TUESDAY TIPS

TODAY'S TIP - Periodical Finder

Last week’s tip showed how you could access full text reviews from Consumer Reports for free using our EBSCOhost magazine database.

Today’s tip tells you how you can find out whether or not we have the full text of your favorite magazine (or newspaper) available to read or print out from your home computer using our online databases.

From our home page (sfpl.org), click on e-Library and then Articles and Databases and you will see the link for Periodical Finder to the right of the list of databases.

Type the title you want in the search box (or the issn) and hit enter. The first item you see will be the link to our catalog for the print edition of the magazine, including which branches carry it. The next links will tell you which databases have the Full Text of the magazine and what years they cover. 01/01/1991 to present means that you can read the full text of all issues of the magazine for those dates.

Sometimes the magazine will be available in more than one database; simply choose the one that includes the dates you are interested in. When you click on the name of the database you will get a list by year of the issues, click the year and you will get a list of each issue and all the articles in that issue.

You can also browse Periodical Finder by title, or if you just want to get an idea of the scope of materials contained in our periodical databases, you can browse Periodical Finder by subject.

Excelsior Librarians and Staff share tips & tricks to help you make the most of the San Francisco Public Library catalog, databases and website. New tips posted Tuesdays on the Excelsior Blog. Watch this space!

Magic Dan - October 29th

Magic Dan brings his magic show to Excelsior just in time for Halloween! Come and dress in costume and join the fun. Ages 3 and older. Space is limited. Please call (415) 355-2868 for group reservations.

Thursday, October 29th @ 11 a.m.

First Monday Movies - The Woman in the Window - November 2nd

A psychology professor, Richard Wanley (Edward G. Robinson), is fascinated by a portrait of a beautiful woman he sees in a window near his club. He's shocked when he realizes that the picture's model, Alice Reed (Joan Bennett), is standing right next to him. When Wanley accepts Alice’s invitation to her apartment, a man suddenly breaks in, threatens them and is stabbed by Wanley in self-defense. The professor and the model then try to cover up the crime. As renowned critic Pauline Kael noted, The Woman in the Window has "the logic and plausibility of a nightmare." Also starring Dan Duryea. Directed by Fritz Lang. (1944, 99 mins.)

Monday, November 2nd @ 6:30 p.m.

SAT Workshops @ Excelsior in November!

Excelsior Branch will be offering a series of SAT classes beginning Tuesday, November 10, 2009. You must register online at SuccessLink Tutoring www.successlinktutoring.com/SFPL/. These classes fill up fast, but be sure to put your name on the wait-list and come to the first class, because there may be space for wait-listed people.

Excelsior is offering the 10-hour SAT INTENSIVE on Tuesdays: November 10, 17, 24, December 1 from 4:00 - 6:30 p.m.

In this workshop, we will cover everything you need to know to improve your scores on SAT, including basic test strategy, time management techniques, process of elimination, the essay, vocabulary help, grammar, critical reading and math - all in just 10 hours of class time.

PLEASE NOTE: This course now has over 25 registrants. Additional students who register will be placed on a wait-list, and admitted as space allows. We generally accept at least 10 students from each wait-list, so plan on arriving at the first session 15 minutes prior to the start of class. Wait-listed students will be admitted only after attendance is confirmed for the first 25 registrants.

Tuesdays, November 10, 17, 24 and December 1 - 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.

TUESDAY TIPS

TODAY'S TIP - Consumer Reports online & free

Did you know that as a San Francisco library patron you can get full text reviews from Consumer Reports for free on your home computer? Consumer Reports is available from our EBSCOhost Magazines database. You can even get complete articles from the most recent issue.

From our home page (sfpl.org) click on e-Library then Articles & Databases, then choose EBSCOhost Magazines MasterFILE Premier. Click Advanced Search and type your search terms in the search box. On the lower part of the page you’ll see the Limit your Results section. Type “Consumer Reports” in the publication field, then click Search. Click the PDF icon to see the full text of the article.

So if want to read up on credit card changes, check out the October issue of Consumer Reports online.

PDF files look like original documents and preserve source file information — text, drawings, full-color graphics, photos, and those all important ratings charts. To print PDF files, be sure to click the print button on the PDF toolbar (right above the article), rather than the browser's print function.

Excelsior Librarians and Staff share tips & tricks to help you make the most of the San Francisco Public Library catalog, databases and website. New tips posted Tuesdays on the Excelsior Blog. Watch this space!

Twilight - Teen Movie on a Tuesday! October 27th

Can’t wait to see (or re-see) the movie Twilight? Or just want to refresh your memory in preparation for New Moon’s movie release on November 20th? Well, you’re in luck because the date for Twilight’s showing at Excelsior Branch has been moved up to October 27th! Here are the details:

Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) doesn't expect much when she moves to the small town of Forks, Washington. Then she meets the mysterious and handsome Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) - a boy who's hiding a dark secret: he's a vampire. As their worlds and hearts collide, Edward battles the bloodlust raging inside him as well as a clique of undead that would make Bella their prey. Based on the #1 New York Times bestselling book by Stephenie Meyers, Twilight adds a dangerous twist to the classic story of star-crossed lovers.

Movies for teens are usually shown every first Wednesday at Excelsior Branch. Ages 12-18. Snacks provided. For more information, contact Marla at (415) 355-2868.

Tuesday, October 27th - 4-6 p.m.

The American Resting Place - Arts & Culture Salon - October 28th

Just in time for Halloween, cultural historian Marilyn Yalom discusses her definitive history of the American cemetery, The American Resting Place: Four Hundred Years of History Through Our Cemeteries and Burial Grounds. Her book illuminates gravestones, graveyards, and burial practices found throughout the United States, including those of the Spanish Catholic missions of California, along with vivid and poignant descriptions. Photographs by her son, Reid S. Yalom, a San Francisco resident.

Wednesday, October 28th @ 7 p.m.

TUESDAY TIPS (Genealogy Class Saturday 10/17)

TODAY'S TIP: Genealogy Resources at the Library

San Francisco Public Library can support you in many of your hobbies, from crafts to sports to family history research. With databases offered by SFPL, you can do much of your genealogy research online for free.

From the homepage, click on e-Library and then Articles & Databases, then choose the History & Genealogy category from the pull-down Category menu. You can choose either Ancestry Library Edition or HeritageQuest Online.

Ancestry Library Edition contains a massive amount of genealogy data, including all available US Censuses with name and other indexes, military records, passenger ship lists, and vital records. You can begin your search by entering whatever information you have on the person you are seeking, including name and birth information. After finding relevant documents, facsimiles can be viewed, printed and saved to your USB drive as a JPEG file. Ancestry Library Edition is only available in the library, not from home.

HeritageQuest Online is a collection of databases that include the PERSI periodical index, Revolutionary War records and the US Census with some name indexes. The PERSI index includes citations for over 2 million family and local history articles. Facsimiles of original documents can be viewed, printed and saved to your USB drive or home computer, generally as a PDF or TIFF file.

If you are interested in starting your family history research or would like to brush up on your skills and knowledge of online genealogy resources, join us at Excelsior Branch for a class on Genealogy Research Basics on Saturday, October 17 at 3:30 p.m. In addition to basic online research principles, detailed instructions on downloading from HeritageQuest and Ancestry Library Edition will be given in this class.

Excelsior Librarians and Staff share tips & tricks to help you make the most of the San Francisco Public Library catalog, databases and website. New tips posted Tuesdays on the Excelsior Blog. Watch this space!

Ghost Hunting for Teens! - October 21st

Ever wonder if ghosts are real? If they are, how can you tell a real ghost from a fake? Is it true that teens tend to experience poltergeists more than other age groups? A real ghost hunter from SF Ghost Society, Tommy Netzband, will talk about his experiences investigating ghosts and hauntings. He will also show you how to use ghost hunting tools and share some ghostly images and sounds he has caught on DVD. Get the info, then you decide what to believe! http://www.sfghostsociety.org/.

For more information or to register, contact Marla Bergman at (415) 355-2868.

Wednesday, October 21st @ 4 p.m.

Columbus Day - October 12th - Library Closed!

All San Francisco Public Library facilities, including the Excelsior Branch, will be closed for Columbus Day on Monday, October 12th. We will be open again Tuesday, October 13th, at 10:00 a.m.

TUESDAY TIPS

TODAY'S TIP: Suggest a Title

Have you checked the catalog for a book and discovered that San Francisco Public Library doesn’t have it? Or maybe you’ve been checking out a television series and SFPL doesn’t have the season you want to see. If you know that other patrons would be interested in these items and want to suggest that we purchase a book, or dvd, or other item, you just need to fill out a simple online form.

From the homepage (sfpl.org), click “search catalog”. Above the search box, you will see a link for “Suggest a Title.” Click the type of item you are suggesting - book, film, music, etc. Then fill out the form with your name, library card number, and as much of the information we request about the item as you can give us.

If it’s a book you are looking for, please remember to check with a librarian to see if it’s available through Link+, our partnership with 47 other library systems. Or you can do Link+ searches and requests yourself; this earlier Tuesday Tip tells you how to do that.

Excelsior Librarians and Staff share tips & tricks to help you make the most of the San Francisco Public Library catalog, databases and website. New tips posted Tuesdays on the Excelsior Blog. Watch this space!

Do-it-Yourself Disaster Preparedness - October 14th

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Loma Prieta Earthquake. The U.S. Geological Survey predicts that a catastrophic earthquake will occur in the Bay Area sometime within the next 25 years. The American Red Cross Do-it-Yourself Disaster Preparedness Course provides you with the information you need to make an emergency communication plan, build a 3 day disaster supply kit for your loved ones, and safely respond to earthquakes, fires, and other disasters. For more information visit The Big Rumble (thebigrumble.org).

Wednesday, October 14th - 7 p.m.

SENIOR COMMUNITY FAIR @ EXCELSIOR - Fitness for Adults Who Are 50+

Come meet representatives of non-profit organizations and agencies that serve seniors, including the San Francisco Public Library, the Mission YMCA, the Department of Aging and Adult Services, the Elder Financial Protection Network and more.

Get information and advice on how to stay active, become engaged in the community, avoid financial scams and invest wisely. Obtain a benefits checkup. See a demonstration of fitness video games on a Wii console. The first 50 visitors aged 50 and over will receive a free tote bag! Free information and light refreshments provided.

This event honors Excelsior resident Dolorous Knight, age 95, avid reader and long-time library patron and supporter, on the occasion of the International Day of Older Persons.

Saturday, October 3rd - 2:00-4:00 p.m.