Book Clubs Slate New Reading Choices

Both the Bodacious Bookies and Night Readers book clubs recently made new reading choices.

Books set for the remainder of 2010 for the Bodacious Bookies are: May, “A Walk in the Woods” by Bill Bryson; June, “House Made of Dawn” by N. Scott Momaday; July, “Three Weeks With My Brother” by Nicholas Sparks; August, “Light on Snow” by Anita Shreve; September, “Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen; October, “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies” by Seth Grahame-Smith; November, “The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins; and December, “The Crystal Cave” by Mary Stewart.

Night Readers’ choices for April, May and June are “Bel Canto” by Ann Patchett, “Olive Kitteridge” by Elizabeth Strout, and “The Story of Edgar Sawtelle” by David Wroblewski.

‘SinC’ Into a Good Mystery

SISTERS IN CRIME (SinC) author Sharon Ervin (second from left) joins McAlester Public Library staff members (l-r) Anthony Smart, Linda Haile, Sarah DiLorenzo and Darlene Rising in looking over a display of mystery novels by Oklahoma SinC writers. Ervin’s novel “The Ribbon Murders” is featured on the top row. Other Sooner mystery writers featured include Carolyn Hart, Sara Hoklotubbe, Jean Hager and Eve Sandstrom.

Library Offers Student Help, Homeschoolers Learn

HOMESCHOOLING PARENTS attended a presentation by Teen Librarian Sarah DiLorenzo (right) and took a tour of McAlester Public Library led by Children’s Librarian Anita Ross (left) Wednesday, Jan. 13. DiLorenzo led the group through a virtual tour of the many educational resources available through the library’s website, including the Learn-A-Test site, online tutoring and many of the databases. Ross’s tour included the children’s, teen and adult areas, as well as the many displays and collections available for public viewing. DiLorenzo also presented information about the library at McAlester Public Schools In-Service Training Day Monday, Jan. 18.

Local Railroad History Filled With Colorful Tales

LOCAL HISTORIAN Steve Adams looks over a display detailing the history of railroads in McAlester and Pittsburg County. Adams gathered the many of the materials for the display, which includes newspaper clippings, original writings and historical photos, from microfilm records available to the public here at McAlester Public Library.

Staff Picks: Sarah Recommends Sequoyah Nominees

Here’s what Teen Librarian Sarah DiLorenzo has to say about her recent “Staff Picks” display.

“Every year the Sequoyah reading teams read over 200 books from a carefully-selected list.  Those 200+ books are then narrowed down to 15 books that end up on a master list for that year.  These are some of the books I have read this year off that list—you will have to wait until April 2010 to see if any of them make the master list!”

Here are Sarah’s choices:

*Princess Ben by Catherine Gilbert Murdock–Princess Benevolence discovers an enchanted room while locked in the castle’s highest tower by the conniving Queen Sophia and begins learning the magical arts, which may help her save her kingdom from a mortal threat. 

*The Juvie Three by Gordon Korman–Juvenile offenders Terence, Gecko, and Arjay must help their caregiver, Mr. Healy, regain his memory after he is injured in a scuffle between the three boys.

*Smiles to Go by Jerry Spinelli–Will Tuppence’s life has always been ruled by science and common sense but in ninth grade, shaken up by the discovery that protons decay, he begins to see the entire world differently and gains new perspective on his relationships.

*The Patron Saint of Butterflies by Cecilia Galante–When her grandmother takes fourteen-year-old Agnes, her younger brother, and best friend Honey and escapes Mount Blessing, a Connecticut religious commune, Agnes clings to the faith she loves while Honey looks toward a future free of control, cruelty, and preferential treatment. 

*Found by Margaret Peterson Haddix–When thirteen-year olds Jonah and Chip, who are both adopted, learn they were discovered on a plane that appeared out of nowhere, full of babies with no adult on board, they realize that they have uncovered a mystery involving time and two opposing forces, each trying to repair the fabric of time.

*Go Big or Go Home by Will Hobbs–Fourteen-year-old Brady and his cousin Quinn love extreme sports, but nothing could prepare them for the aftermath of Brady’s close encounter with a meteorite after it crashes into his Black Hills, South Dakota bedroom.

*The Compound by S.A. Bodeen–Fifteen-year old Eli, locked inside a radiation-proof compound built by his father to keep them safe following a nuclear attack, begins to question his future, as well as his father’s grip on sanity as the family’s situation steadily disintegrates over the course of six years.

*Trouble by Gary Schmidt–Henry Smith’s father told him that if you build your house far enough away from Trouble, then Trouble will never find you.

Some Tax Forms Now Available

Some federal tax forms are now available in the east lobby at McAlester Public Library. Information Services Librarian Christopher Elliott notes that the Interal Revenue Services has instituted many changes this year, with employer forms either limited or no longer available in bulk.

“Starting this year, the IRS is requesting libraries no longer carry employer tax forms such as W-2, W-3, 1096 and 1099,” he said. “We will have a small number of these forms later in January, but once this supply is exhausted we won’t be able to receive any more.”

Instead, he noted, the IRS is requesting that anyone who needs to file these forms should request paper forms online, or file online. To do so, employers should go to http://www.irs.gov/businesses/index.htm and select “Online Ordering for Information Returns and Employer Returns,” or http://www.irs.gov/formspubs/index.htm and seclect “Employer forms and instructions.”

Individual taxpayers will also see a more limited array of forms available at the library, Elliott said.

“The IRS is only making available basic forms for distribution. Specific forms that we may have stocked in the past will not be available unless they are printed off the IRS site,” he said. “Not only am I stocking fewer forms, but I am stocking them in smaller numbers.”

Oklahoma state forms are on order, but as of Jan. 5 have not yet arrived, Elliott said.

Volunteers from the American Association of Retired Persons will be available for free tax help beginning in February.

New Year Brings New Displays, Activities

By KATHY MCGILBERRY

We have a new year, a new decade, some new displays, and new calendars chock full of activities for every member of the family. There are reasons both new and old for you to slap a palm to your forehead and exclaim “Why haven’t I been to the library lately?”.

Outside, the temperatures are the coldest we’ve seen in awhile. Inside, two of the big display areas focus on a decidedly warmer clime—the Middle East, and specifically, Saudi Arabia. McAlesterite Karen Kinkead was kind enough to offer a portion of her Saudi collection for display, and what an array of treasures she has!

With everything from an intricately-embroidered robe made for a member of the Saudi royal family to authentic Bedouin teapots, Karen’s collection is something to behold. The display stretches from the front desk area and then upwards to the mezzanine railing and on east to the lobby. Stop by and take a look. You might want to check out some of the books and movies Christopher Elliott has added to the display.

Nathan Forrest’s “Shelf of the Week” display this week features a look at societal wealth. Other recent subjects have included the history of Europe, geography and travel, criminology, and meteorology.

Teen Librarian Sarah DiLorenzo used her “Staff Picks” display last month to highlight some of the books considered this year for the Sequoyah Award. Check the blog later this month to get the lowdown on her choices. As that display comes down, another commemorating the Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. will take its place.

Regular teen activities include a movie every Tuesday from 4-6 p.m., the Manga Club on the first Monday of each month, and the regular weekly Game Time, which has moved to Thursdays from 3:30-5:30 p.m. The Teen Book Club, which this month meets on Monday the 11^th at 4 p.m., will discuss Sharon Draper’s “Romiette and Julio.”

Regular children’s activities include Lapsit for caregivers and groups every Tuesday at 10 a.m.; Lapsit for families every Tuesday at 11:15; movies every Tuesday from 4-5:30 p.m. Story Time every Wednesday at 10 a.m.; and Game Time every Thursday from 4-5:30 p.m. Plus, Children’s Librarian Anita Ross hosts Family Fun Night every third Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.

Here’s a rundown of all the other scheduled adult and family activities for the month:

*Thursday, Jan. 7—Bodacious Bookies will meet from 1-3 p.m. in the Conference Room to discuss “Girl With a Pearl Earring” by Tracy Chevalier.

*Saturday, Jan. 9—Lots of laughs are guaranteed at a special double feature presentation of Second Saturday Cinema beginning at 2 p.m. Surely you won’t want to miss a commercial-free, uncut screening of “Airplane!” followed by “Airplane II.” Plenty of free popcorn for all who attend.

*Monday, Jan. 11, 6 p.m.–You’ll have to toss a coin to decide whether to attend the first meeting of a new Coin Club, hosted by Gary Parsons in the Conference Room, (we’re told it’s open to everyone) or the regular Arthouse Theater, this month featuring an interesting flick starring Will Ferrell as a fellow who wakes up one day to discover he’s a character in someone else’s novel. Either way, you are sure to have a great time.

*Thursday, Jan. 14—It’s the 2010 debut of what we hope will become a regular, every-other-month event—Open Mike Night. Singers, speakers, writers, and performers of all stripes are invited to participate. We’ll have a couple of mikes set up and ready to go, our handy-dandy public address system, and a karaoke machine with lots of tunes. Join us at 6 p.m. You can pre-register at the front desk or just show up and participate.

*Monday, Jan. 18—It’s another Night Readers Movie Special beginning at 5:15 p.m., when Emily Watson stars in the movie based on the late Frank McCourt’s tale about growing up impoverished in Brooklyn and Ireland. You don’t have to be a participant in the Night Readers book club to attend. Free popcorn, as always.

*Tuesday, Jan. 19—Friends of the Library will meet at noon for their regular luncheon, then at 6:30 the Night Readers will meet in the Conference Room to discuss “Angela’s Ashes” by Frank McCourt.

*Monday, Jan. 25—Pet-lovers will be especially interested in this month’s first-run independent movie, the American documentary “Mine,” which tells the stories of pets displaced during Hurricane Katrina. Start time is 6 p.m. for this award-winning documentary. Hailed as “absorbing,” “a must see,” “Oscar material” and “the best movie at SXSW,” (the South by Southwest Film Festival), “Mine” is a feature-length, independent documentary about the essential bond between humans and animals, set against the backdrop of one of the worst natural disasters in modern U.S. history. This gripping, character-driven story follows New Orleans residents as they attempt the daunting task of trying to reunite with their pets who have been adopted by families all over the country, and chronicles the custody battles that arise when two families love the same pet. Who determines the fate of the animals—and the people—involved? A compelling meditation on race, class and the power of compassion, “Mine” examines how we treat animals as an extension of how we view and treat each other.

Don’t forget, we are now open every Sunday from 1:30-5 p.m., in addition to the regular hours of Monday-Thursday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Hope to see you at the library.