2012 Olympic Games: Information Station!

In London, England, crowds roar as the countdown to the opening ceremonies ticks by...they begin in less than 1 hour - ONE HOUR! Are you excited? I'm excited! So I type in "2012 Summer Olympics" and get hundreds of hits on Google - a prime example of too much information. 

Let's break it down:

Where can I...Watch live coverage for free on my computer? Thanks to CTV, watch HERE!

See a schedule of events and the stations to tune into?

Station Coverage
By Event and Date

Get Team Canada information?
Go Canada Go!

Keep up with Stratford's very own Olympic swimmer, Julia Wilkinson?
Follow her on Twitter
Check out her websiteLike her on Facebook

Get Olympic themed books and movies form the library?
There is a list right HERE!

Follow the Olympics on Twitter?
The Games
Canadian Olympic Team

Join a group on Facebook?
Offical Page
Canadian Olympic Team

Check out the Olympics on Pinterest?
On the SPL board

Can’t get away to London this summer? 
Take a virtual tour London Arial Tour
Explore London
Buckingham Palace Tour

Read More

Shelf Life [kids]

Escape Under the Forever Sky, by Eve Yohalem, 215 pages.

@ SPL: YA PB Yohal 

Three gigantic lions, one male and two lionesses, surrounded her. Lucy couldn’t move. She could barely breathe. Mesmerized, she watched the lions’ rib cages expand and contract with each heavy breath. “I’m going to die”, she thought. But she did not die. The lions suddenly twisted to face Lucy’s kidnappers. They growled menacingly, bared their teeth and began to advance. Markos knew that they had less than ten seconds to act. He and the other kidnappers fled into the bush, leaving Lucy with the lions. And mysteriously, the lions did not harm Lucy. Instead, they protected her.

Thirteen-year-old Lucy Hoffmann, daughter of the American ambassador to Ethiopia, had always loved animals. Cooped up in the walls of the embassy compound, she longed to visit the exotic wilderness of the African bush more frequently than her rare excursions to the nearest game park.

Then Lucy was kidnapped and held for ransom.

Taken to an isolated hut far from Addis Ababa, Lucy believed that she would be killed even if the kidnappers’ demands were met. A few days later, she managed to escape, knowing that her chances of finding her way to safety, while evading her kidnappers and surviving the long trek, were slim.

Yet Lucy, with her resourcefulness, her courage and the mysterious protection given to her by the lions, survived hunger, thirst and constant danger. Eventually finding her way to a small village, she was hidden from the pursuing kidnappers by friendly villagers, and later taken to a larger town. From there, she was able to make phone contact with authorities.

Eve Yohalem’s debut novel is a well-written, riveting tale that contrasts the beauty of the African bush and its wildlife with the realities of a poor and unstable country.
Lucy is a very believable (and likeable) heroine, and her story is based on a real-life event.

Recommended for ages 10 to 14 years.

Timber Wolf, by Caroline Pignat, 208 pages.

@ SPL: YA PB Pigna

Another survival/adventure story, Timber Wolf, is set in the forests of northern Ontario, close to the upper reaches of the Ottawa River. The year: 1847.

Twelve-year-old Jack Byrne awoke with no memory of how he came to be lying on the ground, injured, bruised and cold. He had no idea of where he was – or even who he was. Looking around him, he could see only trees and snow. More snow appeared to be on the way, and Jack could hear the frightening howl of a wolf somewhere among the trees.

Jack’s immediate concern was to find food and shelter. Pushing himself to hobble through the trees, he found a trap. He ate the rabbit caught in the trap and was confronted by a young Algonquin trapper, Mahingan. Later, Jack was cared for by the boy and his grandfather, from whom he learned many wilderness survival techniques.

In a similar fashion to Lucy (Escape Under the Forever Sky) Jack was also helped in the forest by a wild animal - in this case, a young timber wolf.

As his injuries healed, Jack had flashbacks which eventually overcame his amnesia. He remembered who he was and how he had came to the forest. Overcoming adversity after adversity, he eventually reached home and was reunited with family.

Resourceful and brave, Jack is a young protagonist whom boys can admire. Timber Wolf is told from Jack’s point of view, and his storywill keep readers too enthralled to realize that they are learning about Ontario’s pioneer logging industry and the Algonquin way of life at that time. This page-turning story can be read alone or as the third book in the Byrne Family series. (The other titles, Greener Grass and Wild Geese, feature Jack’s sister, Kit.)

Recommended for ages 10 to 13 years.

These reviews appeared in The Stratford Gazette on July26th, 2012. Written by Sally Hengeveld, Librarian

Read More

Shelf Life [adult]

A Lady Cyclist’s Guide to Kashgar by Suzanne Joinson
@SPL: FIC Joins

Welcome to Kashgar, oasis on the edge of the Takla Makan desert, 1923. Adventurous Evangeline English has faked finding God so she can travel with missionaries and escape dreary Britain. While giving the appearance of working to save locals’ souls, she secretly drafts a women’s travel guide about cycling in far-flung places. However, regional cultural and religious tensions are exacerbated by the presence of the missionaries, and Eva soon finds herself fleeing for her life through the Takla Makan desert, an abandoned infant in tow.

Meanwhile, in present day London, England, Frieda has just returned from a work assignment in the Middle East to find a death notice for a relative she’s never known, named Irene Guy. A grown child of hippies who severed their roots when they moved to the commune, Frieda’s been content to lose her family as she builds a more stable, rational life for herself. But as she investigates her connection to Irene, Frieda’s forced to confront her past and her family history.
The two plots dovetail in spare, striking language to reveal a family left in tatters by casual experiments with colonialism, spirituality and love. It's a beautifully crafted story, sensually told, and deeply evocative of the places its characters inhabit. A Lady Cyclist’s Guide to Kashgar is very highly recommended to anyone seeking a fast-paced summer read with substance, brains and style.

This review appeared in The Stratford Gazette on July 26th, 2012. Written by Shauna Thomas, Librarian.

Read More

Ask An Expert: Techy Clinics to Answer YOUR Questions

Please, ASK ME!

Starting in August the Stratford Public Library will be inviting patrons to attend a one-on-one, 30 minute session, with an IT expert to have their unique questions answered. Question topics range from using the library catalog (BiblioCommons) to place holds, create lists and make reviews, to how to take advantage of library databases, to discovering how to download and manage ebooks and eaudiobooks in downloadLibrary, to assisting patrons in the world of social media including Facebook, cloud computing, tagging, Pinterest, Twitter and blogging (to name only a few).

Example Questions:

1. I just bought an iPad and want to learn how to download ebooks. I heard that the library offers hundreds of free ebooks to borrow - how do I get started?

2. I feel like I've read everything good at the library, how can I find ideas about what to read next?

3. My son and his family just moved to B.C. and he suggested I get Facebook to view pictures of my new grandson - how would I do that?

This is your chance to ask away! If you have a question or would like to book an appointment please leave a comment on this blog, email lpaprocki@pcin.on.ca or call 519-271-0220 ext. 29.

Read More

Tagging: Think Hansel and Gretel with a More Promising Outcome

Ready for more web 2.0 information? Last week we talked about cloud computing, today the focus is on tagging. If you have a topic you would like covered in the coming weeks please leave a comment and I will do my very best!


I think I can safely say that most if not all of us have witnessed the remnants of other people’s virtual travels – they leave a comment, they tag a photo, they “like” a post, they create boards, albums, and profiles. I compare tagging to Hansel and Gretel because in the confusing and overwhelming world that is the Internet it is easy to get lost, forget places you went, and struggle to find the people and places you are seeking. Tagging is like leaving breadcrumbs along your way for easier travels!  


Today’s social media and many websites provide ample opportunities for you to become involved in digital creation and categorizing through tagging so let’s learn how to drop some crumbs!

What exactly is tagging?
If you’ve recently spent time with a child learning to identify objects, places, and people you’ve seen the roots of tagging. When we tag online we are virtually pointing at something and using our words to describe what it is, how we feel about it, or where it belongs in our larger picture. Most tagging opportunities involve clicking on an object and simply typing in the description we wish to add.

Where do I tag?
Almost everywhere these days! For now I’ll be highlighting a few of the most current and popular venues for you to get your tag on!

1. Facebook: Mainly used for tagging people in photos to create an album. However, when you “like” something on Facebook you are essentially creating tags of “likes” that express your interests and direct others to see what it is you “like”. If you don’t already have an account with Facebook the library offers patrons 1 hour of free internet access daily so you are welcome to come on in and get started!

2. BiblioCommons (the SPL catalog): You can sign in on your library account and tag materials in a variety of ways such as genre, theme, character, setting, likeability… you have the creative control to tag items using your own words. The novel, The Help, is an example of a book with many tags including “historical fiction”, “civil rights”, “sad”, “friendship” and “Mississippi” as noted on the right hand column of the record. Visit us at the reference desk for a personal intro to BiblioCommons!

3. Pinterest: Although Pinterest uses the term “Pin” in place of “tag” it is actually doing the same thing. Sites such as Del.ici.ous attempted this concept with less success (perhaps because it was less visually attractive)! The SPL has a Pinterest board you can subscribe to or just visit online to see how it works. If you’d like to create your own simply register with the site and get creative – think grade school collage and then mature that version to your current interests!

Why do I tag?
Tags make it easy to find and share information about a specific subject or task. They are a way of collaborating like-minded individuals all over the world. Tags help direct others and can provide improved online searching capabilities. Tagging provides extra information about what you are viewing online. It is a way of filtering in the age of information overload.

Where I can I get more information?

Option 1: The SPL shelves, see: Tagging: People-powered Metadata for the Social Web by Gene Smith.
Option 2: Databases such as Computer Database are provided by SPL and accessible in the library or from home. Or try Mashable for the latest tagging stories.
Option 3: The reference desk! We are always happy to help!

Read More

Shelf Life [kids]

The Olympic Games are the world’s largest and most anticipated international sports competitions, and on July 27, the 2012 Summer Games will begin in London, England.

For children interested in the sports that are included in the Summer Olympic Games, the following two books would be helpful:

Great Moments in the Summer Olympics by Matt Christopher, 104 pages.@ SPL: J 796.48

Some of the most inspiring athletes and astonishing achievements in the history of the Summer Olympic Games are highlighted in this book, starting in 1896 - the year in which these competitions, first held in ancient Greece, were resurrected.

Behind every Olympic effort are years and years of training and perseverance. Some athletes have dedicated even more years than most to the Olympics. Endurance runner Paavo Nurmi, for example, known as “the Flying Finn”, won his first medals in the 1920 Games … but also ran 32 years later in the 1952 Summer Games! Swimmer Dara Torres participated in the Summer Olympics for an amazing span of 24 years, winning 12 medals during that time – including three silver medals in her last year (2008, as a 41-year-old mother).


The history of the Summer Games includes some truly heroic moments. In 1976, Shun Fujimoto, a gymnast, broke a kneecap during one of his tumbling routines, but he continued, finishing with twists, jumps and somersaults despite agonizing pain. His performance gave his team the gold medal. Similarly, in the 1996 Summer Games, female gymnast Kerri Strug broke her left ankle on her first vault – but she continued on, leaping, twirling and landing, to lead her team to the gold-medal finish.

The author has included a brief history of the Summer Olympics (first held separately from the Winter Games in 1924). Readers may be interested to know that Canada hosted the Summer Olympic Games in 1976 (in Montreal), and that London, England last hosted the Summer Games in 1948. (In that year, soon after the end of World War II, Germany and Japan were not invited, and the Soviet Union chose not to participate.)
History will be made at the 2012 Games too - for example, it has been announced that for the first time, Saudi Arabia will allow a small number of its female athletes to attend.

** Recommended for ages 8 years and up.

Swimming, Diving, and Other Water Sports by Jason Page, 32 pages.

@ SPL: J 796.42 Pag

Did you know that diving was first invented by gymnasts about 300 years ago as a way to practise their moves, and that divers slice through the air toward the water as fast as 55 km/hour? Did you know that an Olympic swimming lane is 2.5 meters (8.2 feet) in width, the butterfly is the hardest swimming stroke to master, and that Teflon is used in making Olympic swim suits? You may not realize that water polo was limited to men until the 2000 Sydney Olympics when women were first allowed to compete, and that players often swim up to 5 km during a water polo match. And did you know that one athlete, the winner of five gold Olympic medals, later became a Hollywood star? (Swimmer Johnny Weissmuller later played Tarzan in various movie productions.)

There are plenty of attention-grabbing did-you-know facts in this slim book and in the other seven books of the “Olympic Sports” series for children by Jason Page. Some of the other series titles are Gymnastics Events, Decathlon, High Jump and other Field Events and Rowing, Sailing, and other Sports on Water.

For added interest, the author has drawn comparisons to various animals. (For instance, the massive manta ray, which swims by beating its huge fins like underwater wings, would be the butterfly swim champion at an Animal Olympics.)

** Recommended for ages 7 to 12 years.

These reviews appeared in The Stratford Gazette on July19th, 2012. Written by Sally Hengeveld, Librarian

Read More

Shelf Life [adult]

I, Iago by Nicole Galland @SPL: FIC Galla

 What is in a name? “Iago” is a Spanish derivative of the name James; Santiago is literally Saint James, Apostle to Jesus, patron saint of Spain. One legend of Saint James is that of Santiago de Matamoros – “the moor killer.”

Another legend of another Saint James says he was the younger brother of Jesus and came to be known as James the Just or James the Righteous. Take these two sources and put them together in one character and you get a plausible profile of one of the most enigmatic characters in Shakespeare’s canon – that of Iago, the villain in The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice.

Scholars have debated the reasons Iago does what he does for decades – aside from the barest of hints, Iago seems motiveless in his utterly destructive machinations which bring about the deaths of at least four people. Ironically referred to as ‘honest Iago’ in Shakespeare’s play, author Nicole Galland seized upon this moniker as the hinge for his motives.

If a fellow has been brought up in a shady society where subterfuge reigns, but he himself hates it; if he is called honest as an insult but instead wears it as a badge of honour; if he believes himself more honest than all others and becomes blind to his own faults – would he not begin to believe that he is the hero of story, the moral centre of the world, and any slight against him would be a wrong against honesty itself?

Therefore punishable by an honest man and righteously so? By writing her novel in the first person we see a man from the inside out, his actions rationalized by his own internal moral code, making him more frightening by the intimacy of sharing his thoughts than he would be by watching him as a third person.

Galland shows us a man of deep passions and raging jealousies who always exudes an outward confidence, a sociopath, in fact, although Iago to the bitter inevitable end, fails to see himself as such.

Even as he kills his best friend he justifies the murder, even as he stabs his own beloved wife in the back he releases himself from her condemnation. A familiar story with a fascinating and altogether creepy examination of a villian’s motives, this novel is recommended by any fan of Shakespeare, or even perhaps of the Dexter series – just for another take on the inner-mind of a psychopath.
This review appeared in The Stratford Gazette on July 19th, 2012. Written by Robyn Godfrey, Librarian.

Read More

Shelf Life [kids]

Nerd Camp, by Elissa Brent Weissman, 261 pages.
@ SPL: J FIC Weiss

Ten-year-old Gabe has been accepted to an unusual and rather elite camp: the Summer Center for Gifted Enrichment. He knows that some kids would consider the camp - with its focus on science, logic and writing activities - to be a bit of a “nerd camp”, but Gabe is looking forward to his time there. However, he is worried what his soon-to-be stepbrother, Zack, might think of him – so he lets Zack think that it’s a normal “sleepaway” camp.

Understandably, Gabe is also nervous about meeting his bunkmates and the other campers. Will he fit in?
The camp turns out to be even more enjoyable than Gabe had expected. His bunkmates, though a little “quirky”, quickly become good friends. The activities – both outdoor and indoor - are awesome, and the counselors are friendly and inspiring. The campers find that they are never bored, and the six weeks go by very quickly. There’s even a midnight “invasion” by a UFO filled with aliens (who bear noticeable resemblances to the camp counsellors)!

Gabe even undertakes an adventure on behalf of his camp team when he rows himself to Deadman’s Island, which is reputed to be haunted. (Only one other camper is brave enough to try the same stunt.) His teammates consider Gabe a hero, but Gabe is still worried about Zack’s opinion of him. His worries are put to rest, however, when Zack discovers the type of camp that Gabe has attended – and is very impressed. Gabe realizes that although he and Zack are different in various ways, it doesn’t mean that they can’t be friends as well as brothers

Appealing and humorous, Nerd Camp carries an important message about self-acceptance, peer pressure and being “cool”. Weissman’s book will appeal to gifted kids, to those going to camp this summer … and to anyone who enjoys a good story.

** Recommended for ages 8 to 12 years.
 

Get Outside: The Kids Guide to Fun in the Great Outdoors, by Jane Drake and Ann Love, 176 pages.
@ SPL: J 796.083

Beyond the front door is a world of fun and fascination, as this children’s book by sisters Jane Drake and Ann Love so aptly demonstrates.

Suggestions for outdoor games, other activities and nature projects, and facts and stories about nature have been compiled in this handy book which also includes easy-to-follow directions, specific beach activities and a few indoor pastimes for inclement weather. Selected activities consist of both the traditional (such as marble games) and the new (such as making a worm farm), and all are inexpensive, fun and uncomplicated.

 While most of the activities are best for the summer months, some are winter pastimes, and a simple star-watching guide is provided for each season.
 With these nifty suggestions for outdoor pursuits, kids will have few reasons to be glued to a screen inside the house this summer!

Jane Drake and Ann Love, who live in the Toronto area, have written a number of children’s books which are available at the library, including The Kids Campfire Book and The Kids Book of the Night Sky.

** Recommended for ages 8 to 12 years.

These reviews appeared in The Stratford Gazette on July 12th, 2012. Written by Sally Hengeveld, Librarian

Read More

Shelf Life [adult]

The Virtual Self: How Our Digital Lives are Altering the World Around Us, by Nora Young,
@SPL: 303.4833 You

If you’re thinking the name Nora Young sounds awfully familiar, you are probably: A) a supporter of CBC; or B) a supporter of the library.

Nora Young was the founding host of CBC Radio One’s Definitely Not the Opera, and now hosts Spark on the same station. She also appeared as one of the panelists during our community discussion on the future of Stratford Public Library at City Hall last fall.

She’s an avid and very conscious consumer of information, and has channeled her interest in how information technologies shape our lives and consciousness into her first book, The Virtual Self.

She opens the book with a quick examination of people most of us would view as geeky outliers – people who use online applications to track any and every aspect of their lives. As Young notes, this urge to self-track is nothing new – geeks as venerable as Ben Franklin documented their lives’ minutiae with an eye to self improvement.

With the advent of mobile applications, though, the drive to quantify our lives has finally found a simple, user-friendly outlet.

Given our desire to see ourselves reflected back, it isn’t surprising this kind of tracking is becoming the norm. Who hasn’t tried a pedometer? How many people do you know use apps to track their performance on their morning jog? Who doesn’t get a little kick from seeing their life quantified in a slick little timeline, feed or app-generated infographic?

But what are corporations like Google, Twitter and Facebook even doing with all that information – and what will it mean for us personally, politically and socially?

The Virtual Self engages information rights issues thoughtfully, candidly, and in an accessible, conversational tone matching the one Young strikes on Spark. She concludes there’s no stuffing the narcissistic cat back in the wet paper privacy bag, and that’s okay; this great flood of our personal details into the servers of Big Data can be a very good thing.

But, we must be sure we fork over our information consciously (meaning we ensure we are clearly informed of its potential uses and potential consequences) and mindfully (meaning we don’t forget that there are parts of our lives that can’t be quantified, but are still very valuable to us).

Overall, this smart little book is highly recommended to anyone who enjoys Spark, and also to those with an interest in media and information theory.

This review appeared in The Stratford Gazette on July 12th, 2012. Written by Shauna Thomas, Librarian

Read More

Cloud Computing: Not as spacey as you think!

Don’t be afraid to try cloud computing, it even sounds soft and cozy! Remember: if you can use the Internet you can use the cloud!

Have you ever been stuck on a public computer with nowhere to save your work? Left the office and forgotten a USB on your desk? Remembered your lunch for school but forgotten your assignment at the breakfast table? Me too. I have lost work before – haven’t we all? And I don’t just mean online, I also mean within our computers, the programs, a faulty USB… and there is that tragic moment when it hits you – all your work, all that effort, is gone and you cannot possibly get it back (although you may waste a lot of time trying). However, good news is at your door: welcome to the world of cloud computing.

What exactly is cloud computing?

Cloud computing is Internet-based computing. The idea behind cloud computing is that saved software, documents, photos and information can be provided to users over the Internet, rather than running locally on a computer or a local network server. That means multiple access points so that when your computer crashes you can hop onto another and you haven’t lost your work. That means you can start a document at the office and have the most recently updated copy available to edit at home. That means you can get to school, say "oops", and print your assignment within seconds. That means less wasted time and that makes a whole lot of sense!

Interested? Ready to embrace your space on a cloud?

Here are a few commonly used platforms for cloud computing:

 Gmail and Google Docs: Google Apps, which includes Gmail, Google Calendar and Google Docs, is one of the best known consumer cloud applications. Google Docs is tremendously popular with startups, businesses and individuals. It is also an excellent tool for collaborative work projects and a fast free way to access software such as Word and PowerPoint.

Box: When it comes to collaboration, document management and storage, Box is consistently one of most innovative players in the cloud computing space. The company started off as a more consumer-focused cloud storage company, but has pivoted quite successfully into a leading collaboration services offering that’s geared toward small businesses and larger corporations.

Dropbox: Dropbox is one of the most popular cloud and file storage solutions because it makes sharing files with other users or across computers dead simple. The service is focused on consumers, but many businesses use it, too. Dropbox has an API and is supported by a multitude of web and mobile applications.

OnLive: The cloud is about more than just documents and file storage — it can also be used to deliver video games. Startup OnLive has really pushed the envelope in terms of what we can expect from cloud gaming in the future. The idea of being able to play games from the cloud — no disc or download required — is something that is likely to catch on, big time, in the next few years.

iCloud: The iCloud provides access to your music, photos, calendars, contacts, documents, and more, from whatever devices you’re on. And it’s built into every new iOS device and every new Mac.

Sign me up! Here’s how...

Find the platform that best meets your needs (you can use more than one!) and visit their website to create an account. Some platforms such as Dropbox will encourage you to download software to multiple devices including computers, tablets, and smartphones. Once you've signed up you can start saving documents in the files and folders the platform provides.

Things to remember:
Firstly, due to the nature of clouds, security can be a concern. Just like with email, hackers can find ways to access the items in your cloud. Think about what you're saving and password security. Secondly, you must have access to the Internet to save items.

Want more information?

For more information on cloud computing visit Mashable.com: Cloud Computing. In particular, review the article “Cloud Computing: The Layperson’s Guide to Distributed Networks” by Christina Warren.

The Stratford Public Library also offers resources on cloud computing. Visit our catalogue on BiblioCommons! Click here for a direct link to our titles on this topic!

The SPL also subscribes to database that offer information on this subject such as Computer Database. Simply search for “cloud computing” in the database or visit us at the reference desk and we’ll help you get started!

Read More

Shelf Life [kids]

100 Most Awesome Things on the Planet! by Anna Claybourne, 112 pages.@ SPL: J 031.02 Cla


100 Most Awesome Things on the Planet will take readers on an exhilarating journey from the largest, the tallest, the highest and the heaviest to the tiniest, lowest, oldest, scariest and even the creepiest places and things on earth. Using colourful photos and text, Anna Claybourne explores the world’s tallest buildings and trees, the deepest mines, the biggest earthquakes, waves and animals, the fastest trains, the tiniest machines, the most terrifying storms and volcanoes, and the “coolest” creatures.

Mount Everest is known to be the highest place on the planet, but where is the lowest? (It’s the Mariana Trench, located on the floor of the Pacific Ocean near Japan. Few people have visited it – you’d need to travel there in a special deep-sea submarine. Awesome!)

Where is the driest place on earth? The Atacama Desert in Chile is so dry that experts believe it may have never rained here at all – not once. (Don’t go there to get a drink of water!)

What is the world’s biggest animal? No creature surpasses the blue whale, which can weigh 200 tons and grow to the length of four classrooms placed in a row. Its heart is the size of a small car. Again, awesome!

The creepiest place on our planet may well be the catacombs of Palermo, Italy, where thousands of “mummies”, with much of their skin, flesh and hair still intact, seem to glare down at visitors. Yuck!

Each entry covers a topic that is suitable and interesting to children, and each is given an “awesome” rating.

Both avid and reluctant readers will be intrigued by this book and other children’s titles by Anna Claybourne (eg. 100 Most Dangerous Things on the Planet and 100 Most Disgusting Things on the Planet).

** Recommended for ages 8 to 13 years.

 

How Cool is This? An Up-Close, Inside Look at How Things Work, by the editors of DK Publishing, 80 pages.@ SPL: J 600 How

How do dynamo lights, jet packs, electronic ink and padlocks work? How are balloons able to rise into the air and what keeps them there? How does a Frisbee or a boomerang stay in the air? What’s inside a soccer ball? How is the “chewiness” put into chewing gum? What are biometrics and thermal imaging? What does a “liquid lamp” look like? How is a crash helmet designed; how do night vision goggles work, and where does the fizz in a soda come from?

 

How Cool is This? will answer these questions and many others, describing the uses and the workings of a number of devices, contraptions, appliances, inventions and other objects. Many of them are appliances and products which we use everyday (and probably take for granted), and others are somewhat more obscure. The science behind each is explained clearly and concisely, using comparisons where helpful.

 Readers will find endless “cool” and curious facts to interest them in this attractive, fun and educational book, which includes plenty of visuals and a helpful glossary.

** Recommended for ages 8 to 12 years.

These reviews appeared in The Stratford Gazette on July 5, 2012. Written by Sally Hengeveld, Librarian.

Read More

Shelf Life [adult]

Sherlock: Season 2 Starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman
@SPL: DVD CramaSherl2

 Do you love mysteries? Does the name Sherlock Holmes make you swoon, or give you a thrill of anticipation? No, forget about the Robert Downey Jr. films, and the dry and fusty Victorian versions of the past, and go grab the first two seasons of the newest version of the small screen from BBC.

Distinction number 1: It is set in modern day Britain, with all its digital gadgetry magic to aid in both committing and solving crimes.

Distinction 2: Benedict Cumberbatch. A name not easily forgotten or pronounced, he is simply the most fascinating Holmes ever conjured on screen (with the best cheekbones, too). Sherlock still has an addiction, still analyzes people from the minutest of details and is so detached most of the time he could almost be a robot, but this Sherlock is also alarmingly, touchingly and humorously human… occasionally.

 Distinction 3: Dr. Watson is an Iraq War vet, played (deadpan of course) by Martin Freeman, he of the original Office, Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and eventually-to-be-released The Hobbit. Together, this Holmes and Watson make a compelling duo, trading insults and jabs as quickly as quips (and yay, in this series Watson often gets the last word).

Distinction 4: Although each episode pays homage to the original classic stories (they still ), they are full-on, 21st century updates in every way. Moriarty is a psychopathic puppeteer of information. The Hounds of Baskerville are genetically modified. Irene Adler is a dominatrix. And that is just in Season 2.

Alas, each season is BBC standard, just three episodes, but at 90 minutes each one is almost the equivalent of a movie, with the pacing and cinematography to match, dynamic and graphic – not violently so, but certainly there is more violence than in the sleepy series’ of the past. It is simply not fair though, that we will have to wait for Season 3 until after The Hobbit is finished filming – both Freeman and Cumberbatch are in it as Bilbo and Smaug respectively – but at least with the library’s DVD you can keep it them a week and rewatch Holmes’ deductions in slow motion.

This review appeared in The Stratford Gazette on July 5, 2012. Written by Robyn Godfrey, Librarian.

Read More

Shelf Life [kids]

This year marks the publication anniversaries of two very special children’s books which have never been out of print and are still being enjoyed by children today.

A Wrinkle in Time: 50th Anniversary Edition, By Madeleine L’Engle, 236 pages.@ SPL: J FIC L’Eng

Few science fiction stories for children have matched Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time (and the subsequent books in the “Time” quintet) which features 12-year-old Meg Murry, her younger brother Charles, and their friend Calvin.

Meg’s scientist father, who has been working on a secret government project, a “tesseract” (a space warp with similarities to the “hotzman effect” in Frank Herbert’s Dune), has been kidnapped by “IT,” an evil being that changes humans into mindless conformities. The three children travel to the distant planet Camazotz to rescue him. They are helped by various creatures – Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, Mrs. Which, Aunty Beast and the Happy Medium.

The children are eventually able to rescue Mr. Murry, but when they leave Camazotz, Charles is left behind. In the end, Meg discovers that it is only the quality of love which can save Charles – or any of us – from evil. It’s strange to reflect that A Wrinkle in Time – now an indisputable children’s classic – was rejected by over 26 publishers before being accepted by Farrer, Straus & Giroux Publishing in 1962. Madeleine L’Engle was told that her book was “too different” for children.

(L’Engle’s book was quite original for its time. For example, it was one of the first children’s science fiction stories to feature a female protagonist/heroine – an intelligent, “brainy” heroine, at that!)

Along with the original story, the special anniversary edition of A Wrinkle in Time includes extras such as photos of the author, her Newbery Medal acceptance speech, an introduction by author Katherine Paterson, and an afterword by Madeleine L’Engle’s niece.

** Recommended for ages 8 to 13.

Charlotte’s Web, By E.B. White, 184 pages.
 @ SPL: J FIC White

One of the most beloved children’s stories of all time is E.B. White’s Newbery Honor Book, Charlotte’s Web. Published in 1952, the well-known story of Wilbur, a pig which begins his life as the runt of the litter, and his friend Charlotte, a wise grey barn spider who saves Wilbur from the chopping block,has retained its appeal to children for 60 years.

Although it’s a story that features more animals than people – similar to many children’s stories – the book has much to impart to young readers about true friendship, empathy, and the whole circle of life and death. (Later in the story, Charlotte dies of natural causes. Her children become Wilbur’s friends, illustrating the truth that while all things at some time come to an end, all things are renewed in some way.)

American author E.B. White also wrote Stuart Little and The Trumpet of the Swan, as well as a number of books for adults. The author lived on a farm in Maine, and some of his animals found their way into his children’s books. When asked if his stories were true, however, he explained, “No, they are imaginary tales. But real life is only one kind of life – there is also the life of the imagination.”

E.B.White’s engaging and enchanting story is likely to continue to captivate young readers and listeners for many more years.

** Recommended for ages 6 to 11.

These reviews appeared in The Stratford Gazette on June 28, 2012. Written by Sally Hengeveld, Librarian

Read More

Shelf Life [adult]

The Great Disruption: Why the Climate Crisis Will Bring On the End of Shopping and the Birth of a New World, by Paul Gilding @SPL: 304.2 Gil

I’ve reviewed a few books in this space undertaking analyses of the whys of 2008’s financial crisis and our unstable recovery. I haven’t found a lot of books, though, that take an accessible, entertaining look at what our future recovery will look like. Books examining the environmental factors underpinning the crisis and our slow recovery are also scarce.

In light of this, I was thrilled to discover Paul Gilding’s The Great Disruption. Gilding’s a rarity: A long-time environmental activist with a good understanding of the science of climate change, he also has strong roots in the world of finance, having started and headed a few corporations meant to marry his environmental ethics with the cold, hard reality of the free markets.

In The Great Disruption, Gilding articulates the conclusions he’s come to after occupying his unique position on the political spectrum for a number of years. The news, as you may have suspected, is not all good.

After a light, fatalistically entertaining literature review of key studies in climate change since the mid-20th century, Gilding concludes we simply can no longer count on economic growth. There’s no more planet left to grow the economy. We are out of resources; growth is putting us further into environmental and economic debt, when what we really need to do is ration what little natural capital we have left. From there, we can transition as seamlessly as possible (mind the yawning chasms) into a new economy that rewards sustainability and quality of life instead of sheer GDP expansion.

Gilding has a detailed vision of what such an economy will look like, and he’s excited for the future. He freely admits that the transition to a sustainable economic and social model will likely hurt before it feels better, but he argues that the resulting social order will be so much healthier for ourselves and the planet that we will wonder why we didn’t make the change sooner.

Some environmentally-minded folks will take exception to Gilding’s grudging embrace of markets as a tool toward restructuring our lives, but that’s okay. This book is meant as a conversation starter, and while Gilding is enthusiastic about his vision he’s also open to other environmentally-friendly visions for the future.

The Great Disruption is a call to action of any kind in service of the planet, a wild, funny call-to-arms that will move anyone interested in building a better life in a reasonable footprint.

This review appeared in The Stratford Gazette on June 28, 2012. Written by Shauna Thomas, Librarian. 

Read More