Library Notes
Lynn Denison
December 17, 2010
Several events occurred recently that gave me the inspiration for today’s library column. First I read a quote from Groucho Marx which I thoroughly enjoyed, “Outside of a dog, a book is man’s best friend. Inside of a dog it’s too dark to read.”
Next I learned about the tragic accident involving a hero war-dog named Target. Target, who saved the lives of several US soldiers by fighting off a suicide bomber, was euthanized by mistake after being brought back from Afghanistan to the States by his handler. This event touched me deeply and brought to my attention the important part these animals and their handlers play in the service of our country. Often they are unsung heroes.
Shortly after that a patron called to ask for a new non-fiction book—The Scent of the Missing written by Susannah Charleston. When the book came across my desk the subtitle captured my attention: Love and Partnership with a Search-and-Rescue Dog. The detailed descriptions of the life of a search and rescue team were fascinating. The entire book is a great read, even the sad parts, but happily the book doesn’t end sadly as so many other animal books do!
Checking to see what other books we might have on dog heroes, I came across the book titled Dog Heroes of September 11th: A Tribute to America’s Search and Rescue Dogs by Nona Kilgore Bauer. In this book dogs brought to work from all across the country are profiled, along with their handlers/trainers. These dogs worked at Ground Zero, Fresh Kills Landfill, and the Pentagon. The reader receives an in-depth look at the workers, both human and canine, who helped bring closure to so many families that would not have gotten it otherwise.
A friend in the children’s services division told me I must include the book Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine & a Miracle by Major Brian Dennis. Although this book is found in the children’s area it is a heartwarming book to be shared with the whole family. Of course, we have many, many more books, as well as DVD’s and CD’s, for animal lovers. Why not stop by today to take advantage of the wealth of materials we have available for you at Rowan Public Library?
Friday, December 17, 2010
Friday, December 10, 2010
New Nonfiction at Rowan Public Library
By Edward A. Hirst
Rowan Public Library
Browsing the new non-fiction shelves at the library is something I try to do on a weekly basis, and these are some titles that have caught my eye recently.
“Paint Your House with Powdered Milk” by Joey Green is full of hundreds of off-beat tips for using name brand products in creative and unusual ways.
Besides the useful tips, you can also read the history behind these products, how they got their names, and quirky facts that you probably never knew about them. You’ll never look at the items on your grocery store shelf the same way again after reading this book.
“The Tiger: A True Story of Vengeance and Survival” by John Vaillant is a well researched account about a Siberian tiger that terrorizes a remote Russian village in the late ’90s. The book is about a tiger that viciously kills a poacher who wounded it and the men who are assigned to track it down.
The story reaches far beyond this, though, to include man’s relationship with tigers over the ages, issues surrounding the collapse of the Soviet Union and how that has affected the people who live along the Russian-Chinese border.
In “The World in 2050: Four Forces Shaping Civilization’s Northern Future,” Laurence C. Smith writes that as our earth warms, it is likely to cause the land farthest from the equator to become more desirable. This will lead to a population and development explosion in the near-Arctic regions and turn the world’s attention north.
Those countries with land bordering the Arctic Rim will likely benefit from global warming. He writes that spring in North America is arriving one day earlier every two and half years, “Imagine your lawn crawling north, away from your house, at a speed of 5.5 feet per day.”
“On The Grid” by Scott Huler is a fascinating trip through the streets, cables, pipes and other infrastructure that keeps our cities operating and makes modern life possible. It is an entertaining journey, with each chapter focusing on one specific element such as electricity, water, transportation and even garbage. We also meet the people who plan the systems as well as the workers who keep everything running.
In “A Splendid Exchange,” William Bernstein tells the story of global trade from its origins in prehistory to the controversies of today. We travel with ancient sailing ships along the silk trade route from China to Rome, to the rise and fall of the Portuguese trade monopoly in spices in the 16th century.
Along the way he examines inventions such as steam, steel and refrigeration that enabled us to import televisions from Korea, lettuce from Mexico and T-shirts from Costa Rica.
“The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates,” by Wes Moore, is a story about two boys who grow up in the same city in similar environments and how one becomes a Rhodes Scholar and the other ends up in jail as a convicted murderer.
The book examines the forks in the road the boys encounter as they grow up and the external forces they encounter that lead them down their respective paths.
Be sure and visit Rowan Public Library for these books and more.
By Edward A. Hirst
Rowan Public Library
Browsing the new non-fiction shelves at the library is something I try to do on a weekly basis, and these are some titles that have caught my eye recently.
“Paint Your House with Powdered Milk” by Joey Green is full of hundreds of off-beat tips for using name brand products in creative and unusual ways.
Besides the useful tips, you can also read the history behind these products, how they got their names, and quirky facts that you probably never knew about them. You’ll never look at the items on your grocery store shelf the same way again after reading this book.
“The Tiger: A True Story of Vengeance and Survival” by John Vaillant is a well researched account about a Siberian tiger that terrorizes a remote Russian village in the late ’90s. The book is about a tiger that viciously kills a poacher who wounded it and the men who are assigned to track it down.
The story reaches far beyond this, though, to include man’s relationship with tigers over the ages, issues surrounding the collapse of the Soviet Union and how that has affected the people who live along the Russian-Chinese border.
In “The World in 2050: Four Forces Shaping Civilization’s Northern Future,” Laurence C. Smith writes that as our earth warms, it is likely to cause the land farthest from the equator to become more desirable. This will lead to a population and development explosion in the near-Arctic regions and turn the world’s attention north.
Those countries with land bordering the Arctic Rim will likely benefit from global warming. He writes that spring in North America is arriving one day earlier every two and half years, “Imagine your lawn crawling north, away from your house, at a speed of 5.5 feet per day.”
“On The Grid” by Scott Huler is a fascinating trip through the streets, cables, pipes and other infrastructure that keeps our cities operating and makes modern life possible. It is an entertaining journey, with each chapter focusing on one specific element such as electricity, water, transportation and even garbage. We also meet the people who plan the systems as well as the workers who keep everything running.
In “A Splendid Exchange,” William Bernstein tells the story of global trade from its origins in prehistory to the controversies of today. We travel with ancient sailing ships along the silk trade route from China to Rome, to the rise and fall of the Portuguese trade monopoly in spices in the 16th century.
Along the way he examines inventions such as steam, steel and refrigeration that enabled us to import televisions from Korea, lettuce from Mexico and T-shirts from Costa Rica.
“The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates,” by Wes Moore, is a story about two boys who grow up in the same city in similar environments and how one becomes a Rhodes Scholar and the other ends up in jail as a convicted murderer.
The book examines the forks in the road the boys encounter as they grow up and the external forces they encounter that lead them down their respective paths.
Be sure and visit Rowan Public Library for these books and more.
Sunday, December 05, 2010
AUTO REPAIR
PAUL BIRKHEAD – DECEMBER 5, 2010
With the economy the way it is right now, more and more people are choosing to keep their vehicles longer. Unfortunately, that means those same people might have to deal with more car repairs than they’ve had to in the past. It is a common fact, as cars age, that certain parts get worn down or break altogether. However, the library has resources that can help those who are willing to tackle auto repairs on their own.
Perhaps the most recognized resource the library offers on car repair is our collection of Chilton service manuals. For over 100 years, the name Chilton has been the standard for auto repair and maintenance guides. These manuals are still found in most mechanic shops and their stained and tattered pages attest to their use. The library has a great number of Chilton manuals, and while some are kept in the reference section, there are several copies that can be checked out. Most years are covered and they are often broken down into volumes that cover either imported or domestic models.
Another resource that the library offers is 24/7 access to an online automotive repair database. This resource is called the Auto Repair Reference Center (ARRC) and comes courtesy of NC Live. To access ARRC from home, 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 library card or an ID with you. You can get to the ARRC through a link on our website – www.rowanpubliclibrary.org. Once at our home page, click on the ‘Find It Online’ link. Then, click on the ‘NCLive – Access from Home’ link. At this point, put in your library card number and PIN, and then follow the instructions for obtaining the current password for NCLive. Once at the NCLive site, scroll down the page and click on ‘Hobbies & Interests’ and you’re almost there. The final step is to click on the Auto Repair Reference Center link and you’re in. I know it might seem like a lot of work to get there, but I’m confident you’ll find the ARRC worth it.
The ARRC has repair and maintenance information on over 35,000 vehicles from the 1940’s to the present. Everything you might need to service your car can be found inside: from factory drawings, technical service bulletins, wiring diagrams, maintenance schedules, and even information on recalls. What makes this online database so handy is that new repair procedures and updates are continually being added. There are also thousands of images in the database, and most have been configured to make it easier to view and print them. Not sure you can handle a repair yourself and are thinking of taking your vehicle to a mechanic? There is a labor time guide and repair cost estimator included in the database.
Whether it’s something routine like changing a car’s oil, or a major repair such as replacing a transmission, most auto repair projects can be intimidating for the common person. However, just knowing that the library has resources to help you might instill enough confidence to tackle a job. Stop by the Rowan Public Library and let us help you keep your car running.
PAUL BIRKHEAD – DECEMBER 5, 2010
With the economy the way it is right now, more and more people are choosing to keep their vehicles longer. Unfortunately, that means those same people might have to deal with more car repairs than they’ve had to in the past. It is a common fact, as cars age, that certain parts get worn down or break altogether. However, the library has resources that can help those who are willing to tackle auto repairs on their own.
Perhaps the most recognized resource the library offers on car repair is our collection of Chilton service manuals. For over 100 years, the name Chilton has been the standard for auto repair and maintenance guides. These manuals are still found in most mechanic shops and their stained and tattered pages attest to their use. The library has a great number of Chilton manuals, and while some are kept in the reference section, there are several copies that can be checked out. Most years are covered and they are often broken down into volumes that cover either imported or domestic models.
Another resource that the library offers is 24/7 access to an online automotive repair database. This resource is called the Auto Repair Reference Center (ARRC) and comes courtesy of NC Live. To access ARRC from home, 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 library card or an ID with you. You can get to the ARRC through a link on our website – www.rowanpubliclibrary.org. Once at our home page, click on the ‘Find It Online’ link. Then, click on the ‘NCLive – Access from Home’ link. At this point, put in your library card number and PIN, and then follow the instructions for obtaining the current password for NCLive. Once at the NCLive site, scroll down the page and click on ‘Hobbies & Interests’ and you’re almost there. The final step is to click on the Auto Repair Reference Center link and you’re in. I know it might seem like a lot of work to get there, but I’m confident you’ll find the ARRC worth it.
The ARRC has repair and maintenance information on over 35,000 vehicles from the 1940’s to the present. Everything you might need to service your car can be found inside: from factory drawings, technical service bulletins, wiring diagrams, maintenance schedules, and even information on recalls. What makes this online database so handy is that new repair procedures and updates are continually being added. There are also thousands of images in the database, and most have been configured to make it easier to view and print them. Not sure you can handle a repair yourself and are thinking of taking your vehicle to a mechanic? There is a labor time guide and repair cost estimator included in the database.
Whether it’s something routine like changing a car’s oil, or a major repair such as replacing a transmission, most auto repair projects can be intimidating for the common person. However, just knowing that the library has resources to help you might instill enough confidence to tackle a job. Stop by the Rowan Public Library and let us help you keep your car running.
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