New Years Challenge: Tackle the To Be Read Pile

January 1, 2016December 26, 2015 / Sharon Tyler / Leave a comment

If you are like me, you have piles and/or lists of books you want to read and just have not gotten to yet. I have a full Kindle and lists of books that I have every intention of reading, that is until a different book (or binge watching Netflix) grabs my attention. It is not helped by the fact that I review books for my own book blog and often get books before they are released, though in all honesty by the time some get read and reviewed they are well past the publication date, or by the fact that I work in a library with a wide variety of books crossing my path every day.

I have tried using Goodreads, a written list, and a spreadsheet to stop this but thus far I still have my head turned when a book I had forgotten about or did not know existed crosses my path. So, this year my New Years resolution is to read one book that has been neglected for every two other books that I read.

Would you like to join me in reading some of the books that I had fully intended to read in 2015 and never quite got to? Some were published last year, some are older books. It is a wide variety of children’s, teen, and adult books so there should be something for everyone. Here is a small sampling of the books that are in my pile.

Nightbird by Alice Hoffman
Twig is practically ignored by classmates and townspeople, but gets along with her mother and brother, whose presence must be kept secret, until descendants of the witch who cursed her family move in next door and want to be friends.

Saint Odd : an Odd Thomas Novel by Dean Koontz
A conclusion to the best-selling series finds psychic fry cook Odd Thomas returning to his home town while preparing to confront an evil force that tests his friendships, reveals his purpose and reunites him with a lost love.

Winger by Andrew Smith
Younger than his classmates at a boarding school, Ryan Dean West grapples with living in the dorm for troublemakers, falling for his friend who thinks of him as just a kid, and playing wing on the Varsity rugby team.

Let’s Pretend this Never Happened: (a Mostly True Memoir) by Jenny Lawson
In an illustrated memoir, the creator of the Bloggess blog shares humorous stories from her life, including her awkward upbringing in Texas and her relationship with her husband.

Yes, yes, of course there are more. I have heard about and seen some many fantastic books but have not had time to read all, or even most of them. Here are some more titles that I will read, some day: Bossypants by Tina Fey, Necromancing the Stone by Lish McBride, Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales From the Making of The Princess Bride by Cary Elwes with Joe Layden, Wonder by R.J. Palacio, Rock On: a Story of Guitars, Gigs, Girls, and a Brother (Not Necessarily in that Order) by Denise Vega, Scorch by Gina Damico, City of Bones by Cassandra Clare, Graceling by Kristin Cashore, and I am Malala: the Girl Who Stood up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai.

What is on your list that you are eager to read, but just have not gotten to yet?

Memories of Norman Rockwell’s Christmas Book

December 25, 2015November 20, 2015 / Mary / Leave a comment

I was sixteen years old when Norman Rockwell’s Christmas Book was published. I was (and still am) a huge Rockwell fan and was delighted to discover this book under the tree on Christmas morning all those years ago.

I could write a book myself about how much I love this book, how I know every story in it by heart, how each of the 120 Rockwell illustrations are etched onto my brain. I still own it, and it’s a cherished part of my holiday.

I could never do justice to this book in a short blog post. Instead, I’ll let the world-famous authors whose works fill the pages speak for themselves.

The nights are wholesome; then no planets strike,
No fairy takes, nor witch hath power to charm,
So hallowed and so gracious is the time.
(Hamlet by William Shakespeare)

I am not alone at all, I thought. I was never alone at all. And that, of course, is the message of Christmas. We are never alone.
(My Christmas Miracle by Taylor Caldwell)

No Santa Claus? Thank God he lives and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.
(Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus by Francis P. Church)

My woods—the young fir balsams like a place
Where houses all are churches and have spires.
(Christmas Trees by Robert Frost)

“And so you see,” said Ursula, “I try to do a kindness in your name. And this is my Christmas present to you.”
(A Gift of the Heart by Norman Vincent Peale)

She felt uplifted by a great surge of wonder and gratitude and compassion and love. And she knew what it was. It was the spirit of Christmas. And it was upon them all.
(The Miraculous Staircase by Arthur Gordon)

And a final message for peace on Earth and goodwill toward all:

God rest you merry, Innocents,
While innocence endures.
A sweeter Christmas than we to ours
May you bequeath to yours.
(A Carol for Children by Ogden Nash)

‘Twas the Night Before Christmas – A Downloadable Audiobook Version

December 23, 2015December 23, 2015 / cheshirelib / Leave a comment

‘Twas the night before Christmas when everyone looks
For stories, and movies, and good holiday books.
Though the novels are placed on the shelves with care,
To help all the readers who are browsing there,
There are more than books all snug on their shelves,
For those seeking stories to entertain themselves.

Virtually speaking, there are audiobook delights
Such as A Christmas Blizzard, a lost man’s plight.
Or download a tale by author Brenda Novak,
The Heart of Christmas, where a woman looks back.
And the audio tale 12 Stories of Christmas,
Trust me, you won’t want to miss this.
Pastor Robert Morgan’s book, a collection of tales,
He shares with his church on Christmas Eve never fails.

Or if tradition is what makes you sing,
A Christmas Carol by Dickens may be just the thing.
Fully dramatized by an incredible cast,
This downloadable book enlivens the past.
Or the classic story The Bishop’s Wife,
Where an angel arrives to smooth away strife.
And the Gift of the Magi, O. Henry’s short story
Will fill your spirit with love and with glory.

If it’s romance you seek at this time of the year
Try All is Bright, All is Calm for some holiday cheer.
And Finally Home about a woman named Casie
Has wild horses, wild hearts, and is a little bit sassy!
Or travel back in the past with By Winter’s Light
A Christmas celebration, magical and bright.

Many love mystery as the holidays near
And turn to Hamish Macbeth at this time of the year.
The Scottish constable in A Highland Christmas
Is a cozy tradition you won’t want to miss.
In The Nightingale Before Christmas by Donna Andrews
A holiday tour turns deadly, and there are no clues!
Jane and the Twelve Days of Christmas is sure to delight
As Jane Austen follows the trail to bring the answer to light.

There are so many more, but my poem is too long
And I haven’t even mentioned eBooks, DVDs, or songs.
All are available from the library for holiday cheer
On a cold winter’s night at the end of the year.

So if your cheeks are like roses, and your nose like a cherry
From being so busy you have no time to tarry,
Let someone else read you a book while you work
And drive, cook, and do all the things you can’t shirk.
You may exclaim like St. Nick, ere he drove out of sight—
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”

I Love Snow

December 21, 2015December 15, 2015 / Linda / 1 Comment

snow 2

I love snow. Yes, love it! I know, I’m in the minority – most people tend to complain about snow. We live in New England. Snow is a way of life. Sure, I’m not thrilled with having to scrape the frost and snow off my car, dig the car out, deal with a dead battery, but still, I love snow. It always makes me smile when I see the flakes falling. No matter my mood, snow lifts me up. Out of curiosity, I typed ‘snow’ in the search box of our catalog and 1,224 items came up! There are children’s books, movies, adult fiction and non-fiction. Below are a few adult titles that might be of interest. If nothing appeals to you, take a look at our catalog. There is sure to be something out of the 1,224 titles that you might want to check out.

The Snow Bride – Debbie Macomber – While journeying to Alaska to marry a man she met on the Internet, Jenna Walsh is kidnapped by Reed Kenner, a fellow passenger, who will do anything to prove that she is making the biggest mistake of her life.

Snow in August – Pete Hamill – An unlikely friendship between an eleven-year-old Irish Catholic boy and a lonely rabbi from Prague in 1947 Brooklyn has the two opening new windows of understanding with each other but still fighting the prejudices of the day.

Waiting for Snow in Havana – Carlos Eire – A survivor of the Cuban Revolution recounts his pre-war childhood as the religiously devout son of a judge,and describes the conflict’s violent and irrevocable impact on his friends, family, and native land.

The Snow Queen – Michael Cunningham – A heartbroken man turns to religion after seeing a vision in the sky above Central Park, while his musician brother takes drugs he thinks will help him compose a ballad for his seriously ill wife.

Last Snow – Eric Van Lustbader – In the aftermath of an American senator’s death on a political trip, presidential Special Advisor Jack McClure is dispatched to investigate a perilous trail throughout Eastern Europe, an assignment that is complicated by his efforts to protect two unlikely companions.

Mercy Snow – Tiffany Baker – A tragic bus accident has devastating repercussions for two families from opposite sides of the tracks of a tiny New England paper milling town.

Sisters of Heart and Snow – Margaret Dilloway – Two estranged sisters reconnect when they return to their childhood home in response to their mother’s dementia diagnosis and one of the pair takes on her mother’s power of attorney.

Whiter Than Snow – Sandra Dallas – When a devastating avalanche traps nine children walking home from school in 1920, the disaster has life-changing effects on the people who live in the small Colorado town where it occurs.

Hidden Treasures in the Library Lobby

December 18, 2015December 19, 2015 / Sharon Tyler / Leave a comment

When you walk into the Cheshire Public Library you enter the main floor lobby. This large area is home to CD’s, DVD’s, Audiobooks, adult fiction, and new books. There are also a variety of displays, the public catalogs, the circulation desk, and the Friends book sale and donation area. Most regular visitors to the library are aware of their favorite areas, and browse those areas comfortably. However, like in the children’s room there are some hidden treasures that often get over looked and deserve some attention.

Science Fiction
I have always been a big fan of science fiction and fantasy, and love helping people discover new authors and series to explore. Unfortunately, most people miss our Science Fiction shelving area entirely. As with our mystery books, they are shelved separately from the rest of the fiction. You can see which area any adult (or children’s) book is shelved in by reading the call number. Adult fiction call numbers will all start with where they are shelved; Fiction, Mystery, or Science Fiction. The mysteries are easy to find, since they are shelved right after the regular fiction. However, the Science Fiction materials are shelved on the wall near the fiction between the audiobooks and classic movies.

Graphic Novels
Graphic novels are not just for children and teens. Take for example the popularity of The Walking Dead. Our selection of graphic novels in the lobby is not huge, but it is high quality and well worth taking a look at. Since it is a fairly small collection it might be easy to over look, but it is not hard to find or to browse if you are interested. The collection is housed on the endcap of the New Biography and Nonfiction shelf, facing the windows and DVD’s. If you like what you see, but are looking for even more graphic novels, do not be afraid to explore the large selection in the Teen’s Room!

Categorized DVD’s
Most regular visitors know where to find the DVD’s they enjoy most, and where our Quick Flick, New, regular, and Blu-Ray movies are each shelved. However, there are a few groups of films that are shelved separately. We have labeled these disks and changed their call numbers to match these special areas, but infrequent movie borrowers might not know about these little nooks and crannies. Classic movies are labeled with a red Classics label and are shelved on a slat-wall display on the wall by the fiction books. Comedy movies have an orange Comedy label and shelved in the next slat- wall display. On the same wall, in the build in bookcase between those two slat-wall displays, you can find the television show box sets which have a bright pink TV label on them. If you keep following that wall to the corner you will find the Family Films (with a green label), and in the next bookcase after a window you can find the non-fiction films (classed by number) and the Foreign Films which have a yellow Foreign sticker on them.

Lost And Found
While not a part of our library collection, it is an often asked for and searched for item. Small or valuable items (wallets, phones, jewelry, etc) that have been turned into library staff stay at that service desk for a time and then are tucked away in a safe until claimed. However, items like coats, mittens, notebooks, umbrellas, and so on are kept at the service desk of the area they were found in for a few hours and are then placed in our Lost and Found bin. This is located between the Friend’s donation area and the Audiobook collection.

Do not forget about the variety of ever changing displays. Any of our items that are on these displays can be checked out. If you are still unsure where to find what you are looking for swing by the Circulation desk and we would be glad to help you!