From the Reference Desktag:blogs.nashualibrary.org,2010:/reference//22010-03-04T16:38:46ZMovable Type 3.31March 4th is National Grammar Daytag:blogs.nashualibrary.org,2010:/reference//2.13512010-03-04T16:10:47Z2010-03-04T16:38:46ZMarch 4th is National Grammar day. The Society for the Promotion of Good Grammar believes that the clear communication fostered by good grammar is a critical component of peaceful human relations. Visit their website for at nationalgrammarday.com for more information...Susan D.
nationalgrammarday.com for more information about this celebration, which shows how the quest for better grammar can be fun!
The host for National Grammar Day is Mignon Fogarty, the author of Grammar Girls's Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing.
Two other amusing grammar books are Kitty Burns Florey's Sister Bernadette's Barking Dog: the Quirky History and Lost Art of Diagramming Sentences and Eats, Shoots, & Leaves: the Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation by Lynne Truss.
For more serious books about grammar, try Webster's New World English Grammar Handbook or The Brief Penguin Handbook, which addresses writing for the web. Don't forget Strunk and White's The Elements of Style, the granddaddy of all grammar books.
The philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein said it best: “Like everything metaphysical the harmony between thought and reality is to be found in the grammar of the language.”
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The Last Train Derailedtag:blogs.nashualibrary.org,2010:/reference//2.13502010-03-03T23:19:12Z2010-03-10T20:27:41ZNashua Public Library recently purchased the book The Last Train from Hiroshima: The Survivors Look Back by Charles Pellegrino. The book received fantastic reviews, and the subject matter--World War II--is popular with many of our patrons. I didn't hesitate in...Alison
The Last Train from Hiroshima: The Survivors Look Back by Charles Pellegrino. The book received fantastic reviews, and the subject matter--World War II--is popular with many of our patrons. I didn't hesitate in ordering it.
Last week, news broke that the book's publisher, Henry Holt, would cease printing and shipping the book. According to a New York Times article, one of the book's sources, Joseph Fuoco, did not actually participate in the mission. Initially, the author planned to make corrections in future editions. Holt later decided to stop production and issue refunds to retailers and wholesalers, as the publisher had additional misgivings about the sources used.
This controversy has caused quite a stir in the library world. Many have posed questions to the public library listserv asking what others plan to do with the book--move it to fiction, add a disclaimer, return it? Others have criticized the publisher for not diligently fact-checking. We have decided to keep the book in the non-fiction section, attach the New York Times article to the book, and put a note about it in the online catalog. Because the book was not written as a novel, we did not want to place it in the fiction section.
If you would like to read more about this controversy, take a look at the following articles:
Associated Press. "Publisher's concerns halt Hiroshima book." Boston.com (March 2, 2010).Levingston, Steven. "Henry Holt drops publication of 'Last Train From Hiroshima.'" washingtonpost.com (March 2, 2010)."Holt to Correct 'Last Train from Hiroshima.'" publishersweekly.com (February 22, 2010).Rich, Motoko. "Publisher to Halt Printing of Disputed Hiroshima Book." nytimes.com (March 2, 2010).
You can learn more about the author at his website, http://www.charlespellegrino.com/index.htm.
Let us know your opinion about the controversy by leaving a comment.
Source: Rich, Motoko. "Publisher to Halt Printing of Disputed Hiroshima Book." nytimes.com (March 2, 2010).]]>
Canadian Authors – Five Stars & a Maple Leaftag:blogs.nashualibrary.org,2010:/reference//2.13492010-03-02T05:00:13Z2010-03-02T13:39:51ZHaving spent two weeks in front of the television transfixed by the Olympic games, I am now ready for a good book. And since I am currently in a "Canadian state of mind", it is only appropriate that I read...Marsha
Having spent two weeks in front of the television transfixed by the Olympic games, I am now ready for a good book. And since I am currently in a "Canadian state of mind", it is only appropriate that I read or re-read some authors from our northern neighbor.
One genre to consider is the short story. Take Alice Munro, a superb short story writer. Even if you are not a short story enthusiast, consider that Alice Munro’s short stories, some of which are linked by recurring characters, have richness and depth seldom found in a short story. Munro explores friendship, love and loss in women’s lives
For another leading Canadian short story writer, try Mavis Gallant. She is the author of elegant stories about expatriates coming to terms with unfamiliar locales and situations. New Yorker magazine readers will find her name quite familiar.
Then, of course, I must include one of my favorite authors Margaret Atwood, whose writings include such genres as literary fiction, short stories, essays, poetry, science fiction and historical fiction. I was first mesmerized by her book (and later movie) The Handmaid's Tale. Atwood includes just the telling details that connect the futuristic nightmares and our own world only too well. I also loved Cat’s Eye, a somewhat traditional (for Atwood) work that depicts an arist who returns to her home town of Toronto for a retrospective showing of her work. Being home again, she is forced to deal with disturbing memories of childhood friendships and betrayals. A recent best-seller of hers is The Year of the Flood: A Novel, Library Journal's "verdict" of which reads "Another win for Atwood, this dystopian fantasy belongs in the hands of every highbrow sf aficionado and anyone else who claims to possess a social conscience".
Robertson Davies, somewhat lesser-known, pens thoughtful novels that are slower-paced. His best known, and my favorite, is Fifth Business, the first of the Deptford Trilogy. It is narrated by a retired rural schoolteacher looking back at his life and a pivotal moment involving a boy throwing a snowball. This novel's appeal should be to readers who prefer quiet wit and philosophical thoughts rather than fast-paced action. As a LibraryThing reviewer raved, “Five stars and a maple leaf!” Please contact our Reference Desk (589-4611) if you are interested in borrowing either of the last two books of the series.
Another of my favorite books by a Canadian author is The Stone Diaries by Carol Shields, in which an aging widow contemplates her life spanning the 20th century. This novel won the 1995 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.
So congratulations to Canada, for both your Olympic medals AND your authors.]]>
Our Film Heritagetag:blogs.nashualibrary.org,2010:/reference//2.13482010-02-25T11:00:00Z2010-03-03T22:19:18Z Americans eventually get around to recognizing and preserving our heritage. It took a bequest from British scientist John Smithson to create the Smithsonian in 1846. Congress created our National Park System in 1916 to preserve sites of historical and...Charlie
Americans eventually get around to recognizing and preserving our heritage. It took a bequest from British scientist John Smithson to create the Smithsonian in 1846. Congress created our National Park System in 1916 to preserve sites of historical and natural significance, a visionary effort beautifully documented in Ken Burns’ magnificent new 6 DVD documentary "The National Parks: America’s Best Idea", along with the companion book by Dayton Duncan. The National Archives was created in 1934 by Congress to preserve documents of importance, and not that long ago in 1989, Congress established the National Film Preservation Board at the Library of Congress for the preservation of “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant films.” A year later the National Film Registry was created to designate and preserve films of “enduring importance to American culture.”
The selection process to the National Film Registry is quite different from the Academy Awards or Golden Globes. Hollywood egos and marketing hype are removed from the equation, replaced instead by a rigorous nomination process that includes public input. Nominees must be at least ten years old and do not have to be feature films, and at the end of each December only 25 films are selected by the Librarian of Congress for inclusion.
The films named to the 2009 National Film Registry of the Library of Congress include Al Pacino’s "Dog Day Afternoon", Tyron Power’s "The Mark of Zorro", "The Muppet Movie", Michael Jackson’s "Thriller" video, 1967's "The Jungle", shot by teen gang members in Philadelphia, Doris Day and Rock Hudson's "Pillow Talk," and "Hot Dogs for Gauguin," a 1972 student film featuring Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman in her debut role. The 525 films in the Registry include films from animations ("Steamboat Willie"), shorts ("Duck and Cover" and the "Zapruder Film" of the Kennedy Assassination) and recognized classics ("Singing in the Rain" and "The Godfather"). The oldest film in the Registry in 1893's "Blacksmithing Scene" and the newest is 1996's "Fargo".
Daniel Eagan’s recently published "America’s Film Legacy: The Authoritative Guide to the Landmark Movies in the National Film Registry, 2010", covers them all through 2008.
You’ll find most of these films in DVD in the Music, Art and Media department, and along with many other best films lists. And if you're a fan of film, don't forget to vote for 2010 nominees to the Registry.]]>
Twelve Theses on Libraries and Librarianstag:blogs.nashualibrary.org,2010:/reference//2.13472010-02-17T11:15:08Z2010-02-17T13:39:29ZOver on Faith and Theology (and down under in Australia), Ben Myers has drawn up Twelve Theses on Libraries and Librarians. Ben is a theologian rather than a librarian, though evidently wise in any case, and might well qualify as...Loren
Faith and Theology (and down under in Australia), Ben Myers has drawn up Twelve Theses on Libraries and Librarians. Ben is a theologian rather than a librarian, though evidently wise in any case, and might well qualify as the next patron saint of libraries. Do check out his entire list.
Most of the points are spot on, though number 7 needs some revision:
"7. The library is... the safest and friendliest place on earth. More than that: the library is the institutionalisation of intellectual friendship. Which of us, admiring a shelf laden with the thoughts of dead authors, has never felt that these books love one another, even as they love to dispute and declaim? When I was a boy, I played hide-and-seek with my brothers among the stacks, while my mother slaved over her PhD. If history is a tangle of weeds and briers, the library is that commodious garden in which children play and every flower blooms."
I think yes and no. While libraries are known for a comfortable and relaxing atmosphere, and staff (hopefully) go out of their way to be friendly to patrons, it would be misleading to characterize libraries as necessarily "safe". As we often tell parents who think it perfectly reasonable to leave their kids in the Children's Room, a public place is a public place. One shouldn't leave children unguarded anymore than pocket books unattended. (To be fair, Ben has academic libraries more in view than public libraries, but I don't think "safe" is the best descriptor in either case.)
I especially like the way points 2, 4, and 5 blend into a wonderfully ambiguous portrait of librarianship -- radical and conservative at the same time:
"2. [Librarians] are in truth the most progressive and visionary figures... like bloodhounds, always hot on the trail of the future. Their demure appearance is a cunning disguise which allows them to perpetrate their radicalism all the more effectively. It is a camouflage net thrown over an armoured vehicle.
"5. In all the world there is nothing more dangerous than a library. Within any library are the seeds for the overthrow of the world. What bloody revolution cannot be traced back finally to a library? Or to some book that lay waiting through silent centuries for the day when it would be unsheathed? The rule of silence – upheld in all libraries since time immemorial – is a ruse. It is the silence of a tiger crouching in the reeds."
And yet:
"4. There is nobody more conservative than a librarian. Their enthusiasm for constant change and reinvention springs from an even deeper commitment to what has been received from the hand of the past. The library is an angel whose wings are spread out in fierce and loving protection of the past, while its face stares deep into the eerie light of the future."
I'll mention one more point concerning the autonomy of head librarians:
"10. Every head librarian is (or ought to be) vested with virtually unlimited executive powers. The library is one of those institutions in which benevolent dictatorship is not only desirable but essential. The head librarian is the captain of a ship at sea: her word alone is law. The importance of these executive powers lies in the fact that the librarian is answerable only to the collection, just as the pope is answerable only to God and a ship’s captain only to the devil."
A rather creative way of framing the issue of accountability (and timely for us in Nashua: Ben even gets the gender right, as it so happens, for our new director, Jen Hinderer, who started three weeks ago). It would be interesting to come up with a list of institutions/careers where "benevolent dictatorship" is highly esteemed.
Thanks to Ben Myers for these wonderful theses. ]]>
The 100 Greatest Science Fiction or Fantasy Novels of all Timetag:blogs.nashualibrary.org,2010:/reference//2.13462010-02-09T15:50:45Z2010-02-09T19:48:46ZThis Recording rates the 100 Greatest Science Fiction or Fantasy Novels of all Time. It's worth reading the entire list and commentary, but the top 20 titles are reproduced below, with links to the library's catalog when applicable. I should...LorenThis Recording rates the 100 Greatest Science Fiction or Fantasy Novels of all Time. It's worth reading the entire list and commentary, but the top 20 titles are reproduced below, with links to the library's catalog when applicable.
I should point out that The Lord of the Rings and Dune probably belong in the top five by any objective standard. I was delighted to see George Martin, Guy Gavriel Kay, and Ursula Le Guin placing so high (in the top twenty), and in some cases more than once. Rather unforgivable is the omission of Stephen R. Donaldson's Chronicles of Thomas Covenant from the entire list of 100 -- something's quite wrong there. But for the most part it's a comprehensive grouping that should please most sci-fic/fantasy buffs. Many of the 100 titles are in the library's collection, and some that are not will soon be ordered. If you spot one we don't have and would like to read, please let us know.
20. The Fifth Head of Cerebus, Gene Wolfe.
19. A Song of Ice and Fire, George R.R. Martin.
18. Stranger in a Strange Land, Robert Heinlein.
17. The Fionvar Tapestry, Guy Gavriel Kay.
16. The Master and the Margarita, Mikhail Bulgakov.
15. The Man in the High Castle, Philip Dick.
14. All My Sins Remembered, Joe Haldeman.
13. The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien.
12. Planet of Adventure, Jack Vance.
11. Dune, Frank Herbert.
10. A Clockwork Orange, Anthony Burgess.
9. The Left Hand of Darkness, Ursula K. Le Guin.
8. The Book of the New Sun, Gene Wolfe.
7. Brave New World, Aldous Huxley.
6. Frankenstein, Mary Shelley.
5. Tigana, Guy Gavriel Kay.
4. The Dispossessed, Ursula K. Le Guin.
3. The Dying Earth, Jack Vance.
2. The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, Robert Heinlein.
1. The Book of the Long Sun, Gene Wolfe.]]>
Welcome Jennifer Hinderer, our new Library Director!tag:blogs.nashualibrary.org,2010:/reference//2.13452010-02-04T20:34:37Z2010-02-04T20:36:40ZThe Nashua Public Library Board of Trustees has appointed Jennifer Hinderer director of the library. The Nashua Public Library staff is pleased to welcome her aboard. Jennifer, who started in the position on January 25, was previously director of the...Susan D.
The Nashua Public Library Board of Trustees has appointed Jennifer Hinderer director of the library. The Nashua Public Library staff is pleased to welcome her aboard.
Jennifer, who started in the position on January 25, was previously director of the Tewksbury Public Library in Massachusetts. During her 17 years in the library profession, she has served as assistant director and reference librarian at the Amesbury (Mass.) Public Library, and has worked at the Exeter Academy and Seabrook Libraries.
"I am very excited about the prospect of directing a library in New Hampshire," she says," and the opportunity to be part of the library profession in my home state."
Jennifer is convinced that outreach and cooperation are essential to maximizing a library's effectiveness in the community. A member of Rotary International, she was the president of the Tewksbury, Mass., chapter. She also served as vice president of the executive board of the Merrimack Valley Library Consortium.
Jennifer received her master's degree in library and information science from Simmons College and a bachelor's degree in history from the University of New Hampshire. She replaces Joseph Dionne, who retired in June.
Feel free to stop by the administration office, downstairs across from the elevator, to talk to Jennifer about any library matter.
Journals and Diariestag:blogs.nashualibrary.org,2010:/reference//2.13442010-02-01T20:17:22Z2010-02-02T00:49:06ZThis blog entry is meant to extol the joys of journaling and diary writing. In gathering materials to extol, I read about journaling as a stress management and self-exploration tool. Julia Cameron also does some extolling in her well-known book,...Kersten
stress management and self-exploration tool. Julia Cameron also does some extolling in her well-known book, The Artist’s Way. In this book she instructs the reader to write 3 pages a day! – Longhand. I did this. It was wonderful.
One of the advantages to journaling is to write down your thoughts without worrying that a third party will read them. Although, we here at the Nashua Public Library have plenty of diaries which you, as a third party, could read - like Anne Frank’s Diary of a Young Girl, Anais Nin (probably on the steamier side), or Jack Kerouac.
The Nashua Public Library we have plenty of biographies about people – but their diaries offer a different look at them. I hated Tropic of Cancer, Henry Miller’s memoir/diary/with some fiction embellishments. What a different style, voice, world view and set of priorities from Andy Warhol’s diaries!
There are also plenty of fiction diaries as well, like Youth in Revolt, The Lost Diary of Don Juan, or Diary of a Bad Year.
If writing in a journal doesn't grab you, perhaps reading someone else's journal will!]]>
The Gold Medal Goes To...tag:blogs.nashualibrary.org,2010:/reference//2.13422010-01-25T23:00:20Z2010-01-26T21:42:28Z Yes, I know the Olympics are still a few weeks away. I'm talking about the gold medal in young adult literature also referred to as the Printz Award. This award created to honor Michael L. Printz, a school media...Jenn
Yes, I know the Olympics are still a few weeks away. I'm talking about the gold medal in young adult literature also referred to as the Printz Award. This award created to honor Michael L. Printz, a school media specialist from the mid-west, celebrates the cream of the crop of books written for teens in the previous year. Think the Newbery Award but for older readers.
This year's committee of nine librarians selected Going Bovine by Libba Bray. This title is a departure from her previous historical/magical books you may be more familiar with (A Great and Terrible Beauty, Rebel Angels, and A Sweet Far Thing). This story will instead take you on a twisted road trip with a sixteen year old diagnosed with mad cow disease. While elements of the supernatural realm may appear, you will not be led on any Victorian adventures by curious and determined teenage girls.
You can learn more about previous winners as well as honorable mentions at the award's page on YALSA's website (Young Adult Library Services division of the American Library Association).]]>
What's in my...tag:blogs.nashualibrary.org,2010:/reference//2.13412010-01-19T14:44:27Z2010-01-19T20:45:29ZIf you have been through the cleaning aisle of the store recently, you have probably noticed a lot of products that advertise themselves as "natural," "green," or "free and clear." Many people are becoming more concerned about the chemicals they...Alison
Household Products Database. You can find the product and manufacturing information, health effects, handling and disposal information, and ingredients. Much of this information is available on the product label, but if you use the database, you can click on links to other sites to learn additional information. The database is maintained by the US Department of Health and Human Services, and includes a wide range of products, from antifreeze to glitter to toner. You can search for a product or manufacturer or browse the various categories.
I found this website on a list of the top 100 health you can trust, courtesy of CAPHIS, the Consumer and Patient Health Information Section of the Medical Library Association. To see the other sites, click here. ]]>
Certain as taxestag:blogs.nashualibrary.org,2010:/reference//2.13392010-01-12T05:01:37Z2010-01-13T18:25:40Z The phrase certain as death and taxes was invented by Benjamin Franklin in 1789 and has been repeated ever since, the government's recurring need for revenue probably assuring its continued popularity. January once again kicks off the tax season,...Marsha
The phrase certain as death and taxes was invented by Benjamin Franklin in 1789 and has been repeated ever since, the government's recurring need for revenue probably assuring its continued popularity. January once again kicks off the tax season, and April 15, the deadline for individuals and businesses to send in their year-end tax forms is, as always, approaching more rapidly than we care to think. Here at the library we have tax forms, books about taxes and even tax assistance to help you respond to the challenge.
On our library's top floor in front of the reference desk, you will find a display containing the library's supply of tax forms. Feel free to help yourself to whatever you may need. If you require a form that is not in this display you can download tax forms for free from www.irs.gov or you can stop at the reference desk and ask us to print it for you. The library does charge $.10 per page to print.
AARP volunteers will once again provide tax assistance here at the library in the Music/ART/Media wing beginning February 1. They will be here on Mondays and Wednesdays from 10AM to 7PM and on Fridays from 10AM to 2PM. It will be first-come, first-serve; one cannot make an appointment. Another option is to call the local IRS office at (603) 594-8370 or stop by at 410 Amherst Street.
The website About.com: Tax Planning: U.S. contains information about changes for the tax year 2009. In addition you can find a good deal of information on tax planning, how to lower your taxes and how to file your taxes. About.com is part of The New York Times Company.
Some of the tax books at NPL you may wish to take a look at are: J.K. Lasser's your income tax.
J.K. Lasser's new tax law simplified 2010: tax relief from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and more by Barbara Weltman.
J.K. Lasser's 1001 deductions and tax breaks: your complete guide to everything deductible by Barbara Weltman.
J.K. Lasser's new rules for estate and tax planning by Stewart H. Welch, Harold Apolinsky, Craig Stephens.
Lower your taxes-big time!: wealth-building, tax reduction secrets from an IRS insider by Sandy Botkin.
Stand up to the IRS by Frederick W. Daily.Every landlord's tax deduction guide by Stephen Fishman.
As Herman Wouk once said, The only imaginative fiction being written today is income tax returns.
]]>
Needle-craft-blogtag:blogs.nashualibrary.org,2010:/reference//2.13402010-01-08T17:24:03Z2010-01-08T17:51:58ZDo you do needlecrafts yourself or have a friend who does? If you do, you may have just finished making Holiday presents and be ready to do something completely different or something for yourself. If you have looked at our...Margaret
Do you do needlecrafts yourself or have a friend who does? If you do, you may have just finished making Holiday presents and be ready to do something completely different or something for yourself. If you have looked at our needlecrafts section in the library you know that it is chock-a-block with books from top to bottom. Craft books are so popular it's hard to decide to get rid of them. This makes it difficult to see what's new. We have a new arrivals area in the library where you can go to see the new books bought in the last six months but if you are like me, the craft books you like are always out so you don't get to see what's new. This is a list of all the needlecraft books we bought in 2009. I hope you'll see something here that you wouldn't have otherwise known about. Tell a needleworker friend!!
746.434 R Rimoli, Ana Paula
Amigurumi world : seriously cute crochet /
746.432 S Singh, Hansi.
Amigurumi knits : patterns for 20 cute mini knits /
746.432 A A., Cookie.
Sock innovation : knitting techniques & patterns for one-of-a-kind socks /
746.432 E Epstein, Nicky.
Knitting in Tuscany : fabulous design, luscious yarns, shopping secrets,
food & wine, travel notes /
746.432 K Knight, Erika.
Men's knits : 20 new classics /
746.432 K Knight, Erika.
Natural nursery knits : twenty hand-knit projects for the new baby /
746 R Rankin, Chris.
Scrap crafts year round : more than 70 projects to make
with less than a yard of fabric /
746.432 A Anfinnsen, Trond.
Hat heads : 1 man + 2 knitting needles = 50 fun hat designs /
746.432 N 99 Yarns and Counting More Designs from the Green Mountain Spinnery.
746.6 K Karol, Amy.
Bend the rules with fabric : fun sewing projects with stencils, stamps, dye,
photo transfers, silk screening, and more /
746.46 W Wells, Jean.
Intuitive color & design :adventures in art quilting
746.74 B Beatty, Alice, 1902-
The hook book /
746 F ffrench, Crispina.
The sweater chop shop : sewing one-of-a-kind creations from recycled sweaters/
746.46 L Linsley, Leslie.
Leslie Linsley's new weekend quilts : 25 quick and easy
quilting projects you can complete in a weekend /
746.432 E Epstein, Nicky.
Knitting in Tuscany : fabulous design, luscious yarns,
shopping secrets, food & wine, travel notes /
746.432 P Pearl-McPhee, Stephanie.
Yarn harlot : the secret life of a knitter /
746.46 L Lodge, Diana.
Quilting : over 20 classic step-by-step projects /
746 R Reid, James W.
Textile masterpieces of ancient Peru : with 77 illustrations in full color /
746.434 L Leinhauser, Jean.
All about crochet : a dictionary of crochet stitches and techniques /
746.432 H Houck, Amy O'neill.
Knits for bears to wear : more than 20 fun, knit-to-fit fashions
for all teddies and toys including 18-inch dolls /
746.46 E Ehrlich, Laura.
The complete idiot's guide to quilting /
746.46 P Pellman, Rachel T. (Rachel Thomas)
Tips for quilters /
746.1 K King, Amy, 1973-
Spin control : techniques for spinning the yarn you want /
746.92 R Reed, Paula.
Style clinic : how to look fabulous all the time, at any age, for any occasion /
746.432 M Murphy, Nora.
Knitting the threads of time : casting back to the heart of our craft /
746.92 M Mizrahi, Isaac.
How to have style /
746.95 H Haly, Matthew.
Matthew Haly's book of upholstery : projects, tips, tricks, and techniques /
746.43 D Doherty, Elisabeth A., 1980-
Amigurumi! : super happy crochet cute /
746.74 L Linsley, Leslie.
Hooked rugs : an American folk art : with patterns for ten rugs to make /
746.46 Q
Quilting for beginners.
746.432 R Robinson, Debby.
The encyclopedia of knitting techniques /
746 P Plucknett, Jenny.
Step-by-step. Decorative details /
746.432 H Habit, Franklin, 1971-
It itches : [a stash of knitting cartoons] /
746.432 T Taylor, Rita.
Knitting : 200 Q & A : questions answered on everything from casting on to decorative effects /
746.432 L
Luxury yarn one-skein wonders : 101 small indulgences /
746.432 C Carr, Toni.
Knock down knits : 30 projects from the roller derby track /
746.432 B Bristow, Janet.
The prayer shawl companion : 38 knitted designs to embrace, inspire, & celebrate life /
746.432 P Pearl-McPhee, Stephanie.
Free-range knitter : the yarn harlot writes again /
746.432 Q Queen, Nancy.
The Chicks with Sticks guide to knitting : learn to knit with more than thirty cool, easy patterns /
746.434 Q Queen, Nancy.
The chicks with sticks' guide to crochet : learn to crochet with more than thirty cool, easy patterns /
746.0463 H Harris, Gillian.
Complete feltmaking : easy techniques and 25 great projects /
746.44 R Ray, Aimée, 1976-
Doodle-stitching : fresh & fun embroidery for beginners /
746.0463 S Searle, Teresa.
Heartfelt : 25 projects for stitched and felted accessories /
746.432 E Epstein, Nicky.
Nicky Epstein's signature scarves : dazzling designs to knit.
746.432 E Emborsky, Drew.
The crochet dude's designs for guys : 30 projects men will love /
746.0463 S Searle, Teresa.
Felt jewelry : 25 pieces to make using a variety of simple felting techniques /
746.0463 C Collings, Julie.
Pretty little felts : mixed-media crafts to tickle your fancy /
746.432 J Johnson, Wendy D.
Socks from the toe up : essential techniques and patterns from Wendy Knits /
746.432 C Chau, Laura.
Sock knitting /
746.432 Z Zimmermann, Elizabeth, 1910-1999.
The opinionated knitter : Elizabeth Zimmermann newsletters 1958-1968 /
746.0463 D Davis, Jane, 1959-
Felting : the complete guide /
746.4 R Ryan, Jenny, 1973-
Sew darn cute : 30 sweet & simple projects to sew & embellish /
746.46 B Briscoe, Susan.
200 quilting tips, techniques & trade secrets /
Start your New Year with a Big Band!tag:blogs.nashualibrary.org,2009:/reference//2.13382009-12-31T16:11:04Z2010-01-02T15:10:40Z As a kid I fondly recall going to sleep at night to strains of Stravinsky drifting up from the living room. My dad loved classical music, but when New Year’s Eve came around it was Guy Lombardo and his...Charlie
As a kid I fondly recall going to sleep at night to strains of Stravinsky drifting up from the living room. My dad loved classical music, but when New Year’s Eve came around it was Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians who brought us into the New Year with their legendary, clarinet-laden rendition of Auld Lang Syne. In fact when they could, my dad and mom would celebrate their wedding anniversary with a weekend at New York's Roosevelt Hotel, where Guy had a longstanding gig.
Big band, and especially Swing music, dominated the American music scene from the 1930’s and into the 50’s. Band leaders like Count Basie, Les Brown, Tommy Dorsey, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Fletcher Henderson, Woody Herman, Stan Kenton, Glenn Miller, Artie Shaw, and Paul Whiteman are American music legends. Their music is still popular and you’ll find many of their original recordings in the Nashua Public Library’s extensive CD collection of big band music.
While the Swing Era itself has long past, Big Band music as a subgenre of Jazz lives on. Today’s Big Bands perform both the standards from by-gone days as well as some new and exciting arrangements.
The 20-piece Compaq Big Band (formerly the DECbigband) is locally well-known. They’ve performed at the Nashua Public Library several times and appear throughout New England and beyond. They are best heard live, and you can find future performances and signup for their mailing list online.
Here are some more wonderful bands and recordings you might give a listen to:
Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society is decidedly modern. Check out their Infernal Machines recording.
Carla Bley is an exciting jazz composer and arranger. Listen to Carla and Her Remarkable Big Band's Appearing Nightly CD.
The Phil Collins Big Band was the pop musician's venture into realm of big band and swing. The CD is called A Hot Night in Paris and it's quite entertaining. Thank you, Phil.
Harry Connick Jr., one of today's most popular standards vocalists, appears with his Big Band on a couple of CDs you can borrow.
Bob Curnow, a veteran of Stan Kenton's Orchestra recorded the phenomenal CD The Music of Pat Metheny & Lyle Mays with his L.A. Big Band. First Circle is a particularly beautiful piece from that recording.
Eternal Licks & Grooves by The Bob Florence Limited Edition showcases top players in big band arrangements by veteran jazz composer Bob Florence.
Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band features original arrangements and some extremely talented solo performers including trumpeter Wayne Bergeron. Check out The Phat Pack recording.
Bassist Dave Holland extends his music with a big band sound in What Goes Around by The Dave Holland Big Band.
Once More - With Feeling by Doc Severinsen & the Tonight Show Band with guest performers Wynton Marsalis and Tony Bennett will take you back a few years.
Finally, try some fresh, "out of this world" arrangements by the The Jim Widner Big Band on their Out of this World CD.
As for Guy, we have a few selections on several CDs, but alas, the CD containing Auld Lang Syne is checked out this New Year's Eve.
Happy New Year!]]>
I resolve.... againtag:blogs.nashualibrary.org,2009:/reference//2.13352009-12-29T23:36:27Z2009-12-30T00:07:38Z Another New Year, another resolution. Or maybe, another New Year, the same old resolution. 2009 was not an easy year. Life changed for many people - not necessarily in a good way. Maybe it's time to make that old...Judy D.
Another New Year, another resolution. Or maybe, another New Year, the same old resolution. 2009 was not an easy year. Life changed for many people - not necessarily in a good way. Maybe it's time to make that old resolution for the last time and take a giant positive step forward.
I was curious, so I did an online search for popular 2009 resolutions. I got some surprising information. The US government, at their website USA.gov, has a section listing the most popular New Year's resolutions. In addition to the ever popular lose weight, get fit, stop smoking or drinking resolutions, there are some very timely, possibly life changing, resolutions. One of these resolutions involves managing debt. If you select this item, it links to information from the Federal Trade Commission which includes self-help suggestions for debt management. If you also resolve to save money while managing your debt, there is a pamphlet which can be ordered or downloaded and printed titled 66 ways to save money You will also find a test to take which will show you whether or not you need the help of the 66 ways to save money.
Other resolutions which could create good changes are about getting a better job and getting a better education. Both of these link to sites which will provide a good start. If you use this information well, find a better job or get a start on more education, there is another resolution which might prove of interest - take a trip! One of the nice things about these web pages is that you can sign up using your email address to be notified automatically whenever these pages are updated.
Did you think that people were ignoring the usual resolutions? Not at all. Right up there in the top ten were lose weight, get fit, stop smoking and drink less alcohol! All of this information is available in Spanish as well as in English. One of the best resolutions to make this list was volunteer to help others. This links to a website called serve.gov where you can search for volunteer opportunities by interests and locations.
Remember, it's your government and your tax dollars. Make use of everything that the federal government offers to help you improve your life! Have a happy and productive New Year!]]>
Read For a Good Cause!tag:blogs.nashualibrary.org,2009:/reference//2.13372009-12-17T15:35:59Z2009-12-17T14:39:26ZTeens in grades 6-12 here's your chance to give back to your community during this holiday season. All you have to do is give the gift of your time. This coming Saturday, December 19th, the Nashua Public Library's Teen Advisory...Jenn
This coming Saturday, December 19th, the Nashua Public Library's Teen Advisory Groups (TAG) will be hosting a Read-a-Thon from 12-4pm in the Music/Art/Media wing. Every minute read will raise $.10. TAG members will purchase teen books for the Nashua Police Athletic League (PAL) after-school program's library with the funds raised.
Teens are invited to come for the full 4 hours or to stop by for just 30 minutes, it's up to you. We will have goodies from Panera Bread and tons of comfy seating for you and your friends.
As far as what to read, anything counts...books (fiction, non-fiction, graphic novel), newspapers, magazines, strategy guides, etc.
Want to go one step further? Check out these volunteer resources:
Websites:Volunteer MatchCorporation for National and Community ServiceHumane Society for Greater NashuaVolunteer NHBooks @ our library:Chicken soup for the volunteer's soul : stories to celebrate the spirit of courage, caring and community edited by Jack Canfield ... [et al.]
Get involved! : a girl's guide to volunteering by Erin M. Hovanec
Taking time off : inspiring stories of students who enjoyed successful breaks from college and how you can plan your own by Colin Hall and Ron Lieber
Volunteer vacations : short-term adventures that will benefit you and others by Bill McMillon
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Even if you are not a short story enthusiast, consider that Alice Munro’s short stories, some of which are linked by recurring characters, have richness and depth seldom found in a short story. Munro explores friendship, love and loss in women’s lives
For another leading Canadian short story writer, try Mavis Gallant. She is the author of elegant stories about expatriates coming to terms with unfamiliar locales and situations. New Yorker magazine readers will find her name quite familiar.
Then, of course, I must include one of my favorite authors Margaret Atwood, whose writings include such genres as literary fiction, short stories, essays, poetry, science fiction and historical fiction. I was first mesmerized by her book (and later movie) 
Another of my favorite books by a Canadian author is The Stone Diaries by Carol Shields, in which an aging widow contemplates her life spanning the 20th century. This novel won the 1995 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.
So congratulations to Canada, for both your Olympic medals AND your authors.]]>
The films named to the 2009 National Film Registry of the Library of Congress include Al Pacino’s "Dog Day Afternoon", Tyron Power’s "The Mark of Zorro", "The Muppet Movie", Michael Jackson’s "Thriller" video, 1967's "The Jungle", shot by teen gang members in Philadelphia, Doris Day and Rock Hudson's "Pillow Talk," and "Hot Dogs for Gauguin," a 1972 student film featuring Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman in her debut role. The 525 films in the Registry include films from animations ("Steamboat Willie"), shorts ("Duck and Cover" and the "Zapruder Film" of the Kennedy Assassination) and recognized classics ("Singing in the Rain" and "The Godfather"). The oldest film in the Registry in 1893's "Blacksmithing Scene" and the newest is 1996's "Fargo".
Daniel Eagan’s recently published "America’s Film Legacy: The Authoritative Guide to the Landmark Movies in the National Film Registry, 2010", covers them all through 2008.
You’ll find most of these films in DVD in the Music, Art and Media department, and along with many other best films lists. And if you're a fan of film, don't forget to vote for 2010 nominees to the Registry.]]>
J.K. Lasser's your income tax.
J.K. Lasser's new tax law simplified 2010: tax relief from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and more by Barbara Weltman.
J.K. Lasser's 1001 deductions and tax breaks: your complete guide to everything deductible by Barbara Weltman.
J.K. Lasser's new rules for estate and tax planning by Stewart H. Welch, Harold Apolinsky, Craig Stephens.
Lower your taxes-big time!: wealth-building, tax reduction secrets from an IRS insider by Sandy Botkin.
Stand up to the IRS by Frederick W. Daily.
Every landlord's tax deduction guide by Stephen Fishman.
As Herman Wouk once said, The only imaginative fiction being written today is income tax returns.
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