On Saturday and Sunday, May 18 and 19 2013, over a hundred thousand people descended on the San Mateo County Event Center. They came in droves for the annual Maker Faire, billed as "The Greatest Show (and Tell) on Earth". The event acts as the epicenter for the fast growing maker community; a group of people who enjoy "innovation and experimentation across the spectrum of science, engineering, art, performance, and craft". Some of you may have noticed a cultural shift in recent years with the emergence of the DIY (Do-It-Yourself)/maker movement. Television shows, books, blogs, and videos have been popping up everywhere, showing us how to do everything from knitting a sweater for the holidays to growing our own food or even designing a circuit board. Maker Faire brings together people from around the world who want to show off their maker creations and teach others.

Maker Faire is unlike any event you’ve ever been to. There isn’t much in the way of rides, though you can still chow down on corn dogs and funnel cake. Instead, attendees can build robots, sew LEDs into clothing, learn how to raise chickens, take a workshop on programming Arduino, or watch a 3D printer in action. People are encouraged to be participants, not just spectators.

One of the talks that caught my attention this year was, "Librarians Making Makerspaces". Makerspaces are a somewhat new phenomenon, giving people outside of the tech industry an opportunity to work with tools that were once beyond their reach. Companies like TechShop allow its members to use a huge assortment of tools, most far too expensive (or large) for the average person to have at home. Spaces often have items such as laser cutters, 3D printers, CNC machines, vinyl cutters, screen printers, computer software, welders, etc. Most makerspaces charge its members a monthly fee in order to access their equipment. These shops are amazing, but are often too expensive and therefore only accessible to a select few.

Libraries, being the great equalizer that they are, are beginning to create their own makerspaces, open to everyone in the community. At the talk I attended several Bay Area librarians discussed their advancements in bringing makerspaces into their locations. Libraries are much more than book depositories. We are houses of knowledge, palaces of learning. The maker movement is about experimentation and learning new skills, something libraries have been encouraging since their inception. Libraries want everyone in the community to have free access to the latest in technology and have the opportunity to tap into their creativity. Many of your local San Jose Public Libraries already offer free workshops where you can learn a new craft technique or how to use your computer. We also have a TON of books and e-resources covering everything from robotics to knitting. Browse through our catalog or talk to your local librarian about what your interests are. We would be happy to help you find the resources to start that new project!

Being a maker myself, I am currently looking into ways we can bring the maker movement into our libraries offering a wide range of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) programming options for all ages. If you’re a maker and want to volunteer to teach people in your community about your passion, send me an email!

Expand your maker knowledge:

• Makers: A New Industrial Revolution by Chris Anderson
• Makers by Cory Doctorow
• A Librarian’s Guide to Makerspaces Instructables  A website full of DIY projects
• Make Magazine The magazine from the people responsible for Maker Faire. Always includes a lot of project ideas and instructions
• Hacker Scouts A non-profit focusing on teaching children STEAM through interactive activities. Scouts "learn everything from circuit and hardware science and function, soldering, LEDs, sewing, design, laser cutting, and more".

Summer Reading Celebration 2013!

for Pre-Readers (Children, Ages 0-5)

How to Participate ...

1. Starting June 1, 2013, sign up at your local library and receive an Activity Grid or sign up online and print your own Activity Grid.
    
2. Only activities completed between June 1 - July 31 are eligible. 
    
3. Complete any five squares in a row (vertical, horizontal, or diagonal) on the Activity Grid to win a prize.
    
4. List the specific book titles you've read, or activities you've done in the What I Did section.
    
5. Prizes available starting June 15, 2013.
    
6. Claim all your prizes at the Summer Reading Celebration desk by August 31, 2013. 

Top 5 Reasons to enroll your child into our Summer Reading Celebration!

Summer Reading Prizes for Pre-Readers!!

• Sign Up = Bookmark, "Underground Times", Coloring Sheet
• 1st & 2nd Complete Rows = Your Choice: Kickball, Dinosaur, or Dino-duck
• 3rd Complete Row =Book & Certificate
• Each Additional Row or 5 Books Read = Mystery Prize

Graphic Novel Making Contest!

Part of the Summer Reading Celebration.

Check our events calendar for other FREE activities to enjoy this summer!

Summer Reading Celebration 2013!

for Readers (Children, Ages 5-12)

How to Participate ...

1. Starting June 1, 2013, sign up at your local library and receive an Activity Grid or sign up online and print your own Activity Grid.
    
2. Only activities completed between June 1 - July 31 are eligible. 
    
3. Complete any five squares in a row (vertical, horizontal, or diagonal) on the Activity Grid to win a prize.
    
4. List the specific book titles you've read, or activities you've done in the What I Did section.
    
5. Prizes available starting June 15, 2013.
    
6. Claim all your prizes at the Summer Reading Celebration desk by August 31, 2013.

Top 5 Reasons to enroll your child into our Summer Reading Celebration!

Summer Reading Prizes for Kids!!

• Sign Up = Bookmark, "Underground Times"
• 1st Complete Row = Color Your Own Poster
• 2nd Complete Row = Fingerpuppet
• 3rd Complete Row =Book & Certificate
• Each Additional Row or 5 Books Read = Mystery Prize

Graphic Novel Making Contest!

Part of the Summer Reading Celebration.

Check our events calendar for other FREE activities to enjoy this summer!

Did you miss Free Comic Book Day? Yes - there is a official day in which comic book stores around the Country and participating library systems promote the importance of literacy through comics and graphic novels. A crazy concept I hope many won’t miss for next years event. Because of prior commitments, my family and I missed out on the opportunity to attend this years give away that the SJPL was facilitating throughout all of our branches. Nevertheless, that didn’t stop me from taking my boys to stock up on some new reading material the day before at our local comic book store.

The Free Comic Book Day event occurs every year on the first Saturday of the month of May. Participating comic book stores around the country join together to promote the importance of having brick and mortar comic book shops and how they inspire literacy for the youth by giving away free comics. Growing up, i couldn’t get enough of comic books. From Bill Watterson’s - Calvin and Hobbes, to Marvel’s Spider-Man, it seemed to be the only way my mom could get me to read as a kid. As I grew up, I  then graduated onto more lengthy reads. However - if it weren’t for the influence of the early graphic novels in my youth, I would have never appreciated the art of storytelling as I do now. Back then, the internet along with other online media was still a new concept and the digitization of any literature for consumer use was in its early stages. Too early for it to be readily available for the average household. There was no eBay, no Google, no iPhones, no Amazon, and no eBooks of any kind just yet. I'm sure the majority of you remember those days. However, my kids and the current fortunate generations don't.

Today the majority of our information and consumer goodies come from the vast amount of online services available at just the click of a button, or two. No need for a car ride or locating the address of your destination - since there is no destination, just a URL address. This however does not mean we have improved the consumers experience. That remains to be subjective. I personally still enjoy the experience of browsing through dust filled stacks of comics or books. I don't always know what i came for, but i do know i'm looking for something new. The physical interaction of picking the brain of the comic connoisseur sitting behind the register and discovering new finds while roaming the room, is an experience that humbles the reader. Just as one can walk into the library and browse your favorite subject of choice, then decide what item for the day you want to take home and explore more. The same sense of mystique I hoped my two boys would take away from their visit, became successful. The adventure in searching for just the right comic to purchase and being able to flip through the pages before making their decision has already got them bugging me to bring them back the following weekend. Granted these comics were not free, you can only imagine how excited our library customers were at the Free Comic Book Day event.

Even if you missed out on the fun from this past weekend, you can still enjoy free comic books here at the library. They are not free to keep, however still free to borrow :) - with a great selection of Manga, Graphic Novels, and dozens of comic series to choose from. To stay updated on fun future events for all library customers to enjoy, be sure to check our Events page regularly.

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.

Are you a first, second or third grader?

Do you want to have fun and become a better reader?

Come join us at Seven Trees Library for: 

Reading Games! (Starting in March, 2013)

Thursdays, 3:30 - 4:30 PM

Practice reading aloud, play sight-word bingo and other fun vocabulary and language games.  Have fun while strengthening reading and language skills!