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Friday, December 28, 2007

This just in ... December's new materials

For those of you who like nice and neat organized lists (like librarians do), we have put together lists of the new materials that were added to the library's collection in the month of December.

Click on the links below to see the lists and request items. (Hint: You can see these lists every month in the "Best Bets" section of the library's online catalog, or in the library in the New Books section.)

Books
General Fiction
Mysteries, Westerns, and Science Fiction
Nonfiction and Biography
Large Print
Children

Movies, Audio books, and Music
DVDs
Books on CD
Downloadable eAudiobooks (what's this?)
Music on CD

Thursday, December 27, 2007

Back by popular demad - tai chi classes


Tai chi classes will once again be offered by the Library beginning in January. Our last sessions filled up quickly so sign up now! The classes will be taught by Diana Hobgood, a certified strength and conditioning specialist and certified massage specialist.The class times are as follows:

  • 2:00 pm on Mondays: January 14 - March 17
  • 10:00 am on Saturdays: January 19 - March 22

There is a $30 registration fee which is due before classes begin. Class size is limited, so please register early by stopping by the Library at 101 South Main Street. (Checks or cash only, please)

Benefits of tai chi exercise, which is a slow, gentle exercise system based on Chinese martial arts, include:

  • improved posture
  • flexibility
  • balance
  • lower body strength
  • coordination
  • physical endurance
  • breath control
  • stress management

If you have questions, please call the Library at 826-3712.

Library collecting high school yearbooks

Many people may not be aware that the library collects, houses, and preserves local high school yearbooks. We are in the business of preserving local history and high school yearbooks are a great source of information for people researching their family tree or tracking down a friend.

While our collection is extensive, there are gaps still to be filled. We are asking for help from the community in completing this valuable collection. If you can donate any of the following yearbooks, the library would be most grateful.

Douglass High School - all years

Holy Name High School - all years

Barret Manual Training High School - 1943, 1944, 1945, 1949, 1955

Henderson (City) High School
  • 1957, 1958
  • 1960, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1969
  • 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976

Henderson County High School

  • 1956
  • 1979
  • 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987
  • 1990, 1997, 1998, 1999
  • 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006

Thank you!

Friday, December 21, 2007

New online service - Literary Reference Center



Through the state-wide Kentucky Virtual Library, you now have access to the Literary Reference Center, a product of EBSCO. This is an excellent and free online resource that is valuable to any and all students of literature and the written word. Literary Reference Center covers all types of literature including books, poems and short stories. You can read author biographies, literary criticisms, reviews and interviews. There is also an image gallery full of author portraits.

Check out some of these features:
  • Over 20,000 plot summaries
  • 75,000 articles of literary criticism
  • Over 3,000 author interviews
  • Full-text of over 7,500 classic novels - read or download an entire novel online!

This is a recommended resource for middle and high school students, teachers, and college students and professors.

A valid library card is needed to access this resource. If you don't have a library card you may access it inside the library on any of the library's public computers.

Begin searching now or read more ...

Thursday, December 20, 2007

Start a book club in 2008 with your library's help!

Every once and a while, patrons will stop by the Circulation Desk and ask if we know of a book club they can join. The library does not have any book clubs that we sponsor, but we try our best to point them in the direction of other like-minded book lovers.

But this week we got great news from the state library that makes starting your own book club (or maintaining one you already have) easier. Starting soon, our library can borrow a book discussion kit from the Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives for you and your book club. These book club kits will contain 15 copies of the book, an audiobook--if a recording of the book is available, and a book discussion guide.

Anyone who wants to see what books are available through the program can search KDLA's online catalog to see if there is a kit for your favorite author or the types of books you like to read. Use the Basic Search with Book Discussion Kit as the quick limit. Once you see titles you would like to try, contact Henderson's library and we will request a book kit from KDLA. (I encourage people who want to take advantage of this program to bring a list of titles to us, so if your book club's first choice is already out on loan to another library you can still get a kit.)If you are interested in the program, but need large print books, KDLA also offers book discussion kits in large print.
So here's to a boom of book clubs in 2008 thanks to the help of KDLA!

DVDs and Music ordered Dec 19

Below is a list of the DVDs, Books on CDs, and Music recently ordered by the library. Click on the titles to see more and request a copy!

DVDs
Movies
Across the universe
Alice's restaurant
Becoming Jane
Dan in real life
Elizabeth: the golden age
The heartbreak kid
National Lampoon's Christmas vacation
Once
Rain
Reservation Road
Year of the dog

Family
I can go potty
Inspector Gadget
Nancy Drew

Other
Pregnancy for dummies
Simple steps to a balanced, natural pregnancy

Books On CD
Fiction
The whole truth by Baldacci, David
The appeal by Grisham, John
The collected Bowdrie dramatizations : Volume 1 by L'Amour, Louis
Devil bones by Reichs, Kathy

Music
The best of Peaches & Herb
Bill Mays & the Invention Trio: Fantasy
Chanticleer: Let it snow
Darol Anger: Woodshop
Haydn: String Quartets Op 9
Polecat Creek: Ordinary seasons
Telemann: Wind Concertos Vol. 1
Upper Left Trio: Three

New books we ordered December 19, 2007

Below is a list of the books recently ordered by the library. They are grouped by Fiction, Non-fiction, LargeType, and Children . Click on the title to see more and request a copy!

Fiction
The Warren witches : a collection of original short stories
One of those Malibu nights by Adler, Elizabeth
The whole truth by Baldacci, David
Lie down with the devil by Barnes, Linda
Blue heaven by Box, C. J.
Luck be a lady : an original novel by Ciencin, Scott
Fearless fourteen by Evanovich, Janet
Naughty neighbor by Evanovich, Janet
The death dealer by Graham, Heather
Silent thunder by Johansen, Iris
Acheron by Kenyon, Sherrilyn
Twenty wishes by Macomber, Debbie
Collateral damage by Michaels, Fern
From the belly of the dragon by Mynheir, Mark
Gods behaving badly by Phillips, Marie
Moscow rules by Silva, Daniel
Wild and wicked in Scotland by Thomas, Melody

NonFiction
Infant potty training by Boucke, Laurie
100 questions & answers about breastfeeding by Cadwell, Karin
The secret of the ages by Collier, Robert
The Egoscue method of health through motion : a revolutionary program that lets you rediscover the body's power to protect and rejuvenate itself by Egoscue, Pete
Mosaic : pieces of my life so far by Grant, Amy
The master key system by Haanel, Charles
Nureyev : the life by Kavanagh, Julie
Ethel Merman : a life by Kellow, Brian.
Count us in : growing up with down syndrome by Kingsley, Jason
The out-of-sync child : recognizing and coping with sensory processing disorder by Kranowitz, Carol Stock
Biblical baby names for today by Lester, Meera
Cockatiel / Your Happy Healthy Pet by Mancini, Julie
Parenting your complex child : become a powerful advocate for the autistic, Down syndrome, PDD, bipolar, or other special-needs child by Morgan, Peggy
The Down's Syndrome handbook : a practical guide for parents by Newton, Richard
The no-cry potty training solution : gentle ways to help your child say good-bye to diapers by Pantley, Elizabeth
Fortunate son : the autobiography of Lewis B. Puller, Jr. by Puller, Lewis
The everything baby names book : pick the perfect name for your baby by Rifkin, June
Beyond Jennifer & Jason, Madison & Montana : what to name your baby now by Rozenkrantz, Linda
Down (Syndrome) but not out : a journey from grief to joy by Sampson, Joyce
Takeover : the return of the imperial presidency and the subversion of American democracy by Savage, Charlie
Traditional baby names : an A-Z guide to names that stand the test of time by Scala, Christine
Baby names your child can live with : thousands of names to help you make the perfect choice by Shaw, Lisa
The complete idiot's guide to 30,000 baby names by Turner, Marcia

LargeType
The whole truth by Baldacci, David
The appeal by Grisham, John

Children
Wolf moon by De Lint, Charles
Emily Windsnap and the castle in the mist by Kessler, Liz
To be a king by Lasky, Kathryn
Luke has Down's Syndrome by Powell, Jillian

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Revisiting Henderson's Past: Christmas at war time


It's time for another peek into the archives ...

Henderson's Christmas during World War II

As Christmastime approaches and visions of iPods and Wiis blissfully dance in children’s heads, we fill the aisles of the nearest supercenters, searching for those “must have” items and gluttonously packing our carts to the brims. We stand by and watch as indulgent parents race and scheme against one another to wangle the most expensive and desirable toys and electronics in shallow attempt to satiate their clamorous children.

As some of Henderson’s senior citizens can recall, the scene this time of year during World War II was much humbler and not nearly as pretentious. 65 years ago, the citizens of Henderson diligently practiced the now unfamiliar concept of rationing, far exceeding governmental expectations for wartime supply quotas.

Ration books (which provided stamps, or coupons, for necessary goods, such as food and gasoline) were given to each family and could be confiscated for committing misdemeanors and infractions such as speeding. Aside from limitations on food and gasoline, each person could purchase only three pairs of shoes per year, leaving many growing children barefooted in the summer months. Blackouts were ordered occasionally to ensure military defense of the ammonia plant, and silk stockings were collected for use as wraps for powder charges. Nylon stockings were also considered unpatriotic, as the new synthetic material was needed for war supplies like ropes and parachutes.

As Christmas comes to Henderson this year, take time to remember this seemingly forgotten era of frugality, an era in which our parents and grandparents sacrificed so much to be able to give us the freedom we have today.

Want to learn more about World War II in Henderson? Visit us at the library, or online. You can also search a list of names collected in the Henderson Women’s Club World War II scrapbooks.

Read previous “Revisiting Henderson’s Past” posts.

(Photo is of women lined up for a sale on nylon stockings at Belk-Henderson Co. shortly after rations were lifted.)

Public libraries highly valued by Kentuckians

The following is a press release from the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives.

Kentucky public libraries rank as most highly regarded local government service in new state survey

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Dec. 17, 2007) – Kentucky public libraries are the most highly regarded local government service, according to a recent independent survey of Kentuckians.
In addition, more than 95 percent of Kentuckians surveyed agree that public libraries are a good investment of tax dollars.

A survey of 600 Kentuckians by the University of Kentucky Survey Research Center sponsored by the Kentucky Public Library Association indicates that Kentuckians place a high value on local public libraries. The telephone survey conducted Sept. 6 – Oct. 13 represents citizens from every county.

The research shows that nine out of 10 people view Kentucky’s public libraries as a key educational asset in the community, while more than eight out of 10 agree that public libraries improve communities.

Among six services provided by local government, Kentucky’s public libraries rank at the top with nearly 86 percent giving public libraries an A or B grade when asked to rate the quality of libraries’ services. The second highest ranking is police services at 75 percent.
Kentucky General Assembly Public Library Caucus Co-chairs Reps. Bob Damron and Bob M. DeWeese, M.D., said they were very pleased with the community support for public libraries. The bipartisan caucus for members of the Kentucky House of Representatives supports public libraries through state initiatives.

“Libraries have always been the center of community learning for all ages,” Damron said. “If Kentucky is going to continue progressing economically, we need to be a community of life-long learners, and libraries are critical to that vision. We’ve got to double our efforts to finance our libraries under an increasingly difficult budget situation so that we can maintain the progress we have made.”

DeWeese said, "I am very pleased that such a large majority of citizens across the state use and appreciate the public library system and the opportunities it provides. Our libraries are woven in the very fabric of our society, providing learning and enjoyment and defining the richness of our communities. I am most supportive of our public libraries and will continue to work with the general assembly and budget offices in support of increased state general budget funding to keep our libraries strong."

Currently more than 2 million Kentuckians have public library cards, according to Wayne Onkst, state librarian and commissioner of the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives (KDLA). Kentucky has 116 public libraries serving 118 counties.

In FY 2006, more than 16.7 million visits were made to Kentucky’s local libraries, and more than 1 million children participated in children’s programs.

Onkst said, “Community libraries serve people of all ages in a safe, friendly environment. They introduce preschoolers to reading, provide materials on parenting skills, assist school-age students with homework, help individuals prepare for the GED, provide equipment and assistance for job seekers, provide Talking Books for the visually impaired and elderly and serve as community centers.”

Community libraries also provide computer access, free Internet service and computer training to citizens across the commonwealth. During fiscal year 2006, more than 31,500 people received computer training in the state’s public libraries. The survey shows that if more funds were available for public libraries, about one in three Kentuckians would like to see more computers made available for users.

“I think people would be amazed to know that in fiscal year 2006, nine times as many people entered Kentucky public libraries as attended men’s and women’s basketball and football games at the University of Kentucky, University of Louisville, Kentucky State University, Eastern Kentucky University, Western Kentucky University and Morehead State University combined,” Onkst said.

Public Library Caucus members
Co-chairs - Rep. Bob DeWeese, Jefferson County; and Rep. Bob Damron, Fayette and Jessamine counties
Rep. Royce Adams, Gallatin, Grant and Owen counties
Rep. Mike Cherry, Caldwell, Crittenden, Livingston and McCracken counties
Rep. Jim DeCesare, Warren County
Rep. Teddy Edmonds, Breathitt, Estill and Lee counties
Rep. Jeff Hoover, Clinton, Pulaski and Russell counties
Rep. Dennis Keene, Campbell County
Rep. Charlie Miller, Jefferson County
Rep. Tanya Pullin, Boyd and Greenup counties
Rep. Marie Rader, Jackson, Laurel and Owsley counties
Rep. Rick Rand, Carroll, Henry, Oldham and Trimble counties
Rep. Frank Rasche, McCracken County
Rep. Steve Riggs, Jefferson County
Rep. Sal Santoro, Boone County
Rep. Brandon Smith, Harlan and Perry counties
Rep. John Will Stacy, Menifee, Morgan, Rowan and Wolfe counties
Rep. Ken Upchurch, McCreary, Pulaski and Wayne counties
Rep. Robin Webb, Carter and Lewis counties
Rep. Susan Westrom, Fayette CountyRep. Addia Wuchner, Boone County

Newspapers and magazines at the Library




If you just recently threw out your latest issue of Newsweek and forgot to cut out that article you didn't finish, the library can help! We subscribe to many of the most popular magazines on the market today and have just recently published the most current listing of our collection to our web site. The library subscribes to dozens of general interest and specialty magazines in many areas of interest such as news, finance, pop culture, sports, beauty, homemaking, agriculture, science, parenting, children's interests, and much more. We also keep the back issues of most of our subscriptions for up to 5 years or longer. Click here to see the entire list.




If you don't have time to come into the library or like the convenience of the Internet, check out our Research Center for access to thousands of magazines, newspapers, and journals. For general interest magazines (such as Newsweek, Time, Good Housekeeping, etc.) start with eLibrary or EBSCOhost Research. We also have a host of subject-specific titles in areas such as education, sociology, psychology, nursing, and more! Have your valid library card ready to log in when prompted.


If you have questions or need personal assistance please call 826-3712 or email the library.

Thursday, December 13, 2007

DVDs and Music ordered Dec 12

Below is a list of the DVDs and Music recently ordered by the library. Click on the titles to see more and request a copy!

DVDs
Movies
American psycho
Blast from the past
Born on the Fourth of July
Daddy Day Camp
Far and away
For the boys
Getting even with dad
Ghosts of Mississippi
Good morning Vietnam
If these walls could talk
Inherit the wind
JFK
Last of the Mohicans
Legends of the fall
Mr. Bean's holiday
War

Music
The best of Edith Piaf
Brenda Lee: Gospel duets with treasured friends
Hillsong United: United we stand
Martha Munizzi: The best is yet to come
A hundred miles or more : a collection by Krauss, Alison
Newsong: The Christmas shoes by Newsong

New books we ordered December 12, 2007

Below is a list of the books recently ordered by the library. They are grouped by Fiction and Non-fiction. Click on the title to see more and request a copy!

Fiction
A sister's test by Brunstetter, Wanda
Pig did it by Caldwell, Joseph
Overkill by Castillo, Linda
Sweetwater : a Di Christy Kennedy mystery by Charles, Paul
The tomb of Zeus by Cleverly, Barbara
Beginner's Greek by Collins, James
End games : an Aurelio Zen mystery by Dibdin, Michael
Garcia's heart by Durcan, Liam
Manless in Montclair : a novel : how a happily married woman became a widow looking for love in the wilds of suburbia by Edelman, Amy Holman
A time to live by Eicher, Jerry
The good thief's guide to Amsterdam by Ewan, Chris
The killer's wife by Floyd, Bill
Afterimage by George, Kathleen
Why mermaids sing : a Sebastian St. Cyr mystery by Harris, C. S.
False charity by Heley, Veronica
Chatter by Ireland, Perrin
world made by hand by Kunstler, James Howard
The flower drum song by Lee, C. Y.
Every last cuckoo by Maloy, Kate
Last night at the Lobster by O'Nan, Stewart
Bone rattler : a mystery of colonial America by Pattison, Eliot
Something wicked by Roberts, David
Mermaids in the basement by West, Michael Lee

Nonfiction
China : [people, place, culture, history]
The zookeeper's wife by Ackerman, Diane
How the South could have won the Civil War : the fatal errors that led to Confederate defeat by Alexander, Bevin
The dirt on clean : an unsanitized history by Ashenburg, Katherine
Sister Wendy on prayer by Beckett, Wendy
The suicide of reason : radical Islam's threat to the enlightenment by Harris, Lee
3:16 : the numbers of hope by Lucado, Max
The Christian world : a global history by Marty, Martin
Hard road west : history & geology along the Gold Rush trail by Meldahl, Keith
The real history behind the Templars by Newman, Sharan
I wasn't ready to say goodbye : surviving, coping and healing after the sudden death of a loved one by Noel, Brook
Home artist : the comprehensive guide to painting and drawing. by Reader's Digest
Prehistory : the making of the human mind by Renfrew, Colin
60 on up : the truth about aging in America by Rubin, Lillian
The art of woo : using strategic persuasion to sell your ideas by Shell, G. Richard
The complete book of the Summer Olympics / Athens 2004 by Wallechinsky, David
The complete book of the Winter Olympics / Turin by Wallechinsky, David
Bitter ocean : the Battle of the Atlantic, 1939-1945 by White, David Fairbank
India by Wood, Michael

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

What to do if your finances aren't going well

Investing Tip of the Month from Morningstar.com

As they say, "It's been a year." Some people may not be happy with how their portfolios have fared. If so, some questions are in order.

Are you out of focus?
A clearly stated financial goal is easier to achieve than something vague or nothing at all. For instance, if your objective is financial income, you'll find red-hot--and volatile--growth stocks far less attractive than steady-eddy dividend payers.

Are you unintentionally concentrated in a few stocks?
You may find some stocks and funds have grown to dominate your portfolio. Growth is good, but if those investments suddenly head south so does your portfolio. Trim them back. Many experts agree any one investment should not comprise more than 10% of your portfolio.

Are you giving away money?
Fund investing greatly simplifies the lives of investors. But it doesn't come for free. Funds charge for their services. Even no-load funds, while cheap, charge. With more than 20,000 funds available today, you should be able to find one comparable to a fund you like at a cheaper cost. Does it make a big difference? Say you invest $10,000 in a fund that gains 12% per year before expenses and carries a 0.5% expense ratio and another $10,000 in a similar fund that also gain 12% per year before expenses but carries a 2.0% expense ratio. In 25 years the first fund will have earned you $45,000 more.

Are you in love with your investments?
Even if you've been done wrong by a stock or fund, you hold on in the hopes the situation will improve. Maybe it will. But maybe it won't. Be sure you know when you buy a holding under what circumstances you will sell. And then stick to your plan.

Are you better off in the hands of an expert?
Sometimes it's best to trust your investments to a financial planner. They are trained and expert at helping you set clear goals, focus on the investments right for attaining your goals in your timeframe, and keep your investments on course. And don't worry, because even investors who use financial planners are avid users of Morningstar products. They want to be educated consumers of investing advice.

Morningstar.com is great tool for new and veteran investors. It's chock full of unbiased analyst reports, tools for evaluating your portfolio, and lessons on how to invest. The best part is that it's free to all valid library cardholders! Begin now or learn more.

Revisiting Henderson's Past: Claims to fame


It's time to take a peek into the archives . . .


Henderson's Claims to Fame


It has often been said that every town has its claim to fame in one fashion or another. For instance, Tampico, Illinois, claims 40th President Ronald Reagan as its most famous native. Bradford, Vermont, claims to have produced the first globe map manufactured in the United States, and Olney, Texas, is home of the One-Arm Dove Hunt. While many Hendersonians know that our little town on the Ohio River can boast of people like John James Audubon, W. C. Handy, and General Samuel Hopkins, you may not realize exactly how many lesser-known claims to fame Henderson County actually has. Take the following for example:



  • Henderson was the first county in the state of Kentucky to use an all-dial telephone system.

  • It also claims our country’s second millionaire, Alexander Buchanan Barret, who made his fortune in tobacco.

  • Henderson has produced four Kentucky governors, Lazarus Powell, John Young Brown, A. O. Stanley, and A. B. Chandler, as well as three lieutenant governors, General Thomas Posey, Archibald Dixon, and A. B. Chandler.

  • Now a nationally-recognized holiday, Mother’s Day was first celebrated right here in Henderson.

  • The first American to fall in the Mexican War was Hendersonian Colonel Philip Barbour.

  • Henderson County was the birthplace of Ann Rutledge, the famous first love of would-be President Abraham Lincoln.

  • Husband E. Kimmel, commander of the Pacific fleet during the December 7, 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, was also a Henderson native.

These are just a few of Henderson’s innumerable legacies. To learn more fun facts about our town, come visit us upstairs in the library. You can also take a look at the archive’s webpage at: http://www.hcpl.org/genealogy/.

To view previous "Revisiting Henderson's Past," click here: http://www.hcpl.org/genealogy/genblog.html.

(Photo is of Husband E. Kimmel. He personally presented this photo the library.)

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Heartwarming films for the holidays

Every year about this time, we put together a holiday movie display to make it easier for our patrons to find their favorite Christmas films. As I began to collect the videos for the annual display and had a startling realization--all but 7 of the Christmas films in the Adult Department were checked out and some of the most popular titles already have waiting lists! I wasn't sure what to do. What was I going to offer our patrons who came in looking for their yearly fix of Miracle on 34th Street and A Christmas Story? I couldn't turn them away empty handed to wait for that call letting them know their favorite movie is now in...it's Christmas after all.
I needed something to fill the need for a movie that leaves you feeling warm and fuzzy that strikes so strongly this time of year. Something for patrons to savor and enjoy until it's their turn for It's A Wonderful Life or White Christmas. So I would like to invite our patrons to browse the selection of heart-warming and inspiring movies hand-picked by your library staff to keep the heart fire's glowing until A Christmas Carol can grace your television screen.

Thursday, December 06, 2007

Generational charts for your family tree


For a hobby that revolves around dead people, genealogy is remarkably popular. It is considered by most to be the fastest-growing hobby in North America, with many surveys and media sources proclaiming that it has surpassed quilting, stamp collecting and even gardening in popularity.


If you're a genealogist, then you know what we're talking about. Traffic to popular genealogy Web sites demonstrates the growing interest in tracing family history online: for example, the FamilySearch Web site of the Family History Library gets six to seven million hits per day.


If you're new to genealogy or maybe only have been thinking about exploring your family tree, the library wants to help you get started. We have online forms (PDF format) that you can fill-in and print out, or print out first and then fill-in. If you get stumped, bring your forms to the library and let our local genealogists try to help you. We have many resources for local history as well as access to records from around the nation and world.


The Generation Chart allows enough room to trace your roots back to your great-grandparents - all 4 sets of them! The Family Group Sheet gives space to record more detailed information about a particular couple and their children. These are great forms to help you organize your information. You will need Adobe Reader in order to view and fill-in the forms.


Visit our Genealogy and Local History page to use online resources and find out what the library has to offer.

Holiday shopping to benefit the library


The holiday shopping season is well under way and we want to let you know how your holiday shopping can benefit the library. We also have some great gift ideas for you!


Amazon.com

If you are already a loyal customer of Amazon.com, consider making your purchases via the link below or from the Friends of the Library website. A percentage of your purchase total will be given to the Friends of the Library, at no additional charge to you! How easy can it be?!

Magazine subscriptions
Through the library's website you can also buy, renew, or extend your favorite magazine subscriptions and save up to 85% off off newsstand prices! Choose from over 650 popular magazine titles and 40% of your purchase goes to the Friends of the Library. Visit http://www.magfundraising.com/GroupPage.aspx?e=775100 to start saving. You'll get the satisfaction of supporting a favorite cause while purchasing something you would buy anyway. Magazine subscriptions make great Christmas gifts, or gifts anytime year round!

Local talent
If you're looking for a unique gift for that hard-to-please individual, or want a gift with local flavor, consider something from the library's online store. Henderson County is fortunate to have a large share of outstanding authors, artists, and other creative individuals. Many books and songs have been written by Hendersonians, and the Library is pleased to offer many of these items for sale. We carry books, compact discs, cassettes, framed postcards, and book bags.

DVDs, Books on CD and Music ordered Dec 05

Below is a list of the DVDs, Books on CD and Music recently ordered by the library. Click on the titles to see more and request a copy!

DVDs
Movies
The assassination of Jesse James
We own the night

Family
Angel for Christmas
The brave little toaster to the rescue
Disney Channel holiday: Your favorite holiday hits
A Max Lucado children's treasury
A nutcracker tale
The story of Christmas
Super sleuth Christmas movie

Books on CD

Fiction
A week from Sunday by Garlock, Dorothy
Where angels go by Macomber, Debbie
Revenant by Preston, Douglas

Nonfiction
Jim Cramer's stay mad for life by Cramer, Jim

Music
Alicia Keys: As I am
Bob Lark: Suggestions
Choral music for advent and Christmas
A Disney Channel Holiday
Gift: A tribute to Ian Tyson
Jim Lauderdale: The bluegrass diaries
Mavis Staples: We'll never turn back
McCoy Tyner: Horizon
Patti Labelle: Miss Patti's Christmas

New books we ordered December 05, 2007

Below is a list of the books recently ordered by the library. They are grouped by Fiction, Non-fiction, and Large-type. Click on the title to see more and request a copy!

Fiction
Smoke screen by Brown, Sandra
Gentlemen of the road by Chabon, Michael
Married lovers by Collins, Jackie
The reapers by Connolly, John
Colorado Christmas by Dow, Rosey
End of the world blues by Grimwood, Jon Courtenay
The sins of Sir Gabriel Boscastle by Hunter, Jillian
The wicked games of a gentleman by Hunter, Jillian
Rampage of the mountain man by Johnstone, William
This side of Heaven by Kingsbury, Karen
The host : a novel by Meyer, Stephenie
Not the marrying kind by North, Hailey
Devil bones by Reichs, Kathy
Cut throat by Sala, Sharon
The face of fear by Saul, John
Pirate freedom by Wolfe, Gene

Nonfiction
America : an illustrated history
The Kennedys : portrait of a family by Avedon, Richard
An inconvenient book : real solutions to the world's biggest problems by Beck, Glenn
Fathers' rights : a legal guide to protecting the best interests of your children by Gross, James
On call in hell : a doctor's Iraq War story by Jadick, Richard
The atlas of Atlantis and other lost civilizations : discover the history and wisdom of Atlantis, Lemuria, Mu and other ancient civilizations by Levy, Joel
Seven steps to nighttime dryness : a practical guide for parents of children with bedwetting by Mercer, Renee
Drunk, divorced & covered in cat hair by Perry, Laurie Beasley
Help for the helper : the psychophysiology of compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma by Rothschild, Babette
The manual : a true bad boy explains how men think, date, and mate, and what women can do to come out on top by Santagati, Steve
The complete bedwetting book : including a daytime program for nighttime dryness by Smith, D. Preston
What every woman should know about divorce and custody : judges, lawyers, and therapists share winning strategies on how to keep the kids, the cash, and your sanity by Smith, Gayle
Child custody A to Z : winning with evidence by White, Guy

Largetype
The forbidden by Lewis, Beverly

Wednesday, December 05, 2007

Kentuckiana Digital Library

The Kentuckiana Digital Library is your gateway to rare and unique digitized collections housed in Kentucky archives. These digital collections were built to enhance scholarship, research and lifelong learning. Available through the Kentucky Virtual Library, the Kentuckiana Digital Library is a free online resource.

At this website you will find over 50,000 photographic images, 25,000 newspaper pages, 230,000 book pages, hundreds of oral histories, and maps documenting the history and heritage of Kentucky.

For local history buffs, type "Henderson" in the keyword search box and you will find many historical records related to people and places in Henderson County, Kentucky. This is a valuable resource for anyone researching their family tree or those with an interest in the history of Kentucky.

Tuesday, December 04, 2007

Revisiting Henderson's Past: Jackson/Audubon Portrait


It's time to take a peek into the archives . . .


Audubon’s Headless Portrait

Hundreds daily pass by the familiar portrait of the valiant General Andrew Jackson hanging in the New York City Hall. Few, though, suspect the truth behind the John Vanderlyn painting and its link to our very own Henderson. The story, however, is recounted for us at the library in the October 19th, 1947 edition of The Times-Picayune New Orleans States Magazine.

It was 1823 in New York, and Vanderlyn had painted a beautiful, vibrant portrait of the valorous general’s head. He had encountered a problem, though, in that he had yet to paint Jackson’s body and had found no likely model to stand in for the unique stature of the very soon-to-be president.

Cut to next scene. . . It was August 1823, just a few years after John James Audubon had departed from his Henderson home. He was in New York attempting to peddle a collection of works which would later be infamously named the Birds of America. Upon failure to market his personally prized works, a disheartened Audubon decided to pay a visit to an old acquaintance, a Mr. John Vanderlyn.

It was in this meeting that Vanderlyn noticed the close resemblance between the Audubon’s body and that of Jackson. The poverty-stricken naturalist, desperately in need of a little money, readily agreed to pose for the artist. Wearing Jackson’s uniform and grasping his sword, Audubon must have been the spitting image of the general, for five days later, Vanderlyn’s creation was complete. The result was a lasting depiction, a synthesis of Andrew Jackson’s head and John James Audubon’s body.

To read the original newspaper article for yourself or to learn more about John James Audubon’s adventures and pursuits, visit us upstairs at the library. To see what kind of information is available in our Kentucky Files, visit us here: http://www.hcpl.org/genealogy/.

To view previous "Revisiting Henderson's Past," click here:  http://www.hcpl.org/genealogy/genblog.html.

(Photo courtesy of the Louisiana State Museum)

Monday, December 03, 2007

This just in ... November's new materials

For those of you who like nice and neat organized lists (like librarians do), we have put together lists of the new materials that were added to the library's collection in the month of November.


Click on the links below to see the lists and request items. (Hint: You can see these lists every month in the "Best Bets" section of the library's online catalog, or in the library in the New Books section.)


Books
General Fiction
Mysteries, Westerns, and Science Fiction
Nonfiction and Biography
Large Print
Children


Movies, Books on CD, and Music
DVDs
Books on CD
Downloadable eAudiobooks (what's this?)
Music on CD