PaperCuts

The Prisoner or, How I Planned to Kill Tony Blair    In September 2003, freelance Iraqi cameraman Yunis Khatayer Abbas was arrested and accused of planning to kill Tony Blair.

51 Birch Street       Documentary filmmaker Doug Block had believed his parents' 54-year marriage was a good one until, just a few months after his mother's unexpected death, his father announced that he was moving to Florida to live with his secretary from 40 years before.

Commune       
A look at the Black Bear Ranch commune, and how a group of counterculture leaders attempted to create a utopian society in 1968.

How to Celebrate the African American Holiday Kwanzaa  
Observed December 26th through January 1st, Kwanzaa celebrates the joy of family living and honors the contributions of African Americans.

Bone Diggers Australia's Lost Marsupials      A million or more years ago, during the Ice Age, Australia was home to a wide range of extraordinary giant animals.

Noel and Johnny Gyro's Live to Tell About it
Learn simple self-defense techniques to help prevent sexual assault, assault at gunpoint, assault at knifepoint, domestic violence and more.

Big Yoga Beginners Hatha 1  
Introduces a system of yoga for individuals who are overweight.

Gardens of the World With Audrey Hepburn             Audrey Hepburn conducts a tour of a number of the world's notable gardens, examining historical and aesthetic aspects.

Dark Water Rising     
Over 50,000 dogs and cats were left behind in New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina as FEMA required that all animals be left behind in the mandatory evacuation.

Retire Smart, Retire Happy Plan a Fulfilling Retirement
Author and counseling psychologist Nancy K. Schlossberg shows us how to prepare for a successful and fulfilling retirement, addressing the common problems and emotional challenges that can occur, such as loss of purpose and changing relationships.

Healthy Style Tips for Healthy, Eco-friendly Living and Design        A fun and informative look at healthy, eco-friendly building options & materials for home and work environments.

Raku Ceramics
Raku in the West today invites experimentation while retaining as much of the philosophical content rooted in 16th century Japan.

Continue reading "New Non-Fiction DVD's This Week" »

Posted on February 21, 2008 by Shari at 11:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Take a look at what's new for you at the library this week! 

Mythos I The Shaping of our Mythic Tradition

During the final years of his life, Joseph Campbell embarked on a lecture tour in which he drew together all that he had learned about what he called the "one great story" of humanity.

Over the weekend, the foreign film section at the library got a little more colorful.

New stickers were applied to the edges of the foreign film DVDs and VHS tapes to identify the most common languages represented in our collection.  

With almost 300 films in French, and over 100 each in Spanish, Hindi and Japanese, our foreign film collection represents an outstanding cultural resource in our community. Much like the rest of the movie collection, the foreign films include award winners, films of historical importance and popular cinema. The new stickers label the French, Spanish, Hindi, Japanese, Italian, Chinese, German, Russian and Swedish films. These stickers make it easier to browse many of the common languages available. Most foreign films have subtitles available in English and DVDs sometimes have subtitles and audio tracks available in other languages.

Browse the foreign film section and check out a DVD today!

Posted on October 29, 2007 by Lissa at 04:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

This week how about some Halloween movie fun? Grab some popcorn and your remote and take a look at some of these classic scary favorites.

For the younger crowd you can’t beat the “The Ghost and Mr. Chicken” starring Don Knotts.  On a dare, Luther spends the night in a local house where a woman was murdered and witnesses spectacular evidence of the supernatural.  When he writes up his story for the newspaper the whole town gets involved.  If you never have, give “The Ghost and Mr. Chicken” a try it is great ridiculous fun.

Another family pleaser is “Hocus Pocus” starring Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy to name only a few of this great cast.  Max has recently moved to Salem from Los Angeles and on Halloween night while trying to impress a girl he lights the black flame candle and reawakens the Sanderson Sisters, three witches who terrorized the town hundreds of years ago.  Now he has to send them back before they steal the souls of all the children in Salem and live forever.

Moving on to the older crowd we have “Frighteners” starring Michael J. Fox.  Ever since he witnessed his wife’s death Frank has been able to see and speak to the dead.  The trouble is usually how to get them to shut up.  Recently something else is stalking the living; something only Frank can see. The deaths are mounting up and all fingers are pointing at him.

For Adults, what can I say?  “Shaun of the Dead” was an immediate comic classic horror and gore fest starring Simon Pegg. It is a Brit zombie fun fest that pits the work-a-day loser Shaun against the hordes of the undead.  Can he save his friends and win back the woman he loves? Can he do it at the pub? 

Other funny horror favorites include:

Fright Night

Return of the Living Dead

The Evil Dead trilogy

So how about it, as they say in Scream what’s your favorite scary movie? Hit your comment button and share!

Posted on October 18, 2007 by Shari at 08:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

“Fall From Grace” the documentary by Ryan Jones that the library screened back in January is showing this weekend in KC at the Screenland Crossroads Theatre.  It will be shown this weekend only, Sept 14, 15, and 16.  The film is the result of Jones’ year-long study of the Reverend Fred Phelps and the Westboro Baptist Church.  The film is not rated, but subject content and language may be unsuitable for children.  For more information, here is a review of the movie from the Kansas City Star. 
We screened this movie at TSCPL in January and had over 300 people attend, so we thought our readers would like to know about this second chance to see the film.

Posted on September 14, 2007 by Deb at 12:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Continue reading "New This Week @ your library, August 28th 2007" »

Posted on August 28, 2007 by Daniel at 12:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Posted on August 21, 2007 by Daniel at 12:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Play Dirty by Sandra Brown
Play Dirty is Sandra Brown's wildest ride yet, with hairpin turns of plot all along the way. The clock is ticking down on a fallen football star, who lost everything because of the way he played the game. Now his future -- his life -- hinges on one last play. Look for this title in Bestseller Express!

Force of Nature by Suzanne Brockmann
Hard-driving suspense and intense passion are the hallmarks of bestselling author Suzanne Brockmann’s pulse-pounding thrillers In her latest, Florida private investigator and ex-cop Ric Alvarado’s life is spiraling out of control.

Rake by William F. Buckley
 An ambitious, roguish young presidential candidate . . . a lifetime of inconvenient secrets . . . a decision to save a candidacy—all at a fatal cost: These are the provocative threads that master storyteller William F. Buckley Jr. weaves into this gripping yet surprisingly empathetic political novel.

Love, Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
This young adult novel  picks up a year after Stargirl ends and reveals the new life of the beloved character who moved away so suddenly at the end of Stargirl. The novel takes the form of "the world's longest letter," in diary form.

New Non-Fiction Books
Hard Call: Great Decisions and the Extraordinary People Who Made Them by John McCain and Mark Salter
The anatomies of great decisions in history are described by telling the remarkable stories of men and women who have exemplified composure, wisdom, and intellect in the face of life's toughest decisions.

Continue reading "New This Week @ your library, August 14th 2007" »

Posted on August 14, 2007 by Daniel at 12:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

New on DVD for August 7^th

Angels Fall
A chef moves to a small town in Wyoming to start over after her famous restaurant is closed due to a deadly shooting. Based on the Nora Roberts novel. With Heather Locklear, Johnathon Schaech. (2007, 95 minutes, not rated)

Are We Done Yet
Now married to Suzanne, Nick buys a suburban house for more space for his new wife and kids. However, the adventures begin to roll as it becomes a costly 'fixer upper,' and Nick finds himself at the mercy of an eccentric contractor. With Ice Cube, Nia Long. (2007, 92 minutes, rated PG)

Disturbia
A teen on house arrest begins to suspect his neighbor is a serial killer. Are his suspicions a product of cabin fever, or has he come across a crime that could cost him and his loved ones their lives? With Shia Labeouf, Carrie Anne Moss, David Morse. (2007, 104 minutes, rated PG-13)

I Think I Love My Wife
A married man who daydreams about being with other women finds his will and morals tested after he's visited by the ex-mistress of his old friend. A funny and thought-provoking look at the joy and pain of marriage and relationships. With Kerry Washington, Chris Rock, Gina Torres, Steve Buscemi. (2007, 94 minutes, rated R)

Montana Sky
Based on the novel by Nora Roberts, three daughters who are strangers to each other inherit an enormous ranch they have to live in together for a year. In that year, they will get closer and each will find someone to make their lives better. With John Corbett, Diane Ladd. (2007, 95 minutes, not rated)

Look for these titles in DVD Express!

Continue reading "New This Week @ your library, August 7th 2007" »

Posted on August 07, 2007 by Daniel at 08:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

New on DVD for July 31^st

300
Based on a graphic novel of an epic battle in 480 B.C., where 300 Spartans halted the advance of the Persian army numbering 1 million soldiers. With David Wenham, Gerard Butler, Lena Headey. (2007, 116 minutes, rated R)

Hot Fuzz
A London police officer with an incredible arrest record is sent to a sleepy crime-free village to work, when he is making the other officers on the force look bad. With Bill Nighy, Martin Freeman, Nick Frost, Simon Pegg. (2007, 121 minutes, rated R)

Pathfinder
The heroic story of a young Norse man raised by Native American Indians who wages a personal war against the Vikings that barbarically raided his tribe. With Karl Urban. (2007, 99 minutes, rated R)

Firehouse Dog
The world's most famous (and Hollywood's most pampered) pooch is separated from his owner and ends up as the mascot of a hapless fire station. There, he helps a boy and his father, a veteran fire chief, turn the station into the city's finest. With Bill Nunn, Bruce Greenwood, Josh Hutcherson. (2007, 111 minutes, rated PG)

Look for these titles on DVD Express!

Continue reading "New This Week @ your library, July 31st 2007" »

Posted on July 31, 2007 by Daniel at 12:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Continue reading "New This Week @ your library, June 26th, 2007" »

Posted on June 26, 2007 by Daniel at 12:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Take a look at some of our newest non fiction DVD’s

The Lost Tomb of Jesus          Has the tomb of Jesus Christ been found? With the help of archaeologists, DNA analysts, biblical scholars, and statisticians, join award-winning filmmaker James Cameron as he follows a trail of clues that could lead to the greatest discovery of all time.  dvdnf   232.964 LOS

King: Man of Peace in a Time of War   A fascinating and revealing look at the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. filtered through the prism of three major conflicts: the struggle between black and white America, divisiveness with the civil rights movement itself, and an undeclared war in Vietnam. A salute to a man who remains an inspiration and a force for social change nearly forty years after his death at age 39.  dvdnf  323.092 KIN

Tornado Glory: Experience the Real Chase   Get ready to experience the amazing beauty and violent fury of Tornado Alley in this groundbreaking documentary. Filmmaker Ken Cole puts you in the passenger seat with Joel Taylor and Reed Timmer, two young storm chasers living their dream in Storm Season, 2003.  dvdnf  551.553 TOR

Fat Burning Blast        Burn fat three ways: kickboxing, dance, and cardio. Each segment includes one-minute Power Burst intervals that push your body to burn even more calories than normal cardio.   dvdnf  613.71 FAR

That's Black Entertainment    That's Black Entertainment is a fascinating three-part series that showcases the groundbreaking work of African American talent during the early years of Black cinema.  dvdnf  791.43 THA

Egypt: Secrets of the Pharaohs   Who built the pyramids? What were the secrets of mummification? Which treasures were selected for the afterlife and why? For centuries, Egypt's pharaohs have kept these secrets to themselves, until now.  dvdnf     932 EGY

Check out these and other great titles in the library Media Center.

Posted on June 14, 2007 by Shari at 08:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Good Guy by Dean Koontz
Another thrilling bestseller from this master of suspense -- Timothy Carrier has a dry sense of humor, but his deadpan wit lands him in a precarious situation when a stranger Tim converses with mistakes him for a hit man.

Divisadero by Michael Ondaatje
From the celebrated author of The English Patient, comes another breathtaking, unforgettable story, this time about a family torn apart by an act of violence.

The Gravedigger's Daughter by Joyce Carol Oates
In 1936 the Schwarts, an immigrant family desperate to escape Nazi Germany, settle in a small town in upstate New York, where the father, a former high school teacher, is demeaned by the only job he can get: gravedigger and cemetery caretaker.

Maximum Ride #3: Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports by James Patterson
In the third installment of James Patterson's Maximum Ride series for teens, the time has arrived for Max and her winged "Flock" to face their ultimate enemy and discover their original purpose. The first two books are Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment and Maximum Ride: School's Out Forever.

New Non-Fiction Books
Just a Guy: Notes from a Blue Collar Life by Bill Engvall with Alan Eisenstock
Blue Collar Comedy Star Bill Engvall is JUST A GUY.  He’s been one his whole life.  He can’t help it.  He was born that way.  And that makes him an expert on the subject.    In this hilarious and heartfelt memoir, Bill Engvall takes you on the rollicking ride of his life.

Continue reading "New This Week @ your library, May 29th, 2007" »

Posted on May 29, 2007 by Daniel at 11:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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)

New Fiction Books
The Overlook by Michael Connelly
In his first case since he left the LAPDs Open Unsolved Unit for the Homicide Special squad, Harry Bosch is called out to investigate a murder that may have chilling consequences for national security. Look for this title in Bestseller Express!

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
Born a generation apart and with very different ideas about love and family, Mariam and Laila are two women brought jarringly together by war, by loss and by fate. As they endure the ever escalating dangers around them-in their home as well as in the streets of Kabul-they come to form a bond that makes them both sisters and mother-daughter to each other, and that will ultimately alter the course not just of their own lives but of the next generation. Look for this title in Bestseller Express!

Free Food for Millionaires by Min Jin Lee
Casey Han's four years at Princeton gave her many things, "But no job and a number of bad habits." Casey's parents, who live in Queens, are Korean immigrants working in a dry cleaner, desperately trying to hold on to their culture and their identity. Their daughter, on the other hand, has entered into rarified American society via scholarships. But after graduation, Casey sees the reality of having expensive habits without the means to sustain them. As she navigates Manhattan, we see her life and the lives around her, culminating in a portrait of New York City and its world of haves and have-nots. Free Food for Millionaires offers up a fresh exploration of the complex layers we inhabit both in society and within ourselves. Inspired by 19th century novels such as Vanity Fair and Middlemarch, Min Jin Lee examines maintaining one's identity within changing  communities in what is her remarkably assured debut.

New Non-Fiction Books
The Last Mrs. Astor: A New York Story by Frances Kiernan  
The newly widowed Brooke Astor, who had already endured a disastrous first marriage and had just lost her second husband, wedded the notoriously ill-tempered - and very rich - Vincent Astor, who died in 1959. In a highly publicized courtroom battle, Brooke fought off an attempt to break Vincent's will, which left some $67 million to the Vincent Astor Foundation and roughly the same amount in trust to her. As the foundation's president, Brooke would use this legacy to benefit New York, where the Astor fortune had been made, and she would make it a policy to personally visit every grant applicant."

The Reagan Diaries by Ronald Reagan and Douglas Brinkley
Edited by historian and bestselling author Douglas Brinkley, "The Reagan Diaries" sheds new light on the character of a true American leader and brings listeners closer to the caring and charismatic man himself.

God in My Corner: A Spiritual Memoir by George Foreman
"God in My Corner" tells not only the life story of George, but more importantly, it tells how God has been behind the scenes of every part of his life--from a boyhood marked by scrapes with the law, to Olympian gold medalist, to two-time heavyweight champion of the world, to father of a family of ten, to ordained minister, to founder of The George Foreman Youth Community Center, to successful businessman.

More books and movies after the break!

Continue reading "New This Week @ your library, May 22nd, 2007" »

Posted on May 22, 2007 by Daniel at 12:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Come on in to the library’s Media Center and take a look at these new non-fiction DVDs.

A Parents Guide to Fighting Online Predators 004.678 PAR   This revealing program shows parents what they can do to help protect their kids from online predators. This includes learning about the grooming process, tracking kids' online activities, reporting predators, tips, and family contracts.

Let me introduce you to http://bibme.org.  It’s a shortcut for folks who need to do a bibliography very quickly.  They can input their books, articles, websites or films, make a selection for the exact item from a list, and then pick a format (MLA, ALA, or Chicago Manual of Style) for the bibliography.  

The final product may be downloaded to a disk or flash drive.

This is an invaluable tool for one of the less exciting parts of a research paper - citing the resources!  Did I mention that it was free?
 

Posted on May 15, 2007 by Anne at 12:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This week – check out some big name authors in fiction and non-fiction!

New Fiction Books
Bad Luck and Trouble by Lee Child
The 11th Jack Reacher adventure. Look for this title in Bestseller Express!

Summer Ball by Mike Lupica
Danny Walker, the economy-sized hoopster of Travel Team, is back for another exciting drive to the basket.

Falling Man

The Witch of Portobello by Paulo Coelho
Tthe story of a mysterious woman named Athena, told by the many who knew her well—or hardly at all, in a fusion of philosophy, religious miracle and moral parable.

Invisible Prey by John Sandford
The 17th novel to feature Minneapolis detective Lucas Davenport is a slower-paced police procedural. Look for this title in Bestseller Express!

The Religion by Tim Willocks
The epic account of the Turkish siege of Malta in 1565.

Pearl Harbor: A Novel of December 8th by Newt Gingrich and William R. Forstchen
First in a series of World War II alternate histories, this novel is set in the Pacific Theater.

Continue reading "New This Week @ your library, May 15th, 2007 " »

Posted on May 15, 2007 by Daniel at 01:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

See the trailer for the new movie, Hollywood Librarian! This film will premiere at the ALA National Conference this June in Washington, D.C. If you look closely, you’ll see our featured Big Read author Ray Bradbury talking up the importance of libraries (well, without us he wouldn’t have had a place to write Fahrenheit 451 and this program wouldn’t even exist!). Check it out!

Posted on May 11, 2007 by Meghan at 01:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Reposition Yourself: Living Life Without Limits

Presidential Courage: Brave Leaders and How They Changed America 1789-1989 by Michael Beschloss
Read a brilliantly readable and inspiring saga about crucial times in America's history when a courageous President dramatically changed the future of the United States.

The 6^th Target

Stormy Weather by Paulette Jiles
From East Texas in 1937 comes a poignant and unforgettable story of hardship, sacrifice, and strength in a tragic time as three daughters try to survive among oil wells, race horses and dusty farms. From the author of Enemy Women.

Continue reading "New This Week @ your library, May 8th, 2007" »

Posted on May 07, 2007 by Lissa at 09:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Alpha Dog
Based on the true story of Jesse James Hollywood. Johnny, a drug dealer, is unable to pay off his debts, so he and his posse kidnap his younger stepbrother, but things start to go wrong. To make matters worse, the police are hot on his trail. With Ben Foster, Bruce Willis, Dominique Swain, Emile Hirsch, Harry Dean Stanton, Justin Timberlake, Sharon Stone, Shawn Hatosy. (2007, 118 minutes, rated R)

Dreamgirls
Singers Effie, Lorrell, and Deena are discovered at a local talent show and begin a journey that shows them exactly what it takes to be in the music business, and what they must give up to realize their dream. With Beyonce Knowles, Danny Glover, Eddie Murphy, Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Hudson. (2006, 130 minutes, rated PG-13)

The Hitcher
Grace and Jim go on a road trip across the American Southwest, but things start to go wrong when they almost run over a hitchhiker. He follows them and begins his reign of torture on the couple, while framing them for his other crimes. With Sean Bean, Sophia Bush. (2007, 84 minutes, rated R)

Little Children
Centers on a handful of middle-class suburban parents whose lives, after a brief encounter at a neighborhood park, take a surprising and potentially perilous turn. With Jackie Earle Haley, Jennifer Connelly, Kate Winslet, Patrick Wilson. (2006, 130 minutes, rated R)

Continue reading "New This Week @ your library, May 1st, 2007 " »

Posted on May 01, 2007 by Daniel at 02:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

If you're like me and enjoy watching videos, try a do-it-yourself free video from Sutree.com .  Topics range from drawing SpongeBob Squarepants to changing a blown fuse .  Video topics are arranged on the left side of the page through keywords. 

The content on the site is handpicked by its users, so it is considered to be social in nature.  It's always wise to consider the source that the information comes from when deciding whether or not to trust the information given.  In other words, our mothers were right when they said, 'don't believe everything that you read'; or, in this case, view.

Posted on April 22, 2007 by Anne at 01:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Continue reading "New This Week @ your library, April 17th, 2007" »

Posted on April 17, 2007 by Lissa at 01:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Mr. Vonnegut, you are greatly missed.

Posted on April 13, 2007 by Meghan at 09:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A young pig depends on a rat, a spider, and a little girl to prove that as a runt he's still special. As his days become numbered, it will take a miracle to save his life. With Cedric The Entertainer, Dakota Fanning, Donovan Scott Kay, John Cleese, Julia Roberts, Kathy Bates, Oprah Winfrey, Reba Mcentire, Steve Buscemi. (2006, 96 minutes, rated G)

The Good Shepherd

Edward is picked to become a part of the newly formed Central Intelligence Agency, and would do anything to protect his country. When he becomes suspicious of everyone in his office, will his paranoia destroy his life? With Alec Baldwin, Angelina Jolie, Billy Crudup, Matt Damon, Michael Gambon, Robert De Niro, William Hurt. (2006, 168 minutes, rated R)

Twin Peaks Season 2

FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper is back once again to solve the case of w