The Atrium

After years of beating myself up for not following through on my grand ideas for a spectacular garden, I have owned up to the truth: I am an enthusiastic but very sporadic gardener. I love to draw multi-faceted designs and pour over gardening catalogs. Every spring, I furiously buy and plant more than my yard can handle. But as spring turns into summer, ongoing maintenance tasks don't excite me nearly so much and I abandon my formerly beloved plants for weeks on end. Sometimes I wonder if I love the idea of gardening more than the actual process, which is probably why I love gardening books big and small, since they offer a glimpse into the strange (to me) world of dedicated gardeners.

The $64 Tomato by William Alexander captured my interest because of the subtitle: how one man nearly lost his sanity, spent a fortune, and endured an existential crisis in the quest for the perfect garden. I don't know about the existential crisis, but Alexander's humorous account of creating and then having to maintain a large garden in the Hudson River Valley had me laughing out loud. Perilous obstacles include sinister invincible groundhogs, the impossibility of growing organic apples, why grass walkways aren't the most practical option, and the ins and outs of using an electric fence against ever-encroaching deer.

Paths of Desire by Dominique Browning has a serious side, filled as it is with the fragile emotions of a woman putting her life back together after a divorce. Browning ignored her garden for five years after her husband left, but slowly began to reawaken to the pleasures of gardening and life. Adventures with skunks, reluctant children helpers, and collapsing support walls go well with her musings on the relationship between emotional health and the state of her garden. And I like her quirkiness, such as when she refers to her on-again off-again boyfriend as The True Love, and rants about the neighbor's very large plastic slide looming over her garden, one of many perils inherent in suburban gardening.

And my favorite read in this batch is definitely Gardening at Ginger by James Raimes. I am partial to English gardens anyway, and Raimes grew up in England amidst his aunts' gorgeous gardens. When he and his wife buy a 9-acre country 'estate', he busies himself with turning the entire grounds, woods, meadows, perennial gardens and lawn into a unified garden, complete with sitting areas in the best viewing spots. Raimes also talks about his explorations into the natural world and how these connect to his love for gardening. Since finishing this book, I've found myself paying more attention not only to perennials but also to the grass and trees in my back yard.

Posted by Amy at 08:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Posted by Martin at 02:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

What could be more thrilling than finally seeing the snow melt, all those little bulbs poking up, and the seed catalogs arriving en masse in the mailbox? Yes--it's time to think about gardening! The Grand Rapids Public Library has many, many books and magazines on gardening, landscaping, and also cooking with fresh produce!

When can we plant what in Michigan? Find out at the Old Farmer's Almanac site

You may have suspected what studies have finally revealed as fact: that much of our food has a reduced nutritional value, as well as a loss of flavor. Part of the reason for this may be that varieties are grown for shipping and long shelf life rather than taste. What to do?!

A co-worker recently told me that her best friend was hospitalized for several days because of a cat bite. Of course my initial thought was that the cat was feral and perhaps the lady who was bitten had attempted a rescue. But as the co-worker continued her story I found that wasn't the case at all. Her friend had tried to trim Ollie's (see photo) toe nails, which he obviously didn't like, so he bit her -- hard. The wound required stitches and within a few days the bite was infected and the friend was hospitalized.

I must confess that as a cat lover and long time cat owner, I simply was not aware of the risks one takes when bitten or scratched by a cat. So being the curious librarian-type that I am, I investigated and discovered Cat Scratch Fever. My initial thought was, "why does this sound familiar?" Ha, then a memory of broken beer bottles and loud music made me realize it was because I associate the phrase with Ted Nugent (recordings here) and not cute furry creatures.

My research revealed that cat bites and scratches can cause bacterial infections in humans which result in what's known as Cat Scratch Disease. While most minor cat scratches will heal without medical treatment, it's best to self monitor for possible infection. Common symptoms include a fever, headache, and enlarged lymph nodes. If these symptoms occur seek medical attention immediately.

Oh, and if you're wondering what happened to the friend and the cat, they're both fine.

Posted by Angela at 09:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Teens often get a bad rap. People accuse them of being lazy and loud. Many people, including many people who work in libraries, cringe when a group of teens walk in because they're afraid the teens will cause trouble. However, teens are not so scary. In fact, they are reading now more than ever. And they are not just reading lighter fare like Sweet Valley High. I have spoken to some teens who share my love for The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. A Holocaust novel narrated by death can certainly not be called "light reading." The National Book Award winner for youth, The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing by MT Anderson takes place during the Revolutionary War and is written in such language. And teens are reading and loving it! I've read it, enjoyed it, and acknowledge it is a challenging but worthwhile read. So, next time you see a group of teens walk in, don't cringe. Think up a way to approach them, and show them a good book.

Posted by Mary at 05:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

When my dad traveled he would often bring back acorns and plant them. He'd also move tiny seedlings around to a more auspicious location on his wooded lot. For me, nothing beats walking up and down the rows of seedling trees at the nurseries, trying to find an unusual species to plant. A sourwood, a bur oak, a sassafras, maybe an ironwood. It's just hard to beat the fun of planting trees, especially since Michigan has so many native varieties.

I plant a tree when a relative has passed away. I'll look at it years later and think "grandma's oak is quite large." Many people plant trees when someone is born, on anniversaries, or holidays such as Mother's Day.

In 1872, J. Sterling Morton proposed that a special day be set aside for the planting of trees. Started in Nebraska, now every state has its own date for Arbor Day. In Michigan, Arbor Day is observed on the last Friday in April, which will be April 27th this year.

GRPL has many books on all aspects of trees and their care. And here are a few good sites about trees that include planting instructions:
www.treesaregood.com
www.bestgardening.com
www.woodtv.com

After all, what could be more satisfying than sitting in the shade of a tree that you planted yourself!

Posted by Lisa at 11:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Every so often I decide I need to be more in touch with mainstream music. To accomplish this, I've been listening to the radio. This personal assignment has forced me to realize some things. First is that it's time to hear more from those (sarcasm alert!) talented Hanson brothers. Oh, that Mmmbop was a catchy tune. But, on a more serious note, I've learned that I don't much like the new music on the radio. Well, with one exception: Justin Timberlake. Yes, the music of JT speaks to me. Judge me as you must; I completely understand.

My grumpiness over the current state of the radio waves makes me think of my dear father. He is stuck firmly in the music culture of his teen years. He listens to 70's rock, Zeppelin, The Stones, The Who, etc. Now, I want to make it clear this is not me, and it will never be me. I'm not stuck in the era of my youth. I listen to plenty of new music, and my tastes are continually shifting. The simple fact is, I do not like most of the new music on the radio.

This leads me to my third realization of my week long foray into mainstream pop culture: I am very thankful for the library's music collection. It's my music salvation - my haven, if you will.

While the music collection at the library rocks, (pun fully intended) often one needs to plan ahead to get the music she actually wants. This means holds need to be placed. If placing holds is new to you, check out these instructions on our website.

So, now to decide what suits one's fancy today. If you are looking to brush up on your 80's music, I'd recommend the following:

You might find yourself thinking, “Isn't spring on the 21st?” Sometimes it is-- and sometimes it's on the 20th, because spring starts the moment at which the sun passes through the vernal equinox, marking its beginning in the Northern Hemisphere.

Spring is and has been celebrated in many ways by many different cultures and religions. The BBC has a nice site with spring related information.

There's a reason that people look forward to spring cleaning, it just feels great to open the windows, shake out the rugs, and get going on cleaning those walls on a nice sunny day. GRPL has many books on spring cleaning, or any type of cleaning and organizing.

Posted by Lisa at 06:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Today is Act Happy Day! Founded by Dr. Dale Anderson as a way for people to "unlock a cellular pharmacy and enable one to become high on life." Much research has been done to support Dr. Anderson's belief.

Recent studies into the emotion of laughter have shown that it releases chemicals in the body which support good health. A daily dose of hardy laughter can be good for stress-relief and digestion. Some holistic doctors even recommend it for therapy.

An NPR story reports that the Pentagon is training military families to use laughter as a health aid.

So smile, have a hardy laugh, and a great Be Happy Day!

Posted by Angela at 09:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

By now you've probably heard about the many ways in which meditation benefits the body and mind. Well, here's another reason to add meditation to your disease fighting arsenal.

A recent study from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine pondered the question: Can the leading cause of death in the US, congestive heart failure, be treated with Transcendental Meditation (TM)? The answer to this question was “yes” according to Dr. Ravishankar Jayadevappa, lead researcher in the study. This result was consistent with the results of previous independent research, which demonstrated that TM reduces factors often attributed to heart failure, like high blood pressure, stress, atherosclerosis, and heart enlargement. The study concludes that TM most likely reduces the sympathetic nervous system activation often associated with high amounts of stress.

Although TM was used in this particular study, any general meditation is good for health maintenance.

Posted by Angela at 08:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

If you're an Internet junkie maybe you spend more time online than in front of the television. That's not to say you don't watch televised shows -- you just don't watch them on TV. And with the proliferation of online sitcoms, news casts (Rocketboom), and dramas who can blame you. No studio executive is gonna tell you what to watch!

So, have you thought about displaying your talent by making your own movie or show for others to enjoy? Don't let other amature film makers have all of the fun? Get involved! Who knows, you could be the next writer or producer of a web show that makes the transistion to commercial television. Don't hesitate, get yourself started:

Check these popular sites for ideas and inspiration:
TikiBar TV
Blip TV
Brightcove.com

And we recommend these tools to help you do your thing:
35 Video Podcasting Careers
Video Podcasting
Writing the Script

Posted by Angela at 08:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

What does the month of July, an unnatural way to give birth, a yummy cheesy salad, and a Kaiser roll all have in common? They are all named after history's most famous dictator, Julius Caesar.

March 15 (the Ides, the middle of a month) marks the 1,963rd anniversary of Caesar's fabled assassination in the portico of the Theater of Pompey in Rome. Being stabbed 23 times by rivals within the standing political structure would commonly lead to the trivialization of any leader's accomplishments, yet Caesar's legacy was forever entrenched within the Western Tradition when his successor and adopted son Octavian (known as Augustus Caesar) transformed the mighty Roman Republic by becoming its first emperor.

While many have been taught that Caesar's assassination was the result of a group of liberal conspirators combating an ambitious leader's declaration of dictatorship, current studies speculate that Caesar had actually manipulated his political enemies by driving them to want to kill him that fateful day. Why this extreme act of masochism you may ask? Because new evidence suggests that Caesar was slowly becoming debilitated by epilepsy. In a society where disabilities were condemned, Caesar knew that the only way to ensure his eternal fame was to be a martyr for his cause. He had planned for Rome's imperial future without him by grooming a young Octavian for the position he would later hold for forty-one years.

It seems to me that some individuals are so sly that their motives can be hidden from historians for millennia, while their legacies are concurrently lauded in texts and classrooms.

Posted by Matt at 08:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In celebration of Teen Tech Week, Yankee Clipper held their third Dance Dance Revolution program. And it may have been the most successful yet! Twelve great dancers came out to strut their stuff. This time around, everyone had some great treats and "won" a bag full of goodies that included books.

The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association, created Teen Tech Week to promote teen use of media technology. Because teens use so much media YALSA wanted to demonstrate how important technology is to today's youth.

Posted by Mary at 02:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

You may be feeling a bit snowed under here in Grand Rapids but it's still not too early to plan a great summer vacation. In fact, if you want to get away between the months of June and August, when most families take vacations, it may already be too late to vie for the best accommodation choices. If you haven't made plans, or you'd like to add a long weekend here and there, here are some ideas to get you started.

First, check out this unusual travel site. You'll discover something old -- like the Grand Canyon -- with a new twist -- a 4,000 feet skywalk over the Colorado River.

Second, take a look at National Geographic Traveler's classic travel books list. These books are less about planning a trip and more about how to enjoy it, as told through the eyes of travelers who've written about the places they've been to. Some of the titles are fun and simply beg to be read, like Cold Beer and Crocodiles (a 10,000 mile bicycle journey across Australia).

Six New Things will provide you with refreshing new get-away ideas and National Geographic Traveler will help you experience the sights, sounds, and smells of other cultures -- even those in the U.S. And if you need more information about where you're going, browse our extensive collection of travel books. You'll be able to find out more about your destination, or find a book to read for the pleasure of feeling like you're already there.

Posted by Angela at 04:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

You can now search our online catalog to see if we carry your favorite magazines. This new feature was recently added to the LakeNet catalog search options, and shows holdings for all GRPL locations.

Want some practice using this new feature? Check out the results of the American Council on Science and Health study, which recently reported that popular consumer magazines like Parents, Good Housekeeping, and Prevention provide more reliable health care information than some magazines that specialize in health topics.

Magazines included in the ACSH study are rated in four categories from excellent to poor. Titles which received the highest accuracy ratings were Consumer Reports, Glamour, Ladies' Home Journal, and Shape -- all of which are available at GRPL. You can download the report from the ACSH site and then check the list against the GRPL catalog.

Remember, magazines cannot be checked out at the main library, only at branches.

Posted by Angela at 05:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Every year when the Academy Award nominees are announced patron requests for the movies skyrocket. The waiting list for a single title can be as high as 200 names. If your name is on a waiting list or you simply don't want to wait, there's an alternative way to be entertained with good films -- Sundance film shorts.

The Sundance Film Festival takes place each year in Park City, Utah and is popular for its quality independent films. This year there were 4,000 film submissions but the venue only hosted 71 films -- 44 of which can be watched free online (not sure how long this is gonna last). Three well-received titles were:
Cubs, a story about teen gangs in London
Death to the Tinman, an adaption based on the Tinman from the Wizard of Oz
Der Ostwind, about a German WW1 flying ace.

And if that's not enough to keep you busy, here's a link to previous Oscar winning films and books on the subject:
Academy Award winners
Oscar books
Oscar night : 75 years of Hollywood parties from the editors of Vanity Fair
The Complete Book of Oscar Fashion: variety's: 75 years of glamour on the red carpet

Posted by Angela at 11:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

As the interest in small and prefab homes expands, so does the creativity of home designers. Australian Architect Jean-mic Perrine has designed the Perrinepod, a modular house without joints or sharp corners that can be stacked up to 30 stories high.

Individual pod units are designed to accommodate up to three bedrooms. Wiring and plumbing are built in so utilities can be hooked up just like a traditional home. The Perrinepod is made from polished concrete, aluminum and glass and the concrete can be colored any natural pigment.

Currently the Perrinepod is designed and manufactured in Perth, but as more customers express interest it will become available internationally.

Posted by Angela at 09:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

We had 77 eager attendees at last night's "Meet a Monster" storytime at the Main Library. Mike and Sully, stars of Monsters, Inc., were on hand to help the kids make monster masks and learn how to walk on monster feet.

They were in town as part of Disney On Ice Presents Monsters, Inc., which starts tonight (March 1) at the Van Andel Arena, and runs through March 4. We read the Disney book from the movie, Monsters Inc, and enjoyed cookies and milk afterward.

For more info on the Disney on Ice show, check out the the Van Andel Arena website.

And check out these pictures of the kids having some fun!

Posted by Martin at 11:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Close your eyes and inhale deeply through your nose. Ah yes, there you go. Can you smell it (come on, I know you can) -- rain, green, earth...Spring!! Ok, now open your eyes. Ouch!! It doesn't quite look like Spring yet, but I know it is coming. I took a walk at lunch today and saw some flowers (ok, green stalks) poking their little heads out of the earth and snow. And there was a little girl in the library today with a pretty green flowered shirt and multicolored skirt (a woodland fairy displaying her message of spring).

To get yourself in the spirit, take a look at Martha Stewart Living March issue. It's all about gardening. And watch the film Enchanted April. The movie starts in dreary rainy London and "reawakens" in sunny Italy. Perhaps if I close my eyes for a few moments, sunny skies, flowers and yards of color will appear when I open them.

Posted by Kelly at 08:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)