Drake Public Library

Seeking Excellence

Drake Public Library

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Meet a board member!

Board Member Kris Laurson.

Board Member Kris Laurson.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Board member questionnaire

 

Name: Kristopher (Kris) Laurson

 

 

How long have you served on Drake Library Board of Trustees: Since 2015

 

 

Any other volunteer or civic groups that you belong to: Rotary Board of Directors, Milestones AAA Board Member, Community Resources Chair, Chamber Ambassador, HCI Care Services Board Member, Iowa Partnership For Success Member, Community Improvement Coalition Member, Wellness Coalition Member, Knights of Columbus Member, St. Mary’s Parish Council Member.

 

 

How long have you lived in Centerville: I was born in Centerville, Iowa moved away in 1998 moved back in 2007.

 

 

Why are libraries important to you? It is important to me that the Library continues to be an intricate and essential part of the community. I enjoy being part of the board as it continues the process of changing to meet the needs of the community. Also my 8 year old son loves the summer reading program and I think it is very important that children understand the value of the library.

 

 

Favorite book, author, or type of reading material? I most enjoy science fiction as well as books giving expert advice on how to.

 

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The Martian by Andy Weir

I suspect that people would be surprised by the amount of peer pressuring that happens at the public library amongst the librarians. “You should come to Zumba”. “Come on, Whip and Nae Nae with us”, “Try this cheese” (bad idea…it was salted caramel and NASTY) and most frequently “You have to read this book”.

 

Now I won’t name any names but it’s possible that declining to read a suggested book by certain librarians would be hazardous to ones health. In fact we have a book in the children’s section about librarians who turn into dragons and well we all know dragons breath fire and since I’m flammable…. And so it came to be that I went home with our copy of The Martian by Andy Weir in my bag which lacking dragons actually puts it outside my typical genre. Also, I’m terrified of space. But fearing incineration I committed to reading this book about an astronaut accidentally abandoned on Mars. I didn’t hold out very high hopes, especially when I discovered most of the book was written in scientific data logs. Initially I thought “Seriously?!? Dumbest idea ever.”

 

But somehow, even though I just knew this book would be terrible, I found myself completely unable to put the bookmark in my spot and close the book….even at 3am. Yes folks, this book was THAT good. So captivating. Also, it was hilarious. Weir crafted a story that blended horror (uhh stuck on Mars!) with science (albeit fictional science), survival and humor. I’m most impressed that this book was very funny. Even after I finished the book I found myself wanting more of the story and to know what happened after the booked ended. Actually I suffered the worst book hangover I’ve had in a while with my clamoring for more details. So despite its lack of dragons and the fact that this book takes place in space I found it to be a most enjoyable and engaging read. I highly recommend it.

 

***Disclaimer*** There is a slight possibility that I made up a few of the details of this review….

 

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It was a dark and stormy night………

It is October, so here is the obligatory scary book blog post! There are a ton of scary books; vampire books, dystopian books, ghost stories, and psychological horror. Perusing online, a person can find lists and lists of scary books.

Stephen King is the master of the scary story, from short terrifying novellas to thousand page mammoth books full of the undead, he can make a reader sleep with a light on all night long. Salem’s Lot and Pet Sematary are two of his that absolutely scare me to my wit’s end. Interesting side note, King’s books are always vanishing from the Drake Library. We have to re-order multiple copies of his books. That is horrifying.

King has a son named Joe Hill. He is a talented writer. His short story collection 20th Century Ghosts is full of hair raising spooky tales.

The scariest book I ever read has to be Doris Lessing’s The Fifth Child. This family has a child and he is violent, super strong, and not very lovable. The siblings don’t want anything to do with Ben. The mom can’t handle him. This story is scary to me because I think that is every parent’s nightmare. Having a child that is uncontrollable and unpleasant would be a heavy burden for a family.

Whatever your flavor of fright, you can find a spooky story at the Drake Public Library to fill your October evenings with terror.

Stop by the store and buy a fresh light bulb on your way home from the library! Just in case!

 

 

Scary books

Some of the scary titles available from the Drake Library.

 

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I stand with the banned

This book has been banned by some libraries.

This book has been banned by some libraries.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hey did you know it is Banned Book Week?

 

Banned Book Week was started in 1982 as a way to bring attention to books that were being banned. Why do books get banned? They get banned for containing material that is deemed inappropriate by the School Board or the Library Board, or any organization that governs a library.

 

Here is a list of the top banned books in 20014 from Bannedbookweeks.org website:

 

1)     The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie

Reasons: anti-family, cultural insensitivity, drugs/alcohol/smoking, gambling, offensive language, sex education, sexually explicit, unsuited for age group, violence. Additional reasons: “depictions of bullying”

2)      Persepolis, by Marjane Satrapi

Reasons: gambling, offensive language, political viewpoint. Additional reasons: “politically, racially, and socially offensive,” “graphic depictions”

3)      And Tango Makes Three, Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell

Reasons: Anti-family, homosexuality, political viewpoint, religious viewpoint, unsuited for age group. Additional reasons: “promotes the homosexual agenda”

4)      The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison

Reasons: Sexually explicit, unsuited for age group. Additional reasons: “contains controversial issues”

5)      It’s Perfectly Normal, by Robie Harris

Reasons: Nudity, sex education, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group. Additional reasons: “alleges it child pornography”

6)      Saga, by Brian Vaughan and Fiona Staples

Reasons: Anti-Family, nudity, offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited for age group. Additional reasons:

7)      The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini

Reasons: Offensive language, unsuited to age group, violence

8)      The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky

Reasons: drugs/alcohol/smoking, homosexuality, offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited for age group. Additional reasons: “date rape and masturbation”

9)      A Stolen Life, Jaycee Dugard

Reasons: drugs/alcohol/smoking, offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited for age group

10)  Drama, by Raina Telgemeier

Reasons: sexually explicit

 

 

Promote your freedom to read by checking out a title that is controversial from your local library.

 

For more information about banned books, check out the American Library Association website at ala.org

 

 

 

 

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Book Review

The luckiest girl alive by Jessica Knoll

 

I picked this title off of Bridges for an easy read. I thought it would be standard light fluffy “chick lit” and would be easy mindless reading. Boy was I wrong!

Ani is the narrator and she is getting married to a seemingly perfect hunk. Then the story is told through flashbacks that delve into her turbulent teen years. She starts a new high school and tries so hard to fit in with the popular kids. She makes some foolish and downright dangerous decisions that alter her life forever. Her mom is portrayed as a clueless and narcissistic social climber. Her dad is there, but not there in Ani’s life.

The characters in this story are not good people! Everyone is flawed. Ani is probably the most flawed of all. The book begins to discuss an “event” from her high school. I found myself staying up late, avoiding conversations, and frantically reading to get to the “event” and find out what was going on.

The climax of the story seems horribly realistic. The author Jessica Knoll is able to put the reader right in the middle of the chaos. The story is satisfying and twists and turns to a finale.

Fans of Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train will enjoy this story and the main protagonist. I will definitely read all of Jessica Knoll’s books in the future. Her debut novel is a stunner. I recommend it to anyone who struggled to be “popular” in high school! I ordered a copy for the library, so readers can find it online at Bridges or on the shelf at the Drake Library.

 

Other new titles on the Drake Library shelves include:

 

Dance of the Bones by JA Jance

Good Girl by Mary Kubica

Driving Heat by Richard Castle

Dishing the dirt by MC Beaton

Gilded life of Matilda Duplaine by Alex Brunkhorst

The Drowning by Camilla Lackberg

Corridors of the Night by Anne Perry

Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson

Why Not Me? By Mindy Kaling

 

 

New books at the Drake Library

New books at the Drake Library

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September tidbits from the Drake Public Library……

JeNel is hosting after school programs on Mondays and Thursdays. Join her Mondays at 4 p.m. for storytime for grade school children. Thursdays at 4 p.m. she is holding a hobby hour. All programs last until 5 p.m. For more information, call JeNel at the library at 641-856-6676.

Toddler storytime is still Wednesday mornings at 11:30 am.

The library has a new color/black and white copier. The machine, prints, copies, scans, and faxes. Black and white copies are 10 cents a page and color copies are 50 cents per page. Faxing is $1.00 per page to send, faxes sent to a toll free number are free.

Genre-Shifter’s book club is currently reading “The Night Circus” by Erin Morgenstern. Join us for book discussion on Friday September 25th at 6 p.m. October’s book is “Beyond the Great Snowy Mountains” by Louis L’Amour.

Wondering about that classmate that you sat by in High School Geometry class? Did you know that the Drake Library has CHS yearbooks dating back into the 1920’s? Stop by and browse the years and giggle over those out dated hair styles!

The library will be closed on Saturday September 26, 2015. This holiday is known as Pancake Day and the librarians enjoy eating pancakes and shushing people during the “Big” parade.

Don’t forget that September is National Library Card sign up month.

“You want weapons? We’re in a library! Books! The best weapons in the world!”
— The Doctor, Season 2, Episode 2

Fun Fact: Did you know that the Drake Library subscribes to over 90 magazines? All paid for by the Friends of the Drake Public Library.

Goat kissing ceremony will be Friday September 11, 2015 at 3:30 p.m. Information and photos on next week’s blog.

Greger Barth

Write in candidate for Goat Kissing Contest

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Book review

Book Eeny Meeny by M.J. Arlidge

Eeny Meeny by M.J. Arlidge

This thriller was suggested to me by a patron. The premise is frightening, a couple or pair are abducted and wake up in an enclosed space. There is no water, food, or other means of survival. There is a burner phone with a sinister text message and a gun. To get out, one must die. This horror story plot makes for a gruesome story with some disturbing moments. The abductions happen to more than one couple. Each one more terrifying than the last.
The police cannot figure out the abductions. The main investigator, Helen Grace, is a lone wolf with a damaged background. She doesn’t trust others, has no family and is full of secrets. In a somewhat stereotypical role, we don’t really get to know her or her personality. She rides a motorcycle at extremely high speeds, hits the gym, and doesn’t trust a lot of people, but has a hidden heart of gold.

The brief chapters are two to three pages at the most. The story jumps around from character to character with flashbacks in time. The plot advances with these techniques in place. The mystery or puzzle of the abductions keeps the reader guessing until the very end.

This is the author’s debut novel. She has a series planned around the chief police investigator Helen Grace. The next novel, Pop Goes the Weasel will be out on October 6, 2015. I will definitely read the next title. I enjoyed the suspense and the unknown perpetrator in this story. However some of the violence may be a turn off for readers.

Other new books recently in at the Drake Public Library:

X by Sue Grafton
Friction by Sandra Brown
The Solomon Curse by Clive Cussler
Dark Ghost by Christine Feehan
Purity by Jonathan Franzen
Undercover by Danielle Steel
Starlight on Willow Lake by Susan Wiggs
The Nature of the Beast by Louise Penny

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Book Club Information

Exciting news!

The first official meeting of Drake Public Library’s new book club The Genre Shifters will be on September 9th at 2pm. We will also have a meeting on September 24th at 6 to discuss the same book. We’re starting out with 2 different meeting times in order to make the book club accessible for as many patrons as possible.

As Genre Shifters we will be picking a book from a different section of the library each month. We’ll all end up extremely well rounded as readers. This will be a great way to introduce some new flavors to your reading repertoire or help you break out of a rut.

September’s book is a very popular and highly acclaimed fantasy novel. We’ll be reading The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. According to the book’s publisher “The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called “Le Cirque des Reves,” and it is only open at night.
But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.

True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus performers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.”

So make plans now to join us as we discuss the book and enjoy themed refreshments and the fellowship of other book enthusiasts.

Let the circulation desk know if you need a copy of the book and we will get you one.

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Hey–what’s your genre?

Genre is a word that I say all the time! As a librarian and a nosy person, I constantly ask people what their favorite book or genre is. According to Merriam Webster, genre is defined as: a particular type or category of literature or art.  I love to find out what other people read, so I guess I have the perfect job as a librarian.

Goodreads ranks the most popular book of the year (2015) so far as “The Girl on the Train” by Paula Hawkins. This title is a mystery/thriller. Mysteries seem to be a very popular genre right now. Authors like Gillian Flynn, James Patterson, and John Sandford are in demand at the Drake  Public Library and currently  rule the New York Times Bestseller list. “The Girl on the Train” has been a steady winner on the list for the last 29 weeks.

Romance novels are a fun genre also. The romance section includes, paranormal romances like “All I want for Christmas is a Vampire” by Kerrelyn Sparks. Other sub genres within the romance world include historical romances, inspirational romances, and young adult romances. According to the Romance Writer’s of America website, in 2013, annual total sales of romance novels (print and electronic) totaled 1.08 billion dollars! The romance genre makes up 13% of all adult book sales. 84% of romance readers are female and 16% are male.

I am writing about genres today because we are starting a new book club at the Drake Public Library. The book club will read a different genre each month. The goal is to try other genres and sub genres of literature. There is time to join. Our first selection is “The Night Circus” by Erin Morgenstern. It is a fantasy tale full of magic, competition, and a dash of romance.  Stop by and request your copy. We will be borrowing copies from other libraries in the state of Iowa. If you are interested, the group will be meeting in September to discuss this book. Check the website’s calendar for the exact date and time.

 

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3,270 hours

Girl with Summer Reading Program Prize.

Jazzmine with a prize for completing ten hours of reading. Prize donated by Friends of Drake Library.

Girl with a twinkie.

Khloe and her twinkie minion.

Girl with art kit.

Shelby won an art kit for completing the required reading for the Summer Reading Program.

 

 

 

Every Hero Has a Story! Summer Reading Program 2015 Read!  Listen! Learn!

The library’s summer reading program has come to a close. Since the beginning of June, we’ve turned ourselves into superheroes, created animal hero puppets, shown appreciation for our local fire fighters and veterans, created amazing Lego creations, watched super hero movies and had parties with our American Girl dolls and our pet dogs. We’ve been taught amazing and interesting things by the Blank Park Zoo, Centerville Fire Department, Appanoose County Museum, Honey Creek Resort and the Science Center of Iowa. We’ve read books and won really cool prizes!

 

337 children registered for the summer reading program. If you were lucky enough to be one of the first 100 families to register, you probably have one of our “A Library Hero Lives Here” signs in your yard. 168 children completed the program by reading at least 10 hours for a total of 1,680 hours. There was also 1,590 extra hours read by these participants for a total of 3,270 hours read by our Super Reading Heroes! It has been our record breaking summer, with more participants and the highest completion rate that we’ve ever seen. Way to go kids!

 

Girl with a prize.

Brenda and her prize for completing the 2015 Summer Reading Program.

An amazing fact about our summer reading program is that it is absolutely free to all participants. Our prizes, programs, supplies, snacks and crafts are all paid for by the Friends of the Drake Public Library, local restaurants and volunteers. A big THANK YOU goes out to The Friends of the Drake Public Library, lead by Colene Chebuhar (who also took pictures at our programs – yay!), American Legion, Centerville Fire Department, Hardee’s, Sonic, Subway, Pizza Hut, VFW, and of course, the staff and volunteers here at Drake Public Library. Your donations of money, materials, and your time made this summer great for the children that we serve.

 

So, why do we do this? We do this because we love children, we love books, and we love seeing children excited about reading and learning! We’re beating the “Summer Slide” here by putting books in the hands of children who are on break from school and engaging them in fun learning opportunities.