Month: May 2013

Tech News Highpoint For The Week – The All Things D Conference

Linda Reimer

The highpoint this week in tech news has been all the news coming out of the Wall Street Journal All Things D Conference – the conference focuses on technology and is held annual – this is their 11th year — and All Things D staff have interviewed a number of prominent tech industry people like Apple CEO Tim Cook, Roku CEO Anthony Wood and others. The conference ran from May 28 through May 30 and boy did they demo and discuss quite a few cool upcoming and/or evolving tablets.

And I can’t possible talk about all of them in a short blog posting so here are some related links!

This link takes you directly to the All Things D Conference page so you can browse all the text and video news about the conference:

http://allthingsd.com/category/d11/

This link is to a video demo offered at the conference titled “Atheer Looks to Add Human Touch to Futuristic Wearable Computers:” which showcases equipment you can use to interact with the virtual online world by gestures while wearing 3 D glasses:

http://shar.es/wWVFo

Another link to a video titled “Look Ma, No Hands! August “Smart” Lock Takes the Stage at D11. (Video)” which shows how the technology is now available to make your house a smart house very easily and inexpensively so you can turn lights on and off, lock and unlock doors, see if windows or doors are open or control a variety of other devices at your home remotely via your smartphone:

http://shar.es/wWTq4

And this link is to a video interview with Roku CEO Anthony Wood during which he discusses where he thinks the rapidly evolving video streaming technology is going and where, correspondingly, Roku plans to go:

http://allthingsd.com/20130529/whos-at-d-roku-ceo-anthony-wood-on-the-future-of-tv-video/

And here’s a final link to a Digits (that’s the Wall Street Journal daily tech program) video interview  with Harvard Medical School’s Dr. Omid Farokhzad titled “Welcome to the Era of Nanomedicine” which discusses the rapidly evolving medical nanotechnology:

http://live.wsj.com/video/welcome-to-the-era-of-nanomedicine/6667625F-3C3C-4FEA-9792-5C214B9803EB.html#!6667625F-3C3C-4FEA-9792-5C214B9803EB

Have a great weekend!

Linda R.

References

Cha, Bonnie. (2013, May 30). Atheer Looks to Add Human Touch to Futuristic Wearable Computers (Video). All Things D. Online. Accessed May 31, 2013.

Goode, Lauren. (2013, May 29). Look Ma, No Hands! August “Smart” Lock Takes the Stage at D11. (Video). All Things D. Online. Accessed May 31, 2013. 

Digital Catalog Weekend Suggested Reading, Viewing & Listening May 31 – June 2, 2013

Linda Reimer

Here is a list of select Digital Catalog e-books, audio books, albums  and videos  you might enjoy reading, viewing or listening to over the weekend!

Have a great weekend! Linda R.

E-Books:

Fiction:

Dark & Dangerous: A Collection of Paranormal Treats by various authors: In the world of the paranormal, the imagination reigns supreme. Populated by mysterious supernatural beings, mythic creatures and mortals possessing extraordinary powers, the ten enthralling fantasies in this spellbinding collection will transport you to the dark and dazzling realm of ghosts and shapeshifters, werewolves and witches, vampires and demons. Prepare to be mesmerized and beguiled by the seductive power of these dark and sensual immortals as they do battle against evil and long for love and redemption.

Bundle includes: Wild Thing by Julie Kenner, Touch Me by Susan Kearney, Surrender by Julie Leto, Kiss of the Wolf by Susan Krinard, Shadow Kissing by Tanith Lee, by Evelyn Vaughn, Soul of the Wolf by Karen Whiddon, Forever Mine by Linda Winstead Jones, Her Best Enemy by Maggie Shayne and Dancers in the Dark by Charlaine Harris.

Endless Summer by Julie Kenner: Summer has never been sexier! Making Waves by Julie Kenner: Laci Montgomery is determined to be pro surfing’s Golden Girl. Does she need help from her ex–hottie sports promoter Taylor Dutton? No way! Well, not unless she’s on top…

Surf’s Up by Karen Anders: After a crash meeting in the waves, surfer J. C. Wilcox and entrepreneur Zack Fanning practice daring moves that would make fish blush. But is it just sexy fun in the sun–or are they ready to risk their hearts?

Wet and Wild by Jill Monroe: Daredevil Rookie of the Year Andrea “Drea” Powell needs a sponsor. Superstar pro Kirk Murray needs a flashy new surfer to back. The explosive results heat up the competition…and the bedroom!

The Rabbi in the Attic: and Other Stories by Eileen Pollack: In an age of minimalists, Eileen Pollack is a writer of rare generosity. The women and men in The Rabbi in the Attic are complex, vivid people to whom something happens. Their stories take place in small towns in the Catskills, a laboratory of mutant mice in nowhere Tennessee, the backwoods of New Hampshire, the “City of Five Smells” in America’s heartland—worlds rendered with such love and intensity that the simplest objects seem magical. Many of the narrators look back on their pasts. But don’t expect to be lulled by nostalgia. Expect to laugh. To be jolted. And to be moved.

Like most of us, these characters are struggling to understand what they have gained and lost by abandoning the passions and moral certainties of youth. As the narrator of the first story discovers when “barbarian” rock fans invade her town, it can be terrifying to be knocked from the “tiny fixed orbit” of conventional life. But if a person can stretch her imagination far enough, she might also be able to glimpse an “elsewhere” beyond the boundaries of ordinary human limitations.

This battle between the real and ideal is taken to mythic heights in the title novella, in which a novice rabbi must try to evict her Orthodox predecessor from the house provided by her prickly congregation. Only when she tempers her enthusiasm for the new ways with compassion for those who follow the old ways can Rabbi Bloomgarten begin to care for their souls.

Eileen Pollack writes from a Jewish point of view, but her subject is the search for principles that we must all undertake in a world in which religious truths are no longer handed down from parent to child.

Just as one of her characters decides to become a “value assessor,” the author herself helps us to sort through the jumble of objects, ideas, and memories in our own attics. In doing so, she appeals to our minds and our hearts. Her characters teach us that imagination and empathy are our best hope if we are to understand—and perhaps transcend—the pain in our world. Her language is lyrical, rhythmic, and lush. The images in her stories—a chef’s severed hand, a plummeting air conditioner, a village sunk beneath a reservoir—will stay in your mind long after you have finished her book.

A Wanted Man: A Stone Creek Novel by Linda Lael Miller: #1 New York Times bestselling author Linda Lael Miller returns to Stone Creek with a classic tale of two strangers running from dangerous secrets

The past has a way of catching up with folks in Stone Creek, Arizona. But schoolmarm Lark Morgan and Marshal Rowdy Rhodes are determined to hide their secrets–and deny their instant attraction. That should be easy, since each suspects the other of living a lie….

Yet Rowdy and Lark share one truth: both face real dangers. Such as the gang of train robbers heading their way, men Ranger Sam O’Ballivan expects Rowdy to nab. As past and current troubles collide, Rowdy and Lark must surrender their pride to the greatest power of all–undying love.

Non-Fiction

Landscaping For Privacy by Marty Wingate: The area around your home is your haven, your sanctuary, your refuge from the noise and irritation of traffic, eyesores, and nosy neighbors. Or at least it could be if there was some sort of barrier between your front yard and the sidewalk, or if you didn’t have to stare at the back of the neighbors’ garage when you want to relax on your patio.

Landscaping for Privacy brims with creative ideas for minimizing or even eliminating the nuisances that intrude on your personal outdoor space. Scores of real-world examples show you how to keep the outside world at bay by strategically placing buffers (such as berms or groups of small trees), barriers (such as fences), and screens (arbors or hedges, for example) around your property. And the helpful plant lists tell you precisely which varieties to choose in order to enhance your sense of seclusion.

If you’ve ever felt frustrated by the lack of privacy whenever you step outside your home, this inspiring book will steer you toward an achievable solution.

The Next Century by David Halberstam: A stirring examination of global competition and power in the twentieth century What can we learn from the events of twentieth century? With the effects of the Cold War still evident in the global economy and the lives of everyday Americans, master journalist and historian David Halberstam sets out to answer this question. Halberstam’s perceptive The Next Century looks to the future by examining the past. From the rise of the Japanese economy to the startling changes that reshaped the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, Halberstam argues that the American economy’s survival depends on the rededication and continued education of the American worker. As pertinent in today’s economy as it was when first published in 1991, The Next Century is a timeless call to arms, reminding us that we must continually better ourselves in order to compete on the world stage. This ebook features an extended biography of David Halberstam.

Children’s Books:

Alexander, Spy Catcher by Diane Stormer: A seemingly normal October turns into an exciting and terrifying adventure for Alexander and his brother, Ben, when they discover that their uncle Charlie may be in danger because of a secret government project he is working on.

The boys notice strange happenings around their family’s home; for example, why is there a clandestine protected Wi-Fi network on their forest covered property? When Alexander and Ben suspect that their uncle is being spied upon, they agree to warn him about what they’ve discovered. But on the same night that they tell him about their ?ndings, he disappears without a trace.

Now, it’s up to Alexander, Ben, and their family to solve the mystery about what happened to their uncle and bring him home safely. But although they are determined to rescue Charlie, they don’t realize the dangers that lie ahead for them on their journey.

CatBoy by Eric Walters: The wild cat colony Taylor has been caring for is at risk of being destroyed, and in order to save them, Taylor will need the help of all his friends.

Once Upon A Time: A Collection of Classic Fairy Tales by The Brothers Grimm:

This beautifully illustrated collection of 30 tales from far and wide includes:

Snow White

Hansel and Grethel

Cinderella

The Frog Prince

Rumpelstiltskin

The Bremen Town Musicians

The Elves

Little Red Cap

The Fisherman and His Wife

The Sleeping Beauty

Tom Thumb

Rapunzel

. . . and many more.

Albums:

Live at the Circle Room by Nat King Cole Trio

Digital Audio Download Includes:

1. F.S.T. (Opening Theme) (Live) (The King Cole Trio)

2. Oh, But I Do (Live) (The King Cole Trio)

3. I’m Thru With Love (Live) (The King Cole Trio)

4. C Jam Blues (Live) (The King Cole Trio)

5. My Sugar Is So Refined (1st Version) (Live) (The King Cole Trio)

6. I’m in The Mood for Love (Live) (The King Cole Trio)

7. I Found a New Baby (Live) (The King Cole Trio)

8. I Don’t Know Why (I Just Do) (Live) (The King Cole Trio)

9. If You Can’t Smile and Say Yes (Please Don’t Cry and Say No) (Live) (The King Cole Trio)

10. Sweet Georgia Brown (Live) (The King Cole Trio)

11. Sweet Lorraine (Live) (1999 Digital Remaster) (The King Cole Trio)

12. It’s Only a Paper Moon (Live) (The King Cole Trio)

13. One O’Clock Jump (Live) (The King Cole Trio)

14. Everyone Is Saying Hello Again (Live) (The King Cole Trio)

15. Oh, But I Do (2nd Version) (Live) (The King Cole Trio)

16. My Sugar Is So Refined (Live) (2nd Version) (The King Cole Trio)

17. F.S.T. (Closing Theme) (Live) (The King Cole Trio)

Today Is the Highway by Eric Andersen

Digital Audio Download Includes:

1. Today Is the Highway (Eric Andersen)

2. Dusty Box Car Wall (Eric Andersen)

3. Time for My Returning (Eric Andersen)

4. Plains of Nebrasky-o (Eric Andersen)

5. Looking Glass (Eric Andersen)

6. Never Coming Home (Eric Andersen)

7. Come To My Bedside (Eric Andersen)

8. Baby Please Don’t Go (Eric Andersen)

9. Everything Ain’t Been Said (Eric Andersen)

10. Bay of Mexico (Eric Andersen)

11. Song to J.C.B. (Eric Andersen)

12. Bumblebee (Eric Andersen)

Audio Books:

Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom: Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom Series, Book 1 by Julie Kenner, Laura Hicks: Lots of women put their careers aside once the kids come along. Kate Connor, for instance, hasn’t hunted a demon in ages. That must be why she missed the one wandering through the San Diablo Wal-Mart. Unfortunately, he managed to catch her attention an hour later — when he crashed into the Connor house, intent on killing her. Now Kate has to dispose of a dead demon and pull together a dinner party — all without arousing her family’s suspicion. Worse yet, it seems the dead demon didn’t come alone. It’s time for Kate Connor to go back to work.

The Stranger by Camilla Läckberg, Simon Vance: A string of suspicious deaths points to a potential serial killer who has turned his eye toward Fjällbacka and her dark forests, where two children vanished decades before

A local woman is killed in a tragic car crash, but it isn’t a clear-cut drunk driving case. The victim’s blood contains high alcohol levels, yet she rarely drank a drop. Meanwhile, a new television series begins shooting in Fjällbacka, and as cameras shadow the stars’ every move, tempers start to flare. When a drunken party ends with an unpopular contestant’s murder, all eyes turn to the cast and crew. Could there be a murderer among them? The ratings spike as the country tunes in to a real life murder mystery.

Detective Patrik Hedstrom finds himself increasingly unable to focus on the strange circumstances of the first case, but what if that holds the key to a series of other unsolved cases across Sweden? Under the unforgiving media spotlight, Patrik tackles his most challenging investigation yet.

Videos:

Families of Mexico: In Families of Mexico eight-year-old Brizia lives with her parents on her grandparents’ farm. We visit her school and follow her and her friend as they visit the surrounding farms owned by her aunts and uncles, who are making tamales, harvesting cactus for salad, and sorting sesame seeds. Hermaina lives with her family in the port city of Veracruz. Hermaina’s father and mother own an advertising agency, which her father manages. We see her mother teach a dance class at the city’s cultural center, go food shopping, visit Hermaina’s school, and follow her to her swimming lesson. The Families of the World Series takes you on a fantastic journey to another country where you view the unique lives of two children and their families. Each program focuses on a different culture, their way of life, family interaction, foods and even celebrations. Join us in our visit to the countryside, cities, communities, schools and homes of two families—from breakfast to bedtime and all the fun-filled activities in between. This highly acclaimed series has been broadcast on Public Television.

Welcome Home Elvis: In 1957 Timex sponsored a series of TV variety show specials starring Frank Sinatra broadcast on The ABC Television Network. The last in the series taped on 12th of May 1960 in Miami, was perhaps the best of all, featuring Elvis Presley, upon completion of his National Service. This video, remastered from the archive tape of the broadcast, is the original show in it’s entirety including the sponsors promotional segments. While the quality of reproduction may not meet modern technological standards, it is a rare record of two of the most popular performers of the Twentieth Century performing together.

The STLS Digital Catalog may be found on the library’s homepage of SSCLIBRARY.ORG

Or via the following link:

http://stls.lib.overdrive.com/FE5904CF-8A91-4688-A592-7A046C7988D3/10/536/en/Default.htm

And if you have an app device look for the OverDrive Media Console app in your app store – it is the app that will allow you to check out free library e-books and audio books and download them to your tablet or smartphone.

Digital Catalog music and video titles must currently be downloaded to a Windows computer to enjoy.

Have a great weekend!

Linda R.

Windows 8 Update Coming

Linda Reimer

It seems to be rather quiet today tech news wise although I did find a number of articles online that offer info on the upcoming Windows 8 update – Windows 8.1.

Windows 8 has baffled a great many people because when a Windows 8 PC is turned on you see a Start screen of tiles known as Windows Metro and the look is completely different than previous versions of Windows. In fact the Start screen is very reminiscent of a tablet screen so if you’ve used an Apple or Android tablet you’ll known just what to do with a Windows 8 computer as long as the purchasers has actually purchased a touch screen Windows 8 laptop or desktop. And I emphasis the touch screen aspect of Windows 8 because although you can use Windows 8 on a standard non-touch screen computer – it really is best used with a touch screen computer.

And I personally have had a Windows 8 laptop since last October and I haven’t had any difficulties using it. As long as one has a touch screen Windows 8 computer than you only have to remember that Windows 8 has two sides a Start screen tablet side with apps and a more traditional looking desktop side that functions like a traditional Windows desktop except for the fact that it currently does not feature the traditional Windows Start Menu – although there are ways you can fix that right now by installing extra software and later as mentioned later this year Microsoft will roll out the Windows 8.1 update that will restore the Start Menu.

If you’d like to check out a Windows 8 touch screen laptop and see how different it is from previous versions of Windows – stop by the library we have several Windows 8 touch screen laptops that you can sit down and try out.

And here’s a link to one of the many stories about the Windows 8.1 update that have been in the news today; this one is from ABC and is titled “Microsoft Windows 8.1 Features Detailed Start Button Revival and Apps Improvements Coming:”

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/microsoft-windows-81-features-detailed-start-button-revival/story?id=19285011#.UafZc9K1FW4

References

Stern, Joanna. (2013, May 30). Microsoft Windows 8. Featured Detailed: Start Button Revival and App Improvements Coming. 

Apple TV Sales Increase, Tim Cook @ WSJ’s All Things D Conference & Amazon Picks Up Five Pilots & New Dimension Media Titles Available In Prime Library

Linda Reimer

Apple TV Sales Increase: The Verge printed a short article noting one of the things Apple CEO Tim Cook said the Wall Street Journal’s All Things D tech conference yesterday – they noted that according to Cook sales of the Apple TV streaming media player have grown dramatically surpassing 13 million with almost half of that tally of units being sold this year. I thought that was an interesting point to note because it illustrates the shift that is occurring in how people watch movies and television shows – we are moving away from the era where video fans predominantly watched videos offered by cable TV companies like Time Warner Cable & Comcast and moving into an era where more and more video content is offered to video fans on demand via the Internet.

Here’s a link to the short Verge piece titled simply “Apple TV Sales 13 Million to Date;”

http://www.theverge.com/2013/5/28/4374480/apple-tv-sales-13-million-to-date

Tim Cook @ WSJ’s All Things D Conference: And speaking of Apple CEO Tim Cook; Cook gave an interview yesterday to WSJ All Things D tech staff Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher. Cook was as usual mum on details about specific Apple product that are currently in the works but has some interesting things to say about wearable technology, Apple TV (as already mentioned) and Google Glass glasses among other things.

Here’s a link to a text version the Cook All Things D interview:

http://allthingsd.com/20130528/liveblog-apple-ceo-tim-cook-kicks-off-d11/

And a link to a video version of the same interview:

http://allthingsd.com/20130529/apples-tim-cook-the-full-d11-interview-video/

Amazon Picks Up Five Pilots: Amazon has picked up five of its recently created pilots to turn into fully fledge TV series thus dipping its whole foot in the creation-of-TV-shows business! The TV series that it has picked up were voted on by viewers and include “Alpha House” with John Goodman, “Betas” which is a sitcom set in Silicon Valley and three kid’s series “Annebots,” “Tumbleaf” and “Creative Galaxy.

Amazon passed on putting the other nine pilots it created into production as television series based again upon viewer feedback.

Here’s a link to an All Things D article on the subject titled “Amazon’s Pilot Season Ends With Five Pickups:”

http://allthingsd.com/20130529/amazons-pilot-season-ends-with-five-pickups/

New Dimension Media Titles Available In Prime Library: If you like documentaries and you have an Amazon Prime membership you may want to search the Amazon catalog for “New Dimension Media” titles. I noticed this morning that that are many, many short documentary pieces produced by the educational media company in the Amazon Instant Video catalog. Most of the documentaries offer an introduction to a subject and run only thirty minutes so they’re idea of students looking for an introduction to a subject and worth a watch for those of us that simply like documentaries. These short documentaries seem to focus on science, history and bios and include the following titles:

Digestion & Nutrition

Ancient Israel & Jerusalem

The Solar System: Outer Gas Planets

Harrison, Tyler, Polk, & Taylor

Rome: Village To Republic

True Whispers: The Story Of The Navajo Code Talkers

Here’s a link to the Amazon Video page where you can type in “Dimension Media” and see the titles for yourself:

http://www.amazon.com/movies-tv-dvd-bluray/b/ref=topnav_storetab_mov?ie=UTF8&node=2625373011

And if you’d like to check it out here’s a link to the website of the educational production company itself:

http://www.ndmquestar.com/

Have a great day!

Linda R.

P.S. And don’t forget if you just bought, or received as a gift a new tablet, e-reader, PC or other tech item and would like to know more about how to use it — you can make an appointment at the library for a free On-On-One tech session and a member of our tech team will show you the digital ropes! Call the Reference Desk at: 607-936-3713 to make an appointment! Did I mention it is a free service the library offers? It is!

References

Fried, Ina. (2013, May 28). Apple Has More Game-Changing Tech in the Works, Says CEO Tim Cook. All Things D. Online.

Fried, Ina. (2013, May 28). Apple’s Tim Cook: The Full D11 Interview (Video). All Things D. Online. Accessed May 29, 2013.

Kafka. Peter. (2013, May 29). Amazon’s Pilot Season Ends With Five Pickups. All Things D. Online.

Welch, Chris. (2013, May 28). Apple TV sales surpass 13 million, ‘about half’ sold this year. The Verge. Online. Accessed May 29, 2013. 

Cord Cutting Tips, E-Books & Democracy & Tablet Sales To Overtake PC Sales By 2015

Linda Reimer

Cord Cutting Tips: The USA Today featured an article over the weekend titled “5 things to know before cutting cable” which offers some helpful hints for those considering ditching their cable TV subscriptions to stream video from the Internet to their television sets. The tips include being aware that live TV access is limited, that you really need to purchase two streaming boxes like the Apple TV and the Roku player to get the best access to streaming video content and that you can, if you’re not careful – actually spend more money on buying digital videos for a family then you might if you simply paid for a cable subscription package.

Here’s a link to the article which offers more in-depth information on the subject of cord cutting:

http://usat.ly/19a3rsu

E-Books & Democracy: The New York Times featured an editorial on e-books earlier this month that I wanted to share – I just didn’t want to overwhelm everyone by going on too much about e-books at one time so I waited to share the editorial article. The editorial is by Anthony Marx and is titled “EBooks & Democracy” and in it the author notes the basic reasons why public library access to e-books for all patrons is essential in a democratic nation. For example, he notes that   “E-book readership is rising much faster than readership of print books; digital books could soon be the most popular book format. Readership of our e-books soared 168 percent from 2011 to 2012; print circulation, while much larger, remained constant;” and that “For those who cannot afford to buy downloads, digital books from libraries are essential to improving literacy, civic engagement and the technological facility necessary for economic success.” And the author further notes, in relation, that public libraries are currently hindered in their quest to offer patrons access to all e-books by two major things:

  1. The fact that some publishers won’t sell e-books to public libraries

&

2. That some of the publishers that do sell e-books to public libraries sell them at an exceptionally high price. And as the Acquisitions Librarian at the Southeast Steuben County Library I can tell you that both points are true and that second point – about the high prices – boy is Mr. Marx right on the money with that – I see Random House titles in particular – new e-book titles that cost $85 – $100 for one e-book!

And that is my mini-stand, and of course Anthony Marx’s too, on the e-book owners/public libraries rights band wagon for today!

Here’s the link to the New York Times editorial:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/01/opinion/e-books-libraries-and-democracy.html

Tablet Sales To Overtake PC Sales By 2015: Bloomberg Business Week offers an article today titled “Tablets Seen Overtaking Personal Computers by 2015” and it discusses the fact that as the price of tablets comes down more and more people are, and will increasingly be, purchasing inexpensive tablets to surf the web, read their email, Skype and play games upon and that as a result tablet sales will surpass the sales of personal computer by 2015 – so I think that is interesting because it shows a shift in how people access information going from accessing information on a computer (desktop or laptop as home or the office) as has been the case since the late nineties to instead accessing that information on a tablet, or smartphone, from anywhere people happened to be at any time of the day or night.

Here’s a link to the article:

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2013-05-28/pc-market-to-decline-7-dot-8-percent-in-2013-as-tablets-smartphones-gain

Have a great day!

Linda R.

P.S. And don’t forget if you just bought, or received as a gift a new tablet, e-reader, PC or other tech item and would like to know more about how to use it — you can make an appointment at the library for a free On-On-One tech session and a member of our tech team will show you the digital ropes! Call the Reference Desk at: 607-936-3713 to make an appointment! Did I mention it is a free service the library offers? It is! 

References

Komando, Kim. (2013, May 24). 5 things to know before cutting cable. USA Today.

Marx, Anthony. (2013, May 1). E-Book and Democracy. New York Times. Online.

Rapaport, Lisa., & Ricadela, Aaron. (2013. May 28). Tablets Seen Overtaking Personal Computers by 2015, IDC Says (1). Bloomberg Businessweek. Online.  

Suggested Digital Catalog Weekend Reading, Viewing & Listening Items:

Linda Reimer

E-Books:

Fiction:

Acceptable Loss, William Monk Mystery Series, Book 17 by Anne Perry: On a London riverbank, when the body of small-time crook Mickey Parfitt washes up with the tide, no one grieves. But William Monk, commander of the River Police, is puzzled by the murder weapon: an elegant scarf whose original owner was obviously a man of substance. Dockside informers lead Monk to a floating palace of corruption on the Thames managed by Parfitt, where a band of half-starved boys is held captive for men willing to pay a high price for midnight pleasures. Though Monk and his fearless wife, Hester, would gladly reward Parfitt’s killer, duty leads them in another direction–to an unresolved crime, to a deadly confrontation with some of the empire’s most respected men, and ultimately to a courtroom showdown with Monk’s old friend, Oliver Rathbone, in a trial of nearly unbearable tension and suspense.

Hearts of Shadow Deadglass Trilogy Series, Book 2 by Kira Brady: In this brilliant new novel in the Deadglass series, a fierce young woman’s quest entangles her in an apocalyptic endgame—and unexpected desire. . .

Grace Mercer’s unmatched wraith-killing ability made her the unofficial defender of a city shattered by supernatural catastrophe. So there’s no way she’ll allow the new regent of Seattle’s most powerful dragon shifter clan to “protect” her from a vicious evil stalking the ruined streets—and keep her from the freedom she’s risked everything to earn. Leif’s science-honed instincts tell him Grace is the key to keeping shifters and humans safe. But helping this wary fighter channel her untapped power is burning away the dragon’s sensual self-control and putting a crucial alliance at risk. Soon the only chance Leif and Grace will have to save their world will be a dangerously fragile link that could forever unite their souls. . .or consume all in a storm of destruction.

The Lost Continent by Edgar Rice Burroughs: The world has been divided into the western hemisphere and the forbidden lands of the eastern hemisphere. Europe has been isolated from the rest of the world for over two centuries and has spiralled down into primitive barbarism. Read The Lost Continent for a fantastic retake on history, as told by Turck’s adventures in the land that was all but lost to the world.

The Silent Sea by Clive Cussler: The seventh Oregon Files adventure thriller begins on December 7, 1941, when five boys encounter tragedy while looking for buried pirate treasure on a small island off the coast of Washington State. Flash-forward to today: Juan Cabrillo, captain of the Oregon (a high-tech vessel posing as a tramp freighter), is in Argentina, trying to recover a downed NASA satellite. Well, don’t you know, Juan stumbles on something he totally didn’t expect to find, and soon he’s chasing after the secrets of an ancient curse that might still be causing trouble. Fast-paced and a lot of fun, the latest Cabrillo novel delivers the wallop Cussler’s fans have come to expect. Cabrillo himself—he shares his name with a sixteenth-century Portuguese explorer, by the way—makes a fine protagonist, sharp-witted and two-fisted. Considering the Oregon Files novels involve action, exploration, and high-tech gadgetry, it’s surprising no one has turned them into movies yet. The prolific Cussler, who, like James Patterson, now employs coauthors (Du Brul in this case), is often accused of writing by the numbers, but this time those numbers add up to entertaining fare for high-adventure fans. –David Pitt, Booklist

Three Brides, No Groom by Debbie Macomber: Three women meet at their fifteen-year class reunion…and discover that their lives have taken unexpected directions.

Back in their college days, Gretchen Wise had been engaged to a top law student. Carol Furness, head cheerleader, had said yes to the school’s football hero. And Maddie Cobain was the girl who’d fallen for a professor.

Now the three of them gather around a popular fountain on the college grounds. This fountain was where lovers met, where promises were made…and broken. So it’s fitting that Gretchen, Carol and Maddie sit here to share their stories of betrayal and, yes, revenge. Stories of finding new love…

Non-Fiction:

The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks by Jeanne Theoharis: The definitive political biography of Rosa Parks examines her six decades of activism, challenging perceptions of her as an accidental actor in the civil rights movement

Presenting a corrective to the popular notion of Rosa Parks as the quiet seamstress who, with a single act, birthed the modern civil rights movement, Theoharis provides a revealing window into Parks’s politics and years of activism. She shows readers how this civil rights movement radical sought–for more than a half a century–to expose and eradicate the American racial-caste system in jobs, schools, public services, and criminal justice.

Presenting a corrective to the popular notion of Rosa Parks as the quiet seamstress who, with a single act, birthed the modern civil rights movement, Theoharis provides a revealing window into Parks’s politics and years of activism. She shows readers how this civil rights movement radical sought–for more than a half a century–to expose and eradicate the American racial-caste system in jobs, schools, public services, and criminal justice.

United Breaks Guitars: The Power of One Voice in the Age of Social Media by Dave Carroll: Songwriter Dave Carroll wasn’t the first person abused by an airline’s customer service, but he was the first to show how one person, armed with creativity, some friends, $150, and the internet, could turn an entire industry upside down. United Airlines had broken Dave’s guitar in checked luggage. After eight months of pestering the company for compensation, he turned to his best tool—songwriting—and vowed to create a YouTube video about the incident that he hoped would garner a million views in one year. Four days after its launching, the first million people had watched “United Breaks Guitars.” United stock went down 10 percent, shedding $180 million in value; Dave appeared on outlets as diverse as CNN and The View. United relented. Throughout the business world, people began to realize that “efficient” but inhuman customer-service policies had an unseen cost—brand destruction by frustrated, creative, and socially connected customers.

“United Breaks Guitars” has become a textbook example of the new relationship between companies and their customers, and has demonstrated the power of one voice in the age of social media. It has become a benchmark in the customer-service and music industries, as well as branding and social-media circles. Today, more than 150 million people are familiar with this story.

In this book, you’ll hear about how Dave developed the “just do it” philosophy that made him the ideal man to take on a big corporation, what it felt like to be in the center of the media frenzy, and how he’s taken his talents to become a sought-after songwriter and public speaker. Businesspeople will learn how companies should change their policies and address social-media uprisings. Since “United Breaks Guitars” emerged, nothing is the same—for consumers, for musicians, or for businesses. Whether you are a guitarist, a baggage handler, or a boardroom executive, this book will entertain you and remind you that we are all connected, that each of us matters, and that we all have a voice worth hearing.

Albums:

50 Best Patriotic American Classical Music Pieces by Various Artists:

Digital Audio Download Includes:

1. Fanfare for the Common Man (1999 Digital Remaster) (Orquesta Filarmónica de la Ciudad de México/Enrique Bátiz)

2. Rhapsody in Blue (jazzband version): Opening (Wayne Marshall/City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra/Sir Simon Rattle)

3. The Stars and Stripes Forever (Band of HM Royal Marines/Lt-Col. G. A. C. Hoskins)

4. Candide: Overture (London Symphony Orchestra/André Previn)

5. Adagio for Strings, Op.11 (Philadelphia Orchestra/Eugene Ormandy)

6. Shaker Loops (1983): A Final Shaking (London Chamber Orchestra/Christopher Warren-Green)

7. Schindler’s List – Theme (Tasmin Little/New World Philharmonic/Iain Sutherland)

8. Nagoya Marimbas (for two marimbas) (Colin Currie/Sam Walton)

9. Any Other Name (American Beauty) (Nikolaj Bloch/Sally Herbert)

10. Three Occasions for Orchestra: A Celebration of some 100 x 150 notes (City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra/Sir Simon Rattle)

11. A Set Of Pieces For Theater Or Chamber Orchestra: Nr.3: In The Night (Ensemble Modern)

12. Cello Concerto, Op.22: II. Andante sostenuto (Ralph Kirshbaum/Scottish Chamber Orchestra/Jukka-Pekka Saraste)

13. Façades (London Chamber Orchestra/Christopher Warren-Green/John Harle/Simon Haram)

14. Rodeo (1999 Digital Remaster): Buckaroo Holiday (Leonard Slatkin/Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra)

15. Rodeo (1999 Digital Remaster): Hoe-Down (Leonard Slatkin/Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra)

16. Three Dances (2002 Digital Remaster): Dance No. 1 (Michael Tilson-Thomas)

17. My Heart Will Go On (Love Theme from the movie Titanic) (Orchestra/David Abel)

18. Short Ride in a Fast Machine – Fanfare for orchestra (City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra/Sir Simon Rattle)

19. Ashokan Farewell (Nashville Chamber Orchestra/Paul Gambill)

20. On the Town – Three Dance Episodes: III. Times Square: 1944 (Leonard Slatkin/St Louis Symphony Orchestra)

21. Appalachian Spring (1999 Digital Remaster): Doppio Movimento: Variations On A Shaker Hymn (Leonard Slatkin/Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra)

22. Symphonic Dances from West Side Story: II. Somewhere (Paavo Järvi/City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra)

23. The way you look tonight (Swing Time, 1936) (1996 Digital Remaster) (Barry Tuckwell/Sir Richard Rodney Bennett/Ensemble/Neil Richardson)

24. Billy The Kid (1999 Digital Remaster): Celebration (After Billy’s Capture) (Leonard Slatkin/Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra)

25. Porgy and Bess: Summertime (DuBose Hayward) (Dame Kiri Te Kanawa/New Princess Theater Orchestra/John McGlinn)

26. Someone to watch over me (Oh, Kay!, 1926) (2006 Digital Remaster) (Sir Richard Rodney Bennett)

27. The School for Scandal Overture Op. 5 (Leonard Slatkin/Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra)

28. An American in Paris (Leonard Slatkin/St Louis Symphony Orchestra)

29. Manhattan Beach (Timothy Foley – The Great American Main Street Band)

30. Three Preludes (2006 Digital Remaster): No. 1 in B flat (Sir Richard Rodney Bennett)

31. Three Preludes (2006 Digital Remaster): No. 2 in C sharp minor (Sir Richard Rodney Bennett)

32. Three Preludes (2006 Digital Remaster): No. 3 in E flat minor (Sir Richard Rodney Bennett)

33. Concerto for Orchestra: Introduction (Misterioso) (London Sinfonietta/Oliver Knussen)

34. Concerto for Orchestra: I. Allegro non troppo (London Sinfonietta/Oliver Knussen)

35. Concerto for Orchestra: II. Presto volando (London Sinfonietta/Oliver Knussen)

36. Concerto for Orchestra: III. Maestoso (London Sinfonietta/Oliver Knussen)

37. Concerto for Orchestra: IV. Coda (London Sinfonietta/Oliver Knussen)

38. Concerto for Orchestra: Coda (Allegro molto)…

(P) This compilation (P) 2011 EMI Records Ltd.

American Patriotic Music by Various Artists:

Digital Audio Download Includes:

1 The Star Spangled Banner (arr. B. Holcombe): The Star Spangled Banner

10 Lincoln Portrait (Aaron Copland)

2 The Stars and Stripes Forever : The Stars and Stripes Forever (John Philip Sousa)

3 God Bless America (arr. R. Ringwald): God Bless America (Irving Berlin)

4 Semper Fidelis (John Philip Sousa)

5 My country ’tis of thee, “America” (arr. D. Pearson): My country ’tis of thee, “America” (Samuel Francis Smith)

6 The Glory of the Yankee Navy (John Philip Sousa)

7 America the Beautiful (arr. M. Hayes): America, the Beautiful (Katharine Lee Bates)

8 The New York Hippodrome (John Philip Sousa)

9 Battle Hymn of the Republic (arr. J. Rutter): Battle Hymn of the Republic (Julia Ward Howe)

Videos:

America in World War II: The Home Front: While the Storm Clouds Gather (Volume 1 of 10) (PBS): Journalist Eric Sevareid narrates this engrossing continuation of the series BETWEEN THE WARS. Shocked into action by the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Americans respond with an exhilarating sense of common purpose and help build the world’s most powerful war production machine. Wartime newsreels, documentaries, movies, music, and humor chronicle changes in American ideals, lifestyles, and morals in the 1940s and 1950s.

Note: This is part 1 of a series of 10 parts.

Zora’s Roots (PBS): This program examines the life of author and anthropologist Zora Neale Hurston, best known for her novel Their Eyes Were Watching God.

This program examines the life of author and anthropologist Zora Neale Hurston. The film follows Hurston, best known for her novel Their Eyes Were Watching God, to the subtropical paradise that shaped her childhood and her life’s work – the place to which she returned again and again over the seven decades of her life for research, inspiration and solace. Filmed in high definition, the documentary tells her story through the people who knew her and the places and events that she brought to the world through her research and writing

You may access the STLS Digital Catalog by clicking the link on library’s homepage found at: SSCLIBRARY.ORG

Or via the following link:

http://stls.lib.overdrive.com/FE5904CF-8A91-4688-A592-7A046C7988D3/10/536/en/Default.htm

And if you have an app device look for the OverDrive Media Console app in your app store – it is the app that will allow you to check out free library e-books and audio books.

Digital Catalog music and video titles must currently be downloaded to a Windows computer to enjoy.

Have a great  holiday weekend!

Linda R.

 

Accessing The Online Library of Congress Collections, New iPad Shazam App, New Mailbox iPad App, What’s Next Digital Content Trend-Wise & Corning Inc. On Gorilla Glass

Linda Reimer

Wow, all I can say is so many interesting personal technology related stories and so little time!

Here are links to five interesting articles relating to personal technology!

1. Accessing The Online Library of Congress Collections: The New York Times has a short piece in their Gadgetwise column today titled “Tip of the Week: Touring the Library of Congress Digital Collections” which offers tips about what items/collections you can access for free on the Library of Congress website. If you haven’t taken a look at the LOC website recently – I urge you to check it out they have some really cool collections as does the Digital Public Library of American – their site too is free to access.

Here’s a link to the New York Times column:

http://gadgetwise.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/05/23/tip-of-the-week-touring-the-library-of-congress-digital-collections/

A link to the Library of Congress site:

http://www.loc.gov/index.html

And a link to the Digital Public Library of America site:

http://dp.la/

2. New Shazam App For iPad: If you’re not familiar with it Shazam has had an iPad app out for quite a while – and it is one of the neat ones that will “listen” to a song playing in the background and tell you what it is so you can buy it and listen to that great song any time you want to. And they have just updated their app and made it even better! The new and improved app has a bunch of new features and my favorite of them is the ability to allow Shazam to listen to television programs and tell you which program your are watching – for all those times when you catch the last five minutes of a show and/or hear a clip from a TV show while you’re out and about and would like to watch the entire show later – now Shazam can help you with that! The app is free from the app store.

And here’s a link to a Mashable article titled “Shazam Launches New App For iPad” that will tell you more about the new Shazam app bells and whistles:

http://mashable.com/2013/05/23/shazam-ipad-app/

3. New Mailbox iPad App: The Mailbox app for the iPhone has been available for a while and now there is an iPad app too. And if you’re not familiar with it the Mailbox app offers you a few more organizational features if you use it to read your mail on the iPad than does the native iPad email client (the built in one that comes with the iPad right  out of the box).

Here’s a link to a Mashable article on the subject that will tell you more titled simply “Mailbox Comes to iPad:”

http://mashable.com/2013/05/23/mailbox-ipad/

4. What’s Next Digital Content Trend-Wise:  The American Library Association has just put out a report titled “Digital Content: What’s Next” which speculates on what public libraries can and should do to continue to offer patrons the access to digital content that they want and expect in our quickly-changing-rapidly-advancing technological world! This is the perfect article for library and tech fans!

The Digital Book Word article “Digital Content: What’s Next” can be accessed via this link:

http://www.digitalbookworld.com/2013/digital-content-whats-next/

And the 30 page American Library Association article itself on digital content can be accessed via the following link:

http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/7d9e3366#/7d9e3366/2

5. Corning Inc. On Gorilla Glass: There have been a number of tech articles circulating recently speculating that just perhaps sapphire glass might be used to manufacture tablet and smartphone screens in the near future. And Corning Inc. has a word or two to say on the subject – and basically what they say is that their Gorilla Glass is superior by far to sapphire glass which is, among other things, quite a bit heavier than Gorilla Glass.

There are several articles out now that note what Corning spokesmen have said about Gorilla Glass but I went right to the horse’s mouth and found an article on the Corning Inc. website that says – well, the article offers facts and video clips that illustrate why Gorilla Glass is the superior glass for use in manufacturing displays for tablets, smartphones and other devices.

The Corning article is titled: n” Corning® Gorilla® Glass Now Found On More Than 1.5 Billion Devices Continuing innovation to fuel future versions Sapphire not seen as major threat” and here’s the link:

http://www.corning.com/news_center/features/gorillaglasssuccess.aspx

Have a great day!

Linda R.

References

Biersdorfer, J. D. (2013, May 23). Tip of the Week: Touring the Library of Congress Digital Collections. New York Times. Onlne.

Corning® Gorilla® Glass Now Found On More Than 1.5 Billion Devices: Continuing innovation to fuel future versions: Sapphire not seen as major threat. (2013, May). Online.

Fiegerman, Seth. (2013, May 23). Mailbox Comes to iPad. Mashable. Online.

Inouye, Alan. (2013, May 23). Digital Content: What’s Next. DBW. Online.

Price, Emily, (2013, May 23). Shazam Launches New App For iPad. Mashable. Online. 

And as usual — I have to say — don’t forget if you just bought, or received as a gift a new tablet, e-reader, PC or other tech item and would like to know more about how to use it — you can make an appointment at the library for a free On-On-One tech session and a member of our tech team will show you the digital ropes! Call the Reference Desk at: 607-936-3713 to make an appointment! Did I mention it is a free service the library offers? It is! 

The New Battle For Your TV, Voice Commands & Internet Connecting Glasses (Like Google Glass) May Be Mainstream Within Three Years

Linda Reimer

It has been super swamped today in library land thus a shorter than usual Tech Talk posting!

However, I have come across three cool articles I wanted to share!

  1. The New Battle For Your TV: New online/streaming consoles are coming Microsoft and Sony (Xbox One & PlayStation 4) later this year that will have more bells and whistles and do their best to merge the best of streaming boxes like the Roku player and Apple TV with gaming consoles like the Xbox and PlayStation. The tech site The Verge has a neat article on this very subject titled “With Xbox One and PlayStation 4, Microsoft and Sony rekindle the war for your TV” – here’s the link:

http://www.theverge.com/2013/5/21/4351892/xbox-one-playstation-4-comparison-sony-microsoft-next-generation

  1. Voice Commands: Both Apple and Android tablets and smartphones now have the capability for you to enter voice commands (i.e. Apple’s Siri) and according to CNET this year may just be the year this technology becomes mainstream and integrated into our daily lives.

Here’s a link to the CNET article titled “2013 Is The Year Of The Voice Command:”

http://news.cnet.com/8301-33617_3-57585521-276/2013-is-the-year-of-the-voice-command/

  1. Internet Connecting Glasses (Like Google Glass) May Be Mainstream Within Three Years: And the tech site Slash Gear offers an article on Internet connecting glasses like Google Glass – the article speculates that within three years this technology, like the voice command technology, will become mainstream and be integrated into our daily lives.

The Slash Gear article is called “Wearables like Glass and Flex could be a $50bn industry in 3 years” – here’s the link:

http://www.slashgear.com/wearables-like-glass-and-flex-could-be-a-50bn-industry-in-3-years-21282924/

 

Have a great day!

Linda

References

Davis, Chris. (2013, May 21). Wearables like Glass and Flex could be a $50bn industry in 3 years. Slash Gear. Online.

Parr, Ben. (2013, May 21). 2013 is the year of the voice command: Thanks to Google, Apple, Microsoft, Nuance and a few other tech giants, voice recognition has reached a place where it’s consumer ready. CNET. Online.

Welch, Chris. (2013, May 21). With Xbox One and PlayStation 4, Microsoft and Sony rekindle the war for your TV. The Verge. Online.

 

P.S. And don’t forget if you just bought, or received as a gift a new tablet, e-reader, PC or other tech item and would like to know more about how to use it — you can make an appointment at the library for a free On-On-One tech session and a member of our tech team will show you the digital ropes! Call the Reference Desk at: 607-936-3713 to make an appointment! Did I mention it is a free service the library offers? It is! 

 

In The Future Will Robots Take Care Of The Elderly?

Linda Reimer

The New York Times featured an interesting article yesterday titled “Helper Robots Are Steered, Tentatively, To Care for the Aging” and it discusses technology that is almost here that will allow us to have robots in our homes to do certain tasks – and those robots will even be able to assist the disabled or elderly in doing certain tasks. The is subject of having robots assist elderly people in their homes brings up the debate of how much technology in our lives can be considered too much because the argument can be made that people should take care of people and that robots shouldn’t. However, this subject is likely to be in the news frequently in the near future because the number of people over the age of 65 is growing and the number of human workers that are available to assist people with special needs, including the elderly, is shrinking.

And on another note the article makes another interesting point – that the seniors that were asked about having a robot in their home to assist them wanted the robots to look as human as possible if they were doing anything other than mundane tasks like vacuuming the floor.

It is an interesting article and you can access it via the following link:

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/05/19/disruptions-helper-robots-are-steered-tentatively-to-elder-care/?ref=technology

Have a great day!

Linda R.

P.S. And don’t forget if you just bought, or received as a gift a new tablet, e-reader, PC or other tech item and would like to know more about how to use it — you can make an appointment at the library for a free On-On-One tech session and a member of our tech team will show you the digital ropes! Call the Reference Desk at: 607-936-3713 to make an appointment! Did I mention it is a free service the library offers? It is! 

References

Bilton, Nick. (2013, May 20). Disruptions: Helper Robots Are Steered, Tentatively, To Care for the Aging: 

Weekend Digital Catalog Suggested Reading, Viewing & Listening

Linda Reimer

Here is the list of suggested digital reading, viewing and listening titles for this weekend!

The Four Corners of the Sky by Michael Malone: (An e-book that is now available for everyone!); No holds for this title because it is the OverDrive Big Library Read title!): In small towns between the North Carolina Piedmont and the coast the best scenery is often in the sky. On flat sweeps of red clay and scrub pine the days move monotonously, safely, but above, in the blink of an eye, dangerous clouds can boil out of all four corners of the sky…The flat slow land starts to shiver and anything can happen.

In such a storm, on Annie Peregrine’s seventh birthday, her father gave her the airplane and minutes later drove out of her life. Thus begins an enchanting novel that bursts with energy from the first pages, and sweeps you off on a journey of unforgettable characters, hilarious encounters, and haunting secrets.

The Four Corners of the Sky is master storyteller Michael Malone’s new novel of love, secrets, and the mysterious bonds of families. Malone brings characters to life as only he can, exploring the questions that defy easy answers: Is love a choice or a calling? Why do the ties of family bind so tightly? And is forgiveness a gift to others…or a gift we give ourselves?

Flora by Gale Godwin: The family members Helen depended on are gone. She lost her mother some years before, and her beloved grandmother has just passed away. And now her father has left town to work on a top secret military project at Oak Ridge during the final months of World War II. Helen is wise beyond her years, but a ten-year-old cannot be left on her own to fend for herself. Her father arranges a summer guardian, Flora, her late mother’s twenty-two year old first cousin who cries at the drop of a hat. A fiercely imaginative child, Helen is desperate to keep her house intact, with all its ghosts and stories. Flora is the good-hearted, modest cousin who wants to do her best for Helen. Their relationship and its fallout, played out against a backdrop of a lost America, will haunt Helen for the rest of her life.

Inferno by Dan Brown: In his international blockbusters The Da Vinci Code, Angels & Demons, and The Lost Symbol, Dan Brown masterfully fused history, art, codes, and symbols. In this riveting new thriller, Brown returns to his element and has crafted his highest-stakes novel to date.

In the heart of Italy, Harvard professor of symbology Robert Langdon is drawn into a harrowing world centered on one of history’s most enduring and mysterious literary masterpieces . . . Dante’s Inferno.

Against this backdrop, Langdon battles a chilling adversary and grapples with an ingenious riddle that pulls him into a landscape of classic art, secret passageways, and futuristic science. Drawing from Dante’s dark epic poem, Langdon races to find answers and decide whom to trust . . . before the world is irrevocably altered.

Nicholas by Grace Burrowes: Nicholas Haddonfield has something to hide…After a wild youth, Nicholas Haddonfield, Viscount Reston, has promised his ailing father he’ll finally take a bride, though doing so will force Nick to make impossible choices and face old, painful wounds.

Leah Lindsey is glad to find refuge from her own desperate situation in a marriage of convenience with the gallant viscount. But soon convenience is not enough, and Leah can’t understand why Nick remains so distant. What is he hiding, and will he never allow her into his heart?

An extraordinary and passionate tale of courage tested and fears overcome. Once you enter the lush Regency world of award-winning New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Grace Burrowes, you’ll never want to leave.

E-Books For Kids:

The Elephant Mountains by Scott Ely: An unprecedented series of hurricanes has swollen the Mississippi River to unheard-of levels and is threatening to put New Orleans and most of the low-lying areas of the South under water. Fifteen-year-old Stephen is spending the summer with his father near a small town north of Lake Pontchartrain when another powerful hurricane arrives and the levees on the Mississippi River completely fail. In the anarchy and chaos that results, Stephen’s father is killed, and the boy is left to fend for himself. Stephen soon encounters Angela, a college student whose parents have also been killed. Navigating the labyrinth of flooded fields and towns in an airboat, the two set out in search of Stephen’s mother and higher ground. Armed with both guns and the skills his survivalist father has taught him, and repeatedly confronted by those who will kill for food, water and weapons, Stephen struggles to maintain hope and his humanity in the face of violence and desperation.

The Enchanting World of Garden Irene McGeeny by Concetta Kennedy: Garden Irene McGeeny has a secret. One that she’s not supposed to tell anybody. It is that her family lives in an underground castle! She tries to keep her secret, but she mistakenly blurts it out during class—the rest of the students don’t believe her. Peter, who becomes an unlikely friend, tries to prove her wrong, which leads Garden to do the unthinkable: take him to her home! Realizing the trouble Garden would be in if her parents find out or if the rest of the kids at school know the truth, Garden and Peter try to keep the secret a secret. Will the rest of the kids find out? Will the truth of Garden’s home become known by all?

The Ark of Dun Ruah, Book 1 by Maria Burke: Reached #1 on the Irish Children’s Fiction Bestseller list!’Where are you going in such a hurry?’ Kerry asked Pod, the blue Owl. He flitted nervously around her shoulders. ‘the eagles are after me,’ he panted. ‘they’re coming around the corner. this time they’ll get me. I’m done for…’The quiet life of Kilbeggin is shattered when a horde of Giant Eagles descend on it. They are bent on an evil mission. Brother and sister Simon and Kerry Macken are hurled into an adventure almost beyond their control. No one believes their friend Pod, the blue Owl, when he claims that the eagles are trying to abduct him. Simon witnesses a vicious eagle attack on a mysterious stranger in a grey cloak. And it’s clear that this man has some kind of supernatural power over the eagles.On board the legendary ship, the Ark of Dun Ruah, Pod comes face to face with the deadly force of evil, this threat comes form a remote monastic island. Does the man in the grey cloak really have power over the eagles? How can he hold back a tyrannical eagle King and his army of brainwashed hit men?Giant Eagles are far from being extinct, they have the power to carry grown men to their deaths. What chance does a grumpy old owl and his friends have against them?…Author:Maria Burke lives in Cork with her husband and eleven year old son. She is a writer, radio presenter and artist. She worked as a primary school teacher for some years and her love of story telling started there. This is Maria’s first novel and the first in the “Ark of Dun Ruah series”. The next book is “Protectors of the Flame”.

Suggested Album:

All The Best by Tina Turner:

Digital Audio Download Includes:

1. Open Arms (Tina Turner)

2. Nutbush City Limits (Ike And Tina Turner)

3. What You Get Is What You See (Tina Turner)

4. Missing You (Tina Turner)

5. The Best (Tina Turner)

6. River Deep Mountain High (Ike And Tina Turner)

7. When The Heartache Is Over (Tina Turner)

8. Let’s Stay Together (Album Version) (Tina Turner)

9. I Don’t Wanna Fight (Single Edit) (Tina Turner)

10. Whatever You Need (Tina Turner)

11. I Can’t Stand The Rain (Tina Turner)

12. Goldeneye (Tina Turner)

13. I Don’t Wanna Lose You (Tina Turner)

14. Great Spirits (Tina Turner)

15. Proud Mary (Tina Turner)

16. Addicted To Love (Live at Camden Palace, London) (1994 Digital Remaster) (Tina Turner)

17. In Your Wildest Dreams (Tina Turner)

18. Private Dancer (Single Edit) (Tina Turner)

19. Why Must We Wait Until Tonight (7” Edit) (Tina Turner)

20. Typical Male (Tina Turner)

21. Tonight (1999 Digital Remaster) (David Bowie With Tina Turner)

22. Complicated Disaster (Tina Turner)

23. On Silent Wings (Single Edit) (Tina Turner)

24. Something Special (Tina Turner)

25. We Don’t Need Another Hero (Thunderdome) (Tina Turner)

26. It’s Only Love (Bryan Adams with Tina Turner)

27. Cose Della Vita (Eros Ramazzotti With Tina Turner)

28. Steamy Windows (Tina Turner)

29. Paradise Is Here (Tina Turner)

30. What’s Love Got To Do With It (Tina Turner)

31. Better Be Good To Me (Tina Turner)

32. Two People (Tina Turner)

33. Something Beautiful Remains (Tina Turner)

Suggested Audio Books:

Cherished by Maya Banks: Two all-new novellas that cross the boundaries of desire. Exiled by Maya Banks—Enticed to the island paradise where an enigmatic prince is living in exile, beautiful, virginal Talia is introduced to a world of forbidden pleasure where the prince’s every whim is fulfilled and her fantasies are rendered in exquisite detail. But when the prince is summoned back to fulfill his duty to his struggling country, reality is thrust upon Talia all too soon. She returns home, heartbroken, convinced she was a passing fancy for an idle ruler and his most trusted men. Until the day they arrive on her doorstep, determined to have her back where she belongs. Sway by Lauren Dane—Levi Warner is an established, older man—wealthy, powerful, and above all, respectable. Then Levi meets Daisy, an uninhibited 24-year-old dance instructor and artist, not exactly the kind of woman Levi is accustomed to. But the young, free spirit, brings out something in him he only experienced in fantasies. When their scorching affair turns into something unexpectedly deeper, Levi finds himself torn between preserving his reputation, and exploring a wilder and much more satisfying kind of life.

Misled, Carnal Thirst Series, Book1 by Sylvia Day: Special Task Force agent Derek Atkinson has a craving for luscious vampire Sable Taylor. But Sable is a bounty hunter, which makes him direct competition in the capture of wanted criminals. Despite the obvious attraction between them, she won’t give him a chance and after two years, he’s tired of waiting for her to come around. So he’s got a plan to give them both what they want… each other.

Sable’s on a dangerous mission. She’s not who Derek thinks she is, so a relationship just isn’t possible. But like most master vampires, Derek’s wily and used to having his way. When he traps her on his ship, she decides to indulge. Two straight days of mind-blowing sex should be enough, but it isn’t, not for either of them. Her heart is involved now, but Sable can’t let Derek get too close. If he finds out what she’s doing, he’ll never forgive her.

Derek, however, refuses to let go. Now he’s getting shot at and asking questions she shouldn’t answer. Sable has to reveal the truth… Derek’s love has been misled.

Suggested Videos:

Easy Piano:  Covers all the basics a beginner needs to know! Have you ever wished you could play the piano, but didn’t know where to start? Easy Piano is the answer. Just follow along with the step-by-step personal lessons, and you’ll be playing tunes for your friends in no time. Easy-to-use lesson menus. Expert demonstrations. Demonstration of correct technique by an expert. Lessons & tunes at basic & advanced levels. Learn by ear or use guide to reading music. Pieces & chords to practice. Step-by-step video lessons. Easy-to-follow, close-up views of both hands. Interactive menu selection.

Easy Yoga: Discover a timeless path to physical and spiritual health, fitness and wellness! For centuries, people all over the world have practiced a system of mind and body exercise called Yoga. This interactive video presents the ancient practice of Yoga as a modern way of thinking and living that brings order and balance to busy lives. Our trained yoga expert will take you through a series of positions that can build your body’s strength and flexibility, while bringing you toward inner peace and harmony. Just relax and follow along! Learn international styles. Learn exercises for body & soul. Video demonstrations of many popular yogic postures. Shows full sequences for individual postures. Learn breathing & meditation techniques, standing & seated postures, back bends, stretches …and more!

The STLS Digital Catalog may be found on the library’s homepage of SSCLIBRARY.ORG

Or via the following link:

http://stls.lib.overdrive.com/FE5904CF-8A91-4688-A592-7A046C7988D3/10/536/en/Default.htm

And if you have an app device look for the OverDrive Media Console app in your app store – it is the app that will allow you to check out free library e-books and audio books.

Digital Catalog music and video titles must currently be downloaded to a Windows computer to enjoy.

Have a great weekend!

Linda R.

As usual —

P.S. And don’t forget if you just bought, or received as a gift a new tablet, e-reader, PC or other tech item and would like to know more about how to use it — you can make an appointment at the library for a free On-On-One tech session and a member of our tech team will show you the digital ropes! Call the Reference Desk at: 607-936-3713 to make an appointment! Did I mention it is a free service the library offers? It is!