Excelsior Branch Blog is retiring

Dear followers,

The Excelsior Branch Blog is retiring in a few weeks. We had a stellar run since we started this blog in 2008 and we want to thank all our readers. We are not blogging any longer but you can still get all the information about our programs and other activities on our Facebook page. You don't have to be on Facebook to look at our page but if you want to get our updates automatically please like our page.

Thank you for reading our blog and see you soon at Excelsior Branch!

Sourdough Starter Workshop, Tuesday, June 3, 7-8:30pm

Cat Shimizu, the "breaducator" from Sour Flour —a Mission District bakery dedicated to neighborly bread gifting and bread education— will talk about the art and science of making bread using a sourdough starter.

This includes how to feed and take care of your own starter, and how different factors such as time, temperature, and starter hydration affect the fermentation process. And how the fermentation process, using wild yeast and lactic "good" bacteria,  improves the nutritional and storage properties of bread.

Samples and suggested reading will help get you started on a healthy, enjoyable and delicious new adventure in baking.

Summer Read SF 2014: May 31-August 10
Connect to your library, your imagination, and San Francisco.
sfpl.org/summerread

Library closed Monday, May 26 for Memorial Day

All San Francisco Public Libraries will be CLOSED Monday, May 26 for Memorial Day.

五月二十六日(星期一)為〝陣亡將士紀念日〞全部舊金山市立圖書館休息一天。

Las bibliotecas públicas de San Francisco estarán cerradas el lunes 26 de mayo de 2014 Día de los Caídos.

eReader drop-in on Tuesday, May 13, 7-8:30pm

Come to our eBook drop-in on Tuesday, April 8, 7-8:30pm and we will help you download free books and audiobooks to your smart phone, tablet or eReader. We'll also show you how to use Hoopla, our new streaming audio and video platform, so stop on by.

Excelsior Branch new hours starting May 12

Please note that our hours are changing starting May 12.
Our new hours are:

     Monday:    1 pm to 6 pm **

     Tuesday:    10 am to 9 pm

     Wednesday:    10 am to 9 pm

     Thursday:    10 am to 9 pm**

     Friday:    1 pm to 6 pm

     Saturday:    10 am to 6 pm

     Sunday:    1 pm to 5 pm

**Changed hours

Intimate Impressionism docent talk and slideshow, Tuesday, April 29, 7-8:30pm

Learn about the exhibition Intimate Impressionism currently on view at the California Palace of the Legion of Honor in this free lecture and slideshow. The exhibit
showcases 70 paintings from some of the most beloved artists in the world, including Cezanne, Degas, Monet, Renoir and Van Gogh, on loan from the National Gallery of Art in Washington.

In this lecture will explore the close relationships that developed between these artists and their subjects as well as the friendships and rivalries that existed within this group.

Poem in Your Pocket Day

April is National Poetry Month and Thursday, April 24, is Poem in Your Pocket Day. Come by Excelsior Branch and pick up a poem, put it in your pocket or share it with someone.

Want to share a poem? Bring it in or post it in the comments.

Exciting new services for streaming music, audiobooks and movies

San Francisco Public Library is now offering thousands of streaming movies, television shows, music and audiobooks, all for free with your library card!

The new service is called Hoopla Digitial. You can download the Hoopla Digital app for your smartphone or tablet or simply stream the content on your computer. All you need is your library card number and PIN.
If you have questions, feel free to come by and ask a librarian or see the FAQs here: http://sfpl.org/index.php?pg=2000707201

eBook questions?

Come to our eBook drop-in on Tuesday, April 8, 7-8:30pm and we will help you download free books and audiobooks to your smart phone, tablet or eReader.

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

The movie for April is The Lost Weekend (1945, 101 mins) starring Ray Milland, Jane Wyman, and Phillip Terry; directed by Billy Wilder.

A would-be writer's dissatisfaction with his life leads him on a three day bender, giving an uncompromising look at the devastating effects of alcoholism.

The Lost Weekend won in the categories Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Director and Best Screenplay at the 1946 Academy Awards. The movie is based on an autobiographical book of the same name by Charles Jackson.

Computer Classes for Adults and Seniors starting April 1

Do you or someone you know need a little help getting started on the computer? Sign up for our free computer classes for beginners.

Classes are on Tuesdays from 7-8:30pm. Attendance is limited to 10 students. Please contact Excelsior Branch to sign up.

April 1: Computer Basics
Learn how to use a mouse, the keyboard and other basic computer functions.

April 15: Word Processing Basics
Learn how to use Microsoft Word. Basic mouse and keyboard skills are required.

May 6: Searching the Internet
Learn how to navigate and search the Internet. Basic mouse and keyboard skills are required.

May 20: Basic Email
Learn how to set up an email account and basic email functions. Basic mouse and keyboard skills are required.

Write Your Will Workshop, Tuesday, March 25, 7-8:30pm

Attend this workshop led by estate planning and probate lawyer, Stuart Bronstein, and leave with a fully functional will.

Please bring a blue ink non-erasable pen. Advance registration is required; please contact Excelsior Branch to reserve your space.

Daylight Saving Time starts this Sunday - Spring Forward!

Don't forget to set your clocks forward one hour on Sunday morning! Daylight Saving Time officially starts at 2 a.m. on Sunday, March 9.

夏時制3月9日(星期天)開始! 請記住在3月10日(星期天) 的早上把家裡的鐘錶撥快1小時。

No se olvide de ajustar sus relojes una hora adelantado este domingo! El horario de verano comienza oficialmente a las 2 de la mañana el domingo, 9 de marzo.

eReader and eBook Drop In Class, Tuesday, March 11, 7-8:30pm

Would you like to download free eBooks and free eAudiobooks to your tablet, smartphone or eReader? Come to our drop-in class and have a librarian show you how.

No registration required.

Movies @ Excelsior, Monday, March 3, 6:30-8:30pm

The movie for March is The Defiant Ones (1958, 96 mins) with Tony Curtis, Sidney Poitier, Theodore Bikel, Charles McGraw; directed by Stanley Kramer.

Two convicts, shackled together, escape a chain gang and flee an armed posse.

The film won Oscars for best writing, story and screenplay in 1959. Both Tony Curtis and Sidney Poitier were nominated for best actor but lost out to David Niven.
According to imdb.com, Elvis Presley wanted the role of Joker Jackson, hoping to co-star with Sammy Davis Jr. but was persuaded by his manager not to do the film.

Building Trust: Communicating with Your Children About Puberty, Wednesday, February 26, 4:30-6pm

Learn how to handle questions about growing up and the changes that come with it. This workshop is led by trained parent facilitators from Mission Graduates and will be bilingual Spanish/English.

Library Closed on Monday, February 17, for Presidents' Day

Please note that the Excelsior Branch and all other San Francisco Public Libraries will be closed on Monday, February 17, for Presidents' Day.

二月十七日(星期一) 為"總統紀念日" 全部舊金山市立圖書館休息一天.

Las bibliotecas públicas de San Francisco estarán cerradas el lunes 17 de febrero del 2014 Día de los Presidentes.

Bridges that Brought African-American's Over Deep Rivers, Black History Month special program, Tuesday, February 11, 7-8:30pm

Join us for a very special Black History Month program with Friends of Negro Spirituals featuring rare DVD footage of slavery time ring shouts, old-time Negro Spirituals (audience participation encouraged), the Sojourner Truth story told poetically and a tribute to Amiri Baraka.

Program participants:
ODINMÁ Performance Ensemble
Angela Thomas and Rener Price, Song Leaders

Also, go and check out the Black History Month photo album with historic photographs on our Facebook page. And while you are there, why not like your favorite neighborhood branch so that you get all our updates?

Movies at Excelsior, Wednesday, February 5, 6:30-8:30 pm

The movie for February is Marty (1955, 90 mins) with Ernest Borgnine, Betsy Blair, Esther Minciotti and Augusta Ciolli; directed by Delbert Mann.

A 34-year-old Bronx butcher fears that he will never find love but at a Saturday night dance he meets a lonely schoolteacher with similar fears.

According to imdb.com Marty was the shortest movie to ever win the Oscar for Best Picture (it also won 3 other Oscars) and the first American movie to win a Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival.

Lion Dance at Excelsior Branch on Saturday, January 18, 12:30-1pm

Help Excelsior Branch celebrate Chinese New Year! Come by this Saturday to watch a lion dance and martial arts demonstrations. For all ages!

And just in case you are wondering, the Year of the Snake starts on Friday, January 31!

為Excelsior圖書館帶來馬年好運！舞獅與武術表演，慶祝中國新年！適合所有年齡.

萬一您想知道: 2014的春節是1月31日!

Library closed on Monday, January 20, for Martin Luther King Jr. Day

All San Francisco Public Libraries will be CLOSED Monday, Jan. 20, 2014 for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

一月二十日(星期一)為〝馬丁路得·金紀念日〞全部舊金山市立圖書館休息一天。

Las bibliotecas públicas de San Francisco estarán cerradas el Lunes 20 de enero del 2014 Día de Martin Luther King, Jr.

Affordable Care Act and Covered California, Friday, January 17, 2-4pm

Please join us as representatives from Chinese Community Health Plan (CCHP) will give a presentation on the Affordable Care Act and Covered California. Find out whether or not it will impact you and what you need to do about it. A Q&A session will follow the presentation.

2-3pm Presentation in Cantonese
3-4pm Presentation in English

可負擔醫療保險計劃
諮詢講座

主題包括MediCal和CoveredCalifornia的概況，申請條件及程序，以及如何選擇保險計劃。講座設有問答環節. 該講座是由舊金山華人保健計畫(CCHP)提供.

下午2時至3時  廣東話講座
下午3時至4時  英文講座

eReader and eBook drop-in, Tuesday, January 14, 7-8:30pm

Did you get a Kindle or an iPad for Christmas? Would you like to download free eBooks and free eAudiobooks to your tablet, smartphone or eReader? Come to our drop-in class and have a librarian show you how.

No registration required.