Health Planning in the New Year

Happy 2010!  May the new year be a healthy one for you.

These days we hear so much about health care and health insurance.  No one knows what the future holds in store for us in terms of sickness and health.  And wise planning is the best approach for a secure future.

Here at the West Palm Beach Public Library we are fortunate to have a series of programs being presented by Shalloway and Shalloway on “How to Get the Best Long Term Care and Pay for It Without Going Broke!”   The next 2-hour program will take place on Tuesday, February 2, 2010, at 2:00 pm in the Library’s Hibiscus Room on the 3rd Floor.

Shalloway and Shalloway, specialists in elder law, special needs trusts, estate planning, probate, guardianships, and much more, will explain how to get the care you want for your loved one (or yourself!) without worrying about the expense.  This is your chance to get the latest information, get some good tips and advice, and get your questions answered.  With the knowledgeable assistance of Shalloway and Shalloway we can explore the details of Medicare, Medicaid, Veterans Administration benefits, and much more.

This is a topic we hear a lot about, but most of us need more detailed information and need to learn about all the options and how they apply.  It really is never too early to start planning!   Join us at the library for an enlightening presentation, and check out some books on the subject, too!  A few relevant titles to be found at our library are listed below.

Here’s to a very healthy year, and a year of wise planning!!

Esther Fawn Van Allen, Reference Librarian

Add comment January 15, 2010

The Best of the Best of 2009

‘Tis the season for end of the year book lists!

If you’re looking for book recommendations, you can visit the blog of our venerable Book Goddess year-round.

However, whenever December rolls around, you can’t cross the street without tripping over a book list.  “Top 10 of 2009,” “Best Books for Your Holiday,” “Best Books of the 00’s…”  They’re everywhere!

Here’s a roundup of some of the more interesting lists out there.  To see more information about the books, click on the name of the list.  To request a copy from our library (if available), click on the title of the book.

NPR – Librarian Nancy Pearl’s 2009 Under-The-Radar Books

  • Spooner by Pete Dexter
  • When Wanderers Cease to Roam: A Traveler’s Journey of Staying Put by Vivian Swift
  • The Good Soldiers by David Finkel
  • Liar by Justine Larbalestier
  • Going Bovine by Libba Bray
  • When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
  • In the Town All Year ‘Round by Rotraut Suzanne Berner
  • Bubble Trouble by Margaret Mahy
  • Travels in a Thin Country: A Journey Through Chile by Sara Wheeler

Amazon – Best Books of 2009 (Editors’ Picks)

Publishers Weekly – Best Books of 2009 (Top 10)

New York Times – The 10 Best Books of 2009

Of course, the list wouldn’t be complete without my own list!  While they’re not all new books, I truly enjoyed the experience of reading them, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend any of them.  Have a question about one of them?  Email me at krabillb@mycitylibrary.org and I’d be happy to tell you more about it and why I liked it.  In fact, I’m always happy to give book (and movie and music) recommendations!

My Favorite 10 Books Read in 2009

What’s your first book of 2010 going to be?  I’m leaning towards either A Gate at the Stairs by Lorrie Moore or How to Rule the World From Your Couch by Laura Day.

Happy reading!

** Britta**

Add comment December 15, 2009

Bollywood Cinema

I was talking with my American friend about movies and she asked me which new Bollywood movie we have got in our library.  When I told her the name OM SHANTI OM, she gave me a mysterious smile and told her story of OM SHANTI OM.  This is the first Bollywood movie she saw on the plane, when going to New Delhi from New York, a non stop 14 hours flight.  She was not able to sleep and out of sheer boredom she tuned in to the English subtitled Bollywood movie OM SHANTI OM.  She used to think that Indian movies are melodramatic, silly and just song & dance drama of 3 hours – everything she dislikes in a movie.  But she loved that movie and on her trip she watched some more and she was hooked. Now she is addicted to Bollywood Cinema and has seen almost all the movies that we have in our collection and what I have at home.

Some people have negative preconceptions about Indian movies but thanks in part to the Oscar Winner Slumdog Millionaire, Indian movies are catching on like crazy.  It is surprising for me when patron ask for the Bollywood movies by their titles.  The response to these movies is tremendous. Some Westerners find song & dance aspect of Indian movies hilarious but it is part of the grammar of Indian filmmaking.  Songs are a beautiful and unique part of Bollywood movies and I’d be devastated if they vanished.

I can proudly say we started our collection of Indian Cinema in our library a long time ago and we have some of the best movies of Bollywood and other Indian filmmakers.  The most notable is by director Satyajit Ray, who has a global audience.  Though deeply rooted in Indian culture, his films manage to produce a universal humanistic response because it is all about human relations.  I think Cinema has an amazing power to touch people across the world, in whatever language or whatever form.  Eventually it is all about the human emotions.

I enjoy movies from all over the world, but yes, Bollywood films are very special because I’ve grown up watching them.  They are a part of me. You laugh, you cry, feel like dancing with characters and this is the appeal of the Indian Cinema. Check out some Indian movies and tell me how was your experience of watching the Bollywood Cinema and I am sure you will fall head over heels just like my friend did.

- Manju

Add comment December 8, 2009

Want some help filling out forms online?

Hello again from the West Palm Beach Public Library.  Today let’s talk about using the computer to fill out forms online.  Sometimes it can seem rather challenging!  These days government agencies (at all levels: local, state, and federal) are providing forms to be filled out online, and in some cases this is the ONLY way these forms can be completed and submitted.

At the Library’s e-Government workshops every Monday  from 1:30 to 3:30 pm, there are library staff in the Computer Lab on the 2nd Floor to assist people for 2 free computer hours with e-Government websites.  In case you are wondering about the term “e-Government”, it represents the delivery of services traditionally provided by government agencies via electronic means.  Here is a list of some of the websites the library staff can help you with:

Links for E-government Workshops

Federal

State

I want to apply for food stamps:  http://www.myflorida.com/accessflorida/

I want to apply for Medicaid:  http://www.myflorida.com/accessflorida/

I want to file for Unemployment: http://www.floridajobs.org/Unemployment/

I need to claim my weeks for Unemployment or check on my claim:  https://www2.myflorida.com/flccid/

I want to renew my car registration: https://www7.hsmv.state.fl.us/VirtualOffice/faces/lobby.jsp

I want to renew my driver’s license: https://www7.hsmv.state.fl.us/VirtualOffice/faces/lobby.jsp

Local

I want to pay my utility bill (City of WPB only): http://www.wpb.org/utilities/ways_to_pay.html

I want to look up or pay my property tax: http://www.pbcgov.com/tax/i&p_property.shtml

I want to see the value of my property:   http://www.co.palm-beach.fl.us/papa/aspx/GeneralSearch/GeneralSearch.aspx

In addition to providing  assistance in completing applications and forms, the Library will try to help with such e-Government needs as finding information about government programs and services, jobs, education, and other government transactions, and obtaining free e-mail accounts.  Library staff members are not permitted to give legal, financial, or medical advice and are not case workers. If you know of someone who might need some help, please tell them about the Library’s Monday e-Government workshops.  It is important to bring with you any necessary information that might be needed to complete the form you are filling out, such as addresses, telephone numbers, social security numbers, and birth certificate information.    See you there!

Esther Fawn Van Allen, Reference Librarian

1 comment December 1, 2009

Author Alerts!

Hosting author or literary events can be the most rewarding of all library programs.  Author programs can connect our readers and writers in ways that enrich both groups.  They also provide informative and entertaining programs to our local community.

Here at the West Palm Beach Public Library we have a “booked” schedule of events with authors and writers who will share their latest works and musings.  So be sure to mark your calendars and join us for the following programs to get your literary fix!

  • about_frank_image3_onFrank McKinney:  Times bestselling author, real estate “artist”, and philanthropist Frank McKinney will be here to discuss and sign  copies of his latest book “Burst This! Frank McKinney’s Bubble-Proof Real Estate Strategies.”   Praised by Donald Trump for his “groundbreaking deals and rock-star looks”  McKinney creates multimillion dollar estate homes and recently completed the world’s largest “green” mansion.

Wednesday, November 18th from 6:30-7:30pm Auditorium

  • Debbiewithbook3_op_640x664 Deborah Pollack: Meet bestselling author, lecturer, and art dealer, Deborah C. Pollack!  Deborah Pollack will be here to discuss and sign copies of her recent book “Laura Woodward: The Artist Behind the Innovator Who Developed Palm Beach” a biography of the famous pioneer artist who laid the groundwork for Palm Beach’s image as a tropical paradise.

Deborah is a bestselling author, lecturer, and Palm Beach art dealer who specializes in Florida artists.

Wednesday, December 2nd from 6:30-7:30pm Clematis Room

  • eliotEliot Kleinberg:  The Historical Society of Palm Beach County presents “Wicked Palm Beach, Lifestyles of the Rich and Heinous” a lecture by renowned local author and journalist Eliot Kleinberg.Eliot Kleinberg will draw on his “Post Time” column in the Palm Beach Post to offer this unique glimpse into the extraordinary history of Palm Beach.  A book signing will immediately follow his lecture.

Thursday, December 3rd from 6:00-8:00pm Clematis Room

christineChristine Stapleton:  Here is your chance to meet celebrated Palm Beach Post reporter Christine Stapleton!  Some of her many awards include: Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award 2004 and 2006 and the 2008 Mental Health America Journalism Award. She is a senior fellow of the Knight Foundation and has appeared on The Deborah Norville Show, Inside Edition and City Confidential. Christine Stapleton will be here to discuss and sign copies of her book “Hoping for a Happy Ending: A  journalist’s  story of depression, bipolar and alcoholism.”
Saturday, December 12th from 12:00-1:30pm Clematis Room.

marjorie Marjorie Gottlieb Wolfe:  Come out to the Library and meet humor writer Marjorie Gottlieb Wolfe! Articles of hers have appeared in The New York Times, Smart Money Magazine, Playbill Magazine, and The Jewish Press.Marjorie Wolfe will be here to speak on the topic “The Humor of Molly Goldberg” the beloved character created by television pioneer, Gertrude Berg

Thursday, December 17th from 1:00-2:00pm Clematis Room.

All programs are FREE and do not require registration.  If you need more information about any of our author/writer visits please contact the library at 561-868-7701.

See you soon!

Theresa

Add comment November 11, 2009

Staying Busy in West Palm Beach

One of the best things about the library is that it’s in the middle of such a vibrant community.  There’s always something going on.

While you may know about the weekly Clematis by Night concerts and the seasonal greenmarket, there’s so much more happening in West Palm Beach!

If you’re curious to see how the community is changing, check out the Clematis Street Blog.

If you want to know what’s going on right this very second, @aGuyonClematis posts information and pictures about the here and now on Clematis Street.

Next time you’re in the neighborhood, make sure to stop by the library!  If none of these events appeal to you, we’ve got loads of materials on cooking, crafts, and hobbies.  We’ll make sure to keep you busy!

 

**Britta**

Add comment October 29, 2009

Father and Son

Oct. 2nd is the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi and I remember my mother also on that day because there are so many memories of my mother associated with Gandhi. She was a true Gandhian and used to tell us stories about Mahatma Gandhi when we were growing up. Now I realize that by telling all those stories she was telling us how to be brave, truthful, and courageous.  I grew up understanding Gandhi through those stories.

 But there is one story about Gandhi my mother never told us.  I found that even in the literature about Gandhi there was some unspoken blacking out of Gandhi’s son Harilal from Gandhi’s daily world.  This is evident from his secretary Mahadev’s meticulous record keeping; even that is totally silent about Harilal.

 I would like to share my thoughts about that.  It is a story of a failed father who carried a deep wound in his heart –his son Harilal, roaming the streets like a beggar, converting to Islam and then back to Hinduism, and finally dying of syphilis and alcohol abuse.  Harilal was Mahatma Gandhi’s eldest son and a most inconvenient truth.  He rebelled against his father’s idealistic principles and sought to live a life where he would not have to carry the burden of being the son of Mahatma Gandhi.

 I wondered why Mahatma Gandhi could not save the soul of his own son when he was transforming the soul of the nation. The conflict between father and son is complex; I tried to read whatever I could find on that aspect of Gandhi.  It makes me sad but I can never make Harilal a yardstick to understand a great man like Gandhi, nor do I have the moral authority to even question a man like Gandhi.

To me this is a conflict of a principled father and an unfortunate son.  Gandhi became a greater human being by putting his principles and quest for human dignity above everything else - even his own son. He made a personal sacrifice; a very difficult choice to make.

 P.S. I am sure after reading this you would like to know more about Harilal and the good news is – Harilal Gandhi: A Life is on order and will soon be available for checkout.

 

Manju

Add comment October 19, 2009

92YLive – Mitch Albom

Hello again.  I am eager to tell you about a wonderful upcoming event at the West Palm Beach Public Library:  92YLive – Mitch Albom: Have a Little Faith.  It will be held in the library auditorium (3rd Floor) on Wednesday, November 4, 2009 at 7:45 PM.

I highly recommend that you try to attend this event.  I had the privilege of hearing Mitch Albom talk at an American Library Association conference a few years ago, and he was absolutely fantastic – one of the most moving and delightful experiences ever!  A really memorable occasion!  He is not only a great writer but an enthralling public speaker: inspiring, fascinating, and entertaining. He had all of us in the audience laughing, crying, and frequently doing both at once!

Mitch Albom is as gifted a speaker as he is a writer.  He brings to life the connection between his sports writing and human interest stories of empathy and drama in such books as Tuesdays with Morrie and Five People You Meet in Heaven.  His new book Have a Little Faith proves to become another great read.  I plan on attending this event on November 4 if at all possible.  For anyone who wants to be truly entertained (and enlightened!), it is strongly recommended.  Come and share this and many other terrific events with the Library Friends.  Enjoy!


have a little faith albomHave a Little Faith: Mitch Albom

Writer and broadcaster Mitch Albom, the author of Tuesdays with Morrie (the best-selling memoir of all time with more than 14 million copies sold), The Five People You Meet in Heaven and For One More Day, has become an inspiration to millions of people around the world. His forthcoming book is Have a Little Faith: A True Story of a Last Request. Albom is a columnist for the Detroit Free Press and the host of two radio shows that are broadcast in 38 states.

Live from NY’s 92nd Street (92YLive) is a live, satellite-broadcast event, that allows people all over the nation to access the Y’s cultural and educational programs. This event is ongoing, with our first program being the Forum on Sustainable Global Enterprise.

This program will provide an opportunity for the audience to ask questions of the presenters, as if they were in the New York audience.  For more information about the 92YLive programs go to http://www.92y.org/live

Friends members can attend for $5.00, the General Public can attend for $10.00.

Remember, Friends receive email notices and reminders of events and can access many events at discounted prices or attend for free.

To register, please visit the website of our Friends group:  http://www.friendswpblibrary.org/

Esther Fawn Van Allen, Reference Librarian
West Palm Beach Public Library

Add comment October 8, 2009

Breast Health Awareness @ the Library!

I am a procrastinator.  No doubt about it.  However as I began my job of  forwarding  library event information to various organizations I realized that one particular event hit a nerve.   In promoting our “Hispanic Breast Health” lecture program I have heard numerous stories from individuals who have either experienced first-hand breast cancer or know others who have dealt with this terrible disease.   So no more postponing my physical! The date is set and I am also making sure I attend this valuable and informative program.

Please make every effort to take your breast health into consideration!  Be  proactive and attend the West Palm Beach Public Library’s Hispanic Breast Health presentation this Saturday from 1:00-2:00pm.  Dr. Elisabeth A. McKeen will present the latest information on breast health for the Hispanic population. She will speak about breast cancer prevention, screening and treatment. Dr. McKeen will also answer questions from the audience. A translator will be provided.

Particularly for our Hispanic community we need to get the word out!  Did you know that breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer death among Hispanic/Latina women?   Also, according to the National Cancer Institute it estimates that a woman in the United States has a 1 in 8 chance of developing invasive breast cancer during her lifetime! 

So bring your mother, sister, grandmother, and anyone else you care about to the library’s breast health presentation and let’s not put off hearing about what we can do to learn and possibly prevent breast cancer.

  • Date/Time: Saturday, October 10 1:00-2:00pm
  • Location: West Palm Beach Public Library Auditorium
  • Cost: FREE

See you there,breast-cancer-ribbonjpg

Theresa

Add comment October 7, 2009

Caution: Dangerous Reading!

Once a year, libraries around the United States salute intellectual freedom by highlighting books that have been banned or challenged in school libraries and public libraries.  Banned Books Week, which is September 26 – October 3 this year, celebrates our freedom to read materials which may have controversial content or unpopular viewpoints. 

If you come into the library in the next week or so, you’ll see our Banned Books Week display in the New Fiction section on the first floor.  We’ve highlighted some of the most often challenged and banned books.

You would expect to see books such as Lolita and Harry Potter on display, but many of the books frequently challenged in schools and libraries are surprising.  Here are a just a few examples:

Come to the library and check out something from our display.  Open your mind by getting to know a different point of view.

**Britta**

1 comment September 22, 2009

The United States of Hispanic

From September 15 to October 15 every year, Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated across the country. We celebrate the traditions and values of the various cultures, and the contributions Hispanic immigrants and their descendants have made to this country.

It’s an important activity, since the Hispanic population and its impact on the United States continue to grow, as this press release from the U.S. Census Bureau attests. The list of numbers and statistics they’ve compiled about Hispanics in the U.S. included some surprises for me.

Can you believe, for example, that the only country with a greater Hispanic population than the United States is Mexico?

Out of the 50 states, New Mexico is the state with the most Hispanics – 45% of their total state population. (Florida is about 20% Hispanic.)

Our US Hispanic population contributes to American society in many ways. 79,400 of US Hispanics are chief executives. 50,866 are physicians and surgeons. 48,720 are postsecondary teachers. 38,532 are lawyers, and 2,726 are news analysts, reporters and correspondents. Plus, 1.1 million Hispanics are veterans of the U.S. armed forces. And, of course, we now have our first Hispanic justice on the Supreme Court, Sonia Sotomayor.

It’s good to be bilingual! Many immigrant groups lose their language over a couple of generations, but Spanish is alive and well in the US. 78% of Hispanics 5 and older speak Spanish at home. More than half of these folks also speak English very well.

Check out all the stats from the Census, and raise your awareness in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month 2009!

~Tara

Add comment September 21, 2009

Time to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month!

mexican_folkoric_32554928

It’s just around the corner and WOW do we have some exciting events planned for Hispanic Heritage Month!  

September 15 to October 15 is Hispanic Heritage Month in the United States, a time to recognize the achievements and contributions of Latino/Hispanic Americans.  To celebrate, the West Palm Beach Public Library will host a variety of programs beginning Saturday, September 13th.  On this date the Children’s Department will present their “Sundays @ 2 for families” series with a Mayan Hieroglyphics interactive workshop,with local artist, Steve Brouse. 

In addition the library will present a cooking demonstration on Saturday, Sept. 19th at 2:00pm.  La Esquina del Ceviche Restaurant will actually be showing us how to cook ceviche, Peru’s most renowned dish.  Yummm!

And that’s not all!  Take a look at some of our other FREE programs celebrating Hispanic Heritage:

  • iCinema series: the Cuban Arts and Cultural Association will present the film “El Super.” They will also host a special reception afterwards.  Sunday, September 20th @ 2:00pm.
  • La Paloma Dancers: Mexican folkloric dance group from the Hispanic-Latino Cultural Alliance of Palm Beach County. Fresh chips and salsa will be provided by Aleyda’s Restaurant. Kids will also be invited onstage for a pinata!  Saturday, September 26th @ 2:00pm.
  • Live Argentine Tango Performance: George and his students from the dance studio Exclusively Argentine Tango @ George’s will show off their best pieces onstage.  Sunday, September 27th @ 2:00pm.
  • Homage to Rafael Hernandez: The Puerto Rican Cultural Society will present a taste of Puerto Rico’s rich musical and cultural heritage. Sunday, October 4th @ 2:00pm.
  • Bolivian folkloric dancing: Part of our “Sundays @ 2 for families” series. Kids from the cultural center Semilla Boliviana will perform in full costume Bolivia’s traditional dances. Sunday, October 11th @ 2:00pm.

Also a special display titled “La Florida: Spanish Colony” will be located in the Florida Room on the 4th floor of the library.

The West Palm Beach Public Library invites you as well to browse and borrow materials from our Spanish Language collection. The library offers books, DVD’s, CD’s, popular magazines and more!  Just search our online catalog.

For more information about these great programs please call 561-868-7723 or 561-868-7701 or be sure to visit www.mycitylibrary.org.  BTW: Kudos to Tara Moreno, the library’s Hispanic Outreach Librarian, who has coordinated the scheduling of these great programs!

See you soon!

Theresa

 

 

 

important to understand “the diversity of the Hispanic community — Hispanics in the U.S. come from not just Mexico, but also from many different places in Europe and the Americas,

Add comment September 4, 2009

The Truth About Renewable Energy and Solar Power

Picture1

Are you curious about solar power or other forms of renewable energy? If so, come out to the library on Thursday, September 10th from 6:30 to 7:30 pm. Brian Betron from Abundant Energy will be here to discuss how to make your home more green!

Renewable energy is energy that is naturally replenished and generated from natural resources. This includes energy from the sun, wind, and rain. If you want to learn more about renewable energy check out the Go Green section located on the first floor of the library. We have an amazing assortment of books to help you reduce your carbon footprint, start your own business, or even have a green wedding! Check out our catalog and see how you can be green.

See you at the library,

Annya

Add comment August 28, 2009

Staying Safe (and Hopefully Dry) During Hurricane Season

Hurricane Francis

CC by Flickr user bglasgow

With Ana petering out, Bill hightailing it up North, and Claudette already gone, we’ve been pretty lucky so far this hurricane season.  However, those of us who have lived in Florida for awhile know how quickly circumstances can change.

The city of West Palm Beach has implemented an emergency notification information website to keep people in the know about a wide variety of possible emergency situations.  There you can find a link to the latest hurricane guide, information on hurricane preparedness, details about the different stages of evacuation, important phone numbers to keep on hand, and many other emergency-related resources.

Here are some other hurricane-related websites you may find useful:

**Britta**

1 comment August 19, 2009

To Kindle, Or Not to Kindle?

I saw Kindle!

My neighbor bought her Kindle reader and showed it to me.  Essentially Kindle is a hand-held device roughly the size of a paperback book.  It has a large screen on which you can download your book.  The idea is that we won’t have to buy books: all books will be available to anyone who has access to Kindle.  I can understand the logic behind Kindle, but I hope it won’t make the books obsolete in times of technology onslaught.

For me it is the romance of buying a book or borrowing a book from the library that I will miss if Kindle drives the book into obsolescence.  It is sheer pleasure for me to go to a bookstore or library go and through the book shelves, perusing each book and flipping through the pages and making my selections.

Reading a book is an experience.  There are people like me who would like to take the book in their bed and would miss the feel of a book in their hands.  I read for pleasure and Kindle reading cannot be pleasurable as you are reading from a machine.  This technology might not provide the same reading experience, and I wonder if it would test my power of concentration too.  I hope, even if Kindle technology catches on, there will always be a market for books.

There is nothing like finding a book, smelling the pages, holding it and turning its pages, discovering the world.  Is there anything comparable to this pleasure?

What do you think?

- Manju

3 comments August 17, 2009

Re-thinking the Book

Hello again.  I am eager to share with you a marvelous experience I was privileged to enjoy recently when I attended a class called “Book Arts 101″ presented by the Southeast Florida Libraries Information Network. This workshop took place at the Jaffe Center for Book Arts (http://www.library.fau.edu/depts/spc/jaffe.htm)  located in the Wimberly Library at Florida Atlantic University, and it was truly eye-opening.  John Cutrone and Arthur Jaffe himself introduced us to this spectacular and unique collection of “artists’ books”.  The book as art opens up whole new concepts for creative interpretations and indeed rethinking the very definition of “the book”, in a variety of clever forms.  Visually stimulating pop-ups, flag booktunnel, quilted, staircase, flag books, graphic novels, miniatures, broadsides, anamorphic illustrations with mirrored cylinders, and so much more delight the eye and inspire the imagination.  The book is filling a different function today – more than words, and ideas in between the words.  Books are to be read, touched, heard, experienced, even smelled!  The visual impact makes a more indelible impression.  In the American flag-in-a -box book For Boys Who Dream of War, the message is more effective than written columns of  war casualty statistics.   Artists’ books are vehicles for bringing ideas to a different level.  The Jaffe Center’s motto is: “A book is like a garden carried in the pocket.”  Many philosophical musings are represented in the impact of this collection: “The Koran, the Bible, the Britannica all burn the same color!”

Graphic novels have become significantly popular, and the West Palm Beach Public Library has a wonderfully representative collection of graphic novels.  I personally appreciated the visual and literary impact curious caseof  The curious bird songscase of Benjamin Button : a graphic novel / F. Scott Fitzgerald ; adapted by Nunzio DeFilippis & Christina Weir ; illustrated by Kevin Cornell.  Bird songs : 250 North American birds in song / by Les Beletsky ; foreword by Jon. L. Dunn, is a fine example of a book to be experienced as one listens to the sounds of individual bird species by means of the digital audioplayer contained in the book.  What a marvelous learning experience!

printing pressAt the Jaffe Center we actually operated an authentic printing press and created our own books!  This heightened our appreciation for the process as well as for the finished product.  There is nowhere near enough room here to tell you of all the wonderful visual and tactile experiences awaiting you at the Jaffe Center for Book Arts.  Please visit their website and sign up for one of their workshops.   If you haven’t visited us in our new library building at 411 Clematis Street, please come and see all our wonderful offerings in attractive settings on all 4 floors! To learn more about artists’ books, we recommend some books on the subject contained in the collection here at the West Palm Beach Public Library:

alphabeticaAlphabetica : an A-Z creativity guide for collage and book artists / Lynne Perrella.

 

decorated journalThe decorated journal : creating beautifully expressive journal pages / Gwen Diehn

 

making booksMaking books by hand : a step-by-step guide / Mary McCarthy, Philip Manna

May all of your “book” experiences be enriching and rewarding!

Esther Fawn Van Allen, Reference Librarian

1 comment July 29, 2009

Looking to change your career?

educationIf you are miserable at your current place of employment or even worse you have just lost your job now might be a great time to consider a career change.  Unemployment is on the rise so maybe its time to evaluate a new career and explore the possibility of enrolling in one of our local colleges in the pursuit of another degree.

So please join us on Tuesday, August 4th from 10:00am-2:00pm for the “Get That Degree: Education Fair!”  It’s your opportunity to talk about your future to:

Barry University
Florida Atlantic University
Keiser University
Palm Beach Atlantic
Palm Beach Community College
Nova Southeast University
Union Institute and University
University of Phoenix

The above schools will be in attendance to answer your questions about continuing your education. There will also be breakout sessions to inform you about scholarship opportunities, financial aid, and test-taking prep!

And if you’re concerned about the money $$$ situation with going back to school the West Palm Beach Public Library owns many books on financial aid and scholarship resources.  Here are a few examples:

Education will increase your chances of finding either a new job or enhance the one you already have so be proactive and mark your calendar for our Education Fair!

To be held in the Library’s Urban Living Room on the first floor.  For more information please contact the library at 561-868-7701 or visit www.mycitylibrary.org.

Theresa

Add comment July 25, 2009

FREE Yoga classes continue until May 2010!

For all of you yoga fans the news is the West Palm Beach Public Library will continue offering its FREE yoga classes every Saturday morning until May 2010!  

Why not feel fitter, be more energetic, be happier and peaceful and best of all at no cost?  And for those of you still considering joining our classes consider the following:

  • Concentration improves
  • Memory improves
  • Hostility decreases
  • Cardiovascular efficiency increases
  • Respiratory efficiency increases
  • Sleep improves
  • Immunity increases

    •  

    The physical and psychological results from participating in regular yoga classes is a no-brainer for me and since I am always on the lookout for a deal attending a free yoga class is immensely appealing!

    So be sure to bring your mat and join me every Saturday morning (unless of course I am working the reference desk that day!) from 10:30-11:30am in the library’s Auditorium.

    For more information please contact the library 561-868-7701 or visit us at www.mycitylibrary.org.

    Theresawoman_doing_yoga2

    Add comment July 24, 2009

    Author Visits @ the Library: A. Manette Ansay & Daniel Silva!

    goodHow excited am I to have not one but TWO well-known and best-selling authors visit the West Palm Beach Public Library this week!  I’m still trying to rearrange my work schedule so I can be sure to hear both of these awesome authors talk about their latest works!

    On Wednesday, July 22 at 6:30pm A. Manette Ansay will be in the Clematis Room of the Library to discuss and sign copies of her latest Good Things I Wish You.  Ms. Ansay also wrote Vinegar Hill, an Oprah Book Club Selection, and Midnight Champagne, a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award, as well as a short story collection, Read This and Tell Me What It Says, and a memoir, Limbo.  Besides her busy writing schedule Ms. Ansay also teaches at the University of Miami.

    indexOn Friday, July 24 at 1:00pm the New York Times bestselling novelist, Daniel Silva will be in the library auditorium to talk about his latest thriller, The Defector, as well as sign copies.  Mr. Silva is infamous for his writings of  international intrigue and is considered one of the greatest American spy novelists.  If you have not heard him speak before you will be in for a treat!

    The West Palm Beach Public Library owns many of the above authors’ other works so be sure to check them out while you’re here!

    See you next week!

    Theresa

    1 comment July 17, 2009

    Create the perfect relationship with your dog!

    Having issues with your dog or possibly need the services of a pet shrink?  Look no further because the West Palm Beach Public Library is presenting a special program titled “Explore pets in your space: what all good dogs should know!”  Noted animal behaviorist, Lorraine F. Smith will be visiting Thursday, July 16th at 7:00pm to teach you how to create a happy and healthy relationship with your animal companion.  Think “Dog Whisperer…”spacerCranioSacral_Seminar_with_Wolves_1042

    Maybe now I can finally have my couch back again…

    This is a free event and open to all!  For more information please contact the library at 561-868-7701.  Program will be held in the library’s Hibiscus Room.

    Theresa

    Add comment July 15, 2009

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