http://blogs.nashualibrary.org/reference/ en Copyright 2008 Wed, 02 Jul 2008 09:40:26 -0500 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss The season finale of Doctor Who airs this Saturday in the U.K., a much awaited climax to not only the 2008 season but an era launched by Russell T. Davies four years ago. The New York Times recently did an homage to Davies, "Who Altered British TV? 'Who' Indeed", since the program will be in new hands next year. I grew up on parts of the classic series (1963-1989) and never dreamed it would come back, but Davies has done the unthinkable: new Who has been as good as the old (if mawkish at times), and in some ways transcended it. As ever, the Doctor doesn't get a moment's rest. Since April he's rescued present-day earth from an alien invasion, gone back to Pompeii in the year 79 when Vesuvius erupted and killed thousands (an emotional episode), teamed up with Agatha Christie in 1926 to solve a murder, and -- my favorite story -- traveled to a planet-sized library in the 51st century, where shadows kill on contact and eat flesh to the bone. (I dream of libraries this size but probably wouldn't visit that one. See the "Silence in the Library" trailer for a creepy preview.) This Saturday's finale is the second half of a two-parter featuring his worst enemies from the classic series, the Daleks, and the resurrection of their creator, Davros. (See this trailer.) The episodes are being released on the Sci-Fi channel in America, a bit behind the U.K. schedule. But even better, if you haven't seen the previous seasons, the Nashua Public Library has acquired all three on DVD. That's 13 episodes per season, at 45 minutes a piece, adding up to 30 hours of time-traveling fun. Each story is unique -- with plenty of comedy, action, and scares -- though always aimed at a family audience. The Complete First Series. The Complete Second Series. The Complete Third Series. Also try the following books just ordered: The Doctor Who Encyclopedia: A Definitive Guide to Time and Space Inside the TARDIS: The Worlds of Doctor Who - A Cultural History Doctor Who: The Inside Story Then try material pertaining to the classic series: Doctor Who, A Celebration: Two Decades Through Time and Space Vengeance on Varos The Five Doctors]]> http://blogs.nashualibrary.org/reference/2008/07/doctor_who.html http://blogs.nashualibrary.org/reference/2008/07/doctor_who.html Library Materials Wed, 02 Jul 2008 09:40:26 -0500 Teens Go Green @ Your Library All teens entering grades 6-12 are invited to participate in this year's teen summer reading program from June 24th to August 1st. The program was kicked off last Tuesday with an awesome teen band concert featuring local talent. Participating in this program is so easy. All you have to do is read anything you want that is at least 80 pages long. This includes fiction, non-fiction, graphic novels, or a group of 3 magazines. Just for reading you'll raise $.50 for charity. If the book you've read is on a school reading list you'll raise $.75. The Teen Advisory Group selected the NH Carbon Challenge to be this year's beneficiary. If you go one step further and write a short review of the book you can earn a raffle entry for one of the following prizes: NH Fisher Cats box seats for 4 Haywards Ice Cream gift card Chunky's Cinema movie passes Texas Roadhouse gift card Simon Mall gift card iTunes gift card Best Buy gift card Borders gift card Creative Zen 2 GB MP3 player Tee Shirt Bodega gift card grab bag of books In addtion, there is something going on every Tuesday related to this year's theme. To view a complete listing of teen programs or to register for an event visit www.tinyurl.com/yqm7pa . If you still have questions call Jenn at 589-4612. ]]> http://blogs.nashualibrary.org/reference/2008/07/teen_summer_reading_program_20.html http://blogs.nashualibrary.org/reference/2008/07/teen_summer_reading_program_20.html Teen Services Tue, 01 Jul 2008 14:38:12 -0500 If I did it was published by the Goldman family so that the world would know how guilty O J Simpson was. Many criminals who have generated headlines and captured the public's attention have had books written about them. In recent years we have become well acquainted with Scott Peterson who murdered his wife Laci, John and Patsy Ramsey, who may or may not have murdered their daughter JonBenet, John Allen Muhammed and Lee Boyd Malvo, serial snipers who terrorized the Washington DC area, and Dennis Rader, better known as the BTK killer. Here are a few of the books in the library's collection recounting their crimes: Witness for the prosecution of Scott Peterson by Amber Frey Blood brother: 33 reasons my brother Scott Peterson is guilty by Anne Bird Perfect murder, perfect town by Lawrence Schiller The death of innocence: the untold story of JonBenet's murder by John Ramsey Three weeks in October : the manhunt for the serial sniper by Charles A. Moose Inside the mind of BTK by John Douglas If you find that you are interested in murderers and their motives, Ann Rule is an author for you to read. Her books are well-written and detailed and involve the reader's emotions. The library has a large collection of her books. Some of the most recent are Smoke, mirrors and murder, Too late to say goodbye, No regrets : and other true cases and Worth more dead and other true cases. Keep watching for new books! Sheila LaBarre and Neil Entwistle are sure to be written about in the near future.]]> http://blogs.nashualibrary.org/reference/2008/06/true_crime_reality_reading.html http://blogs.nashualibrary.org/reference/2008/06/true_crime_reality_reading.html Events Library Materials People Fri, 27 Jun 2008 11:00:46 -0500 "He triumphed during the Great Depression of the early 1930s, when a hero was most needed by the people of Australia."--Museum Victoria Australia The hero in question, a great athlete, died mysteriously in 1932 after winning a big race. The death sparked conspiracy theories; some speculated that gangsters were involved. The athlete? A legendary Australian racehorse. Phar Lap won 37 out of the 51 races he ran in, with a streak of 14 straight victories and the Melbourne Cup among them. His last race was Mexico's Agua Caliente, the most lucrative horse race in North America--and he won. While the exact circumstances of Phar Lap's death remain a mystery, the cause has finally been determined. Just last week, scientists announced that the horse died of arsenic poisoning. Forensic scientists were able to determine the cause by testing hairs from the horse's hide. It's the ability of scientists to solve such intriguing mysteries that make TV shows like CSI such a big hit. If you've ever wondered whether those shows are really getting it right, here are a few books on the topic: Crime scene chemistry for the armchair sleuth / Cathy Cobb, Monty L. Fetterolf, Jack Goldsmith Forensic detective : how I cracked the world's toughest cases / Robert Mann and Miryam Ehrlich Williamson Bodies we've buried : inside the National Forensic Academy, the world's top CSI training school / Jarrett Hallcox and Amy Welch ; foreword by Bill Bass. The C.S.I. effect / Katherine Ramsland.]]> http://blogs.nashualibrary.org/reference/2008/06/a_death_resolved_1.html http://blogs.nashualibrary.org/reference/2008/06/a_death_resolved_1.html Library Materials Wed, 25 Jun 2008 19:15:02 -0500 "Deceit is the Cinderella of human nature, essential to our humanity but disowned by its perpetrators at every turn. It is normal, natural, and pervasive. It is not, as popular opinion would have it, reducible to mental illness or moral failure. Human society is a network of lies and deceptions that would collapse under the weight of too much honesty." (David Livingstone Smith, Why We Lie, p 2) It may sound cynical, but for many scientists and social critics it's dogma. Psychologist Robert Feldman conducted an amazing study which suggests that 60% of people tell on average 2-3 lies for every ten minutes of conversation. This has in view socially acceptable lies in addition to blatant or bald-faced lies. The frequency applies to men and women equally, though the sexes tend to lie about different things: men to make themselves look better, women to make others feel good. I actually tested this on myself a few years ago, and monitored eleven lies in the space of a day. Granted most of these were the socially acceptable or trivial lies ("It's nice to see you", when it really wasn't; "I'll get back to you soon," knowing I wouldn't), it's still sobering. I consider myself pretty honest, but even morally upright folk (as I like to think of myself) seem to realize there's something anti-social about too much truth. Then there's self-deception, which according to David Livingstone Smith is essential to our well-being. It soothes the stresses of life, and in the process helps us lie efficiently to others. "Lying to ourselves promotes psychological well-being," states Smith in an online interview, and in his book he cites research showing that mentally healthy people deceive themselves more than those who are ill and depressed, opposite what we're taught to believe. So remember: self-knowledge isn't all it's cracked up to be. If you're too in touch with reality, too honest with yourself, you might suffer for it! So on that uplifting note, be sure to come in and check out the library's materials on lying and deception. Why We Lie: The Evolutionary Roots of Deception and the Unconscious Mind, by David Livingstone Smith. An evolutionary-psychological perspective, explaining why homo sapiens are a species of habitual liars. The Post-Truth Era: Dishonesty and Deception in Contemporary Life, by Ralph Keyes. A cultural-critical perspective, suggesting that postmodernity has increasingly blurred distinctions between right and wrong, and today's world strongly inflames our inclinations to lie. Lying: Moral Choice in Public and Private Life, by Sissela Bok. Classic study on the subject. Lying and Deception in Everyday Life, edited by Michael Lewis and Carolyn Saarni. A collection of essays that looks at the boundaries between unethical and adaptive lies. The Varnished Truth: Truth Telling and Deceiving in Ordinary Life, by David Nyberg. The author who quipped that "self knowledge isn't all it's cracked up to be". He exposes our collective pretense and explains that lies can be healthy, helpful, creative, and moral. The Concise Book of Lying, by Evelin Sullivan. A tour-de-force on the history of lying and deception.]]> http://blogs.nashualibrary.org/reference/2008/06/natural_born_liars.html http://blogs.nashualibrary.org/reference/2008/06/natural_born_liars.html Library Materials Mon, 23 Jun 2008 07:23:04 -0500 Dictionary.com defines the word "persuade" as "to prevail on (a person) to do something, as by advising or urging" or "to induce to believe by appealing to reason or understanding". In his book "Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion" Robert B. Cialdini, an expert in the fields of persuasion, compliance, and negotiation, defined six "weapons of influence": 1. Reciprocation - People tend to return a favor. Thus, the pervasiveness of free samples in marketing. 2. Commitment and Consistency - If people commit, verbally or in writing, they are more likely to honor that commitment. Even if the original incentive or motivation is removed after they have already agreed, they will continue to honor the agreement. For example, in car sales, suddenly raising the price at the last moment often works because the buyer has already decided to buy. 3.Social Proof - People tend to do what other people are doing. 4. Authority - People will tend to obey authority figures, even if they are asked to perform objectionable acts. An example is the My Lai massacre. 5.Liking - People are easily persuaded by other people whom they like. For example, it has been proven that people are more likely to buy if they like the person selling. 6.Scarcity - A perceived scarcity will generate demand. For example, saying offers are available for a "limited time only" encourages sales. Our library has several new items about the art of persuasion in the new business and non-fiction book areas:: Persuasion IQ: the 10 skills you need to get exactly what you want by Kurt W. Mortensen. Yes!: 50 secrets from the science of persuasion by Noah J. Goldstein, Steve J. Martin, and Robert B. Cialdini. Good in a room: how to sell yourself (and your ideas) and win over any audience by Stephanie Palmer. IInfluencing like Jesus: 15 biblical principles of persuasion by Michael Zigarelli with Carolyn Stanford Goss. ]]> http://blogs.nashualibrary.org/reference/2008/06/friendly_persuasion_1.html http://blogs.nashualibrary.org/reference/2008/06/friendly_persuasion_1.html Library Materials Fri, 20 Jun 2008 07:00:19 -0500 Janet Evanovich. These titles are very conveniently titled with the corresponding number, i.e., One for the Money, Two for the Dough, etc. Sue Grafton’s Kinsey Millhone Mysteries are also an obvious progression, A is for Alibi, B is for Burglar, and so on. Other books, will give you the series number somewhere on the book. Sometimes the number is on the book spine, on the cover, and sometimes on the books cover page. The cover page is in the beginning of the book, and supplies information like title, author and publisher. On the cover of the book Sunrise by Karen Kingsbury, we are told that this is the first book in the Sunrise Series. Another example is Gilbert Morris’s Singing River Series. One the cover page, we see that the book ‘The Dream’ is Book II of the series. In other cases, the name of the series the book belongs to is written on the cover. For example Have ‘Your Cake and Kill Him Too’ by Nancy Martin is A Blackbird Sisters Mystery. You can see from these different examples that there is no standard way to display information about book series. If you’re like me, I generally like to double check the order of the series, especially if there is no series number on the book. (And I know you are out there because I’ve had these questions at the Reference Desk before!) The database Novelist is the best source to double check series information. You can access the Novelist database from the Nashua Library database webpage. If you are in the library, sign on to one of our computers to access the database. If you are at home, you will need to enter the last 5 digits of your barcode. Once you are in Novelist, you can type in the author, book title or series title. Along with the search results, you will see what series a particular book belongs in and the order in which to read them in. (Check out these blog entries for more great Novelist features: Want to Know What to Read Next?, Novelist - Make it your own, and For Fun Try Novelist). If you like to use Amazon, you can also search titles and authors, and they will sometimes list, next to the title, series information. Leave a comment about a series you are reading. ]]> http://blogs.nashualibrary.org/reference/2008/06/book_series.html http://blogs.nashualibrary.org/reference/2008/06/book_series.html Library Materials Novelist Wed, 18 Jun 2008 14:03:08 -0500 special! This is the only Friday the 13th in 2008. Opinions are divided on Friday the 13th, but the history of both Friday and thirteen appear to be unlucky. Friday, according to the encyclopedia Man Myth and Magic, has been unlucky right from the beginning. It is supposed to be the day on which Adam and Eve ate the apple. Friday is not a good day to embark upon anything new whether it be a trip, a job, or a hairstyle. In the Dictionary of Mythology, Folklore and Symbols, Friday was the day when criminals were executed in Europe and was often called "hangman's day". The reputation held by the number 13 is no better. Again, according to Man, Myth and Magic, hotels do not have a 13th floor and streets often do not have a house number 13. Thirteen people should never sit down to dinner together, and if you find yourself in a room with twelve other people, be very sure not to be the person nearest the door! A Friday and a 13 together on the same day - watch out! That's one side of the story. According to The Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legend, the Irish consider Friday a good day to die (as long as you are buried on Saturday and prayed for on Sunday). Both Man, Myth and Magic and The Dictionary of Mythology Folklore and Symbols tell that the early Romans considered Friday a day dedicated to Venus, the goddess of love and therefore, a lucky day. Personally, my superstitions are hard to pin down. I will walk under a ladder, especially on Friday the 13th. One has never fallen on me yet. (knock on wood). I will go out of my way to avoid a black cat, but I'd do it to avoid any cat. No offense cat lovers. I never pick up a penny on the ground - face up or down. Too much work for one cent! But, let my husband go away on a business trip, and I know something terrible is going to go wrong while he is gone. Something always does. Mostly I think that's my bad karma. If you'd like to improve your luck or understand your karma, the library has some books for you: The luck factor : changing your luck, changing your life As luck would have it : incredible stories from lottery wins to lightning strikes Luck : understanding luck and improving the odds The power of karma : how to understand your past and shape your future The complete book of superstition, prophecy and luck Knock on wood and other superstitions]]> http://blogs.nashualibrary.org/reference/2008/06/friday_the_13th_bad_luck_bad_k.html http://blogs.nashualibrary.org/reference/2008/06/friday_the_13th_bad_luck_bad_k.html Library Materials Fri, 13 Jun 2008 12:15:43 -0500 this current movie one of the female characters ends up in bed with one of the male characters (no names, no spoilers). But there is is an unexpected happening as they begin to read from a book of collected love-letters. In a movie full of products like Prada, Louis Vuitton, Skyy vodka, and Mercedes Benz, this book brought out the librarian in me. But is the book really a collection of love-letters, or it just a prop department book camouflaged to suit the requirements of the plot? I’m afraid I came up with no answer. But my curiosity was stirred by the question to see what sorts of similar collections might exist at our library. A subject search for love-letters on the NPL online catalog brings up seven volumes. Several of these are devoted to a unique love correspondence, but others are anthologized collections similar to the one in the movie. So why not spend an intimate evening at home and peruse one of these books. Sip a bit of Skyy vodka and read, for example, one of Napoleon’s letters to Josephine from the beautiful book Love Letters: An Illustrated Anthology compiled by Antonia Fraser: “I have not spent a day without loving you; I have not spent a night without embracing you; I have not so much as drunk a single cup of tea without cursing the pride and ambition which force me to remain separated from the moving spirit of my life.” Or select from the same book one of Franz Liszt's love-letters to Marie d’ Agoult: “My heart overflows with emotion and joy! I do not know what heavenly languor, what infinite pleasure permeates it and burns me up. It is as if I had never loved!!! Tell me whence uncanny disturbances spring, these inexpressible foretastes of delight, these divine tremors of love. Oh! All this can only spring from you, sister, angel, woman, Marie!” Another anthology of love-letters at our library is The Book of love: writers and their love letters selected by Cathy N. Davidson. Our books devoted to unique love correspondences are: Letters of a Portuguese nun / Myriam Cyr by Myriam Cyr, Dear Scott, dearest Zelda: the love letters of F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald edited by Jackson R. Bryer and Cathy W. Barks, and introduced by their granddaughter Eleanor Lanahan, Dear, dear Brenda: the love letters of Henry Miller to Brenda Venus edited by Gerald Seth Sindell, How do I love thee? The love-letters of Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett selected and introduced. by V. E. Stack, La nouvelle Heloise. Julie; or, The new Eloise; letters of two lovers, inhabitants of a small town at the foot of the Alps translated and abridged by Judith H. McDowell.]]> http://blogs.nashualibrary.org/reference/2008/06/sex_and_the_city_love_npl_1.html http://blogs.nashualibrary.org/reference/2008/06/sex_and_the_city_love_npl_1.html Library Materials Fri, 06 Jun 2008 14:02:10 -0500 Newsletter sign up page or, if you are in the library, fill out the BookNews form, which can be found at the Circulation Desk. If you don't want newsletters sent to your email, you can visit the BookNews web site, find the genre you are interested in, and click 'view' to see the latest newsletter. At the sight you can also view lists of award winning books and best seller lists. If newsletters aren't your thing, you can always check out our New Fiction and New Non-Fiction display located to the right of the circulation desk. Or if you are just interested in all our new books, no matter what genre or topic, you can check out our "New Books" site at http://www.nashualibrary.org/newbooks.htm. Leave a comment about some of the new books you are reading (or are looking forward to reading)! ]]> http://blogs.nashualibrary.org/reference/2008/06/book_news.html http://blogs.nashualibrary.org/reference/2008/06/book_news.html Library Materials New Books Wed, 04 Jun 2008 17:13:28 -0500 http://www.nashualibrary.org/documents/kidstuff.pdf. So come on down "under" and join us for a summer full of fun.]]> http://blogs.nashualibrary.org/reference/2008/06/gday_for_reading.html http://blogs.nashualibrary.org/reference/2008/06/gday_for_reading.html Library Services Tue, 03 Jun 2008 09:18:20 -0500 Ghostbusters? Ghosts were funny and ghost hunters were crazy! Times have changed. Ghosts no longer look like the Sta-Puff Marshmallow Man and ghost hunting equipment is high tech now and not straight from a comic book! A few nights ago, I found myself watching late night tv - the Science Fiction channel to be exact. The show, called Ghost Hunters, is about a group of people who go to places that are thought to be haunted and try to prove or disprove the haunting. This show caught my attention because the building under investigation was the Palace Theater in Manchester NH. If you like this sort of thing, they have a very interesting website called Ghost Hunters. You do need to have the ability to view video clips and you must have speakers so you can hear the sound portion. There are segments on different programs and on the type of technological equipment needed for a ghost hunt. Incidentally, their verdict on the Palace Theater - not haunted. Ghost hunting seems to be an "in" activity. I went looking for paranormal organizations around here and found a couple. Ghost Quest is New Hampshire's paranormal research society. They also investigated the Palace Theater in Manchester. Their verdict - haunted. You can read all about their cases on their website. The Cape Ann Paranormal Society is another ghost hunting group. They take requests and come free of charge to investigate your haunting. You can also view "considered real" ghost photos here and buy a ghost hunter teeshirt for your dog. If you really want the whole ghost experience, try Ghostvillage.com, they advertise themselves as " the Web's largest and most comprehensive supernatural community". I don't know why I'm writing this. I don't believe in ghosts, but I wouldn't walk through a cemetery at night and if I lived next to a cemetery, I'd never leave my house. My husband is one of those people who would go into a cemetery on Halloween night and sit there with a tape recorder just to see what he could hear. It is a fascinating topic. If you have any interest at all in the subject, there are some books here at the library that you might want to take a look at. The case for ghosts: an objective look at the paranormal 20th century ghosts Ghost Dark woods, chill waters : ghost tales from Down East Maine]]> http://blogs.nashualibrary.org/reference/2008/05/ghosts_or_vivid_imagination.html http://blogs.nashualibrary.org/reference/2008/05/ghosts_or_vivid_imagination.html Library Materials Websites Fri, 30 May 2008 15:43:29 -0500 Recently, librarians have been talking a lot about "roving reference." Reference librarians all over the country are roving! But why? Simply put, roving reference involves reference librarians--you guessed it--roving around the reference department. We've recently started doing this at NPL. This allows us to check on patrons to see whether they need any assistance finding a book, getting information, or dealing with the computer. We'll still be staffing the reference desk, so if you prefer to come see us there, you'll usually find one of us there to assist you. But you'll also find reference librarians up and about, making themselves available in more locations. The idea is to break away from the model of the librarian sitting behind a desk, waiting for patrons to come ask for help. Now, as a patron, I like to browse by myself. But as a librarian, many's the time that I've gotten up from the reference desk to help someone, and picked up more questions from other patrons while I was in their area. Are you a shy browser, or do you like the idea of having librarians get out from behind the desk to come check on how your search is going? Leave us a comment! http://blogs.nashualibrary.org/reference/2008/05/roving_librarians.html http://blogs.nashualibrary.org/reference/2008/05/roving_librarians.html Library Services Wed, 28 May 2008 20:37:25 -0500 After a recent trip to Foxwoods (and losing a mercifully small amount of money), I'm reminded that the World Series of Poker is around the corner (May 29 to July 16). The most popular form of poker -- and the one that dominates the World Series -- is No-Limit Texas Hold 'Em, the "cadillac of poker games" as Doyle Brunson famously called it. The library has a good selection of books focusing on no-limit in our sports and games section, so if you're a card shark, be sure to visit us and check out the following. Doyle Brunson's Super System II. The updated classic from the '70s has essays for all poker games, but the chapter on no-limit is the one professionals regard as timeless. Not for beginners, because Brunson plays such a loose (seemingly reckless) style. See also this website which explains why, in the author's opinion, Brunson's wisdom stands the test of time. Caro's Most Profitable Hold 'Em Advice. A book for limit and no-limit, and Caro doesn't always keep the distinction clear. But the book contains a lot of advice never seen before in a hold 'em book, especially with the section dealing with all the ins-and-outs of treating hold 'em as a business. The author also reviews tips from his classic on tells and advocates strategies for confusing your opponents and making them think you're a weak player. Phil Gordon's Little Green Book. A solid guide to tight-aggressive play, often recommended for beginning to intermediate players, and popular for its conversational tone, humor, and the author's honest approach to self-assessment. Play Poker Like the Pros, by Phil Hellmuth. Covers all forms of poker with a helpful chapter on no-limit. The Pocket Idiot's Guide to Texas Hold 'Em, by Randy Burgess and Carl Baldassarre. If you're just getting started but don't want to take the game too seriously, this is the book for you.]]> http://blogs.nashualibrary.org/reference/2008/05/no_limit_at_the_library.html http://blogs.nashualibrary.org/reference/2008/05/no_limit_at_the_library.html Tue, 27 May 2008 14:00:14 -0500 Covered employers must grant an eligible employee up to a total of 12 workweeks of unpaid leave during any 12-month period for one or more of the following reasons: * for the birth and care of the newborn child of the employee; * for placement with the employee of a son or daughter for adoption or foster care; * to care for an immediate family member (spouse, child, or parent) with a serious health condition; or * to take medical leave when the employee is unable to work because of a serious health condition. Recently, the law was amended, allowing an immediate family member to take up to 26 weeks off to care for an injured member of the Armed Forces, National Guard, or Reserves. To learn more about the FMLA, you can take a look at the Department of Labor's website or at the following books in the library: Your rights under the Family and Medical Leave Act / Margaret C. Jasper The essential guide to family and medical leave / by Lisa Guerin & Deborah C. England Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Employment Standards Administration Wage and Hour Division http://www.dol.gov/esa/whd/fmla/. ]]> http://blogs.nashualibrary.org/reference/2008/05/taking_leave_1.html http://blogs.nashualibrary.org/reference/2008/05/taking_leave_1.html Library Materials Mon, 26 May 2008 09:33:40 -0500