September 2021
Welcome Brian Simons, Library Director 
 
The Library welcomes Brian Simons, who has been appointed to serve as Library Director. Mr. Simons was selected by City Manager Fran Robustelli following a national recruitment for the position. Mr. Simons was the Executive Director for the Brown County Library in Green Bay, Wisconsin. In this role, he supervised 115 employees, established a new fundraising effort for a countywide library of nine facilities and a bookmobile, and oversaw a $7,400,000 annual budget. “Mr. Simons will bring a wealth of experience leading library systems with similar size, diversity, and scope of the San Leandro Library system,” noted City Manager Fran Robustelli. 
 
Library Operations Update
The San Leandro Public Library is Now RFID Enabled 
 
Starting this month the San Leandro Public Library will now be RFID enabled!  
 
What is RFID? RFID, Radio Frequency Identification, is a technology that will drastically speed up the checkout and check-in process for our staff and add additional self-service options for you! 
 
What does this mean? All library materials will now have an encoded RFID tag which will be used to check items out on to your library account! 
 
What kind of changes will I see when I visit a San Leandro Public Library branch?  
  • New Self-Checkout Machines - All four library branches will now have self-checkout machines for you to use! The self-checkout machines offer a variety of language options, and you can use your physical library card or our San Leandro Public Library mobile app to checkout! 
  • RFID Enabled Bookdrop Slots - For returns, our Main and Manor Branch libraries will have RFID enabled bookdrop slots where you can return and remove items from your library account instantly, 24/7! 
 Why is this change happening? RFID technology is widely used at libraries across the country. For us at San Leandro Public Library, we’re looking forward to the added efficiency and better customer service that implementing RFID will allow for our staff and you, our valued patrons. 
 
Visit the Main or Manor Branch libraries during our limited in-person service hours to try out our new RFID system for yourself! 
 

Main Library Now Accepting Book Donations 
 
The Main Library will start taking donations of gently used items starting on Wednesday September 1. For more information click here.  
New: Library of Things!
Library of Things Available Starting September 15 
 
Board games, telescopes, mental health kits, oh my! The San Leandro Public Library just got more awesome. Our new Library of Things is launching on Sept 14 with all sorts of new items for the San Leandro community to check out and enjoy with your library card. From sewing kits and drills to mini induction stoves and bird watching telescopes, we have all sorts of tools and educational kits for the whole family.   
 
 
For Youth And Families
 
Project Teen Lounge 
Teens, join us for weekly programs at the Main Library, focusing on college/career readiness, art, STEM/maker skills, and gaming! Learn more and register at
 www.tinyurl.com/projectteenlounge 
 
Teen Advisory Group
Join TAG & give feedback on library programs, participate in a civic engagement project to address an issue in our community & earn volunteer hours! Open to teens in grades 8-12.
Visit the website to apply
 

Join a FREE Year-Round Reading Program! 
The Library’s year-round reading programs offer incentives for achieving reading milestones, which can be completed at the pace that feels right for each participant. Joining a reading program is a fun way to stay engaged with reading and learning all year long! Learn more or enroll now by clicking the links below: 
  • 1000 Books Before Kindergarten is for families with children ages 0-4 
  • 500 Books Before Middle School is for grades K-5 
  • 100 Books Before Graduation is for grades 6-12.  
Library Innovation Lab Grant
Library Innovation Lab Programming to Begin in September 
San Leandro Public Library and the Library Innovation Lab: Exploring New Ways of Engaging Immigrant Communities Through Public Humanities Programming  
  
This September 2021, the San Leandro Public Library is kicking off (be)Longing: Woven into the Fabric of Our Community. This series of intergenerational community events will promote the learning about and embracing of the diverse cultures that make up San Leandro. Stay tuned during September-December for free engaging library art and poetry exhibits, food tastings, traditional dance performances, and honorary guest speakers. To kick off the series, enjoy a free talk with Popoca Chef Anthony Salguero on Wednesday, September 15 at 6 pm. Salguero will talk about the tradition and history behind Salvadorean cuisine. To-go Salvadorean Tamale tastings (while supplies last) and listening circles will follow.  
  
Also, enjoy a poetry walk featuring the works of Salvadorean poet Javier Zamora, and a woven art display (from September 15-October 1) to also honor Hispanic Heritage Month.
 
This project was made possible with the support from California Humanities, a non-profit partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Visit www.calhum.org 
Virtual Programs 
Find our schedule of virtual events for all ages on our website calendar and social media!
 
History Readers Book Club  
Thursday, Sept. 9, 6:00 pm-7:00 pm 
Virtual Event
Join San Leandro History Museum staff for a virtual book club for adults on the Second Thursday of the month. We welcome adult readers to join us to discuss historic fiction or your current reads of any genre, and to get/give some
reading recommendations.
 
A Book Talk with San Leandro Writer Vincent Traughber Meis 
Thursday, September 9, 6:00pm 
In-Person Event
Join us for an in-person book talk and book signing with local San Leandro writer Vincent Traughber Meis. He will discuss his latest release, “The Mayor of Oak Street.” The community is invited to learn more about the multiple Rainbow Award recipient’s coming-of-age novel and engage in a question and answer segment. The event will conclude with an opportunity for the public to buy signed copies of “The Mayor of Oak Street.” Masks will be required, and the Library department request that attendees maintain social distance during this indoor event.  
 
Library of Things Launch Event  
Tuesday, September 14, 5:30pm-7:00pm 
In-person event 
Join us outside of the Main Library to see the new Library of Things collection and enjoy some cookies and lemonade. Items will be available to examine, but not to check out (so that everyone can see what is available!). Starting on Wednesday Sept 15, all items in the Library of Things will be available for check out with your San Leandro Library card. 
San Leandro 2050 Solar Power Hour 
Thursday, September 30, 6:30 pm 
Virtual event 
San Leandro Public Library is partnering with SanLeandro2050 to bring you San Leandro Solar Power Hour: Neighbors Answer Your Solar Questions. Would you like to learn more about Solar without hype, sales pitch, and confusion? 
Join us for a virtual event with local residents and learn about their experience with solar and free solar options for low income families with Grid Alternatives.    
To register: email kmandalay@sanleandro.org 

In-person events are subject to change based on current public health guidelines. For in-person events held inside the Library, masks are mandatory and social distancing is strongly encouraged. For in-person events held outside, everyone is strongly encouraged to wear a mask and to socially distance from people you do not live with. 

Online Resources Spotlight
Britannica School 
Britannica School is the go-to site for K-12 research. Students can toggle between 3 reading levels on each article, and have articles read aloud. Each article can also be translated into over 80 languages. Log in for free with your Library Card. 
CultureGrams 
During Hispanic Heritage Month, use CultureGrams to explore Spanish speaking countries. This resource includes cultural information on more than 200 countries including videos and slideshows introducing the country, plus regional recipes to try to home. Log in for free with your Library Card. 
Books to Borrow This Month
Celebra! Hispanic Heritage Month 
View our all-ages eBook list or visit us to see our in-library displays
Project Literacy
ESL Conversation Clubs 
  • Thu. September 9, 5:30pm-6:30pm
  • Sun. September 12, 10am-11am
  • Sat. September 18, 10am-11am 
Attention English Language Learners! Want to practice your English conversation skills in a safe, online space with other English language learners? Come join us on Zoom each month for our ESL Conversation Clubs. Everyone is welcome to attend and we welcome all learners of all skill levels. The Conversation Clubs are free and registration is required. Please sign up here to receive the Zoom link for the meetings: https://bit.ly/3xbuynj 
 
 
Need help with reading and writing? 
 
It is never too late to learn! We help English speaking adults improve their reading and writing skills for FREE. Join Project Literacy today!
 
Call 510-577-3944 to get started or click this link to fill out our registration form: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5C6K6FS
 
 
 
 
 
New Tutor Orientation 
Project Literacy needs new online volunteer tutors! Find out how you can help adults in your community learn to read and write by attending Project Literacy's New Tutor Orientation on Tuesday September 28th from 6:00pm-8:00pm. Training is free! Registration is required. 
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