VOL. 8 NO. 14 APRIL 6, 2006

OFF THE SHELF
A WEEKLY LIBRARY NEWSLETTER
VOL. 8 NO. 14 APRIL 6, 2006


QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"Where ask is have, where seek is find,
Where knock is open wide"

Christopher Smart
1722–1770


ADULT BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP
DEVIL IN THE WHITE CITY BY ERIK LARSEN
Please join us on Tuesday evening, April 11, for a discussion of The Devil in the White City by Erik Larsen. This is an amazing history that recounts the inconceivable events surrounding the Chicago World's Fair in 1893. Larson's tale captures a time and place that vividly come to life. The central characters in this tale are Daniel H. Burnham, the architect responsible for the construction of the fair, and H. H. Holmes, a serial killer who used the popularity of the fair for his own horrifying ends. Burnham's work at overcoming the insurmountable obstacles before completing this awe-inspiring project is interwoven with chapters relating to Holmes, a person who will keep you both captivated and haunted.

Breathtakingly written, this almost unbelievable history reads like a novel. Devil in the White City offers a little bit of something for nearly every imaginable reading taste, whether you are a fan of history, architecture, pop culture, true crime, or the macabre. The discussion begins at 7:00 p.m., and will be led by Robert Montgomery.

For more information about the Chicago World's Fair (also called the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893) go to http://columbus.gl.iit.edu/


MICROSOFT POWERPOINT FOR BEGINNERS
Learn to Love Your Computer! This class is designed to introduce you to PowerPoint, a software package that allows you to create a virtual slide show on your computer. PowerPoint presentations, used for either school or business, provide a way to effectively organize and illustrate your ideas. Learn how to create a simple presentation, create and edit slides, insert clip art, apply designs, and run a slide show using Microsoft PowerPoint. Class will also cover how to save, print and open presentations. Participants should feel comfortable using a mouse and should have some basic familiarity with Windows. The class will be held on Monday, April 10, at 7:00 p.m. in the Computer Lab. This is a hands-on class, taught by Reference and Technology Librarian Andrea Mercado.


SEMINAR ON SUSTAINABLE LIVING
The Reading Public Library is offering an 8-session course on Sustainable Living developed by the Northwest Earth Institute in Oregon. The purpose of the course is to motivate individuals to examine and transform personal values and habits, to accept responsibility for the earth and to act on that commitment.

Over eight sessions, participants will utilize readings to probe questions such as: How can we lessen our impact on the earth through choices about the way we eat? How can we escape cultural pressure to buy what we do not need? And how can we build, work and live in greater harmony with the natural world?

An introductory informational meeting concerning this discussion course will take place at the Reading Public Library on Thursday, April 17 from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Conference Room. If you decide to participate in the discussion course, you may purchase text materials ($15) at this meeting. If you cannot attend this meeting, but are interested in joining the discussion course, please call Ron D’Addario at 781-944-7851 for further information.


TWO SLACKERS ARE BETTER THAN ONE!
Perhaps you have noticed that our Slackers display is sometimes too successful! Although we work hard at getting LOTS of copies of each month's selection, these are often completely wiped out after just a few days. So we've come up with a new idea: Each month we will choose an author and highlight TWO of that author's titles. Two Slackers titles are better than one! This month the selections are Marrying the Mistress and Next of Kin, both by Joanna Trollope. Hopefully, having two titles will allow us to keep this display more fully stocked for your browsing pleasure!

SPOTLIGHT ON JOANNA TROLLOPE
Joanna Trollope writes wonderfully subtle and enjoyable novels about families. She is a member of the same family as Anthony Trollope and is a #1 bestselling author in England. In addition to Marrying the Mistress and Next of Kin, she is the author of the novels Brother and Sister, Girl from the South, Other People's Children, The Best of Friends, and A Spanish Lover, as well as The Choir and The Rector's Wife, which were both adapted for Masterpiece Theatre. Writing as Caroline Harvey, she is also the author of the historical novels The Brass Dolphin, Legacy of Love, and A Second Legacy.
Her newest novel is Second Honeymoon which was published in March, 2006. She has been described by Publishers Weekly as "An author who makes her readers want to drop everything in order to keep on reading."

More on Next of Kin:
More than twenty years ago, a young American named Carolyn came to the Meredith family farm, marrying Robin Meredith and settling—never quite comfortably—into rural English life. Now Caro has died, leaving behind a husband who has long slept in a separate bedroom and an angry adopted daughter. But another young woman is about to arrive. Her name is Zoe, and unlike Caro, she finds something compelling in the Meredith's strenuous, earthbound lifestyle—and in Robin...

More on Marrying the Mistress: (this review originally appeared on the website Salon.com)
"Joanna Trollope offers a domestic drama that gives us an insider’s view of what happens to a family when the respected head of the household—60-year-old judge Guy Stockdale—announces he is leaving his wife of 40 years to marry his much younger mistress, Merrion. This is a nuanced tale that manages to be both familiar and surprising. What makes the situation complex…is that Merrion is far from the stereotypical villain/slut/husband stealer. She is intelligent, independent, successful and impossible not to like. Reading Marrying the Mistress is like spying on the neighbors that everyone on the street is gossiping about—without the guilt.” —Salon.com

Do these books sound appealing to you? Just stop by the display which is located near the Information Desk on the First Floor. You can also pick up a comment card to share your thoughts about the book with others.


NATURE WALK WITH RACHEL BAUMGARTNER
Parents and children in grades 2 and up are invited to discover signs of spring on this guided hike in Reading Town's Forest. Your guide will be Children's Librarian Rachel Baumgartner. Group size is limited, so please sign up at the Children's Room Desk or call 781-942-6705. Hopefully you'll find leopard frogs, peepers and maybe even a vernal pool! Raindate is Friday, April 21.

For more information about Reading's Town Forest, go to http://www.ci.reading.ma.us/conservation/townfor.htm


THIS WEEK IN HISTORY
April 6, 1909
Americans Robert Peary and Matthew Henson claimed to be the first men to reach the North Pole.

Check it out: Ada Blackjack: A True Story of Survival in the Arctic (2003). In 1921, four men and one woman also ventured deep into the Arctic. Two years later, only one returned. Filled with exciting adventure and fascinating history, Ada Blackjack is a gripping and ultimately inspiring tale of a woman who survived alone in the frozen north.

April 7, 1864
The first camel race in America was held in Sacramento, California. An 1864 article in the Sacramento Daily Union said on April 7, a "Dromedary Race" was staged in Sacramento's Agriculture Park, where the camels raced each other to raise money for a "poverty-stricken" citizen. The race raised $100. The somewhat bizarre idea of racing these lumbering, cantankerous creatures has recently made a comeback. In 1998, the city of Benicia, California instituted "Camel Race Days," which has since become an annual event celebrated every July.

Check it out: The Camel Club by David Baldacci (2005) doesn't actually have anything to do with camels. The Camel Club is a four-man group of Washington, D.C. misfits that meet weekly to discuss political conspiracies they believe exist and what actions they might take. One night club members witness the murder of a Secret Service employee, and are thus thrust unexpectedly into a plot that threatens the very security of the nation. This novel is for those who enjoy a tale full of twists, intrigue, and global gamesmanship.

April 8, 1492
This is the date of the death of Lorenzo de' Medici, dubbed "Lorenzo, the Magnificent" ruler of Florence and patron of arts.

Check it out: The Medici, Godfathers of Renaissance [videorecording] produced by Lion Television in association with PBS (2003). A tale of one family's ambition and of Europe's struggle to emerge from the Dark Ages. The Medici family used charm, skill and ruthlessness to garner unparalleled wealth and power, ruling Europe for more than 300 years.

April 9, 1833
On this day in 1833, Peterborough, New Hampshire, opened the first municipally supported public library in the United States.

Check it out: Do you enjoy novels about libraries and librarians? Here's one of my favorites: Dewey Decimal System of Love by Josephine Carr (2003). It's a wittily told story of a "spinster librarian" who falls wildly in love with a married man.

April 10, 1790
On this date, the United States Patent System was established.

Check it out: Do you have a great idea for a product or invention? Would you love to start your own business? The Library has great books on the subject of how to create a new product or service, patent your invention, or start a small business. Here's one with a fun title: I've Seen a Lot of Famous People Naked, and They've Got Nothing on You: Business Secrets from the Ultimate Street-Smart Entrepreneur by Jake Steinfeld (2006). This is a "how to" with humor that covers such topics as writing a business plan, securing start-up money, branding and marketing, and even how to learn from failures.

April 11, 1970
On April 11, 1970, Apollo 13, the third lunar landing mission, was successfully launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The spacecraft's destination was the Fra Mauro highlands of the moon, where the astronauts were to conduct geological experiments. After an oxygen tank exploded on the evening of April 13, however, the new mission objective became to get the Apollo 13 crew home alive. The explosion caused the Service Module portion of the Apollo Command/Service Module to lose its oxygen and electrical power. The crew were then forced to use the Lunar Module as a lifeboat in space. The crew endured miserable conditions due to severe constraints on power, cabin heat and drinkable water, but successfully returned to earth.

Check it out: Houston, we've got a problem: At http://www.maniacworld.com/Apollo_13.htm ,you can listen to the actual voices of the Apollo 13 astronauts informing mission control of the explosion.

April 12, 1908
A fire in Chelsea, Massachusetts, left 12 people dead, 85 missing and presumed dead, and more than 17,000 homeless on this day in 1908. The business district was completely burned and many schools and churches were razed. In total, nearly a quarter of the town was wiped out. The fire nearly spread to nearby Boston and its large Standard Oil refinery, but was stopped just in time. In the aftermath of the fire, charitable efforts by private organizations raised more than $300,000 to be used toward reconstruction. Despite these efforts, it took nearly 10 years for Chelsea to be completely rebuilt.

Check it out: Working Fire: The Making of an Accidental Fireman by Zac Unger(2004).
This remarkable memoir is by turns funny and deeply moving. It explores one man's coming into his calling and his transformation from ambivalent Ivy League grad to a skilled and dedicated firefighter.


NEW BOOKS, MOVIES, AND MORE
To see the list of library materials purchased this month, follow this link: http://www.readingpl.org/lists.html or go to the library homepage at
http://www.readingpl.org and click on Book, Audio and Video Lists.


WHAT’S HAPPENING @ YOUR LIBRARY!
All events listed take place at the Reading Public Library, 64 Middlesex Avenue, Reading, unless otherwise noted.

Friday, April 7: Infant/Toddler Sing-a-long with Peter Sheridan. No registration is necessary. Sponsored by the Friends of the Reading Public Library, Inc. 10:15 a.m.

Saturday, April 8: Chess for Kids in grades 2-6. Basic chess knowledge is a requirement but teen chess players will assist and assign partners. Bring a chess set. 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.

Monday, April 10: Computer Lab — “Microsoft PowerPoint for Beginners” If you’ve never used Microsoft PowerPoint, or if you’re still a beginner, this class will give you the basic skills. Registrants should be comfortable using a mouse. Pre-register at the Information Desk, via e-mail, or call 781-942-6703. 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.

Tuesday, April 11: Adult Book Discussion Group on The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson. Led by Robert Montgomery. Copies of this book are available at the Circulation Desk. All are welcome and no registration is necessary. 7:00 p.m.

Monday, April 17: Library Closed for Patriots’ Day Holiday

Tuesday, April 18: Monthly Book Delivery to Longwood Place. 2:30 – 3:00 p.m.

Wednesday, April 19: Explore the Town Forest with Rachel Baumgartner. Parents and children in grades 2 and up are invited to discover signs of Spring on this guided hike. Group size is limited, so please sign up at the Children's Room Desk starting Wednesday, April 5. Raindate: Friday, April 21. 1:30 p.m.

Wednesday, April 19: Computer Lab — “Email for Beginners.” Set up your own free email account and learn how to send messages, attach files, and more basics. Registrants should be comfortable using a mouse. Pre-register at the Information Desk, via e-mail, or call 781-942-6703. 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.


That’s all for now,
Elizabeth Dickinson
Assistant Director


LIBRARY HOURS
Mondays 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Tuesdays 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Wednesday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Thursdays 1 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Fridays 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Saturdays 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.


THE LAST WORD: CHANGE YOUR WORLD @ YOUR LIBRARY
National Library Week is celebrated across the United States during the week of April 2-8. Libraries have always been part of the American dream – places for education, self-help and lifelong learning. With free resources like books, magazines, CDs, Internet access and databases, libraries help people find new jobs, do better in school, tackle projects and learn new languages. Librarians teach people how to find and use information so they can succeed in today’s information age. By supporting their communities’ growth and change, libraries also help them remain educated and vibrant.

Our libraries also help keep us connected, providing a space for people of all ages, classes and races to come together, while keeping us connected to events and people around the world. It’s where people can keep up with world events or research where to volunteer locally.

As the world changes, endless opportunities await you. Visit your library and find out how you can change your world… @ your library.