http://71.18.102.37/blog/ en jerickson@falmouthpubliclibrary.org Copyright 2013 2013-06-18T18:31:00-05:00 http://www.falmouthpubliclibrary.org/?/blog/entries/new-magazines/ http://www.falmouthpubliclibrary.org/?/blog/entries/new-magazines/#When:18:31:00Z We’ve got a potpourri of new magazines coming soon! As some magazines go out of business or turn to only an online edition, we’re thrilled that other paper magazines are still flourishing. The first two of our new additions are The Paris Review and Mental_Floss, which cover the sublime to the ridiculous. You’ve probably heard of The Paris Review, a literary magazine that has been in business since 1953. On The Paris Review website, this is how they describe their beginnings: “Founded in Paris by Harold L. Humes, Peter Matthiessen, and George Plimpton in 1953, The Paris Review began with a simple editorial mission: “Dear reader,” William Styron wrote in a letter in the inaugural issue, ‘The Paris Review hopes to emphasize creative work—fiction and poetry—not to the exclusion of criticism, but with the aim in mind of merely removing criticism from the dominating place it holds in most literary magazines and putting it pretty much where it belongs, i.e., somewhere near the back of the book. I think The Paris Review should welcome these people into its pages: the good writers and good poets, the non-drumbeaters and non-axe-grinders. So long as they’re good.’” You may already be familiar with The Paris Review because of all the books that they have put out over the years. These include the series Writers at Work: the Paris Review Interviews, The Paris Review Book : of heartbreak, madness, sex, love, betrayal, outsiders, intoxication, war, whimsy, horrors, God, death, dinner, baseball, travels, the art of writing, and everything else in the world since 1953, and Object lessons : the Paris Review presents the art of the short story. The current issue (Summer 2013) includes two interviews on The Art of Biography with Michael Holroyd and Hermione Lee and an interview on The Art of Fiction with Imre Kertész. In addition you’ll find the winner of the latest NPR Three-Minute Fiction Contest, Lisa Rubenson’s story “Sorry for Your Loss.” Hermione Lee says in her interview: “For the biographer the act of writing has to be completely ruthless. You have to write as if everyone involved in the story is dead. Otherwise you’re not going to get anywhere.” Michael Holroyd says in his interview: “Writing a biography is like a chess game – you can’t just move the pieces where you want, because you are bound to the fact of the life, but you can make the life story move.” Now on to the ridiculous, but curiously fascinating magazine Mental_Floss! The Reference Librarians are already familiar with Mental_Floss thanks to their book Mental-floss, the book: the greatest lists in the history of listory.  The book includes such lists as 10 lists of lemon, 10 lists of lemonade, 10 sports lists for people who can’t dunk, and 10 lists to read before naming your child, company, or alter-ego. The way the magazine is described by Magazines for Librariesis “A magazine for knowledge junkies, feeds all the various parts of our brains.” So what’s in the current issue? It is a collection of their top ten lists, which includes such lists as 10 Hotel Secrets From Behind the Front Desk, 10 Historical Titans With Surprising Tattoos, 10 Magical Facts About Unicorns, and 10 Breathtaking Images of Africa. Quite an assortment of lists! In their Department called “Scatterbrained” they highlight in this issue: “The Beach: the spooky history of surfing, the birth of the bikini, dastardly sand thieves, and more.” So stop by and take a look at The Paris Review and Mental_Floss, and we’ll be letting you know as more new magazines arrive! And just a reminder ... back issues can always be found underneath the current issue! 2013-06-18T18:31:00-05:00 http://www.falmouthpubliclibrary.org/?/blog/entries/misty-of-chincoteague-and-the-town-of-falmouth/ http://www.falmouthpubliclibrary.org/?/blog/entries/misty-of-chincoteague-and-the-town-of-falmouth/#When:18:07:00Z One of my favorite books as a child was Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry, and it is still a favorite with many, many children who check it out of the library every year. Set on the little island of Chincoteague, Misty tells the story of Paul and Maureen Beebe and the horse that they loved. What I did not know until just this year was that the illustrator, Wesley Dennis, actually grew up in Falmouth! It was a library patron visiting the reference room who recently mentioned to us that Wesley Dennis had grown up here. His is certainly a name to add to our legendary locals. According to his obituary in the Falmouth Enterprise (September 6, 1966): “John Wesley Dennis, artist and illustrator, died Saturday night at Falmouth hospital. He was 63. Mr. Dennis, whose home was in Warrenton, Va., had been living and working this summer in his native Falmouth. … Wesley Dennis did the illustrations for John Steinbeck’s The Red Pony. He collaborated with author Marguerite Henry in a series of children’s books. … He was born in Falmouth, son of John W. and Ida Morgan Dennis of Davisville Road. He attended schools here and before finishing Lawrence High School went to Boston to study at the New School of Design and to do free lance drawing and illustrating for Boston newspapers. He went to Paris to study for a year, then worked in New York. From earliest days he had a love of horses, but his view of art as a career was strictly practical. ‘Just a business,’ he said many years ago, and that was the way he approached it. … This summer he had been at the summer place in West Falmouth owned by David Garland, his step-son. Mr. Dennis had spoken to friends of buying property in Falmouth and settling down here.” If you’d like to learn more about Wesley Dennis, you’ll find an extensive collection of information about him and his art at www.wesleydennis.com, a web page that was created by a fan named Abby Beall. You’ll even see a photo in which he is clearly wearing a Falmouth t-shirt! One caveat about Mr. Dennis having been born in Falmouth … we could not find him listed as being born here in the town annual reports, so we suspect he arrived during the early years of his life, but was actually born in Boston (which is what the New York Times obituary reports). 2013-06-11T18:07:00-05:00 http://www.falmouthpubliclibrary.org/?/blog/entries/a-reference-book-makes-the-news/ http://www.falmouthpubliclibrary.org/?/blog/entries/a-reference-book-makes-the-news/#When:14:03:00Z It isn’t often that a reference book makes front page news, but the latest edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition by the American Psychiatric Association, commonly known as DSM-5, is doing just that. Our copy has just arrived, and is on display in the Reference Room if you’d like to see what all the buzz is about. The Economist recently wrote a long article about the history of the DSM, which appeared in their May 18 2013 - May 24 2013 issue. As they write: “A BOOK with the title “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition” does not sound destined to be a bestseller, particularly at $199 a pop. But DSM-5, as it is known for short, is almost certain to become one. Its predecessor, DSM-IV, which was published in 1994, has sold more than 1m copies. DSM-5, which will go on sale on May 22nd, is likely to do at least as well. The reason is that the DSM series, which is published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA), has become the global standard for the description of mental illness. Indeed, the DSM is treated by many people less as a medical handbook and more as holy writ. Insurers use it to decide whether or not to cover ailments. And diagnoses based on it determine whether people get special services at school; whether they qualify for disability benefits; whether they are stigmatised in their careers; even whether they are able to adopt children. Doctors, patients, drug companies and insurers have all thus been waiting for the latest edition of what has become known as the psychiatric bible.” Amazingly, two books have already been published just this year (no doubt in anticipation of the DSM-5) on the topic of the DSM! One is called: The Book of Woe: the DSM and the unmaking of psychiatry by Gary Greenberg and the other is Saving Normal: an insider’s revolt against out-of-control psychiatric diagnosis, DSM-5, big pharma, and the medicalization of ordinary life by Allen Frances. So stop by the Reference Room and take a look at the book that is creating the news! 2013-06-07T14:03:00-05:00 http://www.falmouthpubliclibrary.org/?/blog/entries/interior-design-on-the-point-with-mindy-todd/ http://www.falmouthpubliclibrary.org/?/blog/entries/interior-design-on-the-point-with-mindy-todd/#When:16:47:00Z Mindy’s show began an hour long format as of yesterday, so we got twice as much time to talk about books! Here is the list from today’s show: Jill’s Picks The Decoration of Houses by Edith Wharton and Ogden Codman Jr. The House in Good Taste by Elsie de Wolfe (not available in CLAMS, but it IS available off-Cape in the Virtual Catalog … don’t know what the virt cat is? Ask your local librarian! Outlaw Marriages: the hidden histories of fifteen extraordinary same-sex couples by Rodger Streitmatter (includes Elsie de Wolfe and her partner Bessie Marbury) Buddenbrooks: the decline of a family by Thomas Mann Rooms to Inspire by the Sea by Annie Kelly (includes John Derian’s house in Provincetown) The Wallpaper Book by Geneviève Brunet The Outdoor Shower by Ethan Fierro Coastal Living Outdoor Spaces Designers At Home: personal reflections on stylish living by Ronda Rice Carman Melanie’s Picks Living in a Nutshell: Posh and Portable Decorating Ideas for Small Spaces by Janet Lee Good Bones, Great Pieces: The Seven Essential Pieces That Will Carry You Through a Lifetime by Suzanne & Lauren McGrath Country Living - Decorating with White edited by Gina Lyams A Home of Your Own: Creating Interiors with Character by Sally Coulthard 100 Ways to Happy Chic Your Life by Jonathan Adler Living Simple, Free & Happy: How to Simplify, Declutter Your Home, and Reduce Stress, Debt and Waste by Christin Frank Playful Home: Creative Style Ideas for Living with Kids by Andrew Weaving Listener Pick The Apartment Therapy Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces (http://www.apartmenttherapy.com) 2013-05-29T16:47:00-05:00 http://www.falmouthpubliclibrary.org/?/blog/entries/lawrence-school-poetry-slam/ http://www.falmouthpubliclibrary.org/?/blog/entries/lawrence-school-poetry-slam/#When:16:28:00Z On May 23, Lawrence School’s annual Poetry Slam was held in the Hermann Meeting Room of the Falmouth Public Library, hosted by freshmen and former winners Ruth Fuller and Becky Hopkins.  This event is much looked forward to every year. Teachers, friends, and family of all ages come to watch the talented poets of Lawrence School.  This year, there were sixty-five original poems performed, of which fifteen earned prizes donated by the Friends of The Falmouth Public Library and anonymous supporters of the Lawrence Poetry Slam. (See photos on Falmouth Public Library’s Facebook page.) There was a great range in the style and subject of each poem.  Many had the audience laughing, such as Brennan Mclntyre’s “Clean Your Room,” for which he earned first place! Brennan’s poem was presented with confidence and written cleverly.  Matthew Liebkemann and Nick Kinsella’s sixth place duet “Choices” was both humorous and inspirational, about a highschool dropout and a valedictorian, and how students’ choices affect their future. Many poems also had the audience holding back tears, with topics like bullying, self-image, and harmful relationships.  Lexi Nawrocki’s poem “Words” was extremely powerful and made listeners think again before saying something harmful.  Lexi’s poem earned fifth place.  Both Taylor Keith’s and Elizabeth Bressoud’s poems about personal disappointments were heart wrenching.  Slamming poetry is often considered therapeutic, because it is a way to express emotion and share it in a healthy way. Regardless of topic, the poems of this year’s Lawrence Poetry Slam were very well written and executed. Poems are judged based on the depth and quality of writing as well as their performance.  Judges Becky Kirk, Eva McNamara, Maribeth Deasy, Katie Dombrowski, and Maggie Kraus scored the students on a scale of one to ten after each performance.  At the end of the Poetry Slam the winners were announced, including a five-way tie for ninth place.  First place went to Brennan McIntyre, second to Kalyn Oliveira, and third to Olivia McKnight.  Victoria Putnam, Lexi Nawrocki, Nick Kinsella and Matthew Liebkemann, Jordan Gonsalves, Youlanda Massey, Lindsay Shea, Jacob Athamni, Beth Buckley, Mason Drummey, Mia Bluestein, Liam Dutra, and Christopher Parkinson followed. The annual Lawrence School Poetry Slam is always a wonderful event, whether you come to participate or watch, and this year was no exception.  It gives students a chance to express themselves and have fun in a friendly environment, as well as the chance to earn some prizes for their work.  Audience members get to experience the emotion and talent of the students of Lawrence.  The annual Poetry Slam is definitely worth seeing. Written by Emily Wright, an eighth grader at the Lawrence School. 2013-05-28T16:28:00-05:00 http://www.falmouthpubliclibrary.org/?/blog/entries/consumer-information-catalog/ http://www.falmouthpubliclibrary.org/?/blog/entries/consumer-information-catalog/#When:20:36:00Z Consumer Information Catalog For more than 40 years, people have been discovering helpful consumer publications from the government in the free Consumer Information Catalog from Pueblo, Colorado. The Catalog lists free and low-cost publications created by federal agencies to help you: • Get fit and manage your medications • Find better ways to save and invest your money • Protect yourself from online and telephone scams • Get the most out of government benefits and programs • Care for your home, your car – and more It is information you can trust to help make life a little easier. You can subscribe to the online edition delivered by e-mail or to the print edition delivered by mail. You can also order the print edition in bulk to share with your community group, library or school. The Catalog is published three times a year. Your subscription is free and you can change or cancel it at any time. The Winter/Spring 2013 issue features several online only (marked with an “*”) resources focusing on preparing and paying for college. In addition there are a number of helpful booklets available on a variety of topics, those listed below are free. Just fill in the order form at the back of the catalog & send off. Look for the catalog on the lower level of the library or in the Reference Department. Or you can visit usa.gov/ to download a PDF version of the catalog & for more helpful info! Education: College Preparation Checklist* Federal Student Aid Grant Programs Fact Sheet* Federal Student Aid for Adult Students* Funding Your Education: The Guide to Federal Student Aid 2013-2014* Employment: Catch the Spirit: A Student’s Guide to Community Service Work Changes Require Health Choices. Protect Your Rights Go Green!: Care for Air: A Guide to Indoor Air Quality* Energy Savers: Tips on Saving Money & Energy at Home* Green Scaping: The Easy Way to a Greener, Healthier Yard* Quick List of ENERGY STAR Resources for Your Home* Saving Money on Gas* Shopping for Light Bulbs* WaterSense-Simple Steps to Save Water* Health: Allergies and Hay Fever Antibiotic Resistance Buying Contacts Online Cosmetics Dietary Supplements Generic Drugs Mammograms Straight Talk on Braces Sunscreen and Tanning Tattoos and Permanent Make-Up Money: 2012 Consumer Action Handbook Guide to Long-Term Care Insurance Living Trust Offers* Mutual Funds: A Guide for Investors Top 10 Ways to Prepare for Retirement Travel: Fly-Rights: A Consumer Guide to Air Travel* Tips for Traveling Abroad* Be sure to visit usa.gov/ for more helpful info! 2013-05-18T20:36:00-05:00 http://www.falmouthpubliclibrary.org/?/blog/entries/a-painting-arrives-in-the-library/ http://www.falmouthpubliclibrary.org/?/blog/entries/a-painting-arrives-in-the-library/#When:21:06:00Z Tammy Amon, the head of our circulation department, shares with us the story of the painting that has just arrived in the library, in which we not only learn about the artist but also about a piece of town history: “Franklin Lewis Gifford (1854-1936), a self taught oil painter, was born and lived his whole life in Woods Hole. His paintings capture scenes of Woods Hole and Falmouth in the 1800’s, giving a vivid history of the village and town during that time. Many of Mr. Gifford’s paintings are on display at the Woods Hole Library and the Falmouth Historical Society, and now through the generosity of Mr. Gifford’s great grandson and his wife, Robert and Lois Griffin, one of the Gifford’s paintings, The Landing of the British in Little Harbor, was received by the Falmouth Public Library Board of Trustees and hung in the library on Friday, May 10th with several family members present for the ceremony. This is how the painting is described in The Catalog of Exhibit of Historic Woods Hole Paintings by the Late Franklin L. Gifford (Woods Hole Community Hall, July 23, 1953): ‘A view of Little Harbor, from the west side. At the time depicted in this painting, the United States was at war with Great Britain. On the particular date of this scene, a British man-o-war was making its rendezvous at Tarpaulin Cove, Naushon Island. (This cove furnished an advantageous lurking place for the enemy vessels strategically located, and a good harbor out of which they sailed, to pounce upon shipping or to make raids on the shore during both the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812). As this warship was out of provisions, they sent small boats from the vessel to Little Harbor, Woods Hole, loaded with sailors and marines, to capture a small sloop there which was loaded with corn. However, before they arrived, the men of Woods Hole having received word from the British, ordering the sloop to be held in the harbor until they arrived from the cove, ran the sloop ashore at high tide on the east side of the harbor. This move very effectively prevented the British from capturing the sloop. In the foreground of the picture is a cob type of wharf. At the wharf can be seen a yawl boat flying the British flag. A number of marines are standing guard. The stack of guns near the boat belonged to other marines who have probably gone up on the hill to the Joe Parker Tavern for smokes and rum. Entering the harbor is another boatload of marines The windmills on the shore and the upland were used to pump salt water up into the evaporating vats on the hill. Next is shown a sloop on shore. On the hill is an old grist mill where grain was ground. The old red house was known as the home of Andrew Y. Davis, called the Point House. (The house was originally owned by Samuel Barker, who had a wharf below his house, on the harbor side of the point. From this wharf, Lieutenant Joseph Parker ran a ferry from Woods Hole to the Vineyard in 1729. The grist mill mentioned above was originally located on the west side of the Harbor in 1773, near or on the land where stood the home of Elial T. Fish, the house which is now owned by Mr. Lawrason Riggs. Names of occupants of the old red house, The Point House: Samuel Barker (1700); Andrew Y. Davis (1800); Captain Joseph Hatch (1840).’ It is a real honor to have this painting displayed in our library. This historical painting is located on the wall across from the circulation desk within the 1901 section of the library.  We invite you to view this artwork on your next visit. Please also visit the Woods Hole Historical Society website for additional information about Mr. Gifford’s life and paintings.” Thanks Tammy for sharing the story of our new painting, and you can see some photos of the event and the painting on our library flickr page. 2013-05-13T21:06:00-05:00 http://www.falmouthpubliclibrary.org/?/blog/entries/new-e-book-borrowing-programs-scheduled/ http://www.falmouthpubliclibrary.org/?/blog/entries/new-e-book-borrowing-programs-scheduled/#When:18:18:00Z We have another series of programs scheduled so you can learn to borrow library e-books for your Kindle and iPad.  Preregistration is required and limited to 15 per class.  Program is at The Falmouth Public Library in the Young Adult Room.  Kindle classes are Tues., May 21, Wed., May 22 from 1 to 2 PM and Thurs., May 30 from 10 to 11 AM.  iPad e-book borrowing programs are Tues., May 28 and Wed., May 29 from 1 to 2 PM.  Call Peter Cook - 508-457-2555 x2941 or email - pcook@falmouthpubliclibrary.org to register. 2013-05-10T18:18:00-05:00 http://www.falmouthpubliclibrary.org/?/blog/entries/free-convenient-career-help/ http://www.falmouthpubliclibrary.org/?/blog/entries/free-convenient-career-help/#When:20:06:00Z The online databases offered by the Falmouth Public Library never cease to impress me – one of my favorites is the LEARNING EXPRESS Library. Powerhouse would be a better way to describe it!  Where else can one find so many tools for professional, occupational and personal advancement, with one simple login?  The LEARNING EXPRESS Library provides Learning Centers for all ages and all academic levels from the elementary and secondary school students, right through college prep and Graduate Record Exam preparation.  The database is offered FREE of charge to all Falmouth Public Library cardholders. For computer novices there are computer Tutorials for the Microsoft Office programs: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher and more. Skill development for Windows 7 and Mac OSX operating systems.  Adobe Flash, Photoshop and Dreamweaver. Folks who did not finish high school can use learning Express to get on the path to future success.  The GED preparation component includes online study guidebooks and practice exams, even test Flash Reviews in Language, Reading, and Writing, Social Studies, Math and Science. For newcomers to America there is citizenship exam preparation and a Green Card guide. Among the most frequently requested programs are for occupational practice tests – including electrical & plumbing licensure, CDL (Commercial Driver Licensing), Law Enforcement and Civil Service. However, no matter what the state of the economy, one career area remains strong—HEALTH CARE. The LEARNING EXPRESS Library offers a host of Nursing and Allied Health certification study guides as well as practice tests.  For a student hoping to enter the health care field there are program entrance study guides and practice entrance exams for Nursing School and many allied health fields.  Practice tests for Professional Certification are offered for: Certified Medical Assistant (AAMA CMA) Certified Surgical Technologist (NBSTSA) Dental Assistant (RDA); Pharmacy Technician (PTCE and ExCPT) Practical Nurse (NCLEX-PN) Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN); Nursing Assistant/Nurse Aide Physician Assistant (PANCE) Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Radiography (ARRT) Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) Veterinary Technician (VTNE) 2013-05-09T20:06:00-05:00 http://www.falmouthpubliclibrary.org/?/blog/entries/smythe-scholarship-applications/ http://www.falmouthpubliclibrary.org/?/blog/entries/smythe-scholarship-applications/#When:18:00:00Z H. H. Smythe Scholarship applications are now available at the Falmouth Public Library.  The scholarships are not limited to currently graduating Falmouth High School students.  Falmouth residents (up to age 24) who are graduating seniors, as well as those who are already enrolled as college undergraduates may apply.  Recipients may be pursuing post-high school education at any accredited college or technical school. This year’s deadline for submitting the application is Friday, June 7 at 3 pm.  The applications must be returned to the Principal’s Office at Falmouth High School, either in person or by mail.  2013-05-08T18:00:00-05:00