I Geek Interior Design

Maybe it was the opportunity to select wallpaper for my room when I was nine, or maybe it was the constant rearranging of furniture I did, but in either case my interest in interior design started early. At the time I did not know it had a name—I just knew I was impacted by my surroundings and did what I could to arrange and organize my room. Over time I had reconfigured my room as many ways as was possible, and I definitely had my favorite floor plans. Rearranging furniture took a bit of planning, and I would determine what furniture went where and which piece of furniture needed to be moved first. Why all the planning? We lived in an Italianate home, which at the time was over 120 years old, and I had to be very careful not to scratch the wood floors. So I planned thoroughly, and then at a snail’s pace, would ever so gently move one piece of furniture, then the next, and the next until all was in place.

Several years later I had the opportunity to visit The Greenbrier and was absolutely enchanted. Room after room opened up to the colorful, grand, bold designs of Dorothy Draper. The striking color combinations and designs, framed by formal architectural features, were so dynamic my eyes raced around the room to take in all that was presented. Much later I would discover the book In the Pink: Dorothy Draper and have looked through it time and again.

More recently I happened upon the book New Asian Interiors, which showcases homes throughout Asia with sleek, contemporary designs. The nearly all-white tea house with its strong, geometric architectural features, modern furniture, and minimalist aesthetic combine to create an interior that balances visual interest with emptiness, which results in a soothing calm. Even an imagined visit to this locale will leave you relaxed in seconds.

That spaces have the ability to evoke feelings, such as calm, continues to intrigue me, and, as a result, I continue to rearrange and change my surroundings. Having access to books for inspiration is one way to find images that speak to you. The library has numerous titles on interior design, covering specific designers, styles, furniture, curtains, lighting and much, much more. Next time you are in the library, browse the 747s of the non-fiction collection and find books that appeal to you. You never know, you may be inspired to rearrange a room, too—just be careful of the floors.

It's a Mystery Book Club Celebrates

Happy birthday to us, happy birthday to us. In October, the Mystery Book Club celebrates its 2nd anniversary. In 2009, the club was born with its first meeting and an appearance by Indiana mystery writer, Jeanne Dams. She stopped by the Library fresh from an appearance at the Bouchercon Conference held in Indianapolis that year. Since then, we have met the first Tuesday of each month to discuss a wide variety of titles and authors.

There have been, of course, the usual suspects (authors) such as Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers and Rex Stout. Many of us have were introduced to serial murderers (authors, that is) Susan Albert Wittig, Ralph McInerny, James Doss and Louise Penny (this year’s Bouchercon winner). Carl Hiaasen’s Tourist Season and Lisa Lutz’ Spellman Files lightened things up with humorous plots and quirky characters.

We delved into nonfiction with The Devil in the White City (Erik Larson) and the “in the news” Monster of Florence (Douglas Preston). These two books read like novels but are true stories of serial murderers.

Check out all the selections and meeting times and dates on the “It’s a Mystery Book Club” bulletin board or in the Readers’ Advisory notebook. And, please come join us for casual discussion and light refreshments.

So much crime, so little time…..

October United We Read Programs

Now that you’re reading the 2011 United We Read book, “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks,” by Rebecca Skloot, visit the Library for free programs dedicated to many of the intriguing issues raised in the story. Don’t yet have a copy? You can put one on hold, or faster yet, download it as an ebook or audiobook.

Book Talk Monday, October 3rd, 6:30pm
Share your thoughts about “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks,” with your friends and neighbors during a book talk.

Why Do We Need Immortalized Cells? Wednesday, October 5th, 7pm
Professor and former Lilly scientist Dr. Sheila Little explains what a cell is, cell research, why we need immortalized cells, and her personal connection to the story.

How To Reduce Your Risk of Cancer Tuesday, October 11th, 6:30pm
Get tips on how to reduce your risk of cancer from Katie Crawford of the American Cancer Society.

Science, Faith, Immortality and Social Justice: The Case of Henrietta Lacks Tuesday, October 18th, 6:30pm
Anthropologists Dr. Kathryn Coe and Dr. Lisa Staten talk about the faith of the Lacks family, the immortality of Henrietta’s genes, and social justice as it relates to Henrietta and her descendants.

Who Owns My Body? Tuesday, October 25th, 6:30pm
The story of Henrietta Lacks raises profound questions about our relationship to our body. Dr. Richard Gunderman discusses ownership of the body- are we our body? Do we own it? Are we at liberty to sell it, or portions of it?

I Geek Hobbits

I don't personally geek Hobbits, but I found someone who does. His name is Buck and when he is not being incredibly passionate about Hobbits, he is playing sports, playing with his son, or working as an attorney. When I asked Buck why he geeks Hobbits, this is what he had to say.

"At the beginning of seventh grade, I was very much a Hobbit without knowing it: short, curly-haired and fond of going barefoot and eating five meals a day. A friend suggested that I read J. R. R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit” over Thanksgiving break and I only surfaced from Middle Earth long enough to eat a turkey dinner. I returned to Middle Earth that Christmas break, reading “The Lord of Rings.” I’ve reread both books dozens of times since. The impact of Tolkien’s writing on my life can’t be understated. All of my favorite things, from hiking and camping to foreign travel to my college degree in history to sword fighting all derive inspiration from his works. However, the most lasting impact comes from the Professor’s (it’s what we Hobbit-geeks call Tolkien) love of languages. I’m studying Chinese, my sixth language, thanks to a spark kindled by the Elvish languages I encountered in the books."

So there you have it. One man and his passion for Hobbits. If you share Buck's passion or are a fan of all things Middle Earth, you should join us at the Library for Baggins' Birthday Bash. It is none other than September 22, the birthday of both Frodo and Bilbo Baggins. Hurry! Seating is limited and registration is required.

Flu Shots This Thursday

Visiting Nurse Service (VNS) will administer flu shots from 2-3pm on Thursday, September 15th on the first floor of the Library in the Lora Hussey room. No reservations necessary. The cost of vaccinations is as follows:

$35 - Flu Vaccination (3 years & up)
$30 - 1/2 Dose Flu Vaccination (6-35 months)
$40 - Thimerosal-Free Flu vaccine 6 months and older
$40 - FluMist (Healthy Individuals 2-49 years/Thimerosal-Free)
$70 - Pneumonia Vaccination (9 years and up)

Acceptable forms of payment are as follows:
• Cash
• Check
• Medicare Part B & Medicare Advantage plans (MAP). The appropriate card must be presented at the time of service to receive the flu and/or pneumonia vaccination(s). VNS will submit claims to the carriers. If your card is not presented, payment will be due when services are rendered. If the claim is denied, then you are responsible for payment.

Stay healthy this winter, and remember, washing your hands is one of the best ways to prevent infection and illness. Check out these tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Check Out the 2011 United We Read

The Zionsville Lions Club Fall Festival is happening this weekend. Library staff will participate in the parade and will have a booth in Lions Park- stop by and say hello! Afterward, check out your copy of the 2011 United We Read selection, “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks,” by Rebecca Skloot, from the Library. We will have print, large print and audio copies available. Read the story and join your neighbors for thought-provoking programs and discussions at the Library throughout October.

Cell Phones for Soldiers

Cell Phones for Soldiers was founded in 2004 by a 12 and 13 year old brother and sister. After hearing about a soldier with an $8,000 phone bill, Brittany and Robbie Bergquist decided they wanted to pay the bill and they started with $14 of their own money. They began raising money through car washes and bake sales and then stumbled upon the idea of recycling old cell phones, which has grown into a national campaign.

Thanks to our patrons, the Library presented 227 phones to Cell Phones for Soldiers last month. These phones generated 13620 minutes of calling time for troops.

To date, Cell Phones for Soldiers has raised more than $7 million and provided more than 90 million minutes of free talk time. Due to the mobile phone recycling program, more than 7.5 million cell phones have been recycled since 2004, thus reducing the impact on landfills.

Encourage family and friends to support our troops by donating a mobile device to the program- you can drop them off at the Library or go to the Cell Phones for Soldiers website to find other locations.

Do You Have the Smartest Card?

The Hussey-Mayfield Memorial Public Library wants all Zionsville residents to have the smartest card in their wallets, on their key chains, or even scanned into their smartphones. September is Library Card Sign-up Month. If you don’t have a library card, sign up for one during September and get a free tote bag. Here are a few examples of what you can do with your library card:

• Download an e-book
• Borrow books and magazines
• Learn a new language online with Rocket Languages
• Borrow a movie
• Go to Story Time with your child
• Get free wireless access
• Borrow or download an audio book for your daily commute
• Download music through freegal

Get your library card and use it freely today.