The Rest of the True Story

It’s ten P.M.   My favorite Thursday night drama is over.  I replace the broad illumination of my television with the more personal glow of my iPad.  I settle in for a few stolen, late-night hours of reading.  I open the Kindle app on my iPad and “turn” to the first page of my newly downloaded copy of The Hunger Games. 

I am immediately introduced to the main character, Katniss Everdeen.  Katniss describes her family and their life in District 12.  District 12 is the section of Panem (formerly the U.S.) where the main occupation is coal mining.  General poverty and mass hunger plague nearly all of the districts that make up the nation.  The Capital is the exception to this rule.  This is the governing sector of the country where all of the political heads and famous people live an extravagant life with no concern for the problems of the “lesser” districts.  On this morning that I meet Katniss and her family, the life that she has always known will be obliterated.  This is the morning of The Reaping.  Two young adults from each of the districts (one boy and one girl), including District 12, will be selected at random to participate in the Hunger Games.  

The Hunger Games are an annual event in which the selected “tributes” from each district are forced into an “arena”.   The Games are not over until only one tribute remains alive to be declared the Victor.  The Capitol claims the purpose of the Games to be a celebration of the end of the civil war that essentially changed the U.S. into Panem.  Truly, the Games are a terrible reminder of the unjust power that the Capitol wields over the nation.  The Reaping is, understandably, a dreaded and feared event each year. 

As the first chapter unfolds, I am delighted to meet Prim, Katniss’ younger sister.  Prim is a quiet, gentle, sweet, innocent girl.  At only 12 years old, she has only had to enter her name into the drawing for the Hunger Games once.  Katniss usually enters her own name each year in exchange for oil and grain to feed her family.  This horrible form of sickening control is only one of the ways the Capitol manipulates the people of the nation.  Starve the masses, and then force them to “volunteer” for the annual Games in exchange for food that they could not survive without. 

Neither Katniss or Prim have their names in the drawing enough times to cause true concern.  Some people have been trading their names each year for food for ages.  Even still, the day of the Reaping is frightening.  Everyone knows that someone’s name will be called.  Someone they know.  There will be two people unwillingly taken from their families to fight for their lives as the nation is forced to watch it all on television as if it were American Idol.  Schools are closed, businesses shut down for the “celebration day”.  Katniss and her family join the rest of District 12 in the square for the Reaping.

As I approach the end of Chapter One, I find myself already becoming fond of Katniss and her family.  I am sharing in her fear and anticipation of hearing the tributes names called.  My heartbeat quickens as I know we are approaching that moment.  

The square is crowded.  Everyone is required to be there for the Reaping.  The energy shifts into a tense vibration as Master of Ceremonies draws the slip of paper from the tumbler of girl names.  Katniss calculates how many times her own name has been entered.  She hopes and hopes that it’s not her name that is called.  Numb with fear, unable to hear anything but the static from the microphone that sits waiting to broadcast the verdict, she can barely breathe.  I am holding my breath with her.  The name is read.  It’s not Katniss!  I let out a puff of relieved air from my own lungs as I read those words, “It’s not me.”  But my joy lasts only a second.  The name that is called out is Primrose Everdeen.

If you’re like me, and prefer to read the book before you watch the movie, I highly recommend The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.  This book kept me glued to iPad from the edge of my seat for days!  I found myself arriving to my appointments early on purpose just so I could whip out my iPad and read more.   The movie made from this book will hit theaters March 23, 2012.  For a preview, click on this link:  www.thehungergamesmovie.com. 

Downloading this book would be a great way to get familiar with your new eReader!   If you are interested, don’t hesitate to drop by Haltom City Public Library to get help with downloading, or to check out a print copy of this book.  I would love to see you!!  Don’t forget that you can always call to get help over the phone with your downloads.

****NOTE:  You guys know how I love books in a series!!  More great news about this book is that it is first in a trilogy.  The second (Catching Fire) and third (Mockingjay) books have already been published, so when the end of The Hunger Games leaves you wanting more, you can immediately quench that desire!  I also recommend that you visit Suzanne Collins’ website for more information on the novels.  www.suzannecollinsbooks.com.

Until Next Time,

Your LibraryBlogMaven

iPads, eBooks, and eReaders! Oh my!!

A True Story

I’m on my couch, in my jammies, watching my favorite Thursday night drama when I see a movie trailer for an edge-of-your-seat, exciting, new movie that will hit the big screen in mere weeks!  My breath has been taken away, my heart is pounding, I am full of excitement about this movie!!  The Hunger Games.  Being a Librarian, I am keenly aware that this movie has been adapted from the first book in The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins.  As a Librarian, I follow a strict rule of not watching screenplays of books before I have read the book.  Therefore, I MUST obtain a copy of this exciting novel ASAP!  What to do, what to do….  It’s late, the library is closed.   Alas, I am in my jammies.  I am fraught with despair, momentarily, until I remember that I recently purchased an iPad.  I immediately spring into action!  I snatch my iPad from its charging station, grab my Haltom City Public Library card (from the very front of my wallet, of course), and get back in my cozy spot on the couch.  Before the commercial break is over, and my show starts back up, I have downloaded the book from my library to my iPad.  Now I will be able to begin reading it before I go to bed for the night.  All is right with the world J

A Transfer of Powers

Would you like to be able to perform this same astounding feat?  Fear not!  As your LibraryBlogMaven, I will teach you my super-secret tricks of the trade.  Possessing powers such as these does require a smidge of preliminary set-up.  Don’t fret!  I can help you with ALL of this  J  I will start by giving some definitions and description. Then, I will suggest that you visit the OverDrive website ( www.ntexlibrariesonthego.org)  to do a preliminary browsing of what is available to you.  Once your interest is piqued, or if this blog ends up being as clear as mud to you, I invite you to visit me in person at the Reference Desk at the Haltom City Public Library where I can help you one-on-one.  You may also give me a call if you prefer to complete this transfer of powers while in your own cozy spot in your very own jammies! (817-222-7786)

Definitions and Descriptions

Ebook – This is the electronic counterpart of a printed book.

OverDrive – This is the website that our library uses to manage our electronic collection.

Ereader – This is an electronic device that has been designed primarily for the purpose of reading electronic books and magazines.  Examples of these are: Barnes and Noble Nook, Amazon Kindle, and Sony Reader.

Tablet Computer – or simply tablet.  This is a general purpose computer contained in one panel.  Examples of these are: iPad, Samsung Galaxy tablet, and Motorola Droid tablet.

Smartphone – This is a mobile phone with built-in applications and Internet access.  Examples of these are: iPhone and Android phones.

Note:  Ebooks are read using a desktop computer, laptop computer, Smartphone, tablet computer, or Ereader.

Wishing you a wonderful week!

Your LibraryBlogMaven

An Introduction

Hello Faithful Blog Followers!  The torch has been passed.  My name is Audra and I am the newest addition to the staff at Haltom City Public Library.  Our Fearless Leader had bestowed upon me the pleasure of blogging for the library.  I am very happy to take on the task of keeping the world informed of all the exciting happenings at our library.

I thought that an introduction would be a good way to kick things off.  Before I dive into the various details of me, I would like to commend our former Blog Mistress on her outstanding blog work.  As I read back through her posts, I find an abundance of personality and information.  I very much like her style.  I shall strive to fill her certainly fabulous shoes  ;0)

As for me, I have lived all but nine months of my life here in the Metroplex (Dallas/Ft. Worth).  I completed my MLS in 2003, and have worked mainly as a Middle School Librarian up to this point.  I am overjoyed to officially enter the Public Library world!!  In past lives I have worked as a Middle School Teacher, Cheerleading Coach, and Hairdresser, among a long list of other things. 

I most enjoy books in a series because it nearly brings me to tears to be forced to part with characters who have become like friends.  With a series, I am able to prolong time with favorite characters before the painful cleaving of them from my daily adventures begins.  I am fond of Young Adult literature, what is loosely classified as “Chick Lit.”, and down-right suspenseful mysteries.  As far as my adventures in Non-fiction go….you might find me researching how to refinish antique furniture, speak Italian, or how to make something kitschy out of Mod-patterned fabric or paper. 

Hopefully, over time, you and I will come to know each other better through our postings here.  I aim to keep you abreast of all the excitement that takes place here at the library, inform you of up-and-coming opportunities for learning and fun, and introduce you to some unforgettable characters (both literary and employed at our library). 

On a final note, I would like to invite each of you to participate freely in this blog.  I would LOVE to hear anything that is on your mind.  Please do not hesitate to send me fun facts, ideas, great books you have discovered and would like to share, comments, corrections, upcoming items of interest, etc.

Until Next Time,

Your Library Blog Maven

Behind the Scenes - A Family

It takes more than just books to make a good library great.  It takes a community that cares and supports it, a strong Library Board, a group of hard-working Friends of the Library, and an outstanding and dedicated Director, librarians, and staff.   Thankfully, the Haltom City Public Library has it all. If you check out a book, read a magazine or newspaper, log on a computer, ask for information or need something researched, sign up for a class or watch a puppet show, chances are that you will end up meeting most of the library staff.   

But there may be one that you might not have met yet—Rina Aragon, the Library Administrative Secretary-- because she’s working hard behind the scenes for you and the library staff.  She’s the one who comes in early every day to open up the library, gets the mail, makes coffee, creates the fliers for the library events, orders supplies, answers the phones and correspondence, monitors the library expenditures, does the accounting, prepares monthly reports, posts the Library Board agendas and take minutes for the board meetings, manages the various grant funds, etc.   (I’m already exhausted and I haven’t gotten to the second page of the list of things she does so let’s just say she does whatever is needed to help keep the library, the librarians, and the staff functioning.)

Happy Birthday, Rina!

Today, December 7^th, is Rina’s birthday so let me introduce her to you.  Rina was born in Manila, Philippines but I won’t tell you what year (and trust me, you’ll never know to look at her that she’s over 39).  She comes from a large family with 8 brothers and 2 sisters, who all have, except for one, immigrated to the United States.  Rina has worked in a law office, been an executive secretary to the president of Consolidated Industrial Gases, Inc. the largest gas company in the Philippines, and worked for the United Nations (in Manila) before coming here.   She has been working for the Haltom City Library since 1993 and is “happily married to a wonderful man” named Leon.  

While all that Rina does, and all the experience and expertise she brings to the library and us, is important, it’s not why we love her so.  It’s because she also brings to work every day a beautiful smile and attitude.  Ask her why she has stayed with the library so long and she'll say,"... because it’s like a family.”   And she’s right.  This is what makes the Haltom City Public Library truly great.  It’s a family.

Happy reading and happy holidays from your Library Blog Mistress!

     

I am so thankful that when I was growing up my small town had a library.  For me, it was a house of books that could take me to far-away places, make me laugh, make me cry, and even possibly make me sound smarter.  Many of the books that I brought home from the library as a child and young adult had a major impact on my thinking and my life and for that I am grateful.  They still do today. That part hasn’t changed although the libraries of today have changed in so many ways.

Today we can still get books from the library to read and learn from but now we can get them in the traditional paper or an electronic version.  We can check out movies and enjoy family night in the comfort of our own homes and save the dollars we would have to spend at the movie theater for other things.    We can check out music cds to match our moods or broaden our musical taste.  We and our children can learn to appreciate art through books, dvds, the sculptures throughout the building, the contest photographs on the walls and even watercolor classes. We can access the Internet at the library.  We can take classes to get our GED’s or even classes to learn how to babysit (something a particular family in my small town wished I had taken before leaving me with their precious baby for one night!).  Our children can enjoy bedtime stories and have their pictures taken with Santa.  Some of them even got to see an actual piece of the moon a few years ago. 

All the activities and services that our Haltom City Public Library offers is sometimes overwhelming to me--especially when I’m trying to decide which one to write about for the library blog.  But I’m not complaining.  Instead I am thankful for all that our library offers us and our families.  And I’m even more thankful for all the library staff that work so hard to makes these services and programs available for us.  They are, in alphabetic order:  Allison, Ann, BeckyD, BeckyE, Cyd, Dean, Dianne,  Gail, Grant, Jamie, Janet, Jesica, Laura, Lesly, Maria, Patricia, Rina, Robbie, Rosa, Rose, Wanda and Yog. 

Wishing you all a wonderful Thanksgiving and happy reading from your Library Blog Mistress

Library and Community Honors Veterans

When you come to the Haltom City Public Library this month, you will see displays in the lobby celebrating Veteran’s Day as well as along the left wall in the main body of the library.  Please take your time to enjoy and honor these tributes to the men who fought for you and your country.  The displays will remain at the library without the month of November.  Veteran’s Day is officially this Friday, November 11^th.  However, some lucky seniors from the Sterling House of Richland Hills Assisted Living will be celebrating early at the Haltom City Public Library thanks to Allison Long and the Library’s Outreach Program.  The library’s Veteran’s Honor Program will be held at the Library’s Imagination Station Thursday, 10:30 – 11:30.  Sterling House will be making a special trek to the Library for this event that is open to the public as well.  Short stories honoring Veterans will be read aloud by Allison Long and there will be sing-alongs of patriotic songs such “God Bless America”.  As a special treat, a short animated film will be shown that tells the history of the Star-Spangled Banner.

A special thanks to Patsy & Cathy & Ann for a great display.  And thanks to Fran Burns for the flags  that are installed around the nautilus for Veteran's Day .

The Senior Center is hosting a Veteran’s Day program Friday, November 11th at 11am and would like to invite everyone to join them. They have secured former Congressman Pete Geren as the keynote speaker and will have the Mayor, several Council members, and Marcia Etie from Kay Granger’s office in attendance.    

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National Novel Writing Month

November is National Novel Writing Month.  I don’t know why or who decided November was to be the time for wanna-be’s and professional writers to devote every waking (and even sleeping) hour to writing a novel; an informal research (i.e., done by Google—not a librarian) indicates that in 1999 a group of 21 writers in the San Francisco area started NaNoWriMo with the goal of writing 50,000 words of a novel during the month of November. A crazy idea that now has approximately 200,000+ world-wide authors and authors-to-be, including your Library Blog Mistress, attempting to somehow squeeze out 50,000 words that hopefully will one day become the “All American Best Novel.”  We can all dream, can’t we?   Lol

In all seriousness and trust me, these writers are serious, few deceive themselves that their 50,000 words will prove to be publishable or even readable fiction by December 1st.  But there’s where the genius is within the madness.  If the writer is to accomplish 50,000 words in the span of one month, especially one that has a major holiday in it, there ain’t no time for editing  our work. That means the little loud-mouth internal critic that we all have can’t stop us by saying, “Wait, that word is misspelled!” or “Stop, that sentence is incomplete!” or “Whatever made you think YOU could write?”  

It’s the doubt, self-criticism and fear of failure that stops a lot of us from reaching our goals, I think.  At least for me, it is.  There’s a quote that I have taped to my computer screen.  PERFECT is the greatest enemy of GOOD.   (I don’t remember who said it so you will have check with your librarian to find out if you are interested.) Writing 50,000 words won’t produce a literary novel for most of us; it will, however, give most of us a chance to plant the seed for a possible novel.  After December 1^st, then the real work can begin. Rewrite, rewrite, rewrite.  And oh yes, lots of trips to the library to research the various ways a _______ can work.  (Hey, I’m not giving my plot line away!)

It’s not too late to start if you are a writer or have ever wanted to try your hand at it.  This is only Day 3 and you’re only approximately 3,000 words behind.  If you are interested, the website with the history and rules for the annual marathon writing race is: www.nanowrimo.org.

Happy writing and reading from your Library Blog Mistress!