Tag: hoopla

Suggested Reading Five: April 23, 2026

Linda Reimer

Hi everyone, here are our five suggested reads of the week!

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The Antiquarian’s Object of Desire by India Holton

Professors Amelia Tarrant and Caleb Sterling are best friends working in the field of magical antiquities and mired in the gender politics of Oxford University–which means no one can ever know they are best friends and that no one takes the brilliant Amelia seriously. The two bicker, create chaos, and pretend to hate each other in public, while secretly leaning on each other to navigate the world. When a staged argument gets out of hand, their faculty head banishes them to the country and tasks them with investigating a collection of possibly magical objects at a country manor house. In the company of an ever-growing collection of irritating–and perhaps villainous–people, Amelia and Caleb navigate mayhem, undertake intellectual inquiry, and finally admit that the sparks they generate when they pretend to hate each other are actually the embers of a delightful romantic life. VERDICT The follow-up to The Geographer’s Map to Romance is the best of the “Love’s Academic” trilogy, rich with magical and academic details, a zany plot that moves the story forward, and a tender, engaging romance. It sees all the series’ couples united and offers a lovely note of acceptance and appreciation.-Library Journal Review 

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The Mother-Daughter Book Club: A Novel by Susan Patterson & James Patterson 

Elin, Mariella, and Grace met in college, and Jamie later joined their tight-knit friend group that now includes the four women’s five now-adult daughters. Three years after their last Mother-Daughter Book Club, which ended in disaster, the crew is meeting at Mariella’s house on Lake Como for a weekend planned to the hilt that will include wine, yoga, boat rides, and a little bit of talking about books. As pastor Grace (still a virgin at 60) finds romance, Elin’s daugther, neurologist Brigid, is conspiring with Jamie to hide a secret. This is written by James Patterson with his wife, Susan, with whom he collaborated on Things I Wish I Told My Mother (2023), so despite its relationship-fiction trappings, there’s lots of plot that keeps the pages turning, especially the big reveal at the end. Chapters alternate among the nine women–helpfully labeled with the name of the narrator–giving a full picture of a weekend away, bolstered by delicious descriptions of meals and scenery. Fans of Elin Hilderbrand’s The Five-Star Weekend (2023) will enjoy this girls’ trip to Italy. 

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Queen and Her Presidents: The Hidden Hand That Shaped History by Susan Page 

The Crown meets The West Wing in this illuminating history that chronicles the largely unknown story of Queen Elizabeth II’s relationship with thirteen American presidents, from Harry S. Truman to Donald J. Trump. With that, she changed the world. 

No American or foreign leader has met with as many sitting presidents as Queen Elizabeth II. Her Royal Majesty’s seventy-year reign witnessed the highs and lows of the close and crucial alliance between the U.S. and the U.K., from the Suez crisis to Brexit. 

Following the advice of her mentor, Winston Churchill, to “stay close to the Americans,” Queen Elizabeth played an unexpected role behind the scenes that has never been thoroughly explored. In The Queen and Her Presidents, veteran political reporter Susan Page goes beyond the image of a staid monarch in colorful hats to reveal a skilled strategist, who, like many powerful women, was routinely underestimated and discounted. 

Page also shows the impact American presidents had on the monarch as she developed from a shy, anxious princess to a powerful and persuasive global leader, and analyzes both the reach and the limits of the “soft power” she wielded. These accounts of the Queen’s deft diplomacy provide candid and telling assessments of her partners in the Oval Office as well. 

Page shares fascinating true stories and details, including: 

Going beyond rumors and speculation, the reality of the relationship between Donald Trump and Queen Elizabeth – and Trump’s own surprising comments about the monarch whose approval he coveted. 

The unexpected and genuine connection between the Queen and Barack Obama, and her surprising admission to him, and how each ranked the other as among the most impressive leaders of their lifetimes. 

Her influential friendship with Ronald Reagan during the Cold War, a bond built on their shared love of horses—and their conflict with Britain’s then Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher. 

How Richard Nixon sought the Queen’s help during Watergate—and even wanted to make her a relative. 

Elizabeth’s hand-in-glove cooperation with John F. Kennedy and the distance from his successor, Lyndon Johnson, the only president who declined to meet with her in office. 

The almost paternal role played by Harry Truman and Dwight Eisenhower, offering support and advice as the young monarch assumed the crown in the wake of her beloved father’s death. 

Eye-opening and compelling, featuring an 8-page color photo insert, The Queen and Her Presidents is a remarkable chronicle of a legendary contemporary monarch and the American presidents who helped shape who helped shape her—and were shaped by her. 

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When It’s Your Turn For Midnight by Blessing Musariri 

When fifteen-year-old Chianti learns that her dad isn’t her biological father, her family splinters. Chianti goes to stay with her maternal grandmother, Ambuya, an eccentric and formidable ex-freedom fighter in Zimbabwe’s civil war. Ambuya’s closest neighbors are the gogos: her three best-friends-turned-business-partners, who take Chianti under their wings. They make a living by upcycling choice items of secondhand clothing—when their supply chain’s not being disrupted by thieves. In between helping with the gogos’ business, Chianti becomes fascinated by a box of her grandmother’s old photos. As she wrestles with the ghosts of their past as well her own, she realizes that time is slippery, that family isn’t defined by blood, and that it’s never too late for a transformation. 

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Where the Music Had to Go: How Bob Dylan and the Beatles Changed Each Other—and the World by Jim Windolf 

Windolf, an editor at the New York Times, traces “the long and eventful relationship” between Bob Dylan and the Beatles, weaving a riveting narrative from anecdotes “scattered piecemeal across biographies, out-of-print memoirs, and long-buried articles,” as well as recent interviews, most notably with Paul McCartney. Windolph reveals striking parallels in the artists’ origins, from their upbringing in the declining industrial towns of Hibbing, Minnesota, and Liverpool to their transformative encounters with the music of Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, and, especially, Little Richard. At the heart of this comparative biography is a dynamic exchange of influence: Dylan and the Beatles met, partied, shared songs, and challenged one another in ways both generous and competitive. When they first met in New York in 1964, the Beatles, already global stars, were passing around Dylan’s records obsessively; within months, their songwriting began to shift in response. As Dylan pushed beyond the constraints of folk toward electrified experimentation, the Beatles turned inward, embracing acoustic textures and greater lyrical ambition. Lively, incisive, and deeply researched, Windolf’s account captures the specific, consequential moments in a creative dialogue; one that didn’t just shape two towering acts but irrevocably expanded what popular music could say, sound like, and mean.- Starred Booklist Review  

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Happy reading!

Linda Reimer, SSCL

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Weekly Suggested Reading Five postings are usually published on Wednesdays, unless Monday is a holiday and then they are published later in the week.

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Note: Book summaries are from the respective publishers unless otherwise specified.

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Information on the four library catalogs

The Digital Catalog aka Libby: https://stls.overdrive.com/

The Digital Catalog, is an online catalog containing eBooks, eAudiobooks, and digital magazines. You can use your library card and checkout content on a PC; you can also use the companion app, Libby, to access titles on your mobile devices; so you can enjoy eBooks and eAudiobooks on the go!

All card holders of all Southern Tier Library System member libraries can check out items from the Digital Catalog.

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Hoopla Catalog: https://www.hoopladigital.com/

The Hoopla Catalog features on demand checkouts of eBooks, eAudiobooks, comic books, albums, movies and TV shows. Patron check out limit is 10 items per month.

Hoopla is a Southeast Steuben County Library service available to all Southeast Steuben County Library card holders.

The Hoopla companion app, also called Hoopla is available for mobile devices, smart TVs & media streaming players.

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Kanopy Catalog: https://www.kanopy.com/en

The Kanopy Catalog features thousands of streaming videos available on demand.

The Kanopy Catalog is available for all Southern Tier Library System member library card holders, including all Southeast Steuben County Library card holders!

You can access the Kanopy Catalog through a web browser, or download the app to your phone, tablet or media streaming player (i.e. Roku, Google or Fire TV).

–

StarCat: The catalog of physical/traditional library materials: https://starcat.stls.org

Card holders of all Southern Tier Library System member libraries can access StarCat to search for and request materials available at libraries through out the Southern Tier Library System.

–

Have questions about how to access Internet based content (i.e. eBooks, eAudios)? Feel free to drop by the Reference Desk or call the library and we will assist you! The library’s telephone number is: 607-936-3713.

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Tech & Book Talk is a Southeast Steuben County Library blog.

Suggested Reading Five: April 8, 2026

Linda Reimer

Hi everyone, here are our five suggested reads of the week!

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The Bridge Back To You by Riss M. Neilson

Neilson (A Love Like the Sun) crafts a heartfelt second-chance romance, bringing together Carmello Rodriguez and Olivia Jones through an unexpected inheritance. When Carmello’s late mother Celia leaves him 75 percent of her Filipino restaurant–with 25 percent going to his ex-girlfriend Olivia–the two professional chefs spend hours in Celia’s kitchen cooking together, rekindling favorite memories, and addressing their past relationship through their dual perspectives. Neilson excels at weaving cultural identity into the narrative. Carmello, of Filipino and Dominican descent, introduces his heritage through his passion of food, while Olivia explores her own multiracial identity and unique upbringing. Additionally, Neilson’s discussion of disabilities, such as chronic illnesses, includes a thoughtful portrayal of how they affect daily life. The couple’s honest communication feels genuine and is enhanced by posthumous emails from Celia that illuminate Carmello’s protectiveness as a father, Olivia’s nomadic lifestyle, and how their intertwined past shaped who they’ve become. VERDICT A slow-burn, small-town romance that beautifully demonstrates how food, family, and culture can bridge the past and present. Perfect for readers seeking emotional depth with a culinary heart.–Starred Library Journal Review

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The Delivery by Andrew Welsh-Huggins

Merc Carter is not your typical deliveryman. A former postal inspector, he specializes in moving sensitive or dangerous packages—of all sorts—from point A to B. And sometimes he needs his gun to do so. Carter’s current mission leads him to Providence, Rhode Island, but his delivery is interrupted when he comes across a woman badly injured in a car wreck in the pouring rain. Then a man with a gun appears warning Carter away from the scene and Carter leaps into action, disarming the attacker and rescuing the crash victim.

Just as Carter thinks the danger has passed, he discovers a deeper mystery stemming from the crash, a deadly puzzle involving a memorable pair of grifters, a crooked ex-cop, stolen identities, human trafficking, and murder. And it appears that Carter’s next assignment will put him right in this conspiracy’s perilous center . . .

The follow-up to last year’s acclaimed hit, The Mailman, which launched the Mercury Carter series, The Delivery is a fast-paced, unpredictable thriller following a memorable protagonist whose resourcefulness is matched only by his quick wit and determination to never miss a delivery. – from the publisher

Reader’s Note: The Delivery is the second book in the Mercury Carter series. If you’d like to start reading the series from the beginning, check out book one: The Mailman.

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Dream Deferred: Jesse Jackson and the Fight for Black Political Power by Abby Phillip

CNN anchor Phillip debuts with a fresh and illuminating account of Jesse Jackson’s 1984 and 1988 presidential campaigns. Starting from Jackson’s childhood in segregated Greenville, S.C., Phillip traces his development into a prominent civil rights leader. Jackson became Martin Luther King Jr.’s “man in the North,” helming boycott campaigns that pressured companies into hiring more Black workers. He also took a growing interest in harnessing Black electoral power, spearheading efforts to register Black voters and aiding in the 1983 election of Chicago’s first Black mayor, Harold Washington, a victory that inspired Jackson to pursue his own presidential run. Phillip surveys the two Jackson campaigns’ notable achievements, including embarrassing President Reagan by negotiating directly with Syrian president Hafez al-Assad for the return of an imprisoned Black Navy lieutenant, and building his multiethnic “rainbow coalition” in part by advocating for white farmers. Phillip also delves into the campaigns’ catastrophic missteps, most destructively Jackson’s antisemitic reference to New York City as “Hymietown,” which derailed his 1984 bid. She also offers a striking analysis of Jackson’s continued influence, showing how his campaign prefigured the contemporary progressive platform and to some extent foreshadowed the populist agendas of both Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump. The result is a paradigm-shifting reassessment of a progressive firebrand’s legacy. – Starred Publishers Weekly Review

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The Lust Crusade by Jo Segura

The third in Segura’s Raiders of the Lost Heart series features a sassy librarian and a hot, nerdy archaeologist. Dani Guiterrez has had a crush on her brother’s best friend since they were both teenagers, and when he disappears and is presumed dead, she is heartbroken. After a lifetime of playing it safe, Dani books a trip to Greece to mourn Theo in his favorite place. But she’s not there long before she sees Theo, who’s been kidnapped by smugglers who believe that he can lead them to a priceless ruby known as the Eye of the Minotaur. The kidnappers believe that she is his fiance, and Dani is soon caught up in the search. Starting as a slow burn, it eventually becomes a smoking inferno. Both of them have a hard time confessing their feelings, and there are several miscommunications, but Dani and Theo have amazing chemistry. Readers who love a good adventure romance combined with Greek mythology will not be able to put this one down. For fans of Ali Hazelwood and Sara Desai. – Booklist Review

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Moonlight Runner by Karen Robards

The brilliant Robards (Some Murders in Berlin, 2024) presents a captivating wartime adventure set it Ireland in 1918. The Irish are rebelling against the British for their independence and many of the locals are getting involved in dangerous acts. Rynn Carmichael is a 22-year-old local who is working as a nurse at Ballyshannon Court, a large family estate turned hospital during the war. Rynn discovers that her fiance , as well as her close childhood friends, are in a dire situation in which she involves herself. Several times over, in fact, starting with gun smuggling, murder, healing, and hiding the men who are fighting for Ireland. Trying to keep herself safe but also willing to support Ireland in whatever way she can, Rynn keeps getting embroiled in dangerous situations. This is an epic tale of feminine heroism, patriotism, and a touch of romance. With rich historical details of Ireland and London, descriptions of everything from fashion to classism, violence, and war, The Moonlight Runner captures readers right from the start. This page-turner is a must for historical fiction fans. – Booklist Review

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Happy reading!

Linda Reimer, SSCL

–

Weekly Suggested Reading Five postings are usually published on Wednesdays, unless Monday is a holiday and then they are published later in the week.

–

Note: Book summaries are from the respective publishers unless otherwise specified.

–

Information on the four library catalogs

The Digital Catalog aka Libby: https://stls.overdrive.com/

The Digital Catalog, is an online catalog containing eBooks, eAudiobooks, and digital magazines. You can use your library card and checkout content on a PC; you can also use the companion app, Libby, to access titles on your mobile devices; so you can enjoy eBooks and eAudiobooks on the go!

All card holders of all Southern Tier Library System member libraries can check out items from the Digital Catalog.

–

Hoopla Catalog: https://www.hoopladigital.com/

The Hoopla Catalog features on demand checkouts of eBooks, eAudiobooks, comic books, albums, movies and TV shows. Patron check out limit is 10 items per month.

Hoopla is a Southeast Steuben County Library service available to all Southeast Steuben County Library card holders.

The Hoopla companion app, also called Hoopla is available for mobile devices, smart TVs & media streaming players.

–

Kanopy Catalog: https://www.kanopy.com/en

The Kanopy Catalog features thousands of streaming videos available on demand.

The Kanopy Catalog is available for all Southern Tier Library System member library card holders, including all Southeast Steuben County Library card holders!

You can access the Kanopy Catalog through a web browser, or download the app to your phone, tablet or media streaming player (i.e. Roku, Google or Fire TV).

–

StarCat: The catalog of physical/traditional library materials: https://starcat.stls.org

Card holders of all Southern Tier Library System member libraries can access StarCat to search for and request materials available at libraries through out the Southern Tier Library System.

–

Have questions about how to access Internet based content (i.e. eBooks, eAudios)? Feel free to drop by the Reference Desk or call the library and we will assist you! The library’s telephone number is: 607-936-3713.

–

Tech & Book Talk is a Southeast Steuben County Library blog.

Suggested Listening & Viewing: January 2, 2026

Linda Reimer

Happy Friday everyone & best wishes for a happy, healthy & prosperous 2026! 

As is now the post-holiday season, the library is open our usual hours today and tomorrow, 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. today (Friday) and 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday.  

This week’s Suggested Listening & Viewing blog post has been cancelled due to a challenge pitched the library’s way by YouTube itself. It seems that YouTube thinks the new library IP address might be malicious, and so it is blocking anyone using YouTube at the library to access videos without signing in.

  

So instead of sharing the music and trailer clips I was going to share, I will share information about how you can access digital library content, some of which, for example anything in the Hoopla or Kanopy catalogs, offers on-demand access.  

And I should note, you can probably access YouTube as a guest, without logging in at your location if you’ve done it before – or have used your internet service for a long time. As you may know, you can search for songs, music playlists (i.e. New Years Jazz, New Year’s Easy Listening etc.) or ambience videos (i.s. Winter Fireplace, Coffee Shop Jazz, relaxing ambience, snow falling background music etc). Just go to https://www.youtube.com/ and type whatever your subject in the search box.

Having said that, let’s jump in! 

The library has four catalogs you can access online; and you can look at all four without a library card; however, to actually do anything in any catalog, except look that is, you have to have a library card.  

1. StarCat: The catalog of physical library materials for the entire Southern Tier Library System; where you can go to see what items you have checked out and place holds for items. StarCat can be accessed through the library’s website found at https://ssclibrary.org/ or you can go directly to the catalog by clicking/tapping on the following link: https://starcat.stls.orgStarCat does not feature a companion app.  

2. Hoopla: This catalog, the only one of the four listed that is only accessible to SSC Library patrons (meaning you need a library card from our library that starts with the numbers 10014)* features the following digital content: audiobooks, eBooks, comics, TV shows, movies and albums. All content is available on-demand – so you don’t have to wait for it. Hoopla features a companion app, which you can access from the store on your mobile device or smart tv. You can also access Hoopla through a web browser on a computer by going to the following webpage: https://www.hoopladigital.com/ 

3. Kanopy: This catalog features streaming videos for the whole family. Kanopy is an on-demand catalog. You can download the Kanopy app through the app store on your mobile device or smart V, or access it online via the following link: https://www.kanopy.com/en/catalog 

4. Libby (formerly OverDrive): Libby features eBooks, digital audiobooks and digital magazines. The eBooks and audiobooks are available in the one copy/one user lending model; which means they may be checked out just like print books one-cop-per-one-patron at a time. The magazines are available in the simultaneous access/on demand lending model. You can access Libby by downloading the app from your app store, or by going to the Digital Catalog online, and it is available in two web browser formats the newer one is: https://libbyapp.com and the older one, which long time library patrons will recognize is https://stls.overdrive.com/  

Have a great weekend everyone! 

Linda Reimer, SSCL  

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*Hoopla is the lone catalog of the four mentioned, that is paid for solely by the Southeast Steuben County Library; and that is why it is available only to Southeast Steuben County Library cardholders.

The other three catalogs, StarCat, Libby & Kanopy, are paid for by the 48-member Southern Tier Library System, which our library is a member of – and those catalogs can be logged into by anyone with a card from any of the Southern Tier Library System member libraries, which includes all the public libraries in Steuben, Chemung, Yates, Allegheny and Schuyler Counties.

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Suggested Listening: August 8, 2025

Linda Reimer

Hi everyone, welcome to our Suggested Listening posting for this week!

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Albert’s Shuffle by Michael Bloomfield & Al Kooper

 

Found on the Album: Super Sessions (1968)

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Blues Chase The Blues Away by Buddy Guy

Found on the Album: Ain’t Done With The Blues (2025)

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I Been Down by Margie Joseph

 

Found on the Album: Margie Joseph (1973)

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Last Night by The Mar-Keys

 Found on the Album: Stax Revue: Live In ‘65! (2025)

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Nobody’s Fault but Mine by Katie Henry 

  

From The Album: Get Goin’ (2024)

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Red Rooster by Carla Thomas 

  

Found on the Album: Carla (1966)

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Sit Down I Think I Love You by Buffalo Springfield 

  

Found on the Album: Buffalo Springfield (1966)

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Slow Ride by Bonnie Raitt 

  

Found on the Album: Luck of the Draw (1991)

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Soul Searching by The Electric Flag 

Found on the Album:  American Music Band (1968)

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Too Far To Be Gone by Shemekia Copeland

 

Found on the Album: Done Come Too Far (2022)

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Hoopla Album of the Week (this week a short music-related audiobook!) 

The Blues: A Very Short Introduction by Elijah Wald 

Here’s a YouTube preview of the audio:

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Have a great weekend,

Linda Reimer, SSCL

–

Suggested Listening postings are published on Fridays.

–

Information on the four library catalogs

The Digital Catalog aka Libby: https://stls.overdrive.com/

The Digital Catalog, is an online catalog containing eBooks, eAudiobooks, and digital magazines. You can use your library card and checkout content on a PC; you can also use the companion app, Libby, to access titles on your mobile devices; so you can enjoy eBooks and eAudiobooks on the go!

All card holders of all Southern Tier Library System member libraries can check out items from the Digital Catalog.

–

Hoopla Catalog: https://www.hoopladigital.com/

The Hoopla Catalog features on demand checkouts of eBooks, eAudiobooks, comic books, albums, movies and TV shows. Patron check out limit is 10 items per month.

Hoopla is a Southeast Steuben County Library service available to all Southeast Steuben County Library card holders.

The Hoopla companion app, also called Hoopla is available for mobile devices, smart TVs & media streaming players.

–

Kanopy Catalog: https://www.kanopy.com/en

The Kanopy Catalog features thousands of streaming videos available on demand.

The Kanopy Catalog is available for all Southern Tier Library System member library card holders, including all Southeast Steuben County Library card holders!

You can access the Kanopy Catalog through a web browser, or download the app to your phone, tablet or media streaming player (i.e. Roku, Google or Fire TV).

–

StarCat: The catalog of physical/traditional library materials: https://starcat.stls.org

Card holders of all Southern Tier Library System member libraries can access StarCat to search for and request materials available at libraries through out the Southern Tier Library System.

–

Have questions about how to access Internet based content (i.e. eBooks, eAudios or streaming videos)? Feel free to drop by the Reference Desk or call the library and we will assist you! The library’s telephone number is: 607-936-3713.

–

Visit the Southeast Steuben County Library website for more information on the library, its programs and services: https://ssclibrary.org

Suggested Listening April 11, 2025

Linda Reimer

Hi everyone, welcome to our Suggested Listening posting for this week!

Suggested Listening postings are published on Fridays; and our next Suggested Listening posting will be out on Friday, April 18, 2025.

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Last week we listened to a collection of songs by the great bluesman Muddy Waters, who was born April 4, 1915 (or 1913 – there is some question about the year); and this week we will listen to a collection of songs by a variety of other artists who were born during the month of April.  

 

The Little Old Lady (From Pasadena) by Jan & Dean (Jan Barry was born April 3, 1941) 

 

Found on the LP: Jan and Dean’s Greatest Hits (1991) 

 

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Ramrod by Duane Eddy (Duane Eddy was born in Corning, on April 26, 1938) 

 

Found on the Album: Have Twangy Guitar Will Travel (1958) 

  

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I Heard It Through The Grapevine by Marvin Gaye (Born April 2, 1939) 

 

Found On The Album: In The groove (1968) 

 

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Let’s Stay Together by Al Green (Born April 13, 1946) 

 

Found on the Album: Let’s Stay Together (1972) 

  

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Flying Home by Lionel Hampton (Born April 20, 1908) 

 

Found On The Album: Flying Home (1965) 

  

–  

 

Cantaloupe Island by Herbie Handcock (Born April 12, 1940) 

  

Found On The Album: Empyrean Isles (1964) 

  

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What A Little Moonlight Can Do by Billie Holiday (Born April 7, 1915) 

 

Found On The Album: The Essential Billie Holiday  (2010) 

 

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Dedicated To You by Freddie Hubbard (Born April 7, 1938) 

 

Found On The Album: The Body And The Soul (1964) 

 

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Oh, Pretty Woman by Roy Orbison (Born April 23, 1936) 

 

Found On The Album: The Essential Roy Orbison (2006) 

 

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St. Louis Blues by Bessie Smith (Born April 15, 1894) 

 

Found On The Album: The Essential Bessie Smith (2013) 

 

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Have a great weekend,

Linda Reimer, SSCL

–

Information on the four library catalogs

The Digital Catalog aka Libby: https://stls.overdrive.com/

The Digital Catalog, is an online catalog containing eBooks, eAudiobooks, and digital magazines. You can use your library card and checkout content on a PC; you can also use the companion app, Libby, to access titles on your mobile devices; so you can enjoy eBooks and eAudiobooks on the go!

All card holders of all Southern Tier Library System member libraries can check out items from the Digital Catalog.

–

Hoopla Catalog: https://www.hoopladigital.com/

The Hoopla Catalog features on demand checkouts of eBooks, eAudiobooks, comic books, albums, movies and TV shows. Patron check out limit is 10 items per month.

Hoopla is a Southeast Steuben County Library service available to all Southeast Steuben County Library card holders.

The Hoopla companion app, also called Hoopla is available for mobile devices, smart TVs & media streaming players.

–

Kanopy Catalog: https://www.kanopy.com/en

The Kanopy Catalog features thousands of streaming videos available on demand.

The Kanopy Catalog is available for all Southern Tier Library System member library card holders, including all Southeast Steuben County Library card holders!

You can access the Kanopy Catalog through a web browser, or download the app to your phone, tablet or media streaming player (i.e. Roku, Google or Fire TV).

–

StarCat: The catalog of physical/traditional library materials: https://starcat.stls.org

Card holders of all Southern Tier Library System member libraries can access StarCat to search for and request materials available at libraries through out the Southern Tier Library System.

–

Have questions about how to access Internet based content (i.e. eBooks, eAudios or streaming videos)? Feel free to drop by the Reference Desk or call the library and we will assist you! The library’s telephone number is: 607-936-3713.

–

Tech & Book Talk is a Southeast Steuben County Library blog.

Suggested Listening April 4, 2025

Linda Reimer

Hi everyone, welcome to our Suggested Listening posting for this week!

Suggested Listening postings are published on Fridays; and our next Suggested Listening posting will be out on Friday, April 11, 2025.

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This week our musical spotlight is on a single musician, Muddy Waters, who was born Mckinley Morganfield on April 4, in Rolling Fork, Mississippi; there is some discrepancy over whether he was born in 1913 or 1915, although recent research suggested the 1913 date, is in fact the correct one; in any case, today is the anniversary of his birth.

He began playing guitar as a youth, was nicknamed “Muddy” by his grandmother as a child, moved to Chicago in 1943, became one of the pillars of the post-war electric blues scene, influencing countless other musicians and guitarists and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with its first class, in 1987.

To put it succinctly, his influence on blues, soul and rock & roll is incalculable!

For more information check out either of the following resources:

From PBS: https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/muddy-waters-cant-be-satisfied/730/

And from the site Mississippi Writers and Musicians:

https://www.mswritersandmusicians.com/mississippi-musicians/muddy-waters-mckinley-morganfield#bio

And here is a collection of classic Muddy Waters songs:

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Country Blues

From The Album: Down On Stovall’s Plantation (2004) (The 1941 Library of Congress Recordings)

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I’Be’s Troubled  

 

 From The Album: Down On Stovall’s Plantation (1966/2004) (The 1941 Library of Congress Recordings)

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I Just Want To Make Love To You

From The Album: The Best of Muddy Waters (1957) (Chess Records)

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I’m Ready

From The Album: The Best of Muddy Waters (1957) (Chess Records)

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Rolling Stone

From The Album: The Best of Muddy Waters (1957) (Chess Records)

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She Moves Me

From The Album: The Best of Muddy Waters (1957) (Chess Records)

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I Feel So Good  

From The Album: Sings Big Bill Broonzy (1960)

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When I Get To Thinking (1960) 

From The Album: Sings Big Bill Broonzy (1960)

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My Home Is In The Delta

From The Album: Folk Singer (1964)

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Hoopla Album of the Week

The Chess Box (1989) by Muddy Waters

And from the box set the song:

 Louisiana Blues 

 

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Have a great weekend,

Linda Reimer, SSCL

–

Information on the four library catalogs

The Digital Catalog aka Libby: https://stls.overdrive.com/

The Digital Catalog, is an online catalog containing eBooks, eAudiobooks, and digital magazines. You can use your library card and checkout content on a PC; you can also use the companion app, Libby, to access titles on your mobile devices; so you can enjoy eBooks and eAudiobooks on the go!

All card holders of all Southern Tier Library System member libraries can check out items from the Digital Catalog.

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Hoopla Catalog: https://www.hoopladigital.com/

The Hoopla Catalog features on demand checkouts of eBooks, eAudiobooks, comic books, albums, movies and TV shows. Patron check out limit is 10 items per month.

Hoopla is a Southeast Steuben County Library service available to all Southeast Steuben County Library card holders.

The Hoopla companion app, also called Hoopla is available for mobile devices, smart TVs & media streaming players.

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Kanopy Catalog: https://www.kanopy.com/en

The Kanopy Catalog features thousands of streaming videos available on demand.

The Kanopy Catalog is available for all Southern Tier Library System member library card holders, including all Southeast Steuben County Library card holders!

You can access the Kanopy Catalog through a web browser, or download the app to your phone, tablet or media streaming player (i.e. Roku, Google or Fire TV).

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StarCat: The catalog of physical/traditional library materials: https://starcat.stls.org

Card holders of all Southern Tier Library System member libraries can access StarCat to search for and request materials available at libraries through out the Southern Tier Library System.

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Have questions about how to access Internet based content (i.e. eBooks, eAudios or streaming videos)? Feel free to drop by the Reference Desk or call the library and we will assist you! The library’s telephone number is: 607-936-3713.

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Tech & Book Talk is a Southeast Steuben County Library blog.

New York Times Bestsellers: January 12, 2025

Linda Reimer

All titles can be requested/checked out through the library.

If you’d like to go the traditional route to request a title on this list and drop by the library, or give us a call – please do!

Our telephone number is: 607-936-3713

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New York Times Bestseller lists are shared via blog post on Sundays. And the next NYT blog post will be posted on Sunday, January 12, 2025.

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THE BESTSELLERS

FICTION

1. JAMES by Percival Everett: A reimagining of “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” shines a different light on Mark Twain’s classic, revealing new facets of the character of Jim.

2. FOURTH WING by Rebecca Yarros: Violet Sorrengail is urged by the commanding general, who also is her mother, to become a candidate for the elite dragon riders.

3. THE WOMEN by Kristin Hannah: In 1965, a nursing student follows her brother to serve during the Vietnam War and returns to a divided America.

4. WICKED by Gregory Maguire: A misunderstood girl named Elphaba is declared a witch; the basis of the musical and the film.

5. THE HOUSEMAID by Freida McFadden: Troubles surface when a woman looking to make a fresh start takes a job in the home of the Winchesters.

6. A COURT OF THORNS AND ROSES by Sarah J. Maas: After killing a wolf in the woods, Feyre is taken from her home and placed inside the world of the Fae.

7. THE GOD OF THE WOODS by Liz Moore: When a 13-year-old girl disappears from an Adirondack summer camp in 1975, secrets kept by the Van Laar family emerge.

8. WIND AND TRUTH by Brandon Sanderson: The fifth book in the Stormlight Archive series. The fate of the Cosmere is imperiled as the fighting and chaos reach an apex.

9. IT STARTS WITH US by Colleen Hoover: In the sequel to “It Ends With Us,” Lily deals with her jealous ex-husband as she reconnects with her first boyfriend.

10. IT ENDS WITH US by Colleen Hoover: A battered wife raised in a violent home attempts to halt the cycle of abuse; the basis of the film.

11. IRON FLAME by Rebecca Yarros: The second book in the Empyrean series. Violet Sorrengail’s next round of training under the new vice commandant might require her to betray the man she loves.

12. VERITY by Colleen Hoover: Lowen Ashleigh is hired by the husband of an injured writer to complete her popular series and uncovers a horrifying truth.

13. QUICKSILVER by Callie Hart: Saeris is transported to a dangerous land of ice and snow, where she must contend with a Fae warrior who has suspect agendas.

14. THE FROZEN RIVER by Ariel Lawhon: In Maine, 1789, a midwife seeks to uncover the true cause of the death of a man discovered entombed in the Kennebec River.

15. COUNTING MIRACLES by Nicholas Sparks: A man in search of the father he never knew encounters a single mom and rumors circulate of the nearby appearance of a white deer.

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NON-FICTION

1. THE BACKYARD BIRD CHRONICLES by Amy Tan: Essays and drawings by the author of “The Joy Luck Club” and “The Bonesetter’s Daughter,” which depict a search for peace through birding.

2. CHER: THE MEMOIR, PART ONE by Cher: In the first part of her memoir, the multiple award-winning pop culture icon traces her childhood and forays into the world of entertainment.

3. FRAMED by John Grisham and Jim McCloskey: Our criminal justice system viewed through the struggles of 10 wrongfully convicted people to achieve exoneration.

4. BE READY WHEN THE LUCK HAPPENS by Ina Garten: A memoir by the cookbook author and Food Network host known as the Barefoot Contessa.

5. MELANIA by Melania Trump: The former and future first lady describes her work as a fashion model, marriage to Donald Trump and time in the White House.

6. THE SERVICEBERRY by Robin Wall Kimmerer: The author of “Braiding Sweetgrass” illuminates how the gift economy in the natural world works and draws lessons for our economy; with illustrations by John Burgoyne.

7. REVENGE OF THE TIPPING POINT by Malcolm Gladwell: Through a series of stories, Gladwell explicates the causes of various kinds of epidemics.

8. THE ANXIOUS GENERATION by Jonathan Haidt: A co-author of “The Coddling of the American Mind” looks at the mental health impacts that a phone-based life has on children.

9. THE SMALL AND THE MIGHTY by Sharon McMahon: A former high school government and law teacher profiles lesser-known Americans who made an impact.

10. GREENLIGHTS by Matthew McConaughey: The Academy Award-winning actor shares snippets from the diaries he kept over the last 35 years.

11. THE BODY KEEPS THE SCORE by Bessel van der Kolk: How trauma affects the body and mind, and innovative treatments for recovery.

12. FROM HERE TO THE GREAT UNKNOWN by Lisa Marie Presley and Riley Keough: Presley’s memoir, completed by her daughter, explores her relationships and challenges.

13. CONFRONTING THE PRESIDENTS by Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard: The conservative commentator evaluates the legacies of American presidents.

14. THE DEMON OF UNREST by Erik Larson: The author of “The Splendid and the Vile” portrays the months between the election of Abraham Lincoln and the beginning of the Civil War.

15. NEXUS by Yuval Noah Harari: The author of “Sapiens” delves into how societies and political systems have used information and gives a warning about artificial intelligence.

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Have a great day!

Linda

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THE CATALOGS:

Catalog 1: StarCat

StarCat is the catalog of physical materials including print books, DVDs, audiobooks on CD etc. StarCat is available to all patrons of all public libraries in the Southern Tier Library System*

Starcat can be found online at: https://starcat.stls.org/

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Catalog 2: The Digital Catalog

The Digital Catalog (and its companion app Libby) offers all Southern Tier Library System member library patrons access to eBooks, eAudiobooks & eMagazines via a lending model known in Library-ese as “one copy/one user;” that library speak means that eBooks & eAudiobooks found in The Digital Catalog/Libby are like print books found on library shelves, only one patron can check out a copy of a title at a time.

Exception: Magazines found in the digital catalog are available via a different lending model known as simultaneous access. And that fancy library speak means that magazines are available for all patrons to check out at the same time, i.e. if you and all your family and friends wish to read the latest digital edition of Newsweek, all of you can check out the e version of the magazine and read it at the same time.

The Digital Catalog/Libby checkout limit is 5 titles a time.

The Digital Catalog is found online at: https://stls.overdrive.com/

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Catalog 3: Hoopla

The Hoopla Digital Catalog (and its companion app, also called Hoopla) offers Southeast Steuben County Library patrons access to a second digital catalog with an on-demand lending model. In library speak, this lending model, like The Digital Catalog/Libby’s magazine lending model, is known as “simultaneous access.” The difference is, the Hoopla catalog offers access to more formats: eBooks, eAudiobooks, eComics, digital albums, TV shows & movies – and all items, in all those formats, are available  for patrons to checkout immediately. The Hoopla check out limit is ten titles per month.

Hoopla Formats: All Hoopla content can be accessed on a computer or mobile device, and TV shows and movies can be accessed on computers, mobile devices, smart TVs and media streaming players, i.e. Roku or  Apple TV.

The Hoopla Catalog is found online at: https://www.hoopladigital.com/

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*The Southern Tier Library System includes the public libraries in Steuben, Chemung, Yates, Schuyler & Allegheny counties.

Suggested Listening: November 15, 2024

Linda Reimer

Hi everyone, welcome to our Suggested Listening posting for this week!

Suggested Listening postings are published on Fridays; and our next Suggested Listening posting will be out on Friday, November 22, 2024.

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And here are the 10 recommended songs of the week!

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Alligator Bogaloo by Lou Donaldson

 From The Album: Alligator Bogaloo (1967)

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Blue Interlude by The Choclate Dandies

(Featuring Chu Berry on alto sax & Benny Carter on trumpet)

From The Album: The Columbia And Victor Sessions, Vol. 1 (2018) by Chu Berry

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Can’t You Just Feel It by Lonnie Smith

From The Album: Finger Licking Good (1967)

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Come Rain Or Come Shine by The Bill Evans Trio

From The Album: Portrait In Jazz (1960)

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Groovin’ High by Dizzy Gillespie 

From The Album: Ken Burns Jazz: The Definitive Dizzy Gillespie (2000)

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In A Sentimental Mood by Duke Ellington & John Coltrane 

 

From The Album: Duke Ellington & John Coltrane (1963)

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Kickin’ The Gong Around by Cab Calloway & His Cotton Club Orchestra 

From The Album: The Ladies (2020)

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Samba de Orfeu by The Vince Guaraldi Trio

From The Album: Cast your Fate to the Wind: Jazz Impressions of Black Orpheus (1962)

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Sneakin’ Around by Roy Haynes, Phineas Newborn, Jr. & Paul Chambers

From The Album: We Three (1958)

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St. Thomas by Sonny Rollins

From The Album: Saxophone Colossus (1957)

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Hoopla Album of the Week

Nostalgia (2014) by Annie Lennox

Nostalgia

And from the album, the song:

Mood Indigo  

 

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Have a great weekend,

Linda Reimer, SSCL

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Online Catalog Links:

StarCat

The catalog of physical materials, i.e. print books, DVDs, audiobooks on CD, etc.

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The Digital Catalog, web version of Libby

The catalog of e-books, downloadable audiobooks and a handful of streaming videos.

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The Libby App

Libby

Libby is the companion app to the Digital Catalog and may be found in the Apple & Google app.

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Hoopla

A catalog of instant check out items, including eBooks, downloadable audiobooks, comic books, TV shows and movies for patrons of the Southeast Steuben County Library.

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Tech Talk is a Southeast Steuben County Library blog.

Suggested Listening: November 8, 2024

Linda Reimer

Hi everyone, welcome to our Suggested Listening post for this week!

Suggested Listening postings are published on Fridays; and our next Suggested Listening posting will be out on Friday, November 15, 2024.

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In honor of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame performer Bonnie Raitt, who celebrates her 75th birthday today; here is a collection of terrific songs that span her recording career – enjoy!

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Bluebird  

From The Album: Bonnie Raitt (1971)

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Too Long At The Fair  

From The Album: Give It Up (1972)

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Wah She Go Do 

From The Album: Takin’ My Time (1973)

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What Is Success  

From The Album: Streetlights (1974)

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Can’t Get Enough 

From The Album:  Green Lights (1982)

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Real Man  

From The Album: Nick of Time (1989)

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Thing Called Love 

From The Album: Nick of Time (1989)

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Luck of the Draw  

From The Album: Luck of the Draw (1991)

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Something To Talk About  

From The Album: Luck of the Draw (1991)

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The Bed I Made 

From The Album: Souls Alike (2005)

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Just Like That  

From The Album: Just Like That (2022)

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Hoopla Album of the Week 

Dig In Deep (2016) by Bonnie Raitt

Dig In Deep

And from the album, the song:

Unintended Consequence of Love 

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Have a great weekend,

Linda Reimer, SSCL

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Online Catalog Links:

StarCat

The catalog of physical materials, i.e. print books, DVDs, audiobooks on CD, etc.

–

The Digital Catalog, web version of Libby

The catalog of e-books, downloadable audiobooks and a handful of streaming videos.

–

The Libby App

Libby

Libby is the companion app to the Digital Catalog and may be found in the Apple & Google app.

–

Hoopla

A catalog of instant check out items, including eBooks, downloadable audiobooks, comic books, TV shows and movies for patrons of the Southeast Steuben County Library.

–

Tech Talk is a Southeast Steuben County Library blog.

New York Times Bestsellers: September 29, 2024

Linda Reimer

All titles can be requested/checked out through the library.

If you’d like to go the traditional route to request a title on this list and drop by, or call, the library – please do!

Our telephone number is: 607-936-3713.

–

THE BESTSELLERS

FICTION

1. SOMEWHERE BEYOND THE SEA by TJ Klune: The second book in the Cerulean Chronicles series. The headmaster of a strange orphanage seeks to protect the magical children who reside there.

2. HERE ONE MOMENT by Liane Moriarty: Passengers on a short and seemingly unremarkable flight learn how and when they are going to die.

3. TELL ME EVERYTHING by Elizabeth Strout: As a murder casts a pall on a town in Maine, Lucy Barton, Olive Kitteridge and Bob Burgess share stories and seek meaning.

4. IT ENDS WITH US by Colleen Hoover: A battered wife raised in a violent home attempts to halt the cycle of abuse; the basis of the film.

5. THE WOMEN by Kristin Hannah: In 1965, a nursing student follows her brother to serve during the Vietnam War and returns to a divided America.

6. IT STARTS WITH US by Colleen Hoover: In the sequel to “It Ends With Us,” Lily deals with her jealous ex-husband as she reconnects with her first boyfriend.

7. THE PERFECT COUPLE by Elin Hilderbrand: A body is found in Nantucket Harbor hours before a picture-perfect wedding.

8. A COURT OF THORNS AND ROSES by Sarah J. Maas: After killing a wolf in the woods, Feyre is taken from her home and placed inside the world of the Fae.

9. THE HOUSEMAID by Freida McFadden: Troubles surface when a woman looking to make a fresh start takes a job in the home of the Winchesters.

10. DEMON COPPERHEAD by Barbara Kingsolver: Winner of a 2023 Pulitzer Prize for fiction. A reimagining of Charles Dickens’s “David Copperfield” set in the mountains of southern Appalachia.

11. IRON FLAME by Rebecca Yarros: The second book in the Empyrean series. Violet Sorrengail’s next round of training might require her to betray the man she loves.

12. VINCE FLYNN: CAPTURE OR KILL by Don Bentley: The 23rd book in the Mitch Rapp series. In 2011, operations take place to prevent a looming war in the Middle East.

13. A COURT OF MIST AND FURY by Sarah J. Maas: The second book in the Court of Thorns and Roses series. Feyre gains the powers of the High Fae and a greater evil emerges.

14. THE GAMES GODS PLAY by Abigail Owen: Gods enlist mortals to fight in their stead to determine who will sit on the throne in Olympus.

15. THE LIFE IMPOSSIBLE by Matt Haig: A retired math teacher who inherits a run-down house on a Mediterranean island from a friend goes in search of answers.

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NON-FICTION

1. CONFRONTING THE PRESIDENTS by Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard: The conservative commentator evaluates the legacies of American presidents.

2. NEXUS by Yuval Noah Harari: The author of “Sapiens” delves into how societies and political systems have used information and gives a warning about artificial intelligence.

3. WHO COULD EVER LOVE YOU by Mary L. Trump: The author of “Too Much and Never Enough” and “The Reckoning” portrays the dynamics within her family.

4. THE ANXIOUS GENERATION by Jonathan Haidt: A co-author of “The Coddling of the American Mind” looks at the mental health impacts that a phone-based life has on children.

5. LOVELY ONE by Ketanji Brown Jackson: The first Black woman ever confirmed to the Supreme Court traces her family’s history and her personal ascent.

6. THE BODY KEEPS THE SCORE by Bessel van der Kolk: How trauma affects the body and mind, and innovative treatments for recovery.

7. HILLBILLY ELEGY by J.D. Vance: The Yale Law School graduate and 2024 Republican vice presidential nominee looks at the struggles of the white working class through the story of his own childhood.

8. THE DEMON OF UNREST by Erik Larson: The author of “The Splendid and the Vile” portrays the months between the election of Abraham Lincoln and the beginning of the Civil War.

9. GHOSTS OF HONOLULU by Mark Harmon and Leon Carroll Jr.: The story of a Japanese American naval intelligence agent, a Japanese spy and events in Hawaii before the start of World War II.

10. THE ART OF POWER by Nancy Pelosi: The representative from California chronicles her journey in politics, including her time as the first woman to serve as speaker of the House.

11. I USED TO LIKE YOU UNTIL…by Kat Timpf: The co-host of “Gutfeld!” and Fox News analyst shares her opinions on binary thinking.

12. REAGAN by Max Boot: A biography of the 40th president of the United States.

13. THE HIGHEST CALLING by David M. Rubenstein: Conversations with journalists, historians and former presidents on the American presidency.

14. IMMINENT by Luis Elizondo: The former head of the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program shares insights on unidentified anomalous phenomena.

15. OUTLIVE by Peter Attia with Bill Gifford: A look at recent scientific research on aging and longevity.

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There are currently three catalogs available to Southeast Steuben County Library patrons online, that you can access to search for and request New York Times Bestsellers, and other popular books and materials in a variety of formats, i.e. print books, eBooks, streaming videos.

All you need is a library card to get started!

–

THE CATALOGS:

Catalog 1: StarCat

StarCat is the catalog of physical materials including print books, DVDs, audiobooks on CD etc. StarCat is available to all patrons of all public libraries in the Southern Tier Library System*

Starcat can be found online at: https://starcat.stls.org/

–

Catalog 2: The Digital Catalog

The Digital Catalog (and its companion app Libby) offers all Southern Tier Library System member library patrons access to eBooks, eAudiobooks & eMagazines via a lending model known in Library-ese as “one copy/one user;” that library speak means that eBooks & eAudiobooks found in The Digital Catalog/Libby are like print books found on library shelves, only one patron can check out a copy of a title at a time.

Exception: Magazines found in the digital catalog are available via a different lending model known as simultaneous access. And that fancy library speak means that magazines are available for all patrons to check out at the same time, i.e. if you and all your family and friends wish to read the latest digital edition of Newsweek, all of you can check out the e version of the magazine and read it at the same time.

The Digital Catalog/Libby checkout limit is 5 titles a time.

The Digital Catalog is found online at: https://stls.overdrive.com/

–

Catalog 3: Hoopla

The Hoopla Digital Catalog (and its companion app, also called Hoopla) offers Southeast Steuben County Library patrons access to a second digital catalog with an on-demand lending model. In library speak, this lending model, like The Digital Catalog/Libby’s magazine lending model, is known as “simultaneous access.” The difference is, the Hoopla catalog offers access to more formats: eBooks, eAudiobooks, eComics, digital albums, TV shows & movies – and all items, in all those formats, are available  for patrons to checkout immediately. The Hoopla check out limit is ten titles per month.

Hoopla Formats: All Hoopla content can be accessed on a computer or mobile device, and TV shows and movies can be accessed on computers, mobile devices, smart TVs and media streaming players, i.e. Roku or  Apple TV.

The Hoopla Catalog is found online at: https://www.hoopladigital.com/

–

*The Southern Tier Library System includes the public libraries in Steuben, Chemung, Yates, Schuyler & Allegheny counties.