As Seen From The Front Desk

The other day a mother and her young child returned some books at the circulation desk. The parting between the child and his books was sorrowful, and he politely pleaded with his mother to keep them longer. But mother prevailed, and so the child stepped down off our stool dejectedly. A quick recovery was made, however, when he spotted a shiny, aerodynamic motorcycle helmet placed next to one of the public computers. A man in a riding jumpsuit had biked over to the library to use the computer and noticed the boy's eyes widen at the sight of this alluring piece of space-age equipment. He allowed the boy to put on his helmet (twice the size of the child's head,) and with the mother's permission the three of them walked out of the library together so that he could show the boy his motorcycle in the parking lot. It took just a few minutes from the man's day to do this, but the little boy will surely remember it for a long time. Those of us who noticed this kind act were left beaming for the day. And, no doubt, we will see the boy back in the library soon looking for books about motorcycles!

Do You Need To Update Your Business/Computer Skills?

Are you thinking about getting back into the workplace or perhaps upgrading to a more challenging job? If so, you are undoubtedly aware that technology changes quickly, and job seekers must adapt their skills to meet the times.

Why not go to that interview reassured that your computer skills are up-to-date? Bernardsville Public Library has your needs in mind. We have been offering free computer classes for a number of years and want to encourage you to attend them. The classes are taught on laptops in the library's Community Room by staff member Karen Vaias, and you will get the attention you deserve because class sizes are small.

Karen's classes fall into two categories: Build Up Your Computer Skills, which provides basic computer instruction, and Polish Your Microsoft Office Skills, which covers programs such as Excel, PowerPoint and Publisher. Please consult the library's Web site for more information. Once there, click on the picure of the computer mouse and the words "Help for New Computer Users." To reserve your spot at one of these classes, come to the circulation desk to sign up and please be prepared to leave a deposit of $5 for each class. Your deposit will be returned to you once you attend the class.

You may also sign up for free, individual computer classes with volunteer instructors who will walk you through your particular area of need or interest. These classes are held in the library as well and require a sign-up, too. Stop by the circulation desk to make an appointment. Classes run one hour in length. Best of all, you do NOT need to have a library card to take advantage of these wonderful career and life-enhancing classes.

This is "Book News and More" For Sure...Dog Reviews Book About A Cat!

Margaret Harvey, readers' services staff member at Bernardsville Public Library, is a dog lover through and through, but she and her dog Skip were moved by the recent nonfiction book, Dewey. Skip is a "mixed breed" shelter dog, so he can relate to the miraculous rescue of the little kitten, Dewey, who became the live-in mascot for a small library in Iowa. With assistance from Margaret, Skip has provided a dog's perspective on a book about a cat. Dewey: the small-town library cat who touched the world by Vicki Myron

Skip's review of the book follows below:

As a dog I rarely read books about cats, but I know about libraries because my mom works at one. When I saw the cat on the cover, I wanted to gnaw on it. I changed my mind and decided to peek at it since I figured there was no way a cat could really change the world. I have to say, I am not fond of cats. After reading Dewey, I have a new respect for the cat and his book.

You see, poor Dewey was abandoned in a cold book return at a library in a small town in Iowa during the 1980’s. He nearly froze to death, but was found by the nice librarians who worked there before that happened (Librarians are nice people.) After thawing him out, they decided to keep him. A cat in the library? Well evidently, this was not as unusual as you might think. There is actually historical evidence for cats in libraries which astounds me as I think dogs would be so much nicer. You can read about that in the book.

The author, who was the library’s director, tells lots of anecdotes that cat lovers will really enjoy. Dogs won’t appreciate them too much, but people who like libraries will find Dewey’s life story intriguing even if they don’t care much for cats. Libraries can be quite fun places to be, and this library in Iowa was no exception. While the author tells about Dewey’s life in the library, she also recounts how the cat and the library impacted the community during a bad economic period in the town. This makes it a timely book for you humans.

I liked this book because it shows how great animals (including cats) are and how good they are for people of all ages. Maybe after you read this book you will want to have a cat in your library. Or even better, a dog in the library.

~Skip Harvey
Margaret Harvey’s best dog

New Library Display Celebrates Lincoln's 200th Anniversary

Today is the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth. To celebrate this occasion and to note his presidency, Bernardsville Public Library has installed a new book display in its lobby. Included in this broad assortment of items are biographies, book recordings, and histories about Abraham Lincoln which have been selected for children, young adult, and adult readers. Shown below are some of the books currently on display. Please pause to look through them as you enter the library, and please feel free to check out any of these books from the display.

"Purrrfect" for Pet and Animal Lovers

photo source - Bernardsville Public Library

Are you on the lookout for great stories with animal subjects? Have you considered getting a pet recently? Do you take comfort in the company of animal friends?

photo source - Bernardsville Public Library

Look no further than the circulation desk at Bernardsville Public Library where a new bookmark has been added to our very own collection of original bookmarks. This one is entitled Creature Comforts and offers a list of current and older book titles with great animal characters. Included among these titles are books for both adults and children alike. On the other side of the bookmark are some suggested readings for animal care and breed information. Learn how to care for your pets. Loving them is easy!

New in Nonfiction - A Staff Pick

Karen Vaias, reference librarian and readers' services staff member at Bernardsville Public Library, recently read this new nonfiction book. Her review follows:

When the New Year rolls around, our thoughts often turn to self improvement. Resolutions can include such topics as reducing one's carbon footprint or one's waistband. The new book, Food Matters: a guide to conscious eating with more than 75 recipes by Mark Bittman offers help on how to achieve each of these. In it, he addresses the concept of sustainability in a practical and economical manner. Bittman discusses how significantly our meat-dominated menus impact global warming and depletion of resources. He also maintains that what is good for the environment is good for the individual: you will actually lose weight by implementing his suggestions! The author's guidelines are flexible enough to fit into most lifestyles and budgets. In the second part of the book, he includes menu plans and recipes that yield great results from a minimum of ingredients. Mark Bittman is the author of numerous cookbooks and a weekly New York Times column. He also appears regularly on the Today Show.

Newbery Medal Awarded to Neil Gaiman

The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) has awarded the 2009 John Newbery Medal for outstanding children's literature to Neil Gaiman, versatile British author of fantasy, science fiction, graphic novels and children's books, for The Graveyard Book. On its Web site, the ALSC, a chapter of the American Library Association, states the following about The Graveyard Book, "A delicious mix of murder, fantasy, humor and human longing, the tale of Nobody Owens is told in magical, haunting prose."

Furthermore, the Web site for The Graveyard Book offers this opening summary for the book, "Hear this tragic tale: a sleeping family, a talented murderer, and an adventurous toddler—orphaned, but not assassinated. Small and alone, by accident and luck he escapes the scene of the crime and climbs a grassy hill to safety. At the top of the hill the boy finds a fence, and on the other side, a dark, quiet place. "

The dark, quiet place, of course, is the graveyard, where the boy is raised by the spirits within. Although the Newbery Medal is targeted to children's books, The Graveyard Book can be enjoyed by adults, too. Coraline, another children's book by Neil Gaiman, has successfully crossed age lines as well and is currently being made into a film for popular release.

New "Neighbors" in the Library

photo source - Bernardsville Public Library

Two of Bernardsville Public Library's collection areas - adult graphic novels/comics and readers'/book group advice - have been moved to form their own "neighborhood." You will find these books on the shelving to the right as you enter the library (see photo above.)

Noting the growing adult interest in graphic novels, the library staff has brought together all our adult graphic novels and comic books to showcase these items. While Bernardsville Public Library's young adult readers have had their own neighborhood collection of teen graphic novels and comics for some time, this is a new feature for adult readers of the graphic novel form.

In addition, people looking for ideas on what to read next will be able to go to one location to find suggestions for reading specific genres or finding top-rated and prizewinning books. This collection area is called BookFind and is located adjacent to the graphic novels, as seen in the photo above. Helpful resources for starting and running a successful book group are included as well. There you will also find information on our own Book Group Bags. These are zip-up canvas bags containing 10 paperback copies of popular books with reviews and background material on the authors. The Book Group Bags may be checked out for one month's time.

Don't forget that we have our own original bookmarks at the circulation desk which will give you a quick list of reading suggestions. Our bookmarks cover all the popular genres as well as special interest areas such as war fiction, asian writers, and travel. Staff members are always happy to make reading suggestions for you, as well.

How Do You Value Your Library?

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Today’s front page article in The Wall Street Journal, “Folks Are Flocking to the Library, A Cozy Place to Look for a Job,” is just one of many news articles reporting an up-tick in library usage during this deep economic downturn. The MSNBC video above further elaborates on the increasing number of people returning to their local libraries for services which will aid them in finding a job. People are also using libraries more often for the free materials (books, wireless access, computers, and videos) they may have overlooked in the past.

The Wall Street Journal states that career resources provided by libraries are in high demand right now. In fact, library computer usage has risen dramatically due to people checking job listings and updating their resumes.

Our own patrons and surrounding communities should know that Bernardsville Public Library offers a Career Center dedicated to career planning and job searches. Two computers are specifically loaded with programs and databases to assist you as you target your career move. Included among these online career resources are programs to help you with interviewing and resume writing, links for continuing education, and employer contact information. A large collection of career advisement books is available as well.

While library usage is rising, The Wall Street Journal reports that public funding for libraries is facing dramatic reductions due to the economy, and library services across the nation are jeopardized by budget cuts. Some libraries have shortened hours, closed branches or trimmed staffing, and all public libraries today are carefully managing their expenses while looking for the most cost-efficient ways to provide valuable services to their patrons. The American Library Association has provided a link for patrons who value their local libraries and want to advocate for them.

Contact your local library director to find other ways you can show just how much you value your library.

Bernardsville Public Library Wins Highest Library Ranking

photo source - Bernardsville Public Library

The HAPLR Index, a nationwide ratings system for public libraries, has awarded Bernardsville Public Library the number one ranking for a library of its size in the State of New Jersey. In addition, Hennen's American Public Library Ratings (HAPLR) has ranked our library second in the entire state.

These rankings were published in the October 2008 issue of American Libraries. To commemorate this honor, Mayor Lee C. Honecker of the Borough of Bernardsville issued a proclamation on December 22, 2008, congratulating the library board of trustees and the library staff for this achievement.

Statistics on our circulation numbers, staffing, reference, and other services were considered as well as the size of our population to determine this number one ranking. For instance, in 2007 we checked out 236,000 items whereas our municipality had a population below 7,500.

Many townspeople believe that Bernardsville Public Library is at the heart of the community and prove it by regularly using our services and attending our programs. We are fortunate to have such dedicated patrons.

Are You Looking For Something Good To Watch?

Exasperated with the state of U.S. television, a number of patrons have discovered our very own antidote - The British Collection, featuring a wide selection of British television series and PBS adaptations. Assembled by staff member Susan Popper, the British Collection contains both dvds and videotapes of popular older British TV series such as All Creatures Great and Small as well as newer shows, including
Rosemary and Thyme, a series about female horticulturalists who take on amateur detective work

and Campion, showcasing the sleuthing skills of debonair Albert Campion. Bernardsville Public Library is happy to share these items with you. Come into our video section and look for the Union Jack stickers marking The British Collection.

Lessons of Yore - A Staff Pick

Evelyn Fischel, readers' services staff member at Bernardsville Public Library, has written the following comments about this recent memoir:

In the Christmas rush to clean the house and hide extraneous stuff, I came upon more extraneous stuff I had hidden from an earlier time. Surprise! I forgot I even had some of these things, including this book which I had started to read last year about this time - before it got the bum's rush into a closet.

This sort of behavior would never happen in Mildred Armstrong Kalish's memoir, Little Heathens: Hard Times and High Spirits on an Iowa Farm During the Great Depression, selected by the New York Times as one of the ten best books of 2007. There would not have been any extraneous things and nothing was "stuff": everything had value and was used up, worn out or made to last...good words to live by once again in these times.

This is a charming recollection of multi-generational family life during the Depression, which was made a bit easier by the family's self-sustaining farm. Great-grandparents, grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and siblings all banded together for support, entertainment, worship and work. Neighbors and townspeople added flavor and variety to a simple, but rich life.

Filled with numerous stories about childhood in Iowa, Little Heathens also provides good insight into the self-reliant, but selfless attitudes of that time. Everyone had chores to do, lessons to learn, meals to prepare from scratch, farm animals to care for, and thrifty values to practice. For instance, the story about how socks were used up is most impressive, starting with the first hole in the toe. After numerous darnings and resizings of the sock by cutting off the toe and sewing it up for a smaller foot, the author's grandmother would cut off the ribbed end to sew onto coat cuffs for added warmth and then the rest of the sock was cut into little squares for polishing. Think about that.

If you're in the mood for a folksy, pleasant memoir with great spirit and inspiration, borrow this book from Bernardsville Public Library. You'll already be practicing thrifty ways!

Seeing Stars at Saturday Crafters

Saturday Crafters, Bernardsville Public Library's craft group, will defy the odds and meet at 3:30 p.m. this Saturday, December 20th, the final shopping weekend before Hannukah and Christmas. O come all ye faithful! I don't want to be the only one there, but I'll console myself with Hershey kisses, so you might as well join me. Bring along a project you are working on OR learn how to make Moravian paper stars with me. Years ago I made a huge quantity of them for my tree, and they really do look nice as an ornament. I will be attempting this feat of dexterity after a long spell of not making them, so we'll see how neat and tidy they look. It's like pancakes - the first few you throw out.

And That Makes One Hundred

We've all been busy making our "lists and checking them twice," but here's a list that might help you with your other holiday gift lists - the New York Times 100 notable books of 2008. Are you looking for a recommended book of poetry, a great new piece of fiction, nonfiction or a biography for yourself or someone else? Simply click on the link above to see the annotated list from the NYT's Web site. It could make shopping and reading decisions that much easier. As usual, I was horrified to see all those books I hadn't read yet. Oh, well, that's what the year 2009 is for!

Bernards High Madrigals to Perform

Bernardsville Public Library will once again host the Bernards High School Madrigal Ensemble performing here this Tuesday, December 16th, at 3:00 p.m. This annual visit by the ensemble has become a beloved tradition at the library. Patrons, guests and staff always feel uplifted by the glorious polyphonic music soaring within our high ceilings as the high school students sing a variety of holiday songs. The performance is free, no sign-up is required, and refreshments will be served.