Por Kathryn Johnson

Big savings just around corner     

The summer Friends of the Library Book Sale takes place on Saturday, July 29 from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Support our Friends of the Library by shopping this huge collection of fiction and non-fiction for kids, teens and adults. Your purchases help our Friends help the library.

Speaking of our Friends

In June alone, our Friends group sponsored the Hullabaloo Pre-Concert at the Library along with almost 10 other library programs for children; financed 13 programs for adults; purchased pizza for the top five classes at Marvin Elementary for a library card drive; funded our final teen program for the school year; and supplied 40 cupcakes and icing for our cupcake design program!

For a group that works very diligently behind the scenes, they have a great impact on what we are able to offer.

Get your Comic-Con fix

Stop by the Allied Gardens/Benjamin Branch Library to see our display of Comic-Con memorabilia and to check out highlights from our graphic novel and DVD collection. The San Diego Public Library system has a vast collection of all of your favorite graphic novels, science fiction and fantasy genres as well as popular movies and TV series.

If you don’t find what you are looking for on our display wall, we will be happy to order it from our Central Library or one of our 35 branches. Don’t miss our limited edition Comic-Con library card arriving on July 20 in three new designs!

Cuentos

Yoga Story Time has a new day and time starting in July. It will now be every Wednesday at 3 p.m. Children and their caregivers are welcome to join us for this movement and story program.

Don’t forget to join us for our other wonderful storytimes: Baby Storytime Mondays at 10 a.m.; Toddler Storytime Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m.; Preschool Storytime Thursdays at 10:30 a.m.; and Pajama Storytime the last Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m.

Where’s Waldo?

Through the month of July, stop by any San Diego Public Library and find Waldo. All 36 branches of the San Diego Public Library have a Waldo hiding somewhere inside. Can you find all 36? Pick up a Waldo Passport from the information desk to start your adventure! Every found Waldo earns you a stamp in the passport, a SDPL Waldo Pencil and entry into a massive prize drawing Aug. 1.

Mad Science: Design Solutions from Pollution

Tuesday, July 18 at 2:30 p.m., join Mad Science in a very engaging and exciting show to help children understand what is pollution and what its effect are.

We will discover that there is a brick made from industrial pollution that is lighter and stronger and long lasting with which we can build homes, offices, schools and more.  There are artists who are helping to clean up our oceans by making art exhibits from the trash they collect from the sea.

Also included are some fun science experiments that highlight the effects of pollution and how we can help make changes.

Michael Rayner: Man of Many Talents

Tuesday, July 25 at 12:30 p.m., Michael Rayner will present his vaudevillian show that has been described as “preposterous brilliance” and “whacky jugglement” — a combination of hilarious tricks and stunts with uproarious stand-up and a bounty of improvised fun and zingers.

Lectura de verano

Our goal for this summer is to get 250 Summer Reading program finishers for our branch.

If we are able to accomplish this before Aug. 15, the manager will submit to a hair design of our patrons’ choosing. Whether it be having an image of a book shaved into the side of her head or a wacky design by dying, her hair will certainly call attention to itself while celebrating our community’s accomplishment.

Please note that as of July 14, we only have 73 finishers.

—Kathryn Johnson is managing librarian of the Allied Gardens/Benjamin Branch Library. Reacher her at johnsonka@sandiego.gov.