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San Bernardino Public Library Selected to Host "Great Stories CLUB" Teen Book Discussion Program

San Bernardino Public Library has been selected to host a three-part reading and discussion series called the "Great Stories CLUB." The library is one of 173 libraries nationwide receiving a grant from the American Library Association (ALA) to host this series, developed by the ALA Public Programs Office (PPO) and Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). Funding was provided for this program by Oprah's Angel Network.

The Great Stories CLUB (Connecting Libraries, Underserved Teens and Books) is a book discussion program created to provide teens with an opportunity to read and discuss three theme-related books. Each title selected for the program focuses on a character who struggles with a serious challenge. As a recipient of this grant from ALA, San Bernardino Public Library will receive programming resources as well as copies of the following books for distribution to teen participants at the Y Academy, the library’s partnering organization:

"Tyrell" by Coe Booth (Scholastic, Inc., 2007)

"Hole in My Life" by Jack Gantos (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2002)

"Sold" by Patricia McCormick (Hyperion, 2006)

All programs will be held at the Norman F. Feldheym Central Library. Capitola Katin and Jessica Scott, English teachers at the Y Academy, will lead the discussions of each book. This book club is one of several activities in which the Y Academy has collaborated with the Feldheym Central Library to help their students develop a lifelong love of reading and lifelong learning. The Y Academy, as part of the San Bernardino City Unified School District, and the San Bernardino Public Library are City of Readers partners. The Y Academy is a community day school for tenth graders, located across the street from the Feldheym Central Library. Each of the three books in this program focuses on the theme of choices, which is very important in the lives of these students. The hope is that discussing these books and the relevance to their own lives will encourage them to make good choices.

For more information about the Great Stories Club at San Bernardino Public Library, contact Linda Adams at 909.381.8236. For information about the national initiative, visit Great Stories CLUB.

"We are delighted that the San Bernardino Public Library has been chosen to host this unique series that will allow teens to read, discuss and own books that are relevant to the challenges in their lives," said Linda Adams, Young Adult Program Coordinator.

Meeting of Academy of Public Scholars at Feldheym Central Library

Are you deep into a career, which doesn’t give you much of a chance to think? Are you a student who’d like to read a truly great book without having to write a paper on it? Are you sick and tired of TV, print, and radio pseudo-intellectuals telling you how to think? Then the Academy of Public Scholars is for you. The next meeting is Wednesday, May 14 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Administration Board Room of the Norman F. Feldheym Central Library. Under interrogation: "Questions Concerning Technology," and "The Origin of the Work of Art,"by Martin Heidegger.

Eric Kessler, former owner of the Left Bank bookstore in Redlands, will guide readers through this rewarding text. According to Kessler, “The Academy of Public Scholars is for those interested in participating in challenging discourse, in a welcoming environment, on topics at the intersection of philosophy, culture and critical thinking.” Newcomers are always welcome. It’s not necessary for newcomers to read the material before the meeting.

View the survey of authors to be covered in the future. For more information, please call Eric Kessler at 909.997.3726.

Academy of Public Scholars Announces "Caffeinated Critique"

The Academy of Public Scholars announces an informal "Caffeinated Critique," Wednesday, May 28, starting at 6:00 p.m. at The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, 526 Orange Street, in Redlands.

Martin Heidegger's "Questions Concerning Technology," and "The Origin of the Work of Art," will be the texts under interrogation. This event is open to the public. No prior knowledge of text is required--curiosity is.

Drop in for half an hour or half the evening.

View the survey of authors to be covered in the future.

Library Cards Available to Foster Children at San Bernardino City Libraries

The San Bernardino Public Library and the San Bernardino County Department of Children's Services have worked out a unique plan where foster (out-of- home-care) parents can receive special library cards for the children they care for. Children will be encouraged to be responsible and to return all library materials on time. Foster parents don't have to worry about being stuck with huge library bills. The library will forgive overdue fines and the county will pay for missing or unreturned books.

The costs of this program are underwritten by the Department of Children's Services (DCS). Therefore only children that are a part of this program are eligible. Foster parents will need to show their agreement for the child to verify that they are eligible for the program.

According to Library Director Ophelia Georgiev Roop, "We are pleased to collaborate with the Department of Children's Services so that we can make it easier for foster children to have access to the benefits of a library."

For more information, please call 909.381.8201.

Volunteers wanted for Arda Haenszel California Room

The San Bernardino Public Library is seeking volunteers to work in the Arda Haenszel California Room, located on the second floor of the Norman F. Feldheym Central Library. Docents should enjoy history and/or genealogy and enjoy sharing that knowledge with library customers. Docents are needed to work at least once a week for a minimum of three hours. New volunteers will work with a more experienced docent.

The Arda Haenszel California Room is a treasure trove of priceless materials about the City of San Bernardino, the County of San Bernardino, the Inland Empire and the state. There is no other facility like ours that maintains such a complete history of our area that includes people, homes, farms, railroads, lakes, springs, businesses, lost buildings, roads, wildlife and fun things to do.

There is no librarian assigned to the Arda Haenszel California Room. Budget cuts forced its closing. It is open only when docents are available.

Fortunately, there is a group of dedicated volunteers who are truly living treasures and living encyclopedias of this area, but they are looking for people to train.

For more information, please call Millicent Price, Principal Librarian at 909.381.8226.

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