Library Notes
12-29-2008
Lynn Denison
One item likely to be found on many New Year’s resolution lists is to begin a physical fitness regimen. This year why not consider trying a different type of exercise program, one to improve brain function? Much up-to-date information can be found at Rowan Public Library about tapping into the adaptability of our most mysterious organ, the brain. One of the latest additions to the library’s collection is The Brain that Changes Itself by Norman Doidge, M.D. Only a few decades ago, scientists considered the brain to be fixed or ‘hardwired’ and considered most forms of brain damage to be incurable. Dr. Doidge, an eminent psychiatrist and researcher, was struck by how his own patients’ transformations belied this. Dr. Doidge begin to explore the concept of neuroplasticity, the idea that the brain is capable of positive change and is, in fact, a dynamic organ, one that can rewire and rearrange itself as the need arises. In his book Dr. Doidge describes fascinating stories about scientists and their discoveries as well as case reports about how the brain, far from being fixed, has remarkable powers of changing its own structure. Many reviewers of this book praise the author for his ability to explain scientific information to the lay person in such a way that it is not only easily understood but utterly fascinating.
An excellent complement to Dr. Doidge’s book that is also available at the library is Train Your Mind, Change Your Brain: How a New Science Reveals Our Extraordinary Potential To Transform Ourselves. The author, Sharon Begley, is a well-know science writer for the Wall Street Journal. In her exploration of the science of neuroplasticity, Begley shows how actual scientific testing, both in animals and humans, proves that the brain affects the mind and the mind affects the brain, a two-way process. By concentrating one’s thinking in certain ways, actual physical changes can be effected in the brain. For anyone interested in the latest developments for treating dyslexia and depression, or in ways to prevent mental deterioration brought about by aging, this is an excellent book to consider. As Sharon Begley sates, “Yes, the brain can change and that means we can change. “ For those looking for a magic bullet, however, she adds that it is not easy.
“Neuroplasticity is impossible without attention and mental effort.”
In his interesting and entertaining book, Spark: the Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain, psychiatrist Dr. John J. Ratey points out that physical exercise is also a master key to brain functioning. Among the areas Ratey covers are: stress, depression, ADD, and aging. He demonstrates exactly how and why physical activity is crucial to the way one thinks and feels. Dr. Kenneth H. Cooper, known as the “Father of Aerobics” states, “If your goal is to live a long and healthy life, then Spark should be required reading. As Dr. Ratey beautifully explains: ‘You have the power to change your brain. All you have to do is lace up your running shoes.’”
Above are just three of the many fascinating books that are waiting for you at any Rowan Public Library branch. Why not resolve to stop by soon to explore our up-to-date collections of books, DVD’s, CD’s, and audiotapes available for check out?
Friday, December 12, 2008
FORECLOSURE HELP
PAUL BIRKHEAD – DECEMBER 7, 2008
Foreclosures in America are happening in record numbers. The volume of foreclosures in 2007 increased 75 percent over those in 2006 and the most current figures project the totals for 2008 to be even higher. The greed of banks, the collapse of key real estate markets, a weakening dollar, and a shrinking job market have all been blamed for millions of Americans losing their homes. No matter where the fault lies, it doesn’t take long for troubles on Wall Street to become tragedies on Main Street.
If you’re at risk for losing your home to foreclosure, Rowan Public Library has resources to help you. Three books in particular have just arrived that can help you learn about the foreclosure process and give you tips on working with lenders and avoiding common scams.
“Stop Foreclosure Now” is a book written by Lloyd Segal who has experience both as an attorney and as a mortgage banker. His book is billed as “The complete guide to saving your home and your credit.” Inside you will find advice on how to develop a plan to delay or stop the foreclosure process as well as tips on how to negotiate with your lender. Because foreclosure laws are determined on a state by state basis, Segal includes a summary of foreclosure laws for all 50 states.
Nolo, a publisher that specializes in do-it-yourself legal books and software, has just released “The Foreclosure Survival Guide: Keep Your House or Walk Away with Money in Your Pocket.” The author, Stephen Elias, is a successful bankruptcy attorney who has helped hundreds of people save their homes. Because of his expertise in the bankruptcy field, Elias is able to give some unique advice on using bankruptcy as a means to keep your house. He also walks you through the methods to determining if your home is worth saving or if it might make more sense to sell it and potentially keep some money in your pocket. Thankfully the author has a straightforward writing style that can cut through some of the legalese that you will encounter.
“American Foreclosure: Everything U Need to Know about Preventing and Buying” is another guide that does a good job of explaining foreclosure. While some folks may be losing their homes to foreclosure, there are others who are looking to buy foreclosure properties. This book has been written to give advice to those who find themselves in either situation. Included in the guide is a bonus CD-ROM that features ready-to-print real estate forms.
Tough economic times coupled with skyrocketing foreclosure rates has many interested in the foreclosure process. Whether you’re a homeowner struggling to pay your mortgage or an investor looking for some deals on real estate, Rowan Public Library has resources that can help.
PAUL BIRKHEAD – DECEMBER 7, 2008
Foreclosures in America are happening in record numbers. The volume of foreclosures in 2007 increased 75 percent over those in 2006 and the most current figures project the totals for 2008 to be even higher. The greed of banks, the collapse of key real estate markets, a weakening dollar, and a shrinking job market have all been blamed for millions of Americans losing their homes. No matter where the fault lies, it doesn’t take long for troubles on Wall Street to become tragedies on Main Street.
If you’re at risk for losing your home to foreclosure, Rowan Public Library has resources to help you. Three books in particular have just arrived that can help you learn about the foreclosure process and give you tips on working with lenders and avoiding common scams.
“Stop Foreclosure Now” is a book written by Lloyd Segal who has experience both as an attorney and as a mortgage banker. His book is billed as “The complete guide to saving your home and your credit.” Inside you will find advice on how to develop a plan to delay or stop the foreclosure process as well as tips on how to negotiate with your lender. Because foreclosure laws are determined on a state by state basis, Segal includes a summary of foreclosure laws for all 50 states.
Nolo, a publisher that specializes in do-it-yourself legal books and software, has just released “The Foreclosure Survival Guide: Keep Your House or Walk Away with Money in Your Pocket.” The author, Stephen Elias, is a successful bankruptcy attorney who has helped hundreds of people save their homes. Because of his expertise in the bankruptcy field, Elias is able to give some unique advice on using bankruptcy as a means to keep your house. He also walks you through the methods to determining if your home is worth saving or if it might make more sense to sell it and potentially keep some money in your pocket. Thankfully the author has a straightforward writing style that can cut through some of the legalese that you will encounter.
“American Foreclosure: Everything U Need to Know about Preventing and Buying” is another guide that does a good job of explaining foreclosure. While some folks may be losing their homes to foreclosure, there are others who are looking to buy foreclosure properties. This book has been written to give advice to those who find themselves in either situation. Included in the guide is a bonus CD-ROM that features ready-to-print real estate forms.
Tough economic times coupled with skyrocketing foreclosure rates has many interested in the foreclosure process. Whether you’re a homeowner struggling to pay your mortgage or an investor looking for some deals on real estate, Rowan Public Library has resources that can help.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Hidden Treasures
by Gretchen Beilfuss Witt
In the spring of 1791 our first president made a tour of the Southern States. His intention in making the journey was first to gain “the good-will, the support, of the people for the General Government.” His presence reinforced the distant existence and reality of a central government. This first American hero embodied both political freedom and military victory for all former colonists. The new form of government had yet to prove itself, but its leader was known and loved by all.
Washington left Philadelphia, then the capital of the United States, March 21st and continued on to his home at Mount Vernon. He left Mt. Vernon a week later traveling through Virginia, the coastal area of the Carolinas reaching Charleston by the second of May. He continued on to Savannah, Georgia and then turned inland visiting South Carolina at Columbia and Camden and then back to North Carolina. Washington was a diligent traveler waking early and getting on the road between four and six o’clock in the morning – very early by today’s standards.
Washington spent a day in Charlotte and then arrived in Rowan County on May 30, 1791. He states in his diary he was met about 5 miles from Salisbury by Judge Spruce Mccay, Mayor and Mr. (John) Steel as well as some others. He attended a public dinner at Hughes Hotel and later in the afternoon went to a tea organized by the ladies of Salisbury. As at many other such occasions, speeches and toasts were given to greet the President and he in return addressed the citizens of the town.
In the early 1950’s a spectacular discovery was made. Irvin Oestreicher, a prominent local merchant of Salisbury, purchased from an elderly lady by the name of Fannie McNeely, an historic document kept for many years in an old bonnet box. Miss McNeely and her friends were aware that the document bore the signature of George Washington and those who knew of the paper thought it a letter of thanks sent to the citizens of Salisbury. Mr. Oestreicher was not content with this assumption. Completing some research at the Library of Congress, he discovered the address of welcome given by the prominent citizens of Salisbury pledging their support of the Federal Government. After further research and consultation with the Library of Congress he discovered that the document he had was nothing less than the reply. Experts at the Library of Congress confirmed that the signature was George Washington’s and the text had been written by Washington’s secretary William Jackson who had accompanied him on the Southern Tour.
In all probability, the paper was slipped into Mccay’s pocket after the speeches had been given and remained within the family for years. Miss Fannie’s mother first marriage had been to William Mccay, only son of Spruce. In 1951 after discovering the truth about the bonnet box paper, Mr. Oestreicher graciously determined that since the document had remained in Salisbury for 160 years it should continue to reside here. He made arrangements with the trustees of the library to receive this spectacular gift in honor of Colonel A.H. Boyden, Oestreicher’s former neighbor and one of the founders of the library. The Rowan Public Library still displays the address of the Citizens of Salisbury to Washington and his congenial reply.
by Gretchen Beilfuss Witt
In the spring of 1791 our first president made a tour of the Southern States. His intention in making the journey was first to gain “the good-will, the support, of the people for the General Government.” His presence reinforced the distant existence and reality of a central government. This first American hero embodied both political freedom and military victory for all former colonists. The new form of government had yet to prove itself, but its leader was known and loved by all.
Washington left Philadelphia, then the capital of the United States, March 21st and continued on to his home at Mount Vernon. He left Mt. Vernon a week later traveling through Virginia, the coastal area of the Carolinas reaching Charleston by the second of May. He continued on to Savannah, Georgia and then turned inland visiting South Carolina at Columbia and Camden and then back to North Carolina. Washington was a diligent traveler waking early and getting on the road between four and six o’clock in the morning – very early by today’s standards.
Washington spent a day in Charlotte and then arrived in Rowan County on May 30, 1791. He states in his diary he was met about 5 miles from Salisbury by Judge Spruce Mccay, Mayor and Mr. (John) Steel as well as some others. He attended a public dinner at Hughes Hotel and later in the afternoon went to a tea organized by the ladies of Salisbury. As at many other such occasions, speeches and toasts were given to greet the President and he in return addressed the citizens of the town.
In the early 1950’s a spectacular discovery was made. Irvin Oestreicher, a prominent local merchant of Salisbury, purchased from an elderly lady by the name of Fannie McNeely, an historic document kept for many years in an old bonnet box. Miss McNeely and her friends were aware that the document bore the signature of George Washington and those who knew of the paper thought it a letter of thanks sent to the citizens of Salisbury. Mr. Oestreicher was not content with this assumption. Completing some research at the Library of Congress, he discovered the address of welcome given by the prominent citizens of Salisbury pledging their support of the Federal Government. After further research and consultation with the Library of Congress he discovered that the document he had was nothing less than the reply. Experts at the Library of Congress confirmed that the signature was George Washington’s and the text had been written by Washington’s secretary William Jackson who had accompanied him on the Southern Tour.
In all probability, the paper was slipped into Mccay’s pocket after the speeches had been given and remained within the family for years. Miss Fannie’s mother first marriage had been to William Mccay, only son of Spruce. In 1951 after discovering the truth about the bonnet box paper, Mr. Oestreicher graciously determined that since the document had remained in Salisbury for 160 years it should continue to reside here. He made arrangements with the trustees of the library to receive this spectacular gift in honor of Colonel A.H. Boyden, Oestreicher’s former neighbor and one of the founders of the library. The Rowan Public Library still displays the address of the Citizens of Salisbury to Washington and his congenial reply.
Monday, November 10, 2008
NC Live: “Answers: Anytime, Anywhere”
by Betty Moore
“Answers: Anytime, Anywhere” is the motto of NC Live. I hope that everyone with a library card and access to a computer (either through the library or at home) is aware of at least some of the resources, many of them treasures, available to them without charge through NC Live.
Not sure what NC Live is? It is a collection of electronic resources supported by the North Carolina General Assembly. It is a collaborative program of around 200 NC public and academic libraries. To begin with, this collection includes complete articles from over 16,000 newspapers, journals, magazines, and encyclopedias!
But it also includes some hidden gems that go beyond the common usage of a student’s research for a paper or speech. These are a few that caught my interest at a recent workshop.
Did you know that a large number of PBS videos are available to watch free through NC LIVE? Search by title (the list is over 40 pages long!); series (including “American Experience,” “Liberty’s Kids,” “Frontline,” and programs by Ken Burns); or subject, such as African American Studies or Health and Medicine.
The American Slavery database from Greenwood is a powerful collection of life histories, in their own words, of former U. S. slaves. These were compiled from nearly 4,000 interviews with ex-slaves during a WPA project in the 1930s, then stored at the Library of Congress. The collection can be searched by the name of the former slave or master, county, and topics discussed in the interview.
One interview in the collection is of Gus “Jabbo” Rogers, over 90 years of age when interviewed in 1937, who was born at Salisbury, NC on the Rogers plantation.
North American Women’s Letters and Diaries: Colonial to 1950 is another treasure. This fascinating way to learn history and customs contains the experiences of 1,325 women in 150,000 pages of diaries and letters. The materials have been indexed and can be searched in several ways, such as by authors, years, places, historical events (such as the Chicago Fire) or personal events (such as childbirth).
These scanned documents show the handwriting of each writer and often contain other items, such as drawings, postcards, pressed flowers or leaves, fashion ads, hair clippings, etc.
A good place to start is with its “Showcase,” a number of diaries that can be clicked on at the beginning of the database. One of these is “My Trip Abroad 1914,” Ruth Pike’s travel journal. In it she documents a trip through Europe and describes the outbreak of World War I while she and her companions were stranded in Switzerland.
CQ Researcher and CQ Weekly are two great online resources that appeal to anyone interested in current events as well as students doing research.
CQ Researcher offers comprehensive, non-biased reporting and analysis on issues shaping our world. Each week a thorough full-length study is presented on a current topic of interest such as the current financial bailout. Another helpful feature is “Pro/Con,” a collection of timely topics, such as animal rights and urban planning, with experts taking opposing viewpoints on each topic. CQ Weekly is Congressional Quarterly’s online magazine on government, politics, and commerce. It also offers coverage of the U.S. Congress: bills, votes, amendments, committees, etc.
These are just a few of the many resources available on NC Live. To explore further, go to the Rowan Public Library website (www.rowanpubliclibrary.org), then scroll down to NC Live under Featured Resources. On the next page click on NC Live at the top for use in the library, or see directions on using NC Live from home using your library card and PIN number to get the NC Live password.
Once inside NC Live, most of these sources are best accessed by clicking on “Browse Resources,” then “Alphabetic” to see these resources and browse others.
If you need help getting started with NC Live, ask library staff at each location or call 704-216-8243 for help.
by Betty Moore
“Answers: Anytime, Anywhere” is the motto of NC Live. I hope that everyone with a library card and access to a computer (either through the library or at home) is aware of at least some of the resources, many of them treasures, available to them without charge through NC Live.
Not sure what NC Live is? It is a collection of electronic resources supported by the North Carolina General Assembly. It is a collaborative program of around 200 NC public and academic libraries. To begin with, this collection includes complete articles from over 16,000 newspapers, journals, magazines, and encyclopedias!
But it also includes some hidden gems that go beyond the common usage of a student’s research for a paper or speech. These are a few that caught my interest at a recent workshop.
Did you know that a large number of PBS videos are available to watch free through NC LIVE? Search by title (the list is over 40 pages long!); series (including “American Experience,” “Liberty’s Kids,” “Frontline,” and programs by Ken Burns); or subject, such as African American Studies or Health and Medicine.
The American Slavery database from Greenwood is a powerful collection of life histories, in their own words, of former U. S. slaves. These were compiled from nearly 4,000 interviews with ex-slaves during a WPA project in the 1930s, then stored at the Library of Congress. The collection can be searched by the name of the former slave or master, county, and topics discussed in the interview.
One interview in the collection is of Gus “Jabbo” Rogers, over 90 years of age when interviewed in 1937, who was born at Salisbury, NC on the Rogers plantation.
North American Women’s Letters and Diaries: Colonial to 1950 is another treasure. This fascinating way to learn history and customs contains the experiences of 1,325 women in 150,000 pages of diaries and letters. The materials have been indexed and can be searched in several ways, such as by authors, years, places, historical events (such as the Chicago Fire) or personal events (such as childbirth).
These scanned documents show the handwriting of each writer and often contain other items, such as drawings, postcards, pressed flowers or leaves, fashion ads, hair clippings, etc.
A good place to start is with its “Showcase,” a number of diaries that can be clicked on at the beginning of the database. One of these is “My Trip Abroad 1914,” Ruth Pike’s travel journal. In it she documents a trip through Europe and describes the outbreak of World War I while she and her companions were stranded in Switzerland.
CQ Researcher and CQ Weekly are two great online resources that appeal to anyone interested in current events as well as students doing research.
CQ Researcher offers comprehensive, non-biased reporting and analysis on issues shaping our world. Each week a thorough full-length study is presented on a current topic of interest such as the current financial bailout. Another helpful feature is “Pro/Con,” a collection of timely topics, such as animal rights and urban planning, with experts taking opposing viewpoints on each topic. CQ Weekly is Congressional Quarterly’s online magazine on government, politics, and commerce. It also offers coverage of the U.S. Congress: bills, votes, amendments, committees, etc.
These are just a few of the many resources available on NC Live. To explore further, go to the Rowan Public Library website (www.rowanpubliclibrary.org), then scroll down to NC Live under Featured Resources. On the next page click on NC Live at the top for use in the library, or see directions on using NC Live from home using your library card and PIN number to get the NC Live password.
Once inside NC Live, most of these sources are best accessed by clicking on “Browse Resources,” then “Alphabetic” to see these resources and browse others.
If you need help getting started with NC Live, ask library staff at each location or call 704-216-8243 for help.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
11th Annual Teen Read Week
Erika Kosin
Do you have a teen that likes to read but doesn’t know which book to read next? Have him or her check out titles that have made the Teens Top Ten List. Each year the Young Adult Library Services Association’s (YALSA) sponsors Teen Read Week an event that helps remind teens to “read for the fun of it” stating that “it’s free, it’s fun and it can be done anywhere”. This year’s 11th annual Teen Read Week event was held from October 12th thru October 18th and many libraries throughout the country helped celebrate. As part of the celebration teens across the nation, ages 12-18, were encouraged to vote for their favorite nominated book published in 2007. All books nominated for the final vote during Teen Read Week were selected by committees of teens throughout the country making this the ultimate recommended for teens by teens list.
Each year to help in the celebration a sub-theme is chosen by teens during the previous Teen Read Week. This year’s theme was “Books With Bite @ Your Library”. This theme served as a possible guide for public and school libraries to center their celebration, whether on books about animals, technology, cooking or even, just in time for Halloween, vampires. The chosen theme is meant remind teens that reading books can be a form of entertainment in an age where reading sounds dull compared to the multi-media competition. With the internet, television, movies, and video games having a flashier appearance, Teen Read Week is a time when libraries and publishers push books to the forefront of the competition boasting an inexpensive way to escape the everyday hassles, especially if you have a library card. Why do we do this? Well studies have shown that teens who read for fun tend to have higher proficiency levels at school and are constantly expanding their language and vocabulary skills.
So what books have topped this year’s list? After over 8,000 teens voted, the top three spots went to:
#1 - Eclipse by Stephanie Meyer
In the third book in “The Twilight Saga” Seattle is being ravaged by a string of murders that seems to be caused by a vampire looking for revenge once again placing Bella in harms way. Meanwhile, Bella is forced to choose between her love for Edward Cullen and her friendship with Jacob Black, knowing that her decision has the power to awaken a battle between the Werewolves and the Vampires that will hurt those she loves. Will Edward and Jacob be able to put their differences aside? Will Bella be able to finally decide whether to remain human or become immortal?
#2 – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
The seventh and final novel in the Harry Potter Series finds Harry, Hermione, and Ron searching for items that will help them destroy Voldemort while at the same time uncovering the mystery of the Deathly Hallows.
#3 - Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
Greg Heffley knows he isn’t popular, but he still wants to fit in. Follow along with his journal (NOT a Diary!) as he both illustrates and records his observations of life in middle school. This is a very realistic and funny account of life in the Middle School halls and fun for all ages.
See the complete 2008 Teens Top Ten winner’s at www.ala.org/teenstopten .
Erika Kosin
Do you have a teen that likes to read but doesn’t know which book to read next? Have him or her check out titles that have made the Teens Top Ten List. Each year the Young Adult Library Services Association’s (YALSA) sponsors Teen Read Week an event that helps remind teens to “read for the fun of it” stating that “it’s free, it’s fun and it can be done anywhere”. This year’s 11th annual Teen Read Week event was held from October 12th thru October 18th and many libraries throughout the country helped celebrate. As part of the celebration teens across the nation, ages 12-18, were encouraged to vote for their favorite nominated book published in 2007. All books nominated for the final vote during Teen Read Week were selected by committees of teens throughout the country making this the ultimate recommended for teens by teens list.
Each year to help in the celebration a sub-theme is chosen by teens during the previous Teen Read Week. This year’s theme was “Books With Bite @ Your Library”. This theme served as a possible guide for public and school libraries to center their celebration, whether on books about animals, technology, cooking or even, just in time for Halloween, vampires. The chosen theme is meant remind teens that reading books can be a form of entertainment in an age where reading sounds dull compared to the multi-media competition. With the internet, television, movies, and video games having a flashier appearance, Teen Read Week is a time when libraries and publishers push books to the forefront of the competition boasting an inexpensive way to escape the everyday hassles, especially if you have a library card. Why do we do this? Well studies have shown that teens who read for fun tend to have higher proficiency levels at school and are constantly expanding their language and vocabulary skills.
So what books have topped this year’s list? After over 8,000 teens voted, the top three spots went to:
#1 - Eclipse by Stephanie Meyer
In the third book in “The Twilight Saga” Seattle is being ravaged by a string of murders that seems to be caused by a vampire looking for revenge once again placing Bella in harms way. Meanwhile, Bella is forced to choose between her love for Edward Cullen and her friendship with Jacob Black, knowing that her decision has the power to awaken a battle between the Werewolves and the Vampires that will hurt those she loves. Will Edward and Jacob be able to put their differences aside? Will Bella be able to finally decide whether to remain human or become immortal?
#2 – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
The seventh and final novel in the Harry Potter Series finds Harry, Hermione, and Ron searching for items that will help them destroy Voldemort while at the same time uncovering the mystery of the Deathly Hallows.
#3 - Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
Greg Heffley knows he isn’t popular, but he still wants to fit in. Follow along with his journal (NOT a Diary!) as he both illustrates and records his observations of life in middle school. This is a very realistic and funny account of life in the Middle School halls and fun for all ages.
See the complete 2008 Teens Top Ten winner’s at www.ala.org/teenstopten .
Friday, October 17, 2008
Breads and Soups
Susan Triplett
The shift in the seasons to cooling temperatures and lengthening evenings often brings a welcome switch of mealtime choices. Add the incentive of a painful economic slump, and the timing is nearly sublime for return to a supper classic: the pairing of a full-bodied soup with fresh, fragrant bread. Rowan Public Library invites you to explore its hearty collection of bread and soup cookbooks. RPL also subscribes to an array of excellent magazines which typically include a worldly cuisine of stocks, soups, muffins, and breads of all descriptions. Come on in and take a chance on getting downright inspired!
The library’s bread making how-to books include volumes devoted to quick breads. These may not only hook the novice baker but also soothe any baker’s angst about time shortages. As one such book, Fast Bread (Howard Early and Glenda Morrison) inventively offers the delights of Beer and Cheese Muffins, Potato Crackers, and even Baked Boston Brown Bread, to name but a few. Recipes are generally geared for total prep and bake times combined of no more than 30 - 40 minutes and use easy to find or on-hand ingredients.
At the other end of the bread manuals, the aspiring baker can delve into more complex and time consuming selections which focus on yeast breads. Some of these books - such as The Laurel Kitchen’s Bread Book (Laurel Robertson) and The Bread Baker’s Apprentice (Peter
Reinhart) - render their offerings philosophically and with equal parts care, attention, and joy. Side bars providing detailed definitions, measuring equivalents, and bakerly musings are helpful and entertaining. Laurel Robertson’s book starts off with “a loaf for learning” and it is just that. The Reinhart book presents recipes for many favorites, including sourdough, brioche, stollen, and French and Italian breads. Baking with Julia (based on the Julia Child PBS series) offers a particularly inviting section on rustic or “artisanal” breads, loaves resplendent with earthy and herbal flavors, crackling crusts, and moist interiors.
The library’s holdings address the other half of the bread and soup duo with a similarly diverse selection. The Wooden Spoon (Marilyn More) bursts with home-style soups, chowders, stews, chilis, and gumbos. This book provides a very readable, easy format and a fine complement of basic soup terminology. Recipes often call for left-overs or on-hand ingredients - such as in the fixings of Tomato and Bread Soup. The author includes an unusual assortment of fruit-based soups.
Soup’s On! (Janet Lembke) walks the reader through sixty - yes, 60! - flavorful soup concoctions with clear instructions and colorful photos. Information about substitutions as well as the origins of different types of soup is also provided, and narrative sections are kept simple and to the point.
A recent issue of Cook‘s Country magazine reproduces a rich, reader supplied recipe for Hearty Vegetable Soup which can’t be beat for a minimum of time and fuss preparation. Try pairing this with one of the rustic bread loaves or some quick bread muffins!
A meal of soup and bread can indeed be both a stellar seasonal choice and an asset to the family food budget. This is fundamental creature comfort fare yet so much more. Gathering around a duo of such satisfying substance can grace family mealtimes with shared food truly for the soul.
See you at the library for a bon appetit of breads and soups!
Susan Triplett
The shift in the seasons to cooling temperatures and lengthening evenings often brings a welcome switch of mealtime choices. Add the incentive of a painful economic slump, and the timing is nearly sublime for return to a supper classic: the pairing of a full-bodied soup with fresh, fragrant bread. Rowan Public Library invites you to explore its hearty collection of bread and soup cookbooks. RPL also subscribes to an array of excellent magazines which typically include a worldly cuisine of stocks, soups, muffins, and breads of all descriptions. Come on in and take a chance on getting downright inspired!
The library’s bread making how-to books include volumes devoted to quick breads. These may not only hook the novice baker but also soothe any baker’s angst about time shortages. As one such book, Fast Bread (Howard Early and Glenda Morrison) inventively offers the delights of Beer and Cheese Muffins, Potato Crackers, and even Baked Boston Brown Bread, to name but a few. Recipes are generally geared for total prep and bake times combined of no more than 30 - 40 minutes and use easy to find or on-hand ingredients.
At the other end of the bread manuals, the aspiring baker can delve into more complex and time consuming selections which focus on yeast breads. Some of these books - such as The Laurel Kitchen’s Bread Book (Laurel Robertson) and The Bread Baker’s Apprentice (Peter
Reinhart) - render their offerings philosophically and with equal parts care, attention, and joy. Side bars providing detailed definitions, measuring equivalents, and bakerly musings are helpful and entertaining. Laurel Robertson’s book starts off with “a loaf for learning” and it is just that. The Reinhart book presents recipes for many favorites, including sourdough, brioche, stollen, and French and Italian breads. Baking with Julia (based on the Julia Child PBS series) offers a particularly inviting section on rustic or “artisanal” breads, loaves resplendent with earthy and herbal flavors, crackling crusts, and moist interiors.
The library’s holdings address the other half of the bread and soup duo with a similarly diverse selection. The Wooden Spoon (Marilyn More) bursts with home-style soups, chowders, stews, chilis, and gumbos. This book provides a very readable, easy format and a fine complement of basic soup terminology. Recipes often call for left-overs or on-hand ingredients - such as in the fixings of Tomato and Bread Soup. The author includes an unusual assortment of fruit-based soups.
Soup’s On! (Janet Lembke) walks the reader through sixty - yes, 60! - flavorful soup concoctions with clear instructions and colorful photos. Information about substitutions as well as the origins of different types of soup is also provided, and narrative sections are kept simple and to the point.
A recent issue of Cook‘s Country magazine reproduces a rich, reader supplied recipe for Hearty Vegetable Soup which can’t be beat for a minimum of time and fuss preparation. Try pairing this with one of the rustic bread loaves or some quick bread muffins!
A meal of soup and bread can indeed be both a stellar seasonal choice and an asset to the family food budget. This is fundamental creature comfort fare yet so much more. Gathering around a duo of such satisfying substance can grace family mealtimes with shared food truly for the soul.
See you at the library for a bon appetit of breads and soups!
British Crime Writer Association
Lucinda Epperson
How would you like to be a member of Britain's only "club" for crime writers? If you are a published crime writer, reviewer, editor, or publisher, you can join The British Crime Writer Association, a fifty year old club with 450 members who help support crime writers. One of your obligations would be to read and select the most prestigious awards for crime writing, like the Cartier Diamond Dagger Award. The Diamond Dagger, awarded for “sustained excellence in the genre of crime writing,” was given to Sue Grafton in 2008.
If you do not think you are going to be able to join the “club,” you might be interested in finding a list of the award winning authors and titles. Simply go to The British Crime Writer Association link in the green box on the Rowan Public Library homepage. This year I have found and enjoyed several authors with books translated into English.
Donna Leon is an American author who has lived and taught in Venice for twenty years. She offers us a series of crime novels set in Venice featuring the fictional hero Commissario Guideo Brunetti. Her novel, Friends in High Places won the Crime Writers’ Association’s Silver Dagger in 2000, and it has been translated into many foreign languages although not Italian. A word of advice: If you choose one of Leon’s novels do not read it when you are hungry, she has a great gift for describing what her characters have for meals and it all sounds delicious.
Ann Cleeves’ book, The Raven Black, won the Duncan Lawrie Dagger Award for the best crime fiction of 2006. It is the first in The Shetland Quartet series, set on the Island of Shetland, one of the large groups of small islands in the North of Scotland. It is a small isolated place, where strangers are noticed, hierarchies are unacknowledged, and open secrets are never spoken. I thought it was a great mystery set in an isolated and intriguing location.
Karen Fossum is a Scandinavian writer of potent psychological thrillers. Her Indian Bride is very different from American thrillers. The characters and plot are excellent, action is slow but steady, there are no guns or shootouts, and the suspense is powerful.
Even if you are not a member of the British Crime Writer Association, you can enjoy reading the many prestigious award winning titles available at Rowan Public Library.
Lucinda Epperson
How would you like to be a member of Britain's only "club" for crime writers? If you are a published crime writer, reviewer, editor, or publisher, you can join The British Crime Writer Association, a fifty year old club with 450 members who help support crime writers. One of your obligations would be to read and select the most prestigious awards for crime writing, like the Cartier Diamond Dagger Award. The Diamond Dagger, awarded for “sustained excellence in the genre of crime writing,” was given to Sue Grafton in 2008.
If you do not think you are going to be able to join the “club,” you might be interested in finding a list of the award winning authors and titles. Simply go to The British Crime Writer Association link in the green box on the Rowan Public Library homepage. This year I have found and enjoyed several authors with books translated into English.
Donna Leon is an American author who has lived and taught in Venice for twenty years. She offers us a series of crime novels set in Venice featuring the fictional hero Commissario Guideo Brunetti. Her novel, Friends in High Places won the Crime Writers’ Association’s Silver Dagger in 2000, and it has been translated into many foreign languages although not Italian. A word of advice: If you choose one of Leon’s novels do not read it when you are hungry, she has a great gift for describing what her characters have for meals and it all sounds delicious.
Ann Cleeves’ book, The Raven Black, won the Duncan Lawrie Dagger Award for the best crime fiction of 2006. It is the first in The Shetland Quartet series, set on the Island of Shetland, one of the large groups of small islands in the North of Scotland. It is a small isolated place, where strangers are noticed, hierarchies are unacknowledged, and open secrets are never spoken. I thought it was a great mystery set in an isolated and intriguing location.
Karen Fossum is a Scandinavian writer of potent psychological thrillers. Her Indian Bride is very different from American thrillers. The characters and plot are excellent, action is slow but steady, there are no guns or shootouts, and the suspense is powerful.
Even if you are not a member of the British Crime Writer Association, you can enjoy reading the many prestigious award winning titles available at Rowan Public Library.
Gardening for Wildlife
Marissa Creamer
Petunias are past their prime. Perennials are losing steam. Even some tree leaves are beginning to turn colors and will soon cover our lawns. It seems that the gardening season is over. But the truth is, fall gardening has just begun. Although things above ground appear to be at a standstill, there is much activity below. The soil is still warm, and given enough moisture, roots are growing. Fall is a wonderful time for planting; giving your trees and shrubs a chance to get established before the cold of winter. This fall, why not enhance your landscape by adding some plants that will attract and support wildlife in your yard? Rowan Public Library has all kinds of books to guide you in making your landscape more wildlife-friendly.
“The National Wildlife Federation’s Guide to Gardening for Wildlife” is a great place to start. Written by Craig Tufts and Peter Loewer, this handbook will help you transform your backyard into a year-round haven for birds, mammals, and amphibians. It provides detailed garden plans and plant lists as well as basic organic gardening information. There are chapters to guide you in establishing woodland gardens, meadow and prairie gardens, and water gardens, as well as chapters devoted to gardening for birds, butterflies, and nightlife.
Many of us have birdfeeders in our yards, enjoying the brilliant colors and cheerful songs that birds bring to the landscape. But if you really want to make your yard inviting to the songbirds, think about the habitat you offer. Are your trees suited for nesting and perching? Do you have shrubs to provide hiding places and plants that provide seeds and insects? “Birds in Your Backyard: a Bird Lover’s guide to Creating a Garden Sanctuary” by Robert J. Dolezal, tells you how plan your garden to offer food, water, protection, shelter, and nesting locations. The plant guide will help you choose plants that are most attractive to desired species, with suggestions for flowering plants, ground covers, vines, ornamental grasses, shrubs, and small trees.
Before you head to the garden center, take some time to peruse “Bringing Nature Home: How Native Plants Sustain Wildlife in Our Gardens,” by Douglas W. Tallamy. Concerned about the aggressive nature of alien plant species and the decline of native wildlife, Tallamy makes a compelling argument for planting native plant species to provide a welcoming environment for wildlife of all kinds. He explains how gardening with natives can create plantings that will stay beautiful and in balance without the use of pesticides. His basic message is simple: “By favoring native plants over aliens in the suburban landscape, gardeners can do much to sustain the biodiversity that has been one of this country’s richest assets.”
These books and many other gardening guides can be found at Rowan Public Library.
Marissa Creamer
Petunias are past their prime. Perennials are losing steam. Even some tree leaves are beginning to turn colors and will soon cover our lawns. It seems that the gardening season is over. But the truth is, fall gardening has just begun. Although things above ground appear to be at a standstill, there is much activity below. The soil is still warm, and given enough moisture, roots are growing. Fall is a wonderful time for planting; giving your trees and shrubs a chance to get established before the cold of winter. This fall, why not enhance your landscape by adding some plants that will attract and support wildlife in your yard? Rowan Public Library has all kinds of books to guide you in making your landscape more wildlife-friendly.
“The National Wildlife Federation’s Guide to Gardening for Wildlife” is a great place to start. Written by Craig Tufts and Peter Loewer, this handbook will help you transform your backyard into a year-round haven for birds, mammals, and amphibians. It provides detailed garden plans and plant lists as well as basic organic gardening information. There are chapters to guide you in establishing woodland gardens, meadow and prairie gardens, and water gardens, as well as chapters devoted to gardening for birds, butterflies, and nightlife.
Many of us have birdfeeders in our yards, enjoying the brilliant colors and cheerful songs that birds bring to the landscape. But if you really want to make your yard inviting to the songbirds, think about the habitat you offer. Are your trees suited for nesting and perching? Do you have shrubs to provide hiding places and plants that provide seeds and insects? “Birds in Your Backyard: a Bird Lover’s guide to Creating a Garden Sanctuary” by Robert J. Dolezal, tells you how plan your garden to offer food, water, protection, shelter, and nesting locations. The plant guide will help you choose plants that are most attractive to desired species, with suggestions for flowering plants, ground covers, vines, ornamental grasses, shrubs, and small trees.
Before you head to the garden center, take some time to peruse “Bringing Nature Home: How Native Plants Sustain Wildlife in Our Gardens,” by Douglas W. Tallamy. Concerned about the aggressive nature of alien plant species and the decline of native wildlife, Tallamy makes a compelling argument for planting native plant species to provide a welcoming environment for wildlife of all kinds. He explains how gardening with natives can create plantings that will stay beautiful and in balance without the use of pesticides. His basic message is simple: “By favoring native plants over aliens in the suburban landscape, gardeners can do much to sustain the biodiversity that has been one of this country’s richest assets.”
These books and many other gardening guides can be found at Rowan Public Library.
Friday, June 20, 2008
North Carolina Authors
Dr. Betty Middleton
June 20, 2008
We are blessed with a bounty of authors that either are from, or write about, North Carolina. Rowan County's own Kurt Corriher and John Hart are among that list. If you have not read their novels, why not add them to your list of books to read for the summer?
Mignon Ballard, who now lives with her husband in Fort Mill, SC, has written the Augusta Goodnight angel mystery series. The Angel and the Jabberwocky Murders is the newest in the series with Hark! The Herald Angel Screamed coming out in November.
Jerry Bledsoe, who grew up in Thomasville, NC, has been a newspaper journalist in Kannapolis, Greensboro, Charlotte, Louisville and with Esquire Magazine. His best selling true-crime books are about events that enveloped North Carolina families and communities. Some of his books, including The Angel Doll, Before He Wakes, Bitter Blood, and Blood Games, have been made into movies.
Joan Melicott, currently living in Barnardsville, NC, is known for her Ladies of Covington series. This eight volume series, beginning with The Ladies of Covington Send Their Love, follows the joy and tragedy in the lives of three older women from Covington, NC.
Michael Malone, from Durham, NC, has composed plays, screenplays, non-fiction, and was an Emmy Award winner as head writer of the ABC-TV soap opera, One Life to Live. Among the many genres he has conquered, his mysteries have received the most acclaim. Uncivilized Seasons, Times Witness, and First Lady, all take place in fictional Hillston, NC. Two police officers, Lieutenant Savile (black sheep of the town's founding family and head of the homicide division) and Chief Mangum (Vietnam vet), are charged with the duties of investigating a murder in Uncivilized Seasons, and pursuing the possibility of a serial killer in First Lady.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Library Notes
Judge a Picture Book by its Cover
May 25, 2008
Sara Grajek
Imagine The Little Engine that Could without the cheerful blue train. Or Curious George without drawings of that impish monkey and the Man in the yellow hat. Without those carefully drawn illustrations we would all have very different images to accompany these trademarks of children’s literature. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but these pictures are icons that draw us together with the same classic memories from our childhood, no matter what our age. Some of today’s illustrators have just as much talent. In fact, the pictures are often the first thing I look at when a new book arrives in the children’s room of Rowan Public Library.
With the books A Seed is Sleepy and An Egg is Quiet, by Dianna Aston and illustrated by Sylvia Long, various elements of nature are featured in watercolor illustrations. Delicate yet detailed paintings of seed pods, leaves, pine trees, and much more can be found inside the pages of A Seed is Sleepy along with easy to read hand-printed text. The text provides an introduction to the plants illustrated, but the larger than life paintings are often what captures the reader’s attention.
Jan Brett is practically an icon in preschools because of her book The Mitten, but in addition to that she has also written or illustrated close to 30 other books for children. Her illustrations feature detailed, carefully-planned pages that often include animals and intricate patterns. In many of her books there are ovals at the edge of the page that give an indication of what is to come on the next page. By looking closely at the current page, you can guess what will happen next.
For sheer fun and amusement, take a look at books by Saxton Freymann and Joost Elffers. This pair has cleverly crafted their illustrations from food that has been carved to look like smiling faces. Picture an orange with the small stem area on top serving as a nose, a smile carved out just below it (and don’t forget the teeth), then add some happy eyes above with watermelon seeds placed just right for eyeballs. Can’t quite imagine it? Well, stop by the library and check out Food for Thought, where cauliflower florets become sheep, bananas become giraffes, cherries become ants, and eggplants become penguins. Or look for Dr. Pompo’s Nose where all the characters are pumpkins, and Fast Food where vehicles are created from squash, watermelon, and zucchini. No matter who your favorite author is, or what your favorite book, the next time you are at Rowan Public Library take an extra minute to appreciate the illustrations. They can add a whole new layer to your story.
Judge a Picture Book by its Cover
May 25, 2008
Sara Grajek
Imagine The Little Engine that Could without the cheerful blue train. Or Curious George without drawings of that impish monkey and the Man in the yellow hat. Without those carefully drawn illustrations we would all have very different images to accompany these trademarks of children’s literature. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but these pictures are icons that draw us together with the same classic memories from our childhood, no matter what our age. Some of today’s illustrators have just as much talent. In fact, the pictures are often the first thing I look at when a new book arrives in the children’s room of Rowan Public Library.
With the books A Seed is Sleepy and An Egg is Quiet, by Dianna Aston and illustrated by Sylvia Long, various elements of nature are featured in watercolor illustrations. Delicate yet detailed paintings of seed pods, leaves, pine trees, and much more can be found inside the pages of A Seed is Sleepy along with easy to read hand-printed text. The text provides an introduction to the plants illustrated, but the larger than life paintings are often what captures the reader’s attention.
Jan Brett is practically an icon in preschools because of her book The Mitten, but in addition to that she has also written or illustrated close to 30 other books for children. Her illustrations feature detailed, carefully-planned pages that often include animals and intricate patterns. In many of her books there are ovals at the edge of the page that give an indication of what is to come on the next page. By looking closely at the current page, you can guess what will happen next.
For sheer fun and amusement, take a look at books by Saxton Freymann and Joost Elffers. This pair has cleverly crafted their illustrations from food that has been carved to look like smiling faces. Picture an orange with the small stem area on top serving as a nose, a smile carved out just below it (and don’t forget the teeth), then add some happy eyes above with watermelon seeds placed just right for eyeballs. Can’t quite imagine it? Well, stop by the library and check out Food for Thought, where cauliflower florets become sheep, bananas become giraffes, cherries become ants, and eggplants become penguins. Or look for Dr. Pompo’s Nose where all the characters are pumpkins, and Fast Food where vehicles are created from squash, watermelon, and zucchini. No matter who your favorite author is, or what your favorite book, the next time you are at Rowan Public Library take an extra minute to appreciate the illustrations. They can add a whole new layer to your story.
LIBRARY NOTES: NOSTALGIA
PAUL BIRKHEAD – JUNE 1, 2008
Have you ever found yourself getting nostalgic about some thing or some place? You’re not alone. The feeling of wanting to connect to our past is universal and, although it seems to manifest itself more as we age, even younger folks are not immune to its effect. Sometimes just learning about things from a time before your own can be fun. Rowan Public Library has several books that are sure to give you an understanding, if not an appreciation of, things past.
“Roadside Relics: America’s Abandoned Automobiles” by Will Shiers is one of those books whose cover art will send you thumbing through its pages. On the front of this particular book is a photograph of an abandoned 1961 Plymouth whose best days are clearly past. Maybe it strikes a chord that something, once brand-new and treasured, could end up seemingly unloved and forgotten.
Divided into chapters by manufacturer, “Roadside Relics” is a superb collection of over 250 photographs of classic automobiles that have fallen by the wayside. In a course of ten years, the author traveled through 49 states tracking down treasures from the golden age of America’s automobile industry. You don’t have to be a car lover to realize that they “don’t make them like that anymore.”
Sometimes things aren’t appreciated until they’re gone. “Our Vanishing Americana: A North Carolina Portrait” by Mike Lassiter showcases a way of life in our state that has been gradually disappearing. Not so long ago, towns throughout North Carolina were self-sustaining communities with their own personalities. Nowadays, with franchises moving in and muscling out the local businesses, we are losing much of what makes each town unique.
Each chapter in “Our Vanishing Americana” explores a type of business that once thrived in every locale in North Carolina. Beautiful photographs of hardware stores, barber shops, groceries, movie theatres, pharmacies and restaurants abound. While it’s interesting to see how Rowan County is represented throughout the book, what can be more exciting is discovering places you’ve never known about.
Antiques and collectibles are what make some people nostalgic. The library has several resources that can help you identify and price everything from toys and dolls to plates and jewelry. If you’re new to the world of antiques or want to obtain a broader knowledge of the subject, “Treasures in Your Attic” is the book for you. Joe Rosson and Lelaine Fendelman, hosts of the popular PBS television show of the same name, have put together this informative guide. In the book they take you room by room in a typical house and tell you which items are of value to collectors. You never know what great treasures might be hiding there, or on the shelves of your library.
PAUL BIRKHEAD – JUNE 1, 2008
Have you ever found yourself getting nostalgic about some thing or some place? You’re not alone. The feeling of wanting to connect to our past is universal and, although it seems to manifest itself more as we age, even younger folks are not immune to its effect. Sometimes just learning about things from a time before your own can be fun. Rowan Public Library has several books that are sure to give you an understanding, if not an appreciation of, things past.
“Roadside Relics: America’s Abandoned Automobiles” by Will Shiers is one of those books whose cover art will send you thumbing through its pages. On the front of this particular book is a photograph of an abandoned 1961 Plymouth whose best days are clearly past. Maybe it strikes a chord that something, once brand-new and treasured, could end up seemingly unloved and forgotten.
Divided into chapters by manufacturer, “Roadside Relics” is a superb collection of over 250 photographs of classic automobiles that have fallen by the wayside. In a course of ten years, the author traveled through 49 states tracking down treasures from the golden age of America’s automobile industry. You don’t have to be a car lover to realize that they “don’t make them like that anymore.”
Sometimes things aren’t appreciated until they’re gone. “Our Vanishing Americana: A North Carolina Portrait” by Mike Lassiter showcases a way of life in our state that has been gradually disappearing. Not so long ago, towns throughout North Carolina were self-sustaining communities with their own personalities. Nowadays, with franchises moving in and muscling out the local businesses, we are losing much of what makes each town unique.
Each chapter in “Our Vanishing Americana” explores a type of business that once thrived in every locale in North Carolina. Beautiful photographs of hardware stores, barber shops, groceries, movie theatres, pharmacies and restaurants abound. While it’s interesting to see how Rowan County is represented throughout the book, what can be more exciting is discovering places you’ve never known about.
Antiques and collectibles are what make some people nostalgic. The library has several resources that can help you identify and price everything from toys and dolls to plates and jewelry. If you’re new to the world of antiques or want to obtain a broader knowledge of the subject, “Treasures in Your Attic” is the book for you. Joe Rosson and Lelaine Fendelman, hosts of the popular PBS television show of the same name, have put together this informative guide. In the book they take you room by room in a typical house and tell you which items are of value to collectors. You never know what great treasures might be hiding there, or on the shelves of your library.
Gretchen Beilfuss Witt
May 12, 2008
Iwa ni csin*
A friend of mine recently became a member of the Baha’i faith and being a student of religions I was eager to find out a little more about what drew my friend in this direction. With the pluralism of religion in North America, it behooves us to become more familiar with the main tenets of many faiths in order to understand our fellow citizens. We know that it is easy to misunderstand and misinterpret the actions of followers of a particular doctrine when little is known about a belief system.
The library has on its new book shelf, a World Religions series of books by Facts on File worth considering. Each title in the series takes a look at the history of a particular faith, where it exists predominantly in the world illustrating its location with maps as well as pictures and writings. The African Religion book looks at how the over 6,000 native African faiths, how they differ from Christianity and Islam, the basic beliefs, rituals and current practices. Some of the beliefs include the idea that human society is communal encompassing the living, those who have yet to be born and those who have died (the living-dead). Most African practices include spirit guardians, spirits of the departed and the human need to interact with the spiritual world all around them. There are charts that indicate faiths geographically as well as whether they are obsolete or still in practice.
Other titles in the series include Sikhism, a religion chiefly practiced in India. Sikhism is said to one of the youngest religions of the world at only 500 years old. The Sikh’s are known for their distinctive turbans and their creed of unity. Name-giving ceremonies include reading of sacred texts and placing ritual sugar-water, Amrit, in a child’s mouth. Hinduism is another religion primarily observed in India and is the third-largest religion, ranking just after Christianity and Islam. The text describes the roots of Hinduism as well as the political aspects, social duties including Dharma or the responsibility of maintaining the cosmic harmony of the world and Hindus in the modern age. Descriptions and photographs of the fantastic art associated with Hindu places of worship are also incorporated within the text. Additional books in the series cover Islam, Buddhism, Confucianism, Bahai’i, Judaism and Protestantism.
Along with this series, other new offerings should be considered. Martin Marty, well-known scholar and faculty member of the University of Chicago, elucidates the global history of Christianity in “The Christian World”. He follows Christianity from historical and sociological perspectives as it has spread and how it has exerted influence throughout the world. It is a fascinating and “remarkable testament to the teachings of Christ”. And lastly, don’t miss “Bless the Space Between Us” a book of blessings by John O’Donohue, a lovely collection of poems and prose about life’s thresholds offering encouragement on the journey of life as we transition from the known to the unknown.
Library Notes
Lucinda Epperson, Rowan Public Library
When a student comes to the library reference desk and asks that we suggest a classic for him or her to read, I’m in a panic. It’s so much easier if the teacher has given them a list to choose from, but this is not always the case. I can look in books and on the Internet and get lots of lists, but just the other day I was trying to understand what made these books classics.
There are numerous definitions of a classic but it seems difficult to find a list of criteria that would give a definitive answer. Wouldn't you think that there was a committee of really smart English professors who met and discussed and debated about books and came up with any new titles to be added to this authorative list of classics? Well if there is a group, they meet in secret.
I liked the definition of one English professor who was explaining a course he was teaching: the defining characteristics of classic literature are timelessness, dealing with universal themes and experiences, and communicating across cultures. A good piece of literature that can be enjoyed from generation to generation is timeless. For example, Shakespeare’s works are enjoyed today as much as they were hundreds of years ago. Why? Because of a theme that usually includes an observation about life. Universal themes add to the timelessness of a piece because they relate to us all, such as: loves conquers all; good vs. evil; rags to riches. Literature is an excellent vehicle for communicating ideas across cultures as we read and learn much about how others view life.
There seem to be many more definitions of “classic literature.” Several other characteristics were mentioned frequently in the research. One is the number of years the book has been in publication; “60” seems to be a magic number. Another big consideration is the number of times that teachers assign these “classics,” resulting in many printings, which result in folks reading them, which lead to teachers assigning them, etc.
For your consideration, here is a list of titles that seem to be on most of the lists of “classics.” Whether you’re encountering them for the first time, or want to revisit old friends, come to Rowan Public Library to check them out.
Jane Eyre -Charlotte Bronte, 1847: Jane’s ill-fated love for the brooding Mr. Rochester endures in this story of a strong-willed heroine who refuses to compromise herself. The Red Badge of Courage -Stephen Crane, 1895: Through the eyes of Henry Fleming, a young Civil War soldier, we see the fears of battle and the inexplicable courage that comes when soldiers unite in a wartime machine. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn –Mark Twain, 1884: Huck’s adventures on the Mississippi River with the runaway slave Jim abound with truths about honor and justice. 1984- George Orwell, 1949 Big Brother and the Thought Police control all in a darkly imaginative future.
Lucinda Epperson, Rowan Public Library
When a student comes to the library reference desk and asks that we suggest a classic for him or her to read, I’m in a panic. It’s so much easier if the teacher has given them a list to choose from, but this is not always the case. I can look in books and on the Internet and get lots of lists, but just the other day I was trying to understand what made these books classics.
There are numerous definitions of a classic but it seems difficult to find a list of criteria that would give a definitive answer. Wouldn't you think that there was a committee of really smart English professors who met and discussed and debated about books and came up with any new titles to be added to this authorative list of classics? Well if there is a group, they meet in secret.
I liked the definition of one English professor who was explaining a course he was teaching: the defining characteristics of classic literature are timelessness, dealing with universal themes and experiences, and communicating across cultures. A good piece of literature that can be enjoyed from generation to generation is timeless. For example, Shakespeare’s works are enjoyed today as much as they were hundreds of years ago. Why? Because of a theme that usually includes an observation about life. Universal themes add to the timelessness of a piece because they relate to us all, such as: loves conquers all; good vs. evil; rags to riches. Literature is an excellent vehicle for communicating ideas across cultures as we read and learn much about how others view life.
There seem to be many more definitions of “classic literature.” Several other characteristics were mentioned frequently in the research. One is the number of years the book has been in publication; “60” seems to be a magic number. Another big consideration is the number of times that teachers assign these “classics,” resulting in many printings, which result in folks reading them, which lead to teachers assigning them, etc.
For your consideration, here is a list of titles that seem to be on most of the lists of “classics.” Whether you’re encountering them for the first time, or want to revisit old friends, come to Rowan Public Library to check them out.
Jane Eyre -Charlotte Bronte, 1847: Jane’s ill-fated love for the brooding Mr. Rochester endures in this story of a strong-willed heroine who refuses to compromise herself. The Red Badge of Courage -Stephen Crane, 1895: Through the eyes of Henry Fleming, a young Civil War soldier, we see the fears of battle and the inexplicable courage that comes when soldiers unite in a wartime machine. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn –Mark Twain, 1884: Huck’s adventures on the Mississippi River with the runaway slave Jim abound with truths about honor and justice. 1984- George Orwell, 1949 Big Brother and the Thought Police control all in a darkly imaginative future.
Library Notes
Lucinda Epperson
Rowan Public Library
When a student comes to the library reference desk and asks that we suggest a classic for him or her to read, I’m in a panic. It’s so much easier if the teacher has given them a list to choose from, but this is not always the case. I can look in books and on the Internet and get lots of lists, but just the other day I was trying to understand what made these books classics.
There are numerous definitions of a classic but it seems difficult to find a list of criteria that would give a definitive answer. Wouldn't you think that there was a committee of really smart English professors who met and discussed and debated about books and came up with any new titles to be added to this authorative list of classics? Well if there is a group, they meet in secret.
I liked the definition of one English professor who was explaining a course he was teaching: the defining characteristics of classic literature are timelessness, dealing with universal themes and experiences, and communicating across cultures. A good piece of literature that can be enjoyed from generation to generation is timeless. For example, Shakespeare’s works are enjoyed today as much as they were hundreds of years ago. Why? Because of a theme that usually includes an observation about life. Universal themes add to the timelessness of a piece because they relate to us all, such as: loves conquers all; good vs. evil; rags to riches. Literature is an excellent vehicle for communicating ideas across cultures as we read and learn much about how others view life.
There seem to be many more definitions of “classic literature.” Several other characteristics were mentioned frequently in the research. One is the number of years the book has been in publication; “60” seems to be a magic number. Another big consideration is the number of times that teachers assign these “classics,” resulting in many printings, which result in folks reading them, which lead to teachers assigning them, etc.
For your consideration, here is a list of titles that seem to be on most of the lists of “classics.” Whether you’re encountering them for the first time, or want to revisit old friends, come to Rowan Public Library to check them out.
Jane Eyre -Charlotte Bronte, 1847: Jane’s ill-fated love for the brooding Mr. Rochester endures in this story of a strong-willed heroine who refuses to compromise herself. The Red Badge of Courage -Stephen Crane, 1895: Through the eyes of Henry Fleming, a young Civil War soldier, we see the fears of battle and the inexplicable courage that comes when soldiers unite in a wartime machine. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn –Mark Twain, 1884: Huck’s adventures on the Mississippi River with the runaway slave Jim abound with truths about honor and justice. 1984- George Orwell, 1949 Big Brother and the Thought Police control all in a darkly imaginative future.
Lucinda Epperson
Rowan Public Library
When a student comes to the library reference desk and asks that we suggest a classic for him or her to read, I’m in a panic. It’s so much easier if the teacher has given them a list to choose from, but this is not always the case. I can look in books and on the Internet and get lots of lists, but just the other day I was trying to understand what made these books classics.
There are numerous definitions of a classic but it seems difficult to find a list of criteria that would give a definitive answer. Wouldn't you think that there was a committee of really smart English professors who met and discussed and debated about books and came up with any new titles to be added to this authorative list of classics? Well if there is a group, they meet in secret.
I liked the definition of one English professor who was explaining a course he was teaching: the defining characteristics of classic literature are timelessness, dealing with universal themes and experiences, and communicating across cultures. A good piece of literature that can be enjoyed from generation to generation is timeless. For example, Shakespeare’s works are enjoyed today as much as they were hundreds of years ago. Why? Because of a theme that usually includes an observation about life. Universal themes add to the timelessness of a piece because they relate to us all, such as: loves conquers all; good vs. evil; rags to riches. Literature is an excellent vehicle for communicating ideas across cultures as we read and learn much about how others view life.
There seem to be many more definitions of “classic literature.” Several other characteristics were mentioned frequently in the research. One is the number of years the book has been in publication; “60” seems to be a magic number. Another big consideration is the number of times that teachers assign these “classics,” resulting in many printings, which result in folks reading them, which lead to teachers assigning them, etc.
For your consideration, here is a list of titles that seem to be on most of the lists of “classics.” Whether you’re encountering them for the first time, or want to revisit old friends, come to Rowan Public Library to check them out.
Jane Eyre -Charlotte Bronte, 1847: Jane’s ill-fated love for the brooding Mr. Rochester endures in this story of a strong-willed heroine who refuses to compromise herself. The Red Badge of Courage -Stephen Crane, 1895: Through the eyes of Henry Fleming, a young Civil War soldier, we see the fears of battle and the inexplicable courage that comes when soldiers unite in a wartime machine. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn –Mark Twain, 1884: Huck’s adventures on the Mississippi River with the runaway slave Jim abound with truths about honor and justice. 1984- George Orwell, 1949 Big Brother and the Thought Police control all in a darkly imaginative future.
New Toys at Rowan Public Library
Erin Allen
Little visitors to Rowan Public Library have new educational toys to enjoy. Most of the playthings are manufactured by Melissa and Doug©, the maker of durable children’s products.
Over 150 building and alphabet blocks have been added to the toy collection. Blocks are perennial favorites and can be counted on for hours of imaginative play. The architectural package features hand-scrolled and turned hardwood shapes with columns, arches, doors, and stairs to build impressive structures. Two sets of alphabet blocks help teach capital and lowercase letter recognition, color recognition, and fine motor skills while encouraging hand-eye coordination and problem solving. All blocks have smooth wood storage cases.
Puzzles have long been a popular staple at the library. Several different types are now available. Alphabet Art puzzles with corresponding pictures underneath the puzzle pieces help children with proper placement. Chunky puzzles are especially good for the very young because the pieces are easily handled. Solid wood pieces are big enough to play with outside of the puzzle. Chunky puzzles include Shapes, Tools, Insects, Safari Animals, and Pets. Maze puzzle pieces have unique sliding pieces that won’t come out and get lost. Children direct the right piece to its correct spot. Maze puzzles include Farm, Geometric Shapes, and Vehicles.
For budding chefs, Cutting Food sets will encourage their culinary skills. These sets of hand-painted wooden vegetables, bread, and fruit are pre-cut. Each piece fastens together with Velcro©. When carved with the safe wooden knife, a crunchy sound rewards the cutter.
The classic pounding toy has been updated into the Pound and Roll Tower. Four brightly colored balls are pounded into the tower top, roll through the maze and emerge at the tower base.
Come to the library to learn … to tie shoes? Yes, the Learn To Lace and Tie! is a solid wood high-top sneaker that has a real lace children can practice on.
The Three Little Pigs Play Set rounds out the collection. It includes three soft, hand-detailed houses and four charming play figures (three pink pigs and a lavender wolf) that will enthrall children and teach number and color recognition as well as the fairy tale.
Just The Thing at 103 North Main Street in Salisbury has these and other educational items.
Library Notes
Rebecca Hyde – April 14, 2008
Do you like your neighborhood? Have you noticed changes in the community? Can you imagine how it will look in the future? What features should be preserved and cultivated? The following books describe changing patterns in the life of cities and neighborhoods and thoughts on how to improve community life.
Train you eye by taking an inventory of your own community. “Planning to Stay: Learning to see the Physical Features of Your Neighborhood,” by William R. Morrish and Catherine R. Brown, offers guidance for the nonprofessional It focuses on the whys and hows of neighborhood preservation, based on the belief that “Some of our greatest joys… come from community – the people and places of neighborhoods we cherish.” Your goal will be to answer two questions: What is it about this place that draws us here? And what could we add to this place that will keep us here? The framework for describing the neighborhood is built around homes and their gardens, public gardens community streets, neighborhood niches, and anchoring institutions. The emphasis is not on historic preservation but on preservation of what makes a place livable.
The problems of “sprawl” are described in “Once There Were Greenfields,” by Benfield, Rami, and Chen. Sprawl has an impact on the environment, the economy, and the social fabric of communities. The authors propose “smart” growth patterns, combining economic progress, social goals, and environmental protection.
“Comeback Cities: A Blueprint for Urban Neighborhood Revival,” by Paul Grogan and Tony Proscio, tells the stories of community-development organizations that have helped revitalize neighborhoods in Chicago, Houston, South Central Los Angeles, and the South Bronx. The progress is fragile but encouraging.
“Skinny Streets & Green Neighborhoods,” by Cynthia Girling and Ronald Kellett, is a design book focusing on the development of new suburban “green” neighborhoods. The authors argue that it is possible “to design dense, mixed-use developments that perform at least as well as lower-density alternatives on measures of tree cover, water quality, transportation management, and infrastructure cost.” Case studies of eight neighborhoods in the U.S. and Canada illustrate “best practices” integrating compact development and the environment. Also covered are the particular roles of urban forest and water.
Jay Walljasper’s “The Great Neighborhood Book” is a “do-it-yourself guide to placemaking.” “At their best,” the author says, “neighborhoods function as villages, in which residents’ lives overlap in positive ways.” They are the level of social organization where people interact most regularly and naturally. Consequently, they are the ideal setting for tackling problems in a community. The book discusses the “11 principles” of placemaking and gives a sampling of improvements in making neighborhoods safe, lively, prosperous, and interesting.
Rebecca Hyde – April 14, 2008
Do you like your neighborhood? Have you noticed changes in the community? Can you imagine how it will look in the future? What features should be preserved and cultivated? The following books describe changing patterns in the life of cities and neighborhoods and thoughts on how to improve community life.
Train you eye by taking an inventory of your own community. “Planning to Stay: Learning to see the Physical Features of Your Neighborhood,” by William R. Morrish and Catherine R. Brown, offers guidance for the nonprofessional It focuses on the whys and hows of neighborhood preservation, based on the belief that “Some of our greatest joys… come from community – the people and places of neighborhoods we cherish.” Your goal will be to answer two questions: What is it about this place that draws us here? And what could we add to this place that will keep us here? The framework for describing the neighborhood is built around homes and their gardens, public gardens community streets, neighborhood niches, and anchoring institutions. The emphasis is not on historic preservation but on preservation of what makes a place livable.
The problems of “sprawl” are described in “Once There Were Greenfields,” by Benfield, Rami, and Chen. Sprawl has an impact on the environment, the economy, and the social fabric of communities. The authors propose “smart” growth patterns, combining economic progress, social goals, and environmental protection.
“Comeback Cities: A Blueprint for Urban Neighborhood Revival,” by Paul Grogan and Tony Proscio, tells the stories of community-development organizations that have helped revitalize neighborhoods in Chicago, Houston, South Central Los Angeles, and the South Bronx. The progress is fragile but encouraging.
“Skinny Streets & Green Neighborhoods,” by Cynthia Girling and Ronald Kellett, is a design book focusing on the development of new suburban “green” neighborhoods. The authors argue that it is possible “to design dense, mixed-use developments that perform at least as well as lower-density alternatives on measures of tree cover, water quality, transportation management, and infrastructure cost.” Case studies of eight neighborhoods in the U.S. and Canada illustrate “best practices” integrating compact development and the environment. Also covered are the particular roles of urban forest and water.
Jay Walljasper’s “The Great Neighborhood Book” is a “do-it-yourself guide to placemaking.” “At their best,” the author says, “neighborhoods function as villages, in which residents’ lives overlap in positive ways.” They are the level of social organization where people interact most regularly and naturally. Consequently, they are the ideal setting for tackling problems in a community. The book discusses the “11 principles” of placemaking and gives a sampling of improvements in making neighborhoods safe, lively, prosperous, and interesting.
Library Notes
Gretchen B. Witt
The Rowan Public Library History Room, partnering with the Rowan Museum and Fine Frame Gallery, will offer a workshop on basic preservation methods and techniques at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, April 26 at the library headquarters in Salisbury.
Presentations and discussions will center on how to best store old family papers, photos, linens, and other heirlooms. Participants will also see a display of supplies used for preservation.
If you’re interested in attending, please call 704-216-8253 to register. The workshop is free and open to all, but space is limited, so register early.
The library also has books available if you would like to learn more on the subject.
Saving Stuff (069.53 Wil) authored by Don Williams, the senior conservator of the Smithsonian Institution, provides information on how to care for and preserve your collectibles, heirlooms, and other prized possessions. Witty, straightforward, and immensely informative, this book will give the reader information on how to keep the things important to you in great condition.
An Ounce of Preservation: A Guide to the Care of Papers and Photographs by Craig A. Tuttle (025.84 Tut) presents help for those wishing to provide preservation and conservation for their papers and photographs. Booklist describes Tuttle’s guide as “a tidy guide (which) prepares users for undertaking remedial measures” and “a valuable resource.”
Organizing and Preserving Your Heirloom Documents by Katherine Sturdevant (929.1 Stu) provides tips and guidelines on organizing precious family documents. The author offers a treasure trove of practical information.
The Care and Feeding of Books Old and New by Margot Rosenberg (025.84 Ros) gently introduces readers to the pleasures and intricacies of book TLC. Carefully, the authors detail both friends of books (no direct sunlight, clean cloths, and sturdy level shelves) and foes (dust, insects, and the like) as well as simple cleaning and repairing. Everything here is absolutely dedicated to an enduring love of the printed page, accompanied by reflections on collecting, borrowing/lending, and enjoying the society around books.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Grow with Gardens
Marissa Creamer
That harbinger of spring, the Southern Spring Home & Garden Show, recently made its annual visit to the Charlotte Merchandise Mart. Each year I look forward to seeing the beautifully landscaped gardens and discovering new plants. This year the North Carolina Nursery & Landscape Association and North Carolina Cooperative Extension introduced Showstopper Plants. These promising new cultivars or iron-clad plants are known to thrive in all regions of North Carolina. This year’s selections consist of three shrubs: Kaleidoscope Abelia, Limelight Hydrangea, and Chindo Viburnum. The tree selection is Oklahoma Redbud, and the Showstopper perennial is Lenten Rose. With the exception of Lenten Rose, which requires moist soil to excel, these plants are quite tolerant of drought, an important distinction in these days of water restrictions.
You can learn more about plants and gardening by checking out some of these new books from Rowan Public Library:
Learn more about the diverse world of viburnums with Michael Dirr’s “Viburnums: Flowering Shrubs for Every Season.” This comprehensive work celebrates viburnums with the first volume devoted exclusively to this beautiful and versatile hardy shrub. Renowned plant expert Dirr has said that a garden without viburnums is like a life without the pleasures of music and art. He provides a wealth of information about the various species and cultivars, with detailed information about each plant’s characteristics and appraisals that make it easy for the gardener to choose the right plant for the right situation.
If you are interested in organic gardening, check out “The Elements of Organic Gardening” by Charles, Prince of Wales with Stephanie Donaldson. This lavishly illustrated volume provides an inspirational guide to organic gardening as practiced at Highgrove Estate, which over the past twenty-six years has been transformed into a garden that is both beautiful and environmentally sound. Also featured are the Prince’s gardens at Birkhall in the Scottish Highlands and Clarence House in London, where organic principles are also being applied. The Prince expresses his deeply held beliefs about sustainability and responsibility: “Gradually, as you look further and deeper into the processes of Nature, you begin to realize that we ourselves are a microcosm of that vast all-encompassing—essentially ordered—living entity. And the remarkable thing is that nothing is ever wasted. There is a constant process of renewing; of death followed by rebirth; of valuable materials being provided on a constantly sustaining basis, if managed with sympathy and continuity.”
A vacant city lot, filled with garbage, doesn’t look like the place for a garden. But one day, a young Vietnamese girl takes a spoon to the hard soil and plants some bean seeds in an attempt to connect with the deceased father she has never known. Gradually, a neighborhood filled with strangers from diverse ethnic backgrounds comes together to find healing and hope in the soil of a community garden. “Seedfolks,” by Paul Fleischman, is a slim Young Adult fiction novel with an inspiring message about the transformative power of gardens.
Find your own gardening inspiration with books from Rowan Public Library.
Marissa Creamer
That harbinger of spring, the Southern Spring Home & Garden Show, recently made its annual visit to the Charlotte Merchandise Mart. Each year I look forward to seeing the beautifully landscaped gardens and discovering new plants. This year the North Carolina Nursery & Landscape Association and North Carolina Cooperative Extension introduced Showstopper Plants. These promising new cultivars or iron-clad plants are known to thrive in all regions of North Carolina. This year’s selections consist of three shrubs: Kaleidoscope Abelia, Limelight Hydrangea, and Chindo Viburnum. The tree selection is Oklahoma Redbud, and the Showstopper perennial is Lenten Rose. With the exception of Lenten Rose, which requires moist soil to excel, these plants are quite tolerant of drought, an important distinction in these days of water restrictions.
You can learn more about plants and gardening by checking out some of these new books from Rowan Public Library:
Learn more about the diverse world of viburnums with Michael Dirr’s “Viburnums: Flowering Shrubs for Every Season.” This comprehensive work celebrates viburnums with the first volume devoted exclusively to this beautiful and versatile hardy shrub. Renowned plant expert Dirr has said that a garden without viburnums is like a life without the pleasures of music and art. He provides a wealth of information about the various species and cultivars, with detailed information about each plant’s characteristics and appraisals that make it easy for the gardener to choose the right plant for the right situation.
If you are interested in organic gardening, check out “The Elements of Organic Gardening” by Charles, Prince of Wales with Stephanie Donaldson. This lavishly illustrated volume provides an inspirational guide to organic gardening as practiced at Highgrove Estate, which over the past twenty-six years has been transformed into a garden that is both beautiful and environmentally sound. Also featured are the Prince’s gardens at Birkhall in the Scottish Highlands and Clarence House in London, where organic principles are also being applied. The Prince expresses his deeply held beliefs about sustainability and responsibility: “Gradually, as you look further and deeper into the processes of Nature, you begin to realize that we ourselves are a microcosm of that vast all-encompassing—essentially ordered—living entity. And the remarkable thing is that nothing is ever wasted. There is a constant process of renewing; of death followed by rebirth; of valuable materials being provided on a constantly sustaining basis, if managed with sympathy and continuity.”
A vacant city lot, filled with garbage, doesn’t look like the place for a garden. But one day, a young Vietnamese girl takes a spoon to the hard soil and plants some bean seeds in an attempt to connect with the deceased father she has never known. Gradually, a neighborhood filled with strangers from diverse ethnic backgrounds comes together to find healing and hope in the soil of a community garden. “Seedfolks,” by Paul Fleischman, is a slim Young Adult fiction novel with an inspiring message about the transformative power of gardens.
Find your own gardening inspiration with books from Rowan Public Library.
XERISCAPING
Dr. Betty Middleton
March 28, 2008
The statistics about the impact of global warming on our planet are very alarming. According to all local forecasts, Rowan County is in for another hot, dry summer. That leaves all of us, who love to plant and enjoy flowers, in a dilemma because it will be
impossible to maintain these lovely flower gardens if we have water restrictions placed
upon us again.
Xeriscaping may be our solution. Originally developed for drought-afflicted areas, xeriscaping has become increasingly popular as a way to conserve water through creative landscaping. The principles of xeriscaping can be used in any yard, in any geographic region of North America.
The secret, of course, is proper soil preparation; attention to the layout of the garden; and adhering to the proper planting times for your location. Choosing indigenous plants, or plants native to other regions with the same climate, will require less fertilization and less pest control measures.
There are many books available to help you establish a new look for your garden while dealing with the global warming factor. Publishers Weekly points out that Xeriscape Gardening : Water Conservation for the American Landscape written by Lockhart Ellefson, Thomas L. Stephens, and Doug Welsh, explains how to conceive, design and install a Xeriscape home landscape anywhere in the country.
Also for gardening in this new unpredictable climate, Jennifer Bennett discusses water conservation measures and lists plants suitable for low water landscapes in her book Dryland Gardening: Plants That Survive and Thrive in Tough Conditions. She includes all-time favorites and color photographs from botanical gardens in North America.
It is not necessary to live in a Mediterranean town to enjoy the book Gardening the Mediterranean Way: How to Create a Waterwise, Drought-Tolerant Garden by Heide Gildemeister. Mrs. Gildemeister, a founder of the Mediterranean Garden Society, discusses a wide variety of topics, from choosing native species, labor-saving methods and places for fruits and vegetables. The book is well illustrated with color photographs.
If you would like to add some drought-tolerant plants to your garden this year, it is well worth looking at the many books available at your local branch of the Rowan Public Library.
STUDY GUIDES
PAUL BIRKHEAD
Everyone take out a pencil. Where’s the best place in town to get study help? If you wrote down ‘the library’, give yourself an ‘A’. The rest of you should pay attention.
I recently had the pleasure of taking a four-hour test called the GRE. GRE stands for Graduate Record Examination and it is a standardized test generally used for admissions to graduate school. When I first began studying for the exam and looked through a few sample questions, it was clear that I would need some help. As usual, Rowan Public Library came to the rescue!
Rowan Public Library has some excellent resources for those needing help studying for tests of all types. On the shelves, there are study guides for the GRE, the GED, the ACT, the SAT, the Postal Exam, the U. S. Citizenship Test, and more. Two of the study guides that helped me the most in preparing for my exam were “Cracking the GRE” by Princeton Review and “GRE/GMAT Math Workbook” by Kaplan, Inc.
Another resource Rowan Public Library offers is 24/7 access to an online learning platform called the Learning Express Library. The Learning Express Library has dozens of searchable electronic study guides so don’t worry if all the books on your subject happen to be checked out or you get the sudden urge to study after hours. Learning Express also offers hundreds of online practice tests that prepare users for several types of exams including the GRE. For younger students, there are scores of elementary school, middle school, and high school skill building tests.
To access the Learning Express Library, you’ll need a valid Rowan Public Library Card number and PIN. If you don’t have a PIN or can’t remember what it is, stop by the library and ask for a new one. Make sure you bring your card or an ID with you. You’ll get to the Learning Express through a link on our website – www.rowanpubliclibrary.org. Once at our home page, click on the ‘Online Tools’ button. Then, click on the ‘NCLive from Home’ link. Follow the instructions for obtaining the current password for NCLive. Once at the NCLive site, click on ‘Test Preparation’ under ‘Browse by Type’ and you’re almost there. Click on the Learning Express Library link and you’re in. One more caveat, first-time users will need to set up a Learning Express user name and password from a computer at the library. The reason a user account is required is that it allows the site to instantly score practice tests, record your strengths and weaknesses, and make personalized recommendations.
Whether building academic skills or studying for a particular exam, don’t forget that Rowan Public Library may just be the best study partner you’ll ever have.
PAUL BIRKHEAD
Everyone take out a pencil. Where’s the best place in town to get study help? If you wrote down ‘the library’, give yourself an ‘A’. The rest of you should pay attention.
I recently had the pleasure of taking a four-hour test called the GRE. GRE stands for Graduate Record Examination and it is a standardized test generally used for admissions to graduate school. When I first began studying for the exam and looked through a few sample questions, it was clear that I would need some help. As usual, Rowan Public Library came to the rescue!
Rowan Public Library has some excellent resources for those needing help studying for tests of all types. On the shelves, there are study guides for the GRE, the GED, the ACT, the SAT, the Postal Exam, the U. S. Citizenship Test, and more. Two of the study guides that helped me the most in preparing for my exam were “Cracking the GRE” by Princeton Review and “GRE/GMAT Math Workbook” by Kaplan, Inc.
Another resource Rowan Public Library offers is 24/7 access to an online learning platform called the Learning Express Library. The Learning Express Library has dozens of searchable electronic study guides so don’t worry if all the books on your subject happen to be checked out or you get the sudden urge to study after hours. Learning Express also offers hundreds of online practice tests that prepare users for several types of exams including the GRE. For younger students, there are scores of elementary school, middle school, and high school skill building tests.
To access the Learning Express Library, you’ll need a valid Rowan Public Library Card number and PIN. If you don’t have a PIN or can’t remember what it is, stop by the library and ask for a new one. Make sure you bring your card or an ID with you. You’ll get to the Learning Express through a link on our website – www.rowanpubliclibrary.org. Once at our home page, click on the ‘Online Tools’ button. Then, click on the ‘NCLive from Home’ link. Follow the instructions for obtaining the current password for NCLive. Once at the NCLive site, click on ‘Test Preparation’ under ‘Browse by Type’ and you’re almost there. Click on the Learning Express Library link and you’re in. One more caveat, first-time users will need to set up a Learning Express user name and password from a computer at the library. The reason a user account is required is that it allows the site to instantly score practice tests, record your strengths and weaknesses, and make personalized recommendations.
Whether building academic skills or studying for a particular exam, don’t forget that Rowan Public Library may just be the best study partner you’ll ever have.
Monday, March 03, 2008
Library Notes
Sara Grajek
February 24, 2008
This February we’ve all been granted an extra day –Leap Day. In the same spirit, the children’s room at Rowan Public Library offers something extra in books that are more than just your average book. These are chock full of information, pictures and sometimes gross facts. These are the kinds of books that kids (and boys especially) will grab off the shelf and devour, even if they don’t like to ‘read.’
“Guinness World Records” has more information crammed into one volume than the average person might be aware of. There are records for amazing things like the thickest piece of ice on earth (15,699 ft and equal to 10 Empire State buildings) and the record holder for the most push-ups in an hour (Roy Berger of Canada with 3,416). There are also gross records such as the longest fingernails: 28 feet 10 inches for a man and 24 feet 7.8 inches for a woman! These even come with a picture, just in case you can’t imagine what that might look like. There are also sports records, scientific records and many, many more. You won’t believe what you find in the “Guinness World Records” book.
Another book that is more than a book is called, “Do Not Open.” Despite the title, this book is well-worth opening and taking home. Called an encyclopedia of the world’s best-kept secrets, this book can definitely live up to that description. Have you ever wondered how barcodes on products work? I mean, really work? This book explains what each line of the code means. Did you know there is a secret world underneath the city of Paris, France? There is one layer for the subways that are used today, another layer for tunnels used during WWII, and even another for mines that date all the way back to the ancient Romans.
“The World Almanac for Kids” is published each year and is similar in some ways to the adult’s almanac. It is full of facts about country and state populations, land area, currency, and flags. It also has fun facts like Odd Holidays (Bubble Gum Day – Feb 1; and Talk Like a Pirate Day – Sept. 19) and how to say ‘Happy Birthday’ in five different languages. With one quick glance through the book you can find out: which quarterback won the Superbowl last year; the world’s smallest animal; a bio of children’s book author Roald Dahl; how to read a map; and even jokes and riddles – that’s all within the first 100 pages. There are still 240 to go. With all of these books in the library filled with extras, you’ll be glad you’ve been given an extra day this year to read them.
Monday, February 04, 2008
The Book vs. The Movie
Erika Kosin
For years the motion picture industry has been turning popular and award winning children’s books into movies. With their quick plot lines and simpler characters, these books are easily transformed into a 90-120 minute visual format. The latest children’s book turned movie is The Spiderwick Chronicles, due out this February, based on the popular book series by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black. How closely do these Hollywood versions of beloved children’s literature keep to the books they are based on? Well, that depends on the book and the person who writes the screenplay.
The movie Ella Enchanted (2004) starring Anne Hathaway and Hugh Dancy was based on the Newbery honor book of the same title by Gail Carson Levine first published in 1997. An interesting twist on the Cinderella fairytale, it explains Ella’s willingness to do chores and other tasks because of the gift of obedience she was given as a baby by the fairy Lucinda. This is where the similarity between book and movie ends. Where the heart and message of the book may be the same, the actual events and plot lines were dramatically altered much to the dismay of many fans of the book. This would be a good example for kids who feel that watching the movie and reading the book is the same thing and let them decide which is better.
Katherine Paterson’s Newbery award winning Bridge to Terabithia (1977) was turned into a major motion picture in 2007 starring Josh Hutcherson and AnnaSophia Robb. This heartbreaking story about friendship and loss is set amongst the wonderful imaginations of the two main characters. Hollywood’s most recent translation of this book into a movie kept the heart and story very similar delighting fans of this classic novel.
Books geared towards Young Adults also have great plots for transition into movies, but with longer plots and more twists and turns, the stories tend to have more items added to the cutting room floor. The 2005 movie version of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2003) by Ann Brashares was also slightly different than the book. This story about four friends embarking on their first summer apart decide to stay connected by sharing a pair of pants that miraculously fit each of them perfectly despite their different shapes and sizes. In the book, Lena has a younger sister named Effie who travels with her to Santorini, Greece for the summer, but the character is completely left out of the movie. If Hollywood doesn’t plan on making a sequel to the first movie, it can go almost unnoticed to those who have not read the book. Fans of the four part series may be a bit bewildered by Effie’s omission knowing that she becomes a force to be reckoned with and a major player in the later books.
So which version is better? That all depends on the book and the reader, but it goes to show you that just because you have seen the movie, it doesn’t mean you know the book. As for how this February’s movie The Spiderwick Chronicles compares to the book, we will have to wait and see.
Erika Kosin
For years the motion picture industry has been turning popular and award winning children’s books into movies. With their quick plot lines and simpler characters, these books are easily transformed into a 90-120 minute visual format. The latest children’s book turned movie is The Spiderwick Chronicles, due out this February, based on the popular book series by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black. How closely do these Hollywood versions of beloved children’s literature keep to the books they are based on? Well, that depends on the book and the person who writes the screenplay.
The movie Ella Enchanted (2004) starring Anne Hathaway and Hugh Dancy was based on the Newbery honor book of the same title by Gail Carson Levine first published in 1997. An interesting twist on the Cinderella fairytale, it explains Ella’s willingness to do chores and other tasks because of the gift of obedience she was given as a baby by the fairy Lucinda. This is where the similarity between book and movie ends. Where the heart and message of the book may be the same, the actual events and plot lines were dramatically altered much to the dismay of many fans of the book. This would be a good example for kids who feel that watching the movie and reading the book is the same thing and let them decide which is better.
Katherine Paterson’s Newbery award winning Bridge to Terabithia (1977) was turned into a major motion picture in 2007 starring Josh Hutcherson and AnnaSophia Robb. This heartbreaking story about friendship and loss is set amongst the wonderful imaginations of the two main characters. Hollywood’s most recent translation of this book into a movie kept the heart and story very similar delighting fans of this classic novel.
Books geared towards Young Adults also have great plots for transition into movies, but with longer plots and more twists and turns, the stories tend to have more items added to the cutting room floor. The 2005 movie version of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2003) by Ann Brashares was also slightly different than the book. This story about four friends embarking on their first summer apart decide to stay connected by sharing a pair of pants that miraculously fit each of them perfectly despite their different shapes and sizes. In the book, Lena has a younger sister named Effie who travels with her to Santorini, Greece for the summer, but the character is completely left out of the movie. If Hollywood doesn’t plan on making a sequel to the first movie, it can go almost unnoticed to those who have not read the book. Fans of the four part series may be a bit bewildered by Effie’s omission knowing that she becomes a force to be reckoned with and a major player in the later books.
So which version is better? That all depends on the book and the reader, but it goes to show you that just because you have seen the movie, it doesn’t mean you know the book. As for how this February’s movie The Spiderwick Chronicles compares to the book, we will have to wait and see.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Trout Eyes
Lynn Denison
“Shall I go to Heaven or a-fishing?” asked Henry David Thoreau. There are millions of men and women who can identify with these words, because to them angling is one of life’s incomparable joys.
Just in time for the flurry of spring and early summer fishing, Rowan Public Library has several enticing books on this subject in their new book section. Whether you are an avid fisherman or have never baited a hook before, you will enjoy reading William G. Tapply’s Trout Eyes: True Tales of Adventure, Travel, and Fly Fishing. In his eleventh fishing book, all of which have been highly acclaimed, Mr. Tapply offers a collection of twenty nine essays on fishing. According to Jay Cassell, Deputy Editor of “Field and Stream” magazine, this latest offering is Tapply’s best book yet. Mr. Tapply grew up fishing, and his passion is clearly shown throughout the book. All of his stories are funny, touching, and full of practical fishing advice. He writes affectionately of his father, devoted angler H. G. Tapply, who died in 2002. Tapply tells of sitting on his father’s knee as a young boy learning to tie a fishing fly of his own. He then recounts that many years later his own daughter Sarah, age 7, climbed onto his lap to create her very own fly “The Pink Sarah” and then proudly use it to catch a fish. This embodies the classic image of the fishing tradition—knowledge being passed down from parent to child.
In So Many Fish, So Little Time author Mark D. Williams takes you to the 1,001 places that “all anglers should visit before they go to that great fishing paradise in the sky.” From milkfish in the Seychelles to sailfish off Guatemala to Artic char at the top or the world, Mr. Williams takes you on lively, informative trips to the most prime fishing destinations around the world. He identifies little-known fishing hotspots from urban New York City to the far reaches of the Pacific. His information is for all types of anglers, and he covers every state in the nation, every province in Canada, and a good part of the rest of the world. To paraphrase Mr. Williams, “I was determined to write a book of fishing dreams--a wish list of all the best places in the world to fish. Even if you can’t afford to visit New Zealand until little Bobby finishes college in ten years, you can still read the book and wish.”
Another fishing expert, Ken Schultz, dubbed by ESPN as “Mr. Fishing USA” has written a beautiful book full of information about angling for all of the most popular and available game fish species. Ken Schultz’s North American Fishing contains more than 230 color photos and dozens of illustrations that depict the equipment, species, and methods used across North America’s rivers, lakes and oceans. This is the perfect “wish book” to help both anglers and even yet-to-become anglers imagine the places they can go and the fish they can catch as soon as winter weather gives way to spring.
The library has a wealth of other books on fishing and on many other exciting topics. Why not stop by any of our three locations this week? You’re sure to find just the right book, CD, DVD, or audiotape that will pique your interest.
Lynn Denison
“Shall I go to Heaven or a-fishing?” asked Henry David Thoreau. There are millions of men and women who can identify with these words, because to them angling is one of life’s incomparable joys.
Just in time for the flurry of spring and early summer fishing, Rowan Public Library has several enticing books on this subject in their new book section. Whether you are an avid fisherman or have never baited a hook before, you will enjoy reading William G. Tapply’s Trout Eyes: True Tales of Adventure, Travel, and Fly Fishing. In his eleventh fishing book, all of which have been highly acclaimed, Mr. Tapply offers a collection of twenty nine essays on fishing. According to Jay Cassell, Deputy Editor of “Field and Stream” magazine, this latest offering is Tapply’s best book yet. Mr. Tapply grew up fishing, and his passion is clearly shown throughout the book. All of his stories are funny, touching, and full of practical fishing advice. He writes affectionately of his father, devoted angler H. G. Tapply, who died in 2002. Tapply tells of sitting on his father’s knee as a young boy learning to tie a fishing fly of his own. He then recounts that many years later his own daughter Sarah, age 7, climbed onto his lap to create her very own fly “The Pink Sarah” and then proudly use it to catch a fish. This embodies the classic image of the fishing tradition—knowledge being passed down from parent to child.
In So Many Fish, So Little Time author Mark D. Williams takes you to the 1,001 places that “all anglers should visit before they go to that great fishing paradise in the sky.” From milkfish in the Seychelles to sailfish off Guatemala to Artic char at the top or the world, Mr. Williams takes you on lively, informative trips to the most prime fishing destinations around the world. He identifies little-known fishing hotspots from urban New York City to the far reaches of the Pacific. His information is for all types of anglers, and he covers every state in the nation, every province in Canada, and a good part of the rest of the world. To paraphrase Mr. Williams, “I was determined to write a book of fishing dreams--a wish list of all the best places in the world to fish. Even if you can’t afford to visit New Zealand until little Bobby finishes college in ten years, you can still read the book and wish.”
Another fishing expert, Ken Schultz, dubbed by ESPN as “Mr. Fishing USA” has written a beautiful book full of information about angling for all of the most popular and available game fish species. Ken Schultz’s North American Fishing contains more than 230 color photos and dozens of illustrations that depict the equipment, species, and methods used across North America’s rivers, lakes and oceans. This is the perfect “wish book” to help both anglers and even yet-to-become anglers imagine the places they can go and the fish they can catch as soon as winter weather gives way to spring.
The library has a wealth of other books on fishing and on many other exciting topics. Why not stop by any of our three locations this week? You’re sure to find just the right book, CD, DVD, or audiotape that will pique your interest.
PBS Videos from NCLive
Edward Hirst
With the dawn of the New Year, NCLive, North Carolina Libraries for Virtual Education, has entered a new era by providing the citizens of North Carolina access to over 200 hours of documentary and educational video programming from the Public Broadcasting Corporation in cooperation with UNC-TV and the NC Department of Cultural Resources.
The NCLive Video Collection was chosen by librarians for the support of education and the general interest of the public. The collection includes programming covering the sciences, US and world history, biographies, current events, the arts, as well as a variety of other subjects. Titles available in the collection include Ken Burn’s Baseball, Jazz, and The Civil War as well as other episodes from series such as Frontline, American Experience and Scientific American Frontiers.
The videos can be accessed from any computer with a high-speed Internet connection and the only software needed to view the content is the free Flash Media player software available from Adobe.com. If you are viewing the videos anywhere besides within the library you will need to login with the NCLive password which can be requested from any of the library’s locations. Library patrons can also retrieve the current NCLive password by clicking on the NCLive password link located on the library’s homepage.
The videos do not require downloading to be played and you are not required to check them out to view them. NCLive is able to offer unlimited simultaneous streaming to libraries throughout the state.
Visitors to the NCLive Video Collection page can view a listing of all of the titles that are available for viewing or they may view a subject listing of the holdings. Currently the featured video is Citizen King, which aired on the American Experience series.
Clicking on any title link leads to a brief synopsis of the program, the playing time, a choice of speeds to stream the video, and whether the video is close captioned.
Be sure and check out the new Video Collection from NCLive.
Edward Hirst
With the dawn of the New Year, NCLive, North Carolina Libraries for Virtual Education, has entered a new era by providing the citizens of North Carolina access to over 200 hours of documentary and educational video programming from the Public Broadcasting Corporation in cooperation with UNC-TV and the NC Department of Cultural Resources.
The NCLive Video Collection was chosen by librarians for the support of education and the general interest of the public. The collection includes programming covering the sciences, US and world history, biographies, current events, the arts, as well as a variety of other subjects. Titles available in the collection include Ken Burn’s Baseball, Jazz, and The Civil War as well as other episodes from series such as Frontline, American Experience and Scientific American Frontiers.
The videos can be accessed from any computer with a high-speed Internet connection and the only software needed to view the content is the free Flash Media player software available from Adobe.com. If you are viewing the videos anywhere besides within the library you will need to login with the NCLive password which can be requested from any of the library’s locations. Library patrons can also retrieve the current NCLive password by clicking on the NCLive password link located on the library’s homepage.
The videos do not require downloading to be played and you are not required to check them out to view them. NCLive is able to offer unlimited simultaneous streaming to libraries throughout the state.
Visitors to the NCLive Video Collection page can view a listing of all of the titles that are available for viewing or they may view a subject listing of the holdings. Currently the featured video is Citizen King, which aired on the American Experience series.
Clicking on any title link leads to a brief synopsis of the program, the playing time, a choice of speeds to stream the video, and whether the video is close captioned.
Be sure and check out the new Video Collection from NCLive.
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