Now Is the 'Most Exciting Period to Be a Reader'

Ever feel like print is dying out? No more libraries, books, etc.?! Well, I found this in a newsletter I subscribe to. To the library world this is good news!

Now Is the 'Most Exciting Period to Be a Reader'

Amidst all the doom and gloom (Books are dying! Print is dead! The Kindle will destroy us all! Big Publishers want to kill your pets! ARMAGEDDON IS NIGH!!!), I just want to take a moment to proclaim that this is quite possibly the most exciting period to be a reader in my lifetime. Think about it: when was the last time books and publishing were as much a part of the daily conversation as they are now?... [I]n my thirty years on this planet, I cannot remember a time when so many people were discussing books themselves, the future of books, and what it all means for everyone involved. All in all books have a 'buzz' about them that I can't recall ever feeling. The future of publishing feels like an important discussion well outside the cul-de-sac of the industry itself, and there are more books and book-related discussions than I can remember in a long, long time. --Jason Pinter in the Huffington Post.

-Linda

Book Recommendation: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

by Rebecca Skloot

When Henrietta Lacks-- a poor, African-American mother of five-- died of cervical cancer in 1951, neither she nor her family knew that cells from her tumor had been taken without her knowledge. Henrietta's aggressive cancer cells were the first to grow, thrive, and replicate in culture. Soon these so-called HeLa cells were offered for sale for use in experiments. HeLa cells were used-- among many other things-- to develop the polio vaccine, and uncover the secrets of cancer and viruses. Henrietta Lacks' family, on the other hand, knew of none of this until more than 20 years after her death. Rebecca Skloot weaves multiple tales together, telling of Henrietta's difficult upbringing, the troubled lives of the children she left behind, the history of HeLa cell research and the ethical dilemmas surrounding informed consent. This book is not a relaxing read-- it will make you think, and it doesn't leave you with any easy answers-- but I found it difficult to put down.

-Vicky

A Day in the Life of CT Libraries- please help

Please help us record how important Perrot is to the community. Your comments may be used to support Connecticut libraries in the upcoming legislative session. If you have a moment, please respond to the following poll and optional question below.

Why did you visit Perrot's website or blog today? -- select all that apply
	To search for an item in our catalog
	To check your library card account
	To get the latest library news
	To find out about a library program or event
	To get basic information about the library- hours, etc.
	To look for book recommendations
	Other- please leave response in the comments
pollcode.com free polls

Optional additional question: Why is the Library important to you? Please leave your answer in the comments.

Thanks for your support!

A fine tribute

From the Greenwich Time, Sunday, February 7, 2010:

To the editor:

I'm writing this letter about the two librarians, Ms. Mac and Mrs. K, who died last year. They were two people very close to me and having them go was very hard. I would just like to have people remember them like the way I did. So I wrote this poem about them and I hope it makes everyone remember how great they were. Their influence will continue on forever.

Never Forget

Two stars shining bright.
Lighting up the darkest night.
Filling minds with hopes and dreams.
They were the greatest team.
Two stars gone no shine at all,
But darkness did not fall.
The hopes and dreams,
Of the greatest team,
Was kept alive.
Their ideas still thrive.
Don't forget the two stars.
Even through the hurtful scars.
They will be kept near.
They will never be far, no fears.
Just don't forget all they taught.
Remember how they never fought.
Keep them close at heart.
Even through their rough depart.

Thank you.

-Emily Hunt
Riverside

The writer is age 12.

InfoAnytime Is Back!

InfoAnytime's Ask a Librarian service was discontinued for several months after state budget cuts, but CT's libraries have rallied and contributed funds to bring it back! InfoAnytime is a virtual reference desk and is free of charge. This is a real-time web-based reference service staffed by professional librarians. You won’t need to download any special software– just have your library card and your question ready when you connect. So, when you have a question, particularly outside of regular library hours, you can have one of InfoAnytime librarians help you with your research. Just follow this link: InfoAnytime's 24/7 Virtual Reference.

New Graphic Novels in Youth Services

Copper [click here to place a hold]
Kazu Kibuishi's (Amulet) popular web comic is now available as a book. Copper is curious. Fred is fearful. Together boy and dog are off on a series of adventures powered by Copper's limitless imagination.

Grown-ups Are Dumb! (No Offense) [place hold]
Dumb parents, little brothers, gigantic messes, and homework-- this is the plight of young readers everywhere. And, until now, it had not been expressed by someone so close to the source-- ten-year-old Alexa Kitchen, the world's youngest professional cartoonist.

Missile Mouse 1: The Star Crusher [place hold]
Missile Mouse, secret agent for the Galactic Security Agency, is a risk taker and a rule breaker, which is why he's in hot water at GSA headquarters. Then RIP, the Rogue Imperium of Planets, kidnaps a scientist who knows about the Star Crusher, a doomsday machine capable of destroying the entire universe. Time to let loose the mouse!

Look for these and other great new graphic novels in the new book bin in Youth Services. Have a graphic novel series you'd like to see at Perrot? Comment on this post!

DVD Diva: Romantic Movies

Romance will soon be in the air with Valentine’s Day coming, so why not have a candlelit dinner and watch one of these romantic movies with your sweetie:

It’s always fun to watch Hugh Grant fumble his way through life as he tries to find his special someone. Two that I particularly like are Notting Hill with Julia Roberts and Four Weddings and a Funeral with Andie McDowell.

Michael Douglas and Annette Benning combine politics and romance in The American President.

And when you combine intrigue and romance and the great line “We'll always have Paris,” you get Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman in one of the all-time favorite romantic movies, Casablanca.

Shakespeare in Love features a young Shakespeare, out of ideas and short of cash, when he meets his ideal woman and is inspired to write one of his most famous plays, Romeo and Juliet.

You've Got Mail has Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan falling in love over the internet, a not-uncommon way to meet your mate these days.

In Jerry Maguire, Renee Zellweger tells Tom Cruise “You had me at hello” and a new catch-phrase was born.

And in Love Story, Ryan O'Neill tells Ali McGraw "Love means never having to say you're sorry."