Fasten Your Seatbelts for Power Googling

On Saturday, April 9, 2011, from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., fasten your seat belts and learn some of the advanced search features of Google. Program is presented by the Magazines & Newspapers Center:

When researching for information on the Web, many people simply “Google it,” but rarely tap into Google’s advanced search options. In this presentation, go beyond the basic search box and learn how to use special operators to fine-tune your search strategies and customize your search results. Unlock some of the hidden features and shortcuts in this popular search engine. Search more precisely, smarter, and faster to unleash the full power of Google.

- Address: 100 Larkin Street (at Grove)

- Location: Main Library, Latino/Hispanic Community Meeting Room

- Event Date & Time: Saturday, April 9, 2011 (10:30 a.m. to noon)

ABCs of Digital Scanning Photographs

The Magazines and Newspapers Center once again hosts an introductory hands-on demonstration workshop featuring digital scanning techniques for photographs, film, slides, negatives and more. Beginners are encouraged to attend and learn how to scan, capture, edit and save photographic images. Our workshop will meet in the Fifth Floor Magazines Center microfilm room.


- Address: 100 Larkin Street (at Grove)
- Location: Main Library, Magazines & Newspapers Center, 5th Floor, Microfilm Room
- Event Date & Time: Monday, March 21, 2011 (Noon to 1 p.m.)

Get Ready to Party at the Mardi Gras

Do you know Mardi Gras 2011 falls on Tuesday, March 8? “Fat Tuesday,” as it is known, is the last day of the Carnival season, and it always falls on the day before Ash Wednesday which is the first day of Lent.

Want to explore what life is like in New Orleans, Louisiana, be ‘in the know’ on local issues, traditions, social trends, and fashion, home and garden? Well, you’re in luck because the San Francisco Public library’s Magazines & Newspapers Center has been subscribing to New Orleans Magazine for the past three years--a magazine rich in culture yet somehow fuses its past, present, and future into a history of constant evolvement.

New Orleans, a monthly lifestyle magazine with features and columns on the city of New Orleans, highlights Creole, Cajun, French and multicultural cuisine and dining. Readers will experience the exciting rebirth of this city since the devastating tragedy of Hurricane Katrina. New Orleans provides information on arts and entertainment (especially music, education, theatre, and its nightlife scene). For the fashion-savvy person, find a guide to tips on what’s hot and where to shop, especially for the ‘quintessential’ Mardi Gras attire.

The magazine is divided into three major sections:

• Features - An article about Five Star Hospitals


• In Every Issue - Read & Spin – latest books


• Special Section - In this issue, Steppin’ Out: It’s Carnival Time

A special page titled “On The Web,” showcases other Web sites offering valuable information to readers. If you can’t travel to “The Big Easy” then why not journey through the colorful pages of New Orleans Magazine or surf to their Web site: http://www.myneworleans.com

A Potpourri of Genealogical Search Tools

On Saturday, March 5, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., the Magazines & Newspapers Center will present a program designed to help you with your genealogical research.

The One-Step Web site (http://www.stevemorse.org/) started out as an aid for finding passengers in the Ellis Island database. Shortly afterwards it was expanded to help with searching in the 1930 census. Over the years it has continued to evolve and today includes about 200 web-based tools divided into 16 separate categories ranging from genealogical searches to astronomical calculations to last-minute bidding on e-bay. This presentation will describe the range of tools available and give the highlights of each one.

Stephen Morse is the creator of the One-Step Web site for which he has received both the Lifetime Achievement Award and the Outstanding Contribution Award from the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies. He has also earned the Award of Merit from the National Genealogical Society, first-ever Excellence Award from the Association of Professional Genealogists, and two awards that he cannot pronounce from Polish genealogical societies.

In his other life Morse is a computer professional with a doctorate degree in electrical engineering. He has held various research, development, and teaching positions, authored numerous technical papers, written four textbooks, and holds four patents. He is best known as the architect of the Intel 8086 (the granddaddy of today's Pentium processor), which sparked the PC revolution 30 years ago.

- Address: 100 Larkin Street (at Grove)
- Location: Main Library, Latino/Hispanic Community Meeting Room
- Event Date & Time: Saturday, March 5, 2011 (10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.)

ABCs of Digital Scanning Microfilm

The Magazines and Newspapers Center will host our first digital scanning workshop of the year,from Noon to 1 PM on February 28th. This basic beginner session will focus on successful techniques for scanning, capturing, editing and saving archival resources from the 5th Floor microfilm and microfiche collection.

Join us in the Microfilm Room for hands-on demonstrations in digitizing newspapers, magazines and other resources.

- Address: 100 Larkin Street (at Grove)
- Location: Main Library, Fifth Floor, Magazines & Newspapers Center, Microfilm Room
- Event Date & Time: Monday, February 28, 2011 (Noon to 1 p.m.)

Riding While Black 1955....Walking While Black 1999

The African American Interest Committee and the African American Center of the San Francisco Public Library proudly present the social justice program, Riding While Black 1955, Walking While Black 1999. Featuring civil rights pioneer Claudette Colvin, activist educator Enid Lee, and author/artist Bryonn Bain, this special event is being produced in association with Awele Makeba and the San Francisco Unified School District.

- Address: 100 Larkin Street (at Grove)
- Location: Main Library, Lower Level, Koret Auditorium
- Event Date & Time: Sunday, February 6, 2011 (1:30 to 4 p.m.)