Library Catalog Makeover

Our library’s catalog has a bold, vibrant new look.

The first page you see immediately shows you all of the new items we’ve brought in over the last week including large cover images.

You can still login to the catalog the same way, from http://catalog.lmlibrary.org using your library card number and password.

Tabs

If you click on the What’s New tab you’ll find showcases for this month’s new DVDs, audio books, fiction and non-fiction books, etc. The Featured tab shows featured items and items from our displays.

Select Language

One interesting new addition is the Select Language feature at the top left of the screen. Powered by Google translate, it translates the contents of the catalog into the chosen language.

Patron checkout receipts

I think one of coolest new features on our catalog is the ability to send patrons an emailed copy of their checkout and fine receipts. If you would prefer to have emailed receipts rather than printed receipts, please let the staff know when you checkout your books and other items.

Patron Catalog Instructions

There are instructions for the new catalog posted on our website at http://www.lmlibrary.org/about/catalog_help.aspx. Some of the things listed there are:

  • Basic Searching on the Library Catalog – for help with logging in and getting started searching
  • Checking your Library Card Account – a basic overview of all the things you can view or change for your library card account, including: Items Out, Items on Hold, Lost Items, Checkout History, Active Alerts, Fine and Lost Item Payment, and My Profile
  • Reader Reviews – Would you like to write a review telling other patrons about some of your favorite books?
  • Creating and Managing Lists

Checkout History

Have you ever wondered if you’ve already read a book in a series you’re following? You can look through your checkout history to find out.

Active Alerts

Did you know you can set your account so that you are automatically sent an email every time the library gets in a new book by your favorite author? You can also set it to alert you when a particular title comes in, or say whenever the library get new DVDs about a certain subject or with a certain actor.

By logging in to the catalog, going to My Account and clicking on Active Alerts, you can set up whatever alerts you like. If you need any help setting this up, you can call us at 620-626-0180 or come into the library.

My Profile

The My Profile part of My Account allows you to update your mobile phone number and email address. It also allows you to pick a day of the week you would like to be emailed a status report on your account, including what books you have out, if any of them are overdue, and if you have any fines.

My Lists

Similar to a shopping cart on an online store, you can use My Lists to store lists of things you’d like to checkout eventually. The new, updated version of My Lists actually allows you to put all or some of the items in your list on hold, and lets you print, save, or email the list in a format you can use to find the items you want on the shelves at the library.

So visit our new catalog, take advantage of all its new features, and tell us what you think.

2014 Kansas Notable Books

Each year the State Library of Kansas releases a list of Kansas Notable Books. The list is comprised of books of fiction, nonfiction, or poetry written by Kansas Authors or books that feature Kansas as a location or theme. This year’s collection of Notable Books has something for everyone, whether you enjoy poetry, cooking, mysteries, or history. The 2014 Kansas Notable Books entries are a great collection and like most past years, history books are featured prominently. Being a history buff, I am naturally attracted to those titles that talk about Kansas’s placement in the history of our country or those that focus on the history of this great state.

The main event in our state’s history thus far has centered on how our state was founded and how it entered into the union of the states. Would it be a free state or a slave state? This question has set the tone for our history.

Most of us are familiar with the border conflicts, skirmishes, and outright wars that precipitated the Civil War. In fact for those that live along the Kansas-Missouri border there still appears to be drawn an invisible line between the two states. Interestingly enough, this line not only manifests itself in sports such as the Border War when the University of Kansas and the University of Missouri play one another in sports, but this separation also exists in the academic study of the turbulent times prior to the Civil War.

One book that hopes to bring both academic sides of the border together to study this period in history is “Bleeding Kansas,Bleeding Missouri“. Full of well-researched and interesting information about the events leading up to the Civil war and the ramifications of those events after the Civil War, I find this book to be one that is well worth the read for those interested in digging a little deeper into the causes and personalities involved in the conflict. This book is maybe not where you want to start, but definitely a waypoint on gaining an understanding of those tumultuous times.

But now onto my favorite book from this year’s list. What would Kansas history and a study of Bleeding Kansas be without a book about John Brown? (Seriously. If you don’t know who John Brown is, please run to the library and find me. We need to talk.)

When I first read that there was a new John Brown book out, I was a bit hesitant. The history, and at times mythology, of the man has been exhaustively researched, written down, and memorized by everyone interested in the events leading up to the Civil War.

The Tie that Bound Us” by Bonnie Laughlin-Schultz breaks the mold for the discussion of John Brown and instead focuses in on the women that were in the background during most of his life and their lives  after his death. There was a reason John Brown could live such a wild life and stay alive long enough to make it to Harper’s Ferry on that fateful night in 1859. His wife, his children, and the dependents of his followers were responsible for not only caring for the men, but for also hiding and making sure that they could move around the country undetected. Telling elaborate backstories to elude suspicion and never knowing when or indeed if, they would ever see their husbands or fathers again. Much more than other books, we get a sense of John Brown the man. Harsh disciplinarian one moment, gentle and compassionate husband the next. Apart from the cause of abolition, his role as father and husband he took seriously and through the stories of the women in his life we take a fresh look at this important figure in Kansas History.

Stop by the library, either in person or online, to checkout some of the books that make up the 2014 Kansas Notable Books. They can be found on our website by going to: http://featured.lmlibrary.org.

For a more complete list of this year’s and previous year’s notable books visit the Notable Books page of the State Library of Kansas at: kslib.info/notablebooks.

Fall Library Fun for Families — Carnival and Family Place Library

I know you are all getting tired of me promoting the Family Place Library Parent/Child Workshop that is starting again this Thursday.  For the last time this year, I am going to tell you how great and fun the program is. I am super excited to announce that our two professionals for the first week are a physical therapist and a speech pathologist.  If you have questions for our professionals come on down to the workshop, which starts at 6:30.  You can get all of your questions answered while your kids play and have fun.

We invite a different professional for each of the five weeks of the workshop to facilitate early intervention and for parent education.  Most parents have questions about whether or not what their child is doing is “normal”, and the Parent/Child Workshop gives you a chance to get those answers.  When my daughter was four, she still couldn’t say her name properly because it had the letter “l” in it.  I asked the speech pathologist from the Family Place Library Workshop whether that was normal.  She said that it was no big deal, and she would eventually be able to say her l’s.   And now, at almost six, she is saying her l’s like a pro.   There are so many other stories of parents getting reassurance that what their kid is doing is ok. If something needs more investigation, a lot of our professionals know where to get further help.

If you don’t have any questions for the professional that week, you can just come to play.  We are bringing out all of our toys, and with a lot of kids, I guarantee that your children are going to go home tired and happy.

The Parent/Child Workshop is aimed at kids from birth to age five and is really a lot of fun.  This is one of the few programs at the library where registration is required, and you can either register in person at the library, by phone or online.  To register online just go to our website www.lmlibrary.org and follow the link to register.

Another event that we are having that is aimed at families is our Fall Carnival.  We have had this carnival every year for the past few years and it is a lot of fun.  This year the carnival is on Saturday, September 20th from 11:00 to 1:00 in the library parking lot.  We will have food, games and fun for the whole family.  Some of the highlights of the carnival are the soda ring toss, the kissing booth (hubba hubba), book bingo and sack races.  Prizes are awarded freely and the whole event is free of charge for everyone in the community.  The library will remain open during the carnival for normal Saturday hours (9:00 AM to 1:00 PM).  After you have had all of the fun you can handle and all of your prizes are bulging out of your pockets, check out a few books to read at home!

Recap:

Family Place Library:  Thursdays from September 18th to October 16th from 6:30 to 7:30 at the library for children from birth to age five and their family.

Fall Carnival:  Saturday, September 20th from 11:00 to 1:00.  Games, food and prizes for the whole family.   The library will be open normal Saturday hours from 9:00 to 1:00.

If you have any questions about any of these events or just want more information, please contact the library at 626-0180.

Free Early Learning Software

Labor Day

The Library will be closed tomorrow, September 1st, for Labor Day. The first Monday of September has been dedicated to the workers of our nation since Congress passed the act in 1894. Before that, the idea of a workingman’s holiday was driven by the labor movement of the late 19th century.

Early learning eBooks and games through the library

We all know how important it is to offer early learning opportunities to our kids, whether it’s through reading to or with them or through fun and educational games. Here are a few free and fun online activities that the library has to offer.

ABCmouse

ABCmouse is the newest addition to our lineup. It is offered free to libraries. If you are inside the library you can go tohttp://abcmouse.com from one of the library’s computers or your own device to get free access to the full online curriculum. It is geared toward preschooler through kindergarteners and consists of consist of books, puzzles, games, songs, art activities, and/or printables and covers the subjects of Reading, Math, Science, Art, Colors and Music.

TumbleBooks Library

TumbleBooks library has animated talking picture books. TumbleBooks also has puzzles and games, chapter books, a language learning section, and non-fiction books. There is no login or no software required; it is accessed directly online using a browser on your computer or mobile device. You can follow the link to it either on our library’s website,http://lmlibrary.org, or the state’s website, http://www.kslib.info/digitalbooks.

BookFlix

BookFlix also has animated talking picture books, but they are each paired with a non-fiction book. The books are grouped by subjects that you can browse through to find a pairing you’d like to read. Each pairing includes links to puzzles, games, and other things about the subject. No software required, and it is also accessed directly online. To access it, sign in to your Kansas Library Card, http://kslib.info/ecard, then click the BookFlix access link.

Kansas Library Cards are free to any Kansas resident and can be obtained at any Kansas Library. They are different from your regular local library card.

Britannica E-STAX

Another new addition is Britannica E-STAX. It’s offered through the State Library and is a nonfiction ebook service for Pre-K to Grade 12. You can browse through the ebook collection by title or subject, or you can use the search bar to find what you want. The books can be read online using a browser or offline on a PC/Mac, iPad, or Android tablet using the optional iPublishCentral Reader. To access Britannica E-STAX, sign in to your Kansas Library Card, http://kslib.info/ecard, then click the Britannica E-STAX access link.

Family Place Fun

Family Place Libraries logoThe older kids have hopefully settled in to the back-to-school routine.  Now you are wondering ways to get your little kids out and involved in something new and different. There are lots of great things for toddlers and pre-schoolers to do around Liberal, this program is aimed at families with kids zero to five years of age.

Imagine a room filled with toys.  These are different toys than the ones that you have at home.  When you walk into this room, your child immediately runs off to play, eyes wide with excitement.  This is how it is on Thursday evenings from 6:30 to 7:30 at Liberal Memorial Library during our Parent/Child Workshop, part of the Family Place Library.  We pull out all of the toys that we have and let kids play for an hour.  Parents are encouraged to play with their children and meet some of the other parents – hopefully forming friendships over the five weeks of the workshop, giving parents someone to turn to if they have problems or need help with something later on or just want to schedule a play date.

In addition to the toys and meeting other parents, each week we have a different professional from the community to mingle with the parents.  In the past we’ve had speech pathologists, nutritionists, psychologists, nurses and a whole lot of other experts that can answer questions and give trusted advice.  Don’t worry, there isn’t any long speech to get through with a wiggling toddler on your lap.  The expert of the week is going to mingle with the parents, answering their questions in a one-on-one setting.

You may be afraid to come to the library for the Family Place Library play time, thinking that you are going to have to shush your kids because they are in a library.  The library will be bustling with activity, so the more the merrier.

Still not sure if you want to sign up or maybe you don’t want to make a commitment without knowing how fun the library can be.  Come to the library any time we are open with your children, and see the Family Place Library toys that are always out.  We have lots that we pull out just for parent/child workshop, but there are always toys to play with.

There are real goals behind all of this playing in the library.  The program aims to give parents access to local professionals who serve as a resource to parents.  In addition, the program should highlight the role of parents as the first teachers of their children.  For kids, the workshop facilitates early intervention and teaches strategies for healthy child development and early literacy.  Playing really is a child’s job and the Family Place Child Parent/Child Workshop is one way that the community is helping parents and children.  Family Place Library is a Building Blocks Project that is funded through and Early Childhood Block Grand awarded by the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund to Russell Child Development Center.  It’s a great program that everyone in the library is excited to have.  We hope that we see you in September at the Family Place Library Parent/Child Workshop!

The details

What: Family Place Library Parent/Child Workshop
When: September 18 & 25th, October 2, 9 & 16th from 6:30 to 7:30 at Liberal Memorial Library.
Who:  Children ages 0-5, their siblings and parents

What:  Play time for families with kids aged zero to five, with all of your parenting questions answered.

How much:  Free!  (Yay!)
For more information or to register: Call 626-0180 or stop by the library at 519 N. Kansas Avenue.  Or be our friend on our Facebook page to get up-to-the-minute news – www.facebook.com/lmlibraryfamilyplace 

Mayday over Wichita: the worst military aviation disaster in Kansas History

It always amuses me when people refer to Kansas as a “fly-over” state. Truth be told, you wouldn’t be able to fly-over this great state if it wasn’t for our state’s place in the aviation history of our country. Home to aviation pioneers such as Amelia Earhart from Atchison, KS as well as scores of aviation companies, most notably Boeing, Beechcraft, Cessna, the list goes on. Kansas has also served as a training ground for countless pilots for many generations, names lost to time, but forever in our hearts. Kansas also maintains a multitude of museums devoted to our unique placement in aviation history.  My two favorite museums happen to be the Air Combat Museum in Topeka, Kansas and Liberal’s very own Mid-America Air Museum. One feels the history as you walk around historic aircraft that helped to defend, protect, and shape our nation.

Sadly, to go with these triumphs in aviation, Kansas has had more than its fair share of tragedy. Most everyone knows of our loss of Amelia Earhart as she attempted a solo flight around the world in 1937, the 1931 plane crash in a Kansas wheat field that claimed the life of famed Notre Dame football coach Knute Rockne, and in 1970 the crash that claimed the lives of players, coaches, and staff of the Wichita State University football team.

I have been familiar with this rich history for quite some time, but recently happened upon a book in the Liberal Memorial Library entitled “Mayday over Wichita: the worst military aviation disaster in Kansas history” by D.W. Carter, written in 2013 and published by the History Press. This story portrays the tragic crash of an Air Force KC-135 re-fueling tanker in Wichita, Kansas on January 16, 1965. Four minutes after take-off from McConnell Air Force Base the plane had gone off-course and was flying so low that many people could see the jet fuel spilling out of the back of the aircraft. Moments later it nose-dived into a heavily populated area, full of approximately 30,000 gallons of jet fuel.

The crash took place in a predominantly African-American neighborhood and killed all crewman onboard and approximately 30 people on the ground. Most of those who died on the ground were children. The tragedy struck quickly with no time for warnings, no time for crew members to escape, for those on the ground to run, there was nothing that could be done. For the crew, they were in a plane that had no ejection seats or personal parachutes. The thinking was that if something went wrong, there was literally no hope of surviving a crash. For those on the ground, moments were frozen in time as they attempted to start the car for the morning errands, make breakfast, or get out of the shower. For the witnesses, tragedy and horrific images they will never forget. Many first responders physically ill from the sight of the wreckage. Many in shock from the scene and the intensity from which it started and the quickness with which it ended.

Within 25 minutes emergency crews had control of the fire and begun the process of insuring the safety of all in the area. Wichita being an aviation town it was well-prepared to deal with the tragedy. In fact, just a week before they had a disaster meeting to discuss this very scenario. The book does a detailed job of walking the reader through all the possible scenarios that most probably led to the crash. The book also helps to dispel some rumors about the event that sprung up quickly in its aftermath.

I don’t want to give too much of this interesting story away, but needless to say the tragedy affected the community of Wichita for years to come. Slowly over the course of time, details have been forgotten and for the most part lost to the march of time. This is a fairly short book clocking in at about 158 pages. But those pages are rich with the history of Kansas and the story of aviation in Kansas.

The brave men, women, and families who were lost, or who remained after the event will forever live on in our hearts.

Next time you are in the library, check the shelves to see if this book is in. When you finish it, stop by my office and let’s chat about it.

Swing into the library this August

The summer reading programs have wrapped for the year.  It was an astounding success. The adults turned in Bingo sheets at the end of July and three had blackouts! Kudos to their achievement this summer!

A small recap of the activities that we had this summer: for the adults, we had a writing workshop where published authors discussed their experience, Sherlock Holmes trivia, an e-reader workshop led by our library tech Doreen, and sustainable agriculture led by a Seward County Community College instructor among our regularly scheduled Library and Lunch, Book Chats and Recipe Swaps.  On the teen’s front, we had a cooking session, Zumba, CSI: Liberal, games, movies, and parties.  All those who participated had a great time! Hope you join us next summer and don’t forget to stop by the library in the months to come to attend programs.

On Friday, kiddos came to pick up their certificates and enjoy an ice cream party with all kinds of delicious toppings.  They’re preparing for school.  Casandra, our children’s librarian and Royce, our new library director were out at the New Teacher Fair this past week welcoming new teachers to the area and getting them into the library to sign up for new library cards. In a few weeks, it’s National Library Card Month. It’s the most important card in your wallet!

Remember to stop by for storytimes in the month of August. They are open to children of all ages.  They’re on Mondays and Thursday at 11:15 a.m. and Tuesday evening at 11:15 a.m.  Lapsit for infants under 24 months is on Tuesdays at 11:15 a.m.

Library and Lunch will be held on Tuesday, August 12 at 12 p.m. to discuss “President Me: The America That’s in My Head” by Adam Carolla.  The last few months has seen quite serious novels.  All the members agreed that a comedic book was needed.  Grab your lunch and join in on the conversation. If you haven’t read the book that’s fine, you can still join!

Don’t forget book chat meets every third Thursday of the month.  The group discusses what books they are currently reading and what new books have hit the shelves at the library. This month’s will be on Thursday, August 21 at 6:30 p.m.

On Monday, August 25 at 6:30 p.m., Recipe Swap will take place.  This month’s recipes are baked goods.  Breads, cookies, or baked goods.

For the latest library programming take a peek at the library website or grab a newsletter from the circulation desk.  Stay tuned and connected through our social media pages.  If you have any questions or suggestions about books or programs don’t hesitate to ask.  We hope to see you at the library this summer!

New Non Fiction: Dog Travels, Families and Sandwiches

The Library has new non-fiction books and they cover a wide spectrum. There’s one which deals with a man and his dog, trekking across the United States and encountering dog lovers along the way. There’s another one that takes a look at the history of two families, one black, one white, and how it traces back to the same slave plantation. And finally, if you enjoy those delicious Vietnamese sandwiches called Banh Mi and wanted to make them yourself, there’s a cookbook that delivers over 50 recipes. Check these books out!

Travels with Casey
By Benoit Denizet-Lewis

A moody Labrador and his insecure human take a funny, touching cross-country RV trip into the heart of America’s relationship with dogs.

“I don’t think my dog likes me very much,” New York Times Magazine writer Benoit Denizet-Lewis confesses at the beginning of his journey with his nine-year-old Labrador-mix, Casey. Over the next four months, thirty-two states, and 13,000 miles in a rented motor home, Denizet-Lewis and his canine companion attempt to pay tribute to the most powerful interspecies bond there is, in the country with the highest rate of dog ownership in the world.

On the way, Denizet-Lewis—known for his deeply reported dispatches from far corners of American life—meets an irresistible cast of dogs and dog-obsessed humans. Denizet-Lewis and Casey hang out with wolf-dogs in Appalachia, search with a dedicated rescuer of stray dogs in Missouri, spend a full day at a kooky dog park in Manhattan, get pulled over by a K9 cop in Missouri, and visit “Dog Whisperer” Cesar Millan in California. And then there are the pet psychics, dog-wielding hitchhikers, and two nosy women who took their neighbor to court for allegedly failing to pick up her dog’s poop.

Travels with Casey is a delightfully idiosyncratic blend of memoir and travelogue coupled with an exploration of a dog-loving America. What does our relationship to our dogs tell us about ourselves and our values? Denizet-Lewis explores those questions—and his own canine-related curiosities and insecurities—during his unforgettable road trip through our dog-loving nation.

Tomlinson Hill: The Remarkable Story of Two Families who Share the Tomlinson Name – One White, One Black
by Chris Tomlinson

“Foreign correspondent Chris Tomlinson returns to Texas to discover the truth about his family’s slave-owning history. Tomlinson Hill tells the story of two families, one black and one white, who trace their ancestry to the same Central Texas slave plantation. Tomlinson discovers that his counterpart in the African American family is LaDainian Tomlinson, one of the greatest running backs in the history of the National Football League. LaDainian’s father was the last Tomlinson living on the Hill when he died in 2007. LaDainian’s earliest memories are from the idyllic community built by former slaves on the former plantation grounds. Chris learns that many of the stories surrounding the Civil War and the South that he learned as a child are simply untrue. He finds family letters that detail the mix of brutality and meager kindness that his relatives used to maintain order. He then compares and contrasts what the two families experienced at Emancipation, during Reconstruction, through the rise of the Ku Klux Klan and the Civil Rights era, and ending the day LaDainian’s father died. Tomlinson Hill is more than a history of two families; it tells the story of America and how slavery still shapes our society. And it ends with the fulfillment of Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream that one day the sons of slaves and the sons of slaveholders would meet in brotherhood”

The Banh Mi Handbook: Recipes for Crazy-Delicious Vietnamese Sandwiches
by Andrea Quynhgiao Nguyen

A cookbook devoted to the beloved Vietnamese sandwich, with 50 recipes ranging from classic fillings to innovative modern combinations. The Banh Mi Handbook opens a new realm of flavor for cooks who are tired of the same old sandwiches. Who can resist the addictive combination of crisp baguette, succulent fillings (such as grilled pork, roast chicken, or “the special,” which is loaded with garlicky pork liver pate and thin slices of Vietnamese cold-cuts) and toppings (like tangy daikon and carrot pickles, thin chile slices, refreshing cucumber strips, and pungent cilantro sprigs)? Banh mi are the epitome of delicious street food, and their popularity has skyrocketed in the US in recent years. Respected food writer Andrea Nguyen’s simple recipes for proteins, condiments, pickles, and more are a great introduction for those looking to venture into Vietnamese cuisine but who are intimidated by complicated recipes.

Unusual holidays and interesting cookbooks

When I looked to see what sort of things were going on today, July 27th, I found all kinds of interesting and unusual holidays. Today is officially regarded to be Bugs bunny’s birthday. In 1940 the wascally wabbit debuted in Tex Avery’s A Wild Hare.

Today is also Parents’ Day, a day set aside to promote responsible parenting and to recognize positive parental role models. It is celebrated on the fourth Sunday of July each year.

It is Aunties Day, a day honoring Aunts and Godmothers; Take Your Houseplant for a Walk Day; and Walk on Stilts Day (hopefully not while carrying your houseplant).

It also happens to be National Crème Brûlée Day. Although there does seem to be some confusion as to whether it falls on the 21st or 27th. Well, for our purposes we’ll say it’s the 27th.

In honor of National Crème Brûlée Day, I thought we might focus this column on some of the newest and more unusual cookbooks available for checkout.

Guy on Fire: 130 recipes for adventures in outdoor cooking
by Guy Fieri, with Ann Volkwein

This is the perfect time of year to explore outdoor cooking. Guy Fieri, of Food Network fame, introduces us to the equipment and rules of barbecue as well as some very interesting recipes (charred octopus and white bean salad anyone?) Some of the recipes included in this book might be a bit ambitious for the average camper, but I thought the baked ziti and the pineapple upside-down cake with rum blueberries might be worth a trying out.

Salad samurai : 100 cutting-edge, ultra-hearty, easy-to-make salads you don’t have to be vegan to love
by Terry Hope Romero

Salad Samurai ( I just really like the name), according to the book cover will “teach you the way of the veggie warrior, rescuing salads from their bland, boring reputation and ‘side’ status“. The author, Terry Hope Romero, is an award-winning chef and bestselling author. There are salad dressing recipes, hearty salads, seasonal salads, and even sweet and savory desert salads. So if you’re thinking vegan or just looking to find a really good new salad recipe, give this book a chance.

The can’t cook book : 100+ recipes for the absolutely terrified!
by Jessica Seinfeld

I’d like to mention The can’t cook book even though it’s checked out right now and I haven’t had a chance to get a good look at it. According to the description it will “show you how to prepare the deliciously simple food you love to order in restaurants…in easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions”. I think this cook book sounds like it’s more my speed.

This is the author’s second book. Her first book, Deceptively Delicious, was a #1 New York Times bestseller. If the author’s name sounds a bit familiar, it’s because her husband is Jerry Seinfeld. Yes, that Jerry Seinfeld.

Keep cookin’ cowgirl : more recipes for your home on the range
by Jill Charlotte Stanford

“Cowgirls have always known that what makes people happy is good food, prepared simply.” This book is filled with simple dishes that will stick to your ribs plus black and white photos and anecdotes of cowgirls past. These recipes are suitable for Sunday dinners with the family or for out on the range.

The author has written several other books including The Cowgirl’s Cookbook andYou Might Be a Cowgirl If…A Guide To Life on the Range.

The dairy-free kitchen : 100 recipes for all the creamy foods you love–without lactose, casein, or dairy
by Ashley Adams

This book actually does have a recipe for crème brûlée in it!

Ashley Adams has a blog on About.com called Dairy Free Cooking. She discovered, like many people, that she has a food allergy to dairy. She has since mastered the techniques of dairy-free substitutions in cooking and baking recipes.

The Dairy-Free Kitchen includes tips on how to avoid buying hidden dairy and finding nondairy calcium sources – including spinach, almonds, and sesame seeds among others. There is even a chapter on making dairy-free milks, butter, cheeses and yogurts. Now, I don’t think I would ever go so far as to make my own milk or cheese, but some of the recipes are interesting and don’t look too complicated. The last chapter is devoted to recipes just for kids, traditional family staples with a dairy-free twist.

These are just a few of the cookbooks currently available. Visit us at the library and see a display of all our newest cookbooks. As always, all of the books on display are available for checkout.

Freading is Fundamental

If you’re interested in e-books, then the Liberal Memorial Library has what you’re looking for. All you have to do is go to our website at lmlibrary.org, look on the left hand side, click on the “Downloadable Audiobook, EBook and Magazine Help” link and you’ll be on your way.

There are a few sites that you can use to download books like 3M and Enki, but I’m going to talk about Freading because it works a little differently way than the other library eBook services. It is more of a rental/subscription model, but it’s free. You don’t have to buy anything. It works on a token system.

Each patron using the service is allotted five tokens per week. The State Library pays Freading based on how many tokens are used (we don’t pay for the tokens you do not use.) Freading then pays the publishers based on how many times each of their books were borrowed by patrons of all libraries using Freading.

Now here’s the real neat thing — all books on Freading are always available. There are no holds. If there’s a book that you want to read, provided that you have enough tokens, you can download it immediately.

When logged in, the number of tokens you have used is shown in the upper right side on the Freading website. Unused tokens roll over for four weeks (based on when you first logged in to Freading), then your account is reset to zero, and a new five tokens are issued.

Books “cost” different numbers of tokens (four, two, or one), usually based on the age of the book.   This is always shown on the cover of the book in the upper left corner. Each book is on loan for 14 days.

You may “spend” your tokens however you wish.  You could get as many as five books with your five tokens each week if you wish to read books that are no longer new.  And if you run out of time while reading a book, most renewals are free or cost one token.

Probably, the biggest drawback with this site is that the selection will be limited. While you may not find many of the major publishers and authors on this site, there should be something from smaller publishers and lesser authors that may pique your interest. The bottom line is that Freading gives you another alternative to eBooks.

For more information on Freading and how to get started, go to http://www.kslib.info/digitalbooks.html.

Here are some books currently on Freading:

Charlie Brown and Friends by Charles M. Schulz
First published in 1950, the classic Peanuts strip now appears in more than 2,200 newspapers in 75 countries in 25 languages. Phrases such as “security blanket” and “good grief,” which originated in the Peanuts world, are now part of the global vernacular, and images of Charles Schulz’s classic characters—Charlie Brown kicking the football, Lucy leaning over Schroeder’s piano—are now universally recognized.

Brody by Larry Matysik
Written by his best friend and widow, this compelling biography of international wrestling superstar Bruiser Brody provides an unparalleled look at his life and death. At six-foot-five and a muscular 320 pounds, Brody was a giant in the ring who evoked fear in his opponents and respect from the wrestling community. In the geographical segregated wrestling world of the 1970s and 1980s, where each area had its own stars, Brodys intensity made him one of the few recognized as celebrities across the country. Featuring candid discussions about the nature of wrestling during Brodys heyday as well as a frank description of his horrific murder and its aftermath, this revealing account illustrates why Brody continues to be one of the most beloved figures in wrestling.

Safe At Home by Willie May Aikens
An intimate portrait of a tortured player, this memoir culls interviews, letters, and the personal account of former Kansas City Royal Willie Mays Aikens. Touted from a young age as the next Reggie Jackson, Aikens’ promising career quickly turned disastrous when he fell into drug abuse and was ultimately sentenced to the longest prison time ever given to a professional athlete. Not only an exploration of baseball and culture in the 1980s, this book also delves into the United States justice and penal systems.

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Adult Summer Reading is still going on through the end of July with programs:

E-reader/Tablet workshop – Tuesday, July 15 at 6:30 p.m.
Jump into the electronic age and find out how to use your tablet/e-reader as your own personal library. Learn how to find and download, audiobooks, e-books and e-magazines.

Sustainable Agriculture – Tuesday, July 22 @ 6:30 p.m.
Interested in finding out what is “sustainable agriculture?” This program will give you some insight on the integration of farming, animals, ecology and the environment as well as their relationships with one another.

Writing Workshop – Thursday, July 24 @ 6:30 p.m.
Have you ever wanted to write the great American novel, but didn’t know where to start? This will be the program that will get you going. We’ll have local authors come down and share their tales of how they got started on their novels and publications. They’ll show what techniques they used and how they got their inspirations for their ideas.

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And don’t forget our monthly programming:

Book Chat – Thursday, July 18 @ 6:30 p.m.

Recipe Swap – Monday, July 28 @ 6:30 p.m.