So, all we Harry Potter fans were so excited for November to roll around. I mean, if the cold weather is going to blow in, a good movie might as well come in with it. But then the movie studio goes and drops the bombshell announcement that it's postponing the release date until JULY! AND it's not even because it's still in production. No, they're in post production. The reason is so it can be released for the "big summer movie season." Do they not realize holiday releases and movie seasons are pretty large, too? I suppose the "good news" for some fans is that the Twilight movie, based on the book of the same name, is being released in December (and rumors have it being released on the original HP date). But, really, I'm not sure if they compare. (Link)

Posted by Mary at 05:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The library subscribes to hundreds of newspapers from around the country -- which certainly makes for interesting reading. Last week I was looking through the "want ads" in a daily newspaper of another city and came across what I think is an interesting job description. I've listed the functions of the position below. (The company and product names have been removed.)

Essential Job Functions:

• Create an environment of outgoing, personal, theatrical cheese retailing.
• Provide interactive guidance of cheese merchandising through proactive selling and superior product knowledge.
• Ensure an entertaining and educational experience to meet operating objectives and sales goals.
• Ensure an environment that looks and feels like XXX cheese boutique.
• Maintain knowledgeable, efficient, friendly staff fully trained in XXX operations and products.
• Ensure all XXX and XXX policies, boutique operating standards, and procedures are communicated effectively, maintained, and followed at all times.
• Organize work throughout the boutique in a manner that facilitates great customer service and education, as well as a profitable operation.
• Ensure that all cheese shoppers follow health, safety and sanitation guidelines for all products.

Yes, this is the actual ad, and the position is with a company which employees more than 300,000 people. Cheese retail: theatrical, entertaining, interactive, and educational. Who knew?

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

Spring has finally sprung in Grand Rapids! According to our local meteorologists it is probably safe to plant almost anything now. The last frost date in Grand Rapids is usually somewhere between May 10th and May 17th, and if we were to have a frost warning, a light covering of straw or a cloche would save a tender plant. Our latest frost date on record was June 4th, back in 1945, but I still feel confident enough to have put in some pansies, petunias, herbs, and geraniums.

After the initial fun of picking out plants at the gardening centers, I find I get tired of all the actual work, and I really don't like wasting a lot of water spending time with the garden hose. The solution: very tough perennials, good organic soil, and lots of mulch. After that, it's pretty much the survival of the fittest. Old time daylilies, peonies, daffodils, coneflowers, Siberian iris, poppies --- There's a lot of beautiful flowers that are almost indestructible. Just try to dig up an old peony or Siberian iris clump and see who gives up first! Gardeners love to trade or give away their perennials when they need to divide them, so by trading with friends or joining a gardening club, it could also be a very thrifty hobby.

Of course, many people PRIDE themselves on being able to coax and nourish the fussiest, hardest to grow plants. Growing interesting, exotic, or heirloom types gives one a more challenging task, with perhaps a sense of greater accomplishment.

The Grand Rapids Public Library has an extensive gardening collection! We have titles on vegetable, flower, bird, butterfly, container, herb, water, wildlife, native plant, organic, shade and patio gardening, among others. Check the online catalog or browse the shelves and if you don’t see what you need, just ask - we may be able to order it for you. Gardening and landscaping titles are generally in the 635s or the 712s.

For even more inspiration, visit GRPLpedia, our wiki. It's loaded with gardening links.

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

It's almost time to celebrate Earth Week here at GRPL! To celebrate, I thought I'd pass along an interesting link I came across in this month's issue of Readymade (website). It's called How Can I Recycle This? The items in question can range from the expected, like yogurt containers and kitty litter containers to the odd, like plaster casts of feet. The site is fun and inspiring to look through. It's definitely being added to my bloglines. Of course, this isn't a free ticket to buy all the junk you want. Conscious consumption is still key.

Also check out our wiki page on Environment and Sustainability. There are some really terrific links under Community Resources as well as Web Resources.

Don't forget to come down to the main library to check out tomorrow's events:

• Indoor Farmer's Market and Film Festival

  Saturday, April 19
  1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
  Level 3

  A showcase of West Michigan Co-op members will be on hand to sell their goods. Shop for local meats, cheese, vegetables, fruits, soap, syrup and more! While you are here, stop by the auditorium to watch films about the impact of large factory farms on small, family-owned farms and the environments.

• Film schedule:

  1:15 pm As We Sow
  2:00 pm Through Farmers' Eyes: Impacts of Industrial Agriculture
  2:35 pm The True Cost of Food
  3:00 pm The Future of Food

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

Stephen's Lighthouse a blog that shares all sorts of technology innovations and outlook statistics has created a long list of predictions for libraries in 2008. Check them out here and let us know what you think.

Posted by Martin at 02:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Nine years ago when we were thinking about adding a new dog to the family, we wanted to get a mixed breed dog -- hoping to avoid many of the horrific health and behavior problems in many of the purebreds. At that time, bookstores carried very few, if any, books on mutts or shelter dogs. I asked one clerk at our largest bookstore where they were and she checked and couldn't find any either. “I guess people only want to buy books about dog breeds” she mused.

Well -- a lot has changed in nine years! Our library has always had a sufficient collection of materials on “adopted dogs,” or “shelter dogs” or “rescue dogs,” but now we have tons of them, as does every bookstore in town.

Mutts are in! The mystery mixed dog is cool! Hollywood has taken them to heart, and many additional public and private rescue missions feature these wonderful mixes.

So, if you are carefully considering adopting a dog this spring, you're in luck -- there are plenty available! Dog rescue groups abound in our area. Find your special someone online at Petfinder.com.

Adopting a dog older than nine months rather than a puppy has many advantages. For example, what you see is what you get to an extent: size, health, temperament -- these things are apparent in an animal who has reached pretty much 90% of his grown size. We adopted a 6-week-old “beagle mix” 9 years ago who grew more into a Rottweiler or boxer mix at his lean 92 pound one year size. Who knew?

Continue reading "New Pet Endeavors" »

Posted by Lisa at 08:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

This past Friday I moved. I was shocked by the sheer volume of stuff I have. Up until now I've been operating under the delusion that I have my participation in consumerism under control. The piles of boxes proved I couldn't have been more wrong.

It seems I've simply exchanged one form of consumption for another. About a year and a half ago I made a commitment to myself that I would not buy anything new that I could otherwise buy used. One could say I've been fairly successful. I thought it would help with my case of affluenza, but I was wrong.

To help me out with this conundrum, I'm doing what I always do -- turning to the library for help. Here are some books I've found:

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

This holiday season I decided to put a cap on all my spending and, in return, I've asked my family and friends not get me anything. I realize that this is a hard concept for most to comprehend. My brother isn't having any of it and being that he lives on the other side of the country, has already shipped my presents with notes on them to not open till Christmas.

In return I purchased him a subscription to Green Dimes. Green Dimes stops junk mail coming to your house and saves tree. I signed up about 6 months ago and have seen a significant decrease in the amount of junk mail to my house. When you spend $15, they do all the work to get you off the largest mailing lists in the country. You can also report who you're getting junk mail from and they will take care of it for you. It really works! Not only do they reduce your junk mail by 90%, but they also plant 10 trees in your name! Right now they are running a special for the service for only $12.

Another great sight that is working hard to help consumers choose products wisely is Story of Stuff. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world.

There is also a great green gift giving guide on Grist.

So as you think about what to buy for your friends and family, remember that everything we buy has an impact on our lives and the environment.

Posted by Kolene at 11:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

So, one of the more popular series of books for quite a few years has been The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman. I loved listening to this book. Not only was the production a BIG production (full cast), it is one of the best written books around.

Well, Hollywood has, of course, made a movie of this first title in the trilogy. And before it is even RATED, there is controversy surrounding it. In this article, people are being encouraged not to take their children based on some misconceptions about the book. It IS heavy material with controversial subject matter, but I wish that those concerned would read the book and/or see the movie before encouraging others to boycott. I realize not every book or movie is for every person, but every person has the right to decide for themselves. If the children are too young, their parents do have every right to forbid them, THEIR OWN CHILDREN, to read or see it. And they should as the books or the movie, I would assume, are for children under 12. (I would even argue the books are for older readers than that) So, it's easy for book lovers to feel passionate about possible censorship. We are extremely interested to hear what YOU all have to say. Also, does someone telling you NOT to read a book or watch a movie make you do as they say or does it peak your curiosity more?

Posted by Mary at 08:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Yep, the library has had bats in it's belfry for many, many years. Since we renovated in 2003 the bats seem to like our Grand Rapids History and Special Collections department best. Just today, one of them didn't make it back to a more protected roost and has spent the day sleeping outside the GRHSC windows. We've named him Martin in honor of our early benefactor.

Of course, bats are an important part of our ecosystem, even in an urban setting. Groups such as the Organization for Bat Conservation provide insight into the role of bats. Their visits have been popular programs at the library and have helped demystify these amazing creatures.

And I know what they'd suggest to us--install a bat house!

Posted by Marla at 01:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Ever wonder about state tax rates? Or where Michigan stands among the other states for sales tax and income tax rates? Well, the FTA (Federation of Tax Administrators) has a very handy site with ranking charts.

Hopefully, Michigan will soon have a new taxation plan, but just in case, don't forget to let your state representatives know how you feel by clicking here and here.

Posted by Lisa at 12:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

If you enjoy the occasional close encounter of the supernatural kind, and are looking for something haunty to do this week -- besides pass out the obligatory candy to little ghosts and goblins -- check out GRPL's collection of haunted books. They're chock full of fun destinations for spooky experiences in Michigan, from haunted houses to lighthouses. There's even several Grand Rapids haunts with history.

A local story I found most interesting is about the house that sat on the site of the old Michigan Bell Building. Homeowner Warren Randall, who lost a leg in a 1908 railroad mishap, is said to have beaten his wife Virginia to death in the house in 1910 with his wooden leg, and then killed himself. Although the house is long gone, rumor has it that both Warren's and Virginia's ghosts still inhibit the current building, and if you listen closely you can hear the thump of Warren's wooden leg as he moves from room to room.

More stories about scary Michigan lore can be found here and here. You may even want to check out the first annual Paranormal Conference.

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