Thursday, April 30, 2009

A Sacramento Job Fair

Looking for a job?
Central Library is here to help!
We are hosting the following event:

Sacramento Career and
Vocational Fair
Wednesday, May 6th
from 11 am to 2 pm

Lots of groups are coming out, including the Sacramento Sheriff's Department, American River College, California Conservation Corps, California Highway Patrol, Elk Grove Police Department, Labor Ready, Macy’s, Sacramento Employment and Training Agency, Sacramento Fire Department, Sacramento Job Corps, Sacramento Police Department, Sacramento START, and more!

Some groups are hiring for the summer; others are offering training (some of it paid training, my favorite kind) and one group, hands on Sacramento, is looking for volunteers. Come on down if you are interested, and dress for the job you want.

Monday, April 27, 2009

RINCóN LATINO : PELíCULAS EN ESPAÑOL

Durante la crisis monetaria de la última década, la Argentina de Carlos Menem presenció un fenómeno social como nunca experimentado en su larga historia: la toma. Durante aquella abrumadora década, legiones de trabajadores desamparados decidieron tomar las fábricas donde antes los empleaban. Bajo el lema de ,,Ocupar, Resistir,Producir" obreros decidieron tomar por fuerza propia la Forja San Martín en Bueonos Aires, una fábrica
cuyo dueño Luis Zanon piensa que con el apoyo del gobierno central retomará cuya fábrica. Pero los obreros forman una cooperativa que ha reemplazado el antiguo puño de hierro de los jefes con un mando justo y eficaz.

,,La Toma" estrenó en 2004 bajo la dirección de dos productores Naomi Klein y Avi Lewis. La Toma está en español y con subtítulos en inglés.


Los derechos sobre este texto son reservados y queda terminantemente prohibida sureproducción no autorizada por cualquier medio impreso, electrónico o digital.

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Sacramento History Photo of the Week: Issue No. 14!


Simply known as the Chinese Chapel, the lakeside structure, situated on Sixth Street, between “H” and “G,” was built in June of 1855 by the Reverend J. Lewis Shuck, a Southern Baptist minister and missionary whose charge it was to convert the city’s Chinese population to Christianity. With the outbreak of the Civil War and his flock peaking at a mere sixteen members, Shuck left for South Carolina. After serving as a grocery and living place for several years, the former Chapel was felled by incidental fire in 1872. Courtesy of the California State Library.

This photo and many more like it can be found in the Sacramento Public Library’s Sacramento Room which is open to the public Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday 1 to 5, and Thursday 1 to 8.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

RINCóN LATINO : PELíCULAS EN ESPAÑOL

,, Frágil" es una película española la cual se strenó en 2005. Recibió muchos premios y fué elogiada rotundamente por su originalidad y bello esplendor de sus escenas. La película se trata de Venus quien vive con su anciano padre en un aislado valle del norte de España. Los dos se dedican al trabajo del campo y en elaborar productos de miel. Un día Venus encuentra a su padre muerto y decide finalmente vivir su vida a su máximo ,y se lanza absolutamente a encontrar sus sueños. Su sueño es reencontrarse con aquel niño quien le dió su primer y único beso de su vida. Lo que sigue es el ,primer materia' de los sueños hecho en realidad. Bueno eso piensa nuestra protagonizadora ... hasta que la verdadera naturaleza de los seres humanos se tapa.

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LA PALABRA DEL DÍA

boicoteo

,,En las últimas décadas del siglo XIX, el nacionalista irlandés Michael Davitt dirigía una organización, la Liga Irlandesa de la Tierra, creada para acelerar la reforma agraria, reducir impuestos e implementar otras disposiciones que ayudaran a los campesinos pobres a sobrevivir. Los que no estaban de acuerdo con las demandas de la Liga eran sometidos a una campaña popular organizada en su contra; no eran objeto de violencia física, pero nadie hablaba con ellos, eran ignorados por el pueblo. Uno de los primeros en ser sometidos a esa campaña fue el capitán Charles Cunningham Boycott, un mayoral británico que estaba a cargo de una gran propiedad rural. A partir del apellido de este mayoral, surgió en inglés el verbo to boycott, con el sentido de ignorar el pueblo o un grupo a alguien. En la actualidad, el boicoteo (también se puede decir boicot) se aplica con poca frecuencia, pero cuando esto ocurre, lo más común es que se refiera a dejar de comprar cierta mercadería o los productos de determinado fabricante o comerciante, o los de una procedencia concreta.En el Diccionario de la Academia se registró por primera vez en la edición de 1927:
boicotear. Privar a una persona o entidad de toda relación social o comercial, para perjudicarla y obligarla a ceder lo que de ella se exige."

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Los derechos sobre este texto son reservados y queda terminantemente prohibida su reproducción no autorizada por cualquier medio impreso, electrónico o digital.

Monday, April 20, 2009

On Learning

Sacramento Public Library staff is in the midst of a fun staff-development campaign to learn 27 Things in the next few weeks. These "Things" are all related to new web tools that have sprung up over the last few years. The library has not yet adopted much of this new stuff for regular services, even though technology users abound! About a third of our staff has jumped aboard with enthusiasm. I hope we'll see some new things going on in the near future.

I bring this up because we tend to forget how far libraries have actually come in the last few years, and how it must feel to newcomers. Two days ago, a couple of us were helping a non-English-speaking gentleman request books for his ESL class. We identified the books he was trying to find. Sacramento Public does not own them, but they are available from one of our Link+ partner libraries. He spoke literally only a few words of English, and neither of us librarians understood Chinese. After much fruitless writing, pointing, and shrugging of shoulders, I asked another staff member, who does speak Chinese, to explain how Link+ works to get books from libraries outside our local library system.


We updated the gentleman's card, helped him establish a PIN, showed him how to use the catalog to find books and how to extend the search to the Link+ libraries. We showed him how to place holds on the books and explained that we will notify him when they arrive. He was most grateful, and completely astonished that this service is free!

That gentleman is 73 years young, learning not only a new language, but a new culture and a new technological way of life. He is the perfect example of a life-long-learner, and someone we should all strive to emulate!

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Sacramento History Photo of the Week: Issue No. 13!


Shrouded in semi-tropical greenery, so typical of many late-nineteenth century lots in the Alkali was the home of William F. Knox, at 916 “G” Street. The Virginia-born Knox came to California as a 49er, but settled into the construction industry where he amassed a modest fortune. In addition to serving on the City’s School Board and Common Council, Knox and his business contributed mightily to the building of the Central Pacific Railroad, Sacramento County’s first courthouse, and was a primary player in the epic undertaking of raising Sacramento’s business district by eighteen feet in 1863.

This photo and many more like it can be found in the Sacramento Public Library’s Sacramento Room which is open to the public Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday 1 to 5, and Thursday 1 to 8.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Politically Incorrect Movies: Blazing Saddles

I have a confession to make.

Every time I’m having a really bad day, I typically do one of two things: I go to YouTube and type in puppies or kittens (sometimes I type in puppies and kittens), or I watch my favorite scene from Blazing Saddles. If you haven’t seen Mel Brooks and Cleavon Little in Blazing Saddles, you’re really missing something. They could never, ever, ever (ever!) make this movie again---at least not on this planet. The reasons why they could never make it again are obvious five minutes into the film, but it doesn’t stop me from watching Madeline Kahn perform “I’m Tired.” The first time I saw this scene I about fell out of my chair. The voice, the outfit, those unbelievable lyrics! (“I’m not a wabbit! I need some weeeeesssst.”) They just lift my spirits. Because no matter how tired I am, I will never be that tired!

Monday, April 13, 2009

RINCóN LATINO : PELíCULAS EN ESPAÑOL


,,August Evening" es una película estadounidense pero con actores hispanohablantes en una historia de trabajadores indocumentados tratando de sobrevivir en los Estados Unidos. Esta película, ganadora de varios premios cinemáticos, ya se estrenó en los Estados Unidos pero para la mayor parte del público no la encontró acogedora por su tema controversial. Para mi el tema se trata de las diferencias enter generaciones y del amor enter tres personas en tiempos poco auspiciosos. Pero para muchos estadounidenses no es así. Para muchos se trata de algo político y por resultado controversial. Sin embargo, les aconsejo que toman el tiempo para reservar esta película para entender todavía más lo que es sufrir y amar en tiempos desafiantes.


Saturday, April 11, 2009

Children’s Books for Adults: The True Meaning of Smekday

Usually I don’t take children’s books home to read---I typically stick to reading unrealistic novels and depressing works of non-fiction in my spare time. But The True Meaning of Smekday by Adam Rex kept staring at me, and when a school librarian explained it was flat our hilarious, I finally checked it out.

You have to read this book!

Twelve-year old Gratuity “Tip” Tucci was given the same essay assignment as everyone else:
“Write an essay entitled The True Meaning of Smekday. What is the Smekday holiday? How has it changed in the year since the aliens left? You may use your own personal experiences from the alien invasion to make your points.”

While the alien invasion was an exciting time for every American who was forced to relocate to Florida via rocketpod, it was especially exciting to Gratuity, who decided she’d rather drive to Florida by herself. After all, she’d been driving herself (badly and at night) ever since her mother was abducted by the Boov, as the aliens called themselves. So with her cat, Pig, and a car full of junk food, she heads out of town, figuring, what else could go wrong on Planet Earth/the colony known as Smekland?

Answer: lots!

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Sacramento's Arc de Triomphe


So, we're working the night shift last night, see, and we spotted this double rainbow othrough the 5th floor windows around 7:25 p.m., and it was SO BRIGHT! Glad I had my camera to capture it, because 5 minutes later, it was all gone.

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Sacramento History Photo of the Week: Issue No. 12! The Sacramento Room Steps Up in Preparation for National Archives Month

October will be National Archives Month. To promote the role of archives in our local communities, the California State Archives is putting together a poster, one that describes what archives do and shows a few of the prime artifacts that are held in archives around the state. It just so happens that the SPL's own archives, the Sacramento Room, will be represented on said poster. The Room's contribution is the 1921 photo of a batboy for the Sacramento Senators baseball team. One word - precious.



This photo and many more like it can be found in the Sacramento Public Library’s Sacramento Room which is open to the public Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday 1 to 5, and Thursday 1 to 8.

Saturday, April 4, 2009

RINCóN LATINO : PELíCULAS EN ESPAÑOL

,,Roma" es una película argentina dirigida por el director Adolfo Aristarain premiada en la Argentina por mejor director y actriz. Esta hermosa película se trata de un periodista quien ha sido contratado a escribir la auto-biografía de un escritor. Durante este empeño el periodista revela unas verdades profundamente ocultadas de la relación entre su madre y su niñez.

Como siempre les sugiero que vean esta preciosa película encantadora. Por el momento me despido ... ¡Chau!




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LA PALABRA DEL DÍA

prolijo

"Los romanos empleaban el adjetivo laxus para calificar algo que fuera grande, extenso, amplio, flojo o suelto. Laxus provenía de liquor, liquoris (con cambio de la i por una a, llamado apofonía, muy frecuente en latín) que significaba 'líquido', un estado de la materia indudablemente más relajado que el sólido.De allí se formó el verbo relaxare, con el sentido de 'relajar', 'aflojar', 'soltar'. Relaxare arcum era desarmar la cuerda de un arco, liberándola de su tensión (Séneca); relaxare alvus era para Cicerón 'decargar el vientre' (de donde proviene nuestro laxante) y relaxare tristem vultum era 'aflojar el semblante tenso, para darle una expresión tranquila o relajada'.Además de líquido, liquor vino a derivar en nuestra lengua en licor, entre muchas otras palabras. En economía y finanzas, liquidez es la propiedad de un bien de ser fácilmente convertible en dinero y, por extensión, se aplica también los activos en efectivo, tales como papel moneda, depósitos bancarios y los títulos bien calificados.A partir de laxus los latinos formaron también prolixus (alargado, extenso, grande). Suetonio describe a un personaje diciendo que prolixo corpore erat (era corpulento). La palabra prolixus fue retomada por los autores españoles a partir del siglo XV bajo la forma prolijo, con la denotación de 'largo, profuso, extenso', empleada principalmente para referirse a quien da largas e interminables explicaciones cargadas de detalles inútiles, o sea, equivalente a 'demasiado largo, demasiado amplio, excesivamente esmerado o minucioso'. Finalmente, en el Río de la Plata, prolijo adquirió un nuevo significado: 'aquel que hace las cosas con esmero, orden y pulcritud'. Del individuo que no procede de esa forma, se dice que es desprolijo, un vocablo del que no hemos encontrado ninguna referencia fuera del Río de la Plata, donde es voz corriente. "

Friday, April 3, 2009

Teen Books for Adults: Blankets by Craig Thompson

When someone first recommended Blankets to me I was pretty skeptical. The cover notes it’s “an illustrated novel by Craig Thompson,” which, to me, meant one thing:

It was a picture book masquerading as a novel.

Come on, I know I’m not the only one who looked at the comic books and graphic novel section and thought all the books in that category read like Dr. Seuss, only with racier pictures. I scoffed at the thought that a novel with that many illustrations could be thoughtful, insightful, and at sometimes be so painful I felt as if I had snatched someone’s diary and was secretly reading it under the blankets with a flashlight. A graphic novel should not feel so honest and raw, yet it resonated through me in an unsettling manner that still hits me every time I pick it up. A seemingly long book (582 pages) you will not put it down until it’s finished, and even then you will flip through the acknowledgements, hoping for just a little more.