On this last day of the year, I have a few housekeeping items to share. It seems the appropriate time to sum up an assortment of various things before we face the New Year and all those resolutions we dread. I, at least, dread the self-discipline that will be required to keep my resolutions, or the guilt I will endure if I fail to keep them. I usually fail. The guilt doesn’t last long.
First item up for discussion is winter weather. None of us likes it. At least for very long. The first snow is always beautiful, but after that, it begins to lose its appeal. Being on the corner, the library has lots of sidewalk. The parks department works very hard to keep all our sidewalks clear and slip-free. The library staff pitches in during the day to shovel and sprinkle salt and sand. We all do our best, but this is Iowa. It is winter. We each decide just how much risk to take every time we venture out of the house.
We want you to visit us at the library. That is what we are here for. Although we do what is possible to keep the entries safe, please use caution. If we have posted a sign in the east door to advise that you use the north door, it is because the east stairs and/or sidewalk are unsafe at that moment. I made the letters on the sign large enough to be read from the street. Please cooperate. It’s your neck, or wrist , or knee at risk.
Not only does the park department staff keep our sidewalk and steps cleared, they now shovel the flat roof of the library. Last winter we had some thawing and freezing that caused an ice dam to form on the roof that blocked some drains. The resulting melting snow trickled down into the building ruining ceiling and making a mess. So, if you run into Todd Lee on the street, give him an “atta boy” for all the shoveling he does around and over the library.
The second item worth mentioning is also winter weather related. We try to keep the library open regardless of weather conditions. However, if we can’t keep the sidewalks and stairs safe for patrons, we close. If the weather is becoming so treacherous, that staff can’t travel home safely, we close. I wanted to adopt a policy that when the depth of the snow exceeds the height of my snow boots, the library would close. Unfortunately (although very generously) the staff offered to take up a collection to buy me taller boots. I dropped it.
When school dismisses early due to bad weather, many children congregate at the library. We are certainly willing to serve as a rendezvous point for parents and children. However, if weather conditions continue to worsen, the library may also close. If you choose to meet your children here, please be prompt. Bad weather can disturb small children and they worry about their safety and that of their parents. Please consider their feelings and ours.
When the library does close early, we notify KHBT. If in doubt, tune in and check.
Friday, December 26, 2008
Thursday, December 18, 2008
I was sick several days last week. Nothing serious, just a persistent cold. I’m not sure how I caught it, perhaps from my son in Missouri or my daughter in Georgia. They both had been suffering for a week or more. I read that once a person becomes a parent, he/she will never again be any happier than his/her most unhappy child. It must be true; I caught their colds through the phone lines.
An illness, even such a minor one, brings out the best in one’s friends. Thank you to Demi and Kathy at the library who saw to it that my three big boxes of Christmas gifts got shipped on time. And, thanks, too, to Linda, friend and neighbor, who brought orange juice and dog food so Brady and I could stay at home another day without spreading germs to the whole town, and for asking if I had enough to read.
Thinking about how nice people are brought to mind a book I read recently. The Power of Nice: How to Conquer the Business World with Kindness by Linda Kaplan and Robin Koval. I may have written about it earlier. This little book reaffirms the reasons that we are nice to one another. I asked each staff member to read it, so we have two copies. Give it a try; it will make you feel good inside.
Several other books along the mind/body theme have just arrived at the library. If your spirits are down, or you have something difficult to deal with, or Santa only left lumps of coal in you stocking, you might want to stop by to check them out:
Quiet Mind:A Beginner’s Guide to Meditation by Susan Piver. This tiny book contains six simple lessons to practice to learn to meditate. Included is an instruction cd. Among the six lessons are tranquility, practice of clear seeing, and the practice of loving kindness. Who doesn’t need more of those?
A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose by Eckhart Tolle. The cover of this one says it will show how to transcend ego to find personal happiness and end conflict That sounds like something we all can use.
A Healing Touch: True Stories of Life, Death and Hospice edited by Richard Russo.
Barbara & Susan’s Guide to the Empty Nest: Discovering New Purpose, Passion & Your Next Great Adventure by Barbara Rainey & Susan Yates. Aren’t we all looking for that “next great adventure”?
You Don’t Have to Be Wrong For Me to Be Right by Brad Hirschfield. I saw the author interviewed on television recently. He seemed very wise for a young(ish) man. I’m looking forward to reading this book.
Unstuck: Your Guide to the Seven-Stage Journey Out of Depression by James Gordon. The reviews and recommendations on the book jacket are all by well-respected doctors and authors. This book has something to offer.
Comfort: A Journey Through Grief by Ann Hood. Following the unexpected death of her small daughter, Ann Hood fell into deep grief. In this book she writes of the places her family found comfort during the grieving process. I opened this one to read a page or two. Ten minutes later I could barely pull myself away to finish typing. I’ll finish it and have it back on the shelf before you read this article. I’m warning you: it grips a mother’s heart.
An illness, even such a minor one, brings out the best in one’s friends. Thank you to Demi and Kathy at the library who saw to it that my three big boxes of Christmas gifts got shipped on time. And, thanks, too, to Linda, friend and neighbor, who brought orange juice and dog food so Brady and I could stay at home another day without spreading germs to the whole town, and for asking if I had enough to read.
Thinking about how nice people are brought to mind a book I read recently. The Power of Nice: How to Conquer the Business World with Kindness by Linda Kaplan and Robin Koval. I may have written about it earlier. This little book reaffirms the reasons that we are nice to one another. I asked each staff member to read it, so we have two copies. Give it a try; it will make you feel good inside.
Several other books along the mind/body theme have just arrived at the library. If your spirits are down, or you have something difficult to deal with, or Santa only left lumps of coal in you stocking, you might want to stop by to check them out:
Quiet Mind:A Beginner’s Guide to Meditation by Susan Piver. This tiny book contains six simple lessons to practice to learn to meditate. Included is an instruction cd. Among the six lessons are tranquility, practice of clear seeing, and the practice of loving kindness. Who doesn’t need more of those?
A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose by Eckhart Tolle. The cover of this one says it will show how to transcend ego to find personal happiness and end conflict That sounds like something we all can use.
A Healing Touch: True Stories of Life, Death and Hospice edited by Richard Russo.
Barbara & Susan’s Guide to the Empty Nest: Discovering New Purpose, Passion & Your Next Great Adventure by Barbara Rainey & Susan Yates. Aren’t we all looking for that “next great adventure”?
You Don’t Have to Be Wrong For Me to Be Right by Brad Hirschfield. I saw the author interviewed on television recently. He seemed very wise for a young(ish) man. I’m looking forward to reading this book.
Unstuck: Your Guide to the Seven-Stage Journey Out of Depression by James Gordon. The reviews and recommendations on the book jacket are all by well-respected doctors and authors. This book has something to offer.
Comfort: A Journey Through Grief by Ann Hood. Following the unexpected death of her small daughter, Ann Hood fell into deep grief. In this book she writes of the places her family found comfort during the grieving process. I opened this one to read a page or two. Ten minutes later I could barely pull myself away to finish typing. I’ll finish it and have it back on the shelf before you read this article. I’m warning you: it grips a mother’s heart.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
One day last week a big box of new books arrived. This particular box was brimming with shiny new children’s books. Oh, the illustrations! Children’s books get more and more captivating with every generation.
The interesting part of that book shipment lay at the bottom of the box. A fat stack of invoices meant for the Queens, New York Public Library was somehow misdirected to us. That happens every once in a while. Last time it was a bunch for some small town in Texas. Unfortunately, invoices for our own purchases always seem to arrive here promptly.
The Queens invoices made interesting reading. They were addressed to the Manager of the Urban Fiction Department. Can you imagine? Not only is urban fiction so popular that it requires its own department, but it has its own staff! It sounds fairly self-explanatory, but I had never even heard of the term urban fiction.
A few days later I came across an article from the New York Times explaining urban fiction and the storm that it is creating in libraries. The latest wave of urban fiction, also known as Street Lit or Gangsta fiction, began in the late 1990s. One article I read said that urban fiction contains all of George Carlin’s seven dirty works with all their urban variations.
Originally it was mostly self-published and sold at street vendors and newsstands. Author Pamela M. Johnson sold her first urban novel from the trunk of her car. She parlayed that one book into Macavelli Press which specializes in publishing her books and the works of other urban authors. When library patrons started demanding this genre at the Queens library, librarians were forced from their computers and fax machines out onto the street to buy up what they could find.
The Queens Public Library has the largest circulation of all libraries in the country. Last year they checked out more than 21,000,000 books and other items. Those street-wise librarians are doing something right. They are meeting the information needs and wants of their customers with the right materials purchases.
That is the goal of all librarians. To have the right book or movie for every user on the shelf at all times. It isn’t financially possible, however. When Oprah announces a new book club selection, we can’t buy 40 copies so that every reader will find one when he or she comes in. We try to make an educated guess and buy the numbers of each that we feel will best meet our community’s needs. Right now I can’t see too many Humboldt readers are ready for urban fiction. However, there are some great new books coming out in January that are right up our alley:
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford. A novel that swings back and forth between 1986 and World War II era. It’s both a love story and a classic father-son story.
The Little Giant of Aberdeen County by Tiffany Baker. A first novel for Baker. It is the story of Truly and her sister, Serena Jane. Due to a medical issue Truly grows and grows and grows beyond normal size. One reviewer states that the book has a “plangent” quality. I looked it up….a loud reverberating sound or having an expressive quality.
They Have Killed Papa Dead: The Road to Ford’s Theatre, Abraham Lincoln’s Murder and the Rage for Vengeance by Anthony S. Pitch
Plum Spooky by Janet Evanovich. Evanovich started out including a number (One for the Money; Two for the Dough)in the title of each of her novels about Stephanie Plum. Apparently she was afraid she would run out of numbers before Plum ran out of adventures. She started adding a few between-the-numbers titles, too.
Don’t forget to stop in to see all the beautiful wreaths decorated by our library patrons!
The interesting part of that book shipment lay at the bottom of the box. A fat stack of invoices meant for the Queens, New York Public Library was somehow misdirected to us. That happens every once in a while. Last time it was a bunch for some small town in Texas. Unfortunately, invoices for our own purchases always seem to arrive here promptly.
The Queens invoices made interesting reading. They were addressed to the Manager of the Urban Fiction Department. Can you imagine? Not only is urban fiction so popular that it requires its own department, but it has its own staff! It sounds fairly self-explanatory, but I had never even heard of the term urban fiction.
A few days later I came across an article from the New York Times explaining urban fiction and the storm that it is creating in libraries. The latest wave of urban fiction, also known as Street Lit or Gangsta fiction, began in the late 1990s. One article I read said that urban fiction contains all of George Carlin’s seven dirty works with all their urban variations.
Originally it was mostly self-published and sold at street vendors and newsstands. Author Pamela M. Johnson sold her first urban novel from the trunk of her car. She parlayed that one book into Macavelli Press which specializes in publishing her books and the works of other urban authors. When library patrons started demanding this genre at the Queens library, librarians were forced from their computers and fax machines out onto the street to buy up what they could find.
The Queens Public Library has the largest circulation of all libraries in the country. Last year they checked out more than 21,000,000 books and other items. Those street-wise librarians are doing something right. They are meeting the information needs and wants of their customers with the right materials purchases.
That is the goal of all librarians. To have the right book or movie for every user on the shelf at all times. It isn’t financially possible, however. When Oprah announces a new book club selection, we can’t buy 40 copies so that every reader will find one when he or she comes in. We try to make an educated guess and buy the numbers of each that we feel will best meet our community’s needs. Right now I can’t see too many Humboldt readers are ready for urban fiction. However, there are some great new books coming out in January that are right up our alley:
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford. A novel that swings back and forth between 1986 and World War II era. It’s both a love story and a classic father-son story.
The Little Giant of Aberdeen County by Tiffany Baker. A first novel for Baker. It is the story of Truly and her sister, Serena Jane. Due to a medical issue Truly grows and grows and grows beyond normal size. One reviewer states that the book has a “plangent” quality. I looked it up….a loud reverberating sound or having an expressive quality.
They Have Killed Papa Dead: The Road to Ford’s Theatre, Abraham Lincoln’s Murder and the Rage for Vengeance by Anthony S. Pitch
Plum Spooky by Janet Evanovich. Evanovich started out including a number (One for the Money; Two for the Dough)in the title of each of her novels about Stephanie Plum. Apparently she was afraid she would run out of numbers before Plum ran out of adventures. She started adding a few between-the-numbers titles, too.
Don’t forget to stop in to see all the beautiful wreaths decorated by our library patrons!
Friday, December 5, 2008
A few Saturdays ago, I checked out a book that came highly recommended by a person whose reading taste I admire and appreciate. I took it home, but I wasn’t sure that I would read it. It doesn’t have a very engaging cover. I hadn’t heard anything about either the book or its author. It looks like the sort of book college English professors would read. In their corduroy jackets with suede elbow patches, in front of a fireplace, sipping cognac. A book so full of symbolism and metaphors that I wouldn’t be smart enough to understand.
The book was a true surprise. It is almost 500 pages long and I was pretty busy at the time. It took almost three weeks to read it. Once I opened the cover I didn’t want to stop reading. I didn’t quite grasp all the symbolism and I’m sure I missed most of the metaphors, but I enjoyed it anyway. I felt that this book deserved a full-fledged book review, not just a quick paragraph, so, here goes:
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. Translated by Lucia Graves 487p. Penguin Books, New York $15.00 9780143034902
The book opens in Barcelona, Spain, 1945. Ten year old Daniel’s bookseller father takes him to visit the Cemetery of Forgotten Books.
“According to tradition, the first time someone visits this place, he must choose a book, whichever he wants, and adopt it, making sure that it will never disappear, that it will always stay alive.”
Daniel chooses The Shadow of the Wind by Julian Carax. Shortly, he begins to receive very lucrative purchase offers for the book. It seems that someone named Lain Coubert has set about to destroy all copies of all the works of this author. Very few remain.
While trying to protect and preserve his copy of The Shadow of the Wind, Daniel becomes mesmerized by the life story of the author, Julian Carax. Like peeling the layers of an onion, Daniel uncovers the passions, disappointments and conflicts of Carax’s life.
Along the way Daniel has a few episodes of unrequited love, some huge conflicts and humiliations himself. He forms an arch enemy in the chief inspector of the Barcelona crime squad, Francisco Javier Fumero. He rescues another of Fumero’s victims, Fermin Romero de Torres. Fermin, who several times suffers mightily at Fumero’s hand, provides comic relief throughout the book.
Zafon effectively portrays the mood of a scene. Rain, fog, sleet. Each plays a role to evoke atmosphere. His characters are often less transparent. Each seems to harbor a secret that is difficult to discern. The need to discover the past of each of the actors in this drama is what keeps the pages turning late into the night.
On the last page comes the following quote that sums up the magic relationship readers have with their books:
“I leafed through the pages, inhaling the enchanted scent of promise that comes with all new books, and stopped to read the start of a sentence….”
The book was a true surprise. It is almost 500 pages long and I was pretty busy at the time. It took almost three weeks to read it. Once I opened the cover I didn’t want to stop reading. I didn’t quite grasp all the symbolism and I’m sure I missed most of the metaphors, but I enjoyed it anyway. I felt that this book deserved a full-fledged book review, not just a quick paragraph, so, here goes:
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. Translated by Lucia Graves 487p. Penguin Books, New York $15.00 9780143034902
The book opens in Barcelona, Spain, 1945. Ten year old Daniel’s bookseller father takes him to visit the Cemetery of Forgotten Books.
“According to tradition, the first time someone visits this place, he must choose a book, whichever he wants, and adopt it, making sure that it will never disappear, that it will always stay alive.”
Daniel chooses The Shadow of the Wind by Julian Carax. Shortly, he begins to receive very lucrative purchase offers for the book. It seems that someone named Lain Coubert has set about to destroy all copies of all the works of this author. Very few remain.
While trying to protect and preserve his copy of The Shadow of the Wind, Daniel becomes mesmerized by the life story of the author, Julian Carax. Like peeling the layers of an onion, Daniel uncovers the passions, disappointments and conflicts of Carax’s life.
Along the way Daniel has a few episodes of unrequited love, some huge conflicts and humiliations himself. He forms an arch enemy in the chief inspector of the Barcelona crime squad, Francisco Javier Fumero. He rescues another of Fumero’s victims, Fermin Romero de Torres. Fermin, who several times suffers mightily at Fumero’s hand, provides comic relief throughout the book.
Zafon effectively portrays the mood of a scene. Rain, fog, sleet. Each plays a role to evoke atmosphere. His characters are often less transparent. Each seems to harbor a secret that is difficult to discern. The need to discover the past of each of the actors in this drama is what keeps the pages turning late into the night.
On the last page comes the following quote that sums up the magic relationship readers have with their books:
“I leafed through the pages, inhaling the enchanted scent of promise that comes with all new books, and stopped to read the start of a sentence….”
Friday, November 21, 2008
Did you know that our schools dismiss early every Wednesday for teacher in-service meetings? I can just see you now-slapping your foreheads like the guy in the V8 commercial. When school dismisses early for any reason, the public library is THE place to go. If your tolerance for hustle and bustle is low and your schedule is flexible, you might want to consider visiting another afternoon. The lines will be shorter, the climate more serene and staff tempers, well, more temperate.
Don’t forget to check out a wreath to help decorate the library for the holidays. You just come in, borrow a wreath just like a book or movie. Take it home. Decorate to your liking and return it to the library for display. After the holiday season, you may either “undress” the wreath and take your decorations home, or leave it decorated for us to use another season.
I usually write about books, but the library has all the latest dvds, too. We buy most newly released dvds of appropriate ratings. They can be checked out for three library days. That means that Sundays and holidays when the library is closed are “bonus” days. There is no charge for checkout. If, however, you wish to keep a dvd longer than three days, there is a one dollar per day “extended use fee”. We used to call them fines, but “extended use” just sounds more kind.
A library user of good standing may check out up to 15 items at a time. We do not limit the numbers of videos beyond that. You are welcome to check out 15 if you feel you can view them in three days. Rules for patrons with new library cards carry some restrictions for the first three months while we learn to trust you with our library materials.
We recently added some oldies, but goodies, to our dvd collection:
-Stand and Deliver and Lean on Me- both movies on one disk. Each is a film about troubled school students. Stand and Deliver involves a gifted teacher’s ability to motivate barrio kids to pass an advanced calculus placement test. Lean on Me is about a no-nonsense principal who turns his failing school around.
-Richard Simmons Sweatin’ to the Oldies-We have several versions of these. They are fun to watch, even if one doesn’t wish to participate.
-Lonesome Dove- On two cds. It’s based on the 1986 Pulitzer Prize winning novel of the same name. We have the book, too.
-Other westerns: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and True Grit
-Swing Dancing- Learn to swing in minutes! That’s what it says on the cover.
-The Graduate- Best Picture winner in 1967. The soundtrack is as good as the movie.
-Field of Dreams-the classic baseball movie filmed in Iowa. My kids wore out two vhs versions.
- Brigadoon –Starring Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse. A Lerner and Lowe musical, famous for the song Almost Like Being in Love.
-Doctor Zhivago- We must have had more patience back in 1965. I tried to re-watch this recently and it moved so slowly. However, the breathtaking scenery and the story are just as beautiful as ever.
-Camelot- another Lerner and Loewe production. It’s hard to forget the line from the score of this movie “for one, brief, shining moment”. It has special meaning for those of us who remember that November day 45 years ago.
Grab a family-friendly movie on your way home tonight. Watch it between the parade, the turkey and the football. Your kids will thank you.
Don’t forget to check out a wreath to help decorate the library for the holidays. You just come in, borrow a wreath just like a book or movie. Take it home. Decorate to your liking and return it to the library for display. After the holiday season, you may either “undress” the wreath and take your decorations home, or leave it decorated for us to use another season.
I usually write about books, but the library has all the latest dvds, too. We buy most newly released dvds of appropriate ratings. They can be checked out for three library days. That means that Sundays and holidays when the library is closed are “bonus” days. There is no charge for checkout. If, however, you wish to keep a dvd longer than three days, there is a one dollar per day “extended use fee”. We used to call them fines, but “extended use” just sounds more kind.
A library user of good standing may check out up to 15 items at a time. We do not limit the numbers of videos beyond that. You are welcome to check out 15 if you feel you can view them in three days. Rules for patrons with new library cards carry some restrictions for the first three months while we learn to trust you with our library materials.
We recently added some oldies, but goodies, to our dvd collection:
-Stand and Deliver and Lean on Me- both movies on one disk. Each is a film about troubled school students. Stand and Deliver involves a gifted teacher’s ability to motivate barrio kids to pass an advanced calculus placement test. Lean on Me is about a no-nonsense principal who turns his failing school around.
-Richard Simmons Sweatin’ to the Oldies-We have several versions of these. They are fun to watch, even if one doesn’t wish to participate.
-Lonesome Dove- On two cds. It’s based on the 1986 Pulitzer Prize winning novel of the same name. We have the book, too.
-Other westerns: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and True Grit
-Swing Dancing- Learn to swing in minutes! That’s what it says on the cover.
-The Graduate- Best Picture winner in 1967. The soundtrack is as good as the movie.
-Field of Dreams-the classic baseball movie filmed in Iowa. My kids wore out two vhs versions.
- Brigadoon –Starring Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse. A Lerner and Lowe musical, famous for the song Almost Like Being in Love.
-Doctor Zhivago- We must have had more patience back in 1965. I tried to re-watch this recently and it moved so slowly. However, the breathtaking scenery and the story are just as beautiful as ever.
-Camelot- another Lerner and Loewe production. It’s hard to forget the line from the score of this movie “for one, brief, shining moment”. It has special meaning for those of us who remember that November day 45 years ago.
Grab a family-friendly movie on your way home tonight. Watch it between the parade, the turkey and the football. Your kids will thank you.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Once the Halloween scarecrows left the library building we began to think about decorating for the holidays. A few years ago we discarded an old, bedraggled, artificial tree. It had been a donation from Target a decade or two ago. After the tree, none of us has been able to get very excited about holiday decorations. Suddenly, I was inspired!
Everyone so enjoyed the creativity and variety of the scarecrows, we decided to do it again. We briefly considered dressing the scarecrows as snowmen, but quickly abandoned that idea. We settled on wreaths. Within the next few days we will have a dozen or so evergreen-looking wreaths. Folks can check one out, dress it up as you please, and return it to the library the first week in December. They will grace the library until the first of January.
So, start thinking. Wreaths can be whimsical, traditional, charming or downright funny. We will appreciate and admire each for its individuality.
Don’t forget to buy your tickets for the Humboldt Area Arts Council Art Encore to be held on November 22. Tickets are available both at the library and at Sherree’s Hallmark.
Saturdays are the only times I work the checkout desk for a whole day. Other days are spent ordering books, paying library bills, attending meetings and other necessary, but less fun stuff. Every week on Saturday I get to spend the whole day talking to the people who actually read the books I buy. It’s my time to hear which ones you like, which ones you don’t like and which ones you wish I would buy. Unfortunately, if someone returns a book they just loved, I can’t resist taking it home with me. I usually cart home 5-10 books. I know that next week I will take home another armload and I know that I can’t possibly read even five books in one week. Even so, I keep hauling them home.
One book that has been repeatedly recommended to me is Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah. I did take it home once. It is the story of two childhood best girlfriends. It started off well, but I was deep into another book and didn’t want to keep other readers waiting so I checked it back in unread. I confuse it with Firefly Cloak by Sherri Reynolds which I did read. It’s a bilungsroman, that word I like so much, that means a coming-of-age story. It’s the story of a young girl abandoned by her mother early in life. Well worth reading.
Among other bildungsroman at the library is To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. That classic story of depression-era Alabama, of justice, race, class and the pain of growing up. I try to re-read it or watch the 1962 movie with Gregory Peck every five years or so. I never grow tired of it.
Another is Razor’s Edge by Somerset Maugham . This is the 1940s bestseller about one man’s search for enlightenment. Not really my cup of tea, but it’s available at the library should you choose to tackle it.
Stones of Summer was first published in 1972. Its author, Dow Mossman, is an Iowan. He wrote this one epic novel that earned him critical acclaim. Then, he disappeared into oblivion until a film maker fell in love with the book and produced a documentary recently. It might be worth reading if only to find out what so captivated book critics in the 1970s. Mossman still lives in Cedar Rapids.
Dive From Clausen’s Pier by Ann Packer is one coming-of-age novel that I can heartily endorse. Amazon.com describes this book as a “journey of personal epiphany.” That seems a very good, if somewhat fanciful, way to describe all these novels. As a main character ages, he/she grows and matures in thinking until an answer or solution is reached. This one is the story of Carrie Bell’s life and how it is affected by an accident that paralyzed her fiancée.
One of the best parts of a librarian’s job is called Readers Advisory. That means matching a reader with the perfect book for just this very moment. Sometimes the same reader will be searching for humor, for tragedy, for drama. We love to help you find just what you are looking for. … a satisfyingly good read. Of course, if you’d rather look on your own, you can browse and sample all the books you like. Come on in!
Everyone so enjoyed the creativity and variety of the scarecrows, we decided to do it again. We briefly considered dressing the scarecrows as snowmen, but quickly abandoned that idea. We settled on wreaths. Within the next few days we will have a dozen or so evergreen-looking wreaths. Folks can check one out, dress it up as you please, and return it to the library the first week in December. They will grace the library until the first of January.
So, start thinking. Wreaths can be whimsical, traditional, charming or downright funny. We will appreciate and admire each for its individuality.
Don’t forget to buy your tickets for the Humboldt Area Arts Council Art Encore to be held on November 22. Tickets are available both at the library and at Sherree’s Hallmark.
Saturdays are the only times I work the checkout desk for a whole day. Other days are spent ordering books, paying library bills, attending meetings and other necessary, but less fun stuff. Every week on Saturday I get to spend the whole day talking to the people who actually read the books I buy. It’s my time to hear which ones you like, which ones you don’t like and which ones you wish I would buy. Unfortunately, if someone returns a book they just loved, I can’t resist taking it home with me. I usually cart home 5-10 books. I know that next week I will take home another armload and I know that I can’t possibly read even five books in one week. Even so, I keep hauling them home.
One book that has been repeatedly recommended to me is Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah. I did take it home once. It is the story of two childhood best girlfriends. It started off well, but I was deep into another book and didn’t want to keep other readers waiting so I checked it back in unread. I confuse it with Firefly Cloak by Sherri Reynolds which I did read. It’s a bilungsroman, that word I like so much, that means a coming-of-age story. It’s the story of a young girl abandoned by her mother early in life. Well worth reading.
Among other bildungsroman at the library is To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. That classic story of depression-era Alabama, of justice, race, class and the pain of growing up. I try to re-read it or watch the 1962 movie with Gregory Peck every five years or so. I never grow tired of it.
Another is Razor’s Edge by Somerset Maugham . This is the 1940s bestseller about one man’s search for enlightenment. Not really my cup of tea, but it’s available at the library should you choose to tackle it.
Stones of Summer was first published in 1972. Its author, Dow Mossman, is an Iowan. He wrote this one epic novel that earned him critical acclaim. Then, he disappeared into oblivion until a film maker fell in love with the book and produced a documentary recently. It might be worth reading if only to find out what so captivated book critics in the 1970s. Mossman still lives in Cedar Rapids.
Dive From Clausen’s Pier by Ann Packer is one coming-of-age novel that I can heartily endorse. Amazon.com describes this book as a “journey of personal epiphany.” That seems a very good, if somewhat fanciful, way to describe all these novels. As a main character ages, he/she grows and matures in thinking until an answer or solution is reached. This one is the story of Carrie Bell’s life and how it is affected by an accident that paralyzed her fiancée.
One of the best parts of a librarian’s job is called Readers Advisory. That means matching a reader with the perfect book for just this very moment. Sometimes the same reader will be searching for humor, for tragedy, for drama. We love to help you find just what you are looking for. … a satisfyingly good read. Of course, if you’d rather look on your own, you can browse and sample all the books you like. Come on in!
Friday, October 31, 2008
Hooray, Hooray! Campaign Commercials Have Gone Away!
It’s over! The election is behind us. The winning candidate-for-change will be inaugurated in January. Keep in mind that I am writing several days before the election, so I don’t know who will have won by the time you read this. Whoever he is, he campaigned on a platform for change. Change is good. What would life be without it? Can you imagine eating the same meal every day like my poor dog, Brady? All he has to look forward to is a bowl of the same old dog food, and his favorite frozen treats, ice cubes.
Change gets us up in the morning. We would all roll over and pull the covers over our heads if we knew that today would be just exactly like yesterday and tomorrow. I like change. I like to see the library grow and adapt to the changing needs of the community.
This week the biggest changes at the library are in décor and display. A new quilt has replaced Marilyn Hinner’s Dear Jane quilt. Judith Cochran made the one that is currently hanging. I couldn’t find the exact pattern in our quilt books, but it is a combination of squares and triangles in very cozy blues, browns and dark reds. Judith hadn’t named the quilt, so I did. I call it Autumn Stars. If I worked that long and hard on a project, I would certainly think it deserved a name. Come in and take a look, it’s just the change we needed.
Also changed this week is our display case. Now it houses a variety of books and memorabilia of our local Chautauqua Literary & Scientific Circle. Isn’t it incredible that this organization has continued meeting for 125 years here in Humboldt? In the display are photos of the early Chautauqua meetings held in tents at local parks. The program from the 1911 summer event is there and several of the books featured over the years are in there too.
The current membership of the local group consists of 12 members and two honorary members. The books for discussion for the remainder of the 2008-2009 season are: Pennsylvania Avenue, Losing Moses on the Freeway and The Zookeeper’s Wife. I understand that the group would welcome new members. If interested, check at the library. We can put you in contact with them.
New on the library’s shelves:
The Wrong Side of Murder Creek: A White Southerner in the Freedom Movement by Bob Zellner. The memoir of a white guy from Alabama, grandson of Klansmen, who joined in the sit-ins and marches of the civil rights era.
Six Geese A-Slaying by Donna Andrews. I’m not sure how one writes a funny murder mystery, but Andrews and many other authors crank them out. This is the story of the murder of Santa Claus shortly before the annual Christmas parade. The book jacket says that this is “filled with outrageous Christmas spirit and mayhem.
Keeping Secrets by Gwen Madoc. Cousins and best friends keep their relationship a secret in the face of a bitter familial feud. All is complicated when they fall for the same fellow.
Extreme Measures by Vince Flynn. He wrote the book Memorial Day a few years ago. It was quite the hit, but when I ordered it, I mistakenly ordered a book of the same title by another author. Readers quickly brought it to my attention. This is the CIA and counterterrorism at its best.
An Outrageous Affair by Penny Vincenzi. The cover says that Vencenzi is the “doyenne of the modern blockbuster” and that this is her “most enthralling family saga yet.” Family sagas are just the right kind of book for coldish weather. Perfect to curl up with for a long afternoon and be transported into some other family’s problems for awhile.
Change gets us up in the morning. We would all roll over and pull the covers over our heads if we knew that today would be just exactly like yesterday and tomorrow. I like change. I like to see the library grow and adapt to the changing needs of the community.
This week the biggest changes at the library are in décor and display. A new quilt has replaced Marilyn Hinner’s Dear Jane quilt. Judith Cochran made the one that is currently hanging. I couldn’t find the exact pattern in our quilt books, but it is a combination of squares and triangles in very cozy blues, browns and dark reds. Judith hadn’t named the quilt, so I did. I call it Autumn Stars. If I worked that long and hard on a project, I would certainly think it deserved a name. Come in and take a look, it’s just the change we needed.
Also changed this week is our display case. Now it houses a variety of books and memorabilia of our local Chautauqua Literary & Scientific Circle. Isn’t it incredible that this organization has continued meeting for 125 years here in Humboldt? In the display are photos of the early Chautauqua meetings held in tents at local parks. The program from the 1911 summer event is there and several of the books featured over the years are in there too.
The current membership of the local group consists of 12 members and two honorary members. The books for discussion for the remainder of the 2008-2009 season are: Pennsylvania Avenue, Losing Moses on the Freeway and The Zookeeper’s Wife. I understand that the group would welcome new members. If interested, check at the library. We can put you in contact with them.
New on the library’s shelves:
The Wrong Side of Murder Creek: A White Southerner in the Freedom Movement by Bob Zellner. The memoir of a white guy from Alabama, grandson of Klansmen, who joined in the sit-ins and marches of the civil rights era.
Six Geese A-Slaying by Donna Andrews. I’m not sure how one writes a funny murder mystery, but Andrews and many other authors crank them out. This is the story of the murder of Santa Claus shortly before the annual Christmas parade. The book jacket says that this is “filled with outrageous Christmas spirit and mayhem.
Keeping Secrets by Gwen Madoc. Cousins and best friends keep their relationship a secret in the face of a bitter familial feud. All is complicated when they fall for the same fellow.
Extreme Measures by Vince Flynn. He wrote the book Memorial Day a few years ago. It was quite the hit, but when I ordered it, I mistakenly ordered a book of the same title by another author. Readers quickly brought it to my attention. This is the CIA and counterterrorism at its best.
An Outrageous Affair by Penny Vincenzi. The cover says that Vencenzi is the “doyenne of the modern blockbuster” and that this is her “most enthralling family saga yet.” Family sagas are just the right kind of book for coldish weather. Perfect to curl up with for a long afternoon and be transported into some other family’s problems for awhile.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
I had one of those miserable birthdays over the weekend. You know; one of the ones that end in a 0. The kind of birthday that scares the daylights out of the birthday girl. I’m recovering from the shock, determined to make the best of my remaining years by keeping busy at the library.
Last week we held the discussion for our last Humboldt Reads! book, The Horizontal World, by Debra Marquardt. It led to quite an interesting discussion of a person’s tie to the land of his birth. Even though Marquardt was itching to leave her rural North Dakota farm at the first opportunity, the land still calls to her. There remains a bond that appears to be permanent to the land of her childhood. It seems to be one of those universal feelings. Although I left Oklahoma many years ago, I never feel as comfortable anywhere else. There is something in that red dirt and vast, blue sky that anchors me the way rolling hills of fertile, black soil never will. About 60 library patrons read the book and another 10 or 12 attended the discussion. Thus, we will start reading another book for discussion.
Our next book is Rocket Boys by Homer H. Hickam, Jr. It is the memoir of a man born in a rural coal mining town in West Virginia. It is the story of a young man coming of age in the 1960s. He and a few friends dreamed of launching rockets into outer space. That was a common boy-type dream in those days. The difference in this story is those West Virginia boys made their dreams come true. Homer became a NASA engineer. It is the book that the movie October Sky was based on.
We have plenty of time to get this one read. We plan to meet at the library on January 8 at 5:30pm. We will order pizza, view the movie and wrap up the evening with book discussion. It is a charming American story. Please join us.
Our scarecrow contest was a rousing success. Kaitlyn Daisy won the People’s Choice Award with her entry, Oopsa, That 70s Girl. Don’t blame Kaitlyn for the poor pun. It was mine. The scarecrows will be up through the weekend. Stop by to see them.
Lastly, tickets are on sale now for the Humboldt Area Arts Council’s Art Encore. It will be held at the events center at the fairgrounds on November 22. It’s your chance to have some fun, contribute to a good cause and go home with a real treasure or two. The night starts out at 6pm. From 6-8pm there will be complimentary hors d’oeuvres and a wine and beer cash bar. At 8pm the auction will begin. Not only will all those clever lamps be offered, there will be assorted other items you won’t be able to resist. A silent auction will also take place until 11pm. From 9-midnight the Josh Davis Band will perform. Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door. Tickets are available at the library, Sheree’s Hallmark or from any arts council board member.
I have a stack of tickets to sell, so help me out and pick up yours at the library. Also, when you take a gander at the lamps for auction, take special note of the pair the library staff assembled. They are perfect for anyone’s home-so delightful & original!
Last week we held the discussion for our last Humboldt Reads! book, The Horizontal World, by Debra Marquardt. It led to quite an interesting discussion of a person’s tie to the land of his birth. Even though Marquardt was itching to leave her rural North Dakota farm at the first opportunity, the land still calls to her. There remains a bond that appears to be permanent to the land of her childhood. It seems to be one of those universal feelings. Although I left Oklahoma many years ago, I never feel as comfortable anywhere else. There is something in that red dirt and vast, blue sky that anchors me the way rolling hills of fertile, black soil never will. About 60 library patrons read the book and another 10 or 12 attended the discussion. Thus, we will start reading another book for discussion.
Our next book is Rocket Boys by Homer H. Hickam, Jr. It is the memoir of a man born in a rural coal mining town in West Virginia. It is the story of a young man coming of age in the 1960s. He and a few friends dreamed of launching rockets into outer space. That was a common boy-type dream in those days. The difference in this story is those West Virginia boys made their dreams come true. Homer became a NASA engineer. It is the book that the movie October Sky was based on.
We have plenty of time to get this one read. We plan to meet at the library on January 8 at 5:30pm. We will order pizza, view the movie and wrap up the evening with book discussion. It is a charming American story. Please join us.
Our scarecrow contest was a rousing success. Kaitlyn Daisy won the People’s Choice Award with her entry, Oopsa, That 70s Girl. Don’t blame Kaitlyn for the poor pun. It was mine. The scarecrows will be up through the weekend. Stop by to see them.
Lastly, tickets are on sale now for the Humboldt Area Arts Council’s Art Encore. It will be held at the events center at the fairgrounds on November 22. It’s your chance to have some fun, contribute to a good cause and go home with a real treasure or two. The night starts out at 6pm. From 6-8pm there will be complimentary hors d’oeuvres and a wine and beer cash bar. At 8pm the auction will begin. Not only will all those clever lamps be offered, there will be assorted other items you won’t be able to resist. A silent auction will also take place until 11pm. From 9-midnight the Josh Davis Band will perform. Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door. Tickets are available at the library, Sheree’s Hallmark or from any arts council board member.
I have a stack of tickets to sell, so help me out and pick up yours at the library. Also, when you take a gander at the lamps for auction, take special note of the pair the library staff assembled. They are perfect for anyone’s home-so delightful & original!
Friday, October 10, 2008
October Odds & Ends 10-15-08
We have just one more scheduled session of this year’s Writer’s Workshop to be held at 6:00 pm on October 23 at the library. The group did decide to continue to meet informally. They will meet on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month at 6:00 pm starting in November, somewhere in the library, but probably upstairs in the northeast corner. Newcomers are welcome at anytime.
More entries are coming in for our scarecrow contest. We are all out of the forms we created, but if anyone else would like to join in the fun, you are welcome to come up with your own. The only requirement is that the finished scarecrow must be able to sit on a shelf. If you drive by the library after dark, you might be able to see some of these scary creatures through the east library windows.
The current Humboldt Reads! title is Horizontal World by Debra Marquart. She teaches at Iowa State. The book is a series of autobiographical essays about her growing up years in rural North Dakota. Our discussion will be held October 23, at 5:30 pm at Family Table. You still have time to read it before we meet to discuss.
A group of totally random and unrelated new books at the library:
A Simple Guide to U.S. Immigration and Citizenship – We have this both in English and Spanish.
The House That Faux Built by Adrienne van Dooren – A house in New Orleans totally redone as a method to raise money to build a Habitat for Humanity house. I haven’t read this one. I suppose they remodeled a house and sold tickets. I have looked at the photos. They are indescribable. Check out this one for yourself!
The Oxford Project by Peter Feldstein and Stephen Bloom – Twenty-five years ago Peter Feldstein set out to photograph every citizen of Oxford, Iowa. All 676 of them. Twenty years later he took another photo of each. Stephen Bloom, author of Postville, who teaches at the University of Iowa, went along to write an accompanying biographical sketch. A fascinating concept.
Smoking Food: A Beginner’s Guide by Chris Dubbs – This book covers everything you need to know about smoking food over fire. Chapters range from the necessary equipment to fuels and marinades. The instructions seem reasonably easy to follow.
Swedish Christmas Crafts by Helene Lundberg – Charming, simple Christmas ornaments and decorations for every home.
How to Have Style by Isaac Mizrahi – Some days, a girl just feels frumpy. Page through this – it offers easy ways to perk up your style, makeup, jewelry, shoes and wardrobe.
More entries are coming in for our scarecrow contest. We are all out of the forms we created, but if anyone else would like to join in the fun, you are welcome to come up with your own. The only requirement is that the finished scarecrow must be able to sit on a shelf. If you drive by the library after dark, you might be able to see some of these scary creatures through the east library windows.
The current Humboldt Reads! title is Horizontal World by Debra Marquart. She teaches at Iowa State. The book is a series of autobiographical essays about her growing up years in rural North Dakota. Our discussion will be held October 23, at 5:30 pm at Family Table. You still have time to read it before we meet to discuss.
A group of totally random and unrelated new books at the library:
A Simple Guide to U.S. Immigration and Citizenship – We have this both in English and Spanish.
The House That Faux Built by Adrienne van Dooren – A house in New Orleans totally redone as a method to raise money to build a Habitat for Humanity house. I haven’t read this one. I suppose they remodeled a house and sold tickets. I have looked at the photos. They are indescribable. Check out this one for yourself!
The Oxford Project by Peter Feldstein and Stephen Bloom – Twenty-five years ago Peter Feldstein set out to photograph every citizen of Oxford, Iowa. All 676 of them. Twenty years later he took another photo of each. Stephen Bloom, author of Postville, who teaches at the University of Iowa, went along to write an accompanying biographical sketch. A fascinating concept.
Smoking Food: A Beginner’s Guide by Chris Dubbs – This book covers everything you need to know about smoking food over fire. Chapters range from the necessary equipment to fuels and marinades. The instructions seem reasonably easy to follow.
Swedish Christmas Crafts by Helene Lundberg – Charming, simple Christmas ornaments and decorations for every home.
How to Have Style by Isaac Mizrahi – Some days, a girl just feels frumpy. Page through this – it offers easy ways to perk up your style, makeup, jewelry, shoes and wardrobe.
Artful Musings
The first entry in our scarecrow contest has been turned in. It’s an endearing representation of an old fashioned one, charmingly dressed all in purple. Joyce Crabtree is its creator. She’s a good sport! Stop by the library often to see them as they come in. We will have a vote the week of October 20-24 and some sort of wonderful grand prize for the winning entry. I don’t know what the prize will be yet, but I’m thinking.
Last week was jam-packed with activity for the library and the whole city. On Tuesday we had our Small Steps to Health and Wealth program at the library. Barb Wollan and Paulelda Gilbert of the extension service led the workshop. The turn-out wasn’t great, so, when those of us who did attend turn into ravishingly thin, wealthy beauties, we will try not to flaunt our success. Although you did have a chance to join in.
Wednesday was the wine tasting reception given by the Humboldt Area Arts Council to launch the annual ARToberfest. This year the event was held at the Humboldt Historical Museum’s Clancy Building. I’d been to the museum, but had never been in the Clancy building. It’s that long red barn-looking building. It is charming! It’s full of little vignettes of Humboldt history. An old red fire truck and memorabilia from many local businesses. It was a perfect evening from the hors d’oeuvres to the music.
ARToberfest is a month long celebration. There are four different classes being offered: hand-made kaleidoscopes, pressed flower cards, textured hand built pottery and wire wrapped silver bracelet making. Information is available on the Council website: www.artsinhumboldt.com.
The Wednesday reception was held to introduce the objets d’arte that will be sold at auction on November 22. Every year there is a theme. The first year theme was chairs. I was blown away by the creative and imaginative ways local artists transformed ordinary chairs into works of art. The second year’s theme was clocks. They, too, were spectacular. This year the title of the exhibit is “Light Up Your Imagination”. Are you surprised that this year’s works of art are lamps?
By now, the third year, I’m no longer shocked at the talent displayed. I was prepared to be awed, but once, again, the imagination that went into the lamps is startling. The library entered a pair of lamps. We call them Novel Lamps. I had a vague idea to transform some rather wobbly library lamps into something sturdier. Staffer Kathy Hensch and her husband, Harold, took my idea to completion. They are only modestly clever compared to the work of real artists, but I like to think they might be very practical for any home.
The lamps are on display at Bank Iowa. Voting for the People’s Choice award is accomplished by dropping coins (or big bills!) into a jar near each display. The voting money will be used to enhance the scholarships to promising art students that the Arts Council gives each year. So, drop in the bank, be generous with your votes, and mark November 22 on your calendar for Art Encore. It promises to be bigger and better than ever.
Last week was jam-packed with activity for the library and the whole city. On Tuesday we had our Small Steps to Health and Wealth program at the library. Barb Wollan and Paulelda Gilbert of the extension service led the workshop. The turn-out wasn’t great, so, when those of us who did attend turn into ravishingly thin, wealthy beauties, we will try not to flaunt our success. Although you did have a chance to join in.
Wednesday was the wine tasting reception given by the Humboldt Area Arts Council to launch the annual ARToberfest. This year the event was held at the Humboldt Historical Museum’s Clancy Building. I’d been to the museum, but had never been in the Clancy building. It’s that long red barn-looking building. It is charming! It’s full of little vignettes of Humboldt history. An old red fire truck and memorabilia from many local businesses. It was a perfect evening from the hors d’oeuvres to the music.
ARToberfest is a month long celebration. There are four different classes being offered: hand-made kaleidoscopes, pressed flower cards, textured hand built pottery and wire wrapped silver bracelet making. Information is available on the Council website: www.artsinhumboldt.com.
The Wednesday reception was held to introduce the objets d’arte that will be sold at auction on November 22. Every year there is a theme. The first year theme was chairs. I was blown away by the creative and imaginative ways local artists transformed ordinary chairs into works of art. The second year’s theme was clocks. They, too, were spectacular. This year the title of the exhibit is “Light Up Your Imagination”. Are you surprised that this year’s works of art are lamps?
By now, the third year, I’m no longer shocked at the talent displayed. I was prepared to be awed, but once, again, the imagination that went into the lamps is startling. The library entered a pair of lamps. We call them Novel Lamps. I had a vague idea to transform some rather wobbly library lamps into something sturdier. Staffer Kathy Hensch and her husband, Harold, took my idea to completion. They are only modestly clever compared to the work of real artists, but I like to think they might be very practical for any home.
The lamps are on display at Bank Iowa. Voting for the People’s Choice award is accomplished by dropping coins (or big bills!) into a jar near each display. The voting money will be used to enhance the scholarships to promising art students that the Arts Council gives each year. So, drop in the bank, be generous with your votes, and mark November 22 on your calendar for Art Encore. It promises to be bigger and better than ever.
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