Libraries-more than books! pt 5 : Online and in the library

Our local library offers a large number of helpful items online such as free music downloads through Freegal (available by clicking on the movies and music link on the home page), classes through Universal Class, legal forms, genealogical resources, and many more by clicking on the Research Room link on the homepage of the library webpage at: http://www.slcolibrary.org

If you choose to visit your local library, you may be surprised to find more than just books, magazines, movies, audio books and music. There may be computers for surfing the internet, cubicles with free WI-fi and outlets for surfing the internet with your own laptop, computers for searching the library database, reading spots for adults and children, study tables for research and tutoring, story-time activities, story-time and/or conference rooms, copiers (remember that it's okay to copy items for individual use for private study, research and or scholarship within reason), current newspapers and periodicals, microfilms and readers for perusing old newspapers such as the New York Times and colorful displays of current and upcoming activities at your local library. Don't forget that your helpful local librarians can aid you in locating an old favorite or directing you to a new gem. They can help with research projects, proctor tests, and offer assistance with that hard to find item.

From top left:

1. flags of the Menorah and Santa and page from the storybook walk book all on the windows of the story-time room
2. activity table-right now you can write a letter to Santa and put it in the mailbox (notice the alphabet carpet letter-we have all the letters plus colored carpet blocks scattered throughout the carpet in the childrens area)
   
3. giant books that children can play on-notice more red arrows and another page from the storybook walk on one of the giant book pictures
4. reading carousel with displays for the new release picture books on the shelves outside the carousel
5. current newspapers: both local and national with copying machines behind the newspaper display cases
   
6. microfilm reader and file drawers of microfilms for back copies of the New York Times and some local papers
7. reading area with comfortable chairs and lots of natural sunlight from the huge windows
   
8. one sample of the banks of computers for patrons to access the internet at the library
9. wood cubicles with outlets for patrons to access the free WI-fi on their own laptops at the library

From online resources to in person story times at your local library, there's a lot more than just books! Be sure to look into all the programs and offerings available and feed your mind with the new, the classical and the just plain entertaining thanks to your local library!

Libraries-more than books! pt 4 : Music

And music? Well, the library's got something for just about everybody.










Country, Jazz, Folk, Sound Effects, Soundtracks, Worship, Holiday, Childrens, Pop, Easy Listening, Rock, Classical, New Age, and World Music such as the Japanese CD featured in this post. Don't forget to check out all the great musical choices the next time you visit your local library!

Libraries-more than books! pt 3 : Audio Books

Short on time to read traditional books? Then check your local library for many wonderful books on CD!



Childrens, non-fiction, classic, mystery, best-sellers, biography and many more!




Featured in this post are The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare (very good!), Garlic and Sapphires by Ruth Reichl (interesting story of the life of a food critic), The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer (made me wonder if it was loosely based on real stories...), The Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens (listening too now), and Driven by Larry H. Miller with Doug Robinson (next on my list to read/listen to).

There are also dozens of language learning books on CD like Complete Irish (which just looked like fun.) So, whether you want to learn some travel Italian, Russian grammer, Japanese street slang or teach yourself Urdu, just check your local library to see what world-wide options are yours!

Libraries-more than books! pt 2 : Movies

Some of the highest circulating items are movies from your local library. Choose from Dvds in many genres including mystery, western, biography, comedy, drama, science fiction, musicals, tv shows, and informational shows on everything from exercise and cooking programs to social commentaries and travel shows. Don’t forget the large selection of children's movies-entertaining or educational and sometimes both!

Featured in these blog pictures are the British mystery series Pie in the Sky, the British science fiction series Doctor Who, the comedy series I Dream of Jeannie and the following movies: Dumbo, Bell, Book and Candle, Mrs. Santa Claus, 12 Angry Men, and The King's Speech. Your local library may carry old classics, new releases, foreign films in many different languages, and many great films that you may have forgotten about over the years or many great films that you have yet to discover.

See something special or spectacular courtesy of your local library! The only caveat with movies is that they generally have a shorter check-out time than other items. Our library has a 1 week check-out for dvds. But remember, you're checking out the movies without the rental fees from other sources so it's still a great deal.

Pop in a dvd, pop some popcorn and view something popular tonight!

Libraries-more than books! pt 1 : Magazines

More than just books! Part 1 : Magazines. For adults, teens and kids. Dozens of titles. Featured: People, Time, PCWorld, LDS Living, Consumer Reports, and Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel. Check your local library for issues available. (The only caveat with magazines is that generally the most current issue does not circulate.) So, if you're looking for something a bit different to read, or want to catch up on some of the latest trends, crafts, news, recipes or reviews, just remember to check out the magazine section of your local library.

Author 89: Miles Harvey helps me be thankful

Sometimes we don't realize all the things that help make America the great melting pot. Here's just a few things from other countries that I didn't know about before reading some selections of the "Look What Came From" series:

• Contact Lenses from Switzerland-created in 1877!
• Sunglasses from China-invented more than 500 years ago.
• "The button-down collar was invented in England in the 1890s. It was designed to keep the shirt collars of polo players from flapping in the wind."

I also want to express gratitude to the many friends and family that make our lives better-specifically I'd like to publicly thank my parents, my cousins over at HomeHinges, my computer savvy cousins, Aunts and Uncles, and other cousins, friends, and co-workers who have and do help me with family info, car info, life info and other things-we've had a lot going on in the last few months and we couldn't have handled it all without your help. Thank You!

Author 88: Play Clarinet Today! with music publisher Hal Leonard

There are so many useful books at the library. We recently checked out Play Clarinet Today! published in 2001 by the Hal Leonard Corporation. This level one book was a bit too easy for Mica but she thumbed through it for my benefit anyway. She rated it as being useful for a beginner with a little bit of direction from a teacher.

And if you're looking for piano books?!? Oh my, there are so many to choose from! Wedding music, classical music, Disney favorites, show tunes and musicals and popular artists from today and yesterday. Just a few of the titles at the Salt Lake County Library System for piano books include:

• Lennon and McCartney Piano Songs for dummies
• Fourteen preludes, opus 3, no. 2 and opus 32, for piano by Sergei Rachmaninoff
• The Best Country Songs Ever
• Liszt masterpieces for solo piano
• The sound of music companion
• Fearless: piano, vocal, guitar by Taylor Swift
  

and many more! For more piano books, visit your local library.

For more music published by Hal Leonard, visit their website at: http://www.halleonard.com/


(On a different note, Daisy just determined that it takes 377 licks to get to the center of a tootsie roll pop.)

Hedgehog on Oboe

Daisy on violin

Mica on clarinet

Author 87: Harry Potter Magic Eye Book

Who remembers when the 3D pictures were all the rage? Every mall had a store or a kiosk displaying and selling them along with the accompanying passersby who stood with furrowed brow and intense concentration that inevitably was followed by two common responses:

1. a knowing ah.... moment followed by a response of "Do you see it? or That's so cool!"
2. or a disgruntled shake of the head and the occasioned comment along the line of "These things give me a headache."

I have to admit, I was often standing with the second crowd. Even with the book and the helpful tips, I just get a pounding headache without being able to see the hidden picture within the pictures.
So congratulations to those of you in the first crowd who can actually see the 3D hidden images. For many more Magic Eye Books, see the official website at: http://www.magiceye.com/


In related artichoke art, we thought these two partially consumed artichokes resembled the sorting hat in different ways. See how many similarities and differences you think these artichokes have with the real sorting hat.

Interestingly, both artichokes were purchased at the same time from the same store yet they were obviously two different varieties. My guess would be a Green Globe on the left and a Big Heart on the right based upon the side cut views from this artichoke site: http://www.artichokes.org/varieties.html They were both delicious. (Is it slightly cannibalistic to eat something that vaguely resembles a fictional talking hat?)

Author 86: Electric Animals and Electric Appliances

Let's start with the book, shall we? Featured on today's book post is Electric Animals by Natalie Lunis. There's the electric eel and the electric ray but there's also the platypus and echidna who use electroreceptors to locate food by electrolocation.


To continue on with electric appliances (which surprisingly applies to both items since the dictionary defines appliance as: a piece of household equipment operated by gas or electricity) (thanks to the good old Merriam-Webster Dictionary) we have a printer and a microwave. Both have died and await disposal at a County collection drive. For more information, visit the following link: http://www.slvhealth.org/programs/waterQualHazWaste/solidHazWaste/householdHazWaste/index.html

They're been good appliances. The printer lasted around 7 years.

Ironically, the new printer (yes, we bought a cheap model) cost less for the whole printer including a black and a color cartridge then the black only cartridge replacement package for the old defunct printer. And the cartridges for the new printer will be a fraction of the price of the old ink cartridges. Sigh. Live and learn, live and learn. (We probably should have replaced the printer about six months ago instead of trying to coax it along by rebooting, jiggling, restarting just the printer and other various attempts to get the temperamental thing to print including but not limited to begging, cajoling and praying.)

The microwave, a Sharp Carousel II, was manufactured back in 1994 and gave us 17 long years of use. Amazing. It was hard to see it go. We had replaced the fuse a number of times but it finally started acting up just a little to much. Either the microwave unit wouldn't turn on unless it was thumped on the side (just the timer and the fan would run) or the microwave unit wouldn't turn off (even if the timer had ended-we could only turn off the microwave unit by leaving the microwave oven door open.) So these two long lasting (relatively speaking) appliances have been replaced.

Let us have 3 1/2 minutes of microwave popcorn popping in tribute to these two electrical household pieces of equipment that served so long and so well.

Author 85: Holly Hobbie still going strong

Fanny is a sweetheart doll of a book about a young girl who envies the "Connie" dolls of her friends. She makes her own doll to play with her friends and their Connie dolls. (At one point the Connie dolls are nurses and Fanny's doll is the doctor-with the author poking a bit of fun at the "looks only" dolls versus those with more, shall I say, traditional? appearances.)

Find out more about Holly Hobbie (who also writes the Toot and Puddle books!) at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holly_Hobbie

Bountiful Baskets October

$15 netted us 2 pomegranates, 2-lb. bag carrots, a bag of red grapes, 5 limes, 7 plums, 4 red peppers, a head of green leaf lettuce, 7 bananas, 2 broccoli crowns, 4 asian apples, 3 gala apples, 6 pears and 6 ears of corn. Find out more info at www.bountifulbaskets.org

We also ordered a case of pomegranates. We'll have to post later on how well they store but in the meantime we've already eaten a number of them and shared some with friends.

Everything was pretty good except the pears were brown inside which is a sign of being held at too-low of a temperature for too long. Pears are notoriously susceptible to breakdown of the fruit once they are ripe and they can't handle any rough handling or too much cold once that happens. When they are still hard they can handle more but not once they are ripe.
Also, the plums were a bit stubborn in ripening. Otherwise the rest was rapidly consumed.

Thank you to Dr. Jerry Parsons for confirmation of my suspicions that the pears had suffered from the cold. His article on Pears and Pear Preservation can be found at: http://bexar-tx.tamu.edu/HomeHort/F1Column/2005%20Articles/AUG28.htm