Syndication

We've done a little sprucing up here on the blog, and we've added syndication options (right hand column under "Syndicate Us") for our blog readers. Clicking on the Atom Valid button will take you to the Atom code for this blog, and clicking on the XML button will take you to a nifty "browser enhanced" RSS code page which will also give you options to subscribe with one click to several of the most popular web-based RSS aggregators.

HUH? Have no idea what I am talking about?

In a nutshell, RSS syndication allows blog readers to "syndicate" the blogs they read - in other words, add the blogs to an "aggregator" so that all of the blogs show up in one place, and updated blogs can be read from one location, rather than visiting each blog separately. There are many aggregators out there, both web-based (you access your aggregator on the web) and local (your aggregator is a stand-alone program on your computer). For beginners, I recommend web-based aggregators such as Bloglines or the Web Edition of Pluck.

Here's some more information on RSS syndication:
The Basics
More Info
The Feedburner Approach

We hope you'll add us to your aggregator and visit us often.
Have fun!

New Adult Fiction for December

New adult fiction, in no particular order...
Don't forget to click on the link for plots and reviews.

Consent to Kill : A Thriller -- by Vince Flynn

Immoral -- by Brian Freeman

S is for Silence (Kinsey Millhone Mysteries) -- by Sue Grafton

Comfort & Joy : A Novel -- by Kristin Hannah

There's Something About Christmas -- by Debbie Macomber

The 5th Horseman -- by Maxine Paetro

Ordinary Heroes : A Novel -- by Scott Turow

The Time of the Uprooted -- by Elie Wiesel

YA Fiction for December

Yes, it seems like I just posted November's YA Fiction - that's because the November order was delayed, and the December order arrived early. In any event, we have more books for you!

Full Service -- by Will Weaver

The Isabel Factor -- by Gayle Friesen

Last Call (Party Room) -- by Morgan Burke (Party Room Series)

Under a Stand Still Moon -- by Ann Howard Creel

Lord Loss : Book 1 in the Demonata series (Demonata) -- by Darren Shan (Horror)

Sports Shorts -- by David Lubar (Short Stories)

Dead-End Job -- by Vicki Grant

The Last Domino -- by Adam Meyer

Wild Roses -- by Deb Caletti

Inexcusable -- by Chris Lynch

Children's Events

Sparky's Puppets Presents
"Old Favorites for Preeschoolers"
Wednesday, December 7, 11 am at the library
The puppet show will feature lively adaptations of "the Three Bears," "Little Red Riding Hood," "The Three Pigs," "Little Red Barn," and other classic stories. FREE tickets available now at the library!

SAVE THE DATE!
School Vacation Event - A Knight's Tale
Friday, December 30, 11 am at the library.
The Higgins Armory Museum will present "A Knight's Tale," and a knight-in-arms-and-armour will provide an introduction to the times of castles and kings. FREE tickets are available for children in grades K-5.

For more information about these shows and Winter Storytimes, call the library at 846-1573.

December's New Non-Fiction

Here's a selection of new non-fiction titles. New adult books are located on the shelves directly across from the circulation desk. Click on the titles for descriptions and reviews.

Pornified : How Pornography Is Transforming Our Lives, Our Relationships, and Our Families by Pamela Paul 306.77

Illicit : How Smugglers, Traffickers and Copycats are Hijacking the Global Economy by Moises Naim 364.135

New Everyday Science Explained : From the Big Bang to the human genome...and everything in between by Curt Suplee 500

Forget the Facelift : Dr. Day Turns Back the Clock with a Revolutionary Program for Ageless Skin by Doris J. Day 646.726

Fit In, Stand Out : Mastering the FISO FACTOR - The Key to Leadership Effectiveness in Business and Life by Blythe McGarvie 650.13

Good House Cheap House : Adventures in Creating an Extraordinary Home at an Ordinary Price by Kira Obolensky 728.37

Home Therapy : Fast, Easy, Affordable Makeovers by Lauri Ward 747.8

Literature of Latin America (Literature as Windows to World Cultures) by Rafael Ocasio 860.9

1001 Natural Wonders You Must See Before You Die (Barron's Educational Series) by Michael Bright 910.2

The Third Reich in Power, 1933-1939 by Richard J. Evans 943.086

New Biographies:

The Knife Man : The Extraordinary Life and Times of John Hunter, Father of Modern Surgery by Wendy Moore

The People's Tycoon : Henry Ford and the American Century by Steven Watts

Shakespeare : The Biography by Peter Ackroyd

New YA Fiction for NOVEMBER

Here are a few of the new YA books we have on hand for November. This is just a partial list - THERE ARE MANY MORE! Come check out our selection. Don't forget to click on the book title to see the review(s).

Eldest (Inheritance, Book 2) by Christopher Paolini

Ariel by Grace Tiffany

Dark Angel by David Klass

Naruto, Vol. 4 Naruto, Vol. 5 Naruto, Vol. 6 by Magashi Kishimoto

Bang! by Sharon G. Flake

Runner by Carl Deuker

Ready or Not : An All-American Girl Novel by Meg Cabot

The Key (Guardians of Time series) by Marianne Curley

Flight Volume 1

The Naming (Pellinor, Book 1) by Alison Croggon

New Adult Non-Fiction for NOVEMBER

Here's a selection of new non-fiction titles for November - there are other new titles as well! Click on the title to see reviews and book details.


The Macintosh iLife '05: An Interactive Guide to iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie HD, iDVD, and GarageBand 006.78

Indivisible by Two : Lives of Extraordinary Twins 155.444

The Search: How Google and Its Rivals Rewrote the Rules of Business and Transformed Our Culture 338.761

The Urban Treasure Hunter: A Practical Handbook for Beginners 622.19

Marley & Me : Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog 636.752

Manga Monster Madness 745.1

The Ultimate Sashiko Sourcebook 746.46

Pure Sea Glass 748.2

Solo Traveler: Tales and Tips for Great Trips, 1st Edition 910.4

China: Its Most Scenic Places 915.1

Between You and Me : A Memoir 92 Wallace (biography)

The Last Coach: A Life of Paul "Bear" Bryant 92 Bryant (biography)

NEW YA NON-FICTION SHELVES

NEW YA non-fiction titles will now be shelved directly below New YA Fiction titles in the Young Adult area. Titles will be labeled with a YA sticker; after the "new" status expires (six months), the title will be shelved with the rest of the non-fiction (adult) titles, but will still have a YA sticker.

Hopefully, this new system will help teens (and their parents) easily find age-and-interest-appropriate non-fiction material, and will better display the new YA material we have available.

If you have questions or suggestions, please feel free to talk to a Reference Librarian or post a comment to the blog.

New YA NON-Fiction!

Here's a list, in no particular order, of some of our NEW Young Adult Non-Fiction. These titles can be now found on the NEW YA Non-Fiction shelves (located directly under the New YA Fiction) opposite the Reference Desk.

As always, clicking on the title will bring you to a book review; the call number will help you locate the book on the shelf. If you need help, just ask a librarian!

Everyday Math Demystified 510 GIB

Pre-Algebra Demystified 513 BLU

The Driving Book : Everything New Drivers Need to Know but Don't Know to Ask 629.283 GRA

Hey Ya! : The Unauthorized Biography of Outkast 782.42 NIC

Women at the Edge of Discovery : 40 True Science Adventures 925 HAV

Andy Warhol, Prince of Pop 92 Warhol

The Encyclopedia of Vampires, Werewolves, and Other Monsters 133.423 GUI

The Great Depression 973.91 BUR

Career Opportunities In The Automotive Industry 331.7 KEN

Diabetes: The Ultimate Teen Guide 616.462 MOR

Constructing A Life Philosophy 128 CON

Art (Ferguson's Careers in Focus) 331.7

Coaches and Fitness Professionals (Ferguson's Careers in Focus) 331.7

Making Sexual Decisions: The Ultimate Teen Guide : The Ultimate Teen Guide 306.7 GOW

Dealing with the Stuff That Makes Life Tough : The 10 Things That Stress Teen Girls Out and How to Cope with Them 305.235 RUT

Girltalk: All the Stuff Your Sister Never Told You 305.235 WES

The Random House Treasury of Best-Loved Poems 808.81 RAN

Ripley's Believe It Or Not! Planet Eccentric! 031.02 RIP

Top Ten of Everything 2006 031.02 ASH

InSPAration: A Teen's Guide to Healthy Living Inspired by Today's Top Spas 646.7042 SAM

Monster Garage: How to Customize Damn Near Anything 629.287 HOW

Jesse James: The Man and His Machines 629.2275 SEA

Secrets Of A Civil War Submarine: Solving The Mysteries Of The H. L. Hunley 973.757 WAL

Electricity Demystified 621.3 GIB

Your Name in Print : A Teen's Guide to Publishing for Fun, Profit and Academic Success 808.02 HAR

Too Good to Be True: The Colossal Book of Urban Legends 398.2 BRU

Teen Rights (and Responsibilities) 346.7301 TRU

NEW October YA Fiction Titles

Here's a list of some of the new YA Fiction that has come in for October - check out the New YA Bookshelves for copies of these titles and more! Don't forget to click on the book titles to see reviews.

Absolutely Positively Not by David LaRochelle

Blonde Ambition by Zoey Dean

Bloodline by Kate Cary

Mars (Vols. 2 and 5) by Fuyumi Soryo (Graphic Novel)

Orpheus Obsession by Dakota Lane

Queen of Second Place by Laura Roberts

Teach Me by R. A. Nelson

I, Coriander by Sally Gardner

Naruto (Vols. 1-3) by Masashi Kishimoto (Graphic Novel)

Nobody Does it Better (Gossip Girl 7) by Cecily Von Ziegesar

Nothing Can Keep Us Together (Gossip Girl 8) by Cecily Von Ziegesar

Lucky T by Kate Brian

Under the Jolly Roger by Louis A. Meyer

Curse of the Blue Tattoo by Louis A. Meyer

Ravens Gate by Anthony Horowitz

Every Man for Himself edited by Nancy Mercado (Short Stories)

Dark Flight Down by Marcus Sedgwick

Trick or Treat Magic Show

Debbie O'Carroll's Trick or Treat Magic Show will be presented Thursday, October 20 at 4 pm. The program features non-scary stories, comedy, tricks and fun for ages 4-9. Candy corn for all!! Call 846-1573 for more info.

Storytime!

Registration for Storytimes begins Monday, October 17, at 9 am. Storytimes programs feature stories, fingerplays, and a craft on a weekly theme. There are two programs to choose between:

Two and You Storytime - a special sharing time for you and your two year old. Weekly sessions begin on Wednesday, October 26 and Monday, October 31 at 10 am. Children who have just turned three and have never been to storytime may also join this program.

Playful Preschooler Storytime - for children 3-5 years old who are ready to join a group. Join us on Tuesday mornings at 10 am for four weeks beginning October 25.

Call 846-1579 for more info!

More New YA Titles

Here are some new Young Adult titles for you to check out!

Lily B on the Brink of Love by Elizabeth Kimmel

A Room on Lorelei Street by Mary Pearson

Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie by David Lubar

Street Angel (Vol. 1 - Princess Poverty) by Jim Rugg (Graphic Novel)

The Turning by Gillian Chan (Fantasy)

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Upstream by Melissa Lion

Vogelein: Clockwork Faerie by Jane Irwin (Graphic Novel, Fantasy)

NEW Adult Non-Fiction

Here's a list of some of the new Adult Non-fiction titles we received during the past month.
New books are kept on the New Books Shelves just opposite the circulation desk.
Clicking on the title will bring you to the book's Amazon.com page so that you can read a review. The call number listed will help you find the book on the shelf.
Stop by and see what's new!

Chelminski, Rudolph-The perfectionist: life and death in haute cuisine - 641.5092 CHE

Dicker, John- United States of Wal-Mart - 381.149 DIC PB

Emsley, John- The elements of murder - 615.9 EMS

Hawass, Zahi- Tutankhamun and the golden age of the Pharaohs - 932.01 HAW

Kelby, Scott- Photoshop Elements 3 book for digital photographers - 006.6 KEL

Maher, Bill- New rules -791.4572 MAH

Miller, Judith- Arts & Crafts - 745.409 MIL

Morrison, Michael- Beginning game programming - 006.66 MOR PB

Oliphant, Thomas- Praying for Gil Hodges - 796.357 OLI

Perry, George- James Dean - 92 DEAN

Polk, Willliam- Understanding Iraq - 956.7 POL

Vivaldor, Denise- Do it for less! Parties - 642.4 VIV PB

Book Sale - Save the Date!

It's almost time for the annual Friends of the Middletown Public Library Book Sale!

The sale will be held Saturday, October 1st through Friday, October 7th during regular library hours. There will be a Preview Party on Friday, September 30th, 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm. The donation for the preview party is $10. Refreshments will be served.

If you are looking for a good book, stop by the sale - you never know what you might find!

NEW Young Adult Fiction

Here's a selction of some of the new Young Adult (YA) fiction we have purchased in the past month. Clicking on the title will take you to its Amazon page where you can read reviews of the book.

Also, the new YA fiction has moved to the opposite end of the YA shelves and is now facing you as you approach the YA section.

Stop by and see what we have!

Down the Rabbit Hole by Peter Abrams

The Diary of Pelly D by L. J. Adlington

Forest of the Pygmies by Isabel Allende

Kingdom of the Golden Dragon by Isabel Allende

Princess in the Spotlight by Meg Cabot

After Summer by Nick Earls

An Egg on Three Sticks by Jackie Moyer Fischer

Invisible by Pete Hautman

Lulu Dark Can See Through Walls by Bennett Madison

Shut the Door by Amanda Marquit

Hunter’s Moon by O. R. Melling

47 by Walter Mosley

Sexy by Joyce Carol Oates

Bone: Out from Boneville by Jeff Smith

Black and White by Paul Volponi

Juice by Eric Walters

Program - Woman to Woman

Woman to Woman, a program presented by Sandra Hammel, will take place Monday, August 1, 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm, at the library.

The program discusses ways you can make a difference in the life of a woman who has been touched by war. For more information on the program, please visit Women for Women.

Science Fiction Alert

If you are a science fiction fan, you may want to note that we are in the process of interfiling science fiction titles with the "regular" fiction titles - in other words, soon there will no longer be a science fiction "section." If you are just browsing, SF titles will now have a spine label to make them easier to spot on the fiction shelves.

The transition is not yet complete. In the meantime, you can check the regular fiction shelves or the temporary SF shelves on the video/DVD wall. If you can't find what you are looking for, just ask a librarian for help.

Library Closing

The library will be closed on Tuesday, July 12, for renovations. The Meeting Room will be open for the children's program. We will re-open on Wednesday, July 13.

Read Up A Storm this summer!

READ UP A STORM @ Your Library is the theme for the 2005 Summer Reading Club at Middletown Public. The summer reading club is open to children in grades K - 5, and the program started June 27... But, it's not too late to sign up! Call 846-1573 for more information.

Read Up A Storm is all about weather. With that in mind, the children's department has put together a series of programs to coincide with summer reading.

Wednesday, July 6, 10:30 am - Christopher Carbone, Storyteller
Tuesday, July 12, 10:30 am - Greg Cooney, Musician
Thursday, July 21, 2:00 pm - Eric Bulmer, Scientist
Tuesday, July 26, 10:30 am - Harry Leamon, Magician
Thursday, August 18, 10:30 am - Keith M. Johnson, Science Entertainer

FREE tickets will be available beginning the Monday one week prior to each program.
Be sure to check the blog for added programs!

Also, children participating in Read Up A Storm can receive FREE passes for a number of museums and activities including Roger Williams Zoo, Providence Children's Museum, Quonset Air Museum, Casey and Watson Farms, The Butterfly Farm, First Beach Carousel, and more!

Summer Reading

We have set up a Summer Reading table near the Young Adult (YA) shelves. The table holds the summer reading titles that we have on hand for Middletown High School, and a binder with the summer reading lists for many of the area schools.

If you do not find the title you need, please see the Reference Librarian - we can easily request a copy from another library for you.

Most of the schools providing summer reading lists are middle schools and high schools; if your child is younger, or their school did not provide a summer reading list or assignment, you may want to check out this summer reading program.