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Sanctuary
@ Your Library
 In
times of crisis, the library can be a sanctuary and a
resource. Two years ago, the first Katrina and Rita refugees
started coming to San Antonio. San Antonio Public Library
came to their aid: children's librarians did story times at
the shelters, while library staff helped families reconnect
and apply for aid through our computers. From relaxation to
research, librarians helped patrons locate fiction, find
local resources for jobs and education and keep up to date
with regional news.
Two years later, patrons who have relocated to San Antonio
can still find quality story times. The library has acquired
weekly subscriptions to the New Orleans Picayune and
Biloxi
Sun Herald at the Central Library. Patrons can use the
Internet and library resources, and connect with family
members near and far.
For all our patrons, both new and old, the library offers a
variety of resources for difficult times. From legal forms
and medical directories to community assistance, the library
can connect you with trusted resources. Although librarians
are not lawyers or doctors, they know where to turn to get
quality resources and advice. Don't know where to begin? Ask
a librarian and let us get you started.
Local Resources
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Legal Help -
TexasLawHelp is a one-stop website where low-income Texans can get
information about their legal rights and find out about free legal
assistance in their area.
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Terra Genesis of
San Antonio - Search by type of assistance and find a list of
local resources to help you. Nonprofit agencies include contact and
agency information and services they provide.
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United Way Help Line:
dial 211 - Provides connections to community resources. Find
assistance in the following areas: food, clothing, health care,
employment, child and elder care, utility and rent assistance,
counseling and mental health and many other services.
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Meet the Authors
 On
August 5 the San Antonio Public Library, with support from the
Morris Endowment, hosts award-winning author
Amada Irma Perez,
creator of
My Very Own
Room and
My Diary
From Here to There. She'll be on hand to introduce her
newest bilingual picture-book to the children of San Antonio:
Nana’s Big
Surprise/Nana: Que Sorpresa! Please join us as Ms. Perez
shares her experiences as a writer, provides insights into the
creative process, and reads from her new book. The event takes
place in the 3rd-Floor Storytime Room at 2:00 p.m.
Award-winning author
Julia Alvarez will read from and sign copies of her new book
Once Upon a Quinceañera: Coming of Age in the U.S.A. in
the Central Library Auditorium at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August
8. Alvarez is the author of a number of books, including
How the
García Girls Lost Their Accents and
In The Time
of the Butterflies, which was made into a 2001 film
starring Salma Hayek and Edward James Olmos.
If romance is your cup of tea, "Resurrect Romance" takes place
on August 13 at the Cody branch. Authors Mara Fox (Letting
Loose!,
Letting Go),
Pamela Moss and Judith
Rochelle (Redemption) will discuss their work, starting at
7:00 p.m.
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Some Like It Hot!
 A
sweet love story with only the hint of passion? Smoking hot
lovers on an adventure? How much fire do you prefer in your
romance? Displays featuring romances rated by sensuality level
have become one of the most popular displays in the library,
circulating an average of 9.7 books per day. Ratings range from
Smoke to Inferno, with the books labeled in a corresponding
color.
Ratings are determined by staff members, or if the book is
unknown to them, then they are determined by a romance review
website, All About
Romance. Here are a few examples of each of the ratings:
So come on by the Central Library during August to check out
this display in the New Books area! We are sure you will find a
book for whatever romantic mood you are in!
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Perseid Meteor
Shower
 As
our monsoon season (hopefully) draws to a close, it’ll be time
to look to the heavens and see, instead of rain clouds, this
year’s Perseid meteor shower. No special equipment is necessary
because the meteors travel too fast to track with binoculars or
a telescope. Instead, you may want to just bring a blanket or a
lawn chair and pick a location far from the city lights.
Conditions are ripe for viewing this celestial event on the
evening of August 12 and early morning of the 13th. Because the
moon will be in its new phase, there’ll be no moonlight to
obscure the blaze of particles entering the atmosphere. These
particles, called meteoroids, were left behind by the comet
Swift-Tuttle. The Perseids take their name from the
constellation Perseus, from which they appear to come. Perseus
will rise in the northeast part of the sky, so that's where
you'll want to start looking.
If you're one of those folks who make a wish on shooting stars,
you're in luck! You might get upwards of 60 wishes an hour.
If the Perseids inspire you to keep gazing at the skies, check
out some of these resources:
In Print
On DVD
E-Book
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FEATURED
Database |
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From Bowker, the folks behind Books in Print and
Fiction Connection, comes another readers’ advisory tool intended to
connect readers with books similar to ones they’ve already enjoyed.
As its name implies, Non-Fiction Connection allows you to enter the
title or the author of a book and find similar nonfiction titles or
authors writing in the same genre. Alternately, you can start a
search by selecting a topic, genre, setting, character, location or
timeframe and browsing the results.
Non-Fiction Connection uses the
Aquabrowser to provide a visual web of suggested terms for improved
searching and refining of the initial search. The database also
provides a wealth of information about individual titles–summaries,
reviews, awards, media mentions, excerpts and cover images.
If you enjoyed reading the best-seller
The Diana
Chronicles, Non-Fiction Connection recommends
My Lady
Scandalous: The Amazing Life and Outrageous Times of Grace Dalrymple
Elliot, Royal Courtesan. Give it a try and find your next
read.
Check
out all our databases.
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We urge you to call your library before heading out for a special
program. Although we verify all information, cancellations do
occasionally occur. |
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