Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Because it's Tuesday

 Here's another roundup of cool articles for lovers of literature...

via BoingBoing:  Someone found and scanned a great vintage ad on how to write with style featuring Kurt Vonnegut, plus a gallery of other ads in the series.

via Flavorwire: Check out this gallery of artwork inspired by 20th century American novels.

via io9: Is it true that the best tv shows are made from books?

via Neatorama: celebrate William Faulkner's birthday with some life advice from the man himself.

Happy 115th Mr. Faulkner!

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Silent Auction Update

The Volunteer Guild Bookstore's September Silent Auction 
has been extended by a week - it now ends October 6



Wednesday, September 05, 2012

This Then That: Downton Abbey & The Forsyte Saga

If you liked...

Then try...

Count yourself among the millions of viewers that fell under the spell of the Downton Abbey? Well you'll have a bit of a wait until the 3rd season premieres in January, so why not occupy your time with another sweeping English melodrama featuring an ensemble cast?

 Based on a series of novels by John Galsworthy, The Forsyte Saga (2002) chronicles the trials and tribulations of a wealthy family in 19th century England.  The story unfolds with the marriage of the rigid Soames Forsyte to the beautiful and idealistic Irene Heron.  What follows are decades of  intrigue, forbidden romance, and family feuds.  Both miniseries were produced by Masterpiece Classic, so expect the same production values (lush period costumes and sets) present in Downton Abbey.  

The Library has the entire Forsyte Saga miniseries in our collection, along with a collected volume of Galsworthy's Forsyte novels.  And you can always get your Downton Abbey fix at the Library as well, in preparation for the new season.

Ugh, is it January yet?

Saturday, September 01, 2012

September is Library Card Sign-Up Month

 

September is Library Card Sign-up Month, a time when the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries across the country remind parents and caregivers that a library card is the smartest card you can own.  

When it comes to achieving academic success, a library card provides students with access to a world of both print and electronic resources. Students can access free databases, online homework help and attend programs, activities and clubs that provide an added value to the educational experience. It’s easy to see why eighty-four percent of Americans agree that the public library is important to education. 


Today’s students learn differently than their predecessors, with studies indicating that students most effectively learn when they are allowed to follow their personal interests. Libraries and librarians are on the frontlines of engaging these students, making a library card an essential tool for inspiring a passion for learning. What better place is there to explore and develop new interests than the library?

September Sale in the Volunteer Guild Bookstore


SEPTEMBER SAVINGS

The Volunteer Guild Bookstore is giving you 20% off
any total purchase of $20 or more
all month long! 

Save money on books, movies, and music 
and support the library too


Your piggy bank thanks you 
and so do we!


Volunteer Guild Bookstore Hours:
Tues & Wed: 10am - 6 pm
Thurs: 10am - 7:30 pm
Fri & Sat: 10am - 4:30 pm
Refreshments for Sale • For more info call 714-826-4100 x 123


Silent Auction in the Volunteer Guild Bookstore *UPDATED*

SILENT AUCTION OF 

RARE, UNUSUAL, COLLECTIBLE BOOKS

Come on in to the Volunteer Guild Bookstore
Check out the items & make a bid
Everyone is welcome!


September's Auction Items

Walt Disney's Nine Old Men & the Art of Animation 
by John Canemaker, 2001

 


The Games of the Xth Olympiad, 
Los Angeles, 1932: Official Report
by the Xth Olympiade Committee, 1933



This month's auction will run from September 1 - 29
DATE CHANGE
September's silent auction has been extended an extra week! 
It will now end on October 6

Volunteer Guild Bookstore Hours:
Tues & Wed: 10am - 6 pm
Thurs: 10am - 7:30 pm
Fri & Sat: 10am - 4:30 pm
Refreshments for Sale • For more info call 714-826-4100 x 123

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

John Mayer, a Submarine, and Your Library Card


On John Mayer’s latest album Born and Raised, Mayer introduces listeners to Walt Grace, a man who buried himself in his basement to build a submarine.

And his wife told his kids he was crazy
And his friends said he’d fail if he tried

But Mr. Grace paid them no attention. He kept dreaming his dream and working hard to reach it. And, eventually, he succeeded in building his submarine. How?

… with the will to work hard and a library card 
He took a homemade, fan blade, one-man submarine ride

He used the resources available to him at his local library to gain the knowledge he needed to build his submarine.

That’s the power of your library card, folks! With it, you have free access to the world’s information. Your library card can help you, too, to reach your dreams.

On a related note, give Mayer's latest album a listen! We have it available here at the library.


"The stylistic change-up and unburdening tone
make for some of the most convincing
music of Mayer's career." (Rolling Stone)


Thursday, August 23, 2012

Book vs. Movie: The Thin Man


 The Movie: Starring Myrna Loy and William Powell (1934)

I'm starting with the movie because, like so many of these pairings, that's what I fell in love with first.  How much do I love this movie (and all of its sequels)?  I own the box set.  I've watched it more times than I can count.  I love it so much that when rumors started circulating that there was going to be a remake with Johnny Depp I was filled with a righteous indignation that anyone would dare tamper with my beloved Nick and Nora.

Thursday, August 16, 2012

The Age of Enthusiasm

Conclusive evidence that libraries are an exhilarating place to be:



 Exclamation points!  Make! Life!  Exciting!

Friday, August 10, 2012

Overdue Library Book



The Buena Park Library recently received an overdue book (pictured above).  It is the 1932 Newbery Award book by Laura Adams Armer titled "Waterless Mountain" which is set among the Navajo people.

If you haven't noticed, the due date is March 2, 1974.  ABBA released the album "Waterloo", the first issue of People magazine was published and first class postage was 10 cents.  The book is 38 years, 5 months and 8 days overdue.  Someone else will have to calculate the amount of the fine (if we left it to accrue indefinitely).

The Library appreciates the (timely) return of materials so others may enjoy their use.

Friday, August 03, 2012

Bon Voyage!

I’ll keep it short and sweet.  I’m going to miss working here.  I’m going to miss working with all the wonderful people here.  I’m going to miss helping our patrons out.  I’m going to miss chatting about movies.  Heck, I'm going to miss a lot of things about working at the Buena Park Library District.

I started as a Page when I finished high school and first saw this as just another part-time job.  I was a bushy-haired college student.  I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life.  But the longer I worked here, the more I wanted to become a librarian.  The fact that I was surrounded by knowledgeable people and resources while helping the community better themselves was something that I felt really good about and something that I wanted to be a part of.  The library has influenced and impacted me in so many positive ways that it would be impossible to name them all.  I’m now about to become a Librarian at another library but my roots will always be at the Buena Park Library District.
This place rocks!

Wednesday, August 01, 2012

August Sale in the Volunteer Guild Bookstore


THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF AUGUST
MEMBERS RECEIVE
30% OFF 
ALL BOOKS, CDS & DVDS!

 NOT A MEMBER?  


Volunteer Guild Bookstore Hours:
Tues & Wed: 10am - 6 pm
Thurs: 10am - 7:30 pm
Fri & Sat: 10am - 4:30 pm
Refreshments for Sale • For more info call 714-826-4100 x 123


Friday, July 27, 2012

47 Candles for J.K. Rowling

Wishing J.K. Rowling the most magical of birthdays!

Even Voldemort sends birthday greetings.

"I wrapped it myself."


Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Remembering Donald J. Sobol or The Case of the Sherlock Holmes in Sneakers.



The literary world has had another great author taken from it this year. Donald J. Sobol, better known to us children who were just a little bit nerdy, the author who brought us Encyclopedia Brown passed away on July 16th at the age of 87. He did not get as much attention as the others who have passed on this year, but in my heart, he is worth mentioning. When I was a little girl I always wanted to read those sleuth novels my grandparents were reading. My grandmother would tell me “They are not really for little girls!” One day she took me to this very library and I discovered “Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective.” I was instantly hooked the moment I opened those pages and dove right in. When we went back to the library I checked out about 7 more Encyclopedia Brown books, each of which I torn in to as fast as I could! I grew to really love Encyclopedia Brown and his sometimes partner/ sometimes bodyguard, Sally Kimball. They were my childhood Nick and Nora Charles. Through Sobol’s characters I grew up wanting to be a sleuth myself. It was the spring board to my love of Dashiell Hammett, Agatha Christie, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. I owe a great big part of my childhood to Mr. Sobol as I think many of us do. He will be greatly missed and will live on through the novels he gave us.

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Bookstore Accepts Credit Cards!





Now it’s even easier to purchase those great finds at the Guild Bookstore!  The Volunteer Guild of the Buena Park Library District announces it now accepts credit cards for purchases made in the Bookstore.  Credit card transactions must be at least $5.00.  You may pay using Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover.

And the Bookstore has expanded its hours so you have more time to make a purchase with your plastic money.  Bookstore hours are:

Tuesdays and Wednesdays    10am – 6pm
Thursdays                           10am – 7:30pm
Fridays                               10am – 4:30pm
Saturdays                       12 noon – 4:30pm
Sundays and Mondays                     Closed

Stop by often - the shelves are restocked regularly and there are weekly sales!  During the month of July there are terrific discounts on Art Books!

Friday, July 06, 2012

What Is It?


What is it?

If you answered, “Why, clearly, that is a picture of a hat,” I am sorry to say that you are mistaken.

Monday, July 02, 2012

July Sale in the Volunteer Guild Bookstore

ALL ART BOOKS ARE 20% OFF

DURING THE ENTIRE MONTH OF JULY!


Class up your coffee table!
Bring the masters home and have enrichment and inspiration 
at your fingertips in these fabulous books full of 
glossy prints of your favorite works of art

If you miss this sale you'll be screaming!


Volunteer Guild Bookstore Hours:
Tues & Wed: 10am - 6 pm
Thurs: 10am - 7:30 pm
Fri & Sat: 10am - 4:30 pm
Refreshments for Sale • For more info call 714-826-4100 x 123


Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Book vs. Movie Review: Howl's Moving Castle


The Book: 1986

This children's book by Diana Wynne Jones was published in the 1980s when I would have been part of its target audience, but I didn't discover it until the 2000s.  Nonetheless it quickly became one of my all time favorites.  I don't think there is an age limit for appreciating Howl's Moving Castle - it's one of those books that I turn to when I want something comforting, satisfying, and entertaining, and I always enjoy it no matter how many times I've read it before. 
Sophie, our heroine, is a timid and rather bored young woman who bemoans her fate as an eldest sister, because in a land where fairy-tales are everyday realities, everyone knows that only younger sisters lead lives of adventure and romance.  But Sophie's life takes an unexpected turn when she unwittingly attracts the ire of the Witch of the Waste and finds herself magically transformed into an old woman.  Not wanting to face the shock and sympathy of her family, she runs (or rather hobbles) away, determined to seek her fortune and break the curse.  In doing so, she finds herself teeming up with the infamous Wizard Howl whose magical moving castle has been terrifying the inhabitants of her village.

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Buena Park Community Chorus To Perform Patriotic Songs on June 30th



Celebrate the birth of our nation with The Buena Park Community Chorus on Saturday, June 30th at 2:00 pm in the Donna Bagley Community Room at the Buena Park Library. The Buena Park Community Chorus has been entertaining audiences with their musical talents in various venues throughout Orange County since 1968. The Chorus, under the direction of John Faller, will present a repertoire of patriotic songs as well as songs from their summer show.  This is a musical event the entire family will enjoy.

Friday, June 22, 2012

Evolution of BPLD's Library Cards (Part 2)

Well, I promised you a part 2 and a part 2 you shall receive (unless you forgot about part 1, then in which case we'll call this part 1..it'll be our little secret).  Anyways, I showed you the evolution of our adult cards at the Buena Park Library District in part 1 so this will of course focus on our juvenile cards. 

Let's begin, shall we. 

  • 1982? - 2000
"The yellow card"

The year is 1982.  Ronald Reagan is president, the USSR is beginning to crumble, and kids get their own library card.


This striking yellow card makes perfect sense for children and teens alike as it sticks out, which is great for kids keeping track of their cards.  You'll see below.

  • School ID - Can't find it!
  • Bus Pass - Where is it?!
  • Bright Yellow Library Card - Check! Wow that was easy to find!

See what I mean?

However, remember our little secret from part 1 about the purging of the flies?  Well, it didn't stop at the adult cards.  The juvenile cards also got the dreaded plague.  Once again, I felt the need to reveal it to the world (or whoever is reading this blog) and I circled it in bright red at the bottom for you to see. 


  • 2000 - 2004
"The mouse card"


Times were changing.  Yellow was so last year and lavender-colored cards with a computer mouse and Microsoft Word Clip Art was so in.  The computer mouse represents our growing focus on providing computer access to our community in addition to books.  It was designed by our former employee, Sonia.





And look, there's no purging of any flies on the back of this card as it's been simplified similarly to the adult card.  Unfortunately, you hardly ever see any of these around as the children and teens who had these have grown up and gotten the adult cards.

  • 2004 - present
 To make up for our lack of juvenile cards (I agree, 22 years and only 2 cards to choose from for our young demographic is by no means acceptable!) we gave them a plethora of cards to choose from.

  • 2004 -Present?
"The purple card"

This card was the most popular among children and teens.  Its nice purple color is perfect for youngsters while its maze design is suitable for the more mature crowd.  It was designed by one of our former employees, Sonia or Vince (but Vince designing a purple colored card seems almost absurd so probably Sonia).  Unfortunately, due to the high demand, we have run out of stock on these cards but after numerous requests from kids of all ages, we are seriously considering bringing it back (perhaps yet another blog about a library card?).

  • 2004 - Present
"The hand prints card"


This card is now the most popular since the purple card has been discontinued for the time being.  It is especially popular among younger children because it's bright, colorful, and cheerful.  And there's hand prints everywhere!  And who doesn't like hand prints? For the record, I love 'em! 

  • 2007 - Present
"The gray card"

 This card came a few years later to help complement our other juvenile cards. 


 This card is...well, it's sort of popular...among teenagers pushing 18.  This is the guy card.  The manly card.  The mature card.  The card kids or teens choose when they want to look tough or adult like.  It takes a while to notice but there's a large computer mouse taking up about half of the card on the left which leads to...well, we all think it's a CD, computer, and a book (perhaps to emphasize that we're tech savvy, which we are! But I'm no mind-reader).  To really find out what it means, you would have to ask our former co-worker, Vince, who designed it (I really gotta stop giving him a hard time in these blogs but I'm not feeling like it today).


What's your favorite?