2008 Summer Olympic Games

The 2008 Summer Olympics are here! Don't worry if it's been a long time (perhaps four years?) since you've thought about some of the Olympic events -- the Magazines and Newspapers Center has got you covered. We've got titles that will get you up to date on the perennial favorites -- Track and Field News, Swimming World Magazine, International Gymnast, ESPN Magazine, and Sports Illustrated.

But, hey, the Olympics are as much a cultural event as a sporting event, so why not take the opportunity to broaden your horizons? We've got titles to get you up to date on just about any event featured in Beijing this year.

If the continued lack of interest in cricket in the U.S. tells us anything, European sports don't always instantly translate well. That said, there's no better way to inject a little Continental cool into your water-cooler banter than to show off your knowledge of a semi-obscure European sport like, say, fencing. If you want to get to know the people behind the masks involved in the "corps-a-corps," check out American Fencing, the publication of the United States Fencing Association. You may be surprised to learn, as I did from the pages of this magazine, that there is a vital and thriving fencing community in the United States. Check out this title to get the scoop on the personalities and culture surrounding this ancient sport. EN GARDE!

Canoing and kayaking are exciting, vibrant sports, and their inclusion as Summer Olympic events since the '36 games attest to their lasting popularity. If your exposure to the sport is limited to the baseball fans in McCovey Cove outside of AT&T park during Giants games, you may want to check out these events at this year's games and take a look at Canoe and Kayak here at the Magazines and Newspaper Center. Aside from coverage of the flatwater and slalom events in Beijing, you'll find gear reviews, skill-building advice, and photos and features from some of the most beautiful bodies of water in the world in this magazine.

What do you get when you combine tiny bicycles with the daring Southern California skate culture? Bicycle Motocross, a.k.a. BMX, is having its debut this year in Beijing. There has never been a better time to acquaint yourself with this exciting sport, and there's no better way to get started than by taking a look at Ride BMX magazine here at the library. Look here for featured riders, breath-taking action shots, and Q and A from some of today's hottest riders. You'll see more flashy tricks in the pages of this magazine than you will at the Olympics, which may make you love the sport that much more.

If you think that sailing is only for wealthy people and Popeye, maybe you should take a peek at Sailing World and tune in to the sailing events at this year's Olympics. Even if you don't know a dinghy from a dhow, a quick flip through this magazine should be enough to show that competitive sailing has everything it takes to make a great spectator sport -- strategy, physical challenges, a bit of danger, and lots of cool gear. Look to this title to get the lowdown on the Olympic and Paralympic teams, the latest sailing tips and technologies, and the buzz around the competitive sailing community.

There are plenty of other ways to use our collection to get ready for the Olympics, and as always, the staff at the Magazines and Newspapers Center are more than happy to help you get started.

The Civil Liberties Act of 1988

Photo courtesy of San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library

Imagine what it would be like if you were instructed to pack up, leave your home behind, and report to a detention center—all because you were a descendant of a specific ethnicity. This is what over 120,000 Japanese Americans had to endure during World War II.

Nearly half a century later, on August 10, 1988, former President Ronald Reagan signed the Civil Liberties Act that offered an apology on behalf of the nation for incarcerating Americans of Japanese ancestry during World War II, because they “looked like the enemy.” To read the complete text of this momentous legislation, check out the LexisNexis Congressional database:

1. Go to the SFPL Home Page and select “Articles & Databases.” You will need a San Francisco Public Library card to access the databases from outside the Library.

2. Under the Categories side bar on the left, select “Government” then “LexisNexis Congressional.”

3. Select the “Advanced Search” tab and restrict your search to the 100th session of Congress.

4. In the search box at the top, enter “civil liberties act” and run the search.

5. Clicking any of the links will provide you with more information on the evolutionary development of this legislation as it transformed from a bill to its current form as an official act.

The LexisNexis Congressional database contains legislative information such as Congressional publications, legislative histories, bills and laws, members and committees, regulations, Congressional records and rules, current hot topics, and political news dating back to 1789. Searchable by name, publication, bill numbers, date, Congressional session, and more.

Furthermore, on August 10, 2008, the San Francisco Public Library's International Center will be presenting a lecture and panel discussion--"The Civil Liberties Act of 1988: A Legacy for All Americans"--to honor this legislation. This program will be held from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. in the Koret Auditorium with a reception to follow afterwards in the Latino/Hispanic Community Room.

Summer Blockbuster Season at Magazines and Newspapers Center

Maybe you want to get away for a bit this summer, but with the cost of gasoline reaching record highs and the cost of just about everything else rising along with it, this may seem like a great time to take part in the time-honored American tradition of taking in a summer blockbuster at the local cinema.

But hang on -- have you been to the movies lately? Tickets are pricey! And by the time you grab some popcorn and a soda (you are, after all, treating yourself to a night out), a night at the movies may not be quite the budget-friendly option you thought it would.

When you take into account the effect a trip to the multiplex can have on your wallet, it can really hurt if you're unfortunate enough to catch a lousy film. It's wise to go to the box office prepared, and here at the Magazines and Newspapers Center there are just the materials you need to make an educated pick.

Let's start with the old Hollywood standbys:

Entertainment Weekly will generally print reviews for most of the big-budget movies opening during that week, plus will feature a handful of reviews of independent or foreign films that will be shown widely. Particularly useful if you're in a hurry to catch the matinée is Critical Mass, a chart showing grades (using the old academic A-F model) given to current releases by a dozen critics.

For most of the 20th century, Hollywood insiders relied primarily on two daily newspapers to report on the latest news and trends from within the the film industry. In recent years, these papers -- Variety and the Hollywood Reporter -- have broadened their focus to cover what is now called the entertainment industry, but happenings in the film world are still a major focus of these dailies. If your interest is up-to-the-minute knowledge of what's going on in the film industry, check here first.

Big budget blockbusters aren't for everyone, though, and with many multiplex theaters devoting one or two screens to independent, classic, and foreign movies, access to these films is no longer limited to those of us lucky enough to live close to a good "arthouse" theater. Trying new things can be intimidating, I know, but with the help of some of the titles we have in our collection, anyone can become a beret-wearing, Bergman-interpreting film aficionado.

You could try, for instance, Filmmaker. Aimed at readers interested in independent, smaller-budgeted films, this quarterly magazine “presents an insider's look at the business and creative aspects of independent film.” Each issue features insightful profiles on current lesser-known films accompanied by interviews with independent filmmakers.

If you long for Hollywood's golden era, then Classic Images is the magazine for you. Focusing on classic films, film personalities, and film history, this monthly newspaper features articles accompanied by black-and-white production and publicity stills for the enthusiast or connoisseur of older classic films. Includes video and DVD reviews, film festival announcements, book reviews, music in film, obituaries, and a “This Month in Movie History” column. This will be a good way to prepare for screenings of classics, or to pick something out from the library’s collection of DVDs.

For animation aficionados whose interests vary from Disney films to Japanese anime, Animation Magazine covers traditional as well as computer-generated animation used in feature films, games, and television. Includes columns by industry professionals, film reviews, upcoming events, news, and industry trends. People in the U.S. and abroad are doing very exciting things with this medium; this magazine is sure to turn you on to something you haven’t yet experienced.

Once you're in the know, celebrate your entry into the movie buff subculture by reading Geek Monthly. Packed with articles and reviews on the latest toys, anime, DVDs, movies, and television shows, Geek Monthly covers pop culture and life style for people who are passionate about what they love. This magazine includes interviews with movie stars, film festival highlights, action figure reviews – plenty of fodder for conversations with other people waiting in line at the local premier of that film that had them talking at Cannes or Tribeca.

This is just a small sample of our collection, so we’re sure to have titles that appeal to the inner cinemaphile in all of us. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but someday we hope you’ll stop by the Magazines and Newspaper Center to check out our selection of cinema titles.

Beyond Googling: Building Your Own Search Engine

On Monday, July 28, 2008 at noon, the Magazines and Newspapers Center will present a workshop on Custom Search Engines--“Beyond Googling: Building Your own Search Engine.” In this demonstration, sharpen your search strategies by harnessing the power of vertical searching. Learn to construct custom search engines (CSEs) on focused topics drawn from your favorite news sites, news blogs, etc. to maximize your researching experience on the Web. This lecture will take place in the Latino/Hispanic Community Room.

Summer Cleaning Innovations

With the summer season in full swing, staying on track with your new year’s resolutions, engaging in heavy duty summer cleaning, and perhaps even launching new projects you might not have gotten around to at the start of the new year may have lost its zeal. Do you need fresh and innovative ideas for redecorating your home? Perhaps you want to redesign the decor in your living room to create a more classic look. Or maybe you just want to improve your diet with creative recipes and adopt a more healthy lifestyle. For creative, avant-garde ideas with a contemporary twist, the Magazines & Newspapers Center offers a variety of magazines that provide a wealth of ideas and tips. Titles like Domino, Dwell, Elle Decor, Metropolitan Home, and Real Simple may help innovate your summer cleaning chores, making them more creative, enjoyable, and fulfilling.

Domino – Tagged as a “guide to living with style,” this magazine offers ideas for furnishing your home in a comfortable, personal way. Topics covered include de-cluttering your home, energizing your home with color, living in modern green design homes, and more. Perfect for renters and homeowners.

Dwell – Described as a magazine designed to “champion an intelligent, thoughtful, and modern sensibility that stimulates our audience to envision—and realize—life at home in the modern world,” Dwell showcases home architectural and creative furnishings with a hip and contemporary look, infused with an environmentally conscious slant.

Elle Decor - Providing an international design showcase of artful products, kitchen gadgets, furniture, and fixtures, this magazine encourages users to use their own creativity in designing contemporary, trendy, and stylistic renovations to your home environment. Ideal for professionals and do-it-yourself decorators.

Metropolitan Home – Focusing on “design-conscious elegance in a variety of metropolitan settings,” this magazine publishes articles on home design and entertainment as well as product profiles and menu ideas. Ideal for those interested in designing more sophisticated home styles with an urban, upscale, and contemporary look.

Real Simple – Offering a variety of ideas and tips for a simplified lifestyle, this magazine features articles on reducing stress, managing your finances, purchasing clothes, researching investment decisions, cooking healthy meals, planning vacation trips, and more.

Men's Vogue Fashion

Did you know men are just as fashion conscious as women? Fashion isn’t just for women and girls, it’s for men and boys as well. Today’s fitness conscious males are hungry for savvy, hip, mod, laid-back, and sporty fashion styles. The Magazines & Newspapers Center subscribes to several titles covering a wide spectrum of fashion. Esquire magazine is no longer the definitive authority on men’s fashion. Other magazines have arrived onto the scene to appease men's fashionable appetites.

Here are a few titles covering men’s clothing: Details, DNR, GQ, and Men’s Vogue. And please, let’s not forget the hip-hop and rap scenes either. These titles are a must to check out: Vibe, W, and XXL. Although these last three titles adorn the world of music fashion (with regards to menswear), they offer a glimpse into a whole new genre of the fashion craze for the young and young at heart.

Details - This classy magazine is for sophisticated, suave, sporty, adventurous, and stylish guys in their 20s and 30s who aspire to become a 21st century fashion icon. The magazine focuses on pop culture careers, men’s fashion, grooming, entertaining, books, film, pop culture, and more.

DNR - A newspaper formatted magazine covering the male apparel industry with emphasis on clothing trade and manufacturing, wholesalers and manufacturers, fashionable financiers and financing, latest gossip on the designer runway shows, fashion merchandise, and more. Color and black-and-white photographs evoke the high quality and detail in the fashion designs. Presents informative articles on new urban markets of culture clash, primary colors in underwear collections, and the movers and shakers in the male clothing and manufacturing industries.

GQ - Best known as Gentlemen’s Quarterly, GQ is a leader among men’s fashion magazines. Covers interviews, economic advice, health issues, food, and travel. Also offers readers quality coverage of en vogue designer fashions, runway shows, and clothing trade. Appeals to men and their fantasies about “looking sharp and feeling smart.”

Men's Vogue - Hailing from the Conde Nast empire of publications, Men’s Vogue is for men who prefer sporting a privy lifestyle of refinement and sophistication. The magazine is a bit conservative and promotes a sharing of sensibility, living well and looking good attitude. Each issue delivers unique perspectives on wine, architecture & design, books, fashion, grooming, blogs, business & politics, travel, food and the arts. You will enjoy glancing into a world that I call the “3G’s” - Glam! Glitz! & Gloss!

Vibe - This magazine was founded in 1993 by the music producer Quincy Jones. Covers celebrities, music and sounds, fashion, lifestyle, media trends, and urban music industry. Highlights the hip-hop culture and popular hip fashions of today’s youth ranging from 18- to 24- year olds.

W - A beautifully illustrated magazine covering all aspects of the world of fashion, the designers, latest fashion trends, beauty, accessories, society, influential people, various fashion layouts and more. W and Vogue have put together a business venture, creating Style.com, which features highlights from the magazines and fashion show updates. W also releases supplements during the fall of each year. Supplements like Fashion Rocks, Glam Rocks, and Movies Rock capture the fashion crazed world of music genres.

XXL - This magazine focuses on the lifestyle and business sides of hip-hop, rap, and urban music. It also covers the hippest fashion styles--especially those from the African American culture. Includes feature articles, interviews, commentaries, and reviews as well as news, current events, and upcoming music releases.