Library Notes


Rebecca Hyde

December 23, 2012



What do food critics do between meals? How can one plan a life around tasting food, good and bad? Would you want to know a food critic as a friend? Would they be obnoxious, controlling tablemates? For the following writers, food criticism is the art of living.

M. F. K. (Mary Frances Kennedy) Fisher was a writer for whom food was the thread of memories: love of food and a passion for cooking bring together descriptions of friends and meals, social commentary on food preparation and consumption, and advice on how to develop a taste for living. Life is best lived when attention is paid to small details and to relationships: an intermingling of food, love, and security. The young M. F. K. Fisher found life good when eating hoarded chocolate bars at school. When aging and ailing, she recommended the practice of spare but appreciative eating. The last essay in “An Alphabet for Gourmets” collected in “The Art of Eating,” describes the “Perfect Dinner”:

Fisher was a great correspondent. As with cooking, she started early. Letters to friends and family have been collected in “M. F. K. Fisher, a Life in Letters: Correspondence, 1929-1991.” Here again is the thread of interest in developing a discerning taste or mind, whether applied to food or to the complexities of public and home life. Most of her letters begin with a thanks of appreciation for a note received. The importance of other people and the warmth of her interest in them shine forth in Fisher’s letters. In a last letter to good friend and neighbor Lawrence Clark Powell, Fisher speaks of aging and coping and why : “It’s a question of dignity. I don’t know the answer, but it adds enough spice to the dish to make it edible, whether or not I want to eat it. The only answer for that is to say ‘bon appetit’ to myself and to you too. Love,…”

Jeffrey Steingarten is a food critic with a sense of humor. He has collected some of his more outrageous “Vogue” magazine essays in “The Man Who Ate Everything: and Other Gastronomic Feats, Disputes, and Pleasurable Pursuits.” He is a frequent critic of our obsession with health. “Salad the Silent Killer” pokes fun at our attempts to categorize food as good or bad: even the “good” guys (raw vegetables) contain chemicals which make the vegetable indigestible, or nutritionally useless, unless cooked. In “Primal Bread,” on the other hand, here is a person who flatly says the world is divided into two camps, those who can live happily on bread alone and those who need vegetables, meats, etc. Steingarten belongs to the first category, and will always use its bread in judging a restaurant.

Ruth Reichl, in a “Los Angeles Times Book Review,” wrote of M. F. K. Fisher’s genius in insisting on the importance of life’s small moments. Reichl must be a likable person. We also have her funny, perceptive, touching book,” Tender at the Bone: Growing Up at the Table.” In her apprenticeship, Reichl is guided by the discovery at an early age that “food could be a way of making sense of the world… if you watched people as they ate, you could find out who they were.” Food could also be dangerous. Her manic-depressive mother sometimes served strange food, crafted from food bargains. On one occasion, twenty-six people ended up in the hospital. Reichl’s stints along the way as a waitress in a failing restaurant, an impoverished social worker on New York’s Lower East Side, and staff member in a collectively owned restaurant in Berkley, helped prepare her for her job as food critic for “The New York Times.” The book is the story of how a person finds what they’re born to do.

Library Notes


April Everett

12/16/12



Giant, gold-rimmed glasses. Cheesy, big-toothed grin. Fringed Western shirt. Turquoise bolo tie. The year is 1994, the phase is cowgirl, and what blooms is a yearbook photo I will forever wish extinct. Fast forward to 2005. I’ve answered a Craigslist posting for a temp job transcribing a poorly written manuscript for a peculiar, elderly woman. I begin to suspect that my “boss” has stolen the manuscript and is trying to pass it off as her own, which is the only crime worse than being the actual author of the wretched work. I pay a visit to the history room of the local university (my “boss” is an alleged alumni), and I pull out volume after volume of their yearbooks until I finally locate her name. It’s most definitely not her.

Whether you’re looking for a humorous trip down Fashion Faux Pas Lane or trying to solve good, home-grown mysteries, the dusty old yearbook can prove a valuable tool. Fast forward to 2012 and meet North Carolina Yearbooks, a collection of college and high school yearbooks from all over North Carolina. This collection is available for browsing through DigitalNC.org, the official site of the North Carolina Digital Heritage Center. The Center is a statewide digitization and digital publishing program maintained by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The Center works with libraries, archives, museums, historical societies, and other cultural heritage institutions from across the state to provide online access to their special collections.

DigitalNC.org allows you to browse photographs, newspapers, scrapbooks, maps, artwork, manuscripts, and more supplied by more than 80 counties in North Carolina. These items are grouped into collections such as Images of North Carolina, North Carolina City Directories, and North Carolina Newspapers. Of course, my personal favorite is the North Carolina Yearbooks collection. The yearbooks offer high quality images and are searchable. They are surprisingly “real” as the onscreen format mimics a real yearbook and allow you to turn pages like a physical book. According to the Center’s website, the student yearbooks “provide a window into college life in North Carolina from the 1890s to the present. From sports teams to sororities, fashions to hairstyles, these volumes document the changing attitudes and culture of college students year by year.” A number of private and state-funded institutions are participating in the yearbooks project.

Visit the Digital Heritage Center online at DigitalNC.org and use the tabs along the top of the page to browse by collection or by county. Note that there are also special exhibits and slideshows covering topics such as basketball, lighthouses, and therapeutic travel in North Carolina. While you’re browsing, be sure to look up a friend, family member, or (better yet) your boss in one of the North Carolina yearbooks.

News and Notes Enough with the Words and Promises


By John Tucker

As musical carols are to the holidays, debates and promises are to an election year. Like it or not--listeners are always treated to an earful. The difference is we look forward to one, and hope that we will survive the other. Have your ears taken in more statements and stalemates than can be digested in a single sitting? If so, don’t give up on the words flying around; change the mode of communication to a book rich in wisdom, supported by smiles and a belly laugh or two. Might I suggest a trip to the library where a humorous look at life awaits?

First to catch my eye was the book titled “Cosbyology” by Bill Cosby, a collection of laugh-out-loud stories that embrace family life, work, school and sports. “Cosby”- the comic son of William and Anna who was born in 1937; “ology”- study of…how does one study the life of a comic? We laugh our way through his ordeals and “first” situations of life experiences. I found my smiles turned to chuckles, then to laughter that had to be shared with others. It is quite the collection of essays and observations from the “Doctor of Comedy”.

Second, the book titled “Cotton Mill Boys: and other characters I’ve known” by Richard Thorpe is a memoir of life in a mill village from the 1940s and 1950s. These recollections of childhood will give new meaning to life on a road called Railroad Street and chicken dinners from scratch before B.C. (meaning before Colonel Sanders). Can you remember the joy of the two o’clock whistle? How about learning that your house key not only unlocked your home, but every other house at the mill? If you can’t remember when… this book can help you recall a simpler time.

A favorite collection of wit and wisdom is titled “Look Who’s Laughing” compiled by Ann Spangler and Shari MacDonald. These short stories record the humor in everyday relationships. No bond is too sacred for these jovial jaunts. You will snicker at the tale of a preacher visiting a church member and helping himself to the bowl of peanuts on the coffee table. By the end of their visit, the parson confessed that he had eaten all of the peanuts in the bowl. “Oh that’s alright. Ever since I lost my teeth, all I could do was suck the chocolate off of them.” I thought that would get to you, please check out the rest of the tales in this rib-tickling text.

On a more serious note, peruse the famous “Poor Richards Almanack” written by Benjamin Franklin. These words and phrases record some of the best advice you might recall from your childhood. Phrases like: “No gain without ______”, or “A true friend is the best ____________”. “A penny saved is a ___________________”. “Blessed is he that expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.” “A true friend is the best possession.” “The doors of wisdom are never shut” so catch up on your reading with Ben’s gem of a classic.

In the library collection of short stories and witty essays one text looked out of place, until I opened the first page. “Dancing the Dream” by Michael Jackson is a collection of photos which we might expect and they are wrapped in words, pros and poetry that radiate creativity. Michael Jackson’s observations and reflections help us see that trust, love and faith in others and ourselves is the foundation of a life well lived.

Words are truly a part of our daily lives and these are but a few of the joyous resources that weave together smiles, dreams and visions to take us from our daily grind into a relationship with joyful words. Come to the library and encounter words of joy found faithfully unchanged in a book.

Library Notes


November 16, 2012

Erika Kosin



Creating new Traditions this Holiday Season

Think back to your childhood during the holidays. What do you remember? Many of us cherish the times spent with family, for me I always remember sitting with my siblings and cousins around a block of cheese laughing as we geared up to play a rousing game of cards or Trivia Pursuit. I think fondly of that time, even if as the youngest, I was always the one that the older kids did not want on their team. As we are now ensconced in the holiday season, think about activities that you can share with your children to create memories they will cherish. It may be one event you can attend as a family or a series of things leading up to the holidays. Whether you are celebrating Christmas, Hanukah, or Kwanzaa, make the festivities memorable by creating family traditions.

Not sure where to start, the library can help. From cookbooks such as the Usborne Little Book of Christmas Cooking to holiday decorations that can be found in the book Christmas Decorations Kids Can Make by Kathy Ross, you can spend quality time with your children while preparing for the holiday. Grandparents, aunts and uncles love homemade gifts from their favorite children, so why not check out Holiday Gifts, Favors and Decorations by Helen Sattler or Holiday Crafts by Alan and Gill Bridgewater. Each book contains crafts and ideas for both Christmas and Hanukah. For those gearing up for Kwanzaa, you will find fun ideas in Crafts for Kwanzaa by Kathy Ross. How to Make Holiday Pop-Ups by Joan Irvine can be fun and engaging for the crafty child, showing them how to create homemade pop-up cards for various holidays that they can share with family and friends.

For those of you who are not crafty or may be challenged in the kitchen, you can look for cultural traditions from around the world by perusing the Festivals of the World or the Christmas in series. Both contain holiday and festival traditions from different countries and there is even one that focuses on American Christmas traditions of yesteryear called Christmas in Colonial and Early America. Another idea is to find a fun holiday picture book that can be shared with your children. Make it a tradition by reading this book as a family every year.

Family traditions may include making crafts, baking cookies, sharing a holiday story, or attending a special event. The most important element of a family tradition is the time spent together. This holiday season sit back, relax and enjoy making memories, I know your children will.

Check in with the Rowan Public Library to see what fun programs are happening this holiday season.

Library Notes / November 9, 2012 / Dara L. Cain



Election Day Books for Children

How many years until you turn 18 years old? That is when you can vote on Election Day! Below are several titles that you may enjoy sharing with your youngsters about this historic day to educate them about the election process and the role of the president. Remember, children are the future voters of America.

Duck for President by Doreen Cronin is a fun and educational picture book for young children. Fed-up with his chores Duck holds an election to determine who should be in charge of the farm. In a close election Duck defeats Farmer Brown only to set out on the campaign trail once again, connecting with voters at town meetings, marching in parades, giving speeches, and making appearances on late-night television. After being elected governor Duck has his eyes set on the presidency and is surprised to learn that running a country is very hard work and life on the farm may have its advantages.

Young readers are invited to learn about the election process by following six children running for presidency in the story If I Ran for President written by Catherine Stier. From a child’s point of view discover the election process from beginning to end. Find out about campaigning, primaries, debates, party conventions, and what takes place on Election Day. Brief explanations about the voting process, the popular vote versus the electoral vote, and political parties are discussed.

Catherine Stier is also the author of Today on Election Day. In this picture book characters in the story narrate and share their perspectives about Election Day and the importance of voting. David goes with his older brother Jake to watch him vote for the first time. Find out how Jake learned about the candidates and the ballot issues in preparation to vote. Aidan accompanies his grandfather to the polling place and watches his grandfather vote on the computer which is only one of the ways Americans cast their votes. Bailey tells how she helps her aunt who is campaigning for a seat on the city council and what her job would be. To get a detailed explanation on the history of the election process dating back to Roman Times to the present day check out the book Vote by Philip Steele.

What are the responsibilities of being elected to political office? How does a person get elected? What are the challenges a person will encounter running for office? Read Getting Elected: A Look at Running for Office by Robin Nelson and Sandy Donovan to find out the answers to these questions and more. Another enlightening book that introduces students to how our government works is How Do We Elect Our Leaders by William David Thomas. This is a great choice for children ready to learn more than the basics regarding how we elect our government leaders from the president of the United States and members of Congress to state governors and local mayors. There are sidebars that include interesting information including how animals came to be symbols for the two major parties, women voting and holding office, and gerrymandering.

Don’t forget to check out these other great titles that your children are sure to enjoy. What would the country be like if a kid became President of the United States? Find out in the chapter book The Kid Who Ran For President by Dan Gutman. If your child ever thought about becoming president you are going to want to read So You Want to Be President? by Judith St. George. This book includes facts about the qualifications and characteristics of U.S. Presidents along side colorful caricatures. And lastly, find out what it would be like to live at the White House in the story If The Walls Could Talk: Family Life at the White House by Jane O’Connor. Learn about each presidential family’s time and contribution during their stay at the White House.

Salisbury Salutes Sidney

Gretchen Beilfuss Witt
October 21, 2012
In recognition of a long and illustrious career in the arts, Rowan Public Library will celebrate the life and work of Salisbury native Sidney Blackmer. Born July 13, 1895, Sidney began his career on the Broadway stage, which was interrupted by his service to the country during World War I. After the war he returned to Broadway, successfully made the trek to Hollywood, participated in early radio and finally crossed over into television. With a career spanning over 50 years, he worked with other greats of stage and screen – Shirley Booth, Paul Newman, Alfred Hitchcock, and Elia Kazan.

The Rowan Public Library has over the years collected items concerning Sidney Blackmer’s career. However recently, due to the generosity of Jonathan Blackmer, Sidney’s son, the library has access to many more photographs, movie advertisements, and other interesting artifacts. Beginning in the month of November and for the remainder of the year, several areas of the library will house displays of the Blackmer Collection. In conjunction with these displays a film festival will commence on November 18th. Each Sunday for three successive Sundays at 3:00 pm the library will screen some of Blackmer’s many films. November 18 after kicking off the celebration with a reception and presentation by Mike Cline about Blackmer’s career, the afternoon will conclude with showing “Teddy, the Rough Rider,” a short in which Sidney portrays President Teddy Roosevelt. Following this short will be the feature film “Panther’s Claw,” based on Oursler’s stories about Police Commissioner Thatcher Colt whom Sidney plays.

Our second installment on Sunday November 25 (perhaps as an amusement for visiting Thanksgiving guests) will include one short and two feature films. The short, “Disorder in the Court”, will be familiar to Three Stooges fans and features Suzanne Kaaren Blackmer, Sidney’s wife. The two full-length films will be “The Count of Monte Cristo” with Blackmer as Mondego and “Charlie Chan at Monte Carlo.”

The third afternoon of the festival will again begin with a short featuring Suzanne as well as a television episode from Boris Karloff’s Thriller series entitled “The Premature Burial.” Our festival will conclude with the showing of Blackmer’s most remembered role - Roman Castevet in “Rosemary’s Baby.” A quintessential psychological horror film, it is listed in the top ten of American Film Institute’s Thrillers.

Make plans to come see the displays and enjoy the movies as Salisbury Salutes Sidney.

Library Notes


Oct. 14, 2012

Marissa Creamer

It’s Never Too Late to Start Over



Many novels tell the story of a journey of self-discovery. Often, this search for self is an inner journey, but as these new novels at Rowan Public Library illustrate, the journey may be a literal one as well. And as our protagonists learn, now matter how old you are, it’s never too late to start over.

In “The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry” by Rachel Joyce, we are introduced to the retired (as well as retiring) Harold Fry, who is settled into his quiet routine in his quiet English village. One day blends into another, until the day Harold receives a letter from an old friend he has not seen in many years, informing him that she is dying of cancer. Harold pens a reply and takes it out to the postbox, but finds he just can’t let the letter go. “Harold thought of the words he had written to Queenie, and their inadequacy shamed him.” Thus begins Harold’s odyssey. As he continues to walk to the next postbox, then the next, not quite ready to let the letter go, Harold has a chance encounter with a young woman who convinces him that as long as he keeps walking, Queenie will live. Never mind that she is in hospice 600 miles away, and he has left without proper walking attire, a map, or his cell phone, Harold decides to walk the entire distance and deliver the letter in person. This solitary journey gives Harold time to ruminate on his life and failed relationships, and the reason for his need for atonement is gradually revealed. Along the way, Harold sends pithy postcards to Queenie, urging her to wait for him. As his journey continues, Harold meets a variety of characters, becomes a bit of a celebrity, and learns that “you could be ordinary and attempt something extraordinary.”

Another novel that reminds us that it’s never too late to start over is “The 100-Year-Old-Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared.” Jonas Jonasson’s European bestseller has reached the U.S. three years after its Swedish publication. This entertaining yarn tells the story of Allan Karlsson, who flees from the Old Folks’ Home to avoid his 100th birthday party. After stealing a cash-filled suitcase, our vodka-loving hero embarks on a wild adventure, and ends up on the lam from both a criminal syndicate and the police. Along the way, we learn that the former demolitions expert, much like Forest Gump, has not only witnessed some of the most important events of the twentieth century, he has actually played a key role in them.

Other novels that you may enjoy include Hilma Wolitzer’s “An Available Man,” a story about becoming single later in life, and the chaos and joys of finding love the second time around; “Harry Lipkin, Private Eye,” by Barry Fantoni, a mystery featuring Miami’s only 87-year-old private investigator; and “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel,” by Deborah Moggach, recently adapted into a film starring Judi Dench and Maggie Smith. You can find all of these titles at Rowan Public Library.

LIBRARY NOTES: PUMPKINS


PAUL BIRKHEAD – OCTOBER 7, 2012



This is the time of year that wherever you look, you’re bound to see a pumpkin. Whether they are displayed at the store or sitting in a field, these orange-colored cousins of the squash are a reminder that autumn has arrived. Not only do pumpkins abound in our community, but in Rowan Public Library as well.

Pumpkins have their origin in Central America, but are now more likely to be grown in North America. In fact, the state of Illinois produces most of the world’s pumpkin supply. Pumpkins come in all shapes and sizes. While the average pumpkin weighs a respectable fifteen pounds, some of the largest have tipped the scales at over 1,800 pounds. The quest to grow some of these gigantic pumpkins is told in the book Backyard Giants by Susan Warren. This humorous and fascinating tale describes the competition between farmers as they grow these monstrous pumpkins from seed to weigh-in.

Can you imagine how many pies you could get out of a 1,800 pound pumpkin? Pumpkin is the main ingredient in many seasonal favorites such as pies, muffins, soups and breads. The library has shelves and shelves of recipe books. One of my new favorites is Baking with the Cake Boss by Buddy Valastro. Buddy is an award-winning baker, owner of the famous Carlo’s Bake Shop, and star of TLC’s popular show, Cake Boss. In this book, Buddy teaches his techniques and tricks for successful baking and decorating. Yes, there is a recipe for pumpkin pie in the book.

Sometimes a pumpkin gets cut up for use in a pie, while other times it gets carved into a jack-o-lantern. Carved pumpkins are synonymous with Halloween. While most anyone can take a knife to a pumpkin and stick a candle inside, those who want to create a jack-o-lantern that’s extra special consult a book from the library. I recommend Sarah L. Schuette’s How to Carve Freakishly Cool Pumpkins.

There are a multitude of children’s books in the library that involve pumpkins. It’s early in the season, but these types of books are already flying off the shelves. Some of the most popular titles include: Five Little Pumpkins, Too Many Pumpkins, Biscuit Visits the Pumpkin Patch, The Pumpkin Fair, and The Berenstain Bears and the Prize Pumpkin.

Whether you’re baking a pie, carving a jack-o-lantern, or simply decorating your porch, pumpkins play a big role during the fall season. Make sure to come by Rowan Public Library this month and celebrate pumpkins.

Library Notes 9-30-12


Edward Hirst

Rowan Public Library has recently added a number of new documentaries on DVD that will appeal to a variety of tastes. You are sure to find one, (or two), that can be enjoyed by the whole family.

In the movie Cave of Forgotten Dreams director Werner Herzog is given rare access to film inside the Chauvet Cave located in the south of France, home to the most ancient visual art known to have been created by man. The Chauvet cave paintings were made over 30,000 years ago, depicting predatory animals such as bears and lions, as well as bison, rhinos, mammoths and perhaps most striking of all, a wall of beautifully rendered horses.

Victims and perpetrators of Sierra Leone's brutal civil war from 1991 - 2002 come together for the first time in a program of tradition-based truth-telling and forgiveness ceremonies. They revive the ancient practice of Fambul Tok (family talk) in the film by the same name that charts the beginning stages of a process to help the people and communities of Sierra Leone move past these painful memories with forgiveness.

The Hammer was inspired by the life of deaf UFC fighter, Matt Hamill, and tells the story of what it takes to be a champion, on and off the mat. Raised among those with the ability to hear, Matt later finds himself no less an outsider amidst the Deaf Community. But through sheer determination, he uses his 'perceived' disability as an asset, and becomes not only the first deaf wrestler to win a National Collegiate Championship, but an inspirational force to both hearing and deaf alike.

In 2009, U.S. Marines launched a major helicopter assault on a Taliban stronghold in southern Afghanistan. Embedded in Echo Company during the assault, photojournalist and filmmaker Danfung Dennis captures the action in the movie Hell and Back Again. When Sergeant Harris returns home to North Carolina after a life-threatening injury in battle, the film evolves from war reporting to the story of one man's personal struggles to overcome the difficulties of transitioning back to civilian life with the help of his wife Ashley.

By 2006, as many as 5,000 electric cars were destroyed by the major car companies that built them. In Revenge of the Electric Car the viewer is taken behind the closed doors of Nissan, GM, the Silicon Valley start-up Tesla Motors and an independent car converter to find the story of the global resurgence of electric cars, following the race to be the first and the best, and to win the hearts and minds of the public around the world.

Fans of car racing, especially the elite Formula One, will enjoy the excellent documentary Senna, a profile of Brazilian driver Ayrton Senna. Senna would go on to become one of Formula One's best and most accomplished competitors ever--and his steely nerves and willingness to take risks on the track paid off in Grand Prix after Grand Prix. Though Senna's racing career would be far too short, his legacy lives on, and Senna is a gripping reminder of how blazing a talent can be--even behind the wheel of a car.

Library Notes


Rebecca Hyde
‘How-to” manuals are plentiful. But if you’re a novice or an armchair explorer, then a book describing “how it all came about” may offer both information and motivation. The following books are for people who have dreamed of learning to sing, playing a musical instrument, or creating a garden.

It’s interesting that Renée Fleming (“The Inner Voice”) set about her education as a singer by devouring the autobiographies of predecessors. She wanted practical advice: how did they learn and who taught them; how did they survive auditions and disappointments? She calls her own story the autobiography of a voice: of the story of finding her voice, of working to shape it, and how it, in turn, shaped her. She still studies, and historic recordings are essential in preparing for a new role. Clearly styles have changed among sopranos. Fleming constantly battles with herself over her performance as an actress: simple or layered, histrionic or direct?

In “Piano Lessons,” NPR’s Noah Adams describes his fifty-second year, when he decided to learn to play. From January (“Why does a fifty-one-year-old man decide he has to have a piano?”) to December (“My wife falls in love with a piano player in a tuxedo, and the night is still young,” Adams immerses himself in concert-going, piano-shopping, interviews with pianists, and in choosing his method of study. Along the way he admits the piano listening as been great but his learning curve has collapsed. Piano camp is his salvation, when Adams must play before an audience. Success is exhilarating. As a surprise Christmas present to his wife, he puts on evening dress, lights the candles, and plays.

From the Ground Up” is Amy Stewart’s chronicle of realizing her dream of creating a garden. Almost everything is a first for her: first time dealing with oxalis, with scale and aphids, and tourists sunbathing on the front porch (the house is near the beach in Santa Cruz). She buys composts and then makes it, and provides us with her recipes for worm juice and compost tea. Tomatoes are her greatest challenge, but luckily the biggest chore in August is dealing with all the extra vegetables. The final Chapter deals with leaving a garden you’ve created.

April Everett


Library Notes

08/30/12



If you’ve been to the library recently, you may have noticed flyers, posters, or bulletin boards featuring “Hunger Games” and the numbers 4-1-1. Rowan County is participating in a community read program this fall, which focuses on Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games. The 411 (4 Districts, 1 Book, 1 Community) is more than just a community read—it’s a community experience. The libraries, parks departments, community colleges, and many local businesses of Cabarrus, Rowan, Stanly and Union counties have partnered to make this Fall one you won’t soon forget! Read it. Do it. Survive it.

EVENTS @ YOUR LIBRARY

Dystopian Film Series

Dystopian films, like The Hunger Games, are typically set in the future in a society where the government is corrupt or ineffectual. Join us at Headquarters (Salisbury) for a dystopian film series:

• Tues., Sept. 4th, 6:30 pm – Wall-E (G)

• Tues., Oct. 2nd, 6:30 pm – In Time (PG-13)

• Tues., Oct. 9th, 6:30 pm – I am Legend (PG-13)

Admission is free, and popcorn and lemonade will be served at each showing.

Contests

Show off your creative side by participating in one or all of our Hunger Games contests:

• Writing (adults and teens)

• Short Film (teens only)

• Bookmark Design (teens only)

• Costume Design (teens only)

Pick up entry forms at the library or online at 411communityread.wordpress.com. The deadline for these contests is Fri., Sept. 14th. Winners will be announced at the final event on Oct. 13th at the Cabarrus Arena.

Speakers

Join us for a special lecture, “Language of Film: How we are Manipulated by Media,” by John Santa on Tues., Sept. 18th, 6-7:30 pm at Headquarters (Salisbury). This project is made possible by a grant from the North Carolina Humanities Council, a statewide nonprofit and affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Teen Programs

Teens (grades 6-12) are invited to a special evening of Hunger Games crafts, book discussions, games, and more!

• Tues., Sept. 11th, 5:30 pm, South Rowan Regional (China Grove)

• Mon., Sept. 24th, 5:30 pm, East Branch (Rockwell)

• Tues., Sept. 25th, 5:30 pm, Headquarters (Salisbury)

Book Discussions

The Hunger Games is full of great topics for discussion including freedom, corruption, and survival. A variety of programs have been planned focusing on different topics and/or different audiences:

• Mon., Sept. 17th, 6:30 pm – Headquarters (Salisbury), Regular book discussion

• Tues., Sept. 18th, 6:30 pm – South Rowan Regional (China Grove), Regular book discussion

• Tues., Sept. 25th, 6:30 pm – South Rowan Regional (China Grove), Catching Fire book discussion

• Thurs., Oct. 4th, 12:30 pm – Headquarters (Salisbury), Brownbag lunch discussion (bring your lunch; beverages and dessert will be provided)

And much more!

The programs highlighted above are just the events being held at the library. Additionally, there are survival training days, archery demonstrations, corn mazes, and much more! For a complete list of programs, pick up a brochure at the library or visit 411communityread.wordpress.com.

Library Notes
Erika Kosin
Back to School Fun

During the summer months many kids avoid books that have school or teachers in the title, unless it is on their school summer reading list. Now that school is back in session, these same children want to read stories that revolve around the world they are currently in and can relate to, therefore gravitating to books that take place at school. Some of these books revolve around homework, pertain to a big test, include the wacky antics of some students, or even revolve around a holiday pageant. In the world of children’s literature many of the books have scenes that take place at school, including popular series such as Junie B. Jones and the Little House books. Here are a few available titles at Rowan Public Library that might interest upper elementary school kids that take place at school.

Almost Late to School and More School Poems by Carol Diggory Shields: A collection of 22 school related poems about various things such as giggle attacks, being late, detention, having to hold it, and participating in fund-raisers.

Framed by Gordon Korman: Griffin Bing is known to his friends as “the man with the plan”. In fact his plans have gotten them into a bit of trouble in the past. Now they are starting middle school and the new principal, Mr. Egan, is already weary of Griffin and his friends. When the schools treasured super bowl ring is replaced with Griffins retainer in the display case, Griffin finds that no one of authority will listen to him and sets out to prove his innocence only his plans keep getting him into more and more trouble.

Fourth-Grade Fuss by Johanna Hurwitz: Julio and his best-friend Lucas find fourth grade to be a lot of fun but are worried about the big fourth-grade test. Their teacher told them not to worry about the test until after the holiday break, but now that the standardized test is drawing near, it is time to hunker down and get serious. As they plot and plan ways to succeed on the test, using a pencil that has never written a wrong answer or wearing their underpants inside out, they find there are some things in life you just can’t plan for.

The Report Card by Andrew Clements: Fifth-grader Nora Rowley is a genius. She is so smart, that she has spent the last few years making sure she seemed average. After the fourth-grade standardized testing seemed to divide the students of her school, making those who scored high feel smarter and those who scored low feel like they were dumb, Nora knew she had do to something. By purposely getting all D’s on her report card, she will prove to everyone that grades do not matter, but will her secret be revealed in the process?

Preschoolers: Dream Big – Read

We had a wonderful Summer Reading Program at Rowan Public Library! The theme this year was “Dream Big-Read” and the staff had a lot of fun selecting books to share with three to five year-olds at the Moon Wisher program. When the staff thought of the concept of “Night” we thought of bedtime, a time of lullabies and bedtime stories. We also thought of dreams (including a child’s aspirations and a few other scary things). I would like to recap some of the great books that were used in our preschool story times this summer. Let us revel in the surprises of the night as we Dream Big – Read! with our children.

Your child is sure to enjoy Nathaniel Willy, Scared Silly, a fun folklore retold by Judith Mathews and Fay Robinson. When grandma says good-night and shuts Nathaniel Willy’s door there’s a terrible squeak. Nathaniel Willy is scared silly and believes he heard a ghost. Full of joyous rhyme and fun sound effects Grandma tries to comfort Willy by setting off a chain of noisy events as she runs to get the cat to comfort him.

“When I grow up what will I be?” is the theme of the book I Can Be Anything by Jerry Spinelli. A young boy’s hopes and dreams are infinite as he learns he can be anything from a dizzy-dance spinner to a silly-joke teller. This book serves as a great reminder that life is full of possibilities and you can be anything that you want to be when you grow up.

Sometimes one of the hardest things to do is to get your little one tucked into bed at the end of the day. In Dinosaur vs. Bedtime by Bob Shea little dinosaur faces the many challenges of the day and succeeds! Nothing can stop little dinosaur as he tackles the leaves, the slide, a bowl of spaghetti, talking grown-ups; that is until bedtime approaches. You’ll have to read the story to find out who will win, little dinosaur or bedtime.

When you think of monsters we tend to think of big, mean, and scary. But not all monsters are scary. In Big Green Monster Ed Emberley uses die-cut pages to reveal parts of a monster. This book is great to help aide a child control nighttime fears of monsters. Another fun monster book is Monster Musical Chairs by Stuart J. Murphy. This entertaining story is a great way for your child to practice his subtraction skills. As six monsters play a crazy game of musical chairs, readers learn to subtract one chair at a time and count the remaining monsters in the game.

In Sooey, South Dakota, on an itchy straw bed, loudmouth Little Runt can’t get to sleep in Bed Hogs by Kelly DiPucchio. Rose, the reigning beauty queen, has stinky feet, big sister Flo’s drools enough to fill a milkin’ pail, brother Ed shakes and jiggles when he dreams, mama dances in her sleep, and papa snores. It’s no wonder Little Runt can’t fall asleep! When Little Runt cleverly and inconspicuously kicks each member out of bed, he realizes he’s cold, scared, and lonely all by himself. Sometimes you don’t appreciate what you have until it is gone.

The book Can’t Sleep Without Sheep by Susanna Leonard Hill is a hilarious take on a familiar bedtime ritual. When a young girl named Ava has trouble falling asleep she always counts sheep. That is until one night the sheep admit that they are exhausted of jumping. The sheep send in replacements only to find out that horses are too pretty, chickens are too ridiculous, pigs are too slow, cows are a complete disaster, and buffalo are too chaotic. Ava learns that her sheep are irreplaceable and a little appreciation can go a long way.

Don’t forget all of these nighttime titles are available at Rowan Public Library!

“Red Brick, Black Mountain, White Clay,” a Meandering Memoir of North Carolina


By Pam Everhardt Bloom, August 3, 2012



“Red Brick, Black Mountain, White Clay” by Christopher Benfey tells an intriguing story of art and crafts, history, Black Mountain College and the North Carolina connections found in Benfey’s lineage. A family memoir, the author describes his title, “Red Brick, Black Mountain, White Clay,” as three different paths, “each mapping the experiences of relatives or ancestors of mine trying - by art, by travel, or by sheer survival - to find a foothold in the American South.” The journey won’t disappoint. From the red clay of the North Carolina Piedmont to the hidden white clay pits of the Cherokee and on to the creative world of Black Mountain College, Benfey weaves a fascinating and true story that will surprise with its twists and turns and uncanny parallels.



He definitely has a fascinating family. Benfey takes their stories and finds tangents to explore that meander through equally interesting connections. His maternal ancestors and their ties to the red clay of the Piedmont, the red brick mentioned in the title, become a natural extension for Jugtown and its pottery. Stories of another ancestor, Quaker explorer and naturalist William Bartram, link with accounts of the quest by colonial explorers for the snow white clay of the Cherokee; a new world clay that would hopefully reveal the secret of Chinese porcelain.



Benfey’s father, a Jewish refugee from Berlin, had an uncle and aunt named Josef and Anni Albers. These famed Bauhaus artists found refuge at Black Mountain College, an experimental school in the mountains of North Carolina, founded in 1933. Recommended by American architect Phillip Johnson, Josef and Anni Albers brought innovative ideas and cutting edge artists to Black Mountain. That list of artists and innovators included Buckminster Fuller, Willem de Kooning, Jacob Lawrence and Robert Rauschenberg to name only a few. The Albers were most influential in the field of modern art and had an amazing impact on American art.



While delightful on its own, “Red Brick, Black Mountain, White Clay” could easily be the catalyst needed to explore North Carolina arts, past and present. Additional selections at the library about Black Mountain include books such as “Black Mountain, An Exploration in Community” by Martin Duberman and “Fully Awake: Black Mountain College,” a film by Catherine Davis Zommer and Neeley House. For more about Jugtown and the Seagrove area and the Cherokee, find these titles and others; “The Traditional Potters of Seagrove, North Carolina and Surrounding Areas from the 1800’s to the Present” by Robert C. Lock, “Jugtown Pottery, History and Design” by Jean Crawford, “Arts and Crafts of the Cherokee” by Rodney L. Leftwich, “North Carolina Art Pottery, 1900 - 1960” by A. Everette James, “Turners and Burners, the Folk Potters of North Carolina” by Charles G. Zug III, “The Potters Eye, Art Tradition in North Carolina Pottery” by Mark Hewitt and Nancy Sweezy and “North Carolina Pottery, the Collection of the Mint Museums.”

Library Notes
Lynn Denison

If you could borrow a kindle loaded with over one hundred and seventy titles at no cost for two weeks, would you be interested? If you could borrow up to 5 DVD’s for two weeks at no charge, would that tempt you? How about having access to numerous up-to-date magazines and newspapers, a “café” with coffee and cold drinks, and a comfortable area in which to enjoy all this? Would you like access to a computer with color or black and white printing capabilities? That and much more is exactly what one can find at Rowan Public Library!

Other amenities the main library provides are photocopiers on all three floors, Wi-Fi access throughout the building, fax services, a variety of study spaces, an on-going Friends of the Library book sale area, and two very well equipped meeting rooms available for public use by reservation. The branches have one meeting room each and do not offer the “café”. Otherwise, the same helpful resources are available at our south and east branches as well.

If you haven’t been to our main library previously, please don’t let the unfamiliar building make you feel overwhelmed. The staff of Rowan Public Library is dedicated to making your first visit and your continuing visits pleasant and enjoyable encounters. We never want you to feel overwhelmed, just welcomed! We want you to come back again and again and always feel at home.

Our main library is located at 201 W. Fisher Street in downtown Salisbury. Our other two branch libraries are located in Rockwell and in the China Grove – Landis area. The headquarters library has three floors. For anyone with mobility problems, there is an elevator that serves all floors.

On the first floor you will find our circulation desk immediately upon entering. The staff at this desk will be pleased to help with your queries and to direct you where you wish to go. The staff there also handles borrowing, returning, and renewing of library materials.

On the first floor you will also find our large, beautiful children and juvenile area complete with a computer station with six computers for children’s use, our new teen space equipped with three new apple computers for teen use, our extensive fiction collection, the large print area, our DVD collection, as well as new fiction and new non fiction books, and books on CD.

Located on the second floor is our information desk with trained staff who will be delighted to help you with any general or specialized enquires you may have and who will be happy to get you started on using our services. They can help you with finding items in our catalogue or finding information on our web-site.

Also on the second floor you will find our computer lab, complete with 28 computers with printing capability. These computers are available for use by patrons with a library card or for guests with a picture identification showing a current address. We also have 4 laptops available for checkout to use within the building. A patron must have a library card and a credit card in order to check out a laptop.

The second floor houses our extensive non-fiction collection. The fiction books on the first floor are shelved alphabetically by the author’s last name. The non-fiction books on the second floor are shelved by using a system called the Dewey Decimal System. If you are unfamiliar with the Dewey system our staff is always available to help you. For an entertaining and educational experience, you might enjoy going to UTube on your computer and playing the Dewey Decimal Rap!

Our third floor is dedicated to our history and genealogy area. Here one will find a wealth of information on the past. The Salisbury Post is accessible on microfilm dating back to 1905. Patrons come here from across the country and even from foreign countries to research family histories dating back to the 1700’s.

Please visit us soon and allow us to introduce you to the exciting resources that Rowan Public Library has to offer.

Details about Titanic emerge at library


By Edward Hirst
Rowan Public Library
After striking an iceberg in the early morning hours of April 15, 1912, the frigid waters of the North Atlantic echoed with the desperate pleas for help from more than 1,500 passengers of the ocean liner Titanic.
As what was just hours earlier the crown jewel of the White Star Line began to sink towards the ocean floor and the passengers slowly died from the effects of hypothermia, an even more awful silence settled over the sea. The sights and sounds from that night would haunt each of the vessel’s 705 survivors for the rest of their days.
In “Gilded Lives, Fatal Voyage,” the historian Hugh Brewster weaves personal narratives of the lost liner’s most fascinating people with an account of the fateful maiden crossing. Through research he accurately depicts the ship’s brief history, presenting the latest thoughts on everything from when and how the lifeboats were loaded to the last tune played by the orchestra.
Although we may think we know the story of Titanic, the supposedly unsinkable and luxurious ship that struck an iceberg on its maiden voyage from Britain to America in 1912, very little has been written about what happened to the survivors after the tragedy. How did they cope in the aftermath of this horrific event? How did they come to remember that night, a disaster that has been likened to the destruction of a small town?
Drawing on a wealth of previously unpublished letters, memoirs and diaries as well as interviews with survivors’ family members, journalist and author Andrew Wilson reveals in “Shadow of the Titanic” how some used their experience to propel themselves on to fame, while others were so wracked with guilt they spent the rest of their lives under the Titanic’s shadow.
Of the families that boarded the unsinkable Titanic in 1912, only a fourth stayed together during the sinking and arrived safely in New York. Albert and Sylvia Caldwell and their 10-month-old son, Alden, were one of those rare Titanic families. Author Julie Williams draws on first-person accounts from her great-uncle Albert and extensive research to tell the fascinating story of the young family who were saved by a combination of luck, pluck, Albert’s outgoing nature, Sylvia’s illness, and Alden’s helplessness in “A Rare Titanic Family.” Their detailed story of the short life of the Titanic and their lucky rescue aboard the ill-starred Lifeboat 13 has never been fully told in Titanic literature.
You may also visit the library’s Stanback Auditorium on Monday, July 30, at 7 p.m. when Julie Williams brings the story of her great-uncle, Albert Caldwell, who survived the Titanic, along with his wife and baby.

Summer reading programs: This summer, Rowan Public Library invites kids to join the library for exciting programs and great reads with Dream Big, Read!

Ahhhh ... the wind in your face as you glide along on your own two wheels! Whether you are a neighborhood bicyclist, a competitor or someone who likes to pack things up and make a long scenic ride, the public library has the resources to encourage anyone to peel those years away and cycle!


In “Bicycling the Blue Ridge; A Guide to the Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway”, Elizabeth & Charlie Skinner carefully explain why they consider these roads the “Ultimate bicycling road.” Weather, maps and suggested equipment are all described by these authors who have obviously completed the tours themselves. Their notes, by milepost, include lodging, landmarks, historic stops and a pleasant narration of their experiences. I especially appreciated the elevation cross-sectional maps.

“Bicycling the Atlantic Coast; A Complete Route Guide, Florida to Maine” by Donna Ikenberry Aitkenhead almost scared me off until I realized that the author presents the tour in bite-size pieces. Although her trip begins in Miami, FA and ends in Bangor, MA, she provides detailed maps that depict all back road routes. The coastal states are grouped by the South Atlantic, Middle Atlantic and New England States. Aitkenhead provides thorough maps and numerous tips for successfully cycling any portion, or all, of her coastal adventure. She admits right up front that she likes to tour (no kidding!) and is always planning her next cycling adventure.
These days I prefer greenways. Rowan Public Library has resources that encourage the development and creation of friendly pathways that connect places and people in a community; “Designing Greenways: Sustainable Landscapes for Nature and People” by Paul Cawood Hellmund & Daniel Somers Smith, also “Skinny Streets and Green Neighborhoods: Design for Environment and Community” by Cynthia Girling and Ronald Kellett. Greenways are dedicated paths for walking, jogging, and biking and are composed of gravel and asphalt. North Carolina and it’s neighboring states have many!
For the less mild-mannered bike enthusiasts you’ll find plenty of reading with “Mountain Biking”, by Michael Strassman, and “Mastering Mountain Bike Skills”, by Brian Lopes. Reading these books will give you perfect pedal strokes and tips for handling biking obstacles. Did you know that we have a mountain bike trail here in Salisbury/Rowan? The Salisbury Community Park on Hurley School Road has a mountain bike trail and occasional organized events.
There’s serious training and goal-setting between the pages of “Training Tips for Cyclists and Triathletes”. It is compiled by the Carmichael Training Systems with a forward by Lance Armstrong himself! Joe Friel extensively covers building strength while balancing recovery and fatigue for maximizing on power in “The Cyclist’s Training Bible”.

If you are into “learning it all”, read “Zinn’s Cycling Primer; Maintenance Tips & Skill Building for Cyclists” and, the highly reviewed, “Zinn and the Art of Road Bike Maintenance” both by Lennard Zinn.
OK, so you’ve not ridden a bike since you were a pigtailed kid, but I bet you remember that feeling of freedom you experienced on those two spinning wheels! There are more than 60 million riders in the United States today. Recent bike sales to all ages have risen 25%! Commuters, fitness buffs, eco-freaks, all those interested can turn to “Bicycling, a Reintroduction: a Visual Guide to Choosing, Repairing, Maintaining and Operating a Bicycle” by Karen Ruth. There are step-by-step photos where the author introduces, or reintroduces, an interested cyclist to current information about bikes and bicycling.
A couple days a week you’ll find me in a spin class at the YMCA (great instructors) just to keep myself in the cycling mood. To help keep this while-haired woman spinning along outdoors, I think I’ll read “Bike for Life; How to Ride to 100” by Roy Wallack & Bill Katovsky. See you on the greenways!

Library Notes


June 22, 2012

Marissa Creamer

School is out and the beach beckons, bringing thoughts of sun and fun. There are many enticing vacation destinations, but here in North Carolina summer vacation usually involves at least one trip to the coast. We are fortunate that North Carolina’s coastline offers over 300 miles of sandy summer relaxation.

Beachcombers will want to come to Rowan Public Library before their trip to check out “Living Beaches of Georgia and the Carolinas: A Beachcombers Guide,” By Blair and Dawn Witherington. Filled with colorful photographs, this book begins with the premise that the beaches themselves are alive, and includes a fascinating discussion of the anatomy of a beach. You can learn about beach features such as wrack lines, beach cusps, and antidunes, as well as boneyard beaches, tides, and currents. Learn the best areas of a beach to find seashells and other treasures. The chapter on beach animals includes all manner of seashells, crustaceans, birds, reptiles, mammals, and even insects. Learn how to identify bubble shells, dovesnails, and wentletraps. There are also chapters describing beach plants and beach minerals, including fossils and shark’s teeth. The final chapter is dedicated to the “hand of man,” and includes features such as lighthouses, shipwrecks, historical remnants, and even sand art. It seems that everything that has anything to do with the beach can be found between the covers of this book.

If circumstances don’t allow you to travel to the beach this year, you can always visit vicariously through a novel set at the Outer Banks. In “The Watery Part of the World,” Michael Parker weaves a fictional tale from historical fact. He begins with the mysterious disappearance of Theodosia Burr Alston, daughter of Vice-President Aaron Burr, whose ship went missing after setting sail from Georgetown, South Carolina in late 1812. In this re-imagining, Theodosia’s ship is attacked by pirates and she is left for dead on a remote Outer Banks island. After being nursed back to health by a hermit, Theodosia embarks on a new life with a freed slave. Also woven into the story are the 1971 news reports of the last remaining residents of Portsmouth Island, two elderly white women who abandon the island when their African-American caretaker passes away. Parker explores the bond these last living residents have to the island and its past.

To learn more about this Outer Banks ghost town, check out “It Happened on the Outer Banks,” by Molly Perkins Harrison. Here you’ll find intriguing people and episodes from the history of the barrier islands. Did you know that the first musical notes ever transported over radio waves were sent from a small wireless station antenna in Buxton to Roanoke Island? This breakthrough would eventually lead to the world’s first radio broadcast. Ponder the mystery of what happened to the crew of the schooner Carroll A. Deering, found deserted on Diamond Shoals, and meet a couple who survived Hurricane Isabel by clinging to a treetop.

Whether you are planning a trip or traveling vicariously, Rowan Public Library has something to enhance your summer fun.

Library Notes

Paul Birkhead

LIBRARY NOTES: BASEBALL


PAUL BIRKHEAD – JUNE 24, 2012



The game of baseball is an American invention dating back to the mid-1800s. Over the years, baseball has become so engrained in American culture that it is considered the national pastime. Although it has had to weather some rough times (think steroids and strikes), baseball still remains popular. Many people are fascinated by different aspects of the game, such as its history and the lives of its players. This is evident by the number of items Rowan Public Library has on its shelves pertaining to the subject of baseball.

Many library patrons check out baseball books in order to learn how to play the game better. A popular book is Baseball: How to Play the Game, put out by Major League Baseball. Inside the book are clear, well-illustrated explanations on the art of fielding, batting, and pitching. Whether you’re a coach or a player, there are numerous tips on how the pros play the game.

If the history of baseball interests you, Bert Sugar’s Baseball Hall of Fame book is sure to keep you turning pages. Beautifully illustrated, with fascinating vignettes of players and artifacts, this book showcases the collection of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. If you’re not expecting to be in Cooperstown, NY any time soon, looking through this book is the next best thing to actually being there at the Hall of Fame. You may have a favorite player who’s in the Hall of Fame or is certain to end up there. If so, chances are that the library might have a biography about him. Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Hank Aaron, Ted Williams, and Lou Gehrig are just some of the legends that you can read more about.

Baseball is also the subject of many novels that you’ll find at the library. One of the newest is John Grisham’s Calico Joe. While not his usual legal fiction thriller, Grisham’s book still manages to spin a fascinating tale of the son of a major league pitcher whose life is turned upside down by a tragic event that occurs on the field.

Rowan Public Library has an extensive DVD collection and there are several that have to do with baseball. Some of the most popular are Field of Dreams, Fever Pitch, The Natural, A League of Their Own, and even last year’s Oscar nominee, Moneyball.

Stop by Rowan P

Gretchen Beilfuss Witt


June 12, 2012
Medical Marvels


William and Helen Bynum have put together a completely fascinating study of the history of medicine in their “Great Discoveries in Medicine.” Illustrated with medieval paintings, 18th century anatomical drawings, x-ray photographs, portraits and political cartoons, it is a spectacular collection of the progress of medical practice. Specific sections describe the discovery and use of medicines – quinine the juice of the cinchona bark, a tree native to South America for malaria; digitalis, a distillation of the foxglove flower for dropsy; the healing mould penicillin for infection. Other sections discuss the tools of the trade. The stethoscope, the iconographic tool of the physician, was invented in 1816 by French physician Laennec. A number of improvements over the next seven decades bring it closer to its modern cousin. Hypodermic syringes, x-ray machines, thermometers and sphygmomanometers all have a spotlight. Eastern and Western medicines from ancient to modern are examined in these short, very readable articles. From the first description of surgery written in hieratic script on Egyptian papyrus to the latest in insulin and hip replacement surgery this volume is sure to captivate.

“Spinoff” is a report on the technology developed by NASA that has been transformed for use on Planet Earth. An amazing catalog of the marvels originally created to sustain the astronauts in outer space. For example, based in part on Space Shuttle fuel pump technology, a tiny implantable heart pump has been developed that will keep a heart beating until a transplant can be accomplished. Due to the distance from Earth to Moon, the space program had to develop medical help that could be administered by non-doctors in emergency situations as well as being highly portable and small. Now a briefcase size box which contains ventilators, heart monitors IV pumps with screens, operating systems and power supplies is being used on the battlefield and in remote places like the polar icecaps. Other chapters include improvements and technological innovations in Transportation, Public Safety, Energy and Environment conservation, Information Technology and Industrial Productivity. Take a look at the less well-known benefits of the NASA Space and Shuttle programs.

A couple other new books promoting good health and medical practice are also worth a look. An updated and revised version of the very popular “Our bodies, Ourselves” is candid and discusses a wide spectrum of women’s health concerns from body image to current health care reform. Katy Bowman’s “Every Woman’s Guide to Foot Pain Relief” is a quick, fun read with clear illustrations, exercises and practical suggestions for discovering and improving your own foot health. From medical history to medical marvels from heart to foot, check out our excellent selection in new medical science books.

Library Notes

Amy Notarius

Memorial Day marked the unofficial start of the summer travel season. If you’re headed to the beach soon, or even if you’d just like to learn more about North Carolina’s coastal areas, Rowan Public Library has some great books to check out.


A new edition of Peter Meyer’s “Nature Guide to the Carolina Coast” was released in 2010. Originally published in 1991, the text was updated several times during the title’s ten printings from 1991 to 2007. In his introduction, Meyer describes his work as an entertaining, informative, easy-to-read reference for coastal residents, visitors, and vacationers.

‘Nature Guide’ offers descriptions, black and white drawings, and full color photographs to help you identify the common birds, crabs, shells, and fish you’ll find in the coastal environment. From the Great Blue Heron to the tiny Marsh Crab, Meyer tells which species are most common in this area and describes their habitats and distinguishing features.

Meyer practices medicine in Wilmington and is also a naturalist. He uses common names to identify animals and plants, but in many cases also includes scientific names. Descriptions of anatomy and life cycles are also more scientific in nature, but Meyer makes a point of including many general, and often fascinating, facts and figures. (Did you know cockle shells have been on earth for at least 65 million years?!)

The 2012 publication of ‘Insider’s Guide to North Carolina’s Outer Banks’ marks the 31st edition of this popular travel guide. It includes helpful information on accommodations, restaurants, and shopping. This work really excels, however, in tracing the history and development of the different areas that make up the Outer Banks. Another highlight is the list of annual events, from arts and pirate festivals to surfing championships and fishing tournaments.

If fishing is an interest of yours, check out ‘Fishing North Carolina’ by Mike Marsh. Marsh begins with a section describing North Carolina’s freshwater and saltwater fish species and the best fishing techniques for each one. In the next section, Marsh tries out every fishing spot he can find, travelling from mountain lakes and streams, across the piedmont, and down the coast. For each area, he indicates which fish species are most prevalent, the best times of year, and the best ways (boat, pier) to fish there.

Get a start on summer fun by checking out these and more outdoor guides from Rowan Public Library today.



Amy Notarius

Library Notes


Rebecca Hyde – May 29, 2012


The word “armchair” first appeared in print around 1625-1635. Since then it has attached itself to expressions such as “armchair football coach,” “armchair strategist,” or armchair authority.” All are rather belittling with regard to the person’s secondhand experience. “Armchair traveler” is different. It describes a reading experience: who can deny the attraction of a comfortable chair (with arms) and a good book? It’s also a handy expression for those of us who will never travel with a donkey through France (“Travels with a Donkey through the Cevennes” by Robert Louis Stevenson), cross South America by train (“The Old Patagonian Express” by Paul Theroux), or journey through the Holy Land on horseback (“The Innocents Abroad” by Mark Twain).

The following books are not the standard, practical, and detailed guides to planning itineraries. They are “armchair” travel guides, offering background reading, the pleasure of good literature, and experience through daydreaming of places we may never be able, or really want to visit.

“Grand Tours and Cook’s Tours: A History of Leisure Travel 1750 to 1915” by Lynne Withey describes the change in travel, from the Grand Tour of Europe to travel by the masses. There were changes in the technology of travel, motivation for traveling, and the choices of sites worth visiting. Tourists are distinguished from travelers and explorers. Withey defines “tourism,” without disparagement, as “leisure travel.”

“Italian Days” by Barbara Grizutti Harrison is a good example of a literary travel journal. It’s a memoir with references to the travel experiences and comments of other writers. While talking about the anarchy of traffic in Rome, Harrison turns street information into a cultural essay.

Another example of the travel memoir is by an American who is taking leave after two decades of life in Great Britain. “Notes from a Small Island: An Affectionate Portrait of Britain” by Bill Bryson emphasizes the juxtaposition of contemporary life and historical setting, tying the two together with his reactions and musings as he follows his very personal itinerary through the country.

And for those people for whom a place name brings on a travel daydream, there is “The Travellers’ Dictionary of Quotation: Who Said What, About Where?” by Peter Yapp. Look up “Patagonia,” or spend time browsing through several hundred pages on the British Isles.

Letters From Women by Lucinda Epperson


Letters. Over the years a literary treasure has been unearthed in books based on letters written by women. These not only describe personal day-to-day activities, but vividly illustrate the times in which these letter writers lived. Several of these books also feature women that are bravely exploring what to them, as well as the reader, are uncommon worlds.

In the recently written Nothing Daunted: The Unexpected Education of Two Society Girls in the West by Dorothy Wickenden we are taken into the summer of 1916. Dorothy Woodruff and Rosamond Underwood, close friends from childhood and graduates of Smith College, leave their comfortable homes in Auburn, New York for teaching jobs in the wilds of northeastern Colorado. Bored by their society luncheons, charity work, and the young men who court them, they relocate to a remote mountaintop schoolhouse. Their friends and families are shocked. Not only are they leaving safe, comfortable lives for the unstable wild west, but no women within their social circle were even known to have ever been “hired.”

Woodruff and Underwood took the new railroad over the Continental Divide and made their way by wagon to the tiny settlement of Elkhead, Colorado. There they lived with a family of homesteaders. They rode several miles to school each day on horseback, sometimes in blizzards, to teach students in tattered clothes and shoes. And, in the midst of all of this, no one prepared them for the local men, many who were considering them as prospective brides.

In their buoyant letters home, these two women capture the voices and stories of pioneer women. They paint vivid pictures of brave and endearing school children, as well as of the many memorable characters met throughout their adventure.

Dorothy Wickenden, the granddaughter of Dorothy Woodruff and executive editor of the New Yorker, discovered the letters of these young letter writers, reconstructed the women’s journey, and created an exhilarating saga of two intrepid young women who left “nothing daunted.” Woodruff and Underwood were promised the adventure of a lifetime. They and Wickenden’s readers find that and so much more.

Other books also use intimate, unpublished family letters and documents to create detailed excursions into another world. Sisters of Fortune by Jehanne Wake and Stella Tillyand’s Aristocrats are two of these.

Aristocrats introduces the reader to the Lennox sisters, great-granddaughters of a king, daughters of a cabinet minister, and wives of politicians and peers. Through their letters to each other, Tillyand’s history transports us into a world of personal and political passions, forming an astute biography of the privileged eighteenth-century woman. Called “a work of …surpassing brilliance” when first published in 1994, Aristocrats introduces the reader to a very uncommon woman’s world.

The recent (2010) publishing of Sisters of Fortune also features the letters of sisters, this time there are four, living in an unusual world. Descended from prominent first settlers of Maryland and brought up by their wealthy grandfather Charles Carroll, the only Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independence, the Canton sisters were well educated, charming, unusually independent, fascinated by politics, clever with money, and very romantic. As gripping as a historical novel, it is also a meticulously researched history. One example of its detail is the information it shares regarding women and their managing of finances. Where most rich women of the period were content with a passive role regarding finances, Wake shows how the Caton sisters managed investment portfolios and were active and informed players on the domestic and foreign markets. And, we see that they constantly used their social connections not only to win political or diplomatic appointments for their husbands or relatives but also for information on investments.

Sisters of Fortune is a transatlantic celebration of sisterhood and a gripping and fascinating tale as well.

Books based on letters from women offer excellent reading and introductions into the uncommon worlds these women inhabited.

Library Notes



By John Tucker


Do you like tales of things that “go bump in the night?” What about investigations of historical people who appear to have a paranormal presence? When the re-runs on Syfy Network no longer “make the grade” come and see what Rowan Public Library has in its non-fiction Ghost story collection. For starters, you will want to pick up the book “Dark World” by Zac Bagans. Mr. Bagans is the former lead investigator of the Ghost Adventures Crew and his book includes “behind the scene” information on some of the most haunted places visited on the television show. In the name of time allocation, some of the film footage is left on the cutting room floor, so this story fills in the details. Every good ghost story requires details. Zac Bagans wants the reader to experience each haunting through his eyes; to feel what it’s like to be scared, pushed, cold, sluggish, whispered-to, creped-out…and more. Be sure to return it because books like this might just have more frights in store than a mere late fee.

Another book about the scientific approach to this topic is titled “Ghost Hunters written by Deborah Blum. Mrs. Blum follows the work of the Harvard professor of Psychiatry William James who founded the American Society for Psychical Research, and Henry Sidgwick of the British Society for Psychical Research. The book tells the story of these “early pioneers” of ESP and the studies on the afterlife. The results from their work are not far removed from recent paranormal investigations minus the computers, digital recorders and cameras. How can it be that in the same century that gave us the electric light, dynamos, telegraph and telephone...these scientists are so focused on paranormal investigations? I found it amazing to read about the people, places and institutions investigated back in the 1800’s. I think you will, too.

On the local front, the book titled “The Wettest and Wickedest Town” by Karen C. Lilly-Bowyer presents a collection of legends and ghost stories from right here in Salisbury, North Carolina. The book is the result of historical research and paranormal investigations with groups from Charlotte, Greensboro and Lexington. Local haunted sites include: the Wren House, Hall House, County Administration building and many more. This collection of haunted tales comprises the Downtown Ghost Walk which began in 2010. These stories are shared monthly as a walking tour during the “Night-Out-On-The-Town” hosted by the down town merchants of Salisbury.

Whether your inspiration for ghost hunting stories is to supplement your television viewing, your need for scientific proof, or a walk in the dark where ghost stories come to life; your next step should be directed to Rowan Public Library where many spirited books can haunt your curiosity.

Library Notes By Erika Kosin
The Dystopian Novel for Teens

Many people dream of living in a perfect world. A place where everyone is equal and there are no worries, but in the attempt to create that perfect world, the created society usually ends up as a dystopian one. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a Dystopia as an imaginary place where people lead dehumanized and often fearful lives. The Dystopian novel is usually set in a future society that is repressed and tightly controlled by some governmental entity, but many times the people living their do not know any differently.

With today’s political climate and the popularity of book The Hunger Games, many teens have found a new genre of fiction to cling to. While The Hunger Games has brought this genre to the front of mainstream literature there are many books, some classic such as Fahrenheit 451 (1953), that have broached this idea of a controlled society that “thinks” they are an enlightened, utopian existence. Some dystopian novels that can be found at the Rowan Public Library for Teens include:

The Giver by Lois Lowry – Imagine a society where everyone is the same. There is no color, no love, no choices and no knowledge. Jonas lives in a world just like this and everyone is happy, but on his twelfth birthday he learns that he will be the receiver of memories, the person who knows what life was like before the sameness. As he learns about what life could be, he is faced with the dilemma of leaving home to live a full life or staying and keeping those around him in the dark and happy.

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld – What if at the age of 16 everyone in society underwent plastic surgery and became perfect versions of themselves. If all choices, views and beliefs were erased making everyone pleasant and compliant. Set 300 years into the future, Tally Youngblood is about to become a “pretty” when she follows her friend Shay to the smoke, a village of “uglies” who refuse to undergo the transformation. As she learns more about the people of the smoke and the world of the pretties, will Tally decide to stay true to herself or will she go to the city to become a Pretty after all.

Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix – Twelve year old Luke Garner is the illegal third child in his family and has to stay inside because of a new housing development for government officials being built behind his home. He lives in a future America where droughts have caused a food shortage causing the government to create a strict population law that limits families to two children. If a “Shadow Child” is found, the population police will either kill or imprison the child, therefore forcing these children to either live in the shadows or take on new identities. With government officials moving in, could there really be other shadow children in the new homes?

Matched by Ally Condie – Cassia Reyes has been looking forward to her Matching Ceremony for a long time. When she finds out the Society has chosen her best friend Xander to be her perfect mate, she is both happy and surprised since your mate is usually from a different city and never someone you know. When Cassia receives her microchip with the information about her match on it, a boy named Ky quickly flashes on the screen before Xander, making Cassia question the validity of the Matching process. Could there actually be more than one perfect match out there for each person? Could the society have made a mistake and picked the wrong person for her? As she questions the matching process, she discovers that her world is not as perfect as it seems.

Library Notes / April 30, 2012 / Dara L. Cain




Books for Babies



As a mother (and a Children’s Librarian) I have enjoyed reading to my daughter since the day she was born. She’s eighteen months old now and has developed a love for books that I hope will continue throughout her life. It is amazing to see that if you give her a choice between a book and a toy nine times out of ten she chooses the book to look at the pictures. Each night before bed we read a story together and she loves to turn the pages and name some of the pictures in the story that she knows.

Why do I read aloud to my baby? Reading provides a wonderful opportunity to spend quality time with my daughter and to open her mind to the exploration of the world around her. This shared activity teaches her about communication and introduces her to concepts such as stories, letters, numbers, shapes, and colors in an entertaining way. Reading aloud also helps build her listening, memory, and vocabulary skills. It’s never too early to start educating your child.

Do you want to know a great thing about reading aloud? It doesn’t take any special skills or tools. All that is needed is your time, your little one, and a great selection of books to choose from. I would love to share with you some fun books that my daughter has enjoyed listening to that you might like to share with your child before bed or anytime during the day.

I have enjoyed reading Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See? by Eric Carle to my daughter since she was born. This is a great story with simple repetitive text and clear pictures on solid white background. Babies are drawn to these types of illustrated books with bold and starkly contrasting colors. Some other great titles are I Like Black and White by Barbara Jean Hicks, Who Are They? By Tana Hoban, and I Kissed the Baby by Mary Murphy.

Karen Katz is the author of some amazing board books for children including Where Is Baby’s Bellybutton?, Ten Tiny Babies, Counting Kisses, and Baby Loves Spring. My daughter loves these board books because all of the stories are about babies which she seems to be fascinated with. When your child begins to respond to what’s inside of books select board books such as the ones by Karen Katz with pictures of babies or familiar objects that they can relate to. Board books are great when your child starts to use his hands to grab because they are sturdier than pictures books and are easier for a child to hold when they are learning to turn the pages.

When your child starts to become independent and can do things like sit up in the bathtub and eat finger foods, find simple stories about daily routines. My daughter loves the book Tubby about a baby who loves playing in the bathtub by Leslie Patricelli and Bubbles, Bubbles a Sesame Street Workshop board book with a lot of repetition. “Bubbles bubbles on my nose. Bubbles bubbles on my toes, Bubbles bubbles in my hair. Bubbles Bubbles everywhere!” Books that invite babies to repeat simple words and phrases is great for when you child starts to talk.

Books with different textures (soft, scratchy, crinkly) and mirrors are also wonderful for this age group. The author Fiona Watt does some fun board books that are touch and feel that my daughter loves to get her hands on. That’s Not My Pony… It’s Mane Is Too Fluffy, That’s Not My Fairy…Her Dress Is Too Shiny, and That’s Not My Train…It’s Wheels Are Too Squishy are just a few of the tiles that she has written. Fold-out books or books with flaps that open for a surprise are also engaging and exciting for a child. My daughter loves Eric Hill’s Spot series. Her favorite is Where’s Spot. A mother dog in search of her lost puppy searches around the house and finds eight other animals hiding behind the concealed flaps until finally she finds her puppy.

Once your child gets a little bit older read whatever stories your child asks for. It doesn’t matter if it’s the same book every night for weeks and weeks because you want your child to listen to stories that they are interested in whether it be ducks, puppies, trains, or trucks. My daughter loves Duck and Goose by Tad Hills and What Puppies Do Best by Laura Numeroff and I can’t tell you how many times I have read those stories. I continue to read them to her because she loves them and I want her to one day love to read.

One of the best ways to encourage your child to grow up to be a reader is to have books around your house. I have several bins of books in my daughter’s room that she likes to pull out and look through. I also keep some of her books mixed in with her toys. In addition to the books you own, take advantage of those you can borrow from the library. Rowan Public Library has storytime just for babies, too which is a fun way for your child to enjoy stories with other babies their age.

Library Notes, Pam Everhardt Bloom, April 23, 2012


In Lieu of “The Hunger Games”

I must admit; I’ve yet to read the “Hunger Games.” I will read it, if for no other reason than I promised a child and also because friends from 10 to 70 tell me they love it. Naturally I’ve heard fabulous reviews; however, one reviewer’s comment that I can’t forget was on NPR and ended with the announcer’s confession that he just wanted to read a Jane Austen after reading books from this dystopian genre. To be perfectly honest, his voice sounded like he needed a Jane Austen novel – desperately. His review led me to the young adult section at the library. His lament brought me to choices, while not purely utopian, were definitely not dystopian and highly appropriate for many of us who still enjoy a bit of mystery and magic, with a good dose of hope and moral purpose woven into the story.

My first stop was at author Madeleine L’Engle, perhaps best known for “A Wrinkle in Time.” L’Engle was a prolific writer, publishing over 60 books. In the Dictionary of Literary Biography, Marygail G. Parker writes of “a peculiar splendor” describing this author’s body of work. Many of her books are found within the young adult section of the library. Do not let that designation deter those of you beyond those young adult years. As L’Engle once said, “You have to write the book that wants to be written. And if the book will be too difficult for grown-ups, then you write it for children.”

In “The Arm of the Starfish” and “Dragon in the Water”, characters Meg Murray and Calvin O’Keefe from a “Wrinkle in Time” are now married with equally interesting children. “The Arm of the Starfish” combines the science and science fiction possibilities of the regenerative properties of starfish with mystery, politics, and intrigue and introduces the reader to lovable and sometimes realistically flawed characters. Book two, “Dragons in the Water” takes the O’Keefe family to Venezuela where they quickly become involved in stolen art and murder, along with native healers and the ecology of village life. Both books offer more than mere mysteries. Her characters learn lessons from life, lessons about themselves and others. For her characters, introspection is as important as any of the action in moving the story to its conclusion.

I chose a third book for no reason other than the title, “The Lost Songs” and its categorization as a Junior Library Guild selection. Caroline Cooney, award winning author of more than 90 books, tells the story of a southern community and the lost songs of teenager Lutie Painter’s ancestors. She intertwines these songs in surprising ways into the lives of Lutie and her friends and acquaintances, Doria, Kelvin, and Train. Like L’Engle, Cooney’s characters delve into an examination of life that leads to sometimes unsettled conclusions and I reread the last chapters for pure pleasure and because I didn’t want the story to end.

I find that L’Engle and Cooney weave a theme of hope and moral purpose throughout their stories without being preachy. Perhaps, that is also what the NPR reviewer needed from Jane Austen’s books. I “hope” to find the same magic in “The Hunger Games.” It’s the next book on my reading list.

LIBRARY NOTES


APRIL 2, 2012

Lynn Denison



Isn’t it refreshing to know that the word “civility” is still a word found in our dictionaries and is still practiced? The word is defined as a noun which means “respectful and considerate behavior that enables us to live and work together—locally and globally—embracing our shared humanity and interpersonal connections.”

Our newest book at Rowan Public Library on the subject is Saving Civility: 52 Ways to Tame Rude, Crude & Attitude for a Polite Planet by Sara Hacala. Ms. Hacala is a certified etiquette and protocol consultant. Her premise is that we are all part of the problem of some of the rude and crude behavior we frequently see in today’s world and we all need to be part of the solution. The book is an easy read but a very challenging one. Some of the chapter titles are “Mind Your Cyber Manners,” “Celebrate Diversity,” “Just be Nice,” “Work at Workplace Civility,” “See Yourself as Others See You,” and “Respect the Boundaries of Others.” In our day-to-day lives we see hostile and polarizing political interactions, bullying, tasteless and tactless comments delivered without discretion, disrespect for older adults, and the list goes on. Although Ms. Hacala bemoans our often modern boorishness, this is not a book of manners per se but rather one filled with practical ways for us as individuals to strive to make the world a more enriching, pleasant place to live. I felt the book was made even more meaningful by the thought provoking quotations that are liberally sprinkled throughout.

The Meaning of Nice: How Compassion and Civility Can Change Your Life (and the World) by Joan Duncan Oliver is another new book that, although light and easy to read, explores deep questions about the nature of human virtues such as honesty, kindness, empathy, loyalty, and just plain being nice. The author has been an editor for The New York Times Magazine and editor in chief of New Age Journal. She was the founding editor of People, US Weekly, and Self magazines.

Dr. P. M. Forni is an award-wining professor at Johns Hopkins University who teaches courses on the theory and history of manners. His book, The Civility Solution: What to Do When People Are Rude, is prefaced by this quote from James Katz: “If anything characterizes the twenty-first century, it’s our inability to restrain ourselves for the benefit of other people.”

For a really fun, witty read try Talk to the Hand: The Utter Bloody Rudeness of the World Today, or Six Good Reasons to Stay Home and Bolt the Door, by Lynne Truss. Ms. Truss first tackled the subject of poor grammar in her multi-million-copies-sold book Eats, Shoots, and Leaves. In this next book she takes on the serious subject of civility in a way that will have you laughing as you applaud her ability to defend the importance of maintaining such virtues as politeness, courtesy, respect for others and self control.

If you are interested in relaxing, yet enlightening reading, select one or all of the above books on your next visit to a branch of the Rowan Public Library.

Gretchen Beilfuss Witt


March 18, 2012
Catesby Volumes
Most have heard of Audubon, but a century before his work, another naturalist set the bar for excellence in both study and illustration. Mark Catesby came to the American Colony of Virginia in April of 1712 accompanying his sister to Williamsburg, where her husband Dr. William Cocke was a successful and politically active physician. Cocke introduced Catesby to a number of influential gentlemen of the colony also very interested in the scientific analysis of the natural world. Among those in Catesby's circle was William Byrd II, a fellow of the Royal Society. In September of 1712, Catesby and Byrd journeyed on the Pamunkey River to observe the nature of the region. This trip was the beginning of a lifelong friendship between the two men.

Catesby continued his study and trips to the American colonies throughout the next few years and in between 1722 -1726, Catesby explored the Carolina colonies. Deliberately choosing to observe each area more than once but during alternate seasons, he captured the flora and fauna in different states.

Returning in 1726 to London, Catesby immediately sought a way to publish his work. Not having the money to send the drawings to Amsterdam or Paris to engravers and wanting to maintain control over his own work, he persuaded Joseph Goupy, a printmaker, to teach him how to etch plates. He divided his illustrations into two main groups, the first containing birds and attendant plants, the second fish, reptiles, and amphibians, etc. He spent the next twenty years working on his book, supporting himself by working in commercial nurseries growing plants from seeds obtained on his travels. The printed etchings and descriptions were sold by subscription. Put together as folios, the text and drawings had to be printed on two different presses and then brought together. Initially Catesby planned to make a plate for each plant and animal; while the first few plates contain only a single object, he began to put animals and plants on the same plates. During this timeframe most books on natural history had few illustrations and those were drawn from dead animals. His work was unique in that the plants, fish, and birds were sketched from life adding to the appeal and accuracy of the images. For the first edition, he colored the printed etchings himself until enough money came in from subscriptions to hire colorists to follow his "master set." These folios were bound as the subscriber wished, many as two volumes like our own, and others in three volumes like that of Windsor Castle in England. This magnificent work of both science and art was owned by kings and queens, royal governors, members of the Royal Society, as well as scholars and naturalists from Philadelphia to St. Petersburg.

Due to the generosity of the Craige family and as part of the Craige Collection, Rowan Public Library is the proud owner of a set of Mark Catesby's The natural history of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahama Islands. These books, carefully preserved, are displayed on the lower level of the Headquarters library.

Sara Campbell


Rowan Public Library

February 10, 2012


The dresses, the drama, the affairs. No, I’m not talking about Hollywood, but rather PBS’ popular series Downton Abbey. Set at the end of the Edwardian Age, it was a time when the British class system was very rigid. It also marked a time of rapid change. War was fast approaching and industrialization was changing the life they’d known. Attention and concern was shifting towards the poor and the status of women. It would be the last time corsets would be worn as a standard of everyday life, and women’s suffrage was gaining momentum. Many authors and book titles that are still well-known, were in their prime – Rudyard Kipling, Oscar Wilde, Frances Hodges Burnett’s The Secret Garden, J. M. Barrie’s Peter Pan, and Beatrix Potter’s Peter Rabbit, just to name a few. Albert Einstein was working on his mathematical theories, and the 1908 Summer Olympics had just concluded in London. If you would like to read more about this time period, try some of these books available from Rowan Public Library.

The Remains of the Day is a novel by Kazuo Ishiguro which was also made into a film in 1993 starring Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson. Ishiguro’s novel, told in diary form, relates the life of a butler, Stevens, and his time spent in service to Lord Darlington. Stevens obviously holds his dignity and honor above all, as becomes evident over his missed life of love with Miss Kenton and his unwavering loyalty to Lord Darlington. As with Downton Abbey, class is highly evident, along with Stevens resolve to hold oneself to impossibly high standards. Banter and Stevens lack of humor becomes a joke in itself. British to the core, The Remains of the Day and a good scone will not leave you wanting.

Daisy Goodwin’s The American Heiress tells the story from the young American wannabe heiress point of view. In 1893, Cora Cash’s mother is set on finding a title for her daughter. Cora knows all the ins and outs of American society but quickly finds that her spoiled attitudes are not appreciated in European society. Becoming a Duchess seemed like a grand plan, but Cora quickly discovers that it’s not all fun and games. Can she fit in with her very proper mother-in-law who dotes on her son, a house full of servants who want nothing to do with her, and life in such a strange place?

In 1911, England was a blissful place if you were one of the lucky elite. George V had just been crowned and a common pastime was to throw lavish parties. One such party, The Shakespeare Ball, treated 600 members of the British upper class to a concert hall which had been transformed into an Elizabethan-Italian garden. A blue sky covered the roof, lower seat boxes became yew hedges (complete with birds), cypress trees lined the edges of the hall and the upper levels were designed to looked like marble terraces. The entertainers were mostly real-life descendents of Shakespeare himself. Most did not realize that in a few short years, they would be in the midst of a world war, because in 1911, England was enjoying The Perfect Summer, by Juliet Nicholson.

Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey by the Countess of Carnarvon takes you behind the scenes of Highclare Castle, the setting for Downton Abbey. Almina was the daughter of banking tycoon Alfred de Rothschild and married the Earl of Carnarvon at age 19, bringing with her a substantial dowry. She was able to pay off the Earl’s £150,000 debt and still manage to have enough left of over for them to live in style, hosting parties for 500 with a staff of eighty. All this changed when World War I descended upon England and the house was turned into a hospital and convalescent home.

For all these Downton Abbey read-alikes and many more, look no further than Rowan Public Library. You can read a book and pretend you are a countess or an earl – if you can find someone to bring you tea.

Library Notes / February 6, 2012


Dara L. Cain

The 2012 Newbery and Caldecott Winners Are…


If you haven’t already heard January was a very exciting time in the library community! The Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association has announced this year’s Newbery and Caldecott Medal winners for titles published in the previous year. Writer Jack Gantos has won this year’s Newbery Medal for Dead End in Norvelt. In 2001, Gantos received the Newbery Honor Award for his book Joey Pigza Loses Control. This year’s Caldecott Medal has been awarded to Chris Raschka, illustrator and writer of A Ball for Daisy. Raschka also won the Caldecott Medal in 2006 for The Hello, Goodbye Window.

The Newbery Award was established in 1922 and became the first children’s book award in the world. This prestigious award is named in honor of eighteenth-century English bookseller John Newbery. The intent of the award is "to encourage original creative work in the field of books for children” and “is awarded to the author for most outstanding contribution to children’s literature.” Set in a real Pennsylvania town created during the Great Depression the character Jack Gantos (named after the author) manages to find himself “grounded for life” at the beginning of his summer vacation in Dead End in Norvelt. Jack’s punishment is to help an arthritic old neighbor, Miss Volker type obituaries filled with stories about the citizens who have lived in the town. As one obituary leads to another Jack finds himself entangled with twisted promises, voices from the past, a homemade airplane, Girl Scout cookies, Hells Angels, and possibly…a murder. In this funny adventure story Jack learns that being grounded may have its unexpected share of surprises as he learns about facing death and his fears.

It became apparent to many people after the Newbery Award was established that the artists designing picture books for children were equally deserving of recognition and encouragement. As a result, the Caldecott Medal was established in 1938 and was named in honor of the nineteenth –century English illustrator Randolph J. Caldecott. “This medal is to be given to the artist who had created the most distinguished picture book of the year.” Every child has a special toy and in the wordless picture book A Ball for Daisy illustrated by Chris Raschka most children will be able to relate to Daisy, an energetic black-eared dog whose favorite red ball is deflated by a big brown dog. Daisy is heartbroken but learns that sometimes losses can lead to unanticipated gains when Daisy and the big brown dog become friends and the big dog gives her a blue ball that they both can play with together. Raschka is successful in portraying the emotions of the story without the necessity of words by using ink, watercolor, and gouache artwork. He effectively creates large close-ups of Daisy to emphasize emotion and smaller panels for the action scenes.

Dead End in Norvelt and Daisy’s Red Ball can be found at Rowan Public Library!!! Remember, to also look for this year’s Newbery Honor Books: Inside Out & Back Again, written by Thanhha Lai and Breaking Stalin’s Nose, written and illustrated by Eugene Yelchin. For the younger audience be sure to check out the Caldecott Honor Books awarded this year: Blackout, illustrated and written by John Rocco, Grandpa Green, illustrated and written by Lane Smith, and Me…Jane illustrated and written by Patrick McDonnell.