Thursday, May 26, 2011

The series are coming? The series are coming!


Our YA patrons asked, and Pam and Elise answered! In the next few weeks, look in our YA section for hit CW series "Gossip Girl", "One Tree Hill", "Supernatural", and "The Vampire Diaries", as well as ABC Family series "The Secret Life of the American Teenager".

In the meantime...

If you've already read our Gossip Girl books, you may want to try something from The A-List or The Clique.

If you've already read our Vampire Diaries books, you may want to try something from the Twilight series.

If you're a fan of Supernatural, you may want to try Neil Gaiman's American Gods, or some of our nonfiction books about ghosts, monsters, or urban folklore.

Or ask our reference librarians for other recommendations!

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Top Ten Science Fiction/Fantasy books


Booklist recently compiled a listing of "particularly tantalizing" Science Fiction and Fantasy Fiction books which were published during the last twelve months.

"The ninth Rachel Morgan novel finds our tough and feisty witch on a mission to get her shunning rescinded; this is an excellent series entry that is guaranteed to satisfy the author’s following."


The Spirit Thief. By Rachel Aaron.
"Aaron’s outstanding fantasy debut is the first in a trilogy about unrepentant thief Eli Monpress, whose goal is to amass $1 million in gold."










Thirteen Years Later. By Jasper Kent.
"Kent has magically blended history, folklore, and storytelling to produce a superb account of the Dekabrist revolt in 1825 Russia."








What the Night Knows. By Dean Koontz.
"This novel is deliberate, highly supernatural, somber throughout, and motivated by religious dread—one of Koontz’s weightiest performances."



All
the Lives He Led. By Frederick Pohl.
"It’s 2079 and Pompeii has become a theme park. Pohl is a master of everything that goes into a cracking good novel, and for this one, he has clearly boned up on vulcanology to boot."









The Best
of Larry Niven. By Larry Niven. Ed. by Jonathan Strahan.
"Niven excels at creating possible futures that are the outcome of current ideas stretched to the extreme. This is a collection to love."






A Discovery of Witches. By Deborah Harkness.
"Diana Bishop is the last of the Bishops, a powerful family of witches, but she has refused her magic ever since her parents died. Essential reading across literary mystery and epic and fantastic romance genres."







Dragon Haven. By Robin Hobb.
"The second volume of the Rain Wilds Chronicles shows Hobb again working at the highest level of contemporary fantasy, to which her creativity with dragons adds majesty."









Hellhole. By Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson."This is a militaristic sf story of galactic proportions that also offers characters easy for the reader to believe in."








Midsummer Night. By Freda Warrington.
"Set after the end of the Great War, this novel should please classic- and urban-fantasy fans, romance readers, and anyone looking for a good, fey story."









Pale Demon. By Kim Harrison.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Philip Roth wins Man Booker International Prize

Philip Roth is the winner of the fourth Man Booker International Prize. He was chosen from a list of 13 eminent contenders.

"The Man Booker International Prize, worth £60,000, is awarded for an
achievement in fiction on the world stage. It is presented once every two years to a living author for a body of work published either originally in English or widely available in translation in the English language. It has previously been awarded to Ismail Kadaré in 2005, Chinua Achebe in 2007 and Alice Munro in 2009."

Books by Philip Roth in our library
Movie based on a novel by Philip Roth
Information on Philip Roth and his novels in NoveList Plus database

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

May 18 - International Museum Day

International Museum Day is May 18 - today!

This day is celebrated every year since 1977 to raise awareness of the importance of museums in the development of society. The Advisory Council for the International Council of Museums chose "Museum and Memory" as this year's theme.

Our library has lots of books on museums for children and adults and offers Hamden residents free museum passes which are funded by the Friends of the Hamden Library.

Connecticut Landmarks
Connecticut Open House Day Saturday, June 11, 2011


Check out this listing of the most visited art museums in the world! Can you guess number one?

And what were the
highest attended exhibits at the Metropolitan Museum of Art?

Lots to explore!

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Monday, May 16, 2011

Celebrate National Preservation Month

Celebrate National Preservation Month and visit Historic Deerfield this May.
Thanks to the generous support of the Friends of the Hamden Public Library, Hamden residents with valid Hamden Library cards may borrow a Museum Pass to Historic Deerfield in Deerfield, MA. Each pass offers free admission for up to 4 visitors. Historic Deerfield is a 330 year old village with more than 11 museum houses which can be explored with guides, two are available for self guided tours. Experience early American life from the 1704 Deerfield Raid and the French and Indian War, to the American Revolution and the first decades of the new Republic. View world-class collections of antiques, special exhibitions, or enjoy an outdoor garden and meadow walk (seasonal). In addition there are family programs, hands-on activities in the Apprentice's Workshop at Dwight House, special events, distinctive shopping, and a tavern lunch.

Historic Deerfield is open daily from 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. from April 16 to November 27, 2011 with the exception of Thanksgiving, Nov. 24. Driving time from Hamden is about one hour and forty minutes. More information about events and exhibits is available online at http://www.historic-deerfield.org/ or from the Hamden Library at 203/287-2680.

Check out our other museum passes

Friday, May 6, 2011

Author Visits

The Miller Library on 2901 Dixwell Avenue will be hosting two Connecticut author visits in May. The programs are free and open to the public, no registration required. For further information, call 203-287-2680.


Tuesday, May 10th at 7:00 PM
Cruising Connecticut with a Picnic Basket Author Jann Mann
Held in the Friends' Room

Jan Mann will be discussing her book, Cruising Connecticut with a Picnic Basket. The book gives detailed descriptions of forty-two diverse Connecticut destinations with activities suitable to a variety of ages and interests and recipes for picnic fare, will share her experiences and advise participants on trip planning and food preparation appropriate to a variety of surroundings. Ms. Mann, founder of the Open Circle Writer’s Group and member of Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association, explains that in her book, now in an updated 2nd edition, readers will “be introduced to new places as well as get updates on well-known tourist spots” whether they wish to spend an entire day or just need a short interlude “away from the routine in order to get re-energized.”

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Wednesday, May 18th at 7:00 PM
The Old Leather Man Author Dan DeLuca
Held in Thornton Wilder Hall

Dan W. Deluca will be discussing The Old Leather Man. Mr. DeLuca has researched the Leatherman story for more than two decades. His book, a compilation of newspaper accounts, first-person remembrances and rare photographs of the subject, was published by Wesleyan University Press in 2008. Mr. DeLuca will discuss the history, the lore and the current battle over The Leatherman’s remains.

For those not familiar with the story, The Leatherman, so named because he dressed in hand-sewn leather garb, travelled a 34-day, 365 mile route on foot through western Connecticut and eastern New York during the late 1800’s, becoming a familiar sight in the towns through which he passed. He slept in a series of caves and lean-tos along his route, keeping his own gardens nearby. He died at age 50 in 1889, his real name unknown. Since then, his legend and the desire to learn his identity has grown in both New York and Connecticut. Those following the latest developments in The Leatherman’s saga know there is currently a heated controversy concerning the possibility of exhuming The Leatherman’s body from it gravesite in Ossining, New York in hopes of using DNA testing to determine the true identity of The Leatherman.

Monday, May 2, 2011

Holocaust Remembrance Day Observance May 6

"Mayor Scott D. Jackson has proclaimed the week of May 1st through May 8th 2011 as Days of Remembrance of the Victims of the Holocaust. The Town will host a Holocaust Remembrance Day observance on Friday, May 6th at noon in Thornton Wilder Hall, Miller Library Complex. The ceremony is open to all members of the public. This year’s theme is Justice and Accountability in the Face of Genocide. 2011 marks the 65th anniversary of the verdicts at the first Nuremberg trial and the 50th anniversary of the trial of Adolf Eichmann."

Library materials on the Holocaust by subject headings

Library materials on Adolf Eichmann and his trial

Library materials on the Nuremberg Trial