Positively Ellinwood Street

Coming Attractions March 2012

2012-01-31T08:00:00.000-06:00

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Escaping Reader's Rut

2012-01-24T18:29:00.002-06:00

When I was a Girl Scout, we'd sing a little tune that went Make new friends, but keep the oldOne is silver and the other's gold!Years later, I find that not only are the words true, but they apply to more than real life human friends. They apply to books and other media as well. Up until a couple of years ago, when I heard “graphic novel,” I pictured the only kind I'd ever seen before-- just a

Book Lovers Needed

2012-01-20T15:13:00.003-06:00

"Pass along your love of reading, literally." That's the catch-phrase that caught me when I went to check out what World Book Night is all about. Turns out it is an opportunity for book lovers to promote reading in their own communities. Here's the goal: on 1 night, April 23, 2012, all across the country, 50,000 volunteers will give out 1,000,000 free books. They want volunteers - "givers" -

Freegal Rocks

2012-01-17T09:00:00.000-06:00

From Apple's iTunes to Amazon's instant downloads, internet tycoons left and right are wedging their feet into the door-jam of downloadable music. With a single content search nearly any recording from Bing Crosby classics to Ke$ha's electronic pop to cult favorites like Steve Goodman can be called instantly to your computer screen, and for about ninety-nine cents you can own any of them

Our King's Speeches

2012-01-13T08:11:00.060-06:00

It is a strange experience, listening to perhaps the greatest American of the 20th century, stating that he wants to be a good man. I can think of no better man than Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and yet one Sunday morning in 1968, speaking before the congregation of the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, King said: "I want you to know this morning that I'm a sinner like ALL of God's children.

Awake and Alive

2012-01-06T15:04:00.000-06:00

The Christian music scene has been growing slowly over the past years. Bands such as Kutlass, Thousand Foot Krutch, Pillar, Newsboys, Flyleaf, among others are just a few of the big name Christian Rock artists pioneering the scene. One exception for me that stands out is another Christian Rock band by the name of Skillet. Interesting name yes, as well as interesting music. All members are very

two one four six eight zero zero * * * * * * *

2012-01-03T17:11:00.000-06:00

A patron marveled as I demonstrated the downloadable ebook product and typed in my library card number by heart. While not a particularly unique feat among librarians with a couple years under their belt, it's kind of fun (and handy) to show others you can memorize a 14 digit number. This episode and two books I have read recently highlight this fascinating human function - memory. Moonwalking

Coming Attractions February 2012

2011-12-30T11:40:00.001-06:00

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How Do You Define a Five-Star Book?

2011-12-27T17:49:00.027-06:00

That's the question I asked myself as we rolled out our new online catalog a year ago. Mycatalog, as DPPL calls it, allows you to rate books--and CDs and more--from one to five stars: according to mycatalog, one is "poor" and five is "great."But does great = perfect? Or does great mean a book you simply love, flaws and all? Or does it mean something else?Jude the Obscure, a longtime favorite, was

Beacon vs. Sentinel

2011-12-23T11:19:00.000-06:00

One of the greatest bellwethers of our nation stands over 300 feet over New York Harbor. Right now, no one is allowed inside the Statue of Liberty (or Liberty Enlightening the World, to call the piece by its official name) as she is undergoing her third refurbishing period in her 120 year existence, but normally over 3 million people visit Lady Liberty every year. The statue was originally

I Saw a Monster

2011-12-20T18:59:00.001-06:00

I really did. It appeared to me the other day. I know it was a monster because it made me cry. Nothing real makes me cry. I'm a grown man. I read a lot of books and some of them are sad. Sometimes they tug at my heart strings, maybe if it's a really good book or movie I let a tear escape. But the last time I really cried? Before the other day, it had been years, perhaps decades. Do you like to

A Good Night for a Murder

2011-12-14T10:34:00.000-06:00

As a child on nights when a thick fog settled in against the damp green lawns of our suburban neighborhood or when black clouds obscured the sky and lightning struck vivid against the darkness my mother would smile with the glint of mischief shining in her eyes and murmur "Tonight is a good night for a murder." But nights that call to mind images of dank cellars and masked assailants aren't

and a partridge in a pear tree

2011-12-06T19:54:00.001-06:00

Today I got a sneak peak at the Friends of the Library annual Holiday Book Sale, and it is the shopping event of the season. I saw pop-up books and chapter books for kids, LP records and VHS tapes for anyone into vintage, along with popular fiction, classics of literature, beautiful coffee table books, cookbooks and more, all in excellent condition, perfect for gift-giving. I bought 12 great

Spoil me, please!

2011-12-06T09:32:00.001-06:00

I have a confession. When I ask what a book or film is about, what I'm really hoping is that someone will (by chance or by choice) spoil the ending. Spare me no details-- I want to be prepared for anything. I want to know who kills Dumbledore when. I'd like to know if somebody is dead the entire movie. I want to know what Soylent Green is made of. When it comes to stories, I have all the patience

Coming Attractions January 2012

2011-12-02T08:00:00.000-06:00

Lots of hot new books coming in the new year! Click on the book cover to reserve your copy now!

Matte or Glossy?

2011-11-29T10:00:00.000-06:00

Okay sometimes it just happens. A newspaper advice column appears before my eyes and the next thing I know I have read the whole thing. It happened to me last week as I read a rather poignant plea for help.The letter started Dear So and So, a few of my friends have told me I'm dull. What should I do? Well, Ms. Advice Columnist took a very calm approach. Her first response was not "with

Thank you

2011-11-25T07:07:00.000-06:00

Different people use libraries for various purposes: locating a book before a long flight, discovering a new movie director, working on a term paper, learning a new language, researching a snow-blower purchase, viewing summer blockbusters now out on DVD, downloading ebooks, or re-reading an old favorite, among others. In many cases, we at the library are lucky enough to assist in these pursuits.

Making a List, Checkin It Twice

2011-11-22T12:48:00.001-06:00

Gonna find out what book to read next. I know the holidays are here because I have more than 40 books on reserve. How did that happen? It's because in November and December all the "Best of" lists come out. I love the lists. Let all the smart people go and read everything and narrow it down so I only read the good stuff. Usually I find enough books to get me through a good portion of the

Dear Agony

2011-11-18T19:40:00.002-06:00

"Into the nothing, faded and weary, I wont leave and let you fall behind. Live for the dying, Heaven hear me, I know we can make it out alive." That is one of my all time favorite lyrics from East Coast based outfit, Breaking Benjamin. The lyrics come from the song "Into the Nothing" from my favorite Benjamin album and latest release, Dear Agony. The album was released back in 2009 but I feel it

What Would Beethoven Think OR Relax to the Classics

2011-11-14T20:14:00.045-06:00

Would Beethoven be appalled that his compositions appear on CDs with cheesy titles and cheesier photographs like The Ultimate Relaxation Album II? After all, this was a man who believed: "Music should strike fire from the heart of man, and bring tears from the eyes of woman." He was a man of lofty aims who, in my opinion, took music to heights unmatched by anyone before or since. I cannot

War is Hell (and Sometimes Funny)

2011-11-08T20:50:00.000-06:00

"Razzle dazzle!" Veteran's Day is here! My dad is a former naval officer and Vietnam veteran. I'm sure his memory contains many war stories where stress and danger are central themes. But the war stories I grew up on had a very different flavor. Sitting around the dinner table long after the the meal was done, he would keep us in stitches with tales of hijinks and misadventure. He told stories

The Book That Got Away

2011-11-04T11:11:00.000-05:00

Book three was my favorite of the lot. We all have that book—the book to which all other books are compared. A book that made us feel a certain way, or changed our perspective on the world, or on life. Maybe a book that did all of the above. At the risk of drowning in my own juvenile, non-literary shame, I’m going to bite the bullet for the sake of journalistic integrity and admit that my “

Coming Attractions December 2011

2011-11-01T12:52:00.000-05:00

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Cary Grant versus Clark Gable...

2011-10-25T20:56:00.000-05:00

...a refined ruckus Recently, a few patrons have recommended that we create a classic movie section within our DVDs. Of course, with classic movies come movie stars. Everyone has their favorite. I certainly have mine -- Cary Grant combined smooth charm, wit, and physical slapstick in a way that I find irresistible. And he was a versatile performer, too.

Oooh Scary

2011-10-18T18:59:00.004-05:00

I don't generally read a lot of scary books. I tend to like fiction that is more realistic, so things like monsters, vampire, zombies, and lawn mowers that come to life don't really work for me. But every October I try to read something scary. And there are scary books out there that terrify me. The best I have ever read was Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris. It was awesome. And every

Animal Instinct

2011-10-11T09:12:00.005-05:00

I am a peaceful inhabitant of this world. I bear no ill-will towards any other creature with whom I share our earthly dwelling. One might say of me (and be very nearly correct) that I wouldn't even hurt a fly. As it happens, I have recently been cohabiting with a cricket of somewhat questionable character. Despite having never solicited my orthopteric room-mate, I made a sincere effort to

Coming Soon on DVD!

2011-10-08T15:31:00.026-05:00

The summer blockbusters will soon be surfacing on DVD! Place a hold today on these popular movies:

Beautiful Mosaic or Tossed Salad?

2011-10-04T16:40:00.001-05:00

Years ago, I worked in a Manhattan library where my immediate co-workers included young people from Sri Lanka, Cameroon, and Honduras. Ever the ham, I bemoaned what I saw as my bland origins--I grew up in Illinois."Where were your ancestors from?" asked my supervisor.I rattled off the different countries."So you're a mutt!" he teased."I prefer to think of myself as a beautiful mosaic!" I spread

Coming Attractions November 2011

2011-09-30T14:00:00.015-05:00

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Finally - The Kindle

2011-09-26T22:09:00.022-05:00

As my coworker David wrote about previously, the moment manyhave been waiting for has arrived. The Kindle works with the Overdriveproduct MyMediaMall. The long awaited collaboration withthe library ebook offering is now in sync with the ebook devicethat started the explosion of ereading.Quite frankly I'm impressed. The process of gettng a freelibrary ebook onto the Kindle device is pretty simple,

They're here

2011-09-23T10:20:00.004-05:00

People have been asking when they will be able to download library books to their Kindle eReader for a while now. Before this week we've had ebooks available for the iPad, Nook, Sony Reader and a number of other devices. The wait is over. Ebooks for Amazon's Kindle eReader are now available.Ebooks are checked out and downloaded online through MyMediaMall. They get checked out for 14-days and at

A poem as lovely as a tree...

2011-09-20T23:44:00.000-05:00

Each year, libraries worldwide receive countless millions of donated books from people showing support for their communities. This is the story of some truly unique books donated anonymously to libraries around Edinburgh, Scotland earlier this year. The first paper sculpture, pictured above, was left on a table at the Scottish Poetry Library. This "poetree" had a tag addressed

Heavy Books and Hispanic Heritage Month

2011-09-16T11:52:00.024-05:00

If you took a college literature class in the 1960s or later, you likely remember The Norton Anthology of English Literature. If not, check with your back and arms, which may have more painful memories of the book. Weighing in at 4.3 pounds, the 1st volume of the 2006 edition is over 3,000 pages and currently weighing down the backpack of a college student near you.That said, there's more to the

" ... in this, the Marvel Age of Comics!"

2011-09-02T15:34:00.011-05:00

I suppose it started when I inherited my brother's old Spiderman sleeping bag to use as a blanket during camping trips and it was augmented by my Incredible Hulk figurine that I used to destroy my carefully-constructed Lego castles (it was made out of die-cast metal: sometimes I wonder how I survived my own childhood). As the years passed, I became one of the many millions of people who have been

Coming Attractions October 2011

2011-08-30T14:40:00.043-05:00

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Fitness - Get Motivated and Get Moving!

2011-08-26T14:05:00.000-05:00

"Our bodies are our gardens to which our wills are gardeners." ~William Shakespeare Lately it seems like every day that I work at the Readers' Services desk, a patron asks me about exercise DVDs. Could it be that I am more aware of these requests because of my own recent fitness efforts, or are there really more of us reaching out to exercise regularly and improve our health? That I don't know,

Summer 2011 Was Hot

2011-08-23T09:55:00.021-05:00

Especially for documentaries. Maybe because I'm partial to the genre but I've noticed lots of reviews and previews this season. The Interrupters, Buck, Page One, Last Mountain, and Tabloid each different - each interesting. The Interrupters is getting a lot of press as it being screened at the Gene Siskel Center this month. Homegrown in Chicago, this film by Steve James, the director of

The Magnificence of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra

2011-08-19T08:00:00.013-05:00

Years ago, in my early teens and in thrall of all things New York, I just assumed the New York Philharmonic was considered the greatest orchestra in the country. My mother, a violin teacher and Chicago Symphony Orchestra subscriber since her music school days, set me straight. "The Chicago Symphony's considered the greatest orchestra in the country." "No. Really?" "Yes." "Huh." I wondered if

The Darkness Within (It's funny, right?)

2011-08-12T09:00:00.000-05:00

There is something dark inside every human being--a twisted attraction the macabre. We cannot help but slow down ever so slightly as we pass a gnarled car wreck. We cannot help but congregate in large audiences around a structure which has caught fire and watch with morbid fixation as it burns to the ground. We live in a society of ambulance chasers and so many police-procedural television dramas

Fiction vs Nonfiction

2011-08-09T16:25:00.005-05:00

I just can't keep it straight anymore. What's true? What's not? They say the truth is stranger than fiction (but anyone who says that has never read Jonathan Carroll). I find it hard to tell which is which these days. What's the world coming to? I was helping a patron today who was looking for book-groupy books. I showed her our book group section and started pointing out a few of my favorites.

Coming Attractions September 2011

2011-08-02T08:00:00.002-05:00

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ROOM and Greek Cheese

2011-07-28T21:09:00.001-05:00

Sure, we would always like everything to be a completely perfect experience. We are always in search of our new favorites: possibly the next movie we watch, the next restaurant we visit, etc. But the reality is that perfection only comes along once in a great while. As we wait for the next perfect experience (vacation, DVD rental, etc.) we should appreciate the greatly positive experiences that

Spotlight on Words

2011-07-24T22:38:00.045-05:00

The language of the Readers' Services staff can sometimes get complicated. Ask us about a documentary film and how to find it, and we launch into a description of the Dewey Decimal System. But during a good part of our day we just talk in plain English about blockbuster movies like Die Hard or Public Enemies. Or we direct you to a magazine or a tabloid to find out which celebrities are in the

There's More to the Cello than Yo-Yo Ma, Or, Introducing the Best 100 of Classical Music Series

2011-07-20T12:57:00.046-05:00

Yo-Yo Ma is a brilliant cellist, wonderful ambassador for classical music, and has been characterized by Smithsonian Magazine as "the nicest guy in the classical music business." So why have I titled this post "There's More to the Cello than Yo-Yo Ma?"Because great as he is, there are other wonderful cellists, and I'm a bit puzzled by people eager to attend the concerts of classical superstars

Stories from the Home Front

2011-07-19T16:00:00.040-05:00

In Fort Hood housing, like all army housing, you get used to hearing through the walls... You learn too much. And you learn to move quietly through your own small domain. You also know when the men are gone. No more boots stomping above, no more football games turned up too high, and, best of all, no more front doors slamming before dawn as they trudge out for their early formation, sneakers on

Crossing Over

2011-07-15T09:06:00.007-05:00

I always find it interesting when someone who has achieved success in one field jumps to another and does it well. You know, when someone like Steve Martin or Kirk Douglas writes a novel and they actually do it really well. This seems to be coming up more and more often. I see that Nicole Richie has a novel out (I have no idea if it was good). I also remember checking out William Shatner's music

Hometown Superhero

2011-07-08T14:04:00.006-05:00

It appears to be simply an innocuous bystander--you see it on your way to work most days and occasionally you stop in for a visit. It is well-known by everyone in town but, sadly, well-used by few. It is a rare individual who knows the true essence of what it is: the purveyor of truth--the muse of childrens' dreams--the superhero on Main Street. If you have a problem, the odds are good that your

Coming Attractions August 2011

2011-07-01T08:00:00.011-05:00

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Unputdownable (yes, it's in the dictionary)

2011-06-24T07:12:00.003-05:00

I get it. Summer is here and you're looking for a book you can read without too much effort: people in the reading business call this phenomenon a "good book". Maybe you weren't aware of the question, but we have the answer. The following is a list of books that you shouldn't pick up if you don't want to read a book you can't put down:American Gods by Neil Gaiman