Another Format in the Downloadable Library

Adobe EPUB eBooks have been added to our “Downloadable Library”. Now in addition To OverDrive WMA Audiobooks and OverDrive MP3 Audiobooks, a selection of titles are available in the EPUB format.

An Adobe EPUB eBook is a digital version of a print book that has been optimized for on-screen reading. The book can be downloaded and read on your laptop or any other computer. You can change the font, resize the text, or alter the size of your display!

For more information on the new Adobe EPUB eBooks go to

http://arrowhead.lib.overdrive.com/F6573100-3BAF-4830-B816-7925233C0DEF/10/431/en/Help-FAQ-Format410.htm

In order to download any digital materials you need:

· A valid ALS library card (This resource is governed by a licensing agreement which limits access to users in our service area. Only those who have an Arrowhead Library System card or a Duluth library card can use the resource remotely.)
· Internet access
· A computer or device that meets the system requirements for the type(s) of digital materials you wish to check out
· Free software for the computer or device on which you wish to use the materials which is available on the site.

The Mayo Clinic Diet

Is your New Year's resolution losing weight, eating healthier or just adding an activity? Check out the following book by the weight loss experts at the Mayo Clinic. A Quick start plan helps you lose 6-10 pounds in 2 weeks as well as a long term plan where you continue to lose 1-2 pounds a week until you reach your goal. Meal planners, recipes, tips on breaking bad habits and adding good foods and eating habits will help you find a healthy weight and keep the weight off.

Check out the Healthy Lifestyle section of the Mayo Clinic Website:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/HealthyLivingIndex/HealthyLivingIndex

Program Flyers

Program flyers for Spring 2010 children's programs are now available at the circulation desk and in the kid's room. Programs will run January through early May.

If you need a large number of flyers, please contact Chuck at the library, 218-362-5959.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

The library will be closed on Monday, January 18th, for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. This is one of four U.S. Federal holidays to commemorate an individual person. King was the chief spokesman for nonviolent activism in the civil rights movement, which successfully protested racial discrimination in federal and state law. He was assassinated in 1968. The day is observed on the third Monday of January each year, around the time of King's birthday, January 15th.

To learn more about Martin Luther King Jr. and the civil rights movement the following and many other titles and DVDs are available at the library:

A Dream of Freedom: the civil rights movement from 1954 to 1968 by Diane McWhorter.

He Had a Dream: Martin Luther King Jr. and the civil rights movement by Flip Schulke.

One Book One Community

The idea of an entire community reading the same book originated in 1998 at the Seattle Public Library. The past two years Hibbing has participated in the Iron Range Reads projects along with the Minnesota Discovery Center.

This year Hibbing, Cloquet, and Duluth Public Libraries will be sponsoring "One Book, One Community", in April. The book will be Barabara Kingsolver's Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. The library is currently planning programs that will enhance the reading of this title. If you have suggestions or want to present a program or have a discussion group at the library during the month of April, please let us know.

More details and program listings will be available soon!

Tax Season Has Arrived!

We have a display of tax forms by the front gate as you come into the library.
For tax forms not on display, use the following web sites:

Federal Tax Forms: www.irs.gov
Look for Forms and publications
Forms and instruction number
Enter form number or select from list
Helpline: 1-800-829-1040

MN Tax Forms: www.taxes.state.mn.us
Look for 2009 individual income tax forms
(choose from the list)
Helpline: 1-800-652-9094
Order forms and instructions or check on your refund: 1-800-657-3676

Tax forms are $.25 per page. Collect your copies at the front desk.
Tax forms are offered as a public service.
Library staff cannot give tax advice or help you choose your tax forms.
We hope to have Tax volunteers starting in February to help seniors and low income families fill out their tax forms.

Winter Reading Program for kids

You're checking out all those books anyway, why not get something for reading them?

The Winter Reading Program has begun! Come in and sign up January 4-29 at the circulation desk. Each participant will get a booklog, activity sheets and a book mark, as well as a sticker sheet that is displayed at the library. For every three books that you read, you get a sticker for the sheet!

Cool, huh? But that isn't all! Every participant will get a prize bag, regardless of how many books they read AND are invited to a special pizza party at the library on Friday, January 29.

Don't miss out! Any questions? Call Mr. Bell at the library, 218-362-5959.

Deeper than the Dead by Tami Hoag

A serial killer is stalking young women in California in 1985. With the advent of shows like CSI, DNA and computer databases to link criminals and crimes make 1985 seem like the dark ages. Criminal profiling as portrayed in the television show, Criminal Minds, was in its infancy.

Four children are running through the woods in a local park when they fall on top of a body of a young woman buried with only her face showing. The four children will never be the same as their lives unravel with the realization that one of their parents may be the serial killer.

For more information about Minnesota author, Tami Hoag, and her books, see:
http://www.tamihoag.com/

St. Louis County Law Library

Located in the St. Louis County Corthouses in Duluth, Hibbing, and Virginia, the public law libraries are for all area residents.

What is in the library?

• Minnesota Cases (from the Minnesota Court of Appeals and Supreme Court).
• Minnesota Statutes & Cases.
• Federal Statutes & Cases.
• Legal Textbooks and Treatises.
• Legal Forms On-line for Minnesota Courts.

The services include the use of various legal books and Westlaw online computer service. Patrons of the library may also photocopy.

There is a librarian in the Duluth location. For questions and services contact:

Michele Des Rosier, Librarian 1.800.450.9777 or 1.218.726.2611 or desrosierm@co.st-louis.mn.us

New Non-fiction in the Kid's Room

The Great and Only Barnum:

The Tremendous, Stupendous Life of Showman P.T. Barnum

by Candace Fleming

Grade 6 Up—It is unlikely that Barnum ever actually said "There's a sucker born every minute," but he freely admitted to being a master of the "humbug"—a spectacle that both fooled and entertained the public. This highly readable biography uses primary sources, including Barnum's own words, to trace the man's roller-coaster life from his boyhood in Connecticut to his early career as the creator of the country's most famous "museums" (comparable to sideshows) to his later role as the master of enormously successful circuses, winning and losing several fortunes along the way. Fleming captures Barnum's exuberant personality and describes how his gift for promotion and dedication to delivering what the public wanted made him the world's most famous showman. She also reveals the private Barnum, a man who valued culture, had deep religious beliefs, and devoted considerable time and funds to charity and public service. Fleming is admiring of Barnum, but does not dismiss his weaknesses and faults. The text is supplemented with sidebars and reproductions of period photos and illustrations, including several of Barnum's advertisements. The bibliography includes Web sites and a selection of primary- and secondary-source books, and notes are done in paragraph format. This book goes beyond traditional biography to give students an objective and informative glimpse into the sometimes-exploitative world of 19th-century entertainment. An outstanding choice for all middle level and secondary collections.—Mary Mueller, Rolla Junior High School, MO (School Library Journal)

The Top Ten New Years Resolutions most people share

•1. Stop smoking
•2. Get Fit
•3. Lose Weight
•4. Enjoy Life More
•5. Quit Drinking
•6. Get Organised
•7. Learn Something New
•8. Get Out of Debt
•9. Spend more time with the Family
•10. Help Others
http://www.squidoo.com/newyears

Nothing to do this weekend? Go see a Movie.

We have movies on DVD and video cassette to check out, but if you can't get in today, go see a movie at Cinema 8 in Hibbing: http://www.manntheatresmn.com/locations.php?lID=5

The movies based on the books: the Stephenie Meyer Twilight Series and Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. We also have The Princess and the Frog paperback.

Pulling Weeds

In order to make room for all the new books that are purchased each year, the children's room collection is weeded every January. Any item (books, music, etc.) that has not been checked out in over four years will be removed. Also, any item that is no longer in acceptable condition will be removed and replaced.

Don't worry about those old books! They get a second chance at life as part of the Friends of the Library book sale in October.

Notice for January 6th and January 7th

During these two days the Arrowhead Library System’s software will be upgraded. We will be using backup software so we want all library users to be aware of the following:

· You will only be able to check out items with a library card. Other types of identification CANNOT be accepted.

· New library cards will not be issued.

· Library cards cannot be renewed.

· Lost library cards cannot be replaced.

· The library catalog will not be available.

· Holds or requests for items cannot be placed.

· No notices of any type (pre-overdue, overdue, holds) will be issued.

· Items cannot be renewed.

· Fines totals will not be available.

· We will not collect fines or fees these two days.

· Items will not be due on January 6th or 7th.

· No fines will be charged for January 6th or 7th.

New Year's Resolutions: Here we are again.

If you are one of "those" people who can't wait to start a New Year's Resolution, the following articles are for you:

Tips For Making Good New Year's Resolutions from http://www.mygoals.com/
http://www.mygoals.com/about/NewYearsTips.html

New Year's Resolutions Guide from University of Maryland Medical Center
http://www.umm.edu/features/resolutions_guide.htm/

How to make a New Year's Resolution from http://www.ehow.com/

http://www.ehow.com/how_12077_new-years-resolutions.html

Christmas Cookies

You still have time to bake Christmas Cookies. The Christmas Cookie website lists 25 cookie recipes including Mexican Wedding Cakes, Fudge, Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup, and Thumbprint cookies.

http://www.christmas-cookies.com/recipes/top25.php

We have holiday magazines and cookbooks available for check out:

Best Ideas for Christmas, Holiday Menus and Christmas Cookies by Lisa B. Zwirn.

Julie and Julia: See the movie and read the books!

In the movie, Julie and Julia, Julia Child is charmingly portrayed by Meryl Streep. Julia’s learning how to cook at the Cordon Bleu Culinary School in France is intertwined with Blogger Julie Powell’s (Amy Adams) challenge to cook her way through “Mastering the Art of French Cooking” in 365 days. Julie later turns the blog into the book, “Julie and Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment”.
Hibbing Public Library has the movie “Julie and Julia” and the book, “Mastering the Art of French Cooking” available for checkout. The book,” Julie and Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment” and “My life in France” are available through interlibrary loan.
Read more about Julie Powell at: http://juliepowellbooks.com/

Library Holiday Schedule

The library will be closed:

Thursday, December 24th (Christmas Eve)

Friday, December 25th (Christmas Day)

Stop in and get your holiday reading before 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday.

The library staff wishes all of our readers a safe and very happy holiday weekend.

Snow Angels by James Thompson

Inspector Vaara investigates the murder of a Somali film star in northern Finland on the edge of the Arctic Circle during winter. Finland, the land of the midnight sun in summer, depresses everyone in December, where daylight is a memory and the temperatures are well below zero.
Sufia Elmi, mutilated and murdered, causes much consternation with Inspector Vaara when he finds out his former wife lives with their main suspect, Seppo Niemi. Gritty and dark, the weather and the lack of sunlight adversely affect the people living there. Heavy drinking, suicide and family violence are frequent. Some Finnish phrases and the description of the Sauna are very familiar to my own background with great – grandparents who came over during the early 1900s.
Snow Angels is the first in a series by James Thompson, an American, who has lived in Finland for the last 10 years. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

New in the Kid's Room

Dream Stealer

by Sid Fleischman

"The author breathes life into this Mexican-flavored world with a storytelling manner that's teasing and intriguing by turns." (Kirkus Reviews )

"The tale twinkles with Fleischman's signature crisp language and laugh-out-loud wordplay.[a] unique read that's sure to give young chapter-book readers shivers, laughs, and satisfaction." (School Library Journal )

"This fanciful, original tale drawn from Mexican lore.will delight children, as will the narrator's expertly modulated storyteller's cadence. Sis' black and- white illustrations include inventive design elements that reinforce the sense of real and imagined worlds overlapping." (Booklist {starred review} )

"The range of fanciful inventions . . . in this fanciful, original tale . . . will delight children." (Book Links )

Enter the B.J. Rolfzen Creative Writing Contest

Over four decades, B.J. Rolfzen taught high school and community college English in Hibbing, Minnesota. Hundreds of students from all social classes and national origins drew equal and insistent inspiration in Rolfzen’s Iron Range classrooms, but perhaps many have only heard of one student: Bob Dylan. In memory of Rolfzen, who passed in 2009, and his passion for poetry and writing, the Dylan Days Creative Writing contest is calling for short stories, poems and one-act plays from students and emerging writers for 2010. The competition will henceforth be known as the “B.J. Rolfzen Creative Writing Contest” and each year’s winners will be commemorated on a plaque in Bob Dylan’s hometown. The deadline for all entries is March 15, 2010. Poems of less than 1,000 words and short fiction of 1,000 to 4,000 words will be accepted through an online entry system. One act plays will be accepted by mail only. The contest is changing this year. More entries will be considered for publication in the Dylan Days program and literary journal “Talkin’ Blues” and the categories are being renamed and realigned.

For more information see the Dylan Days website.

The 20 Best Gadgets of the Decade (2000-2009)

Paste Magazine selected 20 gadgets that makes our lives more productive and more fun. Inventors created Iphones, Blackberries, USB flash drives, Bose sound blocking headphones, Bluetooth earpieces, Sony playstations, Xboxes, Garmin GPS, The Kindle and Ipods. What gadget would you like for Christmas?

New Library Policies Approved

The Library Board of Trustees approved the following policies at the 12/9/2009 meeting.

Bulletin Board Postings Policy
The bulletin board is for posters or notices of local interest and for announcements by local groups of civic, educational, or recreational activities. Because of space limitations, posted items must be of reasonable size. Nothing is to be posted without the approval of a library staff member, who is to initial and date each item.

The following types of materials will not be posted:

• Political campaign posters
• Materials advocating or promoting one side of a social, moral, political or other controversial issue
• Commercial advertising
• Advertisements for personal profit

Paging Patrons for Telephone Calls

In order to maintain a reasonably quiet library, protect minors using the library, and to comply with Minnesota Statute Data Practices Act, Library staff is unable to accept requests to page patrons in the building.

The library's public address system is to be used for the following:

• Library closing messages
• Library emergency messages such as evacuation, weather warnings, calls for a physician
• Informing staff that they have a service call
• Requests for additional staff assistance in a public area
• Announcement of library programs

All library users are requested to advise people who might call them that the library does not offer a paging/messenger service, except in emergencies.

Holiday fun in the kid's room!

Monday, December 21st, come to the library for a special story time with holiday books, songs and a craft. It all starts at 10:00 a.m. Come in for a special start to your holiday week.

A Geek's Look Back at 2009 from Discover Magazine

DISCOVER charts the best sci/tech movies, books, gadgets and cars of the year. Check out popular movies on DVD and in theaters: Avatar, District 9, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, and The Road. TV shows worth a look: The Big Bang Theory, Eureka and The National Parks: America's Best Idea. Best Books found in our library: The End of Overeating by David Kessler, Nurtureshock by Po Bronson, How We Decide by Jonah Lehrer, and Born to Run by Christopher McDougall.
For the complete article, go to: http://discovermagazine.com/2009/dec/07-geek.s-look-back-at-2009

Downloadable Digital Books 24/7

Titles are being added every month to our digital audio book collection. You can download 24/7 to your computer and transfer the books to a variety of listening devices. All you need is an internet connection and your Arrowhead Library System borrower’s card. Click on the "downloadable books" icon on the library's website.

Titles that have been recently added include:

One Less Thing To Worry About: Uncommon Wisdom For Coping With Anxieties by Jerilyn Ross.

Killer Dreams by Iris Johansen

Bad Place by Dean Koontz

Overlook by Michael Connelly

Tales For A Winter Night by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Keetax Mine Expansion

The Keetac Mine Expansion Draft Environmental Impact Statement (3 volumes) is now available at the library.

These documents have been prepared to disclose potential environmental, social and economic effects of the proposed Keetac mine Expansion project near Keewatin. They will be available for public review during the public comment period beginning December 11, 2009 and ending January 26, 2010 at 4:30 p.m.

The public meeting concerning this issue will be on Monday, January 11, 2010 beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Hibbing memorial building in the dining room.

Reference copies (in library use only) are available at the front desk. A second set can be checked out with a valid library card.

Celebration of Lights

Hanukkah begins at sundown on Friday, December 11th. If you want to learn more about this Jewish festival of rededication the library has a number of books such as:

"Lights of Hanukkah" by Barbara Rush

"Happening Hanukkah: creative ways to celebrate" by Debra Mostow Zakarin.

These websites also relate the stories, traditions, and music of Hanukkah Judaism 101 and The Jewish Outreach Institute.

Local Restaurant Owners Featured

Did you know that Mr. and Mrs. Lo, owners of the Hong Kong Super Buffet in Hibbing, were recently featured as a success story in the "Asian Restaurant News"?

A copy of the magazine is currently available for viewing at the library.

New in the Kid's Room

Some books are absolute magic, and this is one of them. The main character, an unnamed angel, is a plucky creature with a bumbling vocabulary that is laugh-out-loud funny as well as a sassy running commentary about the "peoples" who reside in a small village in the Swiss Alps. Kids will giggle at the mischievous side of Angel, who throws pinecones at irritating mortals and smashes figs for fun. Angel can only be seen or sensed by the book's children—first and foremost, by spunky Zola. She is a free-spirited young girl who wears a trio of rainbow-colored dresses at any one time and teams up with the angel to bring the tiny town out of a time-worn gloom with good deeds, namely rescuing a motley crew of orphans with touching and humorous results. Creech's protagonist is hugely likable. Angel has moments of self-doubt and impatience that are appealingly human, while there is a sweet exchange with Zola about the potential of people to already be angel-like in this existence by using their lives for good. Thanks to the author's signature eloquence in detail, readers will wish that they, too, could live in the village among the quirky cast of characters. Creech's offering deserves to be read out loud and more than once to truly enjoy the angel's hilarious malapropisms and outright invented words, and to appreciate the book's tender, comical celebration of the human spirit.—School Library Journal

Give if You Can

If you are able to help out the Hibbing Area Chamber's Range Young Professionals and the Salvation Army need help making the holiday season a little brighter for Hibbing families in need. As you may know, Hibbing has had the highest unemployment statistics of any city or town in the state of Minnesota.

Please consider donating new, unwrapped gifts for children, teens, and adults. Donations may be dropped off at the following centers:

BARR ENGINEERING
CUSTOM LETTERING
DETROIT DIESEL-DMR ELECTRONICS
HIBBING AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
HOWARD COURT
PIZZA RANCH
SECURITY STATE BANK
US BANK
W.P. & R.S. MARS COMPANY
WALMART

Donations are being accepted until December 11th.

Seasonal Schedule for Story Time and Toddle Time

Spring: Story Time every Tuesday at 10:00am, Toddle Time every Thursday at 10:00am.
Last week in January through first week of May.

Summer: Story Time every Tuesday at 10:00am, Toddle Time every Thursday at 10:00am.
First week in June through last week of July.

Fall: Story Time every Tuesday at 10:00am, Toddle Time every Thursday at 10:00am.
First week after Labor Day through first week of December.

Look for other kid’s programs in the regular seasonal schedule.

Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day

On this day in 1941, the Japanese raided Pearl Harbor and changed the course of history. This attacked brought an unprepared U.S. fully into World War II. Today is a day to remember the brave men and their families that served in the past and continue to serve and protect all of us today.

The Naval History and Heritage Command site features a historical overview of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Also included are a number of images which capture the horror of the day.

Yuletide Festival Fun!

5 Tips for Safe Web Shopping from CNET News.

63% of online shoppers abandon a purchase due to sites that ask too much information, are uncertain how their personal data will be used and lack of faith in the site's security.
Look at the following tips to avoid unpleasant surprises.
1. Know who you are dealing with.
2. Know exactly what you are getting and when and how your are getting it.
3. Watch for prechecked or disguised offers.
4. Maintain a complete paper trail.
5. Watch for unexpected charges after the fact.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13880_3-10404891-68.html?tag=TOCmoreStories.0

Yuletide Festival Tonight

The annual Yuletide Festival starts at 6:00 p.m. tonight.

Stories will be told.

Music will be enjoyed.

Treats will be eaten.

Holiday decorations will be crafted.

Books will be given away.

Santa will listen.

Bring everyone!

Under the Dome by Stephen King

Dale Barbara is on his way out of Chester’s Mill when he comes across a barrier that he can’t go around. Chester’s Mill, a small town in Maine, became a national sensation when a force field slams down around the town. Various efforts by the military have not penetrated the dome and the glass-like substance barely lets any air through. A division between the townspeople is established between those who have criminal secrets to protect and those who are trying to survive until the dome is lifted. At over a thousand pages, the lives of the people trapped in the dome become well known to the reader where one hopes reason will return before the dome collapses and no one is left alive. Stephen King talks about Under the Dome in this video:


Check out Stephen King’s Website:
www.stephenking.com

Seasonal Schedule for Story Time and Toddle Time

Spring: Story Time every Tuesday at 10:00am, Toddle Time every Thursday at 10:00am.
Last week in January through first week of May.

Summer: Story Time every Tuesday at 10:00am, Toddle Time every Thursday at 10:00am.
First week in June through last week of July.

Fall: Story Time every Tuesday at 10:00am, Toddle Time every Thursday at 10:00am.
First week after Labor Day through first week of December.

Day after Thanksgiving: How to Use Turkey Left Overs

Do you have alot of leftovers from Thanksgiving? It's always better to have too much food than not enough. But if you take such advice to heart during Thanksgiving, what do you do with all that left over turkey? Check out the Wikihow website. This article will offer some scrumptious ideas: http://www.wikihow.com/Use-Turkey-Left-Overs

Watch the video:

Happy Thanksgiving! Stuff that turkey safely

Smithsonian Magazine offers tips for safely stuffing a turkey to avoid gastrointestinal illness:
http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/food/2009/11/24/stuff-the-safe-way/

1. Forego the tradition and cook the stuffing outside of the bird.
Both Alton Brown and food scientist Harold McGee advocate for this method.

2. Use ice packs while thawing the turkey.
McGee has an innovative way to cook the dark meat of a turkey (which he says is best at 180 degrees) while not overcooking the white meat. While thawing the turkey, he puts ice packs over the breasts of the turkey. When the rest of the bird has reached 60 degrees, the breast will only be at 40. While he doesn’t approve of stuffing a turkey at all, this method could allow the stuffing to reach a safe temperature before the meat gets overdone.

3. Cook the stuffing separately and stuff it inside the turkey while it’s resting.
This is Alton Brown’s preferred method. You can ensure that your stuffing has reached the proper temperature and then let it soak up some turkey flavor while the bird rests.

If you must stay traditional and cook the stuffing inside of the bird, the USDA has a few recommendations:

1. Stuff loosely.
The denser the stuffing in the bird, the more time it will take to get it to a safe temperature. Allow for expansion, and stuff the bird loosely. The USDA recommends ¾ cup for every pound of turkey.

2. Cook any raw meat, poultry or shellfish product before stuffing it into the turkey.

3. Stuff with a moist stuffing.
Heat destroys bacteria faster in a wet environment than in a dry one.

Picture from Food Mall.

Read Smithsonian Magazine online:

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/

New in the Kid's Room

Starred Review, Booklist, June 1, 2009:“[T]he sheer force of what [Binding] realizes makes this an unforgettable tale, rife with thoughtful explorations of animal life, fascinating displays of instinctual communication, and breezy interpretations of the everyday magic we take for granted.”

Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews, July 1, 2009:"This is an exceptionally honed story with levels of depth."

Thanksgiving on Shmoop

Gobble Gobble from Shmoop!
For those who are making room in your stomach for a delicious Thanksgiving holiday, we don't want your brain to get jealous. Blues, romantic poets, and Sherlock Holmes -- we've dished it up for you this week.
The True Stories Behind the Thanksgiving Story
Pilgrims & Puritans of Colonial New England: Who were the Pilgrims and what the heck did they have to do with turkey?
Native American History: What happened between 1790 and 1890 to cause the American "Indian" population to drop by more than 50%?

Now Available!

The U.S. Department of Energy's "Final Environmental Impact Statement" for the Mesaba Energy Project is now available at the library. This document provides information about the potential environmental impacts of the proposed Mesaba Energy Project, a coal-fired Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle electric power generating facility that would be located in the Taconite Tax Relief Area of northeastern Minnesota.

Black Rain by Graham Brown

Move over Indiana Jones, Danielle Laidlaw with a team of scientists and mercenaries are looking for Mayan artifacts, scientific discoveries and extraterrestrial life.

Out to prove to the director of NRI, the National Research Institute, that she can step up and handle an expedition on her own, Danielle heads off into the Amazon jungle to find a legendary Mayan civilization. On the paths previously charted first by Blackjack Martin and more recently missing and presumed dead Jack Dixon, also NRI, Danielle soon discovers that another rival expedition is searching for the same Mayan ruins and will kill anyone who stands in their way. Cross and double cross from the highest reaches in the NRI complicates the mission while Danielle’s mentor looks for the means to bring Danielle and her team back alive.

Nonstop action and battles between rival expeditions, jungle creatures and native tribes keeps the reader enthralled and on the edge of their seat until the final battle is resolved. According to the author’s note, we can look forward to a sequel to Black Rain. Publication of Black Rain will be February 2010.

The Amazing Charles

Based out of Hibbing, MN, Chuck Perry has been a magician, balloon sculptor, and musician since the 1970's. Audiences of all ages have been entertained by his skill and engaging personality.

He will be conducting a workshop on making balloon art at the library on Thursday, November 19th from 6:00 until 7:00 p.m.

Civilian Conservation Corps

Watch the WGBH American Experience film on the CCC and then visit the MN Discovery Center's Exhibit on the Civilian Conservation Corps at the edge of Heritage Park:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/ccc/

The CCC put three million young men to work in camps across America during the height of the Great Depression.

The Apple Tree

If you are looking for something to do this weekend the Hibbing High School Drama Club will be presenting "The Apple Tree" in the Historic Hibbing High School Auditorium.

Shows are November 13th and 14th at 7:00 p.m. and November 15th at 2:00 p.m.

Windows 7 Visual Quick Tips by Paul McFedries

If you are planning on switching to Windows 7, then this is the book for you. Learn how to configure Windows 7 to optimize start menu and taskbar, enhance your media experience, save time with jump lists, boost your security and privacy and get more out of your files and folders. This handy guide with screen shots for each step provides shortcuts, time saving tricks and tips that help you work smarter and more efficiently.

PolyMet and the Former LTV Steel Mining Facility

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will hold joint public meetings to take comments on the recently released environmental review of the proposed PolyMet copper mine near Hoyt Lakes.

The area meeting will be held on December 9th in Aurora in Memorial Gymnasium, Mesabi East Schools, 601 N. First St. W. It starts at 7 p.m. and will be preceded by an open house session starting at 5 p.m.

Public comments will be accepted concerning the report through February 3, 2010.

Copies are available at the Duluth, Minneapolis and Hoyt Lakes public libraries and at the DNR offices in St. Paul, Grand Rapids, and Hibbing. It is also available at:
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/input/environmentalreview/polymet/draftindex.html

PolyMet Mining, Inc. (PolyMet) proposes to develop an open pit mine and to refurbish and modify the former LTV Steel Mining taconite ore processing facility to extract copper metal and precipitates of nickel, cobalt and precious metals near Babbitt and Hoyt Lakes.

NASA: National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Check out the Website: http://www.nasa.gov/home/index.html and read about the Atlantis Mission to Station on November 16, watch videos on Station Crew chats with students and read the NASA Blog.

Forest: an exhibit by the Range Fiber Arts Guild

If you find yourself in Virginia, Check out the exhibit this Saturday:

FOREST: works by the members of the Range Fiber Arts Guild Nov. 7 - Dec. 5, 2009
http://www.lyriccenterforthearts.blogspot.com/

Opening Reception and Demos, Saturday, November 7th, 1 - 3pm
The First Stage Gallery
514 Chestnut St., Virginia
Gallery Hours: Thurs. - Sat. 11am. 3pm

Help Create a Special Children's Space at MDC

MDC wants to create a space just for kids in the museum. They are looking for thoughts and ideas on the best way to create the area.

Attend the open forum on Thursday, November 12th, at the Center from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Remember there is no admission fee charged on Thursdays after 5:00 p.m. Child care will also be provided during this open forum. If you have ideas but cannot attend, contact Dr. Melissa Stewart at 218-254-1226.

Listen up!

Are those long car rides to visit family over Thanksgiving coming up? Well, the library can help make them go faster! Stop by the kid's room and check out the HUGE collection of audio books, just right for playing in your CD or cassette player.

Some recommendations:
The Stoneheart series by Charlie Fletcher (read by Jim Dale, famous for Harry Potter)
Looking Glass Wars series by Frank Beddor
The Ramona books by Beverly Cleary
A Dog's Life by Ann Martin

Enjoy your trip!

Scare Yourself with these movies for Halloween

Go to the Fearful Films Website and check out movies in the following categories: Ghosts, vampires, zombies, werewolves, and Halloween favorites:
http://www.fearfulfilms.com/

New Database: CAMIO

Camio is offered through Arrowhead Library System: http://www.arrowhead.lib.mn.us/services/magazines/library/
And will soon be offered through the Hibbing Public Library's databases.
CAMIO® — OCLC's Catalog of Art Museum Images Online — is a growing online collection documenting works of art from around the world, representing the collections of prominent museums. CAMIO highlights the creative output of cultures around the world, from prehistoric to contemporary times, and covering the complete range of expressive forms.
The Walker Art Center and The Minneapolis Institute of Arts participate in this fine online collection.

Halloween and more

Check out the Blog by Janet Rudolph. She has put together a list of Halloween mysteries and Halloween nonfiction. Check out the entries on Creepy Places to Visit and Halloween Haunts and Tombstone Tours:
http://mysteryreadersinc.blogspot.com/

Picture courtesy of LifeHacker:

http://lifehacker.com/5387835/wallpaper-roundup-all-hallows-eve-and-spooky-scenes/gallery/1

From the Shmoop Website

Trick-or-Treating Shmoop Style
This Halloween, scare up some fun with these US history and lit-inspired costumes
Ten US History-Inspired Halloween Costumes

1. Put on a three-corner hat and cape, pull a cardboard boat around your waist, and pose as George Washington crossing the Delaware during the American Revolution.
2. Dress up as Benjamin Franklin with a kite and singed hair. Be careful around the French maids.
3. Pretend to hitchhike as Christopher Columbus with a sign that says "India or bust."
4. Dress up like Abe Lincoln - with two tickets in his breast pocket.
5. Test people's knowledge of US history trivia by putting on a turn-of-the-century suit, carrying some bags of fake money, and painting your nose purple. Yes, JP Morgan really did have a purple nose.
6. Try a scandalous costume for a trio: Marilyn Monroe, Jackie Kennedy, and John F. Kennedy.
7. Wear a suit and a Richard Nixon mask. Carry a hollowed-out pumpkin filled with film. You're reenacting the "Pumpkin Papers," a famous Cold War incident in which future President Richard Nixon took down Soviet spy Alger Hiss.
8. Dress up as Betsy Ross with a half-finished American flag. Include a rainbow flag, a pirate flag, and yellow smiley face among your book of samples.
9. Sport your finest 1920s-style outfit, a plastic Tommy gun, a cigar, and your best Al Capone accent. Rave about the merits of the 18th Amendment and Prohibition.
10. Roll up your sleeves and get ready to flex those guns. Rosie the Riveter is one of the best "girl power" costumes in history. (World War II: Home Front)
Ten Literature & Poetry-Inspired Halloween Costumes

1. Bust out the Photoshop to make an "oil painting" of yourself aged about 50 years. Frame it, put on your best Victorian-style outfit, and trick-or-treat as Dorian Gray. (The Picture of Dorian Gray)
2. Go on a hunt after your friend who is dressed as a white whale with bloodshot eyes. Chase the whale around the streets with a toy harpoon in hand. Rant and rave to strangers about catching the whale. (Moby-Dick)
3. Dress up like a grizzled old sailor, rave unintelligibly, and hang a fake albatross around your neck à la "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner."
4. Put on a collared shirt, a tie, a long coat, and a red hunting hat. Carry a record under your arm and collect candy as Holden Caulfield. (The Catcher in the Rye)
5. See who gets the Scout Finch reference when you walk around barefoot with a banged-up ham costume and knife slash through the back. (To Kill a Mockingbird)
6. Put on a straw hat and some ratty old clothes, pull a cardboard canoe around your waist, and try your luck as Huckleberry Finn. Don't be afeared to use *some* Antebellum Missouri slang. (Adventures of Huckleberry Finn)
7. Pay your dues to George Orwell by dressing up like a pig brandishing a liquor bottle and insisting that "two legs are better than four." (Animal Farm)
8. Put on a long, plain dress and plaster a scarlet "A" to the front. Get your friend to dress like a priest. (The Scarlet Letter)
9. Dress up like Lady Macbeth and try to scrub imagined bloodstains off your hands. Rinse, repeat. (Macbeth)
10. For a truly terrifying Halloween costume, give your kid brother face paint, some tattered rags, a conch shell, and a (fake) pig head on a steak. Don't let him see that you've got glasses. (The Lord of the Flies)

Halloween at the Library

This week at the library includes preschool story time on Tuesday and Toddle Time on Thursday at 10:00 am. Come dressed in your Halloween costumes! There will also be treats!

Bring your pumpkin in on Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. Carve a great design and win a prize!

American Museum of Natural History: Science

The American Museum of Natural History was established in 1869. Over this period of spectacular scientific achievement, the Museum has played a leading role in exploration, discovery, and theoretical advances in the natural sciences. Central to these efforts has been the accumulation of one of the world's great Museum collections. The collections and research assets are cultivated by continued exploration-over 100 expeditions and field projects annually. A critical resource for the scientific effort is the Museum's Library. With over 400,000 volumes, it is one of the great natural history libraries in the world.

Watch the Video about the Scientific Expeditions in 2008
http://www.amnh.org/science/?src=toolbar

In a new video, Dr. Michael J. Novacek, Senior Vice-President and Provost of Science, highlights expeditions led by scientists at the American Museum of Natural History in 2008 and read about the latest news about Archaeopteryx, and the new Horned Tyrannosaur.

From this week’s Scout Report and the American Museum of Natural History.

Edgar Allan Poe’s Tales of Death and Dementia

4 short stories by Edgar Allen Poe, illustrated by Gris Grimly just in time for Halloween: The Tell-Tale Heart, The System of Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether, The Oblong Box and The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar.
Check out the many new books in our Young Adult collection in the reference room including Edgar Allan Poe’s newest edition.

New in the Kid's Room

Flawed Dogs by Berkeley Breathed

Sam the Lion is actually a priceless dachshund, bred to be a show dog. More important, he is Heidy's best friend—and she needs one like never before. Living with her reclusive uncle is hard, but Sam has a way of making her feel soft and whole. Until the day Sam is framed by the jealous poodle Cassius, and is cast out by Heidy's uncle, alone on the wild streets, where he is roughed up by a world he was not bred for. Sporting a soup ladle for a leg, Sam befriends other abandoned dogs and journeys all the way to the Westminster Dog Show, where his plan for revenge on Cassius takes an unexpected turn when he and Heidy spot each other after years of being apart.

Pulitzer Prize winner and New York Times bestselling author Berkeley Breathed's first illustrated novel is a heartwarming and humorous ode to the unconditional and lasting love we and our pets share.

"A moving tale about the beauty of imperfections and the capacity for love." --Publishers Weekly

Pumpkin Carving Contest

Pumpkin Carving Contest

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Starting at 6:00pm in the Library Auditorium

Bring your own pumpkin and show us your best design! Pumpkins must be carved at the library, but you may bring whatever you need for your unique creation. Prizes will be awarded for several categories.

Halloween comes early at the library

The Minnesota Paranormal Studies Group made a presentation on October 13, 2009, as part of the Teen Read Week Theme, "Read Beyond Reality." It was spooky, funny and very informative. For those who missed it, follow this link to their website and article about their time at the library.

Thanks to Adam and his crew for coming on short notice, especially at this, their busiest time of the year.

Halloween Tips from the Federal Citizen Information Center

Just because Halloween celebrates scary things doesn’t mean you want any safety scares of your own. With a little bit of planning and these five tips from the Federal Citizen Information Center, you can ensure your ghouls and goblins have a frightfully fun time this year.

1. Look up your local trick-or-treating time and rules. (See if yours is listed on the USA.gov Halloween page: http://go.usa.gov/l3m). Then plot out a map of safe neighborhoods for trick-or-treating. Let older children take the map with them if they’re trick-or-treating on their own.

2. Stick reflective tape on dark costumes—it will help drivers see you. And make sure your kids can see clearly. Face paint may work better than a mask when it comes to visibility. Read about applying face paint safely in the Federal Citizen Information Center’s FED-INFO Newsletter (http://go.usa.gov/l3p).

3. Pick a perfect pumpkin for carving. It should be sturdy, not soft, with a flat bottom so it doesn’t topple over. If you’re worried about carving accidents, encourage your kids to paint creative faces on their pumpkins instead.

4. Consider using a glow stick or battery-powered lights instead of candles to light the way for trick-or-treating or in jack-o-lanterns, especially around little kids who could get burned or drapery that could catch fire.

5. Screen candy before your kids eat it. Toss out anything with opened or damaged wrappers and homemade treats, unless you know the giver personally.

For more tips on having a safe, healthy and fun Halloween, visit USA.gov’s Halloween page (http://go.usa.gov/l3m) or check out the tips from our GovGab bloggers (http://go.usa.gov/l3y) on how to make the most of this spooky day.

New Website Launched

The Minnesota Writers Hall of Fame site was just recently launched. The following information is given about the new web site: "With support from the Minnesota Historical Society's Sesquicentennial Commission, the Minnesota Writer's Hall of Fame was established to recognize Minnesota writers, both past and present, whose work distills the essence of our state — the people, the land, and the spirit of Minnesota. Frequently considered one of the most literate states in the country, our heritage of writers is vast and strongly influences the great work being created today. The Minnesota Writer's Hall of Fame serves as a place to pay homage to those who have shaped our past and laid the groundwork for our literary future.

In addition to honoring the authors who have shaped our state's legacy, the Minnesota Writer's Hall of Fame will focus attention on the Minnesota Book Awards program as a major proponent of the state's literature and literary creators. The site will encourage interaction and participation among readers, writers, librarians, teachers and all who have an interest in literature and letters."

If you have an interest in Minnesota authors than you will want to check it out.

Check Out the Minnesota Discovery Center on Saturday

Minnesota Public Radio Morning Show host Cathy Wurzer will discuss her book, "Tales of the Road: Highway 61," at Minnesota Discovery Center on Saturday, October 24, at 2 p.m. "Tales of the Road" follows her adventures as she traveled the 400-mile roadway from LaCrescent to Pigeon Falls. A book-signing will follow. General admission applies.
Wurzer's appearance coincides with the Discovery Center's Octoberfest and beer-sampling, happening the same day. Call 800-372-6437 for details.