bookmoblog

Proud moment.

2010-06-29T14:44:00.000-07:00

Here the Dynamic Duo demonstrate their devotion before the Bookmobile as it rolls in the 40th Annual San Francisco Pride Day Parade, Sunday, June 27th. Looks like the Caped Crusaders know all about staying hydrated during the long yet festive day.

Good to see you all at Pride Sunday 2010!

2010-06-28T15:31:00.000-07:00

To all of you who waved and whooped at the Branch Bookmobile rolling in the 40th Annual San Francisco Pride Parade yesterday, a wave and a whoop right back! It was a gorgeously sunny (and hot!) day, but the plucky contingent of the "Queerest. Library. Ever." stepped out boldly and brightly up Market Street from the Embarcadero to Civic Center Plaza. Thanks, one and all, for making us feel so welcome. We'll be rolling proudly again in 2011!

National Bookmobile Day

2010-04-13T10:54:00.000-07:00

On April 14th, we celebrated the first ever National Bookmobile Day. At the San Franciso Public Library -- The Main -- on the Fulton Street side of the building. We had our very own Children's Bookmobile on hand, Tom Corwin and his vintage bookmobile, and a couple of our Branch Bookmobiles coming and going on service stops in the background. City Librarian Luis Herrera kicked off the festivities with a few words and City Board of Supervisors President David Chiu spoke and he even drove a bookmobile! Boswick the Clown entertained the kids with a 30 minute show, and Children’s authors Mac Barnett, and Kathryn Otoshi did story-readings after that. A good time was had by all.

Celebrate Spring!

2010-03-29T10:55:00.000-07:00

You'll find the Bookmobile rolling in the parade at the Union Street Spring Celebration -- Sunday, April 4th, 10:00am-5:00pm at Union Street - Gough to Steiner. There'll be fun for all ages, including large inflatable kids' rides and games, a climbing wall, a hands-on children's activities area, costumed characters, a petting zoo, and a pony ride. And don't miss the big parade, from 2pm-3pm, featuring self-propelled mini-floats and rollerblading cows! Plenty of live music and entertainment from some of San Francisco's best! For more information, check out sresproductions.com..

Potrero Branch Library Grand Reopening!

2010-03-01T11:17:00.000-08:00

Join the fun at the reopening celebration of the Potrero Branch Library (1616 20th Street, near Connecticut) on Saturday, March 6, 2010, beginning at 1pm! There'll be refreshments, entertainment, and a beautiful, newly-renovated branch library to see and explore! Regular library services will be available from 2-6pm, and patrons with Reserve items waiting for them aboard the Branch Bookmobile will be able to pick them up at Potrero Branch that Saturday afternoon.

Last day for Bookmobile service to the Potrero Branch Community will be Thursday, March 4th, from 10am-12:30pm. Look for us at our usual service stop at 1502 Mariposa Street, north side, adjacent to the Jackson Recreation Center Building.

Vietnamese Lunar New Year Tet Festival

2010-02-08T09:46:00.000-08:00

"Each year between mid-January and mid-February, the Vietnamese community observes the Lunar New Year. The occasion is for the Vietnamese residents of San Francisco to remember their heritage and traditions and to pay tribute to their ancestors.

The festival held in the Little Saigon area (Tenderloin district) of San Francisco gives them an opportunity to see old friends, enjoy music and dances, sample special foods and have a good time that they hope will continue throughout the new year. A unique feature of the event is the generous attention given to children who, besides the traditional lucky money in red envelopes, also receive free coupons for foods and games." From the website.

It was a joyous celebration Sunday, February 7th, at the Vietnamese Chinese New year Tet Festival in the Tenderloin. We welcomed about 520 people aboard the bookmobile.Check out the pictures!

Bernal back in business! Park to start its makeover!

2010-02-03T16:02:00.000-08:00

Good day, all!

Thanks to all who joined in the Grand Reopening festivities at Bernal Heights Branch on Saturday, January 30th! Patrons of all ages can now find a welcoming, comfortable, and stylish library ready to serve them at 500 Cortland Avenue (at Moultrie). Don't forget to visit the inviting new Children's Room! We deeply appreciate your patience with the two-year renovation process, and for putting to good use our Bookmobile that had served the community in the meantime.

But now -- we're getting ready to add Park Branch to our schedule of Bookmobile service stops. Beginning Tuesday, March 2nd, the Branch Bookmobile will be ready at 751 Stanyan Street (west side, just south of Waller) to serve the library patrons of the Haight-Ashbury community twice weekly. Here's our upcoming schedule:

Tuesdays, 3:30pm-7pm
Wednesdays, 1pm-5pm

Wondering where to bring little ones for storytimes? Beginning Thursday, March 4th, Park Branch's Baby Rhyme Time and Family Storytime will be presented at the Park Police Station Community Room, 1899 Waller Street. Check the hours below:

Thursdays, 10:30am -- Baby Rhyme Time
Thursdays, 11:30am -- Family Storytime

Join us for stories, songs, fingerplays, music and movement each Thursday. We'll be happy to see you there! But first, don't miss your chance to say "We'll see you again!" to staff and fellow patrons at Park Branch Library's Closing Party (1833 Page Street, near Cole) on Saturday, February 27th, from 2-4pm. Come for entertainment, music, and treats, and to hear about some of the great renovation plans . . .

Some clarification on Merced Bookmobile stop.

2009-12-30T09:48:00.000-08:00

Good day, everyone!

A few patrons have recently inquired about the Merced Bookmobile service stop, asking where its exact location might be. To one and all, we say that the Merced Bookmobile can be located at Buckingham Way, near the UA Twin Cinema at Stonestown Mall, each Monday and Saturday, 10am-12:30pm.

Preschool Storytimes for Merced Branch, meanwhile, are presented each Monday at 9:30am, at the Stonestown YMCA Childwatch Room.

Many thanks for reading, and we look forward to serving you in 2010!

Bookmobile service coming to Presidio Branch community!

2009-12-14T11:10:00.000-08:00

Saturday, December 19, the Presidio Branch begins its renovation period with a closing party from 2pm-4pm, featuring entertainment, food, and music! Starting Wednesday, December 23, look for the Branch Bookmobile from 10am-12:30pm at 2715 California Street (at Scott). We'll also be open for service at the same location each Friday from 10am-12:30pm. Step aboard and take a look at our selection of books for all ages, DVDs, CDs, audiobooks, and CD-ROMs, all of which can be checked out with your San Francisco Public Library card. Need a card? We're happy to help! Come aboard and register with a photo ID and proof of current California address, and you can check out items right away. It's all free!

Bookmobile service:

Wednesdays, 10am-12:30pm
Fridays, 10am-12:30pm

Don't forget Children's Preschool Storytime each Thursday at 10:15am, at the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco, 3200 California Street, during the time of the branch's renovation. Parents and caregivers welcome!

Any questions about Bookmobile service for the Presidio Branch Library community? Call 557-4353 for answers. Many thanks!

Seldom does one door close, when another opens!

2009-11-19T10:53:00.001-08:00

Good day, all!

This Friday, November 20th, 2009, at 1pm, Mini Ortega opens for business! A temporary branch library service site at 3223 Ortega Street, Mini Ortega will provide patrons with regular branch hours 7 days a week: Mondays, Tuesdays, and Saturdays - 10am-6pm, Wednesday and Thursdays - 1pm -9pm, Fridays - 1pm-6pm, and Sundays - 1pm-5pm. Complete branch library service will be available, along with computers with internet access. Children's Programming, including weekly Storytimes, will be scheduled in the adjacent Rec. Center. (call 415-504-6053 for dates and times, and to confirm location). We of the Branch Bookmobile Department thank the Ortega Branch community for their patience and kindness during the admittedly trying time of the new branch's construction. It's been very pleasant to serve you!

Patrons of the Golden Gate Valley Branch can now find the Bookmobile ready to serve them at the corner of Green and Gough Streets (1700 Green Street, southeast corner of Allyne Park) each Tuesday from 10am-12:30pm, and each Friday, from 2:15pm-5:30pm. Come aboard and see what we have to offer! You'll find the latest best sellers, popular non-fiction, new DVDs and audiobooks, graphic novels for all ages, and a useful collection of picture books and beginning reader titles for young children. Feel free to make us your pickup point for Reserves and Interlibrary Loan items! Golden Gate Valley Branch Toddler Tales, in the meantime, are held Tuesdays at 10:15am in the library of Sherman Elementary School, 1651 Union Street (at Franklin).

Eureka Valley Branch Reopens! Final evening of Bookmobile service Tuesday, October 20th.

2009-09-29T17:14:00.000-07:00

As Eureka Valley Branch prepares to reopen its doors, we bid goodnight and thank-you to the Branch Bookmobile at 1 Jose Sarria Court (near 16th Street). Patrons may visit the Eureka Valley Bookmobile for the last time on Tuesday, October 20th, from 3:30pm-7:00pm. All leftover hold items and reserves will be transferred after 7pm to the Eureka Valley Branch, where they will be available for pick-up when the branch resumes regular library service on Saturday, October 24th, at 2:00pm.

Yet make sure to be there for the Grand Reopening, kicking off at 1pm that Saturday! Entertainers, special treats, a ribbon cutting ceremony, and the exciting lion dancers will join in the celebrated return of this beautifully remodeled branch library!

Temporary Friday Morning Bookmobile Service to Ortega Branch.

2009-09-03T17:34:00.000-07:00

Look for the Bookmobile in the Ortega Branch Library community each Friday for the next several weeks, from 10am until 2pm, beginning September 11th. We'll be parked and open for service at the bus loading zone for A.P. Giannini Middle School at 3151 Ortega Street. Have you Reserves to pick up at the Ortega Branch? As of Friday, September 11, you'll find them ready to check out aboard the Branch Bookmobile! Just call 415-557-4336, if you've any questions or concerns. See you soon!

New Bookmobile service location for Merced Branch beginning this Saturday, July 25th.

2009-07-24T10:36:00.000-07:00

All of you Merced patrons who wonder where your Bookmobile's gone this Saturday (July 25th), take a look on Buckingham Way at Stonestown Galleria, across 19th Avenue. Thanks to Stonestown and the City Attorney's Office coming to an agreement, the BLIP Bookmobile's new service location during the renovation of Merced Branch will be on Buckingham Way, nearby the UA Twin Cinemas. We hope this location will better serve parents and children attending storytimes at the Stonestown Family YMCA each Monday morning, as well as give our vehicle a place to park out of the way of Merced Branch's construction zone. We hope this switch doesn't create too much frustration or confusion. Many thanks to all for your patience!

Ask the Bookmoblog Dog!

2009-07-23T15:18:00.001-07:00

Have a question about BLIP Bookmobile service? Fire it to us in the form of a comment, and we'll try to post an answer on this blog promptly! Here's one now:

I'm a patron of the Parkside Branch (currently being remodeled), and I see nothing posted around the branch itself informing the public of the presence of a Bookmobile at 24th Avenue and Santiago, one block away from the branch. I think this is a shame, because I think the Parkside Bookmobile would do a lot more business if people knew it was there.

Thanks for the heads-up! We have, in fact, got right on top of this and had vinyl banners made for posting both at Parkside and Anza Branches. If they are not yet hung in a prominent place at each branch location, they soon will be. For the record, Parkside Branch is served each week by the BLIP Bookmobile at 24th Ave. and Santiago Street each Monday and Wednesday from 1pm-5pm. Anza Branch patrons will find Bookmobile service at 31st Avenue and Balboa Street each Tuesday from 10:30am-1pm, and each Saturday from 1:30pm-5pm. Hope to see you there!

Babies need books!

2009-07-23T11:54:00.000-07:00

Look for the BLIP Bookmobile to make a special appearance at The Homeless Pre-Natal Program (2500 18th Street), Friday, August 14, from 1-3pm. Babies need books (it's never too early to start reading to them out loud!) and the BLIP Bookmobile's full of new titles just waiting to check out. Don't forget -- it's the perfect time to get a free San Francisco Public Library card as well!

BLIP Bookmobile's busy Sunday . . .

2009-07-22T14:28:00.000-07:00

Not one, but two big events on the BLIP Bookmobile's calendar last Sunday! They were:

Bernal Heights Children's Day -- Over 400 children, parents, and caregivers were welcomed aboard the BLIP Bookmobile at the Annual Bernal Heights Children's Day on Sunday, July 19, from 10am- 2pm. While games, crafts, booths, food, and music packed the playground behind the Bernal Heights Branch Library, Bookmobile pilot Keith Lu and co-pilot John Lac put into eager children's hands 300 giveaway picture books in English and Spanish. Co-sponsored this year by the Bernal Heights Parents Club and the Friends of the San Francisco Public Library, the event was free to all visitors. Donations, however, toward the Bernal Heights Branch Library's ongoing renovations were gratefully accepted. Thanks, Keith and John, for putting our best foot forward!

Sunday Streets -- Imagine a car-free San Francisco!
Sunday Streets, on July 19, from 10am-2pm showed an enchanted public what a neighborhood could look like with its streets devoted (if only for a day) to bicycles, stickball, soccer games, people and pets, ice cream carts, and whole families of skateboarders. Of course, we had to get the BLIP Bookmobile in on this! Thanks to pilot and co-pilot Robert and Julio for welcoming aboard the Bookmobile (parked at Harrison & 26th Street) over 200 children and adults. If it was a first visit for some, we hope it will be the first of many!

Bookmobile Crew Takes Pride In Stride

2009-07-22T11:55:00.000-07:00

Sunday, June 28th, the BLIP Bookmobile rolled in San Francisco's biggest public event of the year -- the 39th Annual Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual-Transgender Pride Parade! Escorted by the members of the GLBTQI Committee of SFPL's Adult Services Division, the Bookmobile coasted down Market Street from the Embarcadero to Civic Center Plaza, turning off at last on 8th Street. Cheering crowds on either side of Market Street clamored for fortune cookies handed out by committee members, each cookie packed with a slip marked "SFPL.ORG" on one side and "QUEEREST. LIBRARY. EVER." on the other. Signs displaying the book covers of landmark works of queer literature bobbed and waved in SFPL marchers' hands, setting off fresh cheers as favorite titles were recognized by the multitudes.

2009-04-06T12:27:00.000-07:00

The Bookmobile springs into parade mode -- last Sunday! Thanks to those that joined us at the Union Street Spring Celebration where we were parked and open for service, and then featured in the parade at 2pm. Happy Spring!

Check out a slideshow of the event here! Thanks Richard and Keith!

2009 Vietnamese Tet Festival

2009-01-12T16:58:00.000-08:00

The Branch Bookmobile will be in San Francisco's Little Saigon district on Sunday January 18, to help the neighborhood ring in the New Year.

"Each year between mid-January and mid-February, the Vietnamese community observes the Lunar New Year. The occasion is for the Vietnamese residents of San Francisco to remember their heritage and traditions and to pay tribute to their ancestors."

From the Vietnamese Community Center of San Francisco

Treasure Island Service!

2008-11-19T11:30:00.000-08:00

WHERE: Treasure Island Community Center 'Ship Shape Building' , 497 Avenue I

WHEN: Every Thursday*, beginning November 20th

10:30 open
12:30-1:00 closed for lunch (30 min)
4:30 close

*Due to the Christmas and New Years Day Holidays, the Library (including the bookmobiles) will be closed on December 25th and January 1st. Service will be moved to Mondays during the Holidays. The bookmobile will be on Treasure Island on Monday December 22nd and 29th, same times and place (see above). Thanks for your understanding, and Happy Holidays!

Citizenship

2008-10-20T12:40:00.000-07:00

In October 2008, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services began administering a new set of questions for the naturalization exam.

To help library users prepare for the new USCIS naturalization interview, a small group representing numerous SFPL departments (including the Branch Bookmobile Manager) collaborated with the Ethnic Services Committee to develop a set of online resources including the following tools to assist our patrons with the recent exam changes:

* A video introduction with transcript
* A guide to naturalization
* Detailed practice materials for the new citizenship exam
* Information about local organizations that can help with the citizenship process
* A list of English as a Second Language (ESL) providers

We're pleased to announce that the new resources are now available on the SFPL website at http://sfpl.org/citizenship

Resources are currently available in 5 languages: English, Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, and Russian, with more languages to come in Phase 2 of the project.

These resources are designed to help patrons navigate the processes in their own language, assist staff helping patrons in other languages, and support outside organizations assisting individuals with the citizenship exam.

BOOKMOB

2008-09-03T17:31:00.000-07:00

Calling all readers, book lovers, authors, poets, librarians and other literary types! Get ready to make history in San Francisco. You’ve heard of a flash mob? This is a BOOKMOB.

Details: Saturday, September 6th, 11:45 a.m.
Harry Bridges Plaza, Near the Ferry Building
Look for the BOOKMOB[ile] and the codeword OCOB on the median plaza between the Ferry Building and Market Street. Report to the table there for further instructions.
More info and sign-up: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bookmobsf/

Spread the word. Word.

View Larger Map

Backpacks, Basketball, and Bookmobiles

2008-08-18T16:08:00.000-07:00

The bookmobile participated in the the Summer of Unity Event at the Potrero Hill Housing Development on August 16th. On August 23rd we will go to another event in the series at Sunnydale. "Summer of Unity celebrations empower and engage youth and families who live in San Francisco’s public housing complexes by bringing fun, food, and resources right to their doorsteps. Event activities include a barbecue, entertainment, a sports tournament, a climbing wall, jump houses, a resource fair, and the Youth Warrior award ceremony,"...and this time, the Mayor's Backpack Give-away and the Bookmobile! Check it out! www.dcyf.org

New Search Feature ------------------------>

2008-08-11T12:30:00.000-07:00

The Library has a new search functionality called Encore, and your favorite BookmoBlog now has a search box so you can try it out right away! It's over there, in the upper right. See it? Try it and let us know what you think!

Walk and Roll !

2008-07-01T11:33:00.000-07:00

Sunday in the City: the Branch Bookmobile and San Francisco Public Library's contingent walked and rolled in the 38th Annual San Francisco LGBT Pride Parade on June 29th. The Library is proud to have been a part of this historic day, as record numbers of attendees cheered on the parade and attended other Pride events in the City on Saturday and Sunday. (Thanks to all who planned and participated, our photographers, and to KRON 4 for permission to use this clip of the Bookmobile and Team in action!)

May Mobility

2008-05-02T15:34:00.000-07:00

The Branch Bookmobiles are headed your way in May. Click the map icons to see information about festivals where you can find the bookmobile. Rollin' rollin' rollin'...

View Larger Map

Clinging to Spring

2008-04-29T10:20:00.000-07:00

In between the days of wind and cold snaps, we are still seeing the signs of Spring through the windshield of the bookmobiles. Keith and former bookmobile manager Irene took the bookmobile to the Union Street Spring celebration and they even drove in the Parade (with the help of "professional cow roller skaters." Your guess is as good as mine, but it sounds like fun!). Julio and Wen drove out to the Stonestown YMCA to participate in Healthy Kids Day, and we've got more celebrations coming up! If you don't see the bookmobiles in your neighborhood in May, you're just not looking hard enough! Watch this space for more information about upcoming events. Then come and see us!

Spring Flings

2008-03-05T10:50:00.000-08:00

We've done it again...and again! The bookmobile toured the Castro on Saturday March 1st to say farewell to the Eureka Valley Branch for a while and to say hello to the neighborhood residents who will be our patrons during the branch closure and renovations.

Then on Tuesday March 4th we went to Balboa Park for the Kaboom playground build. Othopedic surgeons, nurses, and young and old members of the community built a a playground in one day! Thanks to Julio, Terry, and Lisa for their help on these special events.

Bookmobile service in Eureka Valley begins on Saturday March 8th. Days and times are Tuesdays 3:30-7pm and Saturdays 1-5pm.

Tour de Castro and Eureka Valley Closing Party

2008-02-26T15:02:00.000-08:00

View Larger Map
The bookmobile will be making stops throughout the Castro District on Saturday morning, March 1st, in anticipation of the big Closing Party at the Eureka Valley/Harvey Milk Memorial Branch at 1pm that day. The branch will be closing in order to perform much needed renovation. Temporary services -- including the Bookmobile! -- will be provided for patrons in the neighborhood during the closure. Come get a sneak peak of the bookmobile!

Tour kicks off around 10am at the Eureka Valley Recreation Center (100 Collingwood), moves to Bagdad Cafe on Market, then up Market to Castro, to park in front of the Castro Theater for a little while. At 1pm, join us at the Library for a fond (but temporary) farewell to the Branch. Music, refreshments, activities for children, fun for all!

Happy (Vietnamese) New Year

2007-12-17T10:25:00.000-08:00

The staff of the Branch Bookmobiles wish you a happy and prosperous 2008! More than 300 people hopped on the bookmobile to celebrate with us as we rang in the Year of the Rat at the Vietnamese Tet Festival in San Francisco's Little Saigon district on February 3rd. Team effort is the name of the game in 2008: Keith got the ball rolling contacting organizers, The Friends of the Library paid our way, Dennis pitched in with help on board, and Jimmy brought his old friends from his lion dancing troupe to give us their blessing. If this is how the Rat rolls, pass the cheese!

In Your Neighborhood

2007-11-15T11:15:00.001-08:00

View Larger Map

Many people have seen the bookmobiles at the glamorous special events (see posts below), but we do have a "day job." :-) Above, you can click on the interactive map of the current and future Bookmobile locations. Current bookmobile locations are indicated by the blue bus icons, and future locations will be indicated by the red push-pin icons. Click on the icons in the map above for more information about these bookmobile locations. See you around the neighborhood!

[NEWS FLASH! Potrero Bookmobile location hours are likely to change. Watch this blog for details!]

Fall Festivities

2007-11-01T14:50:00.000-07:00

Hello again,

We've been busy! Maybe you've seen us around? In addition to our regular stops, October has been party month on the Branch Bookmobiles! On October 13, we chugged way up one of the steepest hills in San Francisco, for the Potrero Hill Festival. We were right next to the bouncy inflatable castle, the bubble loops, and across from the boy scouts -- we were in pretty good company!

Just last weekend we could be seen in the Haight for the Halloween Hootenanny, held at the corner of Stanyan and Waller, near the Kezar Pavilion. A spooky good time was had by all. Check out pictures of the book pilots and their festive friends here.

Hitting the Streets

2007-09-12T11:49:00.000-07:00

The Branch Bookmobiles have been in action all this time, but the BookmoBLOG has been in in the shop for a tune-up. Now it's time to open the garage door and get back on the information superhighway. We've got lots of fun events down the road and a few in our rear view mirror. The Book Pilot will try to update you now and promises to pull off the road and blog more frequently from now on.

Most recently, the BIG Bookmobile visited Visitacion Valley for the Leland Avenue Street Fair, on Sunday September 9th. We had more than 350 visitors on Sunday. Parked next to the music stage and right in front of the Visitacion Valley Branch Library, the Bookmobile was the center of the action. Check our a few pictures of the vehicle, visitors and staff here. Thanks Keith, Jimmy, Terry, the Staff of the Vis Valley Branch and the Friends of the Library for their help.

Start the Engines

2007-04-30T12:40:00.000-07:00

Hello from Behind the Wheel of a Bookmobile,

This blog is meant to share interesting facts about the Branch Library Improvement Program Bookmobiles in San Francisco. This is an important group of bookmobiles: they serve the people in communities where their branch library is closed for much-needed renovations. We bring new and exciting books, DVDs, and hold requests from the big library system to the neighborhood that is missing its library.

Find out more about the program here:

BLIP Bookmobiles

In the coming weeks, months and years, this bookmobile web log -- BookMoBlog -- will be your unofficial source of information about these exciting vehicles, the bumps in the road, and the interesting people and sights we will encounter along the way.

So, step aboard. We've been expecting you! Did you bring your library card?