Guest Post: Facts of a Mysterious Holiday

Guest post by one of our own, Laura D.!

A breeze whips through the streets, carrying with it the first bite of winter and sending the dried leaves dancing through the moonlit night. On the sidewalks, young princesses and pirates, ghosts and ghouls race from house to house clutching their bags of treats and filling the air with their joyous laughter.

Halloween is a holiday that those of us in the United States are very familiar with. It is the night in October, that as children, we all looked forward to. It was a chance for us to pretend to be whatever we wanted to be, spend time with friends, and get a sugar rush that drove our parents crazy. However, how much do we really know about this mysterious holiday? The following are some surprising facts about this long-lived tradition.

1. Halloween is believed to have originated in Ireland about 6,000 years ago.

2. The modern day version of trick or treating originated from a medieval Christian practice in which on Hallowmas the poor would go door to door offering prayers for the dead in exchange for food.

3. The first Jack O’ Lanterns were actually carved turnips.

4. Orange and black are the colors associated with Halloween because orange represents the harvest and black is associated with darkness and death.

5. Young Celtic girls believed that if they threw apple peels over their shoulder on Halloween the peels would form the initials of their future husband.

6. Dressing up in costume for Halloween is believed to have originated from the ancient Celtic tradition of wearing masking when leaving the house on Halloween to allow them to go unnoticed by wandering spirits.

7. Halloween is the second largest commercialized holiday.

8. In the United States, the largest Halloween parade is the Village Halloween parade in New York City. It has over 50,000 participants and draws around 2 million spectators.

            9. Tootsie rolls were the first wrapped penny candy in America.

            10. The most popular candy for Halloween is chocolate candy bars, with Snickers topping the list at #1.

                        

If you want to find out more interesting facts about Halloween or get some great spooky holiday ideas, check out these items available in the Lackawanna County Library System. Happy Halloween and safe trick-or-treating!

Halloween  by Gooseberry Patch

And Then Comes Halloween by Tom Brenner

A Hallowe’en Anthology: Literary and Historical Writings Over the Centuries by Lisa Morton

The Best of Halloween Tricks and Treats by Better Homes & Gardens

The Haunted History of Halloween - DVD

 Laura D.

On behalf of the ACL

Sources for this article:

http://facts.randomhistory.com/halloween-facts.html

http://www.history.com/topics/halloween

http://www.halloween-website.com/trivia.htm

 

Author Spotlight: Alan Bradley

The first time I read about Flavia de Luce, it was for the Afternoon Book Club.

I facilitate this book club, (which meets the third Wednesday every month and is super fun, by the way!) and last December we read The Sweetness of the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley.



I. loved. it.

The writing was so fresh and witty, I was drawn right in. The mystery is told from the perspective of Flavia de Luce, an eleven-year-old aspiring chemist living in a small English village in the 1950s. She's spunky, independent, and happens to have the unlucky talent of running across dead bodies.

After reading this first book in the series, I quickly put the second book on hold at the library: The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag.



Then, when the third one was published, A Red Herring Without Mustard, I was first in line to read it!



I thoroughly enjoyed each one. And aren't the covers beautiful? I definitely judge books by their covers, and these ones are so vivid they just pop right off the shelf at you.

When we discussed the first book, several members of the club said they thought parts of the book were too predictable. (I am usually blissfully unaware of a mystery's ending right up until the big reveal.) If you're a hard-core mystery reader who likes a real challenge, these may not be for you. If you're in the mood for a fun mystery with a delightful character, though, check these out!

And...put Alan Bradley's next book in the series on hold today! It's coming out November 1.



Click here to visit Alan Bradley's website, for more on him and his books.

Laura
On behalf of the ACL

A Victorian Holiday

If you've been to the library in the past week, you've seen the variety of gift baskets on display. These baskets have been donated by people and businesses in our community for...the Holiday Marketplace!



That's right, the Holiday Marketplace is just around the corner - Saturday, November 12, from 10am - 4pm. This will be its third year at our library, and it's going to be bigger than ever!

I worked on the day of the last Holiday Marketplace, and I'm telling you, it's worth checking out. The whole library has a different look, a festive atmosphere. Vendors selling all kinds of gift items are set up throughout the library. After you browse and shop, you can get your items gift-wrapped. Then, stop by the bake sale run by the Teen Leadership Committee. And of course, winners will be drawn for the gift baskets!



The 2011 theme is A Victorian Holiday. The day will include readings from holiday classics, live music from 1-3pm, and new this year, a "Mini-Marketplace" for young shoppers!

This day is not to be missed. Not only will you be able to do some fun holiday shopping, you will support your library. This event raises money for the library, so it can keep providing quality programming and new materials. Show your love for the library on this special day.



Next time you're in, pick up some raffle tickets! 2 for $1, 12 for $5, and 25 for $10. Here at the front desk you'll see the lottery ticket tree - just one of the baskets! And the Teen Leadership Committee is selling Gertrude Hawk candy bars for $1. Stop in, take a look, and say hello!

Laura
On behalf of the ACL

Look Both Ways Before You Cross the Internet

Did you know that October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM)?

If you're reading this blog right now, chances are you're pretty proficient on the internet. But how careful are you? This month is a good reminder to watch what you do online. The internet can be dangerous to those who are unaware of how to protect themselves.

Staysafeonline.org has helpful information about NCSAM, including free printable documents like:
-Gaming Tips for Kids
-Internet Safety and Security Tips for College Students
-Mobile Safety Tips
-Internet Safety and Security Tips for Parents
-Social Networking Tips

Find their website by clicking here.

So this month, take a moment and make sure you're being safe online. Do you know what your kids are posting? Do you have older relatives who are just starting out online? Be aware of the dangers so you can truly enjoy the benefits of the internet.

Book Suggestions:

Cybersafe: Protecting and Empowering Kids in the Digital World of Texting, Gaming, and Social Media by Gwen Schurgin O'Keefe

Internet Censorship: Protecting Citizens or Trampling Freedom by Christine Zuchora-Walske

Cyber Ethics by Diane Bailey

The Dangers of Online Predators by Michael Sommers

Laura
On behalf of the ACL

Meet Abby

Meet Abby!

She's our library scarecrow.

She isn't super scary, as you can tell. But, then again, I haven't seen any crows around here either!

I created Abby using some basic library materials:

Books

Library nametag

Ribbons, clips and tape from the supply closet

Director Leah Rudolph's skirt

Library denim shirt

Old newspaper

Construction paper for face

What a hodge-podge! I'll tell you one thing about library workers...we're resourceful!

So if you haven't already, stop by and see Abby. She is our entry into the Abington Business and Professional Association Scarecrow Contest. If you'd like to vote for her, send an email to News@theabingtonjournal.com with the subject line: "Scarecrow contest." Include your name, address, and phone number. Votes must be in by Monday, October 24, and automatically enter you into a drawing to win prizes!

Check out the other scarecrows at businesses in the area from:
Beta Bread
Cloe & Co
Edward Jones
Everything Natural
Jaya Yoga
Kids Quality Consignment
MyGym
Lawler's
Sole to Soul
White's Country Floral

Laura
On behalf of the ACL

More eBooks!

A few weeks ago, I wrote about eBooks. I gave reasons on why you should check out library eBooks, as well as instructions on how to download them. (Check out that blog post by clicking here.)

At the end of that post, I noted that Kindle eBooks were not currently available. Guess what? Now they are!

I got to play around with a Kindle (not mine! I don't own an eReader) and downloaded some library eBooks myself. They were very simple to download; the eBook appeared on my device within seconds of checking it out.

I put together some basic instructions on how to download Kindle eBooks. Check them out below, along with the instructions previously posted on how to download eBooks on other devices such as the Nook or the Sony Reader.

How to Download eBooks for Kindle

How to Download eBooks

Here are a few of the titles available to you on our eCatalog, which you can access by clicking here:

Fiction:

Royal Flush by Rhys Bowen

Ice Cold by Tess Gerritsen

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Steig Larsson

Non-Fiction:

Blood, Bones, and Butter by Gabrielle Hamilton

Decision Points by George W. Bush

Meet Dewey

How much do you know about the Dewey Decimal System?

It's the system we use to categorize our non-fiction items: books, DVDs, and talking books. This system makes it easy to browse the right section. If you know that 400s is the language section, you can check for Spanish language books in the adult books, kids' books, talking books, and DVDs.

So here's the basic list:

000: Computers, information, general
Check here for help in learning the latest computer program.

100: Philosophy, psychology
Here's where a lot of the self-help books are!

200: Religion
Find anything from the Bible to the Koran, devotionals to Greek mythology.

300: Social sciences
Check out your relationship books - dating, family, marriage, etc.

400: Language
Learn to speak Italian or learn to sign with your hands!

500: Natural science
Here you'll find information on plants and animals in their natural state, like mushrooms growing in forests and sharks living in the ocean. This section also includes the science of math, so check here if you need help with your algebra!

600: Technology and applied science
While the 500s section contains books on unchanged nature, the 600s section holds books on how humans use nature. So we've got books on inventions, cooking, gardening, medicine, pets, etc.

700: Arts and recreation
Learn how to take a good photo, paint a picture, draw a cartoon, or throw a baseball.

800: Literature
Look here for poetry, instruction on writing, humorous writing, and plays.

900: History, geography, biography
The biography section is 92, so if you're looking for a biography on Abraham Lincoln, look under 92 Lincoln.

Now, this really is basic. You can get much more specific. For instance, you may know you can find books about pets in the 600s, but 636 is domesticated animals and 636.7 is specifically dogs.

I found a neat website created by students to teach other students about the Dewey Decimal System. Check it out here to learn more! I learned some things I never knew!



Laura
On behalf of the ACL

Tour the Library

Welcome to the Abington Community Library!

Let's explore some of my favorite spots. Have YOU been everywhere in the library? 

The front of our library on a beautiful, clear day! Our book drop is open when the library is closed.



Our bulletin board. Check here for all kinds of community events, announcements, jobs, and items for sale.

More bulletin board! And leave your business card here, too.

As soon as you enter the library, on the left you'll see the newest books in our collection, as well as some best-sellers.

The circulation desk. Usually you see us smiling librarians standing behind it, ready to answer any questions! The pink box holds an American Girl doll, Kanini, that we're currently raffling off.

Paperback book exchange. Leave some and take some! All free and donated by patrons.

Here are just some of our patron computers, where you can go online, write papers, research your ancesters, look for a job, and more!

Looking out into our main library. We've got CDs in the front, reference books behind them, and adult fiction and non-fiction towards the back.

Our quiet reading room for adults. Perfect for catching up on your favorite magazine or staying current with the local paper.

Looking for a Friday night movie? Here're some of our DVDs!

Our Young Adult corner, complete with comfy chairs for study groups.

This way to the Children's Library!

Looking out into the children's non-fiction section.

Picture books and plenty of places to read, play, and explore!

Check out your kids' favorite characters here.

Before you go, stop by our events table to sign up for book discussions, movie nights, painting classes, and more!

Thanks for stopping by! Hope to see you around.

Laura
On behalf of the ACL