The Borrowed Word

So long... farewell...

2012-01-10T17:52:00.003-05:00

The Borrowed Word is closing, though I'm sad to see it go. I enjoyed sharing with you about books, the love of reading and the Lititz Library. I'm stepping away from my work here to concentrate on my parenting duties... which have recently doubled! Happy reading to all.

Veteran's Day

2011-11-15T15:29:00.001-05:00

This past Friday was Veteran's Day and for once, I found myself reading a book that perfectly matched the holiday. This title certainly needs no extra publicity from me since it has spent one year and counting on the New York Times bestseller list, but reading Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand (author of Seabiscuit) was one of those rare occasions when a book lives up to and exceeds the hype surrounding it... Read it soon!

Staff Picks: Young Adult Crossover

2011-10-22T18:06:00.000-04:00

The Lititz Library has recently added some tempting fiction and nonfiction for young adults. (By the way, if you ever want to find out what's new for the young adult audience across all of the Lancaster County libraries, use the handy featured list in our catalog here.)

One of the fiction titles that we just purchased is vying for my pick as favorite book I've read this year. A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness is based on a story concept from the late YA writer and activist Siobhan (pronounced Sh-vawn) Dowd. Ness, whose Chaos Walking trilogy received rave reviews, took her seed idea and created a story that is deceivingly simple and nearly universal in appeal. Jim Kay's illustrations are dark and gorgeous, a perfect addition to the narrative.

From the book summary: "Thirteen-year-old Conor awakens one night to find a monster outside his bedroom window, but not the one from the recurring nightmare that began when his mother became ill--an ancient, wild creature that wants him to face truth and loss."

From the New Shelf...

2011-10-04T19:05:00.000-04:00

Just because reduced budgets require us to buy fewer new items doesn't mean there isn't plenty to discover on our adult new book shelf! I'm here every week for work and I almost always find something to borrow that I hadn't seen before. Here are a few I pulled off the new shelf recently:

Nonfiction

I Love Rock 'n' Roll (Except When I Hate It): Extremely Important Stuff about the Songs and Bands You Love, Hate, Love to Hate, and Hate to Love by Brian Boone (781.66 BOO)

~ This is a fun one for rock music fans to flip through - a low commitment, humorous book that makes it easy to pick out and read whatever parts interest you.

Feel-bad Education: and Other Contrarian Essays on Children and Schooling by Alfie Kohn (370.93 COH)
~ A very interesting and controversial book by an author to whom the same adjectives apply. The essay format also makes this title accessible for partial or out-of-order reading.

I Beat the Odds: from Homelessness, to the Blind Side, and
Beyond by Michael Oher, with Don Yaeger (796.332 OHER OHE)

~ Michael Oher finally tells his own story in his own words. As a foster parent myself, I was eager to learn from his perspective on the challenges of his childhood (before his adoption and NFL fame).

Fiction
Maine by J. Courtney Sullivan

(FIC SULLIV J)
~ The New England setting and the dysfunctional family dynamics drew me to this novel by Commencement author Sullivan. I liked it even more than I thought I would and was sorry to see the story end.

What's New?

2011-09-13T15:51:00.002-04:00

The Borrowed Word has been absent all summer. I hope you found some great summer reads on your own, or through word of mouth. Why no blog posts the last few months? I experienced several changes since my last post, including an addition to my family and reduced hours here at the Lititz Library. Despite my busy schedule, guilty feelings about not getting back to the blog have been piling up!

While we're talking about what's new... did you know that you can check our website for new library items? Check here periodically for fiction, non-fiction and DVDs.

In my absence, I did somehow find time for reading. Most librarians will find a sliver of time somewhere in their day to read and I'm no exception. Does reading on my smart phone count? I hope so.

After borrowing it twice, I was able to complete Butterfly's Child, which I mentioned in this post. Since I enjoyed it, I also read Plum Wine and Felice by the same author. I liked Butterfly's Child the best; Plum Wine's Japanese setting kept me interested, but Felice was not a favorite. More recently, I read Close Your Eyes by Amanda Eyre Ward, a short novel that was an easy and mildly suspenseful read. I had read some of Ward's work in the past, including her solid short story collection, Love Stories in this Town.

So there's a few fiction titles I've squeezed in since I last wrote... what have you been reading? I would love to hear your recommendations.

Three New Poetry Titles

2011-05-17T15:27:00.006-04:00

Here are some recent arrivals for you poetry-lovers:

She Walks in Beauty: A Woman's Journey through Poems
selected and introduced by Caroline Kennedy
(808.81 SHE)
A collection of poems that speak to the many stages of a women's life, chosen by Caroline Kennedy.

Horoscopes for the Dead: Poems by Billy Collins
(811.54 COL)
The newest collection by popular American poet Billy Collins, former Poet Laureate of the United States.

Beautiful & Pointless: A Guide to Modern Poetry by David Orr
(808.1 ORR)
An non-intimidating introduction to modern poetry from the New York Times Book Review poetry columnist.

Exploring Fiction about Japan

2011-04-25T13:44:00.010-04:00

In March, I had the opportunity to visit Japan for the first time. I fell in love with the country, the language and (some) of the food and drink. Here are five novels connected to Japan - some have Japanese authors, some are set in Japan and some simply have Japanese characters.

Color of the Sea
by John Hamamura
I read this one a couple of years ago, but I remember enjoying the book's sweep of Japanese, American and Hawaiian culture in the World War II era. According to his bio, the author's father "was a GI Japanese language instructor. His mother's family was behind barbed wire at a camp in southern Arkansas. His father's mother and siblings lived in Hiroshima; two of them survived the atomic bomb."

The Samurai's Garden by Gail Tsukiyama
I read this book just after returning from Japan and it was the perfect fit. This is a gentle and very Japanese story set in the 1930's about a young Chinese man, Stephen, who forms a close bond with the Japanese man who takes care of Stephen's family's seaside vacation home in Japan. The author was born in the U. S. to a Chinese mother and Japanese father.

The Street of a Thousand Blossoms by Gail Tsukiyama
This is the book I'm currently reading and I'm enjoying it almost as much as The Samurai's Garden. It is another story by Tsukiyama set in Japan, this time in the World War II era. The plot focuses on two very different brothers who are being raised by their loving grandparents and whose lives are strongly affected by the war.

Butterfly's Child
by Angela Davis-Gardner
I just borrowed this one from our new book shelf. I hope it will be a good read! The author wrote another novel about the east, Plum Wine, in 2006 that garnered good reviews. The plot of this new book is supposed to pick up where the opera Madame Butterfly ended.

There are also a couple of novels connected to Japan that I still want to read. Two of them are:
The Lake by Banana Yoshimoto - A new release from a highly regarded Japanese writer.
Plum Wine by Angela Davis-Gardner - The book mentioned above by the author of Butterfly's Child.

Two New Books about the Music Industry...

2011-04-25T13:38:00.001-04:00

Aspiring songwriters and performers take note. Borrow the book Make Your Music Video and Put It Online by Robert Safir to learn how to produce high quality videos. Then, before you put your video online, don’t miss What they’ll Never Tell You about the Music Business by Peter M. Thall. Learn how the Internet has affected every aspect of the music business and maximize your chances of long-term success. These books were purchased through an LSTA grant.

Interested in Jewelry Making?

2011-04-19T15:54:00.002-04:00

You can make stunning, personalized jewelry with help from the Lititz Library. Creating Wire and Beaded Jewelry is a DVD that presents twelve techniques for making beaded jewelry that fits your style. Or try Create Colorful Aluminum Jewelry by Helen Harle and use common scrapbooking punches to create lightweight jewelry from recycled aluminum cans. These resources were purchased through an LSTA grant.

New Travel Titles

2011-04-12T15:18:00.002-04:00

Are you interested in traveling to the extremes? To Hellholes and Back delivers hilarious stories and surprising observations about the world’s most radical destinations. Weird Pennsylvania by Matt Lake shares the state’s roadside oddities, ancient mysteries, ghosts and other best kept secrets. Author Andrew Bain guides readers on A Year of Adventure to more than 200 extraordinary experiences in 115 countries. These books were purchased through an LSTA grant.

More New Nonfiction Selections...

2011-04-11T13:51:00.003-04:00

You know what you’re getting when you borrow a "Complete Idiot's" book. Novices of the world rejoice! These recently added books – purchased through an LSTA grant - are available to borrow from the Lititz Public Library: Complete Idiot’s Guide to Facebook, Complete Idiot’s Guide to Geocaching, Complete Idiot’s Guide to iPad and iPhone App Development, and Complete Idiot’s Guide to Making Natural Beauty Products.

New Books for a New Year.... on Fitness Activities

2011-01-25T18:43:00.005-05:00

Get ready for every race thanks to advice, insights and instructions from renowned cycling coach Robert Panzera’s book, Cycling Fast. Learn how to choose the right race for your skills and experience, master competitive tactics and prepare your body for training, racing and recovery.

Cycling Fast was purchased with grant funds provided through the Library Services and Technology Act. Other books purchased through this grant include Cross Country Running by Jeff Galloway, Rock Climbing from the Wilderness Education Association and Knack Hiking and Backpacking by Buck Tilton.

New Books for a New Year... on Animation

2011-01-18T15:23:00.004-05:00

Have you always dreamed of creating and producing a successful animated series for television? Help is on the way! Joe Murray, the Emmy Award-winning creator of Rocko’s Modern Life and Camp Lazlo, has written Creating Animated Cartoons with Character: A Guide to Developing and Producing Your Own Series for TV, the Web and Short Film, a book designed to help you explore your own creative visions while navigating the realities of producing a commercial cartoon.

Creating Animated Cartoons with Character was purchased with grant funds provided through the Library Services and Technology Act. Other books purchased through this grant include Character Animation Crash Course! by Eric Goldbert, Animation Unleashed: 100 Principles Every Animator, Comic Book Writer, Filmmaker, Video Artist and Game Developer Should Know by Ellen Besen and The Animators Survival Kit by Richard Williams.

New Books for a New Year... on Fantasy Sports Teams

2011-01-11T15:30:00.002-05:00

Pssstt…want to be a consistent fantasy sports team owner? We’ve got step-by-step instructions to make you a winner. Borrow Fantasy Football Tips: 201 Ways to Win Through Player Rankings, Cheat Sheets and Better Drafting by Sam Hendricks or Fantasy Baseball Strategy: Advanced Methods for Winning Your League by Henry Lee. They’re your tickets to the championship!

Fantasy Football Tips and Fantasy Baseball Strategy were purchased with grant funds provided through the Library Services and Technology Act.

New Books for a New Year... on Knitting

2011-01-04T15:19:00.003-05:00

Knitters who crave instant gratification can view the results of their handiwork in less than a week with designs from The Knitter’s Year: 52 Make-in-a-Week Projects by Debbie Bliss. Designs are organized by the season of the year and include springtime fingerless gloves, a string bag for summer, a back-to-school iPod cover and ideas for Christmas gifts.

The Knitter’s Year was purchased with grant funds provided through the Library Services and Technology Act. Other books purchased through this grant include Brave New Knits: 26 Projects and Personalities from the Knitting Blogosphere by Julie Turjoman, Vampire Knits: Projects to Keep You Knitting from Twilight to Dawn by Genevieve Miller and Knitting Green: Conversations and Planet-Friendly Projects by Ann Budd.

Read-a-likes

2010-12-21T15:37:00.002-05:00

One of the most frequently asked questions at the library is for help finding books or authors that are similar to books and authors that people already like. Our Special Services Coordinator, Linda Skelly, has put together a large collection of these "read-a-likes" for many of our most popular authors.

The list is located in a binder on the "Westerns" bookshelf where we keep the other "New Books" binders. It is set up alphabetically by author's name and follows with recommendations for similar authors. For example, if you like John Grisham and are looking for a similar author, you can look up his last name to find some hand-picked recommendations.

The list is also available on our website here. We give a big thanks to Linda for creating such a valuable resource!

Staff Pick: fiction

2010-12-14T15:47:00.005-05:00

Here's a novel that I discovered by chance on our library shelves...

Asta in the Wings
by Jan Elizabeth Watson
It is described as "the moving and often darkly funny story of Asta Hewitt, a resourceful seven-year-old and intrepid narrator growing up in an isolated house in Bond Brook, Maine. Shut off from the outside world and restricted to the company of a delusional mother and a bookish older brother, Asta is content to be part of a "society of three" constructing dramatic and fanciful worlds of their own. When circumstances push her into a strange outside world — with all of its discontents — Asta must find a way to assimilate while remaining true to herself and her fractured family."

I greatly enjoyed this book. Asta's older brother was my favorite character. Too bad there aren't any other titles by this author in the library catalog.

Hobby Books Galore

2010-12-07T15:42:00.012-05:00

Many of the books purchased with the grant money I mentioned here have arrived! They are fascinating to page through (which I couldn't resist doing as I shelved a few of them yesterday) and they are already popular with borrowers.

Here are a few of the new additions to our collection:

The Parkour and Freerunning Handbook
by Dan Edwardes

Make Your Music Video and Put It Online
by Robert Safir

Rule-Breaking Quilts
by Kathryn Schmidt

Appreciating Dance : a Guide to the World's Liveliest Art
by Harriet R. Lihs

Ceramics for Beginners : Hand Building
by Shay Amber

Waxing Philosophical on the Last Day before the Last Month

2010-11-30T15:42:00.004-05:00

The last day of November is here and 2010 has only one month left. As with many years, the books that I've read in 2010 have influenced me, some strongly and some in more subtle ways. Our public libraries play such a valuable role in our communities because they provide this opportunity for personal enrichment and education to everyone.

Yesterday, I had two separate customers tell me that the Lititz Library is one of their favorite places and today, another person expressed how much they appreciate all of the material available to them throughout the whole Lancaster County Library System.

We can probably all agree that it has been a challenging year financially, both for nonprofit organizations like libraries and for individual families. I know that my intellectual life and my entertainment choices have been much fuller because of my library card!

Legal Suspense

2010-11-16T15:38:00.002-05:00

We currently have legal suspense novels displayed on one of the low tables facing the front doors. If you're a fan of this genre, pick up one of the brochures listing titles that we own here at the Lititz Library. Stories about crime, punishment and the pursuit of justice have long been popular reading!

The Book Thief

2010-11-09T15:30:00.003-05:00

The One Book, One Community campaign is winding down for this year. I was a little behind this time around and only finished The Book Thief in October. If you read The Book Thief, what did you think? I haven't heard much feedback during my shifts at the front desk, but our copies of the book have been checked out for most of the fall. I'm glad that I did read this title, especially after hearing about it for so long, but it took me some time to connect with the story and its characters.

New Hobby Collection

2010-11-02T15:45:00.002-04:00

Our director recently applied for and received a Library Services and Technology Act Grant to purchase books and media on hobby “how-to” books/DVDs that may be of special interest of young adults! Susan surveyed patrons aged 17 to 23 to help choose the materials. These items may be reserved and placed on hold at any library in Lancaster County.

Hobbies covered in the first group of books added to the collection include:
Animation and cartooning
Candle making
Climbing
Photography and movie-making
Fashion, modeling and style
Fishing and hunting
Geocaching
Martial arts
Sewing
Scrapbooking and altered books
Skateboarding

Staff Picks: Nonfiction

2010-10-19T19:14:00.007-04:00

Here are three books that come highly recommended from my co-worker, Luci, a fellow nonfiction reader:

Hellhound on His Trail : the Stalking of Martin Luther King, Jr., and the International Hunt for His Assassin
by Hampton Sides (364.1524 SID)
Relates the story of James Earl Ray's pursuit of Martin Luther King, Jr., across the country until finally killing the civil rights leader in Memphis and describes the ensuing international manhunt for Ray against the backdrop of the nationwide riots that followed the assassination.

Marcus of Umbria : What an Italian Dog Taught an American Girl about Love
by Justine van der Leun (B VANDER JUSTIN VANDER)
Traces the author's life after an impulsive move to Italy with a handsome gardener she met on vacation, a short-lived romance after which she rescued an abandoned dog and discovered the cultural richness of the Italian countryside.

Shaking the Family Tree : Blue Bloods, Black Sheep, and Other Obsessions of an Accidental Genealogist
by Buzzy Jackson (929.1072073 JAC)
Who are you and where do you come from? As a historian, Buzzy Jackson thought she knew the answers to these simple questions—that is, until she took a look at her scrawny family tree. With a name like Jackson, she knew she must have more relatives and more family history out there, somewhere. Her first visit to the Boulder Genealogy Society brought her more questions than answers . . . but it also gave her a tantalizing peek into the fascinating (and enormous) community of family-tree huggers and after-hours Alex Haleys.

Thank you for sharing these great reads with us, Luci!

Books I've read lately...

2010-10-12T18:53:00.014-04:00

A very busy summer is over, and - it's so hard to believe - Halloween is now approaching. In the midst of everything, I still managed to do some reading. Here a few of the titles I recently enjoyed:

Burmese Lessons: a True Love Story
by Karen Connelly
(915.91 CON)
Orange Prize–winner Karen Connelly’s compelling memoir about her journey to Burma, where she fell in love with a leader of the Burmese rebel army.

Mennonite in a Little Black Dress: a Memoir of Going Home
by Rhoda Janzen
(B JANZEN RHODA JANZEN)
A hilarious and moving memoir--in the spirit of Anne Lamott and Nora Ephron--about a woman who returns home to her close-knit Mennonite family after a personal crisis.

Yellow Dirt: an American Story of a Poisoned Land and a People Betrayed
by Judy Pasternak
(970.5 PAS)
Award-winning reporter Judy Pasternak tells the haunting story of uranium mining on the Navajo desert and its terrible, long-ignored legacy.

I would love to hear what books were 'winners' for you in the last few months!

Another look at the Band of Brothers

2010-08-06T15:05:00.003-04:00

Fans of World War II history or of Stephen Ambrose's Band of Brothers may remember local author Larry Alexander's bestselling book from 2006, Biggest Brother. Alexander recently had another book about Easy Company published and he will be coming back to the Lititz Library to present a slide-illustrated talk about his latest, In the Footsteps of the Band of Brothers: A Return to Easy Company's Battlefields with Sgt. Forrest Guth. Part travelogue, part historical perspective, Alexander returns to the battlefields that made Easy Company (led by Major Richard D. Winters) a legend.

Larry Alexander's talk will be in the library Community Room August 19 at 7 PM and he will sign copies of the book after the presentation.

Staff pick: new fiction

2010-07-23T14:40:00.006-04:00

Two of our staff members really enjoyed this book...

A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan (FIC EGAN J)
From the book's summary: "Bennie Salazar, an aging former punk rocker and record executive, and Sasha, the passionate, troubled young woman he employs confront their pasts in this powerful story about how rebellion ages, influence corrupts, habits turn to addictions, lifelong friendships fluctuate and turn, and how art and music have the power to redeem." This title, which earned a starred review in Booklist, is currently on our new book shelf. Don't forget to check our catalog to see if it is available or to put it on reserve.

Summer Reading continued...

2010-06-18T15:47:00.003-04:00

I readily admit that I am not the expert among the staff when it comes to children's books, but there was one title that came to my mind right away after writing my last post about watery-themed adult fiction. One of my favorite picture books just so happens to revolve around a camera and a very large body of water - the ocean:

Flotsam by David Wiesner
Winner of the Caldecott Medal in 2007
"The story of what happens when a camera becomes a piece of flotsam."

This is a gorgeous wordless book that fascinates adults and children alike!

Summer Reading is Here!

2010-06-11T15:07:00.016-04:00

Wow, it's that time of year again... We've been handing out summer reading forms since June 1. Starting June 15, people of all ages can start picking up their reading prizes here at the library. Our themes this year are all about water and the beach. Children 12 and under are 'making a splash,' teens are 'making waves' and our adults are 'watering their minds.'

While I never quite considered considered reading fiction books according to a theme such as water, it might be a fun idea. I'm sure you would encounter a whole range of other topics along the way. Here are some adult fiction books that have some watery connection - title, topic or otherwise!

The Blackwater Lightship by Colm Toibin (FIC TOIBIN C)
This title is only available to borrow through the Lancaster Public Library and it's also the only one of this post's short list that I've read. I enjoyed the moodiness and the scenery of the book. The story describes a disjointed family's response to the terminal illness of one of its members; it is engrossing, but be forewarned that it's not a light or perky read.

Water for Elephants: A Novel by Sara Gruen (FIC GRUEN S)
This has been one popular book ever since it was first published. Book clubs seem to enjoy it, too. The historical fiction story is about an orphan in the Great Depression era who joins a circus and falls in love.

The Weight of Water by Anita Shreve (FIC SHREVE A)
In one of Shreve's older novels, a New Hampshire woman investigates a long-ago double murder. The protagonist finds herself entangled in the mystery of the past, while harboring suspicions about her marriage in the present.

Black Water by T. Jefferson Parker (FIC PARKER T)
This mystery/thriller takes place in southern California and features homicide detective Merci Rayborn, a tough, hardworking single mother. In Black Water, Rayborn investigates a crime that appears to be a murder/suicide, but she is convinced that there is much more to the story.

Recommended Nonfiction...

2010-05-21T15:30:00.003-04:00

Our director's most recent Lititz Record Express article listed numerous books that address the topic of aging. One of the titles on her list caught my eye:

I read Forward from Here: Leaving Middle Age and Other Adventures by Reeve Lindbergh (305.262092 LIN) when it was first released and really enjoyed it. Though I'm not quite at the point of "leaving middle age," I had no trouble connecting with Lindbergh; we are all aging, after all, and we all face change. Lindbergh is a talented writer and some of that gift is no doubt inherited from her mother, Anne Morrow Lindbergh. This book is also a great example of a successful essay collection, which makes an old-fashioned essay-lover like me pretty happy.

New Teen Nonfiction

2010-05-07T15:42:00.009-04:00

We just received a few new young adult nonfiction books that like good picks. Our teen nonfiction section may be small, but in it you'll find some interesting reads for all ages. Here are 3 titles that just arrived:

Prom and Party Etiquette
by Peggy Post and Cindy Post Senning
(YA 395.3 SEN)

Time You Let Me In: 25 Poets Under 25
by Naomi Shihab Nye
(YA 811.608 TIM)

Reel Culture: 50 Classic Movies You Should Know About (So You Can Impress Your Friends) by Mimi O'Connor
(YA 791.430973 OCO)

*As always, you can use the online catalog to search for these books and others!

Food-related Books for Spring - Guest Post

2010-04-19T14:43:00.006-04:00

(This is a guest post from my co-worker, Rebecca. Enjoy!)

I had my first taste of spring asparagus the other day, so I'm reminded of how wonderful it is to eat the local, fresh food from our roadside farm stands. And, coincidentally or not, I've been doing some good food-related reading - from the library, of course.

First, Michael Pollen's The Omnivore's Dilemma is a seminal work for a modern locavore (someone who tries to eat as much locally-grown, fresh food as possible). I got bogged down in this non-fiction book, which I actually own. But the other day as I was working behind the desk, someone returned the young adult version of this book The Omnivore's Dilemma: the Secrets Behind What You Eat (YA 338.1 CHE - in the Young Adult non-fiction section). It's fascinating! And so much more accessible. So if the full version puts you off, but you're dying to know what it's all about, try the young adult version.

A couple of good vegetarian cookbooks, just to give you a few ideas for what you can do with those roadside stand foods: Student's Go Vegan Cookbook (641.5636 RAY), really does deliver on its promise to provide "over 135 quick, easy, cheap, and tasty vegan recipes." Vegan never tasted so good, or came together so easily. And on our non-fiction new book shelf, I enjoyed The Conscious Cook (641.5636 RON).

And on a lighter note, the kids' picture book Little Pea (E ROSENT) tells the hilarious and well-illustrated story of a pea who must finish his plate of hated candy before he can score dessert. My kids loved it, and I laughed out loud. Also, Gregory the Terrible Eater, (E SHARMA) tells the story of a naughty goat who refuses to eat things like tin cans, and instead insists on eating fruit and vegetables. The way Gregory's goat parents wean him onto a proper diet is quite funny.

~Thanks so much to Rebecca for all of her book suggestions!

Pulitzer Prizes

2010-04-13T13:36:00.004-04:00

This year's Pulitzer Prizes have been announced. Scroll to the middle of this page to see the fiction, biography and nonfiction awards.

I read the fiction winner, Tinkers, by debut author Paul Harding, and enjoyed it. It also had one of my favorite book covers of 2009, though it doesn't come across quite as well on the internet.

Once You've Started a Book, Do You Always Finish It?

2010-04-09T15:14:00.002-04:00

This is an interesting question to ask our library community. I've heard staff and volunteers here at the library discussing this dilemma more than once. Last week, our director came across "When to Give up on a Book," an article by Julia Keller in the February 21st Chicago Tribune. Keller received many responses to her request for stories about unfinished books; I would enjoy hearing your experiences, too. Do you grit your teeth and finish a title no matter what or do you easily switch to another more enjoyable read?

Award Winning Novels of 2009

2010-04-03T08:30:00.000-04:00

We have a brochure and display for last year's award winners on one of the tables facing the library entrance. The brochure lists each of the titles that we own that won at least one award last year. I thought I would look (nervously) and see if I had read any of these honored books... and it turns out - yes, I had. Four of them!

People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks
~I enjoyed the history in this one, both recent and ancient, and the way Brooks demonstrates the importantance of libraries and librarians.
Disquiet by Julia Leigh
~I loved this Gothic novella; it was quirky, dark and absorbing.
Shanghai Girls by Lisa See
~For me, this book's appeal was that it introduced me to a part of American history about which I knew little.
Burnt Shadows by Kamila Shamsie
~Shamsie's novel was a surprise page-turner for me. I enjoyed the history, the romance and the fact that the events bring the story right up to the present day by the end of the book.

If I count Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann, my total would be four and a half! I read part of the way through this one and loved the beginning of it, but at the time just couldn't seem to get over the sudden change of characters and story between sections.

I see several other titles on the list that I meant to read, including Await Your Reply by Dan Chaon; A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick; and Home by Marilynne Robinson.

As always, I'd love to hear your comments about your own award-winning reads.

A Literary Library Contest

2010-04-02T15:18:00.003-04:00

I just came across this Fantasy Library Contest from author Laurie R. King. She is looking for descriptions of the libraries of our dreams in celebration of National Library Week (April 12-17). It looks like a fun exercise of the imagination, especially in these days of funding challenges. Looks like all entries must submitted by next Friday, April 9th. I'm sure the library of my dreams would resemble the Lititz Library in more ways than one...

A Novel I Really Liked...

2010-03-12T15:23:00.003-05:00

I confess: I'm a finicky fiction reader. I often have to tell patrons that I read more non-fiction than fiction and that my tastes are fairly eclectic. Choosing my next book, especially if it's a novel, is based a good deal on my mood. Maybe I'm not the only one out there who reads this way?

I picked up a few books recently (our Spring Book Sale was last week) and I really enjoyed this title from 2001 -

Peace Like a River by Leif Enger (FIC ENGER L)
Summary: Through the voice of 11-year-old Reuben Land, an asthmatic boy obsessed with cowboys living in 1960s Minnesota, the story is told of the Land family's cross-country search for Reuben's outlaw older brother, who has been charged with murder.

The summary may sound a bit strange, but I agree with the Booklist reviewer who said that "what readers will appreciate first in Enger's marvelous novel is the language." This book was a pleasant surprise for me and I grew attached to several of the characters, especially Reuben and his siblings.

Recommended Nonfiction...

2010-03-09T15:30:00.008-05:00

Looking for some page-turning non-fiction library books? Luci, one of our front desk staff, has recommended each of these titles:

Half the Sky: Turning Oppression to Opportunity for Women Worldwide by Nicholas Kristof (362.8309172 KRI)
~Two Pulitzer Prize winners issue a call to arms against our era's most pervasive human rights violation: the oppression of women in the developing world.

I'm No Monster: the Horrifying True Story of Josef Fritzl by Stefanie Marsh (364.153 MAR)
~For 24 years, Josef Fritzl held his daughter Elizabeth prisoner as a sex slave. But the true depth of his depravity was yet to be uncovered. Marsh and Pancevski tell the complete story of a crime that stunned and appalled the world.

Daring Young Men: the Heroism and Triumph of the Berlin Airlift by Richard Reeves (943.1550874 REE)
n the early hours of June 26, 1948, phones began ringing across America, waking up the airmen of World War II—pilots, navigators, and mechanics—who were finally beginning normal lives with new houses, new jobs, new wives, and new babies. Some were given just forty-eight hours to report to local military bases. The president, Harry S. Truman, was recalling them to active duty to try to save the desperate people of the western sectors of Berlin, the enemy capital many of them had bombed to rubble only three years before.

*Luci also recommended Columbine by Dave Cullen (373. 78882 CUL), a book that we featured last year on the blog.

Staff Picks

2010-02-24T08:30:00.000-05:00

Here's another recent favorite from one of our front desk staff, Heather:

The Distant Land of My Father by Bo Caldwell (FIC CALDWE B)

She says, "I really liked it - couldn't put it down and it made me cry! It is an interesting story about a young woman's complicated relationship with her father. It takes place from the 1930's to about 60 years later and is set in Shanghai and California."

We are fortunate to have well-read staff and volunteers, as well as people who read a variety of genres and enjoy different types of subject matter. We love to share our favorites amongst each other, so why not share them with you, too?

Inspired...

2010-02-23T15:57:00.004-05:00

We here at Lititz Library are honored and happy to serve a community that supports us so strongly. We have a vibrant library because of this community spirit. I was reminded just how special our patrons are this weekend when a 3-year-old came up to the front desk with a donation for our Hugs and Kisses Fund Drive...
She was a very excited young lady who had emptied her piggy bank for the benefit of the community. Over $20 worth of bills and coins... Wow.

Staff Picks

2010-02-22T08:00:00.002-05:00

Staff member Rebecca shares what she has been reading lately and why she recommends these titles:

"City of Thieves by David Benioff (FIC BENIOF D) was our recent pick in the literary travelogue program, and one of my favorite books in a long time. It's set over a one-week period during the German siege of St. Petersburg in WWII, and the book has everything - a gripping, coming-of-age story, adventure, and real literary merit. I loved it.

"These hilarious and irreverent children's books are favorites of my 7-year-old and 9-year-old daughters: anything by Mo Willems (The Pigeon Wants a Hotdog, Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, or the poignant Knufflebunny); children's book writer John Szieska's biography (JB SCIESZ JON SCIESZ) Knucklehead for middle-grade readers, especially boys; and a picture book called Meet Wild Boars by Meg Rosoff.

My 9-year-old daughter and I both enjoyed Rebecca's Stead's Newbery-award winning When You Reach Me (JF STEAD R). It's rare that a children's book can manage to remain emotionally-appropriate for its readers and yet convey the complexities of life that make a book truly engaging. This book had the added element of a bit of mystery that unfolded cleverly and unpredictably through as the story progressed."

~Thank you, Rebecca! If you are ever looking for a book suggestion, Rebecca is one of our staff members who will be more than happy to help.

Staff pick: new fiction

2010-02-19T15:09:00.003-05:00

A staff member and a long-time volunteer both recommend a new fiction title from our collection, Moonlight in Odessa by Janet Skeslien Charles.

The book is described as "a Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian meets Desperate Housewives in this exploration of the booming business of Russian e-mail-order brides, an industry where love and marriage collide with sex and commerce." Sounds like a great combination: learn about another culture while enjoying a little fun and romance!

Valentine's Day is almost here...

2010-02-12T15:41:00.005-05:00

With the enormous snowfall here in Lancaster County, it almost slipped my mind that this weekend brings us the Valentine's Day holiday. How could I forget, since it is also Library Lover's Month? I hope you don't mind if I share a little information about our 30-day fund drive for books, "Hugs and Kisses for Your Library."The Lititz Library Board of Directors is encouraging community members to make a donation for the purchase of library books or DVDs. In turn, contributors will receive 'hugs and kisses' (chocolates) from the library. Contributors who give $20 or more will receive a personalized book plate with their name or an honoree of their choice to be placed in a new book. All funds received will be used to purchase new books and DVDs only. The library board hopes to raise $20,000. The fund drive will continue through the Friends of the Library Book Sale the weekend of March 4-6.

~We can't wait to see how many books we'll be able to add to our collection because of your help!

Read the Book, Meet the Author

2010-02-09T15:28:00.003-05:00

Two great nonfiction authors are coming to our area soon!

Next week, Rebecca Skloot, author of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks will be speaking and signing books in downtown Lancaster. For more information about Skloot or the event, look here. Skloot's book is earning great reviews and was borrowed almost as soon as it went out on our shelf.

In April, the National Library Week Annual Author Luncheon brings us Erik Larson, author of Devil in the White City and other popular titles. Detailed information about the luncheon can be found on the Library System of Lancaster County website here. Larson's books have always been popular with Lititz Library readers.

I hope some of you out there will have the opportunity to enjoy one or both of these opportunities.

Winter blues?

2010-01-29T16:02:00.005-05:00

Our library is a great destination during the cold, cloudy days of January and February. You might even want to browse in the 635 area (gardening!) of nonfiction and cheer yourself up with books of spring like these... Don't the covers make you feel just a little warmer?

Youth Literary Awards

2010-01-19T15:49:00.003-05:00

The American Library Association just announced the 2010 Newberry, Caldecott, Printz (and others) youth book awards yesterday. Here are three of the winners...

John Newbery Medal - When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

Randolph Caldecott Medal - The Lion and the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney

Michael L. Printz Award - Going Bovine by Libba Bray

A New Year of Reading Possibilities...

2010-01-08T15:39:00.005-05:00

It is already 2010 and we're a week into this new year of library service. Though our budget is challenging for the coming year, there are plenty of books to choose from in our present collection! I'm hoping to find time to read more than I did last year. How about you? What are you reading during this cold first month?

Here's the book I most recently read:
Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea
by Barbara Demick
(306.095193 DEM)
This title "follows the lives of six North Koreans over 15 years--a chaotic period that saw the unchallenged rise to power of Kim Jong Il and the devastation of a famine that killed one-fifth of the population." It received a starred review from Publisher's Weekly.

Literary Holiday Traditons Pt. 2

2009-12-23T14:25:00.006-05:00

Here are some more holiday reading traditions shared by two more of our staff members... Enjoy!

When it gets to be Thanksgiving, I always read When the Frost Is On the Punkin by James Whitcomb Riley and before Christmas I'll search out Robert Frost's Stopping By Woods On a Snowy Evening. As for novels, being a mystery buff, I'll usually go for an old favorite, Murder For Christmas by Agatha Christie or The Thin Man by Dashiell Hammett. I also have a couple of collections of Christmas themed mysteries, good for short reads.
~Sonya

We weren't wealthy when I was a kid, but somehow, every Christmas, my parents would put on a Christmas gift extravaganza for my sister and me that rivaled Santa's very own workshop. Lisa and I would race down the stairs to the living room, where our parents had set up elaborate displays of good, old suburban-American excess. Everything was out in the open, because Santa did not wrap gifts at our house, so there was a lot for our eager eyes to take in at once. But somewhere in the blur of presents, I would no doubt spy a couple of yellow volumes, and I knew that later in the day, after everything else was put away and the house was quiet, I would have the pleasure of curling up with a brand-new Nancy Drew.

My other Christmas book memory is not an uncommon one, I'm sure. Every Christmas Eve, my father read us Clement C. Moore's The Night Before Christmas. When I grew up and I got married, we began the same tradition with our own children. I love to lie in our bed on Christmas Eve and hear my husband's voice read the familiar lines. I usually cry a little, because it's bittersweet for me. My father died a week before Christmas in 2004. But when my husband shares the story with our family, sometimes I can still hear Dad...
~Julie

Happy holiday reading to you all!

Literary Holiday Traditons

2009-12-22T15:41:00.008-05:00

Time certainly has gotten away from me: I've been planning on making this post since the beginning of December!

As this month began, I recalled a reading tradition that I used to observe around the Christmas season. My parents had a fancy, boxed edition of O. Henry's story Gift of the Magi that was always put out with the holiday decorations. I loved the illustrations in that version and somehow I started reading it through every Christmas. The story never failed to remind me that the joy of giving far exceeds that of receiving. It's been quite a while since I've seen that book, but I remember it fondly and well.

I've asked some of my co-workers to also share their holiday reading traditions and I hope you enjoy reading their contributions...

"One of our Christmas traditions is to read, If You're Missing Baby Jesus by Jean Gietzen on Christmas Eve. It wouldn't be Christmas if my husband and I didn't have to pass the book back and forth between each other as we choke up getting through it. It's precious."

~Bonni

"I have long been a fan of How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss. When my daughter was born it was one of the first books I bought for her and we have been reading it together since before she could talk. I have since introduced her to the movie version (the original one with Boris Karloff narrating).

Every year when we get together with extended family for the holidays, my daughter, my husband, and I watch the movie with my brother, sister-in-law, nieces, and my parents. It has become a family tradition that I cherish. And, of course, I also read it to them at bedtime on Christmas Eve."
~Cathy

**More staff reading traditions to come in the next post!

Holiday Reading

2009-11-27T15:26:00.009-05:00

What kind of reading do you enjoy during the holiday season? Perhaps your time for reading is limited by family time or other celebrations. I find that I especially enjoy holiday-themed magazines and books with essays or short stories when schedules grow busy. If an engrossing novel comes my way, however, I'm just as susceptible around the holidays to dropping tasks in favor of reading! Plus, there are all of those end-of-the-year "best of" lists to tempt readers.

Books are also one of my favorite gifts to give. What could be more personal (and usually affordable) than a carefully chosen book? Some of our library patrons are even finding gifts right here in the library - we have a small selection of nearly new books on our year-round book sale shelf just inside the front door.

Here are just three books I have given as gifts that earned great reviews fr om their recipients:

Flotsam by David Wiesner - Children and adults both love this wordless book! (Library copy located in Children's Area in Caldecott Award section at E WIESNE)

Ghost Ship: the Mysterious True Story of the Mary Celeste and Her Missing Crew by Brian Hicks - A maritime mystery turned into nonfiction page-turner (Library copy located in Adult Nonfiction at 910.91633 HIC.)

Thirst by Mary Oliver - Gorgeous, accessible poetry by award-winner Mary Oliver (This one is not available in Lancaster County libraries, though several other poetry collections by her are available in Lancaster County library collections.)

16 Local Children's Authors

2009-11-14T12:44:00.005-05:00

How many books by these Lancaster County authors have you or your children read?

Sandy Asher, author of the picture books Too Many Frogs! and What a Party!, among others
Marty Crisp, author of the juvenile chapter books White Star: A Dog on the Titanic and Buzzard Breath, among others
Dennis Denenberg, co-author of 50 American Heroes Every Kid Should Meet!
Merle Good, author of the picture books Reuben and the Fire and Reuben and the Blizzard, among others
Judith Gorog, author juvenile chapters books such as In a Messy, Messy Room and In a Creepy, Creepy Place-and other Scary Tales
Linda Oatman High, author of the picture books The Girl on the High-Diving Horse and Barn Savers, among others
Kim Gehman Knisely, author of A is for Amish
Dorothy Reynolds Miller, author of the juvenile chapter books The Clearing and Home Wars
Ken Munro, author of the Sammy and Brian Mystery series (juvenile chapter books)
Rebecca Thatcher Murcia, author of several juvenile biographies of soccer players
Kathleen Pennell, author of the Pony Investigators series (juvenile chapter books)
Elizabeth Phillips-Hershey, author of Mind over Basketball: Coach Yourself to Handle Stress
Barry Root, illustrator of many picture books
Lorraine Roscoe, co-author of 50 American Heroes Every Kid Should Meet!
Terry Webb, author of the Louie series (juvenile chapter books)
Chet Williamson, author of Pennsylvania Dutch Alphabet and Pennsylvania Dutch Night Before Christmas
Judith & Jack Woods, authors of the juvenile chapter book Towpath Adventures

*Interested in exploring authors from Pennsylvania who live outside the Lancaster County area? Visit a list of them here at the America Writes for Kids web site.

Most Popular Classics in Lititz

2009-10-31T11:19:00.006-04:00

The library director's Lititz Record newspaper column this week is intriguing. Susan wrote:
"A recent survey of the Lititz Public Library’s adult fiction collection found 430 novels designated as “literary classics”. . . . The titles are found on school reading lists and as book club selections, often rediscovered after a PBS miniseries airing. Surprisingly, 13% are borrowed from the library at least once a month, with 85% borrowed one or more times per year."

She then revealed the top ten most borrowed classics in the Lititz Public Library collection. Here they are...
#1 – Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
#2 – Emma by Jane Austen
#3 – The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger
#4 – Persuasion by Jane Austen
#5 – The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
#6 – Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
#7 – The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
#8 – Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
#9 – The Fellowship of the Ring by J. R. R. Tolkien
#10 – Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

If this list whets your appetite for a classic read, stop by and pick up our brochure listing the most popular and some lesser known classics. Right now, the brochure is on top of the western fiction shelf in adult fiction. Thank you to volunteers Sue and Nicki for creating it!

Two Are Better Than One?

2009-10-23T15:40:00.017-04:00

As a fan of nonfiction, I love the variety of subjects to choose from. Sometimes, though, I find myself so immersed in a topic that I still want more after my first book on a subject is finished. Many times, I discover related reading that piques my interest cited right within the first book. I think that a 'double shot' of a certain topic also helps me to gain a more objective perspective about an issue or a person.

Here are some duos that I have recently read:

Two books about the school shooting in Littleton, Colorado (there are certainly more than two on this topic) -
Columbine by David Cullen (373.38882 CUL)
Cullen spent ten years researching the events and people surrounding the Columbine High School shooting. The result is a fascinating and nearly comprehensive treatment of the subject.

No Easy Answers by Brooks Brown (373.38882 BRO)
This book was written much sooner after the shooting occurred, and the author was a personal friend of the shooters. As a result, this book offers a more emotional and less scholarly or literary look at the story.

Two recent books about the life of former NFL player Pat Tillman -
Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat Tillman by Jon Krakauer (B TILLMA PAT KRAKAU)
Krakauer, famous for previous books such as Into the Wild, devotes his newest book to the life of football player turned Army Ranger, Pat Tillman. Krakauer not only examines the unique character and integrity of Tillman, who was killed in a friendly fire incident in Afghanistan, but also includes important background which presents Tillman's sacrifice in an even more profound way.

Boots on the Ground by Dusk: My Tribute to Pat Tillman by Mary Tillman (B TILLMA PAT TILLMA)
This title, written by Pat Tillman's mother, was published prior to Krakauer's book. Mary Tillman focuses primarly on personal memories of her son along with the convoluted details of her long fight to uncover the truth regarding his death.

Here is another pair that I am interested in reading:

Patrick Swayze: One Last Dance by Wendy Leigh (SWAYZE PATRIC LEIGH)

A recent biography of the dancer and actor Patrick Swayze.

The Time of My Life by Patrick Swayze and Lisa Niemi (B SWAYZE PATRIC SWAYZE)

Swayze's autobiography, written with his wife and completed shortly before his death.

New Early Literacy Service for Children

2009-10-23T15:15:00.003-04:00

Everyone with a valid Library System of Lancaster County can now use the BookFLIX(TM) website from Scholastic to read children's books online! This access to the BookFLIX collection was paid for by a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.

Visit online.lancasterlibraries.org - type in a valid library card number - then click on the BookFLIX icon and have fun... The books are divided into categories such as "Animals and Nature," "Family and Community" and "Imagination." When I sampled one of the online books, it brought back good memories of my Reading Rainbow-watching days.

Don't forget, we also offer TumbleBooks(TM), another great source of online storybooks for children. You can access TumbleBooks the same way as described above for BookFLIX.

Cultural Memoirs

2009-10-20T15:28:00.016-04:00

Our director's most recent newspaper column points out several cultural memoirs that can be borrowed from the Lititz Library collection. These books offer fascinating insights from authors who have navigated between cultures, sharing their observations with readers. Here are a few examples:

Laughing Without an Accent: Adventures of an Iranian American, at Home and Abroad by Firoozeh Dumas (910.4 DUM)

Amusing tales of the author’s Iranian-American family and their experiences, from dealing with her French husband’s Christmas traditions to taking fifty-one Iranian family members on a cruise to Alaska.

That Summer in Sicily: A Love Story by Marlena de Blasi (914.58 DEB)

The author and her Venetian husband travel to the mountainous heart of Sicily and discover a world much removed from modern life.

My Heart’s in the Lowlands: Ten Days in Bonny Scotland by Liz Curtis Higgs (914.147 HIG)

Best-selling novelist shares an entertaining journey through Dumfries and Galloway, exploring the villages, crumbling castles, bookshops and charming tearooms of the Scottish Lowlands.

The Prince of the Marshes: and Other Occupational Hazards of a Year in Iraq by Rory Stewart (956.70443 STE)

The author, a former fellow at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, shares the frustrations of reconstructing the marsh regions of southern Iraq after he was appointed deputy governor of two provinces.

Marrying Anita: A Quest for Love in the New India by Anita Jain (B JAIN ANITA JAIN)

A journalist decides to pursue an arranged marriage in her parent’s native India, an endeavor marked by cultural perceptions about her age, an onslaught of nosy relatives and dozens of potential husbands.

National Parks receive well-deserved attention

2009-10-02T15:14:00.011-04:00

Have you been inspired by the new Ken Burns film that premiered on PBS this week? If you're looking for more information related to the national parks or other topics featured in the film, here are a few suggestions from our collection...

John Muir: Nature's Visionary by Gretel Ehrlich
(B MUIR JOHN EHRLIC)
~ A beautiful blend of photos and text,
published by National Geographic

A Passion for Nature: the Life of John Muir by Donald Worster
(B MUIR JOHN WORSTE)
~ A 2008 Oxford University Press biography of Muir

National Parks Collection by National Geographic Television
(DVD 917.3 NAT)
~Includes 7 discs featuring overviews of some of the major parks; originally broadcast on National Geographic Channel

NPR Road Trips: National Park Adventures by National Public Radio and HighBridge Audio (CD 791.4475 NPR)
~NPR presents a collection of stories focused on America's national parks; selections originally broadcast between Feb. 28, 2005, and July 4, 2008

For more information online, see The National Park Service site and The National Park Foundation site. Search the catalog to check on availability of the items mentioned above.

Book Discussion Group at the Library

2009-09-29T15:17:00.004-04:00

A new season for our Literary Travelogue begins in October. Join us as we discuss contemporary fiction written by an international author or set in a foreign land. Deborah Linder will again lead the discussions, which run from 10 AM to 12 noon.

This season's books:
Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks (October 23)

The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga (December 4)

The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi (January 15)

City of Thieves by David Benioff (February 19)

Telex from Cuba by Rachel Kushner (March 26)

Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese (May 7)

Even if you can't attend the discussions, you may want to read along with some of the book selections. Use the catalog to check on the availability of the titles you'd like to read.

National Book Festival 2009

2009-09-26T06:00:00.001-04:00

Today is the day for the National Book Festival on the mall in Washington, DC!

The Library of Congress has said that they will be making webcasts of the day's presentations available sometime in the late afternoon. Podcasts from a number of the Festival authors are already available. The Library of Congress is also launching a great new website, Read.gov. Exciting!

New Nonfiction

2009-09-25T15:39:00.006-04:00

We recently received Colin Beavan's book No Impact Man: the Adventures of a Guilty Liberal who Attempts to Save the Planet, and the Discoveries He Makes about Himself and Our Way of Life in the Process (333.72 BEA)

Beavan has chronicled his soul-searching story via his blog since 2007. A documentary about his year-long experiment to live with as little impact on the environment as possible was also released on September 11 of this year.

We've already had several staff members read this one and find it both entertaining and enlightening. The book also offers an appealing combination: it is thought-provoking and at the same time, a fairly fast read.

Staff Picks

2009-09-18T15:28:00.004-04:00

Do you ever find yourself just hoping that someone you know will recommend a book to you? Do you enjoy those sections of magazines and newspapers where the editors or public figures talk about their favorite books? It's easy to feel lost browsing aimlessly in the stacks if you aren't sure where to start, but there's something so helpful about hearing another person's take on what to try.

Sometimes I feel the same way (even though I work in a library!)... I'm glad that my co-workers and many of our volunteers love to talk about books they've read. Why not share a few of their recommendations with you?

September Staff Picks:

Boy in the Striped Pajamas: a Fable by John Boyne (YA FIC BOYNE J)

Cellist of Sarajevo by Steven Galloway (FIC GALLOW S)

Columbine by David Cullen (373.78882 CUL)

Conspiracy of Fools: A True Story by Kurt Eichenwald (333.790973 EIC)

Don't Make a Scene by Valerie Block (FIC BLOCK V)

Girls from Ames by Jeffrey Zaslow (305.4092 ZAS)

Heroic Measures by Jill Ciment (FIC CIMENT J)

Snakehead by Patrick Radden Keefe (306.362 KEE)

Southern Lady: Gracious Tables - The Perfect Settings for Any Occasion by Phyllis Hoffman (642.7 HOF)

Let us know if you've read any of these - and if you have, what did you think?

Toddler Reads (pt.2)

2009-09-01T15:47:00.007-04:00

As a follow-up to my recent post about good books for toddlers, here is some more information from our Little Steps Coordinator, Amy...

Amy recommended the website Zero to Three, which offers tips on choosing appropriate books for little ones. For example, the site offers suggestions for young toddlers (12 to 24 months) such as, looking for "goodnight books for bedtime" and "books about saying goodbye and hello." For older toddlers (24 to 36 months), they offer tips like picking books that tell simple stories or include simple rhymes and introducing books with pop-up, pull tab or touch/feel features. The site features many other articles and guides, including this wonderful essay 'A Book Is a Child's Companion.'

Why is reading important for such a little one? The PBS Parents website offers a page explaining important reading milestones for the toddler age. Wondering about the best way to read aloud to your toddler? Reading is Fundamental offers these tips.

And where can you find all of the books to enjoy with your toddler? Your public library, of course!

One of Amy's favorite quotes is from Mem Fox, author of Reading Magic
"Spend at least ten wildly happy minutes every single day reading aloud."

One Book, One Community 2009

2009-08-28T15:45:00.007-04:00

This year's One Book, One Community selection - People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks - was just announced on Wednesday, August 26!

Find out more about the book here on the One Book, One Community website. Visit Geraldine Brooks' own website to read more about the author or to download a reader's guide and map.

We have multiple copies of this title for you to borrow from the library. You can check for availability by searching the catalog, under title search, with "people of the book: a novel" in the search box. Here at Lititz, we also have information about finding similar books to help those of you who finish People of the Book and are left looking for your next great read!

I personally enjoyed this story, though I have to admit I was biased since it featured some very dedicated librarians! This is a book that will probably be most popular with fans of historical fiction or with those who enjoy learning about new places, cultures or vocations. I hope to hear what many of you think after reading it...

Toddler Reads

2009-08-14T16:15:00.004-04:00

Sometimes when we librarians talk to people outside of work, we get asked great questions about reading, movies or services that public libraries offer. I was asked a question just the other day that gave me the idea for this post. It went something like, "My daughter is two years old and she loves going to the library - what do you think are some of the best books for toddlers?" I love questions like this! Except I must admit that I was a little worried on this one, having never worked in youth services... What to do? While my 'off the cuff' answer wasn't very good, how about after some research and some advice from our wonderful Little Steps Coordinator, Amy? I think you'll agree that she definitely got me on the right track...

Good Books for Toddlers

Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

Eyes, Nose, Fingers and Toes: A First Book All About You by Judy Hindley

The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

I Like it When by Mary Murphy

Some Dogs Do by Jez Alborough

Close Your Eyes by Kate Banks

My Car by Byron Barton

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do You See? by Bill Martin

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury

Sheep in a Jeep by Nancy E. Shaw and Margot Apple

Fast Food by Saxton Freymann

Yummy Yucky by Leslie Patricelli

Where’s My Teddy? by Jez Alborough

Freight Train by Donald Crews

Counting Kisses by Karen Kratz

Are You My Mother? By P.D. Eastman

Oops, I'm out of writing time for today, but look for a follow-up post on choosing good books for our youngest readers...

**A big thank you to my co-worker Amy for her help and to criswatk for the photo.

Reader Recommended...

2009-08-08T12:09:00.004-04:00

One of the great parts about working at a library is the opportunity to hear what books our patrons really liked (or didn't like). So I thought that it might be nice if I passed some of these "thumbs up" reviews along to you...

A frequent library visitor recently recommended this title, which should be especially appealing to sports fans:

The 33-Year Old Rookie: How I Finally Made it to the Big Leagues after Eleven Years in the Minors
by Chris Coste
(796.357 COSTE COS)
The book chronicles the author's eleven-year odyssey from the North Dakota Little Leagues, to aging minor-leaguer, to Philadelphia Phillies catcher.

The Animals We Love

2009-07-31T15:18:00.007-04:00

Our Director's newspaper column recently featured books about some special animals and their relationships with humans. We have a number of titles here that will provide a great read for fans of animal kingdom antics. Two bestselling animal memoirs are Marley and Me by John Grogan and Dewey by Vicki Myron. Here is a small sampling of our titles that highlight species outside of the realm of cats and dogs...

A Buffalo in the House
by R.D. Rosen
(978.95603092 ROS)
The tale of raising "Charlie," an orphaned buffalo in New Mexico.

The Good Good Pig
by Sy Montgomery
(636.40887 MON)
The story of Montgomery's friendship with Christopher Hogwood, a 750 pound pig.

A Lion Called Christian
by Anthony Bourke and John Randall
(599.757 BOU)
This book describes the reunion of two young men and their pet lion after its release into the wild.

Wesley the Owl
by Stacey O'Brien
(598.97 OBR)
A student researcher shares her experiences with an adopted barn owl.

Read another animal memoir that you loved? Let us know!

National Book Festival 2009 authors

2009-07-11T10:38:00.008-04:00

Earlier this week, the Library of Congress announced the authors to appear at the National Book Festival this fall.
This is always an exciting list, but this looks to be one of their best. If you've never attended the Festival, consider making the trip this year! In past years, some of the librarians here at Lititz have enjoyed taking a bus that leaves from the Warwick School District parking lot. There is nothing more inspiring than hanging out in our Capitol all day surrounded by thousands of book lovers...

Not only is one of my favorite youth authors (Shannon Hale) going to be speaking that day, but you can also see writers such as John Grisham, John Irving, Jodi Picoult and Judy Blume. Check out the complete list here.

National Book Festival #9 (on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.) will take place on Saturday, September 26, 2009.

Staff pick: The Read-Aloud Handbook

2009-07-03T09:16:00.005-04:00

I'm very happy to share a book recommendation from one of our staff members in this post. A big thank you to Rebecca who shares this about a book from our parenting collection:

"My favorite recent find on our shelves comes from the parenting section. One of our storytime teachers recommended Jim Trelease's The Read-Aloud Handbook. I've read to my two children (ages 6 and 9) all of their lives, but I still loved this book. I didn't know there was so much to know about reading aloud - so many possible benefits to your kids! Trelease even recommends reading to kids up into their teens. And the best part - the last half of the book is a listing of great read-alouds for you and your kids."

**This book is shelved in the parenting section (near the childrens' picture books and board books) under the number J 372.452 TRE.

Reading List 2009 - from some well-read librarians

2009-06-19T15:18:00.006-04:00

Each year, a group of reference librarians who are members of a division of the American Library Association choose a list of the best books in eight genres.

The Lititz Public Library owns four of the books on the list:

Adrenaline - Blue Heaven by C.J. Box (FIC BOX C)
Fantasy - The Veil of Gold by Kim Wilkins (FIC WILKIN K)
Historical fiction - The Steel Wave: A Novel of World War II by Jeff Shaara (FIC SHAARA J)
Mystery - The Garden of Evil by David Hewson (FIC HEWSON D)

Here are the other four books and their corresponding genres:

Horror - Sharp Teeth by Toby Barlow
Romance - The Spymaster's Lady by Joanna Bourne
Science Fiction - Hunter's Run by George R. R. Martin, Gardner Dozois and Daniel Abraham
Women's Fiction - Every Last Cuckoo by Kate Maloy

(These last four titles may be ordered from other libraries for pickup at the Lititz Library...)

Chamber Annual Dinner speaker's book

2009-06-09T15:46:00.004-04:00

The Lancaster Chamber of Commerce has announced T. Boone Pickens as the speaker for its annual dinner on July 29th. We recently purchased Pickens' book, The First Billion is the Hardest for our collection. Check to see whether the book is available on our new nonfiction shelf by searching the catalog...

Staff pick: new fiction

2009-06-05T15:21:00.006-04:00

The Help by Kathryn Stockett
(FIC STOCKE K)
Three of our staff members have enthusiastically recommended the novel, The Help by Kathryn Stockett. The library has purchased this title in regular print, large print and audio formats.

And the critics agree:

Bookbrowse.com's reviewer states, "The Help is a beautiful novel, and Kathryn Stockett is a natural storyteller with her finger on the pulse of the human condition. . . . Drop everything you're doing and read this book!"

Publisher's Weekly awarded the book a starred review, calling it an "optimistic, uplifting debut novel."

Library Journal also gave this title a coveted starred review.

*The Help is on the Lititz Public Library's New Book Shelf until September 2009.

Culinary Mysteries

2009-05-22T15:35:00.004-04:00

Our director's most recent newspaper column featured food-related mystery novels. Here are some of the titles that she recommended...

China Bayles is a Houston criminal lawyer who moves to a small Texas town to open an herb shop. Read Lavender Lies by Susan Albert – A greedy developer turns up dead causing a delay in lawyer-turned-herbalist China Bayles’ marriage to the town’s police chief.

Monsieur Pamplemousse is an amateur sleuth and French food critic. Read Monsieur Pamplemousse Rests His Case by Michael Bond - Murder interrupts the celebration when six of the most famous mystery writers in America meet in France to reenact a famous meal from the days of Alexandre Dumas.

Theodosia Browning is the owner of a Charleston tea shop. Read Blood Orange Brewing by Laura Childs – Theodosia is catering a charity Candlelight Concert when a retired local politician is murdered and the widow asks the tea shop owner to investigate.

Read Blueberry Muffin Murder by Joanne Fluke – The pompous host of a cable TV cooking show is murdered while eating one of Hannah’s famous blueberry muffins.

Magdalena Yoder is a Mennonite innkeeper. Read As the World Churns: a Pennsylvania Dutch Mystery with Recipes by Tamar Myers – Married to a prominent Manhattan doctor, Magdalena is thrilled to emcee a Holstein competition until someone murders the contest’s founder.

Read Dial M for Meat Loaf by Ellen Hart – When the town’s former mayor confesses to a deadly car bombing his family vehemently deny his guilt.

~Thanks to our Director Susan for the post content and to stock.xchng user elmari for the photo at top

Burnt Shadows review: new fiction

2009-05-08T15:40:00.006-04:00

Burnt Shadows by Kamila Shamsie
(FIC SHAMSI K)
It is hard to believe that a novel could successfully span almost 60 years of major world events and at least 5 different countries simply by following one woman. Author Kamila Shamsie offers this very panorama via Hiroko Tanaka, the mesmerizing main character in the novel Burnt Shadows. There is much to love about this book: fans of 20th and 21st century history as well as readers who enjoy multicultural stories should be pleased by the plot's geographic twists and turns. Those who favor tales rooted in family relationships may also appreciate this novel, which weaves several generations of 2 families together, at times loosely and at other points very tightly. This book richly portrays broad themes - of war and country and belonging - in an intimate, thought-provoking manner.

If you've read this book, let me know what you thought in the comments section!

*Burnt Shadows is on the Lititz Public Library's New Book Shelf until October 2009.

National Book Festival videos

2009-05-05T15:59:00.004-04:00

Have you ever attended one of the National Book Festivals in Washington D.C.? If not, you can still see some of the authors speak and read from their works on the Library of Congress's new YouTube channel!

The National Book Festival has been held annually on the Washington D.C. mall since 2001. Several hundred Book Festival author appearances are also available as webcasts here.

Three Cups of Tea - three ways

2009-05-02T11:21:00.006-04:00

Have you read the bestseller Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin? The book, popular as a choice for book clubs, tells the story of a man who has worked to build schools for children in Pakistan and Afghanistan after his life was spared by Himalayan villagers when he encountered trouble on a climbing expedition.

Two new versions of this story are being published this year - one for young readers and one for children. The young readers version is titled Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Journey to Change the World... One Child at a Time. The children's picture book version is titled Listen to the Wind: The Story of Dr. Greg and Three Cups of Tea.

If you're interested in learning more about Greg Mortenson, see his Q&A inteview here. If you need help finding a copy of this title in the library, just ask at the front desk or search our catalog.

Adventure Reading

2009-05-01T15:50:00.005-04:00

True Adventure

We have another great theme display at the entrance of the library. Look for true adventure books and a pamphlet listing a number of great nonfiction titles! If you like books such as Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer, this is the list for you...

Books for Job Seekers

2009-04-17T15:32:00.018-04:00

A small sampling of titles recently purchased at Lititz for job seekers...

Competency-Based Interviews by Robin Kessler

Location: 650.144 KES

~Provides a detailed look at this specific interviewing style, which is often used by large corporations. The book includes some examples and coaching tips.

The Complete Book of Perfect Phrases for Successful Job Seekers by Michael Betrus

Location: 650.14 BET

~Offers over 2,000 phrases to help you write solid cover letters and resumes. A section on phrases for job interviews is also included.

Federal Resume Guidebook by Kathryn Troutman

Location: 650.142 TRO

~Assists job seekers looking for federal government employment. This book covers how to use online resume builders and how to write the KSA statement.

Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters by Jay Conrad Levinson

Location: 650.14 LEV

~A great choice for fans of Jay Conrad Levinson’s other Guerrilla Marketing business books. Borrow this book if you want to try the unconventional approach and learn how to stand out from the crowd.

*Don't forget - you can use our online catalog to see if these books are available or to search for more books on this subject...

2009-04-07T16:08:00.005-04:00

Music in Fiction

Just a quick note - we have a wonderful new display (and corresponding brochure) of novels that feature music or musicians prominently in their plots. Look for it just inside the front doors...

2009-04-04T14:07:00.013-04:00

April is National Poetry Month...

Though poetry may seem intimidating, boring, or irrelevant to many readers, I have to admit a long time love for a really good poem. As in musical or film tastes, what I think is a really good poem usually has nothing to do with what critics or other readers may think. A poem is a blend of art and craft - a wonderful mixture of subjective and objective. I've found that sometimes the right poem is the only thing that can speak to a certain circumstance or bring comfort during uncertainty.

Here are a few collections owned by Lancaster County public libraries that I recommend:

Red Bird: Poems by Mary Oliver
Location: 811.54 OLI
~Oliver's poems blend her love of nature with questions and concerns of the human world.

Chapters into Verse: Poetry in English Inspired by the Bible assembled and edited by Robert Atwan and Laurance Wieder
Location: 821.008 CHA (2 volumes)
~An amazing collection of poetry inspired by Bible texts, with poems organized by the Bible chapter to which they correspond.

Smoke from This Altar by Louis L'Amour
Location: 811.54 LAM (Available to order from Ephrata or Eastern Lancaster County Library)
~Louis L'Amour's first published book, a collection of poetry inspired by his world travels.

Basic Black review: work/life balance and vocational guidance

2009-03-31T16:20:00.001-04:00

Basic Black: the Essential Guide for Getting Ahead at Work (and in Life)

by Cathie Black

Location: 650.1 BLA

Here is the perfect book to give as a gift to any female graduate or soon-to-be-graduate in your life – but first borrow it and read it for yourself! Black’s intended audience is definitely women, yet her wisdom is universal enough that men may also find insight in its pages. Black compiles her years of high profile experience in media and publishing into a readable and inspiring collection of advice on the work/life balance and other common management and leadership topics.

The key to this book’s success is Black’s ability to connect basic business principles with engaging stories from her own career. Each anecdote is directly related to the principle at hand and Black avoids rambling and excessive name dropping. The executives and other personalities whom she does mention are integral to Black’s topics of discussion and her own career. Her writing communicates that fine balance of confidence and humility that mirrors her successful corporate leadership style. Black is willing to be as open about mistakes as she is about her many victories. She is also quite good at distilling complex situations into big picture lessons – for her own benefit and her reader’s.

The pleasing layout of Basic Black also enhances the book’s value (which should be no surprise considering the author’s publishing and media background). Black’s points of emphasis are pulled out of the main text and several case studies and topic-specific sections are separated and inserted between chapters. These style choices make it easy for readers to return to the text for inspiration.

Here are just three of my favorites from Black’s wisdom:

“Know the rules, so you know which ones to break.” (from the chapter about Risk, p.55)

“Don’t personalize things that aren’t personal.” (from the chapter about People, p.85)

“Be who you are in whatever you do.” (from the about Passion, p. 183)