News and Events AARP Tax Preparation Assistance The Library will once again be partnering with AARP to provide free , confidential one-on-one tax preparation assistance every Friday through April 14 , 11:15 am-3:15 pm in the Oak Room of the Main Library. The assistance is provided by IRS-certified AARP volunteers and open to taxpayers of all ages and backgrounds. Call 650-539-4459 for an appointment. Jane Austen Film Series In collaboration with the Jane Austen Society of North America/Northern California, the Library will host the Jane Austen Film Series in March. Austen's famed novel Pride and Prejudice is the inspiration behind the three films. On March 6 , Keira Knightley stars in the 2005 production of Pride and Prejudice. On March 13 , Bride and Prejudice, set in Amritsar, Punjab, is a Bollywood twist on the classic. On March 20 , Pride and Prejudice and Zombies adds an army of undead zombies to the tale. Movies are rated PG or PG-13 and are held at 6:30 pm in the Main Library's Oak Room. Popcorn will be served. Free admission. Meet the Artists: Jill Pillot and Bill Jackson Fashion designer Jill Pillot and fine art photographer Bill Jackson, creators of Art Finds Art, the incorporation of Bill’s creative photography into Jill’s cutting edge fashion designs. Meet the award-winning artists and see their works up close on Monday, March 13 from 3-5:00 pm at the Main Library, 2nd floor. A drawing will be held at 4:00 pm for a free two hour sewing class at Ricochet Wearable Art Academy , and a $50 gift certificate towards the purchase of an Art Finds Art designer dress. Budgeting 101 Learn how to manage your money and plan for the future. This free workshop, presented by certified financial planners, covers how to take financial control, trim spending, reduce variable expenses, decrease debt, and include savings in your budget. This program is cosponsored by the Financial Planning Association of Silicon Valley and will be in the Main Library's Oak Room on Wednesday, March 15 from 6:30-7:30 pm. E-book Classes

Learn to use your iPad, iPhone, Kindle, Nook or other eBook device to check out and read library eBooks. Sign up in advance for a one-on-one 30-minute session, then bring your e-reader and library card to the session. Classes will be held on Wednesday, March 15 from 2-4 pm at Main, or Thursday, March 23 from 2-4 at Hillsdale. Register online at http://bit.ly/1LwLDYu or call 650-522-7818. Nowruz/Persian New Year

The Main Library will host its yearly celebration of the Persian New Year, Nowruz, on Sunday, March 19 at 1:30 pm in the Main Library's Oak Room. Performers include Ostaad Nejad and the Nejad Music Center Youth Orchestra, Beskhan Dance Academy, and Persian American Society students. AustenFest! Join us on Saturday, March 25 from 12-4 pm for a full afternoon of Jane Austen and the world of her life and novels, with three tracks of presentations and activities in three of the Main Library's meeting rooms. Topics include silhouette cutting, Regency needlework, "Memes and Jane Austen", Regency Dancing, Regency Era novelties like kaleidoscopes and ice buckets, fashion, letter writing, and more! This event is free and co-sponsored by the Jane Austen Society of North America/Northern California. Teen Spring Break Program Want something fun to do over Spring Break? Traveling and want to earn a prize for the reading you’ll be doing? Teens and tweens from 6th-12th grade, pick up your Teen Spring Break Booklet starting March 31st and turn it in until April 14th at any San Mateo City Library. Complete 5 activities or reading tasks and receive a free book and a $5 gift card to various locations in downtown San Mateo. Stay tuned for special events scheduled throughout the program. Art Exhibits Ellen Silva, Paintings A painter since age 3, Ellen Silva sees art as a way to create joy and hope in the world and to connect with herself and her community. She creates vibrant nature-inspired art on recycled fence boards, wood, and canvas. In addition to fine art, she paints residential and commercial murals. She is an artist in residence at many Bay Area schools and Art Specialist for the Cabrillo School District. Her work is on display in the First Floor Art Gallery from March 7 to March 30 . Jane Austen Society, Hats The Northern California chapter of the Jane Austen Society of North America presents a display titled, "The mode in hats and headdresses during the lifetime of Jane Austen + 16 years: 1775-1833." The display features caps, turbans and hats on heads with period-appropriate paper hairdos. Each hat is presented and described along with its inspiration, which may include a period fashion plate, portrait or extant hat. The hats are on display in the Second Floor Display Case from March 4 to April 29 . Book Clubs These are some titles that local book clubs are currently enjoying. What is your book club reading? If your group has a good read it would like to recommend, send us an email and we'll share your recommendation in a future newsletter.

MORE GREAT BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS-- Sign up for NextReads newsletters to receive book suggestions via email. Choose from newsletters on travel, fiction, home & garden, teen books, childrens’ books, and more. Each newsletter includes new and forthcoming books, hidden gems, and themed titles that link right to the Library’s catalog. Sign up here . San Mateo Public Library

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