Check out a library eBook!

Have you tried the library’s eBooks yet?

Check out our Digital Media Catalog for our growing selection of eBooks and audiobooks!

Use the sidebar on the left of the catalog page to type in titles or authors, or to browse categories like fiction, nonfiction or youth.

Here’s a list of compatible devices.  Depending on your device, you’ll need a specific program in order to to read your books (e.g., Adobe Digital Editions for Nooks, amazon.com for Kindles and Overdrive or Kindle apps for iPods/iPads).

Hints:

• Your password is your last name up to eight letters.  Your library card number should be 14 digits long, beginning with 20616.
• E-checkouts automatically expire so you don’t need to worry about returning your materials on time–but you can return them early too.
• Be sure to choose the correct format of eBook for your device.
• Place an item on hold by clicking “Place Hold” under its listing and then entering your email address.
• Request a title on each page using the “Suggest a title” button.
• Don’t forget about the public domain titles that don’t count against your five-at-a-time checkout limit!

You’ll just need an up-to-date North Mankato card number to use this free service.  Questions?  Stop by the library or give us a call to get started!

Can you use that in a sentence? Spelling Bee starts today

It’s that time of year again: The Scripps National Spelling Bee
begins today with the televised finals on Thursday.
Watch Rebecca Sealfon’s classic 1997 win on the word “euonym”
(n: an appropriate name for a person, place, or thing)

Effect or affect?  Further or farther?  Lie or lay?

Some words seem made to give us trouble.

Check out the library’s copy of the Oscar-nominated “Spellbound” documentary (2002).

Enter the grammar police
Sure, there are those of us that who cringe when our friend declares she is “literally starving” as she waits for the frozen pizza to bake, or when someone else insists on using an invented word such as “supposably” in every conversation.

But nobody’s perfect.  And even if you slip up and mistake “its” for “it’s” on you’re your Facebook status, you can bet there will be someone waiting to pounce with an asterisk-loaded comment.

It’s a real word–look it up!
One of the coolest things about language is that it doesn’t exist in a vacuum.  It’s effected affected by everything and is constantly changing.  Twenty years ago, we wouldn’t have recognized common expressions like “frenemies” or “Bieber Fever,” much less those that have been added to our dictionaries, including “supersize,” “bromance,” “LOL,” “tramp stamp,” “staycation” and “steampunk.”

Does the fact that they’re new words, often used by the younger generation, make them any less legitimate?

More resources:
Five Minnesotans at 2012 National Spelling Bee
Winning words of the National Spelling Bee
No-vowel Scrabble words
Make your own words: Unwords.com

At the library:

The Mother Tongue: English & how it got that way	Bryson, Bill
The Best Little Grammar Book Ever!: 101 ways to impress with your writing and speaking	Miller, Arlene Donna
The terrible speller : a quick-and-easy guide to enhancing your spelling ability 1st ed.	Proctor, William
The Bugaboo Review: A lighthearted guide to exterminating confusion about words, spelling, and grammar	Sommer, Sue
English Grammar for ESL Learners	Swick, Edward
Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The zero tolerance approach to punctuation	Truss, Lynne
The Art of Spelling: The Madness and the Method	Vos Savant, Marilyn
ESL [videorecording]: English as a second language
Spellbound [videorecording]

Berenstain, George, Sendak: Bears, wolves, wild things

In the past few months, some of the most beloved juvenile authors have passed away.  These three authors have created characters and stories that resonant with readers long after they’ve grown.  What children’s authors have made an impact on you?

“And he sailed off through night and day…”

Maurice Sendak (1928—May 2012)  Most widely known for his 1963 picture book, “Where the Wild Things Are,” Sendak created something new in children’s lit: dark stories with one-of-a-kind illustrations.  Sendak has said he felt ostracized much of his life for being Jewish, gay and lower-class—a melancholy that shows in his work, according to the New York Times.

He once shared a letter an 8-year-old boy had written him: “Dear Mr. Sendak, How much does it cost to get to where the wild things are? If it is not expensive, my sister and I would like to spend the summer there.”

“It was not good to show him she was afraid.”

Jean Craighead George (1919—May 2012)  Although George wrote over 100 books for kids and adults, we know her best for her YA novels “My Side of the Mountain” (1959) and “Julie of the Wolves” (1972), winner of the Newberry Medal.

George had a deep connection to the natural world—her pet as a child was a turkey vulture, her dad was an entomologist and she even spent time studying wolves in the Alaskan tundra.  Young readers love the adventure and nature in her books, but more importantly, the strong, self-sufficient kid survivors.

“Down a sunny dirt road, deep in Bear Country…”

Jan Berenstain (1923—Feb. 2012)  Along with her husband Stan, who passed away in 2005, Jan wrote and illustrated the Berenstain Bears picture book series, featuring the Mama, Papa, Sister and Brother Bear.

The Berenstains credited their first editor, Theodor Giesel (known to most as Dr. Seuss) for helping them achieve their easy-to-read style.  In true Seuss fashion, he also encouraged them to call themselves Stan and Jan instead of Stanley and Janice.

What do you remember about these books?

‘Mighty Be Our Powers’: Read about Nobel Prize winners at the library

“Don’t wait for a Gandhi, don’t wait for a King, don’t wait for a Mandela. You are your own Mandela, you are your own Gandhi, you are your own King.”

–Leymah Gbowee

Check out the memoir “Mighty Be Our Powers” by Leymah Gbowee, winner of the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize, at the library!

Gbowee shares the award with two other women, Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, and Tawakkol Karman, a Yemeni democracy campaigner, for their work in promoting gender equality.

Not only did Gbowee organize a huge women’s movement in Liberia, using prayer, protests and strikes to unite Christian and Muslim women against warlords, but she also rehabilitated child soldiers.  Watch her interview here.

The most controversial of the prestigious Nobel awards, the Peace Prize and its committee can be counted on to stir up protests.  Politician Al Gore received the prize in 2007 over “female Oskar Schindler” Irena Sendler, who hid and rescued Jewish families during the Holocaust.  In 2009, the prize had people of all parties–and its recipient–scratching their heads when it was given to new president Barack Obama.  More disputed winners.

Leymah Gbowee, First Lady Michelle Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Tawakkol Karman at 2012 International Women of Courage. via State Dept.

With its most recent winners, though not without their own critics, the award seems to have gained back some of its credibility.  The 2011 recipients serve as a much-needed acknowledgement of the severe inequalities women face around the world today.  What do you think?

The 2012 awards will be announced in October.

More on Nobel winners at the library:

The Art of Peace: Nobel Peace laureates discuss human rights, conflict and reconciliation	Art
The Triumph of Discovery: Women scientists who won the Nobel Prize	Dash, Joan
The Nobel Prize: A history of genius, controversy, and prestige	Feldman, Burton
Jane Addams: Champion of democracy	Fradin, Judith Bloom
The Man Who Fed the World: Nobel Peace Prize laureate Norman Borlaug and his battle to end world hunger: An authorized biography	Hesser, Leon F.,
Elie Wiesel: A Holocaust survivor cries out for peace	Houghton, Sarah
I Have a Dream: Writings and speeches that changed the world	King Jr., Martin Luther
Something Out of Nothing: Maire Curie and radium	McClafferty, Carla Killough
A Beautiful Mind: A biography of John Forbes Nash, Jr., winner of the Nobel Prize in economics	Nasar, Sylvia
Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light: The private writings of the “Saint of Calcutta”	Teresa, Mother
No Future Without Forgiveness	Tutu, Desmond

Summer projects for kids and adults!

For kids, imagination is everything.

Take Caine Monroy.  The 9-year-old from L.A. built an arcade in his dad’s auto parts store…completely out of cardboard.   Monroy made national news last month after the YouTube video featuring his story (posted by his first customer, a documentary filmmaker) went viral.

Summer is the perfect time to get going on projects that have been sitting on our to-do lists since last June, or maybe a few just for the fun of it.  From decks to tree houses, from felted purses to duct tape wallets, the library has tons of books to get you started on everything DIY!

For kids:

Cool Spy Supplies: Fun top secret science projects	Beck, Esther
Stick It!: 99 D.I.Y. duct tape projects	Bonaddio, Teresa
Build-it-better-yourself Country Furniture	Build
Native American Crafts of California, the Great Basin, and the Southwest	Corwin, Judith Hoffman
The Encyclopedia of Immaturity.	Encyclo
Arts and Crafts: From things around the house	Forte, Imogene
Stomp Rockets, Catapults, and Kaleidoscopes: 30+ amazing science projects you can build for less than $1 1st ed.	Gabrielson, Curt
The Outrageous Outdoor Games Book: 133 group projects, games, and activities	Gregson, Bob
Insects, Bugs, & Art Activities	Insects
The LEGO Ideas Book: Unlock your imagination	Lipkowitz, Daniel
The LEGO Book	Lipkowitz, Daniel.
James May’s LEGO House	May, James
Backyard Science	Maynard, Christopher
Geography Crafts for Kids: 50 Cool projects & activities for exploring the world 1st ed.	Rhatigan, Joe
Crafts to Make in the Summer	Ross, Kathy

For adults:

Backyards for Kids: A Sunset outdoor design & build guide	Backyar
Constructing Outdoor Furniture, with 99 Projects	Blandford, Percy W.
Great Garages: Sheds & outdoor buildings : 145 projects you can build	Brown, Connie
Button Girl: More than 20 cute-as-a-button projects	Bruder, Mikyla
Build-it-better-yourself Country Furniture	Build
Build Your Own Custom Closet: Designing, building & installing custom closet systems	Cole, Gillett,
The Complete Guide to Shelves & Built-ins: Build custom add-ons to create a one-of-a-kind home	Coleman, Theresa
The Complete Candlemaker: Techniques, projects, inspirations	Coney, Norma J.
How to Build Walks, Walls & Patio Floors	Cory, Steve
Creative Plans for Yard & Garden Structures: 74 Easy-to-build designs for gazebos, sheds, pool houses, playsets, bridges and more!	Creativ
Deck Planner: 120 Outstanding decks you can build	Deck
Complete Feltmaking: Easy techniques and 25 great projects	Harris, Gillian
Customizing Cool Clothes: From dull to divine in 30 projects	Haxell, Kate
101 Weekend Gift Projects from Wood	Jacobson, James A.
Crochet Bags!: 15 Hip projects for carrying your stuff	Jensen, Candi
Build Your Kids a Treehouse	Schmidt, Philip
The Complete Guide to Attics & Basements	Schmidt, Philip
Stained Glass Mosaics: Projects & patterns	Shannon, George,
Remake It!: More than 100 recycling projects for the stuff you usually scrap	Threadgould, Tiffany
Roofing: Step-by-step projects	Toht, David
Outdoor Fix-it 101: Projects you really can do yourself	Willson, Steven
Decorative Storage: 50 stylish projects to stash your stuff	Zentgraf, Carol.

Maud Hart Lovelace nominees announced

The 2012-2013 nominees for the Maud Hart Lovelace Book Awards have been announced!  Regional reading groups select the books, that are always great bets for young readers, in honor of Minnesotan author Maud Hart Lovelace.

You’ll find them specially marked in the Junior section, along with ballots to vote for your favorites.  Click here for a complete list of nominees.

Winners for 2011-2012:

Please Write in This Book by Mary Amato, Division I

Stolen Children by Peg Kehret, Division II

Art exhibit: Students ‘Work for Water’ through art

Don’t miss this month’s art exhibit at the library!

South Central Service Coop. & Freshwater Society’s 2012 “Work for Water” Arts Contest features pieces by area students in grades 9-12 that symbolize water conservation.   You’ll be amazed at the talent of each young artist.

by Megan Stutsman, LSH. In her artist statement, Stutsman says her piece represents the older generation teaching the younger about the importance of water conservation.

The winning entry will be displayed at Gray Freshwater Center’s art gallery and throughout Minnesota.  Be sure to vote for People’s Choice while you’re here.

Look for the art at the library until May 18!

Freshwater Society on Facebook