Hot Reads for Cold Nights!

Hot Reads for Cold Nights Logo

When the weather is cold, it’s time to find a hot read and join Virginia Public Library’s annual “Hot Reads for Cold Nights” reading program.  This is the 17th year that "Hot Reads for Cold Nights" is being sponsored by the Friends of Virginia Public Library.  Area residents over 18 are invited to register in the library or online to participate.  To register online, click on this link and select the Hot Reads program.

This program is designed to promote reading for adults since reading is equally important for all ages. Each book read during the program will earn one entry in a big giveaway on February 27^th. Participants must visit the library to check out library books and submit their entries.

Hot Reads Tuesdays will continue on Tuesday mornings from 10:00-12:00. Each week, members of the Friends of the Library will provide coffee and bakery to area readers.  This is a great time to find out about new books and visit with your neighbors.

The Hot Reads celebration continues with the launch of the 2015 Winter Brown Bag Lunch Series beginning on January 15^th at noon with “Travels and Tribulations” by Melody Swenson and Coach Bob McDonald. On January 29^th, Paul Niemisto will present “Cornets and Pickaxes” a presentation on Iron Range brass bands.

This year’s Book Lover’s Tea on February 12th will feature celebrated author/artist Chris Monroe.  Please note:  Advanced registration for the tea is essential!  Reservations must be made by Feb. 6^th.

For more information on these events and more, visit the event calendar at www.virginia.lib.mn.us or call 748-7525.

--Dawn Heisel, Public Services Librarian

Winter 2015 Programs @ Your Library

We have had some wonderful programs this past year.  They ranged from Minnesota author Peter Geye in January and Master Gardener Carol Borich in March to musicians Briand Morrison in August and Sara Pajunen in September; from wonderful children's programs throughout the Summer Reading Program to Digital Photography 101 in October and our final 2014 program, a Henna workshop which will be at 10:30 on December 30th.


There is already a great line-up of programs slated for the Winter 2015 season.  Hot Reads for Cold Nights, the adult winter reading program, begins on Friday, January 2nd.  The Friends of the Library will be hosting Hot Reads Tuesdays during the program.  They are providing yummy goodies for everyone who visits the library on Tuesday mornings between 10:00 and noon.  Of course, this is first come, first served!

Travels & Tribulations

During the two months of the Hot Reads program, there will be a number of Brown Bag lunch and other programs for you to enjoy.  On January 15th at noon, local author Melody Swenson will be back with author--and Chisholm coaching legend--Bob McDonald.  They will be promoting their new book, Travels and Tribulations--A Coach's Journey. 

Cornets & Pickaxes

St. Olaf College professor Paul Niemisto will present a Brown Bag lunch at noon on January 29th.  His book, Cornets and Pickaxes -- Finnish Brass on the Iron Range, is about Finnish musicians who moved to the Arrowhead region.  It "measures the value and influence these Finnish bands had on cultural life of the early twentieth century Iron Range..."  Musicians and history buffs alike should enjoy this program!

Chris Monroe

Looking forward to Valentine's day?  Don't miss the Book Lover's Tea on Thursday, February 12th, at noon.  This year's speaker will be Chris Monroe, Duluth artist and author/illustrator of several children's books. This program has become so popular that we are forced to require reservations.  They can be made by calling 748-7525 before February 6th.  Space is limited to the first 50 participants. 

Moving on to March, we will have a program brought to us by the Arrowhead Library System with funding from Minnesota's Arts and Cultural Legacy Fund.  Northern Gael, which is comprised of Laura MacKenzie and the Sutter Brothers, is sure to have everyone's toes tapping with their traditional Irish and Scottish tunes.  They  will be presenting their program in the library lobby on Wednesday, March 18th at 1:00. 

One Book, One Community

The month of April brings us the annual One Book, One Community program.  Working with the Duluth, Cloquet, and Superior public libraries, we will be hosting NE Minnesota author Linda Grover as we read The Dance Boots, her collection of short stories.  The program kick-off will be on Monday, April 13th, in Duluth.  The author will be here in Virginia at noon on Thursday, April 16th.  Stay tuned for information on other programs related to the 2015 One Book, One Community program.

Straw Bale Gardens

We will close the winter 2015 program season late, with a gardening program on Thursday, April 30, at noon.  Minnesota gardener and author Joel Karsten will tell us all about straw bale gardening.  This program is brought to us by the Arrowhead Library System with funding through the Legacy fund.

For more information on individual programs, check our website and online calendar.  You can also call us for more information at 748-7525.

--Susan Hoppe, Adult Services Librarian

'tis the Season for... Scrumptious Eating!

You have all of your gifts sorted out.  Now it's time to work on the holiday menu!

Holiday Candy & Confections

One of my favorite parts of any holiday is the selection of treats that are available.  From candy to pastry and from sweet to savory, the broad selection is my downfall.  If you have, or know someone who has, the same problem, we have a number of cookbooks for you to indulge yourself with.  One which focuses more on candy-type sweets is A baker's field guide to holiday candy & confections:  Sweet treats all year long, by Dede Wilson.  Local author Beatrice Ojakangas has a book for those who love to bake:  The great holiday baking book.  These titles and others in our collection include recipes both typical to US traditions and from traditions which may be less familiar.

A Year of Holidays

No matter how much I may wish it, I can not survive on treats alone.  Fortunately, we have many cookbooks that cover different holiday menu items.  Paula Deen celebrates!:  Best dishes and best wishes for the best times of your life has menu ideas for several different celebrations, including Christmas and New Year's.  Ree Drummond's The pioneer woman cooks:  A year of holidays also has menu ideas for many different holidays.

Zinio

In the event we don't have a cookbook with the recipe you need, we can find it for you either from another library or using one of the many online resources we subscribe to. For example, did you know we have digital access to several food and cooking-related magazines on Zinio?  Using your library card, you can read any or all of nine magazines, from The beer connoisseur to Weightwatchers. 

Ebsco Host Databases

We have other online resources, as well, which you can use to find the perfect recipe.  For example, if you are looking for Hanukkah foods, you can search Ebsco Host's MegaFile.  The results will provide recipes from many different magazines and journals.

Gift in a Jar

If you are in the mood for food but still looking for gifts to give, why not consider giving a Gift in a Jar?  Delectable delicacies can be found in Bars and brownies:  Recipes to make your own gifts.  As indicated by the title, this book's focus is on treats.  The neat idea behind it, though, is that you put the ingredients in jars and give them, with instructions, to your family and friends so that they can enjoy fresh goodies without all the work of collecting ingredients.  We also have Soups:  Recipes to make your own gifts, for those who appreciate soup during the cold season.  


Let us know what should be cooking at your house, and we'll help you make it so!

--Susan Hoppe, Reference Services Librarian

More on the Season of Giving

It is nearly time for folks to panic.  Little Johnny only wants a pair of skates, so he isn't too difficult to buy for.  Susy wants a sled, but your budget allows for a Radio Flyer, not a Polaris.  Nellie wants a new story book, but you don't know which ones she hasn't read already.  What can you do?

Easy!  Pop on in to the library to find great ideas for everyone on your list.

The easiest thing to do for Nellie is to get her the gift that keeps on giving--a library card.  She can't get it herself, because she is too young, but you can bring her in, sign her up for a card, and watch her eyes light up as she enters the Children's room and sees all of the wonderful books.  There is sure to be at least one she hasn't read yet.

Taking care of Susy's sled is a little tougher.  If you can't convince her to accept a runner sled, you might convince her to get a job so that she can buy her own snowmobile.  Even better, if you have an old clunker in the shed that just needs a little work to run like new again, make sure she, too has a library card, and introduce her to our snowmobile repair books and the Small Engine Repair database.  She'll learn how to get that machine going in no time!

Have other people on your list that you need to find gifts for?  Look at our many craft books for ideas on beautiful gifts you can make yourself.  We have a variety books for crafts of all kinds.  Are you a knitter?  Take a look at Norwegian mittens and gloves:  Over 25 classic designs for warm fingers and stylish hands, by Annemor Sundbø.  Prefer crochet?  Try Crochet hatimals:  Creatures with features for all ages, by Rebecca Goldsmith.  Perhaps you'd like to try needle felting this year.  Jackie Huang's Woolbuddies:  20 irresistibly simple needle felting projects is the book to read. 

For those who are more interested in projects with more physical substance, we have books on wood and metal working, as well.  Stocking stuffer ideas can be found in Steve Tomashek's book, Tiny whittling:  More than 20 projects to make.  Larger projects can be found in Simply wood:  40 stylish and easy-to-make projects for the modern woodworker, by Roshaan Ganief. 

Metal workers can find ideas from jewelry-sized to yard ornament. Ready, set, weld!:  Beginner-friendly projects for the home & garden, by Kimberli Matin, has several project ideas, some of which are bound to please.  John Sartin's The complete photo guide to making metal jewelry has the information you need to make beautiful baubles for every family member.

Find these and many more books filled with gift ideas @ your library!

--Susan Hoppe, Reference Services Librarian

Season of Giving

Rohian Cover

We are entering a season of giving, beginning with Thanksgiving, when we give thanks for the bounty provided over the preceding year, and continuing through New Year's Day, when we give up something we think we no longer need or take on something we believe will be good for us. While the library can "give" to you in the form of self-improvement, recreational reading, music CDs and movies, have you thought of giving something back to the library? 

For example, do you have an old copy of the Rohian gathering dust at your house?  The library collects the Virginia high school annual for patrons to use within the library.  We have most years, but there are several years missing from our collection.  Check our list of missing years to see if your copy of the Rohian is one of those we could use. 

Funding Factory Logo

Another way the library can be helped is with items that are discarded regularly--used inkjet and toner cartridges, old cell phones, and even out of date laptops can be donated to the library, which in turn sends them to Funding Factory.  Funding Factory "pays" the library for the donated items by adding funds to an ongoing account.  From that account, we buy items such as printers and other equipment that the library needs to run smoothly.

Giving Tree

The Friends of the Virginia Public Library can also use support.  The Friends are very instrumental in raising funds for programming, among other things.  Without their support, we would not have many of the monthly programs we provide, nor would the annual Summer Reading Program be nearly as successful as it is.

However, this can not be sustained without donations from the public as well as without new members.  Donations can be made to the Friends at any time, but this year they are going to have a tree with donation envelopes at the library.  People can specify what they are donating money for, from the Summer Reading Program and other programs to book and media item purchases. 

If you have any items that the library can use, or if you would like to more actively support programming at your library, take the time to do so @ your library!

--Susan Hoppe, Adult Services Librarian

Reading Weather

Has this early cold weather been keeping you inside?  If you are like me, you want to sit in front of a warm fire with a good book, sipping your favorite hot drink.  Fortunately for all of us, the library has plenty of books.  In fact, we have new books going on the shelves every week, with about 1,000 books added to the collection since June.  

If you are a non-fiction fan, we have new books on biography, history, gardening, business, cooking, and many other subjects.  If you are interested in biographies, you may want to borrow John Quincy Adams:  American Visionary, by Fred Kaplan.  If you lean more toward entrepreneurship, take a look at Invent It, Sell It, Bank It!, by Lori Greiner.  We have Wood Heat:  A Practical Guide to Heating Your Home With Wood, by Andrew Jones, for those learning more about heating with wood.  For those of you interested in reading the Bard, we have a new set of Shakespeare for your reading pleasure, as well.

Are you more interested in fiction?  We have plenty of that, as well.  There is a new set of essential Charles Dickens titles on the shelf waiting for you to discover it.  In newer fiction, we have The Beekeeper's Ball, by Susan Wiggs.  In science fiction, Brent Weeks has a new title in the Lightbringer series:  The Broken Eye.  Prefer a good mystery?  Check out the newest title by Stuart Woods, Cut and Thrust.  There are many other good fiction gems waiting for you, as well.

Prefer a different format?  We have many of these new titles on both digital audio and compact disk in our Media Department.  Some of them are also available as downloadable audio- and e-books from OverDrive.  Even more tantalizing, many of today's movies are based on books.  You can look for either the movie version of your favorite book or the book version of a great movie in our online catalog. 

The library has thousands of titles for you to choose from in formats that include books, DVDs, magazines, online resources, and more.  Relieve the early freeze blues with some good reads from your library!

--Susan Hoppe, Adult Services Librarian

What's Happening @ Your Library?

There is a lot going on at the library this fall!

Michael Czarnecki

See, It Was Like This...
Tomorrow, September 10, at noon, Michael Czarnecki will present a creative non-fiction oral memoir of the 60s.  Michael grew up in Buffalo, NY, a member of a working class Polish family. The performance covers from 1963, when Michael was in 8th grade, through 1975, when he became part of a rural community in the hills of New York State. Along the way he suffered through battles of conscience, incurred the wrath of family, participated in college demonstrations, hitchhiked 30,000 miles, backpacked in the mountains and experienced the usual late-teen, young adult joys and sorrows of life. All of this is set against the cultural and historical happenings of the era as it affected him. This is not the memoir of one who was a major, or even a minor, figure of the time. No San Francisco, Woodstock, group sex or drug experiences. Just the story of an ordinary person who came of age during this unique time period in our recent history.

Those who lived through the 60s will find much to connect with. Others who know of it only as “history” will get an understanding of one person’s experience during those vital and vibrant years.

Sara Pajunen

Violin, Vocalist and History
Artist and musician Sara Pajunen brings her Laatikko/Box project Finnish folk music and a sampling of the University of Minnesota’s Finnish-American archives to the library. Using violin and voice, she weaves Finnish folk song with both archival audio recordings and conversations with her own Finnish-American family members. During the presentation, participants can view pictures, letters, and other material from Finnish-Americans.

Sara Pajunen is a Minneapolis-based musician and artist whose recent work is inspired by her Finnish ancestry. Join us for her thought provoking program on September 25 at noon.

Digital Photography 101

For those who wish to create better photos with their digital cameras, Brian Rauvola will present a three hour hands-on beginning photography workshop about using your digital camera and editing your photos. Bring your camera (compact or dSLR), camera manual, a tripod (if you have one) and other accessories to learn how to use your camera’s features to improve the pictures you take.  Make sure your batteries are charged and you have plenty of memory because the group is going to explore the library inside and outside (weather permitting) to practice taking photos while also learning to use light effectively and other artistic elements, such as composition, leading lines, rule of 3rds, etc. to improve your images.

The last part of the workshop will be about downloading pictures, organizing your files, and using software to optimize and resize images. Brian’s favorite program to use is Photoshop CS6, but other free or inexpensive computer programs with which you can start will also be demonstrated, such as GIMP (free, www.gimp.org) and Photoshop Elements (around $100, www.adobe.com.) Brian will show you how to edit your pictures to get better photos and have fun doing it!

Brian Rauvola has been a semi-professional photographer in the Duluth/North Shore area for nearly 20 years.  He owns and operates the Duluth Photography Institute, which began October of 2010, and offers workshops, gallery space, and a fully equipped lighting studio for photographers to use. 

This workshop, which is on Thursday, October 16 from noon until 3:00 is limited in class size.  Sign up with Dawn or Susan to be sure of having a space reserved for you.

Story as Tribute
Join us at noon on Thursday, October 30, to learn the true story of Elisabeth Mannering Congdon, heiress to a mining fortune and victim of one of Minnesota’s most notorious homicides. Entrusted with the burdens and joys of memory, her eldest granddaughter, Suzanne Congdon LeRoy, combines lived experience and meticulous historical research as she details a family legacy of love, loss, and perseverance. 

Suzanne Congdon LeRoy

Elisabeth Congdon emerges not as heiress or victim but as the messenger of spring and the key to her granddaughter’s survival. Elisabeth Congdon’s early efforts to nurture a foundation of hope, optimism, and the power of possibility lead Suzanne to advanced education, a remarkable nursing career and the discovery of the ineffable relationship between healing oneself, service to others, and the connection to the spirit and beauty of the earth that makes her whole again.

Suzanne Congdon LeRoy will talk about her grandmother's life as well as the process of researching and writing her memoir.  Nightingale is her first book. A portion of the proceeds will be used to support health and human rights initiatives that benefit women and girls with an emphasis on education, reproductive health, and violence prevention.  

Mario Cianflone
One program isn't enough the week of Halloween!  You may have seen Mario Cianflone in Ely over the summer, or perhaps at Land of the Loon this year.  On Friday, October 31, at 1:00, he will educate and play for us in the library lobby.  Mario is a music educator and master accordionist who plays classical, French, Italian, and Latin American music. 

Mario Cianflone is widely recognized as a leading performing artist and music educator in the mid-west. Receiving his doctorate in music education from the University of Minnesota, Mario possesses performance skills on the accordion that reflect years of dedicated studies with the renowned master accordionist, Larry Malmberg, and distinguished composer Dominic Argento.  He has performed at the Guthrie and State Theaters, the Ordway, and accross the US, Canada, and Mexico.

Henry Boucha

Henry Boucha

Henry Boucha is a former NHL Player, U.S. Olympic Silver Medalist, U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame member, Ojibwa Native American, and author. His book, Henry Boucha, Ojibwa, Native American Olympian, is about his triumphs and tragedies as he traveled from Warroad high school hockey to professional and Olympic level hockey. Learn about those challenges, how his Ojibwa roots guided him through that experience and continues to influence his life today as he works on a video series about Native American Olympic medal winners.

Henry will be at the library on Thursday, November 13, at noon.  This would be a good program for bantam, high school and college age hockey players as well -  A motivational discussion about the opportunities in hockey while preparing yourself for life off the ice and the importance of being true to your beliefs.

If you have would like more information about these programs or others, call us at 748-7525.

Tickets for you @ your local library!

Elephant Man at the Encore Performing Arts Center in Cloquet
The Arrowhead Library System is pleased to offer free event tickets to Elephant Man at the Encore Performing Arts Center in Cloquet, on September 26-28 and October 2-5.  Performances are at 7:00 p.m., except for Sunday at 2:00 p.m.

The Elephant Man, by Bernard Pomerance

The Elephant Man, by Bernard Pomerance, is based on the life of John Merrick, who lived in London during the latter part of the nineteenth century. "A horribly deformed young man, victim of rare skin and bone diseases, he has become the star freak attraction in traveling side shows. Found abandoned and helpless, he is admitted to London's prestigious Whitechapel hospital. Under the care of celebrated young physician Frederick Treves, Merrick is introduced to London society and slowly evolves from an object of pity to an urbane and witty favorite of the aristocracy and literati only to be denied his ultimate dream, to become a man like any other."

The Encore Performing Arts Center and Gallery has been the home of the County Seat Theater Company since 2008.  This is Community Theater at its BEST!

A limited number of free event tickets are available at the following libraries: Aurora, Carlton, Cloquet, Eveleth, Gilbert, Hibbing, Moose Lake, Silver Bay and Virginia.

This program, sponsored by Arrowhead Library System, was funded in part or in whole with money from Minnesota's Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.  Tickets for this event and others are available at your local library. 

The Arrowhead Library System does a lot to make fantastic programs available to the patrons of ALS member libraries.   Please let them know how much you appreciate it when you fill out the evaluation for this fascinating production.

Call 748-7525 if you have any questions. 

--Susan Hoppe, Adult Services Librarian

Sit Down with a Stand Up

Scott Novotny

Have you been told you are funny?  Have you ever considered becoming a stand-up comedian?  Or thought of writing comedy routines?  Then attend Sit Down with a Stand Up, Scott Novotny’s comedy writing program that incorporates the history and culture of stand-up comedy in Minnesota and its development since the 1970’s. 

Scott recently celebrated his 30th anniversary of being a full-time professional stand-up comedian. Over that time, Scott has had people laughing from coast to coast with his clean, non-offensive, very funny observations and humor.

At noon on Tuesday, July 29, Scott will guide participants through stand-up comedy, improvisation, and comedy writing as well as live demonstrations of a comedy routine. Workshop participants will stay engaged by using Scott’s comedy writing formula for beginning writers.

Minnesota born (Rochester) and educated (Gustavus Adolphus College), Scott has written for HBO, Dudley Rigg’s Brave New Workshop, TV commercials, Strange Brew daily comic strip, and Saturday Night Live. Let Scott help you find your comedy style in this writing workshop for teens, young adults, and adults of all ages!

This program, sponsored by Arrowhead Library System, was funded in part or in whole with money from Minnesota's Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. 

If you have any questions, call 748-7525.

--Susan Hoppe, Adult Services Librarian

Jungle Portraits: Photography with Frederick Blanch

© by Frederick Blanch

© by Frederick Blanch

Frederick Blanch will take you through his exotic photographs from Ecuadorian sword-billed Hummingbirds to colorful Puerto Rican Palms, to the tranquil setting of a Japanese reflecting garden. His collection represents many years of travel, through gardens, prairies, jungles, cloud forests and mountain regions throughout the world.

Join us as Frederick explains how his photographs are refined by incorporating the distinctive Jungle Portrait texture and, in some, inherent, but obscure colors are enhanced. The final picture is imprinted on high quality, white artist’s canvas by the giclée method and “gallery-wrapped” or traditionally framed beneath glass. 

Frederick Blanch

Frederick will present his Jungle Portrait Photography at the library on Thursday, May 15, at noon.

Call 748-7525 for more information.  

--Susan Hoppe, Adult Services Librarian

Spring is Coming!

Gardening Book

Spring is definitely going to arrive in Minnesota any day now.  How do I know this?  Because my calendar shows that Daylight Savings Time begins on Sunday, March 9th and Spring begins on Thursday, March 20th.  We are celebrating by having more Brown Bag programs for you to enjoy!

The first program, Easy Veggie Gardens, is at noon on Thursday, March 13th.  A problem many click here to learn our hardiness zone]  Carol Borich, a local Master Gardener, will introduce us to vegetables that are both easy growers and appropriate to our climate.  Not only that, she will also give tips on increasing yield and to those of us who have limited gardening space. 
people have is selecting vegetables that are suitable for Northeastern Minnesota's short growing season.  [

Cellist of Sarajevo Cover

Our next program is part of the annual One Book, One Community event held in partnership with the Duluth and Cloquet public libraries and affiliated organizations.  The reading selection this year is The Cellist of Sarajevo, by Steven Galloway.  The book takes place during the siege of Sarajevo, was influenced by a real cellist who played during the siege, and covers the lives of four individuals:  A cellist, a sniper, a man in search of bread, and another man in search of water. 

The program to be held here in Virginia is The Redemptive Power of Music:  Sarajevo Under Siege.  Local musician Sam Black will direct an ensemble in performances of Albinoni's Adagio and David Wilde's The Cellist of Sarajevo.  This program will be held at 6:30 on Sunday, March 30th, at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, in Virginia. 

Next comes... National Library Week!  Celebrate libraries with us during the week of April 14th.  While you are here, we will show you how to find the books you want and the information you need.  Did you know you can create a resume online?  [click here to learn how]  Are you hoping to find a certain book at our library?  [click here to search]  You can learn more about resume building, finding books, and more right here @ your library!

Christina Cotruvo

Christina Cotruvo will provide us with more music at noon on Thursday, May 8th.  Her program comprises songs from her CD release, Celtic Harp:  a Superior Love.  They are "[l]ove songs from the shores and oars of Lake Superior.  ...love songs from the people who have lived and traveled Lake Superior -- no sinking ships."

Frederick Blanch

Finally, at noon on Thursday, May 15th, we will have "Flights of Photography." Minnesota photographer Frederick Blanch encourages questions during his program featuring exotic images from around the world. 

Check our Facebook page closer to the dates for more information, or call us at 748-7525. 

 

Brown Bag Lunch Event Schedule

Brown Bag Lunch with Peter Geye

Join us in welcoming Minnesota author Peter Geye at the Virginia Public Library on Thursday, January 30, for our first Brown Bag Lunch of 2014! 

Peter's most recent novel, The Lighthouse Road, begins in the 1890s with a young immigrant woman settling into life alone outside of Duluth and continues in the1920s with the life of her grown son and his forbidden love. 

Safe from the Sea, the author's debut novel, was the 2010 Indie Lit Award winner for fiction and the 2011 Northeast Minnesota Book Award winner, among other honors.  The novel centers on a strained father-son relationship.  The father, an officer on a doomed freighter and one of its three survivors in the 1960s, is dying and calls his grown son to his side to make one last request. 

Peter Geye will be here on Thursday at noon to discuss writing and his books, as well as to answer questions.  Call 748-7525 if you have any questions.  Coffee and goodies are generously provided by the Friends of the Virginia Public Library.

Susan Hoppe -- Adult and Reference Services Librarian

Boost Your Brain!

Link to the library's online catalog

We all know that reading can take us places we've never been before.   It can teach us about the past, help us to improve ourselves, enable us to learn a language, and so much more.  Did you also know that it can boost your brain function? 

A study at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to measure brain activity of students over a nineteen day period.  The scientists obtained a baseline measure over the first five days, then had all participants read the same sections of the same novel--Pompeii, by Robert Harris--over the next nine evenings.  The results indicated increased brain activity starting the morning after the first reading session and continuing through five post-reading scans. 

Hot Reads logo

So, what can you do to boost your brain power?  Read!  We have novels for those who like fiction, self-help books for those who want to change a specific aspect of their lives, repair manuals for home mechanics, biographies for those who like to read about other people; we have magazines, covering the same subject areas, for those who prefer more concise material; we have newspapers for those who want, well, news; and many databases covering nearly every subject available. 

Give your brain a little work out this winter.  While you're at it, join Hot Reads for Cold Nights, the library's adult winter reading program.  You will not only boost your brain function but also have fun earning raffle chances for fabulous prizes! 

Want more information?  To read the original research paper, click here.  This will take you to a .pdf file, which requires Adobe or an equivalent reader.  Alternatively, you can read an article on the study in The Independent. 

Thank you, Jennifer Armstrong, Friends of the Library president, for bringing this study to our attention.  

--Susan Hoppe, Adult and Reference Services Librarian


Original Study:  http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/pdfplus/10.1089/brain.2013.0166

Article from Independent:  http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/brain-function-boosted-for-days-after-reading-a-novel-9028302.html