Trick or Treat October 31, 2007

One of the most fun days of the year has arrived… if you haven’t carved your pumpkin yet, come to the library where you might still find help with carving ideas, recipes, party planning and costumes.
Some fun pumpkin and Halloween facts:

The name “pumpkin” comes from the Greek word “pepon,” meaning a large melon.

The largest pumpkin grown was recorded on October 2, 2004 weighing 1,446 lbs

The world’s fastest time to carve a face into a pumpkin is 54.72 seconds, by Stephen Clarke (USA), on October 23, 2001 (source: Guinness World Records)

The modern holiday of Halloween has its origins in the ancient Gaelic Festival known as Samhein.

Halloween is the 8th largest card-sending occasion. There are 0ver 28 million Halloween cards sent each year!

Basic Business Research Class: Nov. 6, 2pm October 30, 2007

On Tuesday, November 6, from 2 – 3:30 pm, The Sunnyvale Public Library will be offering a free class entitled, “Basic Business Research”.

This regularly-scheduled class is just one of several small business-related classes and workshops that will be held at the library during the month of November.  Learn how to find information on starting a small business, writing a business plan, finding company performance data, and performing competitive analysis. We will also cover resources for protecting and researching the intellectual property of a business. 

There is no registration required.

Readings from Red Sox Nation October 29, 2007

I love baseball. Always have, always will. So what a thrill it was for me when I attended library school at Simmons College in Boston, literally steps away from historic Fenway Park, home of the Red Sox.

When I’m not rooting for my beloved Oakland Athletics, I cheer for the Sox. The cheers indeed came last evening when the Red Sox swept the Colorado Rockies to win the 2007 World Series.

Red Sox Nation is probably best known for the long suffering 86 years between world championships in 1918 and 2004. With a storied history, memorable personalities, die-hard fans, and one curse, there has never been a shortage of writings about the Red Sox. You’ll find many of them in our catalog under the Subject heading “Boston Red Sox (Baseball team).”

Here are some quick hits:

Faithful : two diehard Boston Red Sox fans chronicle the historic 2004 season by Stewart O’Nan and Stephen King.

Reversing the curse : inside the 2004 Boston Red Sox by Dan Shaughnessy

Now I can die in peace : how ESPN’s Sports Guy found salvation, with a little help from Nomar, Pedro, Shawshank and the 2004 Red Sox by Bill Simmons.

Mind game : how the Boston Red Sox got smart and finally won a World Series by the writers of Baseball Prospectus

Big Papi : my story of big dreams and big hits by David Ortiz with Tony Massarotti

Idiot : beating “The Curse” and enjoying the game of life by Johnny Damon with Peter Golenbock.

Passing It On October 24, 2007

 Forty Digital Photography Techniques. 

 Overwhelmed by the bells and whistles on your new digital camera?  Is the manual printed in a teeny tiny font?  This is the book for you.  The editors have chosen forty techniques that most will find useful and described when and how to use them.

November is Small Business Resource Month at the Sunnyvale Public Library October 17, 2007

 During the month of November, the library will host a series of free workshops that will address some of the issues that effect small business owners, and those who are “budding” entrepreneurs!

The City of Sunnyvale Economic Development Department, The Sunnyvale Public Library, NOVA, CONNECT!, SCORE,  the SBA (Small Business Association), and several other organizations will present several two to three-hour workshops geared towards small business owners and prospective small business entrepreneurs who want to learn the skills that can help to start, manage, and grow their companies.

Practical information on management training and counseling, access to financing, federal government contracting opportunities and more subjects will be addressed.

Visit: www.sunnyvale-econdev.com, and follow the link on the right titled, “November: Small Business Resource Month” to find a complete listing, date(s), and time(s) for the workshops.

Space is limited, so please register at least 72 hours prior to a workshop.  Contact the City of Sunnyvale Economic Development Division at: (408)730-7607 (TDD: 408-730-7501), or via email: econdev@ci.sunnyvale.ca.us.