Books in graphic detail
By Pam Bohmfalk, Assistant Director
One of the interesting facets of library work is seeing how format changes the appeal of content. Some titles rarely check out in print, but are “best sellers” as audio books. Titles popular in large print may not be popular in regular print. One of the hottest new formats at the library is the graphic novel.
These materials are so new and changeable that it is even difficult to define exactly what a graphic novel might be. On the simplest level, Marvel’s “Daredevil, Volume 2” by Frank Miller is a bound compilation of fifteen stories originally published in the 1980s as comic books. “Smallville, Volume 1” compiles episodes of the television show by the same name, but presented in print in comic format. “The Great Cow Race: The Complete Bone Adventures 2” by Jeff Smith is another compilation of work originally published as individual comic books.
In this country, and at Hastings Public Library, Japanese manga is considered a graphic novel also. Most manga is originally created in book length volumes. Some manga is published in the United States following traditional western reading customs – the spine is on the left of the book and reads front to back and left to right. Ranma1/2 by Rumiko Takahashi is an example of this type of manga. The more traditional Japanese manga is printed with the spine on the right and reads right to left. “The Wallflower” by Tomoko Hayakawa and “Trigun” by Yasuhiro Nightow will give you a taste of reading the Japanese way.
Manga is so popular in Japan and around the world that there are also monthly magazines that blend pop culture and serialized graphic stories. “Shojo Beat” is targeted at teenage girls and offers fashion, music and movie news as well as new manga each month.
The largest collection of graphic novels can be found in the Teen Domain at the library, but the format has also been used by serious content creators like Art Spiegelman in “Maus: A Survivor’s Tale”, a Holocaust story, and journalist Joe Sacco in “Palestine”, a record of two months spent in the Occupied Territories of the West Bank.
To see story presented in a whole new way, check out one of these graphic novels at the Hastings Public Library.
Geocaching
By Cecilia Slingsby, Library Cataloguer
Geocaching seems to be one of the fastest growing outdoor games today. This new sport combines high tech navigation with treasure hunting. Scavenger hunting, hiking, outdoor adventure and gift exchange allows families to “play together” in the great outdoors. Get information about this interesting activity at the Hastings Public Library.
In his book “The Geocaching Handbook,” author Layne Cameron introduces players to all the terms, games to play, etiquette and technology that a player needs to get started. He begins by explaining the original concept and history of the Global Positioning System government program. In 1996 civilian users of GPS were allowed to navigate with pinpoint accuracy. Cameron states that civilians then began hiding and seeking stashes with only one game rule: “Get some stuff, leave some stuff.” Today the sport has many games such as “Are U Nuts?”, “Poker Run” and “Geodashing”.
“The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Geocaching” by Jack W. Peters contains more suggestions on how to participate. Connect to geocaching.com and find advice on purchasing and operating a GPS unit, how to use a map and compass and locate caches. After you enter the waypoint or coordinates into your GPS unit, find how to plot your route. Learn to safely search in open country and other unfamiliar areas.
Join others as you find websites and suggestions about developing your own club in Peters’ book. He also gives information on how to create an online geocaching profile. Find other scheduled caching competition in the Midwest, Texas and Nevada. Get in the geocaching game at the Hastings Public Library.
Vampires and werewolves, oh my!
By Corey VomWeg, Library Staff
The teen section of Hastings Public Library is constantly growing. Many teens today have certain types of books that they like to read, from fantasy to horror and everything in-between. One popular genre with teens today is vampire and werewolf novels. There are many good authors who write about these creatures of the night.
For the teens who love vampire novels I would recommend three by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes. “Shattered Mirror” features Sara Vida who is a witch as well as a vampire hunter. Sara meets Christopher Ravena at school and knows that he is a vampire, but still is drawn to him for reasons she can not explain. Also by Atwater-Rhodes is “Midnight Predator,” about vampire hunter Turquoise Draka, who sells herself into slavery to a vampire to assassinate Jeshikah one of the oldest and most powerful of vampires. Atwater-Rhodes wrote “In the Forests of the Night,” her first book about vampires, when she was only thirteen years old. If you like vampire books, then these three are good, fast reads. You may also want to try the classic “Dracula” by Bram Stoker; the count is not what he appears to be.
If vampires are not for you, then try werewolves. “The Wereling” trilogy by Stephen Cole is sure to please. The books “Wounded,” “Prey,” and “Resurrection,” make up this trilogy. The main character is sixteen year-old Tom Anderson, who is bitten by a werewolf and turned into the wereling, a werewolf that still has human traits when in the wolf form. Tom is joined by Kate Folan the daughter of the werewolf who bit him. Tom and Kate must search for a cure while being pursued by Kate’s parents and other werewolves who will stop at nothing to keep Tom from finding the cure.
Find these and other vampire and werewolf novels at your Hastings Public Library.
Looking for a good book to read? Try Golden Sower nominees
By Kathy Schultz, Children’s Librarian
Many young people read books for fun throughout the summer months. Now that the new school year has begun, I hope that they will continue to find time to read for pleasure. I recommend checking out the Golden Sower Award nominees that are shelved in a special location at the library.
The Golden Sower Award is the children’s choice book award for the state of Nebraska. It was named for the huge bronze statue atop the capitol building in Lincoln. The Sower was chosen as the symbol of the award in the hope that this award would sow the seeds that would help develop an appreciation for excellence in writing and beauty in illustrations among Nebraska’s children.
Awards areJanuary 22, 2010EndDate -->4th – 6th Grade, and Young Adult, which is aimed at 6th – 9th Grades. There are ten nominees in each category. Students must read at least four books in their category in order to vote, and the voting takes place in the spring.
Many students participate in the Golden Sower Award program at their schools, and their teacher or librarian records and submits their votes. However, students who do not have a chance to vote at school or those who are homeschooled are welcome to vote at the Hastings Public Library.
The Golden Sower Award Committee creates a manual each year that includes information about the award in general as well as specific information about each of the nominated titles. This includes biographical information about the authors and illustrators, activities that teachers can use in the classroom, and internet sites that connect with the books. The library has a copy of this manual available to check out.
For more information about the Golden Sower Award, you can visit the Web site: http://www.goldensower.org/. There you will find lists of the nominees for the 2006–2007 school year as well as a list of all the winners and nominees since the award began in 1981. Visit the “Virtual Museum” to see pictures and memorabilia from past award presentations. If you would like to order your own copy of the Golden Sower Award manual or other Golden Sower items, check out the link to the “GSA Store.”
“The Nugget Online” is the online newsletter for the Golden Sower Award. This companion site provides teachers, library professionals, and parents with information about the Golden Sower Award program. It includes information such as a history of the award, answers to frequently asked questions, and information about voting.
Looking for a good book to read? Try a Golden Sower Award nominee. Start reading now so you will be able to vote next spring and have a voice in selecting next year's Golden Sower Award winners!
Books to help keep your nails healthy
By Cecilia Slingsby, Library Cataloguer
When you think about how much work your hands and feet do, they get quite a workout. Your fingernails also receive abuse as you open car doors or loosen shoelaces and your toenails slide against your shoes all day. The Hastings Public Library has books available that may help prevent nail diseases as well as simply improving the appearance of your nails.
In the book “A Complete Guide to Manicure & Pedicure,” Leigh Toselli explains hand and foot structure, nail-care health tips, problems and disorders, exercises, reflexology and massage therapies (she recommends giving yourself a foot massage everyday!). Toselli shows essential tools you need for manicure and pedicure kits. After the basics of manicure and pedicure procedures, she explains how to apply artificial nails, gel nails and “fashion nails”.
How do you create “fashion nails”? Flowers, puppy paw prints, Halloween moon with a bat or snowman manicures look like fun. Find these and other suggestions in “Beautiful Nails: Easy Step-By-Step Instructions” by Deborah A. Mack. “Nail Style: Beautiful Nails for Every Occasion” by Marie Mingay also has advice about enamels, transfers, decals, rhinestones and glitter. Using tacky nail enamel, add pearls, flat stones, lace or just be creative. Mood tone enamels respond to your body heat or mood, metallic-based enamels vary in color from light to dark shades depending on the light source and fruity enamels smell sweet. In Mingay’s advanced nail chapter, find airbrushing and nail jewelry art using ring-clip charms on extended nails.
Wouldn’t children and teens have a wonderful sleepover experimenting with ideas from the books “Fun Fingers, Fancy Feet” by Jane Glicksman, “Nail Art” by Sherri Haab and “Toe-rrific: A Simple Guide To Creating Healthy and Beautiful Feet” by Elena Prostova? Cow spots, lady bugs or candy corn fingers sound fun. Tiger toes, candy cane or “new twists” for toes would be a hit also.
What impression do your hands make as you communicate? The Hastings Public Library has these and others books to help your hands and nails speak volumes about you.
Creature feature
By Corey VomWeg, Library Staff
Many popular novels today are about monstrous creatures that terrorize the characters in the story. If you like these kinds of books, that keep you reading well into the night, then I know a few titles that are for you.
“The Loch” by Steve Alten, is about Marine biologist Zachary Wallace, who has had a fear of water ever since he fell into Loch Ness when he was a boy. Zack left Scotland as soon as he was old enough to move away, but he goes back to clear the name of his father, who is accused of murder. His father swears that he did not kill anybody, that the murderer was the Loch Ness monster. Zack goes to Loch Ness and discovers a monster that up until now was only a myth.
Another book about a water creature is “Beast” by Peter Benchley, whose better known novel is “Jaws.” In “Beast” a giant monster known as Architeuthis dux, or a giant squid, stalks helpless victims off the coast of Bermuda. The only person who can stop the squid is Whip Darling, a local fisherman. Can he stop the squid or will he become another one of its many victims?
One good creature feature for young adults is “Reef of Death” by Paul Zindel. This is the story about a seventeen-year-old boy named PC. PC goes to Australia to help his uncle solve a mystery about the death of an Aboriginal man. Along the way he finds out that the man was a victim of a horrible creature that lurks in a reef around Australia. Will PC solve the mystery or will he become bait for the creature?
Another book by Paul Zindel for young adults is “Raptor”. “Raptor” is about a boy named Zack, the son of a paleontologist. Zack never thought that he would ever see a live dinosaur, but while on a dig he finds an egg, which later hatches into a baby raptor. Zack thinks the baby dinosaur is cool, until its mother show up. Will Zack be able to survive the monstrous raptors? Find out by reading “Raptor”.
These are just a few of the many creature features you can enjoy at the Hastings Public Library.
