Sandra Says

The Houston Public Library‘s WeCAN Works program was named one of the Top Innovators by the Urban Libraries Council

recently. The win was in Economic & Workforce Development:

Houston Public Library for its WeCAN Works program to prevent high school drop-out, support GED attainment, and provide digital literacy and workforce skills training.

Nice to see the program being recognized for its impact.

Where I’ll be tomorrow:

Books on the Bayou 2010

BOB 2010 Author Visits

Author Firoozeh Dumas
Saturday, September 11 | 1 PM
Central Library | 500 McKinney | 77002
Join us for a special visit from Firoozeh Dumas, author of Funny in Farsi and Laughing without an Accent, who will discuss her work and sign copies of her books.

In 1972, when she was seven, Firoozeh Dumas and her family moved from Iran to Southern California, arriving with no firsthand knowledge of this country beyond her father’s glowing memories of his graduate school years here. More family soon followed, and the clan has been here ever since. Funny in Farsi chronicles the American journey of Dumas’s wonderfully engaging family: her engineer father, a sweetly quixotic dreamer who first sought riches on Bowling for Dollars and in Las Vegas, and later lost his job during the Iranian revolution; her elegant mother, who never fully mastered English (nor cared to); her uncle, who combated the effects of American fast food with an army of miraculous American weight-loss gadgets; and Firoozeh herself, who as a girl changed her name to Julie, and who encountered a second wave of culture shock when she met and married a Frenchman, becoming part of a one-couple melting pot.

In a series of deftly drawn scenes, we watch the family grapple with American English (hot dogs and hush puppies?—a complete mystery), American traditions (Thanksgiving turkey?—an even greater mystery, since it tastes like nothing), and American culture (Firoozeh’s parents laugh uproariously at Bob Hope on television, although they don’t get the jokes even when she translates them into Farsi). Above all, this is an unforgettable story of identity, discovery, and the power of family love. It is a book that will leave us all laughing—without an accent.

By the way, check out the mentions of this event.

Information about an upcoming event/series at the Houston Public Library:

9th Annual Books On The Bayou Opening Celebration on Saturday, August 28, 2010

The Houston Public Library invites the community to join Houston Mayor Annise Parker and Houston Public Library Director Dr. Rhea Brown Lawson for the Opening Celebration of the 9th Annual Books on the Bayou: Houston Reads Together program. This year’s selection is “Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood” by Marjane Satrapi. Mayor Parker’s welcome address is only one of several events which are scheduled to begin at 11 AM thru 5 PM at the Central Library on Saturday, August 28, 2010.

The opening celebration includes a day of Persian cuisine, musical and dance performances, speakers, book discussions, and a film screening of the award-winning film adaptation of “Persepolis” (a French film with English subtitles). In addition, at 1:15 PM there will be a screening of archival footage of Satrapi’s visit to Houston. The Central Library is located at 500 McKinney, 77002, 832-393-1313. The program is free and open to the public.

About Books on the Bayou
The Houston Public Library invites all Houstonians to join together to read “Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood” by author Marjane Satrapi for the 9th Annual Books on the Bayou: Houston Reads Together program. Books on the Bayou brings Houstonians together to read the same book at the same time, provoking discussion among co-workers, friends, families, and classrooms. This program cultivates a culture of reading in Houston by encouraging people to visit libraries, bookstores, community centers, homes, churches, and schools to discuss the featured book.

Now through September 30, 2010 everyone is invited to attend the many diverse activities that are planned at all neighborhood library locations. There will be book and film discussions, displays, storytelling, and other events. For a detailed list of events visit www.houstonlibrary.org/booksonthebayou or pick up a Resource Guide at any of the Houston Public Library’s 35 neighborhood locations.

Opening Celebration
Saturday, August 28 * 11AM-5PM
Houston Public Library Central Library
500 McKinney, 77002, 832-393-1313

Book Discussion | 11 AM
Connie Lewis from Houston Great Books Society will lead a book discussion of “Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood.” Whether you’ve read the book or are just thinking about reading it, you are invited to join the discussion.

Welcome Addresses | 12 NOON
The official opening of the 9th Annual Books on the Bayou: Houston Reads Together reading and programming series, featuring Persian cuisine, special musical and dance performances, and guest speakers Mayor Annise D. Parker and Dr. Rhea Brown Lawson, director of Houston Public Library.

Archival Footage Screening | 1:15 PM
A special screening of archival footage from Marjane Satrapi’s visit to Houston, introduced and provided by Inprint. Graphic memoirist Marjane Satrapi, author of “Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood,” was featured in the in the 2007/2008 Inprint Margarett Root Brown Reading Series as a special event presentation on Saturday, April 12, 2008, Zilkha Hall, Hobby Center for the Performing Arts.

Film Screening | 3:15 PM
A special presentation of the award-winning film adaptation of “Persepolis.” French, with English subtitles; MPAA Rating: PG-13.

For further information, visit the Houston Public Library at www.houstonlibrary.org/booksonthebayou or call 832-393-1313.