Earth Day – April 22, 2019

It’s hard to believe that we may soon no longer marvel at the incredible long necks of giraffes, the tiny fluttering wings of bees, or the amazing athletic breaching of whales. These and other species are threatened with extinction caused by loss of habitat, deforestation, climate change and pesticides. According to the Earth Day Network:  “ We are facing  the largest period of species extinction in the last 60 million years. Normally, between one and five species will go extinct annually. However, scientists estimate that we are now losing species at 1,000 to 10,000 times the normal rate, with multiple extinctions daily.”

And so, Earth Day 2019 is focused on Saving the Species. It’s mind boggling to think that the first Earth Day was in 1970. Although “environmentalism” was not then part of the common vocabulary, Rachel Carson’s book, The Silent Spring, had brought attention to the link between pollution and health, and raised awareness and concern for all living organisms. After the disastrous oil spill off Santa Barbara, CA, Sen. Gaylord Nelson and Rep. Pete McCloskey hoped to channel the activism of the anti-war movement to focus on the environment. The national news media picked up the message. This movement brought about the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency as well as legislation such as the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act.

To read more about Earth Day and environmentalism topics, visit our third floor book display, “Save Our Species – Earth Day” and pick up a book or two.

-posted by Brenda, Reference Services

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5 Years of the Blog – March

Let’s take a look at some of Syosset Public Library’s blog posts for March during the past five years:

2018: OSCAR WINNERS BASED ON BOOKS

2017: NEW IN DVD

2016: CELEBRATING THE EMERALD ISLE

2015: AFTERNOON BOOK CLUB

2014: LET’S REMINISCE, SYOSSET!

See you next month when we take a look at the past 5 years in April.

-posted by Sonia, Reference Services

Our March Displays

Award Winners is the subject of our first display on the main floor. It showcases winners of the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, the Nobel Prize for Literature, and the Man Booker Prize. You may have already read some of these books, but there are some great ones you might have missed.

 

March is Women’s History Month and the theme of our second main floor display. Read about the women’s movement and their struggle for their place in society, the right to vote and equal employment opportunities. The display includes biographies of famous women, such as Sonia Sotomayor, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Malala Yousafzai, Indira Gandhi, Rosa Parks, Condoleezza Rice, Sandra Day O’Connor, Gloria Steinem, Eleanor Roosevelt and others.

 

 

 

The subjects of our 2 mini displays* are:

The Art of the Novella- A selection of classic novellas from Melville House publishing.

Robert Goddard-  Books from the 2019 CWA Diamond Dagger Award winner, the highest honor in British crime writing.

*mini-displays are subject to change during the month

On the third floor, our health librarian’s display is National Nutrition Month. The display has books covering healthy eating topics, such as how to stay healthy, what foods to avoid for various illnesses, and nutritional guides for children. The display also includes lots of handouts on eating and snacking for wellness.

Dreams of Far Away Places, also a display on the third floor, is for those who suffer from wanderlust. Learn about some exotic travel destinations and get some ideas for a trip or a travel adventure, or you may just want to read and be entertained by other people’s tales of travel.

-posted by Betty, Reference Services

Dreaming of Faraway Places

Some children hear “Rock-a Bye Baby’ as they drift into sleep. I heard “Far Away Places!” Yes, the song with lyrics: “Far away places with the strange sounding names, far away over the sea, those far away places with the strange sounding names are calling, calling to me.” I caught the travel bug early. I love the planning and anticipation almost as much as the actual journey. And when I am stuck at home and work, it’s fun to read about the experiences of other travelers.

If you find yourself in that situation now, I suggest you visit our third floor display of books about some far away (and not so far away but interesting) destinations. Travel through Africa with Betty Levitov and her students in Africa on Six Wheels. Or visit some hidden natural wonders in Wild Caribbean with author Michael Bright. For a classic road trip closer to home check out Route 66 Still Kicks by Rick Antonson. Bill Geist presents some unusual small towns in Way off the Road.

For more suggested books about travel consult Nancy Pearl’s Book Lust to Go. After you have dreamed perhaps it is time to plan a trip! Patricia Schultz’s 1,000 Places to See Before You Die will provide you with many suggestions.

-posted by Brenda

5 Years of the Blog – February

Let’s get nostalgic and take a look at some of Syosset Public Library’s blog posts for February during the past five years:

2018: A MUSEUM OUTING WITH YOUR BOOK CLUB

2017: FEBRUARY’S BOOK DISPLAYS

2016: WHAT WE’RE READING NOW

2015: TRY OUT SOME LYNDA.COM COURSES

2014: RECENT RELEASES PERFECT FOR BOOK CLUBS!

See you next month when we take a look at the last 5 years of March.

-posted by Sonia, Reference Services

50 Years Ago…

The library has a display on the third floor commemorating the 50th anniversary of the watershed year 1968. In a Time magazine article earlier this year historian Jon Meacham compared the year 1968 to 1776, 1861 and 1941 as a time when everything in U.S. history changed http://time.com/5107482/50-years-after-1968-still-living-in-its-shadow/

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It was indeed a turbulent year. It was a sad year marked by the assassinations of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert Kennedy. There was anger. In January the Viet Cong launched the Tet Offensive. Protests against the Vietnam War escalated with demonstrations on university campuses and at the Democratic National Convention. Olympic runners Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their fists in a Black Power salute during the Olympic medal ceremony in Mexico City.

Lyndon Johnson surprisingly announced he would not run for reelection. Richard Nixon was elected as the 37th President in November.

 

The Prague Spring began the year with hope when Alexander Dubcek was chosen as the Czech leader promising a government of “socialism with a human face.” But when members of the Warsaw Pact invaded Czechoslovakia with tanks and troops the period of liberalizing reforms quickly ended and totalitarian Soviet rule was reinstated.

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But there were lighter notes that year. Some cultural highlights included the first TV broadcast of “60 Minutes” and “Mr. Rogers Neighborhood.” In the movies “2001: A Space Odyssey” and “Planet of the Apes” were popular. And “Hair” opened in London. The year also saw the introduction of Hot Wheels toy cars and McDonald’s Big Mac. The Beatles started Apple records with “Hey Jude” as its first single.

The year ended on a high note with the successful Apollo 8 mission. Astronauts Frank Borman, Jim Lovell and William A. Anders became the first humans to see the far side of the moon.

Visit the library and choose a book (or two!) from the display to increase your understanding of this time period.

-posted by Brenda, Reference Services

November Book Displays

Don’t know what to read with so many great books in the library?  Try this month’s “Staff Picks” display. The display is a selection of favorites of the SPL staff. Our staff is made of avid readers so their picks will insure an enjoyable read. As usual, there is a lot to choose from.

The second display on the main floor is  “November – Memoir Month.” Truth can be stranger and more entertaining than fiction. Read someone’s life story. You can also listen to their stories on audio books. Some memoirs which have been made into movies are available on DVD for your viewing pleasure.

The two mini displays this month are:

* “The Great American Reads, The Top Fifteen Finalists”

* “Goodreads Awards, The Choice Awards for the Best Books of 2018”

*MIni-displays are subject to change during the month.

The third floor health librarian’s display is “November is Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month”. The books here help explain the disease and how to cope with it for both the patient and caregivers. Also on the display are Fact Sheet handouts which include information on legal and financial planning for people with Alzheimer’s disease.

One more theme for November is “Native American Heritage Month”. Learn the history of the first people to inhabit the Americas, it is a story of diverse groups of people. Books include information on their culture, art, music, jewelry, and languages.

Hope our displays help you to make your reading choices easier and more varied. Enjoy!

-posted by Betty, Reference Services