World Book Night Returns!

Hey Book Lovers!  It's time to get ready to share your passion!

World Book Night 2014 is already in the works, with titles having been released this past week and applications to be a Book Giver are open!

In case you've not yet experienced it, here's the long (in short) about World Book Night: each year, readers from around the country nominate books that they have loved and the top 35 most recommended books then go back to the presses and get snazzy new covers that mark them as a World Book Night title.  Meanwhile, Book Lovers (such as yourself--hint hint) are busily signing up online, all over the country, to be Book Givers.  You'll ask for your top three choices of the above-mentioned books.  Early next year, you'll pick where you want to pick up your box of books and then, magically, a box will arrive at that place with your name on it and 20 copies of one of your top three picks.  You, then, my devoted readers, will go out into the community on April 23 and give away the books, for free, to anyone willing to try them out!

The idea behind World Book Night is to get books into the hand of people who might not have books of their own, or people who are less inclined to read.  The beauty of the book nominating system is that all these books have been selected by other readers--think of them as the Best of the Best in the People's Choice Awards.  

If you're ready to get involved, go here to fill out the application to be a Book Giver.  Want to know more about World Book Night?  Check out the website to learn all about the story behind this great annual event. And if you're simply ready to read every single book on the list, give the Ask Here Desk at the library a call at 355-2730 and we'll help you get your hands on them.

Happy Reading!

The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton

From the New York Times and #1 internationally bestselling author of The Distant Hours, The Forgotten Garden, and The House at Riverton, a spellbinding novel of family secrets, murder, and enduring love:
During a picnic at her family’s farm in the English countryside, sixteen-year-old Laurel Nicolson witnesses a shocking crime, a crime that challenges everything she knows about her adored mother, Dorothy. Now, fifty years later, Laurel and her sisters are meeting at the farm to celebrate Dorothy’s ninetieth birthday. Realizing that this is her last chance to discover the truth about that long-ago day, Laurel searches for answers that can only be found in Dorothy’s past. Clue by clue, she traces a secret history of three strangers from vastly different worlds thrown together in war-torn London—Dorothy, Vivien, and Jimmy—whose lives are forever after entwined. A gripping story of deception and passion, The Secret Keeper will keep you enthralled to the last page.  Available as a book group to go bag.

Attention Book Groups

Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline

Penobscot Indian Molly Ayer is close to aging out out of the foster care system. A community service position helping an elderly woman clean out her home is the only thing keeping Molly out of juvenile hall. As she helps Vivian sort through her possessions and memories, Molly learns that she and Vivian arent as different as they seem to be. A young Irish immigrant orphaned in New York City, Vivian was put on a train to the Midwest with hundreds of other children whose destinies would be determined by luck and chance. Molly discovers that she has the power to help Vivian find answers to mysteries that have haunted her for her entire life answers that will ultimately free them both.  Available as a book group to go bag. 

Froggy is coming!!

Froggy, that adorable character in Jonathan London’s books, is visiting the library tomorrow morning, Thursday, October 10 at 10:00 am!  We are planning to read some Froggy books, of course, and we will have a simple craft for the kids too.  Remember to bring your camera to get a picture of your child with the star of the day!

October is National Dwarfism Awareness Month

Did you know that about 1 in 10,000 births results in a child with dwarfism, and that there are over 200 types of dwarfism? October is Dwarfism Awareness Month and Herrick is celebrating the contributions of little people (the preferred term for a person with dwarfism) to the print and visual arts.

Along with these very informative resources about dwarfism, check out Herrick's DVD collection of little people actors and issues dealing with dwarfism.  And while you may be familiar with seeing and reading about dwarfs in the genre of science fiction--not to mention the renowned "munchkins" from the classic The Wizard of Oz--of perhaps greater interest are the memoirs written by and about little people, such as the work of authors Warwick Davis, Fred Gill, Shorty Rossi, Tiffanie DiDonato and Julie B. Genovese.

Take a little time to click on some of our links or do some independent research to educate yourself about dwarfism.  And don't forget:

"A dwarf standing on the shoulders of a giant may see farther than a giant himself." -- Robert Burton

Banned Humor

Banned books week is about to come to a close for 2013.  Many libraries celebrate this week by taking previously challenged or banned books and locking them behind glass.  Anyone else need a headscratch?

Far more preferable: let's talk about it, think about, laugh about it, and maybe even (GASP) read it!
Want to know more?  Head to the ALA website listing the most challenged books of the last ten years, and their challenge reasons (possibly legitimate to downright nonsensical).  Then go forth and destroy your mind with reading!

They're Coming! They're Coming!!!

Ever wonder why you can't find some of your favorite authors on OverDrive? Or scratch your head at why there are bestselling tittles that you can find almost everywhere except the library's ebook collection?

It's frustrating, but true: there are some books and some authors that library's simply can't get for you in digital form.  The good news is that more and more publishers are coming around and making their books available for readers to get through their public libraries.  Such is the case this week, when we found out that Penguin, one of the bigger publishers holding out on digital content, as arrived at an agreement with OverDrive as to how we can make their titles available to you!

I could bore you with the details, or cut to the chase: start keeping an eye on our OverDrive Collection because some of your favorite authors are going to start popping up--ones that you may have missed before.  We're adding new titles daily and they include some of the greats like Nora Roberts/J.D. Robb, Jodi Picoult, Ken Follett, Julie Garwood, Catherine Coulter, Daniel Silva and Jayne Castle!

Can you tell we're geeked about this?  If there's an author that you've been looking for on ebook, keep checking back, or feel free to drop by and let us know that you've been looking for someone.  Your also welcome to hop on our website and fill out this quick form, and we'll do our best to get your suggestions added to our collection.

Welcome to OverDrive, Penguin!  And to all of you, Happy Reading!