Thursday, May 29, 2008

Hidden Treasures @ the library

Did you ever read a great book by a little-known or first-time author and want to tell everyone? The members of the Ligonier Valley Library's Titles & Tea Book Club have just read a few good ones in a row. Now, whenever someone asks me if I've read a good book lately, I have a few "hidden treasures" to suggest.

"The Memory Keeper's Daughter" by Kim Edwards is about a doctor who delivers his own twins in a snow storm in the 60s. While his wife is under, he discovers that one of them has Down's Syndrome and he chooses to tell his wife that this baby died. He gives the baby to the nurse and tells her to take it to an institution. Instead, she takes the baby girl home and raises it as her own. The book is about what one lie does to all the people involved.

"The Thirteenth Tale" by Diane Setterfield is also about twins. A woman is sent to interview Vida Winter, an author who is known for telling tall tales. Determined to tell the truth in her story, the interviewer delves deep into the author's life and discovers a few secrets including the mystery of the thirteenth tale. This was a great gothic story complete with a mansion housing a few skeletons in its closets.

"Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen has taken the book world by storm. Jacob Jankowski joins the circus during the Great Depression and falls in love with the woman who performs with the horses. Unfortunately, she is married to the cruel owner of the circus who mistreats her. He also mistreats Rosie the elephant, the star of the book. At first I was nervous about reading this book because I don't like to read about the mistreatment of animals. If you're like me in this respect, I want you to know that --nothing happens to the dog and Rosie is triumphant in the end!

"Garden Spells" by Sarah Addison Allen was a "nice little read." It's a Southern tale about the Waverley sisters and the special garden that grows in their yard. When one sister returns home after a long absence, she brings along her daughter who falls in love with the Waverley home, including the special apple tree that grows in the yard.

All four of these books were so wonderful that I mention them to all my reading friends. Now, I'm suggesting them to you!

Friday, May 23, 2008

Podcasting


Now that I have discovered blogging, it is time for something new...Podcasting! Not that I am ready to create a podcast just yet...I heard a wonderful lecture last evening about how new technologies, such as podcasting and web 2.0 empower students to become creators of content in the classroom. Tim Hammill, the new Supervisor of Educational Technology for the Westmoreland Intermediate Unit, was the headline speaker for the Share Westmoreland Regional Group Spring Banquet at WCCC. He spoke to a group of school, public and academic librarians about podcasting and how students, as young as third graders, are making their own podcasts and publishing them on the Internet. It was very eyeopening and a lot of fun!

Tim highly recommended the book, "A Whole New Mind," by Dan Pink. It is in the library's collection. Also check out the elementary podcasts from Radio WillowWeb on iTunes.com. It is pretty impressive!

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

3rd Annual Pet Photo Contest

Back by popular demand, it’s the Ligonier Valley Library’s 3rd Annual Pet Photo Contest, sponsored by Dr. Henry Croft of Loyalhanna Veterinary Clinic! This year, enter your pet’s picture and have a chance to win the grand prize of a digital camera and a picture in the Ligonier Echo.

Last year, patrons spent hours oohing and aahing over all the cute pets in the Ligonier Valley and voting for their favorites. Don’t miss this year’s chance to show off your pet and maybe win a prize for cutest pet in the valley.

Prizes will be awarded in four categories: Dogs, Cats, Pocket Pets and Farm Animals. The category of “Pocket Pets” may include gerbils, hamsters…even tarantulas! Plenty of people have unusual animals in their lives and we want to see all those pictures and give them an equal chance to win. So many goats and horses were entered in last year’s show that we added the category of Farm Animals just for them.

This year, a panel of judges will pick the grand prize winner of a digital camera. The other categories will be voted on by patrons. The first place prize in each category will be a $25 Ligonier Valley Chamber of Commerce gift certificate. Dr. Henry Croft of Loyalhanna Veterinary Clinic has generously provided funding for all the prizes in the Pet Photo Contest.

The rules for the contest are as follows: 1. One picture per pet. 2. Five pictures per person. 3. Photographs will NOT be returned. 4. Entries will be accepted until Saturday, July 19. 5. Judging will take place between July 21 and Aug. 1, 2008 6. All photographs must be entered in one of four categories: Dog, Cat, Pocket Pet, or Farm Animal. 7. Pictures must be 5 x 7 or smaller. 8. Pictures can not be the same ones entered in previous years.

The library will be accepting photographs June 2 and continue until Saturday, July 19. Photos will not be returned so make sure to have extra copies to keep! We can’t wait to see this year’s pets!

Monday, May 19, 2008

Upcoming Events

As Summer quickly approaches, we have tons of events coming up, including: the 3rd Annual Pet Photo Contest, Summer Reading Club, Book Discussion Groups and much more.

Ligonier is also celebrating 250 years! While the library's photo show has come to a close, there will be town-wide events taking place throughout the year.

For information on upcoming events at the library, visit: http://www.ligonierlibrary.org/upcoming.htm

For more information on Ligonier 250, visit: http://www.ligonier250.com/

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Library's Historical Photography Show

The library's Historical Photography Show "Fort Ligonier Days : Celebrations of the Past" will come to a close on Tuesday, May 13th. We hope you'll stop by and visit the Pennsylvania Room to see the display of photos and memorabilia, including photographs from President Dwight D. Eisenhower's visit!

Great Program on Ancient Egypt at the library last evening - May , 07,2008

Kate Liska did a marvelous job telling her enthusiastic audience about tomb robbery in ancient Egypt. This was the second in a series of programs presented by the Outreach Lecture Program funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and sponsored by the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. Kate has actually worked on archaeological expeditions in Egypt so she really knows her subject. Impressive!


Tuesday, May 6, 2008

WELCOME

Welcome to the Ligonier Valley Library's Blog! We're still in the developmental stage, but please check back often to see what's new.