Library Notes 9-30-12


Edward Hirst

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Library Notes


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

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

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

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

April Everett


Library Notes

08/30/12



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

EVENTS @ YOUR LIBRARY

Dystopian Film Series

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

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

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

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

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

Contests

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

• Writing (adults and teens)

• Short Film (teens only)

• Bookmark Design (teens only)

• Costume Design (teens only)

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

Speakers

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

Teen Programs

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

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

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

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

Book Discussions

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

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

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

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

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

And much more!

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

Library Notes
Erika Kosin
Back to School Fun

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

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

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

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

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

Preschoolers: Dream Big – Read

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


By Pam Everhardt Bloom, August 3, 2012



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



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



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



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

Library Notes
Lynn Denison

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Details about Titanic emerge at library


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

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

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


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

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

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

Library Notes


June 22, 2012

Marissa Creamer

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

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

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

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

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

Library Notes

Paul Birkhead

LIBRARY NOTES: BASEBALL


PAUL BIRKHEAD – JUNE 24, 2012



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

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

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

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

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

Stop by Rowan P

Gretchen Beilfuss Witt


June 12, 2012
Medical Marvels


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

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

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

Library Notes

Amy Notarius

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


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

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

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

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

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

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



Amy Notarius

Library Notes


Rebecca Hyde – May 29, 2012


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

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

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

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

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

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

Letters From Women by Lucinda Epperson


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Library Notes



By John Tucker


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

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

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

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

Library Notes By Erika Kosin
The Dystopian Novel for Teens

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

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

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

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

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

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

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




Books for Babies



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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Library Notes, Pam Everhardt Bloom, April 23, 2012


In Lieu of “The Hunger Games”

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

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

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

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

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

LIBRARY NOTES


APRIL 2, 2012

Lynn Denison



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

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

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

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

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

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