New Years Resolutions made Easy!

So the other day I was checking out some government websites (you never know when they will come in handy for research questions) and stumbled upon www.mypyramid.gov. This website is operated by the US Department of Agriculture and is it informative and fun! Besides explaining the food pyramid and healthy eating, there are also different interactive tools you can use to record your meals and fitness. My favorite link is the MyPyramid Menu Planner - you can actually plan out your daily meals and find out how well it is fulfilling the pyramid. Balanced nutrition doesn't get any easier that that!!!

January - New and Notable

Book Review - "The Distant Hours"

"The Distant Hours" by Kate Morton

A letter posted in 1941 finally reaches its destination in 1992 with powerful repercussions for Edie Burchill, a London book editor, in this enthralling romantic thriller from Australian author Morton (The Forgotten Garden). At crumbling Milderhurst Castle live elderly twins Persephone and Seraphina and their younger half-sister, Juniper, the three eccentric spinster daughters of the late Raymond Blythe, author of The True History of the Mud Man, a children's classic Edie adores. Juniper addressed the letter to Meredith, Edie's mother, then a young teen evacuated to Milderhurst during the Blitz. Edie, who's later invited to write an introduction to a reprint of Raymond's masterpiece, visits the seedily alluring castle in search of answers. Why was her mother so shattered by the contents of a letter sent 51 years earlier? And what happened to soldier Thomas Cavill, Juniper's long-missing fiancé and Meredith's former teacher? Despite the many competing narratives, the answers will stun readers. -Publishers Weekly

Get in the Chrismas spirit with these wonderful novels!

A Christmas Promise
by Anne Perry





The Christmas Train
by David Baldacci






A Redbird Christmas
by Fannie Flagg






The Christmas Box
by Ruchard Paul Evans






The Christmas Quilt
by Jennifer Chiaverini






The Christmas Sweater
by Glenn Beck






Christmas, Present
by Jacquelyn Mitchard






Finding Noel
by Richard Paul Evans





The Christmas List
by Richard Paul Evans

December New and Notable

Book Review - "Altered Paper Jewelery"

Altered Paper Jewelry by Jenn Mason

Are you looking for a craft that's unusual yet stylish? Why not try creating jewelry from colorful paper? Jenn Mason has published a simple to follow book on incredible looking jewelry that is sure to garner you tons of compliments. There are pictures and instructions on every page, making it easy to find the style and level of difficulty that's right for you!

Check it out today!

Get Decorating!

"501 Decorating Ideas Under $100" by Better Homes and Gardens

I opened up this book, and just thought "wow." The pictures are incredible, the ideas are incredible. And the title does not lie - every single one of the decorating ideas do cost less than $100. Ideas include everything from storage pieces to wall hangings to furniture. This book is perfect if you are just looking for ideas to freshen up a room.

Book Review - "Liar Liar"

"Liar Liar" by K.J. Larsen

On Saturday, the library had quite a treat - Kari, Kristen, and Julianne Larsen, the trio of sisters who write under the pen name K.J. Larsen stopped by for a book signing and Q & A session of their debut novel, "Liar Liar". We had a great turn-out, and everyone I've talked to so far loves the book. Here's a brief synopsis, taken from Publisher's Weekly:

Cat DeLuca, owner of Pants on Fire Detective Agency and member of the large and largely dysfunctional DeLuca family of mostly honest Chicago cops, makes a strong first impression in Larsen's comic, sexy debut. Inspired by her own marital experience with cheater Johnnie Rizzo,, Cat nails cheating spouses or follows suspected cheaters like Chance Savino until she nails them. Explosions like the one that puts cat in the hospital and supposedly kills Chance get everyone excited and lead to more fireworks. Mama DeLuca thinks Cat is crazy, brother Rocco thinks she needs protection, and Chance makes unexpected appearances that only Cat sees. Larsen surrounds her heroine with lots of Italian food, handsome men, and resourceful family members. Things turn deadly when a client turns up dead and someone wants Cat off the case permanently.

November New and Notable

Friends of the Library Event

Friends of the Library Meet and Greet
Tonight at 7pm

• Get to know the library's new director, Jennie Cisna Mills!
• Get to know other great library volunteers!
• Learn a little about the library's goals for the future and how you can help!
• Enjoy free apple pie and cider!
• Play literary trivia games!
  

From our director's blog

There will be some changes happening in the next several months involving our consortium (Prairie Area Library System). Our director Jennie, explains it below best she can.

It's not news to anyone that the State of Illinois is in financial trouble, and it's affecting all sorts of State agencies, including library systems. Library systems have received very little of the funds budgeted for them by the state this year, causing financial shortfalls. All of the systems have had to do lay-offs, in many cases laying off employees who had put in decades' worth of service. In one case (North Suburban Library System), almost everyone was laid off, and libraries had to commit local dollars in order to maintain core services.

Why did libraries choose to do that? Well, because library systems do a lot of the back-end stuff that help local libraries, including delivery of requested items among the libraries in their system. Our library system is the Prairie Area Library System (PALS), and due to their budget problems, PALS is looking to merge with four other Northern library systems (there are currently 9 total library systems). The five Northern systems that will be merging are: Alliance Library System, DuPage Library System, Metropolitan Library System, North Suburban Library System, and Prairie Area Library System.

There is a Merger Design Team in place, made up of representatives from the five systems. The Design Team meets regularly (there's a meeting scheduled for tonight, October 4th, at Metropolitan System headquarters), and subcommittees are forming. Representatives are working hard to see that everything is in place before the June 30, 2011 merger. Library Directors (including myself) are taking a great deal of interest in the meetings, and making an effort to attend each one.

And yes, I know that all of this is a little confusing, and you're wondering how it affects the Shorewood-Troy Public Library. The answer is, "I don't know." A lot depends on whether the State ever makes good on its commitment to fund systems. A lot depends on how the new System (name To Be Announced) sets up its rules and structures. A lot depends on a lot of different things, actually, and it's very hard to say what will actually happen. That's why the Library Directors are spending so much time going to these meetings and watching and talking.

But here's a good idea of what could potentially happen:

• Delivery of items may be affected. There may be fewer delivery days, which will mean longer waits for material.
• There may be restrictions on the types of materials that could be requested from other libraries: you may not be able to place requests for "new" items and the quantity of items you may request at one time could be limited.
  
• The Shorewood-Troy Library may have to pick up additional costs to support the delivery of items. This will mean less money available for books and programs.

I do want to point out that the Shorewood-Troy Library will be here, serving our community, for many years to come. The Systems are having financial troubles because they are funded by state dollars. Your Shorewood-Troy Library is funded (mostly) by local property tax dollars, and we operate in a fiscally sound manner.

But the things that Library Systems support, like delivery, that . . . well, that is a different story. Without money (and I don't mean they are just a little short. They have no money), it may mean lots of adjustments for local libraries.

As decisions are made that affect you and your family, as you make use of the library, I'll be sure to keep you updated. Also, I know this might be as clear as mud, so please feel free to email me at jmills@shorewoodtroylibrary.org or stop in and see me, and I will try to answer any questions as best I can.

-Posted October 4 by Jennie Cisna Mills

Friends of the Library Annual Book Sale

Our annual book sale starts tomorrow! Come on in for a great selection of books, music CDs, and movies. All proceeds benefit the library.

What: Friends of the Library Annual Book Sale
Where: Shorewood-Troy Public Library meeting room
When: Friday and Saturday, all day

Thank you in advance for your support!

Oprah's Pick

You've probably seen Oprah and are dying to read her newest pick: "Freedom" by Jonathan Franzen. You are not alone. But while you are waiting for your turn to check out the book, why not take a look at her Book Club picks from years past?

2009 Selection:

• Say You're One of Them" by Uwam Akpan

2008 Selections

• "The Story of Edgar Sawtelle" by David Wroblewski
• "A New Earth" by Eckhart Tolle

2007 Selections

• "The Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follett
• "Love in the Time of Cholera" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
• "Middlesex" by Jeffrey Eugenides
• "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy
• "The Measure of a Man" by Sidney Poitier