Staff Recommendations

Over the next few day, I will be posting some staff reading recommendations. I also plan on having another trivia contest throughout the month of March, so be on the lookout for that as well.

Here are a few books I have recently read that I would highly recommend:


Chuck Palahniuk is one of my favorite contemporary authors. His writing is style is uniquely his own and I have never read one of his books that I didn't enjoy. Characters include a jaded journalist, a hippie new age psychic witch and her consumer terrorist boyfriend, and a real estate agent who makes her money selling and reselling known haunted houses. The quirky group are on the hunt to remove all known copies of an African Culling song that has the power to kill any person it is read to from bookstores and libraries throughout the country, and each character is joining in the search for their own reasons. It is a very engaging and darkly humorous novel. Available for checkout at FIC PAL

The classic novel The Light in the Forest by Conrad Richter is a short yet engrossing novel about a young white who was kidnapped and raised by Indians during the colonial times. He is forced by white settlers to rejoin white society, yet his cultural identity and his heart remains true to his Native upbringing. The boy, whose Native name is True Son, fights to rejoin his Native family. The story is heartbreaking and beautiful. Available for checkout at YA RIC as a book and AB FIC RIC as a book on cassette.

Check back tomorrow for more staff recommendations!

The Bookworm

Fiction
Not My Daughter by Barbara Delinsky: The pregnancy pact between three teenaged girls puts their mothers' love to a test. Susan Tate is stunned because she has tried to do everything right. When more pregnancies are announced, her job as high school principal, her financial independence and her dreams are all at risk.

Doors Open by Ian Rankin: Three friends descend upon an art auction. In a conversation over drinks, they hit on a plan to steal the art. Suddenly, they are tossed together with forgers, crime bosses and more. The story is about second chances and double crosses.

Hastur Lord by Marion Zimmer: Regis Hastur is confronted with the destiny he has never wanted as his grandfather lies on his deathbed, but after the Terran Empire assassinates members of Darkover's council and Regis' grandfather confesses that Regis has an older half-brother, Regis must decide whether to accept his destiny to become the Regent of Darkover or to follow his dreams.

Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier: Fossil hunter Mary Anning and Elizabeth Philpot form a friendship based on their interest in science and Elizabeth's confidence which allows her to protect Mary and other individuals who believe her work is unacceptable because she is a female and it questions religious beliefs.

Catalyst by Anne McCaffrey: Chessie, a pregnant Barque Cat, is kidnapped and her Cat Person Janina and Dr. Jared Vlest attempt to free her before an alien feline Pshaw-Ra with psionic power takes her to his planet so they can begin the universal domination of the unknown
universe.

Among Thieves by David Hosp: $300 million worth of paintings were stolen from a museum in what remains one of the greatest unsolved art thefts. Now, years later, the case threatens to break wide open. But when Scott Finn learns that one of his clients, Devon Malley, was part of the heist, he's drawn into the crossfire.

The Domino Pattern by Timothy Zahn: Frank Compton works with his assistant, Bayta, to put an end to the Modhri's psychological influence and dominance throughout the galaxy, but when the investigation reveals a connection between the Modhri and the Filiaelians, Compton and Bayta must face an even greater threat.

Nonfiction
Johnny Cash: The Autobiography by Patrick Carr: Autobiography reflecting on the country musician's childhood on an Arkansas cotton farm, the early years at Sun Records, singing at the Grand Ole Opry, life on the road, years of addiction to amphetamines and pain pills, and his deep devotion to his wife, June, and their family.

No Angel: My Harrowing Undercover Journey to the Inner Circle of Hells Angels by Jay Dobyns: FBI agent Jay Dobyns relates his experiences working undercover to infiltrate the Hells Angel Motorcycle Club, discussing his actions and how the job nearly cost him his family and his life.

Blue Blood by Edward Conlan: Edward Conlon, a fourth-generation officer with the New York City Police Department, chronicles his experiences on the force from his first days on patrol to his rise to the rank of detective, and shares stories from his great-grandfather, grandfather, and father's time with the NYPD.

Free Lunch: How the Wealthiest American's Enrich Themselves at Government Expense (And Stick You With the Bill) by David C. Johnston: The book reveals how industry and commerce repeatedly shift risks and costs to the taxpayer, government attempts to manipulate or adjust the market, and how the wealthiest Americans continue to get richer at government expense.

Jim Cramer's Stay Mad for Life: Get Rich, Stay Rich (Make Your Kids Even Richer) by James J. Cramer: Jim Cramer offers advice on investing, explaining how to build wealth by avoiding common pitfalls, making smart money decisions, invest in bull markets, identify winning funds, and understand the dangers and promise of investing.

Bottom Line's Healthy Heart by Michael Mogadam, M.D.: Discusses coronary artery disease, diabetes, obesity exercise, HDL-Cholesterol and other risk factors. The author discusses myths and debunks them. He includes information on diets, and explains the different cardiac health tests.

The Blind Side by Michael Lewis: Details the life of University of Mississippi football player Michael Oher, who was raised by a crack addicted mother and adopted at the age of sixteen by a wealthy family, and explores the rising importance and salary of the offensive left tackle in the game of football.

Based on the Book

I believe the Lightning Thief has already come and gone; however, we now have the books available once again for checkout. So if you have seen the movie or like fantasy and myth, come and in and give it a go. The series has been pretty popular.

Twelve-year-old Percy Jackson is about to be kicked out of boarding school . . . again. No matter how hard he tries, he can't seem to stay out of trouble. But can he really be expected to stand by and watch while a bully picks on his scrawny best friend? Or not defend himself against his pre-algebra teacher when she turns into a monster and tries to kill him? Of course, no one believes Percy about the monster incident; he's not even sure he believes himself.Until the Minotaur chases him to summer camp.Suddenly, mythical creatures seem to be walking straight out of the pages of Percy's Greek mythology textbook and into his life. The gods of Mount Olympus, he's coming to realize, are very much alive in the twenty-first century. And worse, he's angered a few of them: Zeus's master lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect.

New VHS and DVDs

We have some new VHS and DVDs that were added to our collection recently. Our videos are entirely free to check out and can be kept for a week. They are an economical way to rent out movies, which makes them some of the most checked out material in the library. Videos are acquired mostly through donation, though we do purchase documentaries and educational videos to add to our collection are well. So if you have any videos collecting dust around the house you would like to get rid of, we would gladly take them as a donation.

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

DVD

Meet the PArent

Austin Powers

Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls

Hoot

Blazing Saddles

VHS

The Nutty Professor
The Emperor's New Groove

A Bug's Life

The Rescuers Down Under

Bookworm

Fiction
Hidden Empire by Orson Scott Card: Averell Torrent has maneuvered himself into the presidency of the United States in the aftermath of the civil war which in truth, he engineered. Now he is in a position to expand American imperial power around the world. First he must silence all who know he killed the previous president.

Daniel's Den by Brandt Dodson: Daniel Borden is a government accountant who lives a quiet life and plays by the rules. But when events transpire that shatter his orderly world and a team of assassins mark him for death, Daniel must flee for his life.

The Latest Mrs. Furst by Susan Martins Miller: Mitchell Furst is everything Jayne ever dreamed of even though there's something a little unsettling about him at times. Her dream quickly becomes a nightmare with eerie visions at night as devastating truths begin to surface. .

Noah's Compass by Anne Tyler: Liam is a philosopher that ended up teaching fifth grade and his forced early retirement isn't bothering him. But, he can't remember the first night he moved into his new residence and ended up in the hospital.

I, Sniper by Stephen Hunter: When four 1960s radicals are gunned down, Vietnam veteran Carl Hitchcock becomes the prime suspect, but FBI Special Agent Nick Memphis thinks the case is a little too perfect and calls on retired Marine sniper Bob Lee Swagger for help in tracking down the real killer.

The Unnamed by Joshua Ferris: Tim Farnsworth is a lawyer and loves his wife, children, home and work. Then one day he stands up and walks out. And keeps walking. A life can be taken for granted and suddenly taken away.

The First Rule by Robert Crais: Frank Meyer, a former military contractor and mercenary who used to work with Joe Pike, loses his family when a professional crew raids his home, but when the police suspect Meyer to have been hiding something, Elvis Cole helps Pike search beyond grudges, blackmail, and double crosses in an effort to clear Meyer's name.

Iron River by T. Jefferson Parker: Charlie Hood works with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms to track down gunrunners who are supplying weapons to gangs in Mexico, and finds a personal connection to the events taking place south of the border.

A Whisper to the Living by Stuart M. Kaminsky: Inspector Porfiry Petrovich Rostnikov, a policeman in post-Soviet Union, and his team search for a serial killer who is terrorizing the city, but their investigation is threatened by the arrival of a British journalist whose story on a Moscow prostitution ring uncovers a chain of murders and a shocking cover up.

Treasure Hunt by John Lescroart: Mickey Dade investigates the death of activists, Dominic Como, with his boss, Wyatt Hunt, but when they try to confirm their suspicions that Como was involved in suspicious dealings, Dade and Hunt struggle get answers from Alicia Thorpe, Como's business associate and the sister of one of Dade's friends.

The Hidden Flame by Davis Bunn: After losing her family, Abigail seeks a new home and safety in Jerusalem, where two men vie for her hand in marriage--a successful Hebrew merchant and a Roman soldier--but she does not love either man.

The Red Door by Charles Todd: While Ian Rutledge searches for a missing man, Walter Teller, he is attacked by a young man who goes on a murderous spree with victims all resembling Rutledge, but after Teller mysteriously reappears, another woman is found dead and the Teller family is implicated in her death.

Days of Gold by Jude Deveraux: Laird Angus McTern falls in love with Edilean Talbot, who rejects Angus's advances and humiliates him in front of his clan, but when Edilean asks for Angus to help her reclaim her father's gold, Angus must put aside his wounded pride and accompany her to America, where they are drawn together as they face unexpected obstacles and danger.

Sizzle by Julie Garwood: Film student Lyra Prescott unwittingly witnesses a shocking crime while filming her final school project and is pulled into a deadly web of intrigue with only FBI agent Sam Kincaid to help her survive, but their growing passion for one another may threaten both their lives.

Alliance Public Library serving Alliance since 1909.

Happy Birthday(s)!

It seems that there are a number of Birthdays to celebrate today!

Abraham Lincoln (February 12th 1809 - April 15, 1865)
Books available in our collection:
The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln Volumes 1-7 (308.1 LIN)
Manhunt: The Twelve Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer (364.152 SWA)
Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln (973.7092 GOO)
Uncle Tom's Cabin (813 STO)
Lincoln: An Illustrated Biography (B LIN)
and many more!
Click here for a biography, quiz, photo gallery and more!

Charles Darwin (February 12, 1809 - April 19, 1889)

Books in our collection:

Charles Darwin: On the Trail of Evolution (JUV 575.092 TWI)

Discoveries that Changed Science (JUV 500 MAR)

Evolution: The triumph of an Idea (576.8 ZIM)

Here is a David Attenborrough BBC Special on the legacy of Charles Darwin:

Judy Blume (February 12, 1938)

Books in our collection:

Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret (JF BLU)

Fudge-a-Mania (JPB BLU)

Forever (YA BLU)

Smart Women (FIC BLU)

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing (JPB BLU)

Summer sisters (FIC BLU)

And Many More!

Judy Blume has made a lasting contribution to the world of literature and we wish her a very Happy Birthday!

To learn more about this award winning author, find a complete list of books, read interviews and more, visit her website at http://www.judyblume.com/

Paige Recommendation

Sean is currently reading The 13&1/2 Lives of Captain Bluebear: being the demibiography of a seagoing bear with numerous illustrations and excerpts from the Encyclopaedia of the marvels, life forms and other phenomena of Zamonia and its environs by Professor Abdullah Nightingale by Walter Moers, and he would like to recommend the book to you, our patrons. Of the book he says "I like it because I like the writing style. It's like a cartoon, only a cartoon made with words."

I have also read a portion of the book and it is quite humorous as well as insightful. It is the story of the 13 & 1/2 lives of a blue bear whose very first memories are of floating in the ocean in a walnut shell and being rescued by a boat of Mini Pirates, whom are a mere six inches tall. Inevitably, Bluebear outgrows the ship, at which point he embarks on his remaining 12&1/2 lives, during which he encounters a number of colorful characters. It reminds me a little of the Douglas Adams' cult classic Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy books. The book can currently be found on the new cart under FIC MOE and is recommended for anyone looking to try something new.

Library Lover's Month

February is is National Library Lover's Month!

To celebrate we will be offering amnesty on all overdue books returned in February! We will delete any fines on overdue books returned this month.

Bookworm

Based on the Book

I finally have a Based on the Book feature for you. The movie Shutter Island will be releasing soon, and we have the book written by Dennis LeHane (FIC LEH) available for checkout. From the looks of the trailer it promises to be quite a creepy thriller! It also looks like his movie has been adapted into a graphic novel as well (see the below playlist for an interview with Dennis
LaHane concerning his novels and their adaptations.)

The year is 1954. U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels and his new partner, Chuck Aule, have come to Shutter Island, home of Ashecliffe Hospital for the Criminally Insane, to investigate the disappearance of a patient. Multiple-murderess Rachel Solando is loose somewhere on this barren island, despite having been kept in a locked cell under constant surveillance. As a killer hurricane bears relentlessly down on them, a strange case takes on even darker, more sinister shades—with hints of radical experimentation, horrifying surgeries, and lethal countermoves made in the cause of a covert shadow war. No one is going to escape Shutter Island unscathed, because nothing at Ashecliffe Hospital is remotely what it seems.

Here are a few videos concerning the movie and Dennis LaHane:

February Storytime Schedule

Valentines Day! Tuesday, February 9th at 6:30pm

& Thursday, February 11th at 10:00am


A Special Evening with Mrs. Trussell's 4th Grade Class
Tuesday, February 16th at 6:30pm



Children's Dental Health Month
Thursday, February 18 at 10:00am


Buffalo Bill Cody
Tuesday, February 23 at 6:30pm
Thursday, February 25 at 10:00am


Storytime is for all children ages 3-6 years. Programs are theme related and include reading to children, craft time and social interaction. Please register your child at the front desk prior to his or her attending Storytime.

Themed Backpacks Now Available

Stephanie has put together a wonderful new checkout item - a themed Winnie-the-Pooh backpack. The checkout includes five Winnie-the-Pooh books, three movies, coloring pages, a craft and a Winnie-the-Pooh cookbook. The checkout time is one week without renewal. You can find the item at the circulation desk for now, though it will eventually be found in the children's section. Stephanie is also working on putting together a few more bags so be on the look out for those in the future :-)

February Brown Bag

Judy Taylor reviews
Robert Mitchum: Baby I Don't Care by Lee Server
Friday, February 5th
12:00 noon in the Alliance Public Library Community Rooms




The Free Brown Bag program and light refreshments are provided courtesy of The Friends of the Library and RSVP

We're Back on Track!

Our Wi-Fi and Computer Lab are up and running!

After a month of no wireless connection and a few months of problems in our public computer lab, we are back online. So if you have been needing to use the lab or wireless, come on in!

This also means I will be back to posting on a daily basis, so check back in with me frequently.