Banned Books Week Review blunders

It's hard to believe, but even librarians can make mistakes. Here are some funny moments from the filming of our Banned Books Week video reviews. Hope you enjoye the reviews (and outtakes) as much as we enjoyed making them!

We thank you, the animals thank you

Aaron from Animeals came and picked up the food we collected during Food for Fido last week.

Thanks to everyone who gave pet food in lieu of cash for their overdue fines! Each of you made an animal's life a little bit better.

Meow.

Speaking of hungry pets, today my cat Jasper returned after a few days of solitary adventuring, during which we were very concerned about him back at the homefront. As we were scouring the neighborhood searching and calling for him, several people assured us that it was perfectly natural for some cats, especially male cats with alley cat ancestry, to wander off for several days. However, because this is the first time that Jasper has disappeared overnight, these reassurances did little to calm my anxiety about his whereabouts, and until he showed up this afternoon (looking, I might add, very pleased with himself), I had been furiously brainstorming ways to find him. I did find, on several wesites, some very helpful tips on how to prevent pets from being lost and/or on finding lost pets. And now, since the whole situation seems monumentally less dire now that Jasper is back, I've celebrated his return (and all the helpful tips related to lost pets that the web has to offer) by creating a found poem about finding lost pets.

What is a found poem, you might be wondering? A found poem is when a writer pieces together a poem using language that he or she finds from other sources. Those sources could include anything: lines from old thrift store postcards, signs along the highway, blurbs from books... It's a fun excercise, and I'd encourage anyone who's interested in writing to give it a try. (Just make sure you cite your sources if appropriate to avoid plagarism!)

Here's the found poem I came up with using lines taken from the website http://www.pet-dog-cat-supply-store.com/index.php?nic=pet-travel-tips

Found Poem

Carry a box of your pet's favorite biscuits, chews, or other treats and rattle it loudly while calling your pet's name.

Your budget will determine how many flyers you can afford to post, but the more the better.

Use your flashlight for checking under houses and other dark spots. Also check storage sheds, garages, dumpsters, trash cans, and under cars. Don't forget to look in trees for a cat.

Be aware that dogs may be housed in the cat section and vice-versa.

A person calls you claiming to be a long-haul trucker. This person does not have your pet, he is only trying to take your money.

And, of course, as a Missoula Public Library patron, you have access to lots of wonderful books on pets. Here are some popular pet titles for readers of all ages:

Wabi Sabi by Mark Reibstein (Easy)

Dogzilla by Dav Pilkey (Easy)

The Warrior Series by Erin Hunter (J-YA)

Cat Call by Linda Newberry (J-YA)

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein (Fiction)

The Encyclopedia of Natural Pet Care Rev. ed. by C.J. Puotinen, (Non-fiction)

Word Woman

Welcome to another thrilling episode of Word Woman's Weekly Work-Out! With the nights growing colder and longer, now is a good time to get back into the reading habit. So pack up the backyard badminton set, pull out your favorite comforter and curl up with a nice, cozy book. Word Woman's book of choice, of course, would be the dictionary - but what are you reading right now? A new novel by your favorite fiction author? A mouth-watering cookbook? A DIY guide to making a great Halloween costume using only carpet remnants and duct tape? Post a comment and let us know! Now, here's the Word of the Week:

Anxious class: [noun] a social stratum primarily worried about its jobs and household economies. -- "Hatchet Jobs and Hardball: The Oxford Dictionary of American Political Slang", Grant Barrett, Ed., Oxford University Press, New York, 2004.

Example: The current economic downturn has swelled the numbers of the anxious class to truly staggering proportions.

Banned Books Week Review

Our final 1-minute review in honor of Banned Books Week. Remember Banned Books Week is almost over, but you can get these titles at the library anytime!