School summer vacation is half over. \u201cIt can\u2019t be!\u201d the kids shout while parents groan, \u201canother six weeks, really?\u201d July 15 marks the halfway point of the library\u2019s Summer Reading Program. Sign up by age group at bit.ly\/1UqH2zI<\/a>, record your summer reading hours\/books, and find the list of prizes for each reading level. Prizes may be claimed, until supplies last, anytime before August 30. Our adults who reach their reading goals may choose either a book from our \u201cfree book rack\u201d or a $5 voucher good at our monthly Used Book Sale. Book sale revenues drop during June and July so please support your library by increasing your future purchases.<\/p>\n Summer Special Events<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Over 100 kids and adults attend our Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. Summer Reading Program Special Events. Next up are these fun family favorites:<\/p>\n Battle of the Funny Books<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n The large bulletin board in the Children\u2019s area shows the book standings in \u201cThe Battle of the Funny Books.\u201d July 21 is the day votes will be counted to determine the elite eight; the Aug. 4 vote tally narrows the field to the final four; after the Aug. 11 count, only two books will remain in contention and on Aug. 18, Youth Services Librarian Erin Moore will post San Carlos\u2019 choice for the \u201cFunniest Book.\u201d Don\u2019t forget \u2014 your vote counts.<\/p>\n Isla Desaf\u00edo <\/strong><\/p>\n What did youth do before video games? Pinball! The second Wednesday of every month from 4 \u2013 5 p.m., Challenge Island presents a unique science- and engineering-based program that encourages kids ages 8 \u2013 12 to create, think outside the box and become part of a team. Aug. 10, kids return to pre-1977 and the days of \u201cPinball Passion.\u201d Along with their tribe mates, they will create their own unique pinball game and invite other tribes to play it and compete for the highest score. Space is limited. Call 619-527-3430 or come in to sign up.<\/p>\n Chess and other summer fun<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Our Chess Club is expanding and we\u2019ve had to purchase more chess boards! Join this group of under age 18 youth on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month from 5 \u2013 7 p.m. New members at any skill level are welcome. It\u2019s a fun way to improve logical thinking skills and increase math ability. The club was organized by Luke, who is a student and library patron. We hope to see you on July 26, Aug. 9 and 23.<\/p>\n Tuesdays at 4 p.m., join kids ages 3 \u2013 8 for yoga and stories. Toddlers and preschoolers listen to stories and actively participate in making themed crafts, singing songs and learning rhymes on Fridays at 10 a.m.<\/p>\n espect\u00e1culos de arte<\/strong><\/p>\n We thank Dr. Roberta Flynn for displaying the art of her husband, Jim Flynn, and for the informative reception attended by over 70 patrons who learned about Stellar Care\u2019s \u201cMemories in the Making\u201d art classes sponsored by the Alzheimer\u2019s Association.<\/p>\n Local artist, Mike Hefner\u2019s artist reception is July 16, noon \u2013 2 p.m., in the Winer Family Community Room & Art Gallery of the San Carlos Branch Library. His plein air paintings will be on exhibit until Aug. 4 and include, among his other prize-winning paintings, Hefner\u2019s first place entry at this year\u2019s Del Mar Fair.<\/p>\n In our Art Gallery Aug. 9 \u2013 Sept. 1, Tim Mountain, our San Carlos Branch library clerk for over 20 years, will display another skill in his repertoire: photography. Mountain graduated from San Diego State University with a major in geography, which instilled in him an eye for nature\u2019s complex beauty. His photographs depict a variety of local venues and are waiting to find a place in your home. Please plan on attending his artist reception Aug. 20, noon \u2013 2 p.m. A portion of all art sale proceeds are donated to the library.<\/p>\n\n
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<\/a>Join us as Rick Crawford tells stories of San Diego\u2019s history described in his latest book, \u201cSan Diego Yesterday\u201d on July 22 from 2 \u2013 3 p.m. Crawford is the manager of Special Collections at the San Diego Public Library, and as the former San Diego Historical Society\u2018s Archives Director and editor of the Journal of San Diego History for nine years, he has written extensively on local history. Crawford is the author of \u201cStranger Than Fiction,\u201d \u201cVignettes of San Diego History,\u201d and \u201cThe Way We Were in San Diego.\u201d<\/p>\n