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July 30, 2009

Canvas Bags Now Available!

New Canvas Bags!We're Going Green!
In conjunction with our Summer Reading theme, "Read Green, Live Green," Danbury Library is going green by eliminating plastic bags.
We now offer canvas bags for purchase.  These long-lasting canvas bags can carry your items to and from home. They are available at the Front Desk for $4.00 each or 2 for $7.00.

Did you know? Some facts on the real cost of free plastic bags:
Production Costs - The production of plastic bags requires petroleum and often natural gas, both nonrenewable resources that increase our dependency on foreign suppliers.
Consumer Costs - Annual cost to U.S. retailers alone is estimated at $4 billion. Who do you think pays those costs? Yes, you, the consumer, in the form of higher prices.
Disposal and Litter Costs - In a landfill, plastic bags take up to 1,000 years to degrade. Plastic bags don't biodegrade, they photo-degrade, breaking down into smaller and smaller toxic bits polluting our soil, river, lakes and oceans.
Environmental Impact - Hundreds of thousands of sea turtles, whales and other marine mammals die every year from eating discarded plastic bags mistaken for food. Turtles think the bags are jellyfish, their primary food source. On land, many cows, goats and other animals suffer a similar fate to marine life when they accidentally ingest plastic bags while foraging for food.
Consumption Facts - An estimated 500 billion to one trillion plastic bags are consumed world-wide every year. In the U.S. alone, an estimated 12,000,000 barrels of oil are required to produce the 100 billion consumed annually.

July 28, 2009

Memoir Writing

The late Frank McCourt did not invent the memoir but the success of his childhood story,Angela's Ashes, caused a boom in memoir writing which continues today.

Current memoirs worth taking a look at include Christopher Buckley's Losing Mum and Pup--an account of his celebrated parents' life. Also, Joe Queenan's Closing Time--another well-wriiten story of an impoverished childhood--this time in Philadelphia..

A memoir-writing program is scheduled for Sunday, September 13th at 2:00, here, at the library. Frank McCourt advised everyone to "tell your story". Come to this program and learn how to tell yours.

July 23, 2009

A New Moveable Feast

The library recently received a new version of Ernest Hemingway's classic book about his early life in Paris which was titled A Moveable Feast. This title has proved to be an enduring classic and one of the most popular titles in the Hemingway canon. Now along comes a new version of the book which is enttled A Moveable Feast: The Restored Edition. What is going on here? Well it seems that Patrick Hemingway, his son by his second wife Pauline and his grandson Sean decided that there was need of a restored edition that would portray Pauline in a more favorable light and push Hadley, his first wife, somewhat into the background. There is a great piece about this effrontery by A. E. Hotchner entitled Don't Touch 'A Moveable Feast" in the New York Times which can be accessed through our webpage. Hemigway himself said: "Writing that I do not wish to publish, you have no right to publish..." I think his wishes should prevail in this case.

July 21, 2009

Runpee.com

runpee.jpg Do you love going to the movies but always have to visit the restroom during the best part? Problem solved. Runpee.com lists movies currently in theaters and the best times to use the facilities during those movies. Just choose a movie and you will be provided with multiple times and cues from the film. Additionally, there is an option to unscramble the portion of the plot you would be missing if you left the theater and the length of time you have to take care of business. Runpee is also available as an iPhone application from iTunes. It's pretty nifty so check it out!

July 17, 2009

Moonwalks

It is unfortunate that the manner of Michael Jackson's recent death is overshadowing his achievements. He did, afteralll, give us Thriller and his signature 'moonwalk' dance step. He chose Moonwalk as the title of his autobiography which, incidentally, was edited by Jackie Onassis.

Astronaut Neil Armstrong gave us a different type of 'moonwalk' on July 20, 1969--"a small step for man" on the moon. Read Rocket Men: The Triumph and Tragedy of the First Americans on the Moon to get an idea of the enormous effort required by many talented people to make that 'moonwalk' happen forty years ago.

July 15, 2009

The Return of the Paperback Exchange

The Return of the Paperback ExchangeWe had no idea this was so loved in the quiet little corner of the reference section...until we tried to take it away. After several comments, complaints and feedback, we're happy to announce that we've brought it back for you! Enjoy! Thanks so much to the FRIENDS of the Danbury Library who are now maintaining and updating this paperback rack for us.
What is it you ask? We fill up the rack with paperbacks, and you can take these out on the honor system, or help fill up the rack with your own donated paperbacks. Bring one of your own and take out another, or borrow one and bring it back later.
We are so appreciative of your feedback; every comment and query helps make the library better for you, so feel free to talk to us any time. We love to hear from you, and there's so many ways to reach us. You can leave comments here on our blog; Twitter, Facebook, IM, email, or call; use the feedback form in the library, and, of course, we always love a face-to-face chat with you in the library, too.

July 08, 2009

The Perils of Pynchon

As I noted in an earlier blog I have been reading Against the Day by Thomas Pynchon. It is a very satisfying but not a quick read by any means. I am almost halfway through this massive novel (almost 1100 pages) and am thoroughly enjoying it. Just so you do not think I am taking my time I have been reading other works simultaneously. This work boasts a superb style, a wildly imaginative plot & and a profusion of characters that is unrivalled. I think it is the equal of, if not superior to, his earlier novel, Gravity's Rainbow, which I did not think would be equalled. I have been savoring the novel but now alas I must pick up the pace beause in August Pynchon has another novel coming out entitled Inherent Vice. What is he trying to do to me? First of all he usually allows for a great deal of time between his novels. This new novel is only 3 years after Against the Day. The second feature to note about the forthcoming book is that it is considerably shorter than most of his other works and also a venture into a new genre with the main character being a private eye! It also might be the first filmable Pynchon novel.

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