Warm Up with a Good Book

What's better than curling up under a blanket with a book on a cold winter day? Nothing. That's why we're running our first-ever Adult Winter Reading Program. As if reading isn't already rewarding, adults ages 18+ can read or listen to 3 titles and get a free drink from eddie's coffee shop @ Missoula Public Library. Keep reading, and get entered in our monthly raffles. Plus, every month we're hosting an author talk: Jon Jackson starts us out Jan. 29 with a talk about detective novels, Debra Earling keeps us going on Feb. 25 with an adult story time, and our Winter Reading Celebration will close out the program March 25 with Deirdre McNamer reading from her new book Red Rover. Get times & details from our online events calendar, or stop by the reference desk now for your entry form. See you at the library!

What Do I Read!!??

Did you make a New Year's resolution to read more this year but just can't figure out what to read next? Don't worry, we've got you covered.

First, check out Novelist Plus one of our e-databases. You'll have to enter your library card number to access this site. You can search for books you've already read and liked and get recommendations for other books and authors to try. This has saved my life on more than one occasion, since my wife regularly enlists me to pick out Chick Lit for her while I'm here at the library.

Also, try the shiny new WhichBook. WhichBook lets you choose elements of a story and then recommends books that match those elements. If you're looking for a happy, unpredictable, conventional story, or something like that, then this is the place for you.

If you're a little more old-fashioned, be sure to look at our staff-picks and themed power walls when you come into the library. You'll always find something new and interesting there.

Changes, changes, changes!

The new Accounts Desk is here! It may not be quite ready to try out yet, but it is in place and looking very spiffy indeed! Ben, our official library photographer, is not around to record this historic moment so I thought I'd try my hand. Unfortunately, I lack his experience and knowledge, but I suppose that amateur pictures are better than no pictures at all.


In other exciting news, our Self Check-Out stations have arrived as well! They should be up and running in the near future for our library patrons to use. This is certainly an action-packed week full of changes for all of us here at Missoula Public Library. Every day there is something new to see when we come to work! I hope that you will stop in and have a peek at the Library's new look, and maybe pick up a good book or a hot new movie while you're here.

Word Woman

Welcome to another weird and wonderful installment of Word Woman's Weekly Work-Out! Since the calendar has now officially ticked over to 2009, it's time for the first political word of the new year. This one is dedicated to Word Woman's techie co-worker, who was curious about the origin of the term:

Lame Duck:

Investopedia Says:

A trader or investor who makes poor trades and ends up with heavy losses over time would be considered a lame duck. Often, if a trader goes bankrupt, it is not the result of one bad trade but a long string of them - such a trader is called a lame duck because he or her is ineffective as a trader. (The term lame duck also refers to a politician who has chosen not to seek re-election, is ineligible to run for office again or has lost an election but is still in office until the election winner takes control of the office. The politician is considered a lame duck as he or she is not accountable to the constituency he or she represents.)

Example: Some have wondered whether Bush will try to make significant changes as a lame duck president or simply wait quietly for his final term in office to expire.

Happy New Year!

Welcome to 2009! We'll be closed today to celebrate the first day in the year of the ox, but we'll be open again tomorrow at 10 as usual. Is your New Year's resolution to get all your books back on time, or something else? Let us know in the comments. Our resolution is to get our construction done and get back to a semblance of quiet in the library.

(Photo by Flickr user Mykl Roventine. Some Rights Reserved.)