ROSES ON VALENTINE'S day? WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?

Whether you expect to get roses for Valentine’s Day or are planning on giving them, you should know what they mean! Symbolic meanings of flowers go back to Victorian times when it wasn’t appropriate to tell the person your were courting your feelings, but in the giving of small flower bouquets called tussie-mussies, symbolic meanings were understood.

Continue on the tradition today.

• Red roses should be reserved for your true valentine as they reflect love and passion.
• Have a dear friend who deserves a special valentine? Choose a bunch of yellow roses.
• Express your gratitude or admiration with either pink or peach roses; also a good choice for showing sympathy.
• White roses symbolize purity, reverence and secrecy.
• Want to show your valentine that you were meant to be together always? Mix together both red and white roses to represent unity.

Show your true feelings to your valentine on February 14^th.

Love to Langston by Tony Medina, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie
JUVENILE 811.54 Medina

CELEBRATING MARTIN LUTHER KING AND BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Reading. Learning. Understanding.
A collection of newspaper articles is available through the San Antonio Public Library and NewsBank devoted to Martin Luther King and Black History Month. NewsBank’s Special Report is available from the Articles and Databases link from the SAPL’s website and selecting the San Antonio Express News link under the heading for Magazines and Newspapers.

The Special Report is a valuable resource tool for information on Martin Luther King and the study of Black History Month. Both sections contain current articles and historical information organized into the following topics:

• Martin Luther King,

• Culture,

• Key Figures and Leaders,

• Accomplishments,

• Important Issues and Events,

• The Civil Rights Movement, and

• the Struggle for Freedom.

Other hot topics are covered such as Malcolm X and Buffalo Soldiers. All articles are in full text version, with the ability to print out easily. Keywords appear to assist with further research as well as a listing of appropriate websites.

Articles from major newspapers included in the Special Report were chosen for their relevance to the topics and their various perspectives. Take a moment this month to learn or relearn, explore, debate and understand some of the figures and events that have shaped the 20th century and will continue to influence and define our lives in the new millennium.

IT'S GOOD TO HAVE FRIENDS!

There’s an open invitation to the quarterly meeting of the San Antonio Public Library Writer Friends group, Tuesday, February 10, 7:00 p.m., in the Auditorium at the Central Library, 600 Soledad. The guest speaker will be Steve Bennett, San Antonio Express-News book editor, who will discuss the newspaper’s book section and answer questions from the audience.

The Writer Friends were organized to forge a link between local writers and the San Antonio Public Library. It exists not only to increase awareness of the contributions of local authors, but also to promote activities and events that foster literature and expand library use throughout the city. Anyone is welcome to attend.

The Writer Friends is only one of many Friends of the Library organizations throughout the San Antonio Public Library system. There is the umbrella organization Friends of the San Antonio Public Library, the Texana/Genealogy Friends, and numerous library branch friends groups, some affiliated with the larger organization, and some operating independently. However they’re set up, Library Friends help keep the doors open.

• They volunteer at library locations,
• hold book sales to benefit local branches,
• conduct programs,
• operate the Book Cellar used book store on the Central Library lower level,
• support employee recognition programs,
• and so much more.

Each year the Friends of the San Antonio Public Library presents the prestigious Arts & Letters Awards which recognize outstanding San Antonians who contribute to the art and literature of the city.

If you’re interested in joining a Library Friends group, ask at your local branch, call 207-2500, or come by the Book Cellar at the Central Library any day between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.

READING RAINBOW

Few things capture a child’s imagination like a good book. Here’s an opportunity for you to join us as we encourage children to create their own stories. KLRN is teaming up with the Emmy-Award-winning series Reading Rainbow to promote children’s love of literature and appetite for learning.

The Reading Rainbow Young Writer’s & Illustrators Contest will begin on February 9 and end on March 19, 2004. In order to encourage the creativity of the young children interested in participating in the contest, KLRN will be hosting a Young Writer’s and Illustrators Workshop on February 21, 2004 at the Central Library. We will have local authors and illustrators working with children and speaking about the writing and illustrating process. The event will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, and class space is limited. To reserve your space please call 270-9000, ext.2265.

For more information log onto http://www.klrn.org/Learning/readingrainbow/.

STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS

Thien Hoang Gretchen, the Electronic Resources Manager, offers a few book recommendations to kick off Library Lovers' Month.

Favorite Children’s Book:
Sam and the Lucky Money by Karen Chinn

Favorite Book:
Griffin & Sabine Trilogy by Nick Bantock and Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

Books Currently Reading:
Notes from a Small Island by Bill Bryson.

If you have any questions about the library or would like to see something included in this newsletter, please contact our Web Administrator at librarywebadmin@sanantonio.gov.

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