April 2012 - Gardiner Public Library

Marvelous Marvel

June 4, 2017April 28, 2012 by Ann Russell, Technology Librarian

Have you “checked out” Marvel recently? From many library websites around Maine, including the Gardiner Public Library website, you may access this wonderful database provided by the Maine State Library.

One of the MANY databases that are available to you with your library card is the Dictionary of Literary Biography. With just a few quick clicks, you can access information about many of your favorite authors.

For fun, I tried Nora Roberts, and immediately learned her birthday, her nationality, and place of birth. Further information includes awards she has received, as well as the year received; a list of titles complete as of the date the site was updated; pseudonym, with the titles; information about her books; as well as possible further reading about her in books, periodicals, and online.

Next I looked for Stephen King. Nora Roberts appeared in only one database; the name Stephen King, when using the Search All Literature Databases of the Dictionary of Literary Biography, brings up 44 documents on five pages. The source for most of these is the Contemporary Authors section of this database, but the type of information includes biography information, as well as criticism.

We know this works well with contemporary authors, how about some of the classics?

William Shakespearebrings up four articles, two about Nicholas Shakespeare and two about William Shakespeare. All four of the articles are biographical in nature. If I wasn’t sure which author I was interested in, the sources could be of assistance – Nicholas Shakespeare is in Contemporary Authors Online, and William Shakespeare is in Dictionary of Literary Biography. Perhaps there are folks who would consider William Shakespeare a contemporary, but since he was born in about 1564, I would like to think that contemporary doesn’t fit! So, choosing the William Shakespeare articles gives us biographical information, a list of his writings, criticisms, papers, suggested further readings about the author, as well as a list of play productions during his lifetime.

I don’t know about you, but this seems like an incredible resource!! Think of the papers/essays we have written or need to write! Authors and all of their work – WOW!!!

Battle of the Book

June 4, 2017April 18, 2012 by Anne Davis, LibraryDirector

Do you think that you are smarter than a 5th grader? I am not so sure this is a true statement for me anymore. I am a judge for the Battle of the Book over at Pittston Consolidated School and part of my duty as judge is to read 5 YA titles. Okay, what is YA? YA is a fairly new genre to the publishing world that concentrates on the teen and pre-teen audience. Please think of the Harry Potter series and the Twilight series…. very large audiences and huge profits for the publishers. Though these blockbusters are not titles for the battle, I did read books I never would have read if not for my responsibilities.

I took my duties very seriously, judges are well respected entities and I did not want to besmirch anyone. I thought I had the titles down pat, but the teens could answer any trivia, tidbit, and theme question we threw at them, all in 30 seconds! These students read, studied, dissected, and reviewed each title until the event. I am so proud of the young adults that joined in on the fun. Their teachers should be our heroes because they accomplished a very difficult feat…. they made reading fun and they made readers champions. So, I challenge our library readers to pick up a YA title soon, these books are worlds away from my days of reading the Nancy Drew series and dreaming of the time that I would be able to drive around town in a roadster!

April is Garden Month at the library.

June 4, 2017April 7, 2012 by Gardiner Public Library

For those who are taking part in our “Year of Reading”, this month the theme is Gardens/Gardening. Read a book, watch a movie, listen to an item, read a magazine, that somehow pertains to gardens and/or gardening (yes we are being very relaxed about the relationship of your item to our theme) and have your name entered for the April drawing! This month’s sponsor is the Black Crow Bakery in Litchfield. They have generously donated a gift certificate to be won by a lucky user of the Gardiner Public library.

January was sponsored by At Home Veterinary Care, in West Gardiner.

February was sponsored by Book It! The library’s used book store on Water Street here in Gardiner.

March was sponsored by the Community Wellness Center, in Gardiner.

Please come on in and join the fun! We would love to have you participate in whatever way works for you.

If you know any Gardiner area business that would like to sponsor a month, give us a call at (207) 582-3312.