The Life of a Library Book: Withdrawl

Withdrawn and donated items waiting to go to Carnegie's

Posted by Deanne H.

In order to keep a library collection that excites, educates, and enriches our community, our library must sometimes withdraw an item from our collection.  An older book, CD, cassette, or DVD, must sometimes leave in order to make room for something new.   

Our staff very carefully analyzes each withdrawal.  We look at the year it was purchased, how many times it has been checked out by a library patron, how many additional copies (if any) we own of the title, the item’s physical condition, and if it is non-fiction – what other titles we have on that topic.  If we decide that it can be withdrawn, the item goes to our Technical Services department for withdrawal from our library catalog.   

Then it goes to Carnegie’s Books and Café.  Carnegie’s, run by our Library Friends, sells our withdrawn books, CDs, etc. along with donated items from our community.  Be certain to ‘check this out’ on your next visit to the Library.  You’ll find great buys – paperbacks are $.25 each, hardbacks are $.50 each.

Reading is So Delicious!

Posted by Staff

The 2012 summer reading programs will begin next week.  Sign-up for adults begins Monday, June 4th.  For more information about the program, click here.  In addition to our grand prize (a Kindle), we'll have $100 gift cards and weekly drawings.  You can obtain tickets for the drawings by reading or listening to books and/or writing book reviews for the blog.  Get extra tickets by reading or listening to a selection from our country-themed “World Flight” list.

As in previous years, we have a variety of summer programs in the youth department, with even more prizes than last year.  We have a multiplicity of fun reading activities for kids of all ages.  Make sure to attend the big kick-off on June 6th!

As always, if you have questions, let us know.  We're here to help!

Summer is for Science! Part 1: Astronomy

Posted by Alana T.

Warm weather is perfect for going out and DOING science, not just reading about it (although that's nice, too), not Googling it, nor getting social updates about friends liking it.  As a scientist, I am a strong advocate for everyone getting out there and doing science type things for themselves.  Sadly, many experimental science books are too simple to keep adults (and often the kids) engaged.  Over the next few months I'll be suggesting books and activities that will keep the brain cells churning, no matter what your age. We'll start big, with astronomy.

We missed the solar eclipse last week, but I'm looking forward to the transit of Venus on June 5th.  This is a big deal, and if you can, use one of the methods described on the link to view safely.  Cross your fingers and toes for sunny weather!  The transit is a one time event, but other astronomical observations can happen anytime the skies are clear, and you don't need a telescope to see them.  I recommend, Stargazing with Binoculars by Robin Scagell and David Frydman.  The book is simple enough for a novice, but can easily keep you occupied for many hours (or months).  If you have trouble finding objects in comparison to what's in the book, you might benefit from a custom starmap.  The software at this site may seem old-fashioned, but it's more fantastic than you think.  You can create a map for your exact date & location and choose to view only planets or stars of a particular brightness. If, after some practice, you've nailed star ID, watch the short Stargazers segment for the week (broadcast on PBS and NPR) for updates on upcoming heavenly events.

The downside of the previous book is that it glosses over the biggest and most easily seen item in the night sky, the moon.  My favorite book on lunar observation is Exploring the Moon Through Binoculars and Small Telescopes by Earnest H. Cherrington.  It's old (1969), but quite thorough and easy to understand.  A good addendum is The Astronomical League's checklist of 100 lunar items to observe.  By the way, The League has a variety of other observation programs and many are perfect for summertime evenings.

Maybe you're tired by 9PM, or the idea of letting the kids stay up until 1AM makes you nervous.  Well, we have a big, 'ole star of our own that we can watch each and every day.  Because of our orbit and tilt, the sun appears to move around in the sky quite a bit (modern folks are too busy looking at their phones to notice this).  Sundials track these movements and allow us to mark the months as well as the time of day.  I recommend reading  Sundials: Their Theory and Construction by Albert E. Waugh. This is another older book, but it is thorough and it describes a wide variety of timepieces.  Take note, there is math involved, but don't be scared away by this!  Following the instructions (and with patience), I've made six of the dials from the book. Unlike the dials you purchase at the garden center, your dials will tell the correct time for Edwardsville (or anywhere else you choose).

Additional online resources:
Astronomy Picture of the Day.  A new image every day (from all over the universe!), along with a brief explanation from a professional astronomer.
The Planetary Society.  Lots of easily accessible information about a wide variety of space-related topics.
The American Museum of Natural History has a variety of quality videos about astronomical subjects.
NASA has a series of activities and videos designed for kids.  If anyone in your household is a fan of Elmo, view his videos of a trip to NASA

Top Graphic Novels

Posted by Staff

Booklist recently published a list of the top graphic novels reviewed in the past year.  "The list showcases just how ambitious the medium has become, tackling everything from the minutia of a masterpiece to, well, everything".

Daytripper written and illustrated by Gabriel Bá Fábio Moon.  The life of a Brazilian writer is laid bare by looking at 10 days from his boyhood to old age, each ending with a different variation on his death.

21: The story of Roberto Clemente written and illustrated by Wilfred Santiango. A narrative of Clemente's personal and athletic triumphs in colorful graphic form.



Any Empire written and illustrated by Nate Powell.  A complex, open-ended anti-war parable, the story follows 3 characters, first as children, then 10 years later.

The Death-Ray written and illustrated by Daniel Clowes.  Adolescent alienation with the addition of a lacerating takedown of superhero comics and pop culture, the author depicts a teen boy who derives low-level superpowers from smoking cigarettes.

MetaMaus written and illustrated by Art Spiegelman.  An array of interviews, notes, and artwork that articulately illuminates Maus and the comics format as a whole.

Habibi written and illustrated by Craig Thompson. A kaleidoscopic epic of a concubine and a castrato set in a modern yet timeless Arabic society.  Touches on issues of race, sexuality, religion, mysticism, and social inequity.








Big Questions by Anders Nilsen.  This enormous work, 15 years in the making, balances a minimalist drawing style with unusual touches of magical realism in a story about finches, philosophy and the mysteries of life. 


Other top graphic novels to request from outside the system:
Genius, Isolated: The Life and Art of Alex Toth written by D. Mullaney and B. Canwell, illustrated by Alex Toth. Alex Toth finally gets the spotlight he deserves in this biography-cum-compilation.

One Soul by Ray Fawkes.  Follow 18 different lives from different points in history from birth to death.

Reference Question of the Month

Posted by Judy T.

This year’s adult and children’s summer reading program, Reading is So Delicious, kicks off on Monday, June 4^th.  In anticipation of a summer full of delectable books, let’s think about food this month.

1.  What are: angel hair, conchiglie, pappardelle, penne, ziti and tortelloni?

2.  What do vanilla, cocoa and tofu have in common?

3.  This classic American fruit salad typically includes apples, lemon juice, celery, walnuts and mayonnaise.  What is it called?

4.  What country is the world’s largest producer of bananas?

5.  French chef Auguste Escoffier is credited with creating Cherries Jubilee.  For what occasion was it created?

6.  Pineapples are classified as berries.  True or False

7.  Which of the following is not a whole grain:  a) quinoa b) oatmeal c) white rice d) popcorn

 The answers are listed on the bottom of the left sidebar.

Documentaries of Distinction 2012 Part 1

Posted by Staff

It's been a year since our last list of favorite documentaries, so we thought it was time to update our list of suggestions. When perusing our DVD shelves, don't walk past the non-fiction section thinking that we only have a bunch of how-to videos.  We carry a wide variety of DVDs and many are documentaries; short films whose purpose is to inform or accurately portray a subject.  Topics can range from light-hearted to grim, but all provide interesting, thought-provoking stories.  Next time you are looking for something new to watch, try a documentary.

Pam O.
No Impact Man.  A NY city resident and his family reduce their carbon footprint by reducing trash, turning off the electricity and getting rid of thier TV (the horror!).   Inspiring and thought-provoking.

Jacob V.:
The Inconvenient Truth.  The story of the every-changing global climate is shared by Al Gore with use of a "GIANT POWER POINT PRESENTATION".  Real interesting stuff.



 

Alana T.:  Man On Wire.  I actually remember when Philippe Petit walked a wire stretched between the Twin Towers.  I was 7, and because I am deathly afraid of heights, the event was burned into my youthful brain.  This film details those events.

Cary H.: 
Cave of Forgotten Dreams.  Follows an exclusive expedition into the nearly inaccessible Chauvet Cave in France, home to the most ancient visual art known to have been created by man.

Mary M.: 
Into the Abyss.  In his fascinating exploration of a triple homicide case in Conroe, Texas, master filmmaker Werner Herzog (Cave of Forgotten Dreams, Grizzly Man) probes the human psyche to explore why people kill-and why a state kills.