Mark Twain & Your Health - Online

Samuel L. Clemens (Mark Twain) once said:   “Be careful about reading health books.  You may die of a misprint.”

Wait.   Is this quote from one of his books, or his essays, or one of his short stories?  I want to be accurate. Since I obviously can’t ask him, I decide to surf the web to find out more information about this quote.   I only get confused. One website states this is one of Mark Twain’s famous quotes; another merely attributes this quote to Mark Twain; and another claims that this quote is a total misquote.  Mark Twain never said that. What Mark Twain really said, according to this particular website, was, “A successful book is not made of what is in it, but of what is left out of it.”

Who’s right and who’s wrong? I don’t know and it really doesn't matter that much.  I can avoid the entire issue by using another quote or not use any quote at all.  But—what if this was a potential life-threatening issue like--is that mole on my leg cancerous?  Should I see a doctor about it?  This is an issue that shouldn't be avoided.

The Internet is such an important tool in our lives today and it’s easy to turn to it for answers for everything including our health questions.  It doesn’t ask for our medical insurance or make us wait for hours before a doctor can see us.  So what if we find six different answers?  How do we know which is the right one? 

This is why the Haltom City Public Library urges to you attend the free seminar Finding Reliable Health Information of the Internet being held at the library on Friday, April 8, 2011 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.  The workshop is being taught by Jessie Milligan, MLS, & Lisa Smith, MLS, both from the University of North Texas Health Science Center.  They will teach you how to evaluate the health information you find on-line as well as demonstrate how to use MedlinePlus, the National Library of Medicine’s #1 health information tool.  You will also be given information on other reliable and safe websites produced by Federal agencies.  You won’t want to miss it.  Your life could depend on it.

Time for Spring Cleaning?

Is it time to declutter? Do the shelves in your bookcase look like this?  Overflowing with books that you’ve read and no place left to keep them? 

I have the solution!  Donate your gently read books to the Haltom City Public Library.  Some books may be used to add to the library's shelves or replace existing torn or worn books; the rest will be donated to the book sale being sponsored by the Friends of the Haltom City Public Library on April 28-April 30, 2011.  (If you have empty bookshelves, you won't want to miss this sale!)

Helpful hint from your library blog mistress:  If you use your library card instead of your charge card, not only will your book shelves stay neat, you will save money and still be the best-read person in town.

And if you still have that prize-winning photo sitting on a shelf along with your books or knickknacks, you only have a few days to submit it to the 24^th Annual Images of Haltom City Photo Contest.  The contest deadline is March 29, 2011.

And if you still have that award-winning poem or short story cluttering up your mind, make time to get those words down on paper.  The deadline for the Library’s 11^th Annual Writing Contest is May 31, 2011. 

Themes and rules are on the City’s website for both the photo contest and the writing contest.

Art Wednesdays at the Library

Today, Bennie Johnson Wood, artist and teacher, started the first of her three Wednesday art classes that she is holding at the library for children 8-12 years old.  It was a colorful success with 16 students creating beautiful pictures with Magic Markers.  The class was fun but the students took their artistic work seriously as the picture with Kate and Fernando shows. Melody Vasquez, Bennie Wood’s assistant, was by their side to encourage them.

If your child missed today’s class, don’t worry.  There are two more classes coming up. But please hurry and register your children as seating for the classes is limited!  We unfortunately had to turn away some children today because they hadn’t been registered and there wasn’t enough room for them.  The classes are free but there is a $5.00 registration deposit which will be refunded to you after your child has completed the class. 

The April 6^th class will be held at 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. and the painting medium to be used will be crayons but this won’t be the typical crayon coloring-within-the-lines project.  (In fact, I know a couple of grownups who want to audit this class and may be petitioning Ms. Wood to teach an adult crayon painting class!  Why should the kids get to have all the fun?)

The last of the Wednesday Art Classes will be on May 4^th at 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. and Ms. Wood will be teaching the children how to use colored tissues and Plexiglas to make a stained glass look.

These classes are made possible for your children by a grant funded by the Arts Council Northeast and the Texas Commissions on the Arts.  The library’s 50^th Birthday Committee has also made contributions to help fund the supplies for these classes.  We thank each of them and Bennie Johnson Wood for their ongoing support and efforts in helping bring the beauty and appreciation of art into our lives and the lives of our children.    

Today’s Headline!

I hope that you got a chance to read the special 4-page insert in today’s Star-Telegram.  If you didn’t get a copy, please stop by the library and pick one up.  It makes us so proud to read about where the library has been, where it is now and where it is going.  Ann Bastable’s wonderful article titled Haltom City: A look back in time takes you on a picturesque trip back to the typical small town in the 60’s.  Haltom City has grown so much since then and so has the library.

We want to thank all the local businesses, the 50^th Birthday Committee, the Friends of the Library, the Library Advisory Board, the library staff, and the Star-Telegram for helping put the Haltom City Public Library’s 50^th Celebration in the news!  (OMG – I hope I haven’t forgot anyone – is it Oscar time again?)

While it is always fun to look back and reflect on the past, the library continues to look forward for new ways to enhance its services to you, the community.   The library is in the process of building a Permanent Art Collection.  New classes and workshops are being offered such as Art Wednesday, Art Classes for children by Bennie Johnson Wood, an eBook Reader Workshop, and a Resume Writing & Job Searching Workshop.  They all start this month and others are planned for the following months. Stop by the library and pick up a flier or check the City website for more information about these classes and workshops.

From Headlines to Deadlines—the entry deadline for the Annual Images of Haltom City Photo Contest is March 29, 2011.  The entry deadline for the Library’s Annual Writing Contest is May 31, 2011.

Library Trivia Question:  Which one of your friendly library staff studied at the Oxford University in England?  Hint:  The answer is in the 4-page insert that is in the Star-Telegram on Wednesday, March 9, 2011.

Art Among Books

The next time you come into the library, please take the time to browse the shelves.  Not just for that special book but to enjoy the bronze sculptures placed throughout the library as well.  In honor of the Haltom City Public Library’s 50^th birthday celebration, Sculptureworks_tm  Library Exhibit is featuring the works of ten renowned sculptors.  The bronze sculptures are displayed throughout the library, each equally beautiful and yet so unique.  This is the third time that Sculptureworks_tm of Hurst, TX has had an exhibit at the Haltom City Public Library and I know it won’t be the last. 

My favorite is the "Library Cat", no, it’s the one titled “Free Sprite,” or it is the sculpture of the eagle?  I still haven’t seen them all; I think there are thirty, so I guess I don’t really know my favorite yet.  Which one is your favorite?  You can either send us a comment or submit the name of your favorite sculpture to: libraryblogmistress@gmail.com.

The sculpture titled “Crane Query” by Karryl is a permanent resident of the library and can be found maintaining order in the library’s Board Room.   The other pieces of art will be displayed for the next three months.

If you pick up the free brochure on the Sculptureworks_tm Library Exhibit, you will find the names of the sculptors as well as some pictures of them working.  Visit their website: www.gobronze.com and learn how a sculpture in the clay stage becomes a bronze statue. 

Keep Saturday, March 12^th marked on your calendar.  The library is having its Celebrating 50 Years of Reading and Rocking from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. in the library’s parking lot.  It’s going to be a 1960 style birthday party and it is free to the public. There will be snacks, bounce house, puppet show, and Home Depot’s “Kid’s Workshop”,  free trees (until we run out), games, Fire Safety House, and multiple displays and demonstrations.  I guarantee you won’t run out of things to do or see.