We are excited about Summer Reading!

Join us and your fellow readers for our Summer Read SF 2012 from June 1 to August 4! All ages can participate, read, win prizes and enjoy special summer reading programs at the library.

You can sign up online from any computer with an internet connection by going to http://sfpl.org/summerreading or you can come to the library and have a librarian or volunteer help you sign up.

The theme this year is San Francisco but you can read any book or listen to audiobooks. If you don't know where to start or are looking for a good book to read, check out the reading lists compiled by our librarians for all ages and in several different languages. Also check out the book displays put together by our staff. If you have a book you like and would like to recommend it, write us a short book review either on the Summer Reading website or turn it in on paper at the library.

Here are some of the upcoming programs for June (check back in a few weeks for more exciting programs and coming up in July!):

Wednesday, June 13, 1:30 p.m. Mad Science of Mt. Diablo for kids 6 and older
45 minutes of damatic, high-energy participatory science demonstrations!
Space is limited to 24 participants, please call 415-355-2868 for reservations

Wednesday, June 20, 3 p.m. Duct Tape Wallets for teens
Use colorful duct tape to make a cool wallet to keep your cash and your Clipper card!

Monday, June 25, 7-8:30 p.m. Bamboo Women: Stories from Ming Quong, a Chinese Orphanage in California
Women of Distinction for Humanitarianism winner Nona Mock Wyman will discuss her latest book.

Wednesday, June 27, 3 p.m. Cartooning with Sirron Norris for ages 8-16
Meet the artist who designed this years Summer Reading poster and learn about cartooning!
Space is limited, please call 415-355-2868 for reservations

Wednesday, June 27, 7-8:30 p.m. On Location: The Golden Gate Bridge on the Silver Screen
An movie clip-filled program of hilariously horrifying depictions of San Francisco's beloved bridge.

Thursday, June 28, 3 p.m. Interactive music show for children of all ages with Pam Donkin
Singing and fun!
Space is limited, please call 415-355-2868 for reservations

Happy 75th birthday, Golden Gate Bridge

This Sunday marks the 75th anniversary of the opening of the Golden Gate Bridge. There will be no bridge walk this time but there are lots of events happening at or around the bridge on Memorial Day weekend. Click here for a listing of official events: http://goldengatebridge75.org/

All through May and June you can celebrate this San Francisco landmark by reading the May/June On the Same Page bookclub selection Golden Gate: The Life and Times of America's Greatest Bridge by Kevin Starr.

You can also discover the often hilariously horrifying depictions of the Golden Gate Bridge in the movies at Jim Van Buskirk's clip-filled program "On Location: The Golden Gate Bridge on the Silver Screen" at the Excelsior Branch on Wednesday, June 27, 7-8:30 p.m. and at other library locations throughout May and June.

If you would like a taste of Jim Van Buskirk's talk before the program here at Excelsior, read the blog post he wrote for the San Francisco History Center Blog: http://sfhcbasc.blogspot.com/2012/05/on-location-golden-gate-bridge-in.html

And last but not least, don't forget to check out the San Francisco Historical Photograph Collection's Golden Gate Bridge photographs

Thank you, Maurice Sendak!

It is with sadness that we say goodbye to children's author Maurice Sendak who died today at the age of 84.

Celebrate his life and revisit some of his beloved creations:

Read about his life and art:

Or watch some short movie clips about his life, art and family
Maurice Sendak on his life, work and inspiration from the Rosenbach Museum & Library
We Are Inseparable from the Contemporary Jewish Museum

What is your favorite Maurice Sendak book? Leave us a comment to share your favorite book with other blog readers!

Chinese Papercutting with Yumei Hou on Saturday, May 19, 3:30-5pm

Artist Yumei Hou will demonstrate traditional Chinese papercutting and talk about Chinese papercuts. These colorful designs have been popular in China for centuries and are often used to decorate walls and windows. Yumei Hou's papercut designs were chosen by the San Francisco Arts Commission for a mural for the Chinatown Central Subway Station.

This event will be in Mandarin Chinese and English.

Please join us for this Asian Pacific American Heritage Month program!

Flying Angels Chinese Dance Performance on Saturday, May 12, 11:15am to 12pm

Dancers from the Flying Angels Chinese Dance Company will perform traditional and modern Chinese dances in celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

This program is appropriate for all ages.