Mad About Mags

Print is undergoing a major transformation. More and more we are hearing talk about how e-readers and mobile devices are shaping journalism, publishing, advertising, and libraries.

Last month Fortune magazine did a cover story on the Future of Reading, discussing how tablets will change books, magazines and newspapers. For a glimpse of what that may look like, check out the unveiling of Wired magazine's tablet app (it's pretty cool -- if you only click one link from this post, let it be this one!)

How can people expect to access digital magazine content? Companies like Maggwire.com and Zinino.com hope to be the iTunes of magazines -- serving as gateways and content managers for consumers, though Apple already has designs on that with the upcoming release of the iPad.

And what about libraries? Last week David Lee King sat in at the Public Library Association conference in Portland to discuss Top Tech Trends. At the top of the trends list...e-book readers. It is highly likely that libraries will begin adopting this newfangled format.

It is going to be interesting to witness how all this unfolds for the magazine industry and readers.

Word Woman

Welcome to another mind-bending installment of Word Woman's Weekly Work-Out! It's never too late to start working on retaining your mental faculties for the long run. Don't let the aging process get the jump on you -- keep your brain fit by doing crosswords, sudoku and learning new words! Here's the Word of the Week to get you started:

Philosophaster: (fi-los-uh-fas-tur) [noun] A pseudo-philosopher.
From Late Latin, philosopher + -aster, a pejorative suffix indicating something that is inferior or mimics another. -- "A Word A Day", Anu Garg, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New Jersey, 2003.

Example: When Professor Ordwell referred to his colleague in the Philosophy Department as a philosophaster in an interview for the college newspaper, it kicked off a battle of mudslinging the like of which was normally reserved for political campaigns and resulted in both parties losing their tenured positions.

Hold on!

If you're reading our online blog, you're most likely familiar with our online catalog. Some of you may know you can place a hold on any circulating title that Misssoula Public Library owns, or any of our partners, from any Internet connection. But, did you know you can get your hold notice sent to your email address?

By adding an email address to your library account, you'll not only get faster notification when your hold comes in (and save paper), but you'll also get a warning when something you have checked out is going to be due - so you can try to renew it or be sure to return it without accumulating any of those pesky overdue fines. And you don't have to worry about spam - your address will only be used for notifications related to your library record, we don't share any personal information with anyone.

And there's even better news for all those hold-placers out there: you can get your title sent directly to your house. Yup, we'll ship out any hold to your home for a $3 per package fee. So if you live out of town or have odd work hours, you won't risk missing out on a hold because you didn't get into the building soon enough to pick it up. You can put up to $50 on account with us, and we'll only use that money toward your home delivery charges. If you are a low-income or disabled resident, you may qualify for free delivery. Find details on our home delivery services here.

So the next time you want a title set aside for you, hold on!

Free Classical Music Download

Our featured download this month from Classical Music Library is Giacinto Scelsi's Ohoi for 16 strings , performed by the Orchestre Royal de Chambre de Wallonie; Jean-Paul Dessy, conductor. More information about this piece is available on the Music Online blog. All tracks downloaded through this promotion are owned by Alexander Street Press and are available to legally download, free of cost to the user. You can see what else is available by visiting our Online Resources page on the website and selecting the Alexander Street Press Online Music link. Have your library card handy to log in; and remember, think... more at Missoula Public Library.

Mad About Mags

MPL receives 200+ newspaper, journal, newsletter, and magazine titles. You can search for your favorites by selecting the “Periodical Title” search option in the library catalog, or browse our magazine stand next to the comfy reading area. You can checkout back issues for 4 weeks.

We’ve got the standards: Time, People, National Geographic, Readers Digest, Rolling Stone, Montana Magazine – and some specialized titles maybe you’ve never heard of: American Philatelist (stamp collecting), Archaeology, Family Chronicle (genealogy), Futurist (forecasts & trends), Linux Journal, Organic Gardening, Paste (music), ProRodeo Sports News, Shambhala Sun (buddhism), Threads (sewing), and Wood Carving Illustrated.

Over the next few weeks I’ll highlight some of the magazine titles in our collection. Until then, stop by and see for yourself what the library has to offer you!

Word Woman

Welcome to another exciting episode of Word Woman’s Weekly Workout! While you are busy getting out there and enjoying our beautiful spring weather by doing a little yard work or just going for a walk to stretch the winter stiffness out of your legs, don’t forget to stretch your mind as well by learning new words. Here’s the Word of the Week to get you started:

Main Entry: pre·var·i·cate

Pronunciation: \pri-ˈver-ə-ˌkāt, -ˈva-rə-\

Function: intransitive verb

Inflected Form(s): pre·var·i·cat·ed; pre·var·i·cat·ing

Etymology: Latin praevaricatus, past participle of praevaricari to act in collusion, literally, to straddle, from prae- + varicare to straddle, from varus bowlegged

Date: circa 1631

: to deviate from the truth : equivocate

"prevaricate." Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. 2010.

Merriam-Webster Online. 18 March 2010

Example: Donald’s tendency to prevaricate in order to get himself out of trouble usually ended up getting him into even more trouble in the end.

Sounds like...

We've been talking tech at the library lately, so this is the perfect time to learn about our downloadable audiobooks!

No matter where you are, if you have an Internet connection you can get an audiobook from the library. Just click on the "Downloadable Audiobooks" link on our home page and you'll discover a catalog of more than 2,000 titles ready to be downloaded and listened to at MontanaLibrary2Go. Most can be burned to a CD, or saved onto an MP3 player or iPod. Browse by age-group, most popular, recently returned, or even always available titles. All you need is a Missoula Public Library card. It's free!

Missoula is buzzing about audiobooks. We've demonstrated our downloadable catalog to students and school librarians, and even chatted about them at the Lions club this month. If you would like to learn more, we have a computer station just for downloading audiobooks near our Reference desk - no lines, and help is on hand.

If you're interested in having us visit with your group - just ask! Call 721-2665. We love to show off our fabulous services. Missoula Public Library - Think...MORE!

Did you know?

The library's collection of electronic databases contain a number of health and wellness resources that may have the answer to your health questions. Need information on your doctor's recent diagnosis? Our Health and Wellness Resource Center may have a concise overview to give you the basic information that you need. Want to understand the side effects of your latest prescription? You can do a quick search in Health Reference Center Academic and get a handful of articles. These are just two of a myriad of resources available from your library for free. Want to find out more on how to use what we've got for you?
Sign up for one of our two Health Info Resources classes being taught this month. This class is available this Wednesday at 12:30, as well as at 6:00 on the 29th. This class will be repeated in April and May, we think it is that important. So sign up for an hour that will help you know more about managing your health by contacting the library.
Think...more free computer resources.

Word Woman

Welcome to another astounding episode of Word Woman's Weekly Work-Out! We've successfully navigated an ocean of verbiage - more than one hundred words - together since Word Woman made her first appearance just over two years ago. Here's to that fine day, some two years hence, when we'll be celebrating the 200 Words of Word Woman together! In the meantime, for your further edification, here's the Word of the Week:

Complaisance: [kum-play-sense] (noun) a willingness to please others.

as opposed to another noun with the same pronunciation but a different meaning:

Complacence: the state of being satisfied with oneself or having a false sense of security.

-- "Word Traps: A Dictionary of the 5,000 Most Confusing Sound-Alike & Look-Alike Words", Jordan L. Linfield & Joseph Krevisky, Innovation Press, Collier Books, 1993.

Example: Jenny's complaisance lulled Harry into a state of complacence with their relationship.

Winter Reading Wrap-Up

Can you believe it's almost March 15??? That's the last day of our Winter Reading Club, and the last chance you get to submit a completed review form for the chance to win cool prizes. We know you've been reading all winter, so tell us what titles you've been picking up. The Winter Reading Club is for ages 18 and older.

Good news for those of you who didn't take part in the club this year (although we can't imagine why!) - you don't have to be a club member to come to tonight's Celebrity Adult Story Time. Join us at 7 p.m. tonight (Thursday, March 11) to hear Delectable Tales read by local celebs like Garden City Harvest's Josh Slatnick, KPAX's Angela Marshall, and the Missoulian's food write Lori Grannis. It's free, fun, and fabulous. And only at the library.

Winter Reading Club's Review of the Week

Hot, Flat and Crowded: Why we need a green revolution--and how it can renew America by Thomas Friedman. Call # 363.7052 FRIEDMA

Good book where author argues that America needs to go green in order to maintain world leadership in technology and research. Excellent examples and a compelling argument.

Reviewed by Anonymous

“Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one."

We had so much fun celebrating Dr. Seuss's 106th birthday on Sunday!

But how did we Seussebrate, you might ask?

Over a hundred people (and one Mr. Cat in the Hat) wrote books:

listened to stories:

got "illustrated:"


and crafted fabulous creations:

So many thanks to our sponsors, the America Reads, America Counts program at the University of Montana for organizing & executing such a special event. And a very happy 106th birthday to our good friend, Dr. Seuss.

For more fun photos, visit our Flickr page!

Get Tech

It's Teen Tech Week! Learn, Create, & Share your techno skills in the YA room all week long. Take part in these techie programs just for teens grades 7-12:

Robot Workshop: Join students from SKC who will show us the amazing robots they've designed, and share some tips on building your own. Wednesday, March 10, 3:30 p.m.

Book Soundtracks: Make the perfect play list to go along with your favorite title, and share your list in the YA room.

Media Clips: Screen short videos created by our own Teen Media Lab. Think you'd like to make a video of your own? Join the lab, it meets every Wednesday at 4 p.m. Our MCAT volunteer will show you how to get started.

Teens Only Movie: Come to a free after-hours new release movie Saturday, March 13, at 7 p.m. Sponsored by Teens Only, our teen advisory board. If you'd like to help with library programs and other projects, join Teens Only at our monthly meetings.

PLUS we're visiting St. Joe's, Washington Middle School, and Meadowhill Middle School this week to show off our tech-savvy. The library is the place to be for Teen Tech Week!

Today's event at 2:00 in the children's department

Missoula, make it count

The library will be the site for a Census 2010 Questionnaire Assistance Center. Census workers will be available Tuesdays through Saturdays to answer questions about completing your census forms. It is important to all of us to be counted. We also have a display downstairs across from Web Alley with information about confidentiality of the information given, how the information is used, and how being counted helps Missoula County and Montana receive its fair share of funds and services from the government.

Word Woman

Welcome to the final installment of this month-long celebration of the 100 Words of Word Woman! I'll be posting the last 25 words (numbers 76-100) today after we look at the Word of the Week. This week's word was brought to my attention by a co-worker, due to its credentials as the only word in the English language which features each and every one of the vowels in order. And that word is facetiously. What does it mean? Let's look at root word, facetious:

Main Entry: fa·ce·tious

Pronunciation: \fə-ˈsē-shəs\

Function: adjective

Etymology: Middle French facetieux, from facetie jest, from Latin facetia

Date: 1599

1 : joking or jesting often inappropriately : waggish
2 : meant to be humorous or funny : not serious

synonyms see witty

— fa·ce·tious·ly adverb

— fa·ce·tious·ness noun

76. Purlicue

77. Snollygoster

78. Dictionary attack

79. Glabrous

80. Pendent/Pendant

81. Antidextrous

82. Production level

83. Nintendonitis

84. Impugn

85. Anxious class

86. Nemesis

87. Wet paint syndrome

88. Trope

89. Discerp

90. –Cracy

91. Ersatz

92. Conundrum

93. Abstemious

94. Epitome

95. Bois de vache

96. Pecuniary

97. Darraign

98. Sinecure

99. Rapscallion

100. Literati

Read with a celebrity

Who says story time is just for kids?

Our second Celebrity Adult Story Time is coming up next week. This is a chance to hear some delectable tales (yes, they're all about food - one of my favorite topics) read by local celebs. Join Garden City Harvest's Josh Slotnick, KPAX's Angela Marshall, and the Missoulian's Lori Grannis on Thursday, March 11, at 7 p.m.

If you missed last month's reading, you really missed out! But, you can still enjoy these fun READ posters spotlighting our celebrity readers: Mayor John Engen, KECI's Mark Heyka, and KUFM's Zed.

The Celebrity Story Times are part of our Winter Reading Club. You still have time to sign up and get a free drink from eddie's coffeeshop. You don't have to be taking part in the club to come to the readings.

See you at our next celebrity reading on March 11!

Winter Reading Club's Review of the Week

Drive by Daniel Pink Call # 153.1534 PINK

Would you like to know the latest thinking on motivation and how to harness it? Excellent for managers, employees, and also for parents!

Reviewed by Anonymous

It's a new month so we have four new power walls of books and audio-video materials ~ just for you!


Our "You : the Artist" wall features "the oil painter's bible" by Marylin Scott and "The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain", plus many, many more interesting and inspiring books and dvds.


"It's Simple" displays a variety of "keeping it simple" items such as, "Simple Ways to Help Your Kids Become Dollar-$mart" by Elizabeth Lewin, C.F.P, and Bernard Ryan, Jr. and "the green book" (the everyday guide to saving the planet one simple step at a time) by Elizabeth Rogers and Thomas M. Kostigen, with a foreword by Cameron Diaz and William McDonough.



"Lives in the Music World" features all those phenomenal artists such as Mozart, Bach, Beethoven, etc. etc. etc. A couple books that I have my eye on are "Irving Berlin : A Daughter's Memories" by Mary Ellin Barrett and "The Life of Mendelssohn" by Peter Mercer-Taylor.


And in keeping with National Women's History Month, our power wall "Pioneering Women" has such goodies as "Sacajawea, Guide and Interpreter of Lewis and Clark" by Grace Raymond Hebard and Hermione Lee's "Willa Cather : Double Lives".


Stop by, check out our feature presentations, and let us know which books or dvds you checked out. Then, feel free to recommend any that you want to see displayed.