Rocket into the library in August

The summer reading programs have winded down this month.  Adults have two more days to get their tickets into the library for drawings.  The High Readers Party was a bowling feat. Participants in the Murder Mystery say it was a smashing success.  Our last event of the summer will be on Friday, August 10 where those individuals who earned t-shirts and certificates can pick them up beginning at 2 p.m. lasting till 3:30 p.m. They can be claimed any time after that as well.

In the month of July, the library hosted a weekly space-themed film.  The library received a NASA Summer of Innovation Mini-Grant this month from the National Space Grant Foundation with the plan to continue this theme with a six-week program during the fall (from September through October) to educate on the wonders of NASA.  The weekly sessions will be geared toward middle school aged children.  During this period, we will be presenting programs and activities that will incorporate aspects of the NASA Summer of Innovation modules.

Sessions in store during the fall will include Mars vs. Earth where we will compare the two planets showing the physical differences and similarities between the planets and taking a look at the lore between the two planets in popular culture.  What is the fascination with Mars?  Discussion will be focused on the events of NASA and its mission to Mars, in particular the Mars Rover Curiosity.

A Space Food program will also be held.  We will make Asteroid Potatoes and examine foods that were taken into outer space such as Tang and Freeze dried food. Nutritional value and the physical demands of eating in space will be examined.

Space Rocks! Meteorite Game will spark curiosity about the universe and reinforce a better understanding of the origins of meteors, meteoroids, and meteorites.  To discover why space does indeed rock!

The library will have a speaker from the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center in Hutchinson. By focusing on the human story of space exploration, they will entertain and educate as they present.  We anticipate that the program will enlighten and have a positive effect in our community.

In other news, the next Library and Lunch will be held on Tuesday, August 14 at noon. ”Lone Wolf” by Jodi Picoult will be discussed.

The library will have an award-winning acoustic duo Stephanie Bettman and Luke Halpin on Tuesday, August 7 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.  They create a “fully acoustic, delightfully eclectic sound that is far greater than the sum of it[s] parts.  Together they weave a spell that takes the audience from up tempo down home fiddlin’, to soulful sorrowful ballds, to super hooky folk/pop. You’ll be hooked from the first fiddle line to the last sweet harmony.”

For the latest library programming take a peek at the library website or grab a newsletter from the circulation desk. Stay tuned and connected through our social media pages. If you have any questions or suggestions about books or programs don't hesitate to ask. See you at the library this month!

Eagerly Awaiting the 2012 Olympics

On Friday of this week, host city London will be raising the curtain to the waiting world on the Opening Ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics.  These will be the Games of the XXX Olympiad and will feature the following  26 events:  triathlon, rowing, sailing, shooting, archery, judo, modern pentathlon, canoe/kayak, swimming and diving, track and field, equestrian, gymnastics, taekwondo, tennis, wrestling, boxing, table tennis, handball, field hockey, weightlifting, badminton, soccer, basketball, volleyball, cycling and fencing.  The Olympics will draw to a on August 12.

Athletes who participate in the Olympics are nationally ranked, already demonstrating their superior athletic skill.  They are chosen to represent the United States and compete against outstanding athletes of 203 other countries.  Young people can not only watch the various competitions but might see a sport that truly sparks their interest and leads them to participation in that sport, first at the local level, and then perhaps beyond. 

Olympic medals are a much-sought-after part of the Games.  In the 2008 Summer Games, the United States accumulated the most total medals with 110, but trailed China for the most gold medals, with 36 to their 51.  Historically, since the creation of what is known as the ‘modern day’ Olympics in 1896, the United States has earned 2,285 medals in the Olympics, with its closest competitor being the Soviet Union with 1,009 total medals.  These medal statistics are courtesy of msn.com. 

The library created an alcove display highlighting the Olympics as well as a display of information about the individual sport of Archery for the glass display case in our hallway.  In the alcove are a number of books on display which pertain to the Olympics.  As with any books on display in the library, these books are available for checkout.  There are books specifically about the Olympics, such as National Geographic’s Swifter, Higher, Stronger, which is a photographic history of the Summer Olympics.  Books on many individual sports which are part of the Summer Olympics are also on display and include Swimming and Diving by Christin Ditchfield and biographies such as the one entitled Wilma Unlimited – How Wilma Rudolph Became the World’s Fastest Woman.  New to our collection is a book which is part of the new Go-for-Gold Gymnasts series written by former Olympic Gymnast Dominique Moceanu.  Winning Team is its title.  Another recently added title written by Deloris Jordan, mother of basketball great Michael Jordan, is the fictionalized story of Michael Jordan and the Pursuit of Olympic Gold entitled Dream Big.  Look for these and other titles in the Children’s collection.  If they are not what you are seeking, staff can help you find something that can be requested through our Interlibrary Loan service, which is free to patrons.

Here is just a reminder about a few upcoming events.  The final movie will be shown in the Space Movie series this Wednesday, July 25, starting at 2 p.m.  Children under 8 will have to be accompanied by an adult.  Call the library for additional details. 

Friday, August 10, will mark the official end of Summer Reading 2012 with those young people who earned tee shirts claiming them beginning at 2:00.  This event will last until 3:30, but shirts may be claimed any time the library is open after that event and should be picked up no later than August 25.  If this poses a problem, please phone the Children’s desk and make alternate arrangements.  Our readers worked hard this summer and the library is proud to acknowledge their reading achievements with the tee shirts.

Those of you who have infants, toddlers, or preschoolers, mark August 23 on your calendars for the start of the next story time session.  Please note one important detail if you are a returning story time patron—the starting times have changed!  Story time now begins with the infant session, moving into toddlers, and ending with the preschoolers.  Stop by the library for a schedule or check our website at www.lmlibrary.org.  See you at Memorial Library!

Fiction

Yes, it’s me again, your wise and wonderful reviewer, waiting, hopefully, for this big, black rain cloud that’s hanging over us here at Comanche Trade to let loose some much-needed wet stuff. We can but hope—any rain dances are appreciated!  Last Summer, like the remaining lower half of the U.S., is always on the lookout for moisture, ‘cause stories like the one I particularly remember from last Summer, is always at the back of my mind, to wit; some gentleman was trying to light his grill and bar-b-q in his back yard, and for some reason, a spark flew out of the grill or a piece of hot charcoal, it caught some extremely dry grass on fire, and in 30 minutes, he had burned 300+ acres (and no hamburgers for dinner, either!) Ye Gods! How dry was that ground and it could happen this Summer, anywhere, in any state, so please be careful!  To burn your neighbor’s house down is considered the height of rudeness.

Speaking of bar-b-q, how do you like your hot dogs? Some of the members of my family prefer them just a little “burned” or broiled and the ones you see in stores or convenience stores at gas pumps are always so “perfect” and not a burned spot on them—they’re really strange and naked looking—like someone should throw a napkin over them or something. It’s better to just get a well-done hot dog, put on pickle relish, even a little coleslaw, dig into the potato chip bag, get some potato salad and all the black olives you think you can take without looking greedy, find a shady spot and pick up one of these titles to enjoy. 

Some of these authors are familiar to me and a couple of new—no matter, we shall see what they wrote and were trying to convey. Liberal is a medium-sized town, as is Kerrville, or maybe others would call them “small-town”—whatever the term, those who are from it always seem to want to a big city, have a great (read “important”) job, earn a big salary, have a lifestyle that reflects that (be sure to learn how to play golf and know on wine from another—none of it boxed, please) and so on—“The 500”, by Matthew Quirk, is about those people and their idealized dream, and the city that our chief protagonist works in is Washington (surprise!), and Mike Ford, fresh out of Harvard Law School, has landed his dream job at the Davies Group, Washington’s most powerful consulting firm—and how he’s staring down the barrel of a gun, pursued by two of the world’s most dangerous men.” This definite possibility that he’ll have to lie and cheat and steal and kill was not something this educated son of a small-stakes con man ever thought he’d have to face again. 

The title refers to the fact and “the 500” are “the elite men and women who really run Washington—and, conversely the world—but Mike learns that, with those who have a pedigree, a con is still a con.” You know the famous saying in Washington?  “If you want a friend here, get a dog.” It is told in first person, which is not my favorite way of narrating a story, but that’s a personal thing and does not stand in the way of telling a good story and this is one. It’s much in the mantra of “The Firm” and I enjoyed Mike’s hard-boiled yet sentimental way of looking at things and the hard-boiled yet tongue-in-cheek way of describing the firm he’s in, the people he deals with, the parties he goes to. 

“These guys, at the Davies Group, are not “lobbyists”, as in the heyday of the 80’s. Those guys are the rabble. Comparing them to the folks at the Davies Group is like comparing Zales to Tiffany’s.They do very little formal lobbying. They don’t do volume. They do not advertise. They have ‘relationships’.  They are discreet. They are very, very expensive. If you really need something done in Washington, and you have the money, and you know the people you have to know to ever get a referral to a top firm, the Davies group is at the peak of that cozy little world.”  I’m telling you, dear poppets, you start reading and you laugh or shake your head in wonderment or utter “Huh—“ loudly every so often, but bored you won’t be. I, personally, can’t wait to finish the book—and wonder upon which firm it’s based on –and, yes, I’m darned sure there is a real Davies group in Washington—maybe several. Go find the book at the library or put your name on the reserve list. Today!  

There is a new series starting on TV, “Longmire”, based on the series of books by Craig Johnson, and in the book, “As the Crow Flies”, the Wyoming sheriff Walt Longmire is feeling a different state of mind from cowboys and criminals ‘cause his daughter, Cady, “is getting married to the brother of his undersheriff. Feisty Victoria Morretti and Walt and his old friend Henry Standing Bear are the unlikely wedding planners.”  I’ll bet they’re unlikely!  Anyway, Cady is not going to be pleased when the arrangements go up in smoke two weeks before the wedding—but then what bride would be pleased?  Well, it’s up to the “wedding planners” to find a new location and the pair head to the Cheyenne Reservation.

Suddenly, a young Crow woman is jumping off Painted Warrior’s cliff to her death and it’s at first thought a suicide.  Then, a child is injured and “Dog” (yes, a real dog) is installed by her bed, on his bed, while she sleeps and recovers and won’t touch food or water—he raises his head, looks at the sheriff, and settles back down (I loved that touch!) Then, there’s a lot of humor and romantic sparks between Longmire and “the newly appointed tribal police chief and returned Iraqi war veteran, the beautiful Lolo Long” who gets him to help with the murder of the jumper—and the high-spirited Lolo doesn’t hesitate to clash with this wedding planner. The dialogue is funny and, yes, charming, and I think Liz Taylor would like it as well as anyone liking a “light read” that has a mystery in it, too.  The FBI gets in on the chase, the bride makes sure her dad can say “I give this woman to this man” in Cheyenne, and it all ends up all right.  So, there’s another good read for you for Summer.  

Still with me? Excellent. Our next book is “a woman’s book” in that it entails several relationships, trading partners, lots of tension between everybody, including the bride and her best friend, the father of the bride and mother, whiffs of old affairs, regrets, and it’s just the week-end of the wedding—not even a whole month for everyone to misbehave. Goodness (although, as Mae West said to someone who said “Goodness, that’s a beautiful diamond bracelet you have!” she responded, “Goodness had nothing to do with it, Honey!”) The book is “Seating Arrangements”, by Maggie Shipstead, and it well illustrates the dangers of living or trying to be anything other than what you are and “the dangers of leading an inauthentic life.”  There’s certainly a lot of emotion and, for the thee days, misplaced “pairings” and the bride and groom find themselves looking at and enduring, in some cases, the unfortunate consequences of bad behavior and those who try to recapture a youth, a feeling that is really not possible but also sad. It is a book you keep on reading  and, strangely enough, laughing at or sympathizing with the characters and  the men and women involved have reasons—or excuses—to behave as they do. I genuinely enjoyed these people and could feel sorry for them and wish the bride and groom and all the in-laws well.  It’s a good Summer read—call the library to reserve it. 

A quick last note about a book that has a beautiful cover and I just sat and looked at the picture of Italian sea, lying below the really striking cliffs and houses above it. Oh, the title? “Beautiful Ruins”, by Jess Walter, in a most unusual storyline that extends over some 50 years. It begins “on a rocky patch of sun-drenched Italian coastline, where a young innkeeper is looking out over the Ligurian Sea and sees this tall, thin woman, a vision in white, approaching him on a boat. She is, he learns, an actress, dying of Cancer” and our half of the story begins, 50 years later, when an elderly Italian man shows up on a movie studio’s back lot, searching for the mysterious woman he last saw at his hotel.”  I was immediately hooked!  It goes from the set of the legendary “Cleopatra”, lots of people, “the heroically preserved producer who once brought them together and his idealistic young assistant”—and the delightful and exasperating Richard Burton himself. A story of flawed and fascinating people and the emotions each brings is all brought to a delightful boil. In looking through this book, I find the people are shown in humor, their longings and regrets, and it’s a good read if you honestly don’t expect to just rush through it—the characters will keep pulling at you. 

Okay, Poppets, It’s time for me to go and open the door and smell the wonderful way the earth does after a rain, and then grill hot dogs, put them on toasted buns, chili and cheese to finish, so y’all have a good next 3 weeks and if you have a chocolate shake (thick, please, not soupy), think of me and pick up one of these books and enjoy the good feeling you’ll have.  Tell Jill or Pauline or Carol at Liberal Library, “hello” from me!  Bye!

Non-fiction

Okay, it’s hot—and bound to get hotter.  It’s time to buy—and then chill—the watermelon and scrape the grill—plus, bathe the dog, check that the various animals have had their shots and plan where you will spend the fourth of July next year.  I was watching, as I passed by the telly, the beginning of another “America’s Got Talent” and, watching previews of some of the past or present acts (I couldn’t tell which), I was reminded of what I think Simon Cowell said, a couple of years back—“Why doesn’t somebody tell about 90 –percent of the contestants that they have no talent and to go home?” The man has a point, I thought for the hundredth time, as I watched some poor fat horn-blowing 55 yr. old ride across the stage on his tricycle and watching the judges hide their eyes.  Please, people, before you’d ever go on stage, ask some total strangers to evaluate your act and abide by their decision. It’s a sad fact that most of those on stage—shouldn’t be. 

Speaking of facts, this is the Non-Fiction column (I’m doing pretty well at this segue business, Patti, and soon may be giving tips to other writers!), and we have some interesting books to discuss. Attendez! You know how we have learned so much about the Kennedy’s, both private and public, early years and the tragedies until we felt we knew them very well indeed, and, in some well-known marriages, their spouses and children, right? Well, one of those attached-to-the-Kennedys-by–marriage was a truly dedicated public servant and one of those men whom a lot—a lot—of people leaned on. His son has written a delightful, brings-tears-to-your-eyes book; “A Good Man: Rediscovering My Father, Sargent Shriver”, by Mark Shriver. 

“Sargent, “Sarge”, Shriver –founder of the Peace Corps and architect of President Johnson’s War on Poverty—died in 2011 after a long and valiant fight against Alzheimer’s, and thousands of tributes poured in from friends and strangers”—from the man who drove the garbage truck, past Sarge’s house, to the waitresses who waited on Sarge at his favorite cafes where he went for 35 years. So many people called Sarge “a good man” that Mark wanted to find out why and how this continuing and old-fashioned phrase was used about his father—not from famous names but ordinary people. 

Mark also wanted to know the source of his father’s always-present sense of joy in life, and began thinking about stories from his own childhood and the bustling Shriver household, “and Mark zeroes in on the three guiding principles of his father’s life—faith, hope and love.”  This is also Sarge’s courage and grace “ during his battle with Alzheimers and Mark’s difficult journey as his son during that time.”  I truly was impressed with the not only Sarge’s way of being a father and example but also Mark’s anecdotes and letting me in on the family “secrets” of belonging, being loved and forgiven “cause that’s what we all try to do with our children. Give yourself a great gift of a wonderful “Summer read” and get your hot, little hands on this book.  There are color photographs of different times and events, and these, too, will be of interest. 

This next book, “The Real Crash;; How to Save Yourself and Your Country”, by Peter Schief, “who demonstrates how the infusion of billions of dollars of stimulus money has only dug a deeper hole—the United States government simply spends too much and does not collect enough money to pay its debts, and in the end, Americans from all walks of life face a crushing consequence.”  He goes onto say some obvious truths—“We’re in hock to China, we can’t afford the homes we own, and the entire premise of our currency is false.”  We’re probably too good a customer for China to ask us to settle even half of our debt, but, according to banking rules, if you can’t pay your debt you sell or give up something to the person or, in this case, China if they decide to call in the note or some of it—I mean, do we really need Alaska?

Our present system is broken, Schief says, “and there are only two paths forward—the one we’re on now leads to a currency and sovereign debt crisis that will utterly destroy our economy and impoverish the vast majority of our citizens.” Wait! Our learned author has a way out! “If we want to change course, the final destination will be far more appealing” and now we get to the nitty-gritty, “drastically reduce government spending, eliminate entire agencies, end costly foreign military escapades and focus only on national defense, stop student loans and mortgage interest deductions, drug wars, and all bank and business bailouts.”  Oh, yes,” America should declare bankruptcy, default on it debts, and reform our system from the ground up.” 

Does he mean, do you suppose, a new Constitution and Bill of Rights?  Doing away with common business practices? How would young people go to college, and, yes, I know they are in debt up to their eyeballs when they do go, for about 15 years to pay the loan back.  Would the average citizen even know what to do or where to begin? Is investing in gold better than the dollar?  The man does have credentials as an economist taking up a lot of the back flyleaf but I, personally, have no intention of reading the whole book and, at base, find some of his ideas “not doable”?. You wade through it and tell me what you think—leave a message at Memorial Library. 

To change pace, let’s look at “Eat and Run; My Unlikely Journey to Ultramarathon Greatness”, by Scott Jurek, who, “for nearly two decades has been a dominant force—and darling—in the grueling and growing sport of ultrarunning”, and, when I first heard of him, he went to Mexico to then with the Tarahumara Indians, “he has achieved all of this on a plant-based diet.”  In his early beginnings at running, he hated it. Now, keep in mind we’re not talking something as simple (and easier to understand) such as the Boston Marathon—he ran very—very long distances and “Scott’s story shows the power of an iron will and blows apart all the stereo types of what athletes should eat to fuel for their optimal performance.”  

His account of the, I have learned, extremely tough Hardrock Ultra—it is one hundred miles and you’ll have to conquer eleven mountain passes, six of them over 13,000 ft, and climbing a 14,000 ft. peak, a total vertical climb and descent of 66,000ft and veterans of it happily pointed out that “it would be more than would be involved in climbing and descending Mount Everest from sea level!”  Then, two nights before the race, he was playing soccer and in trying to wrest the ball from a 7-year-old, slipped on the wet grass and sprained an ankle!  Bad move. There’s an interesting amount of info in here as to how we program our brains for a physical challenge—the brain, upon understanding distance, effort, etc. refers to other times that physical exertion was required and how to keep the body going—literally going and not collapsing.  At one point, he developed a painful condition called Plantar Fasclitis, a swelling of the connective tissue that runs across the bottom of the foot. He writes, movingly, of his friends who were with him in races and, when he hit a “funk”, would be understanding and remind him when they, too, had been discouraged or wondering if  it was worth continuing. Really, you will enjoy not only learning about this extreme sport but getting to know an expert in the field who is all too human and honest.  

Okay, let’s come “down to earth”  a little with everyday problem and possible solutions with what kids need to succeed—“What Kids Need to Succeed; Proven, Practical Ways to Raise Good Kids—3^rd edition; Proven, Practical Ways to Raise Good Kids”, by Peter Benson. Sections of the book are; Building External Assets, Empowerment, Constructive Use of Time, Building Internal Assets, Positive Values, and Social Competencies.  

There are so many really excellent points made in this book by this team, that it amazed me it was all included in a softcover, 6 by 8 inches, and, well constructed, and each asset had a number, an interesting percentage stat to begin discussion of an asset i.e. “Asset #26; Caring and, under that, “Kids place high value on helping other people”, and in a box underneath that, “52% of the kids we surveyed have this asset in their lives” and then there’s two, sometimes three, pages of points about Caring. That format is for all the assets that young people have to have, ideally, to lead good and pleasant lives and avoid some of the pitfalls of bad judgment and bad friends and bad situations that all of them will have to weigh and measure and decide about.  

There are good points about what adults can do to help give positive assets to youth i.e. “Think about how you approach young people—when you work with kids, do you focus most of your energy on intervening and directing the crisis, do you discuss how to prevent problems, or are you attempting to promote and work on assets?”  “Could you commit to building one asset?”, ask these experts, even something as simple be more aware of and spend a little few minutes each day talking to and getting to know one child in your neighborhood, rather than just walking or jogging by them and ignoring them?  

There are quite a few sensible, helpful suggestions in here to help children learn, be creative, and care about others.  If you show that you care about them, it stands to reason that they’ll think about this when they meet and have to interact with people through their lives. Sometimes, just saying “excuse me”, if you bump into them shows that we all need to be aware of how we affect others. I know, personally, after a knee replacement and a Rotator Cuff surgery in a shoulder, the nicest ones in my time of “Oh, drat, how am I going to open the door to the store with one arm in a sling and the other holding a purse?”, the ones who hurried to the store door or my car door were the children of Kerrville—and no adults prompted them—they just did it and—and, I might add—with a smile.  You repeat what you observe, my dears, rather than what you are told, but reciting tales of kindness around the children reinforces the idea of showing compassion, don’t you agree? This small book is charming and hits the nail on the head—go check it out and see if you don’t agree with me. 

Okay, thanks for sticking with me and I wish you an air conditioner that stays on and a lot of iced sun tea.ad a passing thought for those poor people who lost their homes in fires and those who have no electricity—for the 9^th day!—in the Northwest—maybe our troubles are not too bad when compared with theirs.  Be sure and smile and speak to strangers—you were once one to the friends you have now!  Bye!

Summer Reading Programs

It seems that this year’s Summer Reading Program for the children and teens just started. And now, before you know it, it’s over. We started the last week of May (the day after Memorial Day) and just ended this past Friday. Time flies when you’re having fun.

As usual, it was a fun-filled and activity-packed Summer Reading Program. There were special programs almost every day during the week with crafts and story times for the children and teens.

Some of the highlights of the special programming focused on science. We had Becky Myers from Mad Science of Central Oklahoma and Dr. Patrick Ross of Southwestern College in Winfield stop by and show the wonders of science.

Myers wowed the crowd with her science experiments, including a genie in a bottle, an air drum and balloons. There was plenty of gas filling the air and liquids gushing and frothing.

Ross had his own light show in presenting “Who Glows There.” The Southwestern College professor brought fireflies as well as glowing scorpions, mushrooms, fish, and even microbes.  Equipped with a state of the art microscope and camera projection system, Ross demonstrated how even microscopic organisms are able to generate their own light.

Participants got to color with glow-in-the-dark markers and even sampled some fluorescent candy.

But it wasn’t just traditional science that took center stage during the Summer Reading Program, Patsy Guinn of the Liberal Police Department ventured in and did a presentation of the science of crime investigations.

Guinn gave details on what goes on at a crime scene and how she collects evidence. Participants got a chance to go through the process of lifting fingerprints from objects with special dust and tape.

But we had more than just science, we had movies and crafts and storytellers and sleepovers and meditation and relaxation. Hopefully, we had something for everybody.

And while the activities are a big part of the program, the main part is to keep everyone reading.

After you go to a program, maybe you’ll be interested enough to learn more about the activity, go through the library and search for it. Whether it’s a reference book on fireflies or a story about a mad scientist, if the activity spurred you on to read, that’s a good thing.

Now the children and teen Summer Reading programs may be over, but the adult program is still ongoing and will last through July.

Adult Summer Reading Schedule for July:

July 2: Movie at 6 p.m.

July 10: Book chat at 6:30 p.m.

July 16: Movie at 6 p.m.

July 19: Murder Mystery at 6 p.m. (Sign up required. Space is limited. Must be signed up for summer reading.)

July 31: Final day to submit tickets. (Write down the books that you have read during summer reading. The more tickets you have entered, the better chance you have at winning prizes.)

Also July will be “Space Movie” month. We’ll be showing family-friendly movies with an outer space theme on Wednesdays in July at 2 p.m. We’ll be showing movies on July 11, 18 and 25.