Patrons of Christmas Past

Several years ago a librarian in Ludington, Michigan, wrote a fictionalized account of life at the library. She was immediately fired. It seems that while her tales of various community characters was meant to be an eye-opening yet fun portrayal of working in a public environment, her boss didn’t think it helped her case when she put a photo of the library on the book cover. Even if the names were changed, everyone recognized everyone else, and so her real story began. It seems that free speech is great, until someone is speaking about you.

Sally Stern-Hamilton committed the ultimate library sin. She crossed the line of confidentiality, even though she thought she had covered her tracks, her descriptions of library patrons and scenes of everyday life at the library broke the rules when it came to library customer service. She put herself and her motives before the needs of the patron.

Working at a library, or any public service position, is not a job where you can talk much about your day. It is not a place where you will get a pat on the back or a medal for good conduct because your story is always someone else’s story and usually it’s a story that’s not meant to share.

The building itself is quiet, the voices of patrons past are silent yet a spirit fills the library with shadows of people who have scanned the shelves or looked for someone to guide them to that piece of information that would bring them some peace.



“I need to find out about mesothelioma”, one woman asked. “The doctor says my husband has mesothelioma but I couldn’t understand the diagnosis. Can you help me?”



“I need the number for the closest military recruiting office. It doesn’t matter which one.”


How do I find out about filing for Emancipation from my parents? The court said I could get a form here.”


“Where are your books about pregnancy?”


“Can you help me find a free lawyer? I don’t have money to pay my ambulance bill and I may lose my house.”


“Where do you go when you can’t pay your heating bill?”



The laughter of a hundred children is not enough to drown out the voice that asked for poems that could be read at a child’s funeral. A boy who once came to check out “The Great Gatsby”, now waits in a hospital for an operation to fix his leg, broken in three places in an accident. His friend who was driving died. A mother waits at the window for a child who won’t be home for Christmas, ever again. People searching for answers, searching for help, pass from door to desk and back again.


The navy recruiter pulls up to the door and someone slips the boy a twenty dollar bill because he has no other money in his pockets and maybe he’ll need lunch.


And how was your day at work? Fine...same old stuff.


The library is silent, and still.

Star Review

Maybe I’m just a tough critic but after years of writing book reviews for School Library Journal, this month’s issue contains only the second “starred review” I’ve ever submitted. Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea was only the second book that I thought deserved to be elevated to the status of “starred”. The first book I ever awarded a star to was Chicken Boy by Frances O’Roark Dowell, and that was in 2005.


Because of Mr. Terupt is a great book, well written, with believable characters and a theme reminiscent of Leave it to Beaver and Welcome Back Kotter all rolled into one. Each chapter is a separate narrative by one of the seven students in Mr. Terupt’s classroom. From the students’ distinct voices, readers come to understand the different personalities and backgrounds that define them. The chapters are short, some less than a page, each skillfully arranged to keep readers moving headlong into the conclusion.

But why only two starred reviews in a decade? With all the books being published you would think it would be easy to fill a library with award winning literature. But take a look at the publishing business and how it has evolved. Michael Larson, author of How to Get a Literary Agent, claims that the publishing business is changing faster and more radically than at any other time in history. Globalization is shaping the future of media and having profound effects on what is available at your library, book store, and cinema.


Reed Publishing sends me books every month. As one MLIS student told me, “Just give them all a star review, that way you get more free books”. This was what her professor was doing and he encouraged his students to reap the wealth of free books. I’m wondering if she ever noticed how many of these fiction books had characters using a lot of British slang and Australian settings.


Enter the Six Sisters of Publishing. During the first half of the century hundreds of publishers and imprints were formed. Mergers during the last ten years have resulted in the loss of 90% of the publishing imprints. Of the six big houses that remain only one is a US owned company. Here’s the breakdown in simple terms:



• Bertelsmann AG (German) owns 70 imprints including Random House, Knopf, Ballantine, Crown, Pantheon, and Vintage



• Simon & Schuster (US) includes Pocket Books, Free Press, Scribner, Touchstone

• Hachette Book Group (France) owns Little Brown and Company and Grand Central Publishing



• HarperCollins (Australia) includes Harper Paperbacks, Harper Mass Market, HarperOne



• Penguin Group (United Kingdom) includes Penguin, Putnam, Viking, Berkley, Signet, Plume, Grosset



• Macmillan (Germany) includes Henry Holt and Company, St. Martin's Press


Even my latest star reviewed book was a re-release of a previously published book. If it was ever turned into a movie that Paramount would produce and Mattel could manufacture the toys for and a publisher could re-release yet again the same book but with a glossy movie tie-in cover, then perhaps more people might get there hands on a good book.

While global forces dictate what we will read the genre of books sold show how media tie-ins affect sales. Thanks in part to Stephenie Meyer and her Twilight series, 17% of books sold in 2009 were related to vampires and the paranormal. When I first started reading Charlaine Harris, back in 2000 her characters Lily Bard and Aurora Teagarden had no idea that Sookie Stackhouse would come on the scene some ten years later becoming the inspiration for HBO’s True Blood series. Harris herself had a total of nine titles in the top 100 sellers in one year.

The mother daughter Cast team had six books in the top 100 in 2009, all part of their House of Night series. Add some zombies in the mix with Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith and it would make sense that almost 20% of books being purchased have some walking dead factor.


I guess that reading books, where ever they are published and by whoever owns the company, is not a lost art. But having a character that is dead would help your chances of getting published. Write a book with a vampire or a zombie as the main character, add in a British accent and a Canadian setting….then your sitting on a best seller.

There's an app for that

Where there’s an app there’s probably a book for that. When that need hits you to check if a book is on the shelf at your local library, consider downloading The Library Company’s (TLC’s) new LS2 mobile app that allows you to interface with your school of public library anywhere you have a wireless connection. Currently the app has only been released for Apple’s iPhone, iPad, and iTouch but the developer claims the app will be available for the Android market soon.

Reviewers claim that even the newest versions have some bugs still to work out and may not interface with your local library if they do not subscribe to the TLC format. Sure, you can always just go online to the library’s website and search the catalog through your web browser but patron’s appetite for free apps is hard to overlook.



According to Mobclix, there are more than 27,000 app-based books available on Apple’s App Store, with games falling behind at 25,400, and entertainment at a distant third place of 17,164. This month also saw Amazon release the Kindle app. This free download makes the more than 750,000 Kindle books available to anyone with a computer or smart phone. No longer do you have to own a Kindle, although I’ve put down paper books and now read exclusively on mine, but you can download books to your phone, Blackberry, or Windows computer.


Consumer Reports has the Nook from Barnes & Noble rated third under the Kindle as best overall eReader. But already the December issue of the magazine is out of date as new releases hit stores in time for holiday giving.
The iPad also faces some challenges. While it blazed a trail the fact it is expensive and lacks options now standard on other tablets like a built in web cam, USB port and high resolution camera have consumers looking at other less expensive models with more functions like the VILIV Netbook and the Samsung Galaxy tablet.

OverDrive Media Console is a free, easy-to-use application that allows you to download audiobooks, music, ebooks, and video. This free download allows you to check out media from local libraries for viewing and listening on your computer or mobile device. This Ohio based company is continually expanding and offers more than 100,000 titles.

 Use the library to help you sort through all the technology available for this month’s gift giving. Consumer Reports is available in our magazine section as well as online through our Ebsco database that is accessible from home as long as you input your library card number. Getting to the online version of Consumer Reports through Ebsco allows you to find articles and ratings without having to pay a fee required at the magazine’s online site.


Books to help you through the techno maze include How to Do Everything Facebook Applications for those who want to understand the ins and outs of the popular networking site. The popular “Dummies” series now includes BlackBerry For Dummies and Twitter for Dummies. For those looking to gain knowledge the old fashioned way consider the New York Times book Smarter by Sunday: 52 Weekends of essential knowledge for the Curious Mind. Chapters include A History of Classical Music, Physics, and Ancient Egypt.

Even with a three week checkout time you’re bound to gain a few segments of new knowledge that may help you if you find yourself in a conversation with Alex Trebek. Consider then Carved in Sand : When Attention Fails and Memory Fades in Midlife by Cathryn Jakobson Ramin. Thank goodness it’s available in Large Print.

 This is the season…the season of technology, whether we’re ready for it or not.

A book in the hand is worth...

I used to think the weight of a book in hand lent something to the entire reading experience. Cracking open a brand new book, fresh pages that hold some kind of allure, the mix of ink a heady aroma that drives the bibliophile to flip page after page consuming the entire volume at one sitting. Ebooks seemed a thing of future generations with no value added over their paper counterparts.

That is until I got a Kindle. I had been researching different digital reading devices and had actually decided on a different model, the Barnes and Noble Nook, before receiving the Kindle as a gift. A gift in hand is better than arranging for return shipping and over the course of the next several hours, as books were delivered through Whispernet technology, I entered the digital book age.



Ebooks are not new to librarians. For years libraries have offered a handful of digital downloads. But the latest generation of eBooks ad readers offer some advantages not found on previous releases. The ability to change the font size and new screen technology allows for increased viewing even in low light situations. With some devices, like the Kindle, you have the option of having the book read to you using text to voice software.


Ebooks are being used in the classroom. Previously the inability to take notes kept textbooks from being fully utilized by students but not any more. More and more research is being accessed through eBooks with citations reflecting the access of the latest digital resources. Page numbers are not available so section or url addresses are used in citations.

 While a specific device is not required to view an eBook, you can download applications to your desktop computer, laptop and even to your phone, the variety of digital tools and functions make digital readers like the Kindle and the Nook an item most students will be taking to college with them. My Kindle cost about the same as the graphing calculator I had to purchase for my kid’s algebra class.

 I had taken home Curse of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz, but after downloading the sample onto the Kindle I found it impossible to get the 400 plus pages out of my library bag.

For those considering the purchase of an eReader check out http://ebookreadermatrix.com/ for a nice side by side comparison of devices. This month’s issue of Consumer Reports magazine features their review of eReaders that might help hesitant consumers with the decision making process.

On my Kindle now is Robert B. Parker’s Painted Ladies, the last of the Spenser novels, and The Language of Bees by Laurie R. King. Deceit: A Novel by Brandilyn Collins is more of a thriller than I would usually pull off the shelf and Almost Heaven by Judith McNaught would be the book I would not want anyone to know was on my Kindle should I suddenly depart.

 

Oh, and I better renew the library’s copy of Curse of the Spellmans that’s still at the bottom of my book bag. It’s overdue.

Things that go bump in the night

Things that go bump in the night bring lots of people into the library once the days start getting shorter, the shadows grow longer, and pumpkins start taking the place of spring planters on local porches. The popularity of our current display of “Spine Tingling Reads” is proof that aliens, ghosts, and witches, oh my, are great reads for cool October nights.

 The Ghost Whisperer, Mary Ann Winkowski, a local author best know for her character depicted by actress Jennifer Love Hewitt on the television show, has a new book out this month, The Ice Cradle: a Novel from the Ghost Files. The second book in her Ghost Files series deals with a small Rhode Island village and the construction project that has drummed up more than just memories of a tragic accident that occurred there over 100 years ago. You can check out Mary Ann’s schedule of local book signings by visiting her web page or check out one of her earlier books at the library, When Ghosts Speak: Understanding the World of Earthbound Spirits.

 Consider making it to one of her book group meetings that take place the third Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Borders Books in Strongsville. The Ice Cradle is the featured book for the upcoming November 18th meeting.

Chris Woodyard has been writing about Haunted Ohio since 1991, releasing five volumes in her popular series as well as her book Ghost Hunter’s Guide to Haunted Ohio that chronicles some of her experiences while researching locations and background for her books.

Chris visited the Amherst Public Library years ago but no photos were allowed to be taken during her presentation. As you’ll see from her books, she never lets anyone take her picture. She continues to work and two years ago she sent a set of books to be used as summer reading prizes. Flip to the back of any of the Haunted Ohio books to access an index by county. Here’s where you can pick out local stories based in Lorain, Oberlin, Cleveland, or check out a county you’re going to visit. I read up on Johnson’s Island just in case I run into any soldiers on my next trip to the islands.

For those who want to read more on the dark side consider horror stories like Dan Poblocki’s The NightMarys where two teens must break a curse that is causing their greatest fears to become realities. For those who like to listen to a book while walking down a spooky, dark, dark path consider checking out a Playaway like Bitten, by Kelley Armstrong. Sure you’re familiar with horror king Stephen King but did you ever read anything by his son? Check out Heart-shaped Box, the first book by Joe Hill, who chose to use a pen name rather than acknowledge his relationship to his famous father in the press. The book took critics by storm and the plot and pacing will remind you of the paternal connection. You also might think twice before buying that next item on ebay.

Take a chance on a tale of horror, it can’t be much worse then reading the daily newspaper. Horror, fright, and things that go bump in the night. Who you going to call?

Things are heating up at the Amherst Public Library

Maybe it's an omen.

John Henkel and Chase Harper first spotted the fire.

Library patrons tipped off staff today when a fire broke out at the Amherst Public Library today. “I had just stopped to talk to a friend when we spotted a burning bush”, said John Henkel.


Henkel had stopped near a parked car along the Spring Street side of the building to talk to Chase Harper. Harper ran inside the building to report the fire to library staff.

Amherst Police and Fire Departments respond to the call.

“It had really sparked up fast”, said Harper. “One minute we were just standing there talking and all of a sudden the bush was in flames and the mulch was smoldering.” Staff members responded to the fire by calling 911 while others grabbed fire extinguishers to contain the small blaze.

Cheryl Ashton was at the reference desk when she saw smoke billowing past the windows. Running downstairs she spotted Harper who pointed to the flames. “I’m wondering if we should take this as some kind of omen”, said Ashton. “You know it’s not the first time a message came through a burning piece of landscaping.”

Firemen soak down the mulch around the burned shrub.

A patron took over the first extinguisher as Ashton went back into the building for more. Don Dovala brought out a third extinguisher and the fire was contained by the time the Amherst Police and Fire Departments arrived. “Everything is so dry right now”, said one fireman. “It wouldn’t take much to set off a small brush fire. We’ll make sure it’s watered down well because the mulch has a tendency to hold in embers.”

Patrons soon returned to what they had been doing before all the excitement and some speculated to the fire’s origins. A carelessly tossed cigarette, spontaneous combustion, an ill timed promotion for banned book week?

The answers to many of life’s little mysteries are often found by looking at the library.  Checking out The Illustrated Book of Signs & Symbols by Miranda Bruce-Mitford explains many of the fundamental signs and omens that have become part of our folklore and our everyday life. Universal symbols like “mother earth” that permeate mythology across a multitude of cultures are examined as well as religious symbols and those found in nature.

 

Many books require the examination of omens and symbols. Dan Brown’s popular sequel to The Da Vinci Code, The Lost Symbol, traces back historical symbolism and secret societies that still exist today. Other authors picked up on the popular books releasing titles like Secrets of the Code: the unauthorized guide to the mysteries behind the Da Vinci Code by Dan Burstein.

Flipping through the Bruce-Mitford book it lists fire as one of the basic earth elements. Supposedly a vision of fire can lead to a deeper understanding of your place in the universe. Or maybe it means you’re going to meet a fireman. It’s elementary dear Watson.

Seasonal Evolution

Forget any celestial equinox or counting down the days till the solstice declares the perfect alignment of sun and stars to know when fall begins. The Farmer’s Almanac might give you weather predictions and advise you when to plant your winter wheat, but what’s happening at the library is as perfect an indication of the change of seasons as…well, Dick Goddard and the wooly bear.

 The library eased from summer reading into fall with people returning their summer paperbacks like The Au Pairs by Melissa de la Cruz, reads by Evanovich and thrillers like Laura Lippman’s What the Dead Know, a book that chronicled the mystery of two young girls that disappeared from a suburban shopping mall thirty years ago and show up at a hit a run accident years later.

Self indulgent mysteries, court room drama, and even summer romance has returned to the shelves as more weighty tomes find their way to the circulation desk. Look for research papers and science fair projects to bring in patrons searching for encyclopedias to cite as resources and heavier history books detailing civil war battles and world war scenarios. Reading lists still require ATale of Two Cities or Pride and Prejudice, but many kids now can download those books to their iPods.



For the last hundred years, students have visited the library to supplement their studies, once asking Maude Neiding for classic literature like Tom Sawyer and Treasure Island, now students use library computers to access the Internet or prepare PowerPoint presentations. During our annual book covering event at the library this year students brought in more than 500 textbooks that were covered here at the library, more books than Maude Neiding had in her original collection.

As the days get shorter look for fall favorites like Mediterranean Harvest by Martha Rose Shulman that lists more than 500 recipes such as Garlic Soup on page 161 or the Baked Eggplant Stuffed with Pasta on page 220. Recipes that celebrate the harvest, canning or pickling take center stage over recipes for grilling and summer smoothies.



While many students still require books for school projects, the downsizing of our school libraries and inclusion of more digital resources and computers, has evolved into more use of online databases and digital information sharing. The library’s Accelerated Reading database that merges with our library catalog is a valuable tool for students and parents who need library books to complete reading assignments.

A great book written with a teacher’s point of view, try Close Encounters of the Third-grade Kind: thoughts on Teacherhood by Phillip Done. His insightful depiction of every day life in the classroom as a new teacher is funny while at the same time acting as a soundboard for ideas.

Maude Nieding would be amazed at the evolution of the library as a community resource but also how we’ve learned to function through the seasons, turning over books and movies from one season to the next, just like the transition of baseball to football. The library constantly changes yet remains the same. I’d better check if we have enough copies of Tom Sawyer on the shelf.

Hunt Down Treasure at the Library

Many people have stopped by the library to pick up copies of our annual Scavenger Hunt. Any time I drive through town I can usually spot someone clutching their white sheet of paper in one hand and a pencil in the other, gazing up at buildings searching for that last elusive clue.



Just walking through the stacks of books here at the Amherst Public Library I’m reminded about all the treasures that await people who take the time to browse and search out that elusive title. People who only shop at Borders or other retail stores limit their literary exposure to current titles and remade classics. Of course I’ve got my Borders reward card and I’m usually there once a week on my day off, but people who don’t explore their own library may be missing out on some of the best book treasures around.



The tan, cloth-bound copy of The Dark Frigate by C.B. Hawes still stands on the shelf in Junior Fiction. The New York Tribune book review stated “No one, we think, has written so perfect a pirate tale since ‘Treasure Island” and the clipped summary from the book jacket remains pasted inside the book cover. Without Johnny Depp on the cover it’s a hard sell to today’s young readers but the stained cover is still sturdy and the sticker showing the book was a 1924 Newberry Medal winner has been taped over multiple times.



Tarzan of the Apes was a book by Edgar Rice Burroughs long before anyone thought of animating the story. Even the Wizard of Oz held shelf space long before the movie classic. Cloth bindings, well worn, and well read are signs of earlier times. Part of our library genealogy that makes each public library unique.

Downstairs, near the entrance Jane Eyre stands staunch in its orange, no-nonsense binding. The Spy Who Came in from the Cold by Le Carre with its blue cloth binding seems to sink into the shadows next to other more flashy covers. Splashy fonts and graphics covered in special plastic covers protect newer books by Hiaasen and Scottoline.


I wonder about those people who stand in the aisles at the book store, sipping their lattes and browsing the stacks that have already been sorted for them by New York Times bestseller designations and a marketing plan that correlates visibility with increased sales. When all the books are slick and shiny it’s hard to tell the well read from the gimmicky, choosing from a set of cards someone has already dealt you from a limited deck.


The library keeps those favorites, those books that are timeless, that tell something about the character of those tending to the shelves. Why we would get rid of anything by Don Winslow I don’t know; The Life and Death of Bobby Z, was probably one of the best books I ever read. And the best Stephen King book won’t be found in the fiction section but I think it resides in the biography section. First editions sometimes end up on the sale rack because of space limitations and now even we are displaying the shiny new books on their own special shelves


Just like a community is made up of different people, all sizes colors and ages of books reside within the walls of the library. The collection defines who we our, our values and our dreams, I’ll keep our 1958 edition of The Call of the Wild in our collection for that one person who might appreciate the worn red copy with the fleur de lis with illustrations by Robert Todd and because you can’t always judge a book just by the cover. Sometimes you just have to discover the treasure for yourself.

Erie Authors

Georgann and Michael Wachter were on a backpacking trip through Europe in 1972 when they did some snorkeling in the Mediterranean Sea and were introduced to the underwater world.  Since that time they've completed hundreds of dives all over the world including the Caribbean, the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, and all around the Great Lakes. 


On Thursday, July 8 at 7 p.m., the Wachters will be at the Amherst Public Library to talk about their experiences and their books, Erie Wrecks West, Erie Wrecks & Lights, and Erie Wrecks East.  They'll even have a display of some of the various artifacts the've brought back from shipwrecks they've explored.

Erie Wrecks West covers more than 100 shipwrecks complete with photos and ship information.  Each book includes a shipwreck map of the area and detailed information such as surviror's stories and GPS coordinates.  Erie Wrecks and Lights gives details on the lighthouse of Lake Erie and the five greatest storms in Lake Erie history.

They traveled thousands of miles for a history lesson

How far would you go to find out about your family history?  Deborah and Stephen Jackson traveled more than 2500 miles from their home in Stockton, California, to find information on Deborah's family.  The retired couple had been on the road almost three weeks, traveling to Georgia and up the east coast through New York before winding back through Ohio and stopping recently at the Amherst Public Library.

"We came to Amherst because that's where my family is from originally", said Deborah.  "We've spent our vacation visiting cemeteries, historical associations, and genealogy centers tracing back our own family history."  Stephen's family was mostly from Georgia which led them to a great archives in the Atlanta area where they were able to find clues and fill in gaps in his family tree.

Deborah was very happy when she found the book Amherst Pictorial History by Fay Van Nuys Ott in the library's local history collection.  On page 129 of the book she found a photo of John Ulrich Sr., sitting in his cobbler shop, dated 1920.  "He was my great grandfather", she explained. "I've seen a photo of his house but never this one of inside the shop." 

The Jacksons spent quite a while pouring over books and maps while on the other side of the room, kids took part in the library's regular Wednesday craft activity.  "It makes me miss my grandchildren seeing all these happy little faces," said Deborah.  "We've really enjoyed our time on the road.  It's been a very relaxing vacation."  Stephen is holding a copy of the new book by Arcadia Press, Images of America: Amherst.  Find it at the library or purchase it online.

The Jackson's were traveling in their RV and had to head out to make arrangements for the evening.  Before they left town, though, they headed downtown to take some photographs.  Perhaps one day they'll tell their grandchildren about their journey across America to document their family history and tell them about some of the nice people they met along the way, maybe even the nice folks they met at the Amherst Public Library.

Find more information, including Amherst and South Amherst High School Yearbooks, historical photographs, and one of a kind books when you visit our Digital History Collection online. Also check out some of the Amherst News Times that are now available online.  No need to travel thousands of miles and you just might find something you didn't even know existed.

Summer Series

No more teachers no more books....hey, wait a minute, let's not get carried away.  Summer is the perfect time to pick up that book just because you like the cover, because someone told you it was good, because you have time to sit back and just read for fun.  Remember reading for fun?

Sometimes the best books are the ones you find by accident.  Barefoot: a novel by Elin Hilderbrand is one such story.  Connecticut housewife Vicki, diagnosed with lung cancer, has packed up her two kids for a chemo-commuting summer at the family's Nantucket cabin.  Vicki brings along with her two other women that have there own baggage.  The three women are noticed by Josh Flynn, a creative writing student that can smell a story in the air and quickly inserts himself into the drama that unfolds. 

Summer People by Brian Groh is a quick read that puts you into the world of social privilege, but fills you with a great story of friendship and compassion.  A debut novel, a light read that's perfect for poolside.

Sweet-and-sour summer is part of the series Dish by Diane Muldrow.  This young adult series combines friendships, cooking, talking...what else is there?  Short books, all with an underlyling culinary tie that brings characters and drama together on one menu. 


The Floor of the Sky by Pamela Carter Joern depicts four generations of Nebraska ranchers packed into 250 pages that will have you wanting more.  Lila is a pregnant teenager spending the summer at her grandmother Toby's Nebraska ranch. Toby has problems of her own, Toby is trying to save her ranch from foreclosure while dealing with her sanctimonious sister Gertie.  What begins as a summer visit opens up Lila to family secrets and generations of turmoil that can only be felt by those people whose very existence, and life depends on the land around them.  A gritty novel that would make a great movie.

Cabin pressure: one man's futile attempt to recapture his youth at summer camp  by Josh Wolk is available as a book on CD.  Reminicent of an Adam Sandler movie, Josh find himself faced with the ultimate step into adulthood - marraige.  He returns to the summer camp of his youth before walking down the aisle. But while his beloved campgrounds have remained the same, Wolk finds that he has grown out of touch.  What's worse is that he's still intimidated by supermacho co-counselor Mitch.  If summer camp brings back memories of wedgies and misquito bites then join with Josh Wolk and share the memories.

Front Porch Tales by Philip Gulley invites you to sit and just enjoy the front porch of life.  Lift your spirits and share in the warm and inspirational stories that help you put some perspective on what is really important in your life.  A nice, relaxing read.  Where's my iced tea?

Sure there's always work to be done but even young readers can relax and have fun with Mr. Putter & Tabby Paint the Porch by Cynthia Rylant. Everything is ready to go.  The drop cloths are laid, the paint has been stirred, but when a squirrel gets curious, the resulting chaos is worth a few laughs, especially if you're not the one cleaning up. This is one of the books located in our Beginning Readers section in the Children's Department.  Look for the red sticker on the book spine that says "Reader". 

Remember, the library has a summer reading program for those ages 4 through 104.  Visit our online registration page or our Youth Services page for more information.

A memorial for the weekend

Often we get caught up with our daily schedules, lists and agendas, timetables that fill up our days yet drain us of precious minutes. Holidays sneak up on us and add to the chaos with cookout, parades, and party invitations.



And while an aura of uneasiness settled over my morning routine I looked at the calendar, having missed a doctor appointment the previous day and now committing myself to better organization, and noticed the date and suddenly realized the reason for the emptiness. May 27, a prelude to Memorial Day weekend, and the day, eight years ago I lost a very good friend.



Alison Dodson was my friend and what I would call a spiritual sister. When our family moved to Columbus, we lived a stone’s throw from Alison and her family. Alison and her husband had both graduated from Amherst and it seemed ironic that we were now living so close to each other. Several years later when she was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer the journey was a rocky one and I just held on for the ride.



When the chemo kicked in I buzzed her hair and swept up the clippings from the kitchen floor. I shopped with her for clothes as she continued to lose weight.



Holidays were always a celebration at the Dodson household with food, kids in the hot tub, and pool volleyball. But that year I remember painting Alison’s toenails, red, white, and blue, as she laid resting on the sofa, because how could you go to the hospital without a proper pedicure.



She left that day, me promising to meet her at the hospital after I’d gone home to shower, change clothes and regroup. I promised her kids I would pick them up. But I never made it. I didn’t keep my promise. I got word she had died while I drove down Interstate 71, the day was sunny and James Taylor was singing “Fire and Rain”. Somehow the plans they made, the chemo, radiation, and all if it, had put an end to you.

 Today I remember that Memorial Day weekend in 2002, the one I spent writing an obituary, and think about all the people who might view this weekend as not just a time to remember our veterans but all of our friends who have left, whose journey included a battle of a different kind, one they fought bravely, but overpowered them in the end.



We’ll honor others this weekend, my father, whose reissued Army medals I just received, and Mike Barvinchak, who was a Navy medic in Viet Nam and survived the horrors of war yet lost his battle at home with cancer.


I pull in the parking lot at work, another day, another battle of deadlines, shifting priorities and requests. But as I put the van in park a song comes on the radio and I pause, my hand on the ignition key, as James Taylor comes on the radio:



I’ve seen fire and I’ve seen rain
I’ve seen sunny days
That I thought would never end
I’ve seen lonely times
When I could not find a friend
But I always thought that I'd see you again.

Me, too, Alison….me, too. Sorry I let you down but thanks for the song.


Following is a list of books you might enjoy:

You can do this! : surviving breast cancer without losing your sanity or your style 
by Elisha Daniels and Kelley Tuthill


Some of the best therapy comes from within.  Help a friend by updating her look, new eye make-up, ideas and tips from someone who's been there.



Stand by her : a breast cancer guide for men by John W. Anderson
Chapters cover common concerns and questions from husbands who are on the front lines of the breast cancer battle.  Topics cover "emotional fallout" and "Chemo: the shot heard round the world".  Worth a look.

The unforgiving minute : a soldier's education by Craig M. Mullaney
 A West Point grad, Rhodes scholar, and Army Ranger recounts his unparalleled education in the art of war.  Nice personal narrative that includes "an appeal" as well as contact information for three non-profit organizations that help military personnel and their families. 


Miss O'Dell : my hard days and long nights with the Beatles, the Stones, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, and the women they loved
by Chris O'Dell 

Here's your backstage pass to some of the most momentous events in rock history.  O'Dell was part of rock royalty's trusted inner circle and this tell all tale will give you the inside story to what went on when the Beatles, Dylan, Taylor, Santana, and others came to town.  Nothing wrong with living the dream.

Summer Grillin'

June is the number one month for grilling according to the National Food Safety Board.  With holidays like Memorial Day weekend to kick off the official grilling season there's lots of events like the Cleveland Rib Burn off to get you motivated.  Just because the Amherst Fire Department heads over everytime you get the grill out shouldn't discourage you.

Warm weather, holiday entertaining, and just enjoying the great outdoors are reasons to fire up the grill and fire up some fun with some great books from the Amherst Public Library.

Barbecue Bible! sauces, rubs, and marinades, bastes, butters & glazes  by Steven Raichlen, is a great book to start with.  No matter what your taste, there's some easy recipes here for basic marinades that can also be used for basting sauces.  Marinating is a great way to tenderize meat and cheaper cuts of meat do great on the grill when they're prepared properly.

Emeril at the grill : a cookbook for all seasons by Emeril Lagasse will have you kicking it up a notch with some of Emeril's original spice blends.  You don't have to be a television chef to put together some of his recipes that go beyond the usual summer classics to include great grilling options for year round dining.

Lots of celebrity chefs jump on the grilling band wagon.  Bobby Flay started off at the grill when he first appeared on television.  Now his book, Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill cookbook : explosive flavors from the southwestern kitchen, will take you beyond the grill, with recipes full of fresh ingredients.  Flay holds true to his southwestern flavor palette but makes it accessible to the everyday cook.

Rick Browne, the host of the PBS series, Barbeque America, has put together his book The big book of barbecue side dishes : over 125 recipes.  There's more to grilling than just the main dish and Browne will show you great salads, sides, and even desserts that can round out your menu and keep you out of the kitchen a little longer. 

Depending on what type of grill you have there may be a specific cookbook for you.  Grillin' with gas : 150 mouthwatering recipes for great grilled food  by Fred Thompson is just one of many books that speak to specific cooking styles. 

If you'd rather stay out of the heat, and out of the kitchen, order a pizza and relax with a good  mystery while you're waiting for the delivery car. Pick up The Grilling Season by Dianne Mott Davidson.  This is the seventh book in her Cordon Bleu series and has Goldy being hired to cater a hockey party.  Will Goldy's fresh-baked Chocolate Comfort Cookies give her the strength to solve a baffling mystery that threatens her catering deadline, her relationship with her son, and even her life?  Recipes are included and maybe the Chocolate Comfort Cookie recipe will have you back in the kitchen.  Too bad you can't make these on the grill.

Two fire trucks!  Come on...I only used three habanero peppers just like Bobby Flay!

New Teen Reads

Fans of Percy Jackson are lining up for the latest book by Rick Riordan. The Red Pyramid, Book one in the Kane Chronicles, hits book shelves this month and Percy fans will find that this latest tale seems right out of a parallel universe. Like his Last Olympians series, this new offering also takes place in New York. This time instead of Manhattan, Brooklyn is the scene for the fast paced action involving Egyptian gods and ensuing chaos.   Witty characters, short chapters, young people with special powers, it’s a formula that works for Riordan and has fans lining up for his latest book.



Those pining for Percy will pick right up with14 year old Carter Kane and his 12 year old sister Sadie when mysterious forces descend upon the city and the teens get caught up in the action right from page one. While the publisher suggests this series for ages 10 and older, the action transcends word count barriers and reluctant readers, and busy adults, will find this book a welcome addition to their summer reading list.

You’ve read his books and seen the movies, but now, popular author John Grisham breaks into the Young Adult market with the character of Theodore Bone, a 13-year old who knows every judge and every policeman in his small town, as well as a bit about the law.

Sure he dreams of being a great trial lawyer, someday, but Theodore finds himself in a courtroom sooner than expected. A cold blooded killer is about to go free and Theodore’s the only one standing in his way. The resulting courtroom drama will have Grisham fans on edge as the suspense builds. Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer, available May 25, will keep you guessing until the final bang of the gavel. A must read for teens and anyone who enjoys a great courtroom saga.

Historical fiction just sounds like something thick and dusty but in the hands of author Michael P. Spradlin the age of kings comes alive in his series The Youngest Templar. The newest book in this series, Trail of Fate, follows the journey of Tristan, a young squire attending to the needs of the Knights Templar.  Together with Robard, the king's archer, and a young female assassin named Maryam, they travel across France, protecting the Holy Grail.  Adventure tinged with French history, and a bit of romance might have you thinking again about studying medieval history.  Think young Indiana Jones in the year 1192 and you're on the right track.  But start with book one in this series, Keeper of the Grail.