The Four Classic Elements

by Paul Birkhead  Rowan Public Library

      Do you know what the four classic elements are?  They are Earth, Air, Fire, and Water.  I thought it might be a fun gimmick to mention books available in the library whose subject matter contains at least one of the four elements.
      There are two interesting books in the library’s collection that focus on Earth.  The first is titled, The Great Quake: How the Biggest Earthquake in North America Changed Our Understanding of the Planet.  Henry Fountain, a science writer for the New York Times, researched and wrote this book about the 1964 Alaska earthquake.  The 9.2 magnitude quake was the biggest ever recorded in North America and the second largest the world has ever known.  In the book, survivors’ stories are recounted and scientific evidence is examined to determine the cause of the deadly event.
      The second book about Earth is titled The Ground Beneath Us.  Written by Paul Bogard, this study of the planet’s top layer is fascinating from many points of view.  Students of history will appreciate stories about the Holocaust and American Civil War, while fans of travel will enjoy visits to far and exotic places.  After a lesson about soil, farming and urbanization’s impact on our planet is examined.  From paving to fracking, it is quite sobering to realize the extent of damage that is done to our planet every day.
      Another element, Air, is represented by two other books.  Caesar’s Last Breath by Sam Kean looks at the air that surrounds us every day.  This is a very scientific book that contains enough fun facts to make it interesting.  Death in the Air, written by Kate Winkler Dawson, tells the story of two killers striking London in the winter of 1952.  One, a blanketing smog that caused over 12,000 deaths and the second, a person who murdered at least six women.
      The next element, Fire, was easy to find books about.  Firestorm: How Wildfire Will Shape Our Future, by Edward Struzik, was published last year but is very timely as parts of California are currently ablaze.  Struzik’s research into environmental factors and forestry management practices explain why firestorms have unfortunately become the new normal.
      American Fire: Love, Arson, and Life in a Vanishing Land is a tale of the tragedy that rural Accomack County, Virginia, endured during half a year in the clutches of a serial arsonist.  Monica Hesse, a writer for the Washington Post, lived in the area as she researched the book and the intimate knowledge of the locale shows in her work.
      Water is the fourth classic element.  In Ruthless Tide, writer and TV weatherman, Al Roker, recounts the story of the infamous Johnstown Flood.  On May 31, 1899, a dam fourteen miles upstream from the town of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, burst and decimated the surrounding community.  Millions of dollars in damage, two thousand lives lost, and the first natural disaster relief effort combine to make this a fascinating read.
      The Water Will Come by Jeff Goodel is book about the changing climate and its effect on global sea levels.  While some might not agree with the climate predictions, it’s hard to deny that lump in your throat when you read about what could happen to some of the world’s largest cities. 
      Although some topics might make you uneasy, come into Rowan Public Library and stretch your comfort zone by checking out books featuring the four classic elements.

Family Searching

by Gretchen Beilfuss Witt Rowan Public Library

                The History Room at the Rowan Public Library is well-known for having good resources for researching your family genealogy.  Regretfully, none of the materials in the History Room can be taken home and poured over in the wee hours of the night.   There are however, some books located in non-fiction that can be checked out.   “Genealogy for Dummies” by Matthew and April Helms provides a solid beginning for genealogical research including an overview of online resources, free and subscription.   It introduces the reader to specific surname family websites as well as different language/cultural genealogical websites including Asian, African and Caribbean.  The chapter many might find useful, examines what is available for genealogical DNA testing and what test and company might best fulfill your genealogical goals.   Other books along this same vein might specialize in specific groups like “A Genealogist’s guide to Discovering Your African-American Ancestors” or may have a particular slant like “Bringing Your Family History to Life through Social History by Katherine Scott Sturdevant.       

Along side genealogical research often letters, photos, family memorabilia and important documents are handed down.  It is useful to know how best to house and preserve such items so they are around for the generations to follow.  The library has an excellent book, “How to Archive Family Keepsakes” to guide a person through the process of gleaning the treasures from the chaff.  After a grandparent or old auntie dies, folks are often reluctant to go through boxes and papers not knowing quite what to do with them.  This book enables a person to discern what should be kept and what to toss, how to organize, store and preserve.

For the finishing touch, check out Joy Neighbors book “The Family Tree Cemetery Field Guide.”  It begins with a fascinating chapter on the history and cultural importance of cemeteries.   The Neanderthal are believed to have buried their dead as much as fifty thousand years ago in the caves at La Chapelle-aux-Saints and  the first tomb for an individual dates to 12000 BCE and is located in Israel.  Did you know that the Victorian Era saw the first park-like or garden cemeteries created  so people could escape the dingy cities to enjoy a walk in the fresh air while admiring sculptures and interesting architecture? Neighbors goes on to explain how tombstones can assist in genealogical searches not only by revealing dates but also indicating something of the life of the person.   The carving on a tombstone might indicate the religion, occupation or military record of the deceased.    She also gives hints on how to read worn headstones or to find and record important information about a deceased relative.  Neighbors suggests volunteering to contribute to the ever increasing databases like Billions of Graves and Find-a-Grave which record gravesites via photograph and provide information for researchers.  

With these and other books, no matter where you are in family search the library has the resources to unearth your family story.

Curl up with a good mystery

by Amanda Bosch Rowan Public Library

Because I read so much nonfiction for work, I enjoy fiction most, especially detective novels and mysteries that keep me awake at night.

David Grann

            I love to read a good mystery novel and immerse myself in another world, another setting, where clues lead me to follow a path to solving the crime and letting my brain relax after a day spent solving other people’s problems whether at work or at home navigating between homework deadlines, sports schedules and grocery shopping. I find when I finish a good mystery, my mind feels calm and at peace as I congratulate myself if I figure out “whodunit” within the first half of the book.

            This year I attended the American Library Association Annual Conference in New Orleans, LA in June and was able to go to a session entitled, “It’s a Mystery to Me” where four mystery authors discussed their latest novels. Robert Olen Butler ("Paris in the Dark"), Amy Stewart ("Miss Kopp Just Won’t Quit"), Jude Deveraux ("A Willing Murder,"), Ellen Byron ("Mardi Gras Murder,") and Deborah LeBlanc ("Witch's Fury") all kept the audience intrigued as they shared their inspirations and personal stories that led to the development of their characters, novels and new series.

            After returning home to Salisbury and getting back to the library, I discovered that Rowan Public Library has a variety of new mystery novels to read. You can easily search new titles by navigating to the library homepage and clicking on the I Want To… tab and then selecting Search the Catalog where you will find a shortcut to the New Titles that are available. This will list books added to the collection over the past month. You can filter to show titles added over the last week or last two weeks or search within the new titles for a specific subject or author.  I chose to search for mystery titles and filtered for titles added in the past month. I found some excellent new reads. Some of the new titles are:

·         Probable Claws by Rita Mae Brown – I have read many of the titles in this series that feature Tee Tucker the corgi and his kitty best friends, Mrs. Murphy and Pewter, urging their human compadre to notice the clues to solve the puzzle. Set in Crozet, Virginia, these titles always make a for a fun read following the clues and thinking perhaps the animals really are smarter than their human counterparts. You can discover more about this author and her books at http://www.ritamaebrownbooks.com/

·         Dreams of Falling by Karen White – I am a huge fan of Karen White’s novels. She writes contemporary women’s fiction, often setting her novels in the low country of South Carolina or Charleston area. This novel is explores the relationships between generations of women and the secrets they hold. She also writes the Tradd Street mystery series set in Charleston, SC and can be found online at https://www.karen-white.com/

·         Pieces of Her by Karin Slaughter – I am anxiously awaiting this title to arrive after placing it on hold. Karin Slaughter is an internationally best-selling author of both the Will Trent Series and the Grant County series. Her books have fairly graphic violence so are not for those with weak stomachs but the mysteries and relationships between the characters are gripping and make for novels that are hard to put down.  Find out more about Karin Slaughter and her novels at http://www.karinslaughter.com/

There are many more mystery titles at Rowan Public Library; these are just a few of the titles available that are new releases. Why purchase a book from Amazon or the bookstore if you can find your favorite author or try a new title or genre for free with your library card?

Acronyms are everywhere.

 by Jim Whalen  Rowan Public Library

 ASAP, FBI, FEDX, NRA, CBS, NBC, ABC, TNT, GMAIL, all the two letters for states-TN-AK-AS-AL, etc. The list goes forever. Go to a hospital and find, CNA, LPN, RN, PA, CLNC, CPAN, CCBS.  IHOP is famous for their acronym. I know a 9 year old who thought IHOP and International House of pancakes were two different restaurants. It was not that long ago we discovered some email acronyms, LOL,OMG, but texting  has eclipsed that by millions. IMU, AMMOF, IDK, IMO, WRT, OT, IIRC, and many I can’t use here

When did McDonald’s become so difficult that the term Mickey Ds started? A long series of names have evolved into short cute names.  AT&T, GEICO, ING, HR Block. Like many people, I don’t know the original name just the acronym.  It is much easier to say GEICO than Government Employees Insurance Company.   Remember the super bowl commercials for ING?  The full name is International Netherlands Group. Again the acronym is much easier to remember.

Do librarians have acronyms? Well the library can be Lib, LIB, Libr. You may as well just spell the entire name. Librarians are not known for their acronyms. We blend in so well many people think everyone here is a librarian. No not everyone is, but the service can be so good you can’t distinguish between roles.  What is a librarian?  A librarian is someone who has obtained an undergraduate degree, completed a masters degree in library science approved by ALA, American Library Association. Courses include library management, cataloging and classification, information sources and services, principles of database information retrieval, collection management, and many, many more.

While some librarians hold degrees in general library or information science, others pursue specialty degrees in concentrations of a particular field.  There are concentrations in academic, public, music, legal, history (archives), special collections, library administration and management, and again many others.  Specialization may be required for some positions. For example, school librarians in many states are required to earn a master's degree in education or library science with a specialty in library media.

With many colleges offering online courses you can work full time and earn a Masters in Library Science. There are volunteer opportunities in libraries where you can try out the profession before committing to a degree. You don’t need experience in a library to attend a graduate school, just an undergraduate degree, and a desire to help others find what they are searching for.  This is a very generic statement but, give people what they seek and you will have a very happy patron.