Rick Knows Libraries!

This week's Time Magazine (3/5/12) has an article about the popular History Channel show "Pawn Stars". Rick Harrison, a co-owner of the Las Vegas pawn shop featured on the show, relied on public libraries for much of his education. Libraries are mentioned 3 times in the article:

1.) "In pre-Internet days, Harrison, 46, would spend nights at the library researching the oddities that people offered him."

2.) "In 1991 a woman walked in with four photographs of Native Americans...Intrigued, [Rick] bought them for $50. Then he got his library card out. After a few hours of going through some books, [he] found out they were Edward Curtises...[and] Harrison ended up selling the four photos for $20,000."

3.) "By ninth grade, [Harrison's] formal education ended. The rest he would get in the library and by trailing the Old Man at swap meets and flea markets..."

The pawn shop owners are always astonished by how clueless their customers are. People haven't researched the potential value of their item nor do they know the history of the circumstances which created the item. So let this be a lesson to all you collectors and second-hand sellers. Visit your public library first and know your stuff--- because Rick Harrison sure does!

Win a $50 gift card from Amazon!

Are you the parent or guardian of a child between 2 and 6 years of age? If so, you are eligible to participate in a survey about children's books sponsored by the Joan Ganz Cooney Center. Parents who complete the survey will have a chance to win a $50 gift card to Amazon!

The Cooney Center is an independent research and innovation lab that is exploring ways in which the development of early literacy skills are being both "disrupted" and "supported" in our digital age. They are looking for parents to complete an online survey that will help shape their research and media design work.

Click here for more information about the survey and to participate: http://joanganzcooneycenter.org/Initiatives-46.html

Desperately Missing Downton

Last night was my first Sunday night without a new Downton Abbey to watch and I was feeling rather let down. I was thrilled and amused when I saw that PBS had released a music video of Maggie Smith's best zingers in Downton Abbey set to Rod Stewart's Maggie May. The creators were even able to match the thumping of the Countess's cane to the beat of the music. I never thought I would see the day when Masterpiece Theater would release a music video, let alone one starring Dame Maggie Smith. So delighted that they did. If you too are feeling desperate for Downton, enjoy this video and make sure to come in and pick up our Downton Abbey bookmark.

The Opera House

Plans for this evening? If this was 1892 you could enjoy a Game of Living Whist at the Dover City Hall & Opera House--music to be supplied by the city's own orchestra. The City Hall and Opera house was dedicated December 16, 1891 and cost $250,00 to build. It featured a floor that could rise and fall, a chandelier with 95 electric bulbs, three tiers of boxes with brass rails, velvet curtains with gold fringe, a frescoed ceiling and a cupid mural. The Opera House had a seating capacity of 1800 and was the largest stage in New Hampshire. Luminaries such as Jason Robards, Alfred Lunt, Shirley Booth and John Philip Sousa’s band graced the stage. The first full length movie shown here was “Birth of a Nation” starring Lillian Gish.

Pure

After the nuclear detonations the world was divided into two groups- the devastated survivors with burns and items fused to their bodies, and the Pure who live safely and comfortably under the dome. Worlds collide  when a Partridge, a Pure teenage boy meets Pressia, a teenage girl from outside who has a doll's head fused onto her wrist. Pressia is on the run from a government who wants to turn her into a living target. She decides to help Partridge find his mother who never made it to the safety of the Dome. Without Pressia's help Partridge would never survive the grim, blasted world left to the survivors. Fans of the Hunger Games will enjoy this splendid dystopian fantasy.

Winter Magic@ DPL

Take a break from the cold weather and stop by the library during school vacation week, February 27-March 3 to experience winter magic . . .

Make-it, Take-it Craft

Children of all ages are invited to make a “Magic Wand”at our “Make-it, Take-it” craft table anytime during the week of February 27-March 3. All materials will be provided.

TEAM MAGIC-Magic Show (all welcome)

Magician Greg McAdams will be here on Tuesday, February 28, @ 10:30am to entertain us with his “Magic of Winter” show. His show includes winter magic, comedy audience participation, and very funny puppetry.

Drop-in Story Time

On Wednesday, February 29 @ 10:30a.m., Miss Kimberly will present a special drop-in story time.

Saturday Movies during vacation @ 2:00pm

2/25—Puss in Boots, rated PG3/3—Hugo, rated PG

New eBooks Available

The following eBooks were added to NH Downloadable Books February 17th:

Title	Author(s)
An Amish Gathering	Beth Wiseman
An Amish Wedding	Beth Wiseman
Arthur & George	Julian Barnes
An Available Man	Hilma Wolitzer
The Baker's Daughter	Sarah McCoy
The Bedlam Detective	Stephen Gallagher
Behind the Beautiful Forevers	Katherine Boo
Beyond All Measure	Dorothy Love
A Big Little Life	Dean Koontz
Black Sun	Graham Brown
Book of a Thousand Days	Shannon Hale
Capitol Conspiracy	William Bernhardt
Capitol Offense	William Bernhardt
Catching Jordan	Miranda Kenneally
Christ the Lord	Anne Rice
City of Fortune	Roger Crowley
The Coalwood Way	Homer Hickam
Cross	James Patterson
The Crossing Places	Elly Griffiths
Darker After Midnight	Lara Adrian
Dead Low Tide	Bret Lott
Deeper Than Midnight	Lara Adrian
Defending Jacob	William Landay
Devil's Mistress	Heather Graham
Divine	Karen Kingsbury
Early Warning	Michael Walsh
The Eden Prophecy	Graham Brown
Elmo Says Achoo!	Sarah Albee, Tom Brannon
Empires of the Sea	Roger Crowley
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close	Jonathan Safran Foer
Fallen	Karin Slaughter
The Fear Index	Robert Harris
The Flowers of War	Geling Yan, Nicky Harman
Four Below	Peter Helton
Four of a Kind	Valerie Frankel
Friends Like Us	Lauren Fox
Gods in Alabama	Joshilyn Jackson
Havana Bay	Martin Cruz Smith
Helpless	Daniel Palmer
Hostile Intent	Michael Walsh
If You Hear Her	Shiloh Walker
The Inheritance	Tamera Alexander
I've Got Your Number	Sophie Kinsella
The Janus Stone	Elly Griffiths
Jasper Jones	Craig Silvey
Life As I Blow It	Sarah Colonna, Chelsea Handler
The Little Russian	Susan Sherman
The Love Affair of an English Lord	Jillian Hunter
Mission Flats	William Landay
The Nightmare Garden	Caitlin Kittredge
No Return	Brett Battles
Once Upon a Secret	Mimi Alford
Quiet	Susan Cain
Remember Me?	Sophie Kinsella
Rocket Boys	Homer Hickam
The Secret of the Mansion	Julie Campbell
Shock Warning	Michael Walsh
The Sinful Nights of a Nobleman	Jillian Hunter
Sister Queens	Julia Fox
Still Life with Husband	Lauren Fox
The Strangler	William Landay
Surrender Bay	Denise Hunter
A Taste of Midnight	Lara Adrian
The Undomestic Goddess	Sophie Kinsella
A Walk Across the Sun	Corban Addison
Well-Offed in Vermont	Amy Patricia Meade
The Wicked Games of a Gentleman	Jillian Hunter
The Wolf Gift	Anne Rice
The Woman in Black	Susan Hill

 Thanks to Merrily for compiling the list.

The Library Will Be Closed Monday

Don't forget, the Library will be closed on Monday for President's Day. Make sure to stock up today and Saturday.
We are are open today until 5:30 and on Saturday we are open from 9 to 5.

Registration for our next session of preschool story times begins on Tuesday, February 21 @ 9:00am. Story Times begin the week of March 5 and continue for 5 weeks.

Sign-up begins at 9:00am(in person) for all groups--Monday l:30pm, Monday Bedtime (7:00pm) and Tuesday 9:30am groups for 3-6 year-olds and Thursday and Friday (9:30am) toddler groups for children ages 21-36 months. Phone call registration begins at 9:15am.

In addition to our "registered groups", we continue to offer a "drop-in" story time (for all ages). This story time is open to all (visitors and non-resident card holders included). Children and their caregivers are welcome to drop-in for any or all of these story times on Wednesdays @ 9:30am.

For more information, pick up one of our 2011-2012 story time brochures, visit our website @ http://library.dover.nh.gov/, or call the Children's Room (516-6052).

Creepy

Any Dean Koontz fans out there? His latest novel 77 Shadow Street has its own web site which is similar to a video game. Users can enter the books setting, go into the rooms, pick up objects, etc. Sounds pretty creepy.

Choose the Right eBook!

Carefully read the descriptions on NH Downloadable Books before choosing your eBook. Some people who do not have a Kindle have ordered the Kindle version for their Nook. It won't work on the Nook so you don't have an eBook to read and it is a complicated process to return the book when this happens.

Now the publisher Penguin has put this warning on all their titles, "Due to publisher restrictions, this book in the Kindle format cannot be delivered wirelessly and must be download and transferred via USB." Make sure you have a USB cord for your Kindle if you choose a Penguin title. If you are using a Kindle app on another device, these titles won't work, you will need to use the ePub version. You can let Penguin know how you feel about this at:

Penguin Group
375 Hudson Street
New York, NY 10014
(212) 366-2000
ecommerce@us.penguingroup.com

Calling All Armchair Travelers

The Friends of the Library present: A Canal Boat Holiday in England with Wen Houle on Tuesday, February 21 @ 7:00pm.

Renting a narrowboat and cruising along the canals and rivers of England's countryside is a popular vacation for the English and tourists alike. In fact, some people live on these boats! Set your own (slow) pace, operate the locks, and moor anywhere along the route to explore the quaint towns (and pubs of course) along the British waterways.

Wen Houle is a Dover resident who recently had the pleasure of going to England for the first time and joining a women's short excursion on a narrowboat. It was a working trip, but an educational and fun experience.

It's Another Foodie Friday

We have another literary food theme for this Friday, this one is specifically for Dexter fans. I started off reading the series by Jeff Lindsay and loved it. I watched the series and was surprised to find that the DVDs was just as delightful as the books. If you are not familiar with Dexter, he is a serial killer with a droll sense of humor who only kills people who really deserve it, like pedophiles and other serial killers.

How about starting off with some delicious blood slide candies...

Some cupcakes would be tasty.

Perhaps you would prefer cake.

 

Of course you must have ice cream with your cake.

Why not serve it all in your Dexter themed dining room?

Donald Hall

Renowned New Hampshire poet Donald Hall was interviewed recently by Terry Gross on Fresh Air. It is an interesting interview where he talks about the aging process (he is 83) and how that has effected his writing. Mr. Hall has lived in the same New Hampshire farmhouse for years, and it belonged to his grandparents before him. In a recent New Yorker essay called "Out the Window" (Jan. 23, 2012, p. 40) he reflects on that view out the window of his farmhouse and how it has changed and not changed. His latest book The Back Chamber, has received wonderful reviews and is available at the library.

Please Sir, May I have More?

I was flicking channels this morning when I came across the infamous scene in Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens in which Oliver asks for more. It was well acted but the script was varying from the original. I was puzzled but enjoyed the performance so I kept watching. I had to laugh when I realized it was a commercial for good manners! Anybody else see this little gem?
If you would like to see the original 1968 musical, the Children's Room has the DVD! I loved it even as a kid. Oh yes, we have the book also.

Get Them While There Hot!

Each year the Young Adult Library Services Association (quite a mouthful I know) compiles a list of books that they have deemed "Best Fiction for Young Adults". The Dover Public Library has a display of these books in the Teen Loft of the library for your browsing pleasure. Many of these books are brand new to us and so you could be the first to check them out. There is something satisfying about opening a brand new book!

An Unforgettable Voice

I am listening to A Grown-up Kind of Pretty by Joshilyn Jackson. The author narrates the audiobook, her slight southern drawl adding charm to this story of three generations of Slocumb women and the effect the discovery of a tiny grave in their backyard has on them. Not only is the story read in way that brings the characters alive, but the turns of phrase add a wonderful flavor to the story. I am only a few chapters in and have already found numerous phrases that grabbed my imagination. Here are just a few, if I wrote up all the great lines in the book it would be as long as, well, a book:

Desperately seeking lawyer. Must like long walks on the beach, not getting paid, and losing. I hear there's a whole mess of lawyers like that: they keep an office between Mermaid Cove and the Unicorn Forest.

My folks must have felt spanked up one side of their thin Baptists skins and down the other.

Nobody past fifty has a brow that smooth without Botox, especially not while saddling up to rough-ride and rule the law as if it were her own nasty tempered pony.

I would never have known about about the other Mosey Slocomb if Tyler Baines hadn't brought his mullet head and chain saw over to murder my mom's willow tree.

He talked lower, like he thought her boobs had microphones in them and if he aimed right he could order up a chili-dog combo.

You wouldn't let some godless heathen slap ham and mustard on some Catholic guy's Communion bread.

By the time she was school age and took to scrapping with any boy who said he could whoop her, there hadn't been a day got by me where I hadn't wanted at some point to sell her to the gypsies.

She writhed like half a bag of snakes.

I answered in a voice so fake cheery-ghastly that I sounded like the zombie version of June Cleaver.

Don't miss Joshilyn Jackson's other books which are equally enjoyable. I can heartily recommend The Girl Who Stopped Swimming.

And Now For Something Completely Different

I was going to write up something about Harry Potter because my niece forwarded me this shocking Harry Potter poster. My goodness, the Hogwarts students have grown up.

 

Then I came across these cute Harry Potter cupcakes. We had fun figuring out who was represented by each cupcake, not always easy! Who wants to eat Voldemort?

Then I came across these beautiful Hunger Games cupcakes. Should I write about literary cupcakes instead?

 

I don't think I would want the black cupcake but the orange and chocolate cupcake looks yummy...

Finally, I came across these very cool wine bottles perfect for any Princess Bride fan. My husband is fond of saying "as you wish". I wonder if he would like a bottle of the red.

So there you have it, my disjointed, Harry Potter/literary food and drink themed casual blog post for Friday. Hope you enjoyed it.

Free Tax Help

First day of Free Tax Assistance at the library and it is quite busy! Here is the scoop on this wonderful service:

The AARP will provide free Tax Assistance from Thurs., Feb. 2 through Sat., April 14 at the following times.

Tues. & Thurs. 9am -1pm (Feb. only)...
Tues. & Thurs. 9am -12pm
Sat. 9am -12pm

Walk-in or call 211 to set up an appointment. (Really just dial 211!)

Tech Changes @ Dover PL

We have been making some changes around the Library. First, to our online catalog and the search boxes in particular. We changed the boxes from Author, Title, Topic to Keywords, Title, Author. Now you can enter more than one keyword e.g. dragon girl and it will “and” them together giving you fewer and better results. This change will also make the Library Anywhere app work better by making the default search Keywords.

You now can search NH Downloadable Books from our mobile Library Anywhere app.
Go to our webpage on your phone (or this works from any browser, too) and choose “Mobile Library Catalog” (the second half of the 3rd line).  This takes you to search our catalog.  Search for something and it will show you what we have available in the library.  Up near the top of the screen there will be a bar that says “Search “???” in eBooks – Audiobooks”, but the ??? will be whatever you searched for in our catalog.  Choose that bar and it will perform your search in Overdrive.  This will show you if the book you searched for is available and what formats it is in.  If you choose one of the titles you can add it to your cart and it seamlessly transfers you to the Overdrive site to finish your transaction.
When you are searching eBooks – Audiobooks, there are buttons near the top of the app that will allow you to redo the search in our catalog or to go to the main catalog page (the one you get to when you choose “Mobile Library Catalog” from our webpage.  So you can toggle back and forth between our catalog and Overdrive.
 
We have also added Microsoft Office 2010 and Open Office to all of our public PCs so you have a choice. And for Novelist fans, you may now search our catalog from within Novelist. We love that!