"What We Like"

Hunger Games Trilogy
Hunger Games (2008)
Catching Fire (2009)
Mockingjay (2010)

In a dystopian future, the country of Panem is under the grip of a repressive security state after a destructive civil war. All of the numbered districts (1-12) live in abject poverty and struggle to survive and to serve the Capital, a decadent, all-powerful central authority. This authority, and a reminder to the districts that the civil war has not been forgotten or forgiven, is manifested in the Hunger Games, a brutal reality show where each of the twelve districts submits two teenage tributes in a televised battle to the death.

Part gripping action, part ironic love story, part caustic warning against the authoritarian reaction to civil disobedience, this trilogy has just concluded with the much-anticipated release of Mockingjay.

The Hunger Games is an extremely popular and in-demand series at the SFPL. Do not be discouraged by the long holds list! The wait is worth it! Request it NOW! Before the Panem government catches you at it and punishes your family!!

JJ

"What We Like" features weekly recommendations from Excelsior staff and patrons for Library books, music, movies and audiobooks that we think you might like. If you have something you want to recommend, drop by and let us know!

TUESDAY TIPS

TODAY'S TIP - Election information on the web

Election day this year is Tuesday, November 2nd. This week's tip is a round-up of election information for California and the City and Country of San Francisco.

Important dates for San Francisco: October 18 is the last day to register. October 26 is the last day to request a vote-by-mail ballot.

The Secretary of State's office manages elections in California. In addition to general information about campaigns and elections in California, you can find historical results back to 1990. The November 2, 2010 General Election information includes the list of qualified ballot measures, certified candidates, and the Official Voter Information Guide.

The San Francisco Department of Elections website has a wealth of information on the November 2, 2010 election. Additionally, you can look up your voter registration status, find your polling place, and check the status of your vote-by-mail ballot.

To find your Congressional District, check out this US House of Representatives website, which requires your zip+4 information. If you don't know your zip+4, you can look it up at the US Postal Service. You can also look up your California Assembly and Senate representatives with just your just your zipcode.

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!

A Fond Farewell

Excelsior librarian Mary Hones retired in August after 15 years with the San Francisco Public Library System. Employing her excellent professional library skills and strong commitment to service, Mary helped develop and maintain the Branch’s book, CD, and DVD collections for adults, hosted the popular First Monday Movies @ Excelsior and taught many of the much-in-demand computer classes. It was Mary who arranged the annual appearance of San Francisco Poet Laureate Diane di Prima at the Excelsior Arts & Culture Salon. She also nurtured a working relationship with beloved Excelsior Branch benefactress Dolorous Knight. Mary conceived and, working with the Teen Services Librarian, co-designed and updated this Excelsior Library Blog.

In 2009, Mary was presented with a well-deserved Staff Recognition Award.

Patrons and staff were fortunate to have Mary as one of our librarians. Everyone will miss her. We wish her all the best as she begins her new life.

"What We Like"

Essentially Odd is a catalog of the products available at the 826 Stores nationwide.

Some of you may know the 826 Stores from seeing the Pirate Supply Store at 826 Valencia. If you do, and even if you don't, this book will tell you all about the seven locations of the 826 Stores. You can get a Secret Identity Kit at the Brooklyn Superhero Supply Co or Caveman Candy at the Echo Park Time Travel Mart.

Nearly as much fun as being there in person, the kid in you will delight in the "neato-ness" of the products as much as the adult in you appreciates the humor.

Brainchild of the Dave Eggers and the folks at 826 Valencia, the 826 Stores are part of 826 National, a nonprofit tutoring, writing, and publishing organization with locations in eight cities across the country. Their goal is to assist students ages six to eighteen with their writing skills, and to help teachers get their classes excited about writing.

Kit

"What We Like" features weekly recommendations from Excelsior staff and patrons for Library books, music, movies and audiobooks that we think you might like. If you have something you want to recommend, drop by and let us know!

Dark Water Rising - Excelsior Salon on September 22

Over 50,000 dogs and cats were left behind in New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. This forced separation created America’s first-ever major animal rescue. A dedicated and compassionate group of volunteer rescuers and animal welfare groups from around the world risked their lives to sledgehammer down doors and brave toxic floodwaters in a truly heroic effort to save nearly 10,000 animals. This film tells uplifting stories of hope and survival as pets are reunited with their owners while other lucky animals find loving new homes. It will renew your faith in the American spirit.

Wednesday, September 22, 7:00 pm

First Monday Movies - The Killing - October 4th

Sterling Hayden plays veteran criminal Johnny Clay, planning one last big job before settling down to a respectable life with Fay (Colleen Gray). Teaming with several ex-cons, Johnny masterminds a $2 million racetrack robbery to be carried out with military precision. Unfortunately, all the crooks involved are losers and small-timers who find themselves in way over their heads. Director Stanley Kubrick's first major film clearly shows his vision of characters who seem to control their environment but actually are controlled by it. (1956/85 mins)

Monday, October 4th @ 6:30 p.m.

In the Neighborhood - Library Intern Cristina Mitra

Cristina Mitra is a library school student at San Jose State. Earlier this year she did an internship at Excelsior Branch. She employed her Spanish language skills and interest in Filipino materials in doing assessments of our Spanish and Filipino collections. Cristina also developed and taught a computer class on searching the internet in Spanish. When she completes her master's degree in Library Science next year, she would like to work in a public library as a teen or Spanish outreach librarian.

Cristina was born and raised in the Excelsior District. She left San Francisco to attend college on the East Coast. When she told people she grew up in the Excelsior, she heard over and over again "where's that?" It made her start thinking about what being from this neighborhood meant to her.

After graduation, Cristina returned to SF. She was selected to participate in a film production class offered to queer women of color to teach them how to make their own films. Cristina took the opportunity to go out into the neighborhood and find out how other people felt about the Excelsior. Her film, Off the Map, is the result.

Good luck Cristina wherever your journey takes you!

In the Neighborhood features information about people and places in the Excelsior neighborhood that you may already know and love, or that might be new to you. Watch this space!