Showing posts with label reading. Show all posts
Showing posts with label reading. Show all posts

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Please remember that the library will be closed Saturday, May 24th through Monday, May 26th in observance of Memorial Day.

We will re-open on Tuesday, May 27th at 9 am.

 

Lincoln The Constitution and the Civil War Exhibit will be going up on Wednesday, May 28th and will run through July 11th. We will have four talks in June.
Tuesday, June 3rd at 1 pm. Director Corey Bard will be discussing the life of Mary Lincoln.



Thursday, May 29th at 6pm is the kick-off our summer music program with an outdoor concert featuring Jones & Miles, an "eclectic mix of Folk, Rock, Irish, and Punk" music. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets and enjoy!



Monday, June 2nd is the official start of the Summer Reading program! Stop by and register if you have not done so already. You can find the calendar of activities on our website in the children's calendar located as a link under the main calendar.







Monday, October 14, 2013

Map your favorite book!

Image from Lucius Beebe Memorial Library on flickr

Have you read a book and wondered what the location really looked like?  In my case, I did not read Tony Hillerman's Jim Chee mysteries until after I had lived south of Gallup and Grants for several months and moved away from the state for a couple of years.  Yet I found having the personal knowledge of the towns, distances, and local quirks contributed depth to my appreciation of the novels.
In my mother's case, when she read Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch books, she wondered how many places were based on a real place.  As luck would have it, another fan of the books shared that thought and made a Google map to answer.

If connecting a story to real places catches your fancy, you might also be interested in the Placing Literature project here: http://placingliterature.wordpress.com/page/2/ .  This project focuses on books set in Duluth, New Haven, and San Francisco (see their site for the reading list).

If you are interested in following walks through well-known towns and titles, Ruidoso Public Library has three: one for Santa Fe, another for Dickensian London, and one on Hemingway's Paris.

Armchair travel connects exotic locales and literature without leaving the comfort of home (or the public computers at the library!).  I found a Google map of St. Petersburg, Russia, including photos of locations from Dostoyevsky's Crime and Punishment (available online to read or listen to).  Comment below, email the library, or call us if you would like to find a map connecting a specific author, book, or city through literature.

Monday, September 9, 2013

September is Library Card Sign-Up Month


September is Library Card Sign-up Month, and the Ruidoso Public Library has joined with the American Library Association and public libraries nationwide to make sure that our students have the most important school supply of all – a free library card. Library Card Sign-up Month emphasizes the importance and benefits of having a library card for everybody, young and old, or not-so-old, alike.

Getting a library card is as important as buying a new backpack or a box of crayons at the start of the school year because it gives students access to books, DVDs, databases, and much more that can help them with their homework.

Databases at the Ruidoso Public Library that are helpful to young students include: Mango Languages, where you can learn up to 49 languages; Kids Info Bits; New Mexico Newspapers; Grzimek's Animal Encyclopedia; Opposing Viewpoints and AR-Finder.

Your library card will also let you access our e-books, downloadable audio books, graphic novels, and more.

How can I get a Library Card?

Please bring a picture ID and a second item with proof of mailing address (wherever that is) to get a card.  
At the front desk, we will enter your information directly off these items and present your card almost immediately. Children need a parent's or guardian's card/account to be responsible for his or her card, too.  

Como Conseguir Una Tarjeta De Biblioteca

Para registrarse para una tarjeta tiene que vivir, demuestre la verificación de una dirección del correo , y una identificación de foto. Niños necesitan que sus padres tarjeta por ellos para conseguir una tarjeta.


Monday, July 22, 2013

Sample these titles for free on your computer, phone, or e-reader

Major publishers want to whet your reading appetite.  Check out this link for excerpts and first chapters of new books.  These titles will receive a lot of advertising and media-hype hoping to catch your eye.  If you have the time, let us know in the comments whether (after reading several) they deserve attention on par with the media campaigns.
A similar title from last year is available if the titles or authors catch your eye and/or jog your memory for last year's blockbuster books.
If the image above does not load, then try looking for Buzz Books 2013 at your favorite online ebook store (Amazon's Kindle, Barnes & Noble's Nook, iBookstore, Kobo, Sony, Google Play, Powell's, etc.).  The ISBN is 9780985491086.
Library staff are not able to read, review, or even hear about every new book available.  (This article offers a quick explanation of just how many books are released every year.)  Marie adds over 3,000 titles each year to Ruidoso Public Library's shelves.  When publishers release over 300,000 new books (not counting self-published or anniversary releases), it is easy to see how 1% looks lovely on our shelves, but is only a single drop in a very large bucket.  We welcome your insight and input on which titles to watch.

Monday, July 15, 2013

Christian Fiction sampler from New York Public Library

Many of my ideas for posts arise from other blogs and articles in the library "blogosphere," such as today's.  A librarian from New York's Public Library wrote about how to find one popular genre of stories.  I have edited the article and links to reflect the Ruidoso Public Library's collection.

If you have questions about a specific genre or format (such as audio or graphic novels) please ask in the comments below, by email, or phone.

God in the Stacks: The Scoop on Christian Fiction


You can say it started in 1678 with the publication of
 John Bunyan's Pilgrim Progress. Then along came Hall Caine'sThe Christian (1897) and C.S Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia in the 1950s. Fast forward to the 21st century, major news magazines such as Time were talking about the Left Behind series. Yes, my interest was piqued when I read a 2002 Time magazine cover article titled "Apocalypse Now"about the popularity of the series. I checked them out of the library and read each one in order. I was intrigued and fascinated.
I decided to give a little more attention to the genre. My interest intensified over the last few years as I observed the genre really taking off and expanding into many sub-genres. I found various list of authors online and decided I would read at least one book by every author in the genre. It was an ambitious feat and I faced the challenge of new authors being published regularly and also, reading every book published by an author I particularly like.
I also discovered many authors not mentioned on the Internet by doing a keyword search in the catalog on "Christian fiction." ...[F]ound the king of legal thrillers — Robert Whitlow.  We have Jimmy in large print.
Christian Fiction can be defined as follows, according to a Library Journal Book Buzz on Christian Fiction (2009):  
"...Most readers would agree that there is a core of biblically-based attitudes, values, and actions, and likely there would be very little, if any, profanity, sex or violence. Generally, Christian fiction has religious themes infused into a regular genre story. ... Christian fiction gives readers characters and situations that demonstrate the growth of faith, depth and breadth of moral responsibility, the possibility of conversion and redemption, and examples of Christian living for men and women of all ages, races and cultures."

Cover art of a storm over a pine covered hill
Christian Fiction are books written by primarily Christian authors with one or more of the following characteristics: an overarching Christian theme, embracing Christian values and behavior, characters who have faith in God. The Christy Awards and later on the Carol Awards were established to recognize best fiction published in the genre. Pilgrim Progress is an allegorical work of the journey of a Christian from this world to heaven. In the Chronicles of Narnia, Jesus is Aslan the Lion, the ever present guide. The Left Behind series is a fictional series based on Biblical prophecy and historical facts about events regarding the end of the world and the second coming of Jesus as King.
If you have read and enjoyed faith based fiction, here are some others you may enjoy. You can borrow them from the Ruidoso Public Library with a library card. If you are a digital reader, you can download and read library e-books for free. I have enjoyed many of them on my tablet while waiting for appointments.

Lady in bonnet in three-quarter profile
Amish Fiction

Fiction

HiSmiling bride in veil looking up at dance partnerstorical Fiction

Lynn Austin - Song of Redemption
Kathleen Morgan - A Love Forbidden
Janette Oke - Dana's Valley
Tracie Peterson - Hope Rekindled
Francine Rivers -  A Voice in the Wind

Legal Thriller

John Grisham - The Street Lawyer, The Last Testament
Robert Whitlow - Jimmy

Murder/Mystery/Crime

Davis Bunn - The Amber Room
Ted Dekker - Thr3e

Cover art of a woman, marble columns, and landscapeRomance/Romantic Suspense

Colleen Coble - Lonestar Sanctuary
Catherine Palmer - The Happy Room

Supernatural/Science Fiction


Monday, June 3, 2013

Free audiobooks this summer!


Hosted by AudioFile magazine

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.

hosted by AudioFile magazine

Monday, March 25, 2013

DIY AR finder (RSVP for April touch screen class)

A few weeks ago, the ladies in Children's mentioned how many parents ask for reading suggestions for their children, but also want to know the Accelerated Reading (AR) score and level.  Cheryl and Kari Dawn are happy to help, but often very busy.  Luckily, another librarian created a 3 minute video explaining the process.  If you have not visited the children's webpage lately, the links are there to the video, the ARbookfinder website, and the blog post where I learned about it.

The AR Bookfinder is not linked to Ruidoso Public Library's catalog of books available on the shelf.  Are you a coder interested in developing an API (code or program) to link them?  Currently, anyone is welcome to look up the book or level you are interested in the bookfinder, then take the title to the library's catalog to see if it is available.  Alternately, find many books that catch your eye at the library, then look each up at the bookfinder website.

Ideally, AR helps motivate reluctantly learners to adopt a lifelong habit of reading.  When this is not the case, there are many more avenues to try.  Audiobooks let active kids hear and learn new vocabulary in context and keep up with their peers' reading level, or multitask homework with chore time, athletic events travel, or just a chance to run around.  Disclaimer: don't cross the street without removing headphones or earbuds, to listen for cross traffic.  Visual learners may revel in graphic novels, such as illustrated classics or a biography of Steve Jobs.


 Book Jacket                 Book Jacket

Summer Reading Programs, such as Cheryl's and Kari Dawn's, are a great way to keep up the reading habit between school years.  Students retain more information year-on-year and start learning new material sooner each fall when they participate in Summer Reading Programs.  Keep an eye on the Children's and Teens' pages on our website for details on when and how to sign up, a calendar of events, and this year's grand prizes.  Last year, one reader won an e-reader, several won bicycles, and even a hefty gift certificate.

P.S.  April 16th, at 10 am, Robert Walshe and Jennifer Stubbs will have a beginners' orientation for touch-screen devices.  RSVP by April 9th at 575-258-3704 or by email, or even comment below, with the type and size of device you have.  It's on our calendar, too.  Apples, Androids, Windows 8, smartphones, tablets, and mediaplayers (such as iPod touch or Galaxy) are all welcome.

Monday, March 11, 2013

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


Monday, February 4, 2013

Great Resources: Book Spot, Academics Review;School Board Elections; & New Artist on display at the library

When you need a book suggestion at the middle of the night (and the library is closed) BookSpot.com is a place to try.  It has discussion questions, reading lists, and even recommendations on which e-reader to buy.  If you want help finding a new genre, author, or read-a-likes (because you already read everything by your favorite author), this is one place to start.  Other options are GoodReads and Shelfari, which have more social networking and splashier, newer graphics.  While these latter two request a login, you do not need an account to glean ideas for what to read next.

The next place I want to share is Academics Review.  Its mission statement:
"Academics Review is an association of academic professors, researchers, teachers and credentialed authors from around the world who are committed to the unsurpassed value of the peer review in establishing sound science. We stand against falsehoods, half-baked assertions and theories or claims not subjected to this kind of rigorous review. "  
In my opinion, Academics Review is Snopes.com with PhDs and credentials.  Both sites are a great first stop after receiving an email from a friend or a suggestion to watch a movie or read a book that sounds like fear-mongering.  Key phrases in the quote above are "credentialed authors" and "peer review."  When an idea, argument, or proposal--and its author(s)--can withstand the dynamic dialogue of other, widely-recognizable specialists in the same field, the idea gains merit and becomes more worth your while.  If you have checked out the DVD, Genetic Roulette, from the library, you might want to peruse a few responses at Academics Review:
http://academicsreview.org/reviewed-content/genetic-roulette/

Inform yourself from multiple perspectives, especially on these hot button topics.

Click here to view title details for Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
As a public library, we present many different opinions to minimize the risk of presenting one biased view.  Part of life is learning how to recognize what information to question, when, and how.  If you can, read, or listen to the audio of, Daniel Kahneman's book Thinking Fast and Slow to help attune your brain to bias and spin.  In today's world, the flood of information, through the internet, on television, or radio, requires these new skills.  Librarians specialize in learning them. But more importantly, we specialize in teaching you or guiding you through.  Think of us as Sherpas to the mountain of information.

P.S. School Board Elections are Tuesday, February 5, at the Convention Center.

P.P.S.  Carla Lee Morrow's art is now on display at Ruidoso Public Library.  If you are not able to see her originals at the library, her website is DragonLadyArt.com.  You can view her touring schedule, too.

Dragon Lady Art Studios logo

Monday, January 28, 2013

Books under discussion

Back in October, a local book group met and discussed these books.  Check with us to see when they will meet again.  Titles available in the library are hyperlinked to see if currently available or request your copy.

The Case of the Missing Servant by Tarquin Hall

Ecology of a Cracker Childhood by Janisse Ray

Wild Card Quilt: The Ecology of Home by Janisse Ray

Dr Orloff's Guide to Intuitive Healing 5 Steps to Physical, Emotional, and Sexual Wellness by Judith Orloff, MD

Ms Beard in a pool

In the Water They Can't See You Cry by Amanda Beard

True Stories of Censorship--Battles in America's Libraries edited by Nye/Borco
book chained


Hearts and Hands: Creating Community in Violent Times by Luis Rodriguez

Always Running by Luis Rodriguez

War Brides

Silver like Dust--One Family's Story of America's Japanese Internment by Kimi Cunningham

Monday, December 31, 2012

Book Review: The Princess of Mars/John Carter Series

Last Spring, I was motivated to look for the book which inspired Disney's movie, John Carter. Before Edgar Rice Burroughs wrote Tarzan of the Apes, he wrote a series about Mars.  Beginning with A Princess of Mars, and ending eleven books later with John Carter of Mars, Burroughs' tales have captured imaginations for a century.  Some of the pulp fiction art can be seen here.
Quick Response codes are like barcodes for a smartphone to open a website without typing
QR code to read A Princess of Mars, care of Gutenberg.org
If this square image is new to you, it is called a QR code, for Quick Response.  It is a barcode your smartphone reads with a QR reading app (either already installed or free at an app store, such as these for Android or this for Apple).  The barcode tells your phone where to go online for more information, a clue, a discount or offer, etc.  You may have seen them on bananas, posters, or in magazines.

But I digress.  After reading A Princess of Mars, I saw the movie.  Then I read the second and third books in the series, which explained a lot of the technology and political machinations that added action to the movie, but also added confusion because it was not explained.  I am working on the fourth book now.  They are light entertainment, providing insight into machismo and cultural norms from the turn of the prior century.  Mostly, it reminds me how far my culture has progressed and which characteristics remain valuable and timeless.

P. S. Ruidoso Public Library is open today, New Year's Eve, regular hours, but closed Tuesday, January 1.  We will re-open Wednesday at 9am.

for further information call 575-258-4343
Ruidoso Convention Center, January 16, 8am to 4pm
P.P.S. The Village of Ruidoso is hosting a health fair for all comers.  You may schedule an appointment time for biometric screening, mammograms, Body Age Analysis, or just drop in to learn about the local health resources already available in the community.

Monday, July 23, 2012

Several Book Reviews

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

Fool by Christopher Moore
A Jester and his puppet
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
three keys in different metals
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
a lightning strike behind the title
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
Book JacketBefore 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
America and the great california earthquake of 1906
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?

Monday, July 16, 2012

Finally, #9: Magazines and Newspapers

The last element of the library I wish to reintroduce covers the magazines and newspapers.  Ruidoso Public Library offers about two dozen magazines to enjoy at the library (or check out last week's or last month's issues to enjoy at home for three weeks).
Logo time home
Some titles include:
Time,
Newsweek,
Mother Earth News,
Sew News,
Smithsonian,
Glamour,
Cowboys & Indians,
New Mexico Magazine, and
Texas Monthly.

On the newspaper side, The Wall Street Journal and New York Times (Sunday) are available, as are Ruidoso's Free Press and the Ruidoso News.  The Albuquerque Journal, Barron's, USA Today, NM Wildlife, the Lincoln County News, and Enchantment can be read at the library, too.  We receive these through the mail so they may be a little late and the newspapers do not check out.

Online you may access academic journals, not just for research, but also to keep current in your field.  For more recreational reading, the same links provide access to:
Bon Appetit,
Backpacker,
Booklist,
Bike Magazine, and hundreds more such as
Cosmo,
Country Living,
Cricket, or
the Economist.
TheEconomistLogo
Online access to the Albuquerque Journal, Roswell Daily Record and Las Cruces Sun-News are also available from the library's homepage (under the e-branch tab: NM Newspapers, enter your library card's barcode number when prompted).  While these online experiences may not be a colorful or browsable as the real thing, they may be more readable or accessible when fonts or print are problems.  The online magazines allow you to download audiofiles of each article for listening; or you may choose to listen to the mp3 while the website highlights each word.  Once you have found the article of interest, the website will translate it into several major languages.

Finally, for the smartphone crowd, these magazines and journal articles (including Chilton's Automotive Manuals) are available on a free app for Android and Apple devices.

Monday, July 2, 2012

#7 Be loud at the library; meet a new book

One of a library's better known activities might be book discussion groups.  Ruidoso Public Library hosts one on the first Wednesday of each month (except in July, when the federal holiday pushes it to the second), at noon.  You are welcome to bring a brown bag lunch (one of the few exceptions to the no eating or drinking in the library rule).  Our library director, Corey Bard, and librarian, Sharon Stewart, join Sherry York and anyone interested in sharing a book or learning about novel novels (pun intended).

Book club meets aboard the GTMO Queen
Book club meeting aboard GTMO Queen, by By Army Staff Sgt. Blair Heusdens [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

I have heard of book clubs that meet at pubs, private homes, and through church groups.  If you are interested in creating a group, or need any help finding discussion guides or title suggestions, please ask us.  Book clubs have gone online, too.  Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ hangouts can bring together people who cannot leave their homes or have crazy schedules that only let you socialize asynchronously (i.e. 2 o'clock in the morning).  If you have not read a book in a while, maybe because you felt the stories were all the same, a book club can help you jump out of that rut.

The books discussed at the June meeting follow (click on the links to check local availability):
Seasons of grief and grace: A sister story of AIDS, triumph, and family by Susan Ford Wiltshire
Same sweet girls by Cassandra King
The tooth of time by Sue Henry
Images of America: Ruidoso and Ruidoso Downs by Lyn Kidder
Delay, deny, hope they die by Bill Dement
My life as a Cambodian refugee: Escape to America by Tony M SaVaun
Erotic resolution: a Flint Rock novel by Glenn Smith
Texas Tango, same author
Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller
El Sicario by Molly Molloy, Charles Bowden, and El Sicario
The Rope by Nevada Barr
Killing Lincoln by Bill O'Reilly
Dead end in Norvelt by Jack Gantos
Hole in my life, same author
One second after by William R Fortschen

Ruidoso Public Library is closed Wednesday, July 4, for the federal holiday.  We are open Tuesday and Thursday, regular hours.

Monday, June 11, 2012

#4: Electronic or Digital Materials & Access

Job Scroll three columns shown
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
Codex Guelferbytanus B 00404
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?





Monday, June 4, 2012

#3 Research Assistance


Gloria colored a cowboy and cowgirl with wheels, lassos, saguaro, and snake letters
Gloria H, Chaparral, NM, 9 y.o.


When you have a pesky problem to solve, Google may be the first thing you think of, but a librarian (and the library) can provide depth, context, and help identifying the real question.
Google spelled with a striped blanket, ceramic pottery, turquoise jewelry, and a pueblo style ladder
Merrit B, Santa Fe, 13 y.o.


We have helped with information on legal forms, medical conditions, and shopping comparisons.  As librarians, we cannot advise on legal or health matters, but we can help you think through what you really want to ask.  We can share books, websites, and county or state government resources, which define terms, explain the steps necessary for filing a form, or to whom else you might best ask your questions.

If you are considering a new pet, vehicle, or vacation, we'd love to help you.  We have books for all ages on which pet fits your personality, how to take care of the pet you have, or how to mourn the loss of a pet.  The library subscribes to Consumer Reports, both the magazine and the annual buying guide.   If you cannot decide on where to spend your vacation, you may check out travelogues, travel guides, and how-to travel books (hiking, trains, cruises, or accessibility).

If you are interested in very deep research, you can set up an appointment with a librarian to take a quarter of an hour or more to explore your topic, then give the library some time, maybe a few days, to gather the very best resources for you to explore.  One of my favorite tasks at the library is demonstrating Grzimek's (said Chimex) Animal Encyclopedia or Opposing Viewpoints (two online databases or encyclopediae) for a student writing a paper on zebras or the economy.  


Tuesday, May 29, 2012

#2: What to read....what to read next....what to try while waiting

three pronged tornado funnel cloud formation
Possibly earliest photograph of a tornado

Libraries are a great resource for something called "Readers Advisory."  That's not a warning about looming dangers in a book, as in Tornado Advisory.  It is a spectrum of answers for the dreaded question, "What to read now?"  On one hand, this can be a rhetorical question, not expecting a real answer; on the other hand, it can become a great conversation over days or years of careful give-and-take between a patron's reactions to books read and a librarian's careful research into similar (or different) books to attempt.

To help librarians help you there are a few things to add after asking, "What shall I read next?"  These include:
1. several books you have read and liked (and maybe want more of),
2. a few books you did not like (and why),
3. what sort of book, story, character, or feeling you are in the mood for next.

Please don't think of it as homework, though the more thought placed in the answers, the more reliable a librarian's research into what titles to suggest may become.  If you want to delve into the analysis of books, this is where plot, character, setting, and pacing come into play.  As every person reads a book through a different life-lens, these analyses are not set in stone.  Each book may have several different "appeal factors" (genre, setting, pacing) and you see the one that interests (or disgusts) you at that time.

Sometimes I prefer a book that emphasizes pacing.  This may be Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.  Other times I can appreciate a book that explores, without any hurry, the internal monologue (see: Atonement by Ian McEwan).

Whether the sense of place, frenetic pacing, complex and dynamic characterization, or just what everyone else is reading is your cup of tea, ask a librarian--but be prepared for a conversation rather than a Google-fast result.

If you prefer the DIY (do-it-yourself) approach, there are many websites that can help as well.  For mystery fans, Stop, You're Killing Me! can help you recall your favorite character's author, or authors who write similarly to your favorite author.  If you prefer to know beforehand whether a book has mature language (or just how much), various aspects of romance (or how much from hand-holding to well beyond kissing), violence (implied or explicit and how much), and many more aspects look to All Readers.  With either site, look up books you have already read to see what volunteers have posted about them.  That way you will know what terms to look for (or avoid!) in searching for new possibilities.

Ruidoso Public Library hosts the World Premier of Camp Capitan, a local playwright's introduction to a CCC camp in the county and life during the Great Depression.  Two shows, Thursday, May 31, 10:30 am and 7 pm.

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

First in a nine-part series on what we, librarians, want to do for you

When people think of libraries, the first word that pops into most heads is "books."  One group even spent time proving that with a study.
random books on three shelves
Bookshelf 2- Interiors by Jon Sullivan

Books are a rather large category.  Libraries have many types of books, for several audiences.  And what is a "type" of book?  Is it the shape?  Whether it is digital or physical?  Whether the subject matter is factual, fictitious, current, historic? The rest of this series intends to re-introduce you to some parts of the library you may not have thought of before.  I hope as you read along, you will have questions about these services at the library (and post them in the comments).

Today I start with fiction.  This may sound cut-and-dry, but there is some debate about where books belong.  Most fiction books are complete fabrications, make believe. In reality, fiction is a far wider variety of tales.  Books, such as Heart of the Samurai (in Teen), A Land of Sheltered Promise, and Jean Auel's series, begin with extensive research on historic events, but prefer to expand well beyond the limits of a research paper.  Directions in a library may be confusing when I am looking for Orwell's 1984, obviously fictitious, and find it in the literature section of non-fiction.  Melvil Dewey wasn't calling literature factual; he simple wanted to categorize all the knowledge of a New England college 150 years ago, so English majors became 800s.

Do you know of other examples of based-on-life stories in fiction?  I know I need help learning about all the books on the shelf I have not yet had time to read.

Some random library business:  The director would like your input on ebooks, ereaders (what you use, what you have)--and especially input from non-library users.  The forms are at the library.  If you know an event to canvas for us, ask at the front desk.

Summer Reading is around the corner!  Have you already dropped in to Sponsor-a-Child (donations are tax-deductible)?  Events this week and all summer are on our calendar.

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

One book gaining quiet momentum this year is Susan Cain's Quiet: The power of introverts in a world that can't stop talking   Cain brings together a wide body of research, from business schools, military officers, and education.  She explores several definitions and situations which enriched my awareness of diversity among the people I meet.  I recommend reading this book if you find yourself stressed by the living-out-loud lifestyle expected in America OR  if you live or work with people you do not understand.  Maybe you, too, will find insight on how to "let yourself be" or how to appreciate the differences (along the spectrum of introversion to extroversion) which make the human experience rich and rewarding.

If you aren't ready to dive into the whole book, her website offers a video introduction (shown below, hopefully) and links to her TED talk, too.


One of my favorite parts of the website is the poster, Raising an introverted child (also below).  How much anxiety or bullying might one alleviate through a little awareness and tolerance?
click image for larger view
To end on a positive note, I'll add the Manifesto for Introverts!
click to enlarge


Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Races at the Library today @ 2pm

File:First lap of the 2008 Indy Japan 300.jpg
Photo by Morio
Sharon presents an IMAX film on Indy-style automotive racing.  Watch the Andretti family while they develop their racers to achiever 230 MPH in a 50 minute show.

Not enough speed for you?  We have books on racing (cars, horses, running, etc.) for you to check out, too.

Thursday begins "Build an International House/Monument/Structure” Contest from 2-3 pm. Three prizes will be awarded for best house and three prizes awarded for best monument.  We will help you find ideas to start your project.  You will have two weeks to build it before YOU vote on your favorite.