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« January 2008 | Main | March 2008 »
Great news! We now have access to nearly 500 children and young adult titles on NetLibrary's eAudiobooks. You'll find a list of titles by clicking here and browsing the subjects on the right side of the screen (Children's Fiction, Young Adult Fiction, etc.). Happy searching!
When I think of Scotland images of bagpipes, kilts, the loch ness monster, and Scotland Yard (yes, I know it's actually located in London but the name IS connected to Scotland.) come to mind.
More relevant things that come to mind about Scotland are the many things we use daily -- and probably take for granted -- that were invented by the Scots; like the decimal point, street lighting, telephone, television, bridges, lighthouses, and the fax machine. They even gave us basketball and golf? A truly creative bunch of folks those Scots!
To find out what I mean check out these books recently cited in The Wall Street Journal by Alex Salmond, First Minister of Scotland, as "works that reflect the spirit" of his native land.
You'll also find fiction books set in Scotland or written by Scottish authors here. And Scottish book reviews are at Scottish Review of Books.
Whenever I make a new purchase, I want what I'm spending my hard earned cash on to be the best possible product for the cheapest amount of money. To figure this out, I like to start my research with Consumer Reports. Of course, we have paper copies of Consumer Reports on hand at all library branches. But did you know you can also access these articles from the comfort and convenience of your own home? It's true! All you need is the internet and your GRPL library card. Revolutionary, isn't it?
Perhaps you're toying with idea of buying a new digital camera or laptop? Or maybe you are like me and this icy cold weather has you craving a space heater. Regardless, you can find all you need through a little thing called General Reference Center Gold. It's pretty easy to use.
From our webpage, just click on databases, located under the heading reference, and then choose General Reference Center Gold. You'll be prompted to enter your library card number and last name. Now your in! In the top field, enter the product you are looking for. Examples: washer, dryer, laptops, printers*, etc. In the bottom field, next to where it says by publication title type Consumer Reports. Click on the search button. Voila! All of the articles related to your search term come up. You can even see what they looked like in the print magazine by clicking on the PDF version.
Happy product hunting!
*I've noticed that if I do a search with the plural vs. singular, I get better results. Example: printers vs. printer. However, if you want to bypass the whole plural vs. singular mess, turn it into a wildcard search. To do this, put an asterisk after a word it will search all variations of that word after the point where you place the asterisk. If you type in printer* you'll get all the results for printer & printers. If you did print*, you'd get, in addition to the other two, prints printing and any other variation you can think of.
Are you one of those people who loves to look at old photos? Maybe you own some great old photos yourself that you've often wondered if anyone would be interested in seeing? Do you have a report on some aspect of local history due tomorrow? Would you swear that the original D.A. Blodgett Home for Children was torn down years ago and can't figure out how it got back in the same location?
Then you're going to love the Grand Rapids Historical Commission's website. The website went live one year ago with the purpose of serving as a community virtual archive. What's a virtual archive? It's an online archive that contains digital copies of some of GRPL's most prized collections.
If you've ever fantasized about being allowed into the closed stacks of the Grand Rapids Public Library's local history collection, or having a sneak peak at some of Grand Rapids best private collections, this site allows you to do exactly that. You can freely browse and explore some of our, and some of Grand Rapids private citizens', hidden jewels in the way of old photographs and documents.
You can even get a close look with the cool magnifier that you activate with your cursor. Try it. Click on “Photo Essays,” then “Livelihoods,” then select the essay on the earliest Chinese citizens in Grand Rapids. If you click on the fifth photo down you'll see an interesting view of the corner of Pearl and Monroe streets from the 1920s. If you use the magnifying tool, you'll see a few more things come into view including a sign for one of Grand Rapids' centennial businesses just over another for a famous soft drink we still love today, you'll recognize both.
You can also add your own material to this archive, sharing it for all to admire and learn from,without having to give it up. Claim your own place in Grand Rapids' history. Contact information is on the website.
There is yet another challenge to a teen novel. John Green's Looking for Alaska is being called pornographic. A school in Buffalo, NY wants to teach the book in the 11th grade. Teachers and administrators sent a letter home to let parents know, and gave them a choice to opt THEIR children out and give them an alternative title. Well, some parents didn't want ANY students to read the book. Looking for Alaska is a mature read with mature themes; however, the school followed a good procedure.
John Green is a young author who won the Printz Award the first time out with this specific book. He talks very well about this on his blog, Sparks Fly Up. Take a look and if you've read the book let us know what you think.
Slogging through the slush? Wondering if the car ahead of you is going to spin out of control? Tired of the even longer commute as you navigate Michigan roads? Make those "stopped in traffic moments" a little more palatable by bringing along an audio book.
For a little light listening check out The New Yorkers, a somewhat canine tale (no pun intended) about some quirky New York West-Siders and their dog companions.
Or get lucky with the newest Janet Evanovich offering, Plum Lucky. Stephanie Plum is up to new antics in Atlantic City with a gambling granny, a racehorse, and a guy named Diesel.
Want more? Remember Fractured Fairy Tales - the twisted side of happily ever after? They're back, updated and on CD ready to entertain you as wait at the traffic light.
For a little inspiration try A Sense of World: How a Blind Man Became History's Greatest Traveler. After losing his sight at the age of 25, James Holman (1786-1857) went on to experience the world, "hunting slavers in Africa, surviving captivity in Siberia, and hunting elephants in Ceylon." He traveled on his own using a walking stick and learning the language of the countries he visited as he went along.
And finally, if you're still feeling some trepidation out on the highway, there's 30 Days to Taming Your Stress. This should get you through February.
Stay safe and happy driving!
Daughters of Men: Portraits of African-American Women and Their Fathers
by Rachel Vassel
A collection of portraits and essays of successful and fulfilled African-American women, highlighting their relationships with their fathers. The stories are very different, including many types of fathers and their unique ways of being supportive. Many readers commented that they were moved to compose their own personal essays after reading Vassel's inspirational book.
Available now: NEW 306.8742 V447d 2007
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Quiet Strength: A Memoir
by Tony Dungy
Leading his Indianapolis Colts to victory against the Chicago Bears in 2007, Tony became the first African American coach to win a Super Bowl. Born in Jackson, Michigan in 1955, he always excelled at sports, but his most important goals involved his faith and his family, and challenging the current conception of success at any price. Amazon's readers gave it 5 stars, and enjoyed the fact that he really does cover “the principles, practices, and priorities of a winning life”.
Available now: NEW Biography, Dungy, Tony 2007
Reposition Yourself: Living Life Without Limits
by T.D. Jakes
It's clear why T.D. Jakes is one of our most requested authors. His book exhorts us to take action: “If you don't like the way your life is going, redesign it. Redeem the years you lost. Restore your vision, revive your passion for living, and reclaim what was dormant inside of you.” Whether you are a long time fan of Bishop Jakes, or new to his works, if you enjoy scriptural study applied to life you won't want to miss this one.
Available now: NEW 248.4 J211rf 2007
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Condoleezza Rice: An American Life
by Elisabeth Bumiller
Condoleeza Rice was growing up in a segregated Alabama during the turbulent times of the civil rights movement, when Bull Connor was unleashing his police dogs during the nonviolent marches. Her biography traces our recent U.S. history and the Bush administration's policies, as well as her own rise to power as the nation's first black woman secretary of state.
Available now: NEW Biography Rice, Condoleezza 2007
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Unfinished Business: Racial Equality in American History
by Michael J. Klarman
The author is one of the top civil rights legal scholars in the U.S., and he reveals how our legal system has often been a reflection of our history, and sometimes a leader in setting new societal mores.
Available now: NEW 305.896 K665u 2007
In 1983, Argentine performance/installation artist Marta Minujin and her assistants spent 17 days in a public park building a full-scale model of the Greek Parthenon.
Made entirely of books wrapped in plastic and displayed on a scaffold, The Parthenon of Books/Homage to Democracy represented the books that had been banned in Argentina for their controversial content by its military rulers. The country had just held its first democratic election in a decade. The art stood for about three weeks, where upon the public was allowed to dismantle it and keep the books.
You can read The New York Times article about Marta and other Latin American artists here.
I'm more of a fantasy fiction reader rather than science fiction. Of course that doesn't mean I don't read the occasional science fiction book if someone recommends a particular author that they really like. I love to get reading recommendations, especially for authors whose storytelling skills I can appreciate in terms of creativity, plot, and characters. One such author is Ursula K. Le Guin. Le Guin's career has spanned more than 40 years and includes hundreds of titles, for adults and children, which cross several genres.
Here's a quick review of her book Always Coming Home courtesy of the Vancouver Public Library:
Perhaps hearts have been on your mind lately. After all, Valentine's Day is this month and February is American Heart Month. What does that mean for you? If you are a person at risk for heart problems, quite a bit. It could be the month you decide to improve your health. Did you know that heart disease is the leading cause of death of American women as well as men?
Connect with the American Heart Association to learn more about heart health, or check out the wealth of information found on the MedlinePlus site, sponsored by the U.S. Library of Medicine.
Also, check out some of these new titles or browse the “Healthy Heart” display next time you're at the main Grand Rapids Public Library.
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Wondering what your neighbors are reading? Here are the top ten titles on hold for GRPL patrons as of February 1st:
The Appeal by John Grisham
T is for Trespass by Sue Grafton
Double Cross by James Patterson
Plum Lucky Janet Evanovich
Eat, Love, Pray: One woman's search for everything across Italy, India, and Indonesia by Elizabeth Gilbert
Stone Cold by David Baldacci
Book of the Dead by Patricia Cornwell
Playing for Pizza by John Grisham
A Free Life by Ha Jin
The Choiceby Nicholas sparks
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