Library Shelf

Winter Reading Dreamland by Levonn

2012-02-28T08:27:00.001-08:00

Will Rogers Kindergartener, Dylan Campbell, and his mother Julia Campbell turn in a ‘Winter Reading Dreamland’ activity log to librarian Levonn Collins at Stillwater Public Library.

Stillwater children have been busy reading books, writing book reviews and designing book covers to earn points for a for “Winter Reading Dreamland,” a program which encourages students to read outside of school for pleasure. Over 120 children have signed up to earn prizes and chances for Visa gift cards.

The children have done a great job with their reviews and book covers. Here are some of the books they have enjoyed and their very discerning comments and opinions about the books:

· “Runaway Ralph” by Beverly Cleary- "I liked it because it was a mouse story." Miriam, age 7.

· “Platypus” by Ginjer Clark- "It had cool facts about a platypus and her babies." Emalee, age 5.

· “Two Messy Friends” by Barbara Bottner- "Grace is neat and Harriet is messy. They are best friends. It is funny." Alissa, age 7

· “Thirteen Ways to Sink a Sub” by Jamie Gilson- "The kids decide to see who can sink the sub (substitute teacher) first, the boys or the girls. The substitute plays tricks on the kids. The principal hires the sub again. I liked it.” Kaitlynn, age 9

· “One Saturday Afternoon” by Barbara Baker- "Mama Bear needed some alone time, but her four cubs wanted to come, too. So Papa Bear did stuff with them instead of Mama." Olivia, age 7

· “Ribsy” by Beverly Cleary- "Ribsy is a dog. He goes to the shopping center with his owner. And gets lost. The way he gets home is, he gets stuck on a fire escape. I liked the story because he gets stuck on a fire escape." Abbie, age 7

· “Amelia Bedelia” by Peggy Parish- "Amelia Bedilia is funny so funny. But I liked the dog." Kelly, age 7

There is still plenty of time to join the program. It runs through March 27. Come into the library and checkout what the kids like to read and also checkout our Winter Reading Dreamland Program.

Stillwater, OK

Celebrate African American History Month by Andrea D.

2012-02-24T11:13:00.000-08:00

Each February, we celebrate African American History Month in honor of the efforts of people of African descent to end slavery and to inaugurate universal freedom in the United States. This year's theme is "African Americans and the Civil War.” The theme, chosen by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History urges all Americans to study and reflect on the value of the contribution of these Americans.

If you would like to read about the efforts of these Americans, the library has many titles that reflect their efforts and contributions as well as books that specifically address African Americans’ role during the Civil War. “The Slave’s War: The Civil War in the Words of Former Slaves” by Andrew Ward is a groundbreaking historical account that uses hundreds of interviews, diaries, letters, and memoirs that offer an entirely new perspective of the war, through the silenced voices of the slaves.

“We Ain’t What We Ought to Be: the Black Freedom Struggle from Emancipation to Obama” by Stephen G. N. Tuck explores the dynamic relationships between those seeking new freedoms and those looking to preserve racial hierarchies, and between grassroots activists and national leaders. This book captures an extraordinary journey that speaks to all Americans—both past and future.

“Democracy Reborn: the Fourteenth Amendment and the Fight for Equal Rights in Post-Civil War

America

” by Garrett Epps. This is a valuable history of the fourteenth Amendment’s adoption. Epps describes this amendment as the most far sweeping and complex change ever made in the original Constitution.

Come by the library and check out one of these works about this incredibly complex period of history and read about some of these great Americans and their contributions.

Stillwater, OK

The Last Book by Nikole

2012-02-14T12:55:00.000-08:00

The arrival of the ereader has really thrown me for a loop. I have always enjoyed reading and everything that includes. I have a library at home filled with many different books on a variety of subjects and authors. I have yet to even part with my collection of “Babysitter Club” books or my Golden Books collection from my younger years. I still have my well-worn copy of “The Berenstain Bears and The Spooky Old Tree” by Stan and Jan Berenstain! I can’t imagine not having those books to pass on to my little one.

When I first heard about ereaders, I immediately thought of one book called “The Last Book in the Universe” by Rodman Philbrick. Philbrick describes a futuristic world in which books no longer exist. The main character, an older man named Ryter, is the only person on Earth who can still read. He teaches one young man the importance of books. Ryter’s main goal is to finish his book before he dies, so he can recreate the world of reading.

In this book, reading itself has been replaced with an invention called a mind probe, where a needle is literally stuck into your head and the images are projected into your mind. This book alone could scare you off electronic readers and the elimination of actual books!

Yet, that is the direction our society is taking. With the appearance of electronic reading devices, the actual book is getting shifted to the side. I can honestly say that when I first heard about a device in which you can download books, I was appalled! Who would want to read from a computer-like device all the time? I certainly didn’t!

However, on the last trip I took, I ended up lugging around pounds and pounds of books. That made me decide that traveling with an ereader might not be so bad. I briefly mentioned this to my mom and ended up with a Kindle Fire for Christmas. I have only read one book so far on it, but I have to admit, I am actually enjoying it.

I have determined there are quite a few advantages to electronic readers:

1. Light-up screen equals no more flashlight reading.

2. Traveling is so much easier (and lighter) with a reading device.

3. I can download a book from the library at practically any time and there are no overdues!

4. I like having a dictionary at my disposal.

5. I like knowing how far along I am in the book—percentage-wise.

6. I can take notes in the book without actually having to write in it.

7. As a previous teacher, I noticed many non-reading students suddenly become interested in reading.

But, there are still disadvantages:

1. Paying for a book that I can’t physically hold and keep in my home library is hard.

2. I don’t actually know what page I’m on.

3. There is some eye-strain when reading on the device.

4. It has a battery that you are dependent on.

5. Sometimes reading devices are complicated to work.

All in all, I see our world becoming more and more ebook minded and that maybe it is not such a terrible thing. However, for the true book-lovers out there, there will never be an e-reader that replaces an actual book. For the ereader converts who want help using our ebook service, make sure to sign up for our class on Feb. 16.

Stillwater, OK.

Children’s Book Awards by Mary

2012-02-06T10:18:00.000-08:00

Each January, the Association for Library Service to Children (a division of the American Library Association) presents awards to the most outstanding children's books written and illustrated in the previous year. The two highest honors are the Caldecott Medal, given for illustration, and the Newbery Medal, given for writing.

The Caldecott Medal has been presented every year since 1938 and is named after Randolph Caldecott, a 19th century English illustrator of picture books. Books that are selected for the award must have exceptional illustrations, not only for their quality, but for the relationship of the pictures to the story. The illustrations must enhance the story and must convey the meaning of the story without the words.

The 2012 recipient of the Caldecott Medal is “A Ball for Daisy,” written and illustrated by Chris Raschka. This is a wordless picture book which illuminates the simple joy of a dog and her ball. The 2012 Caldecott Medal Honors winners are “Blackout,” written and illustrated by John Rocco (on order now); “Grandpa Green,” written and illustrated by Lane Smith (on order now); and “Me--Jane,” written and illustrated by Patrick McDonnell (on order now).

The Newbery Medal has been has been presented every year since 1922 and is named after John Newbery, an 18th century British publisher and bookseller who first made children's literature a sustainable and profitable part of the literary market. The award is presented to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American Literature for children.

The 2012 recipient of the Newbery Medal is “Dead End in Norvelt” by Jack Gantos. In his book, author Gantos explores both history and coming of age in this entertaining and insightful novel. The 2012 Newbery Medal Honors winners are “Inside Out and Back Again” by Thanhha Li and “Breaking Stalin's Nose” by Eugene Yelchin (on order now).

The lists of all the past recipients of the Caldecott and Newbery Honors are in the Children's Section of the library near the information bulletin board. I'm sure you remember many of the books from your own childhood. The library tries to keep copies of all the books in our collection. Each honoree is labeled on the spine with either Caldecott or Newbery stickers. When a book receives one of these great awards, the gift of immortality for that book is ensured. So if your favorite didn't win, ensure it's immortality by checking it out from the library, buying it from your favorite bookstore, giving it to all your friends, and recommending it to everyone as a "must read and have".

If you need assistance in locating the books, please ask at the Help desks. Enjoy!!

Stillwater, OK

Fantasy Fiction at Any Age by Andrea K

2012-02-02T09:42:00.000-08:00

When I was a child my favorite books usually had an element of fantasy to them—stories that took me away to another place, time, or world. I was disappointed as a young adult in the late 80s and early 90s to find that most teen books at the time seemed to use topical issues as their plot points, e.g. high school/dating/divorced parents, etc. What. A. Drag. I pretty much had to skip over the teen area in the old Stillwater Public Library building to the adult science fiction/fantasy/and horror sections to find titles that appealed to me.

Lately though, there has been an explosion of great young adult fantasy fiction books following in the wake of “Harry Potter,” “The Inheritance Trilogy” by Christopher Paolini, and “The Hunger Games Trilogy” by Susanne Collins. Like a lot of other adult readers, I have made a return to the teen area.

If you are looking for more books like these, then you may want to try some of the books I have enjoyed recently:

· “Daughter of Smoke and Bone” by Laini Taylor-a girl in Prague encounters angels and chimera and learns she may not be who she thinks she is.

· “Divergent” by Veronica Roth-a future dystopian story clearly influenced by “The Hunger Games,” but a great read nonetheless.

· “The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making” by Catherynne M. Valente-if you loved Andrew Lang’s “Fairy Books” as a child, you will love this grown up tale.

I am also looking forward to reading a few more promising titles like “Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children” by Ransom Riggs, “Delirium” by Lauren Oliver, “Matched” by Ally Condie, “The City of Bones” by Cassandra Clare and “Legend” by Marie Lu.

So, if you love fantasy fiction, don’t be shy—drop by the YA section and pick up one of these great reads.

Stillwater, OK.

Keeping up with the Library by Stacy

2012-01-24T08:56:00.000-08:00

There is always something going on at the Stillwater Public Library. A new adult program, a weekly storytime or a review of all the latest hot titles--we have fun and educational activities for everyone. But how will you know when these events are going on? Whether you prefer to get your news using the latest tech or prefer some of the “old-fashioned” ways (like email!), the library has several ways you can keep up with us electronically.

If you like receiving news in your email, we publish an electronic newsletter around the 15^th of every month. The newsletter is filled with details on the latest events and is one of the only places to get ALL of the librarian’s top book picks.

Newsletter subscribers also get to find out about upcoming events before anyone else. Events like the Jan. 25 “Get Organized Month” program and free luncheon were announced in the newsletter first. Subscribers also got to be the first to sign-up for the program (email askalibrarian@stillwater.org if you want to sign-up for this event). To subscribe to this newsletter, join our mailing list at http://library.stillwater.org/newsletter.html.

We also post our events on Facebook and Twitter. You can be a Facebook Fan by liking us at http://www.facebook.com/stillwaterpubliclibrary or you can follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/stillwateroklib. Both sites will give you the latest news, but will allow you to interact with us as well. Facebook and Twitter messages are answered Monday through Friday 9-5 and often on evenings and weekends as well.

Two newer ways to keep up are google+ and foursquare. You can “plus one” us at https://plus.google.com/s/stillwater%20public%20library. If you “foursquare,” be sure to check in with us when you visit. As more people check in, we’ll begin adding tips and maybe even some sweet deals!

And don’t forget to always check our webpage at http://library.stillwater.org/. On the webpage, you’ll always find our upcoming events, latest books, and our full calendar. You’ll also find links to all of the other sites I discussed above.

As always, though, if you want to know what is going on at the library, keep up with us in the NewsPress or just come on in!

Stillwater, OK

Book a Month Favorites by Stacy

2012-01-18T09:58:00.000-08:00

Angelica Craig was the winner of the 2011 Book a Month challenge at the Stillwater Public Library.

According to some of Stillwater Public Library’s most avid readers, “The Book Thief” by Markus Zusak was Stillwater’s favorite during 2011. Over seventy five readers completed the library’s Book a Month reading challenge which started in January 2011 and ended December 31.

"The Book Thief" was Stillwater's favorite book in 2011.

The participants were challenged to read at least one adult or young adult novel each month during the year. Participants turned in logs listing the books they read each month as well as their favorite book of the year. Eight of the participants chose Zusak’s story of a young girl whose family hides a Jewish man in Nazi occupied Germany. The modern classic, narrated by “Death,” was written for young adults but has become a favorite of adults and bookclubs. “The Book Thief” is available for check out as a book, CDbook, eBook and bookclub kit.

Angelica Craig was the Book a Month challenge winner. Craig was randomly chosen from the pool of entrants and won a gift certificate to purchase eBooks for her Nook ereader.

“I was definitely excited to see the public library reaching out to the public and encouraging them to read more and to see the library hop into the digital media age with e-readers,” said Craig.

Craig was one of the participants who listed “The Book Thief” as a favorite. Other top vote getters included “The Help” by Kathleen Stockett, “The Art of Racing in the Rain” by Garth Stein and “The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins. A full listing of the participants’ favorite books of the year is available below. The books are also on display near the Help Desk.

Book a Month Challenge Favorites 2011

19^th Wife by David Ebershoff

Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon

Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

Bonnie by Iris Johansen

Book of Secrets: Unlocking the Hidden Dimensions of Your Life by Deepak Chopra

Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Calling of Dan Matthews by Harold Bell Wright

Chasing Lincoln's Killer by James L. Swanson

City of Thieves by David Benioff

Cutting for Stone: a novel by Abraham Verghese

Dead by Sunset: Perfect Husband, Perfect Killer? by Ann Rule

Gap Creek: a novel by Robert Morgan

Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Happy Birthday by Danielle Steel

Heaven is for Real: a Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back by Todd Burpo

Help by Kathryn Stockett

Her Mother's Hope by Francine Rivers

Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore

In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez

Incomplete Revenge: a Maisie Dobbs novel by Jacqueline Winspear

Inner Circle by Brad Meltzer

Innocent by Harlan Coben

Into the Night by Suzanne Brockmann

Isaac's Storm: A Man, a Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History
by Erik Larson

Killer Angels by Michael Shaara

Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

Last Song by Nicholas Sparks

Lily: a novel by Cindy Bonner

Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens

Little Princes: One Man's Promise to Bring Home the Lost Children of Nepal
by Conor Grennan

Loop by Nicholas Evans

Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards

Naked in Death by J.D. Robb

Night Road by Kristin Hannah

Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea by Barbara Demick

Oryx and Crake by Margaret Eleanor Atwood

Outliers: the story of success by Malcolm Gladwell

People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks

Picture Perfect by Jodi Picoult

Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels--a love story by Ree Drummond

Postmistress by Sarah Blake

Promise, Texas by Debbie Macomber

Red Tent by Anita Diamant

Shanghai Girls by Lisa See

Sheen on the Silk by Anne Perry

Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher

Sisters Brothers by Patrick Dewitt

Snuff: a Novel of Discworld by Terry Pratchett

Stand by Stephen King

Summer We Read Gatsby by Danielle Ganek

Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

Through My Eyes by Tim Tebow

Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcolm Gladwell

Wicked: the Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West
by Gregory Maguire

Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah

1984 by George Orwell

New Year, New Resolutions by Hannah

2012-01-17T08:55:00.000-08:00

Each year, I find myself listing many of the same resolution. They’re the usual suspects--eating better, exercising etc. But since I've rarely kept up with them as well or as long as I should in the past, this year, I've decided to enlist some help from the busy shelves of our lovely, glorious library. While I've never been one for self-help books, here are a few that caught my interest, and conveniently pair up with some of my resolutions.

Resolution #1: Organize My Apartment (and keep it organized for longer than a week)

“Unstuff Your Life!: Kick the Clutter Habit and Completely Organize Your Life For Good” by Andrew J Mellen

Known as the "Most Organized Man in America," Mellen offers ways to fix both your organization issues and face the chaos in your everyday life that leads to it. With a humorous but simple approach to de-cluttering your life and living space, Unstuff Your Life! Could be a major game-changer for those of us who swear we can find anything- if you just give us a minute to remember where we put it.

Resolution #2: Be Happier, More Grateful, and Generally a More Pleasant Person

“The Happiness Project: Or Why I Spent a Year Trying To Sing In the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun” by Gretchen Craft Rubin

This well-researched mix of philosophical evidence, scientific evidence, and personal anecdote about finding happiness may not cause readers to have a brilliant epiphany worthy of the history books, but it'll make you laugh, give you some insight on how the world looks on happiness, and give you some ideas on how to evoke more happiness in your own life- especially through the little things.

Resolution #3: Take Risks

“
A Place
of Yes: 10 Rules for Getting Everything You Want Out Of Life” by Bethenny Frankel

This one ties into Resolution #2 a lot as well, but the title alone was something for me to remember for this one: to stop saying no so often and to start saying "yes," even when I'm not entirely certain what sort of outcome I'll get afterwards. Bethenny Frankel has an incredibly inspiring personal story, and here she shares her straightforward, hilarious, and witty insights into living well, and not getting in the way of your own happiness and success.

Resolution #4: Work-Out Weekly and More Often

“Born To Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen” by Christopher McDougall

I've never been one for working out, and while the first half of Born To Run loaded me with excuses for why I shouldn't (did you know the majority of us aren't actually built for running?), reading the tale of the Tarahumara tribe and other super-runners has inspired me to give running another try- and to maybe learn to love it after all.

Come by the library to find more books that will help your resolutions become last habits!

Stillwater, OK

Top 10 of 2011 by Scott

2012-01-10T08:04:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite parts of the year is being able to look back over what I have read and attempt to narrow that number down into a list of my favorite titles. This year was a difficult task as there were so many great reads I enjoyed.

For what it is worth here are my top 10. All of these titles were published in 2011 and available at the Stillwater Public Library.

10. A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness—This was my favorite YA novel of the year and most definitely the most emotional. A monster appears nightly to 13 year old Conor as his mom undergoes treatments. After finishing this read with my kids I called my mom and told her I loved her.

9. The Map of Time by Felix Palma—This is a classic time travel tale. H.G. Wells is called on to investigate reports of time travel and in the process bumps in to Henry James, Bram Stoker and Jack the Ripper.

8. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern—The Night Circus appears in the dead of the night. It is open from sundown to sunup and nothing is as it seems. Morgenstern’s debut novel is noteworthy because the main character is the circus and the world she has crafted is breathtaking.

7. Those Guys Have All the Fun: Inside the World of ESPN by James Andrew Miller and Tom Shales—This is a detailed and insightful oral history of ESPN. It chronicles the early days when no one thought a 24 hour sports network was either a good idea or possible to the 90s heyday of Olbermann-Patrick to the mainstay that ESPN is today.

6. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline—If you are a child of the 80s, as I am, then this book was written specifically for you. Set 30 years in the future the key to success and fortune is how much you know about that one particular decade.

5. The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach--A fascinating reflection on friendship and fear. Harbach has done a masterful job in placing baseball and the college experience as the backdrop for a poignant and engrossing look at dreams and how their realization are often right in front of us.

4. When She Woke by Hillary Jordan--This is a modern day retelling of The Scarlet Letter and is a perfect title to hand to someone that loved Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale.

3. Cain by Jose Saramago--This was the great Saramago's final novel, a novelization of the story of Cain, slayer of Abel and the first biblical criminal. Well, the first along with God in Saramago's telling. Cain is forced to wander but it is not merely a nomadic existence. Instead, he moves to different "presents" that just so happen to coincide with OT occurrences. What emerges is a scathing, unrelenting and brilliant look at a primitive picture of God as contained with the Hebrew Scriptures. Cain spares God no mercy for expecting more from his creation than He delivers himself.

2. I’ll Never Get Out of This World Alive by Steve Earle—This was my biggest surprise of the year. The singer-songwriter hit one out of the park with his debut. Earle has written a masterful reflection on loneliness, addiction, despair and redemption. With the hand of a seasoned writer he weaves in abortion, liberation theology, Mexican theological mysticism and an indictment on the moral bankruptcies of the priesthood. This is not an easy tale. It is grit and dirt and despair. But oh, is it beautifully written and chock full of characters worth remembering.

1. The Devil All the Time by Donald Ray Pollock—This book left me absolutely speechless when I was done and took a few days for me to really process its greatness. Pollock has channeled his inner Flannery O’Connor for this brutal and unforgiving look at broken lives and despair. This is a Southern Gothic master work that is unflinching in its portrayal of deeply flawed yet compelling characters. It might be too dark and violent for some but that does not diminish the sheer power of this novel.

Pick up these books and see other librarians’ favorites at the library.

Stillwater, OK.

Best of Music 2011 by Emily

2011-12-27T09:33:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite things about the end of the year is reading through all of the “best of” lists. I love seeing where my favorites have landed and sometimes I come across things that I missed out on completely. This year something has changed. For the very first time I feel compelled to create my own lists.

It’s become an obsession really, and at the heart of this obsession is a book called “Record Collecting for Girls: Unleashing Your Inner Music Nerd, One Album at a Time” by Courtney E. Smith. Written along the same lines as Nick Hornby’s “High Fidelity” and Rob Sheffield’s “Love is a Mix Tape,” Smith wants to interject a female perspective into music writing because as she says “girls get their hearts broken and make mix tapes about it, too.”

This book is not for everyone. First of all she focuses a lot (perhaps too much) on how men have shaped her music tastes. This is a book that I wish I could have read when I was in high school.

The parts of the book that stand out are about how to build your music collection. Where do you find out about new music? What about the future of vinyl? And of course, my favorite, what are the rules for compiling top 5 lists?

So, in the spirit of end of the year lists and my new found obsession to create them, it only seems appropriate that I end with one.

Top 5 Albums of 2011 at Stillwater Public Library

5. “Pala” by Friendly Fires. Danceable post-punk pop fusion.

4. “Tell Me” by Jessica Lea Mayfield. Beautiful, dark songs about love.

3. “A Creature I Don’t Know” by Laura Marling. Neo-folk with a lot more depth than Mumford and Sons.

2. “Tamer Animals” by Other Lives. Cinematic pop with great percussion from a Stillwater band.

1. “Let

England

Shake” by P.J. Harvey. Highly relevant songs about war written by one of the best singer songwriters of all time.

Stillwater Public Library makes holiday giving a piece of fruitcake by Stacy

2011-12-19T08:47:00.000-08:00

Weston Sumner, age four, and his mother Shawna enjoy a gingerbread house display on a trip together to the Stillwater Public Library.

With just weeks (now days!) to go until Christmas, many people have not completed their shopping. Whether because it is difficult to find a meaningful gift or because finances are tight, gift giving can be stressful and often can result in overspending. This year, gift givers will find many inexpensive and unique gifts at Stillwater Public Library to help complete shopping lists.

Anyone who loves to read loves the semi-annual Friends of the Library book sale. Gift certificates for the sale are available at the Check Out desk and come in $5.00 increments. Another option is to purchase a Friends of the Library membership. Annual memberships are $10.00 and allow members to preview and shop the sale before it is opened to the public. With memberships ending December 31, every person with an annual membership will need a new one for the 2012 book sales.

A small version of those sales takes place year-round in the library’s north lobby. The book sale is open during all library business hours, so even shoppers who wait until the last minute can purchase a meaningful gift all the way up to 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve. A wide variety of novels, non-fiction, young adult and children’s books are available for $1-2.

Shoppers who have at least a few more days to plan have other options. One is to purchase a book or magazine subscription for the library in the name of the recipient. Go by the business office Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to arrange this gift.

Another option is a gift to the Stillwater Public Library Trust. The Trust gladly accepts monetary gifts of any size. Trust monies are invested and the interest income is available to the library to use for equipment, programs and services. These gifts have been invaluable in keeping the library running.

A great gift that is absolutely free is a library card. Parents might consider purchasing a children’s book from the lobby sale and adding a “coupon” with a pledge to take the child to get a card on a specific day. Both the parent and child need to be present, but as long as the parent lives, works or goes to school in Payne County, then the card is free.

Gift givers might also check out the library’s frugal gift list compiled for a program earlier this month. It is located on the library’s homepage and contains gift ideas that generally cost $1-2 and take less than one hour to make. Stop by the library’s craft section for how-to materials on making other similar gifts.

Speaking of books, there is not a much better gift for book lovers than a personalized list of books they are sure to love. Purchase an inexpensive journal, and then let a librarian know which authors the recipient likes. The librarian can assist in compiling a list of author “read-alikes” for the journal that will keep the recipient reading for months to come.

For help arranging any of these gifts, call 405-372-3633 or email askalibrarian@stillwater.org.

Funny book blogs by Stacy

2011-12-12T16:59:00.000-08:00

My favorite books are about real life—so that includes a lot of stories about death, divorce, illnesses, dying dogs, catastrophes and other melancholic topics. If you have similar tastes, you may need a laugh, so here are a few funny book blogs that will make up for all of the usual misery you like to read:

http://betterbooktitles.com

I am pleased to find some authors are giving books better, more descriptive titles (see “Angry Housewives Eating Bon-Bons which is in fact about angry housewives who eat bon-bons and “Miss Peregrine's School for Peculiar Children” which is actually about a school for peculiar children run by a woman named Miss Peregrine). However, most books do not have titles that describe what the book is about. That is why every book club discussion guide ever written includes the question: “Why did the author give the book this title and what does it mean?”

Better Book Titles is a blog that allows submitters to retitle books to better describe what the reader can expect. Just think how much easier it would have been to have had these titles in choosing whether to read the following famous books:

· “A Clockwork Orange” Anthony Burgess. Retitled: “Way Easier to Watch than Read.”

· “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” by Stieg Larsson. Retitled: “This is the First Book I’ve Read in Six Years.”

· “War And Peace” by Leo Tolstoy. Retitled: “War and Peace and Russians and Hard Names to Remember and Even Harder to Pronounce and Lots of Talk, Talk, Talk. And Snow.”

· “Joy of Cooking” by Irma S. Rombauer. Retitled: “1001 Reasons it *Stinks* to be Vegan.”

Beware—some of the retitles are a bit risqué.

http://awfullibrarybooks.net/

Most libraries have “deselection” policies. We use these guidelines as a way to remove outdated material and to keep information up to date and reliable. Awful Library Books is a site that contains actual, current library books that should have resulted in a librarian getting her license revoked!

From 1978's "The Complete Guide to Disco Dancing" by Karen Lustgarten
535 libraries own this title (including one here in Stillwater).

· 1978’s “Child Safety is No Accident: A Parents’ Handbook of Emergencies.” A major concern of this book includes not letting children play in or around mine shafts.

· 1963’s “Let’s Visit Australia.” In discussing Australia’s troubling low population, the author explains that “there is a fear that if Asians are admitted, soon there would be so many people of the yellow races that the white Australian way of life would be in danger.”

· 1988’s “The Re-Mating Game: Dating and Relating in Middle Life.” Top tip? Why not try a Love Boat style cruise?

http://www.goodshowsir.co.uk/

Bless their hearts—sci fi readers like my dear hub feel like they must eternally justify their reading habits. In reality, it is just those awful covers that give many sci-fi books a bad rap. Good Show Sir contains the best of the worst of these covers.

If you’ve come across an awesomely funny book blog, send it in. We all need a good laugh!

Stillwater, OK

Small Business Services: Online and In Person by Stacy

2011-12-05T15:25:00.000-08:00

If you have a small business or are thinking about starting one, then be sure to check out the library’s many resources located inside the library and online.

We recently created a new Small Business Center which pulls together our hardcopy small business resources into one convenient location. The SBC includes materials on everything from starting a business, dealing with employees and filing taxes to merchandising, marketing and rescuing a failing start-up. We also post local business related classes, brochures and tax materials in the same area. When the 2011 tax forms arrive, look for publications like Tax Guide for Small Business, Retirement Plans for Small Business, Business Use of Your Home, and be sure to pick up forms like the W-2 and 1099 MISC year-round from us.

Our online Small Business Reference Center is a great resource if you can’t make it into the library. This service, located on our database page under EBSCO HOST, includes hundreds of full text industry-specific trade journals. Just a few titles include “Restaurant Hospitality,” “Retail Merchandiser,” “Auto Week,” and “Travel Agent.” It also includes the most popular Nolo business titles such as “Legal Guide for Starting and Running a Small Business,” “Smart Policies for Workplace Technologies,” “Marketing Without Advertising” and twenty more.

E-Reader users should visit our downloadable service. While we’ve only begun to collect business e-books, we do have several including “Branding Your Business” by James Hammond, “The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do about It” by Michael E. Gerber, and “The New Positioning: The Latest on the World's #1 Business Strategy” by Jack Trout.

Whether you come in to visit or stay at home using our website, the library has reliable, up to date information for your business. Just ask at the Help Desk for assistance or explore online at library.stillwater.org.

Have a Happy Gluten Free Holiday by Stacy

2011-11-28T13:53:00.000-08:00

Several years ago, my husband’s whole family was transformed when it found out that a significant number of them are sickened by gluten. Kids had been crying out in pain in the middle of the night, some were the tiniest ones in their class, and adults were perpetually sick with all sorts of baffling symptoms.

Luckily, much of that is now under control. Everyone has had to learn a whole new way of living (I love watching the little ones who can barely read furrow their brows in concentration to go over every ingredient on a snack they’re given). And though one mistake in a dish can take down the entire family, most meals are as good if not better than before.

This year, we’re having Thanksgiving with MY family which scares me just a little because, as I said, one mistake can have my husband out of commission for weeks. As I went through the menu with my sister-in-law, I was so grateful that they offered to go out of their way to make many dishes my husband could share.

If you have a gluten intolerant friend or family member sharing your holidays, cooking a few gluten free dishes (ones without wheat, barley, rye and innumerable other items you’d never believe) isn’t so hard. The library has many books on the subject to accommodate these needs. Just a few include:

· “250 Gluten-Free Favorites” by Donna Washburn and Heather Butt-see the recipes for their pumpkin dessert and the pie crust recipes.

· “Complete Gluten-Free Cookbook” by Donna Washburn and Heather Butt- has great sides like mushroom &sweet potato casserole and potato salad.

· “Wheat-Free, Gluten Free” by Michelle Berriedale-Johnson- great turkey stuffing.

· “The Gluten-Free Vegetarian Kitchen” by Donna Klein- some favorites include kasha tabbouleh salad and out of this world pancakes.

Be sure to keep food packages and recipes, so the gluten intolerant guest can double check ingredients. Even better, consult with the guest ahead of time. Check the internet to find out which food brands are gluten free (especially on things like turkey and ham). Never assume! The most innocuous seeming ingredients can end up being the worst (hello vanilla extract and sour cream—you know I’m talking about you!). And definitely use different utensils and dishes for the gluten-free items—cross contamination can make people sick. Just a little prep work and investigation can help make you the perfect, beloved host—so let us help!

Back on the Court (or at 15 rows or so up in the stands) by Stacy

2011-11-21T08:43:00.000-08:00

Several years ago, there was a time in OSU basketball (formerly known as "The Time Which Shall Remain Unspoken," but now for brevity's sake--"The Troubles") when a failing economy coincided with some difficulties within the program. During "The Troubles," I quit attending games (no, I am not a fair-weather fan-"The Troubles" were just too troubling). It was just last week that I attended my first game in nearly four years and it was an exciting experience that reminded me why I love Cowboy basketball.

OSU Sports @ Stillwater NewsPress

Ok-I'm going to be honest here and say that I really really considered taking a book with me in case I got bored. Turns out-I didn't need one! This team is exceptionally athletic and it was the first time I've enjoyed a running game. Even better was how businesslike they were-it was all about going to the office and getting the job done as a team. With the current packages and prices, if you haven't been attending games, it is definitely time to think about going back.

Anyway, that very good experience has me interested in basketball again and any good budding obsession starts with lots and lots of books. If you're in basketball-mode or are missing the NBA, then here are some of the top books on basketball from this year:

· "ShaqUncut: My Story" by Shaquille O'Neal-out this week, this autobio is already in Amazon's top 100 even though (as I am writing) it hasn't even been released yet.

· "CrazyBasketball: A Life In and Out of Bounds" by Charley Rosen-a tell all about the strange and crazy times of the CBA by a once player turned ESPN announcer.

· "Scorecasting:The Hidden Influences behind How Sports Are Played and Games Are Won" by Tobias Moskowitz-in this Malcolm Gladwell like book, the author explains and sometimes debunks the facts every fan knows about sports. One of the best sections is on the home field advantage which should be especially interesting to Cowboy fans.

And there are a ton more excellent books on the game--a bunch have won the Pulitzer Prize (but don't let that turn you away!). Drop in if you need help finding them (or if you'd like us to borrow for you a copy of Coach Ford's Oscar worthy acting debut in the movie "The Sixth Man"!)

Watch History Come Alive by Mary Beth

2011-11-15T12:53:00.000-08:00

Like many of you, I’ve just finished watching the latest Ken Burns’ documentary “Prohibition” on public television. And no doubt like many of you, I found it fascinating. Much of the history leading up to the passage of the Eighteenth Amendment was unknown to me or maybe just forgotten from those long ago days in American history class. One thing I am sure of is that the 100 year period this documentary covers was just as tumultuous and transforming as events in our country today.

I’ve always liked history and in my view no one does a better job of presenting it than Ken Burns. Since the Academy award nominated “Brooklyn Bridge” in 1981, Burns has excelled in his efforts to tell the story of our country’s transformative events using a rich narrative and eye-popping visual landscapes. He has gone on to direct and produce, in collaboration with other talented individuals, some of the most acclaimed historical documentaries ever made.

The list of Burns’ films is ever growing but included in the more well-known ones are “Baseball,” “The Civil War,” “Jazz,” “Lewis and Clark,” “Mark Twain,” last fall’s “National Parks,” “Baseball: the Tenth Inning,” “Thomas Jefferson,” “The War” (about WWII) and “The West.” All of these great films are available here in the library. If you missed them when they first aired on PBS, do yourself a favor and check them out for an unforgettable learning adventure.

A Pox Upon You! By Danielle

2011-10-31T09:02:00.000-07:00

The recent media attention surrounding a presidential candidate’s statement about a vaccine makes “Pox : an American history” by Michael Willrich a timely acquisition for the Stillwater Public Library. By describing the views and tactics of anti-vaccine advocates who feared an increasingly large government, this book chronicles how America's war on smallpox during the Progressive Era sparked one of the twentieth century's leading civil liberties battles. For those interested in history, science, politics, race, and culture, it’s a fascinating, well researched book.

When faced with medical advice questions, such as “who do you trust?,” librarians are taught to offer this advice--look at reliable sources. What is a reliable source? Ideal sources include published sources like medical journals, recognized textbooks written by experts in the field or medical guidelines produced by nationally or internationally reputable experts. One other important factor when reading medical information is to make sure it’s current, and in some cases not older than one year.

If vaccines are a subject matter you would like additional information on, here are a few current selections from Stillwater Public Library.

· “Vaccine: the controversial story of medicine's greatest lifesaver” by Arthur Allen. “An account of vaccination's miraculous, inflammatory past and its uncertain future.”

· “Deadly choices :how the anti-vaccine movement threatens us all” by Paul A. Offit. “The story of anti-vaccine activity in America, its origins, leaders, influences, and impact.”

· “The vaccine book: making the right decision for your child" by Robert W. Sears. “Dr. Bob Sears provides an in-depth look at each disease/vaccine pair and covers everything you need to know.”

· “Sexually transmitted diseases” by Lauri S. Friedman and Jennifer L. Skancke, book editors. “Introducing issues with opposing viewpoints.”

· “The great influenza :the epic story of the deadliest plague in history” by John M. Barry. "This crisis provides us with a precise and sobering model as we confront the epidemics looming on our own horizon."

Can I Please Get A Pet? by Gayla

2011-10-24T07:42:00.000-07:00

With the days getting shorter and fall-like weather approaching, this could mean less outdoor playtime for your child. Have you considered a companion who teaches life lessons about friendship, responsibility, loyalty, and empathy? For many children, the family pet can be a best friend and a wonderful experience.

Our library has several books that help explore the World of Pets in both the

Children’s Easy and Juvenile areas. They can be found in Non-Fiction with call numbers in the 636’s.

“Let’s Get a Pet” by Harriet Ziefert tells everything you will ever want to know about picking out the perfect family pet. The “My First Pet” library from the American Humane Association series by Linda Bozzo tells about different animals such as cats and birds that make great pets. This book series explores how to care for your first bird or your first cat.

If you are looking for something a little different and tiny, then how about a pocket pet? A pocket pet is an animal small enough to carry around with you and stow in your pocket. Perhaps a Degu, Flying Squirrel, or a Duprasi? “Pocket Pets” by Alvin Silverstein is an ideal book to use as a guide for which animals are suitable as pets and which are not.

Jean Craighead George demonstrates how anyone can talk to their dog once they know the language in her book titled “How to Talk to Your Dog.” “Totally Fun Things to Do withYour Dog” by Maxine Rock is filled with games and activities for kids and their favorite four-legged friend. Kids can discover new variations on playing catch and fetch, or teach their dog to play hide and seek. The book shows how to throw a party for their special pooch-pals from dog weddings to birthday parties, and party games.

Studies have shown that children can benefit from the presence of a non-judgmental pet. Pets help with loneliness, grief, pain, and fear. A pet gives a sense of security, encourages exercise helps to broaden acquaintances, but most importantly unconditional love. Learn more at the library!

Stillwater, OK

Bad Halloween memories by Stacy

2011-10-17T15:51:00.000-07:00

I love Halloween, which is sort of odd because growing up I experienced several traumatizing Halloweens. Back in the 70s, we didn’t have baskets to collect candy. We used paper grocery sacks---those were the olden days when bags still came with handles. The year I was three, my bag dragged during the entire tour of the neighborhood. As you can guess, at some point on the trip, I looked into my bag and found nothing there. It was fairly traumatic and I can still remember every facet of that Halloween in all its horrid, vivid detail.

Then there was the time my mother made us eat dinner before trick or treating. We weren’t allowed to leave until the plate was clean. The problem was that dinner was “Chinese food.” Chop suey. From a can. No offense to La Choy, the fine producers of this cuisine, but I feel certain that Chinese food was never meant to be canned. Needless to say, there was no Halloween for me that night.

My last bad memory was a result of my misunderstanding of the punk influence on early 80s pop music. I was dressing with my friends as a member of the all girl band, “The Go-Go’s.” I had the requisite mini skirt and tied headband, but how I felt a safety pin through the earlobe fit in, I just don’t know. Apparently, just because your ears are pierced doesn’t mean that a safety pin will safely fit through your ear without creating a bloody, gory mess.

In Stillwater, it is easy to create wonderful Halloween memories when you have awesome events like the Downtown Halloween Festival on Tuesday, Oct. 25 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. The festival will include bouncers, carnival games, fair food, a costume contest and trick-or-treating with downtown merchants. All you need is a costume, and the library can help with that.

If you are short on time, consider:

· “Child’ Play: Quick and Easy Costumes” by Leslie Hamilton which has quirky ideas like dressing as a dinner table or a tube of toothpaste and super easy ideas like the “Backwards Dressed Boy or Girl” (literally the kid just dresses backward!)

· “Easy Costumes You Don’t Have to Sew” by Goldie Chernoff which is notable for standouts like a monster lobster, a totem pole and a super easy ladybug.

· “The Most Excellent Book of Face Painting” which really is most excellent because it shows how to apply makeup masks step by step.

If you have more time to prepare, browse our costume sections for inspiration. We have all sorts of books on folk costumes from around the world or the popular fashions from each decade. If you plan to stick to the festival’s theme of “Our Haunted Circus,” then look for:

· “Be a Clown” by Mark Stolzenberg

· “The Most Excellent Book of How to Be a Clown” by Catherine Perkins

· “Balloonology: 32 Projects to Take You From Beginner to Expert” by Jeremy Telford

Whichever costume you choose, you are bound to make wonderful memories this Halloween at Downtown Stillwater.

Scientists in the Field by Jeanna

2011-10-11T19:00:00.000-07:00

How do scientists really spend their working lives? Are their careers really all about white lab coats and advanced mathematics? Not necessarily. “Scientists in the Field,” a series of juvenile non-fiction books published by Houghton Mifflin, follows a variety of scientists to locations as exotic as the cloud forest of New Guinea and as familiar as your own back yard to prove that science can be fun, intriguing and extremely important.

In “Kakapo Rescue: Saving the World’s Strangest Parrot,” readers meet a team of scientists and volunteers who are trying to save a species of large, flightless, honey- scented parrots from extinction. With only ninety-one living kakapos, it’s a tough job, but the humans seem to love it.

In fact, one of the coolest things about the series is how much the scientists and their assistants love what they’re doing. Whether it’s studying snow leopards in Mongolia, teaching trumpeter swans to migrate in the northeastern

United States

, or tracking trash in the open ocean, the researchers are dedicated, enthusiastic, and certain that they can make a difference.

Lavishly illustrated with full color photographs, “Scientists in the Field” books are visually as well as intellectually interesting. Information is delivered as part of a captivating, real-life storyline, enjoyable for adults and children alike. Glossaries at the end of each book provide simple definitions for unfamiliar terms and some books have pronunciation guides beside unusual words.

To enhance the very personal quality of these books, some pages are printed in what looks like handwriting, complete with fake sticky notes. In “The Hive Detectives: Chronicle of a Honeybee Catastrophe,” the scientists even answer questions about themselves, including how they became interested in bees, which bees they like best, and what their worst sting has been.

Whether your child likes frogs or space exploration, volcanoes or the ocean, “Scientists in the Field” has a volume that will encourage those interests while opening up the wonderful possibilities of real-world science. And don’t forget to drop by with your 3-7 grade students on Saturday, Oct. 15 for “Born to Do Science,” Monty Harper’s program featuring real working scientists!

Stillwater, OK

“Garage Sale Groupies” by Stacy

2011-10-03T13:34:00.000-07:00

Last week, several of us binged on junk at the Oklahoma-Kansas 100 Mile Long Yard Sale. Part of our gluttonous garage sale excess can be attributed to the fact that no one had sales this summer due to the extreme heat. So, when this delightful buffet of bargains presented itself, it was an all out junk-fest with pockets full of quarters and trunks full to bursting. And perhaps there were a few tears and/or outbursts much like toddlers who desperately need a nap but refuse to stop playing.

Pam and Dotty getting ready to go!

The little town of Dewey outside B'ville has amazing junk stores!

Sadly, this is the old aluminum patio set that everyone wanted, but was sold just minutes before we go there.

A subpar pic of our awesome table of loot! What shall we do with it?!

To figure out what I’m going to do with my new treasures, I’ve gotten some help from some of these super guides:

For fabrics, check out “Handmade Home” by Amanda Blake Soule and “Crafting with Flea MarketFabrics” by Deborah Harding

For furniture, see “Complete Step-by-StepUpholstery” by Sowle & Dye and the he very basic Time-Life book “RepairingFurniture.”

If you need look books for miscellaneous projects, read “Salvage Style for the Garden” by Miller & Irwin, “1000 Ideas for Creative Reuse” by GarthJohnson, “Flea Market Makeovers” by B.J. Berti, and “Restore. Restyle.Repurpose” by Randy Florke.

Also look for “American Pickers Guide to Picking,” because you just never know if someone holding a garage sale will end up letting you go through an old attic or garage filled with junk (this actually happened to me for the first time last week and it was sort of awesome!). I personally prefer the Picker Sisters to the American Pickers. Some folks say the Sisters are way too sassy, but I think they’re jealous because these gals are about the only people who can pull off short-shorts and cowboy boots.

For those of you who didn’t have a garage sale this summer because of the heat, on behalf of all garage salers, I implore you to do it now! Come check out “The Pocket Idiot’s Guide to Garage and Yard Sales” or “Garage Sale Gourmet” by Chargaris and Lyman for some quick ideas on how to hold an awesome sale. Garage salers can pick up these same books, as well as “The Rummager’s Handbook” by R.S. McClurg to brush up on the best buying strategies.

So, lay out your junk for us, then get out of my way!

Read then Watch: BBC by Rion

2011-09-26T10:34:00.000-07:00

Most of us have “To Read” lists filled with exciting, new titles from the New York Times Bestseller list or from the latest “Daily Show” guest. But how about reading something a bit beneath the radar? Maybe a less well known title that has (as an added bonus) a film adaptation that you can watch after reading the book? You may be thinking--why watch some disappointing, half-hearted production of a book you truly enjoyed? Well, here’s the rub, the BBC really knows how to pick great books and how to adapt them into film.

For those of you who prefer mysteries, try reading Michael Dibdin’s Aurelio Zen series (Book 1 is Ratking), which the BBC adapted into three episodes called “Zen.” The DVD series is now on order for the library.

A similar, though more serious choice is “Wallander” (Book 1 is Faceless Killers), which the BBC adapted from novels by Henning Mankell. This series has also been ordered.

If it’s a bit of contemporized nostalgia you are looking for, I recommend “Sherlock,” adapted from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic novels. Each of these BBC productions is recent, incredibly well cast and performed with everything from the cinematography to the locations beautifully represented.

Maybe you do not feel like trying to read an entire series. In that case, I recommend reading and watching “Bleak House” or “Little Dorrit” by Charles Dickens. If you’re in a Bronte Sisters mood, I would suggest the BBC’s 2006 production of “Jane Eyre.”

These are just a few titles to wet your literary pallet and perhaps introduce you to a lesser-known author or reacquaint you with an old favorite. Whether on the big or small screen not all adaptations are created equal, but the BBC is definitely ahead of the curve. Check the stacks at the Stillwater Public Library—we own most of these books and BBC films and have many more on the way!

Stillwater, OK

Just Say No to Bad Books! by Summer

2011-09-16T07:15:00.000-07:00

One of the hardest lessons to learn is, “Sometimes it is ok to give up.” Moods, goals, and interests change, and often we are better off reassessing and switching our energies to other areas. While this is true in life, it is especially true when it comes to reading books. After working in a library for six years, I finally figured out there is no way I can finish every book that I see. There are far too many fantastic books out there to waste my time and effort on reading something I don’t love.

A famous librarian (Yes, there are famous librarians. She has her own action figure and everything.) named Nancy Pearl summed up this idea and created a general rule to save us from wasting time on bad books. She suggests if you are under 50, give a book 50 pages. If you are not hooked, give up on it for now and try it again later. Different moods affect your interests and a book that seemed mediocre at one point, may be life changing later. Pearl advices those over 50 that time is even more precious and you should subtract your age from 100. The result is the number of pages you should read before you decide to commit to reading the book or moving on.

We all have the right to read and like any book we want just as we have the right to dislike any book and not read it. Remember, just because Oprah loved a book, does not mean you have to too. So once you decide to quit a book, what do you do? Find another! Nancy Pearl literally has thousands upon thousands of suggestions. Check out her books of recommended reading lists which include, “Book Lust,” “More Book Lust,” “Book Crush,” and “BookLust to Go.”

Stillwater, OK

Back to School by Levonn

2011-09-07T11:47:00.000-07:00

School is now underway and we all want our children to do well. One of the most basic skills they need is to be a good reader, so why not help them by being a good reading role model. Your child walks like you, talks like you, and absorbs everything you do, so set the right example when it comes to reading.

1. Surround yourself with reading material. Books don't belong only in libraries and classrooms. Make the written word a part of your living space, with books, magazines, and newspapers readily available.

2. Draw attention to all the things you read. Practice reading labels or instructions together. When you share information from books, pamphlets, recipes, etc., you'll show your child how knowledge is largely shaped by the things we read and how reading connects us to the world.

3. Buy or borrow books together. When you go to the library or book store, let your child come along. Even if you aren't looking for anything in particular, practice the art of book browsing and admiring. Make an event out of it, and your child will learn to be exhilarated by the sight of books.

4. Don't be a solo reader. Share the Sunday comics, thumb through your favorite magazine together, or share tidbits from your newspaper or books. You will show that reading in not a solitary activity.

5. Read for leisure. Show that reading isn't work. Cuddle up with a good book and you'll model how reading can be just the thing to make your day.

6. Bring something to read everywhere you go. From the office to home, or even the living room to the bedroom, make sure you're equipped with reading material — for yourself and your child. When you have some extra minutes, you can show that reading is a constructive (and fun!) way to pass the time.

7. Emphasize the universal importance of reading. Librarians, teachers, students, mechanics, lawyers, doctors, architects, athletes . . . everyone reads. Make a habit out of living through reading.

Stillwater, OK

Help Wanted! by Stacy

2011-08-29T08:03:00.000-07:00

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.

2011-08-22T10:38:00.000-07:00

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

2011-08-15T20:23:00.000-07:00

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

2011-08-08T15:46:00.000-07:00

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

2011-08-03T11:17:00.000-07:00

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

Help Us Build Book Club Kits! by Stacy

2011-07-25T06:48:00.000-07:00

If you’re in a bookclub, you know it’s hard to get books for all of your members. Books can be expensive. The library generally has only one or two copies of a specific title, and often if enough copies for purchase are not available nearby, you have to wait for a copy ordered online. Once you’re done, four or eight or twelve people have the same book collecting dust.

When we started having regular bookclubs here at the library, we decided to make kits out of the books purchased for us by the Friends of the Library. We loan them to local bookclubs so that 1) our books don’t go to waste and 2) local clubs can take a break from buying books every single month.

But, as I said, books are expensive, so we decided to construct kits from books that are donated into the library every day. We’ve had a lot of success. We now have 100 kits and well over half have been constructed from every day public book donations and from our wonderful “Bookmooch.com” friend Emma who has given us 100 points (which equals 100 books!). And, you can help too!

· If you have a bookclub, come register with us to borrow kits.

· If your bookclub buys books, then please, PLEASE consider using Post-Its for your notes in the books, then donate the lot of them to the library. It’s an easy way to add a philanthropic element to your bookclub.

· If you have ANY bookclub-type books at all, then bring them to the help desk and tell the librarian they are for the list. We have a list of the books we’ve been able to start piecing together at http://tiny.cc/k7b7r. Some include “Boy in Stripped Pajamas,” “Bookseller of Kabul,” “Camel Bookmobile,” “Corrections,” “East of Eden,” “Gilead,” “Glass Castle,” “Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society,” “Little Bee,” “Love in the Time of Cholera,” “Olive Kitteridge,” “Devil in the White City,” any classics, all of the Oprah Book Club books and many, many more.

Thank you ahead of time for trying to help make Stillwater the best bookclub community in the state!

Paperbacks: The Perfect Vacation Read by Andrea K.

2011-07-18T08:35:00.000-07:00

Wanting to take a good library book with you on vacation, but you’ll be gone longer than two weeks? Why not check out a handful of our paperbacks? They are due back to the library only when you are done with them! Although you can renew your regular library books up to two times if no one is waiting on one, you never know when another patron might reserve a book and then- oops! You’ve got overdues!

Our paperback racks in the fiction area have a variety of novels, mysteries, thrillers, romance, science fiction, westerns and classics. You may have up to 15 out at a time. Our paperbacks come to us from generous donors, so if you would like to contribute, bring them on down to the Check Out desk, or place them on one of the donation carts located in either lobby. We pick out titles for our spinning racks and once the paperbacks have checked out a few times, they move on to the Friends of the Library sale which helps us raise money.

So consider checking out paperbacks the next time you’re traveling, and remember when it comes to our regular library books:

If your books are due back in Stillwater before you,

fines might accrue if you can’t renew.

For if you’ve renewed twice,

we can’t let you do it thrice.

When others are waiting for the book to come back,

we can’t give you any slack.

So think before you take that book to the beach,

because fines might be within your reach!

Five More to Watch by Scott

2011-07-11T07:57:00.000-07:00

My favorite part of being a librarian is the books. To me, there is nothing better than a new book arriving in the mail. I have the good fortune of getting to read some books before their release dates. Here are five books coming up that I have really enjoyed and that the library should be getting in soon:

Turn of Mind by Alice LaPlante (July 5)—This is a stunning debut that will delight both thriller and more literary fans. The book is narrated by former orthopedic surgeon Jennifer White. Jennifer is in the grip of Alzheimer’s disease and the narration pivots on how well a day she is having. What adds suspense to the plot is that she is also suspected of murdering her best friend.

Iron House by John Hart (July 12)—This is Hart’s fourth novel. His first three were all New York Times Bestsellers and two of them won the Edgar Award for best mystery. He very well might be cementing his place at the top of the mystery genre with this one, a tale of two orphaned brothers who take very different paths in life.

I’m Feeling Lucky: The Confessions of Google Employee Number 59 by Douglas Edwards (July 12-will be ordered in late July)—Edwards was the 59^th employee hired by Google. He was there for virtually all of their early days as they scrambled for Internet supremacy even when it was not all that apparent what it was that they offered or how they would generate revenue. This book abounds with humorous and insight anecdotes.

The Devil All the Time by Donald Ray Pollock (July 12-will be ordered in late July)—This book is not for the faint of heart. It is a stark and brutal Southern Gothic that invokes the spirit of Flannery O’Connor. All of the characters in this tale of poverty, religious extremism and revenge are deeply flawed and scarred. However, each and every one of them is compelling and complex. This is a must read if you don’t need your endings tied up in a neat little bow.

Cain by Jose Saramago (October 4-six of this Nobel prize winning author's books are now available in the library)— This is Saramago's final novel, releasing in October. Cain is a novelization of the story of Cain, slayer of Abel and the first biblical criminal. Well, the first along with God in Saramago's telling. After a tense stand-off where God and Cain exchange accusations they reach somewhat of a detente. Cain is forced to wander but it is not merely a nomadic existence. Instead, he moves to different "presents" that just so happen to coincide with OT occurrences. What emerges is a scathing, unrelenting and brilliant look at a primitive picture of God as contained with the Hebrew Scriptures. Cain spares God no mercy for expecting more from his creation than He delivers himself. This is vintage Saramago replete with his trademark intelligence and wit. He will be sorely missed.

Books in Series by Larry

2011-07-01T11:58:00.000-07:00

More and more writers are writing their books in a series format, and as a reader, I really enjoy it. Series let us develop a special knowledge of the writer and his characters. It is, for many of us, a pure pleasure to pick up the next book in sequence and know in advance we are going to be familiar with the lead protagonist and the answers to questions like “What strange mystery will Amelia Peabody uncover this time?” “What letter of the alphabet has Kinsey Millhone exposed to you lately?” Elizabeth Peters, in her creation of Amelia Peabody, and Sue Grafton’s great sleuth Kinsey Millhone are part and parcel of the lives of those who have read the series. These characters reactions, problems, and personal lives become part of us.

If you’ve never gotten into a series, there are many out there to explore. Larry McMurtry has created a wonderful cast in his Lonesome Dove series. Characters like W.F. Call and Augustus McCrae appear in novels like, “Return to Lonesome Dove,” “Streets of Laredo,” “Dead Man's Walk,” and “Comanche Moon.” We find ourselves again and again immersed in the lives of the characters that inhabited “Lonesome Dove.”

For adventure readers, who could be more exciting than Dirk Pitt, a character of many qualities created by Clive Cussler. Dirk also has a boss and a crew that get involved in all the adventures. There is a long list of exciting novels in this series many have been made into feature length movies.

If your children enjoy series, try “Hank the Cowdog” by John R. Erickson. This series takes you directly to the boss of ranch security, Hank. Hank is a cowdog of questionable abilities and a certain flair for discovering trouble where it shouldn’t be. Characters in this series include a mean cat, an adorable deputy cowdog and a rooster that can bring trouble out of the calmest days.

So if you think you would like to be caught-up in the lives of recurring characters and familiar settings, visit us at the library and ask your librarian for assistance. We can print out full list series books in the order which they should be read. And, if you ever find that our library is missing one of the books in the series, let us know—we’ll be glad to see about replacing it or finding another way for you to borrow the book so you can continue with your favorite characters.

Blog Away by Hannah

2011-06-27T07:18:00.000-07:00

Whether you're interested in gardening tips, recipes, or witty anecdotes about the lives of other people, there's likely to be at least one blog among millions to suit your interests. Do you like funny pictures of cats? Fashion? Monologues about peanuts, or pictures of home décor? Then surely, there is a blog out there for you- and if you really can't find it, why not start your own?

http://www.lolcats2.com/

Thousands of sites offer free web space and easy setups- from BlogSpot to Tumblr to Wordpress, there's likely a blog somewhere to suit your needs, style, or level of internet knowledge- and make it as easy as possible for you to blog for the world, or just your friends if you toggle with the privacy settings a bit! Some of my favorite blogs include Librarianista and PrettyBooks. They’re both constantly updated with library-driven humor, images of libraries, or pictures of pretty, lovely books! Of course, I’m also an avid reader of the single most important blog any of us will probably ever read- the Stillwater Public Library Shelf!

Though the first two blogs I mentioned are what most would consider personal blogs (those that contain content simply devoted to the whim of the blogger), more and more companies and businesses are now promoting themselves with Facebook pages, Twitter accounts, and (you guessed it!) blogs. Blogs are a great way to quickly update clients- current and potential- of what’s going on, what’s changing, or what’s new. A quick Google search offers hundreds of choices for starting a free blog- and most have easy click-by-click setups, and easy ways to update. In general, blogs are fully customizable- meaning they can reflect you or your promoted business with ease, style, and flair. Of course, if you’re using these blogs for business, make sure you check out the Terms of Service first- just to make sure they don’t require you to upgrade to a paid blog.

And to make it even easier- the Stillwater Public Library offers some good reads to help get you started- and keep the ball rolling!

The Corporate Blogging Book: Absolutely Everything You Need to Know to Get it Right by Debbie Weil is a great guide to blogging about or for your business. And if that doesn’t give you what you’re looking for, you may just find it in Marketing To The Social Web: How Digital Customer Communities Build Your Business by Larry Weber.

The collaboration User-Generated Content is a helpful resource for learning the do's and don'ts of navigating the internet world- from blogging to vlogging (a term for video blogs) to podcasts (think of it as audio-only blogging). The book also shares some of the pro's and cons of each of these popular internet phenomena. User-Generated Content also features articles on the way users create their internet environment through sites such as Wikipedia (or blogs!)- and why this could be both genius and harmful to the way we store, search, and retrieve information in the digital age.

Of course, maybe you're simply interested in the details behind blogging- how it started, what it is, or why it has any impact or importance at all. We've Got Blog: How Weblogs Are Changing Our Culture is a series of articles by various authors about the way blogs shape the way we see our world, how we use it, and what it tells us about our culture. The Stillwater Public Library also offers Say Everything: How Blogging Began, What it's Becoming, and Why it Matters (edited Scott Rosenberg) for checkout. Say Everything's title is pretty self-explanatory, but much like We've Got Blog, features articles by a plethora of different authors that show their opinions about Blogging's impact, and also explains its formation and rise to popularity.

Andrew Keen's The Cult of Amateur: How Today's Internet is Killing Our Culture focuses mostly on the downfalls of the internet- and offers a disappointed view of the ease in which users (no matter how ill-informed or bad intentioned they may be) can join the information on the internet- and change, alter and offer it freely without the restraints and limitations in place prior to the Web Revolution. Though I don't agree entirely with Keen's view that the internet and blogging are bad- he does raise a few good points about being wary of what you come across on the internet. I like to think of it as a what-not-to-do guide.

So, whether you're starting a blog (for business or personal use) or simply surfing the internet or taking an interest in what all the fuss is about, the Stillwater Public Library has numerous resources for helping you start and maintain your own chronicle on the web. You can even come in and use our computers with free internet access to get it set up, kept up, or just spend some time making it all the more lovely!

What did THAT mean? by Stacy

2011-06-20T15:53:00.000-07:00

I once had a dream I was dressed in a hollowed out watermelon at my parents’ workplace. I’ve also found myself cutting the cap off someone’s head and shoving paperwork into the person’s cranium. There have also been the many, many times five tornadoes or more were circling me as I ran for my life. The meaning of some of these dreams is obvious, but many leave me perplexed. On Thursday, June 29 at 7 p.m., I intend to find out what those confusing dreams mean when the Oklahoma City School of Metaphysics visits the Stillwater Public Library to show us how to interpret our dreams.

Before then, you might want to check out some of our library books that tell you more about your dreams. Many of the books are encyclopedia-like and give short meanings for the subject of your dreams such as “Zolar’s Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Dreams” (135 ZOLAR). Others, like “Dream Therapy: interpretations and insights into the power of dreams” by Rosalind Powell (154.63) give readers insight into why we dream and the process of figuring out how to analyze your dreams.

Of course, no investigation into the world of dreams is complete without “The Interpretation of Dreams” by Sigmund Freud (135.3) which not only discusses your dreams, but also the bigger picture of your psychological makeup. Interested reader’s can also find out if God is communicating through their dreams with books like “Dream Talk” by Katrina Wilson (248.2).

Whatever your dreams, good or bad, figure out what they mean with books and our June 29 Dream Interpretation program. Until then, be sure to check out section 616.8 to find out how to get a good night’s sleep.

END

Ready for a Zombie Attack? by Stacy

2011-06-13T12:44:00.000-07:00

Recently, the Centers for Disease Control released information on its blog about how to prepare for zombies. Interestingly, preparation for a zombie attack is very similar to how you prepare for other disasters. That’s good to know, because in my mind, the efficacy of hand to hand combat versus a ranged assault against an influx of the undead just hasn’t been sufficiently established yet. So, at the very least, I know that I can grab the same kit in a zombie attack as I would after a tornado. If you need to bone up on the key points of general disaster preparedness, then I’d recommend checking out these books:

“Simply Essential Disaster Preparation Kit” by Catherine Stuart (613.6) is short, sweet and to the point. It provides lists for creating disaster kits and what to do during each stage of several different disasters. An accompanying cd let’s you modify and print out check-lists for your own home. “Preparedness Now!” by Aton Edwards (613.6) is a lengthier version of Stuart’s book but covers way more long-term and complex issues like building latrines, chemical warfare, and infectious diseases (this section could be handy during a zombie disaster since I’m pretty sure that’s zombies are pretty germy).

Getting prepared for even the most obscure disasters can be super fun with books like “The Worst Case Scenario Survival Handbook” by Joshua Piven and David Borgenicht (613.69). A meatier and more realistic version is National Geographic’s “Complete Survival Manual” (613.69 SWEENEY).

Items for special groups are also available. If you have a group of folks to educate, consider checking out the DVD, “Emergency Preparedness” (DVD 613.6). People with businesses might want to consider making plans with the help of “Prepare for the Worst, Plan for the Best” by Donna Childs (658.4) which covers many approaches to preventing and minimizing damage to your business during and after a disaster. Prepare little ones for the fear they may feel during disasters like storms with some children’s books, including “Walter was Worried” by Laura Seeger and “Molly and the Storm” by Christine Leeson.

Walter was Worried

Whatever the disaster may be--tornadoes, floods, or even zombies---get prepared. Your preparation starts at the library!

END

Library of Congress Online Treasures by Stacy

2011-06-03T15:45:00.000-07:00

With the Library of Congress Traveling Museum dropping by the library June 7-8, I’ve been rediscovering many of the Library of Congress fabulous, online resources. My two favorite are the American Memory Historical Collection and the National Jukebox.

With American Memory, the Library of Congress has digitized the photos, maps, posters, films, speeches and other items that make up America’s history. You can find things like the posters designedby WPA artists for National Parks and public services; a collection of panoramic maps for Oklahoma towns in the 1800s (Stillwater unfortunately is not included); sheet music from the Civil War era; magazines from the 1800s; thousands of photos on any architectural subject imaginable—and that just cracks the surface. American Memory is my very favorite site for old images and photos.

The National Jukebox is a Library of Congress website that has full-length historical recordings. It includes more than 10,000 old Victor record recordings from 1901 to 1925. There are many wonderful ragtime, jazz, and blues numbers along with comedy performances, speeches, and opera. All of them have that awesome scratchy record sound. For years, we couldn’t wait to get rid of those scratchy sounds, but now that the scratches have been eliminated with digital recordings, it is nice to be able to hear them again.

Some highlights include “Casey at Bat” and a large collection of the Sousa Band. I also had not heard Theodore Roosevelt’s voice before, but on the National Jukebox I was able to hear his voice for the first time (and he did not AT ALL sound like how I imagined he would).

So next week, drop by the library to see exhibits on some of our national library’s treasures, and then browse through all of their treasures online.

WorldCat Local at Stillwater Public Library by Jay

2011-06-03T15:21:00.000-07:00

WorldCat Local is a search engine much like Google, but just for library items and library patrons. This is available to anybody with an internet connection, and it let’s you search for items to read, listen to or watch.

The search can be set for just Stillwater Public Library items or things from all the libraries in the world. There are also ways to refine your searches just for music, or books, or articles in Spanish or DVD’s, and much more. It will also tell you the call number and location of the item and let you do an Interlibrary Loan request.

Worldcat Local also lets you search for reading lists, most of which have been created by library professionals. To see some of the lists created just for SPL users, choose “Search for Lists” at the top of the page and enter “Stillwater Public Library.” You’ll find 3 lists in special topics: Indie Rock, great modern Nonfiction Writing, and Natural History.

Gimme Indie Rock

Great Modern Nonfiction @ SPL

Natural History @ SPL

Our “Gimmie Indie Rock” list has all the 426 albums and books our library has that deal with the subject of indie rock. You can sort by date, author, title, or the date we added it to the list. So if you are looking for our library’s newest indie albums or something new and local, this list is a great place to start.

Why use Worldcat Local instead of something like Amazon.com to check for titles? Because the advanced search is significantly more powerful, resulting in a better search and you can see the libraries that own the item, so you can borrow instead of buy. It all starts WorldCat Local.

Bookshelf Vacation by Jeanna

2011-05-23T07:56:00.000-07:00

“Family Vacation” is a not a phrase to be used lightly, as it can dredge up memories either joyful and enduring or horrible and even more enduring. Being a vacation person myself, and the parent of two children, I have discovered several books and series of books at the library that help turn bad travelers into better travelers and good vacations into great vacations.

Families with strong interests, like mine, may benefit from specialized travel guides such as “America’s Best Zoos” by Allen Nyhuis and Jon Wassner. If your family loves unusual things, the “Oddball” guides may interest you. If you prefer out of the way places to more popular attractions, checkout the “Off the Beaten Path” and the “Rough Guides” series. For families that enjoy hiking, our library offers “Best Hikes with Children in Colorado” by Maureen Keilty. This guide includes such critical information as trail length, level of difficulty, wheelchair accessibility and whether or not the trail head has restroom facilities.

The FamilyFun guides, however, are my personal favorites. Our library owns FamilyFun vacation guides to the Southwest, California and Hawaii. Other titles may be available for a small charge through Interlibrary Loan. These guides have everything traveling families might be interested in, along with hints about staving off on-the-road boredom and surviving long airplane flights.

How did I plan a vacation that included four zoos, a family friendly winery, the most amazing children’s museum ever, a steamboat museum, a nature reserve, a multicultural children’s museum and two caverns? I used the FamilyFun guide to Missouri. It led us to many interesting things we would not have found otherwise. Sometimes, the journey of a thousand miles starts with a trip through the travel guides @ your library.

We love our volunteers! by Stacy

2011-05-16T09:48:00.000-07:00

This past month, Stillwater Public Library celebrated National Volunteer Week with a luncheon to honor our volunteers, as well as our Friends of the Library and Trust and Library Board members. Four volunteers earned the President’s Volunteer Service Award including Arlene Smith, silver medal for 379 hours of service in 2011; Dorothy Carmain, bronze award for 185 hours; Patsy Bostick, bronze for 170 hours; and Rose Edwards, bronze award for 184 hours of volunteer work.

Lynda Reynolds, Library Director, and Arlene Smith, volunteer.

Most exciting was that we were finally able to give the President’s Call to Service Award to Arlene Smith who has been volunteering at the library for twenty years. This prestigious award recognizes the lifetime achievement of those who have provided more than 4,000 hours of service over the course of their lifetime. Arlene has volunteered nearly 3000 hours since I arrived in 2001, and the meager records I inherited showed that she officially passed the 4000 hour mark this year. However, there are years and years of uncounted volunteer hours for which I have no records, so I’m sure this award is long, long overdue.

Library Board members Barbara Miller and Linda Rogers.

FOL Board member Bill Balcer and Sue Busch, Children's Librarian.

Our lovely ladies, Dorothy Carmain, Patsy Bostick, and Rose Edwards.

Book sorter Linda Tinney and her son.

Volunteer Nicole Sump-Crethar and Library Board member Tom Warner.

From shelving, mending, helping with genealogy, teaching computer techniques, putting books in order and cleaning the DVDs and CD books to building displays and preparing storytime crafts—our volunteers do it all, and our library would never be able to run without them!

5 to watch! by Scott

2011-05-09T17:05:00.000-07:00

With summer fast approaching that means one thing: Summer Reading! It seems that those warmer months bring out some of the best that the publishing world has to offer. Here are 5 books coming out in the next few months that I am most excited about.

I’ll Never Get Out of This World Alive by Steve Earle

I had the privilege of reading this debut novel by the folk-rocker and I can say, without reservation, that this is the best book I have read so far this year. Doc Ebersole is a down on his luck morphine addict haunted by the ghost of Hank Williams and performing illegal surgical procedures in the back alleys of San Antonio. Until Graciela comes along and changes everything. Lyrical and heart-breaking, this is a novel to savor.

(Releases May 12^th)

Deadline by Mira Grant

Sure, books featuring Zombie uprisings are a dime a dozen. Unless they are written by Mira Grant. Feed, the first book in the Newsfeed Trilogy, was a breath of fresh air in a crowded literary genre. Book 2 releases on May 31^st and is sure to delight those with a fascination for the undead. You can pick up the first book in the series now at the SPL.

(Releases May 31^st)

Bright’s Passage by Josh Ritter

Ritter is one of the finest young songwriters in music today. In his literary debut he paints a moving picture of a young soldier returning home in the days after World War I. Still coping with the death of his young bride he must come to grips with how to care for the infant son that she left behind.

(Releases June 28th)

Never Knowing by Chevy Stevens

Stevens burst on the scene last year with her tension-filled debut Still Missing. In an equally captivating and gripping follow-up she ratchets up the intrigue in a memorable way. When Sara Gallagher decides to find out the identity of her birth parents she is not prepared for the truth behind her conception. Her mom is the only survivor of a still at-large serial killer. Her father is…you guessed it. Frightening.

(Releases July 5^th)

Skyjack: The Hunt for D.B. Cooper by Geoffrey Gray

I don’t know much about the details of this particular book but I have always been fascinated by the story of D.B. Cooper. Gray wrote a story for the New Yorker back in 2007 that led to the long-unsolved case of Cooper being reopened. This is that story.

(Releases August 9^th)

Happy Reading!

For the Birds By Gayla

2011-05-04T16:03:00.000-07:00

Spring has finally arrived in Stillwater and my yard is full of birds. There are birds in trees, on the lawn and in my flower beds. There is even a new nest being carefully constructed on my front porch.

I love awaking each morning to the sweet sound of birds singing. Did you know birds learn new songs just like people? I always thought their songs were the same old tweet, but as they grow older they learn new songs. One bird in particular, may sing thousands of different songs. That could possibly be more songs than you can put on your IPOD!

Birds have something that NO other animal has. Do you think you know what it is? Have you ever wondered why cardinals are red or if woodpeckers ever get a headache from hammering on wood? Do you know what a Hoopoe, Frogmouth, Bee Eater, or Blue-footed booby is?

If your kids ask questions like these, then “Everything Bird” by Cherie Winner is a fantastic book with colorful photographs that will answer everything kids really want to know about birds. The library’s bird books can be found in both the Children’s Easy and Juvenile areas with the call numbers 598, 598.2, 598.29, and 690.

Want to set up your own bird buffet? Check out “Feeding Our Feathered Friends” by Dean Spaulding. Once you build a bird feeder and house, it won’t be long before lots of feathered friends stop by for a tasty bite! “Make Your Own Bird-Houses and Feeders” by Robin Haus is another easy book with step-by-step instructions along with recipes for a homemade feast birds will love! It will be a wonderful day when the birds move in and make themselves right at home!

Remember, food and shelter are gifts you can give to any bird no matter where you live.

Why I Love the Library by Amanda Early

2011-04-19T19:11:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Amanda Early who is the winner of our National Library Week writing contest! Our judges agreed that Amanda's entry strongly exemplified the role of the library as a constant, stable and timeless resource to be treasured throughout our lives. Her experiences were those felt by so many of us who went to the library as a child, who hung out at the library as a teen and who rely upon the library as adults.

Thank you to all of the people who submitted such lovely entries in our contest!

Why I Love the Library

As I walk in the doorway the cool air hits my face and I am surrounded by the unique and soothing smell of books. The atmosphere is quiet and calm. Stepping through those doors makes me feel as if I am stepping into another world, away from the stress and pressures of everyday life.

Even as a child one of my favorite places to go was the library. I grew up in Muskogee and the library there was a large one. On the first floor was where the children’s books were located. They had a small area where they had puppet shows for the kids and I remember there being a fountain where we could throw pennies and make a wish. I begged my mother to take me almost every time we made a trip to town.

One of my favorite library memories is when I was finally able to go upstairs and check out books from the “grownup books”. Going up those stairs was the most wonderful feeling and opened up a whole new world of books to lose myself into. As I got older my mom would run errands in town and I would stay at the library to find books to check out until she was done and came back to get me. It always seemed that even if I had been there for hours I would still never have enough time!

When I was in high school, one of my favorite places to go between classes was to the school library. I was such a favorite of the school librarians that they would even let me borrow books they had at home. I remember being thrilled to be a library aide. It was my favorite time of the day!

I moved to Stillwater when I started college at OSU and have lived here ever since. I remember the overwhelming feeling of walking into Edmon Low library for the first time. I had never seen so many books under one roof! As with most college students, that library became my home away from home.

In the years since I have moved to Stillwater the Stillwater Public Library has become one of my favorite refuges to escape from the worries of my day. I love the feeling I get when I discover a new author I haven’t read before and try to catch up on all the books that I missed, or rediscover an old favorite that I read years ago and had forgotten about. I adore attending programs that the library holds about things that I find interesting and I eagerly count down the days until the library sale each Fall and Spring!

Henry Ward Beecher once said, “A library is not a luxury but one of the necessities of life.” I agree with this wholeheartedly. Since my childhood the library has been a constant in my life and I cannot imagine existing without it.

The best parts of being your librarian by Stacy

2011-04-15T12:49:00.000-07:00

This week is National Library Week and while we have been asking all of you to tell us what you like best about the Stillwater Public Library, I’m taking this opportunity to say what I like best about being your librarian.

· I love books, so there is no way around it—my favorite thing is when you come in and tell me that you loved a book I suggested. But even better is when I get to tell you that I loved a book you suggested. Then, I get to tell everyone else. It’s a wonderful, powerful, living network of literary knowledge.

· Monday mornings can start off pretty hectically. There are lots of weekend phone calls and emails to answer and everyone is generally in another manic Monday mode. Then, storytime lets out. All our tiny visitors stream out with one arm thrown around a little buddy and the other arm clutching a book. They’ve got a crown on their head or a chick hatching from its egg or one of the million other little crafts that they’ve learned to make. Every Monday morning, I get to remember all over again the love, warmth, and awe that come from a trip to the library.

· A reference librarian in a mid-sized, non-research library is most definitely a "Jack of all trades and a master of none." I don’t know much about any particular topic (other than librarianship), but I know a little about a ton of topics because I’ve had a chance to look up all of your questions. I am astonished by the diversity of your interests and your endless curiosity. It keeps my mind fresh and agile. Keep your questions coming, because reference librarians live for them!

· I love that I get to see so many different people of all different ages and from all different areas of the town. From the newborn whose mother is bringing him in for his first visit (and for her first chance to get out of the house!) to the Goth-dressed kids with hearts of gold to the gentlemen who recount their days during World War II, librarians get to meet them all.

· What we all love the most is your support. It’s no secret that we’ve obviously had a rough couple weeks here at the library, but your support tells us that all of our work is worth it.

Pioneer Woman by Dana

2011-04-07T15:49:00.001-07:00

If you have not heard about Ree Drummond, The Pioneer Woman, you might just want to go to her website, www.pioneerwoman.com. She has also written her biography, “The Pioneer Woman: black heels to tractor wheels” and a cookbook, “The Pioneer Woman Cooks: recipes from an accidental country girl.”

Drummond is a married mother of four who started a blog that has grown into a website full of information. She has also been on many shows cooking and has been busy traveling for book signings.

In her biography, Drummond relates the real life story of how she met and married her “Marlboro Man.” It is filled with stories about her husband, family and country living and tells a colorful story about life on an Oklahoma ranch.

In her cookbook, Drummond describes the isolation and peculiarities of an Oklahoman ranch life, from “chasing beavers out of the pond and saddling horses, to cooking for a man who believes the sun rises and sets in a steak and baked potato.” It includes mouthwatering Oklahoma recipes like cowboy calzones, pioneer woman’s rib eye steaks, cheese grits, fresh blackberry cobbler, pico de gallo and Iny’s prune cake.

I have personally made the chicken spaghetti and it is delicious! I met her at a book signing and was able to watch the way she interacted with all the people who wanted to meet her and take a picture with her. It was refreshing to see how much time she took with each person and how special she made them feel. And, the way she shares her life on numerous topics on her website makes you feel like you know her and bring a smile to your face.

So if you haven’t heard about her, do yourself a favor and check out her books and website.