It's For You!

Sometimes if feels like, no matter where you go, cell phones are eternally going off.

The library is no exception.



Whether it's a current pop song, a voice recording, or a strange noise (Is that a train whistle??), it seems that someone's phone is always ringing.

Did you know that we do allow cell phone usage in the library? It's true. We do not forbid people to talk on their phones in the library. HOWEVER...

• Do make sure you are considerate of the people around you. Talk at the same volume level as you would to someone sitting next to you. Quietly, since this is, after all, a library...
• Don't have passionate, emotional conversations in the library! Everyone can hear you, and you will probably get louder and louder without realizing it.
• Do "hide away." Find a corner or a nook so you don't disturb others. Perhaps away from the computers and study groups. We are a decent-sized library, so chances are you can find a place to chat in peace.
• Don't go into our quiet reading room to have a cell phone conversation. It's called a quiet reading room for a reason. We keep it set apart from meetings, kids, and conversations so people who want serious quiet at the library may have it.

If you get too carried away, you may be asked to hang out in the lobby to finish your conversation. That way, you'll have an open area behind closed doors and out of the elements. We only ask that you consider other patrons, as well as library staff. We really don't want to have to come up and ask you to keep it down!

So chat away...conscienciously.

Laura
On behalf of the ACL

June 26, 1997: A Magical Day

The summer is an excellent time to get a lot of reading done.

I always love to do a lot of reading. But I find that, especially in the summer, I love to reread some old favorites. And my absolute favorite is Harry Potter.



On this day in 1997, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was published in the UK. J.K. Rowling would go on to write six more books in the Harry Potter series, each one more popular than the last.

Why not try out Harry Potter this summer? For the first time, or for the second time, or for the seventh time? Read the books, watch the movies, listen to the audio books on long car trips. Go on a fantastical adventure to Hogwarts with Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Immerse yourself in the excellent writing, fascinating characters, and pure magic of the series.

And best of all, you can check everything out from your local library! Here's a list of the seven Harry Potter books (and movies!):

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (or Philosopher's, if you're in the UK!)
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (movies include Part 1 and Part 2)

Happy reading!

Laura
On behalf of the ACL

Shhh! It's a Secret!

Did you know about our secret garden?

It's in a hidden area by the library building. You can only find it if you know it's there.

If you're standing at the library entrance, turn left and walk down the side of the building until you can peek through and see this cozy little garden. Walk on the stepping stones to reach it.

What a lovely area to sit on a bench and enjoy the bubbling water! Read a book, chat with a friend, enjoy the shady outdoors.

There are some days where you just HAVE to be outside. And this "secret" garden is the perfect place to relax.

Laura

On behalf of the ACL



And Would You Like a Thumbtack?

Unless you are exTREMely focused when you walk into the library (and some people are, judging by how many walk in and then ask where the bathrooms are), you've probably noticed our bulletin boards.

They look like this:

 

Except you'll have to turn your head to the right because for some reason, this picture refuses to stay turned for me! I decided not to spend more than ten minutes trying to fix it. So just humor me.

Anyway, you can't see the other side of the board, but we do have a right side. Both the left and the ride sides of the boards are for ads such as babysitting, lawn service, tutoring, or car sales. Anything that requires money. The center of the board is reserved for non-profit events and services, like free concerts, library programs, and free kittens!

Be sure that, before you hang something on our bulletin board, you ask someone at the circulation desk to sign and date it for you. We remove postings after a month. And anything that hasn't been approved and signed will be removed as well.

Also, we have a smaller board there where you may hang up business cards.

I would recommend coming on in to the library to see the bulletin board for yourself, whether to hang something out or check out what's happening in your community. You'll probably also want to get a better look than this blurry, small, sideways picture I have so carefully posted.

On behalf of the ACL,

Laura

In the Good Old Summertime

School must be out, because we have a lot of fresh faces around the library these days. College kids home for the summer, kids registering for summer reading, and moms looking for a beach read!

Everyone knows about our children's summer reading program of course, but did you know we also have programs for teens and adults?

Teens and adults both have the chance to win a Kindle Touch (one for a teen, one for an adult), and all they have to do is fill out one quick rate slip per book read. Read it, rate it, turn in your slip, and help us get our highest number of participators yet! Check out the table in the picture below, then stop by it the next time you're in the library.



Also, look at our adult and teen programming, all advertised on the table and board to the left of the door when you enter the library. For teens... cooking classes, playwriting sessions, and a photography workshop will bring out your creative side. For adults... lectures, book clubs, and painting classes will keep you engaged at your library.



And of course, we have LOTS going on for kids. Register in the children's library and you'll receive a passport to visit various participating attractions in the area. You can keep track of books in a reading log, enter coloring contests, and earn points for prizes! Sign up for all kinds of programs, too, like game nights, story times, Lego club, and more.

Hope to see you around the library this summer!

Guest Post: 22 Britannia Road

Recently, I climbed into my mother’s silver Ford mini-van and embarked on a road-trip of sorts.  Really anything that is over twenty miles constitutes a road-trip to me, but that is beside the point. The looming three and a half hour drive seemed utterly daunting. Would I really be alone with only my thoughts and two yellow lines for that long? Horrors. Thankfully, the library provided some welcomed relief and distraction.

Roaming the colorful stacks proved a comforting and welcomed task as I put the drive out of my mind and concentrated on choosing the perfect book on CD to accompany me on my trip. As the only other voice in the van with me, it was vital that I chose wisely. Finally, I found it: 22 Britannia Road by Amanda Hodgkinson. I, as an Anglofile, tend to gravitate towards anything that will let me walk the streets of my lovely London again, even if only in my head, and this book promised to let me do just that.

The premise of the plot centers on a family during World War II torn apart and later reunited, trying to repair the fragments of time and distance and reacquaint themselves with each other. Both husband and wife have wartime secrets hidden from each other, and a son loyal to his mother and wary of his father. The story unfolds from each of their perspectives and during multiple time periods—before the war, during, and the rocky after-years.

As I drove through Pennsylvania and into the familiarity of New York, I found myself equally transported to Poland and England, 1940. My heart was in my throat as the family awkwardly met up in Victoria Station, and later as their son ran truant from school. I clenched my jaw as husband and wife tried to establish a new routine, and as foreign life overwhelmed the family.

The arrival at my destination left me halfway through the story and wanting more. As I climbed out of my van and stretched my legs, I almost wanted to get back in so I could finish the story of Janusz, his wife Silvana, and their shifty child Oreck.  Almost.

So, final word: check out 22 Britannia Road and see if this family can reconcile themselves and start afresh in England.

Cheers, readers!

Renee

On behalf of the ACL

A Busy World

Happy Birthday, Richard Scarry! (1919-1994). This children's author and illustrator published over 300 books, many of them translated into multiple languages.



I have some very happy memories of watching Richard Scarry videos when I was little. Lowly Worm, Huckle Cat, and Hilda Hippo were just some of the fun characters created by this author.



Richard Scarry's most famous books are about the animals that live in Busytown. These stories are the ones the tv series, The Busy World of Richard Scarry, was based on.

Celebrate the works of this author today by checking out some of the kids' books and dvds available through the Lackawanna County Library System:

Dvds:
Busytown Mysteries: Pickle of a Pickle in Busytown
Hooray for Huckle: Zooming Around Busytown
Richard Scarry's Best Busy People Video Ever!

Books:
The Best Mistake Ever! And Other Stories
Mr. Frumble's New Cars
Pie Rats, Ahoy!
A Summer Picnic

Laura
On behalf of the ACL