CELEBRATE NATIONAL
POETRY MONTH
Julia
Alvarez Poetry Reading
![Photo: Julia Alvarez [Bill Eichner]](../images/picAlvarezJulia.jpg) Growing up in the Dominican Republic, Julia Alvarez loved stories, both
hearing them and taking her turn in telling them. As her family immigrated
to the United States, Alvarez at the age of 10 began out of necessity, an
important examination of a new language. She began reading and eventually
made the association between her stories and writing them down. During her
early years of writing, her stories were considered too ethnic for the
mainstream, so Alvarez taught creative writing at different levels before
a tenure track position was offered at Middlebury College in Vermont.
The same year as the job position opened, Alvarez published her first
novel, How the García Girls Lost Their Accents. With the success of
her first novel Alvarez was finally ready at 41 to make a living as a
writer. Since then she has published essays, poetry, books for children,
and novels including the critically acclaimed In the Time of the
Butterflies. Alvarez and her husband spend part of their time in
Vermont, where she is a writer in residence at Middlebury College, and the
other half in the Dominican Republic where they have started a sustainable
farm-literacy center called Alta Gracia.
On April 15th, at 6:30 PM Julia Alvarez will be at the San
Antonio Public Library Auditorium reading from her latest book of poetry,
The Woman I Kept to Myself. This latest book of 75 poems follow her
through a childhood in the Dominican Republic into her adulthood. The
poems cover important autobiographical topics including family, politics,
writing, marriage and life as an immigrant. The reading will last 45
minutes and will be followed by a questions and answer session, a
reception of light refreshments and a book signing. This event is free and
open to the public.
Related Websites:
Poetry Reading
In celebration of National Poetry Month, the Central Library will be
hosting a
 Poetry Reading on Wednesday, April 28th at 6:00 pm.
Special guests include local poets Palmer Hall, editor of the Pecan Grove
Press, Marian Haddad, Cynthia J. Harper, Rod Stryker, and Cyra Dumitru.
Please come out to hear some poetry, support the local literary community,
and enjoy some refreshments. Books by the guest authors will be available
for check-out if you want to read more of their work.
Other events that will be taking place at the Central Library
throughout the month of April are a "Guess the Poet" contest, where you
can win a gift certificate from Half Price Books and Volume Teen Poetry
Night, April 5th and 19th at 7:00 pm. Also, be sure
to go to the library’s homepage to read the
Poem of the Week.
Check the Events Calendar,
for poetry themed events at your library.
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SOMETHING FOR
EVERYONE @ YOUR LIBRARY
 It’s
National Library Week, a time to rediscover all that our nation’s
libraries, librarians and library workers have to offer and why
there’s something for everyone @ your library!
"Libraries provide a
world of opportunity for all people, regardless of age, income or
background," says Beth Graham, Public Relations Manager for San Antonio
Public Library. "Whether you’re checking out the latest bestseller,
researching your college term paper, getting homework help or using the
Internet, the library has the resources and staff to help you find what
you are looking for."
National Library Week
2004 marks the fourth year of The Campaign for America’s Libraries, a
multi-year public education campaign sponsored by the American Library
Association and libraries across the country to speak loudly and clearly
about the value of libraries and librarians in the 21st century.
"National Library Week is
a great time to see what’s new at your public library and how librarians
and library workers can provide you with the resources and services you
need when you need them," adds Graham. "We encourage all community members
to come check us out."
There’s something for
everyone at your library!
Celebrate @ the Library
April 18-24
Kindergarteners: Art Contest!
Young Adults: Let Me Count the Ways!
Create a list of "101 Reasons Why I Like to Read." The deadlines for both
programs is April 22; prizes awarded April 24. Call
Carver
Branch Library for details.
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DISCOVER THE LIBRARY/EXPLORE THE WORLD
Listening
to Bones
In April, the San
Antonio Public Library Foundation presents the first programs in the 2004
edition of Discover the Library, Explore the World. The 2003
Discover the Library series brought to San Antonio such fascinating
scientists as Wade Davis, Sylvia Earle, and Jane Goodall. This year the
Library Foundation has partnered with the Smithsonian Institution
Associates to present a new season of exciting programs. Join us at the
Central Library as physical anthropologist David Hunt talks about topics
that range from what we can learn from mummies to how anthropologists help
law enforcement identify victims and track down criminals. Whether you’re
a fan of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, or just an ancient-history
buff, you won’t want to miss Dr. Hunt’s sessions at the Central Library.
Saturday, April 3
Mummies of the World. Mummies and mummification practices throughout
the world offer insight into various cultures, particularly ancient Egypt.
This presentation with slides describes what can be learned from research
done on mummies in the collection at the National Museum of National
History. Stories ranging from the discovery of the Iceman to embalmed
alligators and cats are included, as are some actual mummy specimens.
Central Library Children’s Department, 3rd Floor
2:00 p.m.
 Sunday, April 4
Looking for Clues in Bones. (May be too intense for younger
children) From archaeological digs at early American
settlements to modern crime scenes, a forensic anthropologist reconstructs
human life from fragmentary remains. Current research techniques can
reveal information about a person’s age, sex, appearance in life and
probable cause of death. When FBI investigators seek help identifying
victims of crimes they often turn to the Physical Anthropology Department
at the Smithsonian’s Museum of Natural History. In this presentation,
illustrated by fascinating slides of telltale evidence, David Hunt
describes his forensic work and the challenges he faces.
Central Library Auditorium, 1st Floor,
3:30 p.m. |
IT'S SPRING!
Take a drive with the top down, take the family on a picnic,
garden your yard or take a walk. For just a few
 Texas months the weather
is warm enough to get outside but not melt – enjoy it! And who could
forget Fiesta, the ultimate in outdoor sports? Whatever your particular
interest, a book will help you figure out how do it, how to do it better,
where to do it, who else does it, or how much it will cost.
Check these out:
60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: San Antonio and Austin by Tom Taylor
917.643 TAYLOR
Fishing Vacations for All Budgets: Directory of U.S. Fishing Resorts
by H. Lee Simpson
799.1025 FISHING
Get Out! Outdoor Activities Kids Can Enjoy Everywhere (Except Indoors)
by Hallie Warshaw with Jake Miller
JUVENILE 796 WARSHAW
Month-by-Month Gardening in Texas by Dale Groom
and Dan Gill
712.09764 GROOM
Pete Dunne on Bird Watching: The How-To, Where-To, and When-To of
Birding by Pete Dunne
598.07234 DUNNE
Play Golf for Juniors by Mike Adams
JUVENILE 796.35208 ADAMS
Sidewalk Chalk: Outdoor Fun and Games by Jamie McGillian
JUVENILE 796 MCGILLIAN
The Noblest Invention: An Illustrated History of the Bicycle edited
by Bicycling Magazine
629.2272 NOBLEST
Touring Texas Gardens by Jessie Stephens
712.09764 STEPHENS
Touring Texas Wineries: Scenic Drives
Along Texas Wine Trails by Thomas Ciesla
641.2202 CIESLA
Call (210) 207-2500 or check
out the
Library Catalog for availability. |
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STAFF
RECOMMENDATIONS |
| THE SAN ANTONIO
PUBLIC LIBRARY STAFF LOVES TO READ!
![Photo: Teresa Pennington, Librarian II, Landa Branch Library [S. Bowman]](../images/0404PenningtonT.jpg)
Teresa Pennington, Librarian II at
Landa Branch Library, offers a few
book recommendations.
Last Book:
Storyteller by Amy Thomson
Currently Reading:
The Tawny Man #3: Fool's Fate by Robin Hobb
Favorite Book:
The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
Favorite Children’s Book:
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
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LIBRARY EVENTS |
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FAMILY
Dinosaur George!
Everything you ever wanted to know about prehistoric life. Saturday, April 3, 2:00 p.m.
Carver Branch Library.
Family Game Night.
Go Fish, Dominoes, Scrabble, Chess and more! Fun for everyone. Monday, April 5, 6:30 p.m.
Carver Branch Library.
Poetry in Paper. Learn the
serene and beautiful art of origami, Japanese paper-folding, at
classes taught by Carol Johnson. Join us at one of the following
Library locations:
Saturday, April 10, 2:00 p.m.
Thousand Oaks Branch Library.
Tuesday, April 13, 7:00 p.m.
Brook Hollow Branch Library
Saturday, April 17, 10:00 a.m.
Westfall Branch Library
Saturday, April 24, 10:00 a.m.
Johnston Branch Library
ADULT
Books-n-Barbecue!
Friends of Carver Branch fundraiser. Saturday, April 10, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Carver Branch Library.
Beginning Guitar Lessons with Jason Martin.
Saturday, April 10, 2:00 p.m.
Collins Garden Branch Library.
Prairie View A&M Cooperative Extension Program Health Fair.
Get your blood pressure checked and more! Saturday, April 17, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Collins Garden Branch Library.
Mosaic Demonstration.
Watch and learn as Jessie Ong demonstrates how he creates beautiful mosaics with his attention to detail. Saturday, April 17, 2:00 p.m.
Johnston Branch Library.
Ardent Spaces Poetry Reading.
Wednesday, April 21, 6:00 p.m.
Westfall Branch Library.
First-time Homebuyers Seminar.
The steps to buying your first house; please register. Wednesday, April 28, 7:00 p.m.
McCreless Branch Library.
YOUNG ADULT
Basic Pet First Aid.
Saturday, April 3, 2:30 p.m.
McCreless Branch Library.
Sun Poets Society Youth Slam.
A family-oriented poetry slam. Read your own poetry in a friendly competition - live DJ too! Saturday, April 10, 2:30 p.m.
McCreless Branch Library.
Recycling Project & Art.
Saturday, April 10 & 17, 2:00 p.m.
Memorial Branch Library.
Plastic Bottles Recycle, But the Caps Don't!
Earth Day bottle cap art. Wednesday, April 21, 3:30 p.m.
Pan American Branch Library.
CHILDREN
Welcome Spring!
Performances by Sul Ross Access 21 Community School. Saturday, April 3, 1:00 p.m. Cheerleaders
1:30 p.m. Drama Group
2:00 p.m. Mariachi Players
2:30 p.m. Ballet Folklórico.
Forest Hills Branch Library.
Readers' Theater Special.
"Tricked by Magic," plus the magic trick from "Rabbit-Cadabra!" Saturday, April 17, 2:00 p.m.
Cortez Branch Library.
Día de los Niños, Día de los Libros.
Favorite bilingual stories. Wednesday, April 28, 10:30 a.m.
Memorial Branch Library.
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Book Discussions
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Book Sales
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Computer Classes
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Income Tax
Assistance
We urge you to call your library before heading out for a special
program. Although we verify all information, cancellations do
occasionally occur. |
