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Save a Trip: Free Social Security Computer Class at Feldheym Central Library

The Cosand Computer Learning Center at the Norman F. Feldheym Central Library, 555 West 6th Street, in San Bernardino, has scheduled a free computer workshop for adults to become familiar with the Social Security webpage, Tuesday, January 13, at 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The class will enable students to "save a trip to the social security office" by learning about online services such as retirement and disability benefits, direct deposit, replacing Medicare cards and verifying social security numbers for employers.

No registration is needed, but class size is limited to twenty students, first come, first serve. It is recommended that class participants have basic computer skills and be familiar with mouse usage.

For more information, please call 909.381.8225, Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Ask Now - Free 24/7 Reference Service Available at San Bernardino Public Libraries

Experienced reference librarians are available to answer your questions at the San Bernardino Public Libraries 24/7 - 24 hours per day, seven days a week.

AskNow is a free live online interactive reference service, available to library users 24/7. AskNow combines the speed and convenience of the Internet with the information savvy of experienced reference librarians.

When you connect to AskNow, the librarian online may not be from the San Bernardino Public Library and will not have access to your personal library account information. The librarian may be from any of over 100 California libraries or elsewhere in the national 24/7 reference cooperative.

For more information, please contact Ed Erjavek, Information Technology Manager, at 909.381.8216.

Meeting of Academy of Public Scholars at Feldheym Central Library

Are you deep into a career, which doesn’t give you much of a chance to think? Are you a student who’d like to read a truly great book without having to write a paper on it? Are you sick and tired of TV, print, and radio pseudo-intellectuals telling you how to think? Then the Academy of Public Scholars is for you.

The next meeting is Thursday, January 8, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Panera Bread, 1092 E. Hospitality Lane in San Bernardino. Essays by Michel de Montaigne will be the work under interrogation. There will be no charge for coffee.

Eric Kessler, former owner of the Left Bank bookstore in Redlands and a reference librarian at the San Bernardino Public Library, will guide readers through this rewarding text. According to Kessler, “The Academy of Public Scholars is for those interested in participating in challenging discourse, in a welcoming environment, on topics at the intersection of philosophy, culture and critical thinking.” Newcomers are always welcome. It’s not necessary for newcomers to read the material before the meeting.

View the survey of authors to be covered in the future. For more information, please call Eric Kessler at 909.997.3726.

Articles about the Academy:

Press Enterprise, May 2008
Press Enterprise, 2007
The Sun, July 1, 2007

Academy of Public Scholars Announces "Caffeinated Critique"

There will be no Caffeinated Critique this month due to the holidays. The Academy of Public Scholars announces an informal The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, 526 Orange Street, in Redlands. This event is open to the public. No prior knowledge of text is required--curiosity is.

Drop in for half an hour or half the evening.

View the survey of authors to be covered in the future.

For more information, please call Eric Kessler at 909.997.3726.

Library Cards Available to Foster Children at San Bernardino City Libraries

The San Bernardino Public Library and the San Bernardino County Department of Children's Services have worked out a unique plan where foster (out-of- home-care) parents can receive special library cards for the children they care for. Children will be encouraged to be responsible and to return all library materials on time. Foster parents don't have to worry about being stuck with huge library bills. The library will forgive overdue fines and the county will pay for missing or unreturned books.

The costs of this program are underwritten by the Department of Children's Services (DCS). Therefore only children that are a part of this program are eligible. Foster parents will need to show their agreement for the child to verify that they are eligible for the program.

According to Library Director Ophelia Georgiev Roop, "We are pleased to collaborate with the Department of Children's Services so that we can make it easier for foster children to have access to the benefits of a library."

For more information, please call 909.381.8201.

Volunteers wanted for Arda Haenszel California Room

The San Bernardino Public Library is seeking volunteers to work in the Arda Haenszel California Room, located on the second floor of the Norman F. Feldheym Central Library. Docents should enjoy history and/or genealogy and enjoy sharing that knowledge with library customers. Docents are needed to work at least once a week for a minimum of three hours. New volunteers will work with a more experienced docent.

The Arda Haenszel California Room is a treasure trove of priceless materials about the City of San Bernardino, the County of San Bernardino, the Inland Empire and the state. There is no other facility like ours that maintains such a complete history of our area that includes people, homes, farms, railroads, lakes, springs, businesses, lost buildings, roads, wildlife and fun things to do.

There is no librarian assigned to the Arda Haenszel California Room. Budget cuts forced its closing. It is open only when docents are available.

Fortunately, there is a group of dedicated volunteers who are truly living treasures and living encyclopedias of this area, but they are looking for people to train.

For more information, please call Millicent Price, Principal Librarian at 909.381.8226.

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