Out with a Rush!

December can fly by with a rush in a normal year...but this one is definately one for the record books.  In terms of weather, the cold and snow kept our storytime attendence sadly to a minimum.  Library attendence in general however seemed less effected.  Fortunately, we all desire a good book or movie no matter what the effort needed to get to the library!! Let us all hope that the New Year brings us bluer skies and calmer winds, with more sun and less snow!

Thanksgiving Crafts!

Everyone should have a childhood memory of tracing your hand with a crayon and creating your very own "Thanksgiving Turkey".  (If you do not have that memory, I strongly suggest you give it a try this year!) 

Our storytime craft this week was incredibly fun!  We each traced our hands in crayon and created some of the most creative and beautiful turkeys ever to grace a Thanksgiving table.

Some years ago I found the following poem:
This isn't just a turkey, as you can plainly see.
I made it with my hand, which is a part of me.
It comes with lots of love, especially to say, I hope you have a very, Happy Thanksgiving Day!"

Crayons, construction paper and imagination make some of the best holiday decorations ever!

Your "Excellent" Library!

The Oakland Public Library has been awarded the “Excellent Accreditation Designation” by the Nebraska Library Commission. There are three different levels of service which a Nebraska library can strive for, Essential, Enhanced and finally, Excellent. Reaching and maintaining service at each level takes time and efforts of library staff and supporters. It has been, and remains to be, the goal of the Oakland Public Library to provide quality service to our library patrons and surrounding community! Thank you to the Nebraska Library Commission for their support and encouragement given to all Nebraska Libraries!

We have a beautiful new display case!!

I have visited many libraries and one of the things I have often admired in each one is their display case. Located in various areas of different libraries these cases are often used to showcase a community member's special collection. It may be a collection created by the individual, a form of art work or craft; or it may be a collection following a theme, such as a collection of sport memorabilia, antique dishes, or community history.


The Oakland Public Library was recently fortunate to purchase a lovely display case which may be viewed in the library. Prominently visible when entering or leaving the library, this case is locked at all times to ensure the protection of the collection on display. We appreciate that any items featured in the library’s display case are someone’s treasures and we wish to show our gratitude by securing these items while under our supervision.

R. Kevin Anderson graciously offered to be the first to fill our glass shelves by bringing in a variety of antique glassware. This was a beautiful display that brought immediate attention to our new case. It was not uncommon to hear complimentary “oohhhs” and “aaahhhs” coming from our library patrons each day.

Joanne Peterson has brought to the library the color of fall as the second to fill our library case. Her display features beautiful marigold carnival glass complimented by fall decorations. The sunlight on this glassware brings out the beautiful iridescent sheen that is unique to each piece. It is truly a pleasure to view.

Thank you to Kevin and Joanne for their willingness to share their personal collections with us! We will be featuring special Christmas items during the month of December and have even had interest for January already. We all have collections even though we may not realize the interest they may inspire in others. If you are willing to share your items as a display in the library case I encourage you to call or stop in the library for more details.

A Few more new titles to choose from...

True Blue by David Baldacci

And Another Thing…by Eoin Colfer

Montana Rose by Mary Connealy

Cowboy Christmas by Mary Connealy

Scarpetta Factor by Patricia Cornwell

Pursuit of Honor by Vince Flynn

Once in a Blue Moon by Eileen Goudge

Grave Secret by Charlaine Harris

Blood Games by Iris Johansen

Strength in What Remains by Tracy Kidder

The True Gift by Patricia MacLachlan

Southern Lights by Danielle Steel

October Book Club Readers!!

     The Last Monday night of October the library will host a discussion of Leah Stewart's title "The Myth of You & Me".   Pick up a copy today and join us Monday Oct 26 @ 7 pm for a wonderful discussion!
     "When Cameron was fifteen, she and Sonia were best friends-so close it seemed nothing would ever come between them.  Now Cameron is a 29 year old research assistant with no meaningful ties to anyone except her aging boss, noted historian Oliver Doucet.
      Nearly a decade after the incident that ended their friendship, Cameron receives an unexpected letter from her old friend.  Despite Oliver's urging, she doesn't reply.  But when he passes away, Cameron discovers that he has left her with one final task: to track down Sonia and hand-deliver a mysterious package to her. 
      The Myth of You and Me captures the intensity of a friendship as well as the real sense of loss that lingers after the end of one.  Searingly honest and beautiful, it is a celebratin and portrait of a friendship that will appeal to anyone who still feels that absence of that first true friend." -book cover.

Annie Freeman's Fabulous Traveling Funeral

Ladies, your book club copies of Kris Radish's "Annie Freeman's Fabulous Traveling Funeral" are in and waiting for you!! Stop in soon and get your copy! Looks like fun reading!

New Library Materials!!

Thanks for the Memories by Cecelia Ahern
Breaking the Rules by Barbara Taylor Bradford
13 ½ by Nevada Barr
There Goes the Bride by M.C. Beaton
9 Dragons by Michael Connelly
The Gates by John Connolly
The Christmas List by Richard Paul Evans
Plum Pudding Murder by Joanne Fluke
A Touch of Dead by Charlaine Harris
Evidence by Jonathan Kellerman
Black Friday by Alex Kava
The Perfect Christmas by Debbie Macomber
Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger
Hardball by Sara Paretsky
The Professional by Robert Parker
Rough Country by John Sandford
House of Reckoning by John Saul
Sweet Love by Sarah Strohmeyer
A Measure of Mercy by Lauraine Snelling
Ghost King by R.A. Salvatore
Monster in the Box by Ruth Rendell
The Sound of Sleigh Bells by Cindy Woodsmall
Lakeshore Christmas by Susan Wiggs

Non-fiction:
Where Men Win Glory; The Odyssey of Pat Tillman by Jon Krakauer
Racing Toward Armageddon by Michael Baigent
175 Best Camp Games; a handbook for leaders
Cosmic Collisions; the Hubble Atlas of Merging Galaxies
Native American Clothing; an illustrated history

Large Print Fiction:
Pilgrims by Garrison Keillor
Hothouse Orchid by Stuart Woods
Have a Little Faith; a true story by Mitch Albom

Audio books:
Have a Litte Faith; a true story by Mitch Albom
Wagons West: Independence by Dana Fuller Ross

Encyclopedia Britannica Online Reference Center

The Oakland Public Library now offers to its patrons an online access to Encyclopedia Britannica! As a patron of the library you merely click on the link listed on our blog site and enter your patron number. It is as simple as that. Don't know your patron number? Call or stop in the library today. Your patron number gives you free access to our library materials, free access to the Nebraska Overdrive downloadable audio books and now...free access to Encyclopedia Britannica!
Our Encyclopedia Britannica site provides a link to Britannica Online for Kids! Just look to the right at the top of the Britannica site and click, play and learn!

The National Parks

The National Parks

Posted using ShareThis

September Book Club Selections

The afternoon bookclub met Thursday, Sept 3rd, in the library. Their topic was "humorous stories". It was a general consensus that humorous books lost something great with the passing of Erma Bombeck. To find a humorous book today takes a bit more research.
Today, fictional stories with humor often include a variety of storylines and varying ranges of emotion. You may have to have a box of tissues beside you while reading a book that will later offer “laugh out loud” humor as well!
A variety of titles were discussed, including “Annie Freeman’s Fabulous Traveling Funeral” by Kris Radish. Fellow author Jacquelyn Mitchard is quoted on the cover saying “Move over, Thelma, and make way, Louise! Annie Freeman’s raucous and heart-tugging journey to eternity will put Kris Radish on the map—in a red Cadillac!” Kris Radish is a fun author, new to our library shelves with the titles: “The Elegant gathering of white snows”, “Dancing naked at the edge of dawn”, The Sunday list of dreams” and “Searching for Paradise in Parker, PA”.

Our evening bookclub meets the last Monday evening of September, the 28th, at 7 pm, when we will be discussing Jason Peter’s memoir, “Hero of the Under-ground”. Jason Peter was an All-American and a member of three National Championship football teams at the University of Nebraska, co-captaining the championship team his senior year. He was an NFL first-round draft pick by the Carolina Panthers. He is now married and lives in Lincoln, Nebraska. “Hero of the Under-ground” details his short, frenzied life as a drug user, honestly detailing the depths of his despair from seeking the next high.

From humorous fiction to grim reality, you can find it all in books and our bookclub groups offer an excellent location to share in a broad range of discussion! Pick up a copy and join us Monday, September 28th at 7pm!

Recent memorial purchases in the library

Purchased in Loving Memory of Marjorie Schold with memorials from her family and friends include the following books:

New Complete Home Landscaping from Creative Homeowner by Catriona Tudor Erler

Prairie Lands: Gardener’s Guide by Cathy Wilkinson Barash

Learn to Garden: a practical introduction to gardening by DK

Betty Crocker Country Cooking

Taste of Home Simple & Delicious Cookbook

The Best of Cooking Light: everyday favorites

Swedish Cakes and Cookies

Complete Conditioning for Football; forward by Tom Osborne

Ultimate Golf Techniques by DK

Nebraska Huskers Trivia Challenge: the unofficial test for Husker Fans

New Library Materials

New Books:
The Apostle: A Thriller by B Thor
Blindman's Bluff: A Decker and Lazarus Novel by F Kellerman,
The Deep Blue Sea for Beginners by L Rice,
Fire and Ice by Jance
The Girl Who Played with Fire by S Larsson
The Grift by D Ginsberg
Intervention by R Cook
Rain Gods by J Burke
Rules of Vengeance by C Reich
Smash Cut by S Brown
South of Broad by P Conroy
That Old Cape Magic by R Russo
The Traffickers by WEB Griffin
Vanished by J Finder
While I'm Falling by L Moriarty
The Name of This Book Is Secret by Bosch (YA)
The Hunger Games by Collins (YA)
The Knife of Never Letting Go by Ness (YA)
The Siege of Macindaw (Ranger's Apprentice #06 ) by Flanagan (YA)

New Audiobooks
Another thing to fall by L Lippman
City of Thieves by D Benioff
The Ice Queen by A Hoffman
Marley & Me by J Grogan
Resilience by E Edwards
Rosie Dunne by C Ahern
The Shack by W Young

New Non-fiction
The End of Empire: Attila the Hun and the Fall of Rome by Kelly,
Eve Arnold's People
My Anxious Mind: A Teen's Guide to Managing Anxiety and Panic

New Videos
Coraline
De-Lovely, the Cole Porter Story
The Greatest Story Ever Told
Inherit the Wind
Left Behind
Left Behind; Tribulation Force
Left Behind; World at War
Lion in the Winter
Milk
Nights in Rodanthe

Blog Tour

I would like to point out some of the links on this blog. On the left side of your screen are located several items that you can click on. The first is the library's email address. The second is our online card catalog. You can use this link to browse the Oakland Public Library card catalog and then email the library with any questions or hold requests.
Next is Nebraska Overdrive Audiobooks. For over a year our library has offered this service to our library patrons. A brief overall description is as follows from http://www.nlc.state.ne.us: "Nebraska Overdrive Libraries is a shared, growing collection of digital audiobooks available through Digital Library Reserve. The content is available to patrons of participating libraries through the Overdrive/DLR system.The site is designed for remote use by library patrons or by download to Overdrive Download Stations at the library. Users access the digital materials via the web. Materials may be checked out for a limited period of time, downloaded to a patron's computer or other device and are then automatically returned to the collection when the checkout time expires."
Farther down is the link to NebraskAccess. NebraskAccess provides Nebraska residents with free 24/7 access to thousands of full-text magazine, journal, and newspaper articles, biographical and business information, genealogical resources, and more. These resources are available at no cost to Nebraska residents because the Nebraska Library Commission purchases subscriptions for Nebraskans with funding from the State of Nebraska and the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services.
My Blog List offers links to other blogs of interest to library issues. For a guided tour of any of these sites, stop in the library during library hours.

Monthly Library BookClubs

The Oakland public library supports two separate book clubs. Each meets in the library, one the First Thursday @ 2 pm, the other the Last Monday @ 7 pm. Both groups encourage and welcome new members. I will be posting on this site title choices for the group’s monthly discussions.
This afternoon (Aug 6) is the first Thursday and the book for discussion is “Night” by Elie Wiesel. Elie Wiesel is the author of more that forty internationally acclaimed works of fiction and nonfiction. He has been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States of America Congressional Gold Medal, the French Legion of Honor, and, in 1986, the Nobel Peace Prize. He is the Andrew W. Mellon Professor in the Humanities and University Professor at Boston University.
Further information and resources can be found at http://www.nightthebook.com/.
Our Monday night group, which meets August 31, will be discussing “Love and Other Impossible Pursuits” by Ayelet Waldman. This author is a first time read for many of us. In “Love…” Waldman writes with wry candor and tender humor, tackling the absurdities of modern life and reminding us why we love some people no matter what. Further information and resources for “Love…" can be found at http://www.readinggroupguides.com/guides3/love_other_impossible_pursuits1.asp

New Territory!

I have been considering our library having its very own blog for sometime now. For many reasons...one being that blogs are FREE! as opposed to the annual fees required when posting a web site. Secondly, you-our patrons-can follow this blog and stay current to any and all library news! So put us in your favorites and keep in touch with the Oakland Public Library. Here you will find listings of new materials as they are added to our library shelves! You may contact us through this blog to request holds and renewals on library materials that you have checked out. Have a question? Your library has the answer!