UNHINGED

Sale of Sculpture to Benefit the Library

2012-01-23T13:54:00.001-05:00

The Library is featuring an exhibit by Scarborough stone sculptor Dr. Norman Rosenbaum. Each piece in the exhibit is for sale, with the proceeds generously donated by Dr. Rosenbaum to the Library. Dr. Rosenbaum is a physician who practiced medicine for over forty-five years. His professional career included experiences with medical teams in Honduras and as camp doctor at Seeds of Peace Camp in Otisfield, ME.

Each carving is created with attention to
the size, color, and form of the stone.

Norman Rosenbaum discovered small stone carving when he relocated to from New England to the Southwest. After initially studying woodcarving at the University of New Mexico, he apprenticed with Chippewa stone carver, Rollie Grandbois, in Jemez Springs, New Mexico in 1997 and 2002.

Norm has chosen the bear as the theme of his carvings, incorporating a unique blend of traditional styles and techniques with contemporary expressionism. The bears are individually hand-carved from Colorado, Utah, or New Mexico alabaster, Zia Pueblo gypsum, or New Mexico limestone. Only hand tools were used to cut, shape, and finish each piece. This exhibit also includes hand carved hearts of Colorado alabaster.

We invite you to stop in and enjoy the work of this local artist and perhaps make a purchase to benefit the Library.

Tips for Staying Safe While Following Celebrities on Twitter:

2011-12-30T15:41:00.000-05:00

"Last week, Lady Gaga became the latest celebrity to have her Twitter account hacked. In this instance the hacker used it to attract clicks to a scam offer for a free iPad. While this scam was designed to collect information rather than inject malware or data stealing code, it was incredibly effective. Hundreds of thousands of clicks happened in a very short amount of time before the post was taken down." For tips on how to avoid becoming a victim of these kind of hacks, visit our web security company's blog post at Websense Security Labs.

In the broef video below, you'll find Websense Security Labs predictions for 2012. Beware of your friends, be careful searching for special events like The London Olympics, U.S. presidential elections, Mayan calendar, and apocalyptic predictions. These events will lead to widespread attempts by cyber criminals to entice you to give up your personal information (credit card, bank info, etc). Source credit: Websense Security Labs.

FootNotes Plus* January 2012 Edition Available Now

2011-12-28T19:30:00.002-05:00

http://www.library.scarborough.me.us/pdf/newsPlus.pdf

View the online version of our monthly newsletter FootNotes Plus*, published today. You'll find lots of activities to entertain you and opportunities for personal growth. There are SKILL BUILDING programs highlighting three exceptional online resources available to library cardholders through our website. We've also scheduled a special program during MONEY SMART WEEK® @ YOUR LIBRARY to help consumers find financial health.

Public Libraries Evolve

2011-12-26T16:32:00.000-05:00

Jennifer Rooks of MPBN's program "MaineWatch" interviews 3 public library directors about the evolving role of public libraries in their communities.

Public Libraries Evolve

Holiday Hours

2011-12-23T16:26:00.000-05:00

The Library is closed December 24th & 25th for the Christmas holiday and January 1, New Years Day. We will also close on January 2 & 3 so that we can shift collections on our shelves to make browsing easier. We will re-open on Wednesday, January 4 at 10 a.m. The book drop will be open for returns.

Maine's LearningExpress Library™

2011-12-03T14:43:00.000-05:00

With this new initiative from the Maine State Library and the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP), all patrons of Maine Public Libraries have access to LearningExpress Library™.

LearningExpress Library™, is a free collection of more than 1000 practice tests and skills tutorials for academic career advancement and more than 200 eBooks

Popular Software Tutorials, interactive online multimedia training that instructs users on popular software products, graphic design & studio application, office applications, and operating system.

Computer & Internet Basics Tutorials, easy-to-follow multimedia training that introduces novice computer users to PC essentials, Internet basics, social networking and much more!

To access from home, users need to have a MARVEL login - or set one up. Directions here. The easiest way to gain access? Make sure you have a valid Scarborough Public Library card and login with your last name and library barcode number to set up a Learning Express™ account.

Great Gift Ideas!

2011-11-15T15:44:00.001-05:00

Stop in today and pick up your free copy of the November issue of BookPage (includes annual holiday catalog with plenty of gift ideas for the reader(s) in your life). This service is provided by the Friends of Scarborough Library.

The People's Library

2011-10-19T21:09:00.000-04:00

There's is one more library in NYC these days - the People's Library for the 99%. Looks pretty well organized to me, just like the Occupiers. Thumbs up for the effort!

Library Website To Feature Survey

2011-10-01T14:06:00.000-04:00

We want to hear from you! From October 3 to October 30, the library website will feature an online survey designed to assess how our patrons [14 years and older] use the library’s computers and Internet connection and how this service has made a difference in their lives. This information will help the library improve its technology services and communicate the value of providing free access to computers and the Internet within our community. The IMPACT Survey is anonymous, available in English and Spanish, and takes 10-15 minutes to complete.

Please support the library and help us improve our services. Go to the library website http://www.library.scarborough.me.us to fill out the survey or click the survey button below.

The survey is coordinated by the University of Washington with generous support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. For more information about the IMPACT Survey, inquire at the library information desk or visit http://impactsurvey.org.

Author Paul Doiron

2011-09-30T11:54:00.004-04:00

Wednesday, October 5, 2011 at 6:30 pm

We are excited to welcome bestselling author, Paul Doiron, back to the Scarborough Public Library to talk about his latest book, Trespasser, the second novel in his Mike Bowditch series. Paul's first book, The Poacher's Son, received great reviews and was nominated for the Edgar Award - given by the Mystery Writers of America for distinguished work in the mystery genre. In this riveting follow-up, Maine game warden Mike Bowditch’s quest to find a missing woman leads him through a forest of lies in search of a killer who may have gotten away with murder once before. Reviews for Trespasser describe it as a tense thriller… that brings the Maine landscape vividly to life.

Paul refers to our Library as his "original hometown library," having spent his childhood in Scarborough. Many of you will also know Paul for his work as editor-in-chief of Down East: The Magazine of Maine. We hope you'll join us for this free event. Copies of Trespasser will be available for signing at the event.

If you’d like to read more about Trespasser, log onto Paul’s website at http://www.pauldoiron.com/.

Film and Discussion

2011-09-06T11:54:00.001-04:00

Film Program : A Chemical Reaction

Wednesday, September 14, 2011 at 6:30 p.m.
Viewing And Discussion

The public is invited to view this award-winning film (80 mins.) produced by Maine resident Paul Tukey. The film tells the compelling story of Hudson, Quebec—the first town in North America to ban lawn and garden chemicals. An open discussion follows, facilitated by members of Citizens for a Green Scarborough.

View the trailer for the film:

My Summer Reading List

2011-08-25T13:22:00.001-04:00

Ask a librarian: I'm constantly asked about what I'm reading and I love to share great books. Here are some that filled my time on the beach this summer. My favorite reading are suspense novels, psychological thrillers, and police procedurals. I love discovering European and Asian authors that aren't widely read in this area. I'm waiting for a new books by Lars Keplar. I love Colin Cotterill's Dr. Siri Paiboun series. Dr. Siri is a 73 year old Laotian coroner, eccentric, wry, and hopelessly attracted to mysterious circumstances. The Dr. Siri novels are small gems.

In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin by Eric Larson.
The Passage: A Novel by Justin Cronin
The Postmistress by Sarah Blake.
A Simple Act of Violence by R. J. Ellory
About Face by Donna Leon (a Guido Brunetti mystery series set in Venice)The cruelest month : a Three Pines Mystery by Louise Penny (an Armand Gamache mystery -Quebec)
Whisper to the Blood : [a Kate Shugak novel] by Dana Stabenow (Alaska)
Water Touching Stone by Eliot Pattison (Tao Yun Shan mystery-Tibet Autonomous Region (China))

Library Announces Employment Opportunities

2011-08-25T12:51:00.000-04:00

We are currently accepting applications for 3 part-time positions to assist in staffing the library circulation desk (2) and the youth services reference desk (1). Successful candidates must be able to work independently, balance multifaceted job responsibilities in a busy environment, and be comfortable working with library patrons of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. Click here for details about these positions.

No men in sight?

2011-07-19T15:22:00.006-04:00

You Know When the Men are Gone by Siobhan Fallon

Siobhan Fallon is uniquely suited to giving us an inside look at the lives of the women left behind at Ft. Hood since her husband was twice deployed to Iraq. Her eight short stories captivated me with their vivid portrayals of diverse women who are left behind when their husbands are deployed: a native Hawaiian missing home and struggling with her husband’s likely infidelity, a cancer patient and her unruly teenage daughter, a Serbian bride who doesn’t fit in with the others. The constant tension that afflicts all of the characters is very nearly a character itself. Fallon’s writing is so strong I could hardly put her book down.

The Summer Without Men by Siri Hustvedt

Mia, a poet, has returned to her small Midwestern hometown to spend the summer near her mother and teach a poetry workshop to a group of teenage girls. She nurses the anger that’s gripped her since her husband asked for “a pause” – left her for a younger woman, and she reconnects with her Mom and Mom’s elderly friends. Mia nurtures her young poetry students through some very typical “girl stuff”, and the author’s insights into the drama struck me as very real. Mia’s energy and vitality is palpable and this first person account is the perfect way to portray it. It makes this slim work a very quick read.

posted by dmm

Online Spelling Bee

2011-06-22T11:03:00.000-04:00

Adults who think they are good spellers can challenge themselves and see how they stack up against other spellers when they play the Visual Thesaurus Spelling Bee Game. Hear the word spoken, see the definition, and then take your chances spelling it. This game is harder than you'd think!

Play by yourself in the Tournament Spelling Bee, where you are scored on a scale of 200 to 800. Your score (and rank) will update after every five words you complete. If you'd rather tackle the Community Spelling Bee, you'll face words generated from another player's word lists. Community Spelling Bees test your knowledge of a limited group of words and give you a score based on the percentage of words you spell correctly. The Spelling Bee Game can be found at http://www.visualthesaurus.com/bee/.

Maine Writers Database

2011-06-12T15:31:00.000-04:00

If you are a fan of authors who have a Maine connection--birth, residency, or employment--pay a visit to the searchable database of over 500 Maine writers who lived from the 18th century to the present. Some works featured in the database may also have a historically important Maine setting. Browse the complete list of Maine authors or search below by keyword, time period, genre, or gender.

This database was initially the product of Molly Williams and the Waterboro Public Library. The Maine State Library updated and enhanced the database so that information on writers can be searched by browsing an A to Z list, by keyword, genre, or time period or a combination. Verification of entries was accomplished by the Reference and Research Services staff at the Maine State Library.

More Films with 'True Grit'

2011-04-04T14:50:00.010-04:00

The west has inspired hundreds of movies, most unremarkable. Redos of classic films also have had mixed success. The exception seems to be True Grit starring Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, and the acclaimed Hailee Steinfeld. True Grit will be released on DVD on June 7, 2011. While you wait, consider checking out a classic western you may have missed. I've selected a few titles, several new to our collection, that are outstanding examples of the genre. These movies pay homage to the vast distances and the magnificent landscape of the West. Every dusty town struggles to survive and the classic western story displays the hero in that time and place.

The Library's recent DVD Spotlight eNewsletter features several of these classic titles available for borrowing from our collection. Ride the High Country by Sam By Peckinpah; The Ox-Bow Incident, a William Wellman, Jr. film; John Sturges' Last Train from Gun Hill; and, Kevin Costner's epic film, Dances With Wolves.

Tax Tips from the IRS

2011-02-24T13:52:00.001-05:00

The income tax filing season has begun and important tax documents should be arriving in the mail. Even though your return is not due until April, getting an early start will make filing easier. Here is a link to the Internal Revenue Service’s top 10 tips that will help your tax filing process run smoother than ever this year.
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=118985,00.html

Check out IRS Publication 17, Your Federal Income Tax on the IRS website. It’s a comprehensive collection of information for taxpayers highlighting everything you’ll need to know when filing your return. And remember to do the math. The IRS says this is one of the most common filing mistakes, along with entering your SSN incorrectly.

Visit the Library Tax Assistance page for information on the Library / AARP Tax-Aide program. Tax assistance is available for seniors and for low and middle income individuals who meet the Tax-Aide program guidelines.

Saying Goodbye . .

2011-02-14T15:01:00.001-05:00

For 23 years, Deirdre Larson was a familiar face behind the Library’s Circulation Desk, welcoming visitors as they came, and bidding them good-bye as they went. On January 7, 2011, Deirdre retired from the Library, bidding us goodbye as she moved confidently into another phase of her life.

Deirdre kept a very busy department humming in her capacity as Head of Circulation… not an easy task when one considers that close to 250,000 items were checked out over the past year alone! Deirdre’s value to the Library extended far beyond her “official” role, as well. For 17 plus years, she served as Editor of the Library’s quarterly newsletter, Footnotes, carefully selecting inspirational quotes and whimsical images to enhance the text.

Her incredible talent as a photographer was often called upon to capture a special moment or event in the Library. In February, the Library will honor Deirdre’s years of valued service to our community and her special talent with a select show of her photographs. A journal will be available for visitors to jot their best wishes and notes of farewell. Thank you for all the wonderful memories, Deirdre. We will certainly miss you!

Library Snapshot Day: Libraries Connect

2011-02-14T14:58:00.000-05:00

On Tuesday November 9th, libraries all across Maine collected patron comments and photos to take a “Snapshot” of the programs and services provided by Maine libraries to their communities on a typical day.

Here are comments from a mother and son who visit the Library every week, Julie and Jay Krithivas:

Julie and Jay Krithivas

“The Library is the center of the community for our family. We have made wonderful friends through the Library programs. We’re also here multiple times a week to take out books, movies and CDs. We love it here!” Julie Krithivas

“I think the Library is important because if you really want a book you can get it at the Library. I help with story time, reading, and puppet shows.” Jay Krithivas

IRS No Longer Mailing Tax Forms

2011-02-14T14:51:00.001-05:00

The IRS announced that individual and business taxpayers will no longer receive paper income tax packages in the mail from the IRS. These tax packages contained the forms, schedules and instructions for filing a paper income tax return. The IRS is taking this step because of the continued growth in electronic filing and the availability of free options to taxpayers, as well as to help reduce costs. The Library has the most common state and federal tax forms available or we can help you find them online. (There will be a 10 cent per page printing fee for State forms.) Visit the Library Tax Assistance page for information on the Library / AARP Tax-Aide program.

Library Journal's Best Books of 2008

2008-12-23T13:22:00.006-05:00

Now is the time when "Best of the Year" lists begin to appear. In its December issue, Library Journal announced its picks for best books of 2008. Among the magazine's choices is Cost by Roxana Robinson, a gut-wrenching family tale that takes place in a Maine summer home.

Below is a link to more information on Cost and the other books on the list that the Scarborough Public Library owns.

Library Journal's Best of 2008 at Scarborough Public Library

From Page to Screen

2008-12-01T09:46:00.002-05:00

A compelling story of love and deception comes to theaters December 12, with the film debut of The Reader, adapted from the novel by Bernhard Schlink. The Reader depicts the life of a boy in post-war Germany who falls desperately in love with an older woman, only to discover that she was tried for Nazi war crimes. While the tumultuous affair abruptly ends, he finds himself never fully recovering from their relationship, and as a result, their lives become inextricably intertwined. The novel was a selection of Oprah’s Book Club, and the film adaptation stars Ralph Fiennes and Kate Winslet. Check out The Reader and discover the appeal of this moving and lyrical narrative.

How Many Smoots to a Mile?

2008-10-06T21:26:00.005-04:00

October 4th was the 50th anniversary of the "Smoot" - a form of measurement devised by students from MIT who measured the length of the Harvard Bridge by the height of Oliver Smoot, class of 1962. At the time, Smoot was five feet seven inches tall (67 inches or 1.70 m.) According to Wikipedia, the bridge's length was measured to be 364.4 smoots (620.1 m) plus or minus one ear, with the "plus or minus" intended to express uncertainty of measurement. By this measurement, I am an inch shy of 1 smoot tall!

I was surprised to read that Google Calculator also incorporates smoots, which it reckons at exactly 67 inches (1.7018 meters). Google also uses the smoot as an optional unit of measurement in their Google Earth software. Ironically (or perhaps through predestination), Oliver Smoot later became Chairman of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and President of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).The prank's fiftieth anniversary was commemorated on October 4, 2008, as Smoot Celebration Day at MIT. Read more about it and other humorous units of measurement at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_humorous_units_of_measurement

Write On!

2008-08-28T19:46:00.006-04:00

September is Be Kind To Editors and Writers Month, so during the next 30 days, take an extra moment to appreciate wordsmiths and word-tinkerers. One way is to make a literary pilgrimage to the places where your favorite authors lived and worked, or to read the original, unedited version of a classic (sometimes even the best editors get a little too overzealous).

Better yet, set off on a journey accompanied by the Literary Map of Maine, scheduled to be printed in the Maine Sunday Telegram on Sunday, Aug. 31. The map will contain information about books with a Maine setting -- fiction and nonfiction, adult and juvenile titles. Maine has a rich tradition of inspiring the writing muse, as will be demonstrated by this keepsake map.