Celebrating 29 Years of "Banned Books Week" - Sept. 25 - Oct. 2

This year marks the 29th anniversary of Banned Books Week!

According to the American Library Associations (ALA) Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF), the ALA OIF "receives hundreds of reports on book challenges, which are formal written requests to remove a book from a library or classroom because of an objection to the book's content. There were 460 recorded attempts to remove materials from libraries in 2009 and more than 11,000 attempts recorded since the OIF began compiling information on book challenges in 1990. ".



In celebration of Banned Books Week, here is the American Library Associations Office for Intellectual Freedom list of the "Top Ten Most Frequently Challenged Books of 2009"



1. ttyl, ttfn, l8r, g8r (series), by Lauren Myracle

Reasons: Drugs, Nudity, Offensive Language, Sexually Explicit, Unsuited to Age Group

2. And Tango Makes Three by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson

Reasons: Homosexuality

3.The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chabrosky Reasons: Anti-Family, Drugs, Homosexuality, Offensive Language, Religious Viewpoint, Sexually Explicit, Suicide, Unsuited to Age Group.

4. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee Reasons: Offensive Language, Racism, Unsuited to Age Group

5. Twilight (series) by Stephenie Meyer Reasons: Religious Viewpoint, Sexually Explicit, Unsuited to Age Group

6. Catcher in the Rye by J.D. SalingerReasons: Offensive Language, Sexually Explicit, Unsuited to Age Group

7. My Sister's Keeper by Jodi PicoultReasons: Drugs, Homosexuality, Offensive Language, Religious Viewpoint, Sexism, Sexually Explicit, Suicide, Unsuited to Age Group, Violence

8. The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big, Round Things by Carolyn MacklerReasons: Offensive Language, Sexually Explicit, Unsuited to Age Group

9. The Color Purple by Alice WalkerReasons: Offensive Language, Sexually Explicit, Unsuited to Age Group


10. The Chocolate War by Robert CormierReasons: Nudity, Offensive Language, Sexually Explicit, Unsuited to Age Group

All of these titles are available at your local Sno-Isle library!

Happy reading!

*We're on Facebook!

Just search for "Sno-Isle Libraries" to gain access to current updates, information on library events and more!

"Online Tools for Success" Videos on YouTube

Did you know Sno-Isle offers many online resource tools through our website? Watch these videos to see how Sno-Isle Libraries' FREE online tools can help!


CAREER ACCELERATOR


BUSINESS DECISION


REFERENCE USA

These databases and more can be found through our website under Databases & Research.

*We're on Facebook!

Just search for "Sno-Isle Libraries" to gain access to current updates, information on library events and more!

Hot enough for ya?

Need a place to beat the heat this week? Then come on down to the Monroe library! Soak up some a/c, and take a look at our new display of books about arctic exploration!

For adventurers, climbing the Seven Summits--including Everest--and reaching all four Poles is the Holy Grail of world exploration. David Hempleman-Adams became the first man on the planet to do it. In Walking on Thin Ice, the world's most accomplished explorer recounts the final leg of his extraordinary15-year odyssey.

In the nineteenth century, theories about the North Pole ran rampant. Was it an open sea? Was it a portal to new worlds within the globe? Or was it just a wilderness of ice? When Sir John Franklin disappeared in the Arctic in 1845, explorers decided it was time to find out. In scintillating detail, Ninety Degrees North tells of the vying governments (including the United States, Britain, Germany, and Austria-Hungary) and fantastic eccentrics (from Swedish balloonists to Italian aristocrats) who, despite their heroic failures, often achieved massive celebrity as they battled shipwreck, starvation, and sickness to reach the top of the world. Drawing on unpublished archives and long-forgotten journals, Fleming tells this story with consummate craftsmanship and wit. Ninety Degrees North is a riveting saga of humankind's search for the ultimate goal.

During the Golden Era of Exploration, Captain Robert Scott and his competitor Roald Amundsen conquered the unconquerable: Antarctica. This perilous race to the South Pole claimed the life of Scott and became the stuff of legend, as well as endless scrutiny. In this compelling, meticulously researched history of Captain Scott and his fatal journey, renowned modern-day explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes, holder of ten world expeditionary records, has written the definitive book on the hotly debated subject.

Summer Reading Isn't Just for Kids!

From June through August, adults can participate in our Adult Summer Reading program by submitting book reviews. For every three reviews submitted to the Monroe Library, adults will receive a gift card to a Monroe business (Sweet Indulgence, Chocolate Moose, Pet Pros or Main Street Books), or they can choose 2 free passes to the Seattle Museum of History and Industry.
In addition, Sno-Isle will choose a Reader of the Week for 7 weeks this summer. The winner will be featured on a READ poster and will get to share their personal booklist on our website. Check out next week's winner--it's one of our patrons from Monroe!
You can either fill out an online book review or stop by the library to pick up a review form. We look forward to seeing what you're reading this summer!

Iron Man 2 or Robin Hood?

As usual, there are a number of movies coming out this summer that promise to draw extensive crowds and earn the honor of being called a summer blockbuster. Some of the “summer” movies are already out even though summer doesn’t actually arrive until June 21. Iron Man 2 and Robin Hood are already out in theaters. Shrek Forever After, The A-Team, Toy Story 3, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, and quite a few more are coming soon to a theater near you.

While you are choosing which movies to go see, don’t forget that Sno-Isle has a great selection of former summer blockbusters and award winning movies to check out. Come check out old favorites or movies that you missed in the theater!

Which movies do you plan to see this summer?

Down the Highway

We have staff who ride Harley’s and Honda’s (with dogs in tow!), several who have beautiful flower and vegetable gardens, and dogs of various sizes and breeds. We umpire baseball games, play yu-gi-oh! card games, do trivia, knit, crochet, cross stitch, and sew…….and let's not forget read.

I have worked for Sno-Isle libraries for 20 years. The library has always been a part of my life since I was very small child. I have a son 20 and a small dog, a chug (Chihuahua and pug mix) named Chico. I live on a farm that has 70 goats, 7 Llamas, 4 horses, 8 quail, 1 duck, 3 roosters, 1 hen, and 4 other dogs. We also have a big vegetable garden. I also like to ride Harley Davidson motorcycles! A couple of years ago I took a trip to bike week in Sturgis South Dakota. This trip is the one that I decided I needed a bike of my own! To plan for this trip I first picked up Rand McNally Road Atlas. We looked at the various different roads we could take to get there. When we picked out different stopping points I used the keyword option in our catalog to put in the different areas, such as Yellowstone. I had actually been to Yellowstone about five years prior so I was familiar with several books that I had used before but really liked Yellowstone & Grand Teton the best. Once I took the course for motorcycle riding and got my license, I started looking for a bike. I first purchased a 1986 Harley Davidson Sportster that is the traditional Harley Davidson blue, turquoise to me. I then found a 2006 Harley Davidson V-rod and fell in love with its beautiful burgundy color and comfort. My son also rides so we often go together. For rides around the sound I have used the Backroads of Washington: your guide to Washington’s Most Scenic Backroad Adventures by Diana Fairbanks and Exploring Washington’s Backroads by John Deviny. Where will my next ride take me?

We'll Help You Escape

This week we've seen rain, sun, hail, wind, thunder and lightning. When the weather gets crazy, there is nothing I love more than picking up a novel and reading about characters who live in or travel to foreign countries. Here are some books that have recently helped me escape:

Upside Down, Inside Out (Australia)


DMZ (Colombia)


Chateau of Echoes (France)


The Accidental Mother (England)


Moon Over Tokyo




Here are two series I highly recommend because their fast pace kept me hooked from the very beginning.

The Russian Trilogy by Hynd, Noel, with books set in Kiev, Madrid and Cairo

Task Force Valor Series by Holton, Chuck, with books that take place in the Middle East, Panama and Chernobyl

If you don’t know what to read and need some inspiration, check out our Recommended Reads under the “Books, Movies, Music” section of our website. There are many different categories of fiction and non-fiction, ranging from cozy mysteries to green living, from time travel fiction to family finance.

Sno-Isle also subscribes to a fantastic database called NoveList Plus. Select “Databases and Research” on our home page, choose “Books and Literature” under subjects, and then click on NoveList Plus. You will find a big selection of author read-alikes, so if you’re in the mood to read something similar to Dick Frances, for example, see what they suggest. You can also find books by category for children, teens and adults.

And as always, we are happy to help you find something to read! Please don’t hesitate to ask!