Dancing with Wonder: Self-discovery through Stories

Book discussion by Nancy King

Thursday, September 17
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Main Library Community Room
145 Washington Ave.

Stories that both reveal and heal have been passed down from generation to generation. For example, history books reflect a rich fabric of stories that have been woven into the centuries. In Dancing with Wonder, Nancy King shares poignant examples and inspriational stories from around the globe—while helping readers use these stories for their own growth, understanding and self-discovery. This empowering story-making method, using our environment, family, and friends, can significantly contribute to our sense of our own identity. Nancy King's book will bring about startling insights; foster creativity; and reveal important clues about what is going on, in and around us every day.

Nancy King is currently a literacy, drama, and educational consultant working for most of her life in education, theatre and interdisciplinary studies.

Green Bat flies in from Illinois

The Main Library Children's Department had a surprise guest last week when Green Bat flew in for a visit. We had a great time taking him around Santa Fe and showing him some of the fun things to do here. To see where he has been, visit Meet the Book Bats

You can also read more of the Bat's adventures in Bats at the Library and Bats at the Beach.

Telephone Notification

The Library telephone notification system will be undergoing maintenance. Patrons who have chosen a preference of telephone notification will temporarily receive notification by mail. Please contact the Circulation department at 955-6785 if you have any questions or concerns.
We are sorry for the inconvenience and hope to have this service restored shortly.

Live Artist Demonstration

in the Community Gallery

Saturday, August 29th, 12-4 pm

FREE TO THE PUBLIC

David Nakabayashi, a local New Mexico artist/painter, will be performing a public display of his craft in the Santa Fe Arts Commission Community Gallery.

David is currently featured in the Fine Art/Folk Art Exhibit in the Community Gallery, running through September 4th. He is represented by Box Gallery in the Railyard and we are fortunate to feature him.

Come meet David, see his work and watch him create other beautiful pieces before your eyes.

The gallery is located in the Santa Fe Community Convention Center, 201 W. Marcy St. at the of Sheridan intersection. Call (505) 955-6705 for more information.

Graphic from Artslant.com.

New Anime Club for Teens

Teens are invited to join in the Santa Fe Anime Club at the Southside Library. Bring your friends!

Teens ages 13 - 18 meet at the Southside Branch Library, 6599 Jaguar Drive every Thursday from 4:15 – 5:30 p.m. Refreshments are served and all activities are free. Each week we will have one of the following: Book Club, Teen Advisory Board, Anime or social time.

Aug 27: Anime Club: Moon Phase (rated PG)

Sept 3: Book Club (Every 1st Thurs)
This week: The Book Thief

Sept 10: Teen Advisory Board (2nd Thurs)
Join in making decisions about Library programs for teens.

Sept 17: Anime Club (3rd and 4th Thurs)

Sept 24: Anime Club

Oct 1: Book Club: An Abundance of Katherines

This week the Library will be showing episodes of "Moon Phase" and serving ramen noodles for our after-school snack. Each month we will have a different anime to show – you can also participate in the selection process!

The Book Club now meets once a month. The Library has copies of the books to loan. The book The Book Thief by Markus Zusak will be discussed Thursday, September 3rd at 4:15.

For more information or to reserve a copy of the Book Club book, contact Lydia at 955-2829.

by LW @SS

Caught in the Shadows

As some patrons and colleagues have discovered, I don't usually read the new books until they're a bit old. I wait for some of the hype and the hold queues to lessen before checking out that novel or non-fiction title. I also like the book to withstand the test of time, even if the time is a paltry five years. So when a friend recently got me a book published in 2007, I felt rather cutting-edge in my reading.

Fortunately, the book was worth it. Shadow Catcher, by Marianne Wiggins, is a novel loosely based on the life of Edward S. Curtis, a photographer of Western Americana and people at the beginning of the 20th Century. Like his photographs, his life has been shrouded in myths, mythmaking, and controversy. The novel doesn't try to be historically accurate, but even adds to the delightful obfuscation by throwing in a character named Marianne Wiggins. Beautifully written, juxtaposing fact and fiction, past and present, text and photos, Shadow Catcher has been quite a find for a 21st Century read.

If you've already read Shadow Catcher, or aren't in the mood for ambiguity, there are also a number of non-fiction and photography books about Edward Sheriff Curtis, and even another novel: To Catch the Lightning by Alan Cheuse.

Next Lannan Season

The 2009-2010 Lannan Foundation Readings & Conversations series is now posted. While it wouldn't be fair to play favorites and mention some highlights from next season, I can definitely say that it's worth perusing.

For those of you who haven't been to one of these programs yet, you should try one out. The format is laid-back, with the featured writer reading his or her works, followed by a short conversation that ranges all over the place. Often funny and insightful, these conversations are a great way to get to know a writer better or to get more information about a favorite work. Best of all, these programs are all on Wednesday evenings and under ten dollars. They'll neither interfere with your weekend plans, nor hurt your bank account.

Lannan authors are the "rock stars" of literature, and to get a ticket there is usually a long line at the Lensic early on ticket day. Most sell out the day they go on sale. You can buy tickets online, but you’d be missing the early morning camaraderie of the literary conversations in line. While I've never been able to attend every program in a season, I always like to pick a few ahead of time. It's a great way to enjoy favorite writers, explore familiar writers, and be surprised by new writers. Also, it's a very pleasant way to spend a Wednesday evening.

Have you checked out the EERC?

At the Southside Library, we've set up a great collection called the Environmental Education Resource Center, or EERC for short. The materials focus on the environment, global warming, and green living. You can find books, DVDs, and information handouts all in one place!

If you're interested in what's in the collection, we have the full listing on our catalog. Look for the location "Southside EERC" in general searches as well.

The Southside Library is located at 6599 Jaguar Dr. on the corner of Country Club Blvd. in Tierra Contenta. For more information, call 955-2820.

Becoming a Practical Peacemaker through Lifestyle Change

Book discussion by Kate Lawrence

Tuesday, September 1
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Main Library Community Room
145 Washington Ave.

The Practical Peacemaker shows how compassionate people concerned about violence, inequity, and environmental destruction can, by living simply, transform their lives into an effective statement for peace. The book examines such peace-destroying personal habits as careless eating and drinking, overbusy schedules, seeking instant gratification, and anger. It goes on to consider societal obstacles to peace, such as advertising, media saturation, rudeness, prejudice, environmental degradation, and overpopulation.

Kate Lawrence is a writer and activist on environmental and vegetarian issues, and a reference librarian. A meditator for over thirty years exploring both Christian and Buddhist practice, she is currently a Zen student. She is married to Keith Akers and lives in Denver, Colorado.

License Plate Survey

In celebration of New Mexico's centennial anniversary of statehood, Governor Richardson has proposed a new license plate to replace the existing "Balloon" design. He wants to know if we should continue to offer the yellow Zia design as an alternative.

You can vote in the survey until September 11.

The Centennial design and Zia plate are here:

Autumn PreSchool Story Time

Tuesdays, at the La Farge Library
September 8 - December 8
2 to 5-year-olds: 10:30 am to 11:15 am

Wednesdays, at the Southside Library
September 9 - December 9
2 to 5-year-olds: 10:30 am to 11:15 am

Fridays, at the Main Library
September 11 - December 11
2 to 5-year-olds: 11:00 am to 11:45 am

It's free!
Children will enjoy stories, songs, finger games, puppets, and crafts. Open enrollment.

For more information, call:
La Farge Children's: 955-4863
Southside Children's: 955-2828
or Main Children's: 955-6783

Sponsored by the Friends of the Santa Fe Public Library.

Photo by TT @SS.

An Interesting History Chapter

I finally braved the crowds last Sunday to check out the New Mexico History Museum. Having dipped into many aspects of our state's history over the years, including visits to other museums such as the Lincoln County Courthouse, it was interesting to absorb such a large amount of history in such a short time.

Coincidentally, a friend reminded me that during August 10-21 in 1680, the Pueblo Revolt occured in Northern New Mexico and Santa Fe was under siege. While it's still a contentious subject in the state, it seemed that the History Museum went to great lengths to present all sides. While librarians are not historians, we are also bound to impartiality and balance in our research, and a need to present all sides of an issue. We have quite a few books on the topic, as well as some links on our Local History page.

The State Historian of New Mexico has posted several articles concerning the Revolt: Diaspora from Northern New Mexico, Pueblo Revolt, and Pueblo Runners and the Pueblo Revolt. PBS offers a primary document from that time, and Native Peoples Magazine provides a modern-day perspective. So read through a few, and become an amateur historian about this interesting event in New Mexico's history.

Books and Biscochitos

Saturday, August 22
& Sunday, August 23

10 am - 2 pm
Main Library
145 Washington Ave.

A small booksale featuring Books of the Southwest and homemade biscochitos in front of the Main Library to benefit the Friends of the Public Library.

Parties and Bicycles end the Summer Reading Program

Six happy readers in the Santa Fe Public Library’s “Be Creative at Your Library” Summer Reading Program 2009 won bicycles at the end of summer parties held July 31st and August 1st at each branch library. The winners had to turn in at least 4 reading logs for the summer reading incentive program to be eligible to participate in the drawings for the bikes. That means they read a minimum of 24 books, or chapters of books, or had 24 books read to them.

The winners at the Main Library were Christian Herrera, age 9, and Harper Correia-Kuehn, age 8.

The winners at the La Farge Library were Ian Olson, age 1 ½ years, and Angelica Apodaca, age 10.

And the winners at Southside Library were Jackson Mudge, age 7, and Chloe Lieberman, age 6.

The Summer Reading Program enrollment topped all previous years with 1025 children signing up for the free program. The program was sponsored by the Friends of the Library.


Winners and their bicycles:



by GSS @LF; Photos by Children's Staff

Two Top One Hundreds

NPR has polled its listeners and released a list of the 100 Best Beach Books. Whether you're actually heading to a beach, or just lying in a hammock at home, there are some great recommendations if you need an easy breezy summer read. There are also a lot of meatier modern and classic classics on the list. I guess which type of book you gravitate towards will depend on how much you want to work on your tan.

Also, making the rounds for the past few years is the BBC's Top 100 Books. This list from 2003 contains best-loved books from UK audience members. This list has found new life or relevance on social networking sites such as Facebook, accompanied by the assertion that most people have only read about 6 titles on the list. So go ahead, I challenge you. Check out the BBC Top 100, and see how many you've read. (Disclosure: I've read 62.)

What I like about both lists is the emphasis on readers' choice. These are books that readers have genuinely loved reading, regardless of perceived literary quality (sometimes called snootiness). So next time you're trying to find something different to read, pick one from one of these lists!

p.s. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings tops one list, the Harry Potter series tops the other. Are we all turning into fantasy readers? Or are folks conflating the books with the movies?

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 Biblioteca de La Farge
Los Miercoles: 10:30 am - 11:00 am
Agosto 19 - Septiembre 23
Septiembre 30 - Noviembre 4
1730 Llano Street
505-955-4863

La Biblioteca de Southside
Los Jueves: 10:30 am - 11:00 am
Agosto 20 - Septiembre 24
Octubre 1 - Noviembre 5
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 Fall Sessions

The Santa Fe Public Library‘s successful Books and Babies Program has scheduled its Fall Sessions with a new time at the Southside Branch. This program is for babies ages 6 to 24 months old and their caregivers. Children will enjoy books, songs, and finger games from the comfort of your lap.

Schedule:

Thursdays at the Southside Library
August 20 - September 24
October 1 - November 5
10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Wednesdays at La Farge Library
August 19 – September 23
September 30 - November 4
10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.

This is a free program sponsored by a grant from the Brindle Foundation.
To register and for more information call:
Southside Library (505) 955-2828
La Farge Library (505) 955-4863

Job Fair 2009

sponsored by Santa Fe Workforce Connection

Thursday, August 27, 2009
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
New Mexico State Capitol Bldg.
490 Old Santa Fe Trail

An opportunity to meet employers with job opportunities throughout the community.

Job Seekers:
• Dress your best
• Bring your resume or work history
• Be ready to make a great first impression

For more information regarding Job Fair call 505-827-7410 or 505-827-7420.
Call 505-955-2001 for Santa Fe Trails bus information only.

Too Strange Not to Share

In the wild wacky world of the interwebs, sometimes things cross your screen that are just too unusual not to pass on. Even if the item or link is not something that you are personally interested or invested in, there's just this compulsion to pay the weirdness forward.

With that, I would like to present: BaconCamp. Different cities in the US and Canada are hosting their own forays into the world of Bacon, including presentations, discussions, and demos about, well, Bacon. I'm guessing that Bacon preparation and consumption is a given at these events.

I will most likely not be attending BaconCamp this year, although I am curious if they'd allow fans of VeggieBacon to present their side. I feel that my stint at Bagpipe Camp, which most people react to like a postcard from Mars (although one odd soul became droolingly jealous), is enough niche summer gathering for a lifetime. However, if any of you do attend BaconCamp or another unusual camp or festival, we'd love to hear from you.

Sketching Nature

A Watercolor and Pen & Ink Class for Teens

Taught by Sherry Bishop
Painter, Calligrapher, and Book Artist

Saturday, August 15
1:00 - 4:00 pm
Southside Library
6599 Jaguar Dr.
955-2820

Space is limited. Registration is required. All materials are provided for this free class.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Santa Fe Public Library.

Mayor's State of the City Address

BUYER BE FAIR:

The Promise of Product Certification

30 minute Film and Discussion

Thursday, August 13
6:30 pm
Southside Library
Jeff & Michelle Branch Community Room
6599 Jaguar Dr.
505-955-2820

World trade is bringing all of us closer together. Never have so many products from so many places competed for our attention. But half of the world's people remain desperately poor. Their misery – and our appetite for resources – threaten land, air, forests, water, even life itself. But what if our purchases could actually improve things?

The thirty minute film, adapted from the one hour documentary, BUYER BE FAIR: The Promise of Product Certification, explores how consumers and businesses can use the market to promote social justice and environmental sustainability through product labeling, with a focus on fair trade coffee.

Produced by the Seattle-based team of John de Graaf and Hana Jindrova (Silent Killer: The Unfinished Campaign Against Hunger) and narrated by NPR's Scott Simon, BUYER BE FAIR will be shown at the Southside Branch of the Santa Fe Public Library on August 13, 2009 at 6:30 p.m. A discussion led by Steven P. Gloss of Sustaining Cultures will follow the film.

Photo: "Drying Fair Trade coffee beans at LaTrinidad Cooperative in Oaxaca" from Buyer Be Fair.

August Library Exhibits

Main Library
Classic to Contemporary
Bronze Sculpture & Acrylic Paintings
by John Arnold

La Farge Library
Back to School
Staff Exhibit

Southside Library
FACT: Fine Arts for Children & Teens
Student Art Exhibit

For more information, check our Art page.

For upcoming events, check our Calendar and Children's pages.