Kent District Library (MI)'s Blog, page 124

KDL Top Ten – 5/3/2013

Do you have a favorite mystery author or series?  Please share your picks with us below!  And if you want to be a star super sleuth, click on the Top Ten List to find out what the most popular Adult Mystery titles are at KDL this month.

New Booklists!

Looking for something new to read? Check out 4 of KDL’s newest booklists!

Edgar Awards – Books selected by the Mystery Writers of America for their literary contributions to the Mystery Genre.

Rookie Mysteries – New and Acclaimed Mystery/Suspense series.

Imagined Lives – Biographical fiction based on the lives of real people.

Historical Fiction – An updated version with recent publications added.

 

Summer 2013 KDL Kaleidoscope

Are you already making plans for summer? Don’t forget about all the FREE programs available at the library! The Summer 2013 issue of the KDL Kaleidoscope program guide is now available online. You’ll find all you need to know about summer events and get some great information on library resources and staff recommendations. (Printed guides will also be available in the branches by mid-May.)

It’s sure to be an exciting summer at KDL, and you don’t want to miss a thing. Check out the KDL Kaleidoscope today!

Energy Usage Monitors Available for Checkout

All 18 Kent District Library branches now offer energy usage monitors available for checkout. The monitors show the energy consumption of household appliances, which can help you cut your electric bill, either by spurring decreased use, unplugging of “vampire” appliances that use energy even when they are turned off and, for example, replacing appliances or their components with energy-efficient models or parts (such as light bulbs).

The monitors were made available in February to patrons of KDL’s Englehardt branch through a partnership with Lowell Light & Power.

Consumers Energy has provided monitors for the other 17 branches in KDL’s service area.

“Libraries are a perfect connector of information and education,” said Michelle Boisvenue­‐Fox, KDL assistant director. “These kinds of partnerships are crucial to strong communities.”

Stop in at a branch today and check one out or place a hold by searching for “Kill A Watt EZ Meter” in the online catalog.

 

 

Genealogy Wiki: Record Selection Tables

Since familysearch.org recently changed the layout of its site, this is a good time to spend time poking around.  One area I haven’t used much is the research wiki. As you probably know, a wiki is a site that can be updated or added to by anyone (at least if you have registered). This wiki has a few primary categories: Beginning Genealogy, Find Records by Place and Research tools. Each category has many different articles by topic.

While checking out the Research tools, I came across something I had not heard of before: Record Selection Tables. A Record Selection table is a guide to help determine what records to search for specific information. At this time, there are 10 different tables based on region. So if you are looking for someone’s maiden name in the U.S., there is a list of record types that might provide that information. Each record is then linked to the wiki entry.

Let us know in the comments if you give these tables a try!

 

Early Lit Bits: Music Minute

As the spring and summer months begin, vacations do too! Listening to music while traveling can be a great method to prevent boredom and entertain restless children.

Families can sing “Old MacDonald Had a Farm” or “The Farmer in the Dell” when driving in rural areas. Try adding verses as you see different animals. This is engaging, fun and it also provides an opportunity for children to be creative while using their imaginations. You may end up singing about a monkey on your farm! “The Wheels on the Bus” or “Going to the Zoo” can be great songs to sing while you are driving in the city.

If you are looking for a new artist for your road trip, stop by your local KDL branch to see all the different CD options on our shelves. You can also download songs; just go to our website and browse the artists available through Freegal. If you are not sure where to begin, try Frank Leto, The Wiggles, Jim Gill and Laurie Berkner Band. They are just a few of the artists that we love to sing along with at our Storytimes. Turn on some music and enjoy singing with your child!

 

 

This article originally appeared in our Early Lit Bits eNewsletter. Read the most recent issue online or sign up to receive this monthly update highlighting early literacy tips and resources for parents and caregivers.

 

KDL Top Ten – 4/26/2013

Looking for memorable characters, captivating stories and extraordinary places?  Grab a book from KDL’s sci-fi collection!  To view 10 of the most popular Adult Science Fiction titles at KDL this month, click on the link to our Top Ten List. 

And while you’re here, what’s your favorite sci-fi or fantasy read?

What’s your favorite sci-fi

Read Before You Watch

2013 is shaping up to be a great year for those of us who love seeing our favorite books on the big screen. But whether the movie is good or bad, it is always nice to read the book before you see the movie. Below is a list of just a few of the great books still coming out as movies this year, with the release dates. Stop in at your local branch to pick up a copy of the book now, or follow the link below to put one on hold.

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald – May 10

World War Z by Max Brooks – June 21

Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan – August 7

Paranoia by Joseph Finder – August 16

The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare – August 23

Serena by Ron Rash – September 27

Carrie by Stephen King – October 18

Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card – November 1

The Wolf of Wall Street by Jordan Belfort – November 15

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire – November 22

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug  by JRR Tolkien – December 13

The Monuments Men by Robert M. Edsel – December 18

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty by James Thurber – December 25

What book do you think should be made into a movie?

 

It’s Raining Picture Books!

We’ve had a deluge of great new picture books coming through recently at KDL. Here’s a few of my favorites:

Friends by Mies van Hout offers a lovely take on one-word concepts, illustrating words like “cuddle” and “fight” with friendly, colorful monsters etched in black. Don’t miss her first book, Happy, either!

Flora and the Flamingo by Molly Idle is striking in its use of space as it tells the delicate tale of a little ballerina and a flamingo engaged in dance. Check this one out for the illustrations and lift-the-flaps design.

The Dark by Lemony Snicket, illustrated by Jon Klassen. Jon Klassen is one of my favorite illustrators, and he’s been getting much love all around after winning the 2013 Caldecott Medal for This is Not My Hat. Pair him with Lemony Snicket (A Series of Unfortunate Events) and you get a quirky, yet always honest tale of one little boy’s journey to co-exist with the dark. An outstanding book that tackles nighttime fears beautifully.

Bluebird by Bob Staake is another book that handles a tough concept in an innovative way. Staake’s wordless book is done almost in monochrome, with blues and grays predominating, as he tells the tale of a lonely boy who finds, and then loses, a friend in a little blue bird. Through deceptively simple illustrations, Staake demonstrates how broken the world can be, but also how we can transcend that same brokenness.

 From Bob Staake’s Bluebird (2013)

Book Bash Is This Weekend!

Book Bash is just around the corner! Make plans to visit the KDL Service Center (814 West River Center Dr. NE in Comstock Park) on Saturday, April 27 between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM or Sunday, April 28 between 1:00 and 4:00 PM.

Not only can you shop a giant warehouse book sale, but you can also enjoy free events for the whole family including face painting, Zumba classes, a children’s book swap, a local authors book fair and more! Proceeds will support library programs including Summer Reading @ KDL.

Find out more at www.kdlbookbash.org.