March is Art IS Education Month!

In honor of the Art IS Education month, all the Alameda County Library branches are offering more than 100 free art events for youths of all ages and their family to explore their creativity and to learn how art can bring positive changes to ourselves, our community and our world.  At Centerville Library, we have planned a busy month full of fun activities and here is the listing of them:

	Tuesdays, March 5, 12, 19, 26, during open Hours Thursday, March 7, 16, 23, during open hours Seasons Kirigami Art Project Kids and teens of all ages are invited to participate in making scenes of the seasons with kirigami paper cutting art. From flowers and butterflies to pine trees and snowflakes, there are countless patterns you can create. All materials are provided, so just bring your creativity and imagination and stop by anytime during library open hours. The project will be put on display in the Children’s Area after completion.
	Thursday, March 7, 3:30-5:30 P.M. Mandala Paper Quilt Workshop This fun workshop for families will be led by Teaching Artist Lilli Lanier. This project uses basic traditional kirigami paper cutting techniques to create colorful, layered, mandala paper quilt squares. All ages welcome, and all materials will be provided.
	Tuesdays, March 5, 12, 19, 26, 2:00-2:30 P.M. Bollywood Babies Join instructor Sunita Raj in this fun Bollywood dance learning program for children 18 to 48 months old and their parent. Space is limited, so a ticket is required to attend. Free tickets will be handed out 30 minutes prior to the program.
	Thursday, March 28, 4:00-4:30 P.M. Read-To-Me Storytime Special Session In this special story time session, children aged 2 to 6 years old will enjoy art-themed stories and receive a coloring or activity sheet. No registration is required..

For more information, please call (510) 795-2629 or email Chien-Chun Chang at cchang@aclibrary.org.
Centerville Library is located at 3801 Nicolet Ave.,Fremont, CA 94536 MAP

For a complete listing of all the events at Alameda County Libraries, please click HERE

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Teen Reading Volunteers Needed at Centerville Library

If you like working with children, enjoy reading, and want to make a difference to the community, we have an excellent opportunity for you!

Every Tuesday and Thursday from October through May, more than 50 children are meeting with their teen volunteers at Centerivlle Library to improve reading.  This highly appreciated popular program has helped hundreds of kids in the past 5 years.  It is a very rewarding volunteer opportunity many teens are looking for.  Applications are now open, for details and to apply, please download the application form and turn it in to the library as soon as possible.  Positions are open until filled.

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2012 Summer Events at Centerville Library

	Tuesday, June 19, 1:00-5:30 P.M. Thursday, June 21, 10:00 A.M.-5:30 P.M. Kids Library Camp Learn  about how library works, how to find homework help, play games, and lots of fun activities.  For grades 4-7.  Registration is required and is already full. Check out how much fun we had in this 2011 camp video.
	Thursday, June 28, 2-3 P.M. Storyteller Michael Katz Animated and interactive stories for kids of all ages. This program will be held in the library’s meeting room. Seats are  limited.  A free ticket is required to attend. Tickets are available 30 minutes prior to program start time.
	Thursday, July 5, 2-4 P.M. Family Movie Time: The Adventures of Tintin Based on a series of comic books created by Belgian artist Hergé (Georges Remi).  Directed by Steven Spielberg. Rated PG.
	Thursday, July 12, 2-3 P.M. Reading Is Delicious with Singer Patricia Shih Join Patricia Shih, a multiple national award-winning singer-songwriter, for a fun-filled family concert full of laughter and joy! This program will be held in the library’s meeting room. Seats are  limited.   A free ticket is required to attend. Tickets are available 30 minutes prior to program start time
	Thursday, July 19, 2-3 P.M. Mr. SHAP Join Mr. Shap, a magician and balloon twister for his amazing ” Super Happenings Always Possible” show with us! This program will be held outdoors in the library’s patio. Some sitting areas may not have shade. Please wear a hat to shield the sun.
	Thursday, July 26, 2-3 P.M. The Corny Crow Show with Steve Chaney Don’t miss Steve Chaney’s hilarious show with Corny Crow!  It’s so funny that you can’t stop laughing. This program will be held outdoors in the library’s patio.  Some sitting areas may not have shade.  Please wear a hat to shield the sun.
	Tuesday, August 2 , 2-3 P.M. Card Making Crafts for Teens and Tweens Participants will use some simple scrapbook and stamping techniques to create their cards. All materials will be supplied you just need to bring your creativity! For kids ages 10 and up. Space will be limited and tickets will be given out 30 minutes before the program.
	Every Tuesday and Thursday, August 7 – 30, 1:30-3:30 P.M. Intro to Algebra A 4-week math preparation class for incoming 7th graders only. Classes are held every Tuesday and Thursday during the month of August. Get ready for junior high math. Learn basic algebra concepts with Jonathan Lu, a USA Junior Math Olympiad qualifier from MSJ High School.  Registration is required. Limit to 20 seats.

Centerville Library is located at 3801 Nicolet Ave., Fremont, CA 94536
For more information, please call 510-795-2629 or email cchang@aclibrary.org or egamell@aclibrary.org

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MANGA for Tweens!

If you haven’t heard yet, we have a really fun Manga program for kids ages 10-12!  Manga are Japanese comic books that are characterized by very distinctive and highly stylized illustrations.  If you enjoy comic books and graphic novels and are interested in improving your drawing skills, come join us!  Karen Luk, a professional illustrator and comic artist, will be teaching you the secrets of drawing Manga faces, expressions and characters.  Karen’s work was on display just a few short months ago at the Cartoon Art Museum.  I was lucky enough to get a glimpse of her art and I’m definitely looking forward to this program at my library branch.  Here are the upcoming dates and locations.

Niles Library - Tuesday, May 15^th @ 3:15 p.m.

San Lorenzo Library - Wednesday, May 16^th @ 3:30 p.m.

Centerville Library – Thursday, May 17^th @ 3:30 p.m.

Fremont Main Library – Tuesday, May 22^nd @ 4 p.m.

Irvington Library – Wednesday, May 23^rd @ 3:15 p.m.

Call your library branch for registration information.

Check out Karen Luk in action below:

 

If you are unable to come to one of our manga programs you might want to take a look at the manga drawing books the library has here.

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Art IS Education Art Project at Centerville Library

Our Art IS Education project is finally completed and on display for our patrons to enjoy!  Stop by to look at all the amazing artwork our creative children made!

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Join us at the Library to be informed and get ready.

                                                     A bright FUTURE is waiting for you ! !

 

The Alameda County Library has a lot to offer and we want you to get as much as you want to ensure the best future you can have.

With your free membership and Alameda Library Card you will have access to things like our extensive databases including 1700 periodicals, 4700 magazines, 89 wire services many of which are updated daily so you can get up to date data on current events before the books could even come to our shelves.

 We have an online Literary Criticism site, and an Opposing Viewpoint site that help you understand the pros and cons of some of the most controversial topics out there right now. You can even take practice tests for such careers as Firefighter, Paramedic, Nursing,  Teaching, and so many more.

One of my favorite things is the free Museum passes you can print from the comfort of your home. And if you have some spare time why not learn a new language with our Mango Language sites.

Students ready for college can get a “plan your future  pathway” guide to help select your future career complete with testing that help pinpoint your strengths and interests. Practice  GED,  PSAT, SAT,  ACT and  CHSPE tests online are always available.

We have links to self-help and managed hotlines to help you deal with issues you may be experiencing or may need as a   referral for  a friend, or just to talk with someone about whats currently going on with you.

For our younger visitors, primary and secondary students can log on and communicate with a live tutor on our “Homework Help” website, this is available until 10 pm for those last minute problems you just can’t solve yourself.

If you’re not taking advantage of your Library you are truly missing out on a lot of fun and learning.

Come experience us at any of our great  local locations throughout Alameda County, we’re here and eager to help  you.

Our Webite is listed on your Alameda Library Card and is www.aclibrary.org

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National Volunteer Week

Did you know that this week (April 15th – April 21st) is National Volunteer Week. It is a chance for organizations to say thank you to their volunteers in appreciation for all of the hard work volunteers do for our community. We would like to take the time to say thank you to all of our wonderful library volunteers here at the Fremont Library (and all of our Alameda County Libraries) for your tireless efforts to keep the library running smoothly. Thank you to our shelvers, our Bookleggers, our computer help, our Homework Center volunteers and coordinator, our storytime readers and everyone else that I’ve left off of this list. We truly do appreciate each and every one of you and your dedication to the library. Without your assistance, the library and it’s programs would not run as smoothly (or in many cases even be possible).

THANK YOU! 

(click here for a note from the President about the volunteers in America: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/04/09/presidential-proclamation-national-volunteer-week-2012)

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Duck Tape or Duct Tape? No Matter How You Spell It, It’s Fun!

Starting in March, and continuing into April, the Library is having Duct Tape Programs.  Tweens age 10-12 will be able to make a wallet or something else fun for themselves ,or for a gift, completely made of duct tape!  Check our Eventkeeper schedule for the program nearest you, and make sure to register your tween.

I know making things out of duct tape has been around for a while, and has become  a craze, especially for tweens and teens.  I’ve even seen “how to do it” lessons on You Tube, so I know it’s big. I started wondering who invented  duct tape and why. 

So, I  turned to the internet and did some research.  According to Duck Brand’s website www.duckbrand.com, duct tape was invented  by Johnson & Johnson’s Permacel Division during World War II to meet the need for a tape that could seal canisters, be used on trucks, repair guns, and windows, etc., and remain strong, flexible and waterproof.  Starting with medical tape as a base,  polycoat adhesives were added along with a polyethylene coating that enabled them to  laminate the  tape to cloth backing.  The result: a three-layer tape that was strong, durable, flexible and could repel water! Thus the product was named “Duck tape“, and it was originally green.  

Later, duck tape started to be used for household purposes like repairing duct pipes, and was changed into the familiar gray “duct” tape we usually think of to match.   In the 1970′s, Manco, Inc. changed the name back to Duck Tape and put Manco P.  Duck on their logo giving something ordinary some personality. They also put the duct tape in shrink wrap which made it easier to stack for retailers.  As they say, the rest is history. The make it-out-of-duct tape craze was born.

Some 70 years after it’s invention the uses for duck tape seem to be endless.  On Duck Brand’s website you can join a duck tape club, and find many step by step duck tape projects ranging from wallets to tote bags to a baseball cap! Duck tape now comes in more than 20 colors and designs. There are even places that will make duck tape to your specifications, thus giving lots of possibilities.  The library has some books on the practical and fun ways you can use duck tape.  In addition to You Tube demonstrations on the internet, you can  see pictures of  duck tape  art.  The Internet’s Duct  Tape Art Gallery, http://www.octanecreative.com/ducttape/dtgallery.html, has some fun and funky, sublime and extreme examples of  duck tape art.  Check it out if you have some time, there are many pages,  and parents may want to check it first to make sure if it is suitable for children.  Don’t forget to register your Tweens for our library programs, and if you are intrigued, learn about duct tape for yourself.  Go! Make something useful or just plain fun out of duck tape!

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March is Art IS Education Month

Happy Art IS Education month!  To celebrate youth arts learning, all the branches of Alameda County Library are presenting a total of more than 50 art events for kids, teens and families.  At Centerville Library, we have two art-making programs, one for kids and one for teens.

Both programs will take place on Tuesdays, March 6, 13, 20 from 2-6 pm.  Stop by anytime during these hours, no registrations are required.

Hand-in-Hand Paper People

This program is for kids of all ages. Participants will have fun decorating a paper cut-out person with crayons and recycled materials and attaching a message about one thing that’s important to creating a better future. All the paper people will be connected hand-in-hand to make a long, free-turning chain for display in the library. The community is invited to bring drawings and photos about the theme “Creating a Better Future Together” to add to the artwork.

Paper Quilt Collage

This program is for teens. Participants will use recycled materials and art supplies to design a personalized paper quilt square. The quilt squares should reflect the theme of “Creating a Better Future Together”. The quilt squares will be joined together to make a community quilt that will beon display in the Teen area of the library.

For a complete list of Art IS Education events at Alameda County Library, please click HERE.

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Highlights of 2011 at Centerville Library

Another year has gone by.  I’d like to share a video of the major events at our library in 2011.  It was another busy year with many fun and/or educational family activities.  The happy faces in this video make me feel rewarded and look forward to the coming year.  Enjoy the video and have a wonderful 2012!

*Video quality can be adjusted to HD but the playback may lag on some computers.

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