Happy New Year!

Well, it's been a good year. What have you accomplished? How did those resolutions turn out? Ready to make some more?

The January book display's theme here at the library is "The New You." There's no better time than January 1 to make a change, start fresh, or try something new.

If you're making a resolution or two this year, choose carefully! Don't set goals that are impossible to reach, but don't sell yourself short. If it's important enough, you go out there and do it. And don't keep them to yourself; a little accountability will keep you motivated.

Check out the display the next time you're in the library for some ideas on shaping "the new you." Here are some books currently on those shelves:

Be the Change You Want to See in the World: 365 Things You Can Do for Yourself and Your Planet by Julie Fisher-McGarry

Lighten Up: Love What You Have, Have What You Need, Be Happier With Less by Peter Walsh

The Carb Lovers Diet: Eat What You Love, Get Slim for Life! by Health Magazine

The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness by Dave Ramsey

Happy New Year from all of us at the Abington Community Library!

Laura
On behalf of the ACL

Other People's Lives

Read any good memoirs lately?

From the hottest celebrities to historical figures to people I had never even heard of...memoirs have been a popular genre recently.

Why not set your chick lit, mysteries and crime thrillers aside for a bit, and try some non-fiction?

Here are a few I've enjoyed in the past few months:

My Lucky Life in and Out of Show Business by Dick Van Dyke



Sheepish: Two Women, Fifty Sheep, and Enough Wool to Save the Planet by Catherine Friend

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling



Bossypants by Tina Fey

The Dirty Life: A Memoir of Farming, Food, and Love by Kristin Kimball



Life is Not a Stage by Florence Henderson

Here are a few more that I have on my list to read:

A Stolen Life by Jaycee Lee Dugard

My Year with Eleanor by Noelle Hancock



Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua

Blood, Bones and Butter by Gabrielle Hamilton



Happy Reading!

Laura
On behalf of the ACL

Happy Holidays from the Library

In case you haven't noticed, it's the holiday season!
The stores are crowded, music is always playing, and there's a general feeling of cheer and festivity in the air.

Maybe you'll see family or friends you haven't seen in a while. Maybe you'll be traveling, or hosting people in your home.

Whatever you do around Christmas, or Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa...make it memorable!

And don't forget to stop by the library to pick up favorite holiday reads like:

• Skipping Christmas by John Grisham (also a movie - Christmas with the Kranks)
• The Christmas Train by David Baldacci
• Christmas mystery novels by Mary Higgins Clark and Carol Higgins Clark
• A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

or heartwarming holiday movies like:

• It's a Wonderful Life
• White Christmas
• Elf
• The Santa Clause

Have a safe, warm, fun weekend!



Laura
On behalf of the ACL

Shhhh!

Did you know that we have a quiet reading room?
As the name suggests, it's quiet. And it's for reading.

Aaand, you have to be over 18 to use it! So it's perfect for adults who are reading the daily paper or magazines, or college students studying for exams or writing papers.

The room is very peaceful and comfortable. The softest chairs in the library rest in this room! There are pictures on the wall and plants tended by our librarian with the greenest thumb, Teresa. In the corner sits a desk; perfect to set a laptop or notepad on.

Check it out the next time you're in. But remember, it's quiet! No tutors allowed in there. It's a peaceful spot in the middle of our busy library.

You can find it just past the Reader's Service desk when you walk into the library on your left.



Laura
On behalf of the ACL

Just Dip It In Chocolate!

Happy National Chocolate Covered Anything Day!
If you've ever used a chocolate fondue fountain, you know that, yes, anything can be dipped in chocolate.

Something strange happens when you have chocolate flowing freely. You just have to grab any kind of food within reach and dip it in.

"Hey, what about this? How would carrots taste?"
"I don't know...dip it and we'll find out!"

Cover something in chocolate, and you have a whole new taste experience. Give it a try...

What do you like to cover in chocolate?

fruit (pineapple, banana, strawberries)
angel food cake
Oreos
nuts
marshmallows
pretzels
potato chips


I have never tried this...but how could you go wrong??

The sky's the limit! Cover anything in chocolate today to celebrate!

Laura
On behalf of the ACL

Online Book Shelf

Want to organize cluttered book shelves? Try doing it online. There are several free sites you can use to create your own "virtual" book shelf, along with finding new books and connecting with other bookworms.

Here are a few I've heard of, including a brief description from their web sites. Click on their titles to visit them.

• bookjetty: "It's like Facebook, for book lovers."
• shelfari (by amazon.com): "A community-powered encyclopedia for book lovers."
• aNobii: "Where people find and share books."
• goodreads: "Meet your next favorite book."
• LibraryThing: "A home for your books."

Check them out! Try the book clubs, read the recommendations, share your favorites... and let me know which sites you enjoy.


Laura
On behalf of the ACL

Book Magic

Do you have a couple minutes to look at something beautiful? You won't regret it; I promise.

Click here.

Marvelous, isn't it?

The first sculpture, found at the Scottish Poetry Library, had a note containing these words:

We know that a library is so much more than a building full of books… a book is so much more than pages full of words.… This is for you in support of libraries, books, words, ideas….. a gesture (poetic maybe?)  

Libraries are so much more than buildings. Books are so much more than pages and words.

Thank you to the secret admirer of libraries! And if YOU are so creatively inclined, we certainly wouldn't object to finding our own sculpture here. *hint, hint...*

Laura
On behalf of the ACL

Have a Slice

Happy National Pie Day!

Actually, according to my sources, there appear to be in fact TWO National Pie Days, the other one being January 23. Not to be confused with Pi Day on March 14! But we'll go ahead and celebrate pie today.

Ahh, there's nothing quite like a homemade pie. Buttery crust, scrumptious filling. What's your favorite kind of pie? Chocolate, caramel, or shoo fly? Fruity kinds like apple, blueberry, or peach? Savory pies like quiche or chicken potpie?

I'm getting hungry just thinking about it. Though I'm more of a cake person, I really get into pies like coconut custard and chocolate peanut butter! And nothing beats warm apple pie, right out of the oven.

So eat some pie today! Bake some pie today! And check out the books below, available through the Lackawanna County Library System.

Happy Pie Day!



The Everything Pie Cookbook by Kelly Jaggers (lots of delicious and unusual recipes)

Clara Lee and the Apple Pie Dream by Jenny Han (children's book about a girl who wants to win the Little Miss Apple Pie contest)

Apple Pie ABC by Allison Murray (teach your kids the ABCs with this picture book!)

Key Lime Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke (mystery with recipes!)

Want more pie? Check out the American Pie Council's website by clicking here.

Laura
On behalf of the ACL