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Speaking VolumesKeeping you up-to-date on what's happening at your library. We invite you to join in the conversation!
JUNE 30, 2010
It Was A Pirate’s Life!
Yes, Miss Megan and I spent the day as pirates. I have to say, she made a better pirate than I, I think. Though, we were both told by a good authority that we did not look scary.
Regardless, the library was certainly filled with lots of budding buccaneers. We began with pirate stories. Then there were pirate self portraits. Come to the library to see them! Then came the real adventure…. Pirate masks, parrots that could reside on one’s shoulder, telescopes, pirates everywhere! It was a rough crowd. We were lucky we came out unscathed. Thus reinforcing the well know facts: don’t mess with pirates or librarians. For the record, we are not the first lady pirates. According to the history books there was Anne Bonney, Mary Read, Grace O’Malley, and one of my favorites, Ching Shih, a Chinese woman who sailed the China Sea in the early 19th century and is said to have commanded 1800 ships and about 80,000 pirates. If you’d like more information about lady pirates, librarians, or pirate librarians come check out the library!
JUNE 28, 2010
Don't Judge a Book by It's Cover!
Or should you.? It is sometimes difficult to practice the creed of this sage advice when looking at book art. Whether I'd like to or not, I find I do judge the book by its cover. I've become super aware of the covers after becoming a fan of one of my librarian friend, Linda William's (Connecticut Youth Services Consultant) excellent blog Jacket Whys. Read a few posts and I'm certain you'll be hooked. Linda's blog focuses on young adult covers (read the about section of her blog for more info) and in doing so makes many valid points that easily cross over to adult jackets. There's always lots of great discussion on the blog.
Recently our book group got together to pick next year's selections. One of the books we chose is The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O'Farrell. Take a look at the 4 covers for this book. The first is the 2006 hardcover edition.
The second is the 2007 hardcover edition.
And here are two versions of the trade paperback. Visit Maggie O'Farrell's website to see the cover featured there. Does this mean this is the cover the author prefers? I have no idea. I do know that when I went to purchase copies of the book I had strong feelings about which appealed to me. Why? I haven't read the book but I do know that it is the story of of two sisters in colonial India and 1930s Edinburgh and the secrets that bind them and tear them apart. Which of the covers even begins to bring the vision of Esme, a fiercely intelligent, unconventional young woman? Which one caught my eye and made me want to pick it up to find out more? Which one did I want to read? How about you? Which cover sparks your curiosity? Please post your choice. I don't want to influence you, so which I picked email me at
JUNE 25, 2010
What's a pirate's favorite kind of socks?
Arrrrrrgyle.
I know, hilarious. Seriously though, I am just trying to get in the mood for one of our upcoming programs, ‘It’s a Pirate’s Life for Me.’ On Wed. June 30th at 2:00 the library will be teeming with young buccaneers making all sorts of pirate-y crafts and checking out our collection of pirate books. Su and I might even dress up! I don’t know what it is about pirates, but kids love them. They seem to have become more and more popular over the past couple years, especially with the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy (hello Johnny Depp!). Their popularity has certainly carried over to children’s books; here are just a few that have come out in recent years: Anyways, we hope to see you there! And on that note, I'll leave you with one more bad pirate joke...
JUNE 23, 2010
Digital Challenges For U.S. Public Libraries
On June 21, 2010 Omar L. Gallaga reported about digital challenges for public libraries on All Things Considered. The story reported on the newly released study by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the American Library Association. But the news was not new: As libraries face budget cuts, they are shortening operating hours while the need for expanded digital services is increasing. It’s definitely a new age as some places now require you apply for a job, file your forms, get your information, etc. solely online. There simply IS no other option. For those without Internet access – this means the public library. But what is one supposed to do if their library is closed? Has no service? Or a long wait list for thirty minutes on the computer?
Some findings from the study include:
To listen to the npr story – click here To read the fact sheet of the report click here.
JUNE 21, 2010
Jimmy Carter rabbit incident
Yesterday, at a family picnic, my grandson was enjoying the pool. When he finally got out I was teasing him about taking his bunny Juliet for a swim. He looked at me as if I was nuts. Bunnies don't swim or do they? Grandpa piped in that he remembered an incident many years back where President Carter was fishing and a rabbit attacked him. No one seemed to remember this story. Not me, not the young people at the picnic, nor the older ones, closer to my husband's age ! He began to believe he dreamed it. Finally we called our life line (my daughter) who asked her mate (long-time military no less) and neither of them could recall the event. But! She could and would look it up on the net...
See the story here, including links. It happened on April 20, 1979. Yes, it's true and commonly known as the Jimmy Carter Rabbit Incident or The Killer Rabbit Attack. So rabbits do swim; I would never have believed it. Big Bad Bunny / story by Franny Billingsley ; art by G. Brian Karas. 32 third graders and one class bunny : life lessons from teaching / Phillip Done. and for a bit of "rabbit" horror try these Bunnicula : a rabbit tale of mystery / by Deborah and James Howe ; illustrated by Alan Daniel. and believe it or not there are books called Killer bunnies and Zombie raccoons & killer bunnies but don't be frightened. We don't own them!
JUNE 18, 2010
Catch the Reading Wave…
Come one, come all! School is out for the summer here in Columbia, and that means the beginning of our 2010 Summer Reading Program! Registration will begin on Monday, June 21st, and will remain open all summer. Those who sign up can win prizes all summer long by keeping track of their reading in their reading logs. You can also earn raffle tickets all summer by reading and playing Library LINGO, these raffle tickets will go into a drawing at the end of the Summer Reading Program. We will also have special events and programming all summer! Animal programs, art programs, science programs, crafts, parties, movies, and more! Be sure to stop by or call to sign up for our kick-off program, Bubblemania: Comedy with a Drip, with bubble artist Casey Carle. The program will be held on Friday June 25th @ 2:00 in Yeoman’s Hall. Last year 198 kids and teens signed up for our Summer Reading Program, let’s see if this year we can get over 200 participants! Call Megan @ 228-0350 or stop by the library for more information.
JUNE 16, 2010
Hang on!
What would summer be without an amusement park, fair or carnival? And in particular, a roller coaster. I LOVE roller coasters! Oh, I don’t ride them. I’m terrified. In fact, I’ve been known to turn into a whining, hysterical mess on rides that don’t ever leave the ground. To be fair I have ridden a few, and one of my proudest moments in this context was exiting Disney’s Tower of Terror, but … The carousel keepers : an oral history of American carousels / by Carrie Papa.
JUNE 12, 2010
Here Comes the Bride
June was once the choice of engaged couples to get married. Old fashioned thoughts of love and marriage called out to me to do a wedding display. Several years ago I did a similar display called Wedding Bell Blues but this time I wanted to go the whole nine yards, with wedding dress and all, including a real bride! And oh, what fun I had putting this one together. Dvd's ~ all owned by Saxon B.
JUNE 9, 2010
The “Why Don’t They Leave the House?” Syndrome
Generally speaking, I really like gothic romantic mysteries. You know the type: a recently windowed/orphaned/long lost relative comes to a rural place where the residents are distant/a little odd/cold to her, but she has inherited this wonderful castle/Victorian house/cottage by the sea where mysterious things start to happen…
JUNE 5, 2010
Vole or Mole ~ that is the question!
I'm always amazed at the little things that will catch my eye and get me thinking about how they relate to books. This past Sunday I was reading the FAQ Man column in the Money & Life section, Hartford Courant.. A reader's lawn was being destroyed by burrowing creatures, either moles or voles and wanted to know how to tell which was the culprit. The answer given by Angie Hicks, Angieslist.com, got to the "root" of the problem. Moles tunnel below ground and push up the roots of grass, while voles tend to tunnel through the grass and above ground. Moles eat grubs and earthworms, voles eat grass seed and destroy the lawn's root system.
I'm certain you'll find books that would help you rid your lawn of moles and voles in our collection (try 635 section) or by using the excellent resources at www.iconn.org. More fun though would be to read a story featuring one or the other of these animals. You'll be delighted by their antics and they won't hurt your lawn. The moles have it when it comes to the written word... Mouse and Mole, fine feathered friends / by Wong Herbert Yee Upstairs Mouse, downstairs Mole / by Wong Herbert Yee Mole and the baby bird / by Marjorie Newman ; illustrated by Patrick Benson One dark nightt / Lisa Wheeler ; illustrated by Ivan Bates.
The adventures of Danny Meadow Mouse / Thornton W. Burgess ; original illustrations by Harrison Cady adapted by Thea Kliros. The tale of Jeremy Vole / Stephen R. Lawhead.
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