DO YOU LOVE YOUR LIBRARIAN?

The Carnegie Corporation of New York/New York Times I Love My Librarian Award

This is your chance to vote for your favorite librarian.

Public librarian nominations must be received by October 1, 2008. School, college, community college and university nominations must be received by October 15, 2008.

To nominate a librarian, visit
www.ilovelibraries.org/ilovemylibrarian

Chosen winners will be honored in December.

HAVE YOU DISCOVERED KATE ATKINSON YET?

This British author has been around a lot longer than J.K. Rowling - she may not be as well known but her books are certainly worth taking a look at. Her early books are fun but she seems to have really hit her stride with her recent detective novels.

Background
"Behind the Scenes at the Museum" won the 1995 Whitbread Book of the Year award and caught the interest of readers in the British Commonwealth countries.

But it took "Case Histories" (2004) to catch the attention of the American audiences.

The New York Times just gave her latest novel, "When will there be good news?" , a rave review.

Kate Atkinson's official web site can be found at:

http://www.kateatkinson.co.uk/

An interview with the author can be found on Powell's books web site:

http://www.powells.com/interviews/atkinson.html

LOOK WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OCTOBER!

Evening programs for adults hosted by the Red Bank Public Library:

"ONCE UPON A TOWN" - Kathy Dorn Severini and George Severini of Dorn's Classic Images. Thursday October 9th 7:00 - 8:30pm.

EXPLORE TAOISM AND MEDITATION - Instructor Anna Wong and Dr. Lu Ping on Wednesday October 15th 7:00 - 8:30pm

"MURDERS IN MONMOUTH" by George Joynson. Author talk on Thursday October 23rd 7:00 - 8:30pm.

For more information contact Jane Eigenrauch, Adult Services Librarian, at 732 842 0690.

DO WE STILL HAVE TIME TO READ?

how have our reading habits changed in the past 30 years?

I ask this not because of the easy access to online information that has occurred during this time period but because of changes in the type of book we are attracted to and what we hope to experience when we sit down to read "a good book".

I heard on the radio today that a survey completed by USA Today a few years ago was repeated and people still feel like they have no time. They are so busy that they just can't get ahead.

So do we read books that are a "quick read"? Books that fulfill some need but don't create anxiety in the process?

I started thinking about this because I finally finished "Angle of Repose" by William Stegner.
(I asked back in June for your top ten list of books and one reader contributed their list which included this title - see post from that date below
http://redbankpl.blogspot.com/2008/06/would-these-be-your-top-10-for-past-25.html )

This is a beautifully written, tragic book. A love story (stories), a story of frustrations - physical and social, and a story of aging. It plays out ever so slowly, with the 1970's and 1870's sometimes competing on the same page. This is not a "quick read". You have to commit to this book - commit your time and your senses - in order to keep up with the characters and to get to know them.

To be honest, I didn't commit 100%. I think I am out of the habit. (I also don't have any time). Several times I considered picking up a "fun" book....something that I could finish quickly and feel productive.

Are books like the "Angle of Repose" still being written? Should the New Book shelf contain a category for the committed reader? I wonder...

FOR THE LOVE OF BOOKS

Libraries are a great place to visit when you arrive in a new town. Get a sense of the library, get a sense of the people. And perhaps come in out of the rain, find a comfy chair, rest your weary soul and catch up with a favorite book.

The same is true of independent bookstores. An eclectic mix of books and culture, independently owned bookstores provide unique places to share your love of books. An interesting entry on the indie bound website highlights one writer's favorite bookstore.

http://www.indiebound.org/articles/nikol777/first-trip-malaprops

TAOISM TALK AT RED BANK PUBLIC LIBRARY

On Wednesday September 24th, 7:00 - 8:30pm

For more information on this upcoming talk contact Jane Eigenrauch, Adult Services Librarian, at the Red Bank Public Library.

BANNING BOOKS IN THE LIBRARY

Imagine not being able to find some of your favorite books on the shelf. Or you hear about a controversial new book and you go straight to the library to check it out so you can find out for yourself. And it is not available.

It seems that the current Republican candidate for Vice President once considered banning books from her local library.

The NYTimes published an article about Sarah Palin on 9/3/08 which stated that...
"Shortly after becoming mayor, former city officials and Wasilla residents said, Ms. Palin approached the town librarian about the possibility of banning some books, though she never followed through and it was unclear which books or passages were in question."

click link for complete article

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/03/us/politics/03wasilla.html?_r=2&hp&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

so be sure to:

Celebrate the Freedom to Read - September 27–October 4, 2008

http://bannedbooksweek.org/

"LIBARY" OKAY?

Most definitely not, according to the New York Times Columnist Randy Cohen (8/17/08 The Ethicist, NYTimes Sunday Magazine).

Some words ( "libary" and "nucular" for example), pronounced incorrectly, do not reflect a charming colloquialism and should be corrected, particularly in the young.
(http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/17/magazine/17wwln-ethicist-t.html?_r=1&oref=slogin)

What do you think?