BLACK HISTORY MONTH FILM FESTIVALS

During February, please join the San Antonio Public Library in celebrating Black History Month through film. Start your journey at Central's first floor book display, where we will feature African-Americans in Hollywood and the music scene. We will also celebrate our winning Black History poem and poet in the 1st floor display. The films will be shown in the 1st floor Central Auditorium on the following Sundays.

Spike Lee Film Festival
Sunday, February 12, 11:30 - 4:00 p.m.
Location: Central Library Auditorium
Spike Lee is a prominent black filmmaker who is known for his intelligent, often controversial films. We will feature an insightful film or two that explores black culture.

Lil Jazz M'Tazz Movie Festival
Sunday, February 19, 11:30 - 4:00 p.m.
Location: Central Library Auditorium
Celebrate the world of Black Music. We will show a variety of films that feature the jazz scene during the Harlem Renaissance and other swinging times.

Refreshments will be served at both of these events.
 

Join us in February for SAPL’s Second Annual Show You Care Animal Fair! Don’t miss a great afternoon with other people passionate about pets. During the Fair you will be able to inquire about adopting a pet from local agencies. Information about donating and volunteering at local organizations will be provided.

Representatives from a variety of animal welfare organizations with interests in adoption, rescue, neutering/spaying, public service and rehabilitation will be on hand. The Bexar County Humane Society will be demonstrating the basics of pet CPR, from 1:15 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.

Learn more before you go!

• Spay Day: Overpopulation Information
• Spay and Neuter Q&A
• Information about microchipping

Representatives who will be present at the fair:

• Animal Defense League
• Brighter Days Horse Refuge
• Citizens for Pound Reform
• Delta of San Antonio
• Guide Dogs of Texas
• Humane Society SPCA of Bexar County
• Heart of Texas Greyhound Adoption
• Meadow Haven Horse Sanctuary and Rescue
• Mitchell Lake Audubon Center
• SNAP
• Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation, Inc.

Volunteers from the VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program and AARP will provide tax help between January 18 and April 15, 2006, at the Branch Libraries and times shown below.

This service is especially for persons with low-incomes and senior citizens needing help with the basic 1040 and 1040EZ tax form.

Library staff are not trained to answer tax questions. For answers to your basic tax-related questions, consult with one of the volunteers from VITA or AARP or call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040. For information on the VITA site nearest you, check the City of San Antonio web page, or call the United Way Help Line at (210) 227-4357 or 211.

Reproducible tax forms will be available (may be copied for a fee) for the public’s use throughout the period we are offering the income tax assistance service. Reproducible forms will also be available after April 15.

ASSISTANCE SESSIONS

Whether you are getting ready to take SAT, ASVAB, GED or a firefighter’s exam, the San Antonio Public Library has a great and FREE resource for you. Through our subscription to the LearningExpress Library, you have a free and unlimited access to an interactive online collection of practice tests and tutorial courses. They are designed to help students, and adult learners succeed on the academic or licensing tests they must pass. You'll get immediate scoring, complete answer explanations, and an individualized analysis of your results.

A list of available resources includes THEA reading comprehension, writing and mathematics exams: elementary through high school skill improvement; police officer’s, nursing aides' and civil service exams; resume and cover letter writing; and much, much more.

To get to the LearningExpress Library from your home computer, go to www.sanantonio.gov/library  and click on Electronic Resources/Articles and Databases, then select the LearningExpress Library. All you need to have is a valid San Antonio Public Library card in order to use this wonderful resource.
 

STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS

Julia Selwyn, Central Library Reference, sits a spell to enjoy a book.

Currently Reading: Lamb by Christopher Moore.

Favorite Fiction Book: Momo by Michael Ende.

Favorite Valentine's Book: The Princess Bride by William Goldman.

Favorite Children's Book: Zoom by Istvan Banyai, Toad Rage by Morris Gleitzman and A Barrel of Laughs, a Vale of Tears by Jules Feiffer.

FEATURED EVENTS

TEEN

College Application & Financial Aid – Made Easy! Free Seminar By: Chandra Murthy (A non-profit service from the Gowri Krishna Foundation) For high school students and parents. For more information, please call (210) 532-4254. Saturday, February 11, 2:00-3:30 p.m. McCreless Library.

Activist Hershey Johnson. Describes his experiences in the Civil Rights Movement in Shreveport and Dallas. Sunday, February 26, 2:30 p.m. Pan American Library.

MORE SAPL EVENTS

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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