Appreciating Winter: Non-fiction Selections

Posted by Alana T.
Ravens in Winter by Bernd Heinrich.  This wonderful book was one of the first to describe the adaptability, inventiveness, and intelligence of ravens.  By careful and long-term observation of wild birds in winter, Heinrich was able to describe previously unknown behaviors.  Not only is the author's love of his subject and the natural world obvious, his patience, cold-hardiness and work ethic are cause for amazement.  The story is set up as a mystery to be solved and the reader quickly becomes swept up in the numerous clues, dead ends and plot twists all taking place in the frigid, snow covered woods of Maine.

Winter World: The Ingenuity of Animal Survival by Bernd Heinrich.  Heinrich has written many popular science books, and this one is one of the best (after Ravens, see above).  This book is particularly interesting because the reader sees inside the head of a gifted scientist and is carried along while he formulates his questions and designs his experiments.  Questions that anyone might ask in passing, "What do little birds eat all winter?,  How do some insects stay alive after being frozen?, Why do some animals hibernate while others stay active?", all become serious lines of study, exploration and wonder.

Thin Ice: Unlocking the Secrets of the Climate in the World's Highest Mountains by Mark Bowen.  Technically, this is not a winter book, but it does discuss ice... close enough!  The author describes the work of climatologist Lonnie Thompson who takes ice cores from tropical glaciers.  What he has learned from these ice cores has greatly expanded our knowledge of global climate and the possible changes to come.  A good read.

Snowstruck: In the Grip of Avalanches by Jill Fredston. Adventure writing is quite popular these days, especially when coupled with actual or imagined danger.  The author is an expert winter-rescue professional living and working in Alaska.  Her descriptions of the perils of winter accidents and survival are riveting.  We may not see many avalanches here in Edwardsville, but this is still a highly recommended read.

The Snowflake: Winter's Secret Beauty by Kenneth Libbrecht and Snow Crystals by W.A Bentley.  I usually suggest these books as a pair.  Bentley's book has a brief description of his process, but the majority of the book is devoted to the wonderful photographs of individual snowflakes.  It is all the more stunning when you realize that these photos were not taken with state of the art equipment, but with a basic camera set-up before 1930.  The Snowflake also has lovely photographs (in color), but also a lot of up to date information about the chemistry and physics of ice crystals.  Snowflake Bently, a colorfully illustrated children's book tells Bentley's story and provides a warm portrait of the farmer/scientist's life.

The Donnor Party (DVD, 1994) aired on PBS as the pilot episode of The American Experience.  As I recall, my husband an I sat down to watch, not knowing what to expect.  After watching, we couldn't get to sleep that night; documentaries usually are not gripping, terrifying, fascinating, and shocking all at the same time, and to the extent that this one is.  The story is told through pictures, narrations of journal excerpts, and historical documents.  Watching and listening to the DVD, you will feel the cold Sierra Nevada winter and experience the desperation of these tough pioneers pushed to their limits.  Definitely worth watching, although it may not be suitable for younger children.

Reference Librarians: Debunking the Myths

Posted by Cary H.

When people think of reference librarians-- if they think about us at all -- several outdated images may come to mind.  The 21st century reference librarian is an information specialist, not just a reference source referee.  Let's take a moment to separate the myths from reality:

Myths

• Our hero is "Marian the Librarian," who shushes patrons while safeguarding shelves full of reference texts
• Reference Librarians only help "serious" scholars with scholarly questions
• Reference Librarians are out of touch -- why would I need one?

Reality

• Reference Librarians love working with people, and that means you!  Many reference resources are online and easy to navigate -- let us show you how.
• We answer almost any question to the best of our ability -- everything from "How do I set up an email?" or "How do I chat on Facebook?" to "Where can I get my grandmother's birth records?" and "How do I copy and paste in Word?" or "Do you have travel books about Borneo?"  We've heard every type of question under the sun and we want to help you with yours.
• Reference Librarians are people too -- we have hectic lives, have children who are late with their homework, remember how much of a pain it was to make research paper note cards, worry about paying bills, and lock our keys in our car.  Just like you.  We understand.  If we can make your day better by helping you with what you need to get done, then you've made our day better!  

Don't hesitate -- call or come in for help anytime!

The Holidays Mean Food and Lots of It!

Posted by: Staff

As various winter holidays approach, the number of celebratory events escalate, and at each, you can be sure there will be food.  Whether you are thinking of trying a new recipe, looking for gift items, preparing for a party, or want to spend some family time together in the kitchen, the library is well stocked with cookbooks to provide guidance.

Some of the staff have selected their favorite cookbooks for the holidays; pick up a few and be inspired!

Alana T.: Martha Stewart's Cookies: The Very Best Treats to Bake and to Share
I love giving cookies as gifts and this book is a fantastic resource for recipes.  Every one I've tried has been excellent!

Pam O.: Christmas with Paula Deen: Recipes and Stories from my Favorite Holiday
I like the stories about the author's Christmas memories.  The book has a great recipe for baked french toast I make every year for Christmas morning.

Annie. H : Better Homes and Gardens Complete Step-by-Step Cookbook.
Everything you need is here - step by step.  Just good homemade food.

Judy T:  The Marshall Field's Cookbook: Classic Recipes and Fresh Takes from the Field's Culinary Council
I grew up in Chicago, and we would go to the State Street Marshall Field's store every year before Christmas to eat lunch in the Walnut Room and see the store's amazing Christmas tree.  The chicken pot pie was my favorite food there, and the recipe, along with so many wonderful memories, is in this book.

Dani G.: Cooking at Home (Williams-Sonoma).  A great cookbook with everything in it. All the recipes are easy to understand and follow - everything you need is here.

Other ideas for celebratory meals and entertaining:
     Martha Stewart's Hors D'oeuvres Handbook by Martha Stewart
    Celebrate! by Sheila Lukins
    Celebration Breads: Recipes, Tales and Traditions by B. Oppenneer
    The Jewish Holiday Baker by Joan Nathan
    All About Party Foods & Drinks by Irma S. Rombauer et al.
    Tapas: A Taste of Spain in America by José Andrés
    Back to the Family: Food Tastes Better Shared with the Ones You Love by A. Smith
    Moosewood Restaurant Celebrates: Festive Meals for Holidays and Special Occasions

Other ideas for homemade food gifts:
    The Christmas Candy Book by Lou Seibert Pappas
    Christmastime Treats by Sara Perry
    The Mason Jar Dessert Cookbook by Lonnette Parks
    Seasonal Preserves by Joanna Farrow
    Making Artisan Chocolates by Andrew Garrison Shotts

Meet the Staff: Lisa E.

Posted by Lisa E.

How long have you worked at the library? About 3.5 years.
How many items do you have checked out?  25
How many items are on your hold list?  15

What book can you read again and again without losing interest? Why do you still read it?  I can read Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut, again and again without losing interest because I always find something new in it.  The novel raises questions about war for which there are not real answers.  I also find it interesting that the story is not told sequentially; it moves around between past, present and future of Billy Pilgrim's life, including both real and fantasy events, such as Billy's trips to the planet Tralfamadore.  I also love the audio version of Slaughterhouse Five read by Ethan Hawke, and have listened to it a couple times as well.

If you were a literary character, who would you be and why?  I would be Scarlett O'Hara because she was strong, hopeful, resourceful, and never gave up.  I loved her character from the first time I saw Gone with the Wind, which happened to be at the Wildey Theatre when I was in fourth grade.

What aspects of the library do you think are underutilized?  I think one area of the library which is underutilized is our website.  There are many resources and services available which are still unknown to many, such as the links to the great websites under the Reader's tab.  I think our campaign to educate patrons about the databases is helping, but it will take time to spread the word and help people learn how to use the various services.

What is your favorite book format?  My favorite format is audio because I can listen while driving or doing housework.

What is your favorite aspect of working at the library?  My favorite aspect of working at the library is helping people.  I really like working with people and doing my best to serve them.

What books do you feel guilty for not having read?  I don't really feel guilty for not having read any books in particular, but there are many books, especially classics and prize-winners, that I'd love to read someday.  I'd also like to read the wide variety of books that patrons recommend to me.

Have your reading habits changed since working at the library?  If so, how?  My reading habits have changed since working at the library.  I know I put many more items on hold than I did before.  Also, I have learned so much from my co-workers and patrons.  I always trust their recommendations.

What was your favorite children's book when you were a child?  What is your favorite children's book now? My favorite children's books were a 12-volume set of beautifully illustrated Bible stories that either my dad or grandma would read to me every night.  I would still consider them my favorite children's books because they mean so much to me, and I still have them.

A New Use for Old Books

 Posted by Staff

Looking for a unique and beautiful holiday craft?  Do you have a stack of old books sitting around?  Are you an avid recycler?  If your answer to these questions is yes, yes, and yes, then we've found the project for you.

Kusudama (literal translation from Japanese is medicine ball) are paper spheres created from multiple, identical units.  You can certainly make enough units to create a ball, but 1/2 of a ball makes a beautiful paper bow.

Making these lovely holiday bows takes a bit of time (about 1 hour start to finish), but if you have a group of people working together, you can reduce the time commitment substantially.  The process is simple and kids can help (or even do most of the work!). 

For each bow you will need 30 squares of paper (cut from old books), white glue, and large paper clips (optional, but very helpful).  The process requires you to fold and glue each square into a petal shape.  Five petals are glued together to make a flower, then the six flowers are glued to make the bow.  Detailed instructions with photos are available here. The final bow is very sturdy and can be re-used easily.

For another variation of the petal, visit the Folding Trees blog.

Will we still need libraries?

Posted by Deanne H. I have worked in a public library for the last 34 - almost 35 years.  It has been, and continues to be, an amazingly rewarding job.  One comment that seems to recur with some consistency is:  "Well, we need libraries right now, but will we in the future - 5, 10, 20 years from now?"   My firm reply is always "yes, we'll be right here."  We will change as we have certainly changed dramatically over the last years, decades, millennia.  This year, many of our patrons need us for computer access. We offer free access to the internet, word processing, and social networking.  Our library also offers access to a wide range of online information.  This access is available literally anywhere you are, as long as you have access to our website. Most library collections no longer consist of print items only - we have cd's, dvd's, downloadable audio and electronic books, books on a Playaway. Our library patrons consistently tell us what they'd like us to purchase (we love that!) so we constantly update and upgrade our collection.  However, unlike your local bookstore, the library also archives and provides access to older print materials.  If you are looking for that picture book that you loved as a child and want to share it with your children - ask us, we either still own it or can borrow it from another library.  If you want to see your mom's senior photo in an Edwardsville High School yearbook - come on in, we'll let you see it. We also have meeting rooms, a coffee shop, great deals on gently used books, new magazines and newspapers, and comfy chairs to read, study, or visit with a friend. Visit the link below to find 33!! reasons why libraries and librarians are definitely NOT obsolete. But most importantly, visit us, we are ready to amaze and delight you.

http://www.collegeonline.org/library/adult-continued-education/librarians-needed

For an updated commentary by Deanne, visit her most recent post about libraries and the future.