Notes from the reference desk

DECEMBER AT THE LIBRARY:

Where are your Christmas CDs?
Where are your Christmas DVDs?
Where are the books on Christmas crafts?
Where do you keep your Christmas fiction?
Why is your internet service so slow?
I need a book about holiday stress.
Why don't you have all the tax forms for 2011 yet?
I live out of town, how long is Santa going to be there?????
Why  is there glitter all over the Children's Department?
Can you register, set up, and download everything I need onto my Kindle, Nook, or (other) ereader?
Can you email Santa for me?
I really need a Hanukkah cookbook.
Are you open today? 
Why do I have to go on a waiting list for an electronic copy of the book that I want?
Can you order this from Amazon for me?
I'm too busy to come in.  Do you have a delivery service?
Can I get more than 2 hours on the computers?
I need a book about Kwanzaa.
I need a really short biography for an assignment due tomorrow!


JANUARY AT THE LIBRARY:

Where are your exercise books?
Where are your diet books?
Do you have a book about hoarding?
I need a book that has lots of indoor activities for small children.
Where do you keep your books on starting a small business?
When are you going to have more computer classes?
I need the books that help you study for your ACT or SAT tests.
Do you have a book that will show me how to get along better with my in-laws?
Why isn't my Kindle, Nook, ereader working????
Do you have that exercise DVD for Zumba?
Why don't you carry video games here?
I still can't find the tax form I need.
Can you fill out my rental agreement for me?
Do you have the magazine, Cooking Light?
I really need a phone number so that I can return this gift.  Can you find the number for PajamaGram?

And the list goes on...

Happy Holidays from all of us at the Manitowoc Public Library.  Keep calling, emailing, and stopping by, we're here to make your days a little brighter.

It will be fun, because I said so!

The secret to preparing for the holidays is to have a routine.  I have to feed my holiday spirit with a few simple things in order to enjoy the busiest time of the year.  Unlike a vampire, I do not feed alone in the dark, I insist that my family feed with me.  Despite the protests, I'm sure they LOVE it. Tonight we will watch the Lakeshore Holiday Parade and check out the amazing holiday decorations at the Rahr-West Museum and it will be fun because I SAID SO.  My kids are too old to sit on Santa's lap at the museum but we still go downstairs for treats because it's time to prepare for the holidays and no one says "no" to free cookies.  When we get home, I will start making the cranberry sauce (from real cranberries) that I bring to the family Thanksgiving celebration and I will listen to the soundtrack from Irving Berlin's "Holiday Inn" the entire time.  The best part about that CD and movie, which I also insist we watch every year, is that it covers all of the holidays.

So on to Black Friday preparations.  Make your list, check it twice, look for coupons online and in the newspaper and before you buy ANYTHING big, stop at the Reference Desk and look it up in the Consumer Reports Buying Guide or the magazine.  This magazine will tell you which television you should buy and why.  They rate cars, appliances, electronics, electric razors, cameras, MP3 players, ereaders and the list goes on and on.  Of course, if you are trying to avoid camping outside a store Thanksgiving evening (or earlier!), the crush of the people rushing to get the last hot toy in the store, or simply have a strong aversion to crowds, there is always the option of Cyber Monday.  The library is open from 9am to 8pm on November 28th and we have plenty of computers available.

The last thing I do in preparation to prepare for the holidays is make a list of holiday must-reads and start checking them out or putting holds on them.  When you anticipate that you will be running for the next 30 days or so, you need to take time off to recharge.  I like to listen to John Grisham's Skipping Christmas in my car during the month of December.  I would never skip Christmas but the idea is awfully tempting, perhaps a secret fantasy.  I usually set aside my non-fiction reading (unless it is something inspiring like Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand) and check out some fiction titles as well as some holiday CDs to keep the spirits up.  (We do need a little variety from Fred and Bing.)  I know that Justin Beiber has a new Christmas CD coming out and maybe that will be a good gift for the tween in my life.  I think this year I'll stick with Mannheim Steamroller, Amy Grant, and some locals like the Garth Nuestader Trio this Christmas.  

Happy Thanksgiving to all from the staff at the Manitowoc Public Library.  We're open until 8pm during the parade.  We'd love to have you to stop by, warm up, and check something out for the holidays.

Shhh...secrets

Have you ever wondered if your house had a secret tunnel at one time? 

 

Or perhaps a famous (or infamous) occupant?

Your home may have a fascinating history, and the process of uncovering your home’s past can be a fun and worthwhile project. House Histories: A guide to tracing the genealogy of your home by Sally Light and How to Research your house: Every home tells a story by Pamela Brooks are great books to help you get started. If you would prefer to watch instead of read, the HGTV series If walls could talk...explores homes rich in history.

This featured photo of a house on Michigan Ave is from the Benke photograph collection, to find more click on this link Images of Manitowoc. 

Epic, Wicked, Classic

What is a classic?  The definition of a classic is threefold.  A classic work of literature has universal appeal, expresses an artistic quality, and stands the test of time.  One of the goals of the selectors of our library is to find the "hottest reads" (Nora Roberts, James Patterson) for the readers in our community.  However, we also work diligently to maintain a collection of books that meet the above criteria of a classic or in Victor Hugo's case, offer our readers an epic tale of poverty, vice, and redemption.  How does this particular book stand the test of time?  After all, isn't it just a love story and a condemnation of France's legal system of the time?  Response:  haven't you heard the phrase "class warfare" used in the news and by various politicians recently?

Moving on from the French, Charles Dickens' books about poverty and the social injustice in England also stand the test of time.  Most of us have read David Copperfield for a school assignment or watched A Christmas Carol during the month of December.  Have you tried Oliver Twist, Bleak House, A Tale of Two Cities, or Great Expectations?  If you can't stomach all the wicked characters that live in Dickens' books, consider another English author like Thomas Hardy. His book, Far From the Madding Crowd has similar themes to Dickens' but uses a pastoral setting.  If you like love stories to end happily, any Jane Austen title will do.  Austen has a special gift for blending social commentary in with an old-fashioned romance. 
American classics cannot be forgotten.  The Awakening by Kate Chopin is every bit as relevant (and depressing) as any Thomas Hardy novel.  Edgar Allan Poe is known for his stories of horror and suspense but his tales go far beyond a mere mystery.  Finally, what early American author captures the spirit of adventure better that James Fennimore Cooper?  He is best known for The Last of the Mohicans but did you know that it's part of a series of five books about early American frontier life featuring Natty Bumppo?  Or is it Hawkeye?  La Longue Carabine?  Pathfinder?  Deerslayer?  Finally, if you're a true Wisconsinite and you enjoy stories about early America, you will be eager to revisit August William Derleth. 

So put the brain candy aside for now, and pick up some meat and potatoes.  Enjoy a classic today!

 

American Pickers

Do you know these guys?  If you don't, well, you should get to know them. Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz became famous when their lives as pickers were turned into a highly rated television show on the History Channel.  A new book now recounts their story and teaches the reader how to become a picker.  American Pickers Guide to Picking was written by Libby Callaway with input from Mike, Frank, Danielle and a number of other experts and pickers.  Libby's mother dealt in antiques and Libby met a lot of pickers that her mother bought items from.  She was surprised when she met Mike Wolfe for the first time in December of 2008 because he was so different from the people her mother dealt with.  Mike was young, handsome, and charming. Libby and Mike met when they were both visiting a mutual friend, a photographer. 

Mike got bored during a photo shoot of women in lingerie and asked to borrow a scooter.  He was back in 30 minutes with an enamel Oliver Tractor sign from the 1940's that he was able to sell within minutes, more than doubling his money.  Libby was stunned.  She had never heard of someone driving around and finding likely sellers of antiques and collectibles.  She couldn’t imagine herself knocking on doors but greatly admired someone who could. 

Interesting tidbits related in the book include Mike’s strategy of looking at ads in old magazines.  A few years ago, he saw an ad for a 1912 Indian racing motorcycle.  Even though the journal was from the 1970’s, he called and found out that the motorcycle had never been sold.  He immediately got on a plane and flew to Florida to try and make a deal.  The owner was very reluctant to sell, but Mike used his winning personality to eventually make a deal. 

George, who Mike and Frank turn to when they need an expert opinion, offers this advice: “You can’t just go out picking if you don’t know anything.  You should have either a very specialized knowledge or a very broad knowledge,  You have to know a lot about a little or a little about a lot.”  Mike and Frank obviously know a little about a lot and a lot about a little.  Read this book and you’ll know a little bit more yourself.

Don't have cable?  You can watch the first season of American Pickers by checking out this DVD from the Library.

We've got that TOO

Remember these guys?  If you don't, well, you should get to know them.  It's shocking to realize that there may be some folks out there who aren't aware of all the wonderful things the library owns that AREN'T books.  If you're not into Muppets like Statler and Waldorf, we have a plethora of movies both old and new available for you.  Everything from the entire Nightmare on Elm Street series (who knew they could keep bringing Freddie back like that?) to Les Miserables to State Fair to Casablanca to the entire Seinfeld series is available at the Manitowoc Public Library.  Maybe you missed a documentary like Ken Burns' Prohibition on PBS?  We're getting that one too.  We have an enormous variety of movies.  Everything from the very latest to the greatest classics.  But wait, there's more...

Do you have a long drive to and from work?  Have a difficult time keeping up with your book club?  Fall asleep every time you sit down with a novel?  Is your vision not what is used to be?  The solution is the audiobook.  Audiobooks are a wonderful tool to help readers continue with their reading lifestyle.  They help pass the time when you're waiting for your kids or spouse.  They keep you company when you're cleaning your house.  Books on CD are portable and can help keep kids entertained on a long trip.  (My personal favorites are the narrators from the Harry Potter and Lemony Snicket series.)  Audiobooks are also available through Overdrive (the link can be found on our website) and can be downloaded onto an MP3 player or laptop computer.  Listening to books is an easy way to keep your hands free and your mind and body active.

If you are afraid that you will fall asleep to the dulcet tones of a narrator, how about some music?  We own thousands of CDs.  Looking for Mozart?  We've got it.  Looking for Phantom of the Opera?  We've got it.  Want to relive your memories from the 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's or an earlier decade?  Most likely you will find your favorite song and artist from those decades and beyond here.  And we have more....Emmy winners Lady Antebellum, we've got it.  Techno dance music, we've got that too.  Music for a themed Hawaiian dance party or Halloween blowout, don't look any further than your library.  How excellent is our music selection?  We have over 40 music CDs by the Beatles alone.  And when you can't find that special song?  We'll help you borrow it from another library system in Wisconsin.  Stop by the Service Desk, we can find it. 

So the next time that you visit your library, remember that we carry so much more than books.  Want to borrow a Kindle?  We've got it.  Looking for an old article on your family from the newspaper?  We have it on MICROFILM.  Don't know what that is or how to use it?  We're here to help with that too.  Maybe you just want to find the next mystery in a series by your favorite author.  You KNOW we've got that too.   

   

funny things happen when you open a book

This is a picture book with a message for parents.  Teach your kids to enjoy books now, and don't forget to show them how they "work".

I grew up trying to get my mom's attention when her nose was stuck in a book.  Sometimes we would yell "Fire!" just to see if she would evacuate the house or die reading.  When we finally DID get her attention, the look on her face was somewhat similar to his....

Share your knowledge; share the experience; fall into the story.  Learn to read for life.

BRAIN CANDY IS GOOD

The undead have feelings too. After being passed over for centuries by vampire love and hot werewolves, zombies are finally coming into their own. It's a zombie revolution, guard your brain. Brains, in case you missed the cult classic movies "Dawn of the Dead" or "Night of the Living Dead", are delicious candy to the zombie with a discerning palate and NOTHING can stop them from seeking out more. Here are a few new titles on the continuing saga of the undead and the people who live (briefly) with them. How does one deal with a ferocious, expressionless, unstoppable attacking zombie?

A hilarious twist on a beloved classic is Seth Graham Smith's, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: the classic Regency romance-now with ultraviolent zombie mayhem! Be prepared to laugh ruefully as Elizabeth and Darcy fight zombies, not their love for one another. They admire one another for their equally amazing zombie annihilation skills. Mr. Collins, a character that anyone familiar with the original story deplores, gets what he deserves and more. The undead success of this book has been followed by a prequel, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls and a sequel, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dreadfully Ever After, both by Steve Hockensmith. You will laugh out loud as you enjoy tea and crumpets while checking the locks on the doors.

Zombies have also found success with the younger generation. Stacey Jay's You are So Undead to Me combines teen angst with hungry zombies. Megan Berry, the heroine, must save homecoming, work on her cheerleading try-out, and attempt to attract the attention of her crush all while dealing with the dead that are not dead. For those interested in the romantic lifestyles of the undead, there is I Kissed a Zombie and I Liked it by Adam Selzer or the Generation Dead series by Daniel Waters. Whether you love them or hate them, they are sure to keep your mind off of your real problems.


Finally for those who wish to be prepared for the coming of the undead apocalypse, there is World War Z: an oral history of the zombie war by Max Brooks. When the zombie hordes are calling, it will be important to know their habits and how to deal with zombification competently. Mac Montandon's Proper Care and Feeding of Zombies will help provide answers for everyone hosting the ravenous horde. To learn about the inner workings of the zombie mind, try Brains: a zombie memoir or Zombie, Ohio: a tale of the undead.

Brain candy, it's not just for zombies anymore.

It’s NOT of this world

 Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

Having barely survived an attempt to colonize earth by an alien, insectoid race, earthlings devise a plan to destroy the aliens before another attack.  A military battle school in space is created where the most promising children in the world are sent to train.  The Wiggins are allowed to have an unheard of third child, Ender, because their first two children were geniuses but lacked the personality to lead soldiers.  Ender's sister, Valentine, was too meek.  His brother, Peter, was too much of a psychopath.  Protected by constant monitoring during his first six years, Ender shows enough promise that the military leaders decide to test him by removing his electronic monitor to see if he can survive the attentions of his brother.  He passes that challenge and now must survive the battle school where there are other students will stop at nothing to win.  Ender is the ultimate survivor but can a child save earth?

The Manitowoc Public Library will be hosting a book discussion on Ender's Game, Thursday, September 8^th at 6pm to celebrate Sputnikfest. Sputnikfest in Manitowoc is a self-proclaimed wacky, tacky, fun event that commemorates ACTUAL space debris from Sputnik IV landing in the middle of 8^th St. on Sept., 6^th in 1962. This year's festivities will be held Saturday, Sept. 10^th starting at 10am. To find out more about Sputnikfest in Manitowoc, visit their website at http://www.sputnikfest.com/.

Discussion Questions for Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

1. Ender's father said that it was better to play the war games and have a better chance of surviving when the buggers came again. He was referring to children playing a make-believe game. How does this philosophy represent the theme of the book?
2. Is it ethical to place children in the position of being maimed or killed? Is it ethical to make children responsible for saving the earth?
3. Is Ender's brother Peter a psychopath or good at pretending to be a psychopath?
4. Ender is afraid that he is a monster like Peter. Is Ender a monster?
5. Colonel Graff is called a monster. Is he?
6. Why did Ender agree to attend Military school?
7. How is the Battle Room useful for learning how to fight against the buggers?
8. Peter has a new focus after Ender leaves. What are his motives?
9. Did Valentine betray Ender by convincing him to return to his training?
10. Was it necessary to destroy the entire race of buggers?
11. What made Ender a good leader?
12. Was it best for Ender to leave earth? Was it best for earth?
     

If you liked Ender's Game, David recommends-

The Maze Runner by James Dashner (first in a trilogy)

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (first in a trilogy)

On Basilisk Station by David Weber (first in the Honor Harrington series)

The Giver by Lois Lowry (first in a trilogy)
Matched by Allyson Braithwaite Condie

NOT-SO-LIGHT SUMMER READING

Have you had enough of the "light summer reading" lists you see in every magazine and blog you read?  Are you ready for something with a little more meat on it's bones?  Something that will add a few more wrinkles to your laid back, summertime brain? MPL's got just the thing for you:

The Hidden Reality by Brian Greene (with description, links, and video from Knopf Publishers)

From the best-selling author of The Elegant Universe and The Fabric of the Cosmos comes his most expansive and accessible book to date—a book that takes on the grandest question: Is ours the only universe?
There was a time when “universe” meant all there is. Everything. Yet, in recent years discoveries in physics and cosmology have led a number of scientists to conclude that our universe may be one among many. With crystal-clear prose and inspired use of analogy, Brian Greene shows how a range of different “multiverse” proposals emerges from theories developed to explain the most refined observations of both subatomic particles and the dark depths of space: a multiverse in which you have an infinite number of doppelgängers, each reading this sentence in a distant universe; a multiverse comprising a vast ocean of bubble universes, of which ours is but one; a multiverse that endlessly cycles through time, or one that might be hovering millimeters away yet remains invisible; another in which every possibility allowed by quantum physics is brought to life. Or, perhaps strangest of all, a multiverse made purely of math.
Greene, one of our foremost physicists and science writers, takes us on a captivating exploration of these parallel worlds and reveals how much of reality’s true nature may be deeply hidden within them. And, with his unrivaled ability to make the most challenging of material accessible and entertaining, Greene tackles the core question: How can fundamental science progress if great swaths of reality lie beyond our reach?
Sparked by Greene’s trademark wit and precision, The Hidden Reality is at once a far-reaching survey of cutting-edge physics and a remarkable journey to the very edge of reality—a journey grounded firmly in science and limited only by our imagination.

PLACE A  HOLD ON THE LIBRARY'S COPY OF THIS TITLE


Brian Greene received his undergraduate degree from Harvard University and his doctorate from Oxford University, where he was a Rhodes Scholar. He joined the physics faculty of Cornell University in 1990, was appointed to a full professorship in 1995, and in 1996 joined Columbia University, where he is professor of physics and mathematics. He has lectured at both a general and a technical level in more than thirty countries, and on all seven continents, and is widely regarded for a number of groundbreaking discoveries in superstring theory. His first book, The Elegant Universe, was a national best seller and a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. His most recent book, The Fabric of the Cosmos, was also a best seller. He lives in Andes, New York, and New York City.

Four Years to Remember

ses·qui·cen·ten·ni·al/ˌseskwisenˈtenēəl (dictionary.com)

We study it in school. We visit the memorials and battlefields. We reenact it. The Civil War in America was a seminal turning point in America's history. This year in April we marked the sesquicentennial of the beginning of the Civil War, the shots fired on Fort Sumpter in Charleston harbor. What else can we learn from 1861?


In 1861, the United States of America (Union) instituted the first income tax. The Revenue Act of 1861 imposed a three percent tax on incomes over eight hundred dollars. Designed to help fund the expenses of the war, it was a flat rate tax. This was repealed in 1862 and replaced by a progressive rate tax which was to terminate in 1866. Obviously, 1866 was not the end of the income tax debate in America. For more information on this subject, check out The Great Tax Wars: Lincoln to Wilson by Steven Weisman (336.242 Weisman).

OTHER EVENTS AND ITEMS OF INTEREST IN 1861-The Pony Express, which began in April of 1860, ended in October of 1861 when the Pacific Telegraph line was completed.
Serfdom was abolished in Russia.
Louis Pasteur begins working on the germ theory of disease, eventually leading to the process of pasteurization.
The Gatlin Gun, a hand-cranked machine gun, is invented. (The idea being that fewer soldiers would be needed on the battlefield.)
The kinematoscope, a precursor to the cinema, is invented.

For the next four years, throughout our nation, there will be Civil War battlefields to visit, reenactments to view, and historical events to remember. Take the time to visit our history through fact and fiction.

RECOMMENDED FICTION-
The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara

Gods and Generals by Jeff Shaara

The Long Roll by Mary Johnston

Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane

The Widow of the South by Robert Hicks

March by Geraldine Brooks not to be confused with The March by E.L. Doctorow (also recommended)

The Starbuck Series by Bernard Cornwell

Gettysburgh Trilogy by Newt Gingrich

Note-for those of you signing up for the Adult Summer Reading program at MPL, these books are historical fiction and would account for one of your genre reads.

The Results are in...

Last month we provided a survey at MPL in conjuction with National Library Week. There were 78 responses to our survey and many of them told the same story. We are one extremely busy community.

Across the board, people who enjoy reading lament their lack of TIME. We don't have time to read due to our community commitments and our responisbility to our families. We can't read while we are busy coaching, biking, baking, golfing, gardening, quilting, shopping, spending time with our family or watching the Green Bay Packers. After all this activity, if we sit down with a book in our hands we will probably fall asleep after the first page even if it happens to be our favorite author.

How can we get more book time packed into our lives? Many of the respondants to the survey do not take advantage of the convenience offered by audio books. Audiobooks on CD can be borrowed from any of our member libraries and we can ask for titles from other libraries in Wisconsin. If you spend time in your vehicle or at the gym, a good audiobook can make your trip go much faster or your workout less painful. We also offer audiobooks through the Overdrive database. These audiobooks can be downloaded onto devices such as an MP3 player, phone, or eReader. It is then a simple matter to listen to a book while doing housework, walking, or cooking. Also, most eReader Devices will work with our Overdrive database with the exception of the Kindle (this may change in the near future), allowing you to read or listen to books wherever you go!

If you don't want to spend time browsing our shelves, we have a variety of book lists on our catalog. Look under the link "Have You Read" and you will find a variety of book lists of different genres and prize winners. Look under the link "New Books" and you will find new books listed for the entire library system. Did you know that the MPL staff also hosts a book discussion group open to anyone the third Thursday of the month? A different staff member chooses a book and leads the discussion every month. Check out our latest selections on our website or stop at the Reference Desk for more information. Due to the variety of reading tastes in our staff, you will not be reading the same old thing every month.

Don't forget about using the resources of our library staff. These people are readers who enjoy sharing their favorites with you. Can't navigate the read-alikes in Novelist? We can help you. Want a chronological listing our your favorite author's books? We can find it for you or show you how to find it. Want a good book suggestion? That's why we're here.

Finally, here are a few tips for those of us that just want to hold a book in our hands while we get lost in it. 1) Keep a book in the car in case you are one of those people who waits in the car while other people finish their practices, shopping, or work shift. 2) Don't limit yourself to one format of a book. There are many people who read at home and then listen to the book while they're in the car. 3) Have a book set aside specifically for breaks and lunch while at work. There is no shame in reading more than one book at a time. 4) Plan to spend time reading just like you would any other leisure activity that is important to you.

Thank you to all who participated in our survey. We can't add time to your lives but we hope to add quality to your search for that next favorite book.

What can we learn from a squirrel?

Andy the Squirrel's contribution to National Library Week- If you've become our friend on Facebook, you know that we have a library mascot named Andy the Squirrel. Recently, in honor of National Library Week, Andy conducted a completely unscientific survey on the reading habits of his coworkers at the Manitowoc Public Library.


Below is a sampling of Andy's questions and our responses.

1) WHEN do you like to read?  According to Andy, 95% of the staff at the Manitowoc Public Library like to read while at work, 3% like to read and take walks (with the actual book in their hands at the same time), and 2% of respondants wanted to know why Andy always looks like he's ready for a fight. They would not answer any of Andy's questions, even when threatened.

2) WHAT do you like to read for fun and relaxation? 97% of our staffers prefer a romance paperback. (Andy is not very good at typing. I'm not sure that these results are accurate.) 1% of our staff reads Book Lust and Book Crush by Nancy Pearl (the librarian's librarian) for fun and good times.

3) WHERE do you like to read? 50% of staff like to read in the car. The convenience of audiobooks in a variety of formats has really helped with this. 48% of staff said this question was just like the first one because, obviously, they like to read while in the library. The frightened 2% had run away from Andy by this time.

4) Best book of all time: (Andy's little paws were starting to give out at this point so he only had one title typed in.) The Humanure Handbook: a guide to composting human manure by Joseph C. Jenkins. Yes, the Manitowoc Public Library does own this book and it has gone out a number times. I would guess there were other titles listed by staff (this one doesn't look like a romance to me) but Andy was exhausted from scurrying around and started to scold me when I questioned his results.

What can we take away from Andy the Squirrel's survey? In Andy's opinion:

1) Libraries are fun places to work. There are new people to help every day and unusual titles to suggest.

2) Everyone that works here likes to read and (despite what Andy will tell you) they read a variety of things, even romances.

3) Librarians that read are important. They share their passion for knowledge and their enjoyment of a good story with anyone who will listen.

4) Librarians might not know much about things like humanure, but we will be happy to help you find the answers to your questions.

Celebrate National Library week-enjoy your local library and all it has to offer. (Don't tell Andy this-but if you have a moment, you can stop by one of our service desks and take a REAL reading survey.) Thanks Andy!

E-Books for Everyone

Is your e-reader running on empty? You may love your new Nook or Kindle, but building an e-book library can be costly. The good news is there's plenty of free e-reading online, but you have to know where to look. Though libraries are becoming a good source of free, newer e-books from major publishers, you can also find lots of new, classic, and unusual titles for the taking at a variety of sites.

These sites offer downloadable e-books that do not violate copyright laws and, in most cases, are free.

These are available through the Manitowoc Public Library website. Click on the icons on the right side under Featured Resources.

OverDrive - Fiction and non-fiction titles.

NetLibrary - Popular e-books on business, legal self-help, computer science, economics, literature, and psychology.

Learning Express Library e-books - PDF e-books for exams such as SAT, GED, GRE, GMAT, Civil Service jobs, and ASVAB.

Free Downloadable E-books Sites

Digital Book Index One of the most comprehensive sources for free, downloadable and web-based e-books, DBI acts as an e-book-site search engine, dredging up links to more than 165,000 full-text e-books. Rather than downloading directly from this site, you'll be directed to another site where you can get the e-book. Tip: After searching for the title you want, click on the "Format" link to get the file or online text.

Project Gutenberg If you've ever looked for a free classic online, you've probably encountered Project Gutenberg. Founded in 1971 by a computer programmer named Michael Hart, this volunteer-supported site is the largest single source of downloadable e-books. Many of the titles are works of Western Literature in the public domain. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, for example, have been downloaded 27,510 times.

Open Library A project of those dogged archivists behind Archive.org and the Wayback Machine, this site aims to create "a web page for every book." In simple terms, it's the Wikipedia of books, a catalog of informational entries about books created by users, with links to places where you can download the e-books for free, usually through a public library or Archive.org. Tip: Check the "only show ebooks" box when searching.

Google Books & Ebookstore Launched late last year, Google's online e-bookstore lets you preview books for sale and download lots of free public domain e-books. Search for any book in the Google Books database (which also lets you search within the text of millions of books) and refine by selecting "Free Google eBooks" in the left-hand menu. Or search the eBookstore and select "Price: Free only." You'll have to get a Google account, but you'll be able to save your downloaded e-books on Google's server and access them from any computer.

ManyBooks.net This clean, easy-to-navigate site contains more than 29,000 free downloadable e-books in multiple formats. Most of the books are public-domain texts culled from Project Gutenberg, but ManyBooks.net's proprietor, Matthew McClintock, is adding more all the time (follow his updates on Twitter). For more recent e-books, browse the Post-1930 category. The site also features user ratings and recommendations.

Bookyards.com Bookyards says they are the "library to the world" and with their selection, one would certainly believe it. They have over 16,000 books, 800,000 ebooks, and 384 videos. There are 32,000 ebook links as well. These are all in different categories and they've added ten new categories such as Literature, War, and Games. This is a relatively easy to navigate website, with plenty of free ebooks to download.

Free-Ebooks.net In this eye-catching, user-friendly repository of current and older books, you'll find self-published e-books on modern subjects -- like How to Make Money on eBay and 21st Century Time Management for Busy Managers – rubbing virtual covers with classic works by the likes of Darwin, Twain, and Rousseau. Users of this site may also publish reviews and "like" and "dislike" books.

DrScavanaugh The good doctor who runs this site provides a massive list of free e-book libraries. You can't download from here, and it's not search-friendly, but it's a good jumping-off point for browsing the world of free e-books.

http://digital.library.upenn.edu/books offers a small selection of titles from an academic library

Inkmesh is a search engine that searches more than thirty online sources for free e-books. You can search by genre, author, title and by type of e-reader.

Planet Ebook There are 61 free ebooks on Planet Ebook, and they are all classics. This is a great site for War and Peace or getting through some Emily Bronte. The site is laid out in a wordpress blogger type atmosphere and has all its books listed in a single list form, which is linked to the download. It is very simple and to the point. This is a site to download free pdf ebooks direct to your reader.

The Internet Archive's 1.8 million books now available as free Kindle Books – Most are now in MobiPocket/Kindle format. Choose MOBI from the download links on the upper left side of the book page (just below the book cover/image).

http://ireaderreview.com/2009/08/17/40-free-books-in-the-kindle-store/ This 'Free Kindle Books' post lists Every Single NEW Free Book in the Kindle Store.

Publisher Sites Featuring Free E-books

Harlequin – Romance

Baen –publisher of science fiction and fantasy offers number of free downloads that are compatible with the Kindle.

Pay Sites Worth Checking Out Powell's Books – Portland's famed bookseller now offers e-books. Munsey's -- A great source for rare and hard-to-find items, particularly pulp fiction, with many items for free and some for as cheap as $1. FictionWise – Owned by Barnes & Noble. EbookMall – One of the largest e-book retailers. Wowio – A pay site that offers some free graphic novels. FeedBooks – A pay site with links to some free books by new authors as well as some high-quality public domain e-books.

Sites to Share books:

Lendle Me The easiest, fastest, fairest, and best way to lend and borrow Kindle™ books.

Book Lending Kindle lending is a feature launched by Amazon on December 30, 2010. Any Kindle book that has lending enabled can be loaned by one Kindle user to another for 14 days.

Blogs devoted to e-book and e-reader topics:

The Digital Reader is a blog devoted to news, reviews, and opinions on everything e-book (www.the-digital-reader.com)

Ebookanoid reviews e-readers, e-books and websites devoted to them (www.ebookanoid.com)

Submitted by uber-computer genius Margie V., MPL IT.

Choose a Book!  In honor of National Library Week (April 10-16^th) we will be hosting our first-ever FACEBOOK FAN BOOK DISCUSSION! But first we need to vote on which book to read. 

Your choices are:

A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin (192 pgs)
In this first book, A Wizard of Earthsea readers will witness Sparrowhawk's moving rite of passage--when he discovers his true name and becomes a young man. Great challenges await Sparrowhawk, including an almost deadly battle with a sinister creature, a monster that may be his own shadow.

The Thief and the Dogs by Naguib Mahfouz (160 pgs)
Spanning the wealthy suburbs and crowded slums of Cairo, this thrilling crime story combines stream of consciousness technique with the hard-boiled style of detective fiction to create a harrowing account of crime and punishment.

Old School by Tobias Wolff (195 pgs)Set in a New England prep school in the early 1960s, the novel imagines a final, pastoral moment before the explosion of the Civil Rights movement, the Vietnam War, the assassination of John F. Kennedy, and the suicide of Ernest Hemingway.

Cast your vote by commenting on our Facebook Page post. 

The winning title will be announced on April 11^th and discussion participants will then be able to pick a copy of the book up at the Manitowoc Public Library.

Our online discussion will be held during the last week of April.  

Become a Fan of Manitowoc Public Library on Facebook!

American Tapas

History is a popular browsing area in the library. However, a 751 page biography of John Adams by David McCullough or a 1,029 page biography of Adolf Hitler by Ian Kershaw can be overwhelming. No need to leave the 900's, look for the authors whose books contain little history "appetizers".

Kenneth Davis has long been known for his Don't Know Much About... series. These books are written in a question and answer format and usually focus on one historical era or major event. This format allows the reader to either search the book for a topic or read it straight through. His two most recent books, America's Hidden History and A Nation Rising concentrate on exposing the truth behind famous and infamous people and events in American history. They could be described as "myth-busting" books for the history lover.

Another series (written by several different authors) is the Politically Incorrect Guides. This series targets social issues (The Politically Incorrect Guide to Women, Sex, and Feminism) and history. With titles such as The Politically Incorrect Guide to the South: and why it will rise again, the history lesson is often delivered from an unfamiliar point of view. There are further reading suggestions listed throughout the books along with quotes and little nuggets of information that you're "not supposed to know". More fun than a text book, this series is a little bit like going on a historical treasure hunt.

If you've ever wondered why Rhode Island is tiny and Texas is enormous, books like Mark Stein's How the States Got Their Shapes will make it clear. One of the best aspects of this title is that it briefly explains the history and geography of the different boundaries assigned to each state and it provides a cross-reference to the other boundary disputes which affected them. For example, Michigan acquired the Upper Peninsula after a border dispute with the state of Ohio. Wisconsin went through several years of separation anxiety as it was passed from one territory to another. Gerrymandering (and $2,000 in gold) changed the borders of Idaho forever. There is a plethora of information about each state packed into a few pages.

Looking for more? Check out J. Stephen Lang's Big Book of American Trivia, James Noles' A Pocketful of History, Thomas Woods' 33 Questions about American History You're not Supposed to Ask or American History Revised by Seymour Morris.

Readershelf: Road Trip! February 15, 2011

Readershelf: Road Trip! February 15, 2011

Just Looking

You may have noticed the multitude of books on display when you walk through the doors of the Manitowoc Public Library. These displays cover an array of subjects and are changed every two to four weeks. They are excellent browsing areas for people who are looking for something different. The displays often reflect events that occur during a particular month or may coincide with programming that is taking place within the library. For example, the library sponsors a program called Great Decisions on Monday evenings in February and March. There will be a display related to the Great Decisions topics maintained for two months with books related to the various discussion topics addressed at the program.

During the month of February we have displays on chocolate, wedding planning, and the lives of the presidents (in honor of Ronald Reagan's 100th birthday and President's Day). In addition, there will be a display later in the month to commemorate Black History Month. Naturally, there is also a large display in the front of the library stocked with new romance fiction.

In March the topics will be women's history, Irish stories, cooking up a killing, movies (and their remakes), as well as a continuation of the Great Decisions topics. Some of the displays, like Irish stories, will combine both fiction and non-fiction titles. "Cooking up a Killing" is culinary fiction with a mystery and will feature authors like Joanne Fluke, Diane Mott Davidson, and Isis Crawford.

Hundreds of books are carefully selected each month for these displays. Thoughtful planning goes into the various topics and formats chosen for each display. Next time you come in for tax forms or the latest John Grisham book, stop a moment to browse through the displays. You may discover a new hobby or field of interest. You might find just what you need to keep you company on a cold winter's night. Still can't find it? Stop at the Reference Desk and ask a librarian.

Hero Worship

Looking for mystery, suspense, romance? Here are several authors who combine them all, making their books the perfect winter getaway.

Midnight in Ruby Bayou by Elizabeth Lowell-A quest for perfect rubies leads to murder, mayhem and a brush with the Russian Mafia. This is part of a series about a family involved in jewel trade. (Similar popular authors: Nora Roberts, Jayne Ann Krentz)

Shadow Dance by Linda Howard-A wedding reception comes to a halt as tales of an ancient Scottish feud between the two families bring dire warnings. The investigation leads the bride's best friend to Serenity, TX where things are not so serene. (Similar popular authors: Judith McNaught, Heather Graham)

Walking After Midnight by Karen Robards-"Frankenstein" rises from the dead at the local mortuary and kidnaps the cleaning lady. They learn that looks aren't everything as they run for their lives. (Similar popular authors: Linda Howard, Catherine Coulter)

Into the Night by Suzanne Brockmann-Navy SEALS fight terrorists by day and groupies by night. More complications occur when the President's daughter comes for a visit. This book is one of a series of books by this author about a group of Navy SEALS. (Similar popular authors: Marliss Melton, Dee Hendersen)

Body Movers by Stephanie Bond-A rich girl's daddy leaves her and her little brother flat broke. She has to make ends meet by picking up men-dead men. This is the first in a series. (Similar popular authors: Jennifer Cruise, Beverly Barton)