We have officially moved!

We have officially moved our blog content over to our new website at http://libraries.ne.gov/alliance through our participation in the Nebraska Libraries on the Web project. My posts can now be read on our homepage by following the above link.

In addition to the blog, I have included a number of additional resources on the new site, such as an interactive calendar, reader's advisory pages, a kids page and much more. Hope to see you there!

In Memory of Kathie Bixby

The book Like No Other Place: The Sandhills of Nebraska by David A. Owens has been donated to our collection by Jim Cody in memory of Kathie Bixby, who is warmly thanked by the author in his acknowledgements.

Like No Other Place offers a candid and hauntingly beautiful portrait of the Nebraska Sandhills and the families that live and work in their craddle of natural beauty. Mr. Owens spent a number of years living in the Sandhills in order to capture the true essence of a place that he describes as "an area so in and of itself . . . that history and culture and the people who live and work there remain very organic to the place." In his book it is evident that Mr. Owens was able to capture this organic livelihood and breathe life into the pages through the portraits and landscapes of the people who inhabit this uniquely beautiful place full of sky and stars.

Leafing through this book I am reminded of how lucky I am to call this little corner of the world home, and I am grateful there are still places left in America, like the Sandhills, that exist in a near natural state, though they may be too few and far between.

In the acknowledgements, Mr. Owens writes, "I am greatly indebted to Kathie, who, from the very beginning, became a gracious friend, a guide who willingly introduced me to her friends and patiently shared her vast knowledge of the region . . . The memory of her friendship is embedded in every page of this book."

I highly recommend this book to anyone willing to read it. Thank you so much, Mr. Cody, for your thoughtful
donation.

Click here to read a review by the Lincoln Journal Star.

Storytime begins today!

Storytime begins tonight!

Storytime is a themed program for children ages 3 to 6 years old and is held in the children's section of the library every Tuesday night at 6:30 and Thursday morning at 10:00. Please register your child at the desk before attending.

Bookworm

Fiction
A Measure of Mercy by Lauraine Snelling: Astrid Bjorklund, studying medicine, leaves the town of Blessing and her boyfriend Joshua Landsverk behind to get additional training, but when Joshua fails to write and she learns he has left town, she makes a decision she may soon regret.
Blockade Billy by Stephen King: The character of George Granny Grantham recounts the story of William "Blockade Billy" Blakely, who was called in to fill a spot for the New Jersey Titans in the spring of 1957 and exhibited tenacity in the game as well as some disturbing eccentricities.

In His Majesty's Service by Naomi Novik: Collects the first three novels in the Temeraire series, including "His Majesty's Dragon," "Throne of Jade," and "Black Powder War

The Particular Sadness of Lemond Cake by Aimee Bender: Rose Edelstein, on the eve of her ninth birthday, bites into her mother's lemon-chocolate cake and is immediately aware of the hidden secrets the members of her family hold.

That Perfect Someone by Johanna Lindsey: Richard Allen falls in love with the married Georgina Malory, and, while trying to woo her at a masked ball, Richard meets Julia Miller, who eventually finds out his identity but agrees to enter into a charade with him in order to avoid marrying the Earl of Manford's son.

Tongues of Serpents by Naomi Novik: After being convicted of treason, Temeraire and Laurence are exiled to a prison colony, where they are faced with political entanglements and corruptions of war. Eager to escape, the two take on a mission to find a way through the Blue Mountains, which leads to a discovery that further complicates the war between Britain and Napoleon.

Nonfiction
Soccer and Philosophy: Delves deep into the inner workings if soccer, the world's most popular sport.
My Nebraska: The Good, The Bad, The Husker by Roger L. Welsch: Writer Roger Welsch is a fan of Nebraska—not just the football team, or the state's famous beef, or its endless sky, or its weather, but the whole thing. His perspectives will make readers of this "love letter to Nebraska" chuckle.

The Practical Astronomer by Will Gater: A beginner's guide to astronomy that covers recognizing and identifying features in the sky, naked eye observation, using binoculars and telescopes, and other related topics, and includes star charts and a month-by-month atlas of the night sky.

Alone: Orphaned on the Ocean by Richard D. Logan: Recounts the events surrounding the murder of the Duperrault family by the captain of the ship they chartered on vacation in 1961, as told by Tere Duperrault Fassbender, who was eleven-years-old at the time of the event and the only survivor.

CD's Fiction
Hero at Large by Janet Evanovich: Ken Callahan stops to help single mom Chris Nelson with her car not realizing his life is about to take a drastic change, with broken bones, a bruised heart, a Zamboni, and a meddlesome Aunt Edna all in the mix.
Split Second by David Baldacci: Michelle Maxwell and Sean King, two former Secret Service agents whose careers were destroyed when presidential candidates under their protection were harmed, discover together that their cases, eight years apart, are connected, and that danger remains.
The Associate by John Grisham: A dark episode from college haunts Kyle McAvoys future after he graduates from Yale and takes a shady job at a law firm where his new employer blackmails him into unethical work, which includes a scheme that could land Kyle in jail or possibly get him killed.

I, Alex Cross by James Patterson: On his birthday, detective Alex Cross has been informed that his niece, Caroline has been brutally murdered and Cross's investigation leads him to a fantasy-scene in, where he realizes he is tracking a serial killer. Danger mounts when Cross connects the deaths to some very important people.

Happy Labor Day

The Library will be closed on Monday in honor of Labor Day. We will resume operation on Tuesday with Winter Hours as follows:

Monday-Thursday 8am-8pm

Friday and Saturday 10am-5pm

Sunday 1pm-4pm

Have a wonderful and relaxing Labor Day!

In Memory of Mary Helen Brittan Serna

The following poetry collections have been donated to the library in loving memory of Mary Helen Brittan Serna, who was a lover of travel, poetry and fine literature.

"Virtually every baby boomer who cares about contemporary poetry first made its acquaintance in one of the little square paperbacks Lawrence Ferlinghetti started publishing out of his San Francisco bookstore, City Lights, in 1955. Together, those slim volumes of dedicatedly modernist, often Beat, and generally avant-garde verse comprise the Pocket Poets series. A few pages from each of the first 52 titles in the series appear in this sampler. The poets include Ginsberg, O'Hara, Levertov, Kerouac, di Prima, Bly, etc., etc.--a who's who of postWorld War II American modernism--as well as their great inspirer, William Carlos Williams, and such foreign counterparts as Voznesensky and Parra, such foreign forebears as Mayakovsky and Picasso (yes, poems by him). Of course, what we have here is a moment in cultural time, that of the 1950s1960s avant-garde; the next generation of new poets published elsewhere. But what a rich moment it is, one that belongs in every American library." ~ Booklist

Poetry is the literary journal of the poetry world. To be published in Poetry is to have a gold star on your resume. This collection offers up some 600 poems spanning a century of wonderful work from classics such as E.E. Cummings, Ezra Pound, and Sylvia Plath, to more contemporary stars of the poetry world like Yusef Komunyakaa and Billy Collins. This collection offers up the cream of the crop from the 20th century.



This volume contains more than 1600 poems drawn from dozens of languages and cultures, and spans a period of more than 4000 years from ancient Sumer and Egypt to the late twentieth century. World Poetry encompasses the many worlds of poetry, poetry of all styles, of all eras, of all tongues: from the ancient epic of Gilgamesh and the Pharaoh Akhnaten's "Hymn to the Sun" to the haiku of Basho and the dazzling imagery of Li Po; from Vedic hymns to Icelandic sagas to the "Carmina Burana"; from the magnificence of Homer and Dante to the lyricism of Goethe and Verlaine; from the piercing insights of Rilke and Yeats to the revelatory verse of Emily Dickinson, Garcia Lorca, Derek Walcott, Seamus Heaney, and many more.

These books will round out our poetry collection nicely. Thank you Jane, for the donation!

Bookworm

Fiction

Robert Ludlum's the Bourne Objective by Eric Lustbader: Jason Bourne, nearly killed in an ambush in Indonesia, assumes a new identity and recommences his quest to learn who he really is, but when an American passenger jet is shot down over Egypt by what appears to be an Iranian missile, he joins a global team, led by Soraya Moore, to investigate the attack and possibly prevent another world war.

Captain's Fury by Jim Butcher: Tavi of Calderon, now Captain of the First Aleran Legion, attempts an alliance between Aleran and Cane in order to fight their common enemy, the terrifying Vord.

Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella: Young Rebecca Bloomwood, a financial magazine writer who has dug herself into a huge debt hole with her perpetual shopping, tries to turn her life around when she meets the desirable Luke Brandon.

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson: Lisbeth Salander, recovering in a Swedish hospital from a gunshot wound, calls upon journalist Mikael Blomkvist to help prove her innocence in the murders of three people; but in order to do so, he must uncover a long-buried conspiracy within the Swedish Secret Service.

Heart of the Matter by Emily Griffin: Nick Russo, pediatric plastic surgeon and husband of Tessa, a stay-at-home mom, is called in to treat a six-year-old burn victim; but as he becomes involved in the case, he also finds himself attracted to the child's mother, Valerie.

Standard of Honor by Jack Whyte: In 1187, Alexander Sinclair escapes into the desert after the Battle of Hattin and sets out to find other Templar Knights who survived the battle, while King Richard seeks the help of Sir Henry St. Clair as he prepares to free the Holy Lands.

Inner Harbor by Nora Roberts: In honoring his father's dying wish, Phillip Quinn finds himself caring for a young boy who reminds Phillip of himself, and when he meets a woman who can help him save the boy from his tramp of a mother, he falls in love and tries to make a perfect family for himself and the young boy.

Nonfiction

Nicholas Black Elk by Michael F. Steltenkamp: A comprehensive biography of the life of Black Elk, an Oglala Sioux religious elder, who participated in the Battle of the Little Bighorn, witnessed the massacre at Wounded Knee, and lived into the twentieth century.

Israel and Palestine by Avi Shlaim: Examines various aspects of Israeli-Palestinian relations, including Israel's establishment in 1948, the Six Day War of 1967, and the Oslo Accords of 1993, and assesses the influence of key political and intellectual figures such as Ariel Sharon, Edward Said, and Yasser Arafat while analyzing the many opportunities for peace that has been missed.

One Hundred Summers by Candace S. Greene: The book presents a recently discovered calendar, created by the Kiowa master artist Silver Horn. Covering the period from 1828 to 1928, the pictures trace Kiowa experiences from buffalo to biplanes, from horse raiding to World War I service, offering a perspective on a critical period of Kiowa history.

Indian Slavery in Colonial America by Alan Gallay: This book examines the complicated dynamics of Indian Enslavement; including how and why Indians became slaves. The essays in this collection use Indian Slavery as a lens through which to explore both Indian and European societies and their interactions, as well as relations between and among Native groups.

The Magnificent Mountain Women by Janet Robertson: Presents three dozen women who from the 1850s to the 1980s ventured into the mountains pursuing their own aims and meeting success.

He Might Be a Redneck If…by Jeff Foxworthy: Presents a collection of Jeff Foxworthy's trademark redneck humor, covering family, love and marriage, homes and vehicles, work, fashion, and other topics.

Fur, Fortune and Empire by Eric Jay Dolin: Traces the dramatic rise and fall of the American fur industry, from the first Dutch encounters with the Indians to the rise of the conservation movement in the late nineteenth century.

I am hard at work on our new website - so my posting here will be minimal, and pretty soon non-existent. I hope to take the website live next week, at which time my daily posts can be found at the new site.

Here's the new address if you would like to take a sneak peek!
http://libraries.ne.gov/alliance

Library Bookclub!

We are implementing a library bookclub - so if you have ever wanted to join a bookclub or make some new friends, now's the time! It sounds like we plan on having two discussion times, one during the day and another in the evening, in order to make it more flexible for anyone who wishes to participate.

An organizational meeting will be held this Thursday at 2:00pm at the library.
If you can't attend the meeting, no worries, as I will post more information as it becomes available.

Bookworm

Large Print Fiction

The Cowpuncher by Bradford Scott: Huck Brannon’s dream was to have a ranch of his own. When Old Tom, a cowpoke, showed him a scrap that was alleged to be a map to a lost mine full of treasure, Huck decided this might be his only chance to have his dream come true.

Crawlspace by Sarah Graves: Jacobia "Jake" Tiptree, having left her career on Wall Street to remodel a 1823 Federal-style house, continues to struggle with her renovation while also teaming up with her mother-in-law to find her son and a true-crime writer who have disappeared and they believe are the targets of a serial killer.

Flint by Louis L’Amour: Suffering from incurable cancer, Flint heads back to New Mexico to die alone after making it big back East. But when all-out range war erupts, Flint chooses to help Nancy Kerrigan, a local rancher, save her ranch using his cash, his connections and his gun.

Ghost Legion by Johnny D. Boggs: Trying to escape a brutal husband, Marty McKindrict disguises herself as a man and joins the Patriot cause. Meanwhile, Stuart Brodie, a freedman, joins the Loyalists after his brother is lynched by a gang of Patriot renegades. In the heat of the American Revolution, fate will bring the two together in a bloody climax.

The House on Sugar Plum Lane by Judy Duarte: When Amy Masterson finds the Victorian house that belongs to her great-grandmother; she's surprised to discover a run-down building. Amy rents the house, fully furnished, and as she begins cleaning out the debris, she opens a window into the past she knows almost nothing.

The Inn at Angel Island by Thomas Kinkade: Liza Martin arrives on Angel Island to sell the inn she and her brother inherited from their aunt. She wants to quickly return to her busy life, so disposing of the inn is an easy decision. Not to easy is what to do with her unstable career and recent divorce. Once on Angel Island, she begins to doubt her decision.

The Hangman's Row Enquiry by Ann Purser: After moving to an old folk's residence, Ivy Beasley along with her cousin Deirdre and her admirer Roy are recruited by Gus Halfhide to start a detective agency called Enquire Within.

The Guns of Parral by Lauran Paine: A pair of lawmen ride into the town, with the intentions of arresting an old outlaw named Pete Harkness, even though he had not committed a reported crime in nearly 15 years, when people in the area find out who they were looking for, for duo find plenty of trouble.

Death of a Trophy Wife by Laura Levine: Freelance writer Jaine Austen finds herself working to clear the name of her friend Lance, who has been pegged as the murderer of millionaire Marv Cooper's trophy wife, a dreadful diva named Bunny.

Cowboy for a Rainy Afternoon by Stephen Bly: A man looks back on his days spent as a ten-year-old at the Matador Hotel in New Mexico, listening to his grandfather and his friends, who spent their lives as cowboys in the Southwest, tell stories and pass down the way of life and western traditions that were quickly becoming extinct.

The Singing Scorpion by William Colt MacDonald: A gang called the Scorpions loot and kill with abandon until Tucson Smith, a slow-talking and not easily riled man, decides to avenge the death of a loved one who has fallen victim to their murderous ways.

Sean's Reckoning by Sheryl Woods: Fireman Sean Devaney knew love never lasted, so he made sure he'd never be in a position to experience that kind of loss again. But he never counted on meeting Deanna Blackwell, who had just lost everything in a fire.

The Man from Battle Flat by Louis L’Amour: Collected for the first time are completely restored texts of three of Louis L'Amour's finest Western Stories.

Operation Paperback

Via the LibraryThing Blog (to read more about how awesone LibraryThing is, click here), I stumbled across the non-profit organization called Operation Paperback, which works to send books to troops deployed overseas. They are looking for donations of "gently" used books. It appears that you do the mailing and they will supply the address. What a great way to recycle books! For more information about the organization and how to help, visit their website at http://www.operationpaperback.org/

Non-fiction Connection at Nebraskaccess

A new searchable reader's advisory database called Non-fiction Connection is available at NebraskAccess. The platform is identical to Fiction Connection, which I posted about a long time ago here; however, the books are all nonfiction narratives that are based on fact yet read like fiction.

The database is available through a subscription and is made accessible to all Nebraskans free of charge courtesy of the ever wonderful Nebraska Library Commission - so thank you NLC! All you need to access the database is your Nebraska driver's license number, or you can contact us for a password.

There are a number of ways to go about finding new books, such as title search and browsing by tags. The site strikes me as pretty user friendly, so have some fun and explore. As always, if you have any questions, just let me know and I'll be happy to help :-)

Book Sale Starts Today!

Don't forget to support the library by attending the Friends of the Library Book Sale!

Hours are as follows:

Tuesday: 12-4pm Members Only & 4-6pm Public

Wednesday: 10am-7pm Public

Thursday: 12:00-5pm Public

Monetary donations are welcome!

Bookworm

Fiction

A Matter of Character by Robin Lee Hatcher: Journalist Joshua Crawford is outraged by the depiction of his grandfather as the villain in a dime store novel series penned by a D. B. Morgan, the unknown pseudonym of Daphne McKinley, but just as she begins to reassess her life Joshua rolls into town.

No Distance Too Far by Lauraine Snelling: Astrid Bjorklund, having attended a missionary training school in the South with the hopes of eventually helping sick people in Africa, is called home to Blessing for a family medical crisis, and finds opposition to herself and her work, as well as a man who makes her question her faith in God and love.

The Rule of Nine by Steve Martini: Paul Madriani, a defense attorney in San Diego, attempts to evade a variety of dangers while hunting down an extremist intent on attacking the heart of Washington, D.C., with a catastrophic weapon.

The Search by Nora Roberts: Fiona Bristow, the only survivor of the Red Scarf serial killer who shot and killed her fiancé and his K-9 partner, runs a dog-training business. Has her life disrupted by Simon Doyle who is desperate for help in calming his puppy, and by the emergence of a copycat killer who wants the woman that got away.

Skein of the Crime by Maggie Sefton: The knitters at the House of Lambspun have begun their fall projects, but Kelly Flynn decides to focus her attention on a murder investigation when one of her knitting students is found dead on the river trail near her house.

Take Four by Karen Kingsbury: Filmmakers Chase Ryan and Keith Ellison are weary about landing a popular young actor for their film, "Unlocked," because of his wild reputation, until he develops an interest in his costar, Bailey Flanigan, which could motivate him to improve himself.

Cool Beans by Erynn Mangum: Just when Maya Davis's life seems to be perfect her best friend starts dating Travis, Maya's long-term boyfriend from high school, who does not seem to recognize Maya, confusing her so much she begins to question everything, including her faith in God.

Fever Dream by Douglas J. Preston: Special Agent Pendergast and Lieutenant Vincent D'Agosta set out to investigate the mystery of Pendergast's wife, and who loaded her rifle with blanks, thus leaving her defenseless against the ferocious lion that took her life

Foreign Influence by Brad Thor: Homeland Security agent Scot Harvath is assigned to find the kidnapped daughter of a politically connected family in Afghanistan.

Men and Dogs by Katie Crouch: Twenty years after her father's mysterious disappearance, Hannah Legare returns to her family home in Charleston, South Carolina, hoping to learn what really happened on that long ago day that changed her life.

The Overton Window by Glen Beck: Public relations executive Noah Gardner refuses to help Molly Ross and her group of patriots advance their cause, until an attack on American soil shakes the country to the core and convinces Noah that helping Molly is the most important thing he will ever do, even if it means risking his life.

Predator by Terri Blackstock: After the murder of her fourteen-year-old sister by an online predator, Krista Carmichael tries to lure the killer by creating an online persona, and when Ryan Adkins, who started the GrapeVyne social network, meets Krista, he helps her in her attempt to obtain justice.

Private by James Patterson: Former CIA agent Jack Morgan runs Private, an international investigation company involved in solving important cases. When he learns that his best friend's wife has been killed, Jack devotes all of the company's resources to tracking down her killer, while navigating a workplace romance that threatens to disrupt his plans.

Pygmy by Chuck Palahniuk: Thirteen-year-old Pygmy, a young terrorist in the United States under the pretext of being a foreign exchange student, tries to make sense of American life while plotting his attack.

Friends of the Library Book Sale!

The Friends will be hosting their semi-annual booksale next week!

The hours are as follows:

Members only:

Tuesday, August 17, 12:00-4:00pm

Open to the public:

Tuesday, August 17, 4:00-6:00pm

Wednesday, August 18, 10:00am-7:00pm

Thursday, August19, 12:00-5:00pm

Monetary donations are welcome and encouraged. So much of what we do here at the library is made possible by this wonderful organization and the funds raised at the books sales. The more you donate, the more we are able to do. Your support is greatly appreciated!

Book donation information: any newly donated books will likely not make it into next week's sale; however, books can be donated year round. Simply drop your donation off at the circulation desk, and we will take it downstairs.

Gloria Clark Air Base Presentation this Thursday!

Capt. Robert D. Rae of Service Company, 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment prepares for a training jump in Alliance, Nebraska, in 1943. (image and caption found at www.armcairgeneral.com courtesy of Albert "Bud" Parker)

In conjunction with the military cemetery dedication, Gloria Clark, former Alliance resident, will give a presentation on her book

World War II: Prairie Invasion

at 6:00pm this Thursday

August 12th

in the Alliance Learning Center

Community Rooms.

We still have a few copies of the book available for checkout. See the circulation desk for details.

Based on the Book

The movie Eat, Pray, Love, which I am sure you know is based on the book of the same name by author Elizabeth Gilbert, is expected to hit our theatre soon. So why not be prepared and read the book before seeing the movie.

This beautifully written, heartfelt memoir touched a nerve among both readers and reviewers. Elizabeth Gilbert tells how she made the difficult choice to leave behind all the trappings of modern American success (marriage, house in the country, career) and find, instead, what she truly wanted from life. Setting out for a year to study three different aspects of her nature amid three different cultures, Gilbert explored the art of pleasure in Italy and the art of devotion in India, and then a balance between the two on the Indonesian island of Bali. By turns rapturous and rueful, this wise and funny author (whom Booklist calls “Anne Lamott’s hip, yoga- practicing, footloose younger sister”) is poised to garner yet more adoring fans.

Bookworm

Fiction

Family Ties by Danielle Steel: Architect Annie Ferguson puts her life on hold in order to raise her sister's three orphaned children; but now in her forties and the children facing major challenges in their own lives, a chance encounter changes Annie's destiny yet again.

Imperial Bedroom by Bret Easton Ellis: Clay establishes a career in screenwriting in New York City and returns to Los Angeles to find a cast for his new movie, but after encounters with old friends and interactions with a very persistent actress, Clay's inner demons pose a threat to the life he has built.

The Lion by Nelson DeMille: John Corey fears his allotment of good luck may have run out when he signs on as a contract agent with the federal government's Anti-Terrorist Task Force and is assigned to apprehend an alleged Libyan terrorist known as "The Lion."

Sidney Sheldon's After the Darkness by Tilly Bagshawe: Socialite Grace, wife of Lenny Brookstein, one of the founders of the most profitable hedge fund in history, must find a way to clear her own name and that of her husband after investors lose billions of dollars, Lenny disappears while sailing solo, and she is arrested for securities fraud.

The Spy by Clive Cussler: The Van Dorn Detective Agency assigns Isaac Bell, a private investigator, to a case that will reveal whether an American battleship gun designer's death was a suicide or murder, but Bell uncovers a plot set to destroy the great minds of America that are somehow connected to a secret project known as Hull 44.

Broken by Karin Slaughter: When Special Agent Will Trent investigates a prisoner's death he finds a tight-lipped police department following a second death, the county's police chief. When he tries to help the dead chief's widow, Dr. Sara Linton, he is forced to put pressure on officer Lena Adams, who he believes is concealing a dark secret.

Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris: Telepathic waitress Sookie Stackhouse, having survived the Fae War and is recovering from the torture she endured, realizes the doors to Faery were closed before some fae were able to leave the human world and they are holding her responsible.

Nonfiction
A Baker's Dozen by Karen Costello Soltys: As the publisher of America's Best-Loved Quilt Books, we just had to get in on the fun of quilting with precut fabrics! For this book, we commissioned 13 fabulous quilts designed and made by the stitching experts on our own staff. Now you can indulge your craving for fat quarters, Jelly Rolls, 5-inch charm squares, and 10-inch Layer Cakes!

The Facebook Effect by David Kirkpatrick: Explores the inside story of Facebook, its founders, and how it became a social networking sensation.

The Oglala Sioux Warriors in Transition by Robert H. Ruby: The book presents a picture of the ways in which the lives of the American Indians were altered under the influence of the U.S. government, and it details the heroic struggle of the Sioux to recover and maintain their culture and sovereignty.

Thinking in Pictures: My Life with Autism by Temple Grandin: The author gives a personal account of her life as an autistic person, describing the way her visual mind works and how she managed to go beyond her impairment and succeed in the outside world.

Surviving the Loss of a Child by Elizabeth B. Brown: The book offers encouragement and hope to those who may think they will never be able to live fully after such tragedy.

Rethinking the Fur Trade by Susan Sleeper-Smith: Exposes what has been called the “invisible hand of indigenous commerce,” revealing how it changed European interaction with Indians, influenced what was produced to serve the interests of Indian customers, and led to important cultural innovations.

The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine by Michael Lewis: Chronicles the events leading up to the economic crash in 2008 by following the lives of various individuals, including Steve Eisman, Vincent Daniel, Michael Burry, Greg Lippmann, Gene Park, Howie Hubler, and others.

Back From Training!

Photo courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/lizzardo/2189776899/

I am back from my workshop and training programs in Sidney, and boy do I have a long list of new to-do items. I am very excited about the new website! It also sounds like we will be able to transfer some of the blog content over to the new platform :-)

I hope to have the website ready to roll by the end of the month (my fingers are crossed as I say this) and I would love to hear any of your suggestions for the site. After all, the website is being made for you to use and enjoy! So, what would you like to see? Leave a comment or you can email me at tkeenan@cityofalliance.net with your ideas. I would love to hear them!

Tech Training

I am in Sidney today for training on how to maintain and enhance our new website, about which I am very excited!!! So, over the next few day the posting will be sparse, and very soon I'll have a new website to share where all of our online services can be accessed from one spot. Yay!

More info coming soon :-)

And the winner of our trivia contest is . . .

Pam Becker!

You have won a handmade garden stone. It will be ready to be picked up Wednesday afternoon. (I still need to pour it.)

And I want to thank all of you who took the time to participate in this contest. I hope you had as much fun answering the questions as I did finding them :-) Is this something you would like to continue with? I'm thinking of putting together another one this fall.

And here were all of the questions and answers:

1. What percentage of the human brain is made up of water? 77-78% (The source was the University of Washington Biology Dept.)

2. What was the original name for popsicles, and how old was the inventor? They were originally called Epsicles and were invented by an 11 year old boy.

3. What time officially marked the beginning of summer? 7:48 PM

4. What was the name of the girl who was the original model for the Coppertone logo and how old was she when the ads came out? Cheri Brand and she was 3 years old
What actress made her debut starring as the Coppertone Girl in TV commercials? Jodi Foster

5. What do the colors of our flag represent? No one knows for sure because it has never been found in any documents. (This was verified by more than one source.)

6. In the sport of surfing, what does the term "goofy foot" refer to? The surfer’s stance

7. How old is the world's oldest rose and where is it located? 1000 years old, Hildesheim Cathedral in Germany

8. Early explorers used watermelons for what practical traveling accessory? A canteen

9. In china, the discarded skins of cicadas are ground up, placed in tea and given to crying babies in hopes of doing what? Quieting them.

10. Who invented the Ferris Wheel and what was it meant to celebrate? George Ferris and it celebrated the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus

11. What is the highest recorded temperature in the state of Nebraska and what city is "lucky" enough to bear this honor? 118 degrees in Minden

#11 Final Trivia Question!

Man, it sure has been hot lately! It makes me ever so thankful for working someplace with central air. When I go home, where there is a definite shortage of air conditioning, I just try to remind myself that it could be worse. So with this in mind, I give you the final question to the Trivia Contest.


#11 What is the highest recorded temperature in the state of Nebraska and what city is "lucky" enough to bear this honor?

Now, since this is the last question for the contest, be sure to go back and answer all the ones you missed. The answers must be submitted either by email to rlarson@cityofallince.net or delivered to the circulation desk by the end of the day tomorrow. I'll announce the winner and post all of the correct answers here on Monday afternoon. Good luck!

The Adult Summer Reading Trivia Contest Prize!

In just a few short days we will have a winner for our trivia contest. Yay!

I know I have been promosing pictures of the trivia contest prize, which I have yet to post, mainly because I am not yet finished with it. However, I will tell you what it is. One lucker trivia fan will win a handmade mosaic glass stepping stone that I designed and made specifically for the contest :-)

So, I will be posting the last question tomorrow. Be sure to have all of your answers in to Ronda by the end of the day this Saturday, the 31st. The stone is pretty, so be sure to answer all of the questions!

Bookworm

I have been out of the office ill the last few days, so I will try to catch up with my posting throughout the day.

Fiction

Cold Ice by Tess Gerritsen: Medical examiner Maura Isles's SUV stalls on a mountain road, leaving her and her friends to seek refuge in a seemingly abandoned village, but when homicide detective Jane Rizzoli receives word that Maura's charred body was discovered in a ravine, she sets out to hunt down the killer and unravel the secrets concerning Maura's fate.

Blue-Eyed Devil by Robert B. Parker: Lawmen Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch return to find Amos Callico, a politically-ambitious chief of police, and twelve officers working in their town, but when Cole and Hitch refuse to work with Callico, the chief begins to threaten the local merchants into paying for his protection.

Anthropologie of an American Girl by H.T. Hamann: Eveline, growing up in East Hampton, learns to accept herself as she navigates her way through high school graduation and college and deals with death, rape, love, and other life challenges.

The Alchemaster's Apprentice by Walter Moers: Echo the Crat, a cat-like creature that can speak multiple languages, finds himself starving on the streets of Malisea after the death of his mistress and is forced to sign a contract with Ghoolion the Alchemaster who plans to kill Echo and render him down for his fat at the next full moon.

No Mercy by Lori Armstrong: Mercy Gunderson, on leave from military duty, returns home to South Dakota after her father's death, and as she tries to determine what to do with the family ranch, she is pulled into a dangerous investigation involving a local Native American boy who was found dead on her land.

Wrecked by Carol Higgins Clark: Private investigator Regan Reilly and her husband Jack decide to celebrate their anniversary by spending four days at a beach front home, when a violent storm demolishes their plans for a quiet vacation, and they are called to duty when an elderly neighbor disappears.

The Burning Wire by Jeffery Deaver: A criminal terrorizes New York City and forensic criminologist Lincoln Rhyme is leading the investigation, but Rhyme's determination, despite his physical impairment and his involvement in another investigation, causes conflict within his team.

Nonfiction

Hitch-22 by Christopher Hitchens: Tells the life story of controversial public intellectual, Christopher Hitchens, describing his views on war, religion, and other topics.

Portrait of an Addict as a Young Man by Bill Clegg: The author, who had a promising career in the publishing industry, recounts his descent into addiction and the odyssey of his two-month crack binge.

Pandora's Seed by Spencer Wells: Explorer, geneticist, geographer, and author Spencer Wells looks over ten thousand years of human progress maintaining that man's desire to control his own food supply contributed to urbanization and overcrowding, disease, and alienation from one another.

Rush Limbaugh: And Army of One by Ze’ev Chafets: A biography of Republican radio personality Rush Limbaugh, discussing his childhood, the jobs Limbaugh held prior to becoming an outspoken conservative, his marriages, and his political views throughout the several presidential terms since he has been on the radio.

Original Intent by David Barton: An essential resource for anyone interested in our nation's religious heritage and the Founders' intended role for the American judicial system.

To Save America by Newt Gingrich: Newt Gingrich offers his opinion of the Obama administration, characterizing it as desiring to further a socialist, secularist agenda, and discusses what he believes to be solutions for improving the legislative process, replacing Obama's programs, and more.

A Doctor Among the Oglala Sioux Tribes: The Letters of Robert H. Ruby 1953-1954 by Robert H. Ruby: In 1953, surgeon Robert H. Ruby began work as the chief medical officer at the hospital on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. He began writing almost daily to his sister, describing the Oglala Lakota people he served, his Bureau of Indian Affairs colleagues, and day-to-day life on the reservation.

Adult Summer Reading Trivia #10

#10 Who invented the Ferris Wheel and what was it meant to celebrate?

We hope you enjoy the carnival this weekend and the rest of the Heritage Days activities!

If you have missed any questions, feel free to go back and answer them. You have through July 31st to submit all of your answers!
To participate in the trivia contest, simply email your answer to Ronda at rlarson@cityofalliance.net or give us your answer at the desk. Don't forget to include your full name. For every correct answer, your name will be entered into a drawing for a prize. I will post a question at least once every week, maybe more, so be sure to check in often.

Seussical the Musical at Theatre West

Seussical the Musical is in Scottsbluff at WNCC's Theatre West!

I saw this musical presented by the Lincoln Community Playhouse a few years back and it is

A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!

They manage to role all the Seuss classics like Horton, Cat in the Hat, The Grinch, and the Butter Wars into a wonderful plot full of laughs and excitement.

So if you are a fan of Seuss, or you have a kid who likes Seuss, or you like musicals, or you're simply looking for somethig fun and different to do, contact Theatre West to purchase your tickets. The play runs tonight through Saturday and then next Wednesday through Saturday. They even have a family night on Wednesday, where admission for children under 12 is only $1 with the purchase of adult admission.


For more information contact the box office at 308-635-6193 or visit their website by clicking here.

Adult Summer Reading Trivia Question #9

#9 In china, the discarded skins of cicadas are ground up, placed in tea and given to crying babies in hopes of doing what?

Sticking with the mini recipe theme I have going on this summer, click here for a host of cicada recipes and enjoy! The cicada granola chews sound especially appetizing :-)

If you have missed any questions, feel free to go back and answer them. You have through July 31st to submit all of your answers!

To participate in the trivia contest, simply email your answer to Ronda at rlarson@cityofalliance.net or give us your answer at the desk. Don't forget to include your full name. For every correct answer, your name will be entered into a drawing for a prize. I will post a question at least once every week, maybe more, so be sure to check in often.

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake: a Review

I recently requested the book The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender. The title was perfect, the synopsis was intriguing and the book was on several summer "must read" lists I had seen in the media. So when the book arrived, I took it home and began to read.


The prose in this book is so beautifully written I found myself reading sentences two or three times on many occasions. Aimee Bender constructs beautiful similes and metaphors, and I love the way she had her characters use them frequently in conversation.

The book begins with 8 year old Rose Edelstein discovering she can taste, in any kind of food, the emotions of the person who made it. As you can imagine, this can be very cumbersome and on occasion flat-out horrifying. She goes on to discover that not only does she taste the emotions of the preparer, but the entire history of the ingredients, be they factory produced or grown on a farm, etc. She tries to explain her skill early on, but soon finds it better if she keeps her ability to herself and copes with it as best as she can.


The book moves on to explore the other characters in the book, most of whom are above-average intelligent members of her family, unfolding the separate but intersecting lives of her distant father, her borderline-insane genius brother, who harbors a mysterious and unsettling skill of his own, and her unfulfilled and disloyal mother.

While the overall plot of the story is a little strange, and your heart aches for many of the characters (whom I found myself wanting to either hug on slap on more than one occasion) this is overshadowed by Aimee Bender's ability to construct beautiful metaphors and elegant sentences. It is a novel that kept me glued to the pages, and one I would read again. I have a feeling there is still so much to discover in the pages.



Click here for review of the book from NPR and to read an excerpt.

Based on the Book

A new book series that has recently hit our shelves is The Vampire Diaries by L.J. Smith. The series has been made into a popular CW show by the same name:

Elena: the golden girl, the leader, the one who can have any boy she wants.

Stefan: brooding and mysterious, he seems to be the only one who can resist Elena, even as he struggles to protect her from the horrors that haunt his past.

Damon: sexy, dangerous, and driven by an urge for revenge against Stefan, the brother who betrayed him. Determined to have Elena, he'd kill to possess her.

Stop in and pick up the first book today!

Bookworm

Fiction
Savor the Moment by Nora Roberts: Wedding cake baker Laurel McBane is surrounded by romance working at Vows wedding planning company, but she's too low key to appreciate all the luxuries that her clients long for. What she does appreciate is Delaney, her friend's brother whom she has had a crush. She is convinced that the lawyer is out of her reach or so she thinks.

Small Favor by Jim Butcher: Just as wizard Harry Dresden's life begins to calm down, an old bargain comes back to haunt Harry, forcing him to help the Queen of Air and Darkness battle an old foe and trapping him in a nightmare that stretches his skills and loyalties to their limits.

Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich: Bounty hunter Stephanie Plum, office manager Connie, and file clerk Lula, motivated only by a strong desire to save their jobs, set out to rescue their boss and Stephanie's cousin, Vinny, who has been kidnapped by the mob for not paying his gambling debts.

Whiplash by Catherine Coulter: After her vivacious twin sister dies, a shy teenaged girl moves with her parents to San Francisco, where she meets a magical seamstress who grants her one wish.

The Passage by Justin Cronin: FBI agent Brad Wolgast vows to protect six-year-old orphan Amy Harper Bellafonte after a government military experiment she was involved in goes bad, unleashing a toxic virus that turns humans into bloodthirsty monsters.

Matterhorn by Karl Marlantes: Young Marine lieutenant and platoon commander Waino Mellas and his battalion learn about life, loss, and the horrors of war during their thirteen-month tour in the sweltering mountains of South Vietnam.

Junkyard Dogs by Craig Johnson: Wyoming sheriff Walt Longmire has much to contend with when the owners of a multi-million-dollar development decide to remove the junkyard next door, but the Stewart clan the owners of the junkyard, are not easily moved.

Nonfiction

Where Mercy is Shown, Mercy is Given by Duane "Dog" Chapman: Duane "Dog" Chapman, the recognized bounty hunter from A&E's television series, discusses the challenges he has overcome in his life, his professional experiences capturing fugitives, and his role as a mentor.

Countdown to College: 21 "to-Do" Lists for High Scool by Valerie Pierce: Provides a timeline to help students maximize their high school years and optimize their chances of getting where they want to go.

Furious Love by Sam Kashner: Describes the tempestuous relationship between Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor, their affair on the set of Cleopatra, Burton's struggle with alcohol, their emotional battles, separation, and remarriage.

War by Sebastian Junger: A combat narrative based on journalist Sebastian Junger's experiences in Afghanistan in 2007 and 2008, during which he spent time intermittently embedded with a platoon of the 173rd Airborne brigade in Korengal Valley.

Seven Events That Made America America by Larry Schweikart: Describes seven events in American history and their significance, including when Martin Van Buren consolidated the first national political party, how Dwight Eisenhower's heart attack impacted the American diet, how rock and roll helped in the fight against communism, and more.

Things To Do Now That You're . . . A Grandparent by Amy Goyer: Provides the newly appointed grandparent with 600 ingenious, fun and creative ideas to explore.

Spoken from the Heart by Laura Welsh Bush: First Lady Laura Bush reveals her life, describing her childhood in Midland, Texas, along with her relationships with family members and friends, a tragic high school car accident, professional accomplishments, married life, experiences in the White House, and more.

Our rose garden is at it's finest!

We are busy preparing our recently planted rose garden for tonight's Carnegie Arts Center Garden Walk. It is going to be filled with wind chimes, garden decor, potted flowers and trees, a tea fountain, and of course roses! The St. John's Brass Band will also so kindly be treating us to their wonderful music. Be sure to stop by for some refreshing iced tea, take a look at our beautiful new rose garden and enjoy the music!

If you would like to participate in the entire garden walk, simply contact Carnegie Arts Center for tickets. They are $25, which includes a lovely tour of a number of area gardens as well as a light gourmet dinner served in a garden and a fine art auction! All funds go to Carnegie Art Center, which truly is a wonderful addition to our community.

Adult Summer Reading Trivia Contest #8

#8 Early explorers used watermelons as what pratical traveling accessory?

Click here for a host or watermelon recipes, including a muffin crumble parfait, watermelon and pineapple salsa, watermelon BBQ sauce and much more!

To participate in the trivia contest, simply email your answer to Ronda at rlarson@cityofalliance.net or give us your answer at the desk. Don't forget to include your full name. For every correct answer, your name will be entered into a drawing for a prize. I will post a question at least once every week, maybe more, so be sure to check in often.

New Book Spotlight

The following books has made it on to several summer reading lists. The plot sounds interesting, and it has received many rave reviews. It is just hitting the shelves and can be found at call number FIC BEN in the new book section, or you can contact us to place a hold.

On the eve of her ninth birthday, unassuming Rose Edelstein, a girl at the periphery of schoolyard games and her distracted parents’ attention, bites into her mother’s homemade lemon-chocolate cake and discovers she has a magical gift: she can taste her mother’s emotions in the cake. She discovers this gift to her horror, for her mother—her cheerful, good-with-crafts, can-do mother—tastes of despair and desperation. Suddenly, and for the rest of her life, food becomes a peril and a threat to Rose.

The curse her gift has bestowed is the secret knowledge all families keep hidden—her mother’s life outside the home, her father’s detachment, her brother’s clash with the world. Yet as Rose grows up she learns to harness her gift and becomes aware that there are secrets even her taste buds cannot discern.

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake is a luminous tale about the enormous difficulty of loving someone fully when you know too much about them. It is heartbreaking and funny, wise and sad, and confirms Aimee Bender’s place as “a writer who makes you grateful for the very existence of language” (San Francisco Chronicle).

Summer Reading Swim Party Grand Finale!

Don't forget that tomorrow there are no morning programs for the children's Summer Reading. Instead, Stephanie will be celebrating another successful year with a swim party! The party will be from 7:00 to 9:00 at the city pool. The whole family is encouraged to attend, so bring the kids and the towels and have a fun water-filled evening!

Adult Summer Reading Trivia Question #7

#7 How old is the world's oldest rose and where is it located?

Since this is a two-part question, your name will be entered into the drawing for each correct answer you give. And if you missed a question, all answers will be accepted through July 31st.

Just make sure we know the numberof the question you are answering :-)

Don't forget to contact Carnegie Arts Center for tickets to their Garden Walk fundraiser this Thursday evening. Our newly planted rose garden is one of the features of the walk!

For more info, click here.

To participate in the trivia contest, simply email your answer to Ronda at rlarson@cityofalliance.net or give us your answer at the desk. Don't forget to include your full name. For every correct answer, your name will be entered into a drawing for a prize. I will post a question at least once every week, maybe more, so be sure to check in often.

Bookworm

Large Print Fiction

Ryan's Place by Sherryl Woods: Abandoned by his parents and separated from his four brothers as a youngster, Ryan Devaney never let anyone get too close to him. Then Maggie O'Brien marched into his pub and declared war on the icy fortress around his heart.

The Sacred Valley by Max Brand: Born to white parents, Rusty Sabin was taken prisoner and raised by the Cheyennes, who know him now as Red Hawk, an admired leader and great warrior. After two bags of gold Sabin collected in the sacred valley are stolen by frontiersmen, a bloody confrontation between the settlers and Indians ensues.

Menace in Red Chaps by Eli Colter: The people of Seco Range are shocked when Kurt Quillan turns twenty and becomes a hardened killer. Though he shoots in self defense, he seems to never have a witness. Then Lem Strickland, his foster father, becomes victim number eight. The locals are irate and pursue Kurt, whom they believe is a cold-blooded killer.

Bryant and May on the Loose by Christopher Fowler: The Peculiar Crimes Unit is no more. After years of defying the odds and infuriating their superiors, detectives Arthur Bryant and John May have at last crossed the line. While Bryant takes to his bed, the rest of the team take to the streets looking for new careers, leading one of them to stumble upon a murder.

How to Wash a Cat by Rebecca M. Hale: After Uncle Oscar dies mysteriously and leaves his antique store to his niece, she begins to suspect foul play. In the company of her two cats, she follows a twisted trail of deception that leads all the way back to the days of the Gold Rush.

Fransesca's Kitchen by Peter Pezzelli: When Francesca Campamile's children move away, she feels useless. When she sees a want ad for a part-time nanny and begins working for Loretta Simmons, it is time for Francesca to work her magic and the best place to start is in the kitchen.

Riders of Deathwater Valley by James C. Work: Art Pendragon, owner of the Keystone ranch, has called a special meeting of the ranchers to address the problem of rustling. When the rustlers raid a picnic of women and children and kill a Keystone rider, war is immediately declared.

One of Ours by Willa Cather: Claude Wheeler is alienated from his parents, all but rejected by his wife, and is dissatisfied with farming. It is only when America enters the First World War that Claude finds the purpose he has searched for.

Look Again by Lisa Scottoline: Reporter Ellen Gleeson is stunned when she sees her adopted son Will on a missing child flier, and she is forced to decide whether she is willing to uncover the truth about her son's birth and possibly risk losing him forever.

Savor the Moment: Wedding cake baker Laurel McBane is surrounded by romance working a wedding planning company with her three best friends, but she's too low key to appreciate all the luxuries that her clients seem to long for. What she does appreciate is Delaney, her friend's older brother whom she has had a crush on since childhood. She is convinced that the Ivy League lawyer is out of her reach.

Return to Promise by Debbie Macomber: Life was everything Cal and Jane Patterson could dream of, until their marriage begins to fall apart with the help of a young woman who has her sights on Cal. The couple separates and Jane returns to her childhood home in California, forcing both Cal and herself to confront what they really want in life.

Dark Fire by Elizabeth Lowell: Cynthia hires survival specialist Trace Rawlings to accompany her on her trip to Ecuador at her father's insistence, and though she finds him rude, demanding, and egotistical, she soon discovers he is all the man she needs.

Murders on Elderberry Road by Sally Goldenbaum: Writer, quilter and nurturer of the Queen Bees quilting group Portia "Po" Paltrow jogged toward the shops along Elderberry Road. It was a peaceful morning until a cat's shrill cry tipped her off to the body lying just inside the quilt shop.

Noelle by Diana Palmer: Orphan Noelle Brown finds herself in the midst of high-society after her charming Benefactor, Andrew Paige, welcomes her into his home. But her passions are torn between Andrew and his wild Stepbrother, Jared Dunn.

Bonner's Stallion by T.V. Olsen: Bonner's life was about to get a lot harder. He had already lost his woman, and he was about to lose his son and his mountain ranch to a rich and powerful enemy. It was right about the same time that El Diablo Rojo - the feared and hated rogue stallion - came back into Bonner's life.

Adult Summer Reading Trivia Question #6

#6 In the sport of surfing, what does the term "goofy foot" refer to?

To participate in the trivia contest, simply email your answer to Ronda at rlarson@cityofalliance.net or give us your answer at the desk. Don't forget to include your full name. For every correct answer, your name will be entered into a drawing for a prize. I will post a question at least once every week, maybe more, so be sure to check in often.

Carnegie Arts Center Garden Walk

Next week, we are going to be a participant in the Carnegie Art Center's Annual garden Walk fundraiser! We have been hard at work replanting our rose garden (with thanks to the Friends of the Library for purchasing the new roses and mulch!) and are in the progress of working on the many other garden areas located on the grounds. The St. John's Lutheran Church brass band has been booked to provide some hopping entertainment as well!

The Garden Walk is a garden party fundraiser held annually by the Carnegie Arts Center, and it is a wonderful bloom-food-and-art-filled evening! A number of area gardens are spruced up for the participants to enjoy, followed by a grand finale dinner and fine art auction, with all proceeds going to the Carnegie Art Center. The art center is a treasure our community is lucky to have. I have participated in the walk the past 3 years, and it makes for quite a delightful evening. So grab a friend (or two!) and mark the calendar!

Tickets to the event are $25 and can be purchased

by contacting the Carnegie Arts Center at

762-4571 or 204 W. 4th St.

The walk will be held next Thursday

July 15th and begins at 5:00pm.

New Book Spotlight

We recently received and are processing the book The Passage by Justin Cronin, and from what I have heard, this is suppose to be one of the hot new books of the summer! It has received good reviews from a number of sources and was one of Oprah's summer picks. Call today to place a hold (762-1387)!

"Every so often a novel-reader's novel comes along: an enthralling, entertaining story wedded to simple, supple prose, both informed by tremendous imagination. Summer is the perfect time for such books, and this year readers can enjoy the gift of Justin Cronin's The Passage. Read fifteen pages and you will find yourself captivated; read thirty and you will find yourself taken prisoner and reading late into the night. It has the vividness that only epic works of fantasy and imagination can achieve. What else can I say? This: read this book and the ordinary world disappears."--Stephen King




Click here for more info from Barnes and Noble