Library invites kids, families to celebrate a summer of reading!

On Saturday, August 1, the San Antonio Public Library invites children and their parents to celebrate a summer of reading with SummerFest at the Central Library, 600 Soledad. The fun will kick off at 11:00 a.m. and run until 3:00 p.m. Activities will include crafts, games, facepainting, and refreshments.

The event is free and open to the public. For this event only, free parking will be available all day in the Library parking garage. For more information, the public may call 207-2621.

Summer Reading and SummerFest sponsors include the Friends of the San Antonio Public Library, CPS Energy, Scholastic, First Book, the San Antonio Silver Stars, McDonald’s, the San Antonio Public Library Foundation and the City of San Antonio Downtown Operations Department.

Renovations completed, Thousand Oaks is back in business!

The Thousand Oaks Branch Library, 4618 Thousand Oaks Drive, will reopen for service on schedule Monday, July 27, following two weeks of renovations. The $240,000 project, funded by Certificates of Obligation and City capital funds, included replacement of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system; roof repairs; installation of new carpet; new interior and exterior painting; parking lot repairs and re-striping; renovation of the restrooms; and installation of a new monument sign and lighted flagpole.

Thousand Oaks Branch Library service hours will be:

Monday 1:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.
Tuesday-Thursday 9:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.
Friday-Saturday 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Sunday 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.

For a map showing the branch library's location, please go to http://www.mysapl.org/location.aspx?id=tho.

Looking for a great career?

Are you looking for a great career? Think about becoming a librarian! The San Antonio Public Library and San Antonio Public Library Foundation want to help – you could receive a scholarship to study for your Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science! For more information, please call (210) 207-2635 or visit http://www.saplf.org/.

Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the moon landing

On July 20, 1969, the Lunar Landing Module of the Apollo 11 mission landed on the moon and astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first human to walk on non-Terran soil. If you're fascinated by man's trip to the moon, the San Antonio Public Library can help you trace the footsteps of that historic journey.

For a look at the technology and engineering behind the project, check out the DVD series Men on the Moon.

A glimpse of the behind-the-scenes politics can be found in Piers Bizony's The Man Who Ran the Moon: James E. Webb and the Secret History of Project Apollo.

Two Mercury astronauts, Alan Shepard and Deke Slayton, offer their perspectives on the space program in Moon Shot: the Inside Story of America's Race to the Moon.

Children can learn some of the history of manned moon travel in Apollo 11: First Moon Landing by Michael D. Cole, or Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11 by Brian Floca.

Visit NASA's official website http://www.nasa.gov/ for more information on the U.S. space program.

And, of course, ask your librarian for suggestions on where to look for great reads on this fascinating subject.

Has it really been five years? Celebrate with us!

Five years ago the west side of San Antonio gained a new library! The Guerra Branch Library, 7978 Military Drive West, opened on July 14, 2004, and quickly became one of our busiest locations.

Beginning at 12:00 noon on Saturday, July 18, 2009, we'll celebrate the Guerra Branch Library's fifth anniversary with fun activities and a special dedication.

At noon, storyteller Bob Blackstone will thrill kids and adults alike with his tales.

At 1:00 p.m., a special ceremony will dedicate the branch meeting room to a former District 6 City Council Representative, the late Enrique M. Barrera.

Winding up the activities at 2:00 p.m. will be the KaZamba African Drum and Dance Troupe.

All activities are free and everyone is invited.

Library shows you how to travel the world without breaking the budget

Safe, inexpensive world travel is possible - let Hostelling International USA show you how at “World Travel 101.” Novice international travelers will learn how to prepare for a trip overseas that won’t break the budget. Topics include planning an itinerary, transportation options, saving and carrying money, packing, accommodation, safety, and more. Depart from the familiar and begin your adventure with World Travel 101!

To find out all this and more, come to the Southwest Texas Council of Hostelling International USA budget travel workshop, “World Travel 101,” on Sunday, July 19, at 2:00 p.m. in the Central Library Auditorium, 600 Soledad.

The program is free and open to the public. One hour of free parking is available in the Central Library parking garage with a validated ticket. For more information, the public may call 207-2500.

Library offers special resources/assistance for teachers

Teachers have a lot to do, and the San Antonio Public Library wants to help. We are offering a series of summer training sessions for teachers to familiarize them with resources available through the Library. The introductory class will be on Saturday, July 18, at 2:00 p.m. and will cover the new mySAPL website, catalog searching, LearningExpress Library and Live Homework Help. Participants will earn 2 CPE credits for each completed course. Not only will you find out a lot about the resources the Library has to offer you and your students, but your input will also help us decide what to cover in future classes.

The program is free and open to the public, but seating is limited. To reserve a place, please register online at http://tinyurl.com/teacherdb or call (210) 207-2500.

One hour of free parking is available in the Central Library parking garage with a validated ticket. For more information, the public may call 207-2500.

Job & Career Resources @ the San Antonio Public Library

Whether you're starting your career or seeking a new position, the San Antonio Public Library can help you find and land the perfect job. The Library has lots of job and career resources, including job listings, résumé and interview help, and computer classes. At http://www.mysapl.org/, we've posted a Job and Career Guide to help you search our catalog, review databases, and find all kinds of other resources - all in one place.

Need to take a test to qualify for your next job? Visit LearningExpress on our webpage to practice. There are even online self-paced courses in topics such as business writing, and beginning July 1 LearningExpress will have a section to help with résumé writing!

No computer? Use ours! All 24 library locations have computers available to search for jobs, create a résumé, or submit an application online. (Bring a disk or flash drive if you would like to save your work.) We have wireless access if you have your own laptop or PDA.

These are just a few of the Library's resources on job hunting, careers, résumé development, and interviewing. Check with your librarian for help in locating and using these and other materials!