Monday, June 30, 2014

More Free eBooks in July



StarWalk Kids Media is repeating a  Free Summer Reading program, the PopUpLibrary, for the entire month of July 2014. During this month, a collection of 500+ eBooks will be available free to anyone with Internet access — children, families, educators — who would like to access and read  engaging non-fiction and fiction eBooks for children.

http://starwalkkids.com/popup
Visitors to this site in July can immediately read any eBook in our Pre-K thru 8th grade eBook collection, which is carefully curated for exceptional quality and written by well-known and respected authors including their founder, noted science author Seymour Simon.  They allow multiple simultaneous access with no check-in or check-out required.  Most of their eBooks also offer a “Read to Me” option for kids, with high quality, professional narration that accompanies the text.
They don’t require any form of user identification to use this program; they just want to make sure more kids read more eBooks this summer than ever before.

Don't forget that your HMMPL also offers downloadable books for free all of the time with Overdrive!  However, only one person can check out a copy at a time, so our patrons can utilize more copies through the Free PopUpLibrary this summer!

Saturday, June 28, 2014

Is Your Name in Our Jungle? When You Complete Your 50 Books, Hours, or Days, Get Your Name on a Piece of Jungle Grass!

Wow, wow, wow! Summer Reading is half over! Woo Hoo!

After four weeks of our Summer Reading Program, we are celebrating more than 1,800 Zionsville kiddos registered and more than 6,000 prizes have been given out! Congratulations! Keep up the good work! We are anticipating excellent reading reports from teachers when the fall begins.

PLEASE NOTE: Our program ends and our prize store closes on Saturday, July 26th (by 4:45 pm). So get your reading done and report it to us by the final Saturday of July to get your prizes. (If you are going to be out of town, talk to a librarian.)


Thursday, June 26, 2014

Exercising CAN Help You Feel Better



Sometimes exercise is like showering or brushing our teeth; we do it because it’s what we’re supposed to do.  But what if exercise could actually make you feel better?  It can.  In the end, all exercise can improve our body, but there are specific workouts designed to help with physical problems.

Millions of Americans are plagued with back pain.  It is one of the main reasons for doctor visits every year.  To avoid pain medication, people sometimes turn to exercise for relief.   One popular DVD is "Back in Shape" with Mimi Solaire. Using breathing techniques and gentle stretches, Mimi focuses on strengthening and conditioning your back, and increasing spinal flexibility.  This, in turn will decrease your risk for further muscle strain or back pain.

A book that has over 600 five star reviews on Amazon is "Becoming a Supple Leopard".  The sub-title is "The Ultimate Guide to Resolving Pain, Preventing Injury, and Optimizing Athletic Performance".  Sounds great!  This book contains 400 pages of text and pictures demonstrating exercises to help you reach your physical potential.
Have you ever had a pain in the neck?  And no, not an annoying person - but real physical pain.  Most of us have.  That's why Desiree Rumbaugh has created the DVD "Yoga to the Rescue for Neck and Shoulders".  Desiree uses Anusara Yoga poses to alleviate pain and stiffness in this delicate region of the body.  The postures work to bring your body back to its natural alignment.  
The DVD contains a 30-minute tutorial breaking down each movement so that when you do the actual workout you can smoothly move through each pose.
Is exercise the magic pill for all our illnesses?  Of course not, but an increasing number of medical professionals are "prescribing" it for their patients.  With our collection of fitness DVDs and books, you can fill that prescription (for free!) at your library.


 


Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Just for Laughs



Have you ever submitted a caption to The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest? Come on, admit it. If you have, you’re not alone. Thousands of people enter this popular contest each week. In his new memoir, How About Never--Is Never Good for You?, Bob Mankoff, cartoon editor of The New Yorker, offers tips to beat the odds. 
 

Mark Twain once said: “Explaining humor is a lot like dissecting a frog, you learn a lot in the process, but in the end you kill it.”  Not in the case of How About Never.  I laughed all the way through Mankoff's book about humor and the history of cartooning. Best of all, Mankoff's book is lushly illustrated with cartoons from--you guessed it--The New Yorker.  Look for it on the new shelf (741.5 MANKOFF).

For something less subtle, but just as fun, try Dave Barry’s latest, You Can Date Boys When You’re Forty: Dave Barry on Parenting and Other Topics He Knows Very Little About.  Actually, this hilarious collection of essays has little to do with parenting, as the author readily admits. He proposes the following alternative titles: Dave Barry’s Vague General Book of Humor Topics; Dave Barry’s Guide to Whatever This Book Is About; Dave Barry:You Probably Thought He Was Dead; and my favorite, Dave Barry: A Dave Barry Book, by Dave Barry.

Saturday, June 21, 2014

Our Library is a Drop-off Site for Backpack Attack School Supplies


Backpack Attack is here again!  Along with the other 2 Boone County Public Libraries in Thorntown and Lebanon, and several other local agencies, the Hussey-Mayfield Library is again a drop-off site for school supplies for the United Way’s Backpack Attack.  Collection boxes are located near the main entrance on both public floors and school supplies may be dropped off between June 16th and July 16th.  Students from all 10 elementary schools and 7 middle / high schools in Boone County will receive backpacks filled with school supplies to help children start school this fall with some of the school supplies they need to be successful.








Backpacks have already been donated and it’s the fun stuff to put inside them that is needed now.  Priority items include:
•    Loose-leaf notebook paper
•    Spiral notebooks (no college-rule)
•    1” 3-ring binders
•    Dry-erase markers (black & blue)
•    #2 pencils
•    Scissors
•    Yellow highlighters
 






Also needed:
•    Colored pencils  (12-count)
•    Crayons (24-count)
•    Washable markers
•    Glue sticks
•    2-pocket folders
•    Plastic pencil boxes
•    Index cards



So, while you’re out shopping in the next few weeks, pick up some extra school supplies as outlined above and drop them off at the Hussey-Mayfield Library to be put in backpacks for kids who need them.  If you have questions about Backpack Attack, please contact Amy Hammerle at (765) 483-0165 or amy.hammerle@uwci.org.

Monday, June 16, 2014

Miss Julie Reads: Fairy Tale Chapter books

Check out these enchanting reads this summer!

Breadcrumbs
A fantastic story of friendship filled with mystery, magic, and adventure.
Into the Woods
This book combines many fairy tales into one rich and unique story!
The Tale of Despereaux
An enchanting story of a heroic mouse, a princess, and and impossible dream. An absolute must read!
Sister's Grimm
Fairy tale + mystery + fantasy + adventure = You won't want to put the book down!
Rump
With a name like Rump, he is destined for the dump!  But after a special find, it seems he can change his destiny...or can he?  This is an interesting twist on an old tale, definitely worth a read. 
Clover Twig and the Magical Cottage
A sweet and magical tale about a witch with an evil sister, a hard-working girl, a clumsy neighbor, and a cat named Neville.
Wish Stealers
If you thought pennies were always lucky, you will think again after reading this book!  Griffin is tricked into very unlucky pennies, but can she turn her bad luck around?

Thursday, June 12, 2014

BookPage: A Resource for People Who Like To Read



Don’t forget to pick up a copy of BookPage the next time you’re in the Library. BookPage contains short feature articles, author interviews and book reviews. Complimentary copies, funded by a grant from The Friends of the Library, are available in both Teen & Adult and Youth Services departments.

One of the books reviewed this month is The Most Dangerous Book: The Battle for James Joyce’s Ulysses by Kevin Birmingham.  At the time of its writing, Ulysses rocked the literary world with its stream of consciousness narration, candid descriptions of sex, and explicit language. Today, as the 110th anniversary of Bloomsday (June 16, 1904) approaches, Birmingham’s account memorializes a milestone on road to intellectual freedom.

Look for The Dangerous Book: The Battle for James Joyce’s Ulysses—coming soon to your Library’s shelves.

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Rainy Summer Day = Awesome at the Library




Our teen librarian hates to brag (but is always willing to), but she thinks there are some pretty awesome events for teens this summer at the Library.  Our single teen librarian works with a group of teens all year to plan out Teen Summer Reading Programs.  Most programs require registration.  Why?  Because our teen librarian runs many of the programs herself and often only purchases enough supplies for those who have registered for the program.  So be sure to register all summer long for programs like movies paired with awesome activities, learning how to draw comics from a guy who owns his own comic book store, cooking, and much more.  If you are reading this you are super lucky, because there are still spots open in our Duct Tape program today at 2:00 PM!  Plus, there are still spots open for Despicable Me 2 movie and activity this Thursday.  There is a catch.  You have to be going into at least 6th grade to participate and adults are not allowed in the room.  So tell mom and dad to drop you off at the Library and that the teen librarian told them to go do something nice for themselves and to come back in a few hours.

Monday, June 9, 2014

Miss Julie Reads: Books for kids who don't like reading

Check out these books this summer to see if they spark any interest in reading.  If they don't, come and talk to the Librarians and we will try to find something that will!

Monster Manor
This series is amazing!  Monsters, vampires, backwards werewolves, and so much more!  The quirky characters are combined with wacky storylines make for a great read.
The Genius Files
High action, tons of adventure starting right in the first chapter and continuing throughout the entire series, and an evil genius—what more does a story need?
Captain Awesome
The Sunnyview superhero squad sets out to stop evil doers: there are epic stories, awesome heroes, and fantastic fun in these beginning chapter books!
Jurassic Grampa
Funny, interesting, and lots of "poo" humor!
Big Nate
Realistic fiction, light read, comic-y.
Captain Underpants
Underpants is in the title, need I say more?
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
The Strange Case of Origami Yoda
Does Yoda have power, does he not?  These Jedi mind tricks will get them reading and probably folding, too!
Wayside School
Wayside is a strange school with even stranger teachers and students!
Punished
This book is so short, anyone can read it!  David Lubar also writes other books like:
Beware the ninja weenies and other warped and creepy tales
NERDS:National Espionage, Rescue, and Defense Society
Unusual characters + espionage + evil = really funny story
The name of this book is secret
I would tell you about this book, but it's secret so I won't!

Friday, June 6, 2014

Tandem Read: Summer Style!

Tandem Read Book Club is a parent/child book club.  Parents and children read the same book, which is a great way to enjoy a great story and explore literature together.  We will meet at the Library to discuss the book and enjoy snacks.

Book Club copies of the book will be available for pick-up at the Youth Services Reference Desk.  The books we will be reading this summer are listed below.  Register today!


Secrets of a Civil War Submarine by Sally Walker, Thurs., June 19 3 - 4 PM
Flora and Ulysses, Mon., June 30 3 - 4 PM
Savvy by Ingrid Law, Thurs., July 17 3 - 4 PM
The Giver by Lois Lowry, Wed., July 23 4 - 5PM


*Special note* We would like the parents to attend the discussion, but we realize that the book discussions are during the day and parents may have to work.  Parents are not required for the child to attend the book discussion.  If the parent isn’t able to come, we still encourage parents to participate with their child by reading the book so that you can discuss it with each other at home.

Thursday, June 5, 2014

D Day Invasion

On June 6, 2014 we will mark 70 years since the D-Day invasion.  Many young men sacrificed their lives to liberate Europe from German oppression. 

This invasion was the largest amphibious assault in history.  The images of men wading through the water to the beach remind us of that fateful day. 
Many stories have been buried with those who died fighting this epic battle, as well as those who have passed away during the ensuing seventy years.

We are fortunate to have historians such as the author of "The Band of Brothers", Stephen Ambrose "D-Day Illustrated Edition: June 6, 1944: The Climactic Battle of World War II" is an updated version of a previous book.  What makes this revision important is the added collection of over 125 photographs.  So many of that era's photographs are virtually disintegrating.  The effort to maintain these pieces of history is vital to future generations' awareness of our past.


"D-Day: the Battle for Normandy ", is no white-washed love story to the men who were in charge of the Allies or the Germans.  The author, Antony Beevor, voices his dissatisfaction with the leadership on both sides.  But, he does give credit where it's due to the men who faithfully carried out their orders.  They are the true heroes of this battle.  What makes this book unique is that it not only highlights the battle on the beach, but takes you all the way to the liberation of Paris.  As a former military man himself, Beevor has a unique perspective.

We can't discuss books about D-Day without mentioning Cornelius Ryan's classic "The Longest Day: June 6, 1944".  Ryan's account has been deemed a military masterpiece. So good in fact that it was made into the epic D-Day movie of the same name.  It is believed that this book is accurate because it is based on eyewitness testimony that was gathered in the 1950's, not long after the events.

These accounts  are gaining importance, as we are now losing the men who fought this battle, and others of World War II, at a rate of 555 per day.  Soon all that will remain is their legacy of courage and valor.



Eat at Hotbox and Help Relay for Life



Eat at HotBox Pizza today, Thursday, June 5.  If you mention Relay for Life, the Carmel and West Carmel locations will donate 20% of your purchase to Relay for Life to fight cancer.  Today is a great day for pizza!