Libraries across the country—including our Teen Lounge—will be celebrating Teen Tech Week March 8th-March 14th.  This year’s theme is “libraries are for making…”  Our YA librarians are so excited to get teens making that they have special events and programs planned that extend beyond this week and stretch into April and May.   With the Maker Movement on the rise, it’s become clearer and clearer that a library is a place where inspiration turns into action.  Right here!  Instead of reading a how-to and then going home to tinker with your masterpiece, you can stay at the library and create it yourself!  Our Innovation Station is a cutting-edge space where teens and adults (and children accompanied by an adult) can use our many technologies to bring their ideas to life.  As a matter of fact, the Innovation Station will play host to a number of Teen Tech events, offering our local teens some great opportunities to get familiar with advanced technology and some really fun equipment.  Be prepared to feel creative!   These upcoming programs are so exciting…I’m jealous of the teens that get to participate!  The fun kicks off on March 14th in our Innovation Station kitchen when the Baking Coach demonstrates the…Read More »

Although I am a self-professed non-football fan (no offense to all those who are), I ended up watching more of last month’s Super Bowl than I had intended.  Of course, watching the Super Bowl also means watching the commercials.  One that really struck a chord with me came from Always.  As part of their Like a Girl initiative, which is meant to encourage young girls to retain their confidence during the difficult years of puberty, Always created a powerful commercial to show how doing something “like a girl” should not carry a negative connotation; to do something “like a girl” means to do something to the best of your ability, to try your hardest.  What an important message for people to understand early in life: one’s gender (and race, ethnicity, religion, and sexual orientation, for that matter), is not a hindrance.  To be a girl, to be a woman, is to be a human being, as capable and powerful as any other human being.   This is an especially timely message given that March is Women’s History Month.  In fact, this Sunday, March 8th is International Women’s Day, dedicated to promoting gender equality and the advancement of women and girls around the world….Read More »

Great writers are pretty inspiring, aren’t they? They take intangible things, like words and grammar, to build entire worlds.  We’ve never met these people, yet we feel like we know them because we know their words.  This kind of devotion and adoration needs somewhere to go.  Enter the fan letter.   Social media is such a constant presence that it can be easier and quicker to just send a Tweet to your favorite author or Instagram a photo of you with their book in hand.  But, there’s still something special about a properly written letter.  When writing to an author whose work left you in tears or convinced you to contact an estranged parent, how can your feelings be contained within 140 characters?   I’ve compiled a list of Do’s and Don’ts that you might want to keep in mind when writing your own fan letter:   Do believe that your voice matters. You may be asking yourself, why would a big shot, award-winning, Oprah book club author care about what I think?  Uh, because they wouldn’t be where they are without you! You read the book, bought the book, told your friends, family, coworkers, and friendly neighborhood librarians that…Read More »

Imagine walking into your local library and realizing that the only decorations on the walls are standard clocks.  No artwork, no interesting details to catch your eye and make you think.  All you see are bare walls, wooden desks, and tall book stacks. That doesn’t sound like a welcoming environment, does it? Imagine trying to bring your child there for storytime or your teen for a crafting program; the waiting room at a doctor’s office would look friendlier than the inside of the library.   We want your visits to the LPL to be as rich as possible, from the moment you walk through our doors until the moment you leave.  We offer our patrons an experience, including excellent customer service and a great variety of materials and programs.  Yet, a special part of the LPL experience is easily overlooked: the amazing artwork we display throughout the building.  Each painting, mural, sculpture, and wall hanging has been specially chosen for its symbolic meaning, historical value, or overall aesthetic.   The next time you visit the LPL, consider taking a walking tour of the library’s artwork.   Your first stop should be the “Levittown Fiftieth Anniversary Quilt,” located in the front lobby. …Read More »

It’s the season of flower bouquets, chocolates, candy hearts, and stuffed animals holding hearts.  This can mean only one thing: Valentine’s Day is upon us.   When we’re kids, this is a fun holiday. We get to pick out superhero or Barbie valentines and hand them out to our classmates; we eat chocolates and mounds of tiny sugary hearts that offer messages of love and affirmations that we are in fact “2 cute;” and we receive an array of fluffy teddy bears from our adoring parents and grandparents.   Things become complicated as we get older.  Expectations are higher; we want romance and dinner reservations and jewelry and Hallmark greeting cards.  Our focus narrows so much that we lose sight of how inclusive Valentine’s Day is meant to be.  It’s a time to celebrate romance, that’s true, but it’s also a time to celebrate and express the affection and appreciation we have for all of our loved ones.   Valentine’s Day is non-negotiable at this point; you can roll your eyes at Cupid all you want, but this day is here to stay.  We can feel overwhelmed by romantic expectations or we can try to figure out some non-traditional ways…Read More »

I nearly fell off my chair when I heard the shocking, glee-inducing news that rocked the literary world and books lovers everywhere: Harper Lee will be publishing a long-awaited second novel this summer . The book is titled Go Set a Watchman and it will be available July 14th—remarkably, nearly 55 years to the day that her sole previous novel To Kill a Mockingbird was published.  Even more remarkable: Go Set a Watchman, written before To Kill a Mockingbird and put aside, is a sequel of sorts, told from the perspective of an adult Scout (Lee has apparently referred to it as the “parent to Mockingbird”).   This is mind-boggling.  In fact, when I first heard this news, via a colleague’s Facebook page, I commented: my mind is being blown right now!!!!  Harper Lee has been considered a “one hit wonder” for decades.  She’s been in good company: Margaret Mitchell and Ralph Ellison, for example, also published a single novel during their lifetimes. Granted, Lee’s one “hit” is considered a masterpiece; it’s taught in just about every middle school or high school in the country; it is held in high esteem for its social commentary on difficult topics, including racism and social inequality; and it won Lee the Pulitzer Prize.  For some, To Kill a Mockingbird is not just their favorite book—it is the book.  I know that for many students…Read More »

In preparing for this post on Black History Month, which is celebrated throughout the month of February, I decided that I would try to learn about some lesser known African-American historical figures.  I came across names like Bessie Coleman , Jimmy Winkfield and Edward Bouchet , among others.  They were, respectively, the first African-American female pilot, a two-time Kentucky Derby winning jockey (his 1902 win was the last time an African-American rode the winner at the Kentucky Derby), and a renowned physicist and professor who was also the first African-American to earn a PhD from an American university.   Our collective history is built upon so many stories that it unfortunately becomes easy to lose many along the way.  The extraordinary people mentioned above lived lives that challenged societal assumptions.  They fought for rights that I take for granted, rights that many of us take for granted.  And yet, I had never heard of them. It is impossible to hear every story, to know and celebrate every single individual that accomplished great things and, in their own way, helped to contribute to a more open-minded world.  Black History Month is an important time to get to know more stories; we all know some, but there are…Read More »

As you may have noticed, recent Checking the Shelf posts have focused on setting and achieving goals for our real lives and for our reading lives.  Make no mistake about it: one’s reading life often feels like an entirely separate existence, a shadow existence that lasts for minutes or hours at a time and gives us the freedom to walk through grand cathedrals of words at our leisure.  Our reading life is so vital to our real life that it is important to check in every once in a while to re-evaluate its overall health, just as you would take your car in for a tune-up or bring yourself to the doctor for a physical examination.  The results of these evaluations may include the type of aftercare suggestions that I have already given you: appreciate your love for so-called “ guilty pleasure ” books and (perhaps) make it a goal to work your way through the stacks of books you wish you had read years ago.   My final recommendation, as we come to the end of the first month of a new year, is that you dare yourself to read outside your comfort zone.   It is so easy to fall into a rut.  Whether it’s the foods…Read More »

If you are like me—obsessed with both books and movies—the recently announced 2015 Academy Award nominations probably have you pretty darn excited.  In the midst of buzzed about surprises (Marion Cotillard for Best Actress and the incredible Whiplash—my personal favorite—for Best Picture) and snubs (no Jennifer Aniston for Best Actress and no love for the Director of Selma, Ava DuVernay), the Academy recognized several films and performances that drew inspiration from books.  Some of these were mentioned in our Read a Movie post.  If you still haven’t gotten around to reading an adaptation (tsk tsk), think about making the Oscar ceremony date of February 22nd as your new deadline.  Let’s get reacquainted with a few of the nominees, shall we?   If you belong to a book club or keep up with the best sellers list, odds are that at least one of your recent reads has been recognized by the Academy.  For example, Wild based on Cheryl Strayed’s bestseller (and Oprah Book Club pick), garnered a Best Actress nomination for star and producer Reese Witherspoon.  Laura Dern, playing mom to Witherspoon’s Cheryl, is nominated for Best Supporting Actress.  Joining Witherspoon in the Lead Actress category is Julianne Moore for Still Alice.  Lisa Genova, a…Read More »

Last week, we discussed guilty pleasure reading—those books you read and feel compelled to hide for one reason or another.  This week, I thought we could talk about the books you are embarrassed to have never read.  I don’t know about you, but I have a long list of classics that I am ashamed to say I know nothing about. Of course, as a former student of literature, a current library employee, and a life-long lover of all things books, I can tell you some basic facts about Fahrenheit 451, Moby Dick, and Pride & Prejudice; but, if you want to debate characters or discuss favorite quotes, you should look elsewhere.   I begin every year with the same goal: to read at least one classic work of literature.  Inevitably, I get distracted by the latest bestseller or word-of-mouth sensation that I just have to read immediately (!!!)  It’s the classic Shiny New Toy Syndrome.  This probably explains why a crisp copy of The Grapes of Wrath has been sitting on my bookshelf for at least seven years, patiently waiting to be opened.  For the past three or four winters, I have had every intention of cozying up with a…Read More »

Have you ever chosen to read something on your Nook instead of in hardcover because you didn’t want the person sitting next to you on the train to know what you were reading? Attempted to hide the latest tawdry romance, YA vampire drama or memoir by a C-list actor in between more “respectable” books when you’re at the library, hoping the title and author get ignored in the mix?  Yeah, me too.   We all indulge in a little junk every once in a while, whether it’s Doritos or trashy reality TV, or even a poorly written but thoroughly enjoyable book.  We gobble them up and then feel the need to read a New York Times bestseller, as though one can cancel out the other.  But why should it?  I read many award winners and bestsellers; some live up to the hype and some do not.  Just because a critic gives a book their stamp of approval does not automatically mean that everyone who reads it will love it, and the opposite is also true; as they say, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.   Instead of judging what others are reading, I say Bravo to those who read,…Read More »

The final week of December can be a busy and difficult time.  We are forced to face the cold, hard truth of our credit card balances, say goodbye to visiting loved ones, and try to avoid all the Top 100 Songs of the Year countdowns that play continuously on every popular radio station.  In our quieter moments, we cannot help but reflect on the highs and lows of the previous year.  In doing so, it’s easy to fall into the trap of looking back on the year with…whatever the opposite of rose-colored glasses would be. Gray- colored glasses? Lilly- colored glasses?  I don’t know which metaphor is accurate, but I encourage everyone to take off all non-prescription glasses and just be honest with themselves.   Starting fresh is great.  It’s important to hit the mental reset button when we are feeling overwhelmed or disappointed with ourselves or others.  The thing about the reset button, though, is that it doesn’t automatically disappear on January 2nd; it’s available to us year-round.  When we resolve to go to the gym five days a week, but end up spending most of February eating chocolate truffles and watching Charlie Brown TV specials, we can hit the reset button….Read More »

Last week, I offered you some practical advice on how to survive the winter.  We talked about planning for emergency situations and getting your home and automobile ready for the crazy weather that will surely arrive.  Today, I would like to shift the focus from survival to enjoyment, from getting through the long, cold days to making the most of them.   It’s strange how from December through March our homes, which are usually places of comfort and rest, can feel like jail cells when we have nowhere else to go.  We all tend to find this season a little claustrophobic.  We stay indoors, sometimes through choice and sometimes through necessity—it can be downright dangerous to drive to the movie theater or the bowling alley when there’s three feet of snow on the ground and freezing temperatures.  I tend to think of these next few months as a time to just get through, you know what I mean?  I’m not challenging myself to hike mountains or learn a new skill.  But I should.  Time is a precious commodity not to be wasted.   I’ve decided to compile a list of ten fun ways we can survive the winter without going…Read More »

As I write this, it is a sunny 43° here in Levittown.*+ I went without a coat today and even had my windows down as I drove home during my lunch break.  Of course, this is Mother Nature’s greatest trick: Setting aside a day or two here and there during the winter to fool us into believing that we are safe…before ultimately slamming us with weather so brutal our bodies ache from just stepping outside.   As Long Islanders, we know how dramatically the weather can change from one day to the next or even from one hour to the next.  Last winter, it seemed like the snow would never end and we would have to live with wet socks and cold fingers for eternity.  Let’s also not forget Hurricane Sandy, which taught us many important lessons, two of which are that meteorologists are in fact sometimes right and that it is important to be prepared for any emergency.  This is why it is a smart idea to begin readying our homes and automobiles (not to mention our physical and emotional selves) for the potentially hazardous conditions to come.   I am not a homeowner, so I cannot begin to…Read More »

Have you started your holiday shopping, yet? I’ve been at it since before Thanksgiving, combing every website I can think of and hunting for secret deals.  I would go into more detail but I have a loving and loyal circle of family and friends who read this blog—or at least, I hope they do (If I find out otherwise, they’re all getting socks and fruitcakes next year, let me tell you)—and I would hate to ruin the surprise.   I have a solution for us all; an idea to help narrow down the choices and aid in finding the perfect gift: give books.  I know, I know: Doesn’t it go against logic for a library blogger to encourage people to buy books?  No, it doesn’t, and let me tell you why.  I know from personal experience that buying books and borrowing books from the library are not mutually exclusive.  I own hundreds of books, but I have also checked out hundreds (probably more like thousands) of library books.  You can be both a steadfast library patron and a book store regular.  So, I do not feel like a traitor when I tell you to buy books as gifts.  I especially…Read More »

Every month, our Reference Librarians are inspired to make creative displays based on the current season, upcoming holidays, and relevant special events.  For the month of December, we are inviting you to enjoy and participate in our celebration of the winter season as we help you to prepare for the upcoming holidays.   There are several components to the Reference Department’s “Hints for the Holidays” display.  Our “Seasons Readings” section includes specially chosen books that are perfect for cozy nights.  Also included are seasonal cookbooks—because the holidays would not be complete without delicious homemade food.  We know how meaningful it can be to share a meal with family and friends, and this is why the LPL staff has also contributed some of our favorite holiday recipes, copies of which are free for the taking.  Think of them as gifts that are coming straight from our homes, from our hearts, to you and your family.  Also, be sure to take a look at the beautiful snowflakes that are hanging from our ornamental tree; they were created using the 3D MakerBot.  If you would like to find out how to make your own, consider visiting our Innovation Station ( appointments are recommended).   Now, we…Read More »

*The first in a series of entries highlighting Hidden LPL Treasures (AKA little-known services we offer and features of our library that we think are pretty great!).   Everyone knows that libraries are time capsules.  For all the technology we harness in order to propel ourselves into the future, we take just as much care in preserving our past.  In a library, you can look to your left and find a Nook, look to your right and see a book on Socratic philosophy published in 1965. The past and the present, side by side. Perhaps the greatest symbol of our connection to the past is our microfilm collection and the microfilm reader we have available to the public in the Media Department.   Our storage area houses hundreds of microfilm reels.   This collection is an invaluable research tool, whether for academic, professional, or personal purposes.  We carry the usual suspects (Newsday and The New York Times) and the unusual, more obscure suspects (Journal of Experimental Psychology and Mental Hygiene).   We are especially proud of our collection of local newspapers, including The Long Island Star Journal, The Levittown Eagle, and The Levittown Tribune.  In fact, we are one of only two…Read More »

When meeting writers whom you admire it can be difficult to adequately explain in the few seconds they scribble their signatures (or the swirls they pass off as their signatures) how much their work has meant to you.  Actually, let me rephrase that: it can be difficult to express how much their work has meant to you without sounding like an overeager, clichéd stalker.  If you are like me and become tongue-tied and embarrassed, you almost always sound like a high-pitched chipmunk and either talk too much or walk away from the exchange having only uttered Thank you and maybe your name, if personalization is your thing (not everyone likes personalized autographs. You may use this as a discussion topic at your next cocktail party).   I have the autographs of five published writers—two poets and three novelists.  Each encounter falls on the general spectrum of awkwardness, with some being very awkward and others only slightly awkward.  What I have found from personal experience is that almost all of the discomfort is on the part of the fan; our reading experiences can be so emotional, so personal, that we feel connected to the writer, who is in fact a total…Read More »

Last week, I hopped aboard the trusty LIRR to attend a concert in Manhattan with two friends that I hadn’t seen in a while; work, school, and a multitude of personal commitments can often conspire to keep us away from the people whose company we value the most.  We had a great time catching up and bonding over our shared love for this particular singer-songwriter.  We discussed the songs we hoped she would play and the reasons why we loved those songs so much.  The show was incredible—everything we hoped it would be.   When I sat down to brainstorm ideas about my next Checking the Shelf post, I kept thinking about the experience of seeing live music with friends.  It occurred to me that the LPL offers this same experience on a smaller scale.  Our PR department secures talented musicians and singers that appeal to a large spectrum of tastes: Jazz, Folk, Rock, Country, Big Band, and more.  Now, I know that in all likelihood the LPL will never host Justin Timberlake, Taylor Swift, Blake Shelton, or other worldwide, chart-topping superstars.*   BUT, the performers we are fortunate enough to welcome are talented and accomplished in their own rights.  I…Read More »

By now, it shouldn’t be a surprise that Hollywood looks to the bookshelf when it comes to generating content for the big screen.  While some adaptations receive praise from critics, moviegoers, and readers across the board, fans of the source material can often feel disappointed by sloppy film versions that change major plot points and delete entire characters.   There’s an image that has circulated English classrooms for years and is now making the rounds on Pinterest:  An iceberg bobbing in the ocean, with about 90% below the surface. The tiny bit hovering above the water is labeled “A Film” and the large portion floating below is “The Book.” The message: a film can barely scratch the surface when it comes to conveying the depths of a well-written book.   Listed below are some recent book-to-movie adaptations. Several are still in theaters, others are forthcoming, and for some you may have to wait for the DVD to become available. I have only included movies released in 2014, though I know there are plenty of adaptations hitting theaters in the new year. Also, please feel free to leave comments on the subject or to let us know if there are any…Read More »

Happy Saturday, Readers!  Today is not only the start of a new weekend, but also of a new month, and each day is filled with the possibility of success, enjoyment of all kinds, and exciting opportunities.  As you change your calendar and contemplate how to make this month a time for personal growth, consider challenging yourself to reach a new creative goal.   In our brief time together as blogger and reader, I have encouraged you to be industrious and join the Maker movement.  Now, I want to encourage all of the aspiring writers out there to join a different movement.  November is National Novel Writing Month (also known as NaNoWriMo).  Beginning today and ending at 11:59 P.M. on November 30th, writers are tasked with taking these 30 days and creating a 50,000 word rough draft of a novel.   NaNoWriMo is an online initiative and its website offers tips and encouragements along the way, as well as various forums for you to connect with other writers.  You can keep track of your word totals and earn “badges” for your participation.  A finished and validated 50,000 word novel can even win you prizes at the end of the month.  Of course,…Read More »

Halloween is the start of what can be a very busy decorating season.  There are windows that need embellishment, lawns to dress up, and parties for which you need to prepare.  The LPL’s Innovation Station  is home to several different pieces of equipment that can help you create original decorations for your home and workplace.   Using our 3D printer, 3Doodler and/or crafting machines will not only save you money, but also give you the power to design decorations not offered at local chain stores.  For example,  Thingiverse , the website that allows makers to download programs which can then be uploaded and printed by the MakerBot 3D printer, offers a wide variety of Halloween-themed programs.  You can make skulls and bats to adorn your home, or a pumpkin that can serve as a candy dish for your Halloween party.  You can even make holiday cookie cutters.  Thingiverse is brimming with possibilities.  All you have to do is search for what you need—you might even be able to make the missing piece to your son’s Halloween costume.  Even better: the library has glow-in-the-dark filament to make your 3D decor spookier.  These options are available to you for the bargain price of 50 cents per half hour…Read More »

  Nobody panic, but we are now one week away from Halloween!  Only one week remains to check off the tasks on your Halloween To Do list, including but not limited to the following: purchase or make a costume for yourself, significant other, child and/or pet; bake at least one spooky sweet treat like “bloody finger” cookies or ghost meringues; and decide if this year you will be a pretzels and pennies or Twix and Twizzlers giver (this last one is a very significant life decision, and on behalf of children everywhere, I beg of you: choose the candy).   For those who celebrate, Halloween offers a fun opportunity to be creative. We can show our spirit and innovation through unique costumes, themed foods, and home decor.  In fact, it is easy to understand why people who are super into reading might also be super into Halloween.  Think about it: Halloween gives us the chance to be someone or something completely different, perhaps even otherworldly, and reading offers the same promise.  Both allow us to use our imaginations and see the world through a different lens.   Given this, why not indulge your inner bookworm this Halloween and look to your…Read More »

It’s time to gather your freshly picked pumpkins and apples and put them to good use for National Bake and Decorate Month!  With the holidays quickly approaching, October is the perfect time to take a step back and enjoy the seasonal ingredients and flavors that only come around once a year.  Baking provides the perfect opportunity to experiment with recipes that could become family traditions or even start national trends; you could create this season’s cake pops!   The LPL is the place to go for baking books of all styles.  Whether you’re just learning how to cream butter and sugar or your killer soufflé is the talk of every family party, there are always new recipes and techniques to perfect.  You should also keep up with the library newsletter and website (and Checking the Shelf, of course!), as the library offers baking classes on occasion.  Some of these classes will take place in our new Innovation Station, affording you a great opportunity to familiarize yourself with its many facets.   Speaking from personal experience, baking (especially from scratch) will give you a tremendous sense of pride.  Anytime we can create something with our hands, especially something that can be…Read More »

This Saturday, October 18th marks the beginning of a new era at the Levittown Public Library. After a year of planning and months of renovations, our Innovation Station will be officially open to the public!  This amazing space is the result of teamwork, dedication, and careful planning.  My colleagues and I could not be more excited for our patrons to get in there and imagine, create, and innovate!   Before I go any further, there is an obvious question: What is an Innovation Station?  Fair enough.  An Innovation Station is the name we have given to what is commonly known as a MakerSpace.  A MakerSpace is a community center that offers a variety of technologies and equipment that are meant to turn creativity into action, foster the sharing of ideas, and encourage learning by doing.  The Maker Movement is a thriving culture, with a magazine and yearly Maker Faire dedicated to teaching the DIY approach.   A MakerSpace can take form in many ways and offer technologies that run the gamut from low to high.  The LPL’s Innovation Station—much like the LPL itself—is all about mixing the cutting edge with the traditional. The following is an inventory of the machines and equipment currently offered:  …Read More »

Welcome to the first post of the official Levittown Public Library blog, Checking the Shelf! The LPL has been a community staple since 1951 and it is safe to say that libraries have changed quite a bit since then.  We now have e-books, iPads, an online catalog, and many other technologies that were unimaginable sixty-three years ago.  This is an especially exciting time at the LPL.  In addition to this blog, we have a spiffy new website and a new and improved logo.  We are also working on several projects that we are excited to unveil to the public, including a state-of-the-art Innovation Station, complete with the latest in 3-D technology.   The LPL will continue to evolve, but our number one priority will always be you.  That’s right, YOU!  We are constantly trying to find new ways of communicating with our patrons; we want to know what you need, and we want you to know about all the services we work hard to provide.  This is why we decided to start Checking the Shelf.  From now on, you can stop by our blog to learn more about upcoming programs, the latest books to read, random factoids, little known LPL…Read More »