Library Corner

All Contra Costa County library branches offer programs forchildren, teens, adults and families. All branches are closed March31 for a furlough day. For library hours and updated information,call the local branch or 800-984-4636 or visit www.ccclib.org.

-- At the Clayton Community Library, Story Time programs arefree.

Patty Cakes Story Time: 11-11:15 a.m. Tuesdays, March 29-May 10.For babies and children up to 3 years old attending with acaregiver, features songs, rhymes and stories with an aim to earlyliteracy.

Picture Book Time: 11-11:30 a.m. Thursdays through April 7-June2. For children 3-5 years old who may attend without a caregiver.

Paws to Read: 4:30-5 p.m. March 8, 15, 22. Program is forchildren in grades 1-5 who have trouble reading. Students may signup for all three sessions, and registration by a parent is required.Participants can read aloud to a dog in the sessions. The program isnot to teach dog safety or overcome the fear of dogs.

Winter Watercolors -- A Study in Shadow and Light, Portraiture:10 a.m.-noon March 19. Ane Sackman discusses the use of shadow andlight in portraiture. For adults, 17 and older, with some experiencein portraits. Those attending must provide their own watercolors,watercolor paper and brushes. Register by 12:55 p.m. March 18.

Tax Changes and Tax-Free Investing: 6:45-8:15 p.m. March 9. ErinBeable will discuss reduced Social Security, tax changes for 2011,and what to expect for the future in health care, estate tax andmore. There will also be a discussion of tax-free investing, theCalifornia Municipal Market and what is happening with yields andabout a state's ability to declare bankruptcy.

Your Career Transition and Your Finances: 2-3:30 p.m. March 30.Financial adviser William Pollak will address various financialsubjects for those in a career transition, either from a job loss orre-entry to the workforce. Topics may include managing employer-sponsored retirement plans, short- and long-term financial goals,investment management, options for maintaining medical and healthinsurance and more. To tailor the presentation to specific need,participants may e-mail questions beforehand towilliam.pollak@mssb.com. Register by March 29.

Clayton Library Book Group: 7-9 p.m. the second Mondays, and opento anyone interested. On March 14, Sunny Solomon leads thediscussion of W. Somerset Maugham's "Of Human Bondage."

Computer docent: teaches basic computer and Internet skills from3-5 p.m. Tuesdays, or 1-3 p.m. Wednesdays. Call 925-673-0659 toschedule an appointment.

The library is at 6125 Clayton Road, Clayton. Call 925-673-0659.Hours: 1-9 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesdays,Thursdays and Saturdays; and 1-5 p.m. Sundays.

-- At the Concord Library, Story Time programs are free.

Baby Time: from 10-10:20 a.m. Tuesdays through March 8, is forchildren ages 6 months to 2 years attending with a caregiver. Itfeatures short picture books, songs, bounces and finger plays.

Toddler Time: for children ages 2-3 1/2 attending with acaregiver, is from 11-11:30 a.m. Tuesdays through March 8, andfeatures short picture books, songs, finger plays and flannel boardstories.

Preschool Story Time: 1:30-2 p.m. Wednesdays through March 9, forchildren 3 1/2 -5 and featuring stories, songs and finger plays.

Bilingual Storytime: 1-1:30 p.m. Thursdays through March 10.There will be stories, songs, finger plays and crafts in English andSpanish for children 3 1/2 -5.

You're Hired! How to Go from Interview to Offers -- the EmployersPoint of View: 7-8:30 p.m. March 3. Lee Bernstein has been a humanresources consultant for more than 20 years and will discuss whatemployers are looking for, what they will think about a potentialemployee, the right way to prepare for an interview, how to answerthe tough questions, how to ask the right questions, distinguishingyourself from the competition and the five biggest mistakes jobseekers make. Register by 4 p.m. March 3.

March Madness Family Program: 7-8 p.m. March 7. Participants willlisten to stories and make a craft, possibly a Mardi Gras mask orsomething Irish green.

Free Income Tax Assistance: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Fridays and Saturdaysthrough April 16. AARP volunteers will provide tax assistance to low-and middle-income individuals. Call 646-5455 to make an appointmentfrom 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Drop-in assistance is available beginning at 10a.m. Priority is given to senior citizens.

Knitting and crochet group: 1:15-4:45 p.m. the first Sunday ofeach month. Knitters and crocheters of all levels are welcome. Dropin anytime to knit, crochet and network. Free knitting instructionduring first half of class by Melanie Mintz, and free crochetinghelp the second half of class by Chris Curtiss. Some practice yarnprovided, but bring your own needles. The topic for March 6 isFrances' Scarf -- a beginner's scarf to knit for Mom for Mother'sDay, and a matching one for Dad for Father's Day.

Concord Mystery Book Club: 2:30 p.m. the second Sunday of themonth, and mystery lovers are invited to join the group.

A small claims adviser workshop: 5:30-8 p.m. the second Thursdayof the month, presented by the Contra Costa County Superior Court,and led by Gloria Sanchez, an attorney and small claims adviser. Noregistration, but latecomers will not be admitted due to the largeamount of information to be covered.

The library is at 2900 Salvio St., Concord. Phone: 925-646-5455.Hours: Noon-9 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesdaysand Wednesdays; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; and 1-5 p.m.Sundays.