Instructions for Winter Craft

Some of you have asked for the instructions for the winter craft program at Excelsior Branch in December.

Cut the cover off an old book. 












Start folding each page in half.












Keep doing this until all the pages are folded. The book will naturally open up into a fan shape. You can just do this and use it to display postcards or other small paper items by sticking them between 2 pages.








Use a paint brush to dab white paint (we used acryclic paint) on the top of the folded pages. Think light sprinkling of snow not blizzard – otherwise your pages will all stick together and you’ll have trouble inserting your figures. Sprinkle glitter on top while the paint is still wet.




 

Cut out trees and images of small animals. We used old natural history illustrations but you can use images cut from old magazines, wrapping paper or even stamp your own images. Unless the images are printed to card stock, glue them to another piece of paper to make them sturdier. Remember to cut a little tab at the bottom of the image to glue the image into your book.






Just stick the images into the pages first to decide how you want to set up your scene. Once you have it set up the way you like it, use white craft glue or glue stick to glue them in place.

Done!

And here is a link to the pdf if you want to download the instructions:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_E8SOdvF2i6WEUtQkk4dE5xaUE/edit?usp=sharing

First Monday Movies @ Excelsior, January 6, 6:30-8:30pm

We start off the year with Singin' in the Rain (1952, 103 mins) with Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor and Debbie Reynolds; directed by Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly.

This musical comedy satirizes the early days of talking motion pictures. The famous dancing in the rain scene took all day to set up but was filmed in only on take.

New Year Holiday Closures

The Excelsior Branch and all San Francisco Public Libraries will be CLOSED starting at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 31, 2013 and all day Wednesday, January 1, 2014 for New Year. Happy New Year!

2014年1月1日(星期三)為"新年假日"全部舊金山市立圖書館休息, 2013年12月31日(星期二)提前於下午五時休息. 新年快樂!

Las bibliotecas públicas de San Francisco cerrarán a las 5 p.m. el martes 31 de diciembre del 2013 y estarán cerradas el miercoles 1ro de enero del 2014. Feliz año nuevo!


Our Computer Classes for Seniors and Adults Start Again in January

Is your New Year's resolution to work on your computer skills? Our popular computer classes for seniors and adults start again in January and we still have space available on the sign-up sheets.

Here is what we are offering:

Tuesday, January 7, 7-8:30pm
Computer Basics
Learn how to use a mouse, the keyboard and other basic computer functions.

Tuesday, January 21, 7-8:30pm
Word Processing Basics
Learn how to use the computer to write letters, essays and other text documents. Basic mouse and keyboard skills are required.

Tuesday, February 4, 7-8:30pm
Searching the Internet
Learn how to navigate and search the Internet. Basic mouse and keyboard skills are required.

Tuesday, February 19, 7-8:30pm
Basic Email
Learn how to set up an Email account and basic Email functions. Basic mouse and keyboard skills are required.

Attendance limited to 10 people. Please contact Excelsior Branch to sign up.

Christmas Holiday Closures

The Excelsior Branch and all San Francisco Public Libraries will be closed for Christmas starting at 5pm on Tuesday, December 24 and all day Wednesday, December 25.
Happy holidays from all of us at Excelsior Branch!

十二月二十五日(星期三)為"聖誕假日"全部舊金山市立圖書館休息. 十二月二十四(日星期二)提前於下午五時休息.

Las bibliotecas públicas de San Francisco cerrarán a las 5 p.m. el  martes 24 de diciembre y estarán cerradas el miércoles 25 de diciembre del 2013 Día de Navidad.

Winter Craft Program for Teens and Adults, Tuesday, December 17, 7-8:30pm

Take a break from your holiday preparations and make a winter landscape out of an old book. All materials provided. Limited to 10 participants, first come first served.

Join us, we have glitter!


Divas, Dames, and Daredevils: A talk and slideshow by author Mike Madrid

Wonder Woman, Mary Marvel, and Sheena, Queen of the Jungle ruled the pages of comic books in the 1940s, but many other heroines of the WWII era have been forgotten. Divas, Dames & Daredevils reintroduces their ingenious abilities to mete out justice to Nazis, aliens, and evildoers of all kinds. His book reveals a universe populated by extraordinary women—superheroes, reporters, galactic warriors, daring detectives, and ace fighter pilots—who protected America and the world with wit and guile. The book introduces us to heroines with striking similarities to more modern superheroes, including The Spider Queen, who deployed web shooters20 years before Spider Man, and Marga the Panther Woman, whose feral instincts and sharp claws tore up the bad guys long before Wolverine. These women may have been overlooked in the annals of history, but their influence on popular culture, and the heroes we’re passionate about today, is unmistakable.

Mike Madrid is the author of Divas, Dames & Daredevils: Lost Heroines of Golden Age Comics and The Supergirls: Fashion, Feminism, Fantasy, and the History of Comic Book Heroines, an NPR “Best Book To Share With Your Friends” and American Library Association Amelia Bloomer Project Notable Book. Madrid, a San Francisco native and lifelong fan of comic books and popular culture, also appears in the documentary Wonder Women! The Untold Story of American Superheroines.

eReader Drop-In, Tuesday, December 10, 7-8:30pm

Did you buy an eReader or tablet on Black Friday or Cyber Monday? Come by on Tuesday and learn how to download eBooks onto your Kindle, iPad, Nook or other device.

No reservation needed.

First Monday Movies @ Excelsior, December 2, 6:30-8:30pm

The movie for December is 42nd Street (1933, 90 mins) with Warner Baxter, Bebe Daniels, George Brent, Ruby Keeler, Guy Kibbee, Una Merkel, Ginger Rodgers, Ned Sparks, Dick Powell; directed by Lloyd Bacon.

An ailing Broadway musical producer produces a new show. When a flinty leading lady twists her ankle on opening night, one spunky chorus girl tries to take over her place.

This movie is credited with single-handedly rescuing the movie musical and was so financially successful that it saved Warner Brothers from bankruptcy.

Thanksgiving Holiday Library Closures


Image courtesy of Biodiversity Heritage Library
Please note that Excelsior Branch and all San Francisco Public Libraries will be CLOSED starting at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 27 and all day Thursday, November 28 and Friday, November 29 for Thanksgiving. We will resume our regular opening hours on Saturday, November 30, 2012. Happy Thanksgiving!

請大家注意: 11月28日(星期四)及29日(星期五)為"感恩節假日"舊金山市立圖書館所有部門休息兩天。11月27日(星期三)圖書館將提前於下午5時休息。圖書館在11月30四日(星期六)恢復正常開放時間。祝大家感恩節快樂!

Las bibliotecas públicas de San Francisco cerrarán a las 5 p.m. el miércoles 27 de noviembre y estarán cerradas el jueves 28 y el viernes 29 de noviembre del 2013 en celebración del Día de Acción de Gracias. Vamos a continuar nuestro horario habitual el Sábado, 30 de noviembre. Feliz Día de Acción de Gracias!


StoryCorps @ Excelsior Library - Record your San Francisco story on Tuesday, November 19, 6-8:30pm

Take part in our annual One City One Book: San Francisco Reads celebration by recording your own truly San Francisco story. We are recording stories around the themes of Cory Doctorow's Little Brother, such as growing up in San Francisco, your neighborhood, your high school, your family, or social justice efforts you participated in. Bring a partner, friend or loved on to tell your story to, or just come by yourself. At the end of your session, you'll receive a free broadcast-quality CD to share with family and friends, and a second copy will be archived in the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.

Schedule an appointment to record your San Francisco story by calling 415-557-4277 or email at publicaffairs@sfpl.org

For more information and program dates at other branches, please click here: Link to StoryCorps page of sfpl website

eReader Drop-in, Tuesday, November 12, 7-8:30pm

Do you have an eReader? Did you know that you can check out electronic editions of library books for free? Learn how to enjoy San Francisco Public Library’s collection of more than 40,000 ebooks at this workshop.

Bring your Kindle, Nook, iPad or other eReader device with you and we will show you how to use it to download books and other materials from the Library website.

Library closed on Monday, November 11, for Veterans' Day

Excelsior Branch and all other San Francisco Public Libraries will be closed on Monday, November 11, for Veteran's Day.

 十一月十一日(星期一)為"退伍軍人紀念日" 全部舊金山市立圖書館休息一天.

Las bibliotecas públicas de San Francisco estarán cerradas el lunes 11 de noviembre del 2013 Día de los Veteranos

Daylight Savings Time ends on Sunday, November 3, 2am

It is time to "fall back" and set your clocks back one hour on November 3 as daylight savings time comes to an end.

夏時制11月3日(星期天)結束! 請記住在11月4日(星期天) 的早上把家裡的鐘錶撥慢1小時。

No se olvide de ajustar sus relojes una hora atrás el proximo domingo! El horario de verano termina oficialmente a las 2 am el domingo, 3 de noviembre.

First Monday Movie @ Excelsior, November 4, 6:30-8:30pm

The movie for November is Flying Down to Rio (1933, 89 mins) with Fred Astair, Ginger Rogers, Dolores Del Rio, Gene Raymond, Paul Roulien, directed by Thornton Freeland.

This film, containing the first of many Fred Astair - Ginger Rogers partnerships, concerns a troupe of entertainers stranded in Rio. The role of Honey Hale was to be played by Dorothy Jordan, but she dropped out to marry the film's producer, Merian C. Cooper; the role was then given to Ginger Rogers.

Protecting Your Privacy Online, Wednesday, October 30, 7pm

Jacob Hoffman-Andrews who works on security issues as a programmer at Twitter will teach a
hands-on session on how to protect your privacy on the Internet with privacy tools including: encrypted Off-The-Record chat using Pidgin or Adium, and anonymous browsing using the Tor Browser Bundle.

We will be installing and using software, so you will get the most out of it if you can bring a laptop. If you can't bring a laptop, you are welcome to come and listen or find a buddy.

This program is part of our One City One Book: San Francisco Reads program. The One City One Book selection for this year is Little Brother by Cory Doctorow. If you haven't read it yet, pick up a copy after the event on Wednesday!

Bataan Legacy multi-media program on Wednesday, October 26, 3:30-5:30pm

Author and playwright, Cecilia Gaerlan, will present a multi-media program which will combine theatre, film, music, and photographs to depict the stories of World War II in the Philippines and portraying the emotional toll of war. She will also read excerpts from her novel and stage play, In Her Mother’s Image, which is set in the Philippines during World War II.

The highlight of this presentation will be the appearance of Bataan veterans who will speak about their experience during the war.

Library closed on Monday, October 14, for Columbus Day

Please note that the Excelsior Branch and all San Francisco Public Libraries will be closed in observance of Columbus Day on Monday, October 14.

10月14日(星期一)Excelsior圖書館與全部舊金山市立圖書館為
"哥倫布紀念日" 休息一天。

Las bibliotecas públicas de San Francisco estarán cerradas el lunes 14 de octubre de 2013 Día de la Raza.

First Monday Movies @ Excelsior, October 7, 6:30-8:30pm

The movie for October is Animal Crackers (1930, 97 mins) with the Marx Brothers, directed by Victor Heerman.

In typical Marx Brothers fashion, mayhem and zaniness ensue when a valuable work of art goes missing during a welcome-home party for a famous African explorer.

The movie's line "One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got in my pajamas, I don't know." was voted as the #53 movie quote by the American Film Institute
(out of 100). 

Computer Classes for Adults & Seniors, Word Processing Basics, Tuesday, October 29, 7-8:30pm

Learn how to use the computer to write letters, essays and other text documents. Basic mouse and keyboard skills are required.

This class is limited to 10 people. Please contact Excelsior Branch to sign up.

Affordable Care Act Information Workshop, Friday, October 4, 2-4pm

Affordable Care Act, Obama Care, Health Care Reform, Covered California? If you want more information about the new health care law or have questions, please join us for this information workshop with representatives from Chinese Community Healthy Plan (CCHP).

Learn about the law's mandate for everyone to have coverage and if you qualify to receive financial help. Find out whether or not it will impact you and what you need to do about it. A question and answer session will follow the presentation.

Presentation in Cantonese (廣東華講解): 2-3pm
Presentation in English: 3-4pm

September 24, 2013 is National Voter Registration Day

Do you or someone you know need to register to vote in San Francisco? Come by the library this week and pick up a voter registration form!

The last day to register to vote for the November 5, 2013 election is October 21.

For more information check out these websites: sfelections.org, registertovote.ca.gov, sfpl.org/elections

Celebrate Latino Hispanic Heritage Month at Excelsior Branch this fall

We have multiple fun programs for all ages lined up to celebrate Latino Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15.

We start out with a Mexican Chocolate Storytime on Saturday, September 21 at 11:30am. Learn about the ancient tradition of Mexican chocolate or cacahuatl with books, songs, rhymes and a special tasting to follow. This is for children of all ages and their families.

Continuing with a food theme, join us on Tuesday, October 8 at 7pm to learn about tamales,  watch a tamale making demonstration, make your own to take home and taste some freshly steamed tamales. This program is for everybody aged 5 and older. Space is limited to 25 people. First come, first served.

And last but not least we have a mural craft program for teens and tweens on Wednesday, October 9, 3:30-5pm. Join Precita Eyes Muralists in creating a chalk art mural. Come up with a theme for the mural and learn techniques for using chalk pastel. The mural will be displayed in the library once completed.

Also check out our branch displays of non-fiction books and novels with a Latino Hispanic Heritage theme as well as as slideshow of  historical images of Hispanic Americans in San Francisco on our digital display.

Branch beautification in progress

Changes have been coming to the Excelsior Branch exterior with flowers, benches and artwork installed over the past 2 weeks. Check out some photos of the beautification on our branch Facebook page and don't forget to join us for the reception and celebration on September 7, 1-3pm.

Click here for more photos: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.699485020065578.1073741827.143077229039696&type=3



eReader Drop-In, Tuesday, September 10, 7-8:30pm

Do you have an eReader? Did you know that you can check out electronic editions of library books for free? Learn how to enjoy San Francisco Public Library’s collection of more than 40,000 ebooks at this workshop.

Bring your Kindle, Nook, iPad or other eReader device with you and we will show you how to use it to download books and other materials from the Library website.

One City One Book - Get your copy now!

Our copies of Cory Doctorow's Little Brother - the One City One Book selection for 2013 - have arrived. They'll be going fast, so come by today to get your copy! If all our copies are checked out - or if you prefer to read Little Brother on your phone or tablet, you can download a free digital version at http://craphound.com/littlebrother/download/


There are lots of events city-wide including a scavenger hunt at the Main Library on Saturday, September 14. Click here for a list of events and see below for the events here at Excelsior Branch:

LED Robot Plushie Workshop + Little Brother Book Discussion, Wednesday, September 18, 3-5pm (for teens ages 13-19, registration required)

Protecting Your Privacy Online, Monday, October 30, 7-8pm





First Monday Movies @ Excelsior, September 9, 6:30-8:30pm (2nd Monday due to Labor Day holiday)

The movie for September is Night Flight (1933, 85 mins) with Hellen Hayes, John Barrymore, Clark Gable and Lionel Barrymore; directed by Clarence Brown.

As a worried mother comforts her desparately ill son in Rio de Janeiro, the child's physician, Dr. Decosta, assures her that, thanks to the new night flying schedule of the Trans-Andean European Air Mail, which is being inaugurated that evening, they will receive a life-saving serum the next day.

It is based on the 1931 novel of the same name by French writer and pioneering-aviator Antoine de Saint Exupéry, author the The Little Prince, and based on his personal experiences while flying on South American mail routes.

Library closed on Monday, September 2, for Labor Day

The Excelsior Branch and all other San Francisco Public Libraries will be closed on Monday, September 2, for Labor Day.

Please also note that the Bay Bridge will be closed starting 8pm on Wednesday, August 28, and will reopen with the new east span 5am Tuesday, September 3. For more on this, see the SFMTA website: http://www.sfmta.com/baybridgelaborday

9月2日(星期一)為 "勞工節" 舊金山市立圖書館所有部門休息一天.

Las bibliotecas públicas de San Francisco estarán cerradas el Lunes 2 de septiembre de 2013 Día del
Trabajo.

The Excelsior: Where Natural Beauty and History Come Alive, Reception and Performance, Saturday, September 7, 1-3pm


Over a two year period, the Excelsior Action group has worked with the community, city, and the library to realize the goal of “Greening the Excelsior through Art” via the Excelsior Branch Library. With the help of Architecture for Humanity and the Community Challenge Grant Program this goal was reached this year and we are ready to honor the work done by so many in this district to beautify our neighborhood. Along with this large art project, we are honoring the Excelsior District's historic city street names, which were changed early in the 20th century. 

Featured events will include performances by groups representing China, Japan, and India which were once street names in the neighborhood. Please join us for this reception and celebration of the Excelsior. 

See a preview of the branch beautification on the Excelsior Action Group website: http://www.eagsf.org/excelsior-library-beautification-project.html

Author event and live music performance with Dan Caro, Wednesday, August 21, 7-8:30pm

Local author and jazz drummer, Dan Caro, shares excerpts from his book The Gift of Fire: How I Made Adversity Work for Me, in addition to stories of writing his debut work. You will by inspired as Dan demonstrates, in spite of losing his hands and fingers from a childhood burn accident, his drumming abilities in a live music performance. This is an event not to miss!

Tie dye a t-shirt, Wednesday, August 14, 3-4:30pm

We had a great turnout for our Jerry Garcia lecture by Dennis McNally and to further celebrate Jerry Day we will be tie-dying t-shirts.

This workshop is open to teens and adults. All materials are provided but participants can bring their own t-shirts. Space is limited, please contact Excelsior Branch to register.