u CAN Rd Ths!

Congratulations. If you are reading this, then:

1. You are literate.

Okay, it's quiz time.

Which country has the highest literacy rate?

Cuba, with 99.8%.

What place on the list does the United States occupy?

Tied for 19th, with 99.0%.

Statistics per United Nations Development Programme, Human Development Report 2009.

2. You probably live near America's Most Literate City: Seattle!

That's right. Seattle has just been named #1 on the 2009 list of America's Most Literate Cities, by Dr John W. Miller, President of Central Connecticut State University. The annual study, which originated in 2003, "focuses on 6 key indicators of literacy: newspaper circulation, number of bookstores, library resources, periodical publishing resources, educational attainment, and internet resources," according to the AMLC webpage at http://www.ccsu.edu/page.cfm?p=5390

So rejoice. High literacy rates correlate with lower crime rates, better health, and higher productivity. And early literacy programs, according to the Economic Policy Institute, "contribute to long-term economic benefits for the community and the nation".

We have much to be thankful for.
We are among the lucky ones.
We can read.

Vampire Tales That Satisfy Your Hunger

So you’ve seen New Moon, read all of the Twilight Saga, and now need something new to sink your teeth into? Or are you always looking for a book with bite? The library has a great selection of vampire books, both for the reader just getting into the world of paranormal novels, and for the reader who has been addicted to vampires since the first Anne Rice novel. Below are just a few of the selections you can discover at your local library!

• Bitten and Smitten by Michelle Rowen – You know a blind date is bad when you are first turned into a vampire, and then your date gets staked by hunters!
  



• Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris – Read the series that spawned hit show True Blood!
  



• I’m the Vampire, That’s Why by Michele Bardsley - Broken Hearts was a town going south, until a rouge vampire turns all the single parents, and a large group of vampires decide to make it their new home.
  



• Undead and Unwed by Mary Janice Davidson - You know you are having a bad week when you are mugged, laid off, and killed by a car – only to come back again as a vampire!
  



• Zen and the Art of Vampires by Katie Macalister – While on a singles cruise, a women gets stuck between the desires of two Dark Ones, and the destructive intent of the group out to destroy all Dark Ones.
  



• Demon in My View by Amelia Atwater Rhodes – A young writer attracts the attention of several vampires, turns out her books are based far more on fact then fiction.
  



• Cirque Du Freak by Darren Shan – A young boy agrees to become the assistant of a vampire, and travel around the world with him.
  



• Vampire Kisses by Ellen Schrieber – A new family moves into the creepy mansion up on the hill in Dullsville, sparking rumors of vampires, and the interest of a local goth girl.
  



• Vampire Knight by Hino – Cross Academy has two classes, what the day class doesn’t know is that the Moon class is made up entirely of vampires.
  



• Vampire High by Douglas Rees – As his fellow classmates show an aversion to sunlight, and superhuman strength, a boy begins to realize that things just might not be what they seem at his new school.

Happily Obsessed

I admit it--I'm hooked ,addicted, obsessed. It's harmless--- it's TV series on DVD!
I'm not much of a TV watcher. I'd rather be reading.

That said, it began with the TV series "Slings and Arrows", the hilarious send-up of a Canadian professional regional Shakespearean company of actors. I watched as many episodes as I could each and every evening. When I'd watched them all, I felt like life was not worth living.

I just finished " Mad Men Season One" and it's the same thing all over again. I have Season Two on hold so I have something to live for.

I don't subscribe to cable TV but I can get these series at the library!

Winter Extravaganza-mania!

Monroe will be hosting seven programs for school aged children over the next two weeks! Today we're starting off with a puppet show by talented puppeteer, Jean Mattson. Tuesday the 22nd we will feature a Mail Art program followed by Winter crafts on Wednesday the 23rd. Next week starts off with Beads and Beading on Monday, Fabulous Flying Fun on Tuesday, Wonder and Joy in a Homemade Toy on Wednesday at 11:00am and, later that day, Birds of a Feather . All programs start at 2:00, unless otherwise noted. For more information about the programs, please go to the Events and Programs page from out homepage. See you at the library!

DVD genre shelving

We have now been separating our DVDs by genre for a few weeks. Our goal was to make it easier for everyone to come in and locate a movie that you are interested in. With this new layout, we hope to expand our collection even further to provide an even better selection.

We would really like your feedback on this new set-up. What do you like and/or dislike about these changes? Is there anything we can do to improve your experiences when looking for DVDs?

Also, if you find a DVD that you think should be classified in a different genre, please pass this information on to a staff member so that we can reevaluate it.

Computer Changes

You may have already noticed that we made a few changes to some of the computers here at the Monroe Library. We hope that it will make it easier for you to use our resources efficiently and effectively.

All of the computers that used to allow just 30 minutes of use at a time, have been extended to 60 minutes. This should allow more people to accomplish everything they need to get done without logging in multiple times. Along with this change, we have now added two more computers that you can use. The computer in the teen area that was originally for catalog and database use only has been converted, as well as the computer that was designated for access to the World Wide Newspapers database.

Let us know what you think of these new changes. We are constantly trying to find ways to better serve your needs. Leave a comment here or pass it on to any staff member.

The Kindness of Strangers

I was going through the day's mail on my arrival at work, as usual tossing most of it in the recycle bin.

Among the junk mail was an envelope hand-addressed to me, with a Yakima return address.

Inside was a hand-written note and an enclosed advertising brochure.

"Dear Ms. Lewis,

This piece of mail got stuck inside some of our mail.

I don't know if it's something you really need, but I decided to send it on. The last time I tried to return something to the P.O. tht was incorrectly delivered to us, the clerk discarded it saying it was just junk mail.

I would like to think that if my mail gets delivered to the wrong place, tht someone would take the time to get it to me.

I hope you have a Merry Christmas."

I did indeed toss the brochure, but I have thought about the note that came with it ever since. A stranger on the other side of the state took time and spent money on a stamp to do for another person what she would want done for her, and to top it off, wrote me an inspiring note.

The Librarian's Evolution

One of the great things about being a librarian is that you are always learning something. It is impossible not to pick up knowledge when exploring the information requests that come into the information desk from our diverse population of library users. The Sno-Isle system firmly believes educated librarians offer better service, so it provides a number of trainings that bolster the knowledge of library staff in a number of crucial areas.

In the last month or so I've benefitted from a number of training opportunities the Sno-Isle system has made available. Hopefully the information gained will benefit both me and the library patrons I serve on a daily basis.

I was able to attend a book talking boot camp program offered in partnership with the King County system. This training was offered to library staff serving youth with the intent of making them more dynamic presenters and giving them the tools to interest young people in books. With all the distractions our youth are dealing with daily, I'm always looking for ways to break through to them to promote reading.

Along the same lines I was able to also attend The Mysteries of the Teenage Brain. The library system invited an educational consultant and expert on how the brain of a teenager develops to enlighten library staff about the emotional roller coaster that is the teenage way of thinking and strategies to approach, educate, mentor, and hopefully understand and empathize with teenage library users and better meet library needs which they might not be able to vocalize.

And earlier this week I was able to take part in a Reader's Advisory training on inspirational and Christian fiction. I am fortunate enough to be on the Reader's Advisory committee and each year we organize a training for our fellow staff members on a topic or genre they might not know much about. This year we picked a genre that has a lot of depth and a fervent readership that library staff might not be overly familiar with. Librarians can't read everything, and these trainings help fill some gaps in knowledge and give library staff the tools to guide readers in the right direction though the landscape might be foreign.

While times are tough and budgets are tight, Sno-Isle remains commited to educating and strengthening library staff so that we can always be improving the service we offer our patrons.

December 7th...

Remember that day?

68 years ago, my mom remembered waking up to the roar of low flying aircraft. going outside & seeing Japanese airplanes flying over homes and then... explosion after explosion of noise. She was 25 years old, born and raised in Waimea, Hawaii. She was living in Honolulu & working as an usher at a theatre. An infamous day in our history... 1941.



Come and check out our display and visit the World War II Veteran's Audio stories on our web page.

- Joanne

Memories of Pearl Harbor Day

Where were you on December 7th, 1941?

The attack on Pearl Harbor was a definitive moment in the annals of World War II and in American history.

In 2007 and 2008, Sno-Isle Libraries was privileged to be involved in a project to record the audio stories of veterans here in Snohomish & Island Counties who volunteered to share their memories of World War II.

These recordings are destined to be a part of the Library of Congress's Veterans History Project, which is accessible at http://www.loc.gov/vets/

Selections from those recordings are now available here on our website. Check out http://www.sno-isle.org/?ID=4247

Pearl Harbor Day

Let us never forget.

New Year's Reading

Check it out (as we say in the library biz):

New magazine subscriptions for 2010 at the Monroe Library

ADDitude

Cloth, Paper, Scissors

Gold Prospector

Hobby Farms Home

Knit Simple

Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade

Shop Smart

Sports Northwest

and, for kids:

Kiki

Something to inspire everyone.
Come take your pick.

At the library.

It's COLD Out There

When the mercury takes a dive, hop on in to your local library.

We've got DVDs you can share with your snuggle bunny,
dance-music on CDs to wiggle & warm your toes by,
recipe books for making the perfect eggnog
and dictionaries you can use to look up "nog".
(What DOES it mean?)

We've got warm-weather armchair travel adventures.
(Fiji in February, anyone?)
How about a hot bestseller?
Or maybe you need to research a good electric blanket
and want to see the safety ratings.

Come on down
....................and slosh on in.
It's w-a-a-a-a-arm in here.

Without Libraries....

> A self-described illiterate person needing to apply online for unemployment benefits.

> An older adult, new to computers, needing to set up an email account before she could apply for a job.

> A local employer who receives resumes from jobseekers who don’t have the computer (or, often, the computer experience) needed to use his company’s online application system.

> A retired gentleman, subsisting on the declining value of his fixed income, wanting to turn his hobby into a business.

> A homemaker, in the midst of a job search, interested in volunteering here as a way to bolster her resume.

Without libraries, where would these people have gotten assistance?


These are all real people who came to us for help, just in the last month.


Real people.



................................... Like you.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Like me.

Libraries.


So much more than just books.

Not just books...

and cds and DVDs and computer use. I was recently reminded of the important part the public library plays as a community gathering place during our Spanish language storytime. We had a very large crowd gather to kick off the weekly event with pizza and juice, financed by our wonderful Friends of the library group, followed by stories, rhymes and a bit of dancing. Finally, the children, and a few adults, worked on a craft to take home. Throughout the program I was amazed by the growth we have had in attendance and how many friendships have been created and fostered at this event. In fact, after the program many attendees will often take their children to the children's area to play while the adults continue to visit. Overall, I think this is testament to the fact that the library serves as a very important "third place."

Papercutting program

World Papercutting Projects: More to Explore!

A member of the Guild of American Papercutters presents series of three free programs for adults at 2:00 pm Saturdays October 17, 24 and November 7. Please register at www.sno-isle.org --attendance is limited. All supplies are provided.

Even teens not immune to economic woes

The library is always looking for ways to meet the needs of the community it serves and in today's economic climate those services can be as varied as providing a computer to update a resume or check online job ads to providing free entertainment options with our collection of books, DVDs and other media.

Even area teens are learning to cope with cutbacks and economic instabilty. The Monroe Library has offered Teen Gaming on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of every month. The program is a way for teens to get together and socialize over video games, card games and board games. Until recently teens have been content with playing Rock Band or other multiplayer video games. But lately we have seen a number of teens embrace older games like Yu-Gi-Oh and Pokemon and look for opportunities to reuse and recycle their old collectable cards at game days.

Also recently teens have brought in board games such as Last Night on Earth (a zombie-themed action game) to share with friends. Teens too are looking for ways to stretch their entertainment dollar and Teen Gaming offers a way for them to embrace even older entertainments with a new group of friends.

While teens aren't facing the same pressures and challenges their parents might be, it is interesting to see how our times do affect them and how the library is responding to their unique needs and wants.

Free Computer Class at the Monroe Library

Recently I had the opportunity to work with three of Monroe Library's Tech Teen Volunteers as we team taught the Beginning Catalog and Internet Computer Class. Pictured starting on the left, back row: Tech Teens Florence, Zulqurnain, and Sohaib; front row: student Marilou. The Tech Teens help teach the class and provide one-on-one help to the adult students.
This is a free class for adults who want to learn how to use the Sno-Isle Libraries catalog, and databases, as well learn about searching the Internet and setting up a free email account. Students come to the class for various reasons including: wanting an email account to connect with family and friends, learning how to use the Sno-Isle catalog and databases, and wanting to aquire skills to search online resources for employment. In 2009 about 50% of the participants in the class are seeking skills to search employment resources, which is an increase over past years.

Upcoming classes: Saturday October 17th 10am-11:30am and Saturday November 7th 10am-11:30am. Please register at the Information desk or call 360-794-7851. Hope to see you there!

Read Them Before You See Them!

Recently, the titles of some brand new movies can be spotted on our library shelves, only they won’t be found in the DVD section! There have always been movies in Hollywood based off of books. From the well known Stephen King novels, to cult classics like Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk, to children’s stories such as Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine, book titles appear throughout the history of Hollywood. Lately it has become even more popular to use books for films. No longer are these films for children or devout followers, and it seems like almost every month a new one is being released.
By the end of the year we will see the release of a variety of novels for all ages. Children can enjoy the books Cloudy With a Chance Of Meatballs by Judi Barret and Where The Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak coming to life on the screen. Teens can enjoy the first few books from Darren Shan’s creepy series Cirque Du Freak in the new movie The Vampire’s Assistant, and even adults get their day with the new drama The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger and the return of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s well loved detective Sherlock Holmes.
All of these books can be found at your local library. So pick up a good book, and it just might by the next big box office hit!

The great value of craft programs.

At one of our craft programs during this past year, we had a Spanish speaking father and son come. The son had a look of excitement and expectancy as he looked around the room at the various projects to do. As they went from table to table, the father would encourage his son to try each thing on his own. Whenever his son had a hard time doing something on his own, his dad would do a little bit to demonstrate how to do it. Then the little boy would try again. One example was when the craft required using scissors. The little boy was trying to cut out a circle, but he felt frustrated. His dad did a little bit, and then encouraged his son to try. They took turns like that several times, and I could see the little boy gaining confidence through each attempt. Later, the son was making greeting cards. At times the little boy needed help with spelling and asked his dad for help. When the dad didn’t know how to spell it, the dad would ask me. I found it so heart warming that he was willing to ask so that his son could write the words he wanted to say on the greeting cards. The little boy and his dad stayed longer than any of the other attendees. He worked so diligently on each project, and his dad helped him so patiently. As they were leaving the little boy asked for a bag to carry his works of art home, because it was raining. I apologized that I didn’t have any. The dad said that it was all right. He said he would carry them under his coat. He explained that they had walked to the library for the craft program, and that his son just loves to walk. It was just really a privilege to watch a parent work so patiently with his child, spend so much time waiting and not rush the child, and knowing the whole time that they would be walking home in the rain. It really gave me a new and greater view of the value of craft programs. I recently saw the little boy come into the library after school with his backpack, and I was reminded of his efforts and enthusiasm as he worked on his projects at the craft program. No doubt his experiences at that library program and others helped to prepare him for projects at school.

The Monroe library has just started a new series of preschool storytimes on Wednesdays at 10:30. After each preschool storytime, we have a craft table set up to offer preschoolers the same opportunities to create and learn like the little boy in the story above. If you have a preschooler, please come and check it out! Also, watch our calendars throughout the year for other free craft program opportunities.

Monroe Library is open again

The Monroe Library was forced to close on Friday, September 4th because of unexpected building maintenance work. The maintenance was taken care of and we are once again open as normal. If you had any holds on the shelf that were supposed to be removed yesterday, they will remain here for you through the end of Saturday, September 5th. If you have any questions, you can contact Betsy Lewis at (360) 794-7851 x 4120 or at Blewis@sno-isle.org.

And the winners are....

Last week Jeff Evans performed at Monroe to a record number of attendees. Laughs were had by all but Melany and Patrick were especially excited because they were the lucky winners of the free bikes generously donated by the Monroe/Sultan Masons.

Library Laser Tag

Yes, you read that right. We are having laser tag in the library this Friday night (August 21) from 8-10pm. All teenagers are invited. We'll have organized games, friendly staff, and perhaps best of all, running in the library. You know you've always wanted to.



Totally free of charge. No signups required. Funded by the Friends of the Monroe Library.



It will be less lame than this:

Great week for Monroe youth

The Monroe Library has some amazing programs for youth this upcoming week. On Tuesday all school-age children are invited to come to the library for a magic show put on by black belt magician and "Creative Conjuror" Jeff Evans. Don't forget to complete the summer reading program so that you can be eligible to win one of the two bikes given away at this program as well. The show will happen at 2:00 in the meeting room.

If you are a teen, we have a really special program on Friday. You get to play laser tag in the library. I wish they offered me the chance to come play free laser tag in such a large building as the library when I was a teen. You don't even have to bring any equipment. Everything will be provided. This program will occur after hours on Friday at 8:00 pm and is only for teens. It is sure to be a fantastic time. Grab some of your friends and bring them out for this rare opportunity to play laser tag in your very own library.

All of the staff here at the Monroe Library look forward to seeing you at these programs. Don't miss out on such great opportunities.

Free Bikes.....

On Tuesday August 18th we will have the drawing for the free bikes at the Creative Conjuring Magic show at 2:00. One lucky boy and girl, who have completed the Summer Reading program and attend the program, will ride home on a brand new Mongoose bike generously donated by the Monroe/Sultan Masons.

World Peas

Guess who's invited to dinner?

"Cuisines of the Axis of Evil and Other Irritating States : a Dinner Party Approach to International Relations" by Chris Fair is just one of hundreds of interesting new books the Sno-Isle Library System has recently ordered.



Why not try a little dinner party diplomacy and serve up some world peas?

___________________

open a book

open your mind

at your local library

___________________

At least YOUR face isn't melting!

The Monroe Library will be hosting an impromptu movie program Friday afternoon at 2:30 in our (air-conditioned) Meeting Room. If you are looking for a cool place to get out of the heat and relax for a couple hours please join us for a film that feaures humid jungles, sand-blasted deserts, and melting faces that should make you feel better about the heat wave gripping Western Washington.

Call or ask library staff for film title (though hopefully the melting faces gives it away).

Monroe Library is Officially A Cool Place to Be.

we know this already, but the City of Monroe has designated us a heat relief center! Come out of the heat and come in to the library!

Trees, Herbs, Flowers, Birds, Beasts and Bugs in Oaxaca

I just finished reading "A Zapotec Natural History" by Eugene S. Hunn. The author is professor emeritus in anthropology at the U.W. I checked out this book because of my interest in indigenous peoples of Central America. The author writes about the inhabitants of a village in the highlands of the Mexican state of Oaxaca and their incredible knowledge of the local environment.
Dr. Hunn involved children as young as five in his research, paying them a small amount to collect and identify for him as many specimens of plants as they could bring him. Although this wasn't the focus of his research, Hunn was struck by the "precocious" knowledge village children possessed of the natural world surrounding the village. They could name flowers and plants, know their use (one shrub is used to counter the effects of the 'evil eye'. Another protects against witches.

The children acquire their knowledge innately through play, for example. A flower with sticky properties is used in a game. Pine cones become sheep in a corral.

Children are very familiar with their family kitchen gardens, where flowers, fruits and vegetables for medicinal, ritual, and food uses grow.


As I think about library programming for young children, the children of San Juan come to mind. The children are not taught about the natural world systematically through formal instruction.

Acquiring environmental knowledge is akin to learning a first language, Hunn says.

Can the Zapotec languages, culture, and environmental knowledge survive in a global society?

Do YOU hulu?

Remember those old TV shows—before there were 500 channels?

Take your pick!

All in the Family
Twin Peaks
Mork & Mindy

The Monroe Library offers these and many other classic TV shows on DVD.
Just ask at our Information Desk and we’ll help you find a good one.
Unfortunately, the library doesn’t own every great show.
In that case, you might want to try

hulu

a website that lets you watch
individual episodes on your computer.
And the part we like best? IT'S FREE!

hulu has TV shows like

The Colbert Report,
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, and
The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien

Or take a “staycation” with

National Geographic Travel Videos

How about your favorite

Saturday Night Live episodes, or
The Simpsons.

There’s even the latest

celebrity interviews and
full-length feature films.

So, as we say in the library world:
Check it out!
We bet you’ll be dancing for joy.


http://www.hulu.com/

Jobs at the Evergreen State Fair

The Evergreen State Fair is hiring!

It’s almost like running away with the circus, except you get to go home at night. And the library can help!

Turn to us for help with your job search.
The Monroe Library offers:

> Books on writing successful resumes

> Online tools for resume writing

> Books with tips on interviewing for a job

> Info on getting a Food Handler Card in Snohomish County

Evergreen State Fair vendors are hiring for:
> Cooks
> Cashiers
> Servers
> Customer Service positions, and
> Helpers

Here’s the link with all the employment details:
http://www.evergreenfair.org/page11363.asp

Many of these positions require a Food Handler Card, so you may need to plan ahead. For Food Handler testing schedules & locations, check here:
http://www.snohd.org/snoEnvHealth/fle/foods/foodSafetyCls.htm

So let us know how the library can help

with your job search this summer!

Big Fun for Little Dough!

Anybody remember sock puppets? How about bingo, go fish, or jump-rope? These pastimes came to be in a time when money was scarce for many families. And they’re seeing a revival in this tough economy.

The Monroe Library currently has a display of books & movies on nostalgic toys & games like these. Remember toy trains on Christmas morning? Or when was the last time you flew a kite? Lots of ideas for lots of summer fun. BIG fun. For little dough.

Try a few of these:
The Kids Summer Games Book

Let’s Play: Traditional Games of Childhood

Timeless Toys: Classic Toys and the Playmakers Who Created Them

The Games We Played: the Golden Age of Board and Table Games

And, as we say in the library world: Check it out!

Lights, Camera, Action!!! at the Monroe Library

Makeup artists, sound booms, cameras, and actors took over the Monroe Library on Sunday July 5 to film a scene from the feature film "Penny Candy." Check out pennycandythemovie.com.

Monroe summer reading heats up

If you were in the library this past week you might have overheard a lot of "oohs" and "aahs" as our summer readers admired one of the bikes to be given away at our August 18th program, Creative Conjuring. Children ages 5-12 who have completed their summer reading goal and attend the program on the 18th will be eligible to win one of two bikes, one for a girl and the other for a boy.

The enthusiasm spilled over into our Spanish Language Storytime when I asked who would like to pose with the bike!

Antelopes and Cowboys

I love southeastern Oregon, so different from the blue and green Pacific side of the mountains. I just finished reading William Kittredge's The Willow Field, the author's first novel, though he has spent a lifetime writing non-fiction since breaking away from his upbringing on a ranch near Lakeview.

This novel is the story of Rossie and Eliza Benasco's life together in the Bitterroot Valley of Montana, and of how Rossie came of age as a buckaroo driving cattle in southeastern Oregon and Nevada. Rossie and Eliza marry in 1934, at age 19, when Eliza was pregnant with another man's child.

I like books with a strong sense of place, and Kittredge certainly knows this country, from Denio and Roaring Springs to Missoula and Hamilton, from the 1920's to the 90's, and all the sweep of the historic west.

Another book you might enjoy is the story of a ranch wife, Judy Blunt, whose autobiography Breaking Clean is the story of how she left that life and became a writer.

Both Kittredge and Blunt are Missoula-based authors.

Gang Forum - Short Notice

There will be a forum held in the Monroe Library meeting room tonight (Tuesday June 23rd) from 6:30 till 8:00 to discuss the status of gangs in Snohomish County. Members of the law enforcement community will be on hand to give out information and help answer questions regarding the impact of gangs in Snohomish County. Especially in light of recent events, this forum will share information that is important for all of us to know. I hope everyone gets the chance to come out and hear this important information. People of all ages are welcome to attend.

Summer Reading Program. Don't forget to...

…sign up for the Summer Reading Program at the Monroe Library!

Summer Reading Program sign-ups are underway at the Monroe Library. Children ages 5-12 can set their own reading goals for the summer. Reading logs are available to keep track of the progress being made toward each child’s individual goal.

All children who reach their goal will receive a free book! The first 150 goal finishers will also receive a free t-shirt! Information about even more fun, prizes, and programs are available when you come in to sign up! Come in today, sign up, and get on your way to claiming these great prizes!

When will I ever have to use Math?

In my former career as a math teacher, I heard students asking one common question. "When am I gonna actually use this?" Many of us have the mistaken idea that math (at least how we learned it in school) is theoretical and doesn't apply to our everyday lives beyond balancing a checkbook or paying a mortgage.



I just finished reading a fascinating book that might just help us understand more about why math is becoming ever more important. Super Crunchers by Ian Ayres investigates and reveals how technology and specifically statistics is impacting our lives. With the increasing availability of huge amounts of data about all parts of our lives, statistics is showing up in everything we do. Casinos have been using it to figure out how much they can get out of their customers and keep them coming back for more. Online dating sites crunch huge amounts of data to try to match up "compatible" people. Baseball teams have started using statistical measurements to make better business decisions. Even grocery stores can start using data to help tailor their sales and marketing techniques.

This book raises very important issues regarding the changing world that we live in. Where is the boundary line between using personal expertise and relying on statistics? Can statistics really outperform people who have spent their life becoming experts in specific fields? Can all this information actually be harmful? What repercussions are there if we do not become statistically literate? What do we need to know in order to survive in such a data driven society?

The nice part of this book is that the amount of math you need to know to understand it is very minimal. For the most part, it is easily read without complex math knowledge. There are a few times where Ayres brings up some complicated theorems, but if you don't understand those, you will still be able to understand the concepts behind them. I strongly urge you to check out this book for a little more insight into just how important statistics and number crunching will be as we continue to advance technologically.

Download audiobooks, music, and videos

Stop by the libary to check out the Digital Bookmobile in our parking lot. This 74 foot long, 18 wheel tractor-trailer will be staffed by workers from Overdrive (the download service used by Sno-Isle) and by local library employees. You can learn how to use the Overdrive service to download audiobooks and play them on your computer, or even through your portable music device. Videos and music can also be downloaded legally to your computer using this service. This is a great opportunity to ask questions about the service and to start tapping into this great resource. There is no charge for this service, so come out and find out how to get started.

The Digital Bookmobile will be in our parking log from 10 am - 5 pm on Friday June 5, and Saturday June 6. If you would like to browse some of the titles that are available check out www.sno-isle.org/overdrive

Get Ready for Teen Summer Reading!

Teens are invited to participate in the Express Yourself Summer Reading program at the Monroe Library.

Like last year you'll have a chance to win prizes for the books you read and review this summer. For every 5 books you read and review online you'll win a gift card to Fred Meyer, McDonalds, or Starbucks. Also there will be weekly drawings for USB lanyards and a Grand Prize drawing for a laptop at the end of the summer. The more reviews you submit, the better your chances to win! The online review form can be found in the Teen section of the Sno-Isle website. You are free to start reviewing on June 8th.

http://www.sno-isle.org/cr/teensummerreading/?ID=entryform

We'll also be doing some fun things at the library all summer long. We will have Teen Gaming every other week on Wednesday afternoons. In June we will be visited by one of Seattle's premeire DJ's to talk about the business and creative aspects of DJing. In July you can express yourself at an open mic night at the library. And in August we'll be playing Lazer Tag after hours in the library. Check the Teen section (or ask Bookz) for dates and times.

http://host5.evanced.info/sno_isle/evanced/eventcalendar.asp?et=Teen+Program&lib=14&dt=dr&ds=2009-6-1&de=2009-12-31

You can sign up for events at the website, but you don't have to sign up at the library to take part in the program. Have a great summer and good luck!

Kate leaves the Monroe library....

for her annual Monroe School District tour. Students will soon be learning about this year's Summer Reading program at assemblies and class visits in the elementary schools. Then, as of June 8th, children ages 5-12 can come into the library to sign up.

Google Earth

If you haven't checked out some of our new features on the public computers you may have been missing out. For instance, we have now added Google Earth to each computer. With Google Earth, you can view satellite images of all different places around the world. You can pull up images of your own home, a possible vacation spot, or even your favorite place to go on a weeknight, which we all know is your local Monroe Library of course!

It also allows you to see some really cool sights by using a 3D model of some locations. It won't create a 3D rendering of your own house, but try going to some scenic places with large elevation changes like Mount Ranier.

For those people who get really into this, you might even be able to submit your own scenic photos for inclusion in the program using the site http://www.panoramio.com/ which is also owned by Google. So give it a shot the next time you are in the library and find out what amazing things you can discover. Let us know if you find something really fascinating. We would love to see it as well.

(all photos came directly from Google Earth)

Big Read Film Program: Brick

As part of the Big Read the Monroe Library will be showing the movie Brick on May 21st at 7pm.

Much like The Maltese Falcon, Brick is a noir-ish detective story set in California. The twist is that Brick is set in a high school and all of its characters are teens or young adults. It tells the story of Brendan, a loner whose desperate ex-girlfriend calls him when she gets in trouble. After she disappears Brendan begins looking into her life and cirrcle of friends to get to the bottom of what has happened to her and who is responsible.

Rian Johnson made the film, his first, after being influenced by the works of Dashiell Hammett and tapped a young cast of up-and-coming actors including Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Stop-Loss) and Emile de Ravin (Lost). The film was nominated for a number of awards including an Independent Spirit Award and won at Sundance for Originality of Vision. All adults and teens are invited to join us for our showing of this remarkable film and a discussion to follow.

The Big Read

The Monroe Library is pleased to participate in the Big Read program going on throughout Snohomish and Island counties. The book we are reading is the noir classic The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett.

The Monroe Library will host a book discussion for the novel on Wednesday, May 5th at 7pm.

In addition we will be hosting a film program on Thursday May 21st at 7pm. We will be showing the movie, Brick. The film is neo-noir detective story set in a California high school. Discussion of the film will follow and both adults and teens are welcome to attend.

Snake at the Library!!!

Today we had a patron bring his pet snake Slipknot to the library. We couldn't resist the temptation to take a few pictures and enjoy the moment.

Here is Slipknot being modeled by Jesse Cummins

Even our branch manager Betsy Lewis got into the action as Tyler Murphy holds Slipknot.

Fiesta at the Library

This year we will be celebrating Dia de los Ninos/Dia de los Libros: Children's Day/Book Day with a live Mariachi band! The event will take place this Saturday at 2:00 and will include games, prizes, activities and snacks. I am very hopeful that we will have some couragous attendees willing to dance. Hmmmm....perhaps I'll bring my dancing shoes.

Joe Raiola - Joy of Censorship

Sno-Isle Libraries brought Joe Raiola, Senior Editor of MAD Magazine, to Monroe on April 16 for a multimedia show, "The Joy of Censorship". Joe toured the Northwest in April and he says, "From Salem to Monroe not one librarian has told me to tone it down. This is very liberating for me --and for the audience. It's like people are rooting for me to address the issues that are relevant to them."

National Holocaust Day Remembered

Jonathan Sacks, British Chief Rabbi stated, "What we remember, we can guard against." Books are on display at Monroe to do just that for National Holocaust Day. Anecdotal accounts of genocide survivors are ready to check out.

Volunteer Week:

Monroe Library staff would like to thank all our wonderful volunteers for all the work they do here. Volunteers have helped us with pulling the books for patron placed holds, do opening procedures, place items alphabetically on the hold shelves, look for books that are missing, help with programs, tech teens help teach the beginning catalog & internet classes, wash toys after each children's program, wash books for us and the bookmobile, wash the headphones, and much more! We really appreciate everything you all do!

(Mardi Olsen, Volunteer)

If you are interested in volunteering we have openings for Monday & Thursday mornings 9am helping pull the books for holds, opening procedures, & filing holds. Monday, Tuesday & Thursdays for 3pm & 6pm pulling items for holds.

Please contact Carolyn Morris at 360-794-7851 or visit the Information desk for a volunteer packet.