Book Nastiness

During my three years of service at the Missoula Public Library, I have come across many nasty things returned with library books. A few that come to mind are: toenail clippings, bandaids, and Kleenex. Of course, there's also the standard dirty book (you would not believe how dirty books can get just by being handled by many hands!). When we get these books back, we throw them into a pile, and when we get the time, we clean then with Windex and a paper towel.

However, some types of nastiness can't be cleaned. One example is book mold.

"One of the most common problems in libraries and archives... is mold.... Mold grows through the propagation of its spores, which are always present in the air waiting for the right opportunity to germinate. Moisture provides the necessary conditions for mold germination.... Mold spores can be dangerous, and the treatment of mold-infected material must be handled with care to avoid inhalation. Although not all molds are toxic to humans, it is important to regard all infestations as possibly toxic and take the appropriate precautions (respirator and gloves) when entering an infested area.... Mold can grow on any moist surface, including materials such as paper, leather, and book coverings, causing disfiguring, multicolored stains and greatly reducing the material's strength" (http://www.librarypreservation.org/management_and_planning/mold.htm)

We have to be really careful when we come across these books at the library, because some of our staff are highly allergic to book mold. So please be careful this summer as you enjoy all the water activities the Missoula area has to offer, and keep your books dry!

frenzied front line fun

While the Missoula Public Library knows better than to close for two days in a row, that's what we did. All for a good cause, of course, being Memorial Day weekend.

From 10:00 on there were lines of people waiting to check out while staff scurried to register new users and keep up with thousands of items being returned throughout the day. It was all hands on deck!

And whoever said that librarians are a dying breed? Tell that to the hundreds of people who called or stopped by for reference help today.

A great big thank you to all of you out there who keep us on our toes - and an equally big thank you to MPL staff who make it all happen. Can't have one without the other....

Memorial Day

We took two days off for Memorial Day, but we're opening back up tomorrow. See you at 10!

When the Cats are Away

An hour-and-a-half into a day with no bosses around, and so far the library has succumbed to neither fire...

(fire)

...nor flood...

(flood)

...nor even locusts.

(locusts)

Though I must say there was an unusual amount of giggling (and even a couple of swears; thanks PT) in Circ this morning.
I'd say it has more to do with our being able to wear blue jeans--it being the last Friday of the month--than with any absence of supervision, however.

Family Reading Program starts June 1st

It's almost that time of year again, when reading, ice cream, and birds of prey go hand-in-hand. What am I talking about, you ask? The Missoula Public Library's Family Reading Program, of course!

Starting June 1st, you can pick up a folder from the library and earn cool prizes from Dairy Queen, The Good Food Store, Missoula Public Library, and A Carousel for Missoula. This exciting reading program is for readers of all ages, so make sure you pick up your folder and get rewarded for reading this summer!

Also happening in the library this summer is our Summer Activity Program. These programs for school-aged children (completed kindergarten) and older happen every Tuesday afternoon at 2pm. Some of these programs require an admission ticket due to space restrictions. These tickets are FREE and can be picked up at the library the day of the program!

And just when you thought that was it, there's one more thing! Every Thursday afternoon at 2pm we'll show a kid-friendly movie. Call the library at 721-BOOK for movie titles.

As always, these events are free and we look forward to seeing you this summer!

we know you're out there

930 blog views. Lots of you are reading but we don't know what you're thinking.

Clue us in.

Do you come home from work every day in anticipation of another fine library blog? Are you depressed on weekends when (typically) we take a break?

Are you yawning at this very moment?

Either way, we're going to keep blogging (because we like it) but it sure would be fun to hear what you think. Comments are open, ready and waiting.

Looking for a good Book?

Don't forget to check out Missoula Public Library's new book displays located near the Reference Desk!

The Montana Display is a changing display that always features Montana-related materials, such as Montana history, Montana poets, and Montana travel. This month you will find books that will help you plan your Montana summer right. Look here for books on Montana gardening, hiking, camping, canoing, kayaking, mountain biking and more!


The Missoula's Wild About...display features the book recommendations of a different local business, organization or celebrity each month. This month Meadowsweet Herbs recommends a list of their favorite books about herbs and and herbal medicines. You can pick up a copy of their recommended reading list and check out those titles and additional related materials here.

If you , your business or your organization would like to recommend books for this display contact Molly at the Reference Desk 721-2665.

Happy Reading!

New West + Missoula Public Library = Love

Missoula Public Library has happily joined forces with New West to bring our events into (hopefully) the public eye.

For the unaware, New West is an online magazine/blog/events calender for many large cities in the west. Along with Missoula, they serve the Flathead Valley, Bend, Boulder, Salt Lake City and more. We're happy to be a part of it.

Our list of events can be seen here, check back often, as we're just getting started and thus far only have two events listed (more coming very, very soon). But now, in addition to our web site and paper newsletter you can find our events listed at http://www.missoulaevents.net/MPL

And while you're there, check out their Missoula page right here.

Dinosaurs and bathrooms

If you have not yet looked at the dinosaurs in the boys bathroom, please feel free to do so. Just push the door open a little bit, and you can see what has been going on in there.


I like this image of the mama feeding the baby, but I was also impressed with the image in the mirror.

Our young artists have been hard at work, though it looks like the boys bathroom is just about finished.
You can only see these two if you step into the stall, but I won't tell if you take a quick peek!
My favorite is this guy behind the bathroom door. It is hard to take a decent picture of him, the flash creates quite a glare.

Graphic Novels @ Missoula Public Library

Don't be fooled by the sign: comics, as well as manga and graphic novels, are not just for teenagers. This genre of book is for all ages, from early readers up to the most advanced literary reader.

Now I know the question that has been nagging you since the first sentence of this post: What the heck is the difference between comics, manga, and graphic novels? Well, let me clear it up for you, with the help of Wikipedia.

"Comics (or, less commonly, sequential art) is a form of visual art consisting of images which are commonly combined with text, often in the form of speech balloons or image captions. Originally used to illustrate caricatures and to entertain through the use of amusing and trivial stories, it has by now evolved into a literary medium with many sub genres."

"A graphic novel is a type of comic book, usually with a lengthy and complex storyline similar to those of novels, and often aimed at mature audiences. The term also encompasses comic short story anthologies, and in some cases bound collections of previously published comic-book series."

"Manga is the Japanese word for comics and print cartoons. Outside of Japan, it refers specifically to comics originally published in Japan, or works derivative of the style.... It comes mainly in black and white, except for the covers and sometimes the first few pages."

The Missoula Public Library is proud to announce that it has one of the largest--if not the largest--graphic novel collection in the Pacific Northwest. You should check out our collection next time you're in the library. I can assure you, there is a little something for everyone.

**Look for the graphic novel display coming soon!**

YouTube And Libraries

YouTube has a huge number of library related videos...here are a few that caught my eye.

What's New in Nonfiction?

An interesting mix of books were added to the non-fiction collection today. Here is a smattering of today’s additions for your reading pleasure.

Service and Style: How the American Department Store Fashioned the Middle Class by Jan Whitaker
Call #381.141 WHITAKE
Whitaker discusses the history and influence of the downtown department store, exploring the 1890s through the 1960s when these stores were in their prime.

Rise Up with a Listening Heart by The Monks of New Skete
Call #255.819 MONKS
Best known for their classic dog training manuals, The Monks of New Skete (How to be Your Dog’s Best Friend) have just published a collection of photographs, reflections and meditations. This book might come in handy after a hard day of training that difficult puppy.

Dancing in the Streets: A History of Collective Joy by Barbara Ehrenreich
Call#394.26 EHRENRE

Curious? Ehrenreich explores the history of mass festivities from the ancient Greeks to modern day sports events and how “collective joy” has been both celebrated and feared over time.

The Door of No Return: The History of Cape Coast Castle and the Atlantic Slave Trade by William St. Clair
Call #306.362 STCLAIR
The Cape Coast Castle was the headquarters for the British slave trade for almost 150 years. Learn about the people who lived, worked, and were sold through this fearsome fortress.

If The Stacks Are A-Rockin', Don't Come A-Knockin'

This weekend, hordes of high schoolers descended upon the Missoula Public Library for a free rock and roll show. The show, scheduled to start at 7 pm (after the library closes), started in typical Missoula fashion at 7:30 or so.

Riddlin Que was slated to play, but two of the members were missing, so front man Wes rocked the opening slot all by himself...for the most part. He was joined by the drummers from both the Sherlocks and Basic Practicalities at various times. In true rock fashion he was unprepared but persevered, making up songs about the Library, hammerhead sharks and playing a few cover tunes. Add to this the fact that he was rear ended on his way over and you have a myth in the making.
Next up the Sherlocks took the stage. They play a sort of jammy prog rock that borrows as equally from Built to Spill as Fugazi. Comparisons to Explosions in the Sky if they had vocals would not be far from the mark. They had a few technical difficulties, but had the crowd in their complete control from the get go. (Unfortunately none of the pictures I took of them turned out)

Rounding out the evening was Basic Practicalities. These guys have grown up quite a bit since I've seen them last, and they're still about the youngest band I've ever seen. Their set was comprised of a couple of covers, and a bunch of their own material. For being so young, their sound was incredibly full and mature. They also had a great deal of composure between songs.



All in all it was a great showing with a huge turnout. We need more Saturday nights at the library like this.

A Quiet Corner of the Library

Have you browsed through our Oversize book collection yet?
It's tucked away in a quiet corner of the Library, and some of my favorite books live there. Did you walk past it after you finished perusing the history books at the end of the Adult Non-Fiction section? Or maybe you missed it on your way to find a US News & World Report from 1994 in the back issues of our magazines? If you picked out a Biography to take home and read, you were standing right next to it.




Of course, there are gorgeous folios there of art work from around the world and beautiful coffee table books about places you'd love to visit on your vacation. But there's so much more to see...



How about architecture?



Or home decor?



Natural History, perhaps?



Or maybe you'd prefer Ancient History?



Are you a bird-watcher? This book is definitely for you!


There's something for everyone in the Oversize collection, and here's a list of my Top Ten favorites just to whet your appetite:


1. The Book of the Dragon

2. Carousel Horses

3. Earth From Above

4. Stained Glass

5. The Ultimate Kite Book

6. Folk Music Instruments of the World

7. The Dollhouse Book

8. Heritage of America Cookbook

9. History of Aviation

10. Fire Engines in North America



So next time you stop in to see us here at the Library, take a moment to stroll past the Reference Desk, beyond the Biographies and all the way to the back wall to check out our wonderful selection of Oversize books. Who knows, maybe you'll find a new favorite there...

Sweet Wednesday

Ok, so this might not make the most sense, but let's give it a shot. I'm posting a blog on Thursday about a band called Sweet Wednesday who played here at the library on a Tuesday. Got it? Good.

Local David Boone opened up with his own particular brand of poppy folk. I've known about David for quite a while, but we run in different musical circles so this was our first official meeting. He plays everywhere, and after seeing him play I can see why. He's got a poppy sound and a really good voice. I'm sure we'll have him play here again at some point.



Sweet Wednesday are Lisa and Dave, a folk duo from Boston. Again, two very nice people. Dave was a little under the weather and was experiencing some troubles from being so high above sea level. Not that you could tell when they started playing. He bounced around the stage while they played their humor injected folk music. One song was about taking Lisa to New York city, a trip that might have been better if she had, "just stopped complaining."


The turnout was small, but everyone there had a great time.

I look at books as little literary ecosystems. Montana’s rich literary heritage is a book fetishist’s dream. Consider this cluster related to Montana's contribution to the Harlem Renaissance ...

BORN TO BE is the rare reminisces of Taylor Gordon, a black man growing up in (and out of) early 1900s White Sulphur Springs, Montana. Gordon’s family was the only black family in the mining boom town, and as a boy he earned money working for the local madam and “sporting” men. He also chauffeured for the Ringling family (of circus fame, who had a ranch nearby). His stint as a Pullman car attendant opened up a new world of entertainment, patronage, sex and racism. Gordon became a fixture of the Harlem Renaissance, and traveled to Europe where he sang spirituals for monarchs.

Taylor Gordon makes a cameo in Ivan Doig’s memoir THIS HOUSE OF SKY: LANDSCAPES OF A WESTERN MIND -- one of Montana’s most beloved books. Doig’s description of White Sulphur’s saloon row is a boisterous diversion from his equally evocative treatment of the sheepherding life. We learn that Gordon lost his earnings – and some of his mental health – and retired to White Sulphur in time to entertain a young Doig. Gordon believed that his body could intercept radio signals and was known as a local eccentric.

While Doig’s memoirs are lyrical, his fiction can be an uphill grind for some readers. But the view from the top, if one sticks with it, is worth every word. Doig’s 2003 novel, PRAIRIE NOCTURNE, introduces us to Monty Rathbun, a character clearly inspired by Gordon’s life. We meet Monty working as a rodeo clown (his nickname is Snowball because he wears whiteface) on Montana’s Hi-Line, and follow his journey to a singing career in New York and beyond. The novel gets bounce with the KKK’s cat-and-mouse shenanigans, a mid-rehearsal earthquake in Helena, and a spin around the Harlem Renaissance. Monty’s moonlight serenade from a barge floating through Gates of the Mountains is one of my favorite Doig cinematic scenes.

FORUM: Taylor Gordon often insisted he did not experience racism growing up in Montana, and returned to White Sulphur to live out his last years. Nevertheless, Born to Be is rarely included in current discussions of Montana literature. While Montanans often think of themselves as independent outsiders, Gordon may have been a little too “outside” the comfort zone of his contemporaries. His use of ethnic idioms and his frank perspective on just about any topic – from rewriting the Bible to white curiosity over black sexuality – are not standard fare of the Western canon. By 1929 Gordon was penniless but brightly democratic: he credited everyone he knew – “the world’s greatest celebrities, artists, musicians, writers, bull-dikers, faggots, bankers, sweetbacks, hotpots, and royalty” – for teaching him that “life goes on … one thrill after another.” Surrounded by this diversity, he asked: “I wonder what I was born to be?”

DID YOU KNOW? When the Ku Klux Klan was active in Montana it was much more obsessed with purging the state of Catholics than African-Americans. ... Helena's black community once numbered in the hundreds, with African-American social clubs, saloons, churches, and an African-American newspaper.

by Karl Olson, Library Assistant

Global Warming

While everyone else enjoyed a beautiful evening outside, here in the library we had our own weather.Out in the public area of the library the temperature soared to a whopping 84 degrees (Fahrenheit).

Meanwhile, behind the circulation desk, the staff shivered in an arctic 71-degree refrigerator. (Not the greatest picture; click for large.)

I don't know how we can work under such conditions, quite frankly.

Spring is in the Air

Spring is in the air in Missoula. Today wasn't especially nice, but the snow on the hills from our last freak storm has melted and flowers are starting to bloom. Here at the library we have a Native Grassland outside in our parking lot. The flowers are popping up and bugs are crawling around. I even saw a couple of bees there, so I guess they all haven't disappeared yet.

So here are a few of our native plants, if only someone could tell me their names, I guess its off to the reference desk.

Dinosaurs in the bathroom?

Who are these guys, and what are they doing in the bathroom?


I really doubt that many of you have noticed what is happening in the boys' bathroom in the Children's Department. However, you really need to take a look, you'll find dinosaurs in there!

A team of volunteers from Hellgate High School have donated their time and energy to transform the bathroom into something just a little more interesting than your normal ho-hum bathroom.

It has been fascinating watching the entire process, from the research they did, to the rough sketches, and then transferring their ideas onto the walls, first in pencil, and then with paint.

I know, it sounds crazy when I tell people they need to come look at the boys bathroom, but really, come see what they have done. (and excuse me now, while I go take some more pictures of this work in progress)

NLW Tea Party

Yes, I know that National Library Week (NLW) is long over, but I have not yet shared the pictures of this fun event with you.













Not a big crowd this year, but we certainly had lots of fun. We started off by decorating visors, then selected some cookies or other goodies, and sat at a table to enjoy a cup of tea.

Plans are already underway for another tea party, and perhaps we won't wait until NLW!

Thanks to all who participated, and a special thanks to everyone that helped make this program a success!