Talking in the Library

Talk to the author of "Fourth Star"

Need a study break? Too cold to go out? Gregg Jaffee, military reporter for the Washington Post and co-author of the recently-released book “The Fourth Star” will be appearing via teleconference at the meeting of the K-State Libraries / Ft. Riley Professional Reading Group. The meeting begins at 6:30 PM, Monday December 14th in Room 123 Hale Library, and everyone is welcome.

Something to read over break

OK, we know you feel buried just trying to get through the end of the semester, but you have to believe us when we say that soon, very soon, you'll have tons of free time on your hands.  How better to spend that time than with a great book?

You can pick one up for a very low price, and keep it forever, at the Friends of the K-State Libraries' annual Holiday Book Sale this Tuesday and Wednesday in Hale Library from 9am to 4pm. 

We'll have a wide selection of gently used books of both the fiction and non-fiction varieties, spread attractively around 2nd floor near the entrance. Proceeds from the sale go to support the efforts of the Friends, who support the Libraries, who support your quest for education, so in essence, you're getting a book and paying yourself at the same time.  Who could pass up a deal like that? 

New Leisure Reading Books

Here are the newest books in the Leisure Reading Collection.  They can be found on the east end of the 2nd floor - to the right when you come in the main doors.  Pick out something to read over Thanksgiving break!

Reinterpreting Goodnight Moon

Please note that if you love Goodnight Moon, and want to treasure your memories of reading it to the children in your life, you may wish to bypass this review from Bookgasm.

If you're enrolled in English 355, Literature for Children, and have been methodically working your way through The Carrot Seed, Lon Po Po, and Skippyjon Jones and the 84 other children's books on Reserve, this may be the perfect "reset" for your brain.  This review is also good for those who are a little bit twisted.

May I suggest the Statistical Abstract of the United States?

Hello to everyone who is searching for historical numbers about the United States, like, say, women in the workforce.  I think you will be delighted with this annual publication, Statistical Abstract of the United States.  We have access to editions going back to volume 1, 1878.  Clicking on the Get It button from the link above will let you link out to the 2009 edition.  Click on Earlier Editions to access, yes, earlier editions!

This should qualify as a "library resource" as it is a book that has been scanned as a pdf and posted online by the publisher (in this case, the U.S. Census Bureau).

Former US Poet Laureate to visit K-State

Looking for something poetic? Perhaps different than the poetic you may be used to?

What: Poetry Reading by Billy Collins
When: Wednesday, October 21st, 5:30 PM
Where: K-State Alumni Center Ballroom

This cool cultural event is sponsored by several cool groups you may be familiar with: Department of English, the Office of the Provost, K-State Libraries, Manhattan Public Library, Claflin Books and Copies, Kansas Association of Teachers of English, and K-State's First-Year Seminar Program.With these folks on board, you can't go wrong!

Be there or be square

Flying monkeys? Tornadoes? Seek shelter in Hale

...where we have a great exhibit, "Outside Oz: The Other Works of L. Frank Baum" on display in the 5th floor gallery (open M-F 8-5).  The exhibit complements the International Wizard of Oz Club’s Annual Convention, "Recreating Oz," hosted by K-State's Program in Children's Literature, October 2-4.

"Outside Oz" features selections from our Richard L.D. and Margaret J. Morse Department of Special Collections written by Wizard of Oz author, L. Frank Baum, that are not set in Oz. Based on the fact that K-State Libraries has at least 332 items in our collection authored by Baum (admittedly, some are the same title, different edition), that's what we in the library biz call "A goodly number." According to the fabulous literature database, Literature Online, Baum authored 74 books.

Our exhibit is free and runs through December 31st. Also, tomorrow night there is a lecture that is free and open to the public: Eric Shanower and Skottie Young, creators of the new Marvel Comic Wizard of Oz series. Speaking Oct. 3rd, 7:30 pm. Alumni Center Ballroom.

Audiobook recommendations?

I'm a huge audiobook fan. I tried books on tape years ago and wasn't impressed. The narration was so so and it seemed like so many of the books were abridged. That's not the case anymore, so if you weren't impressed in the past, I would recommend trying them again. 

This may seem weird, but I pick all my audiobooks by narraror instead of author. A good narrarotor is like a good storyteller. Most of what I listen to are books I've read before. Hearing them read by someone makes the story new again. 

I get 90% of my audiobooks from the State Library of Kansas' "Audiobooks, Music, and More!" website. I don't know if that is the official name, but I like to call it that. All you need is a Kansas Library Card. You can get that at your local library or online. While they don't have everything, I think the selection is great. You can download stuff to iPods or other such devices. And the best part is that everything is free. FREE! Yay!

Here are some of my favorites:

Susan Ericksen-In Death series by J.D. Robb

Stephen Colbert-I Am America And So Can You by Stephen Colbert

Stephen J. Dubner-Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt

Michael F. Roizen & Mehmet Oz-You: The Owner's Manual by Michael F. Roizen & Mehmet Oz

Johanna Parker-Sookie Stackhouse by Charlaine Harris 

I'm always on the lookout for a new audiobooks. If you have any recommendations, please share!

Oprah's Pick--Say You're One of the Them

Say You're One of Them, a story collection by Uwem Akpan, is Oprah's latest Book Club selection.

 We at K-State Libraries like to stay ahead of the curve, so we already own the book. Manhattan Public Library, fyi, is just as cool as we are and also has a copy. 

Listen to the puppets