The theme for this summer’s Youth Reading Program is

CATCHING THE READING BUG.

METAMORPHOSIS is the theme for teen readers. The program officially begins on June 15^th and ends on August 15^th. Youth Services Librarian, Eric Chamberlin has been busy preparing our youth for the summer program by having them make “bugs” for their Thursday Craft project over the last several months. Check out the walls of the children’s area of the library; it will soon be “filled with bugs” made by local children.

      During the dates of the Summer Reading Program, the library will be crawling with special offerings for kids and teens on Tuesday mornings at 10:00 am and on Thursdays, start times will vary from 2:00 to 3:30 pm. All programs last approximately 1 hour.  Please let the library know if you will be attending the Thursday activities to ensure that there are enough materials for each participant. Help is always needed for the summer programs. This is a great way to volunteer for a two month period during the summer months and it’s lots of fun! Contact Eric to see how you can help.

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The theme for this summer’s reading program for youth is CATCHING THE READING BUG, and for teens  it is METAMORPHOSIS.  Eric Chamberlin, our Youth Services Librarian, has lined up a fun filled program for our children and teens.  Won’t you help spread the word to the youth of our area to join in the fun?                                          

The following is the schedule for the summer reading program for children and teens.  All programs are on Tuesdays at 10:00 am (story times and special fun entertainers) and on Thursday afternoons and one Friday afternoon.  The times vary for the Thursday & Friday afternoon craft programs so check times carefully.  Some of the Thursday craft programs require a reservation and parent permission for participation.  Most are geared for teens and are not appropriate for the younger folk. 

Tuesday, June 17th, 10:00am:  “Mad Zach’s Pirate Stories”  A special story time presentation by a costumed pirate.  (children of all ages)

Thursday, June 19th, 3:30 pm:  “Banking Basics for Teens”  Robyn Quaco from California coast Credit Union talks to young adults about the money management skills they will soon need. (teens)

Tuesday, June 24th, 10:00 am:  Joe Mystic’s Magic Show  (children)

Thursday, June 26th, 3:30 pm:  “Tales by Knight”  A knight in shining armor talks about the code of chivalry and why it still matters today. (older children)

Tuesday, July 1st, 10:00 am:  “Literature Comes to Life” Story teller (children)

Thursday, July 3rd, 3:00 pm:  “Hardware Jewelry”  Make jewelry out of hardware and chain links (teen–parental permission and sign up required)

Tuesday, July 8th, 10:00 am:  “Sparkles the Clown”  puts on quite a show! (children)

Thursday, July 10th, 3:00 pm:  “Book Safes”  Turn old books into secret storage boxes (teen-parental permission and sign up required)

Tuesday, July 15th, 10:00 am:  “Patchwork Players”  A story telling duo (children)

Thursday, July 17th, 3:30 pm:  “Urban Legends:  Rumor into Reality?”  Theatrical presentation on how rumors become urban legends (teen)

Tuesday, July 22nd, 10:00am:  “Tony Bradley’s Balloon Class”  Learn how to make balloon animals (older children)

Thursday, July 24th, 2:00 pm: “Screen Print T-shirts”  Make silk screened T-shirts (teen–sign up required)

Tuesday, July 29th, 10:00 am:  “Craig Stone”  Magic Show (children)

Thursday, July 31st, 3:00 pm:  “Flash Fiction” Free your creativity and learn to  write short fiction stories spontaneously (teen)

Tuesday, August 5th, 10:00 am:  “Wild Wonders”  Animal show (children)

Thursday, August 7th, 3:30 pm:  “Henna Tattoos”  Get professional henna “tattoos” by a local artist (teen-parental permission and sign up required)

Friday, August 8th, 3:30 pm: “Billy Martinez”  Learn to draw anime style art with a local graphic novel artist (teen)

Tuesday, August 12th, 10:00 am:  “Toney Bradley magic Class”  Learn to perform magic tricks (older children)

Thursday, August 14th, 3:30 pm:  “Love Bug Band”  End of summer party with refreshments, live entertainment, and reading awards.  (children & teens)

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On April 7, the SCFOL announced the winners of the 2008 Writing For Literacy contest at an awards ceremony held at the San Carlos Library. All together, there were 68 entrants from 5 local schools. Congratulations to all of the students, their parents, teachers, and schools. We were lucky enough to be able to send 5 of our local winners on to compete in the city-wide contest. City-wide, Grand Prize Winners, at each grade level, were announced on May 1, 2008, at the Balboa Park Club. Four of our five local winners were also Grand Prize Winners.  Each local winner received a certificate from Council member Jim Madaffer, and a $25 gift certificate from Barnes and Nobles.

This year’s winners from Patrick Henry are 10th graders, Suzanna Osuna and Jordan Hart. Both of their essays won in the city-wide competition.

Pershing’s 8th grader, Sharona Silverstein, won both locally and city-wide at her grade level.

Local fourth grade winners were: from Dailard, Paul Osuna, Diego Mateus, and Michael Wehrmeyer; from Benchley-Weinberger, Jessica Young, Aeliana Hubbell and Daniela Vesprini-Heidrich; and from Gage Natalie Stoklosa. The essays of Paul and Jessica were sent on to compete city-wide where Paul was named one of the 12 Grand Prize winners.

Again, Congratuations to all of the participants and to our local and Grand Prize winners.

A big Thank You must also go to the dedicated contest judges, Dorothy Dougherty, Jeanne Dye, Margy Forbis, Burl Hogins, Flora Hogins, Inez Jacobson, Ann McDonald, Joanne Prescott, Barbara Woodhall, and Dan Yelvington.

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Thanks to your donations at the Friends of the Library monthly Book Sales, we have been able to donate books to our Military at MCAS Miramar and to our fighting military in Iraq.

Here is an excerpt from an e-mail sent by SSG James C. Shields, serving with the 3^rd Inf. Division at Camp Ramadi after receiving a box of books from the Friends:

“I’ll be keeping my eye out for the books. For your information, I put out your first box of books the same day they arrived. They were placed on an empty shelf among rows of junk novels that had been mostly untouched since I got here. Well, I�d say right now there are four or five of yours left on the shelf! We have a camp policy here (unwritten) where if you take a book and read it, you put it back either in its original spot or on any other bookshelf in the camp. So, your books should be circulating all over the camp already. That says something about the titles”

As you can tell, the camp was starved for quality reading material. We are so pleased that we have been able to help in this regard, and thank you again for your donations. Please continue this effort by dropping your donations of money or books off at the San Carlos Library. If you do so at the monthly book sale, there is a designated spot at the check out counter. Otherwise, leave your donation, specifically marked for the military and booksale chairperson with library personnel at the San Carlos Branch Library.

Click here to find out how you can help!