The Librarians' Bedside Table

OSCAR GRADY PUBLIC LIBRARY

THE LIBRARIANS’

BEDSIDE TABLE

It’s time to read said the fox!

Happy HALLOWEEN!

Mixed media illustration by Miss Julie

What your friendly librarians have been reading and MUCH MORE!

Oscar Grady Public Library Mission Statement:

The mission of the Oscar Grady Public Library is to provide high interest, high demand materials and make them readily available from the Library’s collection or through interlibrary loan. The Library supports lifelong learning, information and recreational needs for people of all ages and abilities. Special emphasis is placed on stimulating children’s interests and appreciation for reading and learning. The integration of new technology with traditional library resources is used to expand service beyond the Library’s physical walls.

On this new issue of our “Librarians’ Bedside Table”, we compiled a list of really good titles recommended by your library friends. Each title can be accessed in electronic format for your convenience. Click or tap in the hyperlinks attached to each title that will take you right to them

in the Monarch Catalog. We hope you enjoy this selection of books from your

librarians at the Oscar Grady Public Library!

Hope, our Collection Developer would like to recommend these titles:

Becoming by Michelle Obama Description from publisher: In a life filled with meaning and accomplishment, Michelle Obama has emerged as one of the most iconic and compelling women of our era. As First Lady of the United States of America—the first African American to serve in that role—she helped create the most welcoming and inclusive White House in history, while also establishing herself as a powerful advocate for women and girls in the U.S. and around the world, dramatically changing the ways that families pursue healthier and more active lives, and standing with her husband as he led America through some of its most harrowing moments. Along the way, she showed us a few dance moves, crushed Carpool Karaoke, and raised two down-to-earth daughters under an unforgiving media glare.

In her memoir, a work of deep reflection and mesmerizing storytelling, Michelle Obama invites readers into her world, chronicling the experiences that have shaped her—from her childhood on the South Side of Chicago to her years as an executive balancing the demands of motherhood and work, to her time spent at the world’s most famous address. With unerring honesty and lively wit, she describes her triumphs and her disappointments, both public and private, telling her full story as she has lived it—in her own words and on her own terms. Warm, wise, and revelatory, Becoming is the deeply personal reckoning of a woman of soul and substance who has steadily defied expectations—and whose story inspires us to do the same.

Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann Description from publisher: A witty philosophical murder mystery with a charming twist: the crack detectives are sheep determined to discover who killed their beloved shepherd.

On a hillside near the cozy Irish village of Glennkill, the members of the flock gather around their shepherd, George, whose body lies pinned to the ground with a spade. George has cared for the sheep, reading them a plethora of books every night. The daily exposure to literature has made them far savvier about the workings of the human mind than your average sheep. Led by Miss Maple, the smartest sheep in Glennkill (and possibly the world), they set out to find George’s killer.

The A-team of investigators includes Othello, the “badboy” black ram; Mopple the Whale, a merino who eats a lot and remembers everything; and Zora, a pensive black-faced ewe with a weakness for abysses. Joined by other members of the richly talented flock, they engage in nightlong discussions about the crime and wild metaphysical speculations, and they embark on reconnaissance missions into the village, where they encounter some likely suspects. There’s Ham, the terrifying butcher; Rebecca, a village newcomer with a secret and a scheme; Gabriel, the shady shepherd of a very odd flock; and Father Will, a sinister priest. Along the way, the sheep confront their own all-too-human struggles with guilt, misdeeds, and unrequited love.

Martin, our Collection Developing and Adult Services Coordinator would like to recommend this title:

WONDERLAND by Zoje Stage

What it may sound like a cliché of a premise as it is a “family of four moves out of the city to isolated area in the Aridondacks where strange things start to happen to them (and only them), turns out to be one of the creepiest thrillers you may read, which will keep you turning pages as you witness the psychological decline of a couple battling with their own anxieties triggered by one of the most powerful forces is out there to be; no the supernatural, but nature itself. Worth reading if you are looking for an entertaining and chilling read this winter.

MIGRATIONS by Charlotte McConaghy How far would you go to find yourself? This is the main question (and overall feeling) you get while reading Charlotte McConaghy’s debut novel, as you follow in a near and not very optimistic future, the ambitious Franny Stone, who is on a run for (and from) her life as she sets herself the hard to believe goal of following the migration path of the Artic Tern, which every year travels almost 60000 miles from North Pole to the South Pole and back again to nest. In order to achieve her goal, she convinces the captain of a fishing boat to take her on this wild adventure that will impact many on her path.

As she does this, pieces of her life’s story come into light through a succession of snippets of her upbringing that seem to explain the different choices (good and bad) she has made throughout her life.

Rita, would like to recommend these titles:

If you are looking for a compelling thriller, I recommend Long Bright River (2020) by Liz Moore. This powerful crime novel is a product of ten years of Moore’s research into the effects of drug addiction in the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia. The title refers to a long bright river of departed souls related to the opioid crisis.

Michaela “Mickey” Fitzpatrick is a police officer with about 10 years on the force. She is also a single mother who is struggling to find reliable care for her four-year-old son while she works her varying shifts.

Mickey’s beat is the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia where drug dealing and other related crimes define the neighborhood. Mickey’s sister, Kacey, who has a history of supporting her drug addiction with prostitution, goes missing at the same time a serial killer is targeting sex workers in the area. As Mickey searches for her sister, is she putting herself and her family in danger?

The novel alternates between the present-day mystery and the story of the sisters’ difficult childhood and adolescence, giving an insight into how the sister’s lives diverged. Mickey is a strong, but also sympathetic main character, struggling as she tries to do her best in the situations life has thrust at her.

Some of the titles listed in these pages are available in electronic format through the Libby app Check it out!

Fans of historical fiction may be interested in reading The Book of Lost Friends (2020) by Lisa Wingate. Wingate was inspired by actual “Lost Friends” advertisements that appeared in Southern newspapers after the Civil War. The advertisements were posted by newly freed slaves seeking loved ones who had been sold away before the Emancipation Proclamation. The Book of Lost Friends is the story of three young women searching for family in the post–Civil War South, and of a teacher in Louisiana in 1987 who is trying to make a positive difference in her students’ lives.

In 1875, Hannie, a freed slave; Lavinia, a spoiled heiress; and Juneau Jane, Lavinia’s Creole half-sister make a dangerous trek together. They surreptitiously leave from Lavinia’s Louisiana plantation and head for Texas, in search of various family members. On the way, they encounter vigilantes and others who are determined to take advantage of the vulnerable travelers. The Book of Lost Friends refers to the various poignant advertisements and requests the women accumulate on their travels.

In 1987, first-year teacher Benedetta Silva is teaching at a poor rural school and is trying to engage her students in local history. When Benedetta discovers links to the stories of Hannie, Lavinia and Juneau Jane, her students are inspired, but the local status quo is disrupted. Will Benedetta be able to bring change to the locals, or will her teaching position be imperiled?

FREE WI-FI (inside or outside the building)

Computer labs (with social distancing applied).

Brand new printer Fax services.

STORIES TO

KEEP YOU

AWAKE

THIS HALLOWEEN! CLICK ON EACH COVER TO ACCESS MORE INFORMATION ON THIS TITLES OR TO REQUEST THEM USING WWW.MONARCHCATALOG.ORG

The

The

FALL

BEETLE

By

By

Guillermo

Richard

del Toro

Marsh

The

LITTLE

Devil in Silver

EYES

By

By

Victor

Samantha

Lavalle

Schweblin

WHITE IS

FOR WITCHING

By Helen Oyeyemi

The

PASSAGE

By Justin Cronin

The

LOTTERY

By Shirley Jackson

The

DARKNESS

WINTER

GRIP OF IT

RISING

PEOPLE

By Jac Jemc

By Lis Wiehl

By Jennifer McMahon

The HOUSE in the

The

MEXICAN

DARK of the WOODS

HUNGER

GOTHIC

By Laird Hunt

By Alma Katsu

By Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Get in the Halloween spirit with these books and movies.

Click on the word BOOKSHELF below to access this selection built by Miss Julie.

BOOKSHELF

1,000 Books Before Kindergarten

Early literacy starts with you!

This new and ongoing early literacy program encourages families and caregivers to read 1,000 books aloud with their young children before they enter Kindergarten. Any child from birth until he/she starts Kindergarten is eligible to register. Reading together helps your child develop important prereading skills that provide a solid reading foundation – a key to scholastic and learning success.

Stop by our Children’s Department and sign up your child today!

With election season in full swing, the topic of voting has been on many people’s minds. The following YA books are all new in 2020 & touch on elections, campaigning, canvassing, and civic engagement!

Running by Natalia Sylvester, 2020.

Mariana Ruiz’s dad is a senator, now running for the highest office in the land. She knows her dad will be a great president, but with a whole new level of scrutiny facing her family, Mari can’t help but question the views she never knew her father had. She also can’t help but wonder if she should get involved and lend her voice to a cause she believes in- even when that means disagreeing with her dad publicly.

An authentic story about standing up for yourself and your beliefs.

Drawing the Vote by Tommy Jenkins. 2020.

This rousing graphic novel guides readers through the process and history of voting in the United states. It highlights key events from the earliest days of the country, such as the Boston Tea Party, through the women’s suffrage movement, and even up to current voting issues such as voter intimidation and gerrymandering. Drawing the Vote is a worthy read for anyone wondering how we arrived at our current political system.

The Voting Booth. Colbert, Brandy. 2020.

Marva has been waiting to cast her first vote in an election for what feels like forever; Duke just wants to get voting over with so he can focus on his band’s first gig that night. When Duke is turned away from their polling place, Marva steps in, determined to make sure his vote is counted.

Told over the course of a single whirlwind-day, through various precincts and polling stations (and including a mission to find a missing cat) it quickly becomes clear that their shared dedication to democracy is just the beginning of their connection.

Yes, No, Maybe So by Becky Albertalli & Aisha Saeed.

2020.

Jamie Goldberg and Maya Rehman find themselves thrown together by their mothers as volunteers to canvas (i.e. go door to door) on behalf of a state senate candidate. As the summer goes on and the polls get closer, Jamie and Maya find themselves growing closer too- in spite of Maya’s strict no-dating rule.

You Say It First by Katie Cotugno. 2020.

Meg’s life is picture perfect on the surface; involved at school and already accepted into Cornell; she works part-time for a nonprofit, registering people to vote. By chance she is connected with Colby, a teen living in small town Ohio. They don’t hit it off right away, but their challenging conversations spur both of them to consider other points of view.

Most Likely by Sarah Watson. 2020.

Four friends, four futures. Amongst these four girls is a future POTUS. Exactly which girl is destined for the Oval Office is a mystery for the reader to puzzle out through the course of the novel.

Ava, CJ, Jordan, and Martha have known each other since kindergarten. Now in their senior year of high school they’re each facing obstacles to their dreams. Ava is looking to attend art school against her family’s wishes, CJ can’t seem to improve her SAT scores, Jordan is looking for the perfect story to jumpstart her career as a journalist, and Martha is struggling to find a way to pay for college. The power of their friendship propels them through this crucial year, and prepares one for the presidency.

Now around town! Books for everyone.

The Oscar Grady Library with the support of The Friends of the Oscar Grady Library has purchased three Little Free Libraries, which have been installed at three convenient locations: Quade Park, The Oscar Grady Library, and Village Hall.

Check them out! Love them, enjoy them, treasure them.

Welcome to Gale Courses!

The Monarch Library System is thrilled to be able to provide all patrons in every member library the opportunity to engage in meaningful learning through Gale Courses. This robust online resource provides access to exceptional classes on multiple topics of interest, including career training programs. If you seek deeper knowledge of areas from A (Accounting) to W (Writing), Gale Courses has something for you. We hope you consider exploring the offerings for personal and professional development. Please let us know about your experience so we can continue to streamline our services to benefit your needs! Enjoy your journey.

How to Enroll: 1. Find courses by browsing through the categories on the left of your screen or by using the search bar above. Click “Enroll Now” next to the course of your choice.

2. Select your course start date and click “Continue.”

3. Create a free Gale Courses account, or sign in to an existing ed2go account.

New Students – Enter your email address in the New Student area and click “Create Account.”

Complete the “Account and Student Information” page and then click “Continue.”

Returning Students – Enter your account email and password and then click “Sign In.”

You will use your Gale Courses account email and password to log in to the My Classroom area to view your lessons once your session begins.

4. Enter your library barcode in the box labeled Submit. Then click “Use Library Card” to complete your enrollment.

IMPORTANT! Students who have enrolled in a course must log in and view lessons one and two within 13 days after the start date of the course, or they will be automatically dropped.

The Digital Media Conversion Lab The equipment & training necessary to view and digitally preserve family photographs, slides, and film.

The Oscar Grady Public Library’s Digital Media Conversion Lab is a highfunctioning digital space and work room. The room is equipped with the necessary digital mechanics to process aging photographic formats.

Click/Tap HERE to learn more.

www.oscargradylibrary.org