Friday, January 31, 2014

Is Spring Just Around the Corner?

Have you had enough of winter? Are you longing for a mild, sunny Spring day?  Then you may want to pay attention to Punxsutawney Phil’s forecast on Sunday, February 2nd, otherwise known as Groundhog Day.

The tradition of Groundhog Day was begun in the early 19th century in southeastern and central parts of Pennsylvania.  The German settlers in America brought ancient European weather lore that relied on a badger or sacred bear to predict the weather in the coming season.  Groundhogs may look like little bears, but they are actually members of the rodent family and are related to squirrels, chipmunks and prairie dogs.  The New World had plenty of groundhogs to serve as a substitute, and they often peeked groggily from their underground burrows after a long period of hibernation around the beginning of February.  This activity was probably combined with the Christian Candlemas Day, usually celebrated on February 2nd.  An English poem possibly serves as the basis for the groundhog’s ability to predict the weather:

    If Candlemas be fair and bright,

    Winter has another flight.
    If Candlemas brings clouds and rain,
    Winter will not come again.
 
The largest Groundhog Day celebration is held in Punxsutawney, PA, a small town 90 miles northeast of Pittsburgh.  The resident groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, peeks out of his burrow early in the morning on February 2nd, with a crowd of thousands watching closely for a sign.  If the day is sunny and Phil sees his shadow and returns to his burrow, there will be 6 more weeks of winter.  If the day is cloudy, Phil will not retreat to his burrow and spring will be arriving soon! The first official record of Phil’s prediction was in 1887; 2014 will bring Phil’s 122nd prediction.

So you may want to tune in to a news source before you get set for the Super Bowl on Sunday to see what Phil has to say. But don’t take it too seriously—according to the StormFax Weather Almanac and records kept since 1887, Phil’s weather predictions have an accuracy rate of only 39%!

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Hussey-Mayfield Library Celebrates 20 Years on Fifth Street

Where were you on January 30, 1994?  Perhaps you were a small child or weren’t even born yet.  Maybe you didn’t live in Zionsville then.  Or perhaps you have very strong memories, like mine, of that particular day, when the Hussey-Mayfield Memorial Public Library was dedicated at its new Fifth Street location in Zionsville.  I am the only staff member of our Library who worked in the Hussey home library and moved across town to our new facility in 1994 who is still a library employee, and I do remember a lot about that day and the move from our former building to the new one.

During the week of January 10, 1994, the contents of the Library were moved from Lora Hussey’s home at 255 West Hawthorne Street to the new building located at 250 North Fifth Street.  The Library had been located on Hawthorne Street since it opened on August 5, 1962 and was bursting at the seams by the time it came time to relocate in early 1994.  The move was 315 days after construction commenced on the new site.  There were about 25,800 items in the collection, including books and media.  The new library had shelving in place to hold 47,000 collection items.

 
The dedication and open house of the new library building were held on Sunday, January 30, 1994.  The building was enthusiastically received by the community.  The high school band played the National Anthem while a color guard raised our 3 flags for the first time.  Many people waited outdoors in the cold, not knowing exactly what they were waiting for beyond getting inside to see the beautiful, new library.  


Soon, an antique car arrived in the parking lot carrying a tiny, elderly woman dressed in black with a black hat and veil, who walked into the new Library building, never to be seen again.  It was the symbol of bringing the “spirit” of Miss Lora Hussey with us from her home to the new building that continued to bear her name.  

 
Many thanks go to the 7-member Library Board of Trustees who worked hard to make the new library a reality:  Meg Julien, Roberta Parks, Bob McKnight, Ken Kuper, George Freije, Mary Grabianowski and Buck Bradley.  The Leasing Corporation also worked diligently to finance the new building; members included:  Joe Cook, Larry Greenwalt, Eleanor Reynolds, John Crisel, Charles Bruess, Kenneth Pennington, and Alma Lathrop.  Martha Catt, the Library Director, who was hired in 1990, was also instrumental in making the new library a reality.


There were several speeches made to a standing-room-only crowd in the new main program room, but I didn’t see that.  I was busy leading the “Library Cheer” with children in the new Children’s Program Room, also to a standing-room-only group.  
 
We had a face-painting clown, the “Dulcimer Lady” playing her beautiful instrument and staff members were on hand serving as guides as visitors made their way through the 3 floors in the new library building.  We had photos of staff working in the Hussey home library placed in the areas in the new library building where similar tasks would be performed.   



The difference in facility and space was incredible!  Everyone oohed and aahed over the beautiful barrel vault on the second floor and the walnut trim throughout the building.  

Our wonderful Friends of the Library purchased all of the chandeliers that are still burning brightly in the current expanded building.  


We moved from a Victorian house with approximately 1400 sq. ft. of public space to a 25,000 sq. ft. facility on 3 floors.  

  


 So, today we celebrate 20 years at our Fifth Street location and more than 51 years as a library for the Town of Zionsville.  We added on to the building that opened 20 years ago in 2006, almost doubling its size, as we have striven to meet the needs of our ever increasing enthusiastic population that demands excellent library service.  Happy 20th Anniversary to our beautiful “new” Library!

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

It’s Food for Fines Time!


February 1 – 28 is a great time at the Library, it's the month our customers can erase their overdue fines and benefit local families in need.

During the month of February, each non-perishable food item donated at one of our Circulation Desks can be used to erase $1 in overdue fines* owed to Hussey-Mayfield Memorial Public Library.  *Please read our small print below!   

All donations will benefit the Zionsville Food Pantry at Zionsville Presbyterian Church, 4775 W. 116th St. 

Launched by the Library in 1997, our Food for Fines event can’t help but make everyone involved smile. The generosity of Zionsville residents is demonstrated each year, and mounds of food are donated for the needy! 

Over 600 families seek assistance from the food pantry annually, and Zionsville residents play a key role in providing some of the thousands of bags of food used to fill that need.  Now is the best time to donate. 

With numerous food drives occurring in the fall and spring, pantry shelves can become bare during February when donations drop off.  Yet, pantry volunteers must plan ahead for the Spring Break holiday when requests for assistance increase from families who normally receive some meals at school. 

Needed items include canned meats, boxed dinner mixes, canned meals, cereal, peanut butter, rice mixes, fruit juices, and baking supplies including oil, flour and sugar. Consideration is also given to families with food allergies, so any items that are gluten free, or do not contain nuts or dairy are also welcome. Click here for a full list of suggested donations. 

All area residents are invited to drop off donations at the Library, erase their overdue fines, and help the numerous families within our community who need assistance feeding their families! 

*Here's our small print: Only overdue fines owed to Hussey-Mayfield Public Library can be erased during this program.  Lost, damaged and collection fees are not eligible.  Fines owed to other Evergreen libraries cannot be paid with food donations. We cannot accept expired food, sample sizes or items in glass containers.  Please check expiration dates before donating any food items. 

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Suggest a Book for the Community to Read

Last year, Boone County enjoyed reading "Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore" together, and the book was borrowed from the Library and its programs were attended in even greater numbers than the year before. Let's keep up the tradition! Know of a book that has wide appeal and the potential for engaging programs? Tell us your suggestion for the 2014 United We Read book from now through February 28th. The work may be fiction or nonfiction. Suggest a title by clicking the above United We Read banner or in person at the 2nd Floor Reference desk. We look forward to hearing from you.

Monday, January 27, 2014

ALA Youth Media Award Winning Titles

It's that time of the year when children's librarians geek out over the latest national children's book awards--the best books of the past year. Just how geeked out do we get, you ask? Well, we attend workshops, participate in mock elections, read post after post of people (over?)analyzing every color choice, cover art, character development, and use of whitespace; we have deep, fervent discussions about why this or that book better win, and we've each likely said the words, "Oh, that better NOT win!"

I eagerly set my alarm not to miss the 8am announcement this morning (Monday, January 27th), and I am excited to share the results. Without further ado, here are the recently announced John Newbery and  Randolph Caldecott honors and winners of the American Library Association's Youth Media Awards 2014:

Newbery Award Winner
Flora & Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo

Newbery Honor Books
Doll Bones by Holly Black
The Year of Billy Miller by Kevin Henkes
One Came Home by Amy Timberlake
Paper Boy by Vince Vawter


Caldecott Award Winner
Locomotive by Brian Floca

Caldecott Honor Books
Journey by Aaron Becker
Flora and the Flamingo by Molly Idle
Mr. Wuffles! by David Wiesner

Go to our catalog, and check these out! If we don't own them yet, we will soon! And JOIN US Monday, January 27th, from 3:30-5:30pm in Youth Services (drop in; no registration needed!) to discuss these winning titles over lemonade and cookies!

For a full listing of all the Youth Media Award winners, go to www.ala.org/yma.

Sunday, January 26, 2014

Get Lean in 2014...Continued

In the previous post we highlighted a few of our fitness books. Now we are going to focus on fitness DVDs that can help you reach your 2014 fitness goals.

Two of the most popular DVD sets that we have at our library are P90X and Insanity.  We have packaged each DVD separately so that you can check out the workouts that you need.  Both of these sets are very advanced and uses a lot of plyometrics (a.k.a. jump training), but if you stick with it, you will get in phenomenal shape. 



Another popular trainer is Jillian Michaels. "6 Week Six-Pack" is the workout if you want to improve abdominal strength and definition.  The program includes two challenging workouts that are 35 minutes in length.  Each session consists of ab-focused toning that is quick enough to be aerobic.  This is definitely an intermediate/advanced workout, but an ambitious beginner can give it a try with the modifications.



 

If aerobic fitness is your goal Leslie Sansone has "Just Walk: The Ultimate 5 Day Walk Plan".  Each day has a different walk from 1 to 5 miles.  Leslie's moves are easy to follow, and are based on walking in place with modifications to up the intensity.  Each day ends with a short toning session and a stretch.  If you repeat this five day plan a few times, you will be on your way to improved cardiovascular health.



Brooke Burke has gone from model and spokesperson to fitness trainer.   Her latest DVD is "30-Day Slim Down".  There are two 30-minute workouts included.  One workout is cardio, and the other is toning. Alternating the workouts six days a week with one day of rest will improve your overall fitness level.  





If none of these options are for you, come explore our collection of over 300 fitness DVDs.  We have a lot of variety, so you are bound to find one that will help you meet your fitness goals.


Friday, January 24, 2014

Top 100 Children's Novels - How Many Have You Read?




Do you have a New Year’s Resolution to read more books? I do! To help me complete this, I have challenged myself to read every book on the School Library Journal’s List of Top 100 Children’s Novels! I’m excited about enriching my knowledge of our library’s children’s collection by reading these fantastic stories. I have already starting reading Holes by Louis Sachar,  and I'm working my way down the list. If you need any reading ideas, this is a wonderful list to go by! You can check the list out below or look in our catalog!


#1 Charlotte’s Web  E.B. White
#2 A Wrinkle in Time  Madeleine L’Engle
#3 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone  J.K. Rowling
#4 The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe  C.S. Lewis
#5 From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler  E. L. Konigsburg
#6 Holes  Louis Sachar
#7 The Giver  Lois Lowry
#8 The Secret Garden  Frances Hodgson Burnett
#9 Anne of Green Gables  L.M. Montgomery
#10 The Phantom Tollbooth  Norton Juster
#11 The Westing Game  Ellen Raskin
#12 The Hobbit  J.R.R. Tolkien
#13 Bridge to Terabithia  Katherine Paterson
#14 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban  J.K. Rowling
#15 Because of Winn-Dixie  Kate DiCamillo
#16 Harriet the Spy  Louise Fitzhugh
#17 Maniac Magee  Jerry Spinelli
#18 Matilda  Roald Dahl
#19 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory  Roald Dahl
#20 Tuck Everlasting  Natalie Babbitt
#21 Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief  Rick Riodan
#22 The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread  Kate DiCamillo
#23 Little House in the Big Woods  Laura Ingalls Wilder
#24 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows  J.K. Rowling
#25 Little Women  Louisa May Alcott
#26 Hatchet  Gary Paulsen
#27 A Little Princess  Francis Hodgson Burnett
#28 Winnie-the Pooh  A.A. Milne
#29 Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland /Alice Through the Looking Glass  Lewis Carroll
#30 The Dark is Rising  Susan Cooper
#31 Half Magic  Edward Eager
#32 Mrs. Fris and the Rats of NIMH  Robert C. O’Brien
#33 James and the Giant Peach  Roald Dahl
#34 Watsons Go to Birmingham, 1963  Christopher Paul Curtis
#35 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire JK Rowling
#36 Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret  Judy Blume
#37 Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry  Mildred Taylor
#38 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix  J.K. Rowling
#39 When You Reach Me  Rebecca Stead
#40 The Wonderful Wizard of Oz  L. Frank Baum
#41 The Witch of Blackbird Pond  Elizabeth George Speare
#42 Little House on the Prairie  Laura Ingalls Wilder
#43 Ramona the Pest  Beverly Cleary
#44 Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing  Judy Blume
#45 The Golden Compass  Philip Pullman
#46 Where the Red Fern Grows  Wilson Rawls
#47 Bud, Not Buddy  Christopher Paul Curtis
#48 The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits and a Very Interesting Boy  Jeanne Birdsall
#49 Frindle  Andrew Clements
#50 Island of the Blue Dolphins  Scott O’Dell
#51 The Saturdays  Elizabeth Enright
#52 The Invention of Hugo Cabret  Brian Selznick
#53 Wind in the Willows  Kenneth Grahame
#54 The BFG  Roald Dahl
#55 The Great Gilly Hopkins  Katherine Paterson
#56 Number the Stars  Lois Lowry
#57 Ramona Quim, Age 8  Beverly Cleary
#58 The Wolves of Willough Chase  Joan Aiken
#59 Inkheart  Cornelia Funke
#60 The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle  Avi
#61 Stargirl  Jerry Spinelli
#62 The Secret of the Old Clock (The Nancy Drew mysteries)  Caroline Keene
#63 Gone-Away Lake  Elizabeth Enright
#64 A Long Way from Chicago  Richard Peck
#65 Ballet Shoes  Noah Streatfeild
#66 Henry Huggins  Beverly Cleary
#67 Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher  Bruce Coville
#68 Walk Two Moons  Sharon Creech
#69 The Mysterious Benedict Society  Trenton Lee Stewart
#70 Betsy Tacy  Maud Hart Lovelace
#71 A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning  Lemony Snicket
#72 My Father’s Dragon  Ruth Stiles Gannett
#73 My Side of the Mountain  Jean Craighead George
#74 The Borrowers  Mary Norton
#75 Love That Dog  Sharon Creech
#76 Out of the Dust  Karen Hesse
#77 City of Ember  Jeanne DuPrau
#78 Johnny Tremain  Esther Forbes
#79 All-of-a-Kind Family  Sydney Taylor
#80 The Graveyard Book  Neil Gaiman
#81 Where the Mountain Meets the Moon  Grace Lin
#82 The Book of Three  Lloyd Alexander
#83 The Thief  Megan Whalen Turner
#84 Little White Horse  Elizabeth Goudge
#85 On the Banks of Plum Creek  Laura Ingalls Wilder
#86 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets  J.K. Rowling
#87 The View from Saturday  E. L. Konigsburg
#88 The High King  Lloyd Alexander
#89 Ramona and her Father  Beverly Cleary
#90 Sarah, Plain and Tall  Patricia MacLachlan
#91 Sideways Stories from Wayside School  Louis Sachar
#92 Ella Enchanted  Gail Carson Levine
#93 Caddie Woodlawn  C. R. Brink
#94 Swallows and Amazons  Arthur Ransome
#95 Pippi Longstocking  Astrid Lindgren
#96 The Witches  Roald Dahl
#97: The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane  Kate DiCamillo
#98 Children of Green Knowe  L.M. Boston
#99 The Indian in the Cupboard  Lynne Reid Banks
#100 The Egypt Game  Zilpha Keatley Snyder

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Get Lean in 2014


Have you seen the new slogan; “Fit is the new skinny”?   It is a good mantra for our 2014 fitness goals.  Instead of looking for a number on the scale, maybe we should look to improve our fitness performance.  Are you a runner or walker?  Set a goal to go faster or farther.  Having trouble with those push-ups?  Don’t give up, just start where you are and move forward.
SMART is an acronym for sound criteria when setting a goal.   

Here’s an example:
Specific –what do you want to change or improve?  I want to increase the number of push-ups I can do from one to five.

Measurable – how will you measure your success?  If I am able to complete five push-ups, I have attained my goal. 

Attainable – can you realistically achieve this goal?  I believe I can achieve this goal because it is reasonable.

Relevant - will this goal matter to your overall health and well-being?  I will be stronger if I can perform more push-ups.  It will help my posture and my ability to remain injury-free.

Time-oriented – how much time will you give yourself to attain your goal? I will give myself six months to attain this goal.
Using your goal, make a specific plan to achieve it. Your library can help.  We have many resources available to help you attain your fitness goals for 2014. 

Bring It! by P90X guru Tony Horton is not a one-size-fits all fitness plan.  You will begin by 
answering fitness questions, as well as taking a few measurements.Using your results you will either be a Beginner, a Striver or a Warrior.  Each group has a specific workout created for cardio, strength and yoga.  There are a lot of pictures and written descriptions of each exercise so you'll know exactly what to do.



The Ultimate New York Body Plan by David Kirsch says it will "shed
pounds and reshape your body - FAST!"   This plan combines fitness with nutrition.  You will start with a fitness test (yes, actually performing exercises to determine your starting point).  This test will measure your starting fitness levelAgain, there are a lot of pictures and descriptions of the exercises recommended.  There is a 14-day plan to get you started.

Dr. Vonda Wright's Guide to Thrive is a four step plan for "body, brains and bliss".  Step 1 is preparation.  The following steps each last two months, equaling a six month program.  As an M.D., Dr. Wright brings us medical information as well as a plan for improving our health.  Parts of the book have fill-ins, so you might want to have a notebook near by to write things down.  There are a lot of principles here that are valuable for fitness and life in general.


If you're not a reader, but would rather move, look for the next fitness blog highlighting some fitness DVDs that will help you reach your SMART goals.

Sunday, January 19, 2014

Martin Luther King Day for Kids

We’ve had many days off from school this year and as Martin Luther King Day approaches, that means we have one more.  Here are a couple of ideas to add to your MLK Day plans to make the day meaningful for your family.
 
The Hussey Mayfield Memorial Library will be OPEN on MLK Day, so stop by and pick up some books on the Civil Rights Movement.  The book, Sit-In: How four friends stood up by sitting down, by Andrea Davis Pinkney is a picture book that demonstrates nonviolent protests and can be read to all ages.  The Lions of Little Rock is a historical fiction Tween novel that demonstrates the difficulties of integration from a child’s perspective.  


Downtown Indianapolis is celebrating Martin Luther King in a major way.  Many downtown attractions will be open for FREE (or for a small donation of 1 non-perishable food item).  Participating venues include the Indianapolis Zoo, the IMAX Theater, the Children’s Museum and many more!  You can find more information here.

If you can't make it out of the house, there are many online resources you can use to learn about MLK.  National Geographic has a short video on remembering Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. They also have a short photo biography you could flip through.  You can print worksheets at home or quiz yourself online to boost knowledge of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
 
Martin Luther King's dream was to see people of all countries, races, and religions living together in harmony. To teach diversity at home, even to the youngest children, you can gather seeds of different kinds and invite each child to plant a variety of seeds in an egg carton. The seeds of different shapes, sizes, and colors will sprout side by side. Once the plants are large enough, transplant them into a large pot or in a small garden outside. (Source: Richard Ellenburg, Orlando, Florida -- Learning magazine, January 1994). 

Friday, January 17, 2014

2014 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Awards Applications Now Open!

First Lady Michelle Obama with 2013 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award Winners Investigating Where We Live. Photo: Ralph Alswang
The President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services, is pleased to invite applications for the 2014 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Awards. 
The twelve award-winning programs this year will receive $10,000 and an invitation to accept their award from the President's Committee's Honorary Chairman, First Lady Michelle Obama, at a ceremony at the White House. 
After-school and out-of-school time arts and humanities programs sponsored by museums, libraries, performing arts organizations; educational institutions (e.g., preschools; elementary, middle, and high schools; universities; and colleges), arts centers, community service organizations, businesses, and eligible government entities are encouraged to consider submitting an application. Programs applying for the award must meet all of the National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award’s Eligibility Criteria. Please click the following link to access the online National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Awards Application: http://www.nahyp.org/how-to-apply/ 
Completed applications will only be accepted via the online process. Monday, February 10, 2014, 5:00 PM PST is the application deadline.

Thursday, January 16, 2014

Financial Aid Series

The idea of a high education typically brings one of two feelings: 1) freedom, hope, excitement, and endless possibilities of how to change the future, or 2) fear of taking on thousands or tens of thousands of dollars of debt.  The first is most likely to be felt by a hopeful senior on their way into college, while the second is undoubtedly felt, or feared, by parents.  For the second year in a row, ISM College Planning will be at the library on Monday, January 20 at 6:30 p.m.  The experts will calm your nerves by covering the different types of financial aid, as well as important dates, forms and resources.  You'll learn valuable information and the experts are always excited to answer questions, so have a few ready.

The second program in our Financial Aid Series is on Tuesday, February 11 at 6:30 p.m.  Families will need to bring student and parent social security numbers, completed federal tax forms and other asset or income information.  You will be happy to attend the second session because the experts will be in the room providing one-on-one assistance to help you fill out the FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.  You'll have your paperwork done and submitted far before the March 10 deadline.  Registration is not required, but it is recommended.  Those who register will receive a reminder phone call.  If college is sending fear surging through your body, remember that knowledge is power and it's never too early to start planning.

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Fascinating, Fun, NON-Fiction DVDs


Looking for some entertainment for a Saturday night? Or perhaps you'd like to hunker down and do a bit of hibernating during the cold weather, accompanied by a DVD or two or three. Whatever the case, consider the non-fiction DVD collection at the Library the next time you want to grab a movie on your way home. You may be thinking, "Non-fiction? Entertaining?" and I say, "Yes!" Be carried away to a distant land as you travel with Rick Steves. Explore new recipes to whet your appetite and enchant your taste buds with America's Test Kitchen. Stretch and bend yourself in new directions with our many yoga DVDs, or, for a more intense experience, check out the P90X exercise regime and decide if it's for you.

Invite Lady Gaga and the Rolling Stones into your living room for a private concert, or unleash melodies of a different sort with an opera such as La Traviata. Be thrilled by Shark Week any week you choose, and follow it with a dip into the world of bottled water in Tapped. Follow Mythbusters Jamie, Adam, Kari and their teams as they test urban folklore queries and stamp them confirmed, plausible or "BUSTED." Get tips on climate change in Carbon Nation, or ride with brave democracy activists through Egypt, Malaysia, Ukraine, Venezuela and Zimbabwe in A Whisper to a Roar.

Steady your sea legs on a cruise through Hawaii and Tahiti. Follow a guided tour through 2,500 years of Art of the Western World. Spend some time with Neil Patrick Harris and some very special canines as he narrates the training and matching of service dogs and people in Through A Dog's Eyes.

The next time you're in the Library, browse the non-fiction DVDs...I bet you'll find something interesting to take home.

Sunday, January 12, 2014

Poetry at Work Day



Mark your calendars.  Tuesday, January 14, is Poetry at Work Day.  No, you don't need to buy a present.  This Tweetspeak-sponsored celebration is simply a creative way to spread the word that poetry isn't just for English majors, anymore.  In an article published in the Harvard Business Review, John Coleman contends that poetry can help professional men and women simplify, empathize, and imagine alternatives.  Glynn Young, author of Poetry at Work writes, "Whether the space is the Oval Office, a classroom, a home, the cab of a truck or a taxi, a warehouse, an assembly line, a shop or a store, an offshore oil rig, a hair salon, or an office cubicle, emotion happens there.  Life happens there.  And the dramas and comedies and occasional tragedies that unfold there matter."

Here in the Library, artists and entrepreneurs, alike, can find poetry collections, anthologies, Poetry Magazine, Writer's Digest, and a wide selection of do-it-yourself guides for increasing creativity, including Claire Burge’s recently published Spin: Taking Your Creativity to the Nth Degree and Julia Cameron's classic, The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity.

So, this Tuesday, no presents—just poetry.  Read it, write it, enjoy it!

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Get Going on Your Goals

 
“Change is cumbersome, clumsy, and even contrary," according to John C. Norcross, board-certified clinical psychologist, university professor and author of Changeology: 5 Steps to Realizing Your Goals and Resolutions.  "In a word difficult."  That’s the bad news.  The good news is change is possible.  Changeology presents a systematic program designed to help the average person tackle everything from breaking bad habits to acquiring new skills and improving personal relationships.  Norcross views change as a 5-stage journey:  Psych (get ready), Prep (plan before leaping), Perspire (take action), Persevere (manage slips), and Persist (maintain change). The start of a new year is, according to Norcross, a propitious time to initiate change.  Carol D. Goodheart, EdD, former president of the American Psychological Association, praises Norcross' achievement as “a rare feat—translating thirty years of sophisticated psychological research into practical, understandable, doable steps that really work for changing behavior.”  Written in succinct, understandable prose, Changeology provides an easy-to-follow plan to self-improvement.

And don't forget, whatever your goals for 2014: losing weight, raising chickens, learning a new language or tuning up your Chevy Malibu, the Library has resources to help you realize them.

Friday, January 3, 2014

Library Welcomes New Director



Slipping into the Director’s role at Hussey-Mayfield Memorial Public Library is something Kerry Green looked forward to from the moment he heard the position was open.
“I’m excited about coming here to this Library,” Green said. “It’s considered a very good library.”
The former assistant director at Plainfield-Guilford Township Public Library spent 21 years preparing for his new role.  Moving up through the ranks at the Plainfield Library taught Green the importance of customer service. “My belief about what makes a library great is that it provides great customer service, and that comes from a great staff,” Green said.
Successfully leading an established, well-respected library like Hussey-Mayfield will have to begin with getting to know the staff and the community they serve he explained. “I’m coming in at the beginning to learn and to understand,” said Green. To start, he plans to get to know the Library staff and how they serve the community. “I’m excited about getting to know the staff. When you have a library this good, you have to have an enthusiastic staff; and this seems like a very happy place,” said Green.
Since Green and his wife of 30 years are looking forward to relocating to Zionsville, he plans to begin attending as many community events as possible so he can become more familiar with the community and local residents. ZionsvilleChamber of Commerce meetings are at the top of his agenda. He would like to introduce himself to local business owners and managers, and explore opportunities for collaboration.
Assistant Director Mary Rueff, who served as acting director the past few months, is looking forward to getting to working with Green. Over her tenure, she has worked with him in several capacities and respected the man and his ideas. “I think we’ll make a great team and he will enjoy his new community,” said Rueff.
Green comes to Zionsville with a breadth of experience having held positions in several library departments including circulation, adult reference and information technology. “I have a knack for troubleshooting,” Green said.
He is also a member of Indiana Library Federation, a state library association, past president of Indiana Online Users Group, a group dedicated to promoting technology innovations at local libraries, and a former teacher at several Indiana colleges and universities. Green’s first day as Hussey-Mayfield’s Director was January 2.