A Short List of the Wells Public Library's Most Popular Titles of 2012

As 2012 winds down we're taking a look back at some of the most popular books of the year. A few weeks ago I posted some of the "Best Of" lists that abound this time of year, but now I'm going to focus on the books that were popular here in Wells.

Probably the most popular book of the year was, and continues to be, Gone Girl, by Gillian Flynn. Published last June, the last time I checked there are 354 people throughout the Minerva system still waiting to read it.  Fortunately, there are over 100 copies, so the wait shouldn't be too long if you haven't had a chance to read it yet.

Other fiction titles that were popular in 2012 include Mission to Paris by Alan Furst, Defending Jacob by William Landay, The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman, A Wanted Man by Lee Child, The Beautiful Mystery by Louise Penny, Home Front by Kristin Hannah, Lone Wolf by Jodi Piccoult,and Summerland by Elin Hilderbrand.  The Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce, and Seating Arrangements by Maggie Shipstead were popular this summer. Janet Evanovich's two books,Notorious19 and Wicked Business were also popular, as were the several books published by James Patterson this year.  And we can't forget the enormous popularity of the 50 Shades of Grey series by E.L. James.  

Nonfiction titles that were popular this year include the memoirs When We Were the Kennedys by Maine author Monica Wood, Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed, and Lots of Candles Plenty of Cake by Anna Quindlen. Other popular memoirs were Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling, and Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson. Another non-fiction book,  Quiet: the Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain has been growing in popularity since it was published earlier this year.

These are only a few of the thousands of books checked out this year; we'd love to know what your favorites were in 2012.

Happy New Year, and here's hoping that 2013 brings you health, wealth, and a few more good books to read.

ebooks at the Library

A Nook Color ereader device.

This article came through on my Facebook page this morning, and I thought it was interesting because  it discusses what libraries are doing to prepare for the expected post-holiday flood of new ereader owners.  Here at the Wells Public Library we've been ready for  some time now to help you with your ereader and ebook questions.

First, a bit of explanation.  An ereader is the device on which you read your ebook. While you can download and read books on your PC or laptop, most people read them on smaller devices, such as  a Kindle, Nook, or  iPad.    By ebook, I'm referring to the actual content, or title of the book. 

You can get ebooks for your ereaders in a couple different ways.  You can either purchase them (via Amazon or Barnes and Noble), or you may borrow them through the Wells Public Library Overdrive subscription. There are a few places where you can access free ebooks, for example, Project Gutenberg.org

The process of setting up and loading books on to most ereaders can be a bit frustrating to first-time users.  That's why the staff here at the library is more than happy to help you get up to speed.  We do suggest that you give us a call and ask to set up an appointment, though.  That way we can make sure that we allow enough time to answer all your questions and make sure that you're comfortable with your device.  And, if you get home and realize you have more questions, we're also available for follow-up visits.

For those of you who haven't made the jump to ebooks yet, the library has some ebook readers available for check out.  We have one Kindle, and a Nook color that may be checked out with a valid Wells Public Library card for 2 weeks.  We've already loaded books on them, so all you have to do is check it out and start reading.    A list of what books are on each device is below.  And if you're not ready to borrow one, but just want to take a look and see what the fuss is about, stop by our ereader table near the Reference desk.  You can sit down and play with a Kindle or Nook while in the library.
 
Our aim is to assist readers to access books no matter the format.  So, if you are the new owner of a new ereader and need a bit of help getting started, or if you'd like to ask about checking out an ereader, just give us a call at 646-8181. 

These books are available for checkout on our Kindle device:
Austen - Emma
Flynn - Gone Girl
Hoffman - Lost in Translation
Patterson & Karp - NYPD Red
Skloot - The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
Taylor - Daughter of Smoke & Bone
Tolkien - The Hobbit 

These Books are available for checkout on our nook color device:
Betty Crocker - Betty Crocker Cookbook
Child -  A Wanted Man
Collins - The Hunger Games
Gabaldon - Outlander
Kipling - The Elephant's Child: How the Elephant Got His Trunk
Roberts - The Welcoming
Tolstoy - Anna Karenina  
 

End of the Year Lists

Well, the year is winding down, and in the library world that means that everyone, and I do mean everyone is coming out with its list of the year's best books.  

First up is The New York Times with a list of the 100 Notable books of 2012.  I was sorry to see that out of the nearly 70 books I've read this year, only 2 of them, The Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter, and Canada by Richard Ford are on this list, although I am on the waiting list for Ian McEwan's Sweet Tooth.

If you need anymore lists, the blog Largeheartedboy has created a list of all the Best of lists for 2012.  This list will be updated every day as more lists are available.

So, if you're out of something to read and need  ideas, or if you're in the mood to be overwhelmed by all the books you haven't read yet, check out these pages to get more ideas.

Later this week I'll post a few of my favorites for the year, and during the month I'll post some of the staff favorites, as well as the most popular books among our patrons this year.

Hedgehogs, Pajamas, and Climate Change

The Wells Public Library will be closing out September with a wide variety of programs for all ages and interests.

First, on Tuesday, September 25th at 1:15 we will kick off our new Afternoon Book Discussion Group.  This group is in addition to our popular evening group, and is designed especially for those unable to attend in the evenings.  Our selection this month is The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery.  I still have about 100 pages left, and must admit that it's been a bit of a struggle at times, but am  enjoying it.  If you're interested in joining this group, call me or email me: cschilling@wellstown.org, or 646-8181 ext. 206.  We promise to end our discussion by 2:45, so if you need to pick up your child from the elementary school you'll have plenty of time to do so.

Later that evening, you may want to put the kids in their pj's, grab a stuffed animal and come to the library for our Pajama Storytime at 6:30 p.m.  Devin will have great stories and songs to get everyone ready for a good night's sleep.

For our last program of the month, join us on Wednesday, September 26th at 6:30 for a program on "Climate Change and You."   Wells resident Joe Hardy, an environmental educator, will give an overview of the issues involved , and will share tips on things we can do to reduce the impact of climate change.  I'm looking forward to hearing what Joe has to say on this topic.

Of course, these programs are in addition to our regular weekly programs:Mother Goose Storytime on Mondays at 10:30, Toddler Time on Wednesdays at 10:30, Stories and More on Wednesdays at 1:00, and our Knitting and Crochet Group on Fridays at 10:30.

All these programs are free of charge; for more information please contact the library at 646-8181.  

Have a great weekend, and we hope to see you at the library.

Wii Night

On Tuesday, September 18^th at 6:00 the Wells Public Library will be hosting a Wii Family Game Night. Bring your friends, parents, and siblings to participate in Wii Sports and Wii Sports Resorts. In addition, two Nintendo 3DSs  will be available that evening for cooperative Mario Kart play. 

Many of you may not be aware of this, but the library currently owns two Nintendo 3DS devices.  They may be checked out with a valid Wells Public Library card for 1/2 hour of in-library use.  We also have a small collection of Nintendo DS games that may be checked out for a 1 week loan period.

You may ask why the library offers these programs and services, since they don't seem to be related to traditional library services. Much research has been done over the past several years to determine the value or damage caused by video games, and most of the results have been positive.  It has been demonstrated that video games help promote problem solving, how to follow directions, how to creatively attack a problem without fear of failure, and to learn from your mistakes.

As Jane McGonigal, author of Reality is Broken : Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World wrote in  The Huffington Post;

 "When we play a good game, we get to practice being the best version of ourselves: We become more optimistic, more creative, more focused, more likely to set ambitious goals, and more resilient in the face of failure. And when we play multiplayer games, we become more collaborative and more likely to help others. In fact, we like and trust each other more after we play a game together -- even if we lose! And more importantly, playing a game with someone is an incredibly effective way to get to know their strengths and weaknesses--as well as what motivates them. This is exactly the kind of social knowledge we need to be able to cooperate and collaborate with people to tackle real-world challenges."

 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jane-mcgonigal/video-games_b_823208.html

If you want to learn more about this topic, McGonigal's book is available through the MINERVA online catalog.  For more information, you can always contact Devin Burritt, our Youth Services Librarian. He may be reached at dburritt@wellstown.org, 646-8181, ext. 202, or just stop by the Youth Services desk and talk to him in person.

Also, feel free to stop at the Check Out desk and check out one of our devices for yourself.  In addition to all the positive qualities listed above, they're just plain fun.

Storytimes!

For most of the country, Labor Day means back to school.  Here at the Wells Public Library it also means that our regular Storytimes resume.  Devin and Kayla are busily planning stories, songs, and crafts to entertain our youngest members.

Our Mother Goose Storytime on Mondays at 10:30 is for the very youngest children - ages 0 through 2 years and a caregiver.  This lapsit storytime features very simple books, rhymes, and bouncing songs.  

Toddler Time is designed for children ages 2 - 3 and their caregivers, and meets on Wednesday mornings at 10:30.  In addition to listening to great stories, children will sing songs, learn new rhymes and sing and move to lively music.

Stories and More meets on Wednesday afternoons at 1:00.  Children will hear stories, learn  songs and  rhymes, and complete a craft.  

In addition to these weekly events, we will also be adding a monthly Family Pajama Storytime for children birth to 5 years.  The first of these events will be on Tuesday, September 25th from 6:30-7:00.  Children are encouraged to bring their favorite stuffed animals and come in their PJs for songs and stories.

Storytimes are a great way to introduce your child to reading and literacy through books, rhyme and music.  It's also a good opportunity to meet other families and children in the community. 

These programs are all free of charge and registration is not required.  For more information contact the library at 646-8181.  

 

Goodbye, Summer

Today is the Friday before Labor Day.  If you check a book out of the library today, the due date is September 21, the last day of summer. To librarians, it seems time is always flying; today it's still a warm August day with flip flops and iced coffee,  but by the time you finish your book and bring it back, we'll be wearing sweaters and drinking apple cider.

Here at the Wells Public Library, we're starting to catch our breath after a busy summer.  We enjoyed seeing everyone come in to the library to pick up the latest best-sellers, use the internet and wi-fi, attend a great program for adults and children,  or take part in the Summer Reading Program.  

Some of the highlights for me were the Fancy Nancy program featuring 30 young ladies in their fanciest outfits; the Friday afternoon Lego Club; our tribute to long-time Friend Norman Wilkinson; and the August Book Discussion of The Great Gatsby, complete with costumes and  a Roaring Twenties party. 

Another special part of this summer was our Teen Volunteer program. Twelve junior and senior high students were an invaluable part of the summer reading program as they helped prepare crafts, assisted with programs, and handed out prizes to the Summer Reading participants.  All of the teens who participated were  enthusiastic and helpful, and we enjoyed getting to know them better.

More than 300 children and teens, and 141 adults participated in our Summer Reading Program this year.  Thanks to those local businesses whose donations made summer extra special for some of our children and adults: Mike’s Clam Shack, Maine Diner, Joshua’s, Subway, Scoop Deck, Dairy Queen, Wells Beach Resort Campground, Wells House of Pizza, Wonder Mountain and Aw-Comon-In. 

We would also like to especially thank the Friends of the Wells Public Library for sponsoring the performers who enriched our summer and for providing incentives for our young readers.

Now that the end of summer is only 3 weeks away, we're starting to put together our fall programs. We'll have more on that later; for now, feel free to check our website to see a little of what we have planned.

Have a great weekend; we hope to see you soon.

Summer Reading

Summer has always been a special time at libraries.  With the kids out of school we try our best to keep them reading during vacation to help them maintain their literacy skills.  That's why most libraries offer some sort of summer reading program - it's a way to add a little bit of fun while encouraging them to continue reading.  Our Summer Reading Clubs have started, and Devin and Kayla have a lot of fun activities planned for our children and teens. 

We also thought that this summer we would give adults a chance to have bit of fun while reading this summer, so we're offering a summer reading program for them as well. And because we know life doesn't always slow down for adults during the summer, we've made it as simple as possible.  Here's what you do:

• The next time you're in the library, stop by the check-out desk and pick up a "Between the Covers" Reading Log. 
• Take it home, read 5 books between now and August 16th, and record the titles and authors on the log, along with a rating of 1 to 5 stars. 
•  Return the log to the library, and you'll be entered into a drawing to be held at the end of the summer. 
• Prizes include gift cards from Maine Diner, Mike's Clam Shack, Joshua's, and more.
• Only one entry per person, please.

As reading logs are returned, we'll create a list of the summer's 5 star books.

Don't know what to read?  Check out one of the Suggested Reading Lists at the library, visit one of the sites listed  on our website, check out one of the Summer Reading lists here, or as always, ask a librarian.

Have a great summer, and we'll see you at the library.

Calling Invisible Women

Note: This is the first of what we hope will be regular book reviews from Library Staff members.


Calling Invisible Women by Jeanne Ray tells the story of Clover Hobart, a middle-aged wife, mother, and journalist, who wakes up one morning to discover she's become invisible. And I don't mean invisible in the metaphorical sense, but actually, clothes-floating-in-space invisible. While her best friend notices right away that Clover's appearance has changed, Clover's own family doesn't notice that anything is different.

Her new condition, along with her family's indifference sends Clover into a state of depression, until the day she reads a notice in the local paper calling all invisible women to meet at the Sheraton Hotel.  There, Clover discovers a support group for other invisible women who eventually decide to take action - to use their invisibility kind of like a super power- to right wrongs, including taking on the big pharmaceutical company  believed to be responsible for their invisibility.

When I read the review of this in Library Journal, I was intrigued, but skeptical.  I'm not a fan of fantasy and thought this might be too fantastic for my taste.  But, I was surprised. Despite its premise, it was grounded in realism, and Ray obviously spent a lot of time thinking about the problems that invisibility would cause, and how to overcome them. The characters are likable, and Ray manages to inject humor into the situation.  And even though Clover's invisibility was an actual physical manifestation, the author does cause the reader to think about invisibility in the larger, metaphorical sense. I found Calling Invisible Women to be a light, enjoyable way to spend a summer afternoon.


This book is not yet available at the Wells Public Library but may be requested from another library through the MINERVA online catalog.

Summer Reading Lists

It's almost summer, and time for lazy days in the sun with a cool drink and a good book.  If you're looking for a few ideas of what to read, the State Library has posted a list of Summer Reading Suggestions from various websites. Remember that if there's a book here that you want to read and we don't have it in our collection, we are happy to help you to request it from another library through our MINERVA catalog. And, as always, if you need more suggestions feel free to ask a librarian.  We're always happy to help you find just the right book.

Here they are.  Enjoy!

• Sacramento Bee: Novels for Summer
• New York Daily News: Best Beach Companions
• ForeignPolicy.com: Summer Reading List
• Conde Nast Traveler: Books to Take When You Travel
• Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: 99 Summer Book Recommendations
• Good Housekeeping: 11 Beach Reads
• ALA Reading List Council: Genre Books for Summer
• NPR: Summer Books 2012
• NPR.org: Nancy Pearl Unearths Great Summer Reads
• Entertainment Weekly: Jennifer Weiner’s Summer Reading List
• Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Summer Reading for Teens and Tweens
• Barnes and Noble: Summer Reading for Kids
• Newsobserver.com: 14 Great Summer Reads for Food Lovers
• Tucson Citizen: Sizzling Mystery Novels for Summer
• Her Campus: The Best Summer Reads for Every Major
• Tuscaloosa Magazine: Ten Summer Reads for a Day at the Beach
• Business 2 Community: 11 Best Marketing Books for Summer
• New York Times: What’s on Your Summer Reading List?
• Arizona Republic: Librarian Kathleen Sullivan’s Summer Picks
• NPR: Summer Books 2012 (The Complete List)
• WSJ.com: Wall Street Journal’s Readers’ Summer Suggestions
• STLToday: Politics and Page Turners
• Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: 99 Summer Books Recommendations
• Forbes.com: ForbesWoman Summer Reads: Memoir Edition
• Patch.com: Hot Books for Summer Reading
• Library Journal: Seven New Barbecue Books
• Harper’s Bazaar: Designers Share Their Summer Reads
• Auburn Citizen: A Reading List for Locavores
• Forbes.com: Best Stocks and Books for Summer
• College Times: Best Poolside Reads
• The Horn Book: Summer Reading Recommendations
• Daily Beast: Must-Read Nonfiction
• Curriki: 2012 Summer Book Lists for Tweens and Teens
• PolicyMic: 10 Must Read Books for Summer
• Austin American-Statesman: Summer Reading for Kids
• eSchoolNews: 10 Books for High School Summer Reading
• Columbus Dispatch: Books Ahoy!
• Word and Film: The Thinking Person’s 2012 Summer Movie Preview
• The Tennessean: Sizzling Summer Books
• The Book Case: 20 Summer Standouts
• Seattle Times: 75 Movies to Watch this Summer
• USA Today: Summer Diet Books
• Eater.com: Summer 2012 Food and Cookbook Titles
• Anderson Cooper: Five Book Recommendations for Summer
• Picture Book Teacher’s Edition: Top 10 Summer/Camping Books
• Charlotte Observer: Summer Sports Books

How I Spent my Monday

One of the things I love about this job is that everyday is different, and when I walk into work I never know what to expect.  This past Monday it was a letter in our morning mail that kept me busy for part of the of the day.

It was from a woman who  had recently visited Wells.  An avid birdwatcher,  she had brought with her on this trip a book about Maine botanist Kate Furbish. As it turned out, she was staying at a motel located near Furbish Road here in Wells, and wanted to know if the two were connected.  Not knowing the answer, the first thing I did was scout out our collection of local history in our Reference section.  

In "Wandering through Wells," an early history of the town compiled in 1981 by the Historic Preservation Committee of Wells I found out that Joshua Furbish and his wife Katherine were the first Furbishes in Wells, but  I couldn't find out anything about Furbish Road. 

I then turned to "My Name Is Wells: I Am the Town," the excellent history of the town written by Hope Shelley in 2002.  There I learned that the Furbish  name was used to designate a school that sat on Route One and  the road that ran from that school to the beach.  The Furbish homestead was on the north side of that road, and Pamela Furbish Williams, a niece of Joshua Furbish, deeded the right of way for the road.

So, that answered that part of the question, the origin of the name of Furbish Road.  But, I still needed to find out if Kate Furbish was connected to that family.  I couldn't find any more information here at the library, so I went to the Internet.  A quick Google search for Kate Furbish provided this information: 

From the Bowdoin College Library I learned that Kate Furbish was born in Exeter, New Hampshire to Benjamin and Mary Lane Furbish.  At the age of 1, the family moved to Brunswick, Maine.  


So, while Kate Furbish had lived in Maine, there was no definite connection to Wells.  But, further down the Google results page, I found this article: "Kate Furbish and her Drakes Island Legacy".  I haven't lived here long, but I do know that Drakes Island is part of Wells.  And this article gave me the information I needed - Kate Furbish was the granddaughter of the aforementioned Joshua Furbish, and therefore was connected to present day Furbish Road. An email from Jane Edgecomb of the Historical Society of Wells and Ogunquit confirmed my research.


I dashed off a letter to my correspondent, answering her question in the affirmative, thanking her for her question, as it afforded me the opportunity to find out more about the community.  It was also a good reminder that while most of the time my questions can be answered by a quick Google search, not everything I want to know is available on the Internet.  I'm glad I live in a time where information is readily available, but I'm also glad I have easy access to a wonderful collection of reference books here at the library.


So, if there's anything you want to know, just ask.  I'll be happy to spend some time finding the answer for you.