Word Woman

Welcome to another mind-bending episode of Word Woman's Weekly Work-Out! Expanding your vocabulary is a great way to keep your brain in shape for the marathon of life. Now let's get those neurons fired up with the Word of the Week:

"Case of slow" - what was wrong with the loser in a gun battle. -- "Dictionary of the American West", Winfred Blevins, Facts on File, 1993.

Example: John was outbid for the coveted vintage vinyl albums up for auction on E-bay not due to lack of funds, but because of a terminal case of slow on the part of his computer.

The New Face of Information

Coming into the library looks different just about everyday with all of our construction and yesterday was a big change. Our old, clunky information desk has given way to a new lightweight station that will eventually serve as a home base for a "roving librarian" who will help patrons find the items they're searching for. We're hoping that this desk will feel more approachable and our staff won't be as hidden as in the past.

Feel free to stop by and ask us where to find books or where to get the information you need. Even though the sign doesn't say "information" anymore, we still provide it.

Second Degree Fame

I just finished the book the hermans - Stalking America and discovered my picture appears twice throughout, my old band is mentioned more times than I could count, my old, old band was mentioned once, and my old house/music venue was mentioned twice. Pretty good. I was the first person here at MPL to check the book out and I would recommend it for more reasons than just some obscure references to yours truly.

The book was put out by Running Press and chronicles the bands attempt to "make it." Between knowing the hermans pretty well and being in a band myself, it's a pretty accurate description of life in a band. Check it out here at the library or lend your support by buying it.

Word Woman

Welcome to another exciting episode of Word Woman's Weekly Work-Out! Help your mind stay fit and healthy for a lifetime by expanding your vocabulary. Now let's get those neural pathways warmed up with the Word of the Week:

Hormic theory: The theory that all actions and behaviors, conscious or unconscious, have a purpose or a specific goal. -- "The New York Times Everyday Reader's Dictionary of Misunderstood, Misused, Mispronounced Words", Laurence Urdang, ed., New York Times Book Company, 1972.

Example: The chaos that is human politics is so much more interesting when viewed through the lens of hormic theory.

Word Woman

Welcome to another stunning installment of Word Woman's Weekly Work-Out! Keep your brain in training for the long run of life with the Word of the Week. In keeping with our 2008 Election Year theme, here is another political term:

Pax Americana: [noun] The (notional) stability and peace resulting from American dominance (in a region or the world); formerly, stability and peace in the U.S. itself. -- "Hatchet Jobs and Hardball: The Oxford Dictionary of American Political Slang", Grant Barrett, ed., Oxford University Press, 2004.

Example: There are some who consider the Pax Americana engendered in traditionally disputed areas to be more of a bane than a boon to the countries involved.

Surrounded By Sound

We recently installed a great new sound system in our Large Meeting Room. Now there are eight, count 'em eight, speakers, which allow us to finally use the Dolby Digital Surround Sound we've had for awhile, but couldn't take advantage of. There are two speakers up front that will just broadcast dialog, and the remaining six surround you and add motion to the sounds. When the killer is sneaking up behind you, you'll hear his creaking footsteps coming from behind you. Be sure to come down and take advantage, so far only one movie has been shown in surround sound. The next big one will be our World Wide Cinema festival shorts selection next Friday. Don't miss out!

Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!

Sunday, March 2nd marked the 104th birthday of Dr. Seuss. We celebrated in the Children's department by hosting a birthday party with the America Reads, America Counts program at the University of Montana.Here's Colleen and Lauren from ARAC holding the birthday cake. In addition to cake, we also celebrated with games, stories, crafts, and prizes!

It was a great time, and a great turnout!

Construction Updates

We've seen quite a bit of progress this past week in the construction of both the new YA area and the gateway to the children's area. A mushroom popped up out of nowhere.



As did a message of love.



The YA department construction, however, is moving along quickly, but so far nothing much is looking like a finished product. There is a lot of steel framing going on in there behind the plastic.



We're getting back on track with our collections as well. Fiction is back in roughly the places you would expect it to be, and we're closing in on having all of our shelving in the right place. We're getting there!

When will spring come?

Just when you think that you've gotten past the winter blahs, that maybe spring is on the weather map if not the horizon, what happens? Another snow storm. As I came in to work today it was coming down in big, fat, heavy flakes. You know, I am really ready for more sunshine, maybe a few flowers trying to poke their little heads up and some warm breezes.


We've put a few primroses around on the public desks to brighten the place up and are grateful for the few sunshiny days we've had so far.





So here's a touch of spring to brighten our day... and maybe with March coming in like something of a lion we can look forward to more lamb-like weather to end the month.
And don't forget that you'll lose an hour of sleep this weekend as we "spring" forward for the move into Daylight Savings Time at 2:00 a.m. Sunday morning.

Jump Into A Library

On my day off, my wife and I went to the movie theater and decided to watch Jumper. It was a pretty fun, if a bit mindless, movie based on a sci-fi book by Steven Gould. The part that got me, though, was when the main character first discovers his ability to teleport, the first place he goes is the Ann Arbor Public Library. In the background you see an "Escape to your Library" poster, very subtle. The library plays a small, yet important role in the film, and as an added bonus you get a chance to see a white haired Samuel L. Jackson.