Posts from Morris Park Library

I'm sure you've heard of blockbuster movies, but have you read a blockbuster book? According to the Merriam Webster Dictionary online, a blockbuster is one that is notably expensive, effective, successful, large or extravagant. For example, the Harry Potter series of books and movies were blockbusters. Other blockbusters from the past include The Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer and The Lightning Thief and other Percy Jackson and the Olympians books by Rick Riordan.

This month we are privileged to be hosting two programs from The Intrepid Sea Air and Space Museum at The Morris Park Branch Library. The museum is celebrating its thirtieth year of operation this year, offering a variety of educational program intermingling science and history. It offers an interactive tour featuring original artifacts, video footage and exhibits such as a flight simulator as well as its newest exhibit, The Space Shuttle Pavilion, where you can actually walk beneath the historic artifact, the Space Shuttle Enterprise.

In recent decades, much has been said about the demographic changes that New York City shares with the rest of the world. Yes, we are getting older!

One widespread response has been a surge of programs to promote creativity in mid- and later life. NYPL has happily participated in these efforts, especially since 2010 when we started partnering with Lifetime Arts Inc. to offer our first Creative Aging courses, which took place in six branch libraries. Each course was taught by a professional teaching artist and lasted a minimum of eight 90-minute classes so that the two goals of the project — mastery of the basics of the art, and social engagement of the participants 

Once again the dog days of summer are here, and what better way to cool off than at your local library. Our summer reading kickoff is a memory where a good time was had by all. We are really fortunate to have such talented branch supporters who helped us with the festivities. Thanks to Celeste, a local artist, balloon animals were given to each child who registered for summer reading. In addition, an awesome college student and former teen advisory member, Laura, was a huge hit with some fabulous face painting.

Memoirs are the stuff of memory, or more specifically, according to Webster's Dictionary, a narrative composed from personal experience. In other words, a memoir is written from a person's recollection of a life experience. It might not all be exactly as it happened but, rather, how the author perceived it to happen. Do you remember the controversial “autobiography" A Million Little Pieces by James Frey? Mr. Frey presented it as an autobiography which is a factual account of a person's own life. It was later determined after lawsuits and an embarrassed Oprah Winfrey, who highlighted his work on her show, that in fact this book was a partly fictionalized memoir. 

Music is the language that we all understand. Whether it be rock, opera, jazz or hip-hop, it's all music if it causes you to tap your foot, sing along, or makes you feel emotions you can't explain. I don't really know of anyone who doesn't enjoy some type of music. Lately, I must confess, I've been listening to corny Christmas tunes like Dominck The Donkey and Alvin and the Chipmunk's "Christmas Hula Hoop" song. But now that "Auld Lang Syne" and "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve" have been put away until next December 31, it's time to reflect on the best music from this past year.

Comedy makes us laugh, plain and simple. Whether it's standup, or a funny movie or your grandmother telling you funny stories from her youth. You know the one about her going to school with her nightgown on. Whatever, let's face it, the human condition is funny.

I recently finished reading two excellent teen novels. The first novel is historical fiction set during World War II, and the second novel is a work of fiction written in verse which takes place in the present. However, no matter the time frame, their themes will resonate with teens and adults. In addition, the Morris Park Branch was fortunate to host an author visit with a young adult author, Rosanne Parry, just weeks ago. We now have her book in The New York Public Library system, and from the response that the author got from the teens in my branch, I am sure that this novel, Second Fiddle, will get my stamp of approval as well!! I just received my copy, and I can't wait 

Cinderella sang "A dream is a wish your heart makes."  That about sums up the mindset of the main characters in Close to Famous by Joan Bauer.  They are all wishing and hoping for something.

I recently came upon a blog called The World Needs More Pie: Give a piece a chance. It is a blog dedicated to living each day to the fullest as if it were your last. The blogger, Beth Howard, used pie making to help her heal from the untimely death of her husband, Marcus.  She is also writing a full length book about her choice to leave a nine to five career in favor of her passsion for baking.  You can read more about her at her blog at http://the worldneedsmorepie.blogspot.com.

Okay, so it's March 2nd and you need to do a report on a famous woman for Woman's History month.  Who do you pick and where do you start? 

Do you think that a great work of literature can change your life?  I do.  Since reading Great Expectations by Charles Dickens as a fourteen year old, I have often thought about the many issues that the author raises.  For example, are appearances more important than the morals and ideals a person holds dear? How does gentleman Pip measure up to his blacksmith brother-in-law? In essence, who is the real gentleman?