Squeezed middle is the Oxford Dictionaries word of the year. The editorial team chose squeezed middle meaning the section of society regarded as particularly affected by inflation,
wage freezes, and cuts in public spending during a time of economic
difficulty, consisting principally of those people on low or middle
incomes, from a shortlist of words including Arab Spring, gamification, and tiger mother.
Did you know that you can access the Oxford English Dictionary online with your Niles Public Library card? Our online databases include reference materials which you are already familiar with in hard copy and all you need is your library card number to access them from home.
Monday, December 26, 2011
Friday, December 23, 2011
Santa Tracker
When will Santa be arriving in Niles? Be on the look out for Santa with Norad Tracks Santa.
Book Talk-Rin Tin Tin
This is the story of the men and women who came to be
forever effected by a German Shepherd puppy found on a battlefield in France.
Susan Orlean tells the story of the special bond and the
enduring legacy of Rin Tin Tin and his master Lee Duncan. How that legacy has
effected generations of children and the impact it had on dog ownership in the
United States. Interesting reading.
Maryellen
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Librarian's Favorite Nonfiction Books of 2011-Donna's Pick
My favorite YA nonfiction book of the year is Bootleg:
Murder, Moonshine, and the Lawless Years of Prohibition by
Karen Blumenthal. YALSA has announced that it is one of five finalists
for the 2012 Award for Excellence
in Nonfiction for Young Adults.
If you'll pardon the expression, I never found the writing
to be "dry." It helps that the book covers a fascinating segment of
American history that is full of larger than life characters like Carrie Nation
and Al Capone. Blumenthal draws readers in immediately with a vivid account of
the St. Valentine's Day murders and then shoots back in time to describe the
people, ideas and events that led up to it. In addition to introducing readers
to major players like Morris Sheppard, the "father" of Prohibition,
she traces the roots of the Prohibition movement all the way back to the
pilgrims without letting the story get bogged down in the minutia of the past.
The overall design of the book is nothing special, but the number of images is a great strength. From a beer advertisement featuring a toddler (p. 28) to a full-page photograph of labor union members marching with "We Want Beer" signs and miniature flags (p. 107), the pictures alone tell a compelling story. A pair of photographs on page 68 comparing prohibition agents Izzy Einstein and Moe Smith in and out of costume had me giggling for several minutes.
Blumenthal makes a point of mentioning in her bibliography and source notes that there is great wealth of primary sources on prohibition available to anyone willing to dive in. She describes her trips to university libraries with entire sections on temperance and prohibition. In addition to library research, she also contacted famous people born just before 1920 to request interviews. Jean Craighead George (p. 75) and John Paul Stevens (p. 126) were two of the people who responded. Source Notes are organized by chapter, and while a little guesswork is needed to pair sources with quotes, I still found them to be helpful. Also included in the back is a useful Prohibition and Temperance Glossary. It's worth browsing for the definition of "ombibulous'" alone.
The lessons learned during Prohibition (the problems with single-issue politics, the need for compromise, the consequences of changing the Constitution) are pertinent in today's political climate and ripe for discussion. Ken Burns' 3-part Prohibition documentary would pair nicely with this book for a discussion. In his Sept. 28 interview with Stephen Colbert, the reasons for Prohibition, the problems with the Volstead Act, and the era he describes fits snugly with what Blumenthal described. Historian David Okrent, author of recent adult title Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition, figures prominently in Burns' series. These two books may pair well for a teen-adult book discussion.
The overall design of the book is nothing special, but the number of images is a great strength. From a beer advertisement featuring a toddler (p. 28) to a full-page photograph of labor union members marching with "We Want Beer" signs and miniature flags (p. 107), the pictures alone tell a compelling story. A pair of photographs on page 68 comparing prohibition agents Izzy Einstein and Moe Smith in and out of costume had me giggling for several minutes.
Blumenthal makes a point of mentioning in her bibliography and source notes that there is great wealth of primary sources on prohibition available to anyone willing to dive in. She describes her trips to university libraries with entire sections on temperance and prohibition. In addition to library research, she also contacted famous people born just before 1920 to request interviews. Jean Craighead George (p. 75) and John Paul Stevens (p. 126) were two of the people who responded. Source Notes are organized by chapter, and while a little guesswork is needed to pair sources with quotes, I still found them to be helpful. Also included in the back is a useful Prohibition and Temperance Glossary. It's worth browsing for the definition of "ombibulous'" alone.
The lessons learned during Prohibition (the problems with single-issue politics, the need for compromise, the consequences of changing the Constitution) are pertinent in today's political climate and ripe for discussion. Ken Burns' 3-part Prohibition documentary would pair nicely with this book for a discussion. In his Sept. 28 interview with Stephen Colbert, the reasons for Prohibition, the problems with the Volstead Act, and the era he describes fits snugly with what Blumenthal described. Historian David Okrent, author of recent adult title Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition, figures prominently in Burns' series. These two books may pair well for a teen-adult book discussion.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
2012 Fuel Economy Guide
2012 Fuel Economy Guide
In the market for a new or used car that is fuel efficient? Want to know how efficient your current vehicle is? The 2012 Fuel Economy Guide can help. Produced jointly by the EPA and the Department of Energy, this Guide will help you choose the most fuel efficient vehicle for your needs. The Guide can be viewed, searched and downloaded www.fueleconomy .gov and has been updated to include data for new and used vehicles dating back to 1984.
In the market for a new or used car that is fuel efficient? Want to know how efficient your current vehicle is? The 2012 Fuel Economy Guide can help. Produced jointly by the EPA and the Department of Energy, this Guide will help you choose the most fuel efficient vehicle for your needs. The Guide can be viewed, searched and downloaded www.fueleconomy .gov and has been updated to include data for new and used vehicles dating back to 1984.
Friday, December 16, 2011
2011 Tax Forms
Forms for
individuals filing 2011 Federal and Illinois State income taxes will be
available in the Reference Department, 2nd Floor. Federal tax forms are not expected to arrive until January
30, 2012. State tax forms and IL-1363 (Circuit Breaker) are not expected until
February 29.
While the Library carries the more standard forms for individuals
in hard copy, many other forms, including business or specialized forms, can be
accessed only from the IRS or State of Illinois websites.
Reference staff will be glad to help find forms at the tax
websites. Online forms may be printed for 10 cents per side.
For
more information, call Reference Services at 847-663-6603.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Winterize Your Home
Are you looking for ways to save money on your heating bill this winter? There are tips and resources that can help you save energy and prepare your home for the cold weather.
Energy Impact Illinois has tips for homeowners to prepare for winter and keep their energy bills from skyrocketing.
Seven Ways to Winterize Your Home from the Better Business Bureau.
Keep Warm Illinois has tips and resources on how to battle winter as well as information on warming centers in Illinois.
Energy Impact Illinois has tips for homeowners to prepare for winter and keep their energy bills from skyrocketing.
Seven Ways to Winterize Your Home from the Better Business Bureau.
Keep Warm Illinois has tips and resources on how to battle winter as well as information on warming centers in Illinois.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Best Nonfiction Books of 2011
It's that time of the year for the best of lists. We will be posting the best nonfiction books of 2011 as they come in.
Christian Science Monitor's 15 Best Nonfiction Books of 2011New York Times' 10 Best Books of 2011
New York Times' 100 Notable books of 2011
Publishers Weekly's Best Books 2011 Nonfiction
NPR's Best Books of 2011
Booklist's Top 10 Biographies
Booklist's Top 10 Business Books
Booklist's Top 10 Food Books
Financial Times Nonfiction 2011
Library Journal's Top Ten Books of 2011
Publishers Weekly's Best Poetry 2011
Slate's Best Books of 2011
Time's Top 10 Nonfiction Books
What were your favorite nonfiction reads of 2011?
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