Library
January 8 - February 12
1 to 1:30 p.m.


Wednesdays at La Farge Library
January 7 - February 11
10:30 to 11:00 am
Your child will enjoy books, songs, and finger games from the comfort of your lap.

This is a free program sponsored by a grant from the Brindle Foundation.

To register and for more information call
Southside Children's, 955-2828
La Farge Children's, 955-4863

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Niche Directories

VegGuide logoWhether you're staying home or traveling this season, there are online directories for particular dining and shopping needs. For the vegan, vegetarian or health-conscious diner, VegGuide.org will direct you to a suitable restaurant or grocer no matter where you are. Descriptions about eateries and shops include addresses, summaries, average prices, and often, customer reviews. So if you have trouble finding good food while traveling, or if you'd like to try out more local options, check out VegGuide to see what's available.

IndieBound logoFor bibliophiles who love to shop locally or online, IndieBound is a useful directory to independent book shops. You can locate your neighborhood booksellers and other businesses, as well as search to see if those stores have specific books. It's a member of the American Booksellers Association, and has online shopping features such as Wish Lists, New and Notable releases and Indie Bestsellers. Best of all, you can plan a road trip itinerary by touring bookshop to bookshop across the land.

Trip Advisor logoThe librarians get several requests each week about where to stay in Santa Fe. As residents, some of us have limited knowledge of the interiors and full amenities of all the places to stay in town, relying mostly on second-hand recommendations from family and friends who've passed through. Fortunately, there are dozens of travel sites online, many of which have traveler reviews and descriptions including price, desired amenities, location and ambiance. A useful portal is TripAdvisor, which has free reviews and links to several commercial travel sites when you're ready to make a reservation.

If you are going to drive around town or farther afield this season, Cost To Drive is a nifty site to check out. It calculates how much a trip costs in terms of gasoline usage and make and model of your vehicle. At this writing, their price per gallon estimate was about 10 cents lower than reality, but it was still neat to see about how much that mini-trip over the holiday will impact my budget.

Monday, December 22, 2008

Christmas Closures

All branches of the Santa Fe Public Library will close at 1:00 pm on Wednesday, December 24th. They will be closed all day on Thursday, December 25th, and will reopen for regular hours on Friday, December 26th.

Friday, December 19, 2008

Cookie Exchanges

Totally Cookies CookbookCookie Exchanges are a fun and tasty way to have a low-key social event at holiday time. If you have a family recipe handed down through generations, a personal favorite that you've perfected, or are embarking on the fine art of cookie baking for the first time, you can relax with friends and partake of tasty treats at one of these parties.

Rosie's Bakery chocolate-packed, jam-filled, butter-rich, no-holds-barred cookie bookWhether you're hosting or participating, you can check out Cookie Exchange.com for ideas and protocols. The Washington Post has 20 Most Viewed Cookie Recipes, as well as a visual gallery that includes vegan, low-fat or gluten-free varieties. There are also sites that focus on Christmas cookie recipes. And in addition to many general dessert cookbooks, all Library branches have sections dedicated to the cookie.

The library staff have been the recipient of many generous bakers all year round. Thanks for all your cookies, cakes and candy!

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Better Late than Never!

The winners of the 2008 National Book Awards were announced in November. Sponsored by the National Book Foundation, the Awards celebrated their 58th anniversary this year.

The winners are:

Shadow CountryFiction:
Peter Matthiessen - Shadow Country

Non-fiction:
The Hemingses of MonticelloAnnette Gordon-Reed - The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family

Poetry:
Mark Doty - Fire to Fire: New and Collected Poems

Young People's Literature:
Judy Blundell - What I Saw and How I Lied

Distinguished Contribution to American Letters:
Woman WarriorMaxine Hong Kingston

Literarian Award:
Outlaw Bible of American LiteratureBarney Rosset

It is worth checking the site for the lists of finalists in each category, along with author interviews. At this time, the Library has copies of all the winning titles except Fire to Fire: New and Collected Poems. We hope to have that for you soon.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Wireless at Main Library

The Main Library now has free wireless access! That's right, bring in your laptop, and you'll be able to surf the web throughout the library! Make sure to check out our wireless policy before heading over to make sure your laptop has everything it needs.

The Main Library is located at 145 Washington Ave. in downtown Santa Fe.

The hours are:
Monday - Thursday: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Friday - Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sunday: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

You can call 955-6780 for more information.

Main Library's wireless completes the plan to have free wireless in all City of Santa Fe libraries. La Farge Library has wireless access and the Southside Library has wireless access and ethernet jacks.

Seasonal Sustenance

In this time of giving, please remember to give to those in need. If your family or someone you know is in need, please look into the following resources.

The Food Depot, which serves Northern New Mexico, is hosting a Virtual Food Drive. This will save you a trip to the store, as well as gas. If you need food assistance, they have a list of their partners.

In the Albuquerque area, the Roadrunner Food Bank is hosting a Holiday Food Drive. They also have two Virtual Food Drives, one ongoing and one for the holidays.

The New Mexico Association of Food Banks is a great resource for information about hunger and volunteering throughout the state. They also provide a directory of emergency food providers, searchable by county.

The City of Santa Fe is also hosting its annual Mayor's Food Drive, sponsored by the Community Services Department. Whole Foods is collecting donations, or you can contact Laneia Marie Gallegos at (505)955-6917 or lmgallegos@santafenm.gov to participate.

If you are in need of state assistance, the New Mexico Human Services Department lists how and where you can get Food Stamps and other support.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Winter Fitness

Latin Dancing for BeginnersWith the shorter days, unpredictable weather and frenetic schedules of December, it's hard to find the time or motivation to either get in shape or stay in shape. But with all the feasts, sweets, parties and illnesses of the season, it's more important than ever to get that ole body moving once in a while. Fortunately, housework, cooking, or brisk walking during your holiday shopping count as exercise. But if you need something a little more challenging, this winter might be a good time to try out some new exercise plans with books and videos.

Yoga for Strength
Yoga is a great activity for this time of year. In addition to physical benefits, a regular yoga practice decreases stress, increases strength and flexibility, and helps you have a better outlook on some of those trickier family gatherings. As a beginner you don't need a lot of special equipment: just some loose, comfortable clothing and a towel or mat. Fortunately the Library has a great selection of books and videos, so you can keep trying different styles until you find one that works for you.

Martial Arts for WomenIf the holidays are so stressful that stretching and deep breathing won't cut it, now might be a great time to study martial arts. Whether you are interested in Karate, Kung Fu, Aikido, or Tae Kwon Do, or Tai Chi, you can find guidance from a philosophical or physiological perspective.

Yoga for ArthritisAnd finally, if the winter holidays fill you with an abundance of exuberance and energy, you can learn to dance! Ballet, ballroom, Latin, bellydancing, tango - learn some new steps in the privacy of your home, only to knock 'em dead on New Year's Eve!

But if the couch or the kitchen is just too appealing, you can head over to the Genoveva Chavez Community Center, Fort Marcy, or Salvador Perez for swimming, weight training, and classes for all types of fitness. You can even buy Holiday Gift Certificates there for the athletic folks on your list.

Monday, December 15, 2008

Desserts for Kids

The Baking BookIt's an unofficial holiday tradition in our family that the aunts spend time in the kitchen with nieces and nephews, baking and assembling gingerbread houses, mixing and frosting cookies, or pouring melted chocolate into molds. While giving children valuable lessons in kitchen safety and baking techniques, it's also a wonderful way to bond over something besides presents and television. I must confess that I've tweaked the tradition somewhat by getting my sister's kids all sugared up with copious taste tests before we have brutal snowball fights outside. But the result is the same: tasty treats that we've all had a hand in making.

Yule Log BakerAnother staff member is a long-distance grandma, and her 8 year-old granddaughter collects baking recipes in between her visits. When they visit, they bake together everyday. Since the granddaughter is home schooled, it’s also a good time to work on fractions, by doubling and halving recipes. The granddaughter had her heart set on making this Yule log even though it was October. The recipe was rather complicated, but they did it all from scratch. New kitchen lessons included how to use parchment in the pan, and how to roll up the cake using a tea towel. Grandma and granddaughter even used a double boiler for the chocolate frosting. The grin is all you need to know that the Yule Log was delicious!

If this sounds like a winter wonderland to you, there are lots of great children's cookbooks available to help select age-appropriate tasty recipes. If you're not up for helping the kids burn off the sugar after, breads and muffins can be a great alternative to cookies and gingerbread. Or if it's your child's turn to bring a snack to school, brownies are an easy way to get to know the kitchen. Many children's cookbooks also include healthy recipes that kids will enjoy making. As for me, however, I'll stick with teaching the younger generation the fine art of desserts.


Kids BakingKids Cook 1-2-3Cool Sweets

Friday, December 12, 2008

Teen Alert

If you have ever had trouble finding a graphic novel or YA fiction, now your troubles are over. The Main Library has a new section just for you. Find new, classic and just plain good YA fiction and graphic novels just behind the New Book Shelf in Fiction and read, read, read.

Not sure what to read? We have a list of New YA books on our catalog. You can also search the YA collection by itself, or ask a Librarian to locate a title.



Wonder WomanFacts of LifeEverAmazing Spider-ManCindy EllaDreamrider

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Home for the Holidays

In addition to free parking at select spots on the weekends, the City of Santa Fe will also be full of music!

Select downtown Santa Fe and Guadalupe Street areas will be alive with music and holiday cheer during the next two Saturdays. The City is sponsoring local musical acts to perform in various locations on December 13 and 20. The musicians will rotate through a number of locations from 12 p.m. until 5 p.m. on both days.

Performers will include:
  • Chris Abeyta & Soulfire
  • Michael Combs & friends
  • Mel Gallegos
  • Bill Hearne
  • Savor
  • Joe West & friends
  • Mario Reynolds & Telma Burke
  • Indige Femme
  • The Advent Carolers
  • Gerry Carthy
On Saturday and Sunday from now until Dec. 28, there's FREE parking at ALL downtown parking meters, including paid parking spaces at the Railyard. Free parking at the Santa Fe Community Convention Center and Railyard underground garages has been expanded and is free ALL Day Saturday and Sunday from now until Dec. 28.

This is a total of about 900 free parking spaces for the public to use and shop downtown. The Parking Division is also providing one free hour of parking at the Sandoval Parking Garage on Saturdays and Sundays; all subsequent hours will cost the normal daily rate.

Traditions Continue

Despite the construction on the Plaza, the City of Santa Fe is continuing its Holiday traditions.

Holiday at the Palace is an annual event for children at the Palace of the Governors. This year it's on Friday, Dec. 12 from 5:30 - 8:00 p.m. Las Posadas on the Plaza will start at the Palace of the Governors on Sunday, Dec. 14 at 5:30 p.m. Refreshments will be provided. Admission to both events are free.

The official holiday tree lighting will be on the Plaza on Friday, Dec. 19 at 5 p.m. This annual tradition will include bell ringers, the Girl Scouts choir, hot chocolate and biscochitos and more. Immediately following the tree lighting, the unveiling of plaques honoring Santa Fe artists Allan Houser and Eliot Porter will take place in the Artists Walk of Fame at the corner of Palace and Lincoln Avenues.

The annual Menorah lighting is scheduled on the Plaza on Sunday, Dec. 21, 2008 from 3 to 5 p.m. The holiday ice sculpture display on the Plaza is planned for Dec. 22. Sponsored by La Fonda, refreshments of hot cocoa and cookies are served.

And if you have time for only one tradition this year, the Canyon Road Walk on Dec. 24, Christmas Eve, will definitely imbue you with holiday spirit. Luminarias, farolitos and caroling, with the Mission Café & Sweet Shop providing free posole and hot cider for all who show up.

For more ideas, the Santa Fe Reporter has put out its annual Winter Guide, and their Holiday Gift Guide focuses on gifts under $100.00. Check the newsstands for the Santa Fe New Mexican's Feliz Navidad magazine.

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Children of the Portal Holiday Sale

At Main Library Saturday and Sunday

Holiday SaleAlmost everyone knows of the Native American artists who sell their hand made pottery and jewelry everyday on the Palace of the Governors’ portal. But many do not know that these Native Americans’ children are also talented artists in their own right. On Saturday, December 13, 10:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m and Sunday, December 14, 1-4 p.m the Children of the Portal Holiday Sale will take place in the second floor Community Room at the Main Library. This annual event features young Native American artists from the 19 Pueblos who exhibit and sell their art. All are part of the Portal Program of the Palace of the Governors.

This is the fourth and last year for the Main Library to host the event. By Spring, the Palace of the Governors renovations will be completed and future Children’s Portal sales will be held there. The Library was honored to be able to host this event for four years, and get to know these talented artists. The Library even has calls from out of state asking what weekend this sale is—visitors and locals alike flock to this sale. Over 600 people attended last year’s sale.

Holiday SaleWhy come to the show and sale? For me it is to support these talented young people whom I have watched grow and create amazing pieces of art. My office is adorned with paintings by Camile Slim, Celia and other pre-teen artists. Stephanie’s quirky characters of clay bring a smile to visitors. And Tammy’s bright bead earrings are a popular item at the sale. We hope you will add this to your holiday plans.

by PCH @ Main
Photos courtesy of Palace of the Governors

The Longest Train

Durango-Silverton Railroad Last week, a boy excitedly asked for any books we have about the California Zephyr. His excitement in reading about passenger trains reflects a love (and hate) affair that America has had with the rails for over a hundred years. While listening to the songs of Leadbelly or Woody Guthrie, watching modern Westerns like Dead Man or 3:10 to Yuma, reading the Boxcar Children series, or collecting model trains and railroad memorabilia, trains are always just rolling around the bend in the collective imagination.

Harvey GirlsWhether considering the acquisition of wealth by the Railroad Barons or the gains earned in working conditions by railroad unions and related industries, railroad companies have a checkered past. Standard Time in the US was adopted by railroad companies 50 years before the federal government. Then there's the controversy of the settlement caused by the railroads, through both heartwarming stories such as the Harvey Girls, or the struggles of Native Americans, farmers, ranchers and immigrants. Love them or hate them, this would be a very different country if not for the railroads.

Rudy Rides the RailsWith our revitalized Railyard District, the scenic train to Lamy, and the Rail Runner that will link us to our southern neighbors next week, trains aren't just a chapter in Santa Fe history. They've become a third place, a romanticized Old West motif, or simply a relaxing way to commute. For many of us, whether we're a middle-school boy who's just taken his first Amtrak trip, a middle-aged woman who had an N-scale train set as a child, a world-traveler who needs to cover 10,000 miles of track a year to stay sane, or an old-timer who used to ride the rails, to "hear that lonesome whistle blow" is sometimes the sweetest sound in the world.

Photo by SM.

Tuesday, December 09, 2008

Tails of the City

Tails of the City Dr. Tom DeVincentis will hold a book reading and signing in the Community Room at Southside Library on Tuesday, December 30, 2008 at 6:30 p.m.

DeVincentis, a Manhattan veterinarian, is the author of Tails of the City: Confessions of a Manhattan Pet Vet published by Glitterati Incorporated. In this collection of stories he shares his insights on the cycle of life as he reflects on the importance of the bond between people and their pets.

"You don't have to be a pet owner or live in a city to be moved by Tom DeVincentis's wonderful stories ... all you need is half a heart." --Pamela Fiori, editor-in-chief, Town & Country.

The Southside Library is located at 6599 Jaguar Drive by Country Club Rd.
Call 505-955-2820 for more information.

Monday, December 08, 2008

Interlibrary Loan Hiatus

Interlibrary Loans will be temporarily suspended between Saturday, December 13th, 2008 and Friday, January 2nd, 2009. We will not accept any requests after Friday, December 12th, and will resume accepting requests on Saturday, January 3rd, 2009.

The Interlibrary Loan Department takes a hiatus at the end of the year due to closures of educational institutions from which we do much of our borrowing and lending.

Interlibrary Loan requests need to be submitted in person. We will not be accepting requests while we are on hiatus, and we ask that you wait until January 3rd to bring them in.

We apologize for any inconvenience.

Sunday, December 07, 2008

City Videos

The City of Santa Fe Multimedia Office has been producing useful videos. Covering topics from water conservation to domestic violence prevention, most of them run from 30 to 60 seconds.

You can also watch these videos on YouTube, searching by keyword "cityofsantafe".

Here's an example that should be incredibly useful in this cold weather:

Saturday, December 06, 2008

Online Catalog Changes

It's a subtle change, but we've added scoping to our online catalog.

What is scoping? It means that in addition to searching everything in the SFPL system (View Entire Collection), you can now search just the following collections:

  1. Main Library

  2. La Farge Library

  3. Southside Library

  4. Children's Collection (all branches)

  5. Young Adult Collection (all branches)

  6. Southwest Collection (all branches)

You'll notice a drop-down menu that says "View Entire Collection" on our catalog pages. Click on that to try searching in different scopes of the collection. If you need to get out of a scope, just choose something else on the drop-down menu, or click the "Start Over" button.

Starting Tuesday, December 9th, you will only need your name and library card barcode to login to your record. Right now, the library requires and additional password, or PIN, to allow you to view your account. We're hoping that this will make it easier for you to view what you have checked out, renew your items, and place and freeze your holds.

As always, if you need assistance, please contact your local reference librarian.

Friday, December 05, 2008

Free Holiday Parking Expanded

To promote shopping and eating downtown, the City of Santa Fe Parking Division is pleased to announce that there will be FREE parking at ALL downtown parking meters, including paid parking spaces at the Railyard, on Saturday and Sunday from now until Dec. 28.

Free parking at the Santa Fe Community Convention Center and Railyard underground garages has been expanded and will be free ALL Day Saturday and Sunday from now until Dec. 28. This is a total of about 900 free parking spaces for the public to use and shop downtown.

Additionally, the Parking Division will provide one free hour of parking at the Sandoval Parking Garage on Saturdays and Sundays; all subsequent hours will cost the normal daily rate.

Word of the Year

Webster's New World Large Print DictionaryIt's that time of year when awards and lists and Best Ofs are everywhere. A simple, unglamorous contest I enjoy is Word of the Year. Different dictionaries proclaim their own, and often the runners-up are as entertaining and revealing about the past year as the winners.

Webster's New World Dictionary selected Overshare as their word. With electronic communication and reality tv-living loosening up everyone's tongue, oversharing seems to be everywhere. Selective ignorance was declared a runner-up, a personal favorite, seeing as how the trend is oversharing.

Merriam-Webster's School DictionaryMerriam-Webster turns away from the social to the pragmatic, and their winner is the word Bailout. Their runners-up are less cutting edge or newly coined words, instead reflecting the turmoil of an election year and economic distress such as trepidation. As it turns out, their words are selected from hits on their dictionary site, rather than from recent coinage or unique expression.

The New Oxford American Dictionary has raised the pragmatic bar even higher by selecting Hypermiling as its word. A practice that maximizes every drop of motor vehicle fuel, hypermiling is a growing obsession among Prius-drivers and typical gas-guzzlers alike. The Oxford shortlist has a lot of workplace and lifestyle words as well, such as staycation and topless meeting (not what you think!).

Oxford American DictionaryThe American Dialect Society has put out its call for 2008's word, but will not be voting on an outcome until January 9. If your favorite word of 2008 - *ahem* absquatulate - hasn't made any of the lists yet, put in a nomination!

Thursday, December 04, 2008

Holiday Parking

To encourage shopping at local businesses, the City of Santa Fe has instituted free parking at the following places from now until Christmas:

Santa Fe Community Convention Center Parking Garage
off of Federal Place
Saturdays and Sundays
from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Railyard Parking Garage
Saturdays: from 12 noon to 5 p.m.
Sundays: all day

If you'd like more information about local Santa Fe businesses, The Santa Fe Alliance’s 2009 guide is now available. You can search local business listings online, or pick up a guide at many local businesses.

The Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce also has a Business Directory.

Wednesday, December 03, 2008

Notable Books of 2008

A MercyOne of the readers in my family makes a point to read all the award-winners and notable books each year. By this method, she's guaranteed to always be reading something good, and less likely for a good read to slip through the cracks.

The Ten-Cent PlagueIf you're also looking for a sure-fire list of good books, the New York Times has just released their 100 Notable Books of 2008, with links to book reviews from the past year. Whether you like to read fiction, poetry or non-fiction, there's a good book on the list for almost every taste. Even better, many of these books either aren't checked out, or the hold queues are much shorter than those for the best sellers.

Tuesday, December 02, 2008

Getting to Know Our Mayor

Mayor Coss Fishing the Santa Fe RiverI met him first at a picnic for City workers at Frenchy’s Field. I drove over on my lunch hour and didn’t know anyone there. As I stood in line for my burger, I was drawn into a friendly conversation with the guy working the barbeque. He asked where I worked and when I told him I was a Children’s Librarian at Southside he told me that he frequently brings his grandchildren to the Library and that he really appreciates our work and our beautiful facility. It wasn’t until he slid a perfectly grilled burger onto my plate that I realized I had just had my first conversation with the Mayor of Santa Fe!

The next time I met him was during a Teen Book Club meeting, after school on a Thursday. Our Teen Coordinator had met the Mayor earlier that day at a literacy roundtable, so when he turned up at the Library with the grandkids in the afternoon, she reintroduced herself. Mayor Coss agreed to drop by the Teen meeting to meet our kids. They were discussing the work of Edgar Allan Poe.

Our staff person quickly introduced the Mayor to the teens. He asked what they were reading. He then regaled them with a funny story of his own experience reading Poe and listened to their opinions about the author. Everyone at the table was laughing and enjoying the short visit. After he left, one of the teens said, “Who was that guy?” We reiterated that he was the Mayor of our City! We reminded them that they had seen his image recently, on the cover of the Halloween edition of the Santa Fe Reporter, in which he appeared in costume and makeup as a zombie!

Later that day our security guard told me that he had had a conversation with the Mayor as well. The guard wanted to discuss some issues about the City’s bus service, which he has been using for nearly eight years. The Mayor was on his way out the door but he took the time to speak to the guard briefly, giving him his card, asking the guard to contact him with his concern in more detail, and assuring him that he would pass the information on to the correct person. This is the kind of friendly public service that we all aspire to here in the City of Santa Fe.

By LW @ Southside
Photo by PCH @ Main

Monday, December 01, 2008

Family Holiday Program

Andy Mason

Friday, December 19
Southside: 3:30 pm
Stay for the craft program!

Saturday, December 20
La Farge: 11:00 am
Main: 2:00 pm

Family favorite Andy Mason will be presenting three free family holiday programs for the Santa Fe Public Library performing such favorites as Jingle Bells, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, and many, many more.

After the Southside Library event, children can make holiday gift wrap and gift bags to take home from 4:30-5:30. This program is free and reservations are not required.

Andy Mason is a New Mexico musician who makes his home in Portales. For the past 5 years he has been bringing his own brand of humor and song to pre-schools, schools, libraries, State Fairs and daycare centers all over the United States and England. He has recorded the children’s hit CD “Everybody Likes Pizza”.

Join in the fun and get in the festive spirit. These programs are sponsored by the Friends of the Santa Fe Public Library.

Friday, November 28, 2008

New Mexico Book Association Holiday Fiesta

Date:
Friday, Dec. 5th

Time:
5:30 to 7:30 pm.
Location:
The Lodge at Santa Fe

750 N. Saint Francis Drive
(505) 992-5800
Ticket information:
(505) 231-1755 or (505) 988-7214


New Mexico Book Association's Annual Holiday Fiesta takes place at the gracious Southwestern-style and very convenient Lodge at Santa Fe (just north of downtown). Every New Mexico literary (and related) business, author, writer, reviewer, and book lover is invited to our annual holiday gathering. (Attendees will reconnect with compadres and comadres they may not have seen for months!)

International Women's Writing Guild, Recursos' Southwest Literary Center, New Mexico Coalition for Literacy, N.M. Book Co-op, Narrative Art Center, PEN-New Mexico, SouthWest Writers, and WordHarvest are co-hosts of the Holiday Fiesta, and members and friends of those organizations are invited to this very inclusive book and literary gathering!

New Mexico Book Association is the only statewide non-profit organization serving all book and literary professionals.


More info:
Richard Polese, Executive Director
New Mexico Book Association
(505) 983-1412
richard@oceantree.com

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Feasting

Vegetarian Cooking for EveryoneIn warm-weather months, it's possible for me to be well-fed on a light vegetarian diet with a lot of raw foods. Once it gets colder, my inner carnivore comes out in full force, tearing through poultry and seafood until I get to, and exceed, the red meat stage. There are also those times when there's, say, too much amaranth or squash in the house, and it's nice to try new things.

VeganomiconFortunately, the Library has a lot of cookbooks for every end of the voracious spectrum. For the vegetarian end, there are classics like Laurel's Kitchen, modern classics such as Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone, and the soon-to-be classic Veganomicon. Also recommended are any of the Moosewood cookbooks.

Fannie Farmer CookbookFor cold-weather cooking, I get tried-and-true recipes from the Fannie Farmer Cookbook and Joy of Cooking. Jacques Pépin's Simple and Healthy Cooking is also good. For a taste of the Mediterranean, there's Mario Batali's Simple Italian Food. Dinner can take me around the world with Chinese, Thai, Indian or tapas. When I need to brush up on an old favorite or try a dish a new way, there are plenty of New Mexico cookbooks at all Libraries.

And for dessert... ah, I think dessert can wait until spring. We still have all the holiday feasting to get through, after all!

[The writer would never let dessert wait until spring. - Ed. ]

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Library Facts

The Library Facts page has been updated.

Did you know...
  • You checked out 548,218 items
  • We have 360,562 items, many of which can be checked out
  • We answered 221,532 Reference queries
  • 143,989 people used our computers
  • 13,485 children attended 454 programs
  • You held 1,964 Community meetings in our Libraries
  • We're open 177 hours a week

Many of the figures are based on the last fiscal year, from July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2008, while others were updated with recent statistics.

Check out the Library Facts and Statistics page for more fun Library facts.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Thanksgiving Holiday Closings

For the Thanksgiving Holiday, all Library Branches will be closed on Thursday and Friday, November 27 and 28.

The Libraries will resume normal hours on Saturday, November 29.

Main Library
145 Washington Ave.
Wild Turkey505-955-6780
Saturday: 10 am - 6 pm
Sunday: 1 - 5 pm

La Farge Library
1730 Llano St.
505-955-4860
Saturday: 10 am - 6 pm
Closed Sunday

Southside Library
6599 Jaguar Dr.
505-955-2810
Saturday: 10 am - 6 pm
Closed Sunday

Photo courtesy of NWTF

Monday, November 24, 2008

2008 New Mexico Book Awards Winners

Milagro Beanfield WarThe winners were announced at the Book Awards Banquet at the MCM Elegante in Albuquerque on Friday, November. 21st.

Some highlights:

There is a PDF list of winners on the New Mexico Book Co-op site.

Furry (and other) Critters

Pets in AmericaAccording to the Pet Food Institute, pet ownership is on the rise. Despite the expense of pets, many people are falling for and bringing home that cute puppy, kitten, bird or fish. As the weather has gotten colder, it's become more common to see someone with a young puppy snoozing on his or her lap in social and even work situations. Even the most powerful man on earth is shopping for a puppy. While we won't go so far to say that this is a trend, there's definitely something pet-loving in the air.

If you're considering a new critter in your household, a great place to start is the Santa Fe Animal Shelter and Humane Society. They have regular adoptions around the city, low-cost spay/neuter clinics, and training and behavior classes. If you're strictly of the feline persuasion, Felines and Friends looks for both adoptive and foster cat lovers. Also spread the word to friends, family and coworkers; they might know of a new litter or rescued animals.

Adopting PetsOnce you've taken the plunge, the Library can help you learn to live together with books about different breeds, and care, feeding and behavior of your new pet. If you still can't get a pet due to allergies, long hours, expenses and other reasons, you can always enjoy them vicariously through a puppy cam or kitty cam.