LibraryThing Redux!

Many of you may already use LibraryThing to organize your own home or business libraries. We've now added some of LibraryThing's features to our catalog to help enhance your browsing and searching experience.

The features we have are:

• Shelf Browse: you can see book covers arranged by call number
  
• Tags: see and click on different labels for each item
  
• Similar Items: see recommendations for both fiction and non-fiction
  
• Series & Awards: see if this title has won awards, or if it’s part of a series
  
• Lexile Reading Level: For select Children's and Teen titles

Tags and Book Recommendations for The Tiger's Wife by Téa Obreht

The best thing about LibraryThing is that all of the information is right in front of you. You won't need to search a separate database or check out different websites to get reading recommendations or series information. Just click on the book covers or links and get all the info you need!

As always, come visit us at any library branch, call our reference desks, or email library@santafenm.gov if you have questions about this or any other resource.

It's that season again

The new season of the Lannan Foundation's Readings & Conversations series is out. This series features world-class writers discussing their craft with other world-class writers, and at six dollars, the ticket prices are practically free. This year's highlights include Tariq Ali, John Sayles, Michael Ondaatje, and Ann Beattie. Also this year, some of the events are at The Lensic, but others are at the James A. Little Theater at the New Mexico School for the Deaf. The events often sell out, so make sure to check the schedule and get your tickets early!

Rebroadcasts of Readings & Conversations events can be heard on KSFR 101.1 FM at 2:00 pm on the Sunday immediately after each event. Audio and video of most programs is available on the site generally within a week of the event and also in our podcast feed.

Please Use Us

Over the past few years, we've added a bunch of online resources that can help enrich and improve your life. For example, we now have One-Click Downloadable Audiobooks, Mango Languages, Research Pro, Grzimek's Animal Life, and Britannica Online. While we're all busy, and all the information out there can be overwhelming, we need to know that we're spending your money wisely on these products.

Two resources that we feel a need to remind you about are the LearningExpress Library and the Literature Resource Center:


LearningExpress has over 800 online courses, tests and e-books. It includes GED, AP, SAT, and ACT test prep, as well as modules for different jobs and careers. You can create your own account and help track your progress as you take practice tests and skill-building modules. There are modules for Elementary, Middle, and High School students to improve their math, reading, and writing. There's also a section to help you with a job search, résumés, cover letters, and interviews.


With the Literature Resource Center, you'll be able to find biographies, criticism, overviews, reviews and primary sources for many of your favorite writers. Students of any age who need to do a report on an author will love this, and many author biographies have photos!

All these resources are available both inside the library and from home with a SFPL library card. If you have any questions about using them, please ask a reference librarian, on the phone, in person, or by email at library@santafenm.gov.

So please, if you need them, use them!

Shakespeare: Page to Stage

A Discussion with
John F. Andrews and Jerry Ferraccio

Thursday, February 10
7:00 p.m.
Main Library Community Room
145 Washington Ave.

How do actors and directors “read” Shakespeare’s scripts and translate them into vibrant performances? What do they need to know about the cultural contexts in which these works were first produced? What kind of attention should they give to the rhythmic patterns found in verse and prose?

These are some of the questions we invite you to explore with John Andrews, founder and president of the Shakespeare Guild and a scholar who has produced two editions of the playwright’s plays, and Jerry Ferraccio, a theater professional who has delighted audiences in such venues as Shakespeare & Company and the Alabama Shakespeare Festival.

This event is free and open to the public.

Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Children and Teen Book Awards

This past weekend, many of our library colleagues converged on sunny San Diego for the American Library Association Midwinter Meeting. A highlight of this annual event is the announcement of award winners in Children's and Young Adult books, including the renowned Newbery and Caldecott medals.

Here is a list of some of the award recipients:

Newbery Medal: Moon over Manifest, by Clare Vanderpool.

Caldecott Medal: A Sick Day for Amos McGee, by Erin E. Stead.

Printz Award: Ship Breaker, by Paolo Bacigalupi.

Coretta Scott King Author Award: One Crazy Summer, by Rita Williams-Garcia.

Pura Belpré Author Award: The Dreamer, by Pam Muñoz Ryan.

Morris Award: The Freak Observer, by Blythe Woolston.

Stonewall Award: Almost Perfect, by Brian Katcher.

YALSA Award for Excellence: Janis Joplin : rise up singing, by Ann Angel.

Laura Ingalls Wilder Award: Tomie dePaola.

Margaret A. Edwards Award: Sir Terry Pratchett

For information about Honor Books (runners-up) and winners for additional medals and awards, check the official press release. For information about the awards themselves, the ALA has these links.

This Year's Prize

This year's winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature is Peruvian writer Mario Vargas Llosa. At the risk of betraying the Librarian's Code of Impartiality, I must say that he's one of my favorite writers, and this inspires, well, reminds me to read more of his prolific works.

Interested in reading the new Nobel Laureate but don't know where to begin? The Real Life of Alejandro Mayta is a good introduction, or The War at the End of the World is one that will stay with you for years. We also have many of his books in both English and Spanish, so you'll be able to savor the writing without the nuisance of translation.

Let us know: which are your recommended Vargas Llosa books?


Photograph by: Pierre-Philippe Marcou, AFP/Getty Images

Back to School!?

We can help!

In addition to books, magazines, DVDs, CDs, and awesomely knowledgable reference librarians, the Santa Fe Public Library has the following resources to help you out in school this year. Whether you're in kindergarten or college, you can access any of these in all library branches or on your home computer with a SFPL library card. If you ever have any questions, we encourage you to call your local reference desk!

Research Pro
What it is: Don't know where to start? Go to Research Pro to search across our databases and catalog to get newspaper and magazine articles and book titles.


LearningExpress Library
What it is: Over 800 online courses, tests and e-books. Includes GED, AP, SAT, ACT test prep, as well as modules for different jobs and careers.



Literature Resource Center
What it is: Do you need to do a report on an author? Do you need to find criticism or articles for your English class? Start here!



Mango Languages
What it is: An easy-to-use, self-paced, online language system. If you need extra practice for your Spanish, German, French, or ESL class, spend some time on Mango and track your progress.


Opposing Viewpoints
What it is: If you have to do a report for Social Studies, History, or Current Events class about an issue, such as Gangs, Medical Marijuana, or Gay Marriage, you can access pro/con essays and magazine or newspaper articles to back up your argument.


Grzimek's Animal Life
What it is: If your doing a project for Science class on any type of animal, check this out. You'll find useful facts, photos, videos, and even sound clips to hear what types of calls your animal makes.

A library card is the most important card in your wallet! You can get one if you live, work, or go to school in Santa Fe City or County. Just bring photo ID and proof of mailing address to any branch! Check this page for applications and more information.

American Indians in Children's Literature

Debbie Reese has spent years discussing and writing "about the good, and the bad, and (speaking frankly) the ugly with regard to how [American Indians are] portrayed in books." From Nambé Pueblo, she now teaches at the University of Illinois in the American Indian Studies Program. Thankfully, she hasn't forgotten New Mexico in the midst of her research, writing, and presenting.

Debbie Reese's blog, American Indians in Children's Literature, is a fantastic resource for booklists, journal articles and reviews, and ongoing commentary on artifacts such as the "Ten Little Indian Dolls". The highlight of the blog is her lists of Top Ten Books for Elementary School, Middle School, and High School. These lists are open to comments, and other readers have expanded the lists to be more than ten titles apiece. At the end of each list is a link to expanded book summaries from School Library Journal.

If you're starting a school or home library, or are a parent or educator who would like to provide young readers with well-written books about Native Americans, and you don't know where to start, check out this resource. Even if you're not actively seeking out children's books, this is an interesting blog to keep abreast of how American Indians are portrayed in American media and culture.

It just takes a sentence

I'd be lying if I said that I wait all year for these. Honestly, I completely forget about them until the annual winners are announced, and then I savor each and every monster morsel of a sentence. And what, you might ask, am I talking about? The Bulwer-Lytton Awards!

While none of them start with "It was a dark and stormy night...", it is that immortal clause that inspires terrible brevity year after year. These sentences all tell a story, hopefully in the worst way possible. This year, the winners in Detective and Science Fiction stand out as gems. But that's enough out of me, lest I accidentally win the Purple Prose award.

Research and the Art of Writing a Novel

A Presentation and Reading by Irene Blea

Thursday, May 13
7:00 pm
Main Library Community Room

Join Irene Blea as she discusses the research conducted at libraries, historical societies, research center archives, and villages in order to write her novel, Suzanna. She will review places and people not very well known outside of northern New Mexico: Ocate, Springer, Loma Parda, Watrous, Cimarron, Reyado, and Miami. Blea found she could blend her love of visiting and studying communities to write about Suzanna, a twelve-year-old girl in an arranged marriage to a thirty-nine-year-old man.

After 27 years of writing university sociology textbooks and articles, Dr. Blea has written her first historical novel. She’s also a lecturer and Chautauquean for the New Mexico Humanities Council.

This program is free and open to the public.

Searching for a Poet Laureate

Coinciding with National Poetry Month, the City of Santa Fe is searching for its next Poet Laureate.

The Santa Fe Arts Commission Poet Laureate program, established in 2005, strives to promote a meaningful poetic presence as part of the diverse cultural fabric of the city. This is an honorary position given to a person who has established a presence in the world of poetry, has demonstrated a commitment to and passion for poetry, and embraces the opportunity to engage in civic discourse.

Arthur Sze was the city's first Poet Laureate, serving from 2006-2008. The new Poet Laureate will succeed poet Valerie Martínez, who has served as the city's public voice since 2008.

REQUIREMENTS

The Poet Laureate will make four appearances per year at City-sponsored events as determined by the Arts Commission. The Poet Laureate must be over 21 years of age and a resident of Santa Fe County for at least two years, or have been employed in Santa Fe County for at least two years, with a deep involvement in and commitment to the community. The Poet Laureate will serve two years based on the city's calendar year.

Nominations are due Monday, May 10. Additional information and application forms are on the Santa Fe Arts Commission web site, or contact the Arts Commission at (505) 955-6707 and artscommission@santafenm.gov.

Santa Fe Poet Laureate Farewell Reading

March 17, 2010
12:00 - 1:00 pm

Arts Commission Community Gallery
201 W. Marcy St. at Sheridan
In the Santa Fe Community Convention Center


On March 17, 2010 during the lunch hour, Santa Fe Poet Laureate Valerie Martínez will read poems about Santa Fe—a reading dedicated to city residents. Downtown residents, City of Santa Fe employees, downtown merchants and staff, and all others are invited to an hour of poetry about the capital city.

This event, Martínez’s last as Poet Laureate, also celebrates the release of her book, This is How it Began, printed and bound in a limited, letterpress edition by the Press at the Palace of the Governors. Copies of the book will be available for viewing and purchase at the reading.

Over the past two years, Martínez has appeared at over 45 public events—giving readings, workshops, short courses; writing with children, youth, families and elders; performing with musicians, dancers, actors, poets and others. In the introduction to This is How it Began, Valerie states: “This book is my gift to the many residents who have educated me, enlightened me, and deepened my love for Santa Fe.”

Martínez’s community outreach project, Lines & Circles: A Celebration of Santa Fe Families, involved working with three and four generations of eleven Santa Fe families whose mixed-media works of art and poems appear at the Arts Commission Community Gallery through Friday, March 19, 2010. Those attending the reading will have a chance to tour the exhibition. A collection of Martínez’s Santa Fe poems will be published by Sunstone Press later this year.

Be the Creative

I've been aware that Santa Fe is one of UNESCO's Creative Cities, but a recent trip to Santa Fe Literary News highlighted the different activities and organizations that are available in this program. The Santa Fe Creative Tourism site lists dozens of workshops, classes, and meetings for a large range of experiences, such as photography, pottery, agritourism, and of course, literary arts.

Not all the programs are free or low-cost, so keep that in mind as you browse the offerings. Also, the website isn't always up-to-date, so you might want to check with the hosting organization to confirm. However, there is a blog that has new postings regularly. If you're a hosting organization, be sure to get listed.

For locals and tourists alike, this is a fantastic resource for ongoing programs to explore a new aspect of your creative side. In fact, I'm browsing the Theater/Dance/Music page right now, and they list some great dance classes. Let's just hope I don't scare our tourists away when I practice my mambo at the reference desk.

Fantastic Fiction

One of the most frequently asked question I hear at the Reference Desk is: “what comes next in this series?” Often you can open to the front and see a listing of the books, and very often you will be able to search by the series title in our catalog, but another option is a great site about books and authors called Fantastic Fiction.

This site, which comes out of England, is a great way to see what series a particular author has written—and in what order you should read the books—get some information about the author (including a picture), as well as some suggestions on who else you might like if you enjoyed this author’s books. It also has lists of upcoming books, most popular books and specific genres. I find it very user-friendly.

by KS @ LF

Small Towns Can Be Deadly

How to Write a Cozy Mystery

An interactive presentation
by Beth Solheim

Tuesday, March 9
7:00 pm
Main Library Community Room

Mystery fans are invited to meet Minnesota author Beth Solheim at the Main Branch of the Santa Fe Public Library when she presents Small Towns Can Be Deadly—How to Write a Cozy Mystery. Beth is the author of At Witt’s End, a small-town mystery featuring a wacky cast of colorful characters who frequent the Witt’s End Resort. Join her for what promises to be a humorous and fun-filled presentation.

Beth is a member of Mystery Writers of America and Midwest Fiction Writers. She recently signed a contract for the first two books in her mystery series.

This program is free and open to the public.

And the winners are...

Last week we wrote about the upcoming announcements for various awards for children's and young adult literature. Here is a list of some of the award recipients:

Newbery Medal: When You Reach Me, by Rebecca Stead.

Caldecott Medal: The Lion & the Mouse, written and illustrated by Jerry Pinkney.

Printz Award: Going Bovine, by Libba Bray.

Coretta Scott King Author Award: Bad news for outlaws: the remarkable life of Bass Reeves, deputy U.S. marshall, written by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie. Vaunda Nelson is Youth Services Librarian at Rio Rancho's Esther Bone Memorial Library.

Pura Belpré Author Award: Return to Sender, by Julia Alvarez.

Morris Award: Flash Burnout, by L.K. Madigan.

For information about Honor Books (runners-up) and winners for additional medals and awards, check the official press release. For information about the awards themselves, the ALA has these links.

Rio Rancho Librarian Wins Prestigious Library Award

Congratulations to Vaunda M. Nelson for winning the 2010 Coretta Scott King Author Book Award for Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U.S. Marshall. Vaunda is Youth Services Librarian at Rio Rancho's Esther Bone Memorial Library.

The American Library Association announced the list of award-winning books at the Mid-Winter Conference in Boston last week, with the big news for Vaunda and New Mexico. Published by Carolrhoda Books and illustrated by R. Gregory Christie, the biography relates the story of a slave who grew into one of the most feared and respected lawmen in Indian Territory in the 1800s. During his career, Reeves made more than 3,000 arrests but killed only 14 men.

The Coretta Scott King Book Awards annually recognize outstanding books for young adults and children by African-American authors and illustrators that reflect the African-American experience. The award was designed to commemorate the life and works of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and to honor Mrs. Coretta Scott King for her courage and determination to continue the work for peace.

Reposted from the New Mexico State Library website. Stay tuned for a list of other award winners!

Mapping New Mexico

With a state as vast as ours, maps and atlases are an ongoing fascination for many of us. However, if you'd like to get to know the state aside from roads and topography, there are a couple of great online resources to start with.

The New Mexico Humanities Council has put together the Atlas of Historic New Mexico Maps. This online resource has maps from the 1500s to the early Twentieth Century. A great feature of these maps is the ability to switch back and forth between the historic map and New Mexico today. You can also see the older map superimposed on today's physical map for reference. Biographical information about the mapmaker is provided, and all the maps are put into a larger historical context with a wealth of primary source documentation.

If literature is more your passion, the New Mexico Office of the State Historian has a literary map of the state. You can click on a place name, and links to literary excerpts appear for each one. History, memoir, poetry, and fiction are all used to verbally map each place. For example, clicking on Chimayó brings up a prose excerpt by Cristina Ortega, and poetry by Adán V. Baca and Estevan Rael-Gálvez. It's easy to lose track of time on this site as you read about places you've been to, or click on places you've never heard of and read what has touched others about it.

After studying up on the history and literature of the Land of Enchantment, you'll soon be pulling out those road atlases to plan your next adventure!