Mercer County Library Blog

Glitz and Glam – another easy bracelet you can make!

2012-01-27T13:39:00.004-05:00

Liven up your winter wardrobe by adding a little glitz and glam. You can personalize this simple bracelet by choosing your favorite sequins. I had flowers and stars on hand, but craft stores offer a wide variety of shapes and sizes, so pick out your favorites and get started…

Sequin Bracelets
Materials needed:
Sequins - assorted sizes (make sure they have a small hole in the middle)
24 or 26- gauge wire (36 inches)
Wire cutters or nail clippers
1 large seed bead (size 6/0)

Creating a clasp –
Choose a larger sequin to act as a clasp at the end of your bracelet. Bend your 36 inch wire in half to make a loop the large sequin can fit through. Remember if the loop is too big the bracelet could unclasp. Twist the wires at the base of the loop to close it.

Threading the beads –
Thread one of the wires through the hole in the sequin then thread the other wire through in the opposite direction. Carefully push the sequin toward loop. Be very careful not to cross your wires as you slide it. Secure the sequin by twisting the wires twice.

Adding more sequins-
Continue to add more sequins, twisting the wire twice between each one.

As you add sequins be sure to measure the bracelet against your wrist to ensure a good fit.

Completing the Clasp -
When your bracelet is long enough, add your larger sequin by threading both wires through in the same direction.

Then add your bead in the same manner.

To secure the bead thread both wires back through the large sequin so that the wires are now holding the bead in place. Twist the wires directly behind the large sequin to further secure the bracelet. Simply trim the excess wires to complete your bracelet.

Finished product!

**Directions adapted from:
Haab, Sherri, Michelle Haab , and Barbara Pollack. Dangles and Bangles: 25 Funky Accessories to Make and Wear. New York: Watson-Guptill Publications, 2005. 66-68.

For other fun projects try:
Remake It! Recycling Projects from the Stuff You Usually Scrap by Tiffany Threadgould
The Crafty Diva’s Lifestyle Makeover by Kathy Cano-Murillo, Carrie Wheeler and John Samora
Friendship Bracelets by Carmilla Gryski

- Michelle C.

New Year … New Outlook!

2012-01-24T13:36:00.036-05:00

Happy New Year to all the MCL blog readers out there and with the New Year here are some ways to change your Outlook email! Why not add some sparkle to your email messages by including a colorful background? You can also create a signature that’s as distinctive as you are by adding a picture, a quote and even hyperlinks. How about automating your signature so you don’t have to do a lot of repetitive typing – your name, contact information, etc. - each time you send an email? Want a receipt that lets you know if your email message was received? And how about setting up a contacts list for that book group of yours? Now you don’t have to remember and retype each member’s email every month! You can also make your email messages easier to find by creating and assigning color categories. Sound good? Then read on – this is the first in a series of blogs regarding Microsoft Outlook.

For this blog, I will start with showing you how to add a colorful theme to your email.

Open Outlook, and then click on Tools. Click and select Options. From the Options dialog box click the Mail Format tab. Under Message Format, use the drop-down arrow to select HTML format. Then click the Stationary and Fonts button.

Once the Signatures and Stationary dialog box opens, click the Personal Stationary tab. Then click on the Theme button to access the Theme or Stationary dialog box.

Once the Themes or Stationary dialog box opens, under Choose a Theme, click on the themes you see on the left and get a preview on the sample menu on the right. You can click all the themes to see which one is right for you. Only after you click OK does the theme of your choice get installed. So find a theme you like, and then click OK. Now your email messages will not only be informative but will also have a lively and distinctive flair!

But wait that’s not all! If you are a font geek like me, you can also choose your favorite font and not settle for the boring default font that Microsoft has provided. From the same Signatures and Stationary dialog box, and the Personal Stationary tab, that you used to set up a theme, look under New mail messages and click the Font button. From the Font dialog box, under the Font tab, you will find an array of options to pick from: Font, Font color, Font style, Size, etc. Once you have customized your font, font color, etc., click OK. And, then click OK again.

If you get tired of the stationary and theme that you have selected you can always change it back to the default setting. Here’s how: From the Tools menu, click Options. Then from the Mail Format tab, click the Stationary and Fonts button. From the Personal Stationary tab, click the Theme tab. Then from the Theme or Stationary dialog box, under Choose a theme, Click No Theme and then click OK.

More tips regarding Outlook will be available in my next blog so keep a look out!

- Rina B.

I Prowl Cemeteries

2012-01-20T13:31:00.006-05:00

A Mystery in Three Parts

(Not a Whodunit, but two Who-are-theys and one Where-is-he)

I prowl cemeteries.

I’m neither a vampire nor a zombie. I’m that third creature of current popular culture: an amateur genealogist. And as any such person knows, cemeteries can yield a wealth of information, especially if, like mine, your interest in genealogy came late enough in life that there are no longer people around who can answer your questions.

Part I: The Mystery of the Italian Relatives
I am lucky enough to have one ancestor with a unique surname. My father’s mother’s father, Gregorio, was the first Damaturco, and his granddaughter, Josephine, was the last -- which means that every Damaturco who ever lived is somehow related to me.

So when I searched the New York State newspaper archives and found an obituary for Gregory Damaturco, I knew I’d found my great-grandfather.

And it gave me two valuable pieces of information: the exact date of death, and the last sentence: “Interment family plot Calvary Cemetery.”

Now, if you know the cemetery and date of death, it’s possible to pinpoint the gravesite with a call to the cemetery; a helpful clerk in Calvary’s office gave me the information I needed (please note – providing a grave location at no charge is often a courtesy. Please don’t abuse this by asking for several at once, unless you are prepared to pay a research fee.) Once there, it didn’t take me long to find the stone.

But here was a mystery. The right side was clear enough; there was Great Grandpa Gregorio with his Americanized first name and his wife, my Great Grandmother Josephine. But who were these other people? Anna Palladino; that was my great-aunt, I knew from the obituary. But the Duartes? The Coiras? Who were they, and how were they related to each other and to me? I tried to puzzle it out, but soon gave it up as hopeless.

A few months later I did a random Google search for Damaturco and came across a personal family history site (since taken down) in which all three names – Damaturco, Coira, and Duarte – appeared.

I immediately contacted the person who’d put up the site (who turned out to be my second cousin twice removed). And he said, sure, he could identify all those names on the headstone; in fact the name at the very bottom happened to be his grandma, who was living with him and his dad out in the Midwest. If there was anything he didn’t know, he could just ask her.

And with that, every name on that complicated and confusing headstone fell into place and my family tree had several more leaves.

And here are some of those leaves (just to put some faces to names): here’s Nunzio and his wife Annie, and that’s Nettie behind them on the right. (The young man is Nunzio’s son, Mickey, by a previous marriage. He’s buried elsewhere.)

Part II: Looking For Mr. Smith
While it’s genealogical joy to have ancestors with a rare surname, it can be pretty daunting when your forebears are named Smith. Still, the success I had with Gregorio inspired me to try something similar with Henry Smith, my husband’s grandfather, who, coincidentally, had also been buried at Calvary. My husband had never been to his grave, but he had an old holy card from the funeral home with the exact date of death, and I figured it would be simple enough to find his headstone, just as I had done with my great-grandfather.

Except… the cemetery had no record of anyone named Smith who had died that day. Plenty of Smiths, yes; plenty of Henry Smiths. But not a one who had passed away on February 13, 1947. I needed a different approach.

The funeral home listed on the bottom of the 60-plus-year-old card had moved, but it was still doing business in Queens.

Could they possibly still have their records from 1947? I wrote to them, enclosing a copy of the card (I put in a self-addressed stamped envelope too. I was asking for a big favor; why not be considerate and make it as easy as possible for them?). A few weeks later came a scrawled note with the exact location of the burial site. I called the cemetery office again, this time with the location rather than the name, and was able to determine that in this case, Henry was the only occupant of the grave – which was a little disappointing. The next time we were at Calvary we sought him out and were also a bit disappointed to find there was no headstone, but that was OK... the mystery of where he was buried had been solved.

But I never did find out why they hadn’t been able to find him by name.

Part III: An Abundance of Millers
An online search at the Italian Genealogical Group’s site helped me find a death certificate for Eleanor Sarah Wilson (my husband’s first cousin twice removed) indicating that she had been laid to rest at Lutheran All Faiths Cemetery, also in Queens. A call to the office gave me the gravesite, but when I asked who else might have been buried there, the office clerk balked. She was kind enough to give me a couple of names but said there were ten more people, and there would be a charge for that information. My check was on its way the next day, and pretty soon I had a list of thirteen interments in one plot: Wilsons and Millers and Smiths, Rittereisers and Ganslers and Furnisses, with their dates and places of death. I think it was money well spent, since it added even more leaves to my tree! This particular mystery is in the process of being solved; I’m still figuring out who everyone is.

And there you have it, my genealogy mystery in partes tres.

Are you interested in doing some sleuthing on your own family? Here are some sources I’ve found useful:
The New York newspaper archive where I found my great-grandfather’s obituary is at www.fultonhistory.com. It’s a wonderful site if you have ancestors from New York State. Literally millions of articles from hundreds of New York State newspapers, spanning over a century, have been scanned into a free, searchable database. I especially like using the powerful Boolean search mode. Read the “FAQ HELP INDEX” section to get the most out of this site, and I would recommend that you stick with the newspaper searching on the left side of the page; the chat on the right side isn’t too useful.

I found Eleanor Sarah Wilson’s death certificate information at italiangen.org. This is a free site from the Italian Genealogical Group – but it’s not just for Italians (it is, however, just for New York City denizens). Click on the “Databases – Vital Records” link and start searching New York City vital records from (depending on which kind of vital record you’re looking for) 1862 to 1948. Your ancestor’s record of birth, death, or marriage will include an exact date, the certificate number, and which New York City county the event took place in. There are some records from Nassau and Suffolk counties, too. At the bottom of the search page is a link to the New York City Department of Records, so you can order the original certificates online for about $15. Please note: the first link (www.cityclerknyc.com...) seems to no longer be valid; use the second link (the one that starts with www.nyc.gov...) instead. Or if you know the person’s birth, death, or marriage date you can bypass the Italian Genealogical Group altogether and go straight to the New York City vital records archives. Be aware that whether you go through italiangen.org or NYC, there will be a charge for these records.

If you’d love to trek through cemeteries like I did but find your family members’ graves are too far away or inconvenient to visit, here’s another free site: Find A Grave. Look on the right side of the page, where you can search for over 73,000,000 grave records. Many have photos attached. And here is the best thing about this site: if you are a member (membership is free), and you have the exact gravesite (which, remember, you can get if you provide the cemetery office with a name and a date of death), you can request a photo of the headstone. And if that headstone, like my great grandparents’, happens to include several names and dates that are new to you… I wish you all the best solving your own family history mystery!

- Barbara S.

eBook Help

2012-01-17T13:28:00.029-05:00

If you are new to eBooks on eLibraryNJ, we have a few tips to help get you started borrowing eBooks from MCLS. First, we will take a look at how to download to some popular devices and then take a look at how to navigate the eLibraryNJ website.

The first thing you want to make sure to do is download and install any software you will need to check-out an eBook. If you have a Kindle, Sony Reader WiFi or tablet, you do not need to download any software on your PC. For all other devices, you will need to install Adobe Digital Editions (ADE) on your PC, see the Adobe website to download. In order to use the software, you will need a free Adobe account. Nook users must make sure to use the same e-mail address and password that was used to register the nook or you will not be able to transfer titles to the nook.

For tablets and Smartphones, such as the iPad, you do not need a PC at all, but will need to download the OverDrive app from the App Store on iTunes or from the Android Market. Use the app to find our library (search for Mercer County Library) and hit the star to make it your favorite and then the library name to go to the collection. Be aware the library may show up with the old name, InfoLink – ListenNJ, in the library listings. Once connected to the library, you can now check-out titles and download directly to the device. You may also return titles early using the apps.

Sony WiFi users can hit the Public Library button on page two of the main menu to find eLibraryNJ and download titles directly to the device. Directions will appear on the screen and you will be asked to enter your zip code. Pick Mercer County Library System from the list, then ListenNJ - InfoLink and finally eBooks to search the collection.

Kindle users have a two-step checkout process to complete and the title will either download wirelessly or can be transferred to the Kindle using a USB cable. The first step is to make sure the Kindle is connected to a WiFi network, as the wireless transfer cannot be done over the 3G network. To verify you are using WiFi, look to the upper right hand corner of the screen and you should see either WiFi or 3G. If you need to switch to a WiFi network, please consult the Amazon help pages to see how to connect your model, as each model is different. If you cannot connect to a WiFi network, you will need to connect the Kindle to the PC via USB to transfer titles. Instructions for connecting via USB for the various Kindle models can be found on the Amazon help pages. Once the Kindle is on WiFi or connected to the PC, use a PC to browse the eLibraryNJ collection and complete the check-out process. After completing the eLibraryNJ check-out, click the Get for Kindle button and you will be directed to the Amazon page for the title, where you need to click the Get Library Book button and select the Kindle to which you wish to download the title. WiFi delivery is instant; follow Amazon’s directions for transferring via USB. If you wish to return a title, use a PC to log on to your Amazon account and go to the Manage My Kindle page. To the right of the titles you have checked out will be an option to Return Library Book, click it to return the title.

For all other eReaders, including the nook and older Sony Readers, first connect the device to your PC with a USB cable. Next, check-out a title on eLibraryNJ and click the Download button. In Internet Explorer, pick Open at the prompt. On other browsers, click the file name after the download finishes. This should open Adobe Digital Editions in the reading view for that title. Look in the upper left hand corner and switch to the library view (icon of three books or pick library from drop-down). You will now see the cover art on the right and to the left will be a list of bookshelves with your connected device in the list. Click and drag the title you wish to transfer from the cover art side and drop it onto the device on the left side. Close ADE and properly disconnect the device from the computer.

Now let’s explore the eLibraryNJ website. First, sign in using the link at the top of the page, in the gold area. Logging on will allow you to see the Add to Cart or Place a Hold link on all of the titles. You’ll need to pick Mercer County Library System from the drop-down and then enter your library barcode number. Once logged on, you can browse using the lists on the main page, use the quick search box or use the advanced search to find titles.

The advanced search can be found under the options for the quick search and has a few aspects that make it very useful. First, you do not need to enter any keywords in the blank boxes at the top of the search form, which allows you to retrieve full lists of eBooks by subject or format. If you want a list of all the eBooks in the system, pick either Kindle or all eBooks (includes ePub and PDF, the formats used on all readers except Kindle) in the format drop-down and click the search button. Of course the search works best if you narrow it a little by picking a subject from the drop-down. One neat feature of the subject drop-down is that fiction and non-fiction are listed as broad categories, as well as more specific genres, such as biography or romance.. Also note toward the bottom of the form, you can restrict to items added over the last few weeks or months and there is also a check-box to select titles with copies available.

Finally, this is just a getting started guide and there are a few avenues available for more help. If you look to the left on the eLibraryNJ page, you should see the Getting Started box. There will be a link to lists of compatible eReaders and audiobook devices as well as a few different help options. My Help! is a guided help source that will ask you a few questions and take you straight to the information you need without having to navigate menus. For a full listing of help topics, click on the Help/FAQs button. In addition to device and software help, this section also includes Borrowing Help, which explains how to do tasks such as cancel holds and lists the circulation rules for the service (number of checkouts allowed, etc.). If the help sections don’t answer your questions, you can always contact us at the library.

- Laura N.

Wrap up with a cozy book this winter

2012-01-13T13:57:00.005-05:00

There is nothing better on a cold winter’s day then to snuggle up under a warm quilt and read a book. Here’s a collection of cozy winter stories from the MCLS catalog to share with young readers.

One winter's day by Christina Butler (E BUT)
When a wintry wind blows away Little Hedgehog's nest, he sets out for his friend Badger's house, and the generosity he shows to others during his journey is returned to him when the snowstorm is over.

Snow by Cynthia Rylant (E RYL)
Celebrates the beauty of a snowfall and its happy effects on children.

A Kitten Tale by Eric Rohman (E ROH)
As four kittens who have never seen winter watch the seasons pass, three of them declare the reasons they will dislike snow when it arrives, while the fourth cannot wait to experience it for himself.

Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson (E WIL)
On a cold winter night many animals gather to party in the cave of a sleeping bear, who then awakes and protests that he has missed the food and the fun.

Mouse and Mole, a winter wonderland by Wong Herbert Yee (E YEE)
Best friends Mouse and Mole enjoy playing in the snow with Sno-Mouse and Sno-Mole, two more best friends.

Winter is the warmest season by Lauren Stringer (E STR)
A child describes pleasant ways to stay warm during the winter, from sipping hot chocolate and eating grilled cheese sandwiches to wearing wooly sweaters and sitting near a glowing fireplace.

Carl’s snowy afternoon by Alexandra Day (E DAY)
When Madeleine's parents go to the Pond Party, they leave Carl and the baby at home for a cozy winter afternoon with a babysitter. But Carl and Madeleine have plans of their own -- they want to play in the snow!

Grandmother Winter by Phyllis Root (E ROO)
When Grandmother Winter shakes out her feather quilt birds, bats, bears, and other creatures prepare themselves for the cold.

Tippy-tippy-tippy hide! by Candace Fleming (E FLE)
Having worked all summer at keeping bunnies out of his garden, Mr. McGreely looks forward to a peaceful winter--if only he can keep those naughty bunnies from invading his home.

Annie and Snowball and the wintry freeze by Cynthia Rylant (ER RYL LV2)
Annie and her cousin Henry, along with Henry's dog Mudge and Annie's rabbit Snowball, enjoy a sparkling, wintry ice storm.

A long way from home by Elizabeth Baguley (E BAG)
Tired of being crowded in the burrow, Noah the rabbit asks his friend Albatross to take him to a spacious land with no bunnies, but soon after his arrival, Noah finds himself missing his cozy nest full of snuggly bunnies.

Soft house by Jane Yolen (E YOL)
On a rainy afternoon, a little brother and big sister make a cozy house from blankets and cushions with the help of Mr. Cat.

- Briana C.

Books to Get You Thinking

2012-01-10T13:16:00.027-05:00

As the year 2011 slowly recedes into the past, we remember the special moments and events that made the year memorable - the Uprising in the Middle East, the Economic Crisis of Europe, the earthquake and tsunami that triggered the nuclear disaster in Japan. Throughout these tumultuous times, several books emerged as timely reflections on both current events and topics of historical importance. This month’s picks for our readers feature notable books that have received recognition by the editorial boards of top publications across the world. They range from reflections on current events to in-depth exploration of significant moments in our history, as well as some more personal reflections of individuals who have faced extraordinary challenges.

New York Times
A Boy in the Moon: A Father’s Journey to Understand His Extraordinary Son by Ian Brown
A truly poignant and hauntingly beautiful book, where the author offers readers a glimpse into his life as he and his wife care for, and bring up Walker, their child born with a rare genetic disorder called cardiofaciocutaneous syndrome (CFC). Walker unable to speak or eat or develop normally needed constant care and attention. The Browns progress from desperately trying to find a cure or medical treatment that might help improve Walker’s condition but ultimately learn to accept his condition and love him for the unique individual who he was. Through the struggle to take care of and understand his son, the author tries to find an answer to the eternal question of what a human life is worth and what contribution children like Walker can make to our lives.

A World On Fire: Britain’s Crucial Role in the American Civil War by Amanda Foreman
Using extensive research, Amanda Foreman, author of her previous prize winning biography, Georgiana Duchess of Devonshire gives an absorbing account of the political twists and turns involved in the discussions and policy making in both England and America in the era of the Civil War. Vivid portraits of the political leaders, soldiers and civilians engaged on either side of the Atlantic offer fresh insights into the maneuvers and dynamics of the Civil War. The Civil War not just divided America into two opposing factions, but this division was closely mirrored in England as well, with support for the Union on the one hand, and tacit support for the Confederacy on the other stemming from the economic dependency on cotton imports from the South.

Financial Times
Poor Economics by Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Dufflo
Winner of the 2011 Financial Times and the Goldman Sachs Business Book of the Year Award, this book provides an innovative approach to analyzing the problem of poverty that entrenches millions all around the world despite the best efforts of governments, non profits and global aid. Based on fifteen years of randomized trials as well as a large body of well researched evidence from dozens of countries, two Professors from MIT focus on the rationale behind the decisions that the poor make as a key component of any successful solutions or policies aimed at alleviating poverty. By factoring in the complexities and contradictions that frequently prevail in decision making by the poor, solutions can be found that specifically target and help break the vicious cycle of poverty through strategic intervention.

That Used to be Us: How America Fell Behind in the World it Invented and How We Can Come Back by Thomas L Friedman and Michael Mandelbaum
This well researched book will be of immense interest to all readers concerned about the present condition and the future prospects for America. The authors give a compelling and rigorous analysis of the economic challenges facing America today and identify different critical areas where the nation needs to focus. Investment in education, research, infrastructure, and energy efficient policies, as well as a reinforcement of the intrinsic values of hard work, and pursuit of excellence is deemed critically important to break out of the cycle of slow decline that is gripping the American economy today. An interesting component of the book are the many profiles of people from diverse areas – CEOs, school administrators, and politicians who have set an example of success in meeting challenges that can be emulated at the national level and that provides hope for a better tomorrow.

Washington Post
Deng Xiaoping and the Transformation of China by Ezra F. Vogel
The emergence of China as a global power, and its recent role in the recovery of the European economy brings to the fore the question of how a nation radically transformed itself and what ideas and personal initiatives have shaped and defined the emergence of a new superpower. This book will give readers the personal side of China’s triumph, and how the individual creativity of Deng Xiaoping helped negotiate the tough strategies and choices made over the years to promote economic growth. The author presents a compelling picture of the many contradictions that embodied Deng Xiaoping, a bold strategist who recognized the role of science and modern technology in transforming the economy and who reversed the closed door policies of his predecessors but yet remained grounded in his authoritarian roots that led to the Tiananmen Square killings in 1989.

The Beauty and the Sorrow: An Intimate History of the First World War by Peter Englund
The pain and suffering of war is an eternal theme that has been the subject of many writings. In this remarkable book, Peter Englund, a Swedish historian, author and permanent Secretary of the Swedish Academy provides a unique insight into the real experiences of twenty men and women whose lives were touched in different ways by the ravages of the First World War. They come from diverse backgrounds - a German schoolgirl, an English nurse in the Russian Army, an American ambulance driver and a French civil servant. The book also spans the war raging in different parts of the world - not just the Western Front but also the Alps, Mesopotamia, East Africa, the Balkans and the Eastern Front. The book is not so much about the events that shaped the War but reverberates, in the words of the author, with “feelings, impressions, experiences and moods” of the many people intrinsically affected by the agonies and tribulations of the War.

-Nita Mathur

New Year’s Eve in Times Square

2012-01-06T13:49:00.007-05:00

Throughout my childhood, the tradition was to gather at Aunt Antoinette’s house on New Year’s Eve. The grown-ups would socialize and the kids would be glued to the television, watching the festivities in Times Square. It just wasn’t New Year’s without seeing the ball drop…

I didn’t think about it then, but recently I’ve wondered about the history of New Year’s Eve at Times Square. How did that spot become so synonymous with New Year’s Eve? And what is the reason behind the big lighted ball?

According to the Times Square Alliance, the first New Year’s Eve celebration at Times Square took place in 1904 to commemorate the official opening of the New York Times’ new headquarters. Then owner Alfred Ochs decided he would offer a “party for the ages” and he did – 200,000 people attended a day-long street festival and fireworks display. It was said that the noise from the crowd at midnight could be heard 30 miles away. The success of this first celebration made Times Square the place to be every year since. Read the full history.

Two years later, the City banned the use of fireworks. What to do? Alfred Ochs was not undaunted – a “time ball” constructed of wood and iron, weighing 700 pounds, and lit by 100 25-watt bulbs was lowered down the flagpole at the top of the Times Tower. Since then, the ball has been lowered each year except 1942 and 1943, during the City’s wartime “dimout” and the number of people watching is over one billion worldwide. Click here for more information about the New Year’s Eve Ball.

- Andrea M.

photo courtesy of asterix611

Reader’s Advisory: The Infomercial

2012-01-03T13:07:00.002-05:00

Are you confused about the proper reading order of your favorite series?

Are you fed up with not knowing when the next book is due to come out?

Would you like a faster way to keep track of which books you’ve read and a greener way to track them instead of using notebooks full of lists?

Hello. My name’s Amelia. I’m a librarian at the Twin Rivers Branch Library.

If you’re in need of a resource to track your treasured book series then pay close attention because I’m going to share with you the amazing power of FictFact.com

Let’s list the benefits of FictFact.com…

You can keep track of the books you’ve read in a series with your personal Next Book List. This list shows you the next book you should read in each series you follow.
You can see when the next book is due out in each series you follow with the Coming Soon list.
You can get updates when a new book is added to a followed series or if one of your much cherished, series writing authors has started a new series.

Here’s what one of our patrons said in a recent visit to the library:

I love how easy FictFact.com is to use and keep track of what I’ve read.

And here’s what another one of our patrons said:

This makes my library visits so much easier. Knowing what book I need instead of having to ask each time I go in.

You too can easily track your favorite book series.

If you want to eliminate the confusion of reading non-numbered or non-alphabetized book series, and enjoy the benefits of an organized reading list, easy tracking of what you have read, and knowing when the next book is due out, then make sure you join FictFact.com today. Go ahead and get started by following this link. You’ll never read a series out of order again!

A message from your friendly neighborhood librarian!

- Amelia R.

Recommended Websites From A Children’s Librarian

2011-12-30T13:32:00.006-05:00

Busy children’s librarians use the internet everyday for professional development, assisting patrons, readers’ advisory, program planning and ordering library materials. Intertwined in the use of the web for work and personal use, are the myriad websites a youth librarian uses regularly to stay in touch with what is going on in the world of children’s librarianship, public libraries, popular culture, children’s literature and forthcoming new children’s books. Without a doubt, there are a dizzying array of blogs, social media outlets, websites and other online tools to choose from.

I recommend the following resources to anyone who reads and enjoys using the web for learning, browsing, finding answers and staying up-to-date on current topics. Whether you are a student, parent, teacher, librarian or lifelong learner, I hope you’ll find something new and useful from the links I’ve selected.

Mashpedia

Mashpedia is an online encyclopedia made up of web documents displaying blocks of content related to the given topic, retrieved from multiple sources across the internet in real-time. A queried topic on Mashpedia will yield media from newspapers, magazines, blogs, books, Wikipedia, Youtube, Twitter and Facebook. Library-themed search topics I like to follow include “children’s literature,” “public library,” “librarian” and “picture book.”

Alltop

Alltop describes itself as the “online magazine rack of the web,” collecting headlines of the latest stories from the best sites and blogs that cover a topic. Those “aggregations” are organized into individual web pages. Each page displays recent headlines of the information sources as well as their first paragraph. Find topics by using the search box or browsing categories such as work, health, culture, interests, tech, people, news or sports. A cursory glance at just the headlines is a nice starting place. Then, by moving the mouse over individual headlines, you can read a bit more in the pop-up boxes, deciding whether or not to click for the full story. Sharing and personalization features are available if you create afreeaccount. I enjoy following the pages for “children’s literature,” “publishing,” and “libraries.”

Bookleads Wikispace Reading Suggestion Portals

This page of the Bookleads wiki lists many of the best readers’ advisory sites. I use it regularly for finding reading ideas for myself, my kids or for library patrons. Popular genre sites are represented to help with “what to read next” suggestions, read-alike lists and for browsing. Tab around to the other pages under the navigation heading for even more topics of interest. If you click “home” you can view the colorful, Glogster-created visual home page.

All My Faves

All My Faves is a categorical, visual list of frequently searched categories on the web, each listing 10 different logos of popular websites in that category. (blogs, business, education, entertainment, games, kids, non-profit organizations, shopping, travel and video) It is an easy resource to use for keeping up with new weekly websites for personal research, for work or for fun. The education and kids categories are constantly useful to me. It is eye-catching and makes a handy reference for many topics.

YALit Book Release Dates

This site is a compilation of release dates for young adult novels. It has a very basic design, with more expanded features said to be on the way soon. Any teen or adult who wants to keep track of this genre chronologically will make good use this website. Two tables include upcoming releases and recently published novels, back to 2006. Even if you follow other teen blogs, websites, collection development resources or social media, this one is unique because of its simplicity.

A Media Specialists Guide to the Internet

This blog is maintained by an experienced New Jersey junior senior high school media specialist. Its topics work well for parents, reference librarians, teachers, tutors and students. The site maps and headings by grade level make the site an excellent reference page. Two very useful recent postings include “38 Online Encyclopedias” (July 8, 2011) and “32 Resource links on Cyberbullying.” (September 18 , 2011) The best part of the site in my opinion, is the mega list for Media-Specialists and Teacher-Librarians.

Instructables: Share What You Make

Instructables is a web-based documentation platform for sharing and learning DIY projects, from the artistic to the practical. Fun to browse, the categories are: food, living, outside, play, technology and workshop. Tabs and sections include photos, step-by-step directions, video, ebooks and guides. Examples of the variety of projects included: Kindle book style cover, Gryffindor scarf, colored pencil beads, paper sword, reticulating water dog bowl, duct tape flower and tissue paper pom poms. It includes a section on reusing materials. Q&A section allows you to post a question for the community to answer.

Ask a Tech Teacher

An experienced teacher maintains this blog covering practical technology issues. Topics are of interest to students, teachers, librarians and parents. Worthwhile sections include the Parent Resources Archive as well as the Problem Solving category. Click on the Great Kids Websites pages to find recommended websites by grade level.

LibGuides Community

Search and explore 196,752 online subject guides by 36,768 librarians at 2537 libraries worldwide on this site. These online subject guides can contain print or electronic information, websites book-lists, how-to guides or anything else a library has prepared to assist its users. It is a hosted service, free to patrons who browse it. (Libraries pay a licensing fee to post content.) It is well worth taking a few moments to do some sample searches on this website to learn how to navigate its features and use it as a reference resource. You can enter titles, keywords or topics of interest and limit by type of library institution. Try a combination of terms such as: picture books, children’s, teen fiction, non-fiction, mystery, summer reading, ebooks, read-alouds, realistic, fairy tale, mystery, awards, young adult, juvenile, kids, parents, homework, copyright, teacher resources, primary sources or read-alikes.

The Kids’ Guide: New Jersey’s Guide for Kids, Teens & Families

The Kids' Guide is a listing of New Jersey’s cultural, recreational and educational opportunities as well as businesses and services dedicated to children, teens and families. Sections include entertainment, outdoor activities, historic sites, museums, music & dance, theatre and family travel. Services section includes camps, child care, education, health, parties, entertainers, special needs and sports & recreation. Use this guide along with the Fun Things to do with Kids in New Jersey section of Fun New Jersey.com.

- Laura Gruninger,

Lawrence Headquarters Branch

Use Notes in PowerPoint!

2011-12-27T13:01:00.002-05:00

My last blog was about enhancing your PowerPoint presentation by inserting hyperlinks in the slides but I do want to mention a very utilitarian tool that is especially helpful when using PowerPoint: the Notes Pane. Each slide in your presentation has a Notes Pane just below the slide. To access the Notes Pane, from Normal view, look at the bottom of the slide. You will see a “white” area below the slide that says “Click here to add notes.” You can put all your notes on this pane and never have to worry about “cue cards” before your presentation!

In the Notes Pane, you can not only type in your speaker’s notes but you can also include any charts, graphs or tables that you might need for your presentation. Any data you put in the Notes Pane does not appear on the slides, nor arethey visible on the screen during the presentation. Moreover, every time you save your PowerPoint presentation, your notes - along with your slides - are saved in the same file. You can enlarge the notes pane while in Normal view so you can see the reduced version of the slide above as you type your notes. To enlarge the notes pane put your cursor on the line that separates the slide from the notes pane. The cursor will change into a North-South pointing arrow, just click hold and drag to extend the notes area and reduce the size of the slide.

PowerPoint also provides a separate view in order to make it easy to work with the Notes Pane. Using the tabs on the Ribbon, you can change the View to the Notes Page view. In the Notes Page view you will see a thumbnail of the slide along with the notes area below it. The Notes Pane actually contains a text box which you can resize by using any of the eight sizing handles. And, what’s more, you can use the Zoom Slider to zoom in and enlarge your view so as to read your notes without squinting!

Of course, you can always print your notes to use as an aid during your presentation, but you don’t have to. Using two monitors for your presentation, you can run the slide show on one monitor - for the audience - while the contents of the second monitor, which displays your notes, can be viewed only by you. This saves you from either printing or memorizing your notes!

Please Note: PowerPoint supports the use of two monitors for a presentation but you will have to make sure that your computer supports the use of dual monitors. It may be wise to enlist the help of a techie friend to ensure your computer supports the use of multiple monitors prior to your presentation!

In order to configure your PowerPoint on two monitors follow these steps:

Click the Slide Show tab, and then from the Monitors group, click Use Presenter View. In the Display Settings dialog box, click to select the monitor icon that you want to use for your notes. Click again to select the box: This is my main monitor. The contents displayed on the main monitor will be viewed only by you. Now choose your second monitor, the contents of which will be viewed by the audience. Click the icon for the second monitor. Click and select the box that says Extend my Windows Desktop onto this monitor. Then click OK.

Double check that the monitor, that is going to be viewed by the audience, appears on the Show On list. You certainly don’t want to give the entire game away by putting your notes on display!

Now that your PowerPoint is configured and ready for presentation so are you with all your notes available at the click of a mouse!

- Rina B.

New Holiday Treats

2011-12-23T13:54:00.004-05:00

Curl up with a mug of hot cocoa and these just-published goodies that will bring you some holiday comfort and joy.

The Christmas Wedding

By James Patterson

The tree is decorated, the cookies are baked, and the packages are wrapped, but the biggest celebration this Christmas is Gaby Summerhill's wedding. Since her husband died three years ago, Gaby's four children have drifted apart, each consumed by the turbulence of their own lives. They haven't celebrated Christmas together since their father's death, but when Gaby announces that she's getting married--and that the groom will remain a secret until the wedding day--she may finally be able to bring them home for the holidays.

But the wedding isn't Gaby's only surprise--she has one more gift for her children, and it could change all their lives forever. With deeply affecting characters and the emotional twists of a James Patterson thriller, The Christmas Wedding is a fresh look at family and the magic of the season.

A Lancaster County Christmas

By Suzanne Woods Fisher

Jaime and C. J. Fitzpatrick began their married life as most couples do--in love and looking forward to a bright future together. But four years later they've drifted apart and are almost ready to call it quits.

Mattie Riehl was hoping to give her husband Sol the Christmas gift they have both longed for--news that a baby was on the way. But as usual, she is disappointed. The holidays bring an acute awareness to Mattie that her dream of a big family isn't likely to become a reality.

Then a winter storm raging outside blows the Fitzpatricks into the Riehl home--and into a much slower pace of life. Can these two couples from different worlds help each other understand the true meaning of love this Christmas?

With her trademark plot twists and attention to detail, Suzanne Woods Fisher offers readers a beautiful Christmas story of love, forgiveness, and what truly matters in life.

Christmas Stories : Heartwarming Tales of Angels, a Manger, and the Birth of Hope

By Max Lucado

Be inspired by the true meaning of the season with this spectacular collection of Max Lucado's favorite Christmas stories and reflections.

You'll be whisked away to the heavenly battle between angels and demons preceding Christ's birth. Then walk in the shoes of Joseph as he ponders the miracle before him. Travel to a small Texas town where a missing baby Jesus from a manger scene sets a modern day miracle in motion. And witness the story of Madeline, a prodigal girl who thinks she's lost everything until her dad gives everything to win her back one Christmas.

These and many more stories will lead you back to the manger-to be awed anew at the gift of Christ's birth.

The Christmas Note

By Donna VanLiere

From the author of The Christmas Hope series, which has enthralled millions of readers, comes a new inspirational novel about an unlikely friendship between two women, but one that will change each of their lives forever.

Gretchen Daniels has recently moved into an apartment with her two children to be closer to her mother, Miriam. She and her children are building a life together in a new community when a mysterious young woman, Melissa McCreary, moves into the apartment next to them. She has few possessions, little personality, and keeps to herself. One day, a local landlord who is looking for Melissa knocks on Gretchen’s door for assistance. Melissa’s mother has died and in the coming weeks the landlord needs Melissa to empty her mother’s apartment. Gretchen reaches out and offers to help, but the apartment is a gut wrenching shamble of a home. There is little worth saving except for a few photos and a note that is discovered on the crate beside the bed. It is unfinished but in the two scribbled lines, Melissa discovers she has a brother and a sister that she never knew about. Even more shocking, she begins to uncover family secrets that show her who she really is. Can two very different women embark on a journey that explores a long-buried need for forgiveness, hope, and redemption?

The Christmas Shoppe

By Melody Carson

The small town of Parrish Springs is not ready for Matilda Honeycutt. A strange older woman with scraggly gray hair and jewelry that jangles as she walks, Matilda is certainly not the most likely person to buy the old Barton Building on the town's quaint main street. When it becomes apparent that her new shop doesn't fit the expectations of Parrish Springs residents, a brouhaha erupts. After all, Christmas is approaching, and the last thing the town needs is a junky shop run by someone who looks and acts like a gypsy. But as townsfolk venture into the strange store, they discover that old memories can bring new life and healing.

Melody Carlson delivers a Christmas story that will touch hearts and delight the senses. Sure to be a classic, The Christmas Shoppe is filled with the special magic the best Christmas stories share--that intangible mixture of nostalgia, joy, and a little bit of magic.

Remembering Christmas

By Dan Walsh

Rick Denton lives his life on his terms. He works hard, plays hard, and answers to no one. So when his mother calls on Thanksgiving weekend begging him to come home after his stepfather has a stroke, Rick is more than a little reluctant. He's never liked Art and resents the man's presence in his life, despite the fact that his own father abandoned the family when Rick was just twelve. When what was supposed to be just a couple days helping out at the family bookstore turns into weeks of cashing out old ladies and running off the homeless man who keep hanging about, Rick's attitude sours even more.

Still, slowly but surely, the little bookstore and its quirky patrons--as well as the lovely young woman who works at his side each day--work their magic on him, revealing to Rick the truth about his family, his own life, and the true meaning of Christmas. With skillful storytelling, Dan Walsh creates a Christmas story will have readers remembering every good and perfect gift of Christmas.

- Lisa S.

Net Neutrality – Boring Topic or Something That Might Really Matter?

2011-12-20T13:52:00.002-05:00

On November 20, new FCC regulations regarding internet access went into effect and were immediately challenged in court by internet service providers. Previously, both the House of Representatives and the Senate attempted to pass a bill prohibiting the rules from taking effect. The news has left many internet users with two questions – what is net neutrality and do we really care?

Net neutrality is the concept that all users have a right to use the internet for whatever purpose they need it for, whether that be downloading video or doing homework, and no one should interfere with a user’s rights to access data and websites. Internet service providers (ISPs) and other critics have voiced concern that media downloads, video in particular, place a strain on the internet’s infrastructure and argue that some sort of regulation needs to be in place, whether it be a legal regulation or extra fees charged to heavy network users, both of which make the internet non-neutral. The FCC rules are an attempt to prohibit internet providers from blocking certain types of traffic or specific websites. The main reason the FCC created the net neutrality rules is, there was evidence that some ISPs were blocking traffic to prevent large data exchanges between users. In defense of traffic blocking, the ISPs point out that a small number of users account for a large portion of data on the internet and their overuse can slow down the connection for the rest of the network’s users.

Which brings us to the second question, is this just politics or is it something that really matters to the average user? It might, considering how many people are using the internet for Netflix, Hulu and other video on demand downloads. Depending on how accurate either side is in their argument, you may find yourself either frustrated at restrictions and higher fees for video and music access or frustrated that your internet connection seems slower because the family down the street is catching up on American Idol.

The debate over video’s impact on internet speed is nothing new and has been in the media for some time. In early 2008, the New York Times ran a story about the issue. Some analysts, according to the article, were predicting that a big slowdown or even a crash was coming as early as 2011. The predictions were based on industry studies that saw patterns showing video use exceeding all other internet use combined and this led many prognosticators to predict that, at best, internet users were going to have to get used to slower speeds. This debate was renewed in late 2010, when Slate Magazine ran an article discussing the amount of space Netflix in particular was taking up during prime time hours. The main argument in that article is only 2% of all internet users are using Netflix, but they comprise 20% of the traffic so it stands to reason that as more people use the service, they will choke the available bandwidth. Home Media Magazine recently reported that Netflix is now up to 32% of all traffic as of the third quarter of 2011.

So what is the bottom line? Cisco, a manufacturer of routers and other network hardware, claims that video will account for about 50% of all internet traffic by 2015. The same report actually measures the amount of traffic predicted in zettabytes, which is three steps above gigabytes (past terabytes, petabytes and exabytes). It is true that increased use of video uses up bandwidth and some form of infrastructure upgrade is needed, but the internet did not “break” at some point in 2011 as some had predicted. Add into the equation a few other factors, such as business and wireless use of the internet and the more important debate will be if, and how much, regulation is needed to keep the internet working the way it does now. The biggest issue most supporters of net neutrality laws cite is those users are not targets of regulation like the home user, but are potentially bigger contributors to the slowdowns that are predicted to happen. On the business user side, corporate video conferencing and the TV/movie industry’s use of the internet for editing and distributing video are an unseen use of bandwidth. And wireless networks eventually communicate to the wired world to transmit YouTube video and streaming music to cell phones and tablets. In both cases, most people don’t think of the transmissions as internet traffic, but they really do use the same network as traditional e-mail and websites.

- Laura N.

Holiday Crafts Right at Your Fingertips…Literally!

2011-12-16T13:34:00.000-05:00

As a children’s librarian, I am always trying to come up with new and different crafts to use during storytime especially for the holidays. Sometimes, you don’t have to look far. No further than your own two hands! Here are three different crafts for the upcoming holidays of Christmas, Hanukah and Kwanza, that you can make just using your child’s handprints. Come to storytime at any of the Mercer County Libraries branches and you may find us doing one of these crafts or something equally as fun!

Handprint Christmas Tree

Handprint Hanukah Menorah

Handprint Kwanza Wreath

These sites also have a lot of great craft ideas for other occasions and themes as well!

- Andrea L.

Books to Get You Thinking 2011 Special Holiday Edition II

2011-12-13T13:20:00.006-05:00

This month, in pursuit of that perfect book for gift giving, we extend our search from nonfiction to fiction, food and entertaining. From historical fiction, drama and fantasy to healthy cooking, vegan cooking, and entertaining in style, here is a collection of varied titles that may be perfect gifts for just everyone on your list.

Fiction

Caleb’s Crossing by Geraldine Brooks

In this beautifully crafted and superbly researched historical fiction, the Pulitzer Prize winning author explores life in the year 1660 as seen through the eyes of its narrator and central character, Berthia Mayfield. Set against the picturesque landscape of Martha’s Vineyard, the book is about a puritan family and Berthia’s relationship with the nephew of a Wampanoag chief who later becomes the first Native American to graduate from Harvard.

11/22/63 by Stephen King

Stephen king’s newest novel takes readers back to one of the defining moments in America’s history – 22nd November 1963, the day President Kennedy was assassinated. In this riveting book, Jake Epping, a middle school teacher in Maine goes back in time in an attempt to stop the assassination. The past, as he finds out has a way of resisting any change …

The Paris Wife by Paula McLain

A poignant story about Hadley Richardson, a quiet twenty eight year old from Chicago, who met and married Ernest Hemingway. The couple decides to move to Paris and much of the novel explores their time together. Sadly the two find themselves gradually drifting apart as they struggle to find their place in the very different Parisian cultural milieu of the 1920s.

The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka

Following on the heels of her earlier novel, When the Emperor was Divine , this recent addition by Otsuka was a finalist in the National Book Awards. A beautiful, haunting tale of five immigrant women from Japan and their long struggle to build a meaningful life in San Francisco only to have their lives shattered once more after the Pearl Harbor attack and the War.

A Moment in the Sun by John Sayles

Set at the turn of the twentieth century America, and rich in historical detail, the book

transports readers back to the days of the Gold Rush , the Spanish American War and the War in Philippines through the lives of its different characters that include Joseph Pulitzer and Mark Twain. The author skillfully interweaves the riveting sagas of his characters to produce a work that gives readers a glimpse of America in 1897.

The Time in Between by Maria Duenas

In this well researched and captivating drama set against the backdrop of the turmoil and unrest of Spain in the 1930s, the young Sira Quiroga transforms herself from a modest seamstress, once spurned and betrayed by the man she loved, to an acclaimed couturiere catering to the wives of the Nazi officers and serving as an undercover agent for the Allies.

1Q84 by Haruki Murakami

The backdrop of the novel is 1984 Tokyo - the author uses a clever blend of fantasy and realism to craft a suspenseful novel that includes elements of mystery, fantasy and love story. Central to the book are a young woman Aomame who finds herself stepping into a parallel existence, an

aspiring writer Tengo , and the mysterious connections that bind them together.

Food and Entertainment

The Food52 Cookbook: 140 Winning Recipes from Exceptional Home Cooks by Amanda Hesser and Merrill Stubbs

The authors, both well known food editors have set up a website targeted specifically for home cooks to share their favorite recipes and culinary expertise. For one full year, the authors organized a weekly contest on the food52 website that focused on a specific ingredient or food type. This unique cookbook contains all the prize winning recipes from these food contests ranging from peach cake and espresso cookies to kale and quinoa pilaf, cauliflower soup and French Peasant Beets.

Debbie MacComber’s Christmas Cookbook by Debbie McComber

From the pen of an America author best known for her novels that are set against the backdrop of the Holiday Season, comes a cookbook that abounds in her favorite Christmas recipes, as well as delicious treats and crafts that can be used for gift giving. Accompanied by beautiful photos, this volume promises to serve as an indispensable guide to help navigate the Holiday Season.

Vegan Holiday Kitchen : More than 200 Delicious, Festive Recipes for Special Occasions by Nava Atlas

A perfect book for all vegetarians and vegans looking for exciting and festive recipes to spice up the Holidays. It includes more than 200 innovative recipes along with useful preparation tips and is organized by different Holidays including Easter, the 4th of July , Thanksgiving, Christmas, Passover, Hanukah and more.

At Home with Madhur Jaffrey: Simple Delectable Dishes from India Pakistan and Bangladesh by Madhur Jaffrey

A familiar name in the Indian culinary world, the author adds another offering to her long repertoire of cookbooks. Here she offers a number of delectable yet simple recipes ranging from spicy appetizers to decadent deserts. The book itself is arranged under different categories of appetizers, snacks and soups, entrées and desserts. There is a separate chapter on essential spices and oils intrinsic to South Asian cooking .

The Flavor Bible: The Essential Guide to Culinary Creativity, Based on the Wisdom of America's Most Imaginative Chefs by Karen Page and Andrew Dornenburg

For imaginative and creative cooks looking for new and exciting ways to spice up their recipes, this book is a veritable treasure house containing different combinations of products, spices, herbs and flavors that are complimentary and enhance the overall flavor of the dish. Rather than providing precise recipes, the authors aim to encourage cooks to experiment with different products and condiments that have been arranged and indexed into distinct groups by several leading chefs.

Lidia's Italy in America by Lidia Bastianich

The author visits Italian American communities across the United States and comes up with a unique collection of recipes that the families originally inherited from their Italian ancestors but have been adapted with quintessential American flavors to acquire a new and distinctive Italian American identity – Chicago’s deep dish pizza, mushrooms stuffed with breadcrumbs and fried mozzarella sticks. Interwoven throughout the book is interesting information about each recipe and fascinating stories about the people Lidia met during her travels.

Cook This Now: 120 Easy and Delectable Dishes You Can't Wait to Make by Melissa Clark

The author a well known food columnist at the New York Times presents a medley of easy to prepare dishes that are hearty and delicious at the same time. The recipes are arranged by each month using ingredients available during each season. Each recipe is followed by practical tips as well as suggestions for variations in ingredients ensuring perfect results each time. From Perfect Tomato Sandwiches in August to Garlicky Broccoli Rabe in November the author’s creativity is reflected in all the recipes.

From all of us at the Mercer County Library, A Very Happy and Joyous Holiday Season to all our readers !

- Nita Mathur

Photos:

Top: Wolfgang H. Wogerer

Middle: petercui (Bide Cui)

Bottom: gorgeoux

10 Non-Traditional Holiday Films

2011-12-09T13:37:00.003-05:00

Each of your family members and friends probably have a favorite movie that he or she likes to watch during the holidays. Is it Ralph’s quest for a Red Rider BB gun in A Christmas Story? Or do they enjoy watching George Bailey as he experiences the world as if he never existed in It’s a Wonderful Life? Or is it Elf, which follows Buddy’s transition from life at the North Pole to the “real world?” MCL’s collection contains these holiday favorites, as well as many others that probably don’t immediately come to mind as candidates for holiday season viewing. The more non-traditional route, however, might be just what you're looking for. To get you started, here are ten movies, taking place around the winter holidays:

The Apartment (1960) Unrated

In an effort to work his way up the corporate ladder, C.C. Baxter (Jack Lemon) lends his apartment out to his superiors, including the company’s Personnel Director (Fred MacMurray), for their romantic rendezvous. Baxter’s plans go awry when he falls for the Personnel Director’s girlfriend (Shirley McClain). Directed by Billy Wilder.

La Bûche (1999) Unrated

French screenwriter, Danièle Thompson, makes her directional debut with a touching story about a woman, Yvette (Françoise Fabian), who loses her second husband right before Christmas. Her three daughters from her first marriage attempt to console her during the holiday, which includes inviting their father (Claude Rich) to Christmas dinner.

Christmas in Connecticut (1945) Unrated

Elizabeth Lane (Barbara Stanwyck), a successful food writer for a magazine, is viewed by her readers as the perfect housewife. She finds herself, however, desperately trying to cover up her “never-stepped-foot-in-the-kitchen” secret when her boss (Sydney Greenstreet) and a returning war hero (Dennis Morgan) invite themselves for a traditional Christmas dinner -- at her fabricated Connecticut home with her made up family. Directed by Peter Godfrey.

Desk Set (1957) Rated G

Richard Sumner (Spencer Tracy), an efficiency expert, attempts to computerize a TV network’s reference library. His computers (i.e., “electronic brains”) prove to be no match for the brain of the library's leader, Bunny Watson (Katharine Hepburn). The witty banter and chemistry between Bunny and Richard make the film a classic Hepburn-Tracy romantic comedy. Directed by Walter Lang.

Die Hard (1988) Rated R

New York City policeman, John McClane (Bruce Willis), is looking forward to reuniting with his estranged wife (Bonnie Bedelia) over the holidays. Once he gets to Los Angeles, his holiday plans are put on hold as he takes on the dozen terrorists who have seized his wife’s office building during the company’s holiday party. Directed by John McTiernan.

Edward Scissorhands (1990) Rated PG-13

Tim Burton’s film starts out with a little girl asking, “Where does the snow come from?” That single question spurs her grandmother into telling the story of Edward (Johnny Depp), a man with blades for hands. We learn about Edward’s origins, his effort to adapt to “cookie cutter suburbia,” as well as his integral part in snowy weather.

Eight Crazy Nights (2002) Rated PG-13

In order to avoid going to jail, Davey Stone (Adam Sandler) spends his holiday completing community service as a referee-in-training for a local Youth Basketball League. Life lessons unfold, especially as Davey’s personality clashes with the good-natured, kind-hearted volunteer, Whitely Duvall (also Sandler). Directed by Seth Kearsley.

Home for the Holidays (1995) Rated PG-13

Jodie Foster, the film's director, captures the hilarity and the tension as a family comes together for Thanksgiving festivities. Claudia (Holly Hunter), who already has a lot on her mind as a recently unemployed single mom, is bracing herself for a visit with overbearing parents, a chronically bitter sister, an eccentric aunt, and a mischievous, younger brother.

Pieces of April (2003) Rated PG-13

In an effort to spend time and make amends with her terminally ill mother (Patricia Clarkson), the family outcast, April (Katie Holmes), invites her estranged family to her apartment in New York’s Lower East Side for Thanksgiving. While the family second-guesses their New York City trip, April runs into her own roadblocks while preparing dinner. Directed by Peter Hedges.

Rocky (1976) Rated PG

A little-known boxer, Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) gets the chance of a lifetime to fight for the heavyweight championship. This touching story about love and boxing takes place during the Christmas season, leading up to the big New Year's Day championship match. An inspiring film for an inspiring holiday season. Directed by John G. Avildsen.

These are only ten recommendations to shake up your movie selections for the holidays. What would you include?

-- Anna, Hopewell Branch

Book Clubbing: Pride & Prejudice, a Singular Novel in Want of a Re-read

2011-12-06T13:02:00.009-05:00

Thinking about reading Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice for your book club. Please do! If you have never read it or remember the novel from high school or college days, it’s a wondrous pleasure to revisit. To mangle the opening line:

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a singular novel in possession of a good reputation must be in want of re-read.

And to increase your reading pleasure, here are things to explore as you dip into Regency England – the time and place where Elizabeth Bennet, and her four sisters, Jane, Mary, Lydia, and Kitty live, love, dance, flirt, and go about the very serious business of finding a husband.

Pride and Prejudice : An Annotated Edition

Give yourself some extra time to read the annotated edition of the novel. Chock full of photos and images of scenes from Jane Austen’s era: her homes, places she visited, 18th century paintings, Austen’s portable writing desk, and more. There are notes on all the language and customs that perhaps we no longer understand the implications of. Did you know that “cassino” is a card game placed by 2 to 4 persons where one accumulates points by card combinations; “draughts"are doses of medicine; and a “phaeton” is a light carriage usually drawn by two horses. Finally, it is a very large faux-pas for a lower rank person to introduce

himself/herself to a higher rank person. A Duke must ask to be introduced to a commoner --- never vice-versa! Armed with this knowledge, you more fully grasp the intricacies of the social world inhabited by Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet.

Watch the Films

There have been a number of television productions and movie films of Pride and Prejudice. From the library’s collection, you can compare several versions of Darcy: Laurence Olivier, Colin Firth, and Matthew Macfadyen. Have a favorite? While Elizabeth has been played by Greer

Garson, Keira Knightley, and Jennifer Ehle. My personal rave is for Mary Boland as Mrs. Bennet, Elizabeth’s addled, desperate, and very wacky mother, in the 1940 movie starring Garson and Olivier. Desperate to find husbands and homes for the five daughters the 1940 dialog includes such gems as:

Mrs. Bennet: Look at them! Five of them without dowries. What's to become of them?

Mr. Bennet: Yes, what's to become of the wretched creatures. Perhaps we should have drowned some of them at birth.

Join JASNA: the Jane Austen Society of North America

Can’t get enough of Jane through her novels – then check out the Jane Austen Society of North America (JASNA), a “nonprofit organization staffed by volunteers, with approximately 4,000 members and more than 65 regional groups in the United States and Canada. Its members, who are of all ages and from diverse walks of life, share an enjoyment of

Austen’s fiction and the company of like-minded readers.” Pleasures of joining include a subscription to the society’s newsletter, JASNA News; Persuasions - JASNA’s annual journal, a preeminent source for Austen studies; an invitation to the Austen General Meeting, a three-day conference with an Austen theme held annually with speakers, entertainment, tours, banquet, and Regency ball. There are more than 60 JASNA regional groups in the United States and Canada which arrange lectures, book discussions, teas, and a celebrate Austen’s birthday, December 16. I’m seriously considering it!

Janeites in Want of Sequels

“It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of

more brains” – Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.

There are so many sequels, knockoffs and spinoffs of Jane Austen novels, particularly Pride and Prejudice, that the genre has its own moniker: Jane Austen Fan Fiction ( “fanfic”) and the followers of all things Jane, are Janeites.

Reliable sources claim that there are over 100 such novels. Some feature the characters of Austen’s novels, some are about the author herself. Check out

the largest sites of commentary and discussions of

Austen and fanfic at Austen.com and the Republic of Pemberley – both sites are noncommercial and in love with all things Austenite. Pemberley, btw, is the name of Darcy’s fictional estate in Derbyshire.

Some sequels to stab at: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith, where zombies battle Bennets – a best seller of course! Or in a more serious vein, The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen by Syrie James. The Memoirs was also an international bestseller and declared by Library Journal to be a Best First Novel in 2008.

Ready to channel your inner Jane?

- Karen S.

And Tango Makes Three

2011-12-02T13:20:00.002-05:00

“While we firmly support the right of every reader to choose or reject a book for themselves or their families, those objecting to a particular book should not be give the power to restrict other readers’ right to access and read that book. As members of a pluralistic and complex society, we must have free access to a diverse range of viewpoints on the human condition in order to foster critical thinking and understanding. We must protect one of the most precious of our fundamental rights – the freedom to read.” Barbara Jones, Director of ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom

The American Library Association has declared And Tango Makes Three the most challenged book of 2006 to 2010, with the exception of 2009 during which it was the second most challenged. Published by Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing in 2005, And Tango Makes Three is a children’s book written by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson and illustrated by Henry Cole. The book received plenty of attention and opposition due to topics of homosexuality, same-sex marriage and adoption found there-within. Even though the story in the book is reported to be true, many of the book’s critics have argued that the book provides misleading information to children. This paper will examine why and how the book raised opposition and how efforts to remove the book were denied by the Federal Court.

The story itself unfolds at the New York’s Central Park Zoo, where many human and animal families can be observed. Special attention is paid to penguin families that usually begin with a pairing of a male penguin to a female penguin. However, two male penguins named Roy and Silo behaved differently from other penguins and spent all of their time together. “They bowed to each other. And walked together. They sang to each other. And swam together. Wherever Roy went, Silo went too.” (p. 10) After observing other penguin couples, Roy and Silo slept in a nest they built out of stones. However, they soon noticed that their nest was lacking an egg. To compensate, Roy found a rock shaped like an egg and the two penguins took turns sitting on it. Mr. Gramzay, the keeper of the penguin area at the zoo, came up with an idea to place an egg in need of care in Roy and Silo’s nest. One of the other penguin couples had two eggs but weren’t able to take care of more than one at a time. Roy and Silo took great care in making sure the egg would hatch by turning it each day so all sides stayed warm. After about a month of sitting and waiting, the egg hatched and the keeper, Mr. Gramzay, named the baby penguin Tango. Tango was the first penguin at the zoo to have two fathers. They took good care of her and raised her well, just like all of the other penguin families have done for their offsprings.

A book is proclaimed challenged by the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) due to reports collected from press reports, librarians, teachers, parents and other individuals. These reports are formal written complains requesting that the book (or other material in question) be restricted or removed. In 2008, OIF received 513 formal complaints. (Morales & Petersen 2009) OIF received fewer formal complaints in 2010, with 348 requests for removal or restriction of material in schools and libraries. However, not all challenges are reported to OIF, and they estimate that their statistics reflect only about 20-25% of all challenges. And Tango Makes Three was challenged due to these top three reasons quoted in formal reports: “homosexuality, religious viewpoint, [and] unsuited to age group.” (Jones 2011)

According to Justin Richardson, co-author of And Tango Makes Three, “We wrote the book to help parents teach children about same-sex parent families. It’s no more an argument in favor of human gay relationships than it is to call for children to swallow their fish whole or sleep on rocks.” (Miller 2006) Richardson explains that the story promotes homosexuality as much as it does swallowing fish whole and sleeping on rocks (which are some of the other behaviors exhibited by penguins in the story). In addition to co-authoring the book, Richardson serves as an associate psychiatry professor at Columbia and Cornell and is a well-known authority on children and sex.

This story has drawn a lot of controversy from different individuals and groups and has been removed from a few select schools and libraries (until this was overturned due to the move’s unconstitutionality). The existence of homosexuality and its status in our society, as well as family structures found within it, has drawn a lot of debate in various niches of the American society. Conservative religious groups that have opposed LGBT social movements have denounced homosexuality in humans and have extended the argument to include the rest of the animal kingdom. (Smith 2004). Additionally, Candi Cushman, the education analyst at Focus on the Family Action, called the book misleading and serving as political agenda geared at children. (Miller 2008).

In addition to these organizations, parents and administrators at various schools and libraries across the country have removed, restricted access to or moved And Tango Makes Three. These restrictions and publicity surrounding the book’s contents caught attention of the American Library Association (ALA) who gathered enough reports to call it the most challenged book of 2006, 2007, and 2008. Although it was second most challenged book in 2009, it climbed back to first spot in 2010. (Jones 2011) According to Barbara Jones report published for ALA in April 2011, “those seeking to remove the book have described it as “unsuited for age group,” and cited “religious viewpoint” and “homosexuality” as reasons for challenging the book.” (Jones, p. 1)

Select parents and public institutions have also used aforementioned arguments in order to limit access to or altogether eliminate the book. In 2006 for example, parents of students at the Shiloh Elementary School, attempted to place the book in a restricted part of the library where guardian’s permission was needed in order to view or check the book out. The school’s superintendent denied their request. (Suhr 2006)

During the same year at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, the school’s superintendent, Peter Gorman, ordered for the book to be removed from the school’s libraries. Once concerns rose regarding the procedure protocol for handling challenged books Gorman allowed a committee to review the decision. (Suhr 2006)

The Loudon County Public Schools removed the book from libraries’ circulations following an order made by school’s superintendent Dr. Edgar B. Hatrick who used a parent’s complain against the book as the basis for claims. He acted in this direction even though the principal and school staff of Sterling, Virginia (a town served by the Loudon County Public Schools system) deemed the book suitable for children. (Chandler 2008) However, after receiving pressure from the community, Hatrick returned the book into circulation claiming that procedural errors voided the process.

Parents in Ankeny, Iowa also wanted to restrict the book at their school’s library by granting access to parents only. The lawyer representing the school’s district advised the parents that such a decision would not hold up in court. At this point, PEN America and ALA sent letters of support to the school’s board in order to keep the book’s access unrestricted. (WCF Courier 2008)

Another parent in Calvert County near Washington D.C. attempted to remove the book from children’s area and place it area specifically designated for “alternative” or “non-traditional” families. (Johnson & Goodman 2008) However, the library’s board of trustees denied the request by appealing to the Library Bill of Rights, which states that “materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.” (ALA 2004) Their decision for denying the removal of the book could have been inspired by an advisory letter written by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) sent to the Trustees. The letter argued that unrestricted access to books at public libraries was protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. “The Freedom to view, along with the freedom to speak, to hear, and to read, is protected by the First Amendment… In a free society, there is no place for censorship of any medium or expression.” (ALA 2004)

About a month later, another parent claiming that the book was “presenting issues of sexuality to children too young to understand them” challenged the book again. The parent insisted that the book belonged with adult books on sexuality and that it furthermore should be labeled with a “red dot” to alert parents to controversial content. However, ACLU cited historical judicial decisions supporting unrestricted access to a book in public libraries. (Jeon 2008)

Judicial decisions mentioned by ACLU include Board of Education v. Pico, 457 U.S. 853 (1982), in which the court found that the Constitution does not allow suppression of ideas, Reno v. American Civil Liberties Union, 521 U.S. 844 (1997) and Kreimer v. Bureau of Police, 958 F.2d1242, 1255 (3d Cir. 1992), in both of which the court deemed that the right to receive information and ideas is protected by the First Amendment and is “the quintessential locus of the receipt of information”, and lastly, Sund v. City of Wichita Falls, 121 F. Supp. 2d 530 (N.D. Texas 2000) in which the Federal Court found it unconstitutional to move controversial children’s books to another section due to the book being challenged. Furthermore, the Federal Court stated that parents can restrict their children’s access to certain material, but they should not prevent all children in the community from doing so. “Where First Amendment rights are concerned, those seeking to restrict access to information should be forced to take affirmative steps to shield themselves from unwanted materials; the onus should not be on the general public to overcome barriers to their access to fully protected information.” (Jeon 2008)

Barbara Jones, the director of ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom, echoes the Federal Court’s decision in the aforementioned cases in the opening quote of this paper where she states that although the choice to read a book is in the hands of readers and their families, restricting access of a book to society is unconstitutional. The freedom to read is protected and guaranteed by the Constitution and is viewed to be of public interest by the ALA and the Association of American Publishers.

The “Freedom to Read” section of the Intellectual Freedom Manual affirms that librarians and publishers should “make available the widest diversity of views and expressions, including those which are unorthodox or unpopular with the majority.” Although they do not need to endorse everything found in the materials that they provide, conflict of public interest may occur when “their own political, moral or aesthetic views [are established] as a standard for determining what books should be published or circulated.” Other public conflicts may occur if publishers or librarians determine material’s acceptability on basis of personal history or political affiliations, if tastes of individuals were coerced or confined and writer’s artistic expression inhibited. Furthermore, it is not in public interest to label books exclusively (as would be the case with of the “red dot” parent in Calvert County) as that would characterize and subject the book to judgment prior to being read.

In addition to providing guidelines on how to effectively serve public’s interests and support a Constitutional right, the ALA addresses the responsibilities of publishers and librarians toward protecting the freedom to read. This can be accomplished by acting as “guardians of the people’s freedom to read”, challenging encroachments and providing material that address the widest array of views and expressions.

The freedom to read is regarded in finest light by the ALA, the Association of American Publishers, as well as by librarians, publishers and the majority of America’s population. This right is important to cherish, preserve and protect in order to ensure that everyone has an equal chance in providing and utilizing opinions, information and ideas. It is equally important to take on the responsibility of acting as guardians of people’s freedom to read, challenging unlawful restrictions and requests for a material’s removal. Although And Tango Makes Three has been at the top of ALA’s most challenged book list from 2006 to 2010, efforts to remove the book from public schools and libraries have been met with combined efforts supporting the Constitutional freedom to read right by organizations such as ACLU, the ALA, the Association of American Publishers, librarians and citizens countrywide. Additionally, as the Federal Court upholds, the freedom to choose which books to read is in the hands of the reader and their families. It is unconstitutional to remove material from public domain in order to restrict access to information.

“We state these propositions neither lightly nor as easy generalizations. We have stake out a lofty claim for the value of books. We do so because we believe that they are good, possessed of enormous variety and usefulness, worthy of cherishing and keeping free. We realize that the application of these propositions may mean the dissemination of ideas and manner of expression that are repugnant to many persons. We do not state these propositions in the comfortable belief that what people read is unimportant. We believe rather that what people read is deeply important; that ideas can be dangerous; but that the suppression of ideas is fatal to a democratic society. Freedom itself is a dangerous way of life, but it is ours.” The Freedom to Read, Intellectual Freedom Manual, 2004

- Dragana D.

References:

American Library Association. (2004). Freedom to Read. Intellectual Freedom Manual.

Retrieved from: http://www.ifmanual.org/ftrstatement

Chandler, M. A. (2008). Two Guys and a Chick Set Off Tiff Over School Library Policy.

Washington Post. Retrieved from: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/16/AR2008021602213.html?referrer=emailarticle

Jeon, D.A. (2008). Letter to Commissioner Parran and Mr. Hine of the Calvert County Board of

Trustees. Retrieved from: http://www.aclu-md.org/aPress/Attachments/CalvertLibraryletter.pdf

Johnson, J., Goodman, C. (2008). Library Backs Book On Same-Sex Parents. The Washington

Post. Retrieved from: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/22/AR2008102200196.html?nav=rss_education

Jones, B. (2011). “And Tango Makes Three” Waddles Its Way Back to the Number One Slot as

America’s Most Frequently Challenged Book. ALA. Retrieved from:

http://www.ala.org/ala/newspresscenter/news/pr.cfm

Miller, J. (2008). New Love Breaks Up a 6-Year Relationship at the Zoo. New York Times.

Retrieved from: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/24/nyregion/24penguins.html

Morales, M., Petersen, J. (2009). Attempts to Remove Children’s Book on Male Penguin Couple

Parenting Chick Continue. ALA. Retrieved from:

http://www.ala.org/ala/newspresscenter/news/pressreleases2009/april2009/nlw08bbto pten.cfm

Richardson, J., Parnell, P. (2005). And Tango Makes Three. Simon & Schuster Books for Young

Readers.

Suhr, J. (2006). Parents Want Gay Penguins Book Blocked. The Boston Globe. Retrieved from:

http://www.boston.com/news/education/k_12/articles/2006/11/16/parents_want_gay_penguins_book_blocked/?p1=MEWell_Pos1

Smith, D. (2004). Love That Dare Not Squeak Its Name. New York Times. Retrieved from:

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0C1EF83A5F0C748CDDAB0894DC404482

WCF Courier. (2008). Ankeny Couple Wants Penguin Book Restricted. Retrieved from:

http://wcfcourier.com/news/breaking_news/ankeny-couple-wants-penguin-book-restricted/article_2f75517d-ed7b-51be-b1cc-3b463279eaac.html

Enhance your PowerPoint Presentation by Inserting Hyperlinks

2011-11-29T13:12:00.002-05:00

How exactly does a hyperlink enhance your already brilliant PowerPoint presentation? Say you are creating a PowerPoint presentation on the Running of the Bulls during the San Fermin festival in Pamplona, Spain. Sure you have put all the information regarding this custom in your PowerPoint slides. But wouldn’t it be great to insert a hyperlink to a website, which contained all the minutiae, in one of the slides in your presentation? Then during your slide show you can click on the hyperlink to go to the website for all the details, or to reiterate a point, then switch back and continue with your slide show presentation. It’s easy to insert a hyperlink in one, or all, of your slides - way easier than running with the bulls! Not only can you create hyperlinks to a website or to an email address, but you can also use hyperlinks in your PowerPoint presentation to connect a slide to another slide in the same presentation or use a hyperlink to connect to another presentation. Here’s how to insert a hyperlink to a website in your PowerPoint slide:

Select the text that you want to convert into a hyperlink. Then from the Insert tab, in the Links group, click on Hyperlink.

The Insert Hyperlink dialog box will appear. The text you had selected from your slide will be visible in the Text to display box. Under Link to, make sure Existing File or Web Page is selected. In the Address box, type in the address of the website that you want - make sure that the URL is typed correctly because if there is any error in the website address then the hyperlink will not work. Click OK and you are done. The text you had selected is now a hyperlink.

In Normal view, the text that is a hyperlink will now be underlined and a different color. In order to check the hyperlink, click on the Slide Show tab and then From Beginning. Once your presentation is in the slide show mode, you can click on the hyperlink which will open another window and go directly to the website you wanted.

You can select text, image, WordArt or even a shape and make it a hyperlink. Then during the slide show presentation, impress your audience by clicking on the hyperlink and jumping to a Website. In order to resume your PowerPoint presentation, just minimize or close the website and you will be back to your presentation.

To remove a hyperlink, you will have to access the Edit Hyperlink dialog box. From Normal view, click on the Insert tab and then click on Hyperlink. The Edit Hyperlink box will appear. Click on Remove Link, and then click OK. You can also right-click the hyperlink and choose Remove Hyperlink from the menu. Or right-click the hyperlink and choose Edit Hyperlink if you want to revise it. Now your text will no longer be a hyperlink.

So go ahead and insert a hyperlink in your PowerPoint presentation and change it from a run-of-the-mill presentation to a truly outstanding one!

- Rina B.

Murder and Mayhem in Scandinavia

2011-11-25T13:19:00.007-05:00

In the wake of Stieg Larsson’s bestselling novels, readers are discovering the rich trove of modern Scandinavian crime fiction. Coming from the region I am welcoming the trend, but I am also fascinated how reviewers describe the region: "world of bleak twilights and tortured souls, world of cold dawns and dour sleuths, world of frozen lakes and repressed detectives, a world of winters and losers" (Julia Keller, Los Angeles Times). Indeed, the region which is cold and dark for half the year has proved to be very fertile for the genre. Much of the credit for success of Nordic crime fiction also goes to plain and realistic writing, which suits the genre well.

Lead detectives in these thrillers mirror the landscape: they tend to be gloomy and cantankerous: divorce, alcoholism, preferring solitude are common traits, but they are also skilled and complex individuals and it is interesting to read how they evolve as each series progress. Hakan Nesser’s Inspector Van Veeteren, cynical form the years of police work, loves classical music and chess, and has only one unsolved case in his long career. Nesby’s Harry Hole, defiant of his superiors, but highly regarded for his past work, is also a recovering alcoholic with complex love interest. Inspector Erlendur (Arnaldur Indridason) has a disastrous marriage behind him, the drug-addled daughter, the son he rarely sess, and is haunted by the death of his younger brother in a blizzard that he survived, and so on.

Here is a selection of recent entries in the genre, all available at the MCLS:

Hypothermia (2010) by Arnaldur Indridason, Iceland’s most widely read novelist, Golden Dagger Award winner. "One of the most haunting crime novels readers are likely to encounter this year, Hypothermia will chill you to the bone." - (product description) His Inspector Erlendurnovels have been published in 26 countries.

Keeper of the Lost Causes (2011) by Jussi Adler-Olsen, Denmark. "Far from being just another morose Nordic crime writer, Adler-Olsen creates a detective whose curiosity is as active as his soul is tortured." - Library Journal "The new it boy of Nordic Noir." - The Times of London Hereceived the Glass Key Award in 2010.

Bad Intentions (2011) by Karin Fossum, Norway. Her recent honors include Gumshoe Award and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Mystery/Thriller. "Few match her ability to conjure an atmosphere of emotional as well as geographical desolution." - The Times of London

The Snowman (2011) by Jo Nesbo, Norway. Inspector Harry Hole novel. The first novel featuring Harry Hole won the Glass Key Award for Best Nordic Crime Novel. Previous translated Harry Hole novels include The Redbreast, Nemesis, and The Devil’s Star. "If you don’t know Nesbo, it’s time to get with it." - USA Today

Misterioso (2011) by Arne Dahl. Sweden. " Misterioso is a unique and wonderful book. It is part mystery, part police procedural, part existential philosophy, and part comedy…it seems like the Scandinavians are having a true renaissance in crime writing and Arne Dahl is right at the top." - Mostly Fiction

The Hand That Trembles (2011) by Kjell Eriksson. Sweden. "One of those mysteries that allow readers to experience another country and culture from inside and to view history from a different mindset than their own." - Customer review One of Eriksson’s earlier mysteries, The Princess Burundi, won Sweden’s Best Crime Novel in 2002.

The Preacher (2011) by Camilla Lackberg. Sweden. Lackberg is one of Sweden’s youngest successful female writers of her genre. Her previous translated novel, The Ice Princess, featured the same detective, Patric Hedstrom and his girlfriend Erica.

Until Thy Wrath Be Past (2011) by Asa Larsson. Sweden. Prior to becoming a full time writer, Larsson was a tax laywer, a profession she shares with the heroine of her novels, Rebecka Martinson. Her second novel, Blood Spilled (2007) won the Best Swedish Crime Novel Award.

The Hypnotist (2011) by Lars Kepler. Sweden. "A tale of brilliantly immersed in Nordic dread…Kepler provides a master class in noir." - Boston Globe Kepler is actually the pseudonym of the Swedish writer couple, Alexander Ahndoril and Alexandra Coelho Ahndoril.

The Troubled Man (2011) by Henning Mankell. Sweden. Last novel in the famous Inspector Kurt Wallander series, this is a "deeply melancholy novel, at times painful to read…but Mankell never lets his story to become engulfed in darkness." - Booklist The series has won many awards, including German Crime Prize and Golden Dagger. Mankell is married to the film director Ingmar Bergman’s daughter, Eva Bergman.

The Inspector and Silence (2011) by Hakan Nesser. Sweden. Inspector Van Veeteren novel.Nesser is three-time Best Swedish Crime Novel winner, and the Glass Key Award winner.

Three Seconds (2010) by Anders Roslund. Sweden. "A stunningly well-written police procedural meets thriller meets psychological suspense novel, this book succeeds in all three genres." - Customer review Prior to becoming a bestselling novelist, Roslund worked for many years as a news reporter specializing in criminal and social issues.

The Darkest Room (2009) by Johan Theorin. Sweden. Best Swedish Crime Novel of 2008, The Glass Key Award in 2009, and CWA International Dagger Award in 2010. A mystery novel with supernatural overtones, which takes place on the Swedish Island of Oland.

Lucifer’s Tears (2011) by James Thompson. Finland. The author, an American, has lived in Finland for over dozen years and currently makes his home in Helsinki with his Finnish wife. Helsinki is also a setting for this second Inspector Kari Vaara novel. His first, Snow Angels (2010), was set in Lapland. The third book in the series, Helsinki White, is scheduled for the U.S. release in March 2012. International film rights for the entire Inspector Vaara series have been optioned.

- Kaija G.

Saving Face and Some Green With Smart Choices

2011-11-22T13:46:00.001-05:00

As the holidays approach, we geeks often get quizzed by friends, family, and co-workers about the newest tech toys and, sometimes, just what the heck their favorite teen really wants or needs. The good news is, you don’t have to know everything about every model to make wise choices and you also don’t have to break the bank. Instead, try keeping a few rules of thumb in mind when you embark on your next shopping trip.

Know the user. This is probably the hardest part of your research, trying to figure out what the gift recipient will use the gadget for so you can match their needs with the right product. When buying a laptop, you might want to know if it is going to be used for internet and homework (economy laptops are fine), games and entertainment (might need a larger screen, good video card, or bigger hard drive), or to take to class or meetings (a smaller netbook works well). Similar questions can be asked about tablets and eReaders, as a tablet would be too much for someone who just wants to read books but is appropriate for someone who would want to read their e-mail or play games on the device as well. The easiest way to answer this question is to really just ask the person or someone who knows them well about the likely usage.

Bigger is not always better. One way to cut corners is to not overbuy if the user won’t even need the items that pack on the extra expense. For example, add a 17-inch screen to a laptop and the price jumps $100-$150. It may be nice to have the bigger screen, but it’s not needed if the user wants something portable and won’t be gaming or watching a lot of movies. Another thing that grabs dollars is megapixels on a digital camera. In a nutshell, a 5 megapixel camera is about all you will ever need, period. This has been the case for several years, as pointed out in a 2007 New York Times article. It is more important to spend the money on better lenses, zoom or memory cards. Speaking of which, unless you never delete photos from your memory card, stick with 4GB and 8GB cards; the average point and shoot camera can save about 1,000 pictures on an 8GB card. Again, you will save money (and headaches) buying a lower capacity high-end card instead of a cheap 32GB card. A final example of a way to save money is on capacity for an mp3 player or tablet. Most now come in 8GB, 16GB and 32GB capacities. This particular specification relies a lot on what the user intends to do with the device. Video files require a lot of room, but if the user will only be loading apps or listening to music, the rule of thumb here is 8GB = 1,200 songs or 200 apps so 8GB is fine for the average user for an mp3 player and 16GB for a tablet.

Don’t be too frugal. The key here is to avoid buying a replacement of the same item next year. If that means spending a few dollars more now for a better quality item, do so. This is another area that is less technical and has more to do with observation. If you can get to a store and look at the models, see if they look like they will break easily or if the screen is too dim or buttons look flimsy. But also take the time to really look at the item. Pay attention to how many USB ports are included, if the touch screen is too sensitive, or if the device just weighs too much to comfortably hold.

Accessorize at your own risk. Two issues crop up around accessories, one is store tactics and the other is personal choice. Stores used to make money this time of year by reminding us to buy batteries, but now they make money on extra car chargers, cases, controllers, and the list goes on. As for personal choice, are you really sure your niece would want a nice pink case for her new iPod or does she secretly want the leopard print? If you are feeling generous, the easiest thing to do when the salesman starts their pitch is say, “I’m not sure, but would like to add a gift card.” The store makes their money and your niece can decide on the animal print with no need for you to fish out a receipt for a return. You might also want to avoid bundles if you aren’t sure the accessories included are ones that would be used.

Use reviews. While I did say you don’t have to know everything about every model, it is always a good idea to have some idea about the models available to you. Reviews are a good way to just get an overall feel for how a product does in the field, so if the tech specs match your needs, the last step (before finding the best price!) is to look at the reviews on certain models. Reviews were covered in a previous Tech Tips post, so please take a look at that post to refresh your memory.

Ask a geek. We secretly like being useful at this time of year. If your favorite geek can’t go shopping with you or look at every ad, at least ask them what to look for in a particular device. Most of the time, they are happy to rattle off minimum specifications or at least keep an eye out for a good deal. If you don’t have a geek of your own or are in a pinch, you can also turn to online gift guides. Two of the best are cnet’s annual guide, which does a nice job of breaking the product categories down, and ZDNet, which also features links to other online gift guides. Most guides also offer offbeat selections for stocking stuffers. Our current favorite is CyberClean, which looks like a kid’s art supply but does a nice job of cleaning gadgets, especially when it comes to getting cookie crumbs out of keyboards.

- Laura N.

More Wimpy Kid Please!

2011-11-18T13:03:00.003-05:00

The next installment of Jeff Kinney’s popular series, Cabin Fever comes out on November 15. Click here to get on the hold list now. If you can’t get enough of Greg try these:

Other Journals:

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger: Can a paper finger puppet use the Force to tell the future? The students of McQuarrie Middle school compile hilarious firsthand accounts in the form of journal entries and cartoons.

Attack of the Mutant Underwear by Tom Birdseye: 5th grader Cody wants to improve his reputation at a new school, but is off to an embarrassing start

Defense of Thaddeus A. Ledbetter by John Gosselink: Thaddeus decides to fight the many charges that threaten to send him to detention for the rest of 7th grade.

Early Middle School:

Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide to Not Reading by Tom Greenwald: Charlie promises “short chapters and shorter words” to demonstrate the fantastic lengths needed to avoid reading.

Liar Liar: the theory, practice, and destructive properties of destruction by Gary Paulsen: 14 year old Kevin is a great liar until he gets in over his head

Middle School: the worst years of my life by James Patterson: Rafe and his best friend try to make middle school more interesting by setting out to break every rule in the school’s code of conduct

Enthusiastically Sprinkled with Doodles:

Wonkenstein the Creature from My Closet by Obert Skye: The grotesque result of a forgotten mess

Big Nate in a class by himself by Lincoln Peirce: comic series about the happy-go-luck Nate--self described genius and Renaissance man as well as the middle school’s record holder for detentions

Regarding the Fountain by Kate Klise: first in a series told with letters, poems, advertisements, and drawings about a middle school that discovers unusual artifacts

- Miss Emily

Books to get you Thinking - Special Holiday Edition I

2011-11-15T13:34:00.006-05:00

The big Nor’easter of October 29th put a sudden end to the lingering memories of summer and as I watched the vibrant Fall colors enveloped in a thick blanket of snow it inevitably brought up happy thoughts of hot cocoa, wrapped up presents and Holiday festivities just around the corner. To get an early start on your Holiday gifts here is a selection of nonfiction books covering varied topics from biography to science to travel, management and current affairs. Books could make the best gift for just everyone on your list from your favorite aunt to your best friend. Also keep in mind next month’s edition of Books to Get You Thinking which will include titles from both fiction as well as cooking and entertaining.

That Used to Be Us: How America Fell Behind in the World It Invented and How We Can Come Back by Thomas Friedman and Michael Mandelbaum

Friedman, the well known columnist from New York Times teams up with Michael Mandelbaum, a distinguished expert in foreign affairs in this compelling book that examines the ominously serious problems facing America on so many fronts – economic stagnation, growing income inequality, unemployment, competition arising from globalization and a dysfunctional political system. The book highlights the importance of addressing pressing issues such as high energy consumption and falling education levels to help bring the country back on its feet again.

Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson

Featured in last month’s column as well, this captivating, well researched biography will likely be a favorite read and a popular gift this Holiday season. Based on more than forty interviews with Jobs as well as his colleagues, friends and relatives, Issacson draws a compelling portrait of the charismatic, creative and multi faceted technology innovator whose face became synonymous with Apple, and who single handedly transformed a whole industry and the way we

communicate.

The Social Animal: The Hidden Sources of Love, Character, and Achievement by David Brooks

Brooks, the author of the New York Times op-ed columns who writes about policy and politics takes a fascinating look at underlying social relationships and interactions which in his opinion define the dynamics of the prevalent economic and political cultural milieus. Through the lives of two fictitious characters, Harold and Erica, Brooks illustrates the importance of the unconscious, the emotional and social relations surrounding people, as primary determinants of policy and politics in the economy.

The Time of Our Lives: A Conversation about America: Who We Are, Where We've Been, and Where We Need to Go Now, to Recapture the American Dream by Tom Brokaw

The former NBC news broadcaster and author of New York Times bestselling titles, writes this poignant discourse on the past glory of America and the crossroads where the country currently stands. He makes a passionate case for a grassroots movement where education, social values, and commitment to the welfare of society serve as driving forces and where political accord ensures a bright future for coming generations.

A History of the World in 100 Objects by Neil MacGregor

A fascinating volume where the Director of the British Museum takes us on a journey through time observing different civilizations that have lived over different eras, examined through the kaleidoscope of the objects that they created. A hundred different objects from the Museum ranging from a two million years old stone chopping tool to a contemporary solar powered lamp have been picked out to display the long history of humanity.

Secret Journeys of a Lifetime: 500 of the World's Best Hidden Travel Gems by National Geographic

This beautiful volume is definitively so much more than just a travel guide. In the brilliantly illustrated pages, rich with eye popping color photos, National Geographic presents vivid views of 500 different locations around the world along with the top ten things to do in those places. Fascinating facts about the history and culture of the place, and interesting personal travel experiences that have been juxtaposed, add to the lure and excitement of the places visited.

Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

In 2002 Daniel Kahneman won the Nobel Prize for his pioneering work on decision making that challenged the commonly held economic premise of rational behavior in economic decision making. Here Kahneman builds an elegant framework for analyzing how the human mind thinks, reacts and takes decisions. In analyzing the human thought process, Kahneman identifies System One which is the unconscious, intuitive part and demonstrates how it invariably dominates over System Two which embodies rational and logical reasoning.

Change the Culture, Change the Game: The Breakthrough Strategy for Energizing Your Organization and Creating Accountability for Results by Roger Connors and Tom Smith

In an increasingly competitive business environment, the authors lay out a compelling step by step strategy for setting up an organizational work culture of individual accountability. Using case studies and best business practices, the book outlines a Pyramid model that would help achieve cultural change in the way managers, team members and employees think in an organization. The model outlines how the three components of experiences, beliefs and actions interact to achieve results.

The 5 Levels of Leadership: Proven Steps to Maximize Your Potential by John Maxwell

The author identifies five different levels for effective leadership in an organization that are intrinsically based on inspiring and empowering every team members to achieve his or her highest potential. At different levels people would follow you for different reasons: in position because of your job title, permission where they follow on their own accord, production where you lead because of your contribution to the organization, people development where they follow you because of what you have done to help them and finally pinnacle where your leadership rests solely on your achievements.

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer

The book paints a vivid picture of life in poverty stricken Malawi where William grew up, and his struggle to realize his dream of building a windmill that would provide water for irrigation and help avert the frequent famines that ravaged his village. Unable to attend formal school William poured over science books at the library and using scrap from the countryside eventually succeeded in setting up a working windmill that drew worldwide attention.

The Hidden Reality: Parallel Universes and the Deep Laws of the Cosmos by Brain Greene

The Pulitzer Prize winning author who had formulated the Sting Theory in his earlier book The Elegant Universe now makes a fascinating case for multiverse where many alternate universes exist besides the universe that we live in. For his analysis he draws upon different elements of theoretical physics including the theory of relativity, the Big Bang Theory and Black Holes. Though sometimes dealing with difficult scientific concepts, the author tries to simplify complex material to make the book readable for an audience with little or no knowledge of physics.

Jack Kennedy: Elusive Hero by Chris Matthews

Chris Matthews the host of MSNBC’s Hardball writes an engaging biography of Kennedy based on interviews with people who knew Kennedy first hand. The book discusses several facets of Kennedy’s personality - his fascination with Winston Churchill, his support of civil rights and nuclear disarmament. The author analyzes Kennedy’s role in many historical landmark events including the Yalta agreement and the Bay of Pigs, giving readers unique insights into Kennedy’s values, thinking, beliefs and leadership on a host of issues.

For more exciting titles in fiction, cooking and entertaining do come back and check the December column of Books to Get You Thinking!

- Nita Mathur

Photos, top to bottom:

Finding Spanish-Language Materials In The Public Catalog

2011-11-11T13:11:00.004-05:00

With the exception of the Chinese collection at West Windsor, ably managed by Jean Chou, most of the foreign language materials in the Mercer County Library System are spread around the different branches. These materials do not circulate as well as they deserve, perhaps because patrons are only aware of the holdings in their local library and don’t realize that they can request items from the other branches.

In order to access the full range of foreign language holdings it is necessary to use the catalog and be prepared to put holds on items in other system branches. While this blog refers to Spanish-language materials, the content applies to all the smaller language collections: French, German, Korean, Hindi, etc.

The easiest search is a title search, if the title is known. Simply choose Title from the drop-down menu, type the title in the search bar, and click on Search or press the Enter key.

Finding works by a known author is just as simple. Choose Author from the drop-down menu, type the author’s name, and press the Enter key.

The results will show Spanish-language books and books in translation. To show only books in Spanish, use the Limit Search Results feature on the left of the screen, and limit by Language. Check off the Spanish box, and then click on Include.

Searching for Spanish-language books on a particular topic requires a keyword search. Choose All Fields from the second dropdown menu; write your keyword(s) followed by the phrase Spanish language in the search bar. Press the Enter key and you should get a list of Spanish-language results on your topic.

To retrieve the almost 1100 Spanish-language and bilingual English-Spanish children’s books in the MCL system, use the keywords Spanish Language materials juvenile.

The results can be narrowed by using the Limit Search Results feature on the left of the screen. Pick a specific library, and click Include, or choose a shelf location such as Picture Books, a range of dates, or books by one of the listed authors.

For Spanish-language books on CD, choose Books on CD from the first drop-down menu, All Fields from the second drop-down menu, and type Spanish Language in the search bar. Press the Enter key and get a list of our 8 Spanish-language books on CD (number 9 is a false drop).

The Mercer County Library System has a wide selection of movies in Spanish, some by well-known directors like Pedro Almodovar, Luis Bunuel and Guillermo Del Toro, along with other lesser-known movies. In order to obtain a list of Spanish-language movies on DVD with a minimum of false drops, choose DVDs from the first drop-down menu, All Fields from the second drop-down menu, and type foreign films Spanish in the search bar. This will avoid other DVDs with Spanish-language dubbing, and most language instruction DVDs.

- Maria L.

‘Bonus Class Tuesdays’ in November and December

2011-11-08T14:28:00.001-05:00

During November and December, our usual line-up of computer classes will be supplemented by four additional classes on a variety of topics for patrons interested in learning more about our array of electronic resources available free of charge in the library or at home. The four are:

Tuesday, November 22, 3-4:30 p.m.: Databases

Need to find an article from Consumer Reports, Time Magazine, Popular Mechanics or the New Yorker? How about information on businesses in central New Jersey, a biography of your favorite author, suggestions for future reading, or health information? Come and find out how you can get access to these and other information resources through the Mercer County Library website, where you’ll find such databases as Academic Search Premier, ReferenceUSA and Corfacts, Health Reference Center, and Literature Resource Center.

Tuesday, November 29, 3-4:30 p.m.: Job and Career Accelerator

If you or someone you know is actively engaged in searching for employment or a change in careers, this class will offer an introduction to Job and Career Accelerator, a comprehensive database where you will be able to compose resumes and cover letters, search for jobs, explore career possibilities, organize your job search documents and track your progress with individual job applications. In addition, should you need refresher tutorials in business writing, mathematical computation, or a computer program, these will be available to you.

Tuesday, December 13, 6:30-8:00 p.m.: Ebooks

Have a new eReader or planning on acquiring one? In this class you’ll have the opportunity to learn how to download ebooks to your computer, eReader or mobile device using ListenNJ, a free ebook source for Mercer County Library patrons.

Tuesday, December 20, 3:00-4:30 p.m.: Mango Languages

Did you know that you can learn any one of four languages from home or in the library through one of our databases? Mango Languages, an engaging and highly user-friendly learning resource, offers beginning and intermediate classes in Spanish, French, Italian and Mandarin Chinese to MCL patrons. For native speakers of other languages, there are two additional options: English for Polish speakers and English for Spanish speakers. It’s free and you can learn at your own pace. Custom courses are designed for those who need to learn the basics in a hurry, or would like more in-depth lessons to improve or refresh their facility in one of these languages.

All classes described above are held in the Computer Lab at the Lawrence Headquarters Branch. Interested patrons can register in person at the library, or online.

- Jim S.

Looking for the perfect gift… why not create your own?

2011-11-04T14:03:00.003-04:00

Here is a simple bracelet you can make:

DIY Double Wrap Bracelet

Materials:

44 inches of 1.5mm leather cord
30 inches of thin plastic cord (fishing line also works well for this)
Beads
58 inches of waxed linen cord
1/4" hex nut
A pair of scissors

Step 1: Fold the length of leather cording in half to form a loop that is big enough to fit around the hex nut, as this will be used for the clasp. Knot the plastic cord around the base of the loop. Then, wrap around the base of the loop (wrapping over the knot) with the waxed linen several times to secure it around the leather.

Step 2: String the beads onto the plastic cord and tie a knot at the end so they do not fall off while you are wrapping. Line up a bead against the middle of the leather cord and wrap the linen around it tightly.

Step 3: Continue wrapping until the desired length is reached. Keep in mind that this is a double-wrapped bracelet so you will wrap it around your w

rist twice; measure the length against your wrist periodically to ensure it is the correct length.

Step 4: Once the bracelet is the correct length, finish it off by wrapping the linen around the leather several times as you did in step 1. Then tie an overhand knot with all 4 strands.

Step 5: Slide the hex nut through the strands and tie a second knot. Trim the excess with scissors. Congratulations, your wrap bracelet is finished!

**Directions adapted from:

Chan Coffman, Erica. "DIY Wrap Bracelet." Honestly...WTF. WordPress, 12 Jul. 2011. Web. 7 Oct. 2011.

For more ideas try –

Dangles and Bangles: 25 Funky Accessories to Make and Wear

It Girl Knits: 30 Fresh Styles for the Young and Fabulous

Simple Gifts to Stitch: 30 Elegant and Easy Projects

Hemp Jewelry

- Michelle C. and Alena P.

Fun with Drop Cap in Word 2007

2011-11-01T14:21:00.002-04:00

Say you are writing a letter or creating a flyer and you want to do some fancy formatting. You can use the Drop Cap feature in Word at the very beginning of a paragraph and add some zing to your document’s appearance. When you use Drop Cap, the first letter in the paragraph will be formatted to appear larger and will “drop down” into the text.

First type your text as you would normally. Then click the Insert tab, and from the text group, click on Drop Cap.

Make sure your insertion point is at the very beginning of the paragraph since when you use Drop Cap, the first letter will be formatted. Drop Cap offers two choices: you can have the first “dropped” letter spill into your text, which will displace the first few lines of your text, or you can place the dropped letter in the margin so it doesn’t shift the rest of your text.

When you use Drop Cap, it’s not like you are just changing the size of the first letter and making it larger. The Drop Cap command formats your text and actually places the letter inside a frame, much like a text box, so various formatting options are available to you even after you have used the Drop Cap feature. You can change the font and the color or add special effects to the “dropped” letter. You can also move the text box like frame or change the size by using the handles on the frame.

Drop Cap is a quick and easy way to do some fancy formatting and create a document that will get everyone’s attention!

- Rina B.

Think Pink: October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

2011-10-28T13:56:00.003-04:00

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the United States, aside from skin cancer, and is the second leading cause of cancer death in women (after lung cancer). According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 230,480 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed among women in the United States this year. An estimated 39,520 women are expected to die from the disease in 2011 alone. Today, there are more than 2.5 million breast cancer survivors living in the United States.
The Mercer County Library System has a comprehensive collection of books on this important topic, including the following recently-published titles:

The Breast Cancer Companion: A Guide for the Newly Diagnosed
By Nancy Sokolowksi and Valerie Rossi

Named a 2010 Best Consumer Health by the American Journal of Nursing

The Breast Cancer Companion is a step-by-step guide through treatment for the more than two million women living with breast cancer in the United States. It provides ample space and encouragement to record questions, thoughts and feelings, doctor's appointments, medications, and contact information for the oncology team and others. The book also covers myriad other details that are often lost in the trauma and emotion of diagnosis and illness. The book helps women to be well-organized, well-informed, and have peace of mind so that, even in the midst of their breast cancer treatment they remain focused on what matters most: becoming well and achieving a healthy outcome. Special features include a calendar to help with scheduling, a directory to organize important contacts, questions to ask the medical team, tips and advice from breast cancer survivors, and a list of resources and breast cancer–related organizations.

QuickFACTS Breast Cancer: What You Need to Know—NOW
By American Cancer Society

Covering everything from breast cancer risk factors to living well after treatment, this pocket-sized reference provides critical questions to ask a health-care team; presents the latest guidelines for diagnosis, staging, and treatment; and details what to expect after treatment. This comprehensive yet concise guide is the fastest way to get evidence based content on the disease and includes an advanced dictionary of breast cancer-related terms. It educates and empowers both patients and their caregivers to combat breast cancer from the start.

Yoga and Breast Cancer: A Journey to Health and Healing
By Ingrid Kollak

Yoga and Breast Cancer is a practical, how-to guide to using yoga to manage stress, relieve pain, and gain the strength necessary to make it through this illness. This seminal work follows the authors' own research, which has shown a proven correlation between yoga practice and better health outcomes after a breast cancer diagnosis. More than simply an exercise primer, the book is a deeply soothing guide to moving meditation and physical activity, giving readers a safe way to rebuild strength, stamina, and flexibility both during and following cancer treatments. Intended to support women from the critical phases of their disease to times of secondary prevention and rehabilitation, Yoga and Breast Cancer helps them improve awareness of their body, thoughts, and feelings, ultimately guiding them towards a healthier life.

Straight Talk About Breast Cancer: From Diagnosis to Recovery
By Susan W. Braddock, M.D., Jane M. Kercher, M.D., John J. Edney, M.D., Melanie Morrissey Clark

This medical handbook serves as an accessible resource for answering the questions of women with breast cancer as well as easing the concerns of their spouses and family members. Drawing on the personal experiences of a breast-cancer survivor and the professional expertise of breast-cancer specialists, this guide outlines the various treatment options for cancer patients—including lumpectomy and mastectomy surgeries, radiation treatment, and chemotherapy—both in terms of how they work and the toll they take on a patient’s life. Photographs on breast reconstruction are included as is a complete list of resources and an open discussion of hereditary and reoccurrence risks. The latest information on diagnostics and treatment is provided, making this an essential resource for those affected by breast cancer.

Finding Hope for Your Journey Through Breast Cancer: 60 Inspirational Readings
By Yvonne Ortega

Breast cancer affects everyone it touches, whether firsthand or through the life of a loved one. Counselor and teacher Yvonne Ortega discovered this when she was diagnosed with breast cancer and began her journey. In Finding Hope for Your Journey through Breast Cancer, she shares with readers her personal triumphs and setbacks with humor and refreshing candor, always reminding us of God's desire to meet us exactly where we are. In this repackaged book, sixty devotions are divided into sections--diagnosis, surgery, treatment, and recovery--each incorporating Scripture into daily life. It also includes a new chapter on living with the possibility that cancer may return. Ortega's attention to even the most basic hopes and fears that a cancer patient faces each day offers encouragement that can come only from one who has been there herself.

- Lisa S.

Myned Your own Library Business

2011-10-25T13:36:00.001-04:00

If you own an Apple iDevice, you can now download a free app that will connect you to the Mercer County Library System. Called BookMyne, the app will also eventually be available for Android and Blackberry users and can be used to access your library account or place holds while on the go.

To get the app, visit the App Store from your iPhone, iPod Touch iPad or through iTunes. The app is produced by SirsiDynix. Once installed, look for libraries tab at the bottom of the app to get started by finding your local library. Even though you will have access to all branches of the Mercer County Library System, you should look for your local branch in the app so search for Ewing or Twin Rivers, for example. You could also use the Nearby tab at the top of the app to let the device’s location settings find libraries within 25 miles and pick your branch from there. Once you find the branch in the list, touch the star to add it to your favorites – you can have more than one favorite, so pick as many as you would like.

Once connected to us through one of the branches, you can use the other tabs at the bottom of the app, which include Search, My Account and Suggested.

The search is a simple keyword search that lets you look for phrases, titles or authors in our library catalog. The results screen will show a list of titles and you can touch one to get more details about a particular item. Details may also include a summary or other additional information about the title and an action button you can touch to place a hold, send an e-mail about the title or add it to one of your saved lists. If you do want to place a hold, you will be presented with a confirmation screen that will verify the branch you want to have the item sent to, you can hit the confirm button to place the hold or change the pick-up location by touching the library name and picking another branch from the drop-box.

The My Account tab lets you review the items you have checked out, your holds list, your lists and any fines you may have on your account. As with the web version of our catalog, you can renew items listed under the checked out items list. Just tap the radio button next to each item you want to renew and then touch the renew selected bar at the bottom of the screen. You will either be given a new due date or informed of any titles that cannot be renewed and need to be returned to the library.

Finally, the Suggested tab offers you the ability to look up items that appear on bestseller and awards lists. This part of the app uses data from goodreads and presents a spin wheel of bestseller and award winner lists. Touch a list in the top spin wheel and the list appears in the bottom of the screen. If you want to see if the library has a particular book, touch the title in the bottom list and it will search our catalog. If you have a goodreads account, you may log in and use the Social tab to share your reading lists with your goodreads friends.

- Laura N.

Fun on the Field, Part 2: Marching Madness!

2011-10-21T13:11:00.000-04:00

Last month, part one of this article covered Football and Cheerleading. Today, we present more favorite fall activities:

Fun Facts and Trivial Trivia

Marching band

Marching band is near and dear to my heart because I was a piccolo & flute player in the Nottingham Northstars Marching Unit for my four years of high school. (Yes, I was lucky to play the tiniest, lightest instruments possible) I remember sweltering through band camp in August, only to freeze during the night games in late fall. Then there was my daily run from last period’s practice on the field, to my locker, to the bus - always good exercise! Figuring out the drill sheets was a challenge my first year, as were learning how to do precise roll steps and making sure I didn’t run into anyone as I tried to read music and march simultaneously. On a positive note, the excitement before each game was contagious, and I always drew the Nottingham “N” on my face in blue marker (sometimes backwards) and accessorized in blue and gold to convey team spirit. During the actual game, we had fun playing pep music and banging the bass drums. Watching other bands’ shows was always fun and interesting, both during regular games and at band displays/competitions. Nottingham always participated in the Cavalcade of Bands at Hamilton High West (Saturday, October 15^th this year), Music in Motion at Steinert (Sunday, October 23^rd this year), and an actual judged competition at Jackson Memorial High School that was well worth the long bus ride. It was always amusing to spot the kids who could not keep in step no matter how hard they tried … and then wore white socks to draw everyone’s attention to the fact! Finally, the most eagerly anticipated band event was the trip to Disney World every two years to perform in the Disney Magic Music days. It was so neat to see a bit of Disney’s “backstage”… and to go on all the rides, of course! But enough about me. On to the fun facts and trivia!

Marching Band

The marching band originated with travelling musicians who performed together at festivals and celebrations throughout the ancient world. It evolved and became more structured within the armies of the early city-states, becoming the basis for the military band, from which the modern marching band emerged. As musicians became less important in directing the movement of troops on the battlefield, the bands moved into increasingly ceremonial roles - an intermediate stage which provided some of the instrumentation and music for marching bands was the modern brass band, which also evolved out of the military tradition.

Most high school and college bands began in the early 1900s, when they started playing at football games. In 1907, the first formation on a football field was the "Block P" created by Paul Spotts Emrick, director of the Purdue All-American Marching Band.

Until fairly recently, college marching bands were typically a male activity; girls weren’t fully accepted as members until the 1970s.

The main types of marching bands are: traditional marching bands (most common at the HS level), drum and bugle corps, show bands, pipe and bands, comedy bands, circus bands, scout bands, and scramble bands.

The three main marching styles are: traditional military, drum corps, and high-stepping show band.

The more unusual/specialized marching band instruments include the mellophone, marching baritone, and frumpet (not in common use anymore, but still neat).

Some bands do a new field show every week, but only practice the show for two or three hours immediately before the performance. Other bands can practice a single show upwards of 20 hours per week (or more, for some competitive drum and bugle corps, who have been known to practice as much as 16 hours a day) for an entire season. This amounts to an average of 400 hours spent rehearsing for every minute of a competitive show in a season!

Band members can include those who are blind, one-armed, and in wheelchairs. Disabilities are not an automatic disqualifier for marching band.

Color guard and Drill/Dance Team

The concept of a drill team began in 1929, when Miss Gussie Nell Davis started the first dancing pep squad at Greenville High School in Greenville, TX. However, color guard and drill teams are fairly recent additions to most high school field shows, becoming widespread in the 1980s and 1990s.

Color guard vs. drill team

Color guards typically use flags (although also sabres, rifles, ribbons, batons, and scarves may also appear in routines)

Drill teams usually uses pom-pons (although they may use a host of other props)

Smiling is theoretically not allowed unless it is specifically called for in the routine because not smiling helps concentration. Similarly, one can’t turn one’s head unless it is part of the routine.

The main types of flags are: swing, chain, regular, half-and-half, and butterfly flags.

Weights are placed in the flagpoles to help flags rotate properly when tossed; the more weight added, the higher the flag will go when tossed

Performance rifles’ straps make a noise when the rifles are spun, letting guard/drill members know whether everyone is spinning in unison.

Winter guard is a color guard that continues performing in winter after the football season is finished.

Books, Movies, and More

Books (fiction & nonfiction)

Notes From an Accidental Band Geek by Erin Dionne (on order as of 9/9/11)

Marching Band Competition by Judy Garty (Y 784.8 GAR)

Techniques of Marching Bands by Judy Garty (Y 784.8 GAR)

The Going to College by Doris Valliant ( Y 791.6 VAL)

Notes the benefits of pursuing cheerleading, dance teams, color guard, and marching band on the college level.

Techniques of Color Guard by Karyn Sloan (Y 791.6 SLO)

Movies

Drumline (PG-13) – not owned by the library system, but worth renting!

Band Videos

Moanalua High School "Menehune" Marching Band 2005

Cal Band - The iPod Show

Santa Clara Vanguard - Phantom of the Opera

Jackson High School (NJ) Marching Band

- Jennifer P.

Books to Get You Thinking

2011-10-18T13:43:00.003-04:00

On October 5, 2011 Steve Jobs the enigmatic and dynamic technology innovator and business entrepreneur whose name was synonymous with Apple’s Mac line of computers as well as the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad lost his long struggle with cancer. Best known for his creativity and passion for merging engineering and aesthetics together, Steve Jobs transformed and made an indelible mark across a full gamut of industries- music, personal computers, tablet computing, telecommunications, animated movies and digital publishing. The products he helped design have captured the imagination of millions all over the world, and sparked an interest in technology among his users and a whole generation of young people. This week’s picks for our column focus on Steve Jobs the person, his passions, his personal style of management and innovation and the impact he had on his company and beyond. The lessons that we can draw from his extraordinary saga are especially relevant at a time when so many businesses are struggling to stay competitive.

Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson

Walter Isaacson, who has been both the Chairman of CNN as well as Managing editor of Time Magazine, is well known for his outstanding biographies on Benjamin Franklin, Einstein and Henry Kissinger. Releasing on October 24th is his newest work on Steve Jobs, a comprehensive look at the life and the multi faceted personality of this enigmatic figure that is due to be released just three weeks following Job’s untimely demise. Isaacson has based his books on more than forty interviews that he conducted over the course of two years with Steve Jobs as also interviews with colleagues, competitors and friends. The book aims at giving readers a glimpse into the extraordinary life of Steve Jobs, his vision, his passions and his dreams that helped mould his particular brand and style of business management and helped Apple, the company he co founded become one of the highest valued companies in the US.

The Steve Jobs Way: iLeadership for a New Generation by Jay Elliot and William Simon

The book, authored by Jay Elliot former Vice President of Apple, gives an insider’s perspective into the unique style of management and leadership that identified Steve Jobs both at Apple and during his years at NeXT. The book provides a glimpse into Job’s personal journey as well as the evolution of Apple as a company covering both his personal triumphs as well as failures that came along the way. The author talks in depth about the different aspects that characterized the way Jobs approached organization, marketing, product design and creativity that led to the spectacular success of his technology innovations and made Apple into a formidable company. Jobs had a unique and rare blend of passion, creativity, vision and obsession with detail which was in large measure the foundation of his success as an innovator and entrepreneur who was able to define a whole company and an entire industry.

iCon Steve Jobs: The Greatest Second Act in the History of Business by Jeffrey Young and William Simon

A riveting biography of Steve Jobs based on anecdotes and perspectives from a wide range of people from Silicon Valley and Hollywood who worked and interacted with Steve Jobs during his career. The book reveals the multi faceted personality of Steve Jobs, his pursuit of perfection and creative genius that resulted in his extraordinary success as an American business icon but also his many idiosyncrasies and that sometimes alienated him from others. The authors give readers the inside stories behind many landmark moments in Jobs’s career – the legendary founding of his company in his garage, the launch of the first Mac machine, his ouster from Apple in 1985 his disappointments and failures at NeXT, his dramatic comeback in 2000 and the runaway success stories that followed with the launch of the iPod, iPhone and iPad.

The innovation Secrets of Steve Jobs: Insanely Different Principles for Breakthrough Success by Carmine Gallo

The author, a business journalist whose writings have appeared in Bloomberg Business, Wall Street Journal, New York Times and Forbes interviewed a host of CEOs, entrepreneurs, consultants, and teachers to try and capture the essential mindset of Steve Jobs, and what made him such a successful innovator and global business icon. Gallo identifies seven different principles of innovation and backs them up with quotes from Steve Jobs that echo his philosophy and vision. Perhaps Steve Jobs’s one leading principle that guided his actions is summed up in his own words, “Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower” and finally "My goal wasn't to die the richest man in the cemetery. It was to go to bed at night saying, we've done something wonderful."- Steve Jobs. Through the pages of the book readers get a chance to step into the world of a creative mind, a life defined by passion and purpose that redefined the way we look at technology.

- Nita Mathur

Happy Birthday, William Penn!

2011-10-14T13:53:00.002-04:00

On October 14, 1644, Admiral Sir William Penn and Margaret Jasper welcomed their first child, William, into the world. Little did they know, their son would make a name in the history books as a Quaker hero and the “Founder of Pennsylvania.”

Using materials accessible via MCLS’ collection and resources, I’ve picked ten bits of information about William Penn to celebrate his birthday:

In 1662, Penn was expelled from Oxford University for his refusal to attend the university’s Church of England services (Kroll & Himler, 2000).
King Charles II insisted that the colony be named Pennsylvania (“Penn’s woods”) to honor Penn’s late father, Sir William. Penn worried people would think the land was named for him; he wished to name his new colony New Wales or Sylvania, but the king could not be dissuaded (Baczynski, 2004).
King Charles II granted Penn the land for Pennsylvania in 1681, which Penn governed for approximately 35 years until his death in 1718. In the two trips Penn made to the colony, however, his total time in Pennsylvania equalled less than four years (Fradin, 1988).
Before setting foot on his land in the New World, Penn laid out a detailed plan for the capital city, Philadelphia. The city’s plans included broad avenues based on a grid pattern, becoming a model for North American cities (Somervill, 2006).
As a Quaker, Penn could not use force to take the land from the American Indian tribes who inhabited the land. Unlike his British peers in other colonies, who did use force, he constructed a treaty of friendship, the “Great Treaty,” outlining an agreement of peaceful coexistence (McGill, 2009).
There is little evidence that the Great Treaty between the Pennsylvania settlers and the Native Americans was ever really signed; however, the terms of the treaty were upheld until well after Penn’s death (Hinman, 2007).
Penn mastered the language of the Lenni Lenape, the tribe in the area, in less than a year (Penn, 1970).
Penn conceptualized a unique plan for Pennsylvania colony prisons. Workshops were offered to teach inmates the fundamentals for a variety of trades, which provided prisoners with skills to pursue a new way of life (Lutz & Schlesinger, 2000).
In 1692 in the midst of the Nine Years’ War, King William took Pennsylvania away from Penn, making it a royal province to strengthen England’s defense in her war with France. The land was was restored to Penn’s ownership in 1694 (Doherty, 1998).
Hannah Callowhilll, Penn’s second wife, gave birth to their first child, John, in Pennsylvania. Being the only child of Penn’s born the New World, John was nicknamed, “The American” (Fantel, 1974).

Listed below in the works cited are the materials I used to create my list, including books from MCLS’ juvenile non-fiction, young adult biography, and adult non-fiction collections. No matter your age, you can find material to learn more about our neighboring state’s founder -- on his birthday or any day.

--Anna, Hopewell Branch

Works Cited

Baczynski, B. L. (2004). William Penn: Founder of the Pennsylvania Colony. Mankato, Minn: Capstone Press. [Juvenile Biography]

Doherty, K. (1998). William Penn: Quaker colonist. Brookfield, Conn: Millbrook Press. [Young Adult Biography]

Fantel, H. (1974). William Penn: Apostle of dissent. New York: Morrow. [Adult Non-Fiction]

Fradin, D. B. (1988). The Pennsylvania colony. Chicago: Childrens Press. [Juvenile Non-Fiction]

Hinman, B. (2007). Pennsylvania: William Penn and the City of Brotherly Love. Hockessin, DE: Mitchell Lane. [Juvenile Non-Fiction]

Kroll, S., & Himler, R. (2000). William Penn: Founder of Pennsylvania. New York: Holiday House. [Juvenile Biography]

Lutz, N. J., & Schlesinger, A. M. (2000). William Penn: Founder of democracy. Philadelphia: Chelsea House. [Juvenile Biography]

McGill, S.A. (2009). William Penn: The Dedicated Quaker. In Kid's View of Colonial America. Washington, DC: Great Neck Publishing. Retrieved from MasterFile Premier. [via MCLS’ Electronic Resources]

Penn, W., & Myers, A. C. (1970). William Penn's own account of the Lenni Lenape or Delaware Indians (Tercentenary ed.). Wilmington, Del.: Middle Atlantic Press. [Adult Non-Fiction]

Somervill, B. A. (2006). William Penn: Founder of Pennsylvania. Minneapolis, Minn: Compass Point Books. [Juvenile Biography]

Fun on the Field, Part 1: Football Frenzy!

2011-10-07T13:36:00.000-04:00

As every sports fan knows, fall is football season! For most of the high schools in Mercer County, that also means marching band, drill team, color guard, and fall cheerleading season, too. For all those interested in these fall activities, keep reading to learn some interesting facts, discover some good books and movies, and find links to all local high school schedules. Part one of this miniseries will deal with football and cheerleading, and part two will cover the marching unit.

Fun Facts & Trivial Trivia

Cheerleading

Pom-pons, normally associated with cheerleaders, are only used with cheers that have few stunts. They are not used in routines with difficult moves because they get in the way.

How do you spell ‘pom-pom’? Not that way! The correct forms are “pom pons” or the hyphenated “pom-pons.” The origin of the word is unclear, but it may be derived from the French “pompe” meaning “display” or “parade.”

Cheerleading initially began as an all-male activity up to the 1920s. Once stunts that included lifts were added, women were welcomed for their lighter weight and agility. It became a mostly female activity in the 1940s when many young men were in the armed forces during World War II. Today’s cheerleading teams are predominantly female, but guys are welcome additions.

Cheerleading’s popularity paralleled that of football, beginning in the first half of the twentieth century. Pro teams began using cheerleaders in the 1950s.

Cheerleading uniforms were instituted in the 1950s – a letter sweater and a skirt with a hemline below the knee!

Every hand position has its own name – blades, buckets, candlesticks, daggers, and knockers.

Cheerleaders try to use loud, low, “chest” voices because they carry better than high-pitched ones.

Celebrity cheerleaders (a surprising list!): Kirk Douglas, Samuel L. Jackson, Jack Lemmon, Steve Martin, Luke Perry, James Stewart, Halle Berry, Sandra Bullock, Cameron Diaz, Kirsten Dunst, Calista Flockhart, Terri Hatcher, Kelly Ripa, Sela Ward, Reese Witherspoon, Paula Abdul, Christina Aguilera, Toni Basil, Faith Hill, Lauryn Hill, Madonna, Reba McEntire, Natalie Maines (Dixie Chicks), George W. Bush, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Ronald Reagan, and Franklin D. Roosevelt

For all those headed to college, there are cheerleading scholarships, although they are fairly rare.

Football

High school football, also referred to as ‘prep football’ or ‘preps football,’ dates back to the late 19th century, the same time as many college football programs.

Most states have state football champions – all except four: New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. These states crown regional state champions. For example, instead of having a NJ State Champion, there are champions from South Jersey, Central Jersey, the two North Jersey sections, and the non-public section.

The first football ever used was round! Today, the definition of a football in the NFL rule book: “an inflated rubber bladder enclosed in a pebble grained, leather case. It shall have the form of a prolate spheroid.”

Professional players are assigned certain numbers to represent their positions:

1-19 = quarterbacks and kickers

20-49 = running and defensive backs

50-59 = centers and linebackers*

60-79 = linemen

80-89 = wide receivers and tight ends

*Centers may be assigned numbers up to 79, moving linemen’s numbers to the 90-99 range

Skin-tight pants are not just a fashion statement; they prevent other players from grabbing hold and slowing down/stopping a play.

The width between the goalposts in high school and college are different than in professional football: 23 ft. 4 in. for high school/college vs. 18 ft. 6 in. for the pros.

Each quarter of a high school football game is 12 minutes; three minutes shorter than the 15-minute college and pro games.

Many larger high schools have a separate junior varsity (JV) team along with their regular, or varsity, team. In most cases, freshman and some sophomores will play for the JV team, though occasionally these younger players may be called up to the varsity team to replace injured players. In rare instances younger players may go direct to the varsity team without having first played JV. If football is very popular, there may even be a third team for freshmen called the freshman team. These teams usually have no playoffs, but the team with the best record is named champion of their individual league.

Books, Movies, and More

Books (fiction & nonfiction)

Football

The Dairy Queen series by Catherine Gilbert Murdock (Y MUR)

Dairy Queen, Book 1 (also a downloadable audiobook from ListenNJ)

The Off Season, Book 2 (also a book on CD and a downloadable audiobook from ListenNJ)

Front and Center, Book 3 (also a book on CD)

Roughnecks by Thomas Cochran (Y COC)

Football for Dummies by Howie Long & John Czarnecki (796.332 FOO)

The 80-Yard Run: A Twenty-Week, Coast-to-Coast Quest for the Heart of High School Football by Theron Hopkins (796.332 HOP)

Cheerleading

A Non-Blonde Cheerleader in Love by Kieran Scott (Y SCO)

Techniques of Dance for Cheerleading by Craig Peters (Y 791.6 PET)

We’ve Got Spirit: The Life and Times of America’s Greatest Cheerleading Team by James T. McElroy (Y 371.89 MCE)

Competitive Cheerleading by Craig Peters (Y 791.6 PET)

Movies

Football:

Remember the Titans (PG-13)

Angels in the Endzone (not rated)

Cheerleading:

Fired Up! (PG-13)

Bring it On (PG-13)

Schedules

I’ve listed all the schedules I could find that have current info. If you find one that I missed, please leave a reply with the URL. Thanks!

Ewing High (The Blue Devils; Blue & white)

- Football: Varsity, Junior Varsity(JV), & Freshman

- Marching Unit: Band/Cheerleaders, Band Facebook page

Hamilton West (Hornets; Orange & black)

- Football: Varsity, JV, & Freshman

- Marching Unit: Home, Calendar, & Band Parents Club

Hightstown (Rams; Blue & white)

- Football: Varsity, JV, & Freshman

- Marching unit (site has a link to the schedule)

Hopewell Valley Central (Bulldogs, Black & gold)

- Football (Varsity, JV, & Freshman)

- Marching Band

Hun (Raiders; Red & black)

- Football: Varsity & JV

Lawrence High (Cardinals; Red & white)

- Football: Varsity, JV, & Freshman

- The Red Scare Marching Band

The Lawrenceville School (Big Red; Red & black)

- Football: Varsity, JV, & House

Notre Dame (Fighting Irish; Columbia blue, navy blue & white)

- Football (use the drop-down menu)

- Cheerleading (use the drop-down menu)

Nottingham ( Northstars; Blue & gold)

- Football: Varsity, JV, & Freshman

- Marching Unit

Peddie ( Falcons; Blue & gold)

- Football (Varsity & JV; use the drop-down menu)

Princeton (Little Tigers; Blue & white)

- Football (Varsity, JV, and Freshman)

Robbinsville (Ravens; Red & black)

- Football: Varsity, JV, Freshman

- Raven Regiment Marching Unit: Home & Twitter Feed

- Cheerleading (info pending as of 9/1/11)

Steinert (Spartans; Green, white, & black)

- Football: Varsity, JV, & Freshman

- Marching Unit (no band-specific schedule posted, just the football schedule)

Trenton Catholic Academy (formerly McCorristin Catholic HS; Iron Mikes; Blue & white)

- Football: Varsity & JV (No schedules posted as of 9/1/11)

Trenton Central High (Tornados; Black & red)

- TCH website (No sports schedules posted as of 9/1/11. See TCH website for a nice picture of the color guard.)

West Windsor-Plainsboro South (Pirates; Green & gold)

- Football: Varsity, JV, & Freshman

- Marching Band

- Jennifer P.

Word, You’re Not the Boss of Me!

2011-10-04T13:16:00.002-04:00

Losing control of your Word document? Trying to write poetry like E.E. Cummings, all neatly typed in lower case, but Word takes over and corrects it even before you finish firing your first poetic salvo? Dare to use minimal or creative punctuation and your document is covered in red and green squiggly lines! If you are tired of MS Word taking over your document, tailor Word to suit your need. Instead of settling for the default settings, you can change the way document content is displayed on the screen- and when printed. Change the way Word corrects and formats your text or change the way your documents are saved. Here’s how:

Open Word. Click on the Office Button. Then click on Word Options. From here you can modify and customize the way you want Word to display, print, or correct your document.

An absolute cornucopia of configuration options is available from the Word Options dialog box and it is easy for you to pick your preferences. Whether you want to change the color scheme or add certain words to the dictionary, the Word Options dialog box makes it a breeze.

From the Word Options dialog box, click on a category on the left, and the menu on the right will change displaying different customizing options. Click and check the boxes where you want to set your preferences. Then click OK and your preferences are set. You can change the configuration of the following groups of options: Popular, Display, Proofing, Save, Advanced, and more.

Popular – change the color scheme from boring blue to dramatic black or striking silver, or change the author name and initials that are displayed.

Display – show formatting marks such as Paragraph marks, Tab character or spaces.

Proofing – customize the way Word corrects spelling and grammar and formats the text in your document. Click on Custom Dictionaries and Add Custom Dictionary or click on Edit Word List and add new words. Access Auto Correct options from here and using the various tabs on this dialog box, ensure that Word will ignore your lack of capitalization, or correct the accidental usage of your cAPS LOcK key!

Save – change the default save file format so that every time you use the save command, Word 2007 will save your document in the compatible mode so that folks with older versions of Word will have no trouble opening your document.

Advanced – a plethora of customizing options are available here. You can choose various editing options as well as select the way word copies and pastes from other programs; choose whether you want to keep bullets and numbers when pasting or just pick the “Keep Text Only” option. From here you can also decide whether to increase or decrease the number of recent documents that are displayed on the Recent Documents menu.

So, go ahead and customize your Word!

- Rina B.

The CD Cornucopia at Our Libraries

2011-09-30T13:50:00.004-04:00

It isn’t just the latest pop/rock album or selections of classical music or opera, although we have those, too. There’s a wide variety from which to choose your next listening selection for the car, home, or elsewhere.

There are movie soundtracks, like one of my favorites,The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou. It has the eclectic blend of the film—Mark Mothersbaugh’s (Devo, Rugrats, etc.) electronic compositions, selections from Sven Libaek’s 60’s nature films, and Seu Jorge’s Portuguese covers of David Bowie songs. (The latter is an album in its own right, Life Aquatic Studio Sessions, by Seu Jorge).

There’s jazz, ranging from classics like Miles Davis’s Bitches Brew to lighter fare such as the Rippingtons. Need something harder? We have metal—Slayer’s 28 minute Reign in Blood, and Cannibal Corpse’s Evisceration Plague.

Feeling the wanderlust, curious for sounds from abroad? The Rough Guide, of travel book fame, also has a series of CDs about music around the world. Check out The Rough Guide to the Music from Iran, or others in the line. Bollywood Gold! Australian Aboriginal Music! Balkan Gypsies!

Finally, for the truly “out there” we have William Shatner. His 1968 album The Transformed Man pairs dramatic readings with songs “sung” in his own distinctive style. Was he serious or tongue in cheek with this? Either way, you’ll never hear songs like “Mister Tambourine Man” or “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” the same way again.

Don’t forget to check our catalog—if the branch you’re in doesn’t have what you’re looking for, another might. Simply place a hold on another branch’s copy and it will be transferred to your home branch for your convenient pickup. You’ll be surprised at what you can find!

- Dennis B.

Kindle eBooks Are Here!

2011-09-27T13:18:00.003-04:00

Earlier this year, Amazon.com announced that it was working on an update that would allow Kindle users to borrow books from local library collections. The update was formally released on September 21 and, as a result, the eBooks available to Mercer County Library System patrons through ListenNJ can now be read on a Kindle or a device running one of the Kindle apps.

To borrow a book to read on your Kindle, go to ListenNJ and browse the collection. Highlighted collections appear on the left, or you can use the search box or genre lists on the right side of the page to help you browse the collection. Once you find a title you are interested in reading, click on the Add To Cart link to the right of the Kindle Book icon and complete the check-out process by logging in with your library card. You will then be directed to the Amazon.com account page, which will be used to verify the download for your device.

Keep in mind that Kindle books follow all the same rules that apply to the other content that can be downloaded from ListenNJ. The library still needs to purchase copies, so it is possible that you will have to put your name on a waiting list to download a title. Also, because the titles circulate like physical books, they do have a due date and you are limited to five checkouts and five holds at a time. You will receive an e-mail when a title on hold becomes available and you will have 72 hours to check the item out before it goes to the next patron on the list. The good news is, there are still no overdue items or fines and you can still checkout a book at two a.m. while wearing bunny slippers.

If you need help or more information on using ListenNJ, please see the help pages on the site or contact us via our online support form.

- Laura N.

Toddler Rock

2011-09-23T13:37:00.003-04:00

At the Hopewell branch we have a program called Toddler Rock for those between 2 and 3 who run around too much for baby time, but can’t sit through a story time yet. We sing and dance and work on pre literacy, motor coordination, and the beginnings of group activities. I’m passing along the best of what we’ve learned so far:

We’ve read a different story every week for the past year of Toddler Rock. The point of these books is to provide lots of chances for toddlers to interact with the book and the reader. These are the top 5!

5. Can You Make a Scary Face? By Jan Thomas: play a game of “let’s pretend” with a ladybug.

4. The Baby Goes Beep by Rebecca O’Connell: so many sounds to repeat—possibly with instruments

3. If You’re A Monster and You Know It by Rebecca Emberley: a familiar song with a twist and actions to follow

2. I Ain’t Gonna Paint No More by Karen Beaumont: we each hold a dry paint brush to “paint” along and everyone can join in the chorus

1. Dancing Feet! by Lindsey Craig: listeners can try the different dances and guess which animal they belong to

And this is our favorite game to play!

It is called Little Mouse Little Mouse and it is super easy to do at home.

The blog Reading with Hannah describes shows a video of how to play it and provides templates to make your own set.

Keep Rocking!

- Miss Emily

Books to Get You Thinking

2011-09-20T13:08:00.009-04:00

In remembrance of the thousands of lives lost in the 2001 terrorist attacks in New York City , near Shanksville, Pennsylvania and at the Pentagon, of the many fallen heroes who came to the rescue with unimaginable acts of courage and bravery, this September column features a collection of books and audio video materials in our Library system that may help us see past the darkness of that fateful day and enable us to reflect, hope and feel inspired by the indelible strength of the human spirit that arose from the ashes of that day. Each of the books focuses beyond the sorrow and despair of September 11, 2001, to the extraordinary sense of community, selfless heroism, and vitality of spirit that brought a nation and the world together.

Heart of a Soldier: a Story of Love, Heroism, and September 11th by James
Stewart

The author, a Pulitzer Prize winner gives readers a compelling portrait of a hero who stands out during the attack on the World Trade Center. Rick Rescoria, the security officer at Morgan Stanley defied orders and successfully evacuated all 2600 employees of the company. Returning to the Towers one last time to ensure no one was left behind he lost his life when the structure of the Towers collapsed. The book is rich in details about Rick Rescoria’s life going back to his childhood in England, his courage and valor during the Vietnam War and the great love of his life Susan Greer. In the end, faced with a choice between life and duty, he chose the latter.

Among the Heroes : The Story of United Flight 93 and the Passengers and Crew who Fought Back by Jere Longman

The author, a reporter with New York Times writes a riveting account of the selfless courage and amazing heroism of a group of people aboard the hijacked United Flight 93. The passengers, ordinary citizens from widely differing backgrounds cast aside their fears and stormed the cockpit to directly confront the armed hijackers. In doing so they put their lives on the line so they could save the lives of many more. The author has reconstructed the events for the book through countless interviews with the families of the passengers and crew of United Flight 93.

A Place of Remembrance: Official Book of the National September 11 Memorial
by Allison Blais and Lynn Rasic foreword by Michael Bloomberg

National

Geographic has published this beautifully illustrated book that covers the making of the National September 11 Memorial and Museum on Ground Zero that was unveiled on September 11, 2011, the tenth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers . The book covers not just the horror and anguish of September 11 but the heroic untiring rescue and recovery efforts by people from all 51 states of the United states as well as from other countries, and the efforts to create a lasting monument to the memory of all those lost, a structure whose design would reflect hope for the future and the resilience of the American spirit.

Rebirth by Jim Whitaker

A unique 110 minutes documentary film that chronicles and follows the lives of nine different people from different walks of life, each impacted by the September 2001 attacks. The common theme that runs through these compelling stories is that of letting go of the grief and trauma suffered, and the strength of the human spirit – the stories span the ten years since 2001 and viewers get a glimpse of the lives and struggles of the people who lost a loved one on 9/11 through a series of annual in depth interviews that Jim Whitaker has conducted. At the same time twenty four 35 mm cameras positioned at Ground Zero have been used to document and capture the historic rebuilding of the Memorial at Ground Zero.

9/11: The World Speaks: Tribute WTC Visitor Center by Lee Ielpi, Tom Brokow (Preface), Rudolph Giuliani (Foreword)

In 2006 Lee Ielpi a New York firefighter who lost his son in the 2001 attacks co founded the WTC Visitor Center across from where the World Trade Center stood. Since then more than two million visitors from all over the United States and over 120 countries have visited the Center to pay their homage and tribute to the fallen victims of the September 11 attacks. The book has collected the thoughts, words and pictures left on the visitor cards at the Center and pieced them together to provider readers with an inspiring volume that displays the oneness of humanity in its outpourings of grief but also in its reflections on hope and peace.

- Nita Mathur

Spotlight on Useful Reference Sources for the School Year

2011-09-16T13:56:00.008-04:00

The opening of the school year presents us with an opportunity to review electronic and print sources that will be helpful for the months ahead. MCLS has a number of reference works available for use in the library or at home that will help with classroom assignments, homework, and even exam preparation. All of the resources described below are available from the Library’s Electronic Resources page, available by clicking on the link to it that appears in the green sidebar of the Library System’s main page, www.mcl.org .

Science. First up is our complement of science databases that cover a broad range of subjects, providing articles, encyclopedic entries, diagrams, illustrations and other materials. Facts On File Science Online offers information on chemistry, environmental science, biology, physics and astronomy, among other subjects. In addition, there is a section of the database dedicated to ideas for experiments that can be conducted by students in grades 6 through 12. The Science Reference Center, compiled by EBSCO, provides articles from encyclopedic and other reference works, academic journals, newspapers, primary sources and trade publications, most of which are available in full text, on a variety of scientific topics. There is also available an image and video collection to supplement textual material. For those interested in meteorology and climate change, Salem Science has published the Encyclopedia of Global Warming, available in electronic format through our electronic resources page.

History. The History Reference Center offers the full text of articles and essays from more than 2,000 reference books, encyclopedias and non-fiction books, cover to cover full text for more than 120 history periodicals along with thousands of biographical essays on historical figures, over 100,000 historical photos and maps, and more than 80 hours of historical video.Facts On File provides articles and images in its extensive online libraries African-American History, American History, American Indian History, American Women’s History, Ancient & Medieval History and Modern World History.If you’re looking for historical information on societies and cultures around the world, try Daily Life Through History. This database gives you the opportunity to search for a particular culture, or browse through different periods of history.Salem History provides the full text of a variety of reference works such as the Encyclopedia of American Immigration, Inventors and Inventions; Great Events From History, Great Lives From History and Milestone Documents in American History, among others.

Literature.For those seeking to do research on literary topics, there is plenty to choose from.Both the Literary Reference Center and the Literature Resource Center provide a wealth of material on authors, literary works, and literary movements, including critical essays, biographical works, primary sources, and author and work overviews. In addition, those interested in knowing more about authors and their respective bodies of work have access to Contemporary Authors, a vast resource that provides complete biographical and bibliographical information and references on more than 120,000 U.S. and international authors.

General Reference.Looking for a topic to write about? Need a brief overview of or introduction to a subject? A map or timeline to put things in perspective? Try the Facts On File Curriculum Resource Center.It’s got geographic and historical maps, timelines, topic overviews, math activities, science experiment suggestions and essential facts ready at hand for browsing or searching. For more in-depth treatment of a topic, there is always the Encyclopedia Britannica, in electronic format. The Britannica is the premier encyclopedic work for scholastic use, and in electronic format is easily searchable. Not only will searches turn up relevant articles and images within the encyclopedia itself, but also suggestions for consulting other websites that have reliable and useful information.

In-depth Academic Research.Among databases that offer access to the full text of journal and monograph articles on a broad spectrum of subjects, EBSCO Host tops the list due to the breadth of its publication collection and the number of disciplines it covers. The areas of study represented within the scope of its individual database sections include elements of the arts, science (including general health and nursing publications), social sciences such as history and economics, business, and education within such databases as Health Source: Nursing / Academic Edition, Teacher Reference Center, Education Resource Information Center, Academic Search Premier, Business Source Premier, Master File Premier, Topic Search, and Newspaper Source Plus. For elementary, middle school and high school students, there are Primary Search, Middle Search Plus, and MAS Ultra – School Edition.

Test Preparation and Individual Tutorials.The Learning Express Library offers excellent opportunities for test preparation and practice at a number of levels, including the ACT, Advanced Placement, CLEP, PSAT/NMSQT, SAT and TOEFL testing programs. There are also exercises for GED Preparation, and for those considering graduate schools, practice tests to prepare for the GMAT, GRE, LSAT, MAT, MCAT and PCAT. Need to learn or brush up on software programs? Learning Express Library has a number of online tutorials that cover such popular programs as Dreamweaver, Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, Microsoft Access, Word, Excel, Powerpoint and Publisher, as well as others. Perhaps you need some extra help with reading and writing skill development, algebra, geometry, biology, chemistry or other high school subject – check out the High School section of Learning Express Library. There are also skill-building and content mastery exercises for elementary and middle school students as well. Getting ready for the NJ ASK tests? Lumos Learning NJ ASK Test Preparation is available to you in the library or at home to get in the best shape possible for those tests.

- Jim S.

Freedom by Jonathan Franzen

2011-09-13T13:54:00.006-04:00

This September my book group delved into Jonathan Franzen’s Freedom, a saga of the Berglund family, Patty and Walter, the not-so-happily married parents of two children, and the family’s best friend, Richard, an iconoclastic musician who has remained somewhat spectacularly unmarried. Walter, an environmental lawyer becomes obsessed with an idealistic crusade to save the Cerulean Warbler (hence the cover image), swaths of land from development and to alert America to the ticking overpopulation bomb. All the while, as his relationship with his wife spirals downward, we wonder if the couple can save their marriage, much less the planet. As the marriage implodes, Patty, an ex-college sports star, loses her bearings while pursing perfection in her role as mother and wife. Freedom was up for many literary awards in 2010 and was the author’s first novel since The Corrections, published almost a decade ago.

Franzen: The Author

Interested in the authors that Franzen admires? The major literary influences on his work, his readings, marriage, and his journey from budding college physics major to novelist? Not to mention the role that smoking and earplugs have played in his creative life? You have to take a look at the recent interview he gave to the Paris Review.

I was fascinated that Franzen started out at Swarthmore College as a physics major, taking only one English class in his first three years! He made a dramatic switch midstream to German studies and was profoundly influenced by his readings in that language. In the Paris Review,

Franzen makes special mention of various authors and novels that have influenced him. He has a particular fondness for his study, as a German student, of Rilke’s The Notebooks of Malte Laurids Brigge. Reading The Notebooks, Franzen discovered that “I had an interior life I’d previously known nothing about…” Rilke’s tale about a young boy, Malte, who in the course of rummaging through an old trunk of party masks and trying on various ones, almost becomes unhinged at seeing in the mirror his masked self. What terrifies Malte is the fear that there is no real, authentic self, only a succession of masks. For Franzen, this is the pivotal moment where literature begins to posit that a personality is a construct – a collection of masks – social, linguistic, historical, genetic. These masks and what lies beneath fascinate Franzen.

I also discovered from the interview some of the novels that Franzen loves and that just naturally spring up in his conversation: Murakami’s The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, The Trial by Kafka, The Players by Don DeLillo, The Brothers Karamazov by Dostoevsky, and, not to leave out women authors, the works of Flannery O’Connor, Christina Stead, Jane Smiley, and Paula

Fox.

Franzen also recommended some of his favorite overlooked reads on the online site The Daily Beast. One of his picks is Ms. Hempel Chronicles by Sarah Shun-lien Bynum. This is a series of

eight connected stories about a young middle school teacher, Ms Hempel, her travails at school, her childhood and how it touches on her life as a teacher. In Franzen’s words this novel-in-stories “albeit beautifully written, distinctively voiced, deeply smart, and very funny” reveals itself as a “complete, organic novel about a love like none I’ve ever read about before…”

- Karen S.

Just Add Music

2011-09-09T13:36:00.003-04:00

Most branches incorporate music into their monthly programs, including sing-alongs, music during story times, and concerts for kids. Miss Amy performs with her guitar at many branches. So does Pat McKinley. Mr. Ray, Guitar Bob, and Yosi are also popular musicians with the preschool crowd. Many librarians know that adding music to their storytime programs is very effective in helping children to re-focus after listening to a story. Besides being fun, are there other reasons why music is valuable to good library programming? I think so, and for many reasons. Because music is so important for the healthy development of children, I would advocate adding more music to our library programming.

Many studies have been done that show the positive relation between music and early childhood development. A musical program where instruments are passed out, and where children are encouraged to dance and move to the music, can benefit children in at least four areas. Their fine and gross motor skills can be improved through dancing and handling instruments. Their vocal and speech development can be enhanced. Their listening skills are fostered. And important interpersonal skills of sharing and cooperation are fostered.

Because music is so beneficial to a child’s development, there are many programs available to parents that introduce their children to music. Kids Music Round is just one of them. At the West Windsor Branch we invite a teacher from Kid’s Music Round to give a demonstration class on a regular basis. Another program, Music Together also offers classes where children participate in music and movement. These programs are popular, and parents pay for them because they see their value.

Music has always been an important part of my life. My dad played the clarinet and saxophone and had a beautiful singing voice. I took piano lessons, and sang in church and school choirs. As a teenager I learned to play the guitar. When I became a children’s librarian I wanted to incorporate my love of music into my programs. While working at the Lawrence Headquarters Branch, I began a monthly program called “Sing & Play,” where I played my guitar, and then taught the kids motions to many children’s songs. When I came to West, I began doing the program twice a month. Parents often asked what CD’s I used, so I created a short bibliography of them. When Sing & Play became a real success, I started incorporating more music and movement into my story times for babies and toddlers. Many parents tell me that their children sing all the songs at home, even when they don’t sing during a class. I would encourage children’s librarians everywhere, when in doubt about how to make your preschool programs a success to Just Add Music.

Some Favorites:

Under A Shady Tree - Laurie Berkner

Whaddaya Think of That - Laurie Berkner

Six Little Ducks Classic Children's Songs

Toddler Favorites

Four Baby Bumblebees

Yummy Yummy - The Wiggles

Rocketship Run - Laurie Berkner Band

- Susan F.

Use Format as Table in Excel 2007 for Easier Data Analysis!

2011-09-06T13:31:00.006-04:00

Tables are an easy way to add color to your rows and columns in Excel 2007. As some of you have already discovered, you don’t have to use Conditional Formatting to make your tables easy to read and look pretty. You can use the Format as Table command and add color to your tables. But there are also multiple benefits of added functionality when you use the Format as Table feature:

The header row will remain visible as you scroll.

If you have a large table, Format as Table keeps the header row locked, so your labels stay visible as you scroll through the table.

Easily expand your table.

The corner handle on the bottom right-hand corner of the table allows you to easily add more rows or columns and the format will match your existing table design.

Effortlessly select your data.

You can select the entire data area of your table by putting your cursor near the top left corner until it changes into a bold southward pointing arrow and dragging the arrow; or you can select just the data in column one by putting your cursor on the line between row 1 and 2. It will change into a bold downward arrow and clicking on it will select the entire column area that contains your data.

You can Filter and Sort the data in your table using the tabs.

Now you can use the drop-down tabs and access a menu where you can use Number Filters, sort your data from smallest to largest or vice versa; click on Sort by Color and open a dialog box offering custom sort with three criteria.

Table Tools and the Design tab.

Once you use the Format as Table feature you will also see the Design tab appear when you click on your table. The Design tab, under Table Tools offers various extra features to help you customize your table. You can change the name of the table and resize it from the Properties group in the Design tab; from the Tools group you can Summarize with Pivot Table, Remove Duplicates, and Convert to Range. From the Table Styles Options group you can decide how the table styles are to be applied to your table, whether you want a Header row and a Total Row, or if you want the first or the last column to be formatted differently. You can also quickly change the style of your table from the Table Styles group and preview an existing style from the gallery of styles or create your own table style. From the Design tab, you can also Clear all the formatting while keeping your data intact.

In order to use Format as Table, the first thing you have to do is, of course, enter your data. Then select/highlight the table. Do not select the title row.

Then from the Home tab, in the Styles group, click on Format as Table. From the gallery of table styles, click the one you like. Once you select a table style, the gallery of pre-designed formats will close and you will see a dialog box confirming the range of cells you want to format as a table. If your table contains a header row, with labels, make sure the checkbox in front of My table has headers is checked. Click OK to format your data as a table and you will see your table not only look pretty but you will also see the tabs that offer added functionality. You will also see the contextual Design tab with more customizing options.

So you see, Format as Table feature does much more than just add color to your columns and rows. It also provides added functions that make it convenient to analyze your data!

But wait! Once you have finished analyzing the data in your table, or if all you wanted from the Format as Table feature was to add color to your table, you can always convert your data back to a regular table without the added data analysis features. Here’s how: Click in any cell within the table. Then from the Design tab, in the Tools group, click Convert to Range. You will be asked if you want to convert the table to a normal range. Click Yes, and your table, while retaining the colors, will lose all the added functionality.

- Rina B.

September is National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month

2011-09-02T13:05:00.007-04:00

Ovarian cancer is the fifth most common cancer among women, and it causes more deaths than any other type of female reproductive cancer. Since September is National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, now is the ideal time to learn more about this cancer of unknown cause. The Mercer County Library System has a comprehensive collection of titles on this topic, including:

Positive Results : Making the Best Decisions When You're at High Risk for Breast or Ovarian Cancer
By Joi L. Morris

This unique and important guidebook is a single, comprehensive source of information and advice to help women (and some men) at high risk for breast and ovarian cancer because of family history and genetic profile. One part memoir, three parts “how to'” manual, this book explains in a clear and steady manner the myths and realities of “the breast cancer genes.” It lays out all the options in easy-to-follow, compassionate language. It will help women and men to decide if they want to pursue genetic testing, guide them in interpreting their test results, and give them a sound basis for making the life-saving decisions required to manage their risks. Authors Joi Morris and Dr. Ora Karp Gordon cover all of the latest medical options, including genetic testing for breast cancer risk, breast cancer surveillance, assessing risk, mastectomy and breast reconstruction ovarian cancer surveillance, surgery, managing menopause, and cancer risks in men who carry mutations on BRCA genes. Along the way, Joi tells her personal story and that of other women and men who have made the gut-wrenching decisions required to survive in this world of astronomical risk.

A Guide to Survivorship for Women with Ovarian Cancer
By F.J. Montz and Robert E. Bristow

This complete guide to ovarian cancer offers a wealth of information to ease the physical and emotional suffering of women with the disease. The authors put particular emphasis on the concept of "survivorship," or living life well in the face of daunting uncertainties. They stress the importance of self-determination: the right of each patient to be informed, involved, and in control of her care.

Up-to-date information on diagnosis and treatment, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, pain management, and alternative therapies, forms the core of the book. But the authors' immense clinical experience also means they understand what women worry about and care about, and they address these issues with true compassion. Stressing quality of life, self-determination, and living life to the fullest, this remarkable book speaks to women with ovarian cancer everywhere.

100 Questions & Answers About Ovarian Cancer
By Don S. Dizon

Whether you're a newly diagnosed ovarian cancer patient, a survivor, or a friend or relative of either, this book offers help. Providing both the doctor’s and the patient’s views, this important volume offers authoritative, practical answers to questions about treatment options; post-treatment quality of life; prevention, screening, and advocacy; sources of support; and much more.

Ovarian Cancer: Your Guide to Taking Control
By Kristine Conner and Lauren Langford

Offering women crucial medical information to improve their chances for lengthy remission and cure, as well as emotional support for the journey, this guide includes ten things to know at the time of diagnosis; how choosing a gynecologic oncology surgeon impacts survival; standard treatments as well as newer chemotherapy and biological treatments; stories of dozens of women living with ovarian cancer; and “Questions for Your Doctor” for all decision points.

Definitive Guide to Cancer, Second Edition: An Integrative Approach to Prevention, Treatment, and Healing
By Lise Alschuler, ND and Karolyn A. Gazella

The first layperson’s guide to using natural nutritional supplements to support conventional cancer therapy, this book encourages an integrative approach that embraces both alternative and conventional therapies in the battle against cancer. Naturopathic physician Lisa Alschuler and medical journalist Karolyn A. Gazella present in-depth discussions of 20 specific cancers, empowering stories from cancer patients and their caregivers, as well as their own firsthand experiences with the disease. This comprehensive volume evaluates and recommends effective strategies for reclaiming your vitality in the midst of cancer treatment.

- Lisa S.

Honey, Can you Tweet Me A Soda and Chips?

2011-08-30T13:38:00.002-04:00

If it seems like the internet has finally become as import as electricity in every room of your house, that may be because a number of appliances you may seldom think of as internet-bound are surprisingly connected to the outside world. There is even a term for it, called the Internet of Things.

Last year the trend in TV was 3D. This year it may be the dawn of the download era. Cable has had an On Demand feature included in most set-top boxes for a few years and TiVo was once very forward-thinking technology because it bypassed the cable company to download schedules and other on-screen goodies to help guide your viewing choices. This year, TV goes a little further with internet-ready sets and accessories such as wireless BluRay players, Roku media players and AppleTV. The main point of connecting the home entertainment center to the internet is to download content from places like Netflix, Hulu or Amazon Instant Video. But, you often get a few other options with an internet connection, such as the ability to use the picture-in-picture feature to surf in one box while watching TV in the other. Some manufacturers even have special apps that run on their devices so you can access websites without a browser, for example, a YouTube app that lets you watch videos directly on the TV or a Facebook app that lets you chat and check statuses while you watch your favorite show.

Another app-happy device that is making its way into some homes is an internet-connected form of clock radio. In addition to a multitude of docks and apps that let you turn your iPad or other tablet into an alarm clock, the Sony Dash personal internet viewer actually has a snooze button and large clock that displays on its face when not in use. The user can set the device to display a variety of web content, video or just play back music when the alarm goes off.

Surely after the internet has invaded the nightstand, one would think, is there anywhere else in the house that doesn’t have a connection to the ‘net? Thankfully, I’m not going to tell you about some new waterproof shower accessory. But, when it comes to hot spots, you probably don’t think of anything other than the stove in the kitchen. Yes, you need to think again. A few years ago, LG tried to market something called the Smart Fridge and these didn’t sell too well. With the rise of the app, however, the Samsung Internet Connected Refrigerator may be hitting the market at the right time. Now that apps can access web content more easily, this appliance can not only store the veggies, but it will let you look up a recipe when you’re stumped as to what to do with those zucchini and tomatoes. Of course the fridge goes further and also adds on twitter, weather and news so you are never out of the loop while making a snack run or looking for the orange juice.

While all the connectivity at home may leave you wanting to make a run for it, don’t think you will get too far. Thanks to Nike and Apple, even your running shoes are connected. The Nike+ line of shoes includes a special hole in the sole where you can put in a sensor and wirelessly connect the shoes to your iPod or iPhone. The standard app that runs on the device records distance and calories and uploads the stats to the Nike+ website, where you can log on to set goals, join challenges or just track how often and how hard you’ve been exercising. Of course you can upgrade the app to use the iPhone’s built-in GPS to create a real-time map of your walk or jog, visit the website to review stats or play virtual tag with other Nike+ users roaming your neighborhood.

National Grandparents Day

2011-08-26T13:58:00.005-04:00

How did it National Grandparents Day evolve?

Marian Lucille Herndon McQuade, a West Virginia housewife, founded this national holiday. Marian had worked with senior citizens for many years and her original idea for the holiday was not only to recognize grandparents but also to bring attention to the needs of people living in nursing homes. In 1978, Congress passed legislation and Former President Jimmy Carter signed it declaring the first Sunday after Labor Day as National Grandparents Day. This year Grandparents Day will be celebrated on the September 11th.

Today, an increasing number of grandparents have actually assumed daily responsibility for their grandchildren. According to the AARP, 4.5 million children are being raised in households headed by grandparents. For those kids and millions of others, grandparents create special relationships and impart lessons that last a lifetime. As President Carter wrote, "Grandparents are our continuing tie to the near-past, to the events and beliefs and experiences that so strongly affect our lives and the world around us."

Here’s a list of great books from the MCLS catalog to help you celebrate Grandparents Day!

Grandfather and I by Helen Buckley (E BUC)
A child considers how Grandfather is the perfect person to spend time with because he is never in a hurry.

Grandparents are the Greatest Because by Adele Aron Greenspun (E GRE)
Photographs illustrate and text describes some of the interactions and activities of grandchildren with their grandparents.

Grandparents Song by Sheila Hamanaka (E HAM)
A rhyming celebration of ancestry and of the diversity that flourishes in this country.

Silas' Seven Grandparents by Anita Horrocks (E HOR)
Silas' Seven Grandparents is a fun and loving story about having multiple sets of grandparents and stepgrandparents. When Silas' parents go away on a business trip, all seven grandparents invite Silas to stay with them. How can he choose one without hurting the others' feelings?

Grandma and Grandpa by Helen Oxenbury (E OXE)
A small girl tells about the good times she has during her weekly visits to her grandparents' house.

Amelia Bedelia's First Apple Pie by Herman Parish (E PAR)
While visiting her grandparents, literal-minded Amelia Bedelia finally learns, despite some mishaps, how to bake an apple pie.

Grandma's Wedding Album by Harriet Ziefert (E ZIE)
Grandma shows her grandchildren, Emily and Michael, the photograph album with pictures from her wedding. The book includes wedding traditions from many different cultures.

Our Grandparents : A Global Album by Maya Ajmera (ENF 306.8 AJM 2010)
Vibrant photographs and simple text capture the joy and affection shown by grandparents and grandchildren around the world.

Piper Reed, Rodeo Star by Kimberly Willis Holt (J HOL)
After bidding goodbye to her friends Michael and Nicole, who are moving away, Piper and her sisters spend winter break with their two sets of grandparents in Piney Woods, Louisiana, where Piper learns that the best adventures are the unexpected ones.

Horrible Harry and the Secret Treasure by Suzy Kline (J KLI)
Third-grader Harry thinks of a way to patch up a conflict with his schoolmate Mary and include his friends in a fun detective case with rewards for everyone, including Grandpa.

38 Ways to Entertain Your Grandparents by Dette Hunter (J 790.1 HUN)
A cookbook, craft book, and game book all wrapped up in one amusing story!

Where I Belong by Gwendolyn Heasley (Y HEA)
When sixteen-year-old Corinne Corcoran's father loses his job, she is forced to give up her privileged Manhattan lifestyle and move to Broken Spoke, Texas, where she discovers that life is more than shopping sprees and country clubs.

Love, Hugs and Kisses to all those Grandparents out there!

- Miss Sue

Books to Get You Thinking

2011-08-23T13:45:00.005-04:00

As the world continues to reel from the financial crisis of 2008, we are now receiving even more sobering news and the distinct possibility of a double dip recession that conjures up memories of the 1930’s. The United States has experienced a sluggish recovery since 2009; in the coming years, it anticipates tightening spending levels and challenging prospects for generating new jobs and growth. Consumer demand is sagging under the burden of high consumer debt levels, particularly in the aftermath of the housing crisis and an unemployment rate that has climbed to over 9%. As the situation worsens, the private sector has little incentive to invest in new jobs. In the meantime, higher oil prices and supply disruptions following the Japanese Tsunami have only added to the current economic woes. The news from Europe is equally grim with Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Spain and Italy facing their own rapidly escalating debt and deficit issues. The US dollar may find itself sliding from its dominant role as the historic backbone of the world’s financial system. This week’s picks examine the ramifications of the current high levels of public debt, slow output growth, and high unemployment on the future of the global economic and financial system.

This Time is Different: Eight Centuries of Financial Folly by Carmen Reinhart and Kenneth Rogoff
In this groundbreaking work the authors provide a historical perspective to the economic storm that is currently engulfing the entire world. Using comprehensive statistical data from sixty six different countries, the authors study different types of financial crisis that have occurred in the past : sovereign crisis where the government defaults on its debt obligations , banking crisis where banks suffer huge investment losses that make them insolvent and a currency crisis where the value of a country’s currency plunges down despite government intervention. The importance of the work lies in the lessons that can be drawn from past experience both in terms of what can be done to prevent financial crisis as well as policy measures that would help a country recover from the crisis. In the final analysis the authors find excessive debt accumulation, both private and public in the absence of financial controls as a trigger that could unleash a financial meltdown.

Endgame: The End of the Debt Supercycle and How It Changes Everything by John Mauldin and Jonathan Tepper

The book is unique in the detailed global perspective it offers readers. John Maudlin a prominent authority on financial matters provides a lucid analysis of the current economic and financial crisis threatening countries around the world including the United States, the European and Eastern European nations, Australia and Japan. The book analyzes economic growth patterns and policy frameworks in different economies that over time have led to excessively high levels of consumer overspending and unsustainable levels of public debt owed by governments. Against this backdrop the authors skillfully demonstrate the hard choices facing nations today - to avoid the looming threat of a world recession in the face of all time high levels of sovereign debt, it is of critical importance to implement strategic fiscal and monetary policies that would check the deficit while promoting higher growth and employment levels.

The Stiglitz Report: Reforming the International Monetary and Financial Systems in the Wake of the Global Crisis by Joseph Stiglitz

Joseph Stiglitz, Nobel Prize winner and Professor at Columbia headed an international committee of twenty leading experts appointed by the United Nations in 2008 to study the nature of the global economic crisis in depth, focusing on the underlying factors that have led to high unemployment, depressed levels of consumer demand and volatile financial markets all over the world. The Report examines global trends and growing problems in manufacturing, natural resources and energy consumption, explaining how these are interconnected with the economic crisis. The Stiglitz Report is an invaluable document that provides a framework for future economic policy and includes both short term measures that address the current crisis, as well as deeper transformative changes that focus on setting up a new system of financial regulations and institutions. By operating at a global level, such measures would effectively coordinate national economic policies of all countries and promote an efficiently operating global financial system.

Exorbitant Privilege: the Rise and Fall of the Dollar and the Future of the International Monetary System by Barry Eichengreen

The author provides a fascinating analysis of the international monetary system through a well researched historical account of the role of the dollar as an international reserve currency and the forces that may undermine its strength in the coming years. Over the larger part of the 20th century the dollar has been widely held by banks and governments all over the world. Its strength has largely rested on the economic strength of the United States during a period marked by a consistently strong growth of production. However the current scenario is one where countries like China, India and other emerging economies experiencing much higher economic growth rates are beginning to dominate the global landscape. Historical evidence suggests that the outcome for the dollar largely rests on whether the United States is able to implement sound economic and fiscal policies that spur economic growth, reduce unemployment, and in the long run effectively tackle the current public debt crisis.

- Nita Mathur

10 Movies to Hold on to Summer

2011-08-19T13:40:00.001-04:00

It’s too soon to say good-bye to summer, but it’s already starting to happen – Summer Camp’s are winding up; “Back-to-School” sales have started, and MCL’s Summer Reading Program has ended. You can hang on to those summer days throughout the rest of the year with summer-themed movies from MCL’s collection. Here are ten to get you started:

Adventureland (2009) Rated R
Who knew there could be such great life lessons learned while working a summer job at a local amusement park? This dark comedy’s lead characters, James (Jesse Eisenberg) and Em (Kristen Stewart), take its viewers on a roller coaster ride of emotions. Directed by Greg Mottola.

Dazed & Confused (1993) Rated R
Last day of school = First day of summer! Richard Linklater’s film gives us a taste of a small Texas town’s 1976 teenage antics. Incoming freshmen, on the last day of junior high, try to avert hazing rituals – a long-held tradition for the incoming seniors.

Dirty Dancing (1987) Rated PG-13
“Baby” (Jennifer Grey) and her family are spending their summer vacation at a resort in the Catskills. In order to be a viable substitute for an upcoming dance gig, Baby soon bypasses the regularly scheduled activities for dance lessons with the head dance instructor, Johnny (Patrick Swayze). Directed by Emile Ardolino.

Do the Right Thing (1989) Rated R
This Spike Lee Joint captures the bubbling racial tension between a local pizzeria and a Koren grocery store in an African-American/Puerto Rican neighborhood, especially as it erupts into full force on “the hottest day of the year.”

Dog Day Afternoon (1975) Rated R
In a desperate attempt for money, Sonny (Al Pacino) and Sal (John Cazale) hold up a Brooklyn bank. The heist quickly goes downhill after they realize the bank has little money on site. Inspired by an actual Brooklyn bank robbery occurring in the summer of 1972. Directed by Sidney Lumet.

The Graduate (1967) Rated PG
While this isn’t the traditional summer film, it’s a Mike Nichols’ gem. Follow recent college graduate, Benjamin Braddock (Dustin Hoffman) as his debilitating concern for his future manifests itself as an affair with his dad’s business partner’s wife (Anne Bancroft), who just happens to be the mom to the woman he’s falling in love with. Phew!

Rear Window (1954) Rated PG
I think we can all relate to Stella’s (Thelma Ritter) remark, “You’d think the rain would’ve cooled things down. All it did was make the heat wet>” Sit back and look through “Jeff’s” (James Stewart) apartment window, as he and his girlfriend, Lisa (Grace Kelly) solve the puzzling where-a-bouts of a suddenly missing neighbor’s wife. Directed by Alfred Hitchcock.

Say Anything (1989) Rated PG-13
The summer after his high school graduation, Lloyd Dobbler (John Cusack) doesn’t know what he wants to do with his life other than to find “a dare to be great situation.” The opportunity presents itself – as being a great boyfriend to the class valedictorian, Diane Court (Ione Skye). Directed by Cameron Crowe.

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2005) Rated PG
Four best girlfriends, Bridge (Blake Lively), Carmen (America Ferrera), Lena (Alexis Bledel), and Tibby (Amber Tamblyn) take off on four separate summer adventures. They vow to stay connected via a single pair of jeans, which peculiarly seem to fit each of them perfectly. Directed by Ken Kwapis.

Stand by Me (1986) Rated R
“You guys wanna go see a dead body?” was all that needed to be asked to spark four boys into an adventure. On the last day of summer before they enter high school, Gordie (Wil Wheaton), Chris (River Phoenix), Teddy (Corey Feldman) and Vern (Jerry O’Connell) get more than they had bargained for in their quest for fame. Directed by Rob Reiner.

Bonus! +2 to keep an eye out for...

National Lampoon's Vacation (1983) Rated R
Cross-country trip? Check. Station wagon with faux-wood paneling? Check. Quality time with the family? Um. Check? Certainly, it's a vacation no one will ever forget. Recently ordered for MCL's collection, I've already put myself on the wait list to check out Vacation, which very well may be the best summer movie of all time. Directed by Harold Ramis.

Wet Hot American Summer (2001) Rated R
It’s the last day of camp, and the camp counselors have one goal: make the most out of it before their imminent return back into the real world. David Wain’s cult classic is on order and will soon be available for your viewing pleasure via MCL’s collection.

-- Anna, Hopewell Branch

Book Clubbing: Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell

2011-08-16T13:51:00.008-04:00

Why do Asian societies excel in the maths and sciences? Students from Singapore, South Korea, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Japan beat all other nations in the TIMSS (a comprehensive math and science test give to elementary and junior high students from around the world). Malcolm Gladwell ‘s Outliers credits the cultural heritage of wet-rice agriculture. In these countries, poor peasants have cultivated rice paddies for thousand of centuries, working each year at least three thousand hours per small paddy. It is actually very skilled labor, requiring planning, dedication, ceaseless work – just the qualities valuable for academics!

A favorite maxim of these peasant farmers is: “No one who can rise before dawn three hundred sixty days a year fails to make his family rich.” It is all about attitude - and this attitude of hard work and persistence, translates well into academic work. It is not just our stars that make us so, it is our culture, our heritage, the society that we grow up in.

Another chapter in Outliers takes a look at Marita, a young poor girl from the South Bronx attending an experimental public school, the KIPP Academy. To become a successful student at KIPP, 12 year old Marita must shed those parts of her culture that bind her to poverty. Now she arises at 5:45 am to get ready for school, spends a long day at KIPP, typically leaves for home at 5 pm, eats a quick dinner, and hits the books -- studying and homework. KIPP students typically attend school for longer days and more days than regular public schools – going for an extra three weeks in July.

Students like Marita need a chance, and that chance, says Gladwell, is that “Someone bought a little bit of the rice paddy to the South Bronx and explained to her the miracle of meaningful work.”

Outliers is interested in how cultural heritage interacts with the individual to determine and influence our behavior and choices. Each chapter examines a different aspect – but it is noteworthy, that at least three of the nine cases discussed, involve formal education.

And education is in definitely in the news today – from debates about charter schools, voucher systems, for profit universities, how to teach and what to teach, testing, standards, and more. These are intense and deeply contentious discussions. Teacher unions are being pressured to give up tenure and to tie pay to student performance. The No Child Left Behind Act has pushed Federal government into the public school system in new ways.

Read about efforts to improve educational outcomes for the urban poor and the poorly educated. But remember, every solution and approach has its advocates and opponents.

First, there is a no-holds-barred indictment of the current public school system in Waiting for "Superman": how we can save America's failing public schools. A collection of essays that sees the public school system tottering on the brink of disaster, graduating millions of children ill prepared for the 21^st century job market. A passionate plea for change – with input from prominent voices in the education debate: Bill and Melinda Gates, Michelle Rhee, Geoffrey Canada, and others.

The bee eater: Michelle Rhee takes on the nation's worst school district by Richard Whitmire profiles Michelle Rhee the controversial – and now former – chancellor of the Washington DC public school system from 2007 to 2010. Ms Rhee took on the status quo in the District of Columbia – but in the process alienated powerful constituencies and was ousted. Why bee eater? As a young teacher in Baltimore, Rhee famously got the full attention of her class one day when she swatted down a bee flying about the classroom and then swallowed it!

Whatever it takes: Geoffrey Canada's quest to change Harlem and America by Paul Tough is a thoroughly readable and engrossing look at the inspiring, no-holds barred quest of community activist and educator Geoffrey Canada, to radically impact the lives of Harlem’s most at-risk children. Canada has created a 97 block Children’s’ Zone in Harlem.

With a network of programs and special schools the Zone wields a sword of education and early intervention programs to break the cycle of poverty.

In The shame of the nation: the restoration of apartheid schooling in America, Jonathan Kozol , after surveying firsthand 60 schools in 11 states, finds a form of racial apartheid in public schools which he calls the shameful resegregation of schools and “a national horror hidden in plain sight “. These schools are underequipped and the percentage of schools with low-income African Americans and Hispanic students is between 80 and 99%. Interesting, Kozol lays much of the blame on the Federal law No Child Left Behind which forces poor school districts to divert resources to efforts that mainly prepare students for mandated annual standardized tests.

The flat world and education: how America's commitment to equity will determine our future by Linda Darling-Hammond, a professor of education, uses vast amounts of social research to pinpoint exactly what our education problems are and to propose appropriate solutions. She looks at the excellent and equitable school system of Finland, Singapore and South Korea and finds that their success is based on fair and consistent government funding of the schools and well trained and well paid teachers. But in America, fair, consistent and adequate school funding across the nation is lacking. Combine this with our high child poverty rate – and you have the educational crisis. Testing, school privatization, vouchers, charters – these are not the real solutions.

- Karen S.

Photo of Longki Terrace courtesy of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:LongjiTerraces.jpg

Wanted: Adventure, Love, and Fun All Between the Covers of a Book

2011-08-12T13:20:00.008-04:00

“I don’t know what to read” is something I hear a lot at the library. Most of my favorite books are in our Young Adult collection. So if you need a break from your school reading list and you’re looking for love, adventure, and fun; look no further than your library’s shelves. There you’ll find teenage thieves, girls undercover, mobsters, wise-cracking Bozos, and much, much more…

I'd Tell You I Love You, but Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter - "Cammie may be an elite spy-in-training, but in her sophomore year she's beginning her most dangerous mission - falling in love"

Heist Society by Ally Carter - Since she can remember, Katarina's relatives have been grooming her for the family business, thieving. But when Kat tries to go straight and leave that life for a normal one, she's promptly kicked out of her new school for stealing the headmaster's car and mounting it on the school

Flipped by Wendlin Van Draanen - When second-graders Bryce and Juli first meet, Juli knows it's love. Bryce isn't so sure. Beginning that day, and for the next six years, young Bryce does everything he can to keep his outspoken wannabe girlfriend at arm's length, which isn't easy since they go to the same school and live across the street from each other.

13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson - When seventeen-year-old Ginny receives a packet of mysterious envelopes from her favorite aunt, she leaves New Jersey to criss-cross Europe on a sort of scavenger hunt that transforms her life.

Son of the Mob by Gordon Korman - Seventeen-year-old Vince's life is constantly complicated by the fact that he is the son of a powerful Mafia boss, a relationship that threatens to destroy his romance with the daughter of an FBI agent.

Dunk by David Lubar - While hoping to work as the clown in an amusement park dunk tank on the New Jersey shore the summer before his junior year in high school, Chad faces his best friend's serious illness, hassles with police, and the girl that got away..

Since I shared my favorite titles with you, please share your favorites with me

- Michelle C., Robbinsville