Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Open Lab!

Beginning this Monday, the Main library will be hosting open lab sessions in the wireless laptop lab on the second floor. These sessions are restricted to job hunting activities such as resume writing, online job applications, or job searching. These will be two or three hour sessions so customers will not be timed out of finishing applications or other tasks. There will be some help available for basic computer use issues but this does not include career counseling or resume review. Of course, our librarians can always direct you to resources for help on these subjects. Dates and times for open labs:

April 2009

Monday, April 6, 2009 9:00 am - 12 noon
Tuesday, April 7, 2009 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Thursday, April 9, 2009 9:00 am - 12 noon
Friday, April 17, 2009 9:00 am - 12 noon
Monday, April 20, 2009 9:00 am - 12 noon
Tuesday, April 21, 2009 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Thursday, April 23, 2009 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Monday, April 27, 2009 10:00 am - 12 noon
Thursday, April 30, 2009 10:00 am - 12 noon

Monday, March 30, 2009

Netherland

Although British attorney Joseph O'Neill has received acclaim for his nonfiction and fiction efforts in years past, his 2009 novel, Netherland, has proven his most celebrated. The story of a Dutch commodities analyst on foreign assignment to post-9/11 New York from London, Netherland won the Pen/Faulkner 2009 Award for Fiction. Netherland surely is a fine book. It grabs the reader right away with a unique, nearly surreal strangeness. Our protagonist and narrator, Hans, is left alone in the City by his wife Rachel, who takes their young son, Jake, with her when she returns to London. Hans seeks solace in a metropolitan cricket league, which is peopled almost entirely with players hailing from either the Caribbean or the Subcontinent. Hans is shortly befriended by one of the league's umpires, Chuck Ramkissoon, a Trinidadian landlord, contractor, rascal, hustler, dreamer, and small-time gangster. Chuck introduces Hans to an otherwise undiscoverable New York while the bewildered Hans ponders the nature of marriage, love, intimacy, and emotions themselves. Alas, in this most ambitious task the book meets its limits. In fact, Hans' musings on his flailing romance are interspersed rather incongruously with his Chuck Ramkissoon adventures. Nevertheless, Netherland was a fun read and a piece of literature which sticks in the mind well after the covers are closed.

Also check out O'Niell's well-regarded nonfiction book Blood-Dark Track: a Family History.

-- Steve, Main Library

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Shambling Towards Hiroshima

In Shambling Towards Hiroshima by James Morrow, a B-movie actor looks back forty years later at the part he played in a top secret Navy operation to end World War II. With a shortage of plutonium for the Manhattan Project, America’s alternative super weapons are three genetically engineered Godzilla-style giant iguanas. A demonstration has been arranged with a miniature version of the creature and a model city, in the hope that the Japanese diplomats will realize that defeating the behemoths is impossible and advise the Emperor to surrender. When the human-size lizards prove too docile, the actor is hired to play the part in a lizard suit for a filmed demonstration instead. If he is convincing enough, the lives of the Japanese civilians who would be killed by the behemoths and those of the military on both sides who would be killed in a traditional assault will all be spared. Other classic Hollywood Horror figures are recruited for the filming, including a wonderfully depicted James Whale, the director of the first two Frankenstein movies. From a Nebula-winning author, this is a book full of sharp wit that revels in the absurdity of its premise and deep despair at the ultimate outcome of the war.

-- Kristen, Main Library

The Story of Divided Lives

Most attention on the Holocaust rightfully focuses on the plight of Jews in concentration camps, but not all victims of Nazi persecution were put to death. Many survived, lost in a social and political limbo, shunned by friends, neighbors, and oftentimes family because of their "mixed" religious heritage. Join us as Dr. Cynthia Crane of the University of Cincinnati chronicles her journey and those of the women she interviewed for her book Divided Lives: The Untold Stories of Jewish Christian Women in Nazi Germany. Inspired by the experience of her paternal family, it tells the dramatic true stories of girls and women who endured persecution because of their mixed religious heritage.



The program is free and open to the public. The Wilmington-Stroop Branch Library is located at 3980 Wilmington Pike in Kettering. Call the library at 496-8966 for more information.


-- Jared, Main Library

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Tax Information

IRS
www.irs.gov
200 W. Second Street, Dayton, Ohio 45402
local IRS number (937) 610-2182

Toll-Free IRS numbers:
tax forms (800) 829-3676
information & problem resolution (800) 829-1040
teletax (800) 829-4477

State of Ohio Department of Taxation
www.tax.ohio.gov
Dayton Taxpayer Service Center
40 S. Main Street, 5th Floor, Dayton, Ohio 45402
(use 4th Street entrance)
individual (800) 282-1780
business (888) 405-4039
Ohio Relay for the Hearing Impaired (800) 750-0750

City of Dayton
www.cityofdayton.org
Division of Revenues and Taxation
101 W. 3rd Street, Dayton, Ohio 45402
customer service line (937) 333-3500
tax form line (937) 333-3501

City Forms -- all cities and villages in Ohio with municipal tax
http://tax.ohio.gov/divisions/municipalities/index.stm

R.I.T.A. --Regional Income Tax Authority
www.rita.to
Provides services to collect income tax for 110 municipalities in Ohio, including Riverside & Clayton in Montgomery Co. and Cedarville & Yellow Springs in Greene Co.

State Tax Forms -- for all states
www.taxadmin.org/fta/link/forms.html

Joy - Main Library

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Spring Career Programs

We are offering a series of career programs at the library that will help you discover new career paths to explore, write your resume, and gain tips for interviewing. Sharma Fox, Career Services Specialist at Sinclair Community College, is presenting the following programs:


Resume & Cover Letter Development

  • Thursday, April 30, 6:30 p.m., Main Library Auditorium

True Colors Personality Assessment and Career Choice - A personality assessment can help you choose a career that's right for you!
  • Thursday, May 7, 6:30 p.m., Main Library Auditorium

Techniques for Successful Interviewing
  • Tuesday, March 31, 6:30 p.m., Miami Township
  • Thursday, May 14, 6:30 p.m., Main Library Auditorium

*Advanced registration required. Please call 496-8944 to register for programs at Miami Township, or 463-2665 ext. 6501 to register for programs at the Main Library.

Monday, March 23, 2009

Book Bags

In order to reduce the waste from plastic bags used to carry books home, Dayton Metro Library is now offering reusable tote bags. For $5, which covers the cost of the bag to the library and sales tax, you can show your support for the library and your commitment to the environment. These bags are available at the checkout desks at Main and the branches. Plastic bags will remain available only until our current supply runs out.

-- Kristen, Main Library

Friday, March 20, 2009

Movies Worth Reading

If you are one of those people (like my mother) who have an aversion to movies with subtitles (ie. movies you must read) you’re missing some mighty fine movies. American movies are fine…but how many adult-male acting like a child, teens getting in all kindsa trouble, superhero, sappy predictable movies can you watch in a year? Here is a selection of movies you have to read (unless you are a polyglot) but that you still should not miss. There is something here for every taste:

I’ve Loved You So Long from France starring the amazing British Ex-Pat Kristin Scott Thomas who plays a woman who has been in prison for 15 years. She is bitter and prickly, but her much younger sister takes her in and makes her a part of HER family. Over the course of the movie the reason for Scott Thomas’s character’s imprisonment is revealed…and the reason for that crime will shock you and Scott Thomas’s ability to play the role will amaze you. Fantastic!

Let The Right One In. Did you see “Twilight” and think, “What’s all the fuss about? I’ve seen this ten times already”? Here is a vampire movie you haven’t seen before. Made in Sweden, this tells the tale of a bullied 12 year old and the mysterious girl who moves into his building. She helps him out of his difficulties in the only way she knows how. This is an atmospheric and beautiful and surprisingly touching horror movie that no horror fan should miss.

Waltz With Bashir (not in DML’s catalog yet…) was nominated for best foreign language film at the Oscars...and it was the first animated film ever to get that honor. Written and directed by Ari Folman the man who wrote the graphic novel and lived through the events depicted in the story, this is the story of one man’s coming face to face with his part in a massacre. He doesn’t remember anything of that night in 1982 until he starts interviewing others who were there. This will change you mind about just how good an animated feature (and a movie you gotta read) can be.

Tell No One” is the best film I saw in 2008 (Yeah, Slumdog was good, but it was predictable and far from fresh). It was released in most of the world in 2007, and only got a limited release in the US in 2008…but it is not to be missed! It’s based on Harlan Coban’s novel of the same name. They shopped it around American studios and no one bought it (of course NOW they are planning a remake, puh-lease! See this before it gets ruined). A pediatrician’s beloved wife is killed, he is the main suspect until it is pinned on a serial killer…eight years later new murders and the case is reopened. The pediatrician is again a suspect—but he gets an e-mail with a webcam link and sees modern day footage of his wife ALIVE! An absolutely amazing thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat through out.

Check them out!

-- Tim, Main Library

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Casual Hex

Casual Hex by Vicki Lewis Thompson is a brand new addition to her series set in the fictional Indiana town Big Knob, which at first glance is a small town with nothing particularly unusual about it except for the suspiciously shaped rock formation that gave it its name. Those who have read the first two books in the series (Over Hexed and Wild and Hexy) know that Big Knob’s allegedly haunted forest actually has a dragon living in it, and that Dorcas and Ambrose, a marriage counseling and matchmaking husband and wife team who recently moved to town, are a witch and a wizard on an assignment to help the dragon learn his role as Guardian of the Forest. While they’re there, they can’t help but do a little covert matchmaking for the locals.

This time they’ve turned their attention to Gwen Dubois, who runs the florist shop in Big Knob. They determine that her perfect soul mate is Marc Chevalier, a Parisian botanist, and magically cause some tropical plants to grow in the forest outside of town. When Gwen goes online to identify them, she gets in touch with Marc, who arranges to visit during a conference to investigate the unusual plants and to meet Gwen. But there’s unexpected competition in town as well; a prince of a fairy kingdom who has his own designs on Gwen.

Like Thompson’s other books, Casual Hex is racy and laugh-out-loud funny, so even those who read little Romance will appreciate it if they’re in the mood for some light fantasy humor. Each book in the series focuses on a different main couple, and the character backstories are filled in as you need to know, so don’t let not having read the first two books stop you- although since Casual Hex is still on order, why not read them while you’re waiting? Reserve your copy today.

-- Kristen, Main Library

Monday, March 16, 2009

Interlibrary Loan Service at Dayton Metro Library

The Dayton Metro Library provides an interlibrary loan service. If a book is not owned by Dayton Metro, you may request that we obtain a copy from another library in the United States. This is called an interlibrary loan request. You may place up to 8 requests at a time. There is a charge of 50 cents for each request. You must have a valid Dayton Metro Library card with $10.00 or less in fines.

The interlibrary loan service is not allowed to borrow audio-visual materials at this time. Books, microfilm reels and copies of magazine articles may be obtained through this service.

You may place request at any of Dayton Metro Library’s branches and online with the interlibrary loan librarian. Please provide you library card bar code number.

If you have any question about this service contact the Interlibrary Loan Librarian, Gregory Estes, 496-8629 or by email at gestes@daytonmetrolibrary.org.]

-- Greg, Main Library

Thursday, March 12, 2009

More Stuff We Found While Weeding

As much as we love all of our books, we can't keep everything forever. Our highly-trained librarians examine our collections continuously to ensure that they are current, of high quality, and meet the demands of our customer base. Those books that don't make the grade are usually donated to our amazing book sale. We have traditionally referred to the process of pulling up these shelf-chokers as "weeding." Below you'll find some interesting items we came across during this process and decided to keep.

The Connoisseur's Complete Period Guides to the Houses, Decoration, Furnishing and Chattels of the Classic Periods, edited by Ralph Edwards and L. G. G. Ramsey. If you are strong enough to lift this doorstop of a book (1536 pages!), you will be rewarded with enough historical information about daily life in England to get you through every BBC production ever presented on Masterpiece Theatre. Its pages carefully consider the major aspects of life in Tudor/Stuart, Georgian, Regency, and early Victorian Britain including—well, it’s all in the title, really: houses, decoration, furnishing and…chattels? Anyway, an excellent way for any self respecting Anglophile to become insufferably knowledgeable. Includes illustrations.

Crop Art and Other Earthworks, Stan Herd. Stan Herd is an artist whose works can only be seen from a plane or helicopter. Why? Because his canvas is the earth itself. By using plows and planting various types of plants he creates giant murals that range from a vase of sunflowers to portraits of indigenous people. Photos in the book show how he creates the murals and the stages they go through as the plants grow and change color. Next time you are flying cross country and think you see a giant Absolut vodka bottle on the ground don’t be surprised—it is probably just Stan at work.

Monumental Miniatures: Souvenir Buildings from the Collection of Ace Architects, David Weingarten and Margaret Majua. Do you like miniatures? Do other’s people’s collections fascinate you? Architecture fan? Then this is the book for you. The authors showcase about a third of their collection of 3500 cast metal building miniatures from around the world. From Madison Square Garden in New York City to the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa, the variety is practically endless. In fact, think of your favorite building or monument—it is probably shown in miniature in this book. There are some local buildings represented: three from the NCR plus the Preble County National Bank in Eaton. Fun!

-- Sue, Main Library

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

A Dark Twist on Dickens

Drood by Dan Simmons is a dark twist on the last several years of Charles Dickens’ life, as narrated by his friend and fellow author Wilkie Collins (writer of The Woman in White). The story begins with a true event from Dickens’ life, a railway accident in which his was the only first class car spared. According to Collins’ narration, Dickens told only him about the mysterious figure named Drood whom he saw at the site of the accident, either trying to save the injured or killing them. Not long after the accident, Dickens goes in search of Drood in London, using the man’s story and the people whom he meets in what is to be his last, half-finished novel.

Simmons’ Drood is an impressive example of unreliable narration. Collins is an addict who both smokes opium and drinks it in the form of laudanum, and shows signs that he may be suffering from delusions. On the other hand, much of his information comes from Dickens, who has spent his life inventing exactly these sorts of stories. Does Drood exist at all? Or has Dickens gone insane? Or Collins? The result is a book worthy of Dickens or Collins themselves, with a dash of Amadeus thrown in for good measure.

-- Kristen, Main Library

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

The Definitive St. Patrick’s Day Festivity Book

Here’s the book you need if you are planning on having a St. Patrick’s Day party the way the Irish would! The first chapter is entitled "Ambiance" and suggests ways of creating an “Irish Mystique” in your home for the party. Suggestions include using pictures, magazines, and flags. Chapter two offers ideas for what food to serve. Included are potatoes (of course) and several different drinks. The next chapter is entitled “Intonation”. Included here is the Story of St Patrick, along with some poems. Chapter four deals with different games that test the guest’s knowledge of all things Irish. “Shenanigans” is the title of the fifth chapter and it includes more game ideas and a section on limericks. Chapter six includes several plays for guests to read aloud. The seventh chapter, “Sing-a-Long” provides lyrics to Irish songs for guests to sing. Chapter eight includes prayers, toasts, and Irish proverbs. Chapter nine is a listing of definitions of some Irish terms used in the book. Have fun planning your party!

-- Mary Ellen, Main Library

Friday, March 6, 2009

Poet's Night at the Library

Meet with others to share and discuss the poems you write. Bring copies of a poem you would like to share or just come and listen. We meet the second Wednesday of each month on March 11, April 8, May 13 and June 10 from 7:00 -8:30 pm in the meeting room at the Main branch of the Dayton Metro Library at 215 E. 3rd St. If you can't bring copies of your poem, please come at 6:45 and copies can be made. For more information call 496-8627 or email jschwab@daytonmetrolibrary.org.

-- Joy, Main Library

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Make Your Credit Score Soar

Don Schweitzer of Day Air Credit Union presents an informative program on credit score enhancement at the Kettering-Moraine branch library Wednesday, March 11 at 7:00 P.M.

Brush up on the subject with American Credit Repair or The Everything Improve Your Credit Book.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Interview With a Cannibal: the Secret Life of the Monster of Rotenburg

German filmmaker and journalist Günther Stampf recalls his 30 interviews with Germany’s own version of Hannibal Lecter at the Kassel Federal Penitentiary. Armin Meiwes, a shy and soft-spoken computer technician in the German state of Hesse, has lived most of his life with a secret desire to consume human flesh. An overbearing mother and fear of abandonment created by the absence of his father and older brothers helped nurture Meiwes’ desire to consume a willing male victim and have that person live on inside Meiwes’ body.

Meiwes’ dark desire to consume human flesh began to grow stronger with the advent of the Internet and his ability to talk with people online who shared his interest in cannibalism. Meiwes chatted with other potential slaughter victims online, but all of them backed out the arraignment with Meiwes at the last minute. In 2000, Meiwes came across another willing victim, Bernd Brandes. Brandes, a successful computer engineer for the Siemens Company in Berlin, hid a dark sadomasochistic desire of wanting to be slaughtered and his flesh consumed.

Stampf’s interview with Meiwes’ sheds light on how an individual can go from a law-abiding citizen to a cannibal. This title includes some quite bizarre and gruesome facts, and is not for the faint of heart. A definite must read for anyone interested in criminal profiling. Click here to see an online interview with Armin Meiwes http://sixtyminutes.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=391155

-- Jared, Main Library

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Beware the Ides of March

Julius Caesar was assassinated on March 15, 44 BC, the Ides of March on the Roman calendar. (That made the Ides of March the most famous, but there was an Ides of every month, and most of them were on the 13th, not the 15th. Just a little bonus information from one of your Friendly Library Latin BAs.) Over two thousand and fifty years later, not only does Caesar have a month and a pizza chain named after him, but he's still inspiring authors. Here are a few of the fictional accounts of Caesar's life and times that you can find at the library.

The Triumph of Caesar by Steven Saylor is the latest in the Roma sub Rosa mystery series. Gordianus the Finder has met, worked for, or investigated most of the prominent people in the later years of the Roman Republic throughout this series, and Julius Caesar figures in several earlier installments as well. Saylor's books are meticulously researched and work as well as historical fiction as they do as mysteries.

Emperor: The Gates of Rome is the first in the Emperor quartet by Conn Iggulden. The last in the series, Emperor: The Gods of War was named as a NoveList Best.

Colleen McCullough's Masters of Rome series is highly acclaimed. Although he appears earlier, Julius Caesar takes center stage in the fourth, fifth, and sixth books, Caesar's Women, Caesar: Let the Dice Fly, and The October Horse.

-- Kristen, Main Library
 
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