Happy Birthday!

Today, celebrate the birthdays of two of my favorite authors growing up: C. S. Lewis and Louisa May Alcott!

Though these authors were quite different, their children's books have been well loved for years.



Lewis's series of fantasy novels for children, The Chronicles of Narnia, have been his most popular books. They have been made into movies, and and are enjoyed by children all over the world.

I remember getting lost in the world of Narnia when I was little, and dreaming of the day when I, too, would discover a magical land in the back of my wardrobe. This never happened, but I never stopped loving the books! The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, the first book in the series, is my favorite. It's a story of friendship and betrayal, love and perserverance. Good versus evil!



Louisa May Alcott was asked to write a book for girls, and what followed was the classic novel, Little Women. A story of four sisters, this book was so well received that Alcott had to keep writing! Girls everywhere loved (and continue to love!) the characters of willful Jo, beautiful Meg, compassionate Beth and prideful Amy.

Little Women will always remain my favorite of Alcott's novels, but I also enjoyed Eight Cousins, Little Men, and Jo's Boys. They're timeless!

Check out books by C.S. Lewis and Louisa May Alcott in your local public library. And also find the movies made from them!

Happy reading,
Laura
On behalf of the ACL

Giving Thanks

What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving?

Your family?

Your friends?

Your job?

Your home?

I know what we here at the library are thankful for - YOU! Without you, the library wouldn't last very long. Every time you walk in and use the library, you're supporting the work it does for the community. So check out a book, log onto the computer, bring your kids to story time, read a magazine or write a paper! Thank you for using the library.

The library will close early at 5 on Wednesday, and be closed all day Thursday. We will be open the day after Thanksgiving, so stop by and see us after your Black Friday shopping!



Laura
On behalf of the ACL

Holiday Marketplace 2011

What a day!

We had hundreds of people from the community (and beyond!) join us last Saturday, November 12, for our third annual Holiday Marketplace.

Tables of vendors selling everything from soaps to jewelry to candy wove all around the library. We had live music, readings from A Christmas Carol, and a mini marketplace for kids. A general feeling of holiday spirit spread throughout the library as shoppers picked out gifts and then had them wrapped at our table run by the Teen Leadership Committee. The teens also sold dozens of cookies, brownies, and other delicious treats at their bake sale.

It was a busy day at the desk to be sure, with plenty of people eager to get library cards, or their favorite books and movies. The library was full, and the day was a rousing success.

People continued to buy tickets to the basket raffle all day, and we had many thrilled winners after we pulled the tickets!

This day would not have been possible without the hard work of Dorothy Boccella, Sandy Longo, and Leah Rudolph,as well as all of the adult and teen volunteers! Thanks for helping, thanks for attending, and we'll see you next year.



Laura
On behalf of the ACL

Cozy and Warm

Been enjoying the beautiful, sunny weather? I'll take it as long as I can get it, but I'm sorry to say it won't last forever!

Winter is coming. So why not get cozy and read a good book?

These colder months are the perfect time to read that certain book you haven't had time for yet. Is it too cold or snowy to go anywhere? Read the book you picked up from the library!

If you hear about a storm coming, after you hit up the grocery store for milk and bread, stop by the library and stock up on DVDs! It's good to be prepared for a quiet evening at home. And the library is the best place for you to borrow the books, movies, CDs, and magazines that you love.

While you're enjoying these cozy winter evenings, why not try your hand at whipping up some quality hot chocolate? The recipe below comes from a book available here at the library, The Little Big Book of Comfort Food by Katrina Fried.

Hot Chocolate with Whipped Cream
Serves 2

Hot Chocolate
Ingredients:
2 cups milk
1 cup cream
4 oz. bittersweet chocolate
2 T sugar

1. Combine the milk, cream, chocolate, and sugar in a saucepan and heat over a low flame, stirring constantly with an eggbeater or whisk.
2. When the mixture is smooth and just starting to bubble, remove it from the heat and pour into two mugs. Serve with cinnamon sticks, peppermint sticks, fresh whipped cream (recipe follows), or marshmallows.

Whipped Cream
Ingredients:
1/2 pint whipping cream
1 tsp vanilla or peppermint extract
1 tsp sugar

1. Combine the ingredients in a mixing bowl.
2. Whip with an electric mixer or by hand until stiff peaks form.
3. Spoon the whipped cream onto the steaming hot chocolate. Or it can be covered and refrigerated for several hours.



Laura
On behalf of the ACL

Snackin' On Healthy Food Is What We Like to Do!

Did you know that November is Good Nutrition Month? (Bonus points if you know where the title of this blog post is from...)

Ironic, isn't it? Considering we probably eat more "bad" food this month and next than any other time! Cream, butter, sugar, fat. Comfort food, holiday food, party food. Yum!

Enjoy your special seasonal food, but remember: everything in moderation! Fill up on fruits and vegetables first, and I'm not talking about the kinds swimming in sauces. Make smart choices, and you won't be regretting it later in January when you're writing out your New Year's resolutions...

Our children's librarian, Mary Ann McGrath, has set out a nutrition display in the Children's Area with several great books. Check it out with your kids next time you're in, so they'll be able to start making good food choices now.

And click here for Nutrition.gov, to learn about weight management, meal planning, calories, and more!

Books on Nutrition
Available in the Lackawanna County Library System

• How Did That Get in My Lunchbox? The Story of Food by Christine Butterworth
• Food Rules: An Eater's Manual by Michael Pollan
• Start Fresh: Your Child's Jump Start to Lifelong Healthy Eating by Tyler Florence
• If It Makes You Healthy: More Than 100 Delicious Recipes Inspired by the Seasons by Sheryl Crow

Laura
On behalf of the ACL

National Men Make Dinner Day

Well, it's the first Thursday in November, and do you know what that means?

Hopefully you do by now, if you read the title of this blog post...

I heard on the radio this morning that today is National Men Make Dinner Day! Are you a man? Do you know a man? Make dinner/have him make you dinner!



According to the official website, which you may find by clicking here, there are 10 good reasons to celebrate National Men Make Dinner Day. My favorite is #6: "Whatever recipe you choose, you can name it after yourself. Example: Tonight's dinner is called 'Doug's Surprise.'"

The Lackawanna County Library System, luckily enough, has a fabulous collection of cookbooks. Some of these are especially meant for men! Here are a few:

Real Men Cook: Rites, Rituals, and Recipes for Living by Karega Kofi Moyo

Smokin' with Myron Mixon: Recipes Made Simple from the Winningest Man in Barbeque by Myron Mixon

Real Men Don't Cook Quiche: The Real Man's Cookbook by Scott Redman

Enjoy this national day, and let us know if you've try any good new recipes!

Laura
On behalf of the ACL

Get 'Em While They're Hot!

Have you noticed our 7 Day DVDs?

They're in a special section at the beginning of our DVDs - all marked with 7 Day stickers.

This means that:

• they're new!
• they're in high demand!
• they can't be placed on hold!
• they can't be renewed!
• first come, first serve!

So the next time you're in, head over and see what you can snag. There's nothing quite like the feeling of discovering a brand new DVD that you can take home for free right away. (And have you seen our 7 Day shelf for books, right next to our new book section? Same deal!)

Here're some new movies I've spotted recently on the 7 Day shelf:











Laura
On behalf of the ACL