A Sampling of This Year's Non-Fiction

I've been looking over some of the new non-fiction titles added to the collection this year. A dazzling array of books are published every year. I thought it might be interesting to list just a few of the titles we added in 2013. Clicking on any of the titles below should take you to the catalog to learn more about, or place holds on, any of these books (the back arrow should bring you back to this page).

1927 and 1933 each became the subject of a book:

One Summer: America, 1927 by Bill Bryson.

America 1933: The Great Depression, Lorena Hickok, Eleanor Roosevelt and the Shaping of the New Deal by Michael Golay.

The 150th anniversary of the battle of Gettysburg inspired many books this year. Two of them were:

Gettysburg: The Last Invasion by Allen C. Guelzo.

A Field Guide to Gettysburg: Experiencing the Battlefield through its History, Places, and People by Carol Reardon and Tom Vossler

The aftermath of the Civil War is reflected in:

The Lost Cause: The Trials of Frank and Jesse James

Current events in the Middle East inspired many titles. Two of them were:

To Be a Friend is Fatal: The Fight to Save the Iraqis America Left Behind by Kirk W Johnson

Under Fire: The Untold Story of the Attack in Benghazi by Fred Burton and Samuel M. Katz

A number of books dealt with issues in the medical, social, and psychological sciences:

To the End of June: The Intimate Life of American Foster Care by Cris Beam

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain

Quiet Kids: Help Your Introverted Child Succeed in and Extroverted World by Cristine Fonseca

The Sensory Child Gets Organized: Proven Systems for Rigid, Anxious, or Distracted Kids by Carolyn Dalgliesh

Raising a Self Reliant Child by Dr. Alanna Levine

The Cancer Chronicles: Unlocking Medicine's Deepest Mystery by George Johnson

Do You Believe in Magic? The Sense and Nonsense of Alternative Medicine by Paul A. Offit

Lean In: Women Work, and the will to lead by Sheryl Sandberg

The New Soft War on Women: How the Myth of Female Ascendance is Hurting Women, Men - and our Economy by Caryl Rivers

Wonder Women: Sex, Power, and the Quest for Perfection by Debora L. Spar

There were, as always, a wealth of biographies and autobiographies:

My Brief History by Stephen Hawking

Tesla: Inventor of the Electrical Age by W. Bernard Carlson

Jim Henson by Brian Jay Jones

Manson by Jeff Guinn

Nicholson by Marc Eliot

Kentucky Traveler by Ricky Skaggs

One of the cleverer titles of the year:

The Audacity of Hops: The History of America's Craft Beer Revolution by Tom Acitelli

And last, but not least, one of my favorite subjects:

Betty Crocker's the Big Book of Pies and Tarts by Betty Crocker

Weight Watchers 50th Anniversary Cookbook

Sweet Debbie's Organic Treats: Allergy-Free & Vegan Recipes from the Famous Los Angeles Bakery

I hope that there is something here for almost anyone to enjoy.

Chuck

Audio Addiction

I don’t miss the wear and tear on my car or the amount of gas I used during my several year stint at IUPUI.  However, I do miss being able to count on that commute time for “reading”.  And when I say “reading” I mean listening, to audio books.  We’ll save the debate on listening versus reading for another day.  Today I want to talk about how awesome audio books are!

Let me start with my early audio book experiences.  The first few were less than awesome.  I can remember my mom trying to stick in an audio book for the whole family on more than one road trip.  The horror!  The earsplitting narrator!  The something!  It never worked out for us.  We’d listen for a few minutes then begin ridiculing mom’s choice and/or just plain talking over the story.  I don’t know if what was to blame for these failed attempts at audio book enjoyment.  Regardless of why, they were failures.  At least she tried.

Lucky for me I tried audio books again later in life.  I’m not sure why I tried again.  Maybe I was feeling guilty about how little I was reading.  Maybe I wondered what the hype was all about, I saw them being checked in an out constantly.  Maybe I was just bored with the radio.  Okay that last one probably wasn’t it, I LOVE to sing.  I’m really bad at it but I really love it.  I digress…

My first leap back into audio books was a success.  Thank you, Chelsea Handler.  Yup, the wise cracking, foul mouthed, blond from Chelsea Lately showed me just how fabulous an audio book can be.  My first audio book was her Are You There Vodka?  It’s me,Chelsea.  It’s read by the author and it is absolutely hilarious.  I am the kind of person who is always, always, always late but not while I was reading this.  I couldn’t wait to get back in the car and hear another wild tale of wayward life!  Sadly, I finished that first successful audio shortly after I started it.  

 The good news is that I was sold on the value of a good audio book.  In those early audio book days I was extremely picky about the narrator, the subject and the length of the story.  I still consider all those things when I select one but I have broadened my horizons somewhat.  I do have favorites when it comes to narrators.  If Nick Podehl is narrating, I’m sold!  And I’ve found that many things I wouldn’t typically read in a more traditional format I really enjoy as an audio book.  Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld isn’t something you’d likely see me cozied up on the couch with but the audio book was amazing.  The duel voices of the characters, the sound effects, the whole experience was something I don’t know I would have enjoyed nearly as much just by turning the pages.

I won’t bore you with a list of all the titles I’ve enjoyed since Chelsea.  Just as my mom should have known, audio books aren’t one size fits all.  But once you find one you really enjoy I’m sure you’ll be just as hooked as I am.

The 2013 Review!

Can you believe it's almost the end of the year?!  It doesn't seem like it but another year has come and gone.  Do you remember some of the things we did this year?

The Game Truck came for Teen Tech Week in March.

Bookmaking Workshop over Spring Break.

Fairy Houses during Summer Reading.

Morgan celebrated her fourth birthday!

A visit from Stick Dog author Tom Watson.

WonderLab!

Learning all about worms!

 

What is your favorite library memory from 2013? 

Looking forward to a new year and new fun,
Alyssa

Best of 2013

It's that time of year again....no, not the holidays, but the time when all of the "Best of 2013" lists start to come out.  They used to wait until  after New Year's Day, but I think they've moved it up so that you have handy gift buying guides for last minute Christmas shopping.  I've compiled several of the Best Books of the Year lists for your convenience:

For professional reviewers, try Publisher's Weekly Best Books, or the New York Times' list of 100 notable fiction, poetry and nonfiction as selected by the editors of The New York Times Book Review.  


The Goodreads Choice Awards are the only major book awards decided by readers instead of professional reveiwers. 
 
If you want to base your selections strictly on sales, go to Amazon.com's Best Sellers of 2013 (so far).

The book editors of the Huffington Post listed the books that are not necessarily considered the 'best', but simply the ones they enjoyed reading the most.

If you're looking for something out of the mainstream, Slate has a list of the Most Overlooked Fiction of the year.  They have several other lists, too, including their favorites, editors' picks and best lines of the year. 

I hoped I would find a few books that were clear standouts, and  as luck would have it, there were two books that appeared on multiple lists. Click on the titles to check their availability or to place a hold.

The Circle by Dave Eggers
When Mae Holland is hired to work for the Circle, the world's most powerful internet company, she feels she's been given the opportunity of a lifetime. Run out of a sprawling California campus, the company links users' personal emails, social media, banking, and purchasing with their universal operating system, resulting in one online identity and a new age of civility and transparency. As Mae tours the open-plan office spaces, the towering glass dining facilities, the cozy dorms for those who spend nights at work, she is thrilled with the company's modernity and activity. There are parties that last through the night, there are famous musicians playing on the lawn, there are athletic activities and clubs and brunches, and even an aquarium of rare fish retrieved from the Marianas Trench by the CEO. Mae can't believe her luck, her great fortune to work for the most influential company in the world, even as life beyond the campus grows distant, even as a strange encounter with a colleague leaves her shaken, even as her role at the Circle becomes increasingly public. What begins as the captivating story of one woman's ambition and idealism soon becomes a heart-racing novel of suspense, raising questions about memory, history, privacy, democracy, and the limits of human knowledge.

Going Clear:  Scientology. Hollywood & the Prison of Belief by Lawrence Wright
Wright’s prodigiously researched investigation of Scientology does what good reporting ought to do: examine something in search of truth, lay out the findings, and let conclusions be drawn. In this painstaking work, the author bravely confronts the lawyered-up and controversial church in a dramatic encounter woven right into the narrative. New Yorker staff writer and Pulitzer Prize–winner Wright offers a reality test about a set of beliefs and behaviors that constitute this formidable 20th-century religious movement.

Festival of the Trees

Just this morning (November 26) the trees were delivered for the annual Festival of the Trees sponsored by the Friends of the Library.  Over 20 trees will be featured this year at the main library location in Martinsville and at the Brooklyn, Monrovia, Morgantown and Waverly branches.  All trees are to be decorated by December 4th, and the judging will be done by December 20th.  So plan to visit any of the above-mentioned locations for a look at the decorated trees. 

Who decorates the trees?  Various child and adult groups located within Morgan County.  A few businesses add their decorating skills to the mix as well.  The groups have a wonderful time at the library decorating their trees. And one lucky group will win a pizza party!

Just like last year, you may purchase tickets to vote for your favorite tree using them.  Tickets will be available after December 4th.  Come in and make your votes count! 

Health Care Sign Up Info

By now we all have heard or personally experienced how badly the start up to Healthcare.gov has been.  While it has been a disappointment to those who want to browse and buy affordable health insurance, there are alternatives to the government website. Huff Post Business lists seven alternatives to help you get started  looking at, choosing, and signing up for health care coverage.

 You can download, print, and mail in an application. Forms can be found here:  http://www.cms.gov/CCIIO/Resources/Forms-Reports-and-Other-Resources/index.html. You will want to scroll down to the section "Health Insurance Market Place Forms" and find the individual and family forms to download and print off.

You can call the Help Center at 1-800-318-2596 and speak with a qualified government representative to answer any questions you have about the forms or about health insurance coverage in general.

There is also a new website called HealthSherpa . Use this website to shop and get price quotes before signing up for a health care plan. The HealthSherpa website will allow you to find insurance plans based on zip code, age, level of coverage desired, and income without collecting and keeping your personal information. It will also calculate possible subsidies you may qualify for.

The Morgan County Library is also offering programs to assist you in signing up for health care.  A MD Wise representative will be on hand to answer any questions you may have concerning the Health Insurance Marketplace at the main branch in Martinsville on Wednesday, November 20 from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm and again on Monday, December 2 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Monrovia Branch.

Quick Crafting

It is only a few weeks until the Holidays. I am always on the lookout for books that have quick, easy, and inexpensive craft ideas. Here are a few books that might give you a few ideas. If you have Christmas gifts already for this year, it is never to early to start gathering ideas for next years gifts.

Handmade gifts by DK Publishing
Fun with Yarn and Fabric by Susanna Zacke
Mason Jar Crafts by Lauren Donaldson
Handmade for Christmas by Editors of Future Publishing
Quilting on the Go by Jessica Alenandrakis
Soap Crafting: Step by Step techniques by Anne-Marie Faiola

If crafting isn't your thing, how about getting a new cookbook a try. We have some great new Christmas books filled with wonderful pictures and recipes. Here are a few titles to get you started.

Taste of Home Christmas is filled with color pictures and dozens of recipes of cookies and candies that would make wonderful gifts.
The Good Housekeeping Christmas Cookbook
One Bowl Baking by Yvonne Ruperti
Meals in a Jar by Julie Lanquille
Slice and Bake Cookies by Elinor Klivans
The Flying Brownie by Shirley Fan

Remember if you can't find it on the shelf, or don't see exactly what you are looking for, look in the catalog. There are so many books available through Evergreen. You won't be disappointed.
Enjoy the Holidays!

A dreaded time of the year is approaching.

It may seem early to be thinking about it, but the time to start working on taxes is approaching fast. We had to start thinking about it back in August; that's when we submitted our orders for the tax forms we will be providing to the public. Although a very large portion of returns are filed on-line, this service is still very important to those who choose not to, or can't, file electronically. Since forms are no longer mailed automatically to every taxpayer, and public sources to pick them up have shrunk drastically, it has become very important for the library to offer this service as long as it is possible to do so. Although the selection of forms available to offer continues to decline, we will still have a good basic selection for those requiring forms. We will also have all of the information you need to order forms by phone and on the internet. You can not only download forms, but also use the library's computers or wireless connections to file your taxes on-line.

Last year's tax season was the most frustrating one that I can remember. We had no forms until much later in the season because of the delay in approving the tax code. After forms started to become available, the situation continued to be complicated by the issuing of corrections to forms and other issues that arose. I am hoping for a smoother process this year.

The Federal and State governments are both strongly encouraging electronic filing. We have been notified that our shipments of Indiana state tax forms will be reduced by 10% over last year's supply, and the state is requesting that people take only one copy of each form. Resources are available to make copies or download additional forms at 10 cents per page.  We will continue to offer the forms as long as they are available, and we will also provide all of the electronic resources that we can.

A number of resources are available on-line. Here are some links for the federal and state websites.
The IRS website:
http://www.irs.gov/

The federal freefile site:
http://www.freefile.irs.gov/

The Indiana DOR website:
http://www.in.gov/dor/

The Indiana INfreefile website (also includes links to federal tax prep software):
http://www.in.gov/dor/4741.htm


Hoping for a stress free season,

Chuck

Wow! What a Month!

As I walked in to the library this afternoon, I suddenly realized that October is almost over.  Done!  Finished! Kaput!  Where did the month go?  It has been action-packed here at the library, so I thought I'd reflect a little on the month that has almost completely passed me by.  Here is what October has looked like for me:

Tess G. signs a book for Barb

 Best-selling author, Tess Gerritsen visited us early in the month.  First, she had dinner with the library's bookclub, and then gave an engaging talk about her writing process, and the research that goes in to getting the details "just right."  She then stuck around and signed books!  It was an awesome night enjoyed by all.

Some of our young patrons check out the photo display

Next, the library hosted the Fall Foliage Festival photography and poetry contests!  We had an award ceremony for the winners and their families and have had the honor of displaying the entries all month long.

 Finally, the library unveiled our Cemetery Database.  The records are mainly historic in nature and were compiled with the help of the Morgan County History and Genealogy Association.  We are working hard to get more of the current listings included in the database, but this is still a great resource for those interested in digging up their family roots.

 I wonder what November will bring??  I guess that I will soon find out!

Happy reading,

Jennifer

Teen Read Week

Last week we celebrated Teen Read Week with an after-hours party for grades six through twelve.  We started offering after-hours parties a few years ago during summer reading.  They quickly became our most anticipated and well attended teen events.  This event was no different.  Fourteen teens got to hang out in the library for pizza, games, popcorn and a viewing of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.  We even gave away copies of several popular young adult science fiction novels and a couple DVDs. 

So what is Teen Read Week and why to do we celebrate it?  Teen Read Week is simply meant to encourage teens to read for enjoyment.  No quizzes, no homework assignments, no projects…reading for the sheer pleasure of reading!  The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) created TRW and many other events for teens.  This is an annual event and has been in practice since 1998.  This year’s theme, Seek the Unknown @ Your Library, goes a step further by encouraging teens to explore the unknown in mystery, adventure, science fiction and fantasy novels.

During TRW YALSA also tries to raise awareness about their Teen Top Ten list.  Each year teen book clubs at public and school libraries nominate an assortment of young adult books from the last year for the list.  All teens then have the opportunity to vote online for their three favorites.  The top ten list is then announced the week after Teen Read Week.  Here’s a quick video from YALSA that introduces this nominees.  For more on the nominees check back later this week for a guest post from library volunteer Emily.

And here's the official list of the 2013 Teens' Top Ten!  Want to read one?  Use these links to place a hold on the title of your choice!

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Poision Princess by Kresley Cole

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

Crewel by Gennifer Albin

Every Day by David Levithan

Kill Me Softly by Sarah Cross

Butter by Erin Jade Lange