Women’s History Month

March 1, 2011February 22, 2011 - Ann 1 Comment

February was Black History Month, but March marks the transition into Women’s History Month. If you didn’t catch our displays last month, stop by and see what’s new.

One book in particular that serves as the perfect segue from one theme to the other is Sister Days by Janus Adams. Subtitled “365 Inspired Moments in African American Women’s History,” the book is written in diary style, with short anecdotes for every day of the year. For example, Philippa Schuyler, who was declared a prodigy at age 3, is featured on July 29th, while Era Bell Thompson, who was inducted into the Iowa Hall of Fame, is the woman of the day on April 30th. Personally, I had not heard about either of these remarkable individuals!

Another book that’s received a lot of press lately is the Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. It’s a true story of a poor woman who died of cervical cancer. Before her death in 1951, a sample of her cancerous tissue was taken, but without her knowledge or consent. Her cells, known as HeLa cells, not only survived in the lab, but thrived, providing scientists with a building block for many medical breakthroughs, starting with the cure for polio.

This is just a small sampling of a wide variety of materials celebrating women of achievement throughout the years. Come check some out!

If You Like Sherlock Holmes…

January 19, 2010January 6, 2010 - Lynn Leave a comment

We have a display for you! At both Main Street and Fairmount Street libraries, we have mysteries and DVDs of Sherlock Holmes spinoffs.

The Beekeeper’s Apprentice by Laurie King is the first in a series featuring a feminist Mary Russell. A teenager at the time, she meets the great Holmes while she is wandering the Sussex countryside. Holmes mentors Mary as they investigate the kidnapping of an American senator’s daughter. The World WarI era , an Oxford setting – where Mary is a student, and the evolving relationship in which Holmes mentors his young protegee are all strong points of the novel.

The Italian Secretary by Caleb Carr is a humorous paranormal twist on the Holmes canon. The setting is a ghostly Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh,Scotland. Watson and Holmes are called in by Sherlock’s brother to investigate murders that Mycroft fears may threaten Queen Victoria. The author of The Alienist “reflects a deep knowledge and understanding of Holmesiana.” Publisher’s Weekly

Red, White & Blue

July 3, 2009June 29, 2009 - Ann Leave a comment

Independence Day is coming and we have materials to help you celebrate!

If you haven’t already read James Patterson’s book, 4th of July, this is the perfect time to do so. For those of you already familiar with Patterson’s story lines or characters, this is part of his Women’s Murder Club series and features San Francisco police lieutenant Lindsay Boxer. (Perhaps you’ve even caught some of the TV crime shows with Boxer as the main character, as played by Angie Harmon.)

Another appropriate title is Red, White & Blue Murder by Bill Crider. This is the thirteenth novel in the Sheriff Dan Rhodes mystery series, in which Rhodes is presented as a likeable Texan lawman. His character is wry and warmhearted, in a humorous, down-home and folksy way.

If you’re looking for something a little more serious, try Red, White , and Muslim: My Story of Belief by Asma Gull Hasan. Described on the back cover as “a warm, witty, wonderful story about what it means to be both Muslim and American in a post 9/11 world, ” this should be an enlightening and educational read for those of us less familiar with the Muslim faith.

Enjoy your 4th of July holiday!

Red, White & Blue

July 3, 2009 - Ann Leave a comment

Independence Day is coming and we have materials to help you celebrate!

Enjoy your 4th of July holiday!

Latino Books Month

May 14, 2009May 11, 2009 - Ann Leave a comment

latino Cinco de Mayo is only the beginning! The entire month of May has been designated as Latino Books Month by the Association of American Publishers. Simply put, it’s an effort to encourage people to read books by and for Latinos. What’s great is that you can choose to read many titles in either English or Spanish.

If you read Spanish, you’ll be able to check out some books that, in English, never seem to be on the shelf! For example, Luna Nueva by Stephanie Meyer.

If you prefer Latino authors, try Carlos Ruiz Zafon and his El Juego del Angel or Para Salvar el Mundo by Julia Alvarez. Can’t read Spanish? No problem, we have the English versions of those titles as well. Hint: Look for The Angel’s Game and Saving the World.

Also, in the children’s section, we feature many bi-lingual editions as well as clever videos. Did you know that exposing children to another language at a young age can really help their fluency in later years? Why not give it a try?

Don’t Judge a Book by It’s Cover — On Display

April 28, 2009April 24, 2009 - Ann Leave a comment

I have to give credit where credit is due; this idea was posted on a list serve by Glenda Mulder from Laurens (Iowa) Public Library. Thanks for sharing Glenda!

susan-boyle Given the You-Tube popularity of the Britain’s Got Talent segment, I thought I’d share the idea with you as well. (If you’re one of the few who hasn’t seen this video clip of Susan Boyle yet, drop everything and do so now. It will make your day and let you look at life in a whole new way!)

As I was pulling items for this display, I realized (to my dismay) that I, too, am guilty of judging a book by it’s cover. Since our selectors do a top-notch job of weeding, I thought there might be slim pickins. Instead, what I discovered was a wonderful wealth of the old classics — books like Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell and James Joyce’s Ulysses and Willa Cather’s The Song of the Lark. These books date back to the days when well-loved copies were sent to be rebound — not that we don’t do that anymore, just not as much! Most of them have plain covers, with no pictures or glossy photographs or even the title! But open them up and the magic is still inside.

Earth Day — On Display!

April 22, 2009April 20, 2009 - Ann Leave a comment

April 22 is Earth Day! This holiday has been celebrated in America since 1970, but due to the timeliness of this topic, there’s a vast array of newer materials on all things having to do with “green” and the environment. Check out some of these titles:

From the Bottom Up: One Man’s Crusade to Clean America’s Rivers by Chad Pregracke with Jeff Barrow. Talk about a home-town hero! Chad started his river clean-up project right here on the Mississippi in the Quad Cities. His Living Lands & Waters, a not-for-profit organization, has received tons of corporate sponsorship and has now expanded its efforts to clean up other rivers.

The Green Book: the Everyday Guide to Saving the Planet by Elizabeth Rogers and Thomas Kostigen. This compact little book is clearly organized, which makes it easy to quickly check the areas you most interested in — be it home, work , school or travel. Another appealing addition (interspersed between chapters) is the series of quotes from celebrities, such as Robert Redford and Martha Stewart.

Hot, Flat and Crowded by Thomas L. Friedman. This book by a Pulizter Prize winning author has received rave reviews and has been a number-one bestseller. Basically, the sub-title sums it up: Why We Need a Green Revolution — and How It Can Renew America.

Money Smart Week – On Display!

April 21, 2009April 20, 2009 - Ann Leave a comment

The Quad Cities is celebrating Money Smart Week April 18-25th. Besides the multitude of informational programs being offered throughout the week, you can also get more in-depth suggestions from current materials at the library.

In this struggling economy, the Penny Pincher’s Almanac by Reader’s Digest may be just the ticket for many of us. Presented in the typically quick and clever digest style, it’s full of easily accessible ideas.

Who isn’t interested in money? In Greenback: the Almighty Dollar and the Invention of America by Jason Goodwin, the author explains how “money has always been at the heart of the American experience. ”

For practical points on getting out of debt, try Girl, Get Your Credit Straight! by Glinda Bridgforth. The book is organized to encourage readers to get their priorities straight and to plan their spending. It also has ideas on ways to increase one’s income.

Be sure to check out all the events sponsered by the Davenport Library this week including supermarket shopping and budgeting tips as well as a Community Shred Day at the Fairmount Library on Saturday, April 25.

On Display – Poetry

April 14, 2009April 2, 2009 - Ann Leave a comment

Roses are Red, Violets are Blue

April is National Poetry Month too!

Okay, okay — this little rhyme won’t win a Pulitzer prize. But maybe, just maybe, it’ll get you to come into the library and check out a book of poetry; you might just find some old favorites you’ve forgotten and discover some new ones along the way.

The children’s collection has some beautiful books — often illustrating just one poem, so they’re very appealling to both young and old alike. Try Shel Silverstein’s classic A Light in the Attic, filled with whimsical, playful, clever (and very funny) word play, or Paul Janecsko’s A Kick in the Head, a delightful, laugh-out-loud introduction to poetry forms. Both will have you bouncin’ to the beat!

And, if you’ve never read Spoon River Anthology by Edgar Lee Masters, what better time than now? Set in a fictional Midwestern village in central Illinois along the Spoon River (which isn’t all that far from here), it tells the stories of “the dead sleeping on the hill” who awaken and tell the truth about their lives. Although written in 1915, the themes are universal and heartfelt.

If you don’t find something on the display shelf, just check out the 811’s for a treasure chest of American poetry.

On Display – Decorating

April 8, 2009April 2, 2009 - Ann Leave a comment

Ahhh, Spring! It’s a fresh start for everything — including your home! April just happens to be National Decorating Month, so if you’re looking for some ideas to update your lovely abode, stop by the library and check out what we have to offer. These books have beautiful photographs and offer simple (and inexpensive) solutions to your decorating dilemnas. You know, all you need is a new coat of paint or a change of pillows on your couch! Well, maybe a little bit more.

For more detailed ideas, here are some great resources for some creative new home decorating ideas:

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