This Year s One City One Book: Lalita Tademy. Share an experience with your fellow San Franciscans and read Cane

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1 September 2007 Vol. 38 No. 9 The Library by the Numbers: 5,242,262 Visitors to the Library and its 27 branches in fiscal year ,766 Reference questions Library visitors asked librarians at the Main Library in fiscal year ,000 Books sold in 40 hours to benefit SFPL at last year s Big Book Sale (see Page 7 for details of this year s Sale) 512 Computers available for free use to the public at the Main Library and its 27 branches This Year s One City One Book: Cane River by Lalita Tademy One City One Book brings together people of different ages, communities and backgrounds to discuss the ideas raised by one book and how these ideas connect with our present lives, says Mayor Gavin Newsom, introducing the annual citywide book club for I encourage everyone to pick up a copy of Cane River. In this extensively researched personal odyssey, author Lalita Tademy brings to life four vivid and remarkable women in her family, beginning in slavery, sweeping through the Civil War and into the pre-civil Rights South. As we follow these four women through extraordinary hardship, we see how they learn to empower themselves, get their due and preserve their heritage despite overwhelming pressures. Set on a Creole plantation on the banks of Louisiana s Cane River, this New York Times best seller is a beautifully written slice of American history never before seen in such piercing and personal detail. City Librarian Luis Herrera encourages all San Francisco adults and teens to participate in this fall s activities, which will include programming about genealogy and family history research. We are all curious about where we come from and what our family s stories are, says Herrera. Lalita Tademy turned her curiosity and research into a fascinating novel about four women and the lives they lived on Cane River. I think this book will raise important questions about America s history and our own personal histories for all who read it. Cane River has been published in paperback, audio formats and in Chinese and Spanish. One City One Book: San Francisco Reads 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. One City One Book: San Francisco Reads is funded by Friends of the San Francisco Public Library and The San Francisco Foundation. For more information, visit or call (415) See Page 4 for more information. Meet Lalita Tademy Share an experience with your fellow San Franciscans and read Cane River,, this year s selection for the One City One Book: San Francisco Reads citywide book club lots of copies are now available at local bookstores, and at the Library, of course. At the Library invited author Lalita Tademy to chat about her first novel. (A longer version of this interview is available at See Page 4 for more information on Cane River and One City One Book book discussions and special events in September and October. At the Library: What tools did you use to research your family history? Lalita Tademy, author of Cane River, visited the Main Library. Lalita Tademy: I began doing the research years ago, off and on, starting from when I was small and listening to the stories I heard when we went to my family reunions in Louisiana. I had heard about my great-grandmother Emily everybody y had a story about Emily Fredieu, and they were all so lovingly told. After doing some research on her, I came to the realization that she was born a slave and that she was born in the backwoods of Louisiana. By the time I was finished, I started to tell family members more about the family than what they were able to tell me. I began with the census, which is a 10-year snapshot. The problem was that 1870 was the first year that African Americans were considered citizens before that, they did not show up on the census In the early 90s, I hired a professional genealogist someone who was very familiar with the Cane River area and knew the families and the intersections of the families and could recognize that in private records. It took 18 months to find the 1850 bill of sale of my great-great-great-great-grandmother and three generations of women. Bookapalooza! The 43rd annual Big Book Sale is coming! Save the date: Sept at the Festival Pavilion at Fort Mason, presented by Friends of the San Francisco Public Library. (See story on Page 7.) What was the most challenging part about writing Cane River? I had never written so much as a short story before. I was full of insecurity about whether I could deliver this story. So every day I felt a tremendous responsibility and burden to teach myself to write in time to deliver the story. I wrote the entire manuscript by hand. I felt one of the characters looking over my shoulder it was my great-great-grandmother (Philomene). When I was discouraged or tempted to stop or thought that this was too hard or told myself that no one wants to read this, she was the one to keep me going. She was the one that got the land that allowed the family to come back together again. During that time, I was in a very dark place I not only became these women, I became the villains in the story as well. I became all of the parts in order to flesh them out. I wasn t trying to look back, I was trying to act as if I was there. The truth is, slavery was an economic institution that people grew up with. While I could not forgive it, I had to go deep to try to understand it. Some of the people who owned these four women were my ancestors. (Continued on Page 4.) Coming Up: OCTOBER 6-13 Litquake San Francisco literary festival events include Library readings, Oct. 6 and 7; Kidquake, Oct. 10 Main, Koret Auditorium OCTOBER 13 Murderball Oscar-nominated 2005 documentary about quadriplegic rugby players; also see the Jewett Gallery exhibition Raising the Bar Main, Koret Auditorium, 2 p.m. OCTOBER 23 Cane River author Lalita Tademy In conversation with KQED s Scott Shafer Main, Koret Auditorium 6:30 p.m. OCTOBER 27 The Best of INPUT One-day international television program festival, presented with ITVS Main, Koret Auditorium 11 a.m. 5 p.m. AT THE LIBRARY SEPTEMBER

2 Branch Library Improvement Program (BLIP) Marina Re-Opens Cutting the ribbon at the Aug. 4 re-opening ceremony of the Marina Branch Library are (L-R): Marina Branch Manager Valentin Porras, Department of Public Works Director Fred Abadi, Senator Carole Migden, Friends of the San Francisco Public Library Executive Director Donna Bero, Library Commission President Charles Higueras, Marina Library Campaign Chairwoman Bea Krivetsky, Mayor Gavin Newsom and City Librarian Luis Herrera. New Glen Park Branch Opens October 13 The Glen Park community will get a brand-new library that will feature more books and a space that s six times as big as its current location when the new branch opens on Oct. 13. Located at 2825 Diamond St. near the Glen Park BART station, the 8,500-square-foot space will occupy the second floor of the new Glen Park Marketplace. A beautiful public art display in the glass-enclosed foyer will welcome patrons into the branch. The light and airy, new branch will feature special children and teen areas, a state-of-the-art program room, more shelving for books and materials, more computers, Wi-Fi access to the Internet and staff work spaces. See you there! BLIP Update Branches under construction and projected opening dates: Glen Park Oct. 13, 2007 Noe Valley Early 2008 Western Addition Spring 2008 Richmond Early 2009 Next branches slated for renovation: Potrero Bernal Heights Groundbreaking for new construction: Ingleside Fall 2007 A Groundbreaking Day Breaking ground on the new Portola Branch Library on July 17 are (L-R): Supervisor Sophie Maxwell, Mayor Gavin Newsom, San Francisco Public Library Commission President Charles Higueras, City Librarian Luis Herrera, Friends of the San Francisco Public Library Executive Director Donna Bero and CLW Builders contractor David Liang. Located at the corner of Bacon and Goettingen streets, the new building will replace leased space it currently occupies on San Bruno Avenue. The new branch is scheduled to open in Temporary Services Schedule The Branch Library Improvement Program Bookmobile provides the following services during branch renovations. Bookmobile Locations: Noe Valley (665 Elizabeth St. in front of St. Philip s School) Monday: 1 p.m. Wednesday: 1 p.m. Richmond (Sixth Avenue at Geary Boulevard) Tuesday: 1 p.m. Wednesday: 3 7 p.m. Saturday: 5 p.m Western Addition (Post and Steiner streets, near Hamilton Recreation Center) Wednesday: 3 7 p.m. Friday: 1 5 p.m. Bookmobile hours subject to change; call (415) or visit for updated information. Additional Services: Western Addition Reading Center 762 Fulton St., (415) Tuesday: 10 a.m. 6 p.m. Wednesday: 1 6 p.m. Thursday: 1 6 p.m. Friday: 1 6 p.m. Saturday: 12 5 p.m. Sunday/Monday: Closed International Languages Collection 3150 Sacramento St., (415) Monday: 10 a.m. 6 p.m. Tuesday: 11 a.m. 9 p.m. Wednesday: 1 9 p.m. Thursday: 11 a.m. 9 p.m. Friday: 1 6 p.m. Saturday: 10 a.m. 6 p.m. Sunday: Closed The largest building campaign in San Francisco Public Library history is in full swing. We are now seeing the fruits of the $106 million bond measure passed in November The Branch Library Improvement Program (BLIP) calls for the renovation of 17 branch libraries and the construction of seven new library buildings, including a brand-new branch in Mission Bay (opened July 2006). We voted to renovate and build new branch libraries across the City. It s happening! 2 SEPTEMBER 2007 AT THE LIBRARY

3 Exhibitions September 2007 Jewett Gallery *Raising the Bar: New Horizons in Disability Sports Traveling photographic exhibit portraying the international para-athletic community; individuals with disabilities who compete in a wide array of athletic events. Organized by Umbrage Editions. Presented by the Library s Access Services Programs. Through Oct. 21. Main, Lower Level, Jewett Gallery. Related Program: see Adults, Saturday, Sept. 15. Related Exhibition: see Exhibitions Skylight Gallery Opening Hours: same as Main Closing Hours: Mon.-Sat., 6 p.m.; Sun., 5 p.m. *13+ Contemporary German Artists Books Contemporary book art featuring the works of members of the German artist group called 13+. Presented by the Library s Book Arts & Special Collections Center. Through Oct. 14. Main, 6th Floor, Skylight Gallery Other Exhibition Areas in the Library Digging Deep: Underneath San Francisco Public Library The 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 archaeological 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 Two-Wheelers at the Main Display highlighting Library s collection of books, magazines & historical photos on motorcycles, scooters & mopeds. Through Sept. 7. Main, 4th Floor, wall case outside Steve Silver Beach Blanket Babylon Music Center The City Redeemed: The Life & Times of Mayor Edward Robeson Taylor Exhibit explores achievements of his administration ( ). Through Oct. 12. Main, 6th Floor, cases outside the San Francisco History Center Miss Lillian s Tradition: Older Americans in the Peace Corps Exhibit explores legacy of older American Peace Corps volunteers around the globe, including future president s mother, Lillian Carter. Through Sept. 13. Main, 4th Floor, Business, Science & Technology Center Visit a Park in California Exhibit celebrates national, state & local parks. Through Sept. 30. Main, 5th Floor, Government Information Center All-Stars: Baseball by the Bay Display showcasing Library s collection of baseball material with focus on the All-Stars. Through Oct. 4. Main, 4th Floor, wall case outside Page Desk World Games for the Deaf: The Silent Games Exhibition of text panels & images that details the history and philosophy behind the first international games for athletes with disabilities. Through Oct. 21. Main, 1st Floor, outside Deaf Services Center. Related Exhibition: see Exhibitions *Celestial Vaulting Visual Aid exhibition of mixed-media paintings by Joel Hoyer; minimal, restrained works with luscious surfaces that reference landscape and primordial, emergent geological formations. Through Sept. 30. Main, 3rd Floor, James C. Hormel Gay & Lesbian Center. Related Program: see Adults, Tuesday, Sept. 4 *Brazilian Photographers on the West Coast Fourteen Brazilian photographers living on the West Coast display colorful mosaic; includes depictions of their South American birthplace, as well as their immigrant experience in North America. Sept. 16 through Nov.16. Main, 3rd Floor, International Center. Related Program: see Adults, Sunday, Sept. 16 * No Anunciar! Remembering a Mexican Homeland Exhibition of photographs taken by Luis Cardona while on vacation in Mexico. Sept. 1 through Oct. 31. Main, Lower Level, Café Exhibition Case Exhibitions at the Branches San Francisco Giants All-Stars Photographic exhibit of players chosen by managers and fans to play starting positions in the Major League Baseball All-Star Game, hosted this year by the San Francisco Giants. Through Oct. 31. Mission Bay The Greatest of all Time: A Tribute to Muhammad Ali Exhibit based on the book, G.O.A.T. (Greatest of All Time), the most comprehensive study of Ali to date, and the centerpiece of the exhibit. Through Sept. 14. Bayview 40 Summers of Love n Haight Art work by Haight- Ashbury artists, Through Sept. 15. Park Double Play at the Library In celebration of the 78th All-Star Game, which was played at AT&T Park on July 10, the Library is hosting two displays featuring America s pastime through October. On the Fourth Floor of the Main Library, All-Stars: Baseball by the Bay showcases historical photographs of the San Francisco Giants, popular baseball books, news accounts featuring important moments in Giants history and baseball memorabilia. Materials were culled from the Art, Music & Recreation Center, the San Francisco Historical Photograph Collection, the Dorothy Starr Sheet Music Collection and private collections. And on display at the Mission Bay Branch just a baseball throw from AT&T Park fans will find photographs of Giants All-Stars from , including Willie Mays, Juan Marichal and Willie McCovey. Other items include Giants novelties and a plaque given to former San Francisco Mayor George Christopher by the Giants in 1999, thanking him for his efforts in bringing the team to town. Some 20 baseball books are also on display and available for checkout. Fancy Pants Last month, two pairs of soft, well-worn jeans passed through San Francisco. These were no ordinary jeans. These pants had places to go, people to meet. Inspired by the book series Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, a group of teens sent these pants on a yearlong journey to more than 40 libraries across the United States, Canada and Australia. In the books by Ann Brashares, a pair of thrift store jeans mysteriously fits four very different teen girlfriends absolutely perfectly. About to spend their first summer apart, the teens make a pact to share the pants, mailing them to each other for a turn at summer adventures. The success of the first book led to three more Sisterhood summers, plus a hit 2005 movie. The real-life pants began their odyssey in January with a group of teens at the Garfield Park Library in Santa Cruz, Calif. Instead of wearing the jeans, teen participants at each library sign the pants and add a letter and photos to a scrapbook. The pants come with a list of rules and guidelines: You must never wash the Pants. On the left leg of the Pants, write either the most exciting place you have been or the most exciting thing you have done in your life. Remember: Pants = Love. Love your Pals. Love yourself! Teens at the San Francisco Public Library got their hands on the pants in August. As part of the Focus on the Collections Shades of SF Wants Your Photos! Giants memorabilia on display at Mission Bay The Traveling Pants are on the move. Library s Teen Summer Read 2007 celebration, they embellished the nomadic denims with San Francisco patches, rhinestones, curlicues, autographs and reflections, before sending them off to Finney County Public Library in Garden City, Kan. After all 40 libraries have participated creating an artistic chain letter that reflects the cooperative efforts of teens across the across the globe the Traveling Pants will make a return trip to each library for a two-week exhibit before coming home to Santa Cruz in the fall of To track the Traveling Pants online, visit www. garfieldlib.com/pants.htm. Were you holding court at the Black Cat Café in the 1950s? Or marching with Queer Nation in the 1990s? Get your photos out of the closets and into the Library s archives. You are part of history and the San Francisco Public Library needs your help in assembling its fifth Shades of San Francisco photo collection, this year focusing on the diverse faces and places of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, Intersex (LGBTQI) communities throughout San Francisco s history. While highly-publicized annual events like the Pride Parade and Halloween are well documented in the Library s archives, private moments from daily life family, community and work are not. Researchers, writers, filmmakers, teachers and students depend on the Library s famous photo archives for their projects, and the Shades of San Francisco initiative is an important way for residents to contribute to the archives and get involved in telling the stories of underrepresented communities. The photographs we have copied and collected from previous Shades participants are used all the time, says City Archivist Susan Goldstein. People rely on these images to paint an accurate picture of daily life in our communities. Not only is it an important contribution, it s fun and easy and you leave with all of your original pictures. Members of the community are invited to bring loose photos and photo albums to a free public Photo Day at the Eureka Valley Branch Library at 16th and Market streets from 10 a.m. 4 p.m. on Oct. 14. You can meet with archivists and volunteers who will select images and jot down your memories of them. Your pictures will be copied on the spot while you enjoy refreshments and share photos and stories with other contributors. Photographs that are selected for the archive will be available to library users at both the San Francisco History Center at the Main Library and the Eureka Valley Branch. An exhibition of the images is planned at the Eureka Branch when it reopens in 2009 after renovation. Photo Day appointments are strongly encouraged, as this greatly reduces any wait time (drop-ins will be accepted if time permits). To make an appointment or for more information, contact the Shades coordinator at nina911@pacbell.net or (415) And stop by the Library s booth at the Castro Street Fair on Oct. 7! *Funded by Friends of the San Francisco Public Library AT THE LIBRARY SEPTEMBER

4 September 2007 One City/One Book Selection: Cane River by Lalita Tademy Lalita Tademy has always been intensely interested in her family s stories, especially those about her great-grandmother Emily, a formidable figure who died with her life s savings hidden in her mattress. When she began probing deeper for her family s roots, Tademy soon found herself swept up in an obsessive two-year odyssey and leaving her corporate career at Sun Microsystems for the little Louisiana farming community of Cane River. It was here, on a medium-sized Creole plantation owned by the Derbanne family, that Tademy found her family s roots and the stories of four astonishing women who battled vast injustices to create a legacy of hope and achievement. They were women whose lives began in slavery, who weathered the Civil War, and who grappled with the contradictions of emancipation through the turbulent early years of the 20th century. Through it all, they fought to unite their family and forge success on their own terms. Amid small farmhouses and a tightly knit community of Frenchspeaking slaves, free people of color and whites, Tademy s great-greatgreat-great grandmother Elisabeth would bear both a proud heritage and the yoke of slavery. Her youngest daughter, Suzette, would be the first to discover the promise and heartbreak of freedom. Suzette s strong-willed daughter Philomene would use determination born of tragedy to reunite her family and gain unheard-of economic independence. And Emily, Philomene s spirited daughter, would fight to secure her children s just due and preserve their future against dangerous odds. In Cane River,, an accessible novel that combines painstaking historical reconstruction with unforgettable storytelling, Tademy presents an all-too-rarely seen part of American history, complete with a provocative portrayal of the complex, unspoken bonds between slaves and slave owners. Most of all, she gives us the saga of flesh-and-blood women making hard choices in the face of unimaginable loss, securing their identity and independence in order to face any obstacle, and inspiring generations to come. One City One Book Events in September: Book Discussions Talk about Cane River with other readers. Sept. 25, 7 p.m. Eureka Valley/Harvey Milk Branch 1 José Sarria Court (16th Street near Market) (415) Sept. 26, 7 p.m. View and discuss a related movie. Excelsior Branch Library Arts and Culture Salon, 4400 Mission St. (at Cotter) (415) Author Events Experience Cane River with the author at these readings around San Francisco. Sept. 12, 12:30 p.m. Stacey s Bookstore 581 Market St. (415) Sept. 22, 1:30 p.m. Ocean View Branch 345 Randolph St. (415) Book Group Therapy Learn how to start, join, run or fix a book discussion group. Sept. 12, 6 7:30 p.m. Main Library, Latino/Hispanic Community Room B (Lower Level) 100 Larkin St. (415) Genealogy Workshops Learn about resources available at your Library. Sept. 12, 12 1 p.m. Main Library, Fifth Floor Computer Training Center 100 Larkin St. (415) Lalita Tademy (Continued from Page 1.) What do you hope readers will take away from your book? What I tried very hard to do was to write a book that you could enjoy on any level you chose. If you want a page-turner, that s what I wanted to give you. If you want to get a sense of American history during this time period slavery, Civil War, Jim Crow South, pre-civil Rights then great, I hope you get that. If you can go for deeper themes, then that s great, too. Adults 1 Saturday Origami Club All levels; children under 8 with parents. Bring paper. Bernal Heights, 2 p.m. *First Position: A Century of Ballet Artists Author reading with Toba Singer. Potrero, 3 3:45 p.m. 2 Sunday Rakugo Japanese one-man comical storytelling (in English) without background, scenery, makeup, costumes or other performers. Main, Koret Auditorium, 2 4 p.m. 4 Tuesday *Celestial Vaulting: Lecture & Demonstration with Gilding Artist Joel Hoyer Main, Latino/ Hispanic Community Meeting Room, 4:30 7 p.m. Related Exhibition: see Exhibitions *Radar Salon: Literary Conversation, Revelations and Gossip Features poet Max Wolf Valerio & novelist Felice Picano; hosted by Michelle Tea. Eureka Valley, 7 8:30 p.m. *A Minstrel in Your Midst Songs & poems by Jerry Ferraz; guitarist Tony Vaughan. North Beach, 7 p.m. 5 Wednesday 2007 Fall Preview Lecture on Opera S. F. Opera Guild s Timothy Flynn on Camille Saint- Saëns Samson et Dalila. Main, Koret Auditorium, 12 2 p.m. Architecture & the City Film Series: Experimental Architecture: A Shorts Program Market Street (2005, 5 minutes); San Francisco Empty (2007, 10 minutes); Cartography of Ashes (2006, 12 minutes; Sufficient Self (2004, 15 minutes); and Mischief on 16th and Florida (2006, 28 minutes). Main, Koret Auditorium, 5:45 p.m. 6 Thursday Open Books: Fan Wu Author Discussion: February Flowers. Main, Latino/Hispanic Community Meeting Room, 6:30 7:30 p.m. 8 Saturday Legal Advice & Referral Clinic Attorney consultations. Info: (415) Main, Latino/Hispanic Community Meeting Room, 3 p.m. (Signup period: 12 noon) The Beat Goes On: The Golden Anniversary of Beatitude Reading of collection of works by Beat movement writers. Main, Koret Auditorium, 1 4 p.m. *The Sit-Down Readers Theatre Presents Playboy of the Western World J.M. Synge s 1907 play; read a part if you choose. North Beach, 2 p.m. 10 Monday *Jianwu Kao s Art Show Includes watercolor & brush painting demonstration. In English & Mandarin. Sunset, 7 8:30 p.m. 11 Tuesday ITVS Community Cinema: Please Vote for Me In Mandarin with English subtitles. Main, Koret Auditorium, 6 8 p.m. *The Mosque of Paris: A Forgotten Resistance (1991, 30 minutes) In French with English subtitles. Eureka Valley, 7 8:30 p.m. 12 Wednesday 2007 Fall Preview Lecture on Opera With S.F. Opera Guild s Simon Williams on Wagner s Tannhäuser. Main, Koret Auditorium, 12 2 p.m. Architecture and the City Film Series Santiago Calatrava: Angle of Inspiration (2004, 28 minutes); preceded by KQED program clip: Quest (11 minutes). Main, Koret Auditorium, 5:45 p.m. *One City One Book Workshop With Lauren John: Book Group Therapy Book discussion group strategies. Main, Latino/Hispanic Community Meeting Room, 6 7:30 p.m. 13 Thursday *Immigration Policy in the 21st Century Audience discussion follows. Main, Koret Auditorium, 6 7:30 p.m. 15 Saturday Get Your Knit Together Practice supplies provided; bring knitting needles. 15-person limit; reserve at (415) or lwatson@sfpl. org. Main, 4th Floor Conference Room, 10 a.m. 12 p.m. The Art of Oral Traditions and Storytelling, with Dr. Opal Palmer Adisa Workshop for early childhood educators and & adults working with preschool age children. Space limited; register at bestrella@sfpl. org (415) Main, 2nd Floor, Fisher Children s Center, 10:30 12:30 p.m. Immigration 101 With Lucee Rosemarie Fan of U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services. (Questions about individual cases cannot be addressed.) Main, Koret Auditorium, 12 p.m. *On the Road to Beijing With Paralympic cyclist & handcycling marathoner Alejandro Albor. Wheelchair accessible. Call (415) (voice) or (415) (tty), or mgoddard@sfpl.org with accommodation requests by Fri. 9/7. Main, Koret Auditorium, 2 4 p.m. Related Exhibition: see Exhibitions *Images of America: Angel Island Slide show (in English), by authors William Wong & Branwell Fanning. Book signing follows. Chinatown, 2:30 4 p.m. 16 Sunday *A Journey Through 500 Years of Brazilian Music Features Bay Area singers & instrumentalists: Mauro Correa; Richard Duke; Kevin Stewart; Brian Rice; Phil Thompson; Ligia Waib; & Christa Pfeiffer. Main, Koret Auditorium, 2 4 p.m. Related Exhibition: see Exhibitions 19 Wednesday Architecture and the City Film Series Blue Vinyl (2002, 98 minutes); preceded by Parking Day. 5:45 p.m. *Radar Reading Features Miranda Mellis, Jennifer Blowdryer, Lenore Waters, John Mercuri Dooley & Kemble Scott; hosted by Michelle Tea. Main, Latino/Hispanic Community Meeting Room, 6 7:30 p.m. *How to Deal with Chronic Pain and Arthritis With Darlene Cohen; seated exercises. Parkside, 7 8:30 p.m. 22 Saturday *The Moving Music: Lecture & Performance of Chinese Opera Music Main, Koret Auditorium, 2 4 p.m. Building Your Dream Home with an Architect Learn about the building & construction process. Main, Latino/Hispanic Meeting Room, 2 p.m. *One City One Book Author discussion: Lalita Tademy (Cane River). ) Ocean View, 1:30 4 p.m. 25 Tuesday *Images of Nature in Art Slide lecture with Marlene Aron. Bernal Heights, 7 8 p.m. *A Sailor s Daughter, Life Without Father Author Discus- sion: Jean Dierkes-Carlisle & guest Mary Frances Culnane. North Beach, 7 p.m. 26 Wednesday Architecture and the City Film Series Mon Oncle (My Uncle) (1958, 110 minutes). Main, Koret Auditorium, 5:45 p.m. Open Books: Ruthanne Lum McCunn Author launches God of Luck; ; book sale & signing follow. Main, Latino/Hispanic Community Meeting Room, 6:30 7:30 p.m. *Excelsior Arts & Culture Salon Reading: Cane River, by Lalita Tademy. Film: Glory and/or Gone with the Wind. Excelsior, 7 8:30 p.m. Help Your Child Succeed in School Presentations by education professionals. Q & A. Entire family welcome. Info: (415) Bayview, 6 7:30 p.m. Book Groups 5 Wednesday Selection: The Final Solution, by Michael Chabon. Sunset, 7 p.m. 26 Wednesday Rincon Literario (in Spanish). Info: Main, 3rd Floor Conference Room, 6 7:30 p.m. All welcome. Eureka Valley, 7:30 p.m. Selection: Girls from Da Hood, by Nikki Turner, Kashamba Williams & Joy. Ocean View, 6 p.m. 4 SEPTEMBER 2007 AT THE LIBRARY *Funded by Friends of the San Francisco Public Library

5 Update on Services Events and Happenings Architecture Film Series Examine the relationship between architecture and cinema; join us for a series of classic, contemporary and documentary films that spotlight the built environment, the architectural and design professions and the ever-mythical architect s ego. All screenings for the Architecture and the City film series are held at 6 p.m. on Wednesdays in the Koret Auditorium at the Main Library. The first program, on Sept. 5, features Experimental Architecture: A Shorts Program; followed by Santiago Calatrava: Angle of Inspiration about the world s premier bridge designer (Sept. 12); Blue Vinyl,, about polyvinyl chloride (PVC), America s most popular plastic (Sept. 18); and Mon Oncle (My Uncle), a 1958 film about Hulot, who lives in a colorful, overpopulated Parisian neighborhood and spends his days waiting to pick up his adoring nephew from school to escort him to his parents ultra-modern, gadget-filled house (Sept. 26). A talk called Building Your Dream Home with an Architect will be held at 2 p.m. on Sept. 22 in the Latino/Hispanic Community Meeting Room at the Main Library. The Architecture and the City film series is part of the AIA SF s Architecture and the City festival. For more information, visit Hispanic Heritage Month Hispanic Heritage Month begins on Sept. 15, marking the anniversary of independence for five Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico declared its independence on Sept. 16, and Chile on Sept. 18. The term Hispanic, as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau, refers to Spanish-speaking people in the United States of any race. Library events celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month include Miguel Govea playing traditional waltzes, polkas, rancheras, cumbias and vallenatos from Texas, Mexico, Colombia and Venezuela at 11 a.m. on Sept. 18 at the North Beach Branch. La Familia Pena-Govea will perform Mexican, Tex-Mex and Colombian music for children of all ages at 2 p.m. on Sept. 29 at the Mission Bay Branch. Singer/guitarist Francisco Herrera presents Hispanic Music for Children at on Oct. 4 at the Fisher Children s Center of the Main Library. And Canta y Baila con Donna y Jazmin, a bilingual, educational and interactive musical presentation designed to promote English and Spanish language learning through music, visits at 11 a.m. on Oct. 6 at the Ocean View Branch for children from birth-6 years of age and their parents. Online at the Library Did you know you can now register for a library card online? Go to click on Get a Library Card, and fill out a simple application. Then stop by any San Francisco Public Library branch to receive and activate your card. And now you can also use your credit card to securely pay your overdue fines or make a donation to the Library. Just log onto your Library record using your barcode and PIN, click on the message indicating that you owe money, and click the PAY ONLINE button. The credit card transaction will be handled through Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), a cryptographic protocol that provides safe encrypted communications over the Internet. Finally, the Library has joined the bloggerrati: The Teen Center has a sassy blog at com, with book recommendations, events and attitude. And the Library s Fifth Floor Magazines & Newspapers Center frequently updates its blog ( com) with notes on cool new magazines (Chile Pepper) ) and resources (the Underground Newspaper Microfilm Collection). And you can stay in touch with One City One Book readers and events at We re Here To Help With Your Homework! September means back-to-school time and that means homework. Free homework help is available for students of all ages at the Main Library and every branch. Some of what you can find at the Library: - In-person research help - Newspapers dating back to the 19th century - Nonfiction topics for reports in different languages - Subject-specific book lists - Fiction for school-assigned reading - Math-made-easy books - Science project ideas - Art, illustrations and photo ideas for reports - Language dictionaries for translation - Health information - Opposing viewpoints on controversial topics - College entrance testing books And lots more just ask a librarian! Or for live online homework help, visit Book Groups cont. 27 Thursday Selection: The Mind-Body Problem, by Rebecca Goldstein. Bernal Heights, 4 p.m. 29 Saturday S. F. Bibliophiles (in Russian). Main, Latino/Hispanic Community Meeting Room, 2 4 p.m. Business Counseling Wednesdays, 5, 12, 19 & 26 Service Corps of Retired Executives Free Business Counseling Appointments: (415) Main, 4th Floor, Business, Science & Technology Department, 10 a.m. 3 p.m. Computer Classes Classes Held at the Main: 5th Floor Training Center Most classes at the Main require proficiency in basic keyboard skills; for a schedule of practice times, call Volunteer Services at (415) All classes are first come, first served. Tuesdays 4 & 11 Internet p.m. Tuesdays 4, 11, 18 & 25 Basic Mouse & Typing Skills 1:15 2 p.m. Thursdays 6, 13, 20 & 27 Book a Librarian: One-on- One Computer or Internet Training Sessions Space limited; info & signup at (415) , 5 6 p.m. 7 Friday Training for the Internet & Library Catalog (in Spanish) Meet at 3rd Floor International Center. Info: (415) p.m. 8 Saturday Word Processing Fundamentals 11 a.m. 1 p.m. Saturdays 8, 15, 22 & 29 Basic Mouse & Typing Skills 10:15 11a.m. 12 Wednesday The San Francisco Community Services Directory: A Guide to City Government and Local Organizations 9:30 Research Your Roots Online 12 1 p.m. Jobs & Career Resources on the Internet Ability to navigate the Web required. 2 4 p.m. 14 Friday Training for the Internet & Library Catalog (in Cantonese) Meet at 3rd Floor International Center. Info: (415) p.m. 15 Saturday Fundamentals Mouse & keyboard skills required (or observe). 11 a.m. 18 Tuesday Library Catalog 2 4 p.m. 19 Wednesday Information Databases Basic Web search skills required (or observe). 2 4 p.m. 20 Thursday Training for the Internet and Library Catalog (in Russian) Meet at 3rd Floor International Center. Info: (415) :15 11:15 a.m. 21 Friday Training for the Internet and Library Catalog (in Mandarin) Meet at 3rd Floor International Center. Info: (415) p.m. 22 Saturday Internet a.m. 1 p.m. 24 Monday The San Francisco Community Services Directory: A Guide to City Government and Local Organizations 3:30 4:30 p.m. 25 Tuesday Internet 102 Basic Internet proficiency required (or observe). Main, 5th Floor Training Center, 2 4 p.m. 28 Friday Chinese Pinyin System and Simplified Characters (Instruction in Mandarin) Mouse & keyboard skills required (or observe). 2-4 p.m. 29 Saturday Internet 102 Basic Internet proficiency required (or observe). 11 a.m. 1 p.m. Classes Held at the Branches: Mission Branch (in Spanish) 17 Monday *Basic Computer & Internet Skills 6:30 8 p.m. 24 Monday * Fundamentals 6:30 8 p.m. Teens 5 Wednesday *Bayview Teen Advisory Council (B-TAC) Meeting Registration: wkramer@sfpl.org, (415) , or AIM wde3de3. Bayview, 5:30 6:30 p.m. 6 Thursday *primp your librarian Middle school students conduct librarian makeover; hair, makeup & clothing provided. Info or registration: (415) or wkramer@sfpl.org. Bayview, 4 6 p.m. 7 Friday *Portola Teen Advisory Council Programs, events, books & more. See librarian. Portola, 4:30 5:30 p.m. Fridays 7, 14, 21 & 28 *Teen Zine Ages Bilingual online teen magazine workshop. Registration: jewelchen@sfpl.org. Chinatown, 3:30 5:30 p.m. 14 Friday *Teen Anime & Manga Club Watch episodes of anime, eat Japanese snacks & make origami. Main, 2nd Floor, Fisher Children s Center, 4 5:30 p.m. 15 Saturday *Knit Happens! Teen Knitting Club Ages Library provides practice supplies: bring yarn & needles. Registration: (415) or blevine@sfpl. org. Main, 2nd Floor, Children s Creative Center, 2 4 p.m. 21 Friday *Make a Masterpiece: A New Jewelry Workshop with Steven James Beads & tools provided. Information or registration: mbergman@sfpl. org. Anza, 3:30 5:30 p.m. 29 Saturday *Comics Club Bayview, 2 3 p.m. Sept. 29 through Oct. 6. Banned Books Week Teen Contest Ages Guess correct titles from banned book covers & be entered in drawing for $100 Borders gift certificate. Drawing Oct. 16. Fill out entry form at: Main Teen Center, Anza, Bayview, Chinatown, Excelsior, Mission, North Beach, Ocean View, Portola & Sunset. Videos on the Large Screen In the Koret Auditorium at the Main, (Thursdays at Noon) This month s theme: Back to School When possible, films shown with captions to assist our deaf and hard of hearing patrons. 6 Thursday *To Sir, With Love (1966, 105 minutes) Stars Sidney Poitier 13 Thursday *Ferris Bueller s Day Off (1986, 102 minutes) Stars Matthew Broderick 20 Thursday *Back to School (1986, 96 minutes) Stars Rodney Dangerfield 27 Thursday *School of Rock (2003, 109 minutes) Rock & roll comedy All programs and events are free and open to the public. AT THE LIBRARY SEPTEMBER

6 Children s Calendar September 2007 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: Programming room is not accessible by elevator. For film titles, call branch library or go to events.htm and click on Children s & Videos. 1 Saturday Origami Ages 5 & older. All levels welcome; under 8 with parents. Bring paper. Bernal Heights, 2 p.m. Mondays 10, 17 & 24 Homework Help Ages 5 & older. Grades K-7. Excelsior, 4 6 p.m. 4 Tuesday Videos. Mission, 10:10 & 11 a.m.. Mission Bay,. Parkside, 10 & 11 a.m. Tuesdays 4, 11, 18 & 25 Homework Help Ages 5 & older. Grades K-7. Excelsior, 4 6 p.m. Tuesdays 4 & 18 *Crafts. Space limited; reserve at (415) Portola, 11 a.m. 5 Wednesday Crafts with Mei. Excelsior, 11 a.m. Wednesdays 5, 12, 19 & 26 Homework Help Ages 5 & older. Grades K-7. Excelsior, 4 6 p.m. 6 Thursday *Yoga with Mariana Doig Space limited; reserve at (415) Sunset, Thursdays 6, 13 & 27 Study Sessions Supplies provided for homework & special projects. Bayview, 4:30 6:30 p.m. Read for the Record While the Library s One City One Book program is encouraging San Franciscans to get on the same page with the novel Cane River this fall, Jumpstart s second annual Read for the Record campaign encourages hundreds of thousands of children and adults to read the same book on the same day! With the help of its partners, including the San Francisco Public Library and its 27 branches, Jumpstart will host its largest San Francisco Read for the Record event, with 200 children reading The Story of Ferdinand d from 10 a.m. 12 p.m. on Sept. 20 at the Fisher Children s Center at the Main Library. Additional events featuring Ferdinand d will take place in SFPL branch- es across the city, raising awareness about the importance of early learning and fostering a love for reading in children and families. Last year, Jumpstart set the record for the largest shared reading experience ever, engaging adults to read to 150,000 children nationwide. A national early childhood organization with a long history in San Francisco, Jumpstart serves 600 disadvantaged children in the city each year through partnerships with San Francisco State University and City College of San Francisco, as well as 20 local preschools. Jumpstart also leads the Department of Children Youth and Their Families Early Literacy Initiative, collaborating with San Francisco organizations to enhance educational services to disadvantaged families with young children in Bayview and Visitacion Valley. For more information, visit 7 Friday Activity Afternoon Ages 5 & older. Make bookmark; supplies provided. Groups of five or more, reserve at (415) Western Addition Reading Center, 2nd floor. 762 Fulton Street (at Webster), 3 5 p.m. Fridays 7, 14, 21 & 28 *Chess Club Ages 6 & older. All skill levels. Excelsior, 3:30 5:30 p.m. Fridays 7, 14, 21 & 28 Stitches n Stories Ages Bring knitting or crochet and listen to book on tape. Mission, 4:15 5 p.m. 8 Saturday *Flying Angels Dance Company Presents Dances from China Excelsior, 11 a.m. Bilingual Songs with Donna & Jazmin Ages 5 & younger. Mission, 11 a.m. *Mommy and Me Class! Yoga Instruction Integrating Children s Literature, with Mariana Doig. Dress loosely; bring yoga mats or towels. West Portal, 11 a.m. 10 Monday Ages 3 & older. Bayview, 11 Tuesday Family Ages 3 & older. Potrero, 7 p.m. *Back to School Sing & Dance Fest with Charity Kahn Ages birth-5. Ortega, 11 a.m. 12 Wednesday Crafts with Sophie Ages 5 & older. Bernal Heights, 4 p.m. Videos. Visitacion Valley, 13 Thursday and/or Videos. Golden Gate Valley, 10:15 a.m. 18 Tuesday Dana Smith & Performing Dog, Lacey Family show; not for children with canine allergies. Bayview, *Miguel Govea Ages 3 & older. Music from Texas, Mexico, Colombia & Venezuela. North Beach, 11 a.m. Film Ages 5-7. Chinatown, 4 p.m. *Musical Fun Time with Gayle Schmitt Ages 2-6. Groups of five or more, reserve at (415) Western Addition Reading Center, 762 Fulton St. (at Webster), 2nd floor, 19 Wednesday *Family Night: Ashkenazi the Pretty Good Parkside, 7 p.m.. Main, 2nd Floor, Fisher Children s Center, 10 & 10:45 a.m. Ages Chinatown, 4 p.m. Lapsits Stories, songs & rhymes for infants, toddlers and accompanying adults; for ages birth to 3, unless noted otherwise. Please call ahead to confirm dates and times. Bernal Heights Thur, 13, 20, 27 at 10:15 a.m. Eureka Valley Excelsior Tue, 4, 11, 18 at 11 a.m. Golden Gate Valley Tue, 4, 11, 18, 25 at 10:15 a.m. Main Mon, 10, 17, 24 at Marina Mon, 10, 17, 24 at 10:15 & 11:45 a.m. Storytimes Please call ahead to confirm dates and times. Groups need to reserve space. Family Storytimes are for children of all ages. Anza Sat, 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 at 1:30 p.m. Family. Ages 6 & under Bayview Tue, 4, 11, 25 at Ages 3 & older Bernal Heights Thur, 13, 20, 27 at 11 a.m. Chinatown Sat, 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 at 10:30 a.m. Family Eureka Valley Tue, 4, 11, 18, 25 at 3:30 p.m. Excelsior Thur, 6, 13, 20, 27 at 11 a.m. Sat, 1, 15, 22 at 11:30 a.m. Family/with Marianne Main Family Sat, 1, 8, 15, 29 at 11 a.m. Family 20 Thursday Jumpstart Presents Read for the Record: The Story of Ferdinand,, by Munro Leaf Be one of thousands reading the same book on the same day; according to location, includes readings, raffles, crafts & more. Main, 2nd Floor, Fisher Children s Center, 10 a.m. 12 p.m. Chinatown,. Parkside, Potrero, Space limited; reserve at (415) Sunset,. Ortega, 1 p.m. Mission, 3 p.m. Visitacion Valley, 3 5 p.m. North Beach, 3:30 p.m. Ocean View, 3:30 4:30 p.m. Portola, 3:30 p.m. Space limited; reserve at (415) Merced, 4 p.m. Bayview, 5:30 6:30 p.m. Ages 5 & younger. Mission Thur, 6, 13, 20, 27 at 10:10 & 11 a.m. Bilingual (Spanish/English) Mission Bay Thur, 6, 13, 20, 27 at 10:15 a.m. Noe Valley Tue, 4, 11, 18, 25 at 10:15 a.m. Lapsits held at Bethany United Methodist Church, 1268 Sanchez St., at Clipper.) North Beach Thur, 6, 13, 27 at 10:15 & 11:45 a.m. Ortega Tue, 18, 25 at Parkside Sat, 1, 8, 15, 22, & 11 a.m. Family/Musical Marina Merced Sat, 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 at 11 a.m. Family Mission Wed, 5, 12, 19, 26 at 10:10 a.m. Sat, 1, 15, 22, 29 at In Spanish/family Mission Bay Thur, 6, 13, 20, 27 at 11 a.m. Noe Valley Tue, 4, 11, 18, 25 at 11 a.m. Lapsits held at Bethany United Methodist Church, 1268 Sanchez St., at Clipper.) North Beach Thur, 6, 13, 27 at 11 a.m. Ocean View Tue, 4, 11, 18, 25 at 11 a.m. Ortega Tue, 18, 25 at 11:30 a.m. Parkside Tue, 11, 18, 25 at 10 & 11 a.m. Portola. Main, 2nd Floor, Fisher Children s Center, 10 & 10:45 a.m. Ages Chinatown, 4 p.m. Videos. North Beach, 10, 10:30 & 11 a.m.; 3 p.m. Ages 5-7. North Beach, 4 p.m. 22 Saturday. Main, 2nd Floor, Fisher Children s Center, 11 a.m. *Puppeteer Daniel Stolfi performs The Enchanted Heron Ages 5 & older. Main, 2nd Floor, Fisher Children s Center, 2 3 p.m. 24 Monday Ages 3 & older. Bayview, 25 Tuesday Videos Ages birth-3. Excelsior, 11 a.m. Portola Thur, 13, 20 at 11:15 a.m. (Lapsits held at Family Connections, 2565 San Bruno Ave.) Potrero Thur, 6, 13, 27 at Presidio Sat, 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 at 10:15 a.m. Richmond Sat, 1, 8, 15, 22 at 11 a.m. Lapsits held at Richmond Police Station Community Room, 461-6th Ave.) Sunset Sat, 8, 15, 22, 29 at 11 a.m. Visitacion Valley Tue, 4, 11, 18, 25 at 11:30 a.m. West Portal Presidio Tue, 4, 11, 18, 25 at 10:15 a.m. Ages 1-2 Wed. 5, 12, 19, 26 at 4 p.m. Thur, 6, 13, 20, 27 at 10:15 a.m. Ages 2-3 Richmond Tue, 4, 11, 18, 25 at 11 a.m. Storytimes held at Richmond Police Station Community Room, 461-6th Ave.) Sunset Thur, 13 at Visitacion Valley Western Addition Tue, 4, 11, 25 at Groups of 5 or more: reserve at (415) Storytime held at Parents Place, 1710 Scott St. (at Sutter) West Portal Wed, 12, 19, 26 at 7 p.m. Family/ ages 2-5 In Russian Sat, 15, 22 at Family/ages 5 & younger 26 Wednesday Help Your Child Succeed in School Presentations by education professionals. Q & A. Entire family welcome. Info: (415) Bayview, 6 7:30 p.m. 27 Thursday. Sunset, 10:30 & 11:15 a.m. *M.B. Haniff Jazz for Kids! Main, 2nd Floor, Fisher Children s Center, 29 Saturday *La Familia Peña Features Mexican, Tex-Mex & Colombian music. Mission Bay, 2 p.m. Family Videos Excelsior, 11:30 a.m. Ages 5 & younger. West Portal, 6 SEPTEMBER 2007 AT THE LIBRARY *Funded by Friends of the San Francisco Public Library

7 Friends Focus September Featured Sections Book Bay Main World War II Book Bay Fort Mason On Reading & Writing September Events Sept. 7 Library Steps Sale 11 a.m. 2 p.m., Main Library, Larkin Street steps Information: (415) x103 Sept. 8 Learn how your gift to the Western Addition Library Campaign Committee can be recognized with an engraved brick 9 1 p.m, Fillmore Farmers Market, Fillmore Street at O Farrell Sept. 13 Bad Girls reading With author/editor Ellen Sussman and her Bad Girls posse of writers 6:30 p.m., Book Bay Fort Mason Sept. 26 Big Book Sale Members Preview Sale 4 p.m. 8 p.m., Fort Mason Festival Pavilion Sept Big Book Sale 10 a.m. 8 p.m. Thurs. Sat., 10 a.m. 6 p.m. Sunday, Fort Mason Festival Pavilion Book Bay Locations & Hours BOOK BAY FORT MASON Fort Mason Center, Building C Open daily 10 a.m. 6 p.m. Telephone (415) BOOK BAY MAIN Main Library Grove Street Entrance Open all Library hours Telephone (415) 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 or call (415) Browsers look for book bargains at Big Book Sale Bookapalooza! A logistical feat that involves more than 200,000 books in more than 50 categories, 350 volunteers, 300 tables and 15,000 visitors, the 43rd annual Big Book Sale the largest book sale on the West Coast will be held Sept at the Festival Pavilion at Fort Mason. Throughout the year, Friends of the San Francisco Public Library staff and volunteers collect both used and new books collectible rare books, first editions, and just plain strange books from estate sales, businesses, publishers and the people of San Francisco. The 2007 bookstravaganza kicks off with a Friends of the SFPL members reception and preview sale from 4 8 p.m. on Sept. 26. Admission is free to the general public from 10 a.m. 8 p.m. Sept , and 10 a.m. 6 p.m. on Sept. 30, when all remaining books will be priced at $1 or less. All proceeds from the Big Book Sale are given to the San Francisco Public Library to fund education programs that promote literacy for children, teens and adults. Last year, more than $250,000 was raised for our city s libraries, and thousands of books were donated to nonprofits and teachers. Since 1961, Friends of the SFPL has been enriching our public libraries and encouraging literacy efforts throughout the city. In 1964, Friends of the SFPL held its first Book Sale to raise funds for the Library and provide quality, affordable books to the San Francisco community. Please visit or call (415) for more information. Poets Take to the Streets for International Poetry Festival The San Francisco International Poetry Festival made its debut in late July to huge success. Robert Hurwitt s story about the inaugural Festival excerpted here by permission from the San Francisco Chronicle sums it up best: Politics and poetry were in the air at the first San Francisco International Poetry Festival. Which seems only fitting, given the literary and social status of the host city and that the landmark event was the brainchild of city Poet Laureate Jack Hirschman co-hosted by his no-less politically engaged laureate predecessors, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Janice Mirikitani and devorah major. Presented by Mayor Gavin Newsom, Hirschman, the San Francisco Public Library and Friends of the San Francisco Public Library, the festival featured 22 poets from throughout the world at 14 readings throughout the city. Every event was free in keeping with Hirschman s commitment to public art and the Library s mission (as Friends Executive Director Donna Bero told a Saturday audience, a library card is the best free ride in the city ). Which probably didn t hurt attendance. The festival opened with a Thursday celebration in Jack Kerouac Alley, featured two main evenings of readings at the Palace of Fine Arts on Friday and Saturday, and a host of smaller readings at Caffé Trieste and branch libraries Saturday and various North Beach locations Sunday. One of the most rewarding aspects, besides the vitality of the verse, was the opportunity to hear the poems in their original languages. Chinese, Spanish, Swedish, Arabic, Hebrew, Italian, French, Greek and Creole readings were accompanied by projected translations or followed by English versions. Much of the work was politically outspoken, from that of the visitors to local representatives Hirschman, Mirikitani and Agneta Falk (originally from Sweden, via England). Palestinian Hanan Awwad and Israeli Aharon Shabtai presented vividly phrased, complementary views of their troubled region, while soft-spoken Maram Al Masri, from neighboring Syria, delivered seductive love poetry redolent with the sensuality of the Song of Songs. Dynamic Italians Ferruccio Brugnaro and Alberto Masala electrified the audience with powerfully delivered and fervently engaged work. Nigerian Cletus Nelson-Nwadike, who writes in Swedish, brought down the house with the sly whimsy and naked emotion of his short poems. It was an evening that seemed to fulfill (Iraqi poet Sabah Muhsin) Jasim s expectations in his letter: Have we not already gathered together like verses of a poem? Do we ourselves not make up that poem that strives towards beauty, peace and humanity? 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. 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 Black Oak Books 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 AT THE LIBRARY SEPTEMBER

8 A At the SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC LIBRARY 100 LARKIN STREET SAN FRANCISCO, CA Library September 2007 In this Issue: Marina Branch Library re-opened Aug. 4. Page 1 - Meet Lalita Tademy Library by the Numbers Page 2 - BLIP Update Page 3 - Baseball Displays Traveling Pants Page 4 - One City One Book 2007 Cane River Events Adult Calendar Page 5 - Architecture and the City Hispanic Heritage Month Homework Help at the Library Page 6 - Children s Calendar Page 7 - Friends Focus The San Francisco Public Library system is dedicated to free and equal access to information, knowledge, independent learning and the joys of reading for our diverse community. 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: 12,000 Online version: Main Library phone number: (415) How to reach us Public Affairs, Main Library, 100 Larkin St. San Francisco, CA (415) ; publicaffairs@sfpl.org Web site: Every effort has been made to produce a monthly calendar that is both accurate and complete. Please contact Public Affairs if you have any questions or comments regarding the listings. Tours of Main Tours are conducted on the second Wednesday of each month at 2:30 p.m. Meet in the first floor atrium; limit of 17 people per tour; first come, first served. Limited number of private tours are available. For information, call (415) SFPL Commission Meetings are generally held the first and third Thursday of each month. This month s meetings: 4:30 p.m. on Sept. 6 at the Bayview/Anna E. Waden Branch Library. and 4:30 p.m. on Sept. 20 in the Koret Auditorium of the Main Library. The public is welcome to attend. Closure Times All branches of the San Francisco Public Library will be closed on Monday, Sept. 3, in observance of Labor Day. LIBRARY LOCATIONS AND HOURS S M T W T F S ANZA th Ave BAYVIEW/WADEN 5075 Third St x BERNAL HEIGHTS 500 Cortland Ave x x CHINATOWN 1135 Powell St Children s Room EUREKA VALLEY/MILK 1 José Sarria Court x (at 16th St., near Market) EXCELSIOR 4400 Mission St GLEN PARK 653 Chenery St x x GOLDEN GATE VALLEY 1801 Green St x INGLESIDE 1649 Ocean Ave x x MAIN LIBRARY 100 Larkin St MARINA 1890 Chestnut St MERCED 155 Winston Dr x x MISSION 300 Bartlett St Children s Room MISSION BAY 960 Fourth St x x NOE VALLEY/BRUNN Closed for renovation See temporary services schedule on page 2. NORTH BEACH 2000 Mason St OCEAN VIEW 345 Randolph St x x ORTEGA 3223 Ortega St x PARK 1833 Page St x x PARKSIDE 1200 Taraval St x PORTOLA 2450 San Bruno Ave x x POTRERO th St x x PRESIDIO 3150 Sacramento St x RICHMOND/MARKS Closed for renovation See temporary services schedule on page 2. SUNSET th Ave Children s Room VISITACION VALLEY 45 Leland Ave x x WEST PORTAL 190 Lenox Way WESTERN ADDITION Closed for renovation See temporary services schedule on page 2. x means CLOSED. For more information: (All phone numbers are in the 415 area code.) 8 SEPTEMBER 2007 AT THE LIBRARY