Just as a reminder to all of our patrons… if you have questions, please call us. Want to know the estimated population of Amelia in 2008? Ask us. How about the lyrics to your favorite song or that book you read ten years ago that had a girl who found a book about magic when she was running away from bullies? We can find both of those for you, too. We can find whole poems if you only remember a line, even when you get a couple of the words out of order.

No, we aren’t omniscient, but we answer LOTS of questions like this. We’re used to them. We are only a phone call away. Nowadays, though, you don’t even need to call! Look to your left on the screen. The little “Meebo” box tells you whether someone is “manning” (or womanning!) the IM reference desk. You don’t even have to get offline to ask questions.

We are getting more and more portals online as we build a “virtual branch.” We are developing a Delicious bookmarking account to save quality informational websites. Our electronic databases allows you to use more traditional sources like encyclopedias and magazines in an electronic formats. The Meebo connection provides you with the ability to ask questions Monday-Friday. Our Facebook group page helps you connect with other Library patrons. You can even download whole books now from our links.

Finally, if you are looking for a new job right now, please check out our resource page (found on the right hand side of the screen or at the bottom of this page) “Job Searching On the Internet.” We have gathered links to local major newspapers who publish their classified sections on the web, as well as skill building sites for resume and cover letter writing, as well as interviewing skills. Check them out!

We have just added three new sets of historical DVD to our collection:

The Decades Collection presented by The History Channel.
10 Days That Unexpectedly Changed America presented by the History Channel
The Presidents: The Lives and Legacies of the 43 Leaders of the United States presented by the History Channel.

We have also added a number of other videos both DVD and VHS selections for those that would prefer fiction.

Revisit The Honeymooners on DVD. 
Enjoy a Broadway musical of Thoroughly Modern Millie on VHS.

Our younger viewers might enjoy the original Beethoven, the lovable St. Bernard that created bedlam in the Newton Family house.

We even have Winnie the Pooh, Sing a Song with Pooh Bear for our youngest viewers.

Stop by and find these and many more titles that we have to offer….a little something for everyone.

      This is a recommendation of a book that I loved as a kid and often go back to rediscover the rich language and humor. I want to start by letting you read an excerpt of his preface about the book.
     “Although my book is intended mainly for the entertainment of boys and girls, I hope it will not be shunned by men and women on that account, for the part of my plan has been to try to pleasantly remind adults of what they once were themselves, and of how they felt and thought and talked, and what queer enterprises they sometimes engaged in.” Samuel Clemens, Hartford, 1876.
     This being said, I want to take you on a journey with me in “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” by Mark Twain. Although the book chronicles the mischief of two boys, Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, it also leads the reader down the Mississippi River when times were “simpler” without technological advances. More often than not, Tom and Huck are up to no good, but that is what is enjoyable about the book…two people having fun, not hurting anyone, but enjoying life before they become responsible adults. There are times I wish I could be carefree, to be able to choose between reading comic books or playing video games. Those times are indeed over, but thank you Mr. Samuel Clemens, Mr. Mark Twain, for capturing the kid in all of us, to remind us of our childhood, through Tom and Huck.

I am currently reading “The Princess Diaries” by Meg Cabot. As I always say, read the book first before seeing the movie. I am always pleasantly surprised by the differences. This said…the book and the movie are two totally different entities…each done well in their own right.
The book, however, takes place in New York, not San Francisco. Mia’s father, the crowned prince of Genovia comes to New York to tell Amelia she is a princess. She is not impressed and does not want to be anything but quiet Mia. To top off this luck, school is not going well for her and her mother is dating her math teacher. Meg Cabot definitely is entertaining blending the teenage psyche with humor throughout the book.

Happy March!
This month, we are celebrating women’s history month with our book display by the front doors. These biographies are of women of character, history, or celebrity.
The author of the month is Father Andrew Greeley. Most of the titles in the books have Irish ties, just in time for St. Patricks Day.

It’s time for our annual spring banquet!! Join us on March 29 at 6:00 pm for excellent food brought to us by Jerry’s Catering, fantastic music brought to us by Patsy Butler and the fun of Library patrons gathering together. Tickets will be available at the Library by Friday, 2/20/2009 for a $15.00 donation per ticket.

If you are interested in donating to the Library, we have a new book donation program through Amazon. Please consider buying us a book or two. Your donations then are completely tax-deductible, unlike when you make donations of used books. Of course, we like used books, too.

What am I saying? We like books! It is, after all, what we do best. Read on!