Unplug It!

Well, we missed the official day, but last Friday at sundown marked the beginning of the National Day of Unplugging. All over the world, people signed pledges online (ironic, no?) and committed to a day without texting, Facebook, Xbox, iPad...all of it!

Not a bad idea, if you think about it. How much of your day is consumed with online activities? How many people do you interact with on the Internet compared with face-to-face? Personally, I know I spend too much time parked in front of the tv or computer. It's a good idea to regularly take breaks from your technology. You might find you don't need it as much as you think.

When I have computer problems and can't get online, it's rough. I wonder what I'm missing on Facebook, I get behind on tv shows, and I feel lost without my dependable technology. But not too long ago when I couldn't get my Internet to work for almost a full week, I found other things I could do instead.

I took walks in the sunshine, I talked with my friend on the phone instead of online. I got out of the house and I caught up on my reading. And I realized that I needed to unplug myself more often!

Spring is coming...don't spend it indoors or with your eyes glued to a screen. Spend time with the people you love, and get out and DO life!

Oh, and check out these books for some ideas:

The Golden Book of Family Fun by Margaret Brown

Goodnight iPad: A Parody for the Next Generation by Ann Droyd

The Winter of Our Disconnect: How Three Totally Wired Teenagers (and a Mother Who Slept with Her iPhone) Pulled the Plug on Their Technology and Lived to Tell the Tale by Susan Maushart

The Family Dinner: Great Ways to Connect with Your Kids, One Meal at a Time by Laurie David

Ready, Set, Play!: Parents and Children Bonding Through Sports by Mark Schlereth

You Are Not a Gadget: A Manifesto by Jaron Lanier

Laura
On behalf of the ACL

The Big Sale

The Spring Book Sale is almost upon us! The Friends of the Abington Community Library are managing this excellent fundraiser; it's always a big hit. We have two sales a year (one in the fall, also), and people come from miles around to stock up on good deals.

The book sale atmosphere is friendly and fun, with crowds browsing around tables of books, movies, and cds. Music is playing, people are chatting, and volunteers from the Friends are eager to help.

The ACL Teen Leadership Committee runs a fundraising bake sale during the book sale, so make sure you stop by for some sweet treats.

This year's sale is on Saturday, April 14, from 9am-2pm. It's right across the street from the library at the Clarks Summit United Methodist Church. The Friends set up at 3pm on Friday, April 13 and then are able to enjoy a Preview Sale afterwards until 6:30pm. If you aren't a Friend of the library yet, become one for $5 that night or any time you stop by the library.

After you enjoy the sale, don't forget to visit us here at the library! As part of our musical Second Saturdays, the Presbybop Jazz Quartet will be here on Saturday from 1-3pm.

The Spring Book Sale is a great way to welcome spring to Clarks Summit. Tell your friends and bring your family on April 14. See you there!



Laura
On behalf of the ACL

Happy Hunger Games!

As a lover of books, I always look forward to seeing a book turned into a movie. Of course, it's also a little scary. Will it be a good adaptation? True to the essence of the book? Will the characters be the way I imagined them while I was reading?



The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is officially released tonight at midnight as, what some people are calling, the film of the year. I am beyond excited for this movie, as I have been a fan of the books for about two years now. I've heard nothing but good reviews so far from the critics who have seen it, and I can't wait!

In case you haven't heard, The Hunger Games is the story of a future dystopian society, in which the government maintains control by forcing children from all twelve districts to compete in an arena until only one is left alive. Although it may seem crazy and violent at first, this book has more than meets the eye. Suzanne Collins writes with such suspense that most people are unable to put it down. The themes of love, sacrifice, justice, and courage are inspiring, and the characters fascinating.

It's been compared to Harry Potter and Twilight in its popularity, and, as there are two more books to turn into films, this franchise promises to be just as big or bigger. As someone who works in and loves the library, I'm thrilled to see such interest in the books. It's exciting to be part of something this big happening in the world of literature.

Although the Lackawanna County Library System owns multiple copies of each book in the series (The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay), they are pretty hard to get right now, due to overwhelming demand! So when you can, pick them up and give them a try. You might be surprised.

Laura
On behalf of the ACL

Tell Me a Story!

Happy World Folk Tales & Fables Week! What a great week to revisit some of your favorite stories from when you were a kid. Try introducing them to children you know, as well as discovering some new stories on your own.

When I was little, I was fascinated with stories from around the world explaining how things came to be. I also loved tricky characters like the spider Anansi from Africa, and Brer Rabbit from the South.

These short fables are effective because they get their points across quickly and cleverly. It's great that they use mostly animal characters, too. Kids today can learn the same moral lessons as kids years ago did, with the same stories.

Cool, right? Check out some kids' books below, available in the Lackawanna County Library System:

• Goha: The Wise Fool by Denys Johnson-Davies (a story from the Middle East)
• My Grandmother's Stories: A Collection of Jewish Folk Tales by Adele Geras
• The Welsh Fairy Book by W. Jenkyn Thomas
• The Barefoot Book of Giants, Ghosts and Goblins: Traditional Tales From Around the World by John Matthews
• African American Folktales: Stories from Black Tradition in the New World by Roger D. Abrahams
• Favorite Irish Folk Tales by Seumas MacManus
• Mysterious Tales of Japan by Rafe Martin
• The Brothers Grimm: Popular Folk Tales by Jacob Grimm
• Folk Tales and Fables of Europe by Robert R. Ingpen

Laura
On behalf of the ACL

PLA: Online Learning

Today and tomorrow, the staff here at the Abington Community Library have the opportunity to learn from the Public Library Association's Virtual Conference!

The conference is currently happening in Philadelphia this week, and sessions will be available online to us here in the convenience of our library. My co-workers and I will be able to listen and interact with the sessions that interest us.

The two I will be "attending" are "Social Media and Your Marketing Strategy" and "iPads in the Library: From Tech Programming to Staff Productivity." These are both especially applicable to me! I manage Facebook, Twitter, and the blog here at the library. I also got to figure out how to use our library Nook and iPad. I'm looking forward to learning more about social networking and the iPad so I can better serve my community through the library.

It's important to us as the staff of your public library to keep growing and developing. We don't want to get stuck in a rut, or be adverse towards new ideas. Not only through this particular conference but also through other classes, research, discussion, and workshops we keep moving forward.

Here at the library, we believe that people can keep learning at any age!



Laura
On ACL

If You Give a Man a Library Card

If you give a man a library card, he's going to ask for a book.

When you give him the book, he'll probably ask you for similar ones by the same author.

When he's read those, he'll ask for the movie based on the book.

Then he'll want to ask you if you've watched it.

When you tell him it wasn't your favorite, but you did like this other movie, he'll ask for that one instead.

When he's finished with the movie, he'll bring it back and put it in the book drop.

The book drop will remind him that he wanted to learn how to build a small piece of furniture over the summer.

When you get him a book on building furniture, he'll realize he needs music to listen to while he works.

You'll have to show him where the CDs are.

Once he has a big pile of CDs to check out, he'll be so exhausted he'll need to sit down.

You show him to the quiet reading room, where there are soft chairs and pillows.

He'll relax in a chair and might even ask you to read to him.

You'll tell him this is the quiet reading room for a reason.

Sitting in the chair he'll remember he has to write an email to his uncle to wish him a happy birthday.

He'll probably ask to use a computer.

Once he's on the computer, he'll do some research. He'll print some pages, and ask to use a pen and paper.

The pen will remind him that he wanted to sign up for a library program, so he signs up for a book discussion group.

When he comes back to return his CDs another day, he'll bring his friend in with him.

At the circulation desk, he'll see the first book he checked out.

He'll tell his friend that she needs to read this book too, and chances are,

she'll want a library card to go with it.



Laura
On behalf of the ACL

A Musical Library

If you're a regular at the Abington Community Library, you know we don't whisper around here.

As a public library, we strive to be a community center. A place where parents and kids, teenagers, students, seniors, everyone can hang out. People come here not only to study but to find books, to take computer classes, to be tutored, to search for jobs, to attend programs, even to listen to music!

That's right, listen to music! People may be pleasantly surprised when they learn about the musical activities at our library. Along with special events, like sing-a-longs and drum circles, we have two monthly programs for all ages: Second Saturdays and Fourth Fridays.

Second Saturdays is a creative way for our patrons to experience free, live music and artwork on display. Musicians from the community perform from 1-3pm, and free coffee is available to all. I have loved listening to the variety of genres while working these Saturdays. Music goes so nicely with a good book...

Check out Retro Rocket this Saturday, March 10, for some country blues folk-rock! This trio features Jessic Illuzzi, Mike Chafin, and MJ Pushka. Also make sure you view Barry Singer's watercolors on display on the ends of our stacks this month.

Fourth Fridays is an event for amateur musicans to do some old fashioned jammin' with acoustic instruments! We've got some regulars that come every month to hang out and play together, as well as people who just come to listen. The next Fourth Friday is March 23 from 6:30-8:30pm.

The library's not just for reading! Join us for a musical event sometime soon.



We do not have large musical numbers in the library, as seen here in The Music Man. Yet.

Laura
On behalf of the ACL

A Library Poem Inspired by Theodor Geisel

This building is fun, this building is grand.
So step on inside, come on in, take my hand...

We'll have a library adventure today.
Don't be scared, grab your card, grab your friends, don't delay!

We'll do some researching, computing, and thinkin',
We'll learn about dolphins and Abraham Lincoln.

Gardening, racecars, and a puppy named Marley,
How to take super care of your shiny new Harley.

We'll find you a series (you'll like it a lot),
By an author who writes spunky characters and plot.

Prefer to listen? We have books on CD.
If you have a device, download books that are "e."

Bring the kids to the puzzles, the LEGOs, train table,
Storytimes, crafts and games for all young and able.

Discover Caillou, Dora, Pooh, Fancy Nancy,
And Curious George, for the child who gets antsy.

You'll like it, you'll like it, you'll like it so much,
The library has books for all ages to clutch!

Get on a computer, find a job, write a paper,
The library provides things you won't have to pay 'fer.

Librarians are here to provide needed assistance,
They cleverly find answers in creative persistence.

The library is not just an old passing trend,
If you still need convincing read these words from a friend:

"The more that you read, the more things you will know.
The more that you learn, the more places you'll go."


Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!
Laura
On behalf of the ACL