Library Elf

I'd like to introduce everyone to a very helpful elf: the Library Elf!

It's a free service that will send you reminder notices, via email or text message, whenever your library books are about to come due. It will also tell you when your holds are ready to be picked up. You can choose how early and how often you receive messages.

You can also add multiple library cards to your Elf account, so your whole family can avoid overdue fines and never miss a hold pickup again!

Ready to sign up? Go to our website first. Then click on Online Resources, and click Elf. Follow the sign-up instructions, and be sure to click the link in the registration email it sends you.

Sign up today if you are a frequent email user or if your phone has unlimited texting. You'll be glad you did!

Recent Reads

As I wait for the 3rd Hunger Games book, Mockingjay, to come out (1 more week!!!), I have been occupying myself with some other teen literature in the past month or so. I finally read the most recent Ranger's Apprentice installation, titled The Kings of Clonmel. These adventure stories are always really fun and quick to read. The pacing is really well done, the cast of characters feels very real, and there's amusing dialogue sprinkled throughout the books to keep everything from getting too serious.

Right now I'm reading Rick Riordan's latest book, called The Red Pyramid. It's the beginning of a new series called The Kane Chronicles and it focuses on the gods of ancient Egypt rather than the Greek mythology of the Percy Jackson books. I'm about halfway through, and so far I think it's pretty good but not as great as The Lightning Thief. Red Pyramid is easy to put down; I haven't been "grabbed" like I was with the Percy books. Maybe that will change before I get to the end of the story.

I have been feeding my book on CD addiction with the first three Princess Diaries stories, which are new editions narrated by Anne Hathaway. I thought Anne did an AMAZING job with the books, and I laughed so hard while I was listening! So those audiobooks are a good choice if you want something light, fluffy, funny, and girly to listen to in the car. They're also good for the car because you don't have to concentrate on them too much to keep up with the plot.

Who else is desperate for Mockingjay? I can't wait!!

Back To School

Join us this Saturday at 10 a.m. for a Back-To-School storytime! Kids will hear school stories and do a craft. Please call or stop by the library to sign up.

Once school starts, please keep us in mind for all of your report-writing needs! We're in the process of adding a link on our website to World Book Online, which is an excellent resource. We're always purchasing new nonfiction for kids and teens, so if your report is on animals, inventors, famous people, Native American groups, or any other common topic, stop by and see us.

Teen Nonfiction

We have a new teen nonfiction section here at the library! So far it's very small but we made a little room to grow. We'd like to support teen interests in this section, as well as academic needs. So you'll be seeing some good books for browsing like Hippo Eats Dwarf: A Field Guide to Hoaxes and other B.S. by Alex Buese, as well as stuff to help teens in school like Danica McKellar's new math book, Hot X: Algebra Exposed. Right now we also have some resources to help kids in college and career planning, such as College Planning for Gifted Students and the Career Discovery Encyclopedia.

If you would like to suggest a title or subject for our new section, speak up! I am extremely interested in what you have to say.