LiveMocha.com: Free Online Language Learning Community

Since Rosetta Stone is no longer offering its service to libraries, we thought we'd share another neat language learning site that we found: Livemocha.com offers lessons plans English, Spanish, French, Hindi, German, and Mandarin Chinese. It's also a sort of social networking site-- users can practice conversations with native speakers of the language they're learning, or submit writing or audio samples for native speakers to analyze. Livemocha keeps users motivated with competitions and a language buddy system.

The Sister, and More Great Fall Reads

THE SISTER, BY POPPY ADAMS

[Fiction] What a strange and disconcerting book, probably perfect for book clubs. Set in England, a lepidopterist and his family (two daughters and a beautiful wife who has a propensity for sherry) live in a crumbling mansion. Mother dies, father dies, sister flees to London and Ginny, the elder, becomes a recluse, living alone among the moldering trays of moths and butterflies. When Vivi returns after 50 years, stories are revealed from different perspectives. To me it seems as if the author verbally breaks a string of pearls and they scatter in a million directions. Unfortunately these pearls are not tidily gathered up, but remain lurking in the corners leaving the reader with many unanswered questions– I guess this is what is so intriguing and unsettling about this book. You will find it an interesting and provocative book that repels and yet attracts the reader. -The Reference Librarians

• For more recommendations, check out the new Great Reads from the Reference Librarians list!

Our Picks! for September: Manners

This month's Youth Services book recommendations list is all about manners!

Parents can also take a look at Emily Post's The Gift of Good Manners: A Parent's Guide to Raising Respectful, Kind, Considerate Children, or Letitia Baldrige's More Than Manners!: Raising Today's Kids to Have Kind Manners and Good Hearts, both located in our Adult Department.

Also, the Emily Post Institute has a very comprehensive etiquette website which features an entire section for kids and parents. You can print thank you notes, get tips on table manners, classroom etiquette, and so much more!

A Great Read from the Reference Desk

The Fourth Watcher, by Timothy Hallinan
[Mystery] This is a new suspense novel that would take center stage on our “For the Guys” display table. Poke Rafferty is a travel writer in Bangkok who is swept up into the filthy underbelly of the city. We have smuggling, counterfeiting, slave and sex trades, all alive and well. The dialog is smart and snappy and the suspense builds to the very end. A great fun read!

-Lynn

Window Repairs

A few photos of the windows in the children's program room being repaired.

I'll bet you've never even noticed that open book motif!

[click on the photos to view larger versions]

Learn a new language, or refresh your current skills

We are adding some terrific language CD’s and books in the adult department. We now have Basic Turkish, Irish Conversation, Norwegian, and Conversational Arabic-- to name a few of the CDs. If you want to study oral and written Japanese, for example, we have an Essential Japanese Phrase Book and a new book called The Japanese Alphabet: the 48 Essential Characters, in addition to a CD set for speaking Japanese. All of these materials can be found in the nonfiction stacks on the second floor in the 400’s.

Get outside this weekend...

...with the help of the Connecticut Walk Book. The Walk Book is Connecticut's definitive trail guide, published by the Connecticut Forest & Park Association. The book is split into two volumes: Connecticut Walk Book: East, and Connecticut Walk Book: West.

The books include clear, updated trail maps of over 400 miles of trails; engaging commentary on trail legends and lore, as well as geology and natural history; and detailed driving directions and parking info-- so you have no excuse not to get off the couch!

Children's Program Registration Is Going on Now!

Registration for Youth Services' Fall Program Session is going on now through Tuesday, September 2nd, 2008. You may view the program schedule here.

• Our program registration is by lottery
• You must have an active library card in good standing to register
• Obtain a registration postcard for the program of your choice from the Youth Services Circulation Desk
• Fill out ALL of the required information. Incomplete applications will not be considered
• Address the reverse of the card to yourself
• Affix a first-class stamp (42¢)
• Leave the card at the Youth Services Desk
• Registration postcards/lottery results will be mailed back to you within a week of the close of registration

Questions? Please give us a call at 203-637-8802, or comment on this post.

SEE OUR WINNERS!

Youth Services' Summer Reading Contest has ended, and now you can see all of our winners! We gave away one prize each week, plus a very special GRAND PRIZE.

Please have a look at our winners here!

Books for the Guys

We have a display of fiction titles that may be of particular interest to men in the Rand Room.

This is a changing display and more books are added daily. We have had titles from Clive Cussler, John Grisham, Patrick O’Brian, and Scott Turow, among others, and it’s proved to be popular. All the books are fiction, mysteries, or science fiction titles.

Take a look!

Photos from Playtivity

Take a look at some photos from Playtivity's performance at Perrot last Wednesday:

http://www.perrotlibrary.org/playtivity.htm

Can you spot yourself drumming and dancing? :)

Please use caution in our parking lot

Due to paving work on both Sound Beach Avenue and Laddins Rock Road, there may be cars entering the parking lot through the exit, and vice versa. Please use caution in the parking lot.

MOVIE IN THE PARK: POSTPONED TO RAIN DATE

Tonight's movie in the park is POSTPONED due to the weather to TOMORROW night, Sunday August 3rd, 2008, at 8:30 P.M.

Don't Forget!: Movie in the Park this Saturday

Perrot will be showing CHARIOTS OF FIRE in Binney Park this Saturday, August 2nd, 2008 at 8:30 P.M. (Rain Date: Sunday, August 3rd, 2008)

The film is based on the true story of British athletes preparing for and competing in the 1924 Summer Olympics, and won four Academy Awards. It is rated PG.