Help Wanted! by Stacy

 

The Stillwater Public Library is very fortunate to have many amazing volunteers who do everything from shelving to helping with genealogy to processing books.  Generally, we have between 6-8 volunteers at any one time, and they, along with community service workers, give us between 150 to 230 hours of help each month.  Now, we are looking to add a few more volunteers.

Sunday, Sept. 25 and Monday, Sept. 26, we will be sorting, packing and loading the unsold books from the used book sale.  These items will go to a company who will try to sell our leftovers.  

Organizations, individuals, and people with court appointed hours are welcome.  We need all the help we can get and it is a great way to help the library create a little more revenue for books, equipment and programs. If interested, please contact Stacy at 405-372-3633 x124 or sdelano@stillwater.org.

Stillwater, OK

Frosty Reads by Andrea D.

After another week of 100+ degree temperatures and more to come, maybe the only thing to do these days is to imagine what it’s like to be cold. Come by the library and “chill” with one of these titles.

“The Terror” by Dan Simmons. “The Terror” was one of two ships under the command of British naval Capt. John Franklin that set out to explore Canada's Northwest Passage. The ships became stuck in the ice, were abandoned, and the entire expedition perished. Simmons recreates this story, but adds a supernatural element: something worse than poisoned food and ordinary predators is stalking the survivors across the frozen landscape.

“The Birthday Boys” by Beryl Bainbridge. In "The Birthday Boys," Bainbridge describes historic events in concise, sharply etched prose and brilliant imagery, re-creating in devastating detail the doomed trek to the South Pole by Capt. Robert Scott and his crew. Chilling in a different way is her earlier “Harriet Said...”, about a pair of teenage girls who casually commit murder.

“The Endurance: Shackleton's Legendary Antarctic Expedition” by Caroline Alexander. Ernest Shackleton's plan to sail the world from pole to pole ended before it began, with his ship trapped and ultimately crushed by Antarctic ice. Alexander's recounting of this extraordinary tale of survival is illustrated with photographs from the expedition that its leader summed up this way: "Not a life lost, and we have been through hell."

For more frosty reads, ask a librarian!

Stillwater, OK

“The books are melting!” by Valeria

Fahrenheit 451 may be the temperature at which books burn, but Fahrenheit 112 is just hot enough to make books melt!  We are all aware of the heat wave that appears to have found a home in Oklahoma, and while books provide an excellent escape from the sweltering heat, they, just like us, need to stay nice and cool. 

According to an article by Judy Hedding on summer car safety, the interior of a car can reach up to 200 degrees (this of course is dependent upon the exterior temperature, your car, and its length of time in the sun.).  Leaving a book in your car for just a few hours gives the glue that holds the book together ample time to melt. Although the glue will harden again, this process weakens the glue and therefore, the book's binding. With weak binding, the books usually require mending, and are sometimes beyond repair. 

In addition to books, audio cassettes, DVDs, CDs, and video tapes are susceptible to excessive heat, and it is recommended that individuals keep these in covered compartments and out of direct sunlight. We know it's easy to keep your books in your car throughout the day before returning them after work or school, and sometimes, this is the only option.  But for those of who are able to return your books before starting your day, or are willing to leave them at home until you are free to come to the library, I challenge you to save those melting books!

Stillwater, OK

 

Hot days-cool treats by Stacy

 

When I was little, we drove through Yuma, Arizona where it was 106 degrees.  We told everyone we knew about it and NO ONE had ever been anywhere with a temperature that high.  I’m looking at the weather pop-up on my computer right now and it is 110 degrees.  After a month of these temps, the only thing to do is stay inside or in the pool and arm myself with some cool treats.  The library has a ton of books to help you find the coolest of these treats.

 

If ice cream keeps you cool, try out the Farm Journal Magazine’s recipe compilation book (641.8 Far) which includes a delicious section on homemade sherbets like creamy lime, cranberry and cantaloupe, as well as unusual ice creams like coconut-honey and lemonade.  In “Giada at Home,” de Larentiis gives a wonderful recipe for Pomegranate and mint sorbet that mixes both ingredients with chocolate chips.  Perfect for a hot day!

 Ben & Jerry’s ice cream book (641.8 Coh) reveals the secret recipes to amazing favorites like New York Super Fudge Chunk, Cherry Garcia and many that I don’t think they even offer anymore.  Another ice cream tome is “The Ultimate Ice Cream Book” (641.8 Wein) which offers over 500 different recipes.  

Look for delicious, cold drinks in “Party Punches” (641.8 Page) which updates old favorites like lime punch and cranberry spritzer and includes many cool drinks from some of the hottest countries in the world.  Adults will enjoy the refreshing drinks in “The Essential Cocktail” (641.8 DeG).  I have my eye on a beautiful Copa Verde that mixes lime, avocado and chili with tequila.

The cookbooks in the children’s department have some great recipes too that are simple for any kid to make.  Particular favorites are The Caboose Orange Special in “The Boxcar Children Cookbook” by Diane Blain (Juv 641.5 Bla) and orange, coffee or strawberry granitas from “A Taste of Italy” by Jenny Ridgwell (Juv 641.5 Rid).

Even if it’s too hot to mix something up, just come grab a mess of these books and hang out in the library.  Browsing through the yummy pictures in the chilly library is sure to keep you cool.

Stillwater, OK 

Whoa! Horses! by Mary

Throughout my life, I have had a passionate interest in books and horses.  Although it took a long time to receive the horse, books were always available and I received many as gifts--of course all about horses! From my earliest days, I was able to view photographs and drawings of this most wonderful animal.  There was no experience more satisfying than to sit and look and learn about horses.  

As I grew, I was able to ride in my mind along the beach with Alec and the Black through the series of books written by Walter Farley.  I explored the shores of the Atlantic and Chincoteague Island through the eyes of Marguerite Henry and her stories of Misty of Chincoteague.  I shared a love of horses to equal that of Marguerite Henry.  She wrote numerous books about all kinds of horses.  “Black Gold” tells the story of young thoroughbred and his will to win.  “King of the Wind” is the story of a magnificent Arabian and his journeys.  I learned about the Grand Canyon through her story of “Brighty of the Grand Canyon,” a small wild burro and his miner friend.  Ms. Henry also has tale of the Lipizzan horses, the Morgan horse, and the wild mustangs of the west.  In her book “Album of Horses,” she discusses the many breeds of horses.

           

Another favorite of my childhood was the story of “BlackBeauty” written by Anna Sewell.  This tale is told by the horse and chronicles his life from birth to death.  A contemporary favorite of mine is “LittleRat Rides” by Monika Bang-Campbell.  If you ride or are thinking about it, this story will make you smile and realize that riding, as with so many things, takes practice and patience to learn and become proficient.  Erica Silverman has a delightful series about “Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa.”  Susan Jeffers' beautiful illustrations in “MyPony” will take your breath away. 

If you are interested in the care and keeping of horses and ponies, look under the Dewey Decimal number 636.1.  This number will lead you to horse books in the Easy Books, Juvenile, and Adult sections of the library. 

           

Granted, there is nothing better than a real horse, but when you can't ride the real thing, go riding and exploring in your mind, and discover new and wonderful worlds as can only be seen through the eyes or from the back of a horse.  Happy reading!!

Stillwater, OK