Past Event: International Talk Like a Pirate Day, September 2012

International Talk Like a Pirate Day is a real holiday that takes place every year on September 19. Last year, the library celebrated in fine style with a costumed event, including Pirate-ese language lessons from the Mango Languages database (provided by the Kansas State Library), a library treasure hunt with prizes for the winners, and a screening of the movie "Pirates: Band of Misfits". Click here for instructions for the treasure hunt.

Even the librarians dressed up for the party.

Librarian Benjamin guards the food.

The winners of the treasure hunt received a copy of the book Pirateology, provided by the Friends of the Library.

The kids wore wonderful and creative costumes.

Be sure to stop by the library Thursday at 6:00PM for this year's pirate party featuring a live demonstration of sword-play and derring-do. Costumes are encouraged.

Library Buzz: Garden of Bookish Delights

(Originally published in the Andover American 9/5/13. "Library Buzz" is written by Toria Hamilton.)

I’ve eaten a cucumber or two each day for the past week. Librarian Cheri gardens with her husband, and after they’ve frozen, canned, and pickled all they care to, Cheri brings the excess to the library and gives them away. They’re delicious! Almost delicious enough to convince me to start my own garden.

Unfortunately, gardening is a huge commitment: hours of effort for months on end, while success or failure hinges on bugs, weather, and fate. No, thank you! Whenever I’m tempted to start a garden, I lie down until the feeling passes.

That doesn’t stop me from reading a few garden-themed books, though. See what you think of these:

Historical fiction fans should try “Earthly Joys” by Philippa Gregory. Set in seventeenth century England, the story follows John Tradescant, a commoner who rises above his circumstances to become a gardener in the king’s service. Tradescant befriends important members of the court, becoming privy to plots and intrigues at the highest levels. Fans of Gregory’s War of the Roses series (“The White Queen”) or The Tudors (“The Other Boleyn Girl”) should enjoy this well-researched novel.

For a cozy mystery, you can’t go wrong with The Darling Dahlias series by Susan Wittig Albert, starting with “The Darling Dahlias and the Cucumber Tree.” The Darling Dahlias are a gardening club in Alabama during the Great Depression, but it’s not all tea and sandwiches: they solve murders on the side. We have the whole series at Andover Public Library, including the newest volume, “The Darling Dahlias and the Texas Star” out this month.

If you’d prefer something lighter, try a fluffy romance, like the In the Garden trilogy by Nora Roberts, beginning with “Blue Dahlia”. Three women brought together by a historical mansion, a successful gardening business, and a ghostly mystery, find their way to love and deeper friendships as they follow their hearts. Since we have the whole trilogy available on CD, consider listening to this one outside in a lawn chair in this cooling weather.

If gardening isn’t for you, be sure to check our website (andoverlibrary.org) this month for more information about our upcoming events, including a pirate party on 9/19 and GAD festivities starting 9/26. Come by to browse our New Books shelf, and check out the new additions to our juvenile and young adult audio sections. If you’re lucky, there might even be a cucumber left for you.

Community Interests: Wichita Genealogical Society Annual Conference

The Wichita Genealogical Society's annual conference will be Saturday, October 12, at the Eugene M. Hughes Metropolitan Complex on 29th St. This year's conference includes lectures on using post office records for genealogy research and the five steps of genealogical proof. Guest speakers include Julie Miller, a Board-Certified Genealogist with more than 35 years genealogy experience; Randy Roberts, Curator of Special Collections and University Archivist at Pittsburg State University; and Michelle Enke, Local History Librarian at WPL. Registration forms are available here or at the library. The registration fee covers all lectures and handouts as well as morning snacks and buffet-style build-your-own-sandwich lunch. Visit the Wichita Genealogical Society's website for more information.

If you would like to research your ancestry, be sure to visit Andover Public Library's genealogy room, full of local history documents and genealogy books. If you need assistance, make an appointment with our genealogy volunteer, Mary Roth, who is available Mondays and Thursdays from 2:00PM to 4:00PM.

You can continue your genealogy research on your computer at home by using your Kansas Library Card to access HeritageQuest or Genealogy Connect, two of the databases available to Kansas residents. Just bring your Kansas driver's license or state ID to the library to sign up for your free Kansas Library Card.

Past Events: Cowboy Tea Party, November 2011

As we prepare to renovate and streamline the library website, we will be posting more events, pictures, and announcements on our blog and Facebook page. Check back often while we highlight the best of our past events. 
~Tori

Cowboy Tea Party

November 5, 2011
Another Friends of the Library sponsored tea party, organized by Karen Osborne, the cowboy party was the first of our themed tea parties to be open to both boys and girls. 

These lovely ladies set up a rootin'-tootin' good time for the library's cowboys and cowgirls.

A few real cowboys showed us all some rope tricks.

There was a mighty nice spread come chow time.

Just look at all those cowboy hats during storytime!

Genre Spotlight: Adventures

In honor of International Talk Like a Pirate Day later this month, Andover Public Library is displaying adventure stories. Come by to check out great titles from Clive Cussler, Matthew Reilly, and many more! If pirates are your thing, don't miss our Pirate Party on I.T.L.A.P. Day, Thursday, September 19, from 6:00PM - 8:00PM.

The Kraken says, "Unleash a good book!"

Pirate ships and buried treasure, on display now.

Sunflower eLibrary: Your ticket to library ebooks

If you have an ereader or if you like to read ebooks on your smart phone, tablet, or computer, be sure to check out the Sunflower eLibrary available to Andover Library patrons who live within the Andover school district boundaries.

Here's what you need to know to get started:

1. The Andover Public Library purchases eBooks for the Sunflower collection in cooperation with more than forty other Kansas libraries, but we also buy some titles especially for Andover patrons. When you visit the website, www.sunflowerelibrary.org, be sure to log in so you can access the Andover-exclusive titles as well as the general collection.

2. To log in, your username is your Andover Library card number. If you need a new card number because you have misplaced your card, visit the library to acquire a new one. For privacy reasons, we cannot give you your library card number over the phone.

3. The default password is your last name in lower case letters. If your password doesn't work, call the library so we can reset it for you.

4. You will not be able to log in to Sunflower if you have late books or library fines. Call the library or access your account here to renew your books. Fines over $1.00 can be paid by credit card over the phone.

5. Problems? Questions? Click on "OverDrive Help" under Sunflower's "Help" menu for articles, videos, and troubleshooting tips.

Past Events: The Big Read, October 2011

As we prepare to renovate and streamline the library website, we will be posting more events, pictures, and announcements on our blog and Facebook page. Check back often while we highlight the best of our past events. 
~Tori

Big Read Celebration

October 15, 2011

To celebrate the 2011 Big Read selection, The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien, Andover Public Library invited renowned photographer Bill Snead to speak about his experiences as a war-time journalist.

Additionally, The Last Patrol, a local group of Vietnam War re-enactors associated with the Kansas Museum of Military History, displayed a number of artifacts from the war, including a M35A2C Vietnam Gun-truck titled “Business as Usual” and a 1965 UH-1H Huey helicopter painted in the colors of the 1/9 Cavalry “The Headhunters”, a Regiment that participated in some of the most fierce fighting during the war.

The military vehicles in the library parking lot drew in many citizens who were on their way to drop off recycling.

Although the weapons were facsimiles, many of the re-enactors' props are authentic.

Library patrons were able to climb on the helicopter and see what it was like to sit inside.

The library is happy to report that not a single invading force overtook the well-defended parking lot that day.

Teen Reads: Arthurian Legends

It’s that time again: all our favorite TV shows are starting their new seasons. But while we look forward to new episodes of Once Upon a Time, Supernatural, and Doctor Who, fans of Merlin will have to get their kicks elsewhere. Allow me to suggest a few Arthurian titles that should appeal to fans of this concluded series.

1. The Squire’s Tales by Gerald Morris

This ten book series follows the adventures of Terence as he becomes squire to Gawain, destined to be one of the most famous knights of the round table. Each book highlights the legend of a different knight of Camelot, full of adventure, intrigue, and romance. 

2. The Lost Years of Merlin by T.A. Barron

Chronicling the adventures of Merlin in his youth, this series of five books draws heavily on Welsh mythology. It’s a great introduction to a rich mythic heritage that many people have never learned before. Also, there’s magic and dragons. 

3. The Once and Future King by T.H. White

This older, classic series begins with The Sword in the Stone, source material for the Disney movie of the same name, but don’t think you know the whole story because you’ve seen the cartoon. The books are deeper, darker, and meant for a slightly older audience.

4. Here Lies Arthur by Philip Reeve

Gwynna falls in with the bard Myrddin as he plots to transform a young warlord into a legendary king through trickery. Historically accurate violence may be too intense for sensitive readers, softened as it is by the female character’s point of view.

5. The Seeing Stone by Kevin Crossley-Holland

Arthur, a boy in the middle ages, named after the legendary king, dreams of becoming a knight. One day, Merlin, a friend of his father’s, gives Arthur a stone that allows him to see visions of King Arthur.

6. The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart

A great, detailed retelling of Arthurian legend that will appeal to older readers who aren’t afraid of big books, this one follows a young Merlin as he matures into his power.

If none of these appeal to you, Merlin fans, you can always fall back on reruns: visit the library to check out the beloved BBC series on DVD.

Kansas Library Cards: Great Online Resources

Have you heard of the Kansas Library Card? The Kansas State Library provides free electronic resources for all Kansas residents. Just show your Kansas drivers license or state ID at your local library and request a Kansas Library Card be set up for you.

Students may be interested in the complete Encyclopedia Britannica Online for their research projects, the Learning Express Library for ACT and SAT practice tests, or Mango Languages database of foreign language lessons often compared to Rosetta Stone software.

The resources available aren't just for students. With your Kansas Library Card, you can access great databases like the Auto Repair Reference Center, the HeritageQuest genealogy resource, NoveList Plus for finding books that might interest you, or the Small Business Reference Center with complete with sample business plans and start-up kits.

Click here for a full list of the databases available.

Past Events: Can You Dig It? Fossil Q&A, September 2011

As we prepare to renovate and streamline the library website, we will be posting more events, pictures, and announcements on our blog and Facebook page. Check back often while we highlight the best of our past events. 
~Tori

Can You Dig It? Fossil Q&A

September 2011

For the past three years, local Paleo Prospectors Joe and Ardis Cruz of Andover have loaned the library a portion of their fossil collection for a month-long display. Our first year, they also hosted a fossil Q&A for dino-enthusiasts and rock hounds of all ages. 

Many of the fossils on display were discovered locally.

Ardis answers a question about digging for fossils.

Dinosaur books from the library were on display and available for checking out.