Meet author/actor Ed Begley Jr.!

Join us on Saturday, March 7 for our big Burbank READS goes Green kickoff event featuring Ed Begley Jr., the author of this year's book, Living Like Ed.

Come and meet one of the hottest speakers on eco-living in America, Ed Begley, Jr. who has received standing ovations for his empowering and humorous message on sustainable living. Mr. Begley will talk about and sign copies of his book [copies available for purchase].

When: Saturday, March 7, 2009 at 2:00 PM

Where: Buena Vista Branch Library - 300 N. Buena Vista St. See you there there!

Global Warming – Facts and Solutions with John Zavalney

Please join us at the Central Library auditorium on Wednesday, March 11 @7:00 PM for a lecture by John Zavalney on "Global Warming -- facts and Solutions."

Learn about the emergency of global warming and what steps you can take to be part of the solution. John Zavalney has trained with Al Gore and a team of renowned scientists and environmental educators to become a presenter of the “Inconvenient Truth” slide show. His mission now is to get the word out about the dangers of global warming and offer suggestions on how we can help solve this crisis.

Teen Book Clubs reads Green.

In honor of the “green” theme for Burbank Reads in March, the Teen Book Clubs have each chosen a novel with an ecological bent.

The High School Book Club, which will meet on Tuesday, March 10, at 6:30 p.m., is reading The Family Tree, by acclaimed science fiction writer Sheri S. Tepper. Police officer Dora Henry must investigate the bizarre, seemingly unrelated murders of three geneticists. But she has some big distractions from her work that she must address, among them the fact that Nature seems to be taking over the neighborhood! Trees are springing up everywhere, blocking off the streets, kidnapping unwanted babies, and generally acting like they have both a brain and a plan. Meanwhile, from far in the future, an odd band of comrades follows an ancient prophecy into their past (which happens to be Dora’s present) to stop the extinction of their species. The story is hilarious at moments, but also earnest in its warnings about the need to take our ecological future seriously by acting on it today.

The Middle School Book Club, which will meet on Wednesday, March 18, at 7:00 p.m., will read The Secret Under My Skin, by Janet McNaughton. In the year 2368, Blay Raytee is an orphan living in a state-run work camp, spending her days excavating usable items from a garbage dump. The government teaches the orphans that technology users are evil and the world is a dangerous place, and the children are afraid to go outside without protective clothing. Everything changes when Blay is chosen by a “bio-indicator” (a sort of canary in the mine who monitors environmental toxin levels for her community) to help with her studies. Blay discovers that much of what she has learned about science, technology and the world is a lie…including her own identity. The book celebrates the impact that one person can make, while postulating a believable future we would be wise to avoid.

Being Green at John Burroughs High School...it is in the bag!

Students at John Burroughs High School will be going Green by creating eco-friendly T-shirt tote bags out of old or new T-shirts. I saw one of these bags at our Burbank READS Committee meeting yesterday and they are pretty cool. A great way to recycle T-shirts into something useful. See the photograph for other examples.

The eco-friendly book bag workshop will be held on Friday, March 6, 2009 in the JBHS library and students will have two opportunities to "bag it", during late start from 8:00-9:00 AM and after school from 3:00-4:00 PM. Just remember to bring a school appropriate T-shirt with you and soon you'll have a new bag for toting around books, groceries and other stuff!

Burbank READS goes Green - Kickoff event with Ed Begley Jr.

Join us on Saturday, March 7 for our big Burbank READS goes Green kickoff event featuring Ed Begley Jr., the author of this year's book, Living Like Ed.

Come and meet one of the hottest speakers on eco-living in America, Ed Begley, Jr. who has received standing ovations for his empowering and humorous message on sustainable living.

Mr. Begley will talk about and sign copies of his book [copies available for purchase].

When: Saturday, March 7, 2009 at 2:00 PM

Where: Buena Vista Branch Library - 300 N. Buena Vista St.

See you there there!

Burbank READS goes Green!

You might have noticed something just a little bit different about our Burbank READS blog today. We've gone green!

In keeping with the City of Burbank's commitment to achieve urban sustainability and protect the world's ecosystem, the Burbank Public Library decided to make our "One Book, One City" program eco-friendly in 2009. We have selected the book, Living Like Ed by long-time environmentalist Ed Begley Jr. as our book for 2009. For over 38 years, Ed Begley, Jr. has been a pioneer in eco-consciousness -- always trying to "live simply so others may simply live." Now he has put together a guidebook for those of us looking to reduce our impact on the planet and live a better, greener life.

No matter what "green" level you aspire to, Ed's practical guide will offer suggestions for making changes in your life, from quick fixes to bigger commitments. The Burbank Public Library has multiple copies of Living Like Ed waiting for you to check out. Read the book, tell your friends about it, then join us for a month-long series of exciting events such as music, guest speakers, and films.

The big Kickoff of Burbank READS is set for 2 PM on Saturday, March 7, at the Buena Vista Branch Library. Meet Ed Begley, Jr. in person. He will discuss and sign his book at this event.

Be sure to save the afternoon of Saturday, April 4, for the finale of Burbank READS. A Sustainability Showcase will be held at the Buena Vista Branch Library to provide resources, information, and contacts for All-Things-Green!

After all, your library has been in the recycling business for years -- every time you check out a book and return it, the book is recycled to another borrower! So let's all GO GREEN together. Read Living Like Ed and participate in the activities planned. Watch for the brochure with all the events listed. And, of course, check back here for future postings.

California Book Festivals

California Book Festivals

Check out the Calendar of Book Fairs & Festivals on the Burbank Reads' Blog !

in December . . .

The SCV Education Foundation and the city of Santa Clarita will host the SCV Literacy and Arts Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Dec. 6 at William S. Hart Park, 24151 San Fernando Road, Newhall. Festival includes live entertainment, strolling performers, storytelling, children's craft activities, author signings, food and more.

in January . . .

California Indian Storytellers Association

A World Sympoisum and Festival: Indigenous Voices -- Following Ancient Trade RoutesA cultural exchange of Indigenous Storytellers from California, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii, and New Zealand January 15 -17, 2009 San Leandro Public Library Theater Center 300 Estudillo Avenue San Leandro, California

some others of interest . . .

Riverside Dickens Festival in February
UkiaHaiku Festival in April
John Steinbeck Festival in August