Paige–The Library Mouse

Hello everybody! My name is Paige and I am the Library Mouse here at the Denton Public Library. Occasionally they let me out of the library and I get to see the world! For my very first trip I went to see….Chicago!!! Well, ok, I only saw Chicago from the plane, but I did visit its suburbs.

The food in Chicago is just yummy! I tried all sort of new things. My first night there, I had the juiciest Chicago style Italian beef. Boy was that delicious. I also got to try a Chicago hotdog and a traditional Deep Dish Pizza.

I visited so many places on my trip, I can hardly remember them all! One of my favorite places was going to visit the elk in Elk Grove. They were all hanging out by the fence—but then one tried to charge me! Yikes! I also visited a Hindu temple in Bartlett, Illinois and went boating. Overall it was a very fun trip. I can’t wait for my next adventure.

Sonic Visits the North Branch

Teens and Sonic the Hedgehog had a great time at our last Teen Game Day!  Join us at the North Branch Library every Wednesday at 4pm for Wii and PS2.  Also, don’t forget our Super Smash Bros. Tournament coming up on Oct. 24 from 2 – 4:30pm.

Smash Bros. Brawl Tourney

Do you love to play Smash Bros. Brawl? Are you up for a challenge? The Denton Public Library and DFW Games are teaming up to provide a professional Super Smash Bros. Brawl Tournament at the North Branch Library on Saturday, October 24, 2009 at 2 p.m.

Trophies and prizes will be given to the top three players. To pre-register for the all-ages tournament, go to www.dentonlibrary.com,  click on the Smash Bros. Brawl banner on the right hand side of the page or go directly to www.dfwgames.com and click on the Denton Library event link.

In addition to the Smash Bros. Tourney, there will be side contests of Mario Kart and a gaming character coslpay contest put on by Mu Epsilon Kappa, UNT’s official Anime Club.

“Whether or not they want to compete, everyone should come to the North Branch to see this event take place,” said Juli Gonzalez, public services librarian, North Branch Library, “DFW Games brings in professional gamers and equipment. They put on a stellar tournament.”

Attendees can also enjoy casual gaming stations and refreshments, so come and root for your friends or favorite Nintendo characters.

DFW Games is an organization that runs events and provides tools and services for gamers who enjoy console and arcade video games. Their mission states they seek “to serve, support, and grow the console gaming community of the Dallas/Ft. Worth area by creating a competitive, yet fun and welcoming environment for all participants.”

For more information, contact Juli Gonzalez, Public Services Librarian at 940.349.8741 or at juli.gonzalez@cityofdenton.com.

For other news items on the City of Denton, visit our website at www.cityofdenton.com,  go to Quick Information and click on Press Releases.

Free Crochet Program For Adults

Having trouble getting started in crochet? Can’t quite remember how it goes? Come join the classes at the Emily Fowler Library and learn from scratch or get a refresher. The next classes are scheduled for Thursday mornings from 9:30 to 11:30 on October 1, 8, and 15.

During the course of the three classes, library staff and volunteers will demonstrate basic stitches and how to read patterns. Attendees can select project patterns from among a scarf, a draw-string bag, and a teddy bear. Yarns and hooks will be provided for practice, but feel free to bring supplies from your own “stash” if you have one.

The program is free, but space is limited, so please call to register. To register, or for more information, please call 940-349-8753.

For more information, contact Mary Cresson, Public Services Librarian, at 940-349-8753 or at Mary.Cresson@cityofdenton.com.

For other news items on the City of Denton, visit our website at www.cityofdenton.com,  go to Quick Information and click on Press Releases.

Pay Your Fines Online!

The Denton Public Library is now accepting credit card payments over the Internet for fines. Customers who have accrued late fees or lost materials will see a “Pay Fines” button when they log into their account from home.

After accessing http://library.cityofdenton.com and choosing “My Account,” customers login and are able to see what they have checked out, their request lists, and if they owe any outstanding balance on materials. By clicking the “Pay Fines” button, they will be directed to a secure form where they can settle all or part of their account with a credit card. At this time, only Visa and Mastercard are accepted.

“This is another way for users outside of the library to access us virtually,” says Director of Libraries Eva Poole. “We aren’t charging customers a service fee to use this service, and hope it will offer those who want privacy regarding their fines a new option.”

For more information on this new resource, visit the Denton Public Library, call 940.349.8752 or see the library’s Web site at www.dentonlibrary.com.

For other news items on the City of Denton, visit our website at www.cityofdenton.com,  go to Quick Information and click on Press Releases.

What We Are Reading

Atomic Lobster by Tim Dorsey                                                                                 

Totally new for me. All the action/crime/adventure is set in sunny Florida, one of my favorite spots in the world. Serial killer Surge E. Storms, is genius at finding creative ways to dispatch unsavory characters who violate his oddly sensible code of ethics. It’s a complicated plot that’s easy to follow, with mimes, clowns, drug kingpins, CIA operatives, real estate agents, former NFL players, and family values thrown together. The violence is sometimes gruesome, but the situations are hilarious and the denouement reads like the best lethal weapon/sitcom you’ve ever seen. For adults – language, situations.                         -Terri, Fowler Central Library

Breathe My Name  by R.A. Nelson                                                                                                 

Frances has a past. When she was a little girl, her mother murdered her three younger sisters. Frances was supposed to die with them, but was saved at the last minute. Now, her mother is being released from prison and wants to see her. Will Frances be able to see her mother and survive, or will she end up like her sisters?        -Wylaina, North Branch Library

Missing Mark Julie Kramer                                                                                                  When the advertisement for a Wedding Dress “Never Worn” is listed in the local paper, reporter Riley Spatz suspects there might be a juicy story behind the abandoned dress. What she finds leads her to a missing groom who may be a murderer or a victim, a kidnapped prize winning bass and the seedy world of stand-up comics. Julie Kramer creates a fast-paced and fun mystery with enough twists and turns to keep the reader turning pages until the end.            -Kimberly, South Branch Library

Over the Edge by Suzanne Brockmann                                                                  

Senior Chief Stan Wolchonok is the man who can fix anything. When pilot Terri Howe begins to have trouble with a coworker, Stan goes into fix-it mode assigning Terri to fly a simple training mission with him. Stan begins falling for the lovely Terri but he decides she deserves better and sets her up with one of his men. Meanwhile, the training mission becomes dangerous when the team is called to help with a high-jacking situation. Can Terri convince Stan that they deserve a chance or will his stubbornness end their relationship before it can begin?

Great story! I fell in love with Stan for his steely determination, courage, and genuine concern for others. I felt Terri was a good match for him with her courage and perseverance. The plot was really involving and the secondary characters were engaging. This is part of Brockmann’s Troubleshooters, Inc. series so there are lots of familiar characters. I found this story had a good mix of action, humor, and romance.            -Stacey, Fowler Central Library

The Rising by Brian Keene                                                                                                    

A cross between Cormac McCarthy’s The Road and George Romero’s film Day of the Dead, The Rising is the story of a devoted father determined to rescue his son during a zombie apocalypse. Heartbreaking, intelligent, and extremely suspenseful, the Rising breathes new, um, life into the zombie genre (zombie animals!).    -Stephanie, Fowler Central Library

South of Broad by Pat Conroy                                                                                        

Charleston native Leopold Bloom King narrates his own story about his troubled adolescent years in the 1960s that are highlighted with his older brother’s suicide and the realization that his mother is an ex-nun.  He eventually finds a motley, yet close group of friends whose encounters span the 60s, 70s and 80s.  This is my first Pat Conroy experience, and everyone is right, he is a fantastic writer!  Conroy gives Leopold a voice so authentic that it’s hard to believe South of Broad is fiction.                      -Dana, North Branch Library

Conversational American Sign Language @ DPL

Conversational American Sign Language, a 10-week program, will be offered at North Branch Library on Sundays, beginning September 27th from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Participants will have an opportunity to learn signing on such topics as basic manual alphabet and numbers, everyday expressions, and health. The program will be led by Dr. Jonah Eleweke, American Sign Language instructor at Texas Woman’s University. There is no charge for this program, but registration is recommended.

For more information, contact Carmen Grant, Librarian at 940-349-8778 or at carmen.grant@cityofdenton.com.

For other news items on the City of Denton, visit our website at www.cityofdenton.com,  go to Quick Information and click on Press Releases.

Genealogy After Hours

Genealogist, here’s your chance to do hours of uninterrupted research in the library. Join us at the Emily Fowler Library, 502 Oakland, on September 25, 2009 from 6:00 to 11:00 pm. Our guest speaker, Tara Carlisle, Portal to Texas History, Project Development Librarian at the University of North Texas, will give us a tour of the newly redesigned Portal to Texas History. The night will include one-on-one research help and a light dinner. There is a $10.00 registration fee for the evening. This event is co-sponsored by the Denton Public Library and the Denton County Genealogical Society. To register call, 940.349.8749 and leave a message, or email Laura Douglas at laura.douglas@cityofdenton.com.

For other news items on the City of Denton, visit our website at www.cityofdenton.com,  go to Quick Information and click on Press Releases.

Philosophy For Fun

Do you ever wonder….What is truth? What is real? What is the difference between philosophy and psychology? Come to chat about these and other philosophical questions with Dr. Eva H. Cadwallader, professor emerita of philosophy, on Tuesdays at North Branch Library on September 15 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. No preparation is needed except a willingness to explore new ideas. There is no charge for this program but registration is required. Additional dates are October 6, October 20, November 3, November 17, and December 1. For more information or to register, call 940.349.8752 or Carmen Grant at 940.349.8778.

For a complete schedule of events at North Branch Library, visit the library’s web page at www.dentonlibrary.com.

For more information, contact Carmen Grant, Librarian at 940-349-8778 or at carmen.grant@cityofdenton.com.

For other news items on the City of Denton, visit our website at www.cityofdenton.com,  go to Quick Information and click on Press Releases.

Practice Your English Conversation at the North Branch

Small Talk, a program to help non-native English speakers gain confidence in their English communication skills, will be offered at the North Branch Library this fall. Providing an opportunity for participants to practice English in a small group setting, Small Talk will meet on Wednesday nights from 6:30 to 7:30 and Saturday afternoons from 12:30 to 2. Participants must be able to read, write and speak some English. The program is free but registration is required. For more information or to register, please call 940.349.8752 or Carmen Grant at 940.349.8778.

For a complete schedule of events at North Branch Library, visit the library’s web page at www.dentonlibrary.com.

For more information, contact Carmen Grant, Librarian at 940-349-8778 or at carmen.grant@cityofdenton.com.

For other news items on the City of Denton, visit our website at www.cityofdenton.com,  go to Quick Information and click on Press Releases.