Hibbing Public Library

2012 Hot Reads for Cold Nights

2012-02-02T09:34:00.000-06:00

The annual adult winter reading program is in full swing. Hot Reads mugs, notepads, and magnets are being given away daily. Just check out library materials for a chance to win.

Put your name in the drawing for a chance to win one of two Hot Reads Baskets. Enter your name every time you visit the library. It’s easy and fun.

Friends of the Library and ALS are sponsors of the Hot Reads for Cold Nights program.

2012-01-31T17:13:00.000-06:00

2012 Hibbing Public Library

Children's Winter Reading Program

Curl Up With a Good Book

Sign-Up Begins January 30, 2012 Program Ends March 2, 2012

Keep track of the time that you spend reading on our timed book logs. For every 20 minutes you spend reading you receive a sticker to put on your reading chart, which will be displayed in the

library. Also for every 100 minutes you spend reading you will get to pick out a prize from our PRIZE BINS!

Anytime that you READ or are READ to counts! Weekly prize drawings! Check out library books, Enter to win, One entry per day! Awards given during the 5th week!

Prizes maybe picked up thru March 9, 2012

The Chalk Girl by Carol O'Connell

2012-01-30T12:18:00.002-06:00

Read the Mallory series for the depth of the characters. The latest book is The Chalk Girl, where homicide detectives, Mallory and Riker hunt down a killer leaving bodies strung up in Central Park. Coco, a small child found abandoned in the park, is unable to tell them where she came from or who she belongs to other than knowing a great deal about the rats streaming through Central Park on what was turning out to be a very unusual day. Read in order starting with Mallory's Oracle.

See the order here on the Stop You're Killing Me website: http://www.stopyourekillingme.com/O_Authors/O'Connell_Carol.html

Free Tickets!

2012-01-26T11:07:00.000-06:00

The library has free tickets for the following events:

Lollipop Concert on Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 3:00 p.m.
Youth Orchestras with the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra.
Symphony Hall Duluth DECC. (In partnership with DSSO)

Fancy Nancy on Friday, February 24, 2012 at 7:00 p.m.
Theatre Works USA brings to you an all new revue featuting mini-musicals based on bestselling children's books.
Reif Center in Grand Rapids. (In partnership with Reif Center)

Voces8 on Monday, February 20, 2012 at 7:30 p.m.
Performing a repertoire ranging from Renaissance polyphony to unique Jazz and Pop arrangements, the group has been praised for stunning performance, exquisite singing and creating a sound that spans the entire range of vocal colour.
Goodman Auditorium, Virginia High School. (In partnership with the Arrowhead Concert Association)
The free tickets were funded in part or in whole with money from Minnesota's Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. Just ask at the front desk for tickets and information.

New Large Print Books

2012-01-25T11:05:00.002-06:00

V is For Vengeance by Sue Grafton
Always popular, private detective, Kinsey Milhone, is back with a new action packed mystery.

Hotwire by Alex Kava
Special Agent Maggie O'Dell investigates a group of teens electrocuted while partying in the middle of the woods.

Prey by Linda Howard
A hunting trip turns deadly when Angie Powell witnesses a cold-blooded murder.

New Books

2012-01-24T10:51:00.000-06:00

Seal Target Geronimo: The inside story of the mission to kill Osama Bin Laden

by Check Pfarrer

A Train in Winter: An extraordinary story of women, friendship, and resistance in occupied France

by Caroline Moorehead.

Nearing Home: Life, faith, and finishing well

by Bill Graham

In The Bleak Midwinter by Julia Spencer-Fleming

2012-01-23T15:49:00.001-06:00

Miller’s Kill, New York in December. Russ Van Alstyne, Chief of police for the past four years and previously an MP with the U.S. Army, is called about an abandoned baby dropped off at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church. The new priest, Clare Fergusson, formerly a helicopter pilot also with the U.S. Army, finds the baby on the church steps and meets Van Alstyne at the hospital. Reverend Fergusson, new to Miller’s Kill, has yet to meet many people including her own congregation.

Pinned to the baby’s blankets was a note “This is our baby, Cody, please give him to Mr. and Mrs. Burns here at St. Alban’s. We both agree they should have him, so there won’t be any trouble later on with the adoption. Tell our baby we love him.”

However, adoptions never go smoothly. Mr. and Mrs. Burns become part of a group of suspects when the body of a young woman is found who has recently given birth. Clare and Russ try to find out who murdered the unknown young woman and who is the father of Baby Cody?

First book in the series, In the Bleak Midwinter has been republished. Seven books about Clare Fergusson and Russ Van Alstyne in Miller’s Kill is a treat for anyone who hasn’t yet read this mystery series.

Website: www.juliaspencerfleming.com

Kiwanis Little Ones Play Park

2012-01-20T16:07:00.000-06:00

About two years ago, several Hibbing parents started the process to build an indoor park that would be inexpensive for young children in the area. The biggest hurdle was finding space to house the equipment. After many different locations were investigated, the library offered a portion of the downstairs auditorium. There was overwhelming support from local businesses and individual community members (maybe even you!) in fundraising for the equipment. Equipment was purchased, and was then donated to the City of Hibbing and therefore covered under their liability insurance. The cost for park admittance is a minimal $1 per day per child.

For the past year, the park has been visited over 3,800 times!

Play park hours beginning on January 23, 2012 will be:

Monday - 10 am to 2 pm

Tuesday - 2:30 pm to 6:20 pm

Wednesday - 10 am to 2 pm

Thursday - 2:30 pm to 6:20 pm

Friday - 10 am to 2 pm

Please either check the library calendar (www.hibbing.lib.mn.us) or call the library at 362-5959 for changes in the schedule.

New Library Hours

2012-01-19T12:15:00.000-06:00

Beginning on Monday, January 23, 2012 the hours of the Hibbing Public Library will change.

New Library Schedule

Monday 10 a.m. until 7 p.m.

Tuesday 10 a.m. until 7 p.m.

Wednesday 10 a.m. until 7 p.m.

Thursday 10 a.m. until 7 p.m.

Friday 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Reginald Hill: 1936-2012

2012-01-19T09:43:00.002-06:00

Reginald Hill, crime author, is best known for his series featuring Superintendent Andrew Dalziel and Sergeant Peter Pascoe, a pair of police inspectors in Yorkshire, England which was also made into a television series on BBC. First book in the series, A Clubbable Woman, was written in 1970. Twenty-five books in the Dalziel and Pascoe series as well as numerous other novels made Reginal Hill a popular author. You can read his obituary here: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/18/books/reginald-hill-prolific-writer-of-crime-novels-dies-at-75.html

Read the Dalziel and Pascoe series in order which can be viewed on the Stop You're Killing Me Website: http://www.stopyourekillingme.com/H_Authors/Hill_Reginald.html

William Kent Krueger

2012-01-18T11:51:00.001-06:00

If you haven't yet discovered the Minnesota author, William Kent Krueger, you are in for a treat. Cork O'Connor, former sheriff and now a private investigator in Tamarack County, Minnesota, takes on murder and extremes in weather at the edge of the boundary waters in northern Minnesota. Read the books in order starting with Iron Lake, written in 1998 through Northwest Angle, 2011. See the order on The Stop You're Killing Me Website:
http://www.stopyourekillingme.com/K_Authors/Krueger_William-Kent.html

William Kent Krueger has a website: www.williamkentkrueger.com

Okee Dokee Brothers at Library

2012-01-17T10:34:00.001-06:00

Performing at the Hibbing Public Library

Tuesday

February 7, 2012

10:00 a.m.

The Okee Dokee Brothers--best friends Joe Mailander and Justin Lansing--play traditional bluegrass with a playful spirit. Described as a combination of Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer with Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger, their mission is to help children and adults find the music within and connect with each other.

USA Today describes them as “Authentic bluegrass for your little brother. Best enjoyed with bare feet.” With witty lyrics, off-the-wall humor, and strong musicianship, they are a musical act not to be missed.

Admission to the event is free thanks to sponsorship by the Arrowhead Library System and funding by money from Minnesota’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Naturally Clean, The Seventh Generation Guide to Safe & Healthy, Non-Toxic Cleaning by Jeffrey Hollender, Geoff Davis with Meika Hollender and Reed Doyle

2012-01-13T11:58:00.000-06:00

Did you know the air inside our home is probably more polluted than the air outside? This is a book that explains why we should use nontoxic products in our home. It talks of ordinary household chemical products that are unregulated and untested. Over time these chemicals are destroying our environment and endangering our health. This book provides you with a list of environmentally friendly commercial cleaning alternatives and also a list of natural substances you can use to make your own cleaning products. By making a few changes, you can make your home a happier, healthier and a greener place to live.

Some Bennett Park History

2012-01-12T13:32:00.000-06:00

Did you know that in 1926, 600,000 people visited Bennett Park. 21,959 motor vehicles passed through the park gates. 2,384 picnics were held at the campfire places. 30,383 persons participated in these picnics. 35,440 children enjoyed the wading pool. 6,352 people utilized the pavilion. 114,219 people visited the animal house. 45,270 people were served at the Refectory. 2,519 cars occupied the Tourist Camp. 9,289 people comprised the Tourist Camp parties. 63,124 people visited the conservatory and greenhouses, which were the most modern and finest of their size in the northwest. 65,000 flowering plants are produced annually in the greenhouses for the beautifying of public parks and grounds surrounding public institutions. 164 species of wild animals, water fowl, pheasants and song birds were contained within the zoological section. 4,364 persons attended the Chrysanthemum show. 563,547 people visited some part of the park in 1926.

New Year's Resolutions: Get Organized!

2012-01-11T11:44:00.003-06:00

Many websites promote getting rid of clutter and getting organized. One website worth a look is the Get Organized Now website featuring a daily checklist.
Marcia Gracia, “Welcome to our monthly organizing checklist. There's a different organizing suggestion for you to do every day of the month--all easy, down-to-earth, and no thinking 'what should I do?' required. When the month changes, so does our checklist.”

A weekly newsletter notifies when the newest checklist is available.

We have many books on organizing and uncluttering your life - if this is one of your New Year's resolutions.
See Unclutter your life in One Week by Erin Rooney Doland. 648.8 DOLAN

Library Beginnings

2012-01-10T13:25:00.002-06:00

Captain Walter McCormack, Hibbing's first unofficial librarian, opened his own collection to the town. The Captain's fondness of reading, and his willingness to lend his books lead to Hibbing's first library.
The first meeting of the library board of Hibbing was held December 11, 1906 in Nelson's Tailor Shop.
$25,000 from the Carnegie fund was given in 1907 and the doors to a new library were opened in 1908 with 4,000 books circulated among 8,000 people living in Hibbing.
Today as in the past, the library is committed to serving all Hibbing residents, infants through senior citizens. We provide traditional library resources as well as new technology.
Check out our website: www.hibbing.lib.mn.us

Website of the Week: Pinterest

2012-01-06T13:20:00.000-06:00

Pinterest is a Virtual Pinboard.

Pinterest lets you organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web. People use pinboards to plan their weddings, decorate their homes, and organize their favorite recipes.
Best of all, you can browse pinboards created by other people. Browsing pinboards is a fun way to discover new things and get inspiration from people who share your interests. (from Pinterest)

The Tax Form Season is here once again.

2012-01-05T09:37:00.001-06:00

ALL TAX FORMS RECEIVED ARE DISPLAYED!

Federal Tax Forms

www.irs.gov

MN Tax Forms

www.taxes.state.mn.us

All other forms will be displayed as soon as they arrive.

We hope to have Tax help in February.

The Miracle of Freedom by Chris Stewart and Ted Stewart

2011-12-30T15:51:00.000-06:00

The Miracle of Freedom; 7 Tipping Points that Saved the World by Chris and Ted Stewart desribes 7 historical events that contributed to the rise of freedom in the world. The reader may find a useful framework to examine the concept of freedom as we know it today. This title is available in the Arrowhead Library system in book format at the Hibbing Public Library.

Best Books and Authors Worth Reading.

2011-12-29T14:26:00.002-06:00

Lists of Best Books for 2011 abound.
What was your favorite book of 2011?

Check out our past blog entries to see some of the staff favorites.

What authors are you waiting for in 2012?

Check out these three books coming in January.

The Chalk Girl by Carol O'Connell

Gideon's Corpse by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

The Rope by Nevada Barr

Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson

2011-12-28T08:02:00.003-06:00

Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren't used to an environment where excellence is expected.

Steve Jobs

Tracking Santa

2011-12-22T09:50:00.000-06:00

Starting at 4am Eastern Time on December 24, you can:

Track Santa Online: Logon to www.NoradSanta.org.
Call the Santa Hotline: From the United States or Canada, call
1-877-HI-NORAD (1-877-446-6723).
Google Maps: Follow Santa with Google Maps for mobile.
Mobile Apps: Download a free mobile app either from iTunes App Store or for Android devices.

For more information on NORAD and their history of tracking Santa go to

Tracking “Big Red”: NORAD’s Secret Santa Mission

The Beauty and the Sorrow: An Intimate History of the First World War by Peter Englund

2011-12-21T13:47:00.001-06:00

Peter Englund writes about the personal experiences of twenty people who lived through World War I. Englund writes: "My cast of characters has been chosen with a view to provide an all-round picture of the First World War, both as an event and as an experience."
"Three of the twenty will perish, two will become prisoners of war, two will become celebrated heroes and two will end up as physical wrecks. Many of them welcome the war when it breaks out but learn to detest it; a few of them detest it right from the first day; one of them loves it from beginning to end. One of them will lose his mind, another will never hear a shot fired."
Read about an American wife of a Polish aristocrat, a German schoolgirl, a Russian army engineer, and English nurse, a Danish soldier, American army field surgeon, A British Army infantryman and many others in this personal look at World War I.
Found in the new book section under 940.30922 ENGLU

Books That Make Great Gifts

2011-12-20T15:06:00.000-06:00

The following are some of Nancy Pearl's suggestions for gifts:

Adult Fiction Titles

On Canaan's Side by Sebastian Barry
The story of an Irish-American widow looking back over her life and her husband's involvement in the Troubles. It's just a fabulous novel. If you're somebody who loves wonderful writing, than this is the book for you.

In Zanesville by Jo Ann Beard
One of my favorite novels this year, narrated by an unnamed fourteen-year-old girl growing up in a small town in the Midwest. I don't think I'll ever forget the main character.

The Last Werewolf by Glen Duncan
One of the scariest and best written books I've ever read. It's one of those books you don't want to start too late at night, mainly because you don't want to put it down. A fabulous, boffo ending.

Blind Sight by Meg Howrey
One of those books whose strength is the dialogue. All the main characters are wonderfully developed, three dimensional, and the kinds of people who will stay in your mind.

The Long Goodbye by Meghan O'Rourke
The writing is so magnificent, which makes perfect sense because O'Rourke is a poet. It seems like she's a good friend telling you the story of her mother and those very intimate details of family relationships.

Ghost Hero by S. J. Rozan
S. J. Rozan writes a terrific series of mysteries, and I never think they get enough accolades from the the general public.

Adult Nonfiction Titles

A World On Fire: Britain's Crucial Role in the American Civil War by Amanda Foreman
A wonderful gift for anyone who loves Civil War history or biographies. The story of two societies - American and British - in the five years leading up to the Civil War and what forces made Britain decide to aid the South rather than the North.

A History of thw World in 100 Objects by Neil MacGregor
Sometimes a book will come along where I think you can give it to every adult on your reading list. This is one of those.

Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend by Susan Orlean
I think Susan Orlean is one of the best nonfiction writers we have these days.

Explosive Eighteen by Janet Evanovich

2011-12-19T14:31:00.000-06:00

Just in time for Christmas, Explosive Eighteen is available for some light reading during the holidays. Plenty of laughs, Stephanie with her friends and relatives delivers another rolicking read of zany mishaps while attending funerals with Grandma Mazer; arresting bail jumpers with Lula; and keeping two boyfriends on the string.

The Drop by Michael Connelly

2011-12-16T14:40:00.000-06:00

The open unsolved unit of the Los Angeles Police Department looks into unsolved murders going back 50 years. Of the 10,000 cases still open, using DNA can put new life into a cold case. Harry Bosch and David Chu handle such cases. Bosch finds that confronting killers years later who think they have gotten away with murder very addictive.
Bosch and Chu are given a cold case from 1989 involving rape and murder as well as a current case where the son of his arch enemy Irvin Irving was pushed or fell to his death.
Michael Connelly has a website: www.michaelconnelly.com

Inferno: the world at war, 1939-1949 by Max Hastings

2011-12-14T09:47:00.001-06:00

Max Hastings: "This is a book chiefly about human experience. Men and women from scores of nations struggled to find words to describe what happened to them in the Second World War, which transcended anything they had every known."
"Some survivors found that the manner in which they had conducted themselves during the struggle defined their standing in their societies for the rest of their lives, for good or ill."
Read about the battles in the Pacific, Bataan, Midway, Guadalcanal; battles in the Atlantic, Arctic convoys; the Fall of France and Norway; the Russian front, the African front, the European front and finally the Fall of the Third Reich.
Both familiar battles and lesser known conflicts are represented in a fine military book for a broad overview of the Second World War. Find in our new book section under, 940.54 HASTI.

Blowin' in the Wind by Bob Dylan

2011-12-12T14:20:00.000-06:00

Illustrator Jon J. Muth has painted beautiful images and has brought to life a beautiful children's book, with words by one of our most admired song writers, Bob Dylan!
His song "Blowin' in the Wind" is captured in beautiful watercolor landscapes.

This book includes a CD of Bob Dylan's original 1963 recording of the song Blowin' in the Wind from his album "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan". In 1999, the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. In 2004, it was ranked #14 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time".

This book is available at the Hibbing Public Library or through interlibrary loan.

Blowin' in the Wind
Lyrics by Bob Dylan

How many roads most a man walk down
Before you call him a man ?
How many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand ?
Yes, how many times must the cannon balls fly
Before they're forever banned ?
The answer my friend is blowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind.

Yes, how many years can a mountain exist
Before it's washed to the sea ?
Yes, how many years can some people exist
Before they're allowed to be free ?
Yes, how many times can a man turn his head
Pretending he just doesn't see ?
The answer my friend is blowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind.

Yes, how many times must a man look up
Before he can see the sky ?
Yes, how many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry ?
Yes, how many deaths will it take till he knows
That too many people have died ?
The answer my friend is blowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind.

This would be a great Christmas gift

for any Bob Dylan fan!

Gadget Zoo

2011-12-08T09:52:00.000-06:00

Have you been thinking of stuffing a stocking with an e-reader or tablet this holiday season. Try one for yourself before you purchase. Come to the library's gadget zoo on Wednesday, December 14th. Drop in any time between 1:00 and 4:00 p.m.

We will have the following devices for you to try:

Ipod Touch
Nook Color
Kindle Fire
Ipad 2
Ipod Nano

There will be comparison charts and reviews along with instructions on how to use the library's free "Downloadable Books Library" (Overdrive).

You can also check out the following sites for more information:

TopTenReviews

CNet Reviews

Kindle vs. Nook vs. iPad: Which e-book reader should you buy?

Best Five tablets

Lost December by Richard Paul Evans

2011-12-08T09:47:00.000-06:00

Lost December is a nice Christmas story and a fast read for the busy holiday season. The author is Richard Paul Evans, author of The Christmas Box. Lost December is a story of second chances and patterned after the age-old story of the prodigal son. Its message is inspirational and heartwarming.

Devil' Gate by Clive Cussler

2011-12-06T10:02:00.000-06:00

Clive Cussler, adventurer and author, leads an exciting life of exploration: "Clive Cussler began writing in 1965 and published his first novel featuring Dirk Pitt® in 1973. His first non-fiction work, The Sea Hunters, was released in 1996.
Clive is the founder of the National Underwater & Marine Agency, (NUMA) a non-profit organisation that dedicates itself to American maritime and naval history. Cussler and his crew of marine experts and NUMA volunteers have discovered over 60 historically significant underwater wreck sites. After verifying their finds, NUMA turns the rights to the artifacts over to non-profits, universities, or government entities all over the world. Some of these finds include the C.S.S. Hunley, best known as the first submarine to sink a ship in battle and the U-20, the U-boat that sank the Lusitania. (from the Clive Cussler website.)
Clive Cussler's latest book, Devil's Gate is ninth in the Numa Files series featuring Kurt Austin.

Minnesota Education Department Has New Website

2011-12-01T14:49:00.000-06:00

Hibbing Public Library has received the following notice from the Dept. of Education.

New Minnesota Department of Education Website - Scheduled for Launch December 1, 2011!

The Minnesota Department of Education is pleased to announce that our newly designed agency website is on the way.
Designed with you–our customers–in mind, the new site will provide the same useful information you’ve come to expect from us, presented in a more intuitive and accessible way.

Click here to check out the new site.

Eight Things You Should Know Before You Buy a Daily Deal

2011-11-30T13:08:00.000-06:00

Information from the USA.gov team:

Frugalistas looking to snag a bargain on a massage or a fancy dinner at new restaurant can spend a lot of time browsing daily deal sites. While these sites provide the opportunity to try new businesses at a discounted price, shoppers need to be sure they read the fine print on their deals and understand the sites’ terms of service agreements to avoid complications when they redeem their deal vouchers.

These tips from USA.gov will help you better understand the daily deal sites so you can shop safely and enjoy the deals you purchase.

Check the expiration and black-out dates: Most daily deals have expiration dates. Plan accordingly so you use your voucher before the deal expires. Make sure you check for blackout dates too. Some of the popular vacation deals can only be redeemed during certain times of the year.
Do your research: Spend five or ten minutes reading reviews of the product or service you're thinking about purchasing. If the company has a lot of bad reviews, you may want to skip the purchase, no matter how great the deal seems to be.
Understand how you can use the deal: Some deals you can use more than once until the entire amount of the deal is gone, but other coupons you have to use all at once. In general, you can't combine a daily deal with another coupon or promotion. Read the conditions of your specific deal before you buy. If you’ve read the fine print, but still don’t understand everything,ask questions before you buy. Many of the daily deal sites have a frequently asked questions section or an area of the site where they handle questions about specific deals.
Verify which locations accept your voucher: Some deals for chains are only valid at certain stores. Check to make sure the location closest to you is one of the participating stores or else you might have to go out of your way to use the deal.
Know when your credit card will be charged: Some sites won't charge you until after a certain number of deals have been purchased; other sites will charge you immediately or at the close of a business day. After you purchase a deal, keep an eye on your credit card statement to make sure you are charged correctly.
Check the site's refund policy: Some sites will refund your money if you are disappointed in a deal. Others will refund your money if a merchant goes out of business before your deal's expiration date. Some won't refund your money at all. Make sure you understand and are comfortable with a site's refund rules before you make a purchase.
Know whom to contact with problems: In most cases, the daily deal sites can't help you solve problems with the company you bought the deal from. You will need to work with the company directly. If you have an issue, stay calm and state exactly what happened and how you would like the situation to be resolved. You can use the tips from the USA.gov sample complaint letter to help fix the problem.

The Next Decade by George Friedman

2011-11-29T16:41:00.000-06:00

George Friedman founder and CEO of STATFOR, a publisher of worldwide geopolitical intelligence, shares some of his insights about Iran, Russia, Germany, China, Latin America and the US role in history and the next 10 years. Available at Hibbing Public Library, other Arrowhead Libraries and in electronic format.

Z Puppets at Library!

2011-11-29T08:20:00.000-06:00

Street performer Chris Griffith and playwright Shari Aronson started Z Puppets Rosenschnoz in 1998 with some fluorescent paint, a $3 pack of ping pong balls, and inspiration and imagination. Today, they have fifteen original productions and also bring their workshops to thousands of audiences across the country.

Z Puppets’ performances include a unique blend of live music, zealous humor and hand-crafted puppets. They will be bringing this extraordinary family experience to story time at the Library on Tuesday, December 13^th at 10:00 a.m.

Everyone is welcome to this free program that is funded by Arrowhead Library System, the Minnesota Library Legacy Fund, and the Hibbing Library.

Santa Will Be At The Annual Yuletide Festival

2011-11-28T10:52:00.000-06:00

We all know that Santa Claus lives at the North Pole with his magical elves and his flying reindeer. He makes a list of children throughout the world, keeps track of their behavior and what they have asked to receive on Christmas morning. The elves work feverishly in the North Pole workshop to make all the toys and the reindeer condition themselves for a marathon flight. Then on one single night, Santa visits all of the homes in the world and delivers presents.

Once again Santa is taking time from his busy schedule to spend a couple of hours with all the families that attend the library’s annual Yuletide Festival on Tuesday, December 6^th. He will be arriving about 6:00 p.m. There will be a holiday story and song by the fireplace and then Santa will spend time talking to each child that has something to tell him.

Please join us for our annual holiday celebration. In addition to Santa’s visit, there will be a holiday craft area, the Hibbing City Band will be performing, the Literacy Action Center will be giving away books to children, and the Friends of the Library will be serving refreshments.

New Nonfiction

2011-11-25T09:56:00.000-06:00

Learning to Breathe: My yearlong Quest to Bring Calm to My Life by Priscilla Warner

One woman's journey to find peace from her panic attacks.

Attack on Pearl Harbor: Strategy, Combat, Myths, Deceptions by Alan D. Zimm

Evaluation of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor from the Japanese point of view.

You are Not so Smart by David McRaney

Psychology says that you have no idea why you act the way you do.

Book Give Away at the Yuletide Festival

2011-11-23T09:53:00.001-06:00

Bring the kids to the Yuletide Festival and have them pick out a free book to take home. The Literacy Action Center and the book-give-away is another event that has been part of the library’s holiday celebration for many years.

The Literacy Action Center office is located in the basement of the Hibbing Public Library. It is a program of the Hibbing school district through the Community Education Department.

The Center:
•Provides free, confidential and private tutoring to adults who wish to improve their reading, and writing skills.
•Provides tutoring for people in which English is a second language.
•Works with other community education programs for GED testing and preparation.

It also promotes reading by putting books in the hands of children through book give-aways. Funding for the books is provided by United Way of N.E. MN, Minnesota Community Foundation, Northland Foundation, Hibbing/Chisholm Rotary, and Security State Bank.

The annual Yuletide Festival will be on Tuesday, December 6^th from 6:00 until 7:30 p.m.

Trout Caviar: Recipes from a Northern Forager by Brett Laidlaw

2011-11-22T09:50:00.002-06:00

The author grew up in Eden Prairie, Minnesota and spent time each summer on Lake Brereton in eastern Manitoba: “I can recall so clearly all the sensations of cleaning the fish we caught, an activity which took place in late morning in the cool shade of the pines beside the cabin, on a wooden table covered with newspapers in the yard of packed dirt with a patina of pine needles. I recall the smell of the fish, kept on a stringer in the lake until we were ready to clean them. They smelled … lakey, not fishy, not bad at all, but fresh and watery. When I’m lucky enough to find supremely fresh fish today, I’ll take a good whiff and think, Ah, it smells like Lake Brereton.”

Brett Laidlaw wants to share with the reader his interest in natural foods while finding those foods in the wild, local gardens or the market. Check out the recipes and try a few including: Summer Lake Trout Chowder, Trout Caviar and Apple Blackberry Galette. Find the book in the new book section: 641.302 LAIDLAW

100 Famous Novels with Catchy First Lines

2011-11-18T14:25:00.004-06:00

Snoopy, in the Peanuts comic strip by Charles M. Schulz, often started his novel with this line: "It was a dark and stormy night."
The opening lines of a novel can prove crucial. From Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities to Melville's Moby Dick, often the opening sentence or two of a book will become the most frequently quoted and iconic passage from the entire novel. From American Book Review.

The Ranker Website list 100 famous novels with catchy first lines.

What favorite first lines do you remember?

New Movies at the Library

2011-11-17T14:34:00.000-06:00

Cars 2

Lightning McQueen competes in the World Grand Prix to determine the world's fastest car.

Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer

Family comedy based on the best selling book series.

Transformers: Dark of the Moon
Shia LaBeouf and the AUTOBOTS must fight the DECEPTICONS to defend the world from evil.

Captain America: the First Avenger
Captain America leads the fight for freeom from the Red Skull and HYDRA organization.

Everything Must Go
Will Ferrell moves himself and all his possessons to his front yard.

Fast Five

Vin Diesel and Paul Walker lead a reunion of all stars from every chapter of the movie franchise.

Hibbing City Band Will Play at Annual Yuletide Festival

2011-11-15T09:53:00.001-06:00

Everyone is invited to the library on Tuesday, December 6th for a holiday performance by the Hibbing City Band. The musical selections will begin about 6:15 p.m.

The City Band, once known as the Hibbing Municipal Concert Band, has a long and interesting history. Their background is documented in a graduate research paper, written in 1972 by Arthur M. Hill. “A History of the Hibbing Municipal Concert Band” is available at the front desk of the library.
According to Mr. Hill the first band rehearsals began in 1897, “but progress was slow because of the calloused hands of the men and the difficulty of getting to rehearsals”. The members persevered and in the following years the numbers grew, they elected a director, and even purchased uniforms. The name changed a few times until in 1903 it was changed back to the Hibbing City Band.
In the early 1900s the band began furnishing the music for the town’s Fourth of July celebrations. There is record that the band won competitive honors over the years. They were even invited to play at the State Fair in both 1915 and 1916. The band’s tradition of providing the community with wonderful summer concerts began as early as 1916.
The Hibbing City Band is truly a wonderful tradition in our community. They have graciously played for the Yuletide Festival at the library for many years and we hope will continue to perform for many more. So please join the library staff and the Friends of the Hibbing Public Library on December 6th for some wonderful music.

How to: Many websites and so little time

2011-11-14T12:54:00.007-06:00

Websites that offer how to instructions are abundant: How To Do Things, Ehow, Instructibles, and You Tube all give directions and can make you an expert in no time. Need help learning how to knit, paint, tile floors? All information can be found on a handy website. After reading through the instructions, you will quickly know if the thing you are attempting is beyond your abilities and best left to the professionals. What projects have you attempted and had success or decided hiring someone would be a better idea? Write in and let us know.
The library also has sections on woodworking, quilting, knitting, crocheting, painting, house and car repair and many other "do it yourself" projects.

Nightwoods by Charles Frazier

2011-11-10T13:19:00.000-06:00

Charles Frazier, author of Cold Mountain, has put out his third novel titled Nightwoods. Nightwoods is set in the Appalachian mountains of North Carolina in the 1960's. Luce is a woman with a dark past who has taken a job as caretaker of an old abandoned lodge. Her solitude is interrupted when her murdered sister's two children come to live with her. The children have witnessed their mother's murder and it is evident that trauma lies at the root of their dysfunction. The children do not speak, blankly stare and are fascinated with lighting fires. Bud, the kid's alcoholic and violent step-dad has been acquitted of Lily's murder. Things get messy when he appears back into their lives. Suspense mounts in a dramatic manner as Bud's path begins to converge with Luce and the children.

Zero Day by David Baldacci

2011-11-09T07:52:00.001-06:00

John Pullar, U. S. Army Criminal Investigator, is sent to investigate the murder of an Army colonel and his family in West Virginia coal country. Pullar, married to the Army, comes from a military family with a retired general for a father and a brother in a military jail for treason.

Pullar, along with Sergeant Samantha Cole, from the local sheriff’s department, soon realize that they are on to something that threatens national security. With time running out, and bodies piling up, they must link the coal mining industry to an old bunker built in the 1950s to save the local community.

David Baldacci has another hit with Zero Day. He has a website: www.davidbaldacci.com

David and his wife are cofounders of the Wish You Well Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting literacy across America: www.wishyouwellfoundation.org

Killing Lincoln: the shocking assasination that changed America forever by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard

2011-11-04T16:18:00.000-05:00

Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard write in a historical account that reads like fiction of the events surrounding the assassination and tracking of the killer John Wilkes Booth and accomplices.

Fall Festival on PBS

2011-11-04T11:24:00.000-05:00

Friday nights on PBS

H.M.S. Pinafore: Oct. 14

AMERICAN MASTERS Pearl Jam Twenty: Oct. 21

GREAT PERFORMANCES Miami City Ballet: Oct. 28

Give me the Banjo: Nov. 4

AMERICAN MASTERS Bill T. Jones: Nov. 11

Women Who Rock: Nov. 18

GREAT PERFORMANCES Il Postino: Nov. 25

GREAT PERFORMANCES Andrea Bocelli: Dec. 2

GREAT PERFORMANCES The Little Mermaid: Dec. 16

Check out the display of music with bookmarks at the front gate of the library.

Masterpiece Mystery on PBS

2011-11-04T11:14:00.002-05:00

Hercule Poirot
David Suchet plays the suave Belgian detective. In Three Act Tragedy, a cocktail party is the scene of a crime, while in The Clocks, multiple frozen clocks factor into a murder. Agatha Christie’s detective Poirot investigates a death at a festive event turned foul in Hallowe'en Party.

Miss Marple
Julia McKenzie plays Agatha Christie's detective with a gentle smile and probing mind in The Pale Horse. Miss Marple's old friend is found murdered, and when she receives a list of names sent by the victim before his death, Miss Marple seeks justice.

Zen
What does an honest cop do when his bosses are on the side of the lawbreakers? Outwitting prosecutors, politicians, mobsters, kidnappers and killers, Detective Aurelio Zen brings justice to modern-day Italy. Rufus Sewell stars as Zen, based on the books of Michael Dibdin.

Inspector Lewis
Kevin Whately and Laurence Fox play Inspector Lewis and DS Hathaway in four Oxford University-based whodunits, which have them solving cases at an all-female college, investigating the poisoning of a bishop, looking into a clinical trial and examining a sinister blackmail plot. Inspector Lewis is the spinoff from the Inspector Morse series by Colin Dexter.

Jackson Brodie
Set amidst the iconic landscapes of modern Edinburgh, Case Histories brings the delightful jigsaw puzzles of Kate Atkinson's bestselling novels and the complexity of her hero Jackson Brodie, played by Jason Isaacs (Harry Potter) to life. (from the PBS website)

Books and some movies based on the PBS Masterpiece Mystery series are available in the library and by interlibrary loan.

Window Exhibits at the Library

2011-11-03T17:15:00.000-05:00

The window display at the entrance of the library is available for use by community organizations. Library exhibits serve to make the public aware of the informational, educational and cultural resources of the community. The exhibits may direct the public's attention to the materials and services of the library itself, to the work of talented individuals, or to ideas expressed by community organizations.

All exhibits are scheduled for two week time periods. Call the library at 362-5959 to reserve the window display for your organization.

The front window display is currently being used by the North Star Hospice. North Star Hospice was organized in 1984 as a licensed hospice provider. In 2003 North Star Hospice affiliated with Fairview Range Regional Health Service. Hospice is a special program designed to enhance the quality of life in people whose life expectancy is limited.

The Hospice has a volunteer program and also always accepts memorial donations. Check out the informational display in the library’s entrance and go to their web site at http://www.range.fairview.org/services/hospice.

BOO BOO BEAR'S MISSION

2011-11-02T17:03:00.000-05:00

"Boo Boo Bear's Mission" by Mary Linda Sather is a heartwarming story about a beloved teddy bear on an imporatnt mission.
Young Shea Leigh's dad has been deployed to Iraq with the Air National Guard. To help her dad feel less lonely while he is away from his family, Shea Leigh sends Boo Boo Bear to him in a care package. Boo Boo tours the base with Dad, embarks on a jet fighter flight and fulfills an important mission—to carry a family's love until they can be together again.

This title is available through interlibrary loan. You may also click the link below for more information on this title and author.

http://www.boo-boo-bears-mission.net/index.html

Great Books Reading Club

2011-11-01T09:16:00.001-05:00

Members of last year’s Great Books Reading Club are currently reorganizing. One of the issues that need to be decided is if they will stay with the Great Books format or choose more contemporary reading selections. The group is also looking for a new leader/moderator. If you are interested in joining a book club please call the library at 362-5959 or email hibbingpl@arrowhead.lib.mn.us and leave your name and phone number. Also indicate which format you would prefer. This will help with the decisions.

Emily Post's Etiquette: Manners for a new world.

2011-10-31T16:06:00.001-05:00

In the 18th edition, virtual manners and social networking have their own chapter.

When posting on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, MySpace or other social sites, good manners are important. "The conventions for interacting and conversing in a polite, positive, considerate, respectful and honest way still apply. That means take care with what you write and what you post. People who receive your message don't have your body language, your facial expressions, or tone of voice to help interpret the meaning of your message. All they have are the words on their screen. While you might have been joking or sarcastic, they may read your comments as hurtul, rude or spiteful. Take time with your messages and posts to consider whether they might be interpreted in a negative light by the people who look at them."

Remember to be polite. Everything online is public and permanent and what you say reflects on you. Proofread your spelling and grammar, be selective about your word choice, remember proper punctuation and keep it clean and civil.

Social networking is a great way to keep in touch with friends and family.

The Chronicles of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg with an introduction by Lemony Snicket

2011-10-27T14:47:00.001-05:00

The Stranger You Seek by Amanda Kyle Williams

2011-10-26T13:24:00.000-05:00

The Stranger You Seek introduces a new private detective:
"My name is Keye Street. First name from my Asian grandfather; my adoptive parents awarded me the second. By trade I am a detective, private, that is a process server and bill recovery agent. In life, I am a dry alcoholic, a passionate believer in Krystal cheeseburgers and Krispy Kreme doughnuts, and a former behavioral analyst for the FBI. How I ended up here in the South, where I have the distinction of looking like what they still call a damn foreigner in most parts of Gerogia and sounding like a hick everywhere else in the world is a mystery Emily and Howard Street have never fully unraveled for me."
Keye Street is soon dragged into consulting on a serial killer case for the Atlanta homicide department. Pleanty of action and suspense with some humor from the creative ways she gets results as a process server, The Stranger You Seek is available at Hibbing Public Library.
Amanda Kyle Williams has a website: http://www.amandakylewilliams.com/

Young Adult Novels

2011-10-21T14:01:00.000-05:00

Books stacking up on my desk.... I need to get them back out on the shelves! ~Ginny
Here are my Fall 2011 Young Adult reads:

Ruby Red By Kerstin Gier. Translated by Anthea Bell (2011). Warning: this is the first in a time travel series, translated from the original German (2009). So, unless you can read German and get a copy of Sapphire Blue in German, you will have to wait until 2012 for the second book (New York Times Review). Gwenyth's cousin Charlotte has been trained all her life to time travel, but when they turn 16 it is Gwenyth that jumps back in time with handsome but snooty Gideon. Good enough that I wished I'd waited until all the books are out (in English!)

Skyship Academy: The Pearl Wars by Nick James (2011). Published right here in Minnesota (Flux Books, Woodbury). Another first in a series (more patience required). Much more science fiction than fantasy. The year is 2095 in post-apocalypse American, two boys are thrown together Jesse from the skyship community, Cassius from the government on the Surface. Both competing for the Pearls of energy that fall from the sky. Both wondering where they fit in their warring societies and why the adults that mentor them are not telling them the whole story...
Ten questions with Nick James

And now for something completely different:
the summer i learned to fly by Dana Reinhardt (2011). Not a series, not out of this world. Dana, at age 13 and a bit of a loner, hangs out at her mother's cheese shop. She is given a rat, just a regular pet rat she names Hum, no magic abilities. But that rat leads her to meet Emmett, a friend who leads her into summer adventures and new awareness of herself, her town, and the people that share it. Indiebound Kid's Next List

Orionid Meteor Shower

2011-10-21T13:32:00.002-05:00

map from http://www.meteorblog.com/

If you are interested in meteor showers and like astronomy, Check out Astro Bob's Blog.
Bob King works at the Duluth News Tribune in Duluth, Minn. as a photographer and photo editor:
"I'm also an amateur astronomer and have been keen on the sky since age 11. My modest credentials include membership in the American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO) where I'm a regular contributor, International Meteorite Collectors Assn. and Arrowhead Astronomical Society. I also teach community education astronomy classes at our local planetarium."

For more information and best viewing times to see the Orionid Meteor Shower Saturday morning, check out Astro Bob's Blog: http://astrobob.areavoices.com/ and Meteor Blog: http://www.meteorblog.com/

Explore Careers in the Health and Medical Sciences

2011-10-21T11:44:00.000-05:00

The National Institutes of Health's Office of Science Education "Life Works" homepage was designed to help young people learn about different careers in the health and medical sciences. Visitors can browse for information on more than 100 careers by title, education required, interest area, or median salary. (from The Scout Report, October 21, 2011)

A Trick of the Light by Louise Penny

2011-10-20T13:55:00.000-05:00

Chief Inspector Gamache revisits the small village of Three Pines after a body is found in the flowerbed of his artist friends, Clara and Peter Morrow. Clara, full of terror and joy at the accolades for the success of her gallery showing, is astonished when a body is discovered the morning after the party.

Louise Penny says this about her books: “My books are about terror. That brooding terror curled deep down inside us. But more than that, more than murder, more than all the rancid emotions and actions, my books are about goodness. And kindness. About choices. About friendship and belonging. And love. Enduring love.
If you take only one thing away from any of my books I'd like it to be this: Goodness exists.”

Louise Penny has a website: http://www.louisepenny.com/
The seventh and previous books in the series are available through Hibbing Public Library and our digital media catalog.

Do It Yourself Repair

2011-10-18T12:52:00.000-05:00

Snow will be on the ground soon and now is the time to make sure your snowmobiles and snow blowers are ready to go. The Small Engine Repair database is a reference that is available free of charge to library card holders.

It is the definitive online tool for small engine assistance. Original photos and illustrations guide the user through every repair job. The database provides assistance for routine maintenance such as tune ups and brake service as well as extensive repairs involving engine and transmission disassembly.

Just go to the library’s website at www.hibbing.lib.mn.us, click on “databases and search engines”, click on “consumer” and then click on “Small Engine Repair”. Have your library card handy because the 14 digit number on the back is need for access.

The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

2011-10-17T15:37:00.000-05:00

A debut novel by Vanessa Diffenbaugh about a young 18 year old woman named Victoria who is a distrustful and and troubled product of the foster care system. The book alternates between past and present events which brings greater meaning to why she behaves the way she does with the people she meets. We see how Victoria learns and communicates through the language of flowers and we see her struggle to accept herself and the love others offer.

A nice touch to the end of the book is Victoria's Dictionary of Flowers.

The Killer Is Dying by James Sallis

2011-10-17T13:01:00.001-05:00

Three males converge:

Christian, Vietnam veteran, goes by the nickname he received while serving in Vietnam. A hired hit man with a terminal disease, Christian has a contract on John Rankin but someone else attempts to murder Rankin before Christian can shoot him. Already living longer than expected, Christian wants to understand the meaning of his life as a contract killer. “How many dead and dying men had he stood above or beside? And death, finally, wasn’t all that interesting. What was interesting, what never failed to surprise and amaze him, is the way life always holds on, whatever the circumstances, how it just won’t let go.”

Jimmie, abandoned by his parents, lives on the toys he buys and sells on the Internet, living a life he never expected to last. “At first he had waited, living off what was left, canned food, cereal, expecting someone to show up at the door, a neighbor school officials, police. But no one did. So then, still expecting to be exposed any day, he’d gone on to work with what he had. Now he found it difficult to imagine another life, another way of living.” Jimmie learns while living on his own that, “Your day needs structure.” He has built a life for himself by volunteering at the local retirement home and Mrs. Flores, his neighbor can be counted on in an emergency.

Detective Graves and Sayles are investigating the shooting of John Rankin. Sayles’ wife, Josie is dying and has gone into hospice care. Sayles says “Strength was not about overcoming things. Strength was about accepting them.”

Sayles is unknowingly looking for Christian, while Jimmie dreams about Christian’s memories.

James Sallis: Drive, currently in theaters and The Killer is Dying, his latest book, has a website: http://www.jamessallis.com/

Defensive Wounds by Lisa Black

2011-10-14T07:57:00.000-05:00

Theresa MacLean, forensic investigator, is called to the murder of the criminal defense attorney, Marie Corrigan, by a text from her daughter who has a summer job at the front desk of the famed hotel. The Ritz-Carlton in Cleveland is hosting a convention for lawyers when Corrigan is found in the presidential suite by housekeeping.

Not well liked, Marie Corrigan was not exactly mourned by the police community who nevertheless must investigate her murder while believing that her unethical behavior in the courtroom caused her death. Corrigan’s murder has many suspects as this police procedural looks for a killer amongst her personal and professional relationships.

Theresa, while pulling samples from the presidential suite where Corrigan was found tries to limit her daughter Rachel’s exposure to the grim aspects of the murder investigation when a second murder occurs. In this fourth book in the mystery series, Theresa and the homicide detectives, Kelly and Powell, try to figure out how the murder occurs in this new twist in the case of the locked room when there is no record of an electronic key issued.

Lisa Black has a website: http://www.lisa-black.com/

WikiHow: Featured Website

2011-10-13T09:59:00.000-05:00

WikiHow states that they are "the world's collaborative how to manual."
First learn how to from one of the 123,291 articles by finding the topic you are interested in; share your how to information with millions of people; and work together with others to improve on your how to experience.
Check out the featured articles on everything from office etiquette to pitching a baseball and tieing a tie.
Browse by category: arts and entertainment; computers and electronics; finance, business and legal; and sports and fitness; and travel.

Kindle Owners Can Download Books from Library

2011-10-07T10:59:00.000-05:00

Kindle owners can now download free ebooks from the library’s Overdrive site. You can enjoy library eBooks on your Amazon Kindle or free Kindle reading app.

All you need to get started is a valid library card and a registered Kindle device or reading app. Next visit the library’s collection of eBooks. Just click on the “Download Audio Books” icon on the website at www.hibbing.lib.mn.us.

Browse the ebook collection and check out a Kindle book.
Click the 'Get for Kindle' button. This opens the Amazon.com website. You may be required to sign in with your Amazon.com account if you are not already logged in.
Select a Kindle device or Kindle reading app. Click the 'Get library book' button and sync your device or app to download the book, or choose to send it to your device via USB.
An active Wi-Fi connection is required for wireless delivery to a Kindle device.
If your Kindle is not Wi-Fi capable or you do not have an active Wi-Fi connection, read Amazon's instructions for transferring files via USB.

Secret Knowledge: On the Dismantling of American Culture by David Mamet

2011-10-06T14:35:00.000-05:00

Film director, playwright and essayist David Mamet takes a sociological, political and philosophical look at American Culture during his lifetime and describes how it has shaped his current values. The Secret Knowledge is available at Hibbing Public and other Arrowhead Libraries through interlibrary loan in book and sound recording (discs) format.

Fire Prevention Week is October 9th - 15th

2011-10-05T09:59:00.002-05:00

The library recommends the Hibbing Fire Department's annual open house on Saturday, October 8th from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. This is a free event that features public safety booths and demonstrations, health and blood pressure screenings, equipment and rigs on displaly, fire extinguisher demos, kids games, AED lessons, lunch and much more.

Everyone in the family has a role to play in home fire safety. Both adults and kids should be familiar with smoke alarms and home fire escape planning. Attending the open house is a great way to get started on a safer future.

Remember to check the library for books on fire safety. Currently available in the children's department:

Fire Safety by Lucia Raatma

A Kid's Guide to Staying Safe Around Fire by Maribeth Boelts

Smoke Alarms by Lucia Raatma.

Heat Rises by Richard Castle

2011-10-04T13:49:00.000-05:00

Third book in the Nikki Heat and Jameson Rook series, action abounds in New York City with the murder of a parish priest. Heat and Rook with the homicide squad follow the leads which take some surprising turns.

The Nikki Heat series, entertaining with a lot of action - also mentioned on the television Castle series - closely mirrors the case solving skills of Castle and Beckett and the homicide crew.

Also recently out is the graphic novel: Castle: Richard Castle's Deadly Storm by Brian Michael Bendis, Kelly Sue DeConnick and Lan Medina.

American Pickers: Guide to Picking by Libby Callaway with Mike Wolfe, Frank Fritz, and Danielle Colby

2011-10-03T12:53:00.002-05:00

Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz answer the question what does a picker do?
"Pickers are kind of a cross between Indiana Jones and Sanford & Son. Basically, we're professional treasure hunters, but instead of precious artifacts, we're on the lookout for good old all-American junk - aka rusty gold."
Based out of Le Claire, Iowa, Wolfe and Fritz: "Pickers travel - a lot. You don't uncover the one-of-a-kind things we're in the market for by staying in one place for very long. We're always burning up the back roads, taking the routes less traveled, keeping our eyes open for properties that look like they might be holding hidden jewels."
If you want to take a try at being a picker, Read American Pickers under 745.1075 CALLA in the new book section. American Pickers also has a television series on the History Channel.

It Is Bucks Buy Books Time

2011-09-30T14:01:00.000-05:00

The Bucks Buy Books campaign began in 2004 due to budget cuts. The library's financial status has not improved, but due to the generosity of so many, your contributions have kept more books on the Hibbing Public Library shelves. Titles by favorite authors of both adults and children have been bought with these funds.

Donating is easy thanks to Hibbing Public Utilities. Your October billing will include a pre-addressed envelope to the library. Please mail your contribution in the envelope or drop it off at the front desk at the library during your next visit. Checks can be made payable to the Hibbing Public Library Book Fund.

With your financial support, many more books will be kept in the hands of area readers and the library's mission will be upheld. The Library Board and staff appreciate your support and encourage your participation in this campaign. You will be making our library one of the best investments in Hibbing.

Squidoo

2011-09-28T13:19:00.000-05:00

Check out the Squidoo website: "Squidoo makes it easy to build your personal interest graph of the things you know and love. On Squidoo, you can write a page. A single webpage, focused on a single topic.
Then you can build another page. And another one. And another. Each page on a different interest. Tell a story, recommend a product you love, share an experience you had, teach someone something, pay tribute to a person you admire (an author, band, your mom... ) and so much more."

We call these pages lenses because they snap your point of view into focus. Explore the sidebar of listed topics. It's simple to write a lens. And of course, it's free. Even if you build 100 of them! (from Squidoo website)

Family Hitchcock by Mark Levin and Jennifer Flackett

2011-09-27T09:25:00.000-05:00

“The annual family vacation. Every year since he could remember, his father and mother had taken them on some sort of summer trip. When the kids were little, the vacations had been fun – at least, that’s how Maddy and Benji remembered them. Hawaii. The Grand Canyon. When Benji was six, they had spent a week in New York seeing shows.”

“But over the past few years a once - fine family tradition had gone sour. In Disneyland, their mother had made them wear so much sunscreen both children had come back whiter than when they had left. In Alaska, their father took one too many pictures of a grizzly, goading the giant bear into charging their minivan.”

You get the picture.

Benji and his sister, Maddy, dread the idea of this year’s family trip. Read about this year’s Hitchcock family vacation found in the j Fiction section of the children’s room at Hibbing Public Library.

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

2011-09-21T08:08:00.000-05:00

“The circus arrives without warning.”

“No announcements precede it, no paper notices on downtown posts and billboards, no mentions or advertisements in local newspapers. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not.”

Visit the circus, Le Cirque des Reves, where it opens at nightfall, closes at dawn and the illusions are real.

Found in Hibbing Public Library in the new fiction section under Morgenstern.

Divergent by Veronica Roth

2011-09-20T11:01:00.000-05:00

Divergent (c2011) is the first book in a new series by a new author, Veronica Roth. She is only 22 years old! http://www.thedivergenttrilogy.com/ Her novel is the story of Beatrice, a 16 year old in a Chicago of the future. She is at the age when each student must choose which of five factions (Candor, Abnegation, Dautnless, Amity and Erudite) to join and start her adult life. Her choice may separate her from her family forever. The initiation could cost her her life. She and her brother choose different factions and she renames herself Tris. What neither they nor the other initiates realize is that the future of their perfect society is at stake. The choices this group of teenagers makes will affect everyone.

Divergent reminds me of The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hunger_Games. If you haven't read those, you are missing some of the best "dystopian" or post apocalyptic fiction of the decade! The film version of The Hunger Games is scheduled to be released on March 23, 2012.[1] And it looks a company has purchased the movie rights for Divergent as well!
Novels like these, what I call Social Science Fiction, are why I continue to choose Young Adult books over any other genre for my recreational reading. ~Ginny

Flip by Martyn Bedford

2011-09-20T10:23:00.000-05:00

Flip (c2011) is the story of 14 year old Alex who goes to sleep on a winter night and wakes up six months later in someone else's bed, in someone else's room, in someone else's family, in another part of the country. In fact, he is in someone else's body! Philip is athletic but not so smart; quite different from Alex on the outside but now with Alex's mind inside.

Why is Alex in Flip's body?

Where has Flip's mind/soul gone?

Which boys' skills and talents will come through?

Is there anyway for Alex to get out? To go home?

Hibbing teens will find some familiar things here: cell phones and Google searches. But the story is set in England so school will seem a bit different. A fun read that blends everyday teen struggles with a science fiction twist (or flip!)

This is Martyn Bedford's first Young Adult/teen novel. He also writes novels for adults (http://martynbedford.com).

See the author's favorite YA novels on the same or a similar theme:

http://suvudu.com/2011/04/martyn-bedfords-top-ten-flip-ya-books.html

Vacancy on Library Board Needs to be Filled

2011-09-19T11:02:00.000-05:00

The library is seeking a dedicated reader to fill a board vacancy for the remainder of a term through March 2012. The purpose of the library board is to see that adequate funds are obtained for good library service; to promote the best possible use of all library resources in the area, to improve the library, and extend library service to those not previously serviced. Meetings are held on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 4:30 p.m.

Applications are due by Wednesday, September 28, 2011 and are available in the City Hall Council Office: 3rd Floor City Hall at 401 East 21st Street, Hibbing or on-line on the City Website Boards and Commissions page. If your application is already on file in the Council Office, please call the Administrative\Council Assistant at 362-5990 to inform her of your interest to again be considered for an appointment.

Pirate King by Laurie R. King

2011-09-16T13:18:00.000-05:00

Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes take on the cast of Pirates of Penzance in this thrilling tale of “a story within a story” while working on a film crew in Lisbon and Morocco with real pirates.

Mary Russell, undercover as the producer’s assistant, is sent by Chief Inspector Lestrade to investigate the British moving picture industry where the Flytte Film Company is experiencing some rather odd problems. 11th in the series, real pirates on a real pirate ship, the Harlequin, gives realism a new name in the latest Mary Russell – Sherlock Holmes mystery.

Holmes remarks: “I’ve spent much of my life being thought of as a fiction. One grows accustomed to it.” Always thrilling, with humorous commentary, Pirate King, makes for fun and entertaining reading.
Website: http://www.laurierking.com/

Thank You To Our Many Visitors

2011-09-15T14:17:00.001-05:00

Every year many people travel to Hibbing to visit the community where Bob Dylan grew up. The library would like to thank all these visitors for stopping in, spending time, and signing our guest book. Some of you are artists, some poets, and all of you are very appreciative fans. We would like to share with everyone some of the art and comments from our guest book.

"Great tribute! Finally visiting the hometown of my favorite musical genius and poet! Definitely will be visiting again" (Chicago, ILL)

"He moves my soul..." (Cathedral City, CA)

"Grew up 2 blocks west of Zimmerman home. Thanks Bob for the music!"

"In 1983 my brother wrote a paper on Dylan in college and introduced me to his music. He has become my passion..." (Noark, Conn.)

"We enjoyed the exhibit and Hibbing! What an amazing musician."

"How does it feel? It feels great to be in Hibbing - Bob Dylan's hometown!! Love ya, Bob." (Amarillo, Texas)

"Took one lifetime (so far) to get here, but here I am. Thanks, Brother Bob, for your journey and mine. Love and respect." (Albert, Canada)

"Long trip from England, but well worth it. Many Happy Returns Bob!!!"

"Just passing. Saw the light on." (Australia)

"...Bob Dylan has provided a soundtrack for my life" (Fargo, ND)

There were many more great comments and we invite everyone to stop by, see the exhibit, and add their own mark in our book.

Midwest Living Magazine

2011-09-14T08:00:00.001-05:00

Look at the latest issue of Midwest Living for September/October and bake one of the many recipes using apples. Apple Scones with spiced maple butter looks particularly tasty. http://www.midwestliving.com/recipe/fruit/apple-scones-with-spiced-maple-butter/

Check out the travel destinations in the upper Midwest or more specifically Minnesota for a weekend getaway. Articles on the North Shore, Root River Valley, Twin Cities, and Northern Minnesota abound. http://www.midwestliving.com/travel/destination/minnesota/

Work Green

2011-09-13T09:51:00.003-05:00

Are you interested in exploring green careers? ISEEK offers a dedicated website for them. ISEEK.org is Minnesota's career, education and job resource on line, and their latest industry portal, MnGreenCareers.org, details the newest research on green careers, education,and jobs in Minnesota.

You will find definitions, information on typical green careers, green training and education at Minnesota schools and where a green career can lead, as well as job search and green business research resources. The site includes quizzes, career videos and Minnesota-specific resources, appropriate for the student, job seeker, career explorer, educator, and entrepreneur.

Go to the ISEEK main site to explore all careers, plan your education, and for detailed help on tracking down a job.

Northwest Angle by William Kent Krueger

2011-09-12T12:23:00.002-05:00

Cork O'Connor brings his family back for a vacation on a houseboat on Lake of the Woods, in Northern Minnesota. While spending a beautiful summer day on the lake, various members of the family go off in different directions to explore the lake when a sudden storm with straight line winds hits. To find out what happens next, pick up Krueger's latest book in his series.
First Line: "Later, when it no longer mattered, they learned that the horror that had come from the sky had a name: derecho."
William Kent Krueger has a website and he writes about the inspiration for his latest book, Northwest Angle: http://www.williamkentkrueger.com/

Flash and Bones by Kathy Reichs

2011-09-08T14:53:00.000-05:00

Temperance Brennan, forensic anthropologist, assigned to the Medical Examiner’s Office in Mecklenburg County, investigates a murder in Charlotte, North Carolina in this 14th book in the series. During NASCAR, a body is found in a barrel next to the Charlotte Motor Speedway. While trying to solve a murder, Brennan is also doing some investigating into why the fiancé of Brennan’s ex-husband, Pete, seems to be unhappy with her upcoming wedding plans.

The book starts:

“Looking back, I think of it as race week in the rain. Thunderboomers almost every day. Sure, it was spring. But these storms were over the top.
In the end, Summer saved my life.
I know, Sounds bizarre.
This is what happened.”

Kathy Reichs has a website: http://kathyreichs.com/

We Remember 9/11

2011-09-07T09:58:00.000-05:00

On September 11, 2001, four planes were hijacked. The hijackers then deliberately flew three of the planes into two important buildings, the Pentagon in Washington DC and the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York. The fourth crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The loss of life and damage that these hijackings caused form the biggest act of terrorism ever on United States soil. Nearly 3000 people died in the attacks and the economic impact was immense.

Remember or learn about the history of September 11, 2001 by checking out the window and book display at the library. Books include both eyewitness accounts and stories of individuals that lost family members during and after the attack. See the tragedy through the eyes of the children in The Day Our World Changed: Children's Art of 9/11 with an introduction by Rudolph W. Giuliani .

Commemorative events will be taking place across the country. In Hibbing, The Community College Library will be presenting the art of Judith Shea. Her exhibit, “The Legacy Collection: The 10^th Anniversary of 9-11” will open to the public with a reception on Sunday, September 11, 2011 from 1:00 until 4:00 p.m.

The Casserole Queens Cookbook by Crystal Cook and Sandy Pollock

2011-09-06T13:08:00.000-05:00

Crystal Cook and Sandy Pollock are the Casserole Queens, a food delivery service in Austin, Texas.

Crystal and Sandy: "We're embracing 50s kitsch and resurrecting the classic American casserole. We deliver fresh-from-scratch meals straight to your door in heels, aprons, and the timeless tradition of mom’s best recipes. No trips to the store and no mess—just put it in the oven and get ready for a delicious meal."
You, too, can cook like the casserole queens with their new cookbook available at Hibbing Public Library in the new book section under: 641.821 COOK

The Hypnotist by Lars Kepler

2011-09-02T13:45:00.000-05:00

The Hyptonist is an unputdownable Swedish crime thriller. A 15-year old boy barely survives the vicious slaughter of his entire family. Enter police investigator Joona Linna and therapist/hypnotist Erick Bark to solve the case. If you liked the Stieg-Larsson trilogy you'll like this one.

Known and Unknown, A Memoir by Donald Rumsfeld

2011-08-30T16:51:00.000-05:00

This accomplished contributor to the United States government reflects on his public and private career. Available at Hibbing Public Library and in the Arrowhead region in book, sound recording (discs) and e-book formats.

New Books - New Authors

2011-08-30T08:35:00.000-05:00

The library has an easy way to discover new books and authors. Just visit our home page at www.hibbing.lib.mn.us and click on the “BookNews” icon.

You will discover links to our monthly newsletters featuring a wide variety of books for all ages. Each newsletter is devoted to a specific genre or subject and includes descriptions of the books with reviews. There are also links to award winning and bestselling books.

Subscribe to as many newsletters as you wish and start getting the monthly updates in your email.

Farewell, Boo

2011-08-29T13:11:00.000-05:00

Boo, the library pet gerbil, died Monday, August 22, 2011.

His library family is sad that he is gone, but is glad that he was loved by the children who visited him. Boo can now reunite with his brother Peek, who died on Sunday, November 22, 2010.

Our gerbil brothers came to live in the Children’s Room on January 10, 2009 when they were just young pups.

Gerbils live 2-3 years so both Peak and Boo lived very long lives.

Ghost in the Wires by Kevin Mitnick with William L. Simon

2011-08-26T10:23:00.001-05:00

Kevin Mitnick:
“I have hacked into some of the largest companies on the planet and penetrated the most resilient computer systems every developed – hired by the companies themselves, to help them close the gaps and improve their security so they don’t become the next hacking victim. I’m largely self-taught and have spent years studying methods, tactics, and strategies used to circumvent computer security, and to learn more about how computer systems and telecommunication systems work.
Kevin Mitnick became the world’s most wanted computer hacker and his hacking escapades landed him in prison for five years.
Find Ghost in the Wires in the new book section under 364.16 MITNI
You can follow Kevin Mitnick on Twitter and you can see him on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_VYWefmy34

In Search of the Rose Notes by Emily Arsenault

2011-08-24T13:29:00.000-05:00

“Fitting that Charlotte would call while I was doing nothing. When we were kids, she was always saving me from nothing. What are you doing? Nothing. And compared to Charlotte’s house, with its big brother, its basketball hoop, its VCR, its trampline, and its pantry full of Oreos, my place really was nothing.”

Nora and Charlotte were grade school friends who spent all their free time together. After school, Rose the babysitter, often played games with them until the day she went missing. Sixteen years later, Charlotte calls Nora to tell her that Rose has been found. Nora goes back to Waverly, reconnects with Charlotte, and they fall back into their routine of trying to figure what happened to Rose.

Emily has a website: http://emilyarsenault.com/author/

Sherlock Holmes - Always a Favorite!

2011-08-23T07:53:00.000-05:00

View the Sherlock Holmes Book Display on the table in the reading room.

Sherlock Holmes—ever popular, has many books written by Doyle as well as other authors—Laurie King, Minnesota author Larry Millett, etc., blogs, museums, movies, websites and even The Sherlock Holmes Collections at the University of Minnesota. We have some of his movies and books here for checkout.

Sherlock Holmes, created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, is the brilliant London-based "consulting detective", famous for his astute logical reasoning, his ability to change into any disguise, and his use of forensic science skills to solve difficult cases.

Holmes, who first appeared in publication in 1887, was featured in four novels and 56 short stories, starting with A Study in Scarlet and The Sign of the Four. The character grew tremendously in popularity with the beginning of the first series of short stories in Strand Magazine in 1891; further series of short stories and two novels published in serial form appeared between 1891 and 1927. Sherlock Holmes is still popular today with new movies featuring Robert Downey Jr. (Sherlock, 2009) with the sequel showing in December 2011. PBS has a contemporary series also called Sherlock with 3 episodes and more to follow.

Minnesota Fall Explorer

2011-08-22T12:01:00.000-05:00

The new edition of the Minnesota Explorer is now available at the library. Articles include:

Fall Music Fests
New Minnesota Wineries and how to get information on tours and events
Where the best corn mazes will be this fall
A full calendar of great events including art and sporting
Quick Fall getaway ideas

Pick one up while the supply lasts.

Movies from Books

2011-08-19T08:34:00.000-05:00

A Series of Unfortunate Events is a series of children's novels (or novellas) by Lemony Snicket (the nom de plume of American author Daniel Handler) which follows the turbulent lives of Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire after their parents' death in an arsonous house fire. The children are placed in the custody of their distant cousin Count Olaf, who begins to abuse them and openly plots to embezzle their inheritance. After the Baudelaires are removed from his care by their parents' estate executor, Arthur Poe, Olaf begins to doggedly hunt the children down, bringing about the serial slaughter and demise of a multitude of characters.

The entire series is actively narrated by Snicket, who makes numerous references to his mysterious, deceased love interest, Beatrice. Both Snicket and Beatrice play roles in the story along with Snicket's family members, all of whom are part of an overarching conspiracy known to the children only as "V.F.D."

Since the release of the first novel, The Bad Beginning, in September 1999, the books have gained significant popularity, critical acclaim, and commercial success worldwide, spawning a film, video game, and assorted merchandise. The thirteen books in the series (or "tridecalogy") have collectively sold more than 60 million copies and have been translated into 41 languages.

Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events is a 2004 film directed by Brad Silberling. It is an adaptation of the The Bad Beginning, The Reptile Room, and The Wide Window, being the first three books in A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket. The film stars Jim Carrey, Liam Aiken, Emily Browning, Timothy Spall, Billy Connolly, and Meryl Streep, with narration by Jude Law and cameos by Catherine O'Hara and Dustin Hoffman. The film tells the story of three orphans who are adopted by a mysterious theater troupe actor named Count Olaf as he attempts to steal their late parents' fortune.

Nickelodeon Movies purchased the film rights to Daniel Handler's book series in May 2000 and soon began development of a film. Barry Sonnenfeld signed on to direct in June 2002. He hired Handler to adapt the screenplay and courted Jim Carrey for Count Olaf. Sonnenfeld eventually left over budget concerns in January 2003 and Brad Silberling took over. Robert Gordon rewrote Handler's script, and principal photography started in November 2003. A Series of Unfortunate Events was entirely shot using sound stages and backlots at Paramount Pictures and Downey Studios. The film received generally favorable reviews from critics, grossed approximately $209 million worldwide, and won the Academy Award for Best Makeup.

Website of the Week: Wordnik

2011-08-17T13:56:00.003-05:00

Are you a Logophile? According to Merrian-Webster, "Someone who loves words is called a logophile. Despite there being quite a few of us word-lovers, logophile is not common enough to find its way into
most dictionaries. Logophile comes from two Greek roots--logos, meaning "speech, word, reason" and philos, meaning "dear, friendly"--and these roots have also played a part in other more common English words.
Check out the website: Wordnik: http://www.wordnik.com/ and click on a word floating down the screen to find out definitions, where the word originated and how the word is used in a sentence.
Wordnik says this about itself: Wordnik is billions of words, 969,697,008 example sentences, 6,702,650 unique words, 224,828 comments, 169,023 tags, 121,189 pronunciations, 63,099 favorites and 945,572 words in 30,392 lists created by 71,572 Wordniks.

Th1rteen R3asons Why: a novel by Jay Asher

2011-08-16T16:32:00.000-05:00

This is a Young Adult novel for teens but also for parents, families and teachers.
Like it or not, teen suicide is a reality. Clay Jensen has been wondering for two weeks why his classmate and crush Hannah Baker killed herself. Now he has received a box of audiotapes in the mail and Hannah herself is going to tell him why she is dead. He and 12 others must listen...

It is sad, it is scary, it is a book to make us think and perhaps change. This book has "grown into a major phenomenon over the last four years" (Entertainment Weekly, June 2011 interview with author, shelf-life.ew.com/2011/06/13/jay-asher-thirteen-reasons-why/) and is now available for purchase in paperback.
Or you can get on the list to read it at your local library...
The hard cover edition at the Hibbing Public Library includes thirteen questions for and answer by the author. It also includes ways to ask for help such as 1-800-SUICIDE=(800)784-2433 or1-800-442-HOPE= (800)442-4673 or www.hopeline.com

In addition, I just received an email from Minnesota State Library Services recommending the following website, an on-line "knowledge path" of centralized resources on Emotional, Behavioral, and Mental Health Challenges in Children and Adolescents: http://www.mchlibrary.info/KnowledgePaths/kp_Mental_Conditions.html

So please read the book, see the signs, show you care, and make a positive difference in someone's life. Don't give up on yourself or your friends and family. Life can be hard but it IS worth living. ~GR

Shock Value by Jason Zinoman

2011-08-16T11:31:00.000-05:00

Read how horror movies evolved from the early monster movies of the 1950s to the supernatural genre of the 1960s to the 1970s like Romero's low budget Night of the Living Dead and Wes Craven's Last House on the Left.
Some horror classics are Rosemary's Baby, Pyscho, Exorcist and Frankenstein.
This book is for anyone who has watched a horror movie and been scared witless. Check out the book and watch a horror movie you haven't seen before. Do early horror movies seem rather tame compared to horror movies currently playing? Which horror movie is your favorite? Least favorite? Which movie made you so scared you still get a shiver thinking about it?
Shock Value can be found in the new book section under: 791.43617 ZINOM

New book display in the kid's room

2011-08-15T09:18:00.000-05:00

Stop by the kid's room to check out the new book display, Military Non-fiction. The book display will change every two weeks, so you may see something new!

New Historical Society Display at the Library

2011-08-12T13:09:00.000-05:00

The Oliver Hotel Ball Park was built in 1895 and that same year Hibbing’s first baseball team was formed. Some players at that time were Thomas Brady, Archie McFaden, Frank Shinner, Dick Griffin, Lee Quillan, Doc Lackey and Lester Sicard.

By 1904 Thomas Brady, the village’s municipal judge, took over management of the team and they became known as Brady’s Colts. That year they won the Northern Minnesota Independent Team Championship and in 1906 they were the State Independent team champions.

Baseball and its intense popularity survived on the Iron Range until about 1925. The decline in Hibbing was attributed to the increase in the number of automobiles. Fans that formerly flocked to the ball park on Sunday, now were motoring to the area lakes. Another factor was the decline in money available for governmental sources to help finance teams by giving the players well-paying jobs.

The Hibbing Historical Society currently has a display at the library with pictures of these early teams. Also included in the display is a baseball autographed by Roger Maris. Maris was born in Hibbing and lived here until he was ten years old. He played for 12 seasons in Major League baseball, including seven World Series and three world championship teams. In 1961 he broke Babe Ruth’s single season home run record by hitting 61 home runs.

It's All about the Bike: The Pursuit of Happiness on Two Wheels by Robert Penn

2011-08-11T09:56:00.000-05:00

Robert Penn has been riding bicycles for thirty-six years: "If you've every experienced a moment of awe or freedom on a bicycle; if you've every taken flight from sadness to the rhythm of two spinning wheels, or felt the resurgence of hope pedalling to the top of a hill with the dew of effort on your forehead; if you've ever wondered, swooping bird-like down a long hill on a bicycle, if the world was standing still; if you have ever, just once, sat on a bicycle with a singing heart and felt like an ordinary human touching the gods, then we share something fundemental. We know it's all about the bike."

Join the Great River Energy Ride on the Mesabi Trail this Saturday, August 13 and experience the euphoria that riding a bike can do for you. 800 people so far are planning on a fun day on the Mesabi Trail.
See the Website: www.mesabitrail.com/great-river-energy

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

2011-08-09T08:09:00.000-05:00

First line: “I had just come to accept that my life would be ordinary when extraordinary things began to happen.”

Jacob Portman grew up with fantastic and tall tales told to him by his Grandfather Portman in which he used very odd pictures as illustrations.

Jacob describes his Grandpa, “Growing up, Grandpa Portman was the most fascinating person I knew. He had lived in an orphanage, fought in wars, crossed oceans by steamship and deserts on horseback, performed in circuses, knew everything about guns and self-defense and surviving in the wilderness and spoke at least three languages that weren’t English.” Jacob and his father travel to Cairnholm in Wales to see the orphanage his grandfather had been sent to during the war and while there, some very odd things occurred. An unusual first book complete with quirky vintage photographs makes for fun reading.

Ransom Riggs has a blog: http://www.ransomriggs.com/

The Spiderwick Chronicles: Read the books then see the film

2011-08-08T12:40:00.000-05:00

The Spiderwick Chronicles is a series of children's books by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black. They chronicle the adventures of the Grace children, twins Simon and Jared and their older sister Mallory, after they move into Spiderwick Estate and discover a world of fairies that they never knew existed.

The Field Guide was first published in 2003 and followed by four more novels, along with several companion books. A second series, entitled Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles, has also been written, with The Nixie's Song published in September 2007, A Giant Problem published in September 2008, and The Wyrm King published in September 2009.

A feature film adaptation of the series was released by Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies on February 14, 2008 . Directed by Mark Waters, it starred Freddie Highmore, Sarah Bolger, Martin Short, Nick Nolte, and Seth Rogen. It followed the basic overall plot of the five novels in the Spiderwick Chronicles series, but left out the majority of the plot from the fourth book and contained several major differences.