The newsletter of the Sarasota County Library System

 ~ February 2010 ~ Volume 4, Issue 10

February is
Black History Month

Use our list of suggested books and DVDs to celebrate:

Library Lover’s Month

Okay library lovers, it is time to celebrate your love!

February is Love Your Library Month, and the staff and volunteers at Sarasota County Libraries want tofeel your love. The monthlong celebration provides plenty of time for you, your family, your friends, your colleagues, your neighbors and even the strangers around you to rediscover your local library.

Schools, colleges, corporations, government organizations, hospitals and law offices all depend on their specialized libraries to support theirongoing activities. But for the community-at-large--people seeking best-selling books for adults and kids, children’s story times, research assistance and materials, public programs, access to computers andthe Internet and other services--the local public library is the first place to visit.

Sarasota County Libraries is celebrating Love Your Library Month on our Twitter feed by suggesting reasons to love your library. On twitter.com/scgovlibrary, look for “Why do I love thee, Library?” tweets throughout the month.

But, we want to hear from you! Why do you love your library?

If you're on Twitter, re-tweet us with your reasons.

If you're not on Twitter, submit your reasons through the library website's "Suggestions and Comments" page: www.sclibs.net/comments.aspx.

YALSA names 2010 Best Books for Young Adults

BOSTON —The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), the fastest-growing division of the American Library Association (ALA), recently announced its 2010 list of Best Books for Young Adults. The list of 90 books, drawn from 203 official nominations, is presented annually at the ALA Midwinter Meeting. The books, recommended for those ages 12-18, meet the criteria of both good quality literature and appealing reading for teens. The list comprises a wide range of genres and styles, including contemporary realistic fiction that reflects the diversity of the teen experience, nonfiction that brings to teens an awareness of the world they live in and its history and fantastical stories told in both narrative and graphic formats.

In addition, the Best Books for Young Adults committee created a Top Ten list of titles from the final list that exemplify the quality and range of literature being published for teens:.

Demon's Lexicon
by Sarah Rees Brennan

The Orange Houses
by Paul Griffin

The Great Wide Sea
by M.H. Herlong

The Reformed Vampire Support Group
by Catherine Jinks

Alligator Bayou
by Donna Jo Napoli

Stitches: A Memoir
by David Small

When You Reach Me
by Rebecca Stead

Marcelo In the Real World
by Francisco X. Stork

Lips Touch: Three Times
by Laini Taylor

Written in Bone: Buried Lives of Jamestown and Colonial Maryland
by Sally M. Walker

The complete list, with annotations, can be found at www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists/bbya.

For more information about YALSA or for lists of recommended reading, viewing and listening, go to www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists.

@yourlibrary Website Recommends Resources to Enrich Family Life, Help Job Seekers

CHICAGO - Articles on how kids are learning how to make movies with the help of their local library, how librarians are helping job seekers prepare for job interviews, lists of youth media award winners, and much more can be found on the @ your library website. The www.atyourlibrary.org website provides information and recommended resources that everyone can take advantage of at their local library.

@yourlibrary.org is the website for the American Library Association’s public awareness campaign —the Campaign for America’s Libraries, which highlights the value of libraries and librarians and connects people to the free resources at their local library.

“The site has been designed to encourage the public to visit their local libraries and to develop a long-term, vibrant relationship between communities and their libraries. We want to get the word out that libraries are comprehensive, modern, efficient and easy-to-use places that the public is using in record numbers,” says Mark Gould, director of the American Library Association’s Public Information Office.

Prepared by librarians and other experts, new articles are uploaded regularly with how-tos and tips for parents, job seekers, teenagers, and kids. Recommended resources are linked to the World Cat database, which provides a list of the nearest libraries where the recommended item can be accessed.

“We welcome you to browse the site to learn about all sorts of interesting topics, but most importantly we encourage you to visit your local library to find out how you can benefit from the knowledge of the librarians and the abundant resources available there,” Gould says.

Visitors to the site can sign up for a regular newsletter for updates on new content. Visitors can also follow developments on the site on twitter, through Facebook and on the @yourlibrary blog.

The site is underwritten by the Carnegie Corporation of New York and the Disney Book Group.

African-American History through Digital Collections

Guide to the Papers of African American Artists
www.aaa.si.edu/guides/site-africanamerican
The Smithsonian Institution has an enormous collection of digitized items, accessible through their website, including photographs, documents, and audio and video files. This particular guide provides access to photographs, interviews, letters and other documents of African-American artists from the late 19th century to the present, some of which are accessible online.

The Florida Memory Project
www.floridamemory.com
This collection of historical documents of Florida includes photographs, films, maps, and government documents from the State Library & Archives of Florida. Search photographs for “African American” or browse collections.

The Library of Congress: American Memory
http://bit.ly/2HE7ls
American Memory from the Library of Congress includes seventeen collections relating specifically to African-American history, from slave narratives to Jackie Robinson. The collections feature a variety of formats, including pamphlets, advertising, and sheet music.

One of the greatest gifts my brother and I received from my mother was her love of literature and language. With their boundless energy, libraries open the door to these worlds and so many others. I urge young and old alike to embrace all that libraries have to offer.
--Caroline Kennedy

My guess is (it will be) about 300 years until computers are as good as, say, your local reference library in search.
--Craig Silverstein, director of technology, Google.com

My encouragement to you is to go tomorrow to the library.
--Maya Angelou

I have a real soft spot in my heart for librarians and people who care about books.
--Ann Richards, former Governor of Texas

For those without money, the road to the treasure house of the imagination begins at the public library.
--Pete Hamill, New York Daily News columnist

Going to the library builds a kid's imagination. Books help them discover themselves and the world.
--Mike Bordick, Baltimore Oriole

Teenagers can discover the pleasures of reading and gain the power of knowledge by going to libraries. With that power, they will be invincible.
--Ward Burton, NASCAR driver

The Friends of the North Sarasota Library:
A Busy and Productive Year

by Dr. Cheryl Smith,
President of the Friends of the North Sarasota Library Board

The Friends group has been extremely busy this year, continuing to fund programs for the library, reach out to the community and expand its activities in keeping with its mission:

"The mission of the Friends of the North Sarasota Public Library is to promote pride and opportunity, reflect the diverse history and multi-cultural interests of the community, recruit library patrons, raise funds, and advocate for the library."

A dedicated and hard-working Board of Directors has been diligent in its efforts to fulfill this mission and has worked closely with the NSPL library management and staff who have been outstanding in their support.

Highlights from the past few months are as follows:

• September 2009: Children’s Garden Day
  Led by Master Gardener Elaine Gambill, who designed and directed the renovation of the Reading Garden, the first childrens’ garden day was held in early September. Children and their parents, Friends board members, City Councilman Fredd Atkins and members of “ManUP” assisted in the preparation and planting. Mark Campbell of the Home Depot on University Parkway arranged for the donation and delivery of plants, mulch and fertilizer for the garden. The Children’s Garden Day will be held quarterly to maintain this lovely space.

• October 31, 2009: Fifth Anniversary Celebration
  The Fifth Anniversary of the North Sarasota Public Library was marked by a celebration organized by the Friends and the Sarasota County Library under the direction of Sarabeth Kalajian. A full day of activities took place, including welcoming statements by local politicians Carolyn Mason and Fredd Atkins and a Color Guard salute by the Sarasota Military Academy. Speakers Betty Jean Johnson and Nya Smith discussed the library’s history and the future of the library in the 21st century.

  World-renowned artist Gale Fulton Ross officially unveiled her portrait, “Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with Books,” created for and donated to the library. Performances by Booker High School Gospel Choir member Quayshaun Oliver and the Booker Tornado Dance Team added sparks to the celebration. Precious Pearls, the youth division of the AKA sorority, acted as tour guides for new visitors. The Harvest Tabernacle grilled hot dogs for a lunch provided and served by members of the Friends Board. The day was a great success!

• December 13, 2009: Kwanzaa Workshop
  Mrs. Lovette W. Harper, Board Member, conducted a workshop on Kwanzaa for children and their parents. A multicultural group of children and parents attended. Snacks and a hands-on craft workshop followed. Mrs. Harper was later recognized as a community leader and elder by the YMCA Young Achievers Program for her work in the community during their Kwanzaa celebration.

• December 29, 2009: Kwanzaa and Book Presentation
  A book presentation and signing took place at the Library following a Kwanzaa candle lighting. Dr. Mia Mask, Associate Professor and Chair of the Film Department at Vassar College discussed her book: "Divas on the Screen: Black Women in American Film." This insightful book places African American women's stardom in historical and industrial contexts by examining the star personae of five African American women: Dorothy Dandridge, Pam Grier, Whoopi Goldberg, Oprah Winfrey, and Halle Berry.

• February 2010: Tuskegee Airmen and Women
  The Friends of the North Sarasota Public Library and the Association of the Study of African American Life and History co-sponsor a monthlong celebration of Black History with an exhibition and series of events honoring and celebrating the Tuskegee Airmen and Women who served in WWII. The stories of the men and women of who live or lived in the Sarasota/Manatee area will be told in photos, artifacts, books and films throughout the month. See the Events section for more information.

  The Exhibit is the inaugural event of the Culture Center--a repository of research and resource material of the African experience in the Americas as well as those of other cultural groups who comprise the increasingly diverse population of Sarasota.

• Ongoing Activities

  • The Friends Bookstore continues to expand and grow. Sales, such as the very popular “Bag o’Books for $5.” will continue on a rotating basis as well as other sales for holidays and other special days. All proceeds go to fund library programs and activities, especially those for children.

  • The Friends Board received a BOOST capacity-building grant from the Community Foundation of Sarasota. The grant will be used to fund the position of Volunteer Coordinator for the library for one year in order to increase the volunteer pool and coordinate the efforts of new and present volunteers who provide such welcome help for many library programs and activities.

Interested in being a part of all these and other upcoming projects? Please contact the North Sarasota Library at 941-861-1360 for information on how to join.

A History Lesson in "Bruh Rabbit and the Tar Baby Girl" by Virginia Hamilton

Bruh Wolf took pride in growing his corn and peanuts. Every year he would grow his crops, so he would have enough to live off. Bruh Rabbit also loved corn and peanuts. However, Bruh Rabbit didn’t think he had to plant any, and he would sneak a little from Bruh Wolf’s farm. Day after day, Bruh Wolf noticed that little areas of his peanut crop were being nibbled on. Feeling that this wasn’t right and that he was being cheated, he decided to set up his invention, a certain kind of scarecrow named Tar Baby Girl, in the peanut patch. Bruh Wolf knew he would catch the one up to no good eventually.

That night, Bruh Rabbit saw Tar Baby Girl and tried to call out to her. She didn’t respond. He tried to call out to her again, and, again, she didn’t answer him. Feeling fed up with someone so rude, he tried to knock her down. But, he got stuck to the tar! He then panicked and struck her with his other paw. When he still found himself stuck, he tried to use his feet to lever himself off of Tar Baby Girl. After his continued struggle, he had all his paws stuck. At last, at daybreak, along comes Bruh Wolf. He stands back and feels pretty pleased that he has caught Bruh Rabbit. And you know what? He plans to cut him up and eat him! But, Bruh Rabbit told Bruh Wolf, “You may cut me up and eat me. But whatever you do, don’t throw me in the briar bush!” To which Bruh Wolf responds, “You don’t want me to throw you in the briars- that’s just what I’m-a-do!” Bruh Rabbit has the last laugh, though, and once thrown in the patch, yells to Bruh Wolf that he’s a fool because Bruh Rabbit grew up in the briar patch and that is where he belongs. Bruh Rabbit made his escape and remains the victor.

This is just one example of all the fascinating tales that come from African-American folklore. Why was the main character, Bruh Rabbit, or Brother Rabbit, a hero for being so sneaky? Because he was the little person who stood up to the big bully. He could not use his might to stand up to Bruh Wolf, having to instead use his wits. This goes back to the time of slavery, when the slaves had to outwit the slave owners for survival. The tale provided a glimmer of hope that even the supposedly small and weak could win. Bruh Rabbit is not just an animal trickster tale but also a piece of history.

	"The Lost Symbol" by Dan Brown
	"Threshold" by Thom Hartmann
	"Duck and Goose" by Tad Hills
	"A Brother's Journey: Surviving a Childhood of Abuse" by Richard B. Pelzer
	"The Untamed Bride" by Stephanie Laurens
	"The Dog Who Saved Christmas" (DVD)
	"Julie and Julia" (DVD)
	"The Poisoning in the Pub" by Simon Brett
	"The Civil Rights Movement for Kids: A History with 21 Activities" by Mary C. Turck

Someone recently said to me they would “molt like a lobster.” Do lobsters really molt?

During the lobster’s first year, it will molt between six and nine times. The cast off shell of the lobster is a perfect replica of the lobster and is usually the newly molted lobster’s first meal.

Unlike other crustaceans, which stop molting, and therefore growing, once they reach maturity, lobsters have no final or terminal molt. Therefore, they grow to be one of the largest crustaceans in the sea. There are unofficial reports of lobsters weighing as much as 50 pounds, which might translate to 50-100 years of age!

To find out more about lobsters visit your library's nonfiction shelves at call number 595.3841.

If you want to cook them, visit 641.692.

LearningExpress Library

One of our newest databases, LearningExpress Library, is quickly becoming a favorite for staff and patrons. Test preparation books are in high demand and it is difficult for the Libraries to keep them on the shelf and available for all who need them. Learning Express offers a wide variety of practice tests from the FCAT to the SAT to the GED, plus many certification, licensing, and aptitude exams. The tests can be taken in the library or at home, accessed through our website with your library card. LearningExpress Library also offers study resources and courses to build job searching skills.

From sclibs.net, click on “Electronic Information Resources,” then choose “L” for LearningExpress Library. You can search by test name or browse the categories on the right.

Find more databases on the library website's Electronic Information Resources page: sclibs.net/resources.aspx.

A Sarasota County Library card is required to access subscription databases from computers outside the library.

Your Sarasota County Libraries are on Facebook and Twitter.

North Sarasota Library is looking for new volunteers to join our team.

Help with afterschool activities, shelve books, assist with computers and more.

Call 941-861-1360 or stop in to the library for more details.

This Could be You!