With school starting, this is a great way to make sure you teach your kids to read, to share, and to donate to the community.

There is a fun site for people who love to read and want to trade. The  Book Mooch community exchanges and trades books with others while employing a feed back system to make sure everyone is responsible.  Your only cost is to mail the books and you can use the book rate at the post office. According to their site, in order to keep receiving books, you need to give away at least one book for every two you receive.

You can also designate a charity for your points and make sure that a literacy program or library has adequate books. There is a wish list that will be updated when a book you requested becomes available.  Book Mooch is fun option for those who want their books to go to a new home. Keep books in circulation!

There is a place with free books, free DVDs, free magazines, free books on CD, free Internet and use of reference materials. This place is called the public library.

I live in Los Angeles and the public libraries  have provided me with reading material, books on CD, magazines, and fantastic DVDs including Louis Malle documentaries and The Simpsons Movie.  I listened to Little Scarlet by Walter Mosley on CD during a long drive.  I looked through two months of Martha Stewart Living.  Having a problem with your Internet? Just scurry over and use the library computers to answer your email. Take a chance on a new author, catch up on classics, take out a movie, find a book on a DIY project, the possibilities are endless. Bring the kids to take out an armful of children’s books. The library is recycling at its best.

Here is a list of just a few of the activities for June and July at the Westwood Branch:

Jun 24 – Emil Draitser’s “Stalin’s Romeo Spy” 6:30 PM Emil Draitser discusses and signs his new book “Stalin’s Romeo Spy: The Remarkable Rise and Fall of the KGB’s Most Daring Operative.”

Jul 10 – Book Club 11:00 AM Discuss “Light in August” by William Faulkner.

Jul 13 – Sherlock Holmes Panel 6:30 PM  Three Sherlock Holmes experts discuss the books they’ve written and the stage and screen adaptations that followed.

Jul 20 – Resume Workshop 6:30 PM Looking for work and need to update your resume? Get free expert help with your resume from a professional in the field.

Jul 29 – French Conversation Class 6:00 PM Come practice your French with discussions on a variety of themes. This month, bring a favorite text of any type and a piece of music inspired by the text.

And for children

Jul 26 – Magic Show with Allen Oshiro 4:00 PM Comedy, fun, and magic with Magician Allen Oshiro.

These are just a few of the activities at one branch.  They also have resources for job hunting and learning computer skills.

Think of it as a vacation from your routine. Pull up a chair, enjoy the  air conditioning, and choose a reading adventure.