The San José Public Library invites teens to create a book trailer for our Summer Reading Celebration during the months of June and July. Upload a short clip, no longer than 4 minutes, to YouTube. Be creative! The contest is open to all participants in the Teen Summer Reading Celebration.

How to enter:

Think of a favorite book you read for Summer Reading and envision it as a short video, one that will capture the interest of your audience. Create your own book trailer, reviewing the book. You can submit more than one video, but each video has to be for a separate book.

• Sign up for Summer Reading starting on June 1, 2013.
• Post the video on YouTube using the tag: SJPL2013SRC
• Submit the YouTube link to your book trailer along with your name, age, contact information (either a phone number or email) and your library branch to: 2013SJPLBookTrailerContest@gmail.com
• All entries must be submitted by July 31, 2013
• Book trailers may not be longer than four minutes in length
• Story being reviewed should be a young adult or adult fiction or non-fiction book.
• Cite all images, video and audio that you did not create

A panel of judges (staff at San José Public Library) will review all entries and select the top three winners, to be announced in August 2013. The panel of judges will use the following criteria when reviewing book trailer entries:

• Content: Clear introduction; strong hook; summary without dominating narration; fresh and interesting commentary with strong conclusion
• Voice/Sound: Interesting; well-rehearsed; smooth delivery; holds audience attention; easy to hear narration over soundtrack; voice sounds natural and helps convey meaning; soundtrack adds to tone/feel of presentation
• Images: Crisp, clear, engaging, enriching, extending details and meaning; appropriately cited.
• Presentation: All elements (color and graphics) work together seamlessly to create an interesting book trailer

Need some examples? Check out the winning entry from last year's Book Trailer Contest, created by K. Rai.

Here are links to some professional book trailers:

• Divergent by Veronica Roth
• The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
• Legend and Prodigy by Marie Lu

Teens who submit links to their Book Trailer will automatically be entered in the contest. The top 3 winners will receive:

• 1st place: iPad Mini
• 2nd place: $50 gift card for iTunes
• 3rd place: $25 gift card for Jamba Juice

May is National Bike Month!  It’s time to celebrate for both avid and casual bikers alike.  The Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition shares an interesting statistic with us on their website, "Almost 40 percent of Bay Area commuters live within just five miles of their workplace, a bike-able distance for even inexperienced cyclists." May is the perfect time to give bike commuting a try, starting with Bike to Work Day on Thursday, May 9.  The San José Public Library is encouraging participation by offering "Energizer Stations" at three locations from 6:00 – 9:00 AM (6:30 - 9:30 AM at King).  The Energizer Stations will offer free refreshments, including coffee and water, as well as snacks.  Bike commuters will also receive Bike to Work Day bags full of tips on safety and useful bicycling information, while supplies last. And finally, we will also have helpers ready to handle light bike repair if needed.  Stop by King Library, Alum Rock Branch, or Bascom Branch to take a break and get some encouragement on your way to work!

But it doesn’t stop there!  Get some healthy competition going at your workplace by joining the Company Bike Challenge.  Sign up with co-workers to log miles and compete throughout the month of May.  Or if you’re looking for a more social experience, try San José Bike Party.  They have frequent bike riding events, often with a fun theme, and everyone is invited.  Or if you want to learn more about bike maintenance and repair, check out the San José Bike Clinic, San José’s "community pop-up bicycle workshop".  If you or someone you know wants to bike but can’t afford to, check out Good Karma Bikes.  They provide homeless and low income working people with safe, reliable bicycle transportation, as well as bicycle mechanic skills.

Take advantage of the beautiful May weather in San José and start a healthy habit that will have you beating the traffic, helping the environment, and getting fit.

April is National Poetry Month and the Teen Room at Roberto Cruz-Alum Rock Branch is honoring it with a display of books from our collection. There is also a Poem of the Day which changes every afternoon as part of the display. Stop in, check it out, and then check it out!

The IRS progam Volunteer Income Tax Assistance is available at several branches of the San Jose Public Library through Saturday, April 13, 2013. This program is available to families and individuals whose income is less than $51,000 a year. Assistance is offered at various branches in English, Spanish and Vietnamese (you may wish to call a branch in advance to see when and if the service is being offered in your preferred language). No advance registration for the VITA program is requested and you will be served on a first-come, first-serve basis. For a complete list of upcoming opportunities see our events calendar.