We Won! We Won! We Won!

The Texas Municipal Library Directors Association announced in its Spring Newsletter that the Denton Public Library was a recipient of the “Achievement of Excellence in Libraries” award for 2008.

Given annually, this award is given to libraries that demonstrate their service excellence through the attainment of certain criteria. After gathering copious representations of the library’s programs, services, and statistics, Emily Fowler Central Library manager Terri Sharp compiled an extensive portfolio to represent the library’s achievements in 2008. Included were examples of marketing materials, collaborative efforts, literacy support, services to underserved populations, and technological enhancements made by the library.

“I am so proud of my staff,” said Eva Poole, Director of Libraries, “and thankful that Terri did such a wonderful job on this huge task! They really do work hard to make all of these programs come to light.”

Official recognition from the Texas Municipal Library Directors Association will come later this year at the Texas Library Association annual conference in April in Houston.

What We Are Reading

The Kindly Ones by Jonathan Littell: This doorstop of a book, a quick and compelling, first person narrative/fictional memoir, demands quite a commitment and really weighs down my bike bag.         -Bill, Tech Services

 

A Stillness At Appomattox by Bruce Catton. Details the last year of the American Civil War in the East and the Battles between Grant and Lee in Virginia. Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award winner. Very readable history although a bit heavy handed in the attempts at symbolism and poetic description. Still, manages to capture a mood.     -Chuck, Emily Fowler Central Library

The Middle Place by Kelly Corrigan.  This weep inducing memoir relates Corrigan’s battle with breast cancer as a 36 year-old mother of two and her father’s simultaneous battle against bladder cancer.  Corrigan’s subtle levity keeps the book from being sentimental, and brings some laughter in between the tears.               -Dana, North Branch Library

I’m listening to The Little Giant of Aberdeen County by Tiffany Baker.  It makes my commute go by pretty fast.  I am liking it so far (about ½ way done!) and am reminded of The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd.  It is about a small town in New York, a very large woman, and the simple things in life.  It takes place in the 50s-60s-70s (so far), and I find it really…soothing                      -Sian, Tech Services

First Comes Marriage by Mary Balogh.  In Balogh’s new Regency series, we meet an ordinary family unexpectedly thrust into the aristocracy. In order to save her sister from a loveless marriage, Vanessa Huxtable offers to marry Viscount Lyngate herself even though he finds her to be one of the most outspoken and infuriating women he has ever met. Will this marriage of convenience turn into something more?               -Stacey, Emily Fowler Central Library

Chicken Cheeks

Generally, I’m against children’s books written by celebrities, but when I saw Chicken Cheeks by Michael Ian Black I knew it would be one of the few exceptions (as are the picture books of  John Lithgow and Jamie Lee Curtis). 

At the beginning of Chicken Cheeks, we meet a friendly bear standing on a stepladder, longing for something unseen at the top of a tall tree.  Bear then notices a duck next to him and puts the duck on his head, making him that much taller. 

So far, the only words in the story are “Duck tail.”  The book continues in the same vain, each spread featuring a different animal being added to the stack, and their respective buttocks.  The stacked menagerie continues until we see the coveted honeybee hive.  Will the bear get his honey?  Read it and see.

 Kevin Hawkes provides Chicken Cheek’s  fabulously silly illustrations.   The harmony of his pictures and Black’s text make it hard to believe that this is a collaborative effort.  I loved Chicken Cheeks before I opened it.  How can you not love a book whose main purpose is the alliterative and/or rhymed naming of animal backsides?  The plotline is just a bonus. 

                                                                                  -Dana Zakrzewski

Food Fights!!

Do you love food?  Do you love competition?  Then this is the place for you!  The Denton Public Library will be hosting a Food Fight at the South Branch Library.  Teens are invited to come and make creative food dishes out of everyday foods.  What could you make with marshmallows and cheese snack crackers?  The dishes will be judged and the winners awarded prizes for their culinary masterpieces. 

 

The Food Fight will be held at the South Branch Library on April 6th, at 7pm.

 –Rebecca

Denton Calling is calling YOU!

Denton band flyers from 1986-1996 on display at Emily Fowler Library

Just a quick reminder that the “Denton Calling: 30 Years of Indie and Alternative Music in Denton” exhibit is in full effect at the Emily Fowler and North Branch Libraries thru March. Come see unique items from the Brave Combo archive donated by Gina Barnes, rare Denton vinyl records, cool old flyers from back in the day and much more.

Are you there, Vodka? It’s me, Chelsea

By Chelsea Handler.

I was warned off this audiobook -”It’s a little racy!” But despite the mild-mannered librarianish appearance, I like racy. Maybe more, or at least as much, I like clever and opinionated. Chelsea Handler offers up lots of opinions; on family (hers is 1/2 Jewish and 1/2 Mormon), on substance abuse (she’s for it), on sex (she’s really for it), and friendship (don’t miss the “dining in the dark” vignette).

Chelsea has her own TV show on E! where she brackets her adult commentary with input from a guest panel of 3 comedian/writers and help from her diminutive sidekick, Chuy. She then sits down for a throwaway interview with some minor league semi star of the moment. The appeal of the show is the same as her writing: a dose of no-holds barred womanhood, irrespective of the tastes of the audience. It must resonate with someone other than me as evidenced by her success!

Think David Sedaris in sleeveless tanktops and heels.

-Terri Sharp

Get Ready to Garden

The first day of spring is in two days! 

Don’t forget about your garden…

Complete Guide to Texas Gardening by Neil Sperry

Dale Groom’s Texas Gardening Guide

Doug Welsh’s Texas Garden Almanac

Month-by-Month Gardening in Texas by Dale Groom and Dan Gill

Howard Garrett’s Plants for Texas

Texas Organic Gardening Book by J. Howard Garrett

Dryland Gardening by Jennifer Bennett

Cool Plants For Hot Gardens by Greg Starr

Creating the Prairie Xeriscape by Sara Williams

New Picture Books

We just got some really cute picture books in at the North and South Branch Libraries.  Put them on hold or come in and check them out!

Bear’s Picture

by Daniel Pinkwater

Big Bad Bunny

by Franny Billingsley

The Day We Danced in Underpants

by Sarah Wilson

Ducks Don’t Wear Socks

by John Nedwidek

Monkey With a Tool Belt

by Chris Monroe

Sally and the Purple Socks

by Lisze Bechtold

Utterly Otterly Day

by Mary Casanova

 

 

What Pet to Get?

by Emma Dodd

Where’s My Mom?

by Julia Donaldson

American Psycho

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 “Abandon All Hope Ye Who Enter Here” warns the beginning of the 1991 novel American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis. So here’s the deal with American Psycho… Ellis had just published Less than Zero and Rules of Attraction gaining acclaim as a fresh writer serving as a spokesperson for the vapid, disposable junk culture stereotypes of Generation X in the 1980’s. American Psycho was published with immediate controversy. Many within the feminist movement sought for the immediate ban of the book due to its sexually violent and graphic content mainly targeting women. Many bookstores refused to carry the book and the original publisher backed out of the deal. Why all the controversy? Well the book is total gore.  Abandon All Hope Ye Who Enter Here?

I saw the film first when it came out in the theatres in 2000. At the time I thought the film was awesome, but it wasn’t until I revisited the film a month ago that the film took on a new meaning, given the context of our contemporary social problems…war, violence, economic dismay, polarization, disposable consumerism. It was this second viewing that made me interested in the book. I was a sophomore in high school when the book was released and I remember being curious about it, simply because of the amount of controversy it created. Nonetheless, I never made it past the first chapter. My second attempt at the novel was fierce. Its relentlessness captivated me.

I wish that I would have read the book first before seeing the film. Nonetheless, I think the film is a cinematic masterpiece and Christian Bale’s performance is among his best. The film adaptation is determined to remain honest with the energy of the novel, but it does not capture the complexity of the novel itself. Also, it bothers me when I see a film first and then while reading the novel I see Reese Witherspoon instead of a character of my own visual creation.

The novel is totally disgusting!!! I would not recommend this book to anyone who is even remotely offended by ANYTHING. If you want safe, predictable horror then this is not for you. If, however, you want to read post-modern, satirical social commentary, which happens to use gore, mutilation and a Wall Street CEO serial killer’s warped narrative as a vehicle to expose the brutality of the American dream, then by all means read away.

Be warned there are parts of the novel that are so brutal even I had to ask myself did Bret really just go there? Yes he does. One chapter may be devoted to the vivid description of the dismemberment of someone coupled with extreme sexual content while another may be gushing in corporate speak about the brilliance and cultural value of a Whitney Houston recording.

The work is psycho indeed and sociopathic in its emptiness of character, with just enough slices of insight to keep one compelled. By choosing to make Patrick Bateman the epitome of the ridiculously and callously rich Wall Street yuppie, Ellis’s satirical attack is specifically targeted towards men who create the systems of objectification of women and the poor and minorities, men who perpetuate patriarchal violence, and advocate disposable consumption and the exploitation of anything in the pursuit of shallow self-gratification.

The seemingly gratuitous nature of this novel is ironically important; it allows you to actually feel repulsion and dread in a society that encourages the numbness of humanism in the face of ultraistic consumption. That is um I don’t know maybe important?

-Andrew

Dedication of the Official Texas Historical Marker for O’Neil Ford

Today, March 11th, 2009, was the dedication for the Official Texas Historical Marker for O’Neil Ford.  The ceremony was held at the Emily Fowler Central Library at 10 a.m. with around 40 people in attendance.  Among those were Linda E. Ford, daughter of O’Neil Ford, Boone Powell, Chairman of the Board of Ford, Powell & Carson, Inc. and Duane and Jane Landry of Landry & Landry, Architects and Planners.  All of these people were also instrumental in the planning and growth of the Emily Fowler Central Library.  Duane and Jane Landry were part of the 1961 renovation and Boone Powell in the 1981 renovation.  Also among our crowd were members of the Denton County Historical Commission, Friends of the Denton Public Library & Library Board, as well as Mayor Mark Burroughs, and representatives from both Texas Woman’s University and the University of North Texas.

For those of you have never visited this library, there are many architectural features which can be appreciated, both inside and outside of this building.  You will need to walk completely around the outside of the building to see them all.  The Ford family were very talented and we are lucky to have examples of all of their works.  There is a woven wall hanging behind the reference desk in the upper level that was made by Linda E. Ford, daughter of O’Neil Ford.  The woodwork, especially the beautifully mounted one hanging on the North wall in the upper level, was done by Lynn Ford, brother of O’Neil Ford.  The pieces on this hanging represent cast off pieces of almost every type of door that he had ever made.  After his death, his daughter picked up the pieces and had artisans mount them, then gave this to the library.  We are lucky to have it.

Boone Powell, Jane Landry, Linda E. Ford, and Duane Landry