Mark & Emily Turner Memorial Library

Axis 360 Ebooks Just for Our Patrons

2012-01-27T12:06:00.003-05:00

In 2011, library card holders from Mark & Emily Turner Memorial Library downloaded 1,049 ebooks from Maine InfoNet. InfoNet is the statewide consortium of Maine libraries who have entered into an agreement to share access to library ebooks through Overdrive, the vendor who supplies the access to these books. Rarely a day goes by in the typical public library now when a question about accessing library books on an ereader does not come up. Demand for library ebooks is on the rise: December of 2011 was the highest month for number of downloads and number of new patrons registered to download - not just at Mark & Emily Turner Memorial Library, but statewide. In fact, the statewide registration of new ebook patrons was up 60% over the next highest month of November. Patrons of Turner Memorial Library want access to ebooks, but because the demand is so high statewide, they often have to wait for the books they want to become available. In response to this demand, we are now pleased to be able to offer ebooks
purchased and available especially and uniquely for patrons of Mark & Emily Turner Memorial Library. Axis 360 is a program that will allow our staff to purchase ebooks based on our patrons’ needs and wants, add them to our own library catalog, and cut down the wait times for our patrons for library ebooks. Our library ebooks can be viewed two ways: Through a link on our website to a “wall” of books that looks very much like browsing a traditional bookshelf, and through our library catalog in the same way as any other book. These books are viewed on a
free reader app called Blio, which displays the books in the same beautiful way that the writer and publisher intended, and which is the first reader app to be 100% compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). These books will currently run on any Windows PC
and on iOS and Android mobile devices. Axis 360 will soon be available for Nook, Kobo, Sony, Mac desktops, WebOS, and they are in talks with Amazon for Kindle compatibility. Meanwhile, Turner Memorial Library will continue its membership with InfoNet to allow our patrons with Kindles ongoing access to library ebooks. The landscape of publishing and books is changing rapidly, and new developments arise almost daily. The library staff are working to ensure
that our patrons maintain access to as many items as possible in the ways that are most convenient to those patrons.

To access our "Magic Wall" of ebooks, go to http://pimelib.axis360.baker-taylor.com/default.aspx . You will need a library card, a Blio account (free) & the Blio reader app (also free). To begin downloading these ebooks, first sign up for a free Blio account at www.blio.com.

Next, download the free Blio app to your iOs, Android, or Windows PC device. Third, make sure you have a Mark & Emily Turner Memorial Library library card. Then, visit our Magic Wall of library ebooks above. When you check out an ebook, you will be asked to enter your library barcode number and a five-digit PIN of your choosing. If you are a first time visitor to the Wall, it will ask you to create a free account, which will include your email address, a username of your choosing, and the PIN of your choosing. PLEASE NOTE that when you enter your library barcode number, you MUST put five zeros at the beginning. For example, a library barcode of xxxx would be typed in as 00000xxxx. When you check out your ebook, you will be asked to
enter your Blio account login (email and password to your Blio account). Your ebooks are sent to your Blio reader app, and the books will load into your Blio library the next time you open it. PLEASE NOTE that Baker & Taylor is working to make these books available for iMac, WebOS,
NOOK, Sony, Kobo, and Kindle. Users of these devices may still download ebooks from Maine InfoNet.

If you have questions about our ebooks and your devices, please call (207) 764-2571 during business hours or contact us any time via Facebook under Presque Isle Librarians or by emailing lisanealshaw@presqueislelibrary.org, diannaleighton@presqueislelibrary.org, or pimelibrarian@gmail.com.

An Author You Can't Refuse

2011-12-07T14:29:00.011-05:00

“Inmates are free to roam the prison [at Otisville], but aren’t allowed to enter other housing units. Otherwise, a con can slip into a unit, pipe someone over the head, and split.

When Christmas came around, the Italians needed a hack to look the other way while we all snuck into one unit to get together for dinner. Everyone knew I got along with Officer Hardy.

‘See if he’ll let us do Christmas dinner by you,’ said Gussy.

By now, I did my own thing, kept some distance from the Mob. But these were good guys who looked after me when I arrived.

I talked to Hardy.

‘Okay, Ferrante, but not too many guys, I don’t need a problem.’

On Christmas Day, we took over the rec room in my unit. We pushed together the Ping-Pong tables and threw sheets over them for tablecloths.

Earlier in the week, Patty Paresi stole two buckets from the paint shop. With a homemade heating rod called a ‘stinger,’ we boiled five pounds of macaroni in one bucket, a fish sauce in the other. Ralphy the Bandit made garlic bread and caponata. We even had a plate of finocchio and olive oil.

I gave Hardy A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. His nose was an inch off the page as a dozen Italians from other units trickled in during the 6:00 p.m. move.”

Unlocked: A Journey from Prison to Proust is the autobiography of Louis Ferrante, a former loanshark and soldier in the Gambino crime family, at that time under the leadership of the late John Gotti. Lou’s story is remarkable for many reasons, from the hair-raising stories of life on the street - told with a mix of gritty detail and warm humor - to the evolution of his writing and diction itself throughout the book. But like a Godfather version of Pilgrim’s Progress, Lou encounters as diverse and colorful an array of friends and acquaintances who would all play some part in setting his life course from the City of Destruction through the Valley of of the Shadow of Death and on into the Celestial City, to redemption and a life that motivates, encourages and saves through the most valuable commodity he had ever touched.

Sonny, the Colombo family geisha house owner who ran a fraudulent credit scam from under his wig ( a federal crime);
The prison guards who tossed him in the hole after an apple throwing incident and gave him time to think about his life and develop the urge to read;
Fat George, who “had half the Bible tattooed on his body” and access to some books;
“The broad at the bookstore”;
Fred, the “small balding man with a fast walk, like a white George Jefferson” who headed the Education Department at Lewisburg [federal prison];
Jimmy, former head of the notorious Westies Irish mob out of Hell’s Kitchen, once described as a “sadistic thug” renowned for dismembering his hits post-mortem who thought Lou was being wasted working in the kitchen at Lewisburg and “pulled some strings”: “I got you a job at Education,” he said. “Now you can read all you want”; and
Richard Messina, corporate attorney and convict whom Lou first encountered in the yard reading A. Scott Berg’s Lindbergh …

These are just some of the unlikely people who pulled Lou out of the swamp of street crime to the socially esteemed roles of educator, writer and academic. And it started not with stolen electronics, cash, drugs, leather coats or cars - it started with books. These are the first three books Lou was handed in prison:

Napoleon - Vincent Cronin

Mein Kampf

Caesar's Gallic Wars

"Get them books yet?" [Fat George] asked.

"Yeah, who picked 'em?"

"The broad at the store."

"Whaddyu tell 'er?"

"That you were short and bossy."

Louis Ferrante went on to tutor fellow inmates in Shakespeare, world history and literature. He served an eight-years sentence, and has since left both prison and the Mafia life. He is now an author, motivational speaker, and has appeared on The Daily Show. Lou has also published Mob Rules: What the Mafia Can Teach the Legitimate Businessman. Louis sends along these personal recommendations for our library readers:

Les Miserables by Victor Hugo

The Count of Monte-Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

The Story of My Life by Helen Keller

Nelson Mandela: The Struggle is My Life

A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings of Martin Luther King

The Autobiography of Benvenuto Cellini

Author Louis Ferrante (image used with permission)

Reading Recommendations from Melanie

2011-07-14T13:50:00.009-04:00

Melanie’s Recommended Books

Tremendous thanks to library volunteer Melanie for her book recommendations. One of the many great things about our library volunteers is that they each bring a unique set of experiences, tastes and interests that patrons and staff alike can draw on for an expert opinion. Melanie's husband is a tattoo artist and she herself is an amazing work of art. If you're looking for something interesting to read this summer, take a look at Melanie's outstanding suggestions below.

Stiff by Mary Roach

Down East Detective by Karen Lemke

Deviant by Harold Schechter

Delores Claiborne, The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon,

and The Long Walk by Stephen King

Intensity and Fear Nothing by Dean Koontz

Rumble Fish and The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing and Superfudge by Judy Blume

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

Flowers in the Attic by V.C. Andrews

Go Ask Alice by Anonymous

Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein

Lost on a Mountain in Maine by Joseph B. Egan

New York City Tattoo: The Oral History of an Urban Art

by Michael McCabe

Overdrive Update for Library Books on Kindle

2011-04-27T14:37:00.003-04:00

Overdrive has notified libraries of the following information regarding the imminent availability of Kindle-compatible e-books through libraries, and we are in turn passing this information on to you:

"Many of you will receive inquiries about this new program, so here is a brief introduction to what can be expected when this launches:

The Kindle Library Lending program will integrate into your existing OverDrive-powered 'Virtual Branch' website.
Your existing collection of downloadable eBooks will be available to Kindle customers. As you add new eBooks to your collection, those titles will also be available for lending to Kindle and Kindle reading apps. Your library will NOT need to purchase any additional units or formats to have Kindle compatibility. This will work for your existing eBook titles.
A user will be able to browse for titles on any desktop or mobile operating system, check out a title with a library card, and then select Kindle as the delivery destination. The borrowed title can then be enjoyed using any Kindle device and all of Amazon's free Kindle reading apps.
The Kindle eBook titles borrowed from a library will carry the same rules and policies as all our other eBooks.
The Kindle Library Lending program will support publishers' existing lending models.
Your users' confidential information will be protected.
The Kindle Library Lending program is only available for libraries, schools, and colleges in the United States."

Thank you to Overdrive, Amazon, and everyone who has made this possible - most particularly YOU the library patron.

For any questions about library e-books and e-readers, please feel free to contact staff at Mark & Emily Turner Memorial Library in Presque Isle, Maine. Our full ist of contact information is here:

http://www.presqueislelibrary.org/contact/

A Book by Any Other Format ...

2011-04-26T14:39:00.003-04:00

“You can’t judge a book by its proprietary format.” “I can read you like an enhanced font ePub download.” Since these phrases haven’t quite made it into daily vernacular - yet (but you read them here first if they do!), we can safely assume that for the time being, books in the bound-paper manifestation so many of us love have not yet been blown into extinction like dinosaurs after an asteroid by digital books and e-readers. Libraries still enjoy enormous requests for and circulation of traditional books.

In fact, according to a recent article in “Scientific American” by David Pogue, digital preservation is still far too new to be proven as a reliable method of archiving over the long term. But while archiving of material is of high import to libraries, so much more is access to material. Digital books are less about denying readers the “smell and feel” of a book and more about providing the opportunity for reader to have book in hand in the shortest amount of time possible, and many times at a lower cost. Project Gutenberg, for example, provides digital access to numerous classics and public domain works, saving readers the additional cost of needing to purchase the item and libraries the cost of acquiring multiple copies of a work that is already freely available.

What can be very intimidating for a reader is the tangled undergrowth of e-reader brands and proprietary file formats for electronic books. One thing of which we can be certain: Things will keep changing. Readers who bought and fell in love with their Amazon Kindles, for example, were dismayed to then learn that the Kindle was not compatible with the ePub format that library e-books offered by distributors such as Overdrive were using. “You mean I bought this electronic reader and now I can’t check library books out on it?” Happily, however, that is also changing, and soon library patrons will be able to check out e-books on their Kindles.

As we cut our way together through the rapidly growing and evolving flora of the publishing world, it might be helpful for patrons to have some familiarity with the developments and challenges. Patrons now have more books than ever from which to choose, but the acquisition of those books might involve more now than consulting the card catalogue and pulling the volume off the shelf. Here are just a few of the myriad ways librarians can help patrons get book in hand:

1. The library purchases the book. Librarians love to hear requests from patrons and also endeavor to follow popular authors and titles to ensure to the best of their respective budgetary abilities that patrons have access to those books.

2. The library requests use of the book from another library. Not every library has every book, but libraries are generally very good about sharing materials back and forth for the greater good of all information seekers. This is called an Inter-Library Loan (or ILL), and is a request you would generally place with your local librarian. Often a small fee or donation is requested to help cover the cost of mailing or courier services.

3. The book is available as a digital download through your library (or another free service such as Project Gutenberg), as an e-book or audio book, and can be downloaded with your patron identification number to your computer, e-reader, or other handheld device. This is where devices and formatting can get tricky, and one of the best people I have found to help organize it is “The Digital Goddess” Kim Komando. Kim discusses e-books and e-readers frequently in her column, and she has a comprehensive chart of readers and their supported formats here. Some devices such as the Kindle, Nook and iPad download books wirelessly, and there is usually an open wireless connection at your local library. Some devices must be hardwired to a computer with an accompanying account, such as Sony. It’s our business as librarians to know how to help you with this process.

4. The book is Print on Demand (also known as POD or publish on demand). This is admittedly new territory for libraries, as it indicates a book that has been written and uploaded to a publisher/distributor [such as Amazon via CreateSpace] in a digital format but is not actually available in print until it is purchased. A book in this format is unlikely to be available to acquire via an Inter-Library Loan, and might not have been formatted for all e-readers nor purchased by Overdrive. It is not completely uncharted territory for libraries, however. California libraries are working together to provide POD services to their patrons with an Espresso Book Machine. Maine is working on the same thing. Expect to see further developments in this area as more emerging authors take advantage of self-publishing services.

Whatever your reading desire or question, one thing that has not changed is your librarian’s desire to help you. Access is what we do. In fact, we wrote the book on it - in all formats.

Lisa Neal Shaw is the Reference Librarian at Mark & Emily Turner Memorial Library in Presque Isle, Maine. For questions about any of the above or any of our other services, please feel free to call (207) 764-2571 or e-mail lisanealshaw @presqueislelibrary .org.

Future Fiction: What's Coming in 2011

2010-12-30T09:52:00.005-05:00

Coming in 2011!

1. Fatal Error by J.A. Jance

2. Bird Cloud by Annie Proulx

3. Tick Tock by James Patterson

4. Being Polite to Hitler by Robb Forman Dew

5. The Good Daughter by Jasmin Darznik

6. Townie Andre Dubus III

7. Fadeaway Girl by Martha Grimes

8. Death of a Chimney Sweep by M.C. Beaton

9. Treachery In Dead by J.D. Robb

10. Though Not Dead by Dana Stabenow

11. The Red Garden by Alice Hoffman

12. Journal of a UFO Investigator by David Halperin

13. Deep Black: Death Wave by Stephen Coonts

14. Headhunter's Daughter by Tamar Myers

15. Shadow Fever by Karen Marie Moning

The Public Library of 2015

2010-09-16T09:48:00.007-04:00

"We can therefore safely speculate that by 2015, and in all probability much sooner, libraries will rise to meet the increasing provider and user-end demands for Internet access to address education and economic needs for their patronage."

Access: This is one of the first terms students of librarianship learn. Free and open access to information has been and continues to be the charge of librarians past, present and future. The degree in fact is named Library and Information Services. Librarians are looked to as stewards of information, and as the rule and law of archiving decrees, it is content and not form that drives the need for information storage. While publications in all forms seem to become easier to obtain for individuals, the ability to sift through confusing and often contradictory information - and indeed the ability to match file format to device and device to access point - is greatly challenged. Frustration mounts for those who find the rapidly changing formats incomprehensible and when even lowering costs for devices assumed to be had by the majority remain beyond the financial means of so many citizens. Technology is advancing exponentially. The economic edge will lie with those who are familiar with this technology, and conversely those who do not have access to technology, the information stored and delivered along it, and the chance to learn it, will become the most financially vulnerable.

“The printing press and changes in the epistemological makeup of religions forged the way for a new reading public. In many Christian religions, only pastors and priests were trusted with the word of God. Besides, books were scarce; monks used to teach from texts chained to the lectern” ( Freeman, 2009, p.31).

“We hope the President [Theodore Roosevelt] will be a restraining influence on the flood of words both in correspondence and in books, but we fear the times are against him. They offer fatal facilities for verbal exuberance. Books today are published in vast numbers, less because authors have anything to say than because printing is easy and cheap and the presses have to be kept at work. ... The stenographer, the typewriter and the printing press are invaluable agents of civilization, but they have their drawbacks. They have inundated us with a plague of words ...” (Freeman, 2009, pp. 52-3).

“The Internet is not your library and if you thought a ton of books was an overwhelming amount of information, think again. The Internet doesn’t contain just a few dozen or hundred relevant sources, no, it contains millions or billions or even more. To make things worse, there is no friendly and intelligent librarian to help you sort through all this information. It’s only you and a stupid search engine” (MakeUseOf.com, 2010).

Public libraries have long held to the philosophy that information and access to it are things that should be freely open to all. This is a philosophy shared not exclusively by the staff who work in public libraries but in fact by the very founders who originally saw a need for public libraries in their communities. John Cotton Dana, author of the well known A Library Primer and a gentleman as much beloved to librarians as Melvil Dewey, stated, “Unfortunately, most citizens who took up the library idea thought of libraries as mere book-collections, housed in buildings designed to ornament a town. They half-unconsciously desired to put up memorials to local culture, and not to establish live institutions that would help promote much needed general intelligence” (Cotton Dana, 1920, p. 3).

Today, librarians have no end of fascinating stories about patron questions received at the circulation or reference desk. Live birds are pulled from pockets with a request for the librarian to help identify the species. Play-writes telephone from their home offices wondering if somewhere there is software to help them format their opus and where it might be located. Readers of library blogs post comments inquiring about obituaries and genealogical resources. People can’t find what they’re looking for on the computer, but they can find librarians.

And those are just the people with computers.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey, in rural Maine alone, of the approximately 323,000 homes surveyed, just over 25% report having no Internet use. Of the respondents who do use Internet in their homes, 21% reported that they were using a dial-up connection (NTIA/US Bureau of the Census, 2007, p. 6). At the same time, again in Maine, state government no longer routinely sends out print versions of tax forms and booklets. While they may be requested with a telephone call, the trend is toward obtaining the forms and accompanying information online. Unemployment claims are no longer provided by walk-in service in Maine. Applicants are encouraged to apply online. Online universities are a growing trend as well. One of the most readily recognized - the University of Phoenix online - reported a Fall 2000 enrollment total of 14, 783 people. By Fall of 2007, that number had increased to 224,880 (U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, 2009).

As of this writing, Maine libraries are in a state of positive transition to meet the need of an Internet access-challenged population with a growing government and private sector need for that access. The Maine State Library reports the following: “Research by the American Library Association shows that public libraries are the sole source of no-fee access to the Internet for 73% of Americans who have no connectivity at home or work. In 2008 there were only 1,424 public access computers available in public libraries located throughout Maine. Many of those computers in the smaller libraries are from a Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Grant awarded in 2002; some were replaced by a Gates grant in 2008-09. Seventy-five percent of the public libraries responding to a survey in 2010 reported not having enough public access computers to meet current demand. Many also reported that many of the existing public computers were too old to run current software. Over 220 public libraries connect to the Internet in Maine through the Maine School and Library Network. Beginning in July 2010 all these libraries will have at minimum a 10 mbps broadband connection” (Maine State Library, 2010).

We can therefore safely speculate that by 2015, and in all probability much sooner, libraries will rise to meet the increasing provider and user-end demands for Internet access to address education and economic needs for their patronage. Much of this will continue to be accomplished by local municipal and philanthropic support and by federal and foundational grants. The technology needs in particular are addressed under the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act’s Broadband Opportunities Technology Program (United States Department of Agriculture, 2010).

Currently, Maine libraries are also in the process of actively and meaningfully partnering with the Maine State Department of Labor (MDOL) and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to further aid citizens with the Maine Public Library Information Commons Project. “This application seeks funding to equip Maine's public libraries to become ―information commons areas-- to serve as access points to free high speed Internet service and to provide assistance to vulnerable populations both in the use of technology and in finding and using needed information in the areas of employment, civil law, health, government services, small business information, and workforce development.

Public libraries have historically provided a gateway to information. They are perceived as safe places to go for unbiased, friendly, confidential information. As broadband is introduced into rural communities the public library is a logical place to learn to use the new medium -- seeing how social networking works, finding new information sources—applying for jobs on-line and ―trying it out before making an investment for home or business. Bringing together access to technology and access to needed information makes sense. That is the aim of the Maine Public Library Information Commons Project” (Maine State Library, 2010).

As libraries become more prominent presences in economic recovery for individual citizens, it is further a reasonable expectation that libraries may pursue additional federal funding under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998. Under Title II - Adult Education and Literacy - Sec. 202, the stated Purpose reads as follows: “It is the purpose of this title to create a partnership among the Federal Government, States, and localities to provide, on a voluntary basis, adult education and literacy services, in order to—

(1) assist adults to become literate and obtain the knowledge

and skills necessary for employment and self-sufficiency;

(2) assist adults who are parents to obtain the educational

skills necessary to become full partners in the educational

development of their children; and

(3) assist adults in the completion of a secondary school education” (U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration, 1998), pp. 125-6). Sec. 203 (5[F]) defines an Eligible Provider as “a library” (U.S. DOL/ETA, 1998, p. 126).

Therefore, by 2015, it is likely that libraries’ roles as technology access centers for economic growth will increase greatly, and the fiscal means to facilitate that are available.

And what of books, the commodity with which libraries are so readily associated? To understand where libraries will be regarding the distribution of books over the next five years, it is essential to follow what is happening in the publishing industry.

According to the International Digital Publishing Forum (IDPF) in conjunction with the Association of American Publishers (AAP), wholesale electronic book sales in 2009 reached approximately $170 million, up from an estimated $5 million in 2002. Second quarter sales alone for 2010 have reached almost $90 million - and those are just wholesale numbers. IDPF states, “Retail numbers may be as much as double the above figures due to industry wholesale discounts” (IDPF.org, 2010). However, sales for traditional formats of books are still very healthy according to the Association of American Publishers (AAP): Net sales of $23.9 billion were reported for 2009, a 1.8% decrease from 2008. Audio book sales were hit hardest: “Audio book sales for 2009 totaled $192 million, down 12.9% on the prior year, CAGR [compound annual growth rate] for this category is still healthy at 4.3%. E-books overtook audiobooks in 2009 with sales reaching $313 million in 2009, up 176.6%” (AAP, 2010).

However, Forrester Research asserts that AAP “far under-reports the true size of the eBook content market.” In fact, Forrester Analyst Sarah Rotman Epps writes, “AAP data represents wholesale, not retail, revenue; what the retailer collects from the consumer could be more (or less) than what the retailer pays to the publisher. In addition, AAP data represents only a subset of trade eBook publishers, and it excludes major markets like education, libraries, and professional electronic sales. ... Considering the growth rate of eBook trade sales (up 176% year-to-date), we think it’s reasonable to project overall eBook revenue will top $500 million in the US in 2010” (Epps, 2010).

Patron requests for eBooks are on the rise. A recent announcement from Maine’s InfoNet Download Library service sent via email to librarians and other interested parties on Maine’s library listserv ME-LIBS briefly outlined plans to include eBooks along with audio books as part of the service - due to patron demand. According to early plans, “The Overdrive system provides eBooks in formats that work on many but not all readers. The ePub and DRM PDF formats are supported by the Sony eReader, the B+N [Barnes & Noble] Nook, the Borders Kobo and others, as well as on windows PCs and Mac computers. The formats are not supported on Kindles. The format is not currently supported on the iPad, but Overdrive has promised an announcement on this front soon. ...”

Sony already has a program in place to help librarians obtain and train on their eReaders and a system by which to lend eBooks with them (Sony, 2010). While Amazon founder Jeff Bezos generally does not release specific sales figures for Kindles, Forrester Research speculates, “B&N [Barnes & Noble] will steal market share from Amazon and Sony. 2009 was a setup year. In 2010, B&N will rack up significant sales of Nooks and eBooks, as some consumers look for an Amazon alternative. Sony will launch its own new devices, and will work on improving the software and book-buying experience. B&N will end up taking market share from both Amazon and Sony, but Amazon will retain its dominant position as market leader” (Epps, 2010).

What librarians can therefore expect to see over the next five years are shifting sands in eBook technology and availability. Formatting compatibility issues, driven largely by publisher digital rights concerns and litigation, will compel librarians to keep up with emerging trends as patron demand for eBooks grows at a faster rate than their functional comfort with the evolving technology that supports those books.

At the same time, a growing trend in the publishing industry is what is knows as “vanity publishing,” where writers publish their own works through an electronic book sale site such as Amazon. While purchase prices for these eBooks are generally very affordable, the electronic access gap is still too wide for many library patrons to bridge on their own. Kiosks offering print on demand (POD) services are now appearing in a wide variety of locations, including Riverside County (CA) Library System, where a Book Espresso POD machine was purchased under a $100,000 grant from the California State Library. “The July 2009 grant has been used to purchase a Book Espresso ‘print-on-demand’ machine which prints, covers and binds trade paperback quality books from computer files. “Library patrons will now have the option to request titles, have the book printed for free, read it and return it to the library collection, or they may choose to keep the book and pay a printing fee. If the requesting patron is at the Book Espresso location and wants to pay for the book, it can be printed immediately while they wait.

"’Growing our collections based upon patron on-demand choices is a new concept for our library system,’ said Jan Kuebel, Manager of Grace Mellman Library. ‘Rather than relying solely on interlibrary loan, we now have a way to immediately respond to patron requests for materials outside of our current collection.’

“Available book titles will be obtained from Lightning Source, with over 500,000 titles available, and Google Books, who has partnered with over 20,000 publishers to make their content available for on-demand printing” (PRNewsWire, 2010).

The digital village is still in mid-construction for many media. Between now and 2015, librarians will need to keep educated and stay curious about emerging trends for the sake of the patronage who rely on them for information services and access. By doing so, the libraries of 2015 remain institutions that promote general intelligence.

Summary

In five years, the basic mission of providing access to information will not have changed for libraries. In fact, as access to economic and literacy tools becomes increasingly varied, libraries will have an ever more important role in the community as a central starting access point and for assistance navigating the sea of formats. Furthermore, libraries will become a primary point of contact for citizens whose educational and government services become digitized faster than the availability for these citizens to access them individually. More and more educational, economic, government and literary entities are dotting the digital landscape, and libraries are still the most reliable and only free public transportation on the information superhighway. Libraries strive to deliver their passengers to their five-year destination and still have ample fuel to accurately address where they - and the people they serve - will be in the following five years.

Sources

6 ways to reduce irrelevant results on Google search (2010, April 18). MakeUseOf. Retrieved from http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/6-ways-reduce-irrelevant-results-google-search/

Dana, J.C. (1920). A Library Primer. University of California: Library Bureau. Retrieved from http://books.google.com/books?id=9aG6AAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=John+Cotton+Dana&hl=en&ei=i_aPTNz_F8L78AaAwoyVDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7&ved=0CEoQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q&f=false

Epps, S.R. (2009, December 1). Ten eReader And eBook Predictions For 2010. Forrester Research. Retrieved from http://blogs.forrester.com/sarah_rotman_epps/09-12-01-ten_ereader_and_ebook_predictions_2010

Freeman, John (2009). The Tyranny of E-Mail. New York: Scribner.

Households using the Internet in and outside the home, by selected characteristics: Total, urban, Rural, Principal City, 2007 (2007). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved from http://www.ntia.doc.gov/reports/2008/Table_HouseholdInternet2007.pdf

Jordan, T. (2010, April 7). AAP Reports Book Sales Estimated at $23.9 Billion in 2009. Association of American Publishers. Retrieved from http://www.publishers.org/main/IndustryStats/indStats_02.htm

Maine State Library and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) (2010). Maine State Library. Retrieved from http://www.maine.gov/msl/recovery/index.shtml

Networked Nation: Broadband in America 2007 (2008). National Telecommunications and Information Administration. Retrieved from http://www.ntia.doc.gov/reports/2008/NetworkedNation.html

Riverside County Library System Begins ‘Print-on-Demand’ Book Printing (2010, March 4). PR Newswire. Retrieved from http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/riverside-county-library-system-begins-print-on-demand-book-printing-86405047.html

Selected statistics for degree-granting institutions enrolling more than 15,000 students in 2007: Selected years, 1990 through 2007-08 (2009). National Center for Educations Statistics. Retrieved from http://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d09/tables/dt09_236.asp

Sony Unveils Reader Library Program to Promote Digital Reading at Public Libraries (2010, June 29). Sony. Retrieved from http://news.sel.sony.com/en/press_room/consumer/computer_peripheral/e_book/release/57890.html

The portal to apply for broadband funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (2010). Broadband USA. Retrieved from http://broadbandusa.sc.egov.usda.gov/

US Trade Wholesale Electronic Book Sales (2010). International Digital Publishing Forum. Retrieved from http://www.idpf.org/doc_library/industrystats.htm

Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (1998, August 7). United States Deptarment of Labor. Retrieved from http://www.doleta.gov/usworkforce/wia/wialaw.pdf

Lisa Neal-Shaw is a reference librarian at the Mark and Emily Turner Memorial Library in Presque Isle, Maine. To contact Lisa, please email her at lisa.mn.shaw@gmail.com. Special thanks to William C. Menna, MS for research and editorial assistance.

Norma McEntee's Reading Picks!

2010-08-18T17:25:00.008-04:00

Norma McEntee is our newest library team member. As a way to get to know Norma and by way of a small introduction, Norma compiled a few of her favorite reads and wrote about them below. Welcome to the team, Norma, we know you will do great things in your new position!

Okay, I’ll admit it. I like reading a scary book—one that I don’t want to put down, even if Sunday dinner is burning in the oven and there is smoke coming from the kitchen. I think books with a little fear tucked into the pages help to remind me that my life is pretty safe and sound—there’s nothing living in my closet or under my bed. Maybe that’s what makes a good scary book so tempting. I’m content that all this stuff isn’t happening to me. So, here are a few of my favorites… with a long, cold, northern Maine winter coming, I plan to have my stack of books near my chair, at the ready. I may even re-read some of these again. The books are not necessarily in any order, but more how they came to mind.

Who doesn’t love a good ghost story? Whether you’re reading this book in the dark of night or on the deck on a sunny afternoon, Ghost Story will send a chill up your spine.

College boy (innocent?) fun gets out of hand and a very bad thing happens. Knowing that it was a ghost story, I was drawn into the story immediately. Soon, their ghost story becomes your ghost story. This is definitely one of my all time favorites. Don’t bother watching the movie, it doesn’t even compare.

I think readers hate to admit it, but Stephen King has written some good books; not all of them present readers with sci-fi monsters or clowns who bother little kids. Some of King’s monsters are real: like Dolores’ wife-beating husband, or the rich old lady with too much money and too much hate. This is a book with a great story line. No gore and guts, but it is scary. Poor Dolores is just a hardworking woman in Maine (where else?), and SECRETS. She doesn’t stand a chance and is forever labeled in her little coastal town.

It’s been years and years since I’ve read this book, but I still can’t sleep with my curtains open at night, even though my bedroom is on the second floor of the house—just like the little Glick boys, who had a late-night visit from their dead friend.

Since I watched the ‘Wizard of Oz’ as a young girl, my mantra has always been: “I do believe in spooks, I do believe in spooks…” And I do.

The subtitle of this book is: “The Donner Party’s Perilous Journey West”. If you’ve never heard of the ‘Donner Party’ or are unfamiliar with the true story, this is an awesome historical read for you. It reads like a novel, but includes details: diaries and photos. Though it was creepy, I couldn’t help but feel sad.

Boy, talk about ‘California Dreamin’ taking a bad turn….

This is Ms. Kostova’s first book and it’s one that you won’t want to put down. A young woman finds an ancient book while going through letters and papers of her father’s.

She is extremely curious about the book, but it makes her feel uneasy—like something dark lives inside. I think you can never read enough legend of Dracula or books about the reign of Vlad, the Impaler. It’s well written, fascinating and menacing at the same time.

It’s not just about the 120+ men on the ‘HMS Terror’ and their 1845 expedition to the so-called Northwest Passage, it’s how they survive while waiting for a summer thaw in the Arctic Circle ice where their ship has been frozen for two years – and it’s about things that go bump (and butcher the men as they stand guard) in the night.

Though I liked the book a lot, I was disappointed when it took a surrealistic turn. There’s a major character: a very peculiar Eskimo woman who shows up with a point to make. Good story, but somewhat odd.

Loved it! Actually, I inhaled it. There have been tons of critics who have found biblical errors in the book, but I didn’t read it for its biblical content, only for the interesting read that it was.

If you think it’s been overrated and haven’t read it yet, give it a try. The possibilities and the “What if?’s” that Dan Brown put forth are amazing!

I can be diverse in my reading choices, that’s why I would recommend anything by Maine author, Cathy Pelletier. My absolute favorite was her first novel, The Funeral Makers. I found all of her books to be funny in their own way – like living in northern-most Aroostook County – Cathy has discovered that it’s a good thing to be able to make light of some tragedy.

Norma can be reached at (207) 764.2571 or via email at norma.mcentee@yahoo.com.

Giving Back to Your Community

2010-08-05T11:16:00.003-04:00

Giving Back to Your Community

Kevin Sipe, Library Board of Trustees Chair

Growing up in Presque Isle, one could be forgiven for thinking every hometown is like our own. We sometimes take for granted the opportunities we enjoy and the community we share. We enjoy good schools, effective local government responsive to its citizens, fresh air, clean water, a myriad of public services, and activities for all. But move away, live somewhere else for a while, a year, two years, ten years, and one begins to appreciate Presque Isle in a whole new way. The quality of our lives here often is thrown into stark contrast when held up for comparison. Sometimes it takes a returning resident to help us see just what a special place our little town, Presque Isle, is.

There is obviously something about growing up in Presque Isle that etches powerful memories into us. Perhaps it's the sense of community, the safety of our streets, the library, the recreation department, the parks or just the feeling of well being and belonging. Seen through another's eyes their memories become a mirror for us to view ourselves. What one does with those memories, however, makes all the difference. Does one rest in the comfort of those past days or look to give back, to insure that those opportunities remain for others to enjoy?

For one former resident the answer lies in giving back, to provide for future generations all the opportunities they enjoyed growing up here. With a one million dollar donation this former resident has fulfilled a dream to be able to give back in the form of an addition to the Presque Isle library that will provide much needed space and for the first time handicapped accessibility. Her stated goal is to give back to the community that meant so much to her growing up, to give without a desire for recognition but rather a desire to do for others. This gift will benefit the citizens of Presque Isle for generations to come and keep alive the sense of community and specialness we enjoy but sometimes fail to see in the day-to-day of our busy lives.

The concept of "Pay it Forward" lives conceptually in all of us. But how many of us can or do put that concept into action? When someone does act on that most noble of ideas it strikes a chord in us and makes us wonder if we, too, could do more for our community. The generosity of one woman will create a place of refuge, meeting, and education for all to enjoy and will stand as an example to the spirit of giving and service, an example of the concept of "Paying it Forward" becoming reality. With this gift our children, all of us, will be able to benefit form one more of the things that makes Presque Isle such a wonderful place to live and raise children. In the months to come we will see this woman's gift become a reality as the walls rise on the new addition to the library made possible by one person's desire to "Give Back" to the community she loves.

New Books on their Way to Presque Isle

2010-01-29T15:57:00.009-05:00

Pleased to review and fulfill requested materials for our patrons! Here is another list ordered for January 2010.

Abraham Lincoln : Vampire Hunter
By: Grahame-Smith, Seth
ISBN / ISBN-13: 0446563080 / 9780446563086
Date: 3/2/2010
Dewey: 813/.6

Anthropology of an American Girl
By: Hamann, H. T.
ISBN / ISBN-13: 0974026670 / 9780974026671
Pub.Date: 9/1/2003
Dewey: 813

Blue-Eyed Devil
By: Parker, Robert B.
ISBN / ISBN-13: 0399156488 / 9780399156489
Pub.Date: 5/4/2010
Dewey: 813

Crack in the Lens
By: Hockensmith, Steve
ISBN / ISBN-13: 0312379420 / 9780312379421
Pub.Date: 7/21/2009
Dewey: 813/.6

Devil's Star
By: Nesbo, Jo
ISBN / ISBN-13: 0061133973 / 9780061133978
Pub.Date: 3/9/2010
Dewey: 839.82/38

Every Last One
By: Quindlen, Anna
ISBN / ISBN-13: 1400065747 / 9781400065745
Pub.Date: 4/13/2010
Dewey: 813

Executive Intent
By: Brown, Dale
ISBN / ISBN-13: 0061560855 / 9780061560859
Pub.Date: 4/27/2010
Dewey: 813/.54

False Mermaid
By: Hart, Erin
ISBN / ISBN-13: 1416563768 / 9781416563761
Pub.Date: 3/2/2010
Dewey: 813/.6

Freeze Frame : The Fourth of the Enzo Files
By: May, Peter
ISBN / ISBN-13: 1590586948 / 9781590586945
Pub.Date: 3/1/2010
Dewey: 813

God of the Hive : A Novel of Suspense Featuring Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes
By: King, Laurie R.
ISBN / ISBN-13: 0553805541 / 9780553805543
Dewey: 813/.54
4/27/2010

Imperfect Birds
By: Lamott, Anne
ISBN / ISBN-13: 1594487510 / 9781594487514
Pub.Date: 4/6/2010
Dewey: 813/.54

Innocent
By: Turow, Scott
ISBN / ISBN-13: 0446562424 / 9780446562423
Pub.Date: 5/4/2010
Dewey: 813

Island Beneath the Sea : A Novel
By: Allende, Isabel
ISBN / ISBN-13: 0061988243 / 9780061988240
Pub.Date: 4/27/2010
Dewey: 863/.64

Lake Shore Limited
By: Miller, Sue
ISBN / ISBN-13: 0307264211 / 9780307264213
Pub.Date: 4/6/2010
Dewey: 813/.54

Matterhorn : A Novel of the Vietnam War
By: Marlantes, Karl
ISBN / ISBN-13: 144174231X / 9781441742315
Pub.Date: 4/1/2010
Supplier: Blackstone Audio Inc
Dewey: 813

Next
By: Hynes, James
ISBN / ISBN-13: 0316051926 / 9780316051927
Pub.Date: 3/9/2010
Dewey: 813/.54

Reckless
By: Gross, Andrew
ISBN / ISBN-13: 0061655953 / 9780061655951
Pub.Date: 3/30/2010
Dewey: 813/.6

Sherlock Holmes and the King's Evil : And Other New Adventures of the Great Detective
By: Thomas, Donald
ISBN / ISBN-13: 1605980439 / 9781605980430
Pub.Date: 5/27/2009
Dewey: 823/.914

Southern Storm
By: Blackstock, Terri
ISBN / ISBN-13: 0310235936 / 9780310235934
Pub.Date: 5/1/2003
Dewey: 813/.54

Storm Prey
By: Sandford, John
ISBN / ISBN-13: 0399156496 / 9780399156496
Pub.Date: 5/18/2010
Dewey: 813

Struggle to Limit Government : A Modern Political History
By: Samples, John
ISBN / ISBN-13: 1935308289 / 9781935308287
Pub.Date: 4/1/2010
Dewey: 321

Surrendered
By: Lee, Chang-rae
ISBN / ISBN-13: 1594489769 / 9781594489761
Dewey: 813/.54

This Body of Death : An Inspector Lynley Novel
By: George, Elizabeth
ISBN / ISBN-13: 0061160881 / 9780061160882
Pub.Date: 4/20/2010
Dewey: 813/.54

New Books Ordered in January 2010!

2010-01-26T09:03:00.007-05:00

It's a new year and with that comes a group of newly published books on our shelves! Here is the latest book order placed for eager patrons and members of the library. Enjoy!

Alice I Have Been
By: Benjamin, Melanie
ISBN / ISBN-13: 0385344139 / 9780385344135
Pub.Date: 1/12/2010
Binding: Hardcover
Supplier: Random House Inc
Dewey: 813/.6

Art of Choosing : The Subtext of Life
By: Iyengar, Sheena
ISBN / ISBN-13: 0446504106 / 9780446504102
Pub.Date: 3/1/2010
Dewey: 153.8/3

Bloodroot
By: Greene, Amy
ISBN / ISBN-13: 0307269868 / 9780307269867
Pub.Date: 1/12/2010
Dewey: 813/.6

Checklist Manifesto : How to Get Things Right
By: Gawande, Atul
ISBN / ISBN-13: 0805091742 / 9780805091748
Pub.Date: 12/22/2009
Dewey: 610.28/9

Committed : A Skeptic Makes Peace With Marriage
By: Gilbert, Elizabeth
ISBN / ISBN-13: 0670021652 / 9780670021659
Pub.Date: 1/5/2010
Dewey: 306.81

Dead in the Family
By: Harris, Charlaine
ISBN / ISBN-13: 0441018645 / 9780441018642
Pub.Date: 5/4/2010
Dewey: 813/.54

Drive : The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us
By: Pink, Daniel H.
ISBN / ISBN-13: 1594488843 / 9781594488849
Pub.Date: 12/29/2009
Dewey: 153.1/534

Empathic Civilization : The Race to Global Consciousness in a World in Crisis
By: Rifkin, Jeremy
ISBN / ISBN-13: 1585427659 / 9781585427659
Pub.Date: 12/31/2009
Dewey: 901

First Rule
By: Crais, Robert
ISBN / ISBN-13: 1423375505 / 9781423375500
Pub.Date: 1/12/2010
Dewey: 813/.54

Flirt
By: Hamilton, Laurell K.
ISBN / ISBN-13: 042523567X / 9780425235676
Pub.Date: 2/2/2010
Dewey: 813/.54

Food Rules : An Eater's Manual
By: Pollan, Michael
ISBN / ISBN-13: 014311638X / 9780143116387
Pub Date: 12/29/2009
Dewey: 613.2

Happiness Project : Or, Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun
By: Rubin, Gretchen
ISBN / ISBN-13: 0061583251 / 9780061583254
Pub.Date: 12/29/2009
Dewey: 158

House Justice : A Joe Demarco Thriller
By: Lawson, Mike
ISBN / ISBN-13: 0802119379 / 9780802119377
Pub.Date: 7/1/2010
Dewey: 813

House Rules
By: Picoult, Jodi
ISBN / ISBN-13: 0743296435 / 9780743296434
Pub.Date: 3/2/2010
Dewey: 813/.54

House Secrets
By: Lawson, Mike
ISBN / ISBN-13: 0802118852 / 9780802118851
Pub.Date: 7/8/2009
Dewey: 813/.6

I, Sniper : A Bob Lee Swagger Novel
By: Hunter, Stephen
ISBN / ISBN-13: 1416565159 / 9781416565154
Pub.Date: 12/29/2009
Dewey: 813/.54

Impact
By: Preston, Douglas
ISBN / ISBN-13: 0765317680 / 9780765317681
Pub.Date: 1/5/2010
Dewey: 813/.54

Last Train from Hiroshima : The Survivors Look Back
By: Pellegrino, Charles; Morey, Arthur (NRT)
ISBN / ISBN-13: 1400165636 / 9781400165636
Pub.Date: 1/29/2010
Dewey: 940

Secrets of Eden
By: Bohjalian, Chris
ISBN / ISBN-13: 0307394972 / 9780307394972
Pub.Date: 2/2/2010
Dewey: 813/.54

Shadow Tag
By: Erdrich, Louise
ISBN / ISBN-13: 0061536091 / 9780061536090
Pub.Date: 2/2/2010
Dewey: 813/.54

Split Image
By: Parker, Robert B.
ISBN / ISBN-13: 0399156232 / 9780399156236
Pub.Date: 2/23/2010
Dewey: 813/.54
PO Line Note:

Strange Maps
By: Jacobs, Frank
ISBN / ISBN-13: 0142005258 / 9780142005255
Pub.Date: 10/29/2009
Binding: Paperback
Dewey: 912

Terror Dream : Fear and Fantasy in Post-9/11 America
By: Faludi, Susan
ISBN / ISBN-13: 0805086927 / 9780805086928
Pub.Date: 10/30/2007
Dewey: 306.2/40973090511

When Everything Changed : The Amazing Journey of American Women from 1960 to the Present
By: Collins, Gail
ISBN / ISBN-13: 0316059544 / 9780316059541
Pub.Date: 10/14/2009
Dewey: 305.40973/09045

Winter Garden
By: Hannah, Kristin
ISBN / ISBN-13: 0312364121 / 9780312364120
Pub.Date: 2/2/2010
Dewey: 813/.54

Worst Case
By: Patterson, James; Ledwidge, Michael
ISBN / ISBN-13: 0316036226 / 9780316036221
Pub.Date: 2/1/2010
Dewey: 813/.54

Art Reception & Opening At the Library

2009-10-16T11:47:00.009-04:00

You are Cordially Invited to an Opening and Art Reception for the works of

Frank Sullivan

new paintings & pastels

November 7, 2009

through

December 31, 2009

Mark & Emily Turner Memorial Library

39 Second Street, Presque Isle, ME

Opening Reception

Saturday November 7, 2009 at

3:00pm to 6:00pm

For more information, please see Frank Sullivan's blog, http://rainbarrowstudio.blogspot.com

Behind the Easel by Artist Jeffery St. Peter

2009-08-14T11:54:00.002-04:00

The Sky Takes A Visit, 22x30 Pastel on Paper, Wallagrass, Maine

You are cordially invited to attend an

Opening Reception for

Behind the Easel with Artist Jefferey St. Peter

September 12, 2009 from 3:00-6:00PM

at the

Mark & Emily Turner Memorial Library

39 Second Street

Presque Isle, Maine 04769

Exhibit will remain through October 30th, 2009 and can be viewed during normal business library hours. For more information, please call 207.764.2571 or see the artist's blog at http://jefferyonline.blogspot.com

Sponsored by Full Circle Healthcare

Website Being Reworked

2009-08-03T09:52:00.002-04:00

I like to think that even the most inconvenient things happen for a reason, and I am applying that optimism toward the sudden hiatus that our official library website has suddenly decided to take. It gives me a chance to resurrect this sorely neglected blog, and hopefully gives us a chance to explore how we want our website to look and act in the future. Do please stay tuned for updates on that.

Meanwhile, we are pleased to report an excellent turnout for our annual book and bake sale at Mark & Emily Turner Memorial Library in Presque Isle. Peter Rabbit visited, and we had a book signing by noted local author Wendy Koenig. The weather has been dicey all summer, as we who live in Maine know, and we eventually moved the sale into the Multi-Purpose Room, which allowed us to run it a little longer. Much of this year's success is also largely due to the efforts and time of our volunteers, and we cannot thank them enough.

Much has been happening here at the library:

Children's Librarian Sue McPherson and Assistant Children's Librarian Dr. Richard Asam recently received a Barbara Bush Foundation Literacy Grant which will enable the library to provide literacy services to families in our area. Already we have two trained and certified tutors on staff. Please contact Sue or Rick at (207) 764-2571 with quewstions about this program.

We have also received notification of a grant award from the AAAS Skin Deep Project, thanks to efforts from Young Adult Librarian Dianna Leighton, which will allow the library to partner with local agencies in presenting a Public Library Skin Health Program. This program is still in its planning stages, so please do watch this site for updates on this. The program will take place in the fall.

Mark & Emily Turner Memorial Library and the Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance are once again partnering for The Big Read, scheduled for Thursday, October 1, 2009, at 6:00 pm in our library's Multi-Purpose Room. This even helps to promote awareness for Banned Books Week, which is September 27 - October 3, 2009. Details will be posted as available.

Look for the library to make an appearance in the city of Presque Isle's Sesquicentennial Parade on Saturday, August 15th. Happy 150th, Presque Isle, Maine!

Follow Presque Isle Library for updates on Twitter at http://twitter.com/PresqueIsleLib and on Facebook (search Presque Isle Library).

Turner Memorial Library Expanding Outreach in New Year

2009-01-12T18:12:00.003-05:00

For those of you familiar with Twitter, you can find regular real-time updates about events at Mark and Emily Turner Memorial Library on Twitter. If not, it is a quick, easy and free sign-up at www.twitter.com.

The library has electricity usage meters available for check-out to library card holders thanks to the Kill-A-Watt program. Patrons may check out a meter for up to a week and measure the energy usage in their homes to help keep their electricity bills in check.

January 11 through 17 has been officially recognized as Maine Libraries Week. Celebrate free and open access at your local library and ward off the cold by joining us at Mark and Emily Turner Memorial Library on Wednesday, January 14, for hot apple cider all day.

The library received news this week that the Citizens Energy Initiative heating assistance program has been re-funded. Beginning January 19, 2009, people in need of help with heating costs may apply by telephone or online at http://www.citizensenergy.com/english/pages/OilHeatProgram. This is not a LIHEAP program. It is separate funding and very easy to apply for. Those approved receive a coupon for 100 gallons of heating oil from their regular oil dealer.

Tax forms are now available at the library. If you need additional forms or instructions from the IRS, please see Reference Librarian Lisa Shaw for assistance.

The library is still processing passport applications. Days for application through the library are Sunday through Thursday, regular hours. Please do call ahead at (207) 764-2571 if you need to make sure the processing agent will be here, as meetings and appointments do occur. Remember also that the library offers notary services (including weddings!) during these same hours.

We have posted an opening for an Assistant Youth Services Librarian, part-time. The position includes evenings and weekends, and the successful candidate will be very comfortable with Web 2.0 applications. If you have questions about this position, please contact City of Presque Isle Human Resources at (207) 764-2522. The listing closes January 14, 2009.

We look forward to another year of service to our community. There are many more exciting events coming up, so please keep checking back!

Holiday Season at Turner Memorial Library

2008-12-17T10:55:00.004-05:00

Mark and Emily Turner Memorial Library has had several activities going on to help pass the winter months. Recently, Stew Libby from Stew's Downtown Sight & Sound held an information meeting in our multi-purpose room about the upcoming digital television conversion. He has offered to return in February when the changeover goes live in case anyone is still having problems. Author Dr. Mark Varnum gave a very well attended reading and signing of his book Hawk's Cross. The Turner Book Club is meeting twice monthly. The Turner Writers Group meets one Monday per month. A local bell-ringing group will be performing Christmas songs at the library in our multi-purpose room on Thursday, December 18, at 6 pm. And there will be a reception for artist Cheryl Lovely on Friday, December 19, at 6 pm in our art gallery.

For those of you who follow our library's activities in Second Life, we recently has a reading by author Mark Budman from his book My Life at First Try. We have copies of this excellent novels available at our physical library on 39 Second Street in Presque Isle as well. We also have two new virtual libraries going up in Cybrary Square, one dedicated to the music of the Big Band Era and one to help job seekers and employers access some helpful services available on the Internet.

The library will be closed on Thursday, December 25, and again on Thursday, January 1. We will also be closing at 1:00 on Wednesday, December 24.

Gaming, Genealogy and Veterans Events

2008-10-29T15:37:00.003-04:00

Whatever your area of interest, there's a very good chance you will find an appealing event at Mark & Emily Turner Memorial Library.

This past Saturday, October 25, Turner Memorial Library had a booth along with the Aroostook Medical Center Library, at the University of Maine at Presque Isle Health Fair. Hundreds of people came by our table to get library READ bags, bookmarks, informational brochures, and apples kindly donated by the Presque Isle Regional Vocational Center School Farm.

We had seven people in attendance at our last Turner Writers Group meeting. The next one is scheduled for Monday, November 10, at 6:00 pm.

Two area Vietnam Veterans will speak to the public about their harrowing war experiences on Thursday, November 13, at 10:00 am in the Multi-Purpose Room. Army veteran and Purple Heart recipient Peter Main, as well as Marine Veteran and former Navy Chaplain Jim Morgan will gives talks, and a representative from the Caribou Veterans Center also plans to be on hand. The library also plans to show attendees the D.A.V's site in Second Life. There are two sims for the general public to visit and two sims that are for veterans only.

The Library Book Club has two meetings scheduled for November. The first will start earlier than usual, at 4:30 on Thursday, November 6, where Dr. Nan Amadeo, emerita, will show a William Faulkner film and give a talk. The club then will discuss Faulkner's As I Lay Dying at 6:00. The Book Club will also meet on Thursday, November 20, at 6:00 pm to discuss Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn.

Library Genealogist Ann Cushman will be giving a presentation to all those interested in the basics of genealogy on Saturday, November 22, at 10:00 am in the library's Multi-Purpose Room. Please do let the library know if you plan to attend. You can send a message here or call (207) 764-2571 or e-mail me at lisashaw@presqueisle.lib.me.us.

The ALA and Mark & Emily Turner Memorial Library are teaming up to bring you National Gaming Day @ your library on Saturday, November 15, from 12 noon to 6:00 pm. We plan to have a Nintendo Wii on hand as well as a couple of PS2s. Pizza and drinks will be served.

The library recently received a generous donation of several Reader's Digest large print books. Library members are greatly enjoying this new collection.

Have a safe and happy Samhain/Hallowe'en!

Technology and Health Fairs

2008-10-14T11:59:00.012-04:00

Mark and Emily Turner Memorial Library was very pleased to be able to have a booth at the University of Maine at Presque Isle Tech Fair on Friday, October 10. There were several excellent presenters in attendance. The library was able to showcase our virtual library in Second Life, which caught the attention of several people passing by. We also were able to let people know about a new link we have set up, which will be available in the Online Services section of the library's website, which links to many, many free and/or open source utilities and applications on the Internet. You can access that link below:

Free Web Utilities Reference Link

This is something we will be able to update continually with a couple of simple mouse clicks. If you have any questions or comments about the tools or sites that are listed there, please do let us know.

Our Seniors Group is next meeting on Wednesday, October 15, from noon until 2 pm. Our presenter this week will Michelle Sandelier, who is Vice President of the Clan MacKay. We thank her very much for the last-minute scheduling. The group will meet in the Multi-Purpose Room.

The library will also be having a booth along with The Aroostook Medical Center on Saturday, October 25, from 8 in the morning until 12 noon at the University of Maine at Presque Isle Health Fair. We have several wonderful prizes and give-aways lined up, with deepest thanks going to the Presque Isle Elks Club for making that possible.

For those who have inquired, we are still making plans to show the film “Quid Pro Quo” and have a discussion following that with a community educator from the Aroostook Mental Heath Center. Please watch this space for a date and time.

We are also working to bring our next featured artist into the Multi-Purpose Room and Art Gallery, hopefully in time for the holidays. Again, please watch this space for further details as we get them.

Finally, you will notice an item at the top of each blog entry now which says “Listen Now.” We are trying a new feature on our blog which translates text to audio, which can then be played straight from your computer or added to an mp3 player or iTunes. We are in hopes that this might be of some help to those who like to keep up to date on the go or who might have issues with vision. Odiogo offers this service. Again, we welcome your feedback as always.

Events!

2008-10-07T17:28:00.002-04:00

Busy days at Mark & Emily Turner Memorial Library. We recently celebrated Banned Books Week, an annual observation of books which have been challenged or banned over the years, as a reminder of the needed diligence for intellectual freedom and access. Our thanks to WAGM-TV for visiting the display in our multi-purpose room.

Today some of our staff had the exciting opportunity to speak with some librarians live from Bogota, Colombia, through Second Life, who are interested in learning more from us about virtual librarianship. This wonderful opportunity was made possible by the US Embassy.

The library will be having a booth at a couple of upcoming events at the University of Maine in Presque Isle: The first will be on Friday, October 10, from 10-5 for the Tech Fair; the second will be on Saturday, October 25, from 8-12 for the Health Fair, and we will be joined by TAMC. The Presque Isle Elks Club has made several VERY generous donations for prizes and giveaways - especially for young people - with a health and wellness theme. We thank them deeply and hope that you will come along and visit Miss Sue and Lisa Shaw at the booth.

The Senior Club will be meeting on Wednesday, October 15th, from 12-2. As usual, lunch will be provided, and we are awaiting final confirmation on a very exciting musical performance!

We thank you all for your continued membership at the library. There is much going on behind the scenes to make this a valuable and exciting place to be. Check our website for upcoming events, and please do let us know when there is something that YOU would like to see!

Banned Books Week

2008-09-24T12:10:00.003-04:00

Mark & Emily Turner Memorial Library and the American Library Association are observing Banned Books Week from Saturday, September 27, through Saturday, October 4, 2008. We will have a display of challenged books in our Multi-Purpose Room at 39 Second Street in Presque Isle, Maine.

Here is a list of the most frequently challenged books through the first five years of the 21st Century (2000 -2005):

1. Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

2. "The Chocolate War" by Robert Cormier

3. Alice series by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

4. "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck

5. "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou

6. "Fallen Angels" by Walter Dean Myers

7. "It's Perfectly Normal" by Robie Harris

8. Scary Stories series by Alvin Schwartz

9. Captain Underpants series by Dav Pilkey

10. "Forever" by Judy Blume

More recently, these ten books were the most challenged in 2007:

1. “And Tango Makes Three,” by Justin Richardson/Peter Parnell

Reasons: Anti-Ethnic, Sexism, Homosexuality, Anti-Family, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group

2. “The Chocolate War,” by Robert Cormier

Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Violence

3. “Olive’s Ocean,” by Kevin Henkes

Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language

4. “The Golden Compass,” by Philip Pullman

Reasons: Religious Viewpoint

5. “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” by Mark Twain

Reasons: Racism

6. “The Color Purple,” by Alice Walker

Reasons: Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language,

7. “TTYL,” by Lauren Myracle

Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group

8. “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” by Maya Angelou

Reasons: Sexually Explicit

9. “It’s Perfectly Normal,” by Robie Harris

Reasons: Sex Education, Sexually Explicit

10. “The Perks of Being A Wallflower,” by Stephen Chbosky

Reasons: Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group

Off the list this year, are two books by author Toni Morrison. "The Bluest Eye" and "Beloved," both challenged for sexual content and offensive language.

(Source: http://staging.ala.org/ala/newspresscenter/news/pressreleases2008/may2008/penguin.cfm [Retrieved September 24, 2008])

The website DeviantArt is hosting a writing contest in observation of Banned Books Week as well. Writers may submit in either of two categories (or both): Fan Fiction (of challenged works) or Forbidden Themes (original works based on themes most frequently challenged). If you are interested in seeing what has been submitted or trying your own hand, please visit their guidelines page here. Deadline is October 6, 2008.

Club and Community Fair at UMPI

2008-09-17T08:40:00.004-04:00

This was the second year that the Mark & Emily Turner Memorial Library participated in the Club and Community Fair at the University of Maine at Presque Isle. On Tuesday, September 16th from 11-1, library staff hosted a booth where we answered questions about the library, handed out information about passports and notary services, and signed students up for library cards. We also raffled off a beautiful gift basket with a movie night theme that was created by Bonnie Smith and Debbie Brewer.

Senior Day at the Library

2008-09-15T19:50:00.000-04:00

Join us on Wednesday, September 17th from 12-2 for Senior Day at the library. Rick Asam will be our guest speaker. Rick will give a presentation on Maine Memory Network and will also discuss other local history initiatives.

Light lunch will be served. We hope to see you there.

Summer Reading Program

2008-09-08T21:20:00.004-04:00

Our summer reading program has ended. The winner of our raffle was Danielle Perry who won a lovely gift basket filled with goodies.

Here are some reviews from readers in the program this summer. Please feel free to add any recommendations you may have to share with other readers.

Girl in the Shadows / V. C. Andrews

After losing both parents, April Taylor found shelter from a mixed up life and from confusion with her sister.

Hard Truth / Mariah Stewart

Entertaining story, suspenseful as well as interesting plot.

Truth of Love / Jayne Ann Krentz

Kind of slow to get into at first, but story progresses to be quite entertaining.

Falling Awake / Jayne Ann Krentz

Well written, interesting topic regarding sleep study.

Sizzle and Burn / Jayne Ann Krentz

Slow to get started but I enjoyed the plot after the first few chapters. Book primarily about psychic powers.

The Dogs of Bedlam Farm / Jon Katz

Excellent story of an author and farmer who is transformed by love of his dogs and a renewed kinship with his sister. Great read!

Knitting Bones / Monica Ferris

Very good mystery. A page turner toward a great finish.

Three Cups of Tea / Greg Mortenson

Mr. Mortenson’s persistence and generosity are amazing. After a failed attempt to climb K2, Mr. Mortenson finds himself in a Pakistan village where he is nursed back to health. He promises to return one day to build the community a school . He exceeds that promise by building schools throughout Pakistan and Afghanistan in some of the poorest communities. This is a remarkable story of a great humanitarian.

The Painted Veil / W. Somerset Maugham

Good romance.

No Country for Old Men / Cormac McCarthy

Set in West Texas, the book starts slow but then is difficult to put down. Told from the view of the county sheriff, the book deals with drugs and money on the border and the toll it takes on the community. After you read the book, be sure to see the film.

Under Orders / Dick Francis

Another Sid Halley investigation turns dangerous as corruption invades the online gambling world.

Maine Archives

2008-09-05T17:05:00.001-04:00

Maine State Archives Online Store

www.maine.gov/online/archivestore

For those with an interest in Maine history and artifacts, you'll find plenty to look at on the Maine Archives online store site. Replicas of old maps, posters and notecards, and copies of historical documents are just a few items you can view at their site. All are available for purchase. It is definitely a fun site to browse and a great place to look for an unusual gift from the State of Maine.

Something for Teachers

2008-09-05T08:31:00.003-04:00

With the beginning of the school year, the staff at the library works with the school libraries and libarians in order to be prepared to meet the needs of area teachers and students. Here are a few resources for teachers.

Thank you for Being my Teacher / Melody Carlson / 371.1 CAR
Ms. Moffett's First Year/ Abby Goodnought / 372.9747.GOO
Classroom Management for Middle and High School Teachers/ Edmund Emmer / 373.1102.4EMM
Be a Teacher / Phillip Bigler/ 371.102 BEA
Teaching with Love and Logic / Jim Fay / 371.1 FAY
Courage to Teach / Parker J. Palmer / 371.102 PAL
The Laughing Classroom / 371.102 LOO
Discipline in the Secondary Classroom / Randall S. Sprick / 373.1102.4SPR

Teacher Reference Center in Marvel!
Teacher Reference Center provides indexing and abstracts for more than 270 periodicals. Topics include: Assessment, Best Practices, Continuing Education, Elementary Education, Higher Education, Instructional Media, Administration, and Teacher Education.

MARVEL! Maine's Virtual Library
http://libraries.maine.edu/mainedatabases/

Health Sites

2008-09-04T05:02:00.003-04:00

We all have our favorite places to search online for health information. Here are a few sites for a variety of health issues. If you are searching for health information and are not finding what you need, contact the library and we will be happy to assist you. Many community hospitals also have medical libraries staffed by medical librarians. These are usually open to the public.

Once you find the information you need, it is always best to discuss it with your healthcare provider.

DailyMed
http://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/about.cfm

DailyMed provides high quality information about marketed drugs. This information includes FDA approved labels (package inserts). This Web site provides health information providers and the public with a standard, comprehensive, up-to-date, look-up and download resource of medication content and labeling as found in medication package inserts.

Pubmed
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez/
PubMed is a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine that includes over 18 million citations from MEDLINE and other life science journals for biomedical articles back to the 1950s. PubMed includes links to full text articles and other related resources.

Genetics Home Reference
http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/
Genetics Home Reference provides consumer-friendly information about the effects of genetic variations on human health.

Household Products Database
http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/
What's under your kitchen sink, in your garage, in your bathroom, and on the shelves in your laundry room?
Learn more about what's in these products, about potential health effects, and about safety and handling.

Tox Town
http://toxtown.nlm.nih.gov/
Environmental health concerns and toxic chemicals where you live, work, and play.

Clinical Trials
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/
ClinicalTrials.gov is a registry of federally and privately supported clinical trials conducted in the United States and around the world. ClinicalTrials.gov gives you information about a trial's purpose, who may participate, locations, and phone numbers for more details.

Evaluating Health Information Online - a tutorial
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/webeval/webeval.html

Dietary Supplements Database
http://dietarysupplements.nlm.nih.gov/dietary/
The Dietary Supplements Labels Database offers information about ingredients in more than two thousand selected brands of dietary supplements. It enables users to determine what ingredients are in specific brands and to compare ingredients in different brands. Information is also provided on the health benefits claimed by manufacturers. These claims by manufacturers have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Companies may not market as dietary supplements any products that are intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

International Information on Dietary Supplements Database
http://ods.od.nih.gov/Health_Information/ibids.aspx

Recalls FDA and USDA
http://www.recalls.gov/food.html

FDA
http://www.fda.gov/

AIDS info
http://www.aidsinfo.nih.gov/

Mayo Clinic
http://www.mayoclinic.com/

Merck Manual Online
http://www.merck.com/mmhe/index.html

National Institutes of Health
http://health.nih.gov/

Teens Health
http://kidshealth.org/teen/

Teen Health MedlinePlus
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/teenhealth.html

National Women's Health Information Center
http://www.4woman.gov/

CDC Women's Health
http://www.cdc.gov/Women/

WebMD Men's Health
http://men.webmd.com/

Family Doctor
http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home.html

New Database in Marvel!
Lexi-PALS Drug Guide

The Lexi-PALS Drug Guide, published by Lexi-Comp and available as part of the Health Source database, covers over 1,000 generic medications, 100 natural products and 19 vaccines. It is updated every six months.

Legal Forms Online

2008-09-03T22:25:00.004-04:00

A question that comes up often at the reference desk is, "Where can I find online legal forms?"

Here are some sites where you can easily search for the form you need.

Pine Tree Legal Assistance Court Forms

http://www.ptla.org/ptlasite/forms

http://www.ptla.org/ptlasite/forms/interactive/htm

State of Maine Courts Forms

http://www.courts.state.me.us/court_info/forms/index.html

http://www.courts.state.me.us/rules_forms_fees/pub_forms.html

Maine State Bar Association

http://www.mainebar.org/public_forms.asp

Washburn University School of Law Legal Forms

http://washlaw.edu/legalforms/

Maine Health and Human ServicesOffice of Elder ServicesAdvance Directives Forms

http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/beas/resource/rit2chew.htm

If you still don't find what you are looking for at the above sites, contact us and we'll be happy to help locate the form you need.

A Literary Map of Maine

2008-09-03T10:42:00.003-04:00

If you happened to read the Maine Sunday Telegram on August 31st, you would have seen the pull-out section entitled, "A Literary Map of Maine." Many people worked on this project to create this map which lists 50 locations throughout the state and indicates a book set there or a book that was inspired by the location.

Our own town, Presque Isle, is listed with the work, "Almost Maine" by John Cariani.

We have a copy of the map in the library and you can also go online to see it.

Literary Map of Maine

Go directly to online version of the map

An eight member selection committee is listed on the front page. The idea for this project began when Shirley Helfrich, district consultant for the Southern Maine Library District had seen a version of this done in the New York Times as a literary map of Manhattan. Shirley immediately thought that a map of Maine's literary locations would be a worthwhile project.

Large Print Books

2008-09-02T11:09:00.002-04:00

Are Large Print Books Right for You?

If you always thought of large print books as something for people with vision disorders or for those over a certain age, think again. Today, large print books are being read by a diverse audience. Many choose them because the larger text is easier on the eyes and makes it possible to read without reading glasses.

Our library has a large selection of these books and here are just a few recent arrivals:

8 Sandpiper Way / Debbie Macomber

Devil Bones / Kathy Reichs

Silks / Dick Francis and Felix Francis

Labor Day

2008-09-01T00:20:00.002-04:00

The library will be closed on Monday, September 1, 2008 for Labor Day.

We will reopen on Tuesday at 9:00 a.m.

Accidents Happen

2008-09-01T00:04:00.005-04:00

Sometimes bad things happen to good books and we understand that it isn't always your fault.

This is Sue and this is Duster, Sue's new puppy. Sue works at the library and decided to do a little reading about training her new dog. She picked an excellent book, Cesar's Way: The Natural, Everyday Guide to Understanding and Correcting Common Dog Problems by Cesar Millan. Sue left the book on a table in her house and Duster got a bit curious. Duster had great fun chewing up the corner of the book. Luckily Sue caught him in the act and saved the book from total destruction. Sue has decided to continue reading about dog training. As for Duster, we hope he decides to start chewing on bones instead of books. If you find yourself in a similar situation, just stop in and let us know what happened and return the book. We can be pretty understanding when accidents happen. Just ask Duster.

Safe and Well During Disasters

2008-08-31T17:22:00.004-04:00

PC Magazine had a nice column in the August 2008 issue on page 18 listing sites where you can check on the status of friends and family affected by disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, etc.

The American Red Cross site has a Safe and Well List where those affected by disaster can register and you can check to see if your friends/relatives are safe. Visit the site at https://disastersafe.redcross.org

ContactLoved Ones.org is hosted by Project Genesis and the American Red Cross and allows those with access to a phone to leave or receive voice messages. Visit the site at: http://contactlovedones.org

FamilyLinks is a site operated by the International Committee of the Red Cross for global disasters. Visit the site at www.familylinks.icrc.org

Recent Arrivals

2008-08-26T16:32:00.005-04:00

Slideshow Presentation at the library

2008-08-26T15:30:00.006-04:00

Join us for a beautiful slideshow presentation on the Pacific Crest Trail.

Dr. Todd Russell from the University of Maine, Presque Isle will be at the library on Friday, August 29th at 6:00 pm to give a talk and slideshow presentation on the backpacking trips he and his wife Kaye have taken through the Pacific Crest Trail. Their slideshow of this 2650 mile journey from the Mexican border to the Canadian border offers breath-taking scenery, deep snow covered mountain passes, scorching desert, and the many interesting people they met along the way.

All are invited to an evening of beautiful natural splendor.

Pacific Crest Trail Association

Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail

Transition to Digital Broadcast TV

2008-08-21T18:31:00.009-04:00

Are you confused about the upcoming

changes to your television?

Come to the library on Monday, August 25, 2008, at 9 a.m. in the art gallery for a public forum concerning the transition to digital broadcast television. A representative from the Federal Communications Commission will answer questions and will sign attendees up for a discount coupon for digital converters.

Household Hazardous Waste Collection

2008-08-12T19:21:00.005-04:00

Northern Maine Household Hazardous Waste Collection

In Presque Isle on Saturday, August 23rd from 9:00 - 1:00

Pre-registration required. Must register by August 20th.

Call Connie at NMDC to register at 498-8736.

A permit will be issued and must be presented at event.

Types of Waste Accepted

Turpentine/Varnish
Brake Fluid
Paint Remover/Thinner
Charcoal Lighter Fluids
Pool and Photo Chemicals
Linseed Oil
Used Antifreeze
Adhesives/Solvents
Oven/Drain Cleaners
Fungicides/Herbicides/Pesticides
Battery Acid/Muriatic Acid
Waste Gasoline
Pharmaceuticals

Help identifying old photo

2008-08-12T19:19:00.008-04:00

One of the most interesting parts of library work is researching local history. We received a copy of this photo with a request to post it to see if anyone out there can help identify the photo, children in the photo, photographer, any other details.

This photo was given to the late Julian Turner during the time of the James School Restoration (1985-1987). Could this photo be of a class from the old James School before the newer (1917) James School was erected on Niles Road in Presque Isle, Maine? The photo is possibly from the early 1900's.

Please post any comments here or call or email me at the library.

James School Presentation

2008-08-12T19:18:00.009-04:00

Please join us in welcoming Martie Pritchard to the library on Tuesday, August 19th at 4:30 p.m.

Martie will give a presentation about her research on the James School History Project.

All are welcome and light refreshments will be served.

The James School is the last one-room schoolhouse in the Presque Isle area still in public use. Built in 1917 it was used as a school until 1948 when rural schools in the area closed. The Hillside Gospel Mission purchased the building in 1949 and used it as a church for about ten years. The last recorded church business was August, 1958. The school building was boarded up and abandoned until 1985 when it was scheduled to be burned by the city of Presque Isle. It was then that a restoration committee was formed under the guidance of Judge Julian Turner. For the next two years every Saturday was a work day for citizens of the area. The James School stands as a monument to hard work and community pride, providing a year-round gathering place for meetings, parties, picnics, and school field trips.

Martie Pritchard joins the ranks of historians of the James School. She is a special education teacher in Presque Isle, a farmer, grandmother and freelance writer. She is working on the James School History Project in two volumes; a compilation for adults and older students, and a children’s book which incorporates questions posed by her students on field trips with photographs of children exploring the historical features of the school.

Presque Isle Reading Club at the Library

2008-08-11T12:44:00.006-04:00

Selections for the 2008-2009 reading group are listed below. The group meets on the third Thursday of each month. The group will also have three extra meetings during the year with outside speakers and films (dates and programs to be announced soon).

The first book will be Rocket Boys by Homer H. Hickam, Jr. and the group will meet at 6 pm on September 18th in the library.

October 16 As I Lay Dying/William Faulkner
November 20 Huckleberry Finn/Mark Twain
December 18 The Lost Salt Gift of Blood/Alistair MacLeod

2009 Reads

January 15 Luther/Heiko A. Oberman
February 19 Othello/Shakespeare
March 19 The Art of Drowning/Billy Collins
April 16 Beloved/Toni Morrison
May 21 The Regeneration Trilogy/Pat Barker
June 17 On Human Nature/Edward O. Wilson

Library Bookplate

2008-08-08T16:00:00.007-04:00

Recently, I was shelving some books and opened one up to find this beautiful bookplate. Just in time for the Olympics, I thought this was a perfect item to post. These plates appear in books purchased in the 1930's and 1940's from the Myrtle L. T. White Fund. It is beautiful and makes me want to look further for others we may have in our older books on the shelves and in the rare cabinets. I'll post any others I locate.

To view other bookplates, see links below.

Bookplate Archive University of Texas at Austin

Stanford University Libraries Bookplate Exhibits

Bookplates on Flickr Brooklyn Museum

National Library of Medicine Bookplates

American Society of Bookplate Collectors and Designers

Library Booth at Northern Maine Fair Historical Pavilion

2008-07-31T07:57:00.007-04:00

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

2008-07-28T07:23:00.004-04:00

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

2008-07-25T15:12:00.004-04:00

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

2008-07-25T13:31:00.004-04:00

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

2008-07-25T12:50:00.005-04:00

"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

2008-07-25T12:17:00.004-04:00

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

2008-07-24T16:00:00.012-04:00

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

2008-07-24T15:48:00.003-04:00

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

2008-07-23T06:29:00.006-04:00

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

2008-07-22T11:16:00.002-04:00

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

2008-07-21T15:56:00.007-04:00

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

2008-07-14T16:57:00.004-04:00

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

2008-07-14T15:36:00.002-04:00

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

2008-07-14T07:54:00.004-04:00

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

2008-07-11T07:15:00.009-04:00

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

2008-07-07T17:48:00.004-04:00

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

2008-07-07T08:00:00.006-04:00

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

2008-07-06T19:19:00.002-04:00

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

2008-07-06T12:33:00.006-04:00

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

2008-07-05T20:09:00.011-04:00

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

2008-07-05T13:01:00.005-04:00

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!

2008-07-04T07:25:00.001-04:00

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

2008-07-02T07:04:00.003-04:00

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

2008-07-02T06:36:00.003-04:00

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.

Book and Bake Sale

2008-06-30T16:00:00.004-04:00

The annual book and bake sale has been rescheduled for July 19th and July 20th from 10-2. Stop by and buy a book and baked good and support your library. The selection will be great and you can walk away with good books at good prices.

While you are at the library, you may also wish to purchase a library tote bag celebrating the library's 100th anniversary for $10.00 to support the library building fund.

Free Children's Books Online

2008-06-30T15:28:00.004-04:00

Imagine being able to read children's books online for free in any language of your choice. You can do just that by visiting the International Children's Digital Library online. You can select books by language, length, age group, genre, and other criteria.

From their website: The mission of the International Children's Digital Library Foundation (ICDL Foundation) is to support the world's children in becoming effective members of the global community - who exhibit tolerance and respect for diverse cultures, languages and ideas -- by making the best in children's literature available online free of charge. The Foundation pursues its vision by building a digital library of outstanding children's books from around the world and supporting communities of children and adults in exploring and using this literature through innovative technology designed in close partnership with children for children.

International Children's Digital Library

Fast Facts About International Children's Digital Library

The ICDL collection includes 2657 books in 48 languages. Over a million people have visited their Web site. ICDL visitors come from 166 countries worldwide. After the United States, most ICDL visitors come from South Africa and China.

Click here to begin your journey and to read books online.

Teen/Adult Summer Reading Program

2008-06-26T07:57:00.004-04:00

Would you like to do something fun and easy this summer? Then stop by the library and register for our Teen/Adult Summer Reading Program. You register, read books (ask us if you need good book recommendations), fill out a form telling us about the books you read and you'll be entered to win a beautiful reader's basket. Drawing to be held in late August. At the end of the program we will provide everyone with a list of books that people have read over the summer so you'll get some good recommendations from other readers.

In the meantime, here are some places to look for good books to read:

USA Today Summer Reading List

LA Times Summer Reading List

Statesman Austin Texas Reading List

NPR Summer Reading List

NYT 10 Best Books of 2007

Boston Globe Reading List

ALA Best Books for Young Adults 2008

Oprah's Summer Reading List

Book Sense Summer Reading Picks

Daily News Beach Reads for Guys

New York Public Library 25 Books to Remember from 2007

ALA Teens Top Ten 2007

Amazon 2008 Teen Books

Book and Bake Sale Postponed

2008-06-17T05:25:00.001-04:00

The Book & Bake Sale scheduled for June 19, 20, and 21st has been postponed. We'll announce the new dates soon.

Book & Bake Sale

2008-06-15T11:30:00.002-04:00

Be sure to stop in the library for our annual Book & Bake sale. You'll find great books at amazing prices and good food too!

Sale will be on June 19, 20, and 21st

Summer Workshop

2008-06-15T06:35:00.002-04:00

Acting for the Camera
July 2 - August 6
For Students in Grades 6-12

Meets in the library on Wednesdays and Fridays from 4:30-5:30. Dr. Richard Asam will be the instructor. You'll learn skills unique to performing for a camera, how to collaborate on developing a script, and how to record a show. Final edited performance will be posted on the library's Webpage.

Sign up now by clicking here or stop into the library to register. For additional information, contact Rick at 764-2571.

Summer Reading for Grown-ups

2008-06-14T07:41:00.009-04:00

It's that time of year when we all dream of having the summer off and spending time at the beach, in a hammock, on a deck, or just in our own backyard reading a good book. There is something wonderful about summer reading and enjoying good books outside on a hot sunny day.

We have lots of new exciting titles on order and some have arrived already. Stop by to see what is new and please let us know if there is something you want that you don't see.

Home: My Early Years, Julie Andrews
Enchantress of Florence, Salman Rushdie
Rogue, Danielle Steel
Sail, James Paterson
Fearless Fourteen, Janet Evanovich
Nothing to Lose, Lee Child
The Reapers, John Connolly
Tailspin, Catherine Coulter
Resolution, Robert Parker
Monster of Florence, Douglas Preston & Mario Spezi
When you are Engulfed in Flames, David Sedaris
Plague Ship, Clive Cussler
Death and Honor, WEB Griffin
A Champion's Mind, Pete Sampras
Dear American Airlines, Jonathan Miles
Point of Origin, Patricia Cornwell
Secret Servant, Daniel Silva
Navigator, Clive Cussler
Double Take, Catherine Coulter
Audition: A Memoir, Barbara Walters

Coming in July 2008

Tribute, Nora Roberts
Last Kiss, Luanne Rice
Fractured, Karin Slaughter
The Garden of Evil, David Hewson
Hit and Run, Lawrence Block
Killer View, Ridley Pearson
The Last Patriot, Brad Thor
Moscow Rules, Daniel Silva
Death Angel, Linda Howard
Silent Thunder, Iris Johansen
Say Goodbye, Lisa Gardner
Queen of Babble Gets Hitched, Meg Cabot
The Sand Castle, Rita Mae Brown
Uneasy Relations, Aaron Elkins
Into The Fire, Suzanne Brockmann
Books: A Memoir, Larry McMurtry
The Dangerous Days of Daniel X, James Patterson
Chasing Darkness: An Elvis Cole Novel, Robert Crais
My Guantanamo Diary: The Detainees and the Stories they Told Me
My Sister, My Love: The Intimate Story of Skyler Rampike, Joyce Carol Oates

Catch the Reading Bug

2008-06-13T19:07:00.005-04:00

Summer Reading Program
for Children

Come in and learn more about the summer reading program. You can register in the library or online. The theme this year is the amazing world of insects. Special guests will come to the library to talk about the world of bugs.

For more information and to register online click here.

First meeting is June 25th at 1:00 in the children's library. All other meetings will be from July 2 - August 6th on Wednesdays.

Contact Sue McPherson at 764-2571 for additional information.

Here are some neat bug sites to visit (courtesy of Librarians' Internet Index www.lii.org).:

Smithsonian Institution
http://www.mnh.si.edu/insect/
This is a starting place for locating the Smithsonian Institution's projects and content on insects, including exhibits, fact sheets, research, and classroom guides. Includes links to pages on mosquitoes and cicadas.

Purdue University Agriculture
http://www.agriculture.purdue.edu/agcomm/newscolumns/OSLarchives.htm
Compilation of columns featuring fun facts and trivia about insects, with titles such as "Hissing Cockroaches Not Warm-and-Fuzzy Pets," "Insect Words Can Be Pests to Crossword Puzzle Addicts," and "Not All Insect Legs Are Made for Walking."

Information Center for the Environment (ICE), University of California, Davis
http://butterfly.ucdavis.edu/
"This website describes over 34 years of data collected by ... [a] professor of Evolution and Ecology at the University of California, Davis, in his continuing effort to regularly monitor butterfly population trends on a transect across central California." Features butterfly data, profiles of study sites (such as Donner Pass and Suisun Marsh), bibliography, photos, links to news and related websites, and more.

The Smithsonian Institution
http://www.si.edu/Encyclopedia_SI/nmnh/buginfo/statebugs.htm
Quick list of the state insects for the "41 states in the United States [that] have officially designated State Insects." It also notes that "California was the first state of the United States to select a state insect. The Dogface Butterfly, Zerene eurydice, was officially adopted as the state insect of California in 1929."

Smithsonian National Zoological Park
http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/Invertebrates/Facts/insects/
Fact sheet about the insect class, which "comprises the most diverse group of animals on the earth and constitutes more than half of all described animal species." Includes images and links to related articles and fact sheets on praying mantids, Hercules beetles, insect farmers, communication, and camouflage and mimicry.

Ted Shapiro

2008-06-13T18:17:00.004-04:00

The weather on Wednesday night (6/11) was just what you might expect when you have a meteorologist coming to speak at the library. We had intense showers, big storm clouds, a double rainbow, and a dramatic sunset. Those who attended the talk by WAGMTV's chief meteorologist, Ted Shapiro, certainly learned quite a bit about weather clues.

Some of the weather sites Ted went to during his talk were:
NOAA Photo Library (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)
National Weather Service Historical Photos
National Weather Service Caribou Maine

Ted will be teaching an Introduction to Meteorology course at University of Maine at Presque Isle this fall. The course number is EDU 186 and class will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:40-2:55 beginning September 2nd. The course in open to all interested parties. Maine residents 65 and older can take the course for free (only fees are for textbooks).
For additional information, contact Ted at 764-4461 x261.

Another site you may enjoy is the National Weather Service Online School for Weather.

The Immigrant Experience

2008-06-11T11:43:00.008-04:00

Local high school students often come to the library looking for books about the immigrant experience as part of an English class assignment. Library staff have compiled this short list to make the selection process a bit easier.

While many of us remember reading Willa Cather's My Antonia, Frank McCourt's Angela's Ashes, and Amy Tan's Joy Luck Club, there are many other titles to explore that highlight the immigrant experience, and some are listed below.

Love Wife by Gish Jen

Describes a mixed American family with a second-generation Chinese-American father, a WASP mother, two adopted Asian daughters, their half-half biological son, and a Chinese grandmother.

Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri

The Indian American second generation experience. Growing up American with Indian parents and never quite understanding or finding your place in the world.

Digging to America by Anne Tyler

The story of two families in America that both adopt Korean infants. They meet at the airport while awaiting their adoptive daughters. One is a middle-class white couple and the other is an Iranian-American couple. Their friendship and the differences in their approach to raising their daughters is chronicled in this work.

A Free Life by Ha Jin

The story the members of a Chinese family as they begin a free life in American after the Tiananmen Square massacre in China. The family lives in Boston, New York, and Atlanta while seeking success in America. Read about their struggles and successes as they seek out the American Dream.

Typical American by Gish Jen

A story of the transformation of Chinese immigrants into typical Americans who find greed and consumerism attractive.

Mona in the Promised Land by Gish Jen

Chronicles the life of a Chinese-American teenager growing up in an affluent Jewish suburb of New York City.

Lipstick Jihad: A Memoir of Growing Up Iranian in America and American in Iran by Azadeh Moaveni

The story of straddling two cultures and struggling to find one's place.

Inside the Kingdom: My Life in Saudi Arabia by Carmen Bin Ladin

The wife of Osama Bin Laden's brother describes her life and divorce, and provides an insider's look into Saudi culture.

Over a Thousand Hills I Walk with You by Hanna Jansen

Based on a true story of a Rwandan Tutsi girl who is the only survivor of her family's massacre.

China Boy by Gus Lee

Story of a seven-year-old Chinese boy and his life in the San Francisco of the 1950s.

Ten Thousand Sorrows: The Extraordinary Journey of a Korean War Orphan by Elizabeth Kim

An immigrant's brutal and disturbing memoir of abuse at the hands of fundamentalist parents and a sadistic husband.

The Spirit Catches you and you Fall Down: A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures by Anne Fadiman

The story of Western medicine and Hmong culture and the clash of Hmong history, culture, spiritual beliefs, and ethics against the beliefs of Western medicine and society.

Waiting for Snow in Havana: Confessions of a Cuban Boy by Carlos Eire

This memoir of two brothers who were airlifted out of Cuba to the U.S. in 1962 is a very beautiful and moving account of the Cuban immigrant experience.

Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides

Winner of the Pulitzer Prize, this work describes the history of a Greek family in Detroit. The narrator and protagonist, Calliope Stephanides, an intersexed person of Greek descent, has 5-alpha-reductase deficiency. The bulk of the novel is devoted to telling his coming-of-age story growing up in Detroit, Michigan in the late 20th century.

The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri

An Indian-American family's transformation as they reconcile their past with the demands of the present.

Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri

Winner of the Pulitzer Prize, this work explores Indian assimilation in American culture.

The Houseguest by Agnes Rossi

The story of an Irish soldier and his family, who come to America in the 1930s and settle in Patterson, New Jersey.

Colors of Freedom: Immigrant Stories by Janet Bode

Newly arrived teenaged immigrants describe their experiences in America, recount traditions of their native countries, and present short stories, poems, recipes, and artwork. Also provides interviews with native-born American teenagers, who share their family histories.

Kids Like Me: Voices of the Immigrant Experience by Judith M. Blohm and Terri Lapinsky

A collection of 23 stories about the immigrant experience based on interviews with of people ranging in age from 10-21 and representing 23 different cultures.

Meteorologist Ted Shapiro at the library tonight

2008-06-11T11:08:00.002-04:00

Local WAGMTV chief meteorologist, Ted Shapiro, will be at the library tonight (Wednesday, June 11th) at 7 pm to give a talk on:

How To Use Weather Clues

Join us in the library's multipurpose room at 7pm.

Open Source Software

2008-06-07T16:37:00.003-04:00

Lisa Shaw, Teen Librarian, has compiled this list of open source software for those interested in finding and using free programs. If you have a need and you don't see it on the list, contact Lisa.

For those who have not used open source software and would like a definition, click here.

Whether you plan to spend some of your Economic Stimulus payment on a new desktop or laptop computer but don't have a lot to spend on extra goodies, or whether you are a local business trying to find ways to trim expenses on software, the following 15 applications are almost all Open Source. (This means they are constantly being improved and shored up by everyday programmers who believe programs and applications should be freely available to everyone.) All are free to download and/or use. All run on Windows and most also run on Mac and Linux.

Visit your local library to learn what other sites offer free applications or programs for your computer!

1. OpenOffice www.openoffice.org Free office suite with word processing, spreadsheet, draw, slideshow presentation, and database, Exports directly to PDF if desired. Completely compatible with MS Office's Word, Excel, and PowerPoint as well as Starwriter and GoogleDocs.

2. Scribus www.scribus.net Free desktop publishing which allows you to design and print brochures, flyers, etc. Exports directly to PDF. Requires Ghostscript download, which can be tricky (or maybe that was just Lisa that found it tricky!) - visit your library for assistance if needed. You will probably also need GIMP ... .

3. GIMP www.gimp.org Free GNU Image Manipulation Program allows you to edit, layer and manipulate photos and images - just as the name implies. Think along the lines of Photoshop.

4. Paint.net www.getpaint.net Free digital photograph editing software. Makes cropping screenshots and photos a breeze! Saves easily to portable image file formats.

5. Inkscape www.inkscape.org - Open Source graphics editor. Great drawing tools. Fun one for kids to try.

6. Pencil http://www.les-stooges.org/pascal/pencil/ 2D animation software. Allows you to draw, layer - even add a music bed!

7. AutoStitch www.photo-freeware.net/autostitch.php Allows you to "stitch" together several photos into a panorama.

8. Audacity audacity.sourceforge.net Audacity allows you to break down your own music (created or loaded) or other voice audio into sound waves that let you edit down to the slightest hiccup. This is handy for studio musicians, voice-over artists, or anyone who likes to edit their music mixes. Users of SoundForge will find this looks very similar.

9. LilyPond lilypond.org Like to compose your own sheet music? LilyPond is a free, Open Source program which allows you to enter your music information in a language which the program understands and which will give you back elegantly engraved sheet music which can be put into PDF. LilyPond's site offers a ton of help and cheat sheets. If at first it looks too "programmy" to write, I promise you it will soon make sense. After all, if you have already learned the difference between writing a treble clef and a bass clef, this will soon come easily to you, too!

10. Jahshaka jahshaka.org Free Open Source video editing, effects and compositing suite. Improvements are being added all the time. Certainly worth a look for those interested in trying their hands at videography.

11. Blender www.blender.org Free Open Source tool for 3D creation and animation.

12. Songbird getsongbird.com Free desktop media player that finds, collects and stores music. Sort of like a customizable desktop jukebox.

13. SpiralFrog www.spiralfrog.com Free LEGAL music downloads. The site is supported by advertising, and they ask that you re-register every so often. They explain all this on their site. Windows only at this time.

14. InfraRecorder infrarecorder.sourceforge.net Free Open Source CD and DVD burning software. Runs on Windows.

15. Firefox www.mozilla.com/firefox/ Free Open Source browser alternative to Explorer, Safari, Opera, etc. Lots of interesting optional add-ons available.

This list is by no means exhaustive. Beta releases of applications warn you that they might still be working out a few kinks, but the ones we have listed here have stable versions and have been around enough to be considered overall pretty reliable. What are your personal hobby, entertainment, or business application wants and needs? You might be pleasantly surprised by what your local library has available for suggestions!

Know Your Candidates

2008-06-07T16:17:00.004-04:00

I just finished reading Dreams from my Father by Barack Obama and thought I would next read something by John McCain. We have the following titles at the library by both Obama and McCain if you have an interest in learning more about the candidates.

If you enjoy reading political works or biography and memoirs, stop by to see what we have and ask us to get any titles you'd like that aren't on our shelves. If you have recommendations for purchase, we are always happy to hear from you.

Barack Obama

The Audacity of Hope
Dreams from My Father

John McCain

Why Courage Matters
Faith of My Fathers
Worth the Fighting For

Maine Romance Authors Panel Discussion and Open House

2008-06-01T08:38:00.006-04:00

From 1-4 on Saturday, May 31st, we celebrated the library's centennial by having a panel of Maine Romance Writers talk about their genre today and answer questions from the audience.
The writers who presented were (l to r): Jennifer Linforth, Lori Libby, Judi Phillips, Pam Champagne, Michelle Libby, and Nina Pierce.

We had great refreshments and a beautiful cake made by library cataloger Bonnie Smith.
Thanks to all who contributed to the event and to those who attended.

Wal-Mart Booth, May 31st

2008-06-01T08:30:00.006-04:00

We had great fun meeting everyone at our Wal-Mart booth on Saturday, May 31st. Curious George was there and the children really enjoyed seeing him and having their photos taken with Curious George. He was even asked to sign autographs!

We spent the morning handing out information about our summer reading program, passport and notary services, selling our new bookbags to support the building fund, and signing up new members with library cards. We answered lots of questions and were able to talk to many community residents about library services.

Special thanks to Sue McPherson, Children's Librarian for organizing the booth and to Wal-Mart for allowing us to set up in their store. An enormous thank you to Curious George for coming to the booth and getting everyone excited about the summer reading program!

Saturday, May 31st Events

2008-05-31T07:34:00.003-04:00

If you are at Wal-Mart today from 9-12, stop by our booth. We will have information on applying for passports, new notary services at the library, the summer reading program, and library card sign-up. We will also have our new library tote bags ($10 each with proceeds going toward the building fund). Curious George will be there too!

Later in the day (from 1-4), stop by the library for cake and refreshments to celebrate the library's centennial. There will be a display of historical photos and many local history books. Library staff and Board of Trustees members will be there to greet you.

From 2-4 we will have a panel of Maine romance authors who will talk about the romance genre today, discuss their writing and the romance publishing industry, and take questions from the audience.

We look forward to seeing you!

Memorial Day Parade

2008-05-26T19:09:00.004-04:00

Even though it was a bit cloudy and windy, the Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 26th went off without a hitch. Miss Presque Isle, Germanine Scott, Curious George (aka Jake Shaw), Sue McPherson, Mimi the Mime and a host of library patrons all worked together to decorate the float and then ride in the parade.

Special thanks to all who worked to make it such a success and to those who helped on parade day. Extra special thanks to Jeff Roberts for pulling the float.

The library was delighted to have a float in the parade this year and to have Miss Presque Isle on our float.

If you wish to volunteer to help with the float next year, please contact Sue McPherson at the library.

Poetry Reading

2008-05-26T18:54:00.008-04:00

Melissa Crowe (l) and Betsy Sholl (r)

The poetry reading on Friday night, May 23rd, by Maine's Poet Laureate, Betsy Sholl, and local poet, Melissa Crowe, was an amazing event. Books of poems by Betsy Sholl: Rooms Overhead, Don't Explain, Late Psalm.

Melissa Crowe opened the evening by reading from her new chapbook, Cirque du Creve-Coeur.

If you were unable to attend, you can still read the poetry of both poets. We have their books and they are just waiting to be read. I can promise you that you will enjoy it as much as those who attended the live reading.

About Melissa Crowe:

Melissa lives in Presque Isle, Maine with her husband, Mark, and their daughter, Annabelle. She currently teaches literature and creative writing and directs the Honors Program at the University of Maine at Presque Isle. Beginning in the summer of 2008, she plans to write and make visual art full time. Her poems have appeared in Calyx: A Journal of Art and Literature by Women, Lifeboat, Crab Orchard Review, The Atlanta Review, and The Seneca Review. She recently published a chapbook, Cirque du Creve-Coeur.

About Betsy Sholl:

Elizabeth "Betsy" Sholl is Maine's third Poet Laureate and she began her five-year term in 2006. Betsy lives in Portland, Maine and holds an MFA in poetry writing from Vermont College, an MA in English literature from the University of Rochester, where she was the Woodrow Wilson Fellow, and a BA in English Literature from Bucknell University, where she graduated magna cum laude. Betsy teaches at Stonecoast Writers Conference, the Frost Place, Vermont College and has been a visiting poet and poet in residence at numerous institutions. Betsy is the author of eight books of poetry, her latest being Late Psalm, published in 2004. She is a two-time recipient of the Maine Arts Commission Individual Artist Fellowship Award, the 1999 and 2002 Crowley/Weingarten Award for Excellence in Teaching, Vermont College, the 1997 Felix Pollak Prize from the University of Wisconsin, and the 1994 National Endowment for the Arts Artists Fellowship.

New Senior Group at the Library!

2008-05-22T08:15:00.004-04:00

Join our new Senior Group at the library!

The new group met for the first time on Wednesday, May 21 from 12-2. This meeting was an informational session to launch the new group. Everyone enjoyed a very nice lunch and spent time looking at a display of historical photos and local history books. There was a lively discussion about topics of interest to everyone and we will be working to create some interesting programs for the meetings.

Future meetings will be the third Wednesday of every month from 12 -2. Lunch will be provided. Look for a listing (coming soon) of speakers and topics for each meeting.

All seniors are welcome to attend and we look forward to creating interesting and stimulating programs.

If you have any questions about the Senior Group, please contact any of us by phone (764-2571) or email:

Gail Roy

Sue McPherson

Sonja Plummer

Maine Poet Laureate

2008-05-21T19:15:00.005-04:00

Join Us For A Wonderful Evening of Poetry

Come to the library on Friday, May 23rd, at 6 pm for a reading by local poet, Melissa Crowe, and then a reading by Maine's Poet Laureate, Betsy Sholl. We are delighted to have both visiting the library and sharing their poetry with everyone in our community. It will be a wonderful way to spend a Friday night. We look forward to seeing you there.

100 Years to Celebrate!

2008-05-21T19:10:00.003-04:00

MARK AND EMILY TURNER
MEMORIAL LIBRARY INVITES YOU
TO CELEBRATE OUR 100TH YEAR!
PLEASE JOIN US FOR AN OPEN HOUSE ON
MAY 31, 2008 FROM 1-4 PM
TOUR THE LIBRARY, VIEW OUR HISTORIC PICTURE DISPLAYS,
MEET SOME MAINE AUTHORS,
AND ENJOY SOME REFRESHMENTS

Join us on May 31st from 1-4 for a celebration. This year the library turns 100 and we will be celebrating on the 31st with cake, a panel of Maine Romance authors, a historical photo display, and much more. The Library Board of Trustees will be there to greet everyone and we will have a beautiful cake made by the library cataloger, Bonnie Smith.

Be Your Own Weatherman

2008-05-21T15:34:00.005-04:00

Come to the library on Wednesday, June 11th at 7 pm to hear our local meteorologist, Ted Shapiro, tell you how to use weather clues to know what to expect when you walk outside each day.

"You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows" How to use weather clues
Join us at the Mark & Emily Turner Memorial Library
June 11th from 7-8:30 pm for a presentation
by Ted Shapiro
Chief Meteorologist, WAGMTV

According to his family, the first phone call Ted ever made was to 936-1212...the local weather report! Ted is fascinated by the ever-changing palette of the sky. In addition, he loves to share the readily available clues that Mother Nature provides about how the weather will play out over the next day or two. If you see Ted around town, don't be shy. He loves to meet peopleand chat about weather and climate.

Cemetery Records

2008-05-18T05:56:00.008-04:00

The library receives many requests for copies of obituaries from the local newspaper and requests to review our cemetery records to locate date of death or to find where a person is buried. Many volunteers and library staff have worked on creating and maintaing an obituary index and a listing of cemetery records for the area.

We are thrilled to receive a recent donation of work by Pat Palm. Pat has been researching and transcribing stones from the Fairmount Cemetery (located about a half mile south of Presque Isle on Route 1). Pat has walked the cemetery reading and recording information off of the stones and has then done research at the library to fill in gaps with dates and other information using the microfilm of the Star Herald newspapers.

Pat's work is obviously a labor of love and her meticulous research and attention to detail have produced two wonderful volumes which document the inscriptions on the stones in this cemetery. She has donated copies of Volume 1 (sections 1 & 2), and Volume II (sections 3, 4, 5, & 6) to the library and we have placed these copies in our genealogy section. Pat's cemetery research is ongoing and we are very happy to have received copies of her work for our library.

New Books

2008-05-15T15:23:00.006-04:00

Stephenie Meyer's new book, The Host, has arrived!

Other titles in Teen Section:

The Luxe by Anna Godbersen

I Heart You, You Haunt Me by Lisa Schroeder

Calling all Star Trek Fans

2008-05-15T09:41:00.005-04:00

There are two new books in the Teen section that you must see:

The Physics of Star Trek by Lawrence M. Krauss (foreward by Stephen Hawking)
The Ethics of Star Trek by Judith Barad, Ph.D., with Ed Robertson

In the Physics of Star Trek, Lawrence Krauss, Ambrose Swasey Professor of Physics, Professor of Astronomy, and Director of the Center for Education and Research in Cosmology and Astrophysics at Case Western Reserve University, takes us on a journey of Star Trek physics and scientific physics to show us what was right and wrong about physics in the series. A must read for all Star Trek fans.

The Ethics of Star Trek by Judith Barad, Ph.D. tackles some of the moral dilemmas faced by the Star Trek team. Using episodes from the four series this book explores many important ethical issues we all learned from watching Star Trek, such as,

"If the Prime Directive is so inviolable, who does Kirk always seem to break it?"
"What would it mean if, deep down, everyone really were a Ferengi?"
"Are rational beings the only life-forms entitled to our respect?"
"Why is good stronger than evil?"
"Would Nietzsche have made a good starship captain?"

Contact Lisa Shaw, Teen Librarian, with any questions/comments, or book recommendations.

If you wish to join the Teen Advisory Group, email or call Lisa at 764-2571.

New Local History Books

2008-05-14T07:08:00.006-04:00

We just received some excellent additions to our local history collection. Many of you will already be aware of the books published by William Trasker of Monkey Publishing.

The Pioneer Homes of Presque Isle, Caribou, Washburn, and Houlton are books you really must stop in to look through. Many of these homes are still standing and can be easily identified. It would be great fun to check out the book and then drive around the town locating the various homes.

To see images from these books and to read a description of the contents, visit Monkey Publishing and click on the book images for details.

Upcoming Events at the Library

2008-05-08T10:12:00.003-04:00

Joy of Photography in the Library Gallery

April 1 - May 31st

Stop in and see the photography of Paul Hamlin and Voscar

Meditation Seminar

What do you know about meditation? Would you like to learn more? Please join Raphael Gribetz, Friday, May 9, 2008 at 6:00 p.m. at the Mark & Emily Turner Memorial Library in the Library Multipurpose Room. For information, please call the library at 764-2571. Light refreshments and coffee served.

Maine's Poet Laureate

Elizabeth "Betsy" Sholl

Reads at the library on May 23rd at 6pm

Book Club

Meets May 15th at 6 pm

Discussing Selected Short Stories by Flannery O'Connor

Book Club Discussion Group

Meets June 19th at 6 pm

Discussing Bound for Canaan by Feguson Bordewich

Support Your Library

2008-05-07T16:25:00.002-04:00

In celebration of the 100th anniversary of this library, the Library Board of Trustees have produced a wonderful book bag. The bags are available for sale for $10.00 each and the proceeds will support the library building fund. Stop by the circulation desk to see the tote bag and to purchase one.

Beulah Akeley the Second Librarian at the Turner Library

2008-05-07T07:46:00.012-04:00

The second librarian at the Turner Library was Beulah Barton Akeley. By all accounts, she was a most remarkable woman. She served as librarian here from 1928-1945. She was born in Tobique, New Brunswick and was the daugher of Joseph E. and Mary Elizabeth Goodiel Barton. She was the subject of a Reader's Digest article, The Most Unforgettable Character I've Met, written by Cornelia Stratton Parker in 1945. She was also the subject of a Boston Sunday Post article written in 1945 which appeared with the headline, Typical Maine Mother Raised 18 Children.

At the age of 19 she married a potato farmer named George Akeley. He had four children and was a 36 year old widower. They had a total of 18 children (she gave birth to 13, adopted one, and raised George's 4 children). She had been a teacher and then accepted the position as Town Librarian for Presque Isle. She was known as an avid reader. She was very interested in getting the library books off the shelves and into the hands of readers. Her library was described as light and gay and cheerful and people were encouraged to use the library and feel welcomed there and at ease. She decorated the library with flowers and comfortable chairs in which to sit and read. Her library was one to be used and she wanted to allow everyone greater access to the contents of the library. When many librarians were locking books away and guarding their collections, Beulah was opening the doors and windows of the library and encouraging everyone to come in and use the items in the library.

We have many articles, photos and stories about Beulah Akley and her contributions continue to this day. The library is bright and cheerful and everyone is encouraged to come in and feel at home. It is their library and they should all feel at ease here.

Beulah died in 1956 but her many contributions to the library, the community, and to her church will be remembered. A photo of Beulah owned by the Presque Isle Historical Society can be found on Maine Memory Network and you can also send a free e-postcard from Vintage Maine Images/A Maine Historical Society site.

Dena Winslow Guest Speaker at the Library

2008-05-04T11:22:00.008-04:00

Two books by Dena Winslow available at the library:

They Lynched Jim Cullen: New England's Only Lynching
Mapleton Maine: 1880-1980

If you were fortunate enough to join us on April 30th at the library for a talk by Dena Winslow about the lynching of Jim Cullen you will certainly want to stop in a read more from Dena's book, They Lynched Jim Cullen, New England's Only Lynching. Dena's presentation was given on the 135th anniversary of the lynching (April 30, 1873). Everyone present learned a great deal about the story of the lynching and the actual facts. In memory of Jim Cullen, Dena asked the audience to bow their heads and to have a moment of silence to remember Jim Cullen.

Dena Winslow was born in Caribou, Maine and was raised on a dairy and potato farm in Mapleton. She is a graduate of Presque Isle High School. She graduated from the University of Maine with a bachelor of science degree and went on the complete a Master of Education degree at the University of Sourthern Maine. In 2000, she completed her Ph.D. in History at the University of Maine.

Dena has written several local history books, many articles, and is currently conducting research of future history projects. If you have any local history stories, information, and photos that you would like to share, Dena can be contacted via email.

If you wish to read any of Dena's works, stop by the library at the reference desk and we'll be happy to assist you in locating books and articles that you may enjoy reading.

Books as Art

2008-05-01T07:24:00.003-04:00

We just received this beautiful book, Miniature Books: 4,000 Years of Tiny Treasures, purchased in memory of Marilyn Dean. This book is filled with beautiful color photos of amazing miniature books. Especially note the miniature books with fore-edge paintings on pages 190-191.

National Volunteer Week

2008-04-27T08:01:00.007-04:00

National Volunteer Week April 27 - May 3, 2008

A Special Thanks to Our Library Volunteers

Ann Cushman
Louise Seeley
Michael McIntosh
Helen York

We would all agree that volunteers are special people. They always make time in their lives and give something of themselves to others without asking for anything in return. Many organizations rely heavily on the work done by their volunteers. Here at the library we really depend on the work done by our volunteers and during National Volunteer Week we want to thank Ann Cushman, Louise Seeley, Michael McIntosh, and Helen York for donating time to the library. Their work allows the library to offer better service to all library users. Each one of our volunteers makes a significant contribution to the well being of this library. Their skills, talents, and committment help make this a library to be proud of in our community.

There have been studies showing real benefits to volunteering and these studies suggest that volunteers are healthier, that volunteering increases one's physical health and agility, and one's cognitive and mental well-being. If you would like additional information on these studies, please contact the reference desk.

Look for this great Lonely Planet book on our new book shelf, Volunteer: A Traveller's Guide to Making a Difference Around the World. Stop in and learn about all the great programs and destinations all over the world where you can volunteer.

White House Release

Volunteer.gov

Corporation for National & Community Service

Mayo Clinic Benefits of Volunteering

Peace Corps

Volunteer Match

USA Freedom Corp

There are many local agencies that need volunteers. Contact us and we can provide information on local groups seeking volunteers.

Food Choices

2008-04-26T17:17:00.007-04:00

I have been meaning to read In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto by Michael Pollan since it first appeared on the library shelves. I read an early review and knew it was a book I would enjoy. I am now half-way through it and would highly recommend this book which has been on the New York Times Best Seller List for 14 weeks. Last week it was number 7 in the nonfiction list.

The first line: "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." is sound advice for a culture like ours that is often distracted with too many food choices and 24/7 eating options. Pollan offers a very reasonable approach to healthy eating. His previous book The Omnivore's Dilemma is next on my reading list. If you wish to learn more about the author and read more about this book, you can visit his website.

We have so many books in the library on eating, healthy eating, food choices, organic eating, dieting, lifestyle changes, and eating disorders. If you have an interest, stop by to see what is available. If you have a particular book in mind, contact the library with the title and we'll be happy to add the book to our collection or request it from another library.

Other books by Michael Pollan:

Second Nature
A Place of My Own
The Botany of Desire
The Omnivore's Dilemma

Presque Isle Reading and Discussion Group

2008-04-24T06:57:00.005-04:00

Everyone is invited to attend the book group. The club will meet on May 15th at 6 pm in the library to discuss selected short stories of Flannery O'Connor.

Flannery O'Connor Addalusia Foundation

Georgia College & State Univeristy

In Search of Flannery O'Connor NYT Travel

New Georgia Encyclopedia Flannery O'Connor

Flannery O'Connor Childhood Home Foundation

Flannery O'Connor Blog

Podcast
Speaker is Craig Amason, director, Flannery O'Connor-Andalusia Foundation. Craig Amason discusses the life and work of one of Georgia's great writers, Flannery O'Connor (1925-1964).

Story Time with Dr. Rick

2008-04-24T06:47:00.005-04:00

Rick Asam will be reading stories, reciting poetry, and sharing videos from the library's collection with pre-k and elementary school aged children. The Saturday schedule for story time will be at 12:30 on the following dates:

April 26
May 10
May 24

Rick's photo was taken by his brother, Larry Asam.

Public Speaking 101

2008-04-23T07:39:00.005-04:00

Do you get nervous when you have to talk in front of a crowd? If you find your hands sweating, your knees shaking, and your voice quivering when you need to a make a toast at a wedding, give a presentation in class, present an award, or give a eulogy, then you should read some of the new books we just received on public speaking. Let's admit it, we all get nervous addressing a group. Some people just hide it better than others. These books have some wonderful tips and tricks and good sound advice on how to overcome your fear.

Some tips to help you get started:

Prepare and rehearse (stand in front of a mirror and read your talk many times for practice). Practice out loud over and over and over.
Think success and visualize yourself doing well
Establish eye contact with the entire audience
Vary the rate, pitch, and volume of your voice
Look at the audience more than your notes
Read slowly and don't rush through your talk
Breathe deeply and often
Realize the audience wants you to succeed
Be aware of the speaking environment (visit the room prior to your talk)
Know your audience
Do not apologize for being nervous

Dr. Rick Asam will be giving a talk on Public Speaking later this spring. Look for the date and time in our newsletter and on the webpage and blog.