New Cozy Mysteries For Spring

May 9, 2016May 6, 2016 / Linda / Leave a comment

mystery

Just in time for Spring, a fresh batch of cozy mysteries. Pick your favorite series, or start a new one!

Cinco de Mayhem (A Sante Fe Cafe Mystery) – Ann Myers – When the local restaurateur who attempted to take over all of the food carts in town winds up dead under her friend Linda’s famous tamale truck, Rita—a chef preparing for Cinco de Mayo in Sante Fe, New Mexico—must turn up the heat on the real killer before her friend gets burned for the crime.

Rest In Peach (A Georgia Peach Mystery) – Susan Furlong -When the much-despised mother of the spoiled teenage Peach Queen is found murdered, Nola Mae Harper, who is coordinating both the cotillion dinner and the grand opening of her new shop, must prove that her friend, Ginny, is innocent of the crime by drawing out the real killer.

Reading Up A Storm (A Lighthouse Library Mystery) – Eva Gates -The librarian at Bodie Island’s Lighthouse Library, Lucy Richardson, after a shipwrecked seafarer dies a few days after washing ashore, is once again roped into a murder investigation and must navigate a sea of suspects, all of whom had motives to kill the deceased.

Vanilla Beaned (A Cupcake Bakery Mystery) – Jenn McKinlay – When they arrive in Las Vegas to open their first franchise of the Fairy Tale Cupcakes Bakery, Melanie Cooper and Angie DeLaura aren’t sure about turning their recipes over to brash former showgirl Holly Harzmark until a saboteur with a sweet tooth and a penchant for murder brings out a side of Holly that they both can relate to.

An Unhappy Medium (A Family Fortune Mystery) – Dawn Eastman – When one of the runners in the Zombie Fun Run is found murdered and her estranged sister, Grace, disappears, Clyde and her police-detective boyfriend must clear Grace’s name in the crime while becoming trapped in a tangled web of family secrets, grudges and stolen diamonds.

Crime and Poetry (A Magical Bookshop Mystery) – Amanda Flower – Returning home to Cascade Springs, New York to help her Grandmother Daisy run her magical store, Charming Books, where the books literally fly off the shelves, Violet Waverly must clear Daisy’s name when the body of a dead man is found clutching a book from her shop.

Moss Hysteria (A Flower Shop Mystery) – Kate Collins – When their idyllic new community is suddenly uprooted by murder, flower shop owner Abby Knight and her new husband, Marco, must weed through the suspects to catch a killer who is one bad seed.

Needle and Dread (Southern Sewing Circle) – Elizabeth Lynn Casey – To make her new sewing shop a success, Rose sponsors a series of do-it-yourself weekends for sewing enthusiasts, but her plan is unraveled by the murder of an argumentative guest and it is up to Tori and the gang to piece together the clues before Rose’s life is ripped apart at the seams.

Breach of Crust (A Charmed Pie Shoppe Mystery) – Ellery Adams – When she finds the body of Beatrice Burbank, the president of the high-society Camellia Club, floating in Lake Havenwood during their annual retreat, baker Ella Mae, who was hired to teach the members the tasty tricks of her trade, wonders what she’s gotten herself mixed up in.

A Clue in the Stew (A Soup Lover’s Mystery) – Connie Archer – When she hosts an event with a famous author, small-town soup shop owner Lucky Jamieson is unprepared for the trouble that boils over when a colorful cast of characters descend on the town resulting in a murder that is linked to another recent unsolved crime.

Bossa Novas, Bikinis, and Bad Ends (A Happy Hoofers Mystery) – Mary McHugh – Kicking off Carnival by entertaining the patrons at the most elegant hotel in Rio de Janeiro, the Happy Hoofers trade-in their dancing shoes and become samba-loving sleuths when their exotic Brazilian companion is found dead in her room, without a clue as to what killed her.

Braking for Bodies (A Cycle Path Mystery) – Duffy Brown – Starting a new life in Mackinac Island where she works at the local bike shop, Los Angeles transplant Evie Bloomfield finds herself cycling through her past when, after an old friend comes to the island, her former editor of a sleazy rag, who arrived unexpectedly, is found dead.

Newlywed Dead (A Perfect Proposals Mystery) – Nancy J. Parra – When a bartender at her sister’s wedding drops dead from a lethal nightcap, Pepper Pomeroy, determined to discover who would want to kill a virtual stranger at a county club wedding reception, must outsmart a clever killer who is wedded to the idea of murder.

Irish Stewed (An Ethnic Eats Mystery) – Kylie Logan – To save her aunt’s run-down greasy spoon in Hubbard, Ohio, Laurel Inwood cooks up a plan involving daily specials featuring ethnic cuisine, but must first solve the murder of a local reporter who was found slumped over a table with a receipt spike in his back. Includes recipes.

Gone With The Witch (A Wishcraft Mystery) – Heather Blake – Hired to keep an eye out for a saboteur at the Pawsitively Enchanted pet contest, Darcy, along with her dog Missy, is thrown off the scent when her lead suspect is found dead and someone begins stealing prize-winning pets, forcing her to sniff out both a killer and a thief.

Catch As Cat Can (A Sunny & Shadow Mystery) – Claire Donally – Former reporter Sunny Coolidge, with the help of her boyfriend, Chief Investigator Will Price, must get seafood shop owner Neil Garret off the hook when he is accused of murder before the case goes belly up.

Berry the Hatchet (A Cranberry Cove Mystery) – Peg Cochran – When the mayor turns up dead during the Winter Walk grand opening ceremony, cranberry farm owner Monica Albertson and her stepmother become the prime suspects in the case when it is discovered that he was dating both of them.

Seams Like Murder (A Crochet Mystery) – Betty Hechtman – When the discovery of a dead body interferes with the opening of a series of crafting classes called Yarn University, Molly, along with the Tarzana Hookers, must unravel the clues to solve this mystery. Includes recipes and crochet patterns.

Against The Paw (Paw Enforcement) – While trying to find a convicted burglar who has broken his parole, rookie cop Megan Luz, along with Sergeant Brigit, her K-9 partner, must stop a Neighborhood Watch group on Peeping Tom patrol before they take the law into their own hands.

How to Spot a Bully in the Workplace and What to Do About It

May 6, 2016April 19, 2016 / Mary / 1 Comment

Do any of these things sound familiar?

Someone falsely accuses you or one of your coworkers of making errors
You have been subjected to stares, glares and other nonverbal intimidation tactics
Someone at work refuses to speak to you
A coworker exhibits a wide-range of mood swings, including yelling and throwing tantrums
A coworker thinks the rules don’t apply to him
Someone at work is harshly and constantly criticizing you, disregarding any satisfactory or exemplary work you do

If you have witnessed or been subjected to any of these behaviors, then you have a bully in your workplace.

According to Gary and Ruth Namie, authors of The Bully-Free Workplace, bullying in the workplace is fairly common. Nearly half of all Americans have either witnessed bullying at work or been the target of a workplace bully.

The big question, the Namies assert, is not why bullying happens (the reasons are many) but what can be done about it. And the answer is fairly simple: There must be consequences for those who are bullies.

Turning the other cheek does not work. Mediation does not work. Anger management does not work. These traditional methods of dealing with workplace conflict are not effective because bullies thrive on exploiting any perceived weaknesses in their targets.

Walking away makes the bully think you fear him. Forcing a target of bullying to sit across the table from his tormentor in a mediation session gives the bully power because he is usually able to make it seem that the target is the problem. The target is portrayed by the bully as being too sensitive, or incompetent, or having no sense of humor. The mediation is actually a reward for the bully, who gets to portray his target as weak before their supervisors. And anger management presupposes that the bully is likely and able to change his behaviors, something not borne out by numerous studies on the subject.

So, what can you do? The authors of the Bully-Free Workplace suggest:

If you are an employee:

Confront the bully the very first time he attempts to target you. To quote the Namies, “To turn one’s back to walk away to fight another day proves very costly for targets.” Waking away is perceived by bullies as weakness, making them go after you all the more.
Don’t be an enabler. This means if you witness a coworker being bullied, either speak up or take the target by the arm saying, “I need to speak with you” and then lead them away from the bully.
Report the bullying, whether you are the target or the witness.
Stop rumors. Rumors about other employees are a form of bullying. If you hear them, tell the gossiper you don’t want to listen to negative talk. If you are spreading rumors, even if you are not the bully, you are enabling the bully. Shut up. Seriously.

If you are a manager:

Be willing to recognize bullying. Bullies often present their best faces to management. They agree with you, they praise you, they “always have your back.” Thus, when managers hear complaints, they cannot associate the talk with the picture they have of the accused bully. Take a step back and assess the situation as objectively as possible.
If you hear a report of bullying, investigate with the assumption that the report is true. This is especially important if the bully is in management. Studies show that other managers are usually reluctant to believe one of their upper-level coworkers is a bully, since, as noted above, the bully will often not show that side of his nature to equals or superiors in the workplace hierarchy.
Intervene when you see bullying or hear about it. An intervention from management will often stop a bully in his tracks.
Create an explicit policy against bullying because policies are enforceable and vague values statements are not.

And, oh yes… Warning signs that YOU are the bully:

In meetings, you are rarely ever challenged.
The final decision, even after getting input from others, is yours because it is more expedient.
Others do not understand or appreciate your management/teamwork style.
If a decision you made was a failure it was because you received incomplete or inaccurate information from someone else.
It takes a special type of person to work with you. Your staff changes often. Coworkers seem reluctant to work with you.
You believe fear motivates staff to optimal performance.
You believe leaders must demonstrate resolute certainty and unwavering principles.
You are surprised when other staff do not have the same high standards you have.

In addition to The Bully-Free Workplace, there are several other titles that can help you deal with workplace bullies:

The no asshole rule : building a civilized workplace and surviving one that isn’t / Robert I. Sutton, PhD.
A gem. I may write another post just about this book.

Bullies : from the playground to the boardroom : strategies for survival / Jane Middelton-Moz, Mary Lee Zawadski
Follows bullying from childhood through adulthood and analyzes what works and what doesn’t when dealing with a bully.

Bullies, tyrants, and impossible people : how to beat them without joining them / Ronald M. Shapiro & Mark A. Jankowski with James Dale.
A 4-point plan, called the NICE method (neutralize, identify, control, explore) for dealing with bullies.

The bully at work : what you can do to stop the hurt and reclaim your dignity on the job / Gary Namie and Ruth Namie
The prequel to The Bully-Free Workplace.

Overcoming mobbing : a recovery guide for workplace aggression and bullying / Maureen Duffy, Len Sperry
Discusses the difference between mobbing ( when individuals, groups, or organizations target a person for ridicule, humiliation, and removal from the workplace) and bullying.

May Is National Photography Month

May 4, 2016March 21, 2016 / Linda / Leave a comment

national photo month

In 1987, May was recognized by Congress as National Photography Month. The word photography comes from the Greek words ‘photos’ (light) and ‘graphein’ (to draw). Photography has certainly evolved over the years. This is a great opportunity to reflect on its history which is highlighted below in a very condensed timeline.

In 1827 Joseph Nicephore Niepce produced the first photographic image with a camera obscura. His sun prints, or heliographs, allowed light to draw his pictures. In 1829, Louis Daguerre helped Niepce improve the process and developed a method called daguerreotype. This method ‘fixed’ images onto a sheet of silver plated copper. It was commercially introduced in 1839. In 1889, George Eastman invented film that had a flexible, unbreakable base. In the 1940’s color and Polariod photographs were developed with digital and disposable cameras making their appearance in the 1980’s.

The first negative was invented by Henry Fox Talbot, an English botanist and mathematician. In 1841, he perfected the paper-negative process and called it calotype. Tintypes were patented in 1856 by Hamilton Smith. A more stable and detailed negative called wet plate negatives (Collodion process), was introduced in 1851 by Frederick Scoff Archer. The processing of these negatives required a portable darkroom, which limited the range of photography.

By 1879, the dry plate negative was invented. This meant no more portable darkrooms and cameras could become hand-held devices. In 1889, George Eastman invented film that could be rolled which made the mass-produced box camera a reality. This opened up a whole new world of photography and the evolution of cameras.

The first twin-lens-reflex camera was introduced in 1929.

Polaroid photography (instant photos) was invented by Edwin Herbert Land and first sold to the public in November 1948.

Fuji introduced the disposable camera in 1986.

Canon demonstrated the first digital camera in 1984.

And in the early 2000’s, the first camera phone was sold in Japan.

Explore the world of photography through Cheshire Public Library’s extension collection here.

A sampling:

The History of Photography – from 1839 to present – Traces the evolution of photography and offers vivid illustrations of technical innovations in this visual form of communication.

A World History of Photography – Traces photographic history both topically and chronologically, profiles key masters, explains terms and processes, and features the landmarks in the development of photography.

The Book of Photography – the history, the technique, the art, the future – Anne H. Hoy – A reference guide to the history and production of photography provides definitions, biographies, a timeline of photographic milestones, and information on genres and technical and aesthetic achievements.

The Camera Phone Book: secrets to making better pictures – A compact guide to using one’s cell phone to take digital photographs demonstrates the capabilities of the latest models of camera phones, explaining how to select the right equipment, take better pictures, and store, print, and send images.

Kodak, the art of digital photography – The revolution in digital technology has turned us all into shutterbugs. Never before has it been so easy to snap photos and share them instantly. But what about the quality of these images? Does simply owning a digital camera make you a first-rate photographer? For those who want to take a better picture, this lavishly illustrated guide reveals the art of composing incredible photos in any scenario.

L.L. Bean Outdoor Photography Handbook – A beautifully illustrated in-depth guide that offers practical instruction on making the best of your outdoor shots, for beginning through intermediate photographers.

Joy of Photography – Provides advice on equipment and accessory selection, effective use of camera functions, basic photography techniques, techniques for a variety of subjects, and development of a personal style, and includes discussions with well-known professional photographers.

A Photographer’s Life – A visual narrative offers more than three hundred images that document the photographer’s relationship with her late companion Susan Sontag, the birth of her daughters, the death of her father, and famous actors and politicians.

It’s What I Do: a photographer’s life of love and war – A MacArthur Genius Grant and Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist documents her relentless pursuit of complex truths in the years after September 11, describing her witness to the American invasion of Afghanistan and the lives of people before and after Taliban reign.

We also offer two monthly magazines: Outdoor Photographer Magazine and Popular Photography Magazine.

Here are the 2017 Nutmeg Nominees!

May 2, 2016April 27, 2016 / Sharon Tyler / Leave a comment

The Nutmeg Children’s Book Award is the “Children’s Choice” Award for Connecticut. The goal of the committee is to encourage children in grades two through twelve to read quality literature. Here is a listing of the nominees, divided by the four grade based categories. The library has purchased and cataloged multiple copies of each book. There might be a waiting list for the book(s) you are interested in most, but if you place a hold on the item we will contact you when it is your turn.

The links that I have included for each title are for searches that include all formats of the material that we own, including the print copy, audiobooks, and digital formats. How many have you already read? Are there any that you loved, hated, or are surprised by?

High School (Grades 9-12)
Mosquitoland by David Arnold
The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen
Those Who Wish Me Dead by Michael Koryta
A Death-Struck Year by Makiia Lucier
How It Went Down by Kekla Magoon
I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson
Gabi, a Girl in Pieces by Isabel Quintero
Jackaby by William Ritter
Challenger Deep by Neal Shusterman
Sway by Kat Spears

Teen (Grades 7-8)
The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier
Turn Left at the Cow by Lisa Bullard
The Iron Trial by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare
Swagger by Carl Deuker
Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend by Matthew Dicks
Sure Signs of Crazy by Karen Harrington
The Mark of the Dragonfly by Jaleigh Johnson
Far Far Away by Tom McNeal
Endangered by Eliot Schrefer
A Time to Dance by Padma Venkatraman

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Intermediate (Grades 4-6)
Gaby, Lost and Found by Angela Cervantes
Red Berries, White Clouds, Blue Sky by Sandra Dallas
Space Case by Stuart Gibbs
Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstein
Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson
Masterminds by Gordon Korman
The Misadventures of the Family Fletcher by Dana Alison Levy
A Snicker of Magic by Natalie Lloyd
The Boundless by Kenneth Oppel
Eddie Red Undercover: Mystery on Museum Mile by Marcia Wells

Elementary (Grades 2-4)
Mr. Ferris and His Wheel by Kathryn Gibbs Davis & Gilbert Ford
Phineas L. MacGuire Gets Cooking by Frances O’Roark Dowell & Preston McDaniels
Skateboard Party (The Carver Chronicles) by Karen English & Laura Freeman
Queen of the Diamond: The Lizzie Murphy Story by Emily Arnold McCully
Grandma in Blue with Red Hat by Scott Menchin & Harry Bliss
Ranger in Time: Rescue on the Oregon Trail by Kate Messner
One Plastic Bag: Isatou Ceesay and the Recycling Women of the Gambia by Miranda Paul & Elizabeth Zunon
Quinny and Hopper by Adriana Brad Schanen & Greg Swearingen
Winter Bees and Other Poems of the Cold by Joyce Sidman and Rick Allen
Star Stuff: Carl Sagan and the Mysteries of the Cosmos by Stephanie Roth Sisson
Hana Hashimoto, Sixth VIolin by Chieri Uegaki & Qin Leng
In a Village By the Sea by Muon Van & April Chu
Hamster Princess: Harriet the Invincible by Ursula Vernon
Lulu’s Mysterious Mission by Judith Viorst & Kevin Cornell
Hilo: The Boy Who Crashed to Earth by Judd Winick

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Who do you think will win?

What’s Happening at Cheshire Library in May

April 29, 2016April 15, 2016 / cheshirelib / Leave a comment

Welcome to May at Cheshire Library! We have lots of wonderful programs for all ages springing up throughout the month – here’s a sample:

Cheshire Cats Classics Club

Monday May 2, 2016, 6:30 – 7:30 PM

The Cheshire Cats Classics Club meets once per month on a Monday evening, to discuss a classic book. This month’s book is The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers. There is limited seating for this event. For more information and to register for this program, contact program moderator Jennifer Bartlett at jbartlett@cheshirelibrary.org.

Tune Time for Tots

Thursdays in May, 9:30 – 10:15 AM

Enjoy music and movement in this high energy program. Songs help children develop listening skills and pay attention to the rhythms and rhymes of spoken language. Clapping along to rhythms helps children hear the syllables in words and helps them improve motor skills. Children must be accompanied by a care giver. For ages 1 to 3 years old. No registration required.

Rhythm & Rhyme Storytime

Thursdays in May, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Shake your tail feathers during this interactive storytime with songs, rhymes, and plenty of movement. Stay afterwards for a relaxed open play session. Children must be accompanied by a care giver. For ages 2 to 3 years old. No registration required.

S.T.E.A.M. Punks – Middle School Edition

Thursday May 5, 2016, 3:30 – 4:30 PM

Investigate the many elements of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, & Math. We’ll explore robotics, electronics, arts & crafts, food science and much, much more. We’ll put things together, take things apart, play games, and have a ton of fun! For grades 6-8, no registration required.

Local Author Day

Saturday May 7, 2016, 12:30 AM – 4:00 PM

Local authors will be present to sell their books and to share their knowledge about their subjects and their advice about the world of publishing with area residents who are seeking to publish books of their own.

Parent Program: Baby Brain Development

Thursday May 12, 2016, 6:30 – 7:30 PM

Join us for a discussion on early baby development including learning, memory, and brain development, based on the latest research at UConn Waterbury. Presented by Kimberly Cuevas, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Psychology. Visit UConn KIDS to learn more about current research in child development and explore opportunities to participate. Please register online.

Gardening Tips & Tricks

Saturday May 14, 2016, 2:00 – 4:00 PM

Do you want to be a better gardener? Looking ways to improve your technique? Join us for a presentation by Julie Harrison, a landscape designer and decorator, who has a flair for creative and imaginative designs that are infused with her own unique sense of style. She knows that a good horticulturalist has to “get their hands dirty in order to get green.” She will present unique ways and tricks to be a better gardener. Please register online.

Parent Workshop: Juggling Two- Handling Sibling Relationships

Wednesday May 18, 2016, 6:30 – 7:30 PM

Participants explore what it means to add a new child to the family. Discuss emotional and practical challenges for parents and older siblings. Learn tips and strategies to nurture lifelong healthy sibling relationships. This parent workshop is presented by Christine Foster, Director of Community Relations from The Independent Day School. Please register online beginning April 25.

An Evening with a Dog Listener

Thursday May 19, 2016, 6:00 – 8:00 PM

Spend the evening with Dog Listener Pat Wright. Learn how to bring your dog to peace and solve the problem of unwanted behaviors. Some of the many topics discussed are pulling on the lead, jumping up, aggression, separation anxiety, and excessive barking. You will also learn how to get willing cooperation with your dog to perform any task at hand. Please register online.

Drop-in Tech Help – Weekend Edition!

Saturday May 21, 2016, 2:00 – 4:00 PM

Do you have questions about your computer, smartphone, or iPad? Do you need help navigating Facebook or downloading an ebook? Bring your technology-related questions to Cheshire Public Library’s Tech Open House. NOTE: Please be sure your device is fully charged beforehand. In the event your question or issue is more involved, we may ask you to schedule an appointment and come back for one-on-one help. No registration required.

How to Use Facebook to Connect with Family and Friends

Wednesday May 25, 2016, 6:00 – 7:30 PM

Come to the Cheshire Public Library and learn how to create a Facebook account, connect with friends, family, share photos and videos, send messages, get updates and more. No registration required, you may bring your own device to class.

All NEW! Teen Games

Friday May 27, 2016, 3:00 – 4:30 PM

We just got a Nintendo WiiU with Super Mario 3D World, NintendoLand, Mario Kart 8, Super Smashbrothers, Kirby and the Rainbow Curse, and The Wonderful 101! We’ve got all-new card and board games too- like Channel A, Killer Bunnies, SuperFight! and Munchkin- so come play games and nibble snacks, FTW! No registration required, Grades 6—12.