Celebrate Libraries!
Happy National Library Week!
This is the week that all little boys and girls go to bed and wake up with new books in their stockings. Well, no, but wouldn’t that be a wonderful thing? It IS the week that you celebrate one of the greatest organizations in the world–your library!
National Library Week began in 1958 to celebrate the contributions of all types of libraries to your life. Remember how your mother read you books as a child, the joy of choosing the first book you wanted to read from the library, and the excitement of knowing your favorite author just published a new book? If you use a public library, did you go to story hour as a child and learn finger plays and catchy songs, attend educational or how-to programs, or use the library’s computers to apply for a job or do research?
When you found Talking Books, did you find the reader adviser that brightened your life by talking to you about books and connecting you to great authors, narrators, and series? Did the talking book center feel like a group of new friends? Did you join the winter reading program and win a prize? Did your books show up often and when you needed them?
If you have experienced any of those things, remember to celebrate libraries this week. Introduce a friend to the library experience, share a good book with a family member, and thank your library for being there.
EARTH DAY, April 22
Celebrate Earth Day by reading a planet friendly book!
DB 66850 “Go Green, Live Rich: 50 Simple Ways to Save the Earth and Get Rich Trying” by David Bach and Hillary Rosner
DB 67574 “My Space/Our Planet: Change is Possible” by Tom Anderson (for grades 6-9)
DB 68195 “Careers in Renewable Energy: Get a Green Energy Job” by Gregory McNamee
DB 68733 “The Green Bride Guide: How to Create an Earth-Friendly Wedding on Any Budget” by Kate L. Harrison
DB 69573 “True Green Kids: One Hundred Things You Can Do to Save the Planet” by Kim McKay and Jenny Bonnin (for grades 3-6)
DB 69820 “Generation Green: The Ultimate Teen Guide to Living an Eco-Friendly Life” by Linda Sivertsen and Tosh Sivertsen
DB 70202 “Ed Begley Jr: Living Green” by Robert Grayson (for grades 4-7)
DB 70305 “Sleeping Naked is Green: How an Eco-Cynic Unplugged her Fridge, Sold her Car, and Found Love in 366 Days” by Venessa Fairquharson
DB 70499 “Recycle this Book: One Hundred Top Children’s Book Authors Tell You How to Go Green” by Dan Gutman
BIOGRAPHIES OF PEOPLE PAST AND PRESENT
Our talking book center has received some new biographies about people who lived in the past and others who are more contemporary. Here is a listing of some of the newest books.
DB72572 Reading the Man: A portrait of Robert E. Lee through His Private Letters by Elizabeth Brown Pryor The author uses personal letters of Robert E. Lee to recap the life of the Confederate general.
DB73236 Titanic Thompson: The Man Who Bet on Everything by Kevin Cook “Titanic” is a gambler from rural Arkansas whose exploits included five murders and won and lost him millions.
DB73132 Hero: The Life and Legend of Lawrence of Arabia by Michael Korda Biography of T. E. Lawrence, the British officer who led Arab armies against the Ottoman Empire during World War I.
DB72189 The Last Empress: Madame Chiang Kai-shek and the Birth of Modern China by Hannah Pakula Traces the path of Soong May-ling from Western-educated daughter of a wealthy Christian family to wife of Chinese Nationalist leader Chiang Kai-shek.
If you are more interested in people born in the twentieth century the following books may be of interest.
DB73177 Robert A Heinlein: In Dialogue with His Century: Volume 1, 1907 -1948, Learning Curve by William H Patterson, Jr. Portrait of award-winning science fiction writer Rober A Heinlein.
DB73428 Jeannie Out of the Bottle by Barbara Eden Actress Barbara Eden reminisces about her career in Hollywood including her starring role on “I Dream of Jeannie”.
DB73151 Thriller: The Musical Life of Michael Jackson by George, Nelson Explores the origin of nine songs on Michael Jackson’s album, Thriller. Chronicles Jackson’s musical rise and his impact on pop-culture.
DB72665 Hoda: How I survied War Zones, Bad Hair, Cancer and Kathie Lee by Hoda Kotb Newscaster Hoda Kotb chronicles her career as a reporter for Dateline and the Today Show. Also discusses her personal life through a divorce and cancer in the same year.
BIOGRAPHIES OF TELEVISION STARS
Ever wonder what the performers from television shows lives were like before reaching stardom? Below are a few listed you may remember:
DB73022 Untied: Meredith Baxter (Family Ties)
DB68766 Ernie: Ernest Borgnine (McHales Navy)
DB68912 Priceless Memories: Bob Barker (The Price is Right)
DB69159 Prairie Tale: Melissa Gilbert (Little House on the Prairie)
DB73428 Jeannie out of the Bottle: Barbara Eden (I Dream of Jeannie)
DB73334 If You Ask Me: Betty White (Golden Girls)
DB70853 This Time Together: Carol Burnett (The Carol Burnett Show)
DB67757 Pieces of My Heart: Robert Wagner(It Takes a Thief & Hart to Hart)
DB68655 My Word is My Bond: Roger Moore (The Saint) better known as James Bond)
DB69154 My Remarkable Journey: Larry King (Larry King Live)
DB73776 Rin Tin Tin: The German Shepard Dog Star
ROY AVERS, TALKING BOOK NARRATOR
On March 2, 2012, The Illinois State Library Talking Book and Braille Service hosted a grand reopening and 80th anniversary celebration at the Illinois State Library Gwendolyn Brooks Building.
The guest speaker was Talking Book Narrator, Roy Avers. He has narrated over 1500 books during his career.
Amoung his favorites are the following books:
DB 22303 “Dear and Glorious Physician” by Taylor Caldwell
DB 22855 “The Sea Wolf” by Jack London
DB 25248 “Prince of Tides” by Pat Conry
DB 30051 “The Great Santini” by Pat Conroy
DB 38799 “Advise and Consent” by Allen Drury
DB 56737 “The Winds of War” by Herman Wouk
DB 56764 “War and Remembrance” by Herman Wouk
DB 67117 “Child 44″ by Tom Rob Smith
DB 69751 “The Raven and Other Poems” by Edgar Allan Poe.
For additional titles narrated by Mr. Avers, contact at Reader Advisor at the
Mid-Illinois Talking Book Center, 800-426-0709.
