|
|
 Selections
|
The newsletter of the Sarasota County Library System |
~ October 2008 ~ Volume 3, Issue 6 | |
|
Read Selections online each month or sign up here to have it delivered to you by email. |
|
In this Issue:
This month's issue is brought
to you
by the staff of Selby Library.
|
Teens Choose the Winners in YALSA’s Teens’ Top Ten
CHICAGO — The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), invites all teens to get out the vote for Teen Read Week™, Oct. 12 through 18. Teens can vote for their favorite books of the year in the annual Teens’ Top Ten poll at www.ala.org/teenstopten beginning Oct. 12.
The 26 nominees for this year’s Teens’ Top Ten are available at www.ala.org/teenstopten, along with a web badge, bookmarks, flyers and other promotional tools for librarians to promote voting for the Teens’ Top Ten to the young adults visiting their libraries.
Teens’ Top Ten, an initiative of YALSA’s Young Adult (YA) Galley project, allows teens to voice their choice for their favorite books each year—it’s the only reading list with titles nominated and voted on by teens. Voting takes place through Oct. 18 at www.ala.org/teenstopten. The final 2008 Teens’ Top Ten list will be posted on Oct. 20.
“This booklist is the only one produced entirely by teen input, so every vote definitely counts,” said Sarah Cornish Debraski, YALSA president. “It’s a great way for teens to let us know which books they enjoy most and an excellent way for them to support teen reading during Teen Read Week.”
For more information about YALSA or for lists of recommended reading, viewing and listening, go to www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists.
For more information on Sarasota County Library teen programs and events, visit the Planet Teen website. | |
National Library News:
|
ALA Announces Partnership with RadioShack to Help Educate Citizens About the Digital Television Transition
WASHINGTON, DC - The American Library Association (ALA) and RadioShack Corporation recently announced a nationwide initiative to help educate the public about the Digital Television (DTV) Transition set to begin in all 50 states and Puerto Rico on Feb. 17, 2009, and at noon, Sept. 8, in the test market of Wilmington, N.C.
Through this partnership, RadioShack's 4,500 company stores and many of the 1,000-plus participating franchise stores will offer knowledgeable team members to 16,000 ALA public libraries to host educational sessions for library patrons. Included in these sessions will be information about why the digital television transition is occurring, the benefits digital television offers television viewers, what people need to do in order to continue receiving over-the-air television broadcasts after the conversion occurs, and how to apply for up to two $40 government coupons per household to help reduce the costs of obtaining a digital converter box. RadioShack's education outreach will also include demonstrations on how to successfully set up a digital converter box to an analog television set. Working together, the two groups hope to educate citizens in nearly every ZIP Code in the U.S.
"Libraries offer trusted information and public space to communities in virtually every corner of the U.S.," said ALA President Loriene Roy, "and with RadioShack's help, those libraries will now be able to provide hands-on help from experienced technical professionals to help them understand the digital television transition and how it may affect them."
"We're excited to be partnering with the American Library Association in the ongoing effort to help educate everyone about this milestone event in television broadcasting history," said Peter Whitsett, RadioShack's executive vice president, general merchandising manager. "Consumer education is the number-one key to ensuring a smooth digital transition.
While we have focused on store training and advertising to communicate the digital transition to our customers, we want to take advantage of every opportunity to extend our reputation as the trusted neighborhood electronics advisor into the community as a whole. I can think of no better way to do this than by having our knowledgeable team members meet fact-to-face with library patrons to explain the transition and answer questions."
ALA members who wish to host a digital television transition presentation in their library may make a request directly through RadioShack's corporate offices. More details were provided to ALA members at the ALA Annual Conference in late June 2008, in Anaheim, Calif. In certain markets RadioShack Spanish-speaking team members will be available to host presentations for Spanish language patrons.
Both RadioShack and ALA are members of the DTV Transition Coalition, and both have been at the forefront of education efforts on the Transition.
The ALA has participated in several educational workshops at the FCC and FTC, while RadioShack has also joined in several public education events. While more than 5,000 RadioShack stores have been actively fulfilling in-store requests for digital converter boxes since February 2008, customers may also order digital converter boxes through the company's Direct to You ordering system or a toll-free number, 1-877-RS-DTV-4U, and have the box delivered with no shipping charge.
In addition to the converter boxes and digital accessories, RadioShack also offers other options customers can consider when making the digital transition, including various televisions and home entertainment devices with built-in digital tuners, Dish Network satellite service and subscriptions for local cable providers (offerings vary by market).
For additional information regarding the DTV transition, visit www.ala.org/dtv, www.RadioShack.com, www.dtv2009.gov or call 1-800-DTV-2009.
|
back up to "In this Issue"
|
|
Staff Picks:
This month's picks were made by the fabulous team at
Selby Library Circulation.
(Click the book covers to search the library catalog.)
American Psycho
by Bret Easton Ellis
Cesar's Way
by Cesar Milan
Enders Game
by Orson Scott Card
Good Dog, Stay
by Anna Quindlen
The Leiber Chronicles:
Fifty Years of Fritz Leiber
by Fritz Leiber
The Memory Keeper's Daughter
by Kim Edwards
Pattern Recognition
by William Gibson
Queenpin
by Megan Abbott
Supreme Court:
The Personalities and Rivalries
that Defined America
by Jeffrey Rosen
Read more about each title in this month's picks here.
|
Local Library News:
|
Summer Frolics
This past summer to encourage reading, Selby Public Library youth staff went a little kooky with antics such as getting “arrested” and coloring and cutting off all their hair! The summer reading program theme was “Think Global!” and included 197 free programs, from topiary design to short story writing. Storytimes focused on various cultures of our world and the 8,576 participating kids kept reading like crazy while filling out their passports in the “Globe Trotters” reading incentive program. It was a great summer!
To check out photos from the summer programs go to flickr.com/photos/sclibs or just click on the "Our Photos on Flickr" link at our website.
You may also want to read some of the short stories written by Selby Youth this past summer during the Selby Kids Write story writing workshop at sclibs.net/libraries/selbykidswrite.aspx.
|
back up to "In this Issue"
|
Planning a Library of the Future
Not content to sit on their summer laurels, and in keeping with the County’s goal of providing and enhancing quality programs, services and facilities for our citizens, Sarasota County Libraries along with SCOPE (Sarasota County Openly Plans for Excellence) have embarked upon a plan of action for assessing what community members feel are the positives, the barriers and the future of youth library services for Sarasota County residents.
To begin, SCOPE held meetings with library patrons and community groups at each Sarasota County library to engage in discussions on the future of youth services. Great ideas abounded and feedback was informative. Even our youngest patrons got in on the act, drawing their library of the future and talking about what they would like to do and see at the library.
Youth staff members also gathered to imagine what services they would be offering in the year 2027 compared to what is being offered today.
Finally, youth staff talked about the tools and service trends they would use to move forward, such as customer input, systemic programming, increased technology and more. While still in the planning stages look for the future of youth services coming soon to a library near you!
|
back up to "In this Issue"
Featured Stories:
|
The Genealogy Collection
The Genealogical Society of Sarasota (GSS) and the Selby Public Library have enjoyed a fruitful and committed partnership for the past 30 years--the GSS commemorates its 30th anniversary in mid 2009.
The Society provides the Selby Library with a cadre of 25 highly competent and experienced volunteers who staff the Special Collection desk on the second floor of the library every day of the week from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Board of Directors of the GSS has been very generous with annual funds towards the improvement of the collection.
Currently, the collection includes approximately 9,000 titles. Almost 10% can be checked out by library card holders. The non-circulating collection, containing many rare books, can be consulted during regular library hours.
The genealogy collection has been an increasingly lucky recipient of various significant donations of materials. The most recent one came from the Family History Center of the LDS Church. Some 300 books were donated and are being processed.
Donations of materials are always encouraged and highly appreciated. If you are interested in contributing to the genealogy collection at Selby Library, please call 941-861-1175 or email vneumann@scgov.net. Books, periodicals, maps, CDroms and videos in good condition are all accepted.
|
back up to "In this Issue" |
|
Community Connection:
|
Law at the Library:
Timeline of a Successful Partnership
In 2006, Selby Library staff contacted Jan Jung, the Executive Director of the Sarasota County Bar Association about the possibility of starting a library law program at the library. The project was taken on by the Young Lawyers Division (YLD), which has a large public education and community component--it seemed like a good fit!
Legal topics for the series were picked based upon the popularity and success at other libraries in the country with similar programs. In 2007, Selby offered 5 programs. Each session covered one topic thoroughly and provided presenters who were highly specialized and experienced in their fields. The series also brought a new audience to the library. A Law Resources at the Library brochure was created to help patrons find legal information at the library and give them information on our online legal database, Loislaw. Each program included a Q & A session and provided handouts to attendees. All of the sessions were well attended, and patrons provided positive feedback about all of them.
In 2008 the partnership continued and the next series offered repeats of many of the past popular programs, as well as some new topics.
In September, the library was notified by the Bar that it won the Sarasota County Bar Association's Distinguished Service Award for the Law at the Library program. This award was presented during the Installation & Awards Dinner on Friday, September 19.
The ongoing partnership with the Sarasota County Bar Association has been a very fruitful one, providing a variety of useful and practical topics from knowledgeable sources to the general public for free. The library looks forward to continuing this partnership!
Learn more about the Sarasota County Bar Association on its website: www.sarasotabar.com .
|
|
Events:
|
And now for something completely different!
|
The Sarasota County Public Libraries are pleased to announce the first annual Born to Read ~ Born to Ride Poker Run on Sunday, December 7, 2008, to benefit the Born to Read program.
What’s Born to Read?....And, what's a poker run, you might ask?
The Born to Read program in Sarasota County was established to help parents nurture their baby’s love of reading and learning. The program provides opportunities for parents to learn about the importance of reading to their babies from birth and introduces families to the public library. Parents are encouraged to read daily to their children, tell them stories, sing songs and play music, play finger-games and play with puppets. Such activities provide the stimulation essential for healthy, active brain development; can improve children’s school readiness, literacy and language skills; and can establish a foundation for habits that lead to lifelong learning.
Through Born to Read, the Sarasota County Library System partners with local health care providers and other community agencies to provide new and expectant parents with library cards, reading materials, incentives and resources to help them raise children who are “Born to Read.” The free program serves teen and single parents, low-income families, families whose primary language is other than English and families who do not access public library resources. Families must have a child younger than five to qualify.
Motorcycle clubs have for many years hosted poker runs to raise money for their favorite charities. Each participant follows a mapped route from a starting point through three checkpoints to an end point, collecting a playing card at each stop. The person with the best hand at the end wins! Everyone has a good time, and monies are raised for a worthy cause--like Born to Read--through entry fees, t-shirts sales and an old-fashioned 50/50 raffle.
What makes the Born to Read ~ Born to Ride Poker Run especially fun is that you don’t have to be on a motorcycle to participate. Drive your car! Bring your family! Come rain or shine--we’ll be there!
The ride will begin at the Fruitville Library and end at Snook Haven in Venice, making stops along the way. Registration will be from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. on December 7, 2008. The last bike and car to complete the run must check in at Snook Haven by 2:30 p.m. The awards ceremony will be held at 3 p.m.
The best hand of cards will win a trophy and a $100 cash prize. Trophies will also be awarded for the first, second and third best hands among motorcycle riders and car drivers, motorcycle and car passengers, youngest participants, car and motorcycle, and the overall worst hand of cards. Children who participate will look for their best hands in an as-yet-to-be-determined card game such as Go Fish, Uno or a suitably fun alternative.
Registration is $15 per entry for the rider or driver, and $5.00 for each additional hand. The first 100 to register will get a free Born to Read ~ Born to Ride T-shirt.
The Born to Read ~ Born to Ride Poker Run is sponsored by the Florida Sunbeemers, a local BMW motorcycle riders club.
For more information on Born to Read ~ Born to Ride, check the library website in November. Until then, please contact Liz Nolan at 941-861-1170.
For more information on Born to Read in the Sarasota County Public Libraries, please visit sclibs.net/Kids/borntoread.aspx.
. | |
back up to "In this Issue"
|
|
A few vegetarian cookbooks from the library catalog:
(Click the book covers to search the library catalog.)
How to Cook Everything Vegetarian
by Mark Bittman
Veganomicon
by Isa Chandra Moskowitz
The Flexitarian Table
by Peter Berley
|
Featured Internet Sites:
|
October is National Vegetarian Awareness Month
This celebration of nature’s delicious bounty doesn’t have to be just for those who prefer meat-free diets. Even die-hard carnivores might consider going all-veg on October 1 (Vegetarian Awareness Day), or just eating a little less meat and piling more plants on the plate throughout the month.
To some, eating vegetarian is an ethical choice, while others consider it to be more healthy, sustainable, or tasty than eating meat: www.worldvegetarianday.org
Send a Vegetarian Day e-card: www.dgreetings.com/vegetarianday and www.123greetings.com/events/world_vegetarian_day
North American Vegetarian Society: www.navs-online.org
“Store Wars”— an entertaining parody that teaches the benefits of organic produce: www.storewars.org/noflash/
Eating produce in season ensures freshness and flavor. Check these seasonal charts: www.cuesa.org/seasonality/charts/vegetable.php, www.cuesa.org/seasonality/charts/fruit.php and www.chefkendra.com/seasonal_produce_chart.htm
Take a look at these Vegetarian photo groups on Flickr: flickr.com/groups/vegetarian_food/, flickr.com/groups/ilvg/, and flickr.com/groups/vegetarian/
Vegetarian & Vegan Recipe websites: vegweb.com/, www.ivu.org/recipes/, and www.vrg.org/recipes/
Finally, a link to Vegetarian Cookery items in our library catalog: sarac.co.sarasota.fl.us/search/dvegetarian+cookery
|
back up to "In this Issue"
|
|
Featured Database:
NetLibrary
|
Did you know that even though a book is not available in our library system it may be accessible through NetLibrary?
NetLibrary provides 24/7 access to the Sarasota Library's eContent collection of over 3,400 eBooks and eJournals.
From the library’s webpage click on Electronic Information Resources; scroll down to NetLibrary and click. Outside the library, you will be prompted to enter your library card number.
You can create a free account by clicking on the “Create a Free Account” link located in the upper right-hand side of the NetLibrary screen. Complete the form and click on the “Create Account” button located at the bottom of the screen. With this account you can remotely access the NetLibrary.
Searching the NetLibrary catalog is easy to do. You can conduct a Basic Search by Keyword, Title, Author, Subject or Full Text. Select the option from the dropdown menu and type in your search. The Advanced Search option allows you to search a combination of Keyword, Title, Author, Subject or ISBN using Boolean operators.
Once you have conducted a search, you can view the eContent in the Sarasota County Library System collection directly from the search results. Select the "View this eBook" or "View this eJournal" link. |
|
Find articles from magazines, newspapers, journals and other sources on the library website's Electronic Information
Resources page:
http://sclibs.net/resources.aspx .
A Sarasota County Library card is required to access the databases from outside the library.
Read database descriptions from previous issues of Selections here and in the newsletter archives. |
Reference Question of the Month:
|
What are the differences among
cyclones, hurricanes and typhoons?
Cyclones, hurricanes and typhoons essentially describe the same type of weather: a storm or system of winds rotating about a center of low atmospheric pressure.
Depending on location and strength, tropical cyclones can be called hurricanes, typhoons, tropical depressions, tropical storms, severe tropical cyclones, tropical cyclones or just cyclones.
Tropical cyclones with maximum sustained surface winds of less than 39 mph are called "tropical depressions." Once the tropical cyclone reaches winds of at least 39 mph, they are typically called "tropical storms" and assigned a name. If winds reach 74 mph, then they are called...
..."hurricanes" when located in the North Atlantic Ocean, the Northeast Pacific Ocean east of the dateline, or the South Pacific Ocean,
..."typhoons" when located in the Northwest Pacific Ocean west of the dateline,
..."severe tropical cyclones" when located in the Southwest Pacific Ocean or Southeast Indian Ocean,
..."severe cyclonic storms" when located in the North Indian Ocean and
..."tropical cyclones" when located in the Southwest Indian Ocean.
A storm that's a hurricane in Florida would be a typhoon in Japan, a severe tropical cyclone in Australia and a very severe cyclonic storm in India. |
|
Why do tropical cyclones rotate counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere?
The reason is that the earth's rotation sets up an apparent force (called the Coriolis force) that pulls the winds to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere. So, when a low pressure system starts to form north of the equator, the surface winds will flow inward trying to fill in the low and will be deflected to the right and a counterclockwise rotation will be initiated. The opposite action--a deflection to the left and a clockwise rotation--will occur south of the equator.
NOTE: This force is too tiny to effect rotation in, for example, water that is going down the drains of sinks and toilets. The rotation in those will be determined by the geometry of the container and the original motion of the water. Thus, one can find both clockwise and counterclockwise flowing drains in both Northern and Southern Hemispheres. If you don't believe this, test it out for yourself!
Source: The Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML): www.aoml.noaa.gov. AOML is one of the Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) Facilities of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). NOAA/AOML is a part of the US Department of Commerce (DOC) and is located in Miami, Florida. |
back up to "In this Issue"
|
|
Your Feedback:
|
Would you like to see your picks
in a future issue of Selections
(instead of "Staff Picks")?
Email** your picks to librarywebmaster@scgov.net.
(Please put "My Picks"
in the subject.)
Or send them through the
"Your Comments" page of the
library website, write
"My Picks" in the message: http://sclibs.net/comments.aspx.
Any pick is a good pick!
Please choose books or DVDs that the library owns so other readers may check them out.
If you include a comment about why you chose your pick, please give your first name or initials.
"Staff Picks" becomes "Your Picks" as soon as at least eight are received.
Send in your picks today!
| ** Important Notice Regarding privacy and e-mail.SB 80 effective July 1, 2006: Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records. If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public-records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead contact this office by phone or in writing. | |
|
Volunteer News:
|
Selby Library Volunteer Spotlight
by Karen Geis, Volunteer Coordinator
Sue Brady is one of Selby Library’s Bookstore volunteers. Two years of giving to Selby as of September is only part of a lifetime of giving. Besides her regular volunteer shifts in the Bookstore where she shelves, prices and organizes books as well as conducting book sales, Sue can be called on at any time to fill in for absent volunteers or to help at the various events that take place at Selby Library.
Sue, a New Hampshire native, had a 20-year career in the demanding occupation of nursing. As a critical care nurse at New Hampshire’s Optima Health, Sue’s upbeat personality, unending energy and giving nature were needed for a difficult job in the open heart unit. After years of cardiac experience, Sue became the Director of Optima Health’s Clinical and Financial Systems.
She was a member of the School Board for the Westside Catholic School in Manchester, New Hampshire and on the Rules and Regulations Committee for the New Hampshire State Board of Nursing, as well as a volunteer for the American Heart Association.
Sue and her husband Dan left New Hampshire for sunny Sarasota in 2002 where she continues to give as a member of her Home Owners Association and, recently, as a Friend of the Selby Library Board Member. Sue loves reading, traveling, biking and photography.
|
back up to "In this Issue" |
|
|
|
|