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.
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Sunday, July 22, 2012
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!
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!
Sunday, July 15, 2012
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!
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!
Sunday, July 01, 2012
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.
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.
Sunday, June 24, 2012
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
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
Sunday, June 17, 2012
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.
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.
Saturday, June 09, 2012
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
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
Sunday, June 03, 2012
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.
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.
Sunday, May 27, 2012
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.
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.
Monday, May 21, 2012
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.
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.
Monday, May 14, 2012
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.
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.
Monday, April 30, 2012
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.
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.
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.
Monday, April 16, 2012
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.
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.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
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.
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.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
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.
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.
Monday, February 06, 2012
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.
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.
Friday, January 20, 2012
Library Notes – January 20, 2012
Pam Everhardt Bloom
Sweeten Your Life
Children sometimes provide the best lessons. My three year old granddaughter, Gracie, was visiting one weekend and she was particularly sweet and agreeable. When I jokingly asked her how she got so sweet, her very serious reply was, “I read books.” Gracie’s insight made me think seriously about how literature and stories have the potential to affect all of us, no matter our age.
When was the last time you sat down with a beautiful picture book? Books that we often think of as children’s books are truly “everybody” books and offer much more than lovely illustrations. Perhaps it’s time for a trip to the children’s section at your local library. Like Gracie, you might just find these reads make you and your life a bit sweeter.
Patricia Polacco is an illustrator and author with great stories to share. “Pink and Say” is an unexpected Civil War story handed down through the author’s family, a story for all ages. Two other of her books based on true stories are “Thank You, Mr. Falker” and its sequel, “The Junkyard Wonders.” To describe these last two books as stories of children with learning difficulties doesn’t even begin to describe the magic found in Polacco’s books. Treat yourself to these readings and most likely, you’ll be back for more Polacco selections.
Eve Bunting weaves a story of loss and step-families and a hope for growth in “The Memory String,” illustrated by Ted Rand. Like Patricia Polacco, her books are numerous and this treasure will surely entice you to explore others such as “Butterfly House,” “So Far From the Sea,” and “Night Tree.”
For your favorite nonconformist or for the pure pleasure of a good story, check out a copy of Paul Fleishman’s “Westlandia,” illustrated by Kevin Hawkes, and follow the adventures of Wesley and his crop of “swist.” Follow up this celebration of uniqueness with other books such as “Duck, Rabbit” by Amy Krouse Rosenthal. We all need a reminder that everything depends on how you look at it and the illustrations by Tom Lichtenheld will not disappoint. As an added bonus, it’s a great read-aloud.
Jeff Brumble teams with artist Gail de Marcken to create stories of good deeds in “The Quiltmaker’s Gift” and “The Quiltmaker’s Journey.” The illustrations are so detailed and numerous that you may find yourself creating your own tales to extend Brumble’s stories. Following this same theme, “Miss Rumphius,” story and pictures by Barbara Cooney, is a beautiful reminder of the need to spread goodness and beauty through the world and the possibilities that can make it happen.
As you renew your acquaintance with picture books, don’t neglect two timeless stories for all ages, “The Story of Ferdinand” by Munro Leaf and “The Giving Tree” by Shel Silverstein. Life will seem sweeter – guaranteed!
Pam Everhardt Bloom
Sweeten Your Life
Children sometimes provide the best lessons. My three year old granddaughter, Gracie, was visiting one weekend and she was particularly sweet and agreeable. When I jokingly asked her how she got so sweet, her very serious reply was, “I read books.” Gracie’s insight made me think seriously about how literature and stories have the potential to affect all of us, no matter our age.
When was the last time you sat down with a beautiful picture book? Books that we often think of as children’s books are truly “everybody” books and offer much more than lovely illustrations. Perhaps it’s time for a trip to the children’s section at your local library. Like Gracie, you might just find these reads make you and your life a bit sweeter.
Patricia Polacco is an illustrator and author with great stories to share. “Pink and Say” is an unexpected Civil War story handed down through the author’s family, a story for all ages. Two other of her books based on true stories are “Thank You, Mr. Falker” and its sequel, “The Junkyard Wonders.” To describe these last two books as stories of children with learning difficulties doesn’t even begin to describe the magic found in Polacco’s books. Treat yourself to these readings and most likely, you’ll be back for more Polacco selections.
Eve Bunting weaves a story of loss and step-families and a hope for growth in “The Memory String,” illustrated by Ted Rand. Like Patricia Polacco, her books are numerous and this treasure will surely entice you to explore others such as “Butterfly House,” “So Far From the Sea,” and “Night Tree.”
For your favorite nonconformist or for the pure pleasure of a good story, check out a copy of Paul Fleishman’s “Westlandia,” illustrated by Kevin Hawkes, and follow the adventures of Wesley and his crop of “swist.” Follow up this celebration of uniqueness with other books such as “Duck, Rabbit” by Amy Krouse Rosenthal. We all need a reminder that everything depends on how you look at it and the illustrations by Tom Lichtenheld will not disappoint. As an added bonus, it’s a great read-aloud.
Jeff Brumble teams with artist Gail de Marcken to create stories of good deeds in “The Quiltmaker’s Gift” and “The Quiltmaker’s Journey.” The illustrations are so detailed and numerous that you may find yourself creating your own tales to extend Brumble’s stories. Following this same theme, “Miss Rumphius,” story and pictures by Barbara Cooney, is a beautiful reminder of the need to spread goodness and beauty through the world and the possibilities that can make it happen.
As you renew your acquaintance with picture books, don’t neglect two timeless stories for all ages, “The Story of Ferdinand” by Munro Leaf and “The Giving Tree” by Shel Silverstein. Life will seem sweeter – guaranteed!
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Library Notes
Lynn Denison
January 15, 2012
Someday I’m going to finish this book. . .file these papers. . .paint this room. . .try this recipe. . .balance my checkbook. . . . If these or any other “some day” phrases are on your list of things to do that you never get done, then maybe “someday I’ll stop procrastinating” is also on that list.
Procrastination statistics show that procrastination is a large and seriously growing problem in the United States. Though millions of Americans add “stop procrastinating” to their annual list of New Year’s resolutions, it ends up becoming just one more thing to put off doing. Fifty percent of college students report that they procrastinate consistently and consider it to be a problem; in the general population, chronic procrastination affects twenty-five percent of adults; and over ninety-five percent of procrastinators would like to reduce their delaying ways. Nearly all of us fall into that category occasionally.
At Rowan Public Library you can find the fully revised and updated edition of the classic guide PROCRASTINATION: Why You Do It, What to Do About It NOW, by Jane B. Burka, PhD and Lenora M. Yuen, PhD. Their research is based in part on their renowned procrastination workshops that they have presented through the years. Their book delves into the many and varied reasons why we procrastinate, some of which are feelings of doubt and pressure, a complex relationship with time, and neurological and interpersonal roots. The most important result of reading this easy-to-use and sometimes humorous book is to obtain resources on how to stop procrastinating and start getting things done.
Another new book on the subject is The Procrastination Equation. The author, Piers Steel, PhD, is one of the world’s foremost researchers and speakers on the science of motivation and procrastination. He is also an admitted practicing procrastinator from an early age. In a recent article in the Canadian Press on the launching of his new book, Dr. Steel notes sardonically that the book is “just in time for last Christmas.” Dr. Steel tackles head-on the widely accepted perception that perfectionists are prone to putting things off. Instead, he writes that the personality trait that stands out among the rest in predicting procrastination is impulsiveness. The book contains a questionnaire to help readers figure out where they fall in the ranks of procrastination. Techniques for dealing with the problem are given throughout the book. One coping mechanism that Steel points out that could be useful to anyone working often with a computer is to turn off any icon that indicates that new e-mail is coming in. Instead only check e- mail at natural breaks in the work flow. He claims that an action as simple as that can add up to a 10 percent increase in productivity, equaling over an extra month per year. The book is sprinkled throughout with interesting quotes from famous people, some of them humorous. My favorite is by Mark Twain, “Never put off till tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow.”
Two older but still vital books in this area that are worth exploring are It’s About Time: The Six Styles of Procrastination and How to Overcome Them by Dr. Linda Sapadin and Jack Maquire and The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Dr. Stephen Covey. Dr. Covey’s book has sold more than 15 million copies in 38 languages. As an interesting aside, in 2003 Dr. Covey received the National Fatherhood Award, which as the father of nine and the grandfather of 43, he says is the most meaningful award he has ever received!
Perhaps you’ll feel inspired one of these days to stop by Rowan Public Library for one of the above books or for some of the other informative, inspiring, and entertaining items we have awaiting you at one of our three branches.
Lynn Denison
January 15, 2012
Someday I’m going to finish this book. . .file these papers. . .paint this room. . .try this recipe. . .balance my checkbook. . . . If these or any other “some day” phrases are on your list of things to do that you never get done, then maybe “someday I’ll stop procrastinating” is also on that list.
Procrastination statistics show that procrastination is a large and seriously growing problem in the United States. Though millions of Americans add “stop procrastinating” to their annual list of New Year’s resolutions, it ends up becoming just one more thing to put off doing. Fifty percent of college students report that they procrastinate consistently and consider it to be a problem; in the general population, chronic procrastination affects twenty-five percent of adults; and over ninety-five percent of procrastinators would like to reduce their delaying ways. Nearly all of us fall into that category occasionally.
At Rowan Public Library you can find the fully revised and updated edition of the classic guide PROCRASTINATION: Why You Do It, What to Do About It NOW, by Jane B. Burka, PhD and Lenora M. Yuen, PhD. Their research is based in part on their renowned procrastination workshops that they have presented through the years. Their book delves into the many and varied reasons why we procrastinate, some of which are feelings of doubt and pressure, a complex relationship with time, and neurological and interpersonal roots. The most important result of reading this easy-to-use and sometimes humorous book is to obtain resources on how to stop procrastinating and start getting things done.
Another new book on the subject is The Procrastination Equation. The author, Piers Steel, PhD, is one of the world’s foremost researchers and speakers on the science of motivation and procrastination. He is also an admitted practicing procrastinator from an early age. In a recent article in the Canadian Press on the launching of his new book, Dr. Steel notes sardonically that the book is “just in time for last Christmas.” Dr. Steel tackles head-on the widely accepted perception that perfectionists are prone to putting things off. Instead, he writes that the personality trait that stands out among the rest in predicting procrastination is impulsiveness. The book contains a questionnaire to help readers figure out where they fall in the ranks of procrastination. Techniques for dealing with the problem are given throughout the book. One coping mechanism that Steel points out that could be useful to anyone working often with a computer is to turn off any icon that indicates that new e-mail is coming in. Instead only check e- mail at natural breaks in the work flow. He claims that an action as simple as that can add up to a 10 percent increase in productivity, equaling over an extra month per year. The book is sprinkled throughout with interesting quotes from famous people, some of them humorous. My favorite is by Mark Twain, “Never put off till tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow.”
Two older but still vital books in this area that are worth exploring are It’s About Time: The Six Styles of Procrastination and How to Overcome Them by Dr. Linda Sapadin and Jack Maquire and The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Dr. Stephen Covey. Dr. Covey’s book has sold more than 15 million copies in 38 languages. As an interesting aside, in 2003 Dr. Covey received the National Fatherhood Award, which as the father of nine and the grandfather of 43, he says is the most meaningful award he has ever received!
Perhaps you’ll feel inspired one of these days to stop by Rowan Public Library for one of the above books or for some of the other informative, inspiring, and entertaining items we have awaiting you at one of our three branches.
Sunday, January 08, 2012
Library Notes
Edward Hirst
The New Year brings a wealth of new resources available online through NC Live. You can access these anytime from the comfort of your home or from within the library. You only need an RPL library card number and PIN for access from home.
Art & Architecture Complete: Magazines, journals, trade publications and books covering a variety of art and architecture subjects including antiques, art and art history, interior and landscape design, and more.
Biography Reference Center: More than 450,000 biographies, including actors, authors, explorers, historical figures, inventors, musicians, Presidents of the United States, scientists and many others.
Entrepreneurial Studies Source: Covers topics relevant to entrepreneurship and small business, including key magazines, reference books, case studies, and company profiles.
Environment Complete: Journals on topics including agriculture, renewable energy sources, natural resources, marine & freshwater science, geography, pollution & waste management, environmental technology, urban planning, and others.
Legal Information Reference Center: Contains hundreds of full-text publications and thousands of legal forms. The full-text legal reference books are provided through Nolo, the nation's oldest and most-respected provider of legal information for consumers and small businesses.
Points of View: Provides students with a series of essays that present multiple sides of a current issue. This resource provides more than 280 topics, each with an overview (objective background/description), point (argument), counterpoint (opposing argument), and Critical Thinking Guide.
Small Business Reference Center: Offers a wide variety of information on small business and entrepreneurial subject areas, common business types, a help and advice section, and information on how to create business plans that lead to successful funding.
Small Engine Repair Reference Center: Detailed, user-friendly repair guides for all types of small engines.
In addition NC LIVE has upgraded other resources, with additional content and new features:
Academic Search Complete: Magazines and journals on many subjects, includes peer-reviewed and scholarly works.
Business Source Complete: Journals, peer-reviewed publications, magazines on a wide range of topics including marketing, management, accounting, finance and economics.
Literary Reference Center Plus: Articles and criticisms, including peer-reviewed, bios and interviews, novels, short stories, poems, and literary magazines.
MAS Complete: For high school and junior college students. They include magazines, original historical documents, such as The Bill of Rights, The Constitution, The Federalist Papers and the speeches of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Novelist K-8 Plus: Reader's advisory service for fiction and nonfiction titles, designed to support the curriculum and kids’ pleasure reading. This is easily searchable by author, title, series name, plot, and lexile level with author read-alikes and lists of award-winners.
Edward Hirst
The New Year brings a wealth of new resources available online through NC Live. You can access these anytime from the comfort of your home or from within the library. You only need an RPL library card number and PIN for access from home.
Art & Architecture Complete: Magazines, journals, trade publications and books covering a variety of art and architecture subjects including antiques, art and art history, interior and landscape design, and more.
Biography Reference Center: More than 450,000 biographies, including actors, authors, explorers, historical figures, inventors, musicians, Presidents of the United States, scientists and many others.
Entrepreneurial Studies Source: Covers topics relevant to entrepreneurship and small business, including key magazines, reference books, case studies, and company profiles.
Environment Complete: Journals on topics including agriculture, renewable energy sources, natural resources, marine & freshwater science, geography, pollution & waste management, environmental technology, urban planning, and others.
Legal Information Reference Center: Contains hundreds of full-text publications and thousands of legal forms. The full-text legal reference books are provided through Nolo, the nation's oldest and most-respected provider of legal information for consumers and small businesses.
Points of View: Provides students with a series of essays that present multiple sides of a current issue. This resource provides more than 280 topics, each with an overview (objective background/description), point (argument), counterpoint (opposing argument), and Critical Thinking Guide.
Small Business Reference Center: Offers a wide variety of information on small business and entrepreneurial subject areas, common business types, a help and advice section, and information on how to create business plans that lead to successful funding.
Small Engine Repair Reference Center: Detailed, user-friendly repair guides for all types of small engines.
In addition NC LIVE has upgraded other resources, with additional content and new features:
Academic Search Complete: Magazines and journals on many subjects, includes peer-reviewed and scholarly works.
Business Source Complete: Journals, peer-reviewed publications, magazines on a wide range of topics including marketing, management, accounting, finance and economics.
Literary Reference Center Plus: Articles and criticisms, including peer-reviewed, bios and interviews, novels, short stories, poems, and literary magazines.
MAS Complete: For high school and junior college students. They include magazines, original historical documents, such as The Bill of Rights, The Constitution, The Federalist Papers and the speeches of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Novelist K-8 Plus: Reader's advisory service for fiction and nonfiction titles, designed to support the curriculum and kids’ pleasure reading. This is easily searchable by author, title, series name, plot, and lexile level with author read-alikes and lists of award-winners.
Sunday, January 01, 2012
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.
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.
Sunday, December 25, 2011
LIBRARY NOTES: ANNIVERSARIES
PAUL BIRKHEAD – DECEMBER 25, 2011
Something I always enjoy at the dawn of a new year is learning who or what will be marking an anniversary during the next twelve months. Did you know that 2011 marked the 100th year Rowan Public Library has been in existence? The library has celebrated all year with special programs and guest speakers at each location.
The year 2012 will see continued interest in all subjects concerning the American Civil War. Battles marking their 150th anniversary this year include those at Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Fredericksburg, and Antietam. Rowan Public Library has an extensive collection of books and DVDs that discuss these events as well as others. Do you have an ancestor (or two) who fought in the Civil War? If so, you’ll want to stop by the Edith M. Clark History Room on the third floor of the Headquarters library in Salisbury. There you’ll find thousands of books, microforms, manuscripts, and other materials that can help you discover your own genealogical gems.
In the literary world, there are several anniversaries that ought to be remembered this year. It’s amazing to me that, even after all this time, the following works continue to be read (or watched in movie form) and loved by subsequent generations.
200 years ago (1812) – Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss
100 years ago (1912) – Riders of the Purple Sage by Zane Grey
75 years ago (1937) – Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck and The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
50 years ago (1962) – Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
25 years ago (1987) – Patriot Games by Tom Clancy and Beloved by Toni Morrison
As you can see, there are several literary milestones that you’ll have a chance to celebrate with the library this year. Are there two or three titles on that list that you’ve never read - or has it been a long time ago? Stop by Rowan Public Library and check out our collection. We’ll be here to help you and looking forward to our next one hundred years serving Rowan County.
PAUL BIRKHEAD – DECEMBER 25, 2011
Something I always enjoy at the dawn of a new year is learning who or what will be marking an anniversary during the next twelve months. Did you know that 2011 marked the 100th year Rowan Public Library has been in existence? The library has celebrated all year with special programs and guest speakers at each location.
The year 2012 will see continued interest in all subjects concerning the American Civil War. Battles marking their 150th anniversary this year include those at Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Fredericksburg, and Antietam. Rowan Public Library has an extensive collection of books and DVDs that discuss these events as well as others. Do you have an ancestor (or two) who fought in the Civil War? If so, you’ll want to stop by the Edith M. Clark History Room on the third floor of the Headquarters library in Salisbury. There you’ll find thousands of books, microforms, manuscripts, and other materials that can help you discover your own genealogical gems.
In the literary world, there are several anniversaries that ought to be remembered this year. It’s amazing to me that, even after all this time, the following works continue to be read (or watched in movie form) and loved by subsequent generations.
200 years ago (1812) – Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss
100 years ago (1912) – Riders of the Purple Sage by Zane Grey
75 years ago (1937) – Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck and The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
50 years ago (1962) – Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
25 years ago (1987) – Patriot Games by Tom Clancy and Beloved by Toni Morrison
As you can see, there are several literary milestones that you’ll have a chance to celebrate with the library this year. Are there two or three titles on that list that you’ve never read - or has it been a long time ago? Stop by Rowan Public Library and check out our collection. We’ll be here to help you and looking forward to our next one hundred years serving Rowan County.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Gretchen Beilfuss Witt
December 11, 2011
Holy Days, Holidays
This time of year can be hectic for everyone but special as well. We each have our own unique traditions to observe either community-wide or family specific, religious or cultural. I am always curious as to how these observances got started. Some customs began eons ago – our custom of giving gifts dates back to early Roman winter solstice celebrations - and some are much more contemporary.
Valerie Menards' "The Latino Holiday Book" describes two Hispanic-American contributions to main stream Christmas celebrations. Cuetlaxochitl, is the Aztec name for the beautiful la flor de nochebuena or the flower of Christmas Eve. One story claims that a poor girl in Mexico wishing to take flowers to church was instructed by an angel to gather weeds and take them as an offering. These weeds were miraculously transformed into poinsettias. The U.S. name comes from the first U.S. minister to Mexico who brought the plant to the United States in 1829, Joel R. Poinsett. Luminaries are an even more complex amalgam of traditions. Native Americans in New Mexico, adapting their bonfire custom, made little fires outside churches and houses. In the 19th century when Chinese paper lanterns came into the picture; luminaries were placed in paper bags. These little fires symbolically light the way for the journey to Bethlehem.
Kwanzaa began in the 1966 by Maulana Karenga as an effort to establish a cultural observance, specifically for African-American and others of African descent; a way to celebrate heritage. Using Swahili, a common language among much of East Africa, and synthesizing elements from African harvest festivals, Kwanzaa is celebrated from December 26-New Year's Day. In "Kwanzaa: An African-American Celebration of Culture and Cooking" Eric Copage shares recipes as well as cultural and historical samples to illustrate Kwanzaa principles and experiences.
There are many older practices commemorating the Christmas season. The practice of sending Christmas cards began in England with Sir Henry Cole, a founder of the Victoria and Albert Museum. By the mid-1840s the custom was adopted by the royal family and as postage became less expensive more people participated. Cards in the United States were too expensive until a lithographer Louis Prang around 1875 mass produced them. Other customs signify the ending of the holiday season. Historically, Christmas Day was the beginning of the twelve days of Christmas ending on Twelfth Night or Epiphany when the Magi came to visit the Christ Child. Special cakes were made and gifts exchanged. In Shakespeare's time, Twelfth Night was one of masquerades and revelry. An almond in a sliver of cake brought good luck to the finder. Another tradition has the Christmas season ending on the day of ritual purification of Mary, forty days after the birth of Christ. The custom of blessing candles on this day gave it the name Candlemas. Decorations would be taken down, the last piece of the Yule log put away for next year and the Christmas plants burned and spread over the gardens. Candlemas day was a good day for weather casting. If a sunny day, folks could expect forty more days of cold and snow; in America, February 2 is more commonly known as Groundhog Day.
These and other interesting facts can be found at your library. However its observed, enjoy your holiday season.
December 11, 2011
Holy Days, Holidays
This time of year can be hectic for everyone but special as well. We each have our own unique traditions to observe either community-wide or family specific, religious or cultural. I am always curious as to how these observances got started. Some customs began eons ago – our custom of giving gifts dates back to early Roman winter solstice celebrations - and some are much more contemporary.
Valerie Menards' "The Latino Holiday Book" describes two Hispanic-American contributions to main stream Christmas celebrations. Cuetlaxochitl, is the Aztec name for the beautiful la flor de nochebuena or the flower of Christmas Eve. One story claims that a poor girl in Mexico wishing to take flowers to church was instructed by an angel to gather weeds and take them as an offering. These weeds were miraculously transformed into poinsettias. The U.S. name comes from the first U.S. minister to Mexico who brought the plant to the United States in 1829, Joel R. Poinsett. Luminaries are an even more complex amalgam of traditions. Native Americans in New Mexico, adapting their bonfire custom, made little fires outside churches and houses. In the 19th century when Chinese paper lanterns came into the picture; luminaries were placed in paper bags. These little fires symbolically light the way for the journey to Bethlehem.
Kwanzaa began in the 1966 by Maulana Karenga as an effort to establish a cultural observance, specifically for African-American and others of African descent; a way to celebrate heritage. Using Swahili, a common language among much of East Africa, and synthesizing elements from African harvest festivals, Kwanzaa is celebrated from December 26-New Year's Day. In "Kwanzaa: An African-American Celebration of Culture and Cooking" Eric Copage shares recipes as well as cultural and historical samples to illustrate Kwanzaa principles and experiences.
There are many older practices commemorating the Christmas season. The practice of sending Christmas cards began in England with Sir Henry Cole, a founder of the Victoria and Albert Museum. By the mid-1840s the custom was adopted by the royal family and as postage became less expensive more people participated. Cards in the United States were too expensive until a lithographer Louis Prang around 1875 mass produced them. Other customs signify the ending of the holiday season. Historically, Christmas Day was the beginning of the twelve days of Christmas ending on Twelfth Night or Epiphany when the Magi came to visit the Christ Child. Special cakes were made and gifts exchanged. In Shakespeare's time, Twelfth Night was one of masquerades and revelry. An almond in a sliver of cake brought good luck to the finder. Another tradition has the Christmas season ending on the day of ritual purification of Mary, forty days after the birth of Christ. The custom of blessing candles on this day gave it the name Candlemas. Decorations would be taken down, the last piece of the Yule log put away for next year and the Christmas plants burned and spread over the gardens. Candlemas day was a good day for weather casting. If a sunny day, folks could expect forty more days of cold and snow; in America, February 2 is more commonly known as Groundhog Day.
These and other interesting facts can be found at your library. However its observed, enjoy your holiday season.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Library Notes
Rebecca Hyde
What is “aging”? It is not a disease, but a developmental process that affects body and mind. In the “Art of Aging: A Doctor’s Prescription for Well-Being,” Dr. Sherwin Nuland, clinical professor of surgery at Yale University, describes the aging process and suggests ways we can “attune” ourselves to its progress. We can choose to take an active, creative part in cultivating our personal art of aging. According to the professional literature of geriatrics, the ability to adapt, to learn and then accept one’s limitations is a determinant of “successful aging.” Dr. Nuland prefers “attune” to “adapt”: attuning ourselves to the passage of years means being “newly receptive to signals welcome and unwelcome, to a variety of experiences not previously within our range, while achieving a kind of harmony with the real circumstances of our lives.”
For Dr. Nuland the “real circumstances of our lives” do not include a vision of an ageless future in which the responses of our bodies to the passage of time, heredity, and the biology of life can be rearranged to prevent or even reverse aging. His “prescription for well-being” is not a detailed list of rules to follow but rather a description of those people who have lived creative and productive lives, managing limitations and chronic illnesses. There is a remarkable portrait of Michael DeBakey, who lived a life of “vibrant longevity.” What goals did he have at the age of ninety-six? He just had a schedule of things that needed to be done, but didn’t dwell on whether he was going to be alive to do them. “I’m absolutely sure I”ll arrive to where I’m going” was DeBakey’s philosophy, which applied to getting on a plane or death.
Two other books examine aging with differing doses of inspiration and hard realism. In “The Gift of Years: Growing Older Gracefully,” Joan Chittister, a Benedictine Sister, offers a collection of essays on the rewards of “mature life,” or aging well. It is time to let go of fantasies of eternal youth and fears of getting older, and engage in a new stage of life. And it has its own purpose, which is to give us time to assimilate and make new choices in the way we live.
Susan Jacoby wrote “Never Say Die: The Myth and Marketing of the New Old Age.” She is a critic of the “young old age” or “new old age” featured in American culture. This new norm presents “a formidable obstacle to any effort to deal pragmatically with the social, economic, and medical problems associated with real old age.” As for the individual, the right to feel rotten affords better preparation for suffering and loss than inflated expectations that lead to real despair: it’s energizing. Jacoby was amazed at the intensity (and poetry) of her grandmother’s awareness of death. The old woman mourned the end of her usefulness but looking at the river said, “It’s good to know that the beauty of the world will go on without me.”
Rebecca Hyde
What is “aging”? It is not a disease, but a developmental process that affects body and mind. In the “Art of Aging: A Doctor’s Prescription for Well-Being,” Dr. Sherwin Nuland, clinical professor of surgery at Yale University, describes the aging process and suggests ways we can “attune” ourselves to its progress. We can choose to take an active, creative part in cultivating our personal art of aging. According to the professional literature of geriatrics, the ability to adapt, to learn and then accept one’s limitations is a determinant of “successful aging.” Dr. Nuland prefers “attune” to “adapt”: attuning ourselves to the passage of years means being “newly receptive to signals welcome and unwelcome, to a variety of experiences not previously within our range, while achieving a kind of harmony with the real circumstances of our lives.”
For Dr. Nuland the “real circumstances of our lives” do not include a vision of an ageless future in which the responses of our bodies to the passage of time, heredity, and the biology of life can be rearranged to prevent or even reverse aging. His “prescription for well-being” is not a detailed list of rules to follow but rather a description of those people who have lived creative and productive lives, managing limitations and chronic illnesses. There is a remarkable portrait of Michael DeBakey, who lived a life of “vibrant longevity.” What goals did he have at the age of ninety-six? He just had a schedule of things that needed to be done, but didn’t dwell on whether he was going to be alive to do them. “I’m absolutely sure I”ll arrive to where I’m going” was DeBakey’s philosophy, which applied to getting on a plane or death.
Two other books examine aging with differing doses of inspiration and hard realism. In “The Gift of Years: Growing Older Gracefully,” Joan Chittister, a Benedictine Sister, offers a collection of essays on the rewards of “mature life,” or aging well. It is time to let go of fantasies of eternal youth and fears of getting older, and engage in a new stage of life. And it has its own purpose, which is to give us time to assimilate and make new choices in the way we live.
Susan Jacoby wrote “Never Say Die: The Myth and Marketing of the New Old Age.” She is a critic of the “young old age” or “new old age” featured in American culture. This new norm presents “a formidable obstacle to any effort to deal pragmatically with the social, economic, and medical problems associated with real old age.” As for the individual, the right to feel rotten affords better preparation for suffering and loss than inflated expectations that lead to real despair: it’s energizing. Jacoby was amazed at the intensity (and poetry) of her grandmother’s awareness of death. The old woman mourned the end of her usefulness but looking at the river said, “It’s good to know that the beauty of the world will go on without me.”
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Culinary Cozy Reads
Sara Grajek
These days, there are many styles of murder mysteries. Some are written to keep you guessing throughout the book, wondering ‘whodunit’. Some keep you jumping at every turn of the page, with plot twists and turns. Others can be defined as cozy mysteries. These usually feature an amateur detective, are set in a small town or village, and are gentle reads. The murder is not gruesome or graphic and may even take place out of sight with only a quick description. Most of the book takes place with the main character (who is usually very likeable) tracking down the killer, with the help of the local police (who is often very handsome). Sub-categories have even developed within cozy mysteries, with culinary, quilting, animals, and home repair themes. Culinary mysteries may be set in a restaurant or catering business and recipes are usually included for the dishes that are mentioned in the story.
In Jessica Beck’s, The Donut Shop Mysteries, Suzanne Hart is owner of the local donut shop. When she finds her friend and loyal customer dead in front of her shop she quickly takes on more than just baking. With the help of a hunky state police officer, she becomes an amateur investigator, determined to find out who killed her friend. A cast of characters including an ex-husband, a wacky best friend, and an ex-cop who gives inside information all add up to create a fun, light-hearted mystery. Start with Glazed Murder and work your way through to the most recently published Tragic Toppings. Pair with your own Krispy Kreme doughnut and a cup of coffee for extra fun.
While you are making your coffee, you can start Cleo Coyle’s Coffeehouse Mystery series. With titles such as Through the Grinder, Roast Mortem, and her newest, Murder by Mocha, Coyle serves up a shot of mystery and love in each offering. Set in New York City, the Coffeehouse Mysteries are written by a husband and wife team under the pseudonym of Cleo Coyle and each book is set in a popular NYC location. Tidbits about coffee and coffee making are interspersed with murder mystery as barista Claire Cosi tracks down murderers in the Metropolitan Museum of Art and sleuths with NYPD firemen.
Laura Childs has several popular mystery series, including one set in a Tea Shop. In Death by Darjeeling, the Indigo Tea Shop is a local Charleston favorite. At a catered event, one of the guests is found dead due to drinking tea. Naturally, the shop owner, Theodosia Browning, is the first suspect. She must take the investigation into her own hands in order to prove her innocence and save the tea shop. Look for other titles in the series such as Shades of Earl Gray and Scones and Bones. For light mysteries that will make you hungry for more, stop by Rowan Public Library for one of these delicious reads today!
Sara Grajek
These days, there are many styles of murder mysteries. Some are written to keep you guessing throughout the book, wondering ‘whodunit’. Some keep you jumping at every turn of the page, with plot twists and turns. Others can be defined as cozy mysteries. These usually feature an amateur detective, are set in a small town or village, and are gentle reads. The murder is not gruesome or graphic and may even take place out of sight with only a quick description. Most of the book takes place with the main character (who is usually very likeable) tracking down the killer, with the help of the local police (who is often very handsome). Sub-categories have even developed within cozy mysteries, with culinary, quilting, animals, and home repair themes. Culinary mysteries may be set in a restaurant or catering business and recipes are usually included for the dishes that are mentioned in the story.
In Jessica Beck’s, The Donut Shop Mysteries, Suzanne Hart is owner of the local donut shop. When she finds her friend and loyal customer dead in front of her shop she quickly takes on more than just baking. With the help of a hunky state police officer, she becomes an amateur investigator, determined to find out who killed her friend. A cast of characters including an ex-husband, a wacky best friend, and an ex-cop who gives inside information all add up to create a fun, light-hearted mystery. Start with Glazed Murder and work your way through to the most recently published Tragic Toppings. Pair with your own Krispy Kreme doughnut and a cup of coffee for extra fun.
While you are making your coffee, you can start Cleo Coyle’s Coffeehouse Mystery series. With titles such as Through the Grinder, Roast Mortem, and her newest, Murder by Mocha, Coyle serves up a shot of mystery and love in each offering. Set in New York City, the Coffeehouse Mysteries are written by a husband and wife team under the pseudonym of Cleo Coyle and each book is set in a popular NYC location. Tidbits about coffee and coffee making are interspersed with murder mystery as barista Claire Cosi tracks down murderers in the Metropolitan Museum of Art and sleuths with NYPD firemen.
Laura Childs has several popular mystery series, including one set in a Tea Shop. In Death by Darjeeling, the Indigo Tea Shop is a local Charleston favorite. At a catered event, one of the guests is found dead due to drinking tea. Naturally, the shop owner, Theodosia Browning, is the first suspect. She must take the investigation into her own hands in order to prove her innocence and save the tea shop. Look for other titles in the series such as Shades of Earl Gray and Scones and Bones. For light mysteries that will make you hungry for more, stop by Rowan Public Library for one of these delicious reads today!
Sunday, November 06, 2011
Fall Into a Great Children’s Book
Dara L. Cain
Fall is the perfect time for outdoor family activities. What could be more enjoyable then spending time with your family bobbing for apples, pumpkin picking, attending festivals, and jumping into piles of fallen leaves! To get in the spirit of the Fall season be sure to get your hands on these great books to share with your child.
Who doesn’t think of Johnny Chapman, known best as Johnny Appleseed during this time of year. Jane Yolen’s biography Johnny Appleseed: The Legend and the Truth recounts both the facts and the legend of this historical figure. The text is fixed in rectangular boxes that give the appearance of frayed-edge leaf torn from an old book and the beautiful paintings are sure to captivate your child’s attention. The author in poetic stanza talks about the legends of Johnny and under the verses details about Chapman’s family, his growing desire to travel west, and the heritage he left behind are included.
It’s always fun to go to the pumpkin fields each year as a family to search among the many different sizes and shapes of pumpkins in hopes of finding the perfect one. Turn your pumpkin outing into a teachable moment by sharing with your child the story Life Cycle of a Pumpkin by Ron Fridell and Patricia Walsh. Your child will have a fun time learning about the life cycle of a pumpkin through simple text and full-color photographs. Discover how big pumpkins grow, why pumpkins have very big leaves, and what you can make with pumpkins.
It is so beautiful to witness the leaves on the trees change color from green to yellow, red, and orange during this wonderful time of year. In the book Autumn Leaves by Ken Robbins explore with your child an album of life-size autumn leaves and their changing colors. The photographs realistically show the imperfections of the leaves found from various areas of the country and their intriguing shapes. Observe the leaves of the smoke tree and how they resemble paddles, how the linden tree consists of leaves that appear to be hearts, and many more. For the inquisitive child a one-page explanation as to why green leaves of summer change color is included at the end of the book.
Here are a few more noteworthy books you’ll definitely want to read with your child for enjoyment. The protagonist in the story Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert is cleverly made from an assortment of real autumn leaves to form his body and acorns for eyes. One day Leaf Man is carried away by the wind and it is up to the reader to follow his trail “past the chickens, towards the marsh, over the ducks and geese” which are all creatively arranged from leaf collages too. The characters Cat, Squirrel, and Duck each have their own assigned duties when it comes to cooking their famous pumpkin soup in the story Pumpkin Soup by Helen Cooper. When Duck decides one day that instead of pouring the salt he wants to be the stirrer all chaos breaks loose among the friends. Linda White tells the story of Rebecca Estelle, an old woman who has despised pumpkins ever since she was a girl. When an enormous pumpkin falls off a truck and crashes into her yard she covers the pumpkin with dirt. You must read the story Too Many Pumpkins to find out how one forgotten pumpkin turns into many. One of my personal favorites The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams is about a little old lady who is not afraid of anything. She encounters a pumpkin head, a tall black hat, and other spooky objects that follow her through the dark woods trying to scare her.
All of these wonderful Fall books are available at Rowan Public Library!
Dara L. Cain
Fall is the perfect time for outdoor family activities. What could be more enjoyable then spending time with your family bobbing for apples, pumpkin picking, attending festivals, and jumping into piles of fallen leaves! To get in the spirit of the Fall season be sure to get your hands on these great books to share with your child.
Who doesn’t think of Johnny Chapman, known best as Johnny Appleseed during this time of year. Jane Yolen’s biography Johnny Appleseed: The Legend and the Truth recounts both the facts and the legend of this historical figure. The text is fixed in rectangular boxes that give the appearance of frayed-edge leaf torn from an old book and the beautiful paintings are sure to captivate your child’s attention. The author in poetic stanza talks about the legends of Johnny and under the verses details about Chapman’s family, his growing desire to travel west, and the heritage he left behind are included.
It’s always fun to go to the pumpkin fields each year as a family to search among the many different sizes and shapes of pumpkins in hopes of finding the perfect one. Turn your pumpkin outing into a teachable moment by sharing with your child the story Life Cycle of a Pumpkin by Ron Fridell and Patricia Walsh. Your child will have a fun time learning about the life cycle of a pumpkin through simple text and full-color photographs. Discover how big pumpkins grow, why pumpkins have very big leaves, and what you can make with pumpkins.
It is so beautiful to witness the leaves on the trees change color from green to yellow, red, and orange during this wonderful time of year. In the book Autumn Leaves by Ken Robbins explore with your child an album of life-size autumn leaves and their changing colors. The photographs realistically show the imperfections of the leaves found from various areas of the country and their intriguing shapes. Observe the leaves of the smoke tree and how they resemble paddles, how the linden tree consists of leaves that appear to be hearts, and many more. For the inquisitive child a one-page explanation as to why green leaves of summer change color is included at the end of the book.
Here are a few more noteworthy books you’ll definitely want to read with your child for enjoyment. The protagonist in the story Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert is cleverly made from an assortment of real autumn leaves to form his body and acorns for eyes. One day Leaf Man is carried away by the wind and it is up to the reader to follow his trail “past the chickens, towards the marsh, over the ducks and geese” which are all creatively arranged from leaf collages too. The characters Cat, Squirrel, and Duck each have their own assigned duties when it comes to cooking their famous pumpkin soup in the story Pumpkin Soup by Helen Cooper. When Duck decides one day that instead of pouring the salt he wants to be the stirrer all chaos breaks loose among the friends. Linda White tells the story of Rebecca Estelle, an old woman who has despised pumpkins ever since she was a girl. When an enormous pumpkin falls off a truck and crashes into her yard she covers the pumpkin with dirt. You must read the story Too Many Pumpkins to find out how one forgotten pumpkin turns into many. One of my personal favorites The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams is about a little old lady who is not afraid of anything. She encounters a pumpkin head, a tall black hat, and other spooky objects that follow her through the dark woods trying to scare her.
All of these wonderful Fall books are available at Rowan Public Library!
Friday, November 04, 2011
Library Notes November 4, 2011
Culinary Cozy Reads
Sara Grajek
These days, there are many styles of murder mysteries. Some are written to keep you guessing throughout the book, wondering ‘whodunit’. Some keep you jumping at every turn of the page, with plot twists and turns. Others can be defined as cozy mysteries. These usually feature an amateur detective, are set in a small town or village, and are gentle reads. The murder is not gruesome or graphic and may even take place out of sight with only a quick description. Most of the book takes place with the main character (who is usually very likeable) tracking down the killer, with the help of the local police (who is often very handsome). Sub-categories have even developed within cozy mysteries, with culinary, quilting, animals, and home repair themes. Culinary mysteries may be set in a restaurant or catering business and recipes are usually included for the dishes that are mentioned in the story.
In Jessica Beck’s, The Donut Shop Mysteries, Suzanne Hart is owner of the local donut shop. When she finds her friend and loyal customer dead in front of her shop she quickly takes on more than just baking. With the help of a hunky state police officer, she becomes an amateur investigator, determined to find out who killed her friend. A cast of characters including an ex-husband, a wacky best friend, and an ex-cop who gives inside information all add up to create a fun, light-hearted mystery. Start with Glazed Murder and work your way through to the most recently published Tragic Toppings. Pair with your own Krispy Kreme doughnut and a cup of coffee for extra fun.
While you are making your coffee, you can start Cleo Coyle’s Coffeehouse Mystery series. With titles such as Through the Grinder, Roast Mortem, and her newest, Murder by Mocha, Coyle serves up a shot of mystery and love in each offering. Set in New York City, the Coffeehouse Mysteries are written by a husband and wife team under the pseudonym of Cleo Coyle and each book is set in a popular NYC location. Tidbits about coffee and coffee making are interspersed with murder mystery as barista Claire Cosi tracks down murderers in the Metropolitan Museum of Art and sleuths with NYPD firemen.
Laura Childs has several popular mystery series, including one set in a Tea Shop. In Death by Darjeeling, the Indigo Tea Shop is a local Charleston favorite. At a catered event, one of the guests is found dead due to drinking tea. Naturally, the shop owner, Theodosia Browning, is the first suspect. She must take the investigation into her own hands in order to prove her innocence and save the tea shop. Look for other titles in the series such as Shades of Earl Gray and Scones and Bones. For light mysteries that will make you hungry for more, stop by Rowan Public Library for one of these delicious reads today!
Culinary Cozy Reads
Sara Grajek
These days, there are many styles of murder mysteries. Some are written to keep you guessing throughout the book, wondering ‘whodunit’. Some keep you jumping at every turn of the page, with plot twists and turns. Others can be defined as cozy mysteries. These usually feature an amateur detective, are set in a small town or village, and are gentle reads. The murder is not gruesome or graphic and may even take place out of sight with only a quick description. Most of the book takes place with the main character (who is usually very likeable) tracking down the killer, with the help of the local police (who is often very handsome). Sub-categories have even developed within cozy mysteries, with culinary, quilting, animals, and home repair themes. Culinary mysteries may be set in a restaurant or catering business and recipes are usually included for the dishes that are mentioned in the story.
In Jessica Beck’s, The Donut Shop Mysteries, Suzanne Hart is owner of the local donut shop. When she finds her friend and loyal customer dead in front of her shop she quickly takes on more than just baking. With the help of a hunky state police officer, she becomes an amateur investigator, determined to find out who killed her friend. A cast of characters including an ex-husband, a wacky best friend, and an ex-cop who gives inside information all add up to create a fun, light-hearted mystery. Start with Glazed Murder and work your way through to the most recently published Tragic Toppings. Pair with your own Krispy Kreme doughnut and a cup of coffee for extra fun.
While you are making your coffee, you can start Cleo Coyle’s Coffeehouse Mystery series. With titles such as Through the Grinder, Roast Mortem, and her newest, Murder by Mocha, Coyle serves up a shot of mystery and love in each offering. Set in New York City, the Coffeehouse Mysteries are written by a husband and wife team under the pseudonym of Cleo Coyle and each book is set in a popular NYC location. Tidbits about coffee and coffee making are interspersed with murder mystery as barista Claire Cosi tracks down murderers in the Metropolitan Museum of Art and sleuths with NYPD firemen.
Laura Childs has several popular mystery series, including one set in a Tea Shop. In Death by Darjeeling, the Indigo Tea Shop is a local Charleston favorite. At a catered event, one of the guests is found dead due to drinking tea. Naturally, the shop owner, Theodosia Browning, is the first suspect. She must take the investigation into her own hands in order to prove her innocence and save the tea shop. Look for other titles in the series such as Shades of Earl Gray and Scones and Bones. For light mysteries that will make you hungry for more, stop by Rowan Public Library for one of these delicious reads today!
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Library Notes
October 28, 2011
Erika Kosin
Using Books to Talk to Children about Family Illness and Death
Throughout the month of October the focus has been on Breast Cancer awareness where children of all ages hear the word Cancer and learn to recognize the significance of the color pink, but many are unaware of what cancer is and how it can affect them. In fact, most parents shelter their children from the disease until the day that they need to speak to their children about a loved one who is seriously ill, or even worse, the parent him/herself. There is nothing to truly prepare a parent for this day, but there are books that may help parents talk to their children that deal both with the disease and also the loss of a loved one. While broaching these subjects may be tricky and scary, sometimes letting a child know what to expect can help them process the information and understand that it is not their fault.
Some books available at Rowan Public Library for children about Cancer include:
Mom Has Cancer! by Jennifer Moore-Mallinos – This short picture book explores the fear a child has when he notices something isn’t right as Mom and Dad are always sad and going to the doctor. When Mom explains to her son that she has cancer and what that will mean for the family, the boy is of course scared and sad, but is able to cope with the changes happening in the home. While in the book, mom’s cancer goes into remission, it does tell children that the doctor’s visits won’t stop and that mommy can get sick again, but they should be happy that everything is ok right now.
My Mommy has Cancer by Carolyn Stearns Parkinson – Written by a mother of three who’s youngest was only five when she was diagnosed with cancer, this book is meant to explain cancer to a very young child. The author felt that it was important to let children know that even though mommy is sick and it is a scary, sad time, it is alright for them to be happy and enjoy life.
Nana, What’s Cancer by Beverlye Hyman Fead and Tessa Mae Hamermesh – A book of questions and answers between a 10 year old girl and her grandmother as the girl tries to understand this illness that effects so many people. Factual and informative for children who are either curious about the disease or want to understand what a loved one is going through.
Good Luck, Mrs. K.! by Louise Borden - While family is important to children, they also feel the loss of a teacher when one is seriously ill and can not return to the classroom. Ann loves her third-grade teacher, from her interesting name to the way she knows all of the children in her class. When Ann’s teacher gets sick and a substitute comes in, she is faced with a reality that sometimes illness is not fair. As the class sends their teacher letters in the hospital, the students learn about cancer and see how it can affect those around them.
When Someone Has a Very Serious Illness and When Someone Very Special Dies from the series Children Can Learn to Cope with Loss and Change by Marge Heegaard – Both of these titles are set up in workbook form where parents can make copies of the pages and have children participate in the activities to help them deal with the emotions they are feeling when dealing with a serious illness or the loss of a loved one.
October 28, 2011
Erika Kosin
Using Books to Talk to Children about Family Illness and Death
Throughout the month of October the focus has been on Breast Cancer awareness where children of all ages hear the word Cancer and learn to recognize the significance of the color pink, but many are unaware of what cancer is and how it can affect them. In fact, most parents shelter their children from the disease until the day that they need to speak to their children about a loved one who is seriously ill, or even worse, the parent him/herself. There is nothing to truly prepare a parent for this day, but there are books that may help parents talk to their children that deal both with the disease and also the loss of a loved one. While broaching these subjects may be tricky and scary, sometimes letting a child know what to expect can help them process the information and understand that it is not their fault.
Some books available at Rowan Public Library for children about Cancer include:
Mom Has Cancer! by Jennifer Moore-Mallinos – This short picture book explores the fear a child has when he notices something isn’t right as Mom and Dad are always sad and going to the doctor. When Mom explains to her son that she has cancer and what that will mean for the family, the boy is of course scared and sad, but is able to cope with the changes happening in the home. While in the book, mom’s cancer goes into remission, it does tell children that the doctor’s visits won’t stop and that mommy can get sick again, but they should be happy that everything is ok right now.
My Mommy has Cancer by Carolyn Stearns Parkinson – Written by a mother of three who’s youngest was only five when she was diagnosed with cancer, this book is meant to explain cancer to a very young child. The author felt that it was important to let children know that even though mommy is sick and it is a scary, sad time, it is alright for them to be happy and enjoy life.
Nana, What’s Cancer by Beverlye Hyman Fead and Tessa Mae Hamermesh – A book of questions and answers between a 10 year old girl and her grandmother as the girl tries to understand this illness that effects so many people. Factual and informative for children who are either curious about the disease or want to understand what a loved one is going through.
Good Luck, Mrs. K.! by Louise Borden - While family is important to children, they also feel the loss of a teacher when one is seriously ill and can not return to the classroom. Ann loves her third-grade teacher, from her interesting name to the way she knows all of the children in her class. When Ann’s teacher gets sick and a substitute comes in, she is faced with a reality that sometimes illness is not fair. As the class sends their teacher letters in the hospital, the students learn about cancer and see how it can affect those around them.
When Someone Has a Very Serious Illness and When Someone Very Special Dies from the series Children Can Learn to Cope with Loss and Change by Marge Heegaard – Both of these titles are set up in workbook form where parents can make copies of the pages and have children participate in the activities to help them deal with the emotions they are feeling when dealing with a serious illness or the loss of a loved one.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
“Private Viewing – On-line Library Resources for Your Home Theater,” by Pam Everhardt Bloom
October 23, 2011
If you’re looking for something a little different to view or just trying to save pennies, look no further than your Rowan Public Library. All you need are your library card number and your personal PIN number. If you don’t have a PIN, simply request one in person at the circulation desk of any Rowan Public Library and you’ll be ready to select movies and documentaries on-line for personal viewing.
NCLive Digital library is easily accessed from home using the Rowan Public Library Home Page at www.rowanpubliclibrary.org . Open the library’s home page and look under “Related Links” on the left side. A click on “On-Line Tools” will open up a variety of choices. Select NCLive Resources and then, if you can resist the other entries that are available using your library card and PIN number, scroll down to the NCLive Video Collection and enjoy the many choices.
Catagories available include American History, The Arts, Biography, Business & Investing, Cultural Studies, Current Issues, Education, Health & Medicine, Kids, Military History, North Carolina, Science, and World History. Series available are American Experience, American Masters, Art 21, Cyberchase, Empires, Frontline, Ken Burns, Liberty’s Kids, Masterpiece, Wilkes County, NC Oral Documents, and Scientific American Frontier. You may also browse by individual title or by titles with closed captions.
Math adventures abound in Cyberchase and may provide a fun learning advantage for your child or a quick remediation for adults helping with homework. Liberty’s Kids provides another link for an enjoyable supplement to the social studies book. Masterpiece lovers will find favorite editions of past shows and possibly new favorites. For a different twist, the series Art 21 explores art themes that range from the topics of “Place and Spirituality” to those of “Power and Memory.” For the curious mind, look no further than Scientific American Frontiers. Episodes ranging from Animal Einsteins to Body Building and on to Natural Born Robots provide something for everyone and these are just a small sample of the many science topics available.
Should you encounter any difficulty navigating this site, go back to Rowan Public Library Home Page and click on NCLive Directions after opening the On-Line Tool link for additional instructions. There’s also a help and FAQ icon at the NCLive Digital Library site if you have other questions.
Once you’ve met your video needs, don’t forget to look at the many other resources available through NCLive. You will be pleasantly surprised. Happy viewing!
October 23, 2011
If you’re looking for something a little different to view or just trying to save pennies, look no further than your Rowan Public Library. All you need are your library card number and your personal PIN number. If you don’t have a PIN, simply request one in person at the circulation desk of any Rowan Public Library and you’ll be ready to select movies and documentaries on-line for personal viewing.
NCLive Digital library is easily accessed from home using the Rowan Public Library Home Page at www.rowanpubliclibrary.org . Open the library’s home page and look under “Related Links” on the left side. A click on “On-Line Tools” will open up a variety of choices. Select NCLive Resources and then, if you can resist the other entries that are available using your library card and PIN number, scroll down to the NCLive Video Collection and enjoy the many choices.
Catagories available include American History, The Arts, Biography, Business & Investing, Cultural Studies, Current Issues, Education, Health & Medicine, Kids, Military History, North Carolina, Science, and World History. Series available are American Experience, American Masters, Art 21, Cyberchase, Empires, Frontline, Ken Burns, Liberty’s Kids, Masterpiece, Wilkes County, NC Oral Documents, and Scientific American Frontier. You may also browse by individual title or by titles with closed captions.
Math adventures abound in Cyberchase and may provide a fun learning advantage for your child or a quick remediation for adults helping with homework. Liberty’s Kids provides another link for an enjoyable supplement to the social studies book. Masterpiece lovers will find favorite editions of past shows and possibly new favorites. For a different twist, the series Art 21 explores art themes that range from the topics of “Place and Spirituality” to those of “Power and Memory.” For the curious mind, look no further than Scientific American Frontiers. Episodes ranging from Animal Einsteins to Body Building and on to Natural Born Robots provide something for everyone and these are just a small sample of the many science topics available.
Should you encounter any difficulty navigating this site, go back to Rowan Public Library Home Page and click on NCLive Directions after opening the On-Line Tool link for additional instructions. There’s also a help and FAQ icon at the NCLive Digital Library site if you have other questions.
Once you’ve met your video needs, don’t forget to look at the many other resources available through NCLive. You will be pleasantly surprised. Happy viewing!
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Lynn Denison
Library Notes
October 16, 2011
Autism is one of the most disabling and puzzling conditions known to mankind. According to the latest report from the Centers for Disease Control, the rate of autism is one in every 110 births. Checking the shelves at Rowan Public Library, I found that we have four recently published books on the subject. Each book approaches the topic from a different aspect, making each informative to parents, family members, teachers, or anyone interested in the subject. Of course, we have other helpful books on the topic, but these four books published in 2011 have the very latest on the breakthroughs being made in the field.
Temple Grandin, Ph.D., has a remarkable story. Her life began with autism. She was completely nonverbal and had a variety of inappropriate behaviors. Today, among her many accomplishments, she is a professor of Animal Science at Colorado State University and the author of eleven books. The movie based on her life brought in 7 Emmy’s, a Golden Globe, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. Her latest book is The Way I See it: A Personal Look at Autism & Asperger’s. This book is a “how to” guide to both inform and inspire readers. With her “insider” perspective and a great deal of research, she offers helpful do’s and don’ts, practical strategies, and try-it-now tips. Just a few of the specific topics that Temple delves into are “How and Why People With Autism Think Differently”, “Economical Early Intervention Programs that Work”, and “Employment Ideas for Adults with Autism.”
Autism Solutions: How to Create a Healthy and Meaningful Life for Your Child, was published in 2011 by Ricki G. Robinson, M.D, M.P.H. Dr. Robinson has treated autistic children for the past 20 years. In her book she provides parents with a solution-oriented guide that covers all the latest research, evaluation, diagnosis, education and treatment options for the autistic child. Above all she provides hope, encouragement and understanding for families searching for answers to the many challenges of autism.
Ken Siri and Tony Lyons are both parents of children with autism. In their book Cutting Edge Therapies for Autism, 2010-2011, they seek to provide articles about the progressive work being done in the field. It is a book written for people who want to learn as much as possible about the therapies available and about how to do everything possible to help the growing number of children affected with autism. According to the authors, “Autism is the country’s fastest-growing medical emergency, affecting more children than cancer, diabetes, Down syndrome and AIDS combined.” This compendium includes articles by leading doctors, therapists, teachers, scientists, educators, social workers and parents. Siri and Lyons’ goal is to update the book annually because of the rapid changes in the field.
Another very fascinating new book is The Myth of Autism: How a Misunderstood Epidemic Is Destroying Our Children by Dr. Michael J. Goldberg. Dr. Goldberg is an expert on neuro-immune and auto-immune dysfunctions and believes there is a likely connection between these treatable dysfunctions and conditions such as autism.
Please stop by Rowan Public Library soon to acquaint yourself with either the books mentioned here or the many treasures of all kinds that your library has to offer.
Library Notes
October 16, 2011
Autism is one of the most disabling and puzzling conditions known to mankind. According to the latest report from the Centers for Disease Control, the rate of autism is one in every 110 births. Checking the shelves at Rowan Public Library, I found that we have four recently published books on the subject. Each book approaches the topic from a different aspect, making each informative to parents, family members, teachers, or anyone interested in the subject. Of course, we have other helpful books on the topic, but these four books published in 2011 have the very latest on the breakthroughs being made in the field.
Temple Grandin, Ph.D., has a remarkable story. Her life began with autism. She was completely nonverbal and had a variety of inappropriate behaviors. Today, among her many accomplishments, she is a professor of Animal Science at Colorado State University and the author of eleven books. The movie based on her life brought in 7 Emmy’s, a Golden Globe, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. Her latest book is The Way I See it: A Personal Look at Autism & Asperger’s. This book is a “how to” guide to both inform and inspire readers. With her “insider” perspective and a great deal of research, she offers helpful do’s and don’ts, practical strategies, and try-it-now tips. Just a few of the specific topics that Temple delves into are “How and Why People With Autism Think Differently”, “Economical Early Intervention Programs that Work”, and “Employment Ideas for Adults with Autism.”
Autism Solutions: How to Create a Healthy and Meaningful Life for Your Child, was published in 2011 by Ricki G. Robinson, M.D, M.P.H. Dr. Robinson has treated autistic children for the past 20 years. In her book she provides parents with a solution-oriented guide that covers all the latest research, evaluation, diagnosis, education and treatment options for the autistic child. Above all she provides hope, encouragement and understanding for families searching for answers to the many challenges of autism.
Ken Siri and Tony Lyons are both parents of children with autism. In their book Cutting Edge Therapies for Autism, 2010-2011, they seek to provide articles about the progressive work being done in the field. It is a book written for people who want to learn as much as possible about the therapies available and about how to do everything possible to help the growing number of children affected with autism. According to the authors, “Autism is the country’s fastest-growing medical emergency, affecting more children than cancer, diabetes, Down syndrome and AIDS combined.” This compendium includes articles by leading doctors, therapists, teachers, scientists, educators, social workers and parents. Siri and Lyons’ goal is to update the book annually because of the rapid changes in the field.
Another very fascinating new book is The Myth of Autism: How a Misunderstood Epidemic Is Destroying Our Children by Dr. Michael J. Goldberg. Dr. Goldberg is an expert on neuro-immune and auto-immune dysfunctions and believes there is a likely connection between these treatable dysfunctions and conditions such as autism.
Please stop by Rowan Public Library soon to acquaint yourself with either the books mentioned here or the many treasures of all kinds that your library has to offer.
Sunday, October 09, 2011
Cookbooks let children stir things up a little
By Edward Hirst
Rowan Public Library
Cooking with children requires time, patience and some extra cleanup, especially when the children are younger. But many experts think it is well worth the effort. Cooking with children can help get them interested in trying healthy foods they might normally turn up their noses at and Rowan Public Library has some great cookbooks for kids to help you get started.
“Pretend Soup” by Mollie Katzen and Ann Henderson is a well written and illustrated, great introduction to cooking for small children. Each recipe has detailed instructions for the grown-up helper, followed by a two-page children’s recipe that includes step-by-step pictures and simple word instructions. Unlike some other children’s cookbooks, the recipes are all real, healthful foods (“Pretend Soup” is a real recipe for a fruit salad in a yogurt/orange juice soup). Easy to follow illustrations demonstrate the recipes for the youngest chefs, while captivating cartoon characters liven the pages.
“What’s Cooking” is a fun cookbook that is both useful and well designed. Each of the 27 recipes takes up a two-page spread. On one side is the recipe, on the other a full-page color photo of the food. Even better, the book has a hidden spiral binding, so it lies flat on your countertop. Focused mainly on French cuisine, the recipes range from easy to “master chef” and are divided into five sections: breakfast; lunch; breads, salads and soups; dinner; and desserts. Many of the recipes include an extra tip, such as how to flip a crepe or what bread works best for French toast.
In “The Fun of Cooking,” author Jill Krementz visits 19 boys and girls ranging from age 6 to 16 who demonstrate that cooking can be fun. Almost 200 photos show the happy youngsters busily preparing their dishes in the kitchen. They tell why they like preparing their specialties, how they got started and other interesting details. Even the youngest exudes authority: At 6, Alix is already a master at mixing and baking apple cinnamon muffins. There are recipes for entrees, soups, salads and desserts. The chapters begin with safety rules, as nicely written as the young chefs’ comments.
If you want to cook great food that is fun and easy to make, then Emeril’s “There’s a Chef in My Soup! Recipes for the Kid in Everyone” is for you. Although the recipe titles are a little silly, the food is great, and everyone will love it. The book features 75 recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks that are truly kid friendly in their appeal. Preparation is enhanced for young cooks with how to chapters on cooking basics and kitchen safety.
You can find these and other titles to get started cooking at Rowan Public Library.
By Edward Hirst
Rowan Public Library
Cooking with children requires time, patience and some extra cleanup, especially when the children are younger. But many experts think it is well worth the effort. Cooking with children can help get them interested in trying healthy foods they might normally turn up their noses at and Rowan Public Library has some great cookbooks for kids to help you get started.
“Pretend Soup” by Mollie Katzen and Ann Henderson is a well written and illustrated, great introduction to cooking for small children. Each recipe has detailed instructions for the grown-up helper, followed by a two-page children’s recipe that includes step-by-step pictures and simple word instructions. Unlike some other children’s cookbooks, the recipes are all real, healthful foods (“Pretend Soup” is a real recipe for a fruit salad in a yogurt/orange juice soup). Easy to follow illustrations demonstrate the recipes for the youngest chefs, while captivating cartoon characters liven the pages.
“What’s Cooking” is a fun cookbook that is both useful and well designed. Each of the 27 recipes takes up a two-page spread. On one side is the recipe, on the other a full-page color photo of the food. Even better, the book has a hidden spiral binding, so it lies flat on your countertop. Focused mainly on French cuisine, the recipes range from easy to “master chef” and are divided into five sections: breakfast; lunch; breads, salads and soups; dinner; and desserts. Many of the recipes include an extra tip, such as how to flip a crepe or what bread works best for French toast.
In “The Fun of Cooking,” author Jill Krementz visits 19 boys and girls ranging from age 6 to 16 who demonstrate that cooking can be fun. Almost 200 photos show the happy youngsters busily preparing their dishes in the kitchen. They tell why they like preparing their specialties, how they got started and other interesting details. Even the youngest exudes authority: At 6, Alix is already a master at mixing and baking apple cinnamon muffins. There are recipes for entrees, soups, salads and desserts. The chapters begin with safety rules, as nicely written as the young chefs’ comments.
If you want to cook great food that is fun and easy to make, then Emeril’s “There’s a Chef in My Soup! Recipes for the Kid in Everyone” is for you. Although the recipe titles are a little silly, the food is great, and everyone will love it. The book features 75 recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks that are truly kid friendly in their appeal. Preparation is enhanced for young cooks with how to chapters on cooking basics and kitchen safety.
You can find these and other titles to get started cooking at Rowan Public Library.
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