Outlander is Diana Gabaldon's award-winning, New York Times Bestselling book series, with a devoted following of passionate fans.

The books follow the romantic journey of Claire, whose travel through time led her to marry Scottish Highlander Jamie Fraser. Those who can't get enough of the Frasers have a penchant for re-reading the original books and its various spin-offs while they wait for the next published novel. 

To quell the needs of Gabaldon's ardent devotees while they await the fall release of the eighth novel in the series, the Sacramento Public Library has created a special series of programs at the Central Library tailored just for them.

"How Outlandish!" was designed by Stephenee Borelli, the librarian who organized "How Austentatious!," the wildly successful series of events that attracted hundreds of Jane Austen fans to the Central Library in 2010. "How Outlandish!" is sure to delight and inform with a dozen free programs from June to November. 

Guests will learn about the possibility of time travel from an astrophysicist, take a tour of a replica tall ship to learn about seafaring in the 18th century, and taste the complexities of whisky with the help of a Master of Whisky (think whisky sommelier--21 and older event). There are a variety of programs for everyone, even those who haven't yet enjoyed Gabaldon's works.

Programs are at 3:00 p.m. on Sundays.

• June 2 - Scottish Bagpipe Demonstration
• June 16- The Real World of Outlander
• June 30 - Highland Weapons of the Jacobite Rebellion
• July 7 - Clans and Tartans
• July 28 - Reading Romance Fiction
• August 11 - Gaelic for Outlanders
• August 18 - The Circle of Stones in Sierra
• September 8 - Scottish Ballads
• September 22 - How Might Time Travel Really Work?
• October 13 - St. Andrew's American Revolution
• October 27 - Tour the Hawaiian Chieftain
• November 3 - Touring Scotland - One Glass at a time

For more information, please visit the Library's website. 

The Sacramento Public Library invites you to our Summer Reading Kickoff Party at the Central Library on Sunday, June 9 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., 828 I St., Sacramento.

This year's theme is Reading is so Delicious! We'll have lots of activities for families and kids, including face-painting, jugglers, balloons, crafts, henna tattoos and more. The event also features Musical Robot, a drum and ukulele duo who combine songs, storytelling, puppetry, dancing, audience participation, and lots of "really bad robot jokes."

The kickoff will also benefit the Sacramento Food Bank. This excellent organization provides food, clothing, educational opportunities and senior services to thousands of local residents in need. We're asking visitors to help fight hunger in our community by bringing a non-perishable food item.

The Kickoff Party is one of over 1,500 events happening across all of our 28 branches. We'll be having food-themed programs all summer, from June 1 to August 31. This includes cooking and nutrition classes for adults and kids, instruction on everything from raw foods to desserts, seminars on locally-sourced food and kitchen chemistry, and of course lots of lots of crafts, music and theater all summer long. Just a few of our highlights for kids include:

• "Hungry as a Bear" Puppet Show with Tony Borders
• "Cooking with Kids" - California Food Literacy
• Uncle Jer's Traveling Bee Show

Summer Reading is the Library's annual program to promote reading and fight the "summer slide." Studies show that kids who don't read

Musical Robot

during the summer months can lose up to two months of reading skills they learned during the previous school year. Kids who do read during the summer are more likely to finish high school and go on to college.

Last year, over 25,000 people signed up for Summer Reading, and 48,000 came to our library summer programs. Our goal this year to get 30,000 people to sign up-and to have our participants read over 100,000 books! We're encouraging kids to read at least five books this summer.

All kids who finish at least one activity sheet will get to choose a free book to take home. Adults will receive a Sacramento Public Library book bag. Participants will also be entered into the prize drawing. Each branch will give out one $100 Target gift card to a lucky winner. We'll also be giving away four iPad Minis, one each to age group: adult, teen, school-age children, and pre-readers.

The Summer Reading Program is made possible by the support of our generous sponsors, The Sacramento Public Library Foundation, Friends of the Sacramento Public Library, and Target. 

Staff at the Rancho Cordova Library were happily surprised when George Washington Carver High School senior Gregg Fong walked in on a recent May afternoon. Gregg presented staff with $60 in cash to help us pay for programs in the library. We didn't even know he'd chosen fundraising for the library as his school senior project! He held a bake sale and car wash to raise this money. We appreciate his work and for receiving this hard-earned donation. 

Like the Rascal Flatts song from Cars goes, "Life is a highway ...". Our June Volunteer of the month is driving it. We'll call her Ellen, and she has autism.

Twenty-year-old Ellen started volunteering at a branch library six weeks ago.  Accompanied by her mother, she cleans bookshelves and shelves picture books. Because Ellen was reluctant to clean shelves at first, library staff began to play Disney songs for the one hour a week she volunteers (Ellen is an expert on Disney's Pixar animated movies).

Now, library staff and Ellen take turns singing along with the likes of Hakuna Matata, The Bare Necessities, and other classic Disney songs. Ellen takes it a step further, prancing and dancing up and down the aisles like a Disney princess. It's a heartwarming sight. 

Editor's Note:  Each month we will be highlighting one of our wonderful library volunteers.

I can no other answer make, than thanks, and thanks.

~William Shakespeare

Sacramento Public Library and the Friends of the Sacramento Public

Volunteer Coordinator Cathy Crosthwaite

Library said a big thank you to our Volunteers at the Annual Volunteer Appreciation event on Thursday, April 25. The Mad Hatter's Tea Party featured great food, volunteer musicians from the Sacramento Symphonic Winds (Jeanne Brown and Irene Warschauer), original art by local artist Julie Okahara, and decorations created by Library staffer Christina Edmondson.

Thirty volunteers, most wearing costumes for the Mad Hatter's Tea Party or sporting a hat for the "Mad Hat" hat contest, attended the Authority Board meeting to be thanked for their service. Nine-year-old volunteer Linden Tarr read the Board's proclamation, which noted the more than 60,000 hours of service (or close to $2 million worth of labor) used to enhance the current services and programs.

More than 200 volunteers came together to receive their Presidential Service Awards handed out by Director Rivkah Sass (the Red Queen) and Volunteer Services Coordinator Cathy Crosthwaite (the Mad Hatter) and to have their pictures taken in the "photo op" area featuring the Library's storybook chair and "Alice in Wonderland" figures. 

We're starting work now to make the magic happen again next year. Next year's theme is locked away for safekeeping and should prove to be just as much fun for everyone involved.

We can't say it enough: the Sacramento Public Library loves our volunteers and thanks them all for their hard work to support the Library.

Interested in volunteering at the library?  Contact Cathy Crosthwaite at volunteers@saclibrary.org.

JobNow is our free online job resource center-including help from real live experts.

 
Check out job listings and our Resume Builder. Talk to actual coaches who can help improve your resume and provide interview tips. 
What we offer:

• Write the resume: Are you putting your best foot forward? We can help you build your resume from the ground up with templates, online resources and resume evaluation from professionals. Learn how to make sure employers know what you can do.
• Ace the Interview: Too many people miss out on opportunities because they don't do well in interviews. Don't be one of them. Get tips, talk to live coaches, and learn the six things you should never do in a job interview. 
• Career Assessment: There might be hot careers you're qualified for but don't know about. These tools will help you test your skills and plan your next steps.
• Job Resources: Search 30 different job listings sites, both locally and nationwide. Find resources for students, recent grads and military veterans.
• Adult Learning Center: Get help from live tutors on writing, academic and job skills. Learn how to use Microsoft Office software. Get information on how to pass the GED. Practice for your U.S. Citizenship Test. 

How to get there:

• Go to SacLibrary.org and follow the Research link. 
• Click on the Jobs & Career link.
• Scroll down and click on JobNow. 
• Or just bookmark this handy link .

Values

1. Important and lasting beliefs or ideals shared by the members of a culture about what is good or bad and desirable or undesirable.
2. Monetary or material worth, as in commerce or trade.

Over the past year the Foundation has detailed some of our values as a guide to creating a cohesive newsletter that you would find informative and interesting. The Foundation believes that our values are an important part of our organization's culture--and we believe you share these values! A library promotes community, it is extremely valuable to our democratic society, it is a place for all of us to unite. Some in our community use the library. Some make donations. Libraries, institutions that have persevered for more than 2,500 years, are still critically important resources in our society.

The Foundation is especially grateful to you, our donors. Your contributions have provided extended opportunities to serve children with summer reading programming that pushes back against the "summer slide" in reading skills. You have helped us develop healthy eating knowledge through the Read and Feed Demonstration Gardens at Colonial Heights and soon, Rancho Cordova branch libraries. You have helped us build the value of our endowments that in turn provide additional materials for the Library collection and the Sacramento Room archive. And you have helped us to create a sustainable fundraising organization.

We want to thank you for putting your trust in our value system. We feel it is important to maintain financial transparency in every way by being accountable and professional. We strive to always be effective with your donations, and to treat you and the recipients of your much appreciated donations with integrity. We are grateful for your partnership and are pleased to be in solidarity with you in helping today's children become tomorrow's strong and healthy readers.

Consider joining the Friends of the Sacramento Public Library, a

nonprofit organization that raises money to benefit the Sacramento Public Library.  Friends' membership dues help fund library programs such as the Summer Reading program and provide special purchases for the Lucky Day book collections.

Friends members enjoy these special benefits:

Members-Only Preview Sales:  Many members find that the most exciting benefit of membership is attending book sale previews during the Warehouse book sales. The previews are the best time to get great books for the lowest prices in town. Want to attend a preview, but you're not a member? You can sign up for membership at the door.

Book Sale Discounts: Once you are at the Warehouse book sale, or if you've simply stopped by the Book Den during regular hours, you'll receive the members-only 10 percent discount on purchases.

Special Events: In October, members are invited to the annual All Friends Dinner--an entertaining night of fun, food and fellowship built around the One Book Sacramento Program. In December, members enjoy free admission to the annual Jane Austen Tea. Attendees enjoy tea, conversation, book sales, a silent auction, and entertainment. Costumes are welcome at this delightful event.

News and Alerts:  Members receive the Among Friends newsletter, the All Friends Monthly Calendar, and Insider News and Advocacy Alerts.  These comprehensive resources provide members with news and opportunities to participate in library events and advocacy at a deeper level.

Apply online.

Find great bargains at the Friends of the Sacramento Public Library and branch Friends' book sales.

 
Book Den and Warehouse Book Sales
The Friends of the Sacramento Public Library hosts book sales at the Book Den's warehouse six times per year at 8250 Belvedere Ave., Suite E, Sacramento (off Power Inn Road, one block south of 14th Avenue). There is a wonderful selection of books and other materials, sorted by category. Prices range from 50 cents for pocket books to $2 for hardbacks. Become a Friends member and enjoy the benefit of early-bird shopping at all book sales.
 
The Book Den store will be open during the Warehouse Sale and Preview. At the Book Den, shoppers can select from individually priced books, including collectibles and other materials, with most books priced at $3 and up. The Book Den is also open for regular hours from Thursday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, call (916) 731-8493. Click here to learn of upcoming Book Den sales.
 
Branch Friends Book Sales 

Many Sacramento Public Library locations host bargain sales that feature discounted books, magazines, audio tapes, CDs and more. These sales are hosted by local Friends members, with proceeds benefitting each library branch.
 
Please click here to find upcoming library branch book sales near you.