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Book Trailer Contest
Have a book you really love? But are tired to telling people what's it about? Then why not show them? Make a book trailer and enter your video in the San Jose Public Library's book trailer contest to win prizes!
Need some inspiration for your video? Check out the book trailer I made for The Maze Runner by James Dashner right here:& https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMa7o6XUCGY
Think you can do better? Sumbit your video to youtube and tag it with SJPL2013SRC and cite any images, audio, pictures etc, that isn't yours.
Check this link for rules, regulations, and more information about the contest (and Summer Reading!): http://www.sjpl.org/booktrailer
Good luck to you all, and may the odds be ever in your favor!
Calfresh Pre-screening and Application Assistance at the Library
Formerly known as the food stamp program, Calfresh is the state of California’s supplemental food budgeting program. Its purpose is to assist low-income families and individuals with getting the food and nutrition they need. Participants in the program use a EBT card to buy food the same way they would use any other debit card at grocery stores and farmers’ markets.
Various branches of the San Jose Public Library host ongoing pre-screening and application assistance sessions for those who think they may qualify for the program. See our events calendar for dates, times, and locations.
Second Harvest Food Bank of San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties has some very helpful information on its web site about how the Calfresh Program works and who is eligible for it. It also debunks common myths about the program (for example, applying can’t hurt your immigration status and you don’t need to have children to be eligible).
2013 Book Trailer Contest
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:
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- 1st place: iPad Mini
- 2nd place: $50 gift card for iTunes
- 3rd place: $25 gift card for Jamba Juice
Graphic Novel Making Contest 2013
If you have a talent for creating comic/manga style illustrated short stories, you are invited to enter San José Public Library’s Graphic Novel Making Contest for all ages as part of our Summer Reading Celebration, 2013. This contest is sponsored by San José Public Library, Hijinx Comics, San José Museum of Art and TRY Japan Culture Group.
Here’s how to enter …
- Create your own comic book with a maximum length of 8 pages, including the cover page.
- Use letter-size paper (8.5 x 11) with black-and-white drawings and text on one side only.
- Each submission must be the creative and original work of a single individual—the author/illustrator.
- The contest is limited to amateur authors/ illustrators only.
- Computer generated images are acceptable as long as they are your original work (no clip art)
- Consider submitting a photocopy that is an accurate reflection of the original (as submissions are non-returnable).
- San José Public Library reserves the right to reproduce your work. You can reuse all your work after the contest.
- Be sure to print and complete the creative works release form. Include your Name, Age, Contact Information and Signature.
- Entries can be submitted to any San José Public Library location no later than 8p.m. on Wednesday, July 31, 2013.
- Entries can also be submitted online to sjplgraphicnovelmakingcontest@gmail.com as a jpeg or pdf attachment.
- There is a limit of one entry per contestant.
Entries will be judged on content and illustrations by a panel of library staff and comic industry professionals. All cash prizes will be awarded as gift cards.
- Children (up to age 6): first prize $25; second prize $15
- Children (7-12): first prize $40; second prize $20
- Teens (ages 13-17): first prize $100; second prize $70; third prize $50
- Adults (age 18 and above): first prize $100; second prize $70; third prize $50
Winners will be announced and prizes awarded at a reception to be held at the Seven Trees Branch Library on Saturday, August 24th at 2:00 p.m.in the Community Room.
Check out the award winning entries from 2012, 2011 and 2010.
San José Public Library staff members are ineligible to participate.
San José Public Library reserves the right to refuse submissions that are not appropriate for a general audience. This contest is open to all California residents.
Read to Children and Make a Difference!
Give children the joy of reading by reading aloud to youngsters at one of the San Jose Public Libraries. Reading occurs in the library's children's area at designated times throughout the day. Specialized training is provided to all incoming volunteers. Several of our library branches are seeking volunteers to read to children on an ongoing basis (minimum 6 month commitment). Bilingual volunteers (Spanish/English) are especially needed. This position requires fingerprinting.
Training is on Saturday, June 22, 2013 from 12:00pm - 3:00pm at the King Library. Please complete the application form and register for training here.
News Know How: Separate Fact from Fiction on the News and in Facebook
Did you hear about the wolf spider so big that it took several shots to kill it? Did you know that Mr. Rogers was a Marine Sniper in Vietnam or that you can prevent Facebook from using your posts by including a simple copyright notification? What about Manti Te'o’s internet "girlfriend?"
Everything you just read was a lie. How many of you have actually been taken in by one of these hoaxes? (I'll admit to believing that Mr. Rogers was a sniper.) Often it's one of your friends sharing it through Facebook or Twitter. Other times you hear about it on the local news. How do you know when something is legit? Is there any way to tell?
We think so. That’s why the San José public library is offering the "News Know How" program this summer at the new Educational Park Branch. We're bringing in real reporters to show you how to separate fact from opinion and hoax from reality. For two weeks you’ll work with Reporters, Librarians, and your fellow teens to create your own project (check out last year's projects). Now you may be asking yourself. Why should I spend two precious weeks of my summer actually learning? Well, not only will your project be presented online for you to show off, you'll also receive a stipend (read money) for going through the program.
The program will run 10:00 am - 3:00 pm Monday through Friday from June 17 to June 28, 2013. Once you've applied you will be contacted in order to schedule an interview. Interviews will begin May 1, 2013 and continue until all the spots are filled. Please contact Erik Berman (Erik.Berman@sjlibrary.org) if you have any questions.
Applications are now live. Click here to be taken to the registration page. Once you've completed the application, you will recieve an email with additional information.
Coming Soon: News Know-How Media Literacy Program
Who do you trust for your daily news? CNN, Fox News, NBC, CBS, The Drug Report, Reuters, the Huffington Post? We have so much news coming in so fast and so frequently that it can feel like you can never catch up with the latest Supreme Court decision or celebrity gaffe. (I just checked my smart phone and two new articles have been released on my favorite news app.) Knowing who to believe and how to evaluate the credibility of a given article is becoming more important than ever thanks to the influx of news sources and corporate news agencies, be it independent blogs or even the posts from your local library (which of course are impeccably credible).
That's why the San José Public Library, with the help of American Library Association and the Open Society Foundations, is offering the News Know How media literacy program this June at the newly opening library, Educational Park. The Library will be recruiting 15 students to participate in a special two week crash course in media literacy. Students will learn how to critically evaluate the news they see every day. They will spot misinformation and propaganda; they will check sources and distinguish between a reporter's fact and opinions. In the end, as teams, they will produce their own report, sharing what they learned with the rest of the world.
The program will run from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm Monday through Friday from June 17 - 28, 2013 at the Educational Park Branch of the San José Public Library. Participants must commit to the full two weeks and to completing the final project. In return they will receive a stipend.
Any teen interested in the program should follow this link to register. Applicants will recieve an email with instructions concerning the next step.
VITA Tax Help Through April 13
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.
25th Annual San Jose Children's Faire
Celebrate the Month of the Young Child at the
25th Annual San Jose Children's Faire!
Saturday, April 13, 2013
10:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
The Faire is expected to draw over 5,000 attendees to the outdoor festival, held at Discovery Meadow (in front of the Children's Discovery Museum), in downtown San José.
The theme this year is "Explore the Possibilities" and features family-oriented stage entertainment, special attractions, and activity booths offering hands-on activities for children ages 2-12. Families can obtain information about education, child care, recreational programs and health and safety resources.
For more information call 1-408-808-2617 or visit www.sjpl.org/moyc
Get Seussical at the Library!
Celebrate the upcoming birthday of beloved children's book author Dr. Seuss! Special Dr. Seuss Birthday Parties will be held at several San Jose Public Library locations in early March. Kids will enjoy Seuss stories, Seuss-themed crafts, and other activities.
Dr. Seuss, author of The Cat in the Hat, The Lorax, and more than 40 other children's books, was born on March 2, 1904. His birthday coincides with the National Education Association's Read Across America Day, and many schools and libraries are holding special events to celebrate both.
Fun fact: Dr. Seuss, whose real name was Theodor Seuss Geisel, used the pseudonym Dr. Seuss for books he both wrote and illustrated, and the pseudonym Theo LeSieg for books he wrote that were illustrated by others. LeSieg is Geisel spelled backward! Find titles by both Theo LeSieg and Dr. Seuss at your local library. For all things Seuss, visit seussville.com -- and come to the library for a birthday celebration!
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