PaperCuts

All public computers will be unavailable on Tuesday, August 28 and Wednesday, August 29 while we upgrade our systems.

Beginning Thursday, August 30, you will use your library card to access the public computers.

Library staff will be available at service desks to help customers locate books, movies and other materials using the library's online catalog.

Wireless access on personal laptops will still be available.

Posted on August 23, 2007 by Lissa at 09:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

*Beginning the week of August 27, 2007*
To access a computer at the library, you need both a library card (or a guest pass) and pin number. To obtain one, go to the check out desk.

How does it work? When you login to a computer with your library card and pin, the computer keeps track of time for you. You may use up to 2 hours per day (all at once, or in several sessions). An on-screen timer will help you keep track of your available time.

Why do this? How will it benefit me? This ensures everyone has fair and equal access to library computers. You will also be able to make advance reservations for a computer (just like putting a book on hold).

Do I need this just to look something up? Catalog computers need no login and can be found throughout the library stacks.

For more information, call the library at 580-4400 or ask at the Circulation Desk.
TIP: Did you know you can apply for your library card ONLINE?

Posted on August 21, 2007 by Lissa at 08:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Does your upcoming travel itinerary include touring wineries in Napa Valley, California, taking an evening stroll along the River Walk in San Antonio, Texas or learning about marine life at the Seattle Aquarium?  The library recently created travel bags for these three popular travel destinations.  The bags include the most current guidebooks, maps, and brochures of local attractions to help you plan your trip.  The Napa Valley bag also includes a list of books available for checkout that explain everything you ever wanted to know about wine selection.

Where can you find travel bags in the library?  Go to the Travel Neighborhood (in the East Wing near the New Books area) and see what’s available, or conduct a basic search in the catalog by typing “travel bag” in the “title starts with” search box.  You will see a list of the various travel bags, then just click on the one you’re interested in to find out the availability status. 

Be sure to ask for your free TSCPL travel t-shirt at the Circulation desk when you check out the bag of your choice!  Then take a picture of yourself wearing the shirt while you are on your trip, send it to us, and we may feature it on our blog or website.

Posted on August 20, 2007 by Deb at 03:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Meet Author Deborah Raney at TSCPL on Saturday August 11th at 2 PM

And find out…

What makes a writer tick?  Where do they get ideas?  What is it like to get a book published?  To have it made into a movie?  To share your faith and Kansas background with the world? 

Deborah Raney will be speaking in Marvin 101B Library on Saturday August 11^th at 2 PM. 

During her talk on “Exploring the Writing Life: Faith and Fiction” she will be answering these questions and many more.  Attendees will also get the chance to purchase signed copies of Raney’s books, including Remember to Forget from her latest series which is set in the fictional town of Clayburn, Kansas.  Raney is also well known for her first novel, A Vow To Cherish, which is about a couple who faces the biggest challenge of their lives when one of them is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.  This book was later made into a motion picture by World Wide Pictures.

For more information about this event please call the Library’s New Books Desk at 580-4540.

Posted on August 07, 2007 by Deb at 02:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This week's question is a belated tribute to mothers everywhere, in honor of Mother's Day.  Next week we will be honoring fathers, but first I wanted to make sure I gave the mother's their due as well.  So for this weeks question I want you to think back on all the memorable mothers you have encountered in your reading.  Of all the mothers you have met through books, which one stands out as the most?
The one that immediately came to my mind was Mrs. March, from Little Women by Louisa May Alcott.  The way that she encouraged her four very different girls to each become the best woman they could be is inspiring.  Her example of charity as she took them on errands to help others was great too.  And of course she had to help her daughters cope with a tremendous loss when one of the sisters died.  I think many young girls would have gladly stepped into the March household for a visit, thanks to their incredible mother! 

Posted on June 09, 2007 by Deb at 09:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

From KTKA 49 News Topeka's website:

Watch the director of the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library discuss why the library keeps certain books, even if they are banned or challenged by other libraries and schools.

Want more?  Read the text of the article here:

The Topeka Shawnee County Library is having a special tour, a banned book tour.

"I always say, if you walk in a public library, in our library, and you don't find something that is offensive to you personally, then we're not doing our job," says Gina Millsap, Executive Director of the Topeka Shawnee County Library.

Gina says the Banned Book Tour is about letting people know they have the freedom to read what they choose.

"As someone who lives in a country that has the First Amendment, that's a very important and powerful freedom to cherish and preserve," said Gina.

Continue reading here.

Posted on June 05, 2007 by Anne at 10:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This question is inspired by the Library's Big Read initiative.  In case you haven't noticed, the library is currently encouraging everyone in Shawnee County to read Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury.  In Fahrenheit 451 Bradbury creates a futuristic society where books have been outlawed and firemen have the job of burning illegal stashes of literature people have secreted away in their homes.   To combat this, some of the characters in this book take it upon themselves to memorize an entire book, thus preserving it for the future. 
So in light of this, If you had to memorize a single book or risk its extinction, which book would you choose?  In Fahrenheit 451 some of the books people chose to memorize included the book of Ecclesiastes from the Bible and Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift.  Do these sound like good choices to you or would you pick something different?  Please let us know by making a comment below.
As for myself, I think this is a really hard question because I love so many books!  Excluding a book from the Bible, I would have to go with The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan.  It has blessed me in my spiritual journey and I would want to make sure that others could have the same benefit.  I think it would be extremely hard to memorize a 300 page book though!

Posted on June 02, 2007 by Deb at 11:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

I recently read an article on The Shifted Librarian's blog about Exeter Public Library using Netflix to get movies for their patrons that the library does not currently own.  What a wonderful idea!

How does this work?  Read on from the Exeter public library website:

"The Library has subscribed to Netflix, the online movie rental service. Now, if there is a title you are looking for that isn't on our shelves or the shelves of any other RI library, you can request that we get it through Netflix for you. This is a great way to view the popular movies that are always out, as well as the documentaries, foreign films, and television series that aren't available at the local libraries. It's also a great way for us to provide the materials you want, without having to purchase several copies of the same title.

How it works: you place a paper or e-mail request with us. If the title is not readily available through the regular library delivery system, we will go into our Netflix account and order it for you. When the movie arrives, we will notify you and you can check it out for one week with your library card - just like the movies we own. Depending on how popular the service become, your DVDs should arrive very quickly.

Choose the BROWSE tab on the Netflix site to see the titles they offer. Send us an e-mail director@exeterpubliclibrary.org with your name, phone # and title of the movie to take advantage of this new service."

It seems that more libraries are getting smart about the way that they find what their patrons want, even if it's not in their collections.  Check out Lane Community College.  They're also using Netflix for their faculty, administrators, and staff. 

What a great idea - libraries working with vendors to enable you, our patrons, to get exactly what you want when you want it! 

Think TSCPL would benefit from this?  Leave us a comment!

Posted on May 27, 2007 by Anne at 10:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Today, May 26, 2007, marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of film star John Wayne.  Wayne (born Marion Morrison) and his family moved to southern California after his father developed a lung condition so that they could benefit from the warmer climate.   Fortunately for us, his new locale proved to be very beneficial as a summer job led to Wayne becoming friends with director John Ford and the start of his acting career.  The rest, as they say, is history.  In fact, according to his biography at IMDB, Wayne ended up playing the leading role in 142 films--more than any other actor to date. 
To celebrate this anniversary be sure to check out our collection of John Wayne films, or perhaps you would like to read a biography of the Duke.  And if you have a favorite John Wayne film or memory please share it in the comments below.  Here is a link to his filmography at IMDB to jog your memory.
As for myself, my mom and I really like the movie McLintock in which Wayne stars with Maureen O'Hara.  O'Hara plays a fiesty "shrew" character that Wayne tries to tame--we love the scene where he takes her over his knee and gives her a spanking!  Priceless!

Posted on May 26, 2007 by Deb at 11:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

This weeks question was inspired by a website about pet peeves that I came across a few days ago.  It got me to thinking about the numerous pet peeves that readers have.  Do you dislike authors who write cliffhanger endings and then leave you waiting months for a sequel?  Or who kill off a character (or even a pet) to create some dramatic pathos?  Or how about when you pick up the newspaper and the previous reader has put all the sections back in the wrong order.  Here's your chance to vent by sharing your reading pet peeves below.

As for myself, one pet peeve as an audiobook listener is when I check out a book on cassette and the previous listener has failed to rewind or fast forward the tape so when I pop it in the player it starts in the middle.  Especially with a cheap walkman that doesn't have rewind, only fast forward so you have to turn the tape over and fast foward to get back to the beginning.  At least with CD's and e-audiobooks we don't have this problem.  

Posted on May 19, 2007 by Deb at 10:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)

The temperature is finally warming up and our thoughts are turning to summer activities and fun.  Summer for some is also a chance for reading and relaxation. Whether on an airplane, on the beach, by the pool, at the park, or in a hammock in your own backyard books make pleasant companions.  What sort of book though? 

Will you be catching up on some of the classics, reading the works of your favorite mystery author, or enjoying a delightfully light "beach read"?  Tell us about your summer reading plans, and don't forget to pick up some reading logs for either the Adult Summer Reading (starts May 1st) or Youth Summer Reading programs (starts May 30th).  You could win a prize for your reading, how cool is that!

Posted on May 05, 2007 by Deb at 10:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Several movies based on books or short stories are opening this weekend: The Invisible with Justin Chatwin and Margarita Levieva, based on The Invisible by Mats Wahl.  Next with Nicholas Cage and Julianne Moore, based on the short story "The Golden Man" by Philip K. Dick (who is responsible for many Hollywood flicks).  And Jindabyne with Laura Linney and Leah Purcell is also opening in a limited release.  It's based on the short story "So Much Water So Close to Home" by Raymond Carver, which is included in his Short Cuts: Selected Stories.
So this begs the question: Which movie adaptation based on a book or short story is your favorite?  Least favorite?  Where there any movie versions you saw that were better than the book?  Or do you think they all stink and that movie adaptations are a bad idea?  Let us know below.

As for myself, I thoroughly enjoyed the Lord of the Rings movie adaptations, though I haven't read all the way through the books so I don't know if I am one to judge how well done they were in terms of translating the vision of the author to the screen.  Some movies I actually like better than the book--like the movies based on the Love Comes Softly series by Janette Oke.  A 2 hour movie is easier to sit through sometimes than spending several hours reading a book if it doesn't interest you very much.  But sometimes the movie doesn't quite catch the sense of the book for me--like the recent adaptations of The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy and Polar Express.  They just didn't do it for me.

Oh, and here is a good place to see a list of books made into movies, thanks to our friends at the Mid-Continent Public Library.