Daniel Boone Regional Library

We recently added “Madonna: Truth or Dare” to the DBRL collection. The film from 1991 made it to last year’s 100 “Greatest” Documentaries list and currently has a rating of 80% from critics at Rotten Tomatoes. Here’s a synopsis from our catalog:

Documentary which presents an intimate view of the rock music star, Madonna and a backstage look at her 1990 “Blond Ambition” tour.

Check out the film trailer for more info.

That’s the type of thing that you’re likely to hear if you’re ever near me when I’m reading a new recipe. I’m also prone to make statements like, “Who the frell has that just lying around their kitchen?” Or, “Where am I supposed to find that?” This is because I am what those in the culinary arts field might call a “hack.” (It’s a technical term that’s rarely used outside of five-star kitchens. Don’t fret if you’re unfamiliar with it.) If I can’t grill it, I don’t know how to make it.

Luckily, I discovered that through one of the greatest treasures that the library has to offer (and I make that statement fully cognizant of the fact that the public library has many treasures to offer), I can fill the appalling gaps in both my knowledge and my pantry through a singular source.

Ladies, gentlemen, fellow hacks and culinary specialists alike, I present to you ”The Food Substitutions Bible.”

This tasty piece of literary craftsmanship is the single greatest tool in my kitchen. My kitchen toolset is admittedly quite limited, but that simply makes this book all the more useful. When I need to know what bulgur is, “The Food Substitutions Bible” not only explains it, but also – as you may have guessed – tells me what I can use instead of it. When my one and only tablespoon (yes, seriously) is lost in a pile of dirty dishes, I can flip to the back where there are conversion charts and find another measuring implement to use. Canned corn instead of fresh? Yup, the conversion is there. Should you add your favorite beverage to your dish, there is even a chart to find out how much alcohol cooks out of the food at given times and temperatures.*

There is, however, one drawback to this book. It’s so useful that you’re going to want to own a copy. But don’t take my word for it. Test drive ours.

*Hint: you want to leave in as much as possible.

 

Wii U Launch Party
Wednesday, May 1 › 6-8 p.m.
Columbia Public Library

Test drive the library’s new Wii U game console. Become a ghost hunter in “Luigi’s Ghost Mansion,” defeat evil aliens in your own “Metroid” spaceship, or team up with your friends to conquer Bowser in the new “Super Mario Bros.” We’ll also have snacks and a selection of the library’s newest teen fiction, music and DVDs for you to check out. Don’t have a library card? We’ll have library card applications on hand for your parent or guardian to sign. Ages 12 and older. Registration begins Tuesday, April 23. Call (573) 443-3161 to sign up!

We recently added “Rarely Has Reality Needed So Much to be Re-imagined: A Mostly True History of the True/False Film Fest” to the DBRL collection. The book was released at the 2013 True/False Film Fest. Here’s a synopsis from the book website:

Your favorite film fest is almost ten years old (no, we can’t believe it either)! To immortalize this milestone, and all the people who helped make it happen, we’re putting out a shiny, lovingly designed anniversary book. Titled, Rarely Has Reality Needed So Much to be Re-imagined: A mostly true history of the True/False Film Fest, this book is a 160 page, art-packed, small scale keepsake documenting the first 10 years and pointing forward to the next 10.

Be sure to check out our True/False Film Fest movies at DBRL to see lists of films from the past 10 years of the festival.

This is one of my favorite quotes from Dave Ramsey’s book, “Total Money Makeover.” I’m not ashamed to admit that I have a huge crush on the nationally-recognized financial and leadership guru. I learned about his “Seven Baby Steps” from my husband who tunes into his radio show on 1400 AM KFRU. We both have a respect for Dave’s direct, yet compassionate, way of dispensing financial advice. At first I was skeptical of Dave’s approach, but since beginning our journey to financial freedom nearly two years ago, we have been able to pay off our car and thousands of dollars in student loan debt. I am now a proud believer.

Later this month the American Library Association will be celebrating Money Smart Week. It’s a great time to evaluate your personal finances and explore the money-saving resources available for free through the Daniel Boone Regional Library. Let me say that again. FREE.

For example, if you are looking to make a major purchase this year, you will be glad to know that the library provides cardholders with free access to Consumer Reports‘ popular subscription website. Learn about the different types of digital cameras, research the safety features on new car models or compare top-rated appliances like washing machines, dryers and more. Well-informed consumers are less likely to waste their money on unnecessary upgrades, warranties and frills.

The library also provides free online access to the Value Line Investment Survey and Morningstar. Both tools provide analyst reports and ratings for thousands of stocks, mutual funds and ETFs. Not sure what an ETF is? Then you should plan to attend our introductory seminar on investing in stocks on Thursday, May 9 at the Columbia Public Library. Beginning at 7 p.m., Hanna Klachko and Fred Tonnies, representatives of the Kansas City Chapter of Better Investing, will explain commonly used terms, how to interpret stock reports and which tools they use to evaluate and pick stocks.

Later this month through our film series Center Aisle Cinema, we’ll be screening a documentary that demonstrates what can go wrong when you get too extravagant. We are showing “The Queen of Versailles” on Wednesday, April 24 at the Columbia Public Library at 6:30 p.m. This character-driven documentary follows a rags-to-riches billionaire family as they face the 2008 economic crisis. The film begins with the family triumphantly constructing the biggest house in America, a 90,000-square-foot palace. Over the next two years, their sprawling empire, fueled by the real estate bubble and cheap money, falters due to the economic crisis.

As my boyfriend Dave Ramsey would say, “You must gain control over your money or the lack of it will forever control you.” When you’re ready, I’ll be at the Reference Desk waiting to show you the resources to help you toward financial freedom.

My first taste of a fried morel mushroom was a revelation. I was in my chemistry class at Fulton High School (go, Hornets!), and Mr. Simpson, our teacher, cooked up a batch over a Bunsen burner in the lab. The earthy, delicate flavor of the morel makes it a favorite among mushroom hunters, and on April 20, Fulton’s Brick District Association is giving this group of fungi some much-deserved time in the spotlight. From 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. on that Saturday, visit downtown Fulton for the Morels & Microbrews Festival. Enjoy live music, face painting and games, as well as a morel mushroom auction. Admission is free (though there is a fee for the beer sampling).

Want some advice on hunting wild mushrooms and safely identifying the magical morel? Need to know how to cook these little beauties? Here are just a few books from your library to help you enjoy these mushrooms, whether you harvest them yourself or purchase them at Morels and Microbrews.

• “How to Find Morels” by Milan Pelouch
• “Edible Wild Mushrooms of Illinois & Surrounding States: A Field-to-kitchen Guide” by Joe McFarland and Gregory M. Mueller
• “Missouri’s Wild Mushrooms” by Maxine Stone
• “Morels” by Michael Kuo

Why I checked it out:  A friend recommended this book. She said, “Between the Lines” is your kind of book, Jerilyn. It has fairytale people coming alive inside a book.”

Why I liked it: The story is told in the alternating voices of Delilah, a 15 year-old girl in the present, and Prince Oliver, a character in a fairytale book. When no reader is present, the characters in the book have other lives. Prince Oliver is unsatisfied with his life and wants to join the world of the readers. Even though the fairytale book is for young children, Delilah finds herself drawn to the story of Prince Oliver and is very surprised when he starts to talk to her.

Three words that describe this book: magical, romantic, funny.

You might this book if you like: Books about storybook characters coming to life include “Half Upon a Time ” by James Riley, “Inkheart” by Cornelia Funke, “The Looking Glass Wars ” by Frank Beddor and “Into the Wild ” by Sarah Beth Durst.

We recently added “Soul Food Junkies” to the DBRL collection. The film played in January on the PBS series Independent Lens and filmmaker Byron Hurt made a local appearance in February to promote the film. Here’s a synopsis from our catalog:

Filmmaker Byron Hurt looks at the past and future of soul food, covering its roots in Western Africa, its incarnation in the American South, and the role it plays in the health crisis in the African American community. Examines the socioeconomic of the modern American diet, and how the food industry profits from producing cheap calories while healthy options remain expensive and hard to find.

Check out the film trailer or the official film site for more info.

Funeral services were held this week for Roger Ebert, journalist, film critic and extraordinary human being. In spite of physical challenges, including a battle with thyroid and salivary gland cancer that eventually left him unable to talk or eat, Ebert continued to review and tirelessly promote films, believing that, as his friend Michael Barker put it, “movies can explain the complexity of the world to us AND can also show us who we are as individual human beings.”

Even though he couldn’t physically speak, Ebert’s written voice was strong until the end. His writing was smart, insightful and intellectual without being stuffy. And you can’t help but admire a man who proclaims, “‘Kindness’ covers all of my political beliefs. No need to spell them out. I believe that if, at the end, according to our abilities, we have done something to make others a little happier, and something to make ourselves a little happier, that is about the best we can do…We must try to contribute joy to the world.”

This sentiment comes from Ebert’s 2011 memoir, “Life Itself,” a moving portrait of his childhood, career and those personal relationships that affected him most deeply. Check out this book as well as other collections of this Pulitzer Prize-winner’s writings.

• “Awake in the Dark: The Best of Roger Ebert” (2006)
• “The Great Movies III” (2010)
• “Scorsese” (2008)

Funeral services were held this week for Roger Ebert, journalist, film critic and extraordinary human being. In spite of physical challenges, including a battle with thyroid and salivary gland cancer that eventually left him unable to talk or eat, Ebert continued to review and tirelessly promote films, believing that, as his friend Michael Barker put it, “movies can explain the complexity of the world to us AND can also show us who we are as individual human beings.”

Even though he couldn’t physically speak, Ebert’s written voice was strong until the end. His writing was smart, insightful and intellectual without being stuffy. And you can’t help but admire a man who proclaims, “‘Kindness’ covers all of my political beliefs. No need to spell them out. I believe that if, at the end, according to our abilities, we have done something to make others a little happier, and something to make ourselves a little happier, that is about the best we can do…We must try to contribute joy to the world.”

This sentiment comes from Ebert’s 2011 memoir, “Life Itself,” a moving portrait of his childhood, career and those personal relationships that affected him most deeply. Check out this book as well as other collections of this Pulitzer Prize-winner’s writings.

• “Awake in the Dark: The Best of Roger Ebert” (2006)
• “The Great Movies III” (2010)
• “Scorsese” (2008)

Daniel Boone Regional Library will be hosting “Star Wars Origami” throughout our regional library system. If you’ve read the “Origami Yoda” series by Tom Angleberger or are just a Star Wars fan, come learn how to fold origami Yoda, Darth Vader and other Star Wars figures. Each program listed below is designed for a different age group, so be sure to review the age limitations before marking your calendar.  You can also visit Angleberger’s website to download folding patterns at home. My personal favorite is his Admiral Ackbar finger puppet.

Callaway County Public Library
Saturday, April 27 at 2 p.m. For ages 11 and older.
No registration required.

Southern Boone County Public Library
Tuesday, April 30 at 3:30 p.m. Students in grades 6-8.
Registrations begins April 16. To sign-up, please call (573) 657-7378.

Columbia Public Library
Tuesday, May 7 at 5:30 p.m. Families.
No registration required.

We recently added “David Holzman’s Diary” to the DBRL collection. This film played at the True/False Film Festival in 2013, and currently has a rating of 100% from critics at Rotten Tomatoes. Here’s a synopsis from our catalog:

In this 1967 faux-documentary, a man tries to put all of his life experiences on celluloid. His insistence upon poking his camera where it isn’t wanted results only in irritation, alienation, and a few bloody noses. As Holzman’s life (and his film) becomes harder to follow, the audience is liable to be as confused as David, especially if they make the mistake of taking this whole thing seriously. Filmed like cinema verite, it’s a well-disguised fiction about the deceptions of cinematic illusionism and the lies people tell themselves in order to live.

Check out a scene from the film or the film’s imdb page for more info.

If you have not watched the television show “Supernatural,” then give yourself a treat: get your hands on the first seven seasons, lock yourself away in your room and don’t emerge until you’ve enjoyed all 100+ hours of  monster-chasing and ghost-hunting. If you have seen this show and want more, more, more, the library has books filled with new stories.

“Fresh Meat” by Alice Henderson follows brothers Sam and Dean and their fellow monster-hunter Bobby to the Tahoe National Forest to investigate possible zombie attacks. But what will kill them first: the monsters or the approaching blizzard? Also available:

• “Rite of Passage” and “Night Terror” by John Passarella
• “Coyote’s Kiss” by Christa Faust
• “One Year Gone” by Rebecca Dessertine.

Sometimes in television, ideas for episodes end up on the cutting room floor for various reasons, like lack of resources or lack of room in the schedule. But these ideas don’t just go away. Often they’re passed off to other writers who translate the ideas into novel form, creating pages and pages of new episodes of your favorite shows! Writers have created books based on “Buffy The Vampire Slayer,” “Angel,” “The X-Files,” and even “Doctor Who.”

If you’re anything like me, it’s tragic when you lose a television show, and all you want to do is curl up in a ball and weep for the loss of your fallen characters. But these books provide a sense of promise, a tiny comfort that whispers, “Wait! There’s more!” DBRL carries:

Books based on “The X-files”

• “Antibodies,” “Ground Zero,” “Ruins”by Kevin J. Anderson
•  “Goblins” by Charles L. Grant

Books based on “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Angel”

• “The Book of Fours” and “Heat” by Nancy Holder
• “Pretty Maids All In A Row” by Christopher Golden
• “Coyote Moon” by John Vornholt

Books based on “Doctor Who”

• “The Jade Prymaid: The Gemini Contagion” by Martin Day
• “The Wheel Of Ice” by Stephen Baxter
• “Shada: The Lost Adventure” by Douglas Adams (that’s right – THE Douglas Adams)
• “Dead Of Winter” by James Goss
• “The Coming Of The Terraphiles, Or, Pirates Of The Second Aether” by Michael Moorcock

And don’t forget about books that have inspired television shows, like Kathy Reichs’ Temperance Brennan series on which the show “Bones” is based.

If you have not watched the television show “Supernatural,” then give yourself a treat: get your hands on the first seven seasons, lock yourself away in your room and don’t emerge until you’ve enjoyed all 100+ hours of  monster-chasing and ghost-hunting. If you have seen this show and want more, more, more, the library has books filled with new stories.

“Fresh Meat” by Alice Henderson follows brothers Sam and Dean and their fellow monster-hunter Bobby to the Tahoe National Forest to investigate possible zombie attacks. But what will kill them first: the monsters or the approaching blizzard? Also available:

• “Rite of Passage” and “Night Terror” by John Passarella
• “Coyote’s Kiss” by Christa Faust
• “One Year Gone” by Rebecca Dessertine.

Sometimes in television, ideas for episodes end up on the cutting room floor for various reasons, like lack of resources or lack of room in the schedule. But these ideas don’t just go away. Often they’re passed off to other writers who translate the ideas into novel form, creating pages and pages of new episodes of your favorite shows! Writers have created books based on “Buffy The Vampire Slayer,” “Angel,” “The X-Files,” and even “Doctor Who.”

If you’re anything like me, it’s tragic when you lose a television show, and all you want to do is curl up in a ball and weep for the loss of your fallen characters. But these books provide a sense of promise, a tiny comfort that whispers, “Wait! There’s more!” DBRL carries:

Books based on “The X-files”

• “Antibodies,” “Ground Zero,” “Ruins”by Kevin J. Anderson
•  “Goblins” by Charles L. Grant

Books based on “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Angel”

• “The Book of Fours” and “Heat” by Nancy Holder
• “Pretty Maids All In A Row” by Christopher Golden
• “Coyote Moon” by John Vornholt

Books based on “Doctor Who”

• “The Jade Prymaid: The Gemini Contagion” by Martin Day
• “The Wheel Of Ice” by Stephen Baxter
• “Shada: The Lost Adventure” by Douglas Adams (that’s right – THE Douglas Adams)
• “Dead Of Winter” by James Goss
• “The Coming Of The Terraphiles, Or, Pirates Of The Second Aether” by Michael Moorcock

And don’t forget about books that have inspired television shows, like Kathy Reichs’ Temperance Brennan series on which the show “Bones” is based.

Vote for the Next One Read Book April 8-26

The Call by Yannick Murphy

The Ruins of Us
by Keija Parssinen Vote for “The Call” Vote for “The Ruins of Us” Thank you for your vote

 

 

The One Read reading panel narrowed the list of more than 140 book suggestions for the 2013 program to two top contenders. Between now and April 26, cast your vote for either “The Call” by Yannick Murphy or “The Ruins of Us” by Keija Parssinen.

“The Call” by Yannick Murphy

A large animal veterinarian in rural New England chronicles a year of his life and his practice in a series of log-like entries. As the days fly by, he saves some animals and doesn’t save others, he ponders nature and time, listens to what his house tells him, worries about the economy, waits for his son to wake from a coma and discovers what it means to be a family. In this highly original book, Murphy paints a quirky, reflective and warm portrait of small-town life that is both funny and deeply moving.

Preview the first few pages of “The Call.”

More information:

• Author’s Website
• Publisher’s Page
• Publisher’s Reading Group Guide
• Boston Globe Review
• Washington Post Review
• Author Interview With The Daily News

• Books & Authors Database
• Google Books
• Goodreads
• LibraryThing
• Shelfari

“The Ruins of Us” by Keija Parssinen

After more than 20 years of marriage to wealthy Saudi Abdullah al-Baylani, Rosalie, an American expatriate, discovers that her husband has taken a Palestinian second wife, which makes her contemplate escaping both the marriage and the country she has grown to love. Leaving will not be easy, however, given the country’s restrictions on women and the needs of her teenage children – a headstrong daughter becoming increasingly westernized and a son succumbing to radicalism. This is an intimate and suspenseful family drama.

Preview the first few pages of “The Ruins of Us.”

More information:

• Author’s Website
• Publisher’s Page
• Publisher’s Reading Group Guide
• The Guardian Review
• Publisher’s Weekly Review
• Author Interview With The Missouri Review

• Books & Authors Database
• Google Books
• Goodreads
• LibraryThing
• Shelfari

 

A new look and functionality to the library’s digital book services launches on Monday, April 8 when OverDrive will update our eBook and downloadable audiobook catalog. In addition to introducing a new look, you’ll see improvements to the searching, browsing and check-out procedures. Some of the changes include one-step borrowing (no more cart) and better limiting options for search results. You will also have the option of reading many titles in your browser instead of downloading them. No e-reader required!

Watch this video to preview several of the important changes. We’ll also be updating our Quick Start Guide with tips on how to use the new site when it goes live.

We hope you’ll like this update. Please contact us if you have any questions or comments.

 

I picked up “Dark Lord, the Early Years” by Jamie Thomson because of its interesting, if somewhat ridiculous, premise. The Dark Lord, a Sauron-like being who rules the Darklands, is banished to Earth in the form of a teenage boy. He remembers who he is, or was, and vows to conquer our world before returning to his own to seek vengeance against his enemies. As you might expect, no one in this world believes him and hilarity ensues.  After a series of misunderstandings, his name becomes Dirk Lloyd, he is placed with a foster family and enrolled in school.

Unfortunately, none of his spells or magical items work and everyone around him believes he is crazy. But as he begins to come to terms with his situation, he is able to assemble a small group of friends who, for one reason or another, are willing to aid him in his quest to return home.

There are plenty of fantasy tropes thrown around throughout the course of the book, but they are used to poke fun at the genre and highlight the ridiculousness of Dirk’s situation. The story itself is pretty novel and quite enjoyable if you can get past most of the ridiculous plot elements. I had a hard time figuring out whether Dirk was actually a powerful sorcerer from another world or just delusional. You find out by the end, but I won’t spoil anything.

If you enjoy this book, the sequel, “Dark Lord: A Fiend in Need,” will be coming out in October.

April 5: “Chasing Ice” opens at Ragtag. (via)
April 6: “Fly Fishing Film Tour” 1:00 p.m. at Ragtag. (via)
April 7: “The Flat” 1:00 p.m. at Ragtag, free. (via)
April 8:  “Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry” 5:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m. Forum 8. (via)
April 9: “Tough Guise” 7:00 p.m. at the MU Student Center, free. (via)
April 11: “Teenage Paparazzo” 6:30 p.m. at  Jesse Auditorium. Director Adrian Grenier in person. (via)

After two months of nail-biting competition, central Missouri teens have selected their March Madness Teen Book Tournament Champion. We began with a list of 32 finalists which included bestsellers such “Ship Breaker” by Paolo Bacigalupi, “Paranormalcy” by Kiersten White, and many Gateway and Truman Award nominees. Many thanks the teachers and school librarians who have supported this program, and to all the teens who have participated in this competition! And now, the 2013 Champion is….

“Divergent” by Veronica Roth

All of our prize winners have been contacted. Stay tuned to teens.dbrl.org for our sneak peek at this year’s teen summer reading challenge, Beneath the Surface. Through this program, the library challenges young adults to read for 20 hours, share three book reviews, and do seven of our suggested activities. Complete the challenge, and you will be eligible to win cool prizes. Stay informed by subscribing to our email updates!