Library Booth at Northern Maine Fair Historical Pavilion

This year marks the 154th Northern Maine Fair held from July 25 - August 2. The library is delighted to be participating in the historical pavilion at the fair. Our booth highlights history of Presque Isle and provides a glimpse into the materials the library has for people interested in reading and researching local history and genealogy. A lifesize Peter Rabbit will also be at the booth and children's librarian, Miss Sue, will host storytime with Peter Rabbit.

We look forward to seeing you at our booth.

Fair History

Northern Maine Fair Official Site

Cuil

New search engine for you to try at http://www.cuil.com/


Touted as the world's biggest search engine, Cuil was unveiled on July 28th and has plans to rival Google.


New Search Engine Takes Aim at Google


See Yahoo story here. Try a few of your searches and see if you like the results and share your comments here with others.

Photography Group At the Library

A few people have expressed interest in participating in a photography group at the library. The first meeting will be scheduled for sometime in late August or early September. I'd like to hear from anyone interested in attending to see if there is a preferred day of the week or time of day. Email me with any comments about this new group and we'll see if we can schedule a date/time that works well for all members. The new group will be a great place to meet others and share ideas and tips. I plan to ask area photographers to come and speak to the group too.

The Last Lecture

In a previous post I mentioned a book and CD set we had in the library entitled The Last Lecture. The author, Randy Pausch, a computer science professor, was diagnosed with incurable pancreatic cancer and dictated the book by cell phone to co-author, Jeffrey Zaslow. He also delivered his last lecture to his students at Carnegie Mellon University. His book is really a celebration of life.


Randy Pausch died today at his home in Chesapeake Virginia. He was 47.


Carnegie Mellon page of Randy's Last Lecture.

Art Gallery Reception Tonight

"Reverence to a Unique Natural Area"

Reception for artist Richard Clark

Friday, July 25, 6-8 PM

Art Gallery in the library

It is a rainy Friday in northern Maine and when the rain lets up and the sun comes out, you may just want to visit the library later today for the opening reception of paintings by Richard Clark. Stop by the art gallery anytime from 6-8 to meet the artist and view his beautiful works. Be sure to sign the guest book. Light refreshments will be served.

From the artist's statement:

"A strong sense of place underlies this work. The scenes depicted here pay particular reverence to a unique area, the 1857 acres of public land - cedar swamps, black spruce bogs, and open peatland - surrounding Salmon Brook Lake in the Central Aroostook town of Perham."

The exhibit will be in our art gallery through August.

New Cultural Events Web site

Arts Aroostook.org

The University of Maine at Presque Isle has just launched a new site which will list cultural events throughout northern Maine. This will be a wonderful place to begin your search for things to do in our area. Everyone is encouraged to submit information about their events to get them posted to the calendar. Visit the site and click on the "submit an event" link. Also check out the listings and the calendar to find local arts events.

Aroostook's Cultural Events site

Presque Isle High School Class of 1953 Reunion

55th Class Reunion PIHS Class of '53

We were really delighted when the Presque Isle High School Class of '53 President, Earl Adams, contacted us to see if class members could visit the library while they were back in town for their 55th class reunion on July 19th.

Local historian, Dena Winslow, agreed to give a presentation about the lynching of Jim Cullen. Dena is author of the book, They Lynched Jim Cullen: New England's Only Lynching. The lynching occurred in Mapleton, Maine in 1873 and Dena's presentation was interesting and enjoyable. Dena was raised in Mapleton, Maine and she is a graduate of Presque Isle High School Class of 1971. Dena holds a Ph.D. in History from the University of Maine. In her spare time she enjoys flying the hot air balloon she built in 1998.

Luckily our art gallery had a beautiful display of paintings by Richard Clark which were set up in preparation for the opening reception on Friday, July 25th from 6-8.

Presque Isle High School yearbooks were put out on display in addition to other local history books and old photographs. The class members had a great time enjoying Dena's talk and then visiting at the library.

Visit our Photobucket account to see some photos.

Abstract Satellite Images of the Earth

I just had to post this link of the 30 most incredible abstract satellite images of earth because these images really are works of art and they are great fun to view.

30 Most Incredible Abstract Satellite Images of Earth

16th Poet Laureate

What is a Poet Laureate and What Exactly Do They Do?

From Library of Congress site:

"The Poet Laureate is appointed annually by the Librarian of Congress and serves from October to May. In making the appointment, the Librarian consults with former appointees, the current Laureate and distinguished poetry critics. The position has existed under two separate titles: from 1937 to 1986 as "Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress" and from 1986 forward as "Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry." The name was changed by an act of Congress in 1985."

Kay Ryan has recently been appointed the 16th Poet Laureate of the US. This position is appointed annually by the Librarian of Congress and the person serves from October to May. The recipient receives a $35,000 annual stipend.

Learn more about Kay Ryan, her poetry, and the position of Poet Laureate (Official Title: Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry) below.

Kay Ryan 16th Poet Laureate

Library of Congress Poetry

About the Position of Poet Laureate

New YA Blog

Teen librarian, Lisa Shaw has just launched the new teen blog and you can find it on the library webpage, (http://turnerlibya.ideafry.com/) or just click here.

We hope that everyone will take a look at the blog. If you have any comments or suggestions, please contact Lisa Shaw.

Weekend Events and Celebrations

It was a busy and fun weekend at the library for all staff and volunteers who worked on a variety of projects.

On Saturday and Sunday we held our annual book and bake sale and raised over $460 for the library. Library staff members worked hard to make the sale a success. We want to thank everyone who assisted with the sale by either volunteering to help staff the tables and collect money, move books and tables, or by bringing in a baked good for the food table.

The library also had a float in the Potato Blossom Parade in Fort Fairfield and volunteers and staff worked hard to decorate and make the float a success. Mimi the Mime was there handing out candy to parade watchers.

We also had the Presque Isle High School Class of 1953 visit the library for their 55th class reunion. Local historian Dena Winslow was the guest speaker and she gave a wonderful presentation on the Lynching of Jim Cullen.

The Last Lecture

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch with Jeffrey Zaslow is exactly as the title suggests. It is the final lecture given by Randy Pausch, a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon University. He delivers this last lecture after being diagnosed with a terminal disease. Oddly enough, the book isn't really sad, but is actually life affirming. This is a beautiful book that makes one stop and reflect on life.

You can read the book or listen to the lecture on CD.

Mount Everest Books

If you love reading about expeditions to Mount Everest then the following books are definitely for you: Nick Heil's Dark Summit and Lincoln Hall's Dead Lucky. Both present remarkable tales of what it takes to tackle Mt. Everest and the risks that all those who climb are willing to take to get to the top.

Teen & Adult Summer Reading

The first adult/teen summer reading program is underway and there is still time to participate.

We made it easy for you to register, read your favorite books, and share your thoughts/reviews with others. The program runs through August 31st. You can register by filling out a form in the library or emailing your name and phone number. Next you read books/listen to books (you select the books or ask us for reading recommendations). At the end of August we will have a form to complete (or you can submit by email) giving a list of your favorites with a brief description, review, or a few comments. A final list will be compiled and distributed so others can get new reading recommendations. By registering and participating you will be entered in a raffle to win a beautiful reader's basket at the end of August.

E B White's Birthday July 11th

E. B. White

July 11, 1899 - October 1, 1985

I just reread a favorite childhood book, Charlotte's Web, and am happy to celebrate E. B. White's birthday today. He was born in Mount Vernon, N.Y. on July 11, 1899. His full name was Elwyn Brooks White, and he confessed to never liking the name Elwyn. At Cornell, he was given the nickname Andy. Most of us know him as E. B. White, author of Charlotte's Web, Stuart Little, The Trumpet of the Swan, and as co-author/reviser of William Strunk's Elements of Style. He was also a contributor to the New Yorker magazine from the late 1920s, where he met his wife, writer and editor Katharine Sergeant Angell.

He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1963, the National Medal for Literature in 1971, and a special Pulitzer Prize in 1978 for his entire body of work. He lived much of his life in North Brooklin, Maine and died at his home there on October 1, 1985.

Now on Display in the Art Gallery

Works by Richard Clark are now on display in the art gallery at the library.

Stop in to view his works, read his artist's statement, and sign the guestbook.

International Year of the Potato

Since we are in the heart of Maine potato country, we should know that 2008 is the United Nations International Year of the Potato. Click on the links below to read more about the value of potatoes in the world food supply and see how other countries use potatoes in their diets.

Visit the Maine Potato Board site for lots of good information about potatoes and get some great recipes.

United Nations International Year of the Potato

Photography Contest Entries must be submitted by Sept 1, 2008

Cookbook

Maine Potato Board

Stimulus Payment Status

If you haven't received your economic stimulus payment yet, you can visit the IRS site to see when you can expect to receive it.

Where's My Stimulus Payment?

Chapbook

I first heard the term "chapbook" when local poet Melissa Crowe came to the library to read from her recent chapbook, Cirque du Creve-Coeur.

It is defined as "a small book containing ballads, poems, tales, or tracts" by Merriam-Webster online dictionary.

Melissa's work fits the definition just fine. It is a beautiful collection in a small book of her poems. The cover art is by Lara Cannon. The work is published by Dancing Girl Press which is an indie publisher founded in 2004 to publish and promote the work of women poets through chapbooks, journals, and anthologies. We have Melissa's chapbook in the library, so stop in to read some wonderful poetry and to see a chapbook.

University of South Carolina Special Collections
What is a Chapbook?

Lilly Library Indiana University Sample Chapbooks

Elizabeth Nesbitt Room Chapbook Collection
University of Pittsburgh

License to Read

If you enjoy either the James Bond films or the original books by Ian Fleming, you may want to read the new James Bond novel by author Sebastian Faulks. Devil May Care was released on May 28, 2008 to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the birth of author Ian Fleming (May 28, 1908 - August 12, 1964). While reviews have been mixed, I enjoyed it and thought it had everything you need for a James Bond story.

In addition to his Bond novels, Ian Fleming also wrote Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Ian Fleming Centenary

Devil May Care by Sebastian Faulks Writing As Ian Fleming

Sebastian Faulks interview TimesOnline

James Bond Authors

Ian Fleming Centre

Random House Video Sebastian Faulks

Counselor: A Life At the Edge of History

From the new non-fiction shelf

Ted Sorensen's memoir, Counselor, provides an inside glimpse into the Kennedy years as he recounts his experience as legislative assistant, speechwriter, advisor, and Special Counsel to the President.

Happy 4th of July!

The library is closed today (Friday, 7/4/08) and will reopen on Saturday at 9am.

Happy 4th of July! Enjoy your holiday weekend.

Read the Book and See the Film

Jon Krakauer's book, Into the Wild, was a bestseller back in 1996. I remember reading and enjoying it when it first came out. Now you can read the book and see the movie. We just received the DVD Into the Wild. Sean Penn directed the film and wrote the screenplay. Whether you choose the film, book, or both, you'll enjoy the experience. Best of all, it will be free. Create a great summer weekend by reading outside and then watching the movie inside. Free summer entertainment at its best and you can find it at your library.

Calling all Volunteers

We are looking for people to volunteer on July 19 & 20 for the book/bake sale at the library. If you can donate some time to the library, we could use help putting books out on tables, sorting books, and assisting in many ways to help make the sale a success.

If you love to bake, we would welcome any baked goods for our bake sale table.

Support your community and support your library! We know you love the library and we need your support to help make this event an annual success.