All branches of the Seattle Public Library, including the Greenwood Library at 8016 Greenwood Ave. N., will open at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 30, due to an all-staff meeting. The Greenwood Library usually opens at 10 a.m. on Thursdays.

The Seattle Public Library is offering more workshops for job seekers, in partnership with WorkSource at South Seattle Community College. Workshops are free and registration is not required, but seating may be limited, so get there early. Each workshop is held at several branches. The Greenwood branch at 8016 Greenwood Ave. N. is holding the following workshops:

• Resume Basics – Learn what employers are looking for in resumes and receive a resume template that can be used in paper or electronic form; 4:30-6 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 23.
• Beginning a Job Search – Learn how to develop a successful job search plan in tough economic times; 4:30-6 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 30.
• Job Interview Basics – Learn how to successfully prepare for a job interview. Learn about common interview questions and body language; 12-1:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 16.
• Online Job Search Basics – Learn how to submit online resumes and complete Web-based job applications. Prerequisites: Internet Basics 1 or the ability to navigate a Web page; Resume Basics or an existing resume; 12-1:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 30.

The library is also offering free beginning computer classes for people who have little or no experience with computers. Registration is not required, but seating may be limited. The following classes will be at the Greenwood branch:

• Computer Basics 1 – Learn how to use a computer keyboard and mouse; 6-7:30 p.m., Wed., Sept. 22.
• Computer Basics 2 – Learn how to use basic features of the Windows software operating system. The session will cover using the toolbars, scroll bar and text boxes; 6- 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 29.
• Internet Basics 1 – Learn how to navigate a Web page and how to use Web browsers and search engines; 6-77:30 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 13.
• Internet Basics 2 – Learn how to find information using Web directories and search engines; 6-7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 20.

And don’t forget the library system closes next week for a furlough. All library branches will be closed from Monday, Aug. 30 through Monday, Sept. 6 (Labor Day). Branches will reopen on Tuesday, Sept. 7. The Greenwood Library is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday for you to check out any last-minute items. No books will be due and no fines will accrue during the furlough, and all book drops will be locked.

This is the last week to get things done at the library before budget cuts force the entire library system to shut down until after Labor Day. The Greenwood Library at 8016 Greenwood Ave. N. and all other Seattle Public Libraries will close on Monday, Aug. 30 and reopen Tuesday, Sept. 7.

During the closure most library services will be unavailable:
* No materials will be due and no fines will be accrued.
* The last day to check out Library items before the closure is Sunday, Aug. 29. (Not all library branches are open on Sunday, but the Greenwood Library is.)
* No book drops will be open. Do not leave books and materials outside Library locations during the closure. Book drops at branches that are open on Sundays will close at 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 29 and reopen at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 7.
* Limited access to the online catalog. Patrons will be able to search the catalog and check their Library record but will not be able to place holds on items. No staff will be working to process the thousands of books and materials that customers normally put on hold.
* Limited access to the website (www.spl.org). The online calendar, databases, downloadable books and media, digital special collections, podcasts, SPL Mobile app and blogs will be available, but other online information and features will not be available. No staff members will be working to maintain the site or troubleshoot problems.
* No Library computers will be available. You will not be able to reserve a computer for the week the Library system is closed.
* No access to Wi-Fi.
* No book group kits will be sent, received or returned during the one-week closure. Kits will be sent to libraries as usual on the last Wednesday of the month, Aug. 25. Kits not available then will be sent as soon as possible after Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 6.
* No programs or events in Library meeting rooms.
* No TeleCirc, the Library’s telephone circulation service.
* No Quick Information telephone service.
* No Text a Librarian, e-mail a librarian or chat with a librarian.
* No Mobile Services.
* No parking in Library garages.

The Seattle Public Library is increasing the number of downloadable books and media that you can place on hold and check out. You can now place a hold on 25 items (up from 10) and check out 25 items (up from 20).

The Library’s digital OverDrive collection has grown from 1,878 items to over 43,000 digital, downloadable e-book, audiobook, music and video titles. Items can be downloaded to a PC or Mac, and transferred to portable listening, viewing and reading devices. Checked-out items are returned automatically after 21 days, so no due dates or late fees to worry about!

To browse and download digital e-books, audiobooks, music and videos available via OverDrive, go to www.spl.org and click on “Library Collection,” then select “Digital Books & Media.” A Library card and PIN number are required to download items.

There’s a lot happening at the Seattle Public Library these days, including a new online career resource center and the Summer Reading Program.

SPL’s new Workplace911 is an online career resource covering all aspects of work, from finding a job to handling a difficult boss.

Workplace911 is a joint partnership between author and work expert Bob Rosner, Brainfuse and The Seattle Public Library. The resource is free and will be available from the Library’s website at www.spl.org by selecting the “Job hunting resources” Quick Link.

Rosner is a Seattle-based (Queen Anne) bestselling author and award-winning journalist. He is author of “The Boss’s Survival Guide” and “Working Wounded: Advice that Adds Insight to Injury.” Rosner has a unique perspective on today’s workplace, having personally responded to over 50,000 emails from employees and employers. He is a regular contributor to the Today Show and CNBC, and has been featured in People, the Wall Street Journal and Fortune.

Rosner also will facilitate a series of workshops about employment and the workplace at several local libraries.

The Library also has a program that provides personalized reading lists for teens.

To get your list, go to www.spl.org and then to the “Teens” page under “Audiences.” Use the “Ask a Librarian” e-mail form to tell us about a few books you love or ones that have put you to sleep. Tell us your favorite genres. Fantasy, horror, romance? What else?

In a day or two you will receive a list of five recommended books just for you. You can use the personalized list service as many times as you want, and it’s always free!

For more information, call the Teen Center at 206-615-1410.

The Library system also just kicked off its Summer Reading Program, with the theme “Where Does Reading Take You?” The annual program encourages everyone to read during summer, especially children. You can sign up in person, at any of the 27 Library locations or online.

Children can track books online, or get a reading log from any Library location and collect a sticker for each book read. Teens and adults can also track books online or in-person at their local branch.

Children who participate in the Summer Reading Program will receive a free paperback book and a pass to the Burke Museum after reading 10 books. Children who read 10 books by Monday, July 26 will be entered into a drawing for the city librarian’s popular Breakfast of Champions event held at the Sheraton Hotel in August. One winner from each Library location will be selected.

This year’s Summer Reading Program includes hundreds of free programs for families at Library locations. Here are the programs scheduled for the Greenwood Library.

• Heart and Soul of Mexico – Experience a fun, interactive show that covers many regions and aspects of Mexican culture. The musicians of La Mariachi Mexico will perform familiar songs on a variety of authentic instruments. For ages 6 and up. 2 p.m. Sunday, June 6.
• Games Around the World – Celebrate the differences and similarities among cultures by playing games from around the world with W.E. C.A.R.E. Sports. Discover new games that use luna sticks, diabolos, pelele (fling-it nets), lariats, takraw balls and petecas. For ages 5 and up. 4 p.m. Tuesday, June 29.
• 20,000 Volts Under the Sea – Sing, dance and laugh with the Brian Waite Band. This deep-sea rock musical is fun for the whole family and filled with interactive games, zany characters and, of course, great lives music. For ages 3 and up. 4 p.m. Wed., July 7.
• Robot Challenge – Explore the world of robotics with educators from the Pacific Science Center! How do scientists use modern robots to investigate other planets and dangerous places on earth? Analyze the features of these robots then program one to maneuver through a simulated hostile environment. Compete in teams against other programmers to be the robot champion. For ages 12-18. 2 p.m. Wed., July 14.
• Save Our Amazing Raptors (SOAR) – Educators from the Woodland Park Zoo will introduce you to live raptors (birds of prey) and explain their natural history and special adaptations. Ask questions and check out skulls, feathers and owl pellets. For ages 5 and up. 4 p.m. Tuesday, July 20.
• Read the Book, Watch the Movie! – Join us as we watch a beloved movie and briefly discuss the movie and the book that inspired it. “The Princess Bride,” 2:30 p.m. Saturday, July 24.
• Paper Airplanes – Drop in on the Museum of Flight as we pitch, roll and yaw through hands-on activities that explore the science of flight! Learn about aerodynamics and discover the motions and controls of airplanes while building paper airplanes, two-loop gliders and straw rockets. For ages 6 and up. Groups and drop-ins welcome. 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 8.
• Zinery 101 – A zine is a self-published magazine. Learn the basics and make your own zine with Lucy Morehouse of Ong Ong Press. For ages 12-18. Limited to 20 people. Please register with the branch. 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 22.

Yesterday’s news that a sex offender attending Roosevelt High School had recently been charged with assaulting another victim at school, made parents everywhere cringe. The news is especially unsettling here in Greenwood as The Seattle Times reports that police say that in 2007, Jose Rafael Reyes made sexually inappropriate comments to three young girls in our neighborhood. The girls ranged in age from just 5 to 11 years old. Police say Reyes also was caught with pornography and masturbating inside the Greenwood Public Library.

I spoke with Andra Addison, communications director for the Seattle Public Library, about keeping children safe inside a public library. Addison said all branches of the library adhere to the same rules of conduct.

“We want to maintain the comfort and welcoming atmosphere that all libraries have. And we have (the rules) posted all over the library, so people know what kinds of behavior we expect,” she said. “But libraries, we welcome everyone; we are a public building. We always tell parents you wouldn’t want to leave your child alone in a library anymore than you’d leave them alone in a shopping mall.”

Addison said library patrons are encouraged to report anyone who is breaking one of the rules, which range from littering and making disruptive noises, to offensive touching and indecent exposure.

“I think our staff do the best job they can based on the rules,” Addison said. “We always encourage the public, let staff know if you see someone violating (the rules.)”

The Seattle Public Library is getting on the technological bandwagon in a big way. They’re now completely eliminating paper notices to patrons in favor of email alerts. The library says 24,000 patrons still receive paper notices of books to pick up or fines, at an annual cost of about $60,000. The paper notices will end on July 1.

To sign up for e-mail notices, go to the Library Web site at www.spl.org, log into your account and add your e-mail address to your profile. You can also talk to a Library staff member in person to have your notices switched to e-mail, or call Borrower Services at (206) 386-4190.

Library account information may also be delivered to patrons through TeleCirc, an automated telephone system. Call (206) 386-4190 to sign up for TeleCirc.

The library has also introduced a new smartphone app to let you reserve books, text a librarian and get information about library programs.

The app, called SPL Mobile, was developed in partnership with and is powered by Boopsie.

SPL Mobile is compatible with all major smart phone software, including the iPhone, Android, Blackberry, Windows Mobile, Palm, Symbian and J2ME. To download SPL Mobile, visit spl.boopsie.com on your mobile device. iPhone users can find the app by searching for “SPL Mobile” in the iTunes App Store, and Android users can find it by searching for “SPL Mobile” in the Android Market. The app is free from any source.

Enhanced features of the mobile app include smart prefix searching to obtain search results faster than ever with just the first few letters of a word or phrase. For example, entering “ha pot g” into the search box finds “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.”

Looking for the closest Library branch? All location listings include links to an interactive map. Looking for book recommendations or want to connect with other readers? Visit one of the Library’s blogs or the Facebook page, all included in the mobile app, as well. You can reserve and renew books and DVDs, as well as receive online assistance from Library staff.

As the Seattle Public Library system deals with a budget crunch, it’s reducing hours at a number of libraries. Greenwood Library, however, is actually increasing its hours by five hours a week.

Until Feb. 3, Greenwood Library’s hours are:

• Monday: 1-8 p.m.
• Tuesday: 1-8 p.m.
• Wednesday: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
• Thursday: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
• Friday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
• Saturday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
• Sunday: 12-5 p.m.

On Feb. 3, Greenwood Library’s hours on Monday and Tuesday will change to 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday to 1-5 p.m.

The Greenwood Branch of The Seattle Public Library will lock its outside book drop when the branch is closed due to the neighborhood arsons. The book drop will remain open while the branch is open. If this causes you to incur a late fine, please talk to a library staff member about waiving fines.

Greenwood Library’ current hours:

• 1-8 p.m. Monday-Tuesday
• 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday
• 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Friday-Saturday
• 12-5 p.m. Sunday

After a week-long furlough to save money, the Seattle Public Library system is reopening today. The Greenwood branch is open 1-8 p.m. today.

The library’s website is now operational again, and all book drops will be unlocked to accept books, DVDs, etc. No items were due during the closure, and no fines accrued.

Don’t forget that all branches of the Seattle Public Library are closed all this week for a furlough to save the library system money. The libraries also will be closed next Monday for Labor Day. All branches will reopen on Tuesday, Sept. 8.

Book drops are locked, and you can’t even access the library’s website because there’s no one to staff it. Library fines will not accrue this week and no books are due.

You’ve only got a few more days to pick up your books, CDs, DVDs or use the computers at all city library branches before they close next week to save money. The libraries will be closed from Monday, Aug. 31 through Monday, Sept. 7 (Labor Day). They’ll reopen on Tuesday, Sep. 8.

No items will be due during that week and library fines won’t accrue. Book drops will also be closed, so hold onto your items until the library reopens. And you won’t even be able to access the library system’s website during that week. The closure will save the library system about $655,000.

Greenwood Library’s hours for the rest of the week are: Wed., 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Thurs., 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Fri., 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; and Sun., 12-5 p.m.