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Holiday Closing: All branches will be closed on Sunday, May 26, and Monday, May 27 in observance of Memorial Day. If you need to renew your materials, please click here for the catalog.

Big Library Read: The Four Corners of the Sky by Michael Malone eBook

OverDrive Next Generation site now live!

LibraryPoint Blog

The Freak Observer by Blythe Woolson

Astrophysics, Christine Carlson, Death, Grief, LibraryPoint Blog, New Books for Teens, PTSD, Shelf Life Blog, unRequired Reading Blog, Gutsy Girl Reads

05/16/2011 - 3:30am

In The Freak Observer, by Blythe Woolston, Loa Lindgren is not your typical 16-year-old and yet she is a quintessential one. Her life is certainly not the ideal. In the past year her family has fallen apart, having lost the one thing that their lives revolved around: her little sister, Asta, named for the stars. Born with Rett’s syndrome, she stopped growing after a few months and was destined to remain infantile her entire life, until she suddenly died. Without the constant need to care for Asta, Loa and her family are like planets without a star to revolve around, cut loose to wander the universe. They are, of course, also stricken with grief, each one reacting in their own way. Her father has fits of violence. Loa wakes screaming from nightmares--just one terrifying symptom of a case of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

With everything else that has gone on in Loa’s life recently, from a friend’s hit and run death to a strange relationship exposed on the Internet, she is dealing with more than her share of sorrow and shame. She also has an after-school job that deepens her exhaustion but is a vital part of their family’s pitiful income.

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If you like Ape House by Sara Gruen

Book Match, Kara Rockwell, LibraryPoint Blog, Shelf Life Blog, Literary Fiction

05/13/2011 - 3:30am

This readalike is in response to a patron's book-match request. If you would like personalized reading recommendations, fill out the book-match form and a librarian will email suggested titles to you. Available for adults, teens, and kids. You can browse the book matches here.

Ape House by Sara Gruen: When a family of bonobo apes who know American Sign Language are kidnapped from a language laboratory, their mysterious appearance on a reality TV show propels scientist Isabel Duncan, together with reporter John Thigpen, on a personal mission to rescue them. An entertaining book that calls into question our assumptions about these animals who share 99.4% of our DNA.

If you like Sara Gruen's Ape House, you may also like these titles and authors.

A Dog's Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron
This is the remarkable story of one endearing dog's search for his purpose over the course of several lives. More than just another charming dog story, this touches on the universal quest for an answer to life's most basic question: Why are we here? Surprised to find himself reborn as a rambunctious golden haired puppy after a tragically short life as a stray mutt, Bailey's search for his new life's meaning leads him into the loving arms of 8 year old Ethan. During their countless adventures Bailey joyously discovers how to be a good dog. But this life as a beloved family pet is not the end of Bailey's journey. Reborn as a puppy yet again, Bailey wonders, will he ever find his purpose?

Heartwarming, insightful, and often laugh out loud funny, this book is not only the emotional and hilarious story of a dog's many lives, but also a dog's eye commentary on human relationships and the unbreakable bonds between man and man's best friend. This story teaches us that love never dies, that our true friends are always with us, and that every creature on earth is born with a purpose. (Catalog summary)

The Elephant Keeper by Christopher Nicholson
Deeply soulful and richly imaginative, this magical adventure tells the story of two baby elephants and the young man who accidentally finds himself their keeper. (Catalog summary)

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New eAudiobooks: May 2011

Audiobooks, LibraryPoint Blog, New eAudiobooks, Samantha Thomason

05/12/2011 - 12:33pm

One Hundred Names for Love: A Stroke, a Marriage, and the Language of Healing

In April we've added 30 adult titles, 24 of which are are available in MP3 format (suitable for iPods, iPhones, iPads, etc.). We also received 7 new children's/young adult titles (3 available in MP3). Check out our most recent additions!

Browse our newest downloadable audiobooks in the library catalog, or go directly to the NetLibrary web site (free account needed) or Media Center (install required) to download. If you don't have a NetLibrary account, follow these simple instructions to create one.

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New Library Catalog

The new library catalog, powered by Bibliocommons, is more functional and user-friendly. To create your account, enter your library barcode and pin on the login page, and follow the prompts. Try out the new library catalog!

We still offer the classic catalog as well.