Local stories, local history

Join us for another two free events in the Palo Alto City Library's Silicon Valley Reads 2009 Program. These two events focus on the history of Palo Alto and East Palo Alto as local residents share their experiences.

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A Place to Call Home

Conversations and personal stories about what it was like making a home in East Palo Alto following World War II. Join historian Steve Staiger and local residents Erma Moore, Larry Bailey and Jimmie Lee as they share their stories.

Friday, February 13

7 pm

Main Library, 1213 Newell Rd.

FREE and open to the public

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Entwined Heritage:

University AME Zion Church & Palo Alto

The University African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church was founded in 1918 by Palo Alto’s African-American families. It was the first African-American church between San Mateo and San Jose. The public is invited to come hear about the compelling history of the church and its community.

Sunday, February 22

3 pm

Palo Alto Art Center, 1313 Newell Rd.

FREE and open to the public

The Black History Show

The community-wide celebration of Silicon Valley Reads 2009 at the Palo Alto City Library continues with the next in our series of free events:

The Black History Show

with Tabia, African-American Theatre Ensemble

• date: Saturday, February 7
• time: 7 pm
• location: Mitchell Park Community Center, 3700 Middlefield Rd.
• FREE and open to the public

The Black History Show entertains and educates through dance, singing, and spoken word featuring the contributions and culture of African Americans. The show is fun for the entire family.

Tabia African-American Theatre Ensemble is based in San Jose and is in its twentieth season of performances in the Bay Area. Tabia produces stage productions and performs as a traveling troupe, taking the Black History Show to schools, festivals, corporations, churches, and conferences throughout California.

The Friends of the Palo Alto Library has generously provided funding for the program.

Silicon Valley Reads is a Santa Clara county-wide program promoting reading and literacy, and building a sense of community through discussion among widely diverse readers.

Would you like to receive an e-mail reminder about this event?

Our library event calendar can do that!

Click on "Remind Me" for The Black History Show.

You can even download this event to a calendar, email this event to a friend, or ask to be notified about similar events!

cancelled: An Evening with Brian Copeland

An Evening with Brian Copeland on Wednesday, January 28, has been cancelled due to illness.

The Palo Alto City Library will reschedule this event if possible.

We apologize for any inconvenience.

Read-Alikes

Have you had an opportunity yet to join the community by reading this year's Silicon Valley Reads book: Brian Copeland's Not A Genuine Black Man?

Would you like to explore other books that are similar to Not A Genuine Black Man?

Well, you're in luck because the staff at the Palo Alto City Library has put together a display of books with similar themes, also known as "read-alikes." You can browse this display in person at the Main library, or you can visit the booklist online. The online booklist even links right into the library's catalog to connect you with any of the books you find interesting.

After I've read a book that has made an impression upon me, I love to discover similar books. The library is a great place for discovering these "read-alikes." We have many free resources to aid in finding your next good read.

Here are just a few of my favorites, with some ideas about how to use these resources to find "read-alikes" using the example of Not a Genuine Black Man:

If you enjoy browsing through books, explore the print resources available in the Reference collection for use inside the library. Try the "What Do I Read Next?" series, for example. You might browse through What Do I Read Next? Multicultural Literature for expert guidance in identifying other titles or authors of African American Literature, after reading about Brian Copeland's experiences as an African American.

Another wonderful book helps you find nonfiction recommendations: The Real Story: A Guide to Nonfiction Reading Interests. After reading Brian Copeland's autobiography, you might use The Real Story to find recommendations for other people's life stories or biographies.

The library also provides access to some great online resources for finding your next book. Check out our "Resources Online," in the library or at home, to get a listing of what's available to you with your library card.

My go-to online resource for finding fiction is Novelist. If you want to find fiction that ties into the themes of Not a Genuine Black Man, you might search for subjects like "Africans-Americans," "race relations," or "prejudice." If you particularly like historical fiction, you could narrow your results to only include those titles. You can find Novelist from the library's website under "Resources Online," listed within the subject "Literature, Reading & Music." Have your library card handy so you can access this powerful tool!

Last, but not least, you can come on in to the library in person and ask a librarian for recommendations. Check the Library Branches webpage for the location and hours of the branch most convenient for you.

Reading on the Rise

Books are back!

On Monday the National Endowment for the Arts released a report, "Reading on the Rise," showing the first increase in adult fiction reading since 1982. According to the New York Times, this recent rise in reading is "not a school-based trend but a broader, community-wide phenomenon."

Read the full New York Times article for more information and a link to the NEA report:
Fiction Reading Increases for Adults
By MOTOKO RICH
January 12, 2009

While experts are speculating about the causes of this rise in reading, Dana Gioia, the chairman of the NEA, names community-wide reading programs as key components in reversing the decline in reading. The NEA started The Big Read program in 2006 to combat the accelerating decline in literary reading. The Big Read offers the opportunity for a community to come together by reading one book, discussing it together, and attending related events over the course of a month.

Here in the Palo Alto area we have our very own community-wide month-long reading program, Silicon Valley Reads, now in its seventh year. Participate in building community literacy by reading this year's book selection, Not a Genuine Black Man, and then join us for our kick-off event with the book's author:

An Evening With Brian Copeland

Wednesday, January 28
6:30 p.m.
Palo Alto High School Haymarket Theater

photo attribution:
"There Is Creative Reading"
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10565597@N00/2788065166

Silicon Valley Reads 2009

Happy New Year!

The Palo Alto City Library is starting off 2009 with the excitement of the annual Silicon Valley Reads program.

Silicon Valley Reads is a Santa Clara county-wide reading program to promote literacy and build community in our area. Each year Silicon Valley Reads selects a book that appeals to diverse audiences and considers issues relevant to Silicon Valley. Everyone who lives, works, or learns in our area is invited to read the selected book and to participate in the accompanying series of cultural events designed to spark discussion about the book's themes.

This year's book selection is Not a Genuine Black Man by Bay Area media personality Brian Copeland.

In this book, Copeland shares with us his experiences growing up as an African American in what he calls the "lily white suburbs" of San Leandro, California in our very own Bay Area. He offers us all his thoughtful consideration of his attempt to claim his own identity in an environment of socially sanctioned racial discrimination. Copeland's writing provides both comedy and tragedy, causing readers to laugh through their tears. This is a powerful and fascinating book.

The Palo Alto City Library encourages everyone to start reading the book before the program events begin in late January. You can find Not a Genuine Black Man through the library catalog--we own more than 25 copies! Or, if you can't wait, try your local bookstore.

Then join us for free program events in January and February:

Not a Genuine Black Man: An Evening with Brian Copeland

• date: Wednesday, January 28



• time: 6:30 p.m.



• location: Palo Alto High School Haymarket Theater, 50 Embarcadero Rd.
  

The Black History Show

• date: Saturday, February 7



• time: 7 p.m.



• location: Mitchell Park Community Center, 3700 Middlefield Rd.
  

A Place to Call Home

• date: Friday, February 13



• time: 7 p.m.



• location: Main Library, 1213 Newell Rd
  

Entwined Heritage: University AME Zion Church & Palo Alto

• date: Sunday, February 22



• time: 3 p.m.



• location: Palo Alto Art Center, 1313 Newell Rd.

For more information, visit the library's website or call us at (650) 329-2436.

There will be more to come about Silicon Valley Reads 2009 right here on the blog, so stay tuned!

Best Books of 2008

Looking for the perfect gift? Or something to read over the holidays? This list of the top 100 2008 books is from the NY Times.

NOTE: get ready for the upcoming Silicon Valley Reads 2009 programs in Palo Alto by reading Not a Genuine Black Man before the author speaks on January 28, 2009 at Palo Alto High School's Haymarket Theater. Look for more information in the coming weeks.

Enjoy the holiday season!