Western Branch staff is ready to welcome back our patrons on Monday, Nov. 24 at 9 am. The branch has been closed for renovations and now we are excited to show off our beautiful expanded branch with all our books, music, magazines and DVDs. The South Bend Tribune has some pictures to give you a first look at the interior. See you all at Western Branch on Monday!
Our family went to see the movie The City of Ember a month or so ago. We loved the movie, as we loved the books. Author Jeanne DuPrau wrote four books in the series, and we just finished the final one, The Diamond of Darkhold. In it she ties up all the loose ends and provides a satisfying end to the series.
In the first, The City of Ember, we meet Lina and Doon, two teens ready to join the working world in their quirky society. It’s not giving too much away to say that they live in a city constructed underground by scientists preparing for the end of civilization. Lina and Doon discover a lost secret meant to provide an escape for their people. The next book, The People of Sparks, follows our heroes as they try to adapt to life among the people that survive above ground. The third book, The Prophet of Yonwood, is a prequel tale that also supplies some necessary backstory.
In The Diamond of Darkhold, Lina and Doon find a damaged book, written by the builders, that refers to a device meant to help their city adapt to life on the surface. Most of the pages of the book are missing, used to light campfires, so they return to the remains of their city one more time to look for answers. It’s a hopeful book about environmental concerns, a happy ending, and an optimistic book for our times.
The story of Bella Swan and Edward Cullen is all the rage as the movie Twilight is coming out soon! There’s also hype about the popularity of the soundtrack. I have read the four books in the Twilight saga and enjoyed them all. Have you read the books? Are you going to see the movie? I want to hear from you! (Spoiler Alert: There may be facts about the books revealed in posted comments. I accidentally gave details away to a friend after posting a review on my own blog. Oops.)
You will want to read them in this order:
1.) Twilight
2.) New Moon
3.) Eclipse
4.) Breaking Dawn
Reserve a copy at an available SJCPL location!
FICTION
Dark Harvest by Lynda Hilburn
The House on Tradd Street by Karen White
An Irish Country Christmas by Patrick Taylor
November 22, 1963: A Novel by Adam Braver
Songs for the Missing by Stewart O’Nan
NONFICTION
Brothers in Arms: The Kennedys, the Castros, and the Politics of Murder by Gus Russo
Diners, Drive-Ins, Dives: An All-American Road Trip…with Recipes! by Guy Fieri
Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell
The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith by Timothy Keller
The War Behind Me: Vietnam Veterans Confront the Truth About U.S. War Crimes by Deborah Nelson
DVDs
Beer for My Horses
Best Belly Fat-Blasters
Holiday in Handcuffs
The Legend of Sasquatch
Sunday School Musical
CDs
The Cosmos Rocks–Queen & Paul Rodgers
Dear Science–TV on the Radio
Fearless–Jazmine Sullivan
My Love–Celine Dion
One Life–33Miles
CHILDREN’S
One Is a Feast for a Mouse: A Thanksgiving Tale by Judy Cox (Preschool)
Philippa Fisher’s Fairy Godsister by Liz Kessler (Grades 4–7)
Richard Scarry’s The Great Pie Robbery and Other Mysteries by Richard Scarry (Preschool–Grade 2)
Turkey Bowl by Phil Bildner (Preschool–Grade 3)
Zip, Zip…Homework by Nancy Poydar (Preschool–Grade 1)
LARGE PRINT
Divine Justice by David Baldacci
The Gate House by Nelson DeMille
Swallowing Darkness by Laurell K. Hamilton
Wedding Belles by Haywood Smith
With a lake effect snow watch in place for northern Indiana, SJCPL would like to remind all of our patrons that when severe weather forces us to close any of our locations, we will notify you via WNDU (Channel 16) and WSBT (Channel 22). You will also find closing information on the South Bend Tribune website and on the WSBT radio group stations (WSBT 960 AM; Oldies 94.3 FM; Cat Country 99.9 FM; and Sunny 101.5 FM). We’ll also post any closing info on our website.
Published the week of November 14, 2008. View the complete list from The New York Times.
Hardcover Fiction:
1. DIVINE JUSTICE, by David Baldacci. (Grand Central, $27.) Members of Washington’s Camel Club rally to save their leader, who is hiding out in the town of Divine, Va.
2. SALVATION IN DEATH, by J. D. Robb. (Putnam, $25.95.) Lt. Eve Dallas investigates the murder of a priest who was not who he seemed; by Nora Roberts, writing pseudonymously.
3. SWALLOWING DARKNESS, by Laurell K. Hamilton. (Ballantine, $26.) In the seventh Meredith Gentry paranormal romance, Meredith is pregnant with twins by one of her guards; their birth will enable her to claim her place as queen of faerie, but enemies plot against her.
4. THE GATE HOUSE, by Nelson DeMille. (Grand Central, $27.99.) In a sequel to “The Gold Coast” (1990) a tax attorney and his ex-wife explore a reconciliation.
5. EXTREME MEASURES, by Vince Flynn. (Atria, $27.95.) Mitch Rapp teams up with a C.I.A. colleague to fight a terrorist cell — and the politicians who would rein them in.
Hardcover Nonfiction:
1. DEWEY, by Vicki Myron with Bret Witter. (Grand Central, $19.99.) The kitten left freezing in the returned-book slot of an Iowa public library, and his rise to fame.
2. THE SNOWBALL, by Alice Schroeder. (Bantam, $35.) The life of Warren Buffett.
3. A BOLD FRESH PIECE OF HUMANITY, by Bill O’Reilly. (Broadway, $26.) The Fox News commentator on his upbringing and career.
4. LETTER TO MY DAUGHTER, by Maya Angelou. (Random House, $25.) Reminiscences, appreciations and poems from the author of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.
5. AGAINST MEDICAL ADVICE, by James Patterson and Hal Friedman. (Little, Brown, $26.99.) A family’s struggle to get treatment for their son’s Tourette’s syndrome.
Children’s Chapter Books:
1. DIARY OF A WIMPY KID written and illustrated by Jeff Kinney. (Abrams, $12.95.) The travails of adolescence, in cartoons. (Ages 9 to 12)
2. DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: RODRICK RULES written and illustrated by Jeff Kinney. (Amulet/Abrams, $12.95.) How Greg embarrassed himself on his summer vacation (ask his older brother, Rodrick); a sequel to Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
3. THE MAZE OF BONES, by Rick Riordan. (Scholastic, $12.99.) A brother and sister hunt for the source of their family’s power; Book 1 of a new series, “The 39 Clues.” (Ages 12 and up)
4. THE GRAVEYARD BOOK, by Neil Gaiman. Illustrated by Dave McKean. (HarperCollins, $17.99.) To avoid a killer, a boy lives in a cemetery. (Ages 10 and up)
5. THE HUNGER GAMES, by Suzanne Collins. (Scholastic, $17.99.) In a dystopian future, a girl fights for survival on live TV. (Ages 12 and up)
Dear SJCPL Users!
The most recent photos of our construction projects are posted at the following Internet addresses:
New German Township Branch:
http://media.sjcpl.org/Capital_Improve/Phase_2/German_Twp_Branch/GER_Construction/index.html
New & Expanded Roger B. Francis Branch:
http://media.sjcpl.org/Capital_Improve/Phase_2/RBF_Expansion/RBF_Construction/index.html
Expanded & Renovated River Park and Western Branches:
http://media.sjcpl.org/Capital_Improve/Phase_2/Four_City_Branches/City_Construction/index.html
Expanded & Renovated LaSalle and Virginia M. Tutt Branches:
http://media.sjcpl.org/Capital_Improve/Phase_2/Four_City_Branches/City_Construction/index2.html
Bookmark these Internet addresses and check them periodically for the most recent construction photos!
Thanks,
Don Napoli
It is windy, cold, and rainy today, but that’s not a problem for the crew building the new Francis Branch on North Ironwood. They have all the windows in and they’ve installed temporary doors, so on wet or chilly days the crews can work inside protected from the elements. On days when they are indoors, they make progress with the interior walls. The workmen are still on track for a summer 2009 estimated completion date.
Meanwhile outside, the metal roof is nearly finished. On nice days the masons build the stonework. They’re starting around back and will work clockwise around the building. What I heard at a construction progress meeting is that the workmen started on the ‘cold’ side–the northwest side in the wind–while it was still nice out so they can be on the warm side when the weather turns. The utilities will be complete in a few weeks, and crews are a third done installing the ducts. At this point the remaining ducts are stacked about where our check-out machines will be.
A few weeks ago I got to go inside, and it is easy to picture the layout of the new branch. I can see where our meeting rooms will be. I stood in the spot where my office will be–a very nice portion of the concrete floor. Black pipes stick up out of the slab and identify the position of the bathrooms. The building is very tall and the height will allow light to flood into the completed building. In fact, the most frequently heard comment from the public about the new building is ‘hey, that’s really tall.’
Meanwhile, at the old Francis Branch, life goes on. The crews have installed a temporary handrail to help us all on the sidewalk, which is on a bit of an incline, during the winter. Our old building remains enclosed (all the windows are in here, too), and, like the new branch, it is much busier on the inside than it appears from the outside. Come up and see the progress in person, or check out this photographic record of the progress, taken by staff member Sharon.
FICTION
Jesus: A Story of Enlightenment by Deepak Chopra
Midnight: A Gangster Love Story by Sister Souljah
Romanced to Death: An E.J. Pugh Mystery by Susan Rogers Cooper
Summer Snow by Nicole Baart
Texas Sunrise: Two Novels of the Texas Republic by Elmer Kelton
NONFICTION
The Bro Code by Barney Stinson
Buyology: Truth and Lies About Why We Buy by Martin Lindstrom
Influence by Mary-Kate Olsen
The Sciencebook: Everything You Need to Know About the World and How It Works by National Geographic
Scratch Beginnings: Me, $25, and the Search for the American Dream by Adam Shepard
DVDs
The Big Bang Theory: Season 1
Death Note
The Foot Fist Way
Get Smart
Shrek the Halls
CDs
Love and Life–Eric Benet
Now That’s What I Call Country: 20 Chart-Topping Hits!–Various Artists
One World–The Cheetah Girls
Our World, Our Way–Dem Franchize Boyz
Time the Conqueror–Jackson Browne
CHILDREN’S
The Cardboard Piano by Lynne Rae Perkins (Preschool)
Knucklehead: Tall Tales & Mostly True Stories About Growing Up Scieszka by Jon Scieszka (Grades 3–6)
Monster Mess! by Margery Cuyler (Preschool)
Samuel Blink and the Runaway Troll by Matt Haig (Grades 5–8)
Those Darn Squirrels! by Adam Rubin (Preschool)
TEEN
Antsy Does Time by Neal Shusterman
Dead Is the New Black by Marlene Perez
How to Ditch Your Fairy by Justine Larbalestier
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
I Know It’s Over by C.K. Kelly Martin
Published the week of November 7, 2008. View the complete list from The New York Times.
Hardcover Fiction:
1. THE GATE HOUSE, by Nelson DeMille. (Grand Central, $27.99.) In a sequel to “The Gold Coast” (1990) a tax attorney and his ex-wife explore a reconciliation.
2. EXTREME MEASURES, by Vince Flynn. (Atria, $27.95.) Mitch Rapp teams up with a C.I.A. colleague to fight a terrorist cell — and the politicians who would rein them in.
3. THE BRASS VERDICT, by Michael Connelly. (Little, Brown, $26.) Harry Bosch and Mickey Haller (the Lincoln lawyer) team up to find a killer.
4. THE LUCKY ONE, by Nicholas Sparks. (Grand Central, $24.99.) A marine returning home sets out to find the woman whose photo he found in Iraq.
5. A GOOD WOMAN, by Danielle Steel. (Delacorte, $27.) An American society girl who made a new life as a doctor in World War I France returns to New York.
Hardcover Nonfiction:
1. DEWEY, by Vicki Myron with Bret Witter. (Grand Central, $19.99.) The kitten left freezing in the returned-book slot of an Iowa public library, and his rise to fame.
2. AGAINST MEDICAL ADVICE, by James Patterson and Hal Friedman. (Little, Brown, $26.99.) A family’s struggle to get treatment for their son’s Tourette’s syndrome.
3. THE SNOWBALL, by Alice Schroeder. (Bantam, $35.) The life of Warren Buffett.
4. A BOLD FRESH PIECE OF HUMANITY, by Bill O’Reilly. (Broadway, $26.) The Fox News commentator on his upbringing and career.
5. HOT, FLAT, AND CROWDED, by Thomas L. Friedman. (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, $27.95.) How a green revolution can renew America, by the New York Times columnist.
Children’s Chapter Books:
1. DIARY OF A WIMPY KID written and illustrated by Jeff Kinney. (Abrams, $12.95.) The travails of adolescence, in cartoons. (Ages 9 to 12)
2. DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: RODRICK RULES written and illustrated by Jeff Kinney. (Amulet/Abrams, $12.95.) How Greg embarrassed himself on his summer vacation (ask his older brother, Rodrick); a sequel to Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
3. THE MAZE OF BONES, by Rick Riordan. (Scholastic, $12.99.) A brother and sister hunt for the source of their family’s power; Book 1 of a new series, “The 39 Clues.” (Ages 12 and up)
4. THE GRAVEYARD BOOK, by Neil Gaiman. Illustrated by Dave McKean. (HarperCollins, $17.99.) To avoid a killer, a boy lives in a cemetery. (Ages 10 and up)
5. THE WAY WE WORK, by David Macaulay with Richard Walker. (Lorraine/Houghton Mifflin, $35.) Getting to know the human body. (Ages 9 to 12)
