Library Notes


Marissa Creamer

A new year stretches before you; a clean, blank slate offering endless possibilities. This is your chance to re-invent yourself, or at the very least, to make some improvements to the current model. If you have made any New Year’s resolutions, you are following a tradition going back to the early Romans. The Romans named the first month of the year after Janus, the Roman god depicted with two faces. Since he was able to look back at the old year and forward to the new, Janus became the symbol for resolutions, and many Romans sought forgiveness from their enemies before the beginning of the New Year.

The Puritans also believed the New Year was a good time for renewal. They tried to make the holiday an occasion for changing the way they lived their lives, and often made vows to overcome their weaknesses, make use of their talents, and make themselves useful to others.

Today, our most common New Year’s resolutions are to lose weight, exercise more, and stop smoking. We also vow to become more organized, stick to a budget, and save more money. Despite our best intentions, resolutions can be difficult to keep. Experts say that it takes about 21 days for a new activity to become a habit, and six months for it to become a part of your personality.

No matter what your resolution, Rowan Public Library can probably help you achieve your goal. The library has books, CDs, and DVDs about diet, cooking, exercise, financial management, home organization, and more.

If you have resolved to eat fresher, healthier meals and avoid mass-produced items, check out “Cook This Now,” by New York Times food columnist Melissa Clark. Subtitled “120 Easy and Delectable Dishes You Can’t Wait to Make,” this book takes a seasonal approach to cooking, using fresh, in-season ingredients and fewer processed foods. Recipes are arranged by season and individual month, with dishes including starters, entrees, sides and desserts. Start the New Year with “Crisp Roasted Chicken with Chickpeas, Lemons, and Carrots with Parsley Gremolata”; welcome spring with “Green Poached Eggs with Spinach and Chives”; celebrate summer with “Berry Summer Pudding with Rose-scented Custard”; and warm up autumn with “Butternut Squash Risotto with Pistachios and Lemon.”

If your resolution involves becoming more organized, the library has a wide selection of organization titles, including several by Peter Walsh, acclaimed organization and clutter expert. In his latest, “Lighten Up: Love What You Have, Have What You Need, Be Happier With Less,” Walsh focuses on money and debt. His goal is to “help you achieve a personal balance that brings you happiness and the courage to choose a richly rewarding life over the mindless pursuit of stuff.”

You can find these titles, as well as the latest issue of magazines such as “Health,” “Cooking Light,” “Vegetarian Times,” and “Runner’s World,” at Rowan Public Library. Stop by and find materials to help you make your New Year’s resolution a reality.