Fall is here, and so are the programs!

Fall is here! We have lots of great events going on here at West Valley this month. Check the calendar for our complete listing of upcoming programs, or be sure to take a monthly calendar the next time you visit! Here are some highlights for these coming weeks:

West Valley's 3rd Annual Bookmark Contest for Children
Oct. 1-31, all month long
In honor of Children's Book Week, help the library encourage everyone to spend time each day with a favorite book by designing an original bookmark promoting books and reading. Children in grades K through 8 are invited to submit their entries to the West Valley Library by October 31st, 2007. One winner will be chosen for each grade level. Winning bookmarks will be printed and distributed at the library during Children's Book Week (Nov. 12 -18th) Everyone is welcome to attend our special presentation program that honors our winners on Tuesday, November 13th at 6:30pm.

Parenting Through Nature
October 13, Saturday, 2pm
Storyteller Wendolyn Bird will lead a workshop for parents about using nature to inspire and educate kids.

Glue and Go Costumes for Kids
October 16, Tuesday, 7pm
Holly Cleeland, author of Glue and Go Costumes for Kids, will demonstrate how to make great costumes out of household materials! Holly Cleeland has made television appearances, including HGTV and the Rachael Ray show.

teensReach Meeting & Teen Read Week Celebration
October 18, Thursday, 4pm
teensReach is our advisory and volunteer group for teens ages 13-18. We meet every 3rd Thursday of the month. Earn volunteer hours, share your ideas, make a difference in your community, and have fun! Please join us at the next meeting! We will also be celebrating national Teen Read Week with food, fun activities, and Nintendo Wii!

Get Crafty!: Teen Craft Activity
Thursday, October 25, 4pm
Teens and tweens, join us for a fun craft activity! We will be making cool crafts to celebrate Halloween and Día de Los Muertos. Decorate a skull or make tissue paper flowers! For ages 10-18.

Game On! Gaming Party for Teens
Friday, October 26, 3:30pm
Teens, join us for our monthly gaming party! Show us your Nintendo Wii skills on a huge projected screen. Enjoy some snacks and try out some fun new multi-player video games or board games. For ages 12-18

TeensReach Meeting

TeensReach Meeting
Thursday, September 20, 4pm

Hey Teens! West Valley invites YOU to join our TeensReach group!

What is it? TeensReach is the library's teen advisory and volunteer group that meets once a month to share ideas, plan activities, and discuss upcoming volunteer opportunities. It's a great way to get involved in your community! Join us for some snacks and let us know what YOU think! For ages 13-18.

Gaming Party for Teens

Game On! Gaming Party for Teens Thursday, September 27 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
Hey teens, let’s play some video games in the library! Join us in the community room for some awesome new multi-player games on a huge projected screen. There will be plenty of games and consoles to try. Whether you’re a beginner or a pro, it will be lots of fun! We will also have board games and snacks. This event is for ages 12-18. Stay tuned for more gaming in the library!

Summer Reading ends soon...

Our Summer Reading Celebration, happening at all San Jose Public Libraries, ends August 11! Here at West Valley, we are giving you an extra week to come and redeem your prizes...Please come pick them up no later than August 18.

ALSO, here at West Valley Branch, our generous Friends of the Library group is holding a special drawing to reward readers who have finished all 30 hours in their reading logs! Four $50 bookstore gift certificates will be given out to kids and teens who have finished their logs and filled out an entry form, available at the Summer Reading table. If you have already finished and redeemed your prizes earlier this summer, just bring your reading log back to us and we will give you an entry form for the drawing.