Experimental new feature for the blog - video book recommendations.
Wednesday, November 9, 2016
National Book Award Finalists List
The nominees for the National Book Award have been announced! If you haven't taken a look at the list yet, here's your chance to do so:
Fiction Nominees
The Throwback Special by Chris Bachelder
A night of football turns into a night of soul-searching for twenty-two American guys.
A night of football turns into a night of soul-searching for twenty-two American guys.
News of the World by Paulette Jiles
In post-Civil War America a newspaper reporter is charged with returning a young captive of Kiowa Indians to her family.
In post-Civil War America a newspaper reporter is charged with returning a young captive of Kiowa Indians to her family.
The Association of Small Bombs by Karan Mahajan
After a terrorist attack in India a young man finds his life changed by a local activist.
After a terrorist attack in India a young man finds his life changed by a local activist.
The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
An escaped slave makes her way across America.
An escaped slave makes her way across America.
Another Brooklyn by Jacqueline Woodson
Reunited friends find that their memories of childhood might be tinged by too much of a nostalgic haze.
Non-Fiction Nominees
Strangers in their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American Right by Arlie Russell Hochschild
Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi
Nothing Ever Dies: Vietnam and the Memory of War by Viet Thanh Nguyen
The Other Slavery: The Uncovered Story of Indian Enslavement in America by Andrés Reséndez
Blood in the Water: The Attica Prison Uprising of 1971 and Its Legacy by Heather Ann Thompson
Poetry
The Performance of Becoming Human by Daniel Borzutsky
Collected Poems 1974 - 2004 by Rita Dove
Archeophonics by Peter Gizzi
The Abridged History of Rainfall by Jay Hopler
Look by Solmaz Sharif
Tuesday, April 5, 2016
Seed 'em and Reap: William Hall Library's How-To Agricultural Fair
William Hall will be hosting an agricultural fair on Saturday, April 16th from 2:00PM - 5:00PM! This event is open to everyone from would-be gardeners to experienced green thumbs! Some of the groups that will be participating include:
URI Master Gardeners will be there to answer your gardening questions, whether you're an old pro with a specific concern or a newbie just wants to know how to get started planting.
cluck! urban farm and garden supply will bring chickens and answer your poultry questions. Urban farming has become more and more popular in recent years and chances are you won't be the first or last family on your street to invest in a fine feathered friend for fresh eggs.
Rhode Island Beekeeper's Association will be there to teach you all you could want to know about how to maintain an apiary. Healthy colonies are integral to healthy plant life and healthy plant life is integral to a healthy planet. And the honey is just a bonus.
We will also have small crafts and other activities to enjoy - and remember to bring a soil sample for testing!
Celebrate Rhode Island Library Day!
April 16th is Rhode Island Library Day and we're celebrating with fine amnesty! Not that any of you loyal blog-readers have fines (though some of the staff members who write the blog do!), but if you have, say, a friend who forgot to return a stack of DVDs recently and is just cringing thinking of the potential fines, they're in luck!
What is fine amnesty?
Just what the name implies! If you have any items out on your card that are overdue and you return them on April 16th, those fines will be waived! So bring back that long-overdue non-fiction book that you were using on a book report that was handed in weeks ago. Return that movie that you kept meaning to get around to, but never did! And feel free to give up on that bestseller that you couldn't quite get into, but didn't want to hand in because there must be some reason it wound up in the NY Times.
What about lost books? Can I get those fines waived too?
Alas, no. If you have actually lost a book in your travels, the price of the book does need to be paid, amnesty only applies to items that are currently overdue.
Well, I have fines on my card from books I've turned in, will you get rid of those for me?
Not on the 16th! Fine amnesty only applies to items that are currently checked out on your card and are currently accruing fines. We will not be waiving fines that are already on your card.
Why do you even charge fines? Is that how you buy books?
What a great question! Our book buying funds are secured at the beginning of the year and while we will often supplement our collection through patron donations, we don't rely on fine money to buy new books. Fines are an incentive to bring materials back on time and to discourage patrons from keeping them too long past the due date. Even librarians can be tardy with returns and we all need a reminder from time to time to keep up with our due dates.
What is fine amnesty?
Just what the name implies! If you have any items out on your card that are overdue and you return them on April 16th, those fines will be waived! So bring back that long-overdue non-fiction book that you were using on a book report that was handed in weeks ago. Return that movie that you kept meaning to get around to, but never did! And feel free to give up on that bestseller that you couldn't quite get into, but didn't want to hand in because there must be some reason it wound up in the NY Times.
What about lost books? Can I get those fines waived too?
Alas, no. If you have actually lost a book in your travels, the price of the book does need to be paid, amnesty only applies to items that are currently overdue.
Well, I have fines on my card from books I've turned in, will you get rid of those for me?
Not on the 16th! Fine amnesty only applies to items that are currently checked out on your card and are currently accruing fines. We will not be waiving fines that are already on your card.
Why do you even charge fines? Is that how you buy books?
What a great question! Our book buying funds are secured at the beginning of the year and while we will often supplement our collection through patron donations, we don't rely on fine money to buy new books. Fines are an incentive to bring materials back on time and to discourage patrons from keeping them too long past the due date. Even librarians can be tardy with returns and we all need a reminder from time to time to keep up with our due dates.
Tuesday, March 29, 2016
William Hall Library By the Book
Welcome to a new installation at the William Hall Library! Periodically, we will quiz the staff on their literary tastes in the style of the New York Times "By the Book" column. Our first entry comes courtesy of our Youth Services Librarian, Elise!
What books are currently on your night stand?
The books that are on my nightstand are SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome by Mary Beard, In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex by Nathaniel Philbrick, and Only Love Can Break Your Heart by Ed Tarkington – okay, okay, so none of these are kids’ books, I’m just taking a little break!
Who is your favorite novelist of all time? (For now)
Do I have to pick just one? It’s really a toss-up between Jane Austen and P.G. Wodehouse, both are authors whose works I can read over and over again.
Who are your favorite fiction writers working today?
Jeffrey Eugenides, Chris Bojhalian, Sarah Waters, Emma Donoghue, and I have to admit a soft spot for Anne Rice.
And which children’s book authors do you especially admire?
Lois Lowry is always a winner, lately I’ve developed a fondness for Roddy Doyle, though when I was in middle school I was obsessed with Mildred D. Taylor. My favorite teen authors are Libba Bray and John Green, though John Barnes wrote a terrific YA novel that I love, Tales of the Madman Underground, but he usually writes for adults.
What books might we be surprised to find on your shelves?
I absolutely refuse to get rid of my dozens of Babysitters’ Club books because I am convinced that someday I will read them again. They’re not just on my shelf, there are boxes full of them that I won’t part with.
What’s the last book you read that made you laugh?
Snappsy the Alligator: “Did Not Ask to Be in this Book!” It’s a picture book about a necktie-wearing alligator named Snappsy whose life is being narrated (and embellished), it’s hilarious and it’s a good way of teaching kids about ‘objective’ versus ‘subjective’ perspectives.
The last book you read that made you cry?
I think it was Lafayette in the Somewhat United States by Sarah Vowell – I got all choked up reading about the British surrender.
The last book you read that made you furious?
All the Rage by Courtney Summers, it’s a teen book about a girl who was raped by the sheriff’s son. She went to the police to report the crime, but no one believed her and as result she is essentially shunned by the entire town. The book is about her processing her experience and learning to cope and move on – as the title implies, she’s angry and I got angry on her behalf.
What kind of reader were you as a child? Your favorite book? Most beloved character?
I would like to say I was the kind of kid who read everything, but while I certainly read a lot, I had my favorites and I stuck to them. Mostly, I read historical fiction, a smattering of fantasy, some sci-fi, and occasionally some realistic fiction. I tended to get pretty into certain series, like the American Girl books, or the Dear America series. My favorite book when I was younger was probably The Giver by Lois Lowry, but my favorite book character was Mary Lennox. She was, and continues to be, one of my literary heroines because her journey had nothing to do with going from being a “bad” child to a “good” child. She went from being unhappy to happy and, as a result, was less of a pill to deal with, but she certainly never had to dim her spark or conform to stultifying behavioral expectations.
If you had to name one book that made you who you are today, what would it be?
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle. I had no idea it was part of a series and now that I do know, I have no intention to read the other entries because I had such powerful emotional associations with that one book. I loved Meg Murray, loved the fact that she really wasn’t the greatest at anything, she wasn’t that good in school, she wasn’t amazingly pretty or even particularly kind (are you noticing my theme of favorite awkward heroines?), but she had a strong sense of justice and wanted to do the right thing, and she also had a serious spine of steel to traverse multiple dimensions to save her father. She wasn’t a ‘chosen one,’ kind of heroine, she was just a weird kid who got caught up in a bizarre situation and became her best self. I thought that was pretty great.
If you could require the president to read one book, what would it be?
I feel like he’s the one person in the world who I could force to read The Bully Pulpit by Doris Kearns Goodwin. In the first place, it’s about two presidents, so it’s a topic he’s familiar with and in the second, one of those presidents was a lawyer and a judge, so obviously it’s a topic right up his alley. I’m really just desperate to discuss with book with someone, but it’s incredibly long and I just can’t get anyone to volunteer to read it. So, actually, not only would I have to force him to read it, I’d then have to force him to sit down and talk to me about it. Probably for at least an hour.
Disappointing, overrated, just not good: What book did you feel you were supposed to like, and didn’t? Do you remember the last book you put down without finishing?
The last book I put down without finishing was Infinite In Between by Carolyn Mackler, but that wasn’t the book’s fault, I had recently finished reading another teen book about kids whose lives changed after high school and I didn’t particularly want to read another one. The last book I set aside because I genuinely didn’t like it was The Wolfman by Nicholas Pekearo, I was in the mood for some supernatural horror fiction, but it was a little bland. But there are many books that I’ve read and just hated that I know most of the world loves – I can’t stand The Catcher in the Rye, I didn’t make it all the way through Great Expectations, and I have a deep loathing for Tess of the d’Urbervilles. Oh! And I also hated Mr. Lemoncello’s Library and I think I’m the only children’s librarian in the state who has that opinion.
What’s the one book you wish someone would write?
Asexuals on a road trip. Just that, a group of friends of various genders on an adventure and no one hooks up with anyone else. I’m also waiting for A.M. Jenkins to write the sequel to Night Road.
Whom would you want to write your life story?
Jane Austen because she could really elevate the mundane details of my day-to-day doings into something hilarious that also reveals deep truths about human nature.
What books are you embarrassed not to have read yet?
I haven’t read so many things, it’s kind of ridiculous. I always mean to read A Tale of Two Cities (I hate Charles Dickens as a person, but I still want to try to like his books). I will say, though, that I don’t really believe that the Canon of Western Literature actually means anything, so when people react with shock that I haven’t read, say, Catch-22, I don’t really care.
You’re having a dinner party. Which three authors, living or not, will you invite? Why??
Jane Austen, Mary Wollstonecraft, and Hannah More.
Reason 1: They are AWESOME.
Reason 2: They were roughly contemporaries, so they’ll have a lot to discuss.
Reason 3: I really, really, really want to meet them.
What books are currently on your night stand?
The books that are on my nightstand are SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome by Mary Beard, In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex by Nathaniel Philbrick, and Only Love Can Break Your Heart by Ed Tarkington – okay, okay, so none of these are kids’ books, I’m just taking a little break!
Who is your favorite novelist of all time? (For now)
Do I have to pick just one? It’s really a toss-up between Jane Austen and P.G. Wodehouse, both are authors whose works I can read over and over again.
Who are your favorite fiction writers working today?
Jeffrey Eugenides, Chris Bojhalian, Sarah Waters, Emma Donoghue, and I have to admit a soft spot for Anne Rice.
And which children’s book authors do you especially admire?
Lois Lowry is always a winner, lately I’ve developed a fondness for Roddy Doyle, though when I was in middle school I was obsessed with Mildred D. Taylor. My favorite teen authors are Libba Bray and John Green, though John Barnes wrote a terrific YA novel that I love, Tales of the Madman Underground, but he usually writes for adults.
What books might we be surprised to find on your shelves?
I absolutely refuse to get rid of my dozens of Babysitters’ Club books because I am convinced that someday I will read them again. They’re not just on my shelf, there are boxes full of them that I won’t part with.
What’s the last book you read that made you laugh?
Snappsy the Alligator: “Did Not Ask to Be in this Book!” It’s a picture book about a necktie-wearing alligator named Snappsy whose life is being narrated (and embellished), it’s hilarious and it’s a good way of teaching kids about ‘objective’ versus ‘subjective’ perspectives.
The last book you read that made you cry?
I think it was Lafayette in the Somewhat United States by Sarah Vowell – I got all choked up reading about the British surrender.
The last book you read that made you furious?
All the Rage by Courtney Summers, it’s a teen book about a girl who was raped by the sheriff’s son. She went to the police to report the crime, but no one believed her and as result she is essentially shunned by the entire town. The book is about her processing her experience and learning to cope and move on – as the title implies, she’s angry and I got angry on her behalf.
What kind of reader were you as a child? Your favorite book? Most beloved character?
I would like to say I was the kind of kid who read everything, but while I certainly read a lot, I had my favorites and I stuck to them. Mostly, I read historical fiction, a smattering of fantasy, some sci-fi, and occasionally some realistic fiction. I tended to get pretty into certain series, like the American Girl books, or the Dear America series. My favorite book when I was younger was probably The Giver by Lois Lowry, but my favorite book character was Mary Lennox. She was, and continues to be, one of my literary heroines because her journey had nothing to do with going from being a “bad” child to a “good” child. She went from being unhappy to happy and, as a result, was less of a pill to deal with, but she certainly never had to dim her spark or conform to stultifying behavioral expectations.
If you had to name one book that made you who you are today, what would it be?
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle. I had no idea it was part of a series and now that I do know, I have no intention to read the other entries because I had such powerful emotional associations with that one book. I loved Meg Murray, loved the fact that she really wasn’t the greatest at anything, she wasn’t that good in school, she wasn’t amazingly pretty or even particularly kind (are you noticing my theme of favorite awkward heroines?), but she had a strong sense of justice and wanted to do the right thing, and she also had a serious spine of steel to traverse multiple dimensions to save her father. She wasn’t a ‘chosen one,’ kind of heroine, she was just a weird kid who got caught up in a bizarre situation and became her best self. I thought that was pretty great.
If you could require the president to read one book, what would it be?
I feel like he’s the one person in the world who I could force to read The Bully Pulpit by Doris Kearns Goodwin. In the first place, it’s about two presidents, so it’s a topic he’s familiar with and in the second, one of those presidents was a lawyer and a judge, so obviously it’s a topic right up his alley. I’m really just desperate to discuss with book with someone, but it’s incredibly long and I just can’t get anyone to volunteer to read it. So, actually, not only would I have to force him to read it, I’d then have to force him to sit down and talk to me about it. Probably for at least an hour.
Disappointing, overrated, just not good: What book did you feel you were supposed to like, and didn’t? Do you remember the last book you put down without finishing?
The last book I put down without finishing was Infinite In Between by Carolyn Mackler, but that wasn’t the book’s fault, I had recently finished reading another teen book about kids whose lives changed after high school and I didn’t particularly want to read another one. The last book I set aside because I genuinely didn’t like it was The Wolfman by Nicholas Pekearo, I was in the mood for some supernatural horror fiction, but it was a little bland. But there are many books that I’ve read and just hated that I know most of the world loves – I can’t stand The Catcher in the Rye, I didn’t make it all the way through Great Expectations, and I have a deep loathing for Tess of the d’Urbervilles. Oh! And I also hated Mr. Lemoncello’s Library and I think I’m the only children’s librarian in the state who has that opinion.
What’s the one book you wish someone would write?
Asexuals on a road trip. Just that, a group of friends of various genders on an adventure and no one hooks up with anyone else. I’m also waiting for A.M. Jenkins to write the sequel to Night Road.
Whom would you want to write your life story?
Jane Austen because she could really elevate the mundane details of my day-to-day doings into something hilarious that also reveals deep truths about human nature.
What books are you embarrassed not to have read yet?
I haven’t read so many things, it’s kind of ridiculous. I always mean to read A Tale of Two Cities (I hate Charles Dickens as a person, but I still want to try to like his books). I will say, though, that I don’t really believe that the Canon of Western Literature actually means anything, so when people react with shock that I haven’t read, say, Catch-22, I don’t really care.
You’re having a dinner party. Which three authors, living or not, will you invite? Why??
Jane Austen, Mary Wollstonecraft, and Hannah More.
Reason 1: They are AWESOME.
Reason 2: They were roughly contemporaries, so they’ll have a lot to discuss.
Reason 3: I really, really, really want to meet them.
April Vacation Week
Clear your calendars, it's almost time for April Vacation Week! (Already? Yes, already!) Check out the events we'll be hosting at the library for kids and teens below:
Kids Programs at William Hall include:
Introduction to Quidditch: Learn all about the sport of wizards in this hour-long lesson in our (broom-less) version of the game. Open to kids in Grades 3 - 8, this event will be held on Monday, April 18th from 2:30PM - 3:30PM. Be sure to wear closed-toe shoes! Registration is recommended.
Kids' 3D Printing Workshop: An introductory workshop that takes place over two days and is open to kids in Grades 3 - 6, participants will learn about how a 3D printer works and will be able to design their own items to print using Tinkercad. This workshop will take place on Tuesday, April 19th and Thursday, April 21st from 2:30PM - 4:00PM, participants must attend both days. Registration is required, space is limited.
Lego Build - This ongoing program will begin on Wednesday, April 20th and run from 3:00PM - 4:00PM and is open to kids in Grades K - 5. Participants will work together on a group building project centered around a theme. Our first theme will be Demolition Derby. Registration is not required.
Teen Programs at William Hall include:
Teen Volunteering Opportunities: Teens in Grades 5 - 12 will be able to earn community service hours by coming in between 4:00PM and 6:00PM on Thursday, April 21st to create fleece blankets and toys for shelter animals. Registration is not required.
And, finally, this last program for kids is not part of vacation week, but it is happening close to it!
American Girl Tea Party: A tea party for anyone who loves American Girl books and dolls, participants will enjoy cupcakes, games, and a craft! Open to kids ages 6 - 13, this event will take place on Saturday, April 30th from 2:30PM - 4:00PM. Registration is required.
Monday, January 11, 2016
Children's Programs Winter 2015
Children's programs will resume soon! Here are a list of programs we will be running regularly through the winter months:
1, 2, 3, Play with Me! This storytime is intended for children ages 3 and under to attend with an adult caregiver. The program runs from 11AM-12PM every Thursday morning. During this time the library itself is closed, so participants must enter via the back door from the parking lot. The first half hour of the program is focused on play, with rhymes, songs, and a story offered during the second half hour. This program will begin on January 21st.
Minecraft Club This program is open to children in grades 4-8, it is a Minecraft play session intended for experienced Minecraft users who can either play together in a world or separately on their own adventure. The program is offered on the first Thursday of the month from 3PM-4PM. This program will begin on February 4th.
Blind Date with a Book This daring reading contest will be open to teens (ages 12-18), during the month of February. A number of wrapped books will be available for check-out, but you won't know what they are! Take a chance on a book, fill out a short survey and return both the book and the survey to the library before the month is over to be entered in a raffle and win a prize. This program will begin on February 1st.
For information on any of these programs, call 781-2450 or email epetrarca@cranstonlibrary.org.
New Adult Programs
The William Hall Library is happy to announce two new adult programs! For podcast junkies, we have a Serial listening and discussion group which meets every other Thursday night from now until the end of the season, and an adult crafting night for those who want to flex their creative muscles.
Serial is a podcast which was created by host Sarah Koenig and producer Julie Snyder, in association with This American Life. Its purpose is to tell a nonfiction story over a series of episodes, the podcast began in 2014 and quickly rose to prominence as it detailed the trial of Adnan Syed who was convicted of the murder of his girlfriend Hae Min Lee. The first season is available for download here.
Season Two, which is airing now on Pandora, investigates the Bowe Bergdahl case. Bergdahl, a U.S. soldier who was stationed in Afghanistan, walked off his based and was picked up and held by Taliban forces for five years. He was taken home in a prisoner exchange, a controversial move that is still being discussed in the news today.
The Serial Listening Group meets every other Thursday at Hall from 6PM-7:45PM, the first four episodes can be listened to here. To sign up for reminder calls, or to inquire about the program, call 781-2450 or email the library at hall@cranstonlibrary.org.
D.I.Y. Wednesdays are adult craft nights, offered on a monthly basis. The library supplies limited tools and materials, but if patrons have a special design in mind or particular tools they would like to use, they are encouraged to bring their own. A description of the craft and a sample item are available at the circulation desk to examine.
The February craft will be coaster making, using a variety of application. Coasters can be woven on a homemade loom, decoupaged, or freehand designed. This program is free. D.I.Y. Wednesdays are held on the first Wednesday of the month from 6PM-7:45PM. To sign up for reminder calls, or to inquire about the program, call 781-2450 or email the library at hall@cranstonlibrary.org.
Tuesday, November 24, 2015
Reading in the Hall Recap
Last Wednesday, we had our monthly book club meeting where we read Jeffrey Eugenides's book The Marriage Plot.
Overall, the members of the book club found it to be a good read, with an insightful treatment of mental illness, but they were unconvinced by the romances among the characters. Was this a case of the author trying to subvert a genre or simply not succeeding in writing within a genre? Pick up the book and decide for yourself!
Quotes from book club members:
"The book felt disjointed."
"I loved it...especially the way he wrote Leonard's battle with depression."
"Madeleine was passive and blah."
"I thought Madeleine came across as shallow."
"I felt like Madeleine's character arc only began at the very end of the book."
"The portrayal of mental illness was absolutely realistic."
"I thought it was brave to write Mitchell's character having a hard time working among the poor."
Next month's book will be Astray by Emma Donoghue - book club will meet on the 16th of December at 6:30PM.
Last-Minute Thanksgiving Tips
The holiday is almost upon us! Just in case you don't have time to run in and grab a Thanksgiving how-to handbook, here are some tips and tricks to make your Thanksgiving the best, most stress-free holiday of all!
Turkey:
Turkey should not be allowed to defrost at room temperature because of the risk of bacteria developing. Instead, take your bird out of the freezer and transfer it to the refrigerator to thaw completely. Here are the approximate thaw-times by weight:
5 - 8 lbs: 18 - 24 hrs
9 - 11 lbs: 24 - 36 hrs
11 - 15 lbs: 38 - 72 hrs
15 - 20 lbs: 3 to 4 days
What's that? You were so busy prepping cranberries and making custom place-cards that you forgot to take the turkey out of the fridge? Don't worry, you can quick-thaw (this still takes time and it's best not to wait until the morning-of to start.
Guide to Quick-Thawing a Turkey:
Turkey:
Turkey should not be allowed to defrost at room temperature because of the risk of bacteria developing. Instead, take your bird out of the freezer and transfer it to the refrigerator to thaw completely. Here are the approximate thaw-times by weight:
5 - 8 lbs: 18 - 24 hrs
9 - 11 lbs: 24 - 36 hrs
11 - 15 lbs: 38 - 72 hrs
15 - 20 lbs: 3 to 4 days
What's that? You were so busy prepping cranberries and making custom place-cards that you forgot to take the turkey out of the fridge? Don't worry, you can quick-thaw (this still takes time and it's best not to wait until the morning-of to start.
Guide to Quick-Thawing a Turkey:
- Get a five gallon bucket and fill it with cold water.
- Place the turkey inside the bucket, still in its wrapping.
- If the turkey floats, weigh it down so that it is completely submerged.
- The turkey should then thaw at a rate of 2 lbs for every 1 hour it is submerged.
- Be sure to change the water every hour so that it doesn't become too warm - you might want to put the bucket in a bathtub.
To Stuff or Not to Stuff:
In general, it is not recommended to stuff a turkey - the heat takes the longest to reach the cavity when cooking and as a result, when the turkey reaches the recommended temperature of 165° the stuffing inside might still contain bacteria that have not been cooked out. If you wait for the stuffing to reach a safe temperature, the turkey itself might overcook.
A nice compromise is to cook the turkey and the stuffing separately, until both are at a safe temperature to eat, and then to stuff the turkey with the hot stuffing while it rests. That way the stuffing will soak up delicious flavor and not un-delicious bacteria.
Mashed Potatoes:
No one likes a gummy potato, to avoid having potatoes that resemble paste, follow these simple guidelines.
- Avoid using waxy potatoes like fingerlings or red potatoes, they don't have enough starch. Instead, reach for a good old russet potato.
- Salt the water before you put the potatoes in - like pasta, potatoes will absorb flavor from the cooking liquid.
- Start the potatoes in cold water (to avoid uneven cooking), then turn the temperature up to a boil.
- When adding butter or cream to the potatoes, try to warm it up either on the stovetop or by letting the dairy rest at room temperature for a little bit before adding them to the potatoes, they'll absorb better!
- Don't pound the potatoes too much - if you don't have a food mill, using a regular potato masher is fine, but don't put the potatoes in the food processor!
Scratch-Cooking Recipes
Tired of cranberry sauce from a can, fried onions from a tub, and pie from a box? Try some of these recipes to add a homemade touch to your holiday meal.
Green Bean Casserole (This recipe includes baked onions, which is great for a cook who isn't comfortable with deep-frying.)
Easy Cranberry Sauce (You can set the sauce in a can so that it looks and slices like the classic gel.)
Pumpkin Pie (The crust is oil-based so that it can be pressed in the pan - easier than making one from butter or shortening.)
Unusual Sides
If you want to forego tradition altogether, here are some funky recipes that might become Thanksgiving staples!
Tuesday, November 17, 2015
Cookbook Recommendations
Whether you're looking to spice up your holiday menus or just wanting to try something different for a weeknight dinner, these recipe books are sure to please!
Barefoot Contessa Parties!: Ideas and Recipes for Parties that are Really Fun by Ina Garten
A year-round party planner's best friend! Includes a special section for Jewish holiday recipes and decorations.
How to Cook a Turkey: And All the Other Trimmings by the editors of Fine Cooking Magazine
Never be subjected to a dry bird again with this handy book that also covers appetizers!
Lidia's Italian-American Kitchen by Lidia Bastianich
Are you an Italian grandma (or do you wish you were?) Then Lidia's the cook for you, if you want to add a little Italian flair to your holiday gatherings.
The Minimalist Cooks Dinner: More than 100 Recipes for Fast Weeknight Dinners and Casual Entertaining by Mark Bittman
Based on his NY Times column, this cookbook is for busy people who want to entertain with minimal fuss.
The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook by Deb Perlman
Based on the author's blog, includes dinner, lunch, dessert, and vegetarian options.
Thanksgiving by Michael McLaughlin
The Williams-Sonoma guide to a perfect Turkey Day (you might not need another cookbook if you've got this one).
Thanksgiving 101: Celebrate America's Favorite Holiday with America's Thanksgiving Expert by Rick Rogers
Is it your first year hosting the holiday or do you want to streamline your Thanksgiving experience? Then run, don't walk, to the library and grab this Thanksgiving how-to book!
And if all else fails, the Butterball corporation always has the Turkey Talk Line if you find yourself in a stuffing panic on the day.
Recipe Recommendation
Looking for something to supplement the pie next week? Are you still not experiencing the pumpkin overload that is a result of living in New England in the autumn? Do you like cookies? Do you like chocolate? Then have we got a recipe for you!
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
2 cups flour
4 teasp baking powder
1 tablesp cinnamon
1/2 teasp nutmeg
1/4 teasp ginger
1 teasp salt
1/2 cup shortening or butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 cup pumpkin (if you're using pumpkin from a can, make sure it's just pumpkin, not the pie filling)
1 cup chips
Stir or sift dry ingredients together.
Cream shortening or butter and sugar together, then add pumpkin and eggs.
Stir in dry ingredients and then the chips.
Drop by teaspoonfuls onto greased cookie sheets. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes.
Tasty with chocolate chips or toffee chips! These cookies are very soft and cake-y.
2 cups flour
4 teasp baking powder
1 tablesp cinnamon
1/2 teasp nutmeg
1/4 teasp ginger
1 teasp salt
1/2 cup shortening or butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 cup pumpkin (if you're using pumpkin from a can, make sure it's just pumpkin, not the pie filling)
1 cup chips
Stir or sift dry ingredients together.
Cream shortening or butter and sugar together, then add pumpkin and eggs.
Stir in dry ingredients and then the chips.
Drop by teaspoonfuls onto greased cookie sheets. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes.
Thursday, October 15, 2015
Staff Recommendations - Our Scariest Movies!
We asked the staff and the results are in. Here are our votes on the scariest movies to squeeze in to your binge-watching this October!
The Silence of the Lambs "During parts of this movie, I was so scared I couldn't breathe!"
The Exorcist "So scary!"
Funny Games "Couldn't watch the whole thing WAY too creepy!"
Cujo "Rabid Saint Bernard...need I say more?"
Annabelle "Creepy dolls!"
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre "Goes to show you don't stop for hitchhikers!"
Freaks "Not a gore film, but the creeps stay with you look after the movie."
The Silence of the Lambs "During parts of this movie, I was so scared I couldn't breathe!"
The Exorcist "So scary!"
Funny Games "Couldn't watch the whole thing WAY too creepy!"
Cujo "Rabid Saint Bernard...need I say more?"
Annabelle "Creepy dolls!"
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre "Goes to show you don't stop for hitchhikers!"
Freaks "Not a gore film, but the creeps stay with you look after the movie."
Wednesday, October 14, 2015
National Book Award Finalists Announced!
Below is the list of finalists for the National Book Award - have you read any of them? Well, here's your chance!
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates*
Hold Still by Sally Mann
The Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery
If the Oceans Were Ink: An Unlikely Friendship and a Journey to the Heart of the Quran by Carla Power
Ordinary Light by Tracy K. Smith
Poetry Finalists:
Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude by Ross Gay
How to Be Drawn by Terrence Hayes
Voyage of the Sable Venus by Robin Coste Lewis
Bright Dead Things by Ada Limón
Elegy for a Broken Machine by Patrick Phillips
Young Adult Finalists
The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin
Bone Gap by Laura Ruby*
Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsburg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War by Steve Sheinkin
Challenger Deep by Neal Shusterman*
Nimona by Noelle Stevenson*
*Means item is owned by William Hall
Fiction Finalists:
Refund by Karen E. Bender
The Turner House by Angela Flournoy
Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff
Fortune Smiles by Adam Johnson
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
Non-Fiction Finalists:
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates*
Hold Still by Sally Mann
The Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery
If the Oceans Were Ink: An Unlikely Friendship and a Journey to the Heart of the Quran by Carla Power
Ordinary Light by Tracy K. Smith
Poetry Finalists:
Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude by Ross Gay
How to Be Drawn by Terrence Hayes
Voyage of the Sable Venus by Robin Coste Lewis
Bright Dead Things by Ada Limón
Elegy for a Broken Machine by Patrick Phillips
Young Adult Finalists
The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin
Bone Gap by Laura Ruby*
Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsburg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War by Steve Sheinkin
Challenger Deep by Neal Shusterman*
Nimona by Noelle Stevenson*
*Means item is owned by William Hall
Monday, October 5, 2015
October Day Trips
Looking to make your October a little spookier? Check out these tours, trips, and attractions!
Weekends to October 30th Scary Acres: Part wagon ride, part corn maze, all terrifying! Explore the acres between the hours of 7PM and 10PM - look out for zombies, vampires, and dummies. $20.00 per standard ticket.
Weekends to October 31st The Haunted Labyrinth: The Labyrinth is open from 7PM - 10PM - but will you escape from the "camp of no return"? Tickets are $12 cash and $13 card.
Weekends to November 1st The Factory of Terror: Have you ever thought, 'Wow, this haunted house is great, but it needs more LASERS?' Fear not (okay, fear a little), the Factory of Terror has you covered - the Factory is offering laser tag amid its myriad terrors. It's open from 7PM - 11PM, tickets are $20.00 for adults and $14.00 for children 10 and under.
Saturday, October 24th and Sunday October 25th Rhode Island Historical Society Walking Tour - HP Lovecraft: A Literary Life: "Learn Lovecraft's beloved spots as visitors embark on an insightful and intriguing tour of Providence." Tour runs from 12PM - 1:30PM, Adult tickets are $15, Senior tickets are $12, Student and Member tickets are $10, Children 8 and under are free.
Saturday, October 31st Newport Historical Society - Photographing Stones and Souls in the Common Burial Ground: Learn about the history of one of Rhode Island's oldest burying grounds, while also picking up photographic skills (photography is the best way to capture the stones, grave rubbings are forbidden). Tickets are $15 per person, $10 for members, the tour begins at 11AM.
Reading in the Hall - October 2015
Who said that all love stories had to be about first love? Kent Haruf breaks the mold with his story of two people who come together later in life, in this poignant story, Our Souls at Night, which will be discussed at this month's book club. The club meets on the fourth Wednesday of the month at 6:30PM.
Pick up a copy today!
Tuesday, September 29, 2015
Reminder - Baby and Children's Clothing Swap this Saturday!
The library will be hosting a Baby and Children's Clothing Swap on Saturday, October 3rd from 12:00PM - 4:45PM in our auditorium.
Here's what you can expect to find at the swap:
Children's clothing in sizes 3T to 18, in good condition.
Toys in working condition
Complete puzzles.
Complete puzzles.
Clothing to swap must be brought for admittance! The library is handicapped accessible. Be sure the clothing you bring is clean and in wearable condition.
Fall Concert Series
Just because the performances have moved inside, doesn't mean they're any less amazing! Chase away the autumn chill at one of our fall concerts.
Saturday, October 24th - The Tropical Gems: "The Tropical Gems kick off the Fall Concert Series with a mix of reggae, jazz, calypso and steel drum music. They combine covers of classics by the likes of Bob Marley and Harry Belafonte along with original tunes. Be transported to the Caribbean with the sounds of the Tropical Gems."
Saturday, November 7 - Michael Hession and Caleb Seibert: "Michael Hession and Caleb Seibert make a crisp fall afternoon that much more enjoyable with classical guitar music. The beautiful, intricate music pieces are a great addition to anyone's day."
Saturday, November 21 - The Baker Brothers: "The Baker Brothers round out the Fall Music Series with jazz. This quartet, consisting of guitar, piano, drums and upright bass also features a tribute to great American jazz guitarist, Wes Montgomery."
All performances will begin at 2PM in the Hall auditorium. They are free and open to the public, provided by the generosity of Dave and Judy Pelkey. The library is handicapped accessible.
Tuesday, September 15, 2015
Autumnal Activities 2015
We enjoyed a hint of cooler weather yesterday - so turn down the AC and plan some autumn outings!
Farm Fresh RI has a guide to Apple Picking Farms all around Rhode Island - get 'em while they're good!
Coggeshall Farm Museum Harvest Fair will take place on September 19th-20th at the Coggeshall Farm Museum in Bristol. Performers, games, and handicrafts combine to make an unforgettable experience! Children, seniors, and military get in for $7.00, with adult tickets at $10.00 - children under 3 are free!
Smithsonian Museum Day will be celebrated on September 26th - celebrate with a trip to one of our local museums! A list of museums who will be participating in the free admission program is available at the Smithsonian Magazine Website.
And we polled the staff - here's what they had to say about their favorite part of autumn:
"All things apple & cinnamon, fall foliage, fresh fall air cooler."
"Pumpkin food, drink, candles. Also, actual pumpkins."
"Infinate Fall cocktail at Gracie's restaurant. Also, my dog Alice is happier in cooler weather. Actually, I don't like fall. Or winter."
"I sweat ever-so-slightly less."
"Apple picking, carving pumpkins, building a Halloween gingerbread house."
And we polled the staff - here's what they had to say about their favorite part of autumn:
"All things apple & cinnamon, fall foliage, fresh fall air cooler."
"Pumpkin food, drink, candles. Also, actual pumpkins."
"Infinate Fall cocktail at Gracie's restaurant. Also, my dog Alice is happier in cooler weather. Actually, I don't like fall. Or winter."
"I sweat ever-so-slightly less."
"Apple picking, carving pumpkins, building a Halloween gingerbread house."
Reading in the Hall - September 2015
This month, we will discuss The Submission by Amy Waldman. -- "A jury chooses a memorial for the victims of a devastating terrorist attack on Manhattan, only to learn that the anonymous designer is an American Muslim.. His selection reverberates across a divided, traumatized country and, more intimately, through individual lives. A story of clashing convictions and emotions, and a cunning satire of political ideals, The Submission is a resonant novel for our times." The club meets on the fourth Wednesday of the month at 6:30PM.
Pick up a copy and join us!
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