Wellesley Free Library Reference Blog

New Science Books

2012-01-23T13:30:00.004-05:00

In Search of the Multiverse: Parallel Worlds, Hidden Dimensions, and the Ultimate Quest for the Frontiers of Reality
By Gribbin, John
2010-08 - John Wiley & Sons
9780470613528 Check Our Catalog

Is our universe just one of many? As impossible as it seems-that other universes came before ours, float alongside ours, or even mirror ours-the evidence is surprisingly convincing.

How to Build a Time Machine: The Real Science of Time Travel
By Clegg, Brian
2011-12 - St. Martin's Press
9780312656881 Check Our Catalog

What is time and how can it be manipulated? Clegg explores the remarkable possibilities of real time travel that emerge from quantum entanglement, superluminal speeds, neutron star cylinders and wormholes in space.

Reactions: The Private Life of Atoms
By Atkins, Peter
2011-11 - Oxford University Press
9780199695126 Check Our Catalog

Atkins explains the processes involved in chemical reactions. He begins by introducing a "tool kit" of basic reactions, such as precipitation,corrosion, and catalysis, and concludes by showing how these building blocks are brought together in more complex processes such as photosynthesis.

The Atlas of Climate Change: Mapping the World's Greatest Challenge
By Dow, Kirstin
Author Downing, Thomas E.
2011-11 - University of California Press
9780520268234 Check Our Catalog

This highly acclaimed atlas distills the vast science of climate change, providing a reliable and insightful guide to this rapidly growing field. This new edition reflects the latest developments in research, the impact of climate change, and in current efforts to mitigate and adapt to changes in the world's weather.

Science in 100 Key Breakthroughs
By Parsons, Paul
2011-08 - Firefly Books
9781554078080 Check Our Catalog

An illustrated survey of the 100 key discoveries of science across several millennia. This book not only explains the discovery and history but looks at the impact of the breakthrough today.

2012 Edgar Allen Poe Award Nominees

2012-01-21T21:00:00.003-05:00

Mystery Writers have announced the 2012 Edgar Award Nominees. Start reading (or listening or watching) now so you can weigh in on your choice before the winners are announce on April 26. Perhaps you will find some new authors and even tv shows to follow.

Nominees include:

Adult Novel
The Ranger by Ace Atkins
Gone by Mo Hayder
The Devotion of Suspect X by Keigo Hegashino
1222 by Anne Holt
Field Gray by Philip Kerr

YA Novel
Shelter by Harlan Coben
The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson
The Silence of Murder by Dandi Daley Mackall
The Girl is Murder by Kathryn Miller Haines
Kill You Last by Todd Strasser

TV Episode
"Innocence" - Blue Bloods
"The Life Inside" - Justified
"Part 1" - Whitechapel
"Pilot" - Homeland
"Mask" - Law & Order: SVU

When you find one of the nominees you really enjoyed, share your thoughts here so others may be enticed as well. If you recommend one of the tv shows, let us know.

SH

Books into Movies

2012-01-19T10:46:00.013-05:00

The Hunger Games, the first book in Suzanne Collins' 2008 sci-fi trilogy, comes to the screen in March. Directed by Gary Ross, the thriller stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Elizabeth Banks, Woody Harrelson and Stanley Tucci.

One For the Money (Jan 27) is adapted from Janet Evanovich's 1994 first novel featuring bounty hunter Stephanie Plum. Directed by Julie Anne Robinson, the film stars Katherine Heigl, Jason O'Mara, John Leguizamo and Debbie Reynolds.

-DB

New Investment Classes for the New Year

2012-01-15T14:03:00.000-05:00

SMARTER INVESTING FOR THE NEW YEAR

Have you made a resolution that this will be the year you take charge of your investments? Interested in getting a jump start on retirement? Then join us in February and March for a series of four talks that will help you become a more confident investor. Our February classes will be:

SIX STEPS TO A SECURE RETIREMENT
THURSDAY, FEBURARY 2^ND 2-3PM
ARNOLD ROOM

Ryland Hanstad, Financial Advisor with Wells Fargo Advisors in Wellesley, will outline the Six Steps to a Secure Retirement:
Challenges and Perils
Where You Stand Today
Getting to where you want to be
Picturing your retirement
Your dreams and goals
Bringing it all together

INFORMED INVESTMENTS @
THE LIBRARY
TUESDAY, FEBURARY 14^TH 2-3PM
JACKIE’S ROOM

Come to our investment resource class featuring Morningstar®Investment Research Center, Valueline® Guides, and more! The Wellesley Free Library has a wealth of information to help you be a better investor. Whether it's for mutual funds or stock investing, the Library has rating guides, newsletters and magazines—both online and in print. Learn all about them at this informative class.

What's new for January and February?

2012-01-13T14:42:00.005-05:00

How It All Began by Penelope Lively

A retired teacher is mugged in London and breaks her hip. Characters are introduced and their lived intertwine around Charlotte the schoolteacher as she recuperates.

Kill Shot by Vince Flynn

Mitch Rapp is back. This is the second story chronologically in the Rapp saga and another nail-biting political thriller.

I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella

Chicklit by the Shopaholic series author. Poppy Wyatt loses her engagement ring. While looking for it, she finds a cell phone in the trash. The cell phone's owner doesn't like her reading his text messages and wants his phone back.

maf

one times ten to the sixth apps

2012-01-09T09:20:00.002-05:00

600,000 apps for the i-whatevers and 400,000 for the Android clan (these numbers according to my web guru Phil Bradley). To help you meet your perfect app, there's now Quixey. This search engine will filter by type of mobile device, free or pay, and availability at specific web sites. (Did you know that there are 67 Red Sox apps for the i-phone?)
--RL

January Featured Online Resource--Morningstar Investment Research Center

2012-01-07T22:29:00.002-05:00

Morningstar Investment Research Center provides fast and easy access to the latest mutual fund, stock, and ETF ratings and information.

Search by name or ticker symbol
Use the screeners to search for investments that meet your specifications
Updated throughout the day
Online and in a downloadable PDF format
Upload your financial portfolio for Morningstar to analyze for you

Want to know more? Sign up for the class in the library on January 24 from 10-11 a.m. SH

Top 10 History Books of 2011

2012-01-05T14:23:00.021-05:00

Rankings are based on popularity determined by circulation statistics.

1. In t he Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin
By Larson, Erik
2011-05 - Crown Publishing Group (NY)

The time is 1933, the place, Berlin, when William E. Dodd becomes America's first ambassador to Hitler's Germany in a year that proved to be a turning point in history.

2. The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris
By McCullough, David
2011-05 - Simon & Schuster

McCullough tells the story of the American artists and scientists who studied in Paris, and changed America through what they learned there.

3. Zeit oun
By Eggers, Dave
2009-07 - McSweeney's Books

"This is a beautiful book. "Zeitoun" is a poignant, haunting, ethereal story about New Orleans in peril. Eggers has bottled up the feeling of post- Katrina despair better than anyone else.

4. The Perfect Nazi: Uncovering My Grandfather's Secret Past
By Davidson, Martin
2011-03 - Putnam Adult

Using the skills he honed as a documentary producer for the BBC, Davidson explores the truth behind his family's dark secret--his grandfather was a Nazi SS officer.

5. Th e Hare with Amber Eyes: A Family's Century of Art and Loss
By de Waal, Edmund
2010-08 - Farrar Straus Giroux

In the 1870s, Charles Ephrussi assembled a collection of 360 Japanese ivory carvings known as "netsuke." In this grand story, a renowned ceramicist and the fifth generation to inherit the collection traces the story of a remarkable family and a tumultuous century.

6. Unb roken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption
By Hillenbrand, Laura
2010-11 - Random House
Telling an unforgettable story of a young lieutenant's journey into extremity, "Unbroken" is a testament to the resilience of the human mind, body, and spirit.

7. C arthage Must Be Destroyed: The Rise and Fall of an Ancient Civilization
By Miles, Richard
2011-07 - Viking Books

The first full-scale history of Carthage in decades, "Carthage Must Be Destroyed" reintroduces modern readers to the larger-than-life historical players and the ancient glory of this almost forgotten civilization.

8. D ark Tide: The Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919
By Puleo, Stephen
2003-09 - Beacon Press
The Boston molasses flood lives dimly in popular memory, but no historian has explored it fully until now. Puleo brings this disaster to life with vivid prose, using the dreadful catastrophe as a lens through which to view the panorama of a changing Boston, as well as to survey the major events that would shape the future of 20th-century America.

9. T he Whites of Their Eyes: Bunker Hill, the First American Army, and the Emergence of George Washington
By Lockhart, Paul Douglas
2011-06 – Harper

One hot June afternoon in 1775, on the gentle slopes of a hill near Boston, Massachusetts, a small band of ordinary Americans--frightened but fiercely determined--dared to stand up to a superior British force. Paul Lockhart combines military and political history to offer a major reassessment of one of the most famous battles in American history.

10. 149 1: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus
By Mann, Charles C.
2005-08 - Knopf Publishing Group

In this groundbreaking study, Mann shows how a new generation of anthropologists and archaeologists, using new research techniques, have come to the persuasive conclusion that more people lived in the Americas in 1491 than in Europe.

TB

need some help with ebooks?

2011-12-30T15:05:00.003-05:00

Did Santa or a loved one buy you an ereader for the holiday but you don't want to blow your budget on buying books? Well the library has you covered because you can check out ebooks free from the library using our Overdrive system. Don't know how to use it? No worries, we've got that too--check out our video tutorials on using Overdrive for Kindles, Nooks, iPads and other iDevices, and Sony eReaders.

MP3 Audiobooks

2011-12-28T10:02:00.008-05:00

If you can’t get in your car or go for your daily walk without listening to your favorite mystery writer on a sound recording, we hope you will try our MP3 collection of audiobooks. One or two discs hold the contents of an entire book and are compatible in most newer model cars (after 2007) and portable MP3 players. The sound quality is excellent and tracking is easy. The collection features various genres including new fiction, mystery, classics, biography, language instruction and nonfiction. Check out our display at the entrance to the Media Room on the first floor of the library. And remember – if the title you are looking for is checked out, we may have it in another audio format such as book on CD, Playaway or downloadable through Overdrive.

-DB

New Books for January

2011-12-21T12:26:00.007-05:00

What's coming out in fiction and mystery for January? Here are a few titles:

Taken by Robert Crais

When the police tell a wealthy industrialist that her missing son has faked his own kidnapping, she hires Elvis Cole and Joe Pike-and Cole soon determines that it was no fake.

Believing the Lie by Elizabeth George

Inspector Lynley is back! And he's mystified when he's sent undercover to investigate the death of Ian Cresswell at the request of the man's uncle, the wealthy and influential Bernard Fairclough.

Lunatics by Dave Barry and Alan Zweibel

One is a bestselling Pulitzer Prize-winning humorist. The other is a winner of the Thurber Prize for American Humor. Together, they form a writing team of pure comic genius.

maf

First Books

2011-12-16T09:33:00.003-05:00

Babies love books - even 3 month olds like Elijah. Come to the Wellesley Free Library to browse our large collection of board books and picture books. Or drop in for Bookbabies, our weekly stories, songs and fingerplays for babies and toddlers 3-30 months of age. The group meets Wednesdays and Thursdays at the Main Library, Tuesdays at the Fells Branch and Fridays at the Hills Branch.

Another handy resource in the Children's Room is the Grandparent Travel Kit, which may be enjoyed by any caretaker, grandparent or not! The kit includes :

-Fodor's Around Boston with Kids
-Make Way for Ducklings (CD included)
-Fun with the Family in Massachusetts
-Walks in Wellesley (map included)
-Reading with your grandchild

We’d love to hear from you. Share with us YOUR child’s favorite books!

-DB

Amazing Libraries (35 of them!)

2011-12-14T15:07:00.002-05:00

And you thought the Wellesley Free Library was a really nice library? Well it is, of course, but check out some amazing libraries on TheBestColleges web site. From Sweden to Australia to New York City these libraries really might be "the 35 Most Amazing Libraries in the World."
--RL

Holiday Books

2011-12-13T10:24:00.004-05:00

Some books about the history, folklore, and culture of holidays.

The American Book of Days
By Christianson, Stephen G.
Compiled by Christianson, Stephen G.
2000-01 - H. W. Wilson
0824209540 Check Our Catalog

For each day of the year, several essays explore significant events at their anniversaries. Coverage of American holidays has been revised and updated since the first edition in 1937.

Holiday Symbols and Customs
By Henderson, Helene
2008-03 - Omnigraphics
9780780809901 Check Our Catalog

Holidays reflect the history and identity of people of all cultures. This book provides an introduction to the ways in which people celebrate and the meanings attached to these traditions.

Charlemagne's Tablecloth
By Fletcher, Nichola
2005-08 - St. Martin's Press
9780312340681 Check Our Catalog

Feasts, banquets, and grand dinners have always played a vital role in our lives. They lift the spirits, involve all our senses and, at times, transport us to other fantastical worlds. Nichola Fletcher has written a captivating history of feasts throughout the ages that includes the dramatic failures along with the dazzling successes.
…More

The Joy of Family Traditions: A Season-By-Season Companion to Celebrations, Holidays, and Special Occasions
By Thompson, Jennifer Trainer
2008-05 - Celestial Arts
9781587611148 Check Our Catalog

This season-by-season companion to 400 celebrations, activities, and rituals inspires and instructs families on creating, personalizing, adapting, and preserving family traditions that will be meaningful and special to them. …More

Holiday Decorating
By Fulweiler, Megan
2001-11 - MetroBooks (NY)
1586632272 Check Our Catalog

Filled with charming ideas for decorating inside and out, "Holiday Decorating" explores ways to inject the spirit of the season into every part of the home, from the front porch to the family room and dining room. …More

Ex-Etiquette for Holidays and Other Family Celebrations
By Blackstone-Ford, Jann
Author Jupe, Sharyl
2007-10 - Chicago Review Press
9781556527197 Check Our Catalog

Through realistic and trusted advice, this innovative new guide brings the celebration back to the holidays for blended families. . …More

Tinsel: A Search for America's Christmas Present
By Stuever, Hank
2009-11 - Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH)
9780547134659 Check Our Catalog

A heartfelt, hilarious look at the evolution of a half-trillion-dollar American holiday. Stuever's portraits of the happy, mega-churchy, shop-until-you-drop community in "Tinsel" are revealing and riotously funny, showing how our ancient rituals of celebration have survived--and succumbed to--the test of time. …More

Credo Reference is December's Featured Online Resource

2011-12-10T15:51:00.004-05:00

Interested in Reference E-books that are available to you 24/7? You must look at our featured online resource for December-- Credo Reference.

Not only does it search its 550+ reference titles covering a wide range of topics, Credo also searches images, videos, Google Books, e-journals, and our library catalog and subscription resources,

The results are displayed in a well-organized topic page. Don't be the last to check it out!

SH

Books into Movies for December

2011-12-04T16:29:00.016-05:00

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (Dec 9) is adapted from John le Carre's 1974 spy thriller. Directed by Tomas Alfredson, this remake stars Gary Oldman, Tom Hardy, Colin Firth, John Hurt, Toby Jones and Mark Strong.

Carnage (Dec 16) is based on Yasmina Reza's award-winning 2006 play God of Carnage, a scathing drama. Directed by Roman Polanski, the film stars Kate Winslet, Jodie Foster, John C. Reilly and Christoph Waltz.
Sherlock Holmes : a Game of Shadows (Dec 16) is inspired by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's sleuth and his adventures. Guy Ritchie directs and stars for this sequel include Robert Downey Jr., Rachel McAdams and Jude Law.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Dec 21) is adapted from the late Stieg Larsson's Millennium trilogy. Directed by David Fincher, stars include Daniel Craig, Stellan Skarsgard, Robin Wright and Rooney Mara.

-DB

New Books for December

2011-12-02T15:53:00.005-05:00

Red Mist by Patricia Cornwell

The new Kay Scarpetta novel from the world's #1 bestselling crime writer.

D.C. Dead by Stuart Woods

After a shocking loss, Stone Barrington is at loose ends, unsure if he wants to stay in New York and continue his work as a partner at Woodman & Weld. It comes as a welcome relief when he's summoned to Washington, D.C., by President Will Lee.

Gun Games by Faye Kellerman

Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus are back in this gripping mystery involving a secret cabal of some of Los Angeles' most wealthy-and vicious-teens.

maf

The Library of Days Gone By

2011-11-30T17:32:00.003-05:00

Apparently the library of days gone by isn't much more different than the library of today, according to a recent article in the New York Times Sunday Book Review about the reading habits of library patrons in Muncie, Indiana, considered to be the bellwether city for average American life in a small town. The data was taken from checkout ledgers from 1891 to 1902 and collated with census ledgers at the time to give a more exacting picture of what your everyday Joe was reading. So what kept readers' noses in books? The same kind of thing that does today: popular literature! Of course, the popular literature of the late 19th century isn't anything that we'd recognize today (just who the heck is Oliver Optic anyways?) but the story remains the same--if it's a page turner, you can bet that your local library will be stocking several copies.

MW

National Book Award Winners announced for 2011

2011-11-28T14:54:00.009-05:00

N ational Book Award Winners for 2011 were announced on November 16, 2011. Perhaps some of them will end up on your holiday list.

They include:

FICTION Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward. A big-hearted novel about familial love and community against all odds and a wrenching look at the lonesome, brutal, and restrictive realities of rural poverty, Taking place over a 12 day period during Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Salvage the Bones is revelatory, real, and muscled with poetry.

NONFICTION The Swerve: How the World Became Modern by Stephen Greenblatt An innovative work of history and a thrilling story of discovery, in which one manuscript (On the Nature of Things by Lucretius), plucked from a thousand years of neglect, changed the course of human thought and made possible the world as we know it.

POETRY Head Off & Split by Nikky Finney

YOUNG PEOPLES' LITERATURE
Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai
Through a series of poems, a young girl chronicles the life-changing year of 1975, when she, her mother, and her brothers leave Vietnam and resettle in Alabama.

A list of the winners and finalists may be found on the National Book Award website. Make your request for these and other finalists at your library today!

SH

Books Take You Nowhere

2011-11-22T14:25:00.003-05:00

Librarians Lie!
Read this important new study, effectively debunking various myths long propagated by "librarians" that books will "transport you" to places you've never been. On behalf of my profession, I'd like to apologize to all the boys and girls who have been misled about this amazing power of books.
--RL

New Audiobooks

2011-11-18T10:03:00.025-05:00

Jerusalem : a biography by Simon Sebag Montefiore, narrated by John Lee. The epic 3,000 year history of faith, fanaticism and coexistence.

Catherine the Great : portrait of a woman by Robert K. Massie, narrated by Mark Deakins. Hear about the 14-year old German princess who came to Russia and became one of the most powerful and fascinating women in history.

The price of civilization : reawakening American virtue and prosperity by Jeffrey Sachs, narrated by Richard McGonagle. A diagnosis of our economic ills by the author of The End of Poverty and Common Wealth, Sachs calls for Americans to restore the virtues of fairness and honesty as the foundations of national prosperity.

-DB

Grzimek's Animal Life Online--November Featured Online Resource

2011-11-09T14:34:00.003-05:00

November Featured Online Resource

Looking for information on animals? Go to one of the best animal resources available--Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia--with up-to-date facts on 4000+ species (including prehistoric), photos, maps, videos, news and websites. Excellent for student reports as well as serious research but the photos, maps, videos, and audio tracks make it a great place to just have fun! Have your library card ready and try it out today.

ebooks for Nooks & iPads & more!

2011-11-08T10:59:00.003-05:00

Heard about all the great, free ebooks you can download from the library but don't know how? Fret no more, because in addition to our video for Kindles, we've now made tutorials on how to download ebooks for your Barnes & Noble Nook and various iDevices. Enjoy!

MW

October Snow now What?

2011-11-03T10:10:00.004-04:00

Did the freak October snow storm cause some damage to your trees and shrubs?
Learn how to prune and care for damaged trees with these books.

Homeowner's complete guide to the chainsaw : a chainsaw pro shows you how to safely and confidently handle everything from trimming branches and felling trees to splitting and stacking wood
By Ruth, Brian J.
Author Ruth, Jen W.
2009-10 - Fox Chapel Publishing
9781565233560 Check Our Catalog

Taking the fear out of chainsaws by emphasizing safe handling practices, this resource aims to put raw power in the hands of everyday yard workers. With step-by-step color photographs throughout, 12 of the most common household chainsaw operations are tackled with expert advice and sure-handed guidance. …More

The Tree Doctor: A Guide to Tree Care and Maintenance
By Predergast, Daniel
Author Predergast, Erin
Author Prendergast, Daniel
2003-09 - Firefly Books
9781552977422 Check Our Catalog

"A practical guide for growing healthy trees."

As the most dominant and permanent feature in any garden, trees establish a landscape's character more than any other plant.

Moreover, trees can filter the air of pollutants, muffle noise, screen the sun, calm the wind, attract birds, reduce soil erosion, raise the water table, and increase property values. Knowing which varieties to grow and how to maintain them is a must for anyone who owns trees or is considering planting one.

The Tree Doctor is an easy-to-understand guide for growing healthy trees that will benefit generations to come. …More

The Pruning Answer Book
By Hill, Lewis
Author O'Sullivan, Penelope
2011-03 - Storey Publishing
9781603427104 Check Our Catalog

Previously published as: Pruning made easy. …More

Pruning Basics: Tools * Techniques * Timing
By Squire, David
2001-06 - Sterling Publishing
0806951133 Check Our Catalog

"Gives excellent, thorough advice on what to prune when and how to go about it, with clear, easy-to-read diagrams and lots of them. It will help you achieve full bloom, healthy growth and proper shaping for any kind of shrub or small tree."--"Chicago Tribune."
…More

Pruning & Training
By Brickell, Christopher
Author Joyce, David
Joint Author Joyce, David
1996-08 - DK Publishing (Dorling Kindersley)
1564583317 Check Our Catalog

Whether you are planning a new garden, wondering how to bring back a neglected tree or shrub, or want to develop areas of special interest, AHS Pruning & Training contains all the techniques you need in easy-to-follow, step by step explanations. …More

Nine of the Funniest Library Videos!!!!!!!

2011-11-02T09:41:00.004-04:00

Nine of the Funniest Library Videos...
From the Huffington Post. Savor them. No more than one or two per day.
--RL

Happy 100th

2011-10-29T11:08:00.020-04:00

The blonde, light-footed partner of dancer Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers was born in Independence, Missouri in July, 1911 and died in 1995. In 1941, Rogers was Hollywood's highest paid female star performing dramatic, comic and Broadway leading roles. She made 73 movies opposite such leading men as James Stewart, Cary Grant and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. Her 1941 Academy Award for her performance in Kitty Foyle are displayed at the Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center at Boston University along with a trove of correspondence, photographs, scripts and film and stage memorabilia in honor of her birthday. Come browse our media collection for some of Rogers' films such as The Gay Divorcee, The Barkleys of Broadway, Swing Time, Shall We Dance, Top Hat and 42nd Street.

-DB

October 2011 Audiofile Earphone Awards

2011-10-28T11:35:00.014-04:00

If you are an audiobook lover, you will want to take a look at the newly announced Audiofile Earphone Awards for October, 2011. These awards are given to audio presentations with exceptional

narrative voice and style

vocal characterizations

appropriateness for the audio format

enhancement of the text

Some of the titles include:

The Wreckage by Michael Robotham; read by Sean Barrett.

The Return by Hakan Nesser; Read by Simon Vance.

Neuromancer by William Gibson; Read by Robertson Dean

Dead Man's Folly by Agatha Christie; read by John Moffatt

So if you are going on a trip, exercising, or just relaxing, request one of the October 2011 Audiofile Earphones Award Winners to enjoy!

SH

New Books for November

2011-10-24T14:15:00.006-04:00

What's coming out in November? Here are a few titles:

11/22/1963 by Stephen King

What if you could go back into the past and change the course of events? See what happens in Stephen King's new novel.

V Is for Vengeance by Sue Grafton

Kinsey Milhone is back -- for the 22nd time! And there's a woman with a murky past. Did she kill herself or was it murder?

The Impossible Dead by Ian Rankin

No more John Rebus books from Ian Rankin. This is the second novel featuring the new character, Inspector Malcolm Fox of the Edinburgh Internal Affairs Department.

maf

Keeping up with Standardized Tests

2011-10-23T21:15:00.023-04:00

If you used a #2 pencil to fill in circles on standardized tests you'd be amazed on how much has changed. Nowadays, computers rule and security in testing centers puts the TSA to shame. For some exams you can even click a button and find out most of your scores before you leave the center!

Because the tests undergo significant changes every few years it's important to use an up-to-date test preparation book. Here are just a few of the recently revised 2012 prep books available in the library:

Crackin g the New GRE (The Princeton Review )

Kaplan GMAT Premier

Cracking the SAT Math Subject Tests (The Princeton Review)

Kaplan AP Chemistry

Downloading library ebooks for your Kindle

2011-10-17T10:49:00.004-04:00

Have you heard about how you can download library ebooks for your Kindle but been a little shy about trying it out? There's no need to fear, we've created a tutorial to help you get started--you'll be downloading ebooks in no time, I promise.

MW

Libraries, Amazon and Privacy

2011-10-13T14:38:00.005-04:00

Amazon Kindle owners will probably have heard by now that they can borrow ebooks from libraries (through Overdrive) and read the books on their readers. This was exciting and long-anticipated news, since Kindles are so popular among e-reading devices. There is a new wrinkle, however, making its way into librarian discussion groups. Public libraries have very strict guidelines (embedded in state laws, and American Library Association principles) about the confidentiality of library records--specifically the borrowing history of its patrons. Short of a court order, those records are erased and unavailable to anyone when a book is returned. So what about the borrowing records of Kindle ebooks? Those records, are the property of Amazon and are used to sharpen their marketing of similar books to their customers. The discussion is still in its early stages, so no one knows yet how (or whether) public libraries will be able to uphold its principles and continue to deliver ebooks in this very popular format. The Minuteman Library Network will discuss the issue in its November meeting. Stay tuned...
--RL

Wellesley the Home Front 1940-1945

2011-10-12T15:34:00.015-04:00

The Wellesley local history collection has a wonderful oversize book of the publicity of the Wellesley Committee on Public Safety during the war years 1940-1945. It is filled with articles published by the Townsman, Boston Globe, Boston Herald and Wellesley Ledger.

Defense information, air raid planning, scrap collection, food and nutrition classes, blackouts, first aid, knitting, and other public safety articles reflect what life was like in Wellesley during the war years.

Ask to see it at the reference desk.

Click on picture for larger image.

TB

Try Scientific American Online

2011-10-07T16:20:00.000-04:00

Wellesley Free Library is happy to offer online access to the most

respectedscience magazine for the general reader—ScientificAmerican, winner of the 2011 National Magazine Award for General Excellence.

Scientists, inventors, and engineers present their ideas and achievementsthat demonstrate the latest in scientific discovery and technologicalinnovation in easy to understand articles with rich graphics. So whether you are an amateur scientist or a student with a project, keep up with our fast moving world from home or in thelibrary using this wonderful resource!

The Marilyn Obsession

2011-10-06T14:45:00.000-04:00

The coming fiftieth anniversary of Marilyn Monroe's death in 2012 has sparked even more Marilyn Obsession (as described last week in the NYT Fashion & Style section). The October Vogue cover story features a photo shoot by Annie Liebowitz of Michelle Williams as Marilyn, the role she plays in the upcoming movie My Week with Marilyn. The movie is based on the book by Colin Clark, son of Sir Kenneth Clark (most well-known to Americans for his 1969 BBC series, Civilization). The audio version of Clark's book features narrator Simon Prebble, one of AudioFile's Best Voices of 2009.

-DB

New Books for October

2011-09-30T14:16:00.007-04:00

What's coming out in October? Here are a few titles:

The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman

Set in Israel in year 70 C.E, 900 Jews hold out against armies of Romans on Masada. Here, the lives of four women, all dovekeepers, intersect.

Litigators by John Grisham

An ambulance chasing law firm looks to score big on a class action suit against a large pharmaceutical company.

Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks

In the spring of 1984, two high school students from opposite sides of the tracks fall in love. They go on to lead different lives. What happens when they reunite 25 years later?

maf

Wellesley Reads Together begins October 1st

2011-09-30T13:25:00.003-04:00

If you've stopped in to the library in the past few months I hope you've run across our Wellesley Reads Together display, which features copies of Barbara Kingsolver's Animal Vegetable Miracle and Kate Smith Milway's The Good Garden. If you haven't, shame on you--stop in because there's plenty for the taking!

Tomorrow, October 1st, marks the first day of events in celebration of sustainability in Wellesley; join us in the Wakelin Room starting at 3pm as children's author Kate Smith Milway visits the library and stop in to the Children's Room for some "down to earth" activities.

There's plenty more that will happen during the next month and a half, so stay up to date by visiting the WRT homepage and checking out our WRT blog where we'll share all sorts of great insights into sustainability!

eBooks for Kindle Now At Wellesley Free Library

2011-09-21T15:35:00.011-04:00

The Wellesley Free Library has been providing eBooks for a while now through a company called Overdrive. We are glad to announce that our selection of eBooks are now available for the Kindle.

All you need is a library card.

Visit our collection of eBooks Here.

Instructions on how to download our books to your Kindle click Here.

eBooks are also available from the following free websites.

Project Gutenberg

Internet Archive

Feedbooks

Baen Free Library

TB

Operators standing by to take your calls

2011-09-21T13:25:00.007-04:00

They can't be serious...
Phil Bradley, whose scourings of the web provide an endless stream of useful and/or entertaining services and sites, has compiled a worthy list of fake web sites. This is not a list of scammers, exactly. In my perusal of the sites I didn't find any deceptions intended to ferret out your credit card number or banking passwords. What I did find was a beautiful collection of counterfeits, parodies, spoofs and other rather harmless (though not necessarily inoffensive) amusements. Take Dog Island for example, a resort island for dogs. Separated from the anxieties of urban life, dogs on Dog Island are healthy dogs who live a natural, healthy and happy life, free from the stress and hardship associated with daily live among humans. You (and your dog!) will be happy to hear that there are no costs associated with the dog's new paradise. Dogs that survive the rigorous selection process get a free pass! Genochoice makes available the latest technology to alter human genes before birth. You can truly offer your progeny "the best of nature...before you nurture." Phil helpfully sorts the 60 some odd sites into subject areas (scientific, political, etc) and rates the sites for believability and child appropriateness. So don't delay--discover the dangers of bread, the oldies but goodies of Clubbo, and the extraordinary extraterrestrials known as the Wingmakers...
--RL

Home Decorating and Design

2011-09-14T14:37:00.024-04:00

With cooler temperatures fast approaching, our yearning for cozy, relaxing indoor space returns. Check out our collection of recently published design and decorating books for your inspiration and ideas. The following titles are just a few in this category.

An Island Sanctuary : a house in Greece by John Stefanidis & Susanna Moore

Decorate : 1,000 professional design ideas for every room in your home by Holly Becker & Joanna Copestick

The soul of a house : decorating with warmth, style and comfort by Chris Casson Madden

Color saves the day by Lucianna Samu

Bunny Williams' scrapbook for living /place portraits by Amy Archer by Bunny Williams

Modern vintage style by Emily Chalmers

-DB

U S News & World Report College Rankings 2012

2011-09-14T09:32:00.021-04:00

Whether you are looking for a college or university that fits your career plans or are just interested to see who is #1 this year, check out the 2012 US News & World Report College Rankings. Anytime you are looking at rankings, always check the criteria that are used for placement in the list to be sure these are important to you.

Other college & university rankings may be found in the library:

The ultimate guide to America's best colleges 2012 by Gen and Kelly Tanabe. (100 Best College Values)

The Best 376 Colleges (2012) by The Princeton Review
(Available online with registration)

The Big Book of Colleges by College Prowler

College Prowler (Online)
(Rankings based on student interviews regarding college life--academics, Campus Housing, Greek Life, Campus Dining, Athletics, etc.)

Fiske Guide to Colleges by Edward Fiske.
(Rankings based on questionnaires completed by Administration and Students on student life and professors.)

Insider's Guide to the Colleges by Yale Daily News.
Rankings based on student interviews regarding

Other resources may be found on our webpage under Reference Services. Check us out!

SH

New Books for September

2011-09-09T14:40:00.006-04:00

What's new for September and October? Here are a few titles:

The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach

The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides

Zone One by Colson Whitehead

maf

Remembering 9/11 ten years later

2011-09-09T10:36:00.003-04:00

With the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on our country, the library has provided a display featuring books (fiction and nonfiction), books on cd, and dvds for the pubic. You may find it on the second floor by the elevators. Stop by and browse.

Some of the titles you will find include:

Extremely loud and incredibly close by Jonathan Safran Foer (Fiction)

Falling man by Don DeLillo (Fiction)

Saffron Dreams by Shaila Abdullah

Dust: the inside story of its role in the September 11th aftermath by Paul J Lioy.

Let's roll: ordinary people, extraordinary courage by Lisa Beamer

Without precedent: the inside story of the 9/11 commission by Thomas H. Kean and Lee H. Hamilton

World Trade Center (DVD)

The Concert for New York City (DVD)

SH

BBB's Top Online Scams

2011-09-08T14:34:00.005-04:00

How well are you versed in the most frequent scams you might run into online? Sure, we all know about the Nigerian royalty who have suffered a devastating loss that may turn out to be your fortune, but this list certainly caught my attention because I see them daily while surfing the web. Click on the image at the left to check them out.

MW

ARTS! ARTS! ARTS!

2011-08-31T14:10:00.003-04:00

Wellesley College has an outstanding and varied calendar of events in the arts. There's dance, music, literary events, art exhibits, theater and film. And almost all events are free. This fall's schedule includes African dance, a jazz lecture and recital, Shakespeare, botanical imagery, Latino poet Martin Espada, a play about 9/11, lectures on Russia, poverty and practical invention. Find a printed calendar around campus or request one at 781-283-2373. Of course the arts calendar is also available online. See also featured events or exhibits at the Davis Museum.
--RL

2011-08-28T22:12:00.003-04:00

I have written before about how many YA books are great for Adults. Now is your opportunity to check out what teens have nominated as some of the top books of the year. Teens now have the opportunity to vote through September 16th for their favorite title to narrow the list down to the Top Ten Best YA books in the past year. These will be announced during Teen Read Week October 16-22. If you know a teen, encourage him/her to take part in this voting opportunity!

Below is the list of titles in contention for a spot on the Top Ten list. Try some of them and you too may be hooked!

Bachorz, Pam. Drought. Egmont USA. 2011. (978606840160).
Beam, Cris. I Am J. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. 2011. (9780316053617).
Beaudoin, Sean. You Killed Wesley Payne. 2011. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. (9780316077422).
Black, Holly and Justine Larbalestier. Zombies vs. Unicorns. Simon & Schuster/Margaret K. McElderry Books. 2010. (9781416989530).
Card, Orson Scott. The Lost Gate. Tor Books. 2011. (9780765326577).
Clare, Cassandra. The Clockwork Angel. Simon & Schuster/Margaret K. McElderry. 2010. (9781416975861).
Collins, Suzanne. Mockingjay. Scholastic. 2010. (9780439023511).
Collins, Yvonne. Love, Inc. Disney/Hyperion. 2011. (9781423131151).
Condie, Ally. Matched. 2010. Penguin/Dutton. (9780525423645).
Cremer, Andrea. Nightshade. Penguin/Philomel. 2010. (9780399254826).
Fitzpatrick, Becca. Crescendo. Simon & Schuster Children’s. 2010. (9781416989431).
Grant, Michael. Lies. 2010. HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen Books. (9780061449093).
Hawkins, Rachel. Demonglass. Disney/Hyperion. 2011. (9781423121312).
Hakwins, Rachel. Hex Hall. Disney/Hyperion. 2010. (9781423121305).
Kagawa, Julie. The Iron King. 2010. Harlequin. (9780373210084).
Lore, Pittacus. I Am Number Four. HarperCollins. 2010. (9780061969553).
Moore, Peter. Red Moon Rising. Disney/Hyperion. 2011. (9781423116653).
Nelson, Jandy. The Sky is Everywhere. 2010. Penguin/Dial Books for Young Readers. (9780142417805).
Oliver, Lauren. Before I Fall. HarperCollins/HarperTeen. 2010. (9780061726804).
O’Neal, Ellis. The False Princess. Egmont USA. 2011. (9781606840795).
Patterson, James. Angel: A Maximum Ride Novel. Little, Brown & Company. 2011. (9780316036207).
Pearce, Jackson. Sisters Red. Little, Brown and Company. 2010. (9780316068680).
Smith, Cynthia Leitich. Blessed. Candlewick Press. 2011. (9780763643263).
Westerfeld, Scott. Behemoth. Simon Pulse. 2010. (9781416971757).
White, Kiersten. Paranormalcy. HarperCollins/HarperTeen. 2010. (9780061985843).

Books into Movies for September

2011-08-26T13:43:00.025-04:00

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John le Carre will have its movie premiere on September 16, 2011 . Tomas Alfredson will direct and Michael Fassbender, Ralph Fiennes, Gary Oldman and Colin Firth will star. Officlal movie site is Tinker-Tailor-Soldier-Spy.com. Moneyball by Michael Lewis, will debut on September 23. Direction is by Bennett Miller. The cast includes Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, Robin Wright, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Stephen Bishop. Official Movie Site : MoneyBall-Movie.com

New Books for September

2011-08-22T14:08:00.005-04:00

What are the new titles for September?

Vault by Ruth Rendell

Ruth Rendell's 22nd Inspector Wexford novel.

Feast Day of Fools by James Lee Burke

Violence along the Texas-Mexico border.

The Affair by Lee Child

The Jack Reacher prequel, if you will. Go back to small-town Mississippi in 1997 and learn the backstory of what drove Jack Reacher out of the army.

maf

NPR Top 100 Science-Fiction, Fantasy Books

2011-08-19T10:34:00.005-04:00

National Public Radio's top 100 SF & Fantasy books based on their reader's survey. Click HERE to see the full list of 100 books.

The top 10:

1. The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy, by J.R.R. Tolkien

2. The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy, by Douglas Adams

3. Ender's Game, by Orson Scott Card

4. The Dune Chronicles, by Frank Herbert

5. A Song Of Ice And Fire Series, by George R. R. Martin

6. 1984, by George Orwell

7. Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury

8. The Foundation Trilogy, by Isaac Asimov

9. Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley

10. American Gods, by Neil Gaiman

TB

Investing 101: Saving, Investing & Planning

2011-08-17T19:57:00.003-04:00

Join us on Wednesday, August 31st from 7-8pm for the third presentation in our Summer Investor's Series as Chris Gaffney and Jeff Smith of the Wellesley Investment Partners help you understand the fundamentals of investing.

All good investment plans have three main components: saving, investing, and planning. A good savings plan provides fuel for investing; constructing a portfolio allows you to decide what investments are best for you; and last, but not least, you need a proper plan to achieve the goal which is driving your need for investing. Jeff and Chris will not only provide you with the information to help understand the fundamentals of investing, such as the difference between mutual funds, stocks, and bonds, but will also provide you with the motivation to take charge of your financial future.

To sign up, click here.

(photo courtesy of Images_of_Money)

Where is the wisdom?

2011-08-10T15:13:00.002-04:00

Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge?
Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?
--T.S. Eliot (Choruses from the Rock)
----R.L.

Online Resource for August--Massachusetts Newstand

2011-08-08T16:22:00.005-04:00

Looking for a newspaper article from the Boston Globe but you already recycled your newspaper? Did you go on vacation and miss an editorial or maybe a column by Adrian Walker?

Massachusetts Newstand offers every article found in the Globe from 1980 to today as well as articles from other Massachusetts newspapers.

Browse it by date or use the search feature. Share the articles through e-mail or by printing them. Start using it today. SH

Kindle and Overdrive

2011-08-03T13:29:00.023-04:00

As Kindle users look forward to the day when they can download from Overdrive, we librarians view the future with a mix of excitement and anxiety. We look forward to serving Kindle users and hope we can buy enough copies to meet the increased demand. Overdrive CEO Steve Potash, when asked this week when this history making event will occur, would not offer any details other than 'soon'. But Potash did deliver a favorable report for public libraries when he recommended the library website as the first place to go to find in-copyright ebooks. For titles that the library does not own, users may suggest that their local library buy the title or buy it themselves from an ebook retailer. As a result, he predicted that the "value of owning a library card will grow exponentially and traffic will make last year's increases look like small fry". We await the future.

-DB

-DB

New Fiction for August

2011-07-29T15:54:00.007-04:00

Here are a few titles coming out in August:

The Leftovers by Tom Perrotta

The citizens of Mapleton have lost many of their loved ones to an event called The Sudden Departure. How do they go on? Tom Perrotta's latest is a thought-provoking portrayal of relationships, connections, and loss.

Bad Intentions by Karin Fossum

The latest installment in the Inspector Sejer series. Konrad Sejer must figure out why the bodies of troubled young men keep turning up in local lakes.

The Cut by George Pelecanos

Spero Lucas is George Pelecanos' latest creation. Since returning home from Iraq, Spero has carved out a niche for himself finding doing finding stolen property for a local defense attorney. Then Spero comes into contact with a local crime boss.

maf

If Borders Dies, Does Book Culture Follow?

2011-07-26T13:45:00.002-04:00

I don't typically read the weekday Boston Globe, so thanks to my colleague Peggy for pointing out James Carroll's Op Ed piece on Borders Books closing. Take a moment to read it, and come back . . . .

Finished? Okay, here's my two cents:

Do we need to own books in order to have a book culture? I myself used to be a book hoarder; I loved going to my hometown Borders store as well as the many used book sellers and amassed a library that spilled over the five book cases I owned. Then I became a librarian. Did I need to own a copy of Dan Simmon's Drood because I enjoyed it so much? Heck no, I could borrow it from the library saving myself the money, clutter, and the hassle of lugging the books with me the next time I moved.

Do we need book stores in order to browse books? I don't know about you guys, but when I buy a book I head on over to Amazon.com. Can you browse books there? Hardly! And when everything moves digital, how easy does that become to browse? Libraries, on the other hand, are a browser's paradise and you can bet that we'll have browsing better figured out than any online retailer when the big switch to digital comes.

Are for-profit institutions really what we need protecting our book culture? No way! What happens to all of those niche titles and genres that don't get picked up by the mainstream culture--and don't even get me started on privacy or equal access concerns.

What do you say? Can Borders or Barnes and Noble do book culture better than libraries? Would the world really be worse off without big box book stores? Who will fill the void left by Borders? I can certainly say that libraries are happy to have the opportunity.

MW

image courtesy of freidmanlynn via Creative Commons

Next to Greatness

2011-07-19T09:23:00.010-04:00

As a librarian I have daily access to hundreds of thousands of Books, DVDs, Audiobooks, CD's, Playaways, and Ebooks. So what book series could be compelling enough to make me drive on 128 at rush hour to stand in a line of 1500 people and purchase a book? George R. R. Martin's series A Song of Ice and Fire did.

The latest book in the series is "A Dance with Dragons", and has been greeted with rave reviews. Lev Grossman ("the Magicians") in his review for Time magazine calls George R. R. Martin the American Tolkien. However, Martin does not just rehash Tolkien. Published in 1954, many ideas and values in "Lord of the Rings" have been over done or changed. According to Grossman: Martin has produced — is producing, since the series isn't over — the great fantasy epic of our era. It's an epic for a more profane, more jaded, more ambivalent age than the one Tolkien lived in. For those who have difficulty suspending belief let me say that magic is kept to a minimum. This series is built on characterization and Machiavellian intrigue. Start with A Game of Thrones.

Photo by Mike Wick.

TB

Excitement Mounts for The Help--The Movie

2011-07-16T21:33:00.008-04:00

The Help by Kathryn Stockett is to adults what Harry Potter is to the younger set. Although it was originally published on February 10, 2011, it still maintains a place on the Bestseller lists. It's theme involving black maids and an aspiring journalist in 1960s Mississippi have lead individuals and book clubs alike into great discussions. Everyone who read it spread the word on to others that it was a must read.

If you haven't had a chance to enjoy it yet, borrow it from the library today before The Help--the movie arrives on August 10. On that date you will be able to watch well-known actresses bring the characters to life: Emma Stone as Skeeter (the young journalist) Viola Davis as Abilene (Maid #1) Octavia Spenser as Minnie Academy award winning actresses are Sissy Spacek, Cicely Tyson, and Mary Steenburgen also play a part.

You have been warned. Get ready for The Help--The Movie mania! SH

July Online Resource of the Month--Books and Authors

2011-07-16T21:14:00.004-04:00

With summer in full swing, reading a good book rises to the top of the to-do list. While you're on vacation, zoom in on that perfect title with the aid of Books & Authors, our July Online Resource of the Month.

Search or browse authors, titles, read-alike lists, recommended reading lists, bestseller and forthcoming titles. Then make your own list and save it to your Personal Reading Room.

A highly informative resource that's easy to use-- try it today! SH

Audiobooks in MP3 format

2011-07-15T11:23:00.011-04:00

Our audiobook collection in MP3 format is growing quickly. Many popular titles, both fiction and nonfiction, are available for your listening pleasure without the hassle of changing discs. Unabridged titles are usually recorded on 1 or 2 discs. Most newer cars (2008 and beyond) have the players built in. The collection is currently shelved on your left as you enter the Media Room on the first floor of the library. If you don't see the title you are looking for, feel free to see a Reference Librarian who may be able to reserve it for you. Some of our newest titles in this format include : Bloodmoney by David Ignatius, Children and Fire by Ursula Hegi, and To End all Wars by Adam Hochschild.

-DB

Strategizing at the Hills Branch

2011-07-05T16:37:00.007-04:00

Are you interested in games of strategy rather than luck? Tired of enduring boredom when you lose a game early and are forced to sit there, watching everyone else have fun? Want to try a new flavor of gaming? Then stop by the Hills Branch after work for a fun night of cards, games, and new friends on Thursday, July Thirteenth from 6.30-9pm. We'll have a couple European-style board games (Carcassonne and Settlers of Catan), a card game (Fluxx), and other games of skill & collaboration (Blokus and Forbidden Island). Feel welcome to bring along a game of your own that you want to share, as well as whatever food and/or drink you'll need to get through the intense gameplay. We've joined up with Mass Fun & Games, a meetup.com group, so feel free to register at their site or just drop in!

MW

Phil Bradley on Google vs. The Librarians

2011-06-28T20:39:00.003-04:00

Librarians are there:

To help, aid, assist. To teach, collate, enthuse. To catalogue, index, arrange, organise. To find, discover, promote, display. To interest, intrigue, amuse and amaze. To instill wonder. To help children, adults, old people, the underprivileged, the rich, the poor, those with voices and those without. To protect resources, to archive them, to store them, to save them for the future. To provide differing viewpoints, to engender thought, conversation, research, fun. To provide the best answer possible, to match the answer to the enquirer, to provide just enough information without overwhelming the user, but enough to always help. To better a local community, a company, a college, an organisation, a country, the world.

Google is there:

To make money.

[Phil Bradley, never one to mince words.Take that, Google!]

--RL

Historical Fiction and Horror Genre Award Winners

2011-06-25T14:57:00.008-04:00

Summer is here and the following are two you may want to add to your reading list.

If you like Historical Fiction, the Walter Scott prize winner, The Long Song, should be on your list. Andrea Levy creates the memoir of a 19th century Jamaican woman who has the opportunity to taste freedom after the end of slavery.

Horror fans must add the Bram Stoker award winner, A Dark Matter, by Peter Straub, a well-known name in the Horror genre. Straub pens the tale of a man who tries to help traumatized family and friends come to terms with a horrific night in the 1960s that has haunted all of them since. By revisiting this event the group the evil confronted on that night in the sixties is reawakened and unpredictable events occur. Be prepared to sleep with the lights on. SH

Movie Tie-In : Moneyball

2011-06-21T10:13:00.013-04:00

Opening September 13, 2011, Moneyball is the story of the Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane (Brad Pitt). Reinventing his team on a budget, he needs to outsmart the richer teams. Joining with Ivy Leaguer Peter Brand (Jonah Hill), they recruit bargain players whom the scouts consider flawed but who have a knack for getting on base, scoring runs, and winning games. They'll either be the laughing stock of baseball or its vindicated underdogs.

Moneyball is a Columbia Pictures release directed by Bennett Miller (Capote), from the screenplay written by Steven Zaillian (Gangs of New York) and Aaron Sorkin (The Social Network), and produced by Michael De Luca (The Social Network), and Scott Rudin (The Social Network).

-DB

What's New for July

2011-06-17T13:08:00.013-04:00

What's coming out in fiction and mystery?

Quinn by Iris Johansen
Iris Johansen explores the darkest corners of the human heart as forensic sculptor Eve Duncan closes in on the killer who stole her daughter so many years ago.

Then Came You by Jennifer Weiner
With startling tenderness and laugh-out-loud humor, Jennifer Weiner takes readers into the heart of women's lives in an unforgettable, timely tale that interweaves themes of class and entitlement, surrogacy and donorship, the rights of a parent and the measure of motherhood.

A Death in Summer by Benjamin Black
One of Dublin’s most powerful men meets a violent end- and an acknowledged master of crime fiction delivers his most gripping novel yet.

Burnt Mountain by Anne Rivers Siddons
A dramatic tale of a well-born Southern woman whose life is forever changed by the betrayal of her mother and by the man she loves .
maf

The Summer Investor's Series

2011-06-16T16:27:00.003-04:00

Please join us for

THE SUMMER INVESTOR’S SERIES

Whatever investment cycle you find yourself in—from beginner to post-retirement—you won’t want to miss these monthly classes that explore topics in personal investment such as planning for retirement, constructing a portfolio, and more.

Unlocking Wealth in the Library

Tuesday, June 21^st 10-11am

Jackie’s Room

Join us for the inaugural session of our Summer Investor's Series where we discover how the library can help you become a more informed investor. The library offers a wealth of materials to help you stay informed about your investments and the economy, many of which can be used from the comfort of your home. In this class, we'll examine these resources, such as newsletters and ratings guides, and the impact they can have on your financial well-being. SIGN UP HERE

Blueprint for a Successful Retirement

Wednesday, July 13^th 7-9pm

Arnold Room

Planning for retirement is likely the most pressing financial issue facing most Americans today; however, few have actually taken the steps necessary to reach this goal. Join John Spoto, founder and principal of Sentry Financial Planning, as he presents some of the most important elements of a sound retirement plan, including:

How much will you need to retire
How to build and manage a retirement portfolio
How to comply with IRS rules for required minimum withdrawals

TO SIGN UP CLICK THE LINKS ABOVE OR CONTACT THE LIBRARY AT 781-235-1610 x 1105
OR IN PERSON AT THE INFORMATION DESK

Favorite Childhood Books Program

2011-06-15T16:12:00.005-04:00

Looking for a fun afternoon, being nostalgic over great children's books from your childhood?

Join us at the Hills Branch on Saturday, June 18 from 2-3:30, as adults and kids share their favorite children's book, play book trivia games, and enjoy snacks and Hoodies! SH

Sue Recommends Caleb's Crossing by Geraldine Brooks

2011-06-11T12:37:00.006-04:00

With Geraldine Brooks' Pulitzer Prize winning March and highly acclaimed People of the Book, she doesn't need much promotion for a lot of readers to try her new historical novel, Caleb's Crossing. The connection with Boston, Martha's Vineyard, the Wampanoag people, and Harvard College ensures it to be a local bestseller.

There are other elements, especially social issues, of this must read selection that will fascinate anyone who chances to begin this story based upon intensive historical research by Ms. Brooks:

first Native American graduate from Harvard

consequences of the relationship between the Wampanoag tribes and Englishmen

clashing of cultures

discrimination of and attitudes toward Native Americans

religion's influence in Massachusetts settlements

attitudes toward women

value and love of education

maturing love and friendship of a young woman (Bethia) and young Native American chief's son (Caleb) and the barriers to their relationship.

Brooks continues her magic with words as she weaves a wonderful story told through the memories of Bethia beginning in 1660 as she relates the crossing of Caleb, not just across Massachusetts Bay, but from the world of the Wampanoags to that of the English.

This book will be on my list of titles to give to family and close friends.

SH

Finding Foreign Language Books

2011-06-08T15:03:00.014-04:00

Do you ever read books in foreign languages? If so, you may know that Wellesley Free Library has a growing collection of items in a variety of languages. They are shelved on the second floor, to the right of the Reference Desk as you stand facing it. We have books in Chinese, Danish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian and Spanish and audio books in Spanish. In some cases, we have a few books that were donated to the library. In other cases, we are actively buying items to meet a perceived demand.

But, what if you want something in a language other than these? The Children’s Department has items in some other languages…Cambodian, Catalan or Farsi, anyone? They also have access to a digital collection of children’s picture books in a variety of languages. Click here to have a look. The library also has foreign language films. But, what if you were hoping to find adult level material in another language, perhaps even on a particular topic?

Your next option might be to check whether any other Minuteman Library has items in your desired language. There are many materials in many different languages among the member libraries. But what if you don’t see the language you would like to read in any Minuteman library?

All is not lost. The Wellesley Free Library Interlibrary Loan Department may be able to help. We borrow from libraries beyond Minuteman and often beyond Massachusetts We use WorldCat, a database of items owned by 72,000 libraries around the world. If you go to the WorldCat Language Cloud and hold your mouse over a language, you can see how many items in WorldCat are in that language. We don’t want to overpromise, because many of these items might be owned by libraries that do not lend their items, but we have had some surprising success stories. We have borrowed a Sidamo-English dictionary. Sidamo is a language from Ethiopia, with a very elegant script. We have borrowed a Chinese-English dictionary of accounting terms. We have borrowed material in Serbian, Farsi, Japanese, Doric (a Scottish language,) Tagalog, Telugu (a language from India,) Tibetan and Turkic, to name a few. We have also had our failures. We have tried for a Gujarati audio set several times, without success. You’ll never know whether we could find something in your preferred language unless you try us. To make your request, consult with the Reference Staff at 781-235-1610 x1117 or welmail3@minlib.net. The Interlibrary Loan staff sometimes feels like one of the best hidden secrets in the library, so feel free to give us a try!

One Point Seven Zillion* Users

2011-06-07T19:56:00.003-04:00

OK, maybe it's not quite a zillion. (And OK, maybe a zillion is not actually a real number.) But anyway, if you step back a moment and look at the statistics relating to almost anything on the Web, the magnitude is truly staggering. For example, over 10 billion apps have been downloaded from Apple App store. Or imagine a world resounding with 1600 tweets per second. For these and more staggering stats (with citations!) check out the Technology Liberation Front blog for May 18.
--RL

The Audies--Best Audiobooks for 2011

2011-06-02T18:25:00.019-04:00

On May 23, Keith Richard's Life won Best Audiobook and Best Spoken Biography/Memoir for 2011. The book was read by Keith Richards, Johnny Depp and Joe Hurley.

If you love audiobooks, listen to some of the winners and the nominees for the 2011 award!

Other Audie winners include:

Best Fiction
Winter's Bone by Daniel Woodrell; read by Emma Galvin.

Best Mystery and Suspense
The Reversal by Michael Connelly; read by Peter Giles.

Best Thriller/Suspense
The Girl who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson; read by Simon Vance.

Best Science Fiction/Fantasy
The Stainless Steel Rat by Harry Harrison; read by Phil Gigante

Best Romance
The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte by Syrie James; read by Bianca Amato.

Best Non-Fiction
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot; read by Cassandra Campbell and Bahni Turpin.

SH