Dayton's Best Bets

Best Bets is now DML Staff Recommendations

2009-09-01T06:31:00.000-07:00

We've moved our blog, you can reach it HERE.

Dayton Theatres and the Library

2009-08-24T06:07:00.000-07:00

August twenty-eighth to September thirteenth, Dayton Playhouse is putting on a production of Cabaret. If you like Cabaret, you may want to read Berlin Stories by Christopher Isherwood, the book on which the musical and I am a Camera, a non-musical play by John Van Druten, are based. The library has the original book, the script, and the movie musical, so if you check them out before or after going to see it on stage you'll see that they all overlap in slightly different ways.

The same weekends, Dayton Theatre Guild is producing on Les Liaisons Dangereuses. Not only does the library have an English translation of the book by Choderlos de Laclos, but if you are feeling ambitious, we have selections from the original French version as well. You can also find the movie in French with English subtitles under the original title, or an English language version with the translated title Dangerous Liaisons that features Glenn Close, John Malkovich, and many other well-known actors.

-- Kristen, Main Library

World Champion Bar-B-Q

2009-08-20T10:51:00.001-07:00

John Willingham’s World Champion Bar-B-Q: Over 150 Recipes and Tall Tales for Authentic, Braggin’ Rights, Real Southern Bar-B-Q and all the Fixin’s.

It’s already the middle of August, so its time for those end of summer barbecues. This book is a great source for barbecue recipes as well as some side dishes that complement the sweet and spicy flavors of the meats. Willingham defines barbecue as the process of cooking meat in a closed chamber using indirect heat produced by hardwood logs, chips, chunks, pellets or charcoal. For Willingham, barbecue is a food that is quintessentially Southern--even the side dishes here are Southern favorites. After defining barbecue as a food that is cooked a certain way in a certain place, Willingham starts on the recipes. First, the appetizer chapter provides recipes for old country staples such as deviled eggs and pimiento cheese spread. The bread chapter comes next, showing recipes for southern style biscuits, no-knead refrigerator rolls and corn bread. Then comes the barbecue chapter-- and every type of meat is included. A recipe for Willingham’s World-Champion Ribs is offered, as well as Dixie Chicken and South Carolina-Style Pork. There is a chapter on cooking with grills– the backyard kind – and also one on chilis. And there is the side dish (fixins) chapter which includes Ultimate Mashed Potatoes. There is a chicken, fish and seafood chapter and one on slaws, salads and sandwiches. Finally comes a chapter on sauces, dry rubs, marinades and glazes and one on desserts. This is a really great book for anyone who wants to do barbecue the way experts do it--from the barbecue to the side dishes to dessert, everything you need is here.

-- Mary Ellen, Main Library

Stuff We Found While Weeding

2009-08-17T04:11:00.000-07:00

Rosey Grier's Needlepoint for Men.
I remember the hubbub when this book came out—“that big football player does needlepoint?” Well, he did. And he also wrote a book about it. Like its author, the book is big and friendly, and full of good advice like, “One thing to remember if you have someone paint a canvas for you is that you should have them spell your name right.” Appearing with his decidedly guy-oriented needlepoint projects (needlepoint samurai, anyone?) you will find several of his friends whom he has roped into sharing his hobby. A sweet-natured, nostalgic book, even if you don’t give a toss about needlepoint.

Comparative Urban Design: Rare Engravings, 1830-1843, Melville C. Branch.
There is a special kind of person out there who loves to look at old maps and I confess to being one. This book is a treat for people like me in that it reproduces maps of major world cities from a narrow time period and puts them all in one place for easy browsing. Okay for me, you might say, but of what practical use could this be to anybody else? Well, if you are planning some genealogical tourism, this could help you visualize where your forebears lived. Or if you are a reader (or writer!) of historical fiction, this could be an informative tool for you. Or maybe you just want to meditate on the state of the world of urban planning in the mid-18th century. Otherwise, if you are a cartographile, plan on relaxing in a chair under a tree and spending an afternoon flipping through all these delicious maps. On a side note, the other author given credit for this book is The Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, so you just know it has to be good!

Folk Toys of Japan, Misako Shishido, translated by Tatsuo Shibata.
Long before Hello Kitty and Pokemon there were toys in Japan with intriguing legends behind them. This classic book from 1961 gathers 50 tales and illustrates each one, sometimes with delicate color reproductions. The stories are sweet and touching and may seem vaguely familiar to anyone who has watched the anime of Hayao Miyazaki. The most touching of all may be the one with the funniest-sounding name: the tale of the Bean-Jam Bun Eater. Trust me.

-- Sue, Main Library

Sandman Slim

2009-08-12T05:08:00.000-07:00

Sandman Slim by Richard Kadrey tells the story of James Stark, who has recently escaped from Hell – literally. At the age of nineteen, he was set up by his fellow magicians to be dragged “Downtown,” alive, by demons. The residents of Hell, never having seen a living human before, tortured him experimentally for a while and then put him to work as a sideshow gladiator for eleven years when he stubbornly refused to die. Now he’s back and determined to take revenge on those who betrayed him and killed the woman he loved. To help he has Vidocq – yes, the historical crook-turned-cop whom Victor Hugo used as inspiration both for Valjean and Javert in Les Miserables. In Sandman Slim, he’s also an alchemist who managed to make himself immortal accidentally. But how can Stark really know who to trust, when the forces of Heaven, Hell, and every kind of unaffiliated magic there is seem to be playing their own games?

This is the grittiest, darkest paranormal noir that I have ever read. The pace is fast and the dialogue is razor sharp. It is not for the faint of stomach, but if you can handle the guts and gore place your request today and be one of the first to get your hands on a copy.

-- Kristen, Main Library

The Best Freezer Cookbook: Freezer Friendly Recipes, Tips and Techniques

2009-08-10T05:00:00.000-07:00

The Best Freezer Cookbook: Freezer Friendly Recipes, Tips and Techniques by Jan Main

It’s almost time to start thinking about preserving our Summer garden produce, and this little book is a great way to start yourself out by learning freezing techniques. First, the book explains how freezing preserves food, followed by some helpful tips to get you started. Next is a table that shows how long various foods will keep in the freezer. Then there is a section on how to thaw different types of food. Next, there is a chapter on freezing fresh foods. This includes tips and information on freezing specific fruits and specific vegetables. Also there are instructions for how to freeze meat, poultry and fish. The book also offers some recipes using food you have frozen. “Sweet Onion and Tomato Soup with Fresh Basil Crème” is offered as a way to use frozen tomatoes. There is a recipe for “Best-ever Meat Loaf” that sounds great and includes tips for freezing it. In the entertaining chapter is a recipe for “Mini Cheese Souffles” and how to freeze the puff pastry if you wish. A final chapter on baking offers “Harvest Apple, Pear and Cranberry Pie with Cheddar Pastry”, which sounds delicious as a Fall dish. This book is full of information on freezing food and recipes you can make using it.

-- Mary Ellen, Main Library

The Night Counter

2009-08-07T05:04:00.000-07:00

The Night Counter by Alia Yunis tells the story of Fatima Abdullah, an aging woman who emigrated from Lebanon to America seventy years ago. For the past 991 nights, she has been visited by Scheherazade, the immortal storyteller of The Arabian Nights. Fatima believes that on the 1,001st night, she will die, and so in between telling stories of her life to Scheherazade, she is trying to tie up her loose ends, like planning her funeral, finding a woman to marry her grandson (hard to do in nine days no matter what, and even less likely in this case because he’s openly gay), and deciding who should inherit her home in Lebanon. To make things even more difficult, the house where she lives with her grandson is under surveillance by two photographers who want to trade their days as paparazzi for a career with the FBI, and who suspect them of Al Qaeda connections. Scheherazade, who surprisingly is not a hallucination, amuses herself in between visits to Fatima by dropping in, unobserved, on the rest of her large family, filling in the gaps in the versions of events that Fatima knows in order to create an epic family saga squeezed into nine nights of events and memories.

-- Kristen, Main Library

Low carb 1-2-3

2009-08-05T06:00:00.000-07:00

Low carb 1-2-3 The Low-Calorie, Low Carbohydrate Cookbook, by Rozanne Gold with Helen Kimmel, MS, RD.

If you’re looking for help with your low-carb diet, this book will definitely help. Each recipe is composed of just three ingredients, so it’s really simple to use. The first part of the book describes the basic pantry items needed for the book as well as basic equipment you will need to make the recipes. The first chapter offers ideas for breakfast. Eggs go well with low carb diets, and many recipes here call for them. Ham and Eggs with Red eye Gravy is a new way of preparing an originally fat laden dish. Next is the party chapter and there are some really great dips, including Cucumber-Chive Dip. There is a meat chapter, and Gold makes it clear at the beginning that even though low carb diets can include a lot of meat, it is important to be careful about fat. Braised Hoisin Pork with Scallions is an example of using the technique of searing to cook meat in a low-fat way and bump up the flavor with Hot Hoisin Sauce. The vegetable chapter is great if you’re a vegetarian. Broccoli Smothered in Wine and Olive Oil is one of the tasty offerings, as is Roasted Cauliflower with Cheddar Cheese. The last recipe chapter offers dessert recipes. Melon Balls in Lime Syrup sounds refreshing for Summer. So does Spiced Mangoes with Coconut. The book ends with a list of foods that can be part of a successful diet. Even though you may be put off by the fact that these recipes have only three ingredients, don’t let that keep you from trying this book. These recipes can be very flavorful, and that will help you -- no matter what type of diet you are on.

-- Mary Ellen, main

Internet Archive Part 4: Movies and Much More

2009-07-29T12:52:00.000-07:00

Get ready to lose some big chunks of time. The e-texts, audiobooks and music at the Internet Archive were interesting; now how about some movies? From the home page www.archive.org click on the moving images tab.

You can spend hours watching old (and not so old) cartoons under the animation and cartoons link. Classics like Bugs Bunny in “Falling Hare” (the one with the gremlin). There are shorts featuring Woody Woodpecker, Betty Boop, Popeye…and many others. Then there is the subcategory “Brick Films” offering proof that some people have far too much time on their hands: Lego movies. This one is the first Star Wars movie…”acted” by Lego men, set to the original soundtrack.

Remember those non-fiction films they used to show in school (or the army) those are available under the Ephemeral Films link like 1947’s “Are You Popular?”: More are available under the Prelinger Archives link “Design for Dreaming” an extended General Motors car commercial is a personal favorite for the “Kitchen of Tomorrow” sequence. There are home movies, sports movies, and video game “speed runs,” where someone plays through a whole videogame as quickly as possible and records it as a digital video.

There are also nearly 3,000 full length movies available the likes of “Last Man on Earth” (1964) starring Vincent Price: based on the Richard Mathesson book “I Am Legend” or Cary Grant and Rosiland Russel in “His Girl Friday” (1940). And no such collection would be complete without “Reefer Madness.”

And again, there is a religion and spirituality section with 36,000 videos of sermons and religious services of all denominations including the adorable Buddhist children singing a favorite song in Taiping Malaysia

Happy Surfing!

Internet Archive Part 3: Sounds Abound — Amazing Assortment of Audio Content

2009-07-29T05:53:00.000-07:00

Yes, it’s time for more online content available at the Internet Archive. This time it’s all kinds of things you can listen to. From the home page www.archive.org click on the audio tab at the top and marvel at the variety. First, of course we have to mention the over 4,000 audio books and poetry collections at: http://www.archive.org/details/audio_bookspoetry Browse by collection or title.

Far more amazingly, there is a huge collection (over 66,000) of live concerts you can listen to; you can even download some of them. Try Robyn Hitchcock at the 3 Kings Pub July 1, 2007 singing songs of the Beatles and others at: http://www.archive.org/details/rh2007-07-01 Or for something to completely blow your mind Trent Reznor’s Nine Inch Nails Ghosts I – IV http://www.archive.org/details/nineinchnails_ghosts_I_IV a 36 track instrumental collection FREE! And there is such an abundance of Grateful Dead material; they have their own collection at: http://www.archive.org/details/GratefulDead

There are radio programs some from defunct radio shows as well as those still creating new broadcasts, podcasts on topics from the religions from the ancient Mediterranean to evolution to Nintendo games.

There’s even a section of religious recordings touching on all religions. Most remarkably, there is an extensive collection of Buddhist lectures (633) from the Tse Chen Ling Center for Tibetan Buddhist Studies. If you enjoyed the Monks last May creating their sand mandala, listen to “What is a Buddhist” http://www.archive.org/details/Tse_Chen_Ling_Sarah_Thresher_Buddhist_20051014 or Sunday service by Ven. Geshe Ngawang Dakpa from April http://www.archive.org/details/GD_SundayService_200904

Happy Surfing!

-- Tim, Main Library

In Memoriam

2009-07-27T07:16:00.000-07:00

Frank McCourt, best known as the author of Angela's Ashes, passed away on July 19. His other memoirs, also available at the library, are 'Tis and Teacher Man. He also wrote the novel Angela and the Baby Jesus and contributed to Yeats is Dead! A Mystery by Fifteen Irish Writers, in which a different author writes each chapter. Angela's Ashes was adapted into a movie.

-- Kristen, Main Library

Internet Archive Part 2: Bunches of Books in your Browser

2009-07-27T06:40:00.000-07:00

Via the Internet you have access to all kinds of online and downloadable full-text books that we’ve mentioned here before (Don’t forget Dayton Metro offers a wide variety of new and classic texts in various formats on our website: overdrive.daytonmetrolibrary.org ) but you’ll be surprised at what you can find at the Internet Archive. From the homepage www.archive.org click on the tab titled “Texts” for access to over 1.5 million texts.

Libraries across the world have scanned rare and not so rare books into digital formats. You can look at the most downloaded titles on the right, look at the newest additions via the link in the center, or browse specific collections a bit lower down the page.

Read the first edition of Little Women: http://www.archive.org/details/littlewomenormeg00alcoiala online or download it in a number of formats to read on your computer or mobile device from the links in the “view the book” box at the left. This was scanned at the University of California. You can click on the author’s name or the publisher’s name to find other similar texts.

For scholars of Children’s Literature texts like Comtesse de Segur’s “Old French Fairtales” http://www.archive.org/details/oldfrenchfairyta00sgrich offered for study or leisure reading with all its illustrations intact.

You can also find some odder materials like those items in the Prelinger Library which collects and preserves ephemeral publications like this US Government pamphlet about surviving a nuclear attack from 1959: http://www.archive.org/details/falloutprotectio00unitrich

It’s addictive if you are interested, and it’s amazing what they have collected. Happy Surfing!

-- Tim, Main Library

The Internet Archive Part 1: The Beginnings of a Little Bit of Everything (Digital)

2009-07-23T06:11:00.000-07:00

Libraries have always been about preserving materials for future generations. From the Library of Ashurbanipal, the first systematically collected library in the 7th century BC, to your very own Dayton Metro Library, Librarians have gathered items of various types in an effort to keep knowledge alive.

To a similar end, the folks at Internet Archive www.archive.org have been working to preserve Internet sites and other digital media since 1996. They are a non-profit organization in San Francisco, and their collections cover audio, video, digitized texts, and much more. Quite a bit of new information these days is being created first online (that is, without any paper copy that a traditional library would collect and preserve,) and archive.org is working to keep that type of information from being lost forever in bits and bytes. Also many cultural artifacts like pamphlets or informational movies are not being collected in their original forms; archive.org and its partners are converting those things to computer files. They are cooperating with various organizations like the Library of Congress and the Smithsonian, so there are links that will take you to collections housed on other computers.

There is a lot on this site for researchers, but there is just as much for the casual browser or the Internet thrill-seeker with some time to kill. We say “Part 1” in the title above to let you know that future entries on the Internet Archive will highlight its various parts. For now, sit back in your most comfortable chair and browse their collections. There’s more there than you could ever look at or listen to in ten lifetimes. Happy Surfing!

-- Tim, Main Library

Bois de la Brigade de Marine

2009-07-21T05:19:00.000-07:00

The above is translated "Wood of the Marine Brigade," the named bestowed by a grateful France on a mounded patch of woods barely a square mile in size located due east of Paris, but nearer to Strasbourg. It was here that the U.S. Marine Corps encountered its first heavy fighting of World War I and the bloodiest fighting in its history to that point, losing 1087 men in a single day of this month-long engagement. It came late in the war as an exhausted Germany took advantage of the Russian capitulation to shift troops against the French in the hopes of winning a decisive victory before the Americans became fully involved in the war. German forces had turned the former hunting preserve into a stronghold with more than 120 well-fortified machine gun positions while retaining the capability to direct heavy artillery fire around the woods. In multiple attacks, Marines waded through waist-high wheat in the face of withering German fire, often for hundreds of yards at a time. Combat in the wood was frequently at very close range and of a savage nature as bayonets were deployed with ferocity and more than one German machine gun crew succumbed to even the fists and feet of the Devil Dogs. It was truly "hand-to-hand" combat.

Author Alan Axelrod provides a solid overview, prologue, and reflections on the glorious battle in his engaging and balanced work
Miracle at Belleau Wood : The Birth of the Modern U.S. Marine Corps. Axelrod draws effectively from firsthand accounts to create a transporting portrayal of the thoughts and feelings of the involved parties from generals to privates. He reaffirms the importance of the battle to the Allies eventual victory and reveals the central role it played in shaping the Marine Corps in years to come. A highly recommended book for those who enjoy historical nonfiction or have an interest in the subject matter.

The Martha Stewart Living Cookbook

2009-07-16T03:08:00.000-07:00

The Martha Stewart Living Cookbook is a collection of recipes that have been published, some in a different form, in Martha Stewart Living Magazine. The book begins with helpful information. The first chapter is a list of pantry items. Basic items are listed, along with specialty items. Next is a description of equipment that is recommended for purchase. A chapter on menus is a really wonderful addition. There are about ten menus each for Summer, Spring, Autumn and Winter. This is a comprehensive collection of recipes. And, they are Martha Stewart recipes, so they have a tendency to have more esoteric ingredients and are a bit more complex than some other recipe collections. But, Martha puts her flavors together well and there are some really tasty recipes in this book. There are the usual cookbook chapters---poultry, pasta, fish and meatless main. But there is also a breakfast and brunch chapter as well as a fruit dessert chapter and a chapter on salsas sauces, and dips. An example of a chicken dish that is fairly easy is Breaded Chicken Cutlets with Sage. From the fruit dessert chapter there is Baked Apricots with Almond Topping. And from the Breakfast and Brunch chapter she offers Strawberry-Rhubarb Coffee Cake. If you are looking for something for a really special occasion, look here. It may take some extra effort, but your guests will be impressed and go away feeling special.

-- Mary Ellen, Main Library

Germany 1945: From War to Peace

2009-07-13T11:44:00.000-07:00

Richard Bessel, Professor of Twentieth-Century History at the University of York, analyzes how Germany’s defeat transformed the nation from a militaristic and nationalistic society into a pacifistic society. In early 1945, Germany experienced an enormous loss of civilians and soldiers as the Allied armies pushed into German territory. Bessel argues that this exposure to extreme violence and brutality transformed Germans into self-regarding victims of the Nazi regime; despite the fact that German civilians had not been innocent bystanders of the years of conquest and genocide. A combination of brutalities by the invading Allied troops, millions of Germans fleeing from eastern conquered territories, and the brutalities the Nazi regime committed against its own people contributed to a change in the German psyche that became focused solely on day-to-day survival. This change made it possible for the German people to concentrate on looking forward without immediately confronting the horrors committed during the Third Reich. Germany 1945: From War to Peace is a superbly written book that will appeal to anyone interested in World War II. Be sure to also checkout Bessel’s other titles available at the library: Nazism and War and Germany After the First World War.

-- Jared, Main Library

Bastille Day

2009-07-09T08:52:00.000-07:00

July 14 is Bastille Day, the anniversary of the beginning of the French Revolution in 1789. If you aren't ready for the revolutionary fun to be over yet just because Independence Day is past, why not pick up some swashbuckling adventure from the library in the form of The Scarlet Pimpernel? Not only do we have the original book, but we have many of the sequels as well. If you prefer your swashbuckling on the screen, the best movie adaptations are the black and white one starring Leslie Howard and Merle Oberon and the version from the 1980s starring Anthony Andrews, Jane Seymour, and Ian McKellen, which is a hybrid of the original novel and the sequel Eldorado.

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens set the standard for fictional portrayals of the French Revolution, but although it's a literary classic it actually isn't terribly historically accurate. For example, Dickens depicts constant rate of executions by guillotine throughout the revolution that was actually only reached for short periods of time near the end of the phase called the Reign of Terror. Fans of historical fiction, retellings of classics, and A Tale of Two Cities may want to check out A Far Better Rest by Susanne Alleyn. Alleyn presents the story through the eyes of Sydney Carton, who in spite of being the hero gets very little "screen time" in the original story, and attempts to meld Dickens with historical fact. It's out of print, so the easiest place to find it is here at the library.

Alleyn also writes a series of detective novels set in the years just after and before the revolution. Start with Game of Patience and A Treasury of Regrets, and be ready for the prequel coming out later this month, The Cavalier of the Apocalypse.

-- Kristen, Main Library

Independence Day

2009-07-03T02:49:00.000-07:00

John Adams may have been off by two days when he wrote that July 2nd (the day on which the Second Continental Congress actually voted for independence) would be celebrated with “Pomp and Parade with shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this continent to the other from this Time forward forever more,” but he was remarkably correct about how Independence Day would be celebrated. If you need some escape from the heat of the day before going back out for the fireworks, here are some ideas from your library:

1776 is the classic movie musical story of the Declaration of Independence. As far as movies with endings that we already know go, it builds suspense better than any other. If you have only seen the theatrical or video cuts, on the DVD you will find a song from the play that was removed from the movie, allegedly under pressure from the Nixon White House due to perceived anti-conservative sentiments.

If you prefer a documentary approach, try Liberty! The American Revolution, a six part, three DVD PBS series that spans from the period just after the French and Indian War through the writing of the Constitution. Told largely through the words of original documents, the series features many familiar faces depicting various historical figures and a soundtrack by Mark O’Connor, who visited Dayton last fall to play with the Philharmonic, and James Taylor. The soundtrack is also available on CD, and the library also owns a tie-in book by the same title by Thomas J. Fleming.

-- Kristen, Main Library

A Beach Party in Franklin, Ohio?

2009-07-01T11:32:00.000-07:00

Blues Traveler performed recently at J.D. Legends in Franklin, Ohio. First, the venue: I like it. It's weird, but so am I. You walk into a bowling alley which also contains a bar and a restaurant. There's a side exit, though, which opens onto a very large sunken sand area - probably three volleyball courts worth of nice, soft sand. At one end is a stage, pictured here at left. The entrance side of the sand area is a massive deck with a couple of bars and a VIP lounge. It has the effect of transporting one to Myrtle Beach or Fort Lauderdale.

Now, the band: Blues Traveler hit the top of the charts with their 1994 LP Four. The singles "Run Around" and "Hook" stayed on the charts throughout 1995. Lead singer John Popper had some serious health issues in 1999 and the band also lost its original bass player, Bobby Sheehan, to a drug overdose that year. Popper also got popped for pot possession in 2003. Despite this off-stage turmoil, Blues Traveler has released a steady stream of studio albums since their 1994 breakthrough and their latest record, North Holloywood Shootout is at the library along with others such as Truth Be Told and Straight on Till Mo rning. The band put on a very solid show on a Saturday night at Legends. They played a long set with all their early hits, some new material, and a lot of extended jamming, during which John Popper turned his back to the crowd and hot-boxed cigarettes. Fun times for all.

-- Steve, Main Library

Fabulous Fondues: Appetizers, Main Courses & Desserts

2009-06-29T06:53:00.000-07:00

If you’re looking for something fun to liven-up a Summer Party, Fabulous Fondues is the book for you. Fabulous Fondues is a great source for information about fondue as well as some really great recipes for all kinds of different fondues. There are nine chapters of recipes in this book, and each deals with a different type of fondue. The first deals with what most people think of when they think of fondue: cheese fondue. “Beer and Cheese Fondue” sounds great for a party outdoors. There are even three pizza fondue recipes. For the vegetarians in your crowd, there is a whole chapter on vegetable fondues, such as “Sweet Corn Fondue.” A recipe for cocktail sauce is included in the chapter with recipes to go with meat. In the final chapter “Topping the Meal” the author offers several chocolate fondue recipes as well as dessert “dunkables” including several different pastries and fresh fruit.

-- Mary Ellen, Main Library

Theatrific

2009-06-26T08:39:00.000-07:00

The Human Race Theatre Company production of Ethel Waters: His Eye is on the Sparrow opened on the eleventh and is continuing through the twenty-eighth. If you are interested but can’t make it to the show, or if you’ve seen it and want to learn more, get His Eye is on the Sparrow: an Autobiography from the library.

The L ion in Winter opened on the nineteenth and is running Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday matinees through the twenty-eighth. If seeing it once there isn’t enough, check out the movie starring Peter O’Toole and Katherine Hepburn. The library also has the script of the play.

Stephen Sondheim’s Assassins at Beavercreek Community Theatre is running the same dates as The Lion in Winter. The Broadway Cast Recording, which includes not only all of the music but selections of the dialogue as well, is available at the library. If you see the show and enjoy it, you may also want to read Assassination Vacation by Sarah Vowell, who discusses the musical in the introduction.

-- Kristen, Main Library

2009-06-25T07:37:00.000-07:00

Red Rally!

For Ohio Libraries
Thursday, June 25
4:00 PM
Centerville Library
111 W. Spring Valley Road, 45458

Wear Red and Attend!

Statehouse Rally

2009-06-24T06:12:00.000-07:00

There will be a Save Ohio Libraries rally Thursday, June 25 at 11:30 A.M. at the Statehouse in Columbus. Wear red and bring you library card!

Montgomery county residents may find it easier to attend the Red Rally at the Washington Centerville Public Library Thursday, June 25 at4:00 P.M. Location: 111 W. Spring Valley Road. Supporters are asked to wear red for this event as well.

Rally for the Cause!

2009-06-23T07:29:00.000-07:00

A public rally is being held Wednesday to protest Gov. Ted Strickland's proposed budget cuts, which include a 50 percent reduction in public library funding.

This is the primary funding source for public libraries in Ohio.

The budget decision must be made by June 30, and may happen sooner. The "Save Our Libraries" rally will take place at 11 a.m. at the Loveland Branch Library, 649 Loveland-Madeira Road.

For more information, contact Phyllis Hegner at phyllis.hegner@cincinnatilibrary.org or 513-369-4571.

London Public Library - *RALLY on the LAWN - Show your support on Wednesday, June 24, 6:30 pm.

The Portsmouth Library will be closing at 12:00pm on Wednesday, June 24th for the "Save Our Libraries" rally which will take place on the front lawn at 1:00pm. We will re-open at 3:00pm after the rally.

Library Funding Update

2009-06-22T05:45:00.000-07:00

The Ohio Library Council has published an article which covers all the details and implications of the enormous threat to the state's libraries that has emerged over the weekend. You can read the whole article here.

"Public libraries in Ohio are funded primarily through the Public Library Fund (PLF), which receives 2.2% of the state's tax revenue. Since 2001, public library funding has been on the decline. As a result of the current downturn in the economy and decreasing state tax revenues, public libraries are currently experiencing a drop in funding from the Public Library Fund (PLF) estimated at 20% or more as compared to 2008. At a news conference on Friday, June 19, the Governor proposed an additional cut in the PLF of $112.5 million in fiscal year 2010 and $114.8 million in 2011 as part of his "framework" to fill the $3.2 billion gap in the budget that must be balanced by Ohio General Assembly's Conference Committee by June 30. This will mean a more than 50% cut in funding for many of Ohio 's public libraries." - Ohio Library Council.

Also check out this new Ohio libraries advocacy blog.

Library Funding on the Chopping Block

2009-06-20T10:29:00.000-07:00

From Library Journal :

Ohio Governor Proposes Halving State Support; Many Libraries Could Close

Library aid would be cut by $227 million over two years

Norman Oder -- Library Journal, 6/19/2009

$3.2 billion budget gap
Libraries' cut significant
11 days to agree on budget

Trying to close a $3.2 billion gap by June 30, Ohio Governor Ted Strickland today proposed “resiz[ing] state government in line with the shrinking economy,” prioritizing “extremely limited resources toward critical health and safety service,” and—though not saying so in his speech—severely cutting library aid.

See the DML home page for more info and action tips.

To find your state legislators go to: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/ and just type in your complete 9 number zip code for a link to your state senator and representative.

To find out your complete zip http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/welcome.jsp

To contact Gov. Strickland go to: http://www.governor.ohio.gov/Contact/tabid/153/Default.aspx

Dayton Ghosts

2009-06-18T07:48:00.000-07:00

A perfect book arrived last week at the library for fans of Ghost Hunters, which airs weekly on the Sci-Fi Channel. Karen Laven, an author from Northern Kentucky, has just published a new book titled Dayton Ghosts. Laven covers various purportedly haunted locations across the Dayton region including the Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson AFB, Blair Hall at Sinclair Community College, Stivers School for the Arts, Sycamore Woods Park, and other various locations around greater Dayton. There are even some humorous hauntings included such as the haunted Arbys in Miamisburg. Be sure to also checkout the author’s website at http://www.karenlaven.com.

-- Jared, Main Library

Almost Vegetarian?

2009-06-17T05:49:00.000-07:00

Almost Vegetarian: A Primer for Cooks who are Eating Vegetarian Most of the Time, Chicken & Fish Some of the Time & Altogether Well All of the Time, by Diana Shaw.

This book is great for people who are, for whatever reason, beginning to be careful about what they put on their table. Many of these people are starting by eating less meat. If you or your family are starting to watch what you eat, this book provides information and guidance to help you prepare delicious meals that are also healthy for you. The book begins with a fresh vegetable directory. Information given includes how to choose fresh vegetables and many other useful facts, such as how the vegetable is commonly used, when the peak season is, how to store the vegetable, and how to determine if it is ripe. There are chapters on poultry and fish, but there also are chapters on soups, salads, pasta and risotto, vegetable main dishes, and side dishes that can double as main dishes. The book ends with even more information: a fresh food directory, info on cookware and utensils, and mail order sources for food. The recipes in this book look really good, and almost every one has serving suggestions. All told, this is a very useful book and very pertinent for today.

-- Mary Ellen, Main Library

A Good Year for the Short Story

2009-06-16T09:37:00.000-07:00

Although we’ve barely reached summer, 2009 has already proven to be a banner year for fans of the short story. Recently A.O. Scott extolled the virtues of the American short story in the New York Times and James Lasdun in the Guardian took a more global approach in praising the current crop of short story collections. In my opinion, this media coverage is well-deserved, but judge for yourself by checking out one of these fine collections that have all been released in the first six months of 2009:

Ever ything Ravaged, Everything Burned by Wells Tower

Lov e a nd Obstacles by Aleksander Hemon

The Thing Around Your Neck by Chimanda Ngozi Adichie

In O ther Rooms, Other Wonders by Daniyal Mueenuddin

How It Ended by Jay McInerney

For more suggestions on short stories worth reading, check out http://ireadashortstorytoday.com/.

We Have a Winner!

2009-06-15T05:38:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday Dayton area native Alice Ripley won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance in the rock opera Next to Normal. If you haven’t heard it yet, the original cast recording is on its way to the library, so request it now. You can also hear her on the cast recordings of the 2006 production of The Rocky Horror Show and on the duet album with Emily Skinner Unsuspecting Hearts.

Write a Winning Resume

2009-06-10T05:34:00.000-07:00

Don't miss experts from the Montgomery County Job Center as they present "How to Write a Powerful Resume" at 7:00 PM, June 15 at the Belmont branch. This interactive session shows you the what, where, why, and how of resumes. After you get the concepts down, reserve a session at a library PC to write your resume with Winway resume writing software. The library has recently purchases this program which guides you through the resume writing process with a wizard, Autowriter, Resume Auditor, and many other excellent tools. The software also allows you to customize the appearance of your resume with a wide selection of graphical themes. Winway is available for your use free of charge.

Two Similarly Strange and Entertaining Novels

2009-06-09T10:03:00.000-07:00

The Unknown Knowns by Jeffrey Rotter and The Great Perhaps by Joe Meno are both stories of characters pursuing equally strange obsessions in unsuccessful attempts to ignore the complexities of their everyday lives. Jim Rath, the protagonist in The Unknown Knowns, dreams of building a museum dedicated to the Aquatic Ape Theory of Human Evolution. While performing underwater experiments at a hotel pool, Jim mistakes a low level Homeland Security agent for an emissary from a lost aquatic race known as Nautikons. Knowing that a living Nautikon would be a great attraction at his museum, Jim follows the agent from hotel to hotel until the story climaxes with an absurd showdown at a dilapidated water park.

In a similar tale of underwater obsession, The Great Perhaps tells the story of Jonathan Casper, head of the odd and crumbling Casper family. While focusing all his energy on searching in vain for a prehistoric giant squid, Jonathan effectively ignores the dysfunction surrounding him, which includes his wife’s failing academic career, his oldest daughter’s first attempts at becoming a teenage revolutionary and his youngest daughter’s wayward search for God. Like The Unknown Knowns, Joe Meno’s The Great Perhaps deftly mixes the absurd with the everyday to create a compelling and humorous novel.

-- Joe, Main Library

Everyone Against Everyone!

2009-06-08T03:34:00.000-07:00

German thrash metal masters Kreator toured recently to support their new release, Hordes of Chaos. Their show on a recent Thursday night in Louisville, KY did not disappoint. Opening band Warbringer was outstanding as well, but you get the feeling they are attending a "Thrash 101" clinic when Kreator begins their set. This is the twelfth studio album from Kreator and its critical reception has been quite good. If you came to metal with the early 80s thrash explosion, you will love this record. As great as some of today's non-extreme metal (Lamb of God) is, or as much as you might love death metal or black metal, thrash came first and, if you've been around long enough, you might be tempted to exclaim "that's what I mean when I say metal!" upon the wave of intensity that flows over you as Hordes of Chaos unleashes itself through your speakers.

65th Anniversary of D-Day

2009-06-06T07:47:00.000-07:00

Today marks the 65th anniversary of the Allied invasion of Normandy. President Obama paid tribute recently to the 215,000 Allied soldiers who were killed or wounded during D-Day and the following three months it took to secure the Allied capture of Normandy. Here at the Main Library, there is a book display that pays tribute to the Allied invasion of Normandy 65 years ago. The display is located directly in front of the World War II history books. Titles featured on the D-Day display include works from noted historians Stephen Ambrose, Max Hastings, and Martin Gilbert. We also have a large collection of books and DVDs on the Normandy Invasion by other historians.

--Jared, Main Library

The Spunky Librarian Checks In

2009-06-04T07:50:00.000-07:00

It’s the very end of the school year and a lot of students are in a sweat to finish their last research paper. My latest student needed some basic population statistics for Puerto Rico along with some history & cultural information. For general information about countries, I like the CIA website. Yes, that’s the Central Intelligence Agency. They have a lot of up-to-date information provided in their country profiles. Then we have a source called Culturegrams which comes in a print as well as an online database version. We have a lot of other encyclopedias about different cultures around the world and we always have books about specific countries. This was all more than enough for a 3 page paper.

--That’s all for now.

BB, Main Library

The Best of Sci-Fi in 2008

2009-06-02T07:45:00.000-07:00

About a month ago, the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America gathered in Los Angeles to present the annual Nebula Awards for books published in 2008. These books are nominated and voted on by all active members of the SFWA and, together with the Hugo awards, they are the major literary prize for the Science Fiction genre. This year's winner for Best Novel was Powers, by Ursula K. Le Guin. Here are the other nominees:

Little Brother, by Cory Doctorow

Cauldron, by Jack McDevitt

Bras yl, by Ian McDonald

Making Money, by Terry Pratchett

The Eco-Kitchen

2009-06-01T05:45:00.000-07:00

Recipes from an ecological kitchen: healthy meals for you and your planet, by Lorna J. Sass.

More and more people are becoming cognizant of issues relating to the current ecological crisis. Many are adopting lifestyles based on the idea that we need to be responsible about how we use the resources on our planet. And, often they start by changing the way they eat. This book is a guide to making that change. The book begins with suggestions for your pantry. Information on beans, grains, nuts, dried fruits and dried herbs and spices is given. Proper storage is explained. Next, the book explains the use of wok cooking, pressure cooking and steaming. Twelve menus using recipes from the book follow. Recipe chapter topics include grains, rice, pasta, tofu, land and sea vegetables, sauces, dips, quick breads and desserts. The book ends with lists of books for further reading and a list of mail order sources.

-- Mary Ellen, Main Library

Columbine

2009-05-29T06:49:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe that last month it had been ten years since the school shooting at Columbine High School. It's even harder to believe that in that ten years it never really sunk into public knowledge that the plan was not really for only a school shooting, targeting members of specific groups against which the shooters had a grudge, but for the destruction of the school with the highest body count possible. In Columbine by Dave Cullen, you'll find out that much of what we thought we had learned about Columbine in the days and weeks just after the shooting has been disproven by FBI investigation even though the public perception has remained unchanged. Far from the bullied outcasts who snapped that they have been portrayed as, the shooters were the bullies: a textbook sociopath who had been plotting violence on a grand scale for years, and a depressive with angry outbursts who ultimately went along with the massacre as a method of committing suicide. Although graphic descriptions of violence make it not for the faint of stomach, this book is enlightening, especially for anybody who was a high school student, teacher, or parent of a high school student at the time of Columbine and remembers the fear and constant rumors that "something" was going to happen on a certain day that persisted for the rest of that school year. Pictured is the Columbine Memorial - click the image to visit the site.

-- Kristen, Main Library

The Greatest Generation

2009-05-26T10:53:00.000-07:00

The U.S. National World War II Memorial opened to the public on April 29, 2004. The memorial sits on the National Mall between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial. It was constructed mostly with private funds after Roger Durbin, a WWII veteran from Toledo, Ohio asked his local Congressperson why their didn't yet exist such a site. The legislative and bureacratic processes involved in the construction of the memorial were fast-tracked by the U.S. Congress because we are losing WWII vets at a rate of 1000 per day. Every vet should have a chance to visit their memorial but many can't afford it. Fortunately, the Honor Flight Network will fly them to Washington, D.C. for free. If you or a vet you know isn't interested in making the trip, you might want to check out Douglas Brinkley's The World War II Memorial: A Grateful Nation Remembers. It's a large full-color book with many great photos of the memorial and a few chapters about the war as well.

Beware of Sharp Objects

2009-05-23T06:16:00.001-07:00

Try not to read this thriller, Sharp Objects, before bedtime; but be aware that it will completely absorb you. Gillian Flynn’s debut novel draws you in to the life of Camille Preaker, a second-class reporter from a third rate newspaper in Chicago. Struggling to leave her dysfunctional upbringing behind her, she is barely succeeding. Until, of course, she is sent to her hometown, a tiny community in Missouri, to cover the murders of two little girls. With the details of victims’ deaths and the torturous existence of small town life in Wind Gap, Missouri, Camille is reliving the worst of her past. Her attempts to self-anesthetize with whatever alcohol comes to hand are not nearly enough to stop her from seeing parallels between her own life and that of the murdered girls. Torn between the longing to fit a normal life within the confines of her tempestuous family relationships and the desire to slough off the past along with the words excised on her skin, Camille reassures us that our life could always be much, much worse.

"... and the best of me is diligence"

2009-05-19T07:24:00.000-07:00

If you’re like a lot of people, you may be curious about the giant King Lear statue in Courthouse Square. Naturally the Dayton Metro Library can help you find the play (check in the Classics Collection first, where it will be shelved next to copies of the Cliff Notes), but we also have other resources that can introduce you to the story, if not necessarily explain the sculpture.

The newest DVD of King Lear stars Sir Ian McKellen, best known in America for the Lord of the Rings and X-Men movies. Filmed for PBS Great Performances, it isn’t at Dayton Metro yet, but requests can be placed. PBS provides video and articles about the production on their website.

If you like a visual introduction but you’d rather not jump into watching the performance, try William Shakespeare’s King Lear: A Graphic Novel by Gareth Hinds.

Or if you’re already familiar with the story but you’re interested in a new twist, try Fool by Christopher Moor e, a parody from the perspective of (of course) King Lear’s Fool.

-- Kristen, Main Library

Herbs: A Country Garden Cookbook

2009-05-18T03:33:00.000-07:00

If you are looking for a book to help you learn about herbs this Spring, Herbs: A Country Garden Cookbook is it. It begins with a glossary that tells you all about planting, growing, harvesting and gathering. Included as well is information on storing and drying. The glossary describes the herbs used in the book, including pictures. The “openers” section begins with a recipe for carrot soup with dill cream. A Pear and Pecan Salad uses lemon balm and raspberry vinaigrette. An “accompaniments” chapter follows, giving recipes for herb infused vinegars, oils, honeys marmalades and butters. The “main courses” chapter begins with a recipe for Penne with Golden Marinara Sauce and Italian Herbs. A tomato tart is included. There is a recipe for Roasted Cornish Hens with Lemon Thyme and Oregano. The book concludes with a chapter on beverages. Recipes for tea infusions include Iced Spearmint Tea with Strawberry Nectar French Lavender Lemonade. Happy gardening!

-- Mary Ellen, Main

Lost on Planet China

2009-05-15T04:46:00.000-07:00

As travelogues go, Lost on Planet China is a good one. You get the usual history and statistics mixed with descriptions of visits to some of the most famous sites in the country. There is adequate space devoted to the thoughts of native citizens about their land as well. The real value of Lost on Planet China, though, is it's unsparing frankness and candor. The author does not hold back his opinions about the terrible air pollution in urban China, the chaos of auto traffic and taxi queues, or the variety of the Chinese diet, as is clear from this book's subtitle: "the strange and true story of one man's attempt to understand the world's most mystifying nation, or how he became comfortable eating live squid." Troost also visits Tibet on his journey and he paints a thorough picture of the views on each side about China's occupation of the region. The book is funny throughout and does a good job portraying the sheer mass and diversity of China, but the author's complaints about the traffic and the air become repetitive and contribute to an impression of cultural superiority. Lost on Planet China is not perfect but it is certainly worth your time.

If you like Troost's style, check out his previous book, also a travelogue, Getting Stoned with Savages: a Trip Through the Islands of Fiji and Vanuatu.

-- Steve, Main Library

The Unincorporated Man

2009-05-13T04:44:00.000-07:00

The Unincorporated Man by Dani and Eytan Kollin is a political and financial science fiction story of the twenty-fourth century. After The Grand Collapse, the solar system-wide economy is rebuilt with each person being incorporated at birth. Five percent of their stock goes to the government, twenty percent to their parents, a percentage to each sibling, and it is further sold off until people work for decades to become majority stockholders in themselves, if they ever do. Then Justin Cord, who placed himself in cryogenic storage in the twenty-first century, is awakened and becomes the only unincorporated person alive.

This is science fiction as a genre of ideas similar to Robert A. Heinlein’s novels. As in much of his work, our protagonist’s education about society makes up the bulk of the book. Although the action moves along at a sufficient pace to keep things interesting, Cord’s conversations with his friends and enemies are as significant as anything else that happens. The pacing at the end does feel slightly off, which interestingly is also a problem suffered by many of the Heinlein novels that this book brought to mind. Let’s hope that the Kollin brothers’ next book is at least as thought-provoking and that they write many more over which to work on small improvements.

-- Kristen, Main Library

Be Afraid. Be Very Afraid.

2009-05-11T04:37:00.000-07:00

If you’re tired of being scared of the H1N1 flu, you can always take a break and be scared by other epidemics instead.

Dread: How Fear and Fantasy Have Fueled Epidemics from the Black Death to Avian Flu by Philip Alcabes is a new book on epidemics through history, and how underlying fears and agendas inspired fears as much as the diseases themselves. It’s now on order with (as of this moment) no reserves, so request it and you’ll be one of the first to receive it.

Pandemics and Global Health by Barry Youngerman is a part of the Global Issues series. It describes the different types of infectious diseases and an overview of epidemics and methods of control throughout history. After this introduction there follow case studies of the United States, China, Africa, and India and their governments’ responses to recent outbreaks of disease.

When Germs Travel: Six Major Epidemics That Have Invaded America Since 1900 by Howard Markel looks at how six diseases- tuberculosis, typhus, trachoma, bubonic plague, AIDS, and cholera- became connected to a fear of the unknown or foreign. He also examines the tendency to blame the victims of disease, and for rare diseases to inspire more fear than the more widespread but slower-moving.

-- Kristen, Main Library

Going on Vacation? Stop by the Library Before You Leave!

2009-05-09T06:24:00.000-07:00

Did you know that your local library has up-to-date travel guides on many popular vacation destinations in the United States and abroad? We have travel guides on most countries in the world as well as travel guides for many major cities in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Asia, South America, and Australia. We carry all the most popular travel literature from Fodors, Frommers, Lonely Planet, Rick Steves, Mobil, National Geographic, and many more.

Inside Baseball

2009-05-07T05:49:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the library curtain? Take a peek with some of these blogs:

"1. librarian.net — Holding strong since 1999, rural librarian Jessamyn West relays her thoughts and observations on the evolution of library science technology in what is thought to be “the first single-editor library-oriented weblog.”

2. David Lee King — Digital Branch and Services Manager at the Topeka and Shawnee Public Library, King blogs about library websites and the future of digital technology in relation to library science. (Not to mention fun digital trend-related topics like videoblogging and web 2.0!)

3. Free Range Librarian — K.G. Schneider is the free range librarian, community librarian for Equinox by day and blogger by night. This is her personal blog, detailing her travels and thoughts on writing, librarianship, and the world at large.

4. Hey Jude — Judy O’Connell has a long list of credentials as both a professional and an educator on the subject of information science. In this blog, she reflects on her work, her new experiences, and the changing world of learning.

5. Walt at Random — Walt Crawford is the editorial director for the Library Leadership Network, and has over 40 years of public and college library experience under his belt. While he runs a separate newsletter, this is his personal blog with his own expert musings on music, media, and library science"

Excerpted from "The Top Fifty Librarian Blogs" at getdegrees.com.

Master the Internet

2009-05-05T10:21:00.000-07:00

Did you know researchers estimate that the results page returned by a typical web search engine only shows about 1/10 of what is available on the web for your topic? The majority of the information published to the world wide web is actually hidden from the view of search engines behind forms. These sites require you to go to them and use the their search utility or directory to find what you want. All of this hidden information is referred to as the "invisible web" or the "deep web." This is just one of the many juicy bits, tips, and tricks we will teach you in our laptop lab class, "Internet Searching." We look in depth at getting the most out of the search services offered by Google. As we go along, we examine search phrase construction, web site evaluation, and some of Google's competitors. Join us at the Main Library this Saturday, May 9, at 10:00 a.m. for an "Internet Searching" session. Registration is required - call 463-2665.

Take a look at our class materials here. Learn more about exploring the deep web here. Check out an excellent web searching tutorial created by U.C. Berkeley librarians here.

This is BS!

2009-05-04T04:34:00.000-07:00

Another Bul***it Night in Suck City is the story of Nick Flynn's journey to manhood. It is a rough journey. Flynn's father is never really around, partly because of a stint in prison for check fraud, his mother struggles to provide for her children and kills herself when Flynn is 22, and Flynn interacts with the most desperate people in the city of Boston while working at a homeless shelter there. During this gig, Flynn's father shows up at the shelter broke, mentally ill, and uncooperative. The author's detailed, finely-crafted reports on the homeless situation in Boston are eye-opening though many readers may find the intimate portraits of such dire straits to be unsettling. Flynn relays a good deal of information about his own struggles with alcoholism and drug abuse as well. This is certainly not light reading, but, as indicated by its receipt of the 2005 PEN/Martha Albrand Award for the Art of the Memoir, it is a masterfully written, thought provoking piece of literature.

If the above piques your interest in the finer points of BS, fear not, we have that covered. Harry Frankfurt, professor emeritus of philosophy at Princeton University, has published an excellent exposition of BS fittingly titled On Bul***it.

-- Steve, Main Library

Job Center Programs

2009-05-01T04:04:00.000-07:00

Did you know that Montgomery County is home to "the largest one-stop employment and training center in the United States?" It's called the Job Center and this excellent facility has been held up as a model for organizations of its kind throughout the country. The Job Center offers three workshops on an ongoing basis:

How to Write a Powerful Resume - Tuesdays at 10:00 A.M.

Job Search Strategies 101 - Wednesdays at 2:00 P.M.

Interviewing Skills - Thursdays at 10:00 A.M.

Class size is limited. Call 937-225-5627 to register. The Westwood branch librar y will also be hosting "How to Write a Powerful a Resume" at 6:30 P.M. on May 7 and "Interviewing Skills" at 6:30 P.M. on May 12.

The Killing Way

2009-04-29T04:02:00.000-07:00

The Killing Way by Tony Hays is a new Arthurian detective mystery. Lord Arthur is expected to be nominated by the retiring Rigatomus as his successor when a young servant girl is found murdered, apparently by Merlin. Arthur believes that Merlin was framed, but if he is perceived to be protecting a guilty friend he will be prevented from claiming the throne. To find the truth he turns to Malgwyn ap Cuneglas, a warrior whose cunning mind attracted Arthur’s attention while battling the Saxons.

This is not the traditional King Arthur story. Even a reader who goes into the book expecting a lack of fairy tales and magic will find that things have been changed, particularly the familial relationships and history of some of the characters. That reader will also find a historically authentic feeling result. Historical mystery fans and those who like well researched reimaginings of Arthurian legend will hope that we see more of Malgwyn soon.

-- Kristen, Main Library

The Dayton Metro Library Means Business!

2009-04-27T04:31:00.000-07:00

Join the Main Library on Thursday, April 30 from 8:00 - 9:00 a.m. as we open our doors early for a look at the various resources the library offers businesses, professionals, and nonprofit groups. We will have refreshments, a short behind-the-scenes tour, and demonstrations of our free premium databases and other resources for businesses. Please RSVP to David Slivken at 937-496-8504.

Get Your Boov Groove On

2009-04-25T04:39:00.000-07:00

If you ever find yourself wanting something really funny to read, as a pick me up, or simply because you are in the mood to laugh-out-loud, consider The True Meaning of Smekday. With parts that are reminiscent of both The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, it is hard to keep a straight face. The protagonist, Tip, an eleven year old girl, is on a road trip to Florida, with the company of a cat named Pig, and an alien named J. Lo. Did I mention that the year is 2013, and aliens have invaded? While everyone in the United States is being herded towards a reservation in Florida, much hilarity ensues involving learning to drive, scavenging for food, and dealing with the alien overlord. Though this book is part of the children’s collection, adults will find it just as entertaining. Also check out the Smekday website.

The Work of J.G. Ballard

2009-04-23T05:36:00.000-07:00

Author J.G. Ballard passed away on Sunday, April 19. You may be familiar with his novels Empire of the Sun and Crash, both of which also inspired film adaptations. You can find these (books and movies) at the library along with many of his other works, such as Super-Cannes, The Kindness of Women, and Concrete Island.

-- Kristen, Main Library

Author Appearance

2009-04-20T04:07:00.000-07:00

The Dayton View branch library will be hosting a book signing and meet & greet with #1 Essence Bestselling Author Victoria Christopher Murray Friday, April 24 at 6:00 PM. Also appearing are Vanessa Miller & C. Kelly Robinson, writing as Xavier Knight. The library stocks many of Victoria Murray's titles, including these:

Go Green

2009-04-17T06:50:00.000-07:00

Earth Day is in April and the Belmont branch library is celebrating with a Go Green Craft. We will be using recycled items to make crafts like book journals. Come learn ideas to help keep our Earth green at 6:30 this Monday, April 20.

Bargain Books

2009-04-15T11:05:00.000-07:00

The Dayton Metro Library Booksale, hosted by the Friends of the Library, will be at Hara Arena again April 24-26. The hours will be Friday 4-8, Saturday 10-7, and Sunday (everything you can carry for $1 day) 1-3 or while supplies last. Come out for some great bargains and to help the Friends help the Library.

A Taste of Spring

2009-04-13T05:22:00.000-07:00

A taste of spring: recipes to celebrate the season, is a wonderful little book for finding recipes that make the most of the seafood, vegetables, and fruits that are available in Spring. The first chapter offers recipes on seafood. Salmon is paired with asparagus, and soft-shell crabs with complementary herbs. Lamb is prepared with red wine, artichokes, and baby carrots. The vegetable chapter is arranged by vegetable, with a section on buying criteria as well as info on preparing the vegetable for cooking. Artichokes are used in various recipes with ingredients such as sausage and veal. There is, however, a salad option that uses a green sauce and goat cheese croutons. One of the asparagus recipes is a tart made with red onions. Fiddlehead ferns with mustard dressing are offered, and spring greens appear in a recipe for chicken soup with little dumplings. Wild mushrooms appear in a recipe including broiled polenta and leeks, while new potatoes are used in a potato salad as well as with dandelion greens. The fruit chapter includes apricots, sweet cherries, rhubarb, and cherries. There is an apricot tart and a recipe pairing them with amaretti. An old standby, cherry pie, appears with vanilla sauce. An upside down cake is made with rhubarb. The final recipe is “My kind of Strawberry Shortcake” with a biscuit shortcake and heavy cream. This book is a great way to celebrate Spring in your kitchen!

-- Mary Ellen, Main Library

Gladiatrix

2009-04-11T06:33:00.000-07:00

I received a reviewer’s copy of Gladiatrix by Russell Whitfield several months ago. The description given before I read it summarized the book as being about a Spartan priestess forced into slavery and a gladiatorial school for women, where she wins glory, earns enemies, and finds love with another gladiatrix. As a former student of Classical subjects, I was highly skeptical.

This is a much better book than I was expecting it to be, largely because the author seems to know what he is writing about. Yes, there are elements to the story that are not true to history, but the author’s note makes it clear that Whitfield knows what is historical and what is just speculation. He knows the rules well enough to break them. The classical view of sexuality was handled well.

The protagonist, Lysandra, would be too arrogant to be likable in a real person, but fictional characters can be judged on a different standard from real people because the reader does not have to interact with them. She is believable, which is more important. If she were universally beloved, her arrogance might be more grating, but since the other characters react to her arrogance as a flaw the reader can accept it.

Some of the sex scenes are rather graphic, as is some of the violence, so those with low tolerance for those elements might want to stay away, but it never veers completely into porn (or torture porn), when it easily could have. All in all, this is simply a good fun read. If you like the idea of a Roman adventure and aren’t turned off by sex (between all combinations of genders) and violence, place your request now and be one of the first library patrons to receive Gladiatrix after it is released.

-- Kristen, Main Library

Viking Metal

2009-04-09T08:03:00.000-07:00

Distinguished chiefly by its lyrical or conceptual content, viking metal originated in Scandinavia in the late 1980s. Musically, it may be more more accurate to describe much of viking metal as melodic death metal or power metal but, as its lineage indicates, viking metal has been greatly influenced by black metal as well. Whatever. It's heavy as all get out and it's about viking stuff - the loss of a treasured son in battle, prayers for Odin's blessing, conquest of foreign lands, etc. Although bands such as Bathory and Enslaved are often credited with inventing this sub genre, Amon Amarth might be considered today's leading practitioners and have a history longer than their recent success would suggest. The band, named for a volcano in Tolkien's Middle Earth, has been around since 1992, very near the infant cries of Viking Metal. Their latest release, Twilight of the Thunder God, has been met so well by fans that the band claims to have finally been able to quit their day jobs. The album taps guest musicians from the bands Entombed, Apocalyptica, and Children of Bodom. If you borrow this record from us, the set includes a special bonus - a DVD of Amon Amarth live at Summer Breeze 2007. It's a rousing performance complete with fortress walls and staged battles. Lead vocalist Johan Hegg frequently growls from the bow of a viking ship at center stage! If you like what you see, you're in luck. The band is touring the U.S. as we speak and will be as close as Louisville and Cleveland later this month.

-- Steve, Main Library

Spring Gardening Series in Full Bloom

2009-04-07T17:20:00.000-07:00

Join us for a series of programs to help you get your garden off to a good start this year. All programs are in the auditorium of the Main Library at 7:00 PM.

Tuesday, April 14 - Small Yard Landscaping
Tuesday, April 21 - Low Maintenance and Eco-Friendly Gardening
Tuesday, April 28 - Trees for the Miami Valley

Artful Eggs

2009-04-06T13:22:00.000-07:00

If you are planning on decorating Easter eggs this year, Artful Eggs: Six Dozen Extraordinary Ways to Decorate an Egg by Terry Taylor is the book for you. As the title belies, this book has all the information you need to decorate eggs. The first chapter is about the basics. Included is information about types of eggs, tools and hints for displaying your eggs. Apparently any type of egg will do, real bird eggs as well as wood or even glass. A handy section on tools is included. On the topic of coloring eggs, the book tells how to use natural dyes as well as food coloring. The next chapter describes lots of different projects. These start with a description of how to use stencils made from nature (small flowers or leaves) and natural dyes. “Trim eggs” are made from decorative ribbon or rickrack and are an easy option. Included as well are “pearl eggs” these are beautifully made using just pre-strung craft pearls and hot glue. A description of how to use small silk flowers with foam eggs follows. There are many more projects, ranging from easy to fairly complicated, and they are all beautiful. The final chapter offers ideas for decorating with eggs. Included are ideas for an elaborate springtime buffet, complete with egg place cards. Other ideas show painted eggs being paired with ribbon and fresh flowers. And lastly they provide info on doing brightly colored eggs hung from budding fruit trees for an Easter gathering. Happy coloring!

-- Mary Ellen, Main Library

Amberville

2009-04-04T04:47:00.000-07:00

Amberville, by Tim Davys, is a highly original noir novel in which all of the characters happen to be stuffed animals. Eric Bear thought that he had settled into a secure life with his wife, Emma Rabbit, and a good job, when his mobster former employer Nicholas Dove comes to him with an offer he can't refuse unless he wants Emma to be ripped apart. Dove has received a tip that his name is on the Death List that determines which stuffed animals are picked up by the red vans, never to return. Eric's orders are to find the list and remove Dove's name, but does the list even exist? This is a surreal, sometimes philosophical book, but it is sometimes brutal in odd ways as well (example: an animal beaten up until he coughs up stuffing). In spite of some slightly uneven pacing, it's like no other suspense novel you've read before.

-- Kristen, Main Library

Poets Night Continues

2009-04-02T06:06:00.000-07:00

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 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

Check out the recently announced National Book Critics Circle poetry winner Sleeping It Off in Rapid City.

Open Lab!

2009-03-31T15:33:00.000-07:00

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

Netherland

2009-03-30T06:11:00.000-07:00

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

Shambling Towards Hiroshima

2009-03-26T08:21:00.000-07:00

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

2009-03-26T07:32:00.000-07:00

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.

Sat., April 4, 1:00 p.m. – Wilmington-Stroop Branch Library.

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

Tax Information

2009-03-25T04:12:00.000-07:00

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

Spring Career Programs

2009-03-24T04:27:00.000-07:00

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.

Book Bags

2009-03-23T06:42:00.000-07:00

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

Movies Worth Reading

2009-03-20T04:57:00.000-07:00

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

Casual Hex

2009-03-18T04:54:00.000-07:00

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

Interlibrary Loan Service at Dayton Metro Library

2009-03-16T09:01:00.000-07:00

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

More Stuff We Found While Weeding

2009-03-12T07:15:00.000-07:00

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

A Dark Twist on Dickens

2009-03-11T04:48:00.000-07:00

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

The Definitive St. Patrick’s Day Festivity Book

2009-03-10T07:05:00.000-07:00

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

Poet's Night at the Library

2009-03-06T05:25:00.000-08:00

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

Make Your Credit Score Soar

2009-03-05T06:50:00.000-08:00

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.

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

2009-03-03T04:33:00.000-08:00

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

Beware the Ides of March

2009-03-01T10:44:00.000-08:00

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

Yearbooks in the Dayton Collection

2009-02-27T04:27:00.000-08:00

Did you know that the Dayton Metro Library’s Local History Room collects school yearbooks from all over Montgomery County for our Dayton Collection?

We have over 200 yearbooks from area elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as some university yearbooks, spanning the years from 1909 to 2005. (Roosevelt High School is pictured above, click for larger image.)

You can view these yearbooks by coming to the Dayton Local History Room on the lower level of the Main Library. Before you come in, you may want to check first to see whether we have the yearbook you want. You can check our online list of yearbooks available. (You can also access this list by visiting the Dayton Metro Library’s web site and clicking on Reference Desk, then Local History, then Yearbooks Index.)

We acquire these yearbooks mainly through donation, so please keep the Dayton Metro Library in mind if you have any Montgomery County school yearbooks that you no longer want.

-- Lisa, Local History, Main Library

Remembering Dayton's Days Gone By

2009-02-26T03:39:00.000-08:00

This series of programs highlights the glory days of Dayton, when life moved at a slower pace, but exciting times were just around the corner. Our Local History Specialist will share vintage images from the Library's historical photo collections for these programs held at the Main Library:

Tuesday, Mar. 03 - Meet Me at the Soldiers' Home

Tuesday, Mar. 10 - Masterpiece Makers: The Barney & Smith Car Works (Pictured above, click for larger version)

Tuesday, Mar. 17 - Miami Valley on the Move: Transportation & History

Tuesday, Mar. 24 - Dayton Underwater: The Great Flood of 1913

WHO Wrote a Book? About WHAT?

2009-02-25T04:58:00.000-08:00

Celebrities are always writing their autobiographies, that's nothing out of the ordinary...but sometimes the famous people write books you might not expect them to. You can find these slightly odd, but no less interesting volumes here at Dayton Metro Library:

We love to hear Miss Patti LaBelle sing. But did you know she loves to cook? LaBelle Cuisine: recipes to sing about was her first. (She has a secret for making carrot cake without grating tons of carrots...you'll have to check it out!) Then she found out she had diabetes. She wrote Patti LaBelle's Lite Cuisine. Her newest Recipes for the Good Life just hit our shelves.

Dixie Carter and Suzanne Somers make us laugh in sit-coms...but would you expect them to write books? Dixie's Trying to Get to Heaven: Opinions of a Tennessee talker is chock full of her opinions and some of them may surprise you. (She also has a CD on which she sings the songs of her friend John Wallowich...but you'll have to get that through the MORE system). Everyone knows Suzanne Somers went from Three's Company to Thighmaster, and many probably know she has diet books out there...but her newest is Breakthrough: Eight Steps to Wellness a New Age health guide.

Martina Navratilova was a superstar on the tennis court...but did you know she wrote a series of mysteries--starring, of course, female tennis player Jordan Myles. Total Zone, Breaking Point, and Killer Instinct are all available at Dayton Metro.

Michael Jordan, Tracy Gold, Judge Judy, Jamie Lee Curtis, Julie Andrews Edwards...the list goes on and on. Check 'em out

Abraham Lincoln Comes to Dayton

2009-02-24T04:36:00.000-08:00

On September 17th, 1859, Abraham Lincoln gave a two and a half hour anti-slavery speech on the steps of Dayton's courthouse. This one-hour program with music celebrates the 150th anniversary of his visit with photographs, local newspaper accounts of his speech, trivia, and a discussion of the legacy of Lincoln for our times. Catch this program on Tuesday, Feb 24 at 6:30 P.M. at the Kettering-Moraine branch library, Thursday, Feb. 26 at 6:30 P.M. at the New Lebanon branch library and Sunday, March 1 at 2:00 P.M. at the Main Library.

Oscar Nominees at the Library

2009-02-23T04:15:00.000-08:00

Yes, many of this year's Oscar nominees are too new to be out on DVD, but that doesn't mean you can't find them at the library. Check out the books and short stories on which they were based.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is based on a story by F. Scott Fitzgerald. You can find it in the collection of his work titled Novels and Stories, 1920-1922. There is also a graphic novel version.

The Reader was based on a book of the same name by Bernard Schlink. Besides being the inspiration for one of the Best Motion Picture nominees, it's also an Oprah's Book Club selection, so don't hesitate to ask your librarian to reserve it for you. You can expect it to fly off the shelves.

Frost/Nixon by Peter Morgan was a play before it was a movie, and the library has the original script.

The only movie nominated for Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published that is not a Best Motion Picture nominee is Doubt. At the library you can find the script of the play, Doubt: a Parable by John Patrick Shanley. Unlike the movie, the play is staged with only four actors. All four of the actors in the movie playing the original characters from the stage version have been nominated for Oscars as well.

There isn't much time left before the awards, so get reading!

-- Kristen, Main Library

The Big Read for Business

2009-02-21T05:41:00.000-08:00

The Dayton community Big Read is underway, providing a forum for everyone to read and talk about one book: Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult. This fictional story echoes real life tragic events such as Columbine and Virginia Tech, where young people were killed as a result of violence at schools.

The Big Read begins in March, with discussion groups and events, and ends in May. Dayton Metro Library and the Dayton Daily News are major sponsors, in cooperation with other local libraries and community businesses. Your business is invited to provide a discussion group time for your staff to participate in the Big Read. A librarian will be provided at your group to lead the discussion, if you wish. This is an opportunity to be part of the community discussion and celebrate reading at your workplace. For more information, or to request a discussion leader, please call Sandy Prell, Business Specialist, Dayton Metro Library, at 937-496-8610. The Big Read website is www.bigread.org.

Mindfulness Not Just for Buddhists Anymore

2009-02-20T03:25:00.000-08:00

Mindfulness plays a central role in the teachings of Buddhism. Mindfulness involves realizing that our minds are constantly commenting on the world, and that those comments are not concrete or lasting. Practioners of Mindfulness feel free to let go of those commentary-thoughts and live in the world rather than getting caught up in flimsy webs of thought that do damage...or rather cause suffering.

Recently, the concept of Mindfulness has caught on. More and more books are being published that employ the idea and practice of Mindfulness but have less of a Buddhist focus. Here are some of the titles you can check out at Dayton Metro Library:

On Becoming an Artist by Ellen Langer offers a Mindful approach to Creativity. Mindful Dreaming by David Gordon shows that paying attention to dreams can keep us in touch with our emotions. Life is a Verb by Patti Digh urges you to live intentionally. Secrets of the Lean Plate Club by Sally Squires is about Mindful eating, a sane way to diet. Calming Your Anxious Mind by Jeffrey Brantley teaches you to free yourself from fears and anxieties. The Five Good Minutes series, also by Jeffrey Brantley, are each on a different topic and can serve as an excellent (and quick) introduction to Mindful living. And Mindful Woman by Sue Thoele offers calming techniques to help women balance their busy lives.

-- Tim, Main Library

Every Book Its Reader

2009-02-19T05:02:00.000-08:00

Here at Dayton Metro Library we work long hours to perfect what Librarians refer to as Readers’ Advisory. RA, as it’s known in the business, is helping readers find books they will be likely to enjoy based on what they have enjoyed reading in the past or what they like to do aside from reading (If you like Stephen King, you may like Nate Kenyon. If you are interested in Interior Decorating and want to read a mystery, you might like A J Orde). Library schools teach classes in RA. Our library staff experts teach other library staff how to recommend books. We also provide you access to a great database called Novelist (and the kid’s version Novelist K-8) through our website. On that you can search authors, titles, subjects, series, character names, settings…just about any aspect of a book to find others like it…

But in searching the web, I found the perfect “quick and dirty” Readers’ Advisory tool that ANYONE can use. Zero training necessary, you just need the link below and the name of your favorite author.

http://www.literature-map.com/

When you put in the name of your favorite author, you get a cloud of authors who are enjoyed by other people who enjoy your favorite author. My favorite writer is Sheri Tepper…so I might enjoy Connie Willis or Sharon Shinn BOTH of whom I have cast an interested eye on in the past. Give it a shot next time you need a quick suggestion of an author. And the base website Gnod (which seems to be German) will also suggest movies for you. Sweet!

-- Tim, Main Library

Stuff We Found While Weeding

2009-02-18T05:56:00.000-08:00

The Skeleton in Armor, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, illustrated by A.V.S. Anthony. This is the 19th century equivalent of a coffee table book, but only if your coffee table is rather small. The famous Longfellow poem is meted out one couplet at a time over 94 pages. Each page of text is followed by remarkable engravings of the knights and ladies described in the poem. It is all so wonderfully romantic.

Doggerel: Great Poets on Remarkable Dogs, with linocuts by Martha Paulos. Not just another collection of dog poems, these are all by the greats: Lawrence Ferlinghetti (“The dog trots freely in the street…”), Ezra Pound (“When I carefully consider the curious habits of dogs…”), John Ciardi (“A dollar dog is all mixed up. A bit of this a bit of that.”), and the sublime Ogden Nash (“The dog is man’s best friend. He has a tail on one end. Up in front he has teeth. And four legs underneath.”). All this is humorously illustrated by Martha Paulos’ woodcuts, which could be a book on their own.

Shrinklits: Seventy of the World's Towering Classics Cut Down to Size, Maurice Sagoff. Looking for Cliff’s Notes that are even smaller than Cliff’s Notes? You can find them here summarized succinctly and hilariously in rhyme.
Here are the beginning lines of Oliver Twist:

Workhouse orphan asks more gruel—
Zap! He’s out. The world is cruel.

Or how about these lines first lines of Jane Eyre:

My Love behaved a bit erratic;
Our nuptial day Brought truth dramatic:
He had a wife, Mad, in an attic.

And of course there is always good old Beowulf:

Monster Grendel’s tastes are plainish.
Breakfast? Just a couple Danish.

What is weeding?

-- Sue, Main Library

The Angel of Grozny

2009-02-17T05:46:00.000-08:00

Norwegian journalist Åsne Seierstad, author of the international best seller The Bookseller of Kabul, chronicles the plight of both Chechens and Russians in her latest work The Angel of Grozny. In December of 1994, Russian President Boris Yeltsin ordered Russian troops to enter Chechnya, which had declared its independence three years earlier, in order to disarm “illegally armed groups.” As an eager journalist living in Moscow at the beginning of the Russian invasion, Seierstad volunteers to ride shotgun with Russian soldiers into the Chechen capital Grozny just a few weeks after the beginning of the invasion. During her visit to Grozny, Seierstad sees first hand the horrors of the war: orphaned children living in the streets, countless families uprooted after the men were killed in combat, evidence of mass graves, and widespread destruction of the country’s infrastructure. While in Chechnya, Seierstad also befriends a Chechen woman named Hadijat, who has taken in scores of abandoned orphans into her own home and gives them the care that the Chechen government cannot provide.

Ten years later, Seierstad returns to Chechnya in 2006 to see how the country has changed. She soon discovers that despite the so called peace in the region, the Chechens are no better off than when she was in the country ten years prior. Chechens still live in fear under the new Russian puppet regime headed by the extravagant dictator Ramzan Kadyrov. The Angel of Grozny is a definite eye opener to a brutal war that has not received as much media coverage as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Other titles available from the author at the Dayton Metro Library include: A Hundred and One Days: A Baghdad Journal, and With Their Backs to the World: Portraits from Serbia.

-- Jared, Main Library

Formerly Bestselling, Now Awaiting Your Request

2009-02-16T05:59:00.000-08:00

I have been around books, either in the bookstore or the library, for years. And if there’s one thing I have learned, it is that today’s bestseller is tomorrow’s shelf sitter. At the library we buy the books you want to read. If everyone wants to be reading the same book (the very definition of a bestseller) then we buy extra copies of them. But what happens when the demand for titles goes down?

We send those extra copies to storage. So we still have multiple copies of former bestsellers waiting for those of you who didn’t get around to reading them when everyone else was reading them. Here are some names you might not have heard in a few years…but we still have many of their books. If you meant to read them but didn’t get around to it, request them now!

Non-Fiction: Og Mandino, Thomas Moore, Barbara De Angelis, M Scott Peck, John Gray, Richard Bach, James Redfield, and Stephen Hawking.

If fiction is more your taste: Robert James Waller, Dan Brown, William Peter Blatty, Erica Jong, and Joseph Heller.

-- Tim, Main Library

Happy Birthday, Mr. President

2009-02-15T06:20:00.000-08:00

Thursday, February 12 is the two hundredth birthday of Abraham Lincoln. Not only is Lincoln a favorite subject of biographers, but he has appeared in his fair share of fiction, too. Here are a sample of his less-than-completely historical appearances:

Abe: A Novel of the Young Lincoln by Richard Slotkin tells the story of a journey Lincoln takes down the Mississippi shortly after the death of his mother. This novel was a New York Times Notable Book of 2000.

Another book from NoveList's recommendations is Booth: a Novel by David Robertson. It tells the story of Lincoln's assassination and the hunt for his killer from the perspective of James Surratt, one of Booth's fellow conspirators.

Henry and Clara by Thomas Mallon tells the story of a couple who witnessed the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. It was featured in NoveList's article on fiction for Lincoln's bicentennial.

-- Kristen, Main Library

Dayton's Martyr: Sister Dorothy Stang

2009-02-14T04:02:00.000-08:00

The Dayton Metro Library program "Dayton's Martyr: Sister Dorothy Stang -- Lessons Learned from Her Life and Death" will be broadcast on DATV, Dayton's public access channel 20, at the following times:

Friday, February 20 at 5:00 pm
Saturday, February 28 at 11:00 am
Wednesday, March 4 at 3:00 pm.

Join Dayton Daily News columnist Mary McCarty, photographer Lisa Powell and Sister Joan Krimm for a reflection on the life and work of Sister Dorothy Stang, a sister of Notre Dame de Namur who grew up in Dayton and was awarded the United Nations Human Rights Prize in 2008. Against a backdrop of photos from their trip to Brazil, McCarty and Powell discuss the trial of the rancher who ordered her killing. Her lifelong friend Sister Joan Krimm shares personal reminiscences of Dorothy. All three guests address the issues to which she devoted her life: saving the rainforest, seeking justice for poor farmers, and sustainable farming. They also discuss why her life and death still matter.

The Dayton Metro Library has two biographies available for check out:

The Greatest Gift: The Courageous Life and Martyrdom of Sister Dorothy Stang by Binka Le Breton

Martyr of the Amazon: The Life of Sister Dorothy Stang by Roseanne Murphy.

-- Joy, Main Library

Valentine's Cookbook

2009-02-13T06:30:00.000-08:00

Here is a great little book if you are planning on making your Valentine a chocolate treat for Valentines Day. The book begins by describing where chocolate comes from (the chocolate tree). A chapter on “general instructions” provides information you will need before cooking with chocolate: tools you will need, instructions on melting, tempering, molding, and storing your final project. The chapter on molding chocolate includes a recipe for Giant Peanut Butter Cups. Another chapter offers recipes for brownies. Pies and Tortes are represented as well. Dipping chocolate can be tricky, but this book’s recipes for dipping are easy to follow. The book ends with a chapter on chocolate drinks that includes Real Hot Chocolate. Have Fun!

-- Mary Ellen, Main Library

Digital Photography Series

2009-02-11T08:46:00.000-08:00

Mike Petrose and Paul Rybold are co-owners of Fairborn Camera & Video. Both have been at the store for over 20 years. They were the first in the Dayton area to embrace digital technologies for photographic equipment and have stayed abreast of the technologies all these years.

After graduating from the Ohio Institute of Photography, Kim Coughnour worked five years as a commercial photographer with clients including Folgers Coffee, Duncan Hines, and Sunny Delight plus many other recognizable large companies. Then she moved on to instructing at the Ohio Institute of Photography for over 13 years. She taught Camera Skills, Black & White Photography, Color Concepts, Lighting Techniques, Medium Format, and Advanced Commercial Photography courses. She was instrumental in the school's transition from traditional photographic methods to today's digital technologies. For the last five years, Kim has headed her own portrait studio, Red Leaf Photography, in Oakwood, Ohio.

Grow Your Own Business

2009-02-09T09:56:00.000-08:00

If you have an idea that could be turned into a business, the library and our partners in the community have resources to help you succeed. The library’s Business Collection at the Main Library includes books on all aspects of starting and growing a business. The library partners with organizations such as SCORE to offer free counseling and business workshops. Stop by the Main Library to check out our business books and pick up a copy of the monthly Business Bulletin as seen below.

2666

2009-02-09T03:24:00.000-08:00

Undoubtedly last year's most hyped novel, 2666 is bound to be one of the least finished. It's long - 892 pages in the single hardcover volume, stomach-turningly gruesome, and, challenging. The book is composed of five parts which revolve loosely around a fictionalization of the Ciudad Juárez murders in Northern Mexico, but this is not a plot-driven work. It is, rather, a tapestry of literary and philosophical musings which portrays what we must, given that Bolaño died in 2004, assume is the author's view of the world's spin into moral entropy. Whether these bits of profundity accumulate into a coherent statement is something you'll have to judge for yourself.

Here are a few more extensive reviews of 2666:

Slate.com by Adam Kirsch

The New York Times by Jonathan Lethem

New York Magazine by Sam Anderson

The Guardian by William Skidelsky

The Corleone Family Saga

2009-02-07T05:00:00.000-08:00

In 1969, American author Mario Puzo published The Godfather; an epic saga that detailed the story of the fictitious Corleone family and the Sicilian Mafia of New York City. The family was led by Don Vito Corleone and later, his son Michael. The book was a huge bestseller and portions of the book were adapted into two Academy Award winning films: The Godfather (1972) and The Godfather Part II (1974); generally considered to be among the best films ever made.

If after reading the book and viewing the films, you thought you knew everything there was to know about Vito and Michael Corleone and their family, let me make you an offer you cannot refuse…

In 1990 Mario Puzo and Frances Ford Coppola produced the final chapter of the saga, The Godfather Part III (1990). While the critics considered this film to be below the standard set by Parts I and II, many fans of the earlier films felt some satisfaction with the conclusion. After Puzo’s death, Random House published two “authorized” sequels to the original novel, The Godfather Returns (2004) and The Godfather’s Revenge (2006), written by Mark Winegardner. Together, these books and films chronicle the Corleone Family saga, interweaving national and international events with the power struggles of criminals and politicians (sometimes indistinguishable). In his attempt to ruthlessly protect his family, Michael Corleone slowly destroys that family and everyone he loves.

Chronology:

Book – The Godfather – 1945-1955 (including the early life of Vito Corleone 1910-1939)

Film – The Godfather – 1945 –1955

Film – The Godfather Part II – 1958 – 1959 (including the early life of Vito Corleone 1910-1939)

Book – The Godfather Returns – 1955 – 1962 (includes the early life of Michael Corleone, 1920-1945, and fills in several gaps in between the films)

Book – The Godfather’s Revenge – 1963 – 1964 (also explores the early life of Tom Hagen, 1920 – 1922)

Film – The Godfather Part III – 1979 – 1997

To read about the real Mafia and the story of organized crime in America, see:

Five Families: The Rise, Decline, and Resurgence of America's Most Powerful Mafia Empires by Selwyn Raab.

-- Jamie, Main Library

Free Tax Help

2009-02-06T06:57:00.000-08:00

The city of Dayton has a set of webpages with info on the EITC (earned income tax credit.) This page has the addresses and phone numbers of the places that are providing free tax preparation services this season -- it's a list of all our old friends like the Dayton Urban League, the Job Center and Community Action Partnership! There are also "Quick Hits" on the right, to help folks find out if they are eligible.

Here is the link to the tax preparation page: http://www.cityofdayton.org/departments/pcd/ca/EITC/Pages/freetaxhelp.aspx

-- Bonnie, Main Library