the link
houston public library news and events
December | 2012
Season’s Readings to One and All! Welcome to the holiday edition of the link. This edition is loaded with holiday reading and viewing recommendations for all ages in a variety of formats. For your enjoyment, HPL offers wonderful traditional print books, eBooks, CDs and DVDs to help you get into the holiday spirit. See pages four to six for more information. But we don’t stop there. On December 8th we welcome best-selling author Anna Dewdney (author of the Llama Llama series) to our holiday reading series, Season’s Readings. Targeted for children and families, Season’s Readings includes a holiday season full of programs and events at locations across the system. For more information about Ms. Dewdney’s visit and the many other programs that are part of Season’s Readings, see page three. The holidays also mean travel and gift giving for many of us. If you are one of our growing number of customers who plan and organize your life through your smartphone or tablet, then you will want to check out the Tech IT section on page seven. Tech IT links you to information about apps that will make your travels a little easier, and help you on your quest for the perfect gift. If that perfect gift proves elusive, I encourage you to consider the gift of a membership to the Friends of the Houston Public Library. Perfect for teachers, friends and family, your gift of a membership to the Friends supports the fabulous array of programs and services offered by HPL. Please see page two for more information.
ATTENTION CUSTOMERS:
Houston Public Library will be closed Saturday, December 22, 2012 through Noon on Wednesday, December 26, 2012 in observance of the Christmas holiday. We hope you and yours have a happy and safe holiday!
Important Notice
We are using the holiday closure to replace a critical component of our electrical distribution equipment. Our website, catalog and customer accounts will be unavailable during this period. We apologize for the inconvenience.
As always, thank you for your continued support of the Houston Public Library. Have a safe and enjoyable holiday.
For more information, please visit www.houstonlibrary.org.
Dr. Rhea Brown Lawson, Director
Visit the City of Houston Website: www.houstontx.gov
HPL NewS
page 2 Seniors and Digital World Friends Membership
EVENTS
page 3 Seasons Readings, Author Anna Dewdney
KIDS & TEENS
pages 4/5 Kids and Teen Holiday Picks
adults page 6 Holiday Book Selection Workforce Solutions HPL App
TECH IT page 7 Holiday Apps e-books
Linking YOU to the World of Fun and Education
HPL NEWS
Houston Public Library: Expanding Horizons – Linking Seniors to the Digital World
One in three people do not have access to the Internet from home and half the seniors in the US do not use the Internet regardless of access.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation recently worked with HPL and other libraries from across the country to help us tell the stories of how our work has impacted our communities.
The Houston Public Library (HPL) is playing an essential role in creating opportunities for seniors to benefit from technology and computer training programs, improving their knowledge and use of the digital world. Technology Access & Instruction is a service priority at HPL; as part of that commitment, HPL provides FREE access to computers and the Internet in addition to teaching seniors how to make use of these technologies through hands-on classes and ongoing partnerships with the community.
The result was a series of moving and informative videos. You can see HPL’s video, Expanding Horizons – Linking Seniors to the Digital World by following the QR code above or by visiting http://blogs.houstonlibrary.org. Through this video you can experience how seniors are becoming empowered and are embracing the life changing services offered by HPL, which are linking them to the digital world. Community members can find more information about classes such as the Fifty-Plus Computer Club at www.houstonlibrary.org. HPL – Linking YOU to the World!
Give the gift of knowledge and power. Support HPL with a Friends Membership!
Remember in this season of thanks and giving that a Friends membership will make a great gift while supporting Houston Public Library.
Membership benefits include:
• Members’ preview pass to the 35th Annual Bargain Book Sale, March 22-24, 2013. Get the best books at a low price! • Annual Meeting & Celebration – Hear from Library Director Dr. Rhea Brown Lawson about the Library of the Future along with award winning authors. • “Insider” information about your Houston Public Library through the monthly e-newsletter. • Knowledge that your support helped your community and the Houston Public Library!
Please consider Friends of HPL if you have books to donate, gifts to purchase and need volunteer opportunities! For more information or to give a membership 832.393.1387 or info@friendsofhpl.org www.friendsofhpl.org -2-
Martin Luther King Legacy Linking YOU to the World of Fun and Education
events
A Holiday Story Puppet Show
Mary’s father is away from home and her mother is ill, and they don’t have a tree for Christmas. Her Jewish neighbor surprises Mary with a tree, decorated by all the neighborhood animals. During the show the audience interacts with the puppets, feeling the joyous holiday atmosphere. Wednesday, December 12 | 4 PM
Bracewell Neighborhood Library | 9002 Kingspoint Dr., 77089
Thursday, December 13 | 11 AM
Robinson-Westchase Neighborhood Library | 3223 Wilcrest, 77042
Thursday, December 13 | 6 PM
Flores Neighborhood Library | 110 North Milby, 77003
Wednesday, December 19 | 10 AM
Mancuso Neighborhood Library | 6767 Bellfort, 77087
Wednesday, December 19 | 3:30 PM
Looscan Neighborhood Library | 2510 Willowick, 77027
Houston Public Library
Popcorn Kids: Children’s Film Festival
Season’s
Enjoy a colorful collection of short films from around the world, hand-picked as audience and jury favorites from the 2012 New York International Children’s Film Festival, and brought to the library by the Aurora Picture Show. Kids and kids-at-heart will love this collection of short films that includes a sweet film adapted from the enormously popular Gruffalo picture book by British author Julia Donaldson. Join us after the screening for a special reading of Gruffalo and related crafts. Saturday, December 15 | 3 PM
READINGS
Julia Ideson Building, Norma Meldrum Room | 550 McKinney, 77002
Straws the Clown Holiday Show
Celebrate the winter season with family friendly, literary inspired programs at your library. Our Season’s Readings series of programs kicks off with a visit from Best Selling Author Anna Dewdney. Anna Dewdney is the author of the adored Llama Llama picture book series, as well as Roly Poly Pangolin, Grumpy Gloria and No Bunny’s Perfect.
Clown around and enjoy the winter break with a visit from Straws the Clown! Wednesday, December 12 | 4 PM Johnson Neighborhood Library | 3517 Reed Rd., 77051
Thursday, December 27 | 2 PM
Freed-Montrose Neighborhood Library | 4100 Montrose, 77006
Karaoke for Kids Holiday Show
FEATURED EVENT:
Celebrate the season with some karaoke and holiday music! Tuesday, December 11 | 4:15 PM
A Visit with Llama Llama Author, Anna Dewdney
Scenic Woods Regional Library | 10677 Homestead Rd., 77016
Tuesday, December 18 | 4 PM
Walter Neighborhood Library | 7660 Clarewood, 77036
Thursday, December 27 | 4 PM
Kendall Neighborhood Library | 609 N. Eldridge, 77079
Best Selling Author Anna Dewdney will visit the Houston Public Library to kick off the annual Season’s Readings program (www.annadewdney.com). Saturday, December 8 | 11 AM
The Gingerbread Man
This hilarious new holiday musical from Express Children’s Theatre is about a Gingerbread Man who suddenly comes to life, jumps out of the oven and runs out of the house yelling “Run, run as fast as you can! You can’t catch me, I’m the Gingerbread Man.” He leads everyone on a merry chase, but when the sly fox comes along the holiday magic begins. Saturday, December 1 | 11 AM
McGovern-Stella Link Neighborhood Library | 7405 Stella Link, 77025
Music for the Season
Houston Youth Symphony, celebrating 65 years of music education, presents string and brass chamber music ensembles performing classical and holiday favorites. Saturday, December 15 | 1:30 PM
Bracewell Neighborhood Library | 9002 Kingspoint Dr., 77089
Central Library, Gallery Area | 500 McKinney, 77002
These events are free and open to the public. INFO | www.houstonlibrary.org or 832 393-1313 -3-
Linking YOU to the World of Fun and Education
KIDS
SUGGESTED READING FOR KIDS
HOLIDAY PICKS
Emanuel and the Hanukkah Rescue by Heidi Smith Hyde
Pete the Cat Saves Christmas by Eric Litwin
Suggested eBooks
Christmas Time by Allison Jay
HOLIDAY eBOOKS The following books are suggested reading for this holiday season. To find more recommendations from our team of professional librarians, please see www.houstonlibrary.org/readerslink Minnie McClary Speaks her Mind by Valarie Hobbs The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls by Claire Legrand and Sarah Watts Stealing Air by Trent Reedy
Who Could That be at This Hour? by Lemony Snicket The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann Dear Blue Sky by Mary Sullivan Troll Hunters by Michael Dahl Return to Exile by E.J. Patten and John Rocco
eBooks
The Peculiar by Stefan Bachmann The Castle in the Attic by Elizabeth Winthrop The Holly Joliday by Megan McDonald Confetti Girl by Diana Lopez
Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins by Eric A Kimmel
Crafts for Kwanzaa by Kathy Ross
KID MOVIE PICKS Horrible Harry and the Christmas Surprise by Suzy Kline
For a list of more books that might interest you, visit our catalog www.houstonlibrary.org/catalog -4-
Linking YOU to the World of Fun and Education
TEENS
SUGGESTED READING FOR TEENS
HOLIDAY PICKS
Let It Snow by John Green, Lauren Myracle, and Maureen Johnson
The Dead of Winter by Chris Priestley
Ender’s Game War of Gifts by Orson Scott Card
Batman: Noel by Lee Bermejo
Suggested eBooks
The following books are suggested reading for this holiday season. To find more recommendations from our team of professional librarians, please see www.houstonlibrary.org/readerslink Blink Once by Cylin Busby Magisterium by Jeff Hirsch Beta by Rachel Cohn My Book of Life by Angel by Martine Leavitt Crusher by Niall Leonard
Charly’s Epic Fiascos by Kelli London Dodger by Terry Pratchett Sons of the 613 by Michael Rubens
eBooks
Mystic City by Theo Lawrence Call the Shots by Don Calame Step Up by Monica McKayhan The Fire of Ares by Michael Ford
Wintertown by Steve Emond
HOLIDAY eBOOKS
TEEN MOVIE PICKS Decked with Holly by Marni Bates
Martha Stewart’s Cookies by Martha Stewart
For a list of more books that might interest you, visit our catalog www.houstonlibrary.org/catalog -5-
Linking YOU to the World of Fun and Education
ADULTS
Holiday Book Selection The following books are suggested reading for this holiday season. To find more recommendations from our team of professional librarians, please see www.houstonlibrary.org/readerslink
Sweet Tooth by Ian McEwan Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver The Art of Hearing Heartbeats by Jan-Phillip Sendker I’ve Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn Bring Up the Bodies by Hillary Mantel The Woman Who Died A Lot by Jasper Fforde The Wind Through the Keyhole by Stephen King Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness The Rook by Daniel O’Malley Redshirts by John Scalzi Dearie: The Remarkable Life of Julia Child by Bob Spitz Quiet by Susan Cain Dinner: A Love Story by Jenny Rosenstrach The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Food from my Frontier by Ree Drummond
Workforce Solutions at HPL Get the new HPL app for your mobile device!
YOU can: Access the HPL catalog Check your account, place holds and renew items
Looking for a job? Need help writing a résumé? Seeking advice on your career? Houston Public Library and Workforce Solutions are here to help!
GET FREE ASSISTANCE WITH: • • •
Job search assistance Résumé writing tips Interviewing tips
• • •
Get information about HPL locations and events Search for books, eBooks and other items And more!
Rebranding your skills Career advice Educational information
LOCATIONS, DAYS AND TIMES Central Library, 2nd Floor
500 McKinney, 77002 | 832-393-1313 Mondays | 2 PM - 4 PM Tuesdays | 2 PM - 4 PM Wednesdays | 10 AM - 12 PM Thursdays | 10 AM - 12 PM
All from your smartphone or tablet!
Ring Neighborhood Library
8835 Long Point, 77055 | 832-393-2000 Tuesdays | 1 PM - 4 PM Fridays | 1 PM - 4 PM
Look for us in your app store, and download the free app today!
Walk-ins are welcome. For more information about Workforce Solutions, please visit www.wrksolutions.com.
INFO | 832-393-1313 www.houstonlibrary.org
www.houstonlibrary.org/workforce-solutions
-6 -
Martin Luther King Legacy Linking YOU to the World of Fun and Education
tech it
Apps to Make the Holidays Manageable and Fun Gift Plan - Helps you keep up with gift-giving events, including birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas, etc. Keep track of gift ideas for different people in your life.
Evernote - Evernote is an easy-to-use, free app that helps you remember everything across all of the devices you use. Stay organized, save your ideas and improve productivity.
Gas Buddy - GasBuddy uses gas price information provided by our users to bring drivers together to support the common goal of saving money on gas.
How to Cook Everything - This bestselling, first-ofits-kind app of columnist Mark Bittman’s bestselling cookbook is enhanced with helpful holiday menus. Most important are 2,000 recipes.
Fooducate - Lose weight, eat real food, and get healthy. Fooducate grades your groceries, explains what’s really inside each product, and offers healthier alternatives.
Tiny Wings - You have always dreamed of flying but your wings are tiny. Luckily the world is full of beautiful hills. Use the hills as jumps - slide down, flap your wings and fly!
Songza - Songza is a free music streaming and recommendation service for mobile devices. The service recommends various playlists based on time of day and mood or activity.
Rayman Jungle Run - The legendary platforming hero is making the jump to your favorite iOS device! Rayman Jungle Run is powered by UbiArt Framework engine that brought you Rayman Origins.
Out of Milk - With Out of Milk, your Shopping List stays with you everywhere you go and you’ll have it on-hand once you’re ready to go grocery shopping.
Zuma’s Revenge - Conquer over 60 ribbeting levels by firing stone spheres to make matches and destroy the deadly stream of balls. Battle six imposing tiki bosses to guide your agile amphibian to victory!
GoodReads - Discover and share books you love. The world’s largest site for readers and book recommendations! More than 10 million members have added more than 300 million books to their shelves.
Snapseed - With this app, anyone can enhance, transform, and share their photos with ease using incredibly advanced features from the leader in digital photography software.
Zombies, Run - Zombies, Run! is an ultra-immersive running game and audio adventure, co-created with award-winning novelist Naomi Alderman.
Garage Band - Use Multi-Touch gestures to play pianos, organs, guitars, drums, and basses. They sound and play like their counterparts, but let you do things you could never do on a real instrument.
Linking YOU to the World of e-books!
Are you thinking about buying an e-reader or other mobile reading device? Do you have a new e-reader but need help with how to use it? Are you a seasoned user who is interested in a wider variety of reading options? HPL is here for YOU! Thanks to a grant from the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, HPL now offers a great self-service tool for e-book support. Visit our E-books for Everyone Help Page (www.houstonlibrary.org/ downloads) or scan the code for more information on deciding which e-reader to buy, using free e-book sites, and using our e-book partner, Overdrive, to download the books you want. -7-
HPL LOCATIONS
Bracewell 9002 Kingspoint Dr., 77089 | 832-393-2580
Looscan 2510 Willowick, 77027 | 832-393-1900
Tuttle 702 Kress, 77020 | 832-393-2100
Carnegie 1050 Quitman, 77009 | 832-393-1720
Mancuso 6767 Bellfort, 77087 | 832-393-1920
Vinson (+ HPL Express) 3810 West Fuqua, 77045| 832-393-2120
Central Library 500 McKinney, 77002 | 832-393-1313
McCrane-Kashmere Gardens 5411 Pardee St., 77026 | 832-393-2450
Walter 7660 Clarewood, 77036 | 832-393-2500
Clear Lake CITY–COUNTY FREEMAN MEMORIAL 16616 Diana Lane, 77062 | 281-488-1906
McGOVERN–STELLA LINK 7405 Stella Link, 77025 | 832-393-2630
Young 5260 Griggs Road, Palm Center 77021| 832-393-2140
Melcher CLOSED FOR IMPROVEMENTS 7200 Keller, 77012 | 832-393-2480
HPL Express locations HPL Express sOUTHWEST 6400 High Star, 77074 | 832-393-2660
Meyer 5005 West Bellfort, 77035 | 832-393-1840
HPL Express Discovery Green 1500 McKinney, #R2 77010 | 832-393-1375
Moody 9525 Irvington, 77076 | 832-393-1950
Frank 10103 Fondren, Brays Oaks Towers Building, 77096 832-393-2410
Collier Regional 6200 Pinemont, 77092 | 832-393-1740 CLOSED FOR RENOVATION Dixon 8002 Hirsch, 77016 | 832-393-1760 Fifth Ward 4014 Market, 77020 | 832-393-1770 Flores 110 North Milby, 77003 | 832-393-1780
Oak Forest 1349 West 43rd Street, 77018 | 832-393-1960
Frank 10103 Fondren, Brays Oaks Towers Building, 77096 832-393-2410
Parent Resource Library The Children’s Museum of Houston 1500 Binz, 77004 | 713-535-7264
Freed-Montrose 4100 Montrose, 77006 | 832-393-1800
Park Place Regional 8145 Park Place Blvd., 77017 | 832-393-1970
Heights 1302 Heights Blvd, 77008 | 832-393-1810
Pleasantville 1520 Gellhorn, 77029 | 832-393-2330
Henington-Alief Regional 7979 South Kirkwood, 77072 | 832-393-1820
Ring 8835 Long Point, 77055 | 832-393-2000
Hillendahl 2436 Gessner Rd, 77080 | 832-393-1940
Robinson-Westchase 3223 Wilcrest, 77042 | 832-393-2011
Johnson 3517 Reed Rd., 77051 | 832-393-2550
Scenic Woods Regional 10677 Homestead, 77016 | 832-393-2030
Julia Ideson Building 550 McKinney, 77002 | 832-393-1662
SHEPARD-Acres Homes 8501 West Montgomery, 77088 | 832-393-1700
Jungman 5830 Westheimer, 77057 | 832-393-1860
Smith 3624 Scott St., 77004 | 832-393-2050
Kendall 609 N. Eldridge, 77079 | 832-393-1880 Lakewood 8815 Feland Street, 77028 | 832-393-2530
Stanaker 611 S/Sgt. Macario Garcia, 77011 | 832-393-2080
BECOME A FRIEND
Special Collections The African American Library at the Gregory School 1300 Victor Street, 77019 | 832-393-1440 Houston Metropolitan Research Center, located in the Julia Ideson Building 550 McKinney, 77002 | 832-393-1313 Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research 5300 Caroline, 77004 | 832-393-2600
For the most up-to-date hours of operation, please visit our website: www.houstonlibrary.org/locations
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REFERENCE / INFO 832-393-1313 TELEPHONE renewals 832-393-2280 Circulation questions 832-393-2222 TTY (HEARING IMPAIRED) 832-393-1539 VOLUNTEER SERVICES 832-393-1481 If you have a special physical or communication need that may impact your participation in any of these activities, please contact the location staff prior to the program to discuss accommodations. We cannot ensure the availability of appropriate accommodations without prior notification of need.
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Stimley-Blue Ridge 7007 West Fuqua, 77489 | 832-393-2370
This publication made possible through the generous support of the Friends of the Houston Public Library
VOLUNTEER
The Friends of the Houston Public The Houston Public Library Houston Public Library’s Central Library, founded in 1953 is a nonFoundation advocates for libraries Library is home to the awardprofit organization dedicated to and supports the Houston Public winning author series, “An Evening fostering wider recognition, use, and Library by funding programming, With…”, and several other exciting, support of the Houston Public Library. materials, staff training and other innovative programs that bring With support from the Friends, enhancements. national and local authors from Houston Public Library is better able several genres to the Houston to meet the vital needs of the community. The Foundation recently added the first-ever Public Library. community meeting room to the iconic, circleWe are looking for volunteers to help us with The Friends annual gift to HPL supports a shaped Ring Neighborhood Library. these programs. To learn more, please visit wide variety of needs including external communications, staff development and training, To contribute or for more information, please visit www.houstonlibrary.org/author-events. www.houstonlibrary.org/hplfoundation or call scholarships and materials protection. For more information about volunteering with 832-393-1450. HPL, please visit www.houstonlibrary.org/ The Friends rely on support from the community volunteer-opportunities. to accomplish its goal of helping the Houston Public Library. Please consider becoming a Friend or volunteering! To learn more please visit Holiday Closings: www.friendsofhpl.org or call 832-393-1387. Sunday, December 23 - Tuesday, December 26, 2012- christmas
Tuesday, January 1, 2013 - NEW YEAR’S - 8-