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December 2010 Titles
+ Holiday Fiction
Posted: November 23, 2010
The following titles by popular authors are due out in December.
Use the links below to request them now:
Nonfiction
Fiction
2010 Holiday Fiction
Book Display:
"Food for Thought"
Posted: November 3, 2010
The theme for our latest book display is
"Food for Thought: A Flavorful Feast of Facts and Fiction"
Located by the stairs, this rotating display contains
a delicious variety of true and fictional stories,
recipes, and much more.
If you find something you like, we encourage you to check it out!
At home - or in the library - you can explore related books
through these subject headings in the library catalog:
An extended menu of library catalog topics as well as websites can be found in
the
Cooking section of our Ready Reference guide.
Also available throughout the library system: current and past issues
of popular food and cooking magazines. Examples include:
Please click here to browse even more cooking and food-related periodicals
in the library catalog.
November 2010 Titles
Posted: October 25, 2010
The following titles by popular authors are due out in November.
Use the links below to request them now:
Nonfiction
Fiction
2010 Nobel Prize in Literature
Posted: October 7, 2010
The 2010 Nobel Prize in Literature has been awarded to
Mario Vargas Llosa
(
English).
This Peruvian novelist, essayist, and journalist authored numerous literary works. Among his better known books are:
Please
click here to read the official Nobel Prize announcement.
Additional information can be found at these links:
October Titles
Posted: September 30, 2010
The following titles are due out in October.
They are sure to be popular, so use the links below to place your requests now!
Nonfiction
Fiction
Beyond the Bestsellers - Fall 2010
Posted: September 28, 2010
The latest electronic edition of
Beyond the Bestsellers
is now online.
Beyond the Bestsellers is a quarterly publication
Thrall publishes in an effort to highlight interesting authors and titles
often not found on bestseller lists.
Our online edition now
has its own RSS feed, which you can
subscribe to and receive automatic updates via your Web browser or RSS reader.
Links in the RSS feed lead directly into the library catalog,
where you can check which titles are available or try to reserve them.
Print editions of
Beyond the Bestsellers are available at the library.
As Storms Subside:
Stories after Wars
Posted: September 16, 2010
Long after military conflicts subside and the prospect of peace
has been restored, at least tentatively, many soliders return home
only to face entirely new struggles with stress, readjusting
to normal life, memories of what took place, and more.
Their stories reveal the long-term human costs of warfare,
the psychological scars remaining long after any physical
wounds have healed.
This touching topic has also been fictionally explored
by numerous authors throughout the years. Here are some titles
you might want to consider:
- Jenna's Cowboy by Sharon Gillenwater
Through a careful blend of romance and faith, Gillenwater broaches the topic of a returning veteran in a compassionate and positive manner that can be appreciated by many readers.
- Paradise Valley by Robyn Carr
After losing a limb, a veteran's return begins in a dark and difficult mood but moves steadily toward more hopeful territory - and love - as someone in his life refuses to relinquish her feelings and beliefs in him.
- Metal Heads by Tom Maremaa
Bruised, battered, and braced with metal, the main character in this story faces an increasingly dire situation where his knowledge of a warcrime threatens all those he knows and, most of all, himself.
- In the Name of Honor by Richard North Patterson
The deadly tolls of war ring loud and clear in this suspenseful tale of a veteran pleading self-defense in the demise of a commanding officer.
- The Last Day by James Landis
This stirring story strongly suggests there are indeed "teachable moments" to be found even in the darkest depths of wartime. A soldier back from Iraq learns about his enemy's lifestyle and looks past the conflict to learn to admire aspects of another person's culture.
More novels under these subject headings can be found throughout the library system:
See also
this related post in our Health and Wellness blog: PTSD & Returning Soldiers.
September Titles
Posted: August 30, 2010
The following titles are due out in September. They are sure to be popular so use the links below to place your requests now.
Nonfiction
Fiction
On Display: From Page to Picture - Books Become Movies
Posted: August 5, 2010
Our latest display features books made into movies.
Titles include literary classics as well as contemporary
works.
You can also follow these links to browse film adaptations
within the library catalog:
August Titles
Posted: July 28, 2010
The following titles are due out in August. They are sure to be popular so use the links below to place your requests now.
Nonfiction
Fiction
New "All the Best!" Page
Posted: June 30, 2010
Our
recent blog post got us thinking:
What if you could quickly access all of these historically
"best" and contemporary "bestseller" titles from one convenient page?
The result is a
new "All the Best!" page.
Previously, this link took you straight into the library
catalog, where you could browse New York Times fiction
and nonfiction bestseller lists as well as Netflix selections.
You can still do that, of course :-) but now you
have some more options!
From the new page you can also browse a menu of
major award-winning works and authors throughout history
as well as notable contemporary fiction and nonfiction.
You can reach the menu through our
home page
as well as our
library catalog entry page.
We hope you like the new page and that it inspires
you to check out some truly great books!
July 2010 Titles
Posted: June 25, 2010
The following books by popular authors are due out in July.
Use the catalog links below to place your requests today!
Nonfiction
Fiction
All the Best!
Posted: June 9, 2010
If you are in the mood for a
great book, be it a
classic,
a
critically-acclaimed work of fiction or nonfiction,
or simply
anything written by an
award-winning author,
you can browse some suggestions (and quickly search the library
catalog) in just a few clicks right at our website!
Looking for
literary classics?
Try our Literature Explorer:
How about
major award-winners, such as Pulitzer or Nobel Prizes, or Caldecott or Newbery Winners?
In our
Booklovers guide
you will find
a directory of websites highlighting award-winning titles and authors
in a variety of genres.
If you're just looking for
contemporary bestsellers, then here's your link!
If you'd like to go
beyond the bestsellers, we can take you there whenever you're ready!
Wishing you all the best - in your readings and in life!
Thrall's Reference Department
Now on Display: Porch Stories
Posted: June 7, 2010
Our latest book display for adults is Porch Stories: Tales of Small Town Life.
Located by the stairs, this rotating display contains a dynamic variety of books and authors
you might really enjoy. If you find something you like, we encourage you to check it out!
June 2010 Titles
Posted: May 26, 2010
The following books by popular authors are due out in June.
Use the catalog links below to place your requests today!
Nonfiction
Fiction
May 2010 Titles
Posted: April 27, 2010
The following books by popular authors are due out in May.
Use the catalog links below to place your requests today!
Nonfiction
Fiction
Pulitzer Prize Winners for 2010
Posted: April 16, 2010
The
Pulitzer Prize Winners for 2010 are:
You May "Burn" this Book
Posted: April 9, 2010
Digital Rights Management (DRM) is the technical
name for what you are permitted to do with
something like an eBook or audio file.
Because each publisher offers a variety of titles
and editions in different formats (electronic text
or audio) and because each of those titles can have
its own set of terms (which tell you what you can
or cannot do), it is up to the user - you - to make
an effort to learn what your options are whenever
working with digital files.
Thankfully, this is quite easy to do with eBooks
and eAudio available within the RCLS library system.
Here's how it works:
- visit the RCLS Digital Download Center
- locate a title that interests you
- scroll down the item's page when it appears
- read that item's "Digital Rights Information" section
Read that section - for each item - carefully to determine
whether you may, within the time you are allowed, "burn"
(record) an eAudiobook to a CD or transfer it to an MP3 player,
print parts of an eBook text, and so on.
As these are items that you are
borrowing from the
library system,
you are expected to comply completely
with the specified DRM terms and copyrights.
Simply put, this means
you cannot keep any item
beyond the time you were allowed to borrow it.
For more information, please check out these links:
To explore other sources of downloadable eBooks,
please see the
eBooks section
in our
Booklovers guide.
You might also want to read our other blog posts on eBooks:
April 2010 Titles
Posted: March 26, 2010
The following books by popular authors are due out in April.
Use the catalog links below to place your requests today!
Nonfiction
Fiction
eBook Issues to Consider
Posted: February 19, 2010
The recent surge of interest in eBooks
provoked much curiosity as well as
technical questions among readers.
To help you answer some of these questions,
we prepared some free flyers at the library
as well as
at our website.
The world of eBooks can be exciting
and useful, especially for readers who travel,
yet, just as is true of digital music,
technical questions and deeper considerations
can linger.
For example, purchasing a regular book (in print)
is often not the same as buying an eBook:
the eBook is a computer file you have
purchased the rights to access and transfer
to your computer (or your portable media
player, if that is permitted).
"Permission" is a key concept in digital music
and book files: depending on where you acquire
a file, that file can be subject to certain
terms, such as whether or not you can transfer
an audio eBook to an MP3 player.
The technical name for these permissions is
Digital Rights Management (DRM). DRM is
typically defined by both legal terms
and technological limitations.
Since even the same publisher can publish
a variety of files with different DRM terms,
you can begin to see how difficult (and
possibly frustrating) it can be for users
to deal with, particularly if they are avid
readers!
The
Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF)
has prepared a document outlining potential
issues and questions eBook users might want
to consider before investing in an eBook
reader or eBook titles:
EFF also maintains a
Digital Books Issues page,
where you will find coverage of current
eBook issues in the news (as provided
from EFF's consumer-rights-oriented
perspective).
For additional information on the topic of digital books,
here are some library catalog subject links you might
want to explore:
You might also want to visit the
eBooks and eReaders section
of our
Booklovers guide as well as
our earlier blog post on eBooks.
March 2010 Titles
Posted: February 17, 2010
The following new books due out in March are bound to be popular. Use the links below to place your requests now.
Nonfiction
Fiction
February 2010 Titles
Posted: January 26, 2010
The following books by popular authors are due out in February. Please use the links below to check reviews and place your requests now.
Nonfiction
Fiction
January 2010 Titles
Posted: December 23, 2009
The following books have been recently published or are due out by the end of January 2010.
They are sure to be popular so use the links below to place your requests now.
Nonfiction
Fiction
On Display: Fireside Fiction
Posted: December 22, 2009
The theme for our latest rotating book display
(located near the adult library catalog computers) is
Fireside Fiction: Stories for Long Winter Nights
The next time you come to the library, please feel free
to visit our display and check out as many titles
as you find interesting!
eBooks & eReaders
Posted: December 3, 2009
For several years now, our library system has
offered free access to eBooks.
Middletown Thrall Library offers a steadily
increasing number of electronic books and
Virtual Reference materials
online for its patrons.
As more of our readers begin to weigh
the possibilities and pitfalls of reading
electronically, we continue to develop
all our collections (print, electronic,
audio, etc.) to meet your needs
and reading preferences, be they digital
or bookbound.
Our
Booklovers Web Guide
contains a wealth of reading resources, news,
and other information for readers
in any medium.
The
newest section in our Booklovers
guide features eBooks and eReaders.
If you're already
an e-booklover, then you might appreciate
browsing some of the many free sources of
eBooks or learning more about eBook formats
and related news.
If you are new to eBooks, you can browse
some of the websites there to learn more
about eBook readers, read reviews and
comparisons of eReaders, and also get an
idea of what is freely available to you
(as a member of Thrall or any RCLS library)
right through our own library system.
If you'd like to get into electronic books
but aren't ready yet to buy an eReader,
an MP3 player for eAudiobooks, or a computer,
you might want to look into our growing
selection of Playaway titles.
Playaways are very small, simple-to-use
digital audio books. You check them out
and return them just like regular books,
and they are very easy to use:
you literally just press Play!
If interested, please stop by our Reference
Department, and we'll show you where you
can find them. You can also
click here to
browse some (but not all) Playaway titles
available throughout the library system.
December 2009 Titles
Posted: November 21, 2009
The following books have been recently published or are due out by the end of December. They are sure to be popular so use the links below to place your requests now.
Nonfiction
Fiction
November 2009 Titles
Posted: October 22, 2009
The following books by popular authors are due out in November.
You can use the links below to browse the catalog or place your requests.
Nonfiction
Fiction
2009 Nobel Prize in Literature
Posted: October 8, 2009
The 2009 Nobel Prize in Literature was awarded to Herta Muller.
The Nobel Foundation
posted the official announcement and a video at their website.
For more informaton:
Read.gov
Posted: September 28, 2009
The
Library of Congress' Center for the Book
has created a new website in support of the
National Book Festival
and to promote reading:
There are some really unique offerings here for all ages, such as:
- The Exquisite Corpse Adventure - an unpredictable story in the making
- Classic books you can read online, such as The Baby's Own Aesop or The Secret Garden.
- Booklists with reading suggestions on topics such as U.S. Presidents, American Inventors, Sports, National Parks, Civil War, the Great Depression, African-American History, Hispanic-American History, Asian-American History, Native Americans, Mysteries, and more
For more details, please
read the Read.gov press release
or
click here to visit Read.gov.
Also check out our previous blog post:
National Book Festival: Author Podcasts.
October 2009 Titles
Posted: September 23, 2009
The following books by popular authors are due out in October.
You can use the links below to browse the catalog or place your requests.
Nonfiction
Fiction
Armchair Adventures
Posted: September 18, 2009
Thrill-seekers, adventurers, escapists, explorers,
lovers of travel stories, daring dreamers:
come one and all to see our latest rotating book display:
Armchair Adventures!
(Everyone else is invited, too!)
On this display (located near the adult library catalog computers)
you will find adventurous works of fiction and nonfiction,
tales of other worlds, swashbucklers, real life heroes,
trailblazers and globetrotters, navigators of unknown lands,
and more.
If you can't get to the library, or if you can't
wait to start your own adventures, here are
some library catalog subject links to get you started:
You should also check out the latest addition to our Book Lists for Booklovers:
Regional Reads and Travels.
Happy reading!
National Book Festival: Author Podcasts
Posted: September 11, 2009
In support of the
2009 National Book Festival,
the
Library of Congress has posted a series of
informative and entertaining podcasts (audio/video broadcasts online) featuring
popular and best-selling authors commenting on their careers as writers and readers.
Click here to hear or download (MP3 format) interviews with authors including
David Wroblewski, George Pelecanos, James Patterson, Jon Scieszka, Junot Diaz, Lois Lowry, Nicholas Sparks, and Rickey Minor.
Interviews from previous years are also online:
- 2008 - Authors: Arthur and Pauline Frommer, Bob Schieffer, Brad Meltzer, Cokie Roberts, Dionne Warwick, Geraldine Brooks, Jan Brett, Jon Scieszka, Kay Ryan, Kimberly Dozier, Louis Bayard, Marisa de los Santos, Michelle Singletary, Peter Robinson, Philippa Gregory, R.L. Stine, Walter Isaacson, Warren Brown, Joseph Bruchac, Sharon M. Draper.
- 2007 - Authors: Carmen Agra Deedy, Charles Simic, David Baldacci, David Wiesner, Holly Black, Ken Burns, Maria Celeste Arrarás, Megan McDonald, Patricia MacLachlan, Rosemary Wells, Sanjay Gupta, Shelia P. Moses, Terry Pratchett, Victoria Rowell.
- 2006 - Authors: John Hope Franklin, Donald Hall, Khaled Hosseini, Marcus Samuelsson, Lisa Scottoline, Judith Viorst.
For more on this national celebration of books, authors, and readers, please click here
to access the
National Book Festival website,
which includes
a young reader's toolkit.
September 2009 Titles
Posted: August 26, 2009
The following books by popular authors are due out in September. Use the links below to place your requests now:
Nonfiction
Fiction
August 2009 Titles
Posted: July 27, 2009
The following books by popular authors are due out in August. Use the links below to place your requests now:
Nonfiction
Fiction
On Display: "Great Book!"
Posted: July 10, 2009
Our latest display features some of the "best of the best" titles
and authors from celebrity and critic's recommended readings lists.
There you will find an interesting variety of critically-acclaimed
and personally treasured works of fiction, nonfiction,
from classics to contemporary writing.
Online, in
our Booklovers web guide,
we recently created a
Book Lists section,
where you will see suggested reading for topics including:
- African-American History
- "Best" and "Greatest" Books
- Celebrity Selections
- Controversial and Censored
- Literature
- School District Summer Reading Lists
- Summer Reading and "Beach Reads"
- Women's History and Literature
We also invite you to check out Reader's Advisory Center
at Reference, where we have dedicated guides (offering
advice according to reader's age, themes, or genres).
On top of those shelves you will also see a number
of free bookmarks you can take. Many of these
bookmarks also contain reading suggestions!
If you're in the mood to make some suggestions of your
own to other readers, you can use our free (and anonymous)
RAVES! service
to share your love of reading with other readers
looking for the next "great book."
July 2009 Titles
Posted: June 26, 2009
The following books by popular authors are due out in July. Click below to request them now:
Nonfiction
Fiction
eBooks for iPods, Sony Readers!
Posted: June 18, 2009
OverDrive, the media transfer tool used
for the library system's eBooks and eAudio books,
reports the following good news for iPod and iPhone users:
"With OverDrive Media Console v3.2, the vast majority of OverDrive WMA Audiobooks can be transferred to the iPod and the iPhone!"
Follow this link
to learn more about the latest software and downloads for Mac and Windows users.
At the
RCLS eFiles website, there is also news about
Sony Reader-compatible eBooks:
"Introducing eBooks in the EPUB format! We are delighted to announce the addition of
Sony Reader-compatible eBooks in the EPUB format to this catalog! Offering small file
sizes and the ability to resize text so that it neatly and instantaneously reflows on
the screen, the EPUB eBooks available at this site can also be enjoyed on Windows and
Mac computers using Adobe Digital Editions."
For more on EPUB eBooks, please click here.
This link leads to a list of EPUB eBooks.
Follow this link
to learn more about the latest software and downloads for Mac and Windows users.
You can learn more about our free eBook service by following this link.
June 2009 Titles
Posted: May 22, 2009
The following books by popular authors are due out in June. Click below to request them now:
Nonfiction
Fiction
On Display: Family Portraits
Posted: May 1, 2009
Our rotating book display (near the adult catalog computers) has a new theme:
Family Portraits: Stores of Families Large and Small
Here you will find fiction, from literary classics to contemporary works,
focusing on families and family life.
We invite you to check out as many items from this display
as you like the next time you visit the library.
You can also
click here to browse our RAVES! Readers Advisory
service for reader-recommended books involving the theme of "family"
in some way.
If a title in
RAVES! interests you, you can check the catalog to see
if it is available and even reserve it, if you like.
If you know of a good fiction (or nonfiction) book about families
(or any other theme, for that matter!),
please feel free to submit your recommendation to RAVES! right now so other readers might consider reading it.
If you would like to see what else is available within the library
system catalog,
click here to search for "family - fiction" in the catalog.
World Digital Library Online
Posted: April 30, 2009
Back in April 2007,
we blogged about the Library of Congress'
intention to create a new online archive of writings
and other cultural treasures from around the world.
The
World Digital Library
is now a reality!
Library of Congress announced the achievement in its blog:
"The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
and 32 partner institutions today launched the World Digital Library,
a website that features unique cultural materials from libraries and
archives from around the world. The site - located at
www.wdl.org - includes manuscripts, maps,
rare books, films, sound recordings, prints and photographs."
Click here to read the Library of Congress blog post in its entirety.
You can click here to access the World Digital Library.
May 2009 Titles
Posted: April 29, 2009
The following books by popular authors are due out in May. Click below to request them now:
Nonfiction
Fiction
Da Vinci Code Fans Rejoice
Posted: April 21, 2009
Dan Brown has completed his
Da Vinci Code Trilogy.
The Lost Symbol
is due out on September 15th and will feature
Robert Langdon
from the Da Vinci Code
and its prequel
Angels and Demons.
Look for a record
in the catalog in the near future.
The
movie version of Angels and Demons,
directed by
Ron Howard,
will be
released in theaters on May 15th.
For more information on Dan Brown, his books, and the movies, you can visit
the author's website:
DanBrown.com
April 2009 Titles
Posted: March 27, 2009
The following books by popular authors are due out in April. Click below to request them now.
Nonfiction
Fiction
New Display: Yes You Can!
Posted: March 13, 2009
Our rotating book display (near the adult catalog computers) has a new theme:
Yes You Can! Adventures in Optimism, Hope, and New Beginnings
Here you will find decidedly positive fiction and non-fiction
works that promise to uplift, inform, and inspire you
in all areas of life, from personal considerations
to professional aspirations.
We invite you to check out as many items from this display
as you like the next time you visit the library.
You can also click any of the subject links below to browse (and reserve, if you wish)
even more thematically-related topics and titles available throughout the library system:
March 2009 Titles
Posted: February 23, 2009
The following books of interest are due out in March 2009.
Please use the links below to put your requests in now.
Nonfiction
Fiction
The following titles are first novels that are receiving a lot of attention.
February 2009 Titles
Posted: January 27, 2009
The following books of interest are due out in February 2009.
Please use the links below to put your requests in now.
Nonfiction
Fiction
Two More Displays:
Our Favorite Children's Stories, Edgar Allan Poe
Posted: January 27, 2009
In addition to our "Best of 2008" display we have two other displays:
In the library's lobby you will see a wonderful display celebrating favorite children's stories.
Inside the library, near the Reading Room entrance (near Reference) you will see another
display highlighting the literature of Edgar Allan Poe.
On Display: "The Best of 2008"
Posted: January 16, 2009
The new theme for our rotating book display (located near the adult library catalog computers) is "The Best of 2008,"
a collection of notable fiction, nonfiction, and biography titles published in 2008.
Titles on display were selected from a variety of "best of 2008" lists,
such as those published by
Library Journal,
The New York Times,
Booklist,
National Public Radio,
and
Publisher's Weekly.
Some "Best of 2008" lists can be browsed in a binder located by the display. A librarian can help you locate
any items in these lists which might interest you.
You are encouraged to check out (or reserve) as many titles as you like!
Here is a brief and random selection of titles, any of which you can click to locate (and reserve, if you wish) in the library catalog:
January 2009 Titles
Posted: December 25, 2008
The following books of interest are due out in January 2009.
Please use the links below to put your requests in now.
Nonfiction
Fiction
December Titles
Posted: November 20, 2008
The following books of interest are due out in December.
Please use the links below to put your requests in now.
Nonfiction
Fiction
Simplify Your Life
Posted: November 14, 2008
Now on display near the adult library catalog computers:
Simplify Your Life: Exploring the Essentials of Well Being
Here you will find a variety of books that can help you get back to basics,
enjoy more of life, and rediscover some of life's hidden treasures
and pleasures through personal reflection, meditation,
and reducing the clutter and chaos in your life.
Here is a sampling of some of the many titles on display. You can click a title to check on it in the library catalog or to reserve it:
If you would like to explore more items like these in the library catalog,
please click on any of these related subject headings:
New in November
Posted: October 29, 2008
The following titles by popular authors have been recently published or are being released in November. You can use the links below to place requests.
Non Fiction
Fiction
2008 Nobel Prize in Literature
Posted: October 9, 2008
The 2008 Nobel Prize in Literature has been awarded
to Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clézio.
You can read about it in the
press release at the Nobel Prize website.
Click one of the "PDF" links when you reach the Nobel website. PDF documents can be viewed with the
Adobe Reader.
For more informaton about this author and his works:
New Book Display: America Votes
Posted: October 7, 2008
Our rotating book display (located by the library catalog computers on the first floor)
has a new theme:
"America Votes: Politics Past and Present"
Here you will find an interesting array of nonfiction works from our collection.
Each title on display connects with politics throughout America's history,
including the U.S. Presidential Election.
We hope you enjoy the new display, and we encourage you to check out
any items that interest you.
At our website we cover the current run for the U.S. Presidency
in our
Election 2008 guide.
You can also try these links to browse related item in our
library catalog:
October Publications
Posted: September 26, 2008
The following titles come out in October. Use the links below to place your requests in the catalog!
Nonfiction
Fiction
September Selections
Posted: August 25, 2008
The following titles due out in September are bound to be popular. You may use the links below to place requests in the catalog.
Nonfiction
Fiction
A New Literature Information Guide
Posted: August 20, 2008
Literary booklovers, we have wonderful news to share with you!
Thrall's
Literature information guide on the web
has been thoroughly revised, updated, and expanded.
Our new guide contains two sections:
In the "Literature in the Library" section you will find categories including:
- Rediscovering Literature
- How Literature is Classified
- Classics in the Library Catalog
- Databases & Virtual Reference Titles
- Literary Reference Materials in Print
The
"Classics in the Library Catalog"
link leads to our
Literature Explorer,
where you will find convenient links to popular literary authors and titles.
Clicking on any link in that area will direct you to the library catalog, where you can:
- determine if an item is available
- request it be held for you
- read summaries/chapter excerpts/reviews (for items that offer such information in the catalog)
- or locate other titles by an author or other books with similar topics
In the "Reference Materials" section our guide alludes to a number
of materials you may consult in Middletown Thrall Library's
Reference collections.
Thrall has extensive volumes of literary criticism and many
other reference materials covering all modes and movements
of literature. We also have a number of comparable items
in our circulating collections (in the 800s aisles).
The "Databases" section in our guide describes and directs
you to some of the most powerful literary research and
discovery tools available to members of our library.
Log in with your Thrall library card number and enjoy
high quality information written and reviewed by scholars!
The "Literature on the Web" section of our Literature guide highlights
some of the best and most interesting literary websites out there.
Topics in this section include:
American Literature, Authors on the web, Awarded Books,
Blogs/Discussions, Classical Literature, Comparative Literature,
Criticism/Literary Theory, Databases, eBooks/eTexts, Drama,
English Literature, Essays, History, Jane Austen, Literary Journals,
Literary Terms, Novels, Poetry, Quotations, Short Stories,
Study Guides, Literary Trivia, William Shakespeare, and
World Literature.
We encourage you to
explore this truly epic resource
and discover (or
rediscover) some true literary treasures!
When You're in the Mood
Posted: August 1, 2008
Inspired by
1001 Books for Every Mood
by Hallie Ephron,
Ph.D., our latest rotating book display ("When You're in
the Mood") arranges select books from our collections
according to specific moods.
Whatever you're in the mood for -- a good laugh, a good
cry, to be swept off your feet, to escape to faraway lands,
to be encouraged, shocked, or astounded -- you will
almost certainly find something interesting to read here!
The display is located by the adult library catalog computers.
We invite you to check it out and borrow as many
titles as you like the next time you visit the library.
As you do so, more titles will be added in the coming weeks.
A New Poet Laureate
Posted: July 29, 2008
Kay Ryan is the latest person to be granted the title of Poet Laureate
by the
Library of Congress for 2008-2009.
You can read about this development in
the official press release.
What does it mean to be Poet Laureate? The Library of Congress website
explains what the position means and entails.
If you would like to learn more about Kay Ryan, here are some sites:
If you'd like to learn more about previous persons named to the post, the Library of Congress
has
a list of past poet laureates.
You can also
click here to find some books by Kay Ryan in the library catalog.
August Beach Reading
Posted: July 25, 2008
The following books by popular authors are due out in August. You can place requests for them using the links below:
Random Reads!
Posted: July 18, 2008
Finding something "new and interesting" to read
can sometimes present a formidable challenge.
Even with all the great books and authors available,
sometimes it can be difficult to choose, especially
if you don't know where to begin to look or if you
don't have a strong sense of what you'd like to read next.
This is definitely an area where Thrall's
Reference Department is more than happy
to try to help you!
Over the years we have created print and electronic
publications (such as
Beyond the Bestsellers
and
Future Title Watch),
services on the web (such as
RAVES! and
a
library catalog Subject Explorer),
and rotating thematic displays in the library to help
you come into contact with new and notable
books and authors.
We also established a dedicated and substantial
Reader's Advisory Center right at Reference, so you
can locate authors and books similar to those you enjoy.
Throughout the year we host various book discussions,
bringing new and familiar faces together to enjoy
some amazing stories and storytellers.
On our website we also
have a place where you can request
your very own personalized reading plan.
We also have this blog and its corresponding
Booklovers web guide.
As you can see, we are altogether serious about
putting good books in your hands!
Today, we're giving you another option, a fun way
to discover authors, titles, and topics on your own:
Random Reads!
By going to
www.thrall.org/randomreads
or by clicking on the "Random Reads" link in the "Booklover's Lane"
section of
our home page,
you can instantly explore a variety (in the truest sense of
the word!) of writers, works, and topics.
If anything interests you, just click on it!
Don't like what you see? You can ask for another
group of selections! It's fast, easy, and fun.
Random titles are drawn from our
RAVES! database.
Additional topic and author links take you right into
the library catalog,
where you can browse items available throughout
the entire
library system.
If you see something you like in the catalog,
you can attempt to reserve it. We can show you how
that works if you've never done that before.
So, the next time you find yourself wondering what
you will read next, please consider giving any of
these services a try and remember: you can always
come to our
Reference Deparment
for reading recommendations or other helpful tips.
You can also call us at 341-5461 or
ask us over the web.
Enjoy the rest of your summer, and happy reading!
July's Hot Titles
Posted: June 20, 2008
The following books by popular authors are due out in July. You can use the links below to place requests for them now:
Nonfiction
Fiction
Madeleine Wickham also writes the
Shopaholic series using the name
Sophie Kinsella.
"Of Thee I Sing"
Posted: June 9, 2008
"Of Thee I Sing: Stories of America as Told through Fiction"
is the title of our current rotating display of books.
Located by the library catalog computers, this display
features a number of novels, works of historical fiction,
and other stories relating to life in America, from
the past through the present.
We invite you to browse this display and check out any
titles that interest you.
While here, also be sure to visit the traveling
Benjamin Franklin Exhibit
located in our Reading Room (until July 25, 2008)!
June Fiction & Nonfiction
Posted: May 29, 2008
The following are new books by popular authors due out in June.
You may use these links to place requests for them now:
Nonfiction
Fiction
May Fiction
Posted: May 1, 2008
The following are new titles by popular authors due out in May.
You can locate titles in the library catalog and place reserves by clicking the title links below.
April Fiction & "Spring Selections"
Posted: March 28, 2008
April Fiction
The following titles by popular authors are due out in April.
Requests may be made now using the links below.
Spring Selections
At the library we have a fresh book display located
near the new books area. It's called "Spring Selections."
There you'll find a seasonal blend of fiction and nonfiction.
We invite you to come and check out any titles you find interesting!
The Virtual NewsStand
Posted: March 19, 2008
We have created a new area at our website
called the Virtual NewsStand.
The Virtual NewsStand offers a clickable list
of many popular publications we currently
subscribe to at Thrall.
These publications include popular magazines,
journals, newspapers, and newsletters.
The primary benefit of this list is that you can, from one page, access
our most popular periodicals in up to three locations: the publication's home page on the web,
issues of publications listed in our library catalog, and, wherever available,
articles or abstracts from the publication indexed in our
general article databases.
There are three kinds of links you will find:
- If you click the title of a publication, you will be taken to that publication's website. A number of such websites offer free content and other things, such as audio and videos, that complement their print editions.
- "Library catalog" links (located under the title of a publication) will let you search our online catalog to see if a particular issue is available at Thrall or one of the other libraries in the Ramapo Catskill Library System (RCLS).
- If articles from a publication are searchable within our general article databases, you will see a "database" link. Clicking that will take you to an "A-to-Z" index page, where you will find specific database links, which you can follow (logging in with your Thrall library card number) to locate abstracts and articles.
You can click here to visit our Virtual NewsStand!
Links to the NewsStand are also available on our home page and
Current Interests guide.
March is Women's History Month
Posted: March 6, 2008
March is the nationally designated month in which
we have an opportunity to reflect on and honor the
historic achievements of women throughout history.
Thrall maintains a web guide to help you locate
information on this essential topic - not just
for a month but throughout the year.
Our
Women's History Month web guide
highlights information available within our
library system as well as select sites on the
web.
There are many more sources available to you
at the library, such as specific biographies
and other historical works that you can read
and check out. Our librarians
will be happy to help you find all the
information you need!
Displays for Mystery Lovers
Posted: March 5, 2008
"Solving a Mystery" is the latest theme for our rotating book display near the
adult catalog computers at the library.
Explore hardboiled detective, amateur sleuth, cozy, historical, and contemporary
mystery series titles arranged by series for your reading pleasure.
While at the library, also check out our entertaining "The Butler Did It!"
mystery display across the way, near the information stand.
If you've been looking for something new and exciting to read, now's your chance!
Books Due Out in March
Posted: February 28, 2008
The following is a list of books by popular authors due out in March. The links below will lead to the library catalog so that you can place your requests now:
Nonfiction
Fiction
Newspaper Archive
Posted: February 25, 2008
Middletown Thrall Library is pleased to announce it has a new subscription to the Internet-based Newspaper Archive service.
This subscription enables you to search - for free - any old local area Middletown newspapers back to the 1800s up to the 1970s.
You can also locate articles in other newspapers from other states indexed in Newspaper Archive.
Click here to access the service through our Databases page. Click the "Newspaper Archive" link to log in with your Thrall library card number.
If you are at the library, a librarian will be happy to direct you to a computer where you can begin your Newspaper Archive research.
Once logged in, you can use the simple or advanced search modes. Advanced searching lets you limit your searches to a date range and/or a specific region (e.g. city and/or state).
If you don't already have it, you will need the free
Adobe Reader to download and display newspaper pages.
We hope you enjoy this new service. Remember, if you have any questions,
all you have to do is ask!
Romance Stories
Posted: February 4, 2008
Our latest book display in the library is
"Romance Stories," a selection of romantic fiction
titles you might especially enjoy during this
Valentine's Day holiday.
You are invited to browse these titles and check out
any of them that might interest you.
You can also click here to browse the Romance fiction
category in our library catalog or
click here to find some romance titles featured in our RAVES! reader's advisory service.
February Fiction
Posted: January 31, 2008
The following works of popular fiction are due out this month. Request them now!
Best Books of 2007
Posted: January 7, 2008
Happy 2008! A new display featuring the "best" books of 2007 is currently
being featured by the new book section of the library.
These books were selected according to lists such as
New York Times Notable Books for 2007,
Library Journal's "Best Books of 2007," and
Time Magazine's Top "10 Fiction and Nonfiction Books of 2007."
When the American Library Association (ALA) releases their notable books list,
those titles will be added to the display.
A companion binder including all the lists is available for browsing at our
Reader's Advisory Center, which is located right at the Reference Department.
New Books for the New Year
Posted: December 20, 2007
Put your requests in for these titles now as they are sure to be popular!
Romance Blogs
Posted: December 4, 2007
If you enjoy reading blogs and romance, the following websites will be a sweet treat for you:
- Teach me Tonight - Subtitled "Musings on Romance Fiction from an Academic Perspective," this blog is authored by professors of English literature who enjoy and/or write romance. Besides the blog, there is an excellent collection of links to websites for romance readers.
- RomancingtheBlog - "What's hip, what's now, what's tomorrow in the romance world." The columnists on this website are readers, writers, aspiring writers, and bestselling writers of romance. Reading this blog should keep you current with trends in the genre.
- MyRomanceStory Blog - The blog portion of MyRomanceStory contains essays on various aspects of the genre. MyRomanceStory also has reviews, a good set of romance links and two free graphic romance novellas changed daily.
Universal Digital Library (UDL)
Posted: December 3, 2007
One of the most ambitious digitization projects is now partly accessible over the Internet:
The Universal Digital Library: A Million Book Collection Hosted by Carnegie Mellon University.
The project's mission is intended "to create a Universal Library which will foster creativity
and free access to all human knowledge."
Currently one million texts are said to have been digitizized between 2006 and 2007.
In ten years they hope to make ten million books available.
You can read more about their project on
their "About Us" page
At the moment, as of this post, you might experience some delays or web browser time-outs
when trying to reach the website (www.ulib.org) due to so many people around the world
trying to access it at once. Once you do get in, you will be able to search and browse
for texts.
Displaying texts from the UDL requires special plugins for your web browser.
You should find links to those downloads once you reach the home page of www.ulib.org.
Due Out In December
Posted: November 28, 2007
The following titles by popular authors are due out in December:
Nonfiction
Fiction
New Books for November
Posted: November 1, 2007
The following new titles are due out in November:
Nonfiction
Fiction
2007 Nobel Prize in Literature
Posted: October 11, 2007
The 2007 Nobel Prize in Literature has been awarded to Doris Lessing.
You can read more about this
at the Nobel Foundation website.
The formal announcement is available in PDF form (
Adobe Reader required), along with videos of the announcement
and a link to more resources to learn about Doris Lessing.
To
locate items in the library catalog by Doris Lessing, please click here.
You can learn more about this author and her writings through the
Literature Resource Center database, which is freely accessible to Thrall cardholders.
Out in October
Posted: September 28, 2007
The following books by popular authors are due out in October.
Bridge of Sighs is Richard Russo's first novel since he won the Pulitzer Prize for
Empire Falls in 2002.
World Without End is a sequel to Ken Follett's blockbuster bestseller
Pillars of the Earth.
In
Home to Holly Springs, Karon writes about Father Tim's return to his childhood home.
The Almost Moon is Alice Sebold's first novel since
The Lovely Bones.
Conflict and Character
Posted: September 12, 2007
To accompany a display honoring local World War II veterans,
a new book display entitled "Conflict and Character: Stories and Studies of World War II"
has been established.
Located by the library catalog computers on the first floor, this display features
works of fiction and nonfiction. We hope you have the opportunity to browse the
many titles on display and to check those out that interest you.
September Titles
Posted: August 31, 2007
The following books due out in September are bound to be popular. Put your request in for them now.
A New Poet Laureate
Posted: August 2, 2007
The
Library of Congress has announced the
next Poet Laureate will be Charles Simic.
You can
read their announcement at this link.
Finished with Potter?
Posted: August 1, 2007
If you recently finished reading J. K. Rowling's
Harry Potter series and are interested in continuing your reading adventures
and discovering comparable stories and themes, consider these titles and authors:
- Lloyd Alexander:
("The Chronicles of Prydain" series)
The Book of Three,
The Black Cauldron,
The Castle of Llyr,
Taran Wanderer,
The High King
- Clive Barker: "Abarat" series
- T. A. Barron: "Lost Years of Merlin" series
- Dave Barry & Ridley Pearson:
Peter and the Starcatchers,
Peter and the Shadow Thieves
- L. Frank Baum: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
- Marion Zimmer Bradley: Mists of Avalon
- Terry Brooks: "Shannara" series
- Lewis Carroll: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland; Through the Looking-Glass
- Susanna Clarke: Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell
- Paulo Coelho: The Alchemist
- Eoin Colfer:
("Artemis Fowl" series)
The Artic Incident,
The Eternity Code,
The Opal Deception,
The Lost Colony
- Susan Cooper:
("Dark Is Rising" series)
Over Sea, Under Stone,
The Dark Is Rising,
Greenwitch,
The Grey King,
Silver on the Tree
- Peter Dickinson
- Diane Duane:
("Young Wizards" series)
So You Want to Be a Wizard,
Deep Wizardry,
High Wizardry,
A Wizard Abroad,
A Wizard's Dilemma,
A Wizard Alone,
Wizard's Holiday,
Wizards at War
- Jeanne DuPrau:
The City of Ember,
People of Sparks
- Edward Eager
- Cornelia Caroline Funke: Dragon Rider, Thief Lord
- Neil Gaiman
- Frances Hodgson: The Secret Garden
- Diana Wynne Jones
- Robert Jordan:
("Wheel of time" series)
Eye of the World,
The Great Hunt,
The Dragon Reborn,
The Shadow Rising,
The Fires of Heaven,
The Lord of Chaos,
A Crown of Swords,
A Path of Daggers,
Winter's Heart,
Crossroads of Twilight,
Knife of Dreams
- Ursula Le Guin
- C. S. Lewis: The Chronicles of Narnia
- George R.R. Martin:
("Song of Ice and Fire" series)
A Game of Thrones,
A Clash of Kings,
A Storm of Swords,
A Feast for Crows
- Madeline L'Engle:
A Wrinkle in Time,
A Wind in the Door,
A Swiftly Tilting Planet,
Many Waters
- Anne McCaffrey: Dragon Series books
- Robin McKinley:
The Blue Sword,
The Hero and the Crown
- Jenny Nimmo: "Charlie Bone" series
- Garth Nix: "Sabriel" series
- Christopher Paolini: Eragon, Eldest
- Terry Pratchett: Wee Free Men
- Philip Pullman:
("His Dark Materials" series)
The Golden Compass,
The Subtle Knife,
The Amber Spyglass
- Mary Stewart:
("Merlin, the Enchanter" series)
The Crystal Cave,
The Hollow Hills,
The Last Enchantment,
The Wicked Day
- Jonathan Stroud:
The Amulet of Samarkand,
The Golem's Eye,
Ptolemy's Gate
- J. R. R. Tolkien: The Hobbit; The Lord of the Rings; The Silmarillion
- T. H. White: The Sword in the Stone; The Once and Future King
- Jane Yolen
Click on any of the above author names or titles to search for them in the library catalog. Some entries include summaries, chapter excerpts, and reviews, which can help you decide if the book is something you'd like to read.
Some other "if you like Harry Potter" lists exist on the web:
Even more reading recommendations can be found easily using these free services:
- Beyond the Bestsellers - Electronic version of our quarterly printed publication of "new and notable titles not necessarily found on bestseller lists"
- Booklovers Web Guide - Websites for readers just like you!
- FicionConnection - Locate books and authors by topic. Available only to Thrall patrons.
- Novelist - Find similar authors, titles, and series. Available only to Thrall patrons.
- RAVES! - Locate titles and authors recommended by other readers, and even make your own recommendations!
- Request a personalized reading plan - Tell us who and what you like to read, and we will present you with a list of reading choices! Available only to Thrall patrons.
In addition to this you can also come to the Reference Department and browse our extensive reader's advisory materials, which include many easy-to-use
directories arranged conveniently by reader interests and genres as well as age groups.
You can also ask any of our librarians to show you how to locate reading suggestions using any of these available services.
Reference can be reached by telephone at 341-5461. If you have Internet access and an e-mail account,
consider taking advantage of our
Ask a Librarian service.
August Beach Reading
Posted: July 27, 2007
Need a book for the beach? Look for these titles to be out in August:
Click titles to check if they are available in the library catalog.
Spirituality Guide
Posted: July 9, 2007
A new guide at Thrall.org highlights informative spirituality websites as well as
information available at the library, including print materials, and article databases.
Click here to go to the web guide.
Playaways, MP3 Players
Posted: July 9, 2007
As more readers express interest in electronic formats such as eBooks and eAudio,
we continue to expand and modernize our collections and your ability to access those new items.
Thanks to Friends of Middletown Thrall Library, Inc.,
we will soon be making "Playaways" and MP3 players available for borrowing.
"Playaways" are self-contained and simple-to-use electronic audio books.
It's easy: Just plug in your headphones and press play!
While "Playaways" are perfect for those of you who are new to electronic audio books,
computer users may be more interested in our circulating MP3 players, which can be used
along with Overdrive's Media Console to transfer e-audio titles you have requested
through
our eBook service.
Summer Selections
Posted: July 9, 2007
Reading's always in season, but if you have a little extra time this summer,
consider catching up on some books you've always been meaning to read!
At Thrall we have a new book display called "Celebrity Favorites."
This display features titles chosen by local area "celebrities,"
including local authors and journalists, entertainers, and legislators.
These people were asked by our Library Director to share with us their
favorite adult and/or children's books. Some additional favorite titles
were selected by Thrall staff members.
Still looking for something good to read? Consider these suggestions...
Pre-Overdue Notices
Posted: July 9, 2007
If you are a member of Middletown Thrall Library and are currently registered to receive e-mail notifications,
a new service is now automatically being provided to you for free! This new service, known as
Pre-Overdue Notices, sends you e-mail reminders when one or more items are due to be returned
soon to the library, which can help you avoid costly overdue fines!
Another benefit is that materials returned on time can be made available to other patrons more promptly.
If you have Internet access but are not already signed up for our free e-mail notification service,
you can go to
our library catalog and click the
"register for e-mail notices" button.
July's Hot Titles
Posted: June 25, 2007
The following fiction titles due out in July by favorite authors are
bound to be hot. Place your holds on them now!
Check out the Summer 2007 edition of
Beyond the Bestsellers
now available in print at the library. An
electronic edition is also available at our website.
Please consider
adding an entry to Raves
for anything you read. You don't necessarily have to
rave
about it -- you can express your disappointment as well. Let's share what we read!
FictionConnection
Posted: May 23, 2007
FictionConnection, a product of the company that provides the
Books in Print database
(which you have free access to through Thrall's subscription to that service)
is now accessible at home to members of Thrall Library.
FictionConnection is a "reader's advisory" database that offers you reading
suggestions based on titles, authors, or topics you like. You can also check to
see if a title in their database is in the library catalog.
If this sounds familiar, it might be because you've already discovered Thrall's own
free reader's advisory service called RAVES!,
which has allowed you to do just the same
as well as recommend books you have
read and comment on books others have "raved" about. If you haven't had the chance
to check out RAVES! yet, now's your chance!
You can find links to both
FictionConnection and
RAVES!
on
our databases page at Thrall.org.
By the way,
Books in Print: Patron Edition is now part of FictionConnection
and is available there once you log in. You can still access
BIP Professional at
the library.
Novelist is a another potentially
helpful database you can use when trying to find similar authors or titles
running in a series.
Also worth mentioning: by the
Reference Department
we have built an entire mini-library of reader's advisory books just for you!
Arranged primarily by genre, these specialized books contain suggestions
for readers of all ages. Titles in genres such as historical fiction,
science fiction, romance, literary classics, westerns, mysteries,
young adult books, and more await your discovery!
Throughout the year Thrall also publishes a guide called "Beyond the Bestsellers"
in print and
on the web
to help you discover more of what you may like by featuring titles not
necessarily found on bestseller lists.
But wait, there's more! :-) In the library we have a rotating book display
featuring items from our print collections. Books on display are selected according
to themes. For example, for May the theme is
A Sense of Humor.
If that doesn't suit you, how about
your very own reading plan?
That's right! You tell us exactly what you like, and we'll provide you suggestions!
With all these wonderful tools, you'll never run out of ideas of what to read next!
If you do, our librarians are ready to help you branch out and find
new and interesting things.
June Blockbusters
Posted: May 7, 2007
These new books are due out in June. Click a title to check for it in the library catalog:
*Richard Bachman is a pen named used by Stephen King. Blaze, written thirty-five years ago, but never published, was recently rediscovered by King. King has edited and rewritten parts of this "sweet, but sad and suspenseful" crime novel.
A Sense of Humor
Posted: April 27, 2007
"Know your own happiness."
- Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility
Happiness often makes for brighter and better days, wouldn't you agree?
Well, have you read anything that made you smile or laugh out loud lately?
We all could probably use a giggle or two every so often to keep
our lives in balance and egos in check.
With that in mind, we invite you to come to the library and browse our
latest book display, "A Sense of Humor." We have some titles here that
are almost guaranteed to make you smile
:-)
Located near the library catalog computers, this display features
titles spanning the spectrum of humor, from downright silly
to thought-provoking.
While you're at it, you can also check our library catalog for
more titles yet to help you cheer up. Click these any of these links
to browse the catalog by subject:
affirmations,
amusements,
comedians,
comedy,
comedy films,
contentment,
happiness,
humor,
jokes,
joy,
satire
If you're in the mood to explore the deeper side of happiness
and related topics, you can try any of these catalog searches for more titles:
depression,
happiness (psychology),
positive thinking
peace of mind,
relaxation,
self-acceptance,
self-actualization,
self-deception,
self-esteem,
self-evaluation,
self-perception,
self-realization,
success
Not long ago we prepared a special publication for anyone interested
in Self-Help information. You can
access that special guide here
to help you possibly discover more paths to inner happiness.
The
American Psychological Association (APA) also offers a
variety of interesting articles on the topic of happiness at their website. Below are some examples:
Elsewhere on the web you might consider visiting HelpGuide.org's
Humor and Laughter: Health Benefits and Online Resources.
Even more articles on health and well being exist in
our article databases
(especially in the Health and Wellness Resource Center)
and our
Health blog.
We hope this all goes to show how far we are willing to go here at the library just to put a smile on your face.
Be happy, be well, and remember we're always here and eager to help you find things to make your life
more informed, enjoyable, and fulfilling!
World Digital Library
Posted: April 25, 2007
The
Library of Congress
has
announced its intentions to assist in the creation of what is being called
The World Digital Library.
This project plans to make multilingual resources freely available: "significant primary materials from cultures around the world, including manuscripts, maps, rare books, musical scores, recordings, films, prints, photographs,
architectural drawings, and other significant cultural materials."
The World Digital Library is said to be created in hopes of promoting "international and inter-cultural understanding and awareness."
You can read more about this undertaking at their
About page.
2007 Pulitzer Prize Winners
Posted: April 16, 2007
The 2007 Pulitzer Prizes have been named.
The following titles in their respective categories were awarded:
Click any of the above titles to see their entries in the library catalog.
Ray Bradbury and John Coltrane also received special recognition for their achivements.
You can read more about the
Pulitzer Prizes at the official website.
Celebrity Reading List
Posted: April 16, 2007
Gardiner Public Library
has published it's most recent edition of its
annually updated "Celebrity Reading List" called "Who Reads What."
The list goes back to 1988. An index of celebrity names is also available to help you find out what your favorite celebrities like to read.
New Einstein Biography
Posted: April 14, 2007
Einstein: His Life and Universe is a newly published biography written by Walter Isaacson, who also
wrote
Benjamin Franklin: An American life.
To check the library catalog for either title and, if you want, to be added to the waiting list,
click either of the above links. Included in the catalog information are reviews from major journals to help you learn more about these works.
There are more
biographies on Albert Einstein by other authors that are available in the library catalog.
You can also learn more about Einstein (along with many other people in history)
by accessing the
Biographical Resource Center
or doing an "Einstein" search in
Encyclopedia Britannica or World Book Encyclopedia, which are freely available to members of Middletown Thrall Library.
If you're feeling a little more adventurous and are curious about Einstein's theory of relativity
and his other work you can
jump to the Sciences section of our
Ready Reference web guide.
There are also
many other related items in print, on CD and DVD throughout the library system that can help quench your thirst for knowledge about this influential thinker or any of his theories and writings.
Kurt Vonnegut (1922-2007)
Posted: April 12, 2007
The memory of novelist and essayist
Kurt Vonnegut
lives on in
his writings.
To learn more about this writer, check out his listings in the
Biographical Resource Center database
or
click here to view some books
written about him.
30 Ways to Celebrate
Posted: April 11, 2007
The Academy of American Poets
has at their website
a list of up to 30 different ways
you can celebrate National Poetry Month in April.
There are
many related titles available
in the library catalog for you to explore.
Oprah Bookclub's latest selection
Posted: March 28, 2007
Oprah's Book Club has posted their latest selection,
The Road by Cormac McCarthy.
If you are interested in this book, you can
click here to find it in our library catalog
and even request the book be reserved for you if you want. Regular print, large print, audio cassette and CD formats are currently available.
Coming out in May
Posted: March 28, 2007
Several popular authors have new books coming out in May. Click a title to check for it in the library catalog:
*Khaled Hosseini wrote the Kite Runner. This new novel has received excellent reviews.
In most cases these books may be requested now through the
library catalog
or by telephoning the
Reference Department at 341-5461.
Harry Potter's Final Chapter
Posted: March 26, 2007
The seventh and final book in the popular fantasy series
Harry Potter
will be published on July 21, 2007.
At her website, writer J. K. Rowling
reflects on how she feels about concluding her series with
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
Scholastic.com has
updated their website
with some information about the book and some activities to help entertain
fans until the release date.
While true fans will undoubtedly purchase their own copies of the book,
there will be multiple copies available throughout the library system once
the book is published.
A placeholder for the title is already
listed in the library catalog,
and you can even try to place a reserve to get in early on the waiting list for it!
You can also
search the catalog for related titles if you're interested in catching up on this series or reading other books about it.
NEW Tolkien Book to be Published
Posted: March 26, 2007
J.R.R Tolkien, author of
The Hobbit and
The Lord of the Rings,
will have a new book coming out in April 2007:
The Children of Húrin. The story is said to take
readers back "to a time long before
The Lord of the Rings,
in an area of Middle-earth that was to be drowned before ever Hobbits appeared."
Tolkien's son and literary executor, Christopher Tolkien,
finalized the incomplete manuscript.
You can read more about this book from the
Tolkien Estate website
and
Tolkienlibrary.com.
Did you know there are
many more titles under Tolkien's name other than
just
The Hobbit and
Lord of the Rings. Follow the link to discover more works,
including his epic work
The Silmarillion.
"Audio Wizard" from Random House
Posted: March 15, 2007
Are you going on a long trip or planning a family vacation? Do you listen to audio books?
Random House publisher offers something called the
"Audio Wizard" which promises "to take the guesswork out of finding the right audiobook for your next family vacation."
Did you know...?
The audiobook collection at Thrall continues to grow, offering titles from Random House and other publishers. Did you know as a member of our library you have free access to
e-audio books as well? If your computer supports it and your Internet connection is fast enough, you can be downloading and enjoying audiobooks this very moment!
HarperCollins Introduces "Browse Inside" Feature
Posted: March 15, 2007
HarperCollins is now offering something called "Browse Inside" so you can preview what a book is like before purchasing it.
Here's HC has to say: "Browse Inside is the digital experience of flipping through the pages of a book to get a sense of it. Ultimately, each book in the HarperCollins catalog will have the Browse Inside link."
The service is apparently still under construction, but already some titles are available for previewing. To learn more about this you can visit
HarperCollins.com.
Did you know...?
Many titles in
our library catalog contain chapter excerpts and reviews, which also enable you to preview materials before borrowing or requesting them.
Also remember: if there's a book that you find you might like, from HarperCollins or any other publisher, you can check our catalog or, if we do not own the item, you can
suggest we consider purchasing it.
