Banned Book Week

How many of the Banned Book Posters have you spotted in the Library? How many have you seen online? Katherine did a great job capturing the favourites of some of the Library staff, in front of our new skyway mural. Ginny has done an excellent job of creating so many of our Read Posters! We are lucky to have such talented staff (and such great readers!).
How many banned books have you read? (now aren't you glad the highschool teachers made you read some of them??!)

Banned Books Week Sept. 24 - Oct. 1

Here is the list of the top 10 challenged books for 2010 and a nice poster to go along with it.
And Tango Makes Three
by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson
Reasons: homosexuality, religious viewpoint, unsuited to age group
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
by Sherman Alexie
Reasons: offensive language, racism, religious viewpoint, sex education, sexually explicit, violence, unsuited to age group
Brave New World
by Aldous Huxley
Reasons: insensitivity, offensive language, racism, sexually explicit
Crank
by Ellen Hopkins
Reasons: drugs, offensive language, racism, sexually explicit
The Hunger Games (series)
by Suzanne Collins
Reasons: sexually explicit, violence, unsuited to age group
Lush
by Natasha Friend
Reasons: drugs, sexually explicit, offensive language, unsuited to age group
What My Mother Doesn’t Know
by Sonya Sones
Reasons: sexism, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group
Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting by in America
by Barbara Ehrenreich
Reasons: drugs, inaccurate, offensive language, political viewpoint, religious viewpoint
Revolutionary Voices
edited by Amy Sonnie
Reasons: homosexuality, sexually explicit
Twilight (series)
by Stephanie Meyer
Reasons: sexually explicit, religious viewpoint, violence, unsuited to age group

Banned Books Week

You would simply be amazed at the number of everyday books, classics and childrens fiction (including Harry Potter) that are considered BANNED BOOKS. The Library staff is highlighting the top ten banned books for the 2010/11 period. Check out all the posters in the Library, then check out the books! Don't just celebrate your right to read, exercise your reading rights! 

The Friends will have a display case with some of the 100 most challenged books, and the reasons for banning them, as well as books for sale in the Bookstore.

Visiting Author - Bonnie Rough

Sunday, October 9
2-3 pm

As Bonnie J. Rough and her husband consider becoming parents, their biological legacy haunts every decision. A carrier of the genetic condition hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (HED), she begins a journey to uncover the complicated details of her family’s past.
Find Bonnie online:
http://www.bonniejrough.com/

Mystery Tea - success

We all had a delightful time at the mystery tea - check out the photo album on the Friends' Facebook! We had a sold out crowd, with over 55 people attending.  The Library staff and Friends really performed a great play, acting as some very unusual suspects while the audience tried to figure out who killed the Earl of Greystone Manor.

There was a fabulous selection of cookies and biscuits baked by Friends and performers, and enjoyed by all! Including themed dogbiscuits, dog bones, millionaire shortbread, scones, tea breads and much more!

Many of our guests also dressed the part. Only 5 people correctly identified the murderer, so our team did a great job of keeping everyone guessing. Those lucky people took home the doggie centerpieces created by one of our great Friends! This was so much fun, I hope we do it again!

Visiting Author - Wendy Web

Award for Genre Fiction, sponsored by Marvin Windows and Doors:
Wendy Webb – The Tale of Halcyon Crane – published by Henry Holt & Company
Told that her mother died in a fire decades earlier, Hallie James discovers that she was actually alive until very recently. In search of answers, Hallie travels to her mother’s home and discovers dark family secrets. Webb lives in Duluth, where she is the editor-in-chief of Duluth~Superior Magazine, a lifestyle monthly.

TONIGHT! See you there!

Unsual and Special Display- September 2011

We have a great team of book lovers who handle special books, and create amazing displays. This month they have highlighted a very eclectic collection of tiny books! On Many many different subjects - surely there is one you just can't live without!

Visiting Author - Wendy Webb

Don't forget to join Paige Turner at our Mystery Tea in the Library (with Colonel Mustard??) to solve the murder of Lord Grey!
September 22nd, Thursday
Library Auditorium
from 5:30pm to 6.45 pm
You need to pick up your free tickets in the Bookstore; this is on a first come basis only (you will need the ticket!). The remaining part of the evening, the author visit by Wendy Webb is free and open to the public.

Fall Coffee

Save the Date:
Bookstore volunteers are invited to a Fall Coffee on Tuesday October 25th at 9.30 AM. We will have a social hour with coffee and treats and a chance to meet your fellow workers. In addition Gail and other library staff members will be conducting "behind the scene" tours to some of the less familiar parts of the library (e.g. the third floor!). We cannot wait to see this years halloween costumes! Our volunteers have really raised a spooky spirit for this event!

NB  ANOTHER date to save is the October Auditorium Sale - October 15th (Saturday from 9:30am to 5pm) and Sunday October 16th (from 1:30-4:00pm). If you have any questions please contact Bruce Witts. Set up will be on Friday October 14th for Friends interested in helping. Remember to sign up for a shift in the Bulletin Board on the back room.

The Friends Bookstore

The Bookstore continues to look bright and cheery with wonderful displays of books and NEW shelving units for easier access and clear visibility of our books. Thanks to Barnes and Noble for donating these shelves to us - we really do appreciate how tidy our store looks now - as do our customers!

One of the bookstore volunteers saw a young girl of four walking out of the store. She turned to her mother and happily said "This is our favorite store, isn't it?!"

We have put a large shelving unit for the discarded books in the foyer. This cart is on wheels, but does not fit through our store door. The sign says if you are shopping after store hours, please bring in the money the next time you are in. The Minnesota honor system still works = we have found money stuffed under the door!

September Second Saturday Sale

The theme for the Second Saturday Sale was Read to Grow, held on Sept 10th. We focussed on children's books (for all ages!) in both fiction and nonfiction, plus an audiobook selection. We had a GREAT turnout, making over $400 for the Library (which is alot of books when you think the average price was 50cents a book!!) You can see tha everyone enjoyed themselves, especially with milk and cookies!

We also had a plant sale to encourage readers to go/grow green, especially with the encroaching autumnal and winter seasons! We made $174 which was also donated to the Library.

Paige had a great time with both plants and books! Join her next time, either buying books or volunteering. The Friends and the Library could use your help!

MLA 2011

2011 Annual Conference

October 12-14 • Duluth Entertainment Convention Center • Duluth, MN

 

This premier educational event attracts more than 400 library professionals, Friends of the Library, and library trustees from across Minnesota.

 

Rochester Public Library staff and Friends will be attending. Of special note, Ginny Erbe will be giving a presentation:

 

Why Should We Use Social Media to Promote the Library?

 Virginia Erbe, Library Associate, Rochester PublicLibrary
Social media is not a fad. If Facebook were a country, it would be the third largest in the world, with more than 500million active users (almost 200 million more than the entire population of the United States). There are, on average, 140 million tweets per day on Twitter. People who use social media in their daily lives make up an entirely new demographic that can be reached to promote libraries.
Since most social media sites are free, why not take advantage of them to reach the people where they are (on Facebook, Twitter, etc.)? Find out how Rochester Public Library has added social media to their marketing toolkit to promote the library’s news, events, and services. Learn how to set up a Facebook page to promote your library.
Learn tips and tricks on how to use Twitter to gain an attentive and interactive audience. Find out what else is in Rochester Public Library’s social media toolbelt, including YouTube, Flickr, WordPress, foursquare, Google Places, Yelp, Sqworrel, QR codes, and more.

Read to Grow!

Our Second Saturday Sale is TODAY!
Don't forget to stop into the Library Foyer for an amazing selection of CHILDRENS BOOKS, as well as a few houseplants!

We have a great selection of children's picture books, story time, young adult fiction, homeschooling, and many more options! At unbeatable prices!! The Friends Bookstore is an amazing place to find all kinds of books affordable for every budget. Don't forget our 50 cent cart with library discards that is in the lobby as well.

Book Talk: Portraits of a Marriage

We are always looking for people who will recommend a good read. All you have to do is call to make an appointment for a video cam, or send in (email a link) your video. It can be about a recent book, the best book you have ever read, an audio book that you thought was superbly read, a great book on your iPad or Nook, a poem that you have written, one of your old favourites, or a list of the books that you enjoyed last year, this year, as a child, etc. We would love to hear from you, and so would our followers!

Mystery Tea

SOLD OUT!! Paige is very popular and many new friends wanted to join her at our mystery tea! We will look forward to seeing everyone!

Still, DON'T miss the Thursday September 22 Author Visit by Wendy Webb with her book on the Tale of Halcyon Crane. This is a charming, intriguing mystery that takes place on an island in Lake Superior (modelled after a recognisable Mackinaw Island). Wendy Webb is a Minnesota author who went to school in St. Louis Park and attended the University of Minnesota, where she earned a degree in political science.  Wendy spent the twenty years writing for most of the major publications in the Twin Cities. She currently lives in Duluth, where she is the editor-in-chief of "Duluth-Superior Magazine.”. She recently published her first novel, The Tale of Halcyon Crane, which won the 2011 Minnesota Book Award for Genre Fiction.   Ms. Webb’s presentation will begin at 7:00 PM in the auditorium of the Rochester Public Library, immediately following the Mystery Tea sponsored by the Friends’ Bookstore.   Her book will be available for purchase and autographing.

The Friends’ Bookstore is sponsoring a free Mystery Tea called “Murder at the Earl of Grey’s Hound Manor.”  The tea will begin in the auditorium at 5:30 and end at 6:45, just in time for author Wendy Webb presentation.  If you would like to be added to a waiting list you can call the store at 328-2308. Formal tea party dress is optional!

September is... Literary!

September is:
National Literacy Month
National Library Card Sign-up
September 10: Friends Bookstore Second Saturday Sale
September 17 - Best Selling Books Day
September 22 - Friends Bookstore Mystery Tea Are you coming? Facebook it!
September 22 - Visiting Author: Wendy Webb  Are you coming? Facebook it!
September 24/25 - National Book Festival (sponsored by the Library of Congress) on the National Mall
September 24/ October 1 - Banned Books Week

Friends' Bookstore Mystery Tea

Author Visit - Wendy Webb

Thursday September 22
7-8 pm

Wendy grew up in St. Louis Park and attended the University of Minnesota, where she earned a degree in political science. She traveled abroad for some time, settled back in the U.S. to work on Capitol Hill, and eventually returned to her Minnesota roots.
Find Wendy Webb online:
http://www.wendykwebb.com/