Edgar Awards Just Announced!

Every year in the spring, the Mystery Writers of America announce the Edgar Allan Poe Awards (aka The Edgars) to recognize the best of mystery fiction and non-fiction. Past winners have included bestselling authors such as James Lee Burke, Dick Francis, Margaret Maron and Lawrence Block. Just announced yesterday, the winners for 2011 are as follows:

Best Novel
The Lock Artist by Steve Hamilton

Best First Novel
Rogue Island by Bruce DeSilva

Best Paperback Original
Long Time Coming by Robert Goddard

Best Fact Crime
Scoreboard, Baby: A Story of College Football, Crime and Complicity by Ken Armstrong and Nick Perry

Best Critical/Autobiographical
Charlie Chan: The Untold Story of the Honorable Detective and his Rendezvouz with American History by Yunte Huang

Best Young Adult
Interrogration of Gabriel James by Charlie Price

The Simon & Schuster - Mary Higgins Clark Award
The Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths

Lyric Opera of Chicago's New Director

The Lyric Opera of Chicago has announced on April 20, 2011, that they will have a new director in October. Anthony Freud, general dirctor and CEO of the Houston Grand Opera, will succeed William Mason. He became Houston's third general dirctor and the company's first CEO in March 2006. Previous to that he was the general director of the Welsh National Opera from 1994 to 2005.

Mr. Freud has served on the juries of many international singing competitions and chaired the jury of the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Competition. From 1992 to 1994, he lived in Holland and was the Executive Producer for Philips Classics.

Mr. Freud graduated, with honors, with a law degree from the University of London King's College in 1978 and became a lawyer in 1979. From 2002 to 2005 he served as Chairman of Opera Europa.

"I am one of the few people who can honestly say they are earning their living by pursuing their passion," Freud said. He will begin his post in October 2011.

How Much IS That Homegrown Tomato?

Hey, home vegetable gardeners! This book is for you. The $64 Dollar Tomato: How One Man Nearly Lost His Sanity, Spent a Fortune, and Endured an Existential Crisis in Quest for the Perfect Garden by William Alexander is one of those great "we're all in this together, gardeners," kind of read.

His stories about his gardening adventures in the Hudson Valley area of New York (he has a lot of clay soil - just like our area) are pretty darn funny. His critter fight ends up being summed up by his co-worker as - "You may be smarter - but they have more time."

The title comes from the estimate he makes to figure out how much one of his heirloom tomatoes ends up costing him. I think his cost is much higher than normal gardeners (and I don't think he had any appreciation in the figure). I know my tomatoes come out much more cheaply, but I am not having a landscaping professional making/creating my garden beds either!

A fun gardening read for the vegetable grower - perhaps something for the hours in the spring - when you just can't get in the garden yet!

Discover the Teen Scene!

The Glenview Public Library has a great resource available to all high school teens---THE TEEN SCENE! This room was specifically designed for the high school teen to be able to study and have fun, with the Library's vast YA fiction collection, graphic novels, AND three gaming systems with flat-screen TV for those who might want to relax playing a video game.

Nintendo Wii, XBOX360, and Playstation 3 are all housed in the Teen Scene, all a teen needs to do is stop at the Reader Services Desk to sign up and choose from a vast selection of games for each system. Teens can play solo or with a friend. This is a great way to unwind at the end of the day!

There are also two long booths perfect for group projects or chatting with friends. Covered drinks are allowed in the Teen Scene, same as the rest of the Library.

We also have several board games to choose from that can be used in the Teen Scene. Please ask to view our collection, which includes Boggle, Chess, Checkers, Scattergories, Monopoly, and more.

There have been several programs exclusive to the Teen Scene--such as teen movie nights, finals study nights, and two upcoming Teen Game Days in the Summer. Check out what is going on at the Library for teens by picking up a flyer in the Teen Scene, in the teen kiosk.

There are also several opportunities for teens who like to volunteer their time by joining the VolunTeen Corps. VolunTeen Applications can be found in the teen kiosk or by stopping at the Reader Services Desk.

Any questions about all-things-teen can be directed to Nicole M. Mills, Young Adult Librarian, at 847-729-7500 or email nmills@glenviewpl.org.

Take Me Out to the Ballgame!

Yes, it is that time of year again. Whether you’re a Cubs fan or a White Sox fan, it’s time to throw out that first pitch and say “Play Ball”!! Take a look at these DVDs.

A good place to start would be  America’s Classic Ballparks, which traces the history of Wrigley Field, Comiskey Park, Fenway Park and Tiger Stadium.

                                     

White Sox fans might want to relive the 2005 World Series against the Houston Astros,

there’s Sox Pride – World Series 05. Houston Astros vs. Chicago White Sox.

For Cubs fans, there’s Chicago Cubs Legends which showcases memorable games such as Kerry Wood’s record tying game against Houston on May 6, 1998, and Ryne Sandberg’s single handed effort against the St.Louis Cardinals on June 23, 1984.

So have fun and bring out the CrackerJack! Batters up!

The Social Network

This month's GlenVIEWINGS film screening of Academy Award nominee The Social Netowork celebrates National Library Week (April 10th - 16th) and its theme 'Create Your Own Story @ the Library'. The Social Network is based on the bestselling book Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook by Ben Mezrich. It's the story of Mark Zuckerberg, and his, um, friends and how they created Facebook and Facebook's subsequent staggering success. Not only is it a compelling story in its own right but Facebook is an increasingly critical communuction tool, an excellent place to create content and a great place to, you guessed it, share stories. Just like here at the library, right? Perfect. It all comes together next Friday, April 15th with screenings at 2:00 and 6:30. See you then!

Forthcoming Fiction for May

Here are some titles coming out this May. You can reserve these by going to our Online Catalog, Bibliocommons, or by calling the Reader Services Desk at 847-729-7500 x7600!

A Drop of the Hard Stuff by Lawrence Block

Caleb’s Crossing by Geraldine Brooks

A Time for Patriots by Dale Brown

Kiss Her Goodbye by Max Allan Collins

The Worst Thing by Aaron Elkins

Spider Web by Earlene Fowler

Tabloid City: a Novel by Pete Hamill

Dead Reckoning: A Sookie Stackhouse Novel by Charlaine Harris

Children and Fire: a Novel by Ursula Hegi

The Girl Who Disappeared Twice by Andrea Kane

Thunder of Heaven: A Joshua Jordan Novel by Tim Lahaye

Blood Trust by Eric Lustbader

Rogue Warrior: Domino Theory by Richard Marcinko

Trader of Secrets: A Paul Madriani Novel  by Steve Martini

Sixkill by Robert B. Parker

10^th Anniversary by James Patterson

The Devil’s Light by Richard North Patterson

The Informant by Thomas Perry

Buried Prey by John Sandford

Dreams of Joy: a Novel by Lisa See

The Final Storm : A Novel of World War II in the Pacific by Jeff Shaara

Fallen: a Novel by Karin Slaughter

Those in Peril by Wilbur Smith

Shadow Raiders by Margaret Weis

The Lake by Banana Yoshimoto

Clear the Clutter, Spring is Here

It appears as though spring is here! The longer days and the balmier weather always make me want to clear the clutter and get organized. I can no longer stand the boots and gloves taking over the entryway. Here are some good books to get you started and ready for spring.

No-hassle Housecleaning by Christina Spence

Say good-bye to your old, tedious cleaning routine and say hello to a fun, new approach with effective techniques and realistic expectations.

Clutter Rehab by Laura Wittmann
Discover how to make de-cluttering an addictive pleasure

House Works by Cynthia Townley Ewer America's leading housekeeping expert shows how to de-clutter, organize, and clean with easy-to-remember tips for every job

Unclutter Your Life in One Week by Erin Rooney Doland
A 7-day plan to organize a home, an office, and a life!

Throw Out Fifty Things by Gail Blanke
"Real Simple" columnist starts a movement of people across America to throw out 50 things that will help liberate them from the stuff--physical and mental--that clutters their lives.

Banish Clutter Forever: How the Toothbrush Principal Will Change Your Life by Sheila Chandra
A revolutionary system to help even the most disorganized person live in a state of clutter-free bliss, forever.