London 2012

The Olympics begin today in London with the Opening Ceremony.



Will you be watching?

I watched some of the Olympic trials a couple weeks ago and was astounded at the strength and determination of the athletes. It is simply amazing the types of physical feats competitors will be attempting from around the world. For the gold!

Do you have a favorite event to watch? Swimming? Gymnastics? Table Tennis?

I'm going to catch what I can. No matter what I watch, I'm hoping to see some real "Olympic moments." Something inspiring! Underdogs! People who have overcome enormous obstacles!

Check out the official Olympics website here, http://www.london2012.com/, then check out some Olympic books from the library!

For Adults:
Dream Team: How Michael, Magic, Larry, Charles, and the Greatest Team of All Time Conquered the World and Changed the Game of Basketball Forever by Jack McCallum (nonfiction)
Off Balance: A Memoir by Dominique Moceanu (nonfiction)
Private Games by James Patterson (fiction)

For Kids:
Great Olympic Moments by Michael Hurley (nonfiction)
Olympig! by Victoria Jamieson (fiction)
The World of Olympics by Nick Hunter (nonfiction)

Laura
On behalf of the ACL

I Scream, You Scream!

Did you know that July is National Ice Cream Month?

There are few things I enjoy more than a perfect scoop of ice cream. And not just in July, either. I don't mind if my whole head goes numb; ice cream in the dead of winter is still enjoyable.

But it's especially delightful in these warm summer months. Cool, refreshing, delicous. What's your favorite flavor? Do you prefer your ice cream in a cone or covered with toppings in a bowl?

Mmm. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it. Go out and get yourself some ice cream, already! And, check out these books available through the library system:

Ice Cream Treats: Easy Ways to Transform Your Favorite Ice Cream Into Spectacular Desserts by Charity Ferreira

A Passion for Ice Cream: 95 Recipes for Fabulous Desserts by Emily Luchetti

Serendipity Sundaes: Ice Cream Constructions and Frozen Concoctions by Stephen Bruce

The Ultimate Ice Cream Book by Bruce Weinstein

Laura
On behalf of the ACL

Tell Us Your Story

Hurricane Diane devastated the area in August 1995. Were you here? Do you have photos and stories to share?



The Lackawanna Valley Digital Archives has begun a project to document the history of this event. They are looking for volunteers to share what they have of the hurricane and flood.

If you have photos, they are able to scan them and then return them to you. If you have stories, they will also be compiling video histories.

Check out the Lackawanna Digital Archives website: http://www.lackawannadigitalarchives.org

For more information, contact Martina Soden, Assistant Head of Reference at the Albright Memorial Library. Her number is 348-3000, ext. 3008.

Also take a look at their poster on the bulletin board the next time you're here at the library.

Laura
On behalf of the ACL

Check Us Out!

Have you been to our website recently?

It's been given a facelift to make it more intuitive for our patrons to use.

Information is organized in menus on the right. You can go straight to what you need. Whether you're a child, a teen, or an adult, you can know where to go!

If you're looking for online resources, events, or newsletters, you'll get there quick!

Try it out today.

Also, will you consider taking a quick survey to let us know how easily you're able to maneuver around our website? Click here to do that right now.



Laura
On behalf of the ACL

Write It Down!

I just love a good diary!

I love to look into someone's thoughts in an organized fashion. Day-by-day accounts. My favorite real diary would of course have to be Anne Frank's. How could she know that years later her thoughts would be read by millions of people?



When it comes to fiction, I grew up on Meg Cabot's Princess Diaries series. I loved Mia's voice in these books; I laughed my way through her embarassing moments.



My book display for this month at the library is on Diaries, Journals, and Letters. I wandered through the stacks and picked out some really unique reads. In fact, I got a bit distracted finding a Hiroshima diary by a Japanese physician, Sylvia Plath's journals, the letters between Abigail and John Adams, and an Iraqi girl's blog. Also, did you know that the novel Dracula by Bram Stoker is written in diary form?

The next time you're in the library, check out July's display, located right next to the dvd section.

Here are a few more titles in this display:

Fiction:
Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding
The Hidden Diary of Marie Antoinette by Carolly Erickson
L8r, G8r by Lauren Myracle

NonFiction:
This Day in the Life: Diaries from Women Across America
Tiananmen Diary: Thirteen Days in June by Harrison Evans Salisbury
War Letters: Extraordinary Correspondence from American Wars edited by Andrew Carroll

Laura
On behalf of the ACL

Forgotten.

Yesterday was "I Forgot" Day.

Anything you've forgotten recently?

What an excellent time to remind you all of our library fines!

To avoid an awkward library experience, keep track of your checked-out materials' due dates. When you get a slip at the check-out counter, keep it. Stick it on your fridge, on your book, on your forehead...whatever works.

Remember, everything you check out at the library is absolutely FREE. Unless it's late.

When you check out books, CDs, and talking books, you've got two weeks. If no one else has a hold on them, you may renew two more times, for two more weeks each time.

DVDs may be checked out for one week and renewed one more time for an additional week. The exception is 7-day items that may only be checked out for one week with no renewals. And magazines can't be renewed at all.

If you lose your slip, or your dog eats it, and you accidentally keep your items too long, you'll have some fines. Books/CDs/talking books are $0.25 a day and movies are $1 a day. For adult and children's material.



So don't forget!

Laura
On behalf of the ACL