New books for teens

 In the Young Adult fiction section we have added “iDrakula” by Bekka Black;  “The Miracle Stealer” by Neil Connelly; “The Adventures of Hotsy Totsy” by Clive Cussler; “We Were Here” by Matt De La Pena; “Solice of the Road” by Siobhan Dowd; “No Safe Place” by Deborah Ellis; “Mockingbird” by Kathryn Erskine;  “The Disappeared” by Gloria Whelan .  Coming soon:  “Airhead”, “Being Nikki” and “Runaway” by Meg Cabot; “Along For the Ride” by Sarah Dessen; “Looking Glass Wars” by Frank Beddor; “Red Pyramid”, “Lost Hero” and “Maze of Bones” by Rick Riordan; “City of Ember” and others by Jeanne Duprau;  “Pretty Little Liars” and others by Sara Shepard; and “Valiant: a Modern Tale of Faerie” by Holly Black. 

In the Young Adult non-fiction section we have added some current titles in the “Opposing Viewpoints Series” such as Atheism, Aging Population, Government Spending, Outsourcing, Racial Profiling and Cyber Crime.  We have some books on careers also – criminal justice, law enforcement, corrections system, etc.  Other additions include health issues, diseases, “Moments in History Series, and the Essentials of Forensic Science Series.  If you are needing to do some reports, keep these in mind.

Two weeks of no fines

 Wow!  Where did this year go?  It seems I just arrived as the new library director.  I have enjoyed every minute.  As a celebration of the New Year and to start the New Year off fresh, there will be NO FINES charged if you return your overdue books.  So January 3, 2011 through January 17, 2011 will be free fine weeks.  As you are straightening up while on school vacation, look around for late items and get them to the library with no penalty.  This does not mean no charges for damaged items – just fines!!

Merry Christmas

 Have a very Merry Christmas from the Kimball Public Library Staff.  We will be closed on Friday the 24^th and open again on Monday the 27.   Be safe if you are traveling.  And Be Happy.

More new books for December

 There are many first time novelists coming into the realm of literature.  I will be ordering some of them and hope that you will give them a chance.  After all, James Patterson, Daniel Steele, Nora Roberts and many other well-known authors had to have their first novels at some point.  New books include:

“Rescue” by Anita Shreve; “Pathfinder” by Orson Scott Card; “Sea Change” by Jeremy Page;  “The Anthena Project” by Brad Thor; “America by Heart” by Sarah Palin and “Six Graves to Munich” by Mario Puzo are a few of our recent additions.   I will list the new teen books next week.

Christmas present for the library

 It’s Christmas at the Kimball Public Library!  Our Christmas present is the newly arrived ST View Scan machine that takes the place of the 1983 Microfilm Reader Printer.  The ST View Scan machine is computer software driven with the capability of looking at microfilm and microfiche negatives, scanning photographs and slide negatives, and scanning documents.  The machine is for public use.  One of the functions of the machine is viewing Western Nebraska Observer microfilm and other microfilm from many sources — including genealogy records from other states through InterLibrary Loan programs, other newspapers, etc.  In the newspaper one can find obituaries, birth announcements (not birth records), wedding pictures, old ads, a huge variety or articles such as fires, construction of new buildings, award winners, and anything to do with history of the area.  At a birthday or anniversary celebration, one could print off the front page of the newspaper for the recipient of what happened on their special day and present it to them. 

Another use for the machine is to scan old 35 mm slides, save to a flash drive and/or print them off on photo paper or regular paper.  Old slides and negatives in various sizes can be scanned also.  Documents such as marriage licenses, awards, old letters that you might want to save and share with family, and more can be scanned and saved or printed.  If you are scrapbooking and need more copies, you might want to consider this.  We are thinking this new machine is a huge asset to the library and the community.

New books for December

 The new books this week are mostly general fiction.  In addition we have a good supply of large print.  I am reading large print now too and find my eyes aren’t near as tired.  “A Piggly Wiggly Christmas” by Robert Dalby;  “ An Object of Beauty” By Steve Martin;  “Corduroy Mansions” by Alexander McCall Smith:  “Full Dark, No Stars” by Stephen King;  “Hull zero Three” by Greg Bear;  and “Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi” by Troy Denning (are there any Star Wars fans out there?).  These are just a few of the titles in regular print fiction.

In large print we have four new westerns, several Christian and Amish fiction, a few thrillers and mysteries and some humorous ones.  “The Templar Salvation” by Raymond Khoury;  “The Last Operative” by Jerry B. Jenkins;  “The Black Madonna” by Davis Bunn;  “Star Island” by Carl Hiaasen;  “Sarah’s Choice” by Wanda E. Brunstetter;  “Nemesis” by Philip Roth;  “Indulgence In Death” by J. D. Robb;  “Devil’s Run” by Sam Brown;  “Christmas with Tucker” by Greg Kincade and many more.

Programs for the visually impaired

 Your library can offer free talking books and magazines for any one with visual or physical disabilities.  This is another service available through the Nebraska Library Commission.  The talking book machines can be requested at the library and then audio books can be ordered from the Library Commission in Lincoln and returned at your convenience.  If you would like to try this free service or know anybody who would like to try it, please contact us at the library in person, by phone, or by e-mail (kplib@megavision.com).  We would be glad to assist.  There is a brief application to fill out, mostly about your interests.

There is also another service that some of you might want to check into that I just read about.  I haven’t researched it yet, but it sounds good.  It is Radio Talking Books, partnered with NET.  They offer larger newspapers read to you over the internet as well as audio books and magazines.  You can check it out at www.rtbs.org and contact them for more information and application.

New additons to the audio collection

 New titles in the Audio CD collection are: “The Violin of Auschwitz” by Maria Angels Anglada – a translation of a novel written about a crafter of fine violins who is challenged to make a successful violin in the notorious concentration camp of Auschwitz during WWII;  “Call Me Mrs. Miracle” by Debbie Macomber – a good Christmas story:  “The Painted Ladies” by Robert Parker;  and “Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk” by David Seddaris – features Sedaris’s unique blend of hilarity and heart, with keen-eyed animal-themed tales.

More DVDs

 I wanted to include more information on the Sentimental Sing-Along DVDs.  So far we have added 39 DVDs to the collection.  Two of them contain Christmas/Seasonal songs for all ages – “Over the River”; “Jingle Bells”;  “Toyland”;  “Up On The Housetop”;  “Silent Night”;  “Go Tell It On The Mountain”;  “Away In A Manger”; and many more that will bring back memories, inspire us and maybe pass on some old traditions to younger people.  There are also “Songs from the Home Front”;  “Songs of Cherished Childhood” (London Bridge, Polly Wolly Doodle, Farmer In the Dell, A Frog Went A-Courtin’, Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, Mary Had A Little Lamb);  and “Songs of Road, River & Rail” – are just a few examples.

Greensleeves (What Child is This?) Techno Remix -- Played twice!! This twelfth and final Xmas view was done with drive-by videography that was panned from the back of our moving pickup. This technique produced a higher-than-normal viewpoint with much better visibility of our entire corner-lot Christmas Light Display. Starting at our back alley, garage driveway, and aspen grove, we moved westward on Fifth Street and then turned left onto Adams Street -- finishing at our front waterfall feature and rail fence. This mobile video- "grand tour" allows you to see and hear what the typical spectator does when slowly dirivng by at nighttime in the comfort of his/her vehicle. We use a short-range FM transmitter that broadcasts on 107.7 FM which allows the viewers to "listen to the lights" or "watch the lights flashdance to the music" from their car/van/truck within sight of the musical light show. In this drive-by, panning video, you have witnessed most of our 60,000+ energy-efficient LED lights in action. You also understand why some Kimballites during this season call our yard the "Las Vegas" of the Nebraska Panhandle! Nevertheless, we hope that our computerized Holiday Lighting Display brings enjoyment, smiles, and fond lasting memories to all who come by our home in person, and also to those who vicariously appreciate our YouTube videos! We wish to all of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy, Prosperous New Year!! Except for a few garden videos that show our blooming spring flowers (Crocuses, Daffodils, Tulips, Irises, and Peonies), the next musical light show will be our 2011 "pyrotechnic," patriotic display that will be uploaded about Mid-May. Thanx for watching! -- and "Stay Tuned."