Vol. 9; No. 37 October 18, 2007

OFF THE SHELF
A WEEKLY LIBRARY NEWSLETTER
Vol. 9; No. 37 October 18, 2007



QUOTE OF THE WEEK
'When Laurel was a child---she closed her eyes like this and the rhythmic, nighttime sound of the two beloved reading voices came rising in turn up the stairs every night to reach her. She was sent to sleep under a velvety cloak of words, richly patterned and stitched with gold, straight out of a fairy tale, while they went on reading into her dreams."
Eudora Welty
The Optimist's Daughter



OH HAPPY DAY!
It is my joy to announce to you that the elevator is repaired, has been inspected, and is back in operation! Thank you to our custodians John Davis and Skip Mansfield, to Joe Huggins and Don Johnson of the Facilities Department, and most of all to you---for your patience, forbearance, and much appreciated good will!



SLACKERS BOOK CLUB ANNOUNCES NEW TITLE
THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY BY JEAN-DOMINIQUE BAUBY
Reviewed by Kathy Miksis, Promotional Services Librarian

"On December 8 1995, Elle magazine editor-in-chief Bauby suffered a stroke and lapsed into a coma. He awoke 20 days later, mentally aware of his surroundings but physically paralyzed with the exception of some movement in his head and left eye. Bauby had Locked-in-Syndrome, a rare condition caused by stroke damage to the brain stem. Eye movements and blinking a code representing letters of the alphabet became his sole means of communication. It is also how he dictated this warm, sad, and extraordinary memoir. Bauby's thoughts on the illness, the hospital, family, friends, career, and life before and after the stroke appear with considerable humor and humanity."

What readers are saying....

"Was it Hemingway who defined grace under pressure? No matter who said it, the words have never been more pertinent than in speaking of this heroic book, dictated against the worst imaginable adversities. Although every word cost the author a superhuman effort, the prose is not sickbed "telegraphese" but rather as light as the sprightliest humor---Read this book and fall back in love with life."

Slackers in the book club for people who don't want to be committed! Each month a new book is selected for the Slackers' display.

When: Whenever. Just help yourself to some good reading...no meetings to attend.
Where: The display is located near the Information Desk on the first floor. Discussion led by: Um, no one. Kathy Miksis picks the books, though. If you are interested in sharing your opinions of the book, just fill out a Slackers' bookmark comment form, and leave it in the book when you return it. You can read other people's comments on the display near the books.



CONCERT THIS SATURDAY NIGHT
Piotr Buczek, violinist and Don Krishnaswami, violist will be performing Bach's unaccompanied Violin Sonata in G Minor, Hindemith's Sonata for Solo Viola, and Mozart's Duo in G Major for violin and viola. This wonderful concert is free and open to the public. It will take place at the Library on Saturday evening , October 20 at 8:00 p.m. The concert series is sponsored by the Friends of the Reading Public Library. Don't miss this intimate performance by these highly talented musicians as they perform solo and duo works by great masters.



WHEN GHOULS AND GHOSTS AND GOBLINS DANCE..
SCARY STORIES WITH TONY TOLEDO
Tony Toledo has been a Storyteller with Young Audiences of Massachusetts, the premier non-profit Arts-in-Education organization in the Commonwealth since 1991. He has told his tales for thousands of students across New England at elementary, middle and high schools, libraries, festivals, First Nights and birthday parties, not to mention public performances for adults, corporate and other private functions. Tony will be joining us on Monday evening, October 22nd for a program of scary stories---- for big kids only! This program is for children in Grades 3 -5. Come if you dare! No registration necessary. The program begins at 7:00 p.m.

The Children's Services Department is grateful to the Friends of the Library for funding this program.



WEBSITE OF THE WEEK
LITERARY REFERENCE CENTER

Do you belong to a book discussion group? We often have people at the Library who are researching titles or authors in preparation for participating in a book club. But what if your book club is tomorrow night and you can't make it to the Library? No problem! You can get all the information you need at home, using your home computer and your library card!

Literary Reference Center is a subscription database that the Library provides for in library and home use. Well "that's nice" you say, but why not just use Google? Yes, you can find lots of information on books and authors using Google, but where does that information come from? Whose opinion is it? Is it even accurate?

Library databases provide reliable and thoughtful information that is not available for free anywhere else on the Web. Literary Reference Center IS better than Google because it takes its information from major respected reference works, books, and literary journals, and it accumulates everything you need to know in one spot.

Enter a title into the search box on the LRC site, and here is what you will find:
book reviews
comments and criticism
plot summaries
author biographies
author interviews
photos of the author

You can search LRC by author, title, or keyword or choose the advance search function to do a more refined search. Search results be saved, printed or emailed. The ease of locating a variety of full text literature resources makes LRC a great online research database. Google has a catchy name, an easy-to-use Web site, and a relentless marketing machine. But the Library has information databases that are unique, content rich, objective, authoritative, and non-commercial.

How to get there?
GO TO THE READING PUBLIC LIBRARY WEBSITE

http://www.readingpl.org
CLICK ON "ONLINE RESOURCES"
Scroll down until you see "Literary Reference Center." Click this. You will be prompted for your library card number and your last name.

Take the LRC Challenge! Go to the Literary Reference Center and type in a well-known title such as Pride and Prejudice. Then go to Google and type in the same title. Which process provides the best information? Is easiest to use? Is least time-consuming? Next time, make Google your last stop for research!



BE A FRIEND!
Joining the Friends of the Reading Public Library is only a few clicks away! Check out our updated Membership page

http://www.readingpl.org/membership.html

for our NEW automated payment feature. The Friends of the RPL are pleased to offer this easy and fast on-line payment option in addition to the traditional mail-in method. If you join as a new Friends member by October 31, 2007, your name will be entered into a drawing for a Barnes and Nobles gift card! Your donation helps to support the many wonderful programs that our Library has to offer. Please consider becoming a member of the Friends today!



BOOKS, MOVIES, AND MORE
To see the list of library materials purchased this month, follow this link:

http://www.readingpl.org/lists.html


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

Friday, October 19: Infant Toddler Sing-along. with Peter Sheridan. No registration necessary. Sponsored by the Friends of the Reading Public Library. 10:15 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.

Saturday, October 20: Friends of the Library Concert Series. Join us for an evening of music with Piotr Buczek, violinist and Don Krishnaswami, violist. Concerts are free of charge and open to the public. 8:00 p.m. -9:00 p.m.

Monday, October 22: Drop-In Storytime for 2's and 3's and their caregivers. No registration necessary 9:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

Monday, October 22: Drop-in Storytime for ages 4 - 6. No registration necessary. 10:15 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.

Monday, October 22: Dare to be Scared! Storytelling with Tony Toledo. Get ready for Halloween with SCARY STORIES - for kids in grades 3-5 ONLY!!!!!! Welcome back Reading favorite, storyteller Tony Toledo! Sponsored by the Friends of the Reading Public Library. Free. No registration necessary. 7:00 p.m. - 7:45 p.m.

Monday, October 22: Friends of the Library Meeting. All are welcome to attend. Come and get involved in new activities that support the Library!
7:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Thursday, October 25: Conversation Group. 7:00 p.m. - 8:45 p.m.

Monday, October 29: Drop-In Storytime for 2's and 3's and their caregivers. No registration necessary 9:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

Monday, October 29: Drop-in Storytime for ages 4 - 6. No registration necessary. 10:15 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.

Tuesday, October 30: Word of Mouth. Informal monthly discussion of what people have been reading lately 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 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. - 9 p.m.
Thursdays 1 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Fridays 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Saturdays 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.