Tonight!! April 22nd

Join us for free live music with Spatula Omnibus from 6 to 8 pm in the library. 

Tomorrow, Wednesday, April 23rd at 10:30 am is Preschool Story Time downstairs in the Children's library. More Easter Stories will be read and the craft is a washcloth bunny. 
Don't miss next Wednesday, they will be making Mother's Day Corsages. :)

Friday, April 25th at 11 am, New Mexico author Donna Blake Birchell will be joining us to speak about her new book Wicked Women of New Mexico. 

Stop by the front desk to learn about reading ebooks or listening to audio books on your smart phone or other portable electronic device. 

More musical merriment all week

Mercy, Music, Mango, and Munchies continue at Ruidoso Public Library this week.

Waynta Wirth presents a singing concert of her private voice students, Wednesday, December 18, at 3pm.  These girls were very popular last year, as can be seen in these photos.

Then, Friday, December 20th, at noon, Fred Kinnan and Debbie Myers play guitar and flute, respectively.

Ruidoso Public Library's gift to our community continues for the next three weeks:  We are waiving lost book charges when you can present the item in good condition.  Call or email if you have any questions.  We mailed notices in November, but appreciate any updates to mailing addresses, emails, or phone numbers to reach you, too.

We had a great turn out at the Tech Petting Zoo, November 22, with excellent questions, curious novices, and friendly participants sharing their devices and experience.  At the library, Sharon has experience with Android touch-screen devices, Kindles, and downloading ebooks and audiobooks to mobile devices.  If you open a new gadget, or are giving one, this year, check with the library for free materials and a little assistance.  Your library card and PIN can open copies of several "For Dummies" or "Missing Manuals" online.

Free audiobooks this summer!

I hope you recall SYNC from last summer.  If it is new to you, here is a great opportunity to catch up on classics and current titles. I'd love to hear your experiences from the last two summers in the comments below.

As you may have experienced while downloading audiobooks from the library, you usually have only two weeks to listen to it.  The SYNC summer titles are different.  The publishers are giving away open copies.  The hitch is: you can only download that week's title during that week.

Luckily, you can receive a text message (SMS) reminder on your phone to know when each new title becomes available.  Last year I programmed reminders in my email calendar.  This year, I may try the texts.

Last year, I really enjoyed The Golem's Eye by Jonathan Stroud, read by Simon Jones, and Laini Taylor's Daughter of Smoke and Bone, read by Khristine Hvam.

Here's the schedule for this summer, beginning May 30 [which means you still have a day or two to catch the first titles!].

You will need the Overdrive software or app to play the audiobooks.  You may want to download them on a computer in case you want to listen to several of them (again!) later.

Remember, ebooks count for summer reading at Ruidoso Public Library.  Comment below or on this blog's Summer Reading Program page to tell Cheryl and Kari Dawn which books you downloaded to read or listen to.  If you are under 13, ask your parent or guardian to help with an email address.

Speak up for Libraries' Access to Ebooks (and craft requests for Children's Library)

If you have not yet heard, there's a controversy out there.

Many of the newest, most popular books, are not available to libraries as ebooks.  Some that are have prices (to libraries) that might cause your jaw to drop.  Luckily, action is possible now.  Several websites are hosting information or petitions. Facebook has a group.  [Did you know Facebook changed the rules recently on "liking Pages"?  Now you not only have to like the page, but then, on that page, click on the little box with a gear and select "add to list"--and you may need to name that list the first time--in order to ever see that page's posts in your regular news-stream.]

One library advocate made a short video, comparing which titles you are accustomed to seeing in hardback at the library and which are still not available to libraries electronically.  http://youtu.be/l5anyt9jooI or

The blog where this video first posted is:
http://ebooksforlibraries.com/news/libraries-advocacy-and-ebooks-whos-doing-what/
It is one place to keep current with developments on this issue.

One library system is leading the charge.  Here is their specific list of actions to take: http://www.piercecountylibrary.org/books-materials/audiobooks-ebooks/Default.htm#scrooge

Does this affect you? Let us know in the comments or chat with us during your next visit.

P. S.: The Children's department hopes to collect stacks of the following items for this year's Summer Reading Programs crafts:
styrofoam trays (the kind under meats or produce at the store)
oatmeal containers
metal coffee cans (1 to 2 lb and 5 lb)
scrap 2x4s (about 5 inches)
net bags (the orange mesh around fruit and root vegetables)
everlasting flowers, or fresh flowers to dehydrate into everlasting displays
And just as a reminder: the rolls in wrapping paper or paper towels
the lids on juice bottles or milk jugs

A book review from a patron

In the eighteen months I have been publishing for this blog, I am thrilled to announce the first book review from a patron!  I would post more exclamation points, but that might reflect poorly on the library.

Now I can share the immortal words of Levar Burton (Reading Rainbow, PBS) in suggesting a book: "But you don't have to take my word for it.":

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

(Transcribed with permission by the reviewer)
Ah, Ms. Librarian,

When I first started this book, I read the first thirty pages and thought I will never get into this book.  As is my custom, I read the last two chapters of the book and was intrigued.  It is a rather large volume, so I opened it randomly in the middle and read.  It was wondrous!  I turned back to page 31 and commenced to read and read and read.

It is a multi-layered book, making it appeal to sci-fi lovers, historians, philosophers, mystery lovers and the intellectual.  Ms. Harkness is an exceptional author for while her entire premise is outlandish she brings it into the realm of possibility.  By the unique virtue of her characters she takes on modern day prejudices and asks the ultimate questions of why and why not.  She gives qualities to fearsome creatures that make her readers want to understand, want to help, want to change the situations, want to fight.

Had you not asked me my opinion of this book, I might have quit after the first 30 pages.  That would have been a total loss, my loss.  It is not just a good read.  It is a fantastic journey.  Would I like to read the next installment?  Oh, yes, please.
Thanks for asking--NH

And thank you for sharing!  The sequel, Shadow of Night, is available, though you may need to request your turn.  A Discovery of Witches is also available, unabridged, on CD.

Several Book Reviews

Book reviews have been popular blog posts in the past, so here are a few more.

Fool by Christopher Moore

What is Shakespeare's play, King Lear, like when told from the court jester's point of view?  That was Moore's goal when he wrote this book with dark humor.  As in Shakespeare, the words are often coarse, the jokes quite lewd, and dialogue is exquisitely crafted.  Unlike the tragic play, this book is definitely a comedy.

Readalikes include Basket Case by Carl Hiaasen.






Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore

This is Cashore's third book with Graceling characters. These books may be read in any order--each story will enrich the history of other characters, but no need to fear spoilers.  Why am I drawn to Cashore's books?  I believe it is the diversity of characters and their acceptance/tolerance of diversity.  Perhaps it is more to the point that when I have the chance to escape reality in a book, I really want to leave the mundane behind.

Readalikes: Across the Universe or Hunger Games



Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick

If you still doubt the power of a graphic novel, Wonderstruck may convert you.  Brian Selznick presents two separate stories, one in words and another in pictures (referencing the power of silent movies).  But you don't have to take my word for it: see what Abby the Librarian wrote, or read Jeff Kinney's comparison of Wonderstruck and Okay for Now.  Brian Selznick's other novel, The Invention of Hugo Cabret became the movie, Hugo, last year.





Neverwhere written and read by Neil Gaiman
Before Gaiman wrote a script for Dr. Who, even before his books, Coraline and Stardust became movies, he wrote about how it feels to disconnect from the world.  Gaiman reads this story himself, and does a wonderful job (though it may not be optimal in a car as the quietest whispers and loudest shouts tend to happen one-after-another).  Neverwhere is a modern fairy-tale, dark, uncomfortable at times, and rich with imagery.  
Read-alikes include: Susanna Clarke, Clive Barker, or Kurt Vonnegut, or Walter Moers

A Crack in the Edge of the World written and read by Simon Winchester

Winchester studied geology at Oxford before becoming a journalist and writer.  A Crack in the Edge of the World came about decades later when an editor asked if geology  had any great stories to tell.  This book covers Winchester's road trip across America's geology, the history of San Francisco's growth, and the impact of the San Andreas Fault today (Alaska pipeline, anyone?).  Winchester's elocution is inspiring and soothing, at least to my ears.  The print version has an amazing fold-out cover (no longer possible to view on the library's copy or any paperback) covering all of Winchester's books.




Where do you go for book suggestions?  Are there books you have heard of, but would like to read more about?

#5 Children's programming and materials

Cheryl's Teddy Graham Racers

Ruidoso Public Library is honored to have Cheryl Volosin as Youth Services Supervisor and Kari Dawn Kolander on our Children's Services Team.  This pair packs energy and enthusiasm into every activity, plan, and presentation.  Our Summer Reading Program is off and running with different themes for each week's activities.

click to view larger version of Summer Schedule

Cheryl and Kari Dawn are go-to gals for questions about how to incorporate more reading into your kid's, or kids', daily schedule.  We have audiobooks to help those not yet reading at their peers' level.  Listening to a book still adds new vocabulary--if you note it and practice the new word.  Audiobooks can really help with attention spans if the child can move around or play a little while listening; perhaps drawing a picture about that part of the story.  In a different side of attention spans, audiobooks can engage all the riders in a long car trip, whether discussing what just happened or guessing what comes next.  Audiobooks are also helpful for undiagnosed dyslexia as they keep literature fun and attainable while the system catches up. 

Our children's department has a growing graphic novel collection.  Graphic novels may contain as many words as early reading books and stretch the reader's visual literacy.  This means learning how to interpret a picture, especially to gain context from the background images and to interpolate events between frames.  I think of graphic novels as a gateway--to reading.  Our Kids' catalog is built upon the same principles: Scout displays images rather than words to help our youngest visitors find books of interest.

Ruidoso Public Library has resources for home schooling, too.  You and your student can access online, anytime, free classes from spelling to writing, science to math.  Khan Academy provides free tutoring recordings in maths, science, economics, and test preparation.  

Overdrive is now available; this means you can access, on your computer or download to many different devices and players, kids' ebooks and kids' e-audiobooks.  

I can't end this post without plugging our Pre-School Story Time, Wednesdays from 10:30 to 11:15.  Kari Dawn, Cheryl, and occasionally Jennifer, bring two or three picture books to life.  Each week has a theme followed by a similar craft project, geared toward 2-5 year olds.  Anyone with a pre-schooler, who can sit still for 15 minutes, is welcome.

#4: Electronic or Digital Materials & Access

By Pete unseth [GFDL or CC-BY-SA-3.0 ], via Wikimedia Commons

Millennia ago, libraries held scrolls.  A few centuries ago, the scrolls became quartos, folios, and palimpsests. 

via Wikimedia Commons

Today and tomorrow, library buildings provide the people, tools, and access to information that has left the physical world due to costs or access limitations.


Ruidoso Public Library joined New Mexico Library To Go (a group of libraries on Overdrive) just last week.  Now you may download a book (ebook or e-audiobook) for a few days onto most devices or play them on your computer.  Nook, Sony, Kindle, Kobo, mp3 players and iPods, among others, are welcome.  Most devices are supported, though older models and some newer ones may not work.  


These books are available in different file formats, from epub to pdf, .azw to .wma or mp3.  That alphabet soup explains which files will work on which devices.  It also indicates the current confusion and changing nature of ebooks and e-audiobooks.  This is an ever-changing landscape of ereaders and sound systems, which continues to learn and offer new opportunities to test out.  


At Ruidoso Public Library, we can help you find articles, encyclopediae, books, or recordings on many formats and on many topics, for many age-groups.  We have non-fiction (or reference books) and fiction. We can show you projects releasing free books to the world, such as Gutenberg Project or Librivox.org where volunteers put the files of public domain titles online, to read or listen.


Currently the books you can access through Overdrive may not be the latest or most popular because the publishers do not release everything electronically.  Other titles are available in files locked with "DRM" (digital rights management) in an attempt to stop piracy.  This means you may not have a book at the same time as another user, and may only access the file for a few days. Some files require plugging your device into a computer to download while others may transfer over WiFi.  In future this may mean you cannot download the title at home, in the evening, but only at the library, during open hours.  


If you are ready to sample something digital please ask at the library.  We may not be able to demonstrate everything at the library (our public computers run Linux, which is not supported by Overdrive), but if your laptop works on wireless, we can guide you through the basic download and installation process.  We do not touch your computers (due to liability issues); please think of it as your learning opportunity instead. 


What is your perspective on ereaders?  Have you tried one (a friend's, at the store, an app on your phone)?  How about audiobooks? (This link will have 2 free audiobooks each week starting June 14; one classic and one new young adult.)  Have you seen our weed identification, gardening, or Chilton's Automotive Manuals online?

e-Audio headaches

Ruidoso Public Library's e-audiobook provider, NetLibrary, terminated last Tuesday.  EBSCO-host picked up the service, but Ruidoso Public Library will be switching to One-Click Audio by September.  The audiobook titles you are used to are still available through our catalog; however, EBSCO-host requires that you "create an account" with them first.  This should be possible from home, or feel free to visit the library in person.

From your home computer, visit youseemore.com/ruidosopl.  Look for the e-branch tab on the far right, above the search bar.  As your mouse moves on that tab, click the second row, "e-audio downloads."

This should redirect you to a page requesting your library barcode number.  After entering that there, the next screen will have a 'sign in' option in the top right corner.  Click there.

Now look for a "create a new account" option slightly lower in the top right.  Enter a username, password, and security question/answer.

You will need to download EBSCO-hosts download manager before you may download an audiobook.  The site guides you through the process.  Over the weekend, I noticed the EBSCO-host site was not as easy to search, browse, or generally move around on.

This is only a stop-gap measure while we wait for One-Click Digital to come online. If you can wait until September to download your next audiobooks from One-Click Digital, that company will require their own username/password registration and download manager software installation.

This has been awkward, and I greatly appreciate your patience as we migrate our digital audiobook service.